Willey's book of Nutfield; a history of that part of New Hampshire comprised within the limits of the old township of Londonberry, from its settlement in 1719 to the present time, Part 13

Author: Willey, George Franklyn, 1869- ed
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Derry Depot, N.H., G.F. Willey
Number of Pages: 379


USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Derry > Willey's book of Nutfield; a history of that part of New Hampshire comprised within the limits of the old township of Londonberry, from its settlement in 1719 to the present time > Part 13


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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THE BEAR AND THE SAWMILL .- There is an anecdote in connection with the two James Wilsons and the second sawmill located upon the upper course of the Aiken brook, which may seem somewhat apocryphal, but is neverthe- less well vouched for. The Wilsons were accus- tomcd to carry their dinners to the mill and eat while sawing through a long log. One day they placed a long log on the carriage, set the saw in motion and sat down on the log with the dinner pail between them. Thus cating their dinner and moving from time to time in advance of the saw until it had passed the middle, they changed their places behind it, still riding on the moving carriage. Suddenly a bear appeared upon the scene, and the men, having no firearms, hastily climbed over the low braces of the roof into safe placcs upon the tie beams. The bear came straight into the mill, climbed upon the log where the men had been sitting, and began eating the remnants of the din- ner, with his back to the saw. Presently the saw worked along the log until it nipped the short tip of the bear's tail. He gave an angry snarl and hitched himself along a few inches, so intent upon his feast that he scarcely minded the incident. A moment later the saw came up to him again, this time catching and tearing a gash in his back instead


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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.


of his tail. In great rage the bear turned around with his mouth wide extended and both forepaws ready to strike an enemy. Seeing the moving saw and associating it with the cause of his pain and misfortune, he attempted to bite it and at the same time clasped it with his powerful paws. The result was such a deep cut in his forehead that he rolled off on the floor and dicd in a few minutes.


R EV. ORRIN G. BAKER, youngest son of John and Lucy (Gay) Baker, was born on the English Range, Derry, Dec. 23, 1847. Having fitted for college at Pinkerton Academy, he grad- uated from Dartmouth in 1874, and from Andover Theological Seminary in 1877. He taught school


REV. ORRIN G. BAKER.


a number of terms during his course of study. After graduating from the Seminary, he was or- dained and installed over the Congregational Church at Jamaica, Vt., where he remained nearly eight years and a half. He was then pastor two years at East Fairfield, Vt., and six years at West Charlestown, Vt., and has just accepted a call to Ferrisburgh, Vt. He has been very suc- cessful in all the varieties of church work, especially in reaching and helping young people. He has always been interested in education, at times as


superintendent of schools, and always ready to help in cvery work for the welfare of the com- munity and town. Both as a man and for his work, he has been respected and loved by the people. He married Alida M., daughter of Har- rison G. and Eliza (Hall) Barnes of Walpole, N. H. They have six children : Harrison Barnes, John William, Eliza Lucinda, Paul Gay, Stella Kellogg, and Edward Edmunds.


A FEW RECORDS OF THE PROVINCE touching the early settlers of Londonderry are given below. The first bears date June 26, 1718, and is an order of the Governor and Council :


I. Whereas there are sundry familys of credit and reputa- tion late arrived in this Government from Ireland, most of them being farmers, and disposed either to buy or rent lands, if to be had at reasonable terms wthin this Province,


Ordered, That publick notice be given throughout the Province, thereof, that any p'sons inclined either to lett or sell land, may have an opportunity so to do.


RICHARD WALDRON, Cler. Con.


SCHOOLS.


2. December 23, 1727. In the House of Representatives. Ordered, Upon the motion of James McKeen, Esq .. and considering the Infancy of the Town of London Derry, Provided they keep two Schools for writing and reading in said Town. that they be exempted from the Penaltys in the Laws of this Province relating to Grammar Schools, for one year now next ensuing, and to commence from their annual meeting in March next, and all courts that have authority in that affair are to take notice of this order and conform according to it.


JAMES JEFFRY, Cler. Assim.


In towns of one hundred families, the penalty for not maintaining a grammar school in which Latin was taught was {20 for six months' neglect.


The reason that Mr. McKecn assigned for this motion was, that " the charge of the Grammar School will maintain two other Schools for reading and writing, which is much more beneficial to them ; few, if any of them, being able to give their children Grammar learning."


LINEN MANUFACTURES.


3. In the House of Representatives, May 7th. 1731.


Whereas there are great frauds and deceit practiced by persons travelling in this Province by selling of Foreign Linnens under pretence they were made at Londonderry, in this Province.


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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.


which tends to the Damage of those who really make and sell the Linen in Londonderry, &c., for prevention of which and for encouraging the manufacturing Linen in said Town,


Voted, That an Act be drawn up authorizing the said Town to make choice of a suitable person to seal all such linen as shall be made in the said Town, and to have a Seal with the name of the Town engraved on it, and authority to such sealer (if suspect 'twas not made in the Town) to administer an oath to the per- sons that bring linen to be sealed, that it was bona fide made in said town.


H ENRY GOODWIN, the second son of Josiah Goodwin, of whom mention is made else- where in this work, was born in Londonderry, N. H., Mareh 30, 1835. Until twenty-four years


HENRY GOODWIN.


of age he remained with his parents on the farm. In 1859, after having served for a time on the sehool committee and having had some experienee as a sehool teacher, he went to Boston and engaged in the newspaper business as a carrier. He fol- lowed this oeeupation for eight years sueeessfully,


when he sold his interest and formed a partnership which eventuated in the establishment of the Crawford House, Boston, where he has contin- uously served his patrons for nearly thirty years. In 1889 George H. Rimbach became a partner with Mr. Goodwin, and the firm has continued as Goodwin & Rimbach. In 1860 he married Mary A. Moar of Londonderry, the ecremony being performed by the Rev. William House, then pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Their silver wedding was appropriately eclebrated May 17, 1885. Arthur Worthington, their only ehild, was born in 1865 and died in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin are members of the First Congregational Church, Charlestown. He fully appreciates the advantages of a godly aneestry, the inheritance of a strong constitution, and the possible blessings which in after years may come to one who has toiled in the woods during the rigorous winter months, and in the roeky soil of Roekingham the rest of the year, which yields sueh a reluetant recompense for the seed and service of the tiller. He has still a fondness for the home of his ehild- hood and a deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare and prosperity of his native state and the goodly town of Londonderry.


E PIDEMIC DISEASES have been very in- frequent in the healthful regions settled by the men of Nutfield. Only twee have serious epidemies raged. The first time was in 1753, when a malady mueh resembling the yellow fever of later years earried off many of the inhabitants, in- eluding some of the principal citizens. In 1812 the spotted fever eaused many deaths in the eom- munity. Alexander Anderson, who lived in the West Parish, lost three ehildren, David Anderson four, Robert Taylor four, and William Thomp- son two. The siekness was so general that the physicians were unable to attend to all the eases, and doetors from abroad were employed by the town. Bleeding was the principal means of eure resorted to, and Christopher Thom, Abraham Morrison, and Joseph Gregg went from house to house with laneets. Many pa- tients recovered in spite of the bleeding.


J.M. Pinkerton.


INSCRIPTIONS IN THE HILL GRAVEYARD, LONDONDERRY.


A RECENT visit to this aneient burial ground resulted in deeiphering the inseriptions on all the monuments now remaining visible, and for the benefit of posterity an alphabetieal arrangement of the names of the dead is herewith presented, with the dates of deeease and ages so far as given. Many more stones without inseriptions are firmly fixed at the heads of graves whose inmates are only to be eonjeetured by the surround- ing memorials. Several hundred bodies have been interred, a small portion of these have been re- moved to other places of burial, and probably the removal of more is anticipated, as the memory of the worthy dead is being revived in more conspie- uous and abiding entablatures by the present gen- eration.


AIKEN, Martha (dau of William Aiken) died May 4, 1749, aged 14 yrs ; Wil- liam died Oct 16, 1745, aged 54 yrs.


HOME OF MRS. MARY J. TENNEY, GEN. STARK'S GRANDDAUGHTER. .


Situated near the Hill Graveyard, Londonderry .- Winter scene.


William and Alice Boyd) died Jan 9, 1777, aged 22 yrs; William died Nov 24, ' 1785, aged 70 yrs 3 mos.


CAMPBELL, Jannet (wife of Henry Campbell) died Sept 28, 1778, aged 46 yrs.


CLARK, Eleanor (a child), no dates ; Esther (a child), no dates ; Esther (a child), also no dates.


CRAIGE, Jean (a child) ; John died Oct 2, 1758, aged 61 yrs ; Mary (dau of John Craige) died Nov 25, 1760, aged 4 yrs ; Mary ( wife of John Craige) died April 27, 1753, aged 92 yrs ; Samuel (a child).


DICKEY, Elias died Feb 27, 1755, aged 57 yrs ; Elizabeth (Mrs) died Sept 21, 1748, aged 70 years; Joseph died Nov 26, 1745, aged 9 yrs ; Martha (wife of Samuel Dickey) died ()ct 15, 1775, aged 72 yrs ; Martha died aged 3 mos ; Mary died aged 3 weeks ; Sarah died aged 21 mos ; William died Oct 9, 1743, aged 60 yrs.


DUNCAN, Hannah (wife of John Duncan ) died Jan 5, 1789, aged 50 yıs ; John died Nov 15, 1799, aged 70 yrs; Letitia (wife of Deacon George Duncan) died May 5, 1767, aged 52 yrs; Naomi (wife of Wil- liam Duncan) died Sept I, IS07, aged SS yrs ; Robert (son of John Duncan) died Feb 10, 1759, aged 26 yrs 4 mos ; Samuel (son of Deacon George and Leti- cia Duncan) died Nov 5, 1753, aged 2 yrs ; William (son of Capt William and Naomi Duncan) died March 29, 1793, aged 55 yrs ; William died Feb 22, 1795, aged $2 yrs 6 mos ; William died Oct 23, 1764, aged 20 yrs.


ELA, Sarah (dau of David and Hannah Ela) died Sept 29, 1778, aged 17 mos 22 dys.


FINLAY, Jenet (wife of Joseph Finlay) died Dec 23, 1768, aged 57 yrs.


ALEXANDER, Agnes (dau of William and Eliza- beth Alexander) died Jan 10, 1771, aged 15 mos; Agnes (wife of John Alexander) died Sept 4, 1769, aged 71 yrs ; John died Feb 14, 1771, aged 92 yrs ; John (son of William and Elizabeth Alexander) died May 3, 1784, aged 10 yrs 5 mos 5 dys.


ANDERSON, Janet (wife of Robert Anderson) died Nov 15, 1777, aged 51 yrx.


BELL, Elizabeth (wife of John Bell) died Aug 30, 1771, aged 82 yrs ; Ebenezer (son of John and Mary Ann Bell) died July 22, 1805, aged 20 yrs ; James (son of John and Mary Ann Bell) died March 31, 1787, aged 19 yrs 5 mos 21 dys ; Jane (dau of John and Mary Ann Bell) died Aug 11, 1785, aged 13 yrs 3 mos 8 dys ; Jean (wife of Joseph Bell) died Nov 22, 1777, aged 82 yrs ; John died July 8, 1743, aged 64 yrs ; Joseph lied Oct 14, 1779, aged 83 yrs.


BOYD, Alice (wife of William Boyd) died Nov 25, 1790, aged 60 yrs ; John (son of William Boyd) died Dec 28, 1764, aged 15 yrs ; Letice (dau of William and Alice Boyd) died Aug 14, 1772, aged 15 yrs ; Robert (son of


FISHER, Agnes (wife of Samuel Fisher ) died March 12, 1755, aged 27 yrs; Elder Samuel died April 10, 1806, aged $4 yrs; Sarah (wife of Elder Samuel Fisher ) died Feb 3, 1813, aged 80 yrs ; William (son of Elder Samuel Fisher) died Oct 25, 1775, aged 14 yIs.


HOG, John died Aug 13, 1755, aged 23 yrs; Thomas died Jan S, 1748, aged 42 yrs


HOGG, Mary (wife of Thomas Hogg ) died May 1, 1790, aged 24 years.


MACK, John died April 12, 1753, aged 55 yrs.


MCALLESTER, William died March 10, 1755, aged 55 yrs.


MCCLEARY, Capt David (son of Thomas and Elizabeth McCleary) died at Bennington Aug 16, 1777, aged 31 yrs ; Elizabeth (dau of Thomas and Elizabeth McCleary) died Oct 15, 1782, aged 30 yrs : John (son of Thomas and Elizabeth McCleary) died Sept 3, 1751, aged 3 yrs ; Mary (dau of Thomas and Elizabeth McCleary) died April 7, 1778, aged 21 yrs ; Thomas died Oct 5, 1787, aged SI yrs.


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WILLER'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.


MACHENCHE, Elizabeth (dan of John and Martha) died Nov 12, 1788, aged 20 yrs ; John died March 241, 1820, aged 76 yrs ; Martha (dan of John and Martha MeClenche) died May 20, 1787, aged 20 yrs ; Martha (wife of John McClenche) died July 27, 1801, aged 69 yrs.


MeCOLOM, Alexander died July 4, 1781, aged 79 yrs ; Archibald died April 10, 1761, aged 23 yrs ; Janet (wife of Alexander McColom) died Oct 11, 1773, aged 60 yrs ; Jannet, died Ang 27, 17.11, aged 12 yrs ; Martha (wife of Lieut Robert MeColom) died Sept 15, 1822, aged 74 yrs ; Lient Robert died June 13, 1792, aged 56 yrs ; William died Sept 17, 1791, aged 23 yrs.


MCGREGOR, Alexander, died June 27, 1804, aged 37 yrs ; John P'. dicd Sept 27, 1819, aged 22 yrs ; Mary (wife of Alexander McGregor) died May 2.1, 1799, aged 31 yrs.


MESSER, Cyrus died April 2, 1837, aged 65 yrs ; Mary (wife of Cyrus Messer) died June 18, 1866, aged 92 yrs 9 mos; Moses W. dicd Mareh 10, 1814, aged 18 yrs.


MITCHELL, Watt (son of Francis and Margaret Mitchell) died Sept 24, 1775, aged Io mos.


MOORE, Elizabeth (dau of Capt William and Martha Moore) died March 6, 1775, aged 3 weeks ; Sibbil (dau of Capt William and Martha Moore) died Aug 15, 1776, aged 9 mos ; Ilugh (son of Capt William and Martha Moore) died March 16, 1775, aged 6 yrs.


OUGIITERSON, James died March 3, 1761, aged 64 yrs.


PATTERSON, Elizabeth (wife of Peter Patterson) died June 22, 1786, aged 23 yrs.


PINKERTON, Elizabeth (dau of Major John and Rachel Pinkerton) died- March IS, 1789, aged 17 yrs 6 mos 17 dys ; David died March 8, 1808, aged 75 yrs ; John (son of Major John and Rachel Pinkerton) died June 4, 1795, aged 17 yrs 7 mos 22 dys ; John died Feb 10, 1780, aged 80 yrs ; Major John died May 1, 1816, aged 81 yrs ; Mary (wife of Major John l'inkerton) died Feb 19, 1844, aged 94 yrs ; Rachel (wife of Major John Pinkcrton) died Sept 13, 1781, aged 36 yrs 3 mos 2 dys ; Rachel (dau of John and Mary Pin! erton ) died Nov 17, 1796, aged 47 yrs ; Mary (dau of John and Mary l'inkerton) died Sept 23, 1807, aged 67 yrs ; Samuel (son of John and Mary Pinkerton) died March 16, 17So, aged 34 yrs ; Mary (wife of John Pinkerton) died Sept 10, 1754, aged 44 yrs ; Naomi (dau of Major John and Rachel Pinkerton) died May 4, 1790, aged 20 yrs 3 mos 22 dys.


SCOBEY, Martha, died Oct 6, 1754, aged 30 yrs ; Matthew died July 2, 1764, aged 31 yrs ; Samuel died Jan 20, 1737, aged 3 yrs.


SMITH, Jane (wife of John Smith and dau of Thomas and Elizabeth McCleary) died March 5, 1779, aged 29 yrs.


TAGGART, James (son of James and Jean Taggart) died May 25, 1752, aged 8 yrs ; Jean (wife of James Taggart) died March 6, 1770, aged 60 yrs ; Sarah, a child ; Rose (wife of Niel Taggart) died June 15, 1748, aged 48 yrs.


THOMPSON, Molly (dau of John and Martha Thompson) died June 9, 1778, aged 2 yrs; Sarah (dau of Robert and Margaret Thompson) died Nov 18, 1776, aged I yr.


WALLACE, Ann (a child) no dates ; Barbara (wife of Thomas Wallace) died Sept 2, 1771, aged 95 yrs ; Annas (wife of John Wallace) died Jan 6, 1761, aged 63 yrs ; Ann died Aug 23, 1733, aged 20 yrs ; James died Oet 30, 1791, aged 80 yrs ; James (a child) no dates ; Elizabeth (a child) no dates ; Capt James died Dec 14, 1792, aged 71 yrs : John (son of James and Mary Wallace) died Nov 25, 1754, aged 10 dys ; John (husband of Annas Wal- lace) died March 29, 1777, aged 82 yrs ; (The stone bears the legend that John and Annas Wallace were the first couple married in Londonderry, May 18, 1721.) Mary (dau of James and Mary Wallace) died Oct 10, 1760, aged 8 yrs ; Naomi (wife of Capt Robert Wallace) died May 10, 1791, aged 80 yrs ; Capt Robert Wallace died Oct 10, 1782, aged 73 yrs ; Thomas (husband of Barbara Wallace) died Aug 22, 1754, aged 82 yrs ; William, M. A. (son of Thomas and Barbara Wallace) died March 27, 1733, aged 26 yrs (see cut on page 33) ; Thomas died May 7, 1789, aged 73 yrs ; Thomas (son of John and Annas Wallace) died Sept 22, 1734, aged 4 yrs I mo 12 dys ; Mrs Rebecca died Sept 22, 1804, aged 81 yrs ; Thomas died Jan 26, 1790, aged 46 yrs ; his wife died April 4, 1785, aged 31 yrs ; Samuel died July 29, 1778, aged 41 yrs ; William (a child) no dates.


WATTS, Peggy (wife of Moses Watts) died May 3, 1795, aged 64 yrs.


WIEAR, David (son of Adam and Margaret Wiear) died Feb 15, 1765, aged 25 yrs.


WILSON, Joseph ; Rebecca ( wife of Joseph Wilson) died May 25, 1770, aged 66 yrs.


WOODBURN, David died Oct 9, 1823, aged $5 yrs ; Margaret (wife of David Woodburn) died Oct 17, 1792, aged 39 yrs.


The complete inscription on the monument of Major John Pinkerton is appended as a tribute to the memory of his generosity and a reminder of the locality where his dust reposes :


In memory of john Pinkerton, Esq., who died May 1, 1816, aged 81 years. He was born in the county of Antrim, North of Ireland, and came with his parents when a child to this country. He was a man of strict integrity, active benevolence and ex- emplary piety. For many years he was a useful member and officer of the Church of Christ and a distinguished benefactor of the town. By prudence and industry he acquired an ample for- tune which he chiefly devoted to objects of public utility: He was the principal founder of the Pinkerton Academy in London- derry, and endowed each of the two religious societies in the place with a fund for the support of the Gospel Ministry.


The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.


Also in memory of Mrs. Rachel, first wife of John Pinkerton, Esq., who died Sept. 13, 1781, aged 36 years.


NOTE .- The income of the Pinkerton fund given to the West Parish is to be appropriated to the sole purpose of sup- porting an orthodox Presbyterian minister of the Gospel in said parish agreeable to the constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.


THE MAMMOTH ROAD, so named in deri- sion by those who opposed its construction, was built in the summer of 1831, and at onee bceame a popular route between Coneord and Boston. Large numbers of passengers were carried by the three lines of daily stages that travelled over the road, and the other traffie was also heavy. Great quantities of country produce were taken to Lowell and Boston over the Mammoth road, and the highway continued to be thronged with vehieles until the opening of the Coneord & Nashua railroad in 1838. In 1832, the year after the Mammoth road was built, President Jaekson and his eabinet passed over it on their way from Boston to Coneord, and dined at White's hotel in the northern part of Lon- donderry.


PINKERTON ACADEMY.


BY REV. E G. PARSONS.


B EFORE the founding of Pinkerton Academy, as early as 1793, a " classical high " school had been maintained in the East Parish of Lon- donderry. (Sec page 221.) This was partly sup- ported by the voluntary offerings of benevolent individuals, among whom was Major John Pinker- ton. About the year 1814 it was suggested to him by Rev. Edward L. Parker that permanent provision be made for the support of the school, and out of this came the endowment and charter of Pinkerton Academy. Major Pinkerton donated in all $13,000 to the school, and his brother, Elder James Pinkerton, added $1,500. A portion of the income of this latter sum was applied to the prin- cipal annually until it was doubled, and the per- manent funds became over $16,000. By carcful management this sum was increased to $18,000, and in 1881 a munificent bequest was rcccived from John Morrison Pinkerton of Boston, son of Elder James Pinkerton. The will of Mr. Pinker- ton provided that the income of this fund should be expended, first, for the payment of certain annuities, and then for the erection and furnishing of a new and improved academy building, costing not more than $50,000; then $500 annually for ten years and longer at the discretion of the trustees for the purchase of books for a library, and the residue of the income for the support of the school. The will further provided that the funds should be used and managed in accordance with the intentions of the original founders.


The charter members of the board of trustees were Major John Pinkerton and Elder James Pinkerton, Rev. Edward L. Parker, Rev. William


Morrison, John Burnham, Isaac Thom, John Porter, Alanson Tucker, and Dr. Robert Bartley. These nine men, in 1814, duly organized the corporation, electing James Pinkerton as presi- dent. Among the first acts of the trustees was a vote dirccting that tuition be collected of the pupils. It was required to be paid in advance, and was at first $2 a quarter, or $8 a year. This sum, together with $220 from the income of the funds, was appropriated as the compensation of the first preceptor, Samuel Burnham, for one year. Mr. Burnham resigned in 1818 and was followed by Justin B. Adams for one year. In 1818 the tuition was raised to $3 per quarter, and was after- ward changed to $7 per term, three terms in a year, and is now $6 pcr term, or $18 a year. This tuition, merely nominal as compared with that of most other schools of similar grade, has for a long time had but little, if anything, to do with the dircct support of the academy. It is used to pay for repairs and improvements, for which no other provision was made by the donors, the con- dition of the trust being such that any surplus incomc of the fund must, at the end of each year, be added to the principal and become a part thereof. Successive members of the board of trustces, chosen to fill vacancies as they occurred, have been as follows :


Rev. Justin Edwards, D. D .. James Thom. Rev. Asa Mc- Farland, D. D., Rev. Daniel Dana, D. D .. George Farrar. M. D .. Hon. William M. Richardson. LL. D .. Rev. John H. Church. D. D., William Choate. Samuel Adams, Thornton Betton. Rev. Pliny B. Day. D. D., Rev. Jonathan Clement. D. D .. Rev. Timothy G. Brainerd, Samuel H. Taylor, A. M., LL. D.,


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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.


John M. Pinkerton, A. M., Rev. Joshua W. Wellman, D. D. (see page 37), Rev. E. G. Parsons, A. M., William Anderson, David H. Pinkerton, Rev. William House, A. M., Rev. Leonard S. Parker, D. D., Rev. James T. McCollom, D. D., Rev. Caleb E. Fisher, A. M., Rev. David Bremner, A. M., Rev. Benjamin F. Parsons, A. M., Rev. Robert W. Haskins, A. M., Rev. Charles Tenney, A. M., Rev. Charles Packard, Nathan B. Prescott, Willard G. Means, Rev. John P. Newell, A. M .. Hon. Edward Spalding, M. D., L.L. D., Hon. John W. Noyes, George I. Clarke, John C. Chase. Rev. E. G. Parsons has been president of the board since 1881. (See page 25.)


At first the school received only boys. After a year or two, when the room in the academy had been completed for that purpose, it was enlarged by the addition of a female department, and Miss Sarah Fitts, who afterward became the wife of Col. Samuel Adams, was appointed its first pre- ceptress. This department of the school was dis- continued in 1821. In 1853 Pinkerton Academy was again opened to girls, and they have since formed a good half of its members. The school began its sessions in 1814, in the new building which had been erected for it by a general sub- scription of the people, especially of the western part of the town of Londonderry, on land contri- buted by William Choate and Peter Paterson. The site was that of the new building of today. and where the main building must always stand, " within two rods of John Porter's land." That old building, which has still its place of honor in the immediate vicinity, has by no means outlived its usefulness, and may yet in good time have a further important relation to the work of the school.


The most noted fcature of the history of the academy in the distant past is the administration of Abcl F. Hildreth, A. M., as its preceptor from 1819 to 1846. (See page 26.) With the valuable assistance of able young men, many of whom afterward became distinguishcd in other walks of life, the academy attaincd a wide reputation for its general thorough instruction and as a fitting school for college. Mr. Hildreth was succeeded in 1846 by Caleb Emcry, and in 1848 Rev. Elihu T. Rowe became preceptor, followed in 1850 by Marshall Henshaw, A. M., who resigned in 1853 to take the preceptorship of Dummer Academy, Byfield, Mass. He was afterward for some years a professor in Rutgers College, New Jersey, and


was honored with the degree of LL. D. Follow- ing Mr. Henshaw were John W. Ray, and, in 1857, Henry L. Boltwood. Mr. Ray was subse- quently ordained to the ministry and settled in Minnesota. Mr. Boltwood held his position here until 1861, when he was called elsewhere. He has since had a long and honorable connection with the schools in Evanston, Ill. The first term of 1862 enjoyed the services of Albert Currier, at that time a student in Andover Seminary. Dr. Currier became prominent as pastor of a Congrc- gational church in Lynn, Mass., and has been for many years a professor in the theological seminary at Oberlin, O. John Young Stanton, the next preceptor, was remarkable for the thorough char- acter of his work. He left in 1864 to accept a professorship in Bates College, Mainc. At the centenary of Bowdoin College, in 1894, it con- ferred upon him the degree of LL. D. Hon. John P. Newell succccdcd Mr. Young as princi- pal, resigning in 1866. Hc had been principal of the high school and superintendent of schools in Manchester, and his fellow citizens had also placed him in the mayor's chair. His work in Pinkerton Academy was no less markcd and useful than in the neighboring city. He was afterward ordained pastor of the Presbyterian church in Litchfield, and for several years has been a member of the board of trustees. At the beginning of the school year in 1866, Marshman W. Hazen came to the academy as its principal from his graduation at Dartmouth College. He proved a wise and ablc administrator and instructor, and at the end of three years accepted a more lucrative educa- tional position in Massachusetts. At present he is managing a prosperous business enterprise in New York city. Following Mr. Hazen, Rev. E. G. Parsons, A. M., was principal for three years, when he resigned to accept a similar position at Dummer Academy, where he remained ten years, and then returned to his home in Derry. Suc- ceeding Mr. Parsons, George T. Tuttlc was principal two terms, Homer P. Lewis two terms, and Edward A. Greeley one term. In 1876 Edmund R. Angell was chosen principal. He resigned in 1885, and has since rendered valuable service to the public by his scientific acquirements, and in official duties to which he has been




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