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 24
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death hc was the oldest bank president in the United States. Mr. Parker was one of the pioneer railroad men in New Hampshire, taking an active part in many enterprises. He was one of the largest stockholders in the Concord & Montreal railroad, and was treasurer of the old Concord railroad for many years. He was formerly also a director and the treasurer of the Manchester & Lawrenee railroad, and for a long term of ycars a director of the Coneord & Portsmouth railroad. Mr. Parker never sought politieal preferment, but he was elected to the board of seleetmen in 1845, the year before the incorporation of the city and the year during which the present city hall was built, the old town hall having been destroyed by fire in 1844. He represented Manchester in the state senate in 1855-56, and might have been president of that body had he so chosen. In 1863-64 he was a member of the house of repre- sentatives. He was always a staunch Republican, although not an extreme partisan. Mr. Parker married, in September, 1837, Charlotte M. Riddle of Merrimack, granddaughter of Capt. Isaac Riddle, a wealthy farmer, mill owner, and con- tractor of Bedford, who built the first eanal boat that was floated on the Merrimack river. Mrs. Parker died in 1859, leaving one son, Walter M. Parker, who is now president of the Manchester National bank. One who knew Nathan Parker well thus wrote of him at the time of his deeease :
In the death of Nathan Parker, Manchester loses a citizen who has always been assigned a first place among those who have given her an enviable reputation in financial and business circles. He was a quiet, retiring man, who had no political ambition, no relish for show, no desire to be known outside the business in which he was engaged, and he devoted himself entirely and persistently to his calling ; but he was widely known. and wherever known he was highly respected. His integrity was never questioned, his sagacity seldom failed, and so success- ful was he in the management of his own affairs and in the dis- charge of the numerous trusts that were committed to him. that he came to be regarded by a large clientage as almost infallible. The banks which he established, and which were the objects of his greatest pride and closest devotion. grew under his skilful and conservative direction to be great financial institutions, and the other moneyed enterprises with which he was identified were among the most successful of his time, a time when recklessness and incapacity often wrecked and ruined others. He was a kindly man, and always approachable and always pleasant. but never effusive or profuse in words. He made no enemies.
212
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
H IRAM FORSAITHI, son of Robert and sors. Elizabeth (Caldwell) Forsaith, was born in members of the Franklin-Street Congregational Goffstown Sept. 6, 1820. He was educated in the public schools and at Pembroke Academy. Coming to Manchester in 1838, he was a clerk in a store until 1844, and then after two years as bookkeeper at Nashua he returned to this city as clerk and paymaster of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Com- pany. Ile remained in this position until 1855, when he went into the hardware business. Six years later, in company with his brother, Samuel C.,
HIRAM FORSAITH.
he started what is now known as the S. C. For- saith Machine Company. The partnership lasted four years, when they separated, his brother eon- tinuing the business and Hiram starting a shop of his own in what was then known as Meehanies' row, where he manufactured wood-working ma- ehinery for fourteen years. He afterward travelled for his brother and was for many years eonneeted with the wood-working business and iron industry. He was a member of the common eouneil in 1865-66, being president of that body in the latter year. In 1891 he was a member of the legislature and has served several terms on the board of asses-
He is one of the few surviving original
Society, and is a member of Washington Lodge of Masons. Since 1857 he has been identified with the Amoskeag Veterans and has been captain of the organization. Feb. 17, 1845, he was married to Franees M., daughter of William and Sophia (Weston) Gregg of Antrim, who died in 1855. Two sons were born to them : Fred S., born May 17, 1850, who married Eliza, daughter of Joseph MeIntire of Manchester, and Gregg, born July 17, 1855, died Aug. 15, 1882.
T HE BEAR HUNT OF 1807 .- The last sueeessful bear hunt in the Nutfield region of New Hampshire took place early in March, 1807. Two men who were out hunting in the northwestern part of Londonderry came upon the traek of a bear and immediately started in pursuit, the animal leading them only about two hundred yards. His eourse was due south, and after fol- lowing him four miles without bringing him within range of their guns the men relinquished the ehase to four or five other hunters whom they ehaneed to meet. The latter pursued the bear ten miles, when he took refuge for the night in a swamp near Pelham meeting-house. Early the next morning a large party assembled to capture him, but he quiekly left his retreat and retraeed, in part, his steps of the previous day. Still eluding his pursuers, he passed the second night in a swamp near the Windham meeting-house. On the third morning he started north and ran along the eastern boundary of Londonderry, followed by a crowd of men, boys, and dogs. Towards noon he took to a large pine tree near the site of the old ehureh in Londonderry, and was killed by a shot from a gun in the hands of Deaeon John Fisher. The eareass was taken to Daniel Gilehrist's house and dressed, when it was found to weigh two hun- dred pounds. As fifty men, all told, had been engaged in the chase, four pounds fell to the share of each. The skin was exchanged at Deaeon Pinkerton's store for several gallons of whiskey, and the eapture of the bear was duly celebrated by the erowd.
THE THREE QUARTER MILE RANGE.
BY REV. JESSE G. McMURPHY.
T "HIS range of homesteads, occupied before Range and the homestead of Samuel Graves. The settlers upon these lots of the Three Quarter Mile Range were disturbed by the people of Haverhill and probably with good reasons, as it appears quite evident the deeds, grants, and charters of the times were conflicting and the actual settlers found themselves involved in seem- ingly inextricable difficulties, and compelled to fight or surrender without knowing the true eause of their misfortunes. It appears upon the records of the town that Governor Wentworth received and occupied a farm in this range, the first sliee taken off the Haverhill elaim, and that he formally resigned this land eight years later. Perhaps a transcript of these records may be of interest as fully explaining the transaction. The Governor Wentworth place is elearly identified as the farm occupied afterwards by the Hunters and later by J. T. G. Dinsmore, and now in possession of Robert Rogers, the house next above that of Benjamin Adams :
the charter of Londonderry was granted, and probably not ineluded in the deed of John Wheel- wright to the colony of Nutfield, remained for many years in doubtful ownership, the people of Haverhill elaiming it and all that traet of land in the present township of Derry lying east of a meridi -. onal line passing through the most easterly corner of the English Range. The beginning of surveys was at the inlay of Capt. David Cargill's fulling mill, and the millpond lay wholly in the disputed territory. An examination of the head- lines in the vicinity of this starting place will show the insignificant variations in the course of an imaginary boundary onee considered a matter of weighty importance. The origin of the name of the range is found in the dimensions of the home- steads. They were laid out two hundred and forty rods in length and of sufficient width to contain from forty to fifty aeres of land. The westerly ends were considered more convenient and ser- viceable for the proprietors' residences and eulti- vation, and the easterly ends remained for pas- turage and timber. The highway for the aceom- modation of the range settlers passed along the western ends and was a principal line of eommuni- cation between Boston, Haverhill, and the settle- ments lying to the north of them.
At the top of the map is shown a portion of Stephen Pieree's homestead. He was an aneestor of the governor. Adjoining was the homestead of Andrew Spalding, the lots forming an exact isosceles triangle filling the space between the English Range and the Three Quarter Mile
Nutfield September 16th 1721. Laid out to the Honorable Lieutenant Governor Wentworth forty acres of land it being the second division of land in the above said town bounded as fol- loweth : beginning at a white oak tree at the south west corner. from thence running east two hundred and forty rods and bound- ing upon Alexander McMurphy's land until it come to a stake & heap of stones, from thence running north twenty eight rods unto a white oak tree marked, from thence running west two hundred and forty rods unto a white oak tree marked. from thence running south unto the bounds first mentioned. James McKeen, James Gregg, David Cargill, John Goffe. Samuel Moore, John Coghran. Joseph Simonds. James Alexan- der, James McNeal, Committee. Recorded this 18th September 172I.
P1. JOHN GOFFE. Town Cierk.
19
213
map of The Three quarter mile Range. Prepared conch
Stephan Pince
Andrew Spalding Forty eight acres laid out in Nutfield 17/20. Recorded march 31, 1721. 1
Jon. Lieut. Governor Wentworth Forty acres laich out in Vulfuld Schltimber 16#1721 Recorded Soft 18, 1721. Resigned Fel, 11- 1728 for land It deverills.
Alexander mc murphy and Jamesbiggett, Fifty Lacres laid out in Londonderry march 1723. Recorded Afec 13,1723.
drawn by Revel o. G. Mc murphy. all rights reserved.
John mc murphy Fifty acres l'aide out in fondonding March 1722. Recorded Alcan 12,1723. 1
1 David Gargill, Jr. Forly acres laid out iffilondonderry march 1722, Recordul march 4, 1726.
- Garg ilf , 8m.
Gargiles
27
John Archibald Forty acres laid out inlondonderry March 1722. Recorded march 4,17 23.
William Thompson forly acres laid out in Londonderry Matich 1722 Recorded January 23, 1723. 1
Robert Morrison
Road laid out February 17th 1723.
Haverhill Far
1000 laid February 1
James mcneal
Sixty acres laid out in Londonderry September 1721 Recorded Feb. 26, 1723.
ETsabine
Ibugh montgomery. Forty acres laid out in Londonderry match 1722. Recorded Feb. 22, 1723.
Revel James McGregor. Forty acres laid out in Londonderry harch 1722. Recorded Fcb. 11E 1725.
John Richey and William Wilson. Forty acres laid out in Londonderry Match 1722. Recorded Feb, 13, 1723.
Daniel me Auffee, One hundred acres laid out in Wutfuld, November 20, 1721. Recorded The same day.
John Mc murphy amendment land laid out in Londonderry april 1, 1726 Recorded June 24, 1726.
Revel James MeGregor.)
0
1
laidout in Vitfull July 20 1720 Recorded august- 2 mal , 720. Revit James the Gregor ninety- two acres laid
out in Nulfuld 1720. Recorded March
24,1721.
11
Beau 17.20
laid out in Tutfull Oct. 12, 1720. John Archibald. Recorded The same day. brook above the bond. paralel fb.13
Lt. Gov. John Wentworth. Sixty acres Recorded January 9th 1719.
one hundred rods Ph 0 10 25 50 100
bob. John Wheelwright, Sixty acres.
Samuel Houston, Sixty acres laid out in Fulfill in 1720 Recorded april 61725 Javid Cargill, Sixty acres laid out
in Tutfuld 1720 Recordul aug 2 1720-
Sixty aeres lail.
out in Nulfüll 17za. Recordul Zee En 21, 1724.
William Gilmore. Fifty acres laid out in Nutfield Ji720. Recorded June 1,1722.
Nulfaitel March 25, 1720 Ricard Jan 30,1721 Robert Boyce, Sixty acres laid Recorded November 5, 1720'- out in Nutfull May 1720.
Fifty one asus Pearl outrun
John mcmurphy
Alexander Mcneal, Julfeild 1720.
Fifty one acres laid out in Nulfectel 1720. Recorded December 27, 1722:
Sixty acres laid out in- Recorded July 2 nd 17/21.
Robert morrison.
William Thompson
David Gargill Forty one acres
5
Filling milho
MAP OF THE THREE QUARTER MILE RANGE.
215
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
February 11th 1728-9. It is hereby to be known that the Honorable John Wentworth, Esq .. Lieutenant Governor in and over His Majestys Province of New Hampshire, doth resign his right and title to the land mentioned in the above record, he having the equivalent of said land laid out on the westerly side of that land commonly called Leveretts Land, etc.
J. WENTWORTH.
I was present when the aforesaid Governor Went- worth resigned the above land. Attest, per JOHN MACMURPHY, Town Clerk.
The land received by Governor Went- worth instead of this farm in the Three Quarter Mile Range is identified by deeds in possession of J. Calvin Taylor as part of his farm and deeded by Governor Wentworth to his an- cestor (great-grand- father) Matthew Taylor, in 1732.
Alexander Mac- Murphy, who was granted the lot south of Governor Went- worth, was the great- grandfather of Alex- ander MacMurphy now living in Derry at the age of eighty-two years.
MRS. BETSY (COBURN) ANNIS. Aged 92 years.
MRS. SARAH (COBURN) MORRISON. Aged 89 years.
Sisters residing in Londonderry, 1894.
the land shows Alexander MacMurphy to have occupicd before that datc. It is possible that Squire John MacMurphy, who was a man of great prudence, the first magistrate and town clerk of Londonderry, recognized the fact that no docu- ments issucd prior to the date of the charter could be considered legal or valid. James Mac- Murphy, the son of Alexander of the Thrce Quarter Mile Range, sold his in- terest in the home- stcad, after his father's death, to his brother Alexander, and bought land of David Morrison in Eayers Range, where his descendants have lived cver since. The two MacMurphy lots arc now owned by Benjamin Adams, and he also owns the lots of the Cargills, his house being just above the original inlay of Capt. David Cargill's fulling mill.
The eastern half of David Cargill's lot was sold to Robert Gillmore at an early date, and March 25, 1724, David Cargill dcedcd a lot of sev-
No certain infor- mation explains the fact that the records show a enty acres to Robert Gillmorc for building him a manifest error in the allotment of thesc farms. fulling mill; the lot was north of William Gill- more's farm, hence it is evident the Cargills had bought large tracts of land from the original proprietors at an early date in addition to many grants from the town. The Cargills sold both mills and real estate to John MacMurphy in 1732. and he disposed of them by his will of 1755. James McNeal sold his homestead to James Gill- more April 13, 1722, according to the traditions and papers of the Gillmore family. If the record of the Governor Wentworth land is correct, Alexander MacMurphy had possession of a homestead prior to Sept. 16, 1721. The records of deeds at Exeter, N. H., show that James Lig- gett sold his half of that homestead laid out to him and Alexander MacMurphy in 1722. The second division of Squire John MacMurphy, immediately south of Alexander MacMurphy, was laid out to him in March, 1722-3, and yet the description of
216
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
There were peculiar means of identifying the
lots in said town. James Gregg, James McKeen, David Cargill. Ilugh Montgomery lands : the farm in the Three John McNeal, Committee. Recorded this 14th of March, 1723-4. Quarter Mile Range joined upon the farm in a Pr. JOHN MACMURPHY, Town Clerk. short range southeast of Beaver pond also laid out to Hugh Montgomery. The farm of Hugh It is certain that this was the original order of this short range from the transcript of the lay- ing out of a highway. The highway began at a bridge built by Robert Boyes at the outlet of Beaver pond : Montgomery is not shown in this map but its location was along the side of the homestead of William Thompson. The transcript of William Thompson's homestead is not found, but the fol- lowing record of Hugh Montgomery's lot will serve several important purposes :
Londonderry July 291 1723. Laid out by the selectmen a road or street beginning at the bridge at the lower end of the
ELM STREET, MANCHESTER .- LOOKING SOUTH.
Londonderry March 1720. Laid out to Hugh Montgomery a lot of land containing sixty acres be it more or less which lot is bounded on the west by a white oak tree marked, thence run- ning northeast by marked trees and bounding on Robert Morri- son's lot to a stake, bounding on John Archibald's lot and bounding on said Archibald's lot to Haverhill false line, so running north on said line to a stake, and from said stake bounding east on James McNeal's lot to a stake, thence running forty rods south to a stake, thence running west on Mr. McGregor's lot to the aforesaid Haverhill line and bounding south on said line to a white oak tree marked thence running southwest and bounding on William Thompson's lot to a stake, and bounding northwest to the bounds first mentioned ; together with an interest in the common or undivided lands equal to other
pond called Beaver pond and running up through the Ministerial and through John McNeal's lot and by marked trees to the road now fenced through John MacMurphy's lot and through Robert Boyce's lot and through Alexander McNeal's lot and through Robert Morrison's lot near his house, and running through Hugh Montgomery's lot and through William Thomp- son's lot and along through David Cargill's lot to the east of his old house where good ground answereth, and so running straight toward Mr. James McGregor's house, or barn, and so by the house to John Richey's house, the said road to be kept and continued clear four rods wide, and the timber of said road to be reserved for the use of said road. Samuel Moore, James Nichols, Robert Boyes, Selectmen. Recorded this 30th of September 1723. Pr. JOHN MACMURPHY, Town Clerk.
217
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
The positions of some very old houses are pied by Charles A. Burnham. The homestead and second division of one hundred acres laid out indicated by the records, and it seems that David Cargill owned a house that was considered old the in one lot to Daniel MeDuffee remained many next year after the charter was granted to Lon- years nnder his management and ownership, and the name still lives and is perpetuated in the cus- tom of calling some farms by the names of former owners. The MeDuffee farm is now owned and occupied by Albert A. Pressey. Daniel MeDuffec and Ruth, his wife, lived to a good old age, and their bodies lie in the old burying ground by the First church. A large horizontal slab resting upon four pillars tells the story. From the town records one reads : "Hugh MeDuffee, son of Daniel McDuffee and Ruth his wife, was born March 25, 1721," and "John McDuffee, son of Danicl McDuffee and Ruth his wife, was born September 14th 1723." And thus by sure steps the old places are restored and peopled with the shades of the departed. donderry. The deed of John Wheelwright, had it been sufficient to establish a clear title, would have included a portion of land that the people of Chester secured under a charter that antedatcd the charter of Londonderry, and several farms were laid out to the Haverhill line north of Stephen Pierce's homestead. The great farm of Governor Shute was still farther north, and a highway connected it with Haverhill and Boston, the centre of power and authority in the Massa- chusetts Bay colony. To exhibit the rapid changes in ownership of lands in this part of the town and allow the reader to see the impossibility of con- structing a map that will be absolutely free from the charge of anachronisms, another record of a highway is here given :
Londonderry February the 18th 1724-5. Laid out by the selectmen a straight road beginning at the common land lying to the northwest of Governor Shute's lots and running southerly across the said lots and through Samuel Rankin's lot to the line between Thomas Cochran and James Caldwell the two thirds upon James Caldwell's land and the other third upon Thomas Cochran's land, and across William Adams's lot straight to Patrick Douglass's house and to the lean-to, and turning more easterly across Robert Boyes's lot to Governor Wentworth's farm. and so on the said farm to the west end of Alexander MacMurphy's field and across his lot, and across John MacMur- phy's second division and David Cargill's to the brook at the Inlay of the Fulling Mill, and as near a south line as ground will allow to John Archibald's house, and straight to William Gillmore's house, and as straight as good ground will allow to Daniel McDuffee's new house, and so to James Adams's house, and so as straight to the easterly corner of John Richey's home lot as ground will allow and then running partly on the second divisions and partly on John Richey's lot as good ground will alllow to the corner of John Barr's lot and so running partly on John Barr's lot and partly on the second divisions as good ground will allow to the line between William Humphrey and John Barr's lot, running on said Barr's land as far as the select- men have viewed, and then running on said Humphrey's land to the road leading to Haverhill, the said road to be two rods wide. This by order of James Alexander, William Coghran, John Blair, Robert Boyes, Selectmen. Recorded this 27th of Feb- ruary 1724-5.
Pr. JOHN MACMURPHY, Town Clerk.
The lot laid out to the Rev. James McGregor is now owned by Alexander MeMurphy and oeeu-
TOWN ACCOUNTS were rigidly audited in the early days of Nutfield. Scrupulously honest as those old Scotch-Irish settlers were, they thought it well that all should know where every penny went. There had evidently been some fault found with the expenditures in 1729, for at the annual town meeting in the following year, " Alexander Nichols, James Aiken and John Mor- rison were chosen to serve as a committee to the end that the town may be made sensible of the disbursements of their money."
THE FIRST FRAME HOUSE was built in Nutfield (in the present town of Derry) in 1728, for Rcv. James McGregor. There were two stories in front and one in the rear, where the kitchen was situated, extending nearly across the house, with ample "dressers," and a sink at one end and a bedroom at the other. Two large rooms were in front, and upstairs were four bed- rooms. As late as 1863 this house was occupied as a dwelling by its owner, Joseph Morrison. In the fall of that year, having retained nearly its original form to the last through the vicissitudes of 135 years, it was torn down. (See page 71.)
218
WILLET'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
C HARLES WELLS, M. D., was born in political honors, although they were frequently Westminster, Vt., June 22, 1817. His offered to him, his only public service was as a mem- grandfather, Captain Hezekiah Wells, a native of ber of the common council in 1847-48, and as an alderman in 1848-49. He assisted in making the first city report, and the plan suggested and matured by him has been in use ever since. He was for many years vestryman and treasurer of Grace Episcopal church. The ostentatious show of wealth was very distasteful to Dr. Wells. Solid worth and merit alone weighed with him, and no man was ever quieker to recognize the true and the genuine and to denounce shams and hum- bugs. As eitizen, neighbor, and friend, he filled the measure of every expectation, and no resident of Manchester ever departed this life more gen- erally esteemed or more deeply lamented. Of fine physique and of prepossessing appearance, he was gentle, courtly, dignified, and affable in his de- meanor. Dee. 21, 1847, he was married to Miss Mary M. Smith, who survives him. Their union, though not blessed with children, proved most felicitous. His death, of which there had been no premonitions, occurred very suddenly of heart disease at his home in Manchester, Dee. 28, 1884.
Windsor, Conn., served with distinction in the Revolutionary war and died in 1817. His more remote ancestors were Lamson Wells, born in 1706; Joshua Wells, born in 1672, and Joshua, Sr., born in 1647, all natives of Windsor. Dr. Wells thus traced his lineage through the best of New England aneestry, back to the sturdy Pilgrims. Dr. Wells had but one brother, Dr. Horace Wells of Hartford, Conn., celebrated as the diseoverer of anæstheties. He died in New York Jan. 24, 1848, at the age of thirty-three, while engaged in the introduction of his discovery into general use in surgery, as well as in dentistry, in which he made its first application. A beautiful statue has been ereeted to his memory in the publie park of Hartford. Dr. Charles Wells was educated in the publie schools of Bellows Falls, Vt., where the family resided and where his father died in 1829. After academic courses at Walpole, N. H., and Amherst, Mass., he began the study of medieine in 1837 with Dr. Josiah Graves of Nashua, and was graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1840, at the age of twenty-one. He began his professional career at Chili, N. Y., but the field of praetiee proving unsatisfactory, he removed in 1842 to Manchester, where he continued to reside until his death. Never an aggressive practitioner, but always content with the share of patronage that fell to his lot, he enjoyed in a high degree the confidenee and respect of his professional brethren. Sueh, however, was his sueeess, and sueh his rare financial skill and judgment, that while still in the prime of manhood he was relieved of the burden of further professional labor, and was enabled to withdraw from active practice and devote the remain- ing years of his life to the management of his large estate and to those domestie and social enjoy- ments which were ever the source of his greatest happiness. For more than forty years he was an enthusiastie member of Hillsborough Lodge of Odd Fellows, being the last survivor of the little band who introduced the order in New Hamp- shire. He was the recipient of all the honors the order could bestow, and was ever a generous eon- tributor to its benevolent work. Never seeking
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