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 33
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ROWELL, Jane P. (wife of John Rowell) died Oct 17, 1866, aged 52 yrs 7 mos.
SKINNER, George W. died April 9, 1863, aged 31 yrs ; Eliza J. died Sept 24, 1863, aged 32 yrs 4 mos ; Edwin W. died Sept 12, 1858, aged 8 mos 10 dys.
SLATE, Levonia Lettia M. (dau of L. J. and L. B. Slate) died Sept 27, 1862, aged 10 mos 4 dys.
SMITH, Nathaniel died March 17, 1861, aged 69 yrs ; Elizabeth (his wife) died Nov 22, 1888, aged 91 yrs 10 mos ; David died Aug 13, 1839, aged 67 yrs ; Lois (his wife) died Nov 26, 1850, aged 78 yrs ; Joseph died June 27, 1838, aged 23 yrs.
SNOW, Freddie I. (son of G. W. and Eliza Snow) died July 29, 1876, aged 16 yrs 7 mos 16 dys.
SPINNEY, H. B. died June 27, 1862, aged 39 yrs 8 mos ; Alexander died Aug 26, 1847, aged 63 yrs 5 mos ; Zillah (wife) died Jan 8 1849, aged 63 yrs.
SWETT, Martha Grace (dau of Frank and Sarah J. Swett) died Aug 18, 1866, aged 2 yrs 3 mos 4 dys.
; THURSTON, Nellie E. (wife of Walter J. Thurston) died Oct 26, 1872, aged 26 yrs 8 mos 17 dys. (See Huntee.)
WATTS, Martha J. (wife of Caleb M. Watts) died Feb 17, 1858, aged 32 yrs ; Hattie M. (dau of Caleb M. and Martha J. Watts) died March 4, 1852, aged 1 yr 6 mos; Infant (dau of same) died Aug 17, 1854; Infant (dau of same) died Nov 29, 1872; Frank Henry died Oct 1, 1875, aged 23 yrs I mo; Joshua C. died Jan 21, 1873, aged 82 yrs 6 mos ; Martha (his wife) died Dec 16, 1869, aged 70 yrs 6 mos ; Margaret (their dau) died Aug 19, 1840, aged 3 yrs 8 mos ; Martha M. (their dau) died July 12, 1861, aged 30 yrs ; James died Dec 28, 1848, aged 54 yrs ; James (son of James and Miriam Watts) died March 14, 1840, aged 20 yrs.
WETHERBEE, Capt. Hezekiah, died March 18, 1869, aged 82 yrs 10 mos ; Grace B. (his wife) died Feb 9, 1865, aged 78 yrs 5 mos ; Susan A. (their dau) died Sept 10, 1864, aged 39 yrs 8 mos ; William B. died Sept 11, 1884, aged 55 yrs ; Sarah E (his wife) died Dec 4, 1888, aged 48 yrs.
WHIDDEN, Michel born Nov 10 1796, died Nov. 2, 1861 ; Hannah (his wife) born Oct 2, 1801, died Sept 21, 1881 ; Elbridge G. died May 21, 1849, aged 18 yrs 6 mos ; George M., Co D 7th Reg. N. H. Vols., wounded at Drury's Bluff, Va., died June 25, 1864, aged 30 yrs 2 mos ; Rufus M. (son of Joshua and Adaline Whidden) died Jan 18, 1852, aged 2 mos 18 dys ; Mary F. (dau of same) died Dec 1, 1854, aged I yr II mos 18 dys ; Abby M. (dau of George M. and Mary A. Whidden) died Aug 24, 1862, aged 3 mos ; Abigail Holbrook (in the same lot) died Feb 3 1846, aged 37 yrs.
WHITTEMORE (see Cheney).
WHEELER, Charles H. died Aug 8, 1890, aged 17 yrs 3 mos 12 dys ; Rebecca G. (wife of Tilly H. Wheeler) died May 28, 1850, aged 39 yrs 6 mos ; James S. (son of T. H. and R. G. Wheeler) died March 30, 1867, aged 21 yrs II mos 12 dys.
VICKERY, Roxanna Austen (wife of Calvin) died Dec 4, 1848, aged 59 yrs.
YOUNG, Israel M. died July 18, 1880, aged 44 yrs 9 mos.
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J OHN FERGUSON, M. D., son of David F. to the faculty of the medical college of Castleton, and Kate Lavenia (Fitz Gerald) Ferguson, Vt., then in session, and casily obtaincd their was born in Rathkeale, county of Limerick, Ire- land, Oct. 28, 1829. His ancestors were Scotch, who settled in the north of Ireland and were gen- erally engaged in linen manufacture. Hisgrand- father, David, moved to the south of Ireland, became a merchant in Rathkeale, and reared a family of five sons and two daughters. Four of the sons chose the learned professions, law, divinity, and medicine, 4 one of them becoming judge for the southern district of Ireland. Dr. Ferguson is the eldest of eight children. He was instructed by a pri- vate tutor in his early years, and was graduated from a Jesuit college in 1847. He then imme- diately began the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Philip O'Han- lon, in Rathkeale, and in 1850 was graduated from the Hall of Apothe- caries in Dublin. His continucd association with his uncle enabled him to acquire a practi- cal knowledge of medi- cine, surgery, pharmacy, and dispensary practice. Dr. O'Hanlon emigrated JOHN FERGUSON, M. D. to America and soon became celebrated as a successful practitioner in New York. Dr. Ferguson followed him to this country in 1851, and that he might practice his profession here he offered himself for examination diploma. In the follow- ing spring he received the diploma of the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgcons of New York, and then accepted the position of surgeon on a line of mail steamships plying between New York, Liverpool, Brc- men, and Havre, where for three years he was associated with many distinguished persons among the travelling public and made many valuable friends. Leav- ing the service of the steamship company, he was appointed one of the post-mortem examin- ing surgeons for the coroners of New York city, also assistant ana- tomical demonstrator and assistant clinical in- structor at the medical university in Fourteenth street, a college patron- ized chiefly by the sons of Southern planters. In 1861 he came to Man- chester, being the first Irish physician to settle here, and was shortly afterward appointed by Gov. Berry surgeon of the Tenth New Hamp- shire Volunteers. He left for the front with his regiment in the fall of 1862. During his residence in New York he had been surgeon on the staff of Col. Corcoran, of the famous Sixty- Ninth Regiment, and saw service in the quaran- tine riots on Staten Island, which fitted him all
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the better to fill the position of brigade surgeon during the Civil War. Near the close of the Rebellion he returned to Manchester, where he has since resided and built up a large and lucrative practice. In 1881 he was a member of the state legislature. Dr. Ferguson married Eleanor, only surviving daughter of Michael and Eleanor Hughes, who belonged to an old and wealthy family of New York city. Four children have been born to this union: Elcanora, born on Staten Island, married William Goggin of Man- chester, January, 1889; Alfred, born in Manches- ter, dicd in 1872 ; Mary C., and John D. Dr. Fer- guson is a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society, and among his professional brethren stands high as a skilful practitioner, whilc in social life he is a thorough gentleman of the old school.
SAMUEL CLARK, son of Robert Clark, was born in the English Range, Derry, Dcc. 27, 1798. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. Feb. 26,
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SAMUEL CLARK.
1829, he married Eliza Ann, daughter of Ebenezer Gregg of Derry. She was born July 26, 1804, and died Nov. 20, 1881. Their children were : Mary Ann, Lucinda, Eliza Ann, Mary Frances, and
Robert Hamilton. Samuel Clark was one of nine children, and was but seventeen years of age when his father died ; yet being possessed of great energy and an iron constitution, combined with good judgment, he readily assumed the management of the farm and shared with his mother the respon- sibility of rearing several younger brothers and sisters and had the satisfaction of seeing them all become worthy citizens. In 1831 he purchased the farm on the shore of Tsienneto lake, now in posses- sion of his only son, and here he remained, success- fully tilling his acres until his death, which occurred March 10, 1884. He had a wonderfully retentive memory, and his conversation was always enter- taining. Kind and sympathetic by naturc, he was ever attentive in time of sickness or distress. During his long life he was a constant attendant at the First Parish church, and was deeply inter- ested in the welfare of his native town, which he served as selectman. His son, Robert H., was born in Derry, Nov. 8, 1842, inheriting many of his father's traits of character. March 1, 1862, he married Frances Choate of Lowell, Mass., and their children are: George Choate, Lillian May, Emily Bertha, Edith Lucy, and Emma Josephine. Although Mr. Clark and his son George are suc- cessfully engaged in farming and carpentering, he has been active in town affairs, having served as town treasurer in 1875-77 ; as selectman 1887-89, and '93 ; as member of the board of appraisers in 1892, and as representative to the general court in 1895.
W WITCHCRAFT. - Probably most of the descendants of the Nutfield colony are familiar with the small tree or shrub that grows abundantly over all parts of the township and is commonly called the witch-hazcl. It furnishes an incxhaustible supply of aromatic and pungent oils for the manufacture of a large variety of medicinal remedics. At the present time one cstablishment for the manufacture of witch-hazel oil exists in Derry, and the forests are thoroughly searched for the shrub, which in its erude form has no commer- cial valuc, and the owners of woodland arc gener- ally quite willing to part with all their witch-hazel at the pleasure of the proprietor of the establish-
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ment. It may not be so generally known or his home and the city, there is onc long hill, and believed that the early settlers of this town were inclined to certain superstitions concerning the power of this shrub. The covenanters took exceedingly literal views of the meaning of the Holy Scriptures and had a lively imagination to conceive of the possession and operations of unseen spirits. As the nature and influence of the unseen powers were inexplicable, so the means of guarding against their machinations were also beyond the scope of reason, and now the mere recital of our ancestors' belief in witches, and credulity in charms for protection against their evil intentions is enough to create doubts of their mental sanity and lead to investigation of other peculiarities for which they were noted. About a hundred years ago there were several persons residing in the town of Londonderry who were commonly reported as possessed of occult powers and in collusion with satanic agencies that ren- dered them peculiarly dangerous to the community, and especially liable to inflict bodily injurics or torments under any exciting cause. The safety of the common people was believed to be conserved best by maintaining peaceful relations with the witches and avoiding all occasions for revenge. For the sake of those who might trace relationship to some of these characters and resent the personal allusion, it will serve the reader cqually well to omit names in the following instances of alleged witchcraft in Londonderry, although in the present state of enlightenment on the subject of posses- sions and the curative arts it is no unworthy reflec- tion to remember the absurdities that were pcr- fectly natural to the men and women of the last century.
One of these reputed witches lived on the Haverhill road, or very near to it on a bridle path in the southeastern part of the town. Among her neighbors was a farmer with a wife and small children. The farmer owned a wood lot and con- verted his wood and timber into money and domestic goods. In the process of hauling wood he used an ox tcam. On a certain day he started from his home with a small load of logs on a four- wheeled wagon made by joining two single pairs of wheels, and he had one strong yoke of oxen to draw his load. On the Haverhill road, betwcen
the road led straight over the top of it, according to the general custom of building highways in the earlier times. The farmer with his oxen and load of logs was proceeding leisurely up this long hill, and had ncarly reached the summit, when the clevis pin sprang out of the spire to the impro- vised wagon and the load of logs began running backward down the hill. Owing to the straight- ness of the road and the dragging of the spire, like a ship's rudder behind, the load ran to the very bottom of the hill without leaving the ruts. The farmer was somewhat surprised at this unusual accident, and picking up the clevis pin, returned with the oxen to the bottom of the hill, where he attached them again to the load and proceeded a second time on his way. Never having suffered from a like mishap before, the farmer could not expect it to be repeated, but he had scarcely reached the same place on the side of the hill when the clevis pin was heard to fall on the ground, followed by the withdrawal of the spire from the ring and staple of the yoke, and the load began running down hill in the same unaccount- able manner, and continued as before to the bottom. The farmer was in a passion, but like all persevering heroes of romance he picked up his clevis pin and went back for a third trial. As he pondered over the incident on his way down the hill, occasionally venting a little of his temper upon the oxcn with his stout goadstick, the thought came to him that a good withe, made from witch-hazel, well twisted and bound around the end of the spire and over the head of the clevis pin. might prevent a further repetition of that partic- ular annoyance. The witch-hazel grows by all roadsides and he had no difficulty in finding just what he wanted, and in a few minutes he had twisted it under his fect until it was as pliable as a rope and fully as strong. After slipping the spire into the yoke ring and putting in the clevis pin. he proceeded to wind the tough withe around the spire between the ring and the clevis pin, and beyond the pin and over its head, and finished by tucking the end through a loop in the branches. When the farmer had completed this work to his satisfaction, he chuckled to himself a little and started up his oxcn with a greatly improved temper.
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Ile passed the hill without further trouble, reached Haverhill, disposed of his load, and reached home about six o'clock, both hungry and tired, he therefore resorted to the expedient of unyoking the oxen and leaving the yoke on the spire until some other time. He had scarcely gotten his oxen into the barn when his wife came from the house and said their neighbor, calling her by name, the person who had the reputation of being a witch, had been suddenly seized with choking and was in great distress, in danger of dying, and had sent over for him to come to her just as speedily as possible when he returned from Haverhill. The farmer began to have a suspicion of the circum- stanees of her choking and the eause, and was thoroughly minded to let her suffer, but as his wife urged him to go and not incur the resentment of the old woman, he said : " You go over to her and see what condition she is in, and watch her very elosely for fifteen minutes by the elock, and I will
follow you when I have eaten my supper." She went back to the old woman, who was groaning and gasping for breath in great agony, and told her that her husband would arrive in fifteen minutes, and then sat down to watch her. In about ten minutes the witch beeame perfectly quiet and free from pain. Meanwhile the farmer had gone to the barn, removed the witch-hazel withe from the spire and clevis pin, and was on his way to see the old woman. It did not require any words to explain what she desired of him, and he was not slow in giving her to under- stand that he had suspected her of evil influences before, and that she had borne that reputation, that now he had full proof of her witcheraft, and that although at his wife's urgent entreaty he had taken compassion upon a witch this once, she might be cautious about playing any of her tricks upon him again, for if she persisted he should certainly strangle her at the next attempt.
ROGER G. SULLIVAN'S RESIDENCE, MANCHESTER.
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
E DWARD P. JOHNSON, son of Jesse and took a deep interest in fraternal organizations Rebekah (Walker) Johnson, was born in Manchester, at Goffe's Falls, seventy-six years ago. Receiving his education in the public and in private schools, he became a shoe cutter, and for thirty years was engaged in the shoe manufac- turing business, developing and conducting the extensive affairs of Boyd & Cory. Having of the country.
achieved great suc- cess in this industry, he went into business for himself as a coal merchant in the fifties, and for nearly forty years his affairs prospered. He car- ried on the business alone for a number of years, and then, taking in a partner, the E. P. Johnson Coal Company was incorporated, with Mr. Johnson as presi- dent. The corpora- tion soon became one of the most im- portant in the city, owning or control- ling a large amount of real estate, ac- quired by Mr. John- son's able and skilful management. Al- though an ardent Republican, Mr. Johnson was never an extreme partisan, and he possessed the confidence of his fellow citi- zens regardless of party lincs. He never sought public office but was clected to the board of aldermen, where his marked business ability made him extremely useful in the management of muni- cipal affairs, and where he served on important committees. When he had nearly reached the age of three score and ten, he was chosen, without his solicitation, and by a handsome majority, as member of the state legislature. Mr. Johnson
and was the founder of the tribe of Red Men in this city, having been initiated into the order in Portsmouth. In 1881 he organized Passaconaway Tribe ; he was also Great Sachem of the tribes of New Hampshire and was often a delegate to various conventions of the order in different parts Mr. Johnson was likewise promi- nent in the councils of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, being a member of Hillsborough Lodge for nearly forty years. He was also a member of the Chieftains' League. Mr. Johnson was twice married, the first time to Miss Martha A. Bartlett, by whom he had three children, all of whom are now de- ceased. His second marriage was to Miss Abbie A. Demary, in 1870, Rev. Thomas Borden performing the ceremony. Mr. Johnson's death which occurred in 1892, was mourned by a wide circle of friends and business associates. His widow survives him.
EDWARD P. JOHNSON.
C ADWALLADER JONES was one of the most noted wags of old Nutfield even in his boyhood days. One Saturday at a catechising class Rev. Mr. McGregor put the question to him. "How many covenants are there ?" and Cad replied : "Two; a covenant of works and one of grace, and the former was broken." " Where was it broken ? " asked the minister. "I don't exactly know," said Cad, "but I think it snapped off in the middle."
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, DERRY DEPOT.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH of Derry teen,-eight men and six women,-as follows : T was organized Oct. 10, 1880. Previous to Rev. A. S. Stowell, Mrs. Ella Stowell, Jonathan May, Mrs. Mary May, Henry S. Wheeler, Mrs. H. Maria Wheeler, Margaret H. Morse, Mary Morse, Ira Goodwin, Joseph White, Leonard H. Pillsbury, Mrs. Evelyn S. Pillsbury, Abram Evans, Warren C. Evans. All of these persons brought letters of dismission from Baptist churches of which they were formerly members, excepting the last two, who were received on experienee. The first offieers of the church were: Pastor, Rev. A. S. Stowell; deacons, Jonathan May, Joseph White; clerk, L. H. Pillsbury ; treasurer, H. S. Wheeler. This "body of baptized be- lievers " was formally recognized as a regu- lar Baptist church by an ecclesiastical coun- eil ealled for that pur- pose, and held Nov. 17, 1880. Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1880, a week- night prayer meeting was instituted, which has been continued until the present time, being still held on that evening of the FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, DERRY DEPOT. week. Realizing that soon a house of worship would be needed, the that time, for several years, religious services had been held at the Depot Village by members of different denominations. There had been a union Sunday school, and also preaching more or less regularly by such clergymen as could be secured from week to week. Rev. George W. Kinney, then pastor of the Baptist church at Hudson, was the first, perhaps, to call attention to Derry Depot as a favorable location for the planting of a church of that faith and order. Rev. Alfred S. Stowell of Salem also interested himself in the enter- prise, and after receiv- ing encouragement from different leading clergymen of the state, these two gentlemen began at once to see what could be done toward the accom- plishing of their pur- pose. Derry was visited for the purpose of learning the num- ber of Baptists living there, and their feel- ing toward the pro- posed movement. From these, as well as from others who were not Baptists, they received such encouragement as to warrant pastor, with wise forethought, seeured on his own responsibility a building lot for that purpose, paying $400 for it. The same lot, without build- ings, would be worth now more than $1,000. May IO, 1882, a " meeting of citizens interested in the erection of a church edifiee at Derry Depot " was called, at which over $1,700 was subseribed. A few weeks later a disastrous fire swept through the village, destroying much valuable property, and Smith's Hall, where the little church had been holding its meetings, was burned to the ground. For a few weeks the services were held in the district schoolhouse, but it was not long before several of the members of the church had united immediate action, and accordingly, on Feb. 29, 1880, the first service was held by Mr. Kinney, under the auspices of the New Hampshire Baptist State Convention. These services were continued from week to week, with preaching by Revs. Kinney, Stowell, and A. Sherwin of Manchester, until Aug. 15, when Mr. Stowell, having finished his pastorate at Salem, assumed full charge of the work. The first Sunday evening service was held August 29, and the Sunday school was organized Dec. 26. Mr. Stowell at onee began the work of organizing a church, which was accomplished Oct. 10, with a constituent membership of four-
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in ereeting a building for temporary use, in which the meetings were held until July, 1883, when the basement of the new house of worship was ready for use, and in the following spring the auditorium was finished and dedicated May 14, 1884. A clock and bell were afterwards placed in the tower, and a baptistry has since been added. In 1890, a two- story house for a parsonage was erected on the church lot adjoining the meeting-house. In 1892 the interior of the church was beautifully frescoed and the outside newly painted.
During the fifteen years of its history the church has had but two pastors. Rev. A. S.
REV. J. H. NICHOLS.
Stowell served until Oet. 13, 1889, a period of nine years, when he elosed his pastorate to accept that of a ehureh at Montville, Conn. Nov. 11 of the same year the ehureh ealled Rev. J. H. Niehols to become its pastor, and he assumed the pastorate Dee. I. The following named gentlemen have served the church as deaeons: Jonathan May, Joseph White, James Greeley, Henry S. Wheeler, Fred S. Pillsbury, and Calvin H. Bradford, the three latter now holding that offiee. L. H. Pills- bury, F. S. Pillsbury, A. E. French, and Marshall Martin have served as elerk. H. S. Wheeler has been treasurer from the organization of the church,
and L. H. Pillsbury superintendent of the Sunday school for the same length of time.
A good degree of prosperity has attended the ehureh from the beginning. Ninety-eight persons have been received by baptism upon profession of faith, and forty by letter and experience, making, with the fourteen constituent members, a total of one hundred and fifty-two who have been con- neeted with the church. Aeeording to the annual reports, nearly $21,000 have been raised for home objeets and benevolent purposes.
AJUTFIELD MILLERITES .- No single year in the history of Londonderry has made a deeper and more lasting impression upon the memories of the older inhabitants than the notable year of 1843, when the end of the world and the seeond advent of the Saviour were expected by a elass of people ealled Millerites from their belief in the caleulations and doetrines of a celebrated leader whose name was William Miller (born in Massachusetts in 1781; died in 1849). The movement in Londonderry began early in the summer of that year, in a series of cottage lectures that attraeted one family after another with rapidly inercasing force and influence until eot- tages were not sufficient for the attendance, and camps had to be set up for their accommodation. In the beginning of the season only Sabbath days were devoted to these lectures, accompanied by prayer and singing and eondueted by outside exhorters or leaders, but gradually the solemnity of the doetrine and the seriousness of the eon- verts demanded more time for preparation to meet the dire catastrophe that was daily eoming nearer, and the evenings of the week days were devoted to leeture, prayer and singing at the various houses where the interest was deepest. On the Sabbath a long service was conducted in the open air near some residenee, where the leaders and visitors from adjoining towns were entertained before and after the serviees.
As the summer wore away, interest in these meetings inereased to sueh intensity that the erowds of people who assembled could not give attention to business of any other kind, and per-
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