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 36
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facilities for getting logs and manufactured humber to market were greatly increased by the completion of the Amoskeag canal in 1807, and Stark's property in timber tracts was made much more valuable. Early in life he erected a mill for sawing lumber on Ray's brook, at the present site of Dorr's pond, and it was this mill that was so suddenly stopped at the news of the battle of Lexington, and permitted to rot and rust during the eight years of the Revolution. The remains of the dam are yet to be seen at low water. After the Revolution, Stark, in connection with Judge Blodgett, erected a saw and grist mill on the east side of Amoskeag falls, near the present entrance of the company's large canal.
Notwithstanding the rough and stirring character of Stark's
to that of a modern poultry exhibitor. One enormous fowl was his pet and pride ; the golden plumage, black breast, and fine sickle feathers were descanted on with true appreciation. This queer pet would eat corn from his master's hand, perch on his cane, crow at command, and was even admitted into the gen- eral's room, by his expressed wish, to while away the tedious hours when he could no longer sit on the lawn.
The farmhouse of Stark was a plain two-story structure, with an ell, a front door and entry dividing it into two equal parts ; this, with four barns, and some smaller out-houses, com- prised the farm buildings. They were erected a few yards above the junction of the present Reform School road with the River road, and the well, with its cover of plank, is still to be seen.
HOME OF GEN. STARK, MANCHESTER.
life, he had naturally a literary taste, and was never more happy than when reading a favorite author. Books were comparatively rare in his day, but his library represented the standard authors of contemporary literature. Dr. Johnson's works and the Scotch poets of the early part of the century were his favorites.
As second childhood came upon the old war veteran, after the age of four score and ten years, one of his great pleasures was the taming and fondling of his domestic and farm animals. Though always a lover of fine horses and cattle, he now found great satisfaction in petting and cherishing them. A very large bay family horse named Hessian was a special favorite, and he took pleasure, when sitting in his easy chair on the lawn, in the sun, in feeding and taming his poultry. One of his descendants describes the general's enthusiasm about his fowls as quite equal
The house was erected by the general in the year 1765, and at that period was considered an edifice of notable qualities. It had handsome pediment caps to the windows and doors, "and corner boards generously ornamented, and was, within, of large dimensions and careful finish. The taste of Stark, when applied to house building, was somewhat peculiar and erratic, for while he had his rooms finished with the best skill and most costly material of the period, he would never suffer paint or room paper to be seen inside of his house. He took great pride in pointing to the width and quality of native woods used in the large and sumptuous panels in the walls of the rooms, and in the wood carving of a large buffet, or French sideboard, filling one corner of his dining room. When age and infirmity con- fined him to the house, he chose one of the lower front rooms,
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
305
John Stark
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where, from the window with an eastern exposure, he could see the first beams of the morning sun. To secure more sunlight he gave directions to have one of the front windows enlarged, making it double its former dimensions. The injury to the symmetry of the building was urged by his friends, but all remonstrance was useless ; the capacity of the window was doubled, and until the alterations of the buildings many years afterward, the strange and whimsical window remained, a memento of the former proprietor. The house was burned about the year 1866, and the land adjacent, originally several hundred acres, diminished by sale and gifts to descendants, was purchased by the state as the site for the Reform School.
Mrs. Stark died in the year 1814, at which time the general was eighty-six years old. An anecdote is told of him, as occurring at the funeral ceremony. The minister officiating referred in his remarks to the general and made some very com-
EQUESTRIAN STATUE OF STARK. Study for colossal work .- Rogers.
plimentary allusions to his patriotic services for his country. The old veteran rapped tartly with his cane on the floor, saying : " Tut ! Tut ! no more of that ! and please you ! " This sudden interruption of the ceremony was soon followed by the more appropriate allusions to the virtues of Molly. As the funeral procession left the lawn, the old man tottered into his room, saying sadly : " Good-bye, Molly ; we sup no more together on earth !" Eight years after the death of his wife, Stark was called by the last summons of Providence. The latter years of his life were largely spent in his room, attended by two favorite granddaughters, Miss Molly Babson and Abby Stark. Though quite young at the time of his last sickness, Abby Stark was his constant nurse. Two weeks before the old veteran's death he was stricken with paralysis of one side of the body, the throat being so affected as to make it impossible to take nourishment. He could express his wishes only by signs and the expression of the eyes. Just before his last attack he had expressed to his son,
Caleb, his wish and readiness to depart whenever it was God's will. His mind had been much exercised for a few years on the realities of the last great change, and the Bible had been the constant companion of his sick room. While unable to speak or move one half of his body, he would give a motion to the sound leg, and look up in the face of his nurse with a playful expression, signifying that a little of the old general was animate yet. After a fortnight's suffering, the old hero passed away, May 8, 1822. The funeral ceremonies were observed two days later, and were, at the general's request, simple and unostentatious.
The morning was beautiful, and the sun of early spring had so warmed vegetation for a few days previous that the grass was green and luxuriant, and the trees were fast expanding their buds into young and tender leaves. In front of the house, beyond the road, a line of infantry, leaning on reversed arms, under the fragrant budding of the orchard, waited the time of their escort service. The day was quite oppressive in its heat, and many of the soldiers suffered in their warm and close uniforms.
At the close of the religious service by Rev. Dr. Dana of Londonderry and Rev. Ephraim Bradford of New Boston, the procession was formed. The military moved in front and at the sides of the body as escort. Mr. Ray, a much respected neighbor, led the horse Hessian, decked in war trappings, and the long procession of mourners moved from the lawn, and, at the sad funeral pace, proceeded to the family burial ground in the field, about a quarter of a mile distant. The young people of the town had, unknown to their elders, obtained a small cannon and stationed it some distance from the grave, and fired minute guns as the procession approached. The body was deposited in its last resting place, and the infantry, filing right and left of the spot, fired three volleys as their last mournful tribute of respect to the memory of the beloved patriot and soldier. (See sketch of Gen. John Stark, page 15.)
STARK'S BIRTHPLACE IN DERRY.
The locality of this spot should be definitely described in a history of Nutfield, for as years pass, points of historical interest become harder of solution, where they are involved in doubt. In a national point of view, Stark was, for this province, the figure of greatest magnitude and interest in the colonial times, and rendered most invaluable service at the most critical point of the Revolution. The valuable historical manuscript of Robert C. Mack, the indefatigable collector for the local history of Nutfield, settled disputed points as to the early history of the Stark family in this country. In the winter of 1878, Mr. Mack sent a communication on this subject to a Boston newspaper, of which the following is an extract :
The precise spot where the Stark house stood is about two miles south of the village of East Derry, on the direct road to Kilrea, and was on land now in possession of Mr. Joseph White. A thrifty young apple orchard occupies the site and near surroundings. It is on the west side of the highway, and only a very few feet distant from it. Mr. White, aided by Mr. James Nowell, filled the old cellar about twenty three years ago, and the space between the fourth and fifth rows of trees, reckoning from the lower side of the orchard, now marks the spot. Mr. Nowell, who was born and always lived near by, and whose knowledge of old landmarks is unquestioned, affirms this to be the place. Ile was so informed fifty years ago by an old lady, then nearly one hundred years of age, and the uniform traditions of the locality concur. In this connection I
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append an interesting incident communicated to me by the Hon. Alexis Proc- tor of Franklin, a former near neighbor of Mr. White. He says : " I have had the White orchard pointed out to me a hundred times, by my father and many others, as the spot where Gen. Stark was born, and I do not have the slightest doubt as to the truth of it. In the summer of 1840 a party of fifty or sixty gentlemen, in half as many carriages, from Bradford, Newburyport, and other towns on the Massachusetts border, came along on their way to attend the great Harrison meeting at Concord. Gen. James Duncan of Haverhill, then or shortly after a member of Congress, desired to see the place where Gen. Stark was born. Accordingly my father went with them to the spot, and nearly all took a brick as a relic." In addition to the above testimony, I will state that a careful measurement of the original home lot of Jonathan Tyler, which subsequently, as we have seen, became the homestead of Archibald Stark, fully confirms the statements of Mr. Proctor and Mr. Nowell.
A picturesque old cellar, half a mile further down the Kilrea road, was pointed out with some doubt last autumn by the present writer to Charles M. Bliss, the genial secretary of the " Bennington Battle Monument Association," and the correspondent of a Manchester paper, as the Stark homestead, but later careful investigations clearly point to the White orchard as the veritable place. No harm, however, will result from the error, save, perhaps the wast- ing of a little cheap sentiment by our party over the grassy knolls and out- cropping rocks that we fancied had witnessed the young sports of the future hero of Bennington.
Mr. H. W. Herrick of Manchester, the accomplished artist, has taken a sketch and will execute in water colors a representation of the site, at the desire of the wife of Gov. Fairbanks of Vermont, a native of Derry, who was born within half a mile of the place.
The neighborhood described in this letter is in the southeast corner of Derry, near the union of the Nashua and Rochester railroad with the Lawrence road, (Windham Junction), and locally is known by the whimsical name of "Derry Dock." It is said that this name was applied by the natives from the fact
STARK'S BIRTHPLACE. DERRY.
that two brothers named Taylor, with their families, early in this century moved to the vicinity from Boston or Charlestown, where they were formerly established as ship chandlers or ship carpenters. Their farms being in the same vicinity, the neigh- bors called this part of the town " The Dock," and the term was in time applied to the whole southeast part of the town.
Kilrea street, shown on the map, page 78, was a country road, on which these Taylor farms were located. The extract from Mr. Mack's letter makes plain the location, and his statement is confirmed by Mr. H. Johnson, an elderly resident, whose ances- tors described to him the site of the house as it appeared nearly a hundred years ago.
Archibald Stark moved to Manchester in 1736, or, as the place was then known, Tyngs- town, Harrytown, or Nutfield. At this time, John, the third child, was about eight years old. The father lived only about eight years on the new farm, now part of the State Industrial School land, when he died, leaving a young family, John being about sixteen years old. The burial of the father oc- curred in a small rural ceme- tery, south of Amoskeag Falls, east side, and near the present site of the locomotive works. The surface was a gentle rise of ground, or knoll, and the spot contained, in 1854, only a dozen or twenty rude head- stones with a few bushes of STATUETTE OF STARK At Bennington .- Rogers. birch and small pines inter- spersed. As the city advanced northward, these bodies were removed, in 1854, with the old slate headstones, to the Valley cemetery, that of Archibald Stark being thence transferred to the family lot in Stark Park a year or two since.
The Stark farm, after the death of its owner, was cared for by the brothers William and John, until twenty-four years after. when bounties and pensions received by John from the govern- ment for services in the old French wars on the border enabled him to take the farm into his own possession and build, in 1768, the house that was afterward known to be his headquarters for life. At this time, Stark was about forty years old, and he was busily engaged in farm work and lumber traffic for seven years. when the call to Lexington and Bunker Hill was the beginning of his years of hard field service for his country.
Stark's farmhouse has been described and engraved. and many of our elder citizens remember it well as it stood on the north River road, due east of the Industrial School buildings, and two or three rods west of the present road, where the old well, covered by plank, is still seen. The building was destroyed by fire in 1866.
When the news of the commencement of hostilities at Lex- ington reached Nutfield, Stark was in one of his sawmills. near the outlet of Dorr's pond, and it is said that at a low stage of water the remains of the old mill-dam are still visible. From this place the future hero went to his task of recruiting a com- pany, and in two or three days, it is affirmed by one historian, he enlisted enough for a regiment, with two hundred men to spare for the nucleus of another.
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THE "MOLLY STARK" CANNON is now stored at New Boston, where it was photo- graphed for this work. This piece of ordnance is very handsome, profusely ornamented about the breech and as smooth as when brought from the foundry in 1747, except a few small pits about the muzzle, made by sulphur corrosions from powder. The gun is of French origin, having been cast at the government foundry near Paris. It was brought to this country with other similar guns when the French held Canada. In the struggle between the French and English for supremacy a hundred and fifty years ago, this gun was captured by the victors and was held until 1777, when,
TARK'S PATRIOTISM. - The following S characteristic letter was written in 1809 by Gen. Stark to the committee having charge of the celebration of the battle of Bennington :
AT MY QUARTERS, DERRYMELD, 31St JULY, 1809.
My Friends, and Fellow Soldiers :-
I received yours of the 22nd, instant, containing your fer- vent expressions of friendship, and your very polite invitation to meet with you, to celebrate the 16th of August, in Bennington.
As you observe, I "can never forget, that " I " commanded American Troops" on that day in Bennington,- They were men that had not learned the art of submission, nor had they been trained to the art of war. But our "astonishing success "
THE "MOLLY STARK" CANNON.
with others, it formed part of the armament of Burgoyne's artillery 'in" his", invasion of Vermont and New York.
The enemy under Col. Baum had only two small cannon, and the relief column under Breyman also had two, of hcavier metal, onc of which was "Molly." The smaller pieces were captured in the afternoon struggle in the redoubt, and the two larger guns in the battle at sunset. Gen. Stark placcd the gun " Molly " with the artillery company connected with what was then the " Bloody Twelfth Regiment," having its annual field day at Goffstown, and which hc was in the habit of reviewing each ycar. The company was composed of men living in Goffs- town and New Boston.
taught the enemies of Liberty, that undisciplined freemen are superior to veteran slaves. And I fear we shall have to teach the lesson anew to that perfidious nation.
Nothing could afford me more pleasure than to meet "the Sons of Liberty " on that fortunate spot. But as you justly antici- pate, the infirmities of old age will not permit : for I am now four- score and one years old, and the lamp of life is almost spent. I have of late had many such invitations, but was not ready, for there was not oil enough in the lamp.
You say you wish your young men to see me, but you who have seen me can tell them, that I never was worth much for a show, and certainly cannot be worth their seeing now.
In case of my not being able to attend, you wish my senti- ments,- then you shall have them as free as the air we breathe. As I was then, I am now - The friend of the equal rights of men, of representative Democracy, of Republicanism, and the Declaration of Independence, the great charter of our National rights :- and of course the friend of the indissoluble union and constitution of the States. I am the enemy of all foreign
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influence. for all foreign influence is the influence of tyranny. This is the only chosen spot for liberty,-this is the only Republic on earth.
You well know, gentlemen, that at the time of the event you celebrate. there was a powerful British faction in the coun- try (called Tories), and a material part of the force we had to contend with was (at Bennington, Hoosick) Tories. This faction was rankling in our councils, till they had laid the foundation for the subversion of our liberties. " But by good sentinels at our outposts. we were apprised of our danger: and the Sons of Freedom beat the alarm,- and, as at Bennington, " They came, they saw, they conquered." But again the faction has rallied to the charge. and again they have been beaten.
It is my orders now, and will be my last orders to all volun- teers, to look well to their sentries : for there is a dangerous British party in this country, lurking in their hiding places, more dangerous than all our foreign enemies. And whenever they shall appear openly, to render the same account of them that was given at Bennington. let them assume what name they will : not doubting that the ladies will be as patriotic, in furnishing every aid, as they were at Bennington in '77, who even dis- mantled their beds to furnish cords to secure and lead them off.
I shall remember, gentlemen, the respect you, and "the inhabitants of Bennington and its neighborhood," have shewn me. till I go to the country from which no traveller e'er returns. I must soon receive marching orders. JOHN STARK.
P. S. I will give you my volunteer toast : " Live free or die: Death is not the greatest of evils."
R OGER G. SULLIVAN, son of Michael and Julia (Kane) Sullivan, was born in Bradford Dec. 18, 1854. Both his parents were natives of Ireland. His education was received at the com- mon schools in Bradford and at the Park-street grammar school, Manchester, whither his parents removed when he was eight years of age. Here he has since resided with the exception of four years spent at Merrimackport, Mass., where he worked at carriage painting. In December, 1874, he hired a small store on Amherst street and began the manufacture of the Gold Dust ten-cent cigar. From this modest beginning his business has con- stantly increased, necessitating removal six times to more extensive quarters, until in 1894 he erected the large four-story building which he has since occupied. Mr. Sullivan subsequently put upon the market the New Gold Dust cigar, chang- ing this name later to "7-20-4," from the number of his factory, 724 Elm street. This brand at once met with popular favor and achieved a reputation extending over many states. The magnitude of Mr. Sullivan's business is illustrated by the fact
that the output of the factory averages more than six million cigars a year. In 1877, he was married to Susan C., daughter of True O. and Susan (Gerrish) Fernald of Manchester. Three daugh- ters have been born of this union: Minna E., Susan A., and Emma F. Mr. Sullivan is a mem-
ROGER G. SULLIVAN.
ber of the Cathedral parish, of the Knights of Columbus, of the Amoskeag Veterans, and of the Derryfield Club. He is one of the trustees of the Amoskeag bank, and one of the most successful of Manchester's many successful business men. (See cut of residence, page 286.)
HENRY WALKER HERRICK, son of Israel E. and Martha (Trow) Herrick, was born in Hopkinton Aug. 23, 1824. His mother. from whom he seems to have derived his artistic tastes, was educated at a boarding school in Charlestown, Mass., where she learned to do some creditable work, specimens of which her son shows to visitors with commendable pride. Her best work, however, was done in fostering in her son - his early inclinations, for at the age of eight years
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she taught him to paint flowers and kindred natural objects. His education, begun in the com- mon schools, was continued at Hancock Academy. Becoming interested in wood engraving, he studied the art two years by himself, and found employ- ment in Coneord and Manchester as an engraver. At the age of twenty Mr. Herriek went to New York and began his studies at the National Academy of Design. His progress was such that after six months he began book engraving in the service of the Appletons, working for several years largely on the de- signs of Felix O. C. Darley, then the lead- ing American artist in genre pietures. During this time Mr. Herriek executed commissions for Har- per & Bros., the American Traet So- ciety, Carter Bros., and other firms. In 1852 George L. Sehuyler, grandson of Gen. Philip Sehuy- ler of Revolutionary fame, and Mary Hamilton, grand- daughter of Alexan- der H. Hamilton, started the school of HENRY W. HERRICK. design for women at the corner of Broadway and Broome street, is as a landseape artist that he is conspicuously New York, and Miss Cordelia Chase of Hopkin- good, and he finds in the seenery around Manehes- ter themes worthy of his pen and peneil. He has exhibited pictures in oil and in water color in the Academy of Design, in the American Water Color Society, and in the Boston Art Club, and also placed in the Centennial exhibition in Philadel- phia studies from a favorite subjeet, the life of Gen. Stark. He is the author of " Water Color Painting," a standard work, published by Devoe ton, said to be a relative of Salmon P. Chase, was made its principal. It speaks well for Mr. Her- riek's artistie standing at that period in New York that he was introduced to Mr. Sehuyler by Benson J. Lossing, the well-known historian and artist, as fitted for the position of teaeher in the new sehool. - He continued his eonneetion with this sehool for six years, during two of which he was principal,
until its union with Cooper Institute. About this time he received an invitation to assume charge of the art department in Yale College, the foundation of which was given by Mr. Street, a wealthy patron of Yale. He continued, however, to do work for New York houses, the American Bank Note Company, and others, among other things redrawing designs for the Imperial Bank of Russia. After twen- ty-one years spent in New York, Mr. Her- rick returned to Man- ehester in 1865, still continuing work as designer and en- graver for firms in the metropolis. He also executed the illustrations for the large volume of Æsop's Fables, issued by Hurd & Hough- ton. He has done some good work in oil, but in these later years he has distin- guished himself by his work in water colors. Many years ago, however, he gave proof of his worth as an artist by his beautiful drawings of birds, done for Prang, which in nat- ural eolor and pose have not sinee been exeelled. Today it
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& Co., profusely illustrated and colored by hand. Mr. Herrick is a man of independent character, of indomitable industry, and for many years was the only resident artist who pursued his vocation as a life work. He came to Manchester in 1842, and from the first he has encouraged in every way the growth of art in the city, has been one of the main pillars of the Art Association, has given courses of free lectures on art which were largely attended by the best citizens, has seen his pupils growing up around him, and still does not abate his early enthusiasm. Mr. 1 Herrick is a member of the First Congre- gational church, has devoted much time to mission work, and has always been an advocate of whatever promotes the moral and religious welfare of the city. He mar- ried, in 1849, Miss Clara Parkinson of New Boston. They have three sons : one a minister in Min- neapolis, Minn., one an accountant in the auditor's office, Man- chester, and one a civil engineer. Mr. Herrick is the author of "Stark at Bennington and at Home." (See page 296.)
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