USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > Willey's semi-centennial book of Manchester, 1846-1896, comprised within the limits of the old Tyng Township, Nutfield, Harrytown, Derryfield, and Manchester, from the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 29
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
murphy his heirs and assigns forever, all my right, title, interest, claim, challenge or demand which I have in the fishing place in Amoskeag Falls in Merrimack river, hereafter mentioned (viz) one fourth part of a place being between a place called the Pulpit and Sullivan's point on the casterly branch of the said river, and also one sixth part of a fishing place on the westerly branch of said river commonly called the Puppy Trap or Eel place, said fishing places are on an island in said falls. To have and to hold the said interest in said fishing places and all appur- tenances thereto belonging to him the said Archibald Macmur- phy his heirs and assigns to his and their proper use and improvement forever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th day of September A. D. 1787.
and Islands
Amoskeag Falls
house
malayes'i
20
40
60
80
One hundred roos
This plan describes a parte a
mis Godfrey's
of merrimack and Pescataquo;
rivers with location of
it-high
I house
formes highways mills
(the food of the Falls
and houses as they will !!
seen and drawn
Matthew Pattern of Bedford on The 21th of April 1768 ..
The original was laid out
with compass and chain
The present plan is a
copy made for Willys
Book of Nulfuld By
Rev. J. G. McMurphy.
Merrimack Rever
7 ) peace and landing
The line between Bedford & Goffestown
Th. griffin's
this house
The gust Till
wants a road
Budge
Rever
a Mr. Steven's house
Ohri Abram Merrell's house
To the bank
Island
LOCATION OF OLD FERRIES AND HIGHWAYS.
N. B. Before signing the words (in Amoskeag Falls in Merri- mack river) in one place and in another place the word (place) and in another place the words ( his and) were interlined. ALEXANDER MACMURPHY.
Signed sealed and delivered in presence of Elizabeth Patten Matthew Patten.
Hillsborough Ss. Bedford September 29th 1787. Alexan- der Macmurphy above named personally appeared and acknowl- edged the above instrument to be his free act and deed.
Before MATTHEW PATTEN, Justice Peace.
The positions of these fishing places are quite clearly defined in the deed. The grantor had occupied land along the shores from a much earlier date. He granted lands to Capt. John Stark in 1760 and to Isaac Godfrey in the year 1768, the date of Matthew Patten's survey.
Referring to the map copied from the plan made by Matthew Patten, April 21, 1768, it will be noticed that the fishing places were located immediately above the site of Capt. John Stark's sawmill, and that the road passing south by the sawmill was the old river road eoming in from Hooksett, following the course of the river about the line of the Boston & Maine railroad to the site of the old ferryman's house not far from the station. It will be noted that this ferry of God- frey's was on the line of the highways that led from Chester and Londonderry to Goffstown by the falls. South of the ferry the river road turned eastward from the river and lost the older name in being ealled the Nutt road.
The Stark mills occupy the approximate site of Capt. John Stark's sawmill and lumber yard. The Jefferson mills are between the house of Robert Boyes and the river. On the west side of the river where only one house was marked in the plan, the laid-out highway of 1768 is easily reeog- nized as the present Main street of West Man- chester. The line between Bedford and Goffs- town which eame to the river then has eeased to exist, the adjoining parts being absorbed in the eity, but it serves to locate the position of the old gristmill on the opposite side of the river and the miller's house. Abraham Merrill's ferry formerly eonneeted Derryfield and Bedford by a shorter route that became convenient and necessary with the growth of Bedford, being superseded eventually by a bridge.
Whatever traditions people may have eon- eerning the location of any of these old sites, the reader is advised to make use of seale and compass and aseertain exaet relations rather than aeeept the authority of mere reports. The author of this plan of 1768 was a resident of Bedford and his deseendants have given names to buildings in Manchester.
Matthew Patten was a justiee of the peaee and surveyor, widely known for his interest in
W
Saw mill
Caft John Blacks
godfrey's 7 \" tuy mans house
where he married place + landi
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
public affairs, his hospitality, and his eultivation of literary tastes in the preservation of facts coming under his observation from day to day in the form of a diary that was published after his deeease. He was born May 19, 1719, and died in Bedford Aug. 27, 1795. He was married to Elizabeth Mae- Murphy of Londonderry, July 16, 1750. She was a daughter of Squire John MacMurphy and was born Sept. 3, 1728. There were born to this mar- riage the following ten ehildren whose histories are important in Bedford and adjoining towns : Susanna, who married Thomas Taggart : John, unmarried, killed in Canada war; James, killed in Indian war in Ohio; Betsey, married Hugh Tol- ford, her cousin ; Robert, married Jane Shirley ; David, unmarried ; Mary, unmarried ; Alexander,
married Lydia Atwood; Jane, unmarried; Sarah, unmarried.
When old Squire John MacMurphy of Lon- donderry died in 1755 he left a will disposing of mueh property, both real and personal, besides that settled upon his heirs during his life. Among other items of the will are the following two: " My will is that my beloved son Alexander Mae- Murphy shall have twenty-five pounds new tenor paid him out of my estate in one year's time after my deeease and apples sufficient to make five barrels of eider yearly and every year for the space of five years, and to my son-in-law Matthew Patten the same quantity of apples for the aforesaid time of five years after my decease and liberty to make each of them their apples into cider at my press."
LADIES' PARLOR, I. O. O. F. HALL, DERRY DEPOT.
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
F RED LEONARD WALLACE, son of city owning the hearse and other property pertain- Frederick and Margaret Ann (French) Wal- ing to the business. In company with Moses O. lace, was born Jan. 23, 1839, in that part of Man- chester known as Piscataquog, then a portion of Bedford. His father, one of the pioneers of the city of Manchester, was employed in many im- portant capacitics for the great manufacturing corporations in their carly years. He was also prominent in politics, being a member of the board of aldermen in 1847. The son attended the eity sehools in his boyhood, and at the age of six-
FRED L. WALLACE.
teen went to work in David McColley's bookstore, one of the well-known institutions of the day. Later he was appointed assistant postmaster under David J. Clark, brother of Hon. Danicl Clark, and during his term of office, from 1861 to 1865, the system of free delivery was established in Man- ehester. In 1869 Mr. Wallace entered the service of Charles S. Fisher, the city undertaker, who at the time was the only onc in that business within a circuit of twenty miles. The city undertaker was then annually appointed by the board of alder- mcn as one of the regular municipal offieers, the
Pearson, Mr. Wallace bought out Mr. Fisher in 1872, and the firm of Pearson & Wallace began its successful career. Upon Mr. Pearson's death, Hon. Alfred G. Fairbanks became a partner, and the firm name was changed to F. L. Wallace & Co., its present style. Mr. Wallace has always been a progressive man, seeking to develop the possibili- tics of his calling. Fitted by nature for its deli- cate and difficult dutics, that require for their proper fulfilment not only kindness but taet, he has been a friend and comforter in many a be- reavcd home, while he has also introduecd into the undertaking art many improvements and practices that have become universal among undertakers. In a word, he has kept Manehester ahead of sister cities in all that pertains to his profession. Mr. Wallace was married, in 1861, to Josephine, daughter of Joel Fife of Pembroke, and four chil- dren - Fred A., Lulu B., George P., and Cyrus W. - have been added to the family, all of whom are living except the last, who died at the age of four ycars and six months. Mrs. Wallace died in 1871, and in 1875 Mr. Wallace married Sarah E. White of Manchester, daughter of Capt. William White of Portsmouth. He is a member of the First Congregational church, of Agawam Tribe of Red Men, and the Royal Society of Good Fellows, and is, withal, one of the most popular and progres- sive men of the Queen City.
A RELIC of the stone garrison built in Nut- field in 1723 is to be found in the under- pinning of the house owned by Joseph Gregg in Derry Village. On one of the stones constituting the foundation of the house were engraved a vine and an hourglass, and between them was: "17. G. 23." Until within a few years the inscrip- tion was plainly visible, although the emblems - whatever they may have significd -have long sinee been cffaccd. The letter and figures indicate the initial of the builder's name, Capt. Jamcs Gregg, and the year of building. The stone was originally placed over the doorway of the stone garrison.
HON. PERSON C. CHENEY.
H ON. PERSON C. CHENEY was born in elected by popular vote as a member of the rail- Holderness (now Ashland), N. H., Fcb. 25, road commission for three ycars, and in the fall of 1866 he removed to Manchester to enter the waste and railroad supply business, at the same time engaging in the manufacture of paper at Goffs- 1828, the sixth child of Moses and Abigail (Mor- rison) Cheney, his father being one of the pioncers in the manufacture of paper in New Hampshire. In 1835 the family rcmoved to Peterboro, where town, under the firm name of Cheney & Thorpe, the business office being located in Man- chester. He is now at the head of the well-known P. C. Cheney Paper Com- pany. Shortly after coming to Manches- ter he became prom- inent in the Repub- lican party and was elected mayor in 1871, one of the marked features of his successful admin- istration being the introduction of the firc-alarm telegraph system. He declined a renomination, but was chosen governor in 1875 and 1876. wresting the state from the democratic party. In 1872 he was elected a trustee of Bates College. and founded a scholarship in that institution. At the service, Dartmouth
the subject of this sketch resided until 1866, receiving his education in the com- mon schools and academy there, at the Hancock Literary and Scientific Insti- tution, and at the Parsonsfield, Me., Academy. Follow- ing the business of his father, that of a paper manufacturer, he became, in 1853, a member of the firm of Cheney, Hadley & Gowing, subse- quently purchasing his partners' interest. In 1853-54 he was actively engaged in politics, being a mem- ber of the state legis- lature from Peter- boro. Entering the army in 1862, he was appointed quarter- master in the Thir- HON. PERSON C. CHENEY. teenth New Hamp- shire Volunteers, commanded by Col. A. F. close of his gubernatorial Stevens. In January, 1863, while at Falmouth, before Fredericksburg, he was taken so seriously ill that his life was despaired of, and by command of the surgeons was sent on a stretcher to Wash- ington, where he was sick for three months. His weak physical condition necessitating his resigna- tion, he manifested that patriotism which is one of the ruling traits of his character by sending a substitute to take his place. In 1864 he was
College conferred upon him the degree of A. M. Gov. Currier appointed him United States senator in the fall of 1886, to fill out part of Senator Austin F. Pike's unexpired term, and in 1888 he was one of the delegates at large to the Republi- can national convention. Chosen a member of the Republican national committee to succeed Hon. E. H. Rollins, he was re-elected in 1892. and is still in that position. In December, 1892.
21
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
President Harrison appointed him envoy extraor- dinary and minister plenipotentiary to Switzerland, at which post he remained until June 29, 1893. Mr. Cheney was one of the directors of the Peter- boro bank when he came to Manchester, and has been president of the Peoples Savings bank of Manchester since its organization. He is a mem- ber of Altemont Lodge, F. and A. M .; of Peter- boro Chapter No. 12, R. A. M .; of Peterboro Lodge No. 15, 1. O. O. F. ; of Louis Bell Post, G. A. R .; of the Massachusetts Loyal Legion, and of the Army of the Potomae. Although he has always been a liberal contributor to many religious organizations, his membership is with the Unitarian
society. May 22, 1850, Mr. Cheney married Miss S. Annie Moore, daughter of Samuel Morrison Moore of Bronson, Mich. She died Jan. 7, 1858, leaving no children, and June 29, 1859, he married Mrs. Sarah White Keith, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Goss) White of Lowell, Mass. One child has been born to them, Agnes Annie, now the wife of Charles H. Fish, agent of the Cocheco Manufacturing Company of Dover. Mrs. Cheney is probably better known than any other woman in New Hampshire, having for a long time been a prominent figure in the social events of state and nation. She possesses great dignity of bearing, has been a leader in Manchester society for years, and both her public and her private charities are innumerable, she having been for several years president of the Woman's Aid and Relief Society of Manchester. Her distinguished husband is every- where recognized as one of nature's noblemen, genial and social in his intercourse, a man of large charities and a loyal friend.
N. H. At the age of nine James F. had begun work with his father, the family being in such cir- cumstances as to prevent his obtaining much schooling. At fourteen he was able to attend an academy at Newbury, Vt., and afterwards at Tilton, N. H., working in the factory part of the time to pay his expenses. He pursued his studies in this way until 1848, when he arranged to study law with Hon. W. C. Thompson of Plymouth. But that year his father died, leaving cight chil- dren, six of whom were younger than James. Hc was then obliged to go to work again to assist his mother, but borrowed books and studied law during his spare time with Hon. Joseph Burrows of Ash- land. The next year the family removed to Fisherville (now Concord) and he succeeded in completing his law studies with Hon. Nehemiah Butler and was admitted to the bar in 1851. He married, in 1850, Roxannah, daughter of Obadiah and Eliza Smith of New Hampton. They had three children : Frank O., educated at West Point and served four years in the army, but now engaged in manufacturing in Trenton, N. J .; Mary F., wife of D. Dudley Felton of Manchester, and Sarah F., married George E. Tewksbury, and died recently. Mr. Briggs practiced at Hills- borough Bridge until 1871. He was a member of the legislature from that town in 1856-57 and in 1858, being a Democrat until the Civil War broke out, when he changed his views and ever after affiliated with the Republican party. When the Eleventh Regiment was organized he was ap- pointed quartermaster on the staff of Col. Walter Harriman, and served through the battle of Fredericksburg, the military operations in Ken- tucky, and in the Mississippi River expeditions which resulted in the capture of Vicksburg. After a year's service he was prostrated by the malaria of southern swamps and was obliged to resign and return to Hillsborough. In 1871 he removed to Manchester and formed a law partner- ship with Henry H. Huse, which continued about fifteen years. He served as city solicitor one year, and in 1874 was elected to the legislature from Ward 3. In 1876 he was elected state senator and the same year was a member of the constitu- tional convention. His ability as a servant of the
LION. JAMES FRANKLIN BRIGGS was born in Bury, Lancashire, England, Oct. 23, 1827, son of John and Naney (Franklin) Briggs. When he was fourteen months old his parents took passage in an emigrant ship for America, and . after a rough voyage of seven weeks landed in Boston, March 4, 1829. His father found em- ployment in a woolen factory at Andover, Mass., and later at Saugus and Amesbury, until the fall of 1836, when he, with two brothers, bought a small woolen factory in Holderness (now Ashland), people attracted attention and admiration, and in
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
1877 he was nominated as a candidate for congress and elected by a large majority. In 1878 and 1879 he was re-elected to the national house. In the forty-fifth congress he served as a member of the committee on patents, in the forty-sixth on naval affairs, and in the forty-seventh he was chairman of the committee on war expenditures and a mem- ber of the committees on judiciary and reform in the civil service. In congress he was a faithful and hard working member, tireless in his efforts to serve his constituents and always ready to do a favor for the veteran soldiers. Hc was a member of the constitutional convention of 1889. He is still engaged in law practice, having onc of the largest legal patronages in the city. Mr. Briggs is a Unitarian, a member of Hillsborough Lodge of Masons, of Wood's Chapter, and of Trinity Commandery.
C LARENCE MONROE DODGE, M. D., was born in New Boston, May 28, 1847. He is the son of James Monroe and Lucy Janc (Philbrick) Dodge. His father died on his way to California in 1849. He attended the public schools of his native town and Goffstown. In CLARENCE M. DODGE, M. D. order to give him better educational advantages, his mother removed to Mont Vernon, where hc attended the public schools and Appleton Academy Canton Ridgely, Merrimack Lodge, K. of P., and
(now McCallum Institute). They afterward re- moved to Nashua, where, on Nov. 20, 1872, hc married Estella G., daughter of Orin and Maria M. Rawson of that city. The issue of their union was one child, Clara Linda, born Dec. 6, 1874, died July 1, 1879. Dr. Dodge began the study of medicine with Dr. Josiah G. Graves of Nashua in 1872. Graduating from the University of New York in February, 1877, he immediately began the practice of medicine at Amherst, remaining there for two years, and then removing to Manchester, where he has since remained, Icading a very busy life except for about a year of much needed rest, spent in travel. Being of a retiring disposition, he has never sought or even been willing to accept any public emoluments, although often invited. He takes a lively interest in the development and prosperity of the city. Dr. Dodge is a member of
the New Hampshire Mcdical society, of Lafayette Lodge, A. F. and A. M., Mount Horch Royal Arch Chapter, Adoniram Council, Wildcy Lodge,
I. O. O. F., Wonalancet Encampment. Grand Passaconaway Tribe of Red Men. He is a member of Grace Episcopal church.
THE LONGEST COURTSHIP on the rec- ords of Nutfield is that of Gabriel Barr and Rachel Wilson, who " kept company " forty years and finally died unmarried. Love laughs at lock- smiths, but not at religious differences. Gabriel belonged to Rev. William Davidson's parish, and his sweetheart to Rev. Mr. McGregor's, and they could not agree which of the two good Presby- terian churches they should attend, the feud between the two parishes being extremely bitter. The Scotch blood that ran in the veins of the lovers made it impossible for either to yield, and hence the long courtship, ended only by death.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, MANCHESTER.
O N the first page of the old church records, under date of July 26, 1835, is the following : " The Baptist church in Goffstown voted this day to acknowledge us whose names are here enrolled, the Amoskeag branch of the Goffstown church, authorizing us to engage our minister and reward
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, MANCHESTER.
him, to receive members and dismiss them, and to enjoy the communion, to wit: Elder John Peacock, Daniel Gooden, Mary R. Peacock, John Stevens, Mrs. Stevens, Hopy Tewksbury, Betsy Tewksbury, Elizabeth MeIntyre, Zilpah Guild, Abigail Rider,"-ten in all. For a year and a half serviees were held in various places, often in private houses, Rev. John Peacock serving as pastor and
Daniel Gooden first deacon. Jan. 4, 1837, with the godspeed of the mother church, they became an independent body and were publicly recognized by a council of neighboring churches. The place of meeting was soon after changed to the east side of the river, and in 1840 a commodious briek edifiee was ereeted on the corner of Manchester and Chestnut streets. At a meeting held Sept. 22, 1840, it was voted " that this church shall hereafter be known as the First Baptist ehureh in Man- chester." July 8, 1870, the church edifice was burned. Steps were at onee taken to rebuild, resulting in the erection of the present edifice on the corner of Union and Coneord streets, eosting about $80,000, which was dedicated April 30, 1873. In October, 1845, letters were granted to thirty- five persons to form the Merrimack-Street Baptist church of Manchester. Jan 25, 1855, a society was organized in connection with the church to conduet its financial interests, and Otis Barton was chosen first president ; Joseph B. Clark, elerk ; Ebenezer Clark, treasurer; Joseph E. Bennett, Orisen Hardy, George A. Barnes, A. D. Burgess, Peter S. Brown, C. W. Baldwin, Charles Brown, directors. Rev. John Peaeoek served the church only ten months after it became an independent organization. He was succeeded by Rev. Ephraim Bailey, who ministered three years and five months. Rev. John Upham followed, remaining one year. Rev. Benjamin Brierly was pastor two years and six months. Rev. Thomas O. Lineoln remained four years; Rev. Isaae Sawyer, three years and seven months; Rev. B. F. Hedden, two years ; Rev. George Pieree, eight years and six months ; Rev. N. C. Mallory, four years and seven months ; Rev. A. C. Graves, D. D., five years and nine months; Rev. William H. Leavett, five years ; Rev. C. H. Kimball, three years and nine months. The present pastor, Rev. W. C. MeAllester, D. D., 'began his labors June 19, 1887. The ehureh has sent out five young men into the ministry and several persons to engage in home and foreign missionary work. In February, 1887, sixty-eight persons were granted letters to form the Taber- naele Baptist church of the eity, and in October, 1891, with the hearty consent of the mother
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WILLET'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
church, fifty-seven persons, fruits of a Swedish mission which had worshipped in the vestrics for three years, were dismissed to form the First Swedish church in Manchester, the first church of this nationality in New Hampshire. The present church membership is 448. The church is entirely free from debt, has a flourishing Sunday school under the superintendency of J. Trask Plumer, is interested in many missionary enterprises, and ranks as a leading church in the Baptist denom- ination in New England.
Rev. William C. McAllester, D. D., pastor of the First Baptist church, was born in Essex county, N. Y., June 19, 1849, son of Edwin and Louisa B. McAllester of Keeseville, N. Y. His ancestors are traced back to Alister Whor, Lord of the Isles and Kintyre in 1284, who opposed the claim of Robert Bruce to the Scottish throne and who died a prisoner in the castle of Dundonald. On the overthrow of that dynasty in the reign of James IV. the Macallisters became an independent clan. Alexander Macallister of Loup was a loyal subject of King James and served in the royal army in Ireland against William of Orange. The McAllisters who settled in America came from Argylshire, Scotland, and three families of that name settled in New Hampshire. Robert Mc- Allister removed from New Boston to Antrim in 1793, and was a carpenter, school teacher, and farmer. He died in Newbury, Vt., in 1862. Jona- than McAllister married Charity Chatman of Haverhill, and died in Willsborough, N. Y., in 1862. His son was Edwin, father of Rev. W. C. McAllester, who is also a lineal descendant of Col. William Prescott of Bunker Hill fame. He studied at Madison University (now Colgate) at Hamilton, N. Y., in the class of '75, and received the honorary degree of M. A. in 1883 from that institution. He settled as pastor of a Baptist church in Plattsburgh, N. Y., in 1878 and remained till 1887, when he accepted a call from the First Baptist church of Manchester. While pastor at Moriah, N. Y., his first settlement, he built a new church; at Plattsburgh he was very successful in building a new church edifice and also raised funds to buy a parsonage for the society. Since coming to Manchester he has succeeded in paying off a debt, mortgage and floating, of over $8,000 and
has added nearly 250 members to the church. He has been settled longer with the First church in Manchester than any pastor except one. No sensational features are introduced into Dr. Mc- Allester's pulpit, so often the case with so-called popular clergymen of the day. His sermons show careful study, are delivered in a scholarly and dignified, yet pleasing style, and reflect the best thoughts of a studious and thoroughly Chris- tian mind. His language is incisive, his points clearly made, and his sermons interesting. His church, since he became pastor, has grown to be
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