USA > Vermont > Orange County > Newbury > History of Newbury, Vermont, from the discovery of the Coos country to present time > Part 37
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*A misprint in a former chapter gives the date as 1774.
RESIDENCE OF JAMES B. LAWRIE.
RESIDENCE OF HENRY W. BAILEY.
333
PROFESSIONAL MEN-MISCELLANEOUS.
W. Bayley, was built by his grandfather, Isaac Bayley, Esq. Its age is unknown, but it is understood to be more than a hundred years old. General Bayley died in that house, and six generations of the family have lived in it.
The house owned by Dr. Hatch used to stand where Mr. Darling's now does. Its age or its builder are unknown to Dea. George Swasey. The "Bailey Avery house" was built in 1785, by his grandfather, Col. Joshua Bayley, his daughter, Sally, being ten years old when it was built. She was born in 1775. The house in which Mrs. Lupien lives was built by Rasmus Jonson, a native of Sweden, who came here about 1780.
Returning to the river road-Mr. James Lawrie's house was standing in 1785, and may be a few years older. It may have been built by Col. William Wallace, and was for many years the Congregational parsonage, and was occupied as such by Rev's Nathaniel Lambert, Luther Jewett, Clark Perry, and George W. Campbell. It formerly had two large chimneys, which were taken down in 1857.
The main part of Montebello House was built, according to information considered reliable, in 1795, by James Spear. The one next south of it, at the top of the hill, was built by Joseph Chamberlin, but its age is unknown. It is one of the oldest in town. Mr. Farnham's house was, according to family record, opened as an inn by Joseph Smith in 1788. It formerly had a square roof, like that of Henry W. Bailey's house. Mr. Atkinson's house was built by Horace Stebbins. The hotel called the Sawyer House, was built, as before stated by Capt. Nehemiah Lovewell, soon after the revolutionary war. A small volume could be written about that house, and its inmates, as it has been used as an inn, or as a boarding-house for the seminary students, for 115 years.
The house in which Robert J. Hibbard lives was built by his great-grandfather, Col. Robert Johnston, and is very old. It was formerly larger than now, and a part of it was taken down when it was remodellcd. It had a square roof then. Mr. Jonathan Griffin's house was built by Thomas Burroughs who came here in 1790, and that of Mr. Kimball, by Levi Sylvester, before 1800. The "old Stevens house" is one of the oldest in town, and was built by Capt. Simeon Stevens, who died in 1787. Its great chimney was taken down a few years ago, and contained brick enough to build a modern cottage. Mr. John Heath's house was formerly that of Joseph Kent, and had a square roof. That of Robert Meserve is the original Col. Jacob Kent house, but its age is unknown. It is thought to have been built before 1780.
The house owned by C. C. Doe, at South Newbury, was built by Dr. Samuel White, before 1790. The house known as the Davenport house is one of the very oldest in town, and was built by John Mills very soon after the revolutionary war. After him, it became
334
HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.
the property of Benjamin Porter, Esq., who enlarged it, so that it was formerly very much larger than now. It was remodelled and a part of it taken down by Mr. Davenport, about 1865. The Porters were a very aristocratic family, and that house has probably sheltered more distinguished men than any other in this town. Daniel Webster, Rufus Choate, Franklin Pierce, Jeremiah Mason and other eminent men have slept beneath its roof. It had, long ago, the reputation of being haunted, and stood empty for some time on that account. Mr. W. W. Brock's house was built in 1800, by his grandfather, Thomas Brock. This closes the list of century-old houses, on the river road.
There are not many as old as that in the back part of the town. The one on the "old McIndoe place" is one of them, and was built by Paul Ford. The old Haseltine house was erected by Capt. David Haseltine, some years before 1800, and is the oldest left standing in that part of the town. The old house, long unoccupied, opposite Joseph C. Johnston's, is supposed to be the oldest in the back part of the town, and was built by Capt. James Johnston. The house next south of the town house, owned by J. C. Leavitt, was built by Thomas Mellen, and was standing in 1802. The oldest in Boltonville is the James Gardner house, and was built, says Mrs. Agnes Gardner, by James Henderson in 1807. In the Grow neighborhood stands a very old house, thought to be a century old, and built by Jonah Chapman. It has been very little altered, inside or out, since it was built. Mr. James Eastman's house is believed by Mr. Whitcher to be the oldest in the Lime-Kiln neighborhood.
It may be well to give the derivation of many local names, although most have been given before.
Wells River, the stream, from which the village has its name, was named for one Captain Wells, who visited the locality in 1704. Harriman's pond and brook were formerly called Taplin's pond and brook. Joseph Harriman was one of the earliest settlers. Mount Pulaski was thus christened at a Sunday school celebration held there about 1825, at which Rev. David Sutherland delivered an address. It was, of course, named for the Polish nobleman, who fell in the revolutionary war.
Hall's meadow, brook and pond, are named from Daniel Hall, an early settler. Different parts of the brook have been called Whiting's brook, Chalmers brook, Peach brook, and the like. A group of houses along this stream at South Newbury, was given the name of Happy Hollow by James Bayley, who once lived in the Brock neighborhood. The appropriateness of the name has sometimes been questioned. A branch of Hall's brook, called Vance brook, which winds about among the hills at West Newbury, and falls into
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PROFESSIONAL MEN-MISCELLANEOUS.
a deep ravine near the Union Meeting House, was so named from a family of early settlers in that locality.
Jefferson hill was settled during the administration of Thomas Jefferson, and was given the name, it is said, by John Peach. Boltonville was first called "Whitelaw's Mills," then "Brock's Mills." The present name was given when the post office was established. Scott's brook, in the northwest part of the town was named for John Scott, an early settler there. Levi brook, in the Lime-kiln neighborhood was named for Levi James, who came there in 1813. He was influential in getting the road built along that stream in 1830, and it was called "Levi James's brook," then "Levi's brook," and then simply Levi brook, as now.
The census of the town, since 1790, is as follows :
1790, 873.
1800, 1304. 1810, 1363.
1820, 1623. 1830, 2252. 1840, 2578.
1850, 2984. 1860, 2549. 1870, 2241.
1880, 2316. 1890, 2080. 1900, 2125.
In 1890 Wells River village had 525 inhabitants, and in 1900, 565. It will be seen by the above table that Newbury has shared in the depopulation of all hill towns in New England. There are more than 200 spots in town where houses once stood, and there are none now. The large farms have absorbed the smaller ones, and the causes of their abandonment are the same as of hundreds of other towns.
Family names, borne by several households seventy years ago, have entirely disappeared, and others have but one or two representatives. A new class, with ideas and aspirations very different from the founders of the town, has, in many cases, come to the farms which they tilled. There are some indications that the tide has turned and that the waste places of the town may again be built up. Better roads, a more liberal policy toward schools ; free mail delivery ; whatever will tend to render the farmer's lot more desirable, will bring about that result.
The following list contains the names of the revolutionary pensioners who were living in town in 1840, with their ages : William Tice, 80 Asa Coburn, 83 Sarah (Ring) Ladd, 72
Daniel Heath, 76 Joseph Harriman, 85 John Smith, 82
Samuel Johnson, 77 Sarah Ladd, 79 Thomas Mellen, 83 Peter Bayley, 87 Nathan Avery, 81
Before 1825, pensions were paid at Burlington, annually, for the whole state, and those who lived in distant parts of it had to get their money as best they could. It was common then for some
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HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.
one to go to Burlington and collect the pensions for those living in different localities, for a fee. There were instances known of men thus collecting money, and decamping with their ill-gotten gains. After 1825, pensions for the eastern part of the state were paid, semi-annually, at Windsor.
The last revolutionary pensioner who died in Newbury, was Simon Ward, at the house of Myron Abbott, January 5, 1858, aged 96 years, eight months, 23 days. He was buried at Hanover. The last revolutionary soldier in Vermont, was Jonas Gates, who died at Chelsea in 1864, in his 100th year. The last survivor of the war of 1812 in this town, and the last enlisted soldier of that war in this state, was Wells Goodwin, who died December 11, 1894, aged 100 years, 1 month, 2 days.
This list of nonogenarians is not claimed to be a complete one, but includes all whose names could be found. The year of death, age in years, and nativity are also given. Names joined by brackets are those of husband and wife.
Lydia (Bancroft) Abbott,
1850,
New Hampshire, 90
1862,
New Hampshire, 95
Sarah Bailey,
1867,
Newbury,
90
Martha (Powers) Bailey,
1880,
Newbury,
90
Beneiah Bowen,
1877,
New Hampshire,
94
Polly ( Hilliard) Bowen,
1865,
New Hampshire,
95
Rebecca (Abbott) Brock,
1872,
New Hampshire, 91
Mehetabel (Barker) Carleton,
1842,
Massachusetts,
90
Dudley Carleton,
1879,
Newbury,
91
Euphemia (Fairfull) Chalmers,
1895,
Scotland,
90
Dennis Crummey,
1894,
Ireland, 95
Charlotte (Page) Coburn,
1852,
91
John Downer,
1863,
Connecticut,
92
Sarah (Sargent) Eastman,
1831,
New Hampshire,
90
Martha (Ellsworth) Farnham
1890,
Greensboro,
90
Alonzo Fleming,
1896,
Canada,
90
Elisha French,
1868,
96
Sarah (Towle) George,
1865,
New Hampshire,
93
Wells Goodwin,
1894,
Ryegate,
100
Lydia (Heath) Goodwin,
1887,
New Hampshire,
93
Phebe Goodwin,
1881,
Newbury,
101
Mrs. Susan Grincr,
1866,
Massachusetts,
90
Judith (Dustin) Grow,
1886,
New Hampshire,
96
Amos K. Hcath,
1891,
Newbury,
91
Hancs Johnson,
1878,
Newbury,
90
Ebenezer Kendrick,
1881,
New Hampshire,
96
Marvin Kasson,
1881,
Connecticut,
96
John Atwood,
William Bailey,
1866,
Massachusetts, 90
PROFESSIONAL MEN-MISCELLANEOUS.
337
Mary (White) Kent,
1834,
New Hampshire,
97
Elvira (Morton) Knight,
1897,
Concord,
90
Col. John Kimball,
1867,
Haverhill,
94
Mrs. Mary Leighton,
1862,
New Hampshire,
92
Moses Morton,
1899,
Bath, N. H.
93
Thomas Mellen,
1853,
New Hampshire,
96
Mrs. Jane Parker,
1861,
New Hampshire,
97
William Peach,
1839,
Massachusetts,
91
Elizabeth (Bowden) Peach,
1839,
Massachusetts,
91
Samuel Powers,
1857,
Newbury,
91
Jean (Nelson) Renfrew,
1880,
Ryegate,
90
Mary (Nichols) Rogers,
1816,
England,
99
Mrs. Amelia Rogers,
1850,
90
" Col. John Smith,
1851,
New Hampshire,
93
Sarah (Kincaid) Smith,
1854,
New Hampshire,
92
Dea. John Smith,
1894,
New York,
94
Jacob W. Sulham,
1896,
91
Simeon Stevens,
1858,
Newbury,
91
Michael Sullivan,
1890,
Ireland,
90
Mrs. Esther Truesdell,
1823,
90
Harmon Titus,
1890,
92
Dea. Selah Wells,
1842,
New York,
92
Mrs. Dolly White,
1887,
Vermont,
103
Simon Ward,
1858,
New Hampshire,
97
Dr. Samuel White,
1848,
New Hampshire,
97
Lucia (Kasson) Wallace,
1888,
Connecticut,
93
Jane Waddell,
1896,
Barnet,
92
Betsey (Manson) Willoughby,
1872,
New Hampshire,
90
Ira White,
1886,
New Hampshire,
97
Jabez Wheeler,
1887,
Province of Quebec, 91
Time and education have wrought the disappearance, almost complete, of a class of beliefs which, seventy years ago, influenced the minds of men to an extent little comprehended by the present generation. Still these notions have not wholly died out and there are farmers, yet in this town, who do not begin haying on Friday, or dress pork on the old of the moon. But in the early part of the century, the belief in witchcraft had not wholly died away. There was an old farmer at West Newbury, who affirmed that he had seen witches dancing along the crane in the fireplace at midnight, and believed that some malady which affected his cattle was caused by a woman in his neighborhood, whom he accused of being a witch. In despair of relief he resorted to a process, which, in more credulous times, was held to possess a mysterious power. With a mixture of tallow and beeswax he moulded what he considered to be an image of the offending woman, which he hung up before the fireplace. As the effigy slowly melted, he stuck it full of thorns from the thorn-
22
338
HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.
apple, and at the same hour the woman who had cast an evil spell upon his cattle fell down stairs and broke her arm. When this old man was on his death bed he kept the family Bible under his head as a protection from witches. Dr. Carter, who attended his last illness, slyly took the Bible out, and put in a pile of old almanacs, a substitution which when discovered, came near sending the old man into another world several weeks before his actual departure.
There was once an Enoch Arden case in this town which did not terminate like that of Tennyson's hero. A farmer who lived near the Topsham line went away, and not being heard from for several years, his wife, believing him to be dead, married again, her second husband carrying on her farm. Some time after this the missing man returned, and came into the field where his successor was at work. The two men sat down on a rock and discussed the situation. They finally agreed that the lady, thus unexpectedly the possessor of two husbands, should decide which of them should abide with her. After some consideration she chose, and it would seem, wisely, the second. Whereupon the man who came home, "went his way, and she saw him no more."
After the chapter on post offices was printed, a small memorandum book came to light, which shows that in 1848 there were sixty different weekly papers taken through the Newbury post office. Of these the "Christian Messenger" had fifteen subscribers; "The Flag of Our Union," had twentyone; the "Vermont Watchman," sixteen; and the "Vermont Journal" fourteen. The "Boston Daily Atlas" was taken by Timothy Morse, the "Morning Post" by Henry Keyes, and the "New York Daily Tribune" by some one whose name cannot be made out.
CHAPTER XLIII.
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.
MASONRY IN THE Coos COUNTRY .- ANTI-MASONRY .- CHARITY LODGE .- PULASKI LODGE .- ODD FELLOWS .- BOUNTIES IN THE CIVIL WAR .- ELECTRIC LIGHTING .- EVENTS AT WELLS RIVER .- AT NEWBURY .- FARMS .- NEWBURY CORNET BAND.
A FARMING town, with no large central village, is not a very good field for the development of those societies which flourish best in more densely populated localities, still Newbury has had a modest share in the benefits which such organizations are understood to confer.
The researches of Hon. A. S. Batchellor, show that the first Masonic lodge in the Connecticut valley, north of Massachusetts, was established at Charlestown, N. H., by a charter from the St. Andrew's Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, dated November 10, 1781. Col. Timothy Bedell, of Haverhill, was one of its charter members. This was called "the Vermont Lodge," the New Hampshire towns in this valley, then adhering to the State of Vermont. This lodge was removed, in 1788, to Springfield, Vt., and Faithful Lodge was chartered to take its place at Charlestown. Dartmouth Lodge was established at Hanover, in 1788.
In June, 1799, Union Lodge was organized at Haverhill. Col. William Wallace, of Newbury, was one of the charter members, and some of its communications were held at Newbury, and it seems probable that many members of that lodge lived in this town, as on one occasion, about 1805, a sermon was preached in the meeting- house before the Masonic bodies. In 1809, this lodge was removed to Orford, and, later, Grafton Lodge was established at Haverhill.
October 17, 1811, Charity Lodge was chartered at Newbury by the Grand Lodge of Vermont. John Ewen, John Bayley, Isaac Bayley, Moses Johnson, William Bailey, David Barnett and others were members. Moses Johnson was Master, William Barron was
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HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.
Senior Warden, and William Bailey, Junior Warden, of this lodge. For nearly twenty years it was very active, and numbered some of the most prominent men in Newbury among its members. In 1829, the anti-Masonic controversy, one of the most remarkable manifestations of popular excitement, broke out, and was seized upon by adroit politicians, as a means of getting into public office. Dr. Spalding of Haverhill, in his "Reminiscences," speaks of it thus :
"The old federal party in Vermont, in consequence of their opposition to the war of 1812, had become so unpopular as to lose all political influence in the state, and therefore resolved to regain it by taking advantage of this excitement in New York, and were much encouraged by their success there. They induced the editor of the "Danville North Star," to renounce masonry, and publish an anti-masonic paper. The institution was not only attacked, but every mason, whatever his character might have been heretofore, was denounced as a liar and murderer, and unless he would renounce and denounce masonry, was unworthy of being a fit member of society. Some went so far as to proscribe masons in their business, and a few said they longed to see them put to the guillotine. Ministers were dismissed from their parishes, and some of the most worthy members of our churches were ex-communi- cated."
Vermont was the only state in the Union in which the anti- masons came into power. In 1830, William A. Palmer, of Danville, was the candidate of the party for governor, and this party was large enough to prevent an election by the people. Governor Crafts was re-elected, by the legislature. In 1831, Palmer and the anti-masons had the largest vote, but not a majority. He was elected by the legislature, after nine ballots, by a majority of one. The same thing happened the next year, and Palmer was re-elected by the legislature, after 49 ballots, by two majority. In 1833, Palmer was re-elected by the people. In 1834, the anti-masonic party had begun to go to pieces. A large portion of it joined with the Whig party, but Palmer was again elected by the legislature. But in 1835, although Palmer still led the popular vote, the Whig party, led by Horatio Seymour, was strong enough to prevent an election by the people, and defeat Palmer in the legislature, but not strong enough to elect any one else. After 63 ballots there was no choice for governor. The effort was then given up, and Silas H. Jennison, who had been elected lieutenant-governor, on the ticket with Palmer, had to take the governor's chair.
Thus ended one of the strangest chapters in the history of Vermont politics.
Newbury does not appear to have been carried away by the popular craze. In neither of these years did Palmer receive a plurality of the votes cast for governor in this town. In 1830, Palmer received 32 votes, against 182 for the two other candidates; in 1831, 49, against 118; in 1832, 92, against 210; in 1833, 129, against 187; in 1834, 79, against 156; in 1835, 82, against 195. There seems to have been a good deal of staying at home done about that time, on clection day, as at Freemen's meeting in 1836, when the anti-Masonic party had gone out of business, the
34I
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.
ballots cast for governor, which in 1835 had been 277, rose to 440, and in the next year to 482.
The subjoined account of Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, and other fraternal societies at Wells River, gives an accurate account of the present status of those bodies. In addition, there have been organizations of Sons of Temperance, Good Templars and Patrons of Husbandry, which had their day of brief prosperity, and of decline. The present Farmer's Grange at Newbury, is of late origin. *"A Masonic lodge was established at Newbury, Vermont, in 1811, by a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Vermont, and the first meeting was held in the Moses Johnson hall, October 17. Moses Johnson was its first master and Isaac Bayley its first secretary. So far as I have been able to determine from the records, the last meeting of Charity Lodge was held on the second Monday of December, 1828. Later, I suppose this Lodge was moved to Bradford. January 19th, 1861, Philip C. Tucker, Grand Master of Vermont, granted a dispensation for the re-establishment of a Masonic lodge at Newbury, and appointed D. A. French the first master; A. W. Eastman, the first deacon, and Milo Dodge the first junior deacon, The first meeting of Pulaski Lodge was held at Brother Tappan Stevens'. At this meeting Ephriam B. Stevens was elected first treasurer and Henry L. Watson first secretary. A. W. Eastman contracted with Mr. Keyes for the use of his hall for $30 a year. At a meeting of Pulaski Lodge, held August, 7, 1871, it was voted to remove the lodge to Wells River, as soon as a suitable hall could be procured, and S. S. Peach and E. G. Parker, were appointed a committee to confer with Mr. Penneman, in regard to same. Soon afterwards Pulaski Lodge was finally and pleasantly established in its new quarters in Wells River, where it has been located for the past twenty-eight years. Pulaski Lodge has always maintained a high standard of excellence in its work among the lodges of the state. It has made many good men Masons within its walls. It has always dispensed charity to all worthy brothers of the order when called upon. It now numbers sixty-four members. Its present officers are: H. T. Baldwin, master; J. A. George, S. W .; R. U. Smith, J. W. Financially the lodge is in good condition, and has taken into its ranks, a good many of the leading young men of our town. Åt the present time it is dispensing its charity with a generous hand, and no worthy brother goes empty-handed from its doors. We wish for the lodge many years of prosperity, and may it ever be found on the side of right in the future, as it has been in the past."
*"Temple Lodge, No 10, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was
*By W. H. Buck.
¡By R. G. Brock.
342
HISTORY OF NEWBURY, VERMONT.
organized March 23, 1881, with six charter members, namely, Harry A. Holton, George P. Arthur, Samuel M. Chamberlin, Edgar C. Graves, Frank L. Morse and James A. George. Its growth from that time has been steady and healthful, and at the close of this year has had 115 names on its roll. A large majority were the young and middle-aged men of this town; men who have been honored by their townsmen with positions of trust and responsibility. Of this number eleven have died and many have moved away, and transferred their connection to other lodges, leaving the present membership about sixty. Since its organization the lodge has paid to members and their families in sick and funeral benefits, several thousand dollars, but greater, and more beneficial, has been the kindly ministrations of the members to each other in time of sickness or sorrow.
Corinthian Chapter No. 42, of the Order of Eastern Star was instituted at Wells River, January 15, 1898, with twenty-five charter members. This institution also is flourishing."
The events of the last forty years can be touched upon but briefly. The civil war broke out in April, 1861, and the next four years were times of anxiety, mourning families, sudden changes, and the breaking up of old associations. With the close of the war a new era was found to have begun. The frugal domestic life and quiet manners of the early half of the century passed away, and were succeeded by an era of inflated prices and more costly living. City life and the attractions of the west, drew the young people away. The panic of 1873 still further tended to discourage agriculture. During the war, sheep raising had been very profitable, and at one time wool brought one dollar a pound.
When the "hard times" of 1873 came on, many farmers were deeply in debt, and with the low prices which prevailed, could not obtain the comfortable support for their families, to which they had become accustomed. Many farms were sold for what they would bring, and the town was the poorer for the loss of families. But our loss was the general gain; they carricd the institutions of New England to newer states, and the sons of Newbury made themselves known wherever they went.
The changes in farming have been many and great, and those who have adapted themselves to the successive changes, have succeeded. Stock-raising, like sheep-farming, became unprofitable, and was succeeded by dairying, which is now the principal occupation of our farms.
In the sccond year of the civil war the town was obliged to offer bounties as an encouragement to the enlistment of men to fill the quotas allotted to the town. Newbury was, by a large majority, in favor of the war for the Union, but there was a
343
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.
considerable minority who opposed the war, and censured the administration of President Lincoln. At special town-meetings in the years 1862, '63 and '64, bounties, amounting usually, to about eight dollars a month, for the time the soldier was expected to serve, were voted. The war expenses of Newbury amounted in all to $42,622.07. From this came our town debt, which, it is hoped the year 1901 will see wiped away. In all probability the town has paid, not much less than $70,000, as its share of the expense of putting down the rebellion.
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