fHE LIBRARY
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
Katharine F. Richmond
and Henry C. Fall
^»d*.:- 5f
HISTORY
OF
C A N D I A .
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
HISTORY OF CANDIA:
ONCE KNOWN A
CHABMINGPAEE;
WITH NOTICES Of
SOME OF THE EARLY FAMILIES
BY F. B. EATON
MANCHESTER, N. H.: PRESS OF THE GRANITE FARMER,
JAMES 0. ADAMS, PRINTER.
1852.
F
On the Fourth of July, 1848, It fell to my lot, by invitation, to read to a few bf my fellow townsmen, a sketch of the history of Candia.
A copy was requested for publication. Being by no means satisfied with the information which a few weeks' labor had collected, I thought proper to de- cline the request.
Four yeara have since passed, during which time I have, as opportunity offered, given attention to the subject, and as it seems now to be the very general wish of the citizens of Candia that something of the history of the town should be published and placed within their reach, I have not felt at liberty to disregard those wishes.
The events related, however trivial and common-place they might seem to strangers, I am sure will possess a certain degree of interest to every native born dweller in Charmingfare. Although few in number compared with what one would wish to see, yet the facts here offered were difficult of attain- ment, and the indulgence of the reader is asked towards any errors which may be discovered.
I take this occasion to express my sincere and most hearty thanks to those who have manifested an interest in this matter, and who have aided and encouraged me in its prosecution. Their number, only, prevents the insertion of their names in this place.
For the time devoted to this matter, and the expense necessary for its com- pletion, I shall feel amply compensated if by any exertion of mine a small part even of the early history Of my native town be preserved from the forget- fulness into which it is fast passing.
F. B. EATON. , May 1st, 1862.
1066422
HISTOEY.
The precise time when the first log cabin was erected within the limits of what is now called Canclia, cannot be known. While the fish yet swam in the streams, and the deer with his shaggy coated fellows roamed at pleasure over the hills, or through the forests yet untouched by the axe, and long deserted by the Indian, the wanderer, half civilized and half savage, always to be found on the fron- tier, made his way hither. During the summer months, a couch of skins, and the covering of the sky, was all he asked; but when the snows of our rude northern clime began to cover the ground, when the music of the streams was hushed, and the ice hung in pendants from the huge limbs of the "fathers of the wood," some more fitting lodging must be had. So there are found to this day certain old cellars, once covered with rude walls, respecting whose occupants tradition has hardly a story.
It is told that a party of hunters, weary with a long day's chase, near nightfall shot a large fine deer. In a trice their glittering knives carved out what was to be their evening's repast, and as the choice morsels slowly
8 HISTORY OP CANDIA,
roasted over a firo of crackling boughs, they sat in tho deepening twilight telling their adventures. In due season they partook of the venison, which by unanimous consent was pronounced to be charming fare ; so that part of Chester north of a line drawn from Healey's Mountain to what is now tho south-west corner of Candia, came to be called CIIARMINGFARE. For many years its dwellers were few and far between. About tho year 1743, David McCluer came from Chester center, and settled where Rufus E. Patten now lives, a little south of tho line of Charmingfare. The frame house which he built a few years after is still standing. It is beyond much doubt that the first settler north of the line described above, was William Turner, who in the year 1748, built his cabin where Moses Turner, his grandson, now lives. At this time, one hundred and twenty-eight years after the landing of the Pilgrims, and one hundred and twenty-five years after the settlement of Dover, Candia was a part of tho original township, or grant of ten miles square, made to certain persons from Portsmouth and Hampton in 1720, in what was then known as the chestnut country. This grant the proprietors called Cheshire. Within a year or two of Mr. Turner, Benjamin Smith, Enoch Colby, Mathew Ramsey, Nathan Burpee, Obededom Hall, and Jacob Sargent, came into the place. As we -walk in spring time over our pleasant fields, we can hardly form an estimate of the toil which has made them what they are. The polish of the arts and the refinement of the
ITS EARLY SETTLERS.
schools was not for the early settlers. They endured a discipline so stern and hardy, that all their institutions have the impress of force. The labor of a generation, with little time save to eat and sleep, was required to fit this place for a posterity of less strength and hardihood. W,e have outgrown their simple and honest fashions, and live in an age that the vision of prophecy could hardly have unfolded to them.
The great distance from the more populous settlement, the want of many necessaries of life, the lack of mills near at hand, as well as the destitution of religious and other instruction, was felt for many years to be a great evil. Accordingly so soon as a sufficient number of peo- ple came into the vicinity, measures were taken to obtain the privileges of a separate Parish.
For fifteen years the population does not seem to have made much increase. What few lived in the settlement were brave men and women, not easily daunted or dis- couraged. There are few now-a-days who would ride through the woods, infested by bears and wolves, as did Mrs. Turner, when she cantered away merrily to town through the bridle-path by David McCluer's, carrying tho plough-irons to the blacksmith, out of which the white oak stumps and the rough stones had broken many a notch. In March, 1762, by desire of the dwellers in Charming- fare, the people of Chester signified their assent in town meeting, for the incorporation of another Parish. Where- upon the following petition was sent to the General Court : 2
10 HISTORY OP CANDIA.
PROVINCE OF ) To his Excellency Benning Wentworth NEW-HAMPSHIRE, i Esq. Captain General Governor an4
Commander-in-Chief in and over his Majestie's province
of Newhampshire in New England to the Honorable
his Majestie's Council and house of Representatives in
general Assembly Convened:
The Humble Petition of us the Subscribers Inhabitants of the North Westerly part of Chester in the province afore- Most Humbly Sheweth that the Situation of the place -where we live is such that we cannot without much Difficulty attend the publick worship of God with our familys in good Weather, and at many times in the year not at all. And the Town of Chester being sensible of our Difficulties have passed a Vote in their Annual Meet- ing the 25th of March 1762 that we should be set off from them as a Distinct parish about five Miles and a half in Length and about four Miles in Breadth as followeth (viz) Bounding Notherly upon Notingham line Easterly on the old Hundred acre lots So Called. Southerly on the Longe Meadow parish, as that is Voted off already, and West- erly on the forty acre lotts. Wherefore we pray that we may be Incorporated into a parish agreeable to the above Mentioned Bounds and be Invested with all those prive- lidges that other parishes have within this province. The granting of which we Humbly Conceive will be a great benefitt to your Humble petitioners and our familys.
And your petitioners as in Duty Bound Shall ever pray.
Cheater March 22<Z Anno Domini 1763.
Benjamin Batchelder, William Turner,
Samuel Mooers, Winthrop Wells,
PETITION FOR INCORPORATION. ll
Jonathan Hills, Abraham Fitts, „
Samuel Towle, Sherburne Rowe,
Nicklus Smith, Asel Quimby,
Jonathan Towle, Gillman Dudley,
Nathaniel Ingalls, Zachariah Clifford ,
Theophilus Cloughj Enoch Colby,
John Karr, Moses Smart,
Thomas Chretchet, Nath- Emerson,
Samuel Eastman, John Sargent,
John Clay, Jonathan Been,
Moses Baker, Benj- Smith,
Theop5 Sargent, James McCluer,
Stephen Webster, Stephen Palmer,
Joseph Smith, Jacob Sergant,
Jeremiah Bean, Ichabod Robie,
Zebed Barey, Elisha Been,
Phineas Towle, David Hills.
In Council June 2? 1763.
Read and ordered to be sent down to the Hon— House. T. ATKINSON, Jun., Sec'y.
This copy was taken from the original document in the office of the Secretary of State at Concord, and probably has upon it the name of every voter at that time within the limits described.
Here is given also a copy of the action of the House of Representatives, and of the Council, in regard to the petition.
12 HISTORY OF CAND1A.
PROVINCE OF ) In the House of Representatives^ NEW-HAMP^. i June 2^' 1768.
This petition being read
Ordered That the petitioners be heard thereon the" second day of the sitting of the General Assembly after the first day of August next and that they cause the Substance of this petition and order of Court thereon In the New Hampshire Gazette three weeks successively that any persons Concerned May Appear and shew cause if any they have why the prayer thereof should not be granted.
A. CLARKSON, Clerk.
In Council. Eadem Die. Read and Examined.
T. ATKINSON, Jun. Sec'y,
PROVINCE OF ) In the House of Representatives, NBW-HAMP^.. i Dec. %$ 1763.
This petition being Read
Voted that the prayer thereof be granted and the peti- tioners have liberty to bring in a bill accordingly.
A. CLARKSON, Clerk.
Eadem Die. In Council. Read and Concurred.
THEOD. ATKINSON, Jun., Sec'y.
Following is the act of incorporation, as taken from the town record:
ACT Ofl ItfCOKPORATI'ON. 13
Anno Regni Regis Creorgii Tertii Magnce Brittannice Francice et Hibernice Quarto :
An Act for Erecting and Incorporating a New
Parish in tlic North Westerly part of tl it- Town of Chester in this Province.
Whereas a Petition has been Exhibited to the General Assembly by a Number of the Inhabitants of Chester Aforesaid Setting Forth, that it would be Very Conven- ient for them to be Incorporated into a New Parish as they lived a Considerable Distance from the Parish in said Town to which they belonged and there was a Num- ber in the same situation Sufficient to make a New Parish to which the town had Consented of which due Notice having been given and no Objections made ; and the Peti- tioners praying to be so Incorporated by the Bounds and Limits agreed to by the town- It is therefore Enacted By The Governor, Council and Assembly that there be and thereby is a New Parish Erected and Incorporated in the Town of Chester by the following Boundaries, (viz.) Beginning at the North East Corner of said Parish on the Line of the Township of Nottingham at a Hemlock tree at the head of the old Hundred acre Lotts, then runs South twenty Nine Degrees West joining to said lotts as they are Entered on the Proprietors Records about four miles to a stake and stones, then West North West to a Maple Tree being the North East bounds of the Lott Number forty three in the Sec- ond part of the Second Division, and Continuing the same course by towerhill pond to a stake and stones what com- pleats five miles and a half upon this course, then North Twenty Nine Degrees East to a Pitch Pine which is the South West Boundary of the Eighty acre lott in the
i4 HISTORY OP CANDIA.
Third Division Number ono hundred twenty three, then North twenty Nine Degrees East to Nottingham Line and then on that Line to the Hemlock Tree first mentioned. And all the Inhabitants Dwelling or that shall dwell within the said Boundaries, and their Estates are hereby made a Parish by the name of CANDIA and Erected into a Body Politick and Corporate to have Continuance and Succes- sion for Ever, and are hereby Invested with all the Powers and Enfranchised with all the Priviledges of any other Parish within this Province and are Chargable with the Duty of maintaining the Poor that do or shall Inhabit within said Parish. Repairing all High Ways Within the Same ; and Maintaining and Supporting the Ministry and Preaching of the Gospel, with full power to manage and transact all Parochial Affairs as fully to all Intents and Purposes as any Parish hi said Province may legally do.
And the Said Inhabitants are hereby Exonerated from paying any Taxes That Shall hereafter be Assessed in the said Town, With Regard to the Support of the matters and things aforesaid, but Shall Continue to Pay their Province Tax in the same manner as before the Passing of this Act untill a New Propotion thereof shall be made among the Several Towns and Parishes within the same.
And SAMUEL EMERSON Esq: is hereby appointed and authorised to call the first meeting of said Inhabitants Giving fourteen Days Public Notice of the time Place and Design of the meeting. And they the said inhabit ants at such meeting are Authorised to Choose All Neces- sary Parish Officers as at the annual meetings is done in other Parishes and such Officers Shall hereby be Invested with the Same Power of other Parish officers in this Province.
FIRST TOWN MEETING. 15
PROVINCE OF ) In the House of Representatives, NEW-HAMPSHIRE. } Dec. 16^, 1763.
This Petition having been read three times — Voted, That it Pass to Be Enacted.
H. SHERBURNE, Speaker.
In Council, Dei;: 17-, 1763.
This Bill read a third time And Past to be Enacted. T. ATKINSON, Jun., Secretary.
Consented to.
B. WENTWORTH.
A True Copy. — Examined,
T. ATKINSON, Jun., Secretary.
The first town meeting under the new charter was held on the 13th of March, 1764. Doct. Samuel Mooers was chosen Moderator and Parish Clerk, and as it may be a matter of interest to some, the names of officers chosen that day are here given from the record. It is a very significant hint of the orderly disposition of our ancestors, that the first office filled after the organization of the meeting was that of a constable ; and the worthy holders of that authority since may traco their genealogy to Winthrop Wells, who was held worthy to exercise his prerogative over the dutiful subjects of King George, in tho Parish of Candia and Province of New-Hampshire. Benjamin Batchelder, John Sargent, Jeremiah Bean, Selectmen; Mathow Ramsey, Stephen Webster, Fence-
I '• HISTORY OF CANDIA.
viewers; Stephen Palmer, Moses Smart, Haywards; Thoophilus Clough, Jonathan Bean, Deer Inspectors; Stephen Webster, Walter Robie, Nathaniel Emerson, Committee to examine tJie Selectmen's accounts. The next vote of any importance was to raise <£lf)0, old tenor, to hire preaching, (equal to about £7 10s. lawful money.) Meetings were held in what was called Mr. "Palmer's Lintel." This was on the place now owned by Mr. Nathaniel B. Hall, for whose present house the old mansion was removed. They raised also <£100, old tenor, or about £5, lawful money, to hire schooling. This was in April, and it was voted that the preaching should commence in August following, so that the selectmen, who were made a committee for that purpose, should have time to find a suitable preacher. In October of that year (1764) was recorded the laying out of the first highway, as follows : "Begining at a Stake and Stones at the South Side of Nath'- Emerson's House, and Running acrost Said Emerson's land By Spotted trees to a Hemlock tree marked; Then Bounding upon said Emerson's land to the Lott No. 124; then Running acrost -said Lott to the Beaver Dam, So Called: then acrost the Lott No. 125, straight to the North West Corner Bounds of the Lott No. 126, then following the Rode as it Now Runs to Moses Baker's house, then South upon said Baker's land to the Reserve, then following the Reserve to the Rode that leads from Thomas Patten's to Benjamin Rowel's. The Highway lays upon the North side of the
A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. 17
marked Trees." This is the road now leading from Mr. Freeman Parker's, by Mr. Jonathan Brown's.
The next year the amount raised for preaching and the support of schools was nearly doubled, and there was some talk about building two school houses. Our ancestors seem to have had much of that regard for things sacred common to the early settlers of New-England. The old Lintel proving too small to accommodate the increasing numbers who resorted to it, they resolved, after having in some measure provided for their temporal necessities, to build a convenient place of worship. No privations could deter them from this, and it is to be feared that if our modern societies were compelled to sacrifice so much of their time, labor and money, in comparison to their means, as did our Fathers, that places of worship would be few. At a meeting of freeholders, held September 8th, 1766, Mr. John Clay, Walter Robie, Esq., Mr. Benjamin Cass, Mr. Moses Baker, Mr. Jonathan Bean, Nathaniel Emer- son, Esq., and Mr. Abraham Fitts, were chosen as a committee to see that the meeting house frame be built ; and for this purpose £60, lawful money, was to be assessed on the inhabitants of the Parish, in lumber, or labor at 2s. Qd. the day. If any refused to perform a just share, the committee were to report the contumacious individual to the selectmen, and the amount was to be collected by the constable in money.
The frame was to be commenced on the 22d of Sep- tember, and finished by the last of October. It was voted 3
18 HISTORY OP CANDIA,
that the house should stand on the north-west corner of the Parsonage lot. There had been from time to time previous to this, labor laid out on the lot, the income of which vras devoted to the support of a minister, and here the location was chosen for a house of worship. Then the work began in right good earnest ; the oaks were cut in the forest and hewn to a proper shape. The labor- ing oxen, from many a rude path, drew their heavy loads, urged on by the goads of their stout drivers, whose shouts awakened echoes from hill and dale. There was labor to be done, and strong hands and willing hearts to do it. In October another meeting was called and the selectmen empowered to assess a sum of money sufficient to finish the frame, and in contemplation of that great event, "a raising," it was voted that codfish, potatoes and butter be provided for supper. Here was a feast indeed. Our fathers no were ascetics ; they undoubtedly recognized the fact that men who work must eat. Potatoes were then scarce, and in our infant settlement, butter was deemed an extravagant thing, a banquet prepared by kings could have given no better enjoyment. It might be called in some sort a munificent act of the town thus to indulge themselves.
At length the eventful time arrived, a pleasant October morning, and long ere the rays of the sun had penetrat- ed the boughs of the chestnut trees, which shaded, in various places, the hill, or illuminated the autumnal richness of the forest, the workmen were on their way.
THE RAISING. , 19
Indeed, there was hardly a man, woman or child, in the parish, whose eyes were not open on that morn, a full hour earlier than usual, albeit there were few laggards at any time ; but this was surely an extra occasion — one might not see a meeting house raised above once in a life time. From every dwelling they came, men hardy and vigorous in form, with their better halves, and blushing daughters bright in the morning dew of health and happiness. The utmost skill of the rustic toilet graced the fair wearers on this day, and, incited by their presence, the young men, with as much ardor as ever urged on knight of yore, doubtless achieved huge feats of labor and strength. Near the destined spot, the tim- bers lay scattered about, each tenon fitted, each mortise cut, with the greatest care. The old men with broad axes are already shaping the pins of oak and hewing off the ends of the braces, while others by dozens and half dozens, lift at huge beams, straining themselves into very red faces as they step cautiously over chips and stones. No one seems idle or uninterested ; even the dogs with great clamor treeing imaginary game in the adjacent woods, enjoy it. The master builder with rule in hand, and a grave face denoting the immensity of his cares, inspects everything, gives a thousand directions, and hastens about as though the fate of a nation were on his shoulders. The committee of direction, each early on the spot, oversee the builder, the framers, the hewers, and every body else. The sills are in their places, and at 8*
20 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
%r
length one huge broadside is ready. The stout old oaken frame is no trifle to be hoisted in mid air. With the word of the master, it is raised from the ground ; it is up on all their hands ; the strong pike poles are applied ; it creaks and groans as it moves slowly upward, and the anxious crowd, for a moment hushed as the sight greets their eyes, give utterance to a deep breathing sound of relief as it settles surely into its proper place. Then in their turn come the heavy timbers of the end, and then the last broadside, while the lookers-on watch with eager interest the runners on the dizzy spars, or laugh as the whizzing pins fly over the heads of those who fail to catch them. Ere the setting of the sun all is right; — the sills, the posts, the beams, the braces, the rafters, the ridge-pole. And the master builder — a glad man is he that day, as he wipes the sweat from his sunburnt brow, thankful that nor witch, nor wizard, or worse than this, a careless hand, had wrought him mischief. Here posterity must regret the loss of the speech which, according to the custom of our ancestors, was undoubtedly delivered from the ridge- pole, but no word of it remains. The winds floated it afar over the wild forest, and no man can decipher their phonography. 'Twas of course worthy of the occasion, and considered as the first sermon delivered from this ticklish rostrum, probably it had traits of genuine origi- nality.
Now all are ready and impatient to do justice to the supper — the codfish, potatoes and butter. How they
SALE OF THE PEWS. 21
ate, and laughed, and joked until the old mansion of Col. Carr fairly rung with merriment ; while the hostess with flushed face and bustling air did the honors of the house, and (as she lived to tell often since,) " melted the clear butter for 'em, with not a drop of water in it;" what a height of culinary extravagance.
In February, 1767, ground for the wall pews was sold at auction. This ground was divided into lots, and sold before the pews were finished. At first long seats were placed in front of the speaker, the men sitting on one, and the women on the other, side of the aisle. Our fathers however had perhaps some misgivings about this tendency to Quakerism, for soon after we find it recorded in a solemn vote, that the "men and women's seats shall be moved two inches nearer together ;" although some do assert that the record means simply, that the men's seats shall be moved two inches nearer together, and also the women's seats. If this interpretation be believed, then all room for controversy respecting the sectarian tendency of the thing vanishes, and the peg on which an ingenious historian might hang a long disquisition, is driven out of sight. Be this as it may, ground enough was sold to clapboard and shingle the house, and an additional assess- ment was laid on the members of the parish for the purpose of glazing the windows. For this object liberty was given each man to cut oak timber from the Parsonage lot and make hogshead staves, for which he should be
22 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
allowed 18 shillings per thousand, provided they were brought to the meeting house before the 16th day of February.
The first call to the work of the ministry, was given to Mr. Tristram Gilman, Sept. 1st, 1768, and it was voted that for the first year he should receive £40, lawful money, with the addition of £2 10s, each year after- wards, until the salary amounted to £60. He was also to have the improvement of one half of the Parsonage lot; and the Parish furthermore engaged to bring twenty- five acres of the above half, under good cultivation in six years from that time, and to build a house suitable for the minister to dwell in as soon as convenient.
It seems that these terms did not satisfy Mr. Gilman, and it was voted to increase the salary yearly until it should reach £70, and to give him the improvement of the whole Parsonage lot, but he did not accept their offer. In the meantime a Parsonage house was commenced, a well dug, and one hundred apple trees set out on the farm, which was rented to the highest bidder for im- provement. A call was then given to Mr. Jonathan Searle. This, also, was unsuccessful, and finally after a day of fasting and prayer, appointed by the committee, as the record has it, they pitched on Mr. David Jewett, with an offer of £50 for the first year, and £5 more each year afterward, until the stipend should be £65. Mr. Jewett's letter of acceptance was as follows :
MR. JEWETT'S LETTER. 23
To the Inhabitants of Candia:
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, — The serious Concern you seam to manifest for the Enjoyment of the Stated Institu- tions of the Gospel and in the most regular way by the preparations You are making for this purpose, and have proceeded so far as to give me an Invitation to settle among You in the Sacred office of the Gospel ministry and having voted me Such a maintainance as may be Sufficient, being so generally united in me and so agree- ably harmonizing among y^elves, Having taken these things into the most serious and prayerful consideration, I Embrace this Opportunity to express my gratitude to you in having Such a Regard for me, which I trust with an Eye and aim to God's Glory has influenced you to act as you have ; and would hereby signify to you that upon Condition a Church is incorporated in this Place in Christian love and friendship and on condition that you finish the Parsonage house by October or No- vember in the year 1772, and Digg and Stone a well by December next and build a barn by July next You have my consent for tarrying — and should God in his alwise Providence so order that I settle among you may it be with an humble Dependance upon Divine Grace that I may be Enabled to behave agreeable to the char- acter of a minister of Christ. Entreating your earnest and fervent prayers at the throne of Grace, that in the Course of my ministration among you I may prove faith- full and successful!, that I may not Run in vain, nor spend my strength for naught, while holyness and Char- ity are our mutual and resolute Endeavours.
from your real and serious friend,
DAVID JEWETT.
24 HISTORY OP CANDIA.
These conditions were probably complied with, for in 1770 Mr. Jewett began his ministry. In 1773, a pul- pit was built, certainly a most elaborate piece of archi- tecture, very high, grand and prison-like, over the dea- cons' seat, like Ossa upon Pelion. It was a queer idea, that of placing a preacher mid way between Heaven and his hearers, and perhaps to the designer of such high places, typical of the sacred office. Over the pul- pit was a huge sounding board, and many a time of a warm summer's Sabbath afternoon, when the buzzing of a fly about my nose, or a sudden pause in the sermon roused me from vainly resisted slumbers, have I been seized with a sort of panic, lest it should fall and dash the unfortunate incumbent to atoms. This was in boy- hood's day, but never since have I seen, or thought of it, but an involuntary comparison arises, between that and the sword suspended by a single hair over the head of Damocles, as we used to have it in the English Rea- der and I know not what classic author beside. How- ever, this sounding board, if a bubble, was a harmless one, and seemed by custom quite a necessary part of the sermon.
While thus quietly and peacefully engaged in the com- mon and pleasant duties of life, designs were maturing in the great world without, which might soon call the attention of our Fathers to sterner things. The cloud overhanging the country assumed a dark and threaten- ing aspect. The colonies by their deputies in Congress
THE EEVIEW. 25
at Philadelphia, October 26th, 1774, recommended each and every citizen to prepare himself to stand on the de- fensive. In conformity with this advice, conventions were holden in many places, and one was called at Ex- eter, June 25, 1775. From this town Moses Baker was chosen a delegate. In the meantime Walter Robie, Esq., Capt. Nathaniel Emerson, Doct. Samuel Mooers, Mr. Benjamin Cass, Mr. Jacob Worthen were chosen as a committee to inspect all persons who should not conform to the advice of the General Congress. It was voted that the Selectmen should buy one barrel of pow- der, " with flints and lead answerable thereto." For- tunately, our Fathers were never compelled to re- sist invasion so immediate as this vote seemed to con- template. The powder has long since been resolved into its native and original elements, but the bullets still re- main and constitute about the only article of defensive warfare in the fortress civic of the town. Long may they rest undisturbed ! Capt. Emerson, Lieut. Baker and Ensign Bean were directed to request all the males in Candia, from sixteen to sixty years of age, to assem- ble at the meeting house, for reviewing with arms and ammunition, on the 17th day of January, 1776, at one o'clock, P. M. It seems probable that there was about one hundred and fifty men assembled, for we find in the Secretary's office, at Concord, a report of the Se- lectmen made in October, a copy of which is here given, 4
26 HISTORY OP CANDIA.
Males under 16, 232 ; from 16 to 50, 120 ; above 50, 19 ; gone in the army, 27. Females 346. Seventy-two firelocks fit for use, forty-eight wanted.
Powder is so inconsiderable, we thought not worth no- tice. Town stock, none at all.
ABRAHAM FITTS, \ Selectmen WALTER ROBIE, of
MOSES BAKER, ) Candia. Oct, 2d-, 1775,
That first review must have been an occasion of no ordinary moment to the people of Candia. It was no boy's-play, no village muster, with its mock parade of awkward soldiery. One can seem to see them now, those stern old men, here and there a few grey locks, who had seen hard service among the Rangers, or helped drag the cannon through the marshes at Louisburg, — those sober young men, with scanty equipments but full hearts; there were startling thoughts, and purposes of mighty resistance shadowed forth in the knit brow and compressed Up.
That REVIEW, what would the people of Candia not give for a complete and perfect engraving — • taken from the pencil of some skilful painter — which should repre- sent each face as it was, each manly form as they stood. Alas, no cunning artist can recall from eternal sleep, the features and forms that few remember to have seen, the faces none might recognize. The very ground whereon they $top4 has been moved away, and the ashes of that
PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR. 2*?
temple in whose shadow they were, scattered to the winds of heaven.
In February, a Parish meeting was called, by the pro- ceedings of which it appears that the committee of In- spection had attended to their duty. The report which they presented was not placed on record. An addition of four persons was made to the Committee, viz : Na- thaniel Burpee, Abraham Fitts, Moses Baker, and Ich- abod Robie. Tuesday May llth, Doct. Samuel Mooers was chosen to represent the town, in Provincial Con- gress, to be holden at Exeter, on the 17th inst. A com- mittee of seven gave him advice and instructions.
Meetings of the citizens were frequent, and held at different houses; every measure was discussed, every act of the mother country watched with much anxiety, and each step debated with that close attention which to this day characterizes the people of Candia. When finally convinced of the justice and necessity of resist- ance, no people were ever more united, more ardent, more energetic. At a meeting called for the purpose, Nathaniel Emerson, Moses Baker and Doct. Samuel Mooers, were chosen to consult with the officers and committees of other towns as to the best manner of regulating the militia of the regiment.
The news of the battle of Lexington, more powerful than the eloquence of a thousand orators, thrilled through the veins of men. The news came to Candia at midnight, and Col. Emerson, who was first to receive
28 HISTORY Otf CANDlA.
it, rode up to the meeting house, firing minute guns as he went, to arouse the inhabitants. When there, he was soou joined by others, and they fired minute guns until day-break, at which time every man was on the ground. Nine volunteered that morning, of whom Capt. Moses Dusten was the first. How many others did, we are not able to tell; as no reliable record can be found, and those who remember these things are few and far between. One winter's evening I talked some hours with Mr. John Buswell, since deceased, about the revolutionary times. Said he, " I remember as well as if it were no longer ago than yesterday, when my father was called up in the night to go to Lexington. I was but eight years old." He remembered the first review at which he was present, and the excitement of that day in comparison with which all days since seem- ed to him of little importance. He spoke of threatened disunion, and of the time he had not forgotten, when there was no Union, when food and clothing were hard to procure, and only the most rigid economy, and some- times suffering and hardship, could enable the citizen to meet the demands of Congress on his purse. It will be seen from the statistics of various kinds in this little work^ that Candia was in no whit behind her neighbors in affording means, according to and even be- yond her strength, for the prosecution of the war. In the tax list of 1778, three years after the declaration of war, there are one hundred and sixty-four names of
PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR. 29
men ; and on the record of soldiers who served, some during the war, and some for a less time, are one hun- dred and twenty-two. Like Warren, the first great martyr, they left their plows in the furrow, or it may be, hurried to the battle-field, " When the drum beat at dead of night."
In 1777, 18 men were called for as the proportion of Candia in the Continental Army, and it was voted by the town that twenty dollars a year should be paid those who enlisted. April 8th, a committee was ap- pointed to ascertain how much money each citizen had expended since Concord fight, in support of the war. The only record made of that report is very incom- plete as found on the town book. A copy of it fol- lows.
Concord men, Is. per day and extra charges.
8 month men with Lieut. Emerson, 4 Dollars each. Ditto with Lieut. Dusten, 2 Dollars each.
Winter Hill men with Capt. Baker, 1 Dollar each.
1 year men to York, 8 Dollars, those to Delaware, 2 Dollars each.
Tyconderoga men, 13^ Dollars each.
New York men last fall, 1 Dollar each.
New York men last winter, 2 Dollars each.
Joseph Bean to Canada, 20 Dollars.
The people were always in a state of readiness at home as well as abroad, to receive an enemy. They seldom went from their dwellings without arms. One time there was a report that the British had come as
80 HISTORY Of CASDlA.
far as Sandown, and the greatest alarm prevailed ; each man inspected his small stock of ammunition and prepared for resistance. Even on the Sabbath morning, the far- mer shouldered his trusty firelock as he went to the house of God.
Said Theodore Frelinghuysen in a sermon delivered in Albany at the camp of the New England forces, in the time of French War, " Ye people of Albany, the tune was when forces came up to us on a shadowy expedition, not having the fear of God before their eyes. Ye now hear the sacred songs of Zion sung in their camp, instead of blaspheming and profane dis- course ye see and hear now a religious conversation." This was in some respects the character of the New England soldier, but the camp contaminated even him. The congregation of our ancestors, armed and ready for an alarm, was a sight to be remembered. What stillness reigns in that house of worship, all save the voice of the man of God. How every eye is turned on him, the occupant of that high carved pulpit. The stern puritan demeanor of the fathers, the silent and half frightened gravity of the children, and —unwont- ed sight in this peaceful place — the fire-arms, the Yan- kee bayonets, disposed here and there, make a scene worthy of description. That startled glance of woman's eye towards the door, as some passing gust stirs the stout timbers above her head, tells volumes. Undefined fears of evil to come, of sudden surprise, of terrible
DRESS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. 31
disaster to her loved ones, will not let her hear tha sermon quietly, and when she steps out into the sun-, light, every distant hill conceals a column of British, or still worse, each wood gives covert to the dreaded In- dian. Ah, my enduring mother, daughter, sister of the. Revolution, what courage when the trial came was yours. You made the home for which our fathers fought worth fighting for. This plain, hardy and vigorous race had no rights to be trifled away and relished not courtly jesting.
For the dress of those times, the men wore trowsera of tow and linen, made from the looms of their indus- trious wives, with a coat of the same material. This, garment, which was made loose and rather short, might in Roman tunes have been dignified with the classic name of tunic. There was probably some difference in the pattern, but in the plain language of Candia it was called a " long short," and, say those who tell of olden times, the corners of the coat were sometimes tied to- gether, forming a sack around the body of the wearer. In this was placed the Sunday dinner, often in summer consisting of rye and indian bread and cucumbers, which fare was leisurely discussed during the hot noon, in the. pleasant shade of the surrounding chestnut trees. To. be sure there was occasionally seen the three cornered hat, the long vest, long tailed coat and black silk stock-, ings, with the breeches and knee buckles of the gen- tleman, but the above described was the more common,
82 niSTORY OF CANDIA.
dross. The dress of the ladies was woven of linen, sometimes striped with a figure of blue ; over this and extending about half way down its length, was worn a loose gown of some other material, not unlike the sack of the present day. A gentleman and lady of our home- spun olden time, might startle a modern congregation half out of its propriety.
January 1778, a committee waa chosen to procure our quota of men for the army, and money was voted for that purpose. Tho General Congress had drawn up articles of confederation, which were presented to the States for their approval. Our Fathers in Candia took especial pains to investigate and form their opinions in- telligently in regard to whatever was to affect their own x>r the future interests of the country. Such marks as these are good indices of the fitness of a people for free government, and such we suppose to have been the course of all citizens generally. That year, Moses Baker was chosen representative to the Provincial Assembly. Fol- lowing is a copy of the instructions given him by the parish, and in connection with it, those articles in the old form of confederation which seemed to them objec- tionable, with the exception of the 9th, which is too- long for insertion here, and which relates chiefly to the powers of Congress in war, and so forth, and to the mode of settling differences between the several states :
It is the voice of the people of said Candia that the Eighth article in the Confederation agreement is not ex-
ARTICLES OP CONFEDERATION. 33
pressed so plain to our understanding as that it should not admit of an exception we think that the States ought to be taxed according in some measure at least to their real and personal Estate and number of Polls and not particularly by lands and Buildings; as to the Ninth and tenth articles we think there ought be a proviso that one or more of the New England States be of the nine mentioned, as to the other things we have no exception that appear to us so material but that we approve of the same.
And Likewise it is the voice of the People of S- Can- dia, that you use your influence in the General assembly at the Next Sessions to appoint and Call a full and free representation of all the people of this State to meet in Convention at Some time and place as Shall be thought proper by Said assembly for the Sole purpose of framing and laying a plan or System for the future government of this State that it may be handed Down to posterity inviolate.
Art. 8- of the Confederation. All charges of war and all other expenses that shall be incurred for the com- mon defence or equal welfare and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states in proportion to the value of all lands within each state granted to or surveyed for any person as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon shall be estimated, According to such mode as the United States in Congress assembled shall from time to time direct and appoint. The taxes for paying that pro- portion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the several states within 5
84 HISTORY OP CANDIA.
the time agreed upon by the United States in Congress assembled.
Art. 10-. The committee of the states or any nine of them shall be authorized to execute in the recess of Congress, such of the powers of Congress as the United States in Congress assembled, by the consent of nine states shall from time to time think expedient to vest them with, provided that no power be delegated to the said committee for the exercise of which, by the articles of confederation the voice of nine states in the Congress of the United States assembled is requisite.
It is perhaps not necessary for me to say that this committee referred to in Art. 10, was during the recess of Congress, the only executive power, the first govern- ment not resting that authority in any one person as chief.. Want and destitution now prevailed to some extent over the land, and many families of those soldiers who were fighting the battles of their country, were in consequence unable to provide for themselves. Here, as in other places they were relieved at the public ex- pense, and a committee of three were chosen " To take in consideration and make inquiries, into the families of those men, commissioners and private soldiers, as have engaged in the Constitutional service, for the Parish for three years, or during the war, and supply them Avith the necessaries of life as the law directs." In August 1779, the following vote was taken, " That we will adopt measures similar to the town of Portsmouth, and use the utmost of our power in reducing the prices of
MR. JEWETT'S DISMISSIOX. 3o
the necessities of life and gain the credit of our coun- try." Capt. Sargent and John Clifford, were chosen to attend the convention at Concord, for the purpose of adopting some plan regarding this. In October follow- ing Mr. John Lane, Lieut. Samuel Towle, Lieut. Jacob "Worthen, Mr. Caleb Brown, Mr. John Clifford, Lieut. Benjamin Bachelder and Edward Robie, were chosen to state prices on those articles which had not been named by the convention, and also to carry into execution its recommendations. All means were taken by the people of Candia to aid the government; men, money and ra- tions, were voted with great cheerfulness, and no people were ever more willing and desirous to maintain their full share of the credit and welfare of the whole country — their votes, their instructions, show that they acted with a knowledge of the great events in which they were concerned.
About this time there was a growing dissatisfaction with Mr. Jewett. There was much difficulty in regard to his removal, owing to the mode in which the civil con- tract between pastor and people was made ; there were several offers to Mr. Jewett to induce him to ask a dismission, without success. Reference was once made to Judge Weare for a settlement, and by his advice committees were chosen for mutual conference, and agreement if possible ; finally after many plans, the matter was referred to the Hon. Matthew Thornton^ with some others and settled. The Parish paid certain
36 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
claims of Mr. Jewett and he agreed to leave the ministry in the place. Time has left us nothing in regard to the merits of the controversy which will justify any comments.
In May 1781, a meeting was called, for the following among other purposes : " to choose one suitable person to represent them in Convention at Concord, on the first Tuesday of June next, to aid in forming a plan of gov- ernment," and to see if the Parish would intrust a sum of money which had been contributed, to the hands of the deacons that they might procure preaching. The first named object was negatived — the second agreed to. January 7th 1782, deacon Nathaniel Burpee being moderator, it was voted that deacon Stephen Palmer, deacon J. Hills, and Mr. Eleazer Knowles, should be a committee " to treat with the Rev. Mr. Prince, concerning the term of time he will preach with us, and on what condition." After this vote there was an adjournment of ten minutes, when the committee re- ported that " Mr. Prince would preach with us six or seven years for the improvement of the Parsonage, and •a hired hand six months each year, putting the build- ings and Parsonage in repair." An agreement was entered into with Mr. Prince accordingly. On the tv;enty-first day of the same month, a vote was taken on the reception or rejection of the plan of government drawn up at Concord. There were sixty-six votes against, and none for it. A committee of seven wag
STATB GOVERNMENT. 37
then chosen to draw up some " reasons " upon the plan of government and send to the convention at Concord. Lieut. Abraham Fitts was made a delegate to present these reasons, to the convention. In cold weather the town meetings were held at Col. Carr's tavern, there being no way of wanning the meeting house, so that many of these deliberations took place there. The judg- ment and wit of the freeholders may have been considerably sharpened by occasional draughts of the Colonel's good cheer. Another meeting was called in relation to the form of a State government, to the cus- tomary notice for which was appended this postscript : " It is desired, if you have any regard for your own good, or the good of your posterity, you would univers- ally meet on said day."
The architects who constructed the Parsonage house, or the mason who built the chimneys, did not do it on the most scientific principles, so that the occu- pant was subjected to that unpleasant thing, a smoky house. And it follows that the chimneys had to be rebuilt — a vote having been passed for the pur- pose. In July 1783, some action was taken in regard to finishing galleries in the meeting house, and it was directed that the committee should build a pew in the front galleries from pillar to pillar, for the use of the singers. Here were those ancient tunes performed, the * productions of Billings, of Whitaker, of Clarke, and of Kendall. One can almost now hear the fugitive strains
H8 HISTORY OK CANDIA.
chasing one another, pursuing and pursued, through the whole compass of the vocal pipes from the deepest base to the shrill treble.
Somewhere about this time, steps were taken by the authorities of the town, to erect at some suitable place within its limits, that most proper and desirable of pub- lic edifices, a pound, whose high walls and impregnable gate, should be a terror to all evil disposed, and unruly cattle such as were in the habit of rambling unprofitably about the roads, or devising predatory incursions into the newly sown grass land, or the luxuriant corn fields of the unlucky farmer. For this worthy object, Lieut. Abraham Fitts, Col. John Carr, and Mr. John Clay were chosen a committee, with full power to act in the premises. It was voted that it should be built of tim- ber ; if so, it must one day have been rebuilt, for the only thing of the kind existing of late years, was of stone ; and in the furor of modern improvement, its very foundations have been removed to make way for sheds, so that where the cattle of a former genera- tion did penance for their misdoings, the horses of to day, are sheltered from the noon-day sun, or the winter's cold, while their masters hard by tend church, or delib- erate on affairs of State. Col. Carr was the first pound keeper, and became to bad cattle what the tithing-man of yore was to naughty little boys at meeting. The office was held in the family until the dismantled walls of the rustic prison ceased to be of use to the town ;
CALL TO MR. REMINGTON. 89
and indeed, since my recollection it served only to afford greater facilities, in reaching the cherries which grew near it.
About this time the monetary affairs of the country were in a very bad state, and what with the scarcity of silver and gold, and the depreciated value of paper money — our good people were almost at their wits' end, while the low price of every thing the farmer had to sell, and the high price of every thing he was obliged to purchase, contributed greatly to his embarrassment. The people of Candia, however, bore it as well as they could, and contented themselves with instructing their representatives how to act in regard to the matter in General Court.
Some time in the year 1789, the engagement of the Parish with the Rev. Mr. Prince, having terminated, a Mr. Howe was hired to preach for six months, on trial ; at the expiration of this time, no agreement was made with him by the Parish, and the Rev. Jesse Rem- ington commenced preaching. At a meeting held in 1790, it was voted to give him a call to the ministry, if he would accept their terms, which were as follows : " To give Mr. Remington the use and improvement of the Parsonage lot and buildings, during his ministry among us, and sixty pounds lawful money, annually, and likewise twenty cords of wood yearly hauled to the Par- sonage house, eight or twelve feet long. Said wood is to be cut and hauled to the Parsonage house, or where
40 HISTORY OP CANDIA.
the selectmen shall order. Likewise, voted that Mr. Remington have liberty to cut what wood will be need- ed in addition to the above twenty cords, to support the fires in the Parsonage house yearly, and no more ; and timber to maintain the fences about said Parson- age." These terms being suitable, Mr. Remington sent a letter of acceptance, of which this is a copy.
" BRETHREN AND FRIENDS : It having Pleased God Since I have Preached among you as a Candidate to incline your hearts to unite in proposing my Settlement — to this purpose the Church and Congregation met on July 12- and being happily united as I was informed in Completing a Call — having Seriously Considered of the Call and of the union and friendship which appeared to Subsist, think it my Duty to Express my approbation and acceptance of it. Acknowledging at the Same time with gratitude your good Opinion of my fidelity and faithfulness in the Proposals of my taking the Pastoral Charge and Care of you in the Lord and also the Re- spect and friendship you have Shown me both in Publick and Private since our first acquaintance Desiring your Sincere and Daily Prayers to God that I may be Enabled to perform Every incumbent Duty as a minister and Preach so as by Divine assistance, to Save not only my Self but them that Hear me.
With Affection I am your Devoted friend and Brother in the fellowship of the Gospel.
JESSE REMINGTON.
Candia, August 20^ 1790.
At the time when Mr. Remington entered on the
RETROSPECT. 41
.duties of his sacred office, the settlement wanted five years of being half a century old, and twenty six years had passed since its incorporation. These had been no common years. Through the sufferings inci- dent to new settlements in frontier places, the people of Candia had struggled on into something like prosperity at the commencement of the war. To this new bur- den they did not hesitate to offer their willing shoulders, and though few in number, sent their full share of men to the battle field. They suffered for what we enjoy. They experienced those bitter sensations, which God grant we may never feel, when reverse after reverse fell thick and fast on American arms, when the South- erner was driven to the fastnesses of his inaccessible swamps, and the Northern army lay perishing amid the snows of Valley Forge. They too felt that joy which paid an hundred fold for all endurance, when the world saw the disgrace of British policy and the triumph of justice and the American cause. When the flush of victory had subsided, they helped endure the burdens of a Nation impoverished and weak, commencing its great experiment of self government.
Their industry and thrift in all this time had not for- saken them, and they had both ability and disposition to support decently their minister and schools, and to conduct civil affairs in a prosperous manner. They were not rich, but well enough off, as the saying is ; the yearly tax at this tune, (period of Mr. Remington's set- 6
42 HISTORY OF CANDLA.
tlement,) from less than two hundred and twenty five payers, being about seven hundred and thirty dollars, four-fifths of which was for religious instruction, and for schools. The people of Candia were, and to this day are, a church going people. The sound principle and love of good order, the regard for things sacred which characterized the first Parish committee in their day of fasting and prayer, on account of the difficulty of pro- curing a suitable preacher, has not left them now. In respect to schools, it is but just to say that they have been for many years, in advance of all in their imme- diate vicinity.
March 9th 1802, the people being well united in Mr. Remington, and prosperous in worldly affairs, be- came desirous of building a steeple to their meeting house, not being content with the plain and simple structure their fathers had built a quarter of a century before ; so they proceeded to add to it a porch and steeple, which, indeed, made a very fine appearance. On its dizzy, towering top rested that bird of birds — > not the American eagle, but the " weather cock," whose watchful eye admonished, like a sentinel from his tur- ret, of the coming storm. Many a little boy firmly believed, that he crowed whenever he heard the morn- ing salutations of his friends and kindred in the humbler walks of life. It was voted then to assess on those who paid a minister tax, the sum of one hundred and twenty five dollars, which in addition to that already
THE BELL. 43
subscribed, should be used for the purchase of a bell. This bell was of a beautiful tone, as all who ever heard it, well know. It was rung three times a day, viz : at eight in the morning, twelve at noon, and nine at night, except the nights of Saturday and Sunday, when it was rung at eight. Mr. Nathan Fitts bid off the ringing the first year, for twenty four dollars and twenty five cents. The next year it was rung by Mr. Joseph Carr, by whom it was kept for many years. There was some- thing attractive, even in the very rattle of that old bell rope as it came through its long pine tube down to the floor, and jerked backward and forward, occasionally taking a little boy by the heels, when without fear of the sexton before his eyes he ventured too near, of a Sunday noon. The old sexton, with his peculiar gait and somewhat stooping form, as with the church key swinging in his hand, he moved daily to his task, is im- pressed strongly among the memories of boyhood, and to all my Sabbaths the presence and services of Mr. Carr, seemed indispensable as those of the minister himself.
The object of this brief notice of our father's doings is nearly accomplished. Whatever could be obtained from the records, or the voice of tradition, has been faithfully written here. It is much to be lamented that the work had not been undertaken at an earlier period when there were more among the living who could have imparted valuable information on the subject.
44 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
It was not my purpose in commencing this sketch, to continue it as a narrative beyond the time when the town and parish ceased to be one in action. That may be the work of some future pen, when time shall have thrown around such events the charm of novelty. In this respect the memories of men and women in Candia will give them the history better than I can do it, while the full and complete records, since then kept of political and ecclesiastical action in town, will give — should they not be destroyed by accident or neglect, — satisfactory intelligence to the future seeker after information.
Every thing which in addition to this sketch, it was thought could illustrate or give it interest, is contained in the statistical part of this little volume. One event within all our memories is worth recording here.
On the morning of the 25th of January 1838, awak- ened by some noise, I saw on my chamber wall an uncertain and glimmering light, as of one passing with a lantern. While gazing dreamily upon it, the cry of fire! so startling to unaccustomed ears, was heard. The light on the wall grew brighter, as with a beating heart I sprang to the floor and threw open the window. A crazy column of smoke was pouring from the church, not a stone's throw distant. A neighbor on his steps was dressing by the light of the fire ; every line of his countenance visible as he poured forth from stentorian lungs shout after shout. Some few people were already
THE FIRE. 45
astir. Contributing a small share to the increasing noise, I dressed, rushed out of doors, and down the walk in the rear of the meeting house. The flames were bursting from the eastern porch. The rosy red of the morning was just coming up in the cold grey sky, when the bell began to sound its last alarm. In twenty minutes the whole town was in motion. Men, women and children, as four score years before, their fathers came to its building, came now in haste to its downfall. Household goods that for many years had reposed in unmolested quiet, were dragged from endan- gered dwellings, and piled in the roads and fields. Wet blankets were hung on the roofs of sheds, and pails of water spilled over all the floors. Men staggering under enormous burdens, jostled and ran against one another hi all sorts of narrow and impossible passages ; clocks were carried off" without respect to time ; babies seized by strange mothers, and in short everything was con- ducted with the admirable precision and wisdom peculiar to people unused to fires. Nothing was steady in its progress, except the destroying element. Fortunately, in this usually windy region, the air was still, and the as- cending flames — wreathed to the very steeple's top — presented a spectacle of the utmost sublimity. A church of molten gold glittering against the sky, there it stood. I looked in at the front door which had been torn from its hinges — above, around and below, all was fire, leap- ing and darting in forked tongues on the dry and
46 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
combustible material. The sacred book from which sd many a message had been delivered to erring man by lips now cold in death, lay upon the cushioned desk, •waiting its fate, while the flames like demons were creeping stealthily up and around to destroy it. I stepped back from impending danger. Hundreds of illumined faces were turned towards the burning stee- ple, while groups of men, with pails and tubs of water, armed with iron bars and levers, stood about the nearest dwelling, lest its tottering length of flame should fall in that direction. In such a case, their efforts might have done little good, but a kindlier fortune interposed. The blazing shaft for a moment wavering, fell inward.
That bird, emblem of all inconstancy and fickleness, yet true to one central point, through sunshine and storm — bravely fronting the northern snows or the gentle gales and vernal showers of a milder clime — ponderous weather cock, by height diminished to a very chick, took its last flight earthward, and with beak and head buried in the ground, seemed to bewail its " occu- pation gone."
The bell whose silvery tones had echoed so many times over the hills and valleys of Charmingfare — - which so many times had sung a requiem over age and youth, now with one sad cry faintly heard amid the crash of falling timbers tolled its own, and was silent evermore. So in one poor hour perished the monu- ment of our fathers' strong hands.
THE NEW HOUSE. 47
Notice was given that morning from the burning ru- ins, for members of the society to meet in the evening at the hall of Mr. Peter Eaton, to take measures for the construction of a new house of worship. There the necessary arrangements were made, a committee chosen, and in due time a house finished. It was located where it now stands, some rods south west of the old spot.
In the course of time nothing will remind us of the past, save the moss grown tomb stone.
" Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree's shade, Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, Each in his narrow cell forever laid The rude forefathers, of the hamlet sleep.
The hreezy call of incense breathing morn, The swallow twittering from her straw built shed, The cock's shrill clarion or the echoing horn, No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed.
For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, Or busy housewife ply her weary care, No children run to lisp their sire's return. Or climb his knee the envied kiss to share."
The houses they builded have decayed or are remov- ed ; the trees they planted, grown old and fallen before the wind. The forests which surrounded them are cut down, and when a hundred years shall have passed, what mark will tell of us? There are monuments which even towns and small communities may raise, more enduring than costliest marble. It is not alone
48 IflSTORY OF CANDIA.
the splendor of great actions, or the renown of battle fields within our border, which can entitle us to the just regard of posterity. We probably shall have no occasion to throw our lives into the balance of our country's fortunes, or see renewed the days of Seventy Six. Other duties not less important are to be per- formed. The legacy of the fathers cannot remain without interest, and if in our hands it be not so enlarged as to meet the demands of a progressive age ; posterity may call us to account for the sum we hold in trust.
As one in the grand association which goes to form the body politic, the office of a town is by no means unimportant or vaguely defined. Specific responsibili- ties rest upon it. The firm foundation laid by the early men of Candia, still remains. It has secured the en- joyment of a wise civil and religious polity. It has preserved from visionary speculation, and moral bank- ruptcy.
Be ours the .duty to enlarge and build upon that foundation. Where the struggling settler planted one month's school, we should have ten; where churches and societies were founded by toil and sacrifice, be ours the task to preserve them in their pristine vigor and purity. So living by the great golden rule, that when the passer by points to the mound that shall cov- er us at last, it may not be said we have misused the birthright of American citizens.
NOTICES OF EAELY FAMILIES,
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES.
Came to Candia about 1751. He was a native of Ireland, and in 1756 married Jane Craige, of Lon- donderry. They had nine children : John, William, Thomas, Joseph, Allen, Samuel, David, Agnes, Mar- garet.
Mr. Anderson first moved on to the place now occupied by Mr. Levi Flint, and built his log house near what is now the west side of the orchard.
He was a very strong and courageous man, and once killed two bears with a pitch wood knot. While at work in the woods one day, one of the boys was sent out with the dinner in a pail ; a rough coated fellow, led by his keen scent to the spot, presented him- self in the path, as the boy attempted to return. The father being called on, hastened to where the bear lay crouched, and swinging his faithful shillalah in air, soon terminated the contest. " There" said he to the son, " now run along."
52 HISTORY OF CANDlA.
The sons, with the exception of William and Samuel, did not settle in Candia. Joseph is (in 1852,) living in Fayette, Me., David in Lebanon, N. H. John died in Springfield, Ohio, Thomas in Chester, now Auburn, N. H., Allen in Holden, Mass.
Samuel Anderson, deceased in 1850, was widely known by the travelling public, as an excellent land- lord. No man kept better cheer, a more open house, or could tell a better story, than Mr. Anderson. He was in some respects of uncommon ability, gifted with a kind of natural eloquence, which, added to his rather peculiar appearance, never failed to secure him the at- tention of his audience, be it in his bar room, or at the town meeting. Years have passed since he was in his prime, and the travel that once thronged the turnpike, is diverted into other channels.
In 1791 Mr. Anderson married Anna Sargent ; they had eight children, seven of whom — Sally, Samuel, Jane, Nancy, Thomas, Mary and Eliza — are living, some in Candia, and some in other places. Mrs. An- derson died in 1817, after which he married Mary Sargent, a sister of his first wife, by whom he had three children.
In early life Mr. A. went with his brother Allen into Worcester County, Mass., and learned the cooper's trade. He was afterwards persuaded to return, and commenced keeping tavern in 1805. Oct. 1821, the block of buildings was burned. The alarm was given
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 3
at 12 o'clock, at night, and in an hour and a halfj every thing was flat ; 23 horses and 11 swine were de- stroyed, with nearly every article of furniture in the house. The loss was estimated at six or seven thousand dollars, sixteen or seventeen hundred of which was made up to them in cash and provision by the contributions of townsmen ; and on Christmas day, they moved into their rebuilt house. In prosperous times the business of the hotel was very good, averaging over forty horses the night, to be put up.
BEAN, DAVID.
About the year 1755, David Bean settled in the eastern part of this town, at a place called the Island. He was a native of Kingston, N. H., from which place he removed to Epping, where his newly erected buildings were consumed by fire. He then moved to Raymond, and soon after to Candia. Here he built a dwelling house and mills, which in a few years he had again the misfortune to lose by fire. He died in Can- dia in 1793, at the age of 68. Two only of his eleven children, Abraham and Reuben, settled in town, where their descendants now reside, to the fifth generation.
BROWN, AARON
Was the son of Jonathan Brown and Mercy Clough, of Kensington. He married Shuah Thurston, — they had
64 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
four children. He came into High Street, to the place now occupied by Mr. Aaron Brown, a few years after Mr Hubbard. A story is related of his once tree- ing a bear in his garden, or near it, on a tall pine. Whereupon he ran to one of the neighbors in such a hurry for a gun, that he could not say a word for some minutes, except the hurried ejaculation, K gun! K gun ! After he had succeeded in making his wishes known, they went to the spot and the game was cap- tured. The Brown family in Candia are all lineal de- scendants of John Brown, who was born in London, and came to Ipswich, Mass., 1635 or 36.
Son of John Brown and Kuth Kelley, from Hamp- ton Falls, came to Candia about 1762, and settled near where Joshua_Fitts now lives. He married Mary Ly- ford, of Somersworth, — they had ten children: David, Elisabeth, Caleb, Abigail, Mary, Ruhama, Daniel, Dor- othy, Sarah and Hannah. He moved on to the place, in 1770, where Caleb Brown, his son, now lives, built a log camp, covered the top with poles, kept his cow and calf in one end, and himself and family in the oth- er. Mr. B., in his young days, went to learn the shoe- maker's trade, with a Mr. Thurston, of Epping Corner, but before his time was out, he enlisted in the French War, after which he came to Candia. Of the children
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 55
Caleb kept the home farm, and at an advanced age, has a very clear recollection of past days. He tells a story of Mr. Nicholas Smith, who had a very neat wife, and while at work with his neighbors on the burnt land, they observed that he was very careful not to get his white shirt blacked ; so they, for mischief, often contrived to let some very black stick fall against him, for which he doubtless was duly reprimanded at home. It is said of this Nicholas Smith, that at one time, he was almost the only man left on High street, they hav- ing gone to the wars, and one day Mr. Henry Clark came riding up with news that the British were in Raymond woods advancing on the town. Mr. S.'s gun was gone, but he had a powder horn with powder in it, seizing which he boldly started out to meet the enemy.
BROWN, NEHEMIAH
Was the son of William Brown and Ann Heath, of Kensington. He married Ann Longfellow, had three sons : William, Sewell and Nathan. They came to Can- dia about the year 1765. Mr. B. had three sisters who married and had thirteen children each. Nathan married Ann Currier, and had seven children: Nancy, Sally, Polly, Dolly, Nehemiah, Nathan, Jonathan. Sew- ell married Susanna Turner — they had twelve children. William married Mary Sandborn, — they had four chil- dren.
56 HISTORY OF OANDIA.
Came to Candia about the year 1753, from Rowley, Mass. He married Esther Roth, of the same place, — they had eight children : Jeremiah, Nathaniel, Nathan, Ezra, Mehitable, Sally, Esther, Patty. He bought the place now occupied by Jonathan Brown, his grandson, of Winthrop Wells, who, it seems, had been there a short time previous. Mr. Turner and Mr. Obed Hall were then the only neighbors ; there was no road ex- cepting a bridle path turning in where Mr. B.'s barn now stands, and so up by the brook to Mr. Hall's. Mr. Burpee seems to have been a man of note, for Jie was not only one of the first deacons, cotemporary with Dea. Palmer and Dea. Hills, but was a tailor and teacher of singing. His schools were in his own house, where the young people of that day assembled to learn the melodious trills that so charmed our grandfathers. The house then stood in the orchard north of the brook. It was burned and another was erected where the pres- ent one now stands.
Dea. B. was out in the old French War, and at the seige of Cape Breton. He died in 1815, at the age of 94. His son NATHANIEL married Dorothy Currier, and settled on the old place. They had four children: Nathaniel, Jonathan, Sally, Molly. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and fought at Bunker Hill and Sa- ratoga.
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. '5t
Dea. Burpee's wife is said to have been a very smart woman, and helped to raise Mr. Turner's barn. No doubt hands were scarce and she was a woman equal to the demands of the times.
BUSWELL, SAMUEL
Came to Candia from Salisbury, Mass., about 1763, and the next year married Betsey Underbill, of Chester. They had eight children : John, Moses, Sarah, Richard, Samuel, William, Hannah and David. John staid on the home farm, married Mehitable McCluer in 1792,—*- they had five children who attained years of maturity : Samuel, Jacob, Mahala, Nancy, Richard. He died in the summer of 1851, aged 84. His wife during the past season received a visit from her only surviv- ing sister, who came alone from a distance of over eighty miles, at the age of 81. The two then took the stage and visited some friends in Raymond. Moses, a physician, died in Maine, Sarah in Chester, Richard was drowned, William was, when last heard from, in Canada, supposed to have died there. Hannah lives in Canterbury, and David in Bradford.
Mr. Samuel Buswell was a carpenter by trade, and before he had served out his time enlisted in the French War, and was at Cape Breton. He is said to have been very small, not weighing over ninety pounds,
but was as brave as many bigger men. He afterwards
8
58 HISTORY OP CANDIA.
served in the War of the Revolution, where he became acquainted with Gen. Stark, and after the peace help- ed finish off his house in Derryfield. One time, hav- ing occasion to carry a grist to mill, he visited the General. He was received with cordiality,, and the cus- tomary hospitality of the times" was by no means neg- lected. Mrs. Stark, with busy hand, sat plying her wheel, while the General and his old comrade sipped their beverage and cracked jokes on olden times. — " I 've been a thinking," says John, looking on his better half, " that if my wife should ever die, I should be obliged to have her coffin made large enough to put in her linen wheel, or she would never stay contented." " And what do you think," was the quick reply, " that I should do for John? I've been a thinking that his coffin should be made large enough to put in a keg of rum! or he would never stay."
CARR, JOHN
Was born in Chester in 1737. His lather was a na- tive of Ireland, and we here give a copy of a certifi- cate still preserved in the house.
" That John Ker and his wife Elisabeth Wilson lived within the bounds of this Congregation from their Infancy behaving themselves Soberly honestly and piously free of any Public Scandall, so that they may be received as members of any Christian Congregation or Society where
NOTICES OP EARLY FAMILIES. 59
God in Providence may order their Lott is certified at Ballywollon June 23, 1736
by Ja: Thompson."
John Carr married Mary Wilson, of Chester, and came to Candia in 1764, where he built the house still occupied by Mr. Nathan Carr, supposed to be the old- est inhabited house in town. There was no clearing when he came, so that there was some work to be done. During the Revolution, he served three years, and came home with silver enough in the lining of his coat to pay for his farm. In his absence the family were exposed to some hardships ; the wolves and bears some- times destroyed their corn and took away their sheep. At night they barricaded their doors and windows. — Sometimes of an afternoon they had a social gathering to which dames Turner, Ramsey and Rowell came and brought their work. It was a tea party, with this dif- ference, that instead of tea they had a huge bowl of sweetened water, with the accompaniment of rye bread and butter. This bowl was of stone ware curiously figured, and when in after days the Colonel kept tav- ern, it occupied a conspicuous place as a punch bowl. It seems to have been a sort of heir-loom and foil to one of the daughters. The family was one of some wealth in Ireland, and the name has changed from Kcr, Kerr and Karr, to Carr, of the present day.
Towards the close of the war, Mr. Carr was chosen captain of the Alarm List, composed of old men and
60 HISTORY OP CANDIA.
retired soldiers, who held themselves ready in case of need, and was ever after called Colonel. He died in 1813, and his wife in 1827. Of their six children, none of whom are now living, Joseph married Nancy Brown, and kept the home farm, where he died in 1842,
CASS, BENJAMIN
Was the son of Jonathan Cass, of Kensington, and the youngest of a family of seven, one of whom, Joseph, was grandfather of Hon. Lewis Cass. He came to Candia in 1759, and settled on the place now owned by True French, Esq. He was a tanner and shoemaker by trade, but farmed mostly after coming to this town. He was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and served in Rhode Island.
Samuel, son of Benjamin, married Dorothy, daughter of Lieut. Abraham Fitts, by whom, he had nine chil- dren : Daniel, Samuel, Moses, Betsey, Sarah, Polly, Aaron, Benjamin and Dorothy. Daniel lives at Bridge- water, N. H., Moses at Roxbury, Mass., Betsey at Hebron, N. H., Sarah died at Roxbury, where Aaron now lives ; Dorothy died young.
About 1793, Mr. Cass moved into the northwest part of the town and commenced a clearing on the farm now owned by Mr. Tyler Merrill. The neighborhood was then somewhat infested with rattle snakes, and it is told that once on a time when the children were
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 61
small, as Mrs. Oass and a few friends were having a social chat, one of these unwelcome visitors intruded his head as if meditating an attack, but Mrs. C., nothing daunted, threw the " sifting stick " at him, and her hus- band fortunately coming from the field, despatched the critter with his hoe. Mr. Cass was a deacon of the church under the Rev. Mr. Jones, and until his death, in 1820. His widow married Dea. Samuel Nay in 1827 and died in 1836, in Raymond.
CLARK, HENRY
Came to Candia about 1763 ; he was a native of New- buryport, bought his place of widow Mary Batchelder, where Gilman Clark now lives. He married Keziah Bricket ; she dying he was married a second time to Catharine Bean, whem he survived, and for his third wife married Abigail Francis. He had twelve children : Stephen, Joshua, who died young, Nathaniel, Samuel, Henry, Enoch, Joshua, John, Ebenezer, Mary, Abigail, Keziah.
It is said of the father of Henry Clark, that within a few days of each other, his eldest son, wife and three daughters died of the throat distemper. The sad event, was chronicled by some poet of the time, in a mourn- ing strain of eighteen verses, commencing thus :
Wo, mortals arc but lumps of clay AVhcn God doth take our breath away. All born to die, none can here stay. The fairest flower may soon deoav.
62 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
Henry and John were in the War of the Revolu- tion at Bunker Hill and in Rhode Island. We give here a letter written by John Morrison to Henry Clark, in which -will be seen some familiar names of Candia lads and lasses of the olden time. The note will be found as expressive and spelled as well as that sent by many a gallant knight on the battle field, or in the holy cru- sades, to his sighing ladie love at home, although, per- haps, not so romantically worded. The original letter, now in my possession, is folded in a very intricate fash- ion, and directed to " Mr Henery Clark Juner in Can- dia."
Forte Woshingtun June 27 (Jay ye 1777.
Sir I rite to you to let you now how we all do, we are well and in good helth at Present, a short note concerning Love. John Clark remembers his love to mrs marthe pa- ton. Isaac worthen remembers his love to mrs dorothy bagley. Theophylus Clough remembers his love to mrs mary rowel, wiginge Evens remembers his expressive Love to mrs albina Langue.
Sir I hear very bad news about you and if the news be §o I am afraid it will never do for I heir that the chief you do is gallanting the garls, and if this be the case I am shewer its very bad and if you would but leive of your bad tricks I shud be glad So no more at Present.
JOHN MORRISON.
The girls above named were all young at the time, although John applies the term " mrs " to them no doubt through mistake. The writer was probably much satis,
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 63
fied, as he folded the note among his merry comrades^ with the severe rallying he had given " Henery," on his undue attentions to the fair sex.
COLBY, ENOCH
Came to Candia about 1750. His grandfather, whoso name was also Enoch, came over at an early period from England in the Mayflower, which vessel was em- ployed several times in bringing over passengers after her first famous voyage with the Pilgrims. He at first settled in Salisbury, Mass., and died soon after moving to Chester, N. H. His father, named Enoch, married Sarah Sargent, and died in Chester. He married Ab- igail Blaisdell, by whom he had nine children : John, Enoch, Nehemiah, Jethro, Abner, Samuel, Abigail, Wil- liam, Mary Clemens.
John, Enoch and Jethro were soldiers in the Revo- lution. The first named died at Valley Forge, sinking under the hardships of that memorable winter, having served four years from the commencement of the War. Jethro was in Rhode Island and died in 1780, on the " dark day," six months after his return home.
Enoch married Lydia Worthen, of Amesbury, Mass.j and moved to Thornton, N. H., where he for some years was a member of the House of Representatives and of the State Senate. It is told of John that be- ing one of the first of his division at the battle of Still-
64 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
water to attack the enemy, he jumped on a piece of cannon -which had been so heated by repeated dis- charges as to burn his feet.
Nehemiah married Mary Rowe, and settled on the home farm. He died in 1840, aged 82. Abner mar- ried Ruth Cheney, of Thornton, N. H. Samuel mar- ried Ruth French, and carried her behind him on horse- back to Derby, Vt., then a wilderness, where he died leaving a family in prosperous circumstances. William died in Ohio, in 1846. Abigail married John Colby, of Amesbury, Mass. Mary died in 1780.
DEARBORN, THOMAS, LIEUT.,
Came from Chester, not far from 1764) and bought his farm where Mr. N. B. Hall now lives. He mar- ried Mary Morrison, who was brought up in the fam- ily of Major Baker. They had four children: David, John, Thomas, Samuel. David died in the State of New York, John in Sandbornton, N. H. Mr. Dear born enlisted into the army in 1778, and was made a Lieutenant in Col. Peabody's [Regiment, in Rhode Is- land where our forces were waiting to cooperate with the French fleet.
On the 28th of August, 1778, he was killed by a British cannon ball, while effecting some movement with his men. The gun which he carried at the time is in possession of Hon. Abraham Emerson, and the sword
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 65
is at the house of Mr. Isaac Fitts, on High Street, relics more interesting from the associations connected with them, than from any real worth.
DUDLEY, SAMUEL
Came to Candia from Raymond, in 1812. He learned his trade, as a tanner, of Elder Moses Bean. Five years after, he went into business where he now is, and ever since has contributed much to the advance- ment of the village, and of the church in which he is a deacon. He is a descendant in the sixth genera- tion of Gov. Thomas Dudley, of the Massachusetts Bay. He married Judith Pillsbury, a sister of Benjamin Pillsbury, Esq., and as his second wife, Sally Mars- ton. Deacon Dudley has carried on the tanning and shoe business for thirty-five years.
DUNCAN, WILLIAM
Was the son of John Duncan and Hannah Henry, born in Londonderry in the year 1771. Ho came to Candia, Oct. 2, 1798, and bought a store of John Wason, at the Corner. After remaining there about five years, lie moved on to the place where John D. Patterson, Esq., now resides. Mr. Duncan was a man of eccentric hab- its, and extensively known as a merchant. His business in country produce was at one time very large. He mar- ried Mary McMnrphy, of Londonderry, — had two sons, 9
OG HISTORY OP CANDIA.
the youngest of whom, James, died at an early age. The eldest, William H. Duncan, Esq., now resides at Hanover, N. H. Mr. B. married a second time Nao- mi McMurphy, of Londonderry. She lived but a few years and he was a third time married to Elisabeth Patterson. For some years previous to his death, which took place in 1849, he was confined to his room from the effects of a broken limb.
It is said that Robert Henry, the grandfather of Mr. D., sent to Londonderry, in Ireland, by one Capt. Ram- sey, for Miss Charity Ash Thompson, who was his des- tined bride. The captain, on arriving at Boston, although he had received his passage money, sold the young wo* man to service, pretending Jhe had received no pay. After a time, the news- reached the ears of Mr. Hen- ry, the expected wife was found, and the perfidious commander did not escape punishment.
DUSTEN, MOSES*
Came to this town about the year 1768. He was the son of Nathaniel Dusten and Triphena Haseltine, of Haverhill, Mass., and the great grandson of Thomas Duston, and Hannah Emerson, of Haverhill, Mass., who was the renowned heroine of Indian warfare, whose prow- ess was rewarded by a grant of fifty pounds from the Mas- sachusetts Legislature. He was born in Haverhill, Mass,.,
•Spelled Dnstin and Duston.
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 67
in 1744, and in 1776 married Mary Buck, by whom he had ten children: Jonathan, Lydia,* Polly,* Moses, Hannah, George W., Nathaniel, Betsey,* Sally, and Lydia.
Mr. Dusten was a blacksmith by trade. When the news of the battle of Lexington came to Candia, he threw his apron upon the anvil, and as is stated in the first part of this work, was the first man to volun- teer, following drummer Hill up and down the street until enough fell in to make a respectable company.
He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in Col. Nathan Hale's Regiment, and afterwards made a Captain, which rank he held until the close of the War, serving the whole seven years. The watch which he carried during the time is now in possession of R. E. Patten, Esq. Capt. Dusten died in 1795, aged 51 ; his wife survived him thirty-two years, and died in 1827, aged 77 years.
EATON, EPHRAIM
Was the son of Henry Eaton and Mary True, of Salis- bury, Mass. In 1768 he married Abigail Perkins, who lived but a short time after the birth of her first child, Abigail. In 1772 he married Sarah Stevens, of Salisbury, by whom he had five children : Molly, Sally, Henry, Hannah and Peter. The eldest daughter,
* Died young
68 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
went to Andover, N. H. Molly, whose name the fash- ion of the times changed to Mary, married Dr. Jacob Bayley Moore, of Andover, N. H., son of Dr. Coffin Moore, the first physician in Candia. Henry married Hannah, daughter of Maj. Jesse Eaton and Sarah Wor- then. Hannah married Moses Patten, Peter married Hannah Hale, daughter of Dea. Ezekiel H. Kelley and Hannah Hazclton, of Chester. Sally died unmarried in 1836, aged 61. Mr. Eaton came to Candia in the Spring of 1773, and bought his farm of Benjamin Batchelder. The deed, witnessed by Nicholas French and Isaiah Howe, was made out before Caleb Gushing, Justice of the Peace, in Salisbury, Mass., in 1772.
Mr Eaton was an active man, often employed in town affairs, ready in the support of religious institu- tions, of good judgment and strong common sense, and of rather a taciturn disposition. He died in the year 1826, aged 81 years. His wife died in 1822 at the age of 74.
Since the above notice was penned, it has become a sad duty to record here the death of Henry Eaton, Esq., which occurred in the month of March, 1852, in the 75th year of his age. He was a man of excellent judgment, planning all his business with much precis- ion and foresight, and prompt in the discharge of every obligation. An estimable and worthy man, a valuable citizen, an upright and conscientious Christian, thus has closed the years of a long and active life.
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 6$
EATON, PAUL
Was the son of Jabez Eaton and Sally True ; canic to Candia from Seabrook, N. H., before 1770 ; he bought his farm of Isaiah Rowe, it being the same now occu- pied by the heirs of the late Col. Henry T. Eaton. He married Molly Tilton about 1765 ; they had five children: Molly, Anna, Henry T., John, Sally. His first wife died not far from the year 1775, and in 1778 he married Hannah Emerson, of Ilavcrhill, Mass., by whom ho had two children: Lydia and Luke.
Paul Eaton was in Rhode Island and various other places, in the Revolution. He is said to have been a man of extraordinary strength, and it is told on good authority, that once he moved, by means of a chain and lever placed across his thighs, a log which a smart yoke of steers could not start. His son, Col. H. T. Eaton, succeeded to the old place, married Elisabeth, daughter of Nathaniel Emerson, Esq., who died in 1818. Her husband, surviving her thirty-three years, died in 1851. Mr. Paul Eaton died in 1830, aged 90 years, having survived his second wife eleven years.
EMERSON, MOSES
Came to Candia about 1761 and 'settled on the place now owned by his son, Hon. Abraham Emorson. He married Lydia, daughter of Lieut. Abraham Fitts, by whom he had nine children : Moses, Lydia, Susan, Jon<
70 HISTORY OF CANDiA.
athan, John, Sarah, Abraham, Thomas, Dorothy. The second, fifth, sixth and last named settled in Steuben County, N. Y. Thomas lives in Manchester. N. II. > Dorothy died in 1842, the others (in 1852) are all liv- ing.
Mr. Emerson was a son of Samuel Emerson, of Ches- ter, and half brother to Col. Nathaniel Emerson. The family is traced back to Michael Emerson, who marri- ed Hannah Webster and settled in Havcrhill, Mass., in 1652. Their daughter married Thomas Duston in 1677, and was no other than the celebrated Mrs. Duston, who killed the Indians. Jonathan, son of Michael, was father of Samuel, who came to Chester. What is here stated in regard to the family in connection with that of Mrs. Duston, was obtained from Rufus E. Patten, Esq. Mr. Emerson died at the age of 84.
EMERSON, NATHANIEL.
A better notice of this once influential citizen cannot be given, than by inserting in this place an obituary, which appeared in the New Hampshire Repository, a religious paper, published at Concord, bearing date May 24th, 1824. The article was written by John Lane, Esq. :
" Died in Candia, April 30, Col. Nathaniel Emerson, aged 83. He was the son of Samuel Emerson, Esq., one of the first settlers in Chester, a man, who through a long life was eminent for usefulness and piety. He
NOTICES OP EARLY FAMILIES. Tl
was born May 2, 1741, removed to Candia about the year 1761 ; was married Nov. 15, 1764, to Miss Sa- rah Tilton,* a woman who through life was remarkable for piety and all the social and domestic virtues. Ho has been called to public stations perhaps more than any other individual who ever lived in Candia.
He served as an officer in the militia under King George III., from 1763 to 1775, when he was appoint- ed Lieutenant Colonel of the 17th Regiment of New Hampshire militia. He was also appointed by General Whipple, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army in 1778, was a volunteer in the service of his country, in the War of the Revolution, and was in 1777 with the brave Stark at the memorable battle at Bennington ; and af- ter the Revolution he was Colonel of the 17th Regi- ment eight or ten years.
He has been no less distinguished ir. civil than mili- tary stations. In 1764, at the first meeting of the town after its incorporation, he was, at the age of 23 years, chosen to some important office, which he held for many succeeding years. In 1762, being chosen by the town for that purpose, he was a member of the As- sembly which formed the first Constitution of New Hamp- shire, and from that time till the year 1798, excepting throe or four years, he was the only representative from
•They had ten children: Jonathan, Anna, Samuel, Sarah, Nathaniel, Richard, Elisabeth, Hannah, Lydia and Nabby. Two only of the family are now living: Nathaniel, and Nnhby. widow of fh« laic John J.ane, I'>q.
72 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
the town in the State Legislature. He also held the commission of a justice of the peace, for the term of twenty-five years. He was a firm supporter of religious order and religious institutions. In September, 1766, when the town voted to erect a meeting house, he was .chosen to superintend the work.
He was among the members of the church in Candia, when it was formed, and was a zealous advocate for a settled ministry. He forsook not God's house and pub- lic worship so long as he had strength to walk or ride to the place. But his days are not only numbered, but finished ; the place that so long and constantly knew him, will know him no more forever. But we would fondly hope that he is gone to be with those who shall be in everlasting remembrance, and although dead, yet speaketh."
The following letters, found among the papers of Col. Emerson, although not of great importance, may yet be read with interest.
Chester, Dec. 24, 1776. COL. NATHANIEL EMERSON:
Sir, — I must request of you
that you notify the men that are enlisted in Candia to go to New York, that they appear at my house next Satur- day, at ten of the clock forenoon, all complete fit to march. Of the men's names that listed, are Paul Eaton, John Clark, Amos Knowles, John Clay, Jun.
Sir, in complying with the above you will oblige, yours,
JOHN WEBSTER.
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 73
Exeter, March 22, 177T. COL. EMERSON:
Inclosed are orders for raising men, and as I am not at home, neither can be very soon, I must entreat and require of you, that you take the utmost care and pains, as fast as possible to get men, and that you call upon the other town officers to assist, and also upon the selectmen, if need be, and to inform them that it is the opinion of the court that the shortest notice for a town or parish meeting in this case will be sufficient. In case the people are notified, it may happen there will be no occa^ sion for meetings.
I think it will be best to get the officers together, as soon as possible, to make a proportion of all the men to be raised with each captain, and I could be glad, that if 'tis agreeable to you, you might meet next Tuesday. As our town meeting is next Thursday, it may be some advantage to our town in raising their proportion. In complying with the above and using your best endeavors, will be very pleasing and greatfully acknowledged by yours,
JOHN WEBSTER, Col.
The " inclosed orders " referred to were written by Josiah Bartlett, from Exeter, in which the most urgent request is made for men.
COL. EMERSON: Sir, —
Yesterday received order from Gen. Folsom, a copy of which I have enclosed to you. I hope you will use your best endeavors that your proportion of all the men to be raised in Candia, be procured as soon as possible, and that you call upon all officers and soldiers 10
T4 HISTORY OF CANBIA,.
under you and also the selectmen of the town to aid and assist you, as you will see by the inclosed orders to me di- rected, that the importance of the case calls for all possi- ble despatch, and that a list of men raised in Candia be made out to me as soon as may be, in order that I may bo able to make a return to the Committee of Safety agreea- ble to my order from Gen. Folsom.
Sir, I hope you will exert yourself, for sure I am if Ti- conderoga should be lost for want of men, we shall be. obliged to send twice the number of men that is now call- ed for.
Given under my hand at Chester, this 21st day of April, 1777. JOHN WEBSTER, Col.
Here follows the enclosed letter.
Sir,,-
I am called upon by the supreme authority of this State to repeat the orders to the colonels or commanding officers of the several Regiments of Militia in this State to raise and forward their several quotas of men to Ticonderoga without loss of time.
By express from. Gen. Schuyler, it was expected that the enemy would take the earliest opportunity to cross the lake, as there is no doubt they know perfectly well the small number of troops we have at that important pass. Therefore as you love your country, as you are a friend to the great, the glorious cause, the cause of Liberty in which we are all embarked, I trust you will loose no time in raising and forwarding the men proportioned to your Reg- iment.
Given under my hand at Exeter, this 16th day of April, 1777. NATH'L FOLSOM, Maj.
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 5
P. S. You arc desired to make a return of the men raised as soon as may be, to tfee Committee of Safety, to t/ol. John Webster.
A true copy by me,
JOHN WEBSTER, Col.
Lieut. Col. Emerson having been dispatched for the protection of some stores belonging to the army of Stark, was not at Bennington, until the second day of the engagement. There are those who remem- ber to have heard him tell, how, on crossing the field of action with some message, the blood spattered on his boots and upon his horse's sides. We give the follow- ing notes from Gen. Stark, as of some interest.
To LIEUT. COL. EMERSON, IN CAMP.
Gen. Stafk's compli- ments to Col. Emerson ; would be very glad he would in- form him by the bearer whether or no he found any coflee when gone to Otter Creek, if so what he did with it, or unto whom he delivered it.
By Gen, Stark's order, Aug. 31, 1777. JOHN CASEY, A. i>. C.
To THB COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE GUARD.
You arc hereby
ordered to send the prisoners under your 'care in the guard house upon Maj. Rensselaer's request, without any further order, as fast as he wants them for examination, under1 standing them to be reputed tones.
By order of Gen. Stark,
JOHN CASEY, A. D. &
O HISTORY OF
Exeter, June 16fli, 1780.
Sir, -i- There is orders for raising of six hundred men- in this State for about six months, to join the army ; our proportion of which is 22. I should be glad that you would meet with the res"t of the field officers at my house in Chester, upon Monday next at one of the clock in the afternoon, in order to devise1 means to raise and proportion them, as they must be got ready without loss of time. If the Captain in Candia will come with you, I shall be glad to see him. I am, sir, yours to serve.
JOHN WEBSTER, Col.
To Lieut. Col. Emerson.
Exeter, June 24, 1780.
Sir, — We are ta be called upon to raise more men. I have not got my orders yet, but expect them the begin- ning of next week. Our proportion will be 43, and as the men must be got without delay, it will be necessary that the field officers meet next Friday at my house in Chester, at one of the clock in the afternoon, in order to propor- tion the men,- and as there must go one captain and one ensign out of the Regiment, I should be glad that the cap- tains should also meet ait the same time and place, and I should b6 glad that you would see your ensign and krrow if he incline to go, and let me know at the time appointed for to meet. By order of me.
JOHN WEBSTER.
To Lieut. Col. Emerson.
From all that can be gathered concerning the his- tory of Col. Emerson, the praise bestowed on him1 was not unmerited* He even went to the extent of
NOTICES OF EABLY FAMILIES. tf
joying money out of his own pocket for the enlistment of men, for which he never asked or received any rej numeration.
He was for many years a surveyor of land, and his father, Samuel Emerson, Esq., was the original surveyor of the town of Candia into divisions and lots.
Game to Candia about 1763 ; he was born in Salisbu- ry in 1736. He married Dorothy Hall, of Chester,— they had ten children : Lydia, Dorothy, Daniel, Moses^ Reuben, Sarah, Samuel, Elisabeth, Abraham, Nathan* He was a blacksmith by trade, and there being none in Candia at that time, he was induced to come here by the offer of thirty acres of land made by some of the settlers. He brought with him his stobk of tools, consisting of a bellows, anvil, vice, two slectges and a hand hammer. He settled where Dr. R. H. Page now lives, and had his land from the lot of Mr. Enoch Colby. He used to take his pay for work in labor on his land, at the rate of two days' work for a hoe, &c. It is said that a neighboring shoemaker, being rather un- skilled in farming, and the ground somewhat rocky withal, used his hoe nearly up in the two days' labor required as pay. Mr. Fitts, by his industry, acquired a respect- able competence and settled his sons on farms in vari- ovis parts of the town. Moses, in early life disabled by rheumatic complaints from active labor^ commenced
?8 HISTORY OF CANbiL
trading just the other side of the road from his fath- er's. The Lieutenant, it is said, brought up from New buryport, where his sons used to team, four dollars' worth of pins, needles, tape, &c., as a first investment. At that time a Mr. Holyoke and Major Moore had been the only traders. This proving successful, succeeding years saw a gradual increase in the business, until it reached a very respectable extent.
Master Fitts;, as he was called, is said to have owfr ed the first chaise in town. None of the children of Abraham Fitts are now living, except Abraham, in Can- dia, and Nathan, in Manchester, N. H. We here give a genealogy of the I^itts family, said to have been pro- cured by the Hon. Daniel Webster.
Sir John Fitts, of Fitzford, in Devonshire, England, an eminent barrister at la*w, at Lincoln's Inn, London, had two sons, Walter and Robert. Walter dying without male issue, the estate and titles went to Robert, who had two sons, Walter and Robert. Walter took the es- tate and titles, which became extinct af the death of Sir John. Walter dying without male issue, his daugh- ter, who married into a noble family, undertook to con- vey the estate to her husband's heirs. Robert came to Ipswich, Mass., in 1635. His wife was named Grace. They had one son, Abraham, who had three sons, Abra- ham, Isaac and Richard. Richard moved to Salisbury, Mass., and married Sarah Ordway. They had four children : Nathaniel, Daniel, Richard and Jerusha. Je- rusha married Roger Eastman, and had one daughter^-
NOTICES OP EARLY FAMILIES. 79
named Nabby, who married Col. Ebenezer Webster, and was the mother of Daniel Webster. Daniel Fitts was father of Abraham Fitts, who came to Chester and to Candia.
The following is an account of the town of Candia, found among the papers of Lieut. Abraham Fitts, sup- posed to have been written by him.
" It was settled at first by a number of men from Lon- donderry, Chester and Brentwood, by the name of Mc- Cluer, Turner, Ramsey, Bean, Clay, Rowell, &c., and Eastman, from Kingston, built a saw mill, which went by the name of Eastman's for thirty or forty years after. They were hard laboring men, the land being new they fared pretty hard for some years. They paid their taxes to Chester till they were incorporated into a Parish by the name of the Parish of Candia.
In the year -, the inhabitants, tho' few in number,
being weary of paying taxes at Chester, and eight or nine miles to go to meeting to Chester, where they paid taxes to Mr. Flagg and Mr. Wilson, they met together and chose a committee to petition to Chester, and from thence to the General Court, to be incorporated into a Parish by themselves. Accordingly they had their request granted both by Chester and the General Court, and the bounds fixed as above, and Samuel Emerson, Esq., of Chester, was appointed to call the first meeting, which was held in the house Mr. Joseph Palmer now lives in, it then stood not far from where the meeting house now stands. Dr. Samuel Moores was chosen moderator, then Esq. Emerson quit his seat. Dr. Moores was chosen Parish Clerk, Jer
80 HISTORY OP OANDIA.
emiah Bean, Capt, John Sargeant, Lt. Batchelder chosen Selectmen. There was sixty-three ratable polls at 16 years o!4, the first." *
FOSTER, SAMUEL
Was born of English parents in Billerica, Mass. He oame to Candia in 1789, in which year he married Mary Colcord, of Brentwood. They had ten children ! Samuel, who married Huldah Lund, of Nashua, where he lived and died ; Eben C., who married Betsey Adr ams, daughter of Dr. Adams, of Pembroke, and lives in Manchester ; Moses, who married Abigail Huntley ; Polly, who died in Brentwood ; Franklin, who married Mercy Huntly, sister to Abigail, and both of Lowell, Mass.; Hannah, who married Nathaniel Chase, of Brent- wood ; Lydia B., living at Nashua ; Lucinda, who marr ried Samuel McQueston ; Sally, who married Stephen French ; and Betsey, who married Phinehas French, all of Bedford, where Betsey died.
Dr. Foster served three years in the army during the War of Independence, and was at the battle of Mon- mouth. He used to live in the Parsonage house, which was torn down for the building now occupied by Dr. Isaiah Lane, where he for a time boarded Mr. Rem- ington. He afterwards built the house where Mr. Eben Eaton now lives. In 1812 he removed to Canterbury, and returned in 1815. Ife died in BrentwQod, in.
1826,
OF EARLV FAMILIES. 81
His widow still living with her son, Mr. Franklin Fos- ter, of Nashua, at the age of 87, retains, to a remark* able degree, her memory of past events.
HALL, OBEDEDOM
Was born in Chester, N. H., in 1745) and came to Candia about 1776. He was the first settler in the northwesterly part of the town. It is said of his wife$ that on one occasion when Mr. Hall was confined by some injury, or sickness, to the house, she threshed out enough of the newly harvested rye for a grist, and then with a child in her arms, caught the horse in the woods. Putting saddle, bridle, the rye and herself, upon his back, she rode to Trickling Falls, a distance of some twenty miles, to mill. Mr. Hall died in 1805. His wife died in 1799.
HILLS, JOHN
Came to Candia from Chester about 1765, and settled where Mr. Parker Hill now lives. He married Mary Morse, of Chester, - — they had seven children : Molly) Susanna, Eliza, Edward, Josiah, John, Parker.
Mr. Hills was at Concord, at the battle of Bunker Hill, and at the taking of Burgoyne. When at Bun* ker Hill, laying down while he loaded his gun, " with his back to the field and his feet to the foe," a bul* let finding its way through the fence, struck him on th« 11
8:2 HISTORY o£ CAND!A.
foot ; he picked it up with the intention of returning it to the rightful owners, but it was too large for his gun, so putting it in his pocket, he brought it home aa a token of the first decisive struggle. Mr. Hills was one of the three first deacons.
HILL, JETHIlO
Came to Caiidia from Stratham, in 1765, and settled where John Fitts now lives* He married Mehitable Jewett, of Stratham. They had ten children : James, who died in Minot, Me., Reuben, who went to New Portland, Me., Rachael, Phebe, Mehitable ; Wiggin be- came an extensive merchant in Bangor, Me.; Sarah died in Sebec, Me.; Joshua lives in Sheffield, Vt. It is some- what remarkable that Mr. Hill and his wife both met with a very tragical death ; he falling and being burned While clearing land, and she escaping from the house in a state of insanity, wandered away in winter, and was found dead in the snow some miles from home.
HUBBARD, BENJAMIN.
In the good old days of yore, says tradition, was bora in England, one Richard Hubbard, probably of a family in easy circumstances, if not wealthy. An uncle, living in France, offered to make Richard his heir. Accord* ingly his passage was paid across the channel by his father, but fortune had determined otherwise than
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 83
he should become a citizen of France, where his der scendants might have lost their heads in the chances of revolution. The captain of the vessel proving to be a rogue, our young voyager was carried to the West Indies, and sold for his passage money. There he was bound apprentice to a blacksmith. After serving his time, the New World, then the El Dorado of all adven- turous spirits, attracted his attention, and he came to Boston. He was there married and had two sons, one of whom moved to Salisbury, Mass., and was the an- cestor of BENJAMIN HUBBARD, who came to Candia in 1772, and bought the place of James McCluer, on High Street, where Benjamin H., his grandson, now resides. He married Mary Pike, of Salisbury, in 1771. They had three children : Joshua, who married Sarah, daugh- ter of John Robie, and settled where he now lives, Joseph, who married Sally Stevens, of Salisbury, Mass., and lived on High Street, where Elias P. Hubbard now is, died in 1821, and his wife in 1851 ; Sally, who died at the age of 20.
Mr. Hubbard enlisted for a short time during the revolution and afterwards went to Bennington, as a vol- unteer under the gallant Stark. It is said that after an engagement in which a number of British were tak- en prisoners, a Col. Welch was ordered to guard them to Boston, and he had the address to make some of the volunteers, whose term of service had expired, be- Ueve that they were obliged to go with him. Among them
84 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
•were Mr. Hubbard, Lieut. Fitts, and some other men from Candia. As may be supposed, they were not over- fond of their rations of salt beef, and on one occasion, coming to a fine garden of vegetables, owned by a fat Dutchman, they eagerly offered their money for the food, but the old fellow, it seems, preferred the hard cash of the prisoners to the continental bills of the soldiers, and they were denied. Lieut. Fitts was set as sentinel over the garden to see that no one plundered. The rest of them, not on duty, determined in spite of guards, to have, at least, one meal of vegetables. So they se- lected Mr. Hubbard, who, doubtless, was a man who knew how to talk when occasion required, to engage the attention of the sentry, while they procured the wished for articles. The scheme worked well, and when all was done, and the supper cooked, they asked the Lieutenant to partake with them. He saw into the thing at once, but such was his honesty that not a mouthful would he eat. No doubt the soldiers were right in taking food for their necessity, and the sturdy blacksmith right in sticking to his duty.
When Mr. Hubbard came to Candia, he had, of course, but few neighbors besides the bears and wolves, agreeable company enough when seen in a menagerie, but not particularly pleasant in one's door-yard. Once on a time, he went to Pembroke to mill, with a sled and oxen. On his return, as he got along by White- hall, a place where Mr. Davis had built his cabin, it
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 85
began to grow duskish. Davis endeavored to persuade him to stay all night ; but he, being very courageous, laughed at his neighbor's fears and drove on. He had got down by Talford's, now Sawyer's mills, when a dis- tant cry struck on his ear. The mists of night, mean- while, had settled down on all the scene ; the mournful echoes of that cry died over the snow clad trees of the swamp, the startled partridge whirred away right and left, as he cheered on his oxen ; but again and again the cry is repeated. He needs not stop to hear, for now from a turn in the path, bursting into full chorus come the wolves in that long exhaustless gallop which never fails or tires. The affrighted oxen strained every nerve, while the driver seated on the front of the sled, with his axe in his hand, heard, in the intervals of their deafening howls, the snapping teeth of his relentless pur- suers. Four miles away from any dwelling and alone with such companions ! then did the hardy settler wish, too late, he had taken his neighbor's advice. He had sel- dom known fear, but then, said he, " my hair stood on end." Fortunately for him, it was decreed of Provi- dence, that instead of being food for wolves, he should live to a good old age, and so he escaped.
The wolves were very troublesome for a long time, and often killed the sheep near the house, and even came into the cowyard, from whence they were driven by Mr. H. An old sheep, which was bitten through the windpipe in three places, lived for several years afterwards.
80 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
Once a couple of bears were treed near the house, and Mr. Brown, a near neighbor, getting word of it, came up with his gun. At the first discharge, one of the '< critters " was dislodged and came tumbling down, The second time the guns missed fire ; they snapped and snapped, for a long time to no purpose, and at length both guns went off together, but bruin was n't hit ! The sportsmen were undoubtedly somewhat exci* ted, so the bear, if we do not mistake, succeeded in scrambling off into the woods again. Guns were often set in the corn, which, when green and juicy, was much destroyed by the bears. Going out one day to pick up the fallen and trampled ears, Mr. H. found an old she bear munching away in broad day light, with much apparent satisfaction. Not having the wherewith in hand to dispatch her, she escaped.
These stories serve, with others of a like nature, to illustrate the border life, and are undoubtedly true, as they differ only in their dress, from those told by Mr. Joshua Hubbard, who remembers often to have heard them from his father's lips,
LANE, JOHN
Was a native of Poplin, N. H., born in 1771. He came to Candia at the age of 23, and bought the place where Mr. Ezekiel Lane now resides. He married Han- nah Godfrey, by whom he had eleven children: Ruth, Susannah, Joseph, Josiah, John, Hannah, Joshua,
Otf EARLt FAMILIES. 8t
kiel, Sally j Isaiah, and Abigail ; who all settled in town$ with the exception of Joseph, who died in 1842, at Milledgeville, Ga., Josiah, who went to Ogden, N. Y., and Sally, now living in Charlestown, Mass.
Mr. Lane was a carpenter and cabinet-maker, by trade. He held a Justice' commission, and was for many years town clerk, and within the memory of many now living^ used to " cry " candidates for matrimonial honors, in meeting on the Sabbath. He was a man of much influence in town affairs, and was retained in office until the time of his death, which took place in 1822, at the age of 72 years. His wife, having survived him 22 years, died at the age of 89. A memoir of Dea. Joshua Lane, (grandfather of John Lane,) who was killed by lightning while standing in the door of his house, was published. It has not, however, been the writer's fortune to meet with it.
John Lane, Esq., son of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this notice, married Nabbyj daughter of Nathaniel Emerson, Esq., and settled on the north road, about one-fourth of a mile west of the homestead.
It is with a feeling of sadness that I am here called to notice his sudden death, in the summer of 1851. Seldom have the people of Candia been more striking- ly reminded, by the removal of one of their number^ of the uncertainty of life. For fifty years had he been of more than ordinary note in town affairs, and at the
H1S10RV 01* CANDtAi
age of sixty-eight, was taken from a large circle of friends, while his usefulness was yet unimpaired by ap* preaching infirmity*
Esquire Lane erjoyed, in a high degree, the con-1 fidence and respect of a numerous acquaintance with whom he was brought in contact, in the discharge of his duties. He was Justice of the Peace throughout the State, in which capacity he was often and largely employed, and by his pacific advice, frequently saved a resort to law.
He was an extensive feader, intelligent in regard to public affairs, a supporter of social order, an able teacher and superintendent in the sabbath school. As a man and a Christian he leaves a Void which will long be felt by the community in which he lived.
MARTIN, MOSES
Came to Candia about 1777. He was born in Ames- bury, Mass. The family came from England to Ips- wich, from thence to Amesbury and Candia. Mr. Martin's father was out in the French War. His wife being a woman of slender constitution was rendered Very nervous from the frequent alarms of war — in order to escape from which, they removed, by advice of a physician, to Candia, intending to have built a house in town, but as it happened, so near were they to the line, that all save the door-step was in Deer» field.
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 89
McCLURE,* DAVID
Came to Boston from Edinburgh, or vicinity, about the year 1720. His marriage to Martha Glenn, ten years after on the llth of June, was the first nuptial ceremony performed by the Rev. Dr. Morehead, after his ordination as Pastor of the first Presbyterian, now Federal Street, Church. Most of their children were there born and baptised. The wife, of the noble race of Scotch Covenanters, was a brave woman, and fled from Papal persecution in the land of her fathers.
About the year 1740, Mr. McClure and his wife moved to Chester, N. H., at a time when fear of the Indians compelled the inhabitants to seek the se- curity of a garrison. It so happened, on a certain occasion, that the men were obliged to be absent, leav- ing the women and children alone. No one among them, but the courageous Martha Glenn, dared to act as sentry. With the confidence which inspired her, when she offered up her prayer to God, among the misty mountain caves of Scotland, she kept the dan- gerous watch with a loaded musket. It turned out that the place was actually reconnoitered for an attack. The spy is said to have reported, " Me see nothing but de one white squaw." A superstitious fear, or the hand of Providence, kept the Indians from their design. Mr. McClure moved into the limits of what
* Spelled MaClute and McCluer.
12
90 HISTORY OP CANDIA.
is now Candia, about 1773, bought lot No. 30, in the. second part of second division, in the original right of Michael Whidden. Near the centre of this lot he built a log house. The well which he dug and the remains of the cellar wall are still to be seen.
In a few years this structure was removed for a more commodious dwelling, glazed with very green French glass, and having an enormous stone fire-place, with mantel- tree of pine three feet through. This house, the oldest in town, is standing on the farm of R. E. Patten, Esq. Mr. Turner used to come down here to borrow fire. Mr. McClure once contrived to fall a large tree on his only cow, at which he was so much disheartened, that he would have given up his location, had it not been for the persuasion of his wife.
Bears and wolves greatly infested the place, and rat- tle snakes were plenty. In later days, a grandson of the family killed an enormous wild cat, after the creature had destroyed a whole flock of sheep in the barn now standing. Mr. McClure was past middle age when he came to Candia. About the winter of 1770, while re- turning, an old man, from a visit to his daughter, in Raymond, he became bewildered in a severe snow storm, and sunk exhausted but a few rods from the path he had lost. His voice, borne by the fitful gusts over the drifting hill sides, was heard at a mile's distance. Ere he was found, he had perished. A pine, at whose foot he fell, had the bark bruised off as far as the
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 91
old man could reach, in the vain effort to keep off the chill which bound his aged limbs in death.
Such was the melancholy fate of the first settler in Candia. So perish multitudes whose restless spirits send them, in advance of civilization, to encounter the dan- gers of the frontier, or plunge into the unexplored re- cesses of the wilderness.
Here in this book, when he, seventy years agone, has fallen to be forgotten, is his only epitaph, written by a stranger :
DAVID McCLURE,
AX OLD MAN,
\ XA'IIVE OF SCOTLAND AND THE FIRST SETTLER OF C'AMtlA , FELL AXD PEKISHED BY THE WAYSIDE,
ABOUT THE WINTER OF
1770.
MOORE, ANDREW
Was the only son of John Moore, who was killed in the American Army, in 1778, leaving him at two years of age in the care of his mother.
He grew up, not a man of close and rigid business habits, but with rather more than a fair share of wit and humor, which often found its way out in the shape of practical jokes. Many a time did he perplex .me, when just aspiring to the dignity of trousers, with sundry questions concerning the growth of my calves. He
&2 JltSTORY OF CANDIA.
was a man of largo frame, and great muscular Strength*, stooped a little and had a slight limp when walking,' the result of a fractured thigh when a young man.
In the time when the turnpikes were turnpikes, when Anderson kept a tavern known far and wide, and Duncan received the produce of half " Up Country," when a brisk business was done at the Corner, at Master Fitts' and at Capt. Eaton's, when every oth- er man in town was a cooper, arid the road to New- buryport was crowded with loaded teams, then " Uncle Andrew" was in his prime. One night while on the road, it so happened that six or eight teamsters were stowed away in one room. Two of them, weary with traveling and laden with over-much supper, fell asleep and snored so prodigiously that no one else could close an eye. Uncle Andrew having turned and twisted for an half hour or so, in vain, finally revolved the mat- ter in mind, and arrived at a satisfactory result. Ris- ing, he softly placed a chair under each foot at the bottom of the obnoxious bed, upon which the nasal ca- dence gave place to some most extraordinary variations, growing thick and short by degrees, and beautifully shorter, until the climax was reached, in one inde- scribable snort, as both sleepers landed on the floor. The chairs were removed, and the author of the dis- turbance in bed before their astonished faculties could assign a cause for the trouble.
Mr. Moore was provided with an exhaustless fund of
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 93
Anecdotes, mostly from personal experience, which, could they be written as he used to tell them, would be worth the reading. He died at the age of 69 years, generally respected, and was a man who held a pleas- ant place in the memories of most who knew him.
MOORE, COFFIN
Was a native of Stratham, N. H., and came to Cari- dia about 1760. He married Comfort Weeks, by whom he had seven children : William, John, Coffin, Jacob B., Patty, Polly and Comfort. Jacob B. married Ma- ry, daughter of Ephraim Eaton, by whom he had four children : Jacob B,, formerly of Concord, N. H., now Postmaster at San Francisco ; Henry E., a musical Professor of deserved distinction, at Concord, N. H., who died at Cambridge, Mass.; Mary, widow of the late Dr. Thomas Brown, of Manchester, widely known for his exertion^ in the temperance cause ; and John W., formerly editor of the Bellows Falls Gazette, and Postmaster at Bellows Falls, Vt.
Patty married Dea. Prince. Polly died in Stan- stead. Dr. Moore was the first physician who prac- ticed in Candia. He is reputed to have been a very skilful practitioner, but was a little too much addict- ed to the prevailing folly of the times, drink. Both he and his wife were persons of excellent education, and it is said that when Mrs. Moore had occasion to talk to her husband for his occasional misdemeanors,-
94 HISTORY OF CANDlA.
she used the French language, so that the children might uot understand what was said. He died in Stephen Palmer's house, in 1768.
MOOERS, SAMUEL
Was a man of much influence in the early times of the town. He came from Hampstead and h'ved at "the Corner," where Mr. John Bean now lives, married a Miss Ingalls, by whom he had five chil- dren : Peter, Samuel, Timothy, Nathaniel and Josiah ; none of whom, nor their descendants, are now living in town.
He is said to have been a man of remarkable tact in settling all troubles and disputes among the people. Indeed, said the old gentleman who told me about him, " Esq. Mooers and Lieut. Fitts used to rule the town." At town meetings, nothing was ever done till Esq. Mooers got there. He sometimes, before a physician came into the place, used to pull teeth, if occasion re- quired, and perform some of the lesser surgical opera- tions ; hence he was called Doctor ; while his wife was one of those useful women, whose services were absolutely indispensable at the auspicious events, which usually take place prior to a christening,
PALMER, STEPHEN
Came to Candia from Epping, in the month of Aprilj '" when the snow was over all the fences," although
NOTICES OF EARLY FAMILIES. 95,
the year is not certainly known. He was one of the first three deacons. He married a Miss Hoyt, of Strat- ham, and they had eight children : Joseph, Stephen, Timothy, Patience, Jemima, Abigail, Hannah and Sa- rah. He 'first moved on to the place where Capt. John Pillsbury now lives, and afterwards to the north road, where he died. His son, Joseph, married the widow of Lieut. Thomas Dearborn, by whom he had five chil- dren : Moses, Joseph, Polly, Lydia and Salome. Ste- phen married widow Abigail Brown, and had five children : Olive, Josiah, Lucy, Betsey and Polly. He died on the old place.
Josiah, grandson of Dea. Stephen Palmer, married Betsey Carr, of Raymond, by whom he had seven children : Nathaniel, Sally, Stephen, Asahel, Elisabeth and Abigail. He also died on the old place.
A native. of Boston, Mass., came to Candia about tho year 1774, and bought his farm of Zebulon Winslow, the same now occupied by Mr. Willis Patten. He mar- ried Catharine Carr, of Chester. There is a story re- lated in the family, in regard to this Catharine Carr's history. It is said that she was. the daughter of John Carr and Betsey Smith, who came from Ireland. John, it seems, was a person of fine appearance, so that ho won the affections of the daughter of a noble family. She married him, and in consequence was banished
96 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
from her home. He took her to the Emerald Isle 5 there they endured all the hardships of the siege of Londonderry, at which place they were at that time, and sopn after came to seek their fortunes in America. Robert and his wife had nine children ; of whom William kept the old place. One day, being out hunt ing in the vicinity of " long meadows," Mr. Patten got treed by the wolves, in which pleasant position he was obliged to remain all night, before his tormentors would leave him. William married Abigail Turner, a daugh- ter of the first settler of Charmingfare. They had two children : Willis and Lucy. After the death of his first wife, he married, in 1779, Abigail Clark. They had five children : Francis, Keziah, Betsey, Abigail and Me- linda.
PATTEN, THOMAS
Came to Candia in 1754, and bought a part of the farm owned by Mr. David McClure, whose daughter, Mary, he had married two years before.
He was a son of Dea. Robert Patten, born in Boston, in 1725, on what is now called Common Street. He was baptised by the Rev. Dr. Morehead, as were most of his younger brothers and sisters. There he attended school until about the age of 15, on Pemberton Hill, when the family went to Exeter, N. H., from which place they^ in a few years, removed to the " long meadows," so called, now Auburn, where Dea. Robert died in 1754.
NOTICES OF EA&LY FAMILIES. 97
^his last named gentleman came from Edinburgh, Scot- land, about 1724. He was a stone mason by occupa- tion, and was employed by the colonial government on the fortifications in Boston Harbor.
Thomas was father of fourteen children, two of whom died young. Elisabeth married John Varnum, and, af- ter his death, Moses Clark, of Deerfield ; Thomas died unmarried ; Mary married Simon Norton ; Jean mar- ried Joshua Moore, of Chester ; Martha married Joseph L. Seavy, of Rye ; Sarah married Benjamin Wadleigh ; Rachael married Samuel Dimon ; Margaret married Jacob Sargent ; Hannah married Ephraim Fullingtony •of Raymond, and moved to Cambridge, Vt.; Ruth mar- ried Andrew Moore ; Samuel married Lydia, daughter of Nathaniel Emerson, Esq.; Moses married Hannah^ daughter of Ephraim Eaton.
Mr. Patten was of the race of Scotch covenanters", and strongly attached to his religious ideas. He main- tained family worship by reading the scriptures, singing and prayer, so long as he was able to perform those duties. He would " deacoii the hymn " himself, and re- quired the whole family to sing, always using the same tune which embraced one line only, and which he would so twist that it went well and came out right in aD metres !
When a boy, he was one day iu pursuit of a deer, then plenty on the shores of the Massabesic, in com- pany with a Mr. McGregor. Espying a fine animal 13
9$ HISTORY OF CANtilA.
near the water, he fired, the shot took effect, but tfic1 position and peculiar state of the atmosphere, caused the report of the gun so to echo and reecho, in a thousand thunders over the lake, so said the old man,- " as to make my hair stand on end."
Some years after Coming to Candia, there happened one of those severe snow storms not unfrequent in our climate, when the house was buried so deep in a hard drift that the good people were obliged to get out at the chamber window, and dig an arch through to the door. The hog having been driven from his quarters, medi1 tatiftg, doubtless, on the discovery of an antarctic con- tinent, begaw a voyage of exploration over the crust to the ridgepole of the house. Sa'vory fumes from the frying pan were wafted to his delighted olfactories from the chimney, as with many an aldermanic grunt he proceeded onwards, but alas for piggy ! as he was ar- riving at the acme of his hopes, like many an other philosopher h<r stepped on the treacherous arch-way, fell with dismal squeak into the path, and bounced in upon the astonished kitchen!
On the easterly par£ of the farm, lies the " dead' pond," so called. The country was in former times much infested with rattle snakes. A dog belonging to the family, was once bitten by one of these creatures, and went off apparently to die, but it was afterwards found that he had buried himself in mud, all save the1 end of his nose, which caused a complete cure.
NOT5CES O*1 EARLY FAMILIES. 9$
Mr. Patten survived his wife one year, and died an 1816, aged 91 years, the two having lived .together as man and wife more than sixty years.
ROWE, ISAIAH
•Came to Candia about 1763, from Hampton Falls, and bought a farm on what is .called the Pine Hill road. He married Sarah Healey in 1764 ; they had eleven •children: Jonathan, Susanna, Elisabeth, Lydia, Na- thaniel, Sarah, Mehitable, Olive, Lucy, Dolly, Abigail. After the two oldest children were born, M.r. Rowe bought a tract of land of David McGregor, of Lon- donderry, in the original right of James Boyd, and moved on to it, the same now occupied by ,Capt. John Rowe.
Mr. Isaiah Rowe was out in the Erench War, and there is now in the house an old military chest and a powder horn brought from Cape Breton ; on the lat- ter is marked " Samuel Dalton, his horn, 1756." As to the chest, there are no marks about it to indicate the wars it has passed through, but it serves in the absence of other things as a memento of past times.
Daniel Rowe, and Abigail Stockman, his wife, pa- rents .of Isaiah, seem to have come with him into town. They lived in a small house a little west of the farm house of Isaiah, on the north road. He sometimes taught school, and in his own house instructed the, neighbors' children to read. It is in the memory of
100 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
soma still living, how he used his " fesque " to paint out the letters with. He died about 1786, his wife outlived him 25 years. Mr. Isaiah Howe died in 1810, aged about 67, his wife died in 1824, aged 74. Nathaniel kept the old placo ; Jonathan settled in town, near by ^ neither of whom are now living.
ROBIE, WALTER
Came to Candia from Chester, about 176%, and settled where his grandson, John Robie, now lives, in the south part of the town. He married Susy Hall, of Chester, ?n 1763. They had eight children : Walter, Edward, Polly, Jonathan, Sally, Lydia, Susan and Nancy.
Walter married Dorothy Tilton, one of a family of eleven children ; ten of whom are now living ; the two oldest, twins, are now 88 years old, the youngest, 68. There are two other twin sisters aged 81. This is a remarkable instance of longevity in one family, the whole amounting to over 700 years.
Edward and Jonathan went to Corinth, Susan to Bel- fast, Me. Walter and his wife had eleven children : Mary, who died young, Dorothy, Lucy, John, Huldah, Sally, Mary, Walter, Nancy, Eliza and Lydia.
When Mr. Robie came to town, Mr. Anderson was the only settler in his neighborhood, and about the same time came Samuel Buswell, Moses Sargent and Dea. John Hills. Mr. Robie set about making a clearing, and built him a camp, against a large rock in sight from
NOTICES Op EARLY FAMILIES. 101
the present house, which served as a fire-place. So soon as a suitable dwelling could be erected, he brought his wife to share with him the hardships of the new country. He was, as will be seen from the records, a man much employed and trusted in the business of the town, having filled many of its civil offices with honor to himself and to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He died in 1809, at the age of 93, one year after the death of his wife, aged 88.
ROBIE, JOHN
Brother of Walter, came to Candia about 1764, and settled where Dea. Francis Patten now lives ; the house- which he built being still standing. He married Mehit- able Hall. They had ten children: Anna, William, Mehitable, Sarah, Priscilla, John, Ichabod, Ebenezer, Naomi. William married Keziah Clark, in 1797, and remaining on the home farm, died in 1850. Ichabod and Jonathan live in Corinth, Ebenezer in Burlington, Vt. Priscilla went to Stanstead, L. C.
There is a large oak just across the road from the old house, which from its size and age is an object wor- thy of attention. It is one of the very few old set- tlers, beneath whose branches the deer may have sported or the Indian loitered away the summer hours. Within it is a hollow of sufficient dimensions to afford a play house for children, and it is not in the memory of man to say when it was not an old tree. It once served as
102 HISTORY OF CAXDIA,
a gate post, and the story runs that the Millers, who. teamed in those parts and were famous for running against both sides of the gateway, did actually overturn the old tree, which of course they were obliged to make as good as new. This story shoujd be received with caution, however, as the gentleman who related it to the writer, and who is a most worthy and veracious man, said that he did n't much believe it !
SARGENT.
There lived in Chester, prior to 1739, Jacob Sargent and his wife, Judith. They had seven children : Win- throp, Jacob, John. Theophilus, Judith, Sarah, and Tabitha. All the sons, except Winthrop, came to Can- dia. Theophilus and John settled near Candia Corner. Winthrop married Phebe Ely, and two of their sons, Moses and John, came to Candia, one in 1763, the lat- ter in 1769.
Moses married Sarah Varnum, and settled on the place where Mr. Charles Smith now lives. They had six children : Anna, Samuel, Abigail, Sarah, Moses and Mary. Mr. S. was a soldier in the War of the Revo- lution. He died in 1826, his wife in 1843.
John married Molly Turner, oldest daughter of Wil- liam Turner, said to have been the first female child born in town. They lived where Josiah Sargent now resides, and had four children : Sara, Josiah, Moses, and one who died young.
Of EARLY FAMILIES. lOo
SMITH, BENJAMIN
Came to Candia about 1749 or '50, from Exeter ; mar- ried Sarah Hoyt, of Seabrook. They had nine children: Benjamin, Nathaniel, Nicholas, John, Dolly, Betsey, Lydia, Hannah. Benjamin, Jr., married Nancy Robie and settled on the home farm. They had seven chil- dren : Jonathan, who died at Seabrbok, Mehi table, Sal- ly, John, True, and Nancy and Mary, twins. Nathan- iel and Jonathan went to the State of Maine ; Nich- olas died in town. When Mr. Smith first came he bought the place now occupied by Capt. John Smith j his grandson, Avho also has grand children living with him, thus making the fifth generation living on the same farm, an incident worthy of notice in these tiiiies.
He built a log cabin just back of the present house. That same Spring an apple tree came up near his door, which, for che hundred years, has continued to bear fruit, and, last season, produced a barrel of very pleas- ant apples, some of which were tasted by the writer while gathering facts for this notice. It is undoubt- edly the oldest tree in town bearing fruit. At the time of Mr. Smith's coming, Mr. Turner and Mr. McClurb are supposed to have been the only persons within the limits now comprising the town. The door of his log house, instead of swinging on hinges, was raised against the opening, and barred up at night, to keep out the bears and wolves.
Mrs. Smith, like her forest neighbors, was a woman
104 HISTORY dfr CANfllA.
of courage, and, it is said, used to go for the cow in the woods, where ahe frequently saw bears prowling about. At such times, she held on to the tail of the cow arid came home with good speed. This was quite a novel and original method of getting along. There is a bear skin tanned with the hair on, now in the house with a couple of bullet holes through it, which was worn by some surly fellow, probably too fond of nice green corn and vegetables from the garden, to have a pru- dent regard for his own safety. Mr. Smith used to set guns for these intruders, and at one time came near losing his own life, and disabled two of his fingers by accidentally discharging one of them.
There is a story, said to have been told by Mr. Smith, in regard to the raising of Mr. Turrier's barn; where and on which occasion it appears that new rum, afterward so plenty, was very scarce. The builder was able to furnish only about a pint, and the workmen had recourse to the very ingenious expedient of dipping in and then sucking it from their fingers, whereupon, one man having a rag on his finger, and not being used to hard drinking, got quite drunk.
Mr. Benjamin Smith died at the advanced age of 99 years.
SMITH, OLIVER.
In 1771, three brothers, Oliver, Biley and Jonathan, moved into- the neighborhood of Mr. Obed Hall. Oli-
NOTICES OF EAKLY FAMILIES. 10",
ver brought the first framed house into town. It was set up on the farm now owned by Mr. Alfred French. Mrs. Judith Smith, daughter-in-law of Oliver, now lives at the old place, retaining most of her faculties to a remarkable degree, for so old a lady. There is prer served the powder horn carried at Bunker Hill, hold- ing more than a pound, which, says Mrs. Judith, " I heard him say he fired all away in one battle."
Biley Smith was also out in the war. He had a good deal of military spirit, and is said to have been quite anxious to enlist in 18125 although more than the allotted period of life had passed over his whitening locks.
The anecdotes related in connection with these no- tices, are preserved on account of no intrinsic worth, and it is not imagined that they will possess any very great interest, unless it be to those immediately concerned. Each family has its own store, however meagre, of " household words," and the most trivial incident derives its value, to them, from the fact that its simple story came from loved and honored lips of sire or mother, long since sleeping in the dust, 14
100 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
It is a matter of regret that the information in regr.rd to many of the early settlers is not more full and satisfactory in its nature. The time in which this information was obtained, the impossibility of submit- ting it in form of manuscript, or proof, to those from whom it came, must be a sufficient excuse for any errors which may be detected.
GENERAL NOTICES.
MINISTERS.
DAVID JBWETT graduated at Harvard in 176£>. Hd was settled in 1771, and dismissed in 1780, after which he removed to Winthrop, Me., where he died in 1786 j aged 34.
JOSEPH PRINCE was a native of Boston, Mass., born in 1723. He was not settled, being prevented from discharging many of the more active duties of a pas* tor by blindness, but was [hired for a term of seven years. He died January 15, 1791, and his mortal remains are entombed in the same vault with those of Whitfield, in Newburyport. His immediate descendants were for some time inhabitants of this town, but are now in Boston and other places, with the exception of Sarah, a grand-daughter, who married Capt. Jesse Ea- ton.
JESSE REMINGTON graduated at Harvard, in 1784,
108 HISTORY Of
respecting whom we can do no better than to give the"' following extra'ct from a sermon preached on the occa- sion of his funeral by the Rev. Mr. Prentice, of North" wood, March 6th, 1815:
" The Rev. Jesse Remington was born in Abington, Mass., in 1760. In early life he had serious impressions. A little before he entered College, I think he once told me, he became a hopeful subject of renewing grace, which gave a new turn to all his views of divine things, and en- gaged his heart to the work of the Christian ministry. In 1790 he was ordained to the great work of the gospel min- istry in this place, where he has continued little more than twenty-four years. He was indeed an evangelical preach- er, sound in the faith, remarkably clear in the doctrines of grace, a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, holding forth the faithful word.
He was solemn and impressive in his manner, evidently realizing the weight of his own responsibility to his Lord and Master. He felt those truths himself which he ex- hibited to others. He declared the whole counsel of God, was by no means a man-pleaser.
In his death, his bereaved family, the church and reli- gious society in this place, and at large, have sustained a great loss indeed. A loss of his pious instructions, his ardent and fervent prayers, should be received as an awful frown of heaven."
He was in the 55th year of his age at the time of his death, and now sleeps in the church yard surround- ed by many members of his floek. Near him are the
GENERAL NOTICES. i.09
remains of a son, who was cut off by the untimely hand of death, in the first flush of manhood.
It is to be hoped that the 'people, who owe so much of their character to the influence of his instructions, will erect some more suitable monument over his final resting place, to tell those who shall come after, of his virtues, although it should by no means be said that the tomb stones procured by the people of his charge were not, at the time, ample testimonials of their re- gard for him. The old stone and inscription should be preserved, whatever else be done.
ABRAHAM WHEELER was born in Holden, Mass., in 1779, graduated at Williams College in 1810, was set- tled January 13th, 1819, and dismissed in 1832. He has since taken orders and become a preacher of the Episcopalian denomination in Grafton, Ohio.
CHARLES P. RUSSELL, a native of Greenfield, Mass., settled Dec. 25, 1833. He combined in an unusual degree the qualities of the scholar and the gentleman $ and has a lasting place in the affection of many of the Christian people of Candia. His health interfering with the discharge of his pastoral labors, he asked and re- ceived a dismission in 1841, and has since resided in Washington, D. C.
WILLIAM MURDOCK is a native of West Boylston, Mass., born in 18l3. He graduated at Amherst Col- lege, in 1837, and at the Andovcr Theological Semi-
110 HISTORY OF CANiiiA.
nary, in 1841, in the December of which year he was settled. On the closing Sabbath of the past year, he preached his first decennial sermon, and continues to discharge his duties as a Christian minister to the ac- ceptance of his people.
PHYSICIANS*
COFFIN MOORE practiced in Candia, from 1760 until his deathj in 1768.
DR. KELLEY came about 1770, built a house where t)ea. Josiah Shannon now lives, practiced eight or ten years.
SAMUEL FOSTER studied at Woodstock, Conn., prac- ticed in Candia from 1789 to 1812.
NATHANIEL WHEET practiced in town from 1809$ twenty-four ygars. More than a passing notice is here due to Dr. Wheet, who has now retired from the prac- tice of his profession, and is living at Manchester.
He was a successful and esteemed practitioner, always ready to go at the call of suffering and distress, espe- cially when there was no prospect of pay. Not only for so many years were his services thus valuable as a physician, but he was influential in other respects. The first great temperance movement, which was the means of making Candia one of the most temperate towns in
GENERAL NOTICES. Ill
the state, owed much to his untiring efforts. He had an uncommonly fine voice, and a good taste for vocal music, and was first induced to come to Candia as a teacher of singing, Much of the musical taste for which Candia has been famous, was, doubtless, owing to the Doctor's influence aud example, He was, at one time, President of the New Hampshire State Musical Society, which then embraced among its members some fine musicians.
Dr. Wheet is a native of Canaan, N. H., and af- ter coming to Candia, married Sally, daughter of Moses Fitts, Esq. He studied his profession with Dr. J. B. Moore, of Andover, N. H.
DR. SHAW practiced from 1807, two years. JOHN BROWN practiced one year and died in 1808. DR. SPEAR practiced from 1808, one year. DR. KITTREDGE practiced from 1811, one year. DR. BAGLEY practiced from 1817, seven years, and
died in 1823.
«
DR. PILLSBURY practiced from 1823, three years.
ISAIAH LANE has practiced from 1824 to the pres- ent time.
SAMUEL SARGENT practiced from 1833, seven years.
JOSEPH EASTMAN practiced from 1840, six years.
RICHARD H. PAGE has practiced from 1846 to the present time.
112 HISTORY OP CANDIA.
FRANKLIN FITTS, son of Moses Fitts, Esq., attended Medical Lectures at Hanover, having previously read with Dr. Isaiah I^ane, and Dr. Carter, of Concord. He commenced practice in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1835, and bade fair to have become eminent in his profession. He married Emily, daughter of Jesse Eaton. Scarce a twelvemonth passed, when contracting a fever from over-exertion in rescuing some sufferers from the effects of an inundation, he died. His wife returned to Can- dia, and did not long survive his loss.
THOMAS WHEET, a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, commenced practice in Manches- ter, in 1847., where he holds a worthy rank in his profession.
GRADUATES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.
We do not know that any one ever received a col- legiate education from Candia, prior to 1827.
DAVID PILLSBURY, 1827. Attorney at law, Chester, N. H.; has been a member of the State Legislature.
WILLIAM HENRY DUNCAN, 1830. Attorney at law, Hanover, N. H.; member of the State Legislature.
MOSES HALL FITTS, 1831. For some years a very successful Teacher, and School Commissioner, in the State of New York. Now Postmaster at Lewiston Falls, N. Y.
GENERAL NOTICES. 113
EPHRAIM EATON, 1833. Attorney at law, Concord^ N. H.
JESSE EATON PILLSBURY, 1833. Teacher in Buffalo, N. Y.
RICHARD EMERSON LANE, 1841. Died suddenly at Lewiston, N. Y., in 1842, where he had taken charge of an Academy. He was much lamented, and at the re: cent decennial meeting of the members of his class, it came to be known, that his influence while in College had been the means of the Conversion of moire than' one of his associates, some of whom are now eminent in the ministry.
LORENZO CLAY, 1843. Attorney at law, Augusta,- Maine.
MOSES PATTEN, 1850. Teacher in Gloucester, Mass.
IN COLLEGE.
JOHN DOLBER EMERSON, Senior Class. JONATHAN C. BROWN, Senior Class, DANIEL DANA PATTEN, Sophomore Class.
There will, perhaps, be 110 impropriety in saying that the citizens of Candia., who have left to seek their fortunes in other places, have generally been success- ful in their undertakings, and arc characterized by a 15
114 HISTORY Oi< CANDIA;
spirit of intelligent activity and enterprise, alike hoti- able to themselves and the home of their childhood.
To Candia is the neighboring city of Manchester in- debted for two of her Mayors: Hon. Jacob F. James and Hon. Frederick Smyth.
Hon. Jacob B. Moore, whose talents as a writer are well known, spent most of his childhood in Candia.
William H. Duncan, Esq., of Hanover, holds an hon- orable place, as a scholar and attorney* and, were he thus inclined, might well look for political preferment.
Moses H. Fitts, Esq., worthily distinguished for his fceal in the cause of education, has not wanted, in the state of New York, flatteririg testimonials of his mer- its, at the hands of the people and government.
Henry Eaton Moore had achieved, at his early death, a reputation as a musician and composer.
E. K. Eaton, of Boston, holds a high station among American composers of milita'ry music, and as such has received the approval of the first musicians in the country.
Hundreds there are, no doubt, steadily pursuing their avocations, good citizens wherever they are, sons and daughters, of whose prosperity and happiness Candia will always rejoice to hear.
A WALK ABOUT TOWN,
Many a day and many a year, perhaps, has passed since you, who in some distant region turn the leaves pf this book, by chance brought to your door, like
"The Adventurous boy that asks his little share, And hies from hqme with many a gossip's prayer,"
left the rugged boundaries of your native town to re- turn no more.
A score of winters' snows and summers' suns have frozen and warmed the hills and valleys of the old-time Charmingfare since you were there.
Time does not always efface the memory of one's native soil, and I make no doubt that some of all the thousand pleasant fancies of your childhood still linger among the unforgotten things of yore. At all events, if you are blessed with patient disposition, and can get on with me in a somewhat tedious, it may be, but well intentioned chapter, why, then, townsman of mine,
HO HISTORY OP OANDIA.
lend me your ears, or walk with me, I care not which, BO we but get well on together.
You may somewhat marvel at my taste, but let me take you to the low and almost buried pond, called Kinicum. It is the only thing, so far as I know, this and the surrounding swamp, which has an original In- dian name. And this sad type of the ancient owners of the soil is fast disappearing. ' T is a slow and toil- some process, this penetrating the swamp, but brushing aside the rough spruce twigs, and crowding through the brakes, over whose tops one can hardly see, ever and anon falling into a hole in this place, productive of staging poles from time immemorial, — at length ap- pears the pond, its black waters now reduced to the circumference of a few rods, while on the tough and elastic lichen slowly overgrowing it, you can approach nearly to the water's edge. As one steps here and there among the fox-gloves, sinking and rising with the fibrous soil, if soil it may be called, a pool, dark and deep enough to have engulfed a rebellious tribe, seems below. The dense and sombre vegetation of the swamp meets above your head ; bright red and poisonous ber- ries cluster around. The tall huckleberry peers up among the brakes, and perchance an owl sits wink- ing and blinking at you, from some day retreat. Here are always solitude, shade and silence at noon- day, unless broken by some adventurous rambler like ourselves. There are no merry birds to enliven us with
A WALK ABOUT TOWN. 11 T
songs. They are mostly of the solitary kind, who take refuge here. " Yon moping owl " has surely no music in his composition.
The pond appears once to have been of large cir- cumference, but when, or how long it has been in growing over, no one can tell. As we tug and push, on our way out, we may startle from his cover an awkward hopping rabbit, or a partridge suddenly flies in air, and the startled jay calls and screams from the tree tops.
Having got out and walked through several pastures and fields, we hit on an unfinished road, or rangeway. It is overgrown with grass and encumbered with stones so as not to be passable for pleasure carriages, but is nevertheless a good place to walk. To our right, as we go on, is the railroad track, through Brown's cran- berry meadow, connecting the seaport of New Hamp- shire with its Capital. A railroad, you ask, in Can- dia, which enjoyed a stage coach and mail once a week ? so respectable, quiet and dozy a place, be visited by railroads ? Most certainly ; what else can one expect when a city has come and settled down not a dozen miles from us. While you are growing old, and, it may be, rheumatic, Charmingfare grows young and lends a hand to the progress of the age.
True, there were some who were loth to see the beauty of their ancient possessions spoiled, and their fine farms cut into unseemly triangles, by this utilitarian
118 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
monster. But the public weal cannot always stop to. consult private notions, and the owners of the soil may one day he agreeably surprised to find its value in* crease with the spoiling of its beauty.
We go on by an old cellar, where once lived Na- thaniel Wormwood, an early inhabitant of the town, and the first settler on this road. We are now in a witching locality where an old lady lived, who enjoy- ed the reputation of dealing in the black art, and to whose magic spells niany a mischance among the neigh- bors was attributed. Loads of hay were marvellously upset on level ground, churns and cheeses innumerable are said to have borne witness tp her power. Some honest farmer, who had incurred her dipleasure, beheld, to his dismay, his revolving wheels part company with his wagon, or saw the sufferings of a favorite cow, all no doubt owing to the subtle influence of magic. Eve- ry town has had its witch, and Charmingfare can, by no means, be supposed to have escaped these ancient favors.
One wonder-loving negro, who sometimes was hired by various farmers in the neighborhood, as a day la- borer, is said, on his own authority, to have seen no less a personage than the Evil One himself. Be this as it may, the spirits that our colored friend evoked, from the vasty bottom of his quart measure, inclined him, at particular times, to narrate the event with great minuteness and apparent belief.
A WALK ABOUT TOWN.
In another part of the town, was an old gentle- man of rubicund visage and jovial temperament, who came in earlj times from some of the eastern seaport places. One evening when the clouds hung in thick masses in the sky, and a sudden gust of wind how and then shook his house to its foundations,1 '" suddenly there came a tapping " at our friend's door, on going to which, he s£w, standing on the step, a tall and swarthy individual. The old gentleman ob- served that his eyes we're like coals of fire. Half suspecting who his visitor was, he asked him in, and with an extreme sense of propriety, invited him to drink. A mug of flip^ hissing hot, slipped down his throat, as though he was used to it, and he left seem- ingly in a high state of satisfaction. There is said to have been a strong s'mell of brimstone about the premises for some time after. Of course the reader must judge how much of this story is true, and how much owing to the excited imagination of the worthy old gentleman, who took a drop now and then.
The enchantments of other generations are passing away, and although some very respectable and good old people do now carry witch-wood in their pockets,- or avail themselves of the never failing protection of a horse shoe, yet these practices are, by no mean's^ common. True it is, thdt the " mediums " dfrd other1 modern notions bring to mind the diablerie of old Sa- lem, when our fathers were so sorely tried ; but they
120 HISTORY OF CA»DIA»
do n't go for much except as a means of speculation in money matters.
In the olden time when all the world believed in witches, ghosts and enchanted castles, the inhabitants of frontier settlements, it seems to me, were just the people to indulge such fancies.
There were wild haunts from which the elves and fairies had never been driven. When Night threw ita dark shadow over the great wood, and the wind sighed mournfully through its many branches, the most untu- tored imagination found little difficulty in peopling it with unheard of forms. Giants stalked among the grim, huge bodies of the oaks. Jack o' lanterns hurried away among the treacherous swamps, and withered old crones charged in battallions through the tops of the pines, on those never failing servitors, the broomsticks. Many a one-eyed, prowling cat has had numerous misdeeds laid at its door, and inspired more terror than would the monarch of the forest. In good faith; we have little reason to laugh at these notions of our ancestors. We have lost their fear of witches, and, it may be, their reverence for many better things.
Let us go on, and in time of year when Charming- fare looks best, when dame Nature jauntily displaying her green mantle, bedecked with the golden dandelion and the modest violet, ' t is no unpleasant place in which to walk.
The gentlfc slopes cosily spreading out to the mom
A WALK ABOUT TOWN. 121
ing sun, invite us to linger. We cross the fields, the meadows, the brooks and the flowing mill streams, which under an Italian sky would have been called rivers and rendered sacred by countless legends. Anon rough granite boulders and countless pieces of sparkling mica meet the eye. Here sharp and bristling little hemlocks skirt the hill sides, or sturdy beeches are putting forth their tender acid leaves, while in the distant meadows the elm waves its graceful limbs. Yonder awkward bird of the marshes, slowly working his way southward through the air, is an ill-favored specimen of the heron tribe, sometimes yclept stake-driver.
We are now approaching " Fiddlers' Green," on the eastern extremity of the town, whose dwellers are bor- der men, and whose limits have been the scene of many a hard fought battle in the mad militia days of yore, ere the glory was shorn from the brows of Mars or univer- sal sanction taken from the potent cask. It was in such a time that the keeper of a diminutive hostelrie, a man in sixe somewhat the smallest, was called to his door before the dawn of day one muster morn, seized by a stout trooper not unknown in Charmingfare, and carried full three miles across the saddle-bow, all thinly clad as he was, at a furious pace, and then dropped, to pick his way home, over the sharp stones, as best he might.
Peace to thy bones, Jeremy, thou whilom the b,utt for cruel jokes, and caterer for dr.y stomachs, thy pabin
- HISTORY OF OANDIA.
in the Bui-rough \vould hardly withstand a charge of horse now-a-days, as when they galloped over thy fences and incontinently demolished pig-pen and carrot bed.
The best place one can find hereabouts for sight- seeing, is Patten's hill. It costs no trouble to get to the top of it, for we are already on it. Before us lies the Green ; around among the hundred hills, that rise between us and the horizon, are nestled many towns and villages. One could stand here for hours and gaze on the inimitable display. The pretty ponds, the soli- tary winding road, and even the moss-covered stone • wall at our feet, each contributes a share of beauty to the scene.
The top of that cabin or shanty, which you can just discern, tells that soon the silence of the groves will be broken by the shrill scream of the steam horse, and that these rough hills give no check to the builders of railroads.
The Green, —? does it not bring to y.pur mind dim notions of (jretna and its renowned blacksmith, of run- away matches, of joyous country dances, and merry May-days ? Alas ! with all its beauty of appearance 'neath this morning sun and clear sky, it would be hazardous to attempt to throw over it the veil of ro- mance, and so we will even leave it and walk on. We climb the wall, and the road soon brings us into the vicinitv of the first settlement jn town. A hundred
A WALK ABOUT TOWN. 2o
years and eight have passed away since this old cellar was scooped out of the earth. The owner of this place, I dare say, would rather lose the coat from his back than these old foundation walls from his farm. If there was more of such reverence for the relics of olden time, Charmingfare would never need go begging for materials to fill a history- — a history of common every day life, such as one sees in his neighbors, such as one wishes to know about his fathers.
We find as we go on in this vicinity that the ground is ledgy in places, and broad strips of stone peer out on the surface. We go down the hill, cross the mill- stream, and up the next height, and soon come upon a fine view of the little church and neatly painted houses of the village ; of Peer-field South Road, and its three places of worship, with the old and first built church lifting up its weather-beaten walls like an ancient cas- tle. Sometimes I have seen that old house, when some dense and heavy thunder cloud seemed to lift, with its fantastic mists, the hills behind it into very Alps for size, suddenly loom up like a thing enchanted.
Eastward the scene is bounded by the abrupt and circular eminences, Saddleback and Tuckaway ; around whose bases are heard in quiet summer days subterra- nean thunders, not unlike those rolling sounds, which awakened Rip Van Winkle among the crew of Hen- drick Hudson, in the heights of the Donderberg, to the great fear and perplexity of divers good people.
124 HISTORY OF CANDIA;
lest their places become Kke Pompeii and Herculaneufti, monuments to be unearthed in some future age. West- ward, toward the region of the grand Monadnock, whos6 hoary head is visible in some clear days', our vision is lost among the hills, some bearing in a few scattered fields the marks of human toil, others in the wild ma- jesty of rock and forest.
At the next Corner, we turn our backs to the setting sun. The road we are on runs through the town in a direction a little south of east. We soon turn to the left j alternately, on the one side and the other, fields, pasture land, rocky steeps grown with shrubs and trees, meet the view.
Now we see a siaaall, round, gravel hill ; then catch a glhnpse of water and a roof or two, and a thriving and busy little village rushes out upon you; The clear stream, pouring from the mill-courses, over its pebbly bed through the rich verdure below, hurries and fidgets along with an air of great importance, while the noise of hammers, the whizzing of saws, and the hum of the grist-mill give quite a thriving appear- ance to the place. What unlucky utilitarian ever chris- tened it Slab Island^ I know not ; although such a name may, perhaps, indicate the industrial pursuits of its in- habitants, a prettier one would do quite as well. A little way from this, on the left of the road as you go towards Raymond, is a small wood-crowned eminence, of no great height, but with masses of granite rising
A WALK ABOUT TOWN.
125
from its sides and near its top, like the palisades of the Hudson, or the walls of some ruined castle. A few steps beyond, on the right, is a small burial place.
Let us now " wheel to the right about," and, pass- ing again the grist-mill, walk toward the "Village." In a tangled thicket by the road side, swollen and im- portant with the spring rains, like some little man elate with the pride of station, a turbulent and roaring brook hurries along. We soon espy a sheep cote, a school house, and a post guide, each of no small im- portance in its place. Every thing here has a quiet and secluded aspect, all around are little wood or rock covered hills, with green shady dells and glens, with now and then a farm house or cottage. The scenery for a mile or two is pretty much of the same char- acter, and we soon come in sight of the village from the northeast, with an occasional glimpse of the meet ing house cupola on the hill, about which we have made a sweep of nearly ten miles. Quite a walk for a Yankee, who never goes on foot if he can ride, but just a fair morning's excursion for an English man or WCK- man, so do n't complain of being tired ; at this loiter- ing rate, we shall hardly get round by night.
Ahead of us is a long low belt of swampy land> which drainage aud cultivation will some day convert into fine meadows and green fields. There the north branch of the Lamprey winds its dark and crooked folds along, covered with weeds and lilly pads. From
126
HISTORY OF CANDLA.
the brow of this hill, we walk on into what seems like the bed of an ancient stream, whose giant banks stretch far and wide on either hand. The road is narrow and fringed with alders, and it is but a few rods to the little bridge over the branch of the Lamprey. We keep on up to the Walnut Hill, where if it were in the Fall of the year, one might see plenty of walnuts half hidden in the splendid green foliage of the tree, which is one of the prettiest ornaments of an Ameri- can forest. The nuts, when gathered and dried, are very sweet; and are brought from the garret in the long whiter evenings. Both walnuts and jokes are crack- ed by huge roaring fires, and swallowed together at the risk of choking the merry partakers.
I once remember to have heard some account of a le- gend about buried treasure concealed near this hill, but all I could learn only served to excite my curiosity. The veracious old lady who heard it related, some forty years ago, in the days when stories were stories, and great fire-places, with whole loads of wood in them^ opened one's heart to the belief of any thing marvel- ous, can only tell that there was money found, and strange men1 concerned in the business. This much is sure, that some men by digging about that hill and its vicinity, have found money, and do continue to find it unto this day.
Look down here through the trees into the valley of the Lamprey branch. This is as nice a summer
A WALK ABOUT TOWN. 127
retreat as one would wish. It is said that long time ago, the valiant artillery company, which had a gun and gun-house near the meeting-house, with " 17th Reg. N. H. Militia," inscribed on a semicircular board over the door, once marched up the hill, very much as the king of France marched up another hill. Before marching down again, however, the worthy captain, full of courage, charged the brass four pounder with a wood- en plug, and began a bombardment of the parade ground they had left. Fortunately nobody's brains were knocked out by the hair-brained experiment, and the block was never heard from again.
Yonder is the school house, where many a rising genius has made his or her debut at teaching. Who knows but you, now mayhap surrounded by children of your own, with a grey hair now and then starting out among its darker fellows on your head, who knows, I say, but you once " kept school" on Walnut Hill, and " boarded round." How your knees smote together, as you thought of the examination, your first, perhaps, when the doctor and the minister, dignitaries of the town, sat in awful state, in the desk, and some half dozen fathers and mothers came in to witness the astonishing per» formances of their children, with a sprinkling, perhaps, of teachers from other districts to see that they were not beaten. What a shout was there when school was done and the rewards of merit duly distributed ! Char- mingfare was always rather proud of its schools, and
128 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
no doubt with reason ; few towns in the vicinity could boast of better. As the eye from this hill follows the road westward, another and a higher meets the view ; though the ascent be somewhat toilsome, we will even try it. There are good farmers along the way, who turn out great oxen and sleek horses — *• strong hard- working men, who live well and tell good stories.
This is the vicinity of the first settlement in this section of Charmingfare. Not far ahead is another school house, and a post guide, for the school house, mind you, is geometrically situated on a triangular point of land bounded by two roads. If we take the one leading to the right, it will take us where all the thunder storms came from when you and I went to the summer school, down at No. Two, say twenty years ago. Then turning left through a cowyard, for the romance of the thing, we get up in a very puffy and exhausted state, to the top of what they call Hall's Mountain, once known as Beech Hill. It is said to be the highest ridge of land between the Merrimack River and the ocean. Be this as it may, we can dis- cern the snowy summits of the "White Mountains, like clouds of silver against the clear sky, while the golden and flashing waves of the Atlantic gleam along the hor- izon, eastward, like the burnished spears of an advan- cing host. Around, for many miles, are nestled the snug villages and quiet towns of old Buckingham. At a distance on her river banks, is the (Capital of our
A WALK ABOUT TOWN. 129
Yankee Switzerland, fairy like in the blush of the set- ting sun, while in almost every direction, a church spire rears its form. With a tolerably good glass, one may watch the chance of invasion from Gosport, or spy out the clippers and smacks from the Isle of Shoals, with, perhaps, especially if aided by a good imagination, a glimpse of the bristles on the back of Hog Island.
Around, at our feet, as it were, are farms, irregur larly shaped pieces of woodland, small streams, and some pretty ponds ; that, for instance, which you can see over your right shoulder, is Sawyer's pond. There are many strips of meadow, covered with waving grass. It- is said that people used to come a great distance, to get this coarse hay, which they stacked and remov-* ed in the winter on sleds. Deer were sometimes found purloining the hay, which no doubt rightfully belonged to them.
While sitting here on this ledge, kicking about with careless feet the little pieces of crystal, or shying stones down into the tree tops below us, our lengthen- ing shadows warn us that twilight approaches. We hear the tinkling of distant sheep bells, the cow boya whistling hasten along the winding path, driving their Battle faster than they would, if under the farmer's eye. That dog, away to the left, seems certainly to have treed a squirrel ; the frogs are singing, and we shall have little time to talk, ere the dew begin.8 to fall.
Not many years since, and the whple spepq before 17
130 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
us was one dense forest. Just over there, where wo passed, on the right, a large square house, with a flock of fat geese near the wall, there was a house and small clearing nigh a hundred years ago, with no neighbors, until you get down a mile or so, where among the woods and the hills was another house. A brisk little brook ran by it and an acre or two of land was clear- ed. There lived Deacon Burpee, who had been a ran- ger in the French War, while the former location was settled by Mr. Obed Hall.
One morning very early, when the Deacon's eldest son was going out to fodder the cattle, he thought he heard a voice crying for help. Listening a moment, he became convinced that it was Mrs. Hall, Calling his father, the two, with dog and gun, hurried away, to ascertain the cause of trouble. As they came to a cross path, Mr. Jethro Hill and Mr. Sherburne Rowe^ then living on High Street, joined them. They, it seems, had heard the alarm, and 'were on their way to give assistance. As the four men, breathless from their ex- ertions, neared the house, they beheld Mrs. Hall stand- ing in the door, calling loudly for help, while an old bear and two cubs were trampling down and destroy- ing the corn. Mr. Hall was away from home. They soon drove out the troublesome animals, and one of the cubs, being an unwieldly traveler, fell behind, and was attacked by the dogs. Mr. Jethro Hill, " who was pretty ambitious," and a mighty hunter, ran up and,
A WALK ABOUT TOWN; l3l
got Upon his back ; then laying hold titi the ears, he directed them to call off the dogs. It was no sooner done than bruin, not having been trained a la Van- Amburgh, brushed off the hands, with his fore paws$ and scrambled into the bushes, leaving his rider on the ground, whose comrades were altogether too much ex- hausted with laughter to afford any help.
The twilight deepens as we rise to descend the moun- tain's side ; the distant hills grow indistinct and dim ; here and there a star struggles into sight, and it is fairly evening. It is said that some fifty years ago, the people on this road, a mile below where we now are, were one day seriously frightened, by the appari- tion of a strangely constructed vehicle rumbling along the road. The geese flew screaming to the wood; the dogs were hi a storm, the hens, startled by a gruff note of warning from their leader, ran for life ; and all, dear reader, was caused by the advent of a modern (to them) invention. Some gallant swain from the towns below had come up in a chaise to see his lady love, and that " was the first chaise ever seen in these parts."
As we lag Wearily along, let us summon to our aid imagination, and, flying over bog and ditch, stump and stone, where many a Jack-o'-lantern has been before usy alight down on the turnpike, at the head of High Street. There have been some changes on this road since the first settlers came. How strangely would one, could htf
132 HISTORY OF CANDIA.
awaken from his sleep of half a century, walk down the way, no welcome and well known door to receive him. The boys he left are now stout men; the stout men he remembers are palsied with age, or no more seen among their fellows. In the place of one or two log cabins, or small framed houses, built a century ago, many a neat building meets his eye. Moss has overgrown a few roofs, some orchards are going to decay, and new ones taking their places.
Once, when the fields we may see before us were hardly cleared, a couple of worthies were overseeing the operation of a coal-pit ; scarcely had night come over them, when the melancholy howl of the wolf struck on their ears, as they sat in the camp ; soon a pack of the creatures surrounded them. One of the men, expect- ing momentarily to be devoured, fell to praying, while the other, equally terrified but less devout, began swear* ing. The singular trio of men and beasts was kept up until the day drove the wolves to their dens ; whereupon the swearing man was thrown into a state of great perplexity not knowing whether he should ascribe his safety to his own exertions or those of his companion.
We stand upon the hill where once the spire of the old meeting house pointed up to heaven. There is hardly a more beautiful landscape than that which stretches away south and east. The Massabesic, like a
A WALK ABOUT TOWN. 133
mirror, hangs before us, amid its surrounding hills and forests, in the bosom of the old West Parish. There, too, the Devil's Den rears Its bristly back, while west- ward rise the Uncannoonucs, the New Boston hills, and where sky and earth bend into one, the eye can just discern, eastward, in the fairest of days, Wachusett and the hoary head of Mount Tom. Over the left shoulder, as we stand, are the Saddleback and Tucka- way hills, from whose bases, the scene, for two-thirds the circle of the horizon, seems a heaving ocean, rol- ling away from us on some far distant shore.
Not far from where we stand, " low roofed and red," was the old school house. There, you and I, mayhap, made the grand entrance, with all the solemnities of birch and ferule, into the mysteries of learning. There we together tugged through the blue covered spelling book, blundered upon the English Reader, and had fearful struggles with that remorseless bluebeard, Lind"- ley Murray. There we got lost in a wilderness of fractions^ armed with no better weapons than quill pop-guns. There, in the summer days, were the ye^ low butterflies on the thistle blows, and there were blows we sometimes caught, on which the birds and butterflies never came. There were commercial trans- actions, when we exchanged the products of neighbor-1 ing orchards for a due amount of flogging. There were immense maritime excursions, to sundry islands in the frog-pond, and numberless stars evolved thrtragh ttn-1
134 HIStORY OF
lucky heads, from its frozen surface in winter. There, of old, met the Battle Axe Club, renowned in the annals of temperance. There were debating societies, the high schools, and the singing schools. There, on the quiet Sabbath afternoon met those who seemed to us old men, to hold prayer meetings, when we heard words of ad- monition and advice, which, perhaps, might have been better followed by all of us. All is gone now.
" Mute is the bell that rang at peep of dawn,- Quickening my truant feet across the lawn ; Unheard the shout that rent the noontide air, When the slow dial gave a pause to care. Up springs, at every step, to claim a tear, Some little friendship formed and cherished here ; And not the slightest leaf, but trembling teems With golden visions, and romantic dreams!"
School house and scholars, all scattered to the ends of the earth. In the West, in the sunny South, on the golden shores of California, on the ocean's wave, in the cities by the seaboard, under the green turf in the near church yard, or in their last resting place by some far lake or river, many leagues from hdme and the scenes of youth, are they.
God grant you, reader, pleasant memories of the past, and golden hopes for the future. We must stop this chapter, dedicated with sincere good will to those, once citizens of Charmingfare, who have wandered to other places and found other homes*
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
TOPOGRAPHY.— CENSUS STATISTICS.
Candia is situated in longitude 6° 20' East from Washington; latitude 43° 8'. It is in form nearly a parallelogram, the southern boundary line 6 miles 223 rods in length, running North 65° 10' West; its eastern, 4 miles 122 rods, South 31° 45' West; bounded North by Deerfield, South by Chester, 1 mile 118 rods, and Auburn, 5 miles 105 rods, East by Raymond, and West by Hooksett.
It is 18 miles southeast from Concord, about 35 miles west from Portsmouth, and 10 miles northeast from the city of Manchester. The soil is hard of cultivation, the land rough and uneven. The town was laid out in squares, and many of the roads intersect each other at right angles. The thoroughfares are convenient and gen- erally kept in good repair. The Portsmouth and Concord Railroad runs through the town in a direction varying not much from East to West, affording rapid communication with the seaboard on the one hand, and the Capital on the other. In the westerly part of the town is a ridge of land, one elevation of which is called Hall's Mountain. This is said to be the highest point of land between Merrimack river and the ocean. Near this ridge two branches of the Lamprey river fake their rise, and supply water for a considerable number of sa^v and grain mills, besides carrying other machinery. There arc 11 mills driven by water for the manufacture of various articles from wood ; 4 grain mills ; 1 tanning and currying establishment ; 4 stores.
The town is divided into 14 school districts, in most of which ft school is supported during half the year. For many years past there has also been kept, near the center of the town, a high, or select school, during three months in the Fall, with an average attendance of fifty scholars, with but one or two exceptions all residents in town, where the preparatory studies of a college course cap be pursued.
18
1SS HISTORY OF CANDIA.
There is a circulating library containing about four hundred voN umes, the owners of which were incorporated in 1824 by the name of of the " Candia Literary Library Association.''
The population, at different times, was. in 1767, 363; in 1775, 744; 1790,1040; 1800,1186; 1810,1290; 1820,1273; 1830,1362; 1840, 1430; 1850, 1486.
From notes found in the Secretary's office at Concord, it seems that in 1767. four years after the incorporation, there were 27 unmarried men between the ages of 16 and 60; 68 married men; 99 boys under 15 ; 100 unmarried females ; 68 married females, and 1 widow.
By the census of 1840, it appears that there were produced 6,220 bushels of corn, 20,320 bushels of potatoes, 2,175 tuns of hay, 2,287 Ibs. of wool. In 1850, the value of manufactured articles, consisting of shoes, hats, wagons, saw frames, bedsteads, &c., was estimated at S66,170, hay 2,100 tuns, potatoes 11,500 bushels, butter 25,175 Ibs., cheese 15.000 Ibs. There were 149 farms producing to the value of $100 a year, and over; 454 cows, 149 yoke of oxen, 142 horses. Val- uation of estate, real and personal, 8425,965.
The name of Candia is said to have been given by Gov. Benning Wentworth, who was once a prisoner on the Island of Candia, in the Mediterranean. Moore's and Hayward's Gazetteers both give this as the origin of the name. Some suppose that the name might have been suggested by the narrative of Robert Knox, who was detained many years in captivity by the King of Candia in Ceylon, so that he learned their language, and gives an interesting account of their man- ners and customs. He gravely relates how great a noise the devil made in the woods of Candia, and of the frequent opportunities he had of hearing him. This was published about the middle of the 17th century, and attracted much attention at a time when travelers' stories were not so plenty as now. We do not believe, however, that there could have been much similarity between the two places, and perhaps it may be as well to adopt the first statement in regard to the name.
About two and a half miles from Deerfield line, in the northerly part of the town, and about the same distance from Raymond line, is what is called Candia village. A branch of the Lamprey river, taking its rise in Deerfield Pond, runs through the place, furnishing the mo- tive power to a saw and grist mill, as well as various other kinds of machinery. There is a church built by the Free-Will Baptist Society, in 1846. at which time the old house, erected by Elder Moses Bean, in 1815, was torn down. The society was incorporated in 1816, as the li Union Baptist/' there being at that time Baptists of other denomina- tions who chose to unite fqr the purpose of sustaining preaching.
APPENDIX. 139
Bean continued to preach until 1835, when he was succeeded by Elder Manson, who remained four years; Elder Fern aid, from 1839. two years ; Atwood, one year ; Davis, one year ; Whitney, two years ; Caverno, three years; since 1848, Elder Atwood, until 1852. The society has, for most of the time, sustained regular preaching.
Elder Bean was a man of much enterprise and energy, and was for many years, of note in town. Two of his sons are extensive mer- chants in New-York, and his daughter the accomplished instructress of the " Broadway Seminary.^' in that city.
There are in the village two stores, a blacksmith's shop, and quite a collection of houses, which, when seen from the adjacent hills, have a picturesque appearance.
Farther down, on the same branch, is another and smaller collection of dwellings, known as the " Island." Here is a saw mill, grain mill, and various kinds of machinery. As may be seen in the notices of families, the Island was first settled in 1755, by David Bean, and has been a thriving settlement ever since.
At the annual town meeting, held March 10, 1852, it was voted that a map of Candia be procured by the town clerk, and a survey be made for that purpose, if necessary, for the use of this history.
Thanks are due to H. M. Eaton, Esq., Col. R. E. Patten, Mr. Aus- tin Cass, and Mr. Thomas Lang, Jr., for their assistance and encour- agement in this and other parts of this work.
As the town has ever been more than commonly interested in the subject of education, a few extracts from the records may not be un- profitable, to give an idea of what the fathers thought it necessary to do.
Names of School Teachers, and money paid them for services :
I. a. d.
Master Jewett, cen.q. 3 15 0 Master Jewett. wq. 3 13 0
1764.
Doct. Moore, 40 00 0
1765.
Daniel Rowe, 936
Mrs. Zach. Clifford, 016 G
1766.
Master Hazelton, 200
Isaac Clifford's wife, 017 0
Zach. Clifford's wife, 012 0
Mrs. Bowen, 1 6 9
1767.
Master Shaw, so. q. 3150
Esq. Mooers, cen. q. 5120
Nath'l Emerson, 1 14 6 Israel Oilman's wife,n.e.q. 018 7
1768.
Master Hazeltine, s.e.q. 2 18 8
Zach. Clifford's wife, 1 9 3
Richard Clifford's wife, 0 19 6
1769.
PaulJewett, 443
Samuel Bnswell, so.q. 3 10 0
K/ekiel Worthen, 0 13 10
1770.
PaulJewett, w.&c.q. 790
Walter Robie, so.q. 200
Ezekiel Worthen, 1 19 0
Elizabeth Smith, s.c.q. 118 6
1776.
Lieut. Fitts, 755
William Dowlen, 8 19 0
Eben Eaton. 260
140
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
The school districts were called quarters. So late as 1791, there1 were ten, and the following sums of mdney allowed each for schooling :
Center quarter, West quarter, Southwest quarter, Southeast quarter, Northeast quarter,
i? i
9 1 8 6
3 14
4 1
East quarter, South quarter. North quarter, „ N. N. East quarter, 0 | Northwest quarter,
200 480 590 330 600
ASSOCIATION TEST.
In April, 1776, the Committee of Safety in New-Hampshire, acting in accordance with the wishes of the Continental Congress, sent to each town a circular, a copy of which is given below :
SELECT MEN OK CANDIA. .
IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, April 12, 1776.
In order to carry the underwritten RESOLVES of the Hon'ble Conti- nental Congress into execution, you arc requested to desire all males above twenty-one years of age, (lunaticks, idiots and Negroes ex- ceptcd,) to sign to the declaration on this paper; and when so done, to make return hereof together with the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the General Assembly 6r Cbmmittee' of Safety of this Colony.
M. WE ABE, Chairman.
IN CONGRESS, March 14th, 1776.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Con- ventions, and Councils, or Committees of Safety, ot the United Colo- nies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within theif respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to defend by arms, the United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies.
Extract from the minutes. (Copy.) CHARLES THOMPSON, Sec'y.
In consequence of the above resolution of the Hon. Continental Congress, and to show our determination in joining our American brethren in defending the lives, liberties, and properties of the inhabit- ants of the United Colonies,
We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise, that we will to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British fleets and armies against the United American Colonies.
William Baker, Thomas Dearborn. James Eaton, Ezekiel Knowles, Nath'l Maxfield, l*homas Emery,
John Clay, Jonathan Pillsbury, Nathaniel Emerson, Walter Robie, Moses Baker, Benjamin Batchelder,
Samuel Dearborn, Enoch Rowel, Samuel Mooers, Abr'tn Fitts, -- Nicholas Smith, Enoch Colby,
APPENDIX.
141
John Lane, John Sargent, Thomas Patten, Henry Clark, Zachariah Clifford, Benjamin Cass, John Colby, William Turner, Robert Smart, David Bean. Obadiah Smith, James Miller, Benjamin Rowell, Nath'l Burpee, Jeremiah Burpee, Nicholas French, Isaiah Rowe, Stephen Palmer, Nehemiah Brown, Samuel Worthen, Sewell Brown, Stephen Palmer, jun. John Prescott, Richard dough, Obededom Hall, Benjamin Fellows, Biley Smith,
Jonathan Smith, Joseph Palmer, Benjamin Hnbbard, Elijah True, Samuel Brown, Jonathan Brown, Aaron Brown, Jethro Hill, Sherburne Rowe, Joseph Fifield, Stephen Fifield. Theophilus Clough, Jonathan Hills, Samuel Morrill, William Hills, John Cammet, Silas Cammet, Samuel Clongh, David Jewett, John Carr, James Prescott, Jonathan Bagley, Zebulon Winslow, Amos Knowles, Jesse Eaton, John Sargent, Ephraim Eaton,
Robert Wilson. James Varnum. Samuel Buswell, John Clark, Daniel Hall, John Hills, William Eaton, Obadiah Hall, Moses Sargent, Thomas Anderson, Ebenezer Eaton, Robert Wason, Paul Eaton, David Hill, Samuel Towle, John Robie, Simon French, " Benaiah Colby, Daniel Dolbef, John Moor, Hugh Medellan, Jonathan Ring, Joshua Moore, Stephen Clark, John Clifford, Jonathan Cammet, Jacob Bagley.
The original document, of which the above, with the signatures, is a copy, was found among the papers of Nathaniel Emerson, Esq., who in 1776, was one of the selectmen. It bears no indications of ever having been returned to the Committee of Safety, and no copy can be found in the records of the State department.
No names are set down as having refused to sign, and it probably has every name of the required age, then in town. A few months before, the whole number of men over sixteen was one hundred and thirty-nine, and twenty-seven were in the army, so that there would not have been more than ninety-nine over twenty-one years of age.
Names of Soldiers who served at various times during the War of In- dependence, from Candia, some of which were found on the Town Record, and others taken from the Army Kolls :
William Anderson, David Bagley, Jacob Bagley, Samuel Bagley, Moses Baker, Jonathan Bean, Nathan Bean,
Phincas Bean, John Batchclder, James Bragdon, Sewell Brown, Nathan Burpee, Moses Buraiel, Samuel Bus well.
William Burleigh, Michael Blazo, Peter Cammet, Thomas Capron, Benjamin Cass, Moses Cass, John Caldwell,
142
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
Walter Clay, Samuel Clay, Henry Clark, John Clurk, John Clark, jun. Stephen Clark, Jacob Clifford, John Clifford, Theophiltis Clough, John Colby, Enoch Colby, Jethro Colby. Benjamin Critchet, Edward Currier, Gideon Currier, Joseph Dearbbrn, Samuel Dearborn, Thomas Dearborn, Moses Dustin, Alexander Eaton, Benjamin Eaton, Eben Eaton, Eben Eaton, jun. James Eaton, Jesse Eaton, Jonathan Eaton, Paul Eaton, William Eaton, Nathaniel Emerson, Wiggins Evans, Abraham Fitts, Henry Gotham, Israel Griffin, Jonathan Green,
Obadiah Hall, Jason Hazard, John Hills, David Hill, Robert Holland, Benjamin Hubbard Parker Hills, John Kent, Henry Kimball, Amos Knowles, John Knowles, Nehemiah Leavitt, Daniel Libbey, James Libbey, John Loverin, Joseph Marston, Nathaniel Merrifield, William Miller, John Mitchel, John Moores, Joshua Moore, Samuel Mooers, Samuel Mooers, jun; Peter Mooers, Isaac Morse, Philip Morse, Samuel Morrill, John Morrison, Jonathan Norris, Moses Norris, Joseph Palmer, Thomas Patten, William Patten; Jonas Perry,
Asa Peirce, Jonathan Pillsbnry; John Prescott, Ashahel Quimby, Elcazer Quimby, Jacob Quimby, Enoch Rowell, Enoch Rowell, jun. Isaiah Rowe, Benjamin Sandbornj John Sargent, Moses Sargent, James Siel, Samuel Shannon, Biley Smith, Ezekiel Smith, Oliver Smith, John Taylor, Antony Towle. Benjamin Towle, Jeremiah Towle, Moses Turner, James Varnum, John Varnum, Thomas Wason, Nat Wadley, Robert Wilson, Thomas Wilson, William Wilkins, Ebenezer Williams, Zebulon Winslow, Isaac Worthen.
[Aimy Roll, 23d p., vol.10.]
A Return of Soldiers in the Continental Army, belonging to the Parish of Candia:
John Anderson, engaged in 1779 j John Lovren, " "
John Kent, " 1778.
Daniel Libbeej engaged in 1779;
John Caldwell, " "
Michael Poor, " "
Candia, Feb1' ye 15, 1782.
ABRAHAM FITTS, ) Selectmen NATH'L EMERSON, J of BEN'J CASS, ) Candia.
(Page 27.]
STATE OF ) IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY,
NEW-HAMPSHI&E. J Exeter, May 4th, 1778.
This Certifies, that John Dudley, Esqr., has paid into the Treasury three hundred and ninety pounds ten shillings st'ng, in part for four Continental Soldiers which were enlisted and returned by Col°. Noah
APPENDIX.
143
Lovewcll, (viz,) Ebenezer Williams, William Wilkins, Thomas Cap- ron and James Siel. which Soldiers are set to the Parish of Candia. Col°. Lovewell paid for the hire of the aforesaid men, three hundred and ninety-eight pounds.
Paid by Col°. Lovewell, 398 0 0
Rec'd of John Dudley, Esq., 390 10 0
7 10 0
E. THOMPSON, Cha'a P. T.
Col. Hercules Mooney's Reg. at Rhode Island. 1779.
Phineas Bean, Joseph Marston,
Henry Gotham, Nat Wadley, David Bagley, William Patten. Dan'l Libbee, John Caldwell, John Lovren, John Kent,
Candia,
> From Col. Webster's Regiment.
1782
rol. 4, p. 53.]
Ezek'l Smith, Jona. Norris, Peter Cammet, Ebenezer Eaton, Moses Norris, John Moore. Benj. Sandborn, Jason Hazard,
June 19. July 2. July 2.
July 5. July 5. July 5. July 8.
Bounty afterwards deducted from the depreciation, Jan. 1780.
Jonathan Green, Isaac Morse, John Colby, Eleazer Quimby, Nehemiah Leavitt, John Kent,
(Vol. 4, p. 190.)
I. «. d.
22 8 6
22 8 6
18 4 0
20 8 0
6 17 14
16 16 0
John Mitchel, Ebenezer Williams, William Wilkins, James Siel,
1782, July 3. Gave a certificate to J. Dudley, Esq.
I. i. d,
25 5 1
25 10 0
3 16 0
23 0 4
207 13 1
From a Return of New Levies, joined the Hampshire line and muster- ed in Camp by Major William Scott, 1780.
[Returned by Col. Moiei Nicholi Aft.
Benjamin Eaton. 21 Candia. Sam'l Clay, 20 do.
Sam'l Shannon, 18 do.
f the 5tb Reg., March 19th, 1779.] Aye.
Alex'r Eaton, 18 Candia.
Jno. Eaton, 17 do.
Edward Currier, 19 do.
Men Enlisted into Col. Webster's (17th) Reg., 1778, for three years.
Jonathan Green, John Colby, Isaac Morse, Eleazer Quimby, John Taylor. Nehemiah Leavitt,
James Bragdon, David Hill, John Kent, Rob't Holland, Jones Perry, Asa Pierce,
Henry Kimhall, I John Mitchel,
Eben'r Williams, i Win. Wilkins, j Tho's Capron, • James Siel.
144
HISTORY OP CANDIA.
PAID CANDIA FOR BOUNTIES.
[Army Rolls, p. 5, book P.J
Lexington Alarm. Wingate's Reg., Canada. 1? men. Continentals. 5 men, at 30£. Continentals. 5 men.
4 men.
4 men.
Mooney's Reg., R. Island. 2 men New Levies, 6 mos. 6 men a 34 10 each. Nichols & Bartlett's Reg. 10 men. Reynold's Reg. 4 men a 18£ each. New Levies, 6 mos. 4 men a 45 10 each. Continentals. 8 men. Stark's Brigade. 21 men.
£1937 19 3
In all amounting to 84 men, besides the Lexington volunteers, the number of whom is not known.
|
Ap'l, July, |
1775. 1776. |
i. 45 36 |
IS 00 |
4. 0 0 |
|
May, |
1777. |
150 |
OQ |
0 |
|
Feb., |
1778. |
308 10 0 ) |
||
|
Ap'l, |
1778. |
382 00 0 } 515 |
3 |
3 |
|
May, |
1778. |
398 00 0 ) |
||
|
1779. |
19 |
12 |
0 |
|
|
sach. |
1780. |
207 |
00 |
0 |
|
1780. |
195 |
(10 |
0 |
|
|
1781. |
72 |
00 |
0 |
|
|
iach. |
1781. |
182 |
00 |
I) |
|
1782. |
452 |
' 7 |
0 |
|
|
1777. |
63 |
0 |
0 |
CONTINENTAL RATE, 1778,
BEING THE
Lt. Abr'm Fitts,
Amos Knowles,
Amos Knowles, jun.,
Aaron Brown,
Arthur Lebbee,
Abijah Pilsbury,
Alexander Stevens,
Wd. Annar Robie.
Wd. Ann Quimby,
Wd. Anne Whitcher,
Wd. Abigail Brown,
Dr. Benj. Page,
Benj. Brown,
Benaiah Colby, jun.,
Biley Smith, *
Benj. Towle,
Benj. Smith,
Lt. Benj. Batchelder,
Benj. Rowel,
Lt. Benj. Cass,
Benj. Fellows,
Benj. Pike,
Benj. Hubbard,
Benj. Carr,
Benj. Rowe, Esq.,
Benj. Lang,
Caleb Brown,
Caleb Shaw,
Wd. Cath'ne Cammet, 0 19 5
|
AMOUNT |
OF TJ |
|
[From Col. John ( |
|
|
1. 8. |
d. f. |
|
4 11 |
8 0 |
|
3 8 |
7 3 |
|
jun., 0 14 |
90 |
|
2 14 |
6 0 |
|
1 13 |
3 2 |
|
, 3 5 |
1 3 |
|
ens, 0 14 |
9 0 |
|
>ie. 2 3 |
0 1 |
|
by, 1 0 |
9 3 |
|
tcher, 0 19 |
3 1 |
|
own, 1 15 |
1 3 |
|
0 13 |
1 1 |
|
0 15 |
5 3 |
|
jun., 1 9 |
0 0 |
|
1 0 |
9 3 |
|
1 15 |
7 3 |
|
2 18 |
7 1 |
|
elder, 1 19 |
5 1 |
|
2 18 |
4 3 |
|
3 6 |
1 0 |
|
1 13 |
9 3 |
|
0 12 |
6 0 |
|
2 9 |
9 2 |
|
1 13 |
9 3 |
|
H, 0 17 |
2 2 |
|
2 4 |
0 3 |
|
1 15 |
10 1 |
|
1 2 |
5 1 |
PAID
ii Book.]
AT THAT TIME,
arr's Ta
1.
Charles Sargent, 0
Wd. David Jewett, 0
David Been, 2
David Hills; 0
Dean Woodleth, 2
David Hall, Chester, 0
Edward Critchet, 1
Enoch Colby, 3
Enoch Colby, jun.. 0
Elisha Towle, 0
Ezekiel Knowles, 2
Edward Robie, Esq., 0
Ephraim Eaton, 3
Ebenezer Eaton, 2
Wd. Eliza'th Quimby, 1
Enoch Rowel, 0
Gilman Dudley, 0
Humphry Hook, 0
Henry Clark, 2
Henry Clark, jun., 0
John Sargent. Capt., 4
John Wiggens, 1
Jacob Sargent, 1
James Miller, 3
Jacob Bagley, 3
Jeremiah Quimby, 2
John Clifford, 1
Jacob Clifford, 1
Joseph Hqman, 1
«. d. f.
14 9 0 3 10 3 18 3 2 9 1
3 3 11 2
4 1
8 0
9 0 9 0 1 0 9 2 6 2
3 2
4 1
5 1 8 0
3 2
4 3 0 2
8 1
3 0
9 0
4 1
0 3
1 3
290 5 10 0 5 11 Q
145
|
Jeremiah Been, |
1. s. d. f. 1563 |
Col. Nath'l Emerson, |
1. ». d. f. 3 19 9 3 |
|
Ens. Jonath'n Been, |
6 15 10 0 |
Dea. Nath'l Burpee, |
2 12 11 2 |
|
Joseph Been, |
3 12 1 2 |
Nicholas Smith, |
1 18 1 1 |
|
Joshua Moore, |
3 17 7 3 |
Nicholas French, |
1 15 3 0 |
|
James Libbee, |
0 15 4 3 |
Nehemiah Brown, |
14 6 8 0 |
|
Isaac Rendal, |
1 15 0 2 |
Nathaniel Hall, |
0450 |
|
Joseph Palmer, |
1 5 11 0 |
Nath'l Burpee, jun., |
1071 |
|
John Robie, |
3232 |
Nathan Burpee, |
0 18 4 2 |
|
Israel Dolber, |
2 7 10 1 |
Obediah Smith, |
3 11 3 2 |
|
Jesse Eaton, |
11163 |
Oliver Smith, |
1 11 il 2 |
|
Dea. John Hills, |
2 10 4 3 |
Obcdedom Hall, |
4 12 6 6 |
|
James Eaton, |
1 11 6 3 |
Obediah Hall, |
0 0 11 2 |
|
Jon. Sargent, jun., |
4493 |
Paul Eaton, |
2 19 10 0 |
|
John Karr, |
3 15 1 1 |
Cap. Phin. Bachelder, |
1470 |
|
John Clay, |
4512 |
Peter Moor, |
2 0 11 3 |
|
Lt. Jacob Worthen. |
2650 |
Paul Jewett, |
0742 |
|
James McCluer, |
1960 |
Robert Willson, |
2480 |
|
Jonathan Brown, |
3513 |
Richard C lough, |
I 11 1 3 |
|
Jethro Hills, |
3642 |
Robert Smart, |
1690 |
|
Joseph Fyfield, |
41103 |
Richard Clifford, |
1 16 11 3 |
|
Jonathan Cammet, |
1 19 3 0 |
Reuben Been, |
1 16 16 2 |
|
Jonathan Hills, |
3 15 7 1 |
Robert Wason, |
1 10 5 2 |
|
Ens. Jona. Baggley, |
5561 |
Robert Patten, |
0 19 8 0 |
|
Wd. Jane Moor, |
2 11 02 |
Dea. Stephen Palmer. |
1 13 0 0 |
|
James Prescott, |
2 10 2 2 |
Sam!l Clough, |
2233 |
|
Jeremiah Burpee, |
1380 |
Sam'l Brown, |
2611 |
|
Isaiah Howe, |
3990 |
Sherbiirn Rowe, |
3 12 8 3 |
|
Jonathan Woodman, |
3401 |
Stephen Fyfield) |
3941 |
|
Jonathan Ring, |
2 10 0 2 |
Silas Cammet, |
1 16 10 2 |
|
John Prescott, |
1251 |
Sam'l Morrill, |
2 13 7 0 |
|
Jonathan Pilsbury, |
3711 |
Lt. Sam'l Buswell, |
2 6 11 0 |
|
John Lane, |
1 13 7 1 |
Simon French, |
9650 |
|
Jonathan Smith, |
1 11 8 0 |
Lt. Sam'l Towle, |
2650 |
|
John Cammet, |
1 6 10 1 |
Sam'l Dcarben, |
2 11 12 |
|
Jeremiah Towle, |
0 19 1 0 |
Sam'l Bagley, |
2080 |
|
James Kendalls, |
0 19 60 |
Stephen Clark, |
1251 |
|
Joseph Bean, jun., |
1 3 ll 3 |
Sam'l Colcord) |
3361 |
|
James Philbrook, |
0652 |
Sam'l Mooers, |
4962 |
|
John Morrison, |
3 8 10 0 |
Sam'l Worthen, |
1 18 1 1 |
|
John Colby, |
1623 |
Sam'l Been, |
0 19 8 0 |
|
Isaac Moss, |
0501 |
Stephen Palmer, |
1780 |
|
Jonathan Currier, |
0 19 4 2 |
Stephen Marden, |
0 15 5 2 |
|
John Clay,jun., Jonathan Brownrig, |
1640 0162 |
Tho's Dearbcn, Tho's Anderson, |
4 11 3 1 4 11 9 2 |
|
Joseph Fitts, |
0 16 32 |
Tho's Patten, |
5 7 11 3 |
|
Moses Baker, Esq., |
5852 |
Tho's Wason, |
2452 |
|
Morris H'dbbs, |
0 6 10 2 |
Tho's Critchet, |
1 10 1 2 |
|
Moses Sargent, |
3 15 32 |
Tho's Sargent, |
3692 |
|
Lt. Moses Dusten, |
1 6 10 1 |
Tho's Clough, |
3851 |
|
Moses French, |
1 10 8 3 |
Tho's Emery, |
1810 |
|
Wd. Miriuin Rowe, |
1240 |
Tho's Wilson, |
1780 |
|
Moses Buswell. |
1470 |
Tho's Sanborn, |
0792 |
|
Moses Emerson, |
2103 |
William Eaton. |
3 6 03 |
|
io |
146
HISTORY OF OANDIA.
William Clifford, Walter Robie, William Turner, William Eavens, William Andersoir,
i. d.-f.
8 19 2
9 10 2
4 0 6 0
0 18 5 1
William Willson, William Wormwood, William Severance, Zcbulon Winslow, Zachcriah Clifford,
i. >. .1. i, 0 17 8 3 0 15 5 3 0 15 11 3 1713 2362
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS1 AT EXETER.
Doct. Samuel Mooers, May 1775
Moses Baker, Dec. 1775
Dr. Samnel Mooers, 1776
Moses Baker, 1777
Walter Robie, Nathaniel Emerson, Ezekiel Knowles.
1780-81 1782 1783
UNDER THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
|
Abraham Fitts, |
1784 Peter Eaton, |
1820-21 |
|
|
Nathaniel Emerson, |
1785-86 |
Moses Bean, |
1822 |
|
Stephen Fifield, |
1787-88 |
John Lane, |
1823 to 28 |
|
Voted not to send, |
1789-90 |
Henry T. Eaton, |
1829 to 32 |
|
Nathaniel Emerson, |
1791-92 |
John Moore, |
1833-34 |
|
Samuel Morrill, |
J793-94 |
Benjamin Pillsbnry, |
1835' |
|
Nathaniel Emersoti, |
1794 to 98 |
Abraham Emerson, |
1836-37 |
|
Thomas Wilson, |
1798 to 1804 |
Gilman Richardson, |
1838-39 |
|
Jesse Eaton, |
1804-05 |
Joseph Richardson, |
1840 |
|
Richard Emerson, |
1806 |
Rufns E. Patten, |
1841-42 |
|
John Taylor, |
1807 |
James Smith, |
1843-44' |
|
Moses Fitts, |
1809-10 |
Jonathan Martin. |
1845-46 |
|
John Taylor, |
1811-12 |
Joseph C. Langford, |
1847-48 |
|
Samnel Anderson, |
1813 to 15 |
Austin Cass, |
1849 |
|
John Lane, |
1816 to 18 |
Rufns E. Patten, |
1850 |
|
Moses Bean, |
1819 |
Samuel Dudley. |
1851-52 |
The following names are found on record as having served at various times during the Revolution as committees of safety, inspection, the procuring of soldiers. &c., &c.
June 14th. Capt. Sargent,
Nathaniel Emerson, Isaiah Rowe,
Moses Baker, Lieut. Cass,
Dr. Samuel Mooers. Col. Emerson1,
April 3d, 1777. Walter Robie.. .
Caleb Brown, April 25th.
James Miller, Samuel Towle,
Lieut. Bachelder, Nathaniel Emerson,
Lieut. Towle, Thomas Dearborn.
Theophilus Sargent, May 19th.
Deac. Hills. Major Baker,
Jeremiah Bean. Walter Robie,
April 8th. Lieut. Fitts.
Abraham Fitts, Isaiah Rowe,
Moses Baker, Benjamin Cass
Jan. 3d, 1775. Walter Robie, Nathaniel Emers'on, Samnel M6oers; Benjamin Cass, Jacob Worthen. .
May llth. Moses Baker, Abraham Fitts, Walter Robie, Samuel Towle, Stephen Palmer, Nathaniel Emerson, Jacob Worthen.
APPENDIX.
14T
August 3, 1778, Committee to provide for destitute families of soldiers.
|
Walter Rohie, |
Walter Robie, |
John Hills, |
|
|
Jonathan Brown, |
Zebulon Winslow. |
John Clifford, |
|
|
John Lane. |
February 5th, 1781. |
Samuel Buswell, |
|
|
June 26th, 1780. |
John Carr, |
John Carr. |
|
|
Benjamin Cass, |
Walter Robie, |
Nov. llth. |
|
|
Lieut. Bagley, |
Jeremiah Bean, |
Abraham Fitts, |
|
|
Ensign Smith, |
David Bean. |
Samuel Buswell, |
|
|
Lieut. Towle, |
Edward Robie. |
John Lane, |
|
|
Joshua Moore, Capt. Sargent, |
February 19.£h. Samuel Moocrs, Walter Robie, Joshua Mopres, |
||
|
Lieut. Fitts. |
Zebnlon Winslow, j Zachcriah Cliffprd, |
||
|
July 10th. |
Joshua Moore. John CJiffprd. |
||
|
Jeremiah Bean, |
April 29th, 1 78.2. |
||
|
Silas Camrnct. |
Zacheriah Clifford, |
||
|
TOWN CLERKS. |
|||
|
yrs. |
vr.s. |
||
|
Sam'l Mpoer?, from 1763, 30 S. A. Sargent, from 1832, |
2 |
||
|
Sam'l Moocrs, jun., " 1793, 5 John Moore. 3d, ' 1834, |
2 |
||
|
Walter Rohie, " 1798, 8 tDr. Sam'l Sargent, ' 1836 |
4 |
||
|
*Richard Emerson, "1806, 8 mo JRufus E. Patten, ' 1840 |
— |
||
|
John Lane, from Oct. 1806, 14 Abraham Emerson, ' 1840, |
5 |
||
|
Peter Eaton, from 1820, 11 Josiah S. Shannon, ' 1845 |
•2 |
||
|
Frederick Fitts, " 1831, 1 Henry M. Eaton, since 1847. |
|||
|
SELECTMEN FROM 1764 TO 1850. |
|||
|
1764. |
Thcophilus Sargent, 1780. |
||
|
Benjamin Bachelder, |
Nathaniel Burpee. |
Nathaniel Emerson |
|
|
John Sargent, |
1772 to 75. |
Abraham Fitts, |
|
|
Jeremiah Bean. |
Moses Baker, |
John Lane. |
|
|
1765-66. |
Walter Robie, |
1781. |
|
|
Samuel Mooers, |
Abraham Fitts. |
Abraham Fitts, |
|
|
Jonathan Hills, |
1776. |
Nathaniel Emerson |
|
|
Moses Baker. |
Nathaniel Emerson, |
Benjamin Cass. |
|
|
1767T68. |
Walter Robie, |
1 782-83. |
|
|
Nathaniel Emerson, |
Moses Baker. |
Samuel Buswell, |
|
|
Abraham Fitts. |
1777. |
John Hills, |
|
|
tchabod Robie. |
Nathaniel Emerson, |
Ephraim Eaton. |
|
|
1769 |
William Baker, |
1784 to 87. |
|
|
Nathaniel Emerson, |
Thcophilus Clough. |
Ephraim Etiion, |
|
|
Ichabod Robie. |
1778. |
John Clifford. |
|
|
l)r. Samuel Mooers. |
Jonathan Brown, |
Samuel Mornll. |
|
|
1770. |
John Lanp, |
1788. |
|
|
Walter Robie, Abraham Fitts, |
Walter Robie, 1779. |
Jonathan Bagley, John Lane, |
|
|
Benjamin Cass. |
Nathaniel Emcrsqn, |
Abraham Fjtts. — |
|
|
1771. |
Abraham Fitts, |
1789 to 91. |
|
|
Moses Baker, |
Isaiah Rowc. |
John Lane, |
?And w«» iuceeed«l *i hu doalh by John I,»np. tRdigned Fell. 3, 1840. jU'iitil Mnrch, 1 month, by appointment .•( the Selectmen.
148
HISTORY OF C
|
Jonathan Brqwn, |
1809. |
Benjamin Pillsbury, |
|
Ephraim Eaton. |
Henry Eaton. |
Ezekicl Lane. |
|
1792 to 94. |
Moses Bean, |
1825. |
|
Ephraim Eaton, |
Moses Colby. |
Peter Eaton, |
|
Jonathan Brown, |
1810. |
Ezekiel Lane, |
|
Walter Robic. |
Henry Eaton, |
Benjamin Pillsbury. |
|
1795. |
Moses Bean, |
1826. |
|
Walter Robie, |
John Lane, jun. |
Ezekiel Lane, |
|
Ephraim Eaton, |
1811-12. |
Simon French, |
|
Thomas Wilson. |
John Lane, jun., |
tfaniel Fitts. , — |
|
1796. |
Benjamin Pillsbury, |
1827-28. |
|
John Clay, |
Jonathan C. French. |
Benjamin Pillsbnry, |
|
Abraham Fills, |
1813. |
Peter Eaton, |
|
Nathan Brown. |
John Lane, jun., |
Simon French. |
|
1797-98. |
Henry Eaton, |
1829-30. |
|
Walter Robie, |
Daniel Fitts. |
John Lane, |
|
Thomas Wilson, |
1814-15- |
Samuel Dudley, |
|
Jesse Eaton. |
John Lane, |
Francis Patten. |
|
1799. |
Daniel Fitts, |
1831. |
|
Jesse Eaton, |
Thomas Hobbs. |
John Lane, |
|
Thomas Wilson, |
1816. |
Samuel Dudley, |
|
John Lane. |
Jacob Libbee, |
Coffin M. French. |
|
1800-01. |
Peter Eaton. |
1832-33. |
|
John Lane, |
Jonathan Currier. |
Benjamin Pillsbury, |
|
Samuel Morrill, |
1817. |
Abraham Emerson, |
|
John Clay. |
Benjamin Pillsbury, |
Jonathan Martin. |
|
1802. |
Peter Eaton, |
1834. |
|
John Lane, |
Jonathan Currier. |
Benjamin Pillsbury, |
|
Walter Robie, |
1818. |
Dudley Bean. |
|
Mqses Fitts. |
Peter Eaton, |
James Smith. |
|
1803. |
Benjamin Pillsbury, |
1835. |
|
Daniel Fitts, |
Moses Bean. |
Dudley Bean, |
|
Jonathan Currier, |
1819. |
James Smith, |
|
Theqphilus Clough. |
Peter Eaton, |
B. P. Colby. |
|
1804. |
John Lane, |
1836. |
|
John Clay, |
Nathaniel Wheel. |
B. P. Colby, |
|
Jonathan Currier, |
1820. |
John Moore, |
|
Theophilus Clough. |
John Lane, |
Benjamin Hubbard. |
|
J805. |
Benjamin Pillsbury, |
1837. |
|
John Clay, |
Moses Bean. |
Benjamin Hubbard, |
|
John Lane, |
1821. |
Samuel Tuck, |
|
Henry Eaton. |
John Lane, |
Rufus E. Patten. |
|
1806. |
Nathaniel Wheel, |
1838-39. |
|
Joseph C. Smith, |
Jacob Libbee. |
Rufus E. Patten, |
|
Jonathan Currier, |
1822. |
Joseph Bean, |
|
Simon Ward. |
John Lane, |
Biley Smith. |
|
1807- |
Benjamin Pillsbnry. |
1840. |
|
Daniel Fitts, |
Nathaniel Wheel. |
John Moore, |
|
Henry Eaton, |
1823. |
Parker Hill. |
|
Joseph Hubbard. |
Peter Eaton. |
Leonard Dearborn. |
|
1808. |
Nathaniel Wheel. |
1841. |
|
Daniel Fitts, |
Benjamin Pillsbury. |
John Moore, |
|
Henry Eaton, |
1824. |
Leonard Dearborn, |
|
Theophilus Clough. |
Peter Eaton. |
Parker Hill. |
APPENDIX.
149
|
1842. |
John Prescott, Jan. |
Charles S. Emerson. |
|
John Moore, |
1846. |
Jesse R. Fitts. |
|
Abraham Emerson, |
Joseph C. Langfqrd, |
1849. |
|
penry M. Eaton. |
John Prescott. juq., |
Charles S. Emerson, |
|
1843-44. |
Elias P. Hubbard. |
Jesse R. Fitts, |
|
Henry M. Eaton, |
1847. |
Freeman Parker. |
|
Nehemiah Colby, |
John Prescott, |
1850. |
|
Jqiiathan Currier. |
Elias P. Hubbard, |
Nehemiah Colby, |
|
1845. |
Carr B. Haynes. |
jlenry S. Eaton, |
|
Abraham Emerson, |
1848. |
Stephen B. Fitts.J |
|
•Joseph C. Langford, |
Francis Patten, |
|
|
SCHOOL COMMITTEES. |
||
|
1816. |
John Lane, |
Samuel Sargent. |
|
Rev. Isaac Jones, |
Daniel Fitts, |
1841-42. |
|
Nathaniel Whect, |
John Wason, |
Isaiah Lane, |
|
Elijah Smith, |
David Harriman, |
Abraham Emerson, |
|
Daniel Fitts, |
Nathan Brown, |
Joseph Eastman. |
|
Moses Sargent, jun., |
Timothy Currier, |
1843. |
|
Cotton Ward, |
Samuel Cass, |
Isaiah Lane, |
|
Benjamin Pillsbury, |
Simon French, - |
Joseph Eastman, |
|
Joseph Hubbard, |
Moses Sargent. |
Rev. Wm. Murdbck. |
|
Moses Dearborn, |
1821. |
1844- |
|
Moses Bean, |
John Lane, |
Samuel Cass, |
|
Thomas Towle, |
Daniel Fitts. - |
Joseph Eastman, |
|
Jonathan Currier. |
1822 to 25. |
Rev. Wm. Murdock. |
|
1817. |
Rev. Abrh'm "Wheeler. |
1845. |
|
John Lane, |
1826. |
Francis Patten, |
|
Samuel Cass, |
Rev. Abrh'm Wheeler, |
Rev. Win. Murdock, |
|
William Robie, |
Isaiah Lane, |
K. R. Davis. |
|
Jqnathan Bean, |
Moses Bean. |
1846. |
|
Rev. Isaac Jones, |
1827 to 30. |
Rev. Win- Murdock, |
|
Elijah Smith, |
Francis Patten, |
Alfred M. Colby, |
|
- Daniel Fitts, |
Isaiah Lane, |
Edmund Hill. |
|
Moses Sargent, jun., |
Nathaniel Whcet, |
1847. |
|
Cotton Ward. |
John Moore. |
Francis Patten, |
|
Benjamin Pillsbury, |
1830-31, |
Edmund Hill, |
|
Moses Dearborn, |
Rev. Abrh'm Wheeler, |
Richard H. Page. |
|
Jonathan Currier. |
Isaiah Lane, |
1848. |
|
1818. |
John Moore, |
Abraham Emerson, |
|
Rev. Isaac Jones, |
Daniel Fitts. - |
Alfred M. Colby, |
|
Eld. Moses Bean. |
1832. |
Francis B. Eaton. |
|
1819. |
Eld. Jesse Meader, |
1849. |
|
Rev. Abrh'm Wheeler, |
John Moore, |
Alfred M. Colby, |
|
Daniel Fitts, |
Francis Patten. |
Francis Patten, |
|
Moses Bean, |
1833 to 37. |
Isaiah Lane. |
|
John Lane. jun. |
Francis Patten, |
1850. |
|
1820. |
Rufus E. Patten, |
Isaiah Lane, |
|
Rev. Abrh'm Wheeler. |
Alfred M. Colby. |
Alfred M. Colbj, |
|
Moses Bean, |
1837. |
John Moore. |
|
Benjamin Pillsbury, |
Rev. Chas. P. Russell, |
|
|
Anthony Langford, |
Eld. B. S. Mnnson, |
150 flfSTORV OF GANDIA.
The name of Frederick Parker, a graduate from Dartmouth Col- lege, in 1828, should have been inserted at its proper place, on pago 1 12. He was supposed by the writer, to have entered college from Bedford, N. II., of which place he was a native, and the mistake was not discovered until too late. He commenced the practice of law, and died in Bangor, Me., in 1834.
In Family Notices, page 53, under the name of Brown, Aaron, the names of his children were by accident omitted, and were as follows : Mercy, who lives at the house pf Capt. Jesse Eaton; Hannah, who married Samuel Cass. Esq. ; Shuah, who died soon after her marriage with David Norton ; Aaron, who married Abiel Brown and settled on the home farm.
Of the children of the Rev. Mr. Prince, Caleb settled in town and was tfeacon of the church for some years before removing to Port- land. He married Martha Moore; they had five children, viz : John, Joseph, Paleb, Sarah and Martha. Caleb is not living. The two other sons reside in Chelsea, and do business in Boston, Mass. Mar- tha married Mr. Eliphalet Webster, and lives in Portland, Me.
KINNECUM.
This name, put down qn the map of the town as Cunningham, on the evidence qf certain deeds of adjacent property, may be of Indian origin, The shape of the pond, as I think from personal ob- servation, was pnce long and narrow. Hence, the name invariably derived by the Indians, from the characteristics of the place. Quinne — signifying long, and asquam, or aguam — water. In compound words the prefix of the final syllable was dropped when necessary for eu- phony, giving Quinnequam or Quinneyuam, corrupted into Kinnecum, much nearer to the true name than is the usual fate of the Indian appellations among us. The meaning of this was ascertained since the map was finished, from Hon. C. E. POTTKR, who is probably better versed in Indian lore than any other man in the State.
APPENDIX. 151
PATTEN'S HILL.
A Very extensive view may be had from this hill, no less ihdn thir- teen meeting houses being visible. Among the hills which are said to be seen from here, by good eyes in a fair day may be nairied : — Powow, Breakfast hill in Eye, celebrated in Indian warfare ; Tucka- way and Saddleback, Agamcnticus in Maine ; Gunstock Mts. in Gil- ford ; the Cardigan hills, Rugged Mts., Kearsarge and Sunap'ee, Jo English, and the Uncanoonucs. The Grand Monadnock, and by the aid of a glass, Ascntney in Vt., and the silver summit of Mount Washington.
For quite a distance on the eastern horizon the line of the ocean is seen when lighted up by the rays of the sun. The smoke o'f the engine on the Portsmouth & Concord Railroad, is risible for mdrc than1 thirty miles on its route.
CONTENTS.
Page.
Early Settlers, ..;... 8
Incorporation, .10
House of Worship, . . . .17 CJall to Mr. Jcwett, .... 22 Preparations for War, ... 25 Mr. Jewett's dismission, . . 35 State Government, .... 36 Call to Mr. Remington, . . 40
Paje.
Burning of the Meeting House, 44
Notices of Ministers, . 107. 13'.?
Physicians, . . 110
Graduates, . 112, 150
Natives of Candia abroad, 114, 139
Walk about tdwn 115
Appendix, : j : . . . 137
INDEX OF FAMILY NOTICES.
.
Anderson, 51
Bean, 53
Brown, 53, 150
Burpee, 56
Buswell, 57
Carr, 58
Cass, 60
Clark 61
yi 63
earborn, 64
Dudley and Duncan, ... 65 ,
Dusten, 66
Eaton, 67
E;merson, 69
Fitts, .70
Page.
Foster, 78
Hall, 81
Hills and Hubbard. .... 82
Lane, 86
Marten, 88
McClure, 89
Moore, 91
Mooers and Palmer, ... 94
Patten, 95
Prince, 150
Howe, 99
Robie, 100
Sargent, 102
Smith, 103
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