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CONTENTS.
MEERIMACK COUNTY,
GENERAL HISTORY.
I. ORGANIZATION AND STATISTICAL 1
II. BENCH AND BAR 2
III. STATE-HOUSE 3
IV. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ASYLIM FOR THE INSANE 47
TOWN HISTORIES.
CONCORD 57
BOSCAWEN 160
BRADFORD ISA
CANTERBURY 221
CHICHESTER.". .^.._. ? 235
BANBURY 269
DUNBARTON. J^TTT"^ 29l
FRANKLIN 310
ANDOVER 328
HENNIKBR 340
HOOKSETT 361
HOPKINTON 391.
NEWBURY . .
NEW LONDON
LOUDON 477
NORTHFIELD 51B
HILL 647
PEMBROKE .
PITTSFlELD.
SALISBURY .
SUTTON . . .
WARNER. .
WEBSTER .-,-
WILMOT, . .
BELKISTAP COUNTY.
ORGANIZ.^TION OF COUNTY— BENCH AND BAR
TOWN HISTORIES.
.\LTON
BARNSTEAD
BELMONT
CENTRE HARBOR
GILFORD
APPENDIX
LACONlA ....
MEREDITH . . .
NEW HAMPTON
SANBORNTON . .
TILTON
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Abbot, J. Stephe;
Abbott, Williaiu.
Aiken, Walter ...
., 231
Ames, JasouH 212
Amsden, Charles H 168
Bailey, Oliver 308
Baker, Aaron W 2S6
Barnard, Daniel , 31
Bartlett, Levi 676
Batchelder, Joseph 610
Bean, Abraham 159
Bickford, H. C 441
Bickford, Nathan 476
Blanchard, Hiram 215
Carter, Solon A 44
Carpenter, Charles H 253
Childs, Horace 359
Cilley.J. M 418
CTough, Colonel D. M 234
Cogswell, Thomas, Sr 793
Cogswell, Thomas, Jr 807
Cogswell, P. B 89
Clongh, Bev. J 509
Coc, John 728
Cole, B. J 773
Conn, G. P 162
Connor, Abel 355
Couch, Enoch 694
Cummings, George A 156
-Crane, John S., residence of 781
Crane, J. S 780
Crockett, S. C 827
Daniell, Warren F 324
^ Davis, Curtis 219
Davis, Hon. Walter S 413
Deering, Major Arthur 260
Doe, Charles C 474
Downing, Lewis 140
Drake, Oliver 256
Durell, David 217
Durrell, Thomaa 806
Eaton, Joshua 211
Eaton, Frederick 651
Ela, Robert L 162e
Ela, Richard 162d
Ela, Joseph '. 865
KIh rieorge W 162b
PACE
Fife, Captain William 685
Fowler, Asa 15
Fowler, Winthrop 582
Fowler, TrueworthyL 682
Fowler, Winthrop, Jr 683
French, D. J 612
Gage, Converse 649
Gale, N. B 830
Gallinger, J. H 160
Gault, Hon. Jesse 389
George, Paul K 410
Gerriah, Enoch 158
Gilnian, James 808
Gillingham, Moody 419
Goss, William 470
Gutterson, John 358
Hall, Rev. K. S 777
Hall, Dr. A. B 542
Hart, George 216
Hartwell, H. H 167
Haynes, Martin \....i::. 779
Head, Nathaniel 385
Head, William F 388
Hill, James E 104
Benjamin
Hoitt, Thomas L 715
Holden, Daniel 154
Holmes, H 218
Howe, Calvin 152
Humphrey, Moses 101
Hunt, Lucian 540
Jewell, D. L 576
Keneson, Randall S 729
Kenrick, Stephen 321
Kimball, B. A 146
Kimball, John 144
Kimball, John P 233
Knight, Elijah 163
Knowltou, Hosea C 255
Knowles, William V 546
Ladd, Seneca .\ 858
Lang, Joseph W 862
Lane,Robert 647
Larabee, George H 581
Little, George P 580
Jjittle, George P., residence of ../. 668
Little, T.D .'. 623
Lovering, Samuel B 511
Map Outline Merrimack and Belknap Counties I
Marshall, Anson S .34
Marshall, John W 213
Maitin, Noah, M. D 408
vii
.1 .
ILLlSniATIONS.
HHItill Snniilil
Meserity 1U\ A B
Moore J C
Mooro McCuiiii 1
Moore felcj hen
Mornll U« id
Moree John W
Mors Jowph
Moulton Hon J >hii C
Moulton Jolin 11
Kesmitli Gtorgo w
New Himiwliire \"j1m
Norris, J b
Nutti r b S
Osgood \dUi(jon N
I'Hgo Lnoch
Peabod) Siilviin U
Pease Simeon D
Pembroke Vciilimy
Pbiltruk D M
Pillsburj Gt ipt \
Plumni r (ihrauii
Prescott D S
Piituej Truman
Rolft H iir> I
BjIHiik, Amos 1
Sanborn Ctipt \\ A
Saudi rs Gtorge Jr
Sand re O S Keti kn
SanduK O s lortr it
3.irgent J ( crett
Sarg< DI Mos e
"vargcnt >^terling 106
Sa»age MiyorGeorge D 708
Smj<r \ H 710
Shdw CharlesC 2.H
Siiiilair John G 714
«mil J James R RW
smith \ D 230
Smith Jeremiah 543
stark Viyor Caleb 302
state House 4(1 b
Stearns Onilow 138
Stevens Colonel E 863
Stevens, LjmanD 40a
Stinson Cai tain Charles 307
Stmson Jolin 306
Sullo a\ Honorable A. W 322
Tapiran Mason W 22
Thotr W F 92
Tilton W \anderH 890
liltoii C E 887
TruinUIl Edmund E 579
luttk Hon Hiram A 697
Will gh Judge Benjamin, Jr 643
W wll ij.h Frastus 644
Wall igh feneral John 857
\\ all or Joseph B.,
Wcbst r Daniel
ViuU Stephen
Wtntworth Joseph ..
White \-ithanii-I
\M ittinure Aaiim ..
Wiodiiili Edgar U..
W Hirl Frank K..
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Abbot, J. Stephens 142
Abbott, William 154
Aiken, Walter 326
All)in, John H 26
Alexander, Enoch 287
Ames, Lorenzo 231
Ames, Ja«on H 212
Amsden, Charles H 168
Bailey, Oliver 307
Baker, Aaron W 286
Barnard, Daniel 31
Bartlett, Levi 676
Bartlett, William H 10
Batcheldcr, Joseph 610
Bean, A 159
Bellows, Henry A 9
Bickford, Hezekiah C 441
Bickford, Nathan 475
Blanchard, Hiram 215
Brown, John 218
Carpenter, Charles H 253
Carter, Solon A 44
Childs, Horace 369
Cilley, James M 418
Clough, Col. David M 233
Clough, Rev. Jeremiah 609
Clough, Joseph 915
Cogswell, P.B 89
Cogswell, Thomas, Sr 793
Cogswell, Thomas, Jr 807
Coe,John 728
Cole, B. J 773
Conn, Granville P 162
Connor, Abel 355
Couch, Enoch 694
Crane, Johns 780
Crockett, Col. Seldon C 827
Cummings, George A 155
Currier Family, The 414d
Daniell, Warren F 324
Davis, Curtis 219
Davis, Walter S 413
Deering, Major Arthur 2tiO
Doe, Charles C 474
Downing, Lewis 140
Drake, Oliver 266
Durell, David 217
Durrell, Thomas 806
Eastman, Ira A 39
Eaton, Frederick 651
Eaton, Joshua 211
Ela, George W lU2b
Ela Joseph 865
Ela, Richard 162 d
Ela, Robert L 162e
Emerson, Benjamin 600
Evans, Bei^amin 675
Fife, Captain William 683
Fogg, George G 869
Foster, W. L 27
Fowler, Asa 15
Fowler, Truewoithy Ladd 681
Fowler, Winthrop 582
Fowler, Winthrop, Jr 683
French, DavidJ 612
Gage, Converse 649
Gale, Napoleon B 830
Gallingor, Jacob H 169
Gault, Hon. Jesse 389.^
George, John H 28
George, Paul R 410
Gerrish, Enoch 157
Gillingham, Moody 419
Gilman, James 867
Goss, William 470
Gutterson, John 368
Hall, Dr. A. B 542
Hall, Rev. K. S 777
Hart, George 216
Hartwell, Rev. Henry H 166
Haynes, Martin A 779 ^
Head, Governor Nathaniel 385
Head, William F 388
Hill, James R 103
Hodgson, Samuel 860
Hoitt, Thomas L 715
Holdcn, Daniel 163
Holmes, Rev. Hiram 218
Howe, Calvin 152
Humphrey, Moses 101
Hunt, Lucian 54C
Jewell, Col. David L 676
Jones, John F. (See Currier Family) 414 d
Keneson, Randall S 729
Kenrick, Stephen 321
Kimball, Benjamin A 146
Kimball, John 144
Kimball, J. P 233
Knight, Elijah 163
Knowles, W. F 546
BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAOE
Knowlton, H. C 255
Ladd, Seneca A 858
Lane, Dr. Robert M"
Lang, Joseph W 8G2
Larabee, George H 580
Little, ThoniM D 02a
Little, George P 580
Lovering, S. B 511
Marshall, Anson S 3*
Marshall, John W 213
Martin N 408
Martin, Samuel *69
Meservey, A. B 874
Moore, Joseph Cliffoni "83
Moore, McConnel 584
Moore, Stephen 513
Morrill, David 232
Motso, John W 209
Morse, Joseph 420
Moulton, JohnC 825
Moulton, Col. John H V27
KorriB, James S 161
Nesmith, George W 30
Nuttor, E. S 151
Osgood, Addison N .'583
Page, Enoch 048
Peahody, S. B 891
Peii», SimeonD 867
Pliilbrick, David Morrill 475
Pillsbury, George A 147
Pillsbury, Oliver 45
Pitman, Joseph P 831
Plummer, Ephraira 184
Prescott, David S., M.D 829
Putney, Truman 04G
Rolfe, Henry P 624
Rollins, Amos L 709
Sanborn, Capt. W. A 775
Sanders, George, Jr 473
Sanders, Orren Strong 471
Sargent, J. Everett 18
Sargent, Moses 782
Sargent, Major Sterling 106
Savage, George D 708
Saw-j-cr, Alonzo H 709
Shaw, C. C 254
Sinclair, John G 714
Smilh, Alpheus D - 231
Stark, Caleb 302
Stark, Caleb, Jr 308
Stearns, Onslow 138
Stevens, Lyman D 40
Stinson, Charles 307
Stinson, Col. John .30fi
Smiley, James R., M. D .^ — 650
Smith, Jeremi.ih 543
Stevens, Col. Ebeii./.] 863
Sulloway, Hon. A. W 322
Tappan, Mason W 22
Tenuey, Dr. R. P. .1 5US
Thayer, W. F 92
Tilton, Alexander II 890
Tilton, Charles E 887
Truesdell, E. E 579
Tuttli-, Ilinm A 597
Upl.i.in. \ ,:l ,,::.:.; 5
Wii.ll. I J. r. ' u B-u
Wadl.i-li. i:n,.tu 044
Wadlcigli F.iniily, Tli..- CIS
Wadleigh, General John 8.57
Walker, Joseph B 33
Walker, Rev. Timothy 2
Walker, Hon. Timothy 05
Webster, Daniel 9
Weelts, Stephen 509
Wentworth, Joseph 157
White, Nathaniel 136
Whittemore, Aaron , 585
Woodman, Edgar H 40
Woodward, F. B 558
HISTORY
MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
CHAPTEK I.
ORGANIZATION AND STATISTICAL.
BY DANIEL F. SECOMB.
Merrimack Couxty was formed, in 1.S2;'., from
towns in the northerly parts of Hillsborough and
Rockingham Counties, to which have since been
added towns from Grafton County and a portion of
Sanbornton, in Strafford County, and it now contains
portions of four of the five counties into which the
province was divided in 1769.
It is now the second county in the State in popu-
lation, and the third in the valuation of taxable prop-
erty. Its i)opulation, as given in the United States
census, has been as follows : In 1830, 34,614 ; 1840,
36,253; 1850, 40,337; 1860, 41,408; 1870, 42,151; 1880,
46,300. It includes the city of Concord and twenty-
six towns, as follows :
AUeiistown, taken from Rockingham County in
1823; incorporated, 1831; population in 1830, 483;
in 1880, 1708.
Andover, from Hillsborough County, 1823 ; first
known as New Breton ; incorporated, 1779 ; popula-
tion, 1830, 1324; 1880,1204.
Bradford, from Hillsborough County, 1823; first
known as New Bradford; incorporated, 1787; popu-
lation, 18.30, 1285 ; 1880, 950.
Boscawen, from Hillsborough County, 1823; for-
merly called Contoocook ; incorporated, 1760 ; popu-
lation, 1830, 2093 ; 1880, 1380.
Bow, from Rockingham County, 1823 ; chartered,
1727; population, 1830, 1065; 1880, 734.
Canterbury, from Rockingham County, 1823 ; char-
tered, 1727 ; population, 1830, 1663 ; 1880, 10.34.
Chichester, from Rockingham County, 1823; char-
tered, 1727 ; population, 1830, 1084 ; 1880, 784.
Concord, from Rockingham County, 1823 ; incor-
porated, 1765 ; formerly known as Penacook and
Rumford; adopted a city charter, 1853; population,
1830, 3727 ; 1880, 13,845."
Danbury, from Grafton County, 1874; incorporated,
1795; population, 1830, 785; 1880, 760.
Dunbarton, from Hillsborough County, 1823 ; in-
corporated, 1765 ; formerly called Starkstown ; pop-
ulation, 18.30, 1067 ; 1880, 708.
Epsom, from Rockingham County, 1823 ; chartered,
1727; population, 1830, 1418; 1880, 909.
Franklin, from parts of Andover, Northfield and
Salisbury, in Merrimack County, and Sanbornton, in
Strafford County ; incorporated, 1828 ; population,
1830, 1870 ; 1880, 3265.
Henniker, from Hillsborough County, 1823 ; incor-
porated, 1768 ; population, 1830, 1725 ; 1880, 1326.
Hill, from Grafton County, 1868 ; incorporated,
1778; formerly called New Chester; name changed,
1836; population, 1830, 1090; 1880, 667.
HooJcsett, from Hillsborough County, 1823; incor-
porated, 1822, and included parts of Goffstown and
Dunbarton, in Hillsborough County, and Chester, in
Rockingham; population, 1830, 880; 1880, 1766.
Hopkinton, from Hillsborough County, 1823; incor-
porated, 1765 ; formerly called New Hopkinton ; pop-
ulation, 1830, 2474; 1880, 1836.
London, from Rockingham County, 1823; incorpo-
rated, 1773; was originally a part of Canterbury;
population, 1830, 1642; 1880, 1221.
Newbury, from Hillsborough County, 1823 ; incor-
porated, 1778; formerly known as Fishersfield; name
changed, 1836; population, 1830, 798; 1880, 590.
New London, from Hillsborough County, 1823; in-
corporated, 1779; formerly called Dantzic; popula-
tion, 1830, 913 ; 1880, 875.
Northfield, from Rockingham County, 1823 ; incor-
porated, 1780 ; was originally a part of Canterbury ;
population, 1830, 1169; 1880, 918.
Pembroke, from Rockingham County, 1823 ; incor-
porated, 1759 ; formerly called Suncook, and granted
by the General Court qf Massachusetts, in 1727, to
Captain John Lovewell and his associates in the fight
at Lovewell's Pond in 1725; population, 1830, 1312;
1880, 2797.
1
/
Ill.STOKY OF MERllIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Pittsfield, from Rockingham County, 1823; incor-
porated, 1782 ; formerly a ])art of Chichester ; pop-
ulation, 1830, 1271 ; 1880, 1974.
.SalUbiiri/, from Hillsborough County, 1823 ; incor-
porated, 17G8; formerly known as Stevenstown ; pop-
ulation, 1830, 1379 ; 1880, 795.
,Su(ton, from Hillsborough County, 1823 ; incorpor-
ated, 1784; formerly called Perrystown ; population,
1830,1424; 1880,923.
Warner, from Hillsborough County, 1823; incor-
porated, 1774; formerly known as New Almsbury
and Jennistown, and includes what was formerly
called Kearsarge Gore ; population, 1830, 2221 ; 1880,
1537.
Webster, formerly West Boscawen, taken from Bos-
cawen, 1860; population, 1870, 689; 1880, 647.
Wi/mot, from Hillsborough County, 1823; incor-
porated, 1807 ; formerly called Kearsarge ; popula-
tion, 1830, 934; 1880, 1080.
Of the 46,300 inhabitants of the county in 1880,
46,133 were whites, 158 colored, 1 Chinese and 8
Indians ; 40,521 were natives of the United States,
and 5779 of foreign birth; 34,808 were natives of
New Hampshire, and 5713 of other States; 5116
males and 5075 females were from five to eighteen
years of age ; 14,286 males were above twenty-one
years of age ; 9380 males were between the ages of
eighteen and forty-five years, and one-half of the
entire pdimlatioii was abiive twenty-six years of age.
Agricultural Statistics of Merrimack County,
from the Uuiteil States census of ISSO, were as fol-
lows: Number of tarms, June 1, 1880, 4334; number
of acres of improved land, 305,282 ; value of farms,
buildings and fences, $11,392.721 ; value of farm im-
[)loments and machines, $426,083 ; estimated value
of farm products for the year 1879-80, $1,878,149.
Live stock and some of its products for the year end-
ing June 1, 1880 : Horses, 5998; working oxen, 4121 ;
milch cows, 1 1,800 ; other cattle, 17,296 ; sheep, 27,756 ;
swine, 8138. Gallons of milk produced, 586,662;
pounds of butter made, 908,728 ; pounds of cheese
made, 190,809. Vegetable products, 1879: Barley,
6279 bushels; buckwheat, 2976 bushels; Indian
corn, 229,877 bushels ; oats, 7503 bushels ; rye, 4932
bushels; wheat, 25,403 bushels; hay, 75,713 tons;
hops, 3219 lbs.; Irish potatoes, 375,653 bushels.
Oi-rluird products valued at $117,382.
Manufacturing Statistics. — Number of manufac-
turing c^liiblisliiucnts, June 1, 1880,449; males above
sixtr, II vcai>Ml a,i;e employed, 3580; females, 1477;
clnMivn :in,l > ,,utli, 628.
Of the population of the county in 1880, there
were 22,751 males and 23,549 females ; 40,521 were na-
tives of the United States, and 5779 of foreign birth;
5116 males and 5075 females were from 5 to 18 years
of age, 9380 males were bet^veen 18 and 40 years of
age, and 14,286 males were 21 years of iige and
above, and one-half of the whole population was over
26 years of age.
Capital invested, $6,089,215; value of materials
used, $4,974,224 ; value of products, $8,742,560.
VAI-IATIOX ASD TAXATION.
Valuation of the county, April 1, 1879 $24,882,580
Valuation of real estate 18,522,356
Valuation of personal property 6,300,194
State tax asBessed 568,552
County tax assessed 78,000
City, towu and school taxes 257,873
Whole amount of taxes 393,925
Total $50,169,025
Indebtedness of the county, city, towns and school districts in the
count}', June 1, 1880.
Bonded debt $956,400
Floating debt 158,602
Aggregate debt $1,116,002
Number of poBt-ofBces in the county July 1, 1883, GO ; compensation
of postmasters the preceding year, $18,515.94.
CHAPTER II.
BENCH AND BAR.
The first term of the Superior Court of Judicature
in Merrimack County was held in Concord in January,
1824. This was the first time that Concord had
enjoyed the presence of a duly established court of
law. The members of the bar of the county at this
term convened and were duly organized as the Merri-
mack County bar, and during one of the first evenings
of the session a bar supper was celebrated at the inn
of J. P. Gass, which was located near the present site
of Sanborn's block, on Main Street. The venerable
George W. Nesmith, of Franklin, is the only surviving
member of those present on that occasion.
Peter Green, son of Nathaniel Green, was one
of the earliest lawyers in the State. He was born in
Worcester, Mass., 1746 ; opened an office in Concord,
1767. He was chosen State councilor in 1788 and 1789.
He died March 27, 1798, aged fifty-two.
Hon. Timothy Walker was the only son of
Rev. Timothy Walker, and was born upon the
paternal fiirm in Rumford, June 27, 1737. He is
said, when a boy, to have been a great favorite of
the Indians living in the vicinity. Entertaining
a deep reverence and affection for his father, they
naturally inclined to him, and, as tradition says,
were wont to take him on visits to their wigwams,
assuring his mother, who did not altogether relish such
civilities, that " Indians no hurt minister's pappoose."
This promise was never broken, and he was always
returned in safety, although oftentimes modified much
in appearance, from the Indians having painted his
face in glowing colors, and garlanded his head with
gaudy feathers.
His father gave early attention to his education, and
sent him, when fifteen years of age, to Harvard Col-
lege. He remained there during the regular course
and graduated in 1756. The two years ensuing he
spent in teaching school .at Bradford, Mass. Upon
BENCH AND BAK.
leaving Bradford, having in the mean time chosen the-
ology as his profession, he commenced a course of
study and pursued it most probably with his father.
Having completed his theological studies, he was ex-
amined at the association meeting in Haverhill, Mass.,
and licensed to preach September 11, 1759.
Mr. Walker was never a settled pastor, but preached
occasionally for about six years. During the last ab-
sence of his father in England, in 1762-63, he sup-
plied his jmlpit in Kumford. He preached many
times from 1761 to 1764 in Kludge, where he received
a call to settle, which he declined. In the summer of
1765 he preached six Sabbaths at Pigwacket (now
Fryeburg), Ble., which seems to have been about the
last of his preaching, soon after which he relinquished
the profession of the ministry.
From his diary it appears that on the 25th of No-
\ember, 1765, he concluded a partnership agreement
with Colonel Andrew McMillan, and engaged with
him in trade in Eumford, in the southerly part of the
village. They continued in business together but for
a single year. Soon after their separation Mr. Walker
opened a store near the residence of his father, and
there continued his mercantile pursuits until about
the beginning of the Revolution. During this period
he was also engaged in the manufacture of potash,
which was disposed of in the lower towns of the prov-
ince. Some portions of the works erected for this
purpose remained until within a recent period, the
well, stoned up from the bottom, being in good condi-
tion to-day.
Mr. Walker was married, some time previous to
1764, to his cousin, Susannah Burbeen, daughter of
Rev. Joseph Burbeen, of Woburn, Mass., who died in
Concord, September 28, 1828, at the age of eighty-two.
They had fourteen children, ten of whom lived to
mature life.
Upon the commencement of hostilities with Great
Britain, Mr. Walker, like his father, warmly espoused
the patriot cause, and seconded with zeal the meas-
ures adopted for the security of American liberty.
His whole time seems now to have been devoted to
tlie service of his country. The town of Concord
chose him a delegate to the Fourth Provincial Con-
gress, which assembled at Exeter, on the 17th of May,
1775, and he took an active interest in the very im-
portant measures which came before that body.
On the 20th of May he was appointed a member of
the Committee of Supplies, constituted to act in con-
junction with the Committee of Safety, and procure
supplies for the New Hampshire troops, at this time
in the vicinity of Boston. On the 20th of August he,
with Ichabod Rawlings, Esq., was sent to the army to
ascertain the losses sustained at the battle of Bunker
Hill by each of the officers and soldiers of the New
Hampshire forces, and in behalf of the province to
make them compensation, as well as to secure to them
supplies and advance a month's pay to such as had
enlisted in the Continental service. The action of
the Provincial Congress upon the report subsequently
made of their doings aflbrds evidence that those du-
ties were performed to their acceptance.
About the 1st of September of this year the New
Hampshire Congress passed an act creating four reg-
iments of Miuute-Men equal in number to about one-
fourth part of the then existing militia of the province.
These were to meet to drill once in every two weeks,
and to be ready for service at a moment's warning.
Mr. Walker was commissioned colonel of the Third
Regiment September 5, 1775, and exerted himself to
train and fit for duty the forces under his command.
From the 4th to the 16th of October we find him
acting as paymaster of the New Hampshire troops at
Winter Hill, commanded by Colonels Stark, Poor and
Reid, and again, on the 27th of December, he was
appointed by the Fifth Provincial Congress paymas-
ter of the same forces.
The Fifth Provincial Congress was succeeded, Jan-
uary 6, 1776, by the first House of Representatives,
organized under the temporary constitution and com-
posed of the same members. Its journal shows
Colonel Walker to have been one of the committee of
three appointed by the House "to make a draft of the
declaration of this General Assembly for independ-
ence of the United Colonies." The committee re-
ported a draft June 15, 1776, which was at once
adopted and a copy of it sent to the Continental Con-
gress, then in session at Philadelphia.
At a date not long subsequent to this event Colonel
Walker was made one of the committee to devise a
systematic plan of finance, by means of which the
payment of the debts of the State might be provided
for and funds raised for present and future purposes.
When, on the 14th of March, 1776, the Continental
Congress sent out the Association Test, to be signed by
all friendly to the patriot cause. Colonel Walker most
cheerfully signed the copy sent to Concord, and it was
through his influence, in part at least, that, of the one
hundred and fifty-six to whom it was presented for
signature in that town, not one declined subscribing
to it his name.
Colonel Walker was this year a member of the
Committee of Safety and served in that capacity until
the 20th of June, 1776. During the next three years
—viz., from December 18, 1776, to December 15, 1779
— he was a member of the Council, associated with
Meshech Weare, Josiah Bartlett, Nicholas Gilman
and others of like character, — men of the purest pa-
triotism, whose names New Hampshire will ever cher-
ish. On the 26th of March, 1777, he was chosen by
the Legislaturea delegate to the Continental Congress,
and again, at three subsequent times, in 1778, 1782
and 1784, but it is not certain that he ever attended.
He was sent from Concord a delegate to each of the
New Hampshire Constitutional Conventions of 1778
and 1781, and also to that of 1791, to revise the con-
stitution.
In 1777 he retired from the more stirring scenes
HISTORl' OF MERRIMACK COUiVTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
connected with the war, and accepted the office of a
justice of the Court of Common Pleas, which he con-
tinued to liold until 1809, being for the last five years
a chief justice. The courts were held alternately at
Exeter and Portsmouth, and Judge Walker made his
journeys to and from those places on horseback.
Upon the organization of the Republican party in
New Hampshire, in 1798, Judge Walker was selected
for its fii-st candidate for Governor, and was run against
John Taylor Oilman, who had already been the in-
cumbent of the office in previous years, and was one
of the strongest men of the Federal party, at that time
in large majority throughout the State. Governor
Gilraan was the successful candidate, receiving nine
thousand three hundred and ninety-seven votes out of
the whole number of twelve thousand one hundred
and fifty-three thrown, and Judge Walker seven hun-
dred and thirty-four. Twice afterwards — viz., in 1800
and 1801— he was the Republican candidate for Gov-
ernor, receiving the former year six thousand and
thirty-nine, and the latter five thousand two hundred
and forty-nine votes, the whole number of votes cast
being between sixteen thousand and seventeen thou-
sand.
Although mingling largely in State affiiirs, Mr.
Walker did not withhold himself from a participation
in the management of the more limited business of
his native town. In this sphere he was also promi-
nent. He was moderator of the annual town-meeting
in 1779 and every year.afterwards, with the excep-
tion of ten, until 1809, serving in that capacity no
less than twenty-one years. He was also town clerk
from 1769 up to and including 1777, and one of the
selectmen of the town for tweuty-five years between
1769 and 1802, beiug chairman of the board every
year during this period except four.
He ever took a lively interest in everything tending
to advance the prosperity of Concord. Being a rep-
resentative to the Legislature, which was holden at
Exeter in 1781, and finding some dissatisfaction among
the members relative to accommodations furnished
there, he proposed to them that ifthey would adjourn
to meet at Concord, they should be as well served
and at one-half of the expense. The proposal was
accepted, and upon his return home he informed his
townsmen of the manner in which he had committed
them, and they at once pledged themselves to make
good his engagement to the best of their several abil-
ities. The next year the Legislature assembled in
Concord for the first time, meeting first at the meet-
ing-house, but adjourning, immediately after coming
together, to a hall prepared for them in a building
now standing near the southwest corner of Main and
Penacook Streets.
In 1798 we find him greatly interested in the im-
provement of the sacred music of the town, and the
records of the Concord Musical Association show
him to have been its first i)resident. Indeed, Judge
Walker seems to have been intimately connected with
most of the Concord enterprises of his day. He was
one of the original proprietors of Federal bridge,
which was incorporated in 1795, and crossed the Mer-
rimac at East Concord village. Three years after, he
became one of the members of " The Proprietors of
the Concord Library."
In 1806 the Concord Bank was incorporated by the
Legislature, and irreconcilable differences of opinion
arising at the meeting of the grantees for organiza-
tion, two banks with different officers, but bearing the
same name, were organized under the same charter, —
one located at the north end and the other at the
southerly end of Main Street. Each did a successful
business for twenty years, at the expiration of which
period they were organized under separate charters.
Of the upper bank Judge Walker was the first presi-
dent, and continued for several years. Upon most, or
all, of the old subscription papers for procuring money
for local purposes, which have been preserved, his name
stands prominent, evincing his constant interest in
the public enterprises of his native town.
In 1774, largely through his influence and effi)rts,
a township of land upon the Androscoggin River, in
Maine, was granted by the General Court of Massa-
chusetts to the proprietors of Concord or their de-
scendants, to indemnify them, in part, for expenses
and losses incurred in consequence of the long con-
troversy with the alleged proprietors of Bow. This
grant affi)rded good lands upon favorable terms to the
children of the original settlers of Concord, and many
emigrated to that locality and established the present
town of Rumford. Of these lands Judge Walker
eventually became a large proprietor and afforded
substantial aid to many young fiimilies of limited
means in establishing themselves in life. Some of these
lands descended to hLs children and to his children's
children, while some are still held by his great-grand-
children, who are to-day among the prosperous fann-
ers of Rumford.
Notwithstanding his multitudinous avocations of a
more or less public character, Judge Walker always
kept and managed with care the large farm left him
by his father. He increased, rather than diminished,
its original area. Situated, as this was, upon the
very edge of the village, it afforded him a convenient
residence, and at the plain mansion which sheltered
him and his family he dispensed, for a long series of
years, a plain hospitality to multitudes of friends
and acquaintances who sought his society.
" My son, you must not pull down the old barn in
my day," he said, on one occasion, to his youngest
son and successor upon the farm. " You can build
as many new ones as you like. That was Parson
Walker's barn ; it has never failed to afford shelter
and feed to the horse of the visitor who has knocked
at our door ; let it stand as long as I last." And a
new barn went up, but "Parson Walker's barn" re-
mained standing until the worthy judge had rested
from his labors a half-score of years and more.
BENCH AND BAR.
In person, Judge Walker was of medium size,
being about five feet ten inches in height and having
rounded and well-developed limbs. In later life he
was a little inclined to fulness. He hud a placid,
oi>eii countenance, a nose somewhat prominent and a
full, blue eye. His walk was erect and his bearing
dignified. He possessed an active, vigorous mind
and a well-balanced judgment. He had keen per-
ceptive faculties, which, aided by the experience
gained by long intercourse with men, enabled him to
form quickly correct opinions of the characters and
motives of those with whom he came in contact.
While cautious, he was yet of a sanguine tempera-
niCMit ; hopeful, also, when others despaired, and
rarely given to despondency. He had a cheerful dis-
position; he was reasonable in his expectations and
charitable in his judgments. Careful in the choice
of his plans, as well as patient in their execution, he
was generally successful. Democratic and affable, he
was on familiar terms with all about him. Rejoicing
in the welfare of his townsmen, he was ever ready to
do them kind services. He manifested a particular
interest in the young men of the town, and not a few,
just starting in life, received from him counsel or en-
couragement or pecuniary aid, which assisted them
greatly in overcoming first obstacles and nerved
them to exertions which secured the foundations of
future prosperity.
When at length old age came upon him, he met it
cheerfully and manfully. For several years previous
to 1822 he had been somewhat infirm, but still en-
joyed life in a good degree. His children were pros-
perously and respectably settled in their different
avocations, a part of them near about him. He had
frequent evidence of the respect entertained for him
by his fellow-citizens ; he had an inward conscious-
ness of having done what he could to be useful in his
day and generation ; he hart entire confidence in the re-
velations of the Sacred Sniplur.s and an humble hope
that the infinite atoncnnni nf tln' Son of God might
attach to him. On the -"itli of .Miiy, 1822, in the bosom
of his family, he died, a virtuous and a happy old
man, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. Truly,
'■ The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in
the way of righteousness."
Edward St. Loe Livermore, son of Hon. Samuel
Livermore, born in Londonderry, 1761, entered upon
his profession in Concord, 1783 ; solicitor for Rock-
ingham County, 1791-93 ; judge in the Superior
Court of Judicature, 1797-99; then resided at Ports-
mouth. He was also member of Congress from
Slassachusetts. He was the father of the celebrated
Harriet Livermore, born in Concord April 14, 1788.
He died at Tewksbury, Mass., September 15, 1832,
aged seventy-one.
Thomas W. Thompsox, son of Deacon Thomas
Thompson, of Boston, born March 10, 1766 ; graduated
at Harvard University, 1786; was tutor in college,
1789 ; aid to General Lincohi at the time of " Shav's
Rebellion ; " commenced the practice of law at Salis-
bury, 1791 ; representative from that town in the State
Legislature ; chosen representative to Congress, 1805-
07 ; in 1810 treasurer of the State, when he moved
to Concord ; speaker of the House in the State
Legislature, 1813 and 1814; Senator in Congress,
1814-17 ; elected trustee of Dartmouth College in
1801, which office he held till his death. Mr. Thomp-
son was an accomplished gentlemsin, distinguished for
the dignity and urbanity of his manners, for integrity
and piety. He held the office of deacon in the First
Church in Concord from 1818 till his death. He died
of pulmonary consumption, October 10, 1821, aged
fifty-five years.
Arthur Livermore, judge, brother of Edward
St. Loe Livermore, opened an office in Concord in
1792 ; soon moved to Chester, thence to Holderness.
He died July, 1853, aged eighty-seven years.
Samuel Green, judge, son of Nathaniel Green,
born March 7, 1770, read law in the office of his
brother, Peter Green, Esq. ; commenced practice in
Concord, 1793 ; associate justice of the Superior
Court from 1819 to 1840, when he retired on account
of the constitutional limit of age. He was then ap-
pointed to a clerkship at Washington, where he con-
tinued till his death, March, 1851, aged eighty-one
years.
Philip Carrigain, son of Dr. Philip Carrigain, was
born in Concord in 1772, and graduated at Dartmouth
College in 1794 ; studied law with Arthur Livermore,
Esq., and settled in practice in his native town. He
was Secretary of State, clerk of the Senate and was
often employed in public business. He died March
15, 1842, aged seventy years.
Moody Kent, son of Joseph Kent, was born in
Newbury, Mass., May 22, 1779; graduated at II:uvai-.l
College, 1801 ; admitted to the bar in 1804 ; pra.ticr.l
in Deerfield nearly five years; came to Couidnl in
September, 1809, where he remained in practice till
1832, when he withdrew from business.
Isaac Gates, graduated at Harvard College, 1802 ;
was in Concord a short time in 1814; died in Harvard,
Mass., in November, 1852.
Lyman B. Walker, from Gilford, while Attorney-
General of the State, from 1843 to — , resided in Con-
cord.
Samuel Fletcher, born in Plymouth, July 31,
1785; graduated at Dartmouth College, 1810; opened
an office in Concord, 1815 ; trustee of Darmouth Col-
lege; trustee and treasurer of Phillips Academy and
Theological Seminary, at Andover, from 1841 to 1850.
Nathaniel Gookin Upham was born in Deer-
field, N. H., .lanuary 8, 1801. His parents removed
to Rochester the following year. He pursued his
studies {preparatory to college at Exeter Academy;
entered Dartmouth in 1816 ; was a faithful student,
and graduated with honor in 1820.
Immediately after his graduation, Mr. Upham com-
menced the study of law. After being admitted to
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
the bar, he practiced his profession in Bristol until
1829, when he removed to Concord.
Four years later Mr. Upham was appointed one of
the associate justices of the Superior Court of New
Hampshire. This honor was the more complimentary
a-s he was only thirty-two years of age. With the
single exception of Hon. Levi Woodbury, he was the
youngest man who had been placed upon the bench
of New Hampshire. He discharged with faithfulness
and ability the duties devolving upon him until 1848,
when he resigned and was appointed superintendent
of the Concord Railroad. Some years later, the
business of the road liaving greatly increased, he
relinquished the superintendency and was made
president. In the management of its affairs for
twenty-three years he used great wisdom and judg-
ment, giving to it liis best thoughts, his legal know-
ledge and experience, ever planning wisely and suc-
cessfully for the enlargement of its business, with
remarkable prudence, foresight and perseverance.
He held the office of president till 1866, when his
connection with the railroad ceased.
In 1853, Judge Upham was appointed commissioner,
on the part of the government of the United States,
to confer with a similar commissioner appointed by
the English government, and to decide upon certain
claims brought by citizens of either country against
the government of the other. These claims had been
growing in number and amount for forty years. This
commission met in London in September, 1853, Ed-
mund Hornby, Esq., acting on the part of Great
Britain. They considered all claims presented, pro-
nouncing upon each a deliberate and final judgment,
and in accordance with these decisions the claims
were paid by the respective governments, amounting
in the aggregate to many millions of dollars.
In 1862, Judge Upham was called to act in a similar
service, that of umpire in the commission appointed
by government for the .settlement of claims between
the United SijI.s mimI \ew Granada.
In politir^ .lihl'jr I pliain was a Democrat for many
years. Tliouj;h duel Jed in his political principles, he
was not a politician. His influence was exercised
rather by private suggestions and the weight of his
general character.
In 1850 he was chairman of the business committee
of the convention called to amend the Constitution
of New Hampshire.
In 1865 and 1866 he was a member of the Legisla-
ture, and earnest in advocating the proposed amend-
ment of the National Constitution. He was also at
this time chairman of the committee to remodel the
State-House.
In the struggle between the North and the South
Judge Upham took an open and decided stand at
once on the side of the government, in the exercise
of all the influence he could exert, by addresses
delivered on public occasions, as well as by letters
and essays published in the leading newspapers. He
accepted heartily the emancipation proclamation,
both as to its expediency and constitutionality as a
war measure.
There was in Judge Upham, beneath all the busi-
ness and professional life, a strong literary taste.
He wrote with ease, and wrote much. His style was
clear and forcible, at times eloquent, and many valua-
ble articles from his pen were published.
For more than forty years he resided in Concord,
and his name is associated with the growth and pros-
perity of the city. He was interested in all wise
measures for the public good, and his was a leading
mind in devising methods of improvement, and very
etticient in carrying them into effect. His fellow-
citizens learned to place great confidence in his
judgment, acknowledging his prudence and foresight,
knowing that his opinions were given after a careful
consideration of the subject. He was a man of up-
rightness, true to his engagements, faithful to every
contract, doing what he regarded as right in the sight
of God and man. He was a leading member of the
South Congregational Church from its organization,
and did much for its stability and prosperity.
Judge Upham was twice married, first to Miss
Betsy W. Lord, of Kennebunkport, Me. She died
in Concord, August 17, 1833, leaving two children,
both of whom survive, — Eev. Nathaniel L. Upham, of
Philadelphia, and Mrs. Joseph B. Walker, of Concord.
His second wife was Miss Eliza W. Burnham, of Pem-
broke. The children of this marriage are not living.
An infant daughter died in 1844, and Mr. Francis A.
Upham, April 3, 1867, aged twenty-nine years. Mrs.
E. W. Upham died April 14, 1882.
" But the ihost honored life must come to a close."
Never a strong or robust man, yet with prudence anil
care he was ever able to perform well the duties of the
hour. A few days' illness terminated a useful life,
and Nathaniel Gookin Upham died December 11,
1869, aged sixty-nine.
Stephen C. Badgee, a native of Warner, born
April 12, 1797 ; graduated at Dartmouth College, 1823 ;
admitted to the bar, 1826 ; came to Concord from
New London, 1833 ; was clerk of the courts of Merri-
mack County from 1834 to 1846 ; police magistrate
several years previous to the adoption of the city
charter.
David Pillsbi-ry, born in Raymond, whence his
father soon removed to Candia ; a graduate of Dart-
mouth College, 1827; practiced law in Chester from
1830 to 1854, when he opened an office in Concord.
Several years was a major-general in the New Hamp-
shire militia.
Hamiltox Hutchins, A.m., son of the late Abel
Hutchins, born July 10, 1805; graduated at Dart-
mouth College, 1827; admitted to the bar in Concord,
1880; was highly esteemed for his amiable temper
and liciillniianly manners.
(!i"i;^,i Mix.n-, born in Bristol; graduated at
Darliiioutli < nil, -e, 1828; admitted to the bar, 1881 ;
BENCH AND BAK.
practiced in his profession at Gilmanton, Bristol and
Concord. He was cashier of the Mechanics' Bank in
Concord.
Calvin Ainsvvorth, a native of Littleton, born
August 22, 1807 ; admitted to the bar, 1835 ; came to
Concord from Littleton, 1843 ; register of probate for
Merrick County five years, and first police justice of
the city of Concord, 1853.
Ephraim Eaton, a native of Candia ; graduated at
Dartmouth College, 1833 ; studied law with Samuel
Fletcher, Esq., and opened an office in Concord, 1837,
where he continued in business until 1853.
Nehemiah Butler, born at Pelham, February 22,
1824 ; studied law with Asa Fowler, Esq., of Concord,
and at the Law School in Harvard University ; com-
menced practice at Fisherville, 1843 ; was appointed
clerk of the Superior Court and Court of Common
Pleas for the county of Merrimack, and removed to
Concord, 1852, where he resided until his death.
Hon. Ezekiel Webster, elder brother of Daniel,
was born in Salisbury, April 11, 1780. The first nine-
teen years of his life were spent on his father's farm,
and it was settled in the mind of Judge Webster that
he was to remain at home and be a farmer, while
Daniel, who had less physical strength in childhood,
who seems to have had little inclination for farming,
was to be educated to one of the learned professions.
Daniel entered college in 1797. It troubled him,
however, to think that Ezekiel was at home plodding
on the farm while he was obtaining an education.
He says in his autobiography, —
"I soon began to grow uneasy at my brother's situation. His
prospects were not promising, and he himself felt and saw this, and had
aspirations beyond his condition. Nothing was proposed, however, by
way of change of plan, till two years later.
" In the spring of 1799, at the May vacation, being then a sophomore,
I visited my family, and then held serious consultation with my brother.
I remember well when we went to bed we began to talk matters over,
and that we rose after sunrise without having shut our eyes. But we
had settled our plan.
"He had thought of goint:- ill! u.- n-u |mi l ^ r I|p. i -unti \ Tlmt
broke up, or, rather, got up. ii- f -nli ^^ > M,,t I -'i .ri!.i |,i..] — i . my
father that he, late as it was, sliould U_- sc-Tit tu s.hool, and also to .-olloge.
This we knew would be a trying thing to my father .and mother and two
unmarried sisters. My father was growing old, his health not good and
his circumstances far from easy. The fai™ was to be carried on, and the
family taken care of ; and there was nobody to do all this but him who
was regarded as the main stay, that is to say, Ezekiel. However, I ven-
tured on the negotiation, and it was carried, as other things often are, by
the earnest and sanguine manner of youth. I told him that I was un-
happy at my brother's prospects. For myself I saw my way to knowl-
edge, respectability and self-protection, but as to him, all looked the
other way ; that I would keep school, and get along as well as I could —
be more than four years in getting through college, if necessary— pro-
vided he also could be sent to study.
■' He said, at once, ho lived but for his children ; that he had but lit-
tle, and on that little be put no value, except so far ae it might be useful
to them ; that to carry us botli through college would take all he was
worth ; that for himself he was willing to run the risk, but that this was
a serious matter to our mother and two unmarried sisters ; that we must
settle the matter with them, and if their consent was obtained, he would
trust to Providence and get along as well as he could."
The father laid the case before the mother. " The
farm is already mortgaged, and if we send Ezekiel
to college, it will take all we have ; but the boys think
they can take care of us," he said.
It did not take the strong-hearted, sagacious wo-
man long to decide the matter : " We can trust the
boys."
The question was settled. Daniel went back to
Hanover, while Ezekiel went, bundle in hand, to
Dr. Wood's, and began the study of Latin. He spent
two terms at a school kept at Salisbury, South Road
village, and returned again to Dr. Wood's, where his
expenses were about one dollar per week.
While thus studying and taking recreation be-
neath the magnificent beeches that stood before the
house, he kept up a frequent correspondence with
Daniel at Hanover. Ezekiel distrusted his ability to
get on. Daniel made this reply to him, in a letter
written April 25, 1800,—
"You tell me that you have diffl<ulti
thingof. Whatdoyoumean, E/i 1,1- I I
become you. Or do you tbirik \ n r
ties? If so, be assured you l'i-
say in your letters to me, 'I am -ii[ - : i
" I should not resent the language, — I should be very well pleased in
hearing it ; but be assured, as mighty as you are, your great puissance
shall never insure you a victory without a contest."
With such words Daniel endeavored to cheer the
struggling elder brother.
In November, 1802, Daniel was at home in Salis-
bury, while Ezekiel was struggling with poverty at
Hanover. Funds were getting low in the Webster
homestead. Daniel writes under date of November
] to flatter? That don't
me in natural abili-
ii- refore, in the future
I natural endowments ;
, and more in six than
"Now, Zeke, you will not read half a sentence, no, not one syllable
before you have thoroughly searched this sheet for scrip ; but my word
for it, you'll find no scrip here. We held a sanhedrim this morning on
the subject of cash , 'ull hi liii ii[Mjn any way to get you any. Just
before we went aw ;i\ i I i .- through disappointment it came
into our heads tiial h- m i -- The truth is, father had an
execution against Hull :U' I, -f N i Ir.-lrr, for about one hundreddollars.
The money was colleitiug and jiist ready to drop into the hands of the
creditors, when Hubbard s\iddenly died. This, you see, stays the execu-
tion till the long process of administering is completed.
" I have now by me two cents in lawful federal currency. Next week
I shall send them, if they be all. They will buy a pipe ; with a pipe
you can smoke ; smoking inspires wisdom ; wisdom is allied to fortitude ;
from fortitude it is but one step to stoicism ; and stoicism never pants for
this world's goods ;— so perhaps my two cents, by this process, may put
you quite at ease about cash. . . .
" We are all here just in the old way, always behind and lacking.
Boys digging potatoes with frozen fingers, and girls washing without
Two days later Ezekiel writes to Daniel. It is
not an answer; the letters doubtless passed each
other on the way. Ezekiel, after giving a just criti-
cism on the writings of Horace, thus closes his
epistle, —
" These cold, frosty mornings very sensibly inform me that I want a
warm great-coat. I wish, Daniel, it might be convenient to send me
cloth for one ; otherwise I shall be necessitated to purcha,se one here. I
do not care what color it is, or what kind of cloth it is — anything that
will keep the frost out. Some kind of shaggy cloth, I think, would be
cheapest. Deacon Pettingill has written, ofiering me fourteen dollai-s a
mouth (to keep school). I believe I shall take it.
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
"Money, Daniol, money ! As I wa8 walking doivn to the office after
a letter, 1 happened to have one cent, which is the only money 1 have
baa since the second day after I came on. II is a fact. Dan, that I was
called on for a dollar where I owed it, and borrowed it, and have bor-
rowed it four timeii since to pay those I borrowed of."
From a paragraph in a letter written by Daniel to
his classmate, Bingham, of Lemp.ster, it would ap-
pear that Ezekiel taught school in Sanbornton in
December, 1803,—
*' Zeke is at Sanbornton. ' He comes home once in a while, sits down
befor« the kitchen Arc. begins to poke and rattle the andirons. I know
what is coming, and am mute. At length he puts his feet into the
oven's mouth, place his right eyebrow up on his forehead, & begins a
very pathetic lecture on the evils of poverty. It is like church service.
He does all the talking, and I only say * Amen ! amen ! ' "
Ezekiel's funds failed in the spring of 1804, and by
permission of the faculty he left Dartmouth, went to
Boston, where he purchased the good-will of a pri-
vate school, which he taught with great success till
Ajiril, 1805. He was graduated at Dartmouth mean-
while, in 1804, having s])ont but three years in col-
lege.
While earning a livelihood by teaching, he studied
law with Governor Sullivan, then Attorney-General
of Massachusetts. In 1806 he studied with Parker
Noyes, Esq., of Salisbury, next door to Judge Web-
ster's house. Daniel having decided to leave Bosca-
wen and take up his residence in Portsmouth, turned
over his practice to Ezekiel, who entered upon his
Iirofession as a lawyer in Boscawen in the month of
September, 1807. His legal knowledge and moral
worth soon become known, and acquired for him an
extensive busine.ss. He was not ambitious to excel
as an orator, and it was only the urgent appeal of
duty or the imperative obligation to his profession
that overcame his instinctive aversion to a crowd, and
called forth his highest powers of eloquence. He
never encouraged litigation, but always used his
personal influence to bring about a private adjustment
of most of the contested matters originating in the
town. He repeatedly represented the town in the
Legislature. He was educated a Federalist by his
father, a Whig of 1776. He was old enough to
remember the administration of Washington, and be-
lieved with all his heart in the political principles
adhered to by the Federal party, which was in a
minority in the State after he came into public life.
This adherence to political principles prevented his
election to Congress, and from holding other offices
ill the gift of the )ieo])le. i
Although devoted to his i)rni'cssi(in, he loved agri- I
culture, and retained the liomestead at Salisbury
after his father's death, which occurred in 1806. He
was one of the projectors and an active member of
the Merrimack Agricultural Society, and was active
in advancing imi)roved methods of husbandry.
He was simple in his tastes, kind, genial, polite,
and a perfect gentleman. He attended to all the
details of life, served as assessor in the religious so-
ciety, and as committeeman for the school district.
He looked upon Dr. Wood as a loving child looks
upon a devoted parent. A member of the bar spend-
ing a Sabbath with Mr. Webster, and hearing I ir.
Wood, took occasion to disparage the sermon. Mr.
Webster replied, pointedly and with spirit, that he
doubted the gentleman's ability to appreciate the
performance. He was ever Dr. Wood's confidential
friend and adviser. Together they planned the es-
tablishing of Boscawen Academy. Mr. Webster
contributed fully three hundred dollars to the insti-
tution, and by his heartiness and zeal .stimulated his
fellow-town.smen to carry on the project, while
Daniel, then almost in the zenith of his fame, con-
tributed the bell.
He was an exemplary member of the church, and
his influence was ever on the side of right. He was
a con.stant attendant upon religious services, and
always maintained religious devotions in his home.
On the 10th of April, 1829, he was making a plea
before the Merrimack bar at Concord. He was stand-
ing erect. The court-room was crowded, for when-
ever the lawyer from Boscawen made a plea the
people flocked to hear him. The court, jurors, law-
yers and audience were listening to his words, and
noticing the play of his clear-cut features and the
manly dignity of his commanding presence. He was
speaking with vigor and earnestness. His periods
were rounded as usual, his utterance clear, his enun-
ciation perfect. He closed one branch of his argu-
ment, uttered the concluding sentence and the final
word distinctly and with his accustomed cadence, his
form erect as ever, his eyes clear and bright, his
arms hanging naturally by his side, and then, with-
out a murmur, a groan, a lisp, raising not a hand,
clutching at nothing, with no bending of a joint or
quivering of the eyelids, he fell backward upon the
floor — dead ! With the quickness of the lightning's
flash, from the full vigor of a manly life, at the age
of forty-nine, he died — one of the most remarkable
deaths on record.
His funeral was attended on the following Sunday
by a vast concourse of people, and he was mourned
by the entire community.
A writer in a public journal describes his appear-
" He was nearly six feet in height, finely proportioned, with a very
commanding presence. His was a magnificent form, crowned with a
princely head, that in his last years was thickly covered with snowy hair.
His complexion was Just the opposite of Daniel's. His countenance was
ojien iis tlie day ; his heart was wann aud affectionate; his manners
liinil and courteous."
Daniel, in a letter written in 1846, thus spoke of
him, —
"He appeared to me the finest human form that ever I laid eyes on.
I saw him in his coffin, a tinged cheek, a complexion clear as the heav-
enly light."
One who saw him at church, on a cold day the
winter before, speaks of his appearance. It was be-
fore the introduction of a stove. Mr. Webster came
in, wearing a jacket, or " Spencer," as the garment
DANIEL WEBSTER.
BENCH AND BAR.
was called, over his coat, bringing a foot-stove in
his hand, which, with princely politeness, he placed
at the feet of Mrs. Webster, and then took his seat,
and joined reverently in the worship.
He held important trusts: was trustee of Dart-
mouth College from 1819 till his death, and repeat-
edly represented the town in the Legislature.
Daniel Webster,' whose fame is world wide, lived
the earlier half of his life in New Hampshire. The
son of a Kevolutionary patriot, Capt. Ebenezer Web-
ster, and of New Hampshire descent for four genera-
tions, he was born in Salisbury, January 18, 1782. A
feeble constitution pointed him out as fitter for edu-
cation than for the sturdy labors of the farm, and with
self-denial on the part of his parents, and struggle on
his own part, he accomplished his wishes, and gradu-
ated at Dartmouth College in 1801 with honor. His
legal studies he completed under the direction of Hon.
T. W. Thompson, of Salisbury, and Hon. Christopher
Gore, of Boston, where he was admitted an attorney in
1805. He took up his residence at once in Boscawen,
and remained two years a close student of his pro-
fession and of general literature. In 1807 he made
Portsmouth his place of abode, and lived there until
1816, when he removed to Boston. While a resident
of New Hampshire he served two terms as representa-
tive in Congress.
Mr. Webster acquired a high reputation as a lawyer
and a statesman (for he never was a politician) before
he quitted his native State. When he went to Ports-
mouth, at the age of only twenty-five years, he was a
mature man, armed at every point for the battle of
life. Mr. Mason, then in the prime of his unrivaled
powers, descrit)es his first encounter with Webster.
He had heard of him as a formidable antagonist, and
found on trial that he was not over-estimated. Young
and inexperienced as he was, Webster entered the
arena with Mason and Sullivan and Bartlett, and bore
away his full share of the honors. And before he
quitted his New Hampshire home his reputation as
a lawyer and as an advocate of eloquence and power
ranked with the very highest in the land.
Those who heard his addresses to the jury in his
early prime testify that none of his later great efforts
surpassed them — if, indeed, they equaled them — as
examples of earnest, impassioned forensic oratory.
There was a youthful brilliancy and bloom about
those earlier productions that is not found in the
stately works of his maturer years.
In those days, when practitioners made reputations
by special pleading and sharp practice, Mr. Webster
relied little upon mere technicalities or adroit man-
agement. He tried his causes upon their merits, and
with his logical power and eloquent tongue made
short work of trumped-up claims and dishonest de-
fenses. Many traditions attest his commanding in-
fluence over court and jury at this period of his career.
Without being authentic in all particulars, they all
concur in deiuoii-,lr:itiiiL: tliiiton no legal practitioner
of his time \v:i- ih. |h,|iii1iii- confidence and admira-
tion so univiTsiilly li. sK.wrd as on Webster.
The events in the life of Mr. Webster from the time
he re-entered Congress from Massachusetts are too
familiar to require special repetition here. He con-
tinued in public life, with the exception of very brief
intervals, up to the time of his decease in 1852. He
was a senator in Congress for seventeen years. He
was twice Secretary of State, and died in possession
of that office. Every public position that he held he
adorned and dignified by eminent patriotic service.
Now that nearly a generation has passed since Mr.
Webster's death, his character is beginning to be es-
timated more justly, and the value of the work he did
for the country has been tested. We see that his sa-
gacity and foresight were far beyond those of his
time ; and his apprehensions for the safety of the
Union were well founded; that his exhortations to his
countrymen to stand by the flag were honest, neces-
sary, and vitalizing to the patriotism of the people.
The petty assaults that seemed temporarily to ob-
scure his fame have had their brief day, and poster-
ity will recognize the true grandeur of the man, and
value at their just worth the great deeds of his life-
time. As a statesman and a diplomatist, as a vindi-
cator of the Constitution, as a lawyer and an orator,
and, most of all, as a patriot, the country will be for-
tunate if the future shall furnish his peer.
Sylvester Dana graduated at Dartmouth Col-
lege in 1839. He is son of the late Rev. Sylvester
Dana, and is a native of Oxford. He studied law with
Pierce & Fowler and at the Harvard Liiw School, and
was admitted to the bar in 1842. He soon after
opened an oflice in Concord, where he has since re-
sided. He is the present police justice of Concord.
JosiAH MiNOT graduated at Dartmouth College
in 1837. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1840, and opened an office in Concord. He was
appointed, in 1852, judge of the Court of Common
Pleas, which he resigned, in 1855, to .accept the ap-
pointment of commissioner of pensions. He is still
in practice in Concord.
Arthur Fletcher was a native of Bridgewater.
He graduated at Yale College in 1836, and was ad-
mitted to the bar in Concord in 1840, where he re-
mained in practice until his death.
Henry P. Rolfe is one of the older attorneys of
Concord. He is asonof Benjamin Rolfe, and was born
in Boscawen, February 12, 1823. He graduated at
Dartmouth College in 1848, and in 1851 commenced
the practice of law in Concord, where he has since re-
sided.
Henry Adams Bellows,- chief justice of New
Hampshii'e, was born at Walpole, N. H., October 25,
1803, and died at Concord, March 11, 1873.
- By Daniel F. Secomb.
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
On the paternal side he was descended from Gen.
Benjamin Bellows, one of the first settlers of Walpole,
and on the maternal side his immediate ancestors
were members of the Adams and Boylston families of
JIassachusetts, his grandfather. Rev. Zabdiel Adams,
of Lunenberg, Mass., being a double cousin to Presi-
dent John Adams.
His father dying, the care of the family devolved
upon him at the age of sixteen years, and for two
years he was engaged in teaching, after which he read
law in the office of Hon. William C. Bradley, of West-
minster, Vt., and commenced practice in Walpole
shortly after, removing to Littleton in 1828 and thence
to Concord in 1860, where he continued in active
practice until he was appointed an associate justice,
in 1859, and on the resignation of Judge Perley, in
September, 1869, he succeeded him as chief justice,
which office he held at the time of his death.
He represented Littleton in the legislature in 1839,
and was one of the representatives of Ward 5, of Con-
cord, in 1856-57. While occupying a seat on the
bench he received the honorary degree of LL.D. from
Dartmouth College.
Judge Bellows was a sound lawyer and an excellent
judge. He was one of the purest-minded men who
ever held public office in the State ; a large-hearted
man in thoughts and deeds, taking an active interest
in benevolent enterprises. A public-spirited citizen,
genial and courteous in his intercourse with men, he
enjoyed the respect and esteem of his associates of
the bar and bench and the community at large.
William Heney Bartlett. ' — -Beneath the
shadow of Kearsage Mountain, in the historic town of
Salisbury, — the home of the Websters and Eastmans
and Bartletts and Pettingills,— William Henry Bart-
lett was born, August 20, 1827. He was the youngest
child of Samuel Colcord and Eleanor Pettingill Bart-
lett. His father was noted for his vigorous mind, his
great activity and strict integrity ; his mother for the
sweetness of her character, her gentleness and dignity
of manner, and strong, womanly sense ; both for their
pure Christian lives and characters. He was the
nephew of Ichabod Bartlett, of Portsmouth, the co-
temporary at the bar of Mason and Smith and Web-
ster, and the peer of either in learning and eloquence.
The son of such parents could not fixil to receive the
impress of their virtues and characters. He was rec-
ognized by all as an interesting child, and a boy of
great promise, both in mind and character. Without
precocity, he was singularly quick of apprehension,
and equally patient and painstaking. While in the
common school, and afterwards at the academy, he
would come with his arithmetic or algebra, and, of
his own accord, sit by the hour working at his prob-
lems, till it was found necessary to send him to his
sports. He never lost that habit of protracted toil to
' From an eulogy delivered by Hon. Isaac W. Smith, before the
amni of Dartmouth CoUege at commencement, June 23, 1880.
the end of his life. Perhaps the end was hastened by
the excess. Meanwhile, from his childhood, his
scholarship was of the highest order. In his earlier
school-days he was associated in classes with much
older persons than he, and proved himself fully their
equal. But neither then nor afterwards did his pro-
ficiency create in him the slightest aspect of arro-
gance or conceit; but he remained to the end as mod-
est as he was bright and strong.
His childhood and boyhood were marked by an ex-
tremely kind, obliging and winning disposition. At
home he was helpful and uniformly cheerful and
obliging. It was a marked and peculiar trait in his
character, and steadily deepened into that thoughtful
kindness which, in after years, gained him such un-
broken and universal love.
Young Bartlett entered Meriden Academy at the
age of thirteen, and at fifteen had completed his prep-
aration for college. His friends considered him too
young ; but not seeing how else to occupy him, con-
sented, and in the fall of 1842 he entered the fresh-
man class in this college. The modest and diffident
Bartlett — the youngest member, with possibly a sin-
gle exception — soon became, by universal and cheer-
ful acknowledgment, the leader of his class in point
of scholarship. We were classmates ; and I have no
hesitation in saying, I do not know that I ever met a
finer scholar, and seldom have I encountered a
brighter or stronger intellect. He had a singular
quickness to perceive, a powerful memory to retain,
and a breadth and grasp that subordinated every de-
tail to the whole, and extracted order out of compli-
cation. The modesty with which he bore his academic
honors was only equaled by the sincere affection with
which he was regarded by his classmates.
At the request of his brother Samuel, he left college
during his sophomore year, and pursued his studies
with him at Monson, Mass. There he remained
nearly a year, applying himself with his usual dili-
gence, and endearing himself in the community, so
that the pleasant memory of him there has not been
lost to the present time. He entered the next college
class, graduating in the first rank in 1847. The
"Prophetic Power of Genius " was the subject of his
oration at commencement. Those who knew him
best felt that no prophet was needed to estimate his
maturer character or to anticipate his eminent suc-
cess in whatever calling he might pursue.
At the time of his graduation his brother Samuel
filled a professor's chair in Western Reserve College ;
and, as he was still quite young, it was thought best
that he should spend a year of more general study
before entering upon his professional career. He
accordingly joined a class of graduate students in that
college, and spent a highly profitable year in the
study of history, the German language and the
Greek dramatic poets. Here again his scholarship
and personal qualities made a deep and permanent
impression on his teachers and associates, so that
BENCH AND BAR.
11
they ever remembered him with a warm personal
interest.
He entered upon the study of the law in Concord
in the office of Chief Justice Perley in 1848, and re-
mained with Judge Perley till he went upon the
bench, in 1850, and afterwards completed his course
of preparation with Chief Justice Bellows, then in
practice at Concord, and was admitted to the bar in
Merrimack County July 9, 1851. How he impressed
those eminent jurists by his fine scholarship, studious
habits, ingenuous disposition and legal attainments is
best told in the language of Judge Perley, written
soon after the death of Judge Bartlett: "Few men,"
wrote Judge Perley, " have excelled him in quick-
ness of apprehension : and this was a general trait of
his mind, observable in whatever he undertook, — in
his classical and mathematical studies, in the law,
and even in any amusement or recreation in which
he might be led to indulge. There was a playful
ease in his way of doing the most difficult things,
which made them look more like an amusement or a
pastime than an irksome labor. With all his dis-
patch, he was distinguished for accuracy and correct-
ness. It was very seldom that he fell into any mis-
take or blunder. His memory was also tenacious
and exact. In the' law he united two things which
are not often found together in the same individual,
— a perfect mastery of principles, with great and
ready recollection of points and authorities."
His relations to Judge Perley were most intimate
and delightful,— in some respects the relation of
equals ; in others, almost of father and son.
His admirable collegiate training, supplemented by
two years of special instruction under the immediate
eye of his learned brother, and his study of the law
under two such eminent legal minds as Judges
Perley and Bellows, prepared him to enter upon the
practice of the law with success assured. We are not
therefore surprised to find him at once taking his
place in the front ranks of the profession, and en-
trusted with a business important not only in the
amounts involved, but especially because of the legal
principles to be examined and applied. From the
start he gave promise of becoming eminent in the
profession, and his subsequent career demonstrated
how well he was appreciated and understood by those
who watched his entrance upon professional life. For
several years he held the office of city solicitor of
Concord, and with what acceptance is best shown by
repeated re-elections without substantial opposition.
The rugged discipline of ten years' practice in the
courts of New Hampshire afforded him an admirable
school of training for the faithful and honorable dis-
charge of his subsequent duties upon the bench. In
1857 his health, until then apparently perfect, be-
came impaired, and thenceforward to his death, ten
years afterwards, his work at the bar and upon the
bench was done while struggling against the inroads
of unrelenting disease. His overtasked physical
frame was shattered, but his intellect shone un-
clouded to the end.
While his success in the profession was assured, it
is not claimed that he did or would have taken the
first rank as an advocate. As Judge Perley puts it,
" It is not impossible that he might have been found
wanting in a certain boldness and confidence of
manner and style which would now seem to be
thought requisite in those who aspire to take the lead
in that turbulent and noisy department of our pro-
fession."
Owing to the logical cast of his mind, he appeared
to best advantage in matters of special pleading, in
the preparation of briefs and in the investigation and
argument of questions of law before the court in banc.
The more difficult the question, the greater delight
he seemed to take in its solution. He was often con-
sulted by his brethren upon questions in regard to
which they were in doubt, and frequently wrote
opinions for their guidance.
His high sense of professional honor led him to re-
gard the profession as an office, and not as a trade.
Accordingly, to witnesses he was fair and respectful ;
to the bench he was deferential without being obse-
quious; and to his professional brethren he wes
dignified and courteous. As Judge Curtis said of
Eufus Choate, "He showed that forensic strife is
consistent with uniform personal kindness and
gentleness of demeanor; that mere smartness, or ag-
gressive and irritating captiousness, has nothing to do
with the most effective conduct of a cause; that the
business of an advocate is with the law and the
evidence, and not in provoking or humbling an op-
ponent ; that wrangling, and the irritations which
spring from it, obstruct the course of justice, and are
indeed twice cursed, for they injure him who gives
and him who receives."
Judge Bartlett was a lawyer of great research. He
seemed to have an instinctive clinging to authorities.
He could find readily what others could not. He had
a great mastery of cases, such as few ever have ; but
he was not a case lawyer. He had a legal instinct or
genius by which he could extract, from what to
others seemed a chaos of conflicting decisions, the
true legal principle, and put it in the smallest
possible compass. He distilled the spirit from the
dilution, appropriating the gold and rejecting the
dross.
It must not be inferred that he was not positive in
his opinions, or was not sufficiently firm in maintain-
ing opinions deliberately formed. We have on this
point the testimony of Judge Perley, that " lie had
nothing of that facility which yields in substantial
matters to importunity and over-persuasion. He was
very firm in his opinions and judgments when once
formed, and perfectly fearless in acting on them
when duty appeared to require it."
I We come now to the period when he " put of!" the
I gown of the bar to assume the more graceful and
[ISTOllY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
reverend ermine of the bench." In 1861 a vacancy
occurred upon the bench of the Supreme Court of
New Hampshire. Tlie foremost lawyers of the State
refused to be candidates, because they understood
that he might be persuaded to accept the appoint-
ment. In obedience to the united voice of the pro-
fession, he was at once (February 23, 1861) appointed
associate justice. The court at that time consisted of
Bell, chiefjustice, and Sargent, Bellows, Doe and
Nesmith, associate justices. No change occurred in
the composition of the court while Judge Bartlett
lived, except the reappointment of Judge Perley as
chief justice upon the resignation of Judge Bell in
18(54. At no period in the history of the State has
there been a stronger court. Five of the six .judges
with whom he was associated have held the office of
chiefjustice. His selection from a bar containing so
many lawyers of established reputation, to be the as-
sociate of judges of such eminent ability, shows in
what estimation his legal attainments and qualifica-
tions were held.
Rufus Choate thus describes the qualifications of
the good judge : " In the first place, he should be
profoundly learned in all the learning of the law, and
he must know how to use that learning. ... In
the next place, he must be a man not merely upright,
not merely honest and well-intentioned, — this, of
course, — but a man who will not respect persons in
judgment. . . . And, finally, he must possess the
perfect confidence of the community, that he bear
not the sword in vain. To be honest, to be no re-
specter of persons, is not enough. He must be be-
lieved such." We shall see how well Judge Bartlett
answered these requirements.
His legal learning was profound. He had an ex-
traordinary genius for learning everything quickly
and accurately, and remembering it during life, and
without effort. We have shining and encouraging
examples of what can be done by men of moderate
abilities. Judge Bartlett was not of that class, and,
therefore, as an example, he is worth far less than
many others. As a brilliant legal scholar, a brilliant
legal thinker and practical logician, capable of ap-
plying ancient legal principles to the facts of new
cases, and working out for the benefit of modern life
the best results of that common law that has been
constantly growing out of the last thousand years of
English and American civilization, he was not sur-
passed by any one judge who has sat upon the bench
of New Hampshire. It is not uncommon for a man
of intellect to succeed in mastering much of the
special doctrine and general theory of the law, and to
fail as a practicing lawyer and working judge from a
lack of ability rightly to apply his learning to the
varying and novel circumstances that constitute most
of the cases that are carried to the office of a lawyer
and to the courts of justice. Nearly infallible as
Judge Bartlett was in his opinion on an abstract
question of law, he equally excelled in perceiving
what rule was applicable to each case. His remark-
able powers were equally accurate in theory and
practice.
All great lawyers are naturally conservative ; so
was Judge Bartlett. Generally inclined to follow
precedents, he was strong enough to disregard them
when they disregarded fundamental principles.
Witness his opinion in Bansett v. Salisbury Manufac-
turing Company, 4.3 N. H. 569. The action was case
for maintaining a dam, thereby causing water to per-
colate through the plaintiff's meadow. On the fifth
jury trial, the present chief justice presided, and
ruled the law in accordance with the English case of
Acton V. Blundell, 12 M. & W. 324, and numerous
cases that followed in its train. The cause was
carried to the full bench on exceptions, and an
opinion prepared affirming the ruling of the court
below, which received the assent of a majority of the
court; but the judge who drew up the opinion re-
signed, and the cause was continued for further ex-
amination, and assigned to Judge Bartlett, who suc-
ceeded him upon the bench. Few cases have re-
ceived such careful consideration (50 N. H. 444).
Four opinions were drawn up by different members
of the court, of which three sustained the English
doctrine. The opinion published in the reports was
drawn up by Judge Bartlett, at the seashore, when
in feeble health and hardly able to be about. It re-
versed the English authorities, those of a majority of
the States, the decision of the court below and the
opinions of all his associates except one; yet, when
read in consultation, every judge yielded his objec-
tions and assented to the opinion, because it was
found unanswerable. But for him, the contraiy er-
roneous doctrine would have been established in New
Hampshire. The logic of the opinion, and its clear
and precise style, are only equaled by the modesty
which marked his dissent from the English and
American authorities.
As illustrating his way of summing up a case and
instructing a jury, I might cite Hayes v. Waldron, 44
N. H. 580, where his charge is fully reported, and so
admirably and clearly did it set forth the law of the
case, that little was left for the judge who delivered
the opinion in banc except to adopt the reasoning
and substance of the charge.
The decisions of the court, written and delivered
by him, will be his lasting monument. Models of
brevity, of perspicuous statement and logical deduc-
tion, of legal thought, and literary, unornamented
style, they will endure. But they are very brief
Those that are published are but a small part of his
work, and will carry to other generations a very in-
adequate idea of how much was lost at his decease.
His associates at the bar and on the bench, who en-
joyed the benefits of a personal acquaintance with
him, and felt the refreshing power of his fellowship,
will never lose the benefit of his personal influence,
nor cease to grieve that he did not live to lead them
BENCH AND BAR.
13
to the end of their labors. It was not an uncommon
thing for him, whether he delivered the judgment or
not, to cause a decision to be put upon ground not
thought of by other members of the court or by
counsel. His learning was so complete, and his
grasp of the hiw and facts so comprehensive, that
while he seldom changed in consultation an opinion
he had formed in his library, other members of the
court not infrequently found occasion to correct theirs
by the light of his expositions.
Judge Perley says of him, — " When he went upon
the bench, his high qualifications for the otHce were
;it once recognized by the legal profession. His
youthful appearance, his unpretending manners and
his easy and rapid way of dispatching business
might have led a careless observer to fear that he
would be found wanting in solidity and soundness of
judgment; but the character of his mind was emi-
nently judicial. His examination of authority in
cases which required it was faithful and exhaustive.
He weighed conflicting arguments and reasons with
equal impartiality. He had great sagacity in per-
ceiving the practical bearing of any question under
consideration, and its connection with the whole
complete system of the law ; and his opinions and
rulings were received with the greatest respect and
deference by the legal profession throughout the
State. In presiding over trials, I never learned that
he was known, in the most irritating circumstances,
to lose the sweetness and equanimity of his own
temper, and he often had the rare felicity of winning
from both sides the commendation of perfect fairness
and impartiality."
Judge Bartlett never failed to show that he had the
courage of his convictions whenever the occasion
called for it. Witness his action upon the Soldiers'
Voting Bill, so called, introduced in 18<53in the midst
of political excitement, when he united with three
other members of the court in an opinion which set
aside the act as a violation of the constitution.
In 1866 was passed, under similar circumstances,
an act disfranchising deserters from the army, the
constitutionality of which was brought before the
full bench. Not long before his death he drew up an
opinion setting aside this act, also, as a plain viola-
tion of the fundamental law of the land. The fact
in some way came to the knowledge of the Legisla-
ture, which forthwith did itself and him the honor to
repeal the law before the opinion could be read in
court.
History tells us that the celebrated court of the
Areopagus, when Athens was at the height of its
civilization, sat in the dark, that the judges might
not see or know who were the suitors, and so be en-
abled to dispense impartial justice. I suppose for the
same reason the Goddess of Justice is represented
with eyes blindfolded, that her hand may feel the
"trepidations of the balance," uninfluenced by the
presence or appearance of the contending parties.
All systems of judicial tenure suppose judges to be
imperfect because mortal. The constitution recog-
nizes this in that clause which secures the right to
the subject "to be tried by judges as impartial as the
lot of humanity will admit."
But I do not hesitate to say, that if there ever was
a judge who was a living personification of the blind-
fold goddess ; one who watched not the faces of his
suitors, to inquire who they were, or what their
standing or influence, but only the movements of the
scales held in an even band; one who, unlike his
ancient brethren of Athens, had no need to sit in the
dark, because wholly oblivious to all surrounding
circumstances ; one who, when a whole city. Athens-
like, came " to demand that the cup of hemlock be
put to the lips of the wisest of men," would deliver
him if he believed he " had not corrupted the youth,
nor omitted to worship the gods of the city, nor
introduced new divinities of his own," — such an one
was Judge Bartlett.
His good-fellowship placed him on terms of inti-
macy with his brethren of the bar ; but no one
presumed, on the strength of former intimacy, or
of close and friendly relations, to influence his rulings
or decisions; or, if any one did so far forget himself,
the success of the attempt was not such as to encour-
age its repetition.
It must not be inferred that, while he was noted
for his patient, courteous and urbane manners, he
was tolerant of fraud, or failed to rebuke chicanery or
improper interference with the course of justice. On
such occasion he
"Carried anger as the flint bears fire,
Which, much enforceii, shows a hasty spark,
.\nd straight is cold again."
The testimony of one of his associates ' upon the
bench aflbrds a fitting close to this review of Judge
Bartlett's judicial life, —
" His career wa.s brief, but it was long enough to satisfy those who
knew hitii best, and whose judgment was trustworthy, that, with life and
health, he would have become the great American jurist of his generation.
No mental or moiul weakness impaired the operation or influence of his
great powere.
"There have been great men who were not loved, and did not deserve
to be loved. There have been good men who were not great. Here was
a man equally great and good ; equally superior by nature on the intel-
lectual and on the morat side. Incapable of selfishness, envy or any
meanness, whole-souled in the best sense, incapable of uttering an un-
kind word or entertaining an unkind feeling, he would have had only
pity for his enemies, if it had been possible for him to have an enemy.
He had neither a single enemy, nor a single cold or indifferent friend.
He involuntarily held all whom he met, bound to him by those ties of
affection which draw all men to a character the most amiable and lovely
as well as by those ties of reverence which draw all men to mental su-
premacy. With health and life, what a judge he would have become!
And, what is so much more to be said, with health and life, what a
teacher and leader of youth — what a head of an educational institution —
he would have been ! Where he presided, there was no thought of legal
power provided for the maintenance of judicial dignity. In him all nien
recognized the unconscious majesty of tlie law, and the unconscious
majesty of whatever is greatest and best in human nature. With such
as he in many places of government and personal control, it would not
1 Hi ief Justice Doe.
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUxVTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
be too much to hope that the word ' discipUn
disagreeable and offensive, might become ob8(
1 the sense that is often
There is another aspect of Judge Bartlett's char-
acter wliich, although already considered to some
extent, because so closely interwoven with his intel-
lectual character, yet remains to be spoken of. I
allude to his moral and Christian virtues. He was
valued more for his character than for his intellect.
He was witty, bright and genial, faithful and judi-
cious; a thoughtful friend, a self-denying brother, a
most affectionate son and husband. His professional
life was passed in the near vicinity of his native town ;
and, in their declining years, the hearts of his parents
turned much and constantly to him for .sympathy and
kindly care, and never were they disappointed. He
visited and wrote to them often ; and for years, what-
ever were his engagements, almost never did a Mon-
day pass without bringing them an affectionate letter.
And during the last months of his life, it was an
occasion of almost uncontrollable grief to him that he
had been frustrated of being present to comfort the
last hours of his father not long before.
In his own home he seemed to be whatever a host
and a husband ought to be.^ So warmly was he at-
tached to his home, and to her who was its star and
its light, that he was loath to leave it, even when
called away by professional engagements. The one
trait that fixes itself most deeply in the memory of his
friends is the kindly spirit that, in his maturer years,
followed him in all his relations, and made him always
considerate of the feelings, and actively attentive to
the wants, of all around him. It was a pleasure to
him to make others happy; and he loved to do a kind
office to those who could not repay. It seems, as we
look back upon it, the practical benevolence of the
gospel. He became a diligent and deeply-interested
reader of the Scriptures ; and to those who knew him
best, he seemed to exemplify the spirit of the gospel
in a most important aspect.
At the close of the summer of 1867 he returned to
his home from the sea-shore, without having been
benefited by the invigorating air of the ocean. For a
few days he struggled cheerfully against physical
weakness and disease, — more for the sake of others,
perhaps, than for himself, — his pallid countenance
illumined as with the lustre of a beautiful spirit. On
Tuesday, September 24th, as gently as a child falls
asleep, without pain or a struggle, consciousness pre-
served to the last moment, that life, which had been
so noble and beautifiil, changed its course, as a river,
to a smoother channel, and put on immortality.
Three days later, on a bright and beautiful day in
early autumn, his professional brethren, representing
nearly every county in the State, and the surviving
members of the court, with his inconsolable relatives.
1 May 8, ISrjG, he was married to Miss Caroline Baker, daughter of the
late Abel Baker, Esq., of Concord, and sister of the late ex-Governor
Nathsniol B. Baker. Mrs. Bartlett siirvives her husband anil still re-
sides in Concord.
in tenderness committed to his mother earth all that
was mortal of him who had been a dutiful child, a
quick and ready scholar, a profound lawyer, an up-
right magistrate, an affectionate brother and devoted
husband, to rest till the resurrection morning.
Ira Perley was born in Boxford, Mass., No-
vember 9, 1799. He graduated from Dartmouth Col-
lege in the class of 1822 and was tutor in that insti-
tution from 1823 to 1825. He read law with Benjamin
J. Gilbert, of Hanover, and commenced practice in
that town in 1827. Here he remained until 1834.
when he removed to Concord, where he resided until
his death.
Upon his removal to Concord he soon acquired a
large practice, and ranked among the leadere at the
Merrimack bar. In July, 1850, he was appointed a
justice in the Superior Court of this State, which
position he held until October, 1852, when he resigned
and resumed the practice of law. In 1855 he was
appointed chief-justice of the Supreme Judicial
Court, and held the position until 1859, when he
resigned and again resumed the practice of law. In
1864 he was appointed chief justice of the same court,
and held the position until September, 1869.
Judge Perley had no taste for political office, but
served at three dift'erent times as a member of tlie
House of Representatives, — first from Hanover in 1834
and from Concord in 1839 and 1870. He received
the degree of LL.D. from Dartmouth College in
1852. He manifested an interest in historical matters,
and for several years was an active member of the
New Hampshire Historical Society and was vice-
president of the New England Historic Genealogical
Society at the time of his death.
As a scholar. Judge Perley ranked among the fore-
most in the State and in New England. He kept up
his interest in classics to the day of his death, and
read German, French and Italian mth readiness. In
social life he was modest and unassuming, but was
nevertheless a rare conversationalist.
In January, 1840, he united in marriage with Mary
L. Nelson, of Haverhill. Judge Perley died February
26, 1874.
John Y. Mugridge was born in Laconia, N. H.,
then a part of Meredith, April 15, 1832. He received
his preparatory education at the Gilford Academy
and commenced the study of the law in the office of
Colonel Thomas J. Whipple, iu Laconia. He con-
cluded his studies with the late Hon. Asa Fowler, of
Concord, with whom he formed a copartnership for
the practice of his profession soon after his admission
to the bar, in 1854. He was subsequently in partner-
ship with Hon. .losiah Miuot and later with Hon.
Mason W. Tappan, but at the time of his death was
alone in practice. Mr. Mugridge never sought polit-
ical preference, but devoted himself almost entirely
to his profession. He served as city solicitor from
1861 to 1868, was a representative in the Legislature
in 1863 and 1864, Senator from the old Fourth Dis-
BENCH AND BAR.
15
trict in 1868 and 1869, being president of the Senate
tlie latter year, and again representative in 1875.
As a lawyer Mr. Mugridge held a commanding
position at the Merrimack bar, and probably enjoyed
H more extensive practice than any other man in the
county, especially excelling in criminal cases. He
was a man of great personal popularity, had a large
heart, full of generous impulses, and he gave them
free course in all the relations of life. He was a
Republican in politics.
Hon. Asa Fowler. — The origin of the name and
the antiquity of the family of Fowler in England
have never been ascertained. It is probable, from
the large number of families of that name known to
have existed in various sections of that country early
iu the sixteenth century, and the high standing of
some of them, that the name was adopted soon after
surnames came to be used. Edward Fowler, eldest
son and heir of Sir Richard Q. Fowler, is said to have
entertained Queen Catharine of Arragon at his
manor, near Buckingham, in September, 1514.
Froude, in his " History of England," vol. v. pp. 129
and 131, mentions John Fowler, a member, iu 1547, of
the household of King Edward VI., who was so influ-
ential with that young monarch that he was em-
ployed by Lord Seymour to secure the royal assent to
his contemplated marriage with the Princess, after-
wards Queen, Elizabeth, and subsequently the royal
approval of his already secretly accomplished mar-
riage with Catharine Parr, widow of Henry VIII.
Christopher Fowler, an English clergyman, born in
1611, left the Established Church in 1641 and joined
the Presbyterians, among whom he became eminent,
and died in 1676. John Fowler, a learned printer,
born in Bristol, removed his press to Antw-erp more
efl'ectually to aid the Catholics, and died in 1579.
Edward Fowler, born at Westerleigh in 1632, was
distinguished as a divine, published a discourse on
" The Design of Christianity" in 1676, which Bunyan
attacked, and another on " Christian Liberty" in 1680 ;
was made bishop of Gloucester in 1691, and died in
1714. William Fowler, born about 1560, — died in
1614, — was one of the poets that frequented the court
of James VI., whose works have been preserved.
He was a lawyer and clergyman, as well as a poet.
The Fowlers in this country, now quite numerous,
as their namesakes were in England three centuries
ago, and are still more so at the present day, sprang
from several different pioneer ancestors who emigrated
to America from various parts of England at different
periods, and, so far as known, were iu no way related
to each other. The subject of this sketch is of the
sixth generation in lineal descent from one of the
founders of New England, the common ancestor of
the great majority of the Fowlers in Massachusetts,
and of most, if not all, of those in Maine, New
Hampshire and Vermont.'
I For a sketch of tlie ancestorsof Judge Fowler we are greatly indebted
Philip Fowler, Si:, born about 1590 in the ancient
town of Marlborough, in the county of Wiltshire,
England, where no less than five families of Fowlers
are shown by the records to have been living contem-
poraneously early in the seventeenth century, came
from thence with his family to Massachusetts in 1634
in the ship " Mary and John," of London, having
taken the oath of allegiance and supremacy to qualify
him as a passenger at Southampton on the 24th of
March. He must have embarked in February, since,
by an order of Council, dated February 24th, the ves-
sel was detained in the Thames until the captain
gave bond in one hundred pounds, conditional,
among other things, that the service of the Church of
England should be read daily on board and attended
by the passengers, and also that the adult male pas-
sengers should take the oath of allegiance and su-
premacy. All this having been done, the ship was
allowed to proceed on her voyage, but did not reach
New England until May. September 3, 1634, he was
admitted freeman at Boston ; obtained a grant of
land in Ipswich the same year, on which he settled in
1635, and where he resided until his death, on the
24th of June, 1679, at the age of eighty-eight. Dur-
ing his long life he made a variety of records, but
none that any descendant need blush to read. It is
remarkable that his homestead in Ipswich has ever
since been, and still is, occupied by one of his de-
scendants bearing the family name. His wife, Mary,
mother of his children, died August 30, 1659, and he
again married, February 27, 1660, Mary, widow of
George Norton, early of Salem, afterwards Repre-
sentative from Gloucester. There came over in the
same ship with Philip Fowler, Sr., and family, his
daughter, Margaret, and her husband, Christopher
Osgood, whom she had married the jjrevious year,
and who was the common ancestor of most of the
Osgoods of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Joseph Fowler, sou of Philip, Sr., born in England,
date unknown, married, in Ipswich, Mass., Martha
Kimball, who came over from Ipswich, England, in
1634, iu the ship " Elizabeth," with her parents, and
is stated to have been then five years of age. Her
father, Richard Kimball, settled in Ipswich, Mass.,
and is believed to have been the ancestor of nearly
all the Kimballs in this country. His wife, Ursula
Scott, was the daughter of the widow Martha Scott,
who came over with the Kimballs at the age of sixty,
supposed to have been the wife of Hon. John Scott,
of Scott's Hall, Kent County, England. Joseph
Fowler was killed by the Indians near Deeriield,
Mass., May 19, 1676, on his return from the Falls
fight. He was a tanner by trade.
Philip Fowler (second), eldest son of Joseph, was
to Matthew A. Stickney, Esq., of Salem, Mass., author of the admirable
genealogy of the Stickney family, who is preparing for publication the
genealogy of the Ipswich family of Fowlers, from which he is de-
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
born in Ipswich, Mass., December 25, 1648. When
only two or three years of age, he was adopted, with
the consent of his parents, by his grandfather, Philip,
Sr., who made him his heir by deed dated December
23, 1668. He received the rudiments of his educa-
tion at the famous school kept by Ezekiel Cheever.
He was a man of superior ability, and as a merchant,
deputy marshal and attorney quite distinguished.
He acquired a large landed estate, which he divided
by deeds of gift among his four sons, a valuable farm
to each. He married, January 20, 1674, Elizabeth
Herrick, born about July 4, 1647. He died Novem-
ber 16, 1715. His wife died May 6, 1727. She was
the daughter of Henry and Editha (Laskin) Herrick.
Henry Herrick, born at Bean Manor in 1604, was the
son of Sir William Herrick, and came from Leices-
ter, England, to Salem, Mass., where he arrived June
24, 1629.
Philip Fowler (thud), ninth child of Philip (second),
was born in Ipswich, Mass., in October, 1691 ; mar-
ried there, July 5, 1716, Susanna Jacob, daughter of
.Toseph and Susanna (Symonds) Jacob, and great-
granddaughter of Deputy Governor Samuel Symonds,
of that town. He is reported to have fitted for Har-
vard College, but did not enter, engaging instead in
trade and carrying on the tanning business, until he
sold out and removed to New Market, N. H., in May,
1743, where he died May 16, 1767. His widow died
there in 1773. Before removing to New Market he
purchased of his brother-in-law, Joseph Jacob, for
the consideration of two thousand pounds, two hun-
dred and thirty-six acres of land in " New Market,
iu the township of Exeter and province of New
Hampshire, with two houses and two barns thereon."
The deed is dated February 14, 1737. For fifty-six
acres of this land, including the homestead, he was
sued by Josiah Hilton in 1760, and after two trials,
one in the Common Pleas and the other in the Su-
perior Court, both resulting in verdicts in Fowler's
favor, Hilton appealed to the Governor and Council,
some of whom were directly interested in the event
of the suit as lessors of the plaintiff, and they, in
1764, rendered judgment in favor of Hilton, from
which the defendant appealed to the King in Council
and furnished bonds to prcsecute his appeal in Eng-
land. The Governor and Council granted this appeal,
which vacated their judgment, and then at once
issued a writ of possession founded thereon, upon
which Fowler was turned out of the land and com-
pelled to pay costs. He had executed bis will May
22, 1754, therein devising his large landed estate to
his three sons, — Philip, Jacob and Symonds, — and re-
quiring them to pay legacies to his daughters. The
land in controversy with Hilton was devised to the
two former sons. The appeal was prosecuted in Eng-
land by the father and these devisees until after the
Declaration of American Independence, and in 1777
the Legislature of New Hampshire passed an act
authorizing these devisees to bring an action of re-
view in the Superior Court for Rockingham County
to determine the title to this land, Such action was
brought by them, and at the September term, 1778,
of that court, they recovered judgment for the land,
costs of court and costs of former litigation. On the
14th of September, 1778, the sheriff put them into
possession of the property from which their father
had been wrongfully ejected fourteen years before.
Sarah, daughter of Philip, one of these sons, wa.s the
wife of Governor William Plumer and the mother of
his children.
Symonds Fowler, the tenth of fourteen children of
Philip (third), born in Ipswich, Mass., August 20,
1734, removed to New Market, N. H.,with his father,
in 1743, where he married, July 12, 1756, Hanniili
Weeks, born in the old brick house in Greenland,
N. H., August 12, 1738. By the will of his father he
inherited a farm adjoining the station at New Mar-
ket Junction, on the Concord and Portsmouth and Bos-
ton and Maine Railroads, upon which he lived un-
til he removed, in 1778, to a farm in the western part
of Epsom, N. H., upon Suncook River, where he re-
sided until his death, April 6, 1821. His wife, Han-
nah, died there December 9, 1807.
Benjamin Fowler, the sixth of eleven children
of Symonds, was born at New Market, N. H., June
16, 1769; removed with his father to Epsom, N. H., in
1778; married in Pembroke, N. H., January 15, 1795,
Mehitable Ladd, only child of John and Jerusha
(Lovejoy) Ladd, of that town, and granddaughter of
Captain Trueworthy and Mehitable (Harriman)
Ladd, of Kingston, N. H. He settled in Pembroke,
after his marriage, on a farm he purchased, and died
there July 24, 1832. His widow survived him until
September 9, 1853.
Asa Fowler, the ninth of eleven children of Benja-
min and Mehitable (Ladd) Fowler, was born in Pem-
broke, N. H., February 23, 1811. His childhood
was spent on his father's farm, his means of educa-
tion after he was seven or eight years of age being
limited to eight or nine weeks of winter school, his
services after that age in summer being required in
farm-work. There were very few books to which he
had access, except the Bible and ordinary school-
books, and his early reading was confined to these.
At the age of fourteen he had a very severe attack of
typhoid fever, which left him in such enfeebled con-
dition as to be incapable of severe manual labor. Un -
der these circumstances he was sent to the Blanchard
Academy, in his native town, then under the charge
of Hon. John Vose, but with no other intention than
that he might become qualified to instruct a com-
mon district school. But with opportunity to learn
and to read, a desire for a liberal education was
awakened, and, by alternately working upon his
father's farm in the spring and summer, attending
the academy in the fall and teaching school in win-
ter, he succeeded in not only fitting himself for col-
lege, but in preparing to enter the sophomore class.
BENCH AND BAR.
17
having attended school only sixty weel^s after he
commenced the study of Latin. With so meagre and
defective a training, he entered the sophomore class
at Dartmouth College at the opening of the fall term,
1830, and although he taught school every winter,
was able, nevertheless, to maintain a highly respect-
able standing until hts graduation, in 1833, when,
among the parts assigned to the graduating class ac-
cording to scholarahip, an English oration was given
him. He was never absent or unprepared at any re-
citation during his three years' course. In his junior
year he was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa
Society, as being in the first third of his class. He
has never sought or received any honorary degree
from his Alma Mater. After leaving college he
taught the academy at Topsfield, Mass., for a single
term in the fall of 1833, thereby raising sufficient
funds to liquidate all indebtedness incurred to defray
his college expenses, over and above what he received
from his father's estate. Immediately upon leaving
Topsfield, having determined to adopt the legal pro-
fession, he entered his name as a student in the office
of James Sullivan, Esq., then in practice in Pem-
broke, occupying the ottice of the Hon. Boswell Stev-
ens, disabled by a paralytic attack, from which he
never recovered. He continued to read books from
Jlr. Sullivan's library through the following winter.
In March, 1834, he came to. Concord, N. H., where
he has since resided, and entered the office of Hon.
Charles H. Peaslee, then a rising young lawyer, and
continued with him until admitted to the Merrimack
County bar, in February, 1837. While a .student in
General Peaslee's office, he and Hon. Moody Currier,
then a teacher in Concord, undertook the editorship,
as a matter of amusement and with no hope of pecu-
niary reward, of a small literary paper, called the
Literary Gazette. It was published weekly for six
months, and then once a fortnight for another six
months. After Mr. Currier retired from the editor-
ship, Cyrus P. Bradley, a youth of wouderful preco-
city, and the author, when a mere boy, of a " Life of
Governor Isaac Hill," became associated with Mr.
Fowler in the management of the Gazette. During a
considerable portion of the period in which he pur-
sued the study of the law, Mr. Fowler supported him-
self by writing for other papers. In June, 1835, he
was elected clerk of the New Hampshire Senate,
which office he continued to hold by annual elec-
tions for six successive years, discharging its duties to
universal satisfaction. In 1846 he was appointed by
the Hon. Levi Woodbury United States commis-
sioner for the district of New Hampshire, which of-
fice he held at the time of his death. In 1845 he was
a member of the New Hampshire House of Repre-
sentatives from Concord and served as chairman of
the judiciary committee. Again, in 1847 and 1848,
he was one of the Representatives of Concord in that
body and served upon the same committee in both
years. In 1855 he was nominated by the Independ-
ent Democrats, or Free-Soilers, as their candidate for
Governor, and was frequently assured by prominent
Know-Nothings that if he would join their order he
might and would be made their candidate, also; but
he was deaf to all such suggestions. After that party
came into power and decided to change the judiciary
system of the State, he was engaged to draft the bill
for that purpose, which subsequently became a law.
Afterwards, at the earnest and repeated solicitation
of Governor Metcalf, although at first he absolutely
declined to do so, he accepted a position on the
bench of the Supreme Court as associate justice,
which he continued to hold, at a great pecuniary
sacrifice, from August 1, 1855, to February 1, 1861,
when he voluntarily resigned it. During this period
of five and a half years he performed his full share of
the arduous labors of a judge of our highest judicial
tribunal, and gave general satisfaction to the bar and
the public. If his opinions at the law terms as re-
ported are not so labored as those of some of his asso-
ciates, they are more numerous and not less sound
and clear.
Immediately upon his resignation. Judge Fowler
was appointed by the Governor and Council a dele-
gate from New Hampshire to the Peace Congress,
which met in Washington in February, 1861, for the
purpose of averting, if possible, the threatened se-
cession of the Southern States from the Union, and
continued its sessions through the entire month. His
associate delegates were Hon. Levi Chamberlain, of
Keene, and Hon. Amos Tuck, of Exeter. In 1861 he
was appointed solicitor for the county of Merrimack,
and held the office until he resigned, in 1865, upon his
being appointed one of the commissioners to revise
the statutes of the State. He was associated in that
commission with Hon. Samuel D. Bell, of Manchester,
and Hon. George Y. Sawyer, of Nashua. Upon it he
labored diligently and successfully, alone superin-
tending the printing of the commissioners' report,
and, subsequently, the printing of the General Stat-
utes as finally adopted by the Legislature of 1867.
He also attended almost constantly, during the whole
period of that Legislature, upon the sessions of the
joint select committee to whom the report of the
commissioners was referred, and greatly aided in
procuring the speedy action of that committee, and
the final adoption of the report of the commis.sioners,
as amended by the General Court, without protract-
ing the session beyond its usual length. In 1871 and
again in 1872, Judge Fowler was a member of the
House of Representatives from Ward Six, in Concord,
serving on the judiciary committee in 1871, and pre-
siding over the deliberations of the House, as Speaker,
in 1872, with dignity, impartiality and complete
success.
Judge Fowler was one of the most diligent, labori-
ous and successful lawyers in the State, and the ex-
tent of his practice for many years has rarely been
exceeded. In September, 1838, after practicing alone
18
HISTOllY OF MERRIMACK COUiNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
for a year and a half, lie formed a co-partnership with
the late President Pierce, which continued until April,
1845. During this period of six years and a half,
their practice was probably as extensive .as that of j
any individual or firm in the State. General Pierce
engaged in the trial of causes as an advocate in nearly
every county, while Judge Fowler attended chiefly
to office business, the preparation of causes for trial
and briefs for argument at the law terms of court.
Hon. John Y. Mugridge completed his preparatory
studies in Judge Fowler's office, and upon his ad-
mission to the bar, in 1854, Judge Fowler formed a
business connection with him for one year, which
expired about the time of Judge Fowler's appoint-
ment to the bench. Soon after his resignation of the
judgeship, in 1861, he entered into partnership with
Hon. William E. Chandler, which continued until
Mr. Chandler's appointment as Solicitor of the ^&yj,
in 1864.
During his long residence in Concord, Judge Fow-
ler was quite familiar with the form.s of legislation,
and probably drafted more bills for our Legislature
than any other man, living or dead. He originated
many laws and procured their enactment, when not a
member of the Legislature. Among those thus orig-
inated and procured to be enacted may be mentioned
the statute authorizing school districts to unite for
the purpose of maintaining High Schools, and that
authorizing towns to establish and maintain public
libraries. He worked zealously with General Peaslee
to secure the establishment of the Asylum for the
Insane, was very active and persistent in securing
the establishment of a Public Library in Concord
and a High School in Union District. He always
.showed a deep interest in the cause of public educa-
tion, and for more than twenty successive years
served as prudential committee or a member of the
Board of Education in Concord. He was always fond
of literary pursuits, and has an extensive and well-
selected miscellaneous library. For the last three or
four years of his life he belonged to a class in
English Literature, whose weekly meetings, during
the winter season, were devoted, with much pleasure
and profit, to reading the works and discussing the
lives, character and times of English and American
authors of reputation. He was more or less connected
with various moneyed institutions. He was a director
of the State Capital Bank from its organization under
a State charter until his appointment to the bench,
when he resigned. He was a director and president
of the First National Bank from its organization until
he lost confidence in its cashier, when he disposed of
his stock and resigned. He was for many years a
director of the Manchester and Lawrence Railroad,
and for several years its president. In his religious
sentiments he was a liberal Unitarian, and took a
prominent part in the work of the society in Concord,
serving for several years as the superintendent of its
.Sunday-school, and showing his interest in it by
leaving it a legacy of one thousand dollars in his will,
the interest on which sum to be devoted to the support
of liberal preaching. Educated a Democrat, but with
strong anti-slavery convictions, he acted with tht-
Democratic party until its devotion to the e.xtensicm
of slavery compelled its abandonment in IMti, ami
for the next ten years he acted as an lndcpiii<leiit
Democrat. Upon the formation of the Republican
party he joined it, and continued in its ranks until, in
1875, he resumed his connection with the Democracy.
In the spring of 1877, forty years from his admis-
sion to the bar, Judge Fowler determined to retire
from active practice. A severe illness in the fall ol'
that year confirmed his resolution. Before his full
recovery, by the advice of his physician, he decided
to visit Europe. Accompanied by his wife, daughter
and third son, he left Boston on the 13th of April.
1878, and returned to New York on the 17th of Oc-
tober following, having, during his absence, visited the
principal points of interest in England, Scotland,
Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Bavaria, Austria, Bohe-
mia, Saxony, Prussia, Hanover, Holland, Belgium.
Germany and France. He returned home with re-
newed strength and energy, and passed the next four
years in the full enjoyment of health and happiness,
in the quiet of his pleasant home in Concord and his
beautiful cottage by the sea, near Rye Beach.
In October, 1882, the great sorrow of his life came
upon him in the loss of his dearly-beloved wife, after
a long and painful illness. He had been peculiarly
fortunate in his domestic relations. On the 13th of
July, 1837, he married the daughter of Robert and
Polly Dole (Cilley) Knox, of Epsom, N. H., and
granddaughter of Gener.al Joseph Cilley, of the Rev-
olution, Mary Dole Cilley Knox, by whom he had
five children, — four sous and one daughter, — all now-
living.
In the winter of 1882-83, Judge Fowler had :i
severe attack of ga.stric fever at Richmond, Va.,whi li-
on his way to Florida for his health. After a long-
convalescence at St. Augustine, Fla., he fully re-
covered his health and spent the entire winter and
spring in the South.
In November, 1883, he again went abroad, spend-
ing six delightful months in Nice, Mentone and Italy,
returning in May to New Hampshire after a month's
sojourn in Paris and London.
Again, in November, 1884, he went aw-ay from his
Concord home, and sought the warmer climate of
California, spending the greater part of the winter at
Monterey. Here he again suffered from attacks of
gastritis, and, after a trip down to Santa Barbara, was
very ill at San Francisco, and died at San Rafael,
Cal., on the 26th of April, .^.i)., 1885. His re-
mains were embalmed and brought to Concord, and
were buried. May 9th, from his residence.
Hox. J. Everett Sargeut, LL.D. — Judge Sar-
gent, now of Concord, has been well known through-
out the State for more than a quarter of a century.
V (^2^ ^2^c^^(S~t7
BENCH AND BAH.
19
Besides an extensive legislative acquaintance, lie has,
as judge of the ditlerent courts and iis chief justice
of the State, held terms of court in every shire-town
and half-shire town in every county in the State.
He has been emphatically the architect of his own
fortune, and by his energy and perseverance has
reached the highest post of honor in his profession
in his native State. He is genial and social with his
friends; he loves a joke, and belongs to that small
class of men "who never grow old." He loves his
home, his family and his books. No man enjoys the
study of history and of poetry, of philosophy and of
fiction, better than he, while law and theology come
in for a share of attention. He is a kind neighbor,
a respected citizen, a ripe scholar, a wise legislator,
an upright judge and an honest man.
In the year 1781, Peter Sargent, the grandfather
of the subject of this sketch, moved from Hopkinton,
N. H., to New London, at that time equally well
known as Heidelberg. This locality had been known
by this latter name for a quarter of a century or
more. It was granted by the Masonian proprietors,
July 7, 1773, to Jonas Minot, and others as the "Ad-
dition of Alexandria." It was first settled in 1775,
and was incorporated as a town by the Legislature,
June 25, 1779. Peter Sargent, who thus moved into
the town two years after its incorporation, was one of
ten brothers, all born in Amesbuiy, Mass., who settled
as follows: Amasa, Ezekiel, Thomas and Moses al-
ways lived at Amesbury ; James settled in Methuen,
Mass. ; Peter, Nathan and Stephen came to Hopkin-
ton, N. H., and settled there ; and Abner and Eben-
ezer came to Warner, N. H., and settled there. These
ten brothers, with four sisters, were the children of
Deacon Stephen Sargent, of Amesbury, Mass.
(Christopher Sargent, an older brother of Deacon
Stephen, graduated at Harvard, entered the ministry
and was the first settled minister of Methuen, Mass.
His eldest son, Nathaniel Peaslee Sargent, graduated
at Harvard, practiced law at Haverhill and was for
many years a judge of the Supreme Judicial Court of
Massachusetts, and was chief justice of the State in
1790 and 1791, when he died, aged sixty.)
Stephen Sargent was the son of Thomas (second),
who was the son of Thomas (first), who was the sou
of William Sargent. Stephen married Judith Ord-
way, of AVest Newbury, Mass., September 26, 1730,
was chosen deacon of the Second Congregational
Church in Amesbury, May 10, 1757, and died Oc-
tober 2, 1773, aged sixty-three.
William Sargent was born in England about 1602,
and was the son of Richard Sargent, an officer in the
royal navy. William came to this country when a
young man, married Judith Perkins for his first wife,
who died about 1633, when he, with several daughters,
was one of the twelve men who commenced the settle-
ment at Ipswich that year. He soon after went to
Newbury, and helped form a settlement there. Soon
after, about 1638, he, with several others, commenced
a settlement at Hampton, and about 1640 he re-
moved to Salisbury, and was one of the eighteen
original proprietors, or commoners, who settled in
New Salisbury, since known as Amesbury. His
second wife's name was Elizabeth, by whom he had
two sons, Thomas and William. He had several lots
of land iissigned him at different times, and was one
of the selectmen of the town in 1667. He died in
1675, aged seventy-three.
Thomas Sargent, son of William, was born April
11, 1643, at Amesbury; married Rachel Barnes, Jan-
uary 2, 1667-68, and had children, among whom was
Thomas, Jr., born at Amesbury, November 15, 1676,
who married Mary Stevens, December 17, 1702, and
was the father of Stephen, whose family has been
mentioned, and who was born at Amesbury, Sep-
tember 14, 1710.
Peter Sargent, son of Stephen, married Ruth
Nichols, of Amesbury, and moved to Hopkinton,
N. H., about 1763, where they lived some eighteen
years and raised a large family, and, when he went
to New London, took them all with him. His chil-
dren were Anthony, Abigail, Ruth, Judith, Peter,
Ebenezer, Amasa, John, Molly, Ezekiel, Stephen,
William and Lois. These all came from Hopkin-
ton to New London in 1781, except Lois, who was
born subsequently in New London.
Ebenezer (the son of Peter), the father of the
judge, was born in Hopkinton in 1768, and was, of
course, thirteen years old when he came to New
London with his father's family. After becoming of
age he procured him a farm, and, on the 25tli of No-
vember, 1792, he married Prudence Chase, of Wen-
dell (now Sunapee), the daughter of John and Ruth
(Hills) Chase. They had ten children, as follows:
Anna, Rebekah, Ruth, Seth Freeman, Aaron Lea-
land, Sylvanus Thayer, Lois, Laura, Jonathan Kit-
tredge and Jonathan Everett. Jonathan Kittredge
died young ; the other nine lived to mature age, and
five of them — three sons and two daughters — still sur-
vive. The parents had only a very limited educa-
tion, having been taught to read and to write a
little, the schools of those early times only furnish-
ing instruction in these two branches. They always
lived upon a farm, securing what was then considered
as a competence, and both died in New London, hav-
ing lived together more than sixty-five years.
The following, then, is the order of descent :
1. Richard Sargent, of England.
2. William, son of Richard, born in England, 1602.
3. Thomas, son of William, born in Amesbury,
April, 1643.
4. Thomas. Jr., son of Thomas, born in Amesbury,
November, 1676.
5. Stephen, son of Thomas, Jr., born in Amesbury,
September, 1710.
6. Peter, son of Stephen, born at Amesbury, No-
vember 2, 1736.
20
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
7. Ebenezer, son of Peter, born at Hopkinton,
N.H., April 3, 17t)8.
8. Jonathan Everett Sargent was born at New
London, N. H., October 23, 181G. He lived at home,
working upon the farm until he was seventeen years of
age, and, being the youngest child, his fether had
arranged for him to live at home and take care of
his parents, and have the farm at their decease.
While living at home his advantages for schooling
were very limited, being confined to eight weeks
winter school each year, the farm affording too
much work to allow of his attending the summer
school after he was nine or ten years of age. He
attended one term at Hopkinton Academy and one
term at a private school at home before he was seven-
teen. For years he had been thirsting for knowledge,
and had resolved that, if any way could be provided
for taking care of his parents in their old age, he
would obtain an education. When about sixteen
his youngest sister was married, and she, with her
husband, made an arrangement with her parents
under which they moved upon the homestead farm
and assumed the care of her parents for life. So, at
seventeen, Everett, as he was always called, arranged
with his father that he was to have the remaining
four years of his time till twenty-one, instead of the
sum which his older brothers had received upon
arriving of age. He was to clothe himself aud pay
his own bills, and call for nothing more from his
father.
This arrangement was made in the summer of 1833,
and that fall he worked in the saddler's shop near
his father's and taught school the next winter ; and
in the spring of 1834 he went to Hopkinton Academy,
then under the charge of Mr. Enoch L. Childs, where
he remained through the season. He taught school
the next winter, and then went, in the spring of
1835, to Kimball Union Academy, at Meriden, where
he remained, under the instruction of Mr. Cyrus S.
Richards, until commencement in 1836, when he
entered Dartmouth College. After he had thus,
without assistance, fitted himself for and entered
college, his father, very unexpectedly to him, gave
him fifty dollars to pay his expenses the first term,
and offered to loan him a few hundred dollars, if he
should need, in his college course, but that it must
be considered as an honorary debt, to be repaid, with
interest, after graduation.
But, by teaching school every winter and two fall
terms in Canaan Academy during his course, he
earned enough to pay all his expenses in college with
the exception of two hundred dollars, which he bor-
rowed of his father, and gave him his note for the
same, with interest, which he adjusted within a few
years after graduation. Though out of college two
terms, besides winters in teaching and another term
on account of sickness, yet he was always ready at
each examination to be examined with his class in all
the studies they had been over, and always took a
high stand at these examinations. He was elected a
member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and grad-
uated in 1840 among the first in his class.
He had long betbre this made up his mind to turn
his attention to the law as a profession, aud he ac-
cordingly began the study of the law at once with
Hon. Wm. P. Weeks, of Canaan, and remained with
him till the spring of 1841, when he ^vas advised by
his physician to go South for his health. He went
first to Washington, soon after to Alexandria, D. C,
where he taught a High School, then to Maryland,
where he remained a year in a family school, when,
having regained his health, he returned to New
Hampshire in September, 1842. He had, upon his
arrival in Washington, entered his name as a law
student in the ofiice of Hon. David A. Hall, of that
city, and continued the study of the law under his
direction while engaged in teaching, and he was ad-
mitted to the bar in the courts of the District of
Columbia in April, 1842, only about twenty months
after leaving college. By the rule of that court, any
one might be admitted upon examination without
regard to the length of time he had studied. So he
was examined in open court by Chief Justice Cranch
and his associates upon the bench, and was admitted.
After returning home he continued his legal studies
with Mr. Weeks until the July law term, in Sullivan
County, in 1843, when he was admitted to the bar in
the Superior Court of Judicature in this State. He
then went into company with Mr. Weeks at Canaan,
where he remained till 1847, when he removed to
Wentworth, and opened an office there. He had
been appointed solicitor for Grafton County in No-
vember, 1844, while at Canaan, and he at once com-
menced a lucrative business at Wentworth ; was re-
appointed solicitor, in 1849, for five years more, thus
holding the oflice for ten years, to 1854, performing
the duties to the entire acceptance of the count>' and
the people. He declined a reappointment.
In 1851 he was first elected a member of the Legis-
lature from Wentworth, and served as chairman of
the committee on incorporations. The next year he
was re-elected, and was made chairman of the judi-
ciary committee, and in 1853 he was again a member,
and was nominated with great unanimity, and elected
as Speaker of the House of Representatives. He
served with ability and impartiality, and to the
general acceptance of all parties.
The next winter a new man was to be selected as a
candidate for Senator in his district, and at the con-
vention he was nominated with great unanimity, and
was elected in March, in a close district, by about
three hundred majority. When the Senate met, in
June, there was some discussion as to a candidate for
president, but at the caucus he was nominated upon
the first ballot, and was duly elected as president of
the Senate in 1854. He was renominated in the
spring of 1855, but the Know-Nothing movement
that year carried everything before it, and he was de-
BExNCH AND BAR.
feated, with nearly all the other Democratic nomi-
nees in the State.
On the 2d day of April, 1855, he was appointed a
circuit justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the
State. But in June of that year there was an un-
wonted overturn, and the old courts were abolished,
mainly upon political grounds, and new ones or-
ganized, and new judges appointed. Judge Sargent
was making his arrangements to go into practice
again at the bar, when he received a request from
Governor Metcalf that he would accept the second
place on the bench of the new Court of Common
Pleas. This ofl'er had not been expected, but, upon
consultation with friends, it was accepted, and Judge
Sargent was appointed an associate justice of the
Court of Common Pleas.
He acted as judge of the new Court of Common
Pleas for four years, until 1859, when, by a statute of
that year, that court was abolished, and the Supreme
Judicial Court was? to do the work of that court in
addition to its own, and one new judge was to be
added to that court, making the number of Supreme
Court judges six instead of five, as before. .Judge
Sargent was at once appointed to that place on the
Supreme bench. He was then the youngest member
of the court in age, as well as in the date of his com-
mision. He remained upon the bench of that court
just fifteen years, from 1859 to 1874. In March, 1873,
upon the death of Chief Justice Bellows, Judge
Sargent was appointed chief justice of the State,
which place he held until August, 1874, when the
court was again overturned to make room for the
appointees of the prevailing political party. Chief
Justice Sargent, at the time of his appointment as
chief justice, had become the oldest judge upon the
bench, both in age and date of commission, so fre-
quent had been the changes in its members since his
appointment to that bench, less than fourteen years
before. He was distinguished for his laborious in-
dustry, his impartiality and his ability. His written
opinions are contained in the sixteen volumes of the
New Hampshire Reports, from the thirty-ninth to
the fifty-fourth, inclusive, numbering about three
hundred in all. Many of these are leading opinions
upon various subjects, and show great learning and
research.
After the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and
the attempt to make Kansas a slave State, Judge
Sargent acted with the Republican j)arty.
Upon leaving the bench, in August, 1874, he was
solicited to go into the practice of the law in Con-
cord with Wra. M. Chase, Esq., whose late partner,
the Hon. Anson S. Marshall, had recently been sud-
denly removed by death. He left a very extensive
and lucrative practice, more than any one man could
well attend to alone, and into this practice, by an
arrangement with Mr. Chase, Judge Sargent stepped
at once, and the business firm thus formed continued
for five years.
In 1876 he was elected a member of the Constitu-
tional Convention of this State. In this convention
he acted a prominent part. He received a large
complimentary vote for president of the convention,
but that choice falling upon another. Judge Sargent
was made chairman of the Judiciary Committee, the
same place held by Judge Levi Woodbury in the
convention of 1850. He took an active part in the
debates and discussions of that body, and wielded
an influence probably second to no one in the con-
vention.
He was also elected by his ward a member of the
House of Representatives for the years 1877 and
1878. It was evident from the first, so numerous and
important had been the changes in the constitution,
that there must be a revision of the general statutes of
the State. Early in 1877 steps were taken for this re-
vision, and Judge Sargent was appointed chairman
of a committee, with Hon. L. W. Barton, of New-
port, and Judge J. S. Wiggin, of Exeter, to revise
and codify the statutes of the State.
This committee at once commenced their work,
and with so much dispatch was it prosecuted that
they made their report to the Legislature of 1878,
which report was, with various amendments, adopted
by that Legislature. There was also much new legis-
lation enacted that year, which the committee were
instructed to incorporate with their own work, and
this was all to go into effect the 1st day of January,
1879.
The committee revised their work, making the re-
quired additions, superintended the printing of the
whole, and had their volume ready for distribution
before the day appointed. It is the largest volume
of statutes ever printed in the State, and it is be-
lieved not to be inferior to any other in any im-
portant particular.
In the fall of 1878 Judge Sargent was invited- by a
committee of the citizens of New London to prepare
a centennial address, to be delivered on the one hun-
dredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town.
He at once accepted the invitation, and set about the
work, and on the 25th day of June, 1879, he de-
livered his address to a large assembly of the present
and former citizens of the town and others, the occa-
sion being distinguished by a larger collection of
people, probably, than ever met in the town upon
any former occasion. Being a native of New Lon-
don, he took a peculiar interest in looking up its
early history and in tracing the lives of its promi-
nent men. The address was published in the
Granite Monthly in the numbers for July, August
and September, 1879, and has been favorably noticed
as a work of great labor and research.
About the 1st of September, 1879, at the end of
five years from the commencement of his partnership
in business, the question arose whether he should
continue for five years more or retire. Having spent
nearly forty years of his life in toil, he concluded to
22
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
take some portion of the remaining time for enjoy-
ment, wliile he liad health and strength and capacity
to enjoy. He retired from tlie practice of the law,
finding that it was vain to hope for rest and recrea-
tion while engaged in that profession. The judge
has one of the finest residences in the city, and is
enjoying life with his friends and his books. He has
also traveled extensively in his own country, and
been a close observer of men and things.
In 1864 he was elected Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of
New Hampshire, and was re-elected the next year.
After this he declined a re-election.
Dartmouth College conferred on him the degree of
Master of Arts, in course, three years after gradua-
tion ; also, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws,
at its centennial commencement, in 1869.
He has for many years been an active member of
the New Hampshire Historical Society, and for the
last ten or twelve years has been one of its vice-
presidents.
For many years past he has been connected with
the National State Capital Bank as one of its direc-
tors. The Loan and Trust Savings-Bank, at Con-
cord, commenced business August 1, 1872, and in the
thirteen years since then its deposits have increased
to over one million seven hundred thousand dollars.
Judge Sargent has been president of this bank and
one of its investment committee since its commence-
ment, and has given his personal attention to its
affairs.
In 1876 the New Hampshire Centennial Home for
the Aged was organized and incorporated, and, Jan-
uary 1, 1879, a home was opened in Concord at
which some ten to twenty aged ladies have since
been supported. The funds of this institution are
gradually increasing, and its work is being well done.
For the last eight yeai-s Judge Sargent has been
president of this institution, and has taken a deep
interest in its prosperity and success.
In compliance with a request from a committee of
the trustees, he prepared and delivered, at the com-
mencement at Dartmouth College, in 1880, a me-
morial address upon the late Hon. Joel Parker, for-
merly chief justice of this State, and afterwards
professor of law in Harvard College. This duty
Judge Sargent performed in a manner creditable to
himself and satisfactory to the friends of the late
Judge Parker. His address was printed, with other
similar addresses in memory of other deceased judges,
graduates of Dartmouth, by other distinguished sons
of the college.
He married, first, Maria C. Jones, of Enfield,
daughter of John Jones, Esq., November 29, 1843,
by whom he had two children. John Jones Sargent,
the elder, graduated at Dartmouth College in 186G,
and died in Oshkosh, Wis., October 3, 1870, just as
he was ready to commence the practice of the law.
The second, Everett Foster, died young. For his
second wife, he married Louisa Jennie Paige, daughter
of Deacon James K. Paige, of Wentworth, September
5, 1853, by whom he has had three children, — Marie
Louise, Annie Lawrie and George Lincoln. The
second died young; the eldest and youngest survive.
Since he commenced the practice of the law, in
1843, his residence has been as follows: In Canaan
four years, to 1847 ; in Wentworth twenty-two years,
to 1869; and in Concord sixteen years since.
As a lawyer. Judge Sargent was always I'aithful
and true to his clients, a safe counselor and an able
advocate. As a legislator, he has been conservative
and safe. As a judge, he always studied to get at
the right of the case, to hold the scales of justice
evenly, to rule the law plainly, so that the party
against whom he ruled might have the full benefit
of his exception to the ruling, and to get the ques-
tions of fact and the evidence, as it bore upon them,
clearly and distinctly before the jury. Any one who
attended the courts where he presided as judge
could see at once that he was patient and pains-
taking, industrious and persevering, vigilant and
discriminating, impartial and fearless; and any one
who reads his written opinions will see that they
exhibit great research, learning and ability.
Mason Weare Tappas' was born October 20,
1817, in the village of Newport, Sullivan County. His
father, the late Weare Tappan, being a strong admirer
of Jeremiah Mason, who, at that time, was in full prac-
tice at the bar, named his son after him, and gave him
also his own name and the name of his mother, who
was one of the descendants of the celebrated old
Weare family.
Weare Tappan was a man of note and ability, prom-
inent as a lawyer, and a main pillar in the com-
munity in which he lived. He was born in the town
of East Kingston, Rockingham County, and early
settled in the town of Newport. He read law with
the late Judge Ellis, of Claremont, who was one of the
ablest and most accomplished lawyers in the State.
Mr. Tappan was one of the marked men of his time.
Taking an early position on the subject of slavery, he
was an old pioneer in the cause. His house was the
rendezvous of the anti-slavery lecturer and the home
of the fugitive slave. A patriarch of the olden time,
strong in his convictions when answering to his con-
science, hehad determined that he was right; he died
in 1866, but not till he had seen the fulfillment of his
hope and prayer, that the curse of slavery might be
blotted out and the authority of the government
restored.
The mother of Mason W. Tappan died only a few
months after the decease of his father. The Concord
Monitor, in noticing her death at the time, paid her
the following tribute : " The deceased was a fine spec-
imen of the old school of ladies, who maintained a
lively interest in the present, which, added to her
' Walter C. Harriman.
BENCH AND BAR.
great intelligence, rare conversational jjowers, keen
insight of persons, a strong moral nature and a cath-
olic spirit, bounded by no creed or color, made her
ju-eseuce a benediction and her life a pleasant recol-
lection."
At an early age Mason removed with the family to
Bradford, Merrimack County, and here he spent his
boyhood days, and here has he always resided. In
his youth he displayed many of those strong traits of
character which became prominent in after-life. He
early formed a resolution to abstain from the use of
intoxicating drinks, and that resolution has never
been broken. In addition to the regular course of
instruction which he received from his parents, he
attended old Father Ballard's school, in Hopkinton,
and the Hopkinton Academy, which was a noted
school in those days. He also became a student at
the Meriden Academy.
Having chosen the profession of the law, he pursued
the study of the same with his father and with the
Hon. George W. Nesmith, of Franklin, who for a long
time was one of the judges of the Supreme Judicial
Court. He was admitted to the bar in 1841, and soon
acquired an extensive practice in Merrimack and
Sullivan Counties. In the eminent an ay of legal
ability that adorned the bar in those dayi-, by his
power as an advocate, he shortly obtained a promi-
nent place.
Down to the year 18.5.3 he had given his undivided
attention to the law. His practice and his reputation
as a lawyer were constantly on the increase. He had
lielonged to the Whig, Free-Soil and American par-
ties. Although his first step aside from his profession
was only to represent his town (which was largely
Democratic) in the Legislature, to which he was
successively elected in 1853, 1854 and 1855, by his
personal popularity among his townsmen, it was
apparent, from the position that he occupied and the
character of the times, that he would drift into broader
fields. To turn from his profession and enter the
arena of party strife, although a matter largely con-
trolled by force of circumstances, was a step not to be
taken without due deliberation. In Sullivan County,
with always a formidable array of counsel against him,
he had achieved some of his greatest triumphs, and
had never failed to secure a verdict before a jury. It
was with some misgivings that he turned from the
certain pursuits of his professional career to tread the
uncertain paths in the field of American politics.
In the legislative session of 1854, Mr. Tappan was
a candidate for Speaker of the House, and, notwith-
standing there was a Democratic majority of about
twenty, he came within two votes of an election. In
the same year, forgetting past contentions, and moved
by the prominent stand he had taken in the Legisla-
ture, the Whigs, Free-Soilers, Independent Democrats
and Americans came to his support and nominated
him a member of Congress from the old Second Dis-
trict, and he was elected. He was twice re-elected.
breaking for the first time the long-established rule of
giving a member of Congress only two terms, and
served in the Thirty-fourth, Thirty-fifth and Thirty-
sixth Congresses with distinguished ability, and es-
tablished for himself, in those eventful times when
" madne.ss ruled the hour," a reputation as an able and
fearless champion of the cause of the Union and the
great principles of the Republican party. In July,
1856, Mr. Tappan made a speech upon the subject of
the extension of slavery into Kansas, the House be-
ing in a committee of the whole on the state of the
Union. " It was a rich treat," to use the language of
the Jfezv York Tribune at the time, "and made some
of the Southern chivalry ' rise to a point of order,'
and ask questions and squirm, and look very uncom-
fortable. It was a speech produced by deep research
and much labor." In conclusion, Mr. Tappan said :
" Mr. Chairman, let me say that we seek no quarrel
with our brethren of the South. This is an issue ifiet/
have forced upon us, and, with God's blessing, we will
meet it as becomes worthy descendants of patriotic
sires ! You sometimes tell us that you want to be let
alone. That is precisely what we intend to do ; we
will interfere with none of your rights ; whatever is
' nominated in the bond ' that we will yield. In turn,
is it too much for us to make the same request of
you — that you will let ?<s alone? If slavery be a
blessing, to you shall inure all its benefits. If it be a
curse, do not ask to place it on our soil to involve us
in its guilt. We desire to cultivate the relations of
peace and fraternal kindness with the people of the
South."
The storm of secession was rising, and all political
elements were warming to the contest that was fast
coming on. No State in the Union had more reason
to be proud of any of its delegation in Congress than
had New Hampshire of Mr. Tappan. As was
said by one of the leading newspapers in the State at
the time, he was " active, enthusiastic and always
conciliatory where conciliation is needed. With a heart
forced by its very nature to hate falsehood, oppression
and wrong, he is just the man whom a free people
should delight to honor, and in honoring whom they
must honor themselves."
Mr. Tappan, in March, 1858, delivered an able
speech in the House upon slavery agitation, nullifica-
tion and the Lecompton Con.stitution, in which he said
that he wished " to put on record the protest of New
Hampshire of what he conceived to be the most stu-
pendous political fraud that was ever before attempted
to be perpetrated upon any people." In the winter of
1860-61, in the Thirty-sixth Congress, the celebrated
select committee of thirty-three — one from each State
— was constituted, to which was referred so much of
the President's annual message as related to the then
disturbed state of the country. Mr. Tappan was
placed upon this committee, and joined with Mr.
Washburn, of Wisconsin, in a minority report.
A report on the part of the majority had been agreed
IIISTOIIY OF MElllUMACK COUxNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
to and submitted, recommending amendments to the
Constitution, by which the South would acquire all,
if not more, than it had demanded for its institution
of slavery. This minority report was a strong docu-
ment, and recommended the adoption of the following
resolution :
" Haohtd, That the provisions of the Constitution are ample for the
preservation of the Union, and tho protection of the material interest* of
tlie country ; that it needs to be obeyed rather tlian amended ; and our
extrication from present dilBculties is to be looked for in efforts to pre-
serve and protect the public property and enforce tho laws, rather than
iu new guarantees for particular interests, or compromises, or conces-
sions to unreasonable
On the 5th of February, 1S61, the minority report
was submitted, and Mr. Tappan immediately arose in
his seat and addressed himself to the issues involved.
He began by saying that he was opposed to the rais-
ing of this committee at the outset, not because he
did not fully understand the perilous condition of the
country, but because he believed that the appointment
of such a committee would lead to some sort of a com-
promise, when any compromise, under the circum-
stances, would be humiliating to the North, and
he did not believe that any measures that might be
passed would be productive of good, and would only
add fuel to the flame. He was not unwilling, at the
proper time, to make reasonable concessions to any
portion of his countrymen that had grievances to be
redressed. But he contended that that portion of
the American people who had just succeeded in elect-
ing their President, in the modes and forms recog-
nized by the Constitution, had done nothing that re-
quired apology, — he did not, for one, go into that
election to have the principles for which he con-
tended abandoned at the first howl of those that were
disappointed at the re-sult. Other parties went into
the election, and all must abide the result. But no
sooner was the election of Mr. Lincoln declared than
the fires of revolution broke out. With most indecent
haste, the disunionists of the country, who, by their
own confessions, had been plotting its overthrow for
thirty years, seized the public property, insulted the
American flag and, with jeers at the government
which had protected them so long, declared
themselves out of the Union. Under these cir-
cumstances, he was for postponing all other ques-
tions until it was ascertained whether we had a gov-
ernment or not. He declared that if this government
was a mere cobweb, with no power for its own preser-
vation, it would be utterly useless to attempt to patch
it up with compromises. He was for narrowing the
issue to the question of Union or no Union, govern-
ment or no government, and maintained that, if this
position had been lioldly taken from the start, they
would have stood stronger. Every time the people of
the free States have wavered, every time her repre-
sentatives have evinced a disposition to fall back one
step from their po.sition, the Secessionists, with fiercer
yells, have advanced two. At the first dawn of trea-
son in its borders, the great Nation retires before
it, and is crumbling to pieces without an eSbrt to
maintain its integrity or a finger raised to protect its
flag! The enforcement of the revenue laws, the de-
fense of the capital and the protection of the public
property does not necessarily involve war. He pro-
ceeded at length on this line, and in course of his
masterly effort uttered the following sentiments:
" Sir, I will indulge in no threats of what would be
the result in such an event [in the event of war]. I
will make no boasts of the prowess of any particular
section of the country. I desire to say no word that
can exasperate or inflame, but simply to plant myself on
the side of my country and the integrity of its govern-
ment, whose Constitution I have sworn to support.
Sir, the Union is dear to the people of the Northern
States ; they would sacrifice much to preserve it as it
is; but a Union founded on the protection of slavery
as its 'chief corner-stone ' is not the Union for which
our fathers fought, and is not the precious boon which
they supposed they had transmitted to their posterity."
The speech was widely circulated, and many of the
congratulations that were called forth by it were con-
tained in private letters from leading citizens, not only
in New England, but throughout the free States. By
this heroic maintenance of the " Union as it is and
the Constitution as our fathers made it," there were
accorded to him an ability and statesmanship which
those troublesome times so much demanded in the
halls of Congress.
Mr. Tappan's course throughout, as a member of
Congress, was characterized by a conscientious regard
for the right and the true spirit of independence.
Over him there was no unworthy control and with
him there was no unworthy alliance. The part he
bore as a member of the committee of thirty-three
receives high commendation in the first volume of
Mr. Blaine's .book, "Twenty Years of Congress."
His action in the celebrated Judge Watrous case and
on the admission of Oregon as a State was not with-
out criticism. But that criticism was fully disarmed
and his course vindicated. On the 5th of March, 185;),
at a great Kepublican meeting in the citi|- of Concord,
the people of every shade of political opinion gath-
ered to hear him and listen to an explanation of his
position in the Oregon affair. In a candid and able
manner he reviewed his action thereon, and concluded
by saying " that he would not have taken a different
position if every man, woman and child in the State,
on bended knees, had implored him to do it; but
would have resigned and come home and delivered to
his constituents the trust which had been confided
to him." A press report says "That the speaker
was interrupted here by loud and continued applause
such as was never before heard in the city, while
three tremendous cheers were given, which showed
emphatically that the hearts of the people were with
him."
During his Congressional life, which closed with the
Thirty-sixth Congress (not being a candidate for re-
BENCH AND EAll.
.lection), he had served on the judiciary committee
and was chairman of the committee of claims, and at
the time of his appointment as such chairman, the
following appeared in the New York Tribune : " The
Hon. Mason W. Tappan was conspicuous in the Thirty-
fifth Congress as a member of the committee of the
judiciary, and during the protracted examination of
the charges preferred against Judge Watrous, Mr.
Tajipan was untiring in the discharge of his delicate
duties. His selection now, as the head of the com-
mittee on claims, was a coiiipliment due, as well to his
past services in Congress, as to his distinguished abil-
ity as a lawyer and integrity as a man."
He was also a menber of the vigilance committee,
tlie chief duties of which were to watch the " Black
Horse Cavalry."
We had reached the period of civil war. Armies
were gathering, and the principles he had enunciated
iu the national House of Representatives he was
ready to defend in the field. Abraham Lincoln called
for seventy-five thousand volunteers for three months,
and Colonel Tappan was one of the first men to enlist
in the State. The command of the First Regiment
naturally went to him, and he was accordingly ap-
pointed and commissioned by Governor Berry. The
regiment was mustered into the service of the United
States from the 1st to the 4th of May, 1861, and on
the morning of the 25th left for the seat of war. The
regiment received one continued ovation as it moved
to the front. In New York City it was presented with a
silk flag, by Judge Bo wney, and its passage through the
streetsof the great metropolis on the day of the fun-
eral of Colonel Ellsworth created a scene never to be
forgotten. It was the first regiment that had entered
the field fully equipped, with field and staff officers
mounted, and with seventy-five horses and twenty-
one baggage-waggons. It wheeled into line behind
tlie funeral cortege and marched down Broadway.
Baltimore was reached in the afternoon of May 27th.
The men disembarked from the cars, and, with loaded
muskets and fixed bayonets, marched to the tune of
" Yankee Doodle " unmolested through the city that
had shed Union blood. On reaching Washington, the
regiment marched up Pennsylvania Avenue and on
to Kalorama, where it went into camp. As soon as
the column had passed the White House, President
Lincoln sent for Colonel Tappan, and, complimenting
him highly on the appearance of his men, said, taking
him by the hand, " Colonel Tappan, your regiment
looks more like war than anything I have seen." On
the 10th of June the regiment was joined to a brigade
commanded by Colonel Charles P. Stone, and marched
to Rockville, Md. At this time the Confederate army
was skirting the right bank of the Potomac, and at
no time during the war was the national capital in
greater peril.
On the 14th of June the regiment moved towards
Poolesville, the object of this movement being to
guard the river against the enemy, who were in large
force at Leesburg, Va. On the 17th the enemy opened
fire on a portion of the regiment with rifles and six-
pound cannon, and while Colonel Tappan was mov-
ing with the remaining portion of the regiment to the
scene of action, he was ordered back to guard against
an anticipated attack from another direction. He was
placed in command at Poolesville, and established a
line of pickets for a distance of fourteen miles, from
his camp, at Poolesville, down to Concord Ferry, thence
up the Potomac to the mouth of the Monocacy. On
the 6th of July a detachment, under command of Col-
onel Tappan, moved to Sandy Hook, the reserve to
be sent there by rail on the 7th, and that night
moved up the river on the Maryland side twelve miles,
arriving at Sharpsburg at two o'clock in the morning,
and at Williamsport, twelve miles farther, in the af-
ternoon, where they forded the river and stood on the
" sacred soil " of Virginia. Here they joined the
brigade, which moved forward to Martinsburg, where
they joined the command of General Patterson, who
had his running fight with Johnston, called the
battle of Falling Waters. July 14th the regiment,
with the rest of the division, moved on towards Win-
chester. The enemy fled at their approach. They
reached Bunker Hill in the afternoon of the same
day. The troops were anxious for battle, but instead
of marching on Winchester, a retreat was ordered to
Charlestowu. On the day of the battle of Bull
Run, the 21st, the division marched to Harper's
Ferry and went into camp on Bolivar Heights. July
21st found the regiment again in camp at Sandy
Hook, and August 2d, their term of enlistment having
expired, they embarked on board the cars for New
Hampshire, being mustered out of the service at Con-
cord, the 12th of August, 1861.
The men of Colonel Tappan's regiment were a
portion of the time wretchedly clad, and endured
many hardships. Owing to the reputation the regi-
ment had acquired since entering the field, it was
placed as the leading regiment on the right of the
army in its extended operations in Maryland and
Virginia. Of Colonel Tappan, " New Hampshire in
the Rebellion " says : "As a commander he was pa-
triotic, brave and thoughtful of and kind to his offi-
cers and men, and respected by all."
Colonel Tappan was appointed colonel of the
Fourth Regiment upon the resignation of Colonel
Whipple, but declined the appointment, feeling that
it would be doing injustice to the brave ranking offi-
cers of that regiment. He was, subsequently, unani-
mously elected colonel of the Sixteenth Regiment by
its soldiers ; but Colonel Tappan, as well as the Gov-
ernor of the State, thought it advisable that the
commission should go to another.
For the last twenty-five years Colonel Tappan has
been engaged in the constant practice of the law.
He has always maintained a large practice in his
county, and in many noted trials in other parts of the
State he has been engaged. In the celebrated Paul
26
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
R. George will case he was associated with the late
Caleb Gushing at his particular request.
By a close application to the study of the law
through a period of five years, Colonel Tappan was
admitted to the bar, after a thorough examination by
such a lawyer as the late Judge Perley, with no com-
mon knowledge in all its branches, and i)trhaps
fitted, had he so inclined, to become what is popu-
larly known as a technical lawyer. But rather than
a strict adherence to the mere technicalities of the
law, but taking a broader and more comprehensive
view of what the law is and what the practice of it
ought to be, it is more in accordance with his nature
to rely on the merits of each individual case and the
great law of reason and common sense as applicable to
them.
In 1876, Colonel Tappan was appointed Attorney-
General of the State by Governor Cheney, which
position he now holds. The administration of his
office, and the manner he has conducted the large
number of State and capital cases that have fallen to
him, has been characterized by ability and a faithful
discharge of its varied and important duties.
As an advocate, he goes to his work with great as-
surance, moulds his thought into shape with stalwart
strength, is clear and convincing, and the conviction
that he is sincere in the cause he presents is impressed
upon those that hear him.
During the time that he has been thus actively en-
gaged in his profession he has, in many heated polit-
ical campaigns, for which the State is so much noted,
taken the stump in behalf of the cause of the Repub-
lican party, and what he deemed to be for the welfare
of the whole country. In the great contest of 1868,
in Warner, the home of his friend and the nominee
of the Republican party. General Walter Harriman,
he made a speech of four houi-s' duration, in reply to
Richard Vaux, of Pennsylvania, who had spoken
there the day before, and had taken the ground that
in the reconstruction of the Southern Slates the ad-
ministration had acted outside of the Constitution.
Colonel Tappan, taking as his text the clause in the
Constitution that the " United States shall guarantee
to every State in this Union a republican form of
government," proceeded with heavy blows to destroy
the argument of the day before. The impression that
this speech made upon the writer, as well as upon the
minds of all that heard him, still remains, and it was
the opinion, regardless of party, that the object of it
was accomplished.
In the national campaign of 1872, Colonel Tappan
joined the Liberal Republican movement, and sup-
ported his life-long friend, Horace Greeley, for the
Presidency. Between these two men the strongest
ties of friendship existed. Colonel Tappan believed
that, more than any other man, Horace Greeley was
the framer and builder of the Republican party. He
was in Washington, as a member of Congress, during
the great contest for the Speakership of the House of
Representatives. Horace Greeley was there, and he
regarded him as the master-spirit that directed the
jarring and discordant elements, and, uniting them on
General Banks, secured his election as Speaker. The
war being over, and the people of the North and
South being citizens of one common country, he be-
lieved that the desired era of peace and reconciliation
would be brought about by the election of Horace
Greeley, and preferred that it should come under the
leadership of such a Republican than under a reign
of the Democratic party. He therefore supjiorted
Horace Greeley, and while this course subjected him
to adverse comment and criticism no one doubted his
sincerity or the motives by which he was actuated.
Nor did it imply that he had renounced any of the
principles of the Republican party, to which he had
adhered from the day of its birth, and with which, in
the course of events, he again found himself in full
accord.
Colonel Tappan has been three times married. His
first wife was Emeline M. Worth, of Sutton, by whom
he had one son, Frank M. Tappan, Esq., who resides
near his father, in Bradford. His second wife was
Mary E. Jenkins, of Boston, and his present wife was
Miss Imogene B. Atwood, of Lisbon, by whom he has
a little daughter, Helen L. Tappan.
Of Colonel Tappan, as a man and a citizen, the
writer concludes this sketch by quoting from a letter
of a neighbor, as follows : " Mr. Tappan's kindness to
the poor and afllicted, his fidelity as a friend, his
sensitiveness of heart and his honor in his profes-
sion are proverbial among his most intimate ac-
quaintances."
John Henry Albix ' was born October 17, 184.",
at West Randolph, Vermont. He is the son of John
and Emily (White) Albin. At the High School in
Concord, N. H., he prepared for college, and entered
Dartmouth at the fall term of 1860, and graduating
therefrom in 1864, he commenced the study of the
law with the late Hon. Ira A. Eastman of Concord,
who was a prominent lawyer and at one time one of
the judges of the Supreme Judicial Court. He pur-
sued his legal studies assiduously, without interrup-
tion, until October, 1867, when he was admitted to
the bar. In April, 1868, he became a partner of Judge
Eastman. In December of the same year, Samuel B.
Page, Esq., removed from Warren, N. H., and became
a member of the firm. They did a large business and
it was one of the leading firms in the State. It wa.s
dissolved in 1874, at which time Mr. Albin became
associated with the writer of this sketch, and by rea-
son of whose appointment as Attorney General of the
State, the relation was for a short time disstdved, as
under a statute the Attorney-General was disqualified
from practice, except in cases wherein the State was
a party. This statute being repealed, the association
was renewed.
//2/ /?,
-IC-C^
BENCH AND B2VR.
Mr. Albin formed a partnership witli Nathaniel E.
Martin, Esq., of Concord, under the title of Albin &
:Martin. This firm has an extensive legal business.
.Mr. Albin was a member of the Legislature from
Cuiuv.rd, ill ISTi^-;:;. 1 >ii ri 11, ii bis first term he served
iinc.n the .lucliciarv ( ■uiuniittrr, ami in 1873 was chair-
In 1875 be took up hisresidei
ut continued his business i
lected to represent the town
ce in Henniker, N. H.,
1 Concord. He was
in the Legislature of
187(5, (hirinu; which session he was a member of the
Judiciary Co]nmittee,and of several important special
coniniittccs be was made chairman.
Mr. .Vlbin has given much time and attention to
Odd-Fellowship, and takes great interest in the mys-
tic l)r()therhood. He has held all of the official posi-
tions in the Grand Lodge of the jurisdiction, and at
its annual session in 1879 was elected Grand Master.
In September, 1881, he represented the Grand Lodge
in the Sovereign Grand Lodge at its session in Cin-
cinnati, and in that at Baltimore in September, 1882.
At the session held in Cincinnati, September, 1881, a
committee was appointed to prepare a Degree of Uni-
formed Patriarchs, which consisted of William H.
Crocker of Chicago, Theodore B. Elliott of Milwaukee,
,Iobn H. Albin, C. B. Colledge of Washington, B.C.,
and John Heeseman of Charleston, S. C. The labo-
rious duty of preparing the work contemplated, fell
to Mr. Albin, and was performed with great care ; he
reported a Degree which was accepted by the commit-
tee and almost unanimously adopted by the Sovereign
Grand Lodge, at its session in Baltimore in September
1882. This committee was continued in existence,
with full power over the Degree until it was dis-
charged by the grand body at its session held in
Providence, in September, 1883. At the September
session of 1884, at Minneapolis, Minn., Mr. Albin was
made chairman of the Committee of the Patriarchal
Branch of the Order, and at the same session a special
committee was appointed for the purpose of making
any revision that might be deemed necessary so far as
that Degree was concerned, and also to report such
legislation as might be necessary to carry it into full
effect. That committee was composed of Mr. Albin,
e.x-Governor John C. Underwood of Covington, Ky.,
and Edward A. Stevens of Minneapolis, Minn., with
instructions to report at the session of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge, at Baltimore, September, 1885.
To those who know Mr. Albin it is not too much to
say, that he is one of the most active, industrious and
well-read lawyers in the State, and, notwithstanding
his constantly increasing business, he keeps himself
thoroughly read up in the latest legal decisions, and
makes it a point to provide himself with the best and
newest text-books in the profession. No case comes
to his hands but is first thoroughly investigated in all
its legal aspects ; and in preparing and presenting his
cases to the court, jury, or whatever tribunal are to
hear the same, in fact, in the whole conduct of a trial,
he takes high rank at the New Hamp.shire bar. No
pains are spared and no labor is shirked which be
considers will in any way tend to ailvancc the ciuise
or the interests of his clients.
Although actively engaged in his profession, Mr.
Albin takes great interest in agricultural pursuits,
and upon his farm in Henniker he spends many days
of pleasant recreation.
He was married, September 5, 1872, to Miss Georgie
A. Modica, of Henniker. They have two children,
Henry A., born February 5, 1875, and Edith G., born
August 5, 1878.
William La whence Foster is the only son of
John and Sophia (Willard) Foster. His father was
one of thirteen children of the Rev. Edmund and
Pha?be (Lawrence) Foster.
Edmund, the grandfather of Judge Foster, was born
at Groton, Mass., in 1754. He graduated at Yale
College, studied for the ministry and became quite
prominent as a preacher. He was settled over the
church in Littleton, Mass., and continued to be its
pastor until his death, in 1825, a period of more than
forty years. He was at one time a member of the
Massachusetts State Senate. In 1783 he married
Pha>be Lawrence, of Littleton. She was the daughter
of Colonel William Lawrence, of Littleton. Through
his paternal grandmother Judge Foster traces his
descent from Robert Law-rence, of Lancashire, Eng-
land, who was born about the year 1150. Attending
his sovereign, Richard Coeur de Leon, in the war of
the Crusades in the Holy Land, he so distinguished
himself in the siege of Acre that he was knighted Sir
Robert, of Ashton Hall.
The sixteenth in descent was John Lawrence, who
came to America in 1635, and settled at Watertown,
Mass.
The great-grandfather of Judge Foster was Abra-
ham Foster, whose father came from England about
the middle of the seventeenth century, and settled
in Groton, Mass., where Abraham, Edmund and John
Foster, the ninth child and third son of Edmund, was
born. John Foster, in early life, removed to West-
minster, Vt., where he married Sophia Willard, and
where his only son, William Lawrence Foster, was
born, June 1, 1823.
John Foster removed to Fitzwilliam, N. H., in 1825,
and from thence to Keene, N. H., in 1834, where he
died February 7, 1854. He was a captain in the
old New Hampshire Militia, and was for many years
high sherifi' of the county of Cheshire. While resid-
ing in Keene, John Foster was many years a trader,
and his son assisted him in his store.
Judge Foster, when a boy, attended the common
schools and afterwards studied in the Keene and
Walpole Academies. When about seventeen years of
age he commenced the study of the law in the office
of Levi Chamberlain, Esq. In 1844 and 1845 he at-
tended the Law School at Cambridge. In 1845 he
was admitted to the bar in Keene, and for a short
HLSTUKY ur iMElllUiMACK CUUNTV, .NKW JIAMPSHIHK
time sustained a partnership with John N. Baxter,
and afterward with Mr. Chamberlain. From 1845 to
1849 he was postmaster at Keene. From 1849 to
1853 he was clerk of the New Hampshire Senate.
He was a member of Governor Dinsmore's staff, with
the rank of colonel, by whom, in 1850, he was ap-
pointed State reporter, holding that office till 1856.
During his terra of office he edited Vols. 17-19, 21-
31 inclusive, of the New Hampshire Rei)orts.
In January, 1853, he married Harriet Morton,
daughter of Hon. Hamilton E. Perkins, of Hopkinton,
N. H., and in April of that year he removed from
Keene to Concord, where he entered into partnership
with Colonel John H. (icorge. Hon. Charles P. San-
born subsequently became a member of the firm, and
upon Colonel George's retirement therefrom, in 1867,
the partnership was continued by Messrs. Foster &
Sanborn till October, 1869.
In 1854, Colonel Foster was appointed commis-
sioner of tlic Circuit Court of the United States, which
office he held until his election to the New Hamp-
shire House of Representatives, in 1862. He was a
member of the Legislature in 1862 and 1863. In
1863 he received from Dartmouth College the hon-
orary degree of Master of Arts.
He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Judicial
Court October 1, 1869, and held that office till October
1, 1874, when, upon the reorganization of the courts,
he was appointed chief justice of the Circuit Court,
with the late Judges Stanley and Rand as his asso-
ciates. October 1, 1876, he was appointed a judge of
the Supreme Court. He resigned that office July 1,
1881, and resumed the practice of the law. In 1884
he was reappointed an United States commissioner.
Judge Foster was very highly esteemed while a
member of the court, and, as a lawyer, is noted ior
his legal attainments. He is a graceful writer and an
eloquent orator, and has frequently been called upon
to preside at public meetings and to deliver commem-
orative addresses. His post-prandial speeches have
been especially happy. He is a strong advocate before
a jury.
John Hatch George.' — The man who makes his
way to the front rank at the bar and in politics, and
holds his position without dispute for more than a
quarter of a century, must be a person of ability,
energy and sagacity. Especially is this true in New
Hampshire, which, from the earliest period of our na-
tional history, has produced some of the ablest law-
yers and the keenest politicians known to the country.
Such a man is Colonel John Hatch George, of Con-
cord, whose name has long been a household word at
every Democratic fireside in the State, and whose
eminent legal position is recognized throughout New
England.
He was born in Concord, where he has ever since
esided, November 20, 1824. His parents
John
My H. H. Mctcalf, in "Clarke'8 Succcseful New HampBhilo Men."
and Mary (Hatch) George, the former a prominent,
respected and energetic citizen, who, though a native
of Hopkinton, located in Concord in early manhood ;
the latter, a daughter of Samuel Hatch, a leading
citizen of the town of Greenland, among whose grand-
children are included the Hon. Albert R. Hatch and
John S. H. Frink, Esq., both also known as eminent
lawyers and leading Democrats.
Gaining his preliminary education in the excellent
public schools of his native town and in the old Con-
cord Academy, Colonel George entered Dartmouth
College in 1840, being then fifteen years of age, where
he diligently pursued his studies for about three years.
until the death of his father compelled his return
home and the non-completion of his college course.
The faculty subsequently conferred upon him his
graduating degree, which was followed by that of
Master of Arts. Among his classmates at Dartmouth
were several who became prominent at the bar and in
public life, including the late Hon. Harvey Jewell,
and Hons. A. A. Ranney and Horatio G. Parker, ot
Boston, and ex-Governor Charles H. Bell.
If young George was unfortunate in the loss of his
father, and in the failure to complete the college course
consequent thereon, he was especially fortunate in
being favored v/ith the kindly regard of that brilliant
son of New Hampshire, General Franklin Pierce,
who, as a friend of the family, had become conversant
with his qualities and characteristics, and readily dis-
cerned the line of action best calculated for the de-
velopment and successful exercise of his powers.
Fortunate as he was, however, in the enjoyment of
the friendship of General Pierce at this time, it may
safely be assumed that he never would have been the
recipient of such favor had he not given evidence of
the possession of abilities above the common order.
The really great lawyer has a lofty regard for his pro-
fession, and will never be found influencing any one
to enter upon its pursuit who is not likely to honor
the profession and bring credit to himself. When,
therefore, upon the invitation of General Pierce,
young George entered upon the study of the law in
the office of the former, — as he did soon after leaving
college, and at the time when that distinguished man
was in active practice, — it was under circumstances
every way propitious to that ultimate success credit-
able alike to each. During his three years of legal
study under such tutelage, he made that rapid progress
which characterizes the advance of the ambitious and
enthusiastic young man, well equipped, mentally and
physically, for the work in hand, thoroughly in love
therewith, guided by wise counsel and inspired by
brilliant example ; and when, in 1846, he was ad-
mitted to the bar, and entered upon the practice of his
profession in his native city, it was with unusual
thoroughness of preparation.
At the opening of his professional career, Colonel
George was again particularly fortunate. General
Charles H. Peaslee had long ranked among the most
BENCH AND BAR.
29
careful lawyers of the State, and had acquired an ex-
tensive practice. He was a warm friend of General
Pierce, professionally and politically, and, like him,
an intimate friend of the George family. Entering
largely into public life, its engrossing duties withdrew
his attention more and more from professional en-
gagements, rendering desirable a partnership alliance
with some active and competent young man. Such
alliance was offered to and promptly accepted by
young George, who thus auspiciously commenced his
professional career.
The limits of this sketch will not permit a detailed
account of the progress and success of its subject;
but it may be stated, that from his entrance upon legal
practice to the present time, all his energies and facul-
ties have been heartily devoted to the labors and
duties of his profession, in whose performance he has
won a high measure of fame, as well as a fair amount
of that substantial reward which the world largely
regards as the prime object of human effort. His con-
nection with General Peaslee continued about five
years, and was followed by a professional alliance of a
similar character with Sidney Webster, Esq., then a
young lawyer of fine abilities and brilliant promise,
who has since become distinguished in legal and dip-
lomatic circles. This partnership continued till Mr.
Webster left Concord to become private secretary to
General Pierce, upon the accession of the latter to the
Presidency, in 1853. Soon afterward. Colonel George
formed partnership relations with Hon. William L.
Foster, who subsequently became, and long remained,
a judge of the Supreme Court of the State, and with
them Hon. Charles P. Sanborn was also for a time
associated.
Not only in behalf of an extensive private client-
age have the professional services of Colonel George
been employed, but for many years, also, in behalf of
the public, — he having been appointed solicitor for
Merrimack County in 184U, and re-appointed in 1854,
discharging the duties of the oflSce until 1856, when
he was removed for partisan reasons, the Republican
party signalizing its ascendency by a clean sweep of
Democratic ofiicials. From 1853 to 1858 he was
United States attorney for the district of New Hamp-
shire, appointed by President Pierce.
There are, undoubtedly, many men at the bar, in
this and other States, as well grounded in legal prin-
ciples as tJolonel George, and even more familiar with
the text-books, who have fallen far short of the suc-
cess he has attained. It is one thing to be able to
state abstract legal principles, and quite another cor-
rectly to apply those principles to the facts in any
given case. It has ever been the habit of Colonel
George, in the conduct of a cause, to thoroughly fam-
iliarize himself with all the facts and circumstances
connected therewith. The mastery of the cause itself
leaves little difficulty in the determination of the law
bearing thereon, and it is the strongest guaranty of
success in its management before a jury; and It is in
the conduct of jury causes tliat Colonel George has
won the greater measure of his success. Gifted with
great perceptive powers and a ready knowledge of
men, and familiar as he ever is with the cause in
hand, in all its bearings, he is never taken at a disad-
vantage, no matter how able or alert the opposing
counsel. In handling witnesses, and especially in
cross-examination, he has shown unusual tact and
ability. He reads the mind of a witness almost intu-
itively, and understands bow to bring out the essen-
tial facts even from the most reluctant, and to do so
in the manner best calculated to make the desired
impression upon the minds of the jury. As an advo-
cate, he is equaled by few and excelled by none of
our New Hampshire lawyers; yet his power in this
regard consists in the systematic, logical and intensely
earnest presentation of all the facts which go to make
up and strengthen his cause, and to destroy or weaken
that of his opponents, rather than in the oratory
which abounds in eloquently rounded periods and
impassioned appeals. In this connection may well
be quoted the words of one who, knowing Colonel
George from youth, has written of him as follows:
" Intense earnestness, and a faculty of an Immediate and ixiwerful
concentration of all bis mental faculties on any subject which interested
him, were the predominant peculiarities of the early manhood of Mr.
George. When he came to the bar, he manifested a power of felicitous
language, and a largeness of vocabulary, which were rarely to be seen
even in the most practiced speakers. He never prepared beforehand the
words of his spoken utterances, either at the bar
or on the stump. Whatever he could see and understand at a
and understood clearly. The strength of his feelings, the
power and range of his vocabulary, added to this c
made mere verbal preparation unnecessary for hit
made up of a clear perception of the turning-point of his case, and then
of pungent epigram, sparkling parado.\, rattling attack, vivid repartee,
hearty humor and, when occasion called for, of a fearlessness of denun-
ciation of what he believed to be wrong or unjust or unfair, which made
him, even at the outset of bis brilliant career, a dangerous antagonist
for the most practiced and powerful members of the New Hampshire
Though not retiring from general practice, Colonel
j George has devoted his attention largely to railroad
j law for many years past, having accepted, in 1867,
the position of solicitor for the Boston and Lowell
Railroad, and established an office in Boston for the
transaction of business in connection with that posi-
tion. He retired from this position in 1884. For
nearly twenty years previous to that date he had
served as clerk and counsel of the Concord Railroad
corporation, and had already become famiiiar with
the law of railways and their general relations to the
public. To-day there is no higher living authority
upon railroad law in New England than Colonel
George, — no man who understands more thoroughly
or can state more clearly the respective rights, duties
and obligations of railroad corporations and the peo-
[ pie in relation to each other, a general understanding
of which is becoming more and more essential to the
fullest measure of our national prosperity. His pub-
lic addresses upon the subject, his arguments before
legislative committees, courts and juries, are models
30
HISTOKY OF MEKRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
of clearness and cogency, admirable in construction
and convincing in eftect.
Notwithstanding bis uninterrupted devotion to the
law. Colonel George is no less generally known in
politics than at the bar. Wei) grounded in the faith
of the Democratic party in his youthful years, his
intimate association with Pierce, Peaslee and other
distinguished leaders of that organization in his early
manhood served to intensify his feelings and convic-
tions in that regard; so he has ever been a ready and
zealous exponent of Democratic principles and a
champion of the Democratic cause, contributing his
services without stint in conventions, in committee
work and upon the stump, doing able and brilliant
service in the latter direction in all parts of the State,
and in almost every campaign for the past thirty-five
years. He long since came to be regarded as one of
the most powerful and effective political debaters in
the State. His efforts upon the stump are character-
ized by the same earnestness, the same sledge-hammer
logic and the same comprehensive array of facts as
at the bar. His mode of warfare, political as well as
legal, is of the Napoleonic order. He never assumes
the defensive, and if placed in such jiosition by any
combination of circum.stances, he soon transforms it
into one of active aggression.
From 1851 to 1853, inclusive, Colonel George served
as chairman of the Democratic State Committee, and
again in 1856. In 1852 he was also selected as the
New Hampshire member of the Democratic National
Committee, and he was especially active in the cam-
paign, both in the State and the country at large,
which resulted in the election of his friend, General
Pierce, to the Presidency. His service upon the
National Committee continued until 1860. He was a
member of the Democratic National Convention in
1856, and chairman of the State delegation in the
National Convention at Cincinnati, in 1880. At the
Stale Convention of liis party, in September of that
year, he presided, delivering, upon assuming the
chair, one of the ablest addresses ever heard upon a
similar occasion.
His party having been in the minority in New
Hampshire for the past twenty-five years, he has been
comparatively little in public ofiice. Aside from the
non-partisan positions heretofore mentioned, he was
for three years — in 1847, 1848 and again in 1850 —
clerk of the State Senate. In 1853 he was chosen a
member of the Legislature, but resigned his seat to
accept the office of United States attorney. In this
connection it may be mentioned that in 1855 he was
tendered, by President Pierce, the office of sec-
retary of the Territory of Minnesota, which he at
first was inclined to accept, but, after deliberation,
determined to forego the chances for political pro-
motion ordinarily involved in an appointment of that
character, and remain with his friends and his law
practice in his own State. In 1859, Colonel George
received the Democratic nomination for Congress in
the Second District, and again in 1863, when he made
a vigorous canvass, and was defeated by a very close
vote. In 1866 he received the votes of the Demo-
cratic members of the Legislature as their candi-
date for United States Senator. Had he deserted his
party and allied himself with the majority when the
Republicans came into ascendency, he might readily
have commanded the highest honors in the gift of the
State, as others less able than himself have done ; but
his position in the honest regard of the people, irre-
spective of party, is far higher to-day for having
remained true to his convictions and steadfast and
active in their maintenance.
His military title comes from his service as chief
of the staff of Governor Dinsmoor from 1848 to 1850.
He was also for several years .commander in the
brilliant and popular organization known as the
" Governor's Horse-Guards." As a popular orator,
outside the domain of law and politics. Colonel
George also takes high rank. His oration upon
Daniel Webster, at the centennial celebration of the
birth of that most illustrious son of New Hampshire,
under the auspices of the Webster Club of Concord,
is surpassed in power and felicity of expression by
none which the event anywhere called forth.
Colonel George was united in marriage, in Septem-
ber, 1849, with Miss Susan Ann Brigham, daughter
of Captain Levi Brigham, of Boston, who died May
10, 1862, leaving five children, three sons and two
daughters, — viz. : John Paul, Charles Peaslee, Ben-
jamin Pierce, Jane Appletou, Anne Brigham. In
July, 1864, he married Miss Salvadora Meade Graham,
daughter of Colonel James D. Graham, of the United
States engineers, by whom he has one child, Charlotte
Graham.
The family residence of Colonel George is the old
paternal mansion on North Main Street, in Concord,
wherein he was born. He has also an excellent farm
a few miles out of the city, in Hopkinton, where he
makes his summer home, and where, in his little
leisure from professional labor, he indulges a fond-
ness for rural pursuits, and especially for the breeding
and care of domestic animals, which was one of the
characteristics of his boyhood. Incidental as this
may be, his farm is known as one of the most highly
cultivated in the section where it is located, and his
horses and Jersey cattle are the admiration of all
lovers of good stock.
As a citizen. Colonel George is public-spirited, and
freely devotes his time and energies to the further-
ance of every movement and the advocacy of every
measure which he believes calculated to promote the
material or educational welfare of the community.
No man in Concord has done more than he to advance
the prosperity of the city in every essential regard.
The efficiency of the public schools has ever been an
object of deep interest to him ; and as a private
citizen, as a member of building Committees and in
the Board of Education, he has given his services
y^£U Q^'^y^^^?^^
BENCH AND BAR.
freely in perfecting the admirably-equipped public-
school system, which is far from the least of the at-
tractions which render our capital city one of the
most desirable places of residence in New England.
The general extension of the railway system of
the State, to which most that has been accomplished
iu the development of its material resources for the
last twenty-five years is due, has ever found an en-
thusiastic supporter in Colonel George, who has been
and still is directly connected with several railroad
enterprises in different sections, which have proved of
great local and general advantage.
Few men have more or warmer friends than Colo-
nel George. A man of positive opinions, frankly
aud honestly delared, he commands the sincere re-
spect of those with whom he comes in contact in all
the relations of life, private, social, public and pro-
fessional. Formidable as an opponent, he is never-
theless fair and honorable, as he is true and faithful
as a friend and ally. He is a prominent member of
the Masonic order, having attained the rank of Sove-
reign Grand Inspector-General of the Thirty-third
Degree, and a member of the " Supreme Council of
the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the North-
ern Jurisdiction of the United States."
This brief sketch can, perhaps, be no more appro-
ately concluded than in the following language of the
gentleman (Sidney Webster, Esq.) heretofore quoted:
, while they have diniiiiiBhed somewhat the
energetic temperament and the exuberant animal spirits of Colonel
George's youth, and hare naturally softened his once blunt and almost
brusque manner in debate, have not diminished the real force and strength
of his genuine character, for character is just what Colonel George haa
always had. As the ripples of his experience spread over a wider and
wider area, he may have less and less confidence iu the infallibility of any
man's opinions, and less belief in the importance to society .of any one
man's action; but Colonel George has reached and passed his balf-cen-
tury with his mental faculties and his moral faculties improving and
strengthening year by year. New Hampshire has to-day very few
among her living sons better equipped to do triumphant battle for her
in the high places of the world."
Hon. Daxiel Barnard. — 1. John Barnard was
among the earlier settlers of Jlassachusetts. He
came to this country in 1G34, in the ship "Elizabeth,"
from Ipswich, England, and settled in Watertown.
2. John Barnard, son of the pioneer John Barnard,
had two sons, — Jonathan and Samuel.
3. Jonathan Barnard, inn-holder in Amesbury, who
kept "The Lion's Mouth" in provincial days, was a
captain in the colonial militia, and was prominent in
the affairs of the town in which he lived. His name
heads the list of the sixty original grantees, in 1735,
of the township of New Amesbury, or " Number
One," which was afterwards granted, in 1767, by the
Masonian proprietors, as Warner.
4. Charles Barnard, son of Jonathan, was a soldier
in the patriot army of the Revolution, and settled in
Warner.
5. Thomas Barnard, son of Charles Barnard, wa.s
born in Warner in 1782; married, first, Ruth East-
man, of Hopkinton ; second, Phebe, his first wife's
sister. In the fall of 1826 he removed, with hLs fam-
ily, from Warner to Orange. He died January 29,
1859. His wife, Phebe, died June 30, 1845.
6. Daniel Barnard, son of Thomas and Phebe Bar-
nard, was born in Orange, N. H., January 23, 1827.
This town, though it received some settlers under
its original name of Cardigan as early iis 1773, was in
1826, for the most part, still an unbroken wilderness.
When Thomas Barnard went up there and planted
his home on his lot of three hundred acres on the
highlands dividing the waters which flow into the
Pemigewassett from those which flow into the Con-
necticut, the whole territory was still covered by the
primeval forest. The church and the district school
stood together more than three miles ofl', and so con-
tinued till the subject of this notice, the fifth child of
the family, was fourteen years old, no regular school
being established nearer till he was eighteen years old.
But the father being a man of sense and intelligence,
and the mother an uncommonly bright, capable
woman, they not only made the utmost exertion to
give their children the full benefit of the meagre
chances of the district school, but also systematically
supplemented these opportunities with regular study
and teaching in the long winter evenings at home.
The father, a good mathematician, managed the flock
in arithmetic, and the mother handled them in other
branches. At the age of seventeen Daniel was at
the academy in Canaan, several miles from home,
during the winter, and subsequently continued to
work on the farm iu the summers and study at the
academy in the winters till he became of age.
During this time he was anxiously endeavoring to
secure the advantages of a college education, and
with this end in view, pursued his preparatory studies
at the Canaan and Boscawen Academies, and at the
Normal Institute at Reed's Ferry, under the tuition
of Professor William Russell, teaching during the
Wheu he arrived at man's estate he took his stand
with the Free-Soil Democrats, and was elected to rep-
resent the town of Orange in the popular branch of
the Legislature in the years 1848, '49, '50 and '51.
Mr. Barnard was well known in the House from his
first appearance iu that body, not merely because so
youthful in appearance, but because, also, of the un-
common capacity, the sincerity and sagacity with
which, in unassuming, almost diffident ways, he met
all his duties ; and in the latter sessions of the four
years' service he became a leader of the Independent
party in the House, an influential member of that
body. At home during the same period he was sleep-
less in his vigilance contriving by sagacious manage-
ment to hold the little band of Free-Soil Democrats
in a solid column, and annually to carry the town till
he left, in the autumn of 1851.
His legislative experience causing him to materially
change his plans for the future, he decided to enter
at once upon the study of law, and at the close of the
32
HSTORY OF MKRRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
legislative session of 1851 lie entered the law-office of
Nesmith & Pike, in Franklin.
In 1854, on admission to the bar, he became at once
the junior partner with Mr. Pike in the office in
which he had read his profession, Mr. Nesmith at
that time retiring from the office and extensive busi-
ness which he had so honorably founded and built
into its large proportions. In 18()3, Mr. Barnard
withdrew from the firm and established himself alone
in his profession in the same village, rapidly rising
into the very large, wide and lucrative business which
for more than fifteen years has allowed him not so
much as a week or scarcely a day of vacation in the
year. During this period he has had as many stu-
dents in his office constantly as the circumstances of
his office would admit, and has nearly all the time
had a partner in a temporary way. His partner now
is his eldest son, who was graduated at Dartmouth
College, with superior rank, in 1876, at the age of
twenty years, studied his profession in his father's
office and at the Boston Law School, and was admitted
to the bar and into partnership with his father in 1879.
In relation to tite business of the office, it is perfectly
safe to add that there has been no time within the
last ten years in which there has not been a formida-
ble amount of business piled up awaiting attention,
notwithstanding the most sleepless, indefatigable in-
dustry which Mr. Barnard has brought to his duties.
For many years he has not only regularly attended
all the courts in the counties of Merrimack, Belknap,
and the Plymouth sessions of Grafton, but has con-
stantly attended the United States Circuit Courts,
practicing in bankrupt, patent and revenue cases.
The reports of the courts fully support the statements
here made on this subject.
The esteem in which Mr. Barnard is held by the
immediate community in which he lives has been
casually mentioned. Though never seeking office,
he has been often chosen to places of responsibility
by his townsmen. In 1860 and 1862 he represented
the town in the Legislature, and in all political con-
tests in the town in which he has been candidate for
the suffrages of his townsmen he has always run
much ahead of the party ticket. In 1865 and 1866
he was a member of the State Senate, jiresiding over
that body in the latter-named year ; in 1870 and 1871
he was a member of the Governor's Council, and in
1872 was a member of the National Republican Con-
vention at Philadelphia. He was solicitor of Merri-
mack County from 1867 till 1872, when he declined a
reappointment, again declining the position in 1877.
He was a firm, earnest supporter of the homestead-
exemption law of 1850, which was opposed by most of
the legal profession in the Legislature, and introduced
the resolution in the House which first gave the
members a daily paper. As a member of the Senate
in 1867 he took a profound interest in the amendment
of the Federal Constitution prohibiting slavery,
making an able and effective argument, which was
published at the time, in its support in that body.
In the cause of education he has always been a
foremost friend in Franklin and throughout tlu-
State. His own early struggles have doubtless con-
tributed to make him peculiarly a friend of the com-
mon school, and his experience as a teacher in his
early years gives him practical wisdojn in the cause.
While studying his profession in Franklin he was,
from year to year employed in the teachers' institutes,
which did a large work in awakening higher ideas of
the mission of the common school in New Hampshire
during that period, and in that business he was in
nearly every county of the State. Sensible of his own
personal misfortune in having so little early chance for
schooling, his voice and his open hand are always on
the side which aims to give enlargement to the edu-
cation of the masses of the people, and in his own
family is seen his appreciation of the higher grades
of education. In 1867 the honorary degree of Master
of Arts was conferred upon him by Dartmouth Col-
lege.
Mr. Barnard has been prominently identified with
all the leading industries which have been established
in Franklin, and which have so remarkably built up
the town within the last twenty years. He procured
the charters and helped organize all the large cor-
porations; has been a continuous trustee of the
Franklin Library Association since its establishment,
more than fifteen years ago, and a trustee of the
Franklin Saviugs-Bank since its establishment, in
1865; legal counsel of the Franklin Falls Company
from its organization, in 1864, and for many years
its local agent, and is, and has been from the
first, a director and vice-president of the Franklin
National Bank, organized in that town in 1880.
As a lawyer Mr. Barnard ranks very high in the
profession, his advice being eagerly sought by all clas-
ses, but no person, however poor, with a meritorious
cause was ever turned away from his office to make
room for a richer or more powerful client. His
client's cause becomes his, and his whole energy is
directed to winning for him what he believes he
should have. His terse and logical arguments are
especially powerful before a jury, and his eloquent
voice has often been heard in legislative halls, leading
and guiding the law-making assemblies, and in po-
litical meetings sustaining the motives and policy of
his party
In the social, humane and religious work of the
community he has always been active and efficient,
generous almost to a fault in every good enterprise,
and in these spheres of duty he has ever had the
efficient co-operation of a cultivated and, it is not too
much to add, a model Christian wife, — Amelia, only
child of Rev. William Morse, a Unitarian clergyman,
of Chelmsford, Mass., at the time of the marriage, —
to whom he was married November 8, 1854. Mr.
Morse, now deceased, was one of the pioneer clergy-
men of the Unitarian faith in this country, was many
BENCH AND BAR.
33
years pastor of the Callowhill Street Church, Phila-
delphia, and an able and excellent minister. His
wife was Sophrouia, daughter of Abner Kneeland, of
Boston, an able and upright man, whose trial on the
technical charge of blasphemy, but really for the
publication of heretical religious doctrines, was a
most noted episode in New England forty years ago.
Mrs. Morse was a noble woman. Mr. Morse and his
wife resided during the last years of their pleasant
lives in Franklin, near their daughter, who watched
with singular tenderness over the closing years of the
parents to whom she is indebted for superior train-
ings, as well as superior ability.
Their union has been blessed with seven children,
six of whom — four sons and two daughters — are now
living.
William Morse, the eldest son, has been mentioned.
James Ellery, the second son, entered Dartmouth
College, but left at the end of his sophomore year,
and is in business in Boston.
Charles Daniel and Frank Eugene are both at
school, the former being a student at Phillips Exeter
Academy.
Emma Sophronia, the elder of the two daughters,
is married to Captain Samuel Pray, of Portsmouth,
N. H.
Mary Amelia was graduated at Smith College in
1881, and lives at home.
Joseph B. Walker is the son of Captain
Joseph Walker, and the great-grandson of Eev.
Timothy Walker, the first minister of Concord. He
was born on the paternal farm June 12, 1822. He
was fitted for college largely at Exeter, and graduated
at Yale in 1844. He studied law in the office of Hon.
Charles H. Peaslee, of Concord, and at the Harvard
Law School, and was admitted to the New Hampshire
l)ar in March, 1847.
A year or two after liis admission to the bar he re-
linquished his profession, and has since been devoted
to general business.
He inherited the family farm, one of the largest in
Concord, which he has greatly imjjroved by working,
draining, fertilizing, etc., thereby trebling its produc-
tiveness.
From 1845 to 1866, when its third charter expired,
Jlr. Walker was a director of the Merrimack County
Bank. This was a State institution, and its managers
not caring to continue it as a national bank, its exis-
tence ceased with its third charter, after a successful
career of sixty years. In 1865 he was elected presi-
dent of the New Hampshire Savings-Bank, in Concord,
one of the oldest institutions for savings in New
Hampshire, and remained at its head until 1874.
Upon its organization in 1880 he was elected one of
the directors of the Mechanics' National Bank, and
is still a member of that board. .
About 1847 he was elected clerk of the board of
directors of the Northern Railroad and, a few years
later, a director, which two offices he held for several
years. Some twelve or fifteen years ago he became a
director of the Concord and Portsmouth Railroad, a
position which he still holds.
Mr. Walker took an early interest in the New
Hampshire Asylum for the Insane, and became one
of its trustees in 1847 and its secretary in 1848.
These positions he still occupies, having held them
for nearly forty years. Being a resident trustee, he
has had much active service in connection with the
outside business of that institution. Since his con-
nection with it, its accommodations for patients have
increased from those for ninety-six patients to ample
ones for three hundred and fifty.
He has ever taken an active interest in the New
Hampshire Historical Society, of which he became a
member in 1845 and has since served it in various
ways, acting as its librarian from 1845 to 1850, its
recording secretary from 1849 to 1853, its second
vice-president from 1860 to 1861, its first vice-presi-
dent from 1861 to 1866, and its president from 1866
to 1868. He was also active in the successful efforts
to procure for it a permanent habitation of its own
and in fitting this to meet the wants of the institu-
tion.
He also took a deep interest in the founding of the
New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Me-
chanic Arts. He was chairman of the special com-
mittee of the House of Representatives, in 1866 to
whom this subject was committed, drew and reported
the bill establishing it, which, with some modifica-
tions, passed both branches of the Legislature, and
after its organization was for a year or two one of its
trustees. His name now stands upon its catalogue as
lecturer to its students upon the subjects of drainage
and irrigation.
Mr. Walker has always felt a deep interest in the
welfare of his native city. Twice — in 1866 and 1867
— he has represented it in the Legislature, and for
two years he was a member of its Board of Aldermen.
The educational interests of the city have also
received his earnest support. Up to about 1850 the
schools of Concord had been as poor as those of any
other large town in the State. The consolidation of
the three districts in the central part of the city into
one, since known as Union School District, was
the first important step in their improvement. The
second was the establishment of a Board of Education
in this district. These two steps subsequently secured
a new interest on the part of its people in the welfare
of their schools. A systematic grading of the schools
and a rebuilding of all its school-houses, with such
additional buildings as the wants of the schools re-
quired, were the third and fourth in this important
work, which required large expenditures of money
by the district and large expenditures of time, skill
and patience on the part of the Board of Education.
The result has been the elevation of the schools to a
level with that of the good schools of New England,
and the placing within the reach of all the children
34
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
of this district tlie means of attaining a respectable
English or classical education.
Mr. Walker was one of the original members of
this Board of Education, and by successive elections
was continued such for thirteen years, at the expira-
tion of which period he felt that he had contributed
his share of work in this direction, and retired.
Mr. Walker was one of the original members of
the committee appointed by the city for the purchase
of a new cemetery, and took an active part in laying
out the grounds of Blossom Hill Cemeter)-, in 1860,
and in securing a proper ordinance for the regulation
of its aflairs. After a service of ten years he retired
from this position, in 1870.
. He has ever been a good deal interested in agricul-
tural and liistorical subjects ; from time to time has
written papers, and on various occasions has delivered
addresses upon these. All the fourteen volumes of
" Reports of the Secretary of the Board of Agricul-
ture " contain one or more of these, with the excep-
tion of the thirteenth. Before the New Hampshire
Historical Society and the New England Historic
Genealogical Society he has repeatedly read papere
upon historical and biographical subjects ; many of
these latter have been printed.
Anson Southard Marshall' was born in Lyme,
New Hampshire, December 3d, 1822, and died
in Concord on the morning of July 5th, 1874. His
father was a farmer, and young Anson's boyhood
was passed on the farm, wbere his naturally delicate
constitution became strong and vigorous and thus en-
abled him, in the succeeding years of his busy life, to
bear its fatigues and worriments without seriously
afl'ecting his health. At an early age he inclined to-
wards reading and study ; and, although he did not
neglect the sports incident to his gleeful disposition,
young Marshall found time to indulge iu a course of
reading somewhat unusual for one of his years. With
an ambition like this, it was but natural that he
should turn his eyes towards that venerable seat of
learning only a few miles distant from his father's
homestead.
Accordingly, he entered Dartmouth College at the
age of twenty-one, having fitted himself in the space
of eighteen months while at the academy at Thetford.
Among his classmates were the Hon. James W. Pat-
terson, now superintendent of State instruction, the
Hon. Henry P. Rolfe, Albert H. Crosby, M.D., and
many others since distinguished in their various
walks of life. He was graduated in the class of 1848,
and, like many a young graduate of that time, sought
his immediate livelihood in the vocation of school-
teacher. In this he was singularly fortunate. About
the year 1849 the town of Fitchburg, Mass., estab-
lished a High School, and the committee having the
selection of teachers in charge chose Mr. Marshall
from a large number of applicants. To the wisdom
1 By Charles R. Corning.
of this choice the old people testify to this day, ami
his name is held in most affectionate regard by thosi
who attended the school during his principalship.
As a teacher, he was remarkably successful; his
method of instruction was such as to interest tin
scholar without the tediousness of an unchanging'
routine.
As an illustration of his originality as a teacher. In
once dismissed his class and went with it to a circus,
in order, as he said, that his scholars might see the
exceeding suppleness and perfection of the human
body as shown by the performers. As a practical
lesson in anatomy, this deviation from the truly or-
thodox regulation may have proved productive <'l
much good.
While in Fitchburg, Mr. Marshall entered hi-
name in the law-ofiBce of Wood & Torrey, but Ui>
school duties must have prevented any serious or
deep researches in the literature of that professiim,
to which he afterward dedicated his life.
He often referred to the time he spent in Fitcli-
burg as one of the pleasantest of his life, and when-
ever, in after-years, business called him in its neigh-
borhood, he was sure to visit the old scenes and to
receive the hearty welcome of those of his old friends
who yet remained.
In 1851 he left Fitchburg and came to Concord,
where he lived to the day of his death. Entering
the law-office of President Pierce and Judge Josiah
Miuot, he made good progress in his studies, and tlu'
next year was admitted to the bar.
A partnership was formed with his former cliuss-
mate, Mr. Rolfe, which continued until 1859, and
was then dissolved, Mr. Marshall remaining alone
until 1863, when AVilliam M. Chase, Esq., became
associated with him under the name of Marshall &
Chase.
There is, probably, no State in the Union where
politics are more assiduously cultivated than in New
Hampshire, and especially by the lawyers; so, when
Mr. Marshall found himself again in his native
State, his active mind inevitably turned to party
questions. He came from a stanch Democratic
family, and his later associations were of the same
political faith. One of the eminent lawyers with
whom he had studied was President of the United
States, the other was one of the wisest counselors in
the Democratic camp, and it is not surprising that
the young man just entering into life should take an
active part in the management and detail of the
campaigns.
He was elected assistant clerk of the House of
Representatives, and, later, was appointed district
attorney by President Buchanan, which office he
held until the advent of the Lincoln administration.
The fascination of politics never wore off, and he
continued to render his party efficient service on the
stump and in the council-room.
In 1867 he was chairman of the Democratic State
ifu/rrtJ //
7r.A
'A^C
BENCH AND BAR.
35
Committee diirinji; one of the most exciting cani-
paigns ever waged. Andrew Johnson had broken
with the Republican party, and as New Hampshire
then held its election in March, the great eye of the
nation was fixed on the Granite State to see if she
wavered in the fidelity to those principles which had
so long guided her.
The fight was bitter and hotly contested, but Mr.
Marshall and his party were beaten. His genial
nature, however, did not suffer from the defeat, his
cheery ways were not lessened, and there lurked in
hia generous mind no feeling of resentment or of
revenge either toward his own party or his opponents.
In the spirited contestbetweenthe Northern and the
Concord Railroads Mr. Marshall was an active factor,
and about 1870 was elected clerk of the latter corpo-
ration, a jiosition which he held at the time of his
death.
But law was, most truly, Mr. Marshall's forte, and
to it he devoted the best years of his life.
He was not a learned, nor was he even an unusu-
ally well-read lawyer, but few, indeed, excelled him in
getting at the pith of the case or in applying the
necessary legal principles. He possessed a confidence
and courage that helped him to conquer difficulties
which otherH might have deemed insurmountable,
and, above all, a tact which never failed him. He
was uniformly polite not only to the bench and to
the bar, but to the witnesses arrayed against him.
Nor was his manner of cross-examination severe
except when he knew the truth was held back ; and
even then he depended more on worrying the wit-
ness than on vehement denunciation.
His knowledge of human nature was large, and he
knew almost by intuition which juryman needed his
l)articular attention.
But it was as an advocate that Mr. Marshall attracted
the public notice, for he so invested his arguments
with wit and humor that the court-room was sure to
be filled whenever it became known that he was to
address the jury. His manner of speech was quiet,
but he never failed to indulge in invective and sar-
casm if the cause demanded it, and with these
weapons he was counted a most dangerous adversary.
He rarely, if ever, wrote out and committed his
speeches, either political or forensic ; but he care-
fully thought them out as he walked the streets, and
this, together with bis exceeding readiness, both of
words and of apt illustrations, often misled his
hearears as to the method of his preparation.
One element that distinguished him was his habit
of putting himself in his client's place ; he seemed
to feel his cause and to make it his own.
His law practice increased year by year, and at
the time of his death had become one of the largest
in the State.
Mr. Marshall was one of those happily organized
men who enjoyed life and its blessings to the utmost ;
he could lock law cases in his office and go forth
among society with a seeming forgetfulness of his
morrow's labors, and it was in this way that he found
that temporary recreation so indispensable to the
brain-worker.
He was exceedingly fond of nature and loved to
roam round the beautiful drives of Concord, whose
beauty he so keenly appreciated. Indeed, it was the
love of such outings that led him to his terrible death.
He was one of the most charming conversational-
ists that ever lived, for his vast reading had made
him a full man, and there was no subject upon which
he could not entertain his hearers. His quick wit
and readiness at repartee gave his conversation a
sparkle and lustre that never failed to delight even
those whose opinions were at variance with his own.
But one of his most beautiful traits was his liking
for boys and young men. They were attracted to
him by his politeness, for Mr. Marshall made it his
habit to bow to everybody, no matter how humble,
and aside from this, he often paused in his walks to
inquire of them about their studies or their pas-
times. He took much pleasure in recommending
courses of reading to the young, and willingly lent
his own books to encourage them.
His taste in reading was excellent, and his library
contained the works of the great writers and poets.
It may not be out of place to say that his favorite
author was Scott, and his favorite poem " Gray's
Elegy."
He had a strong memory, and oftentimes, while
in his company, I have heard him quote long passages
from Shakespeare, Milton and others, and so accu-
rately that he seldom halted for a word.
In religion Mr. Marshall entertained very liberal
views of man's duty and man's reward, although for
the last years of his life he was an attendant at the
South Congregational Church, and his funeral ser-
vices were conducted by its minister.
He retained the respect of his fellow-citizens, for
he was active and full of public spirit, and it was
with heaNy hearts that those with whom he had lived
so long learned of his tragic death.
On the bright morning of July 4, 1874, he drove
with his wife and young son to the grove at the head
of Lake Penacook, where he intended to lunch. A
militia company, encamped on the grounds not many
rods away, suddenly began firing at a target. Mr.
Marshall heard the bullets whistle near and called
out to the men to be careful. He then rose to his feet
and was instantly shot in the abdomen. The wound
was mortal, and death ended his agonies a few hours
later.
His funeral was largely attended by all classes of
society ; the bench and the bar and the State gov-
ernment were all represented.
He lies in Blossom Hill Cemetery, on the ridge
facing the north, and near him lie his friends Ira
Perley, Charles C. Lund, George G. Fogg, John Y.
Mugridge and Asa Fowler.
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
At the next term of the Supreme Court after his
death the following resolutions were entered upon
the records :
" Itaolved, That in the recent sudden and untimely death of Anson S.
Marehali, Esq., a prominent membev of tliis bar, struck down in the
vigor of life and the full possession of all his powers, tliroiigh the culpable,
if not criminal, carelessness of others, we regret the loss of a frank and
courteous gentleman, a kind and genial associate and companion, a gen-
erous and public-spirited citizen and an active, zealous and able lawyer,
always untiring in his devotion to the interesta of his clients and ever
laborious and patient in the practice of his chosen profession.
" Baolved, That we tender to the family of our deceased brother our
sincerest sympathy in the afflictive dispensation which has deprived
them of an aifectionate husband and indulgent father.
" Resolved, That these resolutions be presented to the Court, with a re-
quest that they be entered upon the records, and their clerk instructed
to transmit a copy of them to the family of the deceased."
Mr. Marshall was married to Mary Jane Corning
April 9, 1861. Anson Southard Marshall, Jr., was
born March 29, 1863, and is now studying law in the
office of Chase & Streeter.
Hon. George Washington Nesmith, LL.D.'—
One of the most aftable and genial gentlemen of the
old school is Judge Nesmith, of Franklin, or, more
widely, of New Hampshire. His years sit lightly
upon him. An honorable man,a just judge, a kindly
neighbor, a good citizen and a ripe scholar, he can
calmly sit in his well-appointed library, surrounded
by his well-loved books and mementoes of the past,
and review a well-spent life, crowned with honors.
He is of pure Scotch-Irish descent. In him are
united the families of the old Covenanters, the de-
fenders of Londonderry, the hardy pioneers of New
England, the heroes of Bunker Hill and the strict
Presbyterians ; the Nesmiths, the McKeans, the Dins-
mores and the Dickeys. He comes of a brave and
cultured race.
(lnmd(i<iii? — 1. James Nesmith was born in county
Antrim, Ireland, in the valley of the Bann, in the
year 1692, about two yeare after his parents, coming
from Scotland, had settled there. In 1714 he married
Elizabeth, daughter of James and Janet (Cochran)
McKean, who was his companion for nearly half a
century. James Nesmith was one of the signers of
the memorial to Governor Shute, March 26, 1718, one
of the proprietors of Londonderry and one of the
original sixteen who made the first settlement of that
town, April 22, 1719. James Nesmith was a strong
man, respected and honored by his associates, and an
elder in the church. He died in 1767.
2. James Nesmith, Jr., son of James and Elizabeth
(McKean) Nesmith, was born in Ireland in 1718,
shortly before the embarkation of his parents for
America. He married Mary Dinsmore, and settled
in Londonderry. Although beyond the military age,
he took an active part in the struggle for indepen-
dence, and was present at the battle of Bunker Hill,
unt is taken from the "History'
at the siege of Boston and at Bennington. He died
at home, July 15, 1793.
3. Jonathan Nesmith, son of James and Mary
(Dinsmore) Nesmith, was born in Londonderry in
August, 1759. At the age of sixteen he commenced
to clear a lot in Antrim, and permanently settled
there in 1778. He was one of the leading spirits of
the town, an elder of the Presbyterian Church from
its formation, a selectman for eleven years and a rep-
resentative four yeare, commencing with 1796. For
fifty years he missed but one communion. He was
genial, jolly, good-natured and enjoyed a joke ; was
very hospitable and benevolent ; anxious for the pub-
lic welfare ; stoutly in earnest to maintain the faith
of his fathers. He was a man of strong ability, good
judgment, irreproachable character and an honor to
the town he helped to establish. He married Elea-
nor, daughter of Adam and Jane (Strahan) Dickey, of
Londonderry, and granddaughter of John and Mar-
garet Dickey, of Londonderry, Ireland. She was
born January 1, 1761, and died September 17, 1818.
He died at the age of eighty-six, October 15, 1845.
4. George Washington Nesmith, son of Jonathan
and Eleanor (Dickey) Nesmith, was born in Antrim,
October 23, 1800.
Life. — His father's residence in Antrim was situate
a mile from the district school-house, and the dis-
tance and his lameness interfered with his early
attendance. Miss Katherine Miller, a sister of Gene-
ral James Miller, later wife of John Caldwell, of
Antrim, led him through the rudiments as found
in Noah Webster's spelling-book. She was an ami-
able and kind woman, well calculated to gain the
affections of children. The other teachers who helped
to mould his character were Miss Lucinda Lawrence,
of Ashby, Mass.; Miss Fanny Baldwin, afterwards
wife of Dr. Israel Burnham ; and Miss Anstress Wood-
bury, a sister of Hon. Levi Woodbury, who in later
years married Hon. Nehemiah Eastman, and who
became the early friend and patron of Henry Wilson
in his boyhood. In the winter of 1810 he received
instruction from J. Miltimore, of West Newbury,
Mass.; in 1811, from Joshua Holt, of Greenfield,
N. H.; and in 1812, '13 and '14, from Daniel M.
Christie, of Antrim, afterwards of Dover, N. H. In
early life, in the school-room, Mr. Christie gave evi-
dence of superior ability as an instructor, and ranked
as a model schoolmaster. He was an able mathe-
matician, and could lead a class through the intrica-
cies of figures with consummate tact.
In May, 1814, the boy was sent from home and
placed at Jaff'rey, under the instruction of Henry
Cummings. His companions were Luke Woodbury
and Samuel Dakin, of Utica, N. Y., the former for
many years judge of Probate, while the latter lived
to see his five sons take degrees from his own alma
mater, Hamilton College. To Rev. John M. Whiton,
minister at Antrim, was he chiefly indebted for his
progress in the classics and his early preparation to
^co.Wr JfcJyrru/Pfo,
BENCH AND BAR.
37
enter Dartmouth College. His course of four years
embraced the stormy, threatening period when the
Legislature of the State attempted to establish the
Dartmouth University, and deprive the trustees of
the college of their jurisdiction.
In the class of 1820, with Judge Nesmith, were
graduated Hon. Nathan Crosby, of Lowell, Hon.
George P. Marsh, Judges Uphara and Woodbury,
Hon. H. Williams and James W. Parker, and Rev.
David Goodwillie, D.D., now of Trumbull County,
Ohio, who yet survives.
After graduation he taught school at " the north
end of Concord Street" four months, and at the
academy at Bradford, Vt., eighteen months
He commenced the study of the law with Parker
Noyes, Esq. (then of Salisbury, N. H.), August 14,
1822. Parker Noyes was the brother-in-law of Hon.
Thomas W. Thompson, and his law-partner from a.d.
1801, continuing to 1807, when the firm was dis-
solved, and Mr. Noyes succeeded to the whole busi-
ness of the late firm.
He commenced the study of the law under the de-
pressing influence of poor health, but by adopting a
rigid system of out-door exercise and manual labor,
and strictly adhering to it for nearly two years, he
regained his accustomed strength and vigor. The
law business of Mr. Noyes was quite extensive, and
required more than the ability and strength of one
man to attend to it, so that the hearty co-operation of
the young law student was duly appreciated and
handsomely recompensed. Mr. Nesmith was ad-
mitted to the bar in August, 1825, and immediately
formed an equal partnership with Mr. Noyes, which
continued until the end of one year, when the senior
member of the firm withdrew from professional labor,
on account of sickness, and surrendered the whole
business to Mr. Nesmith. The kindness and liber-
ality of Mr. Noyes to the young lawyer, on the
threshold of his business life, has ever been rightly
appreciated by the recipient.
The old law-office stood in the lower village of
Franklin (then Salisbury, now known as the Webster
Place). It was originally built and occupied about
1790, by Thomas W. Thompson. Its situation, near
the point where four of the five great counties of the
State then cornered, was well .selected for legal busi-
ness. Mr. Thompson was a good lawyer, but not a
great advocate. His students acquired good, indus-
trious habits and correct principles. They were
Moses Eastman, Daniel Webster, Ezekiel Webster,
Daniel Abbot, Jeremiah H. Woodman, Jacob Mc-
Gaw and Parker Noyes. Ichabod Bartlett, D. C.
Atkinson, John A. Harper, Josiah Houghton, Pea-
body Rogers and William C. Thompson studied with
Mr. Noyes. To the last- named, Mr. Nesmith owed his
invitation to leave his school in Bradford, Vt., and
enter the office consecrated to legal lore as a student.
In April, 1829, Mr. Nesmith gave up the office at
the lower village and removed to the upper village.
where he has ever since resided. The old office is
still in existence, reduced i'rom its lofty station, and
now doing duty as a neglected back kitchen, the law-
tomes being replaced by the more humble pans and
kettles.
Mr. Nesmith at once took an active part in the
affairs of his adopted home, and entered eagerly into
the scheme to incorporate the territory from the four
towns of Northfield, Sanbornton, Andover and Salis-
bury into a township, when there would be a com-
munity of interest, — the town of Franklin. The first
petition was presented in 1824. The following year
a viewing committee, consisting of William Plumer,
Jr., Caleb Keith and Abel Merrill, examined the ter-
ritory, and reported favorably in 1826. The Legisla-
ture of that year rejected the application on the
ground that a majority of the inhabitants within the
territory in question were not in favor of the new
town. In June, 1828, there was more union and con-
sequently more strength, and the petition was pre-
sented under more favorable auspices. Although
opposed by the strenuous efforts and influence of
three towns, the charter was granted in December,
1828. Judge Nesmith wrote the charter and gave
the town its name. The three opposing towns, at the
June session, 1829, asked that the several tracts of
territory taken from them should be restored. An
order of notice was obtained for a hearing of this
subject, returnable at June session, 1830. To the
Legislature of that year Mr. Nesmith was elected to
represent the young town, and advocate the inviola-
bility of its territory. The struggle came on in June.
The first hearing was before the committee on- towns
and parishes, of which Hon. Franklin Pierce was
chairman. The committee, by a majority of one, re-
ported adversely to the towns ; but their report, after
a long and well-contested debate, was rejected by the
House by two majority. The teri-itory taken from
Northfield was restored to her on a final vote, the
matter being settled by the casting vote of the
Speaker. Twenty-six years afterwards this disputed
territory, with more added, was quietly ceded to
Franklin. His first legislative experience was ardu-
ous and repulsive to Mr. Nesmith, and by the division
of the town he saw his majority fade away. How-
ever, he entered into the canvass of 1831 with vigor,
and had the satisfaction of being re-elected by a ma-
jority of fifty — an increased majority over that of the
previous election. Judge Nesmith also represented
Franklin in the Legislature in 1832, 1834, 1835, 1836,
1838, 1839, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1854, 1871 and
1872, and was a member of the Constitutional Con-
vention in 18.50 and 1851.
From the first he took advanced grounds on the
subject of extending the .system of railroads through
the State and in granting to them the right of way,
which was for a long time bitterly contested. From
its organization, in 1845, he has been actively inter-
ested in the Northern Railroad, having been a director
HISTOlli' OF MEIIKIMACK COUiNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
on every board and for eight years president of the
corporation. In 1852 and 1853 he became interested
in manufacturing in the village of Franklin, and wa.s
an owner and director in the woolen-factory, de-
stroyed by fire in 1858.
December 31, 1859, he was appointed one of the
judges of the Supreme Judicial Court, which respon-
sible trust he exercised until October, 1870, when,
having reached the age of seventy years, the consti-
tution of the State relieved him from farther duty.
The last term of court over which he presided he
brought to a close on the day before his seventieth
birth-day.
In the cause of education, and especially in Dart-
mouth College, his alma mater, in all its departments,
he has ever been deeply interested. Since 1858 he
has been a trustee of that venerable institution ; since
1870 a trustee of the New Hampshire Agricultural
College; since 1877 its president.
For the last fifty years of his life Judge Nesmith
has owned and occupied real estate that has required
cultivation. He has therefore taken a deep interest
in the measures adopted to improve the condition of
the agriculture of our State. He has been enrolled
among the practical farmere of the State. He lent
his aid in organizing our New Hampshire State
Agricultural Society in 1850-51, and acted as its
president during those years.
In 1871 Dartmouth College conferred upon him
the degree of LL.D. The incorporation and estab-
lishment of the New Hampshire Orphans' Home, in
1871 (of which institution he has been president since
its organization), and its maintenance since, has oc-
cupied much of Judge Nesmith's attention of late
years, and he tak&s a paternal interest in every little
orphan received there. He has attended to the pur-
chase of the property and its daily support since, to
the employment of the labor necessary for carrying
on the farm and the other departments of the insti-
tution, disbursing all the money from the treasury.
In politics Judge Nesmithv was a Whig, and has
been a Kepublican from the organization of the party.
For many years he has been a member of the Con-
gregational Church of Franklin, and is a consistent,
if not an active, member. As a lawyer, he has the
reputation of closing many lawsuits and .stopping
much litigation. His clients have always reposed
the utmost confidence in his judgment. During his
connection with the bar of Merrimack County he
has been engaged in many heavy lawsuits. Among
the students who have studied with him are Hon.
Asa P. Cate, Hon. Stephen G. Nash, Hon. Austin
F. Pike, Hon. Daniel Barnard, John Bell Bouton,
Daniel A. Clark, Walter P. Flanders and Frederick
Bartlett. One of the most pleasant reminiscences of
his life is his friendship aud intimacy with the
" Great Expounder," Daniel Webster.
Friendly relations witli Mr. Webster had existed
for a number of years. As one of the Whig dele-
gates from this State, elected for the purpose of
nominating a President in 1848, when Zachary Tay-
lor was finally nominated. Judge Nesmith gave his
vote for Mr. Webster. He also supported him at tlic
Whig National Convention at Baltimore, in June,
1852, as his favorite candidate for the same office,
having cast for him, at the several (fifty) ballotings
there made, his vote. About one week's time was con-
sumed in making a choice at this memorable contest,
when General Scott was nominated, and without
much chance of an election.
September 26, 1826, he was joined in marriage to
Mary M., daughter of Samuel and Annie (Bedel)
Brooks, granddaughter of General Timothy Bedel, of
Eevolutionary fame. Mrs. Nesmith was born in
Haverhill, July 8, 1799, and died, much lamented.
May 31, 1885. Of their children, but one survives.
George Brooks Nesmith, born February 13, 1831,
died October 26, 1852, while a member of the junior
class of Dartmouth College. Arthur Sidney Nesmith,
born March 30, 1833, served the State during the War
of the Rebellion in the quartermaster's department,
holding the rank of captain ; married Mary E.
Moulder, of Washington, D. C; served as represent-
ative in the Legislature for the town of Franklin for
the years 1868 and 1869, and died, deeply lamented,
August 18, 1877, from the result of disease contracted
in the army, leaving two daughters, who still survive,
aged, respectively, fifteen and twelve years. Annie
Nesmith, born July 24, 1841, resides with her father.
In closing this imperfect sketch of Judge Nes-
mith's life, I will quote the summing up of his
character in Rev. W. E. Cochrane's "History of An-
trim:" "He is a man of noble principles and hon-
ored life, enjoying, in his old age, the highest confi-
dence and esteem of men;" a lawyer of sound
judgment, of good sense, a safe counselor and an
honest man.
As a sequel to the words of Mr. McClintock, we
would add that Judge Nesmith has now arrived to a
green old age, having nearly reached the age of
eighty-five years.
From the experience and lessons of his early life
he was taught the benefits of active out-door exercise.
By the observance of the general rules laid down
for preserving good health, and under the power of
a kind Providence, he has realized much enjoy-
ment in his latter days. Though Cicero did not die
at a very advanced age, yet, in his treatise on ol<l
age, he knew how to prescribe correct rules for the
aged (page 157), —
" You see, that old age not only should not be slug-
gish and inactive, but also industrious, and always
doing something." No doubt the steady, active em-
ployment of all our faculties tends to pndong our
lives and give a zest to old age.
Amid the enjoymentsof the protracted life of .ludge
BENCH AND BAR.
39
Ncsiuith, still there have been mingled in his cup
many of the trials and sorrows incident to the death
of many intimate friends. The loss of these friends
and the certain termination allotted to all earthly
life now serve as faithful monitors that but a few
days at best remain for the accomplishment of life's
worlc here, and that much diligence is required to
perfect it.
Hon. Is.\ac N. Blodgett wiis born in the town of
Canaan, November 6, 1838. His father was the late
Hon. Caleb Blodgett, a prominent citizen of Grafton
County, who served many years in the Legislature,
and was also a member of the Senate and of the
Executive Council. Hon. Jeremiah Blodgett, of
Wentworth, is his uncle. He received a thorough
education at the Canaan Academy, read law with
Hon. William P. Weeks and Anson S. Marshall, and
commenced the practice of his profession at Canaan
in December, 1862. In 1867 he removed to Franklin,
and was a partner of Hon. Austin F. Pike until March,
1879.
He was four years a meml)er of the House of
Representatives from Franklin, taking a leading
position upon the Democratic side, and was an active
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1876. He
has taken strong interest in political afl'airs, and was
chairman of the Democratic State Committee in 1876
and 1877.
He was appointed an associate justice of the Su-
preme Court, November 30, 1880, a position which
he still occupies.
In June, 1860, he was united in marriage to Sarah
A., daughter of Kev. M. Gerould. They have one
child, a daughter, now a member of Wellesley Female
C'lUege.
E. B. S. Sanborn was born in Canterbury, N. H.,
August 11, 1833. He graduated at Dartmouth Col-
lege in 1855 and read law with Nesmith & Pike, and
w;is admitted to the bar in 1857. He settled in
Franklin in 1868, where he has since resided. He
has represented the town several terms in the Legis-
lature and is at present one of the railroad commis-
sioners of the State.
Aarox Whittemore, Jr., son of Hon. Aaron
Whittemore, was born at Pembroke in 1849. He was
educated at Pembroke Academy and Harvard Law
S.hool, read law with Hon. John M. Shirley, of An-
dover, admitted to the bar in 1870, at the age of twenty-
one, and commenced practice in Pittsiield, where he
continued until his death, May 4, 1885. He was a mem-
ber of the last State Senate and judge-advocate on the
staff" of Brigadier-General White, commanding New
Hampshire National Guard, and was also captain of
Weston Guards, of the Third Regiment. He was iden-
tified with the best interests of Pilt-sliiM, and was a
worthy and highly-respected citizen and lawyer.
John M. Shirley was born in what is now East
Tilton November 16, 1831. He was admitted to the
bar in 1854, and soon after commenced practice in
Andover, where he has since resided. He has asso-
ciated with him in Andover Mr. George W. Stone,
under the firm name of Shirley & Stone ; he has also
an oflice in Concord, in partnership with Colonel John
H. George, under the firm name of George & Shirley.
Mr. Shirley is also deeply interested in historical
matters. He is a Democrat in politics.
Hon. Ira A. Eastman was born at Gilmanton,
N. H., January 1, 1809. He was the sou of Captain
Stephen and Hannah Eastman. He was graduated
at Dartmouth College in 1829, at the early age of
twenty. He immediately commenced the study of
law with the late Judge John Willard, of Troy, N. Y.,
in which city he commenced the practice of his pro-
fessi<m in 1832. His love for his native State and
town, however, induced him to return to Gilmanton
in 1834, where he continued his practice. He was
clerk of the New Hampshire Senate in 1835. As
evidence of the esteem and confidence his townsmen
reposed in him, they sent him to the Legislature in
the years 1836, 1837, 1838, over which body he was
the presiding oflicer the two last years. From 1839
to 1843 he was representative in Congress. He was
one of the circuit judges of the Court of Common
Pleas from 1844 to 1849, and a judge of the Supreme
Judicial Court from 1855 to December 1, 1859, at
which time he resigned the office. He had also been
one of the justices of the Superior Court of Judica-
ture from 1849 to 1855.
Judge Eastman was a thorough and industrious
student, and by his diligence became learned in the
law. His attention to his profession always gave him
plenty of clients, and he never lacked business while
he was in active practice. He was an eminent jurist,
as his opinions in many volumes of the New Hamp-
shire Reports abundantly testify. Judge Eastman
was trustee of Dartmouth College at the time of his
death, and that institution conferred the degree of
LL.D. upon him in 1858. He died at Manchester
in March, 1881.
Austin F. Pike, of Franklin, N. IL, was born
October 16, 1819; received an academic education;
studied law and was admitted to the bar of Merrimack
County in July, 1845, and has been in active practice
since ; was a member of the New Hampshire House
of Representatives in 1850, '51, '52, '65 and '66, and
Speaker of the House the last two years ; was a mem-
ber of the New Hampshire Senate in 1857 and '58,
and President of the Senate the last year ; was chair-
40
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
man of the Republican State Committee in 1858, '59
and '60; was delegateto tlie Pliiladelpliia Convention
which nominated General Fremont in 1856; was
elected a Representative to the Forty-third Congress,
serving from December 1, 1873, to March 3, 1875, and
was elected to the United States Senate as a Repub-
lican, to succeed E. H. Rollins, Republican, and took
his seat December 3, 1883. Mr. Pike is in practice
in Franklin in company with F. N. Parsons.
Frank N. Parsons, was born September 3,
1854; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1874; read
law with Hon. D. Barnard, of Franklin, and G. C.
Bartlett, of Derry, N. H., and was admitted to the
bar March, 1875. The firm is Pike & Parsons.
Hon. Edgar H. Woodman, the present (1885)
mayor of the city of Concord, dates his ancestry in this
country to Edward Woodman, who arrived at New-
bury, Mass., from Malvern, England, in 1635, and from
that time to the present the Woodman name has
been honorably and prominently identified with the
professional and business interests of New England.
Hon. E. H. Woodman, son of John Kimball
Woodman and Mary Jane (Drew) Woodman, was
born in Gilmanton, N. H., May 6, 1847. He was
educated at the Gilmanton and Boscawen Academies,
fitting for college at the latter. He finally decided,
however, not to enter for a collegiate course, but
went to Poughkeepsie and attended Eastman's
Business College, the representative institution of
its kind in this country. After receiving the degree
of Master of Accounts he came to Concord, and in
February, 1866, entered the employ of Colonel C. C.
Webster as book-keeper, with whom he remained
until July, 1868, when he accepted a position in
the adjutant-general's office, tendered him by Gov-
ernor Nathaniel Head, then adjutant-general of the
State. October 27, 1868, while gunning in Gilman-
ton, he received an accidental gun-shot wound which
resulted in the loss of his right arm. He had gone
to his native town to cast his first vote, and was tak-
ing a vacation for a few days when the accident
occurred. Possessed of a good constitution, his arm
healed rapidly, and in the following December he
returned to this city and spent the winter learning to
write with his left hand at the Commercial School in
Manchester. In April, 1869, as assistant superin-
tendent of construction and paymaster, he entered
upon the work of building the Suncook Valjey Rail-
road, and continued therein until the road was com-
pleted, in December of the same year.
January 1, 1870, Mr. Woodman commenced his
legal studies in the office of Minot, Tappan & Mu-
gridge, where he remained until 1872, when the
treasurer's office of the Northern Railroad was re-
moved to Boston, and Judge Minot appointed him
assistant treasurer of the Boston office. While dis-
charging his duties here he attended law lectures at
the Boston University, and, in 1873, was admitted to
the New Hampshire bar. He, however, remained in
charge of the Boston office of the railroad until its
removal to this city, April 1, 1876, and continued
therein until April 1, 1878, when the office was again
transferred to Boston. He then resigned his position
in the treasurer's office, and at once entered upon the
practice of his profession in this city, opening an
office in the Board of Trade buildings. July 1, 1879,
he removed to his present office in the Governor
Hill block, which is the same office in which he
commenced the study of law. He brought to the
practice of his profession a good knowledge of law,
sound judgment, quick perception and an indomita-
ble will, which have borne legitimate fruit in the
securing of a good practice, which is constantly
increasing.
The citizens of C(mcord, recognizing his ability
and integrity, in 1882, tendered him the nomination
for mayor, an honor which came to him unsought
and while he was absent from the city. He was
elected by a large majority, and re-elected in 1884,
and is the present mayor.
Mayor Woodman is a prominent member of the
Masonic fraternity; has been recorder of Mount
Horeb Commandery since 1877, and was also secre-
tary of Eureka Lodge and Trinity Chapter; secretary
of Concord Masonic Association, and is the present
treasurer. He is treasurer of the Peterborough and
Hillsborough Railroad, and of Saint Paul's Episcopal
parish. He is also a director in the First National
Bank and president of the Webster Club. May 6,
1878, he married Georgiana Hodges, of Boston,
Mass., and they had one child, George Edgar, who
died in infency. Mrs. Woodman died January 8,
1879.
Genial and courteous by nature, he has won hosts
of friends; he is an able and ready speaker, and an
executive officer of marked ability.
Lyman Dewey Stevens, a leading member of the
Merrimack bar, was born in Piermont, N. H., Sep-
tember 20, 1821. His father, Caleb Stevens, was
born in Hampstead, N. H., November 27, 1782, and
died March 29, 1870; his mother, Sally Dewey, was
born in Piermont, .January 2, 1793, and died Janu;\ry
9, 1879.
Mr. Stevens pursued his preparatory studies at
Haverhill (N. H.) Academy. He graduated at Dart-
mouth College in 1843. He then became principal
of the Stanstead (C. E.) Academy, where he remained
two years, and later assisted Jonathan Tenney, for a
7fe^^-'^(rV<C
<2^i^^^XJu^
UvcJ
BENCH AND BAR.
40a
short time, as principal of the academy at Pembroke,
N. H. While in Stanstead, he decided upon the
legal profession as his life-work, and began his studies
in the office of E. C. Johnson, Esq., of Derby, Vt.
He subsequently continued his studies with Hon. Ira
Perley in Concord, N. H., and was admitted to the
bar in October, 1847. He at once opened an office
in Concord, where he has remained to the present
time in the successful practice of his profession.
Mr. Stevens has ever manifested a lively interest in
his adopted city, and all measures tending to advance
its welfare have found in him an able and fearless
advocate. He was elected mayor of Concord in 186f>
and re-elected in 1869. During his mayoralty he
instituted various reforms and improvements, the
most notable being the adoption of the present sys-
tem of sewage. This was almost the first real and
substantial improvement that the people had been
called upon to make, and it is not surprising that he
met with determined opposition in this needless out-
lay of expenditure, as many deemed the movement.
He paused not, however, to listen to the words of
opposition, which, in many instances, were exceed-
ingly severe, but proceeded fearlessly to carry on the
improvements which the health and beauty of the
city demanded. The wisdom of his course soon be-
came apparent, even to the most strenuous opponent.
He is now, and has been for a long series of years,
identified with various leading interests of the city.
He has been a director in the National State Capital
Bank since 186S, and president of the Merrimack
County Savings-Bank since its organization. He is
also president of the Board of Trade, and a director in
the Page Belting Company.
He was appointed by Governor Gilmore to adjust
the suspended war-claims of New Hampshire against
the United States accruing prior to May, 1863, and
also to attend the dedication of the National Ceme-
tery at Gettysburg, November 19, 1863, as commis-
sioner from New Hampshire.
His interest in charitable objects has led to his
appointment as vice-president and treasurer of the
New Hampshire Home Missionary Society. He was
also a trustee in the Kimball Union Academy and
Boscawen Academy. He has served on the school
committee, and been a member of the city Board of
Education.
Politically, Mr. Stevens is a Republican, and has
been since the organization of that party. He has
been called to various positions within the gift of his
townsmen and fellow-citizens. He was city solicitor
in 1855 and 1856; a member of the House of Repre-
sentatives in 1860, '61, '66 and '67, and was elected
Senator in 1884. He was one of the Presidential
electors in 1872, and was also a member of Governor
Bell's Council.
Mr. Stevens is a member of the South Congrega-
tional Church and one of its most active and ener-
getic supporters.
August 21, 1850, he united in marriage with Ach-
sah Pollard, daughter of Captain Theodore French,
of Concord, by whom he had two children, — Margaret
French and Henry Webster. Mrs. Stevens died July
2, 1863. January 20, 1875, he married Frances Child
Brownell, of New Bedford, Mass., and they have two
children, — Fanny Brownell, born January 10, 1876,
and William Lyman, born April 5, 1880.
The present members of the Merrimack bar are as
follows :
John H. Albin.
Benjamin E. Badger.
Bingham & Mitchell (Harry Bingham, John M.
Mitchell).
Chase & Streeter (William M. Chase, Frank S.
Streeter).
Warren Clark.
C. E. Clifford.
Charles R. Corning.
Sylvester Dana.
Daniel B. Donavan.
Samuel C. Eastman.
George M. Fletcher.
"William L. Foster.
John H. George.
John P. George.
Fred. H. Gould.
S. G. Lane.
Leach & Stevens {E. G. Leach, Henry W. Stevens).
Wells H. Johnson.
Nathaniel E. Martin.
Luther S. Morrill.
A. F. L. Norris.
Henry Robinson.
Henry P. Rolfe.
Charles P. Sanborn.
Harry G. Sargent.
Everett J. Sargent.
Arthur W. Silsby.
Lyman D. Stevens.
Reuben E. Walker.
Edgar H. Woodman.
Willis G. Buxton.
David F. Dudley.
C. E. Carr.
Shirley & Stone.
M. W. Tappan.
A. F. Pike.
Isaac N.
IILSTOIIY OF iMKKRIJIACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Daniel Banianl.
E. G. Leach.
G. W. Nesmith.
G. R. Stone.
W. M. Barnard.
F. N. Parsons.
J. B. Hazclton.
George S. Blanchard.
A. F. Burbank.
T. H. Thonuiike.
A. W. Bartlett.
E. A. Lane.
Samuel Davis.
A. P. Davis.
S. K. Paige.
W. W. Flanders.
Walter C. Harrinum.
CHAPTER IIL
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE-HOUSE.
liY IS.\.VC W. HAMMONn.
Thr first session of the Legislature that was held in
Concord convened in March, 1782. Prior to that time,
and subsequent to the commencement of the Revolu-
tionary War, legislative sessions, with two exceptions,
•were held in Exeter ; those two exceptions being the
September session of 1777 and the October session of
1 780, which were held in Portsmouth.
From 1782 to 1808 the Legislature was a movable
institution, and held its sessions in Concord, Exeter,
Portsmouth, Charlestown, Dover, Hanover, Hop-
kinton and Amherst, — -at whichever town the
members of the next preceding Legislature voted
to have it held. The matter of deciding at what
place the next Legislature should sit came up
at every session, and often occasioned consider-
able strife among the members. A vote in favor
of one town was occasionally reconsidered and
another town finally decided upon, in consequence,
probably, of some of the members having been " seen "
and persuaded that a change would be for the best in-
terest of the State.
Since 1808 all legislative sessions have been held in
Concord, although not permanently located here un-
til the completion of the State-House, in 1819. In
1814 the matter of having a permanent habitation
came up in the Legislature, and the members wisely
•concluded that the wandering life theretofore led by
the honorable body and the exposure of its records
to loss in consequence of frequent removals, as well ;us
to dcstrurtion by fire for want of ]iroper vaults, was
not conducive to the best interests of the State, and
accordingly, on the 6th day of June of that year,
a committee was appointed by the Legislature " to
take into consideration the expediency of building a
State-House, and report where, and the time when,
it will be expedient to commence the building," etc.
Said committee reported that, so far as they could
learn, all of the States in the Union, except New
Hampshire, had provided themselves with a State-
House and located a "seat of government ;" and also,
" That it is justly considered derogatory to a respect-
able and independent State to sutler the officers of its
government to sit and transact the business of the
State in a building mean in its appearance and desti-
tute of suitable accommodations. That your commit-
tee are deeply impressed with a sense of the propriety,
expediency and even necessity of providing fire-
proofrooms for the safe keeping of the public rec-
ords," etc. The committee further reported that a
State-House might be built upon reasonable terras,
and advised the appointment of a committee of three
persons to sit during the recess of the Legislature,
designate a location, prepare plans, ascertain the
probable exjieuse and receive proposals for erecting
the building, and report to the next Legislature. The
report was accepted, and a committee, consisting of
Hon. John Harris, of Hopkinton, Benjamin Kimball,
Jr., of Concord, and Andrew Bowers, of Salisbury,
was appointed.
On the 13th of June, 1815, said committee re-
ported that they had prepared a plan and ascertained
that the probable expense would be about thirty
thousand dollars if built of stone; that Stuart J.
Park had made a proposal to complete the building
for thirty -two thousand dollars ; that a majority of the
committee had designated a location in Concord west
of the court-house ; and also reported that the inhabit-
ants of Salisbury had otfered to contribute seven
thousand dollars if the Legislature would locate the
building in that town.
The report was accepted, and another committee
was appointed to inquire whether any donations
would be made by the town of Concord or its citi-
zens if the building was located in the place desig-
nated by the committee. The citizens of Concord
were agreed as to the propriety of having it in their
town, but were not agreed as to the lot upon which
to locate it. Subscription papers were circulated by
each faction ; the people at the north end favored
the site of the present court-house, and tho.se resid-
ing at the south end ftivored the " Green lot," which
was the one finally selected. A sufficient amount of
money was pledged by each party to meet the re-
quirements of the legislative committee; but the disa-
THE STATE-llOUSE.
greement as to location and the lack of funds, par-
tially in consequence of the then late war with
Great Britain, carried the matter over to the next
June session.
On the 21st day of June, 1816, the matter came up
in the House of Representatives, and the following
resolution was passed :
** Resolved, That a State-Houae, agreeably to the plan communicated by
Stuart J. Park at the last June session, be erected in the town of Con-
coi-d and county of Rockingham ; the spot of ground to be selected, and
the place on which to erect said State-House to be located by his excel-
lency, the Governor, and the Honorable the Council."
That board was also authorized to appoint a com-
mittee to make the necessary contracts and superin-
tend its erection ; and said committee was to be in-
structed to commence, as soon as practicable, and to
employ the convicts in the State Prison in preparing
the stone. By the same resolution, the sum of three
thousand dollars was appropriated to commence the
work, and it also contained a provision by which it
was not to take eflect unless the town of Concord, or
its inhabitants, would donate the land, level and
prepare it to the acceptance of the committee, give
all the stone needed for its construction and convey
the same to the lot free of charge.
The inhabitants residing at the north end were
ready to give a bond to comply with these require-
ments, providing the Stickney lot (site of the present
court-house) was selected ; and those residing at the
south end would do the same, providing the Green
lot (site of the present State-House) was decided
upon. The advocates of the north end location
claimed that the Stickney lot was elevated and dry,
and had been selected by the committee of the Legis-
lature as being the more eligible of the two; that the
Green lot was low and wet, and that it would cost a
large sum to put in a substantial foundation. The
other side urged that the Green lot was more central,
and for that reason the most eligible.
William Plumer, of Epping, was Governor, and
Benjamin Pierce, of Hillsborough, Levi Jackson, of
Chesterfield, Samuel Quarles, of Ossipee, Elijah Hall
and Enoch Colby composed the Council. Messrs.
Pierce, Jackson and Quarles fevored the Stickney
lot ; the Governor, with Messrs. Hall and Colby,
favored the Green lot. Consequently, with all pres-
ent acting in the capacity of a committee of the
Legislature, as some of them subsequently claimed
they did, the result would have been a tie. On the
2d day of July, Colonel Quarles asked leave of
absence until the 4th, to attend to some matters of
his own, and went away, as he afterward stated, with
the understanding that the matter of locating the
State-House should not be decided until his return.
On the following day, July 3d, at a meeting of the
Governor and four members of the Council, the mat-
ter was brought up, and they proceeded to examine
the two locations, and then returned to the Council
chamber. The Governor then asked the councillors,
severally, if they were "ready to proceed in selecting
a plot of ground for said house." Mr. Colby an-
swered that he was ready, but asked whether it
would not be best to wait until the return of Colonel
Quarles.
According to the statement of Mr. Colby, no one
else expressed any desire for postponement, and a
ballot was taken, which stood three in favor of the
Green lot and two in favor of the Stickney lot, the
Governor voting with the Council. Had all of the
councilors been present, and acting in the capacity
of an executive board, as I think was the intention
of the Legislature, the vote would have stood three in
favor of the Stickney lot and two in favor of the
present location, in which case the Governor could
have used his privilege of negativing the vote of the
majority of the Council, thus leaving the matter un-
decided. It was, therefore, fortune for the friends of
the Green lot location that Colonel Quarles was
called away at that time.
On July 4th, Colonel Quarles having returned,
the Governor and Council held a meeting, the
proceedings of which were recorded in the Coun-
cil records in the same manner as were those of
the 3d, or any other meeting of that board, the
caption of the record being as follows: "At a
meeting of His Excellency, the Governor, and
the Hon'. Council, July 4, 1816, The whole board
present," etc. At that meeting some one moved
a reconsideration of " the vote of yesterday, select-
ing a lot of land whereon to erect a State-House."
The question being put, the vote stood three for re-
consideration — Messrs. Quarles, Pierce and Jackson,
— and three against, the Governor voting with the
Council, as before, and claiming subsequently, in
vindication of his action in so doing, that they were
acting in the capacity of a committee of the Legisla-
ture. If that was the case, and so understood at the
time, it is not quite clear why they convened as "a
meeting of His Excellency, the Governor and the
Hon'. Council," or why their proceedings in that
matter were recorded in the Council records, with
other acts done at the same meeting, which could not
have been legally done by any body of men except
the Governor and Council iu executive session.
On July 5th the Governor and Council met and ap-
pointed Albe Cady, William Low and Jeremiah
Pecker, all of Concord, as a committee to superintend
the erection of the State-House. Messrs. Hall, Colby
and Jackson acted with the Governor in making the
appointment, a record of which was made by the
Secretary of State in the same book and manner as
the record of any executive appointment. The board
then adjourned and did not meet again until Septem-
ber 18th.
The Legislature adjourned on the 29th of June, to
meet on the third Wednesday of November following.
During the recess the work of construction progressedi
as also did the strife between the " north-enders" and
the " south-enders." Charges of unfairness, on the
42
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
part of the Governor and Council, were made by the
defeated north-enders, the principal charges being
that the matter was acted upon in the absence of
Colonel Quarlcs, contrary to an agreement to delay it
until his return, and that the Governor voted with j
the Council, as he had no right to do, if they were
acting in their official capacity as an Executive !
Council. j
The Legislature assembled on the twentieth of No- |
vember, 1816, and the State-House matter was taken I
up on the ninth of December, at which time a com-
mittee waa appointed to "request such information |
of the Governor as he possesses relative to the location
of the State-House," and report to the House of Rep-
resentatives. Said committee called on the Governor,
made the request verbally and on the following day
he communicated in writing a statement of the action
of the board in making the selection of a lot, etc.
This not proving satisfactory to the House of Repre-
sentatives, the committee called again on the evening
of the thirteenth, and requested copies of " all the
votes and proceedings of the Governor and Council"
relating to the matter, which request he complied
with by furnishing attested copies from the Council
records, covering said proceedings, and suggested, in
his letter of transmittal, that if either branch of the
government considered it necessary to make any
inquiries of the other, whether it " would not bet-
ter comport with the dignity of both that the inqui-
ries and answers should be in writing." Whereupon
the House of Representatives formulated several
questions, and sent a copy to the Governor, and one
to each of the councillors. The substance of the
Governor's answers was : That on the third day of
July, 1816, Charles Walker, Esq., presented a bond
to furnish a lot ; and the required amount of stone,
provided the building was located on the Stickney lot ;
that William A. Kent and Isaac Hill, Esqrs., pre-
sented a bond to do the same, provided it was located
on the Green lot ; that in the afternoon of that day,
he and four of the councilors examined all lots that
any one requested them to see, and then returned to
the Senate chamber and made the selection, as here-
inbefore stated. The Governor also stated, that lie
did not understand that any agreement had been
made to wait until the return of Colonel Quarles
before making the selection. Mr. Pierce, Mr. Jack-
son and Mr. Quarles stated that there loas such an
agreement. The Governor further stated that, in
making said selection, they acted as a committee
appointed by a resolve of the Legislature, and not in
their executive capacity ; and in this his answer was
sustained by a majority of the Council. But no
attempt was made to explain why their transactions
as a committee were acted upon in a meeting of
" His Excellency, the Governor and the Honorable
Council," at which meeting executive appointments
were made, and the proceedings of which were embod-
ied in one record, by the Secretary of State, in the
same manner as was the record of any meeting of the
Governor and Council.
December 20th the investigating committee re-
ported in full, from which report I extract the follow-
ing: " Your committee would further report that, in
their opinion, the general location of the lot whereon
to erect the State-House never was made agreeably
to the true meaning and provisions of the resolve
aforesaid, inasmuch as that they have never seen any
evidence that a majority of that Honorable board ever
did agree to such location."
December 25th the investigating committee re-
ported a resolution repealing the resolution of June
22, 1816, which placed the appointment of a commit-
tee to superintend the erection of the State-House in the
hands of the Governor and Council, which failed of a
passage. On the same day a resolution appropriating
four thousand dollars toward the erection of the
building passed, ninety-one to seventy.
December 27th the investigating committee re-
ported a resolution providing that the committee to
superintend the building should consist of one man,
instead of three, and that Albe Cady should be that
man. As no complaint had been made by the com-
mittee against any of the men composing the build-
ing committee, the presumption is that the resolution
was introduced for the purpose of taking the matter
from the control of the Governor and Council, by
making the building committee an appointee direct
of the Legislature. The resolution passed the House,
but was defeated in the Senate.
At the June session, 1817, the sum of thirty thou-
sand dollars was appropriated to continue the work,
in accordance with a report and recommendation of
the building committee, who stated that they desired
to complete the outside that season.
I In 1818 an appropriation was made for necessary
furniture, and the building was first occupied by the
Legislature at the June session of 1819, but the build-
ing committee was not discharged until June, 1820.
The building as completed was one hundred and
twenty-six feet in length, including the wings, and
forty-nine feet in width, with a projection of four feet
in the centre of each front, and cost as follows, in-
cluding fencing and furniture : Amount appropriated
from the State treasury, $67,372.44; stone-work done
at the State Prison by convicts, $10,455.16 ; lot and
materials given by citizens of Concord, $4,000, —
total, $81,827.60. The building, as thus erected, was
occupied without any material change until remod-
eled, in 1864-66.
In 1854, Governor N. B. Baker, in his address to the
Legislature, at the June session, called the attention
of that body to the insecure manner in which the pro-
vincial and State records. Revolutionary War rolls
and other valuable documents belonging to the State,
were kept, stating that they were liable to destruction
by fire at any moment and advi.sing the construction
of fire-proof rooms in the State-House, or of a separate
THE STATE-HOUSE.
fire-proof building for their safe keeping. A com-
mittee of the Legislature, appointed to investigate the
matter, reported a resolution providing that the
( iovernor be requested to employ some suitable per-
son to estimate the expense and make necessary
phins for erecting a fire-proof building of sufficient
capacity to accommodate the Secretary of State, State
treasurer, State Library and the standard weights and
measures.
The resolution passed, as also did another calling
for a plan and an estimate of the cost of enlarging the
Representatives' Hall, and, iu accordance therewith, a
report was made to the Legislature of 1855, plans pre-
sented and the expense estimated at $37,000 for en-
larging the State-House and hall, and $17,500 for a
separate fire-proof building. That report not being
acceptable to the Legislature, the matter was post-
poned to the next session, and no material progress
was made until 1863. At the June session of the last-
named year the Legislature passed a resolution setting
forth the fact that the largely increased business of
the State government imperatively required an en-
largement of the State-House ; that the city of Con-
cord derived considerable benefit from the location
and should contribute materially to the expense of en-
larging the capital. The resolution authorized the
Governor and Council to cause new plans and esti-
mates to be made, receive propositions from the city
of Concord or any other city or town having necessary
railroad facilities and " desirous of having the State-
House established therein." In other words, the lo-
cation of the capital was again for sale to the highest
bidder, regardless of the fact that it had once been
sold, paid for and delivered. Bids were to be made to
the Governor and to be by him presented to the Legis-
lature of 1864. The city of Manchester submitted a
proposition to erect and complete a building without
expense to the State, providing it should be located
in that city.
Concord, by action of the City Councils on the 23d
day of May, 1864, voted to raise and appropriate
$100,000 to the work of enlarging the building then
in use, and subsequently raised $50,000 more in the
precinct. These propositions were transmitted to the
Legislature by the Governor, June 6th, and referred to
a select committee of one from each county. A sharp
contest between the two cities ensued ; the citizens of
Manchester used every means in their power to obtain
the prize, and the citizens of Concord as earnestly strug-
gled to retain it, believing that, as they had once pur-
chased the location, it ought not to be taken from
them without cause ; and believing also that no cause
existed to warrant its removal, as Concord was nearer
the centre of the State than Manchester, and had
equal railroad facilities. A majority of the Legisla-
ture decided in favor of Concord, and the location of
1816 was confirmed by an act approved July 16, 1864,
the act requiring Concord to bear the entire expense
of the work, which amounted to nearly $200,000.
A contest of this kind between neighboring muni-
cipalities is much to be regretted; the placing of
citizens in hostility to each other creates enmities
which time alone can allay; and in this case, the
twenty years that have elapsed have failed to oblit-
erate the scars caused by that menKjrable contest.
The proposition made by the Legislature of 1863 was
wrong in principle, and should never be repeated.
When a public building is needed for the use of the
State, let the Legislature decide upon its location at
such place as in their opinion will best accommodate
the majority of the people, and then cause the same
to be erected, and paid for from the State treasury.
A new steam-heating apparatus was placed in the
building in 1879, and valuable improvements were
made in the basement in 1883, and the State-House,
as it now stands, is an artistic and substantial edifice.
The halls and offices are well lighted and roomy, with
the exception of the room used for the library, and,
as a whole, the structure is a credit to the State.
The porch on the east front is two stories in height,
each story being supported by eight granite columns
of massive proportions, which present a fine appear-
ance as viewed from Main Street. The Council-room
contains the portraits of all the Governors of the
State, except the first, of whom no likeness is known
to exist. Portraits of many presidents of the Senate
are hung in the Senate chamber, and the Represent-
atives' hall contains portraits of Revolutionary offi-
cers and other eminent New Hampshire men. Doric
Hall contains the battle-scarred flags of the regiments
from this State who participated in the late war, some
portraits, a bust of Hon. Amos Tuck, and a raised
map of the State. In (he Secretary's office are
portraits of two Provincial and two State Secre-
taries. In 1876 a fountain was placed in the front
walk of the park, but proving to be a nuisance
there, it was removed, in 1879, by order of the
Legislature, to the southeast quarter of the grounds.
A statue, in bronze, of New Hampshire's most
gifted son, Daniel Webster, presented to the State by
Benjamin P. Cheney, is soon to be placed in the park,
on the side adjoining Main Street. It will be seven-
teen feet in height, including the pedestal, which will
be of granite. Mr. Cheney was a native, and for
many years a resident, of this State, and the gift
which he is able to make from the abundant accumu-
lations of an honest, sagacious and industrious life is
a credit to himself, an honor to his native State and
the renowned Webster, whose reputation as a states-
man is second to that of no other man, and whose
name will be familiar to future generations, when
this statue shall have crumbled to dust.
IIISTOIIY 01' MEllRIMAl'K COUiNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
COLONEL SOLON A. CARTER.
Solon Augustus Carter (7) was born in Leominster,
Mass., June 22, 1837 ; seventh generation from Rev.
Thomas Carter (1), who was born a.d. 1610, graduated
at St. John's College, Cambridge, England, in 1629,
and came from St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England,
in the " Planter," embarking April 2, 1635. On his
arrival in this country he was admitted an inhabitant
of Dedham, Mass. ; thence he removed to Watertown,
Mass.
He was ordained the first minister of the church in
Woburn, Mass., November 22, 1642, which office he
filled to the acceptance of his people until his death,
which occurred September 5, 1684. Johnson, in his
" Wonder- Working Providence," says, "He was a
reverend, godly man, apt to teach the sound and
wholesome truths of Christ."
Tlu' subject of this sketch traces his descent from
Eev. Thomas (1), born 1610; Rev. Samuel (2), born
1640; Samuel (3), born 1677-78; Josiah (4), born
1726-27; James Carter (6), born 1768; Solon Carter
(6), born 1801 ; Solon A. Carter (7), born 1837.
Josiah (4), his great-grandfather, married, at the age
of eighteen, Tabitha Howe, aged sixteen, and settled
in Leominster, Mass., clearing the homestead where
the three succeeding generations were born and
reared. He served in the Revolutionary War, attain-
ing to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was with
the army under General Washington in the disas-
trous campaign in New Jersey, previous to the retreat
across the Delaware. He died at the ripe age of
eighty-four, on the farm his own hands had cleared,
and in the house his own hands had reared. At the
time of his death he had living more grandchildren
than he was years old, several of the fourth degree
and one or two of the fifth, so that he could without
fiction say, " Arise, son, go to thy son, for thy son's
son has born unto him a son."
James Carter (5) reared and educated a family of
eleven children. James G. (6), the eldest son, gradu-
ated from Harvard in 1820, and was engaged in educa-
tional enterprises, being contemporary with Horace
Mann and a co-worker with him in educational
matters, notably the establishment of the system of
Normal Schools in Massachusetts.
Solon (6), the second son, succeeded to the home-
stead farm, which he cultivated successftiUy until his
death, in 1879. He was an active participant in the
social, religious and civil affairs of his town, being
called upon at different times to fill the various town
offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens.
Solon Augustus Carter (7), the eldest son of Solon
(I)) and Lucretia (Joslin) Carter, was born upon the
farm cleared by his great-grandfather, educated in the
l)ublic .schools of his native town, completiui;- his
education in the High School at the age of seventeen,
working upon the homestead farm hetween terms, and
also during term-time. The winter succeeding his
seventeenth birthday he taught a district school in
Leominster. The superintending committee, in his
report of the school, said of the teacher, " It is evident
he does not need to learn to teach — it is in him." The
next winter he taught in the neighboring town of
Lancaster. The summer of 1857 he spent in Chicago,
in the employ of an uncle engaged in the lumber
trade ; but the panic of that year had such a depress-
ing effect upon business in general that a commercial
life had few attractions for him and he returned to
the farm, teaching during the winter months.
He entered the employ of the Keene Gas-Light
Company as its superintendent in December, 1859,
and has since that time considered Keene his resi-
dence. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Fourteenth
Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers, and was com-
missioned captain of Company G, serving with his
command until July, 1863, when he was ordered upon
recruiting service at Concord, where he was assigned
to duty as acting assistant adjutant-general upon the
staff of Brigadier-General Edw. W. Hinks. In the
spring of 1864, General Hinks was assigned to the
command of a division of colored troops near Fortress
Monroe, and Captain Carter was, at General Hinks'
request, by a special order from the War Department,
directed to report to him for assignment to duty.
Captain Carter was announced in General Orders as
acting assistant adjutant-general of the Third Colored
Division, Eighteenth Army Corps, and remained on
duty with that organization until the close of the war,
having received a commission from the President as
assistant adjutant-general of volunteers, with the
rank of captain (July 25, 1864). He participated with
his command in all the skirmishes and battles in
which it was engaged before Petersburg, on the nortli
of the James, at Deep Bottom, Newmarket Heights
and Fort Harrison, and in both expeditions to Fort
Fisher and the subsequent campaign to Raleigh. Ht
was subsequently breveted major and lieutenant-
colonel for gallant and meritorious services during the
war.
Brevet Major-General Charles J. Paine, in recom-
mending him for brevet commissions, wrote, —
" Captain Solon A. Carter, late assistant ailjutant-general United States
Volunteers, served as assistant atyutant-general of the division which I
commanded for about a year, from the beginning of August, 1864.
"First, in front of Petersburg, under constant fire day and night; then
across the James, in front of Richmond, taking part in a very severe and
succejssful assault by the division on the enemy's lines on the Newmarket
road, September 29, 1864, and in other engagements ; later, in both Tort
Fisher expeditions. At the taking of Wilmington and in the march in
pursuit of General Johnston's command, never for a moment away from
his post, and never neglecting his duties, which often were quite as
severe as those of any officer of the division.
" He was a brave and faithful offirer of great merit, and I always ex-
ceedingly regretted that he was not promoted. There is not, within my
knowledge, an instance of equal desert without greater reward."
I After his discharge i'rnm the service he returned to
.J^
//-rc^
.(j/^/'M.
TlIK STATE-HOUSE.
45
Kecne and engaged in tlie furniture trade. He was a
member of the House of Representatives from Keene
in 1869 and 1870. .
In June, 1872, he was elected State treasurer,
which office he has held since that time, with the
exception of oneyear (1874-75), receiving the nomina-
tion by acclamation, and without opposition, in nine j
successive re-elections, and also the commendation of
successive auditing committees for the satisfactory
manner in which the duties of the office have been
performed. He is an active member of the Unitarian
organization, having been for several years president
of the State association, and is also identified with the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United
States and the Grand Army of the Republic.
He has taken an active part in Masonic organiza-
tions, having passed the chairs of the Blue Lodge,
Royal Arch Chapter and Commandery, and also the
chairs of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, serving
as Most Worshipful Grand Master for two years
(1878-79), and as Right Eminent Grand Commander
of the Grand Commandery in 1875.
He was married, December 13, ISfiO, to Emily A.
Oonant, of Leominster, Mass.
HOX. OLIVER PILLSBUEY.'
William Pillsbury, from whom most and probably
all of the Pillsburys of this country have descended,
emigrated from Dorchester, England, in 1631, and
settled in old Newbury (now Newburyport), Mass., in
the year 1641.
It will be seen that the family belonged to that
brave old Puritan stock that had been ground and
sifted in the mills of God for generations, and had
been prepared to go forth in the fulness of time and
take possession of a continent in the name of liberty
and truth. In such mysterious ways the progress of
government, church and society is evolved from the
seed of the dead ages, and we move upward by the
providence of Him who " works within us to will and
to do of His own good pleasure." The families that
planted our nation were not the sport of fortune,
drifted by an accident of history to these shores, but
were preordained and guided to their destiny.
Oliver Pillsbury, the subject of this sketch, sprung
from this line. He was born in Henniker, N. H.,
February 16, 1817. His parents, Deacon Oliver
Pillsbury and Anna Smith Pillsbury, were both per-
sons of unusual physical and mental strength. The
writer recalls distinctly, after a lapse of more than
thirty years, the amiable expression and serene dig-
nity of Mrs. Pillsbury, and the masculine thought
and deep, solemn voice of the deacon, as he led the
devotions of the religious assemblies of the people.
He was one of the strong men of the town and a
pillar in the church. Others might veer and drift,
but we all knew that the deacon was anchored within
' By Hon. J. W. Patterson.
the vail, and was as sure to outride the storm as the
hill upon which he had fi.\ed his home. He was a
mau of strong powers, a stern will and constant de-
votion to the great ends of life as he saw them. The
qualities of both parents were transmitted in large
mciisure to their children. Our State has produced
but few men who were the peers in intellectual
strength and moral courage to their first-born, Parker
Pillsbury. Not many men in our country, indeed,
in the years that preceded the Civil War, struck
heavier blows for, or clung with a more courageous,
self-sacrificing devotion to, liberty than he. Those
of us who knew him could hear the deep undertone
of the deacon's voice in his, and knew he would
conquer or die. In the roll-call of the imperishables
in the great struggle for liberty his name will be
heard among the first.
The subject of this sketch, during the first seven-
teen years of his life, experienced the usual fortune
of the sons of New England farmers, — a maximum
of hard work and a minimum of schooling ; but at
that time, having been overtaken by a lameness
which threatened to be permanent, he was sent to
the academy that he might prepare for duties suited
to his prospective infirmity. He entirely recovered,
but this circumstance gave a new drift to his life.
For nearly five years he pursued his studies with
unabated interest and industry, giving thoroughness
and a practical character to his acquisitions by teach-
ing during the winter months. Mr. Pillsbury had
few equals and no superiors among those who taught
at that time in our public schools. He was master
both of his school and his studies, and had the
faculty of inspiring his pupils with his own spirit.
Many who have since done good work in life look
back with gratitude to those years of pupilage.
j In 1839, Mr. Pillsbury left New England and went
to New Jersey, where he opened a tuition school,
j there being no free schools in the State at that time.
There, though an entire stranger, he gained the con-
fidence of the community and held it during eight
years of successful work. During the last six years
of this time he taught the academy at Bound Brook,
Somerset County. While there he married Matilda
Nevius, who died in 1847, leaving a young daughter,
an only child. The position which Mr. Pillsbury
acquired among the educators of New Jersey may
be learned from the fact that he was prominent among
the few gentlemen who held the first school conven-
tion at the capital, over which he presided, and which
was followed by similar conventions in other cities.
The movement thus begun resulted in the establish-
ment of pul)lic instruction in that State.
At the end of this time, Mr. Pillsbury's health
having become impaired, he returned to his native
place, where he purchased the paternal homestead
and entered again upon the work of his boyhood.
For seventeen years he followed the life of a farmer,
but did not move in iu old empirical ruts. He ap-
46
HISTOKY OF MJ]11RIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
plied the knowledge and improved methods which
modern investigation has given to agriculture, and
in a little time doubled the productive power of his
farm. The successl'ul factor in every industry is
brains, and in this case even New Hampshire farm-
ing proved no exception to the rule.
Mr. Pillsbury contracted a second marriage, in
1850, with Miss Sarah Wilkins, of Henniker.
Though assiduous in the pursuits of agriculture,
his benevolent instincts led him to take an active
interest in the causes of temperance, anti-slavery
and whatever else the public welfare seemed to de-
mand. His efibrts in this direction, in co-operation
with those of others, produced a change in the poli-
tics of the town, which resulted in his introduction
to public life. He was elected to various town offices
and to the Legislature three times. As a legislator,
he did not seem anxious merely to shine, but to be
useful and to advance the interests of the State.
Such qualities and service commended him to public
favor, and in 1862 he was elected a councilor for the
last year of Governor Berry's administration, and
re-elected to the Council of Governor Gilmore. This,
it will be remembered, was while the hardships and
horrors of the Civil War were upon us, and when
questions that could not be settled by precedent,
and that tested the authority and resources of the
State, were brought daily before the Governor and
his Council for decision. The exigencies of the gov-
ernment would not sutler delay. Not only great
permanent interests, but the very life of the nation
was in peril, and large and frequent demands were
made upon the States for supplies of men and money,
when every resource seemed exhausted. In such
times means must be invented and resources created.
Criticism becomes silent, and waits for the return of
peace to awaken into unreasoning activity. Under
the pressure of such events, weak men are likely to
be paralyzed, avaricious men corrupt and bold men
to abuse power.
The qualities which Mr. Pillsbury developed in
these trying circumstances ought to make his name
historic. The writer has received communications
from two gentlemen who were associated with him in
the Council, and whose services to the State are uni-
versally acknowledged, and, jis they express more
forcibly than any words of mine can do the part
which the subject of this sketch took in that event-
ful period, I take the responsibility to publish such
portions of their respective letters as bear specially
upon the subject of this paper. The known char-
acter of the writers will give additional weight to
their strong language of encomium.
Hon. John W. Sanborn, of Waketield, writes as
follows :
" Learning that you are to prepare a biographicivl sketch of Hon.
Oliver Pillsbury, I take pleasure in saying that I formed acquaintance
with him in 1803, being then associateil with him in Governor Gilmore's
Council. His great executive ability, patriotism, honesty and integrity
won the respect and admiration of all his associates. At that time the
country was engaged in that terrible war for the support of the govern-
ment and its own salvation, and grave questions came before us relative
to the prosecution of the same. Although an ardent Eepublican, lie
never let partisan feeling warp his judgment in his official acts, lie had
strong convictions of riglit, but was always ready to discuss aU questions
witli frankness and fairness, and ho fully appreciated the opinions of
his opponents. I had the honor to serve with him on the military com-
mittee of the Council, which had important matters to consider, — ques-
tions involving tho rights and interests of the soldiers, their families,
and the State. The duties of this committee were arduous and often
diflicult, but 1 can attest to the fidelity and untiring energy with which
he performed his part. He took great interest in the welfare of the sol-
diers, particularly the sick and wounded, and was ever ready to min-
ister to their wants. In a word, he a
in which he served, and the future hi
L model councilor for the t
Hon. John W. Noyes, of Chester, who was also in
official association with Mr. Pillsbury, says :
" I was with him a very considerable portion of the time for two years,
while we were members of Governor Gilmore's Council during the war.
He was the most important member of the Council, on account of his ex-
perience and familiarity with the duties of the situation ; in fact, his in-
formation and good judgment were exceedingly valuable to the Governor
and all the other members of the Council.
"I regard Mr. Pillsbury as one of the best informed and most compe-
tent business men in this State. I hardly think there is another man in
the State that could fill his present position as well as he does. I said to
Governor Stearns, before he made the appointment, that, if he knew Mr.
Pillsbury as well as I did, he would not need recommendations, but wuiild
urge his acceptance of the place.*'
It would be idle to add anything to such commen-
dations.
In 186!», Mr. Pillsbury was appointed insurance com-
missioner by Governor Stearns, for a period of three
years, and has been reappointed, from time to time,
to the office which he still holds. Soon after his
appointment he drafted and secured the enactment of
the present law of the State relative to insurance
companies of other States and other countries. This
law cstrililisliiil I he department of insurance, and has
given iM ilu |iii.|ile a degree of protection against the
frauds ;iri.l impositions of unreliable companies never
before enjoyed in this State, and has brought into its
treasury, by tax on insurance premiums, nearly
one hundred and thirty-eight thousand dollars, in
addition to the compensation of the commissioner.
During the whole term of his office Mr. Pillsbury
has worked quietly, but a.ssiduously, to eliminate un-
reliable companies from our borders, and has care-
fully avoided the admission of all such as are not
regarded as perfectly trustworthy. It is universally
affirmed, by men familiar with the insurance busi-
ness, that the commissioner of this State has admin-
istered his office with unusual skill and success, and
his reports are much sought for and often quoted and
referred to as authority in other States, The State may
well congratulate itself on having had the continued
services, for sixteen years, of one so able and experi-
enced in an office so intimately connected with the
material interests of the people.
In 1871, Mr. Pillsbury moved to Concord, and the
estimation in which he is held in the community is
attested by the fact that, during the fourteen years of
his residence at the capital, he has twice been elected
THE insanh: asylum.
47
to represent one of its wards in the Legislature, and
has been a member of its Board of Education for
seven years, and was president of the board at the
time he tendered his resignation. When a member
of the LegisUiture, Mr. Pillsbury was eminently
practical, and whenever he spoke, was listened to with
marked attention, for he only addressed the House on
subjects that he had thoroughly considered, and it
was understood that his remarks were likely to aid
the members in reaching wise and just conclusions.
As one of the supervisors of the educational inter-
ests of Concord Mr. Pillsbury was exceptionally
intelligent, conscientious and pains-taking. His
views on the general subject were comprehensive,
and he kept himself informed as to all real improve-
ments in methods of instruction. He discountenanced
shams and superfluities, and labored faithfully to
make the schools sources of knowledge, of discipline
and of virtue. To the other public trusts so honor-
ably held by the subject of this sketch we may add
that of president of the board of trustees of the
State Industrial School. He has had a deep and
abiding interest in this institution since its found-
ing, and has given to it an active and efficient sup-
port.
We can only realize how pure and unselfish his
labors of this character have been when we reflect
that Mr. Pillsbury has no children of his own to
kindle and feed his sympathies, but that they spring
from a general benevolence toward all children, of
whatever condition in life. His only child was a
daughter of rare mental activity and attainments, and
of unusual sweetness of temper. She married Mr. J.
S. Eveleth, of Beverly, Mass., where, after a residence
of nearly two years, she died of consumption, in the
flower and promise of early womanhood, leaving two
homes stricken and desolate.
In this brief sketch we have unconsciously drawn
a model citizen, — a man in all the relations of life
faithful to the claims of duty ; in the family, society
and the State, blameless; benevolent without osten-
tation, patriotic without the claim of reward and
true to every trust.
CHAPTER IV.
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.
About the year 1830 the condition of the insane of
New Hampshire began to awaken a deep interest in
the hearts of philanthropic persons in all sections of
the State. The feeling rapidly increased that some-
thing should be done for their benefit, and that, too,
upon a scale commensurate with the magnitude of
their numbers.
But what, by whom and in what way? This was
a question of difficult solution. As the public inter-
est in the subject deepened, a settled conviction was
formed in leading minds that the State should take
the initiative in whatever measures might be adopted.
Influenced in part, perhaps, by this general senti-
ment, but feeling deeply the importance of the
enterprise. Governor Dinsmore, in his message to the
Legislature, in June, 1832, thus called attention to
the condition of the insane, —
"I feci no apology need bo mi:.^1. in .n,., li liiisuished forits pub-
lic and private charities, for rail. > ■ I I I'd to a subject which
has so much reason and huiii;iiiii i-asure for the secur-
ity ami recovery of the lunatit "i n,- 111. I,r-irtlature of the state
has never yet recognized these iinlL>rtnu;tt.- li.-iiit,^s as entitled to any
special favor from government."
After alluding to the belief once entertained of
the incurableness of insanity, he contrasts the en-
lightened and humane treatment afforded by well-
regulated hospitals with that in use throughout the
State. He then asserts the curableness of the
malady, in a large percentage of cases, under proper
and timely treatment, and cites, in proof thereof,
statistics gathered from the reports of some of the
best-managed institutions in England and the United
States, thereby showing the importance " of having,
in some convenient part of the State, a place where
patients of this description can be received with as
little delay as possible after the commencement of
the disease and before improper management shall
have aggravated its character and lessened the
chances of cure." He also recommended, as a pre-
paratory step, the institution of an inquiry "to
ascertain, with as much exactness as practicable, the
whole number of insane within the State, distin-
guishing paupers from others, the number which have
been committed to jail within a given time by
authority of court or by their friends or others with-
out the order or sanction of judicial proceedings, and
the length of their respective terms of confinement ;
and to ascertain, in like manner, the actual or proba-
ble amount of costs of court and jailer's fees and
expenses of their support and maintenance in cases
of confinement."
In accordance with this recommendation, the Gov-
ernor was directed, by a resolution introduced by Mr.
Hugh Miller, of Peterborough, and passed on the
22d day of June of that year, "to take proper means
to ascertain the number of insane persons in the
State."
In his message at the opening of the winter session,
in November following. Governor Dinsmore further
said, —
" I addressed letters of inquiry, containing copies of the resolution, to
the selectmen of the several towns in the State, requesting them to fur-
nish me seasonably with the information desired. In one hundred and
forty-one towns, being all from which returns have been received, the
whole number of insane is one hundred and eighty-nine,— ninety males
and ninety-nine females,— one hundred and three of whom are paupers.
The whole of those now in confinement is scventy-si;!, of whom twenty-
five are in private houses, thirty-four in poor-houses, seven in cells and
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
cages, six in chains and irons and four in jails. Of those not now in
confinement, many were stated to have been at times secured in private
houses, some have been handcuffed, others have been confined in cells
and some in chains and jails."
In pureuance of the Governor's recommendation, a
bill was introduced into the House of Representa-
tives by Mr. Samuel C. Webster, of Plymouth, on
the 26tli day of December, providing " for the es-
tablishment "of the New Hampshire Asylum for the
Insane." This was read twice, laid upon the table,
and on the 28th of December, on motion of Mr.
Samuel E. Cones, of Portsmouth, indefinitely post-
poned by a vote of one hundred and thirty-nine to
.seventy-eight.
Upon the assembling of the next Legislature, in
1833, Governor Dinsraore again alluded to the sub-
ject in his message, and said, in relation to the es-
tablishment of an asylum for the insane, —
" Although your predecessors did not feel prepared to sanction the
measures recommended, I have never lost the hope of seeing at an early
period a zealous co-operation of the several branches of the government
with the friends of suffering humanity, in promoting a charity so phiinly
recommended by the principles of our religion and by every considera-
tion of justice and philanthropy."
On the 20th day of June of this year a resolution
was introduced into the House of Representatives by
Mr. Arthur Livermore, of Campton, authorizing the
appointment of an agent to examine and inspect
sundry asylums for the insane and "report a plan
for an asylum in this State." The resolution passed
to its third reading, when, on the 2.5th day of June,
its indefinite postponement being moved by Mr.
John L. Hadley, of Weare, the yeas and nays were
required by Mr. Hadley, and its postponement was
lost by a vote of fifty-four yeas and one hundred
and five nays. The resolution was then passed and
sent to the Senate, where, a few days afterwards,
July 1, 1833, on motion of Mr. Cyrus Barton, its
further consideration was postponed to the next
session of the Legislature. A resolution was also
passed by the House " That each member of this
Legislature instruct their respective towns to report
by their members at the next session the number of
insane, and their wishes in relation to the State
building an hospital for the use of the insane; " but,
on the 4th day of July, this, on motion of Mr. War-
ren Lovell, of Meredith, was also indefinitely post-
poned by the Senate. On the 26th of June still
another resolution was introduced to the House by
Mr. Charles H. Peaslee, of Concord, appropriating
ten thousand dollars " for the erection of an insane
hospital," the further consideration of which was, on
the 3d day of July, on motion of Mr. Zenas Clement,
of Claremont, postponed to the next session of the
Legislature by a vote of one hundred and eight yeas
to eighty-seven nays.
The use of the Representatives' Hall was granted
to Dr. William Perry, of Exeter; on the evening of
the 20th of June, for the delivery of a lecture upon
the subject of the insane.
Upon the opening of the session of 1834, Governor
Badger warmly urged in his message the importance
of taking some measures for alleviating the existing
condition of the insane, and on the 11th of June
so much of the Governor's message as related to the
deaf, dumb and insane was referred to a special com-
mittee of the House, consisting of Messrs. Charles
H. Peaslee, of Concord; John L. Perley, of Mere-
dith; Hugh Bartley, of Londonderry; John Sulli-
van, of Exeter; William Gordon, of Charlestown ;
Otis Amidon, of Chesterfield; and Gideon L. Tirrell,
of Shelburne.
On the 24th, Mr. Peaslee, for the committee, pre-
sented to the House an able report, accompanied by
a resolution for an appropriation, by the State, of the
sum of twelve thousand five hundred dollars for the
erection of an asylum for the insane, which, on the
30th of the same month, on motion of Mr. John
Rogers, of Exeter, was postponed to the next session
of the Legislature. The resolution "authorizing
the appointment of an agent for the inspection of
certain asylums for the insane," which was postponed
in 1833 to the next session of the Legislature, was
reported, on the 18th day of June, to the Senate
from the committee on unfinished business, and the
same day, on motion of Mr. Austin Corbin, of New-
port, was indefinitely postponed. Twelve days after-
ward, however, a resolution, introduced to the House
by Mr. Jacob Taylor, of Stoddard, was passed, which
required the selectmen of the several towns to make
return to the Secretary of State of the number and
condition of the insane in their respective towns
and districts. Further evidence of the activity of
the friends of the insane is found in the fact that the
House granted the use of their hall a second time to
Dr. William Perry for the delivery of a lecture upon
the condition and wants of the insane of the State.
On the 29th of June the next year (1835) a resolu-
tion was introduced in the House by Mr. Charles H.
Peaslee, of Concord, " appropriiiting twenty-five
bank shares for an asylum for the insane," which
subsequently, on the 2oth of June, on motion of Mr.
John Woodbury, of Salem, was postponed to the
next session of the Legislature. The next day,
however, the House passed a resolution, introduced
by Mr. George W. Kittredge, of New Market, provid-
ing for the appointment of a commission, to consist
of one from each county, to ascertain the number
and condition of the insane in the several counties of
the State and make report to the next Legislature.
At the next session of the Legislature (1836) the
subject of an asylum for the insane was again brought
forward by Governor Hill in his message, and on the
7th day of June a select committee of ten was
appointed "on so much of the Governor's message as
relates to insane persons in this State, the memorials
and petitions praying for the establishment of an
insane asylum and the statistical returns from the
towu.s of the number :md condition of the iusane."
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
49
This committee consisted of Messrs. Charles H.
Peaslee, of Concord ; Luther V. Bell, of Derry ;
Thatcher Bradford, of Hancock ; Augustus Jenkins,
of Portsmouth; Benjamin F. Folsoni, of Guilford;
Benjamin Pettingill, of Salisbury ; Cyrus Frost, of
Marlborough; James Breck, of Newport; Henry
H. Lang, of Bath ; and Aaron Potter, of Milan.
To this committee were referred the petitions of
sundry inhabitants of the towns of Richmond, Fitz-
william. Nelson, Winchester, Gilsum, Keene, Exeter,
Sullivan, Dover, Roxbury, Portsmouth and Clare-
niont, besides others of individuals whose residences
are not mentioned. At the autumn session other
petitions of like purport to the foregoing were in-
troduced and similarly referred. On the loth, Dr.
Luther V. Bell, for the committee, made to the House
of Representatives an able report, whereupon the
House postponed the further consideration of the sub-
ject to the next session of the Legislature. Immedi-
ately after, on motion of Mr. Joel Eastman, of
Conway, the clerk was ordered to procure one thou-
sand printed copies of this report for the use of that
body.
Early in the June session Samuel E. Cones, of
Portsmouth, was granted the use of Representatives'
Hall for the delivery of a lecture upon insanity and
the insane. A few days later, on the 15th, a resolu-
tion of the previous Legislature appropriating twenty-
live bank shares belonging to the State for the erec-
tion of an asylum for the insane was referred to the
select committee above mentioned. Upon the same
day Mr. John L. Hadley, of Weare, introduced to the
House a joint resolution, which soon afterwards
passed both branches of the Legislature, that the
Governor be requested to issue his precepts to the
selectmen of the several towns, to take the sense of
the qualified voters upon the question, "Is it ex-
pedient for the State to grant an appropriation to
build an insane hospital ?"
At the opening of the November session Governor
Hill, in his message to the Legislature, remarks, in
relation to the returns made in conformity to this
resolution, that " less than one-half of the legal
voters of the State have expressed any opinion, and
the official returns, so far as received, would indicate
that the vote had been nearly equal for and against
the proposition."
In 1837 neither the message of the Governor nor the
proceedings of the Legislature contain any allusion
to the subject of an asylum for the insane. Great
financial depression, extending throughout all parts
of the country, may possibly have discouraged efforts
in this direction, which, under other circumstances,
would have been active.
The friends of the enterprise, however, were not
disheartened, nor were their efforts abandoned, as
they cherished a belief that these efforts must ere long
be crowned with success. And in this anticipation
they were not disappointed. On the 21st day of
June, 1838, a bill was reported to the House from the
select committee, to whom had been referred so much
of the Governor's message as related to insane persons
in this State, and petitions praying for the establish-
ment of an insane asylum. This passed to a third
reading, when a motion was made by Mr. Reuben
Wyman, of Albany, to iJostpone it to the next session
of the Legislature, and " that the Secretary of State
be required to notify the selectmen of the several
towns in this State to insert an article in their war-
rants for holding the annual March meetings, to take
the sense of the qualified voters upon the subject of
granting an appropriation for building an asylum."
Upon the yeas and nays being called for by Mr.
Warren Lovell, of Meredith, it was found that the
motion did not prevail, the yeas being eighty-five and
the nays one hundred and forty-four. The bill was
then passed, and in a few days its passage was con-
curred in by the Senate.
Thus, after a severe struggle of six years, during
which period they encountered a most obstinate op-
position, its advocates at length succeeded in obtain-
ing for the asylum a charter. We would be glad to
recount the names of these early and devoted friends
to whose protracted and unwearied efforts the insti-
tution owes its existence, but our limits forbid. But
for their efforts in its behalf in the Legislature, the
pulpit, the lecture-room, by the way and wherever
an opportunity offered, it might not have been erected
to this day. In its success they afterwards had proof
of the correctness of their early foresight of its im-
portance, and in its usefulness, their reward.
By its charter the New Hampshire Asylum for the
Insane was constituted a corporation, with power to
hold real and personal property in any amount neces-
sary for its maintenance and support, " provided that
its annual income from real and personal estate should
not exceed thirty thousand dollars." The institution
was placed under the management of a board of twelve
trustees, the offices of three of whom should become
vacant annually, eight to be chosen by the corpora-
tion and four by a board of visitors, consisting of the
Governor and Council, the President of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for
the time being. It also provided that when the sum
of fifteen thousand dollars should be secured to the
asylum by individuals, then the State should make
over to it, in aid of its benevolent aims, thirty shares
of New Hampshire bank stock, worth at that time
about eighteen thousand dollars.
Some six months after the passage of this act a
controversy arose between the corporation represent-
ing the subscribers to the voluntary fund and the
board of visitors representing the State, relative to
certain powers of control assumed by the former, and
different interpretations of the act were urged. The
questions involved were settled not long after by an
act of the Legislature, " in amendment to and ex-
planatory of the incorporating act," which provided
50
HISTOKY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
that " the direction, management and control of all
the property and concerns " of the asylum should be
vestnl in llif trustees, without power of interference
l>y till' (■<.i|..ii;iiiiHi. And it was ere long thought best
tliat tlic irisliiiition should be placed entirely under
tlic control of tlie State, which, in accordance with an
act passed l)y the Legislature in 1840, assumed its
sole management through a board of twelve trustees,
to be appointed by the Governor and Council. An-
other act, jiassed the same year, pro\'ided that all
contributions by private individuals, previously made,
should be refunded to them if claimed within a speci-
fied time.
The location of the asylum at some point in the
town of Concord was left to the trustees, who, on the
21st day of January, 1841, selected that which it now
occupies, the town of Concord having previously
voted to give to the asylum the sum of nine thousand
five hundred dollars, provided it should be located
within its limits ; private citizens of the town having
jjreviously pledged a considerable amount in addition
upon the same condition.
A building committee, previously appointed, now
entered upon the discharge of their duties and pro-
cured the completion, in October, 1842, of the front
portion of the present centre building and the adjoin-
ing north and south wings, which afforded accommo-
dations for ninety-six patients. From the trustees'
report of 1844 it appears " that the whole amount ex-
pended in the erection of the hospital, barn and out-
buildings, for the farm, consisting of one hundred and
twenty-one acres, supply of water, furniture, farming
tools, stock and other property was $35,266.70 ; " and
that of this sum, nineteen thousand dollars only had
licen ijaid by the State, the balance having been re-
ceived from contributions by the town and citizens of
( 'uncord, the Society of Shakers and other benevolent
individuals or realized from the board of patients.
A few years later an additional building was
erected in the rear of the main structure, for the use
of excited patients, which, upon the completion of
the original Peaslee building, in 18o-5, was converted
into a laundry.
The asylum was opened for the reception of patients
on the 29th day of October, 1842, under the superin-
tendence of Dr. George Chandler, who, in June follow-
ing, reported to the trustees the admission of seventy-
six patients during the previous seven months. Dr.
Chandler remained at the head of the institution for
about three years, and to him it is largely indebted
for the initiation of a wise routine of management.
He was succeeded in 1845 by Dr. Andrew McFarland,
afterwards superintendent of the Illinois Asylum for
the Insane, who discharged the duties of superintend-
ent for about seven years, and resigned in the summer
of 1852. In 1849, three years before he retired from
his office, the Chandler wing was built.
He was succeeded by Dr. John E. Tyler, who helil
the office for a period of about four years and a hali'.
During his superintendency the first portion of the
Peaslee building was erected in 1854, steam fixtures
for warming the, halls and other parts of the house
were introduced in 1855, and, in consequence of in-
creasing applications tor admission, the Rumford wing
was erected the same year, thereby increasing the
limit of accommodations to two hundred and twenty-
five patients.
In consequence of impaired health. Dr. Tyler re-
signed in 1857, and was succeeded by Dr. Je.sse P. Ban-
croft. His period of service was a long one, extending
from 1857 to 1883. It was also an active one, during
which no less than seven important buildings were
added to those previously in use.
The first of these, in the order of construction, was
the Kent building, erected in 1867. This is the cor-
responding building, on the female side of the asylum,
to the Peaslee building, on the male side. It embod-
ies most of the advanced ideas pertaining to the cus-
tody of highly-excited patients prevailing at the time
of its erection, and is still well abreast of the present
period in this respect.
The very greatly-enlarged number of patients in
1868 rendered necessary a new kitchen, bakery,
cellar, dining-room for employes, sewing-room and
chapel. These wants were aU supplied in the present
chapel building, which was built this year and de-
signed to meet them.
The ventilation of the old buildings proved more
and more defective as time elapsed and numbers in-
creased. In 1869, Dr. Bancroft devised a new system
for the halls and rooms in these, and from time to
time, as fast as practicable, it has been introduced
with gratifying success.
The enlargement of the asylum structure on the
south brought into very objectionable contiguity the
barn and stable of the institution. The necessity for
larger structures of this character, better planned and
more remotely located, was met, in 1871, by their
removal and reconstruction upon the sites which they
now occupy.
In 1874 the Peaslee building, originally occupying
a foremost rank among buildings of this description,
was found to have become of insufficient capacity
and wanting in some important conveniences, which
the experience of the period following its erection
had suggested. Its accommodations having become
insufficient rather than unsuitable, it was enlarged to
double its size and furnished with such additional
conveniences as the most advanced treatment of
highly excited patients required.
Three years later it became apparent that the asylum
had outgrown its boiler-house and repair-shops, and
that a new structure to meet these wants had become
imperative. After a careful consideration of these
and of the most desirable way of providing for them,
the present boiler-house and work-shops were con-
structed in 1877.
Twice since its erection has the central building of
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
51
the asylum been enlarged. Its accommodations were
lirst increased, in 1860, by an addition of some thirty-
six feet upon the west. The greatly-enlarged num-
ber of employes calling ere long for still more room,
an additional story was put upon it in 1879. These
additions have doubled its original capacity.
The last addition made to the asylum structure
was that of the Bancroft building. This was sug-
gested partly by the need of additional room on the
female side of the asylum, and partly by a desire, on
the part of the friends of a somewhat limited class of
patients in the State, for more ample accommoda-
tions and a more private life than is usually found
practicable at institutions for the insane. To meet
this want the comely structure designated as above
was erected in 1882.
Such has been the growth of the asylum structure
up to the present time (1885). Its accommodations
have been increased from those at first provided for
ninety-six patients to those which can now more
amply accommodate three hundred and fifty.
The whole amount expended upon this structure,
from first to last, by the State has been but two hun-
dred and fourteen thousand dollars, or, considering
the character of the accommodations afforded, the
very low sum of six hundred and eleven dollars per
patient. Whatever the asylum has cost beyond this
amount has come from sources other than the State
treasury.
It is located in the very heart of the city of Con-
cord, upon a tract of ground, highly improved, of about
one hundred and twenty-five acres. Some twenty-
five acres of this are occupied by the various build-
ings and airing courts; the remainder by the pond,
farming areas, groves, avenues and paths. In addi-
tion to the ground about the house, the asylum owns
a pasture, about a half a mile distant, of fifty acres.
One of the greatest boons enjoyed by the institution
is that of an unlimited supply of purest water. This
comes from a well sunk by Dr. Bancroft upon the
premises in 1880, which has a diameter of fifty feet
and a depth of fifteen. It is drawn upon daily for
about fifty thousand gallons, and is capable of yield-
ing a much larger supply. Never since its construc-
tion has it shown the slightest indications of failure,
even during the severest droughts.
In 1855, as before stated, the furnaces, which had
been previously employed, were discarded, and ap-
pliances for warming the buildings by steam were
introduced. Up to 1870 wood was the fuel used.
But this growing more and more dear in price and
its supply more and more uncertain, it gave way to
coal, and for the last fifteen years the steam for heat-
ing, washing, cooking, etc., has been made by this.
After an active service of twenty-five years. Dr.
Bancroft resigned the superintendency in 1882, and
has been succeeded by his son. Dr. Charles P. Ban-
croft. Familiar with all the traditions of the insti-
tution and thoroughly equipped by education and
experience for the high responsibilities of his post,
he is maintaining its usefulness and continuing it in
the front rank of American asylums for the insane.
Its success thus far hils been due very largely to the
entire absence of partisanship in its boards of visi-
tors and of trustees, to the patient and devoted
efforts of able superintendents, to the liberal benefac-
tions of earnest friends of the insane, to timely aid
from time to time rendered by the State and to the
full reports made annually to the public of its con-
.dition and operations.
It is an interesting fact in its history that devoted
friends of the insane have ever watched the i>rogress
of the asylum, and made, from time to time, liberal
contributions to its funds. It has been deemed just
and proper to put on record here the names of these
generous patrons.
"Before its opening, even, in 1837, Miss Catharine
Fisk, of Keene, a lady of high culture and benevolent
impulses, bequeathed to it alegacy of nearly six thou-
sand dollars, charged with certain temporary an-
nuities, since terminated. By the terms of her will,
this bequest was not to be paid to the asylum until
the expiration of fifty years from the time of her
decease, and, consequently, no part of this has yet
been received. At present, held by the State as
trustee, it is increasing by the annual addition of the
accruing interest, and now (1885) amounts to twenty-
three thousand four hundred and seventy-six dollars
and seventy-one cents. It will become payable to the
asylum in'the year 1887.
In 1846, and at subsequent times, the State, as
trustee for the Jisylum, received, in partial payments
from the estate of Jacob Kimball, of Hampstead, a
legacy amounting to six thousand seven hundred and
forty-three dollars and forty-nine cents, the interest
of which is annually paid by the State treasurer to
the asylum.
Again, in 1847, the Hon. Samuel Bell, of Chester,
made to the asylum generous donations of money, to
be expended in the purchase of books for the use of
such patients as might be benefited by the perusal
of them. With this some two hundred and fifty
volumes of standard works, well suited to the purpose
intended, were procured. These formed the nucleus
about which the present asylum library has grown
up. The important additions since made have re-
sulted from numerous smaller and later gifts. This
collection of books, now containing about eighteen
hundred volumes, is of great value as a curative
agency in the treatment of large numbers of con-
valescent and mildly affected patients.
Two years afterwards, in 1849, the institution re-
ceived, as a contribution to its fund, the sum of two
hundred dollars from John Williams, Esq., of
Hanover.
Abiel Chandler, &q., of Walpole, the founder of
the Chandler Scientific School at Hanover, who died
in 1851, bequeathed to the asylum two legacies, one
52
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUxNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
of six hundred dollars, charged with the life-estate of
a niece, and another of one thousand dollars, at the
same time making the institution his residuary lega-
tee. The several sums paid "to its treasurer and
financial agent, from time to time, by bis executors
amount to twenty-seven thousand six hundred and
thirty-one dollars and fifteen cents. The ultimate
amount of this fund, which bears the name of its
donor, has been fixed by the trustees at thirty thou-
sand dollars, and already, increased by the addition to
it of interest, stands upon the books of the institu-
tion at twenty-nine thousand eight hundred dollars.
The Countess of Kumford, who died at Concord in
December, 1852, was also a benefactress of the asylum.
Feeling a deep interest in this and other benevolent
institutions in her native State and elsewhere, at her
decease she left to such a very large proportion of
her estate. To her kindness the asylum is indebted
for a legacy of fifteen thousand dollars, which was
paid to its treasurer in 1853.
Mrs. Mary Danforth, of Boscawen, who also died
in 1852, after making other specific bequests, left to
the asylum the residuum of her estate. From this
the sum of three hundred and forty-seven dollars and
ninety cents was realized by the institution.
One of the early trustees of the asylum was Mr.
William Plumer, of Londonderry, who ever mani-
fested a deep concern for its welfare. It was found,
after his decease, that, retaining this interest to the
last, he had left to it a legacy of five hundred dollars,
which was paid to its treasurer in 18G3.
Still another benefactress of the asylum was Mrs.
Peggy Fuller, of Francestown, from whose estate it
received, in 1862-63, the sum of eighteen hundred and
fourteen dollars and forty-two cents.
In 1862 the institution received from the executors
of the will of Mrs. Fanny S. Sherman, of Exeter, a
lady of great excellence of character, a legacy of five
thousand dollars, the annual income of which is, by
her direction, given to indigent patients, to assist
them in paying the necessary expenses of their sup-
port, and is the first bequest ever received by the
asylum to which any particular direction has been
attached by the donor. Some five years later the
sum of two hundred and two dollars and ten cents
was paid to the asylum, by his executors, as a legacy
of Mr. Horace Hall, of Charlestown.
The largest bequest ever made to the asylum was
the munificent one of Mr. Moody Kent, who died in
1866. Having watched its progress with great interest
for a long series of years, he left to it, at his decease,
the residue of his property, after the payment of
numerous legacies to relatives and friends. From his
estate the institution received one hundred and forty-
nine thousand four hundred and fourteen dollars, which
sum, increased by a small addition derived from ac-
crued interest, now constitutes the present Kent
fund of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
The Rev. Dr. Charles Burroughs, of Portsmouth,
who, for about thirteen years, had held the office of
president of the board of trustees, left at his decease,
in March, 1868, as an evidence of his deep interest in
the asylum, a bequest of one thousand dollars, to be
paid to the institution at the close of the life of Mrs.
Burroughs.
Isaac Adams, of Sandwich, after having served the
institution for several years with signal ability as
one of its trustees, upon retiring from the board, in
1868, accompanied his resignation with the liberal gift
of one thousand dollars, requesting that the interest
might be expended in aflx)rding means of in-door
recreation to male patients so situated as to be de-
prived of it in the open air. This fund, which has
been accumulating, will be used at an early day as
the foundation of active measures to secure the im-
portant result suggested by its donor.
In 1872, John Conant, of Jaffrey, the constructing
agent of the first asylum building, for many years a
member of its board of trustees, and for six years its
president, gave expression to a deep interest long en-
tertained for the institution by a generous donation
of six thousand dollars, as an addition to its per-
manent funds.
The third on the list of female patrons of the insti-
tution stands the name of Miss Arabella Rice, of
Portsmouth, who died in 1872 and left to it a legacy
of twenty thousand dollars as a proof of her deep
interest in the welfare of the asylum and of the un-
fortunate class to whom it ministers.
Hon. Isaac Spalding, of Nashua, for many years a
member of the board of its trustees and from 1868 to
1875 its president, died the latter year, leaving to the
asylum a legacy of ten thousand dollars as his con-
tribution to its permanent funds.
In 1883 the asylum received a legacy of one
thousand dollars from the estate of Miss H. Louise
Penhallow, of Portsmouth, being the last whii'h li:is
come into its treasury.
The whole amount of the asylum's permanent
funds on the 1st day of June, 1885, was two hundred
and seventy thousand three hundred and eighty-four
dollars and five cents.
The settled purpose of the trustees as to each of
these, and to every other fund which may hereafter
be given to the asylum amounting to one thousand
dollars or over, unless otherwise ordered by the
donor, is to maintain the principal thereof intact,
and so to expend the income, from time to time
accruing, as the greatest good of the patients and of
the asylum shall suggest. The following votes of the
trustees, regulating their action in this regard, will
present more in detail the rules by which they are
governed :
"Toted, That the several fundR that have been, or may hereafter be,
given to the New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane, unless otherwise
ordered by the donors, be entered upon the books of the aaylum as per-
manent funds, be set apart with the names of said donors attached to
each, to be forever kept intact, and that the income thereof be expended
In accordance with the conditions upon which they are given, or, in the
THE INSANK ASYLUM.
53
.bseuce of 8uch, in auch manner as the trustees shall deem most for the
ntereat of the asylum and its patients.
"Voted, That if, at any time, the principal of any fnnd be impaired,
he income thereof shall be at once devoted to its restoration and continue
be thus appropriated until the said fund shall attain its original
From the foregoing sketch of the rise and progress
of the New Hampshire Asylum it appears that, from
the first, there have been successive demands for ad-
ditional buildings and other facilities for the care
and treatment of the insane. This demand has
arisen, in part, from the constant increase in the
number of persons requiring hospital care ; but this
has not been the sole cause of the demand. There
has been, as the result of experience, an advancing
idea of the requisites for the proper treatment of in-
sanity, and, as a result, there has been, from time to
time, demands not only for new buildings, but for
radical changes of old ones. Experience has been
constantly bringing to light the insutficiency and de-
fects of the earlier ideas and usages, and calling for
facilities for utilizing the fruits of that experience,— a
common fact in all fields of progress. The history of
the asylum has been one of progressive develop-
ment, which has found uo resting-place.
It germinated in sympathy for the insane, the
depth of which was shown in the patience and per-
sistency with which the first movers in the enterprise
resisted the obstacles thrown in their way, and re-
newed their determined efforts from year to year.
The results of their efforts have been an emphatic
vindication of the soundness of their judgment as
well as of the benevolence of their sentiments. It
would be impossible to form a just estimate of the
benefits which have followed, unless by a comparison
of the condition of the insane prior to the founding
of the institution and that at the present time. A
few words in regard to the old notions of insanity
may be allowable here in contrast with present
views, as illustrating the amount of good accom-
plished. Before the opening of this century the in-
sane were regarded and treated as outcasts, looked
upon with horror, as culprits or possessed with evil
spirits. Execution or imprisonment was their por-
tion. Those who escaped these were subjected to
measures for the expulsion of demoniac possession,
incantations or vile compounds supposed to possess
virtue against demons. Holy water, to which salt
was added, was a famous prescription for this pur-
pose, on the theory that the devil abhorred salt.
Binding the subject to a cross was another remedy
supposed to possess great efficiency.
An old medical writer records this as the treatment
of a case of active mania, which he witnessed: A
priest entered the room of the person and said,
"Thou devil of devils! I adjure thee by the potential
power of the Father and the Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ, and by the virtue of the Holy Ghost that
thou do show me for what cause thou dost
this woman."
Recovery was the result reported. Prior to the
year 1797 almost no rational and scientific provision
for the insane had been attempted. The few institu-
tions then existing differed little from prisons. Pinel,
with an insight deeper than others, saw that disease,
and not the devil, wjis the cause of insanity ; and his
logical inference was that treatment of it as of other
diseases was the remedy, rather than binding to a
holy cross or the expulsion of the devil.
After much effort, and against violent opposition,
he obtained the reluctant permission of the authori-
ties to try the experiment of treating insanity as dis-
ease, but only on condition that he be held personally
responsible for any harm which might ensue to the
public from this supposed hazardous measure. He
removed the insane from dark and foul prisons into
hospital care, much to their relief and joy. This was
the first step in rational and scientific treatment.
Out of this germ has grown the grand results of the
present period. But the hospital of to-day was not
the immediate product of this radical change of
theory. For a long time after this there was no in-
stitution seen which could compare favorably with
the hospital of the present. Even Pinel himself had
little conception of the possibilities lying in the di-
rection of liberal usages in the care of the insane.
The best practice of that day would now be regarded
as crude and insufficient, affording little worth copy-
ing.
The way out of the strange vagaries in opinion
and practice, so long entertained, was not short or
sudden, but, of necessity, through a long series of
cautious observations and careful practical trials.
Old traditions and hereditary prejudices, however
absurd and unreasonable, are never quickly eradi-
cated. But one great advantage was immediately
realized: insanity at once begun to be studied and
dealt with from a new poiat of departure. Pinel had
transferred it from demonology and crime into the
category of disease, to be henceforth investigated as
other bodily affections. This was an immense gain.
Henceforward the sciences tributary to general medi-
cine were to contribute in explanation of the intri-
cate mental phenomena dependent on cerebral le-
sions. Physiology and pathology came at once to be
consulted, rather than the changes of the moon. In
the light of these, careful observation of the phenom-
ena of insanity as disease has been the increasing
practice.
From this point progress has been uninterrupted,
but especially rapid during the last half-century.
The breaking away from old traditions and prejudices
has been much more apparent in this period, as
shown in changing hospital architecture and the
adoption of a vastly more liberal type of organiza-
tion. If the progress seems, at first thought, slow,
it is to be considered that, in the nature of the case,
the full extent to which it is now found that liberal
and common-sense methods can be safely applied in
54
IIISTOUV OK .MKKIU.MACK COUNTV, NKW 11 A. Ml
priictico with the insane could be only gradually
apprehended. It wns only by cautiously conducted
trials, even at some supposed risks, that the now
genornlly accepted conviction became established
that the insane, as a class, could be intrusted with
a larger liberty and controlled more by moral influ-
ences than had, in earlier times, been deemed safe.
These resnlt.s of experience explain the great dif-
ference apparent between the architectural features
of the old and the later structures of the New
Hampshire Asylum. These latter show that much
more self-control ia expected on the part of the
patient than wns supposed possible when the former
were constructed ; and also provide a larger latitude
for the exercise of independent volition and the free
exercise of personal tastes. A careful examination of
the features of the series of buildings, in the order of
the time of their erection since the first, will attord a
very correct illustration of the gradual evolution
of ideas and methods of practice with the insane.
This evolution is most gratifying to philanthropy,
and, by the most intelligent alienists, is not believed
to have yet reached its limit. They look confidently
forward to that hapiiy adjustment of residences and
other auxiliary inlluenccs which shall reduce to a
minimum the real sacrifices inviilvc<l .in hospital
treatment, as also the dread with xvbicli so many
liave regarded its necessity.
The New Hampshire Asylum has, from its organ-
ization, been in fullest sympathy with others in this
progressive work, and has never been satisfied with
an inferior rank. Each new move, whether in build-
ing or in administration, has embodied the gleanings
of the past, both in the literature of the subject and
of experience, whether its own or that of othei-s.
.So tiir as its resources would allow, it has ever fol-
lowed the most progressive ideas, regulated by a
rigid, but not suiciiliil, economy. Its trustees and
physicians have always regarded buildings and sur-
roundings as important co-factors in successful treat-
ment, and have therefore siiared no pains to embody
in these i\s much of remedial force sis possilile. It
was not the first in the field. Enough had been done
iu England and in this country to afford solid hope
and promise to our sagacious and whole-hearted
people, by whose unwearied ctl'orls the first organiza-
tion was secured.
The i.ractical work ;ucomplislu'd l>y the asylum
could not be fairly appreciated vvilhoul taking into
account the condition of the insane in the Stalcwhcn
it commenced operations, a conditicm which it is dif-
ficult to realize at this day. It cannot be described
more briefly or better than by Dr. Hell, in his report
made to the Ijogislature in .lune, 1830, to which refer
once has already been n\ade. He says, —
" Tlio conimiltoo fwl tlint iioltlior Iho tiino nor llio ocowlon iwiniro
tliom to ulUulo to iuiitniu'ivi of tho tiggmvHtpil aud aliiioat iiicixhI bio
»uiroliligs of tlio lne<uii> iwor wlilcli Imvo conic to tlvcir kno\vlc<l(si>; tllcy
ui-c convinced tltnt the LoglttlHturu require no
(lie vari»tlona of hitouse mloery to which the |
oxtomling fVoni the time of his incurcoration iu tho cold, narrow, sunlesij,
lireleta coll of tho almshouse to the scarcely moro human dl«iK»nl ol
hini by ■ soiling at auction,' as it is called, by which ho fell Into the
tender niorciiw of tho moot abjoct and worthless of society, who alone
could bo excited by cupidity to such a revolting charge, Sultlce it to
miy, on this point, that your comudttoo are Batisllod that the horrors of
the present condition of tho inMino in New Hamiwhiro aro far from
Imving been exiiggeratcd. Tliey have found that public officers auil
eitixens of towns have naturally twon unwilling that tho extent and
particulars uf wluit many of thoin doubtless sincoix-ly believe a noceesary.
or at leju»t, .ni hum i I il t. . v.iify, should be blazoned forth to the
public; tiK'-. 1.1^1 . I t iiiKjxne fViends have been found often
unwilling <'\ri. 1 I II ! :i> uuiliulies, still less to speak of the treat-
ment and coiiiiiti ill wln.li ili.> ronscieutiously think nmvvoidable in
their circumstnn.es . . . In view of this immense mass of unmitigated
and nndilutod misery, tho (|ueation will spontaneously occur, what can
be done for its alleviation and prevention ? "
The enacting of the law founding the asylum was
the manner in which the Legislature answered this
grave question of their committee. The same com-
mittee thus set forth the results to be secured by this
legislation, —
That these objects have been secured, in an emi-
nent degree, can hardly be questioned at this day by
any one who has intelligently watched the progress
of the institution from its foundation. But the full
measure of relief from suffering which it has secured
to the objects of its care, as well as the amount of
misery it has saved by its preventive measures, can
be known only to those who have been personally
conversant with, or interested in, its personiil
histories.
A brief review nf the histi.iical rcccrd of its work.
as derived tnun its statistics, will be gcrniaiii to the
objects of this article. From the time of the adnii.s-
sion of the first patient, October 29, 1842, to March
31, 1885, a period of forty-two years, five months and
two days, four thousand seven hundred and fifty-two
persons were admitted to the asylum and received its
care. Of this number, seventeen hundred and thirty-
four went forth restored to reason, prepared to resume
their places and trusts in society. This fact alone
has much significance when taken in connection with
the statement of the committee already quoted from,
that " We found no more than an occasional instaiui
of amendment under the common treatment."
It further appeai-s that eleven hundred and se\ en
pel-sons, under care and treatment, but who did not
fully recover mental health, lelt the institution so
much improved as to render life among friends prac-
ticable, safe, and generally more or less useful. Of
this class, a considerable number were convalescent
on leaving, and fully recovered afterwards. The rec-
ords show only eight hundred and thirty-eight dis-
charged whose diseases were not either removed or
mitigated. But even with those whose maladies ilid
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
not admit of relief, tlie ministrations of the institu-
tiim were by no means of little value. This will be
li 111 11(1 emphatically true when the hospital life of
siuli persons, with its systematic regulation of things
ami its sanitary provisions, is compared with any pos-
sible life without a hospital. The incurable insane,
whose lives, to a great extent, could otherwise be only
misery, are here brought within the reach of every
domestic comfort, and even convenience, and the
moderating and steadying influences existing secure
andthrn iii;ill\ II ii impn .\ c.l, I h. re « .1 .■ I Ii..m- who
(lied. Of Ibis chiss, from the oi.ening of the asylum
to April, 1, ISS"), iliere were seven hundred and forty-
eight. The attentions diie and rendered to these have
not been among the least of the benefits accruing to
these .sutlerers. Kind ministrations to the hopeless
and the helpless are ever held among the highest and
best of human acts. They exalt and dignify human
nature. We think only with a shudder of the hope-
less victims of disease dying in lonesome neglect. It is
a bright feature of Christian civilization that it tenderly
cares for tiiose who fall in the race ; it is the trait of
the savage to abandon to their fate those who can no
longer do service in the ranks. To bring to the bed
of the dying all suitable tokens of respect, and to
make the last days of these as far as possible from
solitude or neglect, has ever been the studious effort
of the management of the institution.
What these ministrations may have been worth
to the immediate objects of them, and to the sorrow-
ing homes to which they belonged, it is not the
province of words to show, — their full bearings can-
not be made written history.
This glance at the statistical records of the work of
the asylum from its foundation is only a naked out-
line. To bring the extent and value of this work to
the full apprehension of the reader would be to re-
view, in detail, the busy, laborious and oftiii painful
hours of forty-two years.
Through these years all plans and all work have
aimed at one object, and that, to make the treatment
of mental disorders rational, thoroughly human and
free of all superstition and all needless interference
with the rights and privileges of the patient. Fol-
lowing, in the adoption of plans, this principle, the
history of tiie institution has been one of evolution.
Out of what, at first, bore great resemblances to im-
prisonment there have been evolved conditions of life
for the insane lacking none of the necessaries and
comforts, and few of the privileges and even the
amenities, of ordinary domestic life.
Tlie space allowed for this article will not admit of
remark upon the medical treatment of insanity, fur-
ther than to say that mental derangement, in some
instances, is the reflex effect of disorder in some
bodily organ other than the brain, and that in such
cases treatment is directed to that organ. What re-
mains to be said must have reference to the general,
or so-called moral, treatment, having reference
largely to those influences which address themselves
to the mind, and involve such a regulation of hos|)i-
tal life and activities as best to antagonize morbid
processes, restore normal habits of thought or to
yield the largest benefits where restoration is impos-
sible. The same general system of measures contrili-
utes to both these ends. In other words, expcricnci-
has shown that, in adjusting surroundings and shaping
domestic and social influences for the average of the
insane, the usages and methods most agreeable to the
sane are most conducive to the recovery of the cur-
able, and most congenial to the iiiiiids of those who
cannot recover. This is eqiiivah m [,, >:is m^; that in-
sanity introduces no new ami spiiial ilcincnts of its
own requiring the suspension of ordinary customs.
Tastes, personal proclivities and the conditions of
pleasure and pain remain unchanged in kind, even
when modified in action by disease; and are respon-
sive to the same stimuli. The recognition of this fact
has been a modern achievement, and is in agreeable
contrast with older ideas and practice. The latter made
the insane some unreal being, endowed with exception-
al traits not amenable to ordinary influences, and
hence to be treated as an exception. This error led
to every absurdity and wrong in ])ractice, the most
conspicuous of which were inactivity, repression and
confinement, shutting out most of the health-giving
remedial stimuli. Comparatively speaking, this was
the practice at the opening of the asylum, when hospi-
tal life, as compared with that of the present, was a
gloomy monotony, embracing little calculated to arrest
the morbid currents of thought and feeling, and invite
them into healthy channels. The institution, during
its forty years of activity, has been steadily illustrating
the incorrectness of those ohlcr iioiions, ami making
its cautious way towards thooppn-iic iImoiv and prac-
tice. This later method is cspei i.illy rharac-lerized by
varied activities and the least practicalde departure
in the same from the style of social intercourse, and
the usages and rules of ordinary life.
The study and effort, in the direction of affairs, has
ever been and is, to make the institution in the smallest
degree possible a peculiar place, but, on the other
hand, to give it the aspects of home-life, and to fur-
nish it with attractive and pleasant activities, calcu-
lated to arrest the attention and draw the thoughts
from self and morbid themes. This end has been
steadily kept in view in all the movements of the
management, whether in building new or reconstruct-
ing old, in furnishings or equipments, or in invent-
ing the various methods of occupying time and atten-
tion. All have sought this one object till scarcely
any resemblance could be traced between the original
and the later institution life. Attractive surround-
ings, associations and occupations have come to take
the place of the gloomy and depressing monotony, in
the ways of living, which characterized the first stages
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
of the enterprise. The application, in detail, of the
underlying principle could not be the work of a day
or a year, but the result of long-continued study of
the symptoms, tastes and wants of many individual
cases, and of the effects of these agencies upon them.
This has shown that, next to a natural and attrac-
tive domestic adjustment, occupation is the great de-
.sideratum of successful treatment. This applies both
to body and mind, and should be varied almost with-
out limit to adapt it to individual capacities and tastes.
To provide such occupation in sufficient variety is
at once the foremost and the most difficult of the
duties of the administration. It lays under contri-
bution every practicable agency within reach, — the
farm, the shop, the laundry, the kitchen, the sewing-
room, the carriage-drive and the walk in the coun-
try ; and in-doors, the library and various public ex-
ercises of instruction or entertainment. All these
are drawn upon with increasing diligence, to the ex-
tent of available resources, so that none, except the
few who, from bodily weakness, require absolute rest,
are left without an external stimulus designed to an-
tagonize the morbid introversion ever present in men-
tal disease. It requires no argument to show the rea-
sonableness of this practice, even if ample experience
had not faithfiilly demonstrated it ; and it may be af-
firmed that, aside from strictly medical treatment,
the value of hospital residence is now largely meas-
ured by the ability of the institution to provide these
agencies. With a view to multiply and vary these, a
large shop is now being fitted up, to be supplied with
facilities for introducing many forms of light, safe, and
attractive mechanical work. These forms will be so
chosen as to meet the largest practicable variety of
tastes and qualifications for work on the part of the
patients, with a view, at the same time, to being as
easily conducted and as inexpensive as possible.
The income of the Adams liind is available for the
.support of this department. Our limits will not allow
us to extend remarks on this subject.
Another, and the last we shall notice, of the pro-
gressive steps taken to render the treatment of the in-
sane as liberal and complete as possible was the erec-
tion of the Bancroft building in 1882-83. In its
plan of construction, this was an advance on all the
others ; and not simply to increase accommodations,
but also to occupy new ground in treatment. Previ-
ously, the more agitated and irresponsible classes had
been amply provided for in the older buildings, but
not so amply the convalescent and those not needing
restraints. The partially self-sustaining patients have
hitherto been associated with more or less incompat-
ible classes for lack of sufficient variety in apart-
ments. So, also, persons with ample means, and need-
ing no other than moral restraints, have not found, in
the older buildings, sufficiently liberal accommoda-
tions to satisfy their habits and tastes. Both these
classes have been provided for in the construction of
this building.
The trustees, seeing no reason why tte tastes of the
insane should not be recognized in their treatment,
have here prepared to do so by furnishing the facili-
ties for individualizing attentions Without incon-
venience to others, a patient can have one, two or three
rooms, and such private attendance and service as
may be desired, with all the privacy and independence
of private residence. At the same time those not able
to provide so liberal an outfit, or not desiring it, can
have single rooms, with the general attendance, and
secure all the benefits of the retired and quiet situa-
tion without burdensome expense. The practical
working of this detached and retired building has
already been most gratifying, and has done much to
remove any real objection to hospital residence,
since it has done away with almost the last vestige
of departure from the forms and usages of private
life, at the same time that it has retained all the sus-
taining and remedial influences of hospital organiza-
tion.
Sufficient has been said to give the reader an idea
of the tendencies and most prominent characteristics
of the hospital care and treatment of the insane at
the present time. When this method is compared
with the confinement, the inactivity and monotony
which characterized the earliest usages, it is not diffi-
cult to form some adequate estimate of the influence
the New Hampshire Asylum has had upon the con-
dition of the insane, or to see how far it has realized
the hopes of its early advocates ; and proved a suc-
cess and an inestimable blessing to the State.
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
CHAPTER I.
Geographical — iDdian Occuiiation — The Penacooks —Original Grant,
1725— First Meeting of Proprietors— The Pioneers— Enrly TJvilcs and
Regulations — Grant of Bow — The Controversy — Tli. T\i I ^. tdrrnnitf;
— List of Proprietors and Settlers — Tncorporatimi l: : i i-
poration of Concord Parish — The Firat Parish M ■ i :-
ted— Indian Troubles— Garrisons in 17i6—Th.- il . i i In l.i"l-
ley Monument.
CoscouD, the county-seat of Merrimack County,
and capital of the State of New Hampshire, lies in
the soutliern part of the county, and is bounded as
follows :
North by Webster, Boscawen, Canterbury and Lou-
don ; East by Loudon, Chichester and Pembroke ;
South by Pembroke and Bow ; West by Dunbarton,
Hopkinton, Webster, Boscawen and Canterbury.
This territory was originally occupied by the Pena-
cooks, a powerful tribe of Indians, who, when first
known by the English, had their headquarters here,
and numbered four or five hundred men. Their chief
was named Passaconaway, " the child and the bear,"
and was regarded with the highest veneration by the
Indians, filling the office of chief, priest and physi-
cian, and, as they believed, having direct communi-
cation with the Great Spirit.
The township was granted January 17, 1725. The
petition for the grant was as follows :
'' To the Hont*'" Wm. Dnmmer, Esq'., Lieut. Governor, and Commander
in Chief in and over His Majesties province of y« Massachusetts Bay,
in New England, to the HonWe His Majesties Council and House of
Representatives in Gen. Court or Assembly convened at Boston, June
lY"", 1726.
" The petition of Beiy'. Stephens, Andrew Mitchel, David Kimball,
Ebenezer Eastman, John Osgood and Moses Day, a Committee ap-
pointed by and in behalf or the petitioners formally for a Tract of
Land at a place called Pennycook, —
" Humbly Sheweth, That whereas y petioners have at two sev«i
times petitioned the Great and Geu«i Court for a grant of the aforesaid
tract of Land at Pennycook, with resolutions fully inclined to make a
speedy settlement there, wb they conceive, under the divine protection,
they are able to go on and through with ; and the Hon^'e House of Rep-
resentatives having been pleased twice so far to take their petition under
consideration as to grant the prayer under such conditions as by y<= vote
of the s"* HonWe House may more fully appeitr, which conditions, though
they be expensive, yet y petitioners have well weighed the same, and
would willingly have undertaken the settlement, if it had been the pleas-
ure of the HonWo Board to have concurred in the aforesaid vote. But as y
petitioners are informed it did not meet with a concurrence ; Wherefore,
y petitioners are emboldened, with great submission, to renew their pet»
to y Honour, and this Great and Gen' Court, that you would please to
take the premises again into y wise and serious consideration ; and as the
building a Fort there will undoubtedly be a great security within and on
Merrimack River, and y' your petitioners are still willing to build and
maintain it as afore proposed, at their own cost, yt they may have the
countenance and authority of this Court therefor, and that they woud
pledge to make them a grant of it accordingly.
"Yf petit" wou'd also suggest to y Honnours, that many applications
have been made to the Government of New Hampshire for a grant of the
s"i Land, which, though it be the undoubted right and property of this
Province, yet it is highly probable that a parcel of Irish people will ob-
tain a grant from New Hampshire for it, unless some speedy care be
taken by this great and HonWe Court to prevent it. If that Government
should once make y^ a grant, tho' the pot" conceive it wou'd be without
right, as in the case of Nutflcld, yett it wou'd be a thing attended with
too much difficulty to pretend to root y™ out, if they shou'd once gett
foot bold there. Tour petitioners therefore pray that the vote passed by
the HonWe House may be revived, or that they may have a grant of the
Land on such other terms and conditions as to the wisdom of this Court
shall seem best. And for y Hon^*, as in duty bound, y petitioners shall
ever pray, etc.
" Henja. Stephens.
".\NnREW Mitchell.
"David Kimbel.
"Ebenr. Eastman.
"John Osgood.
"Moses Day.
" In the House of Representatives, June 17"", 1725.
"Read, and the question was put whether the House wou'd revive
their vote above refer'd to, —
"Resolved in the affirniiitive.
"Copy examined per
"J. WiLLARD, Sec' I/.
The first meeting of the proprietors was held at the
house of Ebenezer Eastman, in Haverhill, for the pur-
pose of admitting settlers.
At a meeting of the proprietors, held at Andover
February 7 and 8, 172G, the following settlers drew
lots:
Enoch Coffin, John Peabody, Richard Trann, Andrew Mitchell, Mr.
Samuel Phillips, Samuel Ayer, John Grainger, Henry Holfe, John San-
ders, Jr., Thomas Page, William Barker, Isaac Walker, Joseph Davis,
John Coggin, Benjamin Parker, Edward Claike, Stephen Osgood, Benja-
min Gage, Moses Day, David Kimball, Benjamin Stevens, John Chand-
ler, Ebenezer Virgin, John Pecker, Moses Hazzen, William Gutterson,
Joseph Hale, Ephraim Davis, John Wright, Jacob Eames, Jacob Abbott,
Christopher Carlton, Nathaniel Page, Samuel Kimball, Nathan Simonds,
David Dodge. Robert Pcaslee, Richard Coolidge, right drawn by Samuel
Jones, Thomas Wicomb, Robert Kimball, John Saunders, Nathaniel
Clement, Ebenezer Lovejoy, John Osgood, Zerobbabel Snow, Ebenezer
Eastman, .Tonathan Shipley, John Austin, Edward Winn, Ebenezer
Stevens, Joseph Page, Samuel Davis, Ephraim Hildreth, James Parker,
Nathan Lovejoy, Samuel Reynolds, John Foster, James Simonds, Joseph
Parker, Nathan Fisk's right drawn by Zech. Chandler, Zebediah Bar-
ker's right drawn by Edward Abbott, John Bayley's right drawn by
Samuel While, William Whittier, .Tosbua Bayley, Ammi Bhuhamah,
William White, Nathaniel Peaslee, Thomas Colman, John Jaques, Oba-
diah Ayer, Abraham Foster John Mattis, John Merrill, Thomas Pearley
for Nathaniel Cogswell, David Wood, Nathaniel Abbott, John Ayer, Na-
than Blodgett, Benjamin Carlton, Jonathan Ujibbard for Daniel Davis,
Ephraim Farnum, Stephen Emerson, Timothy Johnson, Nathaniel Bar-
57
HISTORY OF MERUBLYCK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
ker'6 right drawn by Solomon Martin, Nebemiah Heath, Nathaniel
Sandere, Nathaniel Jonps, Samuel Grainger, Thomas Blancbard, Nicholas
White, Jonathan Pulscpbcr, Kichard Hazzcn, Jr., Samuel Toppan, Moses
Itordman, Bezaliel Toppan, Tbouias Learned, Joseph Hall, Nohemiah
Carlton, Benjamin Niccols, Minister's lot. Ministerial lot. School lot, N.
At this meeting it was also, —
• Agreed niui Foferf, That a Wock-Iiouse of tueutj-live feet in breadth
and forty feet in length be built at Penny Cook, for the security of the
■' Argeeil and Voted, That John Chandler, Moses Hazzeu, Nehemiah
Carlton, Nathan Simonds and Ebenezer Stevens be a committee, and they
are hereby empowered to build, either by themselves, or to agree with
workmen to build, a block-house of twenty-five feet in breadth, and
forty feet in length, as in their judgment shall be most for the security
"Agreed and Voted, That Beniamin Stevens, Esq., bo treasurer for the
" Agreed and Voted, That Timothy Johnson, John Osgood and Moses
Day be chosen, appointed and empowered to examine the charges that
shall arise in building a block-house at the place called Penny Cook, or
any other charges that shall arise in the bringing forward the settlement
and to allow, as in their judgment shall be just and equal, and also to
draw money out of the treasury for the defraj-ing of said charges.
"Agreed and Voted, That the sum of one hundred pounds be raised and
paid by thesettlers into the hands of Benjamin Stevens, Esqr., treasurer,
for defi-aying the charges that are past, or that shall necessarily arise in
bringing forward the intended settlement, to be paid in to said Beiijamin
Stevens, Esqr., by the first day of March next, in equal proportion.
" Enoch Coffin dissented.
"Agreed and Voted, That a committee of five pei-sous on oath, three
whereof to be a quorum, be chosen out of the number of the intended
settlers, to lay out the remaining part of the interval at the place called
Penny Cook, that is not yet laid out, so that the whole of the interval
already laid out, or to be laid out to the settlers, shall be equal in quan-
tity and quality.
"Agreed and Voted, That John Chandler, Heniy Kolfe, William White,
Richard Hazzen, Jnnr., and John Osgood be a committee, chosen and
empowered to lay out the interval at the place called Penny Cook, that
is not yet laid out, so that the whole of the interval already laid out or
to be laid out to the settlers shall be equally divided among them as
to quantity and quality.
** Agreed, That Jonathan Hubbard be admitted a settler in place of
Daniel Davis, who was admitted a settler of Penny Cook by the Honora-
ble General Court's Committee, appointed to admit pei-sons to settle
Penny Cook.
" Agreed and Voted, That three pence per tail for every rattlesnake's
tail, the rattlesnake being killed within the bounds of the township
granted at Penny Cook, be paid by the intended settlers ; the money
to be paid by the settlers' treasurer, uponsight of the tail.
While thi' proprietors were thus arraDging the
aftairs of the new plantation. May 20, 1727, the
government of New Hampshire made a grant of
the town.ship of Bow, which covered a large por-
tion of the Penacook grant, and these conflicting
grants led to a length)- and expensive controversy,
which was carried to the Court of St. James by the
Hon. Timothy Walker, as agent for the Rumford
proprietors, and decided in their favor by the King
in Council, December 27, 1762.
Rev. Timothy Walker.' — More than any other
person, Rev. Timothy Walker is entitled to the ap-
pellation of Father of Concord. He was the son of
Deacon Samuel Walker, of AVoburn, Mass., was born
July 27, 1705, and graduated at Harvard College in
the class of 1725, of which the Rev. Mather Byles
1 This sketch of the life of Hcv. Timothy Walker was prepared by Mr.
.1. B. Walker, though derived largely from the sketch of Mr. Walker by
Bev. Dr. Bouton, in his " History of Concord."
was the most eccentric and perhaps the most distin-
guished member. After his settlement, in 1730, he
first lived in a log house which stood on the brow of
Horse-shoe Pond Hill, but in 1733-34 built the two-
storied gambrel-roof house in which he afterwards
resided until his death. The house, with some modern
improvements, overshadowed by the stately elm-trees
which Mr. Walker set out in 1764, is well represented
by the fine engraving in this volume.
Mr. Walker was of full middling stature and size,
not corpulent, but portly in form and of dignified
manners. He had blue eyes and a light comple.xion.
Naturally, his temper was quick, but well restrained
and governed. If, at any time, he wa.s betrayed into
hasty expressions or acts, he was prompt to acknowl-
edge the fault and ask the forgiveness of any one
injured. He was exact and precise in all his domestic
arrangements and business transactions, keeping a
diary in a little book done up in the form of an al-
manac. Though not talkative, he was agreeable in
social intercourse and occasionally facetious. Accord-
ing to the custom of the times, he wore a large pow-
dered wig and a three-cornered cocked hat, short
clothes and shoes with large buckles. He was held
in high regard by all his parishioners. After service
on the Sabbath, both morning and afternoon, the whole
congregation stood until Mr. Walker went out, he
respectfully bowing to those on each side as he
passed down the broad aisle.
Mr. Walker served the town as a wise counselor in
relation to every matter of public interest, and, in
connection with Benjamin Rolfe, Esq., who married
his eldest daughter, drew up the first petition for help
against the Indians addressed to the governments of
both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and also
many of the papers in the long controversy with the
proprietors of Bow. As fully related in Dr. Bouton's
" History of Concord," he thrice visited England as
agent of the town in that vexatious litigation, and
through his judicious and persevering eftbrts and his
personal influence with his counsel, Mr. William
Murray (afterwards Chief Justice Mansfield), secured
forever the rights of the proprietors of Rumford (now
Concord).
As a preacher, Mr. Walker was instructive and
practical, dwelling more on the duties than on the
doctrines of religion. He was calm and moderate in
his delivery ; his sermons, of which a few still exist,
were written out in full on sheets of paper, folded in
the 18mo form, and would occupy about thirty
minutes each in their delivery. His style was good,
perspicuous and didactic, with but few illustrations,
but well supported w^ith quotations from Scripture.
In his theological views Mr. Walker was orthodox,
according to existing standards. He received the
Westminster Assembly's Catechism, which was then
also used in the families and schools of the town. In
distinction, however, from the preachers who, in his
day, were called " new lights," he was accused of
being an Arminian, but called himself a Moderate
Oalvinist. He was highly conservative as regarded
innovations and new measures. Hence, in the period
of the great reformation, under the preaching of
Rev. George Whitefield and others, Mr. Walker was
among those ministers who did not favor the excite-
ment which was generally awakened. In January,
1743, he preached and published a sermon to his
people entitled, " The Way to fri/ all Pretended Apostles,"
from the text Rev. ii. 2. In this sermon he dwelt
at length on the evils produced by itinerant preach-
ers, especially the divisions they caused in established
churches and societies. Hence, he warned his people
not to go after them or hear them preach. " Nothing,"
he says, " I am well satisfied, has so much contributed
to the evils that do so cloud the present day and look
\vith such a direful aspect upon us as the indulging
an unmortified itch after Novelties, and having the
Persons of Strangers, whom we know nothing of, in
Admiration, and setting them up above the Place of
Instruments. If, therefore, you would not become
accessory to the guilt of those who are endeavoring
the subversion of our religious constitution, keep out
of the way of temptation as much as may be ; ponder
well the first step that leads to a comjiliance with
these errors."
At this time all of Mr. Walker's hearers were of one
way of thinking in religious matters, and his object
was to keep them together and make them steadfast
in the " religion and church order which was very
dear to our forefathers." Conscious of the power he
had over his people, he not only charged them not to
go after or to hear these pretended apostles preach,
"but," said he, "if any of you think yourselves un-
able to manage a controversy with them, invite them
to accompany you to my house, and I will gladly
undertake this, or any other service I am capable of,
for the benefit of your souls."
In 1771, Mr. Walker felt called on to give his
people another warning against innovations and what
he called disturbers of the peace and order of the
churches. .V Baptist elder, Hezekiah Smith, had
preached in the vicinity, and awakened much interest
in his peculiar views. To counteract this influence, Mr.
Walker preached a discourse, May 12, 1771, entitled,
"Those who have the form of godliness, but deny
the power thereof, described and cautioned against."
The text was 2 Timothy iii. 5. The sermon was
" published at the desire of many of the hearers." It
is dedicated " to the church and congregation under
the author's pastoral care, having been composed and j
delivered solely for your benefit, without the most :
distant view of its farther publication, is now respect-
ftiUy inscribed by him who esteems it his highest
honor and greatest happiness to serve your best in-
terest.
"Timothy Walker."
During his ministry of fifty-two years there is no
regular record of church proceedings after 1736 ; but
in his memoranda there a
who owned the covenant,
j munion, baptized, married and died, togeth
notices of private affairs, the weather, jc
e entries made of those
were admitted to com-
ther with
journeys,
From the memoranda kept by Mr. Walker,
it appears that his interest in his people did not cease
I upon their removal from Concord. About 1764-65,
considerable numbers of them became first settlers of
Conway and Fryeburg, in the Pigwacket country, on
Saco River. These he was in the habit of visiting
until they had established religious teachers, preach-
ing to them, giving them pastoral counsel and bap-
i tizing their children. Many of them were members
j of his church, many of them he had married, many of
them he had known from infancy. His big heart
yearned after them, and he considered them a portion
ofhis own home-flock until he had seen them securely
established in the care of another shepherd.
Mr. Walker was largely dependent for the support
' of himself and family upon the farm given him by
the proprietors of the township as an " encouragement
I to his settlement with them in the wilderness of Pena-
cook. His salary as pastor was at one hundred pounds
per annum, to " rise forty shillings per annum until it
i comes to one hundred and twenty pounds, and that to
be the stated sum annually for his salary. Mr. Walker
j was twenty -five years old at the time (November 18,
1730) of his settlement, and the prudence and fore-
sight of his people is clearly seen in the farther pro-
vision relative to his salary, that " anything to the
contrary above mentioned notwithstanding, that if
Mr. Walker, by extreme old age, shall be disenabled
from carrying on the whole work of the ministry,
i that he shall abate so much of his salary as shall be
rational."
Mr. Walker was an ardent patriot as well as a de-
voted Christian minister. Upon the breaking out of
the Revolution it was a great grief to him that
circumstances be3'ond the control of either compelled
his son-in-law. Major Benjamin Thompson, after-
wards Count Rumford, to join the royal cause, in
October, 1775, and retire within the British lines at
I Boston. But it was at the same time an exalted
gratification that his only son, Timothy, afterwards
Judge Timotliy Walker, was intensely earnest in his
devotion to American interests. His family, like
many others of that period, was represented in the
ranks of the patriots and royalists both. But this
fact never abated in the least degree his own patriotic
zeal and activity. And it is a fact, of which all his
descendants feel proud, that in all contests from that
time to the present in which their country has been a
party, they have ranged themselves instinctively and
deliberately on the side of its friends.
The news of the battle of Lexington reached Con-
cord in the evening and spread like wild-fire through-
out the town. The next morning, before daylight,
his neighbor, Esq. John Bradley, seeing a bright light
in the pastor's study, went at once to learn the occa-
60
IIISTOKV OF MKKUIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
sion of it. As he approached the house, through the
uncurtained windows he saw his venerable pastor
striding back and forth across the room, apparently
absorbed in deepest mental anxiety. As he entered
the room he was immediately accosted with the re-
mark, " There is no other course left us but to fight,
.lohn. Yes, John, we must fight, we must fight." It
is unnecessary to say that the good parson voiced the
spontaneous sentiment of the province, which did
fight, losing more soldiers in the Revolution than it
had male cliildren born while it lasted.
One Sunday in .July, 1777, when in church and in
the midst of his afternoon sermon, his quick eye ob-
served the unexpected entrance of Colonel Gordon
Hutchins, Concord's representative in the General
Court, which had just adjourned at Exeter. Pausing
abruptly in his discourse, he turned to him and said,
"Are you the bearer of tidings. Colonel Hutchins?"
Upon learning that forces were wanted immediately
to check the progress of Burgoyue and his army, he
remarked at once to his congregation, "Those of
you who can go had best retire and get ready to
march to-morrow morning;" upon which a portion
of the audience went out, while with the remainder
the service went on to its conclusion. The following
night was a busy one in Concord, and in the early
morning of the next day their aged minister invoked
God's blessing upon a well-equipped band of brave
men, and dismissed them to Bennington and to vic-
Jlr. Walker possessed a quiet humor, accompanied
by a strong common sense, which manifested itself
on not infrequent occasions, -some of which have
been remembered. As an instance of these, tradition
says, that, going out to work one day, with John
Evans, his hired man, and with an ox-team and cart,
they had to pass a very wet and muddy place. In
passing it John sat on the cart-tongue while Mr.
Walker sat on the rear end of the cart. When about
midway of the slough, John slily pulled out the pin
which held down the front end of the cart and
dropped it, to make his employer think it worked out
accidentally ; up went the cart and out went the
worthy minister into the mud and water. Getting on
to dry land, he said to his man, " John, this is a
bad accident; but never mind, drive on and I will go
back." A few days after, he went, late one afternoon,
into the field where John was at work. When it be-
came time to go home, he told John that he would
drive the team home. Upon coming to the slough,
he quietly seated himself upon the cart-tongue while
the unsuspecting John took to the seat formerly oc-
cupied by the minister. Upon reaching the spot
where the mud and water was deepest, Mr. Walker
pulled out the before-mentioned pin, up went the
cart and John was suddenly unloaded. When he had
struggled through to hard ground, his master, hold-
ing up the pin, quietly said to him, "John, John,
here is the pin ; I didn't throw it away a.s you did."
Tradition furnishes another instance of the display
of mild humor and sagacity on his part. A worthy
young couple, who were members of his church and
whom he had recently married, happened to be
blessed with an increase of family at an earlier day
after that solemnity than was deemed decorous.
Some worthy church brethren, whose sense of duty
surpassed their charity, immediately reported the
fact to the pastor, in painful anxiety as to what
means should be taken to protect the fair fame of the
church ; at the same time inquiring "what was to be
done about it ?" The pastor, seeing atonce the situation
of afiairs, and knowing well the previous good char-
acter of the parties, quietly replied to his zealous
brethren, " This fault of our young friends gives me
great pain ; but, as we all know, it is their first
oflense. I think, therefore, we should forgive them
this time. Should it be repeated, I should advise
their summary expulsion from the church." The
tradition is that it never was.
As another specimen of his prudence and good
sense, it is related that the Rev. Elijah Fletcher, of
Hopkinton, once requested an exchange with him on
the Sabbath, and that he would preach upon the
subject of witchcraft, which at the time was making
trouble with some of Mr. Fletcher's parishioners.
Mr. Walker accordingly prepared a sermon for the
occasion and preached. He told the people, "that
the most they had to fear from witches was from talt-
ing about them ; that if they would cease to talk
about them, and let them alone, they would disap-
pear." The hint had the desired efiect.
But, underneath all this bonhomie, was a quiet so-
lemnity of purpose.which was never absent, and always
apparent. His dignified deportment and manners
were such as to command universal respect. Ephraim
Colby, Concord's noted fighter and champion of that
time, who worked much for him upon his farm, used
to say that "Parson Walker was the only man the
Almighty ever made that he was afraid of."
During the intervals of peace between the French
and Indian Wars Indians frequently called at his
house and were hospitably entertained. On one oc-
casion a number of the warriors encamped near by, and
were to have a powwow the night succeeding. Mr.
Walker being absent, Mrs. Walker was under great
apprehensions of injury. Upon learning this the
Indians remarked, " Minister's wife afraid," at the
same time delivering into her possession all their
guns, as an assurance of her safety. They called for
them the next day, having kept in fidelity the promise
made to her. From first to last, he seems to have been
highly respected by his wild neighbors of the woods,
and in no instance to have received personal injury
at their hands.
During his long ministry , of more than half a century,
Mr. Walker enjoyed remarkable health. Tradition
says that he was able to preach every Sabbath except
the one i)revi(ius to his death. This, there is reason
CONCORD.
61
to believe, is not quite correct, but is doubtless true
in the main. For convenience, in his old age, he
.slept in the north, lower front room of his house,
:iiid his hired man, Philip Abbot, was near by, to
assist him when necessary. On Sunday morning,
September 1, 1782, he woke early and asked that his
fire be built, for he was tired of lying and wished to
get up. Shortly after he arose, and having partly
dressed himself, sat down in a chair. Mr. Abbot,
seeing him slide forward in bis seat, went immedi-
ately to assist him and found him dead. Just as the
morning sun began to mount the heavens his spirit
rose to the presence of Jehovah, whom he had served
long and faithfully. If a long and successful dis-
charge of the duties pertaining to the station in which
one is placed entitles him to the commendation of
his contemporaries and of his posterity, Mr. Walker,
by his protracted service, clearly earned it.
The first settlements were made in 1727 by Eben-
e/.er Eastman and others.
"The spring of 1728" (says Br, Bouton in his "History of Concord,")
■ opened upon the new plantation with most favorable auspices. Eager
to fulfill the conditions of their grant, and to become settled in their
■ hosen home, a large number of the proprietors were early engaged in
Ijuilding houses, clearing, fencing and plowing their lands. The block,
111 meeting-house, was finished; canoes constructed for navigating the
river; the new way to Pennycook from Haverhill was improved, and
tlui First Division of interval ordered to be completely fenced by the last
. if May. Messrs. Joseph Hale and John Pecker were chosen a commit-
ti.'f* to agree with a minister to preach at Pennycook, — to begin the 15th
, ,f May, — biit they were not to ' assure the gentleman more than after
the rate of one hundred pounds per annum for his service.'
"In answer to a petition presented by John Osgood, in behalf of the
^•'ttlers, — praying that an allowance might be made them for the five
hundred acres formerly laid out to the right of Goveror Endicott,— the
(iimeral Court, on the 6th of August, this year, authorized them 'to ex-
tend the south bounds of the township one hundred rods, the full
lireadth of their town,' and the same was confirmed to them as an
' equivalent for the aforesaid five hundred acres.'
" Arrangements were also made for building a saw-mill within six
months, a grist-mill within one year, and to establish a ferry at the most
convenient place. The first ffrist-mill stood at or near the bark-mill now
owned by Robinson & Morrill, in the East Village, and the saw-mill, on
the same stream, about half a mile above. The mill-crank was brought
upon a horse from Haverhill. Soon after commencing operations the
crank was broken. How to remedy the evil they knew not, as there
was no blacksmith nearer than Haverhill. One of the men, who had
once been in a blacksmith's shop and seen them work, undertook to
mend it. Collecting together a quantity of pitch-pine knots for a fire,
they fastened the crank with beetle rings and wedges, and then welded
tlie disjointed parts. The crank was afterwards used many years. For
the grist-mill fifty pounds were allowed, and fifty acres of land granted
to Nathan Symonds, as near to the mill as was convenient."
The following is a list of the proprietors and early
settlers :
Nathaniel Abbot was about thirty years of age
when he came to Penacook. His house lot was
where the North Congregational Church now stands.
He was the first constable of Penacook (1732-33),—
an efficient, enterprising, useful citizen, and member
of the church. At the commencement of the French
War (1744) he entered the service, and joined the
rangers under Major Robert Rogers. He held a
lieutenant's commission in 1755, in Captain Joseph
Eastman's company, in the expedition against Crown
Point, and was a lieutenant in Captain Richard
Rogers' company of rangers, in Fort William Henry,
at the time of the massacre, 1757. In 1746 he had
command of a company in defense of the town against
the Indians. He died in 1770, aged seventy-four.
Edward Abbot, cousin of Captain Nathaniel, was
one of the first selectmen of Rumford. In 174(3 his
house was a garrison. Edward, his son, was the first
male child born in Penacook (7th of January, 1731),
and Dorcas the first female child.
Jacob Abbot, cousin of Nathaniel and Edward,
died in the French War, 17GU.
John Austin, probably a descendant of Thomas
Austin, from Andover, where was Samuel Austin
(1714), who died 1753, aged eighty-three.
Obadiah, Samuel and John Ayers, or Ayer, were
from Haverhill. Obadiah was a graduate of Harvard
College, 1710 ; was employed to "examine the General
Court's records, to see if there be any former grant"
of the township ; was one of the principal inhabitants
of Haverhill. Samuel and John were of the same
family, and were among the most active and enter-
prising settlers.
Thomas Blanchard, the proprietor of Penacook,
died in 1759, aged eighty-five.
William, Nathan and Zebediah Barker came from
Andover.
Captain Joshua Bayley is named in the proprietors'
records as " one of the principal inhabitants of Haver-
hill."
Moses Boardman — unknown.
Nathan Blodgett was probably from Woburn.
Nathaniel Clement was from Haverhill.
John Chandler was a leading and influential man ;
was a powerful, athletic man, of great muscular
strength and cool, indomitable courage.
The Carltons^Benjamin, Nehemiah and Christo-
pher — were relatives, probably from Andover and
Haverhill.
Richard Coolidge.
John Coggin is believed to have been of Woburn.
Edward Clark was from Haverhill.
Rev. Enoch Coffin accompanied the honorable
committee of the court and surveyors when they came
to Penacook to lay out the land, in May, 1726, and
preached twice on the Sabbath after their arrival, in
a tent on Sugar Ball Plain. The first settlers of the
name in Concord, after the death of Rev. Enoch, were
William and Peter, sons of John, of Newbury. Peter
afterwards settled in Boscawen, from whom those of
that name there have descended.
Thomas Coleman was of Newbury, probably a
descendant of Thomas Coleman. Coleman forfeited
his lot, by not paying, to Henry Rolfe, Esq.
Nathaniel Cogswell's right was drawn and carried
on by Thomas Perley.
Moses Day was trom Bradford. One of the same
name was deacon of the church in the west parish of
Bradford 1730 and also 1750. Probably one of them
was the proprietor in Penacook.
62
HISTORY OF MEllKIMACK COUNTY, XKW HAMl'SllIRE.
Ephraira, Joseph aud Samuel Davis were from
Haverhill. Ephraim was the only one who finally
settled in Concord.
David Dodge— not known from whence he came.
Captain Ebenezer Eastman was from Haverhill;
one of the most enterprising and useful of the pro-
prietors. He settled on the east side of the river.
His house was a garrison in 1746.
Jacob Eames was from Andover.
Stephen Emerson was from Haverhill.
John and Abraham Foster were from Andover.
Ephraim Farnum, from Andover, was son of Eph-
raim, son of Ralph Farnum, who married Elizabeth
Holt in 1658. He died in 1775, aged about eighty.
John and Samuel Granger were brothers from
Andover.
Benjamin Gage was from Bradford.
William Gutterson Wiis from Andover.
Nehemiah Heath was from Haverhill.
Ephraim Hildreth was probably from Chelmsford.
Joseph Hale was troni Newbury.
Moses and Richard Hazzen, Jr., were from Haver-
hill.
Deacon Joseph Hall, from Bradford. He was
deacon of the church in Concord more than forty
years, a benefactor to the poor and an example of
Christian virtues. During the hostilities of the
Indians his house was a garrison. He died April 8,
1784, aged seventy-seven.
Timothy Johnson, of Haverhill.
John Jaques is believed to have been iiom Brad-
ford.
Nathaniel Jones — unknown.
Robert, Samuel and David Kimball were from
Bradford. Probably the latter only finally settled in
Concord. He wsis the father of Captain Reuben
Kimball. He died November 20, 1745.
Nathaniel and Ebenezer Lovejoy were brothers,
and sons of John Lovejoy, of Andover.
Thomas Learned was probably from Woburn.
John Jlerrill, deacon, is believed to have come
from Haverhill.
John Mattis. His origin is not known.
Andrew Mitchell was from Newbury.
Benjamin Nichols. His origin is not certainly
known.
John and Stephen Osgood were cousins, from
Andover.
Benjamin, .James and Nathan I'arker were brothers,
from Andover.
Nathaniel Page was from Haverhill, and, probably,
Thomas and Joseph also.
Nathaniel and Robert Peaslee were from Haverhill.
Rev. Samuel Phillips was minister of the South
Parish Church in Atidover. His right in Penacook
was carried on by William Peters.
Jonathan Pulsipher's origin is not known.
John Pecker is believed to have come from Haver-
hill. He was a leading and useful man in town.
John Peabody was probably from Salisbury, Mass.
Samuel Reynolds— unknown.
Henry Rolle, Esq., was from Newbury ; was one of
the commission appointed by Massachusetts in 1737,
on the question of the boundary line between Massa-
chusetts and New Hampshire.
John Sanders, John Sanders, Jr., and Jonathan
Sanders — the two former, father and son, were from
Haverhill ; probably also Nathaniel Sanders. John
Sanders was one of " the Committee of the Great and
General Court " for the settlement of Penacook.
Benjamin and Ebenezer Stevens were brothers,
from Andover.
James and Nathan Simonds were probably from
Woburn.
Zerobbabel Snow. From whence he came is un-
known.
Jonathan Shipley. Whence from not known.
Bezaleel and Samuel Toppan were from Newbury.
Rev. Bezaleel Toppan was born March 7, 1705.
Bezaleel preached a while at Penacook.
Richard Urann, it is believed, was from Newbury.
Ebenezer Virgin, probably from Salisbury.
.John Wright.
Nicholas and William White were from Haver-
hill.
Ruhamah Wise.
Isaac Walker was from Woburn — a relative of Rev.
Timothy Walker, from the same place. Isaac
Walker was father of Isaac, Jr., grandfather of Abiel,
lately deceased, who lived on the spot where his
grandfather built bis log house. Isaac Walker, Jr.,
died on the same day that Rev. Timothy Walker
died. In 1746 the house of Timothy Walker, Jr.,
was a garrison. He was a son of Isaac Walker, Sr.
David Wood. This is a Newbury name.
William Whittier was from Haverhill.
Thomas Wicomb.
Edward Winn, from Woburn.
Abraham Bradley was not an original proprietor,
but came to Penacook as early as 1729.
Stephen Farrington, not an original proprietor, Mu
an early settler, from Andover.
Jacob Sbute came to Penacook with Captain Eben-
ezer Eastman.
Jeremiah Stickney came from Bradford about 1731
—not an original proprietor, but became a valuablt-
citizen.
Rumford Incorporated. — The town was incor-
porated by Massachusetts February 27, 1733, under
the name of Rumford, and was a "new town within
the county of Essex, at a plantation called Penny
Cook." This civil organization continued until June
7, 1765, when it was incorporate! as a parish with
town privileges, by the name of Concord, probably
with a hope that thereafter the inhabitants might
live in peace and concord with their neighbors in Bow.
The following is the petition for the incorporation
of the town :
CONCORD.
'■ To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq"" Capt» Geutsral Governor
ind Commander in Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of New
Hampshire, The Honble His Majesty's Council and House of Repre-
sHntatives in General Assembly Convened.
April 11th 1764
"The humble Petition of Timothy Walker on behalf of himself and
the Inhabitants of Kumford (so Called) in said Province She\velh» That
the Affairs of the said Inhabitants (so far as relates to Town matters),
have been in great Confusion Ever since the Year 1749, for want of the
Power which tliey had 'till .then Enjoyed ever since the year 17-11 by the
District Act (so called) which this Honble Court say in July 174(1 when it
was received had been found 'Convenient both for the Government of
•his Province in General, and also the Inhabitants incorporated thereby
u particular.'
" That altho* it has been pretended that they might still have Enjoyed
tlie same priviledges (as Inhabitants of Bow) yet they never understood
Mattel's in that Light ; And for this their Opinion and Practice conse-
quential thereupon, they humbly conceive they could give reasons which
wo-i be satisfactory to this Court, were they permitted. — But to pass over
uU this— This Power or the Exercise of it has been lost to them (if Ever
(hey had it) Ever since March 1756, for want of a first Meeting —
•' That by the Year 1760 they were so heai'tily tired of such an unsetr
tied State that they would have been glad to have acted Even under the
[ ncorporation of Bow, if they could (altho' highly inconvenient for
■ lum as it blended part of three Towns together whose Interests had al-
■s.iyn been separate, and would Consequently be apt to create Strife and
■ That this Court was apprized of their utter Incapacity of doing any
' 'ipurate Act (Even as Bow) by a Letter signed 'Jeremiah Stickney,on
'Imlf of himself and others,' now on File, together with their dutiful &
• i.iy disposition to Comply with every motion of this Court to the ut-
N.»t of their Powers.
• That thesaid Inhabitants conceive themselves greatly aggrieved by a
itt- Act of this Government, imposing a heavy Tax on the Inhabitants
i Bow as Arrears &c — a Tax which Nobody has Power to assess and
ll'-ctatyf Time when y^ s^ arrears became due and which if now done,
MKst be laid in many Instances on wrong Pei-sons.
- That what they suffered for want of the Powers they had Enjoyed by
the first mentioned District Act, was unspeakably more to their Damage,
than to have paid their Proportion of the Province Expence.
" That the Incapacity complained of all along, still continues and yet
the people are subjected to pay their part of the Current Charge but no-
body has power to assess or Collect it.
"* They therefore most humbly Pray That your Excellency and Hon-
ours will take the Matters complained of under Consideration, and either
revive the said District Act so far as relates to Kumford, or (which wo<i be
much more satisfactory to the said Inhabitants) Incorporate them by
a :itanding Act, and by their former known Boundaries That the said In-
habitants may Be abated at least one half part of said Arrearages, And
that with respect to their part of the Current Charge of the Province,
they may be subjected to pay no more than their just proportion with
the other Towns in this Province, or grant them such other Relief as in
your great Wisdom and Goodness you shall see meet.
" And your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall Ever Pmy &c
"TiJiOTHY Walker"
The first parish meeting was held January 21, 176t),
when the following ofiicers were chosen : Moderator,
Lieutenant Richard Hasseltine; Clerk, Peter Coffin ;
Selectmen, Joseph Faruum, Lot Colby, John Chand-
ler, Jr.; Constable, Benjamin Emery; Tithingmen,
Lieutenant Richard Hasseltine, Amos Abbot; Sur-
veyors of Highways, Jonathan Chase, Robert Davis
-and Nathaniel Eastman; Sealer of Leather, Deacon
George Abbot ; Sealer of Weights and Measures,
Lieutenant Nathaniel Abbot.
Indian Troubles-— The little settlement rapidly
incrensed in populaTion and importance, and no dan-
ger from Indian incursions was apprehended by the
enterprising pioneers until 1739. In that year, how-
ever, the town voted "that a garrison should be built
round the house of Rev. Mr. "Walker, and that five
pounds should be granted to Barachias Faruum, to
enable him to build a flanker, in order to defend his
mills on Turkey River."
The following account of the Indian troubles is from
Dr. Bouton's ** History of Concord," and is a faithful
narrative of this trying period:
" About the year 1742, according to tradition, the wife of Mr. Jona-
than Eastman— who resided ou the Hopkinton road, opposite the house
of Mr. Aaron Shute~was taken by a party of Indians and carried tv
Canada. She was, however, soon redeemed by her husband, and restored
" The opening of the French war, in 1744, greatly increased the alarm
and anxiety which pervaded the colonies ; and, particularly, the frontier
towns which were most exposed. As one means of removing or allaying
these fears, the expedition against Louisburg, on Cape Breton— which
was the stronghold of the French— was projected, and triumphantly ex-
ecuted by the daiing enterprise of the New England coloniee. In this
expedition Capt. Ebenezer Eastman wafi commander of a company raised
in these parts, and was engaged in the assault made on that stronghold
the following year. Before he set out he signed a petition, with sixty-
two others, to the General Assembly of New Hampshire, for assistance
against the French and Indians. This petition was drawn up by Rev.
Mr. Walker.
"In the company which Capt, EuBtman commanded were Nathaniel
Abbot, Isaac Abbot, Obadiah Peters, one Chandler, and probably others
whose names are not known. The late aged Joseph Abbott said he 'al-
ways understood that his uncle Isaac was killed at Cape Breton, and that
one Mr. Chandler from this town also died there.' Capt. Eastman
went to Cape Breton twice. He first set out from Rumford, March 1,
1744-45, and returned November 10th, the same year. The next year
he went again, and returned home July 9, 1740.
"The reduction of the fortress at Louisburg only changed the scene of
war. The Indians, the more instigated by the French, poured forth
from Canada upon the frontier towns, and, with horrible barbarity, car-
ried on the work of destruction. The inhabitants of Rumford felt the
general shock, and sought for means of defense and safety. At each
parish meeting, from 1744 to 1747, they chose some person to represent
to the government, either of New Hampshire or Massachusetts, or both,
' the deplorable circumstances they were in, on account of their being
exposed to imminent danger, both from the French and Inilian enemy.'
The language which they instruct their agents to use is—' We request
of them such aid, both with respect to men and military stores, as tu
their great wisdom may seem meet, and which may be sufficient to en-
able us, with the Divine blessing, vigorously to rejtel all attempts of our
" In answer to these petitions, early in 1745 two s
scouts were raised by authority of Gov. Wentworth, under the direction
of Col. Benjamin Kolfe, of which Capt. John Chandler, of Rumford,
had command ot one, consisting of ten men, and Capt. Jeremiah Clough,
of Canterbury, of the other, consisting of five men. The Massachusetts
government also sent a small detachment of men from Andover, and an-
other from Billerica, who were stationed here in 1745. In 174G precau-
tionary measures were taken by the proprietors for the preservation of
their records. Under authority of Gov. Wentworth, garrisons were es-
tablished at different points in the town, and men, with their families,
assigned to them, as was most convenient.
*' The garrisons, or forts, were built of hewed logs, which lay fiat uj)-
on each other ; the ends, being fitted for the purpose, were inserted in
grooves cut in large posts erected at each corner. They enclosed an area
of several square rods ; were raised to the height of the roof of a com-
mon dwelhng-house, and at two or more of the corners were placed
boxes where sentinels kept watch. In some cases several small buildings
— erected for the temporary acconunodation of families — were within
the enclosure. Houses not connected with garrisons were all deserted
by their owners, and the furniture removed. In the day-time men went
forth to their labor in companies, always carrying their gims with them,
and one or more of the number placed on guard. If the enemy wen*
discovered approaching, alarm guns were fired, and the report answered
from fort to fort. On the Sabbath the men all went armed to the house
of worship, stacked their guns around a post near the middle, and sat
down, with powder-horn and bullet-pouch slung across their shoulders,
while their revered pastor— who is said to havo had the best gun in the
parish— prayed and preached with his good gun standing in the pulpit."
64
HISTORY OK MKKRIMACK COUNTY, NEW
HABIPSHIRE.
The following document presents an exact view of
the state of the settlement in the summer of 174G:
"GARUISONS IS 1746. PKOVIKCE OF NEW HASIPb.
"We, Uio sutacribcni, beiug appoinlcd a Coinminee of Militia fur
KRIing tho CaiTiKon! in the fronUer Town* and PlaDtaUons in tlio sixlli
It£giiuenl of Militia In lliU Province, by lii« Excellency, Bonning Went-
worth, Esq., Governor, Ac., having viewed tho situation and enquired
into the circuuuitancca of tho District of Kumford, do hereby appoint
and state the following Garrisons, viz. :
" Tho GarriBOn round tho house of tho Reverend Timothy Walker to
be one of the Garrisons in s^ Rumford, and that the following inlmbi-
lanls, with their faniilys, viz.: Capt-John Chandler, Abraban. Bradley,
Samuel Bradley, John Webster, Nathaniel Rolfe, Joseph Pudney, Isaac
Walker, jun., 01«diah Foster, be, and hereby are, ordered and stated at
'hat Garrison.
"Also, the Garrison roun.l the House of Capt. Ebenczer Eastman, on
the east side of the river, to be one Garrison, and that the following in-
habitants, with their familys, viz. : Ebcnezcr Virgin, Eben' Eastman,
jun., Philip Eastman, Jeremiah Eastman, Timothy Bradley, Jeremiah
I)re««r, Philip KiniUll, Nathan Slovens, Judah Trumble, Joseph East-
man, jr., Nathaniel Smith, Daniel Annis, William Curey, be, and hereby
are, ordered and staled at said Gairison.
"Alio, thai the Garriiion round the house of Jlr. Henij- Lovigoy, in
West Concord, bo one Garrison, and that the following inhabitants,
with their fanulys, viz. : Henry Lovejoy, James .^blwt, James Abbot,
jun., Keuben Abbot, Amos Abbot, Ephraim Faruum, Zebediah Far-
num, Joseph Farnura, Abiel Chandler, James Peters, be, and hereby
are, stated at said Garriiion.
" Also the Garrison round tho house of 3Ir. Jonathan Eastman, at
Millvillo (on lands owned by St. Paul's School), be one Garrison, and that
Ihe following inhabitanls, with their familys, viz. : Jonathan Eiustman,
Amos Eastman, Jeremiah Bradley, Seaborn Peters, Abner Hoit, Jacob
Hoit, Timothy Burbauks, Isaac Citizen, be, and hereby are, ordered and
Slated at said Garrison.
" Also that the Garrison round the house of Lieut. Jeremiah Stickney
(on premises now owned by J. H. Stickney), bo one Garrison, and that
the following inhabitants, with their familys, viz. : Jeremiah Stickney,
Nathaniel Abbot, Ephi-aim Carter, Ezral'arter, Joseph Eastman, .Samuel
iiistman, Joseph Eastman (3d), William Stickney, Thomas Stickney, Na-
thaniel Abbot, jun,, Joseph Carter, Edward Abbot, Aaron Stevens,
George Hull, Edward West, Sampson Colby, James Osgood, Timothy
Clemens, Jacob Pillsbury, Stephen Uoit, be, and hereby are, ordered and
slated at that Garrison.
" Also, that the Garrison round Joseph Hall's house, at South End,
l>e ono Garrison, and that Ihe following inhabitants, with their familys,
viz. : Col. Benjamin Rolfe, Joseph Hall, Elienezer Hall, David Foster,
Isaac Waldron, Patrick Garvin, Joseph Pudney, William Pudney, Henry
Pudney, John Morrill, Thomas Merrill, John Merrill, jun., Moses
Merrill, Lot Colby, Jacob Potter, be, and hereby are, ordered and stated
"Also, that the Garrison round Timothy Walker, jun. 's, house, be
one Garrison, and that the following persons, with their familys, viz. :
Timolhy Walker, jun., David Evans, Samuel Pudney, John Pudney, jun.,
Matthew Stanly, Isaac Walker, Abraham Colby, Jacob Shute, Daniel
C'huse, Daniel Chase, jun., Abraham Kinil)atl, Richard Hazelton, George
Abbot, Nathaniel Uix, Boiyamin .A.bbot, Stephen Farrington, Nathaniel
West, William Walker, Aaron Kimball, Samuel Gray, James Kodgers,
Samuel Rodgcrs, 1)0, and hereby are, stated at that GaiTison.
"And, inasmuch as the inhabitants who resido in the Garrison round
tho house of Mr. George Abbot, tho Garrison round the house of Mr.
Edward Abbot, and the Garrison round the house of Mr. James Osgood,
have, as yet, made no provision for house-room and conveniences iu the
respective Garrisons where they are placed, for themselves and familys,
and the season of tho year so much demanding their labor for their neces-
sary support that rendere it dilticult to move immediately— Therefore
that they, for the pres*'nt, and until January next, or until further or-
der, have leave, and bo continued in the several Garrisons in which they
now are, and so long as there stated to attend the ueccessary duty of
watching, warding, ic, equally, as if tho same had been determined
"Rumford, May l'.th, 1740."
Such w:u« the state of the settlement
of 1746. Indians were now in the vicinity, and an
attack was daily feared. At the earnest solicitation
of the inhabitants, a company of soldiers, under com-
mand of Cai)tain Daniel Ladd and Lieutenant Jona-
than Bradley, had been sent by the Governor, from
Exeter, for the defense of Rumford and the adjacent
towns. This company had been ranging in the
woods and scouting in the vicinity about three weeks
previous, and a part of them were in Eumfordon the
Sabbath, August 10th. On that day it appears that
the Indians had meditated an attack upon the inhab-
itants while engaged in worship, and the night pre-
vious had secreted themselves in the bushes adjacent
vo the meeting-house, to await the favorable moment.
One party of them was concealed in a thicket of
alders back of the house where Dr. Samuel Morril
now lives; another was hid in the bushes, northwest,
between the meeting-house and where Ebenezer S.
Tovvle, Esq., now lives. Some few of the Indians,
it is said, were seen in the time of worship by a
little girl, — Abigail Carter, sister of the first Dr.
Ezra Carter, — but she did not make known the dis-
covery until the meeting closed, when the people
marched out in a body with their guns. The pres-
ence of Captain Ladd's company, it is believed, pre-
vented the Indians from making the designed attack.
Thus thwarted in their bloody purpose, they retired
and lay in ambush till next morning, in a deep
thicket, about a mile and a half southwest of the
main village, in the valley, a few rods beyond where
the Bradley monument now stands.
The Massacre, August 11, 1746.— For the par-
ticulars of the tragic scene which now follows we
are indebted to the journal of Abner Clough, clerk
of Captain Ladd's company, which is published in
full in the fourth volume of the " Collections of the
New Hampshire Historical Society," and to the story
related by the aged Reuben Abbot, five years before
his death, which was taken down in writing by Hon.
Samuel A. Bradley and Richard Bradley, Esq., grand-
sons of Samuel Bradley, who was one of the killed.
The manuscript is now in the hands of Richard
Bradley. It was taken August 29, 1817, when Mr.
Abbot was in the ninety-fifth year of his age.
FROM ABNER CLOUGH'S JOURNAL.
when they had gone .ibuut a mile and a half, they were shot upon by
thirty or forty Indians, if not more, as it was supposed, and killed down
dead Lieut. Jonathan Bradley and Samuel Bradley, John Luf kin and
John Bean [and] this Obadiah Peters. These five men were killed down
dead on the spot, and the most of them were stripped. Two were strip-
ped stark naked, and were very much cut, and stabbed, and disfigured ;
and Sergeant Alexander Roberts and William Stickney were taken cap-
tive. ... It was supposed there was an Indian killed whore they
had the fight ; for this Daniel Oilman, who made his escape, saith that
ho was about sixty rods before these meni when they were shot upon,'
to shoot a hawk, and th e
nnd, he says, the Indians shot three guns first. He says he thought our
men shot tit a deer ; he says that he run back about forty roils upon a
hill, so that he could see over upon the other hill, where the Indians lie,
and shot upon the men ; and, he says, as ever ho came upon the hill
so as to see over upon the other hill, he heard Lieut. Jonathan
Bradley speak and say, ' Lord, have mercy on me :^Figltt ? ' In a
moment his gun went off, and three more guns of our men's were shot,
and then the Indians rose up and shot a volley, and run out into the
path, and making all sort of howling and yelling, and ho did not stay
long to see it, he saith. It was supposed that John Luf kin was upon the
front, and Obadiah Peters on the rear : and they shot down this Luf kin
and Peters the first shot, as they were in the path, about twelve or four-
teen rods apart ; and they shot Samuel Bradley, as he was about twelve
feet before where this Obadiah Peters lay, and wounded [liim] so that the
blood started every sti'p lu- tonk. He went about five rods right in the
path, and tliey ^1 1 I impi luljr ili .ii_-li his powder horn, as it hung by
his side, and .-^u til, ,i, i luii there lay these three men, lying
in thepath— ;.Ti I I I uii out of the path, about two rods,
rightin amoiii.'>i 111. Id-iMn 1 1, was shot through his wrist. It was
supposed he killed tlit' Indian ; it was supposed that he fought (as he
stood there in the spot where he was killed) till the Indians cut his
head almost all to pieces ; and John Bean run about six rods out of the
path, on the other side of the way, and then was shot right through his
body ; — so that there were none of these men that went one or two steps
after they were shot, excepting this Samuel Bradley that was shot as
above said. And there seemed to be aa much blood where the Indian
was shot as there was where any one of the men were killed. It was
supposed the men laid there about two hours after they were killed, be-
fore any body came there. We did not go till there came a post down
from the fort, three quarters of a mile beyond where the men lie and
were killed. The reason we did not go sooner, was because we did not
hear the gtins. I suppose the reason that we did not hear the guns, was
because the wind wa'nt fair to hear. We went up to the men, and ranged
the woods awhile, after these captives, and then brought the dead down
to town in a cart, and buried the dead men this day. These men, when
they went away in the morning, said they intended to be at home
about twelve o'clock, in order to go to Cauterbuiy in the afternoon, or,
at least, to get fit to go. It was supposed that these men, some of them,
rid double on horses when they were killed. On the twelfth day, early
in the morning, went up and took the blood of the Indian, and followed
along by the drag and blood of the Indian about a mile, very plain, till
we came within about fifteen rods of a small river, and then we could
see no more sign ot the Indian ; but we ti-acked the Indians along the
river, about twenty or thirty rods, and there were falls where they went
over. ... It was supposed there could not be less than fifty or sixty
Indians."
The initials of those massacred were inscribed on a
large tree standing near the spot, which remained a
number of years. August 22, 1836, a monument was
erected on the site of the massacre, bearing the fol-
lowing inscription :
Ob.idiah PETEns,
John Be.\n .vnh
John Lufkin,
Who wtre massacred .\ug. 11, 1V4
by the Indians.
Erected, 18.i", by Richard Bradley,
of the Hon. John Bradley, and
grandson of Samuel ]
adley.
CHAPTER TI.
CONCORD— ( Cmitinuet/].
ECCLESIASTICAL niSTORY.
First Congregational Church— ^South Conprefiatinnal church— Congrega-
tional Church, East Coiirm-.l rn„.-n :-,ifi, Tiril I'l,.;;, 1,, West Concord
—Congregational Ohurrli, !■ i ,i, - ..i h-St. Paul's
Church— Universalist I'lm^ n l.i i ^i ,,! Iji .,|,al Church-
Baker Memorial Method!- 1 I |.i- [ d < ii m I, ^l. :m ii^i rburch, Peu-
acook— First Baptist Chur.li— Pl.;u«aMt St reel liaptist Church— Free-
Will Baptist Church- Baptist Church, Penaconk— St. John the Evan-
gelist Roman Catholic Church— Catholic Church, Penacook.
First Congregational Church.'— The history <>l'
the First Congregational Church in Concord runs
parallel with that of the town. At a meeting in
Andover, Mass., February 8, 1726, the proprietors of
the town voted to build a block-house, which should
serve the double purpose of a fort and a meeting-
house. The first public assembly in the township
was one for public worship, held May 15, 1726, and
composed of a committee of the General Court, sur-
veyors and some of the proprietors who had arrived
two days before. Eev. Enoch Coffin led the service
in their camp. Early in 1727 the first family moved
into town and Rev. Bezaleel Toppan was employed to
preach one year.
Rev. Messrs. Toppan and Coffin, both proprietors
of the town, were employed to preach till October 14,
1730, when it was resolved to establish a permanent
ministry. Eev. Timothy Walker was at once called
to be the minister of the town. A council met No-
vember 18, 1730, in a small log building "in this
remote part of the wilderness," and organized a
church of nine members, and Rev. Timothy Walker
was installed its pastor.
The church was orthodox and stable in its faith,
and during the ministry of Mr. Walker — fifty-two
years — it was united and prosperous. Strong in the
confidence and aflection of the people, the pastor
actively opposed anything that threatened division
in the church or the town. It is not possible to state
accurately the growth of the church during this
period, a.s the records are incomjilete. No continuous
record is found after 1736, and the names of those
who owned the covenant are gathered, only in part,
from entries made in his diary.' The names of only
one hundred and twenty-seven who united with the
church are known, though many more must have
been received, for at the pastor's death one hundred
and twenty members were living.
Rev. Timothy Walker was a native of AVoburn,
Mass., and was graduated at Harvard College in the
class of 1725. His salary at settlement was one
hundred pounds, to increase forty shillings per annum
till it reached one hundred and twenty pounds; also
the use of parsonage. He died suddenly, Sunday
morning, September 1, 1782, aged seventy-seven
vears.
HISTORY OF MKURIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
The deep impress of this early ministry has never
been efl'aced, and the influence of Mr. Walker, to a
large degree, decided the moral tone and habits of
tlie town. For more than half a century his clear
convictions and hold utterances directed the thought
of the early settlers. He served the town as well as
the church. His wise counsel and judicious action
in relation to every matter of public interest were of
great benefit to the people and made him their
leader. Three times he visited England as agent for
the town to confirm its endangered rights, and was
enabled to make secure forever the claims and privi-
leges of the settlers.
Nearly seven years now passed without a stated
ministry. Rev. Israel Evans was called by both the
church and the town to settle as minister September
1, 1788, and wiis installed pastor July 1, 1789. His
ministry continued eight years. No records of the
church for this period can be found. There were one
hundred and twenty-four members of the church at
the close of this ministry.
Mr. Evans was a native of Pennsylvania, and was
graduated at Princeton College, 1772. He was or-
dained chaplain in the United States army at Phila-
delphia in 177t>. He resigned his pastorate July 1,
1797, but resided in town till his death, at the age of
sixty years, March 9, 1807.
The church, without delay, chose to the pastorate
Rev. Asa McFarland, and the town concurring in the
choice, he was installed March 7, 1798.
The growth of the church was, from this time,
rapid and steady. Seasons of deep religious interest
blessed it, and four hundred and twenty-nine were
added to the membershiji. His ministry continued
twenty-seven years and closed March 23, 1825.
Rev. Asa McFarland, D.D., was born in Worcester,
Mass., April 19, 1769. He was graduated at Dart-
mouth College in 1793. He died, by paralysis, Sun-
day morning, February 18, 1827, in the fifty-eighth
year of his age. He possessed a vigorous mind, was
sound in judgment and diligent in action. His perso-
nal character and position secured to him a wide influ-
ence in the State, and eighteen discourses, delivered
by him on public occasions, were published.
The council which di-smissed Dr. McFarland,
March 23, 1825, installed as his successor Rev.
Nathaniel Boutou. Bible classes and Sunday-schools
were organized in diflereut parts of the town, and the
a.ssembly of the people in the single place of worship
was large and united in spirit.
In connection with the meeting of the General
Association of New Hampshire in 1831, a deep work
of grace began. Soon the whole people felt its power
and more than a hundred were added to the church.
In the following years "protracted meetings" were
frequently held and always useful. Large accessions
were received in 1834, 1836, 1842 and 1843. During
the forty-two years of Dr. Bouton's ministry seven
hundred and seventy-two were added to the church.
For years the church grew with the town, but in
1833 it was called to a new experience. The very
prosperity and growth of the town, the religious
habits of the people, the great spiritual harvests that
had been gathered made necessary the provision of
new and other accommodations for worship.
The residents of the West Parish, living on an
average nearly five miles from the meeting-house,
decided that they ought to seek greater conveniences
for worship and build a house unto the Lord. A
house was built and eighty-eight members of this
church were dismissed and organized into the West
Parish Church, April 22, 1833.
The old house was soon full again and the church
membership five hundred and thirty-nine. The vil-
lage growing towards the south, the brethren thus
located erected a church edifice and sixty-seven
members were dismissed. Bearing with them letters
and the love and prayer of the mother-church, these
were organized into the South Church February 1,
1837.
March 30, 1842, forty-four n\embers having been
dismissed, were organized into the East Church.
All these were dismissed and the churches organ-
ized, prompted by love to Christ and His cause, and
the mother-church gave many of her devoted and
useful members with regret at the parting, but every
one with her blessing. True were the words of the
pastor, that "the church history of New England
does not furnish a parallel to this experience of three
churches going out from a single church within ten
years without so much as a ripple of discord."
Besides these losses, a large number was dismissed
to the churches of other denominations which were
organized here, and thus began to be realized the
change that had come over the community, as from
one great congregation, gathered weekly at the same
place from all parts of the town, there were now
different congregations, and the people were no longer
one assembly in the delightful service of worship.
All this had aftected the strength and relations of the
church, but in harmony and under the favor of God
it went on prospering and continued to be a positive
and aggressive power for good.
Rev. Dr. Bouton resigned his pastorate at his forty-
second anniversary, March 23, 1867. He did this
under the conviction that the changes in the people
and in all about the church might be met best by a
change in its ministry, and that he might accept
another oflice. His love to the people, as their love
to him, was unabated. Few men have been permitted
to fill a pastorate so happy and useful as was this;
few have transmitted one to a successor under such a
wealth of affection as, from this whole city, had been
won by the years of faithful Christian labor.
Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, a native of Norwalk,
Conn., was graduated at Yale College in 1821. Not
only was he a faitliliil minister, but a citizen of
valued infliieuci', wlio Imre for more than a genera-
CONCORD.
6?
tion an active part in all that advanced the weal of
tlie people, both at home and abroad.
He was a friend of learning and its institutions, and
performed an amount of intellectual work that alone
would have marked his long life as busy. Thirty-four
of his sermons and addresses were published, and
many articles written for periodicals. In 1856 he
published the " History of Concord." Five other vol-
umes are from his pen. He was appointed to the
office of State historian in 1866. To the duties of
this office he devoted himself with fidelity and zeal
for eleven years, and compiled ten volumes of the
Provincial and State Papers.
In the ecclesiastical bodies of the State and the
benevolent organizations of the land he bore an
active part. Industry, fidelity, system were his.
With the completion of his historical work his labor
seemed done. He attended church service on the
fifty-third anniversary of his settlement, but was una-
ble to preach, as had been his annual custom. He died
June 6, 1878, aged seventy-nine years.
Soon after the resignation of Dr. Bouton a call to
this pastorate was extended to Rev. Franklin D.
Ayer, a native of St. Johnsbury, Vt., a graduate of
Dartmouth College, 1856, and of Andover Theological
Seminary, 1859. He was installed pastor by the
council that dismissed Rev. N. Bouton, D.D., Sep-
tember 12, 18G7.
The church, so long used to the ways of the vener-
able pastor, welcomed the new one, and have labored
unitedly with him. The church has been blessed
with seasons of revival, and during the present pas-
torate two hundred have been added to the church,
making the total number uniting to the present time,
one thousand six hundred and fifty-three.
The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary was
observed November 18, 1880. Historical Discourse,
by Rev. F. D. Ayer ; History and Description of our
Four Meeting-Houses, by Hon. Joseph B. Walker ;
History of the Sunday-School, by John C. Thorn ;
History of Music, by William G. Carter, M.D.
This church has taken a positive and decided part
in all the great moral reforms of the past years. It
has lived in peace at home, in hearty fellowship and
co-operation with churches of other denominations,
and has exerted, both in this community and the
State, a controlling influence. From its location, its
pastors and its efficient membership have had much
to do with the ecclesiastical gatherings and the benev-
olent societies of the State and the land. It has
borne its full share in the great benevolent enter-
prises of the day, and its contributions have been
constant and generous.
It has given to benevolent objects during the past
fifty years $48,000, for the support of worship not less
than $85,000, and more than $80,000 for houses of
worship and parsonage.
The Sunday-school was organized in 1818, and has
always been well attended.
The houses of worship demand a separate notice.
The first meeting-hou.se was built of logs in 1727, and
was occupied twenty-seven years. The second was that
so long known as the "Old North." The main body
of the house was built in 1751. In 1783 it was com-
pleted with porches and spire, and in 1802 enlarged
so as to furnish sittings for twelve hundred people,
and a bell was placed in the tower. Central in its
location, it was for a long time the only place for
public worship in town, and was used by this church
for ninety years. It served the State also. In this
house the Convention of 1778 met " to form a perma-
nent plan of government for the State." The first
time the Legislature met in Concord, March 13, 1782,
it assembled in this house, and not less than fifteen
sessions of the General Court was held here. Here,
with religious services, in 1784, the new State Consti-
tution was first introduced ; and here, too, in June,
1788, the Federal Constitution was adopted, by which
New Hampshire became one of the States of the
Union. This being the ninth State to adopt the Con-
stitution, that vote made it binding upon the United
States. Many of the political gatherings, historic in
the State, were held in this house. After another
church was built, 1842, this was used by the Method-
ist Biblical Institute till 1866. When it was de-
stroyed by fire, on the night of November 28, 1870,
there passed from sight the church building which
had associated with it more of marked and precious
history than with any other in the State.
As the church was about leaving the " Old North "
as a house of worship, it was voted to invite all the
churches formed from this to unite in a special
religious service. These farewell services were held
Thursday and Friday, October 27 and 28, 1842. On
Friday afternoon, after a sermon by the pastor, about
five hundred and fifty communicants of the four
churches sat down at the table of the Lord. " It was
a season of tender and affectionate interest. Many
wept at the thought of separation from the place
where they and their fathers had worshiped."
So happy was the effect of this meeting that the
next year one of like character was held in the New
North Church on November 18th. Since that time an
annual meeting of the Congregational Churches in
Concord has been held, and the meetings have been
precious seasons of Christian union and fellowship.
The third house of worship, situated on the corner
of Main and Washington Streets, was dedicated No-
vember 23, 1842. It was enlarged in 1848, and de-
stroyed by fire June 29, 1873. A chapel was erected
in 1858, and enlarged in 1868.
The fourth and present house of worship was erected
on the site of the third, and dedicated March 1, 1876.
It was paid for as built, and is a beautiful and com-
modious church building. The total cost of it was
$50,883.36. A new chapel, connecting with the
church, was completed and opened with appropriate
services January 20, 1884.
68
IILSTOUY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
In grateful memory of the relation of his parents
and family to this church, William Abbott, Esq., gave
two thousaiiil five hundred dollars towards the erec-
tion of this building, which is called "Abbott Me-
morial Chapel," and the people promptly added to
this fum five thousand dollars more, which com-
pleted it.
The present otlicers of the church are : Pastor, Rev.
Franklin D. Ayer, installed September 12, 1867;
Deacons, John Ballard, Edward A. Moulton, Andrew
S. Smith, Robert G. Morrison.
The things to be noted in this history of more than
one hundred and fifty years are : 1. That there have
been but five pastors, and that all but the surviving
one have died and been buried among this people.
The church has not been without a pastor for an hour
since 1798. 2. The church has lived in peace and
grown. It has never had a serious misunderstanding
or called for the advice of council on account of diffi-
culty. It has called but one council for sixty years.
3. It has paid its bills as it went on, and kept free
from debt. 4. "The Lord hath been mindful of us."
South Congregational Church.— The first meeting
of individuals iVir ilic purpose of forming a religious
society was held at the house of Mr. Asaph Evans,
May 9, 1835. Samuel Fletcher was chairman and
Amos Wood secretary. At this meeting a committee
was appointed, who purchased a lot of land at the
corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, for twelve hundred
dollars, as the site for a meeting-house. At an ad-
journed meeting it was voted to form a religious body,
to be known as the "South Congregational Society."
Also a constitution and by-laws had been prepared,
and a committee of seven had been procured, who
were to build the church edifice. On the l.st day of
August, 183.5, the constitution and by-laws were
adopted, and thirty names were signed thereto as
members of the new society.
In the summer of 1836 a new church builiiiiifj; was
erected on the lot purchased for that i)urpose by the
committee of seven. It was of wood, seventy-seven
by sixty- four feet, with two stores and a vestry on
the first floor, with the church edifice on the second
floor, and cost, with the land, about ten thou.sand
dollars. The house was dedicated on the 1st day of
February, 1837, in the afternoon. The pews were
sold in the afternoon. In the evening of the 1st day
of February, 1837, the South Congregational Church
was organized with sixty-seven members, all from the
First Congregational Church in Concord, as follows :
Thomiw Chailbourne, Cliiriesa [Green] Cliadboi.i-iio (Thon.iu)), John B.
Chandler, Sarah Chandler (Timothy) Ilnth [Wilson] Chickcring (El-
liott), Abigail Clement (Joshua), Esther W. Cnrrier (Ira U.), M. A. H.
Eatal.rook (Wm. W.), Asaph Evans, Almira B. Evans (Asaph), Samnel
Evans, Sarah C. Evans (Samuel), Samuel Evans, Jr., Henry Farley,
Mary T. [Farley] Colburn, Martha 0. Farrand, William Fisk, Margaret
0. risk (William), Samuel Fletcher, Nancy B. Fletcher (Samuel) Ituth
W. Fletcher, Eliza M.Fletcher (Daniel H.), Lydia French (Theodure),
Hannah Gould (Xalhan), Oecrgo Hutchins, Sarah B. [Tucker] Hutchins
(George), Bets)' Holt (William), Charlotte M. [Hurd] Davidson. Georse
Kent, Lueia A. Kent (George), David Kimball, Elizabeth E. Kimball
(David), Marj' Ann Kimball, Fanny A. Low (Joseph), Grace O. Low
(William), Clarissa J. [Chase] McFarland (Asa), Mary Mills (Charles),
Emily Moore (.r. W.), Asa Morrill, John Nilcs, Olive Niles (John), Betsy
[Kobinson] Osgood (David), Caleb Parker, Abigail D. Parker (Caleb),
Lucy Robinson (Josiah), Mercy G. Robinson, Benjamin Kolfe, Sarah H.
[Sargent] Pill6bui7 (Parker), Samuel Shute, M. H. Tenney (David),
Roswell W. Turner, Elyah Tuttle, Hannah S. Tuttle (Elijah), Zurviah
Tuttio (Jesse C), Mary J. [Tuttle] Tarlton (John), Sarah S. Tnttle,
Niitbaniel G. fpham, Eliza W. [Burnham] I'pham (Nathaniel i;.), Ilati-
nah Upham (Ephraim), Philip Watson, Mary W. Watson (Philij,), Snw.u
Weeks (John), James Weeks, Mary L. Weeks (James), Sarah S. Wil»uu
(Thomas), Amos Wood, Louisa W. Wood (Amos).
In March, 1837, the church and society extended a
call to Rev. Daniel J. Noyes, then tutor in Dartmouth
College, to become pastor. This invitation was ac-
cepted, and Mr. Noyes, a graduate of Dartmouth and
of Andover Theological Seminary, was ordained and
installed May 3, 1837, — sermou by Rev. Dr. Bouton,
of the North Church. Mr. Noyes had a very
successful pastorate of twelve and a half years, to
November, 1849, when he resigned to accept a profes-
sorship in Dartmouth College.
Rev. Henry E. Parker, of Keene, who was then
preaching at Eastport, Me., commenced his pastorate
in April, 1850, but was not installed until May 14,
1851,— sermon by Rev. Nathan Lord, D.D., president
of Dartmouth College. In 1857 the meeting-house
was repaired and improved, but in 1859 (June 12th) it
was totally consumed by fire, with no insurance.
Public services were held in PhcEuix Hall uutil No-
vember, 1860. After much discussion, the society
purchased the property on Pleasant Street, many
years occupied by the Hon. William A. Kent, as the
site for their new house of worship. A building com-
mittee was appointed, and work was commenced on
the foundations in the fall of 1859. The corner-stone
was laid, with appropriate exercises. May 3, 1860,
and the house was completed and dedicated Novem-
ber 27, 1860. The house, land, furnaces, stoves and
bell cost twenty-four thousand five hundred and
forty-five dollars. Mr. Parker's pastorate of nearly
sixteen years was attended by the most salutary
results. He had leave of absence on two occasions, —
from June, 1861, to August, 1862, when he was
chaplain of the Second New Hampshire Volunteers,
and from September, 1865, to February, 1866, when
he went on a European excursion. He resigned
while abroad, and a council held in March, 1866,
after his return, dissolved his relation with the church
and society.
There was no installed pastor of the. church from
March, 1866, to January, 1869. Rev. William F. Y.
Bartlett, of Brooklyn, N. Y., was called, and accepted
conditionally ; but his health failing, he was not in-
stalled, though he preached for more than a year, up
to May, 1867. In 1868 an invitation was extended
to Rev. Mr. Hamilton, of North Andover, Mass., and
a little later to Rev. John V. Hilton, of North Bridge-
water, Mass., both of whom declined.
But the society was not inactive in the mean time.
The house of worship, as first constructed, had noJ
<
In 1867 all the slips were occupied, andj
CONCORD.
there seemed to be a call for more room. To provide
this additional space, the plan of erecting galleries
was suggested. The consent of the society being ob-
tained, galleries containing forty slips were built by
twenty-five gentlemen, members of the society known
as the Gallery Association. There was no organ
in the church until 1868, but in the summer of that
year the society purchased the one now used, at an
expense of four thousand dollars. About twelve
hundred dollars more was expended in repairs and
iniljrovements on the house and chapel.
In December, 1868, the church and society ex-
tended a call to Rev. Silas L. Blake, of Pepperell,
Mass., to become pastor. This call was accepted,
and the services of the pastor-elect commenced the
first Sabbath of January, 1869. He was installed on
the 27th of the same month, the sermon being de-
livered by the Rev. Professor Park, of Audover Theo-
logical Seminary. Mr. Blake's pastorate of nearly
nine years proved very successful. Sunday, February
4, 1877, was observed as the fortieth anniversary of
the formation of the church. In the morning the
pastor preached a sermon giving an historical sketch
of the material growth and prosperity of the church
and society, and in the afternoon he gave a history
of the spiritual growth and progress of the church
during these forty years. In the morning he was as-
sisted by Rev. Dr. Noyes, of Hanover, the first pastor,
and Rev. Dr. Bouton, of Concord ; and in the after-
noon Rev. Mr. Ayer, of the North Church, Concord,
was also present, and assisted. In the evening Dr.
Noyes and Dr. Bouton occupied the time in most in-
teresting and profitable personal reminiscences. The
house was crowded, and the occasion was one of great
interest. In the fall of 1877 Mr. Blake, having re-
ceived a call to become pastor of a church in Cleve-
land, Ohio, resigned, and he was dismissed by
council October 14, 1877.
Rev. Dr. Wallace, of Manchester, was employed to
preach regularly in the church for some six months
after Mr. Blake's departure, and continued until
another pastor was called. At the close of his
services the church jiassed resolutions expressive of
their deep appreciation of his faithful services, and of
their affectionate personal regard.
In the spring of 1878 the church and society in-
vited the Rev. Charles E. Harrington, of Lancaster,
N. H., to become their pastor, which call was ac-
cepted. He began bis labors in March, and was in-
stalled by council April 18, 1878, Professor William
M. Barbour, D.D.. of Yale College, preaching the
sermon .
April 19, 1882. Brother Franklin Evans gave the
church two hundred dollars " as a nucleus for a
fund" to aid the needy members of the church and
congregation. This was in memory of his late wife,
Mrs. Sarah E. Evans. The church took action on
this subject, and the result was that a society was
formed of the members of the church, known as the
South Church Relief Society, for the purpose of
accumulating a fund, the income of which should be
applied to the aforesaid charitable object.
Mr. Harrington's pastorate, although short, was a
profitable one. He resigned his charge as pastor,
and was dismissed by council August 31, 1882.
Rev. William H. Hubbard, of Merrimack, Mass.,
was called to be pastor in the spring of 1883, which
call was accepted, and he was installed June 4, 1883,
Rev. William J. Tucker, D.D., of Andover Theologi-
cal Seminary, preaching the sermon. His resignation
has been accepted to take effect September 30, 1885.
In October, 1883, the National Council of Congre-
gational Churches for the United States was holden
in the South Congregational Church in Concord, the
North Church uniting in making the arrangements
and in entertaining the delegates. The council con-
tinued nearly a week. The meetings, day and even-
ing, were well attended, and were very interesting
and profitable.
The interest of the Gallery Association has now
been purchased by the society, so that now the
society owns all those pews, and many others in the
body of the house.
For nearly twenty years past the pew-holders have
voted to assess a tax upon the pews to defray the
larger part of the expense of supporting the gospel,
but at their annual meeting in January, 1885, they
refused to assess any tax upon the pews, so that
hereafter all moneys for the support of the gospel
must be raised by subscription until some better way
can be devised.
Present membership of church, three hundred and
eighty-four.
DE.\CONS.
Samuel Fletcher, elected May 25, 1837.
John Nilea, elected May 26, 1837.
Aiuos Wood elected August 16, 1830.
David Kimball, elected March 3, 1842.
Epps Burnham, elected August 31, 1843.
Nathaniel Evans, elected August 31, 1843.
Asa McFarland, elected August 31, 1843.
Caleb Parker, elected August 31, 1843.
Joseph French, elected July 18, 1850.
George B. Chandler, elected November 4, 1852.
Greenough McQuesten, elected October 29, 1857.
Levi Lisconi, elected December 31, 18.57.
Hazen Pickering, elected December 3(1, 18G3.
George G. Sanborn, elected December 30, 1863.
William H. Allison, elected July 5, 1872.
Charles W. Harvey, elected July 6, 1872.
Charles Kimball, elected January 28, 1875.
Albert S. Hammond, elected May 5, 1876.
Frank Coffln, elected January 31, 1879.
Henry A. Mann, elected January 25, 1884.
William A Stone, elected February 8, 1884.
The South Congregational Church, Concord, has
sustained a Mission Sunday-school near Richardson's
Mills, about five miles east of the city, since 1870, a
period of fifteen years, contributing some one hun-
dred dollars per year, besides supplying them with
teachers and a superintendent. It is called the Me-
morial Sabbath-School. This .school is in a prosper-
70
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
0U9 condition, having an average of about one
hundred members. There is a Union Church con-
nected with this Sabbatli-school, wliicli was formed
some ten or twelve years ago. The cliurch has always
been small, and numbers only about from twelve to
fifteen monibers.
Congregational Church, East Concord.— Thi.s
church WHS organized March SO, 1842, with forty-two
members. Its history is thus related by Dr. Bouton :
In the year 1841 a new house for public worship
was erected on the east side of the Merrimack River,
principally by members of the First Congregational
Church and Society there residing. In March, 1842,
a request was presented to the First Church, signed
by forty-four members residing in that part of the
town, requesting letters of dismission and recommen-
dation, for the ])urpose of being organized into a new
church, which request was granted. The East Con-
gregational Church was organized by a council of
neighboring churches on the 30th of March, 1842,
and Rev. Timothy Morgan, from the Theological
Seminary at Gilmanton, was engaged to supply the
pulpit. Mr. Morgan continued his labors about a
year. Rev. Hiram Freeman was next invited to
settle, and was ordained September 27, 1843, and was
dismissed in .lune, 1845. March 24, 1847, Rev. Win-
throp Fifield was installed pastor. Mr. Fifield con-
tinued his services about three years. June 25, 1851
Rev. Henry A. Kendall was installed pastor, who
continued until May 1, 1858. His succe.'-sors as pas-
tors and acting pastors have been as follows : Revs.
E. O. Jones, A. 0. Baker, Norton Smith, George
Smith, H. R. Hawes, A. Burnham, W. G. Schoppe,
C. L. Tappan, A. F. Dunnels and James T. Pyke.
The lattiT wa.s installed [.nstor Ortcher Iti, 1874. "
Congregational Church, West Concord.— The first
church editice was coinidctiMl ami dedicated January
15, 1833. The building was of wood, sixty-three by
forty-three feet, with a projection of three feet in
front, and cost two thousand dollars.
The formal organization of the church occurred
April 22, 1833. with eighty-nine members dismissed
from the North Congregational Church for the pur-
pose. On the same day Rev. Asa P. Tenney was
installed pastor and so continued until his death,
March 1, 18G7, a term of thirty-three years and eight
months. During his pastorate three hundred and
eleven were added to the church. His salary ever
remained at four hundred and fifty dollars per year.
After the death of Mr. Tenney the jmlpit was supplied
for one year by Rev. Dr. Bouton.
Mr. Hiram B. Putnam supplied the puli>it from
August 9, 1868; was installed October 28, 18(i8; re-
signed and dismissed December 15, 1873.
Rev. Irving D. Adkinson supplied the pulpit from
March 1, 1874; was installed May 6, 1874, and con-
tinued until his death, February 25, 1875.
Mr. John W. Colwell supplied the pulpit from
June, 1875; was ordained September 22, 1875; iii-
' stalled February 28, 1877; dismissed April, 1879, and
I during his pastorate fifty-seven were added to the
[ church.
Rev. Cyrus M. Perry supplied the pulpit as acting
pastor from July, 1879, to July, 1882.
I Mr. Charles B. Strong was ordained as pastor Sep-
I tember 6, 1882; resigned July 13, 1884, and dismissed
March 30, 1885.
The church is at present (April, 1885) supplied by
C. H. Roper, of Andover Theological Seminary.
Deacons.— Abiel Rolfe, from 1833 until his death,
in 1840 ; held the same office in North Church pre-
viously, from 1811 to 1833. Ira Rowell, from 1833 to
1875; resigned on account of extreme feebleness; died
1876; held same office in North Church previously,
from 1829 to 1833. H. Runnels, from 1840 until
his death, in 1859. From 1859 until 1875, Deacon
Rowell was the only deacon. Stephen Carleton, from
1876 until his death, in 1884. Edward S. Barrett,
from 1876 to present time. Cyrus Runnels, from 1876
to present time.
This first church was burned September 21, 1879,
after having been thoroughly repaired, at a cost of
fiteen hundred dollars. A new church was imme-
diately commenced, built of granite and cost fifteen
thousand dollars, and was dedicated June 14, 1871.
Penacook Congregational Church. — The Con-
gregational Church in Penacook was organized No-
vember 6, 1850. Rev. Mr. Knight and other ministers
were employed as preachers till 1857, when Rev. Albert
William Fiske was installed pastor May 20th, and re-
mained in that relation till October 16th, 1836.
The second pastor, Rev. William R. Jewett, was
installed September 16, 1863, and dismissed Septem-
ber 10, 1874.
The third pastor. Rev. Marvin D. Bisbce, was
installed September 10, 1874; dismissed April 10,
1877.
Rev. John H. Larry was installed December 21,
1882; dismissed May 15, 1883.
In 1876, Hon. John Kimball and Benjamin A.
Kimball presented a bell to this church, which bears
the following inscription :
" MEMORIAL BELL :
PRESENTED TO
THE CONUREG.\TIONAL SOCIETY
July 4th, 1876,
BV
John anb Benjamin Ames Kimball,
THE LATE BENJAMIN KIMBALL
Let him that Jieayelh my, Come."
Benjamin Kimball, whose name is inscribed thereon,
was a native of Canterbury, born December 27, 1794,
and remaining most of the time on the old home-
stead, with his father, until he was about twenty-five
years old. He resided for a time in Nortlifield,
whence, in the spring of 1824, he removed with his
family to Boscawen, and settled on High Street.
71
Being inclined to mechanical rather than agri-
cultural pursuits, and having made the acquaintance
of Mr. John Clark — sometimes called "Boston
.Tohn " — while at work on the new State-House in
Concord, and other places, resolved to abandon his
t'arni, and devote more of his time to mechanical
labor. In 1824 he was employed by the late Nathaniel
Roll'c to build a saw-mill on the site now occupied by
Mr. Blanchard's Excelsior Factory, which was the
only saw-mill ever erected on that spot.
It was here that he became acquainted with, and
saw the advantages of, the great water-power on the
Contoocook River. His means were small, but after
the failure of Mr. Varuey, who had commenced to
improve the water-power here by building the upper
dam, he sold his farm, and in the winter of 1829-30
bought of Hon. Jeremiah Mason, agent for the United
States Bank, the property owned by Mr. Varney,
which comprised all the water-power formerly and
now owned by the Contoocook Company, the farm of
Captain John Sawyer and the dwelling-house and
lands now owned by the heirs of the hite Ephraim
Plummer and others.
He removed here with his family in November,
1830, and commenced immediately to make further
improvement of the water-power by erecting a dam
and building a grist-mill, which was successfully ac-
complished at the close of the next year. He was a
member of the Congregational Church at Boseawen
Plain, and always took an active part in all that was
essential to the general and religious welfare of the
town. He died July 21, 1834, aged thirty-nine.
Unitarian Church.'— Early in the year 1827
several citizens of the town, who were dissatisfied
with the Calvinistic doctrine preached in the churches
of the place, met together, and, after consultation
with each other, on the 4th day of April of that year,
associated themselves together, agreeably to the laws
of the State, under the name and title of the Second
Congregational Society in Concord.
The formal organization took place, as we learn
from the records, on the 8th day of August, 1827, at
which time Richard Bartlett, INIoses Eastman, Wil-
liam Kent, Sampson Bullard, Stephen Brown, John
Leach, Woodbury Brown, William M. Virgin, Elijah
Mansur, Joseph Manahan, Washington Williams,
James Wilcomb, Joseph C. West, Timothy Chandler,
Benjamin Grover and William Francis met at the
court-room in the old town-house, and organized by
the election of Major Timothy Chandler as chairman,
and William Kent clerk. Moses Eastman, Richard
Bartlett and Jacob B. Moore were chosen a com-
mittee to prepare by-laws and regulations for the
society, and report at some subsequent meeting.
" Vofed unanimously, That this society assume the
powers and privileges of a corporation, under and
from an able historical ;
prepared by Daniel F.
pursuant to an act of the Legislature passed July 3^
1827, entitled 'An act empowering religious associa-
tions to assume and exercise corporate powers.'"
The clerk was directed to give public notice of the
formation of the society, in the usual form. At an
adjourned meeting, held August 25, 1827, a code of
by-laws was reported by the committee chosen to pre-
pare them, and accepted. At an adjourned meeting;
held September 4, 1827, Moses Eastman, William
Kent and Stephen Brown were elected a prudential
committee, and Captain Jeremiah Pritchard treasurer.
Thus the organization of the society was conipUlcd.
It being deemed desirable to secure preaching of
the liberal faith so far as the means of the society
would allow. Colonel William Kent visited Ports-
mouth, and arranged with Rev. Dr. Parker, of that
place, to come to Concord and preach two Sundays
during the session of the Legislature in June. The
use of the Representatives' Hall was secured for the
services, and there, on the 17th day of June, 1827,
■was preached the first professedly Unitarian sermon
ever delivered in Concord. The services (says Colonel
Kent) were highly appreciated, and the audience was
highly respectable in numbers. Dr. Parker preached
at the same place on the following Sabbath.
A wish being expressed to hear more of the liberal
preaching. Colonel Kent visited Boston, and secured
the services of several pastors of Unitarian Churches
in that city and the adjacent towns for a Sunday each,
the court-room being secured as a place of meeting.
Rev. Dr. Barrett, of Boston, commenced under this
arrangement July 8, 1827, and was followed by Rev.
Messrs. Gannett, Pierpont, Tuckerman, Whitman and
Ware. Messrs. Christopher T. Thayer, Ralph Waldo
Emerson and Moses G. Thomas then preached with
reference to settlement.
April 3, 1828, the society voted to raise three hun-
dred dollars, by tax on the members, for the support
of preaching the ensuing year. Rev. Moses G.
Thomas was ordained pastor February 25, 1829. On
the same day, previous to the ordination, a church
consisting of eight members was formed.
A minister having been secured, the want of a
permanent place of worship was felt. To encourage
the effort to erect a church, Hon. William A. Kent
proposed, if a sum of money sufficient for its erection
could be raised, to donate a piece of land to the
society on which to build it.
After a thorough canvass, three thousand dollars,
just one-half of the amount needed, was secured, — a
liberal subscription for those times in a society few
in numbers and of limited pecuniary means. In this
emergency, Colonel William Kent was dispatched to
Boston to solicit aid from the wealthy friends of the
cause in that place. Spending a fortnight in the
work, he succeeded, to his great satisfaction, in raising
the amount required. This being done, measures
were at once adopted to secure the accomplishment
of the object so much desired.
HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, XEW HAMPSHIRE.
John Leach, Esq., a member of the society, was
employed as master-builder, and under his direction
the work went rapidly forward. The corner-stone
wiiB laid May 2, 1829, with appropriate services, and
on the 11th of November followinj? the church was
dedicated " to the worship of the one living and true
God." On this occasion the introductory prayer was
offered by Rev. Ralph Waldo Emerson, the dedi-
catory prayer by Rev. Mr. Parknian, and a discourse
was delivered by the pastor, Rev. Moses G. Thomsis.
The house thus dedicated stood on the spot occu-
pied by the present ediiice. After doing service as a
place of religious worship for the space of nearly
twenty-five years, it was destroyed by fire on the
evening of November 2, 1854.
Measures were at once taken to replace the church
edifice. Plans having been procured, the services of
Henry M. Moore, as builder, were secured. The
foundation was laid under the direction of Luther
Roby, Esq., and the work went forward. In eighteen
months, lacking one day, from the time of the fire,'
the new house was completed and dedicated.
January 14, 1834, " Voted, That the sum of seven
societv for
chosen
hundred dollars annually be raised
the next five years."
April 1, 1834, Jeflerson Nov.
brarian.
April 4, 1837, Simon Brown, since Lieutenant-
Governor of Massachusetts, was elected clerk of the
society, in place of Colonel William Kent, who had
filled the office from its first organization. Mr. Brown
left town shortly after, and at the annual meeting,
held in April, 1838, Colonel Kent was again elected,
serving until April 1.5, 1841. At the same meeting,
" Voted, That R. H. Sherburne be requested to take a
.seat in the gallery a few Sundays, and apply a
corrective to the boys." " Voted, That Mr. Thomas be
released from his duties to the society for the term of
four Sabbaths for the year 1837, at such time as he
may desire, and that the society supply the desk
during said term."
yir. Thomiis resigned January 28, 1844,
May 15, 1844.— At a special meeting held this day,
" Voted, That the society are .so well pleased with Rev.
:Mr. Tilden, of Norton, Mass., as a preacher, as to en-
gage him to supply the desk for three or six months;"
and the standing committee were directed to visit
him and secure his services for the coming month of
June.
April 1, 1845, an article having appeared in the
CoDrjregational Journal, entitled " Parkerism in Con-
cord," reflecting somewhat severely on the opinions
held and preached by Mr. Tilden, a series of resolu-
tions expressing the confidence of the society in him
as a preacher was introduced by Lewis Downing, Esq.,
and i>assed by a unanimous vote.
April 25, 1845, the prudential committee were
authorized to procure the services of Rev. Mr. Tilden
I year from the 1st of Julv next.
for „i
April 7, 1846, Mr. Tilden having expressed a wish
to terminate his connection with the society at the
end of his present engagement, the society, believing
that a misapprehension existed on his part in regard
to the true state of feeling existing towards him.
Voted unanimously, that it is their earnest desire that
his resignation be withdrawn, and that he continue
with them for the coming year."
Rev. Mr. Tilden's services as pastor, which com-
menced in 1844, of the society closed July 1, 1847.
He was never formally installed.
From this time forward, for more than two years,
the desk was filled by various clergymen. Rev. Mr.
Putnam officiating for several months, by temporary
engagements.
Mr. Augustus Woodbury was ordained August 1,
1849.
July 27, 1851, " Voted, That an alteration be made
in the gallery," and a committee was appointed to raise
the money necessary to defray the expense of the
same. At the same time, " Voted, That Mr. Wood-
bury's salary be increased to eight hundred dollars
per annum." Mr. Woodbury's connection with the
society closed August 1, 1853.
Rev. Artemas B. Muzzey was installed ^lart'h 29,
1854 The pastorate of Mr. Muzzey occurred during
a time of trial to the society, — the destruction of the
church edifice in the month of November following
his settlement, and the building of the present one
taxing their resources severely. But in all their
efforts they met with the cheerful and hearty co-oper-
ation of the pastor and the members of his family,
whose services deserve a lasting and grateful remem-
brance.
October 18, 1857, the prudential committee were
authorized to invite Mr. Silas Farrington to preach to
the society for one year ; and the invitation being
accepted, he was ordained early in the month of
December following.
October 3, 1858, Mr. Farrington was requested to
continue his services another year.
October 5, 1858, a legacy left the society by the
late Timothy Walker, Esq., of twenty-one shares of
stock in the Northern Railroad corporation, was
accepted, and Benjamin Grover was appointed agent
to receive and manage the same.
April 25, 1859, the society voted that the treas-
urer be directed to sell and convey the railroad stock
left the society by the late Timothy Walker, Esq.,
and invest the proceeds in the purchase of pews num-
bered 21, 23, 30, 56, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71 and 73, in the
church, the same to be owned by the society, and the
rents received therefor tn be approijriated annually to
the support of preaching, agreeably to the provisions
of the will of Mr. Walker.
December 25, 1859, Sir. Farrington was requested
to continue as pastor another year.
November 25, 1860, Mr. Farrington resigned the
office of pastor, the resignation to take efiect January
CONCORD.
73
1, 1861, and his resignation was accepted by the soci-
ety at a meeting held December 2, 1800.
For some time after the withdrawal of Mr. Farring-
ton the desk was filled by such supplies as could be
obtained, Rev. Liberty Billings among the number,
who, without formal installation, officiated as minister
for about two years, until, having received an appoint-
ment as chaplain in the Fourth Regiment New Hamp-
shire Volunteers, he resigned, and the desk was again
left to be supplied by candidates.
December 27, 1863, Rev. T. J. Mumford received
an invitation to take the pastoral charge, which he
declined.
February 7, 1864, Rev. Junius L. Hatch was in-
vited to become the minister of the society, which invi-
tation was accepted, and he was installed in the
month of June following.
June 24, 1865, difficulties having arisen between
Mr. Hatch and the society, it was voted that the rela-
tion existing between them be at once terminated,
and the committee were directed to notify the minister
of this action of the society.
January 23, 1866, the society voted that Rev. J.
F. Lovering be invited to become their pastor, which-
invitation he accepted. The formal services of instal-
lation took place February 27, 1866.
Mr. Lovering's labors with the society closed April
1, 1875, after having continued nine years. At that
time the society voted him the use of the parsonage
for the term of three months, free of rent. The resig-
nation of Mr. Lovering opened the way for the
employment of temporary supplies and candidates
for a long time.
January 24, 1876, " Voted, That the committee be
instructed to extend an invitation to Rev. W. G. Todd
to become the pastor for one year." The call was
accepted, and Mr. Todd entered upon the duties of
his office without any formal introduction. During
this season the church was repainted, and some neces-
sary repairs were made.
March 1, 1877, Mr. Todd retired.
November 24, 1877, an invitation was extended
to Rev. Samuel C. Beane, of Salem, Mass., to assume
the pastoral care of the society. The invitation was
accepted, and the services of installation took place
January 9, 1878, and he is the ])resent pastor.
The church organized February 25, 1829, and re-
ceived gradual accessions to the number of its mem-
bers, from the first of whom. Miss Ellen Louisa
Tucker, afterwards Mrs. Ralph Waldo Emerson, it
received a present of a set of vessels for the commun-
ion service.
On the 19tli day of July, 1829, the first communion
service was observed, prior to which, as we learn from
the records. Brother William Kent was elected dea-
con, and accepted the oflSce. Although his resignation
was once offered, its acceptance was refused by the
church, and he remains to this day its senior deacon.
His services in the formation of the socictv and
church entitle him to the grateful regard of the pres-
ent members.
A Sunday-school connected with the society was
organized by Colonel William Kent and others prior to
the building of the first church edifice. Colonel Kent
was for a long time its superintendent.
The Concord Female Benevolent Association was
formed by ladies of the society, January 5, 1835,
for the purjjose of doing something towards relieving
the wants and multiplying the comforts of the indi-
gent and suffering members of the community.
Of the good done by these organizations, those who
have been taught, and those whose wants have been
relieved by them, can bear witness. Of the ladies who
planned them, and by whose exertions they have been
sustained, it may be truly said, their works praise
them.
By the will of Lewis Downing, Esq., dated Decem-
ber 27, 1872, the society after his death became, after
deducting some small legacies, the recipient of one-
sixth of the income of his estate annually, the same
to be appropriated to the support of the preaching of
the Christian religion as taught by the late Dr. Chan-
ning, — the amount of the legacy being increased from
time to time as the deaths of his children should
occur, until at last the society should receive the .
income of two-thirds of the estate ; the balance, over
two thousand dollars annually, to be devoted to the
support of a minister-at-large of the Channing-Unita-
rian f\iith, and in aiding and strengthening feeble
societies of that faith in the State of New Hampshire.
St. Paul's Church.' — The first meeting of individ-
uals friendly to the organization of the Protestant
Episcopal Society was held at the house of Albe Cady,
on the 5th of January, 1817. At this meeting the
basis of an organization was presented by a commit-
tee appointed for the purpose, which was subscribed
by thirteen gentlemen, among whom were the Hon.
Samuel Green, Albe Cady, the Hon. Isaac Hill and
John West, Jr. They gave the organization the
name of St. Thomas' Chapel. On the 24th of March,
1818, Rev. Charles Burroughs was chosen rector. It
does not appear whether or not Mr. Borroughs ac-
cepted the rectorship. He, however, frequently offi-
ciated here, giving to the new parish whatever of
service he could bestow in connection with his minis-
trations in St. John's Church, Portsmouth, of which
he was rector, and in many ways, by advice and in-
fluence, contributed greatly to encourage and sustain
the infant parish in Concord.
During 1817 and the three succeeding years the
Rev. Messrs. Andrews, Searle, Herbert and Marshall
held occasional services here, but the greater part of
the time the services were conducted by lay readers.
In April, 1821, the Rev. John L. Blake was cho-
sen rector, and for more than two years officiated
historical sketch prepared
HISTORY OK MEKRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
here, at the same time serving St. Andrew's Church,
Hopkinton.
For a part of the first year after the formation of
the parisli the services were held in Masonic Hall, over
the Conrord Bank, the present location of the First
National Bank. Subsequently the town hall wa.s oc-
cupied by the parish as a place of worship for about
two years. Afterwards the services were held in a
commodious hall, fitted up by Hon. Isaac Hill, in the
upper part of a store occupying the present site of
the opera-house.
This hall was used during the week by the Rev. Mr.
Blake as a school-room.
Several ineftectual attempts were made during
these years to build a church. As far back as 1819 a
subscription was commenced for this purpose. The
cost of the edifice was not to exceed six thousand
dollars, and one-half of this sum was subscribed by
twelve individuals. In the spring of 1823 the Rev.
Mr. Blake resigned the rectorship and removed from
town, and for about twelve years services of our
church were only occasionally held in Concord, Rev.
Moses B. Chase, of Hopkinton, now and then sup-
plying a single service.
It appears that divine worshi]) according to the
forms and rites of the Protestant Kpiscopal Church
was conducted here, almost without interruption,
from the beginning of 1817 to the spring of 1823, a
lay reader being employed when the ministrations of
a clergyman could not be procured.
In 1819 a committee on the state of the church in
the Diocese of New Hampshire, appointed by the
Diocesan Convention, reported thirteen families and
ten communicants in this parish. During its con-
tinuance as St. Thomas' Chapel the rite of con-
firmation w;is administered to seven persons, and there
were about twenty bajjtisms.
On the 13lh of July, 1835, St. Paul's parish was or-
ganized, and the Rev. Moses B. Chase was chosen
rector. Mr. Chase held services once each month in
this parish, from May, 18.35, to March, 1836, and each
Sunday evening during July and August of the latter
year. He resided in Hopkinton, and was rector of St.
Andrew's Church.
Rev. Petrus S. Ten Broeck became rector in Novem-
ber, 1836. The services at this time were held in the
court-hou.se, which occupied the site of the present
city hall. At this time there were ten communi-
cants.
In the summer of 1S36, John West, a gentleman
devotedly attached to the church, set himself about
obtaining, by subscriptions and donations, funds to
build a church, but had hardly more than made a be-
ginning when sudden death brought his earthly
labors to a close, and one of the first offices which
the new rector was called upon to discharge in the
parish was the sad duty of consigning to the dust the
mortal remains of this warm and active friend of
the church.
The first church edifice ^ was completed near the
close of the year 1839, and on the 1st of January,
1840, it was consecrated to the worship of Almighty
God by the venerable and beloved Bishop Griswold,
bishop of the Eastern Diocese, of which New Hamp-
shire was a part. Bishop Griswold also, on the fol-
lowing day, instituted the Rev. Mr. Ten Broeck rector
of the parish.
July 16, 1843, Albe Cady, for many years senior
warden of the parish, deceased. Mr. Cady was among
the first to move for establishing the church here and
labored earnestly and faithfully for its success.
In October, 1844, Rev. Mr. Ten Broeck, on account
of failing health, resigned his charge of the parisli
and removed to Danvers, Mass., where he resided till
his decease, in 1849. He was a faithful minister. The
number of communicants at the close of his labors in
the parish was about forty, as against ten at its com-
mencement.
Rev. Darius R. Brewer succeeded Mr. Ten Broeik,
having been elected the 25th of November, 1844. Mr.
Brewer reported to the convention, the following
June, forty-five communicants, thirty families, and
the number of persons attending public worship from
one hundred to one hundred and fifty. After two
years of faithful and devoted service, he resigned to
take charge of Trinity parish, Newport, R. I. He
has since died.
Mr. Brewer was succeeded immediately by the Rev.
Thomas Leaver, from the Diocese of Rhode Island.
Mr. Leaver's ministry in the parish was very brief.
He commenced his labors here on the first Sunday in
December, 1846, and conducted his last service on
the first Sunday in December, 1847. After a severe
illness of a few days, he died on the 23d of
the same month. Daring the brief period of his
ministry Mr. Leaver proved himself a faithful shep-
herd, and his death was a deep afHiction to the
parish.
On the 27th of February, 1848, the Rev. Newton E.
Marble, of the Diocese of Massachusetts, was
elected to the rectt)rship, and soon after entered upon
its duties. At this date the number of communicants
was forty- four, the number of families thirty. During
Mr. Marble's ministry, of a little more than nine
yeai-s, the parish had a steady growth in numbers
and a correspondingly widening influence in the com-
munity.
Mr. Marble resigned the rectorship of the parish
April 1, 1857, and soon after moved to Newtown, Dio-
cese of Connecticut, to assume charge of Trinity par-
ish, which relation he sustained during the remainder
of his life. He died about three years since, much
beloved by the people of his charge and by every one
who knew him.
From Easter, 1857, to Easter, 1858, the parish was
' The buiWing rommittee consisted of Albe CaJy, L. C. Virgil nnd
CONCORD.
without a rector. For the first two months or more of
this time the Rev. Dr. Henry A. Coit, either by him-
self or by the Rev. Francis Chase, his assistant at St.
Paul's School, kindly supplied oneserviceonSundays.
For the balance of the year the Rev. Edward Ballard,
then residing at Hopkinton, filled the position of
minister of the parish, accepting therefor, without
stipulation, such compensation as the parish could of-
fer. The ministrations of these clergymen, as well
as their helpfulness in many ways, is gratefully re-
membered by the church people of those days.
Rev. James H. Eames, D.D., entered upon his
duties as rector on Easter Day, 1858, and continued
until his death, which occurred December 10, 1877.
The parish had granted Dr. Eames leave of absence for
the winter, and, December 7th, in company with Mrs.
Eames, he started from New York for the Bermudas,
and died on the 10th of the same month, just as the
vessel dropped anchor in the harbor of Hamilton.
Very soon after Dr. Eames began his work here
signs of a new and deepening interest in the church's
work were visible, and soon it became evident that the
little church would not long accommodate the congre-
gation. The following appears on the parish records :
" At a meeting duly notified, and held in the church, May 24, 1858, a
committee was appointed, consisting of Rev. J. H. Karnes, David Davis,
E. Symmes, A, V. Pierce, John M. Hill, William L. Foster and Charles
P. Gage, to take into consideration the expediency of enlarging the old
church or building a new one, to report at an adjourned meeting to be
held in one week."
It was finally decided to build a new church, and
the following were appointed a building committee:
Ebenezer Symmes, Augustine C. Pierce, George
Minot, John M. Hill and Abel Hutchins. Of these
gentlemen, John M. Hill survives.
On Wedne,sday, the 2oth day of May, 1859, Ihe cor-
ner-stone of the new church was laid. Two excellent
addresses were delivered on the occasion, — one by the
Rev. Dr. Burroughs, of Portsmouth, the other by Hon.
Josiah Minot. Under the watchful supervision of the
building committee the new church went on to com-
pletion, and on the loth day of December, 1859, was
consecrated to the worship of Almighty God by the
Rt. Rev. Bishop Carlton Chase, of this diocese, the
Rt. Rev. Bishop Clark, of the Diocese of Rhode
Island, preaching the consecration sermon.
The cost of the church and furnishing was about
seventeen thousand dollars.
A chime of nine bells was placed in the tower of
the church in 1868, through the liberality of members
of the parish. Three of these bells were given by the
ladies of the parish ; the others were personal gifts
from John H. Pearson, Mrs. Eliza C. Davis, Edward
L. Knowlton, Edward A. Abbott and Mrs. William
Butterfield. They werefirst rung on Easter morning,
April 12, 1868.
In the summer of 1877 extensive repairs of the
church were made. While these repairs were going
on services were held in Rumford Hall, kindly offered
bv Jlr. Franklin Low, junior warden.
It had been arranged, by vote of the parish, ])re-
vious to the departure of Dr. Eames, that the bishop
of the diocese should have charge of the matter of
supplying the services during his absence. This ar-
rangement continued till the 24th of the following
April, when, at the annual parish meeting, it was
" Vuletl, That the Kt. Kev. the Bishop of the Dioccsu be invited to ac-
cept the rectorship of St. Paul's parish.''
At a subsequent meeting the bishop nominated the
Rev. Daniel C. Roberts, of Brandon, Diocese of Ver-
mont, to be vice-rector, and the clerk was directed to
notify the bishop that the wardens and vestry ap-
prove of the nomination, and that he is desired to
communicate with the Rev. Mr. Roberts accordingly.
The Rev. Mr. Roberts, having accepted the vice-rec-
torship, entered upon its duties in .lime of the same
year.
On the 2d day of December, 1879, the ceremony of
unveiling the beautiful window to the memory of the
Rev. Dr. Eames, which had been procured by the
parish and placed in the front end of the church, was
held. John M. Hill, in behalf of the committee ap-
pointed to procure the memorial, made an appropri-
ate address and unveiled the w'indow, after which
Bishop Niles and the Rev. Mr. Roberts also made
addresses.
At a meeting of the wardens aud vestry, held No-
vember 14, 1882, the subject of a chapel, which had
been discussed at the previous annual meeting of the
parish, was further considered, and the Hon. Josiah
Minot made a proposition that, with money then in
the savings-bank belonging to the ladies of the parish,
and designed originally for a like purpose, amounting
to about $1000, he would agree that a chapel should
be built, the cost not to exceed $3000. The wardens
voted to accept the offer of Mr. Minot, and the follow-
ing summer the chapel was completed at a cost of
$3,926.86, Mr. Minot contributing $2,233.75 ; Mr.
James R. Hill, for land, $300; Mr. John H. Pearson,
for steam-heating, $.300 ; Mr. John M. Hill, for gas-
fixtures, etc., $147.50 ; ladies' fund in savings-bank,
$945.61. Other individuals have contributed for set-
tees for the chapel, and recently Mr. and Mrs. H. W.
Stevens have contributed a beautiful lecturn.
During all these years the parish has had, without
stint, the services of members of the congregation in
the important department of music. We have avoided,
as far as possible, mentioning names, particularly
those now living, who have contributed in their
several ivays to the church's work and worship, and
that restraint is upon us now. But they are gratefully
remembered by those who have witnessed their faith-
fulness and profited by their unselfish devotion.
In the latter part of the summer of 1883 a choir of
boys was organized, under the direction of Mr. Frank
E. Brown. The cost of the necessary changes in the
chancel was defrayed by special gifts from generous
friends, notably that of Mr. Henri G. Blaisdell, who
gave the avails of an entertainment given by him with
76
HLSTOIU- UF MEKKIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
his orchestra, assisted by ladies and gentlemen and
children of the parish. On the Eighteenth Sunday
after Trinity, September 23, 1S83, the choir of three
men and twelve boys, vested in cassocks and surplices,
came into church at morning prayer, singing the
232d hvmn,—
'Onward, Chrial
The choir was formally presented by the vice-rector,
and received by the bishop of the diocese, the same
being also rector of the parish, with a short service of
benediction. From that date to the present time they
have continued the good work with augmented num-
bers, increasing interest and zeal on their part, and
growing favor on the part of the congregation. This
service is rendered without salary, and has been given
with enthusiiism and constancy.
During the last twenty-five years there have been
three hundred and ninety-five baptisms, — two hundred
and sixty-six infants and one hundred and twenty-
nine adults. Three hundred and six persons have
been confirmed. Present number of communicants
in the parish, two hundred and sixty.
The contributions of the people for missions,
through the offertory and otherwise, have been
$.5054.07, distributed as follows: Diocesan, S3851.61;
domestic, $848.60 ; foreign, $353.86. There has also
been given within the twenty-five years, for other
objects, about $50,000.
Of the latter sum, probably about seven thousand
dollars was devoted to objects within our own parish,
such as the chime of bells and church repairs ; the bal-
ance has been given to church and charitable work, for
educational purposes. Orphans' Home and sufferers
l)y fire and flood, etc. This sum includes very little,
if anything, for the maintenance of public worship
here during these years.
Hon. Horace A. Brown, the senior warden of the
church, was born in the town of Cornish, X. H., near
Windsor, Vt., October 3, 182,3, and is consequently fifty-
four years of age. When but a few months old, his
parents moved to Windsor (now West Windsor), Vt.,
where he lived till he was nine years old. At this
early age he started out in life, working on a farm for
his board and clothes for several years. Undoubtedly
becoming imbued with the idea that agricultural pur-
suits were not adapted to his tastes and a desire to
learn a trade, he first entered the office of the Demn-
crnlic Statesman, at Windsor, in January, 1837, as
chore-boy. Peing of an industrious turn of mind, he
also learned the art of type-setting, and acquired such
other information about the business as the facilities
of the office presented. In September, 1838, he be-
came a " printer's devil " in the office of the National
Euijk, published at Claremont, X. H., by Weber &
Warland, where he served an apprenticeship of four
years, remaining two yejirs longer as a journeyman in
the same offi.-e. In September, 1844, we find him in
the employ of the Claremont Manufacturing Company
as compositor, and occ:tsionally running power-presses. ■
It was in this office that he first gained an insight in
the most important branch of the " art preservative,"
press-work, which subsequently became his constant
emploj-ment. In November. 1847, he commenced, in
connection with Joseph Weber, Esq., the publication
of the Northern Intelligencer, but remained only a feu
months in that cai)acity. The following year he lit-
came foreman, for a short time, of the Granite Stat-
^nig, after which he printed for the proprietor the
Philharmonic Journal, a semi-monthly musical quarto.
In September of the same year he became employed
in the office of the National Eagle, where he remained
three years. During the winter of 1851-52 he engaged
himself as pressman for the Claremont Manufacturing
Company, running an Adams press. In June, 1852.
he entered the employ of McFarland & Jenks, former
proprietors of the New Hampshire Statesman, and in
August of the same year was appointed foreman of
the press department, in which capacity he has been
constantly employed up to the present time, a period
of more than a quarter o/ a century.
Mr. Brown long ago acquired the reputation of
being one of the best pressmen in the State, and at
the completion of twenty-five years' service receive*!
many flattering notices from the press of New Eng-
land. A conscientious workman, of noble aspiration?
and character, he has won the confidence and esteem
of all with whom he is intimately associated. Hi-
hasbeen a prominent member of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church for many years, and was elected secre-
tary of the Diocesan Convention in 1857, which office
he has since held. An Odd-Fellow and Mason, high in
the respective orders, he has done much to elevate
and promote the interests of these organizations.
Mr. Brown is well-known to the public as a high-
minded citizen ; they have shown their appreciation
of his many accomplishments by electing him, from
time to time, to many positions of trust and honor
in the city government. He was elected mayor in
1878 and re-elected in 1879, and discharged his duties
with eminent ability. He long acted as secretary of
the Republican City Committee, and was elected to
the State Legislature in 1875-76. By strict economy
in business relations, combined with untiring industrj-,
he has acquired a reasonable competence, which will
smooth the downward path of life, and afford rest and
comfort in his declining years.
There is an Episcopal Church Mission, which wor-
ships in Merrimack Hall, on East Penacook Street.
Rev. Mr. Roberts is rector in charge, and Colonel J.
S. Pecker, warden.
TJniversalist Church. '—The Universalist society
was organized January 5, 1842, although there wiis
occasional preaching by clergymen of this denomina-
tion, the services being held in the old court-house
room, the building then standing near the site of the
present city hall. Among the earliest of the preachers
'ByBev. A. P. SeiD.
CONCORD.
were Eev. J. G. Adams, now residing in Melrose,
Mass., Rev. Thos. J. Whitemore, late editor of the
Trumpet, one of the earliest religious papers of the
New England Universalists ; Eev. Hosea Ballon, Rev.
Messrs. N. R. Wight, G. W. Anderson and William
Bell.
In 1841 a vigorous attempt was made to sustain
regular preaching services all the time, a thing then
not easy to do, as there at this time were not many
professed Universalists in Concord. Success, how-
ever, attended the effort, and Rev. N. R. Wight and
Rev. G. W. Anderson supplied the society for one
year.
In June, the first Sunday, Rev. Dr. Ryder, now of
Chicago, 111., then a student at the Gymnasium
Academy, in Pembroke, preached for the society.
Subsequently, and because of the impression then
made, Mr. Ryder was settled as permanent pastor.
The following article may be regarded as the basis of
the society :
" Article 2. The object of this Societj- shall be the promotion of truth
and nioralitj' among its members, and also in the world at large ; and as
the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is calculated above all truth to in-
spire the heart with the emotions of benevolence and virtue, this Society
shall deem it one of its main objects to support the preaching of the
Gospel, according to the Society's abilitj-, and to aid in any other
practicable manner in spreading a knowledge of it among men."
Among the most active and efficient of the early
lay members of the society were S. S. Sweet, who
was the society's first moderator ; J. C. Danforth, the
first clerk; A. B. Currier, Chase Hill, Aaron Carter,
W. H. Wyman, J. Fox, Nathaniel White and others.
The wives of these gentlemen were equally active
and efficient in every good word and work.
December 28, 1843, under the ministry of Rev. Mr.
Ryder, the church organization was formed, with
about thirty members.
Rev. Ezekiel Dow, for a short time prior to Mr.
Ryder's regular pastorate, served the society as a sup-
ply. Simultaneously with the organization of the
society was a movement to secure the erection of a
meeting-house. The first meeting-house was erected
on the site of the present church edifice, and com-
pleted and dedicated in October, 1842, the dedica-
tory services occurring October 6th, Rev. Otis A.
Skinner, of Boston, preaching the sermon. The new
meeting-house cost four thousand dollars. Later, the
society outgrowing its church-home, the building was
sold to the Free-Will Baptist society, a new brick edi-
fice taking the place of the frame one sold, at a cost of
thirty thousand dollars. The clergymen who served
the society as supplies and as pastors were Rev.
Messrs. N. R. Wight, G. W. Anderson, E. Dow, J. F.
Whitherell, Rev. W. H. Ryder (1843, the first
pastor), Thompson Barron (1846), John Moore (1850),
familiarly known as Father Moore. He was suc-
ceeded, in 1855, by his son, J. Hawly Moore, whose
pastorate continued for eight years. In order, Rev.
A. J. Canfield, 1862 ; Rev. Rowland Connor, in 1865 ;
Rev. F. E. Kittridge, 1867 ; Rev. E. R. Sanborn, 1869;
Rev. E. L. Conger, 1873; Rev. A. P. Rein, the present
pastor, who began his settlement January, 1881.
In 1841, Mr. and Mrs. Joel C. Danforth organized
a Sabbath-school with but six members. The school
now has grown to be oue of the most efficient in the
city.
In 1869, at the lime of holding the annual meeting,
an important departure was made in the management
and membership of the society, ladies then, for the
first time, being allowed to become eligible to mem-
bership in the parish and society organizations, Mrs.
Armenia S. White, wife of Nathaniel White, be-
coming the first lady member of the prudential
committee.
The Universalist society has always been an active
and influential factor in the life of Concord, and its
pastors, or the most of them, had many friends out-
side of their immediate parish and church associates.
Rev. John Moore, who suddenly died in the street,
of heart-disease, was a man highly respected and
dearly beloved, and when his funeral w;is held, the
trustees of the Baptist society offered the use of their
church edifice in which to hold the funeral services,
the auditorium of this church being larger than that
of the Universalist Church. .
During the anti-slavery agitation, and during the
progress of the Rebellion, the friends of this society
were loyal friends of the North, and advocates of the
rights and helpers of the enslaved and unfortunate.
Rev. J. H. Moore took an active part in the work of
advocating the rights of the enslaved.
The Universalist society is at present in a most
healthy and prosperous condition. The church edifice
has just been remodeled at an expense of four thou-
sand dollars, the improvements giving a chapel, a
ladies' parlor, kitchen and dining-room and other
necessary rooms, all of which have for some time been
needed to keep pace with the wants and activities of
the society. The parish at present contains many
who are active in the commercial and active pursuits
of life. Its church and Sunday-school organizations,
and its Ladies' Aid Society, incorporated early in
the history of the society, as well as its minor bodies,
are large, active and efficient.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church.— The first
Methodist services in this vicinity were held on the east
side of the river as early as 1816. In 1822 the first
class was formed on Stickney Hill by Jotham Horton
and E. Stickney. March 12, 1825, the first Method-
ist society in Concord was formed, and among its
first members were Stephen Webster, A. Webster,
Philbrick Bradley, Timothy Bradley, B. H. Weeks,
John Sherburne, James Goodwin, Richard Flanders,
John Johnson, John Clough, David Culver and J.
Abbott. Meetings were held only occasionally, how-
ever, until 1830, when S. Kelley was appointed
pastor, who was the first Conference preacher sta-
tioned here. He was chaplain of the prison, and
received for his services one dollar per week.
HISTORY OF .MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
In 1831 the first church edifice was erected on
the site occupied by the present building. It was
dedicated December 1, 1831, and was about tbrty-two
by fifty-lour feet in size, with sixty pews. The
church has .several times been repaired and improved.
The following is a list of the pastors from its or-
ganization to the present time : Revs. Samuel Kelley,
1830-31 (D. C. Robinson, 1831, supply) ; John G.
Dow, 1832; George Storrs, 1833-34; S. Hoyt, 1835;
J. W. Mowry, 1836 ; J. M. Fuller, 1837-38 ; W. H-
Hatch, 1839-40; John Jones, 1841-42; C. L. Mc-
Curdy, 1843; E. Smith, 1844; C. C. Burr, 1845; E.
Peaslee, 1846-47; Charles Adams, 1848-49; F. A.
Hews, 1850-51; W. F. Evans, 1852-53; S. Kelley,
J854-55 (Professor S. M. Vail, supply, 1855); S.
Beedle, 1856-57; Elisha Adams, 1858-59; O.H.Jasper,
1860; J.H. McCarty, 1861-62; D. P. Leavitt, 1863-65;
S. Holman, 1866; E. Adams, 1867-68; E. A.Titus.
1869-70; A. E. Drew, 1871-73 ; M. W. Prince, 1874'
Leon C. Field, 1875-76 ; O. W. Scott, 1877-78 ; E.
C. Bass, 1879-80 ; L. C. Field, 1881 ; J. H. Haines,
1882-84, present (Febraary 26, 1885) incumbent.
The present membership is about two hundred and
fifty.
Baker Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church.'—
The organization of a Christian Church in any com-
munity is an event worthy of note. The good in-
fluences it may exert in the formation of the charac-
ter of the people in the place where it is located, the
elevating power of the pulpit, together with the
teachings of a Sunday-school in the giving of correct
tone and purpose to the young, will be found salutary
in every part of the world; truly radical in its op-
position to vice, immorality and sins against the life
and property of the individual, and strongly con-
servative in all things pertaining to faith and doc-
trine, such a church will materially assist in giving
permanence, stability and peace to all.
For several years previous to the organization of
Baker Memorial Church it had been manifest to all
that something must be done to give additional church
facilities to the increasing Methodist element in this
city ; the old church was small, the vestrj- accommo-
dations bad and insufficient and the location of the
church was loo far from the centre to accommodate
the Methodist families iti the south part of the city.
Several attempts were made by some of the zealous
friends of Methodism to have repairs made, — enlarge-
ment of the old house, or a new church built in a
more central part of the city. To this end the Rev.
Alfred E. Drew, then preacher in charge, by a strenu-
ous effort, obtiiined a subscription of thirty thousand
dollars for a new church, and many felt that relief
was at hand. But some of those who opposed the
measure sought to show that the subscription was
faulty in many particulars, and so earnest and per-
sistent was the opposition on the part of the minority.
■ Lutlier P. Durgin.
that the whole scheme failed, and all other efforts in
every direction met a like fate. But early in the
autumn of 1874 the following agreement was drawn
up and circulated among the people :
" We, the umlcrstgned, incmbfra of the Methodist Kpiecopal Churcli
in the (it}- of Concord, believing that the cause of Christ and Ihe liesi
interests of Methodism in our cit}-, as well us the pointinjis uf I'rovi-
donee, demand that a new Methodist Society he established in i V.ijciir.l,
and in order to test the feelings of our people in some tangible fonu, k«
agree that when one hundred or more of the membership of the churcli
now existing, twenty-live of whom shall be adult male members, shall
sign this agreement, we will ask for letters of dismission from the
first Methodist Episcopal Church for the purpose of forming a new
The requisite one hundred was obtained, and on
the evening of October 30, 1874, they met in Rumford
Hall for the purpose of being organized. At this
meeting. Rev. Theodore L. Flood, presiding eider of
Concord District, officiated, making some appropriate
remarks, setting forth the wishes of Bishop Janets,
after which the people assembled, by a vote, accepted
the conditions, and the church organization com-
menced by the appointment of Maurice W. Prince as
preacher in charge, and he appointed Luther P.
Durgin class-leader.
Immediately the first Quarterly Conference was
held, — Present, Theodore L. Flood, presiding elder;
M. W. Prince, preacher in charge; Rev. John W.
Merrill, D.D., a superannuated Methodist preacher ;
and Luther P. Durgin, class-leader. L. P. Durgin
was chosen secretary, when the following board of
stewards was nominated and confirmed : Rensselaer
0. Wright, George W. Marden, Robert Ramsdell,
Jacob B. Gage, Henry C. Sanborn, Luther W. Durgin,
A. C. Nash, Charles T. Wason, Hinman C. Bailey.
The following board of trustees were also nominated
and confirmed : Jacob B. Rand, George L. Reed,
Daniel Widmer, Osmore R. Farrar, Charles H. Rus-
sell, Daniel E. Howard, Peter W. Myers, William E.
Hood, Timothy R. Elwell. Additional class-leaders,
Frederick Ruggles, William S. Davis, Alexander
Lane ; treasurer and district steward, Henry C.
Sanborn ; recording steward, George W. Marden
and the usual church committees.
At this first meeting it was voted unanimously to
take the name of " The Baker Memorial Methodist
Episcopal Church," in commemoration of the la-
mented Bishop Osmon C. Baker. We think it not
only proper but important to this history to speak
briefly of the life of Bi.shop Baker. Osmon Oleander
Baker was born in Marlow, N. H., July 30, 1812.
His father, Isaac Baker, M.D., was eminent in his
jtrofession. The bishop entered the academy at Wil-
braham at the age of fifteen ; Middletown in 1830 ;
was principal of Newbury Seminary ; entered the
ministry; preached at Rochester and Manchester,
and, after one year's service as pre.siding elder, was
made professor at the institute in Concord, N. H.
In 1852 he was elected bishop at the session of the
General Conference, held in Boston, being the
youngest of the Board of Bishops. For nineteen
CONCORD.
79
years he filled the office of superiutendent in the
church. Great in head, good in heart, pure in life,
liigh in position, but humble in spirit, wise in counsel,
yet modest and childlike, not given to show or ego-
tism, he was dearly beloved most where he was best
known — ^at home. On Wednesday, December 20,
1871, he quietly fell asleep in Him whom lie fully
trusted.
And it seemed just, appropriate and timely that a
Methodist Church, organized so soon after his decease,
in the city where so many years of his life had been
spent, — the home of his now bereaved family, — should
have the privilege of perpetuating his memory by a
memorial church, which, it is hoped, will endure
longer than monuments of brass or marble to bless
and gladden the world.
It was voted to organize a Ladies' Benevolent
Society.
The first public service was held in Phoenix Hall
on the Sunday following the organization (November
1st), at 10.30 A.M., and at the close of the morning
service all persons desirous of forming a Sunday-
school were invited to remain. Rev. M. W. Prince
took the chair, and the following pei-sons were elected
officers of the school : President, Maurice \V. Prince ;
Superintendent, Luther P. Durgin ; Assistant Super-
intendent and Chorister, Robert Ramsdell ; Secretary,
Ezra B. Crapo ; Treasurer, Rensselaer O. Wright;
Librarian, Timothy R. Elwell. The persons present
were organized into classes and the work of a Sunday-
school begun.
November 30, 1874, a committee was appointed to
secure a lot, looking to the building of a church. On
the 28th of December of the same year it was voted
to secure the lot on the corner of State and Warren
Streets, — the same that is now occupied by the chapel
and parsonage.
In January, 1876, the church received the offer of
the free use of the chapel on Green Street, the prop-
erty of Theodore H. Ford, Esq., and immediately
transferred its place of worship to that house. This
was the first of very many helps, counsels and finan-
cial assistance received from the same Christian gen-
tleman.
In the spring of 1876 the board of trustees chose
a building committee, and proceeded to erect a chapel
on the lot on the corner of State and Warren Streets,
and on December 21, 1S76, the house was dedicated
by suitable services, the Rev. Bradford K. Pierce, of
Boston, preaching the dedication sermon; and the
dedicatory prayer was offered by the venerable Rev.
John W. Merrill, D.D., of this city.
Some incidents of encouragement are worthy of
mention in connection with the history of this
church :
As the stated occasion for the celebration of the
Lord's Supper came for the first time, the church
was without a communion service, and the Unitarian
society, through one of their officers, kindly volun-
teered the use of theirs ; and at the service persons
from nearly all tlie Christian Churches in the city
were present, making it truly the Lord's table, to
which all that love him were invited. Subsequently
J. B. Stanley, Esq., a member of the Unitarian
Church of Concord, volunteered and did present to
the church a valuable communion service as a memo-
rial of his mother, who was of the Methodist faith.
A fine pulpit Bible and hymn-book were the gift of
Mrs. Jacob B. Rand. The pulpit was made by John
B. Watson, Esq., and presented to the church. The
altar-chairs were the gift of the children of the Sun-
day-school.
The money to meet the various obligati(ms of the
church have all been voluntary offerings. In the
dark days when financial difficulties arose, when
doubt and uncertainty met the church officials
on every hand, friends were raised up, the needed
funds provided and the good hand of the Lord was
plainly visible.
Among the valuable contributions in aid to the
work was the gift of the frescoing of the chapel, by
Rev. M. W. Prince, the preacher in charge.
At the close of the Conference year, in 1877, came
one of those occurrences usual to a Methodist Church,
a change of the pastorate. The relations between
Rev. M. W. Prince and this people were very tender,
and it was with feelings of deepest regret that they
surrendered to the inevitable rule, and bade good-bye
to one that had labored with and watched over this
little branch of God's church very zealously and effi-
ciently, and left it growing and prosperous, with a
membership of one hundred and sixty-one, in full,
and fifteen probationers.
At the beginning of the Conference year the society
welcomed its new pastor. Rev. William Eakins, who
for two years filled the pastorate very acceptably.
During his labors a very profitable revival occurred,
and a goodly number were added to the membership
of the church.
In April, 1879, the church was fortunate in secu-
ring the appointment of Rev. Charles E. Hall as their
pastor.
During the two years of his work on the charge the
Sunday-school was reorganized, and a reduction of
two thousand dollars on the church debt was secured.
At the close of the Conference year, in the spring
of 1881, Rev. C. E. Hall gave notice of his intention
to make a change in his relations to this church,
much to the regret of a large portion of the church
and congregation.
Through the effort of Presiding Elder John W.
Adams, Rev. Charles Parkhurst, of the Vermont
Conference, was transferred and stationed with this
church. Mr. Parkhurst brought many excellent
qualities of head and heart to bear upon the work.
The congregation was enlarged, the Sunday-school
increased, two thousand five hundred dollars of the
church debt canceled and a good spiritual inter-
so
HISTORY OF MEKKLMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
est manifested. But the sickness of his esteemed
companion caused a breaking up of the pleasant
relations that were then existing, and in August,
1882, Mr. Parichurst removed to Washington, D. C,
for the benefit of his wife's health. For twelve
weeks the church was without a regular preacher.
In the latter part of October the Rev. W. M.
Sterling, of Minneapolis, was appointed to sujiply
the remainder of the Conference year, and did re-
markably good work for the time given him. But
feeling called to return to his old Conference (Maine),
Mr. Sterling declined a very decided vote to remain
another year. On the first Sunday in May, 1883, the
Rev. George W. Norris commenced his labors with
this people. He came with an excellent reputation
as a preacher and man of God, and during his two
years' stay here hisprevious reputation was more than
realized in building up the spiritual life and power
of the church. In the spring of 1885 he was called
to the office of presiding elder, and Rev. David E.
Miller was transferred from the Vermont Conference,
and is now preacher in charge.
The present condition of the church is as follows :
Church property appraised at sixteen thousand dol-
lars, upon which there is an indebtedness of five
thousand dollars ; church membership, one hundred
and eighty-five in full, nine probationers; a Sunday-
school of two hundred members, with a good and
increasing congregation.
The location of the church property is good, its
field for usefulness large, and with God's blessing it
will fulfill its mission.
The system of voluntary contributions by the peo-
ple, for current expenses of the church, was among
the earliest measures adopted, and hiis been main-
tained to this day, making it as truly a free church
as any can well be.
A building fund association was organized Fel)ru-
ary 26, 1884, to aid in the erection of a prospective
church edifice.
During the entire history of Methodism woman
has held a prominent place in points of privilege and
duty in her churches, materially assisting in the car-
rying on of all her great enterprises and endeavors to
Christianize the world.
In the department of missions this church has not
been behind her sister churches. October 16, 1877,
the women of Baker Memorial Church united in
forming an auxiliary to the Women's Foreign Mission
Society, which luis been increasing in numbers and
efficiency until now.
Mrs. Rachel O. Badger has filled the responsible
position of teacher of the juvenile class in the Sun-
day-school for nearly eleven years. Mrs. Emily H.
Merrill filled the place of class-leader for a long time.
The Ladies' Benevolent Society has been an im-
portant factor in the various financial enterprises of
the church, and in the promotion of tlie social ele-
ment in the society.
Women have been very efficient as collectors of
funds in times of emergency, and foremost in the
various enterprises for spiritual growth and seasons
of revival.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church in Pena-
cook, N. H., was organized October 28, 1847, under
Rev. Silas Quimby as presiding elder and Rev.Eben-
ezer Peaslee preacher in charge, he being the first
regularly appointed Methodist preacher in the place.
For several years after the church was supplied by
students from the Concord Theological Seminary,
after which the following persons have received ap-
pointments to this charge: Revs. Ebenezer Peaslee,
John McLaughlin, Mr. Knapp, H. Loud, W. D. Cass,
Mr. Sanborn, D. J. Smith, James Pike, J. C. Emer-
son, D. C. Babcock, Samuel Roy,N. P. Philbrook,N.
Culver, S. P. Heath, W. H. Jones, L. E. Gordon, L.
P. Cushman, H. Woodard, E. R. Wilkins, C. W. Tay-
lor. Of its early members, many have passed away.
They were earnest, faithful men and women, who
dared stand for the truth as they believed it. Its
present membership is about one hundred and sixty.
With a full board "f stewards and trustees and a good
church property, they are considered a prosperous
organization, with future years of usefulness. Pastor,
1885, Rev. C. W. Taylor.
First Baptist Church.' — On the 20th of May.
1818, a number of persons residing in Concord, and
belonging to different churches, met at the house of
Richard Swain, iu said town, for the purpose of ascer-
taining what degree of fellowship existed among them
in the faith of the gospel, and also to consider what
the prospects were of forming a church agreeable to
the principles and practices of the Apostles of our
Lord.
After a free and full consideration of the first object
before them, the following persons gave to each other
an expression of their Christian fellowship, viz. :
James Willey, John Holt, Sarah Bradley, Deborah
Elliot, Sally Swain and Nancy Whitney.
Soon after others joined them in fellowship and by
the advice of brethren from the church in Bow, they
being present by invitation, and having well con-
sidered the subject, unanimously recommended the
small band of disciples, fourteen in all, to embody
and organize.
Accordingly, an ecclesiastical council, composed oi
members from neighboring churches, assembled at the
house of Rev. William Taylor and there effected the
organization.
The council was composed of the following : Pas-
tors, — Ottis Robinson, of Salisbury; John B. Gibson,
of Weare ; Henry Vesey, of Bow. Deacons, — Gate
and Severance, of Salisbury ; Wood and Barnard, of
Weare; Bryant, of Bow. Brethren, — Kensington and
F'ifield, of Salisbury ; Samuel Gale, of Weare; Cains
and Gile, of Bow.
J A. J. Preiicc.tt.
CONCORD.
81
Prayer was offered, and the articles of faith adopted
by the brethren seeking recognition, being read and
considered, were approved by the council, and the
body was unanimously declared to be a Church of
Christ duly formed.
The public services were as follows: Sermon, by
Rider John B. Gibson ; hand of fellowship, by Elder
Otis Robinson ; prayer, by Elder Henry Vesey.
The church has settled seven pastors. Rev. Win.
Taylor served for seven years, to 1825, during which
he received thirty into fellowship. The records prove
him to have been a good minister, "a self-sacrificing
man, the very kind needed to lay broadly and strongly
the foundation of a new enterprise." Rev. Nath. W.
Williams followed and served the church five and a
half years, taking in the goodly number of fifty-four.
It was said and recorded "He was a man of God, dis-
creet, humble and spiritual." Rev. E. E. Cummings
followed in 1832 and continued for eighteen years,
during which nearly five hundred came into member-
ship. The long continuance and abundant fruits ol'
this pastorate must be regarded as especially favored,
as one revival followed another through the very
faithful efforts of all, with God's blessing, and the
community around rejoiced indeed. As many enter-
prises of the church were carried forward under the
leadership of Dr. Cummings, it must be a great pleas-
ure to him, still living in his chosen home in Concord,
at the age of eighty-four, to recall the past and con-
teni|ilutc llie prisinl |>r(>s|MTily of his long-time charge.
]\r\, ( '. W. I'liiinl. 1^ -IK (1. .Ir.l !is fourth to minister
to the chiiich |irnii;inriitly in 1 S")(), remaining sixteen
years, and for the most j)art they proved to be years
of the right hand of the Lord in our Zion. Revivals
were enjoyed by the church at intervals not distant
and souls saved through his faithful appeals from the
pulpit, and in his pastoral ministrations, tender and
timely, many will rise up in the sanctuary above and
call the dear, good man blessed, while there remain
others here below who yet cherish his memory with
true and deep affection as their spiritual father, their
ready and tender comforter in affliction.
The fifth. Rev. D. W. Faunce, D.D., present pastor
of the E Street Baptist Church, Washington, D. C,
and the sixth, Rev. W. V. Garner, retiring in July,
1884, had each of them about nine years of efficient
service with this church, and are regarded by their
brethren as among the abler preachers in our Baptist
ranks to-day. Rev. Garner has good reports from
his present field of labor at Bridgeport, Conn.
At the present time this church are listening with
attention to the instructions and rejoicing in the min-
istrations of Rev. C. R. Cram, D.D., late of the First
Baptist Church, Boston, with every token of favor
and success in a happy and useful pastorate. The
church has buried eight good and faithful deacons:
Willey, Gault, Crockett, Damon, J. O. Gault, Pres-
cott, Winkley and Elwell, the first in 1853, the last in
1872. The five living and serving during the last
6
five to thirty years are Brethren Flanders, Norris,
Humphrey, Prescott and Fairbanks.
Number of members reported at last association,
three hundred and two, September, 1884. Whole
number received in sixty-six years, eleven hundred
and ninety.
In conchision, we sliould state the fact that the
Pleasant Street Church was formed in 1853, embracing
thirty members dismissed from the parent church,
and if a fair and full report should be made of all that
has been sacrificed and accomplished through the
Divine aid in sixty-seven years, we should have fresh
courage and patience in laboring according to the
plan set forth in Christ's Sermon on the Mount,
(Matt. V. 16) : " Let your light so shine before men
that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father who is in heaven."
Pleasant Street Baptist Church.'— This church
began its career in the spring of 1853. The original
members had formerly been identified with the First
Baptist Church, of which Rev. E. E. Cummings had,
for years, been the successful and beloved pastor.
These brethren, from various causes, feeling that the
time had come for the formation of a new Baptist
interest within the city proper, undertook the arduous
task of erecting a new house of worship. This work,
begun and carried on in the midst of peculiar diffi-
culties, was at length completed in January, 1854.
Rev. E. E. Cummings was, at this time, preaching
in Pittsfield. So successful had his labors proved,
and so strong a hold had he secured upon the hearts
of the people in Concord, that they very naturally
and unanimously turned toward him as the man who
should be invited to the pastoral charge of the new
church. Accordingly, an invitation was extended
and accepted, the new house opened, and Mr. Cum-
mings publicly installed January 11, 1854, at which
time the church, consisting of thirty members, was
publicly recognized. Great prosperity followed the
church under the leadership of Dr. Cummings. For
thirteen years he labored with untiring energy in
this, his second pastorate in the city of Concord. His
wise counsel, his faithfiil preaching and his devotion
to the people whom he served marked this second
chapter in his history as a minister of the gospel in
New Hampshire as most eventful. Dr. Cummings
resigned October 6, 1867 ; but the resignation was not
accepted until April 12, 1868.
On the 18th of May following. Rev. H. G. Safford,
of Amesbury, Mass., received from the church an
invitation to become pastor in the field lately occu-
pied by Dr. Cummings. Mr. Safford's pastorate be-
gan June 7th, and continued seven years and six
months. During his labors, which were highly effi-
cient, the church increased considerably both in
numbers and influence. Sound and logical as a
preacher, thoughtful and sympathetic as a pastor,
By Rpv. Jame,
82
HISTORY OF MKRRIMACK COUNTY, NEW IIAMI'SIIIUM.
Mr. Safford made for himself a host of friends not
only in his own society, but throughout the entire
community. His piistorate ended October 31, 1875.
Following his resignation was an interim of eight
months, when, in March, 1876, a call was extended
to Rev. E. C. Spinney, of the Newton Theological
Institution. Having accepted this call, Mr. Spinney
entered upon his labors in June following. His pas-
torate continued four years, and was eminently suc-
cessful, (.'ailed to the church when the membership
numbered one hundred and fifty-five, he succeeded
in greatly augmenting its numerical strength, and
left it, at the close of hLs pastorate, numbering two
hundred and fifty-eight. Mr. Spinney labored ar-
duously during his four years' residence with this
people, and greatly endeared himself to a large circle
of friends. During his pastorate the house of worship
wjis thoroughly renovatc^d and beautified, and ren-
dered more attractive and comfortable.
Mr. Spinney resigned April 31, 1880, to take effect
on June 1st following.
On the 11th of July, of the same year. Rev. L. G.
Barrett received and accepted a call to the pastorate.
Mr. Barrett, who had previously preached in Massa-
chusetts and New York, entered upon his labors Sep-
tember 1, 1880, and, after a pastorate of four years,
resigned July 12, 1884, to take effect September 1st
following. Mr. Barrett was an able preacher and an
ardent advocate of temperance reform. He left a
membership of two hundred and seventy-five, the
church having been built up and enlarged in its
efliciency during his term of service.
The present pastor. Rev. James K. Ewer, entered
upon Ills labors in tliis field January 1, 1885.
Free-Will Baptist Church.— (See appendix).
Baptist Church, Penacook.^iSce appendix).
St. John the Evangelist (Eoman Catholic). — It is
impossible to give the exact date when Mass was first
said in this city, but it was probably in about the
year 1845. It was visited occiisionally by various
l)riests, among whom were Rev. Father McDonald, of
Manchester, and Rev. Father O'Donnell, of Nashua.
Very Rev. Father J. E. Barry, V. G., the first resi-
dent priest, came to Concord in September, 18G5, and
has remained to the present time. Services were first
held in Ph(enix Hall. Father Barry at once started
the movement for the erection of a church building,
which was rapidly pushed forward, and March 13,
1868, the present large and substantial brick struc-
ture was dedicated. The church now numbers about
two thousand souls.
Very Rev. J. E. Barry, V. G., was born in East-
port, Me., in August, 1836. He wiis educated at Holy
Cross College, Worcester, Mass., and spent nine years
at Sulpician College and Seminary, at Montreal. The
first year of his service in the priesthood he was as-
sistant at the Cathedral in Portland, Me., under Rt.
Rev. D. W. Bacon, D.D., bishop of Portland. Upon
the death of Dr. Bacon, Father Barry became the ad-
ministrator of the diocese. June 10, 1875, he was
appointed vicar-general by Rt. Rev. J. A. Healey,
bishop of Portland. At the time of Father Barry's set-
tlement here there were no Catholic Churches in New
Hampshire north of Manchester, and his labors prac-
tically extended over the entire northern portion of
the State. Father Barry is untiring in his church-
work, and his sterling qualities and genial, courteous
bearing have won for him hosts of friends, and he is
one of Concord's most honcjred citizens. He has a
commodious and pleasant residence, adjoining the
church, which is tastefully furnisiu'd and lepktc
with all the conveniences of the age.
St. John the Evangelist Church (Catholic), at
Penacook, was organized in 1S.)4, and the present
church was dedicated in 1868.
CHAPTER III.
CONCORD— (Co>,(/«i,e</).
TUE PRESS.'
Tlie Concord Herald and New Hampshire Infelli-
grencer, commenced by George Hough, January 6, 1790,
was the first paper printed in Merrimack County. It
was on paper of bluish cast, twenty by fourteen
inches. It was in a year or two enlarged, and ap-
peared as the Courier of New Hampshire. It was dis-
continued October 30, 1805. Mr. Hough was one of
the most accurate printers who ever lived in New-
Hampshire. He died February 8, 1830, aged seventy-
three.
The Mirrour, by Elijah Russell, was commenced
October 29, 1792. Moses Davis was soon after asso-
ciated with Russell in its publication. No. 130, now
before the writer, is styled The Federal Mirror. May
13, 1799, the paper appeared as The Mirror, the word
Federal being discarded. It was soon after discon-
tinued.
The Republican Gazetteer, by Moses Davis, made its
appearance November 29, 1796. Its dimensions were
seventeen and a half by twenty-three inches. March
14, 1797, it appeared as Russell & Davis's Republicun
Gazetteer. It probably continued but a short time.
The New Star, neither a large nor brilliant luminary,
was issued a short time by the same pu 
