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Accession No. ^n \ *s».Q.
.Crawford 4
Stockbridge,
Binders,
SJ3t*j-o«eX«ars Ago. fooO
Sixty-one years ago January Sd<
Dauiel D. Farmer was hanged at Am"
herst for the murder of widow Auua j
Ayer, of Goffstown, and it was the only
execution that ever took place in Hills-
borough county. The gallows was tak-
en down and stored in the attic of the
jail, and afterwards burned? Col. H. F.
Courser and his brother, Hon. S. T.
Courser of Portland, Me., then boys,
were present at the execution. They
started from their home, at Boscaweu,
with others iu a sleigh, the night before.
The Colonel remembers that he froze his
ears and that somebody stole the food
which his party had in the sleigh. lie
says the condemned man was taken from
the jail and conveyed to the scaffold,
which was erected in an open field a
quarter of a mile away, in a oung drawn
by two horses ; that he behaved deco-
rously ; that when on the scaffold he was
cold and that the Rev. Dr. Lord put his
cloak on him. There were acres of
sleighs and people — many from fifty
miles distant — and New England rum
flowed as free as water.
Court Houses in Amherst mid Daniel
Webster.
After the division of the Province into
Counties in 1771, the citizens of the town of
Amherst presented their meeting-house to
the county of Hillsborough for a court-
house, and it was used for that purpose sev-
eral years. Finally it was removed about
half a mile from its original location to the
Plain, where it was burned by an incendia-
ry, March 15, 1788. Sixteen days after that
time the town voted eighty pounds to defray
the expenses of building another court-
house, and chose a committee to superin-
tend its erection, leaving the -'location, fig-
ure, and form" of the house to their discre-
tion. The committee attended to the busi-
ness at once, and soon the new house was
finished. It was a square, hip roofed struc
tare, and stood on the north side of the
common, a few rods west of the old New
Boston road. After the brick court-house
was built it was removed to another loca-
tion, some fifty rods west of the original
site, where it still remains. After its remov-
al to its new location it was used for many
years as a vestry, and later it was finished
into tenement dwellings for the accommoda-
tion of the workmen in the foundry near by.
In this house the giants of the New Hamp-
shire bar from 1788 to 1823, were won't to
assemble at the sessions of the courts of
Hillsborough County. There were Jere.
Mason, Jere. Smith, William Plummer,
William Gordon, Joshua and Charles H.
Atherton, Arthur Livermore, David Everett,
George Sullivan, Edmund Parker, Samuel
Bell, Levi Woodbury, Wm. M. Richardson,
and others of lesser note. There, too, Dan-
iel Webster, greatest of them all, made his
maiden argument before Judge Farrar'g
court. He had finished the study of his
profession in the office of Christopher Gore,
an eminent lawyer in Boston, and on motion
of that gentleman had been admitted to the
Suffolk Bar in March, 1805. A few weeks
later he attended a session of the court in
his native county, and argued a motion with
such clearness that the presiding judge re-
marked to his associates: "That young
man's statement is a most unanswerable ar-
gument," and granted the motion at once.
N £ W BOSTON
' Boundary J
fir.lfvrd
MAP
AMHERST,
NEW HAMPSHIRE
> showing 1 —
Changes in Boundary of the Town
SCAL € OF MILES
ThTareajrom Soiitegan Rtrer south
R*ht of MILFORD
• i h X J "° ^" — . »
Amherst ;
H O L L I S
HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF AMHERST,
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE,
(First known as Narraganset Township Number Throe,
and subsequently as Souhegan West)
FROM THE GRAM' OF THE TOWNSHIP l'.V THE
GREAT AND GENERAL COURT OF THE PROVINCE
OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY,
In June, 1728, to March. 1882.
WITH
GENEALOGIES OF AMHERST FAMILIES,
blogkai'hical sketches of natives and citizens of
the Town, and a Sketch of the Narraganset
Fort Fight, 19 December, 1675.
Illustrated with a Alap of the Town and Engravings.
By DANIEL F. SECOMB.
CONCORD, N. H. :
PRINTED BY EVANS, SLEEPER & WOODBURY.
1883.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1883, by
DANIEL F. SECOMB,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
TO
THE INHABITANTS OF AMHERST,
AND
ITS FORMER SECOND AND THIRD PARISHES, NOW PARTS OF
THE TOWNS OF MONT VERNON AND MILFORD,
AND TO THE
EMIGRANTS FROM THE TOWN,
AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, WHEREVER SCATTERED,
THIS HISTORY IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,
BY THEIR FRIEND,
THE AUTHOR.
^\\%0
fyoCccsCes^c^ Q^Lcl£<^^
PREFACE
The History of Amherst is now offered to its patrons. Its prep-
aration has involved the expenditure of considerable time and
patience, but, like many similar publications, it is incomplete. The
proper preparation of a town history is the work of a life-time, not of
three or four years.
After all, we can know but very little of the personal history of
many of the early settlers in the township. Their lives were spent in
the midst of dangers and privations of which we know but little.
Honest, true-hearted men and women, each labored faithfully in his
or her allotted place, and building better than they knew, they assisted
in laying firmly and securely the foundations of our great republic.
The storms of a century have leveled even the little hillocks that
once marked their resting-places in the ancient " burying-ground," so
that no one to-day knows of their precise locality. All honor to the
memories of these brave but well-nigh forgotten pioneers.
The map of the town was drawn and presented by Warren Uphain,
C E., a native of Amherst; the wood-cuts of dwellings were fur-
nished by their owners; those of the public buildings, and the por-
trait of Horace Greeley, by Dr. Edward Spalding; and the other
portraits of individuals, by the parties represented, or their friends.
The expenses of the compilation and publication of the work have
been defrayed by Dr. Edward Spalding, who has aided the work in
every way possible, assisted by contributions from Mrs. Lucy (Ken-
dall) Spalding, William G. Means, Esq., Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Bigelow,
Dea. Sewall G. Mack and William A. Mack, Esq., and also by an
appropriation of $500 by the town, to be paid upon the completion
of the work.
To the many other friends who have aided him in his labors, the
author desires to express his gratitude, with the hope that their rea-
sonable expectations will not be disappointed. Thanks, friends, one
and all.
Concord, N. H., 13 August, 1883.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Origin of the Town. — The Narraganset War. — The Fight at the Nar-
raganset Fort, 19 December, 1075. Pages 1-8.
CHAPTER II.
Grants of Townships to the Narraganset Soldiers, 1685-1733. Pages
9-19.
CHAPTER III.
Proceedings of the Grantees of the Narraganset Township, 1733. Pages
20-25.
CHAPTER IV.
Proceedings of the Proprietors of Souhegan West. — Incorporation of
the Town of Amherst, 1734-17(32. Pages 25-56.
CHAPTER V.
Territorial Changes. — Incorporation of the Second, or North-west,
Parish. — Proceedings of the North-west Parish. — ■Incorporation of
the Town of Mont Vernon. — Incorporation of the Third, or South-
west, Parish. — Proceedings of the South-west Parish. — Incorpora-
tion of the Town of Milford, 1750-1803. Pages 57-91.
CHAPTER VI.
Description of the Town, and its Productions. — The Indians. — Joe
English. Pages 92-99.
CHAPTER VII.
Proceedings of the Town, and Current Events, 1762-1800. Pages 100-
118.
CHAPTER VIII.
Proceedings of the Town, and Current Events, 1800-1810. Pages 119-
149.
CHAPTER IX.
Proceedings of the Town, and Current Events, 1810-1882. Pages 150-
183.
CHAPTER X.
Statistics of Population. — Longevity. — Agricultural Productions, etc.
Pages 184-233.
CHAPTER XL
The First and Second Meeting-houses. Pages 234-249.
CONTENTS. Vll
CHAPTER XII.
The Town Ministry, 1741-1835. Pages 250-288.
CHAPTER XIII.
Churches. — Religious Societies and Church Music. Pages 289-317.
CHAPTER XIV.
School History. Pages 318-333.
CHAPTER XV.
Court-houses and Courts in Amherst, 1771-1879. Pages 334-353.
CHAPTER XVI.
Military History.— French and Indian Wars, 1745-17G3. Pages 354-361.
CHAPTER XVII.
The War for Independence, 176S-1776. Pages 362-382.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The War for Independence, 1777-1778. Pages 383-393.
CHAPTER XIX.
The War lor Independence, 1780-1785. Pages 394-408.
CHAPTER XX.
Frontier War, 1794. — Anticipated War with France, 1798. — War with
Great Britain, 1812-15. Pages 409-413.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Civil War, 1861-1865. Pages 414-424.
CHAPTER XXII.
The Militia. — Militia Companies and Officers. Pages 425-432.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Miscellaneous Records of Town Affairs. — Business Associations, etc.
Pages 433-476.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Family Registers and Histories. — List of Marriages not included in
the Family Registers. Pages 477-854.
CHAPTER XXV.
Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men who have been Residents of
Amherst. Pages 855-927.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Additions and Corrections. Pages 92S-936.
Index of Names. Pages 937-978
LIST AND PLACES OF ENGRAVINGS.
Map of the Town to face title-page.
Portrait of Dr. Edward Spalding facing preface.
Second Meeting-house p. 241.
Portrait of Rev. Nathan Lord facing p. 279.
Portrait of Rev. Silas Aiken " p. 298.
Town House p. 342.
Soldiers' Monument p. 421.
Residence of Charles Richardson, Esq p. 452.
Portrait of Hon. Charles H. Atherton facing p. 486.
Portraits of Isaac Brooks, Esq., and wife, .between pp. 518 and 519.
Portrait of Capt. Daniel Campbell, jr facing p. 527.
Residence of Dea. Barnabas B. David p. 559.
Residence of Harrison Eaton, Esq p. 576.
Birthplace of Horace Greeley p. 608.
Portrait of Dea. Sewall G. Mack facing p. 681.
Residence of Col. Robert Means p. 689.
Portrait of William G. Means, Esq facing p. 690.
Portrait of Mrs. Sally (Noyes) Sweatt p. 709.
Portrait of Dr. Matthias Spalding facing p. 776.
Residence of Dr. Matthias Spalding p. 777.
Portrait of Charles L. Stewart, Esq facing p. 783.
Residence of Isaac Brooks, Esq " p. 868.
Portrait of Hon. Charles H. Campbell " p. 873.
Portrait of Horace Greeley " p. 887.
Portrait of Hon. Isaac Spalding " p. 919.
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE TOWN. PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENTS IN THE
MASSACHUSETTS COLONY. GRANTS OF FARMS ON THE SOU-
HEGAN. DEATH OF MASSASOIT. CHARGES AGAINST ALEX-
ANDER. HIS ARREST AND DEATH. INTRIGUES OF PHILIP.
MURDER OF SAUSAMON AND EXECUTION OF HIS MURDERERS.
COMMENCEMENT OF KING PHILIP'S WAR. A TREATY
FORCED UPON THE NARRAGANSETS. THE TREATY REPU-
DIATED BY THE CHIEFS. EXPEDITION ORGANIZED AGAINST
THE NARRAGANSETS. MARCH OF THE EXPEDITION. FIGHT
AT THE NARRAGANSET FORT. SUFFERINGS OF THE COM-
BATANTS. DEATH OF PHILIP, AND CLOSE OF THE WAR.
LOSSES OF THE COLONISTS.
The town of Amherst had its origin in a grant of land
made by the General Court of Massachusetts to some of
the citizens of that Province for services in the Narragan-
set War in 1675-76.
With the exception of a few slight outbreaks; the peace
between the New England Colonies and their Indian neigh-
bors remained unbroken from the close of the Pequot War,
in 1637, until the commencement of the war of 1675.
In this interval the interior of the country was explored,
and settlements made at a considerable distance from the
coast. In 1659 a township, eight miles square, at Pena-
2 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
cook, now Concord, N. H., was granted, conditionally, by
the Court to sundry inhabitants of Dover and Newbury.
In 1660 several farms, bordering on the Souhegan river,
were granted, and surveyed by Jonathan Danforth, a noted
surveyor in those days.
The most westerly of these, containing 1000 acres, was
granted to the town of Charlestown for the support of
schools. Its northwestern corner was at the foot of a
great hill, since known as Dram-cup hill, whence it ex-
tended down the river about two miles, the river forming
its northern boundary. The northwestern corner of this
farm was also the northwestern corner of the town of
Dunstable, as chartered by the authorities of Massachu-
setts, 16 October, 1673, and the town of Monson, to which
a charter was granted by Gov. Wentworth, of New Hamp-
shire, 1 April, 1746. Adjoining this farm, on the east, was
another, of 500 acres, granted at the same time to Mrs. Anna
Lane, which extended, from the easterly boundary of the
school farm, 280 rods down the river. 200 acres of this
farm were on the north side, and 300 acres on the south
side of the river.
Next, to the east of Mrs. Lane's farm and adjoining it,
another farm, of 500 hundred acres, was granted to Capt.
William Davis, of Boston, and Capt. Isaac Johnson, of
Roxbury. This farm, also, extended across the river about
half a mile on each side, and down the river 240 rods from
the eastern boundary of Mrs. Lane's farm. Both of the
last named farms were at a place called by the Indians
" Quohquinapassakessanahnoy."
Next, and lastly, was a farm of 700 acres, granted to
John Wilson, of Boston. This extended down the river,
from the Davis and Johnson farm, 364 rods ; 400 acres of it
lay on the north side, and 300 acres on the south side of
the river.
A few years prior to this time, Massasoit, chief of the
Wampanoags, whose territory adjoined that of the Ply-
L] HISTORY OF AMHERST. 3
mouth Colony, died. His son Alexander succeeded him,
and in a short time was charged by the Colonists with
endeavoring- to engage the Narragansets, — at that time the
most powerful of the New England tribes, — in a war
against them.
On this charge he was arrested, by an armed force sent
for the purpose, and taken to Plymouth. Shortly after-
ward he sickened and died, and his death was attributed
by some of the Indians to the effects of poison adminis-
tered by the English.
His brother Philip, or Metacom, succeeded him, and soon
engaged in plots with the neighboring tribes to carry out
the plans formed by his predecessor. A slight outbreak
occurred in 1671, which was soon quelled, and he promised
never again to begin war against the English until he had
made his grounds of complaint known to them.
He nevertheless continued his intrigues, and even en-
deavored to enlist the powerful " Five Nations," of New
York, in his cause ; but a miscarriage of one of his plans
converted them into his bitterest enemies.
In 1674, John Sausamon, an educated Indian, who was
employed by the English as a missionary among his breth-
ren, informed the Governor of Plymouth Colony of Philip's
plots against the settlers. Soon after this Sausamon was
murdered. Three Indians, charged with the murder, were
arrested, tried, condemned, and executed by the English.
Enraged at this, and fearing for his own safety, Philip
sent his women and children to a place of safety, armed
his warriors, and robbed several houses of the settlers in
the vicinity of his own dwelling.
Bands of Indians roamed over the country, insulting the
settlers, and destroying their property. At last, one of the
English, goaded past endurance, discharged his musket at
one of his tormentors, inflicting a mortal wound. The
savages then fell upon all the whites within their reach,
killing them and destroying their property.
4 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
An armed force was at once raised by the Colonies and
dispatched into Philip's territory, which he abandoned.
Thence the army marched into the territory of the Narra-
gansets, and dictated a treaty to them, by which they
agreed to remain at peace, and upon requisition deliver to
the English any of Philip's Indians that might come among
them.
The treaty thus forced upon them the Narraganset chiefs
repudiated when the force was withdrawn : " Not a Wam-
panoag, or the paring of a Wampanoag's nail shall be given
up," was the indignant reply of the principal chief when
called upon to deliver up some of Philip's Indians.
The commissioners of the Colonies of Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and Plymouth, met at Boston, 2 November,
1675. After noticing the refusal of the Narragansets to
abide by the treaty they had made, it was voted, " that in
addition to the forces already raised for the prosecution of
the war, there should be one thousand men raised and
furnished with arms and provisions of every sort, to be
ready at one hour's warning for the public service, and that
each Colony should furnish its proper proportion of the
same."
It was also agreed that a Commander-in-chief should be
appointed over the said forces, and that they should march
into the Narragansets' country, and in case the chiefs were
not disposed to perform the conditions of the treaty they
had entered into, make reparation for all damages already
snsta'ined by its non-fulfillment, and give security for their
future fidelity, they were to endeavor to compel them
thereto by the best means they could, or to proceed against
them as enemies.
At a meeting held 12 November, 1675, Josiah Winslow,
Esq., Governor of Plymouth Colony, was appointed Com-
mander-in-chief, and it was recommended to the General
Courts of the several Colonies that effectual care be taken
that the soldiers sent on the expedition be men of courage,
I.] HISTOEY OF AMHERST. 5
strength, and activity ; their arms well fixed and fit for
service ; their clothing strung and warm, fit for the season;
that they have provisions in their knapsacks for a week's
march from their rendezvous, and an additional supply
in a magazine appointed for a more general service. It
was also ordered that a meet number of able ministers
and chirurgeons be provided to accompany the expedition ;
and, finally, that the second day of December following
should be set apart and kept as a solemn day of fasting and
humiliation to supplicate the Lord's pardoning mercy and
compassion toward his poor people, and for success in their
endeavors to repel the rage of the enemy.
At a meeting held 19 November, 1075, provision was
made for a supply of food and ammunition sufficient
for two months' service, the same to be sent to the place of
rendezvous of the army ; and it was agreed that each Col-
ony should provide for its own soldiers, special care being-
had to the extremity of the winter weather so that none
might perish for the want of warm clothing and such other
comforts as might be necessary.
The soldiers from Plymouth Colony were assured, by
their Governor and Council, that "those that go forth shall
in all respects be comfortably provided for," according to the
season and service, and that the lands and other profits of
the war that had been obtained, or by the blessing of God
should be gained, should be kept as security for their pay,
and should not be sold or disposed of but to answer that
end ; that their Governor was designed to have the conduct
of all the united forces ; that the worshipful Capt. Bradford
and Capt. John Green were to be their particular command-
ers ; and that all who should cheerfully volunteer their
services should be looked upon " with singular respect."
Places of rendezvous were appointed for the soldiers of
the different Colonies, where they were to be in readiness
to obey the orders of the Commander-in-chief on or before
the tenth day of December following.
6 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
In the meantime the Narragansets were not idle. Col-
lecting their women and children together, with provisions
for the winter, they repaired to a somewhat elevated piece
of ground, of some live or six acres in extent, surrounded
by a swam}), lying within the limits of the present town
of South Kingston, R. 1., which they fortified for their pro-
tection.
The men called for by the commissioners were furnished
promptly by the authorities of the different Colonies. The
Massachusetts companies were mustered on Dedham Plain,
on the ninth day of December. Before setting- out on their
march, they were promised a reward in land for their
services, in addition to their pay,prbvided " tltey played the
man, and drove the Narragansets out of the fort."
On the morning of the tenth day of December, the seven
Massachusetts companies, under the command of Major
Samuel Appleton, of Ipswich, took up their march, and
reached the appointed rendezvous on the evening of the
twelfth, where they were joined by the Plymouth detach-
ment and the Commander-in-chief. Proceeding thence,
they were joined, on the eighteenth, by the Connecticut
men. That night they expected to spend at a garrison some
fifteen miles distant from the Narraganset fort, but on
reaching the place they found that the Indians had a few
days before killed the inhabitants and burned the buildings.
There they passed the night, without shelter, in the snow
and cold.
The following day was Sunday. Their provisions were
nearly exhausted, and at half past live in the morning they
commenced their march toward the Indian fort, in the
snow, which continued falling all day. After a weary
march they reached the swamp surrounding the fort,
between one and two o'clock in the afternoon. There the
way of entrance was pointed out by the Indian guide, who
accompanied the expedition, and an immediate advance was
ordered.
[I. HISTORY OF AMHERST. 7
The order was obeyed with alacrity, the Massachusetts
men in front running as in a race to see who would first
reach the spot. On their arrival, the passage to the fort
was found to be over a log made slippery by the falling-
snow, which lay across a ditch filled with water. This
passage was defended by sharpshooters, who occupied a
sort of block-house near by, and by others who lined the
tups of the palisades that inclosed the fort. Some of the
captains, and many of the men fell at the first onset, and
the survivors climbed over their bodies toward the fort,
endeavoring to effect an entrance.
The struggle was fearful, and victory was for a long-
time in doubt. Once the English were repulsed. After a
contest of about three hours, a party of Connecticut men,
a sort of rear guard, forced an entrance into the fort in
another quarter, and attacked the savages in the rear. The
Indians had nearly exhausted their ammunition, but they
met their new assailants with a shower of arrows.
The wigwams in the fort were set on fire, contrary to the
advice of the ablest commander present, who saw the
importance of a shelter for the exhausted troops after the
close of the fight. Soon the frail materials of five hundred
Indian dwellings formed the funereal piles of the sick and
wounded and the women and children they had sheltered.
The Indians finally gave way, but the victory of the
English was dearly bought. Six of their bravest captains,
and about eighty men, were killed, or died of their wounds,
and about one hundred and fifty were wounded. Of the
Indians, it is supposed that at least one thousand perished.
When night closed upon the scene of carnage, there was
no shelter for the victors or the vanquished. The Indians
took refuge in a cedar swam}) near by, in which, without
food or covering, they passed the night. Many of them
doubtless perished from cold and hunger.
The conquerors gathered up their dead and wounded
and retraced their steps in the dark, through the forest, in
8 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
the midst of the storm. At two o'clock in the morning
the survivors reached their camping place. Some had died
on the march, and the intense cold stiffened the limbs of
all. They were without shelter, and had but little food.
In the morning following they could hardly move, for the
depth of the snow which covered them. Fortunately, a
vessel laden with provisions arrived at a landing near by in
the course of the night, and saved them from starvation.
The sufferings of the Indians who escaped must have
been intense. A thaw, however, occurred in mid-winter,
which enabled them to procure ground-nuts and roots
which partially supplied their wants.
The war continued to rage fiercely for months after the
destruction of the Narraganset stronghold ; but finally,
12 August, 1676, Philip, its instigator, was killed, and
peace was soon after restored.
In this death struggle of the New England Indians,
about six hundred of the English were killed, twelve or
thirteen of their towns were wholly destroyed, and many
others were greatly damaged. About six hundred buildings
were burned, one eleventh of the families in the Colonies
were burned out, and a large number of cattle were
destroyed, with a vast amount of other property.
II.] HISTORY OF AMHERST. 9
CHAPTER II.
1685-1733.
THE PROMISE REDEEMED. GRANTS TO THE NARRAGANSET
SOLDIERS. GRANT OF A TOWNSHIP IN THE NIPMUG COUN-
TRY. ACTION OF THE HOUSE UPON A PETITION PRESENTED
IN 1727. POSTPONED BY THE COUNCIL. GRANT OF TWO
TOWNSHIPS, EACH SIX MILES SQUARE, TO THE SOLDIERS.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ONE OF THE TOWNS LAID
OUT. THE REPORT ACCEPTED, AND THE TOWNSHIP, AFTER-
WARD AMHERST, CONFIRMED TO THE SOLDIERS. A LIST
OF THE PROPRIETORS PRESENTED TO THE COURT, AND A
MEETING CALLED. A FURTHER GRANT PETITIONED FOR.
ACTION OF THE HOUSE. NOT CONCURRED IN BY THE COUN-
CIL. EFFORTS MADE TO OBTAIN AN ADDITIONAL GRANT.
ADDRESS OF THE COUNCIL TO THE HOUSE, JANUARY, 1731-32.
A FURTHER GRANT MADE, SUFFICIENT TO GIVE A TOWNSHIP
SIX MILES SQUARE TO EACH ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY
OF THE PETITIONERS. FAILS TO RECEIVE THE APPROVAL
OF GOV. BELCHER. ANOTHER GRANT MADE, WHICH IS
FINALLY CONSENTED TO BY THE GOVERNOR.
The General Court of Massachusetts, at a session held
4 June, 1685, in answer to a petition of sundry inhabitants
of Lynn, Beverly, Reading - , and Hingham, granted a town-
ship, eight miles square, in the " Nipmug country," in the
south part of the Province, " to the petitioners and others
who were serviceable to the country in the recent Indian
war."
No measures appear to have been taken by the grantees
to secure the township granted them. It seems never to
have been located, and the land in that part of the Prov-
10 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
ince was afterward disposed of by the Court to other
parties.
Another petition from the Narraganset soldiers was
presented to the House of Representatives, 1 July, 1727,
asking- for the grant of another tract of land in place of the
one formerly granted.
This petition met with a favorable reception, and an act
was shortly afterward passed by the House of Representa-
tives, by which a committee was appointed to lay out
another township, eight miles square, for the petitioners.
The act was read in the Council, and its further consid-
eration postponed until the next session of the Court.
At the next session, an act was passed by the House
granting the petitioners two townships, each of the contents
of six miles square. This action was concurred in by the
Council, but failed to receive the sanction of the Governor.
" At a session, held 15 June, 1728. In the House of Representatives.
In answer to the Petition of the Soldiers that served in the Narra-
ganset War : —
Resolved, that Major Chandler, Mr. Edward Shove, Major Tilestone,
& Mr. John Hobson (or any three of them) be a committee fully
authorized & empowered to survey & lay out two Townships of the
contents of Six miles square each, in some of the unappropriated
Lands of this Province, and that the said Lands be granted & dis-
posed of to the Persons, whether Officers or Soldiers, belonging to this
Province, who were in the Service of their Country in the said Narra-
ganset War, or to their lawful Representatives, as a Reward for their
public services and as a full Satisfaction of the Grant formerly made by
the Great and General Court ; and inasmuch as it is the full Intent and
Purpose that every Officer & Soldier who served in the said war should
have a Compensation made him over & above what Wages & Gratui-
ties any of them have already received: — That publick Notice be
given in the News Letter, & Advertisements be posted up in every
Town in the Province, notifying all Persons that now survive & were
in the Fight, & the legal Representatives of those deceased, that they
give or send a List of their names & Descents to the Court in then-
next Fall Sessions ; and when such List is compleated by a Commit-
tee then to be appointed by this Court, the Grantees shall be obliged
to assemble hi as short a time as they can, conveniently, not exceeding
II.] HISTORY OF AMHERST. 11
six months, & proceed to the Choice of a Committee, to regulate each
Propriety, who .shall pass such Orders & Rides as will effectually
oblige them to settle 'sixty Families at least in each Township, with a
learned Orthodox Minister, within the Space of seven years from the
Date of the Grant: Provided, nevertheless, if the said Grantees shall
not effectually settle the said number of Families in each Township,
& also lay out a Lot for the said settled Minister, one for the Ministry
& one for the School in each of the said Townships, they shall have
no advantage but forfeit their said Grants : any thing herein contained
to the contrary notwithstanding.
In Council : Read & Concurred.
Consented to: WM. DUMMER."
The committee to lav out the townships attended to the
duty assigned them, and presented plans of the same at the
session of the Court held in the month of December fol-
lowing. On one of the plans is the following statement : —
"The Plan hereto annexed Shows the hounds of a Tract of Land
laid out for one of the Towns Granted by the Gen'l Court to the Nar-
raganset Soldiers. It Lyes on the North Side Sowheagun River and
adjoyning thereto on the South. The East part of it is about four or
five miles Westward of Merrimack River; and is att or Near the East
end of the Late proposed Line of Towns between Dunstable and
Northfield. There is in it a Sufficient Quantity of Improvable Land
Capable of making a good Town. The whole Plan contains 21,457
Acres, which is 1,417 acres more than is contained in Six miles
square, which we are Humbly of opinion ought to be allowed for the
Pond and Part of three Farms that were formerly laid out, & now
Included in this Survey. It was surveyed in the month of October,
1728, with the assistance of Mr. Jonas Houghton, Surveyor, & John
Goss & Stephen Mighill, Chainmen, who were sworn by Joseph
Wilder, Esq.
JOHN CHANDLER, Juk'r, )
EDW'D SHOVE, [ Committee r
JOHN HOBSOX, )
In the House of Representatives. December 18, 1728. The report
of the Committee was Read and Accepted, & voted, that the land pro-
tracted and described in the within Plan be and hereby is confirmed
to the Officers & Soldiers belonging to this Province who were in the
Service of their Country in the late Narraganset War & to their Heirs
& assigns or lawful Representatives, Provided it exceeds not the
Quantity of Land within mentioned, nor interferes with any other or
12 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
former Grant: Provided, also, they comply with the conditions men-
tioned in the said vote of the seventh (15th) of June for settling the
said Town.
In Council : Read and Concur'd.
Consented to :
W. BURNET.
The township thus granted was afterward known as
Narrag-anset, No. 3, and subsequently as Souheg-an West,
No. 3. It was incorporated as a town 18 January, 1760, at
which time it received the name of Amherst, from General
Jeffrey Amherst, at that time Commander-in-chief of the
British forces in North America.
11 May, 1729, Major Quincy and Mr. Thomas Tilestone,
on the part of the House, and Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., of
the Council, were appointed a committee to " take and
examine a list of the claims to the Lands lately granted to
the Narraganset soldiers, and compleat the same, and make
report of their doings at the next May session of the
Court."
17 December, 1729. The committee presented a list of
the names of those who had established their claims, and
recommended that the two townships be granted to the
persons whose names were given in said list, and that they
be required " to meet at Boston on the first Wednesday of
June next following, if the small-pox be not there ; if it be,
then at Cambridge, then & there to chuse a Committee
for Ordering their Affairs, and to do other things needful
for settling said tracts of land, pursuant to the Resolve of
this Court at its Session in June, 1728, and that Public
Notifications be given by order of this Assembly, that they
meet accordingly."
This report was accepted and adopted by the House
and Council, and the grantees were notified to meet ;
but, 30 May, 1730, the order for the meeting was super-
seded by the Court, and the Representatives were desired to
give public notice of the change with all convenient
speed.
II.] HISTORY OF AMHERST. 13
Many of the grantees, failing- to receive notice of the
change, met at Cambridge, 3 June, 1730, where they
learned that the order for meeting on that day had heen
countermanded, upon which they dissolved their meeting.
Before doing this, they appointed Colonel Thomas Tilestone,
Mr. Jonathan Williams, Mr. John Wadsworth, Mr. Nath'l
Goodwin, and Mr. Thomas Hunt, to "Petition the General
Court for a further Grant of land to ye Officers & Soldiers,
that every Sixty Claimers may have a Township of Six-
Miles square/'
28 October, 1730. The time for the meeting of the
grantees was again changed, by order of the Court, and as
the small-pox was removed from Boston they were required
to meet at that place on the u second Wednesday of the
next sitting of this Court after a recess."
A meeting of the grantees was accordingly held at Bos-
ton, 23 December, 1730, at which it was ''voted that Colonel
William Dudley, Messrs. Samuel Chandler and John Long-
ley,!^ a committee to wait upon the General Court to press
the affair now in hand," — a further grant of land.
In answer to the representations of this committee, the
House and Council voted that the time for presenting
claims to the Narraganset lands should be extended to the
first Wednesday of April then next following, and that a
further grant of land should be made, sufficient to give each
one hundred and twenty persons, whose claims were
admitted, a township six .miles square. The same com-
mittee that examined the claims previously presented, were
authorized to examine and report upon the additional
claims that might lie made. But this action of the House
and Council seems not to have received the approval of the
Governor.
At a meeting of the grantees, held 13 January, 1730-31,
it was voted to appoint a committee to wait upon the next
General Court, " to forward the affair now in Hand," — the
grant of more land, — and Colonel W'illiam Dudley, Messrs.
14 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Samuel Chandler, John Longley, Jona. Williams, and
Nath'l Goodwin, were appointed as the committee.
17 February, 1730-31, the House voted to extend the
time for receiving- claims until the first Wednesday of June
following, and to allow each 120 persons, whose claims
should he allowed, a township six miles square. The
Council agreed to extend the time, as proposed by the
House, hut proposed to give the two townships, — already
granted to the grantees, — without any restriction as to
the manner and times of settlement in full for their claims.
To this the House would not consent, and adhered to
their vote, in which the Council non-concurred, and there,
for a time, the matter rested.
At a meeting of the grantees, held 24 February, 1730-31,
Colonel William Dudley, Colonel Thomas Tilestone, Captain
Edward White, Messrs. Nathaniel Goodwin, Samuel Chand-
ler, Jonathan Williams, Edward Shove, Jonas Houghton,
and Jabez Hunt, were appointed a committee, any five of
whom should be a quorum for the transaction of business,
whose duty it should be to carry on the affairs of the
grantees before the General Court; and they were empow-
ered to petition the Court in order to obtain a further grant
of land ; and, in case they were successful, they were
authorized to send advertisements into other towns, noti-
fying the grantees.
The meeting was then adjourned to the first Wednesday
of the following September, at ten of ye clock, at which
time they again met and appointed Colonel Thomas Tile-
stone, Messrs. Jonas Houghton, Nathaniel Goodwin, Sam-
uel Chandler, Jacob Wright, and Samuel Kneeland, a
committee to regulate and settle the two townships granted
to the soldiers whose names are on the list allowed by the
Court.
It was voted that the committee be authorized to petition
the General Court — if there be occasion — for more land;
and they were also authorized — if occasion required — to
II.] HISTORY OF AMHERST. 15
send out printed advertisements into the neighboring towns
to raise a proprietors' meeting.
In the meantime, 4 June, 1731, the House passed sub-
stantially the same vote as that passed in February pre-
vious, but their action was not concurred in by the Council.
The committee appointed by the grantees at their meeting
in September, prepared a petition for a further grant of
land, which was laid before the House of Representatives
at its December session, in 1731, by Mr. Samuel Chandler,
and Mr. Samuel Kneeland, their clerk, was directed to wait
upon a committee of the House, which had been appointed
to draw up some reasons to influence the Council to concur
with the House in an additional grant of land to the Narra-
ganset soldiers, and " press the affair with the said com-
mittee."
Finally, the House sent the following message to the
Council, which sets forth the condition of the country at
the time of the Narraganset War, the importance of the
service rendered by the soldiers in that war, and the
grounds on which the grants were proposed to be made : —
In the House of Representatives, 19 Jan., 1731-32.
" Ordered, that ye following message be sent up to the Hon'ble
Board, viz. : Whereas there have been several endeavours to accom-
modate the Narrhagansett Soldiers & their Descendants with a Suit-
able Quantity of Land for the Settlement as an Acknowledgement &
Reward for their great Service to this Country, which have failed
hitherto of the desired Success. This House have thought it might
tend to promote a good understanding & Harmony in this Court to lay
before the Hon'ble Board wherefore it is that the Represent'ves have
come into the Grant of a Tract of six miles square to each number of
one hundred and twenty persons, which they have made this Session,
in answer to the Petition of Thomas Tilestone & others, a Comm'tee
in behalf of themselves and the rest of the Soldiers & their Descend-
ants, who were in the Xarraganset War. And one great Reason is,
that thei-e was a Proclamation made to the Army in the name of the
Governm'nt, — as living evidences very fully testify, — when they were
mustered on Dedham Plain, where they began their March, that if
they played the Man, took the Fort, and Drove the Enemy out of the
16 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Narragansei Country, which was their great Seat, that they should
haA'e a gratuity in Laud beside their Wages; and it is well known
that this was done; and, as the Conditions have been performed,
certainly the Promise, in all Equity and Justice, ought to he fulfilled ;
and if we consider the Difficulties these brave men went thro' in
Storming the Fort in the Depth of Winter & the pinching wants they
afterward underwent in pursuing the Indians that escaped, thro' a
hideous wilderness, famously known throughout New England to this
day by the name of the hungry March; and if we further consider
that until this brave tho' small army thus played the Man, the whole
Country was filled with Distress & fear & we trembled in this Capital,
Boston, itself, and that to the Goodness of Cod to this Army we owe
our Fathers and our own Safety & Estates. We cannot but think yd.
those Instrum'ts of our Deliverance & Safety ought to be not only
justly but also gratefully & generously rewarded & even with much
more than they prayed for. If we measure w't they receive from us
by w't we enjoy & have received from them, we need not mention to
ye Hon'ble Board the Wisdom, Justice, & Generosity of Our Mother
Country & ye Ancient Romans on such occasions. Triumphs, Orations,
Hereditary Honors & privileges ; All the Riches, Lands, & Spoils of
War & conquer'd Countries have not been thought too great for
those to whom they have not owed more, if so much as We do to those
our Deliverers, & we ought further to observe, what greatly adds to
their merit, that they were not vagabonds & Beggars & Outcasts, of wh'ch
Armies are sometimes considerably made up, who run the Hazards
of War to avoid the Danger of Starving; so far from this, that these
were some of ye best of Our Men, the Fathers & Sons of some of ye
greatest & best of Our famil'es, and could have no other view but to
serve ye Country, & whom God was pleased accordingly in a very
remarkable manner to Honor & Succeed. Of these things the
Hon'ble the General Court of the Late Colony of the Massachusetts in
those days was not insensible & accordingly gave to ye Soldiers, being
upward of Five Llundred, ab't Two thirds of the Army that went from
ye Massachusetts & the late Colony of Plimouth, a tract of ab't forty
thousand acres in the Nipmug Country, this, or the value of it, these
Soldiers would be contented with, & take in their Brethren of Pli-
mouth too, tho' that sh'd take away two thirds of w't was granted
them, and would after that have more in value than w't they now ask
for them all, for every one must own that 40,000 acres in the
Heart of the Country, as the Mpmug Country is, is of more value
than five times that quantity in the Borders, & in Danger if there
should be a French war. as is & would be the case with all the unap-
propriated Lands of the Provinch w'ch they now ask for.
II.] HISTORY OF AMHERST. 17
It is hoped that the negleci of these petition'rs so long, or the
provinces having disposed of the Nipmug Country to others, & so
defeated their ancient Grants, will not be thought to wear out any
more than it rewards their merit. The Grant seems to be made in
acknowledgem'nt both of yr promise & of yr fulfilling ye condition, &
being well entitled to it, & there is great Reason to fear thai public
Guilt w'd ly upon the Country if we should neglect & continue in the
Breach of this Promise, after it has been made & omitted for above
fifty years.
As to the late Grant of two Townships to Seven or Eight hundred
of these Soldiers, It is so far below the value of the Land they con-
quered. & the Price the province had for it when it was sold, & the
money divided to the Colonies that carried on the War. It is such a
Pittance of wh't they obtained for us. so exceedingly beneath w't
the Province has defeated them of, which was granted to about Two
thirds of them in the Mpmug Country, that it is rather mocking and
deriding them to offer it. Beyond w't has been offered, it sh'd be
Considered that to grant the present petition & give such a quantity
of Land as may be worth Settling, & upon Conditions of bringing
forward Townships, is much more agreeable to Charter & for the
publick Good than to Give away Tracts of Land & suffer & even
tempt men to let them ly waste & unimproved, for in the way that
has been proposed & in which some Progress has been made, the
Lands will be divided into such scraps that they will not be worth
receiving.
In Council; Read.
19 Jan., 1731-32. The House ordered that a further
grant of land be made to the Narraganset soldiers, so that
every one hundred and twenty persons, whose claims had
been allowed by the Court, should have a township of the
contents of six miles square under the same restrictions
and limitations as those previously granted.
In this order the Council concurred.
Efforts were made to induce the Governor to sanction
this order, but they seem to have failed, as we find that, 13
May, 1731, the committee of the proprietors : —
"Voted that Messrs. Nath'l Goodwin and Jona. Williams git a
Petition writ to put into the Generial Court at their session in May
next for a further Grant of land to the Narraganset Soldiers, the
2
18 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Grant made by both Houses at the last session not having been shied
by His Excellency the Governor."
1 June, 1732, they "Voted that Mr. Xath'l Goodwin payfor writ-ting
the Petition, and that Mr. Samuel Chandler forward the Petition as
fast as Posable in the House of Representatives."
8 June, 1732, they " Voted that Messrs. Xath'l Goodwin & Jonathan
Williams pay the Secra'y for putting the Petition into the Councle;"
also "Voted that as many of the Committee as have an Oportunity
to forward the Petition with the Hon'ble the members of the Generial
Court, use then- Intrist with them that the Prayer thereof be granted."
8 June, 1732. The House of Representatives voted that
a further grant of land be made to the Narraganset sol-
diers, so that every one hundred and twenty persons,
whose claims had been or should be allowed within four
months from that date by the committee appointed by the
House and Council, should receive a tract of land six miles
square, subject to the same limitations and conditions as the
townships already granted, and appointed the same com-
mittee that had previously served, to lay out the additional
townships.
The Council concurred in the action of the House, 9
June, 1732.
30 June, 1732. The claims of eight hundred and forty
persons having been allowed by the committee of the House
and Council, a grant of five additional townships was made
to the Narraganset soldiers by the House of Representa-
tives, and the grantees were ordered " to meet together in as
short a time as they could conveniently, not exceeding the
space of two months, and proceed to the choice of com-
mittees, respectively, to regulate each propriety or town-
ship which is to be held and enjoyed by one hundred and
twenty of the grantees, each in equal proportion, each being
subject to similar conditions and limitations with the grants
previously made."
In this action the Council concurred, 4 July, 1732.
For some reason, not now known, Gov. Belcher declined
to sign the grant, and the committee of the grantees labored
II.] HISTORY OF AMHERST. 19
with the zeal and persistency of a "third house" of mod-
ern times to bring him to terms.
6 July. 1732, they " Voted that Sam'l Chandler & Sam'l Kneeland
go to Mr. Sam'l Welles to know wheather he has bin with the Gov-
ernor and used his Intrist with him to Sine the Grant made to the
Narraganset soldiers, and if he has not bin, to Desier him to go
forthwith;" also, "Voted that Sam'l Chandler, Jonathan Williams,
and Samuel Kneeland, wait upon the Sec'y for to know wheather he
has laid the Grant before his Excellency the Governor for him to
sine."
The committee continued to meet at Mr. Lnke Verdy's
through the summer, autumn, and winter, following, doing
but little business until 26 April, 1733, when Gov. Belcher
gave his approval to the new grant.
20 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTEK III.
1733.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE PROPRIETORS OF THE
NARRAGANSET TOWNSHIPS.
ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR A DIVISION OP THE PROPRIETORS INTO
SEVEN SOCIETIES OF 120 EACH. A GENERAL MEETING
CALLED. THE MEETING ON "YE COMMON OF YE TOWN OP
BOSTON."' — DIVISION OF THE PROPRIETORS INTO SEVEN SO-
CIETIES, WITH THE TOWNS REPRESENTED IN EACH SOCIETY,
AND THE NAMES OP THE COMMITTEES TO ACT FOR THEIR
RESPECTIVE SOCIETIES. SUNDRY VOTES OF THE GRANTEES.
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEES OP THE SEVERAL SOCIETIES,
17 OCTOBER, 1733, AND ASSIGNMENT OF THE TOWN u BACK OF
SACO & SCARBOROY' VOTE IN RELATION TO A GRANT TO GOV.
BELCHER IN TOWNSHIP NO. 2, NOW WESTMINSTER, MASS.
ASSIGNMENT OP THE SIX REMAINING TOWNSHIPS BY LOT. —
PRESENT NAMES OF THE NARRAGANSET TOWNSHIPS.
The committee of the grantees met 26 April, 1733, and
" Voted, that Sam'l Kneeland make .Seven Divisions of the Narra-
ganset Grantees, each Division to contain one hundred and twenty of
the said Grantees, and to place the said one hundred and twenty of
each Division as near as he can together."
"Voted, that he git all the Votes and Orders of the General Court
relating to ye Seven Townships granted to the Narraganset Soldiei's,
for Direction to this Committee's calling a Proprietors' meeting."
Nathaniel Goodwin, Jonathan Williams, and Samuel
Williams, were appointed to draw up an advertisement for
a proprietors' meeting, and lay the same before the com-
mittee at their next meeting.
III.] THE NAERAGANSET TOWNSHIPS. 21
At a meeting, held 5 May, 1733, the advertisement was
presented, and approved by the committee ; and Samuel
Kneeland was directed to get it printed, and send copies to
the several towns where the grantees lived. He was also
directed to write a list of the grantees in each town, and
send the same with the copies of the advertisement.
31 May, 1733, the committee
14 Voted, that Samuel Kneeland wright a list for each Township,
granted according to the Division now made by the Committee, in
order to Divide the Grantees into seven societies at their approaching
meeting, the said list to be laid before the Grantees for their Apriba-
tion."
6 June, 1733. " The committee mett at Mr. Luke Yerdey's, accord-
ing to their adjournment, and Delivered their Votes, the Account of
their meetings, the lists. Papers. &c., by their Clark to the Grantees."
On the same day a general meeting of the grantees was
held in Boston, at which Colonel Thomas Tylston was
chosen moderator, and Sam'l Kneeland, clerk. A com-
mittee, consisting of Colonel Benjamin Prescot, John Rich-
ardson, Esqr., and Captain Joseph Ruggles, was appointed
" to examine the late Committee's accounts, and all the
former accounts.'" The meeting then adjourned until two
o'clock in the afternoon, at which time the grantees again
met on the "Common of ye Towne of Boston/' It was
then
" Voted, that the Grantees allowed by the General Court, amounting
to the number of eight hundred and forty in the whole, be Divided
into Seven Distinct Societies, each Society to consist of one Hundred
and twenty of the s'd Grantees, which society shall be Intituled to
One of ye Townships granted to the Narraganset Soldiers, &c.
That one of the S'd Societies shall consist mostly of the Proprietors
belonging to the Towns of Ipswich, Newbury, Rowley, Haverhill,
Salsbury, Almsbury, Methuen, Hamton, Greenland, Berwick."
" Voted, that Mr. Philemon Dane, of Ipswich, Mr. John Gains,
of Ipswich, Con'll Joseph Gearish, of Newbury, be a Committee
for the said Society."
" Voted, That another of the s'd Societies shall consist mostly of
those Proprietors belonging to the Towns of Salem, Lin, Marblehead,
22 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Glocester, Andover, Topsfield, Beverly, Wenham, Boxi'ord, Bradford,
Scarborough, York, Falmouth, Chatham."
-Voted, that Mr. Richard Moor, of Lin, Mr. John Trask, of
Salem, and Mr. Ebenezer Rayment, be a Committee for the said
Society."
"Voted, that Another of the said Societys shall Consist of the Pro-
prietors belonging to the Towns of Cambridge, Charlestown,
Watertown, Westown, Sudbury, Newtown, Medford, Maulden, Red-
ing."
"Voted, that Mr. John Cutting, of Watertown, Mr. James Low-
den, of Charlestown. and ('apt. Joseph Bowman, be a Committee
for the Said Society.
" Voted, that another of the s'd Societys shall consist mostly of those
Proprietors belonging to the Towns of Concord, Groton, Marlboro',
Chelmsford, Billerica, Lancaster, Lexington, Framingham, Stow,
Littleton, Sherburn, Stonham, Southboro", Woburn."
" Voted, that Mr. Samuel Chandler, of Concord, Mr. Jacob
Wright, of Woburn, and Con'll Benjamin Prescott, Esqr., of
Groton, be a Committee for the Said Society."
" Voted, that another of the s'd Societys shall consist mostly of those
Proprietors belonging to the Towns of Northampton, Hadley, Sufield,
Endfield, Deerheld, Worcester, Woodstock, Oxford, Brookheld, Kil-
lingly, Lebanon, Mansheld, Norwich, Pomfrit, Windham, Bristol,
Taunton. Swanzey, Rehoboth, Little Compton, Dighton, Attleboro',
Norton, Freetown, Barrington, Bridgewater, Middleboro', Plimpton,
Kingston, Rochester, Pembrook, Marshfield, Ashford, Colchester,
Hadham, Hebron, Bellingham, Horseneck, North Kingston, and
Walpole."
" Voted, that Mr. Edward Shove, Mr. Josiah Keetii, and Con'll
John Chandler, be a Committee for the said Society."
" Voted, that Another of the said Societys shall consist mostly of
those Proprietors belonging to the Towns of Boston, Koxbury,
Dorchester, Milton, Brantree, Waymouth, Hingham, Dedham, Stough-
ton, Brookline, Xeadham, Hull, Medheld, Scittuate, Newpourt, New
London, Providence."
•• Voted, that Con'll Thomas Toylston, Mr. .Jonathan Williams,
and Capt. Joseph Rugules, be a Committee for the s'd Society."
" Voted, that another of the Societys shall consist mostly of those
Proprietors belonging to the Towtis of Barnstable, Yarmoth, Eastham,
Sandwich, Plimoth, Tisbury, Abington, Duxbury, and one of Scit-
uate."
" Voted, that Con'll Shubael Goarham, Mr. Timothy White, and
Mr. Robert Standford, be a Committee for the Said Society."
III.] THE NARRAGANSET TOWNSHIPS. 23
" Voted that each of the Several Committees for the Respective
Societies, now chosen, be Directed and Empowered to take a List
of the Society for which they are Appointed, and to Joyn with the
Other Committees in Assigning the Towns to each Society, &c, and
also to assemble the Grantees of then" Respective Societys to Chuse a
Clark and Committees, from time to time, to manage and transact any
affairs that maybe thought needfull, and make such Rules and Orders
as may be Proper and for the benefit of the Society and bringing
forward the settlement of the Township that shall be assigned them,
as aforesaid."
" Voted, that any two of the committee for each society be Impow-
ered to act, or transact any affair, fur the good of the Society they are
chosen for."
"Voted, that all past and the present charges of this meeting be paid
by the wholl Society."
7 June, 1733. The grantees met at Mr. Luke Verdey's,
in Boston.
The report of the committee, appointed yesterday to
examine the late committee's accounts, and all former
accounts, was accepted, and the amount of claims reported
being one hundred and thirty-nine pounds, eleven shillings
and eight pence, was ordered to be paid to the several per-
sons to whom it was due.
"Voted, that Deacon Jonathan Williams, of Boston, be Treasurer
of the wholl Xarraganset Society or grantees, and it is further
Ordered and Voted that the Severial Societys pay their Proportionable
Part of the One Hundred and Thirty nine Pounds, eleven Shillings
and eight Pence (Due from the wholl Society) to Deacon Jona.
Williams, of Boston, Treasurer, and by him to be Repaid to the late
committee, to whom it is Due to Discharge the Said Debt."
" Voted, that Sam'll Kneeland be the Clark of the wholl Xarra-
ganset Society or grantees, and that he is Impowered by said Grantees
to keep all the Records, Papers, Resolves, and Votes of, or belonging
to, the s'd Grantees, and that he give coppeys to any of the grantees
or Others, Attested under his hand, he being under an Oth for a
faithful Discharge of his trust."
" Voted, that the charge of this meeting being Seven Pounds, ten
Shillings and Six Pence, be Paid by the Severial Societys to the
Treasurer, in the same method that the Other Debts are to be paid
in."
24 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
7 September, 1733. "By A desier from the Committee of Boston,
&c, Society of the Narraganset Grantees, the severial Persons after
named met at Boston, a1 the house of Mr. Luke Verdey, on said
1 )ay, Vi/.t :
Con'lJ Thomas Toylston, Deac'n Jonathan Williams, and Capt.
Joseph Ruggles, Comitee for Boston, &c. ; Mi'. James Lowden, Capt.
Joseph Bowman, Mr. John Cutting, Comittee for Charlestown, &c. ;
Mr. Sam'il Chandler, Mr. .Jacob Wright, Committee for Concord.
&c. ; Capt. Richard .Moor. Mr. John Traske, Committee for Salem,
&c; Mi - . Edward Shove. Mr. Josiah Keith, Committee for Northamp-
ton, Ike. ; and have agreed to meet at Boston, at this house, upon
Oct'b'r 17th next, at nine of the clock in the Morning: also. Ordered
that the Clark notitie the Gentlemen of the Severial Committees that
are not here at this time, especially the Newbury, &c, Committee, and
Barnstable. &c, Commitee, to meet with them upon the S'd Day, in
Order to Assign the Towns to the Severial Societys."
17 October, 173o. The committees of the several socie-
ties met at the house of Mr. Luke Verdey at nine o'clock
in the morning, and after discussing the matter of assign-
ing the townships granted them, without coming to any
conclusion, adjourned until half past two o'clock this after-
noon, at which time they met,
" And resumed their Debates. They agreed that A Towne back
of Saco and Scarbro' be Called No. 1, and that the s'd Town be
Assigned to Mr. Philemon Dane and Company, a committee for
Ipswich Society, &c. ; and then voted that the Committees for the
other Six Societys come into a lot for the six remaining Towns, being
Xo. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, Xo. b', Xo. 7 ; but before the drawing of
the lot a proposial was maid that the Society that should hapen to
Draw the Town called Xo. 2, at Watchusett, should lay out and assign
to his Excelency Jonathan Belcher, Esqr., five Hundred acres of land
in s'd Towne for his Honored Father's wright, which Proposial was
agread upon and Consented to by all the Committees Present at Said
Meeting, and Voted and Ordered Accordingly : then Voted, that one
of each Committee draw the lot for each Society, and that Capt. John
Chandler Draw for Barnstable Society."
" Voted, that the Six Towns be assigned as by lot they were Drawn,
Vizt:
To Mr. James Lowden and Company, Xo. 2, at Watchusett ;
To Mr. Richard Moore and Company, Xo. 3, Souhegan West ;
III.] THE NARRAGANSET TOWNSHIPS. 25
To Mr. Edward Shove and Company, Xo. i, at Amaskeage;
To Col'n'll Thomas Tilston and Company, Xo. 5, Souhegan East:
To Mr. Sam'l Chandler and Company. Xo. 6, west of penny cook
and Suncook.
To Con'll Gorham and Company, Xo. 7. to lay out."
Of the townships thus assigned, No. 1 is now known as
Buxton, Maine: No. 2, as Westminster, Mass ; Xo. 3 com-
prised parts of the present towns of Amherst, Merrimack,
Milford, and Mont Vernon, New Hampshire; No. 4 included
the present town of Goffstown, and a part of the city of
Manchester; hut as the grantees reported that " they found
the land so poor and barren as to be altogether uncapable
of making a settlement!" it was abandoned, and another
township, at a place called Quabbin, now Greenwich, Mass.,
was assigned them in its stead ; No. 5 comprised the present
town of Bedford, and parts of the town of Merrimack, and
the city of Manchester ; No. 6 is now Templeton, Mass. ;
and the township laid out for No. 7 is now Gorham, Maine.
26 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTER IV.
1734-1762.
SOUHEGAN WEST.
FIRST MEETING OF THE PROPRIETORS. ORGANIZATION. A
VIEWING COMMITTEE APPOINTED. A DIVISION OF THE TOWN-
SHIP INTO LOTS ORDERED, AND MADE. ENCOURAGEMENT
OFFERED TO SETTLERS. PROVISION MADE FOR BUILDING " A
HOUSE OF ENTERTAINMENT," AND FOR A FERRY-BOAT TO CROSS
THE SOUHEGAN. A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONFER WITH
A COMMITTEE OF THE PROPRIETORS OF NO. 5 IN REGARD TO
A BRIDGE ACROSS THE SOUHEGAN. REGULATIONS ADOPTED
CONCERNING THE LOTS DRAWN. NUMBERS OF THE LOTS
DRAWN IN THE FIRST DIVISION. NAMES OF THE DRAWERS,
AND THE TOWNS TO WHICH THEY BELONGED. A COMMITTEE
APPOINTED TO LAY OUT A PLACE FOR A MEETING HOUSE,
TRAINING FIELD, BURYING-PLACE, A LOT FOR THE MINISTRY,
SCHOOL AND MINISTERIAL LOTS, AND THEIR REPORT.
FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP. — HARDSHIPS OF
SETTLERS IN NEW TOWNSHIPS. — BRIDGE BUILT ACROSS THE
SOUHEGAN. BUILDING OF A SAW-MILL PROVIDED FOR. A
SECOND DIVISION OF LOTS VOTED, AND VOTES IN RELATION
THERETO. SOUHEGAN WEST BECOMES A PART OF NEW HAMP-
SHIRE. PROVISION MADE FOR BUILDING A GRIST-MILL AT
THE FALLS OF THE SOUHEGAN. A COMMITTEE APPOINTED
TO CONFER WITH THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE. HIGHWAYS LAID OUT, AND SURVEYORS AP-
POINTED. EFFORTS MADE TO BRING IN SETTLERS. A THIRD
DIVISION OF LOTS VOTED. ROADS LAID OUT. OLD, MIDDLE,
AND NEW TENOR BILLS. LAWFUL AND STERLING MONEY.
IV.] SOUHEGAN WEST. 27
OLD AND NEW STYLE. PETITION FOR INCORPORATION AS
A TOWN, WITH SIGNERS' NAMES, 1753. PRICES OF SUN-
DRIES, 1759. CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, 1760.
GENERAL AMHERST. NAMES OF TAX-PAYERS ON THE
FIRST TAX-LIST. CHARTER, AS REVIVED 7 JANUARY, 1762.
The first meeting of the proprietors of Souhegan West
was held at Salem, 17 July, 1734. At this meeting Capt.
Benj. Potter, Capt. Richard Mower, and Mr. Daniel Kenney,
were appointed a committee " to take a Pedicular view of
ye scircumstances of s'd Township, and make Report to ye
Society or Grantees at their adjournment on the second
tuesday in September next."
They were authorized to employ a surveyor, and such
pilots as might be necessary, at the expense of the pro-
prietors.
Capt. Richard Mower, Messrs. Cornelius Tarble, Ebenezer
Rayment, Jeremiah Gatchel, and Daniel Kenney, were
appointed a committee to sub-divide the township. Capt.
Benjamin Potter, Mr. John Bixbe, and Ensign Thomas
Tarbox, were added to this committee at a subsequent
meeting.
Another meeting of the proprietors was held at Salem,
13 August, 1734, at which William Collins was elected
proprietors' clerk ; Capt. Richard Mower, Messrs. John
Trask, Ebenezer Rayment, Stephen Peabody, and Jeremiah
Gatchel, prudential committee ; and Capt. Benjamin
Potter, treasurer.
The prudential committee was directed to rectify all
mistakes in the names of the proprietors, as given in the
list, and to lay the same before the General Court, if they
thought proper.
10 September, 1734, the proprietors met to hear the
report of their viewing committee, but the committee had
been disappointed by the surveyor they had engaged, and
were not prepared to make a full report. They reported
28 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
verbally that " they had been on the land and found it well
timbered."
After some discussion it was voted, " that the township
be sub-divided this fall, as soon as may be."
The committee was directed to lay out sixty acres to
each proprietor, for his or her first or home lot, what was
wanting in quality to be made up in quantity. It was also
voted that should any large quantities of meadow be found,
it should be left to the consideration of the committee
whether to include the same in the lots, or reserve it for the
benefit of the whole society.
Collectors were appointed in each town to collect the
assessments ordered to defray the expenses of the Society.
At a meeting, held 8 January, 1784-35, the proprietors
" Voted, that the first sixty proprietors that shall and Doe each of
them build and finish a Dwelling house of eighteen feet square and
seven feet studd, and clear two acres of Land fitt for mowing or plow-
ing, and actually live on the spot, and perform the same within three
years from the date hereof, they and each of them shall be Intitled
to draw out of ye said proprietors' Treasury the sum of six pounds."
A committee was chosen to hear all persons that had any
disputable claims to any rights in the township, and make
report of their opinion to the Society as soon as might be.
•• Voted, that Capt. Richard Mower have Liberty to draw ye Lott
No. 21, he Building a convenient House of Entertainment, and fence
in a pasture of six or eight acres of land, and provide a sufficient ferry
Boat to transport any of the Proprietors over Souhegan River, and
performe the same within eighteen months from the Date hereof."
An auditing committee was appointed, and it was voted
that "the Lotts Nos. 87, 88, and 89, should lye by for the
present, to make good for the three lots — viz., one for the
first settled minister, one for the ministry, and one for the
school. "
A committee was appointed to confer with the committee
of the proprietors of Souhegan East, No. 5, about building
a bridge over Souhegan river, and report at the next
IV.] SOUHEGAN WKST. 29
meeting of the proprietors. (Souhegan East, No. 5, after-
ward Bedford, as at first granted, extended to Souhegan
river. )
Complaint having been made by some that many of the
lots laid out by the committee "were not so good as others,
for want of quality," and therefore not fit to settle on, by
means whereof much damage might accrue to some of ye
proprietors, it was
"Voted, that each Proprietor shall have the liberty, if he see cause.
to exchange his Lott or Lotts by Quitting his Right to such Lott as
he shall draw, to all the Proprietors, & by taking other Lott or Lotts
in the Room of s'd Lotts in any of the Lands within the Township.
Provided they are not more in Number than the Lotts lie or they shall
Quitt to the Proprietors, and Provided, also, that they or he shall lay
out no more than sixty acres to each Lott. & half a mile in length and
sixty rods in bredth, as the other Lotts are now laid out. Further-
more. Provided, that ye Lotts so exchanged shall he laid out at ye
owner's cost, within one year from the Date hereof, & said Lotts to be
sufficiently butted & hounded, and a Returne therof made to the Clerk
of ye s'd Society. & hee to make an entry in the proprie'rs' hook, to
whom and by whom thay ware Laid out. with the Buts & Bounds."
The lots laid out by the committee appear to have been
drawn by the proprietors at this meeting, as we find it
was
"Voted, that the Clerk Record all the Lotts that have been Drawn
in the Society's Book of Records to the several persons that have been
allowed to draw the same, with their names."
It was also
"Voted, that the Clerk take care of those Lotts that are not drawn.
& that the several persons to whom they belong have liberty to Repair
to s'd Clerk and draw their Respective Lotts, they paying the Rates
or Dues set on s'd Lotts.
In the following list, the names of the proprietors, the
towns to which they belonged, and the number of the lot
drawn by each, are given. A * placed before a lot signifies
that it was afterward exchanged for another. Names in
30 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
small capitals are those of the surviving soldiers and
officers who were in the fight at the Narragansct fort,
December, 1675.
ANDOVER.
*104. John Ballard, for his father, John Ballard.
87. William Ballard, for his father, Nath'l Ballard.
*103. Ebenezer Barker.
108. James Fry.
38. John Parker.
*106. Rev. Andrew Peters, for his father, Andrew Peters.
*30. Samuel Phelps.
56. John Presson.
44. Ebenezer Tyler, for his father, Samuel Tyler.
BEVERLY.
*59. Henry Bayley.
*79. Henry Blackfield, and his assigns.
12. Jonathan Byels.
71. Lott Connant.
24. Andrew Dodge, for John Elinwood.
48. Jonathan Dodge, for John Dodge.
*60. William Dodge's heirs.
80. Ralph Elinwood.
106. Samuel Harris's heirs.
7. Joseph Morgan, for his father, Joseph Morgan.
*102. Joseph Picket, for his father, Elias Picket.
110. Thomas Rayment.
*97. William Rayment's heirs.
51. Christopher Read.
BOXFORD.
50. John Andrews, for his father, Robert Andrews.
*47. John Bixbe, for his father, Joseph Bixbe.
95. James Curtice, for Francis Jeffreys.
19. Stephen Peabody, for his father, Stephen Peabody.
IV.] SOUHEGAN WEST. 31
BRADFORD.
4. Ichabod Boynton, for his father, John Boynton.
CHATHAM.
34. Robert Nicholson, for his father, William Nicholson.
FALMOUTH.
42. Philip Dexter.
62. Joseph Hatch.
GLOUCESTER.
72. John Day.
67. Edward Harrington.
64. Samuel Ingersoll.
98. Jacob Row, for his father, Henry Row.
76. Samuel Stevens, for Isaac Ellery.
LYNN.
103. Thomas Baker.
*18. John Ballard, for his father, John Ballard.
100. William Basset, for his grand-father, William Basset.
72. Michael Bowden, for his father-in-law, John Davis.
49. Timothy Breed, for his father, Timothy Breed.
92. Ebenezer Burrill, for his brother, John Burrill.
*78. Ebenezer Burrill, Jr., for his grand-father, Joseph
Mansfield.
65. Henry Collins.
39. William Collins, far his brother, Joseph Collins.
*6. Ruth Driver, for her father, Robert Driver.
29. Samuel Edmons.
91. Joseph Farr, for his father, Joseph Farr.
*17. Joseph Farr, for his father-in-law, John Lindscy.
110. John Farrington, for his father, John Farrington.
107. Samuel Graves, for his father, Samuel Graves.
*35. Joseph Haven, for his father, Joseph Haven.
60. Jonathan Johnson, for his father.
32 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
32. Richard Johnson, for his father, Samuel Johnson.
*80. Edmond Lewis, for his father, John Lewis.
21. Richard Moor, for his father, John Moor.
8. John Newhall.
111. Samuel Newhall, for his uncle, Samuel Farrow.
*31. Benjamin Potter, for his father, Robert Potter.
20. Benjamin Ramsdell, for his father, AquillaRamsdell.
30. Robert Rand, for his father.
73. Samuel Tarbox's heirs.
16. Andrew Townsend's heirs.
MARBLEHEAD.
41. Jeremiah Gatchel, for his uncle, John Gatchel.
*28. William Hind.
68. Joseph Majory, for his father, Joseph Majory.
52. Thomas Martin, for Doctor Knott.
26. Richard Shapley, for his father, David Shapley.
25. Joseph Sweat, for his brother, Stephen Sweat.
85. Jonathan Wolcot, for his father, John Wolcot.
READING.
40. Thomas Bancroft, for his father, Nidi's Lum.
22. John Bowtel, for his father, John Bowtel.
SALEM.
109. John Abbot.
51. Thomas Bell.
46. John Bullock, for his father, John Bullock.
*14. William Curtis, for his father, William Curtis.
86. John Elwell, for his father, John Elwell.
*94. John Flynt, for his father, Thomas Flynt.
*13. William Fuller, for his father, Thomas.
33. Habakkuk Gardner, for his uncle, Capt. Joseph Gard-
ner.
*101. John Gloyd, for his father, John Gloyd.
*105. John Harradaway's heirs.
IV.] SOUHEGAN WEST. 33
112. Edward Hollis's heirs.
96. Joseph Holton.
3. Joseph Hutchinson, for his father, Joseph Hutchin-
son.
*102. Thomas Keney's heirs.
77. Jonathan Lambert.
66. Thomas Laskin, for his father, Timothy Laskin.
53. Samuel Manning, for his uncle, Nicholas Manning.
45. Ezekiel Marsh, for his father, Adam Gold.
81. Jonathan Marsh, for his father-in-law, John Ross.
11. Jeremiah Neal, for his father, Jeremiah Neal.
1. William Osburn, for his father, William Osburn.
69. Samuel Pickworth's heirs.
43. Joseph Prince, for his uncle, Richard Prince.
105. Thomas Putnam, for his father, Thomas Putnam.
63. John Rabson, for his brother, Thomas Rabson.
5. Nathaniel Soams, for his uncle, Joseph Soams.
*83. John Tarble's heirs.
15. John Trask, for his father, William Trask.
*109. Jonathan Verry, for his father, Samuel Verry.
SCARBOROUGH.
*37. John Harmon.
TOPSFIELD.
108. Josinh Clark's heirs.
104. Thomas Davis's heirs.
*70. Abraham Fitts's heirs.
107. James Ford's heirs.
9. Joseph Herrick, for his father, Joseph Herrick.
55. John Hutchins's heirs.
Samuel Kneeland, for John Brandon.
27. Samuel Kneeland, for Robert Brown.
99. Samuel Perkins's heirs.
*93. Zaccheus Perkins.
*2. Moses Pingreese.
3
34 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
23. Elihu Ward well's heirs.
*84. John Wild's heirs.
74. Nathaniel Wood.
WENHAM.
58. Thomas Abbot, for his father, Thomas Abbot.
*101. John Batchelder, for his uncle, Joseph Batchelder.
111. Elizabeth Fowler, for her father, Richard Hutter.
54. William Rogers and Thomas Perkins, for Joseph
Perkins.
YORK.
10. Dennison Sargent, for his father, Andrew Sargent.
1 May, 1735. In regard to the exchange of lots provided
for in a vote passed at the last meeting, the proprietors
" Voted, that it is to be understood that any Proprietor, by virtue
of that vote exchanging his Lott, shall not leave a smaller vacancy
than 60 poles between that and the next adjoyning lot, excepting a
t'oure pole way, where it is necessary, and that no person so exchanging
shall include in his Lott more than two acres.of meadow; and that if
any proprietor shall Lay out a Lott adjoining to ye River, s'd Lott
shall not extend more than 60 poles upon s'd River."
At this meeting the following report of the committee
appointed to sub-divide the township was received, accepted,
and ordered to be placed on record.
" We, the Subscribers, being chosen & appointed to sub-divide and
Lott out to each proprietor, for their home Lotts, sixty acres, having
respect to the quality of s'd Lotts, & to equalize the same according to
our best Judgement :
Pursuant whereunto, we have accordingly, by Surveyors and Chain-
men Employed in that service, Laid Out one hundred and twenty
Lotts. containing Sixty acres each, allowing two acres in every forth
Lott for a by way, and also a range way, foure pole wide, between each
Range, as will more fully appear on the face of the Plan herewith to
be presented. We have Tndeavored to attend to -our Directions in not
laying out any Considerable quantity of Clear Medow in any one
Lott, & as for Quallifying ye Lotts we thought it Impracticable,
IY.] SOUHEGAN WEST. 35
especially considering the season of ye year being such as required
Dispatch of ye Business, and we judge it will be more for the intrest
of ye Society to equalize the same in some other way, which they may
think proper at this meeting, or any other hereafter.
RICHARD MOWER,
JER. GATCHELL,
EBEX'R RAYMEXT,
DANIEL KEXXEY,
THOMAS TARBOX,
CORNELIUS TARBELL,
JOHN BIXBE,
Committee."
Robert Hale, Esq., Capt. Stephen Peabody, and Lieut.
Ebenezer Rayment, were appointed a committee
" To take a view of the township, and in the most commodious place
therefor Lay ont a place whereon to erect the Public Meeting House
for the worship of OOD, & a convenient place for a Public Burying
place, & An Other for a Training field, marking the same by Butts
and Bounds & that they doe More Over Lay out three home Lotts of
equal quantity and like form with ye Other Lotts Already laid Out, —
One to be for the first settled Minister, One for the Ministry. & One
for the School, and in their return to make Distinctions, the Lotts to
be Butted and bounded as aforesaid, and make return thereof to ye
Clei - k, that so he may record the same."
They were also directed
" To take a view of Souhegan River, in Order to find out ye most
convenient place to Build a Bridge over the same, & make report to ye
Society at their next meeting."
The report of this committee was recorded by the clerk,
4 June, 1735, as follows :
" The Com'tee to lay out a place for a Meeting House, Training
field, Burying place, & parsonage, Minister & School Lott, &c, Laid
out for the Meeting house place, Burying place & Training field, A
track of Land downing Easterly to ye head of ye Lotts Xo. 108, 109,
& 110, lying Joyning southerly to Andrew Balche's Lott, Containing
thirteen acres & 140 perch, lying North & South 74 perch, East &
West 30 perch. Also .a Lott for ye Ministry, containing Sixty acres,
Bounded thus ; Beginning att a Maple tree marked with P & T.,
36 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
thence North, by ye afores'd Lott 74 rods, to a white pine marked
with T. P & 8, thence west 124 rods to an Arsli marked with P & M,
thence South 74 rods to a white pine marked, s'd Balehe's Corner.
Also a Minister's Lott of Sixty acres. Hounded Southerly on a High-
way, Lying North & South 12-4 rods, east and west 78 rods, the
South west corner making ye same Pounds of the North East of ye
s'd Ministry Lott, ye Highway Lying Between them, the fonre corners
marked with M. Also a School Lott containing' sixty acres, Bound-
ing Westerly to ye Ministers, Southerly to ye Ministry & Meeting
house place, Easterly to ye heads of ye Lotts 109 & 110, the corners
marked with S.
[Signed] ROBERT HALE, p'r Order."
The first settlement in the township was probably made
in the spring of 1735, by Samuel Lamson and Samuel
Walton, from Reading, Mass. They settled at first about
a mile south of the village, on the farm now owned by Mr.
Bryant Melendy, where they built a log house. Both after-
ward removed to other parts of the town, — Lamson to the
westerly part, now Mont Vernon, where some of his
descendants now reside. About 1765 he removed to Bil-
lerica, Mass., where he died about 1779.
Walton removed to the easterly part of the town, near
Babboosuck pond. Of his subsequent history but little is
known. His name appears occasionally on the proprietors'
records, and is attached to the petition to the Provincial
authorities in 1747, asking for help against the Indians.
He is said to have died -here, but none of his descendants
reside in town, and for the last eighty years the name is
not found on the town records.
Lieut. Joseph Prince seems to have been the only one of
the original proprietors who settled in the township. He
was from Salem Village, now Danvers, and was a proprietor
in the right of his uncle, Richard Prince. According to an
old plan, still in existence, his land at one time extended
from Bedford line westward to near where the village of
Mont Vernon now stands. A family tradition says that he
first located himself on the farm afterward owned by
IV.] SOUHEGAN WEST. 37
Nathan and Peter Jones, in Mont Vernon, but removed
thence to the place now owned by Solomon Prince, in the
easterly part of Amherst. Other settlers followed, not long-
afterward, many of them from Salem, and the adjoining
towns which once made a part of that ancient town, but the
progress of the settlement was slow. In September, 17-11,
but fourteen families were settled in the township.
Efforts were made by the proprietors to induce settlers
to locate in the township, and sums of money were voted
for that purpose ; but the distance from the seaport towns,
and the hardships attending the lives of settlers in a new
settlement, prevented a rapid growth of the place. The
French and Indian Wars, which commenced a few years
later, also operated unfavorably to its progress.
The lives of the first settlers in the New Hampshire
townships must have been a constant struggle for existence.
Locating themselves on their lots at places where a supply
of water could readily be obtained, they erected huts of
logs, or stones, to serve as a temporary shelter. Perhaps a
brook, or pond, not far distant, afforded them an occasional
meal, or a bear, or deer, came within reach of their trusty
muskets.
A settler in one of the Narraganset townships wrote thus
of his town in its infancy :
"A howling wilderness it was. where no man dwell. The hideous
yells of wolves, the shrieks of owls, the gobblings of turkeys, and the
harking of foxes, was all the music we heard. All a dreary waste and
exposed to a thousand difficulties."
Against the monarchs of the forest the settlers waged a
war of extermination. In the hot, dry days of summer and
autumn, the fire aided them in their work. After their
numbers had increased, they joined their strength in piling
the logs into huge piles, which were set on fire and con-
sumed.
The manufacture of potash from the ashes was once quite
a business among them.
38 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Rye was sown in the autumn on the cleared land, among
the stumps and rocks, or corn was planted in the spring,
from which, with a little care, abundant crops were raised.
8 September, 1735. The proprietors appointed Capt.
Mower, Lieut. Rayment, and Cornelius Tarble, a committee
to build a bridge over Souhegan river ; and the)' seem to
have attended to the business at once, as we find that at a
meeting held 13 October following, the proprietors ratified
an agreement they had made with Mr. Tarble for building
a good and convenient bridge over the river, for doing
which he was to receive the sum of ninety-five pounds.
It was probably built in the autumn and winter of that
year, as we find the proprietors, at a meeting held 12
April, 1736, desiring Capt. Mower " to wait on Dunstable
Selectmen, to Request them to lay out a Highway from
Nashaway river to Souhegan Bridge, in the most convenient
place;" and at a meeting held 27 December, 1738, they
" voted, that the sum of ten pounds be raised toward build-
ing a bridge over Nashua river, provided it be built in a
convenient place for the proprietors of this township;" and
the money was to be deposited in the treasury, to be paid
when the work was satisfactorily performed.
The building of a saw-mill was now in order ; and, 19
April, 1737, the proprietors
"Voted, that Capt. Ives, Capt. Majory, Capt. Hicks, and Mr.
Edward Bond, for the encouragement of building a saw-mill in
Souhegan West, No. 3, upon a brook called Beaver brook, where it
may be most convenient, shall have paid them, out of the Treasury,
forty pounds in money or Bills of credit. Provided, that the said mill
be titled to saw by the first of November next, and that shee shall be
Kept in Good Repair, and to saw for the prop'rs to the halves, or
Equi'lent to it, for the space of ten years from this date."
A tax of £120 was levied upon the proprietors, to pay
the above grant and other charges, the same to be paid into
the treasury by the first day of September following.
IV.] SOUHEGAN WEST. 39
14 February, 1737-38. The proprietors voted to have a
second division of the land as soon as might be, and
appointed Capt. Joseph Parker, of Chelmsford, Ensign
Thomas Tarbox, and Lieut. Cornelius Tarble, a committee
to see it done.
'• Voted, that after the Comitte have vew'd the land they are to lay
out, if they think it will not allow of more than 60 acers, they are to
make that the standard, and what land is meener to make it Equiva-
lent to the best 60 akers ; and that the Comitte have regard to the
niedow, and lay it out as they goe along, including it in the 60 akers."
" Voted, that the above Comitte shall lay out convenient ways for
the proprietors as may be needful."
11 July, 1738. The committee for dividing the town
was enlarged by the addition of Mr. John Wiles and Capt.
Ebenezer Rayment, and Mr. Joseph Richardson was
appointed to serve in place of Capt. Joseph Parker.
Parties that had newly pitched their lots were required
to have them surveyed by the same surveyor that the
committee employed to make their surveys, and present a
plan of the same, with their butts and bounds, to the
committee, before the tenth of September next, at their own
expense, they being notified by the committee.
This committee made their report, which was accepted
and ordered to be recorded, 27 December, 1738 ; and the
lots were probably drawn by the proprietors at that meeting,
or at one held on the 10th of May following.
SETTLEMENT OF THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN MASSACHUSETTS
AND NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Disputes having arisen between the authorities of Massa-
chusetts and New Hampshire in regard to the boundary
line between the Provinces, a commission, composed of resi-
dents in some of the adjacent Provinces, was appointed to
adjust them.
40 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
The claims of the parties were heard and discussed, and
a decision rendered, from which the government of Massa-
chusetts and the House of- Representatives of New Hamp-
shire appealed to the King in council, by whom a decision
was made, 5 March, 1740, establishing the boundaries
between the Provinces, which have remained substantially
unchanged until the present time.
By this decision, Souhegan West, and twenty-seven other
townships, which had been granted by Massachusetts, with
large quantities of ungranted land intermixed among them,
became parts of New Hampshire. Parts of some of the
old Massachusetts towns also fell under the jurisdiction of
New Hampshire.
Most of this territory also came within the limits of the
Masonian Grant, the western line of which, it was claimed,
extended across the country in a curved line corresponding
to the coast line, from a point on the eastern line of the
State, sixty miles from the mouth of the Piscataqua, to a
point on the south line, sixty miles from the mouth of the
Merrimack.
The claim of the Masonian proprietors was finally con-
ceded by the State authorities. By an act passed 28 June,
1787, a straight line, running from one of the points named
to the other, was declared to be the western boundary of
the Masonian claim ; and all the unsold lands lying west
of it and east of the curved line claimed by the Masonian
proprietors, were sold to them for forty thousand dollars in
securities, and eight hundred dollars in specie, all bona fide
purchasers of land lying between the two lines previous to
that time being quieted in their possession, so far as the
State was concerned ; and Thomas Bartlett, Dudley Odlin,
and Archibald McMurphy, were authorized to make the
transfer in behalf of the State. The line was run, in 1787,
by Joseph Blanchard and Charles Clapham.
20 May, 1740. Solomon Wilkins had leave to take up
sixty acres of land adjoining the falls in Souhegan river,
IV.] SOUHEGAN WEST. 41
the land to lay square, on condition that he built a good
grist-mill near the falls, kept it in repair, and at all times
supplied the inhabitants of the township with meal for the
lawful and customary toll, when they brought their corn to
be ground. The grant was to be forfeited, in case he should
fail to grind and supply the town with meal forthwith, —
unless prevented by some extraordinary casualty, — or if he
should wholly neglect to grind for the space of eight
months ; but, provided he gave an answer to the clerk by
the 20th of June next following, accepting the conditions
of the grant, and had the mill ready to grind by the twen-
tieth day of May, 1741, in the meantime giving bonds for
performance of the contract, the grant would hold good.
Wilkins seems not to have accepted the offer, as, 30 April,
1741, it was
" Voted, that the Proprietors will give to Mr. John Shepard One
hundred and twenty acers of land, to begin at William Peabody's line
and Run down the River to the Bottom of the falls, and soe wide as
to make the hundred and twenty acers on the conditions that the
sixty acers Mas voted to Solliman Wilkins, as appeers by the records
before ; He building a good Grist mill and a good Saw mill on said
Souhegan River against the aforesaid land, and to finish them by the
last of November next, and Keep them in good repair for the use of
said Proprietors, he giving a bond to our Tressurer to comply with the
same forthwith, he having liberty to Cut such white Oke Timber for
the mill as he wants and ha' n't of his own."
Mr. Shepard was from Concord, Mass. He accepted the
grant, built the mill, and became a useful and honored citi-
zen of the town.
At the same meeting they voted that they would build
a bridge over Souhegan river, and appointed Capt. Samuel
Bancroft, Capt. Thomas Tarbox, and Joshua Hieks, a com-
mittee to say where it should lie built, and get it done.
They also " voted, that they will give noe encouragement
to a blacksmith to settle among them;" but they soon
thought better of it, for 22 May, 1745, they " voted, that
42 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
they will give encouragement for a blacksmith to settle with
them, and that Capt. Parker, Lieut. Prince, and Mr. Lamson,
be desired to agree with a good smith to settle with them."
14 April, 1742. The township, having by the settlement
of the boundary line between the Provinces, come under the
jurisdiction of New Hampshire, the proprietors probably
felt some anxiety that their titles — derived from a grant
made by Massachusetts — should be recognized by the
authorities of New Hampshire. Accordingly, Epes Sargent,
Esq., Mr. Joshua Hicks, and Mr. Timothy Fuller, were con-
stituted a committee to wait upon the Governor and Coun-
cil of New Hampshire, and it was voted that the committee
should be paid for their time and charges by the proprie-
tors. To this last vote Capt. Ebenezer Rayment entered
his dissent.
For some reason, the proprietors refused to pay the bill
presented by the committee, 10 February, 1743-44 ; also, at
the meeting held 30 January, 1744-45.
22 April, 1745, they voted that they would not allow so
much to Col. Sargent and Mr. Hicks as the Canada pro-
prietors did Col. Blaney and Capt. Epes for going to New
Hampshire. Finally, 16 July, 1746, they voted that Col.
Sargent's and Mr. Hicks's two accounts, amounting to £34,
9s, 3d, old tenor, be allowed, and paid them.
22 May, 1745. The proprietors took action in regard to
laying out highways, and appointed Joseph Prince, Samuel
Walton, and Capt. Parker, a committee for that purpose,
and instructed them to lay out no ways except in places
where the owners would give the land for the purpose.
They voted that the ways should be mended by a rate,
and appointed William Bradford, Deacon Hobbs, and
James Cofrren, surveyors for the year (1745). These seem
to have been the first surveyors of highways appointed in
the township.
At a meeting held 16 July, 1746, the proprietors voted to
dismiss an article in the warrant calling the meeting " To
IV.] SOUHEGAN WEST. 43
see if they would build one half, or any part, of a bridge
over the river at Shepard's mills, in case Benjamin Hopkins
would build one half of the same."
May not the town of Milford have received its name from
the fact that for some years the inhabitants of Monson,
afterward a part of Amhevst, forded the river to bring their
grists to mill, from which arose the name Milford ?
As the sixty families required by the grant had not
settled in the township, the proprietors voted, at a meeting-
held 11 March, 1746-47,
" That they will chuse a coniittee to git an obligation drawn & sub-
scribed, that shall oblige at least sixty famalies, with them that are
already there, to setle Immediately, or gitt sum to setle there for them,
agreeable to the grant."
" Voted, for the Coniittee, Capt. Raiment, De'con Tarble, & Robert
Andrew."
At a meeting held 3 November, 1747, the proprietors
appointed Capt. Ebenezer Parker, Deacon Tarble, Capt.
Joseph Richardson, Samuel Walton, and William Bradford,
on a committee to lay out the undivided lands, and instructed
them to have regard to the goodness of the land and
meadows, and qualify the same ; and they were desired and
empowered to get such assistance as was needful, and get
the work done as soon as might be. They were also to lay
out needful roads. This committee presented their report
at a meeting of the proprietors held 8 February, 1748-49,
which was sworn to before Col. Sargent ; and those of the
proprietors present who had paid all dues and assessments
on their shares, drew their third division lots.
An article in the warrant calling this meeting, "To see
if they will build the half of a Bridge, at Capt. Shepard's
mills, over the Souhegan river, when Monson people will
build the other half," was dismissed.
44 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
OLD, MIDDLE, AND NEW TENOR BILLS. LAWFUL, AND STERLING
MONEY.
Bills oi' credit were issued, from time to time, by the
authorities of the Province of Massachusetts for the pay-
ment of expenses incurred in the military expeditions
undertaken by that Province. The first of these bills were
issued to defray the expense of the expedition for the
reduction of Canada, in 1690, and they went into circulation
as a part of the currency of the Province. In 1749 between
two and three million pounds were outstanding, the oldest
being known as old tenor, those of a later date as middle,
and new tenor, bills. All had depreciated in value, the old
tenor bills to such an extent that sixty shillings in bills
would purchase only six shillings and eight pence in silver.
The middle and new tenor bills had not depreciated so
much, but the value of all was perpetually changing and
uncertain, — a plague to their inventors and the people who
used them.
An account of the troubles of the royal governors in their
efforts for the suppression of these bills is given in the
following scrap, the authorship of which is attributed to
Richard Waldron, for a long time one of the Councillors in
New Hampshire :
" Shute shot his bolt, but missed his aim ;
Then took his flight, and left the game.
Burnett, his skill superior, tried ;
But failing, laid him down and died.
Then, said the King, ' Let Belcher try
To crush the cursed currency.
If his art be used in vain,
Delusive paper be their bane,
And, for to make the case still worse,
Shirley's deceit augment the curse.' "
Finally, in 1749, a law was enacted, providing for the
redemption of these bills in silver money at the rate of 6s.,
8d. in coin, or bullion of sterling fineness, for 50s. of old,
IV.] SOUHEGAN WEST. 45
and the same for lis., 3d. in middle and new tenor hills.
Spanish milled dollars, of full weight, were reckoned at 6s.,
and it was provided that, after 31 March, 1750, the bills
should cease to pass as currency, and that all accounts
should thereafter be kept in silver money, reckoning- silver
bullion, of sterling- fineness, at 6s., 8d. per ounce, and Spanish
milled dollars, of full weight, at 6s. each. This was the
"Lawful money" of the fathers, 20s. of which equalled
$3.331 — making one pound. In sterling money, a dollar was
reckoned 4s., 6d., and one pound equalled $4.44f.
To facilitate the redemption of the bills of credit, a grant
of £ 180,000 was made by the home government to the
Province of Massachusetts Bay, and the amount sent over
in Spanish milled dollars. The balance required for their
redemption was raised by taxation in the Province.
24 May, 1749, voted to dismiss the following article in
the warrant, " To see if they will choose a Committee to
treat with the claimers of Mason's rights, or any others that
lay claim to the said Souhegan, and see on what terms we
may be quieted in our possession, and make report to the
next meeting."
Capt. Shepard, William Peabody, and Samuel Walton,
were chosen a committee to dispossess William Manning of
a strip of land he had enclosed of Deacon Bowtle's.
23 May, 1750, voted, in regard to an article in the war-
rant, " To see whether they will chuse a committee to treat
with Joseph Blanchard, Esq., as agent for the claimers of
Mason's patents, inasmuch as he has advertised the said
Souhegan to be granted away by him," that they will not
choose a committee to agree with Col. Blanchard.
No settlement seems to have been made by the proprie-
tors with the Masonian company.
1751. OLD AND NEW STYLE.
The Julian calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar 46
years B. C, continued in use in England and the English
46 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Colonies until 1752. By this, the Old style of reckoning,
one of every four years, without exception, was reckoned as
a leap year, making the average length of the years 365
days and 6 hours, or about 11 minutes and 10 seconds
more than the solar year. This difference between the
length of the civil and the solar years had, in 1582, accumu-
lated so that it amounted to about ten days, — the vernal
equinox, which should fall upon the 21st day of March, in
that year, falling upon the 11th. This variation in dates
disturbed the regularity of the church festivals, and Pope
Gregory XIII, after much study, ordered ten days to be
stricken from the calendar, the fifth day of October, 1582,
being reckoned as the fifteenth ; and to prevent a recurrence
of the difficulty it was ordered that the closing year of a
century should be reckoned as a leap year, only when it
could be divided by 400 without a remainder. This, the
Gregorian calendar, or New style, was adopted shortly after
in most Catholic countries.
In England, owing to the hatred existing against the
Catholics, its adoption was postponed. Finally, in 1751,
another day having been added in 1700, which was reckoned
a leap year, an act was passed by the Parliament which
directed that eleven days should be stricken from the
calendar in the month of September, 1752, the day follow-
ing the second day of that month being reckoned as the
fourteenth, so that the year 1752, though it was a leap year,
contained but 355 days. The provision for avoiding a
recurrence of the trouble was also adopted. The civil or
ecclesiastical year, before that time, began on the twenty-
fifth day of March, — March being reckoned as the first
month of the year, although by common usage the year was
said to commence on the first day of January, as at present.
Hence the double dating, in old records, of events that
transpired prior to the 25th of March, in years previous to
1752, both the common and civil years being given. This
distinction was abolished in 1751.
IV.] SOUHEGAN WEST. 47
At present, the Julian calendar, or old style, is used only
in Russia, and 1800 having there been reckoned as a leap
year, the difference between their dates and ours now
amounts to twelve days.
26 September, 1753, the proprietors voted that their
committee
"May: 1, lay out a Road from Salem Canady to Capt. Shepard's
bridge ; 2, a Road from Hezekiah Lovejoy's to the meeting house ; 3,
a Road from Josiah Sawyer's to the meeting house ; ±, a Road from
Thomas Clark's to the meeting house ; 5, a Road from the meeting
house to Capt. Shepard's mill ; 6, a Road from Small's to the meeting-
house, with a road from William Peabody's into said Road, all to be
dun as the Committee think fitt."
" Voated, that there shall be a Road laid out, four rods wide, from
Ebinezer Lyon's house to his Bridge, so. called."
" Voated, that they will build a Bridge over Soughegan River,
wheare Lyon's Bridge was. and appointed Mr. Lyon, Mr. Towne, and
Mr. Read, the Committee to build it."
" Voted, to allow Capt. Shepard and others eighty pounds, old
tenor, toward building the bridge called Shepard's bridge."
In 1753 the following petition for incorporation as a town
was presented to the Governor and Council by the citizens
of Souhegan West.
" To His Exelency the Coverner and to the Honorable the Council
of the Province of New Hampshire :
This humbly showeth that we, the subscribers, Inhabitants of a
New Plantation or Township called Soughegan West, or Narraganset,
No. 3, being Invironed with many irremidible difficulties under our
present situation, as the Barer will inform, earnestly pray that his
Exelency with your Hon'rs would Incorporate us, that we might
enjoy the valuable Liberties and priveledges of a Town, and would
Beg that the Charter of the Town may Bound us Westerly on the
Township called Saltnn Canada, Northerly on New Boston, so called,
Easterly on Bedford and part of Merrimack, Southerly on Soughegan
River, so called. All which is humbly submitted to your Kxellencies
and Honours' wise Council, as we in Duty Bound shall ever pray.
Dated at Soughegan West, January ye 26th, 1753.
Signed by
Ephraim Abbott, Josiah Abbot,
Joshua Abbot, Andrew Bixbe,
48
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Joseph Boutell,
William Bradford,
Benjamin Cheever,
Joseph Clark,
Ebenezer E i.li \ wood,
Ebenezer Ellinwood, Jr.,
Joseph Ellinwood,
John Everdon,
Solomon Hutchinson,
Samuel Lamson,
Samuel Lamson, Jr.,
B i; n.i a m i x Lovejoy,
Ebenezee Lton,
Robert Read.
Hugh Itoss.
Josiaii Sawyer,
A M)i; i;w Seetown,
John Smith,
Joseph Steel,
Samuel Stewart,
William Stewart,
Caleb Stiles.
Robert Stuard,
Benjamin Taylor,
Israel Towne,
Benjamin Wilkins,
Daniel Wilkins,
Daniel Wilkins, Jr.
No action seems to have been taken upon this petition.
Prices of sundries in 1759 : from an old bill found among
papers left by Rev. Mr. Wilkins;
17 Feb., ± lb. tea,
6 Sept.. 1 lb. chocolate,
22 Nov., £lb. tea,
25 Dec, 1 Gallon rum.
16 s.
4 s.
30 s.
3 1 s.
A Spanish milled dollar was reckoned at forty-five shil-
lings, in the currency of those days. Tea seems to have been
used to a considerable extent at this time. Tradition says
that the first seen in town was sent by a friend, in Boston,
as a present to the minister, whose good wife, being igno-
rant of the proper method of preparing it for use, boiled it
in an iron kettle or pot until she thought it was done, when
the mess was dipped out and the liquor " sipped of," with
no very satisfactory results. She doubtless soon found a
more excellent way of preparing it.
Its use was deemed almost a crime during the Revolu
tionary War, and the leaves of various other plants were
used as substitutes.
IV.] TOWN OF AMHERST. 49
INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST.
In answer to a petition of the inhabitants of Souhegan
West, praying that they might be incorporated as a town,
Gov. Wentworth, with the advice and consent of the Coun-
cil, granted the following charter :
" PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
George the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France,
and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith,
To all to whom these Presents shall come,
Greeting :
Whereas, our Loyal Subjects, Inhabitants of a Tract of Land within
our Province of Xew Hampshire, known by the name of Souhegan
West, on the western side of Merrimack, have humbly petitioned and
requested us that they may be erected and Incorporated into a Town-
ship and Infranchised with the same powers and privileges which
other Towns within our said Province by law have and enjoy. And
it appearing to us to be conducive to the general good of our said
Province, as well as of the said Inhabitants in particular, by main-
taining good order and encouraging the culture of the land, that the
same should be done. Know Ye, therefore, that we, of our special
Grace, certain knowledge, and for the encouragement and promoting
the good ends aforesaid. By and with the advice of our trusty and well
beloved Benning Wentworth, Esq., our Governor and Commander-in-
chief, and of our Council for said province of New Hampshire, Have
erected, and ordained, and by these Presents for us, our heirs and
successors. Do Will and ordain that the Inhabitants of the Tract of
land aforesaid, and who shall inhabit and improve thereon hereafter,
the same being Butted and Bounded as follows : viz.. Beginning at
Souhegan River, thence running north 1° west on the townships of
Merrimack and Bedford six miles, thence running west on Bedford
and a tract of land called Xew Boston six miles, thence South about
five miles and a half to Souhegan River aforesaid, thence by said
River to the place where it began : Be, and hereby are, declared and
ordained to be a Town Corporate, and are hereby erected and Incor-
porated into a body Politic and Corporate, to have continuance until
the first of January, 1762, by the name of Amherst, with all the
Powers and Authorities, Privileges, Immunities, and Franchises,
which any other Towns in said Province by Law hold and enjoy, to
the said inhabitants, or who shall hereafter inhabit there, and their
successors for said term ; always reserving to us, our Heirs and Suc-
4
50 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
cessors, all White Pine trees that are or shall be found growing and
being on said tract of land fit for the use of our Royal Navy; Reserv-
ing also to us, our Heirs and successors, the power and the right of
dividing said town, when it shall appear necessary and convenient to
the Inhabitants thereof. Provided, nevertheless, and it is hereby
declared, that this Charter and Grant is not intended, and shall not
in any manner be construed to extend to or effect the Private Property
of the soil within the limits aforesaid. And as the several towns
within our said Province aforesaid are by the laws thereof enabled and
authorized to assemble and, by the majority of voters present, to
choose all such officers and transact such affairs as are in the said
laws declared : — We do by these presents nominate and appoint Lieut.-
Col. John Goffe to call the first meeting of said Inhabitants, to be held
within said town at any time within forty days from the date hereof,
gi\ ing legal notice of the Time and design of holding such Meeting, —
After which, the Annual Meeting in said Town shall be held, for the
choice of Officers and the purposes aforesaid, on the second Monday
in March, annually.
In testimony whereof, we have caused the Seal of our Province to
be hereunto affixed.
Witness, Penning Wentworth, Esquire, Our Governor and Com-
mander-in-chief of our said Province, the eighteenth day of January,
in the Thirty-Third year of our Reign, and in the Year of our Lord
Christ One thousand and seven hundred and sixty.
B. WENTWORTH.
By his Excellency's Command, with advice of Council :
THEODORE ATKINSON, Sec'y.
A meeting for the organization of the town, under the
charter, was held at the meeting-house, 20 February, 1760,
at which Col. John Goffe, who was appointed to call the
meeting, read the charter.
Solomon Hutchinson was chosen town-clerk, and was
immediately sworn to the faithful execution of the duties
of the office.
Col. John Goffe was chosen moderator, and the town
voted to accept the charter.
Solomon Hutchinson, William Bradford, Reuben Mussey,
Reuben Gould, and Thomas Clark, were chosen selectmen,
IV.] TOWN OF AMHERST. 51
David Hartshorn and Nathan Kendall, tithing-men, and
the other usual town officers, were elected.
Gen. Jeffrey Amherst, from whom the town derived its
name, was born at Riverhead, County of Kent, England,
29 January, 1717. He early devoted himself to the pro-
fession of arms, and received an ensign's commission at
the age of fourteen years.
At the age of twenty-five he was engaged in the wars in
Europe, serving on the staff of Lord Ligonier. At a later
date he served on the staff of the Duke of Cumberland. In
1756 he was in command of a regiment of foot. In 1758
he was appointed to the American service, with the rank of
major-general. He sailed from Portsmouth, Eng., 1(3 March,
1758, with the forces destined for the siege of Louisburg.
That fortress surrendered on the sixth day of July following,
and he speedily took possession of the whole of the island of
Cape Breton.
Soon after this, he succeeded Gen. Abercrombie in the
command of the British forces in North America. In
November, 1758, he planned and executed the capture of
Fort DuQuesne. The capture of Niagara and Ticonderoga
soon followed. Crown Point, on Lake Champlain, was
taken 14 October, 1759, soon after the conquest of Quebec
by Wolfe ; and on the eighth day of October, 1760,
Montreal was surrendered to the British forces.
Shortly after this, he was made Governor-General of
Canada, Knight of the Bath, Lieutenant-General, and a
member of His Majesty's Privy Council.
He resigned his command in America soon after the
close of the war, in 1763, and returned to England.
In 1770 he became Governor of Guernsey ; was sworn of
the Privy Council in 1772 ; and in 1776 was advanced to
the peerage, when he took the title of Baron' Amherst, of
Homesdale, in the County of Kent. In 1787 he received
another patent, as Baron Amherst, of Montreal. From
1772 to 1782 he acted as Commander-in-chief of the British
52
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
forces. In 1782 he received the golden stick from the
King.
Upon a change in the administration, the command of
the army was put into other hands, but in 1793 it was
restored to him. In 1795 he was superseded in the com-
mand by the Duke of York, then a young man, who had
never seen any service. He was then offered an earldom
and the rank of field-marshal, both of which he declined ;
but in the following year he accepted the appointment of
field-marshal. He died at his seat at Montreal, 3 August,
1797.
He was possessed of a collected and temperate mind ;
had but little liking for show or parade ; was a strict dis-
ciplinarian, but a friend to the soldier. He was twice
married, but left no children, and his title and 'estates
passed to a nephew.
RESIDENT TAX-PAYERS IN AMHERST, SEPTEMBER, 1760.
Ephraim Abbot,
Joshua Abbot,
Josiah Abbot,
Ebenezer Averill,
Thomas Averill,
Andrew Bixby,
Joseph Boutele,
Kendal Bontele,
Andrew Bradford,
Samuel Bradford,
William Bradford,
David Burns,
John Burns,
Joseph Butterfield,
Oliver Carlton,
Benjamin Clark,
Joseph Clark, jr.,
Thomas Clark,
James Cochran,
John Cole,
Jacob Curtice,
Benjamin Davis,
John Davis,
Benjamin Dresser,
Ebenezer Ellinwood,
Ebenezer Ellinwood, jr.,
Jedediah Ellinwood,
Joseph Ellinwood,
Francis Elliott,
Elisha Felton,
Simeon Fletcher,
Nathan Fuller,
Richard Gould,
Samuel Gray,
David Hartshorn,
John Harwood,
Ephraim Hildreth,
Amey Hobbs,
William Hogg,
Ebenezer Holt,
Ebenezer Holt, jr.,
J. Holt,
IV.]
TOWN OP AMHERST.
53
Isaac How,
Solomon Hutchinson,
William Jones,
Nathan Kendall,
Jonathan Lainson,
Samuel Lamson,
Samuel Lamson, jr.,
William Lancy,
Abijah Lovejoy,
Benjamin Lovejoy,
Hezekiah Lovejoy,
Joseph Lovejoy,
Ephraim Lund,
Ebenezer Lyon,
Jonathan Lyon,
John McClernand,
Timothy Mclntire,
William Melendy,
Reuben Mussey,
William OdalL
John Patterson,
William Peabody,
John Pettengill,
Joseph Prince,
Robert Read,
Alexander Robinson,
Samuel Robinson,
Hannah Rollins,
James Rollins,
Hugh Ross,
Andrew Seaton,
John Seaton,
Samuel Seaton,
John Shepard,
John Shepard, jr.,
Joseph Small,
John Smith,
Timothy Smith,
Joseph Steel,
Caleb Stiles,
John Stuart,
Robert Stuart,
Samuel Stuart,
Benjamin Taylor,
Israel Towne,
Israel Towne, jr.,
Moses Towne,
Thomas Towne,
David Truel,
Moses Truel,
Caleb Upton;
Thomas Wakefield,
William Wallace,
Davis Walton,
Reuben Walton,
John Washer,
Stephen Washer,
John Wasson,
Daniel Weston,
Ebenezer Weston,
Ebenezer Weston, jr.,
George Wiley,
Amos Wilkins,
Benjamin Wilkins,
Daniel Wilkins,
Lucy Wilkins,
William Wilkins,
Mary Wilkins,
One hundred and ten in all.
Among the heaviest tax-payers were William Peabody,
whose tax was <£46, 18s., 3d. ; Nathan Kendall, £39,
lis., 6d. ; Israel Towne, <£34, Is., 9d. ; Joseph Prince,
.£31, 7s., 9d. ; and Joseph Steel, £30, 14s., 3d. A poll tax
was <£3, 7s., 6d.
54 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
A regiment of eight hundred men was raised in New
Hampshire this year (1760) to serve in an expedition for
the invasion of Canada. It was under the command of Col.
John Goffe, and inarched from Litchfield, through Monson,
Peterborough, and Keene, to Charlestown, on Connecticut
river, thence they cut a road twenty-six miles, through the
wilderness, to the Green Mountains, after which they fol-
lowed the road cut the previous year by Stark and the
rangers to Crown Point. They were forty-four days in
cutting the road to the Green Mountains. A large drove
of cattle, for the army at Crown Point, followed them.
A severe drought prevailed in the year 1761, by which
the crops were cut short in the frontier towns, and supplies
of provisions had to be obtained from abroad. It is related
that one of the settlers in Amherst, named Clark, walked
from this town to Charlestown, Mass., and purchased a
bushel of corn from a vessel lying near the ferry. This he
carried on his shoulder to Lovewell's mills, in Dunstable,
where it was ground into meal, which he carried home on
his shoulder. The whole distance out was about fifty
miles.
A tax of £561, old tenor, was assessed upon the tax-
payers of Amherst this year (1761), as the town's proportion
of the cost of the expedition to Crown Point in 1760, and
the reinforcements sent there, and for the expenses of
promoting and carrying on an expedition against His
Majesty's enemies in North America.
For the payment of this tax the following articles were
to be received at the prices specified, the same being
delivered to the Province treasurer at the expense of the
owner : Bills of credit ; Spanish milled dollars, at 15s.
each, new tenor ; gold and silver, in proportion ; good bar
iron, at £3 per hundred weight ; hemp, at Is. per pound ;
Indian corn, at 10s. per bushel ; pork, at 7d. per pound ;
flax seed, at Is. per pound ; pease, at 10s. per bushel ; and
codfish, at £1, 10s. per quintal.
IV.] TOWN OF AMHERST. 55
REVIVAL OF THE TOWN CHARTER.
The charter of the town expiring by limitation, on the
first day of January, 1762, the following petition for its
renewal was forwarded to the Governor and Council by the
selectmen :
" To His Exelency Benning Wentworth, Esqr., Governor in chief in
and over His Majestie's Province of New Hampshire, and to the
Honorable the Counsell.
The Memorial of us, the Subscribers, the Select Men of the Town
of Amherst, in Province aforesaid, Humbly sheweth that we, with
the Lowest Submission, Sollicitously pray that your Excelency and
Honours would lengthen out the life of the Charter of our Town; and
we doubt not but your Excelency and Honours, in your Great wisdom
and Clemency, will do it, during the King's pleasure ; and so your
Memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
REBUEN MUSSEY, ) Selectmen,
THOS. WAKEFIELD, f- in behalf of
WILLIAM PEABODY, ) the Town.
Amherst, Dec'r ye 15th, 1761."
"N. B. We, the Subscribers, Selectmen of the Town of Amherst,
Nominate and appoint Col. John Goff, Esqr., to represent to his Exel-
ency the Governor and the Honorable Counsil our Memorial, above
specified, to prolong our Town Charter."
The prayer of the selectmen was graciously answered by
the royal Governor, in the name of his master, as follows :
"PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France,
and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.
Whereas, our Late royal Grand-father, King George the Second, of
Glorious memory, of his special Grace and upon the Petition of the
Inhabitants of a Tract of Land in our said Province of Xew Hamp-
shire, heretofore known by the Name of Souhegan West, and for the
maintaining good order & encouraging the culture of the Land there,
by his Letter Patent, or Charter, under the seal of our said Province,
Dated the 18th day of Jan'ry, in the 33d Year of his reign, did erect
and incorporate into a Body Politic, and Corporate, by the name of
Amherst, the Inhabitants of the said Tract of Land, or those that
should inhabit therein thereafter, which tract is butted and bounded
56 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
as in the said Patent, or Charter, is expressed, and was to have con-
tinuance till the first day of Jan'ry, 1762, which Time being elapsed,
and the Inhabitants having again petitioned to have the said Charter
Privileges renewed, and it appearing necessary to answer the good
End proposed, as well as to Enable the Inhabitants aforesaid to assess
and collect their rates and Taxes,
Know Ye, that We, being willing to promote the good End pro-
posed, have of our Further Grace & Favor, By & with the advice &
Consent of our Trusty & well beloved Benning Wentworth, our Gov-
ernor & Commander in Chief, & of our Council for said Province,
revived & regranted unto the said Inhabitants and their Successors
on the s'd Tract of Land all the Powers & Authority, Privileges,
Immunities, & Franchises, in the said Charter mentioned, as they
enjoyed the same while that Charter was in force, and to have con-
tinuance until we thall please to Approve or disallow the same, and
signify such our approbation or disallowance.
In testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of the Province afore-
said to be hereunto affixed.
Witness, Benning Wentworth, Esqr., our Governor & Commander
in Chief, this 7th day of Jan'ry, in the second year of our reign,
Annoq Domini, 1762.
B. WENTWORTH.
By His Excellency's Command, with advice of Council :
THEODORE ATKINSON Sec'y.
V.] ANNEXATION OF MONSON. 57
CHAPTER Y.
ANNEXATION OF A PART OF SOUHEGAN WEST TO MERRIMACK.
MONSON. PETITION FROM MONSON FOR THE ANNEXATION
OF A PART OF SOUHEGAN WEST TO THAT TOWN. VOTE OF
THE TOWN OF HOLLIS IN REGARD TO THE DISMEMBERMENT
OF MONSON. PETITION OF INHABITANTS OF MONSON TO BE
ANNEXED TO HOLLIS. MR. WILKINS REMONSTRATES. SIGN-
ERS TO THE REMONSTRANCE OF THE INHABITANTS OF
AMHERST. ACTION OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST. MONSON
DIVIDED BETWEEN AMHERST AND HOLLIS. DISSATISFACTION
OF MONSON PEOPLE. — PETITIONS FOR A TOWN TO BE COM-
POSED OF THE MILE SLIP, DUXBURY SCHOOL FARM, AND PARTS
OF LYNDEBOROUGH AND AMHERST. EFFORTS FOR A DIVISION
OF THE TOWN INTO PARISHES. PETITION OF INHABITANTS OF
THE NORTH-WEST PART OF THE TOWN TO BE INCORPORATED
AS A SEPARATE PARISH. INCORPORATION OF THE PETI-
TIONERS AS A POLL PARISH. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND
PARISH. SETTLEMENT OF MR. BRUCE. INCORPORATION OF
THE SECOND PARISH BY METES AND BOUNDS. BOUNDARIES
CHANGED BY THE GENERAL COURT. VARIOUS VOTES OF THE
SECOND PARISH. MEASURES TAKEN FOR THE INCORPORATION
OF THE PARISH AS A TOWN. ACTION OF THE TOWN OF
AMHERST. MONT VERNON INCORPORATED. ITS BOUNDARIES,
AND NAMES OF THE TAX-PAYERS, 1 APRIL, 1804. PETITION
FOR THE INCORPORATION OF A POLL PARISH IN THE SOUTH-
WEST PART OF THE TOWN. ACTION OF THE TOWN OF
AMHERST. INCORPORATION OF THE THIRD PARISH. ITS
ORGANIZATION, AND VOTES OF THE PARISH IN RELATION TO
BUILDING A MEETING-HOUSE. MOVEMENTS TO BE SET OFF AS
A PARISH BY METES AND BOUNDS. THE THIRD PARISH INCOR-
58 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
PORATED BY METES AND BOUNDS. ORGANIZATION OP THE
CHURCH. VOTE OP THE PARISH IN REGARD TO THE INCORPO-
RATION OP THE THIRD PARISH WITH DUXBURY SCHOOL FARM,
AND THE MILE SLIP, AS A TOWN. ACTION OF THE TOWN OP
AMHERST. MILFORD INCORPORATED. ITS BOUNDARIES, AND
FIRST TAX-PAYERS. ANNEXATION OP ANOTHER PART OF
AMHERST TO MILFORD. REPORT OP A COMMITTEE APPOINTED
BY THE TOWN OF AMHERST IN REGARD TO A PROPOSED TOWN,
TO BE FORMED OF PARTS OF AMHERST, NEW BOSTON, BEDFORD,
AND GOFPSTOWN.
The first dismemberment of Souhegan West took place
1 June, 1750, when, by the amended charter of Merrimack,
a strip of land and water, some 1,380 rods in length, and
averaging about 125 rods in width, was taken from Souhe-
gan West, and annexed to that town.
This change seems to have been overlooked by Gov.
Wentworth at the time the charter of Amherst was granted,
its boundaries, as therein described, being the same as those
given in the original survey in 1728.
This boundary was the source of some contention between
the towns, and remained unsettled until the autumn of
1832, when it was settled by a committee consisting of
Benjamin M. Farley, of Hollis ; Jesse Bowers, of Dunsta-
ble ; and John Wallace, of Milford.
AMHERST AND MONSON.
The town of Monson received a charter from Gov. Went-
worth, 1 April, 1746. It was formerly a part of the town
of Dunstable, as chartered by the General Court of Massa-
chusetts, 16 October, 1673, and came under the jurisdiction
of New Hampshire on the establishment of the boundary
line between the Provinces in 1741.
The town of Hollis formed its southern boundary, and
the Souhegan river, its northern boundary.
V.] ANNEXATION OF MONSON. 59
In 1754 a petition was presented to the Governor and
Council by the selectmen and other inhabitants of the town
of Monson, asking that a portion of Souhegan West, adjoin-
ing that town, and embracing about one third of the area of
the township, might be annexed to Monson. A petition
from persons inhabiting the territory asked for, asking to
be annexed to Monson, was presented at the same time ;
but the request was not granted.
The town of Hollis, at a meeting held 2 March, 1761,
voted to petition the town of Monson for a strip of land,
one and a half mile in width, or thereabout, from the south
side of that town, which the town of Monson voted to grant
them, at a meeting held 23 March, 1761.
On the 18 October, 1762,
Daniel Bayley, Thomas Nevens,
Robert Colburn, William Nevens,
William Colburn, Zaccheus Shattuck,
William Colburn, jr., Joseph Stearns,
Samuel Hayden, Samuel Stearns, jr.,
Daniel Kenrick, Daniel Wheeler, and
Abraham Leman, James Wheeler,
Onesiphorous Marsh,
inhabitants of Monson, petitioned the Governor and Coun-
cil to be annexed to Hollis. A hearing on their petition
was ordered in April following, but was postponed to the next
June, in order to give the petitioners time to make further
arrangements with the towns of Amherst and Hollis. After
hearing the parties concerned, the petition was dismissed 3
June, 1763.
This movement for the dismemberment of Monson found
but little favor in Amherst at first.
Pastor Wilkins was strongly opposed to it, as the follow-
ing memorial will show : ♦
60 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
MEMORIAL OF REV. DANIEL WILKINS.
To His Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esquire, Governor and
Commander-in-chief in and over His Majesty's Province of New
Hampshire, and the Honorable His Majesty's Council and House of
Representatives, in General Court assembled :
This Memorial humbly sheweth that the Towns of Hollis and
Monson was lately notified of a Petition preferred to the General
Court, to annex the south side of Monson to Hollis, by an act, which,
when done, I humbly conceive will leave the Remainder under such
circumstances as that they cannot subsist alone (their town then being
but three miles in width, and very small in number, not exceeding
twenty settlements), so that it will be necessary that they be annexed
to us, or part of us to them, the consequence of which will not only
prove fatal to our Town, but to me also, as it will not only throw an
immense cost upon them, in pulling down our present Meeting-House
(which is as large as meeting-houses commonly are in the country,
lately finished, and situated to accommodate more people than any
one meeting-house can in the town, or in Monson), and cause them to
build two, instead of one, — too heavy a burden at present for
Amherst.
And also, this scheme will prove very fatal to me, for it will remove
the meeting-house far from me, at least ten miles, the travel of which
will be too great a fatigue for me, now in the decline of life ; and to
purchase and build again, I am not able. And besides, the present
scheme will doubtless kindle a fire that will not go out in this age, if
ever, so that, if the difficulties of travel could be removed, yet, may it
please your Excellency & Honours, I must conclude to live in the
flames of contention, or else haul up stakes, with a numerous fondly,
now in the decline of life, the latter of which I shall choose. In a
word, I am aware of one great argument they will use to enforce their
Petition, and it is this : viz., that the centre of their Town is such a
broken piece of land that they can't, without a great expense, be
accommodated with roads. To this, with submission, I reply, that
within half a mile of the north side of our Meeting-House there
begins a Break of land and extends to the Northern line of our town,
across which a great number of families must travel if we have two
meeting-houses in the Town, which break of land I am so well
acquainted with that it appears as practical to me to make a road
over the eminence of Joe Englishe's Hill as to make a road feasible
for travelling over said break of land. That this may more plainly
appear to your Excellency and Honers, the Selectmen of the town
went to look out a road across part of it, the better to accommodate
V.] ANNEXATION OF MONSON. 61
some of our Inhabitants, and found it impracticable. Now when
your Excellency and Hon'rs, in your great wisdom, consider how I
began with this people when they were small in number, but fourteen
families, and also the great fatigues and difficulties that I endured
for many years to build them up such a flourishing people, especially,
in the last war before this, encouraging a small number of families,
not exceeding thirty, to keep their Possessions, which, if I had
deserted, the whole Town would have disbanded and perhaps had been
a howling wilderness to this day, as is the case with other deserted
places, whereas now it is a flourishing Town, capable of bearing a
considerable part of the Province Taxes, and would be a place of
great unanimity, were it not for the scheme of splitting to pieces to
satisfy the avaricious desire of some particular Gentlemen, as also the
miserable condition that myself and my numerous family will be in if
I am obliged to leave the people by this means. I am well assured
that your Excellency and Honours, in your great wisdom and clem-
ency, will favor no scheme that has any tendency to make your most
dutiful subject miserable.
And so your Memorialist, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
DANIEL WILKINS.
Dated at Amherst the 28th March, 1763.
At about the same time another memorial was presented
to the General Court, from inhabitants of Amherst, protest-
ing against the annexation of a part of Monson to Hollis,
in which many of the arguments were used against the
measure that Mr. Wilkins advanced in his remonstrance.
This memorial was signed by
Joshua Abbot, John Burns,
Josiah Abbot, Oliver Carlton,
John Averill, Benjamin Clark,
Thomas Averill, Thomas Clark,
Moses Barron, jr., James Cochran,
Andrew Bixbee, John Cole,
Joseph Boutell, Jacob Curtice,
Kendal Boutell, Benjamin Davis,
Samuel Bradford, John Davis,
William Bradford, Jacob Dresser,
David Burns, Francis Elliott,
62
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Ebenezer Ellin wood,
Ebenezer Ellinwood, jr.,
Jedediah Ellinwood,
Joseph Ellinwood,
Rollandson Ellinwood,
Elisha Pelton,
William Felton,
Simeon Fletcher,
Nathan Fuller,
John Harwood,
David Heartshorn,
Jacob Hildreth,
William Hogg,
Ebenezer Holt,
Ezekiel Holt,
Aimer Hutchinson,
Solomon Hutchinson,
Jonathan Lampson,
Abijah Lovejoy,
Benjamin Lovejoy,
Benjamin Lovejoy, jr.,
Hezekiah Lovejoy.
Joseph Lovejoy,
Epliraim Lund,
Jonathan Lyon,
Timothy Mclntire,
William Melendy, jr.,
John Mitchel,
Reuben Mussey,
William Odell,
Joshua Pettengill,
John Patterson,
Nathan Phelps,
Joseph Prince,
Hugh Ross,
Oliver Sanders,
John Seccombe,
Andrew Seetown,
Samuel Seetown,
Andrew Shannon,
Timothy Smith,
John Stuart,
Caleb Stiles,
Benjamin Taylor,
Thomas Towne,
Amos Truel,
David Truel,
Moses Truel,
Thomas Wakfield,
Daniel Weston,
Ebenezer Weston,
Ebenezer Whittemore.
William Melendy,
Proposals for a division of the town of Monson between
the towns of Amherst and Hollis were laid before the voters
of Amherst, at a meeting held 21 February, 1763, but no
action was taken upon them.
At a meeting held 10 March, 1766, the people of the town
were called upon
" To determine concerning a petition, expected from Hollis, relative
to having a portion of Monson annexed to Amherst, and to do all
things necessary about the premises."
V.] ANNEXATION OF MONSON. 63
On which they
"Voted, that the;/ will not answer the petition of a number of persons in
Monson, relative to having a part of said Monson annexed to Amherst."
At the same time they expressed their wishes in regard
to the attendance of the Monson people upon their Sunday
services by voting
" That those of Monson that /rill instantly contract for having their polls
and estates assessed to the minister, in equal proportion with the people in
Amherst, shall be permitted to enjoy gospel privileges in common with
them, and such of them as will not pay a proper proportion, as aforesaid.
are desired ne>t to encumber the meeting-house any longer."
But in a short time a different spirit prevailed. On the
tenth day of April following, we find them voting, in town
meeting,
" To repeal the second article voted at the last meeting relative to
Monson, and that the same is hereby repealed and made void."
They not only repealed the vote, but expressed a willing-
ness to receive the Monson brethren as follows :
" Voted, that the following part of Monson, with the people thereon,
may be annexed, or joined to this town, and enjoy all privileges and
Immunities in common with this town : viz.,
Beginning at the North-East corner of said Monson, from thence
south by the town of Merrimack two miles, thence due west to the
west side of said Monson, thence north to Souhegan river, so called,
thence down said river to the bounds first mentioned, upon the fol-
lowing condition, and not otherwise, — that is to say, they, the people of
Monson, to be at the expense of getting the thing done.''''
And the people of Monson, having obtained the consent
of the town, did, at last, " get the thing done."
On the fourth day of July, 1770, a charter dividing the
town of Monson between the towns of Amherst and Hollis
received the sanction of Gov. John Wentworth ; and thus
Monson died from among the towns of New Hampshire,
after an existence of about twenty-four years.
64 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
It died, seized and possessed of a pound, said to have
been the only public building ever erected within its
borders.
A town meeting was held 13 September, 1 770, at which
the charter of annexation was read, and the new-made citi-
zens of Amherst welcomed.
But many of the Monson people were soon dissatisfied
with this arrangement. On the 26 January, 1771, a peti-
tion, signed by thirty persons, was presented to the Gov-
ernor, asking that all of that part of Amherst lying south
of a line commencing at a point on its western boundary,
one mile north of Souhegan river, and running due east to
its eastern boundary, might be incorporated as a separate
town.
Immediately after this a remonstrance against this
change, signed by one hundred and twenty-seven residents
of Amherst, was presented to the Governor, and the prayer
of the petitioners was not granted.
MOVEMENTS FOR A DIVISION OF THE TOWN.
In March, 1779, a petition was presented to the legis-
lature by sundry inhabitants of Amherst, Lyndeborough,
and the Mile Slip, asking to be incorporated into a town, with
the following boundaries : namely, commencing at the north-
east corner of the town of Wilton, thence easterly across
the town of Lyndeborough to Amherst west line, thence
southerly to the south-east corner of Lyndeborough, thence
in an easterly course far enough to make 396 rods from
the west line of Amherst, thence south to the east end of
the house of John Burns, thence south to Hollis line, thence
west on the south line of Amherst and the Mile Slip to
Mason line, thence north by Mason and Wilton to the
bound first mentioned.
Against the incorporation of this town sixteen inhabi-
tants of Amherst, six of the Mile Slip, and one of Lynde-
borough, residing within its limits, protested.
V.] ANNEXATION OF MONSON. 65
31 May, 1780, Stephen Blanchard, Stephen Blanchard,
jr., Simon Blanchard, Richard Boynton, David Chandler,
Samuel Gutterson, Caleb Jones, Benjamin Lewis, Benjamin
Lewis, jr., Timothy Maclntire, Joshua Mooar, Thomas
Parson, William Parson, Samuel Parson, Aaron Peabody,
Joseph Wallace, Stephen Williams, and Benjamin Wright,
inhabitants of Mile Slip and Duxbury school farm, petitioned
the General Court to be incorporated, with a part of
Amherst, into a town with the following bounds : com-
mencing at a white oak tree standing in the east line of the
town of Wilton, it being the north-west corner of the Mile
Slip, thence easterly on the south line of Lyndeborough,
600 poles to the south-east corner of Lyndeborough, thence
northerly on the east line of Lyndeborough about half a
mile to the south-east corner bound of a lot of land owned
by Joseph Duncklee, thence easterly 488 poles to a stake
and stones at the south-east corner of a lot owned by Amos
Green, thence southerly 592 poles to an oak tree standing
on land of Col. John Shepard, by the north bank of Sou-
hegan river, thence south-easterly by Souhegan river to a
stake and stones on the south side of the river, on land of
Moses Towne, about two miles in a straight line from the oak
tree mentioned as standing on Shepard's land, thence
southerly 620 poles to a stake and stones standing on the
north line of Hollis, thence westwardly on the north line of
Hollis four miles and a quarter to the north-west corner
bounds of Hollis, thence westerly one mile to Mason line,
thence northerly 248 poles to the south-east corner of the
town of Wilton, thence northerly on the same course to the
bound first mentioned.
At the same time Ebenezer Averill, Elijah Averill
Andrew Bradford, John Bradford, Joshua Burnam, Stephen
Burnam, Joseph Crosby, Josiah Crosby, Josiah Crosby, jr.,
William Crosby, Benjamin Hopkins, jr., Abner Hutchin-
son, Bartholomew Hutchinson, Benjamin Hutchinson,
Elisha Hutchinson, Nathan Hutchinson, Nathan Hutchin-
5
66 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
son, jr., Caleb Jones, William Peabody, William Peabody,
jr., Benjamin Temple, John Wallace, and William Wallace,
residents in Amherst on the territory proposed to be incor-
porated into the new town, presented a petition for the
same purpose, but their petitions were not granted.
THE SECOND PARISH.
Efforts for a division of the town into parishes were
made as early as 1778. In the autumn of that year several
persons, residing: in the vicinity of Shepard's mills, peti-
tioned to be set off as a parish by themselves ; but the town
refused to grant their request.
In the spring of 1779 the town chose a committee " to
treat with sundry persons belonging to the north-westerly
part of the town, who had petitioned to be set off as a
parish." The committee was also authorized to treat with
a number of inhabitants of the town, residing in the west-
erly part of the same, who desired to be set off to Duxbury
school farm, and the Mile Slip.
After hearing the report of this committee, the town, at
a meeting held 31 March, 1779, voted " not to set off a
parish in the north-westerly part of the town." They also
voted " not to set off the westerly part of the town to Dux-
bury school farm and the Mile Slip." The Mile Slip was a
strip of land about five miles long, and some three hundred
and fifty rods wide, which laid between Amherst and Hollis
on the east, and Wilton and Mason on the west, and
extended from Lyndeborough on the north to Raby, now
Brookline, on the south. It became a part of Milford in
1794.
Duxbury school farm laid between Lyndeborough and
Souhegan river, west of Amherst, and between Amherst
and the Mile Slip. It became a part of Milford in 1794.
Petitions having been presented to the General Court for
the establishment of new parishes in Amherst, the town, 5
V.] SECOND PARISH. 67
August, 1779, appointed a committee to show cause or
reasons why they should not be granted, and appointed an
agent " to prefer and enforce said reasons at the General
Court,"
6 December, 1779. Sundry inhabitants of the north-west
part of the town asked to be voted off as a parish, on condi-
tion that the inhabitants of that part of the town should
pay their full proportion toward the support of Rev. Mr.
Wilkins, and every charge of the town, except the settle-
ment of a minister, until they could supply themselves with
preaching in the parish ; but the town refused to grant
their request.
At the same time several of the inhabitants of the west-
erly part of the town, who desired to be set off to Duxbury
school farm, the Mile Slip, and a part of Lyndeborough,
asked to be excused from paying toward the ordination of a
minister ; or if they did pay, to have the money refunded
to them, if they were set off within four years. This request
was also denied.
At a meeting held 31 May, 1780, the town was again
asked that the south-west part of the town might be set off
and incorporated as a body politic with Duxbury school
farm, and One Mile Slip ; but leave was not granted.
Another committee was • appointed by the town, 11 Sep-
tember, 1780, to show cause before the General Court why
the prayer of a number of the inhabitants of the town
residing in the north-westerly part of the same, asking to
be set off as a separate parish, should not be granted. The
committee was also instructed to show cause why the
prayer of those persons residing in the south-west part of
the town, who asked to be set off as a town with Duxbury
and the Mile Slip, should not be granted.
Sundry persons residing in town having petitioned to the
General Court to be exempted from the payment of a min-
isterial tax, and for the appointment of a committee to view
their local situation, a committee was chosen 24 May, 1781,
68 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
to draw up reasons why their petition should not be
granted ; and the committee was authorized to appoint one
or more of its number to repair to the Court, oppose the
petitions, and meet a committee or committees of the peti-
tioners, to consider and make report for an accommodation.
The following petition, presented to the General Court,
at its session in March, 1781, sets forth the reasons which
actuated the petitioners in asking for a separation :
To the Hon'ble the Council & Gents of the Hon'ble House of Rep-
resentatives in General Assembly Convened, at Exeter, in the State of
New Hampshire. 14 March, 1781.
The Humble petition of the several persons whose names ai-e hereto
set and subscribed, Inhabitants of Amherst, in the County of Hills-
borough, living Chiefly' in the North-west part of s'd Town,
Sheweth, That the Rev'd Mr. Daniel Wilkius, the former minister
of Amherst, Being By Age and infirmities Rendered incapable of
Duty, the Town Chose a Committee to hire preaching until another
minister should be ordained. By which means, the Reverend Mr.
Jeremiah Barnard was introduced into the Church there, only By way
of Supply, the Town not being in a proper situation for settling a
Minister. However, the s'd Mr. Barnard officiated there for some
time. That your petitioners, for Reasons hereafter mentioned, Could,
By no Means, Rest Satisfied under his Ministry, and openly Disap-
proved of him. Notwithstanding which, a party was form'd In favor
of s'd Barnard, which party, taking advantage of Calling Church and
Town meetings when the severity of the season was such, and at
times when such abundance of snow had fallen, that it was extremely
Difficult, if not morally impossible, to have a general attendance of
the town inhabitants, it was carried by a very small Majority, to give
the s'd Mr. Barnard a call. An Ecclesiastical Council was Convened
at Amherst, on the first day of March, 1780, for the purpose of ordain-
ing him. That although your petitioners were convinced to their
great Grief and Sorrow (by being out voted) that they were not the
greatest part of the inhabitants of said Town, yet being conscious of
their weight and Importance (as paying a greater part of Taxes
than those that voted in favor of Mr. Barnard's settling), they did
think themselves aggrieved in having the s'd Mr. Barnard imposed
upon them in that unfair manner ; and they did — previous to the s'd
ordination — sign and address a Memorial and Remonstrance, Couched
in the strongest but most modest Terms, to the s'd Council, setting forth,
V.] SECOND PARISH. 69
amongst other things, ' that with Regard to Mr. Barnard, they must
say, that he was not a man of their choice ; that he was not the man
that they should choose for their Spiritual Guide, for then - instructor
in the Great and Deep mysteries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and
that his, the s'd Mr. Barnard's, discourses — however Doctrinally sound
they might be — did not appear to be delivered in the demonstration
of the Spirit and with that life, power, and energy which they could
wish for, nor yet with that Clearness and perspicuity which they
thought they had a right to expect from a Man thoroughly furnished
to every good work, and from one who might come to them in the
fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of peace.
And in conclusion, hoping that the bare sight of such a number of
names as would be annexed to s'd Memorial might be sufficient to
Convince Mr. Barnard that he ought not to think of settling where
there was so little prospect of his being Beneficial to the people and
comfortable to himself.'
And praying the Venerable Council that the said Mr. Barnard
might not be ordained, — To which Memorial your Petitioners pray
leave to refer themselves, And that it may be taken as part of this
Petition.
That. Notwithstanding there are some few of your petitioners who
did not sign said Memorial, yet did they oppose Mr. Barnard's being
settled as then* minister, and did in the strongest (though) modest
terms Manifest to the said Council their disapprobation of the said
Mr. Barnard's being ordained as a minister of the church and People
of this Town.
That, notwithstanding the said Memorial and Remonstrance, the
Council thought fit to ordain, and did accordingly ordain the said Mr.
Barnard.
In consequence whereof, for the reasons aforesaid, and also because
the said Mr. Barnard and his Party carry the Advantage they have
gained in manner as before set forth, with a high hand, your Peti-
tioners cannot in conscience resort to the now place of Public Wor-
ship in Amherst, nor can they join in prayer, nor in communion, with
the said Mr. Barnard, nor reap any benefit from his discourses, so
that they wholly absent themselves and may be said to be without
any settled minister.
Moreover, under all these difficulties and hardships which they
labor under, your Petitioners are liable to be rated with their equal
proportion of rates toward the support of the said Mr. Barnard, and
as under the foregoing circumstances your Petitioners think hard of
paying them, it seems to open a door of Contention and Law-suit,
which they would avoid.
70 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
That your humble petitioners, in Expectation of Being sett off as a
separate parish, did, sometime ago, at their own proper charge, build
a Commodious Meeting-house at the said N. W. part of said Amherst,
and have hired preaching for sometime past, hoping at the same time
to have enjoyed the privilege of a minister of then- own choosing, our
local situation being such as required the same. But that not being
granted by the then Hon'ble Assembly, Your Petitioners now have
recourse to your Honors, praying that you would take their most
unhappy cases into your Serious Consideration, and that they may be
at liberty to bring in a bill whereby they may be severed from the
said New M^eting-homa and Minister, and from any future minister
there, and from paying any rates for the repairs of the said meeting-
house, or support of the new minister, or any future minister of the
same, and that your Petitioners may be invested with the Power of
assessing, levying, and raising money for keeping their said Meeting-
house in Repair, when the same shall be in want thereof, and for
settling and constantly maintaining a Gospel minister in said X. W.
Meeting-house, and that it may and shall be lawful for any now minor
Children or servants of your Pet'rs, as soon as they shall come of age,
to poll off, if they see fit, and join such future minister or Ministers
of the Gospel at the said North-West Meeting-house, and may in like
manner be declared Independent of said Mr. Barnard's Meeting-House,
and separate therefrom, & from all rates whatsoever, incident to the
support of that meeting-house or minister, provided that such child or
children, servant or servants, so coming of age, do signify to the
Town-Cl'k of Amherst, in writing, his, her, or their, desire of joining
and becoming members of the said N. W. Society or parish, or that
your Hon'rs will grant your Pet'rs Relief in such other manner as you
in your great wisdom shall deem most meet.
And your Petitioners, as in Duty bound, will ever Pray.
Signed by John Averill and fifty-one others.
With the foregoing petition, we have the following
record :
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
In the House of Representatives, June 20th, 1781. Upon reading
and considering the foregoing Petition, Voted, that the prayer thereof
be granted, and that the Petitioners have leave to bring in a bill
accordingly.
Sent up for Concurrence :
JOHN LANGDON, Speaker.
v.]
SECOND PARISH.
71
In Council, June 21st, 1781, Read and Concurred :
E. THOMPSON, Sec'y.
Accordingly, on the thirtieth day of June, 1781, the
following persons were set off and constituted the Second,
or North-West, parish of Amherst :
John Averill,
William Bradford, jr.,
John Burnam,
Oliver Carlton,
Thomas Carlton,
John ' Cole,
Nathan Cole,
Josiah Dodge,
John Duncklee,
Joseph Duncklee,
Joseph Farnum,
Nathan Flint,
Nathan Flint, jr.,
Allen Goodridge,
Daniel Gould,
Richard Gould,
John Harwood,
Nathaniel Haywood,
James Hopkins,
Nathan Jones, jr.,
William Lamson,
Joseph Langdell,
Andrew Leavitt,
Joseph Lovejoy,
John Mills,
Knight Nichols,
Robert Parker,
Hannah Peabody,
Joseph Perkins,
Daniel Simonds,
Daniel Smith,
Isaac Smith,
Jacob Smith,
James Smith,
Timothy Smith,
Timothy Smith, jr.,
Joseph Steel,
Samuel Sterns,
Amos Sticknev,
Thomas Towne, jr.,
Joseph Tuck,
Enos Upton,
Ezekiel Upton,
Richard Ward,
Abijah Wilkins,
Daniel Wilkins,
Eli Wilkins,
Joshua Wilkins,
William Wilkins,
Samuel Winchester,
James Woodbury,
Peter Woodbury.
PROCEEDINGS OP THE NORTH-WEST PARISH.
The first parish meeting was held 24 June, 1781. Na-
thaniel Haywood was chosen moderator ; Eli Wilkins,
72 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
clerk ; Peter Woodbury, Nehemiah Haywood, and Abijali
Wilkins, assessors ; James Woodbury, treasurer ; Nathan
Flint, collector ; and Timothy Smith, Oliver Carlton, and
Richard Gould, a committee to hire preaching.
12 March, 1782, James Woodbury, Amos Stickney, and
Abijah Wilkins, were appointed a committee to lay the
lower floor, and sell the pew ground, in the meeting-house,
at public auction, and lay out the money received therefor
in finishing the house. It was voted, that if any notes were
taken for the pew ground, " they shall be upon interest."
1 July, 1782, voted, " to hire preaching upon probation.
29 August, 1782, voted to hire Mr. Powers to preach in
said parish. At the same meeting, a proposition to unite
with the South-West parish in hiring preaching at Mr.
Abner Hutchinson's was rejected.
18 January, 1783, voted to hire Mr. Allen to preach four
Sundays, if his services can be procured.
4 March, 1783, voted to raise fifty pounds to defray parish
charges.
9 September, 1783, voted not to hire Mr. Allen any
longer. Voted not to send to Dartmouth College for a
preacher.
9 December, 1783, voted to concur with the church in
giving Mr. Samuel Sargent a call to settle in the gospel
ministry in said parish.
Voted to give Mr. Sargent ,£120 lawful money as a
settlement, and £60 lawful money and 20 cords wood
yearly, as long as he supplies the pulpit, and £30 and 20
cords of wood yearly, during life, after he has ceased to
supply the pulpit.
The effort to settle Mr. Sargent failed, for, 29 December,
1784, they voted to concur with the church in giving Mr.
John Bruce a call to settle in the gospel ministry in this
parish. Also voted to offer Mr. Bruce £120 as a settle-
ment, and £60 and 20 cords of wood yearly, so long as he
carries on the work of the gospel ministry here, and £30
V.] SECOND PAEISH. 73
and 20 cords of wood annually, if he should become dis-
abled from carrying on the work of the ministry, for so
long a time as he remains the minister of the place.
Nathaniel Haywood, Oliver Carlton, and Lieut. William
Bradford, were appointed a committee to communicate the
votes of the parish to Mr. Bruce, and receive his answer.
Mr. Bruce accepted the call, and, after some delay, was
ordained 3 November, 1785. He continued pastor of the
parish and town until his death, which took place 12 March,
1809.
An act defining the boundaries of the Second parish
in Amherst, was passed by the legislature, 24 January,
1789.
7 January, 1790. The First parish having petitioned for
the repeal of the act establishing the boundaries of the
Second parish, William Lamson, Henry Campbell, and
Capt. William Bradford, were appointed a committee to
appear before the General Court, and show cause why the
prayer of the petition should not be granted.
4 June, 1790, Capt. William Bradford and Henry Camp-
bell were appointed a committee to go to Concord to hear
the report of a committee appointed by the General Court
respecting the alteration of the boundary line between Mr.
Barnard's and Mr. Bruce's parishes.
26 April, 1790. The meeting-house still remaining
unfinished, the parish chose a committee to finish the
meeting-house, as was voted, the committee to return any
overplus, that might arise from the sale of the pews,
to the treasurer.
15 October, 1790, voted that the committee for the time
being finish the ministerial pew, on the spot reserved for
that purpose.
25 January, 1791. Another act establishing the bound-
aries of the Second parish was passed by the legislature,
changing them somewhat from those fixed by the former
act.
74 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
21 March, 1791, voted to accept a strip of land lying in
the easterly part of Lyndeborough, with the inhabitants
living thereon, as a part of this parish, provided the consent
of Lyndeborough is obtained.
9 July, 1791, voted to find stuff and build the seats in
the meeting-house, except the breast-work in front of the
seats, and appointed Moses Kimball, Lieut. Joseph Farnum,
and Oliver Carlton, a committee to see the work completed.
19 March, 1792, Capt. John Mills was allowed seven
shillings for sweeping the meeting-house six times, and
taking care of the same for one year.
24 March, 1792, Mr. Jonathan Conant, formerly of Bev-
erly, was designated, by a vote of the parish, as the most
suitable man to serve as a justice of the peace in said
parish.
25 May, 1792. Voted to build a wall by the highway
against the burying-ground.
Voted, " that the bass viol be not carried into the meet-
ing-house to be used in time of exercise."
25 October, 1792, voted to allow the bill of the committee
for building the gate in front of the burying-ground,
amounting to £4, 19s., 5d.
Voted not to have the small-pox any longer in said parish
after the house that is now infected can be cleansed.
Voted to build another piece of wall by the side of the
burying-ground.
18 March, 1793, voted the pew in the gallery of the
meeting-house to the use of the singers.
17 March, 1794, voted Capt. Mills twelve shillings for
sweeping the meeting-house four times and taking care of
the same one year.
21 March, 1796, an article having been inserted in the
warrant calling the meeting holden this day, asking the
consent of the parish that the bass viol be used in the meet-
ing-house on Sundays, to assist the singers in time of public
worship, failed of approval.
V.] SECOND PARISH. 75
2 May, 1796, voted to raise $178 to pay a note held
by Rev. True Kimball, for preaching in the parish, the note
being signed by the committee chosen to hire preaching at
the time it was given.
1801. Voted to raise $253.33 to pay Mr. Bruce's salary.
3 May, 1802, voted to take measures to effect a separa-
tion from the town of Amherst, and a committee, consisting
of Maj. William Bradford, John Carlton, Capt. John
Batchelder, Capt. Joseph Perkins, Capt. Thomas Cloutman,
Dea. Jacob Kendall, Lieut. Benjamin Parker, Lieut.
Joseph Farnum, Eli Wilkins, Parker Richardson, Nathan
Jones, and Lieut. Timothy Hill, was appointed to petition
the town relative thereto.
On the last Thursday of May, 1802, the parish voted to
petition the General Court to incorporate them into a town,
with the same boundaries as those first established between
the First and Second parishes ; also, that a strip of land half
a mile wide, lying in the easterly part of Lyndeborough,
extending the entire length of this parish, and adjoining it,
be asked for as a part of the new town.
Nathan Jones, Eli Wilkins, James Smith, Joseph Lang-
dell, and Capt. Joseph Perkins, were appointed a committee
to prepare a petition for that purpose.
On the first Monday of June, 1802, chose Nathan Jones,
Capt. Joseph Perkins, and Capt. Benjamin Parker, to
present the petition to the General Court.
21 November, 1803, voted to accept the report of the
committee of the General Court in regard to the incorpora-
tion of the new town.
Voted, that the name of the contemplated town be Mont
Vernon.
action of the town of amherst.
2 May, 1803, at a town meeting held this day, Col.
Robert Means, Samuel Wilkins, Daniel Warner, Samuel
Whiting, and William Fisk, of the First parish, and William
76 HISTOEY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Bradford, Joseph Perkins, Eli Wilkins, Ebenezer Odell, and
Joseph Langdell, of the Second parish, were chosen to con-
fer together upon a division of the town and the incorpora-
tion of the Second parish into a separate town. Said com-
mittee were instructed to report at this meeting.
After a session of one hour, the committee reported
verbally, "not agreed."
Whereupon, the town chose Col. Daniel Warner, agent to
attend the General Court in the matter of the Second
parish petition. Daniel Campbell, Samuel Wilkins, and
Charles H. Atherton, were appointed a committee to consult
with said agent, and give him such advice and instruction
as they might think proper, free of expense to the town,
before he shall attend the General Court.
An act incorporating the town of Mont Vernon
passed the Senate the eighth ; the House, the ninth ; and
received the approval of Gov. John Taylor Gilman, the
fifteenth day of December, 1803.
Its boundaries, as given in the act of incorporation, were
as follows :
" Beginning at the north-west corner of Amherst, on New Boston
south line, thence running southerly on the west line of Amherst
about four miles and a half to the north-west corner of the town of
Milford, thence easterly on the north line of Milford to the south-east
corner of a lot of land now in possession of David Dodge and John
Cochran, thence northerly to the north-west corner thereof, thence
easterly to the south-west corner of a lot now in possession of Nathan
Fuller and John Fuller, thence northerly to the north-west corner
thereof, thence easterly on the north line of said Fuller's lot and the
north line of Elisha Felton's house lot, and the same course on the
line of Enos Bradford and Lambert Bradford's land to the south-west
corner of land now or lately owned by Enos Bradford, thence north-
erly on the east line of said land and the east line of a lot now owned
by John Clap to the north-east corner of said Clap's land, thence a few
rods to the south-west corner of a lot now in possession of Andrew
Leavitt, thence northerly on the west line of said lot in possession of
said Leavitt and on the west line of a lot now owned by Col. Robert
Means and others to the south-east corner of land now owned by
IV.]
TOWN OF MONT VERNON.
77
Joseph Nichols, thence northerly on the west line of said Nichols's
land to the north-west corner thereof, thence easterly on the north
line of said Nichols's land to a line running south from the east side of
Henry Spaulding's land, thence north to the south-east corner of said
Spaulding's land and on the easterly line thereof until it intersects
New Boston line, thence westerly to the place of beginning."
RESIDENT TAX-PAYERS IN MONT VERNON, 1 APRIL, 1804.
Timothy Austin,
Jesse Averill.
John Averill.
John Averill, jr.,
Eben Batchelder,
Israel Batchelder,
John Batchelder,
James Bennett,
Ebenezer Bills,
Jonathan Bixby,
Enos Bradford,
Lambert Bradford,
Widow Bradford,
William Bradford,
William Bradford, jr.,
Mark Burnam,
Charles Cambridge,
John Carlton,
Mrs. Emma Carlton,
Nathan Cleaves,
Josiah Coburn,
Thomas Cloutman,
Henry Codman,
Joseph Coggin,
William Coggin,
Jonathan Conant,
Jonathan Conant, jr..
Lot Conant,
Nathan Cross,
Jacob Curtis,
Jacob Curtis, jr.,
Allen Dodge,
Joseph Dodge,
Josiah Dodge,
Josiah Dodge, jr.,
Jonathan Duncklee,
Benjamin Durant,
Israel Farnum,
Joseph Farnum,
Thomas Farnum,
John Fisk,
John B. Flanigan,
Nathan Flint,
Samuel Flint,
Lieut. Allen Goodridge,
Allen Goodridge,
Nathan Green.
John Harwood,
John Harwood, jr.,
William Hastings,
Lieut. Josiah Herrick,
Peter Herrick,
Mrs. Judith Hill,
Timothy Hill,
Ebenezer Holt,
Ezekiel Holt,
James Hopkins,
James Hopkins, jr.,
Robert Hosea,
Nathan Jones,
Peter Jones,
Daniel Kendall,
Jacob Kendall,
John Kendall,
Lieut. Thaddeus Kendall,
William L. Kidder,
Josiah Kittredge,
Solomon Kittredge,
78
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Dr. Zephaniah Kittredge,
Jesse Lamson,
Jonathan Lamson, jr.,
Mrs. Mary Lamson,
Joseph Langdell,
-Jonathan Low,
Isaac Manning,
John Manning,
David Marshall,
Ebenezer Mills.
Samnel Mitchell,
Lieut. Ebenezer Odall,
Ebenezer Odall, jr.,
Capt. Benjamin Parker,
Robert Parker, jr.,
Aaron Peabody,
John Peabody,
Moses Peabody,
Samuel Peabody,
Capt. Joseph Perkins,
Joseph Perkins, jr.,
Samuel Phelps,
Ens. Benjamin Pike,
Ephraim Pike,
James Ray,
James Ray, jr.,
Levi Ray,
Mrs. Phebe Raymond,
John Roby,
John Roby, jr.,
John Rollins,
Daniel Secombe,
Dea. Daniel Smith,
Daniel Smith, jr.,
David Smith,
Eben Smith,
Isaac Smith,
Isaac Smith, jr.,
Jacob Smith,
James Smith,
Jeremiah Smith,
Nathan Smith,
Timothy Smith,
Abijah Spofford,
Benjamin Starnes,
Cyrus Styles,
Josiah Swinnerton,
Robert Taggart,
Henry Treavitt,
Allen Towne,
-John Trow,
Joseph Trow,
Joseph Trow, jr.,
Enos Lip ton,
Dea. Ezekiel Upton,
Lieut. Ezekiel Upton,
Nehemiah Upton,
Isaac Weston,
John Weston,
Thomas Weston,
Abial Wilkins,
Abijah Wilkins,
Eli Wilkins,
Jonathan Wilkins,
Peter Wilkins,
William Wilkins,
James Woodbury.
THE THIRD PARISH.
The inhabitants of the north-west part of the town
having been incorporated as a separate parish, the following
petition, from residents in the south-west part of the town,
was presented to the legislature at its session in March,
1782:
V.] THIRD PARISH. 79
" To the Honorable the Council, and the Gentlemen of the House of
Representatives in General Court Convened, at Concord, in and for
the State of New Hampshire, on Wednesday, the 13th day of March,
A. D. 1782.
The Petition of the subscribers Humbly shews :
That your Petitioners are Inhabitants of the extensive Town of
Amherst, and the most of your Petitioners live in the South-Westerly
part of said Town. That their local situation renders it impracti-
cable for some of your Petitioners and many of their Children to give
a general attendance at the stated place of publick worship in
Amherst. That your petitioners conceive that it is of great importance
that youth, as well as the aged, should be instructed in Morality and
piety.
That the settlement of the present Minister in Amherst was disa-
greeable to many of your Petitioners, and that some of your Peti-
tioners, previous to his Ordination, did sign a Memorial and Remon-
strance, setting forth their sentiments of the matter, and that he was
not a man of their choice.
That your Petitioners conceive that where there is a disaffection in
some, and an impossibility of attendance of others, the great and
important designs of publick instructions in Morality and piety are
frustrated.
That your Petitioners being of the Opinion that Amherst might
well spare them, there being three hundred rateable Polls that are
now Taxed to their present Minister, and where a sufficient number
to support a Minister desire to be sett off from so large a number as
there are in Amherst, no reasonable objection can be offered against
their request being granted, provided they leave as large a number to
support a minister in the former Parish, especially if the Petitioners
have lately assisted in erecting an elegant house for Publick Worship
in the Parish they desire to leave, and have paid their proportion — by
constraint — toward the settling of a minister there.
Your Petitioners did, sometime in the month of March, A. D. 1781,
Petition the Honorable the general Court to be severed from the
society that attended the Publick Worship in Amherst meeting-
house, to be set off as a distinct parish, and the Honorable Court,
granted us a day of hearing, but through inattention the Town of
Amherst was not served with a copy of the Petition and order of
Court thereon, and of course we could not have a hearing. Therefore,
your Petitioners pray your Honours to take our case under your wise
consideration, that we, your Petitioners, may have leave to bring in a
Bill severing us from the Society that attend the Publick Worship in
the present Meeting-house in Amherst, and discharging us from any
80 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
future taxes for the erecting or repairing a meeting-house in that
Parish, or for the support of their present or future minister, & erect-
ing us into a Distinct Pole Parish, with power to levy, assess, and
collect taxes for the Building a house for the Publick Worship of
GOD, for the settlement and support of a minister of the Gospel, and
granting to us all other Parochial powers, privileges, and immunities
proper for Pole Parishes. And also directing that the present inhabit-
ants of Amherst that are, or may he, desirous of Joining in Publick
Worship with us within the term one year from our incorporation
shall enter their names and such desire with the Clark of the said
Parish, and shall also produce to the town-clerk a certificate thereof,
and enter the same with him. Those that shall hereafter inhabit said
Town, that shall within the term of one year after they become
inhabitants shall enter their names and their desire of joining with us
in Publick Worship to the Clerk of the Parish, and shall produce to
the town-clerk a certificate thereof, and enter the same witli him ; and
also all those that are, or may be minors, that shall, within the term of
one year after they shall come of age, residing in said Amherst, enter
their names and their desire of joining with us in Public Worship
with the Parish Clerk, producing a certificate thereof to the town-
clerk, and enter the same with him, shall be deemed and taken to
belong to the pole Parish incorporated by this Act, and rated there to
all Parochial charges accordingly, and be exempted from^ any other
Parochial charges whatsoever, during their residence in said Amherst.
Or to grant us relief in such other way as your Honors shall think
proper. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.
Amherst, Feb'y ye 25th, 1782."
Signed by Isaac Abbot and fifty-six others.
9 September, 1782, the town of Amherst appointed Maj.
Joseph Blanchard, Mr. Samuel Dana, and Samuel Wilkins,
Esq., a committee to show cause why the prayers of the
petition of a number of the inhabitants of the south-westerly
part of this town to be set off as a poll parish should not be
granted ; however, their efforts availed but little, for, by an
act of the legislature, passed 23 November, 1782,
Darius Abbot, Moses Averill,
Isaac Abbot, Andrew Bradford,
Ebenezer Averill, John Bradford,
Elijah Averill, Augustus Blanchard,
v.]
THIRD PARISH.
81
David Burnham,
Israel Burnham,
Joshua Burnham,
Stephen Burnham,
George Burns,
John Burns,
Thomas Burns,
Henry Codman,
Benjamin Conant,
Josiah Crosby,
Josiah Crosby, jr.,
Sampson Crosby,
Stephen Crosby,
William Crosby,
Samuel Dodge,
James Gilman,
Arthur Graham,
Samuel Graham,
John Grimes,
Jonathan Grimes,
Thaddeus Grimes,
William Grimes,
Benjamin Hopkins, jr.,
Benjamin Hopkins, 3d,
Ebenezer Hopkins,
Samuel How,
Abner Hutchinson,
Bartholomew Hutchinson,
Benjamin Hutchinson,
Elisha Hutchinson,
Jonathan Hutchinson,
Nathan Hutchinson,
Nathan Hutchinson, jr.,
William Melendy,
William Peabody,
Bartholomew Towne,
Jonathan Towne,
John Wallace, and
William Wallace,
were constituted the Third, or South-west, parish of Am-
herst, " for transacting ministerial affairs only."
The first parish meeting under this act was held at the
house of Thaddeus Grimes, 9 January, 1783. At this
meeting Capt. Nathan Hutchinson was chosen moderator ;
Augustus Blanchard, clerk ; and Augustus Blanchard,
Lieut. Thomas Burns, and Capt. John Bradford, assessors.
" Voted, to build a meeting-house of the same size and bigness the
north-west parish hath built, except the porches."
" Voted, a committee to consist of three men : viz., Lieut. Darius
Abbot, Capt. Josiah Crosby, and Capt. Andrew Bradford, to provide
timber, boards, and shingles, for the same, and to let the same out at
public vendue to the lowest bidder."
4 March, 1783. " Voted, to raise £95, to be laid out in purchasing
timber, boards, shingles, slit work, and other materials for building a
meeting-house."
82 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Voted to hire fifteen pounds to pay for preaching the
current year. Capt. Nathan Hutchinson, Lieut. Thomas
Burns, and Capt. John Bradford, were appointed a com-
mittee to procure preaching.
Later in the same year it was voted that the meeting-
house should stand on a rise of ground about twenty rods
south of Shepard's bridge ; and at another meeting, held
the same year, Capt. Nathan Hutchinson, John Wallace,
and John Burns, were chosen a committee to procure
stone for underpinning the house ; and Joshua Burnham
was authorized to purchase a " parish book."
2 March, 1784, it was voted to proceed with the meeting-
house, and to begin to frame it the first Monday in June,
and raise it as soon as possible. Capt. Nathan Hutchinson,
Capt. Josiah Crosby, and Capt. Andrew Bradford, were
appointed a committee to see that the meeting-house was
framed, underpinned, and raised.
Voted to raise twenty-five pounds to pay for preaching,
and thirty pounds toward the expense of the meeting-
house ; that three shillings per day be allowed to each man
for work on the meeting-house, the laborer to board him-
self, and that any person who may hereafter join the
parish shall be exempt from any tax assessed to raise, board,
and finish the meeting-house.
15 Jane, 1784, the proposed location of the house not
proving satisfactory, it was voted that the house should be
set on a spot about ten rods north-west from the former
place, between two pitch-pine stumps ; and Augustus Blan-
chard, Lieut. Thomas Burns, Joshua Burnham, Capt. John
Bradford, and Lieut. Benjamin Hutchinson, were appointed
a committee to carry on the work, and make provision for
the raising, for which they were authorized to procure one
barrel of rum, two barrels of cider, and one quarter of
sugar.
The frame of the meeting-house was probably raised in
the summer of 1784, for, 2 September, ] 784, at a meeting
V.] THIRD PARISH. 83
of the parish, it was voted to board it with square-edged
boards, and shingle it, and that the boarding and shingling
be let out to the lowest bidder. The sum of <£40 was voted
to defray the expense of further finishing the house, and a
committee was appointed to wait upon Gov. Hopkins and
get the nails he had offered to give. In November of the
same year it was voted to provide clapboards, doorsteps,
boards for the lower floor, sashes, suitable stuff for window-
frames, and glass ; and Capt. Nathan Hutchinson, Capt.
William Peabody, and Capt. Josiah Crosby, were chosen a
committee to provide them, and see that they were delivered
at the house.
1 March, 1785. Voted to raise fifty pounds to be laid
out on the meeting-house.
7 March, 1785. Voted to build porches to the meeting-
house, and appointed a committee to see that the work was
done as soon as the other outside work on the house was
completed.
25 April, 1786. A committee was chosen to sell the
pew ground in the meeting-house at public vendue, to the
highest bidder, and give proper conveyances to the pur-
chasers, the money arising from the sales to be laid out in
finishing the house.
5 September, 1785, the laying of the lower floor was let
out at public vendue to Thomas Boynton, he proposing to
do it for thirty-nine shillings.
A committee was appointed at the same time to procure
floor nails, see that the sills were underpinned, and that the
floors were laid in a good, workmanlike manner.
25 December, 1785, provision was made for furnishing
the sashes, window frames, doors, body seats, and stuff for
the body seats, which was let out at public vendue to the
lowest bidder. A committee was chosen to furnish all
necessary materials, and see that the work was done in a
good, workmanlike manner, and the whole was to be com-
pleted by the first day of the following June.
84 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
March, 1787, the porches seem not to have been built at
the time specified, as we find the parish voting to adopt the
plan of the Temple meeting-house [torches, and building in
the same form.
September, 1787, a committee was chosen to get the
glass set, and the sashes put in the window-frames.
£10 was voted to pay for setting the front door-steps,
clearing up, and leveling the ground before the meeting-
house.
1788, William Crosby deeded to the parish the land on
which the meeting-house stood, and a tract of land for a
burying-ground.
In the same year further provision was made for finishing
the house ; the pews were sold ; and in the month of Decem-
ber the parish voted to agree with Mr. Thurston, or some
other minister, to preach six months during the coming year.
March, 1789, twelve feet in the front of the gallery was
appropriated for a pew for the singers, and £10 was
voted to be laid out in work around the house. In October
it was voted to enlarge the singers' pew, and that it be
seventeen feet long and no longer.
March, 1790, it was voted to build two pews at each
end of the singers' pew, in the gallery, at the expense of
the parish.
27 January, 1791. A committee was appointed to treat
with the First parish to have the Third parish set off and
bounded by the following lines : beginning at the north-
east corner of Ebenezer Averill's land, thence southerly,
including Andrew and John Bradford's interest, William
Peabody, the Widow Shepard, Jotham and Daniel Shepard,
and John Shepard, Esquires' interest, until it comes to Sou-
hegan river, thence by said river to Merrimack line, the
Third parish to include all that part of Amherst lying south
of Souhegan river.
In June of the same year a committee, consisting of
Joshua Burnham, Josiah Crosby, Augustus Blanchard, and
V.J THIRD PARISH. 85
Porter Luramus, was appointed to petition the General
Court to be set off as a parish by lines, or as a town ; and
£12 was voted to pay their expenses.
In June, 1792, the South-west parish was incorporated
by the legislature, and its boundaries established.
In October of the same year the parish voted to sell the
remaining pews at public vendue, and apply the proceeds of
the sales to the painting and further finishing of the house,
and at the annual meeting in March, 1793, the funds of the
parish remaining in the hands of former collectors were
appropriated to the same purpose ; and so at last the meet-
house was substantially finished. Prior to its erection, and
until it was in a condition to be occupied, the parishioners
held their Sunday services in Col. Shepard's barn.
The church in the South-west parish was organized by
an ecclesiastical council, which met 19 November, 1788.
It was the eighteenth in order of the churches organized in
Hillsborough county, the church in the North-west or
Second parish being the sixteenth, and the church in the
First parish the third. The council on this occasion con-
sisted of Jonathan Livermore, Abel Fiske, John Bruce,
Moses Putnam, Ebenezer Rockwood, Richard Ward, Daniel
Mansfield, and William Bradford.
In the proceedings of the council, the following persons
are named as constituting the church :
■&
Stephen Burnham, Caleb Jones,
Thomas Burns, Jonathan Jones,
Benjamin Conant, William Melendy,
Benjamin Hutchinson, Jonathan Towne,
Elisha Hutchinson, John Wallace, and
Nathan Hutchinson, Joseph Wallace;
and attached to the covenant are the following additional
names :
86 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
James Wallace, Betsy Wallace,
Hannah Bradford, Letitia Wallace, and
Mary Burnham, Mary Wallace.
Sarah Hutchinson,
The first meeting of the church, after its organization,
was held at the house of William Crosby, when Elisha
Hutchinson was chosen clerk. Provision was made at this
meeting for the admission of new members ; but for several
years its growth was slow, only nineteen being present at
the meeting in March, 1802, which gave Mr. Moore a call
to the ministry.
INCORPORATION OF MILFORD.
17 August, 1793. At a parish meeting held this day, it
was voted to petition the General Court to be set off as a
separate town, and Augustus Blanchard, William Peabody,
Thomas Burns, Joshua Burnham, and Benjamin Hutchin-
son were appointed a committee to treat with the committee
from the Mile Slip, and others, respecting being set off.
17 October, 1793. " Voted to petition the General Court,
in connection with the Mile Slip, Duxbury, and a part of
Hollis, to be set off from the old town as a separate town;"
and William Peabody, Augustus Blanchard, and Solomon
Hopkins, were appointed a committee with full power to
petition the General Court to be incorporated into a body
politic, also to do every thing to fully complete the same,
their proceedings to be ratified by the parish, which is
to pay the expense of the same.
At the same meeting it was " voted to make application to
the town of Amherst for their consent that we be set off as
a separate town."
ACTION OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST.
An application asking the consent of the town that the
South-west parish, Duxbury, the Mile Slip, and a part of
V.] TOWN OP MILFOED. 87
Hollis, should be incorporated as a town, having been
made, the selectmen called a meeting, which was held 28
October, 1793, at which the town voted that the prayer of
the petitioners be granted, so far as this town is concerned,
on condition that the petitioners pay their part and propor-
tion of any debts now due from the town, and continue to
pay their proportion of maintaining' any poor to whose
maintenance the town of Amherst is now subject.
The consent of the town of Amherst having been
obtained, an act was passed by the General Court on the
eleventh day of January, 1794, incorporating the town of
Milford, including in the new town the South-west parish
of Amherst, the Mile Slip, Duxbury school farm, and a part
of Hollis, the boundaries being as follows :
Beginning at the south-west corner of the North-west
parish in Amherst, on Lyncleborough line, thence running
easterly to the north-east corner of Amos Green's lot, called
the Mill lot, thence southerly in a straight line to the south-
west corner of the lot numbered twenty, thence easterly on
the range line to the north-easterly corner of William Pea-
body's land, thence southerly on the range line between
John Shepard, Esq.'s and William Peabody's land, until it
comes to land of John Shepard, late of Amherst, deceased,
thence easterly to the north-east corner of the same, joining
to land of John Shepard, Esq., thence southerly by land
of John Shepard, Esq., aforesaid, on the range line to
Souhegan river, thence down the middle of the same till it
strikes land owned by Benjamin and Stephen Kendrick,
thence southerly by said Kendrick's land to the road lead-
ing from David Danforth's to the town of Wilton, thence
crossing the same and naming a south point to Hollis line,
being near David Duncklee's land, and then to the north-east
corner of the land lately laid off from said Hollis by their
committee appointed for the above purpose, thence running
south about twelve degrees east so as to strike the north-east
corner of John Starnes's land, it being the north-west
88 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
corner of Robert Colburne's land, thence on the same
course until it comes to the south-east corner of said
Starnes's land, thence westerly by said Starnes's land
and William Hale's land, until it comes to the north-
west corner of said Hale's land, thence running west-
erly to the north-east corner of Mr. Gould's land, and
so on westerly by said Gould's and David Danforth's land
to said Gould's north-west corner, thence turning south-
westerly to the south-east corner of Robert Durrick's land,
thence west fifteen degrees south until it comes to Raby
east line, thence northerly on Raby east line until it comes
to the south line of Amherst, thence westerly on the north
line of said Raby to the south-east corner of the Mile Slip,
thence westerly to the south-west corner thereof, thence
northerly on the east line of Mason and Wilton to the
north-west corner of the Mile Slip, thence easterly on the
sjuth line of Lyndeborough to the bound first mentioned.
RESIDENT TAX-PAYERS IN MILPORD, 1 APRIL, 1794.
Isaac Abbot, Richard Boynton, jr.,
Isaac Abbot, jr., Andrew Bradford,
Samuel Abbot, John Bradford,
Jacob Adams, Caleb Brown,
Ebenezer Averill, Andrew Burnarn,
Elijah Averill, Joshua Burnam,
James Badger, Stephen Burnam,
Reuel Baldwin, Daniel Burns,
Joel Barker, George Burns,
Nehemiah Barker, James Burns,
Isaac Bartlett, John Burns,
Augustus Blanchard, John Burns, jr.,
Isaac Blanchard, Moses Burns,
John Blanchard, Thomas Burns,
Simon Blanchard, Simeon Butler,
Stephen Blanchard, Jonathan Buxton,
Widow Lucy Blanchard, Robert Campbell,
Oliver Bowers, Ballard Chandler,
John Boynton, Daniel Chandler,
Richard Boynton, Daniel Chandler, 2d,
v.]
TOWN OP MILFORD.
89
Richard Clark,
Benjamin Conant,
John Crosby,
Josiah Crosby,
Samson Crosby,
Stephen Crosby,
William Crosby,
Robert Darrah,
David Duncklee,
David Duncklee, jr.,
.Jacob Duncklee,
Jacob Flinn,
Edward Foster,
Moses Foster,
Benjamin French,
Asa Gilmore,
Abel Gilson,
Asa Goodall,
Daniel Goodwin,
Jonas Green,
John Gutterson,
Samuel Gutterson,
Samuel Gutterson, 2d,
Simeon Gutterson,
Jonathan Hale,
Jonathan Hale, 2d,
Samuel Hartshorn,
Isaac How,
Stephen How,
Joseph Hoar,
Joseph Hoar, jr.,
Joseph Hood,
Joseph Hood, jr.,
Benjamin Hopkins,
Daniel Hopkins,
John Hopkins,
Peter Hopkins,
Solomon Hopkins,
William Hopkins,
Nehemiah Howard,
Jeremiah Hubbard,
Abner Hutchinson,
Bartholomew Hutchinson,
Benjamin Hutchinson,
Elisha Hutchinson,
Nathan Hutchinson, jr.
Timothy Hutchinson,
Daniel Johnson,
Caleb Jones,
Jonathan Jones,
Joshua Jones,
Joseph Knowlton,
Benjamin Lewis,
Jonathan Lovejoy,
Samuel Lovejoy,
Porter Lumnius,
Jotham Lund,
Isaac Marshall,
-John Marvell,
Joseph Melendy,
Nathan Merrill,
Joshua Mooar,
Stearns Needham,
Benjamin Nevins,
Josiah Osgood,
Aaron Peabody,
William Peabody,
Joseph Perry,
Daniel Person,
Ebenezer Person,
Jonathan Phelps,
William Powers,
Aaron Priest,
Nathaniel Payment,
Jacob Richardson,
Ebenezer Sargent,
Nathaniel Seavey,
Simon Shed,
Daniel Shepard,
John Shepard,
Jotham Shepard,
Daniel Smith,
John Smith,
Isaac Southwick,
Nathaniel Southwick,
John Stearns,
90 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Edward Taylor, James Wallace,
Widow Taylor, dohn Wallace,
Widow Temple, Joseph Wallace,
Bartholomew Towne, Widow Mary Wallace,
Jonathan Towne, John Willard,
Moses Towne, Benjamin Wright.
Rebecca Upton,
8 March, 1886. The town of Amherst appointed David
Stewart agent to oppose the petition, then pending in the
legislature, of Daniel Holt and others, asking to be set off
from Amherst and joined to Milforcl. After some delay
the legislature passed an act, approved 20 December, 1842,
by which a tract of land, bounded as follows, was severed
from Amherst and annexed to Milford : commencing at a
stone monument standing on the bank of Souhegan
river on the dividing line between Amherst and Milford,
thence north on said dividing line 128 rods to a stone mon-
ument, thence south 69° east 165 rods to a stake and
stones on land of Daniel Holt, thence south 3° east 218
rods to a white oak tree on the bank of Souhegan river,
thence by said river to the bound first mentioned.
CHESTNUT HILLS.
The • formation of a town from parts of Amherst, New
Boston, Goffstown, and Bedford, was proposed prior to
1792. At the annual town meeting in March of that year,
Col. Daniel Warner, Samuel Dana, Esq., Col. Robert
Means, Joshua Atherton, Esq., and Mr. Daniel Campbell,
were appointed to view the premises petitioned for by John
Patterson and others, and report on the same.
23 May, 1792, they reported "that they had attended
to that service ; considered the situation of the parties with
regard to the place of public worship in said town ; con-
ferred with a committee of the town of Bedford appointed
for the same purpose ; and received a plan of said Bedford ;
also were favored with the company of one gentleman from
V.] TOWN OF MILFORD. 91
Goffstown ; but had no plan of that town, or New Boston ;
but had reason to believe that a decent town might be made
on the plan of the petitioners without great injury to the
towns adjoining ; but did not take upon them to judge how far
it may affect any other town but Amherst."
" With regard to their centre, ability, &c. ; With regard to that part
of Amherst petitioned for, we are of opinion that the petitioners have
been full as modest and reasonable in their request as any petitioners
who have heretofore endeavored to make dismemberments of the
town ; but we understand that a number of the settlers on the most
southerly range of lots petitioned for are averse to joining in the
proposed new town, We think the prayer of the petition can only be
granted as far as follows : viz., To begin at the south-east corner of
John Stewart's lot, thence to run west on the range line to the south-
east corner of Benjamin Damon's lot, thence west to the west side of
lot No. 103, thence south a few rods to the range line again, and on
that west to the North Parish line, and that all the inhabitants with
their lands included within the line prayed for be permitted to leave
Amherst and join with others mentioned in the petition in making a
new town ; but until they can obtain an incorporation of a new
town on or near their proposed plan, they be considered as liable to
duties and entitled to privileges in Amherst in the same manner as
they have been in times past.'
Which report was accepted.
This project for a division of the town failed, and,
although it was renewed some years after, it has not been
accomplished.
92 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTER VI.
SITUATION, EXTENT, AND BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWN. DIS-
TANCES FROM PROMINENT PLACES. SURFACE. ALTITUDES.
STREAMS. PONDS. FOREST TREES AND SHRUBS. QUAR-
RIES. FISH AND GAME. ADVENTURES OF TWO OF THE
EARLY SETTLERS. A WOLF HUNT. REPTILES. ATMOSPHERIC
CHANGES. INDIANS. STORY OF JOE ENGLISH.
The town of Amherst is situated in the southerly part of
the county of Hillsborough, in the State of New Hampshire,
in latitude 42° 51' north. It lies on both sides of the
Souhegan river, the principal part being on the northern
side.
Its length from north to south, according to a survey
made in 1806, is 9 miles and 170 rods. Its greatest width
is about 5 miles, and its least width 2 miles and 242 rods,
comprising an area of about 22,000 acres, of which about
500 are covered with water.
It is bounded on the north by Bedford and New Boston,
on the east by Bedford and Merrimack, on the south by
Hollis and Milford, and on the west by Milford and Mont
Vernon.
Its distance from Concord is 28 miles ; from Manchester,
12 miles ; from Nashua, 10 miles ; from Portsmouth, 53
miles ; and from Washington, 484 miles.
Its surface is broken and uneven. Near the Souhegan is
a strip of valuable interval land. Adjoining this, at a
higher elevation, are large tracts of sandy plain land,
formerly thickly covered with a growth of pitch pines.
Along the watar courses are considerable tracts of meadow
VI.] CURRENT EVENTS. 93
land. At a higher elevation, the hill-sides afford excellent
grazing land, and when moderately free from rocks are
well adapted to agricultural purposes, and with proper care
yield an abundant reward to the husbandman. In other
parts they are as hard and strong as granite can make
them, and are fitted only for the production of fuel and
timber.
Chestnut Hill, in the north-east part, adjoining New
Boston, is the most elevated land in town. Walnut hill, in
the east part of the town ; Wilkins's hill, south of the
village ; Christian hill, in the west part of the town ; and
Moderator's hill, north of the village, are the principal
elevations.
The altitude of the Wilton railroad at Amherst station is
said to be 256 feet above mean tide water ; of Amherst
plain, in front of the town-house, 427 feet ; and of Mont
Vernon village, one of the highest points in the original
township of Souhegan West, 770 feet, or 270 feet higher
than the surface of Lake Winnipiseogee.
Souhegan river crosses the town, running in a south-
easterly course. Beaver brook rises in the north part of
Mont Vernon, runs in a southerly direction nearly the
whole length of that town and passes into Amherst, where it
runs in a southerly course through Holt's meadow, thence
changing its course to an easterly direction it passes north
and east of the village, after which it pursues a southerly
course and falls into the Souhegan.
Prince's, or Babboosuck, brook runs in a south-easterly
direction from Joe English's pond in the north-west part
of the town, to within a few rods of Babboosuck pond, where
it suddenly changes its course to the north-east. In a
short time it again changes its course to a south-easterly
direction, and passes into Bedford, continuing on the
same course through a corner of that town, and Merrimack,
it empties into the Souhegan. In its course through
Amherst it receives Damon's, Stiles's, and other brooks as
94 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
tributaries, and in Bedford it receives Pulpit brook, which
passes through the north-east part of Amherst into that town.
Babboosuck pond, which was wholly within the limits of
Amherst, as it was originally laid out, is in the east part of
the town, and is estimated to cover an area of about 380
acres. A small brook connects it with Little Babboosuck,
or Weston's pond.
Joe English's pond, in the north-west part of the town,
lies partly in New Boston, partly in Mont Vernon, and
partly in Amherst, the larger part being in Amherst.
Damon's pond is a small pond in the north-east part of
the town ; and Stearns's pond, another small pond, is in
the south part of the town.
Most of the varieties of forest trees and shrubs common
in southern New Hampshire abound in Amherst. The
mountain chestnut oak, somewhat rare in other parts of
the State, grows abundantly on Wilkins's hill.
The white pine is still plenty, but the monarchs of the
warm hillsides, with trunks four or five feet in diameter,
extending upward a hundred or a hundred and twenty-five
feet, have almost entirely disappeared. The axe and the
fire have been busy in their destruction.
The smaller wild fruits are produced in abundance, and
latterly hundreds of bushels of the several varieties are sent,
in their season, to Boston and other cities.
Granite abounds, and, in some parts of the town, is found
of a fine quality. A few ledges have been opened, where it
is quarried for building purposes. Ledges of crystalized
quartz occasionally occur. Limestone has been found in
the north-east part of the town, and iron ore exists in small
quantities. Deposits of clay are found, from which brick
and earthen ware are manufactured. About a mile east of
the plain is a mineral spring, the water of which is thought
to be useful in the treatment of some diseases.
The ponds and brooks were once well stocked with fish,
and the salmon formerly passed up the Souhegan in the
VI.] CURRENT EVENTS. 95
spring time. They are said to have been caught from the
river at East Wilton as late as 1774. Within a few years
black bass have been introduced into Babboosuck pond.
Game was plenty in the early days of the settlement, but
the larger animals have long since disappeared. The black
bear was frequently met with by the early settlers. Tra-
dition has it that one of them, a young man, had built a
cabin on Walnut hill, and, not deeming it good for man to
be alone, had contracted a habit of crossing the township
frequently to a dwelling in the vicinity of Shepard's mills.
On one of these excursions he met a she bear and a couple
of cubs. Not caring to receive a hug from Mistress Bruin,
he, like a prudent man, left the path and walked around
her, and in due time arrived safely at his journey's end,
where we may suppose he received embraces of a more
agreeable kind.
Wolves abounded, and were a source of some trouble to
the early settlers. On one occasion a young man, from the
west part of the town, who was returning from some merry-
making on the plain, where he had furnished the music,
found that a pack of these animals was following him. As
they were coming uncomfortably near, he climbed a large
rock, near the roadside, where he was out of their reach,
and spent the remainder of the night. To while away the
time he played on his fiddle to his yelping audience, who
assembled around the rock, and remained there until day-
light, when they left him to pursue his journey.
On another occasion, when they were unusually plenty
and troublesome, the men and boys turned out one day
en masse to hunt them. They finally succeeded in driving
them into a small swamp, about a mile and a half north-
west of the old meeting-house, which the hunters sur-
rounded, and kept up an incessant discharge of firearms
and beating of drums through the day. Some of the wolves
escaped during the daytime, and the rest decamped at night
and sought more quiet lodgings elsewhere.
96 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Deer were occasionally killed, and rarely a moose. One of
the latter is said to have been shot as late as 1771, on the
flat near the brook north of the jail.
The birds common in this part of the country were form-
erly much more abundant than at present. The red-breast
robin, the bluebird, and sparrow, came in the early spring-
time to cheer the settlers in their labors. Later came the
bobolink, the swallow, and the golden robin, with his mag-
nificent plumage and song. Wild geese occasionally
alighted in the ponds, on their semi-annual migrations, and
afforded a mark for the sportsman. In seasons when the
crop of nuts and acorns was abundant, the woods were
filled with partridges and wild pigeons. Several dozens of
the latter were often taken at a time in nets prepared for
the purpose.
Many varieties of birds once common are now rarely met
with, owing to their wanton destruction, and the clearing up
of the forests which afforded them food and shelter.
Rattlesnakes were occasionally met with. A daughter
of Mr. Abel Prince, who has recently deceased, used to
relate that her father killed a large one, many years since,
that used to frighten the cows as she drove them past his
den to pasture on summer mornings.
Water and spotted adders, black, striped, and green
snakes, are frequently seen. It seems to be the habit of
these reptiles to pass the winter together in a torpid state,
in caverns among the ledges, or in holes under the roots
of trees. A den of this kind was discovered some years
since in the easterly part of the town, from which eighteen
black snakes, averaging five feet each in length, were taken;
beside these three or four striped snakes were found in the
den.
ATMOSPHERIC CHANGES.
Sudden and extreme changes in temperature occasionally
occur. A change of fifty degrees is said to have taken
VI.] ATMOSPHERIC CHANGES. 97
place in the eighteen hours preceding the morning of the
memorable cold Friday, 19 January, 1 810, and changes as
great and sudden have since been noticed.
Probably the coldest day experienced in this State, the
present century, was 24 January, 1857, when the ther-
mometer indicated — 37°. The sky was remarkably clear,
and a strong north-west wind blew all day. This extreme
cold was followed, within forty-eight hours, by a rain-
storm.
Other cold days noted within seventy-five years have
been— 1810, 19 January, —14° ; 30 January, 1818, —22° ;
11 February, 1818, —32° ; 12 February, 1818, —26° ; 1
February, 1826, —24° ; 6 January, 1835, —25° ; 30 Jan-
uary, 1854, —28° ; 7 February, 1855, —28° ; 18 January,
1857, —20° ; 25 January, 1857, —25° ; 11 January, 1859,
—34° ; 14 January, 1861, —25° ; 8 February, 1861, —36° ;
5, 6, and 8, February, 1863, —22° ; 14 March, 1863, —23°.
Some of the opposite extremes have been — 30 June, 1819,
+93° ; 10, 11, 12, and 13, July, 1825, averaged +95° at
noon ; 13 July, 1849, +100° ; 25 and 26 June, 1864,
+100° ; 3 August, 1864,— the highest reported,— +103° ;
16 July, 1868," +102°.
The average snow-fall for each of the twenty-five last
winters, according to the record kept by Hon. William L.
Foster, of Concord, has been about six feet and eight
inches. The average rain-fall of each year has been 32.85
inches.
The greatest rain-fall within that time was on the third
and fourth days of October, 1869, when 7i inches of water
fell, doing a vast amount of damage to highways, bridges,
dams, and mills.
The greatest amount of snow at any one storm was on
the 4 January, 1859, when two feet fell.
Very few Indians remained in the township when the
first settlements were commenced. Those who lived here
wex'e a part of the Penacook tribe, whose head-quarters
7
98 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
were near the Merrimack, in the territory now occupied by
the city of Concord.
Their relics are occasionally found in various parts of
the town, principally in tlie vicinity of the larger streams
and ponds, and it is said that skeletons, supposed to be
those of Indians, have been washed from their graves on the
banks of the Souhegan.
It is not unlikely that they resorted to the falls in the
river at Merrimack and Milford, in the fishing season, for
the salmon that formerly went up the river. Probably the
town was frequently visited by hunting parties in quest of
bears, deer, and other game. One of these hunters, belonging
to another tribe, who sometimes visited the town on hunting
excursions, deserves mention.
Joe English was a grandson of Masconnomet, a chief of
some note who lived at Agawam, now Ipswich, Mass. He
served for the English in the war which commenced in
1689, and was taken prisoner by hostile Indians while
in company with a party of whites in the north part of
Dunstable, near Pennichuck brook, and carried to Canada.
While in captivity he pretended to be greatly exasperated
against the whites, saying they had deceived him, and he
would trust them no longer.
He finally managed to make his escape, and returned to
Dunstable, where he was employed as a scout.
The Indians never forgave him for deceiving them, and
formed many plans to waylay and capture him.
Once, while hunting on the hill that bears his name, in
New Boston, it is said he was pursued by one of the hostile
Indians. Being well acquainted with the ground, he ran
rapidly around the hill, the other Indian being in full
pursuit. Running near a precipice, he slackened his gait,
and his pursuer redoubled his exertions to reach him.
At the proper place Joe stepped aside from the path,
while his enemy, being unable to stop, plunged over the
precipice, and was dashed to pieces.
VI.] JOE ENGLISH. 99
27 July, 1706, Joe and another scout were employed to
guard Lieut. Butterfield and wife, who were journeying
from Dunstable to Chelmsford. They were mounted on
horseback, and were preceded by Joe with his gun loaded,
the other scout following in the rear.
Just after they crossed Holden's brook, in Tyngsborough,
they were fired upon by a party of Indians, and Capt.
Butterfield's horse was killed. The Indians rushed for-
ward for their prey. Capt. Butterfield and the soldier
escaped, but Mrs. Butterfield was captured.
As Joe was the person above all others the Indians
wished to secure, they pursued him. He had gone too far
from the bridge to retreat in that direction, and espying a
growth of wood on the left he made for it at full speed.
Perceiving that his pursuers gained on him, he stopped,
turned round, and presented his musket when they fell to
the ground. After taking breath, he resumed his flight,
the Indians continuing in pursuit. This course he con-
tinued for some time, when one of the pursuers, thinking
he would escape, fired at him and disabled the arm
with which he carried his gun, which he dropped, and
ran with greater speed than before. Just as he was
entering the woods, another bullet entered his thigh, which
brought him to the ground.
The Indians were greatly elated, and on coming up began
to taunt him. Joe, well knowing the fate that awaited him,
made a gesture and a reply which so provoked them that
they dispatched him at once with their tomahawks.
His death was lamented as a public loss, and the General
Court granted a sum of money to his widow and children,
" because he had died in the service of his country."
100 HISTORY OF AMHERST. . [Chap.
CHAPTER VII.
17G2-1800. ■
TOWN OF AMHERST.
PROHIBITION OF THE SALE OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS ON THE
SABBATH. FOURTH DIVISION OF LOTS AND DISSOLUTION OF
THE PROPRIETY. SUNDRY VOTES OF THE TOWN. THE
" COUNTY " BRIDGE. THE " DARK " DAY. TROUBLES, LOCAL
AND GENERAL, AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION. PETI-
TION TO THE GENERAL COURT, AND SIGNERS' NAMES. CUR-
RENCY TROUBLES. TROUBLE WITH LAWYERS AND SHERIFFS.
— PETITION TO THE GENERAL COURT FOR RELIEF. MEASURES
OF RELIEF PROPOSED, AND ACTION OF THE TOWN. THE
MOB AT EXETER, SEPTEMBER, 1786, AND ITS SUPPRESSION BY
PRESIDENT SULLIVAN. PROVISION FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT
OF THE REVEREND CLERGY ON ELECTION DAY AT CONCORD. —
GENERAL WASHINGTON'S VISIT TO THE STATE. THE GREAT
FROST OF 1794. MEETING OF THE LEGISLATURE IN AMHERST.
CHANGE IN THE TIME OF HOLDING THE ANNUAL TOWN-
MEETING. DISSENSIONS CAUSED BY PARTY POLITICS. DE-
SCRIPTION OF THE ANNUAL MEETING IN MARCH, 1799, BY
" AMPHION."
In calling the town-meeting held 9 March, 1761, the town
was divided into two districts. The voters in that part of the
town lying east of the road leading from Lyon's bridge to the
meeting-house, and onward east of the New Boston road to
New Boston line, were warned by Constable Thomas Clark ;
those living west of that line were warned by Constable
William Bradford.
VII.] CURRENT EVENTS. 101
At the annual meeting in 1762 the town
"o
•• Voted, To prohibit persons that have licensed houses from selling-
spirituous liquors on the Lord's day to the Inhabitants of this town,
or to any persons that constantly attend the public worship of God in
this town, and to annex a penalty of eighteen shillings new tenor for
every half gill, and the same for every pint of cider sold contrary to
this order, the same to be recovered by common process, with costs of
prosecution."
Also voted that this vote be sent to the Court of General
Sessions of the peace for their approbation.
At the annual meeting in 1765 they " voted that the
surveyors keep the roads open next winter according to
their discretion." To aid in doing this they were to be
entitled to the same help they had in summer.
19 August, 1765, William Peabody and John Shepard
stated, in a petition to the General Court, that Joshua
Hicks, Esq., of Salem, was for many years treasurer of the
proprietors of Souhegan West, and that many of the pro-
prietors had neglected to pay the assessments ordered upon
their lots ; that Major Hicks advanced money on his own
account to defray the expenses of the propriety, whereby the
proprietors were indebted to him to the amount of about four
hundred pounds, Massachusetts currency ; that he died some
four years since, and they were anxious to pay the heirs of the
estate the balance justly due them ; wherefore they asked
leave to sell the lands of the delinquent proprietors to
enable them so to do.
Leave was granted 4 June, 1766.
The selectmen were this year instructed to procure a set
of weights and measures for the use of the town.
SHIRE TOWN.
14 March, 1768, the town
" Voted to allow those persons in town that exerted themselves last
fall, in order to have Amherst made a shire town, four pounds, thir-
teen shillings, and four pence lawful money."
102 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
12 December, 17G9. A number of the citizens having
asked leave to build and have seats on the beams of the
meeting-honse, the town granted their request.
FOURTH DIVISION OP LOTS ; DISSOLUTION OP THE PROPRIETY.
15 October, 1770, William Peabody, Solomon Hutchin-
son, and Daniel Campbell, were appointed a committee to
lay out the common lands in the township.
A record of this, the fourth division of lots among the pro-
prietors, in the hand-writing of Daniel Campbell, Esq., is
preserved in the proprietors' book of records, and the
propriety seems to have been dissolved shortly after.
£120 lawful money was appropriated for the repairs of
highways at the annual meeting in March, 1772, and it was
voted that the work on the highways should be done between
the twentieth day of May and the last of September. Two
shillings and eight pence was allowed for a full day's work of
a man, one shilling and four pence a day for a yoke of
oxen, and eight pence a day for the use of a cart.
22 June, 1774, the town voted that Deacon Baldwin erect
a post near the meeting-house, with a box having a glass
face, in which the warrants for town-meetings shall be
placed by the officers calling the same. Also, " voted that
the warrants exposed to view in the box by the constable
on all the public days between the date of the warrant and
day of meeting shall be sufficient warning for the inhab-
itants of Amherst."
18 September, 1776. The committee of safety was
authorized by the legislature to take care of sundry perish-
able articles belonging to the estate of Zaccheus Cutler,
Esq., a refugee.
31 March, 1777. The town voted to remit the poll tax
of those persons who served as soldiers in the Continental
army the whole of last year.
10 June, 1777. Voted, in case there should be an imme-
diate call for men to serve in the Continental army, to allow
VII.] CURRENT EVENTS. 103
those who are disposed to enlist the same encouragement
that has heretofore been paid, and to assess the amount
necessary for its payment upon the polls and estates of the
inhabitants of the town. Capt. Stephen Peabody, Capt.
Hezekiah Lovejoy, and Mr. Solomon Kittredge, were
appointed a committee to procure soldiers on the terms
mentioned above.
Col. Nahum Baldwin, Mr. Stephen Burnam, Mr. William
Wallace, Mr. Andrew Bradford, and Mr. Timothy Smith,
were chosen a committee to affix and settle prices upon
sundry articles.
The Mile Slip had only a partial town organization, and
its inhabitants were a law to themselves. Hence it became
a sort of Texas, to which the fathers sometimes resorted in
times of trouble. A bridge across the Souhegan, within its
limits, became necessary to accommodate the travel between
Amherst and Wilton, and as no town was liable by law to
build and support it, an act was passed by the General
Court, 2 April, 1779, " to oblige the county of Hillsborough
to build and maintain a bridge across the Souhegan river
in the Mile Slip, so called." This was the origin of the
" County " bridge now in Milford.
THE DARK DAY OF 1780.
The famous " dark day " occurred 19 May, 1780. The
morning was ushered in by a very dark cloud hanging over
the west and north-west, attended with thunder. The wind
from the south-west brought over a number of clouds from
that quarter.
The darkness began about nine o'clock in the morning,
and at twelve o'clock it was as dark as evening. Candles
were lighted ; domestic fowls repaired to their roosts ;
night birds appeared ; and the cattle gathered about the
barns. Objects could be discerned at a small distance only.
The clouds put on a strange, brassy, copper color.
104 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
The darkness abated at about twelve, and at three o'clock
in the afternoon it was no darker than on an ordinary
cloudy day.
Though the moon fulled the day before, the darkness
returned at night, and soon became total, and continued
until about midnight. Its whole duration was about four-
teen hours. It extended all over the New England States
and westward as far as Albany. To the southward it was
observed all along the sea-coast, and to the north as far as
settlements had been made. Many of the people were very
much frightened, and thought the day of judgment was at
hand. The darkness was supposed to have been occasioned
by the smoke from numerous tires at the westward, com-
bined with a thick fog from the sea.
The winter of 1780-81 is said to have been the coldest
that had been experienced in New England for forty years.
From about the 15th of February to the 15th of March the
snow did not melt on the south sides of buildings in shel-
tered situations, and on the 24th of April the heavy tim-
bers used in the frame of the North-west parish meeting-
house were drawn on the snow crust over fences and rocks.
The dissensions between the different sections of the
town, commencing with the building of the second meeting-
house, 1771-74, and aggravated by the settlement of Mr.
Barnard, in 1780, were not healed by the division of the
town into parishes, as is shown by the following petition
sent to the General Court by citizens of the First parish, in
February, 1783, which sets forth the unhappy state of
affairs in town at that time.
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
HILLSBOROUGH SS.
To the Honorable the Gentlemen of the Council and the Honorable
the Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, in General Court
assembled.
The Petition of sundry Persons, Inhabitants of the Old Parish in
Amherst, whose names are hereunto subscribed, humbly sheweth :
VII. ] INTERNAL DISSENSIONS. 105
That, at the session of the general Court held at Exeter, in May,
Anno Domini 1781, sundry persons, whose names are given, obtained
an act discharging them from that time, the Polls of their respective
families & Estates from any future support of the Gospel ministry and
other expense attending public worship at Mr. Barnard's meeting-
house, as particularly mentioned in said Act, and erecting them into
a distinct Parish, with incidental powers, still leaving the said Parish-
ioners to act with the remaining part of the town of Amherst in all
other matters proper to such a corporate body.
And Whereas the disuniting a body corporate in some things most
commonly does, and probably always will, while human nature
remains the same, disunite them in other matters, and such a partic-
ular disunion is but little else but to set them at perpetual variance
and discord, a most unhappy situation, which the unfortunate
sufferers lament in vain. While such particular laws, perhaps too
little adapted to the general good, made to gratify a minority, on the
spur of present heat and opposition, always against the great rule
that the majority mast govern, chain each struggling Party to the unre-
lenting enemy of human happiness, Contention.
And it is the misfortune of these partial separations that they do
not redress, but increase, the evils they are intended to remedy.
This we find to be our unhappy case in common with all those
Towns where such divisions have been encouraged by law. Instances
would be burthensome to your honors.
Your petitioners do not presume in this instance to counteract what
the legislative body have thought proper to pass into a law ; but their
unhappy situation compels them to such redress in your power and
wisdom, and thereby extricate themselves from the bondage of con-
tinual discord, party factions, and those little uneasy arts which are
but too easily practiced by disunited spirits.
Those separate interests, so established by Law in this place, make
our town-meetings scenes of confusion, irregularity, and vexation.
Permit us to part with one of them, and to ask your Honors that the
persons above named, who have chosen to be separated in part, may be
separated from us wholly. We, therefore, your petitioners, do humbly
pray that your honors would cause it to be enacted that the Polls and
Estates aforesaid, so set off in ministerial matters, may be wholly
separated from us in all matters whatsoever. Your Honors have
ample power to confer on them any privileges necessary for
their welfare, unconnected with us, and we do not wish to retain them
to our mutual vexation. Nothing herein to alter the present method of
paying Rev. Mr. Wilkins's salary.
106
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
And we hereby do empower Messrs. Daniel Campbell, Samuel
Wilkins, Thomas Wakefield, and Ebenezer Weston, or any two of
them, to prefer this Petition to the General Court and to carry the
same into effect, with full power to appoint one or more agents on
our behalf for the same purpose.
All which is humbly submitted by your Petitioners, who, as in
Duty bound, will ever pray.
Signed by
Joshua Atherton,
Nahum Baldwin,
Ephraim Barker,
Moses Barron,
Ebenezer Batchelder,
John Batchelder,
Aaron Boutell,
Amos Boutell,
Joseph Boutell,
Joseph Boutell, jr.,
Kendal Boutell,
Enos Bradford,
William Bradford,
Daniel Campbell,
Benjamin Clark,
Benjamin Clark, jr.,
Joseph Coggin,
Joseph Coggin, jr.,
Eleazer Cole,
Jacob Curtice,
Samuel Dana,
William Dana,
Andrew Davis,
Benjamin Davis,
Bartholomew Dodge,
John Eaton,
Ebenezer Ellinwood,
Jedediah Ellinwood,
Ralph Ellinwood,
Rolandson Ellinwood,
Francis Elliott,
Elisha Felton,
William Fisk,
Amherst, Feb'y ye 24th, 1783.
Amos Flint,
Amos Flint, jr.,
Nathan Fuller,
James Hartshorn,
John Hartshorn,
John Hartshorn, jr.,
Timothy Hartshorn,
William Hartshorn,
Samuel Henry,
Timothy Hill,
David Ilildreth,
Jeremiah Hobson,
Ebenezer Holt,
Reuben Holt,
William Howard,
Isaac Jaquith,
Joseph Jewett,
Timothy Jones,
Joshua Kendall,
Nathan Kendall,
Nathan Kendall, jr.,
Stephen Kendrick,
Henry Kimball,
Moses Kimball,
Moses Kimball, jr.,
Jonathan Lampson, jr.,
Francis Lovejoy,
Hezekiah Lovejoy,
Jacob Lovejoy,
John Lovejoy,
Edward Lyon,
James McKean,
Robert Means,
VII.]
INTERNAL DISSENSIONS.
107
Benjamin Merrill,
Reuben Mussey,
Reuben D. Mussey,
Aaron Nichols,
Timothy Nichols, jr.,
William Odall,
William Odall, jr.,
Joshua Pettingill,
Nathan Phelps,
Benjamin Pike,
Benjamin Pike, jr.,
Abel Prince,
Joseph Prince,
Robert Read,
John Roby,
Joseph Rollings,
John Seaton,
Samuel Seaton,
Andrew Shannon,
Joseph Small,
William Small,
Jacob Stanley,
Samuel Stanley,
Daniel Stevens,
Thomas Steveus,
David Stewart,
John Stewart,
William Stewart,
Samuel Stearns,
Samuel Taylor,
Jonathan Taylor,
William Taylor,
Israel Towne,
John Tuck,
Amos Truel,
John Twiss,
Samuel Twiss,
Phinehas Upham,
Thomas Wakefield,
William Walker,
William Walton,
Stephen AVasher,
Ebenezer Weston,
Ebenezer Weston, jr.,
Thomas Weston,
Aaron Wilkins,
Andrew Wilkins,
Benjamin Wilkins,
Benjamin Wilkins, jr.,
Benjamin Wilkins, 3d,
Samuel Wilkins,
David Williams,
Thomas Woolson.
No action seems to have been taken by the legislature on
this petition, and the desired relief was not obtained for
some years.
While the citizens of the town were divided into factions,
and their meetings were scenes of discord and confusion,
the country at large was in an equally unsatisfactory con-
dition.
A period of distress and depression was then prevailing-
greater than had been experienced during the sharpest
crises of the struggle for independence.
The government was weak and inefficient ; money was
scarce ; the country and the people were heavily in debt ;
and credit, public and private, was well nigh destroyed.
108 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Complaints were made of the attorneys and officers of
the law, that they sought to advance their own selfish
interests to the ruin of their fellow-citizens ; and the peo-
ple, indignant at such a course, assembled in some
instances to prevent the sessions of the courts.
An assemblage of this kind took place in Keene in the
month of October, 1782, which was frustrated in part in its
designs by the address of Attorney-General Sullivan.
In the midst of these troubles the following petition,
from citizens of Amherst and others, was presented to the
legislature at its session in February, 1783.
To the Honorable Council and House of Representatives of the
State of New Hampshire, in General Court assembled, at Exeter, on
the second Wednesday of February, 1783.
The prayer of your humble petitioners, inhabitants of the town of
Amherst, and others, in the County of Hillsborough, hereby sheweth :
That your petitioners have beheld, and do still behold, with great
concern and resentment the numerous needless lawsuits that have
commenced the year past, and that are still commencing and carrying
on in this State, and more especially in this County, purely for pri-
vate debts, it being a time of great scarcity, not only of the necessaries
of life, but also of the silver currency in this State, when all the
money that can be found in this state is scarcely sufficient to pay our
public taxes and procure the absolute necessaries of life ; —
Therefore private debts cannot be suddenly paid in money, without
great neglect of public debts and damage to the public cause.
Neither are private debts often to be recovered at this day by sueing,
for all the money that can be procured is little enough to satisfy
attornies and under sheriffs (which your petitioners think are too
numerous in this County), so that the Creditors often take notes for
their dues after the debts are sued, and leave said notes in the hands
of their Attorneys, where their debtors are quickly exposed to pay the
same, or a greater cost, over again, for as though the cost of sueing in
the County where both debtor and Creditor reside is too little, the
practice is begun of sueing in another County, where neither debtor
or creditor reside, which augments the cost, and is a practice which
your petitioners view as very unjust and unreasonable in common
cases.
Your petitioners are of opinion that if this extraordinary sueing be
not seasonably prevented, it will have a very bad effect on our public
VII.] INTERNAL DISSENSIONS. 109
affairs, as it hath a tendency to disunite, imbitter, and alienate the
affections of the good Subjects of the State from each other, in a
time when peace, harmony, and congruity, are very needful, yea, the
greater part of our human strength.
This excessive sueing, if not prevented, will fill our gaols with
honest laborious husbandmen and mechanics, and therefore leave our
soil in a measure uncultivated, and our manufactories damaged. It
will starve our army in the field, and our civil and ecclesiastical
officers at home. It will starve the poor and needy, and greatly debil-
itate the wealthy. It will greatly encourage and embolden our
external and internal enemies, but discourage our sincere but injured
friends. It will build up lawyers and sheriffs only, and that upon the
ruin and destruction of their fellow-men.
Therefore it appears needful to your petitioners that something
Constitutional be speedily done, in order to prevent this increasing
calamity: otherwise we may expect that something will be done
unconstitutionally, the dangerous tendency and consequence of which
your petitioners would greatly deprecate.
Therefore, for the above reasons, your petitioners hereby pray that
this Honorable Court would take the above case into their most
serious consideration, and, by a wise and prudent act, prevent this
extraordinary cost of lawsuits, and establish some more reasonable
way for the recovery of private debts in this time of public calamity
by making such lands, goods, chattels, lumber, &c, as the debtor is pos-
sessed of, to be a lawful tender for debts at such prices as shall be set
upon such goods, &c, by faithful men chosen for that purpose, or such
men as the debtor and creditor shall choose themselves, which may be
done with little cost and without the cost of any lawsuit.
However, your petitioners submit the particular method of proceed-
ure in this matter to the wisdom and pi-udence of this Honorable
Court, trusting, as you rule for GOD, and are interested in the com-
mon welfare and happiness of your Country, and are touched with a
fellow feeling for the calamities of the meanest of your subjects, that
you are able and willing to point out and establish a method far
superior to any pointed out by your petitioners, both for the redress of
grievances and for the safety of this State, in patient expectation of
which, your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.
Signed by Robert Parker, Joshua Lovejoy, Lieut. John Patterson,
James Woodbury, John Bradford, Richard Ward, and forty-four
others."
As a measure of relief, the legislature, early in 1785,
passed an act making property of most kinds a tender, at
110 HISTORY OF AMHERST. Chap.]
an appraised value, for the payment of debts ; but the effect
of the law, contrary to the design of its makers, was to
render specie still more scarce ; and, as creditors were
unwilling to receive property for their claims which they
could not turn into cash, their demands remained unpaid.
Conventions were held in several towns and in most of
the counties of the State for the purpose of devising some
means of deliverance from the troubles in which the peo-
ple were involved.
One of these was held at Goffstown in the month of May,
1786, to which Col. Daniel Warner was chosen a delegate,
at a town meeting held on the third of that month ; but no
record appears of any report made by him of its proceedings.
Among the measures proposed for the relief of the
people at this time were the abolition of the Court of Com-
mon Pleas and the establishment of town courts in its place,
and that not more than two lawyers should be allowed in
any county.
Also, that a large amount of State notes should be issued,
which should be a legal tender for the payment of all debts.
No provision, however, for their redemption seems to have
been thought of.
The legislature formed a plan for the issuing of .£50,000 in
paper money, to be let out at four per cent, interest on land
security, redeemable at some future period, which was to be
a tender for taxes for the internal support of the State, and
for fees and salaries of the officers of the government.
This plan was sent, September, 1786, to the several towns
to collect their minds upon the subject.
In this town the project was laid before the people at a
meeting held on the fifteenth day of November, 1786, when,
after discussion, they voted not to sanction it, and " voted
unanimously not to propose any alterations in said plan."
On the twentieth day of September, 1786, an armed force
of some hundreds of men assembled at Exeter, and sent in
a petition to the General Court, then in session at that
VII.] MOB AT EXETER. Ill
place, asking for a redress of grievances, and declaring
their intention, if their petition was not granted, of doing
themselves justice. They surrounded the house in which
the Court was in session, and placing sentries at the doors
demanded an immediate answer.
The House of Representatives appointed a committee, to
be joined by one from the Senate, to take the matter into
consideration ; but the Senate refused, unanimously, to
concur in this action, and the two houses met in convention.
President Sullivan, who was ex-officio a member of the
Senate, addressed the convention and such of the petition-
ers as chose to be present, and presented the reasons which
influenced the Senate in non-concurring with the action of
the House.
He spoke of the petition, and showed its extreme folly
and great injustice, and concluded by saying that if the
voice of the whole State was for it, the legislature ought not
to grant it while they were surrounded by an armed force.
To do it would be to betray the rights of the people they
had sworn to maintain, and he declared that no considera-
tion of personal safety should ever compel him to so
flagrant a violation of the constitutional rights of those
who had placed him in the executive chair.
The president and the members of the legislature were
held as prisoners until after dark by the mob, when some
of the citizens of the town devised means for their release.
On recovering his liberty the president called out a detach-
ment of the State militia to assist in restoring order. His
call was responded to promptly, and before night of the
next day the mob was entirely dispersed. Many of the
leaders were arrested,' and some were bound over for trial
at a court to be holden some months later ; but on the
assembling of the court they were discharged without
further action, and the affair ended without fighting or
bloodshed, thanks to the prudence and firmness of Pres-
ident Sullivan.
112 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
The financial troubles, however, continued for some
years, but were finally closed by the establishment of the
Federal government, and the reestablishment of the in-
dustry and commerce of the country.
THE REVEREND CLERGY.
Ample provision was made for the reverend clergy at the
public festivals in these times, as the following extract
from the Council records of the State will show :
•'7 June, 1786. The Council advised that a dinner be prepared at
the public expense for the Gentlemen of the Clergy who may think
proper to attend the election, and that the President, Council, Speaker
of the House, and such members of the two branches as they shall
think proper, dine in Company with the Clergy, the expense of which
is to be defrayed as the two branches may think proper to order.
Mr. Hannaford, the innkeeper at Concord, was accordingly directed
to prepare a dinner for fifty persons the Thursday following."
Gen. Washington visited the State in November, 1789,
and at a meeting of the President and Council, at Ports-
mouth, 31 October, the President requested the advice of
Council whether it would be advisable to provide an enter-
tainment at the public expense for the President of the
United States, " To which the Council did advise and con-
sent."
Hon. Joshua Atherton, having been elected senator,
resigned the office of representative, to which he was
elected in March, and the town, at a meeting held 27
August, 1792, voted not to fill the vacancy made by his
resignation.
THE GREAT FROST OP 1794.
The spring of 1794 was one of the most forward ever
known. On the seventeenth day of May winter rye on
burnt ground was in bloom, and apples were as large as
ounce balls. On the night following that day there was
one of the most destructive frosts ever experienced, which
VII.] CURRENT EVENTS. 113
was spoken of for years as the " great white frost." The
rye was killed to the ground, and the apples destroyed,
except where they were covered or protected by artificial
heat. Mr. Barnard, the minister, had a fine orchard of
young trees, on which the fruit had formed, which he saved
by keeping fires of brush and logs burning in the orchard
through the night. In other instances the fruit was saved
by smoke from chimneys near by being driven among the
branches of the trees through the night. Mr. Price, of
Boscawen, in writing of the frost, says the winter grain and
apples were destroyed. The canker worms, which had
infested the apple trees for years, and had become exceed-
ingly troublesome, were also destroyed. In that case the
loss was not without some equivalent.
The June session of the legislature was held in this town
in 1794, and Gov. Gilman here took the oath of office as
governor, for the first time.
Ample provision seems to have been made by the citizens
for the entertainment of the honorable members, as no less
than twenty-two taverners' and retailers' licenses were
granted by the selectmen that year, previous to the session
of the Court.
This was the first and only session of the General Court
held in Amherst.
At the annual meeting in March, 1795, the town " voted
to apply to the General Court to alter the time of holding
the annual meeting from the second to the first Monday of
March, and that Col. Warner be a committee to prefer the
above vote to the Court/'
In compliance with this vote the legislature passed the
following act, which received the approval of Gov. Gilman,
16 June, 1795 :
" An Act for altering the time of holding the Annual Meeting in
the town of Amherst.
8
114 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
The Inhabitants of the town of Amherst having petitioned for an
alteration of their Annual Meeting from the second Monday of March
to the first Monday of the same month,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in Gen-
eral Court convened, that the Annual Meeting of the inhabitants of
the said town of Amherst forever hereafter shall be held on the first
Monday of March, any law, custom, or usage, heretofore to the contrary
notwithstanding."
•■&'
" Forever," in the act above, proved to mean about ten
years, as the time was again changed to the second Tuesday
in March, in that time.
The first stage coach ever seen in Nashua passed through
that place in 1795 on its way from Boston to Amherst.
Party politics have been the occasion of much hard talk
in Amherst 'as in other New Hampshire towns. Its citizens
were plain-spoken people, having ideas of their own, and in
their expression a good deal of heat has sometimes been
evolved. Their disputes, however, generally ended in
words which were soon forgotten, or remembered to be
ashamed of or laughed at. The leading loyalist in town at
the commencement of the Revolution, though sadly tor-
mented for a time, was received into favor, and, long before
the close of the war, entrusted with important offices,
which he filled to the satisfaction of the people. The estab-
lishment of the Federal constitution — the ratification of
which he opposed in the convention of which he was a
member, acting under the instructions of the town and
from his own convictions — divided the people into parties,
and the division became more marked after the breaking
out of the French Revolution, hailed with all its terrible
crimes by one party as the triumph of the people, and
dreaded by the other as the precursor of the destruction of
all government among men.
The measures the general government thought proper to
pursue in its intercourse with the European powers, the
ratification of Jay's treaty with Great Britain during the
VII.] CURRENT EVENTS. 115
administration of President Washington, the passage of the
Alien and Sedition Law and the land tax law passed during
the administration of the elder Adams, intensified the divis-
ions among the people, and at the annual meeting in March,
1799, the selectmen were constituted a committee to draft
a petition to Congress asking for a repeal of the Alien and
Sedition Law, and of the mode adopted for assessing and
collecting the land tax.
The selectmen declining the appointment, Maj. William
Bradford, Ensign William Low, and Eli Wilkins, Esq.,
were chosen to act as the committee, who accepted the
appointment, and, at ah adjourned meeting, on the Tuesday
following, presented a report which was read and accepted
by the town. The people in the north-west part of the
town were almost unanimously in favor of the acceptance
of the report, which fact will explain some parts of the
following description of the meeting, which made its
appearance in the Village Messenger of 9 March, 1799,
which is inserted to show the feeling prevalent at that time.
EXTRACT FROM A TOWN MEETING,
OR A TOUCH OF THE TIMES AT A ***** t.
March comes, the first-born child of Spring ;
The bells for annual meeting ring ;
Joy smiles in every patriot's face,
And A ***** t dreams not of disgrace !
Forth from the North in crowds come down
Old age, on crutch, and youth, half grown ;
Old age, whose one foot in the grave is,
Whose other to the gout a slave is ;
And youth, not yet arrived at freedom,
Who need their nurses still to lead 'em ;
All, all came down, a motley nation, —
As tho' " in hell there were vacation," —
Burning with Jacobinic zeal
To overturn the public weal.
Before them stalked a man of stature,
Designed a Jacobin by nature,
116 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
Whose mind and mien strong traces bore
Of that great Jacobin of yore,
Who, for Sedition, forth was driven,
Eternal from the gates of heaven.
Despising peace and lawful labors.
He sows sedition 'mong his neighbors ;
Tells them that government are knaves,
That they, poor souls, will soon be slaves,
And those that rule them soon will stand
The lords and sovereigns of the land.
To church he goes, but not for preaching ;
He gives his precious time to teaching
That those that dare not tell a lie
Have surely lost their liberty.
He at his heels the rabble brought,
Who long beneath his eye were taught
To banish order, stir up evil,
And serve their lord and master, Devil.
**********
At length the cause of all their ills,
The Alien and Sedition bills,
The tax direct on lands and houses,
Which every foe to peace arouses,
Comes publickly to be discussed,
By friend and foe, by blest and cursed.
A solemn pause — debates proceeded
As though the Jacos some man needed —
Some natural son of base sedition,
To rise and speak for their petition.
Their chief arose — " Tis strange," he cries,
" Since freedom is our blood-earned prize,
That we, like slaves, should be debarred
The use of speech — indeed, that's hard.
No more shall scandal charm our souls,
Since government our tongues controls.
Aliens no more with monied reasons
Shall stir up faction, death, and treasons ;
But under harrows, saws, and axes,
We be compelled to pay our taxes,
Support our Congress men in style,
.By cruel, unrewarded toil,
Till we, at last, O dreadful thought !
VII.] • CURRENT EVENTS. 117
Beneath these tyrants shall be brought,
And see in tears the fatal day
When we to tyrant laws gave way.
Beware, my friends, 't is our condition !
curse the law against sedition !
( ) curse the Pres ! no, no, I fear
Some friend to government may hear,
And I, like friend and brother Lyon,*
Be tried, and feel the power of iron.
O Liberty ! 't is but a name,
When we no longer can defame ! "
Reasons were offered when he ended,
And government and laws defended ;
But sense and reason all are vain,
When faction rules the heated brain,
For ignorance, deceived by lies,
All human argument defies.
The question put, the chief uprose,
Surveyed his friends, surveyed his foes.
His minion friends united stand,
Instructed by his factious hand.
Their chief they watch, his actions view,
And when he votes, why, they vote too.
Such are Columbia's servile foes,
Led on, like asses, by the nose,
Seduced from order by a villain,
Whose honor is not worth a shilling,
Who, worse than Judas and such gents,
Would sell our State for thirty cents.
O ! would he ape that child of hell,
In all his actions, 't would be well ;
His neck, too, then, a rope would grace,
And he depart to his own place.
Amphion.
* Matthew Lyon, at that time a Republican member of the national
House of Representatives. A motion to expel him from the house,
for sedition, had just failed.
At a meeting held 20 May, 1799, the town moved in a
matter that was not accomplished until 1846, — and then
only in part, — by voting to instruct their representative in
118 HISTORY OP AMHERST. Chap.]
the General Court to use his utmost endeavors to obtain
the passage of an act by the legislature to divide the State
into districts for the choice of Federal representatives and
electors.
A committee appointed to give the representative some
further instructions reported that he be instructed to use
his influence in the General Court to induce that body to
recommend to Congress the repeal of the land tax law as it
stands at present and give the states liberty to assess and
collect taxes for the support of government in the usual
way.
VIII.] COMMEMORATION SERVICES. 119
CHAPTER VIII.
1800—1840.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN, AND CURRENT
EVENTS.
SERVICES IN COMMEMORATION OF PRESIDENT WASHINGTON.
SOLAR ECLIPSE, 1806. — UNION CELEBRATION OF FOURTH OF
JULY, THE " DECLARATION ' AGAIN READ BY CHARLES H.
ATHERTON FROM THE " ROCK." THE COLD FRIDAY. CAPT.
BROWN'S TOAST. MEETING AT THE COURT-HOUSE, AUGUST,
1812. — THE SEPTEMBER GALE. MOVEMENT FOR THE ESTAB-
LISHMENT OF SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. THE COMMON AND ITS
BOUNDARIES. ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS. REPORT OF
THE COMMITTEE ON HORSE-SHEDS AND HEARSE-HOUSE. FIRST
FAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
— -STAGES, IN DECEMBER, 1821. UNION CELEBRATION OF
FOURTH OF JULY, 1824. NEW ROAD FROM AMHERST TO
HENNIKER. RECEPTION OF GEN. LAFAYETTE AT CONCORD,
1825. THE " GRASSHOPPER YEAR." MORTALITY IN AM-
HERST, 1826. MOVEMENTS IN FAVOR OF TEMPERANCE. PUR-
CHASE OF THE PAUPER FARM. SOLAR ECLIPSE, 1831. THE
METEORIC DISPLAY. FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION, 1834.
RAISING OF THE UNITARIAN MEETING-HOUSE FRAME ASYLUM
FOR THE INSANE. THE " SURPLUS REVENUE." THE HOP
CULTURE. "WHIG" MEETINGS AT AMHERST, 1840.
Services in commemoration of President "Washington
were held in Amherst 22 February, 1800, in which the
citizens of Amherst and Milford, and the members of Benev-
olent Lodge, No. 7, participated.
120 HTSTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
A procession was formed, which marched across the
common to the meeting-house, where an eloquent oration
was pronounced by Charles H. Atherton.
Daniel Campbell, jr., acted as marshal of the school
children, who made a fine appearance.
1 March, 1801. Quite a smart shock of an earthquake
was felt in this and the neighboring towns. It was also
noticed in Massachusetts and Maine.
GREAT SOLAR ECLIPSE, 1806.
The only total eclipse of the sun visible in New England
in the nineteenth century occurred on the sixteenth day of
June, 1806, between the hours of ten a. m. and one p. m.
The whole duration of the eclipse was three hours and nine
minutes, and the duration of the total eclipse two minutes
and twenty-seven seconds. The day was clear, and hardly
a breath of air stirred the leaves. At the time of the total
eclipse the planets Mars, Venus and Mercury, were visible,
also, Sirius, Procyon, and the large stars in Orion and
Ursa Major. The bees returned to their hives ; the fowls
went to their roosts ; and the cattle in the pastures ceased
grazing, and gazed around with a wild stare. The dark-
ness was so great that objects could be seen only at a short
distance. The thermometer, which at the beginning of
the eclipse stood 66°, fell to 60°, and dew fell sufficient
to wet one's shoes in passing through the grass.
In the spring of 1807 several animals in the vicinity of
this town were bitten by mad dogs, which were killed by
their owners, or died after exhibiting every appearance of
madness.
A union celebration of the Declaration of Independence
took place 4 July, 1807. A procession was formed at
Whitney's tavern, which marched to the " Rock " in front of
the meeting-house on which Sheriff Kelley stood when he
VIII.] FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION. 121
read the Declaration in 1776, where it was again road by
Charles H. Atherton, president of the day.
After this the procession returned to the tavern where
an excellent dinner was served.
This is the last mention I find made of the "Rock." It-
stood in front of the meeting-house, a little to the east of
the front door, and was used by the fathers and mothers as
a " horse-block." After the use of chaises and wagons became
general it was no longer required, and it was removed
about 1825. Of its present location no man knoweth.
Like the whipping post and pillory, it is among the tilings
of the past.
At the annual meeting in March, 1808, the town voted
to accept the provisions of an act passed by the legislature,
entitled " an act for the extinguishment of fires that may be
accidentally or otherwise kindled," and chose Robert Means,
Esq., Capt. Daniel Prior, Charles H. Atherton, Esq., Wil-
liam Fisk, Esq., Daniel Weston, James Roby, Capt. Eli
Brown, David Stewart, William Read, and Jonathan
Shepard, firewards, in accordance with its provisions.
The spring of 1809 was remarkably backward. As late
as the fourth of April the sleighing was perfectly good in
the northern parts of the State.
From the New Hampshire Patriot we learn that at the
ordination of Rev. Nathaniel Kennedy, at Litchfield, 12
April, 1809, " several pieces of music were performed by a
select choir from Amherst, which evinced a return to that
correct taste and love for genuine music which the editor
hoped was gaining ground in this country."
THE COLD FRIDAY.
The "Cold Friday" of 1810 occurred on the 19th of
January of that year. People were frozen to death in many
places, and many houses and barns were blown down by
the strong wind which prevailed all day. One who remem-
122 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
bered it said " it was difficult to stand on one's feet, the
wind was so strong." Thousands of the tall trees in the
forest, that had braved the storms and tempests of cen-
turies, were blown down, and their huge trunks were in
many instances left to rot on the ground where they fell.
The cold, as indicated by the thermometer, was not very
intense, as it ranged from — 15° to — 20°. The mercury is
said to have fallen 55 degrees in twenty-four hours from
Thursday to Friday noon.
4 July, 1810. The day was celebrated by the Republi-
cans of Amherst and the adjacent towns. A procession
was formed, which, after marching over the common and
through several streets in the village, under the escort of
Capt. Patterson's company of artillery, proceeded to the
meeting-house, where prayer was offered by Rev. Hum-
phrey Moore, of Milford. Owing to the serious illness of the
wife of Hon. J. K. Smith, the orator of the day, no oration
was pronounced ; but an appropriate address was made by
Dr. Rogers Smith, who also read the farewell addrpss of
President Washington.
In the procession was an elegant model of the frigate
Constitution, from the prow of which, after the discharge
of seventeen guns, Captain Brown made a short address.
Capt. Eli Brown presided at the dinner on this occasion,
and gave as a toast ; —
" Amherst, the focus of Aristocracy in our County. May that
aristocracy dissolve like the fog before the sun from the low ground
that envelops it, and may Republicanism nourish in it like the rays
of the sun on this auspicious morn."
A notice appeared in the New Hampshire Patriot, 4
August, 1812, " requesting the Republican citizens of the
County of Hillsborough to meet at Amherst on the seventh
day of August, inst., at two oclock p. M.,to take into considera-
VIII.] POLITICAL MEETING, AUGUST, 1812. 123
tion the momentous subjects suggested by the present
alarming situation of our national concerns, and to adopt
such resolutions as the great occasion may be thought to
require." It was expected there would be a large meeting,
and the more remote towns in the county were requested to
send delegates.
The Federalists took advantage of the notice, and, by an
understanding among themselves, assembled at the time
and place in considerable numbers, organized a meeting, at
which speeches were made and resolutions were passed to
suit themselves.
The Republicans finding themselves outnumbered, met
at Emerson's hall ; chose Gen. Benjamin Pierce, chairman,
and John Burnham, secretary ; and voted that it was
expedient to hold a convention at the town-hall in Weare,
on the third Tuesday of September following, to which the
Republicans in all the towns in the county were invited to
send delegates.
o
At the appointed time delegates from all the towns in
the county to the number of 150, attended by 1,500 other
citizens, assembled, and gave utterance to the feelings of
the Republicans of Hillsborough County.
The conduct of the Federalists at Amherst was calcu-
lated to provoke a collision, which was only avoided by the
prudent course taken by the leaders of the opposite party,
whose hour of triumph came with the assembling of the
meeting at Weare, the largest and most enthusiastic political
gathering that had ever been held in the county.
Mr. Hill, in the Patriot, characterized the meeting of the
Federalists at Amherst " as one of the most scandalous?
outrageous, and aggravating affairs" he ever witnessed.
The following speech, made by Hon. Timothy Farrar, of
New Ipswich, at the meeting, shows the temper and atti-
tude of the Federalists at that time :
124 HTSTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
Fellow-Citizens: We are brought together to-day from distant parts
of the County by one common feeling of the importance of the crisis
and for the purpose of expressing our sentiments on the present
alarming state of affairs. We consider the late measures of adminis-
tration as dangerous to our liberties, and tending to the destruction of
that form of government and those principles which have been com-
mitted to our keeping and to which we are all sincerely attached.
Many of us remember, and all of us know the high price at which
those lights were purchased, and we are all disposed to defend and
support them. We are those and the descendents of those who fought
to establish those rights, and we all remember that the liberty of the
press and the freedom of speech were then regarded among the most
essential of them. We still regard them as such. We have lately
seen them wantonly violated, and this induces us to consult on the
means of preserving the rights which we have contributed to establish.
The declaration of war against Great Britain we consider as a law
of the land, and shall obey it as such while in force. So far as we are
constitutionally called upon to support this war, we shall comply.
If called on to march, we shall go or send a substitute. If called on
to pay, we shall pay. Beyond this our actions are voluntary, and we
shall be careful not to involve ourselves in the' guilt of an unjust war
by any voluntary aid to carry it on ; for if we think it unjust we should
partake of the guilt if we go a step further than our duty calls us to
do. So far as we are constitutionally called on, it is our duty to go,
and so far we will support the government and the measures of gov-
ernment, even those that we disapprove ; but we shall feel ourselves
bound to do all we can lawfully do to produce a change of men and a
consequent change of measures. We meet here in consequence of an
invitation addressed to Republicans. We are entitled to this appella-
tion, and have never given up our claim to it. We are those and the
descendants of those, who fought to defend their rights, which were
finally secured to us by a Republican form of government, who know
the blood and treasure they cost. We know how to estimate them, and
cannot consent to give them up to any set of men who claim the
exclusive privilege of this name. We claim no exclusive privileges,
but we know the rights we are entitled to in common with all our
'.-*'
fellow-citizens who have fought even to defend them from foreign
enemies, and will not submit to surrender them to any set of men
among ourselves.
A smart shock of an earthquake was felt in this town
early in the evening of 28 November, 1814.
VIII.] THE COMMON. 125
THE SEPTEMBER GALE.
One of the most violent tempests ever experienced here
occurred on the 22 September, 1815. It commenced at
about 11 : 30 a. m., and continued with great fury about two
hours. Trees and fences were blown down, buildings were
unroofed, and their fragments, with limbs of trees, were
strewn in all directions. Along the coast the storm was
still more severe, and the damage done to the shipping was
immense. Fortunately, but few lives were lost. A current
of air, like one from a hot bath, almost suffocating, was
noticed at Worcester, during the middle stages of the tem-
pest.
Snow is said to have fallen every month of the year 1816,
and the following season was also a very cold one. But
very little sound corn was raised in either of these years ;
but the crops of rye and other small grains were excellent.
About three o'clock a. m., on the morning of 22 May,
1817, a smart shock of an earthquake was felt in this town,
and another on Sunday, 5 October, the same year, during
the morning service in the meeting-house. The last shock
lasted about a minute, and was so severe that many persons
left the meeting-house. It was noticed in Concord, Boston,
Salem, and other places. Its course seemed to be from
north-west to south-east.
A meeting of citizens interested in the project was held
15 May, 1818, to take into consideration the expediency of
establishing sunday-schools in this town.
THE COMMON.
At a meeting held 29 June, 1818, William Fisk, Jede-
diah K. Smith, Charles H. Atherton, David Stewart, and
Daniel Campbell, were appointed a committee to ascertain
the boundaries of the common. On the twenty-first day of
September following the committee reported ; —
126 HISTORY OP AMIIERST. [Chap.
" That, from the best information they could then collect, the Com-
mon begins on the road the west side of the burying-ground, five rods
north of Col. Means's Corner, thence West, or about West, thirty-two
rods on land sold by Ronaldson Ellinwood to the County, to a long
stone inserted in the ground, between the stores of Wallace and
Spalding and Airs. Shepard, thence Xorth so as to take in a Corner of
said store of Wallace and Spalding and a part of his (their) horse-
shed to a stake near the fence running from Mrs. Smith's to the turn-
pike, thence easterly so as to take in about one third part of Mrs.
Smith's dwelling-house and almost one half of the Court house to the
line of the road running West of the burying-ground, thence by said
road to the place of beginning, which is exclusive of that part of the
Common included in the burying-ground."
They stated that
" The North line may possibly be two or three feet further north
than the line indicated above."
26 November, 1858. The town voted to appropriate the
sum of $250 for the purchase of the Read lot, so called, and
that a title to the same bo obtained, and that it be used as
a common belonging to the town for ever.
This was a lot on which the store, occupied for many
years by William Read, Read & Spalding, David Underbill,
and others, formerly stood. It laid west of the common,
and adjoining it. A part of it is now occupied by the
Soldiers' Monument.
12 May, 1866, the town voted to discontinue that part of
the common lying between the road leading from H. E.
Abbot's store to George Kent's, and that leading from said
Kent's to William Wetherbee's, and from said Wetherbec's
to the chapel, and from the chapel to H. E. Abbot's store,
and allow the same to be fenced, provided it can be done
without expense to the town.
An effort to reconsider this vote was made at a meeting
held 2 June, 1861), which failed.
In 1866 a portion of the common was fenced in, and 4
May, 1867, the citizens turned out and spent the clay in
VIIL] THE COMMON. 127
setting- out trees within the inclosure, encircling it with
maples and elms. The work went on through the following
week, every day bringing something new to add in time to
the beauty of the place.
The citizens turned out again on " election day," 5 June,
1867, and finished the work on the common in good
shape. They dined and supped together at the " Stewart "
house. After supper the treasurer reported that the funds
in the treasury were $15 short of the demands made
against it, which amount was contributed at once.
The park on the common was dedicated 1 July, 1868, by
an open-air concert, given by the Nashua Brass Band, E. T.
Baldwin, conductor. After the concert the band and many
of the citizens partook of a collation, prepared by the ladies,
at the Court House.
Assuming that the south-west corner of the common, as
reported by the committee in 1818, was identical with the
south-west corner of the training-field, burying-place, etc.,
laid out by the proprietors' committee in 1735, that lot
extended east from the corner mentioned, some 38 rods, to
a point in the old cemetery, thence north 71 rods, thence
west some 38 rods, thence south 74 rods to the bound first
mentioned. To the west of the training-field lot and
adjoining it was the ministerial lot of 60 acres. This
extended 124 rods west from the west line of the training-
field.
North of the training-field lot, its south-west corner being
the same as the north-west corner of the training-field, and
extending along the north line of that lot and beyond, was
the minister's lot, of 60 acres. This lot extended 78 rods
east and west, and 124 rods north and south, land being
reserved for a road along its southern boundary. On this
lot Mr. Wilkins settled, and built the house long known
after his death as the " Henchman " house. For some
cause the first meeting-house was also built on this lot.
128 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
Directly east of this, and bounded by the road, on the
south, was the school lot of 60 acres.
The present road to Manchester and Merrimack seems to
have been laid out on the land reserved for the purpose by
the proprietors.
The committee appointed 29 June, 1818, to ascertain the
boundaries of the common, were also instructed to ascertain
what number of horse sheds would be wanted near the
meeting-house, what number of them it would be proper to
build on the common, and where they should be built. On
these matters they reported
" That they could not recommend the erection of any horse sheds
on the common ; but, as they supposed about thirty sheds would be
wanted, one of their number had purchased a strip of land of Samuel
Dana, Esq., which they supposed would furnish room sufficient to
allow of the erection of some 20 or 30 sheds, which he offered to the
town for $33.25, that being the price paid for it, in addition to some
trfling expenses in effecting the purchase, not exceeding three dollars.
This land the Committee asked to be authorized to lay out in lots
suitable for the accommodation of sheds, and sell the rights at
auction, Mr. Atherton giving deeds to the highest bidders, and if
any thing was realized above the cost of the land it should be paid
into a common fund for the erection of the sheds. This plan would
make it necessary to remove the hearse-house to some part of the
burying-ground, and to turn Mr. Lord's shed to face the east, and let
it form the first shed on that side."
The report of the committee was accepted and adopted,
and they were authorized to divide the land into lots and
dispose of it in the manner indicated.
The hearse-house was moved to the north-west corner of
the burying-ground, where it braved the storm, tempest,
and lightning, for many years. The spots occupied by Mr.
Lord's shed and some others on that line are now covered
by the meeting-house, which w r as moved there in 1836, the
sheds having been previously removed to a spot near the
Baptist meeting-house. The remainder of the sheds are
still on the land bought bv Mr. Atherton.
VI1L] HILLSBOROUGH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 129
DARK DAY OF 1818.
15 July, 1818. A great smoke filled the atmosphere in
this and the neghboring towns. The sun was so obscured
that the people were reminded of the dark day of 1780.
The smoke was produced by the burning of the woodlands
on the mountains and a general burning of brush in all
directions. A strong north-west wind prevailed through
the day. In Salem and Boston the darkness is said to have
been much more intense than here.
TAXES.
March, 1819. By a vote of the town those tax-payers
who paid their taxes on or before the first day of Septem-
ber this year were allowed a discount of five per cent. ;
those who paid between that time and the third day of
November, three per cent. ; after that time the full amount
was required ; and the collector who did not pay up
his taxes on or before the first day of the following March
was to have no pay for collecting what remained unpaid at
that time.
20 March, 1819. After a winter of bare ground
and mild, pleasant weather, snow fell to the depth of eight-
een or twenty inches on a level, which was piled into huge
drifts by the high winds, and greatly obstructed the travel-
ing in many places.
FAIR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The first cattle show and fair under the direction of the
Hillsborough County Society for the promotion of agricul-
ture and domestic manufactures was held on Amherst
Plain, 13 October, 1819.
A procession was formed at Ray's tavern, which, under
the lead of Gen. Benjamin Pierce, moved across the plain
to the place of exhibition, and viewed the stock, farm
products, and manufactures offered for premiums. They
130 HISTORY OP AMHERST. Chap.]
then marched to the meeting-house, where prayer was
offered by Rev. Humphrey Moore, of Milford, after which
they returned to Ray's hall.
Although a cold rain storm, accompanied by sleet, pre-
vailed in the forenoon, a large number of people were in
attendance, and the utmost good feeling and harmony
prevailed.
In the afternoon the society met to hear the reports of
the awarding committees, hear essays read, and choose
officers for the ensuing year.
Dr. Matthias Spalding read an essay on making and
managing manure (which was published in the Cabinet, 13
November, 1819), for which he received the premium
offered by the society.
Hon. Charles H. Atherton was chosen president of the
society for the following year.
Thomas Underwood, of Amherst, was awarded the first
premium for wheat, having raised twenty-four bushels to
the acre.
A pair of yearling twin steers exhibited by Timothy
Danforth, attracted much attention. They were yoked
together, and drew a small cart rilled with rare farm pro-
ducts.
Mr. Danforth received the first premium for corn, his crop
averaging seventy-one bushels of shelled corn to the acre.
The second premium for corn was also awarded him, as he
raised forty-four and three fourths bushels per acre, on light
land, at a very trifling cost.
From the twelfth day of November, 1820, to the seven-
teenth day of April, 1821, there were twenty-four snow
storms in which 83^ inches of snow fell.
STAGES.
22 December, 1821. There were stages running through
the village every day in the week.
VIII. ] CURRENT EVENTS. 131
A new line from Amherst to Groton had recently been
put on, which left Amherst on Monday and Wednesday
mornings, and returned on Tuesdays and Saturdays. At
Groton it connected with stages from Keene.
24 and 25 September, 1822. The Hillsborough County
Agricultural Society held its fourth anniversary cattle-
show, plo wing-match, etc., at this place. The number of
people collected was very great. Pens for the cattle were
erected on the plain in front of the meeting-house, and the
manufactures were deposited in the upper room of the
school-house. At five o'clock p. m., on the first day, the
society met for the choice of officers and the transaction of
other business ; after this they adjourned until eight o'clock
the next morning, at which time they heard and accepted
the treasurer's report. At half past nine o'clock such ani-
mals as the owners wished to dispose of were sold by
auction. At ten o'clock a procession was formed, under
the direction of General Benjamin Pierce as chief marshal,
which moved to the spot selected for the plo wing-match.
After the close of the plowing-match the society returned
to the area of the pens, where refreshments were partaken
of, and at half past twelve the procession was re-formed
and proceeded to the meeting-house, where prayer was
offered by Rev. Nathan Lord, and an interesting address
was delivered by Moses Eastman, Esq., of Salisbury.
In 1823 the road to Bedford was repaired, and a short
piece of new road built which made the route more direct.
In November of that year the new road to Milford was
laid out by the selectmen.
At the annual exhibition of the Hillsborough Agricul-
tural Society held in Amherst on the 24th and 25th of
September, 1823, Charles H. Atherton was awarded $4 for
good husbandry ; Timothy Danforth, $4 for the second best
field of oats ; Eber Lawrence, $3 for the third best field of
oats ; David Stewart, $4 for the best field of beans ; Mat-
thias Spalding, |4 for the best field of English turnips ;
132 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
and Miss Lucy Ann Fuller, $1 for the best straw bon-
net.
4 July, 1824. The day was celebrated by the citizens
without distinction of party. Hon. Charles H. Atherton
acted as president of the day ; Hon. William Fisk, Hon.
Edmund Parker, Andrew Wallace and Robert Means,
Esqs., vice-presidents ; Timothy Danforth, chief marshal,
with Capt. Daniel Campbell, Capt. Daniel Hartshorn, Lieut.
Luther Melendy, Ephxaim Blanchard, and E. F. Wallace, as
aids ; Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, chaplain ; Charles G. Ath-
erton, orator of the day. The Declaration of Independence
was read by Hon. Edmund Parker, and Capt. John Secombe
acted as toast-master.
His Excellency, Gov. Morrill, was met at the residence of
Hon. William Fisk, and escorted to the plain by a cavalcade
of citizens. Gen. James Miller, the hero of Lundy's Lane,
Gen. Benjamin Pierce, and Gen. Joseph Low, were present,
and participated in the festivities of the occasion.
The annual fair of the Hillsborough County Agricultural
society was held in this town 22 and 23 September, 1824.
The annual address was delivered by Dr. Matthias Spalding.
A large concourse of people was present, who appeared to
be deeply interested in the proceedings.
At the plowing-match the land Avas measured into lots
of one eighth of an acre each. Nine teams competed for
the prizes, and the time occupied by each varied from nine
minutes and seven seconds to sixteen minutes per lot. Two
teams were entered from Amherst, of which that owned by
Timothy Danforth, a pair of twin oxen, six years old,
driven by Walter Danforth, John Farnum, plowman,
completed the lot in twelve minutes and twenty seconds,
plowing seventeen furrows. The team owned by Capt.
Daniel Campbell, a pair of oxen, six years old, driven by
James Tuttle, Capt. Campbell, plowman, completed its
task in twelve minutes and thirty seconds, having plowed
sixteen furrows.
VIII.] CURRENT EVENTS. 133
The speaker of the House of Representatives having
resigned, Hon. Edmund Parker, of Amherst, was chosen
speaker for the remainder of the session, 15 December,
1824.
" There are now living in Amherst 2 persons over 90 years of age ;
17 (nine males and eight females), over 80 and under 90 years ; and
53 (twenty-seven males and twenty-six females), between 70 and SO
years." — New Hampshire Patriot, 27 December, 1824.
NEW ROAD TO NEW BOSTON AND HENNIKER.
A new road from Amherst to Henniker began to be
called for early in 1824, and at a meeting held 21 June, that
year, David McG. Means, William Fisk, John Secombe, and
Luther Melendy, were appointed a committee to confer with
such committees as might be appointed by the towns of
Henniker, Weare, and others, to ascertain whether it was
practicable to straighten the road from Henniker and
Weare, through New Boston and Amherst, to Nashua
village, and they were directed to ascertain the most practi-
cable route for said road to pass through the town of
Amherst to Nashua village.
3 September, 1825, Nathaniel Shattuck, Esq., was
appointed agent to oppose the laying out of a road from
Amherst through the easterly part of Mont Vernon, thence
through New Boston to the south line of Weare, as peti-
tioned for by William Whittle and others and John Crombie
and others.
4 September, 1826, Robert Read, Edmund Parker, and
John Secombe, were appointed agents for the town to
oppose the granting of the petition of William Whittle and
others, for a road to be laid through the easterly part
of the town ; and they were directed to use their influence
in favor of the petition of Robert Read and others^ for a
road from the south line of Weare to Amherst village.
Voted also to discharge Nathaniel Shattuck, who was
appointed agent to oppose the laying out of the road peti-
134 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
tionecl for by William Whittle and others, from further
service in that direction.
The town voted, at a meeting held 18 January, 1827, that
the expenses and money paid out by the committee, while
waiting upon the court's committee which laid out the
road petitioned for by Francis Peabody and others, after
deducting such sums as shall be allowed by the court on
the acceptance or rejection of their report, shall be paid
by the town.
Edmund Parker was appointed agent to appear in court
and urge the acceptance of the committee's report on the
road petitioned for by Francis Peabody and others, and lie
was authorized to make such preparations as he might
deem expedient to secure the acceptance of the report.
At the annual meeting, 13 March, 1827, the petition of
Robert Means and others, and David McGr. Means and
oiiers, praying for a straightening of the road between
Amherst common and Daniel Fletcher's, and the petition
of William Melendy and others for an alteration in the
termination of the road lately laid out by a court's com-
mittee from the south line of Weare to Amherst, were
referred to the selectmen.
At the session of the Court of Common Pleas held in Sep-
tember, 1827, the justices accepted the report of the com-
mittee appointed by them on the petition of Francis Pea-
body and others, laying out a new road from Amherst to
Weare. The road was built during this and the following-
year. It passed through the entire length of Mont Vernon,
and its construction and maintenance have been a heavy
burden to that town. Its completion was noticed in the
Cabinet, 31 January, 1829, as follows :
" The new road, lately ordered to be laid out and built by the Court
of Common Pleas between this place and Weare is now completed and
traveled by teams going with loads to market at Boston and the man-
ufacturing towns below us. It is generally — we understand — consid-
ered as an excellent and level road, and is likely to receive the travel
from the upper towns in preference to any other route."
VIII.] gen. Lafayette's visit. 135
The town voted, 9 March, 1830, to keep the turnpike and
bridge in repair from the point where the new road inter-
sects with it, to the end of the turnpike near Robert Read's
store.
RECEPTION OF GEN. LAFAYETTE AT CONCORD.
The capital of New Hampshire was visited by Gen.
Lafayette 22 June, 1825, and thousands of the citizens of
the State embraced the opportunity of greeting the friend
and companion of Washington. More than two hundred of
his companions in arms were present. Edmund Parker,
Esq., the representative from Amherst, was chief marshal
of the day. Receiving the General at Pembroke, the civic
escort proceeded toward Concord, and at the line of the
towns was met by the military escort called out for the oc-
casion, which was under the command of Gen. Bradbury
Bartlett, a grandson of Col. Cilley, of revolutionary fame.
The procession then marched up Main street to the North
end, then wheeled and returned to the State House, where
the military formed on either side of the walk from the
street to the State House steps ; and the marshals, commit-
tee of arrangements, and guests, passed between the lines to
the Representatives' hall, where the Governor, Council, Sen-
ate, and House of Representatives were assembled. On en-
tering the hall the presence of Gen. Lafayette was an-
nounced to the convention, which rose to receive him. He
was then introduced to Gov. Morrill, who addressed him
briefly in an appropriate speech, to which he replied. He
was afterward introduced to the members of the Council
and the President of the Senate by the Governor. The
President of the Senate introduced him to each of the Sen-
ators and to the Speaker of the House, who introduced him
to each of the Representatives. He then descended to the
area below the hall and met the Revolutionarv soldiers
there assembled. Gen. Benjamin Pierce welcomed him in
their behalf. He then partook of a dinner in the State
136 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
House park, with about eight hundred of the citizens, the
chief marshal of the day being seated at the left of the
nation's guest, at the table.
Hon. Edmund Parker, who had represented the town in
the General Court several years, and was again elected in
March, 1826, resigned a short time previous to the session
of the legislature, and Robert Read, Esq., was elected to fill
the vacancy at a special town-meetiug called for the pur-
pose. Mr. Parker's letter of resignation was as follows :
To the town of Aiulu rst : —
The undersigned respectfully represents that on account of
sickness the situation of his family is such as renders it very
inconvenient for him to be absent. On the most favorable sup-
position he apprehends the case will be but little varied during the
month of June, and that he can not serve the town in the General
Court without neglecting more imperious obligations. Under these
circumstances he thinks it a duty he owes to the town, as well as his
family, to ask to be excused from serving the town as their Repre-
sentative in the General Court the ensuing year, or in case the office
can be considered as now existing, to ask permission to resign it. He
does it at this time that there may be opportunity to elect another
before the sitting of the court. He begs the town to accept his
thanks for the honor they have conferred on him, and he assures them
that nothing but necessity would have induced him to decline serving
them.
EDMUND PARKER.
Amherst, May 20, 1826.
4 July, 1826. The day was celebrated by the Lafayette
Riflemen, who were presented with a beautiful standard by
Miss Lucretia Claggett, in behalf of the ladies of the town,
after which they dined at Ray's hotel, in company with a
number of the citizens.
The viewing committee of the Hillsborough County
Agricultural Society commenced their tour of duty, in
examining crops, etc., 21 July, 1826. They reported
informally, 29 July, that they had a pleasant trip, being
every where met with cordiality, welcome, and — grass-
hoppers. That there would be about an average crop of
VIII. ] CURRENT EVENTS. 137
Indian corn, wheat, and potatoes ; rye, a little shortened ;
spring rye, damaged, and oats very much damaged by the
grasshoppers ; hay, not over half a crop ; no turnips ; and
four fifths of the gardens naked as the middle of the road.
1826 was long remembered as the " grasshopper year/'
Those insects were so plenty that nearly every green thing-
was eaten. In some places they are said to have been
caught in nets and fed to the hogs. A great rain storm
occurred during the last week in August, which destroyed
them. More water is said to have fallen in this storm than
had fallen in the same length of time for many years. The
roads were badly washed, and many of the bridges were
swept away. The Merrimack and Souhegan rivers were as
high as they are in the greatest spring freshets.
It was during this storm that the slide on the White
Mountains took place, by which the Willey family was
destroyed.
Fifty-three deaths occurred in Amherst in the year
1826, a greater number than is recorded in any other year
since its settlement.
Early in July the whooping-cough made its appearance.
In the same month the measles followed, and soon after
the dysentery. These diseases were all more difficult to
manage than usual, and often terminated in death. The
sickness was more severely felt in the Centre school district
than any other. In this district alone there were 47 cases
of whooping-cough, 122 of measles, and 109 of dysentery.
Many adults suffered severely, and some died. Deaths, by
the cough, 1 ; dysentery, 13 ; measles, 3 ; and one linger-
ing case, which resulted in death, seemed to be the result
of all three of the diseases. Of these 16 were children, and
2 adults ; males 13, females 5. The sickness continued
until past the middle of December.
Neither wine nor ardent spirits were used at the dinner
of the Southern District Medical Society at Nutt's tavern,
9 January, 1827 ; but the table was abundantly supplied
138 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
with most excellent cider. Three or four decanters of
brandy, placed on the table without orders, remained
untouched by the doctors.
At the fair of the Hillsborough County Agricultural
Society, held in this town 24 and 25 September, 1828, pre-
miums were awarded to George Raymond and Thomas
Cloutman, of Mont Vernon, Humphrey Moore, of Milford,
Matthias Spalding, of Amherst, and Thomas Eaton, of
Francestown, for performing the labor on their farms that
year without the aid of distilled liquors.
The use of distilled liquors was at that time nearly uni-
versal among all classes of the people. The farmer carried
them to his field, the mechanic to his workshop, and the
professional man to his office ; all used them freely, and
the legitimate consequences — drunkenness, idleness, pov-
erty, disease, and crime — followed.
About this time a society was formed in the town the
members of which were pledged to abstain from the use of
intoxicating spirits. Associations of a similar kind were
formed in many other towns. In these movements many
of the most distinguished physicians, and other educated
men in the State, took an active part, and suffered no small
amount of abuse in consequence of their exertions.
A cow, six years old, exhibited by Capt. Elijah Putnam,
of this town, at the fair in Milford, September, 1827, aver-
aged seventeen quarts of milk per day, for fourteen days,
from which nineteen and one fourth pounds of butter were
made.
At this fair Dr. Thomas Eaton, of Francestown, stated
that he had ascertained, by careful experiment, that one
seventh more corn could be raised from the same number
of stalks planted in drills than when planted in the usual
way in hills.
A code of by-laws for the prevention of fires within 200
yards of the court house, to be in force after 1 January,
1828, was adopted by the fire-wards 22 November, 1827.
VIII.] PURCHASE OF THE PAUPER FARM. 139
1 September, 1829. After a day of intense heat the
wind suddenly changed in the night, and the weather
became uncomfortably cold, and continued so for more than
a week. The earth had become very dry from a long
drought, and the air was tilled with smoke and dust from
numerous hres the wind had rekindled, which would have
done serious damage but for the great exertions of the
citizens in quelling them.
Dr. Daniel Adams, of Mont Vernon, delivered an address
before the Amherst temperance society on the evening of 6
May, 1830. Many citizens from all parts of the county,
who were in town attending the session of the court were
present, and listened with pleasure to the Doctor's valu-
able and convincing discourse.
6 August, 1830. A great freshet occurred, the like of
which has seldom been seen by the oldest inhabitants.
The streams, swollen to an unwonted height, burst over
their barriers, and in some cases formed new channels,
presenting a scene of ruin and desolation along their
courses.
The Hillsborough County Agricultural Society held their
eleventh exhibition in Amherst, October 6 and 7, 1830.
Although the weather was fine and the attendance large,
the exhibition was small. On the morning of the 7th the
annual address was delivered in the meeting-house by Dr.
S. I. Bard, of Francestown. It was an interesting and
valuable production.
PURCHASE OF THE PAUPER FARM.
The support of the town paupers was provided for by the
town, annually, at a meeting held near the close of the
month of March, when their maintenance during the
coming year was let out to the lowest bidder.
This course, the best at first, perhaps, that could be
adopted, was open to serious objections, and, at the annual
town meeting, March, 1817, William Fisk, Edmund Parker,
140 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
John Secombe, Daniel Campbell, jr., Elijah Putnam, Robert
Means, Israel Fuller, Frederick French, William Read, and
Jedediah K. Smith, were appointed a committee to take
into consideration the propriety of providing a house for the
accommodation of the poor of the town, so that they may be
more prudently and comfortably supported, and in a way
less repugnant to the feelings of humanity than at present.
At the adjourned meeting held 26 March, 1817, the com-
mittee reported that the time had been too short to make
the necessary inquiries in regard to the matter put into
their hands, and that it would be advisable to appoint a
committee of two or three persons whose duty it should be
to procure information from overseers of the poor in towns
where farms had been purchased on which to support the
poor and lay the result of their inquiries before the town at
some future meeting.
While' they considered it unadvisable for the town to
purchase a farm at that time, they were persuaded that the
time would arrive when it would be advisable so to do.
The town voted to accept the report of the committee,
but took no further action. The subject of the purchase of
a pauper farm was again brought up and discussed at the
annual town meetings until 1 826, when another committee
was appointed to take the subject into consideration ; but
no record exists to show that they were called upon to make
a report of their doings.
Another committee was appointed in March, 1828, to
take the subject into consideration, but no further action
was taken.
9 March, 1830, the town voted not to purchase a farm
for the support of the poor.
11 December, 1830, the town voted to purchase a farm,
on which to support the poor. John Mack, David Stewart,
Bartholomew Dodge, Thomas Wilkins, and Daniel Camp-
bell, jr., were appointed a committee to carry the vote into
effect, and they were authorized to sell the real estate then
VIII.] PURCHASE OF THE PAUPER FARM. 141
owned by the town, and to borrow such a sum of money, in
addition to the amount received from such sale, as would
enable them to pay for the farm, with the necessary stock
and tools required for it, and provisions for the support of
the paupers the first year, the whole amount not to exceed
four thousand dollars.
The committee attended at once upon the business
entrusted to them, and, after the necessary inquiries and
examination of farms offered, decided to purchase the farm
lying on the south side of Souhegan river, owned by Mr.
John Mack, and at the annual meeting in March, 1831,
made report of their action in which they stated that,
" Finding they could not purchase the whole farm with-
out exceeding the limits assigned them, they had reserved
in their own hands about sixty acres, and taken a deed of
the remainder for the town for the sum of #3,150. The
land they had secured could be had for #700, if the town
desired to purchase it, which the committee were decidedly
of opinion it would be for the interest of the town to do,
which would make the cost of the whole #3,850, which, with
the stock, tools, and provisions necessary, would require an
outlay of from forty-two to forty-three hundred dollars,
thirty-five hundred of which they had already hired.
They also reported that they had not purchased any
stock, farming tools, or provisions, and but a small amount
of furniture, not deeming it best to do so until they were
wanted, and that they had hired Mr. John W. Underwood, of
Dunstable, to superintend and carry on the farm one year
at a salary of #200.
Also that they had been offered three dollars and fifty
cents per acre for the land owned by the town, and sub-
mitted the matter to the town, whether they would accept
the offer or not.
After hearing the report, the town voted to purchase the
whole of the Mack farm, as recommended, and to dispose
of the town's land on the best terms offered.
142 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
They also voted that the committee draft by-laws and rules
and regulations for the government of the poor-house,
and report the same at the adjournment of this meet-
ing.
Also, voted that the town's farm for the poor be taxed
with school and highway taxes.
A code of by-laws prepared by the committee was adopted
by the town at an adjourned meeting.
The amount paid Mr. Jacob Kimball for the support of
the town paupers the year preceding the purchase of the
farm was $525.
23 December, 1833. The town voted to build a barn on
the pauper farm, and the selectmen were constituted a com-
mittee to superintend the work. The barn, 100 x 40 feet,
was built the following season, at a cost, as reported, of
•$967.20, exclusive of lumber furnished from the farm. It-
was burned by an insane pauper in the month of March,
1847, with all its contents, just after the town had paid the
debt incurred by the purchase of the farm.
19 April, 1847. The town voted to build a barn on the
pauper farm, 60 x 40 feet, and authorized the selectmen to
hire a sum of money to defray the expense of the same,
provided it does not exceed six hundred dollars. Daniel
Hartshorn, Israel Fuller, jr., and Thomas Wilkins, were
appointed a committee to superintend its erection.
2 May, 1847. Voted to enlarge the size of the barn, and
build it twenty feet longer, making the whole length eighty
feet, and authorized the committee to build a shed, such as
they might think proper.
The cost of the barn and shed, including the services of
the committee, was $918.27.
In 1859 the house on the farm was repaired at an expense,
as reported, of $971.43.
The same year the wood and timber sold from the farm
amounted to $1,497.50.
VIII.] CURRENT EVENTS. 143
In March, 1840, the town authorized the selectmen to
sell and convey a portion of the pauper farm, not exceeding
two acres, to Capt. Jacob Danforth.
The farm, originally a part of Monson, on which Ben-
jamin Kendrick settled in 1749, is still owned by the town,
and is worth probably three times the amount paid for it
fifty years ago. While such an institution was necessary
it fully answered the purpose for which it was bought ; but
the recent change in the pauper laws of the State has
almost wholly obviated the necessity of town establish-
ments for the support of paupers.
12 February, 1831. An eclipse of the sun, the largest
that has been witnessed in this place since the total eclipse
of 16 June, 1806, took place to-day between the hours of
10 : 30 a. m. and 2 : 15 p. m. At five minutes past 1 o'clock
11.29 digits of the sun's service were eclipsed. The
weather was fair, allowing a good view of the eclipse. At
the time of the greatest obscuration the planet Venus was
visible, and an unusual chill pervaded the atmosphere.
Owing to the great distance of the moon from the earth at
the time, the eclipse was no where total.
The following instance of " extraordinary despatch " in
the transmission of the President's message is found in the
Cabinet of 17 December, 1831 :
" The President's message was conveyed from the steamboat
wharf in Providence to Boston, a distance of forty-two miles, in one
hour and fifty-two minutes. This rapidity of conveyance is without
a parallel in this country, and we are not aware of its being- equalled
elsewhere."
June, 1832. The Asiatic cholera made its appearance in
Quebec, whence it spread over the country, proving fatal in
numberless cases, and causing great alarm. It has never
prevailed to any great extent in New Hampshire.
21 October, 1833. The Hillsborough County Mutual Fire
Insurance Company was organized at Amherst.
144 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Charles H. Atherton was cliosen president ; Robert Read,
David McG. Means, Isaac Spalding, of Nashua, and Abial
Lovejoy, of Milford, directors ; and John Prentiss, secre-
tary.
THE METEORIC DISPLAY
On the morning of 13 November, 1833, was the grandest
ever witnessed in this country. Thousands of meteors
were flying in all directions, and the show continued until
they were obscured by the light of the sun. The New
Hampshire Patriot, of the following week, said :
"■At half past five in the morning the heavens presented one of the
most extraordinary, sublime, and beautiful prospects ever beheld by
man. Imagination can picture nothing to exceed it. The meteors
were seen flying in every possible direction, through a clear, unclouded
sky, leaving long luminous trains behind. In any direction the scene
could be compared to nothing more aptly than a distant shower of fire,
whose particles were falling sparsely to the earth. Frequently one
larger and more luminous than the others would shoot across the
heavens, producing a flash like vivid lightning. Toward the approach
of daylight the sky began to be obscured with clouds, and the meteors
appeared less frequently, but they were seen as long as the stars were
visible."
Some of the cases brought before the Court of Common
Pleas at its session in February, 1834, originated in very
trivial matters. One arose from a matter of six and a
quarter cents, which, by eight or ten years litigation,
amounted to six or seven hundred dollars.
4 July, 1834, the Lafayette Riflemen paraded and
received the New Boston Artillery, their guests for the
day. The day was ushered in by the ringing of the bell
and the discharge of twenty-four guns. At 12 o'clock a
procession was formed which marched to the meeting-
house, where an oration was pronounced by Perley Dodge,
Esq. At the conclusion of the services in the meeting-
house the company repaired to a booth on the common
where a dinner had been provided by Mr. Hardy, to which
VIII.] CURRENT EVENTS. 145
ample justice was done. The two companies then paraded
on the common and went through a variety of evolutions,
evincing a high state of discipline, and at an early hour
retired. The celebration passed off with a degree of good
order and sobriety creditable to all concerned.
The " Amherst Lyceum," recently organized, was opened
by a lecture from Dr. Amory Gale, 29 December, 1834.
7 January, 1835, a great fall of rain at night raised the
small streams to a great height, and did considerable
damage to bridges, mills, etc. The old county bridge was
carried away. A portion of the dam at Milford village was
swept away. The Kendrick bridge was made impassable,
and the Fletcher bridge was for some time in great peril,
but happily escaped injury.
The frame of a new meeting-house for the Unitarian and
Universalist societies in Amherst was erected 17 June,
1835, under the direction of John Crombie, jr., of New
Boston. Mr. Boylston said, in the Cabinet, that
" The raising went on with great facility, every thing being done
decently and in order, without accident, and — without rum ! "
The house, now the Baptist meeting-house, was dedicated
24 November, 1835, when a discourse, appropriate to the
occasion, was preached by Rev. Lyman Maynard.
The New cemetery at Nashua was consecrated as a burial-
place 30 June, 1835. An exceedingly appropriate and
able address was delivered, on this occasion, by Hon. Charles
H. Atherton.
ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.
A meeting was held at the court house in September,
1836, for the purpose of expressing an opinion respecting
the establishment of an asylum for the insane in this State.
Resolutions were passed in favor of the project, and the
meeting was addressed by Hon. Charles H. Atherton and
John L. Clarke, of Nashua. David Underbill, Dr. Amory
10
146 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
Gale, and James Means, were appointed a committee to pre-
pare a memorial to the legislature on the subject, and
obtain signatures for the same.
On this subject the town voted, at a meeting held 7
November, 1836, to request the legislature to grant an
appropriation for the construction of an asylum for the
insane ; yeas 88, nays 2.
The season of 1836 was an unpropitious one for the
farmers. The spring was backward, and a heavy frost
came early in September, by which much of the corn was
injured. The weevil destroyed much of the wheat. Other
kinds of English grain were tolerably good, and the hay
crop was a little better than it was the year before. Of
potatoes there was scarcely a middling crop. Beef and
wool were plenty, and brought good prices.
From 1836 to 1844 was the era of road building in
Amherst. The growing town of Manchester demanded
better facilities for reaching the shire town than were then
possessed, and the road leading in that direction was
straightened and put in good repair at a heavy expense.
Local roads, demanded for the accommodation of the
inhabitants in the eastern part of the town, were also built.
SURPLUS REVENUE.
18 February, 1837. The town voted that they would
receive their portion of the surplus revenue of the United
States, deposited or to be deposited with the State, on the
terms and conditions prescribed in the law of this State,
approved 13 January, 1837. David Stewart was appointed
agent to receive said monev and execute the certificate of
deposit therefor required by said law.
The town also voted that the board of selectmen for the
time being be authorized to loan said money, taking a note
or notes, or other security therefor, payable on demand,
with interest at six per cent.
VIII.] CURRENT EVENTS. 147
The amount of surplus revenue received by the town,
with the interest on the same to 12 November, 1837,
amounted, at that time, to $4,228.78, which amount and
$124.71 — making in the whole $4,347.79 — was borrowed by
the selectmen to pay the expense of rebuilding the Fletcher
bridge, land damages, and building roads in the east part
of the town ; and $4,295.07 of it was expended for those
purposes, leaving a balance in their hands in March, 1838,
of $52.42.
At a meeting held 30 March, 1839, the town voted that
the principal and interest of the surplus revenue money
should be used for the payment of money hired by the
town, and authorized the selectmen to cancel the notes
given for the same.
1837.
Many of the farmers in Amherst were engaged in the
cultivation of hops, but the business was in a few years
abandoned. Col. Stephen Peabody, of Milford, was the
champion hop raiser of the county, his crop this year being
11,560 pounds from 5,000 hills, an unusual yield, the
result of good cultivation of a fertile soil.
A financial crisis prevailed in the country during the
summer and autumn of this year. There was no small
silver change in circulation, and its want was severely felt.
Fractional bills were issued by some of the banks to supply
the want, but the practice was soon discontinued.
At a meeting held 13 March, 1838, the town voted
unanimously that it was not expedient that the legislature
should pass a law authorizing town-clerks to record deeds ;
nays 201.
A great amount of damage was done by a storm of wind
and rain, which occurred 26 January, 1839. The Pauper
farm bridge was entirely carried away, and great losses in
mills, bridges, etc., were reported on the Merrimack and
Connecticut rivers and their tributaries.
148 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
4 July, 1839. The day was celebrated by the Democratic
Republicans of Amherst and the neighboring towns. A
procession was formed, which marched, under escort of the
Lafayette Riflemen, to the Universalist church, where an
oration was pronounced by Hon. Charles G. Atherton, of
Nashua, after which the company partook of a sumptuous
dinner. Gov. Isaac Hill, Hon. Charles P. Gove, and other
invited guests were present, and made speeches, and all
passed off pleasantly.
The rifle company, which appeared in its new uniform
for the first time, marched to Milford at an early hour, to
be present at the ceremony of presenting a stand of colors
to the Milford Lio-ht Infantry.
3 September, 1839 — evening. A brilliant display of the
northern lights was noticed. A writer speaking of it, says —
" Probably a more brilliant phenomenon lias not been
observed since the meteoric shower, 13 November, 1833."
1839 was the era of the great Rohan potatoes. Special
pains were taken in their cultivation, and specimens of
remarkable size Avere produced ; but it was soon found that
with equally good care in cultivation other varieties were
quite as productive, and of far better quality.
An enthusiastic meeting of the Whi<>'s of Hillsborough
County was held in Amherst 15 April, 1840. A log cabin
from Nashua, with the usual appendages, made its appear-
ance, Joseph Lakeman, a Revolutionary soldier, residing
in Amherst, occupying it, and the " latch string was out."
1,000 or 1,500 people were present. David Steele, Esq., of
Goffstown, presided, and addresses were made by the
President, Daniel Clarke, of Manchester, Francis Hilliard,
of Boston, and others. Delegates were chosen to attend
the Young Men's Whig National Convention, to be held at
Baltimore the following month.
The Whigs of Amherst and vicinity, to the number of
about one hundred and fifty, partook of a supper at Nutt's
tavern, on the evening of 2 December, 1840, in honor of
VIII.] CURRENT EVENTS. 149
their victory in the recent presidential election. Hon.
Charles H. Atherton presided, and, after the supper was
disposed of, addressed the meeting. Edmund Parker and
Hubbard Newton, Esqs., also made short addresses.
150 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTER IX.
1840-1882.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN, AND CURRENT
EVENTS.
SHOWERS AND STORMS. WINTER OF 1842-43. RAILROAD
MATTERS. AMHERST STEAM MILL. FAIR OF THE HILLS-
BOROUGH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1851. BOUNDARIES OF
THE FIRE PRECINCT. TEMPERANCE MOVEMENTS. COLD
WINTER. MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OP FREMONT AND DAY-
TON. CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. THE COLD MORNING OF
7 FEBRUARY, 1861. — PRESENTATION OF A UNION FLAG.
THE LOYAL TOWN CLOCK. " SOLID " MEN AND WOMEN OF
AMHERST, 1864. THE AMHERST HOTEL. THE GREAT RAIN
STORM, OCTOBER, 1869. FIRST OBSERVANCE OF DECORATION
DAY. ALTERATION AND REPAIRS OF THE COURT-HOUSE.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 4 JULY, 1876. THE LIBRARY
BELONGING TO THE AMHERST LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ACCEPTED
BY THE TOWN. — THE "DARK DAY" OF SEPTEMBER, 1881. —
CHECK-LIST, MARCH, 1882.
Three severe thunder showers occurred 30 June, 1841.
The second of these was accompanied by hail, which did
an immense amount of damage. It was estimated that
20,000 lights of glass were broken in Amherst alone.
Some of the hail stones were as large as good sized hen's
eggs.
From the second to the sixth days of October, this year, a
cold storm prevailed, during which some six inches of snow
fell, which soon melted.
IX.] CURRENT EVENTS. 151
The winter following was the mildest known for many
years. Only about forty -two inches of snow fell during the
whole season, and there was but little sleighing. About
the middle of February there was a thunder shower, by
which the roads were badly washed in some places.
December, 1841. A singular disease prevailed among
the horses at this time. It was at first indicated by loss of
appetite, followed by stiffness in the joints, running at the
eyes and nose, fever, and swelling of the limbs and body.
It was very contagious, and in many cases terminated
fatally.
A terribly cold storm of wind and snow occurred 11
June, 1842, and at its close the ground was covered with
snow to the depth of three or four inches. A high wind
prevailed the next day, which would have done credit to
November. In some places the corn was large enough to
hoe, and apples had formed as large as peas ; but they sus-
tained no serious damage.
Prices of farm products October, 1842:
Hay, $7 to $8 per ton ;
Butter, 16 to 18 cents per pound ;
Potatoes, 20 cents per bushel ;
Winter apples, $1 per barrel ;
Other articles in proportion.
Gov. Hubbard was terribly behind-hand about Thanks-
giving this year, the 22d day of December being appointed
for that time-honored festival.
The winter of 1842-43 was a long and severe one.
Sleighs were used until past the middle of April, and on
the seventeenth of that month the snow was three feet deep
on a level. It began to melt soon after, and, there being
no frost in the ground, it disappeared rapidly, and farmers
were sowing spring grain by the tenth of May. But very
little fruit was raised that season.
152 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
The Fifth regiment mustered in this town 27 September,
1844, and fully sustained its good character as one of the
best regiments in the State. It was reviewed by Maj. Gen.
John McNiel and staff.
16 December, 1844. Jonathan Herrick, Jonathan Herrick,
jr., Henry Sanderson, William Leavitt, James Alexander,
and Daniel Secombe, with the farms on which they lived,
were severed from the east district in Mont Vernon and
annexed to school district, No. 8, in Amherst, for school
purposes.
RAILROAD MATTERS.
Mr. Boylston began to agitate the matter of building a
railroad to Amherst village at an early date. In the
Cabinet of 9 September, 1836, he said :
"The Nashua and Lowell R. R. stock has all been taken up, princi-
pally in the country, and the work is to be commenced without delay.
What hinders it being continued to Amherst ? Nothing, but the
want of somebody to set about it in good earnest. There is plenty of
capital yet left, and the people are all earnest to have it done, and it
must be done."
An act incorporating the East Wilton Railroad com-
pany was approved by the Governor 28 December, 1844.
By the provisions of this act the company was authorized
to construct a road from the Concord Railroad, at any point
between the Souhegan river, in Merrimack, and the depot
in Nashua, to Amherst village, thence through Milford to
East Wilton, or from any point on the Nashua & Lowell
Railroad to East Wilton.
By an act approved 8 July, 1846, Charles H. Atherton,
John Nesmith, Perley Dodge, Israel Fuller, jr., Stephen
Peabody, Barnabas B. David, Samuel B. Melendy, Aaron
Lawrence, and their associates, were incorporated as the
Souhegan Railroad company, and invested with the powers
usually held by such corporations.
IX.] RAILROADS. 153
By this charter the Concord Railroad corporation was
authorized, with the consent of the Souhegan Railroad
company, to construct a road from some point on the
Concord Railroad, at Souhegan village, in Merrimack, to
Amherst village, the expense of such construction to be
added to the capital stock of said Concord Railroad corpo-
ration ; and the clause in the charter of the Wilton Railroad
company authorizing the construction of a road by that
corporation from Merrimack to Amherst was repealed.
The Souhegan Railroad company, having been organized,
consented that the road should be constructed by the
Concord Railroad company, agreeably to the provisions of
the charter, and application having been made to the
directors of that company for the purpose, a meeting of the
stockholders was called, which was held 2 September,
1846, at which the matter of building the road was indefi-
nitely postponed.
The subject was again brought before the stockholders
at an adjourned meeting held at Nashua 1 October, 1846,
at which the proposition to build the road was rejected on
a stock vote, the yeas being 6,257, nays 6,322 Efforts were
then made to raise money to enable the Souhegan company
to build the road, and 26 Jan., 1847, Aaron Lawrence,
Esq., treasurer of the corporation, reported that 2,527 shares
of the stock had been taken at $50 a share. A sufficient
amount of stock not being subscribed to build the road, no
movement was made toward its construction.
In the meantime the East Wilton Railroad company was
not idle. The law of the State making railroad corpora-
tions public in certain cases was adopted by that corpora-
tion, and the Railroad Commissioners were called upon to
locate their road.
The report of the commissioners was made 26 November,
1845, in which they stated that, after examining- the plans
of the different routes proposed and hearing- the statements
of the parties interested, they were of opinion that the
154 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
public good ivould be promoted by laying out a road from
East Wilton, through Milford village, to Amherst plain,
thence through the south-west part of Merrimack to the
depot of the Nashua and Lovjell Railroad company, at
Nashville, the whole distance being about seventeen and one
half miles, and they were of the opinion that the public
good would be best promoted by laying it out in sections
and at different times.
The first section of the road, from the depot in Nashville,
was laid out, and the damages appraised by the Commis-
sioners, 8 December, 1846.
At the annual town meeting in March, 1847, the repre-
sentative of Amherst was requested to oppose the granting
by the Legislature of any right or privilege to the East
Wilton Railroad to construct or build any branch or spur
to this town.
The Railroad Commissioners, at a meeting held 13 July,
1847, laid out another section of the East Wilton Railroad,
extending from the section previously laid out to Merri-
mack.
ACTION OF THE TOWN RELATIVE TO THE EAST WILTON
RAILROAD.
At a meeting held 2 June, 1848, voted unanimously —
" That the town of Amherst does not consent to sell the right of
way, nor that the Wilton Railroad corporation shall construct their
road over any part of the pauper farm."
Resolved unanimously —
" That the town of Amherst does not consent that the Wilton Rail-
road corporation shall lay their road over or across any public
highway in the town, between South Merrimack and Danforth's
corner, and that the selectmen be instructed to use all lawful means
to prevent the same."
Charles H. Atherton, Nathan Dane, Barnabas B. David,
Israel Fuller, jr., Richard Boylston, David Stewart, and
IX.] KAILROADS. 155
Charles B. Tuttle, were appointed a committee to receive
any communications which may be made in relation to
the Wilton Railroad, and, if in their opinion any of such
communications are of sufficient importance, they were
instructed to lay them before the town. The clerk was
directed to make a record of the doings of this meeting, so
far as they related to the Wilton Railroad corporation, and
transmit the same to Daniel Abbot, Esq., president of that
corporation.
2 October, 1848. A communication from the directors
of the Wilton Railroad corporation having been laid before
the town, it was
" Voted, that the town of Amherst is willing to grant to the
Wilton Railroad company, for building a railroad from Danforth's
corner — so called — to Amherst plain, or the margin of it, the right of
way through the town farm, on the most direct and suitable ground
for said road, the said Wilton Railroad company fencing the way
through said farm, in a good and sufficient manner, and keeping the
said fence in good repair, and making and keeping in repair all such
cattle paths and passage ways as the convenience of the farming may
require ; and upon the further condition that the said railroad from
Danforth's corner to Amherst plain, or the margin of it, shall be built
and in running order for cars and engines by the tenth day of Nov-
ember in the year eighteen hundred and forty-nine, or the grant that
may be made of the right of way shall be void and of no effect."
Barnabas B. David, Nathan Dane, David Stewart, Charles
B. Tuttle, and Richard Boylston, were appointed a commit-
tee to carry the preceding vote into effect, which they were
authorized to do, and also, after the road was surveyed and
staked through the farm, to agree with the company upon
the damages to be paid the town, or in case they were
unable to agree, the amount might be settled by reference
or otherwise.
The cars commenced their regular trips between Dan-
forth's corner and Nashua, 23 October, 1848.
The road from Merrimack to Danforth's corner was laid
out by the commissioners 16 July, 1849.
158 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
requested to appear and assist the board in making the
appraisal of damages to the town of Amherst, in conse-
quence of the road passing through the Pauper farm.
A communication was handed the board at the adjourned
meeting, from Foster Wyatt and Daniel Fletcher, select-
men of Amherst, in which they stated that one of the board
of selectmen had left the State, and that they had called a
meeting of the town, to be held on the 28th of the current
month, to fill the vacancy in the board occasioned by his
absence, and they requested that the consideration of the
matter of damages might be postponed until after the
election of another member of the board.
The selectmen not appearing at the adjourned meeting,
the commissioners proceeded to appraise the damage to
the town, which they fixed at $500, and on the 21st that
amount was tendered, by the chairman of the commis-
sioners, to Daniel Fletcher, one of the selectmen, and town
treasurer, " who refused to take it."
At a subsequent meeting of the commissioners the road
was laid out from Milford village to East Wilton, to which
place it was built and opened 1 December, 1851.
By special orders from the superintendent's office, 31
May, 1866, the station at Danforth's corner is hereafter
to be known as Amherst station.
17 February, 1845. Mr. Hardy, having relinquished the
sale of intoxicating liquors at his bar and opened his hotel
as a temperance house, a number of his friends called upon
him that evening and partook of a supper. After the
supper was disposed of Rev. Mr. Davis made a brief
address to the company. Rev. Messrs. Haynes and Dodge
spoke briefly. Songs by the Hutchinson family were inter-
spersed, and all present enjoyed the occasion greatly.
Mr. Daniel F. Stevens also relinquished the sale of
ardent spirits at his store about the same time.
At a meeting held 21 January, 1816, the town
IX.] AMHERST STEAM MILL. 159
"Voted not to instruct the selectmen to license taverners to sell
spirituous liquors."
Amherst and some of the neighboring towns were visited
by a severe storm of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, 14
August, 1816, by which much damage was done. Hop
poles were blown down and buildings unroofed. At
Nashua the storm was still more severe and destructive,
being accompanied by hail. Houses were unroofed ; trees
uprooted, and much glass broken. The storm appears not
to have extended over a large area, as there was none in
Hollis.
The State tax in 1846 was $341.40; the county tax,
$524.65.
A considerable shock of an earthquake was felt at five
o'clock on the morning of 25 August, 1846. Its course
seemed to be from north-west to south-east, and it was
noticed in many places in New Hampshire and Massachu-
setts.
The subject of building a steam grist-mill in the town
was agitated as early as 1832, and a meeting was called at
Nutt's Hotel, 7 April of that year, for conference in regard
to it. Nothing further was done until 1846. In the month
of July of that year Samuel B. Melendy, Cyrus Eastman,
and Francis Peabody, and their associates, were incorpo-
rated as the "Amherst Steam Mill Company," with authority
to use a capital not exceeding $50,000.
The company was organized promptly, and measures
were at once taken for the erection of the necessary build-
ings and machinery for carrying on the business of the
corporation. A saw-mill went into operation on the 23d of
February, 1847, and a grist-mill on the 1st of May follow-
ing. Shortly after, a clapboard and shingle mill were
completed.
The buildings consisted of a main building, or machine
shop, 100x40 feet, of three stories, designed for manu-
facturing purposes ; an engine house, 36 x 32 feet ; and a
1<>0 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
saw-mill, 20x76 feet, well timbered, and built in a firm,
substantial man ner.
The machinery was driven by a 50 horse power engine,
having a balance-wheel 16 feet in diameter, with a face of
two feet.
In the Cabinet we have the following description of the
steam mill buildings and machinery :
6 May, 1847. " Amherst steam mill is now in full operation, so far
as sawing and grinding is concerned. The saw-mill commenci'd
operations "2d February, and the grist-mill 1 May.
The grist-mill is provided with 3 run of French burr stones, 4| feet
in diameter; 2 superfine bolts, 18 feet long, 40 inches in diameter; a
cob cracker; and a smut-mill.
A clapboard and a shingle null are nearly completed, and will be in
operation in a few days.
Engine house, 36 x 32 ; saw-mill, 20 x 76 ; grist-mill, 32 x 34 ;
machine shop, 40x100; 3 stones ; engine, 50 horse-power, cylinder,
16 inches in diameter ; balance-wheel, 16 feet, 2 feet face ; 2 boilers,
25 feet long, 42 inches in diameter; 2 return flues, 15 inches in diam-
eter; main belt, 2 feet wide, 110 feet long, connecting balance-wheel
with a pulley 65 inches in diameter, on a shaft 26 feet long, which
carries the grist and saw mills. Another shaft driven from this
shaft, designed to carry the machinery in the machine shop, is 120
feet long, running the whole width of the saw-mill and the whole
length of the machine shop."
The undertaking proved an unprofitable one, the ex-
pense of operating the establishment being greater than
its income justified. The buildings were burned 25 March,
1849.
The second term of the Teachers' Institute of Hills-
borough county commenced at the court house 1 Novem-
ber, 1847. William Russell, of Medford, William H.
Wells, of Andover, and Lowell Mason, of Boston, were
among the teachers. Sixty male and one hundred and
three female teachers were enrolled, and the session was an
interesting and profitable one. Among those who attended
a portion of the time was the veteran teacher, Miss Ann
Orr, of Bedford.
IX.] CURRENT EVENTS. 161
The organization of the Hillsborough County Agricultural
Society was completed at a meeting held at Hardy's tavern,
8 February, 1848. Dr. Peter P. Woodburv was chosen
president ; Edward D. Boylston, treasurer ; and David
Stewart, a member of the executive committee.
This society held a fair at Amherst 1 and 2 October,
185.1, which was considered one of the most successful
ever held in the county. The Manchester American,
speaking of it, said —
" It was truly a good time, and one exceedingly encouraging to the
friends of agricultural progress. Too much credit cannot well be given
to the citizens of Amherst for the way in which their local arrange-
ments were conducted. Every provision for the accommodation of
the society was ample. The police was excellent, and every thing was
arranged upon a system that left little to wish for."
The Nashua Telegraph said " Amherst folks did first-
rate."
The society held several fairs subsequently, at various
places, but finally disbanded.
In 1849, Ezra Holt, of this town, raised from 175 square
rods of ground 134 bushels ears of corn, of the ten rowed
variety, 31 bushels of beets and round turnips, 7£ cart
loads of pumpkins, 8 bushels potatoes, and 1 bushel white
beans.
THE FIRE PRECINCT,
As established by the selectmen 21 June, 1850, is as
follows :
Commencing at the court house it extends on the road
to Daniel Campbell's, 359 rods ;
On the New Boston road, 411 rods ;
On the Old Turnpike road, 455 rods ;
On the road leading by the new burying-ground, 228
rods ;
On the road leading by the Timothy Patch place, 351
rods ;
11
162 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
On the Milford road, 314 rods ;
On the old Milford road, 306 rods ;
On the old Boston road, 260 rods ;
On the road to Thornton's Ferry, 502 rods ;
On the Brown road, east, 396 rods ;
On the Pond parish road, 432 rods ;
On the Bedford road, 365 rods ;
On the Dodge road, 524 rods ;
With the outlines running from one to another of these
points.
8 July, 1850. A meeting of citizens residing within the
limits of the above precinct was held, at which the neces-
sary officers were elected.
The town, at a meeting held 27 April, 1853, voted to
repair the fire engine and provide suitable hose for the
same, and constituted the board of selectmen a committee
to carry the vote into effect.
At the meeting held March, 1856, they
" Voted, that the town will raise a sum not exceeding $500, when
an equal sum shall have been subscribed by the citizens, for the
purchase of a fire engine, and chose John F. Whiting, James L.
Hardy, and Charles Richardson, a committee to examine and procure
SUPPORT OF PAUPERS.
At a meeting held 8 October, 1850, seven votes were cast
in favor of the county farm system, and forty-five against it.
Sixty-one votes were given in favor of selling the county
farm at Goffstown, and fourteen against it.
The State tax this year was 1352.80 ; the county tax,
8612.76.
79 votes were given in favor of the passage of the
" Homestead Exemption " law, and 20 against it, at a town
meeting held in March, 1851.
" Bloomer " dresses made their appearance in the spring
IX.] CURRENT EVENTS. 163
of 1851. Mr. Boylston notices the appearance of two at
church in " blue, bright, and Hardy."
A raid was made upon the liquors in the Nutt tavern 11
August, 1851, by a party of young- men who destroyed
them.
A large number of citizens were appointed special police-
men to preserve order and suppress the sale of ardent
spirits at the fair of the Hillsborough County Agricultural
society, 22 September, 1851.
The Nutt tavern having been opened as a temperance house?
about one hundred and fifty friends of temperance made
the proprietor a visit and partook of a supper, 6 February,
1852. Aaron Lawrence, Esq., presided. Music was fur-
nished by Messrs. Carlton A' Hamlet. Addresses were
made by the President, Rev. Messrs. Davis and Burroughs,
Perley Dodge, Esq., Dr. F. P. Fitch, and Samuel Campbell,
Esq., of Mont Vernon. The festivities were brought to a
close at ten o'clock by singing " Old Hundred," the whole
company standing.
26 votes were given in favor of the passage of " an act
for the suppression of drinking houses and tippling shops,
and 99 against it, at a meeting held 26 November, 1852.
8 March, 1853, the town instructed the selectmen not to
license the sale of ardent spirits, except for mechanical and
medicinal purposes, and they were directed to appoint a
committee of five persons to prosecute all violations of the
liquor law. On the 27th of April following, Richard Boyl-
ston, Francis Wright, Elbridge Hardy, and David Fiske, 2d,
were appointed as the committee.
There was a great scarcity of silver change in the spring
and summer of 1853, not enough being in circulation for
ordinary business transactions. The want was soon sup-
plied by the coinage of silver pieces of lighter weight than
formerly, pieces of the new emission being distinguished
from the older ones by figures of arrow heads on either side
of the date. After this the old-fashioned four pence-half
164 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
pennies, ninepences, shillings, pistareens, quarters, halves,
and milled dollars, of Spanish and Mexican coinage, dis-
appeared from circulation, many of them being badly worn
and mutilated, fit only to be melted and re-coined.
25 August, 1853, a beautiful comet was visible in the
north-west, a few degrees above the horizon.
The inventory of the estate of Hon. Charles G. Atherton
returned to the probate office in December, 1853, amounted
to $162,000, the largest estate ever left in the county at
that time.
In March, 1854, William J. Weston, Peter Carlton,
Joseph Mace, and Benjamin B. Whiting, were appointed to
make a new appraisal of real estate for purposes of taxation.
113 persons were enrolled by the selectmen in April of
this year as liable to do* military duty.
Twenty-nine males and eleven females were confined in
the jail 12 October, 1854. A thriving establishment truly !
The winters of 1855-56 and 1856-57 Avere very severe.
For a period of forty-five days, extending from 25 Decem-
ber, 1855, to 9 February, 1856, the weather was at no time
warm enough to melt the snow from the roofs of buildings,
even in sheltered situations.
The cold term the next winter extended from 20 Decem-
ber, 1856, to 27 January, 1857, during the whole of which
time the snow remained unmelted on the roofs of buildings.
The 23d day of January, 1857, was probably the coldest-
experienced in New England for a century. A brisk north-
west wind prevailed through the day, and the thermometer
at no time in the day rose to zero. In the morning and
evening it was about 25 degrees below zero ; in some places
35.
Hay caps, for protecting hay and grain from storms,
came into pretty general use in 1856.
The culture of sorgho for sugar and molasses was com-
menced by some about this time, but it was soon abandoned.
A mass meeting of the friends of Fremont and Dayton
IX.] CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 165
was held on the plain, 25 September, 1856. It was
probably the largest political gathering that ever assembled
in town. Delegations were present from Manchester,
Nashua, Milford, New Boston, Brookline, Lyndeborough,
Merrimack, and other towns. A procession was formed,
under the direction of Capt. Daniel Hartshorn, as marshal,
which marched to the place of meeting. Charles H. Camp-
bell, Esq., acted as president of the day, and speeches were
made by Mason W. Tappan, Daniel Clark, and others.
Campaign songs were* sung, and general enthusiasm pre-
vailed.
Two hundred guns were fired by the Democrats of this
town, 21 November, 1856, in honor of the election of Mr.
Buchanan.
The old " Read store," long a noted place of business on
the plain, was taken down in May of this year.
16 August, 1 858. The first message by the ocean tele-
graph to England was transmitted to-day. On the receipt
of the news the bells in town were rung, and in the evening
many houses on the plain were illuminated.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
At the annual meeting 8 March, 1859, the town
" Resolved that the town of Amherst will at some suitable day in
January, in the year of our Lord 1860, celebrate the one hundredth
anniversary of the incorporation of the town, and that the selectmen,
with such others as they may add, be a committee to make such
arrangements and appropriations as they may think proper and suit-
able for the occasion."
4 October, 1859. The new engine company appeared for
the first time in their new uniform — red jackets, blue
collars, front belts, and caps. A beautiful banner was
presented to them by Miss H. J. Nutt, in behalf of the
ladies of the town.
There was frost in every month of this year. On the
night of 6 June there was a severe one in most of the
166 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
Northern and North-western states. At Portsmouth, it is
said, enough to form a ball the size of a hen's egg was
collected from a surface a yard square.
The selectmen, Perley Dodge, Barnabas B. David,
Edward D. Boylston, Charles H. Campbell, and David
Stewart, were appointed a committee to make arrangements
for the observance of the one hundredth anniversary of the
incorporation of the town, 18 January, 1760.
On account of the inclement season at which the anni-
versary occurred, it was judged best to defer its celebration
until a more favorable season of the year. Accordingly
the 30th day of May, 1860 was selected for the purpose,
and an invitation was extended to the towns of Milford
and Mont Vernon, formerly parts of Amherst, to unite with
the parent town in the observances of the day. The invita-
tion was accepted by the town of Milford at the annual
meeting held 10 March, 1860, but declined by the town of
Mont Vernon.
The centennial of the first town meeting, 20 February,
1760, was celebrated by the citizens of the town, who
assembled in large numbers in the town-hall under the
Congregational church, on the evening of the 20th of
February, 1860. Charles H. Campbell, Esq., presided, and
prayer was offered by Rev. J. G. Davis. Music of ye
ancient times was performed by a choir clad in appropriate
costume. The ancient fire-place, of ample dimensions, with
ye settle for ye younge folks near by was re-produced, and
the ample supply of bean porridge, furnished by ye " blacke
cowe," in attendance, together with other substantial
refreshments popular in the clays of the fathers and moth-
ers, were partaken of. Old documents were read, and the
Todd family appeared, doing marvelous things in the way of
cobbling, spinning wool, flax, etc. At the close an invita-
tion was extended to all present to attend the next centen-
nial celebration, the assurance being given that the latch
string would be left out for all on that occasion !
IX.] CURRENT EVENTS. 167
30 May, 1860, the centennial of the incorporation of the
town was commemorated. A procession was formed at 10
o'clock, near the court-house, under the direction of Capt.
Daniel Hartshorn, in the following order :
Marshal,
Manchester Cornet Band,
Lawrence Engine Company,
Committee of Arrangements,
Chaplain and Orator,
Invited Guests,
Selectmen of Amherst, Milford, and Mont Vernon,
Citizens of Amherst, Milford, and Mont Vernon.
On the arrival of the procession at the stand on the
common, after order had been restored, prayer was offered
by the chaplain. The town charter was read by William
A. Mack, Esq. This was followed by music from the
band, and an address by Hon. Horace Greeley, of New
York, a native of the town. At the conclusion of the
address the procession was reformed and marched to the
town-hall, where a dinner was partaken of.
After the close of the performances in the hall, the com-
pany returned to the stand on the common, where speeches,
sentiments, etc., were in order.
A severe storm of wind, rain, and snow occurred 7 Febru-
ary, 1861. The morning of that day was mild and rainy.
Toward noon the wind rose, and at night increased to a
gale. The next morning was one of the coldest ever expe-
rienced here, the thermometer standing at — 36°, a change
of 66° in twenty-four hours.
The State tax paid by the town this year was $339.50 ;
county tax, $618.55.
In June a magnificent comet made its appearance in the
northwest, and remained visible several weeks.
7 June the town Union flag on the common was hung at
168 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
half mast, and the bell tolled during the hour appointed
for the funeral of Hon. Stephen A. Douglas.
25 June leave was granted by the selectmen to such
persons as might subscribe for the same, to build a reservoir
on the common, the control of which should be under the
direction of those who contributed to its building.
The Fifth regiment N. H. Vols, was composed of one
company from each of the counties in the State. The com-
pany from Hillsborough County was commanded by Capt.
Charles E. Hapgood, of Amherst, and went into camp 25
September, 1861.
11 March, 1862, the town voted that the next inventory
of taxable property in town should be sworn to by the
owners of same.
1 July, 1862. Independence day w T as celebrated by the
sundav-schools and citizens of the town generally. A pro-
cession was formed on the common, which marched to the
Athcrton grove, where the eatables and drinkables provided
for the occasion were disposed of, after which addresses were
made, and songs were sung by the children. Another
" good time " was had at the town-hall in the evening,
where songs were sung, tableaux presented, etc.
12 August, 1862. Voted on an act providing for remov-
ing the trial terms of the courts and the county offices of
the county of Hillsborough from the town of Amherst. In
favor of the act, 1 ; against it, 269.
28 March, 1863. Voted that the selectmen be author-
ized to audit and settle the account for expenses incurred
in defeating the bill attempted to be passed at the last
session of the legislature, for removing the courts and
county records from this town.
State tax paid by the town this year, $1,309.50 ; county
tax, $756.64.
15 February, 1864. The town Union flag having been
destroyed, the young ladies of the place held a fair to raise
the means of purchasing another, which being accom-
IX.] CURRENT EVENTS. 169
plished, the flag was this afternoon presented to the Repub-
lican club, to be used as a Union flag and for.no other
purpose. After the presentation of the flag by Miss II. J.
Nutt and its reception by John F. Whiting, it was raised to
its place. Speeches were made by E. D. Eoylston, J. G.
Davis, W. B. Clark, and E. B. Richardson. A sentiment
from Dr. F. P. Fitch, president of the bachelor's club, com-
plimenting the ladies for their gift, was received with
cheers. The club and the citizens then united in singing
" The Star Spangled Banner.' 1 Three cheers were given
for the speakers, and three times three for the flag, at the
close of which the town-clock, as if entering into the spirit
of the occasion, struck the hour of three, which was fol-
lowed by three cheers for the loyal town-clock.
In the evening the party assembled at the residence of
E. D. Boylston, where, after partaking of a bountiful repast
prepared by the club, toasts and sentiments were in order.
8 March, 1864. The selectmen were directed to provide
a suitable place for keeping the tire engine and apparatus,
for which they were authorized to expend a sum of money
not exceeding $300.
State tax, 1864, $2,425.00 ; county tax, $756.64.
State tax, 1865, $3,892.50 ; county tax, $927.52.
A great rain storm occurred on the sixth and seventh
days of March, 1864, which caused quite a freshet in the
Souhegan and its tributaries. In this storm the C bickering
bridge was so badly washed that it fell in, and had to be
rebuilt.
" SOLID "
MEN
AND WOMEN IN AMHERST, 1866.
Incomes as sworn
to by internal revenue tax-payers
i.
Aaron Lawrence,
$6,600 Perley Dodge,
$1,845
Mary Boylston,
2,481 Rufus Converse,
1,697
Harrison Eaton,
2,200 George W. Moore,
1,363
Charles H. Campbell,
2,188 George W. Fletcher,
1,221
Charles Converse,
2,106 Josiah G. Davis,
1,210
170 AMHERST HOTEL. [Chap.
Francis P. Fitch, 1,122 Samuel Ober, 1,066
George A. Ramsdell, 1,099 Ilollis E. Abbot, 1,007
J. O. Pulsifer, 1,076 Daniel S. Perkins, 1,000
The Amherst Hotel company, incorporated in June,
1866, was organized 31 December, 1866, by the choice of
Charles Richardson, Jotham Hartshorn, Harrison Eaton,
John F. Whiting, and William A. Mack, directors, and
George F. Stevens, clerk.
22 December, 1866, the town voted— 49 to 24— to sub-
scribe $4,000 to the stock for building the hotel, agreeably
to the provisions of an act approved 6 July, 1866, on condi-
tion that an equal amount of stock be subscribed and paid
for by individuals.
The hotel was formally opened to the public 29 April,
1869, by Mr, D. E. Chamberlin, the lessee, who took pos-
session the 9th day of March preceding. About 800 ladies
and gentlemen were present from this and the neighboring
towns, who passed a very pleasant evening. Music was
furnished by the Hollis Cornet band, and the company was
entertained with songs by Miss Helen A. Russell.
The hotel stood on the south side of the common, on the
site of the old " Stewart " house, which had been removed
to another locality.
The main building was 70 x 36 feet, three stories high ;
adjoining it, running south, was an ell, 60 x 30 feet, also
three stories in height. Two piazzas extended the entire
length of the main building in front. The whole expense
of the building, at the time of the opening, had been
$20,000.
The house was kept for some years by Mr. Chamberlin.
After he left, it was kept one year under the charge of
Harrison Eaton, Esq., one of the board of directors of the
company, when it was sold to Marshall Davis. By him it
was sold to Thomas Saunders, who afterward sold it to C.
A. Shaw, of Boston.
It was burnt on the morning of 25 January, 1876.
IX.] CURRENT EVENTS. 171
Sunday, 15 July, 1866, the sum of one hundred dollars was
contributed in the Congregational church for the relief of the
sufferers from the recent tire in Portland, Maine.
At the annual meeting in March, 1867, the town voted
on the question of abolishing pauper settlements in towns.
In favor, 1 ; against, 197.
The old " Stewart " house, which was saved from the
fire of 2 December, ] 863, by Avhieh the surrounding build-
ings were burnt, was moved in September, 1867, to the
site of the Nutt tavern, west of the turnpike, the old tavern
buildings there having been burnt 1 July, 1865.
23 June, 1867. John Doyle, of New Boston, was killed
at Wilton in a melee with Thomas Broderick, a resident on
" the Acre," in Amherst. Doyle formerly lived in Amherst,
and served in the 10th N. H. Vols, in the civil war. In
October following Broderick was sentenced to one year's
imprisonment.
Francis Wright raised an ear of corn this year on which
were 1,264 kernels.
Decoration day was observed in this town for the first
time, 29 May, 1868.
No greater rain fall has been experienced in Amherst
for a century than that which took place on the third and
fourth days of October, 1869. Between seven and eight
inches of water fell in the course of forty-eight hours, and,
at the close of the storm, most of the roads were so badly
washed as to be impassable. A vast amount of property,
consisting of dams, bridges, mills, etc., was swept away.
REPAIRING THE COURT HOUSE.
At a meeting held 3 November, 1868, the selectmen were
appointed a committee to confer with the county commis-
sioners relative to the acceptance of the court house, keep-
ing it in repair and in a fit condition to accommodate the
courts, on condition of receiving the rents that might be
received from its use.
172 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
9 August, 1870. Edward S. Cutter, Edwin R. Burtt, and
Thomas M. Harvell, were chosen a committee to examine
the title of the town to the court house and ascertain the
amount of money necessaiy to be expended to put the
house in a suitable condition for the accommodation of the
courts, town meetings, etc.
6 September, 1870. This committee made a verbal
report in regard to the title, and recommended the enlarge-
ment of the court room to the full size of the building,
raising the walls of the ells to the same height as those of
the main building, erecting a stairway in the north ell,
and putting the roof of the house in complete repair, the
whole of which they estimated could be done for twelve
hundred dollars.
The report was accepted and adopted, and Perley Dodge,
Edwin R. Burtt, and Harrison Eaton, were appointed a
committee, with full powers to make the proposed altera-
tions and improvements.
A survey for a railroad having been made between
Danforth's corner and King's mills, in New Boston, a dis-
tance of llf miles, and the route being found feasible, the
town, at a meeting held 2 January, 1869, voted to give the
road the right of way across the town farm, the use of the
ledge on the farm, and gravel for building the road. It
was also voted — 180 to 66 — to take stock in the road to the
amount of five per cent, of the valuation of the town.
22 January, 1869. The town of Mont Vernon, after
once refusing to aid in the construction of the road, voted,
at a meeting held this day, — 109 to 48, — to take stock in
the road to the amount of five per cent, of its valuation last
spring.
Post 0. W. Lull, Grand Army of the Republic, decorated
the graves of their fallen comrades at Milford and Amherst,
10 June, 1869. After decorating the graves of the sol-
diers in Milford, the Post, at 1 o'clock p. m., proceeded to
Amherst, where they were met and escorted by Lawrence
IX.] CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 1876. 173
engine company, Capt. Gilbert Small. An oration was de-
livered from the band stand on the common by Col. Carroll
D. Wright, of Boston, and brief addresses were made by
Bainbridge Wadleigh, Esq., and Lieut. Humphrey Ramsdell,
of Milford, the performances being interspersed with sing-
ing by the members of the Amherst High school. At the
conclusion of the services the company was entertained at
the court house by the ladies of the town.
12 March, 1872, the selectmen were instructed to provide
a room in the court house to be used as a "lock up," in
which to imprison offenders against the police regulations
of the town.
At this meeting the selectmen were instructed to build
an engine house, at an expense not exceeding $900. And
it was voted to exempt from taxation, for a term of ten
years, the capital and buildings of manufacturers who may
hereafter locate in this town, whose annual sales from the
products of their business shall exceed $5,000.
8 May, 1873, the town voted to lease the granite ledge
on the pauper farm for a term of years not exceeding five,
and the selectmen were authorized to give the lease.
At a meeting held 30 October, 1875, the town voted to
defend an action brought against them by Henrv M. Fair-
field to its final termination.
4 JULY, 1876. NATIONAL CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
The day was observed in Amherst by the ringing of bells
and the firing of guns at sunrise and again at sunset. The
day was cloudless, and the landscape clothed with the rich-
est verdure, and all classes seemed intent on rejoicing.
A basket picnic at Babboosuck pond, under the aus-
pices of the Souhegan Grange, was attended by a large
company of farmers residing in Amherst and Milford.
The grove presented a very lively and pleasing aspect
with its happy groups of well-dressed families. These
festivities, so in harmony with the habits of an agri-
174 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
cultural population, were followed by more formal public
services in the town-hall, in the evening, which were con-
ducted wholly by citizens of the town. Before the hour of
meeting the hall was filled with an enthusiastic company of
ladies and gentlemen and a generous representation of
boys and girls. The assembly was called to order by A. A.
Roteh, who had previously been requested to preside.
Prayer was offered by Rev. J. G. Davis, pastor of the
Congregational church, when the exercises were opened by
the president of the evening, in a comprehensive but concise
survey of the great changes in the history of the nation,
indicating the nature and course of the country's progress
during the century. The address was well conceived, and
prepared the way for the reading of the Declaration of
Independence, by Mr. Arthur Fletcher, and the pleasing-
variety of songs, recitations, dialogues, patriotic and hu-
morous, which occupied the following hour. The stage at
the end of the hall was profusely and tastefully decorated
with flags, flowers, and suitable emblems. The states
of the Union were personified by ladies dressed in white,
with sashes of red and blue, an attractive and graceful
array of youth and beauty.
At the call of the president, Levi J. Secomb, Esq., spoke
briefly of his interest in the celebration, and alluded with
much feeling to the yet nameless and almost unknown
grave of John Purple, a Hessian soldier, who deserted
from the British army and enlisted in the service of the
colonies. He died in Amherst some years after the close
of the Revolution. Mr. Secomb expressed a strong desire
that a stone might be erected by our citizens to commem-
orate the resting place of this good soldier. The next
speaker, Dea. B. B. David, spoke of our indebtedness to the
men and women of the Revolutionary period for what they
endured in the cause of civil liberty, illustrating his position
by quotations from the price current which Mrs. John
Adams sent to her husband in Europe, stating the enor-
IX.] AMHERST MUSICAL ASSOCIATION. 175
mous prices paid for food and clothing of the commonest
grades in Boston. Dr. B. H. Bartlett moved that some
record be made of these proceedings, of which he was an
active projector. The motion, which was cordially sec-
onded by several voices, was unanimously adopted. The
Rev. J. G. Davis spoke at some length of the reasons for
the important part taken by the citizens of Amherst in
the conflict with Great Britain. No town in the State has
a more noble record, as it furnished more troops in pro-
portion to its population than any other. The descendants
of such men should not allow the memory of their fathers
to pass into forgetfulncss. They set their country above
all personal interests and ambitions, and if we emulate their
patriotism and other virtues, the next Centennial will wit-
ness yet greater achievements, and a more elevated and
genuine prosperity than we enjoy.
The addresses were enlivened by spirited and patriotic
songs given at intervals by Mrs. Hattie Walker, Mrs. Susie
Eaton, and Miss Abby Bosworth.
The assembly adjourned at an early hour, after uniting
in singing " My Country, 't is of Thee," with fine effect.
In October of this year the selectmen received the follow-
ing communication from members of the " Amherst Musi-
cal Association" :
To the Selectmen of Amherst :
We, the undersigned, members of the " Amherst Musical Associa-
tion," and owners, collectively, of our piano-forte, being desirous that
the same be placed where it maybe a public benefit, and in a measure
thus compensate those who aided the association in its purchase, do
hereby give and present to the town of Amherst the said piano-forte,
upon condition that said town of Amherst shall keep it in its town-
hall, or where it shall be accessible for public gatherings there, and that
it shall never be sold or disposed of by said town, or removed therefrom,
and that the town shall keep it in order and be entitled to all rentals
from its use. We also request that a copy of this paper be placed
upon the record books of the town, that no misunderstanding may
ever arise.
176 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Francis R. Boutell, Emma L. Clark,
M. B. Peabody, Geo. W. Bos worth,
]\lrs. L. A. Eaton, ' Susie A. Eaton,
Helen B. Rotch, Edward D. Boylston,
Laura A. Riddell, A. A. Botch,
S. M. Stewart, Fannie A. Boylston,
Henry M. Parker, Albert F. Boutelle,
Lizzie G. Lawrence, Laura S. Osgood,
W. D. Forsaith. L. B. Myrick,
Geo. W. Osgood, Anna Kent,
H. E. Woodbury, Rebecca A. Davis,
D. D. McKean, J. G. Davis,
II. C. Dodge, M. W. Richardson.
C. M. L. Bartlett, by L. G. L.,
October 7, 1876.
To the Amherst Musical Association :
The town of Amherst accepts yonr generous offer of a piano on the
conditions above specified.
By
Thomas Jones, )
Aaron S. Wilkins, >» Selectmen of Amherst.
Isaac B. Dodge, )
13 March, 1877, the town voted to repeal the vote passed
12 March, 1872, exempting property invested in manufac-
turing establishments from taxation in certain cases, but
provided that this action should not affect any manu-
facturers who had already availed themselves of the privi-
leges granted by that vote.
12 March, 1878, the selectmen were authorized to borrow
a sum of money not exceeding $2,800 to settle the liabilities
of the town in the " Fairfield Case."
11 March, 1879. The town voted to accept the library
owned by the Amherst Library Association, and establish and
maintain the same, by suitable appropriations, as a public
library for the use of the citizens of Amherst, agreeably to
the provisions of Chapter 46 of the General Statutes of New
Hampshire. The sum of $75 was voted for the library, and
the selectmen and superintending school committee were
IX.] CURRENT EVENTS. 177
instructed to make all necessary rules for its use and main-
tenance.
At the annual meeting 9 March, 1880, $100 was appro-
priated for the payment of the librarian and for additions
to the library ; and the last year's board of selectmen and
and superintending school committee were appointed a
committee to nominate and report to the meeting a board
of trustees for said library, two of whom should serve one
year ; two, two years ; and two, three years.
In accordance with the report of this committee, Josiah
G. Davis and Mrs. P. W. Dodge were elected trustees to
serve one year ; J. Edward Upton and Mrs. Samuel D.
Herrick, to serve two years ; and James F. Weston and
Lucretia B. Myrick, to serve three years.
The sum of $50 was voted toward defraying the expenses
of Decoration day.
A motion made that the present school district system
be abolished in this town was rejected — yeas, 79 ; nays,
91.
Voted, with but one dissenting voice, that the sum of
8500 be raised and appropriated to aid in the publication of
a history of the town of Amherst, now in the course of
preparation by Daniel F. Secomb, Esq., of Concord, to be
paid when the work is completed.
The selectmen were authorized to purchase a road build-
ing machine if they deemed it expedient so to do.
Francis W. Holbrook, Thomas M. Harvell, and Joel H.
Fisher, were appointed a committee to investigate the
management of the town farm and suggest any changes in
the same that may seem to them to be desirable and report
to the town at some future time.
Voted not to allow school district No. 2 to be annexed to
Milford, and voted 870 from the treasury to assist in the
maintenance of its schools.
Albert A. Rotch, John H. Coggin, and Charles A. Rid-
dle, were appointed by the selectmen a committee to draw
12
178 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
the appropriation for Decoration day and expend the same
as their judgment might dictate.
2 November, 1880. On the bill providing for " minority
representation," there were in favor, 8 ; opposed, 63.
A report was submitted at this meeting by the commit-
tee appointed to investigate matters at the town farm, which
was accepted and the committee discharged.
March, 1881. The town appropriated $100 for the pay-
ment of the librarian and the purchase of books for the
town library.
$50 was voted Post Charles H. Phelps, G. A. R., to be
used on Decoration day.
A remarkable dark day, similar to the one noticed in
May, 1780, occurred 6 September, 1881. A peculiar yel-
lowish color of the sky was noticed early in the morning,
which increased in intensity to such a degree that at noon
it was necessary to use artificial lights in houses and shops.
The darkness began to abate at about five o'clock p. m.
The vapor or smoke at times was so intense as to wholly
obscure the sun. At intervals it was visible and appeared
of a deep red color. Lamps and fires when lighted shone
with a perfectly white light, and the green foliage of the
trees and grass was intensified in color, and presented a
singular appearance.
The receipts of the town treasury for the year ending 1
March, 1882, including a balance of $1,026 on hand,
amounted to $15,526.65, of which $1,851.31 was received
from the savings bank tax, $303.85 from the railroad tax,
$131.15 from the literary fund, and $70 from the income
of the Lawrence fund for common schools. The taxes
assessed amounted to $8,573. ■
Expenditures for the same time amounted to $13,986.49,
of which was paid for the support of schools, $2,727.97 ;
roads and bridges, $1,397.54 ; State tax, $1,844 ; county
tax, $1,406.73. The town debt, over and above available
assets, was reported to be $562.19.
IX.]
CHECK-LIST, MARCH, 1882
179
List of voters in Amherst, as corrected by the super-
visors of elections and used at the annual town meeting 14
March, 1882. Names in small caps were on the check-
list used at the annual meeting in March, 1843 — 45 in all.
Abbott, Franklin
Aiken, Edward
Aiken, Edward C.
Ainsworth, Israel
Alexander, William E.
Annis, Alvaro F.
Atkinson, Robert
Atwood, John
Ayer, Simon
Baldwin, John
Barrett, Charles M.
Barrett, Philip S.
Barry, James
Barry, William
Batchelder, Ira A.
Bennett, Alden B.
Berry, Edward
Berry, Isaiah S.
Bills, Arthur A.
Bills, Freeman C.
Bills. Jabez F.
Bills, Lucius F.
Blood, George H.
Bosworth, George W.
Boutelle, Francis K.
Boutelle, Henry R.
Boutelle, Horace S.
Boutelle, James C.
Boutelle, John A.
Boutelle, Robert
Boylston, Edward D.
Brahaney, Patrick
Breed, Henry A.
Braman, Cornelius
Brockway, Hosea W.
Broderick, James H.
Brown, Albert P.
Brown, Augustus W.
Brown, William
Brown, William 2d
Buckley, Daniel
Buckley, Dennis
Buckley, Patrick
Burnham, Charles II.
Burns, Daniel
Burtt, Edwin K.
Burtt, Edwin R.
Butterrield, Benjamin F.
Butterfield, Joseph
Cady, Nathan
Caldwell, Edward A.
Caldwell, Isaac F.
Carleton, John
Carr, Lorenzo
Carter, James O.
Carter, Oliver
Chace, Frank W.
Chickering, Albert E.
Clark, Charles C.
Clark, Charles J.
Clark, Edward G.
Clark, John H.
Clark, William
Clark, William D.
Clark, William R.
Coburn, Leon O.
Cochran, James
Coggin, John H.
Coggin, Luther
Colby, Charles C.
Colby, Sylvester J.
Colcord, Edward J.
Colston, Fred
Colston, William H.
180
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Converse, Charles
Converse, Charles, jr.
Converse, Eben
Converse, Luther B.
Converse, Robert
Coombs, Isaac
Cram, Daniel W.
Crooker, Carroll J.
Cross, Cyrus
Cross, William L.
Danforth, George
David, Barnabas B.
David, John O.
Davis, Charles L.
Davis, Edson
Davis, Herman V.
Davis, Josiah G.
Day, Henry C.
Dinsmore, Walter H.
Dodge, Charles W.
Dodge, Henry C.
Dodge, Isaac B.
Dodge, Perley
Dodge, Perley W.
Doyle, Jeremiah J.
Doyle, John
Doyle, John, jr.
Doyle, Patrick
Druker, Joseph H.
Duncklee, Porter
Eaton, George S.
Eaton, Harrison
Eaton, Harry G.
Eaton, Samuel
Farley, George E.
Fay, Joseph B.
Felton, Hiram G.
Fields, Edwin
Fisher, Joel F.
Fletcher, Daniel A.
Fletcher, John
Fletcher, John P.
Flint, Butler P.
Ford, Frederick
Forsaith, Wilson D.
Fowle, Joseph E.
George, Xathaniel H.
Gill, Charles
Gilson, Frank O.
Gilson, Luke
Gilson, Stephen H.
Goss, John R.
Gould, John
Grater, Charles E.
Green, Franklin C.
•Hanson, John A.
Hanson, Joseph F.
Hardy, Arthur
Harris, Henry A.
Hartshorn, Frank
Hartshorn, George R.
Ilarvell, John H.
Harvell, Thomas M.
Hassell, George R.
Hassell, Joseph II.
Haseltine, James G.
Haseltine, John E.
Heath, Alvin
Herrick, Frank P.
Herrick, George W.
Herrick, Samuel D.
Hildreth, John H.
Hill, Alonzo
Hill, Arthur II.
Hill, Bradford A.
Hill, Granville S.
Hodgman, George
Hodgman, John P.
Ilodkins, Edward
Holbrook, Francis W.
Holbrook, Frank A.
Holbrook, George E.
Holden, George W.
Holt, Edwin M.
Holt, George E.
Holt, Israel H.
IX.]
CHECK-LIST, MARCH, 1882.
181
Holt, Nathan K.
Hopkins, David
Howard, Herbert
Howard, Levi
Hubbard, Eugene C.
Hubbard, William H.
Hutchinson, Isaiah
Hutchinson, Justin E.
Jackson, James M.
Jennison, Edwin P.
Jepson, Benjamin
Jess, Robert
Jewett, George W.
Jones, Ephraim W.
Jones, Peter W.
Jones, Timothy
Jones, Thomas
Kelly, Patrick
Kent, George
Keyes, Horace W.
Kidder, Andrew J.
Kiason, Charles II.
Knight, Jonathan
Knight, Robert S.
Leavitt, Frank
Leavitt Michael,
Leavitt, Michael, jr.
Leland, Willis D.
Longa, Charles H.
Lovejoy, Leander
Lovejoy, William
Lowe, Albert N.
Lowe, Xewton
Lowe, Walter D.
Lynch, George F.
Mace, Frank W.
Mack, William A.
McConihe, John II.
Mclntire, Horatio
McKay, Charles H.
McKay, John
McKean, Isaac P.
Mahan, Richard
Marble, Benjamin
Mar veil, Daniel K.
Maxwell, Francis
Melendy, Bryant
Melendy, Charles
Melendy, Daniel W.
Melendy, James
Melendy, John II.
Melendy, Luther
Melendy, Nathaniel M.
Melendy, William
Merrill, B. Frank
Merrill, Benjamin F.
Merrill, Charles
Meserve, Eben
Millard, John F.
Mooar, William
Moor, James R.
Morse, John I.
Mullen, John
Mullen, Michael
Newton, Frank S.
Nourse, James P.
Xoyes, Alfred
Noyes, Edward A.
Noyes, Frank W.
Noyes, Frederick A.
Noyes, William
Ober, John A.
Oher, Samuel
O'Connell, John
O'Connell, Thomas
Odell, Pliny F.
O'Donnell, Patrick
Osgood, George W.
Oscood, Joel F.
Osgood, Joel F., jr.
Parker, Arthur II.
Parker, Charles
Parker, Charles S.
Parker, George E.
Parker, Granville
Parker, Granville, jr.
182
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
Parker, Henry M.
Parker, Isaac
Parker, Thomas B.
Parkhurst, Ephraim A.
Parkhurst, Henry
Parkhurst, Henry H.
Parkhurst, James S.
Parkhurst, Silas P.
Parkhurst, Spaulding
Peabody, Charles A.
Peabody, Daniel A.
Peacock, John G.
Peacock, Ezra W.
Peacock, Rufus A.
Peaslee, William S.
Phelps, Frank A.
Phelps, Frank P.
Phelps, Horace
Philbrick, Albert M.
Pnilbrick, Freeman M.
Philbrick, John C.
Pratt, William
Prince, Calvin
Prince, Charles A,
Prince, .James U.
Prince, John M.
Prince, Rodney
Prince, Solomon
Prince, Wilder J.
Pulsifer, Jeremiah O.
Putnam, Elijah
Putnam, George W.
Ranger, Ebenezer
Rhoads, Albert
Rhoads, David H.
Rhoads, Warren
Rhoads, William
Richardson, Charles
Riddle, Charles A.
Rideout, Abel T.
Riley, Owen
Robbins, George E.
Roby, Ira
Rotch, Albert A.
Rotch, William B.
Russ, Isaac J.
Russell, William F.
Ryan, Bart
Ryan, James T.
Ryan, James W.
Sampson, John
Sargent, Charles B.
Sargent, Enoch P.
Sargent, Frank
Sargent, Shepton M.
Sargent, Thomas D.
Sargent, William B.
Sawtelle, Eli
Sawtelle, Eli A.
Sawyer, Andrew F.
Secomb, Charles
Secomb, Henry W.
Secomb, Levi J.
Shaffer, Oscar
Shaw, George II.
Sheehan, Daniel H.
Sheehan, Jeremiah
Shemard, Robert
Shepard, Alonzo P.
Shepard, Andrew N.
Shepley, Chester
Shoram, Frank
Skinner, Appleton J.
Skinner, Joshua F.
Skully, John
Sloan, George
Small, George
Small, Gilbert
Smith, Charles E.
Smith, George E.
Smith, Langdon
Snow, William
Staples, Alphonzo E.
Staples, Levi
Staples, Samuel E.
Stearns, Hiram D.
IX.]
CHECK-LIST, MARCH, 1882
183
Stearns, James B.
Stewart, William
Stevens, Alpheus
Stickney, Timothy J.
Trow, Clarence L.
Trow, Daniel W.
Trow, Joseph P.
Upham, Jacob B.
Upham, John II.
Upton, Jeremiah
Upton, J. Edward
Walker, Charles M.
Walker, George
Walker, George K.
Wallace, John
Walton, Benjamin F.
Webster, James F.
Webster, James P.
West, Henry
Weston, James F.
Wheeler, Benjamin
Wheeler, Charles P.
Wheeler, Henry
Wheeler, Nathan C.
White, Charles H.
White, Charles S.
Whiting, Benjamin B.
Whiting, Benjamin F.
Wilkins, Aaron S.
Wilkins, Charles E.
Wilkins, Frank E.
Wilkins, George H.
Wilkins, Milton A.
Wilkins, Samuel
Wilkins, Samuel F.
Wilson, Jacob
Woods, William R.
Woodward, Aaron B.
Worcester, Frank
Wright, Charles F.
Wright, Francis
182
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
Parker, Henry M.
Parker, Isaac
Parker, Thomas B.
Parkhurst, Ephraim A.
Pakkhurst, Henry
Parkhurst, Henry H.
Parkhurst, James S.
Parkhurst, Silas P.
Parkhurst, Spaulding
Peabody, Charles A.
Peabody, Daniel A.
Peacock, John G.
Peacock, Ezra W.
Peacock, Rufus A.
Peaslee, William S.
Phelps, Frank A.
Phelps, Frank P.
Phelps, Horace
Philbrick, Albert M.
Pnilbrick, Freeman M.
Philbrick, John C.
Pratt, William
Prince, Calvin
Prince, Charles A,
Prince, James U.
Prince, John M.
Prince, Rodney
Prince, Solomon
Prince, Wilder J.
Pulsifer, Jeremiah O.
Putnam, Elijah
Putnam, George W.
Ranger, Ebenezer
Rhoads, Albert
Rhoads, David H.
Rhoads, Warren
Rhoads, William
Richardson, Charles
Riddle, Charles A.
Rideout, Abel T.
Riley, Owen
Robbins, George E.
Roby, Ira
Rotch, Albert A.
Rotch, William B.
Russ, Isaac J.
Russell, William F.
Ryan, Bart
Ryan, James T.
Ryan, James W.
Sampson, John
Sargent, Charles B.
Sargent, Enoch P.
Sargent, Frank
Sargent, Shepton M.
Sargent, Thomas D.
Sargent, William B.
Sawtelle, Eli
Sawtelle, Eli A.
Sawyer, Andrew F.
Secomb, Charles
Secomb, Henry W.
Secomb, Levi J.
Shaffer, Oscar
Shaw, George II.
Sheehan, Daniel H.
Sheehan, Jeremiah
Shemard, Robert
Shepard, Alonzo P.
Shepard, Andrew N.
Shepley, Chester
Shoram, Frank
Skinner, Appleton J.
Skinner, Joshua F.
Skully, John
Sloan, George
Small, George
Small, Gilbert
Smith, Charles E.
Smith, George E.
Smith, Langdon
Snow, William
Staples, Alphonzo E.
Staples, Levi
Staples, Samuel E.
Stearns, Hiram D.
IX.]
CHECK-LIST, MARCH, 1882.
183
Stearns, James B.
Stewart, William
Stevens, Alpheus
Stickney, Timothy J.
Trow, Clarence L.
Trow, Daniel W.
Trow, Joseph P.
LTpham, Jacob B.
Upham, John H.
Upton, Jeremiah
Upton, J. Edward
Walker, Charles M.
Walker, George
Walker, George K.
Wallace, John
Walton, Benjamin F.
Webster, James F.
Webster, James P.
West, Henry
Weston, James F.
Wheeler, Benjamin
Wheeler, Charles P.
Wheeler, Henry
AVheeler, Nathan C.
White, Charles H.
White, Charles S.
Whiting, Benjamin B.
Whiting, Benjamin F.
Wilkins, Aaron S.
Wilkins, Charles E.
Wilkins, Frank E.
Wilkins, George H.
Wilkins, Milton A.
Wilkins, Samuel
Wilkins, Samuel F.
Wilson, Jacob
Woods, William R.
Woodward, Aaron B.
Worcester, Frank
Wright, Charles F.
Wright, Francis
184
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
CHAPTER X.
STATISTICS.
POPULATION OF THE TOWN AT DIFFERENT PERIODS. HEADS OF
FAMILIES, AND NUMBER OF PERSONS IN EACH FAMILY, 1820.
MORTUARY STATISTICS. DEATHS IN 1812. — PERSONS BE-
TWEEN 80 AND 90 YEARS OF AGE WHO HAVE DIED SINCE 1782.
NONAGENARIANS. CENTENARIANS. AGRICULTURAL STA-
TISTICS. TOWN DEBT AT DIFFERENT TIMES. — PROPORTION OF
STATE TAX. MANUFACTURING STATISTICS OF HILLSBOROUGH
COUNTY, 1809. MODERATORS OF THE ANNUAL TOWN MEET-
INGS. TOWN CLERKS. SELECTMEN. — SUPERVISORS OF ELEC-
TIONS. COMPENSATION OF SELECTMEN. REPRESENTATIVES
IN THE GENERAL COURT. DECEASE OF TOWN OFFICERS SINCE
1775. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. VOTES FOR PRESIDENTS
AND GOVERNORS OF THE STATE SINCE 1784. CHECK-LIST
USED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING IN MARCH, 1843, AND DE-
CEASE OF VOTERS. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
POPULATION.
Fourteen families were settled in town at the time of Mr.
Wilkins's ordination, 23 September, 1741.
" Thirty-five families, in which were fifty-eight men above sixteen
years old, remained in town 13 May, 17-47."
The whole population of the town in
1767
was 858
1790
was 2,369
1S40 was 1,565
1773
1,370
1800
2,150
1850
1,613
1775
1,428
1810
1,554
1860
1,508
1783
1,909
1820
1,622
1870
1,353
1786
1,912
1830
1,657
1880
1,225
1820
u
1830
it
1840
u
1S50
u
1860
u
1870
u
1880
a
X.] POPULATION. 185
In 1767 there were 421 males and 437 females.
1773 " " 692 " " 678
1775 " " 697 white males and 747 white females.
1790 " " 1,147 " " " 1,204
1800 sexes not given in census.
1810 there were 760 white males and 784 white females.
" 779 males and 843 females.
" 809 white males and 842 white females.
" 735 males and 830 females.
777 " " 836 "
710 " " 798
" 644 " " 709 "
596 " " 629 "
The number of families in 1810 was 235 ; in 1820, 281 ;
in 1850, 328 ; in 1860, 345 ; in 1870, 355 ; in 1880, 338.
Average number of persons in each family in 1810, 6} ;
in 1880, 3i.
Of the inhabitants in 1880, 965 were natives of New
Hampshire, 118 of Massachusetts, 27 of Maine, 21 of Ver-
mont, 16 of New York, 4 of Pennsylvania, 3 of Connecticut,
2 of Wisconsin ; one each of New Jersey, Kentucky, Min-
nesota, and California ; 52 of Ireland, 8 of England, 3
of Canada, and one each of Germany and Scotland.
The population of the village precinct in 1880 was 434 ;
of the outer districts, 791. In the precinct were 181 males
and 253 females. In the outer districts were 415 males
and 376 females.
The whole white population of the town in 1830 was
1,651. The whole population of the town in 1880 was
1,225, a loss in fifty years of 426.
Of the whole population in 1830, 1,259 were under forty
years of age and 392 were forty years old and upward.
Of the whole population in 1880, 704 were under forty
years of age, and 521 were forty years old and upward,
showing a loss of 555 in the population under forty years of
age, and a gain of 129 in the population forty years old
and upward, in fifty years.
1767
1773
200
330
63
109
135
237
17
13
2
o
270
412
147
245
18
19
2
o
186 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
In the censuses of 1767 and 1773 the ages of some of
the inhabitants, and the number of each sex, are given as
follows :
MALES.
Boys of 16 years old and under,
Unmarried men between 16 and 60 years,
Married " " " "
Men above 60 years,
Slaves,
FEMALES.
Unmarried,
Married,
Widows,
Slaves,
In the census of 1775 the population is classified as
follows :
Boys under 16 years old, 343
Men 16 years old and under 50, not in the army, 200
Men 50 years old and upward, 53
Men in the army, 81
Females, 747
Colored persons — sex not stated, 4
In the census of 1790 the population was not classified.
In 1800 there were 31 colored persons in the First
parish. Of whites, 630 were under 16 years of age, and
809, 16 years old and upward.
At the same time there were 2 colored persons in the
Second parish, 325 white persons, under 16 years of age,
and 353, 16 years old and upward.
In 1810 and 1820 the white population was classified
thus :
MALES.
Under 16 years of age,
Of 16 and under 26 years,
Of 26 and under 45 years,
Of 45 years and upward,
810
1820
359
328
148
151
130
141
123
158
X.]
Under 16 years of age,
Of 16 and under 26 years,
Of 26 and under 45 years,
Of 45 years and upward,
POPULATION.
1SY
FEMALES.
336
316
153
176
130
141
150
163
In 1830, 1840, 1850, I860, 1870, and 1880, the different
classes of population were as follows :
MALES.
1830
1840
1850
1860
1870
1880
429
345
334
265
237
222
204
200
211
198
156
131
110
115
155
158
151
134
66
75
77
89
100
109
emal:
384
ES.
370
332
267
233
182
242
224
235
233
191
169
127
156
166
178
164
148
89
SO
103
120
121
130
Under 20 years of age,
Of 20 and under 40 years,
Of 40 and under 60 years,
Of 60 years and upward,
Under 20 years of age,
Of 20 and under 40 years,
Of 40 and under 60 years,
Of 60 years and upward,
In 1790 Portsmouth, Rochester, Londonderry, Barring-
ton, and Gilmanton, only, of the towns in the State, had a
greater population than Amherst. In 1880, 78 cities and
towns had a larger population.
In the census of 1783 the selectmen stated that there
were in town 259 dwelling-houses and 247 barns. In 1820
404 of the inhabitants were engaged in agriculture ; 122 in
manufactures ; and 10 in trade. The ministers, doctors,
and lawyers, were classed as manufacturers !
The censuses of 1707, 1778, 1775, 1783, and 1786, were
taken by the selectmen ; those of 1790, 1800, and 1810, by
Col. Daniel Warner ; that of 1820, by Capt. John Secombe ;
1830, by Stephen Peabody, Esq. ; 1850, by Robert Moore,
Esq. ; 1860, by Charles Richardson, Esq. ; 1870, by J.
Abbott Marsh, Esq. ; 1880, by Isaac Brooks Dodge, Esq.
Copies of the censuses of 1810 and 1820 may be found in
the library of the N. H. Historical Society ; of those of
188
HISTORY OF AMHERST
[Chap.
1850, 1860, and 1870, in the State library at Concord ; and
1880, in the office of the clerk of the courts of Hillsborough
county, Nashua.
Heads of families and number of persons in each family,
1 August, 1820:
No. Persons.
Daniel Campbell,
1
John Alcock,
9
Daniel Campbell, jr.,
8
Jane Alld,
o
Moses Carlton,
3
Elizabeth Appleton,
6
Michael Carter,
2
John Arbuckle,
5
James Cash,
3
Charles H. Atherton,
8
Isaac Chickering,
10
Jeremiah Barnard,
6
Calvin Clark,
3
Solomon Barron,
4
Daniel Clark,
11
Archelaus Batchelder,
3
Ebenezer Clark,
5
Rachel Batchelder,
3
Ezra Clark,
8
James Bell,
9
Timothy Clark,
2
Ebenezer Bills,
7
Clifton Clagett,
11
Jasper Blake,
3
John Cochran,
6
Samuel Blake,
5
Isaac Colby,
9
Ephraim Blanchard,
6
Isaac Combs,
5
James Blanchard,
5
Ebenezer Converse,
9
Lemuel Blood,
6
Josiah Converse,
10
Rufus Blood,
2
Robert Converse,
2
John Blunt,
6
Melzar Crooker,
8
Joseph Boutell,
7
Joseph Crosby,
9
Joseph Boutell, jr.,
4
Porter Crosby,
5
Luther Boutell,
2
Nancy Curtis,
5
Lilly E. Boutell,
2
Samuel Curtis,
5
Abraham Boutell,
4
Benjamin Damon,
6
Caleb Boutell,
11
Stephen Damon,
4
Lucy Bowers,
1
Warren Damon,
5
Richard Boylston,
10
Lather Dana,
4
William Bradbury,
6
Jacob Danforth,
10
John Bragg,
5
Timothy Danforth,
10
Isaac Brooks,
6
Samuel Davis,
3
William Brown,
4
Thomas M. Dickey,
7
William Brown, jr.,
10
Bartholomew Dodge,
2
William Brown, 3d,
4
Bartholomew Dodge, jr.,
9
Stephen Butler,
3
Levi Dodge,
4
Alexander Caldwell,
5
David Duncklee,
2
David Caldwell,
8
Jacob Duncklee,
7
Josiah Caldwell,
4
Jacob Durant,
3
X.]
HEADS OF FAMILIES, 1P20.
189
Nathan J. Durant,
6
Mary W. Hildreth,
1
John Dutton,
3
Samuel Hildreth,
5
Cyrus Eastman,
5
Moses Hills,
5
John Eaton,
6
David Holmes,
7
Amos Elliott,
6
Sarah M. Holmes,
6
Andrew Elliott,
6
Joseph Hood,
9
Roger Elliott,
2
Henry Howard,
6
Rebekah Farley,
5
Josiah Howard,
3
Elisha Felton,
6
Amos Hubbard,
7
Francis Fields,
6
John Jewett,
6
Samuel Fields,
4
Joseph Jewett,
6
David Fisk,
5
Josiah Jewett,
9
William Fisk,
10
Nathaniel Jewett,
4
Samuel Fletcher,
5
Timothy Jones,
2
Calvin Flint,
5
Thomas Kearney,
12
Sarah Flint,
2
John Kehew,
8
Jonathan Foster,
6
Nathan Kendall,
8
Ephraim French,
4
Stephen Kendall,
6
Frederick French,
6
Benjamin Kendrick,
8
Israel Fuller,
7
Josiah Kidder,
3
John Fuller,
7
Ebenezer Kimball,
3
Nathan Fuller,
6
.Jacob Kimball,
4
Robert Gibson,
5
Henry Kimball,
3
Samuel Gibson,
o
Ilolton Kimball,
3
James Gilmore,
3
Mansfield King,
9
James Gilmore, jr.,
7
Joseph Knowlton,
6
Jesse Gilmore,
9
Joseph Lakeman,
6
Ephraim Goss,
8
Eben Lawrence,
12
Francis Grater,
7
Andrew Leavitt,
5
Zaccheus Greeley,
6
Benjamin Leavitt,
5
Amos Green,
12
John Leavitt,
4
Daniel Hartshorn,
7
Joseph Leaviit,
6
Edward Hartshorn,
4
Nathan Lord,
7
James Hartshorn,
5
Jonathan Lovejoy,
9
John Hartshorn,
4
Stephen Lovejoy,
9
John Hartshorn, jr.,
5
Sarah Low,
4
William Hartshorn,
2
William Low,
3
Joseph Harvill,
10
Asa McCluer,
3
John Haselton,
8
James C. Mace,
7
Anna Henchman,
2
Salathiel Manning,
6
David Hildreth,
4
David McG. Means,
14
Hannah Hildreth,
4
Robert Means,
8
Jacob Hildreth,
7
Nathaniel Melendy,
8
100
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Thomas Melendy,
William Melendy,
David Melvin,
David Melvin, jr.,
Horatio Merrill,
Hugh Moore,
Joseph Morrison,
Daniel Moulton,
Joseph Nichols,
Leonard T. Nichols,
Timothy Nichols,
Moses Noyes,
Moses Noyes, jr.,
Silas Noyes,
John Ober,
Luther Odall,
William Odall,
Rui'us Orcutt,
Benjamin Parker,
Edmund Parker,
Isaac Parker,
Joseph Parker,
Didymus Pearsons,
John Patterson,
William Peacock,
William Peacock, jr.,
Amos Phelps,
Susannah Phelps,
Loea Pratt,
Abel Prince,
George Prince,
Solomon Prince,
John Purple,
Elijah Putnam,
-John Putnam,
.Joseph Putnam,
James Ray,
Robert Read,
William Read,
Polly Remington,
Eleazer Rhoads,
Charles Richardson,
William Roby,
4
John Seaton,
4
13
Nathan K. Seaton,
2
6
David Secombe,
3
3
John Secombe,
6
11
Nathan Shattuck,
10
10
Nathaniel Shattuck,
8
3
4
5
o
5
7
3
6
Benjamin Shepard,
James Shepard,
John Shepard,
-John Shepard, jr.,
Lummus Shepard,
Mercy Shepard,
Samuel Shepard,
James Sloan,
6
10
4
8
6
2
4
4
9
Amelia Smith,
7
4
Jedediah K. Smith,
4
o
Maverick Smith,
8
3
8
5
Joseph Spalding,
Matthias Spalding,
Patience Stanley,
6
9
1
S
Eleazer Stearns,
3
4
James Stearns,
12
8
Oren Stearns,
3
3
Reuben Stearns,
9
2
Zaccheus Stearns,
7
9
Daniel Stevens,
6
8
David Stewart,
12
2
Moses B. Stewart,
5
8
Sewall Stratton,
9
7
7
10
Cyrus Styles,
Ebenezer Taylor,
John Taylor,
4
10
2
3
Joel F. Thayer,
3
6
Jonathan Thayer,
6
5
Elias Thomas,
3
4
George Thomas,
5
11
Israel Thomas,
7
5
Oliver Thompson,
4
7
William Towne,
7
4
Amos Truel,
2
9
Amos Truel, jr.,
8
6
Moses Truel,
5
6
Samuel Truel,
5
X.]
Willard Truel,
James Tattle,
Thomas Underwood,
Amos Upham,
Jacob Upham,
Nathan Upham,
Phinehas Upham,
William Wakefield,
Dimond Warren,
Betsy Washer,
Dorcas Wellington,
Ebenezer Weston,
Isaac AVeston,
Daniel Wheeler,
John Wheeler,
John N. Wheeler,
Jonathan Wheeler,
Timothy Wheeler, jr.,
MORTUARY
STATISTICS.
3
John Whitcomb,
9
Ira Whiting,
7
Nathaniel Whiting,
7
George Wiley,
4
John Wiley,
10
Robert Wiley,
9
Aaron Wilkins,
5
Benjamin Wilkins,
8
Jothain Wilkins,
o
Samuel Wilkins,
1
Jonathan Wilson,
6
Mary Wilson,
6
Joseph Winn,
5
Ezra Woolson,
5
Nathaniel Woolson,
7
Thomas Woolson,
4
Nathaniel Woodbury,
10
Foster Wyatt,
191
i
3
5
5
2
5
7
7
7
7
4
4
3
2
7
8
MORTUARY STATISTICS.
The whole number of deaths in Amherst from 1 January,
1805, to 1 January, 1837, 32 years, was 814, of which there
were
Under 1 year of age,
Of 1 and under 5 years,
5 10
10 20
20 30
30 40
40- 50
110 Of 50 and under 60 years, 47
146 60 70 65
31 70 80 71
57 80 90 70
93 90 100 15
43 100 and over, 2
55 Ages unknown, 10
The greatest mortality in any year was in 1828, — 53.
The least mortality in any year was in 1811, — 9.
From 1 January, 1841, to 1 January, 1857, the whole
number of deaths was 444 : of these there were
Under 1 year,
52
Of 50 and unde
r 60 years,
33
Of 1 and under 5
years,
49
60
70
36
5 10
10
70
80
67
10 20
28
80
90
45
20 30
34
90
100
15
30 40
42
Over 100,
1
40 50
32
192
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Of the above, 204 were males, and 240 were females.
The greatest mortality in any year was in 1854, — 35.
The least mortality in any year was in 1844, — 20.
An unusual number of aged people died in the year
1842, as the following list of deaths in that year will show :
Emily Bailey, aged
19 years.
Sally J. Hills,
20^ years
Luke II. Bills,
H
George Howard,
34
Marinda Bills,
28
Peter Jones,
80
.lane Caldwell,
90
Rebecca Jewett,
73
Susan Campbell,
63
Lydia Kimball,
70
Margaret Claggett,
77
Joseph Knowlton,
75
Joseph Crosby,
89
Thomas Melendy,
93f
Albert F. David,
1
Susannah Moore,
70
Adam Dickey,
60
Martha E. Parker,
i
Levi Dodge,
72
Didymus Pearsons,
76
Jacob Duncklee,
72
Jane Pearsons,
30
Sophia Elliott,
46
Mary Phelps,
28
Ambrose Gould,
65
John Purple,
98
Dea. John Hartshorn,
83
Reuben Stearns,
73
Betsy Haseltine,
57
Joseph Winn,
30
Whole number of deaths, 30. Eighteen of those who
died were over 60 year of age.
LONCxEVITY.
Octogenarians who have died in Amherst since 1782 :
1782, 4 Aug., John Burns, .
1788, 23 Feb., Joseph Steel,
1789, 28 Nov., Lt, Joseph Prince,
1791, 22 Xov., Israel Towne,
1795, 19 May, Dea. Joseph Boutell,
1797, 16 Jan., Wid. Keturah Stewart,
1802, 9 Dec, Lydia Wilkins,
1803, 5 May, Jonathan Wilkins,
1803, 11 Sept., Robert Read, .
1803, 20 Oct., Benjamin Pike,
1803, 27 Oct., Widow Flint, .
1803, 22 Dec, Benjamin Wilkins,
1804, 17 April, Mrs. Pettingill,
1806, 30 Aug., Daniel Stevens,
,
80
82
.
88
86
.
88
82
•
83
83
.
83
81
,
80
80
.
85
84
X.]
LONGEVITY.
193
1807. 22 Feb., Philo Talbot,
13 Dec, Nathan Fuller,
1810, 2 Oct., John Stearns,
1811, 7 May, Lucy Ellsworth,
8 July, Eleazer Usher,
25 Aug., Hannah Lovejoy,
1^12, 20 Feb., Dorcas Stevens,
3 March. William Odell,
20 May, Zaccheus Stearns, .
1813, 12 Feb., William Melendy,
13 Nov., Benjamin Kendrick,
1S14, 28 Jan., Mrs. Stearns, .
20 Aug., Elizabeth Truel,
30 Dec, Lydia Wilkins,
4 Feb., Elizabeth Gibson,
23 May, Elizabeth Stevens, .
28 Oct., Mary Riddle, .
24 Jan., Phebe Odell,
23 April, Andrew Shannon,
30 Dec, Martha Fuller,
Lucy Barron, .
27 May, Sarah Kendrick,
1819, 2 June, Mrs. Davis, .
12 Aug., Kendall Boutell,
30 Nov., Samuel Gibson,
1821, 17
1822, 2
1815,
1817,
1818,
25
1823,
24
1825,
19
1826,
3
13
13
1827,
15
00
Feb., Ebenezer Kimball, .
April, John Harvell,
Oct., Elizabeth Kimball, .
April, Amos Truel, .
Dec, Phebe Elliott,
Lucy Shepard, .
Jan., Col. Robert Means, .
Dec, Lieut. Archelaus Batchelder,
Feb., John Brown,
James Gilmore,
William Brown,
March, Patience Lovejoy,
Aug., David Duncklee,
Oct., Joseph Parker, .
April, Jerusha Dodge,
Dec, Isaac Parker, .
Dec, Mary Converse,
13
84
87
84
89
85
84
80
85
SI
83
88
80
88
85
87
83
86
85
89
83
S3
8S
87
84
86
81
85
88
83
88
83
SO
84
89
86
86
85
80
82
83
82
87
194 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
1828, Mrs. Usher, .... 83
30 Dec, Lucy Pollard, . '. . .85
1829, 16 Dec, Lieut. John Patterson. ... 87
1830, 26 May, John Hartshorn, . . . .86
1831, 25 March, David Hildreth, . . . 82
1 June, Hannah Weston, . . . .80
24 Aug., Cyrus Stiles, .... 80
22 Oct., Mrs. Fowle, .... 80
5 Nov., Elizabeth Whitney, ... 86
1832, 20 Feb., Phebe Jewett, . . . . 87
9 Nov., Mrs. Joseph Prince, ... 81
1833, 29 March, Mrs. Elizbeth Warner. . . . 82
24 May, John Cochran, ... 85
Mrs. Hassel, . . . .84
Hannah Holt, .... 82
12 Oct., Deborah Barnard, . . . .80
1834, 9 April, Timothy Carlton, ... 81
10 May, Mrs. Lewis, - . . .89
22 June, Sarah Richards, ... 82
3 Sept., Elizabeth PoUard, . . . .82
10 Oct., William Read, .... 80
1835, 15 Jan., Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, . . .84
12 Jan., Capt. Samuel Shepard, ... 85
1836, 8 April, Miss Mary Herrick, . . . 80
3 Oct., Dea. John Seaton, ... 80
Nov., Mary Hildreth, . . . .88
27 Nov., John Blunt, .... 80
1837, 27 Feb., Mary Taylor, . . . .84
25 March, Lydia Wilkins, ... 83
1838, 16 Jan., Elizabeth Shepard, . . . .84
6 June, Abel Prince, . . . . 82
2 Nov., Timothy Hartshorn. . . .SI
10 Nov., Ebenezer Sargent, ... 83
1839, 6 Jan., Phebe Duncklee, . . . .89
24 March, Mary Dodge, ... 84
29 March, John Arbuckle, . . . .87
4 July, Dorcas Wilkins, . . . 83
17 Dec, Aaron Boutell, . . . .86
1840, Sept., Sarah Hartshorn, ... 83
21 Dec, Isaac Brooks, . . . .83
1841, 16 July, Sarah Kendall, ... 83
1842, 18 March, Lydia Davis. . . . .85
10 Oct., Joseph Crosby, ... 89
X.]
LONGEVITY.
195
11 Oct., Peter Jones,
25 Nov., Dea. John Hartshorn,
1843, 23 June, David Fisk,
18 Aug., Sarah Weston,
9 Dec, Jonathan Love joy, .
1844, 7 Sept., Mary Melvin,
16 Sept., Ezra Woolson, .
28 Nov., Mrs. Joshua Clark, .
1845, 29 Sept., Josiah Parker,
1846, 9 March, Eleazer Stearns, .
11 June, Ebenezer Weston,
23 Aug., Lydia Wheeler,
12 Nov., Benjamin Damon,
1847, 10 May, Elizabeth Melendy,
23 Dec, Azubah Munroe,
1848, 21 April, Polly Truel,
18 July, Nathaniel Melendy,
22 Aug., Priscilla Gardner, .
1 Sept., Mrs. Jane Ellsworth,
26 Nov., Sarah Kinson,
1849, 6 March, Mrs. Hannah Bills,
1 April, -Jacob Upham,
20 April, Sarah Upham,
July, Sarah Duncklee,
1 Aug., Jacob Kimball,
17 Sept., Joseph Nichols,
Dec, Hannah Elliott,
20 Dec, Hannah French,
1850, Sarah Hardy, .
2 Feb., Martha Aiken, .
1851, 30 March, Joseph Lakeman,
14 Aug., Roger Elliott,
15 Nov., Jacob Dan forth,
1852, 28 Sept., Hannah Stiles,
1853, 12 Aug., Lucy Clark, .
1854, 15 Jan., James Stearns,
7 March, Hugh Moore,
5 July, Mercy Gilmore,
1855, 29 March, Rebecca AY. Clark,
6 April, Mary Howard,
15 June, Joseph Hood, .
27 June, Eleazer Rhoads,
1856, 29 July, Sally Noyes, .
83
.
86
•
86
,
82
.
SO
,
80
.
88
.
85
.
80
. .
84
,
84
. .
86
.
86
, ,
87
.
84
, .
89
.
82
,
86
.
85
, .
83
.
83
, ,
80
.
80
. .
81
.
87
•
85
. ,
85
. .
85
,
86
. ,
85
1
87
85
.
83
. .
81
,
80
. .
88
,
88
,
83
.
86
. .
84
.
84
m m
84
196
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
1856, 10 Aug., Joseph Winn,
84
1858, 28 Aug., Jonathan Herrick,
84
1859, 6 .Ian., Phebe Duncklee,
89
18 Dec, Mary P. Barnett,
83
1860, 1 Feb., Amos Green,
83
Kebecca Eames, .
81
18 Oct., Deborah Herrick,
81
Elizabeth Ford,
86
1861, 20 Feb., Henry Parkhurst, .
82
3 March, Amos Phelps,
83
3 Aug., Eunice Dodge,
87
17 Aug., Huldah Peacock,
87
25 Aug., Ebenezer Converse,
82
1862, 30 June, Aaron Wilkins,
84
25 Oct., John Moor,
80
27 Dec, Rebecca W. Spalding,
S5
1863, Hannah Carlton,
80
2 June, Lydia Stearns,
82
22 Dec, James Tarbox,
83
1864, 23 Feb., Israel Fuller, .
86
28 March, Mary Blunt,
80
1865, 5 Aug., John Haseltine,
84
8 Nov., Miss Mary Hartshorn, .
88
1866, Elizabeth Shepard. .
87
1 Oct., Mary Chapman,
82
5 Nov., Mary Boylston,
83
1867, 8 Jan., David Lowe,
80
1868, 26 March, Henry Abbott, .
84
20 July, Mary W. Hubbard,
83
1869, 23 Jan., Isaac Weston,
84
28 June, Abigail Gilson,
86
21 July, Simeon C. Danforth,
83
1870, Elizabeth Prescott,
83
20 June, Isaac Wheeler,
89
11 Aug., Tabitha Brown,
89
9 Oct., Benjamin Hastings, .
81
1871, 9 Jan., Pamelia Brown,
82
15 April, Henry Howard,
83
18 April, Mehitable Weston,
82
1872, 27 Aug., Hannah A. Mack, .
82
1873, 1 April, Susan Claggett,
S4
Dudley Carlton,
83
1874, 27 May, Joseph Fowle, .
81
X.]
LONGEVITY.
197
1874, 26 Aug., Betsy Prince,
17 Sept., Hepsibah Wallace,
1875, 8 Feb., Thaddeus M. Fuller,
Betsy C. Gay,
4 April, Betsy Kimball,
6 Nov., Polly Howard, .
1 Oct., Lemuel Bartlett,
8 Nov., Lucy Wright, .
1876, 7 Jan., Lucy David,
Lucinda Langley,
19 March, Hannah S. Downe,
1 April, Luther Elliott,
3 April, Joseph Vaughn,
4 Oct., Janette Swan, .
1877, 20 Feb., Betsy E. Orcutt,
8 Aug., Miss Hepsibah Melendy,
21 Nov., Miss Eunice W. Stearns,
Zadoc Farmer,
3 Dec, Oliver Thompson, .
1878, 18 May, William Wetherbee,
15 Dec, Sarah E. Thompson,
1879, 28 Jan., Miss Eliza H. Stiles,
1880, 20 March, Miss Betsy Melendy,
5 Aug., Dea. Daniel Cram,
18 Aug., Willard Holden,
30 Aug., David Stewart,
1882, 7 Jan., David Russell,
5 Feb., Foster Wyatt, .
80
88
81
87
86
81
82
87
81
89
82
81
86
82
86
85
80
87
80
88
81
85
81
87
81
84
86
NONAGENARIANS
Died.
1795, April, Miss Rebecca Boutell,
1803, 2 Sept., Grace Towne,
1806, 20 .June, Sarah Burdett,
1808, 19 July, Hannah Boutell,
1809, Sept., Sarah Stewart,
1816, 30 Jan., John Brown,
1818, Phineas Lund,
1822, 2S Nov., Benjamin Davis,
1823, 9 Jan., Samuel Badger,
29 June, Elizabeth Prince, .
1 July, Nathaniel Woodbury,
10 Sept., Thomas Woolson, .
90
96
94
95
91
95
95
98
90
98
94
93
198
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
1824,
3 Aug., Joanna Woolson,
1826,
8 April, Robert Converse, .
1827,
14 May, Mrs. Billiard, .
1829,
15 Jan., Mrs. Truel,
1831,
24 May, Mary Alexander,
1832,
27 Dec, Dea. Samuel Wilkins,
1834,
May, Widow Lewis, .
1838,
3 Aug., Miss Mercy Hosea,
Aug., Nancy Ellsworth,
7 Oct., Daniel Campbell, Esq.,
1840,
Abigail Peacock,
1841,
2 Oct., Hannah Underwood,
4 Sept., Mrs. Rachel Keiff,
1842,
6 Jan., John Purple,
28 Nov., Thomas Melendy,
Jane Caldwell,
1843,
17 Dec, Miss Janette Hogg,
1845,
3 Jan., Francis Grater,
27 March, Mrs. Eben Webster, .
1846,
11 Aug., Nathan Kendall,
29 Aug., Andrew Leavitt,
1848,
13 April, Patience Stanley, .
1 Sept., Anna Kimball,
1850,
28 July, Nancy Putnam,
1853,
4 Sept., Olive Lovejoy, .
1854,
22 Aug., Edward Hartshorn,
1856,
Aug., Daniel Clark, .
1859,
18 April, Moses Noyes,
1860,
Betsy Merrill, .
Julia Haley,
1861,
5 Feb., Joseph Putnam,
1863,
3 Dec, Solomon Prince,
1865,
22 May, Dr. Matthias Spalding, .
1874,
16 June, Sally Ober,
1875,
11 July, Loea Pratt,
1877,
25 Nov., Sarah Caldwell,
1881,
24 March, Saul Austin,
24 Nov., Betsy Lowe,
1882,
29 Jan., David Fisk,
96
91
94
90
90
90
93
95
90
99
92
90
97
98
93
90
90
94
90
92
94
92
96
92
90
90
92
91
91
98
97
92
95
92
90
92
93
92
90
CENTENARIANS.
Died.
1805, 1 Dec, Hannah (Austin) Lovejoy, .
101
X.]
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
199
1823, 13 Oct., Mary (Holman) Barnard,
1851, 11 Jan., Hepsibah (Holt) Hartshorn,
1859, 15 Sept., Miss Lydia Barnard,
1875, Anah (Bathrick) Goss,
All natives of Massachusetts.
100 yrs., 6 mos.
. 103 yrs., 7 mos.
102
. 105 yrs., 1 mo.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
From the U. S. census.
cash value of 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880
Farms, not given. $322,700 $410,630 $410,675 $507,370
Tools and machinery,
u
12,855
17,846
23,775
21,113
NUMBER OF
Horses,
263
165
205
246
283
Working oxen,
not given.
220
214
126
62
Milch cows,
u
498
677
627
735
Other neat cattle,
u
525
696
417
526
Sheep,
1,045
468
206
237
117
Swine,
724
389
323
271
271
FARM PRODUCTS.
NO BUSHELS.
1839
1849
1859
1869
1879
Indian corn,
9,039
7,713
11,955
8,628
9,383
Wheat,
653
324
1,022
692
568
Rye,
3,732
2,249
1,581
560
202
Oats,
5,283
3,539
5,868
3,604
2,151
Barley,
576
47
192
196
7
Buckwheat,
451
72
181
70
21
Peas and beans,
not given.
316
417
316
400
Potatoes,
20,277
12,870
13,113
16,501
10,252
Xo. tons hay,
2,529
2,721
3,070
3,151
3,462
pounds hops,
7,649
6,508
2,060
" butter,
not given.
34,652
43,560
36,665
43,612
" cheese,
u
8,779
8,740
2,150
630
gallons milk sold
" not
given, r
iot given.
, 80,350 153,395
Value of orchard products, "
$747
$3,028
$5,089
$4,680
The numbers of various kinds of farm stock returned by the select-
men as taxed in seven
il years were as follow
s :
1819
1820
1827 1828 1831
1832
Horses, 2 yrs. old and
upward, 151
147
154
159 193
197
Oxen.
244
253
272
310 335
348
Cows,
463
498
466
477 518
514
Sheep,
1,029
1,153
200
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
THE TOWN DEBT
In March, 1781, was reported to be . . £3,046, 8s., 7d.
1832, owing to the purchase of the pauper farm, $3,(168.22
1836, it was reduced to . . 1,397,12
1843, increased by building roads, and land
damage, .... 4,958.18
1853, reduced to . . . . 664.26
1861, at the commencement of the civii war, 4,927.91)
1868, the greatest amount ever reported, . 28,309.19
1872, reduced by payments made by the U. S.
and State to 5,131.99
1875, 1,251.06
1881, 392.52
TAXATION.
Of every £1,000 or $1,000 raised by the state or county, the town
of Amherst paid under the apportionment of
1773
£19
7s. d.
1820
$6.57
1852
$6.13
1777
18
6 3
1824
6.57
1856
5.09
1780
17
io m
1828
6.17
1860
4.85
1789
16
4 4
1832
5.92
1804
5.19
1791
11
7 2
1836
6.64
1S68
5.11
18J3
$6.83
1840
6.42
1872
4.63
18J8
5.37
1844
5.69
1876
4.46
1812
5.94
1848
5.88
1S79
4.61
1816
6.94
111 1773 Amherst ranked as the seventh town in the
Province in valuation ; in 1879 as the thirty-ninth in the
State.
The poll tax in Amherst in 1871 was $4.05, and the
rate of taxation was $2.70 per $100. 16 tax- payers paid
over $100 each, and 59 paid between $50 and $100 each.
P. W. Jones, the highest tax-payer, paid $324.38.
In 1797 the poll tax was 78 cents, exclusive of the
highway tax.
Statistics of manufactures and manufacturing estab-
lishments in Hillsborough county in 1809. From the cen-
sus of 1810.
X.] POLITICAL STATISTICS. 201
No. yards cotton cloth, made in families, . . 221,000
No. yards mixed goods, .... 80,700
No. yards flaxen goods, .... 512,000
No. yards woolen goods, .... 243,000
No. yards blended and unnamed cloths and stuffs, . 100,000
Value of all kinds of cloths and stuffs made, . . $568,350
No. of looms in the county, . . . 5,544
There were in the county eight cotton manufactories, at which cotton
yarn was manufactured.
Thirty-two carding machines, at which 144,200 pounds of wool
were carded, valued at $72,100.
Thirty-seven fulling mills, at which 127,000 yards cloth were
" fulled ;" 5,250 wool and mixed hats, and 3S20 fur hats were made ;
the whole valued at $18,000.
One forge, which produced 10 tons of iron.
Six trip hammers.
Five nail manufactories, at which 12 tons of nails were made,
valued at $2,520.
Fifty-eight tanneries, at which 271,704 pounds of leather were man-
ufactured, valued at $67,917.
Two oil mills, which made $6,000 gallons of oil, valued at $7,134;
one paper-mill, at which $12,000 worth of paper was made; and
two distilleries, which produced 5,000 gallons of spirits, valued at
13,750.
POLITICAL STATISTICS.
MODERATORS OF THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETINGS.
John Goffe, 1760.
William Peabody, 1761, '62, '64, '65, '66, '76.
Ebenezer Lyon, 1763.
Moses Nichols, 1767, '69, '70, '71, 73, '77.
Robert Read, 1768.
Samuel McKean, 1772.
Benjamin Kenrick, 1774.
Daniel Campbell, 1775, '68.
Nahum Baldwin, 1778.
Josiah Crosby, 1779.
Samuel Wilkins, 178.), '81, '82, '83, "84, '89, '93, '97.
John Shepard, jr., 1785, '86, '87, '90, '94.
Samuel Dana, 1791, '92, '95.
William Gordon, 1796.
Daniel W'arner, 1798.
202 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Jonathan Smith, 1799, 1801, '02.
Robert Means, 1800, '08, '09.
Jedediah K. Smith, 1803, '04, '05, '00, '07, '11, '12, 13, '14, '17, '23, '24.
John Secombe, 1810, '16, '25, '26, '27, '28, '29, '30, '31, '32, '33, '34, '38,
'37.
Charles II. Atherton, 1815, '38, '40, '41.
Edmund Parker, 1818, '19, '20, '21, '22, '35.
Hubbard Newton, 1839.
Daniel Campbell, jr., 1812, '43, '44.
David Stewart, 1845, '46.
Levi J. Secomb, 1817, '48, '49, '52, '55.
Lemuel N. Pattee, 1850, '51.
Perley Dodge, 1853, '54.
Charles H. Campbell, 1856, '57, '58, '59, '61, '62, '63, '64, '66.
Charles B. Tuttle, 1860, '65.
William A. Mack, 1867, '68, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73, '74.
Bradley II. Bartlett, 1875, '76.
Brooks K. Came, 1877.
Joseph Byron Fay, 1878, '79.
Geo. W. Bos worth, 1880, 'SI.
Frank P. Mace, 1882.
TOWN-CLERKS.
Solomon Hutchinson, 1760, '61.
John Shepard, jr., 1762, '63, '64, '6o, '66, '67, '68, '70, '71, '72.
Thomas Wakefield, 1769, '79, '80, '81, '82, '83.
Moses Nichols, 1773.
Samuel Wilkins, 1774, '75, '76, 77, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89.
Nahum Baldwin, 1778.
Joshua Lovejoy, 1790, '91, '92, '93.
William Fisk, 1794, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 1800, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06,
'07, '08, '09, '10, '11.
John Ellenwood, 1812, '13, '14.
Robert Read, 1815, '16, '17, '18, '19, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24, '25, '26, '27.
James Colburn, 1828.
Ambrose Seaton, 1829.
John Prentiss, 1830, '31.
Andrew Wallace, 1832, '33, '34, '35, '36.
Charles L. Stewart, 1837 to 16 Sept., 1838.
David Stewart, 16 Sept., 1838, '39, '40, '41, '42.
David Russell, 1843, '44, '45, '46, '47, '48.
Lemuel Bissell, 1849.
X.J POLITICAL STATISTICS. 203
Albert Hardy, 1850 to 23 June, 1851.
Charles B. Tuttle, 23 June, 1851, to March, 1852.
Daniel A. Fletcher, 1852, '53, '54, '55, '56.
Charles B. Tuttle, 1857.
Charles H. Wallace, 1858 to 9 Oct.
Charles B. Tuttle, 9 Oct., 1858, to March, 1859.
Daniel Fletcher, 1859, '(30.
George F. Stevens, 1861, '(12, '63, '(14, '65, '66, '67.
Charles X. Merrill, 1868 to 8 Dec.
Albert A. Rotch, 8 Dec, 1808, to March, 1869.
Joseph B. Fay, 1869, '70, '71.
Wilson D. Forsaith, 1872, '73.
Albert A. Rotch, 1874, '75, '76, '77, '78, '79, '80, '81, '82.
SELECTMEN.
Solomon Hutchinson, 1760, '62.
William Bradford, 1760.
Reuben Mussey, 1760, '61, '69, '70, '71, '76, '77.
Joseph Gould, 1760, '76.
Thomas Clark, 1760.
William Peabody, 1761, '62.
John Shepard, jr., 1761, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '70, '71, '72, '83.
Thomas Wakefield, 1761, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71, '76,
'77, '78, '79, '80, '81, '82, '83, '81, '85, '86.
Robert Read, 1761, '62, '63, '64, '68.
Daniel Campbell, 1763, '64, '70, '71, '74, '75, '80, '81, '82, '83, '87, 'S8,
'89.
Samuel Stewart, 1763.
John Graham, 1764.
Andrew Bradford, 1765.
Moses Nichols, 1765, '68, '73.
Nathan Kendall, 1765.
Samuel McKean, 1766, '72.
Benjamin Taylor, 1766, '67, '69.
James Seaton, 1766, '79.
Ebenezer Weston, 1767, '74, '75, 'si, '82.
Ilezekiah Lovejoy, 1767.
Samuel Wilkins, 1768, '73, '74, '75, '76, '77, '80, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86,
'87, '88, '89.
Israel Towne, jr., 1769, '73, '80.
Nahum Baldwin, 1769, '78.
Stephen Peabody, 1770, '72, '73, '79.
204 HISTORY OP AMHERST [Chap.
Benjamin Kenrick, 1771.
Thomas Burns, 1772, '85, '86, '87.
John Patterson, 1773.
Josiah Crosby, 1774, '75, '77.
Stephen Washer, 177-1.
Peter Woodbury, 1775, '75.
Solomon Kittredge, 1777.
Amos Flint, 1778.
John Harvill, 1778.
John Burns, 1778.
Nathan Hutchinson, 1779.
Timothy Smith, 1779.
Benjamin Davis, 1780, '81.
Eli Wilkins, 1781, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88.
Joshua Lovejoy, 1784, '85, '86, '87, '90, '91.
Augustus Blanchard, 1784.
David Danforth, 1788, '89, '94, '95, '96, '97, '98.
Benjamin Hutchinson, 1788, '90, '91, '92, '93.
Abijah Wilkins, 1789, '90, '91.
George Burns, 1789.
William Fisk, 1790, '91, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '98. '99, 1800, '01,
'02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, TO, '11, '12, '13, '14.
Stephen Kendrick, 1790, '91, '92, '93.
Joseph Langdell, 1792, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 1800, '01, '02.
David Stewart, 1794, '95, '96, '97, 98, '99, 1800, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05,
'06, '07, '08, '09.
Jacob Kendall, 1794, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, 1800, '03.
Ebenezer Taylor, 1799, 1800, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12, '13,
'14.
John Secombe, 1810, '11, '12, '13, '14, '16, '18, '19, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24,
'25, '26, '27, '28, '33, '34, '35.
Edmund Parker, 1815.
Elijah Putnam, 1815, '17.
Daniel Campbell, jr., 1815, '16, '17, '18, '19, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24, '25, '41.
Israel Fuller, 1816, '17, '18, '19, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24, '25, '26, '27, '28,
'32, '44.
Thomas Wilkins, 1826, "27, '28, '38, '39, '40.
John Mack, 1829, '30.
David Stewart, jr., 1829, '30, '31, '33, '34, '35, "36, '39, TO, '41, '42.
Bartholomew Dodge, 1829, '30, '31, '36.
William Melendy, 1831, '32, '44.
John Haseltine, 1832.
Charles Richardson, 1833, '34, '35.
X.] POLITICAL STATISTICS. 205
Ephraim Blanchard, 1836.
Israel Fuller, jr., 1837.
Elbridge Hardy, 1837.
Nathan Dane, 1837.
Daniel Hartshorn, 1838.
Abel Downe, 1838.
Levi J. Secomb, 1839, '40, "11, '42, '43.
Eli Sawtell, 1842, '43.
William J. Weston, 1843, '44, '45, '46, "47, '48, '50, '51, '52, '59, '60,
'61, '62, '63.
Jotham Hartshorn, 1845, '-16, '47, '51, '52, '53, '54.
Albert Riddle, 1845, '46.
Charles H. Campbell, 1847.
James C. Follansbee, 1848, '49, '50.
George Walker, 1848.
Timothy Hartshorn, 1840.
Foster Wyatt, 1849, '50.
Daniel Fletcher, 1850, '51.
Jonathan Knight, 1852, '53, '61, '62.
Abial Steele, 1853, '54.
Joseph Mace, 1854, '55, '56, '57.
Benjamin B. Whiting, 1855, '56, '57.
Willard Hayden, 1855.
Willard Danforth, 1856, '57, '58.
William A. Mack, 1858, '59, '63, '64, '67, '68, '69.
Joel F. Osgood, 1858, '59.
Josiah W. Pillsbury, 1860.
James G. Haseltine, 1860.
Charles Richardson, 1861.
Asa Jaquith, jr., 1862.
Francis K. Boutell, 1865, '64, '65, '67, '68, .69, '70, 77.
Daniel Cram, 1864, '65, '66.
Barnabas B. David, 1865, '66.
James U. Prince, 1866, '67, '(58, '69.
Thomas M. Harvill, 1870, '71, '81.
Charles L. Bradford, 1870, 71.
Levi Hartshorn, 1871, 72.
Joseph Byron Fay, 1872, 73, 74.
Brooks R. Came, 1872, 73, 74, 75.
Thomas Jones, 1873, 74, 75, 76.
Aaron Smith Wilkins, 1875, 76, 77.
Isaac B. Dodge, 1876, 77, 78.
Daniel W. Trow, 1878, 79, '80, '81.
206 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Mark Putnam, 1878, '79, '80, '81.
Luther Coggin, 1879.
William Pratt, 1880, '81.
Joseph B. Trow, 1882.
John II. Coggin, 1882.
Joel H. Fisher, 1882.
Prior to 1803, five selectmen were chosen annually ; since that time,
but three.
SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS.
Francis K. Boutell, 1878, "80.
William II. Hubbard, 1878, '80.
James U. Prince, 1878.
Horatio Mclntire, 18S0.
Of the selectmen, William Fisk, Esq., served for twenty-
five successive years, eighteen of which he was town-clerk.
^7ko l^kc/^Q
served twent} r -two years as selectman — eleven years com-
mencing with 1761, and eleven years commencing with 1776.
He was also town-clerk six years. He probably died
here in September, 1791 ; but no stone marks his resting
place, and none of his descendants remain in town.
..t^^^y^^
<&CS
frtt^??7
constituted the board of selectmen in Amherst for nine
X.] POLITICAL STATISTICS. 207
years. The two first were natives of the town. Mr. Fuller
was a native of Middleton, Mass. All were born in the
vear 1778, and all lived beyond the allotted three score
years and ten. Capt. Campbell died at 75, Capt. Secombe
at 78, and Mr. Fuller at 86 years. They were fair repre-
sentatives of the generation of men to which they belonged,
slow of speech, deliberate in action, of sound judgment, and
all believers in thorough, honest work. Beside these nine
years' service together, each served at other times, with
other individuals. Capt. Campbell's terra of service
amounted, in the whole, to 12 ; Capt. Secombe's, to 20 ; and
Mr. Fuller's, to 15 years. Beside this, Capt. Secombe
served 3, and Capt. Campbell 2 years, as representatives.
COMPENSATION OF THE SELECTMEN.
At a meeting held 26 December, 1781, the town voted to
allow their selectmen three pounds lawful silver money
each, for their services that year, beside their necessary
ex) tenses.
This, reckoning the Spanish milled dollar at 6s., gave
them ten dollars each ; but as the war then going on gave
the " town fathers" an unusual amount of business, it was
voted, at a meeting in March, 1782, to pay them three
shillings each, per day, for the time spent in "extraordinary
services for the town.'"
For the yeai ending March, 1831, the selectmen's bills
amounted to 853.90.
For the year ending March, 1834, the selectmen's bills
amounted to $163.13.
The increase 'was caused by the change in the mode of
assessing taxes, made by the act approved 4 January, 1833.
which increased the labor of the selectmen, who acted as
assessors.
§175.00
203.84
226.00
For the year ending March, 1843,
they were
" " " 1853,
<( ii
" " " 1857,
u
208 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
For the year ending March, 1863, they were, $160.25
" » " 1866, " " 290.(10
« « " 1870, " " 270.00
« " 1874, " " 410.00
« » " 1881, " " 291.00
Seldom has any one possessing the requisite qualifica-
tion, failed of an election to the important and responsible
office of hogreeve.
In 1762 a very appropriate selection of chairman was
made, Mr. William Hogg being elected to that office.
In 1813 Dea. David Stanley was promoted to the chair-
manship.
In 1814, and again in 1828, Hon. Edmund Parker was
chief among the elect w ' regulators of the swine," and in 1830
Rev. Silas Aiken was duly promoted to the office of chair-
man of the board.
. On the twenty-first day of July, 1774, eighty-five depu-
ties from the towns in New Hampshire met in congress at
Exeter, and chose Nathaniel Folsom and John Sullivan
delegates to the Congress which met at Carpenter's hall,
in Philadelphia, 5 September, 1774.
REPRESENTATIVES.
Amherst was classed with Bedford for the choice, of a
representative to the General Court, under the Provincial
government. The first meeting for the choice of a represen-
tative from the classed towns, of which a" record has been
found, was held at Bedford meeting-house 4 March, 1762, at
which Col. John Goffe received 46 votes, and Capt. Moses
Barron 13 votes. Col. Goffe, having a majority of the
votes, was declared elected, and served as representative of
the district, under this and subsequent elections, until the
abrogation of the Provincial government.
X.]
POLITICAL STATISTICS.
209
Paul Dudley Sargent was the deputy from Amherst in
this first Provincial congress. His expenses were defrayed
by private contributions, as is shown by the following paper
preserved in the office of the Secretary of State, at Concord :
" The within is a trew list of the moneys subscribed for defraying
the expense of a Deputy to Exeter, and the money required as the
Quota of this town.
PAUL DUDLEY SARGENT.
Amherst, July 20, 1774."
John Burns,
•is
. sd.
William Peabody,
3s
. Od
Benj. Hopkins,
3
4
Doctor Ames.
1
ox
-2
Andrew Bradford,
3
9
Ja's Gilmoiv,
1
91
"2
Stephen Burnham,
1
6
Jonathan Lund,
2
5
Josiah Sawyer,
1
6
John Burns, jr.,
3
George Burns,
1
11
Lieut. Kendall,
6
Thomas Burns,
1
9
Lieut. Bradford,
2
8
William Jones.
3
William Melendy,
1
2J-
Z 2
Thompson Maxwell,
1
6
William Odell,
1
6
James Seaton,
1
6
Amos Truel,
3
Abner Hutchinson,
3
James Gage,
3
6
Oliver Carlton,
1
4
Samuel Stewart,
3
Stephen Peabody,
3
6
James Hartshorn,
8
William Hogg,
1
o
Joseph Farnum,
1
4
Joseph Steele,
1
2
Nathaniel Phelps,
1
6
Josiah Crosby,
6
John Mills,
1
4
Benj. Kendrick,
6
Jonathan Lyon,
2
Moses Barron,
1
6
Nathaniel Cleaves,
1
1*
Joseph Gould,
1
2
Stephen Washer,
1
6
Ebenezer Weston,
2
6
Amos Green,
1
4
Daniel Campbell,
3
Col. Shepard,
3
William Wallace,
1
H
Peter Woodbury,
2
5
Nahum Baldwin,
3
Thomas Towne,
4
Timothy Smith,
3
Ephraim Hildreth,
1
n
Reuben Mussey,
1
4
John Shepard, jr., esq.,
6
William Taylor,
1
4
Samuel Wilkins,
2
Paul Dudley Sargent was chosen a delegate to the second
Congress, which met 25 Jan., 1775.
Paul Dudley Sargent and Moses Parsons represented the
town in the third Congress, which met 21 April, 1775.
14
210 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
The same gentlemen represented the town in the fourth
Congress, which met 17 May, 1775.
Moses Nichols and Nahum Baldwin were chosen dele-
gates to the fifth Congress, which met 21 December, 1775.
On the fifth day of January, 1776, this Congress adopted
a temporary constitution, to continue in force during the
" present unhappy and unnatural contest with Creat
Britain."
It then resolved itself into a " House of Representatives
for the Colony of New Hampshire." Provision was made
that precepts, in the name of the Council and Assembly,
signed by the President of the Council and Speaker of the
House of Representatives, " should issue annually on or
before the first day of November, for the choice of a Council
and House of Representatives, to be returned by the third
Wednesday of December, then next ensuing, in such manner
as the Council and Assembly shall hereafter prescribe."
Since the eighteenth clay of December, 1776, the repre-
sentatives have been as follows :
Moses Nichols, 1776, '77, '81, '82.
Peter Woodbury, 1776.
Josiah Crosby, 1777, '78, '79, '82.
Reuben Mussey, 1778.
Stephen Peabody, 1779.
Samuel Wilkins, 1780.
Nahum Baldwin, 1780.
Robert .Means, 1783, '84, '85, '86, '89.
Thomas Burns, 1783.
William Peabody, jr., 17*7, '88.
Daniel Warner, 1790, '91, from 10 June, 1793, '91, '95, '96, '97, to 23
August, 1798.
Joshua Atherton, 1792 (resigned, vacancy not filled), '93, to June 10.
William Fisk, from 23 August, 1798, '99, from 27 August, 1804, '05,
'06, '07, '08, '09.
William Bradford, 1800, '01, '02.
Jedediah K. Smith, 1803, to 27 August, 1804.
William Low, 1810, '12, '14.
Edmund Parker, 1813, '15, '17, IS, '19, '20, '21, '22, '24, '25, to 5 June,
1826.
X.]
POLITICAL STATISTICS.
211
Clifton Claggett, 1816.
Charles II. Atherton, 1823, '38, '39.
Robert, Read, June, 1826, '27, '28!
David McG. Means, 1829, '30.
John Secombe, 18:51, '32, '33.
Daniel Campbell, jr., 1834, '35.
David Stewart, 1836, '43.
Perley Dodge, 1837, '53, '54.
Andrew Wallace, 1840, '41.
Barnabas B. David, 1842.
Richard Boylston, 1814, '45, '46.
Levi J. Seconib, 1847, '48.
Lemuel X. Pattee, 1849, '50.
Daniel Fletcher, 1851.
William Wetherbee, 1855, '5!), '60.
Charles II. Campbell, 1856, '57, '58, '63, '64.
Jotham Hartshorn, 1861, '62, 71, 72.
Aaron Lawrence, 1<^65, '66.
William Clark, 1867, '68.
William A. Mack, 1869, 70.
Harrison Eaton, 1873, 74.
Joseph B. Fay, 1875, 76.
Frank Hartshorn, 1877.
Thomas Jones, 1S78, 79.
Albert A. Rotch, 1880.
DECEASE OF TOWN OFFICERS SINCE 1775
Charles II. Atherton, died 8 Jan., 1853,
Joshua Atherton, 3 April, 1809,
Nahum Baldwin, 7 May, 1788,
Augustus Blanchard (at Milford), 27 Feb., 1809,
Ephraim Blanchard, 27 June, 1841,
Richard Boylston, 19 July, 1857,
Andrew Bradford (at Milford), 1798, .
William Bradford (at Barre, Vt.), 25 Oct., 1816,
Daniel Campbell, 7 Oct., 1838,
Daniel Campbell, jr., 7 July, 1853,
Clifton Claggett, 29 Jan., 1829,
James Colburn (at Franklin), 2 Sept., 1862,
Daniel Cram, 5 Aug., 1880,
Josiah Crosby, 15 Oct., 1793, .
Samuel Dana, 2 April, 1798, .
Nathan Dane (at Ottawa, Minn.), 12 Dec, 1865,
aged 79
71
54
63
63
75
80
63
99
75
66
76
81
63
59
60
•J 1'2
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
David Danforth, died 4 July, 1827, . . . aged 75
Willard Danforth, 28 March, 1859, . . . 31
Benjamin Davis, 28 Nov., 1822, ... 98
Bartholomew Dodge, 7 Oct., 1838, ... 54
Abel Downe, 28 Sept., 1840, . 52
John Ellenwood (in Michigan), 9 May, 1856, . . 79
William Fisk, 4 June, 1831, . . . . 76
Daniel Fletcher, 15 Oct., 1873, ... 77
James C. Follansbee (at Francestown), 17 Dec, 1879, . 79
Israel Fuller, 23 Feb., 1864, .... 86
John Goffe (at Bedford), 20 Oct., 17S1, . . 80
William Gordon (at Boston), 8 May, 1802, . . 39
Albert Hardy (at Greenfield), 14 Oct., 1853, . . 43
Elbridge Hardy (at Brooklyn, N. Y.), 1 April, 1874, . 69
Daniel Hartshorn, 20 Feb., 1871, ... 79
Jotham Hartshorn, 21 Sept., 1878, ... 75
John Harvill, 6 April, 1821, .... 85
John Haseltine, 5 Aug., 1865, ... 84
Willard Hayden, 21 March, 1881, ... 68
Benjamin Hutchinson (at Milford), 12 Sept., 1832, . 78
Nathan Hutchinson (at Milford), 12 Jan., 1795, . . 77
Jacob Kendall (at Mont Vernon), 3 June, 1823, . . 64
Nathan Kendall, 10 Nov., 1791, ... 65
Benjamin Kendrick, 13 Nov., 1813, ... 89
Stephen Kendrick, 7 June, 1811, ... 56
Joseph Langdell (at Wenham, Mass.), May, 1829, . 94
Aaron Lawrence, 1 Sept., 1867, ... 62
William Low, 11 Sept., 1826, ... 74
Hezekiah Lovejoy, 6 April, 1793, ... 63
Joshua Lovejoy (at Sanbornton), 28 Jan., 1832, . . 88
Ebenezer Lyon, 4 Jan., 1798, .... 88
Joseph Mace, 2 June, 1864, .... 54
John Mack, 16 July, 1854, .... 75
David McG. Means, 5 March, 1835, ... 54
Robert Means, 24 Jan., 1823, .... 80
William Melendy, 12 March, 1858, ... 77
Reuben Mussey, 20 Nov., 1788, ... 68
Hubbard Newton (at Newport), 15 Feb., 1847, . . 67
Moses Nichols,. 23 May, 1790, ... 49
Edmund Parker (at Claremont), 8 Sept., 1856, . . 73
Lemuel N. Pattee (at Goffstown), 1 April, 1870, . . 66
John Patterson, 16 Dec, 1829, ... 87
Stephen Peabody, 19 Sept., 1782, ... 38
X.]
DECEASE OF TOWN OFFICERS.
213
William Peabody, died 3 May, 1791, .
John Prentiss (at Claremont), 2 March, 1868,
Elijah Putnam, 18 Oct., 1855,
Mark Putnam, 20 Jan., 1882, .
Robert Read, 1st, 11 Sept., 1803,
Robert Read, 2d (at Nashua), 10 March, 1857,
Charles Richardson (at Worcester, Mass.), 12 Dec, 187S
Albert Riddle (at Bedford), 7 Aug., 1859,
David Russell, 7 Jan., 1882, .
Paul Dudley Sargent (in Maine), Sept., 1827,
Ambrose Seaton (at Marysville, Ky.), 9 April, 1860,
John Secombe, 20 July, 1856,
John Shepard, jr., (at Milford), 4 Dec, 1802,
Jedediah K. Smith, 17 Dec, 182S,
Jonathan Smith (at Bedford, Pa.), May, 1813,
Charles L. Stewart (at New York city), 1 April, 1868,
David Stewart, 14 Nov., 1821,
David Stewart, jr., 30 Aug., 1880,
Samuel Stewart, 27 May, 1776,
Ebenezer Taylor, 10 Aug., 1835,
Israel Towne, jr. (at Stoddard), 28 April, 1813,
Charles B. Tuttle (at Milford), 16 Dec, 1880,
Thomas Wakefield, Sept., 1791,
Andrew Wallace, 23 Sept., 1856,
Charles II. Wallace, 21 June, 1861,
Daniel Warner, 20 March, 1813,
Ebenezer Weston, 22 Dec, 1805, .
William J. Weston, 1 Oct., 1863,
William Wetherbee, 18 May, 1878,
Abijah Wilkins (at Mont Vernon), July, 1833,
Samuel Wilkins, 27 Dec, 1832,
Thomas Wilkins, 15 Nov., 1868,
Peter Woodbury (at Antrim), 11 Oct., 1817.
Foster Wyatt, 5 Feb., 1882, .
93. Average age of each, 70, 13-31 years.
aged 76
82
76
63
83
71
87
51
84
88
61
77
70
59
51
65
61
81
60
74
76
63
64
73
25
67
74
53
SO
si
90
76
79
86
The following citizens of Amherst have been commis-
sioned as Justices of the Peace :
Appointed.
1803, Charles H. Atherton,
1791, Joshua Atherton,
Appointed.
1785, Augustus Blanchard,
1843, Edwin A. Bodwell,
214
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Appo
ntcd.
Appoi
1862
, Edward D. Boylston,
is 14,
1837
Richard Boylston,
1852,
1803
Isaac Brooks,
1852,
1854
Oramus W. Burnham,
1839,
1853
Charles II. Campbell,
1836,
1792
Daniel Campbell,
1776,
1818
Peter Carleton,
1815,
1813
Clifton Claggett,
1845,
1873
Edward G. Clark,
1842,
1863
Hiram A. Clark,
1830,
1868
Isaac Combs,
1829,
1862
Daniel Cram,
1867,
1802
Samuel Curtis,
1792,
1859
Edward S. Cutter,
1865,
1790
Samuel Dana,
1827,
1838
Nathan Dane,
1828,
1815
Timothy Dani'orth,
1852,
1858
Willard Danforth,
1869.
1850
Barnabas B. David,
1816,
1833
Perley Dodge,
1825,
1865
Harrison Eaton,
1857,
18u6
, David Everett,
1825,
1869
, Joseph B. Eay,
Prior
1805
William Fisk,
1805,
1857
Francis P. Fitch,
1830,
1790
Robert Fletcher,
1855,
1812
Frederick French,
1865,
1842
Israel Fuller, jr.,
1856,
1794
William Gordon,
1858,
1860
Charles E. Hapgood,
1832,
1850
Elbridge Hardy,
1826,
1857
Jotham Hartshorn,
1821,
1844
Jacob Hildreth,
1808,
1856
, Gilbert Hills,
1846,
1829
David Holmes,
1853,
1806
Nathan Kendall,
1842,
1856
Aaron Lawrence,
1874,
1847
Joseph Mace,
1787,
1864
William A. Mack,
18-,
1786
Robert Means,
1879,
1820
Robert Means, jr.,
1860,
1829
David McG. Means,
inted.
Elijah Munroe,
James Munroe,
George W. Moor,
William S. Morton,
Hubbard Newton,
Moses Nichols,
Edmund Parker,
Lemuel N. Pattee,
Stephen Peabody,
-John Prentiss,
Ezra Prescott,
J. O. Pulsifer,
James Ray,
George A. Ramsdell,
Robert Read,
Charles Richardson,
Charles Richardson, 2d,
Albert A. Rotch,
David Russell,
John Secombe,
Levi J. Secomb,
Nathaniel Shattuck,
to 1768, John Shepard, jr.
Jedediah K. Smith,
Matthias Spalding,
Abial Steele,
George F. Stevens,
David Stewart,
Charles B. Tuttle,
David Underbill,
Andrew Wallace,
Elisha F. Wallace,
Daniel Warner,
William J. Weston,
William Wetherbee,
Bernard B. Whittemore,
Aaron S. Wilkins,
Eli Wilkins,
Samuel Wilkins,
Horace E. Woodberry,
Francis Wright.
x.J
VOTES FOR GOVERNOR.
215
Col. John Shepard, jr., was probably the first Justice of the Peace
appointed in Amherst.
VOTES FOR PRESIDENT OF THE STATE.
1781, Meshech Weare,
11
17*8, John Langdon,
41
John Langdon,
50
John Sullivan,
109
George Atkinson,
15
1789, John Sullivan,
63
1785, John Langdon,
71
John Pickering,
90
George Atkinson,
25
Joshua Atherton,
19
1780, John Sullivan,
39
Scattering,
6
John Langdon,
41
1790, John Pickering,
106
1787, John Sullivan,
65
1791, Josiah Bartlett,
206
John Langdon,
72
VOTES
FOR
GOVERNOR.
1792, Josiah Bartlett,
195
Lsu7, John Langdon,
130
1793, Josiah Bartlett,
42
Timothy Farrar,
8
John Taylor Gilman,
52
Scattering,
3
1794, John T. Gilman,
108
1808, John Langdon,
121
Daniel Rindge,
1795, John T. Gilman,
o
150
Oliver Peabody,
Scattering,
7
•2
1790, John T. Gilman,
Timothy Gilman,
1797, John T. Gilman,
John S. Sherburne,
John Bellows,
1798, John T. Gilman,
155
8
135
43
3
171
1809, Jeremiah Smith,
John Langdon,
Scattering,
1S10, John Langdon,
Jeremiah Smith,
Scattering,
124
137
2
119
113
2
1799, John T. Gihnan,
131
1800, John T. Gilman,
Timothy Walker,
123
85
1811, John Langdon,
Jeremiah Smith
153
108
1801, John T. Gilman,
95
1812, William Plumer,
136
Timothy Walker,
118
John T. Gihnan,
112
1802, John T. Gilman,
68
John Warner,
1
John Langdon,
1803, John T. Gihnan,
John Langdon,
1804, John T. Gilman,
John Langdon,
1805, John Langdon,
176
103
179
88
131
137
1813, John T. Gilman,
William Plumer,
Scattering,
1814, John T. Gihnan,
William Plumer,
137
150
1
159
173
John T. Gilman,
98
1815, John T. Gilman,
170
181)6, John Langdon,
152
William Plumer,
164
Timothy Farrar,
27
1816, William Plumer,
177
Scattering,
5
James Sheafe,
160
216
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
1817, William Plumer,
164
1830,
James Sheaf e,
150
Scattering-,
12
1818, William Plumer,
148
1831,
William Hale,
147
Robert Means, jr.,
4
1819, Samuel Bell,
75
1832,
William Hale,
105
David L. Morril,
44
1833,
Scattering,
2
1620, Samuel Bell,
86
1834,
George B. Upham,
David L. Morril,
95
36
1835,
Scattering,
1821, Samuel Bell,
6
88
1836,
George B. Upham,
117
Scattering,
1 522, Samuel Bell,
3
94
1837,
Jeremiah Mason,
13
1838,
Scattering,
10
1823, Levi Woodbury,
147
Samuel Dinsmoor,
91
1839,
Scattering,
2
1824, David L. Morril.
163
1840,
Levi Woodbury,
77
Jeremiah Smith,
27
Scattering,
o
1841,
1825, David L. Morril,
239
Levi Woodbury,
8
1842,
Scattering,
8
1826, David L. Morril,
152
Benjamin Pierce,
52
Scattering,
2
1827, Benjamin Pierce,
144
1843,
David L. Morril,
24
Scattering,
8
1828, John Bell,
208
Benjamin Pierce,
68
1844,
Scattering,
4
1829, Benjamin Pierce,
104
John Bell,
180
Scattering,
4
Matthew Llarvey, 99
Timothy Upham, 165
Scattering, 3
Samuel Dinsmoor, 108
Ichabod Bartlett, 170
Scattering, 2
Samuel Dinsmoor, 106
Ichabod Bartlett, 119
Samuel Dinsmoor, 162
Charles H. Atherton, 32
William Badger, ."4
William Badger, 124
Joseph llealey, 133
Isaac Hill, 115
George Sullivan, 5
Richard Boylston, 1
Isaac Hill, 128
George Sullivan, 121
Isaac Hill, 171
James Wilson, jr., 197
John Page, 161
James Wilson, 188
John Page, 158
Enos Stevens, 180
George Kent, 7
John Page, 142
Enos Stevens, 171
Henry Hubbard, 122
Enos Stevens, 105
John H. White, 53
Daniel Hoit, 11
Scattering, 1
Henry Hubbard, 115
Anthony Colby, 130
John H. White, 32
Daniel Hoit, 20
John H. Steele, 117
Anthony Colby, 126
Daniel Hoit, 35
John H. White, 7
Scattering, 4
X.]
VOTES FOR GOVERNOR.
217
1845, John H. Steele,
128
Anthony Colby,
131
Daniel Hoit,
26
1846, Anthony Colby,
123
Jared W. Williams,
123
Nathaniel S. Berry,
38
1847, Jared W. Williams,
147
Anthony Colby,
151
Nathaniel S. Berry,
33
Scattering,
1
1848, Jared W. Williams,
158
Nathaniel S. Berry,
185
Scattering,
2
1849, Samuel Dinsmoor,
141
Levi Chamberlain,
148
Nathaniel S. Berry,
29
1850, Samuel Dinsmoor,
145
Levi Chamberlain,
118
Nathaniel S. Berry,
23
1851, Samuel Dinsmoor,
104
Thomas E. Sawyer,
104
John Atwood,
101
Scattering,
1
1852, Noah Martin,
104
Thomas E. Sawyer,
110
John Atwood,
80
Scattering,
2
1853, Noah Martin,
132
James Bell,
123
John H. White,
33
Scattering,
2
1854, Nathaniel B. Baker,
134
James Bell,
94
.Jared Perkins,
70
1855, Ralph Metcalf,
209
Nathaniel B. Baker,
108
James Bell,
10
Asa Fowler,
1
1856, Ralph Metcalf,
196
John S. Wells,
132
Ichabod Goodwin,
6
1857, William Haile,
203
John S. Wells,
102
1858, William Haile, 219
Asa P. Cate, 106
1859, Ichabod Goodwin, 212
Asa P. Cate, 113
1860, Ichabod Goodwin, 205
Asa P. Cate, 118
1861, Nathaniel S. Berry, 192
George Stark, 129
1862, Nathaniel S. Berry, 192
George Stark, 128
Paul J. Wheeler, 3
1863, Joseph A. Gilmore, 175
Ira A. Eastman, 124
Walter Harriman, 18
1864, Joseph A. Gilmore, 219
Edward W. Harrington, 124
1865, Frederick Smyth, 197
Edward W. Harrington, 106
1866, Frederick Smyth, 188
John G. Sinclair, 104
1867, Walter Harriman, 181
John G. Sinclair, 104
Scattering, 2
1868, Walter Harriman, 241
John G. Sinclair, 124
1869, Onslow Stearns, 185
John Bedel, 100
1870, Onslow Stearns, 202
John Bedel, 100
Samuel Flint, 2
Lorenzo D. Barrows, 5
1871, James A. Weston, 128
.James Pike, 189
Lemuel P. Cooper, 2
Scattering, 3
1872, Ezekiel A. Straw, 214
James A. Weston, 138
John Blackmer, 4
Scattering, 1
1873, Ezekiel A. Straw, 191
James A. W'eston, 99
John Blackmer, 7
218
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
1874, James A. Weston,
Luther McCutchins,
John Blackmer,
1875, Person C. Cheney,
Hiram R. Roberts,
Nathaniel White,
1876, Person C. Cheney,
Daniel Marcy,
Asa S. Kendall,
129
188
11
214
130
6
217
115
5
1877, Benjamin F. Prescott, 204
Daniel Marcy, 114
Asa S. Kendall, 4
1878 (Mch.), Benj. F. Prescott, 203
Frank A. McKean,
1878 (Nov.), Natt Head,
Frank A. McKean,
Warren G. Brown,
1880, Charles H. Bell,
Frank .Tones,
124
197
101
10
225
124
An alphabetical list of the voters in the town of Amherst
on the second Tuesday of March, 1843, with the dates of
the deaths and ages of those who had died, and the ages of
those who were living, 1 June, 1882, so far as ascertained.
Those marked with a * have deceased.
*Abbott, Henry
*Atherton, Charles H.
* Austin, Asa
*Austin, Saul
*Averill, Chandler
*Bailey, Leonard
*Barrett, Henry R.
Barrett, Philip S. 64
*Barron, Solomon R.
♦Baldwin, Reuel
*Ball, Mason
Bates, Moses C. 66
*Benden, Thomas M.
*Bennet, Jonathan,
Bennett, Alden B. 65
*Bills, Jabez
Bissell, Lemuel 82
*Blood, Lemuel
Blood, Minot
Blood, Simon A.
*Blunt, David W.
*Boutell, Caleb
Boutell, Francis K. 63
Boutell, Robert 78
Boylston, Edward D. 68
died 26 March, 1868,
aged 84
8 Jan., 1853,
79
27 Dec, 1843,
29
24 March, 1881.
93
6 July, 1853,
43
19 Aug., 1872,
85
15 Oct., 1S67,
75
19 March, 1882,
65
7 April, 1849,
70
2 April, 1848,
57
20 Feb., 1849,
73
3 Nov., 1857,
63
7 May, 1857,
69
30 April, 1868,
72
22 June, 1845,
78
X.]
CHECK LIST — 1843.
219
*Boylston, Richard
died 19 July, 1857,
aged 75
*Boylston, Richard W.
13 Nov., 1S45,
26
*Boynton, Closes
18 July, 1858,
60
Bradbury, Joseph S.
Brown, John
*Brown, John Dalton
29 May, 1879,
60
*Bro\vn, Samuel
17 Aug., 1854,
74
*Brown, Samuel F.
23 Nov., 1844,
34
Brown, William
90
Brown, William, jr.
*Bullard, Nahum
26 March, 1860,
53
*Burnham, Asahel
Butler, William A.
*Carter, William
11 Nov., 1875,
88
Carter, Henry W.
*Carter, Simeon
8 June, 1856,
71
*Carlton, Peter
16 Aug., 1859,
52
*Caldwell, David
23 Sept., 1856,
77
*Caldwell, Dustin
6 Aug., 1875,
60
Caldwell, Isaac F.
64
*Campbell, Daniel
7 July, 1853,
75
Campbell, Charles H.
61
*Chickering, Isaac
6 Nov., 1857,
56
*Clark, Calvin
8 July, 1859,
74
*Clark, Daniel
Aug., 1856,
92
*Clark, Ebenezer
*Clark, Ezra Dexter
8 June, 1859,
52
*Clark, Thomas Jefferson
27 Feb., 1876,
65
*C leaves, James B.
18 Nov., 1850,
30
Combs, Isaac
77
*Converse, Ebenezer
25 Aug., 1861,
82
Converse, Charles
64
Converse, Rufus
62
*Crooker, Enos B.
24 Oct., 1851,
40
*Crooker, Melzar
21 Oct., 1851,
51
Crooker, James M.
66
Crosby, Joseph Fitch
62
Crosby, Josiah D.
*Damon, Benjamin
11 Nov., 1846,
83
*Damon, Stephen
31 May, 1854,
65
*Danforth, Jacob
15 Nov., 1851,
85
Danforth, George
75
*Danforth, Timothy
17 May, 1855,
77
220 HISTORY
OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
*Danforth, Simeon C.
died 21 July, 1869,
aged 83
Danforth, Charles C.
G9
Danforth, Daniel 0.
65
*Danforth, William
2 March, 1849,
46
*Dane, Nathan
12 Dec, 1865,
60
Dane, Timothy
David, Barnabas B.
79
*David, Charles II.
7 Oct., 1880,
65
David, John 0.
68
* Dickey, James
13 March, 1856,
83
*Dickey, Thomas M.
24 Jan., 1846,
61
Dinsmoor, John ().
*Dodge, Calvin
6 June, 1853,
38
Dodge, Perley
82
Dow, Samuel
*Duncklee, Ebenezer
3 Sept., 1867,
78
Duncklee, Ebenezer Taylor
66
*Duncklee, Levi
21 Jan., 1872,
70
Duncklee, Sylvester J.
62
Dutton, Samuel
*Eastman, Cyrus
17 Dec, 1862,
75
Eaton, Edmund
Eaton, Harrison
64
*Eaton, Loammi
Elliott, David
* Elliott, Roger
14 Aug., 1851,
87
Eelton, Hiram G.
68
*Ferrell, Daniel
25 July, 1868,
68
*Fisk, David, jr.
29 Jan., 1882,
90
*Eisk, David, 3d
22 June, 1873,
80
*Fitch, Francis P.
23 Dec, 1874,
68
*Fletcher, Daniel
15 Oct., 1873,
77
*Fletcher, George W.
4 March, 1882,
75
*Fletcher, Joseph
30 Aug., 1843,
78
*Fletcher, Merrill
3 July, 1877,
78
*Fletcher, Robert
18 Sept, 1863,
61
*Fletcher, Sew all
12 Sept., 1855,
54
*Follansbee, James C.
17 Dec, 1879,
79
*Ford, John
21 Sept., 1848,
74
*Fowle, Joseph
27 May, 1874,
81
*Fuller, Israel
23 Feb., 1864,
86
Fuller, Israel, jr.
76
*Gardner, George B.
29 April, 1843,
34
X.]
CHECK LIST — 1843.
221
Goodwin, William E.
Gowing, Joseph 91
*Gould, Benjamin
*Grater, Francis
*Grater, Francis, jr.
*Green, Amos
* Green, Charles
*Gutterson, Eli S.
*Hadlock, Kendall
Hadley, John L. 72
Hall, Robert
*IIanscoml), George
*Hardy, Elbridge
Hardy, Elbridge, jr.
*Harraden, Isaac
♦Hartshorn, Daniel
♦Hartshorn, Edward,
*Hartshorn, Jotham,
*Hartshorn, Timothy
♦Harvill, Josejih
♦Harvill, Joseph K.
Harvill, Thomas M, 62
Haseltine, Charles
*Haseltine, John
♦Hastings, Benjamin
*Hayden, Thomas W.
*Hayden, Willard
*Hildreth, Jacob
♦Hildreth, Jacob, 2d
Hildreth, John Hartwell 73
♦Hildreth, Jotham
♦Hills, Franklin M.
♦Hills, Moses
Hodgman, Timothy
Holt, Charles
Holt, Clark
Holt, Edwin M.
*Holt, Ezra
Holt, Israel P.
Hooper, William
* Howard, Henry
Howard, Herbert 66
Howard, Levi 76
83
76
died 1 July, 1845,
aged 77
3 Jan., 1845,
94
15 Jan., 1857,
59
1 Feb., 1860,
83
9 Jan., 1873,
55
19 May, 1863,
44
1 Oct., 1854,
68
27 July, 1861,
63
1 April, 1874,
69
30 July, 1866,
7:',
20 Feb., 1871,
79
22 Aug., 1854.
91)
21 Sept., 1878,
75
25 Oct., 1868,
75
5 March, 1853,
79
26 Dec, 1870.
60
5 Aug., 1865,
84
9 Oct., 1870,
81
21 Sept., 1849,
42
21 March, 1881,
68
26 Feb., 1851,
70
May, 1849,
40
10 Oct., 1868,
63
26 April, 1875,
55
18 Sept., 1855.
74
April, I860,
15 April, 1871,
66
83
222 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
Howard, Rodney 64
♦Hubbard, Amos
Hutchinson, Josiah D.
Jepson, Benjamin
*.Tewett, Josiah
*Je\vett, Joshua
♦Jewett, Robert
Jones, Levi
Jones, Timothy 88
Joslin, Levi
* Kearney, Thomas
Kendall, Leonard
♦Kendall, Xathan
♦Kendrick, Benjamin
Kidder, Benjamin
* Kidder, Josiah
* Kim ball, Jacob
♦Kinson, George
Knight, Jonathan 82
♦Lakeman, Joseph
♦Lakeman, Levi
♦Lawrence, Aaron
♦Leavitt, Benjamin
♦Leavitt, John
♦LoA'ejoy, flames
* Love joy, John
♦Lovejoy, Jonathan
Lovejoy, Mark 65
♦Lovejoy, Miles
♦Lovejoy, Stephen
♦Lovejoy, William H.
Lowe, Cyrus C. 63
♦Lowe, David 8 Jan., 1867, 80
Lowe, David Perkins 65
♦Mace, Joseph
♦McCluer, Asa
♦McConihe, Levi
♦McKean, David D.
♦Mack, John
Mack, Charles E.
Marvell, John
♦Means, Robert
Melendy, Bryant 81
30 Jan., 1858,
aged 74
21 April, 1853,
83
May, 1869,
56
16 Nov., 1865,
61
11 Oct., 1858,
68
2 Xov., 1854,
75
10 Aug., 1846,
91
13 Dec, 1853,
74
28 May, 1849,
70
1 Aug., 1849,
81
2 Oct., 1867,
67
30 March, 1851,
85
27 Aug., 1837,
58
1 Sept., 1867,
63
June, 1848,
54
13 Aug., 1862,
78
7 Dec, 1876,
74
30 July, 1870,
58
9 Dec, 1843,
81
27 Aug., 1871,
53
20 May, 1852,
79
3 Jan., 1874,
73
2 June, 1864,
54
4 June, 1870,
76
11 April, 1873,
60
25 March, 1877,
67
16 July, 1854,
75
61
67
24 April, 1863,
54
X.]
Melendy, Charles
*Melendy, Hamilton
Melendy, Luther
*Melendy, Nathaniel
*Melendy, Samuel B.
*Melendy, William
*Melvin, David
*Melzar, Abraham
* Moore, Hugh
* Moore, John
Moore, Samuel C.
*Moulton, Daniel
*Moulton, John
*Xoyes, Ammial
*Xoyes, Moses
Noyes, William
*Xutt, George A.
*Nutt, Samuel
*Ober, John
Ober, Samuel
*Odall, William
Osgood, Joel F.
* Parker, Ephraim
*Parker, Jonathan
* Parker, Josiah
Parker, Josiah Merrill,
Parker, Thomas B.
Parker, Truman
*Parkhurst, Henry
Parkhurst, Henry, jr.
*Parkhurst, Silas
* Parkhurst, Spalding
Parkhurst, Stillman
*Patch, Timothy U.
* Patterson, Jesse C.
*Pattee, Lemuel Noyes,
Peabody, Samuel
*Peabody, Stephen
Peabody, Matthew T.
Peacock, Ezra W.
* Peacock, Rufus
* Peacock, William
Peacock, William F.
'HECK
LIST — 1843.
223
84
died 23 Jan., 1880,
aged 71
88
18 July, 1848,
89
7 Nov., 1877,
77
12 March, 1858,
77
12 Jan., 1861,
73
13 Feb., 1864,
SO
7 March, 1854,
88
28 Oct., 1862,
80
66
7 June, 1845,
73
13 May, 1861,
40
28 April, 1872,
73
18 April, 1859,
91
SO
6 July, 1845,
30
1 Feb., 1S45,
57
28 March, 1867,
60
72
Nov., 1850,
73
74
19 Oct., 1850,
32
29 Sept., 1845,
85
76
71
2:) Feb., 1861,
82
74
10 Feb., 1877,
70
12 April, 1882,
72
63
1 Oct., 1868,
67
1 April, 1870,
66
18 Jan., 1847,
68
64
4 Aug., 1845,
38
5 April, 1846,
72
224
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
♦Pearsons, Francis E.
died 31 Dec, 1867,
aged 61
Perkins, Elbridge F.
7<i
* Perry, Ebenezer
25 June, 1860,
87
Perry, Lorenzo D.
*Phelps, Amos
3 March, 1861,
S3
*Phelps, Almond
5 Jan., 1866,
60
*Phelps, Daniel
26 Jan., 1864,
62
•Pratt, Edward 11.
1868,
52
•Pratt, Loea
11 July, 1875,
90
•Pratt, Stephen H.
19 Jan., 1855,
36
•Prentiss, John
2 March, 1868,
82
•Prescott, Ezra
Oct., 1845,
64
•Prince, George
22 May, 1882,
65
•Prince, James
28 Aug., 1852,
58
Prince, John
70
•Prince, Luther
18 Nov., 1862,
59
•Prince, Solomon
3 Dec, 1843,
92
•Putnam, Elijah
18 Oct., 1855,
76
Putnam, Elijah, jr.
78
Putnam, John C.
Raymond, Charles A.
6!)
•Raymond, Perley
4 Sept., 1873,
so
•Read, Samuel
•Read, Walter
1 Dec, 1877,
70
Richardson, Zaccheus
•Riddle, Albert
7 Aug., 1859,
51
•Rhoads, Alfred IL,
17 May, 1848,
29
•Rhoads, Charles
1 Nov., 1873,
63
•Rhoads, Eleazer
27 June, 1855,
84
Rhoads, Warren
74
•Russell, David
7 Jan., 1882,
84
•Russell, James
27 Dec, 1872,
65
Russell, tJosiah
82
Savage, William T.,
69
Sawtell, Eli
81
Sawtell, Henry I.
Searles, Thomas
Secomb, Daniel F.
62
•Secombe, John
20 July, 1856,
77
Secomb, Levi J.
78
Shaw, George H.
75
•Shattuck, Francis M.
14 Jan., 1876,
57
•Shepard, Benjamin
6 Oct., 1864,
78
X.]
*Shepard, Ben jam in F.
*Shepard, John
*Shepard, Lummus
*Shepard, Nehemiah
*Shepard, Samuel L.
Skinner, Joshua F.
Smith, Laugdon
♦Spalding, Matthias
* Stearns, Eleazer
Stearns, Hiram D.
♦Stearns, James
Steele, Ahial
♦Stevens, Daniel F.
Stevens, William
♦Stewart, David
*Stewart, Horace
♦Stewart, Moses B.
Stewart, William
♦Stiles, Lewis
♦Stiles, Walter L.
Taylor, Daniel Hamilton
Taylor, John
Thissell, Josiah
♦Thomas, Charles
Thomas, William
♦Thompson, Oliver
Towne, Luther
Towne, Samuel
Truel, Eli
Truel, Jacob
♦Tuttle, Charles B.
♦Twiss, Dimon C.
♦Upham, Isaac
♦Upham, Jacob
♦Upham, Jacob, jr.
♦Upham, Phinehas
♦Upton, John
♦Vose, Samuel
Walker, George
♦Wallace, Andrew
Warren, John
♦Wasson, Horace
Webster, John
15
CHECK
LIST — 1843.
WAb
died28 June, 1*66,
aged 52
Sept., 1855,
78
14 March, 1*49,
63
22 July, 18.17,
70
2 Feb., 1853,
36
75
72
22 May, 1865,
95
9 March, 1846,
80
79
19 Jan., 1854,
79
77
21 Jan., 1852,
57
30 Aug., 188 i.
81
28 May, 1871,
55
13 June, 186 s ;,
83
68
23 March, 1875,
79
25 July, 1875,
59
74
77
22 Aug., 1862,
44
3 Dec, 1877,
87
76
71
66
16 Dec, 18S0,
63
19 Jan., 1861,
87
12 April, 1869,
67
1 April, 1849,
83
14 Oct., 18.59,
61
16 April, 1863,
67
68
15 March, 1857,
23 Sept., 1856,
13 Nov., 1847,
57
73
30
226
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
Webster, Moses
♦West, Joseph C.
*Weston, Daniel
♦Weston, Ebenezer
♦Weston, Isaac
♦Weston, Isaac Plumer
♦Weston, William -1.
Wheeler, David
♦Wheeler, Daniel
Wheeler, Franklin
* Wheeler, Gardner G.
♦Wheeler, Gilman
♦Wheeler, Isaac
♦Wheeler, John N.
♦Wheeler, Jonathan
♦Wheeler, Nathan
♦Wheeler, Porter
♦Wheeler, Timothy
♦Wheeler, Timothy, jr.
Whittemore, Bernard B.
Whiting, Benjamin B.
♦Whiting, Nathaniel
Wiley, Levi II.
♦Wilkins, Aaron
♦Wilkins, Daniel
♦Wilkins, Thomas
♦Wilkins, Samuel
Wilkins, Samuel, jr.
♦Wilson, Simeon
Wilson, Thomas F.
Woodward, Alfred A.
♦Woodward, Isaac
Woodward, Samuel
♦Woolson, Ezra
♦Woolson, Henry P.
♦Woolson, Nathaniel
*Wyatt, Foster
died 3 March, 1859,
aged 53
20 Aug., 1872,
67
12 June, 1846,
84
23 Jan., 1869,
84
23 Jan., 1879,
67
1 Oct., 1S63,
53
10 Dec, 1867,
78
22 May, 1865,
39
10 Dec, 1872,
55
20 June, 1870,
89
29 Nov., 1859,
68
March, 1844,
49
21 Oct., 1864,
59
23 Nov., 1870,
58
5 Feb., 1853,
79
24 Dec, 1878,
75
64
68
30 Oct., 1843,
64
30 June, 1862,
84
6 June, 1847,
57
15 Nov., 1868,
76
ri
2 May, 1857,
65
01
1 Sept., 1867,
79
27 Jan., 1874,
67
66
25 March, 1862,
73
16 Sept., 1844,
80
31 July, 1859,
40
5 Dec, 1844,
49
5 Feb., 1882,
86
Average age at time of death of 225 who have deceased,
68 iW years-
Average age, 1 June, 1882, of 80 then living, 71££ years.
X.] CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS. 227
Average age of those who have deceased and those now
living, whose ages are known, 09 years.
Number whose ages have not been ascertained, 58. Many
of them are now living ; none being less than GO years of
age.
The above is probably no unusual record at the present
time in country towns like Amherst. The average dura-
tion of human life has increased during the last century.
How much more it might be lengthened did all know and
obey the laws that govern it !
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
At a meeting held 30 March, 1778, Col. Moses Nichols
and Lieut. Reuben Musscy were chosen to represent the
town in a convention to be held at Concord on the tenth
day of June following, for the purpose of " forming and
laying a permanent plan or system of government for the
future happiness and well being of the people of this State."
The convention met at the time proposed, and, after
holding a short session, adjourned. It met again 5 June,
1779, adopted a plan of government, and made provision
for laying it before the people, for their acceptance or rejec-
tion. It may be found in Dr. Bouton's Town Papers, Vol.
ix, pp. 837-842.
At a meeting held 6 September, 1779, the town voted to
accept the plan of government for this State which was laid
before them.
But a majority of the voters in the State thought differ-
ently and the proposed constitution was rejected.
Another convention was called, to meet at Concord on
the second Tuesday of June, 1781, to form a constitution
for the State ; but the town, at a meeting held 24 May,
1781, voted "not to send any delegates to the proposed
convention."
This convention held two sessions, — one in June, and
another in September, — and agreed upon a plan of govern-
228 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
ment, which was laid before the people, accompanied by an
address explaining its provisions and the necessity for
adopting them.
The proposed constitution was laid before the town at a
meeting held 26 December, 1781, and a committee, consist-
ing of Capt. Josiah Crosby, Lieut. William Bradford, Dea.
Samuel Wilkins, Mr. Nathaniel Haywood, Lieut. Thomas
Burns, Mr. Peter Woodbury, Col. Nahum Baldwin, Mr.
Timothy Smith, and Mr. Reuben Mussey, was appointed
"to consider and remark on said constitution," and lay
said remarks before the town.
In order, probably, to give the committee time to prepare
their " remarks," the meeting was adjourned to 7 January,
1782, when the committee was enlarged by the addition of
Mr. Samuel Dana, Capt. William Dana, and Mr. Thomas
Wakefield, to its number, and the meeting again adjourned
to the 15th, at two o'clock in the afternoon, at which time
they met ; but things not being in readiness another
adjournment, for one hour, took place. On meeting at the
expiration of the hour the " remarks " of the committee
were laid before the meeting, and it was voted not to accept
the said constitution or plan of government as set forth in
printed copy ; — but voted, unanimously, to accept the con-
stitution, with the several amendments made by the com-
mittee appointed for that purpose.
Voted and chose Mr. Samuel Dana to attend the conven-
tion at its next session, and enforce said amendments.
Col. Nahum Baldwin, Mr. Joshua Atherton, and Mr.
Thomas Wakefield were chosen a committee to prepare
said amendments.
This constitution was rejected by a majority of the voters
of the State.
The convention that formed it met on the fourth Wed-
nesday of January, 1782, and, finding it was rejected by the
people, adjourned to the third Wednesday of August fol-
lowing, when they again met and formed another constitu-
X.] CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS. 229
tion, which they laid before the people. This constitution,
like the preceding one, was accompanied by an address to
the people.
On this constitution the town took action at a meeting-
held 29 November, 1782, at which they " voted not to
accept the proposed constitution of the State of New
Hampshire."
A committee, consisting of Capt. William Dana, Capt.
John Bradford, Capt. Augustus Lovejoy, and Capt. Heze-
kiah Lovejoy, was appointed to examine said constitution
and report thereon. Timothy Smith and Lieut. Ebenezer
Weston were subsequently added to the committee.
At a meeting held 23 December, 1782, after hearing the
report of the above committee, the town voted, unanimously,
to accept the proposed constitution, with the amendments
proposed by the committee.
18 March, 1783,
" Voted, that the present plan of government abide in force, while
the year 1784, unless a more permanent plan should take place
antecedent to that time."
20 October, 1783,
li Voted to adhere to the former plan of government, that is, to
have a Governor."
"Voted, with reference to the proposed alteration of the eighth
article of confederation and perpetual union between the thirteen
states of America, that the reasons for the proposed alteration do not
preponderate with us (with due deference we say it) as they did with
the Honorable Congress, as appears by their address to the several
states respecting this matter. Nor are we of the same sentiment with
our own legislators, who appear to be convinced of the expediency
and utility of the measure, as by their address to this State of the
twentieth of June past.
We are humbly of opinion that a strictly equal and just plan or
rule for taking a valuation is almost, if not wholly, impracticable #
Yet we think no rule can be devised subject to fewer objections than
from valuation of the soil, &c, taken in and by each state. We
therefore hereby instruct and empower our representative to use
every decent and laudable means in his power to prevent the proposed
alteration."
230 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
1 January, 1788. Daniel Warner, Esq., Joshua Atherton,
Esq., Samuel Dana, Esq., John Shepard, Esq., Rev. Jeremiah
Barnard, Augustus Blanchard, Esq., Rev. John Bruce,
Gen. Moses Nichols, Col. Robert Means, and Dea. Samuel
Wilkins, were appointed a committee to examine the
Federal constitution, who reported that they could not recom-
mend the constitution to the acceptance of the town, in its
present form.
15 January, 1788,
" Chose Joshua Atherton to represent the town in the Convention to
be held at Exeter, to take under their consideration and decision the
proceeding's of the Federal Convention, relative to the new form of
government.
Voted not to approve of s'd Constitution as it now stands."
The convention met at Exeter in February. But very
few records of its proceedings remain. A report of a
speech made by Mr. Atherton on section 9, article 1, has
however been preserved, as it deserved to be.
Following Mr. Dow, of Weare, a member of the Society
of Friends, who spoke sensibly and feelingly against the
adoption of this section, several other members spoke in
its favor, with remarks upon what Mr. Dow had said, after
which Mr. Atherton spoke as follows :
Mr. President : 1 can not be of the opinion of the honorable gentle-
man who last spoke, that this paragraph is either so unjust, or so
inoffensive, as they seem to imagine, or that the objections to it are
so totally void of foundation. The idea that strikes those that are
ojrposed to this clause, so disagreeably and so forcibly, is, hereby, it is
conceived (if we ratify this constitution) that we become consenters in
and partakers in the sin and guilt of this abominable traffic, at least
for a certain period, without any positive stipulation that it shall even
then be brought to an end. We do not behold in that valuable
acquisition, so much boasted of by the honorable member from
Portsmouth, ' that an end is then to be put to slavery.' Congress maybe
as much or more puzzled to put a stop to it then than we are now.
The clause has not secured its abolition.
We do not think we are under any obligation to perform works of
supererogation in the reformation of mankind ; we do not esteem our-
X.] MR. atherton's speech. 231
selves under any necessity to go to Spain or Italy to suppress the
Inquisition of those countries, nor of making a journey to the Caro-
linas to abolish the detestable custom of enslaving the Africans : but,
sir, we will not lend the aid of our ratification to this cruel and
inhuman merchandise, not even for a day.
There is a great distinction in not taking part in the most barbar-
ous violation of the sacred laws of God and humanity, and our
becoming guarantees for its exercise for a term of years. Yes, sir, it
is our full purpose to wash our hands clear of it, and, however uncon-
cerned spectators we may remain of such predatory infractions of the
laws of our nation, however unfeeling we may subscribe to the
ratification of manstealing, with all its baneful consequences, yet I
can not but believe, in justice to human nature, that if we reverse the
consideration, and bring this claimed power somewhat nearer to our
own doors, we shall form a more equitable opinion of its claim to this
ratification.
Let us figure to ourselves a company of these manstealers, well
equipped for the enterprise, landing on our coast. They seize or
cany off the whole or a part of the town of Exeter. Parents are
taken and children left, or possibly they may be so fortunate as to
have a whole family taken and carried off together by these relentless
robbers. What must be their feelings in the hands of their new and
arbitrary masters ! Dragged at once from every thing they held dear
to them, stripped of every comfort of life, like beasts of prey, they are
hurried on a loathsome and distressing voyage to the coast of Africa,
or some other quarter of the globe where the greatest price may waft
them, and here, if any thing can be added to their miseries, comes on
the heart-breaking scene — a parent sold to one, a son to another,
and a daughter to a third ; brother is cleft from brother, sister from
sister, and parents from their darling offspring. Broken with every
distress that human nature can feel, and bedewed with tears of
anguish, they are dragged into the last stage of depression and
slavery, never, never to behold the faces of one another again. The
scene is too affecting; I have not fortitude to pursue the subject."
The men and women of the present generation have felt
the effects of the system of African slavery tolerated by
the fathers.
With the light of experience around us, may we not
wish that the objections made to the adoption of the consti-
tution, made by the delegate from Amherst, had been
heeded by the convention.
232 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
After a short session in February, the convention
adjourned to meet in Concord the following June, where,
on the twelfth day of that month, the constitution was
ratified by the delegates of the people of the State of New
Hampshire, the votes standing 57 in favor and 4»> against
it. Of the delegates from Hillsborough county, 6 voted in
favor, and It! against its ratification, and 3 did not vote.
Among the latter was the delegate from Salisbury, Capt.
Ebenezer Webster, father of Hon. Daniel Webster.
At a meeting held 8 August, 1791, Joshua Atherton was
chosen delegate to attend a convention to be held at
Concord on the first Wednesday of September following.
The town voted, at a meeting held 7 May, 1702, not to
accept the amendment to the sixth article of the constitu-
tion of New Hampshire.
On the 29th day of August, 1792, voted, unanimously, to
accept the amendments proposed by the Honorable Conven-
tion, under the heads, Senate, Governor and Council, and
sent out to the people for their ratification, 33 votes being
cast in favor, none against them.
After the adoption of the amendments to the constitution,
in 1792, propositions for a convention to make further
amendments met with but little favor, the town voting
almost unanimously against them, until 11 March, 1850,
when 75 votes were cast in favor of calling a convention,
and 120 against it. A majority of the votes cast in the
State at that time being in favor of calling a convention,
Andrew Wallace, Esq., was chosen delegate from Amherst
to attend it, receiving 80 votes to 56 for Timothy Danforth.
The amendments to the constitution proposed by this
convention failed to receive the sanction of the people. In
Amherst, but three of the fifteen amendments proposed
received a majority of the votes cast. The majorities
against the others varied from 10 to 126.
X.] CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS. 233
At the annual meeting in March, 1876, 89 votes were
cast in favor of calling a convention to amend the constitu-
tion of the State, and 76 against it.
A convention having been called by the legislature, Rev.
Josiah G. Davis was chosen delegate to represent the town in
that body, receiving 142 votes to 41 cast for Perley Dodge,
Esq.
The convention met at Concord in the following Decem-
ber, and agreed upon several alterations in the constitution,
which were generally adopted by the people at the annual
meeting in March, 1877.
234 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTER XI.
THE FIRST AND SECOND MEETING-HOUSES.
VOTES OP THE PROPRIETORS IN RELATION TO BUILDING A MEET-
ING-HOUSE. A DAY APPOINTED FOR RAISING THE FRAME.
PROVISION MADE FOR FINISHING IT. THE HOUSE PASSES INTO
THE POSSESSION OF THE TOWN. VOTES IN REGARD TO THE
ACCOMMODATION OF THE " QUIRESTERS " AND OTHERS. THE
HOUSE PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY FOR A COURT-HOUSE.
REMOVED TO THE COMMON, AND BURNT. BUILDING THE
SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. VOTES IN RELATION TO IT. —
EFFORTS MADE TO CHANGE ITS LOCATION. AMPLE PROVISION
MADE FOR RAISING THE FRAME. SALE OF PEW GROUND, AND
REGULATIONS IN REGARD TO BUILDING PEWS. DEDICATION OF
THE HOUSE. VOTES IN RELATION TO THE SINGERS' SEATS,
AND REPAIRING THE HOUSE. — SALE OF THE MEETING-HOUSE,
AND RESERVATIONS MADE BY THE TOWN. ITS REMOVAL AND
REFITTING BY THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY. CENTEN-
NIAL CELEBRATION OF ITS DEDICATION.
At a meeting held 6 August, 1735, the proprietors voted
to build a meeting-house on the plot of ground lately laid
out for the purpose.
14 February, 1737-38, they voted to build a meeting-
house, 45 x 22 feet, the posts to be 22 feet in length, finish
the outside, and build a pulpit by the last day of October,
" come twelve months." Capt. Joseph Parker, Ensign
Thomas Tarbox, and Lieut. Cornelius Tarble, were chosen
a committee " to build it or lett it out."
XL] THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE. 235
11 July, 1738, Capt. Ebenezer Raymond and Mr. John
Wiles were added to the committee, and, as Capt. Parker
declined serving, Capt. Joseph Richardson was chosen to
serve in his stead. At this meeting an assessment of <£3
was made on each right, to defray the expense of building
the house and laying out a second division of lots.
27 December, 1738. The 16th day of May following was
selected as the day on which to raise the frame of the
meeting-house, and Capt. Ebenezer Rayment was desired to
make provision for the same.
10 May, 1739. Twenty shillings for each right was
ordered to be paid to the treasurer for defraying the meet-
ing-house charges, etc.
20 May, 1741. A tax of £180 was levied on the rights
for the purpose of finishing the meeting-house and defraying
other charges.
14 December, 1742, John Shepard, Jonathan Tarble, and
Timothy Fuller, were appointed a committee to agree for
finishing the meeting-house, but, 18 October, 1743, the
proprietors
"Voted that a committee, consisting of Joseph Prince, Samuel
Walton, and John Shepard, must -itt the meeting-house boarded, the
flower laid, the body seets made up, the. pulpit made, and the Doors
made and hung as soon as can be."
10 February, 1743-44, they
•• Voted that they will doe something toward finishing the meeting-
house : viz., Clapboard it, make the window-frames, crown and glaze
them, point the ground pinting, and prime the flew boards, window-
frames, sashes, and doors, and, in case there is not an Indian war.
the next fall, laith and plaster the walls and ceiling, as the committee
shall think fit."
Deacon Tarble, Capt. John Shepard, and Mr. Ebenezer
Ellenwood, were appointed a committee to see the above
work done. It was also voted that the next meeting of the
proprietors should be held in the meeting-house, where,
pursuant to this vote, it was held, 30 June, 1744-45.
236 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
It is to be hoped that the house was made comfortable
for their reception ; certainly it was no small undertaking to
hold a meeting in such a place, without fires, in mid-winter.
Provision was made for finishing the meeting-house, and
for meeting other charges, at a meeting held 21 September,
1747.
At a meeting held 23 May, 1750, they voted that they
would do nothing more to the meeting-house that year.
26 June, 1751, they " voted to finish the meeting-house,
or some part of it, this summer," and appointed Lieut.
Moses Barron, Andrew Bradford, and Ebenezer Lyon, a
committee to get the work done ; but, 26 September
1753, they refused " to appoint a committee to settle with
the committee appointed to finish the meeting-house.
This is the last recorded act of the proprietors in regard
to building and finishing the meeting-house, an undertaking
which occupied about fourteen years. After the incorpora-
tion of the town, it seems to have passed into the possession
of the town, and its preservation became, for a time, a town
charge.
As the population of the town increased, the house
became too small to accommodate the people who resorted
to it on the Sabbath. Hence, perhaps, the visitors from
Monson, who had no meeting-house of their own, and paid
nothing for the support of preaching, were unwelcome
guests. Some traces of the feeling against them may be
found in the recorded votes of the town at that time.
23 July, 1767, the town was asked to allow the men to
occupy the whole of the front gallery of the meeting-house
and also " to appoint seats for the Quiresters to set in, in
order to improve Psalmody, or religious singing " ; but
both applications were denied.
14 March, 1768, Daniel Campbell and Benjamin Taylor
were appointed a committee " to make so much more room
in the meeting-house as they shall think proper," and £13,
8s., and 6d. was voted to defray current charges.
XL] THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 237
Joseph Steel and William Wallace protested against this
grant of money, declaring that they would not pay any part
of it until it was decided whether the house belonged to
the proprietors or the town.
4 December, 1771. Amherst was now the shire town of
the county of Hillsborough, and accommodations were
needed for the sessions of the courts. The town had
already voted to build a new meeting-house, and at a meet-
ing held this day they
"Voted to give, grant, and forever quitclaim, all our right, title,
interest, claim, and property of, in, and unto, our old meeting-house,
in said Amherst, to the justices of the Court of General Sessions of
the Peace in and for this County, for the use of the County, reserving
to ourselves the right to congregate in said house from time to time,
as we may see meet, for the space of two years from this time, with-
out having the house made inconvenient for our meetings during that
time, and reserving the right of removing the Pulpit from the house
at any time during the two years aforesaid, Provided the Justices
cause a new County jail to be erected within 160 rods of the meeting-
house as it now stands ; otherwise, the above vote and every clause
therein contained to be void."
The jail was " erected " ; the new meeting-house was
built ; and the old one passed into the possession of the
county, destined, ere long, to be removed to " the plain,"
and to be purified by fire.
THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
At a meeting held 4 October, 1770, the town voted to
build a meeting-house for public worship and to set the
same upon the most convenient place on the training-
field, in said town, and make it seventy-five feet in length
and forty-five feet in width. They also voted to raise one
hundred and fifty pounds lawful money, to defray the
the expense of building said house.
Robert Read, Samuel McKean, Archelaus Towne, John
Shepard, jr., and Moses Nichols, were appointed a commit-
tee to superintend the work of building the house, and they
238 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
wore authorized to settle and fix upon the particular spot of
ground in said field on which to erect it.
25 October, 1770, at a meeting held this day, the town
voted to " cut the meeting-house short of what had pre-
viously been voted five feet, and the same in width, viz.,
five feet. 1 ' They directed the building committee to add to
the house "a steeple at one end and a porch at the other
end thereof." The committee was also directed to cause
the frame of the house to be raised, boarded, and shingled,
within twelve months from that date. The height of the
sills from the ground was left to their discretion, and when
any particular jolt of work was needed toward the building
of the house, they were to notify the people, and employ
those who would do it on the most reasonable terms.
Armed with these directions, it would seem that the
committee was prepared to go forward, but a storm was
gathering. The people of Monson, so recently annexed,
Avere dissatisfied. They had lived in the old town twenty-four
years with no public building but a pound, and to be called
upon to assist in building a meeting-house was a new ex-
perience. The settlers around Shepard's mills, in Amherst,
disliked the plan. The people in the north-west part of the
town objected to it, as it added half a mile to their journey
to meeting, and it was objected to by Chestnut Hill folks
on the same ground ; and a meeting was held 6 November,
1770, in the interest of the disaffected ones, to see if the
town would "vacate, annul, destroy, and make void, every
act or vote of said town lately passed, relative to building a
meeting-house on the training field in said town," to see
"if they will enlarge the present meeting-house so as to
make it convenient for the public to meet in for some time
vet to come," and, finallv, " if they should be induced to
build the house expressed in their late vote, to see if they
will vote to set it in the centre of the town."
The above queries were summarily disposed of at the
meeting. On the article first named the town " voted in
XL] THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 239
the negative," the meeting being qualified. They then
voted "to ratify, establish, and confirm every vote hereto-
fore passed relative to the new proposed meeting-house."
They also voted to dismiss the consideration of the two
next queries.
Another effort to change the location of the house was
made at the annual town meeting, 11 March, 1771, at which
propositions were made " to reconsider the vote already
passed for setting said house on the plain." " To see if the
town, upon consideration of a far superior place, with
respect to underpinning said house, dry land, and a location
nearer the centre of the town, will vote to set said house
on the west side of the road, near the shop of Mr. Cheevcr,
so called," and, if voted in the negative, "to see if they will
chuse a court's committee to establish a place for said
house," all of which were rejected. Thomas Wakefield was
chosen " new meeting-house treasurer," and the work of
building went forward.
At a meeting held 26 August, 1771, the town voted
that the building committee " provide drink for raising the
meeting-house — that is, for the spectators, Arc."
"Voted, that said Committee procure New England rum for the
raising the meeting-house frame in this town for such as shall do the
labor of raising, and for all spectators, according to their discretion,
not exceeding eight barrels." Voted, also, "that said Committee
provide for the raising of said house one barrel of sugar (brown
sugar), for the use of the laborers and spectators, to be distributed
according to the discretion of said committee."
The committee was also authorized to procure a sufficiency
of victuals and drink for such as should labor in raising said
house, while laboring, viz., one, two, or three, meals a day,
as the laborer's should require. They were also directed to
hire the Gem, etc.
What the Gem was does not clearly appear; but, with the
ample preparations made by the town and the amount of
victuals and drink provided for the occasion, the fathers
240 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
must have had a spirited raising. Doubtless they lifted
with a will, and the massive timbers were slowly set in their
places, under the direction of the master builder, Deacon
Barker. During the intervals of relaxation from the solid
work before them, running and wrestling matches were in
order, in most of which, if tradition is to be believed,
"Sam" Wilkins, the minister's son, afterward deacon of
the church, was the chief champion. His greatest exploit
on the occasion was that of running a short distance with
the chairman of the building committee, who weighed about
the sixth of a ton avoirdupois, upon his shoulders.
At a town-meeting held 4 December, 1771, it was voted
to allow the accounts of the committee appointed to build
the new meeting-house, and the accounts of the workmen
employed by them.
The town also voted that they would finish the outside of
the new meeting-house next summer, clapboard and glaze
it, and finish the steeple every way complete, and lay the
lower floor in said house. One hundred and sixty pounds
lawful money was granted to defray the expense that has
already arisen in building the house, and the building com-
mittee was authorized to complete the work above men-
tioned.
14 November, 1772. The town
" Voted to sell by auction the pew ground on the lower floor of the
meeting-house to the highest bidder of the inhabitants of this town,
the money arising from the sale to be applied to defray the expense
of finishing the house."
Daniel Campbell, Joseph Gould, and Stephen Peabody,
were appointed a committee to sell said pew ground ; Dan-
iel Campbell refusing to serve on the committee, Ephraim
Hildreth was appointed in his stead.
By a vote of the town passed at this meeting there were
to be three tiers of pews on the south side, one tier on the
north side, and two tiers each on the east and west ends.
Alleys were to be left between the pews and seats, and
XL]
THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
241
between the ] tews. The size of the pew ground lots was left to
the discretion of the committee. The sale of the pew
ground was to be within one month from the time of this
meeting, and the purchase money was to lie paid into the
meeting-house treasury within three months from the time
of the sale.
The pews were ordered to be built within twelve months
from this date, and in a uniform manner. If they were
not built within the time, and in the manner specified, the
sule of the ground to the person or persons failing to com-
ply with the conditions was to be void.
THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
The house was so far completed that it was formally
dedicated to the public worship of God on the 19th day of
January, 1774, which date, curiously painted in gold, in old
English letters, on a panel in front of the singers' gallery,
directly opposite the pulpit, has been, in by-gone years, an
16
242 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
enigma to more than one of the younger members of the
congregation. Of the gathering on that occasion and the
sermon preached by Mr. Wilkins, no written records
remain. Tradition affirms that the discourse was to some
extent an historical one, treating of matters connected with
the settlement of the town and the formation of the church.
If so, its loss is to be regreted.
After the public services at the meeting-house, it is said
that the visiting clergymen were entertained at the house
of Pastor Wilkins. While partaking of their dinner, of
which hasty pudding and milk formed a part, the newly
elected deacon, " Sam " Wilkins, told them a ludicrous
story of his experience in catching a sheep, which pleased
the reverend fathers, and " the pudding flew well."
14 March, 1774. A proposition to choose a committee to
procure a good bell for the meeting-house was rejected by
the town ; also, one to " allow the singers a seat in the new
meeting-house that Psalmody may be carried on with
greater regulation." Fifty pounds sterling money was
voted to defray the new meeting-house charges, etc.
22 June, 1774, Daniel Campbell, Lieut. Kendrick, and
Israel Towne, jr., were appointed a committee to examine
the accounts of the meeting-house and pew committees.
9 March, 1778. The town voted that the seats in the
front gallery, in the meeting-house, from the women's seats
to the first pillar in the men's, be granted for the use of a
number of persons skilled in singing, and Ephraim Barker,
William Low, Amos Stickney, Abijah Wilkins, and John
Kimball, were appointed a committee for seating said seats.
31 March, 1779. The town voted to accept the report of
the committee appointed to adjust the accounts of the new
meeting-house and pew committees.
30 October, 1815. A committee consisting of William
Low, David Stewart, and Andrew Leavitt, having reported
that the meeting-house needed some repairs, the town voted
XT. J THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 243
that said committee be authorized to make such repairs as
were necessary.
March, 1818. The town refused to purchase stoves for
the meeting-house.
For several years, efforts were made to induce the town
to provide for warming the meeting-house during Sunday
services ; but when the matter was brought up in town-
meeting, a majority of the voters steadily refused to make
an appropriation for the purpose. Perhaps they thought
it well to have the temperature of their house of worship as
unlike as possible to that of the reputed abode of lost
spirits. Wood was cheap, and they could assemble at the
taverns near by, where mine host always had good fires
burning, around which they could gather, talk politics,
discuss the forenoon's sermon, — the two being frequently
identical, — drink flip, — or something stronger, — watch the
boys, and get in good shape for the afternoon's campaign.
The fairer half of creation took refuge in the neighboring
houses, where they were welcomed to good fires and just
as the bell rung, furnished with a plenty of live coals to fill
the fire boxes in the little foot stoves they carried.
So, they worshiped. Some, however, were not satisfied,
and occasionally used the columns of the Cabinet to give
vent to their feelings. One of these who evidently had a
realizing sense of what was before him and his fellow
sufferers, thus wrote in the Cabinet of 26 December, 1818 :
" Even the Indians have stoves in their meeting-house. Is it not
astonishing that civilized and enlightened people have none ; but that
they nearly freeze themselves and children every Sabbath in the
winter, when the trifling expense of one dollar each would make them
comfortable ? A word to the frozen will, we hope, be sufficient to
make them — weather wise."
The subject was again brought up at the next annual
meeting, but the town refused to take any action upon the
subject. Finally, in 1824, some stoves were procured by
individual subscriptions and placed in the meeting-house.
244 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Still the house was a cold, uncomfortable place, until
it was removed and remodeled in 1836. After that time
foot stoves were dispensed with, and the few that now
remain are shown as curious relics of the past.
March, 1821. The town voted to shingle the meeting-
house, and make such repairs of the clapboarding and
doors of the same as were necessary ; also voted to paint the
house, and William Pisk, William Low, and David McG.
Means were appointed a committee to procure the work
done. They were authorized to examine the steeple, and,
if they thought proper, take it down and build a cupola in
its place. The sum of $500 was placed at their disposal to
lay out for the above, and for such other repairs as they
might see fit to make upon the house.
In the winter of 1832 a movement was made for the sale
of the house, the town reserving certain rights and privi-
leges in the same. The matter was brought before the
town at the March meeting in that year by appropriate
articles in the warrant calling the meeting.
14 March, 1832. The town voted to sell the meeting-
house at auction, with the following reservations :
1. The town reserved the right to use the house for all
town meetings, for so long a time as they might wish to
use it for that purpose.
2. The town reserved the bell, clocks, and belfry or
tower, the purchaser to have the right to pass and repass
through the west doors, as now used, also the right to ring
the bell for funerals, public worship, and other public
occasions, without expense to the town.
3. The rights of all owners of pews in the house were
reserved to them, and the owners of the organ and stoves
were to have the right to remove their property from the
house.
4. Provided that the purchaser neglected to keep the
house in repair, so that it should not be as comfortable for
town meetings as it then was, he should forfeit all rights
XI.] THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 245
conveyed by the deed, and the house should revert to the
town.
5. Previous to the sale of the house all the pews were to
be appraised by a committee of impartial men not residing in
town, and the purchaser, before receiving his deed, was to
take and pay for all such pews as the owners might wish
to sell, provided such owners, within ten days after the sale
of the house, expressed their wish to sell, by a writing left
with the town-clerk.
6. The purchaser was to receive a deed with the above
reservations and conditions as soon as the pews were paid
for, and receive possession at the time of receiving his
deed.
7. In case the purchaser should not, within fifteen days,
comply with the conditions and take his deed, a deed was
to be given to the next lowest bidder, if he would take it at
his bid, and if not, to the next lowest, if he would take it at
his bid, and so on, if any will take it at his bid, provided
the said right of the town shall not be sold for a less sum
than one hundred dollars.
8. Edmund Parker, David Fisk, jr., John Mack, and
Jacob Hildreth, were appointed a committee to carry the
above vote into effect, and they, or a major part of them,
were directed to cause the pews to be appraised as soon as
might be, and give a deed of the house according to the
above conditions.
The sale of the meeting-house was finally made by the
town, with the foregoing reservations and restrictions, the
First Congregational Church and Society in Amherst being
the purchasers, and the property was transferred to them
by the committee appointed for the purpose.
At a meeting of the First Congregational Church and
Society held 4 January, 1836, a committee was chosen to
ascertain the probable cost of altering and repairing the
meeting-house.
246 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
6 February, 1836. The committee exhibited a plan for
an alteration of the house and an estimate of the expense
of the same, and a committee was appointed to ascertain
the views of the pew-holders on the subject.
At a meeting held 20 February, 1836, the subject of the
proposed alterations and repairs was discussed by the pew-
holders at some length, and it was finally decided to
abandon the project, and unite in an effort to build a new
house.
2 April, 1836, a committee was chosen to make inquiries
and report at a future meeting what would be the probable
cost of a new house sufficient to answer the purposes of the
society as a house of public worship. Another committee
was appointed to consult the pew-holders still further in
regard to the proposed alterations of the old house, and
they were directed to report the result of their inquiries at
the next meeting.
23 April, 1836. The committee appointed to inquire
concerning the cost of a new house reported that they had
visited the house recently erected in Milford, and estimated
that one similar to it, which would probably answer the
purposes of the society, might be built for $5,000. The
committee to consult the pew-holders reported that sixty-
five dollars would probably be sufficient to buy all the pews
that the owners were unwilling to sell at the appraisal.
After hearing the reports the society voted to reconsider
the vote to build a new meeting-house, and voted to repair
the old one.
Voted to remove the house to a piece of land owned by
Jonathan Bennett, provided a sum of money could be
raised by subscription sufficient to purchase the land and
pay the expense of moving and underpinning the house.
Barnabas B. David, Daniel Hartshorn, Charles L. Stew-
art, Jonathan Knight, and Luther Melendy, were appointed
a committee to superintend the removal and repairs of the
house.
XL] THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 247
As the town still retained an interest in the house,
reserved at the time of its sale, the selectmen, upon applica-
tion of members of the society, called a town-meeting, which
was held 21 May, 1836, at which the town gave the society
leave to move the house as proposed. It was also voted
to convey by deed to the First Congregational Church and
Society in Amherst all the title the town had in the land
on which the string of horse sheds, running north from the
meeting-house, stood ; said land to be used by the society for
the purpose of placing the meeting-house on the same, pro-
vided the consent of the owners of the sheds be first obtained,
the society furnishing a piece of land, and removing the sheds
to it, free of expense to the town or the owners of the sheds,
and the selectmen were authorized to make a conveyance,
as aforesaid, in behalf of the town.
The town also consented that the society should make
such alterations in the house, and about the west porch,
bell deck, and steeple, as they wished, provided the house
was left as convenient for town purposes as it then was.
Ezra Prescott, Ephraim Blanchard, and David Underbill,
were appointed a committee on the part of the town to
consult with a committee of the First Congregational
Church and Society respecting the accommodation of the
town in said house for town purposes.
At a meeting held 27 August, 1836, the town voted
to repair the bell-deck and steeple, and that the selectmen
be the committee to make such repairs as may seem to
them necessary for the safety of the town property and
the comfortable appearance of the steeple.
March, 1837. On motion of Hon. Charles H. Atherton,
the town voted to accept the hall that had been fitted up in
the meeting-house for a place in which to hold its meetings.
August, 1836. The meeting-house was removed from
the spot " on the training-field " where the fathers placed
it sixty-five years before, to the place it now occupies. Prior
to its removal, the porch at the east end was taken off,
2-18 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
after which the house was moved to the place prepared
for its reception. The work of removal was under the
direction of Capt. Nathan Call, of Concord, and was accom-
plished with apparent ease. Mr. Boylston remarked in
the Cabinet that " Capt. Call is as renowned for his
removals as Gen. Jackson, and has Calls as frequently for
his moving powers." The Captain might have responded
that the editor was quite as much given to " cabinet
making " as the President.
19 December, 1836. Hubbard Newton, Daniel Campbell,
jr., and Andrew Wallace, were appointed a committee to
appraise the pews in the new meeting-house. Mr. Wallace
not wishing to serve, Deacon Abel Downe was appointed in
his stead.
1 January, 1837. The repairs on the meetiug-house
being completed, it was again occupied by the society for
Sunday services. The exercises on this occasion, under the
direction of the pastor, Rev. Silas Aiken, were appropriate
and of a very interesting character.
The centennial anniversary of the dedication of the
second meeting-house was celebrated with appropriate
services on Sunday, 18 January, 1874.
The house had lately been thoroughly repaired, and a new
organ built by Geo. H. Ryder, of Boston, was used for the
first time on the occasion.
Many citizens of Mont Vernon and Milford were present.
In Mont Vernon the meeting-house was closed to enable
the pastor and people to join their neighbors in the centen-
nial exercises.
The forenoon was occupied by the delivery of a highly
appropriate historical discourse by the pastor, Rev. Dr.
Davis.
In the afternoon Rev. Mr. Ruland, of the Methodist
church, gave a short address. Rev. Mr. Heald gave an
historical sketch of the Baptist church, and Rev. Dr. Keeler,
the acting pastor, gave an interesting historical sketch of
XI.] THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 249
the church in Mont Vernon, formerly the Second parish in
Amherst.
On the afternoon of Monday, 19 January, a meeting was
held at the town-hall at which Rev. Dr. Davis presided. A
very interesting historical sketch of the church in Milford,
formerly the Third parish in Amherst, was given by
William B. Towne, Esq., of Milford, and reminiscences of
many of the inhabitants of the town in former times were
given by other speakers.
An organ concert at the church in the evening concluded
the centennial services.
The house is now in good repair, and its massive timbers
promise a continuance for centuries. Long may it be
spared from the fire and tempest, a connecting link between
present and by-gone generations.
250 HISTOEY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTEK XII.
THE TOWN MINISTRY. 1741-1835.
grants for the support of preaching. settlement of mr.
wilkins. grants for his support. mr. wilkins chosen
minister by the town. votes in relation to his salary.
failure of his health. — arrangements made for a
supply of the pulpit. mr. blydenburg invited to
settle as colleague. protest against his settlement.
mr. foster invited, but declines. mr. barnard in-
vited. — protest against the action of the town. mr.
Barnard's answer. — meeting of the ordaining council.
mr. livermore's account of its proceedings. protest
against mr. barnard's settlement. proceedings of the
town. death of mr. wilkins. annuity voted to mrs. wil-
kins. organization of the first parish. settlement of
mr. Barnard's salary. — the parish organization aban-
doned. — THE MUSSEY LAWSUIT. — SALE OF MINISTERIAL LAND
and division of the proceeds. mr. barnard called to
account. settlement of a colleague proposed. mr.
Barnard's letter. — settlement of mr. lord. — the unita-
rian CONTROVERSY. DEALINGS OF THE TOWN WITH UNITA-
RIANS AND UNIVERSALISTS. VOTES IN REGARD TO MR. BARN-
ARD'S TAX. MR. LORD RELINQUISHES A PART OF HIS SALARY.
NEGLECT OF THE TOWN TO PAY MR. BARNARD'S SALARY. — MR.
LORD DISMISSED. DEATH OF MR. BARNARD. MONEY RE-
CEIVED FROM THE SALE OF THE MINISTERIAL LAND DISPOSED
OF. THE TOWN MINISTERS.
XII.] THE TOWN MINISTRY. 251
THE TOWN AND PARISH MINISTRY.
At a meeting held 27 December, 1738, the proprietors
" Voted, that the Inhabitants of Souhegan West, No. 3, shall Draw
twenty pounds out of the Tressury towards there having the wend
of God Preached among them for the next six months."
17 July, 1739, they
" Voted, that the Inhabitants of Souhegan West, No. 3, shall have
and Draw out of the Tressury the sum of Twenty pounds toward
there haveing the Word of God Preched amonghts them till the last
of March next, if they bring to the Tressurer the men's names that
Preched ten days."
11 December, 1739,
"Voted, that there be an addition of fifty shillings per day for each
Sabbath they shall have Preching amonghts them."
20 May, 1740,
" Voted, that the setters of Souhegan shall have and draw out of
our Tressury 50 s. each Sabbath day that, they have Preching amonths
them till it is altered by a voat of the proprietors."
30 April, 1711,
" Voted, that they Concur with the choice of a number of the Pro-
prietors who are setled at Souhegan in the choice of Mr. Daniel
Wilkins, being there minister, provided wee can agree with him for
Sallary & Settlement."
" Voted, that they will choose a committee to Treet with Mr. Dan-
iel Wilkins about his being theire minister and Sallary and Settle-
ment, and make report at the next meeting."
" Voted for the Comitee, Mr. Timothy fuller, Cap'n Benjamin
Potter, Mr. Cornelius Tarble, mr. Joseph Richardson, & Joshua
Hicks."
11 August, 1741,
" Voted, that they doe accept the report of the Comittee that was
chose to treet with Mr. Daniel Wilkins about Sallary & Settlement,
and Mr. Wilkins' answar to them which is on file."
" Voted, that they will chuse a Comittee to take care of the ordina-
tion."
"Voted for the comittee Samuel Walton, Samuel Lamson, William
Lancy, and that it be left to them to appoint the time and advise
252 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
the Clark that he may put it in the newspaper, and it was on the 23d
of September, 1741."
" Voted, that the comittee that is chose to take care of the Ordina-
tion shall not exceed forty Pounds, hut as much less as they can."
Mr. Wilkins was accordingly ordained on the twenty-
third day of September, 1741, a church having been formed
on the day [(receding. The ecclesiastical council that
officiated on the occasion consisted of nineteen ministers
and delegates. Rev. Nathaniel Henchman, of Lynn, was
moderator, and Rev. Stephen Chase, of Lynn, preached the
sermon. The other ministers present were Reverends
Andrew Peters, of Middleton, James Osgood, of Wenham,
and James Swan, of Dunstable.
15 December, 1741,
" Voted two hundred and forty pounds be raised for to pay Rev.
Mr. Daniel Wilkins'es Settlement, Salery, Ordaination, and other
charges."
14 December, 1742,
" Voted, that Com'te's acc't about the ordination be allowed & p'd."
18 October, 1743,
" Voted fifty founds old Tenor as a free gift to the Reverend Mr.
Daniel Wilkins, to be paid him out of the Tressory."
30 January, 1744-45,
" Voted, that they will give Mr. Wilkins sixty Pounds old tenor as
a gift."
16 July, 1746,
" Voted, that they will give the Rev'd Mr. Wilkins Seventy Pounds
old tenor for the Depreciating the money and as a free gift for this
Present year."
3 November, 1747,
"Voted, that there be ninety pounds old tenor adission to the
Reverend Mr. Wilkins, & is in full satisfaction to him till the 11th of
June past, 1747.
26 October, 1748. Eighty shillings old tenor was
assessed on each right and ordered to be paid to the treas-
XII.] THE TOWN MINISTRY. 253
urer to pay Mr. Wilkins's salary, and other charges, thai
might arise in that year.
24 May, 1749,
" Voted, that the Reverend Mr. Wilkins shall have added to his
salery five hundred and forty pounds old tenor Bils to make his
sallery four hundred pounds a year for the two last years, ending the
11th of June next."
4 July, 1750,
"Voted, that there be four hundred pounds old tenor Raised to pay
the Reverend Mr. Wilkins his Sallery, which he accepts in full for all
Depretiations of the money, ending the 11th of June last."
26 June, 1751. Two hundred and seventy pounds was
added to Mr. Wilkins's salary to make it four hundred
pounds from 11 June, 1750, to 11 June, 1751.
24 June, 1752. Voted four hundred pounds old tenor
for Mr. Wilkins's salary for the year ending 11 June, 1752.
26 September, 1753. Voted to allow Mr. Wilkins five
hundred pounds old tenor for his salary for the last and the
present year.
16 April, 1755. Five hundred pounds was voted as
salary to Mr. Wilkins for the year 1755.
18 May, 1757. Sixty-six pounds, thirteen shillings, four
pence, lawful silver money, of the Province of Massachu-
setts Bay, was granted Mr. Wilkins for his salary for the
year 1756, and fifty-three pounds, six shillings, eight pence,
like money, for his salary for the year 1757.
This is the last record found on the the proprietors' book
of money raised by them for the support of Mr. Wilkins.
Probably grants for that purpose continued to be made
by them from year to year, until 2 April, 1760, when the
charge of his support was assumed by the town.
The town, having organized under the charter, met 2
April, 1760, for the purpose of choosing a minister and
providing for his support. Joseph Gould was chosen mod-
erator, and, on motion, Rev. Daniel Wilkins was chosen
minister of the town, and it was
254 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
"Voted to offer him forty-seven pounds and ten shillings sterling
money of Great Britain, annually, or its ('univalent in the currency of
the Province, to be stated, upon Indian corn at two shillings per
bushel, and pork at two pence p'r pound, sterling money, during the
time he should continue to discharge the duties of the ministry in this
place, and one half that amount during his natural life after age or
infirmities had unfitted him for labor in Ins calling, the same to rise
or fall as the prices of the commodities named rose or fell from year
to year."
They also voted live hundred pounds old tenor as salary
for the present year, and chose a committee to prefer the
votes of the town to Mr. Wilkins and return his answer.
The committee waited upon Mr. Wilkins and subse-
quently laid before the meeting his answer to their commu-
nication,' as follows :
" Beloved Brethren in our Lord Jesus Christ:
I think that I can truly say that I have labored amongst you in the
work of the Gospel ministry near nineteen years, not for filthy lucre,
but of a ready mind, and, as I have spent the prime and flower of my
days in the honorable and laborious work of the Gospel ministry
among you, so I am willing to be spent and worn out in the same
service. (O, that God would make us mutual blessings to each other
with respect to this life and especially that which is to come.) In
testimony whereof, I now declare that I accept your vote preferred to
me by your Committee for my support in the work of the ministry
among you, viz., forty-seven pounds, ten shillings, sterling money of
Great Britain, or Province currency equivalent, upon the standard of
corn and pork as it is inserted in your warrant, that is to rise and fall,
the sum above mentioned, as those commodities rise and fall, not in
the least doubting but that, as I communicate to you spiritual things,
so you will communicate to me of your temporals as y'r abilities
advance and my necessity calls, and furthermore, I accept of the one
half of said sum if my life should continue beyond my strength and
ability to carry on the work of the ministry among you. And now
the salutation of your very humble servant in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 wish Grace, Mercy, and peace, may be multiplied to you all in life,
and a crown of unperishing glory at death.
Amhekst, April ye 2d, 1760."
XII.] THE TOWN MINISTRY. 255
At a meeting- held 11 October, 1762, a committee was
chosen " to treat with Rev. Mr. Wilkins about his salary
the present and preceding years," who subsequently
reported the result of their labors, whereupon the town
voted to advance his salary this year five pounds sterling
money of Great Britain, above the fifty pounds assessed
last year.
For some cause not now apparent this vote seems not to
have been entirely satisfactory to the minister, as we find the
following article in the warrant for the meeting in March,
1763:
" To see if the town will try once more, by themselves, or by their
agents (if they see fit to constitute any), to compound and agree with
their minister about his salary from the time they made their contract
with him in the capacity of a town, until the eleventh day of June
next, in order to obtain his receipt or receipts in full for said term."
Upon consideration of this article the town appointed
William Jones, John Smith, Reuben Mussey, William
Peabody, and Joseph Steel, a committee to compromise
matters with Mr. Wilkins.
The committee presented their report, and a plan for
settlement satisfactory to Mr. Wilkins, at a meeting held
24 March, 1763, when it was read, accepted, and adopted.
An article was inserted in the warrant calling a meeting
held 8 March, 1773,
" To see if the town would hire a candidate for the gospel ministry
to preach with them a few Sabbaths the ensuing spring, and if so, to
choose a committee to invite and engage a gentleman, and give them
such directions concerning the matter as they should think fit."
But the town
" A'oted, that they would not act on the article."
At a meeting held 22 May, 1775, the town voted to hire
preaching for the term of three months, if need be, and
appointed Samuel Wilkins, Daniel Campbell, Ebenezer
Weston, and Peter Woodbury, a committee to procure
preachers.
256 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
14 August, 1775, the town voted to hire preaching until
their annual meeting in March, 1776, and directed the
committee appointed at the meeting in May to procure
preachers until that time, securing the services of Rev. Mr.
Goodhue, if possible. They also voted that Mr. Wilkins's
salary, from 11 June, 1775, to 11 June, 1776, should he
thirty-three pounds, six shillings, and eight pence, lawful
money.
24 October, 1775. John Shcpard, jr., Joseph Gould,
Richard Gould, Amos Flint, and Thomas Burns, were
appointed a committee to treat with Rev. Mr. Wilkins
relative to his future salary and ministerial functions, and
make report to the town.
28 November, 1775, the town
" Voted that, in their opinion, Rev. Mr. Wilkins was not capable of
performing his ministerial functions."
At the same time they amended the vote passed 14
August, 1775, by voting that his salary, from 11 June,
1775, to 11 June, 1776, should be forty pounds lawful
money, instead of the sum at first voted.
11 March, 1776. Capt. Josiah Crosby, Richard Gould,
Benjamin Kenrick, Reuben Mussey, and Joseph Gould,
were appointed a committee to treat with Mr. Wilkins for
the purpose of adjusting and compounding matters with
him relative to his salary for past and future time. Also,
voted to hire preaching for the term of three months from
this time, and Samuel Wilkins, Daniel Campbell, and
Robert Means, were appointed a committee to employ such
young preachers as they might think proper during said
time.
30 April, 1776, voted " to hire preaching six months,
commencing 11 June, 1776," and directed the committee to
procure the services of Mr. S wetland, if he could be hired.
The committee appointed to settle with Mr. Wilkins
reported at a meeting held 18 November, 1776, that they
XII.] THE TOWN MINISTRY. 257
had been able to settle with him only for the years 1774
and 1775. Their report, which recommended the payment
of one hundred pounds Massachusetts tenor to him, for
those years, was adopted, and it was voted to pay him
forty-five pounds lawful money, as a salary from 11 June,
1776, to 11 June, 1777.
Voted to hire preaching until March, 1777, and appointed
Daniel Campbell, Robert Means, and Samuel Wilkins, a
committee to procure peachers.
Voted sixty pounds lawful money to be laid out in
j treadling.
At the meeting held 10 March, 1777, voted to hire
preaching for the term of six months next coming. James
Seaton, Nahum Baldwin, and William Odall, were appointed
a committee to procure preachers, and directed to apply to
Mr. Swetland to preach three months on probation.
2 September, 1777, the same committee was authorized
to hire preachers for six months from the 11th day of this
month, and it was left discretionary with them what gentle-
man or gentlemen to employ.
24 November, 1777. Voted that the committee be
instructed to invite Mr. John Blydcnburg to preach until
the next annual meeting, upon probation.
Mr. Reuben Mussey, Capt. Josiah Crosby, Mr. Timothy
Smith, and Mr. James Seaton, were appointed a committee
to adjust accounts with Rev. Mr. Wilkins, who reported at
a meeting held 9 December, 1777, that they found a balance
due him of four pounds, six shillings, and seven pence,
which report was accepted, and the sum named was voted
to be paid.
24 February, 1778. Voted to join with the church in
giving Mr. John Blydenburg a call to settle in the gospel
ministry, upon the Cambridge platform of church govern-
ment, and Peter Woodbury, Amos Flint, Reuben Mussey,
Nahum Baldwin, and Thomas Wakefield, were appointed a
committee to make a draft or plan of what encouragement
17
258 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
and salary it would be proper to oiler him as a settlement
and yearly salary, and in what it would be proper to state
and pay said encouragement and salary.
!* March, 1778. This committee made a report, which
was accepted, and an invitation was extended by the church
and town to Mr. Blydenburg to become the colleague
pastor of Mr. Wilkins in the ministry in this place.
The following protest against his settlement was handed
in after the meeting had adjourned, and a demand made
that it should be placed upon the town records :
" March 0, 177s.
" To the freeholders ami legal voters of the town of Amherst assembled />;/
adjournmi nt :
Gentlemen : You will please to observe and allow this a place on
the records of this day.
That we, the subscribers, having a legal right to vote and act in this
meeting, lake this method to acquaint you that we protest and dissent
to the settlement of Mr. John Blydenburg as a minister in this town.
That is to say, we are entirely against it.
John Averil, John Mills,
William Bradford, jr., Stephen Peabody,
John Cole, Joseph Perkins,
Joseph Farnuni, Ezekiel Upton, jr.,
Stephen Farnum, Thomas Weston,
John Ilarwood, Eli Wilkins,
Nathan Jones, Jonathan Wilkins,
William Lamson, James Woodbury."
Joseph Langdell,
It will be noticed that the signers to this paper were
residents of that part of the town which was afterward
known as the North-west or Second parish of Amherst,
and later as the town of Mont Vernon.
The invitation given Mr. Blydenburg was, fortunately
perhaps for the town, declined. He shortly afterward
relinquished preaching, and engaged in trade in Durham,
N. H., where he died in October, 1836, aged eighty-nine.
He graduated at New Jersey College in 1777.
XII.] THE TOWN MINISTRY. 259
6 July, 1778. Lieut. Reuben Mussey, Capt. Josiah
Crosby, and Solomon Kittrcdgc, were appointed a com-
mittee to adjust accounts with Rev. Mr. Wilkins from 11
June, 1777, to 11 June, 1778.
The committee reported, 13 July, 1778, that Mr. Wilkins' s
salary amounted to =£178, 2s., 6d., reckoning- Indian corn
at fifteen shillings per bushel, and pork at one shilling
sixpence per pound, lawful money, and their report was
accepted.
24 August, 1778. Dea. Boutell, Benjamin Davis, and
Samuel Scaton, were appointed a committee to hire preach-
ing until the next March meeting, and they were to use
their own discretion in the selection of preachers.
At a meeting held 15 February, 1779, they were directed
to invite Mr. Edmund Foster to preach upon probation until
the next annual meeting, and 31 March, 1779, the town
voted to concur with the church in giving him a call to
settle in the gospel ministry in this place. Dea. Samuel
Wilkins, Dea. John Seaton, and Thomas Wakefield, were
appointed a committee to lay a plan and draft of what
encouragement as a settlement and yearly salary it might be
proper to offer him, in what it should be stated and paid,
and lay the same before the town.
This committee reported at a meeting held 3 May, 1779,
and their report was accepted. They then prepared and
presented Mr. Foster a call to become their pastor, but the
invitation was declined. He was settled at Littleton,
Mass., 17 January, 1781, and died there.
7 June, 1779, it was voted to hire preaching six months
longer, and Benjamin Davis, Samuel Seaton, and Benjamin
Kenrick, were appointed a committee to procure preachers
during that time. Thomas Wakefield, Benjamin Davis,
and Moses Barron were constituted a committee to adjust
accounts with Rev. Mr. Wilkins, and they presented a
report of their doings, at a meeting held 29 June, 1779,
260 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
which the town refused to accept, and referred the matter
back to them for further consideration.
5 August, 1779. A committee consisting of Richard
Gould, Samuel Seaton, and Benjamin Davis, was appointed
to settle with Mr. Wilkins for the year ending 11 June,
1778, who reported, 6 September, that there was due him
for that year's salary a balance of fifty-three pounds, reck-
oning Indian corn at fifteen shillings per bushel, which
would purchase seventy bushels of corn ; but Mr. Wilkins
proposed to be satisfied with money enough to buy thirty-
five bushels of corn, at fourteen dollars per bushel, which
report was accepted.
The committee to whom the settlement witli Mr. Wilkins,
for the year ending June, 1779, was referred, again reported
at this meeting. They found due him, for salary that year,
the sum of £973, 13s., lawful money, reckoning Indian
corn at fourteen dollars per bushel, and pork at eight
shillings per pound. This report was accepted.
6 December, 1779, the town voted to concur with the
church in giving Mr. Jeremiah Barnard a call to settle in
the gospel ministry in this town, and appointed Joshua
Atherton, Esq., John Shepard, jr., Esq., Capt. Josiah
Crosby, and Dea. Samuel Wilkins, a committee to report a
plan of settlement and salary to be offered him as an
encouragement to settle as aforesaid, and how to state and
pay such encouragement.
The committee reported, at a meeting held 23 December,
1779,
" That the town give Mr. Barnard one hundred and eighty pounds
Lawful money as a settlement, the one half to be paid within six
months and the other half within one year after his ordination to the
work aforesaid.
Furthermore, that the sum of eighty pounds like money be given
him, annually, as a salary, to commence at the time of his ordination
and remain until two years after the end of the present war with Great
Britain, and that the sum of ten pounds be annually added to the said
salary after that time ; that the salary in manner aforesaid continue dur-
XII.] THE TOWN MINISTRY. 261
ing his work of the ministry or pastoral relation in this town, except that
if by sickness or other misfortune he be unable to discharge the func-
tions of his office (or at least the principal part of them), he be paid
in that case only forty pounds annually during life or till his pastoral
relation be dissolved, according to the usage of the New England
churches, and the foregoing sums to be stated upon the following
articles, at the following rates or prices : viz., Indian Corn at 3s. p'r
bushel, in February ; Beef at 20s. p'r Cwt., in the middle of Novem-
ber ; Hay at thirty shillings per ton, in the Cock ; wool at one and
four pence per lb. ; Flax at eight pence per lb."
The report was signed by all the members of the com-
mittee except Capt. Josiah Crosby. William Peabody
objected to the addition of ten pounds yearly to the salary
after the close of the war.
The report was accepted by the town, and Dea. Sam-
uel Wilkins, Dea. John Seaton, and Joshua Atherton, Esq.,
were appointed a committee to wait upon Mr. Barnard and
inform him of its action in the premises.
At the same meeting the following protest from inhab-
itants of the north-west part of the town was presented :
" Dec. 23, 1779. Relative to the settlement of Mr. Jeremiah Barn-
ard in the gospel ministry in this town, We, the subscribers, resident
in the North-westerly part of the town of Amherst, having repeatedly
petitioned to be set off as a distinct Parish, and we think we have
made very reasonable offers of doing our parts of defraying the
charge of maintaining the gospel ministry and other necessary charges
while we congregate with this town ; but our petitions have hitherto
been rejected ; — We, therefore, enter our protest against Mr. Jere-
miah Barnard's being settled in this town, or any other minister while
we remain in conjunction with this town, and our request not granted.
Nathan Flint, Joseph Langdell,
John Cole, John Harwood,
Peter Woodbury, William Bradford, jr.,
John Mills, Joseph Lovejoy,
Joseph Perkins, Oliver Carlton,
Eli Wilkins, Abijah Wilkins,
Sutherick Weston, William Lamson,
Laraford Gilbert, John Averill,
Joshua Wilkins, Jacob Smith,
202 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
Lemuel Winchester, Joseph Tuck,
Joseph Farnum, Thomas Weston,
Benjamin Stearns, James Smith,
Enos Upton, Samuel Stearns,
Allen Goodridge, Knight Nichols,
Isaac Weston, Josiah Dodge,
-lames Woodbury, Nathan Cole.
Solomon Kittredge also protested against the action of
the town, as follows :
" To the freeholders of Amherst, in town-meeting convened, December 1%,
177!' ; Townsmen and Brethren :
T am conscientiously of opinion that the purposes of religion may
be better answered without, than by, settling Mr. Jeremiah Barnard
as a minister in this town. Therefore, 1 hereby protest against his
being ordained here; but, after all that lias been said, if you proceed
to settle him, I shall examine and try the legality of your proceedings,
and, if possible, exonerate myself from paying any of the settlement
and salary you have voted him. I request that this paper may be now
tiled by the town-clerk, and, as soon as may be, recorded in the town
book of records.
SOLOMON KITTREDGE.
25 January, 17S0, the town voted to make the following
explanations and alterations in the report of the committee
relative to the salary proposed to be paid to Mr. Barnard :
" Instead of ten pounds to lie added annually to the eighty pounds,
that it stand and be recorded ninety pounds yearly, in two years after
the end of the war with Great Britain. That the hay mentioned in
the aforesaid report be understood to be English hay, and that, all flit'
articles mentioned in the call given by this town to Mr. Barnard and
upon which the several sums offered him as a settlement and salary
are stated, are understood to be good merchantable articles."
7 February, 1780. Samuel Seaton, Dea. Samuel Wil-
kins, Amos Flint, Jonathan Smith, and Benjamin Davis,
were appointed a committee to make the necessary provision
for the ordination of Mr. Barnard, in case his answer should
be in the affirmative. It was also voted to allow the
account of the committee for supplying the pulpit.
The committee appointed by the town, having presented
XII.] THE TOWN MINISTRY. 263
the invitation of the town to Mr. Barnard to become its
pastor, and its votes relative to settlement and salary,
received the following answer :
"To the Church dud Congregation in Amherst:
Respected Fathers and Beloved Friends: Some weeks have
now past away since I received an invitation from you (by your
honorable committee) to settle in this town in the important work of
the evangelical ministry in conjunction with your present Rev'd
Pastor, and be assured, my Christian friends, that, being deeply sen-
sible of the difficulty and importance of a right discharge of the
duties of the ministerial office to which you have invited me, I have
taken the affair into the most serious consideration, together with the
present circumstances of this town; have frequently implored direc-
tion from above; and asked advice from those who I trust are men of
understanding and wish well to the Redeemer's kingdom and interesl ;
and, from the best light I have been able to obtain, it appears to be
my duty to accept your invitation ; and I do accordingly give my
answer in the affirmative, upon the encouragement you have already
offered me, as explained in the last town meeting, and assure you that
I shall, from this time forth, hold myself in readiness to be set apart
to the work of the gospel ministry in this town, whenever a council,
mutually and regularly chosen, shall have convened for that purpose.
I am sensible, however, that the sum you have offered for my annual
support is small, and I cannot but think you will generally esteem it
to be so if you seriously consider the expensiveness of living in this
place, by reason of company and the extraordinary labors of a minister
among so large a people as this is at present, more than in the gener-
ality of towns, and likewise the sums usually given at this day ; but 1
am fully persuaded that it is not your desire, and that you will not
suffer me to submit to the miseries of a poor and straightened condi-
tion, while faithfully discharging the duties of a minister among you,
from the character I have had of you as a generous and benevolent
people in a ministerial way. T doubt not but that your freewill
offerings and generous donations will so richly compensate for the
deficiency in the present offer that 1 shall be able to apply myself
wholly to the work of the gospel ministry among you, without anxiety
about worldly affairs. Now may God so overrule your hearts, my
dear friends, as to do that from time to time which shall be most for
His glory, the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom, and your own
immortal souls. \ now conclude, with asking your daily prayers at
the throne of grace for me, that I may be enabled to be faithful and
264 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
acceptable and also successful in my ministry among you, and that we
may live together in the peace and order of the gospel here below, be
mutual blessings in time, and each other's crown of rejoicing in that
all important day when Christ shall come to make up his jewels. This
is the sincere prayer of him who is yours to serve in the Gospel of
Christ."
A mutual council was called, w r hich met Wednesday, 1
March, 1780, John Shepard, jr., Dea. Nahum Baldwin,
and Mr. Amos Flint, appeared in behalf of the church and
asked that Mr. Barnard might be ordained. To this objec-
tion was made, and the council, says Mr. Jonathan Liver-
more, of Wilton, who was a member by courtesy, was in a
state of perplexity and doubt what course to pursue. After
hearing the statements of the parties interested, they went
into session and discussed the matter among themselves.
Finally, Rev. Zabdiel Adams, of Lunenberg, moved that
they proceed to the ordination of Mr. Barnard, as nothing
had been alleged against his moral or Christian character,
the opposition to him seeming to arise wholly from a desire
of individuals to be set off in a parish by themselves. He
stated that Mr. Barnard had failed of a settlement in
another place, and if he failed here he would be driven to
seek a livelihood in some other calling, and he thought it
would be advisable to give him the benefit of an ordination,
even if he remained but a short time in Amherst. To this
it was objected that it would be impossible for him to live
in peace and quiet in such a fire as was now raging here.
The committee of the church, being present, gave their
opinion that the time had not arrived for a division of the
town into tw r o or more parishes ; but pledged themselves
that they would advocate the division at the proper time.
Finally, late in the day of 2 March, 1780, the council
voted to proceed to the ordination of Mr. Barnard on the
following day. On this occasion Rev. Jacob Bigelow, of
XII.]
THE TOWN MINISTRY,
265
Sudbury, made the introductory prayer. Rev. Zabdiel
Adams, of Lunenberg, a cousin of President John Adams,
and grandfather of the late Chief Justice Bellows, of
Concord, preached the sermon from Matthew 10 : 16. The
sermon was not printed, but, knowing a little of the char-
acter of the preacher and the circumstances under which it
was delivered, we may infer that it did not lack in plain-
ness of speech. Rev. Ebenezer Bridge, of Chelmsford, gave
the charge ; Rev. Daniel Emerson, of Hollis, the right hand
of fellowship ; and Rev. Josiali Bridge, of East Sudbury,
made the concluding prayer.
The following bill, presented for the entertainment of
the members of the council, gives us some insight into the
customs of the times and the habits of the " venerable "
fathers who were " entertained " :
The TOWN OF AMHERST
To JONATHAN SMITH, Dr.
For keeping the Council at the Ordination of Rev. Mr.
Barnard, in currency, £1,323 5s.
In silver,
To 89 dinners, at Is.,
56 suppers, at 8d.,
84 breakfasts, at 9d.. .
43 lodgings, at -id.,
74£ mugs flip and toddy, at 10d.,
38 drams, at 2^d.,
17 cakes, at 7d.,
6 lbs. cheese, at 6d.,
16 mugs syder, at 3d.,
54 horses, 24 h'rs, at Is. each,
13 horses haited, at 4d. each,
v.17 8s. lid.
The feelings of a portion of the inhabitants of the town
in regard to the settlement of Mr. Barnard are shown in
the following paper, presented by them to the council prior to
his ordination.
.
£4
9s.
Od.
.
1
17
4
.
3
3
•
14
4
.
3
V)
1
.
7
11
.
9
11
.
3
,
4
.
14
•
4
4
206 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
To the venerable, the Ecclesiastical Council now convened for the purpose
of setting apart and Ordaining Mr. Jeremiah Barnard to the
Pastoral Charge of the Church of Christ <V People of the town of
Amherst :
The Memorial and Remonstrance of ns, Inhabitants of s'd Amherst,
humbly Sheweth: That your Memorialists think themselves much
Aggrieved, and are highly displeased with the Proceedings of that
Part of the Church & People of this s'd Town of Amherst, who have
taken it upon themselves (against so much Opposition) to call &
invite the s'd Mr. Barnard to take upon himself the sacred office &
character of a Gospel minister in this place, who — strictly speaking —
has never even been heard a Day on Probation for Settlement here.
As also with the Conduct of the s'd Mr. Barnard consequent there-
upon. First, then we are not (now) about to object to the legality of
the Town's Proceedings. But however Legal their Proceedings may
have been, we do aver that they have been by no means justifia-
ble. (In our humble Opinion) The Measures that they have adopted
have been rash, hasty, ungenerous, and Imprudent, & in the Room of
having a tendency to promote that Brotherly love and affection which
for a long time past have been the strongest Bands of our Union, have
a direct Tendency to promote Division, Malice, III will, Dissention,
Animosities, & heart burnings, one against another, which horrid train
of evils we humbly deprecate & earnestly pray God to avert.
It is to be observed that at the Time the several church and town
meetings were called, relative to these Transactions for the Purposes
afore mentioned, the Severity of the Season was such and the great &
extraordinary falls of snow about that time rendered a general
attendance of the Town morally impossible. In these circumstances,
Gentlemen (with submission), what ought to have been the conduct
of the Town, on a matter of so much Weight and Importance?
Ought they not to have adjourned these meetings from Time to Time
until the true sense of the People could have been deliberately taken ?
On the other hand, how have they conducted those weighty
matters? Have they not pushed them forward with the greatest
Precipitation ? and, notwithstanding they had but a small majority of
votes on their side, have, Lawyer like, grasped hard at a Point of
Law, not considering that extreme Right is oftentimes extreme wrong,
paying no manner of Attention to the Opposition, which, altho' they
are rather the Minority as to numbers, are the Majority in the pay of
the Town, &, in case Mr. Barnard should be settled here, we must be
compelled to pay the major part of his Settlement & Salary, which we
humbly conceive will be a grievance which cannot be justified either
upon the principles of Civil or Religious Liberty. With regard to
XII.]
THE TOWN MINISTRY.
2G7
Mr. Barnard, our Personal acquaintance with him is but slender.
Neither have we sought every Means & Opportunity for a more inti-
mate and perfect Knowledge of his Character & Abilities, which we
might have done, & should have done, perhaps, had we really esteemed
him as a Candidate on Probation for settlement among us. We
allege, therefore, nothing against his moral Character, Life, or Conver-
sation. Neither do we mean to accuse him of delivering any thing
contrary to sound Doctrine. But, however, we must say that he is not
the man of our choice, that he is not the man that we should choose
for our Spiritual Guide — for our Instructor in the great & deep mysteries
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Neither do his Discourses (however
doctriually sound they may be) appear to us to be delivered in Demon-
stration of the Spirit, &. with that Life. Power, & Energy, that we could
wish for, nor yet with that clearness and Perspicuity that we think we
should have a right to expect from a man thoroughly furnished to
every Good Work, & from one that might come to us in the fullness
of the Blessings of the Gospel of Peace. It is such a man that we
want, and we think we have a Right to covet earnestly the best
Gifts.
A/il ti> teach. To conclude. We hope that the sight of so many
names as will be annexed to this Memorial will lie sufficient to
convince Mr. Barnard that he ought not to think of settling where
there is so little Prospect of his being Beneficial unto the People or
comfortable to himself. But (with due submission), should Mr.
Barnard be so much mistaken as to think differently. & should t vt n
this venerable Council (in such case) proceed to Ordination, Candor
obliges us — however disagreeable the necessity of dissenting from so
worthy a Body — to say that we cannot, in justice to our own feelings,
patiently acquiesce in a Decision, in our Opinion so manifestly inju-
rious, both of the Bights of Civil and Peligious Liberty. We shall,
however, rest satisfied that the venerable Council will In;/ hands
suddenly on no man, & that the Prayer of this Petition will be fully
granted by their refusing to ordain — under the present circumstances —
Mr. .Jeremiah Barnard to the Pastoral care of the Chinch of Christ &
People of this Town. In patient expectation of which your Memo-
rialists, as in Duty bound, &c.
Darius Abbot,
Isaac Abbot,
John Arbuckle,
Kbenezer Averil,
John Averil,
Capt. Andrew Bradford.
Capt. John Bradford.
Lieut. William Bradford,
Jeremiah Burnam,
Joshua Burnam,
Stephen Burnam,
George Burns,
268
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
John Burns,
John Burns, jr.,
Thomas Burns,
Oliver Carlton,
Thomas Carlton,
Joshua Clark
John Cole,
Nathan Cole,
Samson Crosby,
Josiah Dodge,
Samuel Dodge,
Joseph Duncklee,
Lieut. Joseph Farnum,
Nathan Flint,
Ephraim French,
Laraford Gilbert,
Allen Goodridge,
Daniel Gould,
Richard Gould,
Jonathan Graham,
John Harvel,
John Harwood,
Nathaniel Haywood,
Samuel Henry,
William Hogg,
Benjamin Hopkins,
Ebenezer Hopkins,
James Hopkins,
Abner Hutchinson,
Benjamin Hutchinson,
Elisha Hutchinson,
Nathan Hutchinson, jr.,
Caleb Jones,
Caleb Jones, jr.,
Nathan Jones, jr.,
Josiah Kidder, jr.,
Solomon Kittredge,
William Lamson,
Joseph Langdell,
Daniel Love joy,
-Joseph Love joy,
William Melendy,
Lieut. John Mills,
Knight Nichols,
Timothy Nichols,
Robert Parker,
.John Patterson,
Capt. William Peabody,
Win. Peacock,
James Russell,
Daniel Smith,
Jacob Smith,
James Smith,
Timothy Smith,
Timothy Smith, jr.,
Benja. Sternes, jr.,
Samuel Steimes,
Amos Stickney,
Daniel Symonds,
Daniel Symonds, jr.,
Benja. Temple,
Thomas Town, jr.,
Joseph Tuck,
Enos Upton, jr.,
Ezekiel Upton,
William Wallace,
Richard Ward,
Abijah Wilkins,
Daniel Wilkins, jr.,
Joshua Wilkins,
AVilliam Wilkins,
Lemuel Winchester,
James Woodbury,
Peter Woodbury."
Solomon Kittredge, 2d,
31 March, 1780. Lieut. Reuben Mussey, Lieut, Ebenezer
Weston, and Mr. Daniel Stevens, were appointed a com-
mittee to settle and adjust accounts with Rev. Mr. Wilkins
from 11 June, 1779, to 11 June, 1780. They reported, 11
XTT.] THE TOWN MINISTRY. 269
September, 1780, that they found ,£532, 5s., assessed for
him the year past, which, reckoning corn at thirty dollars
per bushel, amounted to fifty-nine bushels, which, taken out
of 2371 bushels — which was due him according to contract
— there was yet due him 178i bushels, which at fifty
dollars per bushel amounted to £2,670. (These were
continental currency prices.)
11 September, 1780, voted that the town be assessed to
pay Mr. Jonathan Smith's account for providing for the
council at the ordination of Mr. Barnard, and Ebenezer
Weston, Col. Robert Read, and Esquire Shepard, were
appointed a committee to settle and adjust accounts with
Rev. Mr. Barnard.
12 March, 1781. A committee, having been appointed to
examine and report what sum of the present greatly depre-
ciated paper currency will make good the contract between
the town and Rev. Mr. Barnard for his settlement and
salary this year, reported for the settlement £21,240 lawful
money, and for salary, £9,439, 16s. Total of settle-
ment and salary, £30,679, 16s. An error of £93 was
discovered, which reduced the amount to £29,743, 16s. At
the same meeting, Daniel Campbell, Capt. Josiah Crosby,
and John Shepard, jr., were appointed a committee to settle
with Rev. Mr. Wilkins respecting his salary from June,
1780, to June, 1781, who reported, 15 January, 1782, that
he was entitled to 237 h bushels of Indian corn, or an
equivalent equal thereto, and that the selectmen had
assessed the town toward the payment thereof £4,000 old
continental currency, equal to forty pounds lawful silver
money, as adjusted by a late vote of the town, leaving due
to him and still unassessed, the sum of seven pounds ten
shillings, like lawful silver money, estimating corn at four
shillings per bushel.
From the records it would seem that a part only of Mr.
Barnard's settlement and salary for the first year of his
pastorate was paid at the time agreed upon. Hence, we
270 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
find that the town, at a meeting - held 4 February, 1783,
chose Lieut. Thomas Burns, Capt. Hezekiah Lovejoy, and
Mr. Amos Flint, a committee to settle with him " respecting
his settlement and first year's salary."
This attempt at a settlement with Mr. Barnard failed,
for we find the town voting, 3 December, 1783, not to pay
Mr. Barnard any more than he has received for his settle-
ment and first year's salary. It was also voted that the
selectmen assess the whole town in equal proportion to
eighty pounds a year, with lawful interest for the time the
whole town had to pay Mr. Barnard. They were also
directed to assess the remainder of the town, in equal
proportion to eighty pounds a year for the time between
the setting off the two parishes and the present time, with
interest for the same, for his salary, if he accepts it, and
they were directed to wait on Mr. Barnard to see if he
accepts of these votes of the town respecting his salary.
But Mr. Barnard did not accept ; and, at a meeting held
3 January, 1785, the town chose Capt. Josiah Crosby,
William Peabody, jr., and Mr. Thomas Burns, a committee
"To settle an action brought against the town by Rev. Mr. Barn-
ard, it a reasonable settlement can be had with him; otherwise to
dispute his action in court."
John Shepard, jr., and Capt. Nathan Hutchinson were
subsequently added to the committee, who were instructed
to petition for a continuance of the action to the next term
of the court, and that, in the intermediate time, the com-
mittee strive for a settlement with Mr. Barnard and make
report of their doings at some future meeting of the town,
and they were authorized to employ counsel if needed.
Enos Bradford, William Bradford, Daniel Campbell,
Jacob Curtice, Benjamin Davis, Bartholomew Dodge, James
Hartshorn, William Howard, Nathan Kendall, and Thomas
Wakefield, entered their protest against disputing said
action.
XII.] THE TOWN MINISTRY. 271
The following bond was given by Mr. Barnard to the
members of the First parish, before commencing - an action
against the town to recover the balance due on bis settle-
ment and salary in 1784 :
"Know all men by these presents, that I, Jeremiah Barnard, of
Amherst, in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hamp-
shire, Clerk, am Holden and stand firmly bound and obligated unto
that part of the town of Amherst that are not legally discharged from
paying any thing for my support in future as a minister of the gospel
in the just sum of one thousand pounds lawful silver money, to the
winch payment I bind myself, my Heirs, Administrators, Executors
and Assigns, firmly, by these presents, sealed with my Seal, Dated the
twenty-second day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and eighty-four.
The condition of the above obligation is such that, whereas the
above bounden Barnard, in order to recover the proportion of his
salary and settlement that is due to him for the years seventeen hun-
dred and eighty and eighty-one, and part of the year eighty-two, from
the South-west and North-west parishes of Amherst, must commence
and prosecute an action against the old parish, jointly with the other
two parishes, although the inhabitants of the old parish have voted to
pay him their proportion thereof. Now if such action shall be com-
menced and prosecuted, if said Barnard shall not suffer his execution
to be served upon the persons and estates of the inhabitants of the
said Old Parish who shall have paid the rates already assessed
against them, for the said Barnard, within the term of six months
from the date of this instrument, ami shall not put them, nor any of
them, to any cost or charge thereby, and shall discharge their part
and proportion of such judgment or execution thereon, on request,
then the foregoing obligation is to be void ; and otherwise to be in lull
force.
JEREMIAH BARNARD.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, in presence of us,
SAMUEL WILKIN'S.
THOMAS WAKEFIELD.
Rev. Mr. Wilkins, senior minister of the town, died 11
February, 1784, and his funeral was attended on the 17th,
when Rev. Mr. Burnap, of Merrimack, preached from 1
Samuel xxv : 1. The town, at the annual meeting, 8 March,
1784, voted four pounds, live shillings, and one penny, to
272 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
defray the funeral charges, and directed the selectmen " to
furnish gloves for the bearers."
John Shepard, jr., Daniel Campbell, and Thomas Wake-
field were appointed a committee to erect a monument over
his grave.
The monument, a choice specimen of the workmanship
of the time, stands in the old cemetery, in the rear of the
town-house, bearing the inscription,
" ' Ecce Addisce Vivere.'
ERECTED
BY THE TOWN OF AMHERST
To the Memory of
REV. DANIEL WILK1NS,
Who departed this life Feb. 11, 178:},* in the 73d //ear of his age
and i'2il of his ministry.
He was a Gentleman of good natural and acquired abilities ; he
received the honors of Harvard University at Cambridge, in 1736, and
was separated to ye work of ye ministry in 1741, at which time his
church consisted of only five male members and his Charge of four-
teen Families. As a Minister he was laborious ; his Public Discourses
were liberal and Sentimental, pathetic, solemn, and persuasive. He
was endowed with a venerable presence and Commanding Voice and
an Emphatic Delivery.
lb' had a tender Feeling for his Charge, and was a Partner with
them in all their Joys and Sorrows ; his conversation with them was
Enlightening, Edifying, and Comforting.
He was an Example of Patience and Meekness, and always endeav-
ored to promote Peace. His natural Temper was remarkably Sweet
and pleasant. He had a high relish for ye refined pleasures of Friend-
ship. His behaviour was not ceremonious, but grave, Yet Sprightly
and agreeable. In a word, he was a Devoted Minister and Faithful
Christian, a good companion, a tender Husband, and an indulgent
Parent.
' The Sweet Remembrance of the Just
Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust.' "
*An error. From contemporary records it appears that Mr. Wilkins died in 1784.
14 March, 1785, the town voted to pay Mr. Barnard
seventy-four pounds, eight shillings, it being the balance
due of his first year's salary and settlement. They also
voted to pay him at the rate of <£100 per year until the
XII. ] THE FIRST PARISH. 273
setting off the South-west parish, with interest on the same
after it became due, to the date of Mr. Constable Harts-
horn's first list of taxes assessed for Mr. Barnard.
This vote seems to have settled the matter, and it was
evidently brought about by the joint action of the voters of
the First and South-west parishes.
13 March, 1786. Voted that "ten pounds annually be
paid to Widow Wilkins, relict of their late minister, during
her natural life, to commence from this time."
THE FIRST PARISH.
For some years after the incorporation of the Second
and Third parishes, the business of the First parish was
transacted at meetings called by the selectmen of the town,
at which provision was made for the payment of Mr.
Barnard's salary, repairing the meeting-house, fencing the
graveyard, etc.
At a meeting held 12 March, 1787, twenty feet in length,
in the centre of the front gallery of the meeting-house,
extending from the front breastwork of the gallery to the
rear of the back seats of the same, were appropriated for
the use of the singers, who were allowed to accommodate
themselves in such a way as they chose, at their own
expense, " provided they did not obstruct the sight of the
back pews."
Doubtless complaints were made of the manner in which
the business of the parish was conducted, as we find that
Mr. Justice Samuel Wilkins issued his warrant, 21 Febru-
ary, 1?89, in obedience to the request of ten freeholders of
the parish, calling a meeting on the 9th day of the follow-
ing month for the purpose of organizing the parish.
At that meeting Samuel Wilkins was chosen moderator,
Samuel Wilkins, Joshua Lovejoy, and Robert Fletcher,
assessors, Jacob Curtice, collector, and Ephraim Barker,
treasurer ; and it was voted to pay the collector sixpence
on the pound for collecting the parish taxes.
18
274 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Grants of money were made from year to year for the
support of Mr. Barnard and paying the current expenses of
the parish ; and in the warrant calling' a meeting, 21 Decem-
ber, 1789, the voters were asked if they would elect one
man to represent them in the General Court the next
session !
For some years there seems to have been trouble in
regard to the amount of salary to be paid Mr. Barnard.
Several committees were appointed to confer with him in
regard to it ; but no satisfactory settlement was made until
19 December, 1794, when a proposition, made by him, was
accepted by the parish.
According to this arrangement he was to receive an
annual salary of ninety pounds, stated in silver money at
six shillings eight pence per ounce, payable in two install-
ments, — the first on the third day of March, and the second
on the third day of September, — annually, with interest
from the time of payment stipulated, when it was not paid
within three months from that time ; and, if he became
unable to discharge the duties of his office, from age or
infirmity, he was to receive forty pounds a year during his
natural life.
Thirty dollars was voted "to be expended in teaching
psalmody," at a parish meeting held 19 March, 1798.
On the incorporation of the Second parish as the town of
Mont Vernon, the necessity for a parish organization, sepa-
rate from that of the town, ceased, and it was abandoned —
the First parish becoming the town of Amherst.
THE MINISTERIAL LAND.
In accordance with the requirements of the grant of the
township, one lot in each of the several divisions of the
town — being one one hundred and twenty-third part of the
whole — was set apart for the ministry ; and, at the annual
town-meeting in March, 1794, William Gordon, Samuel
Dana, and Daniel Campbell, were appointed a committee to
XTL] THE MINISTERIAL LAND. 275
inquire into the state of this land. They reported, 8
December, 1794,
"That upon examination of the proprietors' books, they found that
lota were laid out and appropriated to that purpose in each of the
several divisions in said town, and they were of opinion that the town
had right, and that it was their duty to take all lawful means to
prevent strip and waste being made thereon, and advised that the
Selectmen be authorized and directed to prosecute, without exception,
all those persons against whom they may judge sufficient proof can be
made, who have in time past been guilty, or shall hereafter be guilty,
of trespassing on said land."
At the annual meeting in March, 1797, the town voted to
sell the ministerial land, and appointed the selectmen a
committee to carry the vote into effect.
To this Mr. Barnard objected, saying the town had no
right to sell the land ; but the town, at a meeting, held 26
June, 1797, directed the selectmen to proceed in the sale.
It was also voted that the money received for the land
should be equitably divided between the First and Second
parishes, and placed at interest, the minister of the First
parish to have the annual income from the share of that
parish, and the minister of the Second parish the income
from the share of his parish. This arrangement seems to
have been satisfactory to all parties, and the ministerial
land was accordingly sold.
Many votes are recorded excusing persons from payment
of taxes as they claimed to belong to other parishes.
A case arose in the parish, in 1798, which gave rise to
the first judicial decision made in the State in favor of
religious toleration.
Dr. John Mussey, a resident in the parish at that time,
was, 31 December, 1795, assessed seventy-five cents toward
defraying the current charges of the parish, and, shortly
after, two dollars and twenty-three cents toward paying Mr.
Barnard's salary that year. These assessments he refused
to pay, as he was a Presbyterian. After some delay the
276 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
parish officers directed the collector to collect them by
distraint. Mr. Mussey, refusing to pay, was arrested and
confined in jail, but finally paid the taxes and costs, under
protest, and was released.
At the March term of court in 1800, lie brought a suit
against the assessors of the parish to recover the money
and costs.
This suit the parish voted to defend, and appointed
Samuel Wilkins, Daniel Campbell, and Charles H. Ather-
ton, a committee to manage it in their behalf.
After hearing the evidence produced, and pleas of counsel,
the case was decided for the plaintiff, at the term of the
superior court held at Amherst, in May, 1803, Chief Justice
Jeremiah Smith holding that, although the beliefs of the
Congregationalists and Presbyterians were the same, they
differed in their church government and discipline, and
were therefore different sects.
In this decision Judge Livermore concurred ; but Judge
Farrar, who had before decided that Congregationalists and
Universalists were of the same sect, dissented.
The parish afterward voted to raise $250 to pay the
execution and contingent expenses of the suit.
Mr. Barnard, and a large majority of his clerical brethren
in New England, took decided ground in opposition to the
measures adopted by the general government in the contro-
versy with Great Britain, which resulted in the declaration
of war against that country in 1812 ; and his hearers on
the Sabbath were left in no doubt as to his views on public
affairs, which were often expressed with a considerable
degree of warmth.
For an unseemly display of temper in the pulpit, he was
called to account by the town, at a meeting held for the
choice of presidential electors in November, 1812, when a
committee, consisting of William Fisk, Jedediah K. Smith,
Daniel Warner, John Secombe, and Daniel Campbell, Esq.,
was appointed to confer with him relative to his late
XIL] mr. Barnard's letter. 277
" Mysterious conduct in the pulpit on the Sabbath of our Lord, the
sixteenth of August last, his conduct generally, and particularly his
wilful neglect of duty on the fast of the twentieth of August last."
Clifton Claggett, Charles H. Atherton, and Robert
Means, were afterward added to the committee, and quite a
controversy was carried on between the parties, of which but
little record now remains. One of his letters, sent to the
committee — which is not now to be found — was long after-
ward spoken of by Esquire Campbell as " Mr. Barnard's
great gun."
His parochial labors were greatly increased by the sick-
ness which prevailed in town in 1814. His health became
impaired. Perhaps traces of the mental malady b}~ which
he was afterward afflicted began to make their appearance.
Some dissatisfaction with his ministry existed, and the
settlement of a colleague, who should share the burdens of
the ministry with him, began to be talked of. At a meeting
of the town, held 18 September, 1815, Charles H. Atherton,
William Fisk, Clifton Claggett, Col. Robert Means, and
Matthias Spalding, were appointed a committee to confer
with him and ascertain upon what terms he would consent
to have a colleague settled with him in the ministry. At
an adjourned meeting, held 30 October, 1815, the following-
communication, received from Mr. Barnard by the commit-
tee, was laid before the town :
Gentlemen of the Committee :
1 thank the town for their politeness in consulting me upon a
subject of so much consequence to their peace and happiness, and by
a committee so respectable, of whose friendship to me and regard to
the best interests of the town I can entertain no doubt. I had knowl-
edge of the objects now contemplated but just before the late town-
meeting, and have been no adviser to the steps that have been taken,
and 1 can say I still feel a willingness to serve the town so far as I
am able and in the best manner I am capable of ; but when I reflect
upon the greatness of my labors for the two last years, and the
unusual efforts necessary to accomplish them, and consider the
reduced state to which those exertions have brought me, both in body
and mind, it appears, Gentlemen, impossible I should ever perform
278 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
.-i
the duty of a minister through another such general and distressing
sickness as either of those with which it hath pleased God to visit
this people the two last winters. I am furthermore sensible, Gentle-
men, that in my present debilitated state that correctness, precision,
and flow of good argument, — so beautiful in composition, — and that
energy and pathos so pleasing in delivery, always gratifying to an
attentive hearer, which may be hoped for in a man in the prime or
meridian of life, is not to be expected of me in this wintry age.
From these considerations, Gentlemen, and from a desire that my
people may be better furnished with the means of Christian edifica-
tion and instruction, I am willing, yea, it will afford me a peculiar
pleasure, should it be a gratification to them, to relinquish to the town
the one half of my present salary whenever they shall have settled
another man with me to take the burden and responsibility of the
ministry off of my hands ; — that is, I am willing to relinquish one
hundred and fifty dollars annually toward the support of such min-
istry out of the sum the town now pay me as a yearly salary, and
will relinquish the same ever after the day of his ordination, should
such ordination take place in my lifetime. But, Gentlemen, should
the town think best to postpone for the present all attempts for
securing to themselves a better supply in the way proposed, 1 shall
continue for the present to serve them with pleasure, and in the best
manner I am capable of. I have no preference to dying in my bed
rather than in my pulpit, and I had rather die promoting the edifica-
tion of my people and laying the foundation of their salvation than to
be employed in the most lucrative office in the power of man to bestow.
Nevertheless, for the better spiritual edification of my people, I
sincerely wish they may be agreed to settle a better and more capable
man with me, to officiate in my stead ; but, if an object adapted to be
so useful and advantageous to the spiritual interest of this people,
and so pleasant to me, can not take place, it may be well for Gentle-
men to remember that if my performances have depreciated, my salary
has depreciated likewise, and if the depreciation of the latter has been
the cause of the depreciation of the former, perhaps they may yet find
a remedy for the evil under which they suffer, though it be evidently
too late to find a remedy that will be effectual. Aly health is gone,
my constitution broken, and I can look for life here but a very little
longer.
Wishing, therefore, divine success to attend the measures of the
town respecting this important undertaking, I subscribe myself, Gen-
tlemen, your most obedient humble servant in the Gospel of Christ.
JEREMIAH BARNARD.
October 28, 1815.
REV. NATHAN LORD.
XIL] SETTLEMENT OF MR. LORD. 279
After hearing the communication the town chose Charles
II. Atherton, William Pisk, and Col. Robert Means a
committee to procure a candidate to preach from four to
eight Sabbaths.
SETTLEMENT OF REV. NATHAN LORD.
29 January, 1816. The town voted to concur with the
church in giving Mr. Nathan Lord a call to settle as
colleague in the work of the ministry with the Rev. Jere-
miah Barnard in this town.
William Pisk, John Secombe, Thomas Underwood, Col.
Robert Means, Matthias Spalding, William Read, William
Dole, Daniel Campbell, jr., Levi Dodge, David Stewart,
Richard Boylston, and John Kehew, were appointed a com-
mittee to " take into consideration and report to the town
at this meeting what compensation the town will offer Mr.
Lord as a salary."
After consultation the committee reported that they had
unanimously agreed that in their opinion $700 annually
paid to Mr. Lord during the time he should officiate as a
gospel minister in this town would be a suitable compen-
sation for his services, and they recommended that sum
for the adoption of the town.
The report of the committee was adopted, and it was
further voted that $100, annually, should be added to Mr.
Lord's salary after the decease of Mr. Barnard, beside the
interest of the money derived from the sale of the minis-
terial land.
William Fisk, Robert Means, W T illiam Read, Rev. Mr.
Barnard, and John Secombe, were appointed a committee
to transmit a record of the votes of this meeting to Mr.
Lord.
The following letter was received from Mr. Lord, in
answer to the communication of the committee of the
church and town :
280 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
"South Berwick, Me., Feb'y 16, 1816.
To the Committees of the Church and Town of Amherst, N. II.
Brethren and Friends : Your respective communications by
Capt. Secombe, of the 29th Jan'y, have been under serious considera-
tion since that time. 1 have submitted them to experienced and
judicious friends to obtain their counsel respecting them, and have been
careful to seek direction from the unerring spirit.
The circumstances in which I have been placed in relation to
another people have occasioned much perplexity of mind, having been
called by them to settle in the ministry. I have found no small diffi-
culty in comparing their invitation with yours. To determine in
what ' vineyard' it was my duty to labour has been no easy task, and
I have trembled lest I should enter that for which God had not
appointed me.
I have, however, been induced, by an increasing conviction of duty
and by the united counsel of my friends, to give a negative to the
proposals of the people of Arundel. On the same account, 1 am led
to give, and do hereby give an affirmation to your invitation. I
accept the proposals of the church and town of Amherst, and I beg
leave to say that these proposals are satisfactory, and that the una-
nimity with which they were made is highly gratifying to my feelings.
My confidence is strengthened by your expressions of good will, and
should I become your minister 1 shall go among you with the senti-
ments of the warmest affection, and I trust with sincere desires and
resolutions to promote your best good.
It is proper to say that the considerations which have influenced my
mind and the minds of my friends in regard to this acceptance of
your invitation are briefly the following : The town of Amherst
presnts to a minister of the gospel a wide and extensive field of useful,
ness. This field has been opened to me without a special hinderance
All the indications of providence relating to my settlement anion g
you have been peculiarly striking, both at the time of my preaching
at Amherst and in your subsequent measures. In consequence of
these things there is a reasonable ground to hope that here 1 may
fulfill the object of my ministry and benefit the church of Christ.
And here I avow my object in complying with your proposals. It is
to promote the interests of the Christian church. It is 'to save my
own soul and the souls of other.' And, in the accomplishment of this
object, I shall, by the grace of God assisting me, endeavor to regulate
myself by the principles of the gospel. I shall know as your minister
no party distinctions. I shall seek to understand the mind and will
of God as revealed in the holy scriptures, to preach plainly and
affectionately the doctrines of Christianity, and enforce its precepts.
XIL] MR. lord's letter. 281
I shall strive to maintain 'the watch and discipline ' of the church, to
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. These
things, with divine assistance, I shall observe and do, and shall
confine myself to the ' ministry of the word,' for ' I have determined
not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him cruci-
fied.' But, my brethren, the work of the ministry is arduous. I feel
my unworthiness and insufficiency. I shall need your forbearance,
your counsel and assistance. Above all I shall need your prayers to
God that he would make my way prosperous and that his grace may
be sufficient for me. I ask a remembrance in your petitions to the
throne of grace that I may be upright, that I may be faithful and
successful. I beg leave to present to the church and town of Amherst
my most grateful acknowledgments for the exceeding candor, affec-
tion, and respect, which have been exercised toward me. And I pray
that we may all have the direction of the Holy Spirit, that we may be
permitted long to dwell happily together in this world, and at length
be gathered with redeemed spirits and enjoy that rest which remaineth
for the people of God.
I remain, with affection and respect, Your servant in Christ,
</*
Rev'd Jeremiah Barnard, C'k Com.
Rev'd Jeremiah Barnard, "1
Messrs. Robert Means, ,-, ... ,. ,,
,,, T ^, Committee of the
\\ ILLIAM t ISK, > rr s A l ,
,,r -,-> 1 own of Amherst.
\\ illiam Bead, ■'
John Secombe, J
P. S. With leave of providence, I expect to be in Amherst by the
28th of the month to attend to such arrangements as may be necessary
in consequence of this communication. X. L."
12 March, 1816, the town voted to concur with the
church in the ordination of Mr. Nathan Lord on the fourth
Wednesday of May next.
John Secombe, Edmund Parker, and Col. Robert Means,
were chosen a committee to act with the committee chosen
by the church to issue letters missive to other churches to
be present on the occasion.
282 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
The Selectmen, Edmund Parker, and Robert Read, were
appointed a committee to provide for the council, and make
such other arrangements as might be necessary for the
ordination.
Maj. Turner Crooker and Capt. Peter Patterson were
appointed marshals for the day, and it was voted to pay
Mr. Lord one half of his first year's salary at the expiration
of six months from his settlement.
Mr. Lord was ordained 22 May, 1816. The sermon on
that occasion was preached by Rev. Asa McFarland, of
Concord, from Mark xin ; 4. The charge was given by the
senior pastor, and the right hand of fellowship by Rev.
Humphrey Moore, of Milford.
Mr. Barnard was styled an Arminian in his religious
belief, and had but little sympathy with the views of his
Calvimstic brethren. In his church all shades of belief
were tolerated, and all had an opportunity, by the system
of ministerial exchanges then practiced, to occasionally
hear their own peculiar views expounded and enforced.
Mr. Lord, on the contrary, was a decided Calvinist, and
his teaching's corresponding with his belief, a diversity of
opinion among the members of the church soon became
apparent.
A report of a conversation between Mr. Lord and a
member of his church, shortly before her death, published
in the Cabinet in November, 1817, was the commencement
of a somewhat protracted correspondence between him and
Hon. Charles H. Atherton, carried on in the columns of
that paper until the editor declined its further publication.
The discussions then in progress in the churches in
Massachusetts, the publication of Dr. Channing's sermon at
the ordination of Mr. Sparks, at Baltimore, and the passage
of the "toleration law," by the Legislature of the State, in
June, 1819, intensified the feeling then prevalent.
A Universalist society was formed in town, of which the
required notice was published 9 September, 1819, and
XII.] THE UNITARIAN CONTROVERSY. 283
David Holmes, one of the deacons in Mr. Lord's church,
published a pamphlet in which he defended the Unitarian
doctrines.
In August, 1822, application was made to the selectmen
for the use of the meeting-house — then the property of the
town — one Sabbath, the desk to be occupied on that day by
Rev. Henry Ware, of Cambridge. To this the selectmen
gave their consent, officially and personally. The senior
pastor was also willing the use of the house should be
granted for that purpose, but Mr. Lord objected. Mr. Ware
arrived in town for the pupose of filling an engagement to
preach, but was met by a letter from Mr. Lord protesting
against it, saying it
"Could not be supposed that he would favor his engagement, or
acquiesce in the wishes of his friends."
He closed by saying that he
" Presumed he would at least respect his feelings and rights, so far
as to refrain from the use of the desk in this place, for the supply of
which he considered himself alone responsible, and which was, there-
fore, by received usage, subject to his control."
A communication from Clifton Claggett and others,
members of the church in Amherst, of similar tenor, was
handed to Mr. Ware at the same time. To each of these
communications Mr. Ware returned an appropriate answer
before leaving the place. The next day he filled his
engagement by preaching at the court-house, and his dis-
course was afterward published.
A part of the members of the church, under the care of
Mr. Lord, having seceded, application was made by them to
the town for the use of the meeting-house such a portion
of the whole time as the proportion of their polls and
ratable estates should bear to all the polls and ratable
estates in town. This, at a special meeting held 18 Novem-
ber, 1822, the town refused to grant, the vote standing —
yeas, 87 ; nays, 131.
284 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
A similar request, made at the annual meeting in March
following, was also denied, the vote standing — yeas, 87 ;
nays, 17'.'.
At the annual meeting in March, 1826, the town voted to
dismiss an article in the warrant asking that the use of the
meeting-house should be granted to the Universalist. society
on the second Sunday of the following September.
Two more applications for the use of the house by the
Universalists were denied, the vote on the last being — yeas,
42 ; nays, 91.
In March, 1818, Samuel Wilkins, Robert Means, William
Fisk, Daniel Campbell, and David Stewart, were appointed
to examine into the business transacted between the town
and the Rev. Mr. Barnard, respecting his support during the
continuance of the first contract, and also to report whether
it was expedient to discharge him from taxes already
assessed on him, and excuse him from taxation in future.
They reported, 21 September, 1818, that in their opinion it
would be equitable that the town should relinquish the
taxes assessed on Mr. Barnard's interest in the middle of
the town, including one horse and two cows and the real
estate on which he now lives, and that for the future he be
exempted from taxation on the same. Their report was
accepted.
In March, 1820, the town voted that all taxes assessed
on Mr. Barnard, except those on his farm and stock now
occupied by Joseph Spalding, should be remitted, and that
he be excused from taxation this year, except on the
property above named.
In March, 1821, they voted to remit all taxes already
assessed on Mr. Barnard, and that for the future he should
not be taxed.
Eight hundred and fifty dollars was raised annually for
the salaries of the ministers until 1 823, when the selectmen
received the following letter from Mr. Lord :
XII.] THE TOWN MINISTRY. 285
"Amherst, March 25, 1823.
To the Selectmen of Amherst:
Gentlemen: The pressure of these times upon the agricultural
interest, and the withdrawing of a considerable number of the inhab-
itants of this town from the support of the ministry, may have made
the burden of the ministerial salary inconvenient to many of the
persons who are now called upon to bear it.
Believing it to be the duty of ministers to share, so far as they can
consistently do it, in whatever sacrifice may be thought necessary to
the maintenance of the Gospel, I am freely disposed to abate some-
thing of the terms of my contract made with the town at my ordina-
tion. Accordingly, 1 hereby relinquish one hundred dollars of my
stipulated annual salary, which will now, in view of the tax usually
assessed on me, be reduced to a sum short of six hundred dollars. And
I do this for so long a time as the interests of religion in this place
may be thought to require, or the necessary provision for my family
will in any wise allow it.
Yours, very respectfully,
X. LORD.
Capt. John Seoombe,
Capt. Daniel Campbell,
Mr. Israel Fuller."
From this time until 1828 but $750 annually was
assessed to pay the ministers' salaries. In 1828, $850 was
raised, and from 1829 to 1831, inclusive, $150 was voted
for that purpose. In March, 1832, the town, not greatly to
its credit, voted to dismiss so much of the article in the
warrant for the annual meeting as related to Rev. Jeremiah
Barnard's salary, and no provision was made for its pay-
ment in 1833 or 1834.
1 September, 1831, they voted to make no defence in the
action commenced by Rev. Jeremiah Barnard against the
town of Amherst.
In January, 1826, Mr. Lord was afflicted with a violent
cold, which affected his voice in such a manner that it was
with difficulty he could speak. He however continued to
supply the desk until the last Sunday in February, when
his voice almost entirely failed. From that time until
April, 1827, he was unable to preach, and was absent a
286 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
great part of the time on journeys for the recovery of his
health. He preached 12 April, 1827, and his voice rapidly
improved. In May, 1828, his voice again failed, and, being
advised by physicians that the prospect of regaining it for
some time at least was small, he accepted the presidency
of Dartmouth College, to which he was elected in August
of that year.
In consequence of this he asked to be dismissed from the
pastoral care of the church.
A committee was appointed by the church, shortly after,
to act with the pastor in arranging for the meeting of a
council to act upon the question of his dismissal.
The council met 22 October, 1828, and, after hearing the
statements of the parties, voted that the relation existing
between Mr. Lord and the church should be dissolved on
and after the 22d of November following.
3 November, 1828, the town voted that the contract
which existed between the town and Nathan Lord be
dissolved, the dissolution to take place when the pastoral
relation to the church should be dissolved.
With the exception of carrying out the contract made
with Mr. Barnard, the agency of the town, in the support of
the ministry, ceased with the dismission of Mr. Lord.
Mr. Barnard died 15 January, 1835, at the age of eighty-
four years, nearly all the members of the church and con-
gregation at the time of his settlement having preceded him
to the grave.
This closed the town ministry in Amherst. It embraced
the pastorates of
Daniel Wilkins, proprietary and town, 42-j years ;
Jeremiah Barnard, town and parish, 54| years ;
Nathan Lord, colleague, 12£ years.
At the annual meeting in March, 1835, the town voted
that the ministerial fund, or so much of it as might be
necessary for the purpose, should be appropriated to pay
the claim of Rev. Mr. Barnard against the town, and at the
XII.] THE TOWN MINISTRY. 287
next annual meeting the selectmen reported that they had
paid, in settlement of an execution in favor of Mr. Barnard's
estate, the sum of #476.24.
At a meeting held 22 March, 1836, the town of Mont
Vernon voted to take the " ministerial money," so called,
to defray the current expenses of the town, the same to be
paid into the treasury for that purpose ; and so the avails of
the sale of the "lot for the ministry," in Amherst, were
disposed of.
The town was fortunate in the selection of its religious
teachers. Mr. Wilkins well deserves the title of Father of
the town. Among the first of the settlers, he identified
himself thoroughly in all movements for their safety and
well being. He toiled with them in the forests and fields,
shared their poverty, educated their children, and in times
of danger encouraged them by his advice and example. It
is gratifying to know that in all their bitter dissensions, no
one thought of assailing him. The inscription they caused
to be engraved on the stone which marks his burial place
gives their estimate of his character.
Mr. Barnard was altogether unlike his predecessor. His
lot was cast in stormy times, among a divided people, and he
possessed a will and energy to breast the storm. Not always
wise or prudent in his utterances, his people soon learned
that in a contest with him there were blows to take as well
give. He lived and prospered where a man of a more quiet
and peaceable disposition would have been crushed between
the contending factions in the town. More tolerant of
religious than political differences, he kept the people
of his parish together, and when he retired they were
ready to give a cordial welcome to his successor.
Mr. Lord came to his work while yet in the spring-time of
life, a thoroughly educated gentleman, with decided convic-
tions and an iron will. The civil dissensions in the town
had been healed by the incorporation of the different
parishes into towns ; but differences of opinion existed in
288 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
his church which he was called upon to reconcile or combat.
Into this contest he threw himself, with his whole energy,
managing his case with consummate skill. The failure
of his voice compelled his resignation, but he had thoroughly
prepared this place for the reception of his whole-souled,
earnest successor, Silas Aiken.
XIII.] THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 289
CHAPTER XIII.
CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. ITS COVENANT. SETTLEMENT
OF MR, WILKINS AND MR. BARNARD. SETTLEMENT OF MR.
LORD. — THE UNITARIAN CONTROVERSY. CLOSE OF MR. LORD'S
MINISTRY. ORGANIZATION OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
AND SOCIETY. — SETTLEMENT OF MR. AIKEN. TEMPERANCE
RESOLUTIONS. — RESIGNATION OF MR. AIKEN. SETTLEMENT OF
MR. ADAMS. HIS RESIGNATION. SETTLEMENT OF MR. SAVAGE.
ANTI-SLAVERY TROUBLES. DISMISSAL OF MR. SAVAGE.
SETTLEMENT OF MR. DAVIS. BUILDING A NEW CHAPEL.
THE " LAWRENCE," " HARTSHORN," AND MUSIC FUNDS.
RESIGNATION OF DR. DAVIS. SETTLEMENT OF MR. LELAND.
OFFICERS, PRESENT AND PAST, OF THE CHURCH. ORGANIZA-
TION OF THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY. THE CHRISTIAN, OR
UNITARIAN, SOCIETY. SETTLEMENT OF MR. SEWALL. THE
NEW MEETING-HOUSE BUILT. SOLD TO THE BAPTIST SOCIETY.
THE FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY. ORGANIZATION OF THE BAP-
TIST CHURCH ON CHESTNUT HILL. REMOVED TO " THE
PLAIN." PURCHASE OF THE NEW MEETING-HOUSE. PASTORS.
THE METHODIST SOCIETY. ITS ORGANIZATION. BUILDING
AND DEDICATION OF THE CHAPEL. MINISTERS. CHURCH
MUSIC.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Congregational Church in Souhegan West was
organized 22 September, 1741, and consisted of Daniel
Wilkins, the pastor elect, Samuel Leman, Israel Towne,
Samuel Lamson, Caleb Stiles, and Humphrey Hobbs.
19
290 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
On the following day Mr. Wilkins was ordained and
installed as its pastor. Immediately after the ordination
services six females were admitted to church membership.
The church was the third formed in Hillsborough county,
— that in Nashua, organized in 1685, and that in Notting-
ham West (now Hudson), formed in 1787, only preceding
it.
The articles of its covenant were as follows :
" We give ourselves up to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
as the only living and true God, and unto Jesus Christ, our only
Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King, avouching the Lord to be our
God, and by the assistance of his Holy Spirit to cleave unto this one
God and Mediator, as persons in solemn covenant with him.
2. We also promise to give up our natural offspring to the Lord,
solemly binding ourselves to walk together in the ways of God's
worship, and to cleave to his ordinances according to the rules of his
word.
3. We promise to live in the mortification of our sin, and to endeav-
our the mortification of it in others, so far as the rules require, and to
submit ourselves to the government of Christ in his church, and obey
the orders thereof.
4. We promise to train up all under our care in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord.
5. We promise to walk before God in our houses, and maintain the
worship of Cod therein.
6. We promise to study to maintain the peace and purity of the
worship of God with us, that the blessing of God may be vouchsafed
to this part of his heritage."
Humphrey Hobbs was elected deacon 6 January, 1742-
43, but resigned the following year to enter the military
service in the war then in progress against the French and
Indians, and James Cochran was elected to fill the vacancy
caused by his resignation.
The sacrament of the Lord's supper was usually admin-
istered five times in each year.
The first baptism of which we have any record was that
of Deborah, daughter of William and Sarah Lancy, in
September, 1743,
XIII.] THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 291
Neither Mr. Wilkins or Mr. Barnard left much account
of the proceedings of the church during their pastorates,
and the little left is now mislaid or lost.
After a ministry of thirty-four years, Mr. Wilkins's
faculties, physical and mental, failed, and the town made
preparations for settling a colleague. After two or more
ineffectual attempts with other parties, Mr. Jeremiah Barn-
ard was invited to become colleague pastor with Mr.
Wilkins. He accepted the invitation, and was ordained and
installed 3 March, 1780. The action of the church in
regard to his settlement has been preserved and is here
given.
At a church meeting held in Amherst on Tuesday, 9
Nov., 1779, Rev. Jacob Burnap, moderator, it was
" Voted, First that the church were satisfied with the preaching and
ministration of Rev. Jeremiah Barnard since he has been among us.
Secondly, Voted to give Mr. Jeremiah Barnard a call and invita-
tion to take the pastoral care and oversight of this Church and flock
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to settle with us in the Gospel ministry.
Thirty-one were present, of whom twenty-six voted yea, and five
voted nay.
Thirdly, voted to adjourn this meeting till Monday next.
Monday, Nov. 15, 1779. The Ch'ch met according to adjournment.
The first vote again called and passed in the affirmative. The second
vote again called : yeas, 47 ; nays, 8.
* * * * *********
Dea. Boufcwell, Daa. Wilkins, and John SheparL jr., Esq., were chosen
a committee to wait on Mr. Barnard and acquaint him with the pro-
ceedings of the church. Amos Flint, John Shepard, jr., Esq., and
William Bradford, were chosen a committee to wait upon the Select,
men to request them to call a town-meeting to see if the town will
concur in giving .Mr. Jeremiah Barnard a call and invitation to settle
with us in the work of the Gospel ministry. Attest,
JACOB BURNAP, Moderator.
SAMUEL WILKINS, Clerk.
An account of the long ministry of Mr. Barnard may be
found in another place. At last propositions were made to
him by the town for the settlement of a colleague to share
292 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
the labors of the ministry with him. To these he returned
a favorable answer, and, after hearing a candidate several
Sabbaths, the church, at a meeting held 13 January, 1810,
voted unanimously that Mr. Nathan Lord be invited to
settle in the work of the ministry and take the oversight of
this church and congregation, as colleague pastor with Rev.
Jeremiah Barnard.
Voted, that Rev. Mr. Barnard furnish Mr. Lord with a
copy of the above vote.
Robert Means, Esq., William Fisk, Esq., and Dr. Mat-
thias Spalding, were appointed a committee to wait upon
the selectmen of the town, acquaint them with the proceed-
ings of the church, and request them to call a meeting of
the town to see whether the town will concur with the
church in the settlement of Mr. Lord in the work of the
ministry, as above proposed, and what salary they will offer
him for his support.
The town having concurred with the church in giving
Mr. Lord an invitation to settle in the ministry in this
place, and made satisfactory provision for his support, he
signified his acceptance of the call.
A council was called for his examination and ordination,
which met 22 May, 1816. The churches represented were
those in Dunstable, Bedford, New Boston, Mont Vernon,
Lyndeborough, Wilton, Milford, and Brookline. Rev.
Thomas Beede was chosen moderator of the council, after
which Rev. Jeremiah Barnard and Rev. Asa McFarland
were admitted as members. Mr. Beede then resigned the
chair, and Rev. Mr. Barnard was elected moderator, and
Mr. Beede scribe.
Documents, consisting of the call of the church, the
record of the action of the town, and the answer of Mr.
Lord, were then laid before the council, after the reading
of which the usual examination of the candidate was made,
which, being satisfactory, the council voted to proceed to his
XIIL] THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 293
ordination and installation at half past eleven o'clock this
morning.
The exercises on this occasion were :
Prayer by Rev. Thomas Beede, of Wilton.
Sermon by Rev. Asa McFarland, of Concord, from Mark
xiii : 4.
Consecrating prayer by Rev. David McGregor, of Bed-
ford.
Charge by Rev. Jeremiah Barnard.
Right hand of fellowship by Rev. Humphrey Moore, of
Milford.
Concluding prayer by Rev. Stephen Chapin, of Mont
Vernon.
Samuel Wilkins resigned the office of deacon 1 June,
1816, on account of his age and infirmities, and William
Fisk and Dr. Matthias Spalding were elected deacons ; but
at a meeting held 1 July following, both declined the
acceptance of the office. Richard Boylston and Ephraim
Blanchard were then elected, but neither accepted the
appointment, and at a meeting held 23 August, 1816, it
was voted that the election of deacons be indefinitely post-
poned.
The subject was again brought up, shortly after, and a
committee was appointed to ascertain the minds of the
brethren upon the subject, and to especially inquire who
would be willing to serve the church in the office.
5 May, 1817, the committee reported a list of names from
which a selection might be made, and, at a meeting held 29
May, David Holmes and Matthias Spalding were chosen,
and set apart for the service by prayer.
Dr. Spalding, at that time, retained his connection with
the church in Chelmsford, Mass., from which his relations
were transferred by letter, dated 16 November, 1817, which
was laid before the church in Amherst 3 May, 1818, when
it was voted to receive him as a member of the church in
this place.
294 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
17 December, 1820. The church voted that it cordially
approved the appointment of the twenty-second day of
December instant as a day of thanksgiving among the
churches in New England, and would observe that day for
the same pious purpose. Mr. Lord was requested to pre-
pare and deliver a discourse suited to the occasion.
David Holmes resigned the office of deacon 17 April,
1823, and the church voted to accept his resignation.
Edmund Parker was chosen deacon 1 November, 1823,
but declined the appointment. Afterward, Amos Elliott
was chosen, who accepted it.
A communication from Charles H. Atherton, David
Holmes, Ephraim Blanchard, and Elizabeth Holmes, was
laid before the church 30 May, 1824, in which they stated
that they had united themselves with the " Christian
society" in Amherst, and with others contemplated forming
a church in said society on Congregational principles:
wherefore they requested a vote of the church transferring
their connection, as church members, to take effect when
they should have become members of the church to be
formed. They also asked that it might be accompanied
with a certificate of their membership and regular standing,
agreeably to the usages of the Congregational churches in
New England.
This application was referred to a committee who report-
ed, 21 June, 1824, that as the petitioners had already
separated themselves from the worship and communion of
the church, contrary to the rules of the gospel, the tenor of
their covenant engagements, and the usages of the Congre-
gational churches in New England, they could no longer be
considered members in regular standing, and, therefore,
could not be recommended as such. That while the church
could not pretend to question the civil right of the peti-
tioners to institute such forms of religion as they might
deem proper and expedient, and although the exercise of
this right had virtually disclaimed the fellowship and
XIII. ] CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 295
authority of the church, the church could put no restraint
upon them further than to remind them of their covenant
obligations, but must leave them to the decision of a higher
tribunal.
In conclusion they recommended that whenever the peti-
tioners had formed themselves into a church, as proposed,
the connection with this church should be considered as
dissolved.
Which report was accepted, and the vote recommended
was passed unanimously, and a copy was ordered to be
transmitted to the petitioners.
A similar communication from Ephraim French and Tim-
othy Nichols was answered in like manner.
Mr. Lord's ministry continued until 22 November, 1828,
on which day his connection with the town and church was
dissolved. He had been suffering for a long time from the
effects of a violent cold, which had, at times, prevented
him from preaching, and even speaking aloud. Being-
advised by physicians that his recovery was doubtful, he
accepted the presidency of Dartmouth College, which was
offered him in August, 1828.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
With the exception of carrying out the agreement entered
into with Mr. Barnard in 1780, the agency of the town in
the support of the ministry ceased with the resignation of
Mr. Lord.
A meeting of the citizens interested in the subject was
held 3 October, 1828, at which a society was formed under
the name and title of the " Congregational Church and
Society "in Amherst.
Edmund Parker was chosen clerk, David McGregor
Means, treasurer, John Mack, James Bell, and Richard
Boylston, standing committee, and John Secombe, Robert
Means, and David Stewart, auditors.
Measures were at once taken for action with the church
committee in procuring a supply for the pulpit.
296 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
PROCEEDINGS OP THE CHURCH.
6 October, 1828, Dea. Matthias Spalding, Dea. John
Hartshorn, David Fisk, 3d, Elijah Putnam, and Bartholo-
mew Dodge, were chosen a committee to act in behalf of
the church with a committee of the "Congregational Church
and Society' 1 in Amherst in procuring a supply for the desk,
or a candidate for settlement, as soon as Mr. Lord ceases
to supply the desk.
Edmund Parker was elected clerk.
The committee reported, 1 January, 1829, that they, and
the committee appointed by the Congregational Church and
Society, had contracted with Mr. Silas Aiken to supply the
desk four Sabbaths, which he had done ; that they then
engaged him to preach four Sabbaths as a candidate for
settlement, one of which had passed ; and that the
present meeting was called to consider the expediency of
giving him a call to settle with the church and society as a
gospel minister.
It was then moved and voted that the church invite Mr.
Silas Aiken to settle in the work of the gospel ministry
with them, and take the oversight and watch of the church
and the '* Congregational Church and Society," in Amherst,
as colleague with Rev. Jeremiah Barnard.
The committee was requested to lay a copy of the
proceedings of the church before the society at their annual
meeting on Monday next, and ask their concurrence therein,
and also in providing a suitable support for Mr. Aiken, and,
in case of their concurrence, the committee was authorized
to act with the committee of the society in giving him a
call.
19 January, 1829. The society voted to concur with the
church in their vote giving Mr. Silas Aiken an invitation to
settle with them, and take the oversight and watch of the
church and of the society, as a gospel minister.
They also agreed to pay him the sum of 8600 per
annum, for his services, for so long a time as he should
XIII. ] CONGRECxATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 297
continue to perform the duties of a pastor to the church,
and a minister to the society, the same to be paid in semi-
annual installments, and, in case he should wish it, to allow
him a vacation of two or three Sabbaths each year.
A record of the action of the church and society was
communicated to Mr. Aiken by the committees of the two
organizations, accompanied by the following- letter :
"Amherst, January 19, 1829.
Mr. Silas Aiken:
Dear Sir : The undersigned, a committee of the Church in this
place, under the Pastoral care of the Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, and a
Committee of the Congregational Church and Society in Amherst, in
pursuance of votes of said Church and Society, herewith present you
with a copy of the record of the proceedings of the Church, giving
you an invitation to settle with them in the work of the Gospel
ministry, and take the oversight and watch of the church and Society,
as Colleague Pastor over the Church with the Rev. Jeremiah Barnard.
Also a copy of the record of the proceedings of the Society, concurring
with the Church in giving you said invitation, and fixing the sum
they propose to offer you as a support or salary.
The Committee beg leave to add their earnest request that you will
accept the invitation and settle with them as their minister.
Should you be pleased to give an affirmative answer, the Church
will be ready to enter into a contract for the payment of your salary
and make the necessary arrangements for your ordination.
With sentiments of great respect and affection, we are, Dear Sir,
your sincere friends.
MATTHIAS SPALDING, JAMES BELL,
JOHX HARTSHORN, Jr., JOHN MACK,
ELIJAH PUTNAM, RICHARD BOYLSTON,
DAVID FISK, 3d., DAVID McG. MEANS,
BARTHOLOMEW DODGE, EDMUND PARKER,
Committee of the Church. Committee of the Society."
Mr. Aiken's reply :
" To the committees of the Congregational Church $' Society in Amherst:
Dear Brethren & Friends: I acknowledge the receipt of your
joint invitation to settle with you in the work of the Gospel Ministry.
However arduous and responsible the work to which you have called
me, and however incompetent I must feel myself to perform it in a
manner acceptable to God and profitable to you, yet such were the
298 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
circumstances of your request as to render the decision on my part
far less difficult than it might otherwise have been.
From the first it has been my purpose to labor in the Lord's vine-
yard, wheresoever in his providence he might plainly point me ; and,
after a prayerful consideration of the subject of your invitation
believing, as I do, that an indication of duty is now given me, 1
hereby signify my acceptance, and, relying upon the assistance of
Almighty God, and moreover upon your Christian kindness and
sympathy, I am ready to labor among you in the Gospel of Christ,
according to the ability which God giveth.
I will only add that the very recent date of my "license to preach the
Gospel," and consequently a want of suitable preparation for the multi-
plied duties to which you have been pleased to call me may for some
time render exchanges more frequent than otherwise I could have
desired.
Yours in Christian affection,
SILAS AIKEN.
January 31, 1829."
Mr. Aiken, having accepted the call, a council was called,
which met at the chapel 4 March, 1829, and was organized
by the choice of Rev. John H. Church, moderator, and
Rev. Humphrey Moore, scribe.
After examining the papers laid before them, and the
pastor elect, the council voted to proceed to his ordination.
The church, society, and ordaining council, accompanied
by a band, inarched in procession from the chapel to the
meeting-house, where the ordination services were per-
formed.
Rev. Mr. Savage, of Bedford, offered the opening prayer.
Rev. Mr. Green, of Boston, preached the sermon.
Rev. Mr. Smith, of Hollis, offered the consecrating
prayer.
Rev. Dr. Church, of Pelham, gave the charge.
Rev. Mr. Richards, of Francestown, the right hand of
fellowship.
Rev. Mr. Nott, of Dunstable, the address to the church
and society.
And Rev. Mr. Bradford, of New Boston, offered the
closing prayer.
j2£cc*/
XIII. ] CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 299
The ordination services were interesting and impressive,
and were listened to with profound attention by the large
audience in attendance. The music, by a select choir,
under the direction of Dr. Ambrose Seaton, was excellent.
Hon. Edmund Parker resigned the office of clerk, 8 April,
1829, and Rev. Silas Aiken was chosen in his place. Aaron
Lawrence was chosen assistant clerk, and it was voted to
contribute the sum of twenty dollars annually, for five
years, to the funds of Dartmouth College.
Edmund Parker was elected deacon, lo May, 1830, and
accepted the appointment.
TEMPERANCE.
The following resolutions were adopted by the Congrega-
tional Church in 1830, and signed by 224 of its members.
" 1. Resolved, that in our belief tlie use of ardent spirits has brought
disgrace on our highly favored land, and ruin on thousands of our
fellow-citizens.
2. Resolved, that it is the duty of every true patriot and friend of
his country to exert his utmost endeavors to put an end to this
disgraceful and destructive practice.
3. Resolved, that in our opinion the use of ardent spirits has been
productive of innumerable evils to the church of Christ ; that it has
ruined the souls of men, hindered the progress and effect of truth,
brought great and deserved reproach on the professors of religion, and
through them on the cause of Christ.
■4. Resolved, that it is the duty of every professed follower of Christ
to use his utmost efforts to put a stop to this great sin, and so remove
this stumbling block out of the way, and for this purpose not only
to refrain from the use himself, but to use his influence to induce
others to refrain.
5. Resolved, that we whose names are subscribed to these resolu-
tions, members of this church, will abstain from the use of ardent
spirits ourselves, except as a medicine, and will in every proper way
discountenance and discourage the use of them in others.
6. Resolved, that we will endeavor, by the blessing of ( irOD, to live
up to the spirit of these resolutions, that in the words of our covenant
the blessing of GOD may be vouchsafed to this part of his heritage."
Judge Parker resigned the office of deacon prior to his
removal to Nashua, and Abel Downe was chosen to fill the
300 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
vacancy, 21 June, 1836. David Fisk, 3d, was chosen
deacon, 18 November, 1836, in place of Dea. Seat-on,
deceased, and Cyrus Eastman was chosen to that office 30
December, 1836.
30 December, 1836. The meeting-house building com-
mittee was authorized to sell and convey all the right the
church had in the old chapel building, should they meet
with a favorable opportunity so to do, it being understood
that the proceeds of the sale were to be applied toward
defraying the expense of removing and altering the meet-
ing-house.
14 February, 1837. Rev. Mr. Aiken stated to the church,
verbally, and in writing, that he had received an invitation
to settle with the Park street church, in Boston, in the
ministry, which, after due consideration, he had decided to
accept. He desired that a mutual council might be called
to consider the case, and dismiss him, if they thought
proper.
The church reluctantly voted to grant his request, and
appointed a committee to join with him in calling a council.
A committee was appointed, 21 February, 1837, to make
provision for the accommodation of the council, and to lay
before them every thing they might deem proper in regard
to the request of Mr. Aiken.
The council met 28 February, and, after hearing the state-
ments of the committee and pastor, voted that the connec-
tion existing between Mr. Aiken and the church, as pastor
and people, be dissolved.
Provision was made, in conjunction with the society, for
the supply of the pulpit by candidates and others after the
withdrawal of Mr. Aiken, and on the 21st day of August
following the church voted to give Mr. Frederick A. Adams
a call to settle with them in the work of the ministry, and
chose a committee to act in concert with a committee
of the society in the matter.
XIII.] CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 301
A call having been given to Mr. Adams, and accepted, a
committee was chosen, 2 October, 1837, to act with a com-
mittee of the society in calling a council for his ordination.
The council met 14 November. Rev. Ephraim P. Brad-
ford was chosen moderator, and Rev. David Perry, scribe.
The examination of the candidate being satisfactory, it
was voted to proceed to his ordination on the following
day, and the parts were assigned as follows :
Invocation and reading of the scriptures, Rev. David
Perry, of Hollis.
Introductory prayer, Rev. John W. Salter, of Milford.
Sermon, Rev. Nathan Lord, of Hanover.
Ordaining prayer, Rev. Thomas Savage, of Bedford.
Charge to the pastor, Rev. Humphrey Moore, of Milford.
Right hand of fellowship, Rev. Edwin Jennison, of Mont
Vernon.
Address to the people, Rev. Ephraim P. Bradford, of New
Boston.
Concluding prayer, Rev. Austin Richards, of Nashua.
19 December, 1837, it was voted to pay $100 from the
church funds to the building committee of the meeting-
house to relieve them from the liabilities they have neces-
sarily incurred in completing the house, and that the same
be paid prior to the 1st day of January, 1838. Forty
dollars additional was voted to be paid as soon as the same
could be spared from the funds of the church.
11 February, 1810, $100 more was voted for the same
purpose, fifty dollars to be paid immediately, and fifty
dollars more when the state of the treasury would admit of
it.
11 August, 1840, Mr. Adams read a communication to
the church resigning his office as pastor, which was
accepted at a meeting held one week subsequently, and Dr.
Matthias Spalding, Aaron Lawrence, and Dea. David Fisk,
were appointed a committee to join with Mr. Adams in
calling a mutual council for his dismission.
302 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
The council, which met 24 September, 184.0, organized
by the appointment of Rev. Humphrey Moore as moderator,
and Rev. David Perry, scribe. After hearing the state-
ments of all parties interested who chose to appear, they
voted that the pastoral relation existing between Rev. Mr.
Adams and the church in Amherst should be, and hereby
is, dissolved.
Nothing appearing against the character of Mr. Adams
as a Christian minister, or as a man, he was " cordially
recommended to the Church of Christ as an able and faith-
ful minister of the Lord Jesus."
At a meeting held 21 December, 1840, the church voted
to give Rev. William T. Savage a call to settle with them
in the gospel ministry.
11 January, 1841, a committee was chosen
" To extend to Mr. Savage an invitation to settle with us as our
minister, and to contract with him for his annual support."
Mr. Savage gave an affirmative answer to the invitation
of the committee, and a council was called by which he was
examined, approved, and installed.
The services of installation took place 24 February, 1841,
the different parts of the exercises being performed as
follows :
Invocation and reading of the scriptures, Rev. David
Perry, of Hollis.
Introductory prayer, Rev. James Means, of Concord,
Mass.
Sermon, Rev. Thomas Savage, of Bedford.
Prayer of installation, Rev. Austin Richards, of Nashua.
Charge to the pastor, Rev. Humphrey Moore, of Milford.
Right hand of fellowship, Rev. Benjamin F. Clark,
Chelmsford, Mass.
Address to the people, Rev. Jonathan McGee, of Nashua.
Concluding prayer, Rev. Stephen T. Allen, of Merri-
mack.
XIII.] CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 303
ABOLITION TROUBLES.
At this time the rightfulness of African slavery in this
country began to be considered in the church.
At a meeting held 17 February, 1841, Dea. David Fisk
presiding, Bro. Luther Melendy presented an " abolition
resolution," which was accepted for discussion. After
which it was voted to dismiss it. Brother Aaron Lawrence
then offered resolutions upon the same subject, which, after
discussion, were laid upon the table, and the meeting
adjourned.
The agitation of the slavery question and the attitude of
the church in regard to it, produced an alienation of feeling
on the part of some of its members, who refused any longer
to assist in the support of preaching, and encouraged the
establishment of, and attendance upon, a meeting in the
chapel on the Sabbath in opposition to the regular services
in the church.
In consequence of these offences, Brothers Luther Me-
lendy and Loea Pratt, after having been visited by commit-
tees of the church, and refusing to give satisfaction, were,
by vote of the church, 18 May, 1841, excommunicated from
its fellowship.
Sympathy with the members thus excluded called forth a
communication from eight other members of the church, in
which, after reviewing the action of the church, they stated
that they held the same belief that the excommunicated
brethren avowed, and asked that they too might be cut off
from the church organization as persons who could no
longer fellowship with them as a Christian church.
On the receipt of this communication, at a meeting held
15 June, 1841, a committee was appointed
" To draft a reply, and to visit the signers thereof, and to endeavor
to correct their misapprehension and misstatement of the grounds of
the church action, and recover them to a proper state of Christian
feeling and conduct."
304 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
At a meeting held 29 June, 1841, a series of resolutions,
adopted by the Hillsborough County Conference, in relation
to the subject of slavery, was laid before the church, and
adopted by a large majority.
After deferring action upon the request of the petitioners
to be excluded for some time, and hearing statements from
some of them in church meeting, it was finally voted that,
with two exceptions (one had died and the other had not
been visited), the request of the petitioners should be
granted.
At a meeting held 15 March, 1842, another of the peti-
tioners was excluded, at his own request.
4 April, 1843. Difficulties having arisen between the
pastor and some of the members of the church, a mutual
council was called, which met, and, after hearing the state-
ments of the parties interested, who wished to be heard,
"Voted, that it is expedient that the relation existing between the
Rev. William T. Savage and this church be, and hereby is, dissolved."
22 April, 1844. The church voted to give Rev. J. G.
Davis a call to settle with them in the gospel ministry, and
chose Aaron Lawrence, Daniel Campbell, Daniel Hartshorn,
Elijah Putnam, and David Stewart, a committee to join a
committee of the society (should the society concur with
the church") in giving Mr. Davis a call.
The society concurring with the church, an invitation was
given to Mr. Dans, and accepted.
A council was called, and he was ordained 22 May, 1844.
The exercises on that occasion were as follows :
Invocation and reading of the scriptures, Rev. Mr. Aiken,
of Hollis.
Introductory prayer, Rev. Mr. Warner, of Milford.
Sermon, Rev. Mr. Rogers, of Boston.
Ordaining prayer, Rev. Mr. Savage, of Bedford.
Right hand of fellowship, Rev. James Means, of Concord,
Mass.
XIII.] CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 305
Address to the people. Rev. Matthew Hale Smith, of
Nashua.
Concluding prayer. Rev. Humphrey Moore, of Milford.
2 January, 1845. Barnabas B. David and Richard Boyl-
ston were elected deacons. Mr. David accepted, and Mr.
Boylston declined, the appointment.
The want of a more suitable room for the social meetings
of the church having: long- been felt, the erection of a new
building, separate from the church edifice, was projected by
the late Mrs. Robert Means, who headed the subscription
list with a liberal sum, which was followed with equal liber-
ality with subscriptions by Mr. Richard Boylston and
others, the church contributing $>100. After some contro-
versy in regard to the location of the building, a site was
agreed upon, and the house erected.
The work was performed by Messrs. Jotham Hartshorn
and sons in a highly acceptable manner, and the house was
dedicated 20 January, 1859, at which time an appropriate
discourse was preached by Rev. Mr. Davis from Col. in : 16.
The building is 44 x 28 feet, with 14 feet posts, and cost
about 81,000.
The old chapel, formerly the courtdiouse, erected in 1788,,
was sold to Harrison Eaton, in 1807.
At a meeting- of the church, held 4 September, 1806,
leave of absence for six months was granted to the pastor,
to enable him to solicit funds for the benefit of Dartmouth
College.
The sunday-school connected with the church, in March,
1873, consisted of 3 officers, 17 teachers, and 160 pupils,
and was under the direction of Capt. Geo. W. Bosworth,
superintendent.
Public worship, which had been suspended for six Sun-
days, while the audience room in the meeting-house was
undergoing repairs, was resumed 12 November, 1873.
The sum of $1,400, a legacy left by Dea. Aaron Law-
rence for the establishment of a fund to be known as the
20
300 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
"Lawrence fund," for the support of public worship in the
Congregational Church, of which he was a member, was
placed in the Nashua Savings Bank by his executors, 23
November, 1870. It was provided that the extra dividends
on the deposit should fie added to the principal, and the
regular dividends drawn annually and applied to the pur-
poses specified in the will. Should the church at any
time become extinct, the fund is to be transferred to the
New Hampshire Missionary Society, and its annual income
applied in carrying on the work of that organization.
The sum of $'"00 was donated to the church, 21 November,
1877, by Jotham Hartshorn, Esq., for the establishment of
a fund to be known as the " Hartshorn fund." This fund
is to be kept at interest, and its annual income appro-
priated for the support of preaching in the Congregational
Church in Amherst. Should the church at any time
become extinct, this fund also is to be transferred to the
New Hampshire Missionary Society, and its annual income
used in the work of that society.
A fund of $500 for the support of music in the church is
now invested in the bonds of the Nashua and Lowell rail-
road.
After a long and faithful ministry, Rev. Dr. Davis
resigned his pastorate. The letter containing his resigna-
tion was laid before the church 19 May, 1879, and was as
follows :
" Christian Brothers and Friends:
As you are about to make an arrangement for the support of the
ministry for another year, it has seemed to me proper that T should
anticipate the communication which would regularly be submitted
first to the church, by informing you that I wish to relinquish my
pastoral charge at an early day.
I find myself so hindered in my work by certain infirmities of body
that I am persuaded that I can not longer fulfill the duties of my
office with comfort to myself and with profit to you. T shall accord-
on-
XIII. ] CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 30
inglv invite the Church to unite with me in measures for the dissolu-
tion of the pastoral relation.
With Christian love, your Pastor,
J. G. DAVIS.
The resignation of Dr. Davis was accepted, and a series
of resolutions, expressive of the feelings of the church
toward him, was passed at a meeting held 29 May, 1879.
Rev. Wm. Clark, n. D., was appointed to act on the part
of the church with a committee of the society in procuring
supplies for the desk.
At a meeting held 9 December, 1879, the church voted
to give Mr. Willis D. Leland a call to become its pastor,
which action having been concurred in by the society, a call
was given, which was accepted by Mr. Leland 3 January.
1880. A council was called, which, after the usual exam-
ination, proceeded to his ordination, 22 January, 1880,
when the report of proceedings of council were read by Rev.
D. B. Scott,
Prayer was offered by Rev. C. W. Wallace, i>. i>.
Reading of scriptures, by Rev. K. F. Norris.
Sermon, by Rev. E. B. Webb, from John xvi : 20.
Ordaining prayer, by Rev. F. Alvord.
Charge to pastor, by Rev. F. D. Sargent.
Right hand of fellowship, by Rev. E. G. Selden.
Address to the people, by Rev. J. G. Davis.
At a meeting held 8 April, 1880, the church voted to
adopt the use of the "unfermented juice of the grape" for
sacramental purposes.
A request that the use of wine might be continued to
those that preferred it was referred to a committee of the
officers of the church, who, being equally divided in their
opinions, made two reports, — one recommending that the
prayer of the petitioners be granted, and the other being-
opposed to it. The last named report was accepted and
adopted.
308 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
At the same meeting it was voted that the sisters of the
church be allowed to vote in the choice of deacons at this
meeting, and that they be allowed to vote at all future
meetings of the church on the same terms as the brothers.
A change was made in the tenure of the office of deacon,
by which it was arranged that there should be four of these
officers, one retiring each year. The change, however, was
not to affect those then in office. In accordance with this
vote, Daniel W. Sargent and Joseph E. Fowle were elected
deacons, the term of the first to expire 1 May, 1883, and
the term of the last, 1 May, 1884.
A scries of rules for the government of the church was
adopted 29 October, 1880.
The whole number of members who have been admitted
to the church by letter and profession since 22 May, 1816,
is 747. The whole number of members 1 May, 1881, was
189, — 56 males and 133 females.
The officers of the church, 1 January, 1882, were
Rev. Willis I). Leland, Pastor.
Barnabas B. David.
Aaron S. Wilkins,
Daniel W. Sargent,
Joseph F. Fowle, Deacons.
PASTORS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Daniel Wilkins, ordained and installed 23 Sept., 174-1 ; d. 1 1 Feb., 1784.
Jeremiah Barnard, ord. and inst. 3 March, 17*0; '1- 15 -Jan., 1835.
Nathan Lord, ord. and inst. 22 May, 1816; dis. 22 Nov., 1828; d. 9
Sept., 1870.
Silas Aiken, ord. and inst. 4 March, 1829; dis. 5 March, 1S37; d. 7
April, 1869.
Frederick A. Adams, ord. and inst. 15 Nov., 1837 ; dis. 24 Sept., 1S40.
William T. Savage, inst, 24 Feb., 1811 ; dis. 4 April, 1843.
Josiah G. Davis, ord. and inst, 22 May, 1841; dis. 22 Jan. 1880.
Willis D. Leland, ord. and inst. 22 Jan. 1880.
DEACONS.
Elected, Resigned, Died, Age,
Humphrey Ilobbs, (I Jan., 1743 1744 1756 44
Joseph Boutell, 3 June, 1743 19 May, 1795 88
XIII.]
CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
309
DEACONS.
Elected,
Resigned,
Died,
Age.
James Cochran,
1744
5 Jan.,
1774
Samuel Wilkins,
10 Jan., 1771
1S10
27 Dec,
1832
90
John Seaton,
10 Jan.. 1774
1787
1793
Nahum Baldwin,
10 Jan., 1774
7 May,
1788
54
Ephraim Barker,
18 June, 178S
29 Sept.,
1800
68
.Joshua Lovejoy,
IS June, 178S
1794
28 Jan.,
1832
88
Amos Elliott,
3 Sept., 1795
7 April,
1807
52
John Seaton, jr.,
3 Sept., 1795
4 Oct.,
1836
80
John Hartshorn,
1 Sept., 1808
28 Nov.,
1842
S3
Matthias Spalding,
29 May, 1S17
22 May,
1865
95
David Holmes,
29 May, 1817
1S23
1 Nov.,
1867
89
Amos Elliott, jr.,
1 Nov., 1823
27 April
, 1826
44
Edmund Parker,
15 May, 1832
1S36
8 Sept.,
1856
73
Abel Downe,
21 Jan., 1836
28 Sept.,
1840
52
David Fisk, 3d,
is Nov., 1836
1863
22 June,
1873
80
Cyrus Eastman,
30 Dec, 1836
17 Dec,
1862
75
Barnabas B. David,
2 Jan., 1845
Edward D. Boylston,
12 April, 1861)
1S7S
Aaron Lawrence,
2 Nov., 1860
1 Sept.,
, 1867
62
Charles II. David,
2 Nov., 1S71
1S74
17 Oct.,
1880
65
Aaron S. Wilkins,
9 April, 1874
Zaccheus 0. Perry,
9 April, 1874
1880
Daniel TV. Sargent,
8 April, 1880
Joseph E. Fowle,
8 April, 1880
THE CiNIVERSALIST SOCIETY.
9 September, 1819, public notice was given by Israel
Fuller, clerk of the society, that Eber Lawrence, Isaac
Chickeriug, and others, had formed themselves into a
religious society to be known by the name and style of the
" Universalist Society " in Amherst.
THE CHRISTIAN OR UNITARIAN SOCIETY.
Public notice was given, 27 March, 1K24, by David
Holmes, clerk of the society, that on the 24th day of that
month Charles H. Atherton, David Holmes, Ephraim Blan-
chard, E. F. Wallace, and others, had associated and formed
themselves into a religious society by the name and style
of the " Christian Society " in Amherst.
310 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Rev. Edmund Quincy Sewall was ordained and installed
pastor of the Christian Church and Society (Unitarian ) 26
January, 1825. The exercises on this occasion were as
follows :
Introductory prayer and reading of scriptures, Rev. Levi
W. Leonard, of Dublin.
Sermon, Rev. John Brazer, of Salem.
Consecrating prayer, Rev. Charles Lowell, Boston.
Charge, Rev. John Pierpont, Boston.
Right hand of fellowship, Rev. John G. Palfrey, Boston.
Address to the church and society, Rev. Nathaniel
Thayer, Lancaster.
Concluding prayer, Rev. Elijah Dunbar, Peterborough.
The day was fair and pleasant, and a large audience was
in attendance.
Mr. Sewall continued pastor of the society about one
year. A church was organized and continued in existence
for some time ; but its records, like the early ones of the
First Congregational Church, are lost. In 1834 Rev.
Lyman Maynard was employed as pastor by a union of the
Unitarian and Universalist societies in town, and continued
here until 1838. During his pastorate the new meeting-
house (now Baptist) was built by members of the two
societies. After the removal of Mr. Maynard, Dr. Amory
(J ale and others conducted the Sunday services at the
church for some time. Afterward the desk was occupied
for a year or two by Rev. William Hooper, Universalist.
Finally, the house was sold to the Baptist Society, and
the Unitarians and Universalists in town have become
connected with other societies.
THE FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY.
An association for the support of preaching on Chestnut
hill was organized 6 October, 1828, under the name of the
First Baptist Society in Amherst, N. H., by the following-
persons :
XIII.] THE FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY. oil
Ralph Holbrook, -lames Prince,
Ebenezer Holbrook, Robert Fletcher,
Oliver Clears, Otis Fletcher,
Franklin Mears, Benjamin Damon,
Henry Tewksbnrv, John AVasher,
Joseph Harvill, Benjamin F. Shepard, and
John Rollins, .Joseph Harraden.
The church was organized 2 July, 1829, ministers front
the churches in Londonderry, Milford, New Boston, and
(Joffstown, being - present at the council called for the
purpose. Rev. Samuel Abbot, of Londonderry, was mod-
erator, and Rev. Simon Fletcher, of Goffstown, clerk of the
council.
The society held their meetings for Sunday services on
Chestnut hill until 1837, when they removed to the Plain 7
a large addition made to their number, the result of a
protracted meeting held in February, 1835, making such a
movement advisable.
Here for a time they had no sure abiding place. Some-
times they worshiped in the old school-house north of the
court-house, at the east end of the common, sometimes in
the court-house, and afterward in a small hall over the old
Read store, which stood near where the soldiers' monument
now stands. 19 November, 1841, arrangements were made
with the proprietors of the Unitarian meeting-house for the
use of their house a portion of the time.
Having become proprietors of two thirds of the pews, the
house was, agreeably to a condition in the subscription to
the shares for building it, transferred to them by the
Unitarian society by deed dated 7 April, 1844. It was-
repaired in 1851, and in 1870. Since the purchase of the
meeting-house, a parsonage has been built and fitted up.
A communion set has been presented to the church by
Mrs. Mary Twiss and her children ; and a legacy of #250 —
now amounting to nearly $400 — Avas left by Miss S. Lue Law-
rence to purchase a bell to be used on the church.
312 history of Amherst. [Chap.
The desk was supplied by different persons, for a short
time each, until 1841. Sinee that time, the ministers have
been
Rev. Mason Ball, 1841 to 1844.
Rev. Aaron Hayes, 1844 to 1845.
Rev. Aniasa Brown, 184") to 1847.
Rev. David Burroughs, 1849 to 1854.
Rev. Samuel Jones, 1856 to 1857.
Rev. John II. Thyng, 1857 to 1858.
Rev. Samuel Cook, 1858 to 1859.
Rev. Amos W. Boardman, 1859 to 1861.
Rev. J. Baskwell, 1863 to 1865.
Rev. John Peacock, 1806. nearly two years.
Rev. Eli P. Xoyes, 1868 to 1870.
Rev. Albert Ileald, 1870 to 1870.
Rev. J. II. Lerned, 1877 to 1879.
Rev. (iorham W. Estabrook, 1879 to 1881.
Rev. E. J. Colcord, 1881.
The number of members of the church, 1 March, 1882.
was — males, 21 ; females, 45=66.
THE METHODIST SOCIETY.
Rev. Orlando Hinds, who commenced his labors here in
1829, is said to have been the first Methodist preacher in
Amherst. His immediate successors were A. M. Howe and
J. C. Cromack.
The first Methodist society was organized in 1839.
Tlie first quarterly meeting of which any account has
been preserved was held 19 September, 1834, at which
John Haseltine, Isaac Weston, and William Brown, of
Amherst, Freeman Nichols, of Merrimack, and William
Coggin, 2d, of Mont Vernon, attended with the presiding
elder. At that time the societies in Amherst and Goffstown
were united, and the quarterly meetings were held alternate-
ly in both places.
Rev. James Adams supplied the desk in 1837 and 1838,
and Rev. Levi W. Davis in 1839 and 1840.
XIII.] THE METHODIST SOCIETY. 313
But little is found in the records from 1834 to 1840. In
1840 the record closed. After this, preaching was supplied
occasionally by members of the Biblical Institute at
Concord.
In the autumn of 1839 the erection of a chapel was com-
menced, which was finished in the course of the following-
winter, and dedicated to the worship of God 22 April,
1840, on which occasion a sermon was preached by Rev-
Jared Perkins.
In the afternoon of the same day a temperance lecture
was given in the chapel by Rev. Mr. Jones. In 1845 and
1846 preaching was furnished by Rev. A. H. Fullerton, and
in 1X47 by Rev. Caleb Dustin.
The record is resumed in 1850, when a conference meet-
ing was held. In 1852 Franklin Furber supplied the
pulpit. After this the prospect was far from encouraging
for the society, as we read that
"There was no reason to think that the church was open much of
the year, for the cobwebs gathered within it, the blinds were closed
and darkness rested on the hearts of many."
In 1854 a social gathering or tea party was held at the
residence of Dea. B. B. David to raise funds for renovating
the chapel and supporting preaching. The effort was
successful, and Rev. Charles Merrill was placed in charge
as preacher, and, as a result of his ministry, quite a number
of young men were added to the church. During his
ministry the communion plate formerly used by the Unita-
rian church in this town was presented to the society by
Mrs. Charles G. Atherton.
Mr. Merrill remained here two years, and after his
departure preaching was supplied for some time by mem-
bers of the Biblical Institute.
About 1857 a Mr. Seeley was sent here as a supply. He
remained one year, and his ministry was a failure. In
1858 and 1859 the desk was supplied by Messrs. Tucker
Hammond, Clippenger, and others from the Institute.
314 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
In 18*30 Charles Pyke was sent here as a preacher, and
the selection proved to be an unfortunate one for the
society. From 1861 to 1866 the chapel was closed. After
this time it was again opened, and a member of the Boston
Seminary supplied the desk a short time. He was followed
by Levin P. Causey, who also remained but a short time,
and services were again suspended.
In 1871, mainly through the efforts of .Mrs. Mary W.
Few, the chapel was painted and refitted, and an effort was
made to sustain preaching.
At first, fortunately, as it proved, they were disappointed
in not obtaining the preacher they wanted, and the one
sent not being acceptable, the desk was again supplied by
students in the University.
Rev. JB. W. Chase commenced his labors here in the fall
of 1871, and his report at the close of the year was a favor-
able one. He continued here two years, and his ministry
was successful.
He was succeeded in 1872 by Rev. Geo. W. Ruland, who
continued here until 1874. Since then the ministers have
been
1871:, Rev. -I. Mowrey Bean, until 1876.
1876, Rev. J. R. Bartlett, until 1877.
1877, Rev. W. R. DiUe, until 1SS0.
1880, Rev. James Noye.s, until 1881.
1881, Rev. I. Ainsworth.
Mr. Ainsworth relinquished his charge, and left the
denomination before the close of the year, and the church
is now nnited with that in Milford. Present number of
members, 44 — about a dozen of whom are males.
The chapel was enlarged and remodeled in 1S79 at an
expense of little more than $1,400.
CHURCH MUSIC.
The music in the Sunday services at the meeting-house
in the early part of Mr. Wilkins's ministry was doubtless
of the most primitive kind. After the announcement of
XI II. J CHURCH MUSIC. 315
the hymn, one of the deacons would read a line or two, and
the congregation would respond by singing it, the reading
and singing being continued alternately through the hymn.
As the gift of music seems to have been hereditary in the
Shepard family, we may suppose that Col. John Shepard
and his son, Col. John, jr., each in their time took a leading
part in these services. After the arrival of the Seatons,
they probably assisted, or led, in the singing.
A family tradition relates that when Mr. Boutell was
elected deacon, he declined accepting the office, as he said
he "could not read very well," probably in reference to
reading the hymns in church. His brethren, however, told
him they liked him all the better for his confession, and
insisted upon his accepting the office, which he filled until
his death to the entire satisfaction of his brother church
members.
Dea. Ephraim Barker was prominent among the musi-
cians in the second meeting-house. Dea. John Seaton, jr.,
was afterward leader. David S. Eaton, who married one of
Mr. Barnard's daughters, was chorister for some time.
During his administration it is said that the choir had been
making preparations for a grand display on Independence
day. Something had taken place during the rehearsals
which offended many of the members, and one Sunday
morning, just before the fourth of July, the chorister found
himself alone in the singing pew. Not caring to furnish
the music alone, he too left his seat, and placed himself in
one of the gallery pews, near by. Mr. Barnard took his
place in the pulpit, and was not long in discovering the
state of the singing pew. He conducted the opening exer-
cises, and read the hymn as usual ; but, getting no response
from the choir, laid down the book with some force, and
called up the audience to join in the long prayer, which
lacked on that occasion neither length nor pungency. One
after another, the singers returned to their accustomed
places, and, when the inevitable fusiladc of falling seats
310 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
was over, the singing seats were filled, and Jeremiah's
heart was gladdened by a hearty response to the next hymn
he read. Jonathan Hildreth, a grandson of the first Col.
Shepard, was a noted musician in his day, and leader of the
choir until his death, 5 July, 1816. He made two or three
bass-viols, which were used in the singing seats to aid the
vocal performers. Eliab Wilkins, brother of Aaron, was a
skilful player on these instruments. Benjamin Kendrick,
another grandson of Col. Shepard, was chorister some
years. His daughters, also those of his cousin Hildreth,
the daughters of Judge Claggett and Mr. Ephraim Goss,
were connected with the choir, and most of them were
excellent vocalists. After the introduction of bass-viols,
violins, clarinets, and other instruments, were used to aid
the singers in the Sunday services. Mr. Hugh Moore, a
dear lover of music, played the violin some years at the old
church, and afterward at the Unitarian — now Baptist —
church. Those now living, who were boys and girls in
Amherst forty years ago, will recall his appearance as he
crossed the common, Sunday morning, on his way to meeting,
a man of massive frame, erect as a forest pine. His queue
— the last one seen in Amherst — nicely combed, and neatly
tied with a pink or blue ribbon, hung over his coat-collar.
Under his left arm he carried his violin-case, and in his
right hand a stout hickory cane to aid his steps. He
retained his faculties, physical and mental, remarkably, and
when he had seen the snows of fourscore winters, " his eye
was not dim," and his natural force but slightly abated.
Seven years later age had got the mastery, and he retired
to his house to suffer and die. During his last illness,
Major Little, the crippled melodeon player, called upon him,
and was introduced by a friend. They talked of the old
Scotch songs which the veteran loved, and which Little
played and sung to him, while the tears rolled clown his
cheeks. After an hour of enjoyment the visitor took his
leave, and afterward reported that just as the door was
XIII.] CHURCH music. 317
closing - lie heard "Uncle Hugh" muttering to himself, "I
swar, I '11 pray for him, I will."
Near the close of Dr. Lord's ministry, there was trouble
in the choir, and the singers, with the exception of Ambrose
Seaton, the leader, left the scats. The minister read the
morning hymn, but there was no response. Presently, the
senior deacon rose from his scat in front of the pulpit, and
called upan the congregation to unite in singing St. Martin's,
himself leading off in a voice tremulous with age. For
some time he sung alone, but before the hymn was finished
he had a respectable following. During the performance
the chorister was heard going down the stairs in the west
porch, at least two steps at once, and after landing upon
the common it was noticed that his steps toward his board-
ing-house were of remarkable length.
In 1830 an organ was purchased of John Prentiss, Esq.,
and Mrs. Prentiss acted as organist many years.
Aaron Lawrence, then a young man, aided largely in this
part of the Sunday services in the church. After Mrs.
Prentiss left town he acted as organist, and as 'his means
increased he spared neither time nor money to keep the
peace among the singers and afford them all needful
instruction and help in their performances. In 1864 a new
organ was purchased of the Messrs. Hook of Boston at an
expense of $1,000, one half of which was contributed by Mr.
Lawrence. During this time Mr. Elbridge Hardy acted as
chorister, assisted a portion of the time by Mr. Benjamin
Kendrick and his family. In 1873 a new organ, built by
G. H. Ryder, of Boston, was purchased, and used for the
first time at the centennial celebration of the dedication of
the meeting-house, 18 January, 1874. Since Mr. Hardy's
departure William A. Mack, Hollis E. Abbott, Charles X.
Merrill, Horace E. Woodberry, and Dr. Edward Aiken.
have served as choristers, and Mrs. A. A. Rotch, Miss
Annie Kent, Miss Sarah E. Aiken, and Miss Abbie F.
Boylston, as organists.
-318 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTER XIV.
SCHOOLS, 1762-1882.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN IN RELATION TO SCHOOLS. SALE OF
THE SCHOOL LOTS. — THE FIRST EXAMINING COMMITTEE.
ENCOURAGEMENT GIVEN FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN
ACADEMY. SCHOOL LOTTERIES. CHARTER OF THE AUREAN
ACADEMY, AND NAMES OF THE PRINCIPALS. — TEACHERS OF
SELECT SCHOOLS. APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF
SCHOOLS. APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE TO DISTRICT THE
TOWN FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES. THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THEIR NUMBERS AND LOCATION. APPOINTMENT OF A TOWN
SCHOOL COMMITTEE. SCHOOL CHILDREN IN TOWN 1817-18.
SCHOOL BOOKS IN USE IN DISTRICT NO. 1, OCTOBER, 1823. — THE
" LITERARY FUND." — ITS ESTABLISHMENT AND DISTRIBUTION.
— DIVISION OF DISTRICT NO. 1. THE TWO DISTRICTS AGAIN
UNITED, AND A NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE BUILT. MR. ATHERTON'S
GIFT TO THE SCHOOLS. THE TOWN RE-DISTRICTED. — LEGACY
OF AARON LAWRENCE, ESQ. OUTLINE MAPS PURCHASED.
ABOLITION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND AN APPRAISAL OF
THE SCHOOL PROPERTY IN THE SEVERAL DISTRICTS. — LEGACY
OF ISAAC SPALDING, ESQ.
J find no record of any schools in Souhegan West prior
to its incorporation as a town. Probably private instruc-
tion was given by Mr. Wilkins, or some other qualified per-
son, to such as desired and could afford it.
At the annual meeting of the town in 1762 a vote was
passed " to keep a school this year in five divisions, the
XIV.] schools. 319
selectmen to divide," by which we may understand the
selectmen were to divide the town into five divisions or
districts and employ a teacher, who should spend a part of
his time in each district.
No mention is made of any effort being made to secure
an appropriation for schools in the years 1763, 1765, and
1766. In 1764, 1767, 1768, and 1769, the town refused to
make any appropriation for that purpose; also at a special
meeting held in May, 1769.
Finally the matter became a serious one. The selectmen
were in danger of being "presented''' for neglect of duty
In the matter of schooling. So the town voted, at a meeting-
held 12 December, 1769, that " they will keep a school a
part of this year," and granted the sum of thirteen pounds,
six shillings, eight pence, to defray the expense of so
doing.
At the annual meeting, March, 1770, they
" Voted to keep a school the ensuing year to teach the children to
read, write, and cypher."
But no record remains that any money was appropriated
for teachers.
March, 1771. Twenty pounds, lawful money, was voted
for schooling, and the town directed that " the school should
be kept some part of the time in several parts of the town."
Also, voted that the people of the town " keep as many
schools as they think lit, and each family that does keep a
school shall be entitled to draw their proportion of the
money above granted."
At a meeting held 9 March, 1772, the sum of twenty-six
pounds, thirteen shillings, four pence, was granted for the
support of schools that year. In 1773 the article in the
warrant for the annual meeting relating to schools was
referred to the selectmen.
A proposition to build several school-houses and to choose
a committee to complete the same was rejected at the annual
meeting in March, 1774.
320 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Tliu lots reserved for schools by the proprietors of the
township seem to have been sold about this time, as we find
in the warrant for the meeting held 13 March, 1775, an
article, "to see if the town would allow that part of the
town that was originally called Amherst to use the interest
of the money their school right was lately sold for in private
schools," which they refused to do.
No record remains of any provision being made for
schools in the years 1775, 1770, and 1777. Other matters
of serious import engrossed the minds of the people in
those years ; but it is probable that the schools were not
wholly neglected.
At the annual meeting in March, 1778, it was
" Voted to keep a grammar school the ensuing year."
And on the cover of the first volume of the town records
arc the following entries, in the hand-writing of Col. Nairn m
Baldwin, town-clerk and first selectman that year. 27
April, 1778,
" Agreed with Mr. William King to keep a town school at 6s. [to-
day, and board him. .Same day opened s'd school. 27 July, 1778,
Agreed with Mr. Brown Emerson to keep a school in this town at 35s-
p'r quarter, ye school commenced this day.
N. B., Town Clerk."
These were warlike times, and the fathers used warlike
terms in the transaction of their business. So we find
them voting, 8 March, 1779,
"That the town be divided into squadrons at the discretion of the
selectmen, that the inhabitants may be the better accommodated with
a school, and that each squadron have their part of the money that
shall be raised for schooling, Provided they lay it out for that pur-
pose."
The sum of £800 was granted for the support of
schools this year at an adjourned meeting held 31 March.
In March, 1780, the sum of X600 was voted for the support
of schools, and the manner of keeping them was referred to
the selectmen.
XIV.] schools. 321
At the March meeting in 1781 the town voted to raise
.£10,000 for schooling, this year, and that " the schools be
kept by each neighborhood classing together." It may be
well to remember that this was in the days of the deprecia-
ted continental " fiat " money. The next year they had
reached " hard pan," as they voted eighty pounds for the
support of schools. The same amount was appropriated in
1783.
In 1781 they did better, and appropriated £100, and
directed the selectmen to divide the town into school
districts, and each district had liberty to lay out their
money as they pleased.
The sum of £150 was voted for schools in each of the
years 1785, 1786, and 1787.
At a meeting held 10 April, 1787, the town voted to keep
a grammar school in the centre district, this year, on con-
dition that the district shall make up to the master in a
private way what their proportion of the school money falls
short of an adequate salary.
A disposition was manifested at this meeting to secure
the services of such persons as teachers in the schools as
were qualified for the work, and a committee, consisting of
Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, Rev. John Bruce, and Augustus
Blanchard,Esq., was appointed " to examine the abilities of
school masters and mistresses," and it was voted that none
but those that were recommended by them should be
employed by any district as teachers of schools.
It was also voted that if any district should not school
out their money within one year from the time it was
granted, it should be paid into the town treasury for the
use of the town.
One hundred and fifty pounds annually was granted for
the support of schools from 1787 to 1793, inclusive.
At the annual meeting in March, 1789, the town voted
to excuse a number of persons who had joined themselves
together for the support of an academy in this town from
•21
322 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
the payment of any school tax so long as they should
support the proposed academy. The use of the town-house
for school purposes was also granted to them.
Lotteries were popular in those days, and we find that
when the projectors of the academy asked the legislature
for an act of incorporation they asked for the grant of a
lottery to enable them to support it. The senate, however,
gave them leave to bring in a bill for the incorporation of
the academy only.
In December, 1791, a petition was presented to the legis-
lature by the academies in Amherst, Atkinson, Charles-
town, Chesterfield, and New Ipswich, asking for the grant
of a lottery to enable them to raise £ 5,000, which they
proposed to divide equally among those institutions; but the
application was postponed to the next session, and was
finally unsuccessful.
16 February, 1791, Joshua Atherton, Samuel Dana.
Robert Means, William Gordon, Daniel Warner, John
Shepard, Robert Fletcher, Nathan Kendall, jr., Samuel
Curtis, Joseph Blanchard, Samuel Wilkins, and Daniel
Campbell, esquires, William Read, Nathan Cleaves, David
Danforth, Isaac Baldwin, John Eaton, David Stewart,
Thomas Gilmore, Samuel G. Towne, James Roby, John
Watson, Jeremiah Hobson, Ebenezer Taylor, Jonathan
Smith, jr., and Ephraim Barker, of Amherst, Moses Kel-
ley, of Goffstown, Isaac Cochran, of Antrim, Timothy
Taylor and Jacob MacGaw, of Merrimack, and Stephen
Dole, of Bedford, and their successors, were, by the legisla-
ture of the State, formed into, constituted and made a body
politic and corporate by the name of the Aurean Academy,
which corporation was empowered to transact all business
necessary to the support and maintenance of an academy,
the end and purpose of which was declared to be " to
encourage and promote virtue and piety, and a knowledge
of the English, Greek, and Latin languages, Mathematicks,
XIV.] schools. 323
Writing, Geography, Logic, Oratory, Rhetoric, and other
useful and ornamental branches of literature."
The corporation was empowered to have a common seal,
which might be altered at pleasure, might sue and be sued,
and hold real and personal estate, provided the income of
the real estate should not exceed £300 annually, and that
of the personal estate £700 annually, said sums to be reck-
oned in silver at six shillings and eight pence per ounce,
and the students in the academy were to be exempted from
the payment of a poll tax.
An organization of the corporation was effected shortly
after, and the school went into operation under the charge
of Charles Walker, a son of Judge Timothy Walker, of
Concord, N. H. He was succeeded by Daniel Stamford,
Henry Moore, Jesse Appleton, William Crosby, William
Biglow, Joshua Haywood, William Abbott, Daniel Weston,
Peyton R. Freeman, James McPherson, and Thomas Cole.
The school was in successful operation for some years ; but
it was finally closed in 1801 for lack of adequate funds for
its support.
A select school was kept in the village during the sum-
mer months for several years afterward. Among the
teachers of this school were Ephraim P. Bradford, George
Kimball, James McKean Wilkins, John Farmer, Samuel
Whiting, Abel F. Hildreth, and Gideon L. Soule.
The South-west parish having been incorporated as a
separate town in January, 1794, but £120 was granted for
the support of schools that year. Four hundred dollars was
granted the following year.
4 January, 1796. The town voted that the selectmen
assess such a sum of money for the support of a grammar
school this year as they may deem necessary, and it was
provided that each school class in town should have its
proportion of said money. In March of that year ^500 was
appropriated for the support of schools the current year,
32-1 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
and the method of keeping them was leferred to the select-
men.
18 April, 1796. A proposition to grant a portion of the
money proposed to be raised for the support of a grammar
school to the academy on condition that the town grammar
school scholars should receive instruction in the academy
was rejected, as was a proposition to grant a sum of money
annually to the academy on condition that the town gram-
mar school scholars should be taught therein in the
branches required in a public grammar school.
Five hundred dollars was appropriated for the support of
schools in 1797, and the method of keeping them was
referred to the selectmen.
In 1798, 1799, and 1800, $600 was granted each year,
which the selectmen were directed to appropriate according
to law.
26 March, 1798. The selectmen were directed to call
for all the money due for school land over $200, and let it
on interest.
In 1801 $500 was appropriated to be laid out in an
English school or schools, and the mode of keeping the
Latin grammar school was referred to the board of select-
men, Avho were directed to petition the legislature to repeal
the law relating to grammar schools in shire and half shire
towns.
13 April, 1801. Voted that the grammar school be kept
eight months in the First parish and four months in the
Second parish, this year.
15 March, 1802. $500 was granted for schools, this year.
2 March, 1803. $700 was appropriated for schools, $300
of which was to be used for the support of grammar schools,
the centre district of the First parish to have $200, and
that of the Second parish, $100, the balance to be divided
among the other districts according to their taxes ; and it
was provided that every person in town should have liberty
to send to the grammar school, and that such school dis-
XIV.] SCHOOLS. 825
tricts as were dissatisfied with their classification might be
classed anew.
15 December, 1803. The Second parish was incorpo-
rated as a separate town.
21 March, 1804. Voted to raise $500 for English schools,
to be expended as usual, and voted that the grammar
school money be appropriated according to law.
31 May, 1801. The selectmen were directed to re-district
the town for school purposes.
At the same meeting the selectmen were directed to
satisfy a mortgage in favor of Lemmons i's. Washer, the
latter securing the town by mortgage ; and they were
authorized to appropriate a part of the money due the
town for school lands to that purpose.
27 August, 1804. Daniel Campbell, William Fisk, Amos
Elliott, Daniel Warner, and Ebenezer Taylor, were appoint-
ed a committee to re-district the town for school purposes.
12 March, 1805. $400 was appropriated for the support of
schools, in addition to what the law required. In 1806,
$680 was appropriated.
12 March, 1806. The committee appointed to re-district
the town for school purposes made their report, which was
accepted and adopted by the town. It was the basis, sub-
stantially, of the school district system in the town until its
abolition, and was a work of much labor and care. Thev
divided the town into nine districts, the boundaries of each
being given, and the names of the tax-payers. District No. 1
was the centre district ; No. 2, the Lovejoy district, in the
east part of the town ; No. 3, Cricket Corner, in the south-
east part of the town ; No. 4, Christian Hill, west of the
Plain ; No. 5, the Danforth district, south of Souhegan
river ; No. 6, Pond Parish district, in the south-easterly part
of the town ; No. 7, the Wilkins district, adjoining Milford ;
No. 8, the Campbell district, north of the Plain ; No. 9,
Chestnut-hill district, adjoining New Boston and Bedford.
326 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
This was the era of school-house building. Within two
years nearly every district was in the possession of a new
school-house.
From 1808 to 181-4 1700 was appropriated annually for
the support of schools, except in 1811, when $1,000 was
raised.
In 1809 a committee, consisting of Rev. Jeremiah Barn-
ard, Col. Daniel Warner, Charles II. Atherton, Esq., Sam-
uel Bell, Esq., and Capt. John Secombe, was appointed and
continued in office two years, when it was enlarged by the
addition of Edmund Parker, Clifton Claggett, Peter Me-
lendy, Capt. Daniel Campbell, Samuel Curtis, John Ellin-
wood, Daniel Weston, Col. Robert Means, and Jedediah K.
Smith, to its number. For some years a large committee
was appointed, and much interest was manifested in the
management of the schools. During this period Jacob
Kimball, Robert Means, jr., Robert Read, Frederick French,
Rev. Nathan Lord, Dr. John Farmer, Richard Boylston,
Isaac Brooks, Esq., and other prominent citizens, served on
the school board.
In 1815, and from that time until 1830, $800 was
appropriated annually for school purposes, except in 182S,
when the appropriation was increased to $850.
10 October, 1814. Samuel Wilkins, William Towne,
Timothy Nichols, Ebenezer Taylor, and others, were formed
into a new school district. A school-house was erected
in this district shortly after, west of the Hollis road, near
the house of Ebenezer Taylor.
The following statement of the scholars attending the
district schools in Amherst in the winter of 1817-18 was
published in the Cabinet 11 September, 1818.
Dist. No. 1, 109. Dist. No. <», 62.
Dist. No. 2, 56. Part of Dist. Xo. 7, 15.
Dist, No. 3, 30. Dist. No. 8, 50.
Dist. Xo. 4, 46. Dist, Xo. 9, 39.
Dist, Xo. 5, 42. Parts of two districts, 28.
Total, 477.
XIV.] schools. 327
The population of the town at that time was about 1,610,
29.0 per cent, of which were school children, as shown by
the above statement.
March, 1822. Difficulties having arisen in District No.
6, Capt. Luther Dana, Nathan Kendall, William Fisk,
Jacob Hildreth, and Robert Means, jr., were appointed a
committee to inquire into their origin, the facts respecting
them, and, if possible, to devise some equitable and just
way of settling them, and report the same to the town at
some future meeting. 16 September following, the com-
mittee reported, agreeably to instructions, a plan for a
settlement of the troubles, which was accepted by the town,
and " peace and quietness again reigned in Pond Parish.
October, 1823. The following books were recommended
to be used in the schools in District No. 1. by Charles H.
Atherton in behalf of the prudential committee of said
district :
Scott's Lessons, or Murray's Reader.
History of the United States, by Prentiss.
Cummings's Spelling- Book.
Colburn's First Lessons in Arithmetick.
Daboll's Arithmetick.
Cummings's Geography.
Wilkins's Astronomy.
Murray's Grammar, revised by Allen Fisk.
Blair's Rhetorick.
Walker's Dictionary.
The committee were evidently favorable to home products,
as the text-book on astronomy was compiled by John H.
Wilkins, an Amherst boy, and the revision of the grammar
was prepared by a son of Hon. William Fisk.
In 1830 the town appropriated $600 and its proportion of
the literary fund, amounting to §431.88, for the support of
schools, making a handsome increase in the amount of
school money.
The literary fund was derived from a tax of one half of
one per cent, levied annually on the capital stock of all
328 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
banking corporations doing business under the laws of this
State, and was evidently an outgrowth of the famous Dart-
mouth College controversy.
It was to be used, as stated in the act providing for its
assessment, "for the sole purpose of endowing and support-
ing a college for instruction in the higher branches of
science and literature," and it was provided that the said
fund should " never be applied to the support of any insti-
tution which was not under the control and direction of
the State"
The idea of establishing a State university was afterward
abandoned, and an act was passed by the legislature, which
was approved by the governor 31 December, 1828, directing
the State treasurer to convert the stocks held by him for
the literary fund into money forthwith, and divide the
same among the towns according to their apportionment of
the public taxes. Provision was also made for the contin-
uance of the tax, and the amount received was required to
be divided annually among the towns according to their
proportion of the public taxes, to be by them expended for
the support of schools.
By an act approved 22 June, 1829, the treasurer was
authorized to pay the proportion of the literary fund due
each town to the representative of the town, who was to
pay the same to the selectmen or treasurer of the town,
and take a receipt therefor.
Commencing with 1831, and for several years thereafter,
the sum of $800 and the town's proportion of the literary
fund was annually appropriated for the support of schools.
3 February, 1838. John Secombe, Israel Fuller, and
Elijah Putnam, were appointed a committee to divide school
district No. 1.
At a meeting held 13 March following, they made a
report defining the boundaries of the proposed districts, with
the names of the resident and non-resident property-holders
therein. Which report was accepted and adopted. The
XIV.] schools. 329
new districts were organized, and a new school-bouse —
latterly the steam-mill on the Plain — was built shortly after
for the accommodation of the schools of the new district.
In the re-numbering of the districts soon after, the new
district became No. 2 ; the Lovejoy district, No. 7 ; and the
Taylor district, No. 10, — the other districts retaining their
old numbers.
In November, 1839, much complaint was made of the
multiplicity of class books in use in the schools, there being-
no committee to prescribe what books should be used, and
it was suggested that it would be less expense and more
satisfactory to those interested if a superintending school
committee should be appointed by the town agreeably to
the law then in force. This was not done until 1842, in
which year Stephen Peabody, John L. Hadley, Mason Ball,
William T. Savage, and Francis P. Fitch, were appointed.
Since that time the provisions of the law in that respect
have been complied with.
From 1845 to 1851 81,000 was appropriated annually for
the support of schools. In 1849 three per cent, of the
school money was voted to the " Teachers' Institute."
In 1848 the town's proportion of the literary fund
amounted to fifty-nine dollars and forty-five cents. In 1859
it had risen to the sum of $114.24.
The sum of -11,300 was appropriated for the support of
schools in 1858, and the sum of 81,200 in 1859.
At a meeting held 20 April, 1852, the town voted to
unite school districts Nos. 1 and 2, thus restoring the old
district No. 1.
In May, 1853, this district voted, by a two-thirds vote, to
to erect a brick building, 60 x 40 feet, two stories in height,
for school purposes, and the homestead of the late William
Read, Esq. was purchased for a lot on which to build,
Charles L. Stewart, Esq., its owner, contributing the sum of
8200 toward the enterprise.
330 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
A bell, the gift of Aaron Lawrence, Esq., was placed
upon the new school-honse 26 June, 1855, for which a vote
of thanks was passed by the district 15 March, 1856.
In March, 1853, eleven copies of Webster's large quarto
dictionary were presented to the schools in Amherst by
Hon. Charles G. Atherton.
At the annual meeting in March, 1856, David Stewart
and Joseph Mace were appointed a committee to examine
and report if a new school district can with propriety be
formed to accommodate the Irish families on the " Acre,"
near the Milford line, and they were required to report the
result of their investigations on the first day of April
following, at which time, after hearing the report of the
committee, it was voted not to set off the new district
asked for; — yeas, 20 ; nays, 44.
The matter was au - ain brought up, and the district was
finally set off and organized, the location of the school-
house being fixed by a committee consisting of Joseph
Mace, George Walker, and H. A. Clark, 3 September, 1861.
A vote was passed 19 May, 1863, to re-district the town
for school purposes, and the selectmen were appointed a
committee to carry the vote into effect, with instructions to
make a report of their proceedings by the first day of Sep-
tember following. On that day they presented their report;
but some dissatisfaction being expressed, it was re-commit-
ted, and they were directed to give notice to individuals, in
districts where dissatisfaction exists, of a time and place
for a hearing in their cases, and make report at an ad-
journed meeting three weeks from date, at which time
the selectmen again submitted their plan, which, after some
discussion, was adopted: — yeas, 29 ; nays, 26.
By this report the town was divided into eleven districts.
The following communication was received by the town-
clerk 29 December, 1870, and entered upon the town
records :
XIV.] schools. 331
Amherst, Not't 23d, 1870.
Gentlemen : With the approbation of the persons named as
advisers in the Will of the Late Aaron Lawrence, of this town, his
Executors have deposited with the Nashua Savings Bank Fourteen
hundred Dollars in trust for the benefit of the Common Schools in
Amherst. This deposit is made on condition that the principal shall
remain with the Bank and be increased by the extra Dividends of the
Institution, while the regular annual interest shall be payable to the
order of the Treasurer of the town for the use of the schools.
By this arrangement we hope to keep alive the memory of an
esteemed citizen, and subserve the cause of public education. The
proper vouchers for the deposit have been placed in the hands of the
Town Treasurer, and labelled " Lawrence fund for schools, ' and we
respectfully request that this letter may be entered upon the records
of the town. In behalf of the Executors, I am yours,
J. G. DAVIS.
To tin- Selectmen of tlie town of Amherst.
The sum of $173.27 was received from the interest of this
fund in the year 1873, and applied to the support of schools,
agreeably to the provisions of the wall. Since that time
the sum of seventy dollars has been received annually.
11 March, 1873. The town voted to appropriate a sum
not exceeding $200 to purchase a set of outline maps for
the use of each school in town.
The sum of $2,500 was appropriated for the support of
schools for the year commencing March, 1874.
10 March, 1874. Voted that a committee of one from
each school district should be chosen to consider the expe-
diency of abolishing the school districts in town, agreeably
to " an act enabling towns to abolish school districts in
certain cases," passed June session, 1868 ; and it was also
voted that each school district should choose its own mem-
ber of the committee.
March, 1875. It was voted to take no further action
in regard to the abolition of the school districts.
At the annual meeting in March, 1876, it was voted to
give the literary fund, amounting this year to the sum of
$120.60, to school district No. 2 (the Acre), for the sup-
port of its school.
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
31 March, 1877. Josiah (J. Davis and Miss Rebecca A.
Davis were appointed school committee by the selectmen.
2 November, 1878. The sum of fifty dollars was appro-
priated from the town treasury in aid of the schools in
District No. 2.
2 November, 1880. A vote was taken by ballot to abolish
the school districts within the town, in accordance with the
statute in such cases made and provided, which resulted in
favor of the project, 74 votes being cast in favor and 61
against it, and it was declared to be adopted.
The selectmen were authorized to take all necessary
steps in the appraisal of property, and any thing that might
be necessary to carry out the change of the school system,
or to appoint a committee to act in the matter.
29 November, 1880. Frank Hartshorn, James U. Prince,
James P. Nourse, Thomas M. Harvell, and Frank P. Phelps,
were appointed by the selectmen to appraise all the school-
houses, land, apparatus, and other property owned and
used for school purposes, which the several school districts
might lawfully sell or convey.
The committee attended to the duties assigned them,
and appraised the property specified
In Dist. No. 1, the Village, at
In Dist. No. 2, the Acre, .
In Dist. No. 3, Cricket Corner,
In Dist. No. 4, Christian Hill,
In Dist. No. 5, Danforth's,
In Dist. No. 6, Pond Parish,
In Dist. No. 7, Noyes's,
In Dist. No. 8, Mack's,
In Dist. No. 9, Chestnut Hill,
In Dist. No. 10, .
,|5,680.00
160.00
184.00
500.00
316.00
540.00
496.00
506.00
466.00
380.00
$9,228.00
The sum of $2,500 was appropriated for the support of
schools for the year commencing 1 March, 1881.
XIV.] schools. 333
The sum of $10,000 is left to the town of Amherst by the
will of the late Isaac Spalding, of Nashua, the same to be
paid in one year from the death of his widow, and kept as
a perpetual fund, to be known as the " Spalding fund," the
annual interest, dividend, or income of which is to be added
to the school money raised by the town in each year, and
expended as such money is now, or hereafter may be, by
law required or authorized to be expended.
-334 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTER XV.
COURT HOUSES AND COURTS IN AMHERST.
1771-1870.
DIVISION OF THE PROVINCE INTO COUNTIES. — AMHERST SELECTED
AS THE SHIRE TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THE FIRST
MEETING-HOUSE PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY FOR A COURT-
HOUSE, BURNED BY AN INCENDIARY. A JAIL BUILT. CON-
CORD PETITIONS TO BE ANNEXED TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY,
AND MADE A HALF SHIRE. HOPKINTON MADE A HALF SHIRE.
INCORPORATION OF MERRIMACK COUNTY*. EFFORTS MADE
TO REMOVE THE COURTS TO MONT VERNON. COURTS REMOVED
TO MANCHESTER AND NASHUA. A PROPOSITION TO REMOVE
THE COUNTY RECORDS FROM AMHERST TO MANCHESTER RE-
JECTED BY* THE VOTERS OF THE COUNTY. COUNTY RECORDS
REMOVED TO NASHUA. SALE OF THE JAIL BUILDINGS. —
FINAL REMOVAL OF THE COURTS FROM AMHERST. A HILLS-
BOROUGH COUNTY* COURT IN 1796. APPOINTMENT OF
SHERIFF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY* DURING THE " ERA OF
GOOD FEELING." A JAIL DELIVERY BY SHERIFF PIERCE IN
1818, MICHAEL KEIFF, DANIEL D. FARMER, LETITIA S. BLAIS-
DELL, NATHAN CARR. — PUNISHMENT OF THIEVES IN YE OLDEN
TIME. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF A THEFT.
An attempt to divide the Province into counties was
made in the House of Representatives 22 January, 1755 ;
but it failed to receive the concurrence of the Council.
The subject was brought up in the Council at a session
held in March, 1769, at whieh time votes were passed for
XV.] courts. 335
dividing the Province into counties and fixing their bound-
aries. In these votes the House concurred.
29 March, 1769. The Council voted that one superior
court, four inferior courts of common pleas, and four courts
of general sessions, should be held annually at Amherst,
for the county in which it was included.
This vote was returned by the House the next day with-
out concurrence, as they were in some doubt whether the
courts should be held in Amherst or Merrimack ; but they
professed a willingness to abide by the decision of the
Council.
After hearing the statements of parties interested, the
question was put to the Council whether Amherst should
be stricken from the vote and Merrimack put in its place,
and it was decided in the negative. The vote of the Coun-
cil was then concurred in by the House.
1 April, 1T69. William Parker and Samuel Livermore
were appointed by the House to act with such as the
Council might join to draft and present a bill for the divi-
sion of the Province into counties, agreeably to the votes
recently passed. The Council appointed Daniel Warner
and Peter Livius members of the committee on its part.
The bill prepared by the committee received the sanction
of both houses 25 April, 1709, and the signature of Gov.
John Wentworth on the 29th day of the same month, the
counties constituted by it receiving the names of Rocking-
ham, Strafford, Hillsborough, Cheshire, and Grafton.
It was provided that the counties of Strafford and Graf-
ton should remain and be considered a part of Rockingham
county at present ; but that the other counties should be
organized as soon as the necessary provisions for the
accommodation of the courts could be made, after "His
Majesty's royal approbation of the law should be made
known."
The last provision delayed the organization of the coun-
ties for some time, but the king's consent was finally given.
33C) HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
and the necessary arrangements for the accommodation of
the court being made, the first session of the superior court
for the county of Hillsborough was held at Amherst in the
month of September, 1771.
While the division of the Province into counties was
under consideration, there was much discussion concerning
the shire towns of the proposed counties. In Hillsborough
county there seems to have been considerable feeling mani-
fested on the subject. Petitions were presented to the
General Court from the towns of Bow, Chester, Hampstead,
Londonderry, Pelham, Plaistow, Salem, and Sandown,
asking that those towns might be included in the county
with the towns lying between Peterborough and the Merri-
mack river. Petitions were also sent from Peterborough
and New Boston for the same purpose. On the other hand
petitions were presented from Bedford, Dunstable, Hills-
borough, Monson, New Ipswich, Society Land, and Wilton,
protesting against the annexation of any towns east of
Merrimack river to the new count}'. Several of these last
petitions evidently originated in Amherst, as they were
written by that accomplished scribe, John Shepard, jr.
In the petition from Dunstable the petitioners beg leave
to return thanks to the legislature for the wisdom and
prudence they had displayed in fixing upon the Merrimack
river as the boundary line between the counties, and express
the opinion that not a single town should be added to those
already proposed to form the new county. In some of these
papers reference is made to the fears expressed by some
that the county will be unable to support its organization,
from the lack of a sufficient number of inhabitants, which
fears they think are unfounded.
The petitioners from Wilton concur with those from
Dunstable, and ask further that Amherst may be made the
shire town of the county.
In this matter, as in all others in which the welfare of
the town was concerned, Pastor Wilkins took a deep
XT.] courts. 337
interest. The following letter, written by him to one of the
members of the Governor's Council, at that time, has been
preserved :
" To the Honble George Jaffery, Esq'r, in Portsmouth :
IIon'd & Dear S'r : After due salutation, I beg leave to inform
your Hon'r that the proposal of the General Court that Merrimack be
the Shire Town of the County on the West side of Menimac River,
has raised a general uneasiness throughout the whole County, evin
many thinking men in Menimac itself (as I have been credibly
informed) are well satisfied that if the Proposal be established, it will
be greatly to the Town Damage in general, as they are small in
Number, consisting of seventy odd Families, no more, and them
exceeding much scattered, and many of the number on New Places,
and no ways accommodated to entertain a Court, especially with Hay
& Pastoring, neither do they ever expect to be well accommodated
with the Primeses, as great Part of their Land is poor and clothed
with shrubs. The uneasiness of the People arises from the said Pro-
posals not being for Amherst rather than Merrimack. Not only as
Amherst has been talked of for a Shire Town, evin from Its Infancy,
thereby fixing the minds of the People upon it, but for its situation
Nearer the Hart of the County, so that many Towns can come from
Home in the Morning and return Home in the Evining, that ca' n't
possibly do the like if the Court be at Merrimac, and thereby save a
great deal of Charge to poor People ; and now S'r, I beg leave to give
a Discription of Amherst in a few Words : Tt is Situate about Eight
Miles from Mr. Lutwytche's Ferry, on Merrimac River, the contents
of which is aboiit six miles Square, containing about one Hundred
and sixty Famelies, and accommodated, according to men of the best
Judgment, to settle an Hundred Families at least, more than is
already settled, and near an Hundred of them good Country Farms,
Well accommodated with fields and Pastures, and chiefly all good
Husbands, the Middle of the Town pleasantly situated, a good coach
Road to it from the Eastward and Southern Parts of the Province,
and all Roads centering there. The People in general knowing the
situation and accommodations of Amherst to entertain the Court,
suppose that the General Court's proposal for Merrimack sprung from
a mis-Representation.
The occasion of these lines to your Hon'r was the cries of the Peo-
ple, and to beg leave to subscribe your humble serv't,
DANIEL WILKINS.
Amherst, Oct. ye 1st, 1767.
22
338 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
P. S. S'r : I must beg leave to tell your Hon'r that Mr. Willard, a
sou of Coll. Willard, of Winchester, and one Mr. Hall was at my
House the Last Evening as agent for Keen and other towns, toward
the great River, to desire that the Shire Town might be Amherst, and
likewise that there is a general uneasiness of its being at Merrimack
and also Walepole, as that every town save two would be greatly
Discommoded if the Court was had at Walepole and not at Keen, and
also beg the favor of its being established at Keen, as Keen will much
best commode the People in General, or at least that his Exelency,
with your Hon'rs, would grant them Liberty to bring Down the minds
of the People.
D. W.
The meeting-house belonging - to the town was, as else-
where stated, presented to the county for a court house,
and was subsequently moved from its original location, at
the junction of the roads near the house now occupied by
P. W. and Thomas Jones, to a site on the Plain, north of
the soldiers' monument, where it was burned by an incen-
diary on the night following the 15th day of March, 1788.
A jail was built shortly after the organization of the
county, which now forms a part of the old jail house build-
ing, and some forty years later the stone jail building was
erected.
At a meeting held 31 March, 1788, the town voted to
grant eighty pounds toward the erection of a new court
house. John Patterson, Capt. Josiah Crosby, Samuel Dana,
Esq., Daniel Campbell, and James Ray, were appointed a
committee to superintend its erection, and its " location,
form, and figure," were referred to the committee and the
selectmen of the town.
The second court house was built on the spot now occu-
pied by the dwelling-house of David Russell, Esq. After
the brick court house was built it was sold and removed to
the westerly part of the Plain, where it was fitted up for a
chapel, for which it was used several years, when it was
again sold and fitted up for tenement dwellings. It is still
standing near the fouudery buildings. West of it, as it was
originally located, and near by, were the whipping-post and
XV.] courts. 339
pillory, those " terrors of the law'' to evil doers among the
fathers. The whippings inflicted, we may judge, varied in
severity according to the disposition of the officer who
inflicted them. In one instance, still remembered, the
culprit was told privately that lie " should not be whipped
very hard,'' but was directed to make a terrible outcry every
time he was struck.
After the State prison was built, the pillory and whip-
ping-post were dispensed with, and but very few persons
now living can remember them.
In this second court house the giants of the legal profes-
sion in New Hampshire, from 1787 to 1822, were wont to
congregate at the semi-annual sessions of the Hillsborough
county courts. Here came Jere. Mason, Jere. Smith, the elder
Plainer, William Gordon, David Everett, the elder Ather-
tons, Levi Woodbury, George Sullivan, Arthur Livermore,
Sam. Bell, Parker Noyes, Judge Richardson, and others of
lesser note; and here, greatest of all, Daniel Webster made
his maiden argument before Judge Farrar. He had
finished the study of his profession in the office of Christo-
pher Gore, a distinguished jurist in Boston, and had been
admitted to the Suffolk county bar on motion of that gen-
tleman in March, 1805. A few weeks later he visited
Amherst, and argued a motion before Judge Farrar's court
with such clearness that the presiding judge remarked to
his associates, " That young man's statement is a most
unanswerable argument," and at once granted the motion.
The town of Concord having presented a petition to the
General Court, asking to be annexed to the county of Hills-
borough, and that one half of the courts then held at
Amherst might be held in that town, the people of Amherst,
at a meeting held 28 April, 1785, voted their unwillingness
that the petition should be granted, and chose Joshua
Athertoiv Augustus Blanchard, and Samuel Dana, Esqs., a
committee " to show the General Court the reasons of their
unwillingness." Col. Robert Means, then representative of
340 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
the town, was instructed to assist the committee, who were
directed " to confer with other towns relative to the prem-
ises before hearing the petition."
The people of the towns in the northern part of the
county requiring greater conveniences for the transaction
of their business before the courts, the legislature passed
an act which was approved 25 December, 1792, providing
that the May term of the superior court and the September
and December terms of the court of common pleas and
general court of sessions, held annually at Amherst, should
thereafter be held at Hopkinton, at the same time they had
been held at Amherst, provided that the said courts should
be held in or as near the meeting-house in said Hopkinton
as they could conveniently be, and that the act should be
null and void if, at the expiration of two years from its
passage, the town of Hopkinton had not erected a suitable
house, free of expense to the county, in which to hold said
courts.
The required building was promptly erected, and Hop-
kinton became a half shire town of the county, and so
continued until the formation of Merrimack county in 1823.
A jail was also erected there which continued to be used by
the county of Merrimack after its incorporation until the
completion of the new jail at Concord in 1852.
A committee appointed by the town to examine and
report, among other things, what part of the common the
town should appropriate for a court-house, on condition that
the town should have the privilege of using the same for a
town house, reported, at a meeting held 21 September,
1818, recommending that the town should grant the county
a right to erect a court-house and the necessary buildings
for the accommodation of the same on the common, in front
of the burying-ground, placing the back thereof as far as
may be convenient, into the burying-ground, provided the
town shall ever have the privilege of using the house to
hold their meetings in.
XV.] courts. 341
The plan of forming a new county for the better accom-
modation of the people residing in the northerly part of
Hillsborough and the north-western part of Rockingham
counties, began to be discussed about this time. A plan of
the proposed county of Rumford, containing substantially
the same territory as was at first contained in the county
of Merrimack, appeared in the New Hampshire Patriot, 19
January, 1819 ; and a bill providing for its incorporation
was introduced into the Senate and advocated by Hon.
Isaac Hill at the session of the legislature held in Decem-
ber, 1820, which was postponed. The subject was again
brought up in the legislature at the session held in June,
1821, and referred to the voters of the towns interested at
their next annual meeting, at which a large majority of the
votes cast were found to be in favor of the project. The
town of Hopkinton and some others in its immediate
vicinity, however, voted almost unanimously against it.
Finally the legislature passed an act constituting the
county of Merrimack, which was approved by the governor,
3 July, 1823, and Concord was designated as its shire
town. By this act the towns of Andover, Boscawen, Brad-
ford, Dunbarton, Fishersfield, Henniker, Hooksett, Hopkin-
ton, New London, Salisbury, Sutton, Warner, and Wilmot,
were taken from Hillsborough county and became parts of
the new county.
It was then proposed in some quarters to remove the
courts and county offices of the county of Hillsborough
from Amherst to Mont Vernon, and liberal offers were
made by some of the citizens of the latter place toward
defraying the expense of erecting the necessary buildings
in that town for the accommodation of the courts and
county offices. Citizens of Amherst also offered to provide
better accommodations in this town than the county officials
had hitherto had, free of expense to the county. On being
brought before the legislature, the matter was referred to
the decision of the voters of the countv, who at the election
342 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
in March, 1S24, decided, by a vote of about three to one, to
continue Amherst as the shire town.
THE THIRD COURT-HOUSE, NOW THE TOWN-HOUSE.
A new court-house — the present town-house — was erected
shortly after, on land given by the town for that purpose.
The town also relinquished all the right they had in the old
court-house to the committee for building the new one,
their share of the proceeds of the sale of the house to be
expended on or about the new house, and to be entered on
the subscription paper as the subscription of the town of
Amherst toward the erection of the new court-house.
The balance of the expense of its erection was defrayed
by contributions of citizens of the town.
Fire-proof safes for the reception and safe-keeping of the
county records, and rooms for the use of the county officers,
were provided in the additions built on the north and
south ends of the court-house by the county in 1828.
XV.] courts. 343
By an act of the legislature, approved 28 December,
1844, it was provided that a term of the court of common
pleas should thereafter be held at Manchester on the fourth
Tuesday of October, annually, provided that town should
furnish suitable accommodations for its sitting, free of
expense to the county, and the selectmen of the town were
to notify the clerk of the court when such accommodations
were provided.
An act passed 12 July, 1856, provided that a term of the
superior court should be held at Nashua on the first Tues-
day of February, annually, on the same conditions as pre-
scribed in the act providing for a session of the court of
common pleas to be held at Manchester. By an act
passed 8 July, 1859, the time for holding the term of the
court at Nashua was changed to the first Tuesday of May,
annually.
Prior to this time the subject of the removal of the
county records from Amherst was discussed.
An act providing for their removal to Manchester when-
ever suitable buildings for their reception and the accom-
modation of the county officers should be provided there,
free of expense to the county, was passed 8 July, 1862.
This, however, was made subject to the approval of the
voters of the county at the annual meeting in the following
March, at which time a majority of the votes cast were
against the proposed change.
At the same session of the legislature the time for
holding the session of the superior court at Amherst was
changed to the first Tuesday of May, annually.
An act was passed 29 June, 1864, providing for the
removal of the county records to Nashua, whenever that
city provided suitable buildings for their reception, free of
expense to the county. This act was subject to the approval
of the voters of the county at a special meeting called in
the several towns and cities in the month of August follow-
ing, when a majority of the votes cast being in favor of the
344 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap
proposed change, buildings were erected in Nashua for the
accommodation of the county officers and the safe-keeping
of the county records, which were removed there in August,
1866, and the offices were opened on the eighteenth day of
that month.
A jail having been built at Manchester, the jail, jail-house,
and small house near by, in Amherst, and the land around
them, owned by the county, were sold at auction, 8 October,
1867.
The land on which these buildings stood was presented
to the county by Jonathan Smith, in 1771.
By an act of the legislature, approved 15 July, 1879, the
May term of the superior court held at Amherst on the first
Tuesday of May, annually, was abolished, and a term of the
court was ordered to be held in its stead at Nashua and
Manchester, alternately, on the first Tuesday of May,
annually.
This completed the removal of the Hillsborough county
courts from Amherst, where they had been held wholly, or
in part, for one hundred and eight years.
On the removal of the courts, the court-house, agreeably
to the provisions of the deed, given the county in 1.824,
became the property of the town.
It has since been fitted up for a town-house, and contains
a large and convenient town-hall, rooms for the town offi-
cers, the town library, and a fire-proof safe for the preser-
vation of the town records, etc.
A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COURT IN 1796,
As described by a prominent lawyer of Amherst in a letter
to Jeremiah Smith.
"Judge wore a wig, alias a scratch, which was upon the
whole tolerably ridiculous, especially as it was frequently made to
change its position, to our no small amusement. As to the rest I will
say nothing.
Gordon had the bar to dine with him on Thursday, and it happened
that I had previously asked the judges to dine with me, and therefore
XV.] courts. 345
missed of much pleasure, as well as wine, I should have enjoyed at
his house.
He endeavoi'ed to get all his brethren drunk, and, it not being a
very difficult undertaking, he succeeded very well, with respect to
them, and himself too.
About half past three in came the whole fraternity, with Judge D.
at their head, who was the soberest man among them (what think
you of the other?), ready to give the fraternal hug even to old K.,
himself. D. goggled to the Court. A. and S. were silent, for the best
of reasons, — they could not speak. C. and W. quarreled, and threat-
ened to fight. Gordon laughed at every thing and every body. B.
and S. D., jr., argued a case to the great satisfaction of them-
selves. Claggett fell asleep, and Ben Champney made poetry. N. G.
stole a few writs, and Thompson made up his large bills of costs.
Old K. (the sheriff) broke all his deputy sheriffs, and took care of
the jury himself to save the fees."
Judge Smith, on his return from Congress the preceding
summer, had been met at the hall of Dr. Curtis by the
gentlemen of the bar, the honorable judges of the court of
common pleas, and a number of respectable citizens of
Amherst and the adjoining towns, who presented a formal
address to him, thanking him for his labors in Congress,
and congratulating him on his safe return.
Smith bore the infliction patiently, made an appropriate
reply, and on the whole acted his part well ; but the whole
affair disgusted him, and he afterward wrote to a friend
that could he have found a window to jump out of he
believed he should have ventured to do it. The affair
ended in a dinner, the result of which was probably not
very different from Gordon's dinner to the bar.
APPOINTMENT OF A SHERIFF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, DURING
THE " ERA OF GOOD FEELING."
Sheriff Benjamin Pierce, of Hillsborough county, hav-
ing been elected governor, a majority of his council, at
a session held 23 June, 1827, nominated Edmund Parker,
of Amherst, as his succ3SSor ; but the governor refused to
sanction the appointment. John Wallace, jr., of Milford, a
member of the Council, was then proposed by a majority of
346 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
the Council, but rejected by the Governor. 28 June, Henry
Fields, of Merrimack, was nominated by the Governor, but
rejected by the Council. The nomination of William
Whittemore, of Greenfield, made by the Governor, was
rejected by the Council. Jesse Bowers, of Dunstable, was
then nominated by the Governor, but rejected by the
Council. 3 July, Timothy Danforth, of Amherst, was nom-
inated by the Governor, and confirmed by the Council ; but
the next day both Governor and Council annulled the
appointment. 5 July, Jacob Tuttle, of Antrim, was proposed
by the Governor, but rejected by the Council. David L.
Morril, of Goffstown, was then proposed by the Council,
but rejected by the Governor. Finally, Jacob Whittemore,
of Antrim, was proposed by the Governor, and, the nomi-
nation being approved by the Council, he became Gov.
Pierce's successor in the office of sheriff of Hillsborough
county.
The jail has not been a very secure place for the confine-
ment of criminals, who frequently found means to escape.
They were generally recaptured and held to answer to the
complaints made against them. In one instance one of
the escaped prisoners, who had got as far as Lake Cham-
plain, was there drowned. In another instance the culprit
was found snugly ensconced in a flour barrel at Man-
chester.
Perhaps the most noted jail delivery was made by sheriff
Pierce, 20 Nov., 1818, shortly after his re-appointment as
sheriff of the county.
At that time Capt. Moses Brown, Isaac Lawrence, and
George Lancy, were confined in jail for debt, and their case
having excited some sympathy in the county, means had
been taken to effect their discharge, but without success.
On assuming the office, sheriff Pierce took the respon-
sibility of paying the debts and costs for which they
were confined, opened the jail doors and set them at
XV.] courts. 347
liberty, at the same time making them an appropriate
address, which was published and widely circulated.
The case of Capt. Brewer was a hard one. He was a
native of Nova Scotia, came to this country before the
Revolution, entered the army at the commencement of the
war, and commanded a company in the Sixteenth Massa-
chusetts regiment in that contest. He came to Amherst in
1811, and was, at his own request, assisted by the overseers
of the poor several times during the season of 1814. In
December of that year he was committed to jail on an
action for debt, originally amounting to about eight
dollars, which, at the time of his release — including board-
bills, costs, etc. — amounted to about $300.
MICHAEL KEIFF.
The late James Roby, Esq., is stated to have said that
Keiff kindled the fire by which Charlestown was consumed
on the 17th day of June, 1775. As Mr. Roby was well
acquainted with the place, and was employed as a sort of
spy upon the movements of the British at that time, we
may assume that he knew whereof he affirmed.
The first notice we have of Keiff in connection with
Amherst, is that he was employed by the town toward
filling its quota of six months 1 men required for the army in
July, 1781.
After the close of the war he probably found it some-
what difficult to procure subsistence for himself and family.
The times were hard. He was intemperate, and doubtless
joined with many others in blaming the courts and lawyers
for his misfortunes. The burning of the court-house in
March, 1788, a legitimate result of the popular feeling at
the time, was by many attributed to him, but no proof
could be obtained of his guilt.
Threatening letters were afterward found on the premises
of some of the prominent citizens of the village ; but no
clue was obtained, at the time, of their author. Some of
these were as follows :
348 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
"Concerning the Sons of Liberty, the god of heaven has luck Down
from his throne upon his people, the poor of America, and thinks
they should have liberty. Now they Demand liberty. They fight for
it wonce, and gat the Day by the help of the Allmighty. Now let
those men that grinds the face of the poor look out sharp. A new
year's gift, god is going to give people that liberty. All Sear [shire]
towns in this Amarick [America] shall be visited with fire, god's
poor must be free from all Raits and taxes. We will not bon [burn]
the poor.
Doctor Curtiss, let this be seen in this town for fear of trouble."
Another one in regard to the location of the court-house :
" to the men of Amherst :
Concerning your Court-house, we have it in our hands to bring it
Down, as fast as you will put it up. up country is the place where it
ought to be. if you build it any where, build it at the ould place, by
Codman or before Hopson, the tanner, on the other side of the Rode,
if you bild it anny where Else in Amherst, it will Com Down, for we
no them that tuck it in hand to mov it at first, if you Cause us to
Com Down to Amherst another Journey, we will mak light plenty
before we will Com back.
there is four or five men that tuck in hand to move it at first, and
we now their names.
if we must Com Down again, there will be more bindings Com Down
before we go back. Samuel Albany, do you show this to the men on
the plain for fear trouble should com on you."
A similar letter was left at Ephraim Hildreth's, at the
Jones place, directed, " Efrim Hildrick, Do you show this
to the men on the plain, for fear trouble should Com on
you."
A friendly epistle to Robert Means :
" L'f 't Hopson pray carry this to means, for fear Evil should happen
to you.
Robert Means, you Com to be a grate man, both in name and
Ritches, by grinding the face of the poor. I have heard people say
what is got over the Divil back is commonly spint under his belly,
and now I think you will meet with trouble, now we should be glad
if you would sine for Liberty, for the poor shall not pay Rates no
more, so bless our god, for the poor has faught for liberty once, and
they never had it yet, and as for Samuel Deny [Dana], he will see
the Divil yet."
Directed, " To L't Hopson, in Amherst."
XV.] courts. 349
After the destruction of Mr. Atherton's barns, the incen-
diary was tracked across the fields to Keiff's house. An
examination showed that the tracks were made by
Kieff's boots. Fearing- an arrest he left home, and was
reported to have spent some time in the vicinity of Monad-
nock mountain, whither some officers were dispatched in
search of him, but their search was fruitless.
One evening, sheriff Roby, while returning home from
the village, saw the figure of a man with a gun in his hand
skulking about in a thicket of pines north of the place now
occupied by Mr. Gilson, on the old New Boston road.
Thinking the man might be the one he wanted, the sheriff
dismounted, and went in pursuit. He soon came up with
him, and, after a short contest, knocked the culprit down
with a hickory cane he carried, and held him until assist-
ance arrived, when he was secured.
Keiff was shortly after indicted and convicted of, first,
publishing traitorous and seditious letters ; second, of burn-
ing a barn, the property of Joshua Atherton, of Amherst.
For the first offence he was sentenced to be whipped
fifteen stripes, sit on the gallows one hour with the rope
about his neck, and stand committed until the sentence was
performed.
For the second offence he was sentenced to be whipped
thirty stripes, be imprisoned six months from the following
June, pay the costs of prosecution, and stand committed
until the sentence was performed.
On the morning following the day of his trial and con-
viction, — 14 May, 1790, — Kieff was found dead in his cell,
his jugular vein and windpipe having been severed by a
knife he carried about his person. A coroner's inquest
pronounced it a case of " wilful suicide."
Tradition says the feeling against him was so strong that
his remains were not allowed to be buried in the grave-yard,
but were deposited in some out of the way place near by.
350 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
His family remained in town some years. Some of his
children attended Master Brooks's school in " Upper
Flanders," in 1801 ; but they went, shortly after, no one
now knows whither.
His widow became poor, and was supported by the town.
She died on the pauper farm, 4 September, 1841, at the
great age of ninety-seven years.
TRIAL, CONVICTION, AND EXECUTION, OF FARMER.
At a session of the superior court held at Hopkinton, 21
April, 1821, Daniel Davis Farmer, of Goffstown, was
arraigned for the murder of Widow Anna Ayer, of Goffs-
town, on the sixth day of the same month.
Under the circumstances of the case, the trial was post-
poned to the term of the court to be held in Amherst in
October following, to which place he was conveyed and
committed to jail the following Wednesday.
At the next session of the court he was tried before a
jury composed of the following persons :
William Ames, forehian, Moody D. Lovewell,
Nathaniel Hutchinson, James Martin,
Amos Elliott, John Brooks,
Nathan Fuller, John Goodspeed,
William Patten, Daniel Ingalls,
Eli Sawtell, Josiah French.
10 October, 1821, he was convicted, the jury rendering
their verdict at a few minutes past eleven o'clock, p. m.
The next day, sentence was pronounced by Justice Wood-
bury, and the third day of December following was assigned
for its execution. A reprieve of one mouth was granted by
Gov. Bell, and the execution took place Thursday, 3 Jan-
uary, 1822, between the hours of two and three o'clock, p.
m. The gallows was erected on the spot now occupied by
the house of Dea. B. B. David. Although the weather was
intensely cold, it was estimated that 10,000 people were in
attendance.
XV.] courts. 351
Leaving the jail at two o'clock, Farmer was conveyed to
the place of execution. He was accompanied, in the sleigh
in which he rode, by Messrs. Lord and Chapin, and two civil
officers. A sleigh conveying his coffin followed, the whole
being surrounded by deputy sheriffs on horseback, headed
by the sheriff of the county. On arriving at the gallows,
he ascended the stage on which the platform was erected
without assistance. The death-warrant was read, and
prayer was offered by Mr. Lord, in which the prisoner
joined. He then ascended the platform, and the noose was
adjusted. At that time, as he seemed to be suffering
severely from excessive agitation and the effects of the cold,
Mr. Lord stepped forward, and taking his cloak from his
shoulders placed it over him. A handkerchief was
given him with directions to drop it when he was ready,
and the signal being given the drop fell, and, after a few
convulsive movements, all was over.
After hanging a short time, Farmer was pronounced by
the surgeons present to be dead. His remains were then
taken down and delivered to his brother, who conveyed
them to Manchester, where they were buried on the follow-
ing Sunday.
The duty sheriff Pierce was called upon to perform was
to him a hateful one. A person who was present said
he was " as pale as the culprit, and when he put out his
hand to touch the fatal spring, it shook like a leaf."
The gallows on which "Farmer paid the penalty of his
crime was stored in the attic of the jail, where it was burned
on the morning of the fourteenth day of June, 1850.
24 April, 1849, Letitia S. Blaisdell, of Goffstown, plead
guilty to an indictment for poisoning Benjamin E. Blaisdell,
also of Goffstown, and was thereupon sentenced by Judge
Eastman to be hung, on the thirtieth day of August follow-
ing ; but the sentence was changed to imprisonment for
life, by the Governor and Council, and she was conveyed to
the state prison in July.
352 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
A trial which attracted considerable attention in the
county took place at the October term of the court in 1830,
and resulted in the conviction of Nathan Carr on three
indictments : for having in his possession materials for
counterfeiting bank-notes ; for having in his possession
counterfeit bills, with intent to pass them ; and for passing
a counterfeit bank bill ; on which he was sentenced in the
whole to thirty days of solitary confinement, and to twelve
years of confinement at hard labor in the state prison.
The trial of Carr was attended with a heavy expense to
the county, and his conviction gave general satisfaction to
the citizens.
PUNISHMENT FOR THEFT IN THE " OLDEN " TIME.
One John Totman was brought before justice Samuel
Wilkins charged with stealing a felt hat and surtout, valued
at twenty- seven shillings. Pleading guilty to the charge,
he was sentenced to be whipped thirteen stripes on the
naked back, and to pay the owner of the stolen property
five pounds, seventeen shillings, that being three times its
value. The flogging was administered by Joseph Boutell.
Saturday night, 10 December, 1803, the store of Nathan
Kendall, Esq., was broken into and robbed of a variety of
English goods and some money. The thief was pursued
and overtaken in Chelmsford the next morning. A part of
the goods had been disposed of on the way. The remainder
were found with him. He was brought back, and, on exam-
ination, pleading guilty, was committed to jail.
At the term of the court in May following he was tried
on two indictments for stealing, convicted, and sentenced
to receive fifty lashes and be sold for costs and damages.
The following acknowledgment of a theft was found
among the papers left by Daniel Campbell, Esq. :
" This certifies that I, the subscriber, did, on the night of the twen-
ty-ninth of June last, feloniously take and carry away from D. C, of
Amherst, a syth with the sneath and other appurtenances thereto
XV.] courts. 353
belonging, for which I am heartily sorry, humbly ask forgiveness of
God and the world, and promise to endeavour to conduct better for
the future.
Signed : B. C.
Amherst, July 3, 1784.
Test : Nahum Baldwin,
Nathan Kendall.
From the time of the organization of the .State govern-
ment under the temporary Constitution, in January, 177(3,
until the close of the century, hut few members of the legal
profession served as judges in the State courts. The popu-
lar feeling against lawyers in those times doubtless in many
cases influenced the appointing power in the selection of
judges, and the inadequacy of the salaries, which were
much less than the ordinary income of a successful lawyer,
would forbid the acceptance of the office if tendered to
him. Instead of lawyers — physicians, clergymen and mer-
chants, upright, fearless men, occupied the judges' seats,
and dispensed justice with more regard to equity than law,
and Arthur Livermbre is reported as having once said that,
"Justice was never better administered in New Hampshire
than when the judges knew very little of what we lawyers
call law."
354 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTER XVI.
MILITARY HISTORY.
1745-1763.
FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS. GRANT OF AMMUNITION TO THE
SETTLERS. PETITION OF MR. WILKINS TO THE AUTHORITIES
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. SCOUTS FURNISHED FOR THE PROTEC-
TION OF THE SETTLERS. ANOTHER PETITION FOR ASSISTANCE,
WITH THE NAMES OF THE SIGNERS. DEA. HOBBS'S " SABBA-
DAY" FIGHT. — LIEUT. PRINCE'S ESCAPE. NAMES OF THE
INHABITANTS OF SOUHEGAN WEST WHO SERVED IN THE WAR.
TORTURE AND DEATH OF MCKEAN. CAPT. HOBBS'S FIGHT
WITH SACKETT.
At a meeting* held in the meeting-house, 30 January,
1744-45, the proprietors
" Voted, that they will allow the Inhabitants a stock of Ammuni-
tion to defend themselves in case there should be occasion."
This vote is the only one recorded which tells us of any
action taken by the proprietors for the defense of the
settlers against the attacks of the savages.
Tradition tells us that about this time seven garrison
houses were erected in different parts of the town, to which
the inhabitants resorted in times of danger. Beside these,
a block-house, or fort, is said to have been built for the
protection of the settlers.
After the breaking out of the war, the inhabitants met
at the house of Rev. Mr. Wilkins, and authorized him in
their name and behalf to
XVI.] FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS. 355
" Represent to the Governor and Council of New Hampshire our
distressed circumstances on account of our being exposed to the
French and Indian enemy and our Low Condition and Inability to
subsist here unless a suitable guard may be had to defend us when
about our work, and that lie make suitable application that these
things may Immediately be obtained."
Mr. Wilkins shortly after repaired to Portsmouth, and in
behalf of the settlers presented the following petition :
" To his Excelency, Benning Wentworth, Esq'r, Capt.-( Jeneral and
General-in-Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of Xew Hamp-
shire in Xew England, the Honorable the Council, and House of Rep-
resentatives, in General Court convened :
The Memorial or Petition of Daniel Wilkins, in the name and
behalf of the Inhabitants of the Township or Plantation called
Souhegan West, No. 3, in said Province, —
Humbly sheweth, the said Town has been settled by his Majesty's
subjects about nine years, and a Gospel Minister ordained almost
three years ; that the settlers had an Eye at enlarging his Majesties
Dominions by going into the Wilderness, as well as their own Interest ;
that some thousand of pounds has been spent in clearing and culti-
vating the Land there, and vast sums in building Houses, Barns, &
fences, beside much time and expence in building fortifications by his
Excellency the Governor's order.
That the Breaking up of this Settlement will not only ruin the
Memorialists, but greatly disserve his Majesties Interest by encourag-
ing his Enemies to Encroach on his deserted Settlements, and be also
hurtful to the Province by Contracting its borders and drawing the
war nearer the Capital.
That it was by a long and importunate Intercession of this Province
(and not of the Memorialist's seeking) that they are cast under the
immediate care of this Government, which they conceive give them
so much the better Right to its protection.
That as war is already declared against Erance, and a Rupture with
the Indians hourly expected, your Memorialists, unless they have
speedy help, will soon be obliged to forsake their Town, how dis-
serviceable so ever it may be to the Crown, dishonorable to the
Government, hurtful to the Province, &; ruinous to themselves.
Wherefore,
Your Memorialists most humbly supplicate your Excelency, the
honorable Council, and House of Representatives, to take the premises
into your wise and mature Consideration, and to grant them such
356 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
seasonable relief as may enable them to subsist in the War, and
secure against the Ravages and Devastations of a blood-thirsty and
merciless Enemy, and your Memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever
pray.
DANIEL WELKINS.
Dated at Portsmouth; June ye 22d, 1744."
The application was successful, and a scout for the
protection of the settlers in this and the adjoining towns was
furnished by the Provincial authorities. A scout was
afterward furnished by the Province of Massachusetts, but
finally withdrawn ; but, as the war still continued, Mr.
Wilkins presented another petition for assistance :
" To His Excellency, Benning Wentworth, Esq., Governor & C, the
Honorable his Majesty's Council, and House of Representatives, in
General Assembly convened. May 13, 1747 :
The Petition of us, the subscribers, inhabitants of the new planta-
tion called Souhegan West, humbly sheweth :
That there is settled and now remains in this plantation thirty-five
families, in which is about fifty-eight men upwards of sixteen years
old.
That when we began our Settlement, we apprehended no danger
of our ever being a frontier, there being at that time so many above
us begun and obligated to fulfill the obligations of the Massachusetts
grants, which occasioned us to settle scattering, only regarding the
advantages of good and compact farms.
That the difficulty of war, happening so early on our Settlements,
and the defenceless state they were in, has obliged them all, namely,
Peterborough, Salem Canada, New Boston, and Hillsborough — so
called — entirely to draw off, as well as the forts on Connecticut river.
The first year of the present war we were favored with a scout from
this Province, which we thankfully acknowledge, and Salem Canada
with another, which was equally serviceable to us. Since that time
Salem Canada and this place have had a guard from the Massachu-
setts till the winter passed, together with our inhabitants keeping a
constant scout, though much impoverished thereby.
That this encouragement has occasioned our venturing here till
now.
That as we are now left without scout or guard, apprehend we are
in imminent danger ; yet loth to yield ourselves such an easy prey to
our enemies, or suffer ruin by leaving our improvements waste, one
XVI.] FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS. 357
whereof we have no reason to think but must unavoidably be our lot,
unless this government grants us protection :
"Wherefore your petitioners most humbly pray that your Excellency
and Honors would so far commiserate our present difficult circum-
stances as to grant us so many soldiers as your Excellency and Honors
may judge necessary for our defence.
And your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall pray, &c.
Andrew Bixbe, William Peabody,
"William Bradford, Andrew Seetown,
Benjamin Cheever, John Seetown,
Benjamin Cheever, jr., John Shepard,
Thomas Clark, Caleb Stiles,
James Cofren, Israel Towne,
John Davis, Samuel Walton,
Ebenezer Ellinwood, Jacob Wellman,
David Hartshome, Daniel Wilkins,
William Howard, Daniel Wilkins, jr.,
Solomon Hutchinson, Joseph Wilkins.
Ebenezer Lyon,
On hearing this petition and another of similar tenor
from Monson, the House, 15 May, 1747,
"Voted, that in answer to the two annexed Petitions, namely, that
of Souhegan West and that of Monson, His Excellency be desired to
give orders for enlisting or impressing fifteen good, effective men to
scout and guard, under proper officers, said Souhegan West and
Monson, till the twentieth of October next, if need be, and that said
men be shifted once a month."
Which was assented to by the Governor and Council.
Among the scouts employed by the Province in 1748 we
find the names of Daniel Wilkins and Wincol Wright, of
Souhegan West, who were members of the company em-
ployed to guard Souhegan, Stark's, and Monson garrisons
that season.
The war came to a close in 1749, but was renewed in
1752, and continued until the cession of Canada to the
English in 1763.
Fortunately, no attack was made upon the settlers at
Souhegan West by the enemy, and no account has reached
us that any serious damage was done by them within its
358 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
borders. A family tradition has reached us that a party of
settlers, under the lead of Dea. Hobbs, had a smart fight
with the Indians one Sunday morning, in which the Deacon
handled his men so skillfully that no one of them was
injured, while they were sure that some of the savages were
killed. The Indians are reported to have said afterward :
" Souhegan deacon no very good. He fight Sabba-day."
On another occasion, while Lieut. Joseph Prince was going,
one evening, from his clearing to the garrison-house, which
stood near where Mr. B. B. Whiting's house now stands, he
heard an arrow whiz past his head. On his return the
following morning, he found it sticking in a tree near by
the path he had followed.
Near the close of this war several of the inhabitants
served in the expeditions sent against the common enemy.
Sergeant Ebenezer Lyon, John Everdccn, David Hartshorn,
jr., Samuel Lamson, Joseph Small, and Thomas Williams,
served in Col. Blanchard's regiment at Crown Point, in
1755.
Humphrey Hobbs was a captain in the ranger service in
1755.
Lieut. Ebenezer Lyon, Daniel Wilkins, Samuel Bradford,
Israel Towne, Joseph Lovejoy, John Burns, Jonathan Lam-
son, Nathaniel Haseltine, Daniel Weston, Stephen Peabody,
and John Mills, served in Col. John Hart's regiment, at
Crown Point, in 1758.
Benjamin Davis, John Mills, John Stewart, and Robert
Stewart, were privates in Col. John Goffe's regiment, at
Crown Point, in 1760.
"John McKean, brother of Samuel, who settled in Amherst in 1761,
seems to have been a resident in the township prior to 1757. He was
one of the ill-fated New Hampshire battallion that surrendered to
Montcalm, the leader of the French and Indians, at Fort William
Henry, in August, 1757. While the garrison of the fort was marching-
out, after its surrender, the New Hampshire militia, being in the rear,
were suddenly attacked by the Indians, and eighty, out of the two
hundred men present, were killed. McKean was taken prisoner after
XVI.] FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS. 359
a desperate struggle for his liberty. On the night following his
capture, he was stripped of his clothing, and bound to a tree by his
captors, where he stood a target for their keen-edged knives and tom-
ahawks. When he was gashed and bleeding at every pore, his wounds
were filled with pitch-pine splinters, which were set afire, which soon
terminated his tortures."
The following account is given of one of Dea. Hobbs's
fights with the Indians :
" In the month of February, 174s, the Massachusetts General Court
directed the number of men at Fort Massachusetts, now Adams,
Mass., and Number Four, now Charlestown, N. H., to be increased to
one hundred in each place. Of these, a suitable force was to be
employed to intercept the French and Indian enemy in their marches
from Wood-creek and Otter-creek to the frontiers. As an incentive
to vigilance, a reward of one hundred pounds was ordered to be
divided in equal parts among the officers and soldiers of any scouting
party that might capture an Indian or produce the scalp of one they
had killed. Capt. Stevens was again appointed commander at Number
Four, and Capt. Hobbs was ordered to the same post as second in com-
mand. On the twenty-fifth of June, Capt. Hobbs, with forty men, was
ordered from Number Four to Fort Shirley, in Heath, one of the forts
of the Massachusetts cordon, extending from Fort Massachusetts to
Number Four. On Sunday, June 26, having proceeded about six miles,
they halted at a place about twelve miles north-west of Fort Dummer, in
the precincts of what is now the town of Marlborough, Vt. A large
body of Indians, who had discovered Hobbs's trail, had made a rapid
march in order to cut him off. They were commanded by a resolute
chief named Sackett, said to have been a half blood, a descendant of
a captive taken at Westfield, Mass.
Although Hobbs was not aware of the pursuit of the enemy, he
had posted a guard on his trail, and his men, having spread themselves
over a low piece of ground covered with alders intermixed with large
trees and watered by a rivulet, had prepared their dinner, and were
regaling themselves at their packs. While in this situation, the rear
guards were driven in from their posts, which was the first intimation
given of the presence of the enemy.
Without knowing the strength of his adversaries, Capt. Hobbs
instantly formed his men for action, each one by his advice selecting
a tree as a cover.
Trusting in the superiority of their numbers, and confident of
success, the enemy rushed forward with shouts ; but Hobbs's well-
directed fire, by which several were killed, checked their impetuosity,
360 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
and caused them to retreat for shelter behind the trees and brush.
The action now became warm, and a severe conflict followed between
the sharpshooters. The two commanders had been known to each
other in times of peace, and both bore the character of fearless men.
Sackett, who could speak English, frequently called upon Hobbs in
the tones of a stentor to surrender, and threatened, in case of refusal,
to destroy his men with the tomahawk. Hobbs, with a voice equally
sonorous, returned the defiance, and urged his antagonist to put his
threat into execution.
The action continued for four hours, Hobbs's party displaying
throughout the most consummate skill and prudence, and neither side
withdrawing an inch from its original position. The Indians not
unfreqnently approached the line of their adversaries, but were as
often driven back to their first position by the well-directed fire of the
sharp-sighted marksmen. Finding Hobbs determined on resistance,
and that his own men had suffered severely in the struggle, Sackett
finally ordered a retreat, and left his opponent master of a well-fought
field.
Hobbs's men were so well protected that only three, Ebenezer
Mitchel, Eli Scott, and Samuel Gunn, were killed in the conflict. Of
the remainder, Daniel McKinney, of Wrentham, had his thigh broken
by a ball from the enemy, and was thereby disabled for life. Samuel
Graves, jr., of Sunderland, a lad seventeen years of age, received a
ball near the middle of the forehead, which went through part of his
head, and came out on the left side, almost over his ear, bringdnsr with
it almost two spoonsful of his brains. lie, however, recovered.
Nathan Walker, of Sudbury, received a wound in the arm, and Ralph
Rice was injured.
Many of the enemy were seen to fall, but their actual loss was never
certainly known, as they took effectual measures to conceal it.
After the Indians had left, Hobbs and his men remained concealed
until dark, fearing another attack ; but, there being no signs of the
enemy, they gathered their packs, took up the dead and wounded, and,
after burying the former under some old logs about half a mile from
the scene of action, and conducting the latter — two of whom they
were obliged to carry — to a place about two miles distant, they
encamped for the night. They arrived at Fort hammer, in Brattle-
borough, on the 27th, at four o'clock in the afternoon, and sent the
wounded men to Xorthfield, where they could receive proper medical
attention.
The number of Sackett's force, though not certainly known, was
estimated at four times that of the English, and it is probable that
had he known his superiority, he would have adopted a different
XVI.] FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS. 361
method of warfare. The battle was regarded by the people in the
vicinity as a master-piece of persevering bravery, and served, to a
certain extent, to remove the unfavorable impression produced by the
defeat of Melvin's scout a short time before. ' If Ilobbs's men had
been Romans,' says one writer, < they would have been crowned with
laurel, and their names would have been transmitted with perpetual
honors to succeeding generations.' "
— Hall's History of Eastern Vermont, 1858.
862 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
1768-1776.
services of new england troops in preceding- wars.
taxation of the colonies, and its effects. gov. went-
worth. seizure of ammunition at fort william and
mary. proceedings of the town prior to the commence-
ment of the war. county congress and its proceed-
ings. companies of minute-men formed. amherst
company at cambridge. exploits of thompson maxwell.
— capt. Crosby's certificate. — amherst men at bunker
hill. their losses in the battle. account of wash-
ington's taking command of the army. officers of the
amherst and wilton company at winter hill. amherst
men in bedel's regiment surrendered at the " cedars,"
and their sufferings. amherst men at portsmouth,
who afterward went to ticonderoga in col. long's
regiment. association test paper. amherst men in
col. wyman's regiment ; in col. Baldwin's regiment, at
white plains ; in col. oilman's regiment. escape of
new y/ork tories from amherst jail. proceedings of
the town in regard to the estate of zaccheus cutler,
esq. reading of the declaration of independence.
reorganization of the army.
The reverses sustained by the British forces in America
in the early part of the French and Indian war were
retrieved bv their victories at a later date, under the lead
XVII.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 363
of Amherst and Wolfe, which resulted in the capture of
Quebec, in 1759, and the cession of the Canadas to the
English a few years later.
France and Great Britain were again at peace, and the
tomahawk of the savage ceased from its bloody work.
The New England provinces had contributed liberally in
men and means to the accomplishment of this result. No
troops did better service in the contest than the rangers
enlisted from their young men, who came out of the strife
with confidence in themselves, ready at all times to do battle
for the right, and thoroughly despising, as did their Puritan
ancestors, the idea of cowardly submission to arbitrary
power.
The efforts of the home government to raise a revenue
by taxing the colonists met with a determined resistance in
the Province of Massachusetts. Troops were sent over to
assist in enforcing the decrees of government, and a col-
lision took place between a party of soldiers and some of
the citizens of Boston, in which several of the latter were
killed. An attempt to force the landing of tea belonging
to the East India Company was foiled by its being thrown
into Boston harbor by a party of the people disguised as
Indians on the night of 16 December, 1773. Finally, the
port of Boston was declared closed by the home govern-
ment.
While the people of Boston were suffering from the
measures adopted by the English government, assistance was
afforded them from other towns in the Province, and
many of the towns in New Hampshire contributed liberally
toward their relief.
John Wentworth, a native of Portsmouth, was at that
time Governor of New Hampshire. Loyal to his king, and
loyal so far as he consistently could be to the Province, he
strove to avert the threatened storm. Failing in this, he
retired from the Province, which he never afterward
visited.
3G4 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
The first serious outbreak in New Hampshire was the
seizure, on the night of the 14th of December, 1774, of
the ammunition stored in Fort William and Mary, in
Portsmouth harbor.
Against this act of treason, Gov. Wentworth protested,
and called upon the loyal people of the Province to assist in
arresting its perpetrators; but his call was in vain. Pick-
ering, Sullivan, Langdon, and their associates, were unmo-
lested ; and in all probability some of the powder taken at
that time was used by the New Hampshire militia, six
months later, to send their leaden greetings to the soldiers
of the king on Bunker's hill.
The citizens of Amherst, which was originally a Massa-
chusetts township, peopled for the most part by Massachu-
setts men and women, entered at once heartily into the
contest.
In anticipation of the coming trouble, we find the town,
15 April, 1768, voting in town meeting to appropriate <£20
lawful money "to procure powder and ammunition."
From this vote we read that " Ens. Samuel Stewart dis-
sented." A few years later, acting in the spirit of Crom-
well's injunction to his "Ironsides" to keep their powder
dry, we find them, 15 Sept., 1775, voting "to build a house
on the easterly side of the burying-ground to secure the
town stock of ammunition." The house was directed to be
built of chestnut logs, hewed twelve inches thick, and
lathed and plastered on the outside. Paul Dudley Sargent
and Timothy Smith were appointed a committee to complete
the same.
This house is well remembered by many of the older
natives of the town. It did duty about seventy years, and
was finally taken down.
A convention of eighty-five deputies from most of the
towns in the province, met at Exeter 21 July, 1774, and
chose Nathaniel Folsom, of Exeter, and John Sullivan, of
Durham, delegates to attend a general congress of the
XVII.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 365
colonies in Philadelphia, in the month of September follow-
ing.
Paul Dudley Sargent represented the town of Amherst
in this convention, and his expenses and a portion of the
expenses of the convention were defrayed by a voluntary
subscription of the citizens.
24 October, 1774, Paul Dudley Sargent, Daniel Camp-
bell, and Benjamin Kendrick, were appointed delegates of
the town to a County Congress, and they were directed and
instructed " to use their endeavors to secure and maintain
good order in the town, and to use their utmost efforts to
diffuse peace and good order in this county, and excite in
the minds of people a due respect for all just measures that
may be recommended by the present Grand Congress at
Philadelphia, and said delegates are hereby instructed to
take copies of this vote from the clerk and send to all the
towns in the count)- that they shall think necessary, to con-
stitute a county congress, that so the good ends aforesaid
may be answered, grievances heard, and remonstrate to
such authority whose province it is to grant redress."
And they were to continue in office until the next annual
town meeting.
At the annual meeting held 13 March, 1775, the above
named delegates were chosen for another year, and in-
structed as when first chosen.
A congress composed of delegates from most of the
towns in the county assembled soon after. Capt. John
Stark was a delegate from Derryfield. The following ac-
count of the dealings of this congress with a loyalist may
possess some interest :
"PROCEEDINGS IX THE CASE OF BEXJAMIX WHITING,
OF HOLLIS.
W/iereas the delegates for the several towns in the county of Hills-
borough in Congress chose a committee of nine persons to hear, exam-
ine, and try, Benjamin Whiting, Esq., as an open and avowed enemy
to his country, the* said Whiting, being notified of the time and place
of hearing, did not appear.
366 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Ordered, that his contempt be recorded, and that upon examina-
tion of sundry depositions and evidences, we rind him guilty of the
crimes laid to his charge, and we do caution all persons from connex-
ions with him.
MATTHEW PATTEN, Chairman.
Amherst, in N. H. government, July 13, 1775."
Two depositions against him were as follows :
"Robert Fletcher testified that some time in April, or the beginning
of May, 177-4, at Dunstable, in conversation with Benjamin Whiting,
Esq., who said that a man in deponent's place that did not endeavour
that the acts of Parliament should be put in execution, ought to be
damned.
Thompson Maxwell testified and said that in the month of May last
past, I was riding from Hollis to Amherst, in Xew Hampshire govern-
ment, in company with Benjamin Whiting, Esq., who asked me what
I thought of Major Sullivan's taking away the guns and powder from
Castle William and Mary ? I answered that I looked upon it as a
piece of good conduct. Then said Whiting answered that said Sulli-
van was a dam'd perjured vidian for so doing, and a dam'd rebel, and
deserved to be hanged, that this spring the king's standard would be
set up in America, and proclamation made that those that would come
in and enter their names would have a pardon, and those that would
not would be deemed rebels and suffer death jointly, and that within
three months said Sullivan and John Hancock would be hanged. The
said Whiting also said he hoped I would come in and enter my name.
Sworn to before
JONAS DIX, /ms. Peace.
Cambridge, July 6, 1775. "
27 December, 1774, the town voted " to approve of the
results of the Grand Congress, and strictly adhere to them,"
and chose a committee consisting of Col. John Shepard,
Lieut. Bcnj. Kendrick, Xahum Baldwin, John Shepard, jr.,
Esq., Dr. Moses Nichols, Daniel Campbell, Esq., Josiah
Sawyer, Joseph Gould, Paul Dudley Sargent, Thomas Burns,
and Samuel Wilkins, to carry into effect the association
agreement in this town. If any break over said agreement,
the committee [are] ordered to publish the same in the
newspapers.
XVIL] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 367
Voted their sincere thanks to the members of the late
Continental Congress, and to those from this Province in
particular.
13 March, 1775, voted three pounds nineteen shillings to
Mr. Sargent, for his time and expenses at Exeter.
19 April, 1775. The attack upon the Lexington militia
by the British troops aroused the country. In many of
the towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, companies
of minute men had been formed and drilled in anticipation
of the coming conflict. The ccmpany in Amherst repaired
at once to Cambridge. At first it served under the orders of
the Province of Massachusetts, but upon the organization
of the New Hampshire militia, by the authorities of the
Province, in May, 1775, it became a part of the third New
Hampshire regiment, and was placed under the command
of Col. James Reed, of Fitzwilliam.
The town was represented by one of its citizens in the
" tea party," in December, 1773, and in the Concord " fight"
in 1775, whose story is as follows:
Thompson Maxwell was the son of an Irish immigrant who settled
in Bedford, Mass. He saw some service in the French and Indian
war, and, after its close, settled in the south-west part of Amherst,
where he gained a livelihood by farming and teaming. He frequently
went to Boston, carrying a load of country produce, and on his return
brought goods for the merchants and others in town.
One of these trips was made in the month of December, 1773.
After unloading his freight he went to John Hancock's warehouse to
load for his return trip. While thus engaged, Hancock sent word to
him to drive the team to his stable, where it would be cared for, and
afterward call at his counting-room. Complying with the request,
he was informed that it was proposed to unload the tea-ships, which were
then lying in the harbor that night, and that his assistance would be
acceptable. He entered into the plan at once, assisted in the business,
and the next day drove home " as any honest man would."
He made another trip to Boston in the month of April,
1775. On his way home he stopped for the night at the
house of his brother-in-law, Capt. Jonathan Wilson, in
Bedford, who was captain of the Bedford company of
368 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
minute men. In the course of the night word came that
the British troops had started from Boston on an excursion
into the country. The members of the company were
summoned at once, and started for the scene of the ex-
pected conflict. He received an invitation to accompany
them, which lie accepted, and went "well armed." In the
fight of that day Capt. Wilson was killed. After the fight
was over Maxwell returned to Bedford and hired a man to
drive his team to Amherst, while he repaired to Cambridge,
where the Amherst company arrived shortly after, and he
took his place in the ranks as its second lieutenant.
The following will give us some idea of the enthusiasm
of the people after receiving the news of the fight at
Lexington and Concord. It is also an honorable tribute to
Col. John Shepard, one of the prominent citizens of the
town :
" This certifies that Esq. Shepard in April, 1775, went with a
Detachment of the Melitia, of about one hundred men, from Amherst
to Cambridge, aided, assisted, and comforted them, and at Cambridge
left with them two Spanish milled dollars.
.TOSIAH CROSBY."
Nor was this all Col. Shepard left with the " melitia."
On the back of the certificate is a list of otlier articles left,
as follows: Pork, 57i lbs., 1 bushel beans, li bushel
to Sargent, some bread, and li bushel meal.
By the census taken that year, Amherst had 328 men
above 16 years of age, 53 of whom were over 50 years old.
Of these Capt. Crosby says "about 100," or over 30 per
cent., went to Cambridge. The census returns report "81
men in the army."
AMHERST MEN IN THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.
Stephen Peabody, Adjutant of Col. Reed's regiment.
Amherst soldiers in Capt. Crosby's Company.
T • t r , i John Mills, "1
Josiah Lrosby, capt.
-p. • t w .„ . . i . t , William Bradford, I
Daniel Wilkms, jr., 1st heut. Ramsa • f sergeants.
Thompson Maxwell, 2d lieut. ''
Josiah Sawyer,
XVIL]
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
369
Lemuel Winchester,
Eleazer W. Kingsbury
Peter Goss,
Eli Wilkins,
Thomas Powell, drummer
Jabez Holt, fifer.
Joshua Abbott,
Nathaniel Barret,
Joseph Bowtal,
Alexander Brown,
Jonathan Burnam,
•Joshua Burnam,
Thomas Clark,
Robert Cochran,
John Cole,
Stephen Crosby,
Nathaniel Crosby,
Jacob Curtice,
Benjamin Davis,
Thaddeus Fitch,
Amos Flint,
Thomas Giles,
► corpo'ls.
James Gilmore,
Stephen Hill,
Joel Howe,
Archelaus Kenney,
Solomon Kittredge,
Jeremiah Lamson,
Andrew Leavitt,
Joseph Leavitt,
Joshua Pettingill,
Xourse Sawyer,
James Simpson,
Jonathan Small,
Samuel Sternes,
.Jonathan Taylor,
Rufus Trask,
Eben Wakefield,
Joseph Wakefield,
Joseph Wallace,
Sutherick Weston,
Jonathan Wilkins,
Samuel Williams,
Isaac Wright.
In Capt. Archelaus Towne's company, then in Stark's
regiment.
Archelaus Towne, capt.
William Read, corporal.
Nathan Kendall, jr., fifer,
Benjamin Merrill,
Moses Barron,
Jacob Blodgett,
Stephen Gould,
Samuel Lamson,
Adam Patterson,
Peter Robertson,
Bartholomew Towne,
Archelaus Towne, jr.,
Reuben Wheeler.
In Capt. Levi Spaulding's company, Reed's regiment.
Joseph Bradford, 1st lieut.
Benjamin Dike, corporal.
William Brown,
Richard Goodman,
William Tuck,
Richard Hughes,
Robert B. Wilkins.
Capt. Towne's company was at first a part of the twenty-
seventh Massachusetts regiment, under the command of
Col. Bridge. At the time of the battle of Bunker Hill it
24
370 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
was one of the thirteen companies in the first New Hamp-
shire, or Stark's, regiment.
Peter Robertson, a private in this company was wounded
while crossing "the neck" on his way to Bunker Hill by a
cannon ball, which carried away his right hand. He re-
ceived a pension of 20 shillings per month from the State,
commencing 1 January, 1776.
John Cole, a private in Capt. Crosby's company was
killed in the battle, and Robert B. Wilkins, of Capt. Spaul-
ding's company was wounded in the right elbow by a musket
ball.
After the battle Capt. Crosby made a return of the losses
sustained by the members of his company as follows:
" An account of things that was lost at the Battle of Bunker's hill,
on the 17th of June, 1775, belonging' to Capt. Crosby's company :
viz., ('apt. Crosby's things are 1 pistol & 1 pair of worsted stockings;
Lieut. Daniel Wilkins, 1 cotton shirt ; Ens'n Thompson Maxwell, 1 fine
shirt & 1 powder-horn; Adj't Stephen Peabody, 1 1 >lanket & 1 shirt; Quar-
ter-Master Frye, 1 coat & 1 hat ; Serg't AViiliain Bradford, 1 shirt ; Serg't
Lemuel Winchester, 1 pair of shoes; Eli Wilkins, 1 blanket & 1 bullet
mold ; Alexander Brown, 1 cotton shirt, 1 pair of stockings, & 1
gnapsack ; Thaddeus Fitch, 1 shirt, 1 pair calfskin pumps, 1 pair
trowzers, & gnapsack; Samuel Stearnes, 1 pair of shoes ; Stephen
Crosby, 1 greatcoat & 1 shirt; Jona. Wilkins, 1 shirt; Thomas Giles,
1 gun, 1 cartooch box, & 1 jacket; Thomas Perry, 1 woolen shirt, 1
powder-horn, & 1 gnapsack : .Joseph Boutel, 1 pair of stockings, 1
pair of Leather Breeches ; Nathaniel Barret, 1 gnapsack, 1 pair of
shoes and buckles, & 1 handkerchief; Sam'l Williams, 1 shirt, &; 1
hankerchief, & 1 gun ; .lames Gihnore, 1 blanket, 1 handkerchief ;
Joseph Wakefield, 1 p'r deerskin breeches, 1 cartooch box ; Eben'r
Wakefield, 1 sett of shoemaker's tools, 1 shirt, 2 p'rs stockings, & 1
p'r shoes ; Daniel Kenney, 1 great coat & 1 gun ; Joseph Wallis, 1 pair
shoes ; Andrew Leavitt, 1 coverlid, 1 p'r stockings, 1 gnapsack, &
handkerchief; Josiah Sawyer, 1 gun, 1 coat, 1 powder-horn, & 1 Bible :
Joshua Abbot, 1 gnapsack & p'r of stockings; Joshua Abbott, 1 gnap-
sack & p'r stockings.
.JOSIAH CROSBY, Capt."
Andrew Leavitt, Samuel Robertson, William Wakefield
and Ebon Wincol Wright, enlisted into the company 19
XVII. J THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 371
June, 1775. Of these, Leavitt seems to have been in the
battle two days before.
Capt. Crosby's company was present when Washington
took command of the army, 2 July, 1775, of which Andrew
Leavitt, one of the survivors, gave the following account to
the writer many years since :
" The officers placed their men in as good shape as they could, but
they were a motley looking set, no two dressed alike. Some were
armed with fowling pieces, some with rifles, others with muskets with-
out bayonets. When all was in readiness, Washington and his staff
advanced to the square prepared for their reception. lie was a large,
noble looking man, in the prime of life, and was mounted on a power-
ful black horse over which he seemed to have perfect control.
After a short address to the soldiers, he took from his pocket a
Psalm book, from which he read the one hundred and first Psalm
(another account says it was then sung by the soldiers to the tune of
Old Hundred)."
From a return made of Capt. Crosby's company, 21 June,
1775, we learn that on that day there were present and fit
for duty, 1 captain, 1 lieut., 1 ensign, 3 sergeants, 4 cor-
porals, 1 drummer, and 30 privates. Total — 41.
2 privates were sick ; 1 was wounded; 1 attended the
wounded ; 3 were absent on furlough ; 2 had deserted ; 1
was on command; 3 were in the train; 4 were absent with-
out leave, and 1 was missing. Total — 18.
The company was styled the ninth company. The
privates were paid forty shillings per month for their ser-
vices, and the term of their enlistment was eight months;
many however continued in the army until the British
evacuated Boston in March, 1776 — some even longer.
Quartermaster Isaac Frye, of Wilton, reported the rations
dealt out to the company for several days as follows:
1775, July 3 to 8; 50 men present who received 51 loaves
bread; 65 lbs. pork; 126 lbs. beef; 176 gills rice ; 44 gal-
lons beer.
July 14 to 18; 54 men present received 54 loaves bread ;
54 lbs. pork; 155 lbs. beef; 189 gills rice.
372 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
July 28 to August 1 ; 54 men present received 54 loaves
bread; 67i lbs. pork; 67i lbs. beef; 189 gills rice; 67£ lbs.
cod-fish, and 20 lbs. butter.
It appears from official documents that the State fur-
nished 554 gallons of New England rum, and 1759J gallons
of West India rum for the use of its soldiers while engaged
around Boston in 1775.
In compliance with the earnest entreaties of Gen. Sullivan,
thirty -one companies, numbering sixty-one men each, were
sent from New Hampshire to Winter Hill, near Boston, in
December, 1775, to take the place of the Connecticut
troops stationed there, who insisted on returning home as
the term of their enlistment had expired. The names of
the commissioned officers of these companies alone have
been preserved. Benjamin Taylor, of Amherst, was cap-
tain; Nathan Ballard, of Wilton, first lieutenant; and
John Bradford of Amherst, ensign of the company raised
in Amherst and Wilton.
Capt. Taylor died at Medford, in February, 1776, before
the expiration of the time for which he enlisted.
The following receipt, found among the papers in the
Adjutant General's office, in Concord, is one of the few
relics of the campaign of the New Hampshire boys at
Winter Hill, in the winter of 1775-6:
"Colony of New Hampshire, June 21, 1776.
To Nicholas Oilman, Esq., R. G. :
Pursuant to a vote of the Council and Assembly, pay Deacon Xahum
Baldwin seven hundred and eighty pounds to pay off Capt. Augustus
Blanchard's Comp'y, according to his instructions from the General
Assembly to be accounted for by him.
M. WEARE, President."
" Received the contents of the within order in full.
p'r NAHUM BALDWIN."
Capt. Blanchard, then of Merrimack, afterward re-
moved to Amherst, and was for many years a prominent
citizen of the south-west parish, now Milford.
XVII.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 373
Jonathan Burnham was paid £12 4s. 10d., for mustering
in the thirty-one companies of N. H. militia that served on
Winter Hill in the winter of 1775-6.
A regiment was raised in December, 1775, and placed
under the command of Col. Timothy Bedel, which was or-
dered to join the northern army in New York, with which
it was to march to reinforce the army in Canada. In one
of the companies in this regiment we find the following
Amherst men :
Daniel Wilkins, jr., capt. Stephen Curtice,
John Mills, 2d lieut. Roger Dutton,
William Bradford, ensign. John Farnham,
Benjamin Dike, sergeant. Laraford Gilbert,
Sutherick Weston, "1 Obadiah Holt,
Joshua Abbott, J- corporals. Solomon Kittredge,
Samuel Sternes, J Jeremiah Lamson,
Thomas Powell, drummer. Joseph Lovejoy,
Jabez Holt, fifer. Hugh McKean,
William Brown, Thomas Melendy,
Amos Boutwell, Aaron Nichols,
Primus Chandler, [colored]. Isaac Stearns,
James Clark, Daniel Wilkins, 3d,
James Cochran, Sylvester Wilkins,
Robert Cochran, Andrew Wilkins,
Isaac Palmer Curtice, John Wiley.
This regiment was surrendered to the British and Indians by its
commanding officer, Major Butterfield, at a place called " The Cedars,"
19 May, 1776. Many of the men were inhumanly treated by their
captors. Their clothing was stripped from their persons, and in this
condition they were made to run between two files of Indians who
beat them as they passed. Years afterward many of them were paid
by the legislature for clothing lost at that time.
After their exchange they went to Crown Point, where Capt. Wil-
kins and several of his company died of small-pox, in July, 1776.
The commander of the army, Gen. Thomas, died about the same
time, and the mortality among the soldiers was so great that pits were
dug into which their remains were thrown without any coffins. When
the pits were nearly filled, a slight covering of earth was thrown over
the bodies.
374 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
The following- Amherst men mustered by Col. Xahnm
Baldwin, 15 April, 1776, were a part of a company com-
manded by Capt. Timothy Clement, which was sent to
Portsmouth to assist in guarding the sea coast and the forts
in the harbor:
William Stewart, ensign. Jonathan Lyon,
Nathan Abbot, Ebenezer Odall,
Silas Cooledge, Robert Parker,
Jonathan Dutton, Samuel Shepard,
David Fist, John Stearns,
Richard Goodman, Asa Swinnerton,
Joshua Kendall, Archelaus Towne, jr.,
Zephaniah Kittredge, Henry Trivet.
Edmund Lyon,
This company with others was organized into a regiment
25 September, 1776, which was placed under the command
of Col. Pierce Long. On the 23 November following, it
was ordered to Ticonderoga, to which place it marched in
February, 1777.
ASSOCIATION TEST PAPER.
In the month of April, 1776, the following paper was re-
ceived by the selectmen, from the Committee of Safety of
the State:
"To the Selectmen of Amherst:
In Committee of Safety, April 12, 1776.
In order to carry the underwritten Resolves of the Hon'ble Conti-
nental Congress into execution, You are requested to desire all males
above Twenty-One years of age (Lunaticks, Idiots, and Negroes,
excepted) to sign the declaration on this paper, and when so done, to
make return hereof, together with the name or names of all who shall
refuse to sign the same, to the General Assembly or Committee of
Safety of this Colony.
M. WEARE, Chairman."
In Congress, March 14, 1776.
"Resolved that it be recommended to the several assemblies,
Conventions, and Councils, or Committees of Safety, of the United
States, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within then-
Respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of
XVIL]
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
375
America, or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to defend
by arms the United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the
British fleets and Armies.
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary."
—Extract from the Minutes.
In consequence of the above resolution of the Hon. Continental
Congress, and to show our determination in joining our American
brethren in defending the Lives, Liberties and Properties of the In-
habitants of the United Colonies, — We the subscribers do hereby
engage and promise that we will to the utmost of our power, at the
risque of our Lives and Fortunes, with arms, oppose the Hostile pro-
ceedings of the British fleets and armies against the United Colonies :
[For convenience of reference the names are placed in
alphabetical order, and the names of those who served in
the army are printed in capitals.]
Thomas Carrell,
Darius Abbott,
Ephraim Abbott,
Ebenezer Averil,
John Averil,
Thomas Averil, jr.,
NAHUM BALDWIN,
Ephraim Barker,
NATHANIEL BARRETT,
MOSES BARRON,
Samuel Blasdell,
JACOB BLODGETT,
Joseph Boutell,
JOSEPH BOUTELL, 2d,
Kendal Boutell,
REUBEN BOUTELL,
Andrew Bradford,
ENOS BRADFORD,
JOHN BRADFORD,
William Bradford,
George Burns,
John Burns,
JOHN BURNS, jr.,
John Burns, 3d,
Thomas Burns,
Stephen Burnam,
Oliver Carleton,
THOMAS CLARK,
Nathan Cleaves,
John Cochran,
Joseph Coggin,
HENRY CODMAN,
William Codman,
JOHN COLE,
NATHAN COLE,
JOSIAII CROSBY,
Samson Crosby,
SILAS CUMMIN GS,
Jacob Curtice,
JACOB CURTICE, jr.,
Benjamin Day,
John Damon,
Bartholomew Dodge,
Benjamin Dodge,
Josiah Dodge,
David Duncklee,
.John Duncklee,
Joseph Duncklee,
Francis Elliott,
JOSEPH FARNUM,
STEPHEN FARNUM,
Elisha Felton,
376
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
William Fisk,
William Fisk, jr.,
Amos Flint,
AMOS FLINT, jr.,
Nathan Flint,
EPHRATM FRENCH,
Nathan Fuller,
James Gage,
JAMES GILMORE,
ALLEN GOODRIDGE,
Amos Green,
David Green,
John Grimes,
Jonathan Grimes,
Joseph Gould,
Richard Gould,
Samuel Hall,
SAMUEL HARRIS,
Benjamin Hartshorn,
James Hartshorn,
JOHN HARTSHORN,
John Harwood,
NATHANIEL HASELTINE,
Samuel Henry,
Timothy Hill,
Ephraiin Hildreth,
DAVID HILDRETH,
Jacob Hildreth,
WILLIAM HOGG,
Eben Holt, jr.,
Isaac Holt,
Reuben Holt,
Isaac How,
JOEL HOWE,
Benjamin Hopkins,
Benjamin Hopkins, jr.,
Ebenezer Hopkins,
RICHARD HUGHES,
Abner Hutchinson,
Eben Hutchinson,
Elisha Hutchinson,
Nathan Hutchinson,
NATHAN HUTCHINSON, 2d,
Nathan Jones,
Nathan Jones, jr.,
MICHAEL KIEFF,
John Kendall, jr.,
Nathan Kendall,
Benjamin Kenrick,
Josiah Kidder,
HENRY KIMBALL,
Moses Kimball,
SOLOMON KITTREDGE,
JONATHAN LAMPSON,
William Lampson,
Joseph Langdell,
FRANCIS LOVEJOY,
HEZEKIAH LOVEJOY,
Jacob Love joy,
John Love joy,
WILLIAM LOW,
Jonathan Lund,
JONATHAN LYON,
Thomas McAllister,
JAMES McKEAN,
Robert Means,
William Melendy, jr.,
BENJAMIN MERRILL,
JOHN MITCHELL,
DIMOND MUZZEY,
MOSES NICHOLS,
Timothy Nichols,
William Odell,
William Odell, jr.,
ROBERT PARKER,
ADAM PATTERSON,
JOHN PATTERSON,
STEPHEN PEABODY,
William Peabody,
William Peabody, jr..
William Peacock,
Joseph Pierce,
Joseph Prince,
Joseph Prince, jr.,
EBENEZER REA,
Robert Read.
XVIL]
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
377
WILLIAM READ,
PETER ROBERTSON,
John Roby,
JOSEPH ROLLINGS,
Jonathan Sawyer,
JOSIAII SAWYER,
JOSIAH SAWYER, jr.,
John Secombe,
James Seeton,
John Seeton,
John Shepard, jr.,
Joseph Small,
William Small,
WILLIAM SMALL, jr.,
Daniel Smith,
Isaac Smith,
Jacob Smith,
Jonathan Smith,
Timothy Smith,
JACOB STANDLEY,
SAMUEL STANLEY,
Joseph Steel,
Joseph Steel, jr.
Daniel Stephens,
SAMUEL STERNES,
SIMPSON STEWART,
Amos Stickney,
Samuel Stratton,
Jonathan Taylor,
Samuel Taylor,
William Taylor,
Benjamin Temple,
Ebenezer Temple,
ARCHELAUS TOWNE,
Israel Towne,
Israel Towne, jr.,
Thomas Towne,
THOMAS TOWNE, 2d,
David Truel,
John Tuck,
John Twiss,
Jonathan Twiss,
Phinehas Uphani,
Ezekiel Upton,
Thomas Wakefield, jr.,
JOSEPH WALLACE,
William Wallace,
Richard Ward,
John Washer,
STEPHEN WASHER,
Ebenezer Weston,
Isaac Weston,
Thomas Weston,
ABIJAH WILKINS,
John Wilkins,
JONATHAN WILKINS, .tr.,
Joshua Wilkins,
William Wilkins,
LEMUEL WINCHESTER,
James Woodbury,
Peter Woodbury,
ISAAC WRIGHT,
Joshua Wright.
To the Hon'ble, The Committee of Safety for the State of New Hampshire,
or the General Assembly thereof :
Pursuant to the Request on this paper from the Committee of
Safety to us directed, we have invited those Persons therein named
to sign the Declaration on this paper, and all that have seen it have
signed it except Joshua Atherton, Esq., Mr. Daniel Campbell, Mr.
Samuel Dodge, and Col. John Shepard.
THOMAS WAKEFIELD, )
REUBEN MUSSEY, V Selectmen.
SAMUEL WILKINS, )
378
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
A regiment was raised in July, 1776, to reinforce the
army in Canada. It was commanded by Col. Isaac Wyman,
was mustered in 16 July, 1776, and served about three and
a half months.
In a company in this regiment, commanded by Capt.
William Barron, of Merrimack, we find the following sol-
diers from Amherst :
JAMES GILMORE, ensign.
^Nathaniel Hazeltine, )
Ephraim French,
Aaron Bontell,
Benjamin Clark,
- sergeants.
Jonathan Lamson,
Ebenezer Rea,
William Small, jr.,
William Stewart, and
George Wilson, privates.
In Capt. William Harper's company, were
Silas Cooledge,
Zephaniah Kittredge,
Robert Parker, and
Joseph Perkins, privates.
In Capt. Samuel Wetherbee's company, were
John Averill, and Timothy Nichols, jr., privates.
Stephen Peabody, of Amherst, was major of the regiment.
col. Baldwin's regiment.
This regiment was raised in September, 1776, and
marched to assist the army in New York. It was in the
battle at White Plains, 28 Oct., 1776, and was dismissed at
North Castle, N. Y., about the first of December of that
year. Amherst was represented in this regiment by
Col. Nahum Baldwin, and the following men who
served in the company commanded by Capt. Philip Putnam,
of Wilton:
AVilliam Low, ensign.
Elijah Averill,
Renben Bontell,
Ebenezer Carlton,
John Cochran,
Jonathan Cochran,
Stephen Farnum,
John Grimes,
John Hartshorn,
Joel Howe,
Francis Lovejoy,
Isaac Peabody,
XVII.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 379
Abel Prince, Richard Towne,
James Rea, Thomas Towne,
Benjamin Smith, Aaron Upton,
Daniel Smith, Joseph Wallace, and
Benjamin Taylor, Jonathan Wilkins, privates.
In Capt. Read's company, were
William Read, captain. Andrew Elliot, private.
When a requisition was made upon the town of Salisbury for men
to fill its quota in this regiment, it is reported that Capt. Ebenezer
Webster said, " This town has filled all its quotas, and no one can be
compelled to go ; but as the case is urgent, I will volunteer to go."
Others, most if not all of whom had been officers, and had seen
service in former wars, also volunteered, and joined the company
under the command of Capt. Benjamin Emery, of Concord, as privates,
and marched to the seat of war. In the battles and skirmishes in
which the regiment was engaged, Capt. Webster's experience in
military matters was said to have been of great value to its officers.
After the return of the regiment, the surgeon, Dr. Barnes, testified
before a committee of the legislature that " many of the men were
sick while in the service, and he expected they would die for want of
medicine, nothing of the kind having been provided at the public ex-
pense. Whereupon the pity and humanity of the Lieut. Colonel
[Gordon Hutchins] being raised, he procured medicines at his own
expense to the amount of £4 8s. 7d." After hearing the surgeon's
statement, the legislature voted to pay Col. Hutchins £3 6s. 6d. for
his outlay. At the same session Col. Baldwin was allowed £30 18s.
lOd. for boarding and nursing sixty persons belonging to his regi-
ment.
Another regiment was raised in December, 1776, to re-
inforce the army in northern New York. This was placed
under the command of Col. David Gilman. In this regi-
ment, the following Amherst men served in the company
commanded by Capt, William Walker, of Dunstable:
Jonathan Cochran, Abiel Holt,
Isaac P. Curtice, Ebenezer Odell.
Jacob Cui'tice, John Taylor,
Roger Dutton, Robert B. Wilkins.
Stephen Gould,
380 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
A special town meeting held 22 May, 1775, was the last one called
in " His Majesty's" name in Amherst. The constables were simply
directed by the selectmen to warn the Inhabitants of the town of
Amherst to the next meeting, held 14 August, 1775. A meet-
ing, held 24 October, 1775, was called in the name of the " Province "
of New Hampshire. After this, until the declaration of Independ-
ence, the town meetings were called in the name of the " Colony of
New Hampshire." Since 11 September, 1776, the meetings of the
town have been called in the name of the " State of New Hampshire."
14 August, 1775. The Selectmen having purchased a quantity of
salt for which they had given their security, the town Voted that they
should have three months from the fourth of July last past, to sell it
to the inhabitants of the town. If it was not all sold at that time,
they were authorized to assess the inhabitants of the town for what
remained on hand.
Parties of loyalists, or tories, were sent by the authorities of the
State of New York to be confined in the jails in New Hampshire. Of
these, the following were ordered to be sent to Amherst jail, 22 Nov.,
1776:
Alexander Andrews, John Hitchcock,
Peter Brown [to be kept in irons], Laughlin McGaffin,
Thomas Bullis, Isaac Man,
William Burns, Abraham Nath [to be in irons],
Nathaniel Douglas, Thomas Pearson,
Jonathan Farmachiff, -Johannes Vanzelin, and
John Feathers, James Waddie.
Not liking their accommodations the prisoners soon broke jail and
escaped. Hitchcock, who seems to have been a man of some
talent, left behind the following verses, the latter part of which were
said to be aimed at one of the town committee of safety, who had
rendered himself obnoxious to the prisoners by his excessive zeal in
the discharge of the duties of his office. Tradition has it that many
of the whigs enjoyed them greatly :
Come all ye people, hear the rout,
The jail is broke, the pris'ners 're out
Resolving to be free ;
So mount your hoi - ses, load your guns,
And see you catch them every one,
And bring them back to me.
XVII.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 381
I heard a man from Wilton say,
That just about the break of day,
As he to market came,
To sell his butter and his cheese,
He spied some tories he believed,
Straight-way a marching home.
Pull off for blood and raise the town,
Be careful to waylay the ground
Before they you pass by ;
Watch every hollow, plain and ridge
And set a guard at every bridge,
And catch them nappingly.
For all the people know it round,
That I 'm Committee for our town,
And if these men be lost,
I'll venture fifty pounds to one,
That if the Congress hear they 're gone,
That I shall lose my Post.
Other parties of New York loyalists were sent to Amherst
jail. They were supplied with such clothing as they stood
in need of at the expense of the State. The expenses of
their confinement were afterward repaid by the State cf
New York.
The following action in regard to the estate of Zaccheus
Cutler, Esq., was taken by the town at a meeting held 30
April, 1776 :
" Whereas Zaccheus Cutler, formerly of Amherst, in the County of
Hillsborough and Colony of New Hampshire, has in a very daring
manner proved himself inimical to his Country, and absconded from
Amherst aforesaid, and joined our unnatural enemies at Boston, at
the same time leaving behind him lands, buildings, &c, to a considera-
ble value. And for prevention of his estate coming to strip and
waste, we, the inhabitants of Amherst, pass the following votes : viz.,
Voted to improve the estate of Zaccheus Cutler, Esq.
Voted their Committee of Safety be a committee to improve said
estate.
Voted the manner of improving said estate be left discretionary
with said committee.
382 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
Voted said Committee pay the profits arising on said improvement
to him or them whose right it may be to make a demand therefor."
Against this action of the town, Col. John Shepard,
Capt. Israel Towne, Ensign William Peabody, and Mr.
Thomas Towne, entered their protest, for reasons "that
would be given at a proper time if called for."
The British army evacuated Boston in March, 1776, and
the seat of war was transferred to the Middle States and
the northern frontier.
18 July, 1776, the declaration of Independence was re-
ceived and proclaimed by Moses Kelley, Esq., Sheriff of
the County, with beat of drum from the horse block, which
then stood on the common in front of the meeting-house.
On the same day it was read to the people of Exeter, by
John Taylor Gilman.
In many of the towns in Massachusetts it was read from
the pulpits in the churches the first Sunday after its re-
ception, and entered upon the town records.
At the close of this year the prospects of the patriots were gloomy
in the extreme. They had suffered losses, but had achieved no substan-
tial victories. Their means \vei - e nearly exhausted, and the soldiers,
enlisted for short terms, were constantly returning to their homes.
To remedy this latter evil, Congress determined to establish a perma-
nent military organization, in which the men should be enlisted for
three years, or during the war, the officers to be appointed and pro-
moted by the General Congress. Under this arrangement the quota
required of Xew Hampshire was divided into three regiments, com-
manded by John Stark, James Reed, and Enoch Poor. Poor being
soon after appointed Brigadier-General, Stark quitted the service.
Reed becoming blind also retired, and the regiments were placed
under the command of Joseph Cilley, Nathan Hale, and Alexander
Scammell.
This action of Congress placed the army upon a sub-
stantial basis.
XVI1L] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 383
CHAPTER XVHI.
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
17T7_78-79.
PROCEEDINGS OP THE TOWN IN REGARD TO ITS SOLDIERS. A
COMMITTEE CHOSEN TO AFFIX AND SETTLE PRICES OF ARTICLES
OF MERCHANDISE. AMHERST SOLDIERS IN THE CONTINENTAL
ARMY, WITH THE COMPANIES AND REGIMENTS IN WHICH THEY
SERVED, AND THE PERIODS OF THEIR ENLISTMENTS. VOLUN-
TEERS FOR THE DEFENCE OF TICONDEROGA. AMHERST SOLDIERS
AT BENNINGTON AND SARATOC A. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
ADOPTED. BANISHMENT OF LOYALISTS AND CONFISCATION OF
THEIR PROPERTY. ADVERTISEMENT OF THE SALE OF
ZACCHEUS CUTLER'S PROPERTY. AMHERST MEN AT RHODE
ISLAND, 1778, WILLIAM HASTINGS. COMMITTEE CHOSEN TO
PROVIDE FOR SOLDIERS' FAMILIES. PROCEEDINGS OF THE
TOWN RELATIVE TO RAISING SOLDIERS. DELEGATES CHOSEN
TO A STATE CONVENTION TO REGULATE THE PRICES OF PRODUCE,
ETC. PETITIONS OF MRS. MUNROE AND CAPT. ARCHELAUS
TOWNE, TO THE GENERAL COURT. NAMES OF ONE YEAR'S
MEN FURNISHED FOR THE CONTINENTAL ARMY IN 1779.
SOLDIERS AT RHODE ISLAND AND PORTSMOUTH, 1779.
31 March, 1777. The town voted to remit the poll-tax of
those persons who served as soldiers in the Continental army
the whole of last year.
10 June, 1777. Voted, in case there should be an imme-
diate call for men to serve in the Continental army, to allow
those who are disposed to enlist the same encouragement
they have heretofore paid, and to assess the amount neces-
sary for this purpose upon the polls and estates of the inhab-
itants of the town.
384
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap
Capt. Stephen Peabody, Capt. Hezekiah Lovejoy, and Mr.
Solomon Kittredge were appointed a committee to procure
soldiers on the terms mentioned above.
Col. Nahum Baldwin, Mr. Stephen Burnam, Mr. William
Wallace, Mr. Andrew Bradford, and Mr. Timothy Smith,
were chosen a committee to affix and settle prices upon
sundry articles.
In a return made by Col. Moses Nichols, 19 March, 1779,
we have the names of the men employed by the town to fill
its quota in the Continental army in the years 1777, '78 and
'79, the period of their enlistment, and the regiments and
companies in which they served, as follows :
Stephen Abbot,
Elijah Averill,
Joshua Blod^ett.
Peter Brewer,
William Brown,
James Cochran,
Jonathan Cochran,
Robert Cochran,
Silas Cooledge,
Robert Cunningham, jr.
Robert Cunningham,
Ezekiel Davis,
Joseph Davis,
Benjamin Dike,
John Dow,
John Dutton,
Richard Goodman,
Jude Hall,
Henry Harris,
Richard Hughes,
Daniel Kidder,
Robert Parker,
Thomas Powell,
William Shaddock,
Isaac Smith,
Isaac Stearns,
John Taggart,
Nathan Tuttle,
Cilley's Reg't,
a
a
a
a
it
a
a
a
tt
a
Wait's Co.,
tt it
Richards's Co.,
Morrill's Co.,
Wait's Co.,
Scott's Co.,
it tt
Wait's Co.,
Richards's Co.
Wait's Co.,
" " Richards's Co.,
" Wait's Co.,
Scainmel's Reg't, Frye's Co.,
Cilley's Reg't, Richards's Co.,
Wait's Co.,
Scammers Reg't, Frye's Co.,
Cilley's Reg't, Morrill's Co.,
Wait's Co..
Scammel's Reg't, Frye's Co.,
Cilley's Reg't, Morrill's Co.,
Wait's Co.,
for 3 years.
u it
a ((
for the war.
for 3 years.
a tt
a n
for the war.
for 3 years.
it a
tt a
a a
a a
t- tt
a a
a it
it tt
a a
a a
a a
a a
it
a
it
a
tt
u
tt
tt
tt
a
a
a
XV III.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 385
Reuben Wheeler, Cilley's Reg't, Wait's Co., for .'1 years.
Asa Wilkins, Scammel's Reg't, Frye's Co.,
Robert B. Wilkins,
Sylvester Wilkins, Cilley's Reg't, Wait's Co.,
George Wilson,
John Rano was hired by Amherst, but afterward decided
to belong to Andover.
-'Peter Brewer was a colored man, from New Boston.
Jude Hall, another colored man, was from Kensington.
Joshua Blodgett was from Litchfield.
Silas Cooledge and John Taggart, from Hillsborough.
The Cunninghams, from Derryfield.
William Shaddock, from Boscawen.
On the advance of Gen. Burgoyne's army toward Ticon-
deroga, in the summer of 1777, thousands of volunteers
marched from various places in New England, to assist in
the defence of that stronghold.
Two companies, under the command of Maj. Abial Abbot,
of Wilton, marched 30 June, 1777, for the threatened
fortress. On reaching Charlestown (No. 4), they were
ordered home, but when they had reached Dublin, on their
return, they received orders "to march with all speed to
Ticonderoga." When they reached Otter Creek, they heard
of its evacuation.
AMHERST MEN IX THESE COMPANIES.
In Capt. Peabody's company :
Capt. Stephen Peabody, Roger Dutton,
Lieut. John Bradford, Ebenezer Hutchinson,
Ensign John Patterson, Jonathan Lain son,
Corporal Amos Elliot, John Lovejoy,
Nathan Cole, William Low,
Josiah Crosby, Jonathan Lyon,
Stephen Crosby, Benjamin Merrill,
William Crosby, Timothy Nichols, jr.,
Isaac P. Curtice, Adam Patterson,
Jacob Curtice, Thomas Peabody,
380
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Abel Prince,
Josiah Sawyer,
John Stewart,
Simpson Stewart,
Benjamin Taylor,
John Wallace,
Stephen Washer,
Jonathan Williams.
In Capt. Nathan Ballard's company:
1st Lieut. Joseph Farnuni,
2d Lieut. Eli Wilkins,
Sergeant Nathan Hutchinson,
Moses Averill,
Samuel Curtice,
Allen Goodridge,
Asa Lewis,
Aaron Nichols,
Ebenezer Odell,
Moses Peabody,
Benjamin Sawyer,
Daniel Smith,
Samuel Stewart,
William Stewart,
William Talbert,
Henry Trivett,
Thomas Underwood,
Solomon Washer.
After the fall of Ticonderoga, an earnest appeal was made
by the people of Vermont to the authorities of New Hamp-
shire for aid to resist the progress of the British forces
through their state.
The legislature met at Exeter, and in three days organized an ex-
pedition to march to their assistance against the common enemy.
Col. John Stark was put at its head, and it resulted in the victorv
at Bennington, the turning point of the war for Independence.
After organizing this expedition, the legislature appointed the
seventh day of August following to be observed as a day of fasting.
humiliation, and prayer, throughout the State.
In the battle of Bennington the regiment commanded by Col.
Nichols, of Amherst, commenced the attack, and Capt. John Brad-
ford, of the Amherst company, is said to have been the second man
who mounted the Hessian breast-work.
The Amherst men engaged in the battle were :
Col. Moses Nichols, commanding a regiment.
Col. Stephen Peabody, aid to Gen. Stark.
John Bradford, captain.
John Mills, 1st lieut.
Joseph Farnuni, 2d lieut
John Patterson, ensign.
Joel Howe,
Nathaniel Hazeltine, !
Jonathan Wilkins.
James Gilniore, J
sergeants
Nathan Cole,
Jacob Curtice, ) corporals.
Amos Elliott, J
Reuben Boutell,
David Burnam,
Israel Burnam,
Jonathan Burnam.
Stephen Crosby.
XVIII.]
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
William Crosby,
Isaac Curtis,
Samuel Curtis,
Stephen Curtis,
Roger Button,
Jedidiah Ellinwood,
John Everdon,
Laraford Gilbert.
Allen Goodridge,
Daniel Green,
Samuel Harris,
William Hogg,
Obadiah Holt,
Joseph Jewett,
Caleb Jones,
Eli Kimball,
Solomon Kittredge,
.Jonathan Lamson,
Asa Lewis,
Benjamin Merrill,
Ebenezer Odell,
Joshua Pettingill.
James Ray,
Benjamin Sawyer,
Andrew Shannon,
Benjamin Stearns,
Samuel Stewart,
Simpson Stewart,
Benjamin Taylor,
Henry Trivett,
John Wallace,
Eli Wilkins,
George Wilson, privates
111 Capt. Ford's company. Nichols's regiment, were
Silas Could,
Solomon Hutchinson,
Robert Parker, and
Eleazer Usher,
Col. Nichols was employed 72 days in this campaign. Capt. Brad-
ford and company 71 days. They received £243 as bounty and
advance wages, at the time of their enlistment, and £461, 7s. 9d. as a
balance due for their services 18 October, 1777.
Archelaus Towne, Francis Grimes, and
Archelaus Towne, jr.. William Hogg,
marched and joined the army under Gen. Gates, at Saratoga, in Sept.
1777.
Among the old papers in the office of the Secretary of
the State, is the following order for payment of supplies
furnished for the Bennington ex] edition:
State of New Hampshire, April 2, 1770.
To Nicholas Oilman, J^sij., R. G.:
Pursuant to a vote of Council and Assembly, pay Josiah Crosby
and Hezekiah Lovejoy twenty-five pounds, twelve shillings, for camp
utensils for Gen. Stark's brigade.
£25, 12s.
M. WEARE, Presid't.
388 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
The articles of confederation and perpetual union agreed
upon by Congress, 15 November, 1777, were laid before the
town at a meeting held 27 January, 1778.
After hearing them read, the town voted "their approval
of the articles of confederation and perpetual union."
At the same meeting William Bradford, Oliver Carlton
and William Lamson, were appointed a committee to provide
the necessaries of life for the families of the non-commis-
sioned officers and soldiers from this town in the army.
By an act of the General Court of New Hampshire, passed 19 No-
vember, 1778, seventy-seven persons named in the act, who had left the
State, were forbidden to return without leave first had and obtained
by special act of the General Court, and should they thereafter be
found at any time within the limits of the State without such license,
they were to be arrested, and after examination sent to some part of
the British dominions, or to some place in the possession of the British
forces, at their own expense ; or if they were unable to pay the expense
they were to be sent at the expense of the State. If they were found
within the limits of the State thereafter, they were to be put to
death.
Many of the persons thus proscribed had been among the leading
men in the province. Gov. John AVentworth, Capt. Robert Rogers,
the famous ranger; Benjamin Thompson, afterward Count Rumford ;
Edward G. Lutwyche, of Merrimack; William and John Stark,
brother and nephew of Gen. John Stark, were of the number; also
two citizens of Amherst, Zaccheus Cutler. Esq., trader, and John
Holland, gentleman.
By another act of the General Court, passed 28 November, 1778, the
estates, real and personal, of many of the persons named in the pre-
vious act, were declared to be forfeited to the use of the State. Three
commissioners were appointed in each county to take possession of
such estates and sell the same at auction, and account to the
State for the proceeds of the sales. Col. Moses Nichols, of Amherst,
James Underwood, Esq., of Litchfield, and Col. Noah Lovewell, of
Dunstable, were appointed commissioners for Hillsborough county.
The following advertisement is found in the N. H. Gazette, pub-
lished at Portsmouth, 12 January, 1779 :
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Hillsborough ss. To be sold at public auction, on Tuesday, the
twelfth day of .January next, at 10 o'clock a. m., at the house lately
XVIII.]
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
381)
occupied by Zaccheus Cutler, Esq., at Amherst, an absentee, all the
personal estate of said Cutler.
By order of the General Court,
MOSES NICHOLS, ) r ,
NOAH LOVEWELL, J" C <»" m> " ee -
Amherst, December 25, 177*.
A brigade of the New Hampshire militia, under the com-
mand of Gen. William Whipple, was sent to Rhode Island
in the summer of 1778, to assist in an attack upon the
British forces stationed there.
Col. Moses Nichols commanded one of the regiments,
Lieut.-Col. Stephen Peabody one of the battallions. Capt.
John Bradford was adjutant in Col. Nichols's regiment, and
Col. Daniel Warner, quartermaster.
The following Amherst men served in Col. Nichols's regi-
ment, in the company commanded by Capt. Josiah Crosby :
Josiah Crosby, captain.
Hezekiah Lovejoy, lieut.
John Mills, "1
Josiah Crosby, jr., }- sergeants.
Allen Goodridge, J
John Cole, ) ,
Jonathan Wilkins,) Cor P° rals -
John Boutell,
Enos Bradford,
John Carlton,
Daniel Chandler,
Stephen Crosby,
Silas Cummings,
James Ellinwood,
John Everden,
Stephen Farnum,
Benjamin Lewis,
Reuben D. Mussey,
Timothy Nichols, jr..
Ebenezer Odell,
John Odell,
Peter Robinson,
Joseph Rollins,
Jacob Stanley,
Samuel Stanley,
Jotham Stearns,
Thomas Stevens,
William Stewart,
Benjamin Taylor,
Jonathan Taylor,
William Talbert,
Bartholomew Towne,
Solomon Washer, privates.
In Capt. Reynolds's company were
Roger Dutton,
Ebenezer Odell,
Joshua Pettingill,
James Ray,
John Stevens,
John W T allace, privates.
390 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Ill Capt. Dearborn's company were
William Hastings, John Ellsworth.
Andrew Burnam,
William Hastings was wounded by a cannon ball, 29 August, 1778,
and lost a leg in consequence of the wound. After his return he
applied to the General Court for assistance, which was granted, £49,
8s. being allowed him for his expenses at Rhode Island, and his name
was placed on the pension-list to receive half pay from 1 January,
1779. He continued to receive a pension from the State and the
United States during the remainder of his life.
8March,1779. Benjamin Hopkins, jr., William Odell, and
James Woodbury, were chosen a committee to provide for
the families of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers
belonging to this town in the army.
7 June, 1779. The town voted "that they will take a
method to raise the soldiers called for to serve in the Con-
tinental army/'
Voted "that the selectmen prepare and present a petition
to the General Court asking for a law to enable the town to
make and recover an average of what has been paid as an
encouragement to soldiers to go into the service of their
country."
29 June, 1779. Voted to add fifty bushels of Indian
corn, or its equivalent in currency, to the State and Conti-
nental bounties offered each soldier who shall enlist during
the war, and the raising of the soldiers on the above en-
couragement was referred to the commissioned officers (of
the militia).
5 August, 1779. Mr. Timothy Smith, Col. Stephen Pea-
body, and Capt. John Bradford, were appointed a committee
to procure the quotas of men which should hereafter be re-
quired of the town during the war, and they were instructed,
immediately after they had raised the men, which from
time to time might be required, to render a true account,
upon oath to the selectmen, of the money they had advanced
or promised to the men they had hired, and the selectmen,
XVIII.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 391
for the time being, or their successors, were instructed to
assess the same upon the inhabitants of the town in the
same. manner that the state, county, and town taxes were
assessed; collect the money as soon as might be, and pay it
over to the committee for the payment of the liabilities
they had incurred in the said service.
At the same meeting the town voted that they would not
allow any thing for the time spent by the volunteers last
summer at Rhode Island, in the average for raising soldiers
for the Rhode Island and Continental service the present
year.
15 September, 1779. Voted to raise twenty thousand
dollars for hiring their quotas of men for carrying on the
war in the future, and the selectmen were directed to assess
the above sum in the common way of assessing, and pay it
into the town treasury as it is collected.
Capt. Lovejoy was added to the committee for hiring men
for the army, and the committee were authorized to hire
such sums of money as might be necessary in case the
grant made this day should be insufficient for the purpose
required.
6 September, 1779. The town voted to join with the
other towns in this State in holding a convention at Concord,
on the 22d day of September inst., for the purpose of regu-
lating the prices of produce and merchandise in said State,
and chose Col. Moses Nichols and Lieut. Reuben Mussey,
delegates to attend said convention.
2 November, 1779. Capt. John Bradford, William Odell,
Col. Stephen Peabody, James Woodbury, Jonathan Lund,
Dea. John Seaton, Thomas Wakefield, Capt. Hezekiah Love-
joy, Elisha Felton, Dea. Samuel Stevens, and Richard Gould,
were appointed a committee to settle the prices of produce
and articles of trade for this town.
At a meeting held 2 November, 1779, the town voted to
allow credit to those persons who had done more than their
proportion in carrying on the present war.
392 HrsTORY op amherst. [Chap.
25 June, 1779, a petition from Susannah Munroe, of Amherst, was
presented to the House of Representatives, asking that the sum of
£560, allowed her husband, Capt. Jonah Munroe, for the depreciation
of the paper currency, might be paid to her as her husband was absent
and she needed the money for the support of herself and family, which
request was granted, and the President was directed to issue an order
for the payment of the money to Capt. Josiah Crosby for her use, 15
June, 1779.
Capt. Archelaus Towne, of Amherst, presented a petition to the
House of Representatives, in which he stated that he and his son,
Archelaus Towne, jr., did, on the 24th day of July, 1777, " set out from
Amherst, and marched and joined the Continental army, commanded
by Gen. Gates; served as scouts, and did duty as other soldiers; were
in the battle on the 19th of September, near Stillwater, and continued
in the service until about four days before Gen. Burgoyne surrendered,
when, being taken very sick, he was obliged to return home ; that
neither himself nor his son had received any recompense for their ser-
vices from any person whatever ; wherefore he prayed that the same
allowance might be made to himself and his son that others had re-
ceived for similar services."
To substantiate the statement of Capt. Towne, Lt. Robert B. Wil"
kins testified that lie " saw Capt. Archelaus Towne, of Amherst, in the
front of the battle, on the 19th of Sept., 1777, at Bemis's Heights, and
spake with him in the height of the battle ; that he saw his son Ar-
chelaus the next day, who told him he was in the battle, which he
believed, although lie did not see him there. They were both volun-
teers."
Dr. John Hale, surgeon in Cilley's regiment, certified that lie saw
Capt. Towne and his son just before the battle with Burgoyne, and
Capt. Towne told him that he and his son came up as volunteers, and
he judged they were both in the battle on the 19th of September, 1777.
Nine men were furnished for the Continental army in
1779, to serve one year, as follows :
Samuel Clark, enlisted 14 July, 1779 ; discharged, 20 Aug., 1780.
Charles Davenport, " " " " " " " "
Calvin Honey, " 7 Aug., " "
Abraham Littlehale, " 24 July, " "
John McKean, " 20 " " "
Joseph Perkins, " 13 " " "
Joseph Rawlins, " 14 Aug., " "
Archelaus Towne, " 21 July, " died
Joseph Wilson, " 27 July, " discharged 20 June, 1780.
24 July,
u
20 June,
u
M a
<<
20 Aug.,
u
1 Dec,
1779
xvi1l] the war for independence. 393
joseph wilson's receipt.
Received of John Bradford and others the sum of six pounds,
thirteen shillings, and four-pence, L. M., after the rate of Indian corn
at three shillings and six-pence a bushel, for which sum I promise to
serve one year in the Continental army.
JOSEPH WILSON.
SOLDIERS AT RHODE ISLAND, 1779.
Col. Hercules Mooney commanded a regiment sent to
Rhode Island from this State in the spring of 1779, to assist
the army stationed there. The following Amherst men
served in this regiment, in the company commanded by
Capt. Daniel Emerson, of Hollis:
Moses Barron, ensign. Alpheus Crosby,
Moses Averill, drummer. John Odell, and
John Carlton, Levi Woodbury.
In September of this year Capt. Hezekiah Lovejoy and
Joseph Nichols enlisted for six months in the garrison at
Portsmouth.
394 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
1780-1785.
proceedings of the town. continental soldiers, 1780.
Nichols's regiment at west point. — soldiers furnished,
1781. — continental and other soldiers, 1782. — amherst
men who served for other towns. amherst men who
served in the privateer service. proceedings of the
town. proclamation for thanksgiving. bounties, etc.,
paid soldiers. — list of soldiers and sailors. list of
soldiers who died or were killed in the service.
meeting of revolutionary soldiers, 4 july, 1820, etc.
At a meeting held 20 March, 1780, Kendal Boutell,
James Hartshorn, and Enos Bradford, were appointed a
committee to provide for the families of the non-commis-
sioned officers and privates in the Continental army belong-
ing to this town.
A number of men being called for to fill the battal-
lions in the Continental army, at a meeting held 27 June,
1780, the town voted to instruct and empower their com-
mittee to engage the men that they shall hire to go into
the army on the same standard that the General Court has
stated ; namely, their wages, Indian corn at 4s. per bushel,
grass fed beef at 4d. per lb., and sole leather at Is. 6d.
per lb.
Eleven men were furnished for the Continental army
this vear.
Peter Abbot, enlit
ted 8 July,
Robert Campbell,
tt
Alpheus Crosby,
(i
Stephen Crosby,
«
Isaac Curtice,
u
Jacob Doyen,
29 June,
Obadiah Holt,
8 July,
Jacob Stanley,
u
Jotham Stearns,
a
Bimsley Stevens,
29 June,
Jesse Woodbury,
8 July,
XIX.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. o95
discharged (3 Dec, 1780.
" 21 "
" 6 "
U J. ((
i< J. u
31
" 18
is
" g u
" 21 "
" 6 "
A regiment under the command of Col. Moses Nichols
served three months at West Point, in the Autumn of 1780.
Dr. Henry Codman was Surgeon. In the company com-
manded by Capt. William Barron, of Merrimack, we find
the following Amherst men:
Daniel Averill, Joseph Nichols,
Nahum Baldwin, jr., Benjamin Stearns,
Andrew Bradford, William Tolbert,
Daniel Kenny, William AVallace (filer),
Henry Kimball, Daniel AVeston.
David Melvin,
William Brown served in another company.
Seventy-four men, including those then in the field, being
called for to serve three years, or during the war, the town,
at a meeting held 8 Feb., 1781, appointed Capt. Nathan
Hutchinson, Capt. Israel Towne, and Amos Flint, a commit-
tee to raise the men required.
Capt. Hezekiah Lovejoy, Thomas Wakefield, Daniel
Campbell, Benjamin Davis, Eli Wilkins, and Lieut. Ebenezer
Weston, were subsequently added to the committee, who
were authorized to hire money to procure the men needed.
At a meeting held 13 April, 1781, the sum of forty
thousand dollars was appropriated to till the town's quota
this year.
Another requisition for soldiers being made, the town, at
a meeting held 18 July, 1781,
89!) HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Voted that the committee hire the soldiers to fill the town's quota.
At this meeting, Capt. Hutchinson, Capt. Towne, and Mr. Wakefield,
members of the committee, resigned.
The selectmen were directed to give security in hard
money for the beef they had purchased for the army, or in
money equivalent thereto.
9 October, 1781. The town voted that one dollar in hard
money should be equivalent to one hundred dollars in old
Continental money, in payment of taxes due for 1781, and
that all taxes due that were assessed before 1781 should
be paid equal to the scale of depreciation.
In arranging the pay of the soldiers hired this year, it
was agreed by the committee that each man should be
entitled to the value of twenty neat cattle, as many months
old as he served months in the army. This seems to have
been paid as a bounty for enlisting, in addition to the pay
he received for his services. Minutes of settlement with
some of these soldiers are preserved in the town records.
The families of William Brown, James Cochran, Richard
Hughes, Farrar Miller, Nathan Tattle, and Joseph Wilson,
soldiers in the continental army, were assisted by the town
this year.
John Abbot Goss, Joseph Pedrick, and
Francis Lovejoy, Daniel Wilkins, 3d,
Joseph Lovejoy,
were mustered in 5 March, 1781, to fill the quota of three years' men
required of the town at that time.
In July, 1781, nine men were required to serve six months,
and the requisition was filled by
Nahum Baldwin, jr., Henry Hunt,
Ebenezer Curtice, Michael Kieff,
David Hildreth, Joseph Nichols,
Caleb Hunt, Allen Stewart,
and William Cowen ; but there is no record that he joined the army until
December following, when he enlisted for three years.
XIX.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 397
Late in the summer of 1781 eleven men were called for
to serve three months. They marched 23 September of that
year. In the selectmen's account they are mentioned as
" 11 soldiers at Charlestown, 1781," and were probably raised
in apprehension of trouble on the western and northern
frontiers of the state. Their names were —
Peter Abbot, Edward Hartshorn,
Daniel Averill, Joshua Heywood,
Elijah Averill, Samuel Phelps,
George Christopher, Peter Wakefield, and
Paul Crosby, Daniel Weston,
John Fields,
and they served in a company commanded by Capt. John Mills.
Among the papers in the Adjutant-General's office, in Con-
cord, is the following- account of beef and fat cattle collect-
ed in the town of Amherst by Francis Blood, in the year
1781, for the army :
23 July, 2 cattle weighing
7 Aug., 6 " "
22 Aug., 4 " "
9 Oct., 7
19 Nov., 9 "
Beef furnished by Nichols,
Total, 24,565 lbs.
Being the amount the town was required to furnish.
Iii 1782 fourteen three years' men were required to fill
the town's quota in the Continental army, and the following
men were furnished :
James Auld, Adam Patterson,
Andrew Bradford, John Peabody,
Enoch Carlton, Thomas Peabody,
Ephraim Goss, Alexander Runnels,
Peter Goss, Benjamin Tuck,
Henry Handley, Daniel Weston, and
William Heywood, John Grout.
Peter Abbott [fifer], Moses Pettengill, and James McKean, privates,
enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. Ebenezer Webster, which
1250
lbs
3140
a
2775
it
4355
a
4485
u
8560
a
398 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
was raised for the protection of the northern frontiers of the State in
1782.
Stephen Dike, of Amherst, served six months for New
Boston, in 1781.
David Truel, jr., served six months for Merrimack, in
1781 ; and William Henry Wilkins, son of the minister,
enlisted to serve three years for Candia, in June, 1777, but
died at Yellow Springs, Pa., 22 June, 1778.
Luther Dana served in the navy a short time, near the
close of the war.
Capt. Joseph Perkins served on board a privateer
vessel, which was taken by the British, and he was carried a
prisoner of war to England, where he was confined for some
time.
Levi Woodbury served on the privateer Essex, which was
taken, and he was carried to England, a prisoner of war,
where he died.
Jonathan Wilkins served on the ship Hague, and was
wounded in an action with a British vessel.
At a meeting held 18 March, 1782, the town voted to
grant supplies of the necessaries of life to the families of
those soldiers who enlisted into the army last spring, for three
years, provided the cost of such supplies may be entered as
pay on the obligations given said soldiers by the committee.
At this meeting the following petition was laid before the
town :
To the totvn of Amherst, convened at the Court House, in said Amherst, on
the ISth of March, by adjournment :
Gentlemen: — You may remember that I, your petitioner, did en-
gage in the public service of the United States, to serve as a soldier
for this town for the term of three years, which time I served faith-
fully, and then engaged to serve in the Continental Army during the
war, and I have not received any bounty from this town, or any other ;
and as this is the town I first went for, and my family living in it, 1
shall choose fo>' go for this town still. Wherefore your petitioner prays
vou would take his case under your consideration, and give him such
XIX.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 399
a bounty as others have received in like circumstances, and your Peti-
tioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
his
WILLIAM X BROWN,
mark.
In answer to the above petition the town voted to allow
the petitioner one hundred dollars, hard money, on the
same considerations that the three years' soldiers were hired
in 1781.
11 April, 1782. More soldiers having been called for to
hll the town's ipiota, the town voted to add Lieut. Darius
Abbot, Robert Means, William Lampson, Samuel Dodge,
Capt. William Dana, and Capt. Ephraim Hildreth, to the
committee to hire soldiers.
29 October, 1782. The sum of thirty pounds was granted
for the support of the families of Joseph Lovcjoy and
Daniel Wilkins, jr., the same to be indorsed on the securi-
ties given them by the town's committee for hiring soldiers.
Voted not to give up their claim to William Cowen, as a Conti-
nental soldier, to the town of Merrimack.
23 December, 1782. Voted to return the bounties of the
three years' soldiers which were retained from the wages,
provided the soldiers shall make it appear that they per-
formed three years' service for this town.
4 February, 1783. The town again voted not to give up
their claim to William Cowen as a Continental soldier.
2(> October, 178-3. Dea. Samuel Wilkins, Mr. Solomon
Kittredge, and Mr. Daniel Campbell, were appointed a com-
mittee to agree and settle with Joseph Lovejoy and the
other soldiers that the committee agreed to pay in young
cattle for going into the army for three years.
The war had now closed. The great miracle of the eight-
eenth century had been wrought, and the people of the United
States were appropriately called upon to give thanks to the
Supreme Ruler of all human events by the following Proc-
lamation :
400 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
By the United States in Congress assembled.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas it hath pleased the Supreme "Ruler of all human events to
dispose the hearts of the late belligerent Powers to put a period to the
effusion of human blood by proclaiming a cessation of all hostilities
by sea and land, and these United States are not only rescued from
the dangers and calamities to which they have been so long exposed,
but their freedom, sovereignty and Independence ultimately acknowl-
edged : And whereas in the progress of a contest on which the most
essential rights of human nature depended, the interposition of Divine
Providence in our favor hath been most abundantly & most graciously
manifested, and the citizens of these United States have every reason
for praise & gratitude to the God of their salvation : — Impressed there-
fore with an exalted sense of the blessings by which we are surrounded,
& of our entire dependence on that Almighty Being from whose good-
ness & bounty they are derived ; — The United States in Congress
Assembled, do recommend it to the several States to set apart the
Second Thursday in December next as a day of public Thanksgiving,
that all the People may then Assemble to celebrate with grateful
hearts & united voices, the praises of their Supreme & all bountiful
Benefactor, for his numberless favours and mercies ; — that lie hath
been pleased to conduct us in safety through all the perils and vicissi-
tudes of the war ; that he hath given us unanimity and resolution to
adhere to our just rights ; that he hath raised up a powerful ally to
assist us in supporting them, & hath so far crowmed our united efforts
with success ; that in the course of the present year hostilities have
ceased & we are left in the undisputed possession of our liberties &
Independence, and of the fruits of our lands, & in the free participa-
tion of the treasures of the sea ; that he hath prospered the labour of
our Husbandmen with plentiful Harvests ; and above all that he hath
been pleased to continue to us the light of the blessed Gospel &
secured to us, in the fullest extent, the rights of conscience in faith
and worship : And while our hearts overflow with gratitude & our
lips set forth the praises of our Great Creator, that we also offer up
our fervent supplications, that -it may please Him to pardon all our
offences, to give wisdom and unanimity to our public councils, to
cement all our citizens in the bonds of affection & to inspire them
with an earnest regard for the national honor and interest ; to enable
them to improve the days of prosperity by every good work, and to be
lovers of peace & tranquillity; that he may be pleased to bless us in
our husbandry, our commerce and Navigation ; to smile upon our
XIX.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 401
seminaries & means of education ; to cause pure religion and virtue
to flourish ; to give peace to all Nations & to fill the world with his.
glory-
Done by the United States in Congress Assembled. Witness his
Excellency Elias Boudinot our President, this eighteenth day of
October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred &
eighty-three, & of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United
States of America the eighth.
ELIAS BOUDINOT.
Cha's. Thomson, Sec'y.
24 November, 1783. A convention of delegates from
some of the towns in the State had recently met to consider
certain grievances, and petition to the General Court for
their redress, after which they adjourned to the last
Tuesday of this month, and a copy of their proceedings
being laid before the town, with a request that they would
appoint delegates to meet with them at their adjourned
meeting, Ensign William Peabody and John Eaton were
appointed delegates for that purpose.
7 September, 1784. Thomas Burns, Joshua Atherton,
Esq., and Maj. Blanchard, were appointed a committee to
settle with Capt. Josiah Munroe (if a reasonable settlement
can be obtained), for a claim he says he has to a sum of
money he paid to John Grout, in consequence of a special
agreement made with him by the town's committee for hir-
ing soldiers, and if a reasonable settlement can not be ob-
tained, to defend the town against any action he may bring
against it.
13 April, 1785. The town of Merrimack having been
served with an extent for one deficient soldier in the Con-
tinental army, which soldier they say was wrongfully cred
ited to Amherst, served a notice upon the selectmen of Am-
herst to show cause, if any they had, why the extent should
not issue against Amherst rather than Merrimack. The town
chose Maj. Blanchard, Mr. Atherton, and Samuel Dana, Esq.,
to be assisted by Mr. Robert Means, their representative, a
26
402 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
committee to show cause why the petition of Merrimack
should not be granted.
28 April, 1785. The town granted fifty dollars to Stephen
Abbot for one year's service in the Continental army.
12 October, 1785. Voted nine pounds to Daniel Kidder for
one year's service in the army, for which he had not been
paid.
BOUNTIES.
Bounties paid soldiers in the war for Independence by
the town of Amherst, which were repaid by the State.
Paid 15 men in Wyman's regiment, £150
22 " Baldwin's " 132
" 27 Continental soldiers, 809, 13s. lOd.
" 55 men in Stark's brigade, 2 mo., 220
" 9 Continental soldiers, beside,
£6, 13s. Id., good money, 215 2s. 9d.
" 12 men in Nichols's reg't, 3 mo., 72
" 9 Continental soldiers, new levies,
6 months, 108
" 5 Continental soldiers, 3 years, 360
" 11 Continental soldiers, 3 years, 1008
4 Sept.
, 1776
5 "
it
7 May,
1777.
19 July,
1777.
11 «*
1779.
21 "
1780.
31 "
1781.
15 "
u
17 '<
1782.
£3206, 16s. 7d.
Bounties, etc, paid by the town that were not re-
paid by the State, or the United States, as reported by the
selectmen 9 September, 1791.
Paid Col. Nichols's regiment, at West Point, £180
An average made in 1777, for soldiers that had served, 480
Soldiers that served in Capt. Walker's Co., Oilman's reg't, 1776, 39
Soldiers in Col. Peabody's regiment, at Rhode Island, 105
Soldiers in Col. Baldwin's regiment, at New York, 1776, 72
10 Continental soldiers, from 1781, 3 years' men, 600
20 soldiers in Capt. Barron's Co., Wyman's reg't, 1776, 200
11 " served at Charlestown, 17S1, 132
. 9 " 1781, new levies, six months' men, 270
U « 1780, " " " " " 330
5 " at Coos. 1780, Capt. Stone's company. 150
XIX.]
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
403
Paid 9 soldiers in Col. Mooney's regiment,
13 " from 1783, 3 years' men,
£108
845
£3511
LIST OF SOLDIERS.
Alphabetical list of soldiers and sailors from Amherst,
in the war for Independence.
Joshua Abbot,
Nathan Abbot,
Nathaniel Abbot,
Peter Abbot,
Stephen Abbot,
James Alld,
Daniel Averill.
David Averill,
Elijah Averill,
John Averill.
Moses Averill,
Xahum Baldwin,
Nahum Baldwin, jr..
Nathaniel Barrett,
Moses Barron,
Jacob Blodgett,
Joshua Blodgett.
Aaron Boutell,
Amos Boutell,
Joseph Boutell, jr.,
Reuben Boutell,
Thomas Boutell,
Richard Boyiiton,
Andrew Bradford,
Enos I'>radford,
John Bradford,
Joseph Bradford,
William Bradford, jr..
Peter Brewer,
Alexander Brown,
William Brown,
David Burnam,
Israel Burnam,
.Jonathan Burnam.
Joshua Burnam,
Robert Campbell.
Ebenezer Carlton,
Enoch Carlton,
John Carlton,
David Chandler,
Primus Chandler.
George Christopher,
Benjamin Clark,
James Clark,
Samuel Clark,
Thomas Clark,
James Cochran,
John Cochran,
Jonathan Cochran,
Robert Cochran,
Henry Codtnan,
John Cole,
John Cole, 2 1.
Nathan Cole,
"William Cook,
Silas Cooledge,
William Cowen.
Alpheus Crosby.
Ezekiel Crosby,
Josiah Crosby,
Josiah Crosby, jr.,
Nathaniel Crosl > y.
Paul Crosby,
Stephen Crosby,
William Crosby,
Silas Cummings,
Robert Cunningham,
Robert Cunningham, jr..
404
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
Ebenezer Curtice,
Isaac Palmer Curtice,
-Jacob Curtice,
Lemuel Curtice,
Stephen Curtice,
Luther Dana,
Charles Davenport,
Benjamin Davis,
Ezekiel Davis,
Joseph Davis,
Benjamin Dike,
Stephen Dike,
John Door,
Jacob Doyen,
John Dutton,
Jonathan Dutton,
Roger Dutton,
-lames Ellhvwood,
Jedidiah Ellinwood,
Joseph Ellinwood,
Amos Elliot,
Andrew Elliot,
John Ellsworth,
John Everden,
Asa Farnum,
John Farnum,
Joseph Farnum,
Stephen Farnum,
John Fields,
David Fiske,
Thaddeus Fitch,
Amos Flint,
Ephraim French,
Laraford Gilbert,
Thomas Giles,
James Gilmore,
Richard Goodman
Allen Goodridge,
Ephraim Goss,
John Abbot Goss,
Peter Goss,
Silas Gould,
Stephen Gould,
Daniel Green,
Francis Grimes,
John Grimes,
John Grout,
Jude Hall,
Henry Handley,
Henry Harris,
Samuel Harris,
Edward Hartshorn,
James Hartshorn, jr.,
John Hartshorn,
Nathaniel Hazeltine,
Joshua Haywood,
William Haywood,
Stephen Hill,
David Hildreth,
William Hogg,
Abiel Holt,
Jabez Holt,
Obadiah Holt,
~ Calvin Honey,
Joel Howe,
Richard Hughes,
""-Caleb Hunt,
Henry Hunt,
Ebenezer Hutchinson,
Nathan Hutchinson,
Solomon Hutchinson,
Joseph Jewett,
Caleb Jones,
William Jones,
Joshua Kendall,
Nathan Kendall, jr.,
Archelaus Kenney,
Daniel Kenney,
Michael Keef,
Daniel Kidder,
Eli Kimball,
Henry Kimball,
Eleazer W. Kingsbury,
Solomon Kittredge,
Zepheniah Kittredge,
William Lakin,
XIX.]
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
405
Jeremiah Lamson,
Jonathan Lamson,
Samuel Lamson,
Joshua Lancaster,
Andrew Leavitt,
Joseph Leavitt,
Asa Lewis,
Joseph Lewis,
Abraham Littlehale.
Francis Love joy,
Hezekiah Love joy,
John Lovejoy,
Joseph Lovejoy,
William Low,
Edward Lyon,
Jonathan Lyon,
Andrew Maclntire,
Daniel McGrath,
James McGraw,
Hugh MacKean,
James MacKean,
John MacKean,
Timothy Martin,
Thompson Maxwell,
Thomas Melendy,
Robert Melory,
David Melvin,
Benjamin Merrill,
Farrar Miller,
John Mills,
John Mitchel,
Josiah Munroe,
Reuben D. Muzzey,
Aaron Nichols,
Joseph Xichols,
Moses Nichols,
Timothy Nichols, jr.,
Ebenezer Odell,
John Odell,
Robert Parker,
William Parker,
Adam Patterson,
John Patterson,
Isaac Peabody,
John Peabody,
Moses Peabody,
Stephen Peabody,
Thomas Peabody,
Joseph Pedrick,
Moses Pearson,
Joseph Perkins, jr..
Joshua Pettingill.
Moses Pettingill.
Samuel Phelps,
Thomas Powell,
-Abel Prince,
David Ramsay,
Ebenezer Ray,
James Ray,
William Read,
Peter Robertson,
Samuel Robertson,
Joseph Rollings,
Alexander Runnels,
Benjamin Sawyer,
Josiah Sawyer,
Nourse Sawyer,
Robert Scammell,
Thomas Scott,
William Shaddock,
Samuel Shepard,
Andrew Shannon,
James Simpson,
Jonathan Small,
William Small, jr.,
Benjamin Smith,
Daniel Smith,
Isaac Smith,
Jacob Stanley,
Samuel Stanley,
Benjamin Stearns,
Isaac Stearns,
John Stearns,
Jotham Stearns,
Samuel Stearns,
Bimsley Stevens,
406
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Thomas Stevens,
Allen Stewart,
John Stewart,
Samuel Stewart,
Simpson Stewart,
William Stewart,
Asa Swinnerton,
John Taggart,
Benjamin Taylor,
Benjamin Taylor, 2d,
John Taylor,
Jonathan Taylor,
Hugh Thornton,
William Talbert,
Archelaus Towne,
Archelaus Towne, jr.,
Bartholomew Towne,
Jonathan Towne,
Richard Towne,
Rufus Trask,
Henry Trivett,
David Truel, jr.,
Benjamin Tuck,
William Tuck,
Nathan Tuttle,
Thomas Underwood,
Aaron Upton,
Eleazer Usher,
Ebenezer Wakefield,
Joseph Wakefield,
SOLDIERS FROM AMHERST WHO DIED IN THE WAR FOR
INDEPENDENCE.
Lt. Joseph Bradford, at Medford, July, 1775.
— Peter Brewer, killed in battle at Saratoga, 7 Oct., 1777.
- — -Primus Chandler, killed by the Indians, May, 1776.
James Clark, at Mount Independence, July, 1776.
Jonathan Cochran, came home sick ; died at home, 21 March, 177*.
Robert Cochran, died of disease, time and place not known.
John Cole, killed in battle at Bunker Hill, 17 June, 1775.
Ezekiel Davis, in central New York, 16 June, 1779.
-Joseph Davis, killed by the Indians in New York, 13 Aug., 1779.
Benjamin Dike, killed in battle at Saratoga, 7 Oct., 1777.
John Door, killed in battle at Saratoga, 7 Oct., 1777.
Peter Wakefield,
William Wakefield,
John Wallace,
Joseph Wallace,
Daniel Warner,
Solomon Washer,
Stephen Washer,
Daniel AVeston,
Isaac Weston,
Sutherick Weston,
Reuben Wheeler,
•John Wiley,
Andrew Wilkins,
Asa Wilkins,
Daniel Wilkins, jr.,
Daniel Wilkins, 3d,
Eli Wilkins,
Jonathan Wilkins,
Robert B. Wilkins,
Sylvester Wilkins,
William Henry Wilkins,
Ebenezer Williams,
Samuel Williams,
George Wilson,
Joseph Wilson,
Lemuel Winchester,
Jesse Woodbury,
Levi Woodbury,
Eben Wincol Wright,
Isaac Wright.
XIX.] THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 407
Richard Goodman, at Yellow Springs, Pa., 27 June, 1778.
— Calvin Honey, place not known, 15 Dec, 1781.
William Jones, at Crown Point, July, 1776.
Jeremiah Lamson, at Fort George, X. Y., Aug., 1776.
Asa Lewis, killed in battle at Bennington, 16 Aug., 1777.
James McGraw, killed in battle at Bunker Hill, 17 June, 1775.
David Ramsey (brought home sick), died 2 Dec, 1775.
Nourse Sawyer, at Crown Point, July, 1776.
William Shaddock, place not known, died 30 June, 1777.
Isaac Stearns, at Crown Point, July, 1776.
Capt. Benjamin Taylor, at Medford, Mass., Feb., 1776.
Capt. Archelaus Towne, at Fishkill, N. Y., Nov., 1779.
Jonathan Towne, at Crown Point, July, 1776.
William Tuck, died of disease, time and place not known.
Aaron Upton, at Worcester, Mass., Dec, 1776.
Daniel Weare, at Crown Point, July, 1776.
Capt. Daniel Wilkins, jr., at Crown Point, July, 1776.
Sylvester Wilkins, at Easton, Pa., 20 Sept., 1779.
William Henry Wilkins, at Yellow Springs, Pa., 22 June, 1778.
Levi Woodbury, a prisoner of war in England ; date not known.
Eben Wincol Wright, at Winter Hill, Nov., 1775.
MEETING OF REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS, AT AMHERST,
4 JULY, 1820.
We find the following account of this meeting in the
Farmers' Cabinet:
" A special session of the Court of Common Pleas was held in this
town, 4 July, 1820, to receive the applications of the surviving officers
and soldiers of the Revolution, for pensions under the law then re-
cently passed hj Congress.
About one hundred and forty of the veterans appeared, some of
them pinched with poverty and worn out with the labors of life;
others were bowed to the earth with age and infirmities, and their
claims to the nation's gratitude seemed to be stamped upon their
wasted forms.
Many who had been companions in camp met, whose faces the fur-
rows left by time had so greatly altered that they did not recognize
one another, and, after their acquaintance was renewed, spent the
time during the session of the court, in rehearsing their adventures
during the times that tried men's souls.
At twelve o'clock they assembled on the common, at the roll of the
drum, and formed a line of about one hundred persons, the one on the
408 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
right ninty-nine years old, marching with the precision of a man
of fifty years.
Capt. Zacchens Wilson, of New Ipswich, acted as commander.
After marching round the common, to the music of the fife and drum,
played by some of their number, they arrived at the residence of Hon.
Clifton Claggett, where they halted, and sent a committee of their
number to request his attendance.
On his appearance Mr. Nathaniel Martin, in behalf of himself and
his fellow-soldiers, thanked the Judge for his efforts in Congress to
secure the. pittance which had filially been awarded to them.
To this address Judge Claggett made an appropriate reply, and con-
cluded by inviting them to partake of some refreshments he had
caused to be prepared for them.
At the conclusion of the repast the veterans retired, the forty-fourth
anniversary of the Declaration of Independence having been to thein
truly a red-letter day."
About seventy of the surviving soldiers of the Revolution
met in this place, 18 Nov., 1825, for the purpose of petition-
ing Congress to grant them some further compensation for
their services in the war of Independence.
Thirty-four Revolutionary soldiers attended the celebra-
tion of the Declaration of Independence at Nashua, 4 July,
1835. Of these, Joseph Crosby, aged 82, Hugh Moore, aged
69, and Ephraim Goss, aged 69, were from Amherst.
Pensions were finally granted to the surviving widows of
Revolutionary soldiers, and the following is a list of the
persons returned in the census of 1840, residing in Am-
herst, who were at that time receiving pensions for services
rendered by themselves or others, in the war of the Rev-
olution, with the age of each :
Mrs. Hannah Bills, 73 years ; for her husband, Ebenezer Bills.
Joseph Crosby, 87.
Benjamin Damon, 79.
David Fisk, 83.
Ephraim Goss, 74.
Mary Howard, 72.
Nathan Kendall, 85.
Mrs. Mary Leavitt, 75 ; for her husband, Joseph Leavitt.
Thomas Melendy, 91.
John Purple, 97.
XX.] FRONTIER WAR, 1794. 409
CHAPTER XX.
FRONTIER WAR, 1794.
ANTICIPATED WAR WITH FRANCE, 1798.
WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 1812.
PROVISION MADE BY CONGRESS FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE COUN-
TRY, 1794. — ACTION OF THE TOWN IN REGARD TO FILLING
THE QUOTA OF SOLDIERS CALLED FOR. A RECRUITING
OFFICE OPENED IN 1798. BOUNTY OFFERED TO VOLUNTEERS.
THE WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 1812-15. SOLDIERS FROM
AMHERST. MILITIA MEN AT PORTSMOUTH, 1814. OFFICERS
OF THE HOME GUARDS, OCTOBER, 1814.
In view of the unsettled state of affairs at home and
abroad, an act was passed by Congress, in April, 1794, pro-
viding for the raising of a regiment of artillery, and for de-
tailing 80,000 men from the militia, in case their services
were required for the defence of the country.
In the warrant for a town meeting, 8 Dec. 1794, is found
the following article:
" Whereas there is a certain number of men requested from the
town of Amherst, to be enlisted and in readiness to march at a mo-
ment's notice, in the defence of their country, if needed. And as the
encouragement given by Congress is thought by some to be insuffi-
cient for the purpose, therefore to see if the town will make any
addition thereto, or grant them such a bounty as may be sufficient for
the purpose."
On this the town voted to make up to the soldiers who
enlisted as minute men, seven dollars per month, with the
pay given by Congress, while they were in actual service,
and two dollars as a bounty, one of which should be paid
410 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
when they enlisted, and the other when they passed mus-
ter.
A probable war with Great Britain, the " whiskey insur-
rection " in western Pennsylvania, and the war then raging
in Ohio with the western Indians, were the causes of these
warlike preparations.
Happily these troubles were all soon adjusted, and the ser-
vices of the volunteers were not called for. No record now
remains of their names.
Volunteers were called for to serve in the anticipated
war with France, in 1798, and the town, at a meeting 26
March of that year, voted to give such soldiers as enlisted,
in this town's quota of eighty thousand men, one dollar
each when they enlisted, and to make up their wages to ten
dollars per month while they were in actual service.
A recruiting office was opened here 15 August, 1798, and
the company enlisted in this and the adjoining towns
formed a part of the sixteenth regiment, of which Rufus
Graves was colonel. The difficulties with France were set-
tled by negotiation, and the services of the volunteers were
not required. The record of their names can not now be
given.
THE WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 1812-1815.
The long series of outrages against the citizens and gov-
ernment of the United States, committed by the agents of the
British government ; the insults to the national flag and the
national ships ; the seizure and impressment of American
citizens into the British navy ; the seizure and condemnation
of American merchant vessels ; the encouragement secretly
or openly given the savage tribes in the west in their at-
tacks upon the settlers on the American frontiers, led to
the enactment of laws, by the Congress of the United States,
for the preservation of the peace between the countries, and
these failing of the desired effect, to the Declaration reluc-
tantly passed by Congress, 18 June, 1812, that "War exists
XX.] WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 1812-1."). 411
between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
and the dependencies thereof, and the United States and
their territories."
The record of the enlistments in the regular army for
the war of 1812 are in the possession of the War Depart-
ment, at Washington, and not accessible to the public. The
names of some who enlisted from Amherst are, however,
remembered.
Capt. Turner Crooker, at that time a resident in this town,
opened a recruiting office on the Plain, 26 Sept., 1812. He
was at that time a captain of the 9th regiment U. S. in-
fantry. After the close of the war he was retained on the
peace establishment, with the brevet rank of major.
John Dodge, jr., enlisted and returned at the close of his
term of service. He afterward removed to Vermont.
John Dutton enlisted and served on the northern fron-
tier.
Samuel Dutton served on the northern frontier.
Timothy Dutton also served on the northern frontier.
He died at French's Mills in 1813.
David Hartshorn served one year on the northern fron-
tier.
Joseph Hartshorn served one year in Vermont and New
York, in the 29th infantry. He is now (1882) living, the
last survivor, so far as known, of the Amherst men who
served in the war of 1812.
Joseph Low was 2d lieutenant in the 1st regiment N. H.
Vols. On the reorganization of the regiment he was ap-
pointed paymaster of the 45th regiment U. S. Vols.
Peter Melendy enlisted in 1813, served a short time in
northern Vermont, as lieutenant in a regiment of infantry.
This commission he resigned, and was shortly after ap-
pointed a lieutenant in the artillery service, and ordered to
Fort Constitution, where he remained until near the time of
his death, 15 May, 1823.
412 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
Jacob Pike had enlisted in 1809, and served through the
war.
John Purple served through the war as a drummer.
Robert Purple, his brother, enlisted and died in the service.
John Stewart, and his son John Stewart, jr., also enlisted.
The latter served as a drummer-boy.
John Warner was sergeant in a company of infantry, and
died at Sackett's Harbor in 1814. He was son of Colonel
Daniel Warner.
Others doubtless enlisted in the regular army, of whom
we have at present no account.
At a meeting, 11 Oct., 1814, the town voted to raise two
hundred dollars to be appropriated for ammunition for the
militia, and other inhabitants of the town of Amherst, and
the selectmen were constituted a committee to purchase the
same.
7 Sept., 1814, detachments from twenty-three regiments
of the state militia were ordered to hold themselves in readi-
ness to march for the defence of Portsmouth, then threat-
ened with an attack from a British fleet, cruising near by,
and on the ninth they were ordered to march. The quota
furnished by the town of Amherst was a part of the regi-
ment commanded by Col. Nat Fisk, of Westmoreland and,
consisted of
Josiah Converse, captain. Daniel Gilman,
Samuel Leonard, "> Jonathan Howard,
Luther Elliott, \ ° Benjamin Jewell, jr.,
Stephen B. French, ) n John M. Kuhn,
1 ' - corporals. . '
Joseph Hartshorn, > Samuel M. Livingston,
David Elliott, Benjamin Peak, jr., privates.
David Fisk, 3d,
They were mustered into service 16 Sept., 1814, and
served three months.
Another detachment of the militia was drafted for the
defence of Portsmouth, which was mustered in, 27 Sept.,
1814, and served sixty days. The following soldiers from
XX.] WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 1812-15. 413
Amherst served in Col. Steel's regiment, in the company
commanded by Capt. James T. Treavitt, of Mont Vernon :
Robert Read, lieutenant. Israel Farnum,
Leonard T. Xichols, ) James H. Grater,
' y sergeants. '
Samuel Stevens, ) Timothy Hartshorn,
John Annis, Mansfield King, privates.
Samuel Converse, jr.,
About fifty citizens of the town, who were exempted from
the performance of military duty, by the militia law, met at
the house of Capt. Theophilus Page, 10 Oct., 1814, and formed
a company of " Home Guards." The officers of this organi-
zation were
Jedediah K. Smith, captain. John Secombe, 2d lieutenant.
Timothy Danforth, 1st lieutenant.
A committee was chosen at this meeting to draft regula-
tions for the government of the company, who reported at
a subsequent meeting, and the company met several times
for drill. The close of the war, shortly after, obviated the
necessity for the continuance of the organization, and the
company was disbanded.
The war was brought to a close by a treaty signed at
Ghent by the representatives of the contending powers, 23
Dec, 1814. Before the news of its conclusion had reached
this country, the battle of New Orleans was fought, 8 Jan.,
1815, where the lesson taught the British regulars, nearly
fifty years before, by the descendants of the Massachusetts
Puritans, and Scotch-Irish settlers, of Londonderry, from
the fort and behind the rail fence, on Bunker Hill, was re-
peated by the Kentucky riflemen from behind the cotton
bales on the field of Chalmette.
414 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES SUBSEQUENT TO THE
ELECTION OP MR. LINCOLN. THE CAPTURE OP FORT SUMTER.
MEETING OF THE CITIZENS OP AMHERST AND ITS PROCEED-
INGS. A SOLDIERS 1 AID AND HOME RELIEF SOCIETY FORMED.
NAMES OF YOUNG MEN WHO FIRST ENLISTED FOR SERVICE.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN. A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO
FURNISH ASSISTANCE TO THE FAMILIES OF SOLDIERS. THE
SELECTMEN DIRECTED TO ASSIST THE FAMILIES OF SOLDIERS.
BOUNTIES OFFERED VOLUNTEERS. — MILITARY EXPENSES
OF THE TOWN DURING THE WAR. PROCEEDINGS IN REGARD
TO BUILDING A SOLDIERS' MONUMENT. INSCRIPTION UPON THE
MONUMENT. NAMES OF SOLDIERS AND SAILORS FROM AM-
HERST WHO WERE ENGAGED IN THE WAR. NAMES OF VETER-
ANS WHO RE-ENLISTED. NAMES OF SUBSTITUTES.
The election of Mr. Lincoln to the presidency was fol-
lowed by the formal secession of several of the Southern
States from the Union, and the withdrawal of their senators
and most of their representatives from the National Con-
gress.
President Buchanan, a state's rights man, "knew
of no power in the General Government to coerce a sov-
ereign State," and took no effectual measures to protect the
national property in the seceding States.
A National Government was formed by the seceded
States in February, 1861, under the name of the " Confed-
erate States of America."
XXL] THE CIVIL WAR. 415
Acting; under the instructions of the Secretary of War
of this government, the surrender of Fort Sumter, a for-
tress of the United States, commanding the entrance to the
city of Charleston, South Carolina, was demanded of the
officer in command. Compliance with the demand being
refused, an armed force of South Carolinians fired upon the
fort, and, after a short siege, captured it.
The power of the General Government being thus defied,
its flag insulted, and its property taken by force, President
Lincoln called for a force of 75,000 volunteers to aid in
putting down the rebellion and enforcing the laws of the
Union. Under these circumstances a public meeting of the
citizens of the town was held, 22 April, 1861, to express
their sentiments in regard to the events then transpiring in
the country.
Barnabas B. David was called to the chair, and upon
taking it announced the object of the meeting, and pledged
his all in support of the national cause.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. J. G. Davis.
Remarks and patriotic speeches were then made by sev-
eral prominent citizens of the town, and resolutions, pledg-
ing the lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, of those present to
the support of the cause of the country, were adopted.
A Finance Committee was appointed, to secure and dis-
burse contributions for the support of the families of those
who volunteered to fight the battles of the country, and it
was voted to raise the pay of the volunteers from Amherst
to eighteen dollars per month, and furnish each one with a
Colt's revolver.
Fourteen young men came forward and offered their ser-
vices as soldiers.
A Home Guard was formed, which met for some time
for the purpose of drill.
The Amherst Soldiers' Aid and Home Relief Society was
organized in 1861, and closed its work in November, 1865.
During its existence, money to the amount of $817.90 had
416 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
been collected for the use of the society, and articles distrib-
uted to the amount of $1,286.35, the excess being in labor,
wearing apparel, and other articles contributed.
Names of soldiers who were furnished with revolvers :
Jesse Barret. George W. George, Henry S.Ober,
Taylor W. Blunt, George P. Griswold, Daniel A. Peabody,
Rodney Burdick, Newton T. Hartshorn, Charles H. Phelps,
Frank Chickering, Henry II. Manning, George W. Russell,
James B. David, Reuel G. Manning, William W. Sawtelle,
John M. Fox, Alfred L. Meore, George Vose.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN.
1 June, 1861.
" Voted to raise a sum of money not exceeding f'2,000, and author-
ized the selectmen to borrow such portion thereof as might be thought
necessary, and give the note of the town for the repayment of the
same, said money to be placed at the disposal of a committee appoint-
ed at a citizens' meeting, which committee was required to furnish
necessary assistance to the families of any men who had enlisted
from this town, for a longer period than three months, or to the fami-
lies of such person or persons as may hereafter enlist from this town
during their services as soldiers to sustain the Government and laws
of our country."
The committee consisted of Perley Dodge, Charles H.
Campbell, Edward D. Boylston, Charles Richardson, and
Francis P. Fitch.
10 October, 1861. The committee presented a report of
their proceedings, which was accepted by the town, and,
after paying the balance remaining in their hands into the
town treasury, they were discharged from further service.
Their receipts, as reported, have been $992.21, of which
#92.21 was received from the State.
They had expended, in aid of the soldiers' families, '173.00
Paid the soldiers' extra pay voted, 397.72
Paid for revolvers for 18 volunteers, and incidentals, 240.90
•1711.62
XXI.] THE CIVIL WAK. 417
At this meeting the town
" Voted unanimously to re-affirm and sanction the vote passed at its
last meeting to compensate soldiers enlisted by the state, or who might
so enlist to serve in the army of the United States, and to provide
for the families of said soldiei's, and raise money therefor as author-
ized by the act relating to that subject approved 4 July, 1861.
" Voted to continue to assist the families of such soldiers, to the
amount to be repaid by the State, as provided in the act aforesaid, and
in case of sickness or other casualties happening in such families, the
selectmen are empowered and directed to render them such further
aid as in their judgment they may require."
" Voted, that the selectmen be a committee to transact all future
business in relation to the soldiers and their families, in accordance
with the law passed at the last session of the legislature."
11 March, 1862. The selectmen reported that they had
received $447.43, which they had paid out:
For extra pay and service of one volunteer, $18.00
Paid families of volunteers, agreeably to act of 4 July, 1861, 414.00
And they had charged for their services and expenses, 15.45
which amount the State, according to the provisions of the
act passed 4 July, 1861, is obliged to refund to the town.
12 August, 1862.
" Voted unanimously to pay a bounty of $150 each to those persons,
residents of Amherst prior to the passage of this vote, who have
already enlisted, or may hereafter enlist, in this town, under the call
of the President for 300,000 more men to serve three years, or during
the war, provided they enlist as a part of the quota of this town on
or before the expiration of the time allowed by the Government be-
fore drafting, and said bounty shall be paid by the selectmen of said
town as soon as said pei*sons are mustered into the service of the United
States ; and the said selectmen are hereby authorized to borrow such
sum or sums of money as may be necessary for that purpose, and bind
the town by note, or otherwise, for the payment of the same."
20 August, 1862. 181 persons, between the ages of 18
and 45 years, were enrolled in town, of whom 46 were ex-
empted from the draft for various causes ; of the remainder,
17 had enlisted into the army.
23 August, 1862.
•' Voted to pay $153 bounty to each person, resident in Amherst,
who enlisted and was mustered into the service of the United States
27
418 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
to fill the quota of the town under a call for 330,030 nine-months'
men, and that aid be extended to their families in the same manner
it is done to the families of those who have volunteered for three
years."
27 August, 1862.
" Voted that every person recently enlisted be authorized to serve as
a recruiting officer, and that they receive the usual fee rendered for
such service, the same to be paid by the town." '
27 August, 1862. Charles H. Campbell and Horace A.
Clark wore appointed a committee to invite Col. George
Bowers and Col. A. F. Stevens to address the citizens at the
next meeting (29th), and if their services could not be ob-
tained the committee were authorized to procure other
speakers.
29 August, 1862. Capt. Hapgood and Messrs. Bruce and
Harden addressed the citizens and received the thanks of
the meeting.
1 September, 1863.
"Voted to pay as bounty to the militia of this town, who may be
drafted into the service of the United States, the sum of §30j each,
or the same to the substitutes of such drafted men, agreeably to the
act of the legislature approved lJ July, 18U3, and authorized the
selectmen to procure the money necessary for that purpose by borrow-
ing, their signatures to notes for the same to be binding upon the
town."
At a meeting held 1 December, 186-3, the proceedings of
the selectmen, in tilling the town's quota of the last call for
300,000 men, were approved, and they were authorized to
complete the quota in such a manner as in their opinion
would be most advantageous to the town, and hire money
on the credit of the town to pay the necessary expenses.
29 June, 1864, the town voted to pay veteran soldiers, who
had re-enlisted and had assigned themselves to this town as a
part of its quota, the sum of $100 each.
William A. Mack was chosen a committee to put in vol-
unteers to till the quota of this town to answer the next
..draft, "without any regard to price whatever," and the
XXL] THE CIVIL WAR. 419
selectmen were authorized to raise the sum of $6,000 to
defray expenses.
27 August, 1864, the town voted to pay those men who
enlisted for one year as a part of the quota of this town,
the sum of $300 ; to those who enlisted for two years, the
sum of $400 ; and to those who enlisted for three years, the
sum of $500 each (in addition to the State and National
bounties offered), and voted to raise $10,0C0 to pay their
bounties.
20 December, 1864, voted to refund to those who have
furnished substitutes the amount exceeding $200 they have
paid for that purpose ; voted also to pay $300, and advance
the State bounty to all who shall put in substitutes to fill
the town's quota under the call for 500,000 men ; and Wil-
liam A. Mack was appointed to act as agent for the town
in filling its quota.
Military expenses of the town during the civil war, as
reported by the selectmen :
Prior to March, 1862, $1,263.05
From March, 1662, to March, 1S63, . . . 12,( 9,1.72
1^63, " " 1864, . . . 13.5 5.50
1834, " " 1865, . . . 21,866.20
" 1865, " " 1886, . . . 1,362.23
$5,),0S7.70
A large portion of the above was repaid by the State and
United States.
10 March, 1868, the selectmen were authorized to expend
a sum not exceeding $500 in building a soldiers' monu-
ment.
30 May, 1869, the selectmen appointed H'rrison Eaton
a committee on the construction of a soldiers' monument.
9 August, 1870, J. Byron Fay, Edward D. Boylston, and
Charles Richardson, were appointed a committee to ascer-
tain the cost of a suitable monument to commemorate the
soldiers from Amherst who lost their lives in the civil war.
420 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Atan adjourned meeting - , held 6 September, 1870, the com-
mittee reported in favor of erecting a monument similar to
the one recently erected in Peterborough, the cost of which
they estimated at $4,000. The report was accepted, but ac-
tion upon its recommendation was postponed until the next
annual meeting.
14 March, 1871, Harrison Eaton, J. Byron Fay, and John
P. Whiting, were appointed a committee to locate and erect
a soldiers' monument, and the style or character of the
monument, and the time of erecting it, was left to their dis-
cretion.
It was voted to appropriate the sum of #3,000, in addition
to the sum left by the late Aaron Lawrence, Est]., toward
its erection.
The granite base of the soldiers' monument on the Plain
was quarried from a bowlder found on land owned by Levi
J. Secomb, Esq. The bronze figure of a soldier was placed
upon it December, 1871.
At the same time the bronze tablet, bearing the follow-
ing inscription, was inserted:
IX HONOR OF
OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.
1861-1865.
William W. Sawtelle, 2d Reg't James Blanchard, 10th Reg't.
James W. Patterson, " " Samuel Corliss, " "
Fifield II. Messer, " " George B. Sloan, " "
Henry S. Ober, 4th " Eli S. Gntterson, "
Thomas L. Gilpatrick, " " Robert Gray, " "
Charles H. Phelps, 5th " George A. McCluer, " "
Edward Vose, , " « George A. Pedrick, " "
John L. Kendall, " " John N. Mace, " "
Charles A. Damon, " " Charles S. Parkhurst, " "
William Few, 7th " Lyman B. Sawtelle, " "
Edwin Benden, 8th " Martin P. Weston, 1st Reg't
Joseph F. Johnson, " " N". H. Heavy Artillery.
Albert Xoyes, " " Frank H. Holt, 47th Penn.
Charles A. B. Hall, 9th "
XXI.]
AMHERST MEN IN THE CIVIL WAR.
421
ERECTED 1871
BY THE TOWN OF AMHERST,
ASSISTED BY A LEGACY
FKOM
AARON LAWRENCE, ESQ.
A meeting was held 31 May, 1872, " to see if the town
would vote to dedicate the Soldiers' Monument," but the ar-
ticle in the warrant for that purpose was dismissed, 47 to
42. At another meeting, held 17 June, 1872, the town
voted "to dedicate the Soldiers' Monument," but no steps
have been taken to carry the vote into effect, and the monu-
ment has never been formallv dedicated.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS PROM AMHERST IN THE CIVIL WAR.
1861-1865.
Three-months' men that went to Portsmouth in Capt.
Gillis's Company, April, 1861.
Jesse Barrett,
Taylor W. Blunt,
Bodnev W. Burdick,
Joseph F. Cady,
Frank Chickering,
James B. David.
422
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Julia M. Fox,
George W. George,
George P. Griswold,
Reuel G. Manning,
Alfred L. Moore,
George W. Russell,
William W. Sawtelle.
Of the above those who declined to enlist for three years
returned home 13 July, 1861, having received a discharge.
THREE YEARS MEN.
SECOND REGIMENT.
John M. Fox,
Fifield II. Messer,
William W. Sawtelle.
THIRD REGIMENT.
Rodney W. Burdick,
George W. Parkhurst,
James Ryan.
FOURTH REGIMENT.
Charles F. Crooker,
Albert Fletcher,
Thomas L. Gilpatrick,
John G. Lovejoy,
Henry H. Maiming,
Samuel H. Ober,
George W. Osgood,
William D. Stearns,
George H. Upton.
FIFTH REGIMENT.
John Boodro,
James B. David,
Edson Davis,
Charles A. Damon,
Joseph B. Fay,
George W. George,
Charles E. Hapgood,
John L. Kendall,
Henry A. Nichols,
Daniel A. Peabody,
Charles H. Phelps,
Lyman B. Sawtelle,
Edward Vose,
George Vose,
Frederick A. Wilson.
SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Josiah Colburu.
EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Jesse Barrett,
Edwin Bend n,
.lames L. Hardy,
Joseph A. Johnson,
Albert Noyes.
NINTH REGIMENT.
Robert E. Benien,
Charles A. Hale,
Bartholomew Ryan.
TENTH REGIMENT.
George F. Aiken,
Albert S. Austin,
James Blanchard,
Thomas Broderick,
Joseph A. Brown,
Lawrence Cooley,
Samuel W. Corliss,
George F. Crooker,
Jeremiah Crowley,
Thomas Doyle,
Robert Gray,
Eli S. Gutterson,
Charles F. Hall,
Robert Harrison,
George E. Heath,
Peter Levin,
George A. McClure,
John X. Mace,
XXL]
AMHERST MEN IN THE CIVIL WAR.
423
Thomas O'Connell,
Charles X. Parkhiirst,
James W. Patterson,
George A. Pedrick,
John D. Pedrick,
James A. Philbrick,
George W. Russell,
John Shea,
Joshua A. Skinner,
James R. Stearns,
George B. Sloan,
Horace Lawrence,
Charles C. Twiss.
HEAVY ARTILLERY.
Albert E. Boutell,
Charles E. Flint,
Edwin R. Roundy,
William F. Russell,
Charles II. Shepard,
Nathan T. Taylor,
William E. Wallace,
Martin P. Weston.
N. H. BATTERY.
Edmund E. Bullard,
Richard Mahar,
Bryant H. Melendy.
SHARPSHOOTERS.
Charles Upton.
IN MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENTS.
Charles Hastings,
Joseph Petteugill,
Warren S. Russell.
26th NEW YOKE REGIMENT.
Michael Welsh.
4th PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.
Frank H. Holt.
U. S. ENGINEERS.
Newton T. Hartshorn.
U. S. NAVY.
John H. Clark,
Henry A. Fletcher,
Charles Champuey,
Nelson D. Gould,
Patrick Moran,
George N. Wheeler.
RE-ENLISTED AFTER THREE YEARS'
SERVICE.
Edward E. Ben den,
Rodney W. Burdick,
John G. Love joy,
Albert Noyes,
James Kyan,
George H. Upton,
George W. Upton.
POST BAND AT HILTON HEAD.
Warren S. Russell,
David F. Thompson.
The following citizens of Amherst furnished substitutes:
Hollis E. Abbott,
Noah P. Batchelder,
Henry R. Boutell,
James C. Boutell,
Luther Coggin, jr.,
Perley W. Dodge,
John Fletcher,
Butler P. Flint,
Charles E. Grater,
John Hadlock,
Joseph F. Hanson,
Reuben W. Ilarradon,
Frank Hartshorn,
A>a Jaquith, jr.,
El enezer Jaquith,
Andrew L. Kidder,
Charles II. Kinson,
Stephen McCaffey,
William Melendy,
George W. Parker,
424
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
Henry M. Parker,
James S. Parkhurst,
Solomon Prince,
Albert A. Rotch,
George J. Savage,
Andrew F. Sawyer,
Chester Shipley,
Names of substitutes, so far as ascertained :
Daniel C. Shirley,
Daniel W. Trow,
Joseph P. Trow,
George W. Upham,
John F. Whiting,
Samuel Wilkins.
Charles Baursturn,
Pierre Boyleau,
William Brown,
John Caten,
Ira Clark,
George Farley,
John Fox,
George Fray,
Charles Groht,
John Harris,
Benjamin F. Hinds,
Edward Hogan,
Thomas Jones,
Alexander Miller,
Hiram F. Morton,
James O'Brien,
Daniel O'Neill,
Christian Peterson,
Charles A. Rogers,
Owen L. Rouse,
Edward RupeJ,
William Thompson,
Louis Walter,
Joseph Wright.
Of the above substitutes, nine are reported as having de-
serted, one was killed at Cold Harbor, and two were
wounded.
XXII. ] THE MILITIA. 425
CIIAPTEK XXII.
THE MILITIA.
COMPANY TRAININGS AND REGIMENTAL MUSTERS. THE FIFTH
REGIMENT, 1792. FORMATION OF THE ARTILLERY AND CAV-
ALRY COMPANIES. COMPANY TRAININGS IN AMHERST, SEPT.
1807. — REPORTS OF REGIMENTAL MUSTERS FROM THE "CABI-
NET." MAJOR DUDLEY. MILITIA COMPANIES IN AMHERST.
THE LAFAYETTE RIFLEMEN, AND THEIR COMMISSIONED OFFI-
CERS. — CAPTAINS OF THE AMHERST MILITIA PRIOR TO 1786.
CAPTAINS OF " OLD EAST" SINCE 1786. CAPTAINS OF THE
" WEST" COMPANY. CAPTAINS OF THE SECOND PARISH COM-
PANY, 1783-1804. OFFICERS OF the south-west par-
ish COMPANY, SEPT. 1787. FIRST OFFICERS OF THE ARTIL-
LERY COMPANY. AMHERST MEN WHO HAVE COMMANDED THE
COMPANY. COPY OF LIEUTENANT JOSEPH PRINCE'S COMMIS-
SION, 1743.
A well-disciplined militia being deemed to be the natural
and sure defense of the state, laws were enacted at an early
date, providing- for the instruction of the citizens in the
school of the soldier. All liable to do military duty were
called out twice a year for company training, and once a
year the companies were called together for inspection and
review, as parts of the regiment.
These annual gatherings of the defenders of the state were attended
by a crowd of spectators who were exempted from the operations of
the militia law. Veterans who met to relate their exploits on former
muster-fields, or, perchance, on the fields of deadly strife ; boys, look-
ing forward to the time when they would be called upon to take part
in the all-important proceedings of muster-day ; women and children ;
423 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
peddlers of all sorts of merchandise ; showmen and venders of eata-
bles and drinkables, all were there, and their voices mingled with the
roll of drums and the piercing- notes of fifes made a scene of confu-
sion and uproar rivalling Babel of old.
Not unfrequently the jolly god got the better of the doughty heroes
of the field. " We had a glorious muster, a first rate one," said one of
them, on his return from the field, " and t judge they will have another
to-morrow, as L saw a number of soldiers lying on their arms when I
left the field."
Amherst being centrally situated, and for a long time the
largest town in the regiment, was often selected as the place
of these annual gatherings. Paraded on the common, with
the cavalry near the court-house, then the artillery and rifle-
men, the uniformed light-infantry companies, the Milford
red coats, and the ununiformed infantry companies from the
various towns included in the regiment, the old "Fifth"
formed a line extending nearly to Judge Claggett's house,
and presented an imposing appearance.
In the office of the Secretary of the State, at Concord, is the following
return, made in November, 1792, of the number of officers and men at
that time included in the regiment. Military service was then re-
quired of " all free and able-bodied males between the ages of sixteen
and forty years."
Company 1. Dunstable.
2. Amherst, 2d parish.
3. Nottingham West, 1st Co.
4. Merrimack, 1st Co.
5. Hollis, 1st Co.
6. Amherst, East Co.
7. Litchfield.
8. Hollis, 2d Co.
9. Amherst, West Co.
10. Nottingham West, 2d Co.
11. Raby.
12. Merrimack, 2d Co.
13. Amherst, 3d parish & Mile Slip
Privates.
Officers.
Totals.
71
14
85
CO
16
66
56
13
69
65
3
68
60
16
76
58
16
74
44
11
55
60
16
76
56
16
72
60
15
75
38
9
47
48
10
58
56
15
71
722
170
892
Totals, 13 companies,
of which Amherst and the Mile Slip contributed 220 privates and 63
officers; total, 283.
XXII.] THE MILITIA. 427
In 1794 an artillery company was organized in the regi-
ment, of which Luther Dana, of Amherst, was elected cap-
tain. A brass field-piece, one of the trophies of the battle
of Bennington, was procured for its use, which was after-
ward transferred to the artillery company in the Ninth
regiment, and used many years by the New Boston artillery.
On the centennial anniversary of the battle, the old gun,
which has been christened " Molly Stark," was fired one
hundred times in honor of Stark's victory.
Prior to 1795 a company of cavalry was organized in the
regiment. At the muster, in 1806, the regiment consisted
of one company of cavalry, one of artillery, and twelve of
infantry. It was inspected and reviewed at Amherst by
Brig -Gen. Benjamin Pierce and staff.
The following account of the fall training, in 1807, has
been preserved:
" Capt. Campbell's company (old East) met at Kendall's store at
nine o'clock in the morning, and, after exercising some time, marched
to the plain, where they performed the usual maneuvers. At one
o'clock they repaired to Mr. Ball's and took dinner. Capt. Means's
company (West company) met at one o'clock. At two o'clock the
two companies marched together on the plain. At three o'clock they
were joined by the Mont Vernon company, commanded by Capt.
Thad. Kendall, and the marching and drill of the companies was kept
up until night. The detachment was under the command of Capt.
Campbell, the senior captain, who was mounted.
In 1814 the regiment mustered at Dunstable, where it was inspected
and reviewed by Gen. Steele and staff. In the morning a draft was
made to fill the last quota called for by the governor to serve at Ports-
mouth. The drafted men were dismissed with orders to appear at
Goffstown the next day, where they were to be joined by the drafted
men from the other regiments in the brigade, and the whole were
to march in a body to Portsmouth.
The 5th regiment, commanded by Col. Greely, and the 22d, com-
manded by Col. Steele, mustered in Amherst 18 Sept., 1818, and were
reviewed by Brig. Gen. Gay and suite. The weather was very favora-
ble, and the appearance of the troops has seldom been surpassed.
The 5th regiment mustered in Amherst 12 Sept., 1821. At this
muster the Dunstable cadets and Milford light-infantry gained great
428 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chcp.
aid merited applause by their soldier-like appearance and the ease
"\\ ith which they performed various evolutions, new to most of the
spectators.
About this time Maj. Dudley, late of the U. S. Army,
visited Amherst and some of the neighboring towns, and
gave instructions in military tactics to elasses of young
men, which produced a manifest improvement in the appear-
ance of the militia companies of which they were members.
The regiment mustered at Amherst 1*2 Sept., 1834, and the " Cabi-
net" remarked that "the general appearance of the troops was
creditable to the officers and soldiers, but an unusual assemblage of
peddlers, loafers, rum-drinkers, and gamblers, was present, whose ill-
conduct was a disgrace to the place, and to all concerned in it."
A revival of the military spirit took place shortly after this time,
and at the muster in Amherst, 26 Sept., 18)7, three new uniformed
companies from Xashua, and one from Hudson, appeared on the field,
and "the regiment never appeared to better advantage."
His excellency, Gov. Hubbard, and staff, reviewed the regiment at
Nashua, 27 Sept., 1842. The weather was all that coidd be desired,
the troops appeared finely, and the whole affair passed off very much
to the satisfaction of all concerned.
The 5th, 9th, and 22d regiments mustered at Amherst, 27 Sept.,
1850. The appearance of the troops was creditable, but the attending
scenes were discreditable. Blacklegs and rowdies abounded, and the
troops were called upon in one instance to suppress a riot. Mr. Boyl-
ston remarked, " on the whole the muster was a singular compound
of mud, militia, music, and misery."
The old militia system, with its trainings, musters, and
carousals, was abandoned soon after, and the state still lives
without its protection.
Prom 1787 to 1794 the militia of Amherst was divided
into four companies ; one in the north-west parish, one in
the south-west parish, and two, the " East" and the " West,"
in the first parish. After the incorporation of Milford and
Mont Vernon, the "East" and "West" companies alone
remained in Amherst. On the formation of the Lafayette
rifle company, in 1825, the "West" company was disbanded,
leaving "Old East" the only infantry company in town.
XXII.] THE MILITIA. 429
The Lafayette rifle company was organized in January,
1825, and was well sustained for nearly thirty years. It
was one of the companies called out to perform escort duty,
at the time of President Jackson's visit to Concord, in 1833,
and the exploits of some of the members at that time, as
related by the "survivors," were marvelous indeed. Its
commissioned officers were
Charles Richardson, captain, 14 Jan., 1825 ; resigned 22 April, 1828.
Benj. F. Aiken, lieutenant, 24 Jan., 1825 ; resigned 24 Jan., 1827.
Charles G. Atherton, ensign, 14 Jan. 1825, lieutenant, 26 Jan., 1827,
captain, 28 April, 1828 ; resigned 24 Jan., 1829.
Samuel B. Melendy, ensign, 26 Jan., 1827, lieutenant, 28 Jan., 1828;
resigned 30 March, 1829.
Abraham Holmes, captain, ."50 March, 1829 ; resigned 26 June, 1830.
Ammial Xoyes, ensign, 28 April, 1828; resigned 30 March, 1829.
Alexander H. Converse, lieutenant, 30 March, 1829, captain, 25 Aug.,
1830; resigned 21 April, 1834.
George W. Fletcher, ensign, 30 March, 1829, lieutenant, 25 Aug.,
1830, captain, 21 April, 1831 ; resigned 13 April, 18:].").
Isaac T. Parker, ensign, 25 Aug., 1830 ; resigned 23 April, 1832.
Charles P. Danforth, ensign, 27 April, 1832; resigned 3 August,
1833.
Levi J. Secombe, lieutenant, 21 April, 1834, captain, 13 April, 1835 ;
resigned 13 April, 1838.
Luther Towne, ensign, 21 April, 1834, lieutenant, 14 April, 1835;
resigned 13 April, 1838.
Sewall G. Mack, ensign, 14 April, 1835, captain, 13 April, 1838;
resigned 6 Feb., 1839.
Levi Curtis, lieutenant, 13 April, 1838, captain, 6 Feb., 1839; re-
signed 30 Dec, 1841.
Flbridge Hardy, ensign, 13 April, 1838, lieutenant, 6 Feb., 1839; re-
signed 30 Dec, 1841.
Israel Fuller, jr., ensign, 6 Feb., 1839, captain, 30 Dec, 1841 ; re-
signed 11 April, 1843.
Peter Carlton, lieutenant, 30 Dec, 1841, captain, 11 April, 1843 ; re-
signed 30 March, 1844.
Isaac P. Weston, ensign, 30 April, 1842, lieutenant, 11 April, 1843,
captain, 30 March, 1844 ; resigned 26 March, 1846.
Benjamin B. Whiting, ensign, 11 April, 1843, lieutenant, 30 March,
1844, captain, 26 March, 1846.
430
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Miles Love joy, ensign, 30 March, 1844, lieutenant, 26 March, 1846;
resigned 10 May, 1847.
John Putnam, ensign, 26 March, 1846.
Captains of the militia companies of Amherst, prior to 1786, so far
as can be ascertained :
Joseph Prince, lieut. command'g
John Bradford,
Ephraim Hildreth,
Nathan Kendall,
Ilezekiah Lovejoy,
William Peabody,
Robert Read,
John Shepard,
Archelaus Towne,
Israel Towne, jr.
6th Company, 5th Regiment.
Captains of Amherst " East" Company, since 1786, with date of
commission :
Elijah Mansur.
David Fisk, 3d.
Luther Melendy.
Charles Melendy.
Robert G. Shepard.
Ebenezer T. Duncklee.
Thomas M. Ilarvell.
Charles H. Campbell.
Joseph F. Crosby.
9th Company, 5Tn Regiment.
Captains of Amherst " West " company
1786 Samuel Shepard.
1793 William Stewart.
1797 Ebenezer Wakefield. 1815
1799 Nathaniel Emerson. 1817
1801 Thomas Whiting. 1821
1 02 Theophilus Page. 1824
1806 David McG. Means.
1783
Moses Barron.
1821
1793
Jeremiah Hobson.
1824
1795
William Fisk.
1828
1797
Joseph Nichols.
1829
18)1
John Harvell.
1834
Philip Eaton.
1838
1805
Daniel Campbell, jr.
1844
180S
Josiah Converse.
1846
1815
Benjamin P. Brown.
1818
1818
James Bell, lieut. com'd'g.
Amos Elliott.
Edmund Parker.
Robert Bead.
Thomas Wilkins.
Daniel Hartshorn.
Charles Richardson.
The company was disbanded in January, 1825.
2d Company, 5th Regiment.
Captains of the " North-west Parish company," from 17S6 to the
incorporation of Mont Vernon, 1803.
1783 William Bradford, jr,
1793 Moses Kimball.
1799 John BatcheMer.
1803 Benjamin Parker.
XXIL] THE MILITIA. 431
13th Company, 5th Regiment.
The company in the south-west parish included the militia in the
south-west parish and those in "Duxbury" and the "Mile Slip." It
was organized in the autumn of 1787, and the following officers weie
commissioned, 11 Sept., of that year:
Joshua Burnham, captain. James Gilmore, 2d lieutenant.
Benjamin Lewis, 1st lieutenant. Joshua Mooar, ensign.
Capt. Burnham continued in command of the company until after
the incorporation of Milford, in 1791.
The artillery company in the fifth regiment was organized early in
the summer of 1791. The following officers were commissioned 13
June, of that year :
Luther Dana, of Amherst, captain.
Benjamin Pool, of Hollis, 1st lieutenant.
Augustus Lund, of Dunstable, '2d lieutenant.
Other citizens of Amherst who commanded the company were
1807 John Secombe. 1816 James Shepard.
1810 Peter Patterson.
The cavalry company was organized about 1791, and Joseph Per-
kins, jr., of Amherst, was commissioned as captain, 30 Dec, of that
year.
Lt. Joseph Prince was probably the first commander of
the militia in Amherst. His commission, now in the hands
of one of his descendants, is as follows :
Benning Wentworth, Esq., Capt.-Gen.
Province of > and Governor-in-Chief in and over His
Xew Hampshire. \ Majesty's Province of Xew Hampshire,
in Xew England, &c.
To Joseph Prince, Gentleman, Greeting:
By virtue of the Power and Authority in and by His Majesty's
Boyal Commission to Me granted, to be Captain-General, &c, over this
His Majesty's Province of New Hampshire, aforesaid, I do (by these
Presents), reposing esjDecial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty,
Courage, and good Conduct, constitute and appoint You, the said
Joseph Prince, to be Lieutenant of the Seventh Company in the Sixth
Regiment of Militia in the Province aforesaid, whereof Joseph Blan-
chard, Esq., is Colonel.
You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of
a lieutenant commanding, ordering, and exercising (the men under
432 history op amiierst. [Chap.
your command) in arms, (as Infantry) Soldiers, and to keep them in
good Order and Discipline ; hereby commanding them to obey you as
their Lieutenant, — and yourself to observe and follow such Orders
and Instructions as you shall from time to time receive from Me, or
the Commander-in-Chief for the Time being, or other of your Supe-
rior Officers for His Majesty's Service, according to Military Rules and
Discipline pursuant to the Trust reposed in you.
Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms,
at Portsmouth, the 2d Day of December,
L. S. in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of
His Majesty, King George the Second,
Anno Domhu, 1743.
By His Excellency's
Command, B. WENTWORTH.
THEODORE ATKINSON, Secretary.
XXIII.] BRIDGES ACROSS THE SOUHEGAN. 433
CHAPTER XXIII.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
BRIDGES ACROSS THE SOUHEGAN. THE SMALL-POX. DEALINGS
WITH THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS. — VOTES IN RELATION TO CROWS
AND FISH. BURYING-GROUNDS AND TOMBS. ACCIDENTAL
DEATHS. BELLS AND CLOCKS. THE POST-OFFICE. TELE-
GRAPH AND TELEPHONE. NEWSPAPERS. BANKS. SECOND
NEW HAMPSHIRE TURNPIKE. — PIONEER BRICK-MAKERS. CARD
MANUFACTORY. THE WHIP BUSINESS. AMHERST SOCIAL
LIBRARY. THE "FRANKLIN SOCIETY." THE " HANDELLIAN
SOCIETY." FREE MASONRY. SOUHEGAN GRANGE. UNITED
ORDER OF THE GOLDEN CROSS. FIRE RECORD. HUNTERS' EX-
PLOITS. COLLEGE GRADUATES FROM AMHERST. ATTORNEYS
AND PHYSICIANS. WITCH STORIES. " CABINET " CLIPPINGS.
LOCAL NAMES.
BRIDGES ACROSS THE SOUHEGAN.
9 March, 1761, the town voted =£50, old tenor, to repair
the bridge across the Souhegan, near Capt. Ebenezer
Parker's place, in Merrimack.
15 April, 1768, they voted that in future they would
maintain one half of each of the three bridges crossing the
Souhegan, and divided the town into three districts, each
district to take care of the town's proportion of one of the
bridges.
At a meeting held 17 June, 1709, Samuel Wilkins, Rob-
ert Means, and Jacob Taylor, a committee appointed to
view the road from Kendrick's bridge to his house, reported
that it would be very expensive to wharf against the river
28
434 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
so as to make it sure and safe passing where the road now
runs, and considering that the bridge would have to be re-
built soon, they suggested the propriety of examining the
ground at a point some twenty or twenty-five rods west of
the present bridge, where they thought a dry and safe road
might be had at all seasons of the year, with a view of
changing the direction of the road to that place, and build-
ing the new bridge on that site.
After hearing the report, the town voted to continue the
travel on the road, as now built, for the present, and directed
the selectmen to examine the ground, and, if they thought
it advisable, to lay out a new road on the route indicated by
the committee.
16 November, 1801, David Danforth, Lieutenant Timothy Nichols,
and Mr. Jesse Stevens, were appointed a committee to inspect the
Kendrick bridge, which they were directed to proceed to rebuild as
soon as they thought it bast to do so. The sum of three hundred dol-
lars was appropriated at this meeting- to defray the expense of rebuild-
ing the bridge.
4 November, 1810, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars was
voted to defray the expense of repairing the Kendrick bridge.
3 September, 1825, the sum of three hundred dollars was appropri-
ated toward paying the expense of rebuilding the Kendrick bridge.
23 January, 1826, the selectmen were appointed a committee to super-
intend the erection of a new bridge near Maj. Joseph Fletcher's.
At the same meeting the selectmen were appointed agents for the
town to defend the suit brought against it by Henry Clark, on account
of the failure of the bridge near Mr. John Mack's, and at a meeting
held 4 March, 1S26, they were directed to prosecute the appeal claimed
in said action, at the last term of the Court of Common Pleas, and
cause the same to be tried in the Superior Court.
A cause for the failure of the bridge may be inferred from the fol-
lowing item, taken from the Cabinet of 23 Dec, 1830. Loads of a
similar character were, and had for some time been, quite common :
" Henry Clark, of New Boston, drew a load from Boston to Amherst,
this week, with five horses, weighing, including carriage, six tons and
four hundred pounds."
The average weight of his horses was 1049 pounds.
7 November, 18J6, a committee was appointed to inquire into the
expedienc} r of building a new bridge across Souhegan river, near Capt.
XXIIL] BRIDGES ACROSS THE SOUHEGAN. 435
Daniel Fletcher's. They were directed to ascertain the probable ex-
pense of building a stone bridge; also the expense of a wooden
bridge ; the nature of the ground on which the bridge was to be built ;
the width of the stream ; and other particulars necessary to give the
town a right understanding of the subject, and report at the next
meeting. 5 December. 1S3G, another committee was appointed, who
were directed to ascertain, as near as possible, the cost of a stone
bridge ; a wooden bridge ; or a chain bridge. On the 2 ith of the same
month the committee reported that a good stone bridge conld be built
for $53500, provided the town would find stone and gravel. A good
wooden bridge they estimated might be built for $1500. They had
not been able to get much information as to the cost of a chain bridge,
but were of opinion that it would be inexpedient to erect one. A
bridge like the one then in use could be built for $800. Having made
all the* inquiries in their power, in regard to the cost of the different
kinds of bridges, they referred the matter to the town for their deci-
sion which to adopt.
After hearing the report of the committee, the town voted to build
a covered bridge, after Towne's patent, the ensuing year, and ap-
pointed William Melendy, John Secombe, and Samuel (loss, a com-
mittee to let out the procuring of the materials and superintend the
building of said bridge.
The bridge was accordingly built the following year under the su-
perintendence of Mr. Ford Pollard. Its cost, as reported by the com-
mittee, was $3061.62. It still stands, after forty-four years' service.
i3 March, 1839, John Secombe, Samuel Goss, and Israel Fuller, jr.
were appointed a committee to examine and report on the condition
of the bridge near the pauper farm; the location of the same: what
kind of a bridge it was expedient to build in that place ; and the prob-
able cost of the same.
The town, 30 March, 18-39, voted not to accept the plan for a bridge
reported by the committee, but voted to build a stone bridge, and ap-
pointed William Melendy, Samuel Xutt, and Josiah Russell, a building
committee, and instructed them to ascertain the probable cost of
building the bridge, and report at some future meeting.
13 April, 1830, the town voted to reconsider the vote to build a
stone bridge; voted not to repair the old bridge; and, lastly, voted to
build a stone bridge.
Voted to adjourn for two weeks, then to meet at this place, at which
time the committee were directed to report a plan for a stone bridge.
At the adjourned meeting, "27 April, voted to reconsider the vote to
build a stone bridge, and appointed Israel Fuller, jr., John Secombe,
and Samuel (joss, a committee to contract for the building of a sub-
436 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
stantial wooden bridge, the same to be completed by the 1st of July,
next, and the committee were directed to avail themselves of the re-
mains of the old bridge, so far as they might be serviceable in the
construction of the new one.
Voted, also, that the furnishing of all lumber required for the new
bridge be let at auction, to the lowest bidder, and the selectmen
were authorized to raise, by loan, a sum not exceeding $800 to
defray the expense of building the bridge. The expense of building
this bridge was reported, in March, 1840, to have been $620.18.
17 September, 1853, a committee, consisting of the selectmen, Capt.
Daniel Hartshorn and Oliver Carter, was appointed to examine into
the state of the bridge at the pauper farm, and report at some future
meeting the probable expense of rebuilding the same with stone or
wood.
At a meeting held 1 October, 1853, the committee was authorized to
build such a bridge as they saw fit, but were directed to get proposals
for building a stone bridge.
A wooden bridge was built soon after, at an expense of $1310. S3.
At the annual meeting, in March of the following year, the selectmen
were instructed to cause the sides of the bridge to be covered, which
was done at an expense of $409.24.
At the annual meeting, in March, 1861, the selectmen were directed
to make all necessary repairs upon the bridge at the pauper farm.
At the annual meeting, held in March, 1864, the selectmen were
authorized to build a new bridge over the river, near the pauper farm,
should it be for the interest of the town so to do. •
The selectmen accordingly employed Mr. Dutton Woods to build
the bridge, for doing which he was paid $2000.
This bridge is now standing and bids fair to do duty for many
years.
THE SMALL-POX.
At a meeting held 20 March, 1780, the town voted that
their selectmen desire the doctors to desist from inoculating
with the small-pox, and notify them that they would incur
the displeasure of the town if they did not desist.
In answer to a petition of several inhabitants of the town, asking
that a pest-house might be established for the proper treatment of this
disease, the town voted, at a meeting held 20 Sept., 1792, "not to suf-
fer a pest-house, for the accommodation of the small-pox, in the said
town of Amherst."
XXIIL] THE SMALL-POX. 437
Another application for the same purpose was made shortly after,
with the same result.
12 November, 1792, Robert Fletcher and others, having be"ii inocu-
lated with the small-pox, Daniel Campbell, Esq., Dea. Samuel Wilkins,
Samuel Dana, Esq., Nathan Kendall, and Joshua Lovejoy, were ap-
pointed a committee to examine into their conduct, and to prevent oth-
ers from doing the same if in their power.
19 March, 1793, the committee reported " that thev have attended
to that service, and, upon the most careful inquiry and best information
obtained, are of opinion that said Fletcher and others, who had the small-
pox, in this town, the fall past, were highly reprehensible ; but when we
consider their peculiar suffering, that one sorrowful instance of mor-
tality happened among them, and others were severely visited with
the disorder, beside the great expense (greater than usual), we think
it would be adding affliction to the afflicted if they should be further
noticed in the matter ; and therefore we recommend the town to pass
over the offence without any further marks of resentment than to let
others know that a similar error will not be passed with like lenity."
The report was read, but we are not informed that any action was
taken upon it. Probably the matter was dropped by general con-
sent.
29 January, 1810. At a town meeting held this day, the selectmen
were authorized to appoint an agent, or agents, to vaccinate, as soon
as may be, all the inhabitants of the town who had not had the kine or
small-pox, and to re-vaccinate all those who may wish it, and where it
will, in their opinion, give greater security against the small-pox, the
agent or agents to take such districts, or portions of the town for their
practice as they can agree upon among themselves.
The agents were to keep a list of the persons vaccinated, and the num-
ber of visits they made to each person, and report the same in writing
to the selectmen, with the names of those, if any, who, at the time of
making their report, they have reason to believe have had neither the
kine nor small-pox ; which report the selectmen were to lay before
the town, at the next meeting after it was made.
After the performance of these services, the selectmen were author-
ized to pay such agent or agents, for their services, a sum not exceed-
ing ten cents for each person vaccinated.
The three physicians then resident in town, were appointed
agents, agreeably to the above vote, and their bills for services
amounted to $91.09.
Since that time several cases of the small-pox have occurred in
town, but its appearance now excites little alarm. The practice of
vaccination with the kine-pox, warmly advocated by Dr. Spalding, on
438 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
his settlement here, has robbed this terrible disease of its terrors, and
the fears entertained of it in the olden time seem to lis almost ridicu-
lous.
DEALINGS WITH DOMESTIC ANIMALS. VOTES IN RELATION TO
CROWS AND FISH.
Unruly cattle were a plague to the elders, and we find
them building a pound and adopting by-laws at an early
date, to keep the vagrant cows, sheep, and swine, in order.
At the annual meeting, March, 1792, an effort was made to keep
them off the common. A by-law was adopted, by which the luck-
less citizen, whose cows trespassed thereon at any time between
the first day of May and the first day of November, in any year, be-
came liable to a fine of two shillings a head for every day or part of a
day they were found within its precincts. If his sheep transgressed
the by-law, one shilling a head per day or part of a day, for the time
they trespassed, paid the penalty.
Probably the snow-drifts, that usually abounded between the first
of November and the first of May, were deemed to be a sufficient pro-
tection that part of the year. As to the swine, they were ordered to
be kept in strict confinement at all seasons of the year. If they pre-
sumed to show themselves upon the common at any time, their owner
was to be called upon to pay two shillings per head for every day or
part of a day they transgressed.
6 July, 1778, John Stewart, Benjamin Davis, and William Odall,
were appointed a committee to see to the building of a pound ; said
pound to be forty feet square, and to be built on the north-west cor-
ner of the common, north-west of the meeting-house, which would fix
the locality nearly in front of the house now occupied by Mrs. Conant.
At a later date the selectmen were instructed to cause one thirty-two
feet square to be built of stones.
As the crows troubled them, the fathers, 15 March, 1782, voted to
pay twenty-five cents per head for every one killed within the limits
of the town, provided the person claiming the bounty produced two
substantial witnesses to testify that they were so killed.
1:3 March, 1809, as provision had been made for repairing the fence
around the burying-ground, they ordered the sexton to impound "any
creature" that might be found doing damage within that inclosure
after the repairs were completed.
In March, 1819, they thought the finny inhabitants of Babboosiick
needed looking after, and voted their approval of a law being passed
XXIII.] DEALINGS WITH DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 439
prohibiting the taking of fish from that pond, through the ice, or
with lances, spears, seines, or nets, at any time.
11 March, 1828, they voted that no hogs, sheep, neat cattle, or horses,
should be allowed to go at large in the public highways, and ap-
pointed a committee to prepare by-laws to secure the enforcement of
their vote ; but at a meeting held 16 June following, they refused to
adopt any by-laws for that purpose, and discharged the committee ap-
pointed to draft them, from any further service in that direction.
After all the votes and by-laws passed, the poor man's cow was tol-
erably seciu-e in the " long pasture." Occasionally she was pelted
with brick-bats, stones, or apples, by Young America, or worried by
dogs and war-like ganders, but these proceedings were promptly re-
buked by those in authority, and the spirit that " tarred and feath-
ered " old skipper Ireson, would have been raised among the fairer
half of creation, had she been committed to the pound.
Fifty years ago the pound was located in the corner of the field east
of the Manchester road, near the Chickering bridge. About 1830 the
title of the town to the land on which it stood was called in qiiestion,
and at the annual meeting that year, the selectmen were directed to
investigate the subject and make report at the next meeting.
At the adjourned meeting, held 25 March, they made a verbal report,
and were directed to repair the old pound on the old spot. The ques-
tion of ownership was not settled, and at a meeting held 22 Nov., 1831,
the selectmen were directed to make still further investigations, and
lay the result of their labors before the town at some future time.
11 March, 1832, the selectmen were directed to continue their re-
searches, and if they found the land was owned by other parties, they
were authorized to agree with them for its use.
13 March, 1839, the town voted that no neat cattle or swine should
be allowed to go at large in town this year, and the surveyors of high-
ways were elected field-drivers in their respective districts, and the
selectmen were directed to administer the oath as field-drivers to each
one when he took his oath as surveyor.
At the annual meeting, in March, 1854, the town adopted the law
prohibiting horses, &c, from running at large, and voted the penalty
for its violation should be, for every horse, $3, horned cattle, #2, sheep
and swine, $1 each, to be collected of their owners.
At the annual meeting, in March, 1881, the town voted to dispose of
the " pound," and the selectmen were authorized to do it in any way
they might think best.
Its remains are now (1882) to be seen near the south-west corner of
the new cemetery, by the side of the road leading to Mr. Duiker's
dwelling-house.
440 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
Eighty-five years ago, sheep and lambs were hired for a term of
years ; records of some transactions of this kind have been preserved*
which we give.
7 January, 1797, one sheep and two ewe lambs were let for three
years. The same number of sheep and lambs, of as good quality as
those taken, were to be returned to the owner at the end of that
time, and one pound of good merchantable wool was to be paid annu-
ally, in the month of June, for rent.
In another instance two ewes and one ewe lamb were hired for four
years, at the end of which time three ewes and three ewe lambs of
as good quality as those hired were to be returned.
BURYING-GROUNDS AND TOMBS.
A committee was appointed by the proprietors of the
township, at a meeting held 1 May, 1735, to lay ont, among
other things, a suitable spot for a public burying-place.
The acceptance of the report of this committee, made
shortly after, is the last recorded action of the proprietors
in regard to a burying-place.
The town, at a meeting held 8 March, 1762, voted to raise £250, old
tenor, to defray the expenses of inclosing their burying-ground and
purchasing a burying-cloth ; and they voted that the said burying-
cloth be kept at Mr. Solomon Hutchinson's.
Solomon Hutchinson and Samuel Stewart were appointed a com-
mittee to purchase the cloth and see to fencing the yard.
Mr. Hutchinson is said to have lived on the spot where Mrs. Daniel
Hartshorn now lives. His house was burned not long after.
15 June, 1768. The town voted to exchange a piece of land belong-
ing to the burying-ground lot, for another piece belonging to Mr.
Jonathan Smith, which lay adjoining said lot.
Most likely the piece received from Mr. Smith lay on the east side
of the old burying-ground, as now fenced in, while the piece he re-
ceived in exchange lay on the north end of the lot, which would give
him a better opportunity to pass to his mill, and the town received a
piece better adapted for burial purposes.
At a meeting held 5 August, 1773, the town appointed Nahum
Baldwin and John Stewart, a committee to fence in the burying-
ground, and directed that a faced stone wall be built in front, facing
the road, and that posts and rails be used for fencing the other sides
of the yard.
XXIII. ] BURYING-GROUNDS AND TOMBS. 441
At a meeting held 11 March, 1806, the town voted to build a hearse
house, and appointed the selectmen a committee to see to its erection.
They also voted to raise fifty dollars to pay the expense of building
the house.
13 February, 1809. The town voted to repair the fence around the
burying-ground, and authorized the selectmen to get it done.
At the annual meeting in March, 1821, the selectmen were appoint-
ed a committee to consider the expediency of purchasing land for a
new burying-ground, determine the most suitable place therefor, ascer-
tain at what price the land may be bought, and report the same at the
next meeting.
March, 1823. Clifton Claggett, Robert Read, and Edmund Parker,
were appointed a committee to ascertain some suitable piece of land
for a burying-ground, that may be purchased, and for what price, and
report at some future meeting.
March, 1821. Robert Means and Ephraim Blanch ard were added
to the committee chosen last year, and the committee were directed
to make further arrangements in regard to a piece of land for a
burying-ground.
21 June, 1821. The committee reported that Samuel Dana, Esq.,
of Groton, Mass., would sell to the town such a quantity of land as
they wanted for a burying-ground, from the land he owned in Amherst,
lying on the north or south side of the road leading from the vestry
to the farm owned by Rev. Jeremiah Barnard.
At the same meeting Edmund Parker, Eber Lawrence, Clifton
Claggett, AVilliam Fisk, and Nathan Kendall, were appointed a com-
mittee to purchase from said Dana a piece of land from the east end
of his lot, which lies south of said road, in front of the vestry, not ex-
ceeding five acres, for the above purpose, the price not to exceed twenty
dollars per acre, and that they procure a title of the same from said
Dana, and lay the same out in the most suitable manner.
This effort seems to have been a failure, as the town voted, 13
March, 1827, to refer the subject of the purchase of land for a
burying-ground to the selectmen.
22 May, 1827. The town voted to purchase a lot of land on the
west end of the lot owned by Samuel Dana, Esq., on the north side
of the road passing by the vestry, for a grave-yard for the use of the
town, being the same that Edmund Parker purchased of said Dana,
and that the selectmen be a committee to make the purchase and
erect a suitable fence around the same.
11 March, 1828. Solomon Barron, Isaac Colby, Levi Dodge, Otis
Fletcher, Robert Fletcher, Joseph Harvel, John Haseltine, Charles
Melendy, Luther Melendy, Nathaniel Melendy, Perley Raymond, and
442 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap,
Moses B. Stewart, were by vote of the town exempted from paying
any part of the expense of the new grave-yard laid out west of the
vestry. At the same meeting the selectmen were authorized to sell
and convey a piece of the land lying west of the vestry, lately pur-
chased for a burying-ground, and they were appointed a committee to
cause a suitable fence to be erected in front of the remainder.
9 May, 1830. The town voted that the selectmen purchase a grave-
yard at Chestnut Hill, and suitable grave-cloths, to be used in that
place, and to do what else they may think proper relating thereto, at
the expense of the town. The selectmen were also constituted a com-
mittee to repair the fence around the old burying-ground.
22 November, 1831. The town voted not to receive the land pro-
posed to be given by Maj. Joseph Fletcher for a burying-ground.
This lot lay on the old road south of land of Timothy Nichols, and
it was stipulated in the offer that Maj. Fletcher and others should
have liberty to build tombs therein, and that it should be fenced at
the expense of the town.
14 March, 1832. Voted to purchase a piece of ground from one
half to one acre in area, in the south-east part of the town,
in School District No. 3, for a public burying-ground, and fence the
same, and give those that wish so to do leave to build tombs therein.
1 September, 1831. Voted that the selectmen procure a new hearse
and one or more burying-cloths, for the use of the town.
The subject of building tombs in front of the burying-ground was
brought before the town at the annual meeting in March, 1827, on
petition of Lemuel Blood, for leave so to do. The town voted to refer
the matter to the selectmen.
9 May, 1836. The selectmen were empowered to lot out the ground
in front of the old burying-ground for building tombs, and sell the
same, subject to such restrictions as they saw fit to impose, to the
highest bidder, at auction.
The above lots, six in number, were sold 28 May, 1836, for fifty
cents each, the purchasers agreeing to build and keep in repair a good
and substantial stone wall, of split stone, in front of the tombs, free
of expense to the town.
March, 1840, a small piece of ground on the pauper farm was ap-
propriated for a burial-place, and the selectmen were authorized to
fence the same.
21 June, 1842. Voted to sell the ground in front of the burying-
ground, commencing thirty feet south of the south wing of the court
house, for ten tombs, at auction. This vote was carried into effect
23 February, 1844.
XXIII.] ACCIDENTAL DEATHS. 443
At the annual meeting, in March, 1851, the selectmen were authorized
to purchase land adjoining the new burying-ground, should they deem
it expedient so to do, which being done, it was voted, at a meeting held
2 November, 1852, to authorize the selectmen to dispose of the lots in
the new part of the burying-ground, and appropriate the proceeds of
the sales toward making improvements in the yard.
In March, 1857, the selectmen were directed to purchase a receiving
tomb, or cause one to be built.
ACCIDENTAL DEATHS.
About 1778. Charles Black, drowned in Babboosuck brook, near
Samuel Wyatt's house.
23 April, 1800. Aaron Wilkins, killed by a falling tree.
29 December, 1803. A child of John Mussey, burnt to death.
May, 18!)5. A child of Henry Howard, by drinking a large
quantity of rum.
9 May, 1805. Joel Hagar, killed by a fall.
12 September, 1805. Capt. Levi Adams, killed by a kick from a horse.
29 May, 1806. Daniel Stevens, killed by falling into a well.
12 January, 1808. James Farnum perished in the cold while intox-
icated.
22 August, 1812. Samuel Wyatt, drowned in Babboosuck brook.
October, 1812. Harriet Danforth, burnt to death at school, in dis-
trict No. 5.
16 May. 1815. A child of Daniel Lyon, killed by falling into a
well.
9 August, 1818. John Clark, drowned while bathing.
10 August, 1820. Capt. Samuel Morrison, killed by falling from a
roof.
4 July, 1826. Charles Haseltine, accidentally shot at a company
training of the Lafayette riflemen.
December, 1828. Joel "Worcester burnt to death in a coal pit.
7 November, 1829. Adolph Lange, killed by falling on a hay fork
while sliding from a hay-mow.
18 December, 1830. Ninian C. Dodge, killed by falling from a win-
dow at Boston.
2 February, 183L A child of David Stratton, burnt to death.
10 April, 1834. Rodney Wheeler, accidentally shot.
December, 1834. George Prince, killed by a wheel of a loaded wagon,
ci-ushing his head.
30 May, 1837. Mrs. Lucy Hartshorn, killed by being thrown from
her carriage while returning from meeting.
444 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
14 January, 1840. An insane person, a stranger, perished in the
cold.
26 July, 1842. Mary, wife of Daniel Phelps, burnt to death.
2 March, IS 19. William Danforth, killed by a falling tree.
14 March, 1819. Lummus Shepard, killed by a falling tree.
19 October, 1819. Hiram F. Jewett, killed by a fall from a chestnut
tree.
24 September, 1854. Stephen Holbrook, killed by a runaway horse.
24 April, 1856. Dana F. Bills, killed by falling into a hole in a hay-
mow.
Winter of 1S66-67. Woodbury Roby, drowned in Pulpit brook.
10 December, 1867. Daniel Wheeler, killed by a fall.
1 September, 1868. Timothy Patch, choked to death while eating.
30 July, 1870. John Lovejoy, killed by falling from a roof.
20 September, 1870. Mrs. Cynthia Jones, killed by being thrown
from a carriage.
9 January, 1871. Mrs. Pamelia Brown, burnt to death at town
farm.
20 August, 1872. Daniel Weston, died from injuries received in a
fall.
6 December, 1872. Farnum Clark, died from injuries received in
falling from his wagon, a few days before.
16 July, 1879. Henry F. Colston, died from injuries received in the
collision of two carriages.
23 July, 18S0. Ed. Creany, of Boston, drowned in Babboosuck
pond.
BELLS AND CLOCKS.
At a meeting of the first parish, held 3 May, 1788, a com-
mittee was appointed to dispose of " two back seats on the
lower floor of the meeting-house," and appropriate the
money received from their sale to the purchase of a bell for
the use of the parish.
A further grant of forty pounds for the same purpose was
made at a meeting held 28 October, 1793, and the committee
was authorized to borrow the money until it could be as-
sessed and collected.
The bell was purchased shortly after, as we find in the record of
the meeting of the parish, held 24 March, 1794, that William Low was
appointed "Saxon," to ring and toll the bell on the Sabbath, and other
XXIII.] BELLS AND CLOCKS. 445
days, take care of the meeting-house, and sweep it, for doing which he
was to have fifteen dollars a year. He was also to dig graves, when
applied to, at the expense of the applicants.
Mr. Low served as " Saxon " four years, and was succeeded by
Samuel Foster, who was directed to ring the bell at nine o'clock in the
evening, of each week day, in addition to the other duties required of
the " Saxon," for which an addition of ten dollars a year was made to
his salary.
The next year the nine o'clock bell-ringing was dispensed with, and
in the third year of Mr. Foster's service his salary was reduced to nine
dollars.
In 1801 Capt. Josiah Converse was appointed sexton, and agreed to
ring the bell at one o'clock and nine o'clock each week day, for doing
which he was to receive seven dollars a year.
But the job was too good to last, and the next year Dr. Samuel Cur-
tis succeeded Capt. Converse as bell-ringer, and the records show that
he received twenty-tour dollars for his services that year.
9 September, 1805, an elegant clock was presented to the town by
Perkins Nichols, Esq., and placed in the meeting-house directly in
front of the desk.
When the house was remodeled, in 1837, it was placed in the town-
hall, under the church, where it remained until the court-room was
fitted up for a town-hall, when it was removed to the place it now
occupies.
At the annual meeting in March, 1812, William Fist, William Low,
William Read, Col. Robert Means, Capt. William Dole, Ebenezer Tay-
lor, and Capt. John Secombe, were appointed a committee to view the
meeting-house, and see what part of the seats could lie spared for pew-
ground, and build pews on the same, dispose of them when completed,
and appropriate the money received to the purchase of a town-clock,
provided the same shall be done without any expense to the town.
The committee attended to the duty assigned them, caused some
pews to be built, and disposed of them, but it would seem that not
enough money was received to pay for the clock, as the town voted at
the annual meeting in March, 1819, "that unless the committee re-
ceive donations in money sufficient to pay the balance due on the
clock within sixty days, they should have liberty to sell it, and after
paying the balance due, they should pay the balance into the town
treasury.
This vote settled the matter. The clock was saved by contributions
received, and still remains in its place. It is said to have been made
under the direction of Thomas Woolson, jr., who at that time carried
on the clock and watch-making business on the Plain.
446 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
The clock proved to be an excellent one. After doing duty sixty-
years it was repaired by Mr. John Carleton, and is now (1882) one of
the best time-keepers in the country.
The old bell being cracked, the town, at a meeting held 1 Nov.)
1824, authorized the selectmen to exchange it for a new one, provided
the expense of so doing should not exceed three hundred dollars.
This was accordingly done, and a new bell was procured which was
brought to the Plain and suspended temporarily to give it a trial-
While in this condition it was broken, it is said, by a heavy blow
struck on the outside by a sledge.
3 January, 1825, the town authorized the selectmen to pay the
damage occasioned by breaking the bell lately purchased for the meet-
ing-house. And they were directed to exchange it for another one,
weighing from twelve to sixteen hundred pounds.
This bell did service until 1839, when it was cracked, it is said, in
ringing it on the fourth of July. On the twelfth of October of that
year, the town empowered the selectmen to sell it and pay the pro-
ceeds of the sale, and a sum not exceeding fifty dollars, for anew one.
At another meeting, held 13 November, the town authorized the select-
men to purchase a bell weighing fourteen hundred pounds, provided
they did not expend more than one hundred dollars, in addition to the
sum received for the the old bell, in so doing.
The selectmen, however, expended one hundred and fifty dollars,
and their action was ratified by the town.
With this sum, and the proceeds of the sale of the old bell, they
purchased the bell now in use.
THE POST-OFFICE.
The post-office department was organized by the legisla-
ture of the state in March, 1786.
Jeremiah Libby was appointed superintendent by the President
and Council, agreeably to a resolve of the legislature, passed 4 March,
1786, and he was "required to put the several Posts in motion through
the state as soon as possible, as far as circumstances will admit."
Nahuni Ackerman and Samuel Bean seem to have been appointed
post-riders at the same time; the former on the ''Northern," the
latter on the "Western" route, at a salary of £100 per annum, each.
Libby was reappointed 6 July, 1786, and the post-riders, as finally
arranged, were
Thomas Smith, of Surry, for the first route.
John Lathrop, of Lebanon, for the second route.
XXIIL]
TELEGRAPH OFFICES.
447
Ozias Silsby, of Acworth, for the third route.
Eben Cram, of Pittsfield, for the fourth route.
William Gordon was appointed post-master at Amherst, by the
President and Council, 16 February, 1791.
Post-masters were appointed the same day at Concord, Charlestown,
Dover, Exeter, Hanover, Haverhill, Keene, Plaistow, Plymouth, and
Portsmouth.
Since the organization of the post-office department, by the general
government, the post-masters have been —
Aaron Lawrence.
Charles B. Tuttle.
David Russell.
Timothy Danforth.
Nathaniel H. George.
Hollis E. Abbott.
Charles Richardson.
Horace E. Woodberry.
Wilson D. Forsaith.
The compensation of the post-master, as stated in the " blue book"
in 1817, was #119.26; in 1822, $113.96; in 1877, #026.95; in 1879,
#660.13; and in 1881, #S15.19.
A post-office was established at Amherst station in August, 1881,
under the name of "Danforth" P. O., and Charles II. Mackay was
appointed post-master.
Samuel Curtis.
1811
1803
Daniel Prior.
1819
1808
Samuel Foster.
1852
1809
Eli Brown.
1853
1812
Aaron Whitney.
1855
1819
Jedidiah K. Smith.
1861
1826
Isaac Spalding.
1868
1827
John Prentiss.
1869
1829
David Underbill.
1876
TELEGRAPH OFFICES.
A telegraph office was established in Amherst, in connec-
tion with the post-office, in 1859 or 1860, of which N. H.
George was the manager. N. H. George -and Miss Laura H.
George were the operators. Afterward Hollis E. Abbott
was the operator. From him it was transferred to Horace
B. Woodberry. After Mr. Forsaith was appointed post-mas-
ter the office was discontinued for six months.
From January to April, 1877, it was in charge of Dr.
Edward Aiken. It was then transferred to George L. Pal-
mer, whose connection with it ceased in January, 1878, since
which time it has been in the charge of Dr. Aiken.
Another office was established at Amherst station in the
autumn of 1881, under the charge of Charles H. Mackay.
450 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Shortly after, in consequence of the course the government thought
proper to adopt in reference to the troubles with Great Britain, the
commerce of the country was destroyed and its business paralyzed.
It became difficult to turn property into money, and the bank suffered
in consequence. The holders of its obligations were clamorous for
their money ; but the bank found it difficult to obtain its dues from
its debtors to meet them.
The banks in the commercial centers, which had contracted their cir-
culation to some extent before the storm, were better prepared to meet
it. Yiewing the country banks as rivals, they pursued an unfriendly
course toward them. Finally the bill holders, losing confidence in
them, disposed of their bills to speculators at a discount, who at once
presented them for payment.
In this emergency, after redeeming its bills until its specie was ex-
hausted, the Hillsborough Bank, 23 August, 1809, suspended payment.
26 September, 1809, its bills were at 10 and 12^ per cent; IT October,
1809, at 50 per cent discount. Many of the active business men of
the place suffered severely by its failure, and some terribly bitter
pamphlets were written and published in regard to its management.
For years any connection with the management of the " Old Hills-
borough Bank" was deemed a ref>roach by many of the citizens of
Amherst.
FARMERS BANK.
A charter for a new bank at Amherst was granted by the
legislature at its session held in June, 1822. The grantees,
under this charter, met at Ray's Hotel, 31 January, 1825.
At this meeting they voted to carry the provisions of their
charter into effect as soon as practicable. The capital stock,
•$65,000, was subscribed for at once, and 12 February, 1825,
the corporation was organized by the choice of Charles H.
Atherton, James Wallace, Edmund Parker, Robert Means,
Robert Read, Daniel Adams, and Aaron F. Sawyer, as direc-
tors. The board of directors organized immediately after
by the choice of Charles H. Atherton as president, and
John Prentiss, cashier, who served in those offices during
the whole period of the existence of the bank.
XXIII.] BANKS. 451
The affairs of the institution were well managed, and the corpora-
tion sustained few losses during the whole term of its existence. Its
obligations were promptly met, even through the money crisis of 1837,
and at the close of its business, in 1843, the following statement was
published in the " Cabinet " :
" At a meeting of the stockholders, held 23 January, 1813, the direc-
tors were instructed to proceed forthwith to close the concerns of the
bank by collecting its debts, paying its liabilities, and dividing its
stock as they lawfully may.
The bank went iuto operation 11 April, 1S25. The capital of
$65,001) was fully paid in, and during its existence it furnished for
circulation nearly $5,000,000, the whole of which has been redeemed
in specie, or in what the holders preferred to specie, at the rate of
$800 per day, except $21,000 outstanding at this time. This sum,
with §1458 of deposits, constitutes its whole liabilities.
In 1837— '8, when most of the banks in the Union suspended specie
payment, such was the call for specie that the circulation of the bank
was reduced to less than $4000, which was less by $1000 than the
specie then in the vault. Aside from this crisis, the least amount of
its bills in circulation at any one time has been $21,000, the greatest
$65,000,— the average being about $45,000.
The highest amount of notes discounted at any one time was
^134,000, the lowest $74,000,— the average amount from $100,000 to
$110,000.
The average amount of circulation ($45,0:0) has been returned to
the bank once in about seventy days, or between five and six times a
year.
Ten suits only have been instituted by the bank, and all but two
of these at the request of sureties, to save the debt from a failing
principal.
The losses of the bank from counterfeit bills, failure of other banks,
and fraud, amounted to $1503. Xo counterfeit bill of the bank ever
came to the knowledge of its officers.
It paid to the school fund $5450, and made its regular dividends,
averaging three and one half per cent annually, and had, 23 January,
1843, a surplus of $10,000."
12 March, 1847, Charles H. Atherton gave notice that he was pre-
pared to make a final close of the affairs of the " Farmers' Bank," by
paying the stockholders their stock in full, with a small surplus.
1 May, 1839, an attempt was made to rob the Farmers' Bank, by an
Englishman who gave his name as John Jones. The cashier was
awakened and succeeded in securing the burglar before he had accom-
plished his object.
450 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Shortly after, in consequence of the course the government thought
proper to adopt in reference to the troubles with Great Britain, the
commerce of the country was destroyed and its business paralyzed.
It became difficult to turn property into money, and the bank suffered
in consequence. The holders of its obligations were clamorous for
their money; but the bank found it difficult to obtain its dues from
its debtors to meet them.
The banks in the commercial centers, which had contracted their cir-
culation to some extent before the storm, were better prepared to meet
it. Viewing the country banks as rivals, they pursued an unfriendly
course toward them. Finally the bill holders, losing confidence in
them, disposed of their bills to speculators at a discount, who at once
presented them for payment.
In this emergency, after redeeming its bills until its specie was ex-
hausted, the Hillsborough Bank, 23 August, 1809, suspended payment.
26 September, 1809, its bills were at 10 and 12£ per cent; 17 October,
1809, at 50 per cent discount. Many of the active business men of
the place suffered severely by its failure, and some terribly bitter
pamphlets were written and published in regard to its management.
For years any connection with the management of the " Old Hills-
borough Bank" was deemed a reproach by many of the citizens of
Amherst.
farmers' bank.
A charter for a new bank at Amherst w T as granted by the
legislature at its session held in June, 1822. The grantees,
under this charter, met at Ray's Hotel, 31 January, 1825.
At this meeting they voted to cany the provisions of their
charter into effect as soon as practicable. The capital stock,
$65,000, was subscribed for at once, and 12 February, 1825,
the corporation was organized by the choice of Charles H.
Atherton, James Wallace, Edmund Parker, Robert Means,
Robert Read, Daniel Adams, and Aaron F. Sawyer, as direc-
tors. The board of directors organized immediately after
by the choice of Charles H. Atherton as president, and
John Prentiss, cashier, who served in those offices during
the whole period of the existence of the bank.
XXIII.] BANKS. 451
The affairs of the institution were well managed, and the corpora-
tion sustained few losses during the whole term of its existence. Its
obligations were promptly met, even through the money crisis of 1837,
and at the close of its business, in 1843, the following statement was
published in the " Cabinet " :
" At a meeting of the stockholders, held 23 -January, 1843, the direc-
tors were instructed to proceed forthwith to close the concerns of the
bank by collecting its debts, paying its liabilities, and dividing its
stock as they lawfully may.
The bank went into operation 11 April, 1825. The capital of
$05,000 was fully paid in, and during its existence it furnished for
circulation nearly $5,000,000, the whole of which has been redeemed
in specie, or in what the holders preferred to specie, at the rate of
$800 per day, except §21,000 outstanding at this time. This sum,
with $1458 of deposits, constitutes its whole liabilities.
In 1S37-'S, when most of the banks in the Union suspended specie
payment, such was the call for specie that the circulation of the bank
was reduced to less than $4000, which was less by $1000 than the
specie then in the vault. Aside from this crisis, the least amount of
its bills in circulation at any one time has been $21,000, the greatest
$65,000,— the average being about $45,000.
The highest amount of notes discounted at any one time was
•^134,000, the lowest $74,000,— the average amount from §100,000 to
$110,001).
The average amount of circulation ($45,01.0) has been returned to
the bank once in about seventy days, or between five and six times a
year.
Ten suits only have been instituted by the bank, and all but two
of these at the request of sureties, to save the debt from a failing
principal.
The losses of the bank from counterfeit bills, failure of other banks,
and fraud, amounted to $1503. Xo counterfeit bill of the bank ever
came to the knowledge of its officers.
It paid to the school fund $5450, and made its regular dividends,
averaging three and one half per cent annually, and had, 23 January,
1843, a surplus of $10,000."
12 March, 1847, Charles H. Atherton gave notice that he was pre-
pared to make a final close of the affairs of the " Farmers' Bank," by
paying the stockholders their stock in full, with a small surplus.
1 May, 1839, an attempt was made to rob the Farmers' Bank, by an
Englishman who gave his name as John Jones. The cashier was
awakened and succeeded in securing the burglar befoi'e he had accom-
plished his object.
452
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
At the session of the court held in September following, he was
sentenced to ten days of solitary confinement, and imprisonment for
life at hard labor in the State prison. His real name was said to be
John Honeyman.
Residence of Charles Richardson, Esq.
Built by the Hillsborough Bank, and used as a banking house ; also
used as a banking house by the Farmers* Bank from 1825 to 1843.
THE SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE TURNPIKE.
Application having been made to the legislature by parties
interested in building a turnpike from Amherst to Newport
for an act of incorporation, the town voted, at a meeting
held 18 November, 1799, "to oppose the granting of the
petition, unless the old roads, as now traveled, should re-
main free for ever, notwithstanding the turnpike may go
partly in them or across them, and that where they go
through private property and the associates can not agree
with the owner or owners of the land, the appraisal of
XXIII. ] COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. 453
damages shall be made by the selectmen of the town in
which the land lies.'''
The turnpike company was incorporated 26 December, 1799, for the
purpose of building and managing a road from " lottery bridge," in
Claremont, to Amherst Plain, near the court-house.
It was provided in the act of incorporation that at the end of every
ten years from the time of setting up the first toll-gate, an account of
the receipts and expenses of the corporation should be laid before the
judges of the Superior Court, and if the profits exceeded twelve per
cent they might reduce the tolls so that they should not exceed that
amount, and if they were not six per cent they might raise them so
that the profits should not be less than six nor more than twelve per
cent. It was also provided that the road should be built within ten
years from the passage of the act, and that the State might at any
time, after forty years from the time of granting the charter,
take possession of the road by paying the corporation the
cost of its construction and twelve per cent of the same additional,
from which was to be deducted the amount of the dividends which
had actually been received by the proprietors.
The road was promptly built in as nearly a direct line as possible
from Amherst Plain, through the village of Mont Vernon, making a
hilly, uncomfortable route. The judges had no occasion to reduce the
tolls, and the proprietors were willing to relinquish the road years
before the time expired, when, by the terms of the charter, the State
might take possession.
15 April, 1837. AgTeeably to a vote of the proprietors, all the gates
on the Second New Hampshire Turnpike were thrown open, and the
road was made free from that day.
The act of incorporation was repealed by the General Court 4 July,
1837, and the care of the road thenceforth devolved upon the towns
through which it passed.
COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.
A Committee of Safety was chosen annually during the
war for Independence. This committee was in correspon-
dence with the committees chosen in other towns, and with
the State committee on matters relating to the public wel-
fare. Its members were as follows :
454
HISTORY OP AMHERST.
[Chap.
177<>. Josiah Crosby,
William Bradford,
Peter Woodbury,
Thomas Burns,
Robert Means,
1777. llezekiah Love joy,
Stephen Peabody,
Nathaniel Howard,
Josiah Crosby,
John Bradford,
1778. John Bradford,
John Seaton,
Hezekiah Lovejoy,
Oliver Carlton.
Timothy Smith,
1779. John Bradford.
Oliver Carlton,
Hezekiah Lovejoy,
James Hartshorn,
178'). Robert Means,
Hezekiah Lovejoy,
Amos Flint,
1781. James Woodbury,
William Peabody,
WiUiam Hogg,
William Bradford,
PIONEER BRICK-MAKERS.
William and Nathaniel Melendy and Timothy Hutchinson carried
on the brick-making business on the place now owned by Bryant Me-
lendy, probably as early as 1780. The bricks were used in building
the enormous chimneys common in those days.
The bricks for the three-story brick store on the plain, the old bank
building, and the house now occupied by Hon. Harrison Eaton, were
made on Capt. Eli Brown's place on the turnpike, now known as the
" Lord " place, by William and Nathaniel Melendy and the Chamber-
lain brothers, of Lyndeborough.
The bricks for the court-house (now town-house) were made by
Timothy Danforth on the place now owned by Bryant Melendy.
CARD MANUFACTORY.
The manufacture of machine-cards seems to have been commenced
in Amherst by Thomas Woolson, jr., as early as September, 1813. In
November of that year, Alonzo Snow & Co. were engaged in it. It was
afterward carried on by David Holmes and Holmes & White. At first
the Leathers were punched and the teeth cut and bent by machinery
made for the purpose. The setting of the teeth furnished employment
for the women and children of the town. The introduction of the
Whittemore card-machine, by which the leathers were punched and the
teeth cut, bent, and set by machinery, dispensed with the hand-set-
ting.
In 1828 Mr. White removed the manufactory to Belvidere, now a
part of Lowell, where it remained until 1835, when it was again re-
moved to a shop on the Middlesex Corporation, where the business was
carried on by White & Puffer. Their shop was burned in 184:!. and in
XXIII. ] THE WHIP BUSINESS. 455
1 st 1 new .shops were built on Market street where the business was car-
ried on some years. In 1850 Mr. White sold his interest in the concern
and removed to Illinois. The business was then carried on by Puffer
& Howe, afterward by Howe & Goodwin, and the Lowell Card Com-
pany, the business being after a time removed to Middle street. In
1874 a large building was erected at the corner of Shattuck and Market
street, in which the business of the company is now carried on.
THE WHIP BUSINESS.
The manufacture of whips was carried on in Boston sev-
eral years by John David, the eldest brother of Deacon Bar-
nabas B. David. He died in Boston 20 September, 1820.
1 January, 1821, Samuel B. Melendy, of Amherst, and Barnabas B.
David, entered into partnership and commenced the business in the shop
once occupied by Mr. David's brother. The business proving remuner-
ative, measures were soon taken to increase it. In 1828 Mr. Melendy
returned to Amherst and commenced business in the "Manning" shop
which stood near the Taylor bridge on the Nashua road. The shop was
enlarged and several hands were employed. In 1825 a sales-room was
opened in Xew York, and about the same time one in New Orleans.
Mr. David also visited Europe for the purpose of gaining information
in regard to the business. In 1830 the manufactory was established on
Amherst Plain, a new shop having been fitted up for its accommodation.
Mr. David at that time took up his residence in Amherst. In 1887
Mr. Charles L. Stewart was hired to take charge of the business in Xew
York city, and about the same time Mr. Henry Howard, jr., took charge
of the business at Dock Square in Boston. Mr. Stewart became a
member of the firm in 1817, and finally purchased the interest of his
partners in the New York branch of the business. For many years the
firm did a large and successful business, but finally, as competition be-
came sharp and the profits of the business small, it was relinquished.
Timothy Danforth, Esq., carried on the business for several years v, itli
a moderate degree of success lie continued in the business, on a small
scale, until his death.
David Holmes, Esq., a resident of Amherst, who had been engaged
in the manufacture of cards, relinquished the card business, removed to
Lowell, and engaged in the whip business with a Mr. Barnes, once hi
the employ of Messrs. Melendy & David. The undertaking did not
prove to be a successful one, and was soon relinquished.
456 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
AMHERST SOCIAL LIBRARY.
Samuel Dana, Joshua Atherton, Jeremiah Barnard, Sam-
uel Wilkins, Daniel Campbell, John Shepard, Daniel War-
ner, Robert Fletcher, Jonathan Smith, Samuel Curtis, and
their associates, were, by an act of the legislature, approved
21 June, 1797, incorporated as the Amherst Library Society.
They were empowered to establish rules for the government
of the corporation, to enjoin penalties of disfranchisement,
and fines not exceeding ten dollars, and to hold real and
personal estate not exceeding three thousand dollars in value.
The time of the annual meeting was fixed on the first Mon-
day of January, but might be held on any other day the
proprietors thought fit to appoint.
This society continued in existence about thirty-five years.
It was finally dissolved, and its books sold at auction, 25
February, 1832.
THE FRANKLIN SOCIETY
was organized 16 September, 1807, for the improvement of
its members in literary pursuits. It consisted of a number
of young men who met every second Wednesday for the
discussion of literary subjects, declamations, and the read-
ing of original compositions.
The clergymen in this and the neighboring towns, most of whom
were honorary members of the society, and many of the elderly citi-
zens of the town, frequently attended the meetings, and took part in
the exercises.
A library of 240 volumes of valuable books was purchased, and ad-
ditions were made from time to time by funds derived from assess-
ments on the members.
The society continued in existence until '23 May, 181S, when it was
disbanded, and its library was sold.
The following list of members is copied from the Book of Records :
XXIII.]
FREE MASONRY.
457
Herman Abbott,
Samuel Abbott,
Abraham Andrews,
Charles H. Atherton,
John P. Batchelder,
John Burnam,
Joseph Bell,
William Claggett,
Nathan R. Clough,
Joseph Gushing,
Elisha E. Elam,
Caleb Emerson,
Luther Farley,
John Farmer,
Allen Fisk.
Benjamin F. French.
William Gordon,
Alonzo S. Greenville.
Levi Harsthorn,
Jacob Holmes,
Joshua Holt.
Eugene Hutchinson,
Isaac Hill,
George Kimball,
Joseph B. Manning,
David McG. Means,
William F. Morrison.
Harrison G. Otis, jr.,
Edmund Parker,
James Perkins,
Robert Read,
David Secombe,
Matthias Spalding, jr.,
Gustavus Swan,
Ebenezer Taylor, jr.,
Henry J. Tudor.
Andrew Wallace.
THE "HANDELLIAN SOCIETY.
Mr. Hill said in the New Hampshire Patriot, 18 April,
1809, the first number of that paper issued by him :
" At the ordination of Rev. Nathaniel Kennedy, of Litch-
field, several pieces of music were performed by a select
choir from Amherst, which added much to the solemnities
of the day, and evinced a correct taste and a love for genu-
ine harmony."
Much of the commendation bestowed upon the performances of a
"select choir from Amherst" was doubtless due to the efforts of the
" Handellian Musical Society," incorporated in June, 1805, and com-
posed of residents in Amherst and the neighboring towns, the professed
objects of the society being to " cultivate the art of music, to acquire
and diffuse a correct taste, and to enjoy the refined pleasures of har-
mony." The society continued in existence more than twenty-five
years, and, judging from the reports of Mr. Hill, met with a reasonable
share of success in its efforts.
FREE MASONRY.
A charter for Benevolent Lodge, No. 7, F. & A. Masons,
was granted by the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, 26
April, 1797, and the Lodge was organized on the last Tues-
day of May in that year. Samuel Dana was appointed
W. Master; Jonathan Gove, Senior Warden, and Luther
Dana, Junior Warden.
458 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
This Lodge continued in successful operation quite a number of
years, and many of the citizens of Amherst were connected with it
as members. At last, as a majority of its members resided in Milford?
Brookline, and Wilton, at a meeting- held 20 March. 1826, it was voted
unanimously to remove said lodge from Amherst to Milford, on condi-
tion that whenever two-thirds of the members were in favor of restor-
ing it to Amherst the minority should cheerfully acquiesce in its
removal.
Samuel Dana, Daniel Warner, Charles H. Atherton, Aaron Whitney,
and Ephraim Blanchard. were among the citizens of Amherst who
served as W. Masters of the lodge while it remained in town. It be-
came dormant in 1832, but was revived and is again in operation.
There are but two older lodges now in existence in the state.
An amusing story is told of Eev. Humphrey Moore, of Milford, in
connection with this lodge. Mr. Moore was not a Mason, but being
present at one of the public meetings of the lodge, was asked to act as
chaplain. Complying with the request, he prayed as follows :
" O Lord, we come here to pray to thee, we know not for what. If
thith inthituthion be a good one, wilt thou bleth it. If it be an evil
one, wilt thou curth it. Amen." (Mr. Moore was unable to sound
the letter s.)
Mr. Boylston gives the following account of a public meeting of
Benevolent Lodge Xo. 7, at Amherst, 14 May. 1821 : " The Benevolent
Lodge, Xo. 7, held its annual meeting in this town on Monday last,
May 14. at Masons' Hall. In the afternoon the officers were publicly
installed, and the hall was crowded with a respectable audience of ladies
and gentlemen to witness the (to them) novel ceremony. The exercises
were solemn and impressive. Sacred music and prayer commenced the
proceedings, and the officers were invested with their jewels or badges
of office, with injunctions to duty, which, if they perform, they will not
only l>e good Masons, hut good Christians."
SOUHEGAN GRANGE.
Souhegan Grange, No. 10, Patrons of Husbandry, was
formed 5 December, 1873, with sixteen members, and is
now (April, 1882) the largest and most flourishing Grange
in the state.
It holds its regular meetings for Grange work, the discussion of
topics of interest to farmers, and literary exercises, on the Thursday of
or preceding the full moon, and the second Thursday following. Its
past masters have been, James U. Prince, one year ; Aaron S. Wilkins,
XXIII.] FIRE RECORD. 459
two years; Thomas M. Harvell, two years: James (i. Haseltine. two
years.
Present Master, George E. Ilolbrook ; Granville Parker, Overseer;
Aaron M. Wilkins, Lecturer; George Armstrong, Steward ; George F.
Hill, Assistant Steward ; James M. Jackson, Chaplain ; James F. Wes-
ton, Secretary ; Edward Caldwell, Treasurer ; Charles E. Wilkins, Gate
Keeper; Mrs. A. M. Wilkins, Ceres; Mrs. J. H. Drucker, Pomona;
Miss Cora B. Fisher, Flora ; Mrs. George F. Hill, Lady Assistant Stew-
ard ; Miss Ella Kinson. Chorister. Number of members, 150.
UNITED ORDER OF THE GOLDEN CROSS.
Instituted 1 July, 1881, with 27 members. Officers chos-
en semi-annually.
Its officers, for the term ending 30 June, 1882, were —
P. N. G, George W. Putnam.
X. G. W. H. Dinsmore.
V. X. G, Lucy A. Wilkins.
W. P., William Prat!.
X. K. R., W. B. Rotch.
F. K. R., Fannie A. Wilkins.
W. T., A. M. Wilkins.
W. H., W. 1). Forsaith.
W. I. G., Jennie P. Hartshorn.
W. O. G., Henry M. Parker.
Number of members, 1 May, 1882, 34.
FIRE RECORD.
The house of Solomon Hutchinson, at the north-east
corner of the common, on the Plain, was burnt in 1764. A
two-pcund Province note, belonging to Mr. Hutchinson,
was destroyed by the fire, the amount of which the General
Court, at its next session, voted to pay him.
The first meeting-house, or court-house, was burnt by an incendiary,
15 March, 1788.
Two barns belonging to Joshua Atherton, Esq., in which his hay,
grain, etc., were stored, were burnt by Michael Keiff, 7 January, 1790.
Four cows perished in the names.
A house on the Plain, owned by Col. Robert Means, and occupied by
Robert M. King, was burnt Sunday, 19 September, 1807. By timely
aid from the people in attendance at the meeting-house, most of the
460 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
furniture in the house was saved, and the fire was prevented from de-
stroying other buildings near by.
A cooper's shop, belonging to Capt. Nathaniel Emerson, was burnt
in October, 1809.
The blacksmith shop occupied by Mr. Aaron Whitney, took fire and
was consumed on the evening of 5 April, 1815. But a portion of the
contents was saved.
A fire was discovered hi the wheelwright shop, occupied by Jonathan
Foster, about 2 o'clock in the morning of 19 September, 1818, which de-
stroyed the shop and its contents.
Luther Pearson's wagon manufactory, situated about three fourths of
a mile south of the village, with most of the contents, was burned 7
September, 1820. Loss estimated at $300, including a lot of unfinished
wagons, and two $20 bank bills. The building was owned by Robert
Means, Esq.
Samuel Hildreth's dwelling-house, and most of the contents, was
burnt 15 November, 1821. The fire took while the family were absent,
and had made such progress when it was discovered that all efforts to
check it, or save the contents of the house, were unavailing.
A fire occurred in the three-story brick building on the Plain, 25 Feb-
ruary, 1830, which was extinguished before any great damage was done
to the building.
A barn belonging to Mr. Thomas M. Benden, situated near his dwell-
in tr-house and store on the Plain, was set on fire by an incendiarv, and
consumed (3 August. 1839. It was filled with hay, and burnt with great
rapidity, and it was only by great and persevering efforts on the part
of the citizens and firemen present that the adjoining buildings were
saved. Loss $250 : insured for $100.
A slight fire on the roof of the Unitarian church, owing to a defect
in the chimney, occurred 22 March, 1840.
The dwelling-house of Mrs. Betsey Prince, in the north-east part of
the town, was burnt, with most of the contents, 13 February, 1841. A
defect in the chimney is supposed to have been the cause.
The large barn on the pauper farm was burnt 3 April, 1847. Twen-
ty-two head of cattle perished in the flames. Loss estimated at $2,500 ;
no insurance. The barn had been built but a few years, and was one
of the largest and best in town. The fire was set by an insane pauper.
The barn, shed, and store, of Mr. John Moor, near his dwelling-
house on the Plain, were burnt Saturday evening, 14 October, 1848.
The fire was discovered in the barn, whence it was communicated to
the shed and store. A cow in the barn was saved, and most of the
goods in the store, which were but slightly damaged. Insurance $1000,
which nearly covered the loss.
XXIII.] FIRE RECORD. 461
The Amherst steam-mill buildings were burnt 25 March, 1849. The
engine and chimney were but slightly damaged. The loss to the occu-
pants of the shops, in tools and stock, was a serious one. The build-
ings and machinery were insured for $7,000. The fire was probably
communicated from a heated bearing.
A fire was discovered in a building near the county jail, occupied by
James Monroe as a livery stable, on the morning of 14 June, 1850,
which, in its progress, consumed the building in which it originated,
together with a barn, shed, and dwelling-house near by, owned by Mr.
Enos B. Crooker, and the roof of the county jail. In the attic of the
jail the gallows on which Farmer was hung was stored, which was also
burnt.
The barn and corn-barn of Mr. Amos Green, in the west part of the
town, was burnt 4 February, 1851. The fire was set by an insane
member of the family.
A slight fire occurred at the steam mill of Mr. Jonathan Knight, at
the west end of the Plain, 4 August, 1859. Loss from $100 to 8200.
The dwelling-house of Dea. Aaron Lawrence, on the Plain, was
burnt Sunday morning. 2 September. 1860. The most valuable part of
the furniture was saved. Loss estimated at from $3,000 to 84,000.
Insured for $1,200.
2 December, 1863, 2:15 a. m. The large barn on the Plain, owned
by David Stewart, was discovered to be on tire, and was shortly
consumed. The flames were blown directly on the Hardy tavern stand,
which, together with the store adjoining, and the old Means store, a few
feet distant from the last, were totally destroyed. Mr. Stewart's resi-
dence and the hotel stable were saved by the unremitting exertions of
the firemen and citizens. The goods in the first story of the store were
mostly saved; those hi the cellar and second story were destroyed.
The large flag displayed on the liberty pole on the common was also
burned, and the old burying-ground was burned over. In the barn four
cows and one horse were burnt, Loss on barn and contents $1,000;
insured for 8400. Loss on store and goods 84,000 ; covered by insur-
ance ; and on the flag, 8100. The fire was supposed to be the work of
an incendiary.
The old Nutt tavern stand on the Plain, and the barn of Luther W.
Nichols, on the opposite side of the street, were burnt 1 July, 1865.
Insurance on the tavern house, 82,000, and 8100 on the barn. The
fires were the work of an incendiary, for whose apprehension a re-
ward was offered.
A slight fire on the roof of the three-story brick building on the
Plain, 29 July, 1865, took from a spark from the furnace chimney.
462 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
The main buildings of the Atherton mansion were burnt 6 November,
1865. The fire was supposed to have taken from a defect in the
chimney.
The freight depot, and wood-shed near by, at Danforth's corner, were
burnt 5 March. 1867. Fortunately the shed was empty. The depot con-
tained one car. and nine hundred corn-planters, which were consumed.
The fire was supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
The house and barn of Stephen H. Barrett, near Stickney's mills, on
the Nashua road, were burnt 28 June, 1807. But little was saved from
the house, and a valuable cow perished in the barn. Insurance, $400
on the house.
A small barn, containing a quantity of hay, was burnt on " the acre,"
pi the west part of the town, near Milford village, "24 September, 1868.
The dwelling-house formerly owned and occcupied by Daniel Camp-
bell, Esq., situated on the old New Boston road, was burnt 11 May,
1869.
The house of Warren Damon, on the Hollis road, two miles south of
the village, was burnt Friday morning, 24 September, 1869, with most
of its contents.
13 August. 1870. A fire kindled among the brush on a newly cleared
lot east of Rodney Howard's house, in the east part of the town, ran
over nearly seventy-five acres of land, destroying some five hundred
cords of hard wood, and about seventy-five cords of hemlock bark,
which was corded up on the lot ready for the market. Loss estimated
at |3,000.
The "Amherst Hotel" was burnt, on the morning of 25 January.
1876. with most of its contents. The loss was said to have been nearly
covered by the insurance.
A large barn on the Isaac Upham place, on Chestnut hill, was burnt
22 February, 1882, with ten head of neat cattle, three shotes, and one
sheep. The fire was set from matches in the hands of a careless boy.
hunters' exploits.
30 July, 1S05. A striped snake was killed sometime last week by
Mr. Nathan Fuller, of this town, in which were between eighty and
ninety young ones, the smallest being five inches in length.
About 1812, a large otter was killed by Mr. Jacob Durant, in the
brook which crosses the road leading to Thomas B. Parker's, near its
junction with the road leading to Mr. George H. Shaw's. The animal
was apparently gnawing a root under the bank when discovered by Mr.
Durant, who approached softly and killed him with a club.
XXIIL] A BEAR HUNT. 463
A lynx, weighing twenty-two and a half pounds, and measuring five
feet nine inches in Length, from the extremities of his fore and hind
Legs, was shot on a tree, sixty feet from the ground, in the south part
of the town, in 1839.
A huge wild cat was shot near tfie residence of Hiram D. Stearns,
about half a mile south of the village, 1 February, 184!). He was first
discovered by John Lovejoy, who was hunting foxes about a mile and
a half east of the Plain. His dogs, being put upon the animal's track.
chased him into a hen-coop, where he was shot by Robert Boutell. His
length from claw to claw was four feet, and his weight, though very thin
in flesh, was twenty pounds.
A tortoise, weighing thirty-three pounds, and an ugly looking customer,
was captured in Little Babboosuck pond, in August, 1819, by Orvis P.
5Toung and George W. George.
A cat of the lynx species, probably the one that had done considera-
ble mischief in Amherst and vicinity, was killed in Antrim, in January
IS.")!).
Henry A. Nichols and Alfred Moore, while out on a coon hunting
excursion, in November, 1859, captured a hedge-hog, weighing seventeen
pounds, and brought him home. Their dogs brought home some sore-
noses as their share of the exploit.
10 November, 1801. Andrew J. Kidder and Fred Ford, shot five
coons from one tree, which weighed in the aggregat ;, seventy-three
pounds.
December, 1807. George Kent, a. deaf mute, has the past season
taken 1108 trout and 125 pickerel from ponds and brooks within three
miles of Amherst village.
October, 1807. Isaac P. Weston recently trapped a cat owl which
measured four feet and four inches from tip to tip of its wings.
August, 1867. Bee hunters have been quite successful of late.
William Melendy and John Lovejoy last week took a swarm in Lynde-
borough, from which they obtained some ninety pounds of honey.
Joseph E. Hassell killed a black snake, seven feet two inches in
length, which measured nine and a fourth inches in circumference, 10
October, 1873.
A BEAR HUNT.
Many years ago an old she bear troubled the fathers exceedingly by
her depredations among th • juvenil ■ porkers and the nice roasting ears
in the corn-fields. Having discovered her haunt, the men and boys in the
vicinity turned out one day resolved upon her destruction. Chasing her
464 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
into a swamp it was decided to station one of the number, properly armed,
at the outlet to shoot her, while the remainder should go into the swamp
and drive her within reach of the sentry's gun. One of the company,
a man of decided grit, the leader of the party, had an excellent gun,
and he was selected to remain as sentry. Another of the company,
whose reputation for courage was not very good, begged to be allowed
to remain as sentinel, as he was lame and could not walk. The owner
of the gun told him he was a coward, and would not dare to fire at the
bear if she came within reach. He replied that he would shoot the
bear. He was not afraid of bears, would fight a dozen at once if
necessary. After a good deal of discussion it was decided to give him
the gun and let him act as sentinel. The rest of the party proceeded
into the swamp and soon found Mistress Bruin, who was speedily put
on the back track, while they followed leisurely, expecting to hear a re-
port from then- comrade at the outlet.
On arriving within sight of that worthy, he called to them, asking
why they had n't been along five minutes sooner V Has the bear been
here ? asked the owner of the gun. Been here ! Why she came and sat
down and looked me in the face as much as five minutes, and you might
have shot her just as well as not if you had been here. You plagged
coward; why didn't you shoot her. Shoot her! Why, I forgot that I
had a gun with me. I forgot all about it. After upbraiding the sentry
roundly for his cowardice, the party broke up, thoroughly disgusted
with the day's operations.
COLLEGE GRADUATES FROM AMHERST.
HARVARD COLLEGE.
(1882). Xames of those now living are in Italics.
Name. Date. Profession. Died. Age.
John Wilkins. 1764. Instructor, at Athens, O., 1808. 68
Jacob Kimball, 1788. Farmer, Amherst, 1 Aug., 1819. 81
Charles II. Atherton, 1794. Lawyer, Amherst, 8 Jan., 1853. 79
Daniel Weston, 1795. Clergyman, in Maine, 1837.
William Gordon, 1806. Lawyer, Brattleboro', Vt., 12 Jan., 1871. 83
Jonathan F. Dana * 1813. Physician, N. Y. city, April, 1827. 33
Samuel L. Dana, 1813. Chemist, Lowell, Mass., 11 March, 1868. 72
John H. Wilkins, 1818. Bookseller, Boston, 5 Dec, 1861. 67
Charles G. Atherton, 1822. Lawyer, Manchester, 14 Nov., 1853. 49
Stephen B. Holmes, 1822. Instructor, at sea, 11 January, 1830. 28
*Name changed to James by Legislature of Massachusetts.
XXIII.]
COLLEGE GRADUATES.
465
Name.
Joshua I ley wood,
Reuben 1). Mussey,
JamesMcK. "Wilkin
Levi Hartshorn,
Allen Fisk,
Ambrose Seaton,*
Charles F. Elliott,
Edward Spalding,
Charles E. Parker,
William Read,
Edward II. Pratt,
Alfred Spalding,*
Edward Aiken,
John H. Clark,
Charles EL Wallace
Vaola J. Hartshorn,
Warren Upham,
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.
Date. Profession. Died. Age
1795. Cler'man, Dunstable, M's., 11 Nov. 1814. 51
1803. Physician. Boston, 21 June, 1S66. 86
s,1812. Lawyer, Manchester, 18 June, 1855. 70
1813. Clergyman, Amherst, 27 Sept., 1819. 33
1814. Instructor, 18 September, 1875. 86
1825. Physician, Maysville, Ky., 9 April, 1866. 61
1829. Physician. Somersworth, 23 June, 1876. 72
1833. Physician.
1 834. Phy'cian, Beardstown, 111., 23 Aug. 1882. 69
1839. Physician.
1841. Physician, Somersworth, 15 Nov., 1857. 51
1843. Physician, Greenup, Ky., 20 Dec, 1878. 63
1851. Physician.
1857. Physician.
1857. Studied law, Amherst, 21 June, 1861. 25
1860. Clergyman.
1871. Civil Engineer.
Name.
Samuel Whiting,
DARTMOUTH UNIVERSITY.
Date. Profession.
1818. Lawyer, Mason, N. H.
Name.
Robert Means, Jr.,
William Apple ton,
James Means.
BOWDOIX COLLEGE.
Date. Profession. Died. Age-
1807. Lawyer, Lowell, Mass., 26 Sept., 1842. 56
1826. Lawyer, Cincinnati, O., 19 Oct., 1830. 21
1833. Clergyman, Newbern, N. C, Apr., 1863. 50
AMHERST COLLEGE.
Name. Date. Profession.
William 0. Baldwin, 1851. Clergyman.
John E. Wheeler, 1857. Clergyman.
William B. Chirk, 1S65. Banker.
Name.
Edward C. David,
William G. David,
WILLIAMS COLLEGE.
Profession. Died. Age.
Lawyer.
Physician, Lyons, N. Y., 17 Aug., 1877. 46
: Graduate of Medical College.
30
466 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
LAWYERS TN AMHERST.
Moses Parsons, a native of Newbury, Mass.. graduated at Harvard
College 1765; read law with Gen. John Sullivan; practiced at New-
market until 177-5; came thence to Amherst, where he remained until
1775; died. 1801.
Joshua Atherton, from Harvard. .Mass.. graduated at Harvard Col-
lege in 1762; read law with Abel Willard, of Lancaster, and James Put-
nam, of Worcester; commenced practice at Petersham, Mass., in 1765;
removed to Litchfield the same year, thence to Merrimack, in 1767; came
to Amherst in the summer of 177-5. where he remained until his death,
April, LSI)!).
Samuel Dana, born in Cambridge, Mass., graduated at Harvard Col-
lege in 1755 ; was minister of Groton. Mass., 1761-75. Being suspected of
toryism, by his people, he resigned his oifice; came to Amherst in 1781;
studied law with Joshua Atherton; commenced practice in 1783; Reg-
ister and Judge of Probate for Hillsborough County; died 2 April,
1798.
William Gordon, from Boston, Mass., graduated at Harvard Col-
lege in 1779; read law with Joshua Atherton; commenced practice in
1787; representative in Congress 1797-1800; Register of Probate and
Attorney-General of Xew Hampshire : died in Boston 8 May, 1802.
Charles Humphrey Atherton, son of Joshua Atherton, born in
Amherst, graduated at Harvard College in 1794; read law with Joshua
Atherton and William Gordon; commenced practice in 1797; repre-
sentative in Congress 1815-17; Register of Probate 1798-1837; died 8
January, 1853.
David Everett, born in Princeton, Mass., graduated at Dartmouth
College in 1795; read law with John M. Forbes; practiced in Boston a
short time; came to Amherst in 1802; returned to Boston in 1807,
where, in 1809, he engaged in establishing the Boston Patriot, lie was
afterward engaged in other newspaper establishments. Died at Marietta,
Ohio, 6 Dec, 1813.
Jedediah Kilburn Smith, born in Amherst; son of Jonathan
Smith; not a college graduate; read law with Samuel Dana; com-
menced practice about I860; representative in Congress 1807-9 ; lacked
but one vote of being chosen Senator in Congress in 1810; was coun-
cilor and post-master many years; died, a victim of intemperance, in
December, 1828.
Edmund Parker, born in Jaffrey, X. H., graduated at Dartmouth
College in 1803, in the class with Henry Hubbard, Reuben D. Mussey,
and Judge Nathan Weston, of Maine; commenced practice in 1807,
succeeded to the business of David Everett ; was Solicitor of Hillsbo-
XXIII.] LAWYERS. 4G7
rough county, Judge of Probate, and representative; removed to Nashua
in 1835, where he was agent for the Jackson Manufacturing Company
several years : died in Claremont September, 1856.
Samuel Bell, son of John Bell, Esq., of Londonderry, graduated at
Dartmouth College in 1793; read law with Judge Samuel Dana; com-
menced practice in Francestown; removed to Amherst, in 1808; re-
mained here until 1811, when he removed to Chester. While here he
built the house now owned by Hon. Harrison Eaton. He was governor
of the state three years, and United States senator twelve years ; died in
Chester December, 1850.
Nathaniel Shattuck, born in Temple, graduated at Dartmouth
College in 1801, in the class with Daniel Webster; read law with Benj.
J. Gilbert, of Hanover, and Timothy Biglow, of Groton, Mass.; admitted
to the Middlesex County Bar in 1801; commenced practice in Milford
in 1806: removed to Amherst prior to 1812, where he remained until
1830 ; removed to Brookline, afterward to Mason : died in the Asylum
for the Insane, at Concord, September, 1864, aged ninety years. He
was the last survivor of his class in college.
Clifton Claggett, son of Hon. Wyseman Claggett, was born in
Portsmouth; not a college graduate; read law with his father ; commenc-
ed practice in Litchfield in 1787 ; removed to Amherst in 1811 ; was rep-
resentative in Congress six years ; Justice of the Superior Court of New
Hampshire, and Judge of Probate for Hillsborough county; died in
January, 1829.
Robert Means, jr., son of Col. Robert Means, graduated at Bow-
doin College in 1807; read law with Charles H. Atherton and Jeremiah
Mason ; commenced practice in Amherst, and remained there until 1831 ;
he removed to Lowell, where he died in September, 1842.
Elisha Fuller Wallace, bom in Amherst, now Milford; grad-
uated at Dartmouth College in 1811; read law with Solomon K. Liver-
more; practiced his profession in Marblehead, Mass; removed to Am-
herst in 1820. where he was clerk of the courts of Hillsborough county;
removed to Syracuse, New York, in 1825; died in 1870, aged seventy-
eight.
Axdrew Wallace, a native of Amherst, now Milford; not a college
graduate; read law with Nathaniel Shattuck and Daniel Abbott; prac-
ticed in Mont Vernon and Hancock; came to Amherst in 1821; was
clerk of the courts in Hillsborough county fifteen years ; resumed prac-
tice in 1819; died in September, 1856.
Ezra Prescott commenced practice in Francestown, whence, in
1821, he removed to Greenfield; was elected Register of Deeds for
Hillsborough county in the spring of 1828; removed to Amherst in the
468 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
autumn of that year, where he resumed the practice of his profession
in 1840. He died in September, 1845, aged sixty-four.
Hubbard Newton graduated at Dartmouth College in 1804; prac-
ticed his profession at Newport; came to Amherst in 1835, succeeding
to the business of Edmund Parker. After about five years he returned
to Newport, where he died in 1847.
Perley Dodge, born in New Boston; graduated at Union College
in 1824; read law with Titus Brown and Nehemiah Eastman; com-
menced practice in Francestown in 1828; removed thence to New Bos-
ton in 1832; came to Amherst shortly after, where he is still living
(1882).
Bernard Bemus Whittemore, born in Boston, Mass., graduated
at Harvard College in 1839 ; read law with Atherton & Sawyer, of
Nashua, and attended Dane Law School, at Cambridge, Mass.; com-
menced practice in Nashua in 1 843 ; came to Amherst the same year,
where he remained until 1845, when he returned to Nashua. He is
now engaged in the publication of the Nashua Gazette.
William Saxton Morton, born in Roxbury, Mass., graduated at
Harvard College in 18 51 ; read law with Sidney Bartlett, Esq.; com-
menced practice in the office of Perley Dodge in 1840 ; remained here
but a short time ; died in Quincy, Mass., in September, 1871.
Presbury West, jr., born in St. Johnsbury, Vt., and George W.
Morrison opened an office in the Farmers' Bank building in 1815. Mr.
West read law with Isaac Fletcher, Esq., and commenced practice in
Fairlee, Vt. He remained in Amherst but a short time, and the busi-
ness of the firm was transferred to Manchester.
Stephen Peabody, son of William Peabody, Esq., of Amherst, now
Milford, graduated at Harvard College in 1805; read law with Solomon
K. Livermore, John Phillips, and David Everett ; practiced his profes-
sion in Exeter and Portsmouth, but relinquished it and engaged in
farming in Milford. He was appointed Register of Probate for Hills-
borough county in 1839, and removed to Amherst. After leaving this
office he resumed the practice of law; died in January, 1847.
PHYSICIANS.
Moses Nichols, from Reading, Mass., settled here as early as 1761,
and remained in practice until his death in May, 1790. He was an ac-
tive and influential citizen, and filled many important civil and military
offices. At the head of his regiment he commenced the attack upon
the Hessians at Bennington in 1777. He also commanded a regiment
at West Point, at the time of Arnold's treason, in 1780.
XXIII.] PHYSICIANS. 469
Seth Ames, from Dedham, Mass., brother of the celebrated orator
and statesman, Fisher Ames, graduated at Harvard College in 1764 in
the class with John Wilkins; practiced here from about 1770 to 1777,
when his health failing from the excessive use of snuff, he relinquished
practice and returned to Dedham, where he died 1 January. 1778.
Hexry Codmax, son of Henry Codnian, an Irish immigrant, was
born in Middleton, Mass. His mother was a near relative of Rev. Mr.
Wilkins. He practiced here nearly forty years, and died in March.
1812. His son, Henry Codman. practiced in Mont Vernon a short
time, but died young.
Ebexezer Westox t , jr.. was in practice here some years. "Wes-
ton's Itch Ointment," of which tons were manufactured by Read &
Spalding, originated with him.
Samuel Curtis, from Sharon, Mass., graduated at Harvard College
in 1766; was a surgeon in the army of the Revolution: settled in Am-
herst in 1789, and was in practice here a few years. He finally gave up
his professional business for that of an inn-keeper. He also kept an
apothecary's store in his tavern; compiled and published a pocket
almanac and register several years, beside other publications of various
kinds, and served as post-master several years. In his old age he loved
to hear and tell the news and relate rare instances which had come
under his personal observation or of which he had heard. Being rather
credulous, some of the stories he reported would have done credit to
the "Pickwick Club." He died in 1822.
Moses Xichols, jr., son of Gen. Moses Xichols, studied his profession
under the direction of his father and commenced practice here in 1781 ;
removed to Thornton in 1787, thence to Canada in 1802 ; returned to
Amherst in 1805; remained here until 1811 when he again removed to
Canada. He died at Sherbrooke, Canada, in Xovember, 1819.
Xathaxiel Hexchmax, from Lynn, Mass., settled here in 1783. and
remained in practice until his death in May, 1800.
Johx Mussey, a native of Kingston, studied his profession with
Gen. Xichols; settled in Pelham in 1766; in Amherst in 1791. where
he remained until 18i)0, when he removed to Peterborough, where he
died in January. 1831. He was father of Prof. Reuben Dimond Mus-
sey, the celebrated surgeon and instructor in surgery.
Rogers Smith, born in Middleton, Mass., came, in infancy, with his
father's family, to Amherst; commenced practice prior to 1804; re-
moved to Mont Vernon in 1808, thence to Greenbush, X. Y., finally to
Weston, Vt., where he died in 1816. He was father of Rev. Asa Dodge
Smith, the president of Dartmouth College from 1863 to 1871.
470 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
Matthias Spalding, son of Col. Simeon Spalding, of Chelmsford,
Mass., graduated at Harvard College in 1798; studied medicine with
Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse, of Cambridge, and Dr. E. A. Holyoke, of
Salem, Mass.; visited England in 1800, where he attended the medical
lectures of Sir Astley Cooper and other noted physicians and
surgeons ; on his return he commenced practice in Chelmsford, whence,
in 1806, he removed to Amherst, where he continued in practice until
disabled by the infirmities of age. He died 25 May. 1865, aged nearly
ninety-six years.
Charles F. Hildreth graduated at Harvard College in 1823; prac-
ticed here a short time; in 1821 removed to Boston.
Ambrose Seaton, son of Deacon John Seaton. jr., graduated at
Dartmouth Medical School in 1825; commenced practice in 1826.
About 1830 he removed to Boston, thence at a later date to Greenup,
Kentucky, where he died.
Amory Gale, a native of Warwick, Mass., graduated at Bowdoin
College in 1821; practiced in Lancaster, Mass., some years; settled in
Amherst in November, 1851, where he remained until 1839. He died
in 1S73.
Francis Perky Fitch, a native of Greenfield, who graduated at
Dartmouth Medical College in 1831, commenced practice in New Bos-
ton, whence he removed to Amherst in 183!); succeeded to Dr. Gale's
business in Amherst, and remained in successful practice until 1865
when he removed to Milford. After a few years he relinquished prac-
tice, and removed to Vineland, N. J., where he died in December,
1874.
Edward Aiken, son of Rev. Silas Aiken, graduated at Dartmouth
College in 1851; succeeded to the practice of Dr. Fitcli in Amherst in
1865.
George W. Moor, a native of Princeton, Mass., graduated at Dart-
mouth College in 1841 ; settled here in July, 1843, and remained in
practice until his death, in September, 1866.
P. D. Baker commenced practice here in 1855, but remained only a
short time. He removed to Maine where he died.
Bradley H. Bartlett practiced in Manchester and Pittsfield, and
was a surgeon in the civil war; settled in Amherst in 1872. In Octo-
ber, 1876, he was disabled by paralysis, and died in December follow-
ing.
C. M. Dodge practiced here a few months, commencing in April,
1878, and was succeeded by A. C. Buswell, who remained but a short
time.
W. H. Dinsmore settled here in 1880, and is now in practice.
XXIII. ] WITCH STORIES. 471
WITCH STORIES.
It is a little remarkable that no more witch stories have
been handed down to us from the first settlers of the town.
Coming as they did from the vicinity of Salem, the trans-
actions of 1692, in which their immediate ancestors bore a
part, must have been in vivid remembrance, and they would
be likely to attribute their mishaps to the interference of
the "Father of lies," or his imps in human form.
Two stories of such supposed interference have come
down in the family of Dr. John Mussev, which we give :
Dr. Mussev practiced medicine in Pelham for some years, thence he
removed to Amherst, where he remained a short time, and finally settled
in Peterborough, where he died. After his removal to Peterborough,
the doctor and his wife started on a journey to Pelham to visit her
relatives, the Butlers, in that place. While stopping- in Amherst, on the
way there, he exchanged horses with his son-in-law, Solomon Prince,
and went on his way feeling perfectly safe with Mr. Prince's "steady
old nag." While in Pelham he attempted to collect a small bill which
an old woman, who was reputed to he a witch, owed him. She was in-
dignant and refused to pay it, On the way home the old horse acted
strangely, so that it was almost perilous to ride after him. After his
arrival home the doctor attempted to use the horse to grind some apples
in the cider-mill, but although he aj tpeared to try and go, he somehow
made but little progress. On another occasion, when they attempted to
adjust the crupper upon him, the horse threw up his heels so that it
was dangerous to attempt doing it. Dr. Mussey's son John, who was
present, told the hired man to lead the horse to the side of the hog-pen
and he would reach out of a window there and do it, but this being-
done, the horse squatted every time it was attempted. John then called
for an axe, declaring he would beat the perverse animal's brains out ; but
the blow aimed at the horse's head was dodged, and only a slight wound
over one of the eyes was inflicted. This w r as sufficient; the horse at
once became tractable ; but the old woman in Pelham was observed to
wear a patch over one of her eyes for a long time after.
Another old woman in Pelham was reputed to be a witch. When it
was laid to her charge she said it was not an unpardonable sin if she
was one. One day she was at Dea. Butler's house when he and his son
brought a log into the door-yard. She asked them what they were
going to do with that hollow log. The deacon told her the log was a
sound one ; but she insisted it was hollow, and said she could crawl
472 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
through it. Upon being told to do it if she could, she actually appeared
to do so. the deacon pounding the log smartly with his goad-stick
meantime, of which pounding she was supposed to have the full benefit.
She was terribly angry at him when she came out of the log.
"CABINET" CLIPPINGS.
All parties, from the town minister to the printer's devil,
have had a hearing in the columns of the " Farmers' Cabinet."
Some of these are given.
The worthy Publican of the village had his troubles,
which induced him to do a cash business. This purpose
was announced in the u Cabinet," 10 March, 1803, as follows:
ONCE FOR ALL.
All persons indebted to the subscriber above four cents will remem-
ber that the time of service for March Court expires in a few days.
SAMUEL CURTIS.
X. B. Grog sold for cash only.
Capt. Dickenson, evidently a man of some consequence
in his day, made proclamation in the "Cabinet," of 26
March, 1803, as follows:
Capt. Dickenson, formerly servant to Generals "Washington, Putnam,
&c, &c, is no coward, but a man of honor, repaired to meet his antag-
onist at time and place, armed cap-a-pie ; like a gentleman he waited for
his rival; but he did not come, and this advertisement will show to the
world that he is honorable even to the end.
" Paid for."
Stage-driver Wheat had his share of trouble. After an-
nouncing the times and seasons of the goings and comings
of his stage, he says :
"Notwithstanding an opposition has arisen on said line, the subscriber
has faith as a grain of mustard-seed, and hopes his customers and old
friends will help him to remove the mountain and cast it back to the
New York line, that the owner may enjoy his dear-bought line in peace.
He has now new sets of horses, good carriages, and faithful drivers with
him on the line.
Now come on my friends and give me your money and you shall
have complete satisfaction.
April 29, 1803. JOSEPH WHEAT."
XXIII.] "cabinet" clippings. 473
The Bible was stolen from the pulpit in the meeting-house,
which called out the following notice from the deacons :
" villainy! !
The BIBLE was taken from the Pulpit of the meeting-house in this
town, the first week in November, during the sitting of the Supreme
Court. It was the Philadelphia edition of the pulpit bible ; a very
large folio, elegantly printed on the best of paper without plates, and
without marginal notes. The Apoeraphy was printed in Italic. The
bible was almost new, and had the name of the donor on one of the
blank leaves. It cost twenty-six dollars.
Whoever will give information of the person or persons who com-
mitted the sacriligious deed, so that they may be brought to justice,
shall be very handsomely rewarded.
SAMUEL WILKIXS, 1 In behalf
AMOS ELLIOTT, [ of the Church
JOHN SEATOX. J of Amherst.
Amherst, Dec. 3, 1805."
But all efforts to discover the thief, or the " pulpit Bible,"
were unavailing.
The Cabinet has been guilty of telling some rather in-
credible stories. One of these made its appearance in the
issue of 3 March, 1807.
"MAMMOTH BOY.
On the 23d ultimo Mr. Joshua Jones, of Milford, was delivered of a
fine son weighing fifteen pounds ! ! "
In the next issue the story was corrected thus :
" MAMMOTH MISTAKE.
In the paragraph in our last respecting the ' Mammoth Boy,' read the
wife of"
How many drinks the mistake cost the editor we are not
informed.
Seventy years ago it was customary for the town's people
to assemble on a given day and assist their pastor in getting
his stock of wood for the season. The following notice of
one of these gatherings at Mr. Barnard's is found in the
Cabinet of 20 January, 1816 :
474 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
" The subscriber takes this opportunity to inform his Neighbors and
Friends in this town, that he shall be happy to wait upon them on
Monday next, if the weather should be good ; if not, the first fair day
after. And as his door-yard is empty, and the weather cold, it will af-
ford him an additional pleasure to see them accompanied with good
axes, teams, and sleds.' While he hopes for future favors, he grate-
fully acknowledges the reception of such as are past.
JER. BARNARD."
Tanner Chickering, too, had a hearing. His wants were
made known in a few words.
" I call upon all whom it may concern for a settlement by the first
of February next.
Those who are under the law must suffer the consequence of the
law, and those that are under the gospel will do as the gospel directs —
that is, do as they would be done by.
Amherst, Jan. 1, 1817."
Being a decided Jacksonian, he made known his desires for court
boarders of like faith.
" 1 should like twenty Jackson men and others to board at court
time.
February 9, 1831. ISAAC CHICKERING."
A voice from behind the anvil.
" Strike while the iron is hot."
William Crosby, blacksmith, acquaints those for whom he has so
long blown at the bellows, without their helping him "to raise the wind,"
till his fire is out, that unless they face the an vil by the 15th inst., and help
him blow up the coals, they must expect he will work up their old iron
for them, haul them over the coals, and expose them to the fire and the
hammer of justice.
Merrimack, Sept. 4, 1823.
Crosby afterward carried on the blacksmithing business
in an old shop near the Chickering bridge in Amherst.
Mr. Boylston was frequently very happy in dunning his
delinquent customers. One of these duns, in his best style,
appeared 6 February, 1823.
" An old author has unfortunately recorded the fact that a man, ap-
parently in the best of health, fell dead as he was paying an old
debt.
XXIII. ] LOCAL NAMES. 475
This serious affair has filled thousands and thousands with fear of
the like accident, and forever deters them from paying their old debts.
But we would assure our good friends, the delinquents, that they need
not be deterred from this cause, as no man ever yet died of paying the
Printer."
Finally, the attendant imp, the "printer's devil," had his
say. One of this class, somewhat poetically inclined, an-
nounced the marriage of an ancient couple as follows :
"Married, in this town, on Sunday evening last, Dea. David Stanley,
aged G9, to Miss Patience Melendy, aged 58.
" Thus good old Patience long did wait
In her unmarried state,
Till by appointment David came,
And led her up to Hymen's gate."
LOCAL NAMES.
Babasuck, the name of the great pond, as written in the proprietors'
book of records, 1753.
Beaver Meadow, in the east part of the town. Proprietors' records,
1753.
Chestnut Hills. Town records, vol. J., p. 43.
Dunjon Brook. Town records, vol. I., is now called Stiles's Brook.
Folly Bridge crosses Beaver Brook near Mr. Willoby's, on the old
bridle path from the Hollis to the Xashua road.
Half-way Brook crossed the road from Shepard's mills to Lynde-
borough, near Dea. Hobbs's place.
Lyons Bridge has since been known as the Kendrick, and now as
the Pauper Farm bridge, across the Souhegan.
North Hill, in Mont Vernon, is mentioned in vol. I., p. 43, town
records.
Prince's Brook runs from Joe English to Babboosuck pond ; so named
from Lt. Joseph Prince. Town records, vol. I., p. 65.
Quohquinapassakessanalnioy : this jaw-breaker is given in the Massa-
chusetts court recoi"ds as the name of a place "'at and on" the Souhe-
gan river, where several farms, granted by the court in 1660, were
located by that pioneer surveyor, Jonathan Danforth, Esq.
Straddlepole is the name given to a rough tract of land in the north-
east part of the town, better adapted to growing wood and timber
than for any other purpose. The name has been attributed to Dr. Cod-
man, but probably originated from some other source, as it is found
in vol. I., town records.
476 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Souhegan, the name of the river, is sometimes spelled, in the old rec-
ords, Sowhegan ; more frequently Soughegan ; rarely, Souheganack.
It is said to mean " worn-out lands." Sometimes it was called Nata"
cook, meaning a clearing. Probably the Indian si maws raised their
supplies of corn on the interval near by.
" The Vineyard" was in the northeast part of the town, between
the place formerly owned by Mr. Isaac Upham and Damon's pond.
The road from Prince's to Chestnut Hill crossed it. Its fruits were
hardly equal to those of Eschol of old.
Dr. Codman is said to have given names to several of the school
districts.
No. 1 (on the Plain) he christened Lower Flanders. That part which
lay on the old road to Xew Boston he called Upper Flanders. The
north-west pai'ish folks, who bore the dwellers on the Plain no good
will, lumped the two together, and gave them the name of Sodom, and
spoke of " seeing the smoke of their torment ascending to the
heavens on frosty mornings," displaying somewhat of the spirit dis-
played by one of their number who gave, as a Fourth of July toast, in
the days when Parson Jeremiah prophesied against the democracy : —
" Amherst ; — It has a big meeting-house with a tall steeple ; an Ar-
minian preacher and a cursed people."
No. 2 was known as " Carnal End." Some of the inhabitants were
said to be rather close in their dealings, fond of " saving grace " (Dei
gratia, on the old Spanish .coin). Some, it was reported, would pinch
the United States dollar so hard that it would make the " eagle
scream."
No. 3 was known as Cricket Corner, from the abundance of those
insects found there in the autumn.
District No. 4, the residence of Parson Barnard and some of his
deacons, was known as Christian Hill. The boys rather irreverently
named it " Brimstone Corner."
District No. 5, south of the river, was known as Danforth's Corner,
from David Danforth, one of the principal inhabitants, who kept tav-
ern, and carried on the blacksmithing business there many years ago.
District No. 6, near the pond, was appropriately enough called Pond
Parish.
District No. 8, on the New Boston road, was called Curly Row, from
a numerous family of curly-haired Stanleys, who lived on the place
now owned by Mr. John Gould ; while the Goffstown road was called
Pestleborough, from Amos Dodge's mortar-and-pestle manufactory on
the brook which crossed the road not far from his house.
District No. 9 was known long before Dr. Codman's day as Chestnut
Hills.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 477
CHAPTER XXIY.
GENEALOGIES AND FAMILY REGISTERS.
Abbreviations, — b., born; m., married; d., died; res.,
resides ; rem., removed. Roman numerals, I, II, 111,
IV, refer to generations, the first of the name in this coun-
try being reckoned as I. Where cities and towns in New
Hampshire are referred to, the name of the state is not
given. In other cases the name of the state or country is
usually given. A f before a name indicates that it is to
be found in another list, or family.
ABBOT.
I. George Abbot, from whom the families bearing the
name in Amherst were descended, emigrated, as tradition re-
ports, from Yorkshire, England, about 1640. He was
among the first settlers in Andover, Mass., in 1G43, and one
of the proprietors of the town. In 1647 he married Hannah
Chandler, who died 11 June, 1711. He died 24 December,
1681, aged 66.
II. John Abbot, son of George, lived with his father in
the garrison house in Andover. He was much employed in
town business, and upon the organization of the church in
Andover, in 1711, he was chosen one of its deacons. He
was b. 2 March, 1648 ; m. Sarah Barker in 1673, who d.
10 February, 1729, aged 82. He d. 19 March, 1721.
III. Their son, Ephraim Abbot, was b. 15 August, 1682 ;
d. 8 June, 1748 ; m. Sarah Hunt. They lived in Andover.
Their children were —
478 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
1. Sarah, b. 8 March, 1710 ; m. fSamuel Gray, of Amherst.
2. f Ephraim, b. 1 August, 1718; settled in Amherst.
3. Mary, b. 20 -July, 1720.
4. f Joshua, b. 1 October, 1722 : settled in Amherst.
5. Daniel, b. 14 September, 1724; m. Lydia Ilenfield.
(». Elizabeth, b. 10 July, 1720 : m. Asa Abbot ; d. 18 December, 1819.
7. \Josiah, b. 4 September, 1728 ; settled in Amherst.
8. Ebenezer, b. 3 March, 1731 ; d. 19 December, 1771.
9. Martha, b. 10 April, 1733; d. 5 May, 1733.
10. Peter, b. 19 May, 1731 ; d. IS April, 1774.
11. Martha, b. 24 July, 1737: m. fCapt. Archelaus Towne, of Am-
herst.
IV. 2. Ephraim Abbot, b. in Andover 1 August, 1718 ;
m. (1) Mary Abbot ; in. (2) Hannah Kneeland ; settled in
Amherst. Their children were —
12. Man/, b. 22 March, 1741 ; m. fPeter Goss.
13. Ephraim, b. 16 December, 1742; m. Dorothy Stiles; d. in Goffs-
town, 1827.
14. Hannah, b. 12 March, 1745; m. Shattuck, of Mollis.
15. Knee/and, b. 17 May. 1748: m. Stanley.
Hi. Sarah, b. 14 June, 1751 ; in. William Codman, of Deeriug.
17. Dorcas, b. 7 August, 1752 ; m. George Wiley, of Amherst.
18. Esther, b. 6 March, 1755; m. Benjamin Pike, jr., of Amherst;
settled in Montpelier, Vt.
19. Alii (jail, b. 30 July, 1750 ; m. Samuel Twiss, of New Boston, 25
April, 1781.
20. Daniel, b. 1 April. 1762 ; m. Sarah Stevens, 28 July, 1786.
IV. 4. Joshua Abbot, b. in Andover, Mass., 1 October,
1722 ; m. Phebe Ingalls ; settled in Amherst. Their chil-
dren were —
21. Phebe, b. 20 August, 1750 ; m. Everden.
22. Sarah, b. 27 January, 1752 ; d. young.
23. Jos/ma, b. 10 May, 1754; m. Deborah Chandler.
24. Elizabeth, b. 12 November, 1756.
25. Stephen, b. 28 September, 1759 ; m. Sarah Lovejoy 8 August,
1782.
26. Sarah, b. 19 February, 1761.
27. Peter, b. 28 July, 1762 ; m. Abigail Farnum 23 October, 1788.
28. A child, b. 10 April, 1764; d. in infancy.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 479
29. A child, b. 3 April, 1765 ; d. in infancy.
30. A child, b. 16 February, 1767 ; d. in infancy.
31. Joseph, b. 23 January, 1772.
IV. 7. Josiah Abbot, b. in Andover 3 September, 1728 ;
m. Hannah Hobbs. They settled in Amherst. Their chil-
dren were —
32. Hannah, b. 18 September, 1755; m. S. Cbamberlin.
33. Amy, b. 5 June, 1757 ; d. 1777.
34. Josiah, b. 18 December, 1759.
35. William, b. 21 December, 1761 ; d. 23 December, 1764.
36. Lemuel, b. 13 May, 1764; m. Deborah Balch ; lived in Wind-
ham, Vt. ; d. 19 January, 1841.
37. William, b. 28 April, 1766 ; d. 10 May, 1766.
38. Daniel, b. 13 July, 1761) ; m. Sally Allison.
39. Darius Abbot, b. in Andover, Mass., 15 June, 1737 ;
m. Mary Holt 1 November, 1757. They settled in Amherst
prior to 1775. Their children were —
40. Anna, b. 31 August, 1758: d. 14 October, 1777.
41. Henry, b. 1 June. 1761.
42. Elizabeth, b. 26 May. 1763.
43. Paul, b. 8 March, 1766.
44. Tryphena, b. 23 February. 1769 : m. John Wallace.
45. Calvin, b. 15 April, 1771 : m. Lucy Dutton ; d. 14 August, 1841.
46. Hannah,} , 1t c , , ..„„- < m. Joel Jones (1st wife).
in t 4i, ^ b. 11 September. 17(0 ; -i j 1A , v ,_,-- '
47. Luther, ) r \ d. 14 September, l*/o.
48. Nancy, m. Joel Jones (2d wife).
49. Henry Abbot, b. in Andover, Mass., 5 March, 1785 ;
d. in Amherst 26 March, 1868; m. Rhoda Bailey January,
1811 ; she was b. 1789 ; d. 1 September, 1854. Their chil-
dren were —
50. Nathan P., b. 16 November, 1811.
51. Timothy B.. b. 29 January, 1814.
52. Eliza.
53. Mary.
54. Rhoda, b. 9 April, 1817.
56! Mary\ \ b " 28 Jul ^ ^
57. Archer P., b. December, 1822.
480 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
58. Sylvia Ami. b. 24 August, 1826.
59. Asa Warren, b. 5 September, 182!); d. 1 Xovember, 1829.
ADAMS.
I. Henry Adams came from England in 1634, and set-
tled at Mount Wollaston, now Quincy, Mass., where he d.
6 October, 1646. His son —
II. Samuel Adams, b. 1617 ; m. (1) Rebecca Graves ; she
d. October, 1662 ; m. (2) Esther Sparhawk 7 May, 1668.
They lived in Charlestown, and afterward in Concord, but
finally settled in Chelmsford, Mass., where he d. 24 Janu-
ary, 1688-9. In company with his brother, Thomas, he
erected mills in the easterly part of Chelmsford, near the
site of the city of Lowell.
III. Joseph Adams, son of Samuel, succeeded his father
on the homestead in Chelmsford, and d. there. He was
succeeded by his son —
IV. Joseph Adams, who, in turn, was succeeded by his
son —
V. Joseph Adams, whose son —
VI. 1. Levi Adams, b. in Chelmsford, 14 June, 1764 ;
m. Lydia Farrar. They settled in Temple, but afterward
rem. to Amherst, and located at Danforth's Corner, where
he d. 14 September, 1805, from injuries received by a kick
from a horse. His widow m. (2) Capt. Jacob Danforth 16
October, 1811, and d. 3 January, 1845, aged 78. Their
children were —
2. Lydia, b. in Temple 2-1 August, ITS!) ; m. fDavid Secombe 18
December, 1823 ; settled in Milford.
3. Abel, b. 22 August, 1790; d. 3 December, 1791.
4. Abel, b. 22 December, 1792 ; m. ; d. at West Rox-
bury, Mass., 7 July, 1867.
5. \Levi, b. 21 April. 1795.
6. Rebecca, b. 21 February, 1798 ; m. Rev. Abel Conant, of Leomin-
ster, Mass., 30 March, 1821, now res. in Amherst. One child, Maria
R., d. in Amherst 12 July, 1865, aged 40.
XXI V.J GENEALOGIES. 481
7. Mary Cole, b. December, 1799; d. in Arahersl 25 March, 1868;
unmarried.
8. Charlotte, b. 24 August. 1802; tn. fDavid Stewart.
9. Catherine, b. 22 October, 1804; d. 5 November, 1804.
VII. 5. Levi Adams, b. 21 April, 1795; m. his cousin,
Lucy Farrar, of Temple; settled on the farm now owned by
Luther Coggin, where he d. 19 July, 1834. After his death
his widow and children left town. She d. in Erie, Pa., 28
August, 1865, aged 68 years. Their children were —
10. Charles Frederick, b. 25 June, 1S2<); was a physician in Hut-
laud, Vt.; became insane, and d. lu February, 1882.
11. .46% Larkin, b. 14 January, 1823; m. George Faulkner, m. d.,
of Jamaica Plain, Mass.
12. Abel Augustine, b. 21 January, 1825; res. in Erie. Pa.
13. Mary Caroline, b. 10 November, 1827; in. L. D. Merchant; res.
in Washington, D. C.
14. Franklin Farrar, b. 6 August, 1830.
15. Lydia Maria, b. 29 August, 1832: d. in 1834.
AIKEN.
I. Edward Aiken, b. in Ireland, 1660 ; m. Barbara Ed-
wards. They emigrated to America in 1720. and settled
in Londonderry, where he d. in November, 1747; she d. in
August, 1741. They were the ancestors of most, if not all,
of the New Hampshire Aikens.
II. Nathaniel, son of Edward and Barbara Aiken, was
b. 14 May, 1696; m. Margaret Cochran, of Londonderry, 1
December, 1726. They settled in Londonderry, where he
d. 17 July, 1782; she d. in 1788. They had twelve chil-
dren. Of these —
III. John, b. 18 November, 1728; m. Annis Orr in
1758. They settled at first in Londonderry, where they re-
mained eight or ten years, and then rem. to Bedford. He
d. in Bedford 7 April, 1793. She was b. in Ireland 28
March, 1734; d. in September, 1813. Of their eight chil-
dren —
31
48i! HISTORY OP AMHP]RST. [Chap.
IV. Phineas, the second son, b. 16 December, 1761 ; m.
Elizabeth, daughter of Lt. John Patterson, of Amherst, 8
December, 1789 ; she was b. 11 November, 1766 ; d. in An-
dover, Mass., 21 September, 1855. He d. in Bedford 18
April, 1836. He was a soldier in the Revolution; repre-
sentative, selectman and town-clerk, and an officer in the
church. Their children were —
1. Nancy Patterson, b. 16 September, 1790 ; in. Jonathan Aiken, of
Goffstown, 22 November, 1809; d. in 1880.
2. Lucy, b. 15 July, 1792 ; m. Dr. Fred. A. Mitchell, of Bedford ;
she d. 23 November, 1831.
3. Betsey, b. 28 September, 1794; m. Isaac Riddle, of Bedford, 30
September, 1818; d. 21 October, 1843.
4. John, b. 30 January, 1797 ; m. Harriet R. Adams, of Hanover, 14
November, 1826; she d. 30 July, 1830, aged 35; m. (2) Mary Means
Appleton, of Amherst, 22 May, 1832. He d. in 1867.
5. jSilas, b. 14 May, 1799.
6. Charles, b. 2 March, 1802 ; m. Adeline Wiley, of Campton, June,
1839; rein, to Wisconsin, subsequently to California.
7. David, b. 7 June, 1804 ; m. (1) Lydia W. Root, of Greenfield,
Mass., 26 October, 1814; she d. 13 November, 1845; m. (2) Mary E.
Adams, of Amherst, Mass., 28 November, 1848. They res. hi Green-
field, Mass.
8. Sarah Annis, b. 31 December, 1806; m. William P. Black, of
Manchester, Yt., 20 October, 1829. They res. in Manchester, Vt.
9. Phineas, b. 22 April, 1809; d. in September, 1813.
V. 5. Rev. Silas Aiken, fourth pastor of the Congrega-
tional church iu Amherst, b. in Bedford, 14 May, 1799; m.
(1) Mary Osgood, only dau. of Dr. Joseph and Mary (Beck-
ford) Osgood, of Salem, Mass., 25 March, 1829. She d. 8
February, 1836, aged 32 ; m. ( 2) Sophia W. Parsons 24 May,
1837 ; she d. 26 February, 1880, aged 79. He d. in Rut-
land, Vt,, 7 April, 1869. Their children were —
1(1. f Edward, b. in Amherst, 10 April, 1830; res. in Amherst.
11. Mary Elizabeth, b. in Amherst 9 July, 1832; m. Marshall
Blakely ; res. in Rutland, Vt.
12. Susan Endicott, b. in Amherst, 19 June, 1835.
13. Henry Homes, b. in Boston 26 January, 1843 ; d. in Boston 1
September, 1846.
14. Harriet Sophia, b. in Boston 12 January, 1848 ; res. in Rutland, Vt.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 483
VI. 10. Dr. Edward Aiken, b. in Amherst 10 April,
1830; m. (1) Susan Dougherty, dau. of Hon. John 0. Cole,
Albany, N. Y., 5 September, 1855. She was b. 21 June,
1835; d. at Horns, Syria, 20 June, 185G; m. (2) Sarah
Cheney 22 July, 1857, at Abeih, Mt. Lebanon, Syria.
Their children were —
11. Edward Cheney, b. in Boston, Mass., 1 October, 1858; a machin-
ist ; res. in Manchester.
12. Swan Cole, b. in Fitzwilliam 3 May, 1861.
13. Sarah Elizabeth, b. in Fitzwilliam 16 January, 1863; d. in Am-
herst 10 March, 1879.
14. Henri/ Osgood, b. in Fitzwilliam 16 August, 1864.
15. Alfred De Forest, b. in Amherst 15 April. 1866; d. 22 May,
1866.
ALEXANDER.
James Alexander, b. in Londonderry 19 April, 1802; m.
(1) Eliza M. Dickey 14 June, 1835. She was b. 31 May, 1813 ;
d. 25 June, 1854; m. (2) Elizabeth L. Reed 1 December,
1854; settled in the easterly part of Mont Vernon, adjoin-
ing- Amherst, about 1836. Their children were —
1. t William Edward, b. 30 July, 1837.
2. James A., b. 17 November, 1838; m. Mary L. Sargent 3 Decem-
ber, I860; res. in Boston, Mass.
3. Harriet M., b. 2 April, 1842; m. Ira Chase 5 October, 1862; res.
in Milford.
4. Mary E., b. 6 May, 1844 ; unmarried.
5. Sarah J., b. 6 January, 1846 ; m. John T. Grafton ; res. in Mil-
ford.
6. Ellen F., b. 6 March, 1850; in. Edward Cloutman, of Lynn,
Mass., 17 December, 1879.
I. William E. Alexander, b. 30 July, 1837 ; m. Emma
F. Keitli 5 July, 1871. She was b. in Lawrence, Mass., 24
June, 1848. They settled on the farm formerly owned by
Daniel Campbell, Esq. Their children were —
7. Frank, b. 26 July, 1872; d. 24 December, 1872.
8. Emma Eliza, b. 10 October, 1873.
9. George Warren, b. 31 August, 1874.
10. Fred, b. 20 January, 1875; d. 31 March, 1875.
11. Jennie Louisa, b. 6 April, 1877.
484 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
ALLT).
Betsey Alld, d. 26 May, 1818, aged 24.
ANGIER.
Anson Angier and Dully P. Osgood were m. in May,
1826; res. in Amherst a short time. Their daughter —
*&'
Sally Ann P., was b. IS May, 1827.
APPLETON.
1. Rev. Jesse Appleton, b. in New Ipswich 17 Novem-
ber, 1772 ; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1702; or-
dained and installed as minister of Hampton, 1797; presi-
dent of Bowdoin College, 1807 ; d. in Brunswick, Me., 12
November, 181! ! ; m. Elizabeth, dan. of Col. Robert Means,
27 September, 1800.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Appleton returned
to Amherst and resided with her children some years, on
the farm west of the great meadow, now occupied by Mr.
Drucker. Thence she rem. to Boston, where she d. 29 Oc-
tober, 1844. Their children were —
2. Mary Means, m. John Aiken 22 May, 18:'>'_'.
3. Jane Means, b. 12 March, 1806; m. Gen. Franklin Pierce 19 No-
vember, 1834 ; was lady of the White House, at Washington, during
her husband's administration ; d. 2 December, 1863. Their children
were —
1. Benjamin, b. 13 April, 1841. He was killed on the railroad
at Andover, Mass., 6 January, 1853.
2. Frank Robert, d. 14 November, 1843, aged 14 months.
4. William, b. 7 November, 1808; graduated at Bowdoin College in
1826; studied law; d. in Cincinnati, Obio, 19 October, 1830.
5. Elizabeth Frances, m. Professor Alpheus S. Packard 24 May, 1827 ;
d. in Brunswick, Me., 2 June, 1839.
6. Robert, m. Rebecca W. Means.
7. John, b. 14 August, 1814; d. 19 October, 1817.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 485
ARBUCKLE.
II. William Arbuckle, the son of an emigrant from
the north of Ireland, settled in Merrimack previous to 1748.
Two of his sisters, of whom one m. William McCluer. also
settled in Merrimack. Sarah, the other sister, m. Hugh
Gillis, and d. in Merrimack 20 February, 1829, aged one
hundred and one years and seven months. When she was
about eighteen years old she was left at home with her
mother and younger brothers and sisters, her father and
older brothers having joined the army in the war against
the Indians. One morning, while preparing the hasty-pud-
ding for breakfast, she was called to the door by a loud
knock, where she was alarmed by the sight of a fierce look-
ing Indian. He made known to her, by signs, that he was
wounded and wanted refreshment. Pitying him, she dressed
his wound and he remained until he was well.
Some months subsequently a party of Indians suddenly
burst into the house, seized and bound her brothers, and
one, with a yell, had raised his tomahawk to strike her,
when another Indian appeared and spoke a few words in
their language, when they released their prisoners and de-
parted quietly. Their preserver proved to be the Indian
she had befriended.
III. John Arbuckle, son of William, was a soldier of
the Revolution. He was b. in Merrimack in November,
1752; d. in Amherst 29 March, 1839; m. Rachel Barron
in 1777. She was b. in 1751; d. 3 March, 1814. They
settled in Amherst, near the close of the Revolutionary war,
on the place now occupied by their grandson, William
Stewart. Their children were —
1. Mary, b. in 1778; d. in November, 1824; unmarried.
2. Elizabeth, b. in 1779; d. in May, 1825; unmarried.
3. Martha McCluer, b. in 1781 ; m. Solomon Barron 21 October,
1813; d. in 1835.
4. William, b. in 1784; d. 6 July, 1804.
5. Rachel, b. in 1786; d. 23 November, 1814; unmarried.
486 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
6. Jane, b. in 1788; m. Moses R. Stewart 1:5 March, 1811; d. 22
June, 1819.
7. Nancy Patterson, b. in 17!»1 ; d. 7 October, 1833 : unmarried.
8. Lucy, b. in July, 1794; tn. Josiah Newell Melendy 5 February,
1817; d. in December, 1877.
ARMSTRONG.
John D. Armstrong, from Bedford, lived several years
on the farm on the road to Goffstown, now occupied by Mr.
Hodgman. He m. (1) Sarah D. Atwood, 1838 ; m. (2) Jane
M. Wells, in 1850, and d. in Amherst 14 November, 1868.
Their children, all b. in Bedford, were —
1. William.
2. John, a soldier in the civil war; killed before Richmond.
3. George Davidson.
4. Edward.
5. Sarah Jane, m. Frank Kendall.
6. Clara, d. young.
7. Elmer Ellsworth.
ATHERTON.
I. James Atherton was a resident in Dorchester, now
Milton, Mass., prior to 1650, where he carried on the busi-
ness of a tanner. About 1653 he removed to a part of
Nashua which was incorporated that year by the name of
Lancaster. There he remained until the sacking of the
town by the Indians, in 1676, when he returned to Dorches-
ter. In 1703 he removed to Sherburn, in the county of
Middlesex, where he d. at the age of eighty-six years. Prior to
his death he conveyed his estate in Lancaster to his sons
James and Joshua.
II. Joshua, son of James Atherton, b. at Lancaster 13
May, 1656: rem. with his father to Dorchester in 1676,
where he m. Mary Gulliver. He returned to Lancaster about
1687, and settled on a part of the old homestead, where he
followed the farming and tanning business. He left a
numerous family of children. Of these —
<^
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 487
III. Peter, the youngest son, b. 12 April, 1705, m. Ex-
perience Wright, of Andorer, 13 June, 1728. She was b. 5
August, 1711; d. 14 November, 1775. They lived on the
homestead which he cultivated. He also carried on the
blacksmithing business. He was a man of some little note,
being a magistrate, a colonel in the militia, and the repre-
sentative of Harvard in the General Court. He d. in Con-
cord, Mass., while attending a session of the General Court,
13 June, 1764. Their children were —
1. Experience, b. 13 February, 1728 or 1729 ; d. 18 September. 1756 ;
m. Robert Holland, who d. 22 April. 1755. They were the parents of
John Holland, who resided with his uncle, Joshua Atherton, in Am-
herst. At the commencement of the Revolutionary war he left the
country, and was one of the number who were banished, and their es-
tates confiscated by act of the legislature in 1778. He settled in St.
John, Nova Scotia, married and left a large family.
2. Azubah, b. 23 December, 1730; m. Willard; res. in Ster-
ling, Mass.
3. Peter, b. 29 December, 1734: m. Experience Atherton, of Bolton,
Mass; res. in Harvard, Mass.
4. Joshua, b. 20 June, 1737.
5. Israel, b. 20 November, 1741 : graduated at Harvard College in
1762 ; m. Mrs. Prentiss, of Lancaster, Mass., where he settled and d.
in 1822. His daughter, Rebecca, became the wife of William Abbott,
Esq., of Castine and Bangor, Me. Sarah, another daughter, m. a son
of Rev. Joseph Kidder, of Dunstable, and settled in Prospect, Me.
6. Mercy, b. 11 April, 1753; m. Dr. Munroe, of Harvard, Mass., Jan-
uary, 1778.
IV. Joshua Atherton, one of the three sons of Peter
and Experience Atherton, was 1). in Harvard, Mass., 20 June,
1737. He was designed to follow the trade of his father as
a blacksmith and farmer, but a severe bilious fever so shat-
tered his system as to unfit him for severe manual labor,
and, after finishing a college course, he devoted himself to
the study and practice of the law. After practicing some
years in Petersham, Mass., Litchfield, and Merrimack, N. H.,.
he settled in Amherst, on the place since occupied by Mr.
Eleazer Rhoads, in the spring of 1773. He m. Abigail,
488 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
daughter of Rev. Thomas Goss, of Bolton, Mass., November,
1765. She was b. 1 April. 1749; d. 28 October, 1801. He
d. 3 April, 1809. Their children were—
7. Francis, b. at Harvard, Mass., 31 October, 1766; m. (1) William
Gordon, 30 May. 1787, h\ whom she had one son, William, who
graduated at Harvard College; studied law, and practiced in Peterbor-
ough and Charlestown ; d. at Brattleborough, \"t., 12 January, 1871.
She in. (2) Benjamin West, of Charlestown, 3 September, 1806, and d.
at Charlestown, 11 November, 1838.
8. f Charles Humphrey, b. 14 August, 1773.
9. Abigail, b. 22 October, 1775; m. fAmos Kent, of Chester.
10. Rebecca Wentworth, b. in August, 1778; m. fl)r. Matthias Spal-
ding.
11. Nancy Holland, b. 11 March, 1782 ; d. in the city of New York
9 November, 1859; unmarried.
12. Catherine, b. 7 June, 1784; m. fDavidMcG. Means.
13. Elizabeth Willard, b. 4 May, 1786; m. Ralph H. French, IS
May, 1820; d. at Manchester 31 March, 1855.
Seven other children, six sons and one daughter, d. in infancy.
V. 8. Charles Humphrey Atherton, b. in Amherst 14
August, 1773; d. 8 January, 1853; was one of the most
prominent lawyers in the state ; in. Mary Ann, daughter of
Christopher Toppan, of Hampton, 30 October, 1803. She
was b. 27 October, 1780; d. 15 October, 1817. Their
children were —
14. Charles Gordon, b. 1 July, 1804; ni. Nancy B. Clark, a grand-
daughter of Rev. Jeremiah Barnard; settled in Nashua; d. suddenly
at Manchester 11 November, 1853. No children.
15. Mary Ann, b. 11 July, 1806; d. 21 September, 1807.
16. George, b. 25 September, 1808; d. 10 April, 1825.
17. Mary Ann Toppan, b. 18 December, 1810; d. 16 January, 1853;
unmarried.
18. James Humphrey, b. 22 June, 1813; d. in New York city 12 June,
1837 ; unmarried.
19. Christopher, b. 6 August, 1815; d. 3 May, 1816.
20. Henry, b. and d. 10 May, 1817.
XXIV.] (JENEALOGIES. 489
AUSTIN.
1. Saul Austin, b. in Dracut, Mass., 13 July, 1787, rem.
to Sutton with his parents : res. in Sutton and Wilton ; rem.
to Amherst in the spring of 1827 ; d. here 24 March, 1881,
aged ninety-three years; m. (1) Susan Flint 10 January,
1813. She was b. in Amherst 19 April, 1794 ; d. 21 August,
1851 ; m. (2) Betsey (Flint) Herrick 30 May, 1852, who
survives him. She was b. in Amherst (north-west parish)
25 June, 1800. His children were —
2. Charles, b. 12 November, 1813; m. Mary Secombe, October, 1836.
lie was one of the earliest manufacturers of reed instruments. in Con-
cord, where he res. more than forty years ; now res. in Lowell, Mass.
Their children were —
1. Mary Ellen, b. 7 June, 1838; d. 2 April, 1853.
2. Charles Edward, b. 7 March, 1840; m. Laura Lovering; res.
in Lowell, Mass. ; one child.
3. Martha J., b. 24 February, 1843; d. 1 March, 1844.
3. Alice, b. 22 May, 181(5; m. William Coffin; d. in Concord 30
June, 1856.
4. Asa, b. 4 May, 1819; d. in Concord 27 December, 1843.
5. Julia Ann. b. 25 June. 1821$ m. Henry Nathan; res. in San Fran-
cisco. No children.
6. Nancy Flint, b. 8 June, 1828; m. (1) Solon S. Graves 23 June,
1852; m. (2) Eleazer Williams in June, 1877; res. in Mark West,
Sonoma county, Cal. No children.
7. Nathan Flint, b. 19 September, 1831; d. 13 April, 1847.
8. Susan Maria, b. 8 December, 1834; m. Dwight Goff ; res. in San
Francisco. Two children — 1. Grace ; 2. Alice.
AVERILL.
1. John Averill, b. in Middleton, Mass., 2 June, 1740;
d. 21 May, 1815; m. Mary Bradford, of Amherst; she was
b. in Middleton in 1742 ; d. 21 August, 1814. They settled
in Amherst in 1763. Their children were —
2. Naomi.
3. f Daniel.
4. Mary ; m. Benjamin Simonds.
490 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap,
5. Anna: m. — McAllister.
6. fJuhn, Jr.
7. Jesse.
6. John Averill, jr., son of John and Mary Averill, b.
13 October, 1767; d. 26 October, 1844; m. Anna, daughter
of James Woodbury. She was b. 4 August, 1774 ; d. 9 May,
1858. They lived in the west part of the town, on Beech
Hill, now in Mont Vernon. Their children were —
8. Nancy, b. 19 February, 1792.
9. Betsey, b. 7 February, 1794.
10. John, b. 10 March, 1796.
11. Bernard, b. 26 April, 1798; d. in Farmington.
12. Hannah, b. 13 May, 1800; d. 23 July, 1803.
13. Mary, b. 18 July, 1802.
14. Hannah, b. 1 January, 1805.
15. Fanny, b. 8 June, 1807; d. 6 May, 1814.
16. Lucretia, b. 5 March, 1809.
17. Trask, b. 20 March, 1811.
3. Daniel Averill, a Revolutionary soldier, formerly of
Amhest; d. in Barre, Vt., in May, 1848, aged eighty-six
years.
AVERY.
Susan, wife of Joshua Avery, d. 17 May, 1874, aged fifty-eight
years.
Lizzie A., daughter of Joshua Avery, d. 24 March, 1874, aged fifteen
years.
BALDWIN.
I. Henry Baldwin came from Devonshire, England;
probably lived in Charlestown a few years; settled in Wo-
burn in 1641, where he was one of the selectmen for some
years, and a deacon in the church. He m. Phebe Richard-
son 1 November, 1649, who d. 13 September, 1716. He d.
14 February, 1697. Their son—
II. Henry Baldwin, b. 15 November, 1664, d. 7 July,
1739; m. Abigail Fisk 4 May, 1692. She d. in Woburn
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 491
in January, 1771, aged ninety-six years. They lived in
Woburn where their son —
III. Isaac Baldwin, was b. 20 February, 1700. He m.
Mary Flagg 24 March, 1726. They settled in Woburn,
where their son —
IV. 1. Nahum Baldwin, was b. 3 May, 1734. He m.
Mary Lowe 22 April, 1760. She was b. 16 April, 1734; d.
in Antrim 7 November, 1802. They settled in Amherst
prior to the Revolution, and he d. here 7 May, 1788. Their
children were —
2. Nahum, b. 30 Jane, 1762. He was a Revolutionary soldier;
settled in Mercer, now Sharon, Me., where he died.
3. Martha, b. 8 March, 1764; m. Ephraim Burge, 23 January, 1794.
4. tlsaac, b. 23 April, 1768.
5. Frances, b. 22 May, 1771; m. James Boyd 16 -June, 1795; d. in
Antrim 25 December, 1828.
6. Mary, b. 6 June, 1773.
7. Lucy, b. 13 February, 1776 ; m. William Starrett 22 September,
1797; d. in Warren, Me., 18 February, 1821.
Y. 4. Isaac Baldwin, son of Col. Nahum, b. in Amherst
23 April, 1768; d. in Antrim 8 July, 1821; m. Bethiah
Pool, of Hollis, 24 November, 1790. She was b. 3 August,
1772; d. 7 April, 1853.
While engaged in a company training, at Hollis, 4 Octo-
ber, 1790, he was severely wounded by the premature dis-
charge of a field-piece with which the company was exercis-
ing. He settled in Antrim in 1793, where he was a useful
and respected citizen. Their children were —
8. Emma, b. in Amherst 13 July, 1792; in. Jabez Young-man, 14
March, 1809 ; res. in Dorchester.
9. Fanny, b. in Antrim 26 February, 1794; m. Dr. Isaac Burnham,
11 December, 1817: d. 8 April, 1847.'
10. Isaac, b. 22 March, 1796; d. 9 September, 1872; res. in Antrim.
11. Dexter, b. 5 July, 1798; a physician; d. in F:aminghain, Mass.,
27 May, 1870.
12. Nahum, b. 13 July, 1800; d. of spotted fever in 1812.
492 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
13. Samuel, b. 15 June, 1802; settled in Antrim.
14. Lucy, b. 12 -rune, 181)4.
15. Thomas J., b. 15 December, 1806; d. of spotted fever in 1812.
16. William, b. 15 May, 1809 ; d. at Lawrenceville, 111., in 1849.
17. Cyrus, b. 14 May, 1811 ; graduated at Dartmouth College in
1839; a successful teacher; res. at Meriden Village.
18. Harriett, b. 26 April, 1814; d. at Lawrenceville, 111., in 1846.
19. Estimate R. E.,b. 22 October, 1816; m. and res. in Hamilton,
Canada East.
20. Jesse Baldwin, m. Tabitha (Weston) Wilkins, widow
of Capt. Daniel Wilkins, jr. Their child —
21. Ebenezer, was b. 26 December, 1784.
After the death of Mr. Baldwin his widow m. (3) Lieut.
Joseph Farnum, of Mont Vernon, and d. there in January,
1820, aged seventy-one years.
22. Samuel Baldwin, a resident of Amherst for some
years, was b. in Wilmington, Mass., 7 September, 1789; d.
in Mont Vernon 8 July, 1856; m. Mary Dane 1 February,
1816. She was b. in Chelmsford, Mass., 18 April, 1794; d.
in Bedford 23 November, 1874. Their children were —
23. Samuel Dane, b. 4 October, 1817 ; m. (1) Clarissa Hildreth 3
June, 1S40. She d. 24 July, 1852 ; m. (2) Sarah S. Sanders 28 Septem-
ber, 1853 ; resides in Nashua.
24. Silas H., b. 20 June, 1819 ; d. 13 December, 1844.
25. William O., b. 25 August, 1821 ; m. (1) Mary Proctor, 4 October,
1854. She d. 24 January, 1872 ; m. (2) Letty A. Oilman.
26. Jonathan N., b. 19 January, 1824 ; d. 12 October, 1825.
27. Mary, b. 26 June, 1826; m. Daniel K. Mack, of Manchester, 8
October, 1856.
28. Susa.i A., b. 2 November, 1828; in. Leonard C. Farwell, 10
December, 1856.
29. Sophia J., b. 23 December, 1830 ; d. 17 March, 1832.
30. Sophia M., b. 18 July, 1832; unmarried.
31. Charles H., b. 7 March, 1835 ; d. 20 May, 1836.
32. Almira J., b. 25 March, 1838; m. Isaac G. Wheeler 12 January,
1864.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 493
BARKER.
1. Dea. Ephraim Barker was b. in or near Exeter in
1732; settled in Newmarket, whence he rem. to Amherst in
1774. He was a noted housewright and church-builder.
The old meeting-house on the Plain and that in Pembroke
are specimens of his handiwork. He was engaged in build-
ing the meetiug-housc at Wilton, the frame of which fell 7
September, 1773, by which accident he was severely injured.
He was a prominent member of Mr. Barnard's church, and
served as one of its deacons several years; m. (1) Mary
Manning, of Ipswich, Mass. She d. in 1771; m. (2) Mary
Ramsay, widow of David Ramsay, of Amherst. She d. 5
October, 1806, aged fifty-four. He d. 20 September, 1800.
His children were —
2. Margaret, m. Joseph Towne, of Henniker, 21 May, 1806 ; d. in
Hopkinton 24 August, 1*14, aged fifty-five.
3. Jeremiah, a physician in Portland, Me.
4. Joseph, b. 9 September, 1765 ; m. Elizabeth, daughter of Captain
William Dana, of Amherst, 1789; rem. immediately after to Marietta,
Ohio, where he d., after a long and active life, in September, 1843.
5. Relief, m. Nathaniel Cleaves, of Amherst, January, 1806.
6. Mary Means, b. 9 October, 1785 ; in. Rev. Ephraim P. Bradford,
of New Boston, 1 September, 181)6. After her husband's death she
rem. to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she res. with her son. She d.
in Milwaukee, 8 May, 1874.
BARRON.
1. 1. Moses Barron, son of Moses Barron who rem.
from Chelmsford, Mass., to Bedford, about 1740, was b. in
Bedford in 1742. He d. in 1797; m. Hannah Hutchinson,
of Amherst, 20 March, 1770. She d. in Hartland, Vt., 8
September, 1822, aged seventy-four. They settled on the
farm near Bedford line, since owned by James Bell and
Timothy Hartshorn. Their children were —
2. Moses, b. 24 January, 1771.
3. Lucy, b. 14 June, 1772; m. Joseph Rice 15 January, 1797.
4. ^Solomon, b. 10 June, 1775.
494 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
5. Hannah, b. 22 March, 1777.
6. Mehilable, b. 19 March, 1779.
7. Mary, b. 20 April, 1781.
8. Sites, b. 9 April, 1784.
9. Sarah Putnam, b. 25 February, 1786.
10. Parker, b. 21 October, 1788.
11. Putnam, b. 20 April, 1792 ; d. in Ravenna, Ohio, 16 March,
1872.
II. 4. Solomon Barron, b. 10 June, 1775; d. 9 February,
1836; m. Martha McOluer Arbuckle 21 October, 1813.
They settled on the *' Arbuckle " place, in the Chestnut Hill
District, now occupied by William Stewart. Their children
were —
12. Rachel, b. in 1815; d. in Boston 6 December, 1836.
13. If Solomon Rice, b. in 1817.
III. 13. Solomon Rice Barron, b. in 1817 ; d. in Merri-
mack from injuries received in a fall 19 March, 1882; m.
(1) Fanny Colby 1 September, 1836. She was b. 28 Octo-
ber, 1816; d. 12 July, 1843; m. (2) Mrs. Dolly Channell,
who d. 21 July, 1878, aged sixty-three years. Their
children were —
14. William R., b. in 1838.
15. Fanny J., b. in 1839.
16. Martha, b. in 1813.
17. Sarah E., b. in 1847.
18. John N., b. in 1851.
19. Clarence F., b. in 1854.
20. Daniel Campbell, b. in 1859.
21. William Barron m. Sarah Lane. Their children
were —
22. Susannah Lane, b. 24 December, 1787.
23. William, b. 3 April, 1790.
BARNARD.
Robert Barnard, of Bolton, Mass., m. Mary, daughter of
Jeremiah Holman, of Lancaster, Mass., where she was b. 29
March, 1722. They lived in Bolton and were the parents
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 495
of nine children, three of whom d. in infancy. After the
death of her husband Mrs. Barnard rem. to Amherst, where
she resided in the family of her son, Rev. Jeremiah Barnard.
She d. 13 October, 1823, aged one hundred and one years
six months and fourteen days. Of their children —
1. \Jeremiah, b. 28 February, 1750; settled in Amherst.
2. John; supposed to have settled in Rome, N. Y.
3. Mary : m. f Amos Flint, jr. After his death she rem. to Rome,
N. Y., and d. there.
4. Lydin, b. 2 October, 1757, lived with her brother in Amherst; d.
num., 17 September, 1859, aged one hundred and one years eleven
months and fifteen days.
1. Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, second minister of the town
of Amherst; b. in Bolton, Mass., 28 February, 1750; d. in
Amherst 15 January, 1835; m. Deborah, daughter of Dr.
Nathaniel Henchman, of Lynn, 15 October, 1777. She was
a sister of Dr. Nathaniel Henchman, of Amherst, and was b.
in Lynn 24 September, 1753; d. in Amherst 12 October,
1833. They settled on Christian hill, in Amherst, in 1780.
Their children were —
5. Betsey, b. 3 July, 1779 ; in. Robert M. King in 1803 ; d. in Rock-
dale, Iowa, 14 January, 1872, aged ninety-two.
6. Polly S., b. 25 March, 1781 ; m. David S. Eaton 23 December,
1802; d. in Dorchester, Mass., 17 August, 1860.
7. Sally, b. 1 May, 1783; d. 29 December, 1784.
8. Nancy, b. 15 August, 1786; m. fllugh Hamilton Clark 8 Novem-
ber, 1807; d. in Amherst 1 December, 1813.
9. Robert Mansfield, b. 6 November, 1788 ; m. Frances Merry, of
Boston, 1 November, 1814; d. in Watertown, Mass., 13 October, 1863.
10. John Henchman, b. 7 October, 1791 ; d. 24 July, 1793.
11. Lucretia; b. 26 July, 1796; m. Timothy Danforth 11 January,
1838 ; resides in Amherst.
12. Grace Crosby Fisk, daughter of (5) Betsey Barnard, b. 2 Septem-
ber, 1799 ; d. in Lowell 5 May, 1865 ; unmarried.
BARRETT.
1. Henry R. Barrett, b. in Athol, Mass., 6 February,
1793 ; d. 15 October, 1867 ; m. Abigail Stevens December,
496 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap
1814. She was b. in Manchester 13 April, 1795 ; d. 26
October, 1874. They rem. from Manchester to Amherst in
March, 1837. Their children were —
2. \Philip S., b. 6 April, 1817.
3. Naomi, b. 27 December, ISIS ; no. Miles Lovejoy 7 April, 1842;
d. 9 January, 1872.
4. Betsey, b. 21 April, 1821 ; m. Reuben P. Hall; res. in Vineland,
N. J.
.1. John R., b. 2D April, 1S23 ; ra. Justina Hall; res. in Chicago.
6. Nancy F., b. 28 March, 1825 ; m. (1) Alfred Pollard; in. (2)
Luther Towne ; res. in Nashua.
7. Elvira A. L., b. 16 August, 1827 ; d. 3 February, 1851 ; unmarried.
8. Steph n II. R., b. 10 July, 1829; in. Abigail McConihe 28 March,
1854; res. in Fall River, Mass.
9. Sarah II., b. 16 September, 1831 : in. James Cochran 23 Novem-
ber, 1857 ; res. in Amherst.
10. Mary R., b. 16 September, 1831; unmarried; res. in Amherst.
2. Philip S. Barrett, b. in Manchester 6 April, 1817 ; m.
Mary F. Wheeler 22 January, 1847. She was b. in Am-
herst 22 February, 1823. They res. on the homestead.
Their child—
11. Charles M.,b. 22 September, 1855 ; m. M. Loretta Woodward
2 June, 1880.
BACHELLER— BATCHELDER.
I. 1. Joseph Bacheller, of Canterbury, England, and his
wife, Elizabeth, one child, and three servants, embarked for
New England in 1036. On their arrival they settled in
that part of Salem which was afterward incorporated as
Wenham. He was made a freeman in 1637 ; was deputy in
the General Court in 1644, and was the first representative
from Wenham in that body. Their children were —
2. Mark; killed on the march to the Narraganset fort in December,
1675.
3. jJohn.
4. Elizabeth.
5. Hannah.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 497
II. 3. John Bacheller settled in Wcnhain ; m. (1 ) Mary
Dennis 12 July, 1661 ; by her he had (6) Joseph. She d.
26 June, 1663; m. (2) Elizabeth Goodale 4 May, 1665.
They had—
7. Join i.
8. Mark.
9. \Ebenezer.
10. Elizabeth.
11. Hannah.
12. J/ar//.
13. Sarah.
14. \David.
III. 14. David Bacheller, son of John and Elizabeth
(Goodale) Bacheller, m. Susannah Whipple in 1709. She d.
13 June, 1764. He d. 29 January, 1766. Their children
were —
15. David, b. 5 April, 1710: m. Thankful Perham.
1G. Susannah, b. 24 July, 1712; d. in August, 1712.
17. Joseph, b. 17 September, 1713; m. Mary Perley 20 January,.
1737.
18. Nehemiah, b. 20 May, 1716: in. Experience Perham 16 -June,
1738.
19. Abraham, b. -"J June. 1722.
20. \Amos, b. 6 April. 1727; m. Lydia Kimball.
21. Susannah, b. 22 September, 1731; in. f William Fisk.
IV. 20. Amos Bacheller, son of David and Susannah
(Whipple) Bacheller, b. 6 April, 1727; m. Lydia Kimball;
settled in Woburn. Their children were —
22. Israel, b. 11 May, 1753.
23. Lydia, b. 9 April. 1756.
21. Elizabeth, b. 20 November, 1758 ; m. J John Bachelder, of Am-
herst.
25. Amos, b. 17 December, 1761.
26. Susannah, b. 23 January, 1761.
27. Edmund, b. 29 June, 1765.
28. David, b. 15 January, 1768.
29. Isaac, b. 8 April, 1770.
30. Joseph, b. 17 July, 1774.
498 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
III. 9. Ebenezer Bacheller in. Sarah Tarbox 29 De-
cember, 1699. They settled in Wenham. Their children
were —
31. Rebecca, b. 10 July, 1701.
32. Samuel, b. 3 March, 1703.
33. Mark, b. 2 March, 1706.
34. Josiah, b. 31 January, 1708.
35. ^Ebenezer, b. 24 November, 1710; in. Jerusha Kimball.
30. Elizabeth, b. 31 March, 1713.
37. Sarah, b. 22 April. 1717.
IV. 35. Ebenezer Bacheller, b. 24 November, 1710 ; m.
Jerusha Kimball in 1740; settled in Wenham. Their chil-
dren were —
38. Anna, b. 1741.
39. Mary, b. 1743.
40. Lydia, b. 1745.
41. Jerusha, b. 1747.
42. ^Ebenezer, b. 5 November, 1750; settled in Amherst.
43. Elizabeth, b. 25 January, 1753.
44. fJohn, b. 16 August, 1755; settled in Amherst.
45. Mehitable, b. 19 March, 1761.
46. Samuel, b. 15 June, 1763.
V. 42. Ebenezer Batchelder, b. in Wenham 5 Novem-
ber, 1750; m. Elizabeth (Thompson) Sherwin. They set-
tled in Amherst (now Mont Vernon) soon after, where he
d. 24 April, 1849, aged ninety-seven years. She d. 10
March, 1841, aged eighty-five. Their children were —
47. Betsey, b. 18 July, 1779; m. David Wiley; d. in Landgrove,
Vermont.
48. .Joseph, b. 21 November, 1781; m. Anna Cochran; res. in Land-
grove, Vt., and afterward in Illinois.
49. Ebenezer, b. 16 March, 1783; m. Rachel -Jones 11 June, 1811; d.
26 February, 1815.
50. Fanny, b. 8 July, 1785; m. Robert Parker 29 May. 1806; d. in
Landgrove, Vt.
51. Lydia, b. 21 November, 1786; in. Benjamin Wilkins 27 Novem-
ber, 1806 ; d. in Hillsborough.
52. Mehitable, b. 25 August. 1788; m. f Isaac Weston.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 499
53. Reuben Kimball, b. 7 February. 1790; in. Alice Kendall: d. 13
December, 1867.
54. Ezra, b. 2 .March, 1792; m. Lydia Batchelder; d. 19 May, 1875.
55. Atness, b. 5 April, 1794; m. William Coggin, 2d: settled in
Mont Vernon; d. 4 October, 1835.
56. Levi, b. 10 March, 1797; m. Alary Peabody; d. in Landgrove,
Vt., 16 August, 1856.
Y. 44. Capt. John Batchelder, b. in Wenham, Mass.,
D> August, 1755 ; m. Betsey Batchelder; settled in Amherst,
(now Mont Vernon) about 1779, where lie d. 18 December,
1848, aged ninety-three years. She d. 5 April, 1815, aged
fifty-six. Their children were—
57. John, b. 6 July, 1780; m. Polly Hildreth 13 September. 1802; d.
in Peru, Vt., 9 June. 1851.
58. Israel, b. 18 October, 1782: m. Abigail Wiley 28 July, 1805; d.
in Peru. Vt., 31 August, 1858.
59. Betsey, 1). 19 January, 1785; m. fJohn Ilaseltine.
60. Edmund, b. 5 August, 1787 ; in. Betsey Jones ; d. 23 July, 18G9.
61. Nancy, b. 19 October, 1789; m. Robert Wason 26 December.
180S; settled in New Boston, and d. there 28 July, 1813:3.
62. Lydia, b. 11 February, 1792; m. her cousin. Ezra Batchelder,
and settled in Mont Vernon ; d. 29 September. 1882 — the last survivor of
the family.
63. Perley, b. 26 July, 1794; m. ( 1 ) Rebecca Damon. She d. 4 July,
1810; m. (2) Alcinda Wason, who d. 18 November. 1870. He d. 22
October, 1S78.
64. Relief, b. 16 December, 1796; m. Josiah Kittredge 2 September,
18:30; d. 14 July, 1868.
65. Amos, b. 4 June. 1799; m. Nancy Kidder 1 September. 1831; d.
10 February. 1847.
06. Cyrene,b. 17 October, 1803; m. Ira Kendall 10 May, 1832; d.
in GorTstown li November, 1872.
<>7. Xoah P. Batchelder, b. in Peru, Vt., 19 November,
1833; m. Sarah Elliott 30 January, 1862. She was It. in
Amherst 20 September, 1832; d. 24 March, 1871.
68. Ira A. Batchelder, b. in Danvers, Mass.; in. Mary S.,
daughter of Willard Hayden, 31 December, 1862. Their
children arc —
500 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
(!!). Georgianna E.
70. Walter A.
71. Kunna L.
BATES.
Mrs. Lucy S., wife of Augustus Bates, d. 7 April, 1852,
aged 40.
BELL.
Joseph Bell, b. in Bedford 17 April, 1757 ; d. in Amherst
18 May, 1828 ; m. Mary Houston, 4 June, 1776. She was
1). 1753; d. December, 1830. They were buried in Bedford.
Their children, all b. in Bedford, were —
1. Sarah, b. 4 April. 1777: m. (1) Daniel Platts, 11 May, 1787;
in. (2) Oliver Townsend, 20 December, 1815; res. in Bedford.
2. John,h.2B February, 1779 ; m. Peggy Brown, 1801; res. in An-
trim, where he settled in 1799. He d. 5 October, 1864.
3. Mary, b. 12 April, 1781; m. David Atwood 21 September, 1802;
res. in Bedford.
1. Isaac, b. 9 April. 1783; m. Susannah Hutchinson 3 February,
1S!)4; res. in Fishersfleld, now Newbury ; d. there in 1829.
.">. Susannah, 1>. 25 September, 1785; d. in infancy.
li. Joseph, b. 21 March. 1787 ; graduated at Dartmouth College in
1S07; in. Catherine Olcott, of Hanover; settled in Haverhill; rem.
thence to Boston, Mass., 1840; d. at .Saratoga, X. Y., 25 July. 1851.
7. David, b. 16 October, 1789: m. Folly Houston Deceml>er, 1808;
settled in Hillsborough; d. in Bedford 27 November, 18:52.
8. James, b. 15 January. 1792; m. (1) Mary Barnett 21 September,
1813. She d. 11 November, 1825, aged thirty-three; m. (2) Rebecca,
daughter of Ebenezer Weston, of Amherst, September, 1826. He was
a resident of Amherst several years, hut d. in Bolton, Mass., 25 January,
1864.
!). Jacob, b. 30 April, 1795; m. Laura Bartlett, of Haverhill; settled
in Haverhill.
BENDEN.
Thomas M. Benden, b. in Oxbridge, Somerset county,
England, 1791 ; settled in Amherst about 1820 and carried
on the tailoring business several years in the store now oc-
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 501
cupied l>y Henry C. Dodge. He m. Sarah Low January,
1821, and d. 2 April, 1848; no children.
BENNETT.
1. Jonathan Bennett, b. in Groton, Mass., 28 November,
1775 ; d. in Amherst 20 Febrnarv, 1849 : m. Margaret Shat-
tuck May, 1800. She was b. 13 March, 1774 ; d. 29 Novem-
ber, 1852. He was a brick-mason and an excellent work-
man. They lived in Groton, Dunstable, and Pepperell.
From Pepperell they rem. to Amherst, in the spring of 1835.
Their children were —
2. Sarah, b. 13 October. 18; )0 : m. Dr. Hezekiah Eldridge; res. in
Amesbury, Mass.. where she d. April, 1846.
3. Jonathan,\>. 1 October, 1S02; m. Alary Taylor 15 December, 1831 :
(1. in Pepperell.
4. William, b. 28 September, 1801; m. Harriet Shattnck April, 1828.
5. Margaret, b. 2 September, 1806; m. Jefferson Taylor 21 Novem-
ber, 1825; d. in Moline, 111., 12 December, 1868.
0. Louisa, b. 13 July, 1808; in. fJoel F. Osgood.
7. James, b. 2 September, 1811; m. Rebecca Swallow 28 May, 1834;
res. in Dunstable.
8. Wilder, b. 17 April. 1813; m. Alary Ann Davis November, 1810:
res. in Pepperell.
9. jAlden Bradjonl, b. 18 April, 1816.
9. Alden Bradford Bennett, b. 18 April, 1816- ; m. Eliz-
abeth Taylor, 27 November, 183(3. Their children are —
10. Emily, m. Goodhue. He was a musician in the 1st Reg-
iment X. II. Vols., in the civil war; d. a few years after its close, leav-
ing one child.
11. Margaret, m. George Young; res. in Stoneham, Mass.
12. Sarah Louisa, m. Oscar Shaffer; res. in Amherst.
13. Isabella Bradford, m. Dr. McLeod; res. in New Bedford.
BILLS.
1. Ebenezer Bills, b. 25 March, 1760 ; d. 13 March, 1822;
m. Hannah Billiard. She was b. 20 August, 1767 ; d. 6
March, 1819. Their children were —
502 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
2. Miranda, b. 5 November, 1785; m. fEzra Clark.
3. Rebecca, b. 3 October, 17*7; m. John Wheeler, of Amherst, 1G
December, 1806; d. 1 September, 1857.
4. Lucy, b. 6 November, 1789 ; m. Elias Thomas, of Amherst, 30
March, 1817: d. 26 April, 1864;
5. Shubael, b. 3 January, 1791 ; lived in Dedham, Mass.: d. 31 May,
1860.
0. \Jabez, b. 6 December, 1793.
7. Philinda, b. 15 April, 1795; in. Joseph Onion, of Dedham, Mass.:
d. 14 March, 1845.
8. SopJironia, b. 31 March, 1798 : m. ( iera Famum, of Mont Vernon,
17 October, 1*17.
9. Semantha, b. 31 March, 179s ; m. Andrew Horn, of Roxbury,
Mass.
10. Jesse, b. 15 August, 1802; m. (1) Sarah Ann C. Bliss !) Novem-
ber, 18:28; d. in Roxbury, Mass., 25 December. 1851.
11. Mark, b. 8 April, 1806; m. Maria , of Framingham, Mass.;
d. in Cambridge, Mass., 26 August, 1853.
12. Luki Hamilton, b. 8 July, 180S; m. Marinda Dodge, of Mont
Vernon, 28 June, 1829; d. in Amherst 11 February, 1841.
6. Jabez Bills, b. 6 December, 1793; d. 3 November,
1857; m. Lucy E. Crosby, daughter of Joseph Crosby, of
Milford, November, 1822. She was b. 29 August, 1804 ; d.
27 September, 1882. Their children were —
13. Jabez Fred,b. 3D August, 1823; m. Lucinda J. Wheeler, of .Mil-
ford, November, 1850.
14. f Freeman Crosby, b. 6 October, 1824.
15. Lucy Ann Maria,b. 5 February. 1829; m. Barnes B. Putnam, of
Nashua. 15 May, 1849.
16. Betsey Jane, b. 1(5 December, 1830; m. Charles \Y. Patterson, of
Merrimack, 14 June. 1859.
17. George H.,b. 15 November, ls'31; m. Lizzie Baldwin, of Man-
chester.
14. Freeman Crosby Bills, b. 6 November, 1824; m.
Catherine J. Twiss 12 March, 1845. She was b. in Antrim,
21 December, 1824; res. in Amherst. Their children
are —
is. ^Lucius F.,b. 22 April, 1846.
19. Horatio I '., b. 20 February, 1S4S ; m. Clara P. Farley, of London-
derry, 28 November. 1868.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 503
Harry Freeman Bills, child of Horatio C. Bills, d. January,
1876, aged ten months.
20. Helen S., b. 10 January, 1850 ; m. Philip W. Swett. of Boston.
8 October, 187:5 ; d. in Amherst '27 June, 1880.
21. Arthur A.,b. 25 April, 1853; in. Mary C. Bradford, of Amherst.
28 September. 1874.
18. Lucius P. Bills, b. in Amherst 22 April, 1846; m.
Jane E.Farley, of Londonderry, 15 September, 18159. Their
children were — •
22. Charles S.,b. in Londonderry 17 July, 1870.
2:5. Ezra .S*.,b. 19 April, 1872, in Amherst.
24. Frederick Farley, b. 1 May, 1874; d. 16 September, lb77.
25. Daisey Twiss, b. 28 September, 1870.
BISSELL.
Lemuel Bissell, b. in Norwich, Vt., 2 May, 1799; m.
Mary A. Lemmons. She was b. 26 October, 1803; d. 21
May, 1868. They came to Amherst about 1843, where he
carried on the house-painting business several years. He
served as town clerk one year ; no children.
BLAKE.
Samuel Blake res. on the farm adjoining that of Hon.
William Fisk, formerly occupied by John Ellenwood, and
since by Capt. Ebcnezer Perry. His children were —
1. Amos.
2. Samuel.
3. Dolhj.
4. Al>i <juiL m. John Warren, 1828.
5. Alice.
All have left town.
BLANCHARD.
I. Thomas Blanchard came to New England in the ship
Jonathan, from near Preston, England, in 1639. He set-
tled in Charlestown, Mass., and d. there 21 May, 1654. By
his wife, Mary, he had —
504: HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
1. Samuel.
2. George.
3. Nathaniel.
4. Jonathan.
5. \John.
Of these —
II. 5. John, b. in England, was admitted freeman in
1649 ; settled in Dunstable, and was one of the founders of
the church in' that place in 1685, of which he was for some
years one of the officers. By his wife, Elizabeth, he had a
large family, among whom were —
6. Hannah, b. 6 January, 1659.
7. .lames.
8. Benjamin.
9. Sarah.
10. Mary.
11. Nathaniel.
12. J.Joseph.
13. Thomas.
And perhaps others.
III. 12. Joseph Blanchard, b. 1669, son of Dea. John,
and Elizabeth Blanchard ; settled in Dunstable ; m. Abiah
Hassell 25 May, 1690. She d. 8 December, 1746, aged 70.
He d. in 1727. Their children were —
14. Elizabeth, b. 15 April. 1097.
15. Esther, b. 4 July, 1700.
16. Hannah, b. 28 October, 1702.
17. ^Joseph, b. 11 February, 1704.
18. Rachel, b. 23 March, 1705; d. young.
19. Susannah, b. 29 March, 1707.
20. Jane, b. 19 March, 170S.
21. Rachel, b. 23 March, 1712.
22. Eleazer, b. 3 December. 1715 ; d. 29 April, 1717.
IT. 17. Joseph Blanchard, b. 11 February, 1704; d.
7 April, 1758 ; was one of the governor's council, by appoint-
ment of the king, from 1741 until his death. In 1756 he
was colonel of a regiment of five hundred men, raised in
New Hampshire, to assist in the expedition against Crown
XXIY.J GENEALOGIES. 505
Point. The companies of rangers, commanded by Rogers
and Stark, were a part of the regiment.
Col. Blanchard m. Rebecca Hubbard, who d. 19 April,
1774. Their children were —
23. Sarah, b. 1726; d. 30 Xovember, 1720.
21. ^Joseph, b. 28 September, 1720.
25. Eleazer, b. 15 Xovember, 1730; d. 19 March, 1753.
26. Susannah, b. 15 Xovember, 1730.
27. Rebecca, b. 20 July, 1732; m. Minot.
28. Sarah, b. 7 October. 1734 : d. young.
2.0. Catherine, b. 11 Xovember, 1736; m. Rev. Elias Smith, of
Salem.
30. f Jonathan, b. IS September. 1738.
31. Sarah, b. 2 August, 1710 ; m. -'(-Robert Fletcher.
32. James, b. 20 September, 1712.
33. ^Augustus, b. 20 July. 1710.
31. Caleb, b. 15 August, 1749.
35. Hannah, b. 21 August. 1751 ; m. Dr. Ebenezer Starr, 26 March.
1791.
V. 24. Joseph Blanchard, b. 28 September, 1729,
was a noted land surveyor, and assisted in preparing a map
of the province, which was published in 1771. He . res. in
Merrimack, and, toward the close of his life, in Amherst.
Their children were —
36. Lucy, m. Andrew WiUrins, of Amherst ; d. in Thornton, 1809.
37. Joseph.
38. Eleazer.
39. Catherine, m. "William Barker, of St. Johns, X. B.
40. Hannah, m. fJoseph Nichols 10 March, 17S5 ; rem. to Cauada.
1811.
V. 30. Jonathan Blanchard, b. 18 September,
1738; d. 18 July, 1788; m. Rebecca Farwell. She d. 20
August, 1811, aged 72. He was a councillor in 1776;
judge of probate for Hillsborough county ; and brigadier-
general of the militia. They res. in Dunstable. Their chil-
dren were —
41. Rebecca, b. 4 May. 1700; m. Dr. Augustus Stair: .1. 10 October.
1810.
506 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
42. Grace, m. f Frederick French.
43. Sopliia, m. Oliver Farwell, of Merrimack.
44. Charles, b. 14 March, 177(5; graduated at Harvard College in
1796; d. at Batavia, X. Y., 1(5 March. 1811.
45. Abigail, m. Dr. Joseph F. Eastman, of Ilollis.
46. Eliza, m, Thomas French; <1„ 1843.
V. 33. Augustus Blanchard, b. in Dunstable, 29 July,
1746 ; d. in Milford, 27 February, 1809 : m. Bridget Love-
well, of Dunstable. She was b. 10 July, 1749 ; d. 25 No-
vember, 1836. They settled first in Dunstable, rem. to
Merrimack, about 1767, thence to Amherst, about 1777.
He commanded a company at Winter Hill, in the winter of
1775-6, and was a prominent citizen in the old south-west
parish of Amherst. Their children were —
17. Sarah, b. at Dunstable, 3 January. 1766 ; in. John Stearns, of
Amherst, !) October, 1781 ; rem. to Cambridge, Vt.; d. 1846.
48. Priscilla, b. in Merrimack, 12 August, 1768; m. (1) John Crosby;
(2) Solomon Ilallet ; d., September, 1847; ten children.
49. A ugustus, b. 18 January, 1770; m. Esther Crosby, 31 January,
1793; d. 12 October, 1829; six children.
50. Hannah, b. 27 February. 1772; m. Joel Crosby; d. 19 February,
1846 ; no children.
51. Esther, b. 4 May. 1774; ni. Roger Perkins 2(5 Januury. 1796; d.
8 December, 1834; seven children.
52. Bridget, b. 28 June, 1776; m. f Timothy Danforth ; d. 16 July,
1837.
53. Rebecca, b. in Amherst, 18 November, 1778 ; m. J. French July,
1798 ; d. 29 March. 1858 ; twelve children.
54. James, b. 25 February, 1781; d. 18 March. 1798.
55. George, b. 16 August, 1783; m. Mrs. Phebe (Lovejoy) Connor;
d. 1831 ; four children.
56. Jonathan, b. 22 November, 1785; d. 29 September, 1788.
57. Porter, b. 16 August, 1788; m. Anne Stickney Souther 4 Novem-
ber, 1810 ; settled in Concord ; was a cabinet-maker, and manufacturer
of the " Blanchard churns." He was one of the best mechanics of his
time ; d. 25 May, 1871 ; three children.
58. Jonathan, b. 7 April. 1793; res. in St. Louis, Mo.
59. Katherine, b. in Milford, 18 July, 1796; m. Rufus Taylor. 1839;
settled in Damariscotta, Me.; d. 22 January, 1868; one child.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 507
60. Simon Blanchard settled in Amherst (now Milford)
about 1776. He was b. in Rillerica. 23 December, 1749 ;
m. Catherine Wyman. He d. in Milford about 1828. She
d. 1838. Their children wore —
(51. Dennis, b. 4 -Tunc 1775.
62. Abijah, b. 22 June, 1779.
63. Amaziah, b. 27 November, 1781.
61. Clar'issa, b. 12 May. 1784; in. Philip Eaton 22 September. 1803.
()•">. Luther, b. 1 January. 17S7.
66. Betsey, b. 29 May, 1789.
67. Calvin, b. 22 June, 1791.
68. < '<tih< riiK , b. 2l! September, 1793.
6.9. Nancy, b. 27 September, 1793.
70. Rebecca Abbot, b. 2 July. 1801.
71. Ephraim Blanchard, b. in Billerica, Mass., 1 March,
1778 ; d. 27 June, 1841 ; m. (1) Elizabeth, daughter of Lt.
Robert B. Wilkins. She d. at Provincetown, Mass., Octo-
ber, 1802, aged 22; m. (2) Mary . She d. in
Lyndeborough 10 December, 1861, aged 85. He carried
on the cabinet-making business on Amherst Plain many
years : was an active member of the " Christian " (Unitarian)
society, and served one year on the board of selectmen.
Their children were —
72. Elizabeth W., m. Robert Williams, of Troy. X. Y., January,
1831.
73. ^Ephraim, jr.
73. Ephraim Blanchard, jr., d. at Philadelphia, Pa., 6
July, 1859, aged 55; m. Elizabeth B. Cobum, August, 1830.
She d. at Providence, R. I., 2 July, 1878, aged 73. Their
children were —
74. Henry Martin, d. 10 March, 1834, aged 3 years and 6 months.
75. John Wells, d. 16 February, 1834, aged 8 weeks.
76. Fred Henry, d. 1.1 April. 1837, aged 13 months.
BLOOD.
Lemuel Blood, formerlv a stone-mason and brick-layer
in Amherst, d. at the Asylum for the Insane, at Concord, 7
May, 1867. Anna, his wife, d. 20 March, 1849, aged 57.
508 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
George Blood, a brother of Lemuel, d. in Mont Vernon
16 September, 1854, aged 62. He was a soldier in the war
of 1812, and lost an arm in battle. Mary, widow of George,
d. 5 August, 1870, aged 77.
Minot Blood, d, 4 August, 1870, aged 67.
BLUNT.
1. John Blunt, b. in Andovcr, Mass., and Sarah Blunt, b.
in Wilmington, Mass., settled in Amherst about 1789. She
d. in Milford. Their children were —
2. Sally, b. in Dover 1 January, 1782; m. Daniel Howe; d. in Fox-
borough, Mass., 27 September, 1870.
3. Mary K., b. 22 March, 1784.
4. -\JoJni, b. in Andover 3 June, 178(1 ; d. in Amherst 25 October.
1860.
5. Anna, b. in Andover 5 August, 1788.
G. Isaac, b. in Amherst 22 September, 1790; d. 3 November, 1791.
7. Elizabeth, b. 11 June, 1793; m. James Blanchard 11 September,
1815; d. 5 February, 1873. He was b. 8 October, 17S6 ; d. 7 Septem-
ber, 1854. Their children were —
1. Rebecca K., b. 27 September. 1816; d. 15 September, 1828.
2. Elizabeth P., b. 5 May, 1818; m. f David D. McKean.
3. Edwin, b. 21 May, 1820; d. 27 January. 1841.
4. A son. b. 26 March. 1822 ; d. 5 April, 1822.
5. Harriett E., b. 19 May. 1823; m. L. M. Jewett 15 Septem-
ber, 1859.
8. jDari'l W.,h. 25 July, 1795.
9. Asenath, b. 13 January, 179S; m. fJacob Sargent; d. 20 March,
1877.
10. Ainsworth E., b. 22 February, 1800.
11. Alvah, b. 3 March, 1802; d. 6 March, 1802.
12 and 13. Twin sons, b. and d. 15 October, 1803.
11. Sophia,}). 2 May, 1805; m. Thurlow Haskell; d. in Indianapo-
lis, Indiana, 28 August, 1868.
15. Alvah, b. 19 February, 1808; d. 7 March, 1808.
10. Rebecca K., b. 28 July, 1809; d. 28 January, 1814.
4. John Blunt, b. in Andover, Mass., 3 June, 1786 ; d.
in Amherst, 25 October, 1860 ; m. Mary E . She d.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 509
21 March, 1864, aged 79 years 9 months 21 days. Their
children were —
17. John G., b. 23 August. 1*17.
18. Luc u Williams, b. 27 February. 1821.
8. David W. Blunt, b. 25 July, 1795 : d. 30 April, 1868;
in. Hannah Bnrnham 14 December, 1837. She was b. 25
March, 1804 ; d. 15 January, 1882. Their children arc —
If). Taylor IF., b. 23 March, 1839; m. Laura E. Mooar September,
1866.
20. Hannah E., b. 30 March, 1841 ; ra. George E. Washer 18 May,
1871.
BOSWORTH.
1. George W. Bosworth, son of Bela and Joanna (Harlow)
Bosworth, b. in Plympton, Mass., 5 September, 1823 ; m.
Amy Cram 2 March, 1847. She was b. in Lyndeborough
9 ( October, 1823. They settled in Amherst in the spring of
1866. In the recent civil war he enlisted from the town of
Lyndeborough, in the 16th Regiment X. H. Vols., and serv-
ed in the Department of the Gulf as captain of company G-.
in that regiment. He also enlisted in the 18th Regiment X.
H. Vols., in which he served as captain of company F.
Their children were —
2. George X., b. 13 September. 1848; d.27 March, 1853.
3. Amy E., b. 23 November, 1850: d. 17 July, 1854.
4. Mary E., b. 2.9 December, 1852.
5. Infant sun, b. 31 January, 1855; d. 4 February. 1855.
(i. Abby I\, b. 31 January, 185(5.
7. Infant daughter, b. and d. 2 March, 1859.
8. Amy II., b. 14 December, 1861 ; d. 18 January, 1862.
9. George X., b. 4 November, 1866.
10. Amy G. A., b. 28 May, 1871.
BOUTELL.
The families bearing this name, in Amherst are descended
from (I) James Boutell, of Salem, who was made a free-
man 14 March, 1639, andd. in 1651. His son, (II) James
510 HISTORY OF AMHEBST. [Chap.
Boutell, who d. 5 December, 1716, in. Rebecca Kendall 15
June, 1665. She was b. 10 February, 1644 ; d. 30 August,
1713. She was one of several daughters of Dea. Thomas
Kendall, of Reading, Mass., who had no sons, and in order
to perpetuate the family name, all of his daughters, who
married and had sons, gave the name of Kendall to one
of them. The children of James and Rebecca Boutell
were —
1. Janus, b. (i April, 1666.
2. Thomas, b. 28 March, 1669.
:',. ].Tohu, b. 10 October. 1(571.
4. Rebecca, b. 25 December, 1671.
5. Sarah, b. 7 July. 1677.
C>. Tabitha,h. 11 May, 1679; d. young.
7. Tabitha, b. 22 May, 1680.
S. ^Kendall, b. 15 June. 16S2; in. Lucy Damon 7 January, 1706.
9. Mary, b. 28 October, 1685.
10. Elizabeth, b. 9 October, 1687.
III. 3. John Boutell, b. 19 October, 1671, settled in
Reading. By his wife, Grace, he had —
11. Rebecca, b. 15 January, 1697 ; d. young-.
12. Dorcas, b. 23 December, 1698 ; d. yonng.
13. Tabitha, b. 27 January, 1700.
14. John, b. 28 April, 1702.
15. Rebecca, b. 1704; d. in Amherst, unm., April, 1795 ; aged 90.
16. ^Joseph, b. 28 November, 1706.
17. Dorcas, b. 17 April, 1709.
18. Timothy, b. 18 August, 1711.
19. Abiel, b. 6 October, 1713.
IV. 16. Joseph Boutell, b. 28 November, 1706 ; d. 19
May, 1795 ; m. Hannah, daughter of Timothy and Martha
Hartshorn, of Reading, Mass., 5 July, 1733. She was b. 25
March, 1708 ; d. 4 November, 1784. They were among the
earliest settlers in Souhegan West. He was elected deacon
of the church 3 June, 1743, and remained in office until his
death. The names of the following children of Dea. Joseph
and Mrs. Hannah Boutell are found on stones in the old
cemetery —
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 511
20. Joseph, d. "2.") April. 1749, aged years.
21. Dorcas, d. 1 August. 1749, aged 3 years.
22. John, d. 22 August, 1753, aged 4 years.
23. John, d. 3 March. 1756, aged 3 months.
24. Joseph, d. 4 October, 1757, aged 1 month.
III. S. Kendall Boutell, b. 15 June, 1682 ; d. 8 Janu-
ary, 1770; m. Lucy Damon 7 January, 1706. She d. 11
December, 1759. They settled in Reading, Mass.
V. 25. Kendall Boutell, probably a grandson of Ken-
dall and Lucy, was b. in Reading, Mass., 12 August, 1736 ;
m. Sarah . They settled in Amherst where he d. 12
August, 1S20. She d. in April, 1812, aged 76. Their chil-
dren were —
26. f Joseph, b. 6 March, 1757.
27. Sarah, b. 15 January. 1760; d. young.
28. John, b. 8 August, 1762 ; settled in Vermont.
29. ^ Caleb, b. 3 Xovember, 1766.
30. Kendall, b. 11 June, 1769: settled in Vermont.
31. Sarah, b. 7 February. 1772: m. fJohn Weston 12 March. 1793.
26. Joseph Boutell, 3d, b. 6 March, 1757; settled in
Amherst. By his wife, Abigail, he had —
32. Rhoila. b. 27 July, 1781 : m. fEbenezer Converse.
33. Loammi, b. 16 April, 1685; m. Hannah Stevens 26 Xovember,
1812 : settled in Heading, Mass.. and d. there.
34. Luther, b. 8 August, 1789; d. in Marlow 14 December, 1862.
35. Call-in, b. S August. 1792 ; d. young.
36. Abigail, b. 2 June, 1794: m. Zaccheus Gerry, of Stoneham.
Mass., 28 April, 1822 : d. 31 December. 1878.
37. Calrin, b. 1<) August, 1797; res. in Hopkinton.
VI. 29. Caleb Boutell, b. 3 Xovember, 1766, d. 22
June, 1845 ; m. Rebecca Converse, 15 Xovember, 1797. She
was b. 22 February, 1781 ; d. 5 April, 1869. Their children
were —
38. Rebecca, b. 2 April. 1799; m. Paschal Fletcher, of Dunstable. 31
January, 1826.
39. Everline,b. 10 March, 1801; m. fSamuel B. Melendy.
40. ^Robert, b. 13 June. 1803: m. Frances Melendy.
512 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
11. Mary Ann, b. 5 August, 1805; m. Loammi Fletcher, of Dilu-
table, 25 December. 1832.
42. Sarah, b. 27 February, 1808.
43. Ruth, b. 1 May, 1810; m. Thomas F. Wilson.
■11. Sophia, b. 26 December, 1812 ; m. Benjamin Goodridge 4 April,
L839; d. at Fairbanks, Iowa, 3 January, 1881.
15. Almira, b. 4 September, 1815; d. 7 October, 1858; unmarried.
46. \Francis Kendall, b. 1 November, 1818.
VII. 40. Robert Boutell, b. 13 June, 1803 ; m. Fran-
ces Melendy 29 January, 1829. They res. in Amherst.
Their children arc —
47. Caroline F., b. 13 January, 1830 ; m. John A. Junkins, of Nashua,
23 November, 1854.
48. Sarah M., b. 2:5 March, 1832 ; m. John Wallace, of Boston, 31 De-
cember, 18G9.
49. Henry R.,\>. 1 June, 1838; m. Mary C. Miller, of Merrimack, 2
August, I860.
VII. 4<i. Francis Kendall Boutell, b. 1 November,
1818; m. Eliza J. C. Danforth 22 December, 1842. She
was b. 23 September, 1822 ; res. in Amherst. Their chil-
dren are —
50. Albert /*'., 1>. t2G March, 1845; m. Fliza A. II. Sanderson, of Mont
Vernon, 19 March, 1866.
51. George R., b. 19 July, 1847; in. Addie S. Davis, of Milford, 23
December, 1869.
52. Charles C, b. 7 October, 1850; m. Mary E. Loveland, of West
Randolph. Yt, 19 October. 1874.
53. Creighton P., b. 5 -July, 1856.
54. Elmer, b. 22 April, 1861.
55. Reuben and Eunice Boutell, from Reading, Mass.,
settled in Amherst prior to the Revolutionary Avar. About
1778 they rem. to Antrim. Their children,]), in Amherst,
were —
56. Ruth, b. 21 January, 1771 ; m. Daniel Duncklee 14 April, 1803;
d. 5 December, 1822.
57. Sarah, b. 8 December, 1774.
58. Joshua, b. 4 June, 1777.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 513
59. Joseph Boutell, jr., was a resident in Amherst prior
to the Revolution. He d. 6 January, 1807, aged 74. Han-
nah, his widow, d. 11 May, 1808, aged 70. Their son —
60. Joseph Boutell, 3d, b. 27 March, 1766, m. Sarah
Eaton, of Reading, Mass., 23 June, 1788. She d. 3 Novem-
ber, 1829, aged 6(1 He d. 7 July, 1828. Their children
were —
61. Hannah, b. 1793 ; m. (1) Mavorick Smith, February, 1830; in.
(2) John llaseltine. She d. 10 March. 1877 ; no children.
62. f Lilly E.,b. 1796.
63. Sarah, 1>. 1799: d. 23 December, 1823; unmarried.
62. Lilly E. Boutell, m. Phcbe Holt, of Temple, Febru-
ary, 1820. She was b. 8 January, 1793 ; d. 27 October,
1847. He d. 24 July, 1829, aged 33. Their children
were —
64. (ieorge E.
65. Phebe.
The children of (66) Amos and Eleanor Boutell were —
67. Eleanor, b. 12 January, 1772 : m. William Dodge 6 June, 1804.
68. Sarah, b. 10 August, 1773.
60. Elizabeth, b. 10 March, 1775.
70. Ruth, b. 1 March, 1777.
71. Lydia Lewis, b. 11 June, 1780.
72. Aaron Boutell, m. Tabitha Eaton 19 December, 1780.
He d. 17 December, 1839, aged 86. Their children were —
73. Tabitha, b. 17 duly, 1781; m. "William Brown, jr., 18 August,
1799.
74. Tin/max. 1). 25 August, 1784.
75. Eliza Parker, b. 7 January, 1789 ; m. Samuel Stewart, of Lynde-
borough, 10 March, 1811.
76. Abraham E. Boutell, m. Nancy Brown 31 Decem-
ber, 1816. They resided in the easterly part of the town,
near Lilly E. Boutell's. He d. 25 June, 1835, aged 43. His
widow and children rem. to Lyndebcrough, where she in.
(2) Mr. Abbott. She d. in Lvndeborough. Their children
were —
33
514 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
77. Ann. in. Bradley Raymond; res. in Lyndeboroiigh.
78. James, in. Ellen O'Connell; res. in Lyndeboroiigh.
79. Nancy, m. Benjamin Miller ; d. in Lyndeboroiigh.
80. Jane, m. (1) Calvin Abbott, of Lyndeboroiigh ; m. (2) Charles
81. Brown, res. in Hancock.
82. Sarah, in. Warren Ames ; res. in Milford.
BOYLSTON.
I. Thomas Boylston, of Fenclmrch street, London, em-
barked in the ship Deliance for America in 1635 ; settled
in Watertown, Mass., where he d. about 1653, at the age of
38. By his wife Sarah, who d. 14 September, 1704, he had
three children —
1. Elizabeth.
2. Sarah.
3. ^Thomas.
II. 3. Thomas Boylston, m. Sarah, dau. of Thomas
Gardner, of Muddy River, now Brooldine, Mass. She
was b. 9 April, 1648 ; d. 8 July, 1722. He was a surgeon ;
settled in Brooldine, and served in the Narraganset war.
Their children were —
4. Edward.
5. Richard.
6. A bit/ail.
7. Peter, whose daughter Susannah m. Dea. John Adams, of
TJraintree, and was the mother of Pres. John Adams. Her sister
Anne m. Ebenezer Adams, a brother of Dea. John, and was the
mother of Rev. Zabdiel Adams, of Lunenbui'g, the grandfather of
Chief-Justice Henry A. Bellows, of New Hampshire.
8. Sarah.
9. Lucy.
10. Zabdiel, a noted physician of Brooldine, Mass.
11. Mary.
12. Rebecca.
13.: J Dudley.
14. Joanna.
15. Thomas.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 515
III. 13. Dudley Boylston, b. 1688 ; d. 18 April, 1748 ;
m. Elizabeth Gardner, and settled in Brookline. Their
children were —
16. Anna. 22. Richard.
17. Mary. 23. Caleb.
18. Elizabeth. 24. Sarah.
19. Dudley. 25. Susannah.
20. Joshua. 26. \Edward.
21. Mary. 27. Hannah.
IV. 26. Edward Boylston, b. in Brookline 2 January
1737-8 ; d. in Springfield, Mass., 25 December, 1813 ; was
a soldier in the war for independence, in which he was taken
prisoner and confined for a long time on the Jersey prison
ship, at New York. After the close of the war he settled
in Springfield. By his wife Lydia, who d. 20 April, 1813,
aged 66, he had —
28. Elizabeth, b. 1776 : in. Wood : d. in Bloomingville, ().,
6 September. 1834.
2!). ^Richard, b. 12 August, 17*2.
30. Zabdiel, d. at New Orleans. La., 15 February, 1855, aged 71.
31. Samuel, d. at Springfield, Mass.. 13 August, 1863, aged 77.
V. 29. Richard Boylston, b. in Springfield, Mass., 12
August, 1782 ; d. in Amherst 19 July, 1857 ; settled in Am-
herst, 1809 ; m. Mary Moseley, of Boston, 2 August, 1810 ;
she was b. 11 August, 1783 ; d. 5 November, 1866. Their
children were —
32. Elizabeth Worthington, b. 16 May. 1811 : in. William (i. Eaton,
of Boston, June, 1832; d. at Newton Center. Mass., 18 February, 1881.
3:5. \Edwafd Dudley, b. 26 January, 1811.
34. Mary Christina Baker, b. 10 November, 1815.
35. Richard Worthington, b. 1819; d. 13 November, 1845.
36. Catherine Moseley,h. 1!) June, 1820: d. 13 October, 1882; un-
married.
37. Lucy.
33. Edward Dudley Boylston, b. 26 January, 1814 ; m.
Mercy Plummer Perkins 12 August, 1843 ; she was b. at
516 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Dover 16 March, 1818 ; d. 29 December, 1880. Their chil-
dren were —
38. Helen Read, m. fAlbert A. Rotch.
39. Ably F.
40. David C. M., d. at Athol, Mass., 22 October, 1872, aged 24.
41. Emma P., in. Edward F. Locke, of Chelsea, Mass.. 26 October,
1880.
BOYNTON.
Moses Boynton, d. 18 July, 1858, aged 60.
Samuel, son of Moses Boynton, d. in Nashua 17 October, 1855,
aged 35.
Emma, daughter of Moses Boynton, d. 28 October, 18:55, aged 13.
BRADBURY.
Miss Elizabeth Bradbury, d. April, 1833, aged 25.
BRADFORD.
1. William Bradford, from Middleton, Mass., settled
in Souhegan West, at an early date. He m. (1) Mary Lam-
bert 18 January, 1737. She was b. 11 March, 1718; d.
18 February, 1770 ; m. (2) Rachel Small, who d. in 1802.
He d. 1791. His will was presented for probate 7 Septem-
ber, 1791. Children (the tvv r o last by second wife) —
2. Samuel, b. about 1738; in. Anna Washer, of Amherst, 17 Decem-
ber, 1761 ; was a Revolutionary soldier; settled in Hillsborough ; d. in
Antrim 5 February, 1813.
3. Patience, m. fJoseph Lovejoy, of Amherst, !) .July, 1761 ; d. in
Amherst. 3 March, 1826, aged 85.
4. Mary, m. f John Averill, of Amherst ; d. in Mont Vernon 21
August, 1811:, aged 73. She was baptized in Middleton, Mass., 1712.
5. f-Enos, b. 3 November, 171-1 ; m. Sarah Chandler, of Bedford, 24
January, 1769; d. of starvation, from a disease of the throat which
prevented him from swallowing food.
6. \Joseph, a Revolutionary soldier ; d. at Medford, Mass., July, 1775.
7. f William, a Revolutionary soldier and a soldier of the war of
1812.
XXIV. J GENEALOGIES. 517
8. Hiihiah, unmarried.
9. Olive, in. Reuben Boutell, jr., 11 November, 1779; rem. to An-
trim 1783.
10. Eunice, m. Moses Pettengill 4 February. 1779.
11. Hannah, b. 2d May, 177:5: m. James Tuttle, 5 July, 1798.
12. Lambert, b. 18 March, 1775; d. in Merrimack 12 February, 1850.
II. (I. Joseph Bradford, son of (1) William and Mary
(Lambert) Bradford; left two children —
1:5. Molly, m. Robert Taggard. 20 Sept. 1793.
14. Lavina.
They were placed under guardianship 28 April, 1779. They had pre-
viously been cared for by Nathan Jones.
II. 7. William Bradford, jr., son of (1) William and
Mary (Lambert) Bradford ; m. Hannah and settled in
Amherst. She d. 1 Sept., 1812, aged 5§ ; m. (2) Mrs. Lois
Bruce. He rem. in his old age, to Barre, Vt., where he d-
25 Oct. 181(3, aged 63 years. His children were —
15. William, b. 1780; in. Mary Green ; d. in Barre, Vt., 3 March,
I860.
l(i. Joseph, d. in Winchester, Tenn., 19 January, 1859, aged 72.
17. Merry, m. Daniel L. Stearns; d. in Goshen August, 1849, aged
52.
18. Leonarel, settled in Washington.
1!). Anne, d. unm. in Goshen.
20. Luc;/, in. Fber Curtis of Antrim.
21. Fanny, an adopted daughter; m. Eben Averill; d. 12 February,
1850, aged 66.
5. Enos Bradford, son of (1) William and Mary Lam-
bert) Bradford ; m. Sarah Chandler, of Bedford, 24 January,
1769. He settled near his father in Amherst. Their chil-
dren were —
22. Chandler, b. 20 November. 1772; d. 29 January, 1775.
23. Enos, b. 26 December, 1774; d. September, 17!)7.
24. Lambert.
25. Sareth, b. 24 January, 1780.
26. Chandler, b. 1:5 August, 1783; d. 22 February, 1784.
518 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
27. Nancy, b. 17!>2; m. John Lummus Lampson, of Mont Vernon
16 November, 1809 ; d. 23 January, 1812.
III. 23. Enos Bradford, jr., son of Enos and Sarah
(Chandler) Bradford; m. Lydia September, 1797.
One child —
28. Charles Jaquith, b. 8 May, 1796.
II. 12. Lambert Bradford, son of (1) William, m. Phebe
Farnnm. He died in Merrimack, 12 February, 1850, aged
75. Their children were —
29. Polly, b. !) March, 1795 ; m. George Wiley 1 January, 1818.
30. William, b. 1G March, 1797 ; in. Ruth Whiting, of Merrimack,
16 March, 1826.
31. Minerva, b. 11 August, 17!)!).
32. Nabb//, b. 1 December, 1801.
33. Susannah, 1). 6 April, 1802.
rfl
^>y?uj
34. Capt. Andrew Bradford, from Middleton, Mass.,
brother of William Bradford, settled in Souhegan West
previous to its incorporation as a town. He d. in Milford
in 1798, aged 80. He m. (2) Mrs. Hannah (Goffe) Chan-
dler, widow of *Thomas Chandler, of Bedford, daughter of
Col. John Goffe. She was b. 16 January, 1723 : d. in Mil-
ford 14 December, 1819. Children by second marriage —
35. Rebecca, b. 7 November, 1757.
36. Ma?-)/, b. 12 June, 1760 ; m. John Wallace, of Amherst.
37. Andrew, b. 11 June, 1763; m. Lucy Parker 19 December. 1785.
Xo children.
38. MehitaUe, b. 27 July, 1760.
39. Capt. John Bradford, son of Capt. Andrew Brad-
ford, by his first wife ; m. Sarah . They settled in
* Thomas Chandler and Hannah (ioffe were the first couple married
in Bedford. At her death she had 8 children, 63 grand-children, 113
great grand-children, and one of the 5th generation : total 185.
Anwi-ionn Bouk Not« Co. Boston.
W f/ff f
/ W?
Anwriran Hnnk Note Co. Boston.
w^-^^ C0^^<J
520 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
VI. 1 . Isaac Brooks, b. in Woburn 16 August, 1757 ; d.
in Amherst 20 December, 1840 ; m. Abigail Kendrick, daugh-
ter of Benjamin Kendrick, of Amherst. She was b. 1766; d.
May, 1826. Their children were —
2. Isaac, b. 26 September, 1791; d. 6 July, 1796.
3. Luther Dana, b. 6 July, 1795 ; was a merchant on Amherst Plain;
(i. 22 August, 1829; unmarried.
4. Abigail, b. 25 September, 1806; in. Ninian C. Dodge, June, 1828;
d. 22 January, 1872.
Gardner G. Brooks, formerly a resident in Amherst, d.
at Fitchburg, Mass., June, 1841, aged 47.
BROWN.
1. Samuel Brown, b. in Hollis 25 November, 1779 ; d. 17
August, 1854; m. Mary Flanders 4 December, 1806. She
was b. in Salisbury, Mass., 28 August, 1785 ; d. 20 May,
1858. They settled in Amherst in 1838. Their children
were —
2. Flanders S., b. 28 October, 1807; d. 11 January, 1808.
3. Samuel F., b. 9 January, 1810 ; d. 23 November, 1854.
4. Tnfant,b. 23 August, 1810; d. young.
5. Mary J., b. 1 September, 1812; unmarried; res. in Amherst.
6. Moses S., b. 19 March, 1815; d. 5 September, 1818.
7. Joel F., b. 7 September, 1817 ; d. 11 May, 1818.
8. \Albert P., h. 27 November, 1819; m. Sarah Brackett.
9. Hannah B., b. 12 February, 1822; m. George A. Jewett 7 August,
1851 ; d. in Peterborough 23 July, 1859.
10. William E., b. 12 January, 1825; m. Elizabeth Cragin, at Deep
Creek, Va., 17 April, 1851.
11. t Augustus W., b. 20 November, 1827; in. Esther Hamore.
12. Leonard J., b. 30 March, 1831 ; m. Carrie Prince 19 December,
1801.
8. Albert P. Brown, b. in Hollis, 27 November, 1819 ; m.
Sarah Brackett 27 November, 1851. She was b. in Peter-
borough, N. H.,7 June, 1820.
11. Augustus W. Brown, b. in Hollis 20 November,
1827; m. (1) Esther Hamore 20 January, 1855. She was
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 521
b. in West Eden, Me., 6 November, 1827; d. in Amherst 16
April, 1875 : in. (2) Leona M. Piper 30 March, 1878. She
was b. in Bradford 6 January, 1848. Their children are —
13. Angie M., b. 25 July, 1858.
14. Luella H.. b. 2 January, 1863.
15. Clara F., b. 25 May, 1S65.
Children of Caleb and Elizabeth Brown —
10. Caleb, b. 26 May. 1785.
17. Simeon, b. 7 June, 1786.
18. Sarah, b. 27 April, 1790.
19. Grace, b. 5 June, 1792.
20. Jacob, b. 9 June, 1794.
Children of ( 21) William and Anna Brown. She d.
September, 1822.
22. William, b. 25 March, 1776.
23. Thomas, b. 17 October, 1777.
Hannah, wife of William Brown, d. 3 October, 1863, aged 67.
Amy, wife of William Brown, d. 22 June, 1S67, aged 69.
William Brown, a Revolutionary soldier, d. February, 1825. aged 86.
Tabitha Brown, d. 10 August, 1870, aged 89.
William Brown, a soldier in the war of 1812, d. 26 February, 1834,
aged 50.
Elizabeth Brown, wife of John Brown, d. May, 1809, aged 74.
Mary F. Brown, d. 20 May, 1859, aged 73.
Robert Brown, a native of Amherst, d. at Jaffrey 27 November, 1873,
aged 74.
Mar;/ Frances Brown, daughter of John, d. 7 May, 1836, aged 17.
Esther M. Brown, wife of Augustus W. Brown, d. 16 April, 1875, aged
74.
John Dalton Brown, formerly of Amherst, d. at Mont Vernon 29 May,
1879.
BRUCE.
1. Rev. John Bruce, b. in Marlborough, Mass., 31 August,
1757 ; d. in Mont Vernon 12 March, 1809; in. Lois Wilkins,
of Marlborough, 15 December, 1785, who, after his death, m.
Maj. William Bradford. She d. in Mont Vernon 12 Febru-
522 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
ary, 1828, aged 67. He settled in Mont Vernon, then Am-
herst, in 1785. Their children were —
2. John, d. in infancy.
3. John, b. 11 February, 1788; iu. Dolly Durant; d. 20 January,
1872.
4. James, b. 15 Xovember. 1789.
5. William, b. 7 August, 17!)1 ; in. Hannah Jones: d. 21 July, 1871.
»i. Lois, b. 1793; m. Win. S. Stinson 12 September, 1816 ; d. 5 Octo-
ber, 1823.
7. Nathaniel, b. 1794; d. 2 March. 1874.
8. Fa>m//, ni. Stephen Peabody.
, BRYANT.
Mrs. Mary W. Bryant d. December, 1802, aged 74.
Aaron Bryant, of Tyngsborough, m. Sarah K. Winn in
February, 1830.
BULLARD.
1. Ezra Bullard, a native of Dedham, Mass., settled in
Lyndeborough, whence he rem. to Amherst, where he d. 18
May, 1827, aged 70; m. Betsey Crowley. She d. in Hyde
Park, Vt. Their children were —
2. John, m. Rosannah Mills, of Milford ; res. in Hyde Park. Vt.,and
Mont Vernon ; d. in Mont Vernon.
3. Daniel, m. Abigail Mills; settled in Hyde Park, Vt., where he
died.
4. William.
5. f Nahum, in. Keziah Peabody.
(i. Betsey, m. Jesse Varies.
7. Mahala, d. unmarried.
Mrs. Bullard, the mother of Ezra, d. in Amherst 14 May, 1827. aged
94.
5. Nahum Bullard, d. in Amherst 26 March, 1860; m
Keziah Peabody, daughter of Moses, jr. and Mary (Marvell)
Peabody, 1830. Their children were —
8. Edmund, d. in infancy.
9. Caroline, m. William Whipple September, 1857; res. in Nashua.
XXIV.] GENEALOCxIES. 523
10. Lovisa, m. Richard Mahar ; res. in Amherst.
11. Edmund, in. Rachel Roberts; res. in Mont Vernon.
12. Mary, m. Henry Richardson; res. in Nashua.
13. George, m. Angeline Davis; res. in Manchester.
14. Henry, m. Irene Austin September, 1870; res. in Amherst.
15. John, m. Ida Bell Swinington 23 November, 1875; res. in Am-
herst.
16. A bby, in. Lewis Caldwell October, 1860; res. in New Boston.
17. Anna, m. Winfield S. Stetson I June, 1879; res. in Nashua.
18. Emma, m. Frank C. Green; res. in Amherst.
19. A son, not named: d. in infancy.
BURNHAM.
Charles H. Bi T RXHAM,b. in Bridgton, Me., 21 July, 1840;
in. Lucy A. Haseltine 8 June, 1865. She was b. in Man-
chester 12 July, 1837. They settled in Amherst April,
1876. Their children are —
1. Flora L.,b. 16 December. 1868.
2. Arthur H., b. 10 July, 1872.
3. Asahel Burxham, m. Lydia, daughter of Moses Pea-
body, 21 September, 1818.
4. Sabrina Burnham, daughter of Asahel and Lydia: d. 9 November,
1845, aged 24.
5. Anne E. Burnham, daughter of Andrew ; d. 21 December, 1854,
aged 29.
6. Lois J. Burnham, d. 15 July, 1864, aged 20.
BURNS.
Daniel, son of Daniel and Elizabeth Burns, was b. 4 July, 1791.
Hannah, daughter of George and Jenny Burns, was b. 25 August,
1771.
Children of Johx and Elizabeth Burxs —
Molly, b. 10 August, 1774.
Joshua, b. 28 October, 1777.
Mrs. Elizabeth Bums, d. 26 April, 1782, aged 42.
Children of Joseph Burxs and wife —
Joseph, b. 1791.
Rufus, b. 30 December. 1792.
524 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap
Children of John Burns and wife —
Jo/in, b. 25 December, 17S5.
Peter, b. 25 April, 1789.
.fames, son of John Burns, jr., and wife, was b. 16 September ITS!).
Children of Thomas and Elizabeth Burns —
James,h. 15 August, 1771.
John, b. 25 June. 1773.
Molly, b. 12 October, 1777.
Samuel, 1). 17 September, 1779.
John Burns, d. 4 August, 1782, aged 80.
Peter P. Bums, d. 4 May, 1857, aged 51 years and 11 months.
William Bums, 13 December, 1877, aged 78.
BURTT.
Cora L. Burtt, d. (1 September, 1880, aged 21 years and 14 days.
BUTLER.
Elizabeth Butler, formerly of Nantucket, d. February, 1822, aged
64.
BUZZELL.
Henri/ G. Buzzell, d. 14 December, 1870, aged 48 years and 8 months.
CADY.
David Cady in. Elizabeth Prince, eldest daughter of Lt.
Joseph Prince. After his decease she m. Benjamin Roby,
of Merrimack, where she d. October, 1831, aged 81 years.
The children of David Cady were —
David Prince, b. 9 August, 1785.
Betsey, b. 3 December, 1786.
CALDWELL.
1. David Caldwell, b. in Nottingham West, now Hudson,
21 March, 1779 ; d. in Amherst 20 September, 1856 ; m.
Sarah Boggs. She was b. in Warren, Me., 20 November,
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 525
1786 ; d. in Amherst 25 November, 1877, aged 91. They
rem. to Amherst from Nottingham West about 1821. Their
children were —
2. Lucinda, b. 17 July, 1811, in Nottingham West.
3. Mary Ann, b. 29 January, 1813; m. Solomon B. Emerson, of
Lowell, Mass., November, 1846.
4. Dustin B., b. 5 February, 1815; d. in Nashua 6 August, 1875.
5. jflsaac F., b. 29 September, 1817.
6. Eliza Jane, b. 18 February, 1820; d. 6 July, 1824.
7. Harriet E., b. 6 April, 1822, in Amherst.
8. George L., b. 26 May, 1824.
!). Charles A., b. 2 March, 1827.
10. ^Edward A., b. 20 July. 1829.
11. Maria A., b. 13 December, 1832; m. George F. Hills, of Merri-
mack, 26 November, 1863.
5. Isaac F. Caldwell, b. 29 September, 1817 : m. Mary
H. Nourse, of Lowell, Mass., 5 December, 1855. Their chil-
dren were —
12. James Herbert, b. 11 July, 1857; d. 26 November, 1859.
13. Annit Elizabeth, b. 30 October, 1861.
14. Mary Estella, b. 5 May, 1865.
10. Edward A. Caldwell, b. 20 July, 1829 ; m. Philo-
melia D. Cheever, of Merrimack, 14 May, 1863. Their chil-
dren were —
15. Horace D., b. «> March, 1S64.
16. Edwin A., b. 8 June, 1866.
17. Sarah E., b. 15 February, 1868.
18. Albert II., b. 28 February, 1871.
19. Grace B., b. 9 February, 187G ; d. March. 1876.
Josiah Caldwell, aged 59 years, a resident in Amherst,
was found dead by the roadside, in Merrimack, 12 July,
1826.
Mary, widow of Josiah Caldwell, d. 9 August, 1S48, aged 73.
Abel G., son of Josiah and Mary Caldwell, d. in New York city 26
December, 1840, aged 26.
Cyrus Caldwell, d. 20 November, 1856, aged 59.
Mrs. Caldwell, his widow, d. 7 October, 1858.
526 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CAMBRIDGE.
Edward ( 'ambridge, son of Mr. Charles Cambridge, d. 1 August, 1807.
aged 20. lie was an apprentice in the Cabinet office.
CAME.
Anna Lincoln, daughter of Brooks R. Came, d. 11 April, 1870, aged
5 years and 2 days.
CAMPBELL.
I. Daniel Campbell, a lineal descendant from John
Campbell, Duke of Argyle, was b. in Argyleshire, Scotland,
in 1660. He was an officer in the army of King William at
the battle of the " Boyne Waters," 1 July, 1690. After the
close of that war he settled in the north of Ireland. His
son —
II. Henry Campbell, b. 1697, m. Martha Black, whose
parents emigrated to Ireland from the vicinity of Aberdeen,
Scotland. They remained in Ireland until 1733, when they
emigrated to America. Their children, all except the young-
est b. in Ireland, were —
1. William.
2. Samuel.
3. James.
4. John.
5. A daughter, d. in infancy.
6. Hear//, m. Janet Mack.
7. f Daniel, 1>. in Londonderry 27 .June, 1739.
III. 7. Daniel Campbell, b. in Londonderry 27 June,
1739; d. in Amherst 7 October, 1838; m. Jane, daughter of
John Hylands, 25 June, 1760. She was b. in Londonderry
27 December, 1738 ; d. 23 November, 1815. He commenced
a clearing on his land in Souhegan West, in 1759 ; rem.
here with his wife 23 April, 1761. Their children were —
8. A daughter, b. and d. 10 March, 1772.
9. A daughter, d. young.
^ZJcc^^uJi ^a^9->^t^-c/^%-
XXIV. J GENEALOGIES. 527
10. Sophia Leffe, b. 24 September, 1775; m. James Stocker; res. in
Salem, Mass.; d. tbere 23 September, 1858 ; no children.
11. ^Daniel, b. 26 March, 1778.
12. Jane Hylands, b. 11 July, 1781 ; m. Jonathan Beckett 29 Xovem.
ber,1807; res. in Salem, Mass.; d. there 23 November, 1873. Their
children were —
1. Daniel Campbell (Beckett). b. 2 November, 1809.
2. Mary Jane, " b. 18 February, 1812.
3. Alfred Henry, " b. 22 November, 1814.
4. Emeline Carleton, " 1>. 23 July, 1817.
IV. 11. Daniel Campbell, jR.,b. 26 March, 1778; d. 7
July, 1853; m. Susan, daughter of David and Thankful
(Burnham) Story, of Dunbarton, 19 November, 1807. She
was b. 17 April, 1779 ; d. 6 June 1842. They settled on the
farm cleared and occupied by his father, in school district
No. 8. Their children were —
13. Sophia Ann, b. 7 October, 1808; d. 21 December. 1809.
14. Henry, b. 1 May, 1810; d.7 December, 1825.
1"). Louisa Story,b.9 December, 1811; m. Horace F. Dinsniore 13
January, 1842 ; res. in Fraucestown. Their children were —
1. Susan Augusta, b. 15 March, 1843; d. 18 September, 1861.
2. Lucina Campbell, b. 23 September, 1845; m. Liberty Bil-
lings 9 April, 1805; d. 20 July, 1869, leaving one daugh-
ter.
l(i. Daniel, b. 13 October, 1814; d. :; October, 1819.
17. Lucina, b. 8 September, 1816; d. 24 November, 1835.
15. Susan, b. "2 August, 1818; d. 10 November, 1868; unmarried.
19. \Charles Henry, b. 21 April, 18-_H.
V. 19. Charles Henry Campbell, b. 24 April, 1821 ; m.
Anna Rebecca, daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Crehore)
Tucker, of Milford, 25 May, 1847. They resided in Amherst
until 18U6, when they removed to Nashua, where they now
reside. Their children were —
20.' A son, 1>. and d. 19 March. 184!).
21. George Hylands, b. 22 September, 1850; prepared for college in
the Boston Latin School and Phillips Academy. Andover, Mass.; en-
tered Dartmouth College but did not graduate ; studied law at Harvard
Law School, and with Jewell, Gaston & Field, of Boston, and was ad-
528 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
mitted to the Suffolk bar in 1874. From 1875 to 1879 he was private
military secretary to Governors Gaston and Rice, with the rank of
colonel. He resumed the practice of the law in Boston in 1879;
unmarried.
22. Anna Louisa, b. 27 April, 1853; d. 28 July, 1856.
23. A son, I*. 20 November, 1858; d. 21 November, 1858
CARLETON.
1. Pea. Oliver Carleton, one of the earliest settlers in
the north-west parish ; m. Amy Washer. Their children
were —
2. jJohn, b. 16 October, 1762.
3. Jt'ehecca, b. 21 January, 1764; m. Robert Parker, jr., 11 Septem-
ber, 1783.
4. Enoch, b. 15 September, 1765; m. Hannah Peabody.
5. (Hirer, b. 23 August, 1767 ; m. Mary Farnuni 24 September^
1789 ; settled in Acworth about 1804.
6. A me;j, l) - 24 ^ l ^J- 17,;! '-
7. Stephen, b. 23 October, 1771 ; d. 1857, aged 86; settled in Ac-
worth as a physician in 1803 ; never married. " A man of few words,
a gentleman of the old school, kind and generous in his feelings, and
always trying to do his best when his services were required."
2. John Carleton, b. 16 October, 17(32; d. 20 December,
1838; m. (1) Judith Weston. She was b. 29 March, 1763;
m. (2) Tabitha (Wilkins) Gilmore 30 March, 1825. She
was a grand-daughter of Rev. Daniel Wilkins, and was b.
28 October, 1774; d. in South Marlow 16 September, 1848.
He was a prominent citizen of the north-west parish now the
town of Mont Vernon. Their children were —
8. Clarence, b. 9 September, 1781.
9. Judith, b. 8 July, 1783; m. Josiah Coburn. of Mont Vernon, 27
April, 1804 ; d. 5 October, 1864.
10. Emma. b. 21 August, 1785.
11. John, b. 26 July, 1787; res. in Mont Vernon; d. 14 January?
1868.
12. Mary, b. 16 June 1790; m. Dr. Luther Smith, of Hillsborough,
22 July, 1817 ; d. 20 March, 1872.
13. Daniel Weston, b. 5 December, 1791 ; d. in infancy.
14. Dcr'"', Weston, 26 November, 1793; d. young.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 529
15. Achsah, b. 21 July, 1795.
16. George, b. 16 May, 1797.
17. Lucy, b. 2 May, 1799.
18. Oliver, b. 20 July, 1831.
19. Daniel, b. 27 October, 1805.
Children of (20) Thomas and Mary Carleton —
21. Thomas, b. 1 November, 1771.
22. Sally, b. 14 February, 1775.
23. David Hartshorn, b. 27 February, 1777.
21. Joseph. Stivkney, b. 12 November, 1779.
Children of (25) Moses and Chloe Carleton —
20. Edward Dwight, b. 3 July, 1820.
27. Mary While, b. 10 February, 1822.
28. Timothy Worcester, b. 28 January, 1821.
Peter Carleton, d. 16 August, 1859, aged 52.
Hannah M., daughter of Peter Carleton, d. November, 1858, aged
18.
Dudley Carleton, d. 19 November, 1873; aged 85 years
and 5 months.
Eliza P. Carleton, -wife of Dudley; d. 10 June, 1867, aged 71.
CARR.
Alexander M. Carr, son of Dea. James and Ann (Pat-
terson) Carr, was b. in Antrim 15 December, 1791 ; m. Han-
nah Msllvainc 18 April, 1817; d. in Amherst 28 January,
1830. She d. in Bedford 11 July, 1879, aged 86 years 9
months and 5 days. They lived in various places in Autrim
and in Bedford, Mont Vernon and Amherst. Their chil-
dren were —
Sahra G., b. ISIS; m. Abram J. Twiss; res. in Manchester.
Lorenzo C., m. Caroline Hastings ; res. in Amherst on the Woolson
farm.
Elizabeth M., unmarried; res. in Bedford.
Mark M., m. (1) Emma Ferson, of Goffstown ; m. (2) Mary A.
Clement, of Hillsborough; d. in Manchester, 1872.
Hannah J., m. Timothy Jones ; res. in Amherst.
Alexander M., jr., d. unm., aged 25.
34
530 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
CARTER.
1. Oliver Carter, b. in Wilmington, Mass., 5 June, 1810 ;
m. Sarah Goodhue 10 November, 1836. She was b. 7 April,
1815; d. 2 August, 1875. They settled, about 1842, on
the farm on Chestnut hill, formerly owned by Lt. John
Patterson. Their children were —
2. Mary Elizabeth, b. 30 July, 1837 ; m. Henry S. Emerson ; res. in
North wood.
3. fJa/wes Oliver, b. 14 May, 1839 ; m. Susan S. Melendy.
4. Sarah Louisa, b. 8 March, 1842; d. 11 September, 1843.
5. Emily Frances, b. 19 June, 1856 ; m. Rodney H. Prince 30 May,
1878 ; d. 1 February, 1883.
3. James Oliver Carter, b. 14 May, 1839; m. (1) Susan S.
Melendy. She was b. 12 February, 1840 ; d. 11 September,
1861; in. (2) Mary L. Goodhue, of North Andover, Mass.,
5 December, 18G6. Their children were —
G. Charles Oliver, b. 25 November, 1861; d. 17 June, 1863.
7. Peter Woodbury, b. 4 September, 1S3-J ; d. 20 January, 1864.
8. Susan, Smith, d. 11 September, lfc>64.
9. Arthur William, d. 25 December, 1867.
Simeon Carter, b. in Wilmington, Mass., 7 May, 1785; d.
8 June, 1856; m. Esther Ames 11 November, 1821. She
was b. in Wilmington 8 April, 1798 ; d. in Stoneham, Mass.,
17 December, 1868. They rem. from Wilmington to Am-
herst in November, 1835, and res. several years on the farm
now owned by Luther Coggin. Their children were —
Simeon, jr.
Cynthia, m. Cyrus C. T.oav, 16 June, 1842.
Willard,h. 1833.
Harlan P., d. 17 March, 1840, aged 3 years and 9 months.
Henry Gowing, b. June, 1836 ; a soldier in the civil war ; killed in
battle at Tupelo, Miss., 14 July, 1864.
Harriett, b. 1841 ; m. John B. Heath, of Stoneham, Mass., 17 Septem-
ber, 1859.
William Carter, a former resident in Amherst ; a native
of Wilmington, Mass.; d. in Lebanon 11 November, 1875,
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 531
aged 87 years and 6 months. Mrs. Persia Carter, wife of Wil-
liam Carter, d. at Lebanon 29 May, 1853, aged 71 years.
CARTWRIGHT.
Hannah Cartwright, d. June, 1836, aged about 70.
CASH.
James Cash and Rachel Hassell m. 20 January, 1808. He d. 2 Jan-
uary, 1S27, aged 45. She d. 11 June, 1851, aged 72.
CAVENDER.
John C a vender, a native of Peterborough, was for some
years a clerk in David Holmes's store, on the Plain. After
leaving Amherst he was engaged in manufacturing at San-
bornton and other places. Finally he settled in St. Louis,
Mo., where he d. 5 June, 1863, aged 66.
CHAMPNEY.
Martha J., daughter of Charles C. Champney, d. 28 November, 1859,
aged 20.
CHANDLER.
Daniel Chandler, twin brother of David, b. in Andover
9 July, 1751; m. Joanna Stevens, of Amherst; resided for
some years in Amherst ; rem. thence to Putney, Vt., in
1791. She d. in Coventry, Vt., aged 74. He d. while con-
fined for debt in Amherst jail, and was buried in Merri-
mack. Their children were —
Joanna, b. in Andover 8 August, 1774; m. (1) Asa Spalding; m.
(2) Josiah Fletcher, of Dunstable.
Daniel, b. 4 March, 1777; m. Sally Danforfch 13 September, 1803.
Samuel, b. in Amherst; killed in Merrimack, in 1806, by a log roll-
ing over him.
Dorcas, m. (1) Silas Spalding 27 November, 1806: m. (2) Josiah
Blood.
532 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Sally, m. George Cobb, of Westmoreland, 21 March, 1805.
Josiah, m. Martha Hill, of Merrimack, 12 January, 1817.
Boadicea, b. 29 April, 1789 ; m. Jesse Miller at Westminster, Vt.,
March, 1818.
Pkebe, b. 10 July, 1793; m. Amos Wilkins 29 December, 1813.
John, d. 10 March, 1813, aged 18 years months.
CHAPMAN.
Mrs. Mary Chapman, d. 1 October, 1866, aged 82 years
and 9 months.
CHASE.
Mrs. S. Melissa Chase, wife of Rev. B. W. Chase, d. 15
January, 1872. She was b. in Antrim 9 November, 1836.
CHEEVER.
Benjamin Cheever and Mary Wilkins were m. in Middle-
ton 21 October, 1725. They were settled in Sonhegan West
in 1747.
Nathaniel Cheever and Mary Bancroft, of Reading, Mass.,
were m. 9 November, 1769. They were for some years res-
idents in Amherst.
CHICKERING.
1. Isaac Chickering, b. in Andover, Mass., 5 August,
1770; d. in Amherst 13 December, 1838; m. Ruth Foster,
of Canterbury, 20 February, 1799. She was b. 25 December,
1776 ; d. 3 September, 1834. They settled in Northfield at
first, but rem. from that place to Amherst about 1800.
Their children were —
2. \Isaac, b. 13 October, 1801.
3. Maria, b. 1 December, 1803; m. Asa E. Foster; d. in Erie, Pa.>
24 June, 1859.
1. Albert Emerson, b. 7 May, 1806; d. 2 October, 1838 ; unmar-
ried.
5. Elizabeth, b. 22 January, 1808 : d. 25 January, 1808.
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 533
6. Calrin, b. 6 March, 1809 ; m. Caroline Crary, of Ellicotville, N.
Y.; d. 15 November, 1840.
7. Harmon, b. 23 November, 1810; d. 21 July, 1841; unmarried.
8. Julia A nn, b. 28 August, 1815; in. (1) Moses Atwood, of Con-
cord, 5 May, 1840 ; m. (2) Rev. B. F. Clark, of Chelmsford, Mass., 30
November, 18,">4.
2. Isaac Chickering, JR.,b. 13 October, 1801; d. 6 No-
vember, 1857 ; continued the tanning business of his father;
m. Susan Atwood in June, 1842. She was b. in Wilmot 28
October, 1820. Their children were —
9. Julia Ann,b. 23 April, 1843: m. Daniel C. Shirley 23 April'
1800.
10. Albert K., b. 8 April. 1848; m. Anna Copp, 23 December, 1809.
CLAGGETT.
Wyseman Claggett was a native of Bristol, England.
He settled in Portsmouth in 1758; rem. thence to Litch-
field in 1771, and d. there 4 December, 1784 ; m. Lettice
Mitchell, of Portsmouth, 14 August, 1759. She d. in Bed-
ford 2 April, 1827, aged 85. After the death of Mr. Clag-
gett she m. (2) Simon McQueston, whom also she survived.
The children of Wyseman and Lettice (Mitchell) Claggett
were —
1. Martha.
2. J Clifton.
3. Wentworth.
4. Edward.
5. Rilta.
6. John, d. young.
7. l\ r illiam.
8. John K.
2. Hon. Clifton Claggett, b. in Portsmouth 3 December,
1762 ; d. in Amherst 26 January, 1829 ; m. Margaret Mc-
Queston, of Litchfield. She d. 17 October, 1842, aged 78.
They settled first in Litchfield ; rem. to Amherst in 1811.
Their children were —
534 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
!). Susan, d. in Amherst, 2 April, 1873, aged 84; unmarried.
10. William, b. 8 April, 1793; was a lawyer in Portsmouth; m. (1)
Sarah F., daughter of Gov. William Plumer, 20 May, 1816; m. (2) Mary
Thompson May, 1S19. lie d. in Portsmouth 28 December, 1870, leav-
ing one son, a resident of New York city. He had been a representative
and senator in the state legislature, and was for several years United
States naval officer at Portsmouth.
11. Elizabeth, m. Alfred Greeley, of Dunstable, September, 1830; d. 5
February, 1832, aged 40, leaving one child, Alfred Claggett Greeley, who
d. 28 November, 1832, aged 10 months.
12. Emma, d. in Roxbury, Mass., 20 October, 1848, aged 54 ; unmar.
ried.
13. Harriett, d. in Portsmouth 25 December, 1818, aged 20.
14. Frances, d. 1 May, 1833, aged 30; unmarried.
15. Margaretia, m. Oliver Carlton : d. 13 March, 1829, aged 26.
16. Lucreiia, m. f Aaron Lawrence 14 September, 1830.
17. Cornelia C, d. 25 November, 1S29, aged 21; unmarried.
CLARI-
V.
1. Timothy Clark, b. in Amherst 4 March, 1749; d. 1
September, 1820 ; m. Lucy Butterfield, of Dunstable, Mass.
She was b. 23 September, 1745; d. 23 September, 1820.
Their children were—
2. John, b. 7 March, 1771; m. Susannah Wilson 2 March, 1801.
He d. 6 April, 1814.
3. Timothy, b. 10 June, 1772; d. 13 June, 1805; m. Prudence Wil-
son 21 November, 1793.
4. Silas, b. 30 September, 1774.
5. Lucy, b. 20 December, 1776; d. January, 1777.
6. \Ezra, b. 25 April, 1779.
7. Lucy, b. 23 February, 1781 : d. 24 December, 1859.
8. Jacob, b. 11 June, 1783 ; d. 8 November, 1824.
9. Calvin, b. 8 May, 1784; d. 8 July, 1S59.
10. Cyrus, b. 28 January, 1788; d. 2 April, 1835.
6. Ezra Clark, b. in Amherst 25 April, 1779 ; m. (1)
Mianda Bills 5 December, 1805. She d. 10 May, 1834; m.
(2) Mrs. Sarah Clark, of Merrimack, February, 1835. He
d. in Merrimack 8 May, 1850. The children of Ezra and
Mianda (Bills) Clark were —
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 535
11. \Ezra Dexter, b. 10 August, 1806.
12. Thomas Jefferson, b. 24 May, 1SCS; d.24 December, 1808.
13. Orson, b. 9 October, 1839; d. in Merrimack October, 1840.
14. f Thomas Jefferson, b. 9 November, 1811.
15. William, b. 27 October, 1813; d. 25 March, 1814.
16. Caroline, b. 4 February, 1815.
17. William,b.6 March, 1817.
18. Mianda, b. 16 July, 1819.
19. Fezon, b. 10 July, 1821.
20. Timothy Franklin, b. 31 July, 1823 ; d. in Roxbury, Mass., 4 May
1862.
21. Manly, b. 5 March, 1825.
22. Jacob, b. 23 May, 1827.
11. Ezra Dexter Clark, b. 10 August, 1806 ; d. 8 June,
1859; m. Harriet Felton 7 April, 1831. She was b. 5 July,
1808. Their children were —
23. Harriet Caroline, b. 14 November, 1831.
24. Charles Clinton, b. 27 March, 1833 ; m. Emma Brett, of Boston,
Mass., 29 November, 1S79.
23. ^William Rodney, b. 5 November, 1834.
26. Emily Frances, b. 3") September, 1838.
27. Walter Lewis, b. 15 October, 1842 ; m. Lucy J. Thomas, 3 Janu-
ary, 1867.
28. Laura Amanda, b. 2 De< <:: 1 er, 1846; m. Joel F. Osgood, jr., 23
May, 1866.
25. William Rodney Clark, b. 5 November, 1834; m.
Ruth Mclicent Hall, of Milford, 29 March, 1855. Their
children are —
29. Emma Louisa, b. 25 October, 1855.
30. Viola Ruth,h. 7 August, 1857.
31. William Dinsmore, b. 20 November, 1860.
14. Thomas Jefferson Clark, b. in Amherst 9 Novem-
ber, 1811, d. 27 February, 1876 ; m. Lucy Clark 7 July,
1835. She was b. 6 May, 1811. Their children are —
32. f Charles J., b. 18 May, 1S3S.
33. Sarah A., b. 29 October, 1840; m. Harvey N. Chandler, of Hard-
wick, Vt., 17 October, 1861.
34. Mary A., b. 17 June, 1814 ; m. Rodney W. Burdick 29 January,
1866.
536 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
35. Harriet A., b. 16 May, 1817; m. Charles H. Kinson 18 Decem-
ber, 18G5.
32. Charles J. Clark, b. 18 May, 1838, m. Mary E. Con-
rey, of Nashua, 14 December, 1868. She was b. 11 Decem-
ber, 1842. Their children are —
30. Lilly M., b. 22 November, 18G9.
37. Nellie M., b. 20 April, 1871.
38. Hugh Hamilton Clark, a native of New Boston, b.
2 November, 1780, was a merchant in Boston, Mass.; d. there
11 April, 1818; m. Nancy, daughter of Rev. Jeremiah Bar-
nard. She was b. 15 August, 1786 ; d. in Boston, Mass., 1
December, 1813. Their children were —
89. Nancy Barnard, b. 18 November, 180S; in. Hon. Charles G. Ath-
erton ; res. in Boston, Mass.
40. Frances Mary, b. 29 December, 1810; m. Rev. Alonzo Hill, of
Worcester, Mass.; res. in Boston, Mass.
41. Jeremiah Hamilton, b. 26 September, 1812; d. young.
42. Farnum C Clark came to Amherst about 1857 ; m.
Alma A., daughter of John Loavitt, 3 April, 1858 ; resided
on the farm formerly occupied by her father ; d. there 6
December, 1872, aged 60." Their children were —
43. Nancy J., b. 16 April, 1859.
44. Harriett, b. 11 April, 1830.
45. Lucy Ann, b. 21 February, 1864; d. 9 July, 1869.
46. Charles, b. 13 August, 1865.
47. John, b. 21 November, 1866.
The children of (48) James and Lydia Clark were —
49. Mehitable, b. 18 June, 1765; m. Benjamin Estey 16 May, 1791.
50. James, b. 21 June, 176S.
51. Ebenczer, b. 5 January, 1771.
52. John Clark, b. in New Boston 3 September, 1768, d.
in Prancestown, 12 February, 1831 ; m. Rebecca Wallace 17
October, 1793. She was b. in Londonderry 1 June, 1772;
d. in Amherst 29 March, 1855. Immediately after their
marriage they settled in Hancock where their children were
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 537
born. After the death of Mr. Clark, his widow and a part
of her children rem. to Amherst. Their children were —
53. Ann Wallace, b. 14 September, 1791; d. in Amherst 12 August
183S.
54. Samuel Wallace, b. 15 December, 1795; graduated at Dartmouth
College in 1 823 ; at Andover, Mass., in 1827; ordained and installed
pastor of the Congregationalist church in Greenland in 1829; m. (1)
Frances W. Clark, of New Boston ; m. (2) Rebecca Howe, of West-
minster, Mass. Their children were —
1. Frances Moor Wallace, d. young.
2. John Howe, graduated at Dartmouth College ; surgeon in the
United States navy.
3. Lucy Barron.
4. A child, d. in infancy.
55. Letitia, b. 3 May. 1797: d. 30 August, 1800.
56. William, b. 28 September, 1798; graduated at Dartmouth Col-
lege in 1822; at Andover, Mass., in 1827; pastor of Congregational
church at Wells, Me., from 1829 to 1836; agent for American Tract
Society, at the west, from 1836 to 1S41, head-quarters at Cincinnati, O ;
district secretary of the A. B. C. F. M., for northern New England,
from 1810 to 1857; secretary of N. H. Home Missionary Society from
1857 to 1876; received the honorary degree of D. D. from Dartmouth
College in 1875 ; now res. in Amherst ; m. (1) Elvira Hurd, of New-
port, January, 1827 ; m. (2) Mrs. Mary Carter Wheelwright, of Bangor,
Me., in IS 18. She d. 7 April, 1871. Their children were—
1. William Bradbury, b. 13 January, 1842; graduated at Am-
herst College in 1863; m. Lucy E. David 17 July, 1872; is
a lawyer in Bloomington, Wis.
2. Elvira Louisa, b. January, 1845; d. in infancy.
57. Oilman, b. 14 April, 18C0; m. Sarah C. Christie, of Antrim; was
a missionary of the A. B. C. F. M. among the Seneca Indians, near
Buffalo, N. Y., in 1827-28; subsequently a farmer in Foxcroft, Me.;
now res. in Savannah. Ga. Their children were —
1. John Gilman, a lawyer in Savannah, Ga.
2. William Wallace, res. in Foxcroft, Me.
3. Sarah Letitia, d. young.
4. Mary Jane, d. young.
58. Rebecca, b. 30 October, 1801 ; d. August, 1802.
538 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
59. John, b. 24 June, 1804. He was for many years a teacher in
Georgia and Alabama ; now res. in Oberlin, O.; m. Elizabeth Tenney,
a native of Dunbarton. Three children —
1. A son, d. at the age of 7 years.
2. Williaime, m. F. X. Finney.
3. Ella, m. Steele.
60. Lydia Gordon, b. 6 November, 1807; unmarried; res. in Am-
herst.
61. Letitia Rebecca, b. 3 March, 1810 ; unmarried; d. in Amherst 2
May, 1882.
62. Mary A bigail, b. 12 March, 1814 ; in. Cephas H. Kent, pastor of the
Congregational church in Kennebunkport, Me., and afterward in Free-
port, Bradford, Enosburg, and Ripton, Vt.; now res. in New Haven,
Conn. Their children were —
1. Frances Letitia, m. Rev. Stephen Knowlton.
2. William Clark, a lumber merchant in Chicago, 111.
3. Evarfcs, now pastor of the First Congregational church at
Atlanta, Ga.
4. Abbie Wallace, num.; res. with her parents.
5. Cephas Henry, d. young.
6. John, d. young.
7. Ann Wallace, d. in infancy.
Daniel Clark and Lucy True! were m.6 September, 1793. He d. in
August, 1853, aged 92.
James, son of Daniel and Lucy Clark; d. 2 May, 1817, of "spotted
fever," aged 21.
Dorothi) Clark, their daughter, d. 13 June, 1849, aged 27.
Ebenezer Clark and Hannah Holt were m. 17 August, 1786.
Lois Clark, their daughter, d. in December, 1819, aged 20.
Ebenezer Clark and Prudence Clark were m. 18 March, 1815.
John Clark d. 9 August, 1818, aged 19 ; drowned while bathing.
Charlotte Clark, formerly of Amherst, d. at Nashua 9 February, 1844,
aged 37.
Josiah Clark d. in December, 1833, aged 74.
Joshua Clark d. in January, 1836.
Widow Susannah Clark d. 27 April, 1817, aged 74.
Peter Clark and Lucy Clark were m. 18 August, 1803.
A child of Peter Clark d. in April, 1806.
Lizzie F., wife of Charles C. Clark, d. 14 January, 1873, aged 32.
XXIV. J GENEALOGIES. 539
CLEAVES.
Nathan Cleaves, b. 17 July, 1748, d. 25 August, 1812.
Sarah Cleaves, his widow, d. 1 July, 1817, aged 67.
Nathaniel Cleaves m. (1) Hannah Bradford 10 April,
1794; m. (2) Relief Barker, daughter of Dea. Ephraim Bar-
ker. He d. in Mont Vernon 1(3 December, 1850, aged 72.
Their children were —
Miranda, d. in April, 1803, aged 5 years.
f James Barker, and others.
James Barker Cleaves, b. in Constable, N. Y., 7 Septem-
ber, 1820: d. in Amherst 18 November, 1850; m. Joanna
Hartshorn. She was b. 10 October, 1824. One child —
Lucy A., b. 29 August, 1847.
COBURN.
George C. Coburn, son of Josiah and Judith (Carleton)
Coburu, of Mont Vernon, b. 14 July, 1806 ; d. 24 November,
1835 ; m. Mahala J. Secombe 30 March, 1831. She was b.
27 July, 1806 ; d. 23 April, 1838. Their children were—
George E., b. 11 March, 1832 ; m. Ellen Davenport, of Canton, Mass.,
21 May, 1863 ; d. in Fitchburg, Mass., 22 February, 1S81 ; two chil-
dren.
Sabrina Frances, b. 2 August, 1833; d. 14 May, 1848.
COCHRAN.
(7(jL*-ya>j nb^y&^z-y
James Cochran, one of the earliest settlers in Souhegan
West, was a native of Ireland. He was elected deacon of
the church, in 1744, in place of Captain Humphrey Hobbs,
and held the office until his death 5 January, 1774. Jona-
than Cuchran, who came home sick from the army, and d.
540 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
24 January, 1778, and Robert Cochran, who d. in the army,
are supposed to have been sons of Deacon Cochran.
John Cochran, jr., son of Deacon Cochran, and a Revolu-
tionary soldier, settled in the south-east part of the town ; m.
(1) ; m. (2) Lydia Hcrrick 10 January,
1803. She was 1). in April, 1765; d. 23 September, 1836.
He d. 24 May, 1833, aged 85 years. Their children were —
Nanci/ (by first wife), m. Jesse Trow, of Mont Vernon, 16 Novem-
ber, 1815 ; d. in Mont Vernon 25 September, 1878, aged 80.
Jos iuh.
Mary, b. in March, 1807; in. Robert Fletcher 11 July, 1832; settled
in Amherst; d. 22 February, 1879.
COD— CODMAN.
1. Henry Cod, an emigrant from Ireland, settled first in
Middleton,Mass.„ thence rem. to Souhcgan West about 1746.
He m. Sarah Wilkins, of Middleton, Mass., a cousin of Rev.
Daniel Wilkins. She was b. at Middleton 10 August, 1711.
The births of two of their children are recorded on the Mid-
dleton records —
2. \Henry, b. 25 January, 1744.
3. Sarah, b. 28 January, 1745. She m. Daniel Wilkins, of Amherst,
13 March, 1766. Probably others were b. in Souhegan West of which
no record remains.
2. Henry Cod studied medicine and practiced in Am-
herst ; not liking his sirname he added another syllable to it
and styled himself Dr. Codman. In his practice he used
the remedies common among the people, and told marvelous
stories which kept his patients in good spirits and contrib-
uted to their recovery. Toward the close of his life he be-
came intemperate and met with many ludicrous adventures
in his drunken fits. He was b. in Middleton, Mass., 25
January, 1744 ; d. in Amherst 14 March, 1812. By his wife,
Agnes, who d. 19 January, 1808, aged 69, he had one son
and one daughter —
XXIV.J GENEALOGIES. 541
4. Henri/ Codman, jr., who studied medicine and practiced in the
north-west parish, now Mont Vernon. He m. Rebecca Langdell 19
February, 1796, and d. 31 July, 1803, aged 29 years. His widow m. (2)
Mr. Hamlin, and d. 5 May, 1855, aged 76. Her remains rest by the side
of those of her first husband, in Mont Vernon cemetery.
5. Catherine, d. 10 June, 1781, aged 2 years and three months.
COGGIN.
1. Joseph Coggin, son of Joseph and Mary Coggin, b. in
Reading', Mass., 26 March, 1740 ; m. Ruth Hopkins. They
rem. from Wilmington to Amherst about 1778, and settled
on Potato street, in what is now the north-easterly part of
Mont Vernon. Their children were —
2. ^William.
3. f Joseph.
4. Hannah, m. (1) Fairfield; m. (2) Fairfield; d. in
New Boston.
5. Ruth, m. Fairfield ; settled and d. in New Boston.
6. Sally, b. 28 August, 1782 ; m. McMillen ; d. in New Bos-
ton.
2. William Coggin, b. in Wilmington in March, 1767 ; d.
in Mont Vernon IS September, 1856; was a blacksmith
and farmer on Potato street ; m. (1) Susannah Haseltine.
She d. 22 October, 1835, aged 65 ; m. (2) Mrs. Mary Reed.
She d. 20 September, 1871, aged 85 years and 3 months.
His children were —
7. Susan.
8. Nathaniel.
9. John,m. Lucinda Lund; is a furniture dealer in Nashua.
3. Joseph Coggin, jr., b. in Wilmington, Mass., in 1771 ;
d.in Milford,10 January, 1849 ; m. Betsey Herrick 5 Septem-
ber, 1795. She was b. in Wenham, Mass., 7 May, 1769 ; d.
in Mont Vernon 6 April, 1846. They settled on the Coggin
homestead, in Mont Vernon, where they resided more than
fifty years. Their children were —
542 HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
10. William, b. 22 July, 1790 ; in. (l)Atness Batchelder 1 December,
1814; m. (li) Mrs. Sarah (Duncklee) Peacock. He d. in Nashua 17
May, 1864.
11. Daniel, b. 23 June, 1792; in. (1) Rebecca Brigham, of Goshen;
m. (2) Elizabeth Briar. He d. in Milford.
12. Betsey, b. 22 May, 1796 ; d. in Amherst 28 September, 1881 ; un-
married.
13. Fanny, b. 27 April, 1793; m. Moses Foster, of Milford; d. 9
May, 1842.
14. ^Luther, b. 16 August, 1801.
15. Mary, b. 23 May, 1805 ; in. Levi Duncklee ; d. in Milford 4 De-
cember, 1871.
14. Luther Coggin, b. 10 August, 1801 ; d. 18 January,
1877 ; m. (1) Mary Harwood 13 September, 1827. She
was b. 13 April, 1807 ; d. 4 November, 1859 ; m. (2) Mrs.
M. W. Warmier, of Bedford, 15 March, 1860. He settled
in New Boston where he res. several years, thence he rem.
to the Fletcher tavern stand, in Amherst, where he d. 'His
children were —
16. Mary A ugusta, b. 16 March, 183:) ; d. 23 September, 1854.
17. jLuther, jr., b. 2 January, 1835.
18. -\Joftn II., b. 10 March, 1838.
17. Luther Coggin, jr., b. 2 January, 1835 ; m. Mary L.
Carlcton, 9 May, 1861 ; res. on the farm formerly occupied
by Simeon Carter, Levi Adams, and others. They have one
child—
19. Clarence L., b. 7 June, 1865.
18. .John H. Coggin, b. in New Boston 10 March, 1838 ;
m. (1) Harriett N. Secomb 9 April, 1866. She was b. 9
November, 1838; d. 8 January, 1882 ; m. (2) Mrs. Dell Sea-
vey, of Nashua, 23 October, 1882 ; res. on the ''Fletcher"
place formerly owned by his father. His children are —
20. Frederick Lampson,b. 11 June, 1870.
21. George Whitfield, b. 28 November, 1871.
XXIV.] CxENEALOGIES. 543
COLBY.
I. Isaac Colby, b. in Hopkinton 21 May, 1780 ; d. in
Amherst 19 May, 1840; m. Eunice Flagg 9 October, 1803.
She was b. in Walthani, Mass., 25 May, 1778; d. 15 Janu-
ary, 1858. They res. at first in Boston, Mass., whence they
rem. to Amherst in April, 1810. He was a wide-awake, en-
ergetic man, a good neighbor and a useful citizen. Their
children were —
William, b. 15 September, 1804; m. Sarah Clogston, of Goft'stown, 5
June, 1825 ; d. in Detroit, Mich., 27 November, 1875.
Eliza, b. 23 August, 1806 ; d. 11 May, 1826 ; unmarried.
3 fary, b. 27 June. 1810; m. William White 6 October, 1835; res. in
Wilton.
Nancy, b. 29 October, 1813 ; m. Ira Wilkins, of Mont Vernon, 18 Feb-
ruary, 1835; d. in April, 1858.
Fanny, b. 28 October, 1816 ; m. Solomon R. Barron 1 September,
1836 ; d. 12 July, 1813.
George, b. in August, 1818 ; d. 15 October, 1854.
Marietta, daughter of Sylvester Colby, b. 22 February, 1848.
COLSTON.
Henry F. Colston d. 16 July, 1879, aged 59.
CONVERSE.
1. Robert Converse, b. in Woburn, Mass., in 1735 ; d. 30
March, 1826 ; m. Mary Lamb in 1778. She d. 15 December,
1827, aged 87. They settled in Amherst in 1783. Their
children were —
2. ]Josiah, b. in Stonebam, Mass., 23 February, 1778.
3. \Ebenezer, b. 25 February, 1779.
4. Rebecca, b. in 1781 ; m. f Caleb Boutell, of Amherst.
2. Josiah Converse, b. in Stoneham, Mass., 23 February,
1778; d. in Hooksett 30 January, 1842 ; m. Sally Dean 22
December, 1796. She was b. 24 May, 1777 ; d. in Concord
26 December, 1851. Their children were —
544 HISTORY OP AMHERST. [Chap.
5. Robert, b. 7 August, 179S ; d. in Haverhill, Mass., 5 May, 1823.
(3. Mary Dean, b. 15 March, 1800 ; m. Thomas Moore 17 November,
1837.
7. Sarah Ann, b. 30 August, 1802 ; d. in Concord 27 October, 1831;
unmarried.
8. Elizabeth, b. 30 September, 1804; m. Thomas Moses, jr., of Bos-
ton, Mass., 21 December, 1824.
9. Alexander Hamilton, b. 4 July, 1S06 ; m. Nancy Elliott 23 Jan-
uary, 1833 ; rem. to Hooksett and d. there 11 November, 180 ).
10. Josiah, b. 13 August, 1808; d. 19 August, 18J8.
11. George Washington F., b. 29 September, 1809 ; m. Sarah T. Goss
in January, 1839.
12. Jane, b. 20 January, 1811; m. David G. Fuller 28 April, 1839;
res. in Concord.
13. Lydia Blanchard, b. 22 August, 1813 ; m. William P. Hardy 24
December, 1811 ; res. in Concord.
14. Thomas Bangs,) . 10 , T , 101fl d. 33 August, ISIS.
i- o ;; rb. 18 March, 1816; °
lo. Sally, ) d. 18 March, lblG.
16. Ruth Adeline, b. 12 October, 1818 ; unmarried.
3. Ebenezer Converse, b. in Stoncham, Mass., 25 Febru-
ary, 1779 ; d. in South Merrimack 25 August, 18G1 ; m.
Rhoda Boutcll November, 1805. She wa.s b. in Amherst 27
July, 1781 ; d. 14 December, 1875, aged 94. Their children
were —
17. Ebenezer, b. 15 August, 1806; m. Sabria Adams 39 March, 1823;
d. in Nashua 4 September, 1842.
18. Joseph Farmer, b. 13 March, 1838; d. in 1852.
19. George, b. 6 September, 1809; d. 31 December, 1809.
20. Mary, b. 27 April, 1811 ; m. Henry Howard, jr., 16 November,
18>7.
21. Luther, b. 22 May, 1813; d. 5 August, 1834; unmarried.
22. Abigail, b. 4 June, 1815; m. Abner Richardson, of Wobura,
Mass., 15 March, 1843.
23. ^Charles, b. 2 May, 1817; m. Elizabeth Fuller 18 April, 1843.
24. Rufus, b. 23 May, 1819; m. Eliza Ritterbush in September,
1849.
25. Rhoda, b. 6 October, 1822.
26. Robert, b. 10 August, 1827; d. 5 September, 1S33.
23. Charles Converse, b. 2 May, 1817, res. in Milford;
m. Elizabeth Fuller 18 April, 1843. She was b. 11 March,
1818; d. 6 October, 1875. Their children were—
XXIV.] GENEALOGIES. 545
27. Sarah F.,b. 15 September, 1S45.
2± Charles, b. 28 August, ISIS.
23. Luher B,h. 11 January, 1851 ; m. Nellie T. Conrey 28 March,
1877.
3 >. Robert, b. 18 October, 1812.
31. Charlotte E.,h.21 October, 1833; m. Joseph H. Foster, of Mil-
ford, 13 November, 1878.
32. Jacob Converge, of another family, m. Caroline R.
Grant 23 August, 182G, and res. in Amherst several years,
leaving about 1839. Their children, b. in Amherst, were —
33. Catherine E.
31. A'mira B.
35. Charlotte F.
30. Caroline H.,d. 15 September, 1834, aged 15 months.
CORLISS.
Laura E. Corliss, d. 20 August. 1808, aged 21.
Lil'ie E. Corliss, d. 12 April, 1872, aged 10.
CRISTY.
Children of James and Hannah Cristy —
Sarah, b. 3 March, 1779.
Nancy, b. 23 January, 1781.
CROOKER.
1. Melzar Crooker, b. in Londonderry 29 October, 1776,
d. in Amherst 12 April, 18£9; m. Abigail R. Cox in
1793. She was b. 27 January, 1778 ; d. 18 February, 1852.
They settled in Amherst about 1815. Their children
were —
2. Ahii/ail Rogers, b. 7 December, 1796; d. 11 December, 1803.
3. Infant, b. 15 January, 1739; d. 23 January, 1799.
4. Meizar, b. 15 March, 1800; d. 21 October, 1851 ; unmarried.
5. Jonathan, b. 11 March, 1802; m. Eunice Heath, of Bow.
0. Isaac, b. 7 August, 18J4; m. Mary Ann Washer in June, 1828;
d. in Springfield, O.
35
' 543 nrsTORY op amiierst. [Chap.
7. Turner, b. 12 March, 1807.
8. Hezekiah /}., b. 1 July, 1809; m. Ann Putnam, of Chelmsford,
Mass.; d. in I'oston.
9. \Enos Bradford, b. 1G October, 1811.
10. JJ.'t.sey G"(jc, b. IS .November, 1813; m. John Baldwin 12 March,
1SG0; d.2J May, 1877.
11. ] James Monroe, b. 2S February, 1S1G.
9. Enos B. Crooker, b. 1G Oatobcr, 1811 ; d. 24 October,
1851; in. Abigiil P. Hard/, of Greenfield, in October, 1837.
She d. 24 October, 1851, aged 39 years. Their children
were —
12. Frances H.,b. in 1811.
13. Charles B.,b. in 184G.
14. Cordelia A., b. in 1848.
15. Lizzie, b. 2 J August, 1851 ; d. 15 July, 18G1.
11. James M. Crooker, b. £8 February, 1816; m. Sarah
J. Saiith 19 Ojtobor, 1342. Sac was b. in Augusta, Me., 15
January, 1817. Their children ware —
1G. Man/ E.. b. 5 OcLobar, 1813 ; d. 9 March, 1843.
17. Joseph //., b.2i May, 1815; d. 21 August, 1817.
18. James H., b. 3 August, 1847; m. Julia Hartshorn IS February
1873; res. in Laconia.
10. Olive ./., b. 7 October, 1350; d. 23 April, 1870.
. 20. Sarah Ann, b. 21 October, 1353 ; m. (1) C. A. Lowd 11 October,
1S71 ; m. (2) David Rhodes 17 August, 1879.
21. Mary E., b. 8 S-ptsmher, 1850; d. 23 July, 1857.
22. Clara M., b. 2G December, 18 33; m. Leander 13. Barker, of Bos-
ton, 17 January, 1882.
£3. Carroll J. Crooker, son of (5) Jonathan and Eunice
Crookcr; in. Louisa A. Bennett, of London, England, 20 No-
vember, 1872. He is settled on the farm formerly owned
by his grandfather, Melzar C/ooker. Their children arc —
24. William B., b. 9 September, 1873.
25. Herbert Carroll, b. 11 May, 1875.
20. Elsie, b. 8 J 
