Full text of "History of the town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, with a genealogical register by A.A. Livermore and S. Putnam"

H ISTORY

OF THE

TOWN OF WILTON,

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE,

WITH A

GENEALOGICAL REGISTER

ABIEL ABBOT LIVERMORE

AND

SEW ALL PUTNAM.

^'And it shall be said, this and that man was born in her.''— Psalm
Ixxxvii : o.

-The township of New England possesses two advantages which
strongly excite the interest of inankind: namely, independence and
anthoritv."— -De Tocquevillc.

LOWELL, MASS.:

MARDEN 8d HOWELL, PRINTERS.

1888.

I !

PREFACE

We otfev to the good people of Wiltou, and to those of Wilton
origin elsewhere, the following summary of its history. It has been
a work of love and patriotic interest, not of pecuniar}^ profit. To
collect the widely scattered materials an<l weave them into a con-
sistent order and completeness, has been a long and perplexing
labor, little understood or appreciated except by those engaged
in a similar task. The unexpected delay in the publication of the
- book beyond the time previouslj' announced, has been due to causes
out of our control.
■^ We gratefully acknowledge the aid afforded us by I. S. Lincoln,

A. E. Tracy, G. C. Trow, E. E. Buckle, A. Abbot, G. L. Das-
combe, C. H. Burns, E. H. Spalding, I. S. Whiting, and by others
of Wilton ; also by E. D. Boylston of Amherst, E. M. Wallace of
Milford, I. W. Hammond of Concord, G. N. Gage of AYashington,

D. E. Adams of Southborough, iMassachusetts, W. F. Abbot of
AYorcester, Massachusetts, A. M. Pendleton of Milford, S. B.

T^ Stewart of Lynn, Massachusetts, A. N. Burton of Boston, Mrs.
A. S. Allan of Marion, Elaine, W. Barrett of Minneapolis, Min-
nesota, F. E. Abbot of Cambridge, Massachusetts, E. D. Putnam
of Montpelier, Vermont, U. Smith of Battle Creek, Michigan,

E. Brown of Lowell, A. Abbot of the Isle of Wight, England, and
by many others, in supplying information and making suggestions
for the work. We are greatly indebted to H. Wood, Jr., of Lowell,
for his efficient aid rendered us in the publication of the book by
his careful proof reading, preparation of cop}', and iiis clear and
systematic method of arranging the genealogical tables.

IV. PREFACE.

We would also acknowledge the generous encouragement given
the undertaking by the town of Wilton at successive public
meetings and hy pecuniar}^ appropriations. The committee of*
publication, M. Clark, E. G. Woodman and F. M. Pevey, have
rendered impoi'tant assistance, without which the book would have
lacked some of its most interesting features. The printers, Messrs.
Marden (fc Rowell, proprietors of the Lowell Courier, are entitled
to our grateful recognition for the skill and care with which they
have fulfdled their part in the publication. The Boston Heliotype
Company also deserve our thanks for the valuable services they
have rendered by their beautiful art. ,

During the year 1889 a century aivl a half will have passed
since the territory now known by the name of Wilton was ih-st
settled by our forefathers. Let us hope that this important anni-
versary in our history will not be suffered to go by without such
a celebration as befits its interest to everj^ class of our citizens.

A. A. LI\ ERMORE,

SEWALL PUTNAM.

Sei'tembeu 1, 1888.

CONTENTS

Chaptek I.

PAciK.

Tlie Topograjihy of tlie 'J'owii, its Goolowy, Streanii^. Hills. Tcni-

toiial Limits, Scenery and Climate 1

C'HAI'TKl! ir.
Flora and Fauna 12

Chapter III.
Indians ]7

Chapter IV.

Proprietary History. Salem-Canada, Xumber Two. Incorporation

of AVilton. Slip added to Temple 21

Chapter V.
The Early Settlers 41 .

Chapter VI.
Town Institutions 45

Chapter VIl.
Manners and Customs 55

Chapter VIII.

Colonial Doings. The Charter. A Provincial Tax-Warrant. Ex-
tracts from Town Kecords ('>7

Chapter IX.
The Revolutionary War 80

COMTENTS. Vll.

rilAPTEK X.

PAGE.

Roads and Bridges l^'-^

Chaptek XI.
Mail ISoutes and Caniers. Staging. Post Offices and Postmaster.-^ 114

Chapter XII.
Societies, Lodges, Grange and Army Post 11*^

Chapter XIII.
Churclies and Ecclesiastical Aftairs 1^^^

Chapter XIV.

Schools, Sunday Schools, College Graduates, Professional Men,

Authors and Inventors 1-i*^

Chapter XV.
Libraries, Reading Room and Reading Club 156

Chapter XVI.
Mills, Manufactures and Industries 161

Chapter XVII.
Pauperism and Insanity • • I'l

Chaptek XVIII.
Crime and Punishment ^^^

Chapter XIX.
Fires, Floods and Casualties . - ^^^

Chapter XX.
Temperance, Hygiene, Epidemics, Longevity and Mortality . . 1S9

Chapter XXI.
Burial Places and Cemeteries

Chapter XXII.
Militia and Fire Department

193

197

Vlll. CONTENTS,

Chapter XXIIl.

'I'ln' Lust War witli England and the Eebellion . . . . 203

Chapter XXIV.
Social Amusements, Festivals and Celebrations .... 213

Chapter XXV.
Town Houses 219

flV

Chapter XXVI.
Stores, Ti'ade and the Milk Business 227

Chapter XXVII.
Census and Statistics ; . . . 231

Chapter XXVIII.
Old Relics, Eemiuisceuces and Diaries ...... 234

Chapter XXIX.
Biographical Sketches 252

Chapter XXX.
Genealogies of Families . . . 296

Appendix ooS

Additional Genealogies 060

Corrections and Additions 567

Index 571

ILLUSTRATIONS

Plot of the Town Facinoj page 8

Sewall Futuaiii, Putnam genealogy (213) >• "24:

George I. Doe's Residence •' "32

Livermore House " " 48

Harvey A. AVhitiug, Whiting gen. (G3) " "56

N. D. Foster's Residence \ . . . " "64

David Wilson, David Wilson gen. (1) " "72

Wilton Mill. See page 171 " "80

Lubini B. Rockwood. See page 291 " " 88

Daniel Cragin's Residence " " 96

Eliphalet Putnam, Putnam -gen. (130) " "104

Sarah W. Livermore, Livermore gen. (14) " " 112

Old Meeting-House, 1775-1859 " "128

Daniel E. Adams, Adams gen. (1) '• "136

Warren Burton. See page 289 " "144

George L. Dascombe. See page 292 " " 152

Elbridge G. Woodman, Woodman gen. (!) " "168

I. Sumner Lincoln, Lincoln gen. (2) " " 176

George Brown." See page 290 " "184

Ephraim Brown. See page 290 " "200

David Whiting's Residence " " 208

Charles H. Burns. See page 273 " "216

Town Hall and Library " "224

David Whiting. See page 275 " " 232

William A. Burton, Burton gen. (Ill) " "240

H. Newton Gray. See page 283 " "248

Thomas Beede. See page 253 " •' 2.56

Solomon K. Livermore. See page 280 " •• 264

Joseph Newell. See page 277 " "272

Daniel Cragin. See page 281 '■ "280

Ephraim Peabody. See page 288 " " 288

Josepli Hale Abbot. See page 293 " "296

Jacob Putnam's Residence " " 304

Ezra Abbot, Abbot gen. (215) " "312

Harvey A. Whiting's Residence " "320

Jonathan Burton, Burton gen. (56) " " 328

Andrew X. Burton, Burton gen. (64) " "336

ILLUSTRATIONS. XI.

Moses Clark, Moses Clark gen. (1) Facing page 344

David Cram, David Cram gen. (1) '' "352

William Emerson, Emerson gen. (1) " " 360

Moses Clark's Residence " "368

Timothy Gray, Gray gen. (38) " "384

Charles Hesselton, Hesselton gen. (34) " "400

Abiel Abbot Livermore, Livermore gen. (IS) .... " " 41G

Asa Jones, Joel Jones gen. (2) " " 424

Jonathan Livermore, Livermore gen. (16) " "432

Moses Lovejoy, Moses Lovejoy gen. (12) " "440

Theron Russell, Russell gen. (41) " "448

Harmon Pettengill, Pettengill gen. (29) " "456

Franklin M. Pevey, Pevey gen. (20) " "464

Aaron K. Putnam, Putnam gen. (114) " "472

Caleb Putnam, Putnam gen. (182) " "480

Jacob Putnam, Putnam gen. (254) " "488

John F. Russell, Russell gen. (36) " "496

Samuel Sheldon, Sheldon gen. (22) " "504

Asa Stiles, Stiles gen. (30) • " "512

George O. Whiting, Whiting gen. (70) " " 520

Abiel Abbot, Abbot gen. (221) " "528

Hermon Abbot, Abbot gen. (400) " " .536

Zebadiah Abbot, Abbot gen. (426) " "544

George I. Doe. See page 556 " " 552

THE HISTORY OF WILTON.

CHAPTER I.

THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE TOWN', ITS GEOLOGY, STREAMS, HILLS,
TKHPilTOPilAL LIMITS, SCENERY AMD CLIMATE.

Thk town of ^Vilton is situatetl in the soutliwest part of the
county of Hillsborough, state of New Hampshire, in latitude 42"
oU' north, and in longitude o° S' east from "Washington, I). C. The
town was surveyed into ten ranges of twenty lots each, making two
hundred lots. Had the survey been perfectly aceui-ate. that is, the
i-anges one hundred and sixty rods wide, and the lots eighty rods
long, the town would contain sixteen thousand acres, equal to
twenty-live s(|uare miles. l>ut streams and irregularities of surface
oive opportunity for some variations, though small, from an abso-
lute standard.

When the JMasonian proprietors made their grants, one hundred
and thirty-five lots wore drawn to the grantees, tifty-four lots to the
grantors, and eleven lots to public uses, viz. : two for mills, three
for the first minister, three foi- a ministerial fund, and three for
schools ; in all. two hundred lots of eighty acres each, liut August
20, 17(i.s, ;i range of lots, half a mile wide, was set off to the ad-
joining town of Temple, on tlu^ west, leaving Wilton an oblong
parallelogram, se\ enteen hiuidred rods long from north to south,
and fifteen hundred rods wide from east to west.

Wilton lies eighteen miles from Nashua, forty from Concord,
thirty from Keene, and tifty-eight from Boston, ^lassachusetts. It
is bounded on the north by Lyndeborough, on the east by Lynde-
borouffh and Milford, on the south by Mason and (rreenville, and
on the west by Temple.

2 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Its geological fonnatiou is chietly grauite, gueiss, schist, sienite,
tind quartz, making a very imeveu surface aud hard but strong-
soil, well adapted to grass and grain and the more hardy fruits;
rising into lofty hills, wliicli crop out witli extensive ledges, and
sinking into deep valleys, the beds of whose streams are Idled with
})oulders, large and small.

There are but few i)lains, or patches of sandy ground. The
original forest growtli was very thick and heavy, and indicated
generally a deep, rich soil. The most valuable mineral products
are clay, suitable for making brick, and beds or large boulders of
granite, capable of l>eing worked for building materials.

Only a small portion of the town is covered by water, and there
are no waste huids. There are no lakes or ponds, except nrtilicial
ones to create water power.

THE SorHK<;AN AND ITS TiaiUTAHlKS.

Tlie principal stream of the town deserves some notice. Souhegan
is an Indian name, from stisheke, signifying a plain, and means, there-
fore, '' River of the Plains." Another derivation is from the Indian
word soiilicijeiioc^ meaning crooked. Its southern branch starts from
the reservoir in Ashburuham, Massachusetts, and passes througli
Ward and W'atatic Ponds in Ashby, till it meets its northern branch,
flowing from Prntt Pond and other sources in the west part of New
Ipswich, when it takes the dignity of a river, passes through Green-
ville, receiving various small tributaries from Temple aud AVilton, till
it reaches the Intervale, so called, wliere it is joined by (iambol
Brook, a considerable stream that rises in Temple and unites two
branches at West AVilton. lUood's BrOok and south brtinch. At East
Wilton tlie Souhegyn receives a new accession from the north, called
Stouv lirook, and then flowing throuuli Milford and Amherst enters
the MeiTinuick Kixcr iu the town of Merrimack. Its wliole length is
about thirty miles, and Mr. Ephraim Brown com[)utes its descent in
Wilton alone at two hundred and sixty-two feet fi'om where it
enters tlie town from Greenville and leaves it at Milford. Its water
jjower, therefore, is \'ery great, and is put to use at various points,
liut is capalilc of iiuich greater ai)plication to manufacturing pur-
poses. Its liability to violent freshets, however, especially when
the ice breaks up in the spring, makes it difficult to control it
with dams and mills. These have often been swept away by floods.
It is a ti-adition that in early times alewives, shad and salmon pene^
trated us high up the river as Greenville.

TOPOGRAPHY. 3

The tSouliegan enters the town from the soiitli from Greeuville
about eighty to one hnndreil rods east of the southwest corner of
Wilton, iind Hows in a genernl northeasterly direction till it enters
Milford, but it Ims ;i vei'v winding clinnnel with high hills on
each side.

Indian foot-paths were found along its hanks by the eai'ly settlers
or explorers.

It has l)een conjectured th:it three considerable lakes occupied
the Souhegan valley : the lower one from the bridge at French
Village to the Haselton place ; the second from there to the Eaton
ridge ; the thii'd nnd Inrgest above the Eaton ridge towards
(ireenviUe.

Hir.I.S AM) I'ALLS.

The bold sand-hill liluffs at various points, especially along the
Souhegnn :ind (Jauibol \alleys, indicate the places where the great
eddies of the main cm-rent left their deposits when immense streams
filled these channels to their brim, after the glacial period in the
history of the earth gave way to a -vyai'iner temperature.

Owing to the granite formation there are no actually perpendicular
falls or cascades in town, as in limestone formations, but in several
instances there are rapids of considerable height and interest, as
Barnes's Falls, on a branch of Stony IJrook. Pot holes and basins,
worn in the ledges, are found at such rapids.

\\'hile there are no mountains proper in AVilton, there are many
high hills, commanding wide prospects, and separated by deep
valleys. Such are Abbot Hill, in the southeast part of the town, a
long, broad elevation, sloping up gradually from the l»ed of the
Souhegan ; Kimball's Hill and JNIansur's Hill, on the southwest,
the highest elevations in town ; Russell's or Lone-Tree Hill ;
Beede's Hill, near the centre ; FJint's Hill, in the northwest ; Bales's
Hill, in the northeast part of the town. All are high eminences,
commanding a complete view of the basin which centies in the
town, formed by the Temple, New Ipswich and Lyndeborough
Mountains, called tlie Pack, or Petit Monadnock.

CLIMATK.

The climate of Wilton is the climate of New England on its
northern hills and mountains — a long, severe winter, usually with
high winds and deep drifting snows, a short and checkered spring,
a hot and luxuriant sunmier, and a l)riUiant autumn willi the foliage

4 HISTORY OF WILTON.

turned to brown, crimson and gold. Its climate is one of extremes
of heat and cold, but vivid and picturesque, with the drifting snows
of winter, the green herbage and foliage of summer, and the gor-
geous hues of autumn, and is stimulating to body and mind. In
the early history of the town autumn and spring were more nearly
merged into winter and summer. The snows fell into deep forests,
where they lay comparatively uninfluenced by sun or wind until a
late spi'ing when the sun was high. 'J'hen overflowing freshets rushed
down the hills and mountains, and filled the valleys, sweeping
everything before them, and summer suddenly burst upon the land.

Then, too, the transition from summer to winter was not less rapid,
and not seldom the fruits of field and orchard were surprised by
sudden frosts and snows. But since the heavy forests have been
largely cut down, or have been succeeded only by slight second
growths of young trees, and the surface has been more exposed to
the direct sun and wind, the seasons have become more changeable
and fluctuating, and rapid extremes of cold and heat succeed one
another. The cutting down of the dense forests has dried up the
smaller brooks and meadows, causing severe droughts, and opening
the way for the more rapid descent of the rains and melted snows
into the water courses, and sudden and more injurious floods, as in
the disastrous freshet of October. IHGi).

But if we take all the features of tlie climate into consideration,
we shall come to the conclusion that it is fitted to develop a hardy,
vigorous and long-lived race of people, with great activity and
endurance of body and mind. Of late years, too, a marked social
change has come, and many people from the cities and the sea-
board annually resort to the hills and mountains of New England
for health and invigoration in the summer months. From one to
two hundred boarders find accommodations in Wilton at some period
during the warm season, and enjoy its healthful air, its charming
drives and walks and its beautiful scenery, while not a few build
here tasteful country cottages for tiieir homes nearly half the year.
This blending of the advantages of country and city life is working.
Ave may believe, beneficial changes in various directions. Fresh
health and vigor aie poured into the city, and the taste and re-
finement of the great centres of wealth, business, and society are
given liack in generous measures to adorn the life of the country.
Each gives and each tnkes, and reciprocity is the commanding law
of human society.

CLIMATE.

The following extract is from the C«nteuuial pamphlet of 1839,

page '26 :

Trtie, hcHMii Xew Eiiglaud. and ospccially here in Wilton, natun^ has
lavished her fairest scenes, and breathed from the ^lost High tlie breath of
life into our souls. Yes, blessed be these hills and valleys for the choice,
sweet influences they have shed upon the young conununities springing up
here. Blessed be these granite mountains, that stand like vast citadels of
safety around th<' blue ling of the liori/on. and, glliled l)y the glories of
the setting sun. cany up the thoughts to sublimity and iUnl. Blessed be
the fair skies which bend over us here with all their sparkling hosts of
light and glory. Blessed be the pure bi-ee/es which sing from the north-
western hills, and bear health and exhilaration on their wings. But thrice
blessed be our homes; our homes, wliere love and happiness wove a cliarm .
and a spell for our hearts, never, never to l)e unloosed. Tliere •• heaven
lay about us in our infancy." The blue sky was more dear to us because
it arched proudly over the cherished roof of home, 'i'iie sun and wind
and snow and rain were loved because tliey lirought their ti'easures and
laid them at the feet of our sanctuary. The forests and vales and roaring
brooks have been sweet in association from tliis great central attraction.

TOPOGKAl'HY OF WILTON : BV ABIEL ABBOT.

The town of Wilton, iu latitude 42° 50' and longitude 71° 4(i W.
of Greenwich, is bounded north by LA-ndeborough, east by Lynde-
borough and Milford, south by INIason and Greenville, and west by
Temple. By the original grant the town was " five miles square."
It was divided by survey into ten ranges, half a mile wide, running
across the town from south to north, and numbered from one at the
east to ten at the west ; and each range divided into twenty lots, a
half mile long from east to west, and one-fourth of a mile wide,
containing eighty acres, and numbered from one at the south to
twenty at the north. Such was the plan and intention.

But the town was of irregular surface and covered with a dense
forest, and in the actual survey errors were made, so that the lots
differ in size, some being twice the size of others. When the town
of Temple was incorporated, AVilton was called upon to part with
its tenth range, which was annexed to Temple. The original sur-
veyors, however, had given good measure, and by later surveys of
the town lines, Wilton is found to contain an area equal to nearly
or quite "five miles square," or about 16,000 acres.

Wilton has neither mountains, nor plains, swamps, or natural ponds
worth notice ; but consists mostly of large swells of land, separated
by pleasant valleys along the streams. Its superfluous waters are

b HISTOKY OF WILTOX.

p;athere(l iilmost wholly iutu the Souhegan KhiM'. which, eoininir
from Ashbunihaiii, ^lassachiisettts, throiitih New l[)s\vicli and
Greenville, enters AVilton near its southwest corner, and has a
northeasterly winding course of about six and tiu'ee-fourths niiles^
through the town to the Milford line. It falls within the town
about two hundred and thirty feet, and the lowest land in town is
at its outlet, one-half mile east from East Wilton.

Several mill streams, besides smaller ones, How into the Souhegan.
The Gambrel or Gambol Brook comes from Temple, receives at
West Wilton a stream from Temple called Blood Brook, or in old
writings Bear Brook, and thence has a southeasterly course of nearly
three miles into the Souhegan about two and one-half miles al»ove
East Wilton. Kocky River or Stony lirpok, from Lyndeborough,
flows southeasterly about three miles, and joins the Souhegan at
East Wilton. The stream sometimes called Mill Brook issues from
Burton Pond in 1^3"ndebo rough, unites with the AVhiting Brook from
Temple, and flows southeasterly three miles or more in Wilton,
through Davisville, over the often-visited Barnes's Falls, of forty-five
or fifty feet descent, and into Rocky River below the Dale Bridge.

Each of these streams furnishes power to several mills and
mechanical establishments, and yet but a small part of their power
is, use^l ; the most of it goes to waste. More than twenty bridges
cross, these streams; two of iron, several of stone, arched, the
others of wood. The streams, ordinarily so gentle and useful
and delightful, sometimes swell to mighty torrents, doing much
damage besides 'carrying oft' bridges, some of which have l)een
repeatedly destroyed, and rebuilt at great expense to the town.

The early inhabitants settled mostly on the hills, where many of the
best farms are situated ; and consequently the early roads were made
to climb over the hills from house to house, with here and there long
and steep ascents and descents. And these roads appear to have
satisfied the wants of the people pretty well for man}' years. But
at length, about 1820, the growth of business and corresponding
increase of travel and transportation in and through the town began
to call urgently for new roads, more level or more dii-ect, and
especially along the above streams. Accordingly, during the next
twenty or thirty years the town constructed new roads, one after
another, some at heavy expense, to the extent of twenty miles
or more. These hill and valley roads now furnish ready access to all
parts of the town, and delightful drives to those who enjoy passing

TOPOCJKAPIIY. /

tlirougli ever-changing scenery, or seek the more extensive nnd in-
spiring views to l>e ol»t;iiued on nionnting the hilltops. To the
west and southwest the view is Itouiided l>y the tine hori;/;on made
by the Pack INIonadnoek range of mountains with Mounts '\\'atatic
aiid Wachuset farther south, in ^lassachusetts. Northwest and
north are seen Lovell jMountain in Washington, the L^'udeborough
Mountains, and ovei' beyond them the tips of Crotched ^Mountain
in Fraucestown. To the northeast ap[)ear the Joe English nu(]
Uneauoouucs, and far to the east the IJlue Hills in the eastern [tart
of New Hampshire. S(.)utheast and south the eye ranges over the
counties of Middlesex and Worcester, in ^Massachusetts.

The following are results of leveling in 1S40 nnd is.io. liy Jolni
H. Abbot:

llcisht in (ert,.

The surhiec of SoiihciiMii IJixcr. wlicii low. al the iuiiclion ot IJoeky.

Kiver, heuig ft

Poml at tlie Iron Hi-idiic French Xillaiiv . . ' '. si

Tiider the Great Briclii,(' l'<''-iw

At Deacon (iray's Bridge spot 132.2

Forty rods below the Huniliaui liouse (^siuee liuriU ) 1.5().;j_

A rcli Bridge ....'. -Jlli?'.?; .'

Tl)l)er Pond, in (ii-eenville .' ' . ^ilS./j.

Pratt Pond ^ ' ';55S'6'

Road at t'ornei- near .(. 1). Wilson's . . . . . 270..")

lloiad near 'l'liurston"s liouse i:;i

(Juide Stone at (Trav"s corner 12!)

South plank ot the (Jreat Bridge 12.")

Piver Hill (03 rods long, and i-ises l.T) feet, averagiiiii' an aiiiile of 7

degrees from horizontal), its toj) is 2()0.2

IkOad oi)i)<)site II. Frye's house 331.3

Poad opposite P. Gage's house 4.")2.S

.Summit of road north of Z. Ab1)ot"s house .V)().5

Road opposite J. F\ PusselTs liouse ."il.'i.N

Harris Abbot's north door-stoni' . "" . . . 4S7

Summit of road at ('ai)tain ( larlv's liouse ,. • 4S.3.2

Top of A])bot Tlill, east of Z. .\bbot's house WM\

The top of Thomas Pussell's ehinmey. top of Bridges" Hill and inp of
S. Kimball's ehinmey are lev(d with tlie lop of Abbot Hill. Deacon"
Barrett's Hill is one or two feet lower.

These l(»vels are apiii'oximalc. and may \ar\ from ibree to ti\c feet.

Altitudes above sea level in Poston harbor. (From Hitchcock's
Geology of New Hampshire, Part \.) :

Uei^lit in feet.

To]) of rails in Bosion and Lowell de[iol. Bosion 11

I^owcll !)!)

S niSTOKY OF AVILTON.

HeiRht in feef.

Top of rails in Nashua 135

near Danforth's Conifr *'io(i

•• East Wilton Depot 328

in ^lanehester. centre of depot ISl

•• •• •• ( 'onc'oi-(l. centre of depot 282

•)

Concord State House 27

Main street. East \Vilton *33()

fliurcli in Wilton *(514

Town of Temple *72()

Hay scales in Xew Ipsw ich 944

IJailroad at Greenville 803

Railroad in east part of Mason *70()

Brookline Village *400

HoUis Villaitj(> *3()()

Amherst Court House *427

Mont Vernon *77()

Xear hotel, in CJreentield 835

Peterborouoh 744

Keene 47!)

East Jaftrey 1032

Monadnoek Mountain 318(i

Peterborough Mountain 228!)

Peterborouoh Notch, oriiap 14r)7

Temi)le ^[ountain *17o.'J

Spofl'ord (iap Uljo

Kidder Mountain *14!)2

Barrett Mountain. New Ipswich 1S47

Barrett Hill. Creenvilie 1-_)71

Uncanoonue Mountain, east i)eak 1333

Kearsarge Mountain. Warner 2943

Mount Washington 6293

Lake Connecticut 1619

"White Mountain Xotcii 1914

Franconia Xoteh *2014

"Winnepisiogee T^ake 500

GEOLO(;V OF WII.TON : HV skwAIJ. ITTKAM.

From the Report of the Stiite Geologist of New Hampshire,
Professor C. H. Hitchcock, we cop}- what we find relating to the
geology of Wilton. In the section, " Hooksett Range of Quartz,"
on Page 541, Volume II., after tracing the several locations into
Lyndeborough, the report says : —

Irregularities in the direction are to he expected in Lyndeborough.
since the trend of the rock at Patcli's. if continued, would carry the ledge

* Cannot be relied upon as exact. The others are accurate.

J/ortk

SouCk
tJrt CL 3 o 1^1-

-2.

^
->

'■Ti

£^

-J-

i =

(Vrigrnai ytan of the^ ^Jown- of Tfrlton^-
O ViiUs SoiLctre, } lOV Xots in /O J^ccng-e& ^ of 10 £ots
in. <^ac.k JiuTLgey ; th^ oCots of ^0 acrea aack, /60 rod^ hifSO,
'Errors in tke- ctcCuaL SU7-vv.y 7TLa,<ie.^ rnxtnv Jjots v-aru in.
Qf^ey frojn ine. jiajv ^ scmc^ heino^ twiee. /Ae Size, cf <'tfiers.
uke. Tlnlk Jian-^e. Was tccke-Tt. from JK^lton- in /7^S
To he,lp ^najce- th-<i^ Joyrn of xJ^s^TTLpl^i^ .

GEOLOGY. 9

a mile below its next out-crop, west of J. F. Holt's. It continues south of
Avest, and makes the hill near the glass works at South I>yndeborough.
The range runs S. 55° AV., near the village, and dips .>0^ S. S')° Y.. The
tirst railroad cut west of the station barely touches this bed of quartz,
dipping 75"^ S. 40° E. By the eye this range can be followed over the large
hill east of Rurton Pond, on the town line between Lyndeborough and
Wilton. I am not certain of the occurrence of this rock in the northwest
corner of \Vilton. but it may l>«' seen just in the edge of Temple, between
A. Frye's and J. Kendall's. On the other side of Kendall's is one of the
finest developments known anywhere along the range. It is from four
hundred to tive hundred feet wide.

The quartz crops out on lots Xo. 20 in the eighth and ninth ranges, and
also on lots Xos. 16 and 17 in the ninth range. Mr. Frye's farm is the west
part of lots Xos. 1(5 and 17 in the ninth range.

In the section, " Miinchester IlMUge of (r^uartz," the report, after
it locates its first well-developed out-crop in the southwest corner of
AUenstown, traces it through Manchester, the southeast quarter of
Goffstown, and through Bedford to Canipbell's Hill in Amherst,
and says : —

At W. A. Mack's, just against the southeastern corner of Mont Vernon,
there is an unusual quantity of (piart/. boulders. We find now the same
state of things which has been noticed between New Boston and Lynde-
borough on the Ifooksett I'ange. in the absence of continuity in the rock,
and its recurrence tive miles distant on a different line of exposure. It
appears next on the south side of the Souhegaii IMver in Milford, back of
the schoolhouse situated on a triangular area produoed by the intersection
of roads.

The course fi-om the last locality of the quartz vein in Amherst to this
exposure is S. 65° ^y. The (juartz dips 75° X. 70° W. It is more gray
than usual, almost passing into gneiss, and very abundantly traversed
by reticulating veins of milky-white quartz. It occupies a hill, and may
be followed as a ridge for about two miles.

At J. B. Gray's,* just within the town of Wilton, the quartz dips 80'-^ X.
77° W. Other exposures occur in the southeast corner of Wilton. The
last ledge of this range that has been found is situated near I. A. Brown's,
in the northeast corner of Mason, with the strike X. 15° E.. and dip
X. 75° W.

Figure No. 90, Plate XXII., illustrates the geological formation
from South Lyndeborough to the west part of Milford through East
Wilton. Commencing at South Lyndeborough, the report says :

"* Property now owned by A. B. Mellendy.

10 HI8TORV OF WILTON.

Ill tlic sdiitli ('(itic of rlic \ill;iu'('. follow iiiii' tlic c.-iiTia^"!' ro:ni inslciul
(if tlif r.-iilroad. tiif next intci'cstiiii;' rock is ;i <;i-;iiiitc. like tlic ('oiiconl
in ^•('iiei'al ajiix'ai'aiicc. liiit full of small, disliiicr crystals of feldspar.

'I'lie sicuitc I'ock al the railroad t-iit also i-ciniiids u< of the rcdatcd I'ock
near l)od*>'c"s.* at the west cud of V'liX. ^'•'- ll"' .U'liciss adjoiiiiiii;- this
porphyritic li'raiiitc dips S.j'-' N. SO-' W. Di-ift conceals the ledy-cs foi- iiioi-c
than a mile. Ferrtigiiious mica schist, dippiiiii' 70 \. -2'^^' \\ .. crops out
shortly after crossing the stream in tiie north jiart of Wilton. At the
next crossin<>" of Stony Hrook the nnca scliists dip 40-4.")'- N'. 40 \\ .. and
are iiu'lined to a smaller aiiii'le beyitnd. Halt a mile larther they di]) ;{0'-^
in the same direi-tiou. with coarse o-nuiite beds. Near a cabinet shoj) the
dip is ().")''. -lust in the edii'e of East Wilton is a coarse ji'ranite. At the
villa,i;e is mica schist. At the tannery, in the east part of tlie village, are
\('ins of coarse iii'aiute. with a small diii.

Figure i)l illustrates lietweeii Temple and tlie east line of Wilton. Tlie
sienitic rock of Figures SI) and 00 is wanting next the (piaitz. 'I"he gneiss
west of the (piartz is of the angidar-breaking kind, dipping 70 X. SO W.
Between the (juart/. locality and a northeast road fntm 'I'emple the gneiss
contains nmch feldspar, and dips 6.5" X. 7(^ W . It is obvious that the
(juartz must corres])ond with tliese dijjs just recorded of the gneiss upon
both sides of it. its own inclination not readily sho\\ing itself. 'I'he por-
phyritic granite se<'n in T^yndeborough is much thicker in Temple, making
its appearance next on the southeast road from the village. Xext is
granitic gneiss, followed by ferruginous mica sdiist. half a mile distant
from the hot(d. dipping S5'^' X. ."iO- AV. on the average. The roads are now
inconv(Miiently located for our ])urpose. and the next ledge seen is at West
^\'ilton. two miles distant from the last ledge, but as it courses with strike
it cannot be far distant from its i)lace on the section. There is a mixture
of coarse mica schists and tine-grained graintic lieds dipping about (m^ X.
W. Half way to Wilton tlie mica s<-hist dips 30"' X. -2.")= W. ; also at ^^■ilton.

Xo ledges appear for a mile and a (juarter on the section line, when we
find a sjiotted granite by II. F. Frye's. on the west side of a high hill.
There is gneiss higher up. anil at intervals to .1. I>. (iray's. On the hill
west of Gray's the rock is micaceous and gneis>ic. dijiping S(K X. 70' W'..
and that is also the ])osition ol the (piartz. 'i'his is about two miles from
the southeast end of Figure 00. Tliere is a great width of gneiss at (iray's.
though its place seems to be taken by mica schist on Figure 00.

Professor Hitchcock, in the chapter, "Glacial Drift," Page \X2,
Volume III., says : —

The sti-ia' in Xew llamiishire vary consideraliie in their direction.

Ill the fourteen towns iu Hillsborough County of which he makes
mention, the courses vary from 8. 9° K. near Leach's in Xew
Boston to S. 41° E. iu Lyudeborough.

* III New Boston. ' - '

GEOLOGY. 11

The i)lafes named in Wilton arc : Nortlieast eorncr, roek, gneiss,
true course S. 21° E. : West AVilton, roek. gneiss, true course, S.
31° K.

Page -illO, A'ohnne III., in the table of "Sections of tlie (ilaeial
Drift in New Hampshire," we find the following relating to Wilton :

Thickness in fret.

UPPER TiLL. LOWER TILL.

Xorlliwcst pint at Coiuity Farm la I-")

Oiic-ciiihth mile northeast of East Wiftoii 1"2 K'

()ii('-('i,i;iith uiilc west ot East Wilton l'>

In Wilton, 'rcniple. (irccnvillc and New I|is\\icli lenticular hills an>
ahundant. Fine exaini)les oei-ur In the vdgv ot Mllfoi'd. two-tliirds of a
mile east ot Wilton dejx)! : upon I'erham Hill in the northeast corner of
Wilton, and several in the northwest, and others in the southwest part
of Wilton.

Several quarries of granite have been operated in Wilton, but
only one to nuich extent.

On the south side of the Souhegau River, commencing on lot
num])er eleven in the third range, the ledge crops out almost con-
tinually as far as the village.

In the bottom of Colony Brothers' wdieel-pit some of it was
l)lasted out. On lot mindjer eleven, third range, Messrs. J. & C.
Haselton have operated much more extensively for a few years than
any other of the quarries have ever been operated. The rock is
coarser than the rock from the [Milford ([uarries, but shows little or
none of the rusty color after being worked.

In the Report of the Mineralogy of New Hampshire, Part IV.,
Page 186, in the catalogue of mineral localities in New Hampshire,
is found : —

Wilton. Mennaccauite.

CHAPTER II.

FLORA AND FAUNA.

The vegetable and auimal productions of Wilton do not differ
essentially from those of other towns in this county and vicinity.
The original forest consisted largely of white, red, and pitch pines,
hemlocks, oaks, maples, and other hard woods. Though the first
and even the second growth of wood and timber have been princi-
pally cut down, more acres are probably now in woodland than were
fifty years ago, but the trees are, many of them, saplings.

The shrubs and plants are those common to a northern climate
and a mountainous country. The fields, woods, pastures and I'oad-
sides are gay with a great variety of flowering plants, from the wind-
flower and arbutus of the early spring to the laurel, daisies, lilies,
primroses and buttercups of summer, and the golden-rod, cardinal,
and life-everlasting of autumn. Many exotics have also become
domesticated, and have spread from the gardens to the fields.
Numerous wild berries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries,
whortleberries, and others, abound in the fields and pastures, and
are serviceable to men and animals. The foliage of the woods and
orchards, if not so full and heavy as in regions of deeper and richer
soils, is varied and picturesque. The herbage, too, of the tem-
perate zone, with its many delicate grasses and mosses, and fine
green turf, gives exquisite pleasure to the eye compared with the
effect of the coarser vegetation of warmer climates.

The following list of plants is by no means complete or ex-
haustive. We had hoped to give our readers a full botanical
catalogue, but have been disappointed by unforeseen events.

FLORA AND FAUNA,

The following trees are the principal ones to be found in our town

White Oak. Red Oak, Yellow Oak.
Black Birch. White Bircli, Basket

Birch, Yellow Birch,
White Elm. IJed or Slippery Elm.
Beech.
White Asli. Red Ash. Mountain

Ash.
I>ever Wood,

White Pine. Red Pine. Pitch Pine
Hemlock.
Cedar,
Poplar.

Chestnut.
Tamarack.

Black Cherry, Red Cherry,
White Walnut. Black AValnut,
White Willow. Weeping Willow.
Hickory. Shag-bark Walnut.
Buttonwood. or Sycamore,
Rock :Maple. AVhite Maple. Red

Maple.
Basswood,
Locust,
Hornbeam.

The cultivated trees introduced from other countries are the

Apple.
Pear,
Peach. ■
Plum.

The most common shrubs are the

White Elder.
Black Alder.
Witch Hazel.
Sassafras,
Common Lilac.

Mulberry.
Butternut.
Lombardy Poplar.
Quince.

Persian Lilac.
Sumac,
Moosewood,
Juniper.
Mountain Laurel.

Wild grape vines are found, of several species.

Of hundreds of plants, these are mostly well-known under their
common names :

Cardinal Flower.

John's Wort.

Golden-rod.

Thoroughworl,

White Daisy. Ox-eyed Daisy.

Life-everlasting.

Checkerberry,

Pennyroyal,

Blu-dock.

Red Clover, White Clover.

Red Top,

Herd's Grass.

Aaron's Rod.

Milkweed or Silkweed.

Common l*olypod. Triangular

Polypod.
Bayberry. oi- Yellow Shrub,
Sweet Fern, Shield Fern.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit.
Pipsissewa.
Low Hemlock.
Spotted Cowbane.
Wild Parsnip.
Club Moss.
Ground Pine.
Tansy,

Roman Wormwood,
Senna,

HISTORY OF WILTON.

Rose-colored Silkwcod.

Dock.

Fevcrhiisli.

]Mc;i(lo\\ BcMiity.

A'ir^iiiia ( rccpcr.

Eveiiiiii;' IMiiiirosc.

Pond Lily.

Yellow Lily.

Spiiiin' Heaiity.

AueiiloiK^

Purslane.

IJitter-Sweet.

-Joint (Jrass.

Piii'weed.

Succory.

Jiidian"Pi])e.

\\'interiireen.

Plantain.

Mullein.

J'uri)le Foxiiiove.

Vervain.

Horseinint.S])earniint . Peppermint

Lobelia.

Hisiii Blueberry. Lou lilneberry.

\\'iioi'tlel)erry.

Mayflower.

Angelica,

Sweet Flag.

Cat TaiL

1 tagged Orchis.

I'uii)1e-tringed Orchis.

Solomon's Seal.

liuh'usli. Slender Ku^li.

Couuuon Nettle.

Stinging Xottle.

Tji])ine.

Sensiti\(' Pianl .

Snnllower.

,Miti'e\V(ii1. i'ennywort.

Water ( ai'pet.

( 'in([ue-t'oil.

Kireweed.

(;i'onnds(d.

Ped Currant. r>lack ( uii-ant .

(Jojden Kagwort.

!)andelion.

Hutteicup.

Paspl)ei-ry. Thimlilelierry . Higii

Blackberry. I )e\\ bcriy.
Sweet P>i;iar.
Connnon Lungwort.
Sweet' Pea.
Smartweed.
Slciuilv < 'al)l>age.
Straw l)erry.
Wild 1N)S<'.
B.indwced.

'rrillinm.

iioariiound.

Plilox.

Morning (ilorv.

Bine-Fringed (Jentiaii.

I''i(dd Sorrel.

Wild, or Meadow Sage, (iarden

Sage'.
Sw(M't >LirJorani. Wild Maijoram.
Wild 'riiymi'. (iarden 'riiyinc.
lialm.

( 'ommon Scullcap.
Blue Curls.

Mosses, lichens nnt\ fungi- abound, and n life-work might l)e
occupied with cataloguing and identifying them.

At the early settlement of tlie town wihl animals were numerous,
and attracted the Indian hunter and fisher. IJut tlie advent of tlie
white man soon changed the scene, and many species have wliolly
disappeared, and others are so scarce tliat tliey have ceased to
awalvcn tlie enthusiasm of the hunter, or reward his toil and skill.

The bear, the wf)lf, the catamount, the moose, the deer, the
beaver, are known no more. Oue of the early settlers, Abiel
Abbot, was treed by a bear, which watched him until, out of

FLORA AND FAUNA. 15

patience by tlie deljiy, and worried by :i siiiall dou, liis bruiuship
eoncluded to withdraw. Lieutenant Abraham . Burton sometimes
trapped bears: In the winter, wolves, made bold by lumger., came
down from the mountains in quest of prey, and were killed by
hunting parties. Tradition reports that two moose have been killed
in town, one near Mason, and one near what is now called French
Village. The remains of l)eaver dams are yet to be seen on tiie
meadow west of the Forest Road, on the Whiting Meadow, :ind on
tlie Dale Farm. The larger aboriginal animals have departed with
the aboriginal men. Civilization has driven them botli from their
ancient haunts.

■ Of birds, the largest, the wild turke}', was shot in town as late
as 17!)7. Owing to the absence of large ponds or lakes, few ducks
or wild geese or loons have been known, though the long, black
lines of wild geese, ranged in harrow-like outline against the blue
sky, making their semi-annual migrations, and lieai'd b}^ their pe-
culiar, penetrating notes, may sometimes l)e seen. The eagle has
occasionally been shot in town.

Among animals, the muskrat, the mink, the weasel, the fox, the
woodchuck, the skunk, the hedgehog, the otter, the rat, the mt)use,
the raccoon, the rabbit, the red, grey, striped and tlying squirrel,
may still be found.

The woods and fields are made musical by a great variety of birds
during the warm season, and a few, like the snowlnrd, brave the
cold of winter. Indeed, while some of the larger birds and animals
Iiave disappeared before the progress of settlement, the smaller
ones are no doubt more numerous than before. For the gardens
and the grain fields of the farmer fnrnish moi'e abundant and sub-
stantial means of subsistence.

The robin, sparrow, yellowbird, whippoorwill, thrush, crow, hawk,
kingfisher, woodpecker, oriole, catbird, blackbird, scarlet tanager,
partridge, butcher-bird. l)lue jay, pigeon, bobolink, are found here.

Few or no reptiles of a venomous kind are known to exist here
at the present day. Report says that a rattlesnake was once killed
on the spot where the house of the late ]Mr. Isaac Blanchard stands,
but the race has disappeai-ed. The black snake, the striped snake,
the house adder, the green snake and the water snake, are the chief
species.

Of tishes, the largest, the salmon, were caught in the Sonliegan
as late as 177.")-4. But the trout, sucker, shiner. miimoAV, pike and

16 HISTORY OF WILTON.

pickerel, though formerly abundant in streams and ponds, seldom
now reward the angler's skill and patience.

Lizards and salamanders are occasionally seen, frogs and toads
are abundant, l>ats are common.

The insect world is numerously represented. Flies of many
species, wasps, bees, wild and tame, hornets, ants, spiders,
mosquitoes, bugs of every description, tleas, moths, grasshoppers
(which though small in size, often produce by their vast numbers
serious results upon the grass and grain fields of the fanner), all
these are nniltitudinous in numbers.

To the student and lover of nature and the author of nature, the
flora and fauna of every place, however humble, are full of interest
and instruction. No object teaching of the schools can match the
grand lessons of the material world, of bird and insect, of tree and
tlower, of animal and man.

CHAPTER TIL

INDIANS.

The Indians of the vicinity of Wilton consisted principally of
the Pawtucket tribe, who had their headquarters at, and perhaps
their designation from, Pawtucket Falls on the Menimack River, in
Lowell, Massachusetts ; the Peunacooks, who frequented the region
about Anioskeag Falls on the same river in Manchester, New Hamp-
shire ; and the Souhegans, who either took their name from, or gave
their name to, the Souhegan Ki\er. The Merrimack Eiver and the
branches flowing into it were the chief hunting and fishing grounds
of these bands of the aborigines. They were a nomadic people,
moving from place to place, as the necessity of food and shelter
dictated, or as hostilities with other tribes required. No permanent
Indian settlement seems to have been made within the limits of
^V'iltou, as far as we luu-e ascertained, though they traversed the
country for game. There were no large ponds or rivers to attract
them, and they had no motive to make their constant residence on
the granite hills. They left few, if any, traces behind them,
except a few arrow-heads, hatchets, or chisels of stone.

^Ir. Sewall Putnam reports that on lot No. 13, range four, in the
pine woods east of the vStockw ell, place, was a hollow dug-out some
ten or twelve feet square, which was supposed by many to be an old
Indian camp, occupied wlien on hunting expeditions. But it is now
nearly or quite obliterated. Hill and valley, mountain and river
remain as the unalterable features of nature, but the children of the
ancient woods have passed away forever, leaving scarce a trace
behind them.

The one certain memento of their rtice in Wilton is the name of
the principal stream, the Souhegan, or, as it is spelled in some of
the old documents, " Sowhagon," signifying, as is said, in their un-
couth dialect, " the river of the plains."

18 HISTORY OF WILTOX.

So far as iy known, no pcisson bi'longing U) A\'ilton was carried
into captivity or killed by the Indians within the limits of the town.

AVhen Indian attacks were threatened, the settlers fled to
neighl)oring garrisons. Danger existed for abont ten years. One
garrison was in Milford, on the north bank of the Sonhegan River,
near the Peabody place. Another was in Lyndeborough, near Mr.
Ephi'aim Fntnam's house. The apprehensions of the pioneers were
so great that in 1744 they sent the following petition, which tells
its own story, to the (rovernor and Council of the Province of New
Hampshire :

rETXTION lOU I'KorKCTION A(;AIXST rilK INDIANS.

To his Excellency Benidny W'eutiourth Enq.. (roventor and (Joiamander-in-
Chief of his Majesties Province of Neio Hampshire

The petition ot the iiih;il)it;nits of Sal(Mii-( ':iiiii(hi hi said Province
Humbly shews, 'I'hat your pctitioiici's live in a ])lace (ireatly exposed to
the Indians and liave not men Snttieient tor to Defend ns. 'I'hat tho* therp
be but few of ns. yet we have laid out onr estates, to l)ey,in in this place,
so that we shall be extremely hurt if we ninst move off. for we have by
the Blessing of (iod on our labors, a tine croji ot corn on the gromid,
and tho" we have a (Jairison in the town IJuilt by Order ot 3Iaj. Lovell,
yet we have nolxxly enijiowered so uuida as to set a watch among us, nor
men to kec]) it : we wonid ])ray yonr Excellency that we mav have some
assistance from the (Jovernment. in sending ns some souldiers to (Juard and
Defend us as in yonr wisdom yon shall think [iroper.

'I'liough we are but newly addetl to this (Jovernnient. yet we pray your
Excelleney not to disregard ns. but to assist ns. that we may keej) our
estates and do service for the govermnent hereafter. \\id your Petitioners,
as in duty Hound will ever pray.

John Cram. .Ii.. John Cram, David Stevenson,

John Dale. Ephraim Putnam. Abrah;im Leman,

Joseph Cram. Sanniel J>eman. John Stevenson.

Jonathan Cram. Benjamin Cram,

Salem-Canada. June 20, 1744.

What action, if any, was taken by the Governor is not known.
The presumption is that he had few soldiers to spare for such a
purpose — to guard and defend a handful of settlers who had taken
their lives in their hands, and had gone out into the wilderness
beyond the protection of civilization.

At any rate, the Indians made no raids on tiie peaceable inhabi-
tants of Salem-Canada of which any record remains. 'J'ransient
hunters occasionally called on the settlers at a period long sub-

INDIANS. *19

sequent, but they gave no molestation. Their spirit was broken ;
the iron had entered their souls, and the reign of the Red Man was
over. But they will have an everlasting memorial, more durable
than monuments of brass, in the names they have given our lakes,
streams and mountains ; the Monadnoek, Souhegan, Contoocook,
Nashua, Merrimack, Pawtucket and Pemigevvasset.

For a period of about one hundred years the French and Indians,
from King William's Ten Years' War, 1G88, to Queen Anne's War,
1703, closed by the Peace of Utrecht, 1713, and followed by other
attacks, down from 175") to 1773, kept the New England settle-
ments in a constant state of alarm and warfare.

The terror of these wars w^as that the Indians were readil}"
influenced to become allies of the French, and, officered by their
European masters, employed to carry havoc thi'ough New England
and New York. They lay in wait as the settlers left their
block-houses in the morning to go out to their fields for their day's
work, or made night hideous as they dashed into some lone settle-
ment with their terrible war-whoop, firing the houses, tomahawking
and scalping the men, and carrying the women and children into a
captivity often worse than death. These incursions of the savages
kept the whole country in a state of feverish alarm and terror, and
suspended all regular business. The pioneers, after great sacrifices,
were often obliged to abandon their improvements, made at great
cost, and take refuge in the cities or in the fortified towns to escape
their barbarities. It was a guerilla warfare of the most terrible
character.

Nor were the early settlers of New England altogether innocent
in the matter. They regarded the Indians as the children of the
devil, and their extermination as in some measure a religious duty.
They superstitiously believed that in ridding them from the land
they were doing the same sort of service to God that Joshua and
the Israelites did in driving out and slaughtering the Canaanites.

But, as elsewhere said, Wilton bore but a small part in this
fearful Indian warfare. No tribe permanently occupied her terri-
tory. But few of her sons were engaged in the proper French and
Indian wars.

Among the troops that were raised to reenforce the army after
the battle of Lake George, September, 17.')5, in Captain James
Todd's company is found the name of Ephraim Butterrteld ; time of
enlistment September 22, time of discharge December 13,. 1755.

20 HISTORY OF WILTON.

In the caniptiigii of l?")?, in the roll of Captain Ivichurd Emery's
company we tiucl the name of Henry Parker, .Ir., and Josiah Parker,
whose father settled on lot Xo. 7 in the tliird range. Henry was
massacred at Fort William Henry when captured by the French and
Indians under General ]Montcalm.

In the campaign of 175'S, in the roll of Captain Nehemiah Love-
well's company is found the name of James INIann, one of the
earliest settlers in the southwest part of Wilton, also Philip Put-
nam, Ephraim Buttertield and Alexander JMilliken. They were out
aboi;t six mouths in the service.

The above enlistments are all we lind recorded in the old docu-
ments as belonging to Wilton-

CHAPTER IV.

PROPRIETARY HISTORY SALEM-CANADA XUlMBER TWO IN-
CORPORATION OF WILTON SLIP ADDED TO TE.AIPLE.

TiiK i)i'opriet:ify liistory of the towns of New Hnnipshire ma}' be
said to date baclv to the grants made to Sir Ferdiiunido Gorges and
Captain .John Mason liy King James I. They were meml»ers of a
council of forty established in Ki^d at Plymouth, in the county of
Dover, JvUgland. for the planting, ruling, and governing of New
England in America. Oorges was a naval otlicer in the reign of
Elizabeth, and a friend of Sir "Walter Raleigh. Mason was a
London merchant, also ;iii olliccr in the British iia\v. and former
rxovernor of Newfoundland.

The Council granted, IMarch '.), I(i21, to INIason all that territory
included l)etween Salem and the mouth of the IMerj'imack, round
Cape Ann, up the rivers Naumkeag, Salem, and ^Merrimack to their
head waters, then aci'oss from the head of one to the head of the
other, and all the islands within three miles of the coast, the district
to be called ^Nferrimack.

()n August !(•, 1(!22, another grant was nn\de to Mason and
Gorges jointly of all the land between tbe rivers Merrimack and
Sagadehock (Kennebec), extending back to the great lakes aiul
river of Canada (.St. Lawrence), to be called Laconia.

These vast and loosely defined territories became afterwards the
subjects of dispute and litigation. Mason obtained a new patent
from the Plymouth (England) Council of the land between the
Merrimack and the Piscataqua Rivers under the title of New Hamp-
shire. Great troubles arose from the overlapping of one grant of
land on another already given. But in spite of these conflicts of
title, the lands were gradually taken up and settled, and towns es-
tablished. These New Hampshire grants came, as was held, into

22 HISTORY OF WILTON.

conflict with the interest of Massachusetts, and Mason was pro-
nounced in the journal of Governor Winthrop as " the chief mover
in all attempts against us."

The New Hampshire settlements covered by the patents of
Mason and Gorges, l.)eing in a divided and unsettled condition and
under conflicting authorities, were Anally united with JMassachusetts,
which assiuued iurisdiction ovei' the whole.* The Mason orauts
being thus vacated, the heirs lost the estate wliich liad been willed
to them l)y the original proprietor. Captain John JNIason.

But in KKIO the government of Charles IT. declared that Kobert
Mason, grandson and heir of Captain John Mason, had a good and
legal title to the province of New Hampshire. But ditticulties arose
which prevented the reinstatement of his rights. In 1675 a renewed
declaration of his legal title was put forth by royal authority, but
Mason finally died in 1(;.S8, without realizing the fulfilment of his
hopes and labors, and left his barren claims to his two sons, John
and Robert.

These charter titles, however, were purchased afterwards by a
company who gave grants to settlers, and were termed the
" Masonian Proprietors." This brief sketch will explain the origin
of this title. The proprietors were chiefl}' wealthy residents of
Portsmouth and the vicinity, and they began business in 1748, first
by quit-claiming to settlers grants of land previousl}^ made during
the disputes between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and then
by making new grants in their own name.

SALEM-CANADA.

The first movement towards the settlement of Wilton was made in
1735. On the 19th of June of that year a petition was presented to
the General Court of Massachusetts by Samuel King and others for
relief in consideration '^ of their sufferings " in the expedition to
Canada under Sir William Phips in the year KiOO. Agreeably to
the old Roman method of rewarding military services by colonizing
the veterans, a committee was chosen, consisting of Samuel Wells,
Esq., Samuel Chandler and .John Hobson, to lay out a township of
the contents of six miles square, west of Narragausette,t called

* See Appendix to this Chapter. — " Wilton us a Part of Groton Gore."

t So culled as the town was granted to persons who had rendered services in the Narra-
gansett war. The town of Bedford was called Narragansett Xo. 5, or Souhegan East.

SALEM-CANADA. 23

Number Three, or Amherst, and also called Sonhegan West, and
return a plat thereof to this Court within twelve months for con-
firmation.

This tract, including Lvndeborough :uid the north \n\vt of "Wilton,
received then the name of Salem-Canada.* The term '' Canada "
was obviously given on account of the rememl)rauce of tiie expe-
dition to Canada. The prefix of ■'• vSalem '" was, perhaps, due to the
fact tluit, in the early history of the country, Essex County, Massa-
chusetts, of which Salem was the shire town or capital, was
represented as extending back westward from tlie seaboard to the
Connecticut Kiver, covei'ing, of course, as may )»e seen by the nuip,
the territory now occupied by the towns of Lvndeborough and
Wilton. It has also been suggested that the signers of the petition
to the (ieneral Court for relief were probably residents of Salem
and vicinity. The town of Salem-Caniula, six miles square, was to
be divided into sixty-three equal shares, one of which was to be for
the first settled minister, one for tlie ministry, and one for the school.

The conditions of settlement were that on each share, within
three years, a good family should l>e settled ; a house built eighteen
feet square and seven feet stud at least : that six acres of land should
be cultivated : that the inhabitants should settle a learned orthodox
minister, and Ituild and finish a convenient meeting-house for the
public worship of (Jod.

Sewall Putnam, Esq., says : "• There is no doubt that the southeast
part of Lyndeborough was the southeast part of Salem-Canada.
The old people of Wilton many years ago used to say that the south
line of Salem-Canada was between what is now Mr. Mark Holt's
and Mr. Doe's house. A continuation of the line between the south-
east part of Lyndeborough and ]Milford to the west would run near
]\Ir. Harvey A. Whiting's house on the Hopkins Place, and as it
continued west would run between Mr. Mark Holt's and ]Mr. Doe's
house. That shows that about one-third of .the present town of
Wilton was in Salem-Canada."

Some feeling has been expressed of bite as if Wilton had en-
croached on Lyjideborough, and taken away a part of its territory.
But Ly)idel)orough as a grant to Benjamin Lynde and thirty others
did not date till December .'), 17.*).'i, four years after Badger's set-
tlement and that of others in Salem-Canada. Lyndeborough was

* See Appt'iulix to this Chapter.

24 HISTORY OF WILTON.

not incorporated until April 23, 1764, almost two years after Wilton
was iiicorporated. 'I'his disposes entirely of the claim that any part
of Wilton was ever a part of Lyudeborongh. That about one-third
of Wilton was once a part of Salem-Canada no one will deny, but
Salem-C'anada Avas not identical with Lyndeborough any more than
it was with AVilton. Wilton took away none of ]^yudeborough's
territor3% and could not, in the nature of things, for Lyndeborougli
was not in existence when Number Two, the predecessor of Wilton,
Avas granted as a town.

AVe cannot with any advantage rake over the embers in the old
ashes of past grievances to kindle new regrets and jealousies. Let
bygones lie b3'gones. Our forefathers, no doubt, did the best the}'
could under the circumstances, as we do now. and what is written is
written, and what is done is done, and cannot be reversed or undone.
Salem-Canada was not Lyndeborough any more than it was Wilton.
Salem-Canada preceded both towns, and both towns took a portion
of its territory', and Wilton had a right to do so as much as Lynde-
borough, and, as the first in the field, more right to do so. If any
party had a right to complain it was Salem-Canada, because its
territory had been absorbed in Wilton and Lyndeborough.

We confess that our good neighbor, Lyndel)orough. since she
became Lyndeborough, and not Salem-Canada, hiis suffered muti-
lation by a portion of her territory, in 17'.m;, beiug annexed to
Greenfield, another portion, in 18.');3. to INIont Vernon, and still
another portion, in 187."5, to Milford. For these clippings no com-
pensation was given to Lyndeborough. But the territory taken fi-om
Salem-Canada to form, not Wilton, but " Number Two," was made
up to it by an equal amount of lauds added on the north.

About the time of the first settlement there was a controversy
between the authorities of New Hampshire and Massachusetts
relating to the jurisdiction of the territory of southern New Hamp-
shire. A definite account of tliis dispute is given in Doctor N.
Bouton's History of Concord. For ten years the inhabitants in this
part of the state were under the government of Massachusetts,

'' NL'-AIBEK TWO."

T'he grant of Salem-Canada in 173.3 by the Massachusetts General
Court and the settlements formed in it, were followed in 1741) by
the grant of n now township, from the proprietors holding under the

c^^L^uc^a^y^{^ yu

'* NUMBER TWO.** '25

charter of Joliu Tufton Mnsou, to a company of purchasers, forty-six
in number.* Many of them never resided on the property, but
afterwards sold their lands to settlers coming in. These shares were
drawn by lot. The deed conveying the land was dated October 1 .
1749, at Dunstable, and the lots were drawn on October Ki, 1741).
The name first given to the new township, which included on the
north a part of Salem-Canada, was " Number Two."

The following conditions were preseri))ed by the proi)rietors to
the grantees :

1. 'Vwo lot^; of t'iiiiily :icf('> cmcIi slmuld he set ;i]);n1 to ciicoui'an'c the
building ot mills.

2. One sli.-irc of fwn IiuihIiimI ;iii(I forty ;icr('s slioiild lie ^hcn to the
first ujinisfer.

.'5. One share slionld be set aimrf for tlie (hristiaii ministry.

4. One sliare should be g"i\('n to schools.

i). The sliaveholders shonld mak(^ all roads.

(). The original propi'ic^tors shonld l)e eKem])t fiom all taxes.

7. The shareholders should settle and bniid honses on foity lots.

8. Each settler shonld ])ay !iil8.88 to aid in bnilding uj) the town.

9. Those not fulfilling the conditions, exeejjf in ease of an Indian
war. were to ftirfeif flieir shares.

10. AVliite |)ine trees \\ei-<' to l)e reserved for the British na\ y.

This new township, wliich, witlt new territoiy on the south, in-
cluded on the uortli a portion of '' Salem-Ciiunada," received the
name of '' Number Two," as stated above. This name was con-
tinued until 17()2, thirteen years, as the title of Salem-Canada had
been for fourteen years, viz. : from 17.').") to 174!). "■ Number One "
was Mason, " Number Two," Wilton.

Wn.TON rUOTEli.

On June l-S, 17(!1, the following petition was addressed to Gov-
ernor Benning Wentworth :

I'KllTlox Koi; lX('()i;i'()i;.\ ri(i\.

To His Exoe.llency. Bennlim Wentti^arUi. Esq.. Gnvprnor. &c.. in the Pmv-
ince of New Hanipshirp, and the Hononihlc His }[(ijpsty's Cminnl of snid
Province :

The petition of us the subscribers being Inhabitants of a tract of Tand
in said Province of the contents of ti\'e miles S([uare calb'd and known by
the nan)e of Xnml)er 2. which 'i'()\\ iishi[) boiuids norlherly on Lyudebor-
ongh. westei'ly and Southerly on I'eterborongh Slip and N'nmiier 1. Ivislerly

♦ See Appendix to this Chapter. — "Grant of the Masonian Proprietors.

26 HISTORY OF WILTON.

on ye Masons Grant not taken up; which Tract ot land is consi(lerabl\'
settled and improved, and is tliis year Taxed to the Province with otlier
towns.

We would tlieretore Humbly i('(|uest iit youi' h'xceH'y and Honors that
we may be Iiieorixnated into a Townslii]) ;ind be invested with sncli Privi-
leo'es and limnunities as otiier 'I'ow us lla^e and do enjoy in tins Pro\inee.
for ye more easy I'arryinji' on our Publie atlairs t<:c. and that the said
("orporation may be Bonnded aceordiiiii' to the (irant of tlie said 'i"o\\ ii-
ship and your Peririonei's as in diitybdund will ever i)ray. iS;e. June IS.
1701.

James Mann. Henry Snow, doliii < ram.

William (Til)son. Jonathan Stevens. \ViJliam Kinkeid.

Haezial Hamblet. William Mansur. Klexaiider Milieen.

Kobert Snnth. John Dale. ^Villiam Vaiu'e.

John Burton. Robert IJenker. I*iiili|) I'litnam.

David Bai'ker. Ebene/er Perry. John Davison.

Jonathan (ireeie. Benjamin Th()mps(tTi. Hu<;h Smylie.

Saninei Mansur. Jacob Putnam.

The prayer of the petitioners wus orautecl, the lands were sur-
ve3'ecl, and the town was incorporated Jiiue 'i'), 17()2, nnder the
name of Wilton, derived from an ancient borough in NViltshire,
England.* 'J'his act of incorporation was to contiinie in force till
January 1. \~iW). The lirst town meeting was hekl June '2~ . 17(i"i.
A second act of incorporation was granted January 2. 17(!'). signed
by Hon. Benniug Weutworth, Governor of the Province of New
Hampshire, ''to have continued until His Majesty's pleasure shall
be further known." As His Majesty and His Majesty's successors
have, so far as is known, taken nf> exception to it, it is presumed
this act of incori)oration reniains valid to the present day.

ADDITION OK I'AKT ol" WII.TON To ■n:MI>Li;.

In 1 768 a petition t was addressed to the Governor and Council
by the inhabitants of Peterborough Slip, Slipton or Sliptown, the
part of Peterborough lying east of the mountains called Pack or
Petit Monaduock, to have one mile of the west part of Wilton, and
extending the length of the town five miles, added to Peterborough
Slip to form an independent town. To compensate for this slice of
a mile wide being taken off of Wilton, the petitioners also pra^'ed
that one mile wide of territory might be added to the town on the
east. The people of Wilton addressed the authorities with a

* See Appendix to this Chapter.— "Act of Incoi-ponition."

t See Appendix to tliis Chapter.— '-A Record of Wilton Proceedings, irt>6-irra."

WILTON TO TEMPLE. 27

counter-petition asking that Peterborough Slip itself might be added
to Wilton, and deprecating au^^ addition on the east. But the
petitioners of the Peterborough Slip prevailed over the Wiltonians,
and a tract, half a mile wide and five miles long, was taken from
Wilton mid added to Peterltorongli Sli[), constituting the town of
Temple.

Thus after all tliese changes of names and boundaries, of Salem-
Canada, " Number Two," Wilton five miles square, and AVilton four
and a half miles wide by live miles long, as at present consti-
tuted, we have the proprietary and territorial history of the town of
Wilton up to the present time.

APPENDIX.

PART OF WILTON AS CiROTOX CiORE.

From a book of about one hundred pages, compiled from the
early records of IMassachusetts by Samuel A. (ireeu, M. D.. en-
titled '-The Boundary Lines of Old Groton," we learn that a part
of Wilton was once known as Groton (^ore. In the book is ti
map of Groton Plantation as granted A. 1). It).')."* and surveyed
A. D. KiG.S. Also, another map of Groton Gore, granted 17.'3G,
together with the town lines as the}^ exist A. D. 1880. Also, another
map of Groton Plantation, with town lines existing A. D. 188,^.

On the southeast of Groton, and adjoining it, was a small town-
ship granted in the spring of l(i.")4. Ity the General Court, to the
Nashobah Indians, who were converted to Christianity hy the
Apostle Eliot and others.

It appears that disputes arose in relation to the lines of the towns
about Groton, some of which were caused by the neglect of the
inhabitants of Groton to make return of the plan of the original
grant to the General Court for confirmation, as was customary in
such cases.

The incorporation of Nashobah on November 2, 1714. settled
many of the disputes connected with the lands ; but in December
of the next year the name was changed from Nashobah to Littleton.

As already stated, the plan of the original Groton grant had
never been returned by the proprietors to the (ieneral Court foi'
confirmation, and tliis neglect had acted to their prejudice.

28 ttlSTORY Ol-- WILTOX.

After Littleton bad been set ot¥, tbe town of Grotou undertook to
vepau* tbe injury and make up tbe loss.

Tbe necessary steps for briugiug tbe matter l)efore tbe General
Court were taken at a town meeting, beld on July 2"), 17;U. It
was tben stnted tbat tbe town bad lost more tban tWenty-seven
bundred and rigbty-eigbt acres l»y tbe encroiicbnient of tbe Littleton
line.

Under tbese circumstances Benjamin Prescott was autborized to
l)resent tbe petition to tbe General Court, setting fortli tbe true state
of tbe case, and all of tbe facts connected witb it.

Mr. Prescott presented tbe petition NovemlxT i^s, 17:!4. It was

l?(':i(l iiikI Onlcn-ed. TliMt Cdl. ( liaiiillci-. < '.ipt . I>l:iiicli;ii-(1. ( npr. Ilolisoii.
M;iJ(i|- Kpcs. ;iii(l ^Iv. lljilc he a coimniircc lo lake rliis Pctirioii iiiidcr cdii-
sideratioii. aiHl rcpdit Avliat may lie projx'rtor the (oiiif fn (\i> in aii>:\\('r
tlun-etd.

December 12, 1734, Colonel Cbandler, from tbe committee ap-
pointed tbe 28tb ult. to consider tbe petition of Benjamin Prescott.
Esq., in bebalf of tbe proprietors of Groton, made report, wbicb was
read and accepted, and in answer to tins petition, voted:

Tbat a ii'raiit (if ten tlioiisaiid ci^lil liundi-cd acres of tlic Lands lyinii'
in tbe (; ()!•(■ I)('l ween Dnnstabic and Tow nshcnd. lie and lien 'by is made tc
tlie Proprietors oi the 'I'ow u ot (irotoii as an e(|ui\aleut tor wtiat A\as
t.akeii trom tliem liy Littleton and ( oyaclins dr Willards Farm ( heini;' ahoiu
rwo aci-es and a Icilf tor one) .'ind is in tuli sal isfacrion tliei-e(d. and lliat
the said l*i'o])rietors lie and are liereiiy ailowi'd and impowcred liy a Sur-
veyor and Cliaiiimen on Oath to survey and lay out tlie said ten rhoitsand
eiii'lit liuii(h-ed acres in rhe said (iore. and return a Plat tliereof to tins
< 'ourt within I u(dve months toi- contirmalion to IhiMii and their hi'irs and
assig'iis resjie('li\(dy.

llie bounds of tbe said tract are as follows :

IJcii'innini;- at the Xortli West Corner ot Dimstahle at Dram-Cuii Pill hy
Solieii'an IJiver and JJunina,' South in Dnnstalile line last IN'i'amhulated
and Run hy a < 'om"'<= ot the (ieuerai ( ourt . I wo 'i'housand one hnn<lred A:
titty two poles to Towiisliend line, there making- an anii,le. and Piminii-
U'est 31 1-2 Dc.ii". Xorth on Townsheud line and province Laud 'J'wo 'I'hou-
sand and Fifty Six ]ioles to a Piliai- of Stones then turniniiand liuuino' hy
Pro\iiice F,aud ."51 1-"J deii'. Xorth two Tiioiisaud and foily Fiuht jxdes to
Dunstable Coi-nei- tirst mentioned. =■=

Some years ago, says Mr. Sewall Putnam, I was called to run
some lines near Jones's Corner in Milford. Mr. William Jones was

* Tlic coutfiit of (Ji-fitoii (ioro. as oalciihitfil tVdiii tlie liaifitli nl tlu- tlirt-e sklt'S, is ll.r.Vj
iicres. Acfoniiii'r to tlie map iiithel)ook. tliat pai't (if tlic (i(irc new lyiiii; in \Viltiiii cuiitaiiis
between iiiiw,' and ten hundred acres.

APPENDIX. 29

one of the lueii present with me ; lie pointed out a small pillar
of stones between the railroad and the I'iver, and said it was always
represented to him as being the '• Old Dunstable Corner." It was
near where the small house now stands, between the railroad and
river. The original Jones Farm was partly in Mile Slip, partly
in Old Dunstable.

If the boundary pointed out by Mr. Jones was the true northwest
corner of Old Dunstable, the starting })oint in the description of
Groton (lOre, as found in the map in Doctor Green's book, appears
to be from three to four hundred rods south of the true northwest
corner of Old Dunstable.

Groton Gore was situated in the present towns of Mason, Brook-
line, Wilton, Milford and Greenville. That part of the grant now
in Milford and Brookline, after Wilton and Mason were surveyed,
was known as Mile Slip.

The part that is now in Wilton is a rectangular triangle of the
southeast part of the town, bounding on Milford about three hun-
dred and eighty-six rods, and on Mason about se\'en hundred and
tlfty-eight rods.

Mr. John Boyntou Hill, in his History of the Town of Mason,
New Hampshire, says :

louder this gi-ant the inhahitiints took possession of and occupied the
territory. Tt was tlicir laistoni to cut tin- liay upon the meadows anil
stack it. and early in the spriuii' to send up llicir yomiii" fattlc to lie ted
upon tlic hay. uiidci- tlic care ot IJoad. the Ncjii'o slave. They would
cause the woods to be tired, as it was called, that is. liuriit ovei' in the
spring, after which fresh and succuleiil herhaiic sjiringing up furnished
a good store ot tlie tiiiest feed. u]ioii which the catth' would thrive and
fatten through the season. IJoadV canii) was u])on the east side of the
meadow, near the residence of the late .To(d Ames. (Page 20.)

As two parts of Wilton were contained in grants nuide by the
Massachusetts authorities, that is, about one-third of the north part
of the town in the Salem-Cauada Grant, and near ten hundred acres
of the southeast part in the Groton Gore Grant, it may be interesting
to give a statement of the boundary question between Massachusetts
and New Hampshire, copied from Dr. Green's book. (Pages 37-
38.)

Diu'ing many years the dividing line between tin- two l*r(tvinces was
the subject of controversy. The cause ol' tlisjnite dated back to tlie time
when the original grant was made to the ( 'ok)ny of Massachusetts Bay.
The charter was drawn up in England at a period when little was known

30 HISTORY OF WILTON.

ill rotjanl to rlio interior dI' this country, nnd tlic houndnrv lincis. neces-
sarily, were somewlmt ind<'tinite.

The Merrimack Hirer was an important factor in tixinf;; the limits of
the grant, as th(> northern hoinidary of ^fassachtisetts was to be a line
three mil<'s north ot any and every part of it. At the date of the charter
the general direction ot the river was not known. l)iit it was incorrectly
assumed to be easterly and westerly. As a matter of fact, tlie cour.se of
the Merrimack is southerly for a long distance from wliere it is formed by
the union of the AViinieiiesaukee and the Pemigewasset Rivers, and then it
turns and runs twenty-five or thirty miles in a nortlieasterly direction to
its mouth; and this deflection in tlie current caused tlu' dispute. The
fliffereiu-e between the actual and the supposed direction was a matter of
little practical importance so long as the neighboring territory remained
unsettled, or so long as the two Provinces were essentially under one
government ; but as the population increased it became an exciting and
vexatious question. 'I'owns were chart<'red by Massachusetts in territory
claimed by Xew Hamjjsliire. and this action led to bitter feeling and pro-
voking legislation, ^lassac-husetts conteinled for tlie land •• nominated in
the bond." which woidd carry the line fifty miles northward into the very
heart of Xew Ham])shire; and on the otheihand that I'rovince streiuiously
opposed this view of tlie case, and claimed that the line should run. east
and west, tliree miles north of the mouth of the river. At one time a
royal commission was appointed to consider the su))ject, but their labors
produced no satisfactory result. At last the matter was carried to England
for a decision, which was rendered l)v the King on Marcli •"). 1730-40.

This judgnuMit was hnal and in favor of Xew Hampshire. It gave
that Province not only all the territory in disi)ute. but a strip of land
fourteen miles in width, lying along her southern border, mostly west of
the Merrimack, which had never been claimed, 'i'his strij) was the tract
of lanil l)et\veen the line riuming (^ast and ucst. three miles north of the
soutlx'rnmost trend of the river, and a sinniar line three miles north of its
inoutli. By the decision twenty-eight townships were taken from Massa-
chusetts and transferred to Xew riampshire. The settlement of tliis
disputed question was undoubtedly a pid)lic benefit, although at the time
it caused a great deal of hard feeling. In establishing the new boundary
Pawtucket Falls, situated now in the city of Lowell, and near the most
southern portion of tlie river's cjourse. was taken as the starting-place,
and the line that now separates the two states was run west, three miles
nortli of this jtoint. It was surveyed officially in tli(^ s])ring of 1741. with
reference to the settlement of this dispute.

It will be readily seeu ]»y the foregoing that tlie line contended
for by New Hampshire would run three miles or more north of the
north line of Wilton.

SALEM-CANAOA.

"June r.»th. ITo."), Sanuiel Wells Esq. Samuel Chandler and John
Hobsou were appointed a conitnittee by the General Court of

SALEM-CANADA.

Massachusetts to lay out a township of the contents of six square
miles, west of Narragansett Town, called " Number Three," and re-
turn a plat thereof to this Court, within twelve months, for con-
firmation."

The following is a description of the tract of land called Salem-
C'auada, as laid out in May, IT.'Ui. by order of the authorities of
Massachusetts Bay. and returned .June 2, IT-'Wi :

Beginiiin^i- ;it ii s])nif(' tree and niiis iioi-tli l)y tlic Needle 21ill rods on
province hiiid to :i lieiiilock nuiikcd: then runs K;ist lo.i.s perch on Provinre
land to a townshi[) adjoining' to and lying north of Saleni-Narragansett
Xo. 8: rlicn turns and runs sotith on said townsliip (540 rods to a township
granted to .Ion" Simpson and otliers : tlien turns and runs East on said
township 402 pole to a stake and stones: then runs south 14(;7 ])eri'h on
said Xarragansett town: then nujs west 4S() ])eivh on I)uxl)ui-y Scliool
Farm to stake and iieaj) of stones: tlien turns soutli ]'A pereii on said Farm
to a poplar: then nuis west 1400 i)ercli to tlie spruce first luiuied.

If we suppose the distance from Duxbury School Farm to the
spruce at the southwest corner of Salem-Canada (1460 rods) to be
correct, that spruce nuist have been in Avhat is now Wilton ; the north
line of Wilton being lolH rods, would leave the spruce oS rods east
of the present west line of Wilton.

Hemlock.

.3 a

> as
o

Spruce.

Ka.xt l.ioS perch on Province Land.

Wes;t line.

1020 six mile.'.
HiOhalf mile.
»U rods.

2141

Apkii. 8, 1885.

East line.
(i40

He;

i:<
2120

North line of Wilton. ISlS rods.

Xo/r irnt<i

1460 perch Province Land.

Xoic Wilton.

Xoir
Xeir Boston.

402 perch.

Township

Granted to

Simpson.

480 perch.

DiLtbury School
Farm.

82 HISTORY OF WILTON.

In tlie tuwu clerk's otlice ut Lyudeborougii is a copy of the Salem-
C'auada grant, and also a plan of the same, from which this is a
copy.

The distances, etc., of tlie several lines on this plan are pnt down
the same as they are on the plan at Lyndeborough. It will be seen
that tliere is a discrepancy on the west line of fifty rods l)etween
the fignres and the sum :is written out, but it is the same in the
description.

Tlie dotted lines on tiiis plan do not represent any lines on the
plan at Lyndeborough, but represent the north line of Wilton, and
the east line as far as Lyndeborough runs south.

CHANT OF THK MASONIAN FKOPKIETOKS.

Extract froni the deed making the grant of the townshij) of Wilton
by the Masonian Proprietors :

Pii'<»viN( K o|- I Pursuant to tlie Power and Authoi'it>- orant^d and
Nkw IlAMi'siiun;. i v<'stt'd in iiic by the Projirietors ot Lands purchased
of .John Tuttoii Mason Es(x. in the Province ot New Hampshire by tlieii-
vote Passed at their nieetinu' lield at Portsmouth in said Province tlie IGth
day of June 174'.) I do liy these jiresents on the terms and conditions
hereatter (>xi)ressed give and grant unto Thomas Pead, Escp i;ol)eit Flet-
cbei- .Inn. .Iose])h Blanehard .Inn, OUver (olebuni. Oliver Farwell. -Tno.
Usher. Tlionias S|)aulding, Jolin Lovewidl .Inn. Teter Powers, Iluniphrey
Ilo])l)s. .lohii ('ond)s. .Jos. Hlodget. Sannud F(twle. .losiah Swan. Kzra Car-
penter, -lona. Cuminings. 'J'liouias I'aiker, .lun. .lolni N'arnuni. AVilliani
Foster, the I.'ev. Mr. 'I'lionias Park<'r. .Tosiah Buttertiel(L Anthony Emory,
Benjamin Parker .liin. Xehemiah Abbot. Samuel (iretde, Beiijn. Farwelb
Oliver A\'hitiiig. .los. Pieliardson. Penjn. Farley. Jno. Kendall. Abraham
Kendall. David Adams. .Joseph Freneli. I^leazer Blaneliard. Zaclieus
lA)ve\\(dl. SanuKd Farley. William ( unnnings. .lona. Powers, Samuel
Cmnnnngs. Areiialans Dale. -lat-oli Putnam. Xatbani(d I'ntnam. -John Dale.
Stephen IJeri'yman. .Joliii Shead and Epbniim I'litnam. all the liglit title
and property of the (irantors aforesaid of in and to all that part of a
townsbip or tract oi land In the i'rovinee of New llampsliire aforesaid
containing tive miles S(]uai-e Fying on the branches of Souhegan river
l»etween Peteiliorouli and ^Nlunson boundeil as follows, beginning at the
Southwest corner ot the i)reiiiises at a white pine tree, which is tlie Xorth-
west corner of the Townshi]) Xo. 1 and runs from thence north live miles
to a white ash mai-ked. fioni thence east tive mib'S to a stake and stones,
from thence south tive miles to a Chestnut tree marked, from thence west
tive miles to the white pine tree lirst mentioned which said 'Township is
laid out. drawn for and the lotts ascertained to each grantee resi)ectively
also two lotts for eneouiagement for building Mills and three shares for
public uses viz. one for tlie first sett led.Minister. one for the ^Ministry and
one fur the sehool.

f ' -■ ■ -

MASONIAN GRANT.

In witiipss whereof I the Subscriber Josepli Blanohanl of Dunstable
have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of October 1749.

Joseph Blanchard.

schedule of lots drawn by the grantees.

GRANTEES.

Robert Fletcher, Jr

Joseph Blanchard, Jr. . .

Oliver Colburn

Minister

Oliver Farwell

John Fslier

Thomas Spalding-

Jolin Lovewell. Jr

Peter Powers

Humphrey Hobbs

John Oombs

Joseph Blodg'ctt

Samuel Fowle

Josiah Swan

Ezra Carpenter

Jonathan <_'ummings . . . .

Thomas Parker, Jr

John Varnum

Peter Powers & A. Dale.

Ministry

Thomas Read, Esq

William Foster

Mr. Tiiomas Parker

Josiali Butterfield

Anthony Emory

Benjamin Parker, Jr. . . .

Peter Powers

School lots

Nehemiah Abbot

Samuel G reele

Benjamin Farwell

Oliver "Whiting

Joseph Eiehai'dson

John Shead

Benjamin Farley

Joseph Blodgett

John Kendall

Abraham Kendall

Peter Powers

David Adams

Joseph French

Eleazer Blanchard

Robert Fletdier, Jr

Zacheus Lovewell

H
K

1
2

6
7
8
9
10
12
14
16
17
19
20
22
23
24
25
27
28
30
32
34
35
36
40
41
42
43
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
55
56
57

60
61
62

4
6

5
5
1

4
3
5
3
6
6
2
3
. 4
8
2
1

10
7
7
2
8
8
9
9
8
9
4
5
6
8
7.
9
5
4
1
7
6
2

H
O

Eh
O

9
8
1
17
2

2
3

I 20

9
19
10
18
17

13
20
10
16

8
19

3
4
2

]
o

5
1
1
3

•>
O

6
8
10
6
1
1
7
9
3

10
6
1
9

HISTORY OF WILTON.

SCHEDULE OF LOTS DKAWX BY JHE (JKANTEES. CONTINUED.

(iKANTEES.

Samuel Farley (i;:i 20

William ( ummini^s 64 "2

Jonathan Powers 65 2

Samuel ( 'unnnino;s Hf; i;

Mill lots (17 i;j

John Da le (;s 1 c

Jacob Putnam 69 ].-)

Stephen Herrynian 70 17

Art'halaus Dale 71 16

Nathaniel Putnam 72 16

Epbraiui Putnam i 73 15

4
o

.")

4
6

'.^

.")

IT)

/■■

SCHEDULE OF LOTS DRAWN BY THE GUANTORS.

GRANTORS.

P
<

Thomas Parker. Ks(j 4

M. JI. AV'entworth. Esq 5

Jotham Odiorne. Escj j 11

Joseph Blanchard. Esq I 13

Thomas Wallino-ford, Escj 1,5

Joshua Pieree. Es(] 18

William Parker. Esij 21

John Wentwortli. Jr 26

John Moftatt. Esq 29

Xathaniel Meserve and others 31

Georo;e Jatt'rey. P^sq 33

Daniel Pierce and Mary Moore 37

Matthew Livermore. Esq i 38

Richard Wil>ird. Esq 39

Theodore Atkinson. Esq I 44

John Tutton Mason. Esq 54

Mark H. Wentworth. Esq 58

S. Solly and C. March, Esq ! 59

!)
7

12
5
5
4

5
18
18

4
12
14
14
15

5
4
4

5
5
5

8
9
8
9
9
8
9
7
9
9

8
12
10
11

4
19

6
17
17

4
15
14
15
15

Iz;

10
5
3
3
2

6
10

7
9
8
9

10
8

10
7

10
9

10
4
1
8
6
i

10
6
1
7
7

10
8
5
3
3
9

The schedule of the lots drawn is certified thus :

The afore-written lists were drawn and finished at Duustahle. the 16th
day of October 1749.

Copy examined for

Jos. Blanchard.

Proprietors'' Clerk.

COUNTY BOUNDS.

PETITION RELATIVE TO COUNTY BOUNDS, ETC.

To his Excellency John Wentworth Esq Captain General and Governor in
Chief in and over the Province of Neio Hampshire, and to the Honorable his
Majesty^s Council and Hmse nf Bepresentatives in General Court assembled —

The Petition of us the Subscribers, humbly sheweth. That Your
Petitioners beiuo; Inhabitants within the lines of the County Prescribed.
(viz) Peterborough West Line and the Easterly Line of liitchfield. And
Whereas by Information we are l)y a Petition fi-ora others to your Hon'*
rendered ineapaljle by the fewness of Inhabitants and the unlikeness of
Increase to Support the Officers of the County in sut-h Sort, That any
Gentleman suitable tlierefor will be Unwilling to Undertake the Same :
All which is a mistake. The People ai'e many And as We think able and
Sufficient and tlic Increase More and More, the greater part of the T'ounty
within s<i Lines being Unsettled, And that is Small in Comparison of
other Advantages accrewing if Amherst is made the Shire Town, All
the roads leading from the Towns adjacent center to Amherst and there is
Food and Forrage and other things necessary. But if carried further East
will increase Travel and it over the Kiver will make it inconvenient both
for Men and ^Vomen in many seasons of the Year. Therefore we pray
that the Lines prescribed may be fixed and no Additions made and that
Amherst may be the Shire Town, And Your Petitioners as in Duty bound
shall ever pray.

WiLTON, April .1, 1769.

Joseph Holt
Xathan Ballard
.Jacob Abl)or
John Brown
•Teremiah Abbot
Abiel Abbot
David Blanchard
Stephen Blanchard
*.Tonathan Cram
*David Cram
*moses Stiles
*Solomon Cram
Timothy Gray
•Tohn Burton .lu' .
•James Dascombe
Joseph Holt Ju''.
Jeremiah Holt
•John Cram .Tun' .
*.John Caskir
*John Stiles
*John Johnston
*.James Boutell
*George Gould
*Melcisedekt
*Robert Badger

Daniel Barker
N^athan Abbot
Francis Putnam
Joseph Putnam
Jonathan Cram
Ptichard Taylor
Abner Stiles
•Jonathan Burton
Stephen Buss
Ephraim Peabody
•Jacob Putnam
William Brown
"William Pierce
•Jonathan Greele
•Joseph Stiles
Philip Putnam
•John Burton
Ephraim Butterfield
*Samuel Chamberlain
*.John Hutchinson
*.James •Johnston
♦Osgood Carlton
♦Timothy Carleton
*John Stephenson
*Banjaman Dutton

George Coburu
Asa Cram
Stephen Putnam
•Joseph Cram
Xath' Ilaseltine
William Ball
•John Cram
•Jacob Putnam •Jun>'
•Josepli Butterfield
•James Maxwell
Amos Butterfield
Amos Fuller
♦Benjamin Cram
♦Ephraim Putnam juner
♦George Person
♦•Jonathan Chamberlain
♦Ephraim Putnam
♦.Jonathan Chamberlain

Qjunr
♦William Carson
♦.Jacob Wellman
♦Adam .Johnston
♦Daniel Gould
♦•Jonas Kidder
♦David Stephenson

Those with thi;; mark (*) were prohably Lyndeborough men. — [S. Putnam, t Illegible.

36 H18TOKY OF WILTON.

Ki;i,ATI\F. IT) A BKllXIK OVKI; SUl 1(I,(,AN IMVKI!.

A\'ili(Mi. Vr\)'y y 11—177;!.

To tlie Hoiioiifuhle the Council and House of liepreseiUativcs fur the State
of Neio Hampshire in General Court to be Convend at Exeter on the Second
Wediiosdaij in Fehruanj Iitstmit.

Tlic IVtitioii oT tlic SiiliscrilK-is iiuiiilply slicwctli— Tlial Ilic JJrklii-c (in
the Olio Mile Slip) over tlie Hivcrtorincrly know ii by the Xanie of Souhej^aii
River, is iu (ireat want of 1)eiiii>- I'epair'' or Kchuilt. that th(> lirid,<>-(> is
of Pnl)lic- Jieiietil lichiii' i" the Direet way troni Kxeter to Chailcstown
No. 4 tliat Three Hridocs. h.-n,. Ih-cii Hrected in that I'laec anil l{e])air<'(l
from time to time at tlie expense of the liihahitants of Wilton and a
few otlier Persons — that the Inlialiitants of one ^File Slip are few in
Xnmher and they tliiiik it a Hardship to he jmt to the Charo-e of it Alone —
Therfore yonr Petitionei-s pray that Yitny ilondurs wonld take it into
your wise Consideration and Direct in , What \\a> the same shall hr re-
built — and your i'etitioners as in Duty liouiid Sliall ever Pray —

Amos Fuller Samuel Sheldeii Stephen Buss

Ebene/er Chandler Joseph A1)bot .laeob Abbot

Joseph Snow AVilliam Brown Filield Holt

Fifield Holt Jr Anu)s Holt M:ny Petteno-ill

Samuel Hutehinsoii David Chandler Priah Wilkins

*Benj-i Lewis *Siiii(in Blanehard Mothani I'danehard

*Ben» Lewis ,)uiir *Hiehard Boyntoii ^*\\'illiam I'earson duner

*Wi]l"' parson *Thomas Pearson *Kl)enezer parson

♦Samuel i)arson *.\athan Huteliinson *Benj'» Huteliiii'^on

*Nathan Hutchinson fSamuel :Mitt-h(dl tWiliiam Alld

[dun

ACT of in(<h;i'()i;ati()N.

Province of New Hampshire — George the third In/ the grace of God of Great
Brittan France and Ireland Kimj Defender of the faith &c : To all and to
idiom these Presents shall come. Greetimj : Whereas our Loyal subjects
Inhabitants of a tract of Land within our Province of Xew-Hampshire
Known by the name of Xo. 2. Lying on the brandies of Souhegan River
between Peterborough and Monson and contains five miles stjuare. have
humbly Petitioned and Requested us tliat tliey may be erected and incor-
porated into a townshi]) and Tnfranchized with the same powers and
privileges which other towns within our said Province by law have and
enjoy: and it appearing unto us to be condusive to tlie general good
of- our said Province as well as of the said Iiihal)itants in ]iarticular by
maintaining good order and encouraging the culture of the Land tliat \\\v.
same should be done.

Tho.sf witli this iii;ii-lv (*) uiidoubtedly lived in wliat is now Milford. Those witli tliis
mark (f) are Peterborough names.— [S. rutnaiii.

ACT OF INCORPORATION. 37

Know ye tlierefore that we of our special Grace Certain Knowledge and
for tlip pncourag-einciit and ])ronioting the good pnrponei* aforesaid by and
with the adxies ot our and well hcloxcd Hcniiing \\'tMit\\ orth Hs([ : onr(iov-
t'l'iior and ( (inimandcr in chcit and of onv < ouncil tor said l*ro\int'e of New
Ilanipsliiiv have erected and ordauicd iind l)y these jiresents for us our
iieirs and successors do will and ordain that the Inliahitants of the tract of
Land aforesaid and others wlio sluiU inhal)it and improve thereon here-
after, tile same being liutled au'l bounded ns follows viz: Jjeginning at tlie
southwest corner ot the premises at a white ])ine tree wlucli is the north
west corner of No. (1)* and runs from thence north tive miles to a w]ut<'
ash tree marked: from thence east tive miles to :i strake and stones:
from thence south tixc miles to a (hestinit tri-e marked: from thence
west tive miles to the w hite ])ine tree tirst meotionetl : JJe an<l hereby are
declared and ordained to be a Town Corporate and are hereby Erected
and Incorporated into a body Politick and < 'orporate to Inne continuance
until his ^lajesty's Pleasure shall be further known by the name of Wilton,
with all the ])owers, autliorities. i)iivileges. innnunities and franchizes
which any other town in said Province by law liold and enjoy to the saitl
inliabitants or who shall hereatrer iidiabit tliei-e and their successors for
said term always reserving to us our lieirs and successors all ^Vhite Pine
trees that are or sliall lie found growing and being on said tract of Land
tit for the use of our J^)yal Navy. Peserving also to us oiu- lieirs and suc-
cessors the Power and Pight of dixiding said town when it shall a])i)ear
necessarj' and convenient for the lnhal)itants thereof:

Provided Neverth«dess and it is hereby declan'd that this charter aiul
grant is not intended and shall not in any manner be construed to extend
or effect the priNate pro]iei-ry of the soil within the limits aforesaid, and as
the sfncral tow ns w ithin oui- said Province are by the law s thereof enabled
and authorized to assemble and l)y the >raiority of the Voters present to
cliuse such officers anil tiansact such affairs as in the said laws are
decliired, The annual .Meeting in said Town shall be held, for the choice
of such othcers and the ))urposes aforesaid, on the second ^Fonday of
IMarcli annually

In 'l'<'stimony wherecif we have caused the Seal of our said Province to be
hereunto affixed. AVitness. JJenning AVentwortli Es(p our Governor and
Commander in Chief of our said Pro\liice the Second day of Januarv
in the Plfth y<'ar of our Keign and in tlie year of our T.ord Christ one
thousand seven hundred sixty five

By liis Excellencys counnand with advice of Council

'1'. Atkinson Sec,y. B. Wentworth

A KKCOlit) OF Wll.TO.N I'KOCKKOlNCiS. 1 7(;S — 177.'^.

Wilton June y !)"' day 17(58 this Day it being Townineeting at wilton A
we the Subscribers attended wliere was the Committee from Peterborough
Slip to see wheather the 'J'own of wilton would Vote to Pe Ceive the East

* Xow UreenvilU' uiid Mason,

38 HISTORY OF WILTON.

part of Peterborough Slip or Give them haf a inilil of wiltou & when we
Came to article inr Butterfield who was moderator would not Call for
a Vote on it But Said we will a Jorn the meeting til y*^ 7 of July which lie
did tlie Conmiittee a fore 8'' Deziered a Coppy of their })roceedings but
Could not obtain it

William inansur

test

Steplien Putnam

his

Alexander Q 3!illiken

mark

Portsmoutli June ll'i^ 1768

Whereas we the Subscribers being Agents appointed to carry on the
Affair For Peterborough Slip & wilton Kelativc to their Petition Have
agreed to Leave the whole Affair to His Exccellencv and Coimcil to do as
in their Wisdom and J^rudence Shall think Best Praying further opportu-
nity to liOdge Such Pai)ers as to Give your Execellency and Honours
Further Light as witness our Hands Provided Such Papers are filled before
the Day appointed for the Governors & Councils Determination,
agent for Peterborougli Slip Ephraim Heald

agents for Wilton Joseph Buttertield

James Dascombe

PETITION FROM Wll/foX :

addressed to the Governor and Council, 17(i8

We the iiiHabitants of wilton Humbly petition your ExCellency &
Honours That the East part of peterl)orough Slip May Be anexed to
wiltou & Incorporated in to one Town with us ct in Duty Bouml Shall
Ever pray &C

Wiltou tlie 10 day 1768* William mausur Ebenezer Perry

James mansur Jonas Perry

his

Abijah Perry Alexander O Milliken

mark

Steplien farnain
REMONSTRANX'E FROM THE INHABITANTS OF WILTON:

addressed to the Governor and Council, 1768.

May it please your Excellency and Hon''* We the Inhabitants of Wilton
in said Province are notified by inr Sec'> Atkinson, that the Inhabitants of
Peterborough Slip lla^'e lately petition'd your Excellency and Iloir' for a
Charter of incorporation granting Town privileges c<^'^ with Addition of
one mile in wedth & the length of town to be taken off from the Town
of Wilton and Added to Peterbo' Slip : in Consideration whereof a Slip to
be Added on the Opposite ]>art of the Town &C'.

That we may shew cause if any we have why the ])rayer of said petition
should not be granted.

* The month is missing.

REMONSTRANCE FROM WILTON.

Therefore we take lil)erty to sav. that the situation and Circunistaiices
of the said Peterboroiij^-ii SHp was known by tlie late Uov' it Couneel at the
Time said Wilton was ineorjxjrated : Xotwitlistandino- saw fit to incorpo-
rate Wilton for a ("ertain Liinniited 'i'enn according to its present form, and
at tlie end of said 'I'erni *>'ranted another Charter of the like Contents
(which were costly thino's to ns) Add to this the ijurchasers ot .lohn
Tnfton Mason Es(| patent tix"d the boundaries of said Wilton as it is
now held by Chartei-. and \\e have a Meeting liouse in tlie Center of the
Town very well Situated, have been at large exj)ence in Making highways
to tlie same, and during the late war. many of us suffered largely. Vet
being Encouraged by having our 'i'own Continued in its pi-esent form sur-
mounted those Ditfii'ulties : and have found means of late to defray part
of the Pvd)iic Charge of the Pi-ovince for whicli reasons among many
others that may be oftered by our Agent, are humbly ot Opinion that
the prayer of the iK'tition above refered to ought not to be granted but if it
should be thought otherwise, we be"- leave to suo'jiest fiuther that the
Design of Granting an incorporation to us, which was to promote Good
order, and encourage the Cultivation of our Lands v^dll be greatly retarded,
th.'it we shall be thrown into the.utinost Confusion and Disorder about our
Meeting house. Bridges and highways &c Indeed our Bretliren of Peterb"
Slip seem Conscious to themselves that taking a part from us on the West
will be detrimenle to us and therefore propose to have the Mile Slip Added
on the East to make amends, but we humbly Iieg and pray, that if any part
of our Town must be taken from us that there may not be any Added to us
on the Easterly part, which cannot lessen but must Augment our Diffi-
culty — "i'our Excellency tt lIon"< w ill i-eflect upon the premises and do as
your wisdom and i)rudeni'e shall Direct — And we as in Duty bound will
ever pray —

Wilton April 27 17(;s.
Joseph Holt
Philip Putnam
William Pierce
l^ichard Taylor
E])hraim Butterrield
James Brown
Nathan Blanchard
Jol)n Dale
Tinjothy Gray
Uriah Bolton
Jacob Putiiam
Jonathan Cram
Timothy Dale
Xathaniel Putnam
Oliver Holt
David Kenney
Jonathan Burton
Simon Keyes

Nathan At)bot
Jotham Maynard
James Brown Jun'
George Coburn
Jeremiah Holt
Jonathan (xreele
Gerge Lancey
Stephen Butt«Tfield
John Burton
Amos Butterfield
Zela Holt
Abijah Perry
Xathan Ballard
John Brown
Jeremiah Abbot
Abiel Abbot
James Maxwell
John Holt
Abner Stiles
Amos Holt

Kichard Whitney
John Steel
Josiah Parker
Thomas Kichardson
Joseph Stiles
Joseph Snow
Benjamin parker
Xathaniel Greele
Stephen Buss
Benja Rideout
Joseph Holt Jun'
Jn" Burton Jun'
Jn"^ Cumiugs
Joseph Putnam
AYilliam Felton
John Burton
ainos Fuller
John Cram Jun'
Stephen Putnam

40 HISTORY OF WILTON.

KXTUACTS FROM PAPERS RELATIVE TO TUE INCORPORATION OF THE

TOWN OF TEMPLE.

AVe the In Habitants of Tlie west Side of Nvilton in S'l proviiiee are
williug To Be annexed To 'J'lie East part of peterliorongh Slij)

Wilton April 27—1768 William Felton

Robert Maun Stephen Pntnani

James mansur Williani Mansur

Stephen farnani - William Thom])S(Hi

EXTRACTS FROM A I'ETITION OF A COAFMITTEE OF TlIK INHABITANTS

of Peterborough Slip tor an act of Incorporation

•• Then running abont East on Xew Tpswieh north line To tlie Sontheast
Corner of S'' petersborongh Slip Still East on Avilton Sonth Line tlie Lenght
of Two Lots Then Running Xorth Between the Eighth ».<: Xineth Ranges
of Lots in S*^ wilton inCludeing Two Teer of Lots to LyndsBorough
South Line Then Running AV^est on wilron and iieterborough Slip Xorth
LinQ to Peterborough East Line" '■ allSo we lliimbley pray your Exeel-
lenoy & Honours That the Loss of AVilton may Be made up to Them By
your annexing a Tract of Land To Them on the East Side of A\ilton
Called & Known By The Xame of ^lild Slip and we in Duty Bound Shall
Ever pray : &:<_'. Francis Blood \

Peterborough Slip : John Marshall > Committee

11 : April 17G8 Ephraim Heald )

CHAPTER y.

TITK KAIJI.Y SETTLERS.

The first settlers upon the territory now called Wilton, but origin-
ally Saleni-Canada, were from Danvers, Massachusetts, and Notting-
ham, New Hampshire, now called Hudson. The dangers, labors
and sufferings which they underwent were not unlike those to
which all the i)ioneers of New England were subjected. Hard
work, meagre faj-e, solitary lives, exposure to an untried climate,
apprehensions from the savages, sickness and wounds witliout
surgical or medical care, deprivation of social, intellectual and
religious privileges — these and kindred ills were their lot.

For three years after the settlement began the wife of Jacol)
Putnam was the only woman who resided permanently in the town.
During one winter such was the depth of snow in the woods, and
such the distance from neighl)ors, that for the space of six months
she saw no one but the members of her own family.

In 1781) Jacob and Ephraim Putnam, John Dale, and John Badger
commenced a settlement on the southerly side of the territory thus
laid out of Salem-Canada. Ephraim Putnam located on what is
now Lot No. 14, in the fifth range, at the intersection of the roads
near the uorth cemetery, and a daughter of his was the first child
born in Wilton.

Jacob Putnam located on the southeast part of Lot No. 15, in the
fifth range (the original boundary of the lots was a large pine tree on
the north bank of the stream a short distance below the old saw-
mill). He built the house where Michael McCarthy now lives. It
was two stories in front and one back, the front rafters being short,
and the back ones long. Many of the old houses were built in that
style of architecture. The house remained in that siiape until
it was remodeled, with some additions, by jVIr. Joseph AVilson, a few
years before he sold it and removed to western New York.

42 HISTORY OF WILTON.

John Dale's first camp wan near where the roads cross, east of
the okl Iiouse that he aftervvai-ds built, now owned by Mr. S. TI.
Dnnbar, and that is said. to l»e tlie Hrst two-story frame honse built
in what was afterwards Wilton. It is lined between the outside and
inside tiuish with bricks, for [)rotection against the Indians. The
farm remained in possession of .Tolm Dale, John Dale, Jr., and John
Dale, .'(d, who died A[)ril '■'>, l.s4."i, and was sold at auction by the
administrator in Novend)er following to Abel Fisk, Jr.

The liistory of another of tlie early settlers, John Badger, is a
i-omantic one. Vfe glean from Mr. (irant's History of Lyudeborougii
and Dr. K[)hrain! Peabody's Wilton Centenninl the following inter-
esting particulars :

.lohn Badger was a native of England, and emigrated with two of
his brothers, Joseph and Eliphalet, to America about 172.S-!>. His
father was wealthy and had business for him to transact in Scot-
land. There he met Mary ]McFarland, with whom he fell in love,
l)ut his father, with the prejudice then prevailing against the Scots,
forbade the connection. So the brothers were despatched to Amer-
ica, and settled first in Nottingham, New Hampshire. But the pre-
caution of the father was defeated. Mary followed her lover to
Amei-iea, and they were married in IMaine. But after some removals
they came to live in Salem-Canada, and located their dwelling about
a third of a mile east of John Dale's house. The swell of land on
which they lived has ever since boi'ue the name of the Badger Hill.
Badger moved into his cabin in April. IT.'i'.i, but the hardships of the
pioneer life were too much for him. The other settlers near him went
in the winter to a block-house situated on the hill northeasterly
from the present glass works in Lyndeborough. But the liadgers
with their three children, David, Kol)ert and Mary — a younger one,
Betsey, having died of injuries received in the burning of a house in
Nottingham — remained in theii' cal>in during the winter. Badger
died of consumption in February. 1740.

Dr. K. Peabody thus tells the pathetic story in his Wilton Centen-
nial address :

Mr. li;i(lsi'(M- (lied in tlic iiiijht. The ix'arcst iieii.>-liI)or was tlirec niiU's
distant and the urotiini was covered wirli snow. His wife composed liini
on the bed as for rest, left lier i-hildren (ot whom slie had three, the oldest
hut eiiiiit years of aye) with their hreakfast. and with strict injunctions
not to awake their father, as lie was asleep, and. i)nttinii- on her snow-shoes.
l)roceeded to seek assistance. That, indeed, was a dreary inoniini>-. as she
went forth through the solitai-y woods of winter. Death is in her home.

RARLY SETTLERS. 43

and lipr children wait her return. T'phold lier treniblinir heart, thou
Father of the fatherless and the widowV (iod 1 \eii>-hl)ors i-eturned with
her. A tree was hollowed out for a eottin. and so in the solitude was
he eoniniitted to the earth. Death at all times eonies ehillino- the hearts
of men with awe and fear. Kven in populous cities, in the mi<ist of the
throng- and busy voices of life, an awful sense of solitude rests on those
who witness the departure of the dying: and days and yeais shall pass,
and they who l)eheld the scene shall enter that ch.and)ei- with silent stei)s
and liushed voices and a sha(h)w over their souls. \Vhat. then, must have
been hei- loneliness. — a solitary widow in the wilderness! She must
watch by the bedside of her children alone; her tears shall be shed alone:
she sliall no more kneel by her husband's side to pray: his voic(^ shall
no more waken her at niDrning. and when the night api)roaches slii'
shall unconsi'iously look torth to the forest, watching for bi-; return.
who .shall nevei- return again.

A single example like this shows the hardships of the first settler.s
of a new region better than any general description, however ex-
tended or graphic.

Btit the terrible hardships and trials through which ^Irs. Badger
passed were too much for her nervous system, and she became
insane. In this condition of irresponsibleness, after a few years, she
committed suicide.

David and Robert Badger settled in J.yudeborough a little north
of the Badger Pond.

The descendants of the English John Badger and tlie Scottisli
Mary McFarland are widely scattered over New England and
the Western States.

There is a conflict of authorities in regard to the place to which
Mrs. Badger went after the death of her husband. Mr. Grant,
in his History of l^yndeborough, states that she removed with her
children to Nottingham. But Mrs. Mary Pettengill of Wilton,
granddaughter of Mary Badger, says she went to Hollis. We can-
not decide which is correct.

There is also some variation in the account of the Badger children.
Mr. Grant, a grandson of David Cram and Mary P>adger, in his
sketch of Lyndeborough in the County History says : " Tlie names of
the children of Badger were David, Robert, Mary and Betsey, the
last named of whom was the youngest and died young in consequence
of injuries received in the burning of a house in Nottingham."' The
mother and children after the death of the father moved back to
Nottingham.

44 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Mr. Grant also says he " has attempted to gather up a few frag-
ments of history connected with ' the first settler ' of liis native town
from a source which will soon be removed from eartli," viz. : Sarali
P>adger, a granddangliter of the said John Badger, wlio now resides
on the, spot where David, tlie sou of said ..John, lived and died. lie
believes the substance of it trutliful and correct.

But ]Mr. Sewall l^utnam learned from jNIrs. Hermon I'ettengill, a
daughter of Gideon Cram, and granddaughter of David and Mary
(Badger) Cram, who had consulted records iu Lyndeborough, thai
Mr. Badger died in February. 1740, and jNFrs. I>adger soon went to
Hollis, And that on August 27, 1740, a daughter was l)oru to
Mrs. Badger, wlio was named Mary, who was tlie grandmotiier
of Mrs. Pettengill, and after whom she was named. ]Mary IJadger
married David Cram, and tlieir son David was the fatlier of our
respected townsman, David Cram.

It is desirable to l)e perfectly accurate in :dl matters of history,
whether it 1)p that of a nation or a town. l»ut where authorities, like
those above, are in conflict, the only course is to state bolh sides,
and leave the reader to decide which has the pi'eponderance.

CHAPTER VI.

TOWN INSTITUTIONS.

. It has been said that American Liberty was born in tlie cabin of
the Mayflower in l(i20. when the Pilgrims made a covenant witli one
another, and signed it. as tlie instrument ot their civil and religious
polity. Hut its earliest effective institutions were the town church,
supi)orted by the taxes of all the i)eople, and the town meeting, to
which all freemen were admitted, and which regulated all municipal
affairs. Thus more than a century Ijefore a thought was entertained
of a free and independent nation, separated from the parent country,
the citizens of the Colonies were virtually put to school in the
knowledge and practice of public and official duties in state and
church, and were trained to administer the affairs of the nation
in peace and war.

De Tocqueville, in his '■• Democracy in America," the l)est work
by a foreigner over written upon our institutions, says : "■In New
England political life had its origin in the townships, and it may be
said that each of them originally formed an independent nation.

" In the American township power has been distributed with ad-
mirable skill for the purpose of interesting the greatest possible
number of persons in the common weal.

" They possess two advantages, which strongly excite the interest
of mankind, namely : independence and authority.

" It is iucontestably true that the tastes and habits of republican
government in the I'nited States were first created in the tOAvnships
and the provincial assemblies."

A good illustration of this i)ul)lic spii'it and interest in the connnon
Aveal, which was strengthened and cherished by the township system,
is found in the records of the town, dated July 15 and September
8, 1774, in which the inhabitants enter into a covenant of non-
importation and non-consumption of British goods. This instrument

46 HISTORY OF WILTON.

is given in full subsequently iu the chapter on the " Revolutionary
"War." It seemed a trifling thing for this little community of
farmer people, perched on the granite hills of a sparsely inhabited
state, thus to fling defiance in the face of a great nation and its
king, but it had its serious meaning and weight. The act showed a
determination to repel unjust laws by sacrifices of comfort and
peace, and to vindicate the cause of freedom at whatever cost. It
also showed sympathy and made common cause with the sister
colonies, who, suffering from the Stamp Act and taxation without
representation, and other invasions of the rights of British freemen,
needed the support of brethren. That same spirit, acquiring force
as it proceeded, sent " the embattled farmers" to Bunker Hill and
Bennington, and finally, after a war of eight years with one of the
greatest powers of the old world, woij the independence of the new.

TOWN MEETINGS.

These were usually held annually, the second Tuesday of March.
A public notice was posted by the selectmen, informing the people
when, where, and for the transaction of what business the meeting
was called, and summoning the legal voters to assemble and dis-
charge their legal duties as freemen. The assembly in early times
was held in the church, but at the present day the meetings are held
in a Town House, or hall, built for the purpose. A presiding officer
called a JNloderator was chosen, and prayer was offered by the
minister of the church. A Town Clerk was elected to record the
proceedings. A Board of 8electrhen, usually consisting of three
men, v/as chosen to administer the affairs of the town, relating to
schools, roads, the poor, taxes, etc. A representative was chosen
to the (General Court, or State Legislature, also a town treasurer,
town collector, superintending school committee, tithing men, con-
stables, etc. Reports were read by the officers of the preceding
year in relation to roads, schools, taxes, bridges, and all matters
pertaining to the welfare of the town. Thus the town clock was
wound up to run another year. It was really a democratic republic
in miniature. All power sprang from the people, and was referred
directly back to the people, as the legitimate source of all human
authority. In these political schools the people were nurtured and
strengthened for the days to come, the " times that tried men's
souls." And the permanence and success of the republican system
of government depend to a considerable degree upon the extension

TOWN MEETINGS. 47

and efficiencv of the public town meetinii:- This is tiip nest eoo-
of the political system of America.

One who long filled important offices in town, and who has
been a careful observer, remarks : "I am unable to perceive where
we have, in our political organizations, any that are purely demo-
cratic, except in the towns and wards. All our other organizations,
city, country, state, etc., are representative, and I think only in
New England is the pure town organization still retained."

TOWN DEBTS AND TOWN TAXE.>i.

The expenses of the town for the church, schools, roads, bridges,
public improvements, the poor, etc., were met by taxes levied on all
property, real and personal, collected by an officer appointed for the
purpose, and paid over to the treasurer, to be disl)ursed by orders
signed by the selectmen, rufortunately in many states since the
formation of the government the township system has fallen into
disuse, and so there has been in some respects a perceptible decline
in municipal liberty and spirit, which augurs ill for the future of the
country. Reports of public affairs are now printed, not read before
the assembly of the people and submitted to their judgment. There
is no discussion in the presence of the legal voters of the interests
of the public. And the caucuses " cut and dry " the measures to
be adopted and select the men to be chosen to office, while the town
meetings only ratify what has been determined on elsewhere. The
restoration of the town meeting to its primitive place and power,
and its extension to all the states of the Union, would be a most
beneficial agency in the progress of America. All hail the town
meeting !

TOWN OFKIOEKS.

The following are the principal town officers from the date of

the charter of the town in ITfi-i to \7~o, when, the records having

been burned, the list is not available :

1765 — Moderator: James Brown. Town Clerk : John Burton, Jr.
Selectmen : Ephraim Butterfield, John Dale, John Bur-
ton, Jr. Treasurer : Abiel Abbot.

1766 — Moderator: Ephraim Butterfield. Town Clerk: John
Burton, Jr. Selectmen : Ephraim Butterfield, Nathan
Ballard, *Philip Putnam, Abuer Stiles, Abiel Abbot.
Treasurer : Jonathan Cram.

Philip Putnam refused to serve as selectman, and Amos Holt was chosen iu his phice.

48 HISTORY OF WILTON.

17G7 — Moderator: James Brown. Town Clerk : John Burton, Jr.

Selectmen : Abiel Abbot, A]»uer Stiles, Philip Putnam,

Joseph Buttertleld. Treasurer : Jonathan Cram,
17(58 — :Moderator : Ephraim Butterfield. Town Clerk : John Bur-
ton. Jr. Selectmen: James Dascomb, Joseph Butterfield,

Abiel Abbot, Philip Putnam, James Maxwell. Treasurer :

Jonathan Cram.
1769 — Moderator: James Brown. Town Clerk : John Burton, Jr.

Selectmen: John Burton, Jr., James Dascomb, Jacob

Abbot. Treasurer : Jonathan Cram.
1770 — Moderator: Richard Taylor. Town Clerk: John Burton,

Jr. Selectmen : .Jonathan Burton, Joseph Butterfield,

.Joseph Holt.
1771 — Moderator: Richard Taylor, Town Clerk: John Burton,

Jr. Selectmen: Richard Taylor, Abiel Abbot, John

Burton, Jr.
1772 — Moderator: Richard Taylor. Town Clerk: John Burton.

Jr. Selectmen : Jacob Abbot, Abner Stiles, Jonathan

]Martin.
177o — Moderator: Jonathan Burton. Town Clerk : John Burton,

Jr. Selectmen : William Al)I)ot, Jonathan Burton, Joseph

Butterfield.
1774 — Moderator: Joseph Holt. Town Clerk: .John Burton, Jr.

Selectmen : -Joseph Holt, William Abbot, Jacob Adams.
1 77.) — Moderator : Joseph Holt. Town Clerk : Jacob Abbot.

Selectmen : Abiel Abbot, I'hilip Putnam, Nathan Ballard.

I'ETITIOX FOi; roWN KKI'KKSENTATION.

To the Hoiiornhh; Council iC JloKse nf ll('iiri;sinit(itivcs in (rrncral Court
Assembled —

The Petition of the Freeholders t't otlier Tiih;il)it;iuts of the Towns
of Lyndeborough it Wilton, Humbly Sheweth That Wilton, Lyndboroiigh,
the one Mile Slip & Duxbiuy School Farm, by the Convention of this
State, in tlie 1775. were annexed to make one representation. — That
sensible of the Ini))ortanee of the General Cause, in whieli we are engaged,
we have liitherto. patienly Sul)mited to the Disadvantages of an In-
adequate Eepresentation, rather than Interupt the Honoral)le Court 1)y
I'etitioning foi' a K<'dress — But hoping you may liave a leisiur Moment,
that 3'ou maj' improve in attending to our situation — \Ve beg leave to lay
before your Honors the following facts — Tliat in AViltoii, there are
154 Rateable Polls. In Lyndsborough bso. nnd in the one >[ile Slip and
Duxbury School Farm lil. all which make ;^53 — Tliat from tlie Xorth west

TOWN KEPKESENTATION.

4!l

|i;irl of I,yiKlsl)()r()u<>ii. to tlic South side of the one Alilc Slip, (followiiii;
I lie most I'uhlifk IJoad). is iihout 1!) Miles, aud that to evi'iy 1()U()£, Paid
by tins State the atorc«ii Places Pay 17£., 3 .. 11 . 3, — And that when the
Ifepresentative is Chosen in one of the Towns, it is Inii)OS.sible for th<'
other Town to Vote with propriety in the Choiee, Heino; iijnoi'ant of
the al)ilities of the Inhabitants of s'' Town — add to this, their Ignorance
of the Proceedings of the Geneal Court, and consecpiently of their
Political duty. 'I'herefore your Petitioners Humbly Supplicate your
Honors t(t grant to T.yndsborough and Wilton, the Priviledge of a Seperalc
liei)i-esentation — And your Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever pray.

Dated at AVilton Octo'" .")"' 17S0

Jacob ^Vbb(jt
Ebeu'' Poekwood
AVilliam Al)bot Jr
Daviil Badger \
r.evi Spalding
William Barron )

/ ( onnnit tei'
i for Wilton

lor

< 'oMUnittee
l>yndsbor(>ugh

.SKLKCTMEX <>!• Till. TOWN OF WILTON SINCE ITS INOOIirolJATION IN

1702.

.lames Bi-own. 17(I2, (58 ...... .

.Jolui Dale. 17(il', (*4. (Jo

John < 'ram. 17(i2 ........

Ebenezer Perry, 171);:!

.lacol) Putnam. 17(1;! • .

Kldiraim Huttertielil. 17(i4-(;(;

John Burton, Jr.. 17(i-f, (15, (i7, (JO, 71 .

Nathan Ballard. 17(1(1. 7.-)

Amos Holt, 17(i(5

Abiel Abbot, 17(i(i-(jS. 71. 7."). S2, <S;J, !)2-!)r)

Philip Putnam, 17()7, G8, 75

Josepli Butterfield. 1767, (iS. 70, 78

James Dascomb, 17()S, 61), 81 .

Abner Stiles, 17(>6, 67, 72

James Maxwell, 17()8 ..."...
In the years 1760, 07. (j8 there were five selectmen elected.

Jacob Abbot. 176!), 72

Jonathan Burton. 1770, 7:!. 77. 7'.), Sii. S,!, S(i-!)(). !);{-!).")
Joseph Holt. 1770, 74, 77 ......

Uichartl Taylor. 1771. 70

Jonathan Martin. 1772, SO

William Abbot, Jr., 1778. 74, 78. 80, 84-00

Jacob Adams, 1774, 7() ...... .

Simon Keyes, 1770 . . . .

John Dale, Jr., 1777, 84, 8")

Samuel Greele, 1778

Years of
Service:

8
1
1
1
8
5
2
1
11

•>
f>

4
8
3
1

2
14
8
2
2

11
2

1
8
1

HISTORY OF WILTON.

SKLECTMKN OK TIIK TOWN OK WILTON. — C(tNTINrEr).

Joshua Blauchard, 177S .

Mosesi Putnam. 1770. '.)l-!);{ .

Arelialaus Batrhcldcr, ]77!J

Richard Whitney, 1780

Jeremiah Al)1)ot, 17SI

Abraham Burton. 1781-S3. !)4. !J.i

Josepli Abbot, Ji., 17S4, 85 .

Samuel Lovejoy, 178G ....

Daniel liOvejoy, 1787 . ...

Samuel Greele, Jr., 1788, 8!i. IH) .

Jonathan Livermore, 1791

Barachias Abbot, 17i)l. ii-2 .

AbieMVil.<on. 17!)<;-18]2, 15 .

Joseph Holt, Jr., 17!)G— 1808. 15

Eliphalet Putnam. 1700-1805 .

AVilliam Pettengill, 180G-1S08 .

Isaae Spalding, 1800

Eiehaid 'l\ Buss, 1800 ....

Lewis Smith, 1810, 11, 13, 14, 27 .

Ephraim Peal)ody. 1810-15

Ezra Abbot. 1812, IG, 17 .

Jonathan Burton, Jr., 1813. 14. l(i-24, 2

John Mack, 181G-22

John Stevens, 1818-23

Oliver Whiting, 1823-2G. 28 .

Asa Stiles, 1823

Jonathan Parkhurst. 1824. 2G, 27. 20, 33

Amos Holt, Jr., 1825 ....

Timothy Abbot. 1827

Abram Whittemore, 1828, 40. 41

Joel Abbot, 1820-31 .

Oliver Perham, 1829-31

Daniel Batclielder. 1830-3G .

Timothy Gray, 1832 ....

Oliver Barrett, 1833-38, 43-46. 56 .

Joseph B. Howard, 1835-37

Moses Lovejoy, Jr.. 1837-30. 40. 43-4G

Asa Stiles, Jr., 1838. 30 . . .

Sewall Putnam, 1840. 42-45. 47. 40, 50, 55

Jabez Goldsmith. 1841

Hermon Pettengill, 1841. 42 .

David Cram, 1847-50 ....

Mark X. Spalding, 1848 ....

Samuel Slielden, 1840, 50 .

Isaac Abbot, 1851

5. 26.

28. 3

2. 30

34, 42-48,

1-54

Years of
Service:

4
1
1
1
5
2
1
1
3
1
2

G
5
1

. ]4
1
1
3
3
3
7
1

. 11
3
8
2

9
1
2
4
1
2
1

SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN.

si;i.i:(T:Mr.x of riiK town oi wiltox. — coxtini kd.

Han-is Al)l)(>t. IS.")!

William Laiip, ISo-J

•Fost'ph Wilson. 1S52-54

Samuel X. ('enter, 1853, 71. 7iJ

Tlieron Kussoll, 1854, 55

Herv<'y Putnam, 1855 ...;...

Moses Clark, 185(;

Pieree Gage. 185(i

Lewis Howard, 1857-5!)

AVilliam Emerson, 1857, 58, 73

Nathan Flint. 1857

Hermon Abbot, 1858-(j-_'. 71

George Buss, 1859, 60

Calvin Ti. Dascomb, 1860

Harvey A. Whiting. lS(;]-65

Jacob Putnam. 18(!1, 63, 64 . . . .

John D. Wilson, 1862, 76

Samuel French, 1863, 64

Samuel Barrett. 1865. 66

Charles Hesselton. 1865-68, 70. 73

Artemas Putmini. 1866, 67

David A. Gregg, 1867, 68

Isaac K. Davis. 1868. 69

David Gregg, 1869 ■ .

George F. Holt, 1869

Joshua Rideout, 1870

Daniel Cragin, 1870-72, 74. 75

Levi A. Pierce, 1872

George S. Fowler, 1873-75

William D. Stearns, 1874-79

George H. Keyes. 1876. 78-81

George B. Preble, 1877, 82

John B. Hickey, 1877-79

John A. McGregor. 1880, 81 . . " .

Calvin H. Lewis, 1880-82

Charles E. Barrett, 1882, 83

Lewis ^V. Perham, 1883, 84, 87

William H. Barnes. 1883. 84

George A. Rideout, 1884-86

George I. Doe. 1885-87

Stephen H. Dunbar, 1886

George M. Hartsliorn, 1887

.STATE SKXATOK8 FROM WILTOX :

Timothy Abbot, 1846, Daniel Batchelder

Joseph Newell, 1865, '66, Charles H. Burns,

Years of

Service:

•

■

, 1849, "50.

1873, 78.

52 HISTORY OF WILTON.

RErUESENTATIVES IN THE I'KOVINCIAI. (OMiHKSS.

Jacob Abbot and Jonathan Martin were representatives in the
Provincial Congress in 1774.

REPRESENTATIVES IN THE OENEHAN ( OIRT.

In 1776 Wilton, Lyndeborough, Mile Slip and Diixbiiry Scliool
P^arni were classed together for representation. The petition for
separate representation is dated October a, 1780. During the six
years they were classed together they were represented by Jacol)
Abbot in 1775 ; in 177(3 and 1777 liy Francis Epps ; December 27.
1777, Abiel Abbot was elected, December 1(J, 1778, Captain
Nathaniel Batchelder was elected ; December 1."), 177I», Al)iel Abbot
was elected; June 13, 1781, William Abbot. Jr.. was elected.
From that time until 1801 William Abbot, Jr., Abiel Al)bot,
and Philip Putnam were the represeutatives, but of what particular
years we have no records to show. Pliilip Putnam was elected
in 1801, '0-i, '03, '04, '05; Abiel Wilson 180(;-1814, inclusive;
Ephraim Peabody, 1815, 'IG. Mr. Peabody died on July 5, bslti,
and Abiel Wilson was elected to serve at the November session, and
was re-elected in 1817, 1818 and 18] !i ; Jolui Stevens, 1820-1 8-i;i :
Samuel Abbot, 1824, '25, '27 and '2.s : Jonathan Burton, l.s2r,
a»id 182'.) : Joel Abbot, 1830, '31, '32 and '38 ; Daniel Batchelder,
1835, '3(5 and '37 ; Abram Whittemore, 1833, '34, '3!», '40 and '41 ;
Oliver Barrett, 1842, '43 and '50; Timothy Abbot, 1844; David
Cram, 1845, '46 and '47 ; Abiel Abbot, 184!) ; Jonathan Parkhurst,
1850 and '51; William Lane, 1852; 1853, voted not to send;
Elbridge F. Perkins, 1854; Warren Keyes, 1855; Benjamin Baker,
1856 and '57 ; George L. Dascombe, 1858 and '5I» ; Timothy
Parkhurst, 1860 and '62; William Barrett, 1861 ; Samuel Barrett,
1863 and '64 ; Harvey A. Whiting, 1865 and '(U) ; Jacob Putnam
and George O. Whiting, 1867 and '6S ; Joel Hesselton and Francis
Green, 1861) and '70; Emery P. Thayer and Levi A. Pierce, 1871
and "72 ; Oliver Clark and James L. Hardy, 1873 ; Oliver Clark and
David A. Gregg, 1874 ; David A. Gregg and Daniel Cragiii, 1.S75 :
Daniel Cragin and George S. Neville. 1876: David (rreoi>- and
David Whiting, 1877.

In 1878 the Constitution was amended, and the election of State
and County olHcers was made biennial. At the election in Novem-
ber, 1878, after balloting three times, voted to indefinitely postpone

GENERAL COURT REPRESENTATIVES. 53

the article. (Teorge H. Blood and David E. Proctor were elected
in l.sso ; James L. Hardy, l.s,S2 ; William U. Stearns, 1884 ; Josiah
Freeman, 188G.

AOTE.s FOR (JOVKRNOU, COMMKNCING 1H;V2.

IH.'rl — Noah Martin, 11!) : Thomas PI Sawyer, 70; JohnAtwood, 73.

1853— Noah Martin, 131 ; .lames Bell, 67; John H. White, 68.

18.j4— Nathaniel B. Baker, 126: James Bell, 66; Jared Perkins,
78 ; Scattering, 1.

185.")— Balph Metealf, 1,56; Nathaniel B. Baker, 121; Scatter-
ing, 14.

1856— Ralph Metealf, 152: John S. Wells, 157: Scattering 1.

1857 — William Haile. 174 ; John S. Wells, 153 : Scattering 1.

1858— William Ilaile, 170: Asa P. Cate, 15s.

1859— Ichabod Goodwin, 175: Asa P. Cate, 166.

l,S(i()— lehabod Goodwin, 182: Asa P. Gate, 172.

1861— Nathaniel S. Berry, 167: George Stark, 165.

1.S62 — Nathaniel S. Berry, l(i5 : George Stark, 157.

1863 — Joseph A. (iilmore, 144: Ira A. Eastman, 161; Walter
Harriman, 20.

1864 — Joseph A. Gilmore, 175: Edward W. Harrington, 177.

1865— Frederick Smyth, 1 «;« : Edward W. Harrington, 173.

1,S66 — Frederick Smyth, 174 : .fohn (i. Sinclair, 189.

1867— Walter Harriman, 171 : John (i. Sinclair, 202.

1868 — Walter Harriman, 1!»6 : John G. Sinclair, 253.

1.S61)— Onslow Stearns, 202; John Bedell, 235.

1870— Onslow Stearns, i;)!»; John Bedell, 200: Scattering, 2.

1.S71 — lames Pike, 196: .lames A. Weston. 249, elected by the
Legislatnre.

1872— Ezekiel A. Straw. 204 :. James A. Weston, 247: Scat-
tering, 2.

1.S73— Ezekiel A. Straw, 196: .lames A. Weston, 239; Scat-
tering, 5.

IS 74 — Tames A. Weston, 222 ; Lnther McCiitchins, 200 ; Scatter-
ing, 4.

1875— Person C. Cheney. 192: Hiram R. Roberts, 256; Scatter-

ing, ...

1876— Person C. Cheney, 201 ; Daniel Marcy, 245.
1877— Benjamin F. Prescott, 197; Daliiel Marcy, 229.
1878 — Benjamin F. Prescott, 184; Frank A. McKean, 247

54 HISTORY OF WILTON.

1880— Charles H. Bell, 204 ; Frank Jones, 240.
1882— Samuel W. Hale, 147 ; Martin V. B. Edgerly, 214.
1884— Moody Currier, 171 ; John M. Hill, 253 ; L. D. Mason, 4.
1886 — Charles H. Sawyer, 148 ; Thomas Cogswell, 245 ; Joseph
Wentworth, 1.
After the Constitution was amended, a law was passed that con-
stituted a Board of Supervisors for making and supervising tlie
check list. They are chosen at the November election.

SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS.

1878 — David Gregg, Joshua F. Frye, George W. Boynton.

1880 — Joslma F. Frye, Michael P. Stanton, George W . Boynton.

1882 — James Sheldon. .Fohn B. Hickey, Jacob Putnam.

1884 — John B. Hickey, Artemas O. Barker, Sumner Blanciiard.

CHAPTER VII.

:mannehs and idstoms.

A whole world of liabits and usages, once in active exercise in
New England rural life has passed away almost entirely, never to
return. Increased population, centering in larger villages and
cities, labor-saving niachiner3% increase of manufactures, the di-
vision of labor, change of occupations, rail-road, telegraphic and
telephonic intercourse, the influx of foreigners with different habits,
and the emigration of the native-born Yankee to the west and south,
have disintegrated and swept away the manners and customs of
lifty or a hundred years ago. The pioneer days and habits are gone.
Society has grown less neighborly, but more philanthropic. Asso-
ciation has taken the i)lace of individualisni. Man has lost some-
thing which mankind has gained. The huskings, quiltings, wood-
haulings, chopping-bees, sleigh-rides, hunting-matches, afternoon
tea-parties, raisings, house-warmings, — all have passed into historj'.
Instead, we have i)icnics, Sunday school and otherwise, sea-side,
mountain, and rail-road excursions, camping out for pleasure where
once it was extreme necessity, country weeks, granges, lodges,
summer boarding, the European or Pacific coast trip, church sup-
pers and sociables, fairs and expositions to the end of the chapter.
Men and women live less in private and more in public. Ever}'-
thing is interviewed, reported and published. The tierce light that
once beat upon thrones and palaces uow beats upon the cottage and
the cabin. All the world is knowing what every body is saying,
doing, and planning.

But before the memory of the olden times wholly perishes, it is
well to record the picture of what has already gathered somewhat
of the hoar of antiquity. The agfe of Puritanism is no more. The
nineteenth century, even, is almost closed. New leaves are turning
and new pages opening in life's great liook. The institution of

56 HISTORY OF AVILTON.

slavery is not the ouly one that has perished in America. Other
institutions and long-time customs, the growth of centuries, liave
yielded to modern innovation and are numbered with the past.
Ilium fiiit.

In this chapter the recollections of Mrs. Allan and Dr. Abbot
portray to the life the Puritan age of New P^ngland. P)Ut man}'
things liave escaped their recall.

The custom of l>oarding round was still in vogue vvhen I* kept tlie
district school two winters, in ni}' dear old native town of Wilton.
By this means the term of instruction was lengthened, and the fam-
ilies of the district, by their hospitalit}', gained a lietter acquaint-
ance with the teacher. In the evening the scholars could be aided
by the master in their lessons. The best the house afforded was set
before the school master, and it was well if he did not contract
dyspepsia l»y the pies and cakes and rich viands that were urged
upon his not reluctant appetite. But the custom of boarding round
is now no more, unless iu some of the remote districts.

In the early days when population was sparse, and the neighbors
few and far between, it was a necessity to reinforce the individual
strength by gathering numbers^ together on occasion and doing the
work of weeks and months in a single day. When, therefore, the
big heap of corn on the barn floor was to be husked, what so natural
as to turn the drudgery into a festival, call iu the ueighbors, make
a feast, have a good time, and do in one bright evening, with j^ouug
and old, and in brisk activity, and scarcely feeling the fatigue, what
would have otherwise dragged its slow length along for days and
days in solitary and uncheered task-work? So, too, with getting
up the year's wood-pile, many teams and many hands made quick
work of the formidable job, and then a bountiful supper, a hearty
expression of gratitude by the host, and a merry dispersion home-
wards, relieved the monotony of hum-drum existence and eased the
hai'd tasks of manual labor.

Especially was this the case with the more important events of
raising a house, barn, or church. The summons went forth far and
wide. Even neighboring towns sent their volunteers. The coun-
try side was astii- witli expectation. On the eventful day people
flocked in, in wagons, and on horse-back, men, women and children
from every converging road and forest path to the scene of interest.
Old friends met and renewed their ac(iuaintance, young lads and

* A. A. L.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. O (

lassies modestly looked at one another for the first time, and made
the measurement silently of character and worth. The business in
hand went rapidly forward. The master workman and his men
soon raised the timbers to their places and "brought forth the head-
stone thereof with shoutings."* The mighty roofs of the olden
tiftie, the huge beams, the king posts, the heavy sills and spars, re-
quired altogether different management from the umbrella-like
frames of modern fashion. Tlie tirst-growth timber was solid and
gigantic, and the buildings were made to stand for generations. It
demanded the co-oyeratiou of a large number of men to raise a
house, ])aru, or church.

And in doors, as well as out, the same custom of union in work.
and of converting toil into festivity was adopted by tlie Puritan
daughters. Tlie sewiug-bee and the (juilting-party were fashiona-
ble. Every household at some time assembled the neighbors, and
devoted the afternoon to these useful works, and called in their hus-
bands and brothers to a social tea and a merry evening. Many of
the ancient houses have heirlooms of the past in the quilts, counter-
panes, and homespun carpets wrought in these industrious merry-
makings.

So simple, yet so graphic, a picture of the New England manners
and customs of the earlier times is given l)y one of the honored sons
of Wilton, Dr. Abiel Abbot, that we quote- it entire. It is con-
tained in tlie appendix to the Wilton Centennial Address :

"1 will say a word about Sunday of olden times. On Saturday
evening the work of the week was finished. My father, after wash-
ing and putting on a skillet of water, would get his razor and soap,
sit down by the fire and take off' his beard ; after which he would
take his Bible, or sometimes some other book. My mother aftei'
washing the potatoes, etc., and preparing for Sunday food, used to
make hasty-pudding for supper, wliich was eaten in milk, or, if that
was wanting, with butter and molasses. The little children were
put to bed ; early in the evening my father read a chapter in the
Bible and offered a prayer, soon after which, the younger part of
the family and the hired help went to bed ; indeed the family went
to rest every night soon after supper, especially in the summer.
Saturday night, and Sunday, and Sunday night a perfect stillness —
no play going on. no laughing. Those of us who were old enough

* Zcchariiili IV. 7.

58 HISTORY OF WILTON.

took the Testament, or learned tlie Catechism or a hymn ; ami read
in the Testament oi- Primer to father or mother, in the morning.
For Itreakfast, when we had sntHcient milk, we had bread and milk :
when this failed, bean and corn porridge was the sul)stitnte. Some-
time after the Revolntionary war, for Snnday morning tea and toast
were often nsed. As we lived at a distance from meeting (nearly
three miles) , those who walked set ont pretty soon after nine o'clock,
and those who rode on horseback were obliged to start soon after
them ; the roads and pole bridges were very bad, and the horses
always carried doul)le. and often a child in the mother's lap, and
sometimes another on the pommel of the saddle before the father.
All went to meeting, except some one to keep tlie house and take
care of the children who could not go to cluu<'h or take care of
themselves at home, 'i'he one that .staid at home was instructe<l
when to put the pudding, pork and vegetables into the pot for sup-
per after meeting. Those who w^ent to meeting used to [)ut into
their pockets for dinner some short-cake or doughnuts and cheese.
We used to get home from meeting at four o'clock, often much
later. Immediately the women set the talde. and the men took care
of the horses, and in the winter, of the cattle, sheep, pigs, etc. In
the short days it would often be sundown before, or very soon after,
we got home. The sled with oxen was often used for meeting
when the snow was deep, or l)y those who did not keep a horse.
After supi^er the children and younger part of the family were called
together and read in the Testament and Primer, and if there was
time, said their Catechism (tiie Assembly's) and some short hymns
and prayers. Soon after this, in the summer, before my father read
in the Bible and offered prayer, the cows were brought from the
pasture aud milked. No work was performed except what was
absolutely necessary ; the dishes for breakfast and supper were left
unwashed till IMonday. Every person in the town able to go to
meeting went ; if any were absent, it was noticed, and it was sup-
posed that sickness was tiie reason. If anyone was absent three or
four Sundays, the tything-man would make him a visit ; this, how-
ever, was a rare case. The Sabbath was not unpleasant to me ;
early habit, I suppose, rendered the restraint l)y no mean sirksome.
1 do not recall feeling gloomy, or disposed to play, or wishing Sun-
daj' was gone or would not come. I do not think of anything more
to say al)out Sunday, except that the meeting-house was well lilled.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 59

"Now what more' shall I say? A word about schools. These
were poor enough. We used to read, spell, write and cipher after a
sort. Our teachers were uot taught. The Primer, Dilworth's spel-
ling book, and the Bible or Testament were the books. No arith-
metic ; the ciphering was from the master's manuscript. My fa-
ther became sensible tliat the schools were useless, and in the win-
ter of 17-S2 hired Mr. John Abbot, who was tlien a sophomore in
college, to teacli a month or five weeks in his vacation, and invited
the district to send their children gratis. This gave a new com-
plexion to the school in the south district ; and for a numl)er of
years after, qualified teachers were employed about eight weeks in
tlie winter, usually scholars from college. Soon after the improve-
ment in the south disti'ict, some of the other districts followed in
the same course. To this impulse, I think, we may impute the ad-
vance of Wilton before the neighboring towns in education, good
morals and sound theology. 1 venerate my fatlier and mother,
more for their anxiety and sacrifices to give their children the best
education, literary and religious, in their power, than for anything
else. And it gives me, as 1 have no doubt it did them, and nuist
you and all the rest of their descendants, the highest satisfaction tluit
their desires were so well gratified, and their labors successful..
Their children, grand-children, and so on to the twentieth genera-
tion will luive reason to bless the memory of parents of such true
worth.

"Now for something else. For breakfast in olden times were
bread and milk, as soon as the cows were milked, for all the family.
When milk failed, bean porridge with corn. About nine o'clock
there was a "baiting" or luuclieon of bread and cheese, or fried
pork and potatoes. For dinner a good Indian pudding, often in it
blueberries and suet ; i)orlv and l)eef through the winter and spring ;
potatoes, turnip and cabbage, etc." At four or five o'clock p. m.,
in the summer some ))read and cheese or the like. For supper
bread and milk. When milk failed, milk porridge, hasty pudding
and molasses, bread and molasses, bread and beer, etc. ^Vhen
there was company to entertain, chocolate for breakfast ; no coffee.
" Pewter basins or porringers and sometimes wooden bowls Avere
used when spoons were required ; trenchers or wooden plates were
used at dinner ; when a friend dined, pewter plates were used by
father and mother and the friend. You probably rememl)er the
pewter platters and plates usually standing on the shelves. None

TiO HISTORY OF WILTON.

but pewter spoons. 'J'lie cup for beer was pewter. After which
dime the brown mug. If a neighl)or came in for any purpose, he
was aslced to drink beer or cider. Wheu women visited tlieir neigh-
bors, they went early in the afternoon, carried their work, and re-
turned home before sundown to take care of milking the cows, and
so forth. Their entertainment was commonly shortcake baked by
the tire, and tea, except in the earl}' part of the Revolutionary war.
For the visit they often put on a clean chequered apron and hand-
kerchief and short loose gown.

" In the winter several of the neighbors would meet for a social
evening, and would have a supper. There were no select parties :
all were neighbors in the Scripture sense. The maid and b»y in the
famil}', the same as the children in all respects. I do not recollect
ever hearing a profane word in ni}' father's famil}' from any of his
hired men, nor at scliool at "Wilton or Andover acadein}'. I do not
think that profane language was used by any in the town till after
the Revolutionary war. Industry and economy were the order of
the times. I do not I'emember seeing my father or mother angry :
they were sometimes displeased, no doubt. My father in the win-
ter used to go to Salem or Marblehead to market Avith shooks,
hogshead staves, rye, pork, butter, etc., and procure salt, molasses,
tea, rum, etc., for the year, as there were no traders in the new
town. Rum was not used except in haying and harvest, and on
particular occasions of hard service and exposure, such as washing
sheep, burning large pieces of woodland, etc. Intoxication was
very rare ; I do not remember more than one man being intoxicat-
ed. Rum was commonly used at raising buildings ; half a gill was
a good dram. After raising a building, if finished before night, the
amusements were wrestling, goal, quoits, etc. (Joal was the favor-
ite play with boys' the day after Thanksgiving, and election days,
which were all the holidays I remember. (Jood humor and cheer-
fulness always prevailed in our family, niid it was generally so, I
believe."

• Speaking of the mothers, the same writer as above says : •' They
came to houses not tinished, not painted, not ceiled, as we see
them now ; they had no parlor, no carpets, no curtains, no sofa ;
for some of these every-day conveniences they had no word in tlieii'
vocabulary. But they were happy, — happiness is the property of
mind. They took good care of the household. They wrouglit llax
and wool ; the card, the spinning-wheel and the loom were tlie fur-

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 61

nitnrc of the house. All were clothed with domestic products ;
articles were also made for the market. They were healthy and
strong : they and theii- daughters were not enfeebled by luxuries
and delicacies, nor with working muslins and embroidery ; tea and
cake were rarely used ; coffee was unknown. Their dress was
plain, and adapted to the season and their business ; one dress
answered for the day and the week. Their living and dress pro-
duced no consumption as now.

'' Our fathers and mothers were benevolent, hospitaljle and kind ;
the stranger was received, as in the most ancient time, with a hearty
welcome. In their own neighborhood and town, they were all
brothers and sisters. I'here was an admirable equality, a home-
feeling and a heart-feeling amonu' all. Their visits were not form-
al, ceremonious and heartless, l)ut frank, cheerful and cordial.
Their sympathy for the sick, unfortunate and distressed was ex-
pressed by theii- ready assistance and kindly aft'ectioned help.
When i)rosperous all partook in the common joy ; when sickness or
calamity befell any, all werie affected, the sorrow was mutual, and
aid and relief, as far as possible, were afforded. They Avere indeed
one family — all members of one sympathizing body. "

The following reminiscences are by the late Mrs. Achsah (Saw-
yer) Allan of Marion, Maine: "I received a postal from AVilton
saying, if sufficient encouragement is given it is proposed to publish
a history of Wilton. It would ])e very pleasing to me to read the
history. Had I the pen of a ready writer in my advanced age, 1
should enjoy giving to the history early recollections of my life in
that town. The little I can give in my capacity is meagre compared
with able writers, and what I write may be written by others, that
will give clearer views in a more concise manner, yet 1 will try to
state some of my early recollections from a child to twenty years of
age, when I left for one of the eastern counties of Maine.

" My father, Nathaniel Sawyer, a Revolutionary soldier of three
years, married, came to AVilton in 1781, commenced on the farm
now owned by Henry Gray. He toiled eighteen years on his farm.
Hon. Jacob Abbot traded in the town, when my father moved there.
He kept a full supply of goods for a country town. He was a man
of unblemished character, ever ready for every good work. AVhen
lie left the town it was considered a great loss to the people. The
name he generally went by was ' Esquire Jacob,' which I heard
from my parents. He closed his business about 1797. My father

.«. d

1 5

1 11

3 9

2 f)

3 (5

62 HISTORY OF WILTON.

began business in his stead, as a store was very much needed. He
built the store which, I presume, stands close to the dwelling house
of Mr. Gray, and about 17!M> or 17!) 7 he tilled it. The old books
which I have in my possession show that his trade was good. I
see many names of persons from all the surrounding or adjoining
towns who traded at his store, or rather exchanged produce for
goods, such as butter, cheese, pork, beans, rye, oats, flax-seed,
ashes, etc. Here is a small sample of a bill I took off, of charges,
etc., dated February, 1803 :

Debtor to Xathaniel Sawyer.

Fi'li. .'!. 1 lb sugar Is; 1 luun' ot toddy Is.

(). 1 (|t new rum

K). ipt brandy; 1 nnig rtij)

13. credit to 2.^ bushels of ashes at !»d.

14. 2 qts ol new rum 2s. '.)d. : 1 jjt. molasses Is.
20. 2 yds calico (>s. ; 1 fur hat
23. 1 qt gin 2s. 6d. ; 1 lb. Shells Is.

Credit by 27 bushels of oats at Is. fid. per bushel. 2 liushels of beans.

" Federal money had not taken the place of pounds, shillings and
pence, but came into use soon after.

" It was common to go to the store with small articles of produce
to exchange for goods. It was often a little stimulant would be
called for, with the mistaken idea that it would lighten the cares,
and labor would be more easily borne. Very few accounts were en-
tered without many charges of the vile beverage. The mug held a
quart; the half-mug, a pint. In winter flip was commonly called
for, which was made from beer. An iron called the ' hottle ' was
kept hanging in the fire-place to have it quickly heated to warm the
beer. "West India rum with loaf sugar, a toasted cracker, and nut-
meg grated over it, made a drink worth tlie price. ' Toddy' was a
mixture of rum, sugar and water, with other fixings if required.
' Blackstrap " was simply rum and molasses. Spirituous liquors
were ancientl}' much used in good families. No collection of peo-
ple, no parties, no benefits to a neighbor such as huskings, etc.,
Avere held but something stronger must be served than the precious
ale which was drawn from the well. Who would have thought of
holding a glass of pure cold water to the lips of a poor sick child or
friend sick with a fever? No cooking stoves were used before 1815,
in the families, but fire-places were large enough to admit a large
log at the back with another not so large on the andiron in front,
with a good supply of wood on the top. These made a fire that

MANNEK8 AND CUSTOMS. 6o

was a joy to all the family, and often a pine knot would be an addi-
tion to make a little more light for the children to study their lessons
by, for the morrow's school. Our brooms were made from the yel-
low birch, stripped ; at times we had to use small hemlock twigs.

" The schools were well attended, considering the distance to
walk. There was some very cold weather, which made cold hands
and feet, to say little of ears and noses. Such an article as a ther-
mometer was not known to us children. No doubt we had zero
weather with quite a number of degrees below. Children were not
provided with the warm clothing that they are blest with now-a-
days, yet they were punctual at school.

" Teachers many times boarded in different families, to lengthen
the school. The summer schools passed oft' with little variation ;
sewing was taught with reading and spelling. The lesson was
learned from Perry's spelling book ; this was the guiding star from
1807 to 1812.

' ' The larger scholars in the winter schools required help fi'om the
teachers more than the small ones ; they had to be a grade by them-
selves. The school-house that was built near the old meeting-house
is nearly ninety years old. 1 attended school in it seventy-eight
years ago. The district was large then.

"In 181 () a school-house was built on the extreme west part of
Mr, Oilman Mansur's field, on the north side of the road ; since
then a new house has Iteen built about a half a mile toward the
French village. Such a thing as bringing a pail of water into ;i
school-room would have been thought out of order. How many
times the scholars had to run to the well which belonged to the
house, later owned by Dr. Parkhurst ; how sweet the water would
taste from the ' moss-covered bucket ' that hung to the sweep,
ready to drop into the well. We could rest it on the curb and slake
our thirst. A dish or tumbler was not provided in those days.

" The old meeting-house on the common! how many have wor-
shipped in it. I can see them now in imagination almost eighty
years ago.

" I can hear the voices of IMr. Joshua Blanchard, Dea. John Bur-
ton, Mr. Jeremiah Abbot ; what alto sounds Mr. Blanchard and Mr.
Abbot produced. Deacon Burton had a strong tenor voice, and the
pastor. Rev. Thomas Beede, was one that could perform his part
well.

64 HISTORY OF WILTON.

" The old meeting-house where our fathers worshipped, how sad
that it was destroyed l)_y ruthless hands I How many times I have
sat, when quite a child, looking at the golden dove, wondering slie
did not fly and find some other resting place than on the sounding-
l)oard.

" Many times I sat with cold hands and feet, Avishing the long
sermons would end. The foot-stove would be passed from one to
another, to keep the feet comfortable ; yet the pews were very well
filled, very few staid from church in those days. A warmer meet-
ing-house was not conceived of then. The town was mostly settled
by farmers. Every family manufactured their own cloth ; they
could raise the wool, and the female part of the family c(juld card,
spin and weave it. It was very hard work for the shoulders to draAv
the wool through the cards, and not unfrequently there would be
parties anioug the young people to help each other in breaking wool,
which was considered half carded, when they had finished their aft-
ernoon work.

" Then Uncle Nathan Martin would find his way to the house.
Though blind he could fiddle. Very few in those days Init could
trip 'the light fantastic toe' if accompanied by Uncle Nathan's
violin .

" Every day's wear was of home manufacture. vSuch articles of
comfort as undershirts, drawers, and even lined pants I never heard
mentioned before 1812. The first carding machine near Wilton
was in New Ipswich, not earlier than 18U8. AVool was carried
there to be carded. Flax was raised by the majority of farm6rs.
Summer clothing was mostly made from flax antl cotton.

" Anciently I never heard of any dissension of religious opinions
until 1808. The first minister of the town asked his dismission.
Why, I never heard, but I always heard him spoken of as a truly
good man. He never wasted words ; whatever he said he meant.
He was once conversing with a friend about the cost of a liberal ed-
ucation. Said he, ' Had 1 known that my son, whom I have edu-
cated, would have chosen a legal profession, I never should have
expended so nuich for him. ' His friend made answer to him, ' It
is possible for lawyers to l)e Christians. ' ' 1 believe it, ' said he,
' but it is very rare.'

" His death was very sudden. Soon after lie had retired one
night something unusual appeared in his breathing. His wife spoke

■z

I'J

(.)

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 65

to him, lie made no answer ; she went for a light, and vvlien she re-
turned life liad departed. lie was the first person buried in tlie
South cemetery.

Rev. Abel Fisk was the next uiinister. I think he was very nmch
Iteloved by the people and they felt liis loss. Rev. Thomas Beede
was the next ordained mi)iister. Some of the people were so
pleased that they expressed themselves as liavin<i' their loss more
tlian made up to them. ]Mr. Beede was a gentleman who could win
the youth by his teachings in school, and out of school, his kindness
in various wa3's, his judicious advice in little difficulties, his readi-
ness to render assistance to tiie needy, which if it could not always
be in deeds was always in words of encouragement which ha<l the
effect to do good. How many have been blest in their education
by his efforts, not only for minor schools, but many for their col-
legiate course. The few advantages with which 1 was blessed I
owe to Mr. and INlrs. Beede. He was my first teacher and my last,
in school.

"Mrs. Beede was a lady with wliom one could not get acquaint-
ed witliout loving her as a friend. In everything good she was ever
active ; in disappointments or crosses she ever gave advice cliarita-
bly. In bSll Mr. lieede invited all the children who would like to
learn to sing to meet at the school-house near the meeting-house;
and he would instruct them. At the day appointed there was a
great turnout. The school was (piite a success, there were some
most excellent voices. It did not take long to learn tlie rides for
.vocal nuisic in those days; tlie rising and falling of the notes were
soon accomplished. The first tune practised was • Little Marlbor-
ough,' the second was 'Plymouth.' ^Vhen we could call the notes
to those tunes, we imagined ourselves quite singers, with the praise
of our instructor. Very few of that school are left to remember it
now. In the ministry of Mr. Fisk they had what is termed congre-
gational singing. They sang from David's Psalms. The Deacon
would read a line, commence the tune, all the people would follow
him, then another line, and they would finish the psalm in that. way.
At last the younger singers wished to improve, and a JNIr. Herrick
was hired to teach. He had three sessions a day, the tunes were
lively and they had a great interest in them. After a while they
had a desire for instrumental nnisic with the singing. This was
most bitterly opposed by a number of men advanced in years.
Tliey would leave the church e^'ery time singing commenced. Theii-

66 HISTORY OF WILTON.

prejudice Avas SO stroug against it tliey would not stop to hear it.
One said he did not wish to hear the devil's Hddle ( bass-viol) played
on at au}' place. He could not l)ear to hear it in cluu'cli. Another
did not like tiie devil's baboon (bassoon). At last one of these
men joined the Baptist church in Mason ; it was some years before
the Baptist church was organized in AVilton.

"There was one veteran wlio was very Jinicli prejudiced against
a certain minister who exchanged with Mr. Beede. The old gentle-
man did not mind him when he seated himself in tlie body seats.
He started for the door, as soon as he found who was to pi'each.
As he passed to the door, a man said to liim. • Stay and hear the
rest.' He replied, ' The de'il a bit of it, I have heard enough of it
already.' "

CHAPTf:R VIII.

roi.OMAr. i)<»iN(;s — thk ( hakteh — a provincial tax-avaukant — k.\-

TKACTS Fh'OM TOAVX ItECOIJDS.

Tlie cliurler of the 'J'uwii of \\ iltou was? renewed .I:ui. 2, 1 7»)."t.
aud was a copy of the charter dated June 2."), 1 7(;2 (heretofore
given under the head of " Proprietary History ") , as far as to and in-
cluding tlie words, ''and transact such affairs as in the said laws
are declared." The remainder (^f tlie charter is as follows :

The iuiiiiuil incclinii- ill saidtnwii. slinll he licld loi- llic choice nl said
ofticers ;iiid the ]Mir|K)scs aforesaid on liie second ]\londay in Marcli an-
nually.

Tn testimony wliereol' we lja\c caused ilie seal of oiir said I'roxince to
he iKM'eunto atHxed. Witness Benninji' Wentworth Ks(|. oiir (io\enor ;uid
("onunaiKler in Chier of our said Province the second day ()f .laruiarv in
the fifth year of our Peign. and hi the j-ear of our Lord Christ one thou-
sand seven hundred sixty-five.
By his Excelleucys Comniaud with advice of Council

B. "Wentworth.
T. Atkinson Juu. Clerk.

Provhice of Xew Hampshire.
May 24'h. 17fi.">. Recorded in the Book of Charters Page 279 it 280.

PROVIXCIAL tax warrant.

The following seems to be the first provincial tax warrant to be
found in the town records :

^ Ls \ Fruvince vf |^ To the Stlt'Ctnu-n of Wilton in the I'rovincc of

^ ^_ ' JVew Hampshire. \ Xeiv Hampshire for the cnrrent year. 1765.

Pursuent to acts of the general Assembly of said Province, for the as-
sessing, levying and collocting tlie taxes granted to his most Kxcelletit
Majesty within said Province and for the Apportioning and Payment
thereof into the 'I'reasnry of said l'ro\ince;

You are therefore in his .Majesty's name herhy recjuiied lo assess the
Polls & Estates within said \Vilton liable by law to lie taxed, tbe particn-

68 HISTORY OF WILTON.

I;ir sums ill J^ills of ('I'cdil ol said I'rux'incc t'v: in I'lDclaiiialiim mniicy ;is
hci-eiu prcscrilicdc'i pay tiic sainc into tlir Treasury of said J'rovinci' or
cause tile same to t)e paid liy the twenty titTli day of r)eeeiii1)er next eiisu-
iiiii' tile date hereof, namely the sum of sev(Mi I'ouiids ten Shilliua's in \e\\
tenor hills ol Credit of said i'loviiice. ^dll sliall diri'et the ( oiistahle or
( 'olleetor of said Wilton who shall liaxc said sums or any part thereof to
eollect to reeei\c of llie I ulia hit ants of said U'iltoii. if said Inhahitanis see
fit, their res|)ect ive asisessmeiits of said sum. in said Bills (»f (redit ae-
cordiiiu' to their se\eral Denominations, or in coined Sihcr at Six Shil-
linji's i<: eiji'ht iience ])r ounce. Troy weio'lit of Sterling .illoy or in coind
(iold al four Pounds lOighteen Shilliiiiis ])r. ounce or in the following
commodities heing" merchantahle and i>\' the j)roduce or manufacture of
said Province, viz: JJar Iron at five Pounds pr hundred AVeight, Ilem]) al
tliree Shillings j)r Pound, Indian corn at ten Shillings pr. Busliid. Kye al
ten Shillings pi- Bushel. Peas at one ])Ound pr Bushel. Winter wheat at
one Pound five Shillings pr IJushel. Barley at ten Shillings ]ir Itiishel.
Pork at one Shilling )ir ])ouiid. Jie<'f at nine Jience pr jiouiid. l''lax at three
Sliillings ])]• i)ound. Bees wax at five Shillings [ir pound. Bay herry wax
at three Shillings six jieiK-e [ir pound. \\ inter and Spj'ing Cod Fish at four
Pounds pr (j|uiiital. i'itcli at three Pounds ten Shillings pr Barr(d. Tar at
two Pounds iir liarnd. Turpentine at four Pounds pr. Barnd. well tanned
Sole leather at four Shillings pr Pound. Tallow at two Shillings ])r Pound.
White jiine .loyst at four Pounds ])r thousand fe<'t. White ]iiiie lioards at
five I'ounds pr. thousanil feet, ^^■llite Oak t w o inch Plank at twenty ti\c
Pounds pr thousand feet.

And you shall also assess the l'oll< and Kstates aforesaid the sum of thir-
teen Pounds two Shillings and nine pence in N'ew tenor hills of Credit of
said Province and pay or cause the same to he |>aid in said Treasury by
the twentyfiftli day of December afor(>said.

Vou shall also assess the Polls and Estates aforesaid the sum of three
Pound seven Shillings and six pence Pro( lamation Money and pay or
cause the same to he paid into the Treasury of said Proviiu'c hy the twen-
ty fifth day of December aforesaid.

You are also hereby recpiired that some time Ixdore the twentyfiftli day
of December aforesaid, to send tlie Treasurer of said Province the name
or names of tlie Constable or Constables, Collector or Collectors, who
have the said tax or any part thereof committed to him or them to collect,
the sum each was to collect, tlie date of the warrant given him for that
purpose and the time he was ordered to pay the same into the Treasury.
Dated at Portsmouth in said Province the twentyfourth day of July in
the fifth year of the IJeigu of his Majesty George the third, over (ireal
Britian. France & Irehind King &c Aunoque Dom. 1765.

Geo: .Tafirey. Tn-as''

KXTKACTS 1"'K0:M MIK TOWN HECOHUS.

17fio. Sept. 17. Voted, to raise three pounds twelve shillings Sterling

money for procuring the new Charter.

TOWN RECORDS. 69

1705. Sp])t. 17. Voted, to raise three pounds te.n sliillino's Sterling- money

tor furnishing tlie meeting house.

Oet. 7"' Voted^ to rai.-<e thirteen I'ouiitls tiiree sliiUings anil eight

pem-e Sterling to ]).iy ihr coiuniittee for supporting

Preai'iiing before tlie town w as ineorjioialed.

17<)<'). Ajiril -t. Wilf'd, to raise f2S '.Is. siher old tenor tor .Ioiiath;iii

(ram foi' building Rieliai'd Strattou's liouse.
17(!7. ^laicli it"' Alowed 'I'imothy Dale foui- i'ounds ten Sliillings Silver
old tenor for I'lank tor coMTing the l>i'idg<' near
.laeoh l'utnam"s saw .Mill.
Sept. 7. Voted, to raise six ])()unds law tul moiii'V tor to supjtort a

sehool this ])r<'sent yt^ar.
Voted, the seleetmeu a eonnnittee to ]irovide said school.
^"oted. to raise £f! lawtul money tor tinishing the meet-
ing house in said tow n.
Voted, to raise f!) lawtul money toddray town charges.
17(jS. April 27"' The ."itli artii'h- negatix'e concerning raising money to
rebuild the ]iridge near (apt. Xatlian Hutchinson's

.Fune !)"' ]\'t.ed. to raise iJ'.i law tul money to reljuild the bridge

near ( aptaln Nathan lIutciiinson"s null, .-ind that eacli
jn'i'son should ha\i' the liberty to work out his rate to
the sum aforesaid.

I'o^ecZ, to raise £(! lawful money to lie laid out foi- a
si'liool tliis present year.
Nov. 4"' Voted, to raise six founds lawful money to ln' laid out

for ;i school this present year.

(hose .hu'ob Abbot Alexander Milliken and Philip Put-
nam a eonnnittee to ])ro\idea school tlie ])resent y<'ar.
1 7(ii). A])ril ."). Voted, to raise .">£ 12s. .^d. law ful money to defray town

charges.

Voted,., to raise £4 lawful money to support itichard
Stratton and wife.

Voted, to s(dl the schoid Right of land in said town.

< 'liose Abiel Abbot, .binatiian (ram and Alexaiulei'
^rilliken a conm,nttee to s(dl said sclnxd right.

Voted, to uphold saitl iMtunnittee In selling said school
right to \Uv highest bidder and in gi\'ing a good {\(^iH\
of till- same.
Oct. I'.l. Acci'iited the security taken by tlie committee for sell-

ing the school Pight. and the security to be lodged in
the hands of .\l)i(d Abliot and to remain tliere ti|l
further orders.

.\low(^d to the committee foi- sidling the school K'ight
of said to\\ 11 se\cnteeii shillings and six ))ence law ful
money,

Agreed on the se\eral pl.-ices for wliicli a sdiool ro be

70 HISTORY OF WILTON.

KXTh'ACrS KHOM THE TOWN' RECORDS. — < ON I IN f KD.

17051. Oft. UL kept this ycni- \\/.: Over the river :it tlie house of

XathMii Biiliiird jiiid over (Tiunbrel Brooke and at

Diivid Keiiuey's a?id at .Tolin Dales and near ye inid-

dk' of ye Town.

Voted, to raise six Pounds Ten slulliui>s and ei^'lit pence

for the sn])port of a seliool tliis present year.
( 'liose .lolm Stevens. Alexander ^Fillikin. .Tolni Dale and
I'iehard Taylor a connnittee to sc(^ said school money
schooled out proportionally.

1770. A})rilll. Votfrl. to raise eiiiiil pounds lawful money to defraj'

tow n charges.

April 2'). Voted, to raise £20 to rebuild the bridge over the river,
known l»y the name of Parker's bridge.

Sept. 28. Voted, to raise thirteen pounds lawful m()ney to rebuild

Parker's bridge so called.
The following bridges allowed to be maintained by the
toAvn : Parkers bridge, the bridge by Captain Nathan
JIntchinson's mill, the bridge over the river by Tiiuo-
fliy Dale's, the bridge to Lyndelxuough. the 1)ridge
by Jacob Putnanis saw mill. The bridge l)y David
Kenneys and the bridge over Gambrel brook.
Voted, to I'aise three j)Ounds seventeen shillings and ten
pence for building the l)ridge liy ('apt. [Intchinsou's
Mill.

Oct. 1^' Vntpd. to raise £C, lOs. Sd. to be laid out for the use of a

school the present year, (hose the selectmen a com-
mittee to provide the school.

1771. Sfpt. 25. Voted, to raise six Pounds ten shillings 8 pence to pro-

vide a school the i)resent year. Chose Jonathan Bur-
ton Jonathan Martin Tliomas Russell and William
Pierce a committee to provide said school.

1772. April 14. Voted, to raise £;^0 lawful money to rebuild and repair

the town bridges in said town.
Voted, that eacli person taxed to said l)ridges should

have tw() siiillings ])er day and eacii yoke of oxen

one shilling per day. •
loiec/, thateacli person should begin tiieir days work at

seven oclock in the forenoon.
Voted, to raise one hundred pounds lawl'ul money to 1)e

laid out in mak'ing and i-e)(airing the highway the

Iir(^s(Mit year.
Voted, to allow encli person taxed in t<iwn two shillings

ami eight pence, and each yoke of oxen one shilling

and four pence jier day. and each cart and each

jdougli eight pence per day.

TOWN RECORDS. 71

1772. Sept. 1"^' ]^(<tf(l. to build ;i iiipctiiiii hoiist' in tlie town of Wilton.

}'i>te(l. to build .saidlioiiso sixty feet loiiif. foi-ty tive feet
wide and 27 feet y^ posts.

VdtPfl. to set said liouse on tlie coiniiioii about five rods
iiortberly t'roiu wlierc llic ineetinii' lioiise now stands.
Oct. 5. V"i)tf-d. to I'aise £(! 10s. Sil. lawful money lo |)ro\'i(ie a

.soliool the present year.

Vntf'd. to raise one liundred and Mtly poinids lawful
money lo ])ro\ide materials to build a meeting; liouse
in said town and chose .John Burton. .Inn. Jonathan
Martin Josepli Kuttertield .John Stevens Abiel Al)bot
San)U(d l*etten,<iill and A liner Stiles a conuiiittee to
pi-o\ide Materials .-ind build said house.

]'(ded. tliat said coinnnttee sliall xcndue the timber,
boards shin<>"les and stones and othei' matei'ials to
build said meeting house, to the intent that every
person rated in said town may liaxc an (Mpial chance
to |)rovid<' said stutl' and that said comnnttee shall
i^i\(' notice of said \'endue at least scAen days before
said time (d Ncnduin^'.

1773. Ajiril "Jb. V<ii<'(L to i'aise fifty ])ounds lawful money for hiii'hways

the present y(^ai'.

Viit.i'd. to allow the sami' ])r. day for men. oxen. plo\\
and cart as the year licd'ore.

]'iitcd. to build a pound in said town to be thirty feet
sipiare within the walls, the wall six feet hi^^'ii 4 feet
thick at the bottom. 1-foot at th<' toj) and a h(^w«^d
stick of timber s in. scjuare on lop.

ViAed, to raise six pounds law ful money to build said
Pound.

Vuted^ to build a porch on tlie front side of the iiKMHint;-
house.

Voted, to ]U()\id<' one bari(d of West India lann five
bai'rels New Kny,Mand rum. (Hie barrel of o'ood l)rown
suii'ar. half a box of i!;ood U-nvons. two loa\<'s of loaf
sui>ar. for framiuii' and raisinii' saiil nu'etinii-house.

Voted, the lu-esent committee for l)uildinii' ^^'id UM-etin^"
house sliould in'o\ide entertainment for those |(ei'sons
that h(dp raise the sanx-.
( »ct . 21. Voted, to raise £r, ]()<. Sd. to j)i'o\ide a school Ibis )ii-es-

ent year.

Chose Philij) Putnam, deremiah Holt, .lercmiah Abbot.
Amos ( 'oburii. and Abijah Peri'y a conmnttce to pro-
vide a sciiool this present year.

1774. daily. Is. I'ated. to dismiss the committee idiosen to build the

new mectinii'-housc and chose donathan Hurton W'il-

72 HISTORY OF WILTON.

KXTRACT? FR0:M THK TOWN RECORDS. — CONTINUED,

Reconsidered ]i;iia Abbot ;uul .);ii-()l) Abltot to liiiish the outside of

uiid (•mniiiittee to ,. , t ^^ -,-, ^ -.i-.n, i i

siundar; l.efove. the iiieetiiig house. Jonathan J-iurton. \\iUnuu Ab-

bot, ami .laciib .Vbliot a conuuittee to Itorrow tlie
school money which the town liatli at inten>st and
ai)i»roi)riate it to the tinishiuii' ot the lueetuijj' house.
1774. .lany. is. Voled. to build tlie pews iiccordiuii' totlie plan exhibited.

Voted, the jx'ws should be built by the town.
Viited. that tli<' jx'ws should be sold to tlie luiihest bid-
der, he. or they takiuii' tluMi- choice tlirouii'liout the
whole.
T'i^^ed, that none but the inhabitants dt the town that
are freeholders shall Ix' allowed to bid on. orjjurchase
either of said pews. Chose .Fonathan Martin. .Jona-
than Burton, and Abner Stiles, conuuittee for tlie sale
of said Pews.
Feb. lib Voted, to reserve tlie i)ew at tlu' foot of the pulpit stairs

for a ministerial ])ew.
Voted, that the committee ai)pointed to sell the pews
execute a ])roper dec'd to the purchaser oi- ])ui-ch:isers
of all rigiit and title of the town ot. in. and unto, said
l)ews.
Voted^ to have the pews in said meeting house complet-
ed ill 1.5 mouths.
Voted, that the i)urehasers f)f said pews pay one half of
the ]>urchase in one year and the other halt in eigli-
teen months.
Apiil 4. Voted, to raise £100 lawful money fur making and re-

pairing highways the present year.
J'oted. to ceil the meeting house from the bottom floor
to the bottom of the windows and the same in the
galleries.
Xov. 7. Voted, to raise eight pounds lawful money to ])ay for a

school the present year.
Dec. '2-2. looted, to s(dl tlie pews in the gallery (»f the new meet-

ing house,
("hose .Tonathan Burton Phili]i Putnam and William

Abliot said committee.
Voted, to sell the old meeting house when the new house
is finished.
177.">. .Tan. 17. ('hose the selectmen a committee to sell the old meet-

ing housi^
Cliose .Jacoi) Aliboi to keep the keys of the meeting
house and tak(^ care of the i-biis|ianing bason.
March 11^. Voted, to ajipropriate ilie money ac([inied by the sale of

W'^

HELIOTVPE PRINTING CO.,BOSTON MASS.

TOWN RECORDS. 73

1775, Mar. 1.3. the pew,* in tlie new meeting house towards finishing

the same.
April 4. Voted, to raise fifty ijounds lawful money to make and

iiK^nd the ro.ads tlie ])r('.<ent yi'ar. men and oxen 2s. Sd.

I'low anil cart Is. Sd.
Oi-r. ;?. Vdt.ed. to i-aise £6 ]0s. 6|d. for the sui)port of schools

lh<' present year. C'hose .Tonathan (ram. .Tohn Dale.

(Jeorge ('ol)urn. Jacob Adams and .Jonathan IJui'ton a

committee to see tlic money schooled out ])roportion-

ahly and to agree upon ]daci's whei'e said schools

should he kept.
Nov. '1\. Voted, to choose a conunittee to repair and leliulld the

town bridges as they find occasion thei'efor for the

term of one year.
Chose Abiel Abl)ot, Daniel Holt. .Jonathan Burton .lon-

athan Martin and Richard Whiting said committee.
177(;. April S. Voted, to raise £30 lawfid money to make aiul repair

highways in said town the present year the prii-e of

ratable jxdls to be 2s. Sd. oxen Is. 4d. I'low and cart

Is. Sd. per day.
Sept. 23. Voted, ti) raise £<i 10s. Ofd. to support a sch(H)l th(> pres-

ent year.
J777. Jan. i;!. Chose .Joseph Jloit and .Jonathan l^nrton selectmen to

serve vmtil tlie next annual meeting in i)lace of JJich-

ard Whitney deceased, and .Jacob Adams who was

engaged in the countrys service,
.lime !.'{. ■ Voted, to choose a committee to regulate and affix the

])rices of sundry articles in tlie town of \Vihdn agree-

al)le to an act of the general Court.
Chose .Jacob Abbot. Abiid Abbot, .loshiia IManchard.

William Abbot and .John Burton said committee.
Chose William Abbot a trustee to take (charge) of the

school mon<\v in the room of ]\Jr .T.-icol) Ad.ams who

has ino\ed out of town.
Oct. 1. Voted, to raise £i;5 ;5s. JOfd. for schooling the present

year. Chose J^^hene/.er Chandlei- .Jacob Putnam .Ir.

Nathan Ballard. Jonathan rarkliurst and Stei)hen

Jiiitterfield a connuittee to sei- the money scliooled

out pro])ortiouably to their districts and to appoint

file places for the schools and provide Masters and

unstresses.
Nov. i'). Allowed various individuals for supi)iies and conveyance

reudevouzed soldiers, £11 lOs. Oil.
Allowed Samuel Sheldon for housing and deatiiig out

town stores £1 .
Nov. 20. At a legal meeting of the iidialiitants of the town of

Wilton l.vndeboroiigh and the districts of Duxbury

74 HISTORY OF WILTON.

KX'llIACrs FKO^l THK lOWN H K( '< )WI )S. — ( < >\ TIN L KD.

1777. N'()\'. 2<1. *scli(i<)l liinii and Milr Slip at the Met^iiiii' Ikiiisc in

Wilton. ( liosc Aliicl Aldiot td icpicsciit said towns
and districts in tin- ^cncial assembly to lie lioldcn at
Kxf'tcr in the State ol \. llani](sliire on the third
AVednesdax' of l»ecenilier next.

Votpd. to instrnct and llierel>y instrneted the re|)icsent-
ati\'(' ai>"re<'ah]e 111 llic precepi troni the (ieneraj As-
senil)ly.
177s. In a warrant I'ni- a town ineetiiiii' dated I^'eli. 2'^ 177N, is

the followini;- article. •• in coninnction witli the town
of Lyndel)oroniiii if they see tit" to consider of tlie
Artiid(>s of confederation and ix'rpet iial I'nion be-
tween the I'nited Stales of America : .Vnd to ii'wc our
rej)resentati\'es instruction aiireeal)le to tlie \'ote of
the house of Representatives. At a meetinii' held un-
der the aforesaid waiaant l-'eb. ll"-''. 177S. after dis-
tinctl_v and repeatedly readinii' tli<' Articles of Con-
federation the tow n was dissatistied w if h some (dauses
in sevei-al Articles. TlH'refore

T'(»^fi(?. to choose a committee to consider and draw u|)
some petition to the (Jenei-al ( ourt to be convened at
Kxeter on fiie second Wednesday in February instant.
( 'iiose .lacob Abbot K<i\. Messis. .lonatlian Martin
.Foseph Holt I'hilip I'nt nam and .lii-hua I'danchard for
said connnittee.

l"o/(7/. to adjourn to the 10"' <d' thi^ instant l''ebi-y. at
four (udock in the afternoon.
I'cli. 10. 'I'iie town met accordinii' to adjourmnent The connnit-

tee as abo\(' pi'esented the Petition which was dis-
tinctly and repeatedly ivad and the town unanimous-
ly voted the acceptance.

Voted, that the s(dectmen sii;n the petition and ]M'efer it.
to Court.

Vot.pd. to instruct Maj Abiel Abbot their Hcpresentative
in conjunction with other representati\-es at tlie next
session of the ( ieneral ( oniM to appoint and call a full
and fi-ee re|)i-esentation of all jieople in tliis state to
meet in conxcnlion ;it such time and place as shall be
apiioiiUed liy the (Jeneral (ourt for tlie sole ]iurpose
of frandnii' ;iiid layinii' ;i permanent plan or system
for file future i;'o\'ernment (d' this -tale. And he i<
acc(M'<lin,uly insi i-ucted.
M:ii-cli !). ]'<,tr'd. to S(dl a jiart of the .Ministerial h'iiiht in said tow n.

* Duxljiiiv st-lionl laiiM i.s now tlie iioitliwtst part of .Alilfonl. Alik- J^lip lay soutli of
I>u.\luii-v •^clioiil farm.

TOWN RECORDS. 75

1778, March 9. VoleO. to s(Ml tlic ninth lot in the Hr.<t ninncMnd tlic scv('n-

teenth lot in the sei-ond rangp of lots in said town.
Joseph ilolt. Joiiiithan 3Iiirtin. and Jonathan Burton
were chosen a connnittee to sell the lots. Pnt to vote,
1o see it tlie tow n will enip(juer the connnittee to ex-
cliange the two lots for land to acconnnodate a par-
sonaije if they can. Imt it that cannot he etfected tluMi
to s(dl by v(Midne, and it passed in the attirniatixc.
April 7. Viited^ to raise tSO to make and re]iair hiiiiiways the

present year.
Voted^ that the price ot hand lahor at hiiiln\a\ s l)e (Is.
per-day tor oxen. '.'•,<. per day. tor a cart and I'jow. Is.
4d. ]>er day.
VotexJ^ to a])propriate the money accpiiivd by the sale of
the old meeting' house towards tinishiuii' the new .
May ii7. Chose Mr. Moses Putnam fo'couvene at Concord in the

state of \. II. on the tenth d:iy ot June next for the
sole purpose of formini;' and layiuii' a ixMinanent plan
or system of ii'o\'ernment for the future ha[)piness
and well Ix'inii' of the ii'ood j)eo])le of said state.
Oct. 1'*' Voted, to raise £50 to hire schoolinu- the present year.

Voted, that the money to the town by the sale of the
Ministry FjOts now in the hands of the committee of
sale should lie pnl on interest.
Voted, to raise £100 to build and repair bridii'es.
Oct. 2J^"l Chose Messrs Amos ( 'oliurn, Jonathan Cram, .lonathan

Parkhurst. Abraham Burton Annx JTolt and Sinum
Keyes, to pi'ovide schoolinj; the present ycai-.
Dec. 1*' A dispute arisin>i' concei'ning the accounts brouifht in :

Voted, to choose a connnittee to ex;iniine accounts to be
bronglit to the town and lay them liefore the tow n in
proper order.
Chose. Maj Sanniel (Jreele. \^>^ .Fonathan Burton and
Xathan Ballard for said committee.
Dec. l."i. Voted, to i-aise £."i-l l.")S M in addition to £100 Ixdore

I'aised to make and I'cjiaii' bridg'cs.
Voted, that the c(nmnittee for tile sale (d the nnnistry
T.ots take couns(d of some attorney respectinii' the lot
in dispute w ith Mr Dale.

1779. April 13. Voted, to raise £400 to make and repair hiy,liways the

present year, also \(ited ;{0s ])r day for a man l.ls pei-
day for a yoke of oxen and 7s Od per day for cart and
Plow.

Voted, to act on the circular letter from Maj Sannnd
Ashley and Col. Benjamin Bellows.

Voted, to instruct our ItejiresentatiNc respectinii' this cii-
cular letter as alio\'e (\iz) not to oppose the state ol
Vermont beiuii' a separate State, but to use his inllu-

76 HISTORY OF WILTON.

EXTRACTS FROM THE TOWN RECORDS. — CONTINIED.

177!l. April i;{. ciiec. tliat claim may be laid liy tliis staff to its hciii"-

annexed u> tliis State in ease it is not niaile a se])a-
rate State npoii tlie i)rineii)le of said letter.
Sept. (J. Voted, to ehoose a eoinmittee of five to take tlie I'iaii ot

ijovernnieut under eonsideratioii and make sneli re-
marks as sliall lliink necessary and nial<e report to
tlie town at the adjournment of tliis meetinji'. dacoli
Abbot Es([. Messrs .lonatlian Martin. William Abbot
dr. ('a]it. Pliiliji I'ulnamand Dr. Kbenezei' lJo(d<\\()od
were eliosen.
Se])t. .'-!"' T'o<^'(?. to choose one ))ersoii to represent them in ( On-

vention at ("onc()i-d on Wednesihiy the 22'' of Se]it.
1771t in compliance with the re(|uest of the towiMd
Portsmoutli.

Chose y\v. Closes i'utnam for that purpose.

Vtited. not to acn-ept the plan of ,<>-ovei-ninent as it now
stands, by a majority of ;}(i.

The committee appointed to take into consideration the
]t]an of o'overnment foi' the State of Xew Hampshire
formed by a convention at Concord .rune .">"' 177'.». re-
port as follows :

'I'liat it is their opinion that those rcdative to the t-hoioe
of Councillors: the l'resid<uit of the Council and tin'
Secretary and the ^Filitia officers, as also the Artitde
ascertainiuii the number con<tit utinii' a Quorum in
each bi-ancli of the legislature are exceptionable.

Our reasons are as follows: l*'' That the councillors in
each County should be chosen Ity the Representatives
of their res)tecti\-e < 'onntys or < 'ouiity ( 'onventions.

2'' That the {'resident of the Council and Secretary
oui»'ht to be (dected by Ixith bi'aiiches of the Leiiisla-
ture.

;}'! That each company of the nnlitia onji-lit to choose
their own cajitains. Subalterns and under otticei's.

4"' and that no law be enacted nor any <irant made
without the consent ol the major i)art of the repre-
seiitati\('s and ( omicilloi--; of the states.
Viiteil. unanimously to nccepl llie rei)ort.
t)^t. i;!tii l»ut to vote to see if the town will vote that -o much of

one mile slip (so calh-di as joins -aid town should be
.•innexed to s.iid town ,i~ a body i)oliric. And it
l)assed in the negatixi'.
Voti'd. to comi)ly with the advise of the convention hold-
en at ( 'oncord in Sept. to establish some i-ejiulations
in our trade.

Chose Abiel Abbot. Jonathan .Martin Philip i'utnam

TOWN KECORDS. 77

177:1. Ocl. i;^'h \\illi;iia Altlml Jr. Josliiin Bl:iiu-h;inl Aimer Stiles

;iiid Samuel (Ireele a committee for tliat ])uri)ose.
Voted, to raise £;iOO loi- the use of seliools the present
year. ( luise Arelielaus I'lituam. Stephen l>utteitiel(l.
William Al)liot .Fr. IJieliai-(l Whitinji'. (_;eof*i;e (ohurn.
and Jpfen)iali Holt a committee to see said money
scliooled out .
Tu^ec?. to allow the selectmen sonielhinji' for tlieir ser-
vices.

Dec. 10. .Vt a meetiiiii' held in conjunction with the town of

Ijvudehoi-oug'h. Mile Slip and Duxhury Scliool farm
at the Meetinn" house in Wilton on tlie 10"' of Dec.
1770. ("hose Ahiel Ahhot to serve as Representative
for tlie ahove said towns and disti-icts in the .Vssem-
hly to l)e held at Exeter on the third Wednesday of
l)ei'end)er and to empowei- said representative for the
term of one ye.-ir from their tirst meetinji' to transact
Inisiness and pursue such measuicsas they may judjie
necessary foi- the public j^dod. and in paiticMilar to
vote for meud)ers of the Continental Congress.
1780. April 11. VotecU to raise £4.jO(( to make and repair lii<;'liways the

present year.
Voted. £<> per day f(U' hand labor. £'^ pei- day for a yoke
of oxen and ;j(*s. [)er <lay for cart or Plow .

June 1:*. Voted., to allow for hand labor at hin'hways tiie ])resenl

year *£\2. pei- day for ox laboi- £0 per day, for a cart
or plow £;> per day instead o,f the sums voted at the
meetinii' on the (deventli day of April last jiast.

July in. Voted, that the scdectmen call on the delincpKUit sur-

veyors to rebuild the brid*;"e over the north brancli of
(ianibrel Ijrook on the road that leads to (ieor.ii'e Co-
burn's.

Oct. .1. Voted, to jx'titiou the (ienei'ai Court for the pi-i\ileii-e of

representation se])arate from J>yndeboroug"h.
Voted., to choose a connnittee of three men to wait and
consult the committee from Lyndeborough to know
their minds coiu-efning" this matter. Lt Xathan Bal-
lard Mr. James T)ascomb and Dea. John Burton,
were dioseu said comnnttee.
Voted, to join tlie town of T>yndeborongh in petitioning
the GeniM'al Court for separate representation.

TOWN CLERKS OI" WII/roN l-I.'OM 177.") To 1SS7.

No of
Years:

Jacob Abl)ot. 177."). sl-s;!
.h»seph Holt. 1770-80, inclusive

' Stiowing tlie worttilessness of tlie ciirieiu'v at tliis tinif. S. P.

78 HISTORY OF WILTON.

TOWN CI.I.IJKS OI' Wll.TdN. — CONTIM KK.

No. of
Years:

William Abbot. 1784-1);}. inclusive !)J

Ml-. Abl)()t (lied Xov. 80. 17M8. anil Aldcl .\l)l)()l was apiioinlcd tu Mil out
tlic year.

Abiel Al)))()t. 179-4-y(;. inclusive '{^

Abicl Wilson. 171)7-1815, inclusive 19

.louathan Burton, lSlfi--_>-2. inclusive. 1S24-2.") Dj

.lohn Stevens, 1828 I

^li-. Stevens removed to ^fasoti \'illa<ic in tlie tail, and donathan liurlon

A\as ajuiointed lo till out the year.

Timothy I'arkhursl. l>;2(;-4(). iiudusive. lS48-(i() .... 88

Oliver r.arrett, 1841, 42 2

Samuel liari-elt. 18(51 1

Calvin 1*.. Dascond). 18(;2 1

David A. (ireiiii'. 1S(;8-(!."). inidusixc ....... 8

NVilliam \\ . (/nldiuiis. IStlC, . . . ^ 1

Thomas II. Dillon. 1S(;7-(;'.I, incdusive 25

Mr. Dillon lidt Wilton in the tall, and William 1>. Slearn< was apiioiuted

to till out the year.

William D. Stearns. 1S7(I--S(;. iiudu-ixc 17i

dohn M. Mahoney. 1SS7

i»i;i.1'.(;a I Ks lo r(»N>rrri rioXAi. cowi'.niions.

1850— Olivei- liarrelt.

1877 — William A. done- and (ieorii'e S. \e\ille.

The precediug copy of tlie town '•doings'* duriug the colouial
period suggests several iustnietive lessons. Public spirit was a
marked characteristic of the founders of "Wilton. Hard as were
their toils and sufferings in establishing their little connnonwealth,
they did not forget the welfare of the coinnmnity, while striving
for their private and personal interests.

1. The}' expended sums yearly, large for that period, for pub-
lic improvements in roads and bridges. The bridges were built
over streams subject to annual floods, and were often either entirely
carried away or materially injured. I'he roads were built over
steep hills or along water courses, where they were badly gullied,
and required often to be repaired.

2. The fathers of the town were fully aU\e to the value and
necessity of education for their rising community. Schools to
them were as nuicli a necessity as daily bread. If the inhabitants
of AVilton have been noted for their intelligence, and for the large
number of liberally educated persons, it is due to the wise care and
foresight with which they fostered the free public schools.

PATRIOTISM OF WILTON. t V

'•'). Nor did they ciU'e only tor their ttnvn and local interests.
They had an eye also to the well-being of the state and nation.
Patriotism was a passion in the breasts of these pioneers of the
Avilderness. I'hey early chafed nnder the [)ettv despotism of the
mother country. They perhaps lirst hinted at com[)lete independ-
ence, and l)efore the ^Mecklenburg resolutions of Xoi'th Carolina, or
the great Declaration, boldly prochumed the idea of national eman-
cipation, and the free United States.

-1. rUit the best of all, and crown and couservtition of all other
interests, was their devotion to religion, and its great instruments,
the chui'ch and the ministry. 'J'he oi'iginal charter liore this testi-
mony, and made pei'uianent pro\ision for religious institutions.
Successive meeting houses were liuilt, and i»astors ordained for this
special work. Tlu' whole conmninity was laid under contribution.
It was made a part of the solid business of the town to see that re-
ligion received no detriment or decrease of zeal and interest in the
new comnuuiity. Inity of purpose prevailed. Calvinist and Ar-
miuian alike gave of their su])stauce to the J.ord and His public
service. The day of speculation and indifferentism had not arrived.
What was done, was done with a will.

Whatever may have since been the ways and works of the town,
it is satisfactory to know that the roots of public spirit, education,
patriotism, and Christian faith struck deep into the primitive soil,
and bore abundant fruit in the institutions, lives and characters of
succeeding generations. Long nuiy this be the charactei' of our be-
loved town as it respects these im})ortant interests in all coming
time I

CHAPTER IX.

THE REYOLITTIONAKY WAR.

The United States, remote as they are from the old world, luive
been harassed by repeated wars ever since their settlement. In the
early colonial i>eriod the Jndian guerilla warfare was a constant
danger to the pioneers. Later the complications of Enropean pol-
itics entered into the problem, and the French and their savage
allies devastated the frontiers. 'Ilie Revolntion of 1775-1788 fol-
lowed, to which this chapter is specially devoted. The war of 1812
with Great Britain, which was a species of second Revolutionary
war, was next in snccession. 'Ilien came the Florida war with the
Indians, and other border contests. From 1845 to 1848 tlie Mexi-
can war was waged to extend the area of slavery, and, hence, did
not awaken enthusiasm in New England. And. last and greatest
of all, the civil war of LsGl-1865 aroused the military ardor of the
whole country, north and south, and ended with the glorioxis result
of the overthrow of slaver}', and the more perfect union of all the
states and territories in one American nation.

It is not strange, therefore, that military affairs should engross
a large share of attention in oin- history. Our civil and religious
liberties have been purchased and maintained by the price of blood
and sacrifices, "labors, dangers and sufferings." In the absence
of any standing army of importance, the institution of " the citi-
zen soldiery" has taken precedence. Military honors have often
opened the way to the chief offices of the republic, and seven gen-
erals have been chosen Presidents of the United States.

The relations of the colonies in 1774-75 with (Ireat Britain
awakened the anxiety and interest of no part of the country more
intensely than of New Hampshire. Nor was Wilton backward in
patriotic zeal, whether it related to material aid of men and means,

" H'*

o
z

r
r

TOWX l!KCOI!r)S. 81

(tr to lli;tt iiionil siii)iH)rt and devotion to the cause wliicli nvc
e([ii;illy necessary to carrv any "great enterprise to success and vic-
tory.

'i'lie following" extracts from the records of tiie town of Wilton
show in detail the action of the town in Kevolutionary matters. In
a warrant dated .Inly '.'. 1771, the second article is as follows:

'L"o sec if llic t(i\\ II will ciidosc (nic or iiiorc peisous to scim! lo Kxctcr in
s;ii(l l*ro\iiicc to rcprcsciit this tu\\ii in the clioici of Dclcii'Ml cs to ;i (icii-
cral ( 'oiiu'voss to lie iicld al i'hiladclitliia tlic th'st dav of Scii|('iiil)cr next :
ai;T('cal>l(' to llic dcsiic of (lie late I'cprcsciilalixcs of lliis l'i-o\iucc. wliicli
will lie cxiiiliiicd at tlic iiicctiijg-.

Ajticlc .'). To see if the tow II will rai>c liv -iiliscriprion. or oijicrw isr.
lw(i poiiiid> I w o sliilliiiiis l„ >r. (lawfid moucyj. I)ciii<;' tlicir proportiiiii
of tlic ('\|>('iisc oj; sciKhiiii' lJ<'l<'.ii'al<'s to the proposed (leueial ( onjircss.

Arfh'lc 4. To st'c if tlic t<t\\n will clioost- a coinniitfcc to send To \cw
r])swicli to coiisiilr willi the coiiiiiiit tecs from adjacent 'I'owiis on a filan of
iioii-imjiortalioii and non-consiiniplion of i;-oods and articles li-om idil
Eiiiiiand.

Tiie sum mentioned in the third article of the warrant was raised
Ity subscription, nud at a town meeting held July 1'). 1774. it was

VotriL lo scud one mail fo Mxt'tcr lo rcprcsciit this
town in the clioicc of delcn'atcs for a ^I'licral ( Oii-
u'rcss. proposed lo he licid in I'liiladcdjihia I lie first
(lay of Scptcud)cr next. < liosc .lacoh Ahliot. I lele-
U'atc.

]'ote(L to send a (•onnnillcc lo \cw Ipswich lo consuli
witii coniniillccs from adjaccnl lowiis. Sir. ( 'h(is<^
.lonaliian Martin. .Foscpii Il(dt and Aliiel Ahhot. said
coiiiinittee.
1774. Se[)l. 8. V(>tc(l., to raise t'i7. law fill money, to pro\ide tlic town's

stock of aminiinition.

AVliereas. tliere lias fieeii a covcuaiif of iioii-iniportatioii
and non-consuinption a.ii'reed upon )iy coiuniitfees
Irom sundry of llie iieig'lihoriiiii- towns to ))<"■ siffncd
hy I he iniiahitanl s (d' each town: 'I'hercforc. to sec
if the town willaccc))t of said coxcnant. ami clioosc
a coiiiinittcc to encourao'c the signiiiii thereof. aii<l
also to transacl Ihc atlairs of said covenant accordinij
lo tlic tenor tliereof, or act or do any othi^r inatler or
1 iiinn' rcdative tlieretotliat the tow n shall think pix'pcr.

V^oted, to accept of tlie covenant.

Chose Josepii Holt, Ahner Stiles, .lonaliian Martin.
Ahiel Alihot. til he a coinmiltec to see. said eoveiiani
sijiiied.

82 HISTORY OF WILTON.

■nil. ("OVKNANT.

"\^'e. the siibsoriber.^. inliiibitaats or tlic town ot \Mllou. liiiviiig taken
into our serious consideration tlie ])recarioiis slate of the lilierties of
North Anieriea. and more espei-ially the present dist ressed condition of onr
sister colony of tli<' ^lassaelmsett s Bay. end)an'assed as it is l»y several Acts
of tlie British Parliament, tendini>' to the entire subversion ot theii- natu-
ral and charter lights, among- whidi is the act for fjlocking up the harboi-
of Boston: and being fully sensible of our indispensable duty to lay hold
on every means in our power to preserve and rei-over the injiucd ('onstitu-
tion of our country, and conscious, at the same tim<'. of no alternative be-
tween the horrors of slavery or the carnage and desolation of v\\\\ war.
l)ut a suspension of all conuuercial intercourse with the Island of (Jreat
Britain : do. in tlie presence of (iod. s(demiily and in good faith. co\enant
and engage with each other: —

FlR.sT : That, from hencefoi'th. we will susjx-nd all commeicial inter-
course with the said Island of Great Brkain. until the Parliament shall
cease to enact laws imi)osing taxes on the colonies withcmt their consent,
and until tlie i)retended right (jf taxing is dro])ped. and Boston Port
opened, and their and (nir constitutional lights and ))rivileges are restored.

Sfx'OM): That there may be less temptation to others to continue in
the said now dangerous commerce, and in order to ])roiiiote industry,
economy, ai-ts and nianufactures among ourselves, which are of the last
iniijortaiice to the welfare and well-being of a community. \\<' do. in lik<'
manner, solemnly covenant : That we will not buy, purchase or consume,
or suffer any ])erson by, for. or nndiM- us. to purchase: nor will we use in
our families, in any manner whatever, any goods, wares or merchandize,
which shall arii\c in America from Great Britain, aforesaid, from and
after the last day of August. 1774 (except only such artitdes as shall be
judged absolutely necessary by a majority of the signers hereof), and, as
much as in us lies, to prevent our being interrupted and defeated in tliis
only peaceable measure, entered into for the recovery and preservation of
our rights and the rights of our brethren in our sister Colonies, we agree
to break off all trade and cominerce with all persons who, preferring their
private interests to the salvation of their now almost perishing country,
shall still continue to import goods from Great Britain, or shall purchase
of those who import after the "said last day of August, until the aforesaid
pretended right of taxing the Colonies shall be given up or dropiied (ex-
cept so much as Christian duties require).

Third: As a refusal to come into this, or similar agreement, which
promises deliverance of our country from the calamities it now feels, and
which, like a torrent, are rushing upon it with increasing violence, must,
in our opinion, evidence a disposition inimical to. or criminally negligent
of. the common safety: it is agreed that all such oiigiit to be considered,
and shall by us be esteemed, as encouragers of contumacious importers.

FoiKTil : We hereby further engage that we will use all reasonable
methods to encourage and jn-omore the j)i-oduction of manufactures

PATRIOTISM OF AVILTON. 83

anioiig ourselves, th;it tliis covoiKiut and ('ii<;'ii<5(Mri('iit may he as litlli' dct-
iMDiental to ourselves and oui' fellow -eouuti'vineu as jtossible.

Lastly : AVe allow ourselves libeity to eouiply with the result of the
General Congress at Tliiladelphia. Also, we agree to make sueh alter-
ations in tliis Covenant as shall l)e thought suitable by the majority of
signei-s. after notice gi\<'n in a public maimer, by a connnittee chosen foi-
that ])urpose; wliich notice shall be eight days before the meeting.

" From December, 1774, to April following," says I. W. Ham-
mond iu the llevolutiouary War Rolls of New Hampshire, Intro-
duction, pages ol, o2, "the people were counselling among them-
selves, calmly deliberating upon the exigencies of the times, and
energetically preparing for the crisis which they felt must come.

"The sentiment which pervaded the community is plainly sliown
by the address of the convention of delegates, which convened at
Exeter, January '2:j, 1775, in which they coimselled the people to
maintain peace, harmony and union among themselves, to practise
economy, to promote manufactures, avoid lawsuits, improve them-
selves in such military arts as would best fit them for real action in
an engagement, and to imitate their forefathers b}' appealing to the
Divine Being to espouse their righteous cause, secure their liberties,
and fix them 'on a firm and lasting basis.'

"Companies were formed and drilled, and when, on the r.»th day
of April, 177"), the crisis came, the men of New Hami>sliire dropped
their implements of industry, seized whatever they could of imple-
ments of waj'fare, and by companies, by tens, by fives and by tw^os
hurried to the front. The same spirit pervaded the women, many
of whom spent the nights of the li»th and 20th in making clothes,
baking bread, and moulding bullets for their htisbands and sons,
bidding them good-bye at daylight with a God-speed on their tremu-
lous lips, and, while the men went forth to repel the invading
army, the women tilled the soil, spun the yarn, and wove the cloth
that clothed the family. The number of men tliat w^ent from this
state [New Hampsltire] to Caml)ridgf at that time is unknown ;
many were not organized into companies, some returned after being
absent from one to two weeks, and many for eight months, forming
the nucleus for the regiments of Stark and Reed, which did admir-
able service at Bunker Hill."

We now return to the minutes of the town.

177"), Jan. 17. Allowed Jacob Abbot Ss. for his services at Exeter.

< hose Jacob Abbot Deputy to send to Exeter on the

S4 HISTOKY or WILTON.

MINI IKS <n riii: iKWN. — (ONTrM r,i).

177."). .T;m. 17. i.")"' of tliis iiisliiiil, .l;iiiii;ir\ . [ny ilic choice of ilelo-

li'iit cs to rc]ii<'-^cnt I lie I'i'oxiiicc in ;i not her ( diit iiicnt-

ill ( 'OllilTt'r^S.

Ill the waiTtuit for a town iiu'^tiug to lie held PVl). '27. 177.'>, is
the fuHowiug tirtide :

'I'd sec it t lie tow 11 will I'ciition llie (iciicr.-il ('oiiiM of tlic I'ldxiiK'c for
■,i IJcdvcss ot ( ;ric\:iiicc l!csiicctiii_ii' tlie jidditioii ol llu' ( Mlicci's' I';i\ in tlic
( diUinciil.il niiiiy tliis Present Y'e;ir. Jiiid ( 'lio<e ;i ( 'oiiunittee for tlnit Pur-
pose. ;iiiii do ;iiiy .-iiid c\'ci\ otlicr i hini;' tlicicon ;i> llic Town Sli.-ill iliiiil<
Propi'r.

At the town meeting it \va(>

Voted. I o I'd it ion I lu^ ( icncia I ( (init <d I lie ( Olony t Inil
they Petition tlie (Jcinenil (onj^ress IJesiteetinir lln'
;idditioii;i] P;iy of some ot the Otlieei-^ in theConti-
iientiil Army.

Tiie fulhiwiug' petition, being drafted, wa.s read twice :

To the IIoiior;il)l<' ( 'onneil ;iiid Jlousc ot l'ei)resent:iti\'es toi- tlie (olo-
ny ot \ew ilamjisliire at Exeter in (ieneral < 'onrt to hi' Assembled on the
tirst Wednesday ot M;ircli next, ihc Petition <d the Tow n id W iltoii Hum-
bly Shewcth. Th.il . whereas the ( 'oiitinental ( oiiiiress llioui;hl pioper in
theii' \Visdoiii to (ii'.iut an additional Sum as wa;Li"es to -onic ot the otlicers
in llie ('onlinental army, wliich w c undei'sl;iiid has not li.id (lie (Jood
Ktt'eet which wc suppose \\;is inlcnded. l.ui li.is i;i\cii (;ener;il Dissatis-
taetion anioiii; tlie Pri\al<' Scddiers, and. anioiii:' other IJeasons. has been
iii;ide use ot \t\v the 1 )iscour:iiii'iiieul ot Soldiers" I/istiiii:' in the ('oiitinent-
al .•iriiiy. .ind we doiibi not the Peadiness of tlie llonourabje (outinenlal
Congress to recede trom llieir Former Note, or to Pr<'\eni it-t;iking IMaee
Miiother year, it they w<'re once m.ide Seiisilde (d the |',;id ( 'onserpients liy
S;iid Additional P.i y : w i'. thercd'ore. your liiimble i'ei itioners Ilei;,- lea\(>
to JJecommeiid it a< wurthy ^'ou|• ( 'onsideration. whether it may not be
Convenient tor the (General Court ot this Colony to Peijuest and joyn :i
Conmiittee (it the (iiMieral Court ot th(> Xeialiborinif Colony, or Colonies,
in Petitionin.ii' the Continental ((miifess on that Subjei'l. or to Propose
Some ^felhod wheidiy (he Prejudices ;ii:aiiist said OtHeers may lie )■<■-
moved. Sensible ot our l'iiae((uaintedness with Politii'ks. w c presume not
to Prescribe to \ any Honours, but. to av<iid Prolixity, whicli wc im;ii;iiie
would be \('ry I )is;mreable to yon. wc Snbmil it to ^'onr wise ( onsider;!-
tioii. and as in Duty lioiind will e\er I'ray.

A true i-opy. .lacoii Abbot. 'I'ow ii Clerk.

The above was voted, and it was also voted that the selectmen
sign the aforesaid petition in l)ehalf of the town.

TOWN RKCORDS. 85

177*1. AiH'il 4. .Vlhnvcd Jju-oh Al)l)or for his servu-i^s and oxix'iises in

i-t'l)r<'st'iitiiiii' tliis tmvii in the IMoxincial Congress
£1 Os. -J.l.

]"()te(L to raise as niinulc men '!'> |iri\atcs. iwo coni-
niissiont'd olticcrs. rwo sci->;cnls. iwcnfy nine in all.

Voted, (i dollars a niontli to each ((fliccr and s(ddii'r. alt-
er liiey are c-alled to an expedil inn. lill lliey lia\c
pi'opcr lime to relinn alter tlwy are dismissed.

Fo<<°fL to ehoose t w () d(dei;;iles tor a County ('on<ifess.
( hose Jonathan .Martin ami I*liili[i rntnam. said did-
i'il"ates.

Voted, tjie I'ollowinii' inst ruction^ \<> he iii\-en ~aid dide-
gates :

1^' That they eneouraLie I he rai.siniidi minute men in
said county.

2'' 'i'liat tiiey promote tile petitioninii' iiis Kxeelleiicy.
,Folui Wentwortli. Ks(p. our ju-esent (Jovernor. not
to ap])oint any .lustices in this County without llie
desire, or apiirotiation. of the major part o\ the peo-
])1p in tile tow n where said pei-son resides.

Also, to petition liis K\c(dleiicy tor a new clerk of the
I'rohate ( diirt in <aid ( oimty.

I'll To |u-omole the sett lenient of atiairs in said < 'ounty.
-;uch as the sujipressinji' <d riots or mobs, and en-
(piirinu' aft<'r the bonds of some otlicers in the County.

."('I' 'I'o promote every tiling' necessary that sh.ill iie for
the benefit and ad\anlai;<' oltlie county.

\v.\i;i;.\N r i-t>i; a iown m i:i;i in<;.

Proi'iuce of ) ^^.,, , , '/>> Aniof; Fuller, Conntchle for the town

, Hiiishoroviili. ss : .„,.,, /, ..

^f'W JJampshirc } oj UiJtnu. (,r<'ttinij.

\\y us the subscrilters. you are hereby riMpiired forthwith to warn all

tlio frofholder-; and other inhaliitants of the town of Wilton, aforesaid, in

your district, (pialitied by law to \()te in town ineetini:\ that they meet at

tile UK'etiuii- house in said town on Wednesday, the tenth day of .Alay

next, at four o"tdock in the afternoon, to act on tlie follow in^' articles. \iz. :

1^' To choose a moderator to presi(ie in said meetiiii;'.

2'' Wliereas it a|)|)ears. at this time, that our public atVairs are in -^o
distri'ssinii' a situation that we are not in a cajiacity to proceed in a leiial
mannei-: to see if the tow n will \ote lh.it the \otes and resohcs of tlii>.
and all other, meeliiiiis in tliis tow n for tiie term of one year shall lie lielil
bindinii' lor tlie term of one year to the inhal)itaiit-; of tlii-; tow n. allhouuh
warned liy ])ostin<i' at some public house for the term of ten days before
said meetinii'.

;;"! To see if the town will choose one or more persons to re])resent tliis
town in a provincial Con^fess to be indd at Exeter on the seventeciilh day
of May next, aiireeable to ihi' direction received, which -hall then be ex-
liibited.

86 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Hereof tail not. and make due iv'tiirii of this wanaur. with yotir doings
rhereoii, to us the subserihers. at the time and ])laee altove mentioiuni.
( ;iveii luidci- our haiuls and seal this twenty-fourth day of Ai)ril. A. D. 1775.

rhilip Putnam ) ^^electmen
Abiel Abbot \ of Wilton.

A like warrant was also issued to Richard AVhiting, and the town
met agreeably to notice.

1775. May 10. ("hose i»Mehai-d Tayldr Moderator.

The second article j)assed in the aftirn\ative. viz. : That
the \<)tes and resolves of this an<l all other town
meeting's shall be ludd binding', as expressed in the
.second aiticie ot f orcijoi n^' warrant.
Voted, to send two persons to represent this town in a
I'rovincial Cons>-ress. to be Indd at Exeter the 17"' day
of this [)reseiit .June, the tirst session, and one to rep-
resent this town for six months in said ('ong'ress.
r'hose Jacob Abliot to r<'])resent this town in said Con-

i^ress for six months.
Chose Jonathan Martin to attend said ( 'on<,n-<'s-; the tirst
session.

On the 19tli of April, 1775, came the fii'st dread sliock of arms at
Lexington and Concord. It is not known, nor is it probable, that
any Wilton men were engaged in tliose confliets. But the whole
country was roused, as later, in the war of the Rebellion, by the
attack on Fort Sumter. From that tirst blood patriotic ardor
blazed with intenser heat, and military preparations were carried
on with new zeal and devotion. The patriots were not daunted by
any apprehensions of the formidable war into which they had
plunged, but devoted themsehes on the altar of their country with-
out misgiving or doubt. The issue proved, after an eight years'
terrible experience, that their faitli and self-sacrifice were not in
vain.

We continue the war record of the town.

1775. May ±2. Mr. .lonathan Martin and \A. JHchard 'I'mvIoi- wei'e

chosen d<de>iates to a county ( ongress.
Aug. 17. < 'liose Mr. Jonathan Martin to represent the town in a

Provincial < 'ongi-ess to be holden at Kxeter on the 22''
of this month.
Cliose Jacol) Abbot. ("a]it. Aliiel Alil)ot. .Fouathan Bur-
ton. J^ev. .Jonathan Livermore and Lt . I'hilii) Put-
nam a connnittee to give ~Mv. ^Fartiii his instruction.
Oct. ;>. .Allowed £7 12s. U^d. to several individuals for pork for

the soldiers.

TOWN RECORDS. 87

1775. Oct. 23. Allowed Is. "jfel. iov ti)biVceo for soldiers.

Allowed £1 ]6s. 2id. for pork for soldiers.
Allowed £2.') for transporting' 40 TTIids. of salt from

Marblelicad.
Allowed . Joseph Jl(dt ii\ fs. tor ])i<HMirinii' trans])orta-

tion of 2 llhds. of Molasses from ^Farhlehead to Aii-

dover. and storage at Andover.
Allowed £1 17s. 4d. for transporting 2 Hlids. .\rolasses

from Andover.
Voted, to raise £."")1 of lawful money to i)ay the tirst cost

of tow n stock.

EMMKKAriON <>r IMiAKlTANTS.

In obedience to the I'rovincial Congress in Xew llam[)shire. we. the
subscribers, have nnndxMcd ihc <ouls ol' the inhatiitants of the town of
Wilton, which is as follows:

Males nndei- l(i years of age ..... 162

Males from ](! to .')0 years not in the army . . 102

All males above ;")0 years of age .... 17

Persons gone in tlic ai-my ..... 20

All females 314

Negroes and slaves foi' life ..... 2

(!23

And further we have complied with tin- Congress" recpasition concern-
ing of the fire arms tit foi- use. and those wanting, and we find seventy
two tit for use. and forty seven guns wanting. — and forty pounds of pow-
der in said tow n.

Abiel Abbot ] Selectmen
. I'hilip Putnam j of AViJton.
Wilton. Oct. 24, 1775.
Swoi-n to date.

Ar<OIXT OF l'I{(JVISIO\S.

To the lloiiiiorable tlu^ Provincial ('ongress Setting at Exeter: Gentle-
men, we your 11 nndtle Petitioners Beg leave to Present to your Honnors
an Account of I'lovissions Procuenl and Sent to ( 'aml)i-ii;-e for the Sup-
poi't of the Contineiitel Armey.

Which Aci-ount we Pray may l>e allowed in Money, oi' by an order on
the Province Treasurer. The Account is £<) lis. 2d. Lawful Money, and.
in allowing the above Accont. you will Oblige youi- Ihnnble Petitioners.

Abiel Abbot ] Selectmen
Philij) I'litnam \ of Wilton.
Wilton Octo' y 24"' 177.5.

P. S. For further Perticuler-: Tmiuire of our Delio-;ite.

88 HISTORY OF WILTOX.

I'.XTKA* rs I'lJO-M irrn row\ in:(<>i;i>>. — ( oxi im i:i>.

J77*». \ov. iM. ]'iilfil. To allow JoiKitliMU Mailiii lor his sci-\iccs lo Aiii-

tn'fst on the <'oiuity art'airs loiir tiiiK's. and hi- cx-
liciises ISs. '\{\.
Alhtwcd irichard Taylor for lii- services on Counl y af-
fairs at Amherst \vith 'S\y. Martin Ss. oijd.
Doc. i;>. .hu-oh Ahl»or was clio-cn to i-cjircscnt ihi' town ot Wil-
ton, i.y ndchoi-ouiiii. Mih' Slip ami Dnxhui'v School
Farm ill the i'roxincial < on^iicss to Im- h4)ldiMi at Hx-
etcr on tlic ^l^'•^ day of Dec. instant.
To<«'(/ :iiid allowed Mr. .lo-e|)h Holt, .loiiathan Martin.
Ahiel AhhoT. Xallian llallard. .fohii Huiton. .Ir.. and
Aimer Stiles, .'is. each Jor Their service in laisinu' re-
crniTs to take Winter Hill lines.

At the linltlc of Ikiiiker llill. .liim.' 17. 177."). New llaiiipshiix'
troops constituted a siib><t:\ntial [)art (»f the forces engaged on the
l)atnot side. There were two full regiments, Col. Stark's and Col.
Reed's, from this state, and. also, one whole company in Col. I'res-
cott's regiment.

Small as was the inimber of inhaliitants in the town at that time.
onlj' about Coo, Wilton contributed at least thirty-three meir in four
different companies of Col. lioed's regiment to the troops that
fought on that eventful day.

This is the roll of honor :

Q. M. J.saac Frye, Xalhaniid (;re(de.

\?l Lt. James P>rown. Areh(daus Kenny.

2d T-t. S:imu<d I'etten.uill. .lohn (Irecde.

.Sernt. William A. Ilawldiis. Isaac lirow n.

Sergt. Francis Pntnam. Israel Howe,

(or)). .Fohii r>mlon. Hem-y l.ovejoy.

(or)). Fhenezei- Kiiiiislmiy. .Fonathan (Jray.

Asa Lewis. .leremiah Holt.

Xatlianiel Haz(dtine. .lonas Perry,

.lonathan Creide. --Xnrss Sawyer.

l)ani<d Keimy. Henry Stevens.

Daniel l>ro\\ n. -Vsa ( fam.

Theodore Stevens. Hart 15a Ich.

Sfeplien IJlaiicliard. .Ir.. Steplien ISlanchard.

Xathan Ahhot. Timothy Daiiinu'.

William Bales. Flii-nezer < arlton.
Simeon Holt.

A later account raises the uiinibei- of Wilton men who fought at
Bunker Hill to thirtv-eigiit.

RESOLVE OF CONGRESS. 89

Of these men .lonntlinn (rrnv and Asa Cram were mortally
woimded.

Isaac Frye was (iiiartermaster \n Col. .lames Reed's regiment.
James Brown* was lieutenant, and William A. Hawkins and Fran-
cis Putnam were sergeants in ('apt. William Walker's company :
and John Unxton was corporal in Capt. Benjamin jMann's company ;
all belonging to IJeed's regiment.

In case of losses, during battle, of arms, equipments or clothing,
compensation was made by the State, either to the men, or. in case
of their death, to their families.

Aiii.irAi;^ (ii;in;i;.

< ':nni). ()ct()l)ci- is"' 177."). Williaiii Hawkins, w iKMlistiiigiiislicd liiiiisclt
ill tlic Battle ;it liiiiikt-r Hill on tlic 17"' of June last, to sii])|>ly the id.-icc ol
:iii lOu'^iuii in (apt. Ilind"^ i-onipnny in lien of AUlricii. pi'oniotcd.

.Tames Heed. ( (d.
Israel (iilnian. I.t . ( ol.

oi;i>i,i; or Tin; (;i;m:i!AI. asskaihlv oi' iiii: ri;o\i\<K oi' m:w itAMC-

siiii;i,.

in order to (•••irry I he luiderw i il ten IJesohc (d t he I lonoralde ( 'ontinent-
.'ii ( '<)niii-ess into Mxeeiition. yon are re(|nested to desire all Males ;il)o\'e
Twenty one years o| aiic ( I.nnatieks. Idiots, .-ind Negroes ext'('j)ted) to sign
to the Decdaration on this P.-iper: and when so done to make i-etiirn theiv-
of. together with the Name, or Names, ol' all who rtd'use. or shall refuse,
to sign the ~ame. lo the ( Jeneral Assendily or ( omnnttee ol Satety of fliis
C'<dony.

April ^^2. 177(i. "M. ^Veai-e. rhairman.

tJKsoi.vi. oi ( <>\<;i;i:ss.

In ('oniiress. March II. 177(1.

Hesolved. t]\:\\ it he reeonnnended to the sexci'al Assend)lys and T'oun-
eils or Conunittees of Safety of the t'nited ( olonies imiiKulidtehj to cause
all persons ro he (?/srtj?)ief? witiiin their respecti\e ('(donies. who ai'e iioto-
rlontilij disatt'ected to the cause i\\ Amei'ica. or who i-efnse lo associate to
tlefend hy Arms till- Iniled ( (donies anainsl the Hostile attempts of llie
I'.i-ifish Fleets and Armies.

Extract from the Minntes. Charles Thompson, Sec.*.

Just before tlie Itcvolution tlie iiiiuio of .lames Brown is often (bund on tlie Wiltou rec-
ords, as he is repeatedly elected niodenitor and selectman, and in April, 177:;, a road was
laid out to liis premises. In a note succeediug the pay-roll of Capt. Walker's company !>rr.
Hammond says, " ('apt. Walker and I.ieuts. ISrown and Ifobey were of Dnnstable. " IJut
it will be seen tliat, on the same pay-roll, Lieut. TSrown is credited with sixty miles' travel,
as are the other men from Willon. — [S. Putnam.

90 HISTORY OF WILTON.

ACTION OF THK TOWX OF AVII.TOX ON THE ABOVE KESOr.VE OF CON-

(iKEss.

Ill c'ousfM^iU'iu'i' of the above IJesolutioii of the lloiiorahlc ( diitiiieiiral
Congress, and to sliew our (leterniinatioii in joining our American Breth-
ren in Defending tlie TJves. IJlx-rlies and Properties of tlii' Inlialiitants of
tlie I'liited Colonies.. We. tlie siil)scril)ers. do hereby solemnly eiigagf^ and
jiromise that we will, to the utmost of our power, at tlie ris(pie of our
lives and fortunes, with arms oppose tlie flostile Proeeedings of the Brit-
ish Fleets and Armies against the l'uite(l American (dlimies.

Tills was signed by 128 persons.

i;i.TI i;\ OK III I", SKI.K( IMKA of IIIK loWN.

In obedience to the within Resolve ot t he ( 'ommittee of Safety fur the
Colony of Xew Jfampshire. we. the suliscribers. have desired all .Males
above twenty one years of age. that are inhal)itaiits of the town of ^Vilton.
to sip'n to the abo\<' Declaration, and but two lunc refused or neglected
to sign. viz.. (apt. Kphraim l>utterfield :iiid .\rchelau< I'utnam. whose
nameis we hereby return to the (xeneral Court or Coniinittce of Safi'ty for
the aforesaid Colony in obedience to written Directions.

Hicharil Taylor | Selectmen

Jacol) Adams \ of Wiltcm.
\Vilton. . I line y'' :i<K 177';.

It should be said, however, that Arelielaiis Putnam was sultse-
quently fouud serving in the patriot army.

On the TJth of May, 177."), the IVovinoial Congress of Ncav Hami)-
shire appointed a Committee of Safety, eonsisting of the following
persons: lion. Matthew Thornton, Josiali Bartlett, Esq., Capt.
William Whipple, Nathaniel Folsoin, P2sq., and P^benezer Thomp-
son, Esq. To them others were afterwards added.

The following extracts are taken from the records of the above-
named committee, as given in the Collections of the New Hainj)-
shire Historical Society, Vol. 7 :

1776. Oct. L>-2'i Settled with .Ail. A) licl Abbot for .Mustering and Pay-

ing two Companies. Ca])t. iicad's and Capt. Put-
iianrs. ill Col. Jialdw ill's IJegiment for \ew ^'ol•k.
The Ral.. £S Os. Sd., due to the State, and for which
he produced a Pect. from the IJec' (Jeiri. .Xatlfl (Jil-
man. Es(].

1777. Jany. 28'" (iave Maj. .Vliiel .Vl>bot orders to Muster the following

Companies, Vi/. : Capt. William Scoffs of Peterbor-
ough, & Capt. William Scotfs of ( amden. and (apt.
Sanil. Elodgetfs.
( )rdered the Peceiver (ten"l to Let .John Went w orth, .Jr..
have out of the 'rreasnrv £4000 in Treasurer's Xotes,

RECORDS OF CO^MMITTEE OF SxVFETY. 91

1777; Jany. 28*'i and Seventj'-fiA'e Pounds in other Bills, whioli he is to

deliver to the following Muster Masters: To Maj.
Jonaf' Child, one thousand Pounds in Xotes & Twen-
ty-five Pounds in Bills; To Thomas Sparhawk, Fif-
teen hundred Pounds in Notes and Twentv l^ounds
in Bills: To Abiel Abbot, 'i'hirty Pounds in Bills and
Fifteen Hundred Pounds in Xotes, to Enal)le them to
])ay Bounties and ^rilean'c to Soldiers, acc-nrdinii' to
Instructions.

1777. Feb'.' 2(1"' (Jave orders to Maj. Abiel Abbot of NViltou to .Muster

wliat men IJeiit. W'liittcmore sliali i'>iilist tor (apt.
('arr"s Cojupaiiv.
Isaac Frye appointed a ( :ii»taiii in ( ol" Scaiinuel"s
Regt., instead of ('apt. Scott, who declines.

March 4"' (iave Capt. Isaac Frye orders to raise a ('omliaiiy in
Col" Si'ammers Kegt.
Ordered the Hec'' (JeiTl to let (apt. Isaac Frye have
out of the Treasury £.'?()0 to pay CoutiiKMital Boun-
ties to men he Enlists, for which he is to account.

April IS"' Wrote to Capt. Abiel Abl)ot to muster the company of
(apt. Cloj'se of Fitzwilliam.

April 28"' Ordered Maj. Abbot, of Wilton, to ^fiister any men be-
longing to lloUis who are. or shall. Eidist in C'lpt.
John Houses or Capt. ]Miciiael ]McClary's Comi)a-
uies, and to transmit their names to the Muster Masr
ters of those ( ompanies.

Julyl.")"' Directed ('apt. Isaac Frye. or, in liis altsence. Lieut.
.Tos<'ph lluntoon. to rejiair to No. 4, and there collect
and send forward to their Regts. all Soldiers who
have left tlie Army.*

Aug. 2(}'i' \V'rote to 3Iaj. Abbot of Wilton, one of the ^Euster Mas-
ters for the Continental Ti'oops. directing him. where
any delinqtient Towns procured their uien, to com-
pleat their (Quotas of the Continental Troops, to pay
them the Continental Bounty in addition to what he
payed others, and to take enlistments and transmit
them to the Resp'ieetive Officers.

1778. April 1*' Ordered the R. G. to pay James I'nderwood. Jerry

Page and Abiel Abbot, Esqs., a (.Committee ai)pointed
to receive votes for Couiu-illors for two years last
past, their accoimt for said Business, amounting to
£9 12s. (Id.
1781, Febiy ytii Ordered the Treas' to pay Capt. Isaac Frye Tliirty
Pounds in Bills of new Emission, and endorse the
same on his first note for Depreciation. £30.

* Lieut. Huntoon was allowed pay for the service. — [S. Putnam,

'i^'2 HISTORY OF WILTON.

l!l".(Oi;i» (»F CO^nilTTKK Ol" SAKKTV. — CDNriM i;i>.

17S"i. Ajdil 1l'"' ()|-(l('iv(l the I'lc.-isi to pny <';i|)l. Is;i:ic I'ryc Scvciil y-

six Pounds 'I't'u Shilliiisis .•iml ciidoi-sc tlu' <;mic nn

his tii-st Note for r)<>i)i-(HM;iti(ni. il7('> Ids.

\7^'2. M;ircli 1' ()i-(Ici-<m1 tlic Ko.-inl of \\;ir to dcliviT In (';i|il. Is;i;ii'

l-'ryc his ;illn\\ ;iii(i' lur ,i iiimilli's pay in Xcw Miii;-

hiiid liiiiu.

Al>iil .")•!' Appdialcd (iiiit. Isnnc Fryc MiisK-r M:islci;il Aiiiiici'sr.

Xov. IS"' ()i-d<'i-(^d the 'I'l-cas' to p;iy. hy I )isi'(iiiiit. (iiit of llir l;i\'

for llic cun't'iit yc;ir. lo till' following' I'crsoiis. \'iz, :

£ s. .1.
i'o .loii.-irli.-iii :\[;irtin . . 1!) C (I

Ahi.'i Ai)iiot . . . 2 1(1 ;;

.hMvnii.-ili Al)l)oI . . 1 ;! li

Tlie foUowiug passage is taken from Haminontrs Kevolutionary
AVar Rolls of New Hampshire, page 241) :

( )ii the oO'ii of Xovt'inhiT. 177."). (icii. .lohii Sullivan [of Xcw llainpshifc].
who was ill i-oiiiiiiiiiid of the troops on Winter Hill, near l>oston. wrote a
letter to the Xew I]ani]>shire (dinmittee of Safety, from wliieli is extract-
ed the follow iiiii': "I liaM' hy eoiiiniaiid of (Jeneral \\'ashiu<;toii to inforni
yon that the ( 'onneetient forces ( Deaf to the entreaties ot their own as well
as all other otHcers. and regardless of the contempt w ith w hich their ow n
H'oxcrnment threatens to treat them on their refiirn) liaxc ai)soint(dy re-
fused to tarry till the first day of .laiinarw hnf will (piit the lines on fhe
G"' of Decemher. They have decei\cd us i\c their olticers hy preteiidiiiii'
there would he no difilcnlty witli them till they have got so near the close
of their term: and now. to their eternal infamy, demantl a hoimty to in-
dui-e them to tarry only the three weeks. 'I'his is such an insult to every
.Vmerit-an that wc are determined to i-(dease them at the expiration i>\'
their term at all hazards. A: find ourscdves ohliu-ed immediately ro supply
their places with 'ri-()0[»s from New Uampshire i\i: ^rassachusetts IJay."

'I'he numlier asked for from \ew iram|)shire was tlnrty-one companies,
of sixty-four men each, inchidiiiii' oHit'ers. and they were to serve until
.Jnnuarv 1."). 177(i. if re(piired. 'I'he ('ommittei> of Safety met Dec.i'. and
2,'a\'e orders tor enlistiny,' the men; and the business was jtrosecuted with
the usual iinimlsive and iiatriotic \iii-or of the \ew llaini)shire men of
tliat tinii'. The thirty-one coini)anies were raised and foiwardi'd in due
time, and were hiiiiily comi)liinented hy (ieneral \\'ashiiiiiton. In a let-
ter to tlie < 'ommitte*- of Safety, dated I »ec. S. 1 77.">. < Genera I Sidlivan says:

"(Jeneral \Vasliini>tini and all the othei' oHicers are ext remtdy pleased
it l»estoAV tlie liiu'liest enconuiims on you and your troojis. treely ac-
knowled»>'ing' that Xew Hampshire l'"orces for ttravery and res(dution fai'
surpass the other ( 'olonies. tt that no I'ro\ince discoxcrs so much zeal in
the t'ommon cause."

There are no roll< of these com]ianie< in the State House, and the ed-

UUKTOi\"s DIAUY. 9

ilor li;is hccii ;ililc lo liiid liiil <iiic clscwlicrc. tli;il of \]\o sccoiid (■(iiii]i;iiiy .
wliu'h \\ill follow ('ol. iJunilumrs rctuiii."'

'riic troops \v<'r(' iinistcrcd by Colonel .Joii;illi;iii liiiiiiliiiiii. who made a
ictuiii to the ('oimiiiftee of Safety of Xew Ilauipshire.

Ill the Appendix to the Kevolutionai-y Wai- Rolls of Xew Ilaiup-
shire are [)ul)lishe(l diaries written by Lieut. Jonathan Hurton of
AVilton. He gives "A List of C'apt. Taylors Company of Melitia,
"Which inarched from Amherst, Dec. 'S, 177.'). to .Toyn 'I'he Con-
tinental Army on Winter Hill." In that list we lind the following
names of men from \Mlton :

liietit. Nathan Ballard. Abraham llniton. Kitield Holt.

Serg. ,Iona. IJiirloii. JObeiiezer (handler. Amos Holt.

Corp. .laeob Adams. Ebene/.er ( fam. Xathaiiiel iras(dtiMe.

\Viliiam Abbot. .Iosej)li Ciam. Samuel Lovojoy.

William Abbot.. lun.. .lohn Dale. < 'aleb Putnam.

Uoorge lilaneliard. Enoch Fuller. Henj. Steele.

JJeuj. Blanehard. Timothy (Jray. Archelaus Wllkins.
Al)rali!iiu Butteiti(dd.

In lUirtou's Diary we also lind the roll of Capt. \Villiam Harron's
company in Col. Isaac AVyman's regiment, raised for the Canada
campaign in 1 77(;.

The fcjllowing are the \\'ilton men :

Lieut. .Tonatlian Uuitou. IVterllovey.

Serg. \athani(d Itaselline. Israfd Ingalls.

Serg. IJiehard Whitney. Aich(daus Keiinev,

Corj). .Josiah I'ai'ker. Aliijah Perry.

Kpliraim !>aker. William Parkhurst.

Abraham IJurtoii. Caleb PiUnaiu.

Charles Buttertield. Asa Peirce.

AVilliam Buttertield. Areh(daus Putnam.

Pliineas Farriuii'ton. Uenrv Stevens,

•lonatliau (Jreele. Theodore tStevens.

The following passage is taken from Revolutionary War Rolls,
page oO;! :

111 oliedieiiee to (he llonuorable the Pi'o\ineial ( 'oiiiii'ess of the (olony
of Xew liamiishire. holden at Lxelei' Dec. 27. 177').

\\'e have taken an At-count of the .Xmnher of the Sohiiers of oui'Town.
who served in tlie summer i)ast in the (ontineiital .Vrniy, and are enlisted
there for the year t-oming. And there is in Amos Fuller's Collection, the
number of Soldiers Six. Tlie sum of their Hates [taxes] is Eleven Sliil-
lings, Four Pence and Two Fartliiiigs; and in Richard Whitney's Collec-

Col. ]{iiniliKiii"s return ^bes the names only of the commissioned officers.— |S. I'utnnni.

94 HISTORY OF WILTON.

tion. the iiunil)or of Soldiers Five, llic simi of their l{:ites is Nine Shillings,

Five Pence and three Farthings.

Philij) Putnam ) Sel<'etnien
Nathan Eallanl j of Wilton.
Wilton ^[an-h y« 4"'. 177(i.

The folloAving' Persons' names are Inrlnded above, and tlie snui of their
Poll Tax is one Sliilling. Ten Penee and Three Farthings: Francis Pnt-
nani, Xathaniel Heseltine, Eben'' Carleton. John Varnnni, Jeremiah Holt,
Ebenez'' Kingsbnrv. Christoplier Martin. Jonas Perry. Daniel Brown,
Israel iro\vP\~~Xnrse Sawyer.

Wilton March y*" 4. IT'O.

Tlien the within named Pliilip Pntnam and Nathan Ballard. T'ersonall.v
Aj)pearing, made oath that the within is a Trne Just and Tnipartial Acc't,
according to the Best of their Memory and Judgment.

Oath aihninistered by

Jacob Abbot, Town ("lerk.

Fuller and \Vliitii('y were collectors of taxes.

This return was made to obtain an abatenient of the taxes against said
men.

COLONEL NAHLM BALDWIN'S REGIMENT.

This regiment was raised in September, 1776, for the purpose of
reenforcing the army in New York, the terms of enlistment " be-
ing one Months Advance wages to the Officers, A Bounty of Six
pounds to each non-Commissioned Otticer and private, 1 penny pr
Mile Travel, and one peuuy in Lieu of Baggage waggon." Tlic
regiment was in the battle at AVhite Plains Oct. 28, 1776, and was
dismissed early in December of the same year. In the Revolution-
ary War Rolls, page 416, is given the roll of Captain Philip Put-
nam's compan}^, which had been recruited from the Sixth regiment
of militia. It contains the following names of AVilton men :

Philip Putnam, captain. I'homas Town. Kbenezer Carlton, Abner
Stiles, Isaac Peabody. Jun., Tliomas Eussell. John Dale, E/ra Johnson,
Jacob Blanchard. Jolin ( ram. .Tun.. Benjannn Parker. Simeon Holt. Joseph
Cram.

COLOXKI. DAVID (MI.AIAX'S KEUIMENT. 1770.

f/leruhitioimri) War Rolls, /j. 4S6.J "

In answer to a re(piisiti()ii fiom (ieneral Washington, the Legislature
[of New Hami^shire] on tlie fourth day of December, 1776, "Voted.
That five hundred men be Draughted from the several Pegiments in this
State as soon as possible, and ofticered and sent to New York." Ou the

, COLONEL GILMAK's REGIMENT. i)5

day t'oUowing. the Legislatuif appointed the field otticers as given below.
The eaiise of this call was. that the teniis of service of the troops in gar-
rison at Fort (ieorge and 'I'iconderoga woidd expire on the last daj- of
Decend)er. and if their places were not filled those posts would fall into
the hands of (ieneral Sir (Jny Carleton.

FIKI.D AM) STAKF.

Colonel. David Giiniau, l'end)roke; Lt. Col.. 'I'honias Bartlett, Notting-
ham: Major, Peter Coffin. Exeter; Surgeon. Joseph Barnes, Litchfield:
Adjutant, 'I'hnrher: (^)uarterniaster. Sanmel Brooks. Jr.. Exeter.

In Ciipt. Williuin Walker's conipuny, of this regiment, were the
following" from Wilton : Elieuezer Perry, Lieut., Jacob Adams and
Jonathan Hartshorn. Jacob Adams was, that year, one of the
selectmen of Wilton.

The following note by Mr. Hammond is taken from the Revolu-
tionary War KoUs, page 480 :

The preceding rolls show that the State of Xew Hanipsliire perfoiMued
her sliare of the work of 1776 in full, as she had the year before, respond-
ing al)ly and patriotically to every call made upon her tor men. In sev-
eral instances her troops remained in t in^ sei'vice beyond their terms of
enlistment, notwithstanding Miey were of iie<'essity scantily fed and
clothed, and poorly i)rovided with protection against the inclemency of
the weather. In no instance, when the exigency of the occasion seemed
to require their services beyond their terms of enlistment, w^ere they ap-
pealed to in vain. 'I'he state liad tliree regiments in tlie regular or conti-
nental army under (it-neral Washington. \i/. : Stark"s, Poor's and Reeirs;
a regiment in the Canada service under Col. Timothy Bedel ; Col. Pierse
Long's regiment, which was stationed for the defence of Piscataqua har-
bor until it marched to reenforce the garrison at Ticonderoga in Februa-
rj^, 1777; and in addition it furnished five regiments of militia as reen-
forcements. viz.. Wyman's and Wingate's in July and August, Tash's and
Baldwin's in Septeml)er, and Gilman's in December.

Xew Hampshire troops participated in the battles at Trenton and
Princeton, and honored themselves and the state by their bravery and
good conduct . Al Trenton the regiment under Stark led one of the at-
tacking columns wliich was commanded by (leneral Sullivan.

Colonel .James Reed, of Fitzwilliam, conunander of the Third Xew
Hampshire regiment in the continental service, l)ecame blind as a result of
severe sickness, contracted wiiile in the line of duty at i-'ort (Ieorge, about
the first of Sept('nd)er. r77(), and was (•<)ns('(pienl ly (>l)liged to retii-e from
active service. He had been a l)rave and i-tlicieiit officer, and the loss of
his sight was a severe one to him and the cause. The continental con-
gress elected him to be a l)rigadier-general. August i). 177il. and on tiie
same day elected John Sullivan to be a major-general.

96 HISTORY OF AVILTON.

i;xi'i;a('I's fijo^i \\ai; itoi.i.s. — roNiiM i;i>.

The following note by Mr. Iliiinniond, and the accompanying
characteristic letter of General Sulliv:ui. are taken from the Revolu-
tionary War IvoUs, p. ^)2'2 :

CdloiH'l l);i\i(l < ;iliii;iii"s rcg'iiiii-ul \\;is enlisted in I )eeeinlier. ]77<>. .iik!
remained in the service ))eyoiul the time tor wiiich the men were enyntied.
at the earnest i-e(juest of fieneral Snllixan. It ]»artii'i|)ated in tlie battles
of 'I'renton and I'rineeton. and did excellent service in both. .\t the bat-
tle on the :i(>"' <d' Decendier. which resniti'd in the caplnre ot the Hessians
at 'I'renton. \e\v Jersey, this legiment was a portion id' the riiilit division,
wliicli was nnder tlie command ot ]\rajo.r-(ileiieral .John Snllivan. 'I'lie
conihict oC the Xew llamjishire and other Xew Kniiland troojis on that
occasion, and at Princeton on .lannary ."!. 1777. is set forth in the follow-
ing" extract of a letter from (ieneral Snllixan to Ifon. Mesliecli Weare.
dated Chatham. I'ebrnary 1.!. 1777:

•• I iiave lieen so full of Business that I could not tind I ime to w rite :
but still I have a more weighty reas<)u. which is. 'I'liat I cannot give an
account of a victory or defeat w here 1 was an actor without saying some-
■Jiing for or against mysJelf : and [ have a great aversion to wiiting against
myself, and to write in favor would be evidence of a v<'ry susjiicious kind,
indeed, I always had an aveision to fighting upon [tapei-: for I have never
yet fovuid a man w(dl x'ersed in that Iviml of tigliting. that would ]»ractis('
any other. Perhaps you may want to Icnow how your men (the Yanl-ices)
figlit : T tell you exceeding well when they haxc [iroper ofHcers. I have
been nmch i)leased to see a day api)roachiug to try the diti'erence betwciMi
Yankee cowardice and southern valor. The day has or rather the days
Jiave ari'ived. and all the (ieneral OtUcers allowed and do allow that the
\'ankees" cowardice assumes tlie sluipe of tru<' \alor in the field; and tlu'
Southern \alor appeals to be a composition id' boasting and conceit,
(ieneral Washington made no scruple to say publicly, the remains of the
Kastern IJegiments were the streuiith of his armv. thouuh then their num-
hers were, comparatively si)ealdng, but small : he calls tliem in front wlien
the Enemy are there: he sends them to tlie rear when tlie Enemy threat-
etis tliat way : all the general othcers allow them to be the best of Troops.
The Soutliern officers and scddiers allow it in times of danger, but not at
all other times. Believe me. Sir. the ^ ankeeis took Trenton Ixdore the other
Troops knew anything of the matter more than that there was an engage-
ment, and what will still suri>rise you more, the line that attacked th<>
Town consisted of eiglit hundred Vanlvces and there was 1(100 Hessians
to oppose them. At Princeton, when the 17"' Pegiment had thrown
.■!.">00 soutlieiai militia into the utmost confusion, a K'egimeut <>( \ aidvces
restored the day. This (ieneral _Mitllin confesseil to me: thmighthe IMiil-
adelphia papers tell us a different story. It seems to have been (luite for-
got, that while the f""' IJegiment was engaging those Troops that GOO
■^'ankees had the Tow u to take a^.ainst the 40"' and .■).">"' IJegiments. which

REORGANIZATION OF REGIMENTS. 97

they (lid without loss owing to the niiiuner of attack; l)ul oiiouiiii of tliis;
[ doift wish to n.'tloct; but beg leave to assure you tliat Xew?[)apers and
even Letters don't always speak the truth. You may venture to assure
your friends that no men fight l)etter or write worse than the Yankees, of
which this Letter will be good evidence.

"Dear Sir. T am. with uuich esteem, your most olxnl' servant.

•• Jtr' Sullivan.
'•Hon. Meshech Weare, Es(x.""

In L777 the three coutineuttil regiments from New Hampshire
were reorganized, as Mr. Hammond exphxins in the follow'iug note
taken from Revolutionary War Rolls, page 551 :

Early in the year 1777 the Legislature and Committee of Safetj- of this
state took ettectual means to recruit and reorganize the three continental
reginients. Orders for tlie enlistment of men were sent to officers in ser-
vice in tlie regiments, and to tlie colonels of ihe several militia regiments
in the state. Stark resigned the connnand of the First regiment; Poor of
the Second and Reed of the Third were promoted to be brigadier-gener-
als; and nuiny changes were made in the line officers in conseixuence of
resignations, deaths, sickness. &<:.. although most of those who were in
liealth remained in the field, and a large portion of the men reenlisted for
three years, or during the ^\ar. As reorganized in April, Stark's old reg-
iment retained its rank as the First Xew Hampshire Regiment, Reed's be-
came the Second, and Poor's tlie Third, conunanded respectively by
Joseph Cilley of Xottingham. Xathan Hale of Rindge, and Alexander
Scammell of Durham.

In order to till up the three continental regiments it was necessa-
ry to raise, from the militia regiments of the state, three battalions
of 2()(!4: privates. The eighth regiment of militia, " Moses Nichols,
Esq., Colonel," comprised those of military age in the towns of
Amherst, " Nottingham west," Hollis, Litchfield, Dunstable, Mer-
rimac, Wilton, Raby and Mason. In March, 1777, there were in
these towns 1252 men from sixte^en to fifty years of age ; 128 of
them belonging to AVilton. The whole regiment was required to
furnish 155 men. These were enlisted from Wilton :

"\Vm. Adrin Hawkins, Ebenezer Carlton, Joseph Lewis, Jacob Blanchard.
Clu-istopher Martin, Uriali Ballard, Amos Holt, William Pettengill, Josepli
(iray, William Burton. Xehennah Holt. John Moss, Xathaniel Xeedham.

In the roster of the otticers of Colonel Scammell' s regiment,
under date of April, 1777, Ave find these names :

Isaac Frye, of Wiltcjn. Captain, date of commission, XV>v. 7, 1770.
William Hawkins, of Wilton. Lieut., date of conuuission, Xov. 7, 177G.

HISTORY OF WILTON.

Names of men from AVilton foimtl iu muster roll of Capt. Isaac
Frye's company, Col. Scammell's regiment :

Ebenezer Carlton. Joseph (iray. .lacoh Ulaiicliard. Joseph Lewis,
Criali Balhird. Neheiiiiah IIoU. Amos IloU, Jan., WilHaui Pelteii.iiill.
Christopher Martin. WilUaiii Biirlon. Jolm ]M(»ss, Iclialiod I'err}-, David
Haseltine. llmiiplirey Grain.

The fore mentioned names engage for three years or during the war.

Abiel Abbot, ^faster & Pav Master.
Dee. 17'h, 1777.

The state bounty was £20, and the compensation for travel, 2(,1.
per mile.

We now give a partial list of Revolutionary soldiers from A^'il-
ton, followed by specifications of the services they rendered, either
personally or by substitute :

Abbot William,
Ballard Uriali,
Burton Jon'',
Bayle William.
Blanehard Joshua.
Blanehard BenJ»,
Bixby Jacob,
Bixby Lewis.
Buttertield Joseph.
Bridges John.
Blanehard Geo..
Buttei'tield Stephen.
Burton William.
Cram Eben'',
Cram John.
Cram Humphrey.
Cram Zebulon.
Carltou Eben,
Dale Timothy.

Dale J u",
Fletcher Charles.
Fletcher Oliver.
Oreele Jon*.
Holden James.
Hutchinson Sanniel.
Holt Amos,
Holt Sol".
Holt Xehemiah.
Holt Jeremiah.
Holt Enoch.
Holt Oliver.
Hazeltine Nathan,
Hazeltine David,
How Israel.
Hutchinson (Jeo..
Johnson Eben.
Keves Silas.

^Morgan Jonathan.
Putnam Philip,
Putnam Jacob,
Putnam Benj".
Perry Aliijah,
Perry Eben,
Perry Jonas.
Perry Eben. Jun..
Parker Josiah.
Russell Isaac,
*IJayes oi' Poyce Simon,
Sn)ith Uriah.
Stiles Alnier.
Town Thomas.
Will<ins I'riali.
Wilkins Archelaus.
Wilkins Archelaus, Jun.,
Whitney Oliver.

The foregoing list is thus indorsed :

The names in this list may be found in the annexed Sheet: being a
^lem" of certain services performed in \ew Ilauipshiret -.wul made by
Jon-' Buiton of AViltou. X. H.. Hillsboro. Co.

*I liave no (loiilit tlisit name should lii- Kcvcs Simon; a man of tliat nanie was living,
ten years or niore'l)ef'<)re the Ue\ olution, on tlie farm now owned by Mr. (ieorge Parkliurst.
In 1776 he was one of the selectmen, and died'in Isoj.— [S. fntnam.

fThls seems to be a mistake; tlie annexed list sliows the services wei-e all peilormed in
otficr states, excejjt two short teiins, one of six weeks and one of one montli, performed
at Portsmouth. — IS. Tutnam.

Tlic following is a copy of the auuexed sheet referred to :

William Abbot, Jun. Two nioutlis at AV'iutor Hill in the year ITTo, ono
month at Saratoga in 1777, three weeks at Ehode Island in 1780. Person-
al service.

Solomon Holt, one year in the Canada vojage by Xelieniiah Holt, ti\ e
months in tlie tliree years" service, for whieli he paid £4 3s. 4d.

*Siinou Bayes {Keyes?), nine months l)y Amos Holt, Jun., in the threo
years' voige, for which he paid £7 10s. By Peter Putnam, one montli in
tlie year 1780. at West Point, for which he paid £2 8s. the old Avay.f

Ensign Abner Stilet<, three months' personal service .at Xew York in the
year 177fi. By Uriah Ballard, Jan., six months in the three years" service,
for Avhidi he paid £.^.

Jacob Putnam, live months by Jonatiian Greele in the jTic voige, in tlie
year 177G, for whicli he paid £6. By Ebenezer Carlton, one-eightli of a
turn during the war. for wliich lie paid £3 15s.

Jonathan Burton, two montlis at Winter Hill in the year 177o. live
months at the JTie in 1770, tliree montlis at TJhode Island in the year
1780, Personal. By Ebenezer Carlton, one-fourth of a turn during the
war, for which lie paid £7 10s.

Jeremiah Holt, one month ijersonal at Saratoga in the year 1777. By
his son Jeremiah, eight months at AVinter Hill in the year 177.'i, eleven
months in the Canada voyage in 1770. By his son Enoch, six weeks at
Portsmouth in the j'ear 1779.

Capt. Philip Putnam, three months at Xew York in the year 177G, oiie
month at Saratoga in the year 1777, Personal. By Ebenezer Carlton, one-
fourth of a turn during the war, for which he paid £7 10s. By Ebenezer
Costou, one year at Boston and Eoxbury in 1776, for which he paid £2 8s.

iVilliam ^Bayle, Jmi., two months at Bennington in the year 1777, Per-
sonal.

. Uriah Smith, five months in the Tie voyage, in 177(), by Calel) Putnam,
for which he paid £(!. By Silas Keyes. two months at Bennington in the
year 1777. for which he paid 20 dollars.

Joshua Blanvhard, twelve months l)y Huinphrej' Cram in the three
years' service, for which he paid £12. Three weeks' personal service in
Khode Island in the year 1780.

Benjamin Blindiard, two months" personal service at Whiter Hill in the
year 177."). By David Hazeltine, six months in the three jears" service,
for which he paid £'y.

Charles Fletcher, eight months at AVinter Hill in 1775 ; ten months in
1770 at Xew York, Personal ; said service done in other States.

*Slioulcl be Simon Keyes.

f'The old way," 1 ain unable to exi)laiu.— [S. Putnam.

JTicouderoga.

§That name is spelt in various ways in the early records of Wilton, but for many years
it has been spelt Bales. — [S. Putnam.

100 HISTORY or WILTON.

NAMES OF REVOl.rTIOXAKY SOI.DIEKS. — CON'TIMKn.

Oliver Fletcher, two iiiuiiths at Ddrchcstcr in 177."). Pcisdual scrvit-o.
said scrvirc (louc in tlic other States.

Jacoh Bixhy. three niontlis* personal service at Boston, tortv days at
Stillwater: paid 18;^ dollars for one month and 2s. IJd. at Tie in the year
177G; paid 2() dollars and 4.S. towards the liire ot the liist thice years" men:
said service done in tlie other States.

Letcis Bixb'j. six months at Ifhode Island. 4 months at Cohoos. jx'isonal.
Paid 2() dollars and 4s. towards the hire ol^ tli<- Hrst three years" men, said
service done in the other States.

Oliver Holt, twelve months in the Canada voyage. Personal.

Jonathan Morgan, eight montli.s at Winter Hill in tlie year 1775, twelve
months in 177() in the Canada voyage. Personal service done for Pelham.

Benjamin Putnam, three years" personal service done for the other
States.

Lt. Joseph Butterfield, eighteen monlhs in the three yeai's" service liy
David Hazeltine. for which he [laid fl.").*

-/o/tK iJm^i/es. paid to Kbenezer .Johnson for one year's service in 177<i.
£4 10s.. and also paiil £(> 4s. in 1777. and also paid 2U dollars for half a
turn to Saratoga in 1777. Said service done in the other States.

Nathan Hazeltine. four UKtnths liy his son Da\id in the three years" ser-
vice, foi' which he paid after his son returned sixteen dollars.

Nathan Hazeltine. Jan.. four months by David Hazeltine in the ihiee
years' service, for whicli he paid 10 dollars.

David Hazeltine, foui- months in the three years" sci-vice. I'ersonal.

George Blanrhanl. two monlhs at Winter Hill in 177."). personal. !>>
Israel How, one month in tlie Canada voyage in 177<!. for which he paid.

Thomas Towne. two months at Bennington in the year 1777. personal.

Ahijah Perry, five months at the Tie in 177<!. I'ersonal.

Uriah Willins. two months in the year 177(1 in the Canada voyage.
Personal. By his brother Archelaus. four months in thi' Canada voyage
in 1770, and 21 days at Winter Hill in 177.">.

Dr. Ebenezer Perry^hy his son .Tonas. twelve montlis at \Vinter Hill:
by his son Ebenezer. eight months in the Canada voyage in i77H.

George Hutrhinson. by Oliver A\ hitney. six weeks in the year 177ii. for
which he paid 2()S. the old way.

Ebenezer Cram, two months at Winter Ilill in 177">. and two months at
Bennington in the year 1777, Personal.

Stephen Bntterjield. twelve montlis. by Nathaniel Hazeltine. in tlie Can-
ada voyage in 1770, for whieli he ]).tid £2 2s.

The heirs of Josiah Parker, live months at the Tie in the year 1770.
Personal. Mr. Parker died Oct. 22. 177<i. at Castleton. Vt. [He left the
army on the 10th. — Burton's Diary.]

The heirs of Isaac liussell. twelve month- in the Canada voyage in 1770.
[:Mr. Pussell died Sept. 1.1. 1770.]

Timothy Dale, twelve months l)y \\ illiam iJurton in the three years"
service, for which he paid £10.

TOWN RECORDS. 101

John D'lle. \\\i'\\(' iimnrhs hv .Tames Ilahliii* in tlic ( 'aiiada NoyagtMu
177(5.

Saimiel Hatchinsuiu iiiix' inoiiths liy Aiikis I loir. .Iim.. in the three
years' serviee, for wliieli he i)aiil £7 lOs.

■Mi)i C'rnm. six mouths l>y his son llum])hrey. in tlic tliree years" ser-
vice; by his sou Zehuloii. one month at Portsmoiuli. two monllis at l>en-
uington and tliree nioiiths at West Point.

Archclans WiJkins. six months hy his son Archeians at Canada in 177(1.
and twenty-one days at ^\■intel■ Ifill in 177.").+

We continue the record of the (loings of tlie town :

1780. Dec. ."). Chose Mr. William Abbot, .(r.. to represent the town of

Wilton and one mile slip and l)nxbury school fai'ui
in tlie (Jeneral AsscMobly of this state for the teian of
one year.
Also Mttfid. to empower said representati\'es to \'ote in
tlie choice of didejiates for the Continental Congress,
and also to join in i-alling a con\-ention to settle a
])lan of ii'ovenunent for this state.

1781. May 17. Aureealtle to a i-esol\-e of the (Jeneial Assemhly of

this state.
Fo<ed, to elect one ])erson to iei)resent the iiduihitauts
of this town in a couveution. to he liolden at Concord
on the tirst 'I'uesday of .June next, for the pui'iiose of
laying a plan, or system, of government for tlie fu-
ture happiness and well l)eing of the ])oople of this
state.
Chose y\y. .lonathan Martin to repnvsent the town in
the afoi'esaid comcntion.

Sept. l.'{. V^ntpfj. to repair the bridge ovei- the river b(dow -Mr.

Ephraim Teahody's. Chose Abiel Abbot, Jeremiah
Abbot and Ebeue/er Chandler to r<'pair said bridge,
and that the committee jiroceed to rebuild, or re|iair.
said bi-id^-e. and exhibit tlii'ir accounts.

(tct. .'to. Chose .Iose})h Abbot to ser\e as gj-and Juror. Whereas

the town tax for 17S(l was mad<' in old I'ontinent.al
currency, and there is a ]iart thereof i-emains unpaid,
and the currency is called in :
Therefoi-e T'o^rrt. that the constables for that year be
directed to rei-eive the out.standing taxes in Xew
Hampshire new emission, at the rat(» of one of new
(Muission for forty of the old continental cui'rency. or

* The luinif luiiloiilitcilly ^Imuld lie Holilcii. — j S. Tiitiiinn.

t Tlie following indorsement w as on the l)a(k of tlie fcn-egoina list from whicli this Wii.s
copied: " The within iStem. was made hy .Jonathiin Burton who was an otticer in the Xew
llaniiishire Militia from Wilton, N. H. See orijiinal In thi' I'apers of Huldah Uiiiton, ad-
ministratrix. July -1, IsaO, N. 11." — [S. Putnam.

102 HISTORY OF WILTON.

RECORD OF THE DOINGS OP THE TOWN.— CONTINUED.

1781. Oct. .'iO. ill silver money at the rate of one tor one Imudred

iuul fiixty of said continental currency.

Also, that tlie constables for the year 17S1 be directed
to receive the half tax in new emission, or in liard
mouey at the rate of one silver dollar for four of the
new emission.

Chose ]\[r. AVilliani Al)l)ot. .fr.. to represent tlie town in
the General ,\.ssenil)ly. to be holden at 7^>xeter on the
third Wednesday in Dtn-ember next, at three o'clock
in the afternoon, and empower him. for the term of
one year from their first meeting, to transact such
business and pursue such measures as they judg*'
necessary for tlieni.

1782, Jan. 8. Voted, not to accept of the form of govei-nment as it is

now proposed ; 69 against, and none for it.
Chose Kev. Abiel Fisk, Capt. Isaac Frye, Maj. Abiel
Abbot, Jacob Abbot, Maj. Greele. Mr. Moses Putnam,
Mr. William Abbot. Capt. Putnam, Alexander Milli-
ken. Capt. UaAvkin. Ens. Stiles, and Lt. Burton for a
committee to make such alterations in tlie form of gov-
ernment as they shall think proper, and lay the same
before the town.*

OB.TECTIOXS TO ARTICLES OF COXFEDKRATION. CONTATXKI I IX TTTK TOWN

UKCOKDS.

To the Honorable the Council and House of Pe])resentatives for the
.State of Xew Hampshire in General Court to ))e convened at Exeter on
the second ^Vednesday in Feb'-^' Instant.

The Petition of the Subscribers Hunildy Slieweth. that, ujjou hearing
the Articles of Coufederation and Perpetual T'nion jiroposed by the I'nited
States in Congress asseml)led. distiiu-rly and repeatedly I'ead. and mature-
ly considering the same. We find ourselves constrained, painful as it may
be. to Petition your Honors to examine with a candid and -lealous Eye the
following Aiticles of Confederation, and, if your Honors think best, to
Eemoustrate and Petition to the Congress of the United States respecting
the same. The Ai-ticles which sti-ike our ^Tinds wirli concei-ii are as fol-
lows :

In the Fiftli Article one clause is, that in determining (Questions in tlie
United States in Congress assembled. Each state shall have one vote.
'J'his has no I'egard to numbers or Projieitv: and we fear will have a
'J'endency to break our Inion. Tlu" Eighth Article directs that the (.'on-
tinental, or public, Chest shall be supply'd by the several States in i)ro-
])ortlon to the value of granted and surveyed Lands, improvements and
liuildmgs thereon.

* The records of the town from tliis (Lite until ls.51 wen- destroyed In the fire of Janu-
ary ^'0, 1«1.— [S. Tutuani.

PETITION TO GENERAL COURT. 103

This hns no voference to tlic No. of polls, live stock, stock in tiTido or
:ir Interest.

The Ninth Arlic-le. rlic lii-st ('l;nise. unints to the Cnired St;ites in Con-
.2,'rpss assembled, the sole nnd exchisive IJii-ht and jiower of Detenninin^-
on Peace and \\:\v. except in the Cases mentioned in the sixtli Aillcle;
Is it not a jiower (ireater than the Kinii' of (ireat Brittian in Council or
with the House ot Lords ever hady or greater than the seven United States
of Holland oave their StalholdersV May we not suppose' that llie :\rem-
hers of that Aug'ust Body, conscious ot the jJectitudc of tlieir own Inten-
tions, have no Boom left to Suspect the Inle<>rity of any future Mend)ers
tlK'i-eotv Uiu altho" w<- admit and Ixdiexc that ^'irtue tills the Breast of
eveiy ^lember ot that Honorable liody at this Day: ^^'e have no ^ood
Degree of certainty, that That will be always the Case.

If Caiiiida should acceed to this ( 'onfederation. Thert; will be fourteen
States: tlKMi it will take Ki-iht to make a ^lajority. In this Case it re-
([uires the Assent of inne. which is but one more than a bare ^Majority;
those Nine, admitting- there is a possibility ot theii- being vicious INfen.
may. in some future time, by one exei'tion involve us in War that may
cost us nnich Blood and Treasure.

Anotlu'r Clause in the Ninth Artlide mentions their Transmitting to
i'Xf^ry State a r'oi)y of the sums of Money they liorrow^ or Emit. We w oidd
wish they liad added (and the Ex])enditure or api)lying the same).

We. your petitioners, coidd wish an alteration in the above mentioned
Articl(»s. but. sensil)le of our unac(piaiiitedness with Politicks, we i)resumc
not to pi-escribe. but pray your llonois' Mature Consideration thereon.

Sign<'d in liehalf of the Town.

Joseph Holt. ' ^ Selectmen
Jon" Burton. - ot

.lohn Dale. Jun' ) AVilton.
Wilton. Fi-bo Kitii 177,s.

\t a r>egal Town ^Meeting, ludd at the ^Meeting House in Wilton on
Tuesday, the lOH' Day of February. A. D. 1778, hy Adjournment, after
hearing the abo\e petition repeatedly and distinctly read, and maturely
i-onsidering the same. Voted that the Stdectnien of Wilton in behalf ot the
T()wn Sign and transnnt to the (ieneral ('ouit.

Attest. Joseph Ihdt. Town Clerk.
.ToiijxAi. i)|- Till'. iioi'Ni: OF i;i:i'i;KSKNTArivi>. x. ii.

177(i. Dec. II. Voted, That Dr. Moses Nichols, of Amlierst. be Colomd

of the Sixth Begiment of Militia of this state: That
Capt. Noah Lovewell be Lieut. Colonel, and (^apt.
Samuel Chase be First Major, and Capt. Alnel A1)bot
be Second Major of said regiment.

1777. Jan. 1-1. Voted. That Eliphalet (Jiddings of Exeter. William

White of Chester. Otis Haker of Dover, Abiel Alibot.
Es<j.. of Wilton, Thomas S[)arliawlc. Esq.. of Walpolc,

104 HISTOEY OF WILTON.

1777. Jan. 14. and Samuel Emersou, Esq., of Plymouth, be muster-

masters and paymasters of the Continental Battalions
now raising in this State, and that the President
Xotify them aeeordingly.
Jan. ]."). Voted. 'I'hat the following Officers be appointed to

their Several offices, hereafter mentioned, in Col.
.Scammell's Eeg-inient, viz. : Lieut. William Scott, late
of Camdeu, to be a Captain: William Hawkins.* of
Wilton, First Lieutenant: Samuel P>redino-, of Tem-
ple, Second Lieutenant: Jason Eussell. of Mason,
Ensign.

1778, Jan. ;J. Itoll of Capt. Xathan Ballard allowed and pai.l £10,-).

]{oll of Capt. Philip l^itnam allowed and paid £172
.-)d. 3Iajor Abiel Al)b()fs account as muster-m.aster.
£3080, settled.

1780. Oct. I'J. Fo^e for the treasurer to discount witli Timothy Dale.

constable of AVilton.,37fi3 Dollars out of the tax of
said town; it being for so much advanced by said
Dale to Jonathan Martin by order of the Conunittee
of Safety.

1781. March ;50. Voted. That Xoah Lovewell. E^q.. of Dunstable. l)e aj)-

])oiuted First Colonel of the regiment of this state
lately commanded ))y Brig.-Gen. Xichols ; that Sam-
uel Chase, Esq., of Litchfield, be Lieut. Colonel ;
Abiel Abbot. Esq.. of Wilton. First Major, and Capt.
James Ford, of Xottingham West. Second Major of
said regiment.

PKTITIOK TO TIIK GENERAL COURT — CoriKU VUOM STATE J-ATERS.
To the Honorable Council and Asuemhly to he Coiirened at Conrord —

The Petition of us the Subscribers Huml)ly Sheweth That the Town of
Wilton hath for some time past l)een deprived of a Justice of the peace
(which we esteem ;i great privilege) And at a legal Meeting of the In-
habitants of said Town, Voted to recconnnend William Abbot, .lun' to
your Honors to be appointed to the Office of a Justice of the peace, a Com-
])Ilauce of this our request will greatly 0))lige your llundtle Petitioners —
.\iid a-; in dut}' boiuid Shall ever pray —

.Vbie] Al)))()t ) Selectmen of

•Ion-* Burton > Wilton in behalf

Abraham Burton J of said Town.
AVilton December lOUi ij^s^

At a legal Meeting of the Inhabitants of the 'J'own of Millon ([ualified
to vote in Town Meeting on Thursday 10"' of Xov" 1786: It was put to
Vote to see if the Towu would chuse to ha\e paper Mouej^ emitted ou the

*Tlif name is as I'ouud in the .lourual; it sliould be Williaui A. llawkius.— [.S. Putnam.

^^ ^:

PETITIONS. 105

plan the Gen' Court hath proposed — passed in tlic negative Unaninidnsly :
Voters present 47 — Put to vote to see if the Town would rhusp to make
any alterations in the proposed plan, passed in negativi' rnaiiimously.
Voters present 47 — A true Coppy from the minutes.

Attest Williaiii Ahliot J' T : Clerk.

I'KTITIOX TO THE ri.'ESIDKNT AND COUNCIL — COl'IKn Fi;():\[ STATIC

I'ArERS.

To His ExcelUniCii the Presidfut tC the Jlonontbh' Council of tlie Stdie of
Neio Hampshire —

Wf the Selectmen of Wilton for tho Present year — lieg leave to reeeom-
mend the following Persons for tield Otheers of the *2"i'' Itegiineiit ot
^Militia in <■' State fviz)

Capt. I'hilip Putnam of Wilton — tor Colonel
C'apt. Ezi'a Towne of Xew Ipswich — for T/ CoU^
Lt. Samuel (iragg of Peterborough — for Maj'
3Ir. Ahijah Wheeler ot 'J'eniple— for 2'"' INIaj''
Which we think give as great Satisfaction as any foui- .Men we can
think ot that will take s'' Commissions all things considered.!

William Abbot J' ) Selectmen
Joseph Al)bot [- of
John Dale J' ) Wilton.

liKLATivK T(» :\iii.rrrA afi-aihs.

Wilton June lO'H 1780.

May it please your Excellency — your lettei- y 17"' Instant was receiv'd
hv Col'5 Putnam, on which we are met c'i in answer — after Cona.-nitulatins:
" your Excellency on your arival to tlie jn'esidency of the State — hopeing
beleving tt Joyfully relying on your wisdom iS: (ioodness to stear us ct
Guide us in our Defiqualtys— AV> say, that we have taken all the Care in
our power, to have the Kegiment settled — & all the Difirxualty tliat we
know of was the resolve respecting y^ Xumber. time and our attention;
foi- the good of y Melitia hath, so far succeed, that we are now, able to
i-eturn a respectable Xmnbei- for otticeis and 1 )esier y*^^ Comis"s may < dm
by Col" putnam — ct Intreet the Blanks (if ConsistantJ may Com for the
remainder — as we hope to nuike a settlement very soon : unless some per-
sons return from Court should advance, a Xew Doctring — we are unable
to Determine the X" of each Comi)any today — and beg l)laid<; for it — the
returns we will make as soon as posable of those, Xot Xow returned — we
Intreet your Excellency to belea\e us when we say that, under tlie Diti-
qualty we have been brought into by s^' resolve: we have Done all in oui-

* 111 the volume of State Papers frmii wiiich tins was coi)ie(l tlie ligiires are 72. a mis-
t ike for l>2.

t This is not dated, but undoubtedly it was in irso. — [S. I'utnam.

106 HISTORY OF WILTON.

power to still the Complaint— ct rejoice that we liave .succeeded so well-
it remain yonr Exeellencys most oltedient \' very Humble Serv'"

Francis Blood
Ezi-a 'J'owne
S.'imiiel firaii'.ii'
\. 11. We have not had one of y« ^Felitia liook. l)nr rhink we shall in
dne time. We Desier Col" ])ntnam may make up liy writiiiii. or hy w oi'd
(•I month — all we have omitted.

SKAI.

(■OMMISSKIN dl' (A I' IAIN I'K'VK.

The Initcd States ot America in ( '(inii're.ss Assend)led.

l , , ) Tu Isaac Fnjc. Esquire: (4r('i-liii(j :

AVe, lJei)Oslng especial trust and coiitidcncc in youi- Patriotism. N'alor.
("onfidence and Fidelity, Do, by these presents, constitute and appoint
you to be a Captain in the Third Xew IIami)shire Regiment, in the Army
of the United States, to tak<' rank as such fiom the l^' day of January
A. D. 1770. '^'ou arc therefore carefully and diligently to disi-harge the
duty of a Captain, by doing- and perfoiining all manner of tlnngs there-
unto belonging. And we do strictly charge and reipiire nil officers and
soldiers, under your conuuand, to be obedient to your orders as Captain :
And \(>u are to observe and follow such orilers and directions from time
to time, as you shall receive from this, or a fntuif (.'oiigress of the I'uited
States, or Committee of Congress for thai i)ui-pose appointed, a Connnittee
of the States, or Conunander in Chief for llie lime !>eing of the army ol
the I'uited States, or any other yoni- -nperi(H- Otlicer. according to the
rules and discii)rme <d' War. in pursuance of the tru<t rejtosed in you.
'I'his Conunission to continue in force until revoked by this, or a futui'e
C'ono'ress. the Committee of Congress befoic mentioned, or a ronnuitt(^e of
the States.

Witness his Excellency John Jay Es([' President of the Congress of
the rnit(Ml States of America, at Philadelphia, the lO"' day of June 1771t.
and in the third year of our Independence.

Entered in the W'-.w OtHce nnd examined by the Hoard.

John Jay.

Attest — P. Soult. Secretary ot the i?oard.

* Isaac Frye. ot ^Vilton. was (^Miarler-master in the 'I'liird [New Hamp-
shire] Regiment, Col. James Reed, in 177."). On February 2nth. 1777. he
was appointed, by the Committee of Safety. " a Ca])tain in Col. ScanuneU's
Jieo-i instead of Cai)t. Si-ott. who detdines." This Conunission as here
o-iven bears date Jamiarv 1st. 177(1 or 1777 ( the figure ti beiui;- appai-eutly
altered from 7). ^March 4th. 1770, he was ordered to raise a company in
Col. ScanuneU's Piegiment and receive £800 out of the Treasury to pay
bounties. April 5th, 1782, he was appointed muster-master at Amherst.

Captain Frye was also breveted as major by an act of Congress,
and his commission was signed by Thomas MitHin on Nov. 27. 17-s.').

* Note liy Dr. lioulou in Stuto Paiiors, Vol. A'ITT, p. .50^.

CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES. 107

EXTRACT FROM IRVIXG'.S LIFE OF WASHINGTON.

At leiig-th ari'ived tlio wished-for iie\\>; of peace. A "jeiienil Irenty liail
lieen sio'iied ;ir Paris on the 20th of .lamiarv, 1783. An armed vessel, the
'J'rumipli. belonging' to Connt d" Estaiiig's S(]nadron, arrived at Philadel-
](hia from ( adiz, on the 23d of 31areh, bringing- a letter from the Marcjnis
de Lafayette to the Pi'esident of Congress, eommnnicating the intelli-
gence. In a few days Sir Guy (arleton informed Washington by letter.
that he was ordered to proclaim a cessation of hostilities by sea and land.

A similar proclamation issued by Congress, was received by AVashing-
ton on the 17th of April. Being unaccomi)anied by any instructions i-e-
spectlng the discharge of the part of the army with him. should the
measure lie deemed necessary, lie found himself in a i»erplexing situation.

The accounts of peace received at ditlereut times, liad raised an ex-
pectation in tlie minds of those of his tiooi)s that liad engaged '■ for tlie
war,'* that a speedy discharge must be the conseiiuence of the jiroclama-
tion.

Most of them could not lUstinguish between a proclamation of a cessa-
tion of hostilities, and a definitive declaration of peace, and might con-
sider any further claim on their military services an act of injustice. It
was becoming ditlicult to enfoice the disci])line necessary to the coher-
ence of an army. "Washington represented these circumstances in a let-
ter to the ])resident. and earnestly entreated a prompt determination on
the part of Congress, as to what was to be the period of the services of
these men, and how he was to act resiiei-ting their discharge.

One suggestion of his letter is expressive of his strong sympathy with
the patriot soldier. an<l his knowledge of what formed a matter of pride
witli the poor fellows, who had served and suffered under him. lie urged
that, in discharging those who had been engaged " for the war." the non-
commissioned officers and soldiers should l)e allowed to take with them,
as their own i)roperty, and as a gratuity, their arms and accoutrements.
"This act," observes he, '-would raise ])leasing sensations in the nunds of
these worthy and faithful men, who, from their early engaging in the
war at moderate bounties, and from their patient continuance under in-
numerable distresses, have not only deserved nobly of their country, but
have obtained an honoral)le distinction over those who. with shorter
terms, have gained large pecuniary rewards. This, at a comparatively
small exj)ense, would be deemed an bonoui-able testimonial fi'om Congress
of the regard they bear to these distinguished worthies, and the sense
tliey have of their suffering virtues and services. These constant com-
panions of their toils, preserved with sacred attention, would be handed
down from the present possessors to their children, as honorary badges
of bravery and military merit : and would probably be brought fortli on
some future occasion with pride and exultation, to be improved with the
same military ardor and emulation in the hands of posterity as they have
been used l)y their forefathers in the present establishment and founda-
tion of our national independence and glory." This letter despatched,
he notified in general orders that the cessation of hostilities should be

108 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Itrocliiiiiicd ;il iiixHi (111 llic follow iiiii' dny. .iinl rciil in rluM-veniiin- at the
lu^ad of cvtMV rciiiiueiit and oorp.< of the army, "after wliicli." adds he.
•'tli<' eliaplaiiis witli tlu^ several bri^'ades will render tliauks to Aliniiihty
(Jod for all Tlis mercies, jjartieularly for lii< merridiiiii' the wrath of man
to His own ii'lory. and causiiiii' the laii't- ot war to cease amonn' tin- iia-
tiitns."

Having noticed that this auspiciou> da\. ilic I'.tth of Ai)ril. completed
the eio'htli year of tlie war. and was the anniversary of tin* eventfid coii-
llict at I.(>xiiigton. lie went on in ii'eneral orders, to im])ress npoii the
army a ))ro])er idea of the dioiiified part they were called ni)oii to act.
•• 'I'he o-eiHM-oiis task foi- wliich we first tlew to arms heiiio- accomplished :
tin' liherties of oin- country beini!,- fully acknowledocd, ami firmly seemed,
ami the charaiieis of those wlm have iierscvered thiouiih every extremity
of hardsliij). sutlering, ami danger, heiuii' immortali/eil liy the illustrious
appellation of the patriot army, nothing now remains, hut for the actors of
this mighty t^cene to preserve a perfect, unvarying consistency of charac-
ter through the very last act. to close the dr;rma w ith applause, and to r<'-
tir<' from the military theatre with the same a[)i>rol)ation of angels and
men which has crow ned all their virtuous actions."

The letter w liii'li he had written to the president lu-oduced a resolution
in Congress that the service of the nuMi engaged in the war did not expire
until the ratification of tlie definitive articles of i)eace: but that the com-
niander-in-chicf might grant furloughs to such as he thought iiro[ier. aiul
that they should he allowed to take their arm- with them.

Washington availed himself fre(dy of this permission: furloughs w<'re
granted without stint : the men set out singly or in snnill ]iarties for their
rustic homes, and the danger ami iiicoliv<'uience were avoided of disliaiid-
ing large masses, at a time, of unpaid soldiery.

Xow and then were to be seen thiee or tour in a group, liound probably
to the same neighborhood, begiuling the way with cam]) jokes and camp
stories. 'I'he war worn soldier wa- always kindly received at the farm
houses along the ro;id. wheie he might shoulder his gun and tight over his
battles.

The men thus dismissed on furlough were ne\er calh'd upon to rejoi
the army. Om-e at home, they sank into domestic life: their weaixui.-
were hung over their tirei)laces : military trophic^ of the Ifi- volution to Ik
prized by future generations.*

ill

■ See Appendix I.

CHAPTER X.

ROADS AND BKIDGES.

The facilities for travel, intercourse and the coiniiumication of
intelligeuce were, of course, in the time of our forefathers of the
most meagre kind. Koads, one of the tests of civilization, were
few and poor. It might be said, as in the time of the judges in
ancient Israel, that "the highways vvere unoccupied," or, rather, that
highways were not yet opened, and that "the travellers walked
through byways." Foot paths from house to house, trails through
the forest marked by blazed trees, were the llrst conveniences of the
settlers. Men and women rode on horseback through the woods.
And as roads for carriages were gradually opened, fords and ferries
were slowly succeeded by bridges, antl logs and rails were laid down
for rough corduroy highways. The roads ran usually over the hills
and shunned the valleys, as the settlers lived on the heights and
avoided the lowlands as being marshy, damp and subject to floods,
and also more exposed to surprises from the Indians. The road'j
also crooked around from house to house, without reference to di-
rectness, so as to acconniiodate the settlers in the best Avay. It
was rather remarkable, and showed the high aim of the pioneers,
that, while they early set apart a" portion of the land beforehand for
the support of churches, schools and public improvements, they
left the roads and bridge-building to the immediate care of the
settlers, and to the tardy votes of the town. Koads would come of
themselves by stress of necessity, but the minister, the teacher and
the miller must be put beyond doubt or neglect. Breail for the
body, and bread for the soul, must be subject to no contingencies.

vSo, in due time, the roads came as they were forced ui)on the
public attention. But, as it was, there were ten appropriations for
the church and tlie schools, wliere there was one for bridges and

110

HISTORY OF WILTON.

roads. lu the extracts from the town records, previously given in
Chapter VIII. (pp. 69-71), will be found votes of the town, passed
during" the last century, for the appropriation of sums to be ex-
pended in the construction and repair of roads and bridges. It
will be observed that the persons taxed for these hnprovements had
the privilege of working out the tax at rates established by a vote
of the town, and that those who furnished oxen, carts or ploughs
were allowed credit at fixed rates for then- use.

At a later period, we see by the following taljulated appropria-
tions, drawn from the town records, how heavy a drain upon the re-
sources of the town was made by maintaining old roads and bridges,
and opening new ones, in the twenty-one years from 1825 to 1845
inclusive.

Wll/rOX l!OAL> BILL FOl! TWKNTY-OXE YEAKS.

YEAR.

NEW ROADS

AND

BRIDGES.

REPAIRING
ROADS.

REPAIRING
BRIDGES.

TOTAL,

1825

.?208

■$7

.$113

.$329 15

1826

750 44

793 44

1827

187

145

357 55

1828

528

■A

138

669 17

1829

207

278 15

1830

76 26

1831

2205

270

2476 16

1832

165

260 72

1833

85 77

1834

299

324 02

1835

18 30

296

314 38

1836

1883

121

2029 99

1837

2257

520

2846 20

1838

1072

694

188

19.55 29

1839

298

379

238

915 70

1840

394

616

1068 61

1841

2194

619

2904 81

1842

3579

411

229

4220 88

1843

693

1 06

151

950 52

1844

360

Oil

112

.565 81

1845

.$16,.543

262

239

501 83

.$2,.599

$4,781

.$23,924 41

The foregoing table of the expense of the town of Wilton for
making new roads, improving roads, and building and repairing
bridges, for the twenty-one years therein stated, does not include
the highway tax. The town raised, the same years, a tax for repair-
ing highways of from six to eight hundred dollars annually.

The account from which the foregoing was copied was made

ROADS AND BRIDGES. Ill

ill 1846, by JoiiJitliau T'arkhiirst and Oliver Barrett, at that time
selectmen of AVilton, and was found in tlie "Old Chest" of records.
The hibor of l)realving out the roads, when drifted, and of keeping
them open in the winter during those years was voluntary, and that
labor and expense were not made matters of record, though the
amount was large.

But the truth about the Wilton roads has been stated so forci-
bly by Isaac S. Whiting, Esq., in his address at the dedication of
the Town Hall, that we cannot do better than (juote his words :

But tlie greate^ft corponilc work of the c.-irly days was the ruads. Xo
hotter mark of tlie proiiress ot ;i people in eiviH/;itioii can l)e had than its
means of communication. .Judged by this standank tlie early inhal)itants
occupy advanced ground. Hardly one of tlie ;iiunial half-do/en town
meetings passed without accepting a road. The rapid settlement of the
lands necessitated the occupation of remote districts. The whole of the
town was settled over early, and roads hy whicli to get from jilace to place
were indispensable. Doulitless we must not set too high a value upon
these early road-makings. Their very immlx'r would ])reclude much ex-
cellence, ami there is no mention of appropriations. Two days' work
upon the roads for every man was all that was voted to repair them. The
trail, oi' the rude jiathway, was all that was needed tor the horse w ith
panniers, or for the ox-cart. 15nt Ihe real road l)iulding of the town, and
what I consider its greatest work until now. did not l)egin luilil 1S2.'"). and
ended iii 1852. Wagons had now roni<' into general use. and the old roads
leading mostly to the centre of the town had been widened and smoothed,
and the larger streams spanned witli bridg<'s. But now a spirit ot im-
provement and enter|)rise s(M in, and new I'oads were pushed through to
open new lands, and sei\e as thoroughfares for ourselves and t)ur neigh-
bors above to Boston. Tlie I'eterborough road, the Forest road, the Mil-
ford road and others were Ituilt in this period, and the grade lesseneil on
some of tlie old ones. Familiarity with these means of travel, that most
of ns were l)orn to, blinds us to theii- importance and to the immense la-
bors our ancestors endured to ol)taiii them. It. as we ride along with our
sleigh full, we would l)ut consider that once the pathway was as rough as
the pastures and woods and bouldei^s on either side, we should realize
the debt we owe to our forerunuei's. Without them business would be
impossible, and social Intei-course all but unknow n. The records are not
comjilete, and my examiuation with ^fr. Tut nam lias not been exhaustive,
but we figure up jS'JOUO spent in tiiese years for construction and land dam-
ages. The real cost must have been several thousand more, — jierhaps not
far behind the cost of this l)uilding [the Town ll:ill. .•!!20,()()()]. If I men-
tion the railroad, which was built by private enterprise, I have named
nearly all the public institutions that lielong to pioneei- work.

It was not strange, therefore, that a vigorous opposition should
be made to new enterprises in road building, when the town was

112

HISTORY OF WILTON.

already in debt, and a large outlay must be made. The old system
of going over the hills required to be changed, and the roads must
follow the valleys. Teams and stage-coaches demanded lighter
grades. The extension of better roads into the country from be-
low, and the increase of the transportation of heavy merchandise
by the establishment of manufactories in towns above, rendered
new valley roads a necessity of the times. It was under the stress
of this revolution that the roads by the Souhegan River, the Gam-
bol Brook and Stony Brook were made, which are still ^ery useful,
though the immediate occasion that called them into existence has
passed away. At the same time some of the hill roads have grad-
ually been discontinued or disused.

Perhaps no better picture of the conflicts of parties upon the road
questions of sixty or seventy years ago can be given than in the
gentle satire, written at the time by a native female bard, which
we give below. No embers remain now in the cold ashes, wliich it
might be dangerous or discourteous to disturb, but the fun and
the laugh remain as we recall the vigorous contests of the friends
and the opponents of the new undertaking.

KOAD I'OETKY.

Siiys S li "a villiigu I will Imilil,

"Oil Cjaiiibrel'.'s banks it shall arise;
" With iiicrt'haiKlize it shall be fillVl.
" With storus, and mills, and lactoriis,

" To make a road without a hill,"
He said likewise, "do I intend;
" Kroin Peterborougli to my vill.
■' And down to H n"s to end."'

To bring abont tlie grand design.
He thought it best to seek for aid.

So, he and L e combine.

And to the court petition made.

Says 8-

— s "shoulil the road be laid,
' Such sums of money 1 must spend,
" To Concoid, I am mueli afraid,
" The town will not again me send.

" And though all falsehood I detest.
"To gain applause, I'll try my skill;
" I'll make remoustrance.s the best
"Of all, that ever wield the quill."'

So, "honoured sirs, 'twould not be wise,
" To make this dark, and dreary road;
" 'fhro' bogs, and fens, and woods if lies,
" There unmolested dwells the toad.

erk

' 'Twould make the stoutest Town

(piake,
'To travel through this ilaiigerous way;
• Tliere dwells the frog, and speckled sn'aki
'There night l)irils -^creani. and s(|uiirel

play.

'• There not a lonely hut is seen,
'■ Xor sheds the sun its cheering rays,
'• Xor smiles a single hamlet green,
" But frightful Ignvs fatnl blaze;

" And not alone by night they burn,
" But here, amid tlie brightest day.
" These dread delusive phantoms turn.

■ The lonely ti'aveller from his way.

'•And now kind sirs. I beg your aid.

" This threat'niug evil to prevent ;

"So great's the expense, 'twould not be

liai<l,
'■ But all our money would be spent.

■• Far better climb the loftiest hills.
• Where beauteous rocks in cones jirise;

■ Where tleecy snow, in liugest piles,

■' Like Andes' summits pierce the skies."'

Some few the road did advocate.
With earnest zeal their cause support,
riie conference lasted long and late :
The wise Committee made re|)ort.

" We've thought the matter o'er and o't r
' We wish no party to otteiid.
" We think it best to say no more.
" And in oblivion let it end.

■ " lis very true, the place we \ iew"d.
•■ No frightfid spectres cross"d our way.

• rerhaps conceal"d in yonder wood.
" Thev hid thcmsehcs from face of dav.

czJ £e^ ei^^>

^^^i^ eyt'^^-'^-Z.^r^'

ROAD POETRY. 113

" Wt" cannot once the 'squire dispute, " When airy phantoms cease'to be;

" Nor ^i^sculapins, learn'd and wise, " And dark deceit no more shall reign,

" Nor Judge, nor Vulcan, will refute, " When falsehood from the earth shall tlee,

" For we their friendship highly prize. " This road shall stretch along the plain.

"Some evil which we cannot scan, " But ere this peaceful happy time,

" In caves, or mountains lui-k unseen : "Th' important subject we sus])end;

"Though there we saw the smoothest plain, " The peojjle must o'er mountains climb,

" And pleasing forests dress'd in green. " And road, and village have an end."

But the road was finally built.

CHAPTER XI.

MAIL ROUTES AND CARRIERS — STAGING POST OFFICES AND

POSTMASTERS.

The first mail route through Wilton was established about 17<s.s,
and rau from Keeue to Portsmouth over the old county road through
the north part of the town. The first post-rider was Ozias Silsbee.
He was succeeded by Messrs. Wright, Philips and Thayer. The
latter died very suddenly in Amherst, August''4,''lH07, of injuries
received in a playful scuttle with Mr. Cushing, the editor of the
Farmers' Cabinet.

Mr. Daniel Cibbs succeeded Mr. Thayer and carried the mail on
horseback for about eight years. The mail-pouch was about two
feet long, and from eight to ten inches wide, but was amply sutti-
cient to carry the postal matter that passed over the road at that
time. The post-rider had also a [)air of saddle-bags, each end of
which would hold nearly, or quite, half a bushel, in which he car-
ried newspapers and express packages. He passed down through
Wilton on Sundays, and back on Thursdays. During the War of
1812 he was accustomed to call out the news, good or bad, to those
who were within hearing, as, for instance, "Glorious news I Com-
modore Perry has captured the whole British fleet on Lake Erie ;"
or, if the news were bad, with a melancholy expression he doled out,
" Bad news ! The British have captured and burned Washington."

About 1816, Mr. Gibbs commenced driving a wagon ; lie did a
good deal of express business and had some passengers. He was
prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties. Mr. Gibbs died in
Peterborough, September "25, 1^(24, at the age of seventy-three, from
l)eing thrown from his wagon on the rocks beneath the great bridge
over the Coutoocook, his horses backing off the bridge. • jMr. (4ibbs
lived but a short time after the accident.

STAGING. 115

Before the establishment of the post. office in 1816, a number of
copies of tlae New Hampshire Patriot, published at Concord by
Isaac Hill, and one or two copies of the New Hampshire Sentinel,
published at Keene by John Prentiss, were brought to subscribers
in Wilton by Mr. Gibbs. But the majority of the people took the
Farmers' Cabinet, published at Amherst by Richard Boylston. Each
subscriber, in his turn, went to Amherst for the papers on Satur-
day, and distributed them on Sunday. Mr. Boylston kept the tally,
• and marked, each week, the paper of him whose turn came next.
Letters, too, were forwarded to the one whose turn was next in
succession, and thus reached the post office at Amherst. Verily,
those were primitive times.

About the time of Mr. Cxibbs's death the route was changed from
the north road to the road through the middle of the town. Mr.
Gibbs's son took the route and soon commenced running a two-
horse carriage, which continued until the seventh of July, 1828,
when the four-horse coach line from Keene to Nashua was started.

STAGING.

The "team" from Nashua to Milford was owned by Mr. Fred-
eric Lovejoy ; the team from Milford to AYest Wilton, by Mr.
Joseph Holt ; that from West Wilton to Peterborough was owned
by Mr. Samuel Smith, Mr. Silas Winn and Mr. John Holt, and the
team from Peterborough to Keene, by Messrs. Senterand Cunning-
ham. In a few years Mr. John Holt and Mr. Lovejoy owned the
line from Peterborough to Nashua, and Mr. Holt was the driver.
About 183o, an accommodation line was started, and then there
was a coach each way through town daily. On the opening of the
Boston and Lowell Railroad to T^owell, the stage line was extended
to Lowell, and so continued until the railroad was built to Nashua.
The line was shortened as the railroad was_^extended to Danforth's
corner,. Milford and Wilton. The railroad was opened to Wilton
in December, 1851.

The drivers who had served the longest terms up to that time
were Mr. John Holt, Mr. John Leach, Mr. Benjamin P. Cheney,
who has since been extensively engaged in the express business and
is now a wealthy man in Boston, and Capt. Porter. The line had
been for a number of years in charge of Col. Fox of Nashua.

After the opening of the railroad to Wilton, the proprietors ran
their stages from Wilton to Peterborough until October, d 870, when
they sold out to the railroad company ; the line was then continued

116 HISTORY OF WILTON.

under the direction of Mr. John Dane of Hancock, as agent, nntil
the opening of the raih'oad to Greenfield, about the first of January,
1874, took the last stages from Wilton.

The Forest road in Wilton was built in 1831. In the spring of
1832, Mr. Joy of Nashua started a coach on the Forest road and
the line was continued to Charlestown, New Hampshire. Prior
to 1837, there were connected with the lower section of the line,
that between Wilton and Hancock, beside Mr. Joy, either as pro-
prietors or drivers, Mr. Irani Woods, two young men liy the name
of W^yman, Mr. Pennock, Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. George W. Tar-
bell and probably others ; Mr. Dane and Mr. Tarbell being the
proprietors. In December, 1837, Hon. Iliram T. Morrill, now of
Nashua (1>«85), bought Mr. Tarbell's interest, and soon after Mr.
Dane sold his to Mr. Phelps, and in 1840 or 1841, Mr. Phelps sold
to Mr. Hall.

Mr. Hall retained his interest but a short time, when Mr. R. R.
Howison and Mr. Howland Prouty, both now of Milford, became
partners of Mr. Morrill. After a few years Mr. Prouty sold to
Morrill and Howison, who retained their interest in the line until
they sold it in October, 1870, to tlie railroad company, who ran the
line until the railroad was opened to Greenfield. Among the drivers
on this line, other than the pro})rietors, were Charles Leavitt, El-
bridge Harris, Ezra Pettengill and Mr. Sanborn. During the time
the stages ran through Wilton they were well patronized, and at
times had to run extras.

While Morrill and Phelps owned the line an accident happened,
about three-fourths of a mile from the depot, at a corner in the road
near the foot of a moderate descent. AVater had flowed over the
road and had frozen ; one of the horses slipped upon the ice, and
horses and coach were precipitated from the bank upon the river
ice, three feet below. The driver and the passengers escaped with
slight injuries, one horse and the coach were considerably damaged,
and the town had to pay something over one hundred dollars for
damages.

The road from Gray's corner to Greenville was completed in 1843.
Soon after a mail-route was established from Manchester to New
Ipswich, passing through Wilton. A part of the time four-horse
teams, and some of the time two-horse teams, have been used on
the route. A few years since, that part of the route between Mil-
ford Village and East Wilton was discontinued. The names of some
of the drivers through Wilton were Porter, Thomas, Sanborn, Batch-

MAILS.

117

elder. At the present time, 1884, the mnil is carried with one horse
and carriage.

Soon after the railroad was opened to Greenfield, the route from
West Wilton to East Wilton was established, and Mr. Abiel F'rye
had the contract for carrying the mail daily over the route until his
decease, June 21, 188(5.

POST OFKK'KS ANI> POSTMASTERS.

The Wilton post otHce was established October 1, 181(;. The fol-
lowing list is given b}- the Department at Washington, consisting of
the titles of the post offices in different parts of the town, the names
of the postmasters, and the dates of their appointment :

OFFICE.

POSTMASTKRS.

DATE OF APPOINTJIENT.

John Mack,

October 1, 1816.

Elijah Stockwell,

Februarv 21. 1824.

ilcrvev Barnes,

April 4, "1820.

Stephen Abbott,

Fel)niarv 27, 182S.

Wii/rox

Ezra Buss,

.Tanuarv"4. 18:^7.

Timotliy Parkhurst,

.Januarv 3, 188S.

Isaar Blanchard,

.hme 7," 184.5.

Vaniuui S. Holt,

Februarv 9, 18.50.

To Wilton ('<*iiti'e,

April 16^, 18.56.

Wilton C;kntke

V^aruuui 8. Holt.

■ April 16, 18.56.

LATi: AViLTON

To West Wilton.

April 23, 1856.

West Wilton

Varnum S. Holt,

A])nl 23, 18.56.

LATE

Philander Ring,

April 21, 1858.

Wilton Centke

Henry O. Saroent.

December 10, 1877.

Ballard Pettengill,

February 24, 1831 .

William M. Edwards.

.Januarv 4, 18,33.

East Wilton

•John Merrill,

Januarv 19, 1835.

AVilliam M. Edwards.

Octol)er 30, 1835.

KSTAHI.ISHKI)

E])hraini Hackett,

Februarv 14, 1839.

.Fames M. Dane, --

Februarv 17, 1842.

Feh-v -24. isin

AllxM't Farnsworth,

Julv 22, '1853.

Leonard Petteiio-ill.

Februarv 28, 18.54.

To Wilton,

April 16', 1856.

Wilton

LATE

East Wilton

Leonard Petteno-Ul.

April 16, 1856.

Xathan Flint,

Julv 20, 1861.

William .L Bradbury.
Alfred E. Jaques,

December 14, 1869.
August 4. 1875.

CHAPTER Xir.

SOCIETIES, LODGES, GRANGE, AND GRAND ARMY POST.

A great change has takeu place in the commuuity during the last
fifty years in regard to social life. In the earlier times, when the
population was sparse, and families lived remote from one another,
and the means of communication from neighborhood to neighbor-
hood w^ere more ditticult, the opportunities of social intercourse
were more rare than in this day of railroads and steam navigation.
In country towns, too, the improved roads and carriages and in-
creased facilities for neighborly intercourse have multiplied the ties
of human acquaintance and brotherhood. Hence a multitude of
clubs, societies, lodges and granges has sprung up, and has in-
augurated what mav be called " the social age " or •' the age of as-
sociation." This has come to be what may be called a species of
secular church. It is the forerunner of the more perfect spiritual
union of mankind, established, not merely on grounds of temporal
but of eternal interest and of diviner l)rotherhood.

THE LITERARY AND 5IORAT, SOCIETY.

One of the earliest movements of this kind was the establish-
ment, in 1815 or 181G, of the Wilton "Literary and Moral Socie-
ty" by the pastor of the town, Rev. Thomas Beede. He was aided
in this undertaking by a number of intelligent and public-spirited
young men and women, who desired a higher education and a
culture beyond what the schools and academies could give. A de-
scription of this institution can best be given in the language of
one of its members, Rev. Warren Burton :

The uienil)ers of this <';irly .society consisted ot younsi" ,si,'t''ifl'''"*'" •""!
♦ ladies, :uid tliere were a tow boys, like iiiysell'. wlio liad a iiti'rary taste

LITERARY SOCIETIES. 119

such a:« to admit them to a companionship with their superiors. We met
at first once a week or fortniolir at Mr. Beede's house, and then in a par-
lor in the Buss House (or iiotel). as it used t<> be called. Wf should have
been lost In the spaciousness of a hall.

There our revered pastor presided over us luider the title of lustruct-
0I-, if I rigliMy remember. We discussed literary and moral questions
orally oi- by writino-. Indeed, subjects were oiven out at eacli meeting to
be written uiion against the next, and the <'ssays were read l)efore the so-
ciety and then put into the liands of the instructor to he corrected.
These were to me. and I doubt not to the rest, deUghtful meetinffs. Im-
pulses were given there, which in the chain of causes must. T think, have
been of valuable consecpicnic

Among those whose names can now be recalled as belonging to
this early society are Samuel Abbot, Samuel Barrett, Phoebe Abbot,
Sarah W. Livermore, the Misses Rockwood, Warren Burton, Abuer
Flint and otliers. lipsides the family of the pastor, Kev. Thomas
P>eede.

riiK LvCKi^r.

The next association was the Wilton Lyceum. This was a more
general and popular organization, designed not for a special few
but for the l)enetit of the public at large. Its organization was
simple, and its meetings were held in what was called the "Brick
Hall," over Messrs. Haskell and Whitney's store. A chairman, a
secretary and a treasurer, with a b(xard of directors, constituted the
management. The employment of home talent was encouraged,
and seldom, if ever, was any paid lecturer called to the stand. A
certain person, then a student in Harvard College, recollects sivins
a lecture on "The Diffusion of Useful Knowledge," and another
lecture on "The l^russian System of Popular Education," before
this august body. Debates on the questions of the day sometimes
took the place of a formal address.

THE LECTURE BUREAU.

The next step in the social and educational development of the
town was the still more popular assembly, gathered to hear some
distinguished lecturer from abroad, a Chapin, a King, a Giles,
a Parker, a INIann, a Taylor, or a (4ough, either sent out by
some Lecture Bureau, or coming on his own responsibility. But,
in general, the expense of these lecturers from abroad was too
heavy for small country towns. Still later the system has been
worked up to the establishment of courses of lectures, interspersed

120 HISTORY OF WILTON.

with musical, humorous and dramatic entertainments. Circulars
are issued at the beginning of the winter campaign and courses are
arranged for the season. Tickets are issued for the season at a
fixed price. In some towns the method is adopted of replenishing
the church treasury by resorting to such courses of lectures. Thus
the concert and the theatre are subsidized in the support of religious
institutions.

By all these methods the sociability and intelligence of society
have been advanced. A new leaf has been turned over in civiliza-
tion, and, if great and crying evils exist in society, we cannot tell
how much more general and malignant they would be if no social
methods were put in train for the improvement and cordial under-
standing of society, regardless of church, caste or party.

MASONIC'<

The first Masonic service in Wilton of which we have any ac-
count was the funeral of Deacon John Burton, who died Novem-
ber 18, 1816, aged 78 years.

Rev. Thomas Beede (a brother Mason) preached a sermon at the
meeting-house, and conducted the other customary services ; then a
procession was formed, which, to the music of three or four clar-
ionets, two bassoons, a fife and a muffied drum, proceeded to the
north cemetery, where the Masonic ceremonies were performed.

He was one of the first deacons of the church in Wilton, and sat
in the deacons' seat, and, for many years, took the lead of the
singing. He had a clear, strong tenor voice, and was noted for
song-singing, " Burns's Farewell" being his favorite. Probably no
resident of AVilton ever rode so little in proportion to what he
walked as did Deacon Burton. His interest in Masonry was well
exemplified by his habit of walking to Amherst to attend Lodge
meetings, it being not less than ten miles from his home.

The following notice was published in the Farmers' Cabinet :

MUSICAL AXD MASONIC.

Xotiee i? hereby given that there will be a public exhibition of Sacred
Music at Wilton on Monday, the 28th day of December next. The pieces
selected for the occasion are : " Stand ITp. my Soul," '• Blow the Trump-
et," " The Dying Christian, ■' "Sheffield," '-The Heavens are Telling," and
" Strike the Cymbal." A dinner will he provided, and a discourse is ex-
pected from Rev. Mr. Fay of Harvard, Mass. The brethren of Bethel
Lodge, No. 24, and of Benevolent Lodge, No. 7, will celebrate the birth
of St. John the EA'angelist at the same time and place.

FREE MASONS. 121

Tlie followiug officers are appointed to preside over thein on that day,
viz. :

Thomas Beede, ^Jfaster; Aaron Whitney, S. Warden; X. D. Gonld. J.
Warden; Ira Wilkins, Treasurer; Henry Isaacs, Secretary; Setli King
and Josiah Converse, Marshals ; J. Pritchard, S. Deacon ; John Secom)).
J. Deacon; J^athaniel Emerson. Thomas Bennett, Asa Pritchard and
Jonas C. Champney. Stewards; Joseph Boutelle and James Kennedy, Ty-
lers; Rev. Mr. Fay, Orator, and Pev. 3Ir. Hill, Sul)stitule.

The procession will l)e formed at tlie Hall of Messrs. Haskell and
Whitney, precisely at eleven o'clock, A. ^I., and will move to the meet-
ing-house where the services will be performed. Dinnei- is to be on the
table at half-past two, P. M.

Brethren of neighboring Lodges are invited to join in the celebration :
and all Masons are requested to give a punctual attendanc(> with tiieir ap-
propriate Jewels and clothing.

Tickets for the dinner may be hail at the store of ^Messrs. Haskell and
\Vhitney on the dav of the celebration at one dollar cadi.

Wilton. Xov. -inth. 1818.

On the day of the celebration tlie meeting-house was full. Dea.
N. D. Gould, then of New Ipswich, the most celebrated singer of
his time in these parts, led the siugiog. Of the Masons present,
many of them wore the Royal Arch insignia.

The early Masons of Wilton were Dea. Burton, Rev. Thomas
Beede, Col. Jonathan Burton, Capt. John Burton, Joel Abbot,
p]sq.. Dr. John Putnam, John Dale and probably others.

In 182.5, several machinists came to Wilton, who were engaged in
setting up the machinery for the old factory, of whom George Kin-
son, Ira Bliss, John A. Burnham and Joseph Putnam were Masons.

About 1826, Asa Jones, Ephraim Brown, Moses and Charles
Spalding, Joseph B. Howard, Eliphalet and Abiel A. Putnam and
Luther Dascomb were made Masons in Benevolent Lodge, No. 7,
at Milford.

At the annual session of the Grand Lodge of the state of New
Hampshire in .June, 1827, a charter'~was granted to organize a lodge
in Wilton, liy the name and style of Clinton Lodge, No. 02. The
hall over the brick store, now the house of Mrs. Henry Newell,
was fitted up to accommodate the Lodge, and November 30th, 1827,
the Lodge was consecrated and the officers were installed.

The officers were ;

Thomas Beede, W. Master; George Kinson, Sen. Warden; Abiel A.
Putnam, .Tun. Warden ; John Dale. Treasurer; -Jonathan Burton. Secre-
tarj-; Eliphalet Putnam, Sen. Deacon; Charles Spalding, .Fun. Deacon;
Jacob I^ovejoy and Joseph B. Howard, Stewards; Moses Spalding, Mar-
shal, and Ephraim Brown, Tj-ler.

122 HISTORY OF WILTON.

The first work iu the Lodge was at the regular communication,
January 2cl, 1828, when Samuel King, William Emerson and Sew-
all Putnam were initiated in the P2ntered Apprentices' Degree.
They each subsequently took tlie Fellow-Crafts' and Masters' De-
grees.

The Lodge flourished for a year or two, when the INIorgan ex-
citement gave JNIasonry a check. The Lodge continued to meet for
about five years, but there was little or no work done after the first
two years. Those who were JMasters of the Lodge during that
time were, Rev. Thomas .Beede, George Kinson, Elijah Stockwell,
Ephraim Brown and P^liphalet Putnam.

There were no meetings of the Lodge for about twenty years,
when the Lodge was reorganized under the orioiual charter, was re-
consecrated, and the officers were installed by tlie Grand Lodge, M.
W. Alfred Greele, Grand Master.

The Lodge has had its times of prosperity, as also of adversity ;
twice the hall that it occupied has been burned, with its furniture,
and its records prior to February 2d, ISOT, have been destroyed.

Of those who have held the office of ]NL\ster. of the Lodge since
its reorganization, are Madison Templeton, Caleb AV. Hodgdou,
Lewis Howard, Charles H. Burns, Thomas H. Dillon, Edmund P.
Hutchinson, William A. Davis, (ieorge S. Neville, David A.
Gregg, Daniel Cragin, David W. Russell, John Gage, William PL
Barnes, Rufus F. Stowe, Frank I^. Hutchinson, William H. Put-
nam and Frank P. Martin.

On examination of the records of the Lodge, now extant, ample
evidence is found that the Lodge has not been derelict in its duty
to the widow, the orphan and the needy.

ADVANCE GKANGK.

Early in the year 1874 the necessary papers for the preliminary
steps in the organization of subordinate granges were placed in the
hands of one of our farmers, who, on receiving them, called upon
another prominent farmer and found him ready to engage in the
work. They started together to circulate a petition for a charter, and
found most of those whose attention they called to the subject, ready
to siau tit once. A few hesitated on account of the existence of a
farmers' club, which was then in a flourishing condition. These
subsequently waived their objections, and the leading members of
the clul) l>ecaine charter members of the grange. On the after-
noon of February 20, 1874, Worthy Brother Deputy C. C. Shaw in-

ADVANCE GRANGE. 123

stituted Advauce Grange with thirty members, the maximum num-
ber then allowed as charter members. TJieir names are as follows :

Hemy (Iniy. (Jeorge Buss, jNFrs. George Buss, Levi A. Pierc'c. Mrs. Levi
A. Pieree, ("liarles C. S]):il(liug, Ileury X. Gnn', Mrs. Heury N. Gray,
Joseph W. Stiles, Waldo Foster, :Mrs. WaRlo Foste-r. diaries AVhite,
Jauies Ilutc'liiusou, John I). Wilsou, David W. I'ussell. (ianhier Blaiu-h-
ard, Mrs. Gardner Blaueijard, A. 1). Abbot, Mrs. A. D. Abbot, George II.
Keyes, Mrs. George IT. Keyes, George Barrett, Mrs. George Barrett.
George I.. Dascombe, Mrs. George I.. Daseonibe, W. K. MeGregor, Mis.
W. K. McGregor. Ghai'los Wilson. .Jacob rutnaui and Thomas F.aw.

The olHcers elected for the first year were as follows :

Master, Henry Gray; Overseer, Waldo Foster; Leetiuer. (J. L. T)as-
coudx': Stowai'd. (ieo. II. Keyes: Assistant Steward, Ileury X. (iray:
<'liaj)laiu, Cliarlcs Wilson; Treasurer, (^ardner Blaui-hard: Secretary. A.
Dwight Abltot; Gate Keeper, -t. W. Stiles; Ceres, Mrs. Henry \. Gray:
Pomona, Mrs. Levi A. Pieree; Flora. XYs. (iardnei- IJlaiicliard : Lady
Assistant Steward, ^[rs. (ieorge II. Keyes.

]Many others were desirous (_)f joining, Init could not be received
at that time, being excluded by tlie rules. These persons took an
early opportunity to present applications in the presci'ibed form,
and were accepted. At the annual meeting for choice of officers
for the year 187;'), the old botird was rei'dected entire.

Since that time tlie Masters have been :

Henry (Jray. 187(j; (ieorge 11. Keyes, 1877-78 ; George L. Daseonibe.
lS7i)-80; A. Dwigiit Abbot, 1881-82; Rufus F. Stowe, 1888 : A. 11. Gage,
-1884; George S. Fowler. 188.-): Willis II. Abbot, 1880.

Since the organization ot the (ira nge. tlKM'c have been one treasurer and
two secretaries — A. Dwight Abbot and, since 1881, 3Irs. A. Dwight Ab-
bot. Whole number of members from the beginning. 141 : ))i-esent niun-
ber, !)7 ; lost by deatb. 10. and by removal from rf)wii. 1!). Meetings havi^
usually been lield once in two w(^eks.

GRAND ARMY rOST.

Abiel A. Livermore Post, No. 71, Grand Army of the Republic,
was organized at Depot Hall, Wilton, New Hampshire, on Thursday
evening, September fi, l.sX.'J, with seventeen charter members.

The following officers were chosen :

Commander, A. A. Clark: S. V. Commander, C. A. Emerson: .J.V.
Commander, C. H. Ham: Adjutant, Heni-y <). Sargent; Quartermaster,
C. C. Si)alding: Surgeon, .1. R. Dascombe: Chaplain. IJev. A. E. Tracy:
Officer of the Day, I. X. llutcliinson : Ottlcer of the Guard. D. Mahoney :
Sergeant Major, Lucius A. Way ; (^)uartermaster"s Sergeant. T. H. Hurley.

124 HISTORY OF WILTON.

The records show that at this time, 1887, the Post has consisted
of thirty-seven comrades. One, T. H. Hurley, has deceased.

Soon after the close of the war a large part of the survivors left
Wilton, and have since resided in other places ; others have died.

We copy from the record of the memorial service held in 1884 :

Post met ;it ]2.;^0 at Post room to attend det'oratiou services. The pro-
cession immediately formed iu the following order: Tiie Post under tlie
command of the otHcer of the day. I. X. Hutchinson: I lie commander iu
command of tlie procession: the junior vice conunander at the head of
the band; the scholars of District Xo. 4 with their teachers, and the rep-
resentatives of other schools iu town.

The procession moved dow n 3lain to Forest street, halting al the hotel,
where tlie orator of the day was received; thence to the depot, thence up
Park street to the Unitarian church, where tlie memorial services of the
(i. A. E. were performed, wliich consisted of reading the orders for me-
morial services from Xational and Departauent Headquarters, reading of
the Scriptures by Rev. A. E. Tracy, oration by Pev. S. C. Fletcher,
colonel of fitli Maine Volunteers, afterward colonel of 1st Maine Veterans.
The oration was listened to (\ itli much attention, was well delivered and
well received ; in fact, was full of solid shot. Patriotic songs liy the choir
under the leadershi]) of Comrade ('. W. Edwards, remarks by Pev. 1.
S. Lincoln, prayer by Kev. H. D. l)ix.

Services at the church being euded. the ])rocession was reformed in the
same order as before, and, accompanied by citizens in carriages, marched
to the cemetery on the hill, where prayer was ottered by Rev. A. E.
Tracy, and the memorial service was performed by decorating with a
wreath and shield each grave of those of our comrades that liave gone be-
fore. 'J'hence to the south yard, where Rev. G. f. Trow made the prayer,
and the graves were visited by the whole Post, and floral offerings were
placed upon the mounds. Thence to the north, or Val(> End. cemetery,
where like services were performed, 'i'lie Post took carriages and met at
Depot Hall, tlience marched, escorted by the band, to the Post room,
where a resolution was passed thanking the speaker for his able and elo-
quent address, the scholars for turning out so bountifully, and the citizens
for their timely contributions and other favois. and last, though not least,
the band, which exceeded our most sanguine exi)ectations in assisting us
iu making the occasion a glorious success; in fact, a red-lettei' day in the
history of the good old town of Wilton.

KF.(;ri,AK MKKTINa.

May 11, 1885. By the invitation of the Rev. U. D. IJlack of the Unita-
rian church, the Post voted to attend divine service there on Memorial
Sunday, May 24. Post met as per order of the last meeting at 10. .^O
o'clock. The Post luarched to the Unitarian chm-cli, where the Sunday
memorial services were held, the sermon by Rev. G. D. Black. The
church was packed — a i)leasant though sad remindei- of the davs that are
l)assed.

GRAND ARMY POST. 125

MEMORIAI. DAV.

May 30, ISMo. The order ot the serviees was Mie same as the year pre-
vious; singing' by a double male ipiartet, oration l)y lion. C. H. Burns,
who gave one of his best addresses, and the elosing prayer by Rev. D. E.
Adams. After the elose of tlie services the procession was reformed, and
proceeded to the several cemeteries, wliere the decoration services were
appropriately performed.

May 11, 1885. Comrade Eev. A. E. Tracy, having severed his relation-
ship witli the Second Congregational church and being about to remove
from town, presented a request for a discharge, which was granted him.

SAD EVENT.

March 1, 1886. As Mr. Timothy H. Hurley was driving a load
of wood down the hill near Mr. Pierce Gage's, the yoke by which
his horses held the load broke, and he fell forward, the sled running
upon him. When he was discovered, his neck was l)roken and his
body so mangled that it w^as evident that his death must have been
instantaneous. Mr. Hurle^'^ was a charter member of A. A. Liver-
more Post, No. 71, G. A. R., and, at its organization, was elected
Quartermaster's Sergeant, and held the office until his death.

KECOKDS.

At the regular meeting of A. A. Eivcrmore Tost. (i. A. IJ., May 8, 1880,
the eleatli of Conu'ade Hurley was announi-cd by the Adjutant, and eulo-
gistic remarks were made by comrades, and the following resolutions
were adopted by the Post :

Whereas, in view of the loss we liave sustained by tlie decease of our
comrade and associate, Timothy II. Hurley, and tlie still heavier loss sus-
tained by those who were nearest and dearest to him, therefore be it

Eesolved, that it is but a just tribute to tlie memory of the departed to
say that, in regretting his removal from our midst, w'e mourn for one who
was in every way wortliy of our respect and regard.

liesolved, that in the death of our comrade, this Post laments the loss
of one of its most active mendiers, wliose utmost endeavors were exerted
for its welfare and prosperity.

Eesolved, thixt we tender to the widow and the children in their great
affliction our kindest sympathy, and would express the hope that their
grief may in a measure be assuaged by the knowledge that bis life had
not been lived in vain, but that both as a soldier and a citizen, he was
honest, upriglit. and taitliful to every trust.

Besolved, that these resolutions Ije placed on the records of the Post,
and a copy be transmitted to the family of our deceased comrade, and to
the Wilton Journal and the Veterans" Advocate for publication.

Voted, to pay funeral expenses of Comrade Hurley, it not in excess of
thirty dollars.

126 HISTORY OF WILTON.

KECOKDS.— CONTINUED.

Voted, lo Older tlio Adjutant to i)!iy those bills and send themreceipted
to Mrs. ilurlcy. the widow of Conir.-ido TTurloy. and to draw on the Quar-
termaster tor the funds.

Voted, that the (Quartermaster's Sergeant's badge, lieing i>i(i|>erly of
the Post. l)e given to liis widow and his boys as a keepsake.

KECOKDS OF :MEM0KIAL SUNDAY.

May 30, lS8(j. Post assembled at the middle of the town, where lliey
were reenforeed by twenty et)mra(les of Post Xo. 15, and attended ser-
vices in Rev. Mr. Trow's I'hureh, whieli was eompletely filled by comrades
and their friends. Rev. Mr. Trow conducted the services in a highly im-
pressive and satisfactory manner. A collation, consisting simply of cof-
fee and crackers, was furnished at Citizens" Hall by the Post. At 2
o'clock tiie J^ost, with visiting i-omrades and friends, fille<l the Unitarian
church at the Centre and listened to a stirring and patriotic address from
Professor H. H. Lincoln.

KE('01{1>S OE DECOh'ATlON DAY.

May 31. ISSG. Post met at the Post room and formed a procession, and
at 1.15 P. M. marched down Maple street to the residence of Mr. S. X.
Center, where Rev. D. E. Adams, tlie orator of the day, was taken in,
countermarched up Maple street, taking in on the way Rev. I. S. Lincoln,
then marched to the Town Hall, which was filled liy an appreciating
audience.

The order of the services at the hall was the same as in luvvious years.
The procession was reformed, and proceeded to the several cemeteries
and gai-landed the graves with wreaths and flowers. In the south yard a
sad pii-ture was ])resented to the Post; the widow, with her children
around her. bowed in grief at the grave of Comrade Hurley.

i;e<'oi;i)s <»k :\iEM(>rnAi. >rxi)Av.

May 2!t, 1S87. By invitation of the pastor, memorial services were had
at the Unitarian cliureh at East Wilton.

RECOKDS OF DECORATION DAY.

May 30, 1887. The day was observed by the Post, scholars and eh i-
zens with unabated interest, by a jirocession and customary services at
the Town ITall. Dr. A. F. Holt, surgeon general on the staft" of (iov.
Ames of ^Ia<saehusetts, being the orator. The exercises were arranged in
the following order: Reading of orders, Sei-ipture reading, prayer, song,
"Let the Dead and the Beautiful Rest," reading of poem by Miss Grace
Blanchard. oration by f4en. A. F. Holt, song, •' Fk)wers W(> Bring to Deck
Each Grave," benediction.

'I'he services were of high order and were duly ap]jreeiated. The pro-
cession was reformed and jjroceed to tlie several cemeteries, and pro-
fuselv "arlanded the graves of the sohhers.

MEMORIAL rOEM.

127

POEM WRITTEN FOK A. A. LIVEKMORK POST, NO. 71,

HY KKV. IHANIv L. I'lIA I.KN.

Hail to the soldier heroes dead,
VV^ho silent sleep in narrow bed.
Beneath the sod, or in the sea,
Where'er their sacred aslics be.
Whether they lie "neath costly stone,
Or in some nameless grave unknown.
We count them all, brave men and true,
Our noble boys who wore the blue.

Hail to the men who won the lield.
Who bared their breasts, a living sliield,
To meet the rebel l)attle shock,
And stood as tirm as granite rock
I'ntil the bloody strife was o'ei-,
And treirson crushed to I'ise no more.

Unfurl the .Stars and .'^tri|)es and bring
The sweetest flowers that bloom in spiing ;
The fairest roses, white and red :
Spread wreaths and garlands o'er the dead.
Let music swell their hard won i)raise,
And eloijuenee her sti'ong voice raise;
Let every pati'iot's lieart beat high
And tears of joy till every eye.

No grander deeds were ever done,
On land or sea, beneath the sun,
Tlian in that awfid civil light.
When rebels I'ose in treaclierons might
To stab Columliia to the heart,
.\nd our loved Uiuon tear ajiart.

Tlie loyal North forgives the Gray,
Hut never, while the light of day
Is dirt'erent from the black of night.
Will I'nion men call ti-cdsoti right.
No, never will the Northern min<l
liecome so foolish or so blind.

The South was wrong, the North was ri<jht ,

Tliey struck our Flag, they lost the tight!

Tliis is the \erdict histoi'V gives,

And it sliall stand whilejustice lives;

While Union soldiers live to tell

Of rebel prisons,»w()rse than hell ;

While widows, orphans, crijjpled men

Can raise a voice or use a pen ;

While hearts are true and s])eech is sti'ong;

While men iire men and wrong is wrong.

CHAPTER XIII.

CHURCHES AND ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS.

Tlie history of religiou in :my conimuiuty or nation is one of
the best keys to understand the character and aim of that commu-
nity or nation. But this is especially true of our New England
towns, for the fundamental motive of their settlement was religiou.
Our forefathers came to America, not for trade or mines of silver
and gold, but for freedom to worship God after the dictates of their
hearts and consciences, unawed by king or priest. Nor does it
make any difference that they held very narrow views of the real
nature of religious liberty, and were more anxious for tl;eir own
liberty than for securing it to all men on an impartial basis. Their
liberty was thus limited to what may be called Puritan, Congrega-
tional freedom, not (.Quaker, Baptist, Episcoi)alian, or universal
freedom. Still, so far as it went, it was true lil)erty, and it has
proved the germ of our ever enlarging toleration and liberty in all
directions, civil, religious and social, until it has burst all ecclesiasti-
cal bounds and has separated church and state, emancipated the
slaves and made America the glorious synonyme of liberty to all the
world.

In taking up, therefore, a brief sketch of the history of religion in
our good town of Wilton for the past one hundred and fifty years,
since it had a name to live, the idea of religious liberty has been
the genius of the place. This idea has opened the door to freer
forms of faitli and to more toleration of sentiment. The principle
is the old doctrine of Martin I^uther, of " the right of private judg-
ment ;" it is what Roger Williams called " soul-liberty," that every
one should have the privilege and be encouraged to worship God
according to his own conscientious views, with none to molest or
to make hhn afraid. Tliis principle inaugurated "the voluntary

03
C

o
r
a

M
Q

a
[/)

ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS. 129

system,'' which has proved ti better way of supporting religious in-
stitutions than the old method of compulsive taxation. Both civil
and religious liberty have worked well in our country.

The religious interests of the Puritans were their supreme in-
terests. For these they lived, labored, prayed and suffered. If
other lands and climes can boast of richer soils, milder skies, more
precious mines, it is the glory of New p]ngland that the motto of
her homes and her churches, her states and her schools and colleges
has been " Cliristo et ecdesup," " To Christ and the church."

CHUKCHES AND CHURCH BUILDINGS.

We have alread}^ seen the origin of the religious history of the
town in the provision made by the original grantors to establish a
town church, as was customary in those days. This town church,
to the support of which all contributed by annual taxes, and on
whose services almost all the inhabitants regularly attended, was
for many years the only church in town, and went under the name
of the Congregational Church, that being the form of the church
government.

The foresight of the original proprietors, who made grants and
encouraged the first settlers, is shown also in making provision for
education by setting apart a share of two hundred and forty acres
for schools, and a like generous provision for the first minister of
one share, and for the church of one share. The latter was called
glebe land, so that a goodly amount of the land was consecrated to
education and religion ; a noble testimony to the appreciation of these
twin agencies of civilization and human welfare. Should we have
the public spirit to do as much now in a like situation?

The conditions of ministerial settlement were a bonus of sixty
pounds sterling, to be paid down ; a share of two hundred and forty
acres of land in perpetual ownership : forty pounds sterling annual
salary, to be successively raised to forty-five and fifty pounds, as
the settlers should increase, and thirty cords of wood, cut and
brought yearly to the minister's house.

The same grantors had also made it a condition in the original in-
strument of settlement, that a church building should be erected b}'^
November, 1752. This condition was fulfilled, and a log church
was built on the common at the Centre, not far from the spot where
the Unitarian church now stands. Little is known of its history,
though venerable as the house of worship of our forefathers. It
continued to be used for about twenty-one years and was then

130 HISTORY OF WILTON.

taken down. For some years transient preachers performed the re-
ligious services, two of whom were invited to settle, but declined.
The first minister was Rev. Jonathan Livermore, a son of Deacon
Jonathan J^ivermore of Northborough, Massachusetts. He was
born December 18, 172!), graduated from Harvard College in 17G0,
was ordained December 14, 1763, resigned in February, 1777, and
died July 20, 1809. A sketch of his life and character is given
elsewhere. Not much clew has been found to the ordination ser-
vices, except a list of the churches invited to aid in them.*

The second meeting-house was a large two-story building, situ-
ated a little to the north of the old one on the connnou. It was
built, like the first house, at the expense of the whole town. It had
a porch at the east end and one at the west end. It had a
high pulpit, after the manner of the times, over which was sus-
pended a huge sounding-board. Two rows of large windows ex-
tended round the building. The pews were square, with seats that
were turned up in prayer time, and were let down with a distinct
emphasis of sound at the close. In front of the pews Ijefore the
pulpit were open seats for the aged and deaf, and directly under the
high pulpit, the deacons' seat and the communion table. Galleries
were built on three sides of the church, supported by pillars planted
in the church floor. They were divided into pews, and the gallery
opposite the pulpit was provided with seats for the singers. In the
early days the attic, to which there was an ascent by a trap door,
was the powder arsenal of the town ; the earthly and the heavenly
ammunition being thus stored under one roof. Originally there was
no bell, but one was placed in the east tower, or porch, in the year
1832.

At the raising of the church on September 7, 177o, a terrible acci-
dent occurred. When the frame was nearly up, one of the central
beams broke and fell, because the post that supported it was rotten
or worm-eaten at the core. A large body of timber, boards and tools,
such as axes, iron bars, hammers, adzes, etc., and upwards of tift}^
persons standing on the beams in the middle of the frame, all fell
to the ground, nearly thirty feet below. Three men were instantly
killed, two died soon after of their wounds, others were crippled
for life, and of the fifty-three that fell not one escaped without
either broken bones, terrible bruises, or cuts from the axes and
other tools. As many of them were picked men from the town

* See Appendix ou " Kcclesiastical Froceedings."

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

131

and its vicinity, and were heads of families, it can be imagined
what was tlie consternation and grief in the sparse population on
that day, and how great was the loss, not only to Wilton, but to
the neighboring towns. Upon reflection on the event in later times,
it has been not unnaturally conjectured that possibly a previous
vote of the town, providing for a large amount of spirituous liquors,
may have had something to do with it, and that it was oot alto-
gether an accident, but the result of too much good cheer and con-
sequent self-confidence on the part of the master workman and his
associates.

The following verses, composed " on the unhappy accident which
happened at the raising of Wilton meeting-house," exhibit a curious
mingling of old-time theology and quaint lamentation. In giving
this poem we follow a copy, found by a resident of Topsham, Ver-
mont, among the papers of his father, who received it, when a boy
in Massachusetts, from his teacher, a one-legged man, name un-
known, who is supposed to have been the author.

Attention give, and you shall hear

A melanehol)' theme.
It's such an instance as there is

But verj' seldom seen.

In seventeen hundred and seventy-three,

September, seventh dav,
At Wilton did Almighty God

His anger there display.

Of men, a great collection met,

A meeting-liouse to raise,
Wlierein to speak God's holy word.

And for to sing His praise.

God did their labour prosper in

Erecting of this frame.
Until it was almost compleat,

And joyful they became.

They thought the worst was past and gone,
And they were bold and brave;

Poor souls, they did but little think
They were "so near the grave.

All on a sudden, a beam broke

And let down tifty-three;
Full twenty-seven feet they fell,

A mournful sight to see.

Much timber witli these men did fall.

And edged tools likewise,
All in a heap together lay,

With bitter slirieks and cries.

'Twould pierce the hardest heart to hear

The sighs antl bitter groans
Of those tliat in tlie ruius lay,

Witli wounds and broken bones.

Some lay with broken shoulder-bones,
And some with broken arms.

Others with broken legs and thighs,
And divers other harms.

Many lay bleeding on tlie ground.
All bathed in crimson gore,

Crying, "Dear .Jesus, mighty to save.
Thy mercy we implore."

Heart-piercing sight for to behold.

It caused many a sob
To see these poor distressed men

Lie wallowing in their blood.

One instantaneously was killed ;

His soul has taken flight
To mansions of eternal day,

<_>r everlasting night.

Two more, in a few minutes space,

Did bid this world adieu.
Who are rejected of their God,

(Jr with His chosen few.

Two more in a short time did pass
Thro' death's dark shady vale ;

Which now are in the realms of joy,
Or the infernal hell.

But we must hope their precious souls

Are with their Jesus dear.
Heaping the fruits, the blessed fruits.

Of faithful servants here.

And if this be their happy case,

Glory to God be given.
O blessed day ! O happy fall !

That sent their souls to heaven;

Where there's no danger of a fall,

Nor nothing to molest ;
No grief, no sorrow to disturb

Their everlasting rest.

While their dear friends are bowed down
With sorrow for their sake.

Grieving and mourning till their hearts
Are ready for to break.

132

HISTORY OF WILTON.

Fathers for their deceased sons
Go mourning all the day ;

But blessed be the name of God
That gives and takes away.

Poor tender-liearted niotliers are .

AVitli sorrow bowed down:
The children, which their bodies l)ave.

Are now made meat foi' worms.

Children of fathers aie bereft ;

They mourn like little lambs.
When tlieyjiave been engaged in j)la\

And lost sight of tlieir dams.

Widows wear garments of sackcloth ;

Their grief is very great.
They mourning go like turtle doves,

When they have lost their mates.

Brothers and sisters followed have
Their corpses to the grave.

And bid to them a long farewell,
And took of them their leave.

We've seen our fellows called away

Into eternity :
Whicli is a certain evidence

Of our mortality.

Ami now wlioever read these lines

And meditate thereon,
Their hearts would break, if tliey were not

As hard as any stone

Keinemljer well that niournthl scene.

That melancholy day,
In whicli tir Almighty sent grim Death,

And snatch'd their souls away

Into the unseen, eternal woild

To spend eternity,
Of unexpected blessedness,

( >r boundless misery.

According as their works have been.
In the vineyard of their Lord,

So they'd receive of God, their Judge,
Their right and just reward.

APPLICATION.

Come let us some iminovementjiiake,

And to ourselves apply,
This awful Providence of God,

That came to us so ni.gh.

By this we see, and certain lie.

Our lives uncertain are.
Therefore let all, both great and small.

For sudden death prepare.

For at God's call we all must bow.
When death does gi^ e the blow,

We must appear at His command.
Whether prepared or no.

When grim death, with his ghastly eyes.

Shall in our faces stare,
And summons us for to aj)pear

At God's tribunal bar.

We must submit, we can't withstand

The messenger of death.
We must with cold and trcndjling lips

Resign our vital breath

And launch into the unseen world

To meet omnipotence,
To have our doom pronounc'd, and t<i

Receive our recompence.

And if our deeds have evil been.
We shall receive this doom,

" Depart from me, I know you not.
For you did nie disown."

Down ! down ! into a deep abyss
Of woe and miserv.

Our soids are ]ilung'd, tlicrein to dwell
Throughout eternity.

An angry God, a pouring forth

The vials of His wrath.
His indignation upon us.

Which is the second death.

Ther'fore as we must all bejudg'd
According as we've done,

"Tis highly needful for us all
The (Christian race to I'un ;

Put on breast-))lates of righteousness,
And take the shield of faith.

The Spirit's sword for to ilefend
Us in His nari'ow path.

Let us be making jieace with God,
While we have life and breath,

That so we may jirepared be
To meet a sudden death.

And be thereby translated from

This world of misery
Into a world of joy and bliss.

To dwell with God on high.

To drink of the pure streams.

That How at God's right hand.
.\nd to enjoy His heavenly love.

Forever without end.

That this be our happy case.
When we this life shall end.

God grant of His infinite grace,
'I'hrough .Tesus Christ, .\men.

The people, however, recovered their courage and completed the
church, which was dedicated January ">, 1775. The pastor, Rev.
Jonathan Liverniore, preached a sermon from 1 C'hi'onicles 20 : 14,
which has since been published.

This church was struck by lightning on Friday, July 20. 1804, and.
according to the narrative of Rev. Thomas Beede, then pastor of

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 133

the chm'cli, "One of the middle posts at the east end was rent
from top to bottom, the wuidows were burst out, and pieces of lath
and plastering were sent from the east to the west end of the house
with a force suthcient to break glass. AVhen the charge reached
the ground, it took a horizontal direction and left visible marks
upon tlie surface for several rods before it was conducted into the
earth. Tiiere was no lio-htuing rod then attached to the house.
One was afterwards put upon it."

The second minister of the church. Rev. Abel Fisk, was born
in Pepperell, jNIassachusetts, in 17.")2, graduated at Harvard College
in 1774, was ordained in Wilton November 18, 1778, and remained
the pastor of the churcli until his death, April 21, 1802.

He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Beede, who was born in Pop-
lin, now Fremont, New Hampshire, in 1771, graduated at Harvard
College in 17'.*s, was ordained in Wilton March 2, 1803, and re-
signed his charge January 15, 1829.

The services at his ordination were :

Introdnctorv piiiyer by the Rev. Mr. Bullurd of Pepperell.
Sermon l)y the Rev. ^Mr. Emerson* of Boston, from 1 Cor. 2 : 2.
Orclainhig- prayer by Mip Rev. Mr. Clark of Lexington.
Charge by the Hev. Mr. Goodrirtge of T.yndeborough.
Right hand of fellowship by the Rpv. Mr. Barnnrd of Amherst.
Conclnding prayer by the Rev. Mr. ITill of ^f.-ison.

The organization of the churcli was at first by a covenant,!
agreeably to the method of New PLngland Congregationalism, not
by a specific creed. The first church in Plymouth, where the Pil-
grims landed, was organized in that way, and stiH retains its cove-
nant. During Mr. Beede's ministry a creed was adopted, but sub-
sequently it was dropped, and the church reverted to the original
method of a covenant. This caused dissatisfaction among some
of the members, and a sec^ond Congregational church was formed
July 18, 182o, holding Trinitarian views, and Consisting at first of
seventeen members.

Rev. Stephen A. Barnard was ordained over the First Church
January 13, 1830, and resigned his office April 2;"), 1833. Rev.
Abner 1). Jones succeeded Mr. Barnard, and was ordained January
1, 1834. He wassucceeded by Rev. Nathaniel Whitman, who was
installed October .'», 183(), and continued pastor of the church till
1843.

* Kev. Mr. Emerson was the father of l!ali>h WnMo Emerson.
■f- See Appendix.

134 HISTORY OF WILTON.

The following ministers succeeded Mr. AVhitmau in rapid rotation :
Rev. William A. Whitwell, 1843-50; Rev. Seth Saltmarsh, M. D.,
1851-53; Rev. John N. Bellows, 1854-55 ; Rev. Stillman Clark,
1857-63; Rev. Levi W. Ham, 1863-64; Rev. William B. Buxton,
1865-67; Rev. Richard Coleman, 1868-70; Rev. Increase .Sumner
Lincoln, 1870-7'.i ; Rev. Charles Henry Rickards. 18,S0-81 ; Rev.
Henry Dana Dix, 1882-85. Rev. Frank L. Fhaleu, the present
pastor, was settled in 1886.

During this period several other ministers have for a short time
supplied the pulpit.

The venerable ancient meeting-house, which was huilt during
the ministry of Mr. Livermore, and at whose raising the fatal
catastrophe before related occurred, was burned December 8, 1851),
in the night, soon after a children's concert given by Miss Mary
Thurston. So great was the regret of the town at its loss, that a
committee was chosen to investigate the matter. Their report
throws much light on the history of the town, and reveals the feel-
ings of the inhabitants about the destruction of tlie church ; but
no certain conclusion was reached as to the cause of the fire,
whether it was intentional or accidental, but that probably it w^as
the work of an incendiary. The present I'nitarian Congregational
church was erected in its place, and was dedicated January 10,
1861. The dedication sermon of the old church, by Rev. .Jonathan
Livermore, January 5, 1775, and the dedication sermon of the new
church, January 10, 1861, by his grandson. Rev. Abiel Abbot Liv-
ermore, were published in a pamphlet together.

' THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY.

The second religious society of Wiltou was established by the
Universalists in 1813. It had only occasional preaching, and no
settled pastor, and no meeting-house. It was customary for the
members to meet in the Brick Hall. and. in later years, they had
their services in the First Congregational Church. Rev. Messrs.
Ballon, Skinner, Streeter and others officiated on these occasions,
gathered large audiences, and proclaimed the doctrine of universal
salvation, of the future holiness and happiness of the w^hole human
race. The society has long ceased to exist, l)ut its sentiments are
widely diffused.

HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH, BY KEV. GEORGE C. TROW.

The Baptist church in Wilton was constituted April 7, 1.S17, with
eleven members : Peirce Gage, Joseph Holt, William' Mansur,

BAPTIST CHURCH. 135

Ebenezer Chandler, William Howard, Jabez Goldsmith, Joseph
Smith, Abigail Smith, Lucy Smith, Mary Goldsmith and Chloe
Bales. The last survivor of these was Deacou Joseph Smith, who
died March If), 1883, aged uiuety-four years and five months. He
was made deacou very soon after the church was constituted, and
held the office till his deatli. He was a man of deep piety and full}-
consecrated to Christ. Associated with him in the deacon's office,
during most of his active life, was Deacon Timothy Gray.

The same day the church was constituted, six were added to its
membership by letter, and seven by baptism ; by letter, William
Goldsmith, Hannah Goldsmith, Anna Upton, Betsy Holt, Esther
Holt and Sally Mansur ; by baptism, William Bales, William L.
Bales, 'J'imothy Gray, -Tolni I'eabody, Susannah Smith, Nancy
Gray and Sally Peabody.

For some years previous to this, a few residents of Wilton had
embraced Baptist principles and had united with the Baptist church
in Mason. The pastor of that church. Rev. William Elliott, fre-
quently visited Wilton and preached to the people assembled in pri-
vate houses, the school-houses in town being closed against him.
The truth, however, could not be bound ; quite a number received
it gladly, and, embracing the same, became consistent Baptists.

During the winter of ISIO-IT, under-the labors of Rev. George
Evans, tiie Spirit was i)oured out. Some were converted, and the
desire to have a church in Wilton, which had been for some time
burning in the hearts of the faithful few, was so much strengthened
that they resolved to organize a church, and did so, as above stated.
The church thus constituted had no pastor for fourteen months, but
was supplied a part of the time by Brother Benjamin T. Lane.
Eleven were added to the church daring this time. In June, 1818,
Rev. Ezra Wilmoth was settled as pastor, the church then number-
ing thirty-five. He baptized forty-nine. He was succeeded in
February, 1823, ))y Rev. Beuel Lathrop, who served one year.
After this for a while the church was supplied by the neighboring
pastors. From February, 182."), to October, 1827, twenty-five were
baptized.

In 1827 the church and society built its present meeting-house
at Wilton Centre. November 7th it was dedicated, and the same
day Brother Simon Fletcher was ordained. He served the church
three years and baptized three persons, and was succeeded in 1830
by Brother Caleb Brown. He was ordained and served the church
two years, and during the tune eleven were baptized. In 1833

13() HISTORY OF WILTON.

Brother Harrison Strong was ordained. He served two years and
baptized nine persons. He was succeeded in June, 1835, by Rev.
Jolin Cannon, who served one year and baptized seven persons.
After this Rev. Ezra Wilmoth again served tlie church for a season
and baptized seven. In August, 1888, Rev. N. W. Smith became
pastor ; he served eighteen months and baptized two persons.
About this time fourteen members were dismissed to form a church
in Lyndeborough. Thus the church in Wilton is mother as well as
daughter. In June, 18-40, Rev. J. T. Appleton was settled as pas-
tor. He baptized twenty-nine. He was succeeded by Rev. Henry
Tonicin in April, 184:8, who served seven years and baptized eight
persons. In 1850 Rev. Horace Eaton became pastor, wlio served
four years and baptized eighteen. From 1854 to 1860 the cluu-ch
had no pastor, but during tliis time three were baptized. In Au-
gust, I860, Rev. Nelson B. Jones became jiastor. He baptized
eleven, and closed his labors in 1864. In December, 1866, Brother
S. C. Fletcher was ordained as pastor, served the church seven years,
and baptized forty-nine persons. In 1867 the church and society built
a parsonage at Gray's corner. In 1874 Brother William Libbey was
called to be pastor, and was ordained in October of that year. He
baptized four, and closed his labors in March, 1877. The church at
once extended a call to Rev. J. H. Lerned, who commenced his
labors in May. He held the pastorate sixteen months, but his
health permitted him to occupy the pulpit only a few months. Two
were baptized. February 17. 1881, Brother George C. Trow was
ordained and installed pastor of the church. Five were baptized
up to this time, October, 1888.

The church has existed sixty-six years and has had sixteen pas-
tors. It has witnessed many precious revivals, and has had baptized
into its fellowship two hundred and forty-four. Four of these are,
or have been, preachers of the gospel.

HISTORY OF THE SECOND CONGREGATIOXAL CTirnCTI. UV REV. A. E.

TRACY.

The Second Congregational Church of Wilton was organized July
18, 1828. It consisted of seventeen members, five males and
twelve females. It resulted from the conviction that the views and
teachings of the pastor of the church of which these persons were
members were not in accordance with the Bible ; the chief differ-
ence of opinion being in respect to the doctrine of the person of

SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 137

Christ. The uew church retained the confession of faith and cove-
nant of the old church, thus showing that they were not dissenters,
bnt held firmly to the old-time creeds. Previous to the formation
of the church :in ecclesiastical society had been organized May
It), IH23. It consisted of those persons who afterward joined in
the organization of the church and sonie others. Public worshi[)
was held for a time in what was known as the " Brick Hall." Jt
was over a store at the centre of Wilton. The church vi^as without
an installed pastor until December, l.SoO, when ]Mr. William Rich-
ardson of Andover Seminary was ordained and installed pastor of
the Second Congregational C'luu'ch of Wilton. During the more
than fifty-seven years since its organization public worship has been
maintained ; sometimes by the aid of a minister, often a sermon
was read and other acts of worship conducted liy the beloved
physician, Ebenezer Rockwood, M. J).

The first meeting-house of the Second Congregational society
was erected in 1829 at Wilton Centre. It was dedicated January
1, 1<S;30. The pastorate of Rev. William Richardson continued
till October 27, 1840. Rev. Humphrey Moore was then invited to
become the pastor. He declined the call, but served as acting pas-
tor for nearly two years. Rev. Charles Whiting, second pastor of
the church, was ordained and installed .January 4, 1843 ; he was
dismissed February 13, 18o0. Soon after his ' removal an attempt
was made to unite the two societies. This proved unsuccessful and
the church again opened its house of worship.

In the summer of 1851 an invitation was given this society to re-
move its place of worship to ICast Wilton, where there was no meet-
ing-house. September 10, 1851, it was decided to accept this
jn'oposal. A house of worship was erected at once, which was
dedicated June 10, 1S52. From Rev. Charles Whiting's dismissal,
February 13, 1850, until February 21, 1856, when Rev. Ebenezer
S. Jordan was called, the church was without a settled minister.
Rev. H. H. Winchester was with the church two years of this time,
but declined to be settled. Mr. Jordan resigned November 1,
1859. Rev. Daniel E. Adams of Bangor Seminary was ordained
and installed pastor December 5, IHfio. His was the longest pas-
torate the church has had, terminating May .'i, 1870. Rev. J.
Newton Brown commenced labor as acting pastor December 1, 187G,
and served the church till August 15, 1.S7S. The present pastor.
Rev. A. E. Tracy, began his services September 1, 1879, as acting
pastor, and was installed May 3, 1880. The deacons of the church

138 HISTORY OF WILTON.

have been Burleigh French, chosen January 19, 1824; Abel Fisk,
chosen September 2, IX'M ; Oliver Barrett, elected September 2.
1830 ; Hermon Abbot and William Sheldon, elected June (5, lHr)2 :
Charles Wilson and Asa B. Clark, chosen December 10, 187.J.

^'ery soon aftei- the formation of the church a Sabbath Scliool
was organized. About twenty members comprised its whole lunn-
ber ; now it includes more than 20O. It very soon collected, and
has ever since maintained, an interesting and useful library. The
whole number connected with the church since its organization up
to January' 1, 188."), was 48(i. The membership at that date was
147. An addition of twenty pews was made to the meeting-house
in 1857, and, later, an addition was made to receive the tine pipe
organ, the gift of individuals to the societv. In 1858 a vestrv was
built for social meetings ; this was sold nnd made into a pleasant
home, now occupied by N. I). Foster, Elsq. Tlie present two-stor}'
chapel was built in lS(i7.

The Ladies' Sewing Circle, the Mistletoe Baud and the Young-
People's Christian Endeavor Society are among the benevolent or-
ganizations of this church.

niOCJKAI'IlKAL NOTICES.

Rev. William Richardson, first pastor of the Second Congregation-
al church, was born in (xilmanton, New Hampshire, March 4, 1801,
graduated at Andover Seminary in 1830, was ordained pastor De-
cember 1.5, 18;-)0. He was pastor of this church from 1830 to 1840,
acting pastor at Lyndeborough from 1840 to 1.S41, and pastor at
Deering, New Hampshire, from 1<S42 to 1846. His eyes failed him
and he lived in Manchester, New Hampshire, from l'S4(! until his
death there September (!, 18()'.>. His wife, Olive Tilton of Gilman-
ton, is still living. She is a lady of superior (qualities.

Rev. Charles Whiting, the second pastor of the church, was l)orn
in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire. July 23, l.si;!. He graduated
at Dartmouth College in l'S3lt, and at Andover Seminary in ]<S42.
He was ordained January 11, 1842, was pastor of this church from
1843 to 1850, and acting pastor from 1850 to 1851. He was settled
in Fayetteville, Illinois, from 1851 till his death. May 8, 1855. His
wife, Sarah Wyman of Greenfield, New Hampshire, survived him,
but is now dead.

Rev. Iilbenezer S. Jordan, third pastor of the church, was a na-
tive of Maine, as was his wife. He was a graduate of Bowdoin
College and of Bangor Seminary, and for a time a resident licen-

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 139

tiate at Andover. He was ordained at Wilton, December 17, 1857,
and dismissed December 5, 18fi0. He is now settled at Brownfield,
Maine, where he has been pastor since 1874.

Rev. Daniel E. Adams was born in Camden, jNIaine, in 18o2. He
graduated at Bangor Seminary in 18(i(), was installed ])astor in AVil-
ton December 5, 18fi0, and was dismissed May .'?, 187G. He went
directly to Ashbnrnhani. INIassachnsetts, as acting pastor, and from
there to Sonthboro', Massachusetts. His wife, Ellen F. Kings-
bury, of Keene, New Hampshire, died in May, 18.S2. He was mar-
ried in February, 18'S4, to JNliss Marion E. Center of Wilton.

Rev. Alfred E. Tracy was born in West Brookfield, Massachu-
setts, July 2, ls4o, graduated at Amherst College in 18(i0, and at
Andover Seminary in 1872. He was ordained and installed at Har-
vard, Massachusetts, September 4, 1872, was dismissed in Septem-
ber, 1874, and was pastor at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, from 1874
to 1878. He supplied the church at Wilton in June, 1871), com-
menced as acting pastor September 1, 187i». and was installed May
13, 1S8U. His wife is Kate S. Harwood, born in Bennington, Ver-
mont ; her home at the time of their marriage was North Spring-
field, Missouri.

HISTORY OF THE LIBERAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH, BY REV. I. SU.AINER

LINCOLN.

This church was organized in the P^ast village of this town, two
miles from the Centre, in ISIJI). Its church edifice was erected and
dedicated the same year. It contains the usual modern improve-
ments, including a vestry in the basement, a lecture-room, a Sun-
day-school room, a ladies' parlor and a kitchen with all its needful
accompaniments ; also a furnace, a fine organ and a Itell. Its site
is very fine, being in every respect one of the best in town. The
whole cost about ten thousand dollars'. In the organized platform
of this church, the words " church" and " society" are used in the
same sense.

The following articles are contained in the platform of fellowship :

Article I. Wt\ whose names are sioned heueatli. unite ourselves in a
Christian Church and Fellowship for our own religious improvement, and
as a means of usefulness to others.

Article II. We thus declare and claim to be meudjers of the great
union of all Christian disciples of which Jesus Christ is the living Head,
by the will of God.

Article III. Keceiving Jesus as onr divinely-given Teaelier and Guide,
and earnestly seeking to have in us a measure of the Spirit tliat was in

140 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Him. \vp pledge oiii-selve-i to follow the truth, as it sliall be made known
to our minds, both in belief and in lite.

AiMK'LK IV. We will co-operate by eoutribiitinn- of our lime, interest
and means in sustainiuii,- the institution of relig-ion. and in all Christian
work'that sliall be undertaken by this Union.

AliTlci.K V. Any person may l)eeome a member of this ITnion by
signiiiii' this form of associiition. no objection being made by those al-
ready members.

The preceding is an extract from the records of tlie society.

Names of settled ministers: Aubrey M. Pendleton, from iMarcli,
18(;!». to 1S7.') : Charles H. Tindell. from April. 1S77. to November.
IHT'S ; James .1. Twiss from November, bsyii, to April, 1884.
Frank L. Phalen was ordained in J8.S(; and is the i)resent pastor.
Several others have preached here as sni)plies for a limited time
during the past sixteen years. » The salaries hitherto paid to
ministers by tlie society average about one thousand dollars per
annum.

The audieni-e room of tlie church has sittings for three hundred.
The society is now free from debt, and has a good amount of pe-
cuniary ability, though its membership is not large.

HISTORY OF TITK CATHOLK' CIirKCII. BY I!EV. ED^IUNl) K. lU'CKLE.

The first Catholic service ever held in Wilton was in ISO? by
Rev. Father O'Donnell, then residing in Nashua. The entire Cath-
olic population at that time was seventeen families. At this period
there was already a small Catholic Church in ^Nlilford, where services
were held regularly once a month by Rev. Father O'Donnell. In
187!) Rev. P. Ilolohan was placed in charge of the Catholic popu-
lation of Milford, Wilton and Greenville, then Mason village. Fa-
ther Holohan resided in 3111 ford. From that time Catholic services
were held in Wilton twice a month. In four years »the Catholic
population of Wilton trebled itself. In I.s77 Rev. F. F. Buckle
was appointed to the above mission. Father Holohan going to
Keene. In the autumn of 1881 a Catholic Church was built in
Wilton by Rev. Vj. F. Buckle, who took up his residence there.
The Catholic population at this day is about five hundred souls.*

BELLS.

The first church bell in ^Viltou was procured by subscription and
donated to the town on certain conditions. The town erected a

*This number includes some of the inhabitants of Pine Valley in Milford, a nianufact-
Liriu"- liaiiilet. — IS. Putnam.

TOLERATION ACT. 141

tower at the east end of tlie old meetiag-house in which it was iumg
in the autnmn of 1S82. After tlie meeting-house was burned in
ISfiO, what could be saved of the metal was, Ijy vcjte of the town,
with other metal to make the weight equal to tlie old bell, recast
and hung on the new Tow^n House, now Citizens' Hall, and still
hangs there. When the Second Congregational societ}^ built their
church at P2ast Wilton, they put a bell on it. which after a few
years was cracked, and was replaced by a new one, which is still
sound and in use. When the l^nitarian Church at East Wilton was
built, a bell was procured by subscription ; Dr. Fleeman and the
Messrs. Whitings were among the largest subscribers. The bell on
the Town House was the gift of Dr. F. M. Pevey.

Thus there have been erected, first and last, eight liouses of pub-
lic worship in town. Probably at least fifty ministers have officiat-
ed in these churches as pastors during the one hundred and lift}'
years of the existence of the town. A generous endowment was
extended at the outset by the wise and far-seeing proprietors to
encourage Christian institul^ions here. Much has been expended
since from year to year. The treasury of the Lord has uot lacked
either the rich man's offerings or the widow's mite. Once the
means for supporting religious institutions were raised by taxation,
and when there was but one church, as was the fact for many years,
all contributed to the common established Congregational Church, the
favorite New England method of church government. The minis-
ter was settled and paid by the town, but when the people began to
wince at the burden, they were for a time still taxed, but were al-
lowed to choose to what church service. Baptist, Congregational or
Universalist, etc., their money should be appropriated. Still later,
the support of each religious societ}' was left to the voluntary con-
tributions of its members, as is explained in the following passage,
copied from J.. A. Morrison's History of Windham, New Hamp-
shire :

The year 1819 was an eventful one iu the religious history of the state.
A new order of things was estabUshed in regard to the support of ip-
ligious institutions. In tho progress of events and advancement of public
opinion, anil as an expression of public opinion, the '" Toleration Act "
was passed by the Legislature of that year, and apiiroved by the go\ern-
or July 1. 1819. The public nnnd had long been in a troubled condition
under the compulsory support of the ministry. The two important pro-
visions of this law ai-e here given :

^•Provided, that no person shall lie comijelled to join or support, or be

142 HISTORY OF WILTON.

classed with, or associated to. any congTegation. cliuirh or religious so-
ciety, without his consent first had and obtained.

'•'■ Provider! , also, if any person shall choose to separat(> hiniselt from
such society or association to which he may belong, and shall leave a
written notice thereof with the clerk of such society or association, he
shall thereu])on be no longer liable for any future expenses which may
be incurred by said society or association."

This act put an end to taxing an unwilling ])eople by the town for
the support of the church. It stopped those endless bickerings between
churches and towns, and the amount contributed for public Avorship was
not diminished.

We have given, so far as we could obtain tliem, the facts relating
to the several religions organizations of Wilton. But the real his-
tory of the churches, the spiritual life of the church of Christ in this
town, cannot be given here. It must be read in the lives and char-
acters of many men and women,, the living and the dead. We
must call to mind the benefits which this administration of the
Christian religion under its various lieliefs and forms has afforded
in monldino- the characters tnid lives of the young men and w^omen
of the town as they have gone out into the world. AMio shall com-
pute how many temptations it has armed them to meet and over-
come? How^ many motives it has given them to lead a righteous,
holy and useful life 1 What ideals of noble conduct and benevolent
action it has set before them 1 AVliat sorrows it has comforted, and
what hopes of another and immortal life it has inspired. When
we think of all these things we are ready to say, God bless all the
churches of our town, and of our common country. May they all
work together in the unity of tlie .Spirit and the liond of peace I
May they help to hasten forward the coming of the kingdom of God
on earth, and make the great republic of America the joy and glory
of the w'hole earth.*

* .See Appendix J I.

CHAPTER XIV.

SCHOOLS, SUNDAY SCHOOLS, COLLEGE GRADUATES, PROFES-
SIONAL MEN, AUTHORS AND INVENTORS.

One of the earliest interests, to which the eniigrunts to this tlien
forest wilderness paid an earnest attention, was that of the educa-
tion of their children. Next to religion, for the free exercise of
which the Pilgrims and Puritan fathers liad left their homes in the
old world, stood the institution of tlie free school. Martin Luther,
the Reformer, is said to have been the originator of the plan of the
untaxed public school, supported by the public treasury, open to
all, without money and without price. Parish schools and public
schools had existed before those of New England, l)ut not to our
knowledge could their privileges be enjoyed without the payment
of a certain small tuition. The original grantors of AVilton gave
one share out of forty-six. or two himdred and forty acres, to help
support free schools. The land was sold .lunc 1. 1701), and the in-
terest of the money, which amounted to £'.J '.)s. r)id., lawful money,
was devoted to the support of the schools. In 1784 and thereafter
the school fund amounted to l'(I7 Ids., equal to $"2'2G.(»(i. Tlie in-
terest on this, and on the Literary Fund given by the state, is de-
voted to the support of free schools. In LSH'.I, $()0U were applied
to the schools. There were at that. time nine school districts and
ten school houses. Now there are ten school districts, eleven
school houses and a room finished in the Town House for the High
School. The average length of the sunnner schools is ten weeks,
and of the winter schools ten weeks. In former years the winter
schools were usually taught by male, and the summer schools by
female, teachers, but at present most of the schools, summer and
winter, are taught by women. The branches usually taught are
reading, writing, spelling, history, arithmetic, grammar, algebra,
geometry, natural philosophy and physiology. Sometimes the lan-
guages are added, and, it may be, other studies. The Bible is usually

144 HISTORY OF WILTON.

read at the opening of the school, either by the teacher or the
pupils, one or both. It is optional with the teacher to offer a prayer
or not. But no sectarian views of religion are taught, only those
principles which are common to all denominations of Christians.

TEACHERS.

Miss Dale, eldest daughter of John Dale, the first settler, taught
the first school in town, and for some years was the only female
teacher. She was succeeded in the course of time by others, both
men and women, whose names are too numerous to mention, who
have kept unbroken the long and honorable line of educators, and
who have tended to i)reserve the high standard of intelligence and
the love of sound learning for which the town has always been
noted. The names of Putnam, Abbot, Spalding, J^ivermore, Das-
comb, Burton, Barrett, Beede, Smith, Kimball, Russell, and of
many others will occur to our readers as among the school teachers
of Wilton either of an earlier or a later day. But of one we can-
not forbear to give a longer sketch from the testimony of one of
his pupils, contained in the Centennial Address, pages 8!) and 90.
This teacher was Rev. Thomas Beede, and this scholar was Rev.
Warren Burton :

With what profound (h-e;ul w ;i8 it th;it I took my wiiy for the tirst time
to the winter scliool ; for the awful school-master wlioin I was to meet
was no other than the still more awful minister — that great, tall man.
dressed in black, who preached and pi'ayed in such solenm tones on the
Sabbath. How my heart failed me and how my little frame trembled as
I entered the school-house door. Kut how ditterent was my experience
from what I anticipated. That awful man received uie witli so sweet a
smile, and spoke in such tender tones, and in all things treated me and all
the rest so gently, that my feelings were at once changed to those of con-
fidence and love. Never sliall I forget the delightful impressions which
this new intercourse made on my tender mind. He, too, fitted me for
college, and through all my earlier life my mind rei'cived good influences
from him. Ills l)enignant countenance and gladdening smile will be
among the last images that will fade from my remembrance.

He did not go on exactly in the old ways in his capacity as a school-
master. He introduced new subjects of attention and excited an uncom-
mon interest among Ins pupils. To him also as an examiner of the
schools they owed much.

Mr. Burton is the author of ''The District School as It Was,"
one of the most faithful and graphic pictures of that institution
w^hich has ever been written, and which may truly be called a classic
of New England life.

WARREN BURTON.

SCHOOLS. 145

TliL' lirst school house in District No. 1 stood at the northeast
corner of the common. It was [trohably built within ;i few years
after the incorporation of the toAvn. It was a very rude and incon-
venient structure, having no proper writing desks, but, instead, two
large movable tables with long forms for seats. There were no
seats with backs except low benches around the walls of the room.
This building was burnt about the year 17'.»7. The ''school-
ma'ams " of those tunes, as they were always called, wore white
muslin caps, either to distinguish them from other young ladies, or
to make them have a more diguilied appearance. About the 3'ear
171)5 a young lady came as a teacher from New Ipswich, who had
an umbrella, which was quite a curiosity, as there was no other in
use in the town. She afterwards married Mr. Aaron Appleton of
Keeue, and lived to a good old age, an honored Christian woman.

The compensation of teachers in those days is indicated by the
following receipt, found among the old papers :

Wiltuii, :\l:ircli ;il. 1792.

I received of Mr. .Folm Dnlc five Dollars in full Pay tor tejiehiuu-a
school one inontli.

Witness my liaiid. .Tames Piiucliard.

Mr. George L. Dascombe, prominent as a .school teacher in Wil-
ton, gives the following sketch respecting education in town :

" Wilton was first settled in 1 7;)1), and was incorporated as a town
in 17(i2. Recognizing the prevailing sentiment of New England
respecting the importajice of free schools, the grantors of the land
constituting the principal part of the township, in order to encour-
age settlements, set apart one share, which consisted of two hun-
dred and forty acres, for the use of schools. This land was sold
before the town had become so fully populated as to render it very
valuable, and the proceeds invested as a small fund, the annual in-
come of which was api)ropriated for the purposes for which it was
designed.

The first record which we find respecting schools, excepting the
locating of the school lots of land, was in 1767, when the town
voted to raise six pounds, lawful money, for a school this year,
and chose the selectmen a committee to provide said school.
For the next ten years about the same amount was annually i-aised.
and the schools were kept in dwelling houses, in different parts of
the town, as would best accommodate the inhabitants.

146 HISTORY OF WILTON.

In the midst of the trials and embarrassments of the Revohition
the interests of education were not neglected ; provision was made
every year for the maintenance of schools. From the close of the
war till the end of the eighteenth century, a larger sum was appro-
priated for schools than for town expenditures, and down to the
present time the amount raised for the free education of the chil-
dren of the town has alwaj's been largely in excess of that required
by law.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

In 1787 a committee consisting of nine persons divided the town,
which comprised twentj^-five square miles of territory, into " tive dis-
tricts for the purpose of building or repairing school houses at the
expense of each district." In 1807 the selectmen, by vote of the
town, reconstructed the districts and constituted eight, which were
thenceforward designated by numbers. Subsequently two addi-
tional districts were formed from portions of these, so that the town-
ship now contains ten districts, having eleven school houses, con-
taining thirteen school rooms.

SCHOOL HOUSES.

The school editices of the early times seem to have been designed
to Avithstand the vandalism of the boj'S, rather than to afford com-
forts and conveniences for the pu[)ils. They were warmed — so far
as they were made warm at all in winter — by huge open fire-places in
which green wood was usually burned, and there was no need of
any special arrangements for ventilation. The seats and desks
were made of plank from an inch and a half to two inches in thick-
ness, the dimensions of which, however, were soon materially
diminished under the operations of the busy jack-knives of idle
scholars.

The first school house of improved construction was built in 1843,
in the district of which Rev. AVarreu Burton, who will be noticed
hereafter in this narrative, was a native. The seats in this house
consisted of chairs graduated in height and size to correspond with
the varying ages of the pupils, and firmly fixed to the floor. Ample
space was afforded, means of ventilation were furnished and the
house was the first to be warmed by a furnace in the basement.
School houses on a similar plan were soon after built at the centre
of the town and at East Wilton, the principal village, and those in
other districts have been replaced by new ones, or have been remod-

TEACHERS. 147

eled, till, at the present time, there are only two which are not
adapted to the purpose for which they were designed, and even
these are a decided improvement upon those of fifty years ago.

COURSES OF STLDY AND METHODS OF INSTRUCTION.

One hundred years ago the branches of study were limited to
reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic. The methods of instruc-
tion even in these were extremely imperfect. The pui)ils had no
text books in arithmetic. The school-master usually — not always
— possessed one. He communicated a rule orally to his pupils,
who wrote it out in their manuscripts, which generally consisted of
a few sheets of coarse paper stitched within a brown paper cover.
Then an example under that rule was given, which the scholars
solved, and then they copied the operation into their manuscripts
below the rule. When a suflicient number of examples had been
disposed of, another rule was given, and so on till the mathematical
education of the student was completed.

The branches of study now pursued, even in our rural schools,
include reading, spelling and defining, penmanship, arithmetic,
grannnar, including analysis, geography, including physical geog-
raphy as a distinct branch, history of the United States, physiol-
ogy, alge})ra, geometry, book-keeping, natural philosophy and
sometimes chemistry and botany.

TEACHERS.

Until within the last thirty years school-masters were almost in-
variably employed in the winter, and school-mistresses in the sum-
mer. If a woman was placed in charge of a winter school she was
always one possessing masculine traits. A change has gradually
taken place, and at the present time our schools, with very few ex-
ceptions, are taught by females.

Many of the teachers, both men and women, who have assisted
in forming the intellectual and moral character of successive gener-
ations of youth in Wilton have been eminently fitted for their voca-
tion. In 17<S-2 an intelligent and public-spirited citizen of the town,
convinced that the schools were nearly worthless, hired a student
from college to teach during his vacation and invited his neighbors
to send their children to the school free of charge.

"This,"' records the Kev. Abiel Abbot, D. I)., :i son of the citizen re-
ferred to, " gave a new complexion to tlie scliool in the south district : and
for a number of j^ears after, qualified teachers, usually students from col-
lege, were employed eight weeks iu the winter. Soon after the improve-

148 HISTOKY OF WILTON.

iiiciit ill tlic south dislrii-t. soiiu' of tlie other (listricti* followed in the siiiiie
course. To this iui[iulse, I tliiiik. avc iikiv impute the iidviiuee of Will on
l)eforp the neii;hl>oiiiiii' towns in (-(hiejition and <idod nioi-als.""

Among those who at vaiious times taught in tlie district scliools
of the town and afterwards became widely known as public men,
were Prof. John Abbot of Bowdoiu College; Benjamin Abbot,
LL. 1)., for many years principal of Phillips Academy at Exeter,
New Hampsl ire ; Josiah Biirge ; Rev. Samuel Barrett, D. D., of
Boston ; Pev. Samuel P. Hall, first principal of the Teachers' Sem-
inary at Andover, Massachusetts ; and Rev. Warren Burton, author
of "The District School as It Was," and in his later years eminent
for his labors in the cause of "Home Education." Of these, Mr.
Barrett and Mr. Burton received the rudiments of their education
in the schools of Wilton.

In 1803 Rev. Thomas Beede was installed as minister of the
town and remained in that capacity till 1820. He was a ripe schol-
ar, a man of genial manners, and deeply interested in the improve-
ment of the young. In addition to his pastoral labors he some-
times taught one of the district schools, and also gave instruction
to advanced students at his home. His influence in promoting the
educational interests of the town was incalculable. A remarkably
large number of the young men of AVilton acquired a liberal educa-
tion during his ministry.

TEXT liOOKS.

The text books of a century ago, as recorded by one who attend-
ed school at that time, were the Bible or Testament, the primer and
Dilworth's spelling book. As the wants of the schools have re-
quired, new books have been introduced. AYhen improvements
have been demanded those improvements have been adopted. But
the town has never been given to frequent changes. When a
thoroughly good book was in use, it has not been discarded merely
because something new has been ottered. Adams's Arithmetic,
under its successive forms of The Scholars' Arithmetic, Adams's
New Arithmetic, Adams's New Arithmetic (Revised Edition) and
Adams's Improved Arithmetic, was used for nearly seventy years,
and Warren Colburn's Mental Arithmetic for about fifty years. It
was in INT.") that these works were superseded.

SUPEKVISION OF SCHOOLS.

For more than twenty years before the state made any provision
for the supervision of schools, the town of Wilton annually chose

PRIVATE SCHOOLS. 149

some of its best qualified citizens "a committee to inspect the
schools." It is worth}' of note that our educational interests have
always l)eeu kept free from any connection with i)arty politics or
religious sects. The citizens have left the appointment of superhi-
tending school committees, since that oflice was established by the
law of the state, to the selectmen ; and those oflicials, to their hon-
or be it recorded, have never seemed to be influenced by partisan
feelings in making their selections.

SKLKCT SCHOOLS.

At various times for seventy-tive years past skilful teachers have
opened private schools, for one term in a year, which have partaken
more or less of the character of high schools. These have been
largely instrumental in raising the standard of education in the
town. There has ])een for some time a select school at the princi-
pal village continuing through the year, which affords advantages
equal to those which are found at respectable academies. This
school gives promise of being a pei-manent institution.

So far Mr. Dascom))e. It may be added that Ilex. Samuel R.
Hall from Andover Seminary conducted a High school at the Cen-
tre for several seasons, which was largely attended. Miss Sarah
W. Livermore, also, with Miss Abigail Kimball as assistant, kept a
l)rivate boarding and day school at lier own house foi' a number of
years for pupils of both sexes from abroad and in town.

PKOCEKDINGS OF THE roWN IN RELATION TO SCHOOL MATTERS.

The following petition was addressed to the General Coui't in
.lune, 178S :

The petition of u^ tho Subscribers Iluuibly Sheweth : That a law of
this St;ito, entitled an act for the settlement nnd sni)port of (Jrnnimar
schools obljoes (nery town of the State, eoiisisting of ;i hundred t'aiinlies.
to maiiitniii yearly a .uTanimar scliool : and for every montli's neg'leet ini-
l)Oses a tine ot ten Ponnds. Tliat tlie town of Wilton, several years last
past, has made peculiar provision for the histructiou of its youth. It has
employed, from the seat of the ]\ruses. several well accomplished young
gentlemen, and some aged expeiienced gentlemen of literary accomplish-
ments, for the space of twenty years last past. And it has ex[)ended for
a number of years upon scliooling eighty-seven pounds, and sometimes it
has assessed more, at least a sum sufficient to support hei'e two granunar
schools anmially.

Ai)prehending the end of law, in general, to be the interest and hap-
piness of its sul)jects. and the end of the school law. In particular, to
be the good education ()f youth, we presumed a compliance with the s|)irit
of this law \\()ul<l atone for a small de\'iatioii from th<' letter. e-|iecially

150 HISTORY OF WILTON.

as this deviation has facilitated the progress of our youth and gratified
tlie wishes of their parents and guardians.

The town of Wilton, with this view of the matter, and from a view of
its loeal situation — mountainous land, long winters, deep snows, inhab-
itants scattered, town divided by a rapid stream, rendering a passage to
its centre at some seasons of the year inconvenient and impracticable —
from a view of public expenses, the scarcity of specie, the inabilitj' of
the people to provide necessary schooling in the extreme parts, when
obliged to support a grammar school in the centre, our annual expenses
for the sujiport of a number of bridges over rapid streams, building a
convenient and decent house for public worsliip, the charge of whicli is
not entirely settled, the Importance of the labor of our youth and of their
beino- instructed in aoricnlture and the manual arts. Voted, to raise
money sufficient to support two grannnar schools, to divide the town into
as many districts as was convenient, and to appoint Committees in each
district to see that the money was faithfully improved in the instruction
of their youth. This method of education we ha^•e found In' many years*
experience very beneticial. The state of Learning in Wilton sufficientlj-
e\inces the expediency of it.

Notwithstanding, one montli preceding the general session of the
peace in the County of ITillsborough in September last past, being desti-
tute of a grammar school, the grand jury found a bill against the select-
men, and they were accordingly cited to appear. Though the sessions
were convinced we had adopted a more advantageous metliod of educa-
tion, than we should have practised had we adhered to the letter of the
law, yet the penalty of that law lieing absolute, they could not acquit us
or lessen the flue. AVe therefore pray your Honors for leave to bring in
a 1)111 acquitting us from the mulct imposed on us by the general sessions.

Apprehending fiom experience that th« method of education we have
adopted might be beneticial to many towns, we beg leave to suggest, with-
out presuming to dictate, and with humble deference to your Honors'
authority and distinguislied abilities, the possibility of advantage to the
public by a revisal of the aforesaid law, and as in duty bound will ever

^^''^y- William Abbot, Jr., | Selectmen

Jonathan Burton, ) of Wilton.

TESTIMONY OF MU. HURGE, A TEACHEK.

Wilton, June 4, 1788.
I am happy in l)eing able to certify that the youth of Wilton are in
general very good readers, writers and cj'pherers. They aie farther ad-
vanced in Learning than those of most towns in the county, within the
compass of my knowledge, who have maintained grannnar schools, and
inferior to none with which I am acquainted. I believe I might safely
afhrm that there is no town in the State, of the same ability, that can pro-
duce so many youth so well qualified for conmion business, so well ac-
complished in all the l)ranches of learning which ai-e essentially useful in
every department of Life, as can the town of Wilton.

Josiah Burge.

THE FINE REMITTED. 151

TESTIMONY OF REV. ABEL FISK.

Having inacU- it my animal practice to call the youth together in dift'er-
ent Pait>! of the 'i'owu to advise and instruct them, I have taken Occasion
to examine them in respei-t to the Improvement tliey liave made in Read-
ing, and liave been highly pleased with the accuracy and Propriety exhib-
ited in that Branch of Literature.

I ha\(' likewise been present at school when tlie Cliildren have been ex-
amined respecting tlie Xanie* and Uses of those Stops and Characters
that are made use of in the English lianguage, and tliey have answered
the Questions proposed to Admiration. I have seen their Writing &c.
And it appears to me from tlie Observations I have made that the People
of AVilton have paid a particular Attention to the School Education of
their Children.

Abel Fisk.

Wilton. .June 4"i 1788.

ACTION OF THE aENERAL COURT.

June 9"' 17S8. A jolnl Committee, consisting of 3Ir. Slieplierd and Mr.
Webster of the Senate, and Mr. Pogers, Mr. Emerson and ^Fr. Murphy of
the House, was raised to consider the petition of the Selectmen of Wilton
and report thereon.

June 12"'. The Committee reported: That although the town of Wil-
ton have not strictly adhered to the letter of the law, yet it appears to
your committee, that they have been at great expense for the education
of their youths, and that it is the opinion of the committee that the fine
be remitted, and that thev have leave to bring in a bill accordingly;
Signed. Amos Shepheid for the committee. Which re])ort being read and
considered. Voted, that it be received and accepted.

We pass now to a mueii later period aud make extracts from the
Report of the Board of Edueatiou of the town, for the year ending-
March 1, 1SS7:

The IjCgislature of ISS.") passed a school law, which eftected a radical
change in the management of our educational institutions. The district
system was superseded by the establisliinent of the town system, subject
to the direction and control of a Board of Education.

At the first annual mtM'ting of the district, called in pursuance of the
recently enacted school law. and held March 2, 1880, Mr. Philander Ring
was elected a member f)f the Board for the term of three years, Mrs.
Sarah E. Dunbar, tor the term of two years, and Mr. George E. Bales,
for the term of one year. Subsequently, the Board organized by the se-
lection of Mr. Bales as Cliairman, Mr. Ring as Treasurer, and Mrs. Dun-
bar as Secretary. The duty of supervision was apportioned among the
members of the Board. Aware of the fact that many looked with distrust
upon the new departure, and l)elieving that a conservative course ^^•ould
best tend to promote the general welfare of the schools, we avoided, so
far as practical)le, any serious deviation from existing methods. An

152

HISTORY OF WILTON.

early inspection of the fsohools revealed a condition of aflfaiis in the main
satisfactory, except that, enibarrasscd by the hick of sutlicient funds, sev-
«n-al schools suffered sonuMvhat in comparison with those more fortunate
in this respect. Herein apiieais one of rlie -ieiierally acknowledged ad-
vantages of the new system, to wit : less inequality in the money availa-
ble for school purposes. Although the law may in some cases work liard-
ship, partit'ularly in localities furnishing a limited inuuber of scholars,
we believe that, selfishness aside, if the law is administered in a spirit of
justice to all. it will connnend itself to all reasonable men. Tlie recently
enacted school hiw will be of substantial benefit to oui- town in one par-
ticular at least : it has made jyossible the establishment of a liigh school
on an enduring basis. AVe thiidc much has already been accomplished in
the right dinu-tiou. The school has been placed in the hands of an ac-
complished instructor, ^h. L. .1. Tuck, a graduate of AVilliams College,
who enjoys the entire good-will and respect of those under his charge,
and the confidence of the ))eo])le of the town.

STATISTICAL TA1!1>E KOK THE VEAR ENDIiNG MARCH, 1887.

SCHOOLS,
WHERE LOCATED.

NUMBER

oi-

PUPILS.

BOY.S.

GIKLS.

AVEUAOE

ATTEND-

ANCE.

TEUMS.

WEEKS.

East High . . .

(grammar ....

Tntermedi;ite . .

Primarv ....

4(1

Center

Davisville . . .

li)

:!0

West

1!)

1(1

;5o

French Villagi^ . .

1!)

Southeast . . .

■^

Abbot Hill . . .

Xortheast . . .

318

163

1.55

223

292

The average attendance was reduced l)y the sickness of tlie scholars.
By the discontinuance of the second and third terms in the Abbot Hill
and the Northeast schools, some remuneration was allowed for transport-
ing the scholars to the scliools that they attended the second and tliird
terms.

SIXDAV SCHOOLS.

The first Sunday scbool was estaltlished in May. 1816, was connected
with the Congregational ihurch of which the Rev. Tliomas Beede was
])astor. and was held in the Centre scliool house. Two ladies, INIiss Phebe
Al)bot, afterwards the wife of Ezra Abbot. Escj., of Jackson, Maine, and
the mother of I^rof. Ezra Abbot of Harvard riuversity, and Miss Sarah
White TJvei-more were leaders in this enterprise. Tliis school was one
uf tlie first, if not the first, in the country to be devoted es])ecially and

<a^

COLLEGE GRADUATES. 153

wholl}- to religious iii^truetiou. Seventy children attended the tiist sen-
:*on. The hook used was the Bible, and the Bible only. Sunday schocds
an^ now cstahlishod in all tho t-hurchps in town.*

(Jl.'AKI ATKS OF (OI.LI-XiES.

A .<trlkini>' test of a (•oninuiuiiy's appreciation of the advantages of ed-
ucation is the eagernpss with which the highpi' instruction and mental
iliscipliue of academies and colleges are sought, aud witli whicli sacritices
are made, even by these of limited means, to secure sudi advantages.
Tlie following is the creditable list, so far as we have been al)le to ascer-
tain it. of either natives or residents of Wilton who have been graduates
or UHMubers of colleges :

(Traduatesof Harvard College: Abie] Abbot, D. D., 17S7; .Jacob Abbot,
171)2: William Abbot, 1797: .John Stevens Abbot, 1801 ; Solomon Kidder
LiveruKu-e, 1802: Ebenezer Kockwood, 1802; Samuel Greele, 1802; Sam-
uel Al)bot, 1808; Samuel Barrett. 1818; AVarren Burton, 1821 : Abiel Ab-
bot Livermore. 1883: Ilermon Ab))ot was two years at Harvard: ^Villiam
Barrett, 185!): Isaac Spalding Whiting, 1882.

(Graduates of Daitmouth College: Daniel Eockwood. 1811; Augustus
Greele, 1813; Timothy Parkhurst,^ 1813; Abner Flint, 1821; David Mor-
gan, 183r); Lubim Ihnton Kockwood. 1S3'.): Josejdi Cbandb'i' P.arrett,
ISoO; Charles D. Adams, 1877.

Graduates of Bowdoin ( 'ollege : .Toseph Hale Abbot, 1822: Ephi-aim
Peabody, 1827; Ezra Abbot, 1830; Abiel Abbot, 1831.

Graduates of ^'ale College: Kufus AI)bot, 1834: Alvali Steele, three,
years, but did not graduate; Levi Abbot, 1840.

Graduate of Andierst College, Charles Abbot, 183.'); of Middlel)ury Col-
lege, Samuel Flint; of Hobart College, Everard W. Dascomb, 1880: of
Tufts College, Arthni- 1,. Keyes.

n.'Ol-KSSlOXAI. MEN.

Physicians. Dr. Ebenezer Eockwood, a graduate of Harvard College,
1773, was long a physician in town. Dr. Timothy Parkhurst, a graduate
of Dartmouth College, 1813, was for many years the wise and skilful
physician of Wilton. Dr. .lohn Putnam also practised medicine in town
for a long time, and in recent years D'- W. A. .Tones, Dr. .7. T. Buttrick
and Dr. Tower have also been piactitioners here. Drs. Crombie and
I\ingsl)ury of Temple, Dr. Twitchell of Keene, Dr. Daniel Adams of
Mont Vernon, Dr. Spalding of Andierst, and Dr. Dearborn of Milford
liave also been often called upon to visit the sick and suffering in Wilton.
Drs. Henry Trevitt, .Tosiah Fleeman. George W. Hatch, and Green are at
present the physicians of the town.

Lavpjers. For many years Wilton had no lawyers. Hon. Charles H.
Burns, .1. i>. Spring, Esq., and W. H. Grant, Es(i., have officiated in this
capacity. Mr. Burns resides in Wilton, but has his office in Nashua.

* Sco Chaptfi- XIII.

154 HISTORY OF WILTON.

AUTHORS.

Abiel Abbot, D. T)., wrote a History of Andover and a (Genealogical
Register of the Abbot Family.

Samuel Abbot, Esq., seientific investigations. Hon. Charles H. Atlier-
ton in his Memoir of Mr. Abbot, printed in the Collections of the New
Hampshire Histoilcal Society, Volume VI., pages 20.')-211, says : " In 1828
when the ' Pneumatic Paradox," as it was called, v/as attracting the at-
tention of scholars, and no satisfactory explanation of it had been found,
he first suggested its true theory, 'i'his was afterwards experimentally
proved by his nephew. Prof. Joseph H. Abbot, in an article published in
the American Journal of Science and Arts. In 1837-S he detected the
fallacy of the instrument called the 'CJeometer," to which the attention of
Congress was then called as a discovery in magnetism, by which the lat-
itude as well as the Xorth Pole was supposed to be indicated."

John Abbot, a work on mechanical inventions made by him.

Joseph Hale Abbot, articles in the American .Journal of Science and
Arts, and in scientific reviews.

Samuel Barrett, D.D.. tracts and sermons: a volume of sermons, witli
a memoir by Lewis (i. Pray.

Thomas Beede, sermons and orations.

Warren Burton. District School as It Was; The Scenery Shower; Cul-
ture of the Observing Faculties in the Family and the School ; Helps to
Education in the Houses of our Country: Cheering Views of Man and
Providence ; White Slavery, a New Emancipation Cause.

A. A. Livermore. Priestley's Corruptions of Christianity, abridged;
Lectures to Young Men; Marriage Otl'ering: Christian Hynuis, compiled;
Commentary on the New Testament, G vohmies; volume of discourses;
War with Mexico Reviewed; reviews and occasional sermons: Anti-
'J'oliacco; History of AVilton.

Sarah W. Livern)ore. fugitive poems.

Ephraim Peabody, fugitive poems; a volume of sermons, with a
memoir by S. A.Eliot; Christian Days and Thoughts; Lessons on the
Old Testament: occasional sermons and articles in reviews.

Sewall Putnam, History of ^Vilton.

Uriah Smith, tracts and pamphlets; Diagram of Parliamentary Rules;
A Word for the Sabliath ; The United States in Prophecy : Synopsis of
the Present Truth: The Sanctuary and its Cleansing; Plan's Natui-e and
Destiny; Thoughts on the Books of Daniel and the Revelation.

Rebecca Smitli, a volume of poems, with the life and experience of
her daughter, Anui<' R. Snntli.

INVENTOR.S.

John Abbot invented an hydraulic motor.

Samuel Abbot, nuichinery for the manufacture of potato starch.

Daniel Cragin, a l)ending machine for the manufacture of dry meas-
ures, &c. ; a madiine for sealing measures; a machine for pressing in the
l)ottoms of measures and boxes, and other machines foi- lal)or saving in
the maiuifacture of measures and boxes.

INVENTORS. 155

Henry A. Holt, a universal Avood worker, combining in one inaehine a
double saw-table, an irregular moulder, a buzz planer, a boring machine
and a lathe ; a box machine for manufacturing locked corner boxes, in
which the stock is cut to a proper length, and both ends are cut to lock
together at one operation.

Henry Hopkins, machinery for manufacturing boxes.

Messrs. Flint and Gray, a patent on a wagon seat.

Uriah Smith, an automatic folding school seat, patented, and nuinu-
factured by The Union School Furniture Company.

Lucinda Spalding, a motliod of weaving seamless bags.

CHAPTER XV.

LIBRARIES, READING ROOM, AND READING CLUR.

The opportuuities for reading in the early days were rare. The
age of magazines had not arrived. Even professional libraries of
law, medicine and theology Avere meagre. Jnveuile literature was
almost unknown. The Bible and a few seliool books were tlie chief
reliance for moral and intellectual stimulus. But the Hebrew and
'Christian Scriptures contained an education in themselves, and, as
Prof. Huxley has declared, formed the basis of our English civiliza-
tion. Watts's Psalms and Hymns and Bunyan's Pilgrim's Prog-
ress were in most homes, and they were no small factors in mould-
ing the character of the New England peoi)le. But variety is the
spice of life, and soon tastes were developed which demanded a
wider intellectual range and a more generous culture.

COLUMBIAN LIBRARY.

The Cohmibian Library was incorporated June 1», 1808 ; Ebeue-
zer Rockwood, Jonathan Burton and Philip Putnam lieing the
corporate members. Tlie records and catalogue of the library have
not been found. Among the books, which are recalled, were Hunt-
er's Sacred Biography, Miss Edgeworth's Tales, and John Adams's
Defence of tlie Constitution of the Ignited States, in three volumes.
About the year 1820 the company was dissolved and the books were
sold or divided among the stockholders.

READIN(; UOOM.

The Eree Sunday Reading Room was established about 1830, by
the exertions of a few public-spirited persons, in the hall of Has-
kell & Whitney's brick store near tlie church. It was designed
especially for the lienetit of tliose wlio lived at a distance and could
not return home during the short intermission on Sunday between
the forenoon and afternoon services. Books and tracts, chiefly

LIBRARIES. 157

upon moral aud religious su])jects, were provided, and were open
to the use of all without payment. Afterwards the books were re-
moved to the church, and what remained were merged in the Sun-
day School Library, which also furnished reading for young and old.
All were destroyed when the old meeting-house was burned.

MINISTERIAL LIBKAKY.

The Ministerial Library, connected with the First Congregational
Church, and designed especially for the use of the pastor, was
established and incorporated Dec. 22, 1824 ; the corporate members
being Rev. Thomas Beede, Eliphalet Putnam, Ezra Abbot, Samuel
Abbot and Timothy Parkhurst. The active mover in this matter was
Rev. Abiel Abbot, I). D., of Peterborough, who was also one of the
earliest founders of free public libraries in this country. The library
is placed in charge of five trustees, who till their own board. The
annual income of an endowment fund is devoted to the purchase of
books. The number of volumes is over 1000. The library is kept
in the parsonage in the centre of the town, and is open to the use
of all the ministers of the town of whatever denomination, and also
to citizens of the town by payment of a small subscription.

TARISII LIBRARY.

A Parish Library, also connected with the First Congregational
Church, and accessible to all the member.s of the parislt, was
opened for circulation in October, lSo8. It contained about four
hundred volumes. It was kept in the old meeting-house, and when
the house was burned the books were all destroyed.

SUNDAY' SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

The Sunday School Libraries, belonging to the several churches,
contain a large number of volumes, which are for the use of the
teachers and scholars of the Sunday schools of the religious socie-
ties.

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

This enterprise was due originally to the labors of Rev. Aubrey
M. Pendleton, pastor of the Unitarian Church in East Wilton from
1861) to 1875. Mr. Pendleton had previously been actively con-
cerned in the Free Public Library of Peterborough. In March, 1871 ,
he began to collect funds, and continued to do so during that and
the following year, 1872. The subscription paper read as follows :

111 Older to establish ami iiiaiiitaiii a Public Library in AN'ilton, we, the
imdersigned, agree to give the sums severally set against our names; said

158 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Library to be located in the village of East Wilton, and to be held for tlie
use and benefit ot all tlie inhabitants of tlie town on such terms and condi-
tions as sliall be liereafter determined by the subscribers.

The whole amouut raised was $2059, and almost all of it was giv-
en by 4-esidents of Wilton. Mr. Pendleton collected $1500; Hon.
Charles H. Burns and Mr. Pendleton together, $151 ; Mr. Burns
alone, $145; Mr. P. H. Putnam, $174; while $20 or $30 came
in without solicitation.

A Library Association was then formed and nine trustees were
chosen, three of whom were elected annuall}', as three went out of
office each year. A room was hired, and all the funds were ex-
pended in booivs and furniture. The library was then opened to
the subscribers of the fund, of whom there were two hundred.

In March, 1872, the town of Wilton voted to raise and appropri-
ate $500 annually for the library, arnl it was opened to all the in-
habitants of Wilton, and to non-resident subscribers. The vote of
the town was as follows :

Voted, Tliat the sum of .$500 be raised and appropriated for the sup-
port and improvement of the Wilton library ; the sum to be expended
under the direction of tlie selectmen and the trustees of the Wilton Li-
brary Association ; ajid the said library to be open to the free use of all
the citizens of said town in consideration of said appropriation.

Rev. Mr. Pendleton and Hon. C. H. Burns were the principal
managers, and a fine selection of books was made. While it was
adapted to popular wants, standard authors only were admitted,
and trash was resolutel}' kept out. It was pronounced by compe-
tent judges to be the best village library they had seen. The town
appropriated $500 a year for two years. Two thousand volumes
were collected, and a catalogue was prepared and printed. The
annual circulation of books reached about 7000 volumes to 750 per-
sons.

But December 2, 1874, a fire broke out in a building adjoining
the library and destroyed almost all the improvements that had
been made in tlie village for fifteen years. The library was one of
the victims. The book cases, part of the furniture, nearly the
whole edition of the printed catalogues and 750 volumes of books
were destroyed, to the value of $1271. The insurance made good
two-thirds of this loss, so that the actual money loss was about
$400. This was a most disheartening set-back to the library, and
a great discouragement to its chief founders and helpers, among
whom Mr. Pendleton was the devoted leader.

ladies' reading room. 159

The towu failing to continue its appropriation of SoOO annually,
the library was endowed with $2000, of which a friend of JNIr. Pen-
dleton contributed $1200. The sum of $500 was set apart from
the insurance, and $300 was procured elsewhere. A dollar a year
was then charged for the use of the library, and the enterprise was
put upon its feet again. By March, 1876, the library had an in-
come of $350 a year. The charge to users of the library was re-
duced to seventy-five cents a j^ear. Other donations were made
and the endowment rose to $3000, and later to $4200. The annual
tariff for"users of the books was reduced in 1876 to fifty cents. In
1877 the town appropriated $300 a year, on the guarantee of $200
for its support by the founder of the library, and subsequently $250
on the guarantee of $250 from the same source. As soon as the
town made appropriations, the library wasjnade free to all the citi-
zens, and so continued till the time it was destroyed. New books
were added, and at the close of 1880 they numbered 3100 volumes.

But January 20, 1881, came another devastating 'fire. "^The li-
brary was entirely destroyed, not a book or other article escaped,
except what chanced to be outside of the building. As the books
had been called in for the annual examination, but a small number
remained in the hands of the readers. The property destroyed was
worth more than $-4000, and as the insurance had lapsed, it was all
irretrievably lost. Various propositions have been offered and at-
tempts made since the tire to revive the library, but thus far noth-
ing has been accomplished. The remaining effects and the unex-
pended funds have been placed in the hands of five trustees. It is
understood that measures will be taken ere long to reestablish a
free public library.

THE ladies' READINCi CLUB.

The literary society known as the Ladies' Reading Club was
organized February 10, 1886, for the purpose of mutual improve-
ment and amusement. The meetings are held fortnightly on
Wednesday evenings from October to July. The otHcers con-
sist of a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, and
an executive committee of three, all of whom hold their respec-
tive offices for six consecutive meetings. The librarian is elect-
ed for one year. The yearly membership fee is twenty-five cents
for active members and fifty cents for honorary members. A li-
brary of one hundred and fourteen volumes has been purchased
with the money received from the membership fees, and from the

inU HISTORY OF WILTON.

proceeds of a [)iil)lic eiitertainiiient given April "2<S, ].s.S7. There
is also a l)alaiK-e in the treasury. The whole imnil)er of members
for the year ending .lime MO, I.SST, was forty-six.

The following list gives approximately the number (jf volumes in
each of the libraries remaining in Wilton :

The liljrary lit tin' First ( 'ungre^'ational Chureh, 4<l" vohuiies ; of the
Second ConuTej;,';iti(>ii;il Church. 700: of the Uapti.^t Clunx'h. tOd; or Uic
T/il)ri';il ( 'lu'isti.-iii ( Inuvli. 400: oT Uic Lailies" IJcudinii' (lub. Ill: in
scliool (lis(i-ifi No. ."). ,")00; Miui.slcrial liljniry, 1000.

Thci'e :iic also vakiable libraries in lowii belon<>'iiin' lit prolrssional men
ami oilier citizens.

CHAPTER XVI.

MILLS, MANUFACTURES AND INDUSTRIES.

AVIieu Beujaniiu Franklin trjivellecl through New Euglaml more
tlian a hundred years ago, he forecast its destiny, for he predicted
that its numerous and rapid streams, with their innnense water-
power, would make it a great manufacturing eoinnuuiit}'. The dis-
tinctive qualities of the inhaliitants, their intelligence, skill and in-
ventiveness, lead to the same conclusion. The mechanical power
and the character of the people both combine to make mechanics
and manufactures leading interests. Water and wind will usually
be cheaper propellants than steam and electricity. The course of
events since Frauklin's time has justified his sagacity. For the oc-
cupations of countries are largely determined by climate, geological
formation, and the race of men. The sea-coast and islands make
a community of sailors, merchants and fishermen. The plains and
prairies destine men to husbandry ; the hills and mountains, to graz-
ing and mining ; the brooks and rivers, to manufactures, and so on
to the end of the chapter.

The early settlers of Wilton had to contend with many difficul-
ties. They had no mills, no boards, no clapboards, no shingles.
The first burial was in a rude coffin, hollowed out of a tree, with a
slab hewn from the same tree for a lid. The houses were built of
logs, and earth supplied the place of mortar. The axe was the
chief tool. For glass, mica was used ; for floors, the ground ; for
window-frames, lead ; for chimneys, clay ; for plates, wooden
l)latters ; for roofs, split rails and earth ; for guide-boards, blazed
trees, and for road-beds, "corduroy," or logs and poles. At first
there was no mill to grind the corn nearer than Dunstable, and aft-
erwards Milford. The pioneer must travel miles and miles along
a solitary path through the wild woods with his bag of grain on his
back, or on a sled, to reach a grist mill, and must return the same
weary way to supply breadstuffs for his wife and children.

162 HISTORY OF WILTON.

The grantors of the town set apart two lots of eighty acres each
to encourage the biiihiing of mills. The first mill in Wilton was
the grist mill at Barnes's Falls, built by Samuel Greele, the grand-
father of Deacon Sanuiel Greele of Boston. It was on lot number
14, in the fourth range, being one of the lots drawn for mills. The
first saw-mill was that of Jacob Putnam, situated a short distance
west of the southeast corner of lot number 1."), and was very near
the line between the lots numbered 14 and 1.') in the fifth range.
A saw and grist mill was built by Captain Nathan Hutchinson at
the East village on the same spot where one stands now. On lot
number 20 in the fourth range, on the brook that flows In^ the pres-
ent glass-house at South Lyndeborough, a few rods above where it
unites with Ston}^ River, a grist mill was erected by Dea. John Bur-
ton. These mills were all erected before the Revolution. At the
West village on Gambol Brook, netir where the knob factory of
Samuel Smith now stands, was formerly a mill for grinding grain
and fulling cloth which, was owned by Uriah Smith. It was burned
in 1781 or 1782, but the remains of the dam may yet be seen.
Rev. Jonathan Livermore built a saw mill on Gambol Brook about
the time of the Revolution. His son Nathan carried on the milling
business for nuiuy years. The site is still occupied by his descend-
ants for a saw mill, with machinery for making shingles and staves.

At the time of the centennial celebration in 183'J, the following
record was made of the industries of the town :

There arc now ciglit saw iiiills in o[)eratioii : tivf grist mills: three
tanneries; two fulling mills; one bobbin factory; one cotton factor}-,
burnt in 18;J9, and not vet rebuilt; one starch factory, owned and carried
on by people fi'oni Wilton [Messrs. Ezra and Samuel Abbot] but itself in
the border of Mason ; foiu- blacksmiths, ten shoemakers, including jour-
neymen; two cabinet makers; one hatter; three stores; two taverns.

One of the most serious changes in the industries of the country
has been the virtual abolition of the system of apprenticeship.
When our forefathers came over the sea, they brought the Euro-
pean method of initiation into the industrial trades by a long period,
nsuall}' seven years, of careful training and practice. When an ap-
prentice, or negro boy, ran away it was customary to advertise him
and offer one cent reward. It is questionable whether mechanical
work is as thoroughly done under the present system as under the
old one, where years of careful training and practice under experi-
enced master workmen habituated the apprentice to accuracy and
skill in every detail of his trade.

MANUFACTURE OF POTATO STARCH. 163

ORIGIN OF THE MANUFACTURE OF POTATO STARCH, BY ABIEL ABBOT.

Before the War of LSI 2 potatoes were easily raised iu this region,
with larger crops per acre than at present. But there was little
sale for them, and the low price did not admit of transporting them
far to a market. These facts suggested to the mind of Samuel Ab-
bot, Esq., the desirableness of obtaining the more valuable part of
the potato in a form less bulky, and suited to a greater variety of
important uses. Discussion of the matter with his brother. Deacon
Ezra Abljot, led them to consider by what means this might be ac-
complished. Plxperiments to obtain sugar resulted only in grape
sugar, or glucose ; and this idea was abandoned. Starch in small
quantity for domestic use had been previously obtained from pota-
toes by means of a hand grater and subsequent washings. But to
obtain it in large quantity with machinery and a greater power was
not known ever to have been attempted. To do this successfully
would not only create a better market for potatoes, but it promised
remuneration for expense by furnishing a valuable article for ex-
tensive consumption. Mutual interchange of ideas on the subject
finally led to action.

Early in the fall of l)Sll, as appears, a building about twenty
feet square was erected, at his own expense, by Ezra Abbot, near
his house, the lower story for a horse to turn a shaft connected in
the second story with machinery for washing and grating the pota-
toes ; the same story to have apparatus for cleansing the starch
with water made to flow in from a small brook, also a set of wide,
shallow drawers with fire underneath for drying it, the whole cost-
ing about $200. Months passed before the machinery was all in
place. Meanwhile its object excited much wonderment in the
neighborhood. From an evasive answer to some inquisitive per-
son, that it was "to make Free-masons by water," it was styled
"Free-masons' Hall." After it was started "no admittance" on
the door continued the mystery some time longer.

The first starch seems to have been made in the spring of 1812;
and for five or six years Ezra Abbot continued to manufacture
starch in mild weather of fall and spring, from potatoes only of his
own raising, kept iu winter in his house cellar and taken to the mill
as wanted. He had machinery to work only about a dozen bushels
at a time, and did not work every day ; he made one year about
6000 pounds of starch, at the rate of eight pounds of starch to each
bushel of potatoes. For a market, he made repeated visits to Bos-

164 HISTORY OF WILTON.

ton, Salem, Newburypoit, Andover and other towns, selling some and
leaving some to be sold on account ; lie sold at eight cents a pound,
but traders often put it as high as twenty cents. It was used in fam-
ilies for puddings and otherwise, and was reconnnended by drug-
gists as a delicate food for invalids. About 1817 John Smith, P^sq.,
of Peterborough, after many failures, succeeded in making of it
good size for use in cotton manufacture ; and about the same time
Mr. Paul Moody at Waltham experimented with it for the same
purpose, long in vain, but with liints from Mr. Smith, and having
a lot of it on hand, persevered till lie succeeded and wanted more.
Ezra Abbot's first mill was an experiment, to try machinery and a
market. Being now well assured of both, Ezra and Samuel Abbot
decided to build on a larger scale.

In 1818 the site of an old disused sawmill in the near border of
Mason was purchased, and much laT)or expended in preparing the
spot by blasting out rocks to make room for potatoes, building a
stone dam, quarrying other stone for the mill, tS:c. Up to this time
Samuel Abbot had been in practice of the law at Dunstable and
afterwards at Ipswich, Massachusetts. But in November, 1818, he
removed to Wilton, and henceforth the lirothers gave their united
energies to the business* under the firm name of E. & S. Abbot.
For many months they were much together, especially in evenings
and far into the night, consulting and devising the requisite machin-
ery, much of which differed from that in the first mill and involved
the application of new principles. As their plans became settled,
the construction of the machinery was put in the hands of different
mechanics under bonds not to divulge. As the spring of l-Sl'.l
opened, the farmers of adjacent towns were engaged to plant more
or less land with potatoes, and in the fall to bring them the crops
at a fixed price per bushel. Meanwhile the building was erected,
60 by 30 feet, the lower story of stone, with an L for storing
starch. To get in all the machinery and properly adjust it, they
found to be a work of time. It was March, 1820, when they com-
menced operation on their three thousand bushels of potatoes, and
before all were worked np the water became warm and required the
use of ice. At first they received potatoes by measuring loads for
cubic inches and reducing to bushels, in a year or two by weighing
loads and empty carts in a frame, but in a few years they changed
the frame for Fairbanks's platform scales. There being no law for
the weight of a bushel of potatoes, they adopted as an average of
weighings by themselves and neighbors, the rule of sixty-four pounds

MANUFACTURE OF POTATO STARCH. 165

to the bushel. As crops were light or abuuclaut, their stocks of pota-
toes varied in quantity ; being for seven years less than six thou-
sand bushels a year ; for eleven years, between six and ten
thousand : for seveu years, from ten to fifteen thousand ; in other
years more ; their largest stock, in 18^)0, was over twenty-six thou-
sand bushels. Farmers within six or eight miles or more found it
a cash market for their potatoes. The crops of different seasons
differed in quality ; and some kinds were richer in starch than
others. " Long Reds," for instance, yielded well per acre, but not
so well in starch.

Experience and observation gradually taught the partners im-
proved processes, especially in securing the finer, lighter starch,
which, being of nearly the same specific gravity as the light part of
the refuse or " grains," liad been difficult to separate. But their
best skill did not suffice to obtain all the starch of the potato. Of
the ten, twelve or more pounds in a bushel, according to quality,
more or less escaped with tlie " grains," to be fed to cattle and
hogs, and more or less flowed off with the potato juice into the
brook to double and treble tlie hay crops in the meadows below.
The amount of starch obtained per bushel in different years ranged
from seven and one-third to nine and two-thirds pounds ; lieing in
five years less than eight pounds, in seven years more than nine
pounds, and averaging about eight and oncThalf pounds per bushel
of ()4 pounds. The quantity of starch mauufactured also varied
greatly, from lOi tous in 1820 to 11!>J tons in 1830-31 ; being in
the first six years 161 tons, in the next six years 357 tons, and in
the seveu years 1.S40 to 184(), 2r)5 tons. The data for several years
are uot found. There was immediate demand for their starch at
Peterborough and at Waltham. In a year or two cotton mills were
erected in Lowell, Nashua and other places, which called for starch,
and there was no ditliculty in disposing of all they could make.
The wholesale price ranged at diff'erent times from three and one-
half to five and one half-cents a pound.

In the afternoon of Friday, December 26, 1828, the starch mill was
burned ; and Ezra Abliot by inhaling liot smoke lirought on a long
and severe illness of luug fever. The mill was partially insured.
Some potatoes were spoiled ; but the larger portion remained good,
and the mill was rebuilt in time to work them all up before too warm
weather. A second time the mill was burned in the night after
December 17th, IH:)U. Wlieu the fire was first seen at 2 A. M. by
a neighbor half a mile away, the main building was already burnt

166 HISTORY OF WILTON.

down ; there was no insurance, and the loss was estimated at $3000.
Of 9000 bushels of potatoes, 2000 had been worked up, 4000 were
in an outer cellar, and of oOOO bushels there in the mill, some were
ruined, others good. The mill was at once rebuilt and all the good
potatoes were worked up.

From the beginning Messrs. E. & S. Abbot were cautious of ad-
mitting strangers to view their works. They intended to procure
patents of parts of their machinery, wrote to Washington, and pre-
pared specifications, models, &c. But as this mode of maintainiug
their rights might require lawsuits with expense of money, time and
trouble, they concluded to protect themselves, as they best could,
without patents. They had knowledge of clandestine attempts to
examine their machinery. A starch mill was started in New Ips-
wich, but in a year or two proved a failure. One young man pro-
posed to join them in putting up a mill about fifteen miles away ;
and they, finding it a good location, acceded to the arrangement and
had considerable machinery prepared by their mechanics, when he,
having thus acquired some knowledge of the business, dropi)ed off
and went north, where starch mills afterwards appeared. But oth-
er parties honorably compensated them for information and assist-
ance. In 1831 Messrs. O. ct E. Prescott engaged them to super-
intend the construction of their mill at Jaffrey ; which Samuel Ab-
bot subsequently rented and operated in his own name, while Ezra
Abbot operated the Mason mill, still in the name of E. & S. Ab-
bot, their customers being supplied from either mill as most con-
venient. This continued till the burning of the Jaffrey mill and the
lamented death of Samuel Abbot, Januar}' 2d, 1839. Of the pota-
toes, about 2300 bushels, damaged, and 324.") bushels, sound, were
sold. The remainder, 3800 bushels, were transported to the Mason
mill ; of which Ezra Abbot, by purchase from the heirs of his broth-
er, became sole proprietor. Five or six parties from the state of
Maine at dift'erent times applied, and, for a consideration, received
information and assistance. In one case, Ezra Abbot left his mill
in charge of workmen, went to Maine and spent several weeks thei"e
initiating the party into the business.*

In later years the potato disease interfered much with the busi-
ness, discouraged planting, rendered the stock of potatoes received

*Tn a speech recently delivered before the Sensite of the United States by Hon. W. P.
Frye, senator from Maine, it is stated that 1.7(t0.n(Hj liushels of potatoes are annually used
in that state for the manufacture of starch. The same manufacture is also extensively car-
ried on in the .states of the northwest and in Canada.

COTTON AND WOOLLEN FACTORIES. 167

at the mill less in quantity, and of less A-alue for starch, the best
being wanted for domestic use. In the bad year, 1^4"), in a stock
of about "joOO l)ushels, Dea. Abbot estimated his loss by the disease
as equal to more than 1 (lOO bushels ; it reduced the yield for that
year to only six and one-fifth pounds per bushel.

In the season of 184(j Ezra Abbot, from failure of health, was able
to visit the mill only once or twice, and devolved the charge of it
on his son, Abiel Abbot. On his decease, April od, 1-S47, his sons,
Abiel and Harris Abbot, became joint owners under the name of
A. & H. Abbot. They continued the manufacture of starch four
or five years with stocks of potatoes diminishing from the united
effects of the disease and of the coming of railroads ; both causes
combined to raise greatly the price of potatoes for general con-
sumption. The last stock received was between one and two thou-
sand bushels. The mill was sold and converted into a saw and
stave mill.

COTTON AND WOOLLEN FACTORIEi?.

The first cotton and woollen factory was incorporated June IH,
LSI 4 ; William Bales and Amos Holt, Jr., corporators.

The Wilton Manufacturing Company was incoi-porated June 23,
1829 ; Amos Dickey, Abiel Lovejoy, Silas Bullard, Koyal Wallace
and Abraham Whittemore. corporators. This mill Avas burned in
1839.

With the same charter and the same title a company was formed
in 1848, with a capital of .">(), 000 dollars. Joseph Newell, Elipha-
let Putnam, ZiV)a Gray, Daniel Al)))ot, Esq., William D. Beasom,
Clark C. Boutwell, Royal Southwick. Elbridge Reed and Tappau
Wentworth were the principal stockholders. The mill was built in
1849. the wheel and shafting were put in in 1850, and the manu-
facture of carpet yarn was begun April (i, 1851. The mill was of
wood, 98x40 feet, and contained two stories with a basement. A
wheel-house was l)uilt of one story, :)2x3() feet, with a basement
for washing wool ; one-half of the room above was used for a re-
pair shop. The wheel was a breast wheel, 24 feet in diameter, with
buckets 1 2 feet long. A drying-house, a wool-house and a double
cottage were also built, and these, with the old boarding-house,
were all the buildings at first owned by the company.

The first lot of machinery consisted of six spinning frames, three
twisters, drawing frames, pickers and other small machinery to
match ; also oue set of cards and one jack for making filling. From

168 HISTORY OF WILTON.

this small beginning new macliinery was added from time to time
until the mill contained fourteen spinning frames, seven twisters
and a corresponding increase of new and modern machinery, includ-
ing Englisli combers. The machinery was increased for making
filling from one to four sets. While this increase of machinery was
going on the building had to be correspondingly enlarged. In 1858
forty feet were added to the length of the mill, making it one hun-
dred and thirty-eight feet long. In 1865 another addition was
made in L form, fifty by seventy-two feet, and one of Swain's tur-
bine wheels of 130 horse-power took the place of the old breast
wheel and was run uutil the mill was burnt, March 0, 1872. In
May, 1851, forty-uiue hands were employed and the pay roll of
that month amounted to $788.34. In January, 1872, 116 employes
were paid $2371.41. The mill was in operation twenty years and
eleven months. The first superintendent was Mr. Kipley. He was
soon succeeded by Mr. Elbridge G. Woodman, who acted so long
as the mill was in operation.

The following account by Mr. Woodman, one of the most active
promoters of the prosperity of East Wilton, will be read with deep
interest, as sketching a half century's growth in a New P^ugland
village :

When I tirst came to Wihou in 1S;J!) 1 went to \ie\x the ruins of the old
cotton mill, and the sight of those ruins and of the beautiful location
gave me a feeling of sadness, and I asked myself if it was not possiljle to
have those ruins restored and the hopes and anticipations of a disappoint-
ed people made bright again. At that time there were twenty-four
houses in the village and four in Piue Valley; today there are one hun-
dred and fifty-six houses in this village, and about thirty in the Valley.
I speak of Pine Valley, although just over the line in Milfoixl, because all
there is there today is the result of what was done in AViltou by the Wil-
ton Company.

I came to Wilton in 1844 to reside a couple of years, and during that
time held long and frequent consultations with Mr. Joseph Xewell, try-
ing to devise some way to get up a company to luiild a null where the old
one stood, but this was no easy matter. In the first pLu'C, the stock or
shares of the old company mnst be bonght up : this was a difficult opera-
tion, as this stock was scattered tar and wide, and some of its owners,
thinking something was to be done, wanted fabulous prices for their
stock, and had these first efforts been undertaken by a less cool and per-
severing man than ^Iv. Xewell, nothing would have been done, and this
village would not be what it is today.

Finally it was arranged that Mr. Newell, witli tin; assistance of Mr.
Eliphalet Putnam and ]Mr. Abiel Lovejoy ot Milford, should go to work
to buy u]i the old stock, and get others interested, wliile my part of the

ELBRIDGE G. WOODMAN.

HELIOTVPE PRINTING CO., BOSTON, MASS.

WILTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY. 169

business was to go back to Chelmsford, and, if I oould, get Gaj- & Silver
interested, as they could furnish the niachiner}-. The next thing to do
was to get Tioyal Southwiek, then agent of the Baldwin Tompany at
Chelmsford, to take hold and lielp, as he had money and intluenoe ; this
was finally accomplished after more than a year's talk and some pretty
sharp diplomacy.

Dainel Abl>ot. Esij.. of Xashua was next a])pealed to. and he procured
an act of incorporation witliout personal lial)ility, or. rather, had the oi-ig-
inal act renewed. But now came tlic tug of war wlien stockholders were
wanted. They said it was too far away from the raih'oad, and besides
tliey had no interest in Wilton, but if they knew the railroad would go
to Wilton they would take stock. And the i-ailroad people said if they
were sure the mill \v(ndd he biult the railroad sliould go to Wilton, and
today Wilton is reaping the advantages of these early efforts. Finally,
after long and discouraging eftbits, a company was organized, the stock
($50,000) was taken and a mill built, going into operation April 3d. 1851.
At this time the null was 100 feet long, 44 feet wide and two stories high
with l)asement.

After speaking of the machinery and its gradual improvementis,
Mr. Woodman continues :

In 1S5;] it paid a town tax of .'tli.SOO, with a pay roll of about *500 month-
ly, and when destroyed in 1873 it paid a tax of about !:i;1400, with a pay
roll of about . 'SI 500 monthly. And here let it be remembered all of this
increase had been made from the earnings, and no assessments had ever
been made on tlie stockholch'rs. And here it is l)ut just to say that this
tine showing was not <lue wholly to skilful management, for during the
war everybody made money. Nevertheless the influence of the old Wil-
ton Company was having its eftect, and the result was that Mr. Joseph
Xewell built the Xewell mill, and that Mr. H. A. Daniels was able to get
up the Pine Valley Company and to erect a large and substantial mill,
wliieh today has a large pay roll, and sends out a great amount of goods.
Although the null is in iMilford. it is, with the exception of its taxes, pre-
cisely the same to the peo])le of Wilton as if it were standing just a little
nearer to the village over tlie line, for here come all the jieople l)elongiag
thei-e to do all their trading, and here in the village aie their church, post
othce. &v. 'J'his fine property is now, "and has long l)een, under the skil-
ful and prudent management of Mr. Nash Simons, and long may it exist
to bless those employed there and to contribute as it has done to the
l)rospei'ity of Wilton.

INDUSTRIES ACCORDING TO CENSi:S OF 1850.

Capt. Aaron Barnes, saw-mill, carding machines and cloth dress-
ing ; capital, .1^1200. Product, hoards. 100, 000 feet valued at
$1000; shingles, ."jO,000, $125; laths, 40,000, 8.S0 ; carding and
cloth dressing to the amount of loOO.

170 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Benjamin Hopkins, saw-mill. Boards, 50,000 feet, $4o0 ; shin-
gles, 10,000, $25; laths, 24,000, $48; shuttle-woods, (lOOO, $120.

Nahum Child, saw-mill and grist-mill. Boards. 125,000 feet,
$1125 : shingles, 100,000, $250; toll for grinding, $300.

John A. Putnam, saw-mill and grist-mill. Boards, $450; shin-
gles, 100,000, $255 ; table-legs, 4000, $240 ; toll for grinding, $50.

Willard French, saw-mill. Boards, 200.000 feet, $2000; shin-
gles, 100,000, $250.

Jonathan Livermore, boards, 75,000 feet; shingles, :'.0.000 ; liotli
valued at $775.

E. Putnam & Company, bobbins, knobs and machinery, $2()50.

William Sheldon, bobbins, spools and 125 cords of timber, $1100.

Abijah Hildreth, saw-mill and grist-mill. Boards, 120,000 feet,
$1200; shingles, $80; grinding, $75.

Joseph W. Killam, furniture. Stock, $1<S50 ; prothict, $5500.

John Burton, table-frames. Stock, $210; product, $800.

Jones, Lane & Company, boots and shoes ; capital, $7000, stock.
$8000. Number employed. 20: uiales. 12: females, s : product,
$17,700.

LATER MANKl' A ('TORIES.

The Davis Manufacturing Company was incorporated July !lth,
1868. Joseph Davis, Royal Southwick, Charles B. Jones, Jasper
Kelley and William S. Bennett were the corporate members. They
manufactured carpet warp and filling. The mill was in successful
operation until October 4th, 18()9, when :i Hood swept across the
road and entirely destroyed the mill.

About three years after this Hood, Dr. J. (4. Graves and others
built a canal, about forty rods long, on the east side of the river,
from the dam to an eligible site, and erected a Iniilding but never
filled it with iiuichinery. The l)uilding has for several years been
used by H. W. Hopkins and F. B. French for the manufacture of
wi'iting desks and fancy boxes.

The Newell Manufacturing Company was incorporated July 7tli,
186G. Joseph Newell, George A. Newell and Charles H. Burns
were the corporate members. They soon erected a mill, and a
track was laid from the railroad to their store-house. They manu-
factured carpet warp and filling. For some cause the l)usiness was
not successful. About 1880 the m.achinery was sold and the plant
went into the possession of Daniel Warner & Sous, who put in

MANUFACTORIES. 171

machiuery for making cotton yarn and twine. They ran tlie mill
about two years.

The Wilton Company has a capital of $30,000. Hon. Charles
H. Burns is president, Hon. John A. Spalding, treasurer, and
Charles A. Burns, clerk. On January 1st, 1883, they commenced
the manufacture of cotton warps, yarns and druggists' and mer-
chants' twines. They run 2"24() spindles spinning and 8.S2 twist-
ing. They use both water-power and steam, and the mill is heated
by steam and lighted by gasoline.

Tlie Messrs. Whiting have a saw-mill that the}' run several
months in the year, in which, besides the board-saw, they have box-
board and stave saws, and saws for sawing wood, planing machines,
and machinery for making keg and barrel-heads, and for preparing
the box stock ready to be nniled together. They grind in
their grist-mill about one hundred and twenty-hve car-loads of
corn annually, most of which, Avitli about one hundred car-loads of
feed, is sold to the milk-raisers. In addition, they have a large run
of custom grinding. Their power is furnished by a steam engine of
eighty horse-power and a water wheel of seventy horse-power.
They also sell about five hundred tons of coal and three hundred
and fift}' cords of wood annually. Their trade in milk, cheese and
butter will be detailed under a separate head.

Levi Putnam has a saw-mill, a planing machine and turning
lathes, and manufactures trunks and trunk stock. Power, water.

Daniel Cragin has a saw-mill and machinery for manufacturing
knife trays, dry measures, and sugar boxes. He employs about six
hands. Power, steam and water.

Natliau Barker has a grist-mill.

Ilermon Hopkins, a saw-mill. ela[)board and shingle macliinery
and turning lathe.

Henry H. Livermore, a saw-mill,, shingle and stave machinery.

.James H. Holt & Son manufacture knobs and milk can stopples,
and have a cider mill.

Henry 0. Sargent, a saw-mill and turning machinery.

Samuel W. Smith manufactures knobs.

Wheelwrights and Carriage Makers. Flint & Gray ; A. J. Parker.

Jobbing Blacksmiths and Carriage-smiths . Bales & Putnam ;
C. B. Smith; H. N. Gray & Sou.

C(irpe)iters. Abel Heseltine, William Emerson, H. L. Emerson,
James L. Hardy, William ]). Stearns, .Jeremiah Driscoll, L. A. Ty-
ler, Elsou D. P'rye, J. H. Hutchinson, Nathan A. Cragin.

172 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Brick and Stone Masons. Joel Hesseltou, Charles Hesselton.
Brick Mason. Johu Gage.

Sto-iK' Masons and Stone Gutters. Elijah Putnam, J. R. Das-
oomb. John H. Sheldon, Isaac N. Hutchinson.

TANNEKIKS.

There have been four tanneries in Wilton. The first was on the
place now owned by Mr. George S. lUiss. It was started by Mr.
Uriah vSmith, but the date that he coninienced it has not been as-
certained. He sold to Asa Chandler, deed dated July 28, 177<s.
After Chandler came (^eorge Abbot, Benjamin Barrett, AVilliani
l^aiker, Asa Jones, Marden & Mills, Asa I'oUard and Benjamin T.
Foster. Mr. Foster commenced business in the yard in February,
1S8G, and carried it on successfully "for thirty-two years.

The site for the next yard, known as the Stockwell yard, was
purchased of John Farriugton by AVilliam Blaney, deed dated No-
vember I-'), 179l>. The subsequent owners were Greenleaf Stevens,
.lohn Nutting and Elijah Stockwell. Mi'. Sylvester Simonds was
the last that did business on it.

Capt. Isaac Spalding came to Wilton from New Ipswich in l-SOO.
He probably built his tannery soon after coming to Wilton. It was
kept in operation more than forty years, the only occupants being
Capt. Spalding and his son, .Mr. Moses Spalding.

In 1863 Messrs. Andrew J. and Artemas Putnam built a tannery
at the East village in which they did business for several years,
but owing to financial embarrassments it is now unoccupied.

THE MESSRS. COLONY, MAN! FAOTURERS.

In the manufacture of woollen goods in New Hampshire, probably
no other name is so prominent as is that of Colony. .Tosiah Colony,
the first of the name to engage in woollen manufacturing, was bom
in Keene. April S, 17!»], and died June •"), 1<S(;7. He was born
on the farm where his father was l)oru and died. ;ind where his
grandfather lived a considerable portion of his life and died. He
commenced manufacturing in Keene in company with Francis
Faulkner, under the name of Faulkner <.<: Colony, and the firm
name continues today, although the interests are represented by the
third generation on one side and the second on the other, — Geo. D.
Colony and Horatio Colony representing their father's interest on

THE COLONY BROTHERS. 178

the Colony side. All liis sons* have been interested in the nianu-
factnre of all-wool flannels and dress goods.

On Jnne 28, l.SoO, a niannfacturing property situated in Ilarris-
ville and purchased by Josiah Colony, was incorporated under the
name of Cheshire Mills, and soon after Timothy, Henry, Alfred T.
and John E. became stockholders. Henry was at the time of his
death, and had been for numy years, the treasurer of Cheshire
Mills. Cheshire Willis at the present time is owned by Timothy
Colony's estate, John E. Colony's estate, and by Horatio Colony,
who purchased Henry's interest.

The number of hands employed in a flannel mill is small as com-
pared with some other branches of woollen manufacture.

Faulkner & Colony run six sets of machinery, employ some
sixty-two or sixty-three hands, consume from five to six hundred
thousand pounds of unwashed wool (wool in the grease, or before
scouring), and produce from 7r)(»,0()0 to 'S()0,000 yards of flannel.

Cheshire Mills, in Harrisville, run nine sets of machinery, employ
ninety-four or ninety-live hands, consume from eight to nine hun-
dred thousand pounds of wool (before scouring), and produce from
1,100,000 to 1,200,000 yards of flannel and dress goods.

The foregoing account was kindly furnished by Hon. Horatio
Colony of Keene.

The mill at Wilton is owned and operated by Frank H. Colony,
Fred. Colony and James Colony, sons of Henry Colony. The firm
name is "Colony Bros." The mill has seven sets of machinery, is
four stories high and is built of stone and brick. The main mill is
117x54 feet ; dye house, of one story, 60x40 feet ; boiler house, en-
gine room and picker building, three stories, o6x40 feet. The firm
began to build in 1882 and commenced business February 1, 1883.
They make flannels and dress goods, produce yearly 1,000,000
yards and employ seventy- five hands.

* Timothy, born .Tuly l'.», 1818, rlierl October 31, 1S8L'; Geoi-ge D., born Jlay (i, 18-Jl ;
Henry, born March S.i, ]8-;!3, died .Tuly Is, I88i; Alfred T., born :>ray 7, 18-.'8, died December
15, 18r(i; John K., born April 17, 18:tl, died October 5, 1883; Horatio, born November
14, 183.5.

CHAPTER XVII.

PAUPERISM AND INSANITY.

lu the earlier sttiges of New England civilizatiou the condition of
the abnormal members of the comnuiuity, such as paupers, the in-
sane, slaves and criminals, was a hard one. Puritanism made men
and women stern, resolute, firm, sevfere, but not particularly gentle,
compassionate, sympathetic, or humanitarian. God Himself was
looked upon as King and Judge, rather than as the universal Fa-
ther. If men suffered, the feeling was that they ought to suffer.
It was the Hebrew code rather than the Christian ; an eye for an
eye, and a tooth for a tooth. The Indians were regarded and
treated as the children of the devil, and worthy of extermination.
They were often sold into slavery. Slaves were made even of
white men. Little compassion w^as felt for those who fell out of
line, and did not keep step with the march of society. The poor
were sold at auction for their maintenance to the lowest bidder.
The insane were regarded with superstitious awe, and were often
shut up in cold and tilthy outhouses, sometimes chained, without
fire, suitable clothing, proper food or medical attendance. In one
town in New Hampshire a man was confined in a cage for thirty
years, from which he had never been out but once ! The treatment
of criminals was harsh and vindictive, and the condition of jails
and lock-ups was a reproach to civilizatiou and to Christianity.
Orphan children, apprentices and the friendless often experienced
little mercy or commiseration from those w'ho had them in charge,
or from the community. Domestic and school discipline, even to
the more favored, was groimded on the proverl) of " sparing the
rod, and spoiling the child." Such was the general character of
the times, to which there were, of course, many notable exceptions,
w^orthy of all commendation.

But all these features are so changed now that they appear al-
most incredible to later times. There have been no reforms more

TAUPERISM. 175

remarkable than the amelioration of the condition and life of the
weak and suffering classes. The leaven of Christianity has been
leavening the whole luni}) and reaching out to the very outskirts of
societ}'. The spirit of Him who came not to destroy men's lives,
but to save them, and to seek and save the lost, is becoming
the corporate spirit of states and cities. When we consider the
progress of the last one hundred and fifty years in the direction of
humane and benevolent activity, we cannot but hope for still great-
er and more beneficent changes in the near future.

Lecky, in liis '^ European Morals," remarks that the merciful
treatment of animals is one of the surest tests of an advanced
Christian civilization. The mission in this country of Henry Bergh
to prevent cruelty to animals has accomplished a great revolution
of sentiment, and his recent decease has called forth noble testi-
monies to his disinterested labors for those creatures of God which
have no articulate speech to plead their own cause.

The Centennial Pamphlet tells us of the early paupers :

The tirst pauper in town wa.s by the name of Stratton, who received
aid from the town before the Eevolution. From this time till 1830 tliere
were but seven families^ — and these but iu pnrt — who were supported by
tlie town. Some other individuals, but very few in luuaber. have oeea-
sioually received aid. In 183U a farm for the poor was purchased, and
was carried on by the town for some years. Tlie f)roducts of this farm
were nearly sutficient in most years to pay the wages of the overseer and
family, and tor the support of the poor.

PROCEEDINGS IX RELATION To THE TOWN FARM.

At the annual toAvn meeting in March, 1830, the town

Voted, to purcliase a farm on wliicli to support the poor. Joel Abliot,
Oliver Perham and Daniel Batchelder, selectmen, and Jonathan Parkhurst
and Jonathan Livermore were appointed a committee to purchase a farm,
stock, tools and furniture for tlie same.'and to employ a man and his wife
to manage the same.

The paupers were supported on this farm thirty-eight years.
At the annual town meeting iu March, 1868, the town

Voted, that the selectmen appoint a connnittee of three to dispose of
and sell the town farm.

Voted, that this committee sell the })ersonal propert}' on the town tarni
on the first day of April next.

Voted, that this connnittee be authorized and empowered to dispose of
sell and convey said fai-m and to give a deed of the same.

176 HISTORY OF WILTON.

The farm eoniprised lot No. 8 iu the eighth range aud about three-
fourths of lot No. 8 iu the ninth range of original lots. It had been
formerly owned by Nathan A. Whiting. After the town sold the
farm, the paupers were provided for ))y contract, as before.

PROCEEDINGS IN KEGAKD TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FARM.

The increase of manufacturing at Manchester, Nashua and other
villages in the county, and the law passed in 1841, making void
all settlements gained in the towns prior to 1 796, added much to
the numl)er of the paupers to be supported by the county.

The county judges, Hon. Jacob AYhittemore of Antrim and Hon.
Jesse Carr of Goffstown, at that time had the superintendence of
all matters relating to the county paupers. For the purpose of
lessening the expenses to the county of maintaining the paupers,
in the latter part of the year 184!), they purchased of Noyes Poor,
Esq., of Goffstown, a farm for which was paid $10,000. In Febru-
ary, 1850, the judges notified the several towns that the establish-
ment was ready to receive paupers. The first report of the justices
was dated September ;3, 1850, the institution having been occupied
about six months. During that time there had been 176 paupers at
the farm, 88 having been the largest number at any one time, and
77 being the average number. From the same report we obtain the
following :

Piiid for i-cpaii-iuii' ami Httiii<;' up tlic building's. . >if -iS'S T.i
Paid for stock, fanning- tools and furniture. . . 1,678 91

Cost of farm, . 10,000 00

Total outlay, .^12,1(52 04

At the session of the Legislature of 1851, the representatives of
Hillsborough County met in convention for the purpose of examin-
ing the financial affairs of the county, an:d the following resolve was
passed :

Besolved, that Jonathan D. C'lenieut, of AVeare, Ix- and is hereby ap-
pointed in behalf of tliis couventiou to make exauunatiou iuro. aud tlioi-
oughly investigate, the tinaueial affairs of the county tor the last live
years, and to make aud report to the next county convention a g'eneral
statement of the affairs of eacli of said years, and a full and i)articular
statement of said aflairs in detail, for each of the two last years, and that
said Clement have power to send for persons and papers in making said
investigation; whicli resolution, having been considered by tin- conven-
tion, was, on motion, adopted by a unanimous vot(>.

Mr. Clement submitted his report to the convention of repre-
sentatives of Hillsborough County at the session held in June,

J^^au^^^^ (//^-^^^^^^^-^.e^

(yT^Z^e^-

THE COUNTY TOOK FARM. 177

1852. From that report we obtain the following statejnent of the
expense of the county for [)aiipers for the years named in the report :

Paid in fiscal year cndiug April. 1847, S 'J. 710 (!(1

•^~ '■• 1848, l(),();jO 01

" " " 1849, 12,G(iO 31

•' " '• 1850, 14,073 47

" 1851. .$5,048 SO

Paid tor suniioil of coiiiitv farm same voar. 5,122 93

10,171 73

The law passed by the Legislature in lSo.3, remodelling the ju-
diciary, abolished the offices of county justice and road commis-
sioners, and created the office of county commissioners, with the
duties and powers previously belonging to county justices and road
commissioners.

.The report of the commissioners, dated December, 1857, gives
the expenses for paupers, during the previous year, as follows :

At the county farin .$4,540 33

Paid to towns tor support ol e-ouuty paupers, . 5,544 73

To pay special contracts. New Hampshire Asylum, etc., G14 32

$10,705 38

Whole number ot paupers at the farm, 281; average nuudier, 104.^;
number of weeks" board ot paupers, 5,434.

The Legislature in bsCO or bsci passed a law making void all-
settlements gained prior to 1<S4(», which threw the support of most
of the paupers upon the county and caused the sale of the town
farms, on which paupers had been previously supported.

Late in the year LstiG the buildings at the farm in Goffstown,
with the exception of the barn, stable and corn-barn, were destroyed
by fire.

The representatives of the towns of Hillsborough County, in con-
vention at Manchester, in January, 18G7, instructed the county
commissioners to sell the County Poor Farm at Goffstown, and such
parts of the personal property connected with the farm as they
deemed advisable, and authorized them to purchase the Whiting
farm in AVilton, at an expense not exceeding the sum of ^12,500,
and to erect such buildings thereon as might be necessary for the
acconnnodation of the county, at an expense not exceeding $10,000.

The connty took possession of the farm April 1st, 1867, and a
suitable btiilding was erected of wooden material, eighty-two by
forty feet, three stories high, with a cellar nnder the whole having a
cemented bottom. The farm, proper, contains 436 acres, and is
bounded on the west by Temple, while the north line is one-half of

178 HISTORY OF WILTON.

a mile from the south Hue of Lyucleborough. Tt also incUules a lot
of lOi) acres, situated northeasterly from the buildiugs, which is
l)ouuded on the north by the Lyudeborough line. Since the farm
-was purchased l)y the county, the expenditure for building, includ-
ing the cost of boiler-house and boilers, has exceeded $20,000. In
1884 a wind-mill, with the necessary apparatus for raising water to
the buildings, was put in at a cost of $521. The method was suc-
cessful. ,

A number of years since, the establishment was made a County
House of Correction, which adds to the number of those that are
able to work. While Captain Bumpus was the superintendent,
twelve acres of the pasture west of tlie buildings towards the inter-
val were cleared of rocks ; and since the present superintendent,
Mr. Charles A. »Stiles, has had charge, twenty acres north of the
buildings and ten acres east of the road have been cleared of
rocks, which with two acres begun, but not finished, will make forty-
four acres changed from rough pasture to smooth fields. The old
walls have also l)een cleared off, making but one held on the west
side of the road. On the southerly part of the farm is a large or-
chard of Baldwin apple trees, from which, in 188;5, were taken
twelve hundred barrels of marketable apples.

We extract from the report for 1873 the following statistics :

Number at tlie ahushouse January 1, 1S72, 108; admitted during the
year, 146; deaths during the year, 11 ; weekly average of inmates during
the year, 118; number at the ahnshouse .lanuary 1, 1873, 120. Ol the one
hundred and forty-six adnutted (hn-iiig the year, twenty-nine were sen-
tenced to tlie house ol con-ectiou.

Cost ol support of paupers at the farm, . . . .$9,287 SO
Paid for support of paupers away from the farm, . .5,791 .52

Total cost of supporting paupers from .Ian. 1. 1872.

to Jan. 1. 1873, .$1.5,079 32

From the report for the year ending April 30th, 1884, we take
the following statistics :

Number at the almshouse May 1. 1883, 244: admitted to May 1,1884,
2.53; diseliarged to May 1, 1884. 243: supported and partially supported,
497; births. 11: deaths, 27: weekly average of imnatos (hnlng the yeai-,
206; number at the ahnsliouse May 1, 1884, 254.

Cost of support of pauixTs at tlic ahnshouse, . . .$23,430 45
Paid foi- sujipoit of ]iau|K'rs in towns and cities, . 13,673 12

Total cost of supporting })aupers from May 1, 1883,

to May 1, 1884, . . . . " . . .$37,103 57

THE COUNTY POOR FARM. 179

Rev. I. S. Lincoln, former pastor of the Unitarian Chnrch, says :

Since the establishiaent of tlie County Farm in this town in 1868, there
have been officially counecrpd with it two very able and successful super-
intendents, with their cooperating wives; namely, Captain G. G. Bum-
pus aud C. A. Stiles, Esq. There have been also three chaplains, two of
whom were worthy Baptist preachers. One, the Eev. S. C. Fletcher,
was my predecessor, and the other, the Rev. George Trow, is my success-
or and the present incum1)ent. Myself, a Unitarian preacher, held the
office of chaplain for ten years, more than half the time. The following
is my closing report for the year ending April 30, 1883 :

(HA plain's KKTOKT.

To the HoiiorablK Commissionfrs of Hillsborough County.

Gextlemkx : — r have the lionor to report that my official dutit^s at the
County Home have l)een tlie past year performed with increasing inter-
est ; both tlie officers and inmates of the institution have manifested a
most kindly interest in my appropriate work as their chaplain, and also
because I feel quite sure that my official influence has a direct bearing on
the best interests of humanity. The Christian religion, which it is my
duty and highest pleasure to preach and practise, is the Divine charter
that guarantees to all beings their rights and true interests. And this
fact furnishes the most searcliing test of genuine religion, hence an emi-
nent clergyman once said "that person's religion is worthless whose dog
and cat are not better for it." Solomon, in his wisdom, has truly said " A
righteous man regardeth the life of his beast." If this is characteristic of
a rigliteous man to kindly treat animals, how nuich more readily will he
so treat all classes of human ])eings":' For our Savior says on this point,
"How much better is :i man than a slieep." Xow this religion, this
Christian principle and spirit, are needed everywhere, but very specially
in almshouses and i-eformatory institutions; needed as a governing spirit
in the hearts of all concerned in tlie management of those establishments ;
for these are the strong ones, elothed with power over their weak depend-
ents. Without tills guiding spirit, or without the restraint of civil law or
circumstances, tlieir weak dei)endents are liable to suffer from an invasion
of their rights and a disregard of their true interests." These institutions
are built, or should 1)e, in the interests l)oth of the inmates and the com-
munity. In these institutions the poor, the diseased, the insane, ignorant,
homeless diildren and criminals find a temporary home, where provision
is made to meet their needs. Here certain classes of criminals are sent
for a limited time : sueli establishments should be made, as far as possi-
ble, homes of reform, that, under certain influence, they may, through re-
pentance and reformation, lay aside all their bad habits and form all those
good ones tliat sliall fit them to be good citizens, so that when their sen-
tence expires tliey may not return to the dens of iniquity from which
they came, only relieved of certain piiysical burdens brought with them,
or cui-ed of disease at the public expense. Xo, these institutions sliould
be made reformatory under the application of Christian influence to far

180 HISTORY OF WILTON. ,

greater extent than wlial they are. 'J'liis is esr^ential to tlic highest well-
being (»t all elasscs ot the eonnnunity. These instillations should Ix' so
pervaded and eontrolled l)y (hrlstlan iiitlucnees. felt anil yiidilcd to. that
the angels of earth and the ang(ds itf Heaven shall here liave aliundant
oecusiou to rejoiee oxer the rejtentance of sinners. In eoiudusion. let me
say that I liave not l)een led into tlie preceding trains of thought hy way
of eritieising this institution, hut because I have recently learned that
Some (ither institnlions (d a similar characlei- are open to very sevei'e crit-
icism on account of the manner in wiiich the\ are managed. From the
had examples of others similaily situated with ourselves, it is well for us
to take warning and tlius sliun evil. The (dd nuixim still holds good:
"An ounce of picveution is worth a pound (d cuii'.""

Itesjiectfnlly suluuitted.

r. SniM'.i; Lincoln. Chaplain.

iJKi'Our OK c. A. sjii.i;.s. sii'EiiiN ii:M)i;nt. aicust. 1887.

Insane. S7: paupers. .'!]'.» : eriudnals. .'{i' : children. (iM : tho^ein scho(d,
35; tlie teacher. Alice (Jreen. The expenses of tlie establi>hment are
$20,000 annually. < haiilain. Jfev. D. Donovan. The i)roiluctions of the
farm in 1887 were 140 tons of liay, 'S^) acres of lioed cnips. of ensilage
corn, 12 acres, potatoes. 12.^, S acres sweet i-orn. 2 acres cabbages. 3
acres garden truck. A:c. : 70 horned cattle. S horses. 100 hogs. 100 hens.

INSANITY.

Comparatively few iustauces of insanity or idiotisui have occurred
iu town diiriug its long history of a ceutury and a half. Contrary
to the usual opinion among scieutitic men, that the farmer population
are peculiarly subject to mental aberration, the experience of our
little commonwealth proves that no class is less liable to this ca-
lamity than the hardy sous of the soil. Mrs. Alvah Kussell, Israel
Holt, Abner Flint, .Simon Sheldon, Mrs. Josepli I>. Howard, Alvin
Avery, Mrs. Taylor and Joseph JNIelendy, .Jr., are the principal
names that occur in this connection. In some instances the de-
rangement was only temporary, and soon yielded to proper hospital
treatment. There have been some other cases of mental disorder,
but these are the prominent ones.

The Asylum for the Insiine at Concord, erected under the inspi-
ration and zeal of Miss Dorothea L. I)ix, lately deceased, is open to
the unfortunate. The pauper insane of the county are placed at
the county farm in Wilton.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.

lu the time of our fathers whipping was, a common punishment
for minor offences, such as petty larceny, and assault and liattery.
Puljlic sentiment, however, in process of time has revolted against
its brutality, and it is now inflicted in but few communities. Tlie
cat-o'-nine-tails has been thought, in this eouutry and iu England, to
be the proper intliction for that contemptible class of criminals
called wife-beaters, and in some states of the Union tlie whipping-
post has been reestablished. In general, liowe\er, cruelty begets
cruelty, and l)arbarous [)unishments do more to harden than to re-
form the transgressor. Probably to prohibit lifiuor-making and
liquor-selling would do more to diminish crime than the enforce-
ment of the severest laws.

At the county court iield in Amherst in October, 1771, Jonas
Stepleton was sentenced to be whipped twenty stripes on the naked
back for theft, and to pay ;i tine of £44, or ten-fold the value of the
goods stolen and the costs of court, or, iu default of payment, to
be sold as a slave for seven years. An oak on the Wilton common
was in the early times the whipping-post. A culprit, condemned to
undergo this punishment for stealing clothes hung out to dry, made
his sin-ieks heard across the valley a mile away. An old lady re-
lates that at a later period a whipping-post, eight or ten feet high,
stood at the southeast corner of the common. Here justice was ad-
ministered on violators of the law and disturbers of the peace of
the community. The same post was nlso used ns n l^ulletin board
for public notices.

The worst crimes iuive been very rare in tiie history of our
town. Instauces of graves being robl)ed occurred at one time many
years ago, l>ut the offenders could uot ))e ideutitied, though certain
individuals were suspected of being guilty. A detective agent was

182 HISTORY OF WILTON.

employed, but no arrests were made, aud the criminals were never
brought to justice. In 1865 a supposed horse thief, passing through
town, was arrested and indicted under the name of W. J. Hunter,
((Mas George Brown, but the evidence was not sufficient to convict
him, and he was discharged. Some years ago an altercation took
place on the public street in East Wilton on Sunday, in which
Thomas Broderick of Milford struck a man by the name of Doyle
on the head with the edge of a board. Doyle fell and died in a
few minutes. Broderick was convicted of manslaughter, and sen-
tenced to the State Prison for a term of years. After about one
year's imprisonment he was pardoned by the Governor on a petition
signed by a large number of the citizens of Milford. About the
year 1868 two young men, named Newgent and Howard, commit-
ted several burglaries in P^ast Wilton and were arrested in Peter-
borough. They were tried, convicted and sentenced to the State
Prison for three years. Less than a month elapsed between their
crime and their sentence. About the year 1870 a man b}^ the
name of Barry was convicted of committing a burglary in East AVil-
ton, and sentenced to the State Prison for two or three years.

But the greatest shock ever given to the public morals and the
honorable repute of the town was by the repeated crimes and the
execution of P^lwin V>\ Major. Major was a native of Gotfstown
and about thirty years old. He had removed with his parents at five
years of age to Eandolph, Vermont, thence went to Manchester,
New Hampshire, when nineteen years old, and worked there for
some time, and then removed to Iowa. He returned east, worked
for a time in (loffstown, then went to "Wilton to work in a mill and
cabinet shop. Afterwards he worked on a farm, and married the
daughter of the proprietor, and lived in Wilton Centre. On the
20th of December, 1874:, his wife, Mrs. Ida Major, was taken sud-
denly and violently ill, and on the evening of the same day she died.
She was buried, but her sudden and strange death, coupled with
other circumstances, awakened strong suspicions of foul play, and
led the town authorities to investigate the case. The result was
clear ; strychnine had been purchased aud administered and was the
iindoubted cause of death. Further investigation led to the strong
belief that Major had been guilty of several other murders. He was
arrested and imprisoned, and after two trials he was convicted of
murder by the court, and sentenced to be hung. He was trans-
ferred from tlie county jail to the State Prison at Concord, and on
January 0, 187.'), was executed, protesting his innocence to the last.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. 183

Some utteiiipts at burglary in East Wilton have occurred, which
have been prevented by the timelv interference or resistance of the
citizens. George Peacock in 1878 or 1879 was convicted of burg-
lary and sentenced to the State Prison for three years, but after
one year's inii)risonnieut he was pardoned out b}^ tlie Governor on
petition.

The old nieetiug-house was destroyed by lire, and investigation
resulted in the belief that it was the work of an incendiary. But
there was not suflicient evidence to produce conviction at law, and
no arrests were made.

So far as is known none of the above criminals were natives of
Wilton. If this chapter of the history is short, therefore, it speaks
well for the morality and intelligence of the town, and of the sur-
rounding connnunity.

CHAPTER XIX.

FIRES, FLOODS AND CASUALTIES.

Wiltou has not escaped the destro^^ers which attack our modern
civilization. Her losses b}' fire, especially, have been comparative-
ly very great, besides the destruction of single houses, barns, or
mills, in the three notable instances, in 1874, 1881 and 188;"), ex-
tensive conflagrations have swept over the ])usiuess centre of the
East village, laying waste the principal stores and public buildings,
liut the sufTerers have uniformly rallied with fresh courage and en-
ergy to repair their losses, and have rendered the place more beau-
tiful than before. New stores and dwellings have filled the vacant
lots, and a substantial and elegant Town House now occupies the
site of the once spacious Whiting House, destroyed by fire.

But it has become a serious question how the ravages by fire can
be stayed. We have exhausted all the appliances and inventions
of modern times to arrest the fearful devastation, such as steam
fire engines, paid fire departments, fire extinguishers, hydrants, fire
signals, but millions upon millions of property and scores of lives
are destroyed every year in our laud. This waste of society is
alone sufficient to account for nuich of our poverty and misery. It
partially explains why the average gain per capita is so slow, not-
withstanding the immense enterprise and industry of the American
people. A more efficient cure for this evil must probably be sought,
not so much in improved methods of putting out fires, as in im-
proved methods of constructing buildings which shall prevent them,
or, at least, shall greatly retard the progress of flames. He will be
a true benefactor to society who shall devise and introduce a mode
of building reasonably secure against fire and not too costly to be
generally adopted.

FIRES, FLOODS AND CASUALTIES. 185

FIRES .

The followiug huildiugs have been burned : Hezekiah Hamblet's
house on the west side of the road southeast of Abiel Flint's house :
James Dascomb's barn, 1774, on the south side of the road north-
east of Mrs. Francis Whitiuo's buildings ; Uriah Smith's grist mill
and clothing mill, 1781 or ]7<S2, near the site of Samuel Smith's
knob shop ; a school house near where Mrs. Henry Newell's house
now stands ; Deacon John Flint's house, April, 1810, northeast of
Mrs. Charles White's barn: Colonel Dascomb's shop, March 21,
1829 ; John Parker's house. May, 18oo ; the factory of the Wilton
Company, February, 1839 ; J. Newell's first store in East Wilton:
Deacon Ezra Abbot's house, 1840 ; Deacon William Sheldon's shop
and dry house at West Wilton, 1844; second fire, July 21, 18G4 ;
Theron Kussell's house, John F. Russell's house, Joseph Holt's
house, the liatchelder house on the hill east of Joseph W. Stiles's,
David Whiting's Barrett house, Henry Putnam's house and Mrs.
Charles Howard's house and barn ; Aliiel Fisk's cider mill, farming
tools and grain, May, 18.53 ; Jonathan Snow's house, 18,53.

The old meeting-house at the Centre, the second built in town,
was burned Decemlier 8, 18.59. A juvenile concert had taken place
the same evening. The fire was generally believed to be set by an
incendiary, and it broke out about midnight. ■ ''Our holy and beau-
tiful house, where our fathers praised Thee, was burned u[) with
fire, and all our pleasant things were laid waste." The following
buildings were burned at 'different times: Mrs. Chandler's house,
opposite Gardner lUanchard's ; Stock's house, in which two children
were burned : Nahum ChiUTs building, where the butter factory
now stands; the factory of the Wilton Company, March, 1.S72 ;
Peter H. Putnam's store-house; W. P. Duncklee's shop, on the
site where C. A. & H. L. Emerson's shop stands; Spalding's
cooper-shop ; John Herlihey's house ; Freeman's mill, built and for-
merly owned by Philip Putnam : Mrs. O'Neil's house and barn,
1873.

On December 2, 1874, a destructive conflagration swept over the
principal street of p:ast Wilton. Peginning at a store and dwell-
ing, it laid in ashes Alasouic Hall, the Public Library, Whiting's
Hotel, stores, houses and other buildings. The cause of the fire
was supposed to be the spontaneous combustion of oil and painters'
rags. The loss amounted to about ^^105, 800, tlie insurance to
$55,000. J. Newell's and S. N. Center's buildinus were Iturned

186 HISTORY OF WILTON.

March 1;3, 187fi ; Johu H. Frye's stable, opposite the depot, and
Jeremiah Driscoll's house and barn in 1S70.

On .Tanuar}^ 20, 1881, East Wilton had a second great fire, de-
stroying many of tlie newly erected buildings. Masonic Hall, the
liank, the Public i^ibrary, and houses and stores along the most
thickly settled part of Main Street on the same site as that of the
great fire of l<s74. The losses were estimated at .Sr)0,000, and the
insurance at about $30,000. In 1882 the Goss iNIills, formerly the
French Mills, were burned ; on June 27, 1883, Harvey A. Whiting's
))arn and in the same year his house.

But these misfortunes were not to be the last, as will be seen b}'
the following extract from the Wilton Journal of December 8, 188.") :

Weduesdiiy Hveiiiug. Deceiiilior 2. 1885. will long- he reiiK'iubfred ;is ii
most unfortunate one t'oi- this ciiterpvisiug New Ilaiiipshire village.
Thougli acciistonitMl to a certain extent to revorso^s of tiiis nature, the eoii-
tlagration of last week will long leave its dreadful inijjress upon the busi-
ness interests of the town of Wiltou. For the fourth time a portion of
tlic l)usiness street has 1)eeu laid in ashes. Shortly after ten o'clock, fire
was discovered in S. A. Spalding's meat iiiai-ket, in tlie ottic(> located in
the rear of the market. Iiiuuediately the ahum was given and the whole
town was aroused, 'i'he tirenien responded ([nickly. lint there was some
delay in getting a stream of water on the tire, and ere this was acconi-
plislied the tire had gained such lieadway that it was evident that it could
not he subdued. The hnildiugs lieing constructed of wood, the lire was
quickly comnuuiicated to the blocks on either side, 'and soon all adjoining
buildings were a mass of flames. To stay the progress of tlie flendisli
elements was an impossibility, of such combustible materials were the
buildings composed. The firemen worked heroically; barring the delay
at the outset, no criticism could be ottered.

The Are g-radually, but surelv. worked westward, and soon IJino-'s Vpo--
etable Ambrosia manufaetoiy. S. K. Foster's tin shop and the stable
occupied by F. P. Kent were enveloped in tlames. In the meantime
Ramsay's Block, in which the tire had originated and which was occupied
by 8. A. Spalding and S. X. Center, 2d, was being bui-ned to the ground.
It was indeed most fortunate that no wind prevailed at the time, else the
destruction would have been threefold. Several l)uildings were more or
less endangered, and tor a time the destruction of the railroad bridge
seenu^d innnineut. Aid was in conse((uence snnunoned from Xasliua, and
was promptly sent, l)ut its services were not needed, the local department
assisted by the Messrs. Colony's hydrants affording sufficient protection.
The fire was under complete control by 12 o'cloc-k. 'I'he loss is variously
estimated, but firobably .'5!'2(»,on(l will cover the amount ; A.A.Ramsay's
building, loss .S.-iOOO. insured for .•!i;20(M); S. X. Center, 2d, groceries, loss
$35()(), insured for .$22.50; S. A. Spalding's meat market, loss .$2000, in-
sured for .$1000: P. Ring's Aud)rosia mamifactoi'y. loss .$;iOOO. insured foi-

FIKES, FLOODS AND CASUALTIES. 187

#1600; S. K. Foster, tin ware, loss ^JWOO, iusured for S1500: A. H. Smith,
jewelry, loss $500, insured for $300; S. B. Cotton, owner of the stable,
loss $2000, insured foi' SIOOO; Kanisay & Blanehard, apples, loss $700.
F. P. Kent also lost several hundred dollars" worth of property. A large
amount of valuables was stored iu the l)asement and upper story of Ram-
say's building, all of which was burned. The fire doul)tless originated
from an over-heated stove in Spaldiug's office, and was purely accidental.
'I'he fire nmst of necessity cripple the industry of the town, but AAllton
pluck is manifesting itself in the erection of new buildings on the burned
teiritory.

FRESHET.

The greatest flood ever known iu Wilton took place on Monda}',
October 4, 1869. Rain had fallen on Sunday and Sunday night,
and on Monday forenoon, but no apprehensions of a very high
freshet were felt until noon, when the windows of Heaven seemed
to be opened and poured down sheets of water such as had never
l)eeu seen before. In a very short time the streams rose to a fear-
ful height, sweeping aw'ay bridges, dams, logs and mill stuff, mills
and factoi'ies, gullying roads, and flooding fields aud meadows,
iirooks became raging mountain rivers. Torrents swept dow^n the
hills. A cloud seemed to have burst over the devoted region. It
continued to pour until half-past three o'clock iu the afternoon,
when the storm broke away and the sun came out. Only one bridge
in town escaped injury. Koads were impassable for weeks. Trav-
ellers were obliged to cross the fields and to ford streams. The
woollen factory at French Village was undermined and swept down
stream. The cost to Wilton of repairing roads and bridges was
860,000. In consideration of the loss, ten thousand dollars of
taxes were remitted to the town by the county of Hillsborough.
Other towns suffered from the flood. Permanent marks were left
in the hills and valleys by the terrible deluge of l'S6'.».

PECUNIARY" LOSSES.

Many business misfortunes have from time to time fallen upon
the inhabitants. The Daniels defalcation sunk from $80,000 to
8100,000. The Milford Bank robbery cost the people of the town
about $10,000. By the failure of the Pine Valley Company the
owners lost about $60,000, and grocers and other traders suffered
from bad debts contracted by the operatives.

LOSSES BY LICiHTNINC4.

A barn belonging to Mr. Wood, on the place now owned by Mrs.
C Blood, was struck by lightning aud consumed, in the evening of

188 HISTORY OF WILTON.

August 9, 1770. The old meetiug-house was struck by ligiitniug
July 20, 1804. aud one of the eeutre posts at tlie east end was split
from top to bottom. About the year 18;!7, hi .lune. the bam of
^Ir., Simeon Holt was struck liy Hghtning and liurned, and on Au-
gust 27, 1.S45, the barn, corn-barn and shed of .Mi'. David Whiting.
In the latter instance, one hundred tons of hay. a hirge (piantity of
barley, farming tools and a Avagon were destroyed. In August.
1859, the lightning struck a rock-maple tree in the pasture of ^Ir.
Samuel Sheldon, and killed six cows. July 11, 1876, the house of
Mr. James II. Holt at the West N'illage was struck, and his wife,
^Nlrs. Lucy II. Holt, was instantly killed. June 2H. 1.S7'.>, the house
of ^Ir. Charles E. Ban-ett was struck. ~Sly. Charles H. Uurns. wlu)
had just entered the house, was wounded in the face by Hying splint-
ers, and the health of Miss .Jennie Barrett was seriously impaired
by the shock. In the sunnner of l-sHli the lightning killed a valua-
])le cow belonging to Mr. Henry N. Blanchard of Wilton Centre.

CASUAl/riE.s.

On September 2;'), 17'.t.s. as Captain Sanuiel Greele was riding on
horseback from his home in the southwest part of the town to attend
a public meeting at the Centre, he was struck from his horse by a
tree blown over by the high Avind, aud was killed. The accident
occurred on the road lietween Mr. Russell's and Mr. Liveiniore's.
The sons of the deceased, Deacon Samuel Greele, of Boston, and
Augustus Greele, of New York, erected, l)y the side of the road, a
marble monument, enclosed l)y an iiou fence, and bearing a suita-
ble inscription.

At the raising of the house of .lohn Dale, one of the early settlers
of the town, a man Avas instantly killed by an iron bar accidentally
falling on his head from the hands of a man above him on the
frame. As already related, there were live men killed and nearly
fifty Avounded at the raising of the frame of the old meeting-house.
Some died in consequence, and others bore the marks of their in-
juries as long as they lived. On April ."), l>S7ii, Mr. George Blanch-
ard, Avhile at work at Whiting t^ Sons' saw-mill, was severely
Avounded in the foot l)v the circular saw, and amputation Avas aft-
erward required. As mentioned before in the account of the Grand
Army Post of Wilton, one of its memljers, Mr. Hurley, was sud-
denly killed by an accident while engaged in sledding Avood.

CHAPTER XX.

TEMPERANCE, HYGIENE, EPIDEMICS, LONGEVITY, AND MOR-
TALITY.

Befoi'e the Revolutionury w-av the habits of country people, the
early settlers, were simple and temperate. Ardent spirits were
used moderately, but chietly on public and social occasions. We
have already taken note of the bountiful su})ply, pro\ided by a vote
of the town, for the raising of the frame of the meeting-house in
1773, and it was not unreasonably supposed that it was one of the
principal causes of the terrible disaster at that time. At funerals,
at weddings, at ministers' meetings, at town meetings, at balls and.
parties, it was customary to treat with some kind of spirituous liq-
uors. Yet in spite of this custom temperanc6 was the general rule.
But the war of the Kevolution made some change in the public mor-
als. Drinking, smoking and the use of profane language increased.
The army is not a school of morality or of religion. Society, as
population and wealtli increased, became more luxurious in its
tastes, and the old hardy virtues gave way. Then as the orchards
were planted and came to maturity, cider, the native wine of New
England, became a counnon 1 leverage. It was a common saying
that a cider drunkard was moi'e -cross and unbearable tlian any
other.

In the course of time a new feature was introduced among the
farming population, the distillation of eider, producing what was
called cider brandy or a[)[)le-j:ick. This was thought to be a wise
economy, to turn the old liard cider in the farmer's cellar into this
fascinating beverage. For the time being it gave quite a backset
to habits of sobriety and the cause of temperance. But gradually
a reaction took place, and it was seen that this domestic alcohol
was the same old enemy under a new name.

11)0 HISTORY OF WILTON.

As tlie old orchards of native fruit decayed and brolce down,
choice grafts were introduced, and apples began to be sold as an
important article of exportation. Apples at home came more into
use as a healthful article of diet. Cider mills and cider distilla-
tion have gone comparatively out of date, and drunkenness by the
use of cider is virtually a thing of the past.

The Wilton Temperance Society, organized in 1884, numbered in
1839 between 300 and 400 members, but the pledge of the mem-
bers was only to abstain from the use of alcoholic liquors. Since
that time total abstinence societies have been formed, and a large
number of members have been enrolled. Union temperance meetings
are held monthly at the different churches, and the pastors and mem-
bers are active in the work of reform. The sale of all intoxicating
liquors is prohibited in the town of AVilton, and there is no place
where they are legally sold. But that this law, like other good
laws, is not perfectly obeyed is well known, and no evil can be ab-
solutely extinguished even in the most Christian and civilized com-
munities.

The change in the drinking usages of country communities is
something wonderful. Whereas formerly liquors were in every-
day use, now they are an unknown article in most families except
for medical or mechanical purposes. They do not habitually pass
the lips of the young, and drunkenness as a town vice is unknown.
A passage like the following, taken from a former storekeeper's ac-
counts, could not now find a place in any Wilton ledger. Here is
the record of one month to one man :

1817, part of April and May. To goods, #1.58; to 1 gill, .06; 1 gill,
.06 ; 1 gill, .06 ; 1 gill, .06 ; 1 glass, .03 ; 4 mug toddy, .06 ; gill sling, .06 ;
i glass, .05 ; 1 glass, .06 ; 1 glass. .03 ; li glass of gin, .06 ; 4 glasses of
gin, .16; \h glass W. Indies rum, .06; H do., do., .06; to one glass, .04;
i mug, .08; glass, .03; li glass, .05; 1 qt. ]!^. E. rmn, .19; 1^ glass, .05.

One hundred and thirty-one cents for drinks, and one hundred
and fifty-eight cents for other goods !

But apart from any temporary customs or habits unfavorable to
health, on the whole the town is noted for its sound hygienic con-
ditions. Simplicity of life, agricultural and mechanical pursuits,
exemption from the luxury of wealth and the extreme hardships of
poverty, freedom from malaria, and a tonic climate have served to
produce a hardy and long-lived people. In no community can we
find the conditions of longevity better fulfilled than in Wilton and

LONGEVITY. 191

other New England towns. If Ave include all classes and occupa-
tions no people are better fed, better clothed and better lodged, to
promote physical well-being. Particular classes in other countries
may enjoy better hygienic conditions, but not the whole population.
It will be our own fault, then, if the rate of mortality is not the low^-
est, and the average of longevity, the highest.

EPIDEMICS.

Seldom has Wilton been visited by any of those fatal epidemics
which sometimes almost depopulate a community. Rev. Thomas
Beede in "A Topographical and Historical Description of Wilton,"
in Farmer & Moore's Collections, volume 1, No. 2, says :

No uncommon sickness has ever been known here except in the year
1801. when a very malignant and contagious fever prevailed very gener-
al]}' among the people tor a number ot montlis and in manj' cases proved
mortal. It is conjectured, perhaps not without reason, that the contagion
was introduced in a parcel ot old feathers, wliich had been brought in
and sold Ijy peddlers, just before the fever made its .ippearance.

The small pox has made its appearance at several times, but,
owing to careful measures of precaution, it has not spread to any
great extent. Mrs. David Cram died of this disease in 1853 or
1854.

LONGEVITY.

Owing to the causes above stated the longevity of the town has
been remarkable. In 1880 Wilton had 1747 inhabitants; 107 of
them, or about six per cent., had reached the age of seventy years.
In a carefully prepared list, taken by Mr. Sewall Putnam from the
public records of the town, it appears that from 17!>1 to 1884 one
hundred and twenty-nine persons have died between the ages of
eighty and ninety years. During the same period twenty-five per-
sons have died between the ages of-- ninety and one hundred years,
namely :

Daniel Batchelder died Ma\' 19, 181G, aged !)G ; Mrs. Mary Burnham.
January 7. 1828, aged 92; Mrs. Susannah Gage, May 3. 1881, aged 90:
Mrs. Kebecca Burton, August 17, 1831, aged 92; Mrs. Elizabeth Dascomb.
October 10, 1832, aged 93 ; Mr. Samuel Sheldon, Decend)er 24, 1832, aged
92; Mrs. Sarali French, .Tanuary 2."), 1S33, aged 94; Mrs. 3[ary .Jolmson.
April 24, 1834. aged 91, and liei- husliand, Ephraim Johnson, December 27,
1834, aged 92. This couple had lived together in married life ()9 years.
Mrs. Hannah Morgan, April 30, 1839, aged 92; Mrs. Huldah Burton, Se])-
teniber 1.5, 1839, aged 94; Mrs. Mary Spalding, Novendier 19, 1839, aged
90; Mrs. Mary Flint, May 20, 1844, aged 90; Mr. Ephraim Woodward,

11)2 HISTORY OF wir/roN.

KclMiiaiy .^, 1S50, aged 00 : M\. Joseph Meleiidy, August 12, 1863, aged 91 ;
31rs. Steplieu :\raiisur. >[ay 11, 18G5, aged (11 : 3Irs. Sarali Center. Oc-tober
27, 18()7, aged i)3 : Mrs. T.uey Burton, April 11. 1874. aged 91: Captain
David Wilson, October 16. 1875, aged 96; Deaeon Abel Fisk, September
25, 1877, aged 9;!: Mrs. Estlier D. Holt, January 28, 1878, aged 97: Mrs.
Bathsheba Kieiiardson, -July 18. 1878. aged 90: Mr. Joseph Xewell. Feb-
ruary 17, 1881. aged 90; Deaeon Joseph .Smith, March 16, 18S.S. aged 94;
Sophia Blanehard. Oetol)er 16. 1884, aged 90.

One centenarian, Mrs. Sarah A. Holt, reached the age of one
hundred and three years, two months and twenty-five days, and de-
ceased October 11. 1854.

MORTALITY.

The number of deaths in AVilton was, in 1.851, 20; 1852, 20;
1853,20; 1854,27; 1855,20; 1856, no record; 1857,26; 1858,
26 ; 185!), 25 ; 1860, 25 ; 1861, 16 ; 1862, 22 ; 186:5, 40 ; 1S64, 27 ;
1865, 25: 1866, 15; 1867, 14; 1868, ID; 186i), ;!! ; 1870, 34;
1871, ;n ; 1872,40; 1873,26; 1874,25; 1875,31; 1876,24;
1877, 19; 1878, 21); 1871), 34; 1880, 25; 1881, 23; 1882, 22;
1883, 24 ; 1884, 38.

The population of Wilton was, in 1850, 1161 ; 1860, 1361) ; 1870,
1974; 1880, 1747; average of popuUxtion, 1565. The yearly
average of deatlis for the thirty-three years given above is 25.7;
the average number of deaths to each thousand of inhabitants,
about 16.4.

CHAPTER XXI.

BURIAL PLACES AND CEMETERIES.

Besides the four cemeteries at present iu Wiltou, uamely, tlie
North, South, East and County Farm cemeteries, there are four
private burial places where a few bodies have been interred.

The first of these is the grave of John Badger, the first white
person who died on the territory now included in Wilton. Its exact
locality is not know^n, but an intelligent informant states that it is
" a little north of the road running east from the Dale place, either
in the field or the pasture, probably in the pasture." Philip Put-
nam, Esq., a few years before he died, built a tomb near his house,
in which he, his wife and his two sons were buried. Lieut. John
Hutchinson, his wife and two sons were buried in the lot back of
his house in the East village. Mrs. David Cram, who died of small
pox in 1853 or 1854, was buried on the farm belonging to the
family.

NORTH, OR VALE END, CEMETERY.

The following measures were early taken by the town to provide
suitable interment for the dead :

June 27, 1771, Voted, to raise £1 16s. to provide a burying cloth for said
town and chose Xathan Blanchard and Abuer Stiles a committee to pro-
vide said cloth.

The first allusion to the burning ground in the town records is
found in a warrant for a town meeting, dated September 17, 1772,
of which article fifth reads as follows :

To see if the town will vote to clear and fence the burying ground in
said town, and to raise money, and choose a committee for that purpose.

At the meeting held October 5, the fifth article was dismissed.
In a warrant for a town meeting, dated May 20, 1773, is the fol-
lowing :

Whereas Mr. John Cram proposes to make a present of one-half of an

194 HISTORY OF WILTON.

acre of land for a burying- place for said town, this; is, therefore. Fourth-
ly, to see if the town will pay Mr. John Cram eighteen shillings, L.
money, for one other half acre of land, adjoining the old l)urying place in
said town, and for a privilege of a load or highway to the same on his
giving a conveyance of the same.

At a meeting, held June 3, 177;}, it was voted to allow Mr. John Cram
eighteen sliillings L. M. for one-half acre of land, adjoining the old bury-
ing place in said town, and the privilege of a highway to the same upon
his giving conveyance ()f the same.

Tt appears from the subsequeut actiou of the town that the fore-
going vote was not carried into effect, for, at a town meeting held
December 5, 17<S0, the following votes were passed :

Put to see if the Town will purchase Land for a Burying Yard and
Fence the same; it passed in the affirmative.

Voted, to Fence witli Stone Wall.

Voted, to chuse a Committee of five .men to Purchase and Fence said
Yard. Messrs. Jonathan Burton, Joseph Holt, Abner Stiles, Jacob Put-
nam Juu. and Nathan Ballard were chosen for said connnittee.

Voted, that said Committee clear said Yard and make a road to the
same.

The above vote is the last found relative to the old burying yard.

The road was eight or ten rods west of where the gate now is.
The northeast corner of the first yard was a short distance north-
easterly from the grave-stones o^ Mr. John Dale, Sen., and wife.
The gate was near where the remains of Rev. Warren Burton and
family are interred. The original yard was in the south part of
lot No. 14, in the fifth range, and contained but little more than an
acre. With the exception of John Badger, it is not known that
any person was buried in any other part of Wilton until 1809, sev-
enty years after the first settlement. In 1817 the land lying north,
between the burying ground and the liighway, Avas taken in and di-
vided into lots. The bank wall from near Mr. Peabody's house to
the gate was built by Messrs. John J. Holt and Hermou Batchelder.
Papers found in the " Old Chest" show that the town paid for the
wall, gate posts, wooden gate and labor for lotting, $76.10.

At the annual town meeting in March, 1869, it was

Voted, that the town purchase of Charles H. Burns about two acres of
land adjoining the north burying ground for enlarging the same.

Voled, that a connnittee of three be chosen to procure a deed of the
land to be purchased, and see that the same is enclosed autl lotted out,
and a plan of the same made, and also to appraise the lots and note the
price on the plan. Moses Clark, Asa Stiles and Sewall Putnam were
chosen to act as said committee.

CEMETERIES. 195

Soon after this last annexation to tlie cemetery, Mr, Andrew N.
Burton interested himself in raising the means for improving the
North cemetery. Mr. Burton, Mr. Benjamin Baker, Hon. Isaac
Spalding of Nashua and Hon. S. G. Mack of Lowell, each sub-
scribed fifty dollars, and many others who had friends interred
there contributed liberallj' in labor. An organization was formed,
and was in existence until the grounds were much improved. At
the annual meeting of the town in 1S71 it was voted that the bury-
ing ground at the north part of the town Ije known as the " Vale
End Cemetery."

On a small slate head-stone, in the northeast part of the old
burying ground, is the following inscription ; "Here lies y*" body of
Phebe Cram, y" Daughter of M' John and M'' Sarah Cram, who died
Ag^ ye 2<)"i A. D. 1752 being 1!» days old."

It is the earliest date found on any stone in the yard, and the
death is the first in Wilton (except Mr. Badger's) of which we have
found a record.

SOUTH CEMETERY.

The town bought between two and three acres lying on the east
side of the highway leading from the Centre to the south part of
the town, and situated in the south part of lot No. 10 in the fifth
range. It was fenced with wall and lotted, and the first body
buried there was that of Rev. Jonathan Livermore, who died July
20, 1809.

At the annual town meeting in 187<) the town voted to raise the
sum of three hundred dollars to enlarge and improve the South and
Vale End cemeteries, and authorized the selectmen to appoint
agents to expend the sum. About two and one-fourth acres, lying
east of the South cemetery, were purchased of Mr. Henry Gray for
fifty dollars ; the deed was dated October 18, 1876. The remainder
of the appropriation was expended in improving the South and Vale
End cemeteries.

EAST CEJIETERY.

]Mr. Leonard Petteugill and Mr. Elbridge F. Perkins purchased a
tract of land, forming the southeast part of lot No. 12 in the second
range. It was lotted out for a burial ground September 4, 1854,
and the next day JMrs. Hannah W. Spalding, wife of Mark N.
Spalding, Esq., was interred there, and Rev. E. N. Hidden, then
of Milford, performed a dedicatory service. Soon after the sur-
vey of the Pettengill and Perkins lot, Mrs. Samuel Spalding had a

196 HISTORY OF WILTON.

lot, which joined that on the south, surveyed and divided into lots.
These persons sold lots as they were called for until most of them
were disposed of. The first mention of the East cemetery to be
found in the town records, is in the following article of the warrant
for the annual town meeting of 1864 : "To see if the town will ac-
cept of the graveyard near the premises of Mrs. Samuel tSpalding
as a town burying yard, and keep the same properly fenced and
cared for."

At the meeting the town

Vuted, that a committee of three be chosen to see what action is need-
ed to be taken by the town in reference to a public burying ground at
East Wilton and to report at the next town meeting.

Fo^ed, that the connuittee be appointed by the chair; the chair ap-
pointed Moses Clark, Benjamin T. Foster and Ezra Bales as said commit-
tee.

At a meeting held November 4, 1864, the town, after hearing the
report of the committee chosen at the annual meeting,

Voted, to instruct said connnlttee In behalf of the town of Wilton to
purchase the amount of land of Mr.-;. Samuel Spalding and Mr. Henchman
Sylvester as recommended by the committee appointed at the last meet-
ing, also to fence the yard now occupied and the addition reconnnonded.

Voted, also, that said committee be authoi'lzed to survey, prize and
dispose of the lots.

The land enclosed in the Vale End, South and East cemeteries
amounts to about sixteen acres.

Immediately after the county took possession of the Whiting
farm, the county commissioners located on lot No. 20, in the eighth
range, a lot for a burial ground for the use of the County Poor
Farm.

CHAPTER XXll.

MILITIA AND FIRE DErARTMENT.

Au act was passed by the New Hampshire Legislature, December
27, 1772, by which tlie militia of the state was orgauized, and the
22d Regiment was thus designated :

Tho coiiipanics in the towns of New Ipswich, Sharon and Mason shall
constitute the first battalion, the companiesin the towns of Peterborough,
Temple and Wilton shall constitute the second battalion, which shall
constitute the 22'* IJeginient.*

The net organized twenty-seven regiments in the state. Philip
Putnam of Wilton was appointed Colonel of the 2 2d Regiment ;
Jonathan Burton was Captain, Edward Herrick First Lieutenant,
and Jacob Putnam Second Lieutenant of one company in Wilton.
Whether the other company was organized at that time, or who its
first officers were, we have been unable to learn, but the letter
from the selectmen to Colonel Wheeler, given below, shows that, in
17!)8, there were two companies in Wilton, commanded by Captain
William Bales and Captain William Pettengill. The line, dividing
the town for the two companies, coanmenced at the Milford line on
the old County road, continued on that road to Baker's corner,
thence by the Davis place and Gardner Blanchard's to the old com-
mon, thence on the old Temple road by Moses Lovejoy's, George
Parkhurst's, Rosalvo Smith's and Abner N. Holt's to the intersec-
tion of the roads at the Temple line, at the corners of lots No. 11
and No. 12 in the ninth range. Those on the north of the above
described roads constituted the third company, those on the south
constituted the seventh company, of the 22d Regiment. The

* Subsequently Lyiideborougli was added to the regiment.— [S. riitnani.

198 HISTORY OF WILTON.

followiug copy of a commnuieatiou to Colonel Abijali Wheeler was
found in one of the " Old Chests : "

Sir, Whereas you did on, or about, tlie 29"' day of Xovember last issue
your orders, to tlie two Captains of the ^[ilitia in tire town of Wilton di-
recting tlieni to raise, arm and equip twenty-nine men, officers included,
being their proportion of one hundred and eleven men called for out of
your Regiment : That the said Captains Bayles and Pettengill did, on the
2!)"' day of March last, assemble their companies at the meeting-house
in said AVilton, for the purpose of raising said men, and did, by the as-
sistance of said town, raise the number called for agreeable to your orders ;
and whereas said town ajiprehends themselves greatly injured by the
large proportion laid upon them, have passed a vote, directing the sub-
scribers hereof to inform you that they are always willing to furnish out
their just proportions of men, and bear an equal burden of public charges
with their fellow Citizens, but, as they find their proportion to be so much
larger than what it was in the last i-equisition,* or what have been called
for in other towns, they wish you to raalie inquiry into the matter, if our
Captains have made unlawful returns, by returning those that are six-
teen years old and upwards to the age of forty years, as they expect the
law of this State requires, they wish to liave the matter explained, or if
other Captains have made unlawful returns, we wish to have the matter
explained also; — Therefore, Sir, if you see cause to make inquiry into the
matter and find the disproportion has arisen from ununiform returns in
yovir Regiment, we hope you will take such measures as that our griev-
ances may be redressed and the minds of the people in this part of your
Regiment once more set at ease; And further if you see cause to gratify
our request we wish you to inform us the first opportunity.

Tliis, Sir, is from your most obedient
Wilton, April 4^^ 1798. and humble servants,

Col" Al)ijah Wheeler.

Abiel AVilson. ^ Selectmen
Joseph Holt, > of
Eliph' Putnam, ) Wilton.

ARMS AND EQUIPMENTS.

The following extract from the " Law passed June 24th, 1786,"
will show the contrast between the arms and equipments required
then and those of the present time :

All captains and subalterns nuist be furnished with a half-pike or es-
pontoon or fusee and bayonet, and also with a sword or hanger; and they
must provide themselves with these arms within one month after receiv-
ing their commissions, under iienalty of being cashiered by sentence of a

* It appears that tliere had been a previous requisition for men, when not so large a
proportion of men was called for; but I have found no record of the names of the men
raised undtM- either of the requisitions.— [S. Putuiun.

MILITIA. 199

court martial. Each company is to be mustered four times a year. Each
non-commissioned officer and soldier shall bo provided with, and have con-
stantly in readiness, a ^ood musket and a bayonet titted thereto, witli a
good scabbard and belt, a wDrni, a iniming wire and brush, a cartridge
box that will hold at least twenty-four rounds, six flints, and a pound of
powder, forty leaden balls fitted to his gun. a knapsack, a l>lanket and a
canteen that will hold a quart.

OFFICERS OF THK WILTON COMPANIES, 22d REGIMENT.

The following list of officers of the militia iu Wilton is copied
from records in tlie adjutant general's office in Concord, but the
record of the earlier officers is wanting. We give only the captains
and colonels, as the list of tlie lieutenants, ensigns, cornets, &c.,
would occupy too much room.

CAPTAINS OF .'{|{I) COMPANY. 22u REGIMENT.

Putnam Wilson, .June :>], 1817; John Bales, March 27, 1S22; Isaac
lilanchard, Jan. 22, 1824; John Burton, 2d, Jan. 25, 182;"); Oliver Barrett,
Feb. 2, 1827: Luther Dascomb. Aug. 20. 1829; Sewall Putnam, Se])t. 5,
18;J2; Jonathan Livermorc, Jun., A[)ril 1."), 1834; John AVilson, Ai)ril 18,
183G; George Buss, March 22, 1837; Fisk Russell, April 8, 1841; William
Emerson, April 1, 1842; Isaac Abbot, March 9, 1843; Benjamin F. Steele,
Feb. 1, 1844; William Lane. Feb. Ifi. 184G; Seth S. Goldsmith, Sept. 14^
1849.

CAPTAINS OF 7th Co:MPANY, 22d REGIMENT.

Jonathan Parkhurst, .Afarch 30, 1820; Samuel King, Jan. 25, 1825; Her-
mon Pettengill. June 20, 1827: Isaiah Mansur, April 26, 1830; Jonathan
Livermore, Jun., May 27, 1832.

CAPTAINS OF MILLER <i CARDS, 22d REGIMENT.

Sanuiel King, April 14, 1840: Joseph li. Howard, April 21, 1842; Jo-
seph Wilson, March 9, 1843: Jonathan Livermore, Jun., April 4,1845;
John Stevens, Feb. 16, 1846; Horace Parkhurst, March 17, 1847; Henry
(;rny. Jun.. July 18, 1849.

CAI'TAINS OF CAVALRV, 22l) REGIMENT, BELONGING TO WILTON.

Caleb Putnam, April 19, 1819; Elijah Stockwell, March 26, 1822; Her-
mon Batchelder, April 8, 1826; Levi Tyler, March 3. 18.30; JEoses Lovejoy.
Jan. 20, 18,35; Henry Abbot, Feb. (i, 1838: David Cram, Aug. 10, 1839;
Samuel French, April 14, 1840.

COLONELS OF 22d HEGIMENT BELONCiING TO WILTON.

Jonathan Parkhurst. June 30, 1826; Samuel King, July 1, 1829; Luther
Dascond). June 25, 1833 : Horace Parkhurst, Aug. 31, 1839.

CAPTAINS OF WILTON LIGHT INFANTRY.

Abrahams, iloody. May 14, 1864; Aaron A. Clark, Sept. 21.1860;
James L. Hardy, May 12, 1868.

200 HISTORY OF WILTON.

TRAININGS AND MUSTERS.

The customs of auuual trainings and masters were a part of the
militia system of our fathers. The trainings occurred on the com-
mon at the Centre of the town, usually in the spring of the year or
early summer. The several companies were marshalled on the vil-
lage green, and displayed their tactics to the admiration of the peo-
ple and especially of the boys. It was a holiday, and the elders
gathered to witness the show, and told the deeds of other days
when they perchance were led by General Gates or General Wayne
to victory.

The muster was a more important affair. It usually took place
in the fall after harvest, and interested all the country-side weeks
before the event. It consisted of the review of a regiment or of a
brigade by the Governor or Major General. It was held on some
convenient plain which permitted mili'tary movements or evolutions,
and drew a great crowd of both sexes. Many popular shows Avere
attracted to the place. It was supposed that, by these glittering dis-
plays of " the pomp and circumstance " of military glory, the patriot-
ic ardor of the people would be kept alive, while at the same time
something would be done to drill the soldier in the art of war. The
early associations of the New England boy were vividly connected
with these holidays, which broke the monotony of farmer life, and
recalled what he had heard from father or grandfather of the days
of the Revolution. This impression was carried to its climax by
the "sham fight," in which some battle was imitated, and it re-
quired but little imagination to see in some General Colby or Gen-
eral James Wilson the tall form of Washington leading his troops
to victory at Trenton. But the ancient trainings and musters have
long been numbered with the things of the past, and now exist but
as a tradition.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The first step toward the formation of a fire department in Wil-
ton was the purchase of a fire engine, prior to 1870, with money
subscribed by residents of East Wilton, of whom the most promi-
nent was the firm of A. J. & A. Putnam. This engine was after-
ward presented to the town and the gift was formally accepted De-
cember 23, 1874. The first efficient action by the town in regard to
a fire department was taken at the annual meeting in 1873, when it
was voted that the sum of five hundred dollars be raised and ex-
pended by the selectmen for hose, &c., for the fire engine. At a

<^<£^

FIRE DEPARTMENT. 201

town meeting held December 23, 1874, immediately after the lire
which destroyed the Whiting House, stores and other buildings, the
following votes were passed :

Voted, to organize a Fire Department, and authorize the selectmen to
appoint three or five tire engineers, and to organize one or more fire com-
panies.

Voted, to authorize the seUictmen to provide a suitahle place to keep
the ftre engine and for the assemhhng of the firemen.

Voted, that the town accept the fire engine now in the village of East
Wilton.

Voted, to authorize the selectmen to provide snital)ie places to take
water in case of fire.

Voted, to authorize the purchase of another tire engine.

Voted, to authorize the i)urchase of hook and ladder appai'atus.

The selectmen appointed David Whiting, Peter II. Putnam,
George 8. Neville and George B. Preble fire engineers, and they
were qualified January 1, 1875.

At the annual town meeting held March 9, 1875, it was

Voted, that the sum of .$3,000 he raised for the tire department, whidi is
to he used in carrying out the votes of the preceding meeting.

Voted, to raise .$42.") to purchase the engine house at the Frencli village
of Peter H. Putnam, and the same to be used for the accouunodation of
the fire company and for no other purpose.

In 1881, at the annual town meeting, the sum of $2000 was ap-
propriated to provide a better supply of water in case of fire, and
the expenditure of the money was left to tlie selectmen and the fire
engineers. The appropriation was expended in the purchase of a
fire pump, four hydrants and water pipe, and in placing them in a
situation to be used. The pump is located in the wheelpit of the
grist mill belonging to D. Whiting & Sons, who provide the power
to operate it. One hydrant is near the railroad at the end of the
Messrs. Whiting's flour and feed store ; one, near the hotel stable,
and two are on the east side of Maple street ; one of them opposite
the Town House and the other at the corner of Harvey A. Whiting's
lawn. At the annual meeting of 1884, the town authorized the fire
engineers to purchase one thousand feet of hose. In March, 1887,
the town appropriated four iumdred dollars for the expenses of the
fire department for the coming year. From the organization of the
fire department until 1882, the firemen had each been paid three
dollars for a year's service ; in 1882 the town voted to pay each
fireman five dollars, and in 1888 the town voted to pay three dol-
lars, for a year's service.

202 HISTORY OF WILTON.

By the report of the engineers in 1886 it appears that the fire ap-
paratus belonging to the town was ample and in good condition.
The department had enlisted from eight to ninet}^ men who were
paid for their services. But some difficulties have occurred in re-
gard to the amount of remuneration, and also a question has arisen
as to the legality of certain measures adopted by the authorities.
Without detailing all the facts of the case, or presuming to decide
upon questions respecting which we have few data, we can only
earnestly hope that after the sad experience of so many disastrous
tires, the Wilton fire department will soon be equal in efHciency to
the other institutions of the town.

The following men have served in the responsible and difficult of-
fice of fire engineers :

David Gregg, 1875; Duvid Whituig-. 187.VS4; Peter II. Putiuiin, 1875;
George S. Xeville, 1875-70; George W.' Boyntoii, 1875-81; George B.
Preble. 1870: Joel ITesseltoii. 1870-81: Andrew J. Putnam, 1870; George
\V. Wallace, 1878-85; David E. Proctor. 1878-82; James L. Hardy, 1882-
85; Charles Ilesselton, 1882-85: Daniel Cragin. 1883-85; Arteinas O. Bar-
ker, 1885; Samuel K. Foster. 1880: Ahram A. Ramsey, 1880; George
Wallace. 1880: Ilarvev A. Wliitiiio-. 1880: John (Jage. 1887-88.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE LAST WAR WITH ENGLAND AND THE REBELLION.

The soldiers from Wilton in the war of 1812 were Lieut. Abiel
Wilson, Jan., Privates Timothy Mclntire, Oliver Wilkins and
Aaron Wilkins. They served on the northern frontier ; Mclntire
was slain in battle in 1814 ; Aaron Wilkins was out about two
years, and the others servetl during the war. At the first call for
troops to defend Portsmouth, in August, 1814, Aaron Wilkins, John
Currier, Aaron Ilolden and Samuel Holt went from the South com-
pany of militia, and Abner Flint, James Wilson, Emery Foster,
and Abner Shattuck from the North company. They were out
about ten weeks. At the second call, Seth P. Tyler, Benjamin N.
Fiske, Joel Severence and Timothy B. Abbot went from the South
company, and fmsign Putnam Wilson, Eliab Tapley, Ambrose L.
Farnum and Asa Fletcher from the North company. They were
out about seven weeks. Foster died at Londonderry when on his
way home. Those in the first call were in Captain Timothy Put-
nam's company of Colonel Fisk's regiment. Those in the last call
were in Captain William Gregg's company of Colonel John Steele's
regiment. The town gave to those in the first call a bounty of ten
dollars each, and to those in the last a bounty of six dollars each.

THE WAR WITH MEXICO, 1845-1848.

It is not known that any soldiers from Wilton enlisted in this
war. The popular impression in the eastern states that this war
was waged in the interest of slavery prevented any general enthusi-
asm for it.

THE CIVIL WAR OF 1861-1865.

In this gT«at conHict Wilton did its honorable part by contribut-
ing both men and money. The votes of the town were earnest and
patriotic in maintaining the Union, while the mothers, wives, daugh-
ters and sisters at home bravely and faithfully did their part to

204 HISTORY OF WILTON.

assist those iu the iield b}' seiidiug them clothing, food, medicines
and home comforts of every description, and by keeping up the
home farms and households.

The town was generous in paying bounties, and the nation has
since been munificent in giving pensions to those wounded, diseased
or crippled by the war, and to their families. The sublime specta-
cle of a great nation rising at the emergency to maintain the Union
and to destroy slavery is one of the greatest events in the history
of the world, and cannot fail to have its moral and political effect
upon all future generations of the American Republic.

PKOCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN HELATIN<i TO THE CIVIL WAK.

18G2, Aug. 12. Voted, that tlie .selectmen be instructed and authorized
to borrow a sum of money, not exceeding five tliou-
sand (loUars. for th(^ purpose of pnyuig bounties to
all those who enlist into the service of the United
States, under the present call for three years' troops,
to fill the quota required of this town. And that the
selectmen he instructed to pay to each volunteer who
enlists into said sci'vicc to fill the quota of this town
under the call for three hundred thousand volunteers,
and who is received as a part of the quota of Wilton,
the sum of one lumdred dollars, provided, however,
that bounties shall not be paid to nu)re than the num-
ber required to fill said (juota.

18G2, Sept. 20. Voted, that the selectmen are hereby authorized to bor-

row a sum of money, not exceeding three thousand
dollars, to be appropriated by them in the following
manner: each volunteer who enlists into the United
States service for the term of nine months, and is ac-
cepted as a part of the quota of Wilton, under the
last call, .shall receive from the town eleven dollars
and twenty-five cents per month under the act for the
aid of fannlies of volunteers and other purposes, and
the selectmen are hereby autliorized to pay the same
in advance.
Videil, that the .selectmen are hereby also authorized to
pay each soldier's family the amount sjjecified in the
state laws for the aid of the families of volunteers,
whether they are in intligent circum.stances or not.
Voted, that the selectmen are hereby authorized to
raise the nund)er sufficient to fill up the remaining
portion of this town's quota in any way the}' may
deem proper, and to pay such sum, or sums, in addi-
tion to the bounty already voted as they shall deem
advisable.

TOWN RECORDS. 205

18(!2, Oct. 11. Voted, that the treasurer of the town of Wilton be au-

thorized to hire a sum not exceeding twentj'-five
hundred dollars for the aid of wives, ehildren or par-
ents of any inhabitants of said town who, as mem-
bers of the volunteer or enrolled militia of this state,
have been mustered into, or enlisted into, the service
of the United States, or may hereafter be enlisted in
the service, to be appropriated agreeably to the pro-
visions of Chapter 2480 of the laws of the state of
New Hampshire, approved July 4th, 1861, and to bind
the town for the repayment of the same.

1863, March il. Voted, that the selectmen be instructed to pay all of the
volunteer soldiers in the army for three years, who
have, or shall receive, an honorable discharge, one
hundred dollars and interest from the time of enlist-
ment. Provided, if any of said volunteers have been
paid any bounty by any town, said bounty is to be
deducted from said one hundred dollars.
Voted, that the selectmen be insti'ucted to pay Mrs.
Charles G. Blanchiird the sum of eight dollars which
is due her from the state aid that is due her for two
months.
Voted, that the selectmen be instructed to borrow a
sum of money not exceeding three thousand dollars,
if necessary, for extending state aid to families and
paying soldiers' bounties.

1863, Aug. 10. Voted, to reaffirm the vote of the last annual meeting

in relation to paying one hundred dollars and interest
to three years' volunteers who have received no
bounty, with the amendment of ''from Wilton."
Voted, that the town pay every drafted man (or his sub-
stitute) who may be drafted under the present call,
three hundi-ed dollars, in accordance with an act of
the Legislature passed June session, 1863.

1863, Dec. 1. Voted, that the selectmen of the town of Wilton are

hereby authorized to advance in behalf of said town
to each volunteer'who has enlisted, or shall enlist, to
fill the quota of said Wilton under the last call of the
President, the amount due said volunteer from the
state of Xew Hampshire and the United States (being
#402, more or less), until such time as the same shall
be refunded to said town by the state of New Hamp-
shire and the United f5tates.
Voted, that the selectmen are hereby also authorized to
pay to each volunteer who has enlisted, or may en-
list, to fill said quota under said last call of the Pres-
ident, a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars in

206 HISTORY OF WILTON.

TOWN RECORDS. — CONTINUED.

1863, Dec. 1. addition to said sum of four hundred and two dollars

advanced Ijy said town.
V(A<d, that the treasurer of said town of Wilton, with
the advice and consent of the selectmen aforesaid, is
hereby authorized to liorrow a sum of money, not ex-
ceeding ten thousand dollars, to be appropriated by
the i^roper officers of the town in the payment of the
aforesaid bounties, and the note of said treasurer, or
of the selectmen, shall be bindino- upon the town for
said amount, and the action of the selectmen in rela-
tion to tilling said quota already taken is hereby rati-
fied.

1864, 31arch 8. Voted, that the selectmen be instructed to pay John P.

Kidder, who enlisted into the heavy artillery at Ports-
mouth, one hundred dollars.

Vufd, that the selectmen pay Orange S. Cook one hun-
dred dollars, provided he has received no bounty
from any town or state.

Voted^ that the selectmen be authorized to pay Harvey
T. II. Frye one hundred dollars, provided he lias re-
ceived no bounty from any other town or state.

Voted, that the selectmen l)e instructed to pay John E.
Tarbell, or his father, one hundred dollars, provided
he has received no bounty from any other town or
state, and further provided, he is counted as one of
the Wilton quota.

Voted, that the selectmen be authorized to borrow a
sum. not exceeding three thousand dollars, for sol-
diers" bounties and state aid to families. Chose Har-
vey A. Whiting to act as agent for the town to receive
state aid and United States bounties, as thev become
due from time to time.
1864, June 15. Voted, that the selectmen be instructed to furnish vol-

unteers or substitutes for the United States service
as may be necessary to fill the quota of the town
under any future call or draft ; said volunteers or
substitutes to be furnished at such time as the select-
men may in their judgment deem it most expedient
for the town.

Voted, that the selectmen be instructed to borrow a sum
of money, not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars,
if necessary, to l)e appropriated in i^rocuring volun-
teers or substitutes for drafted men to fill the quota
of this town.
1864, Nov. 8. Voted, to pay to each citizen who has [)ut a substitute

into the army of the United States and who has been

TOWN RECORDS. 207

1864, Nov. S. counted towards the (jiiota of the town under the

various calls for troops, whether put in by a drafted
man or vohmtarily by such citi/en, the several sums
by each [)aid for procuring such -substitute.
Voted, to continue to pay bounties to those who volun-
teer or furnish substitutes for the army of the United
States.

1865, March 12. Voted, to pay .John E. Tarbell one hundred dollars with

intei'cst from August 13, 18G4.
18G5. 3rarc)i 14. The seventh article of the warrant being : '"To see what
sum of money the town will vote to raise to pay
bounties and state aid to families in anticipation of
future calls."

Voted, that article seven of the warrant be left discre-
tionarj- witli the selectmen, and that they be author-
ized to borrow- such sum of money as they may deem
necessary to pay bounties and state aid to families in
anticipation of future calls.

Voted, to ai)point llarvey A. AVhiting as agent of the
town to till future quota and receive state aid and
bounties.

Voted, to pay a l)ounty of .$300 to each reenlisted man
in the Fourth and Eighth IJegiments who counted to
.fill the (juota of Wilton, provided said man has been
honorably discharged.

Voted, to pay state aid to families of those who enlisted
from Wilton into the Lyndel)orougli l.,a Fayette
Artillery and served their time at Fort Constitution.

Whereas, the town of Wilton at the Xoveml)er election,
18U4, voted to pay to each citizen who had i)ut into
the army of the United States a substitute who had
counted towards the quota of said town, whether
such substitute was furnished by a drafted man, or
voluntarily on the part of such citizen; and whereas,
the said amount has not been paid in accordance with
said vote on account of the inability of the town to
borrow the mone.A", it is therefore

Voted, that the selectmen l)e and they are herebj' in-
structed and authorized to give to each man who is
entitled to receive anything from the town on ac-
count of furnishing a substitute, a note from said
town for the full amount each citizen has paid for
furnishing such substitute; said note to be dated
April 1st, 18Go, and to be payable one year from date
with interest.

The following list gives the names of those residents of Wilton
who served in the war of the Rebellion, as well as the names of

208 HISTORY OF WILTON.

those, not residents of Wilton, who, as vokinteers or substitutes,
were credited to the Wilton quota ; but the list does not include the
names of those natives or residents of Wilton who may have en-
listed in regiments belonging to other states.

WILTON MEN IN FIRST REGIMENT, NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS,

COMPANY E.

James Bridges, May 2, 1861.* Mustered out Aug. 0, ISGl.
William H. Bridges, May 2, 1861 .

SECOND REGIMENT, COMPANY G.

Charles 11. Bragg, Jmw 5, 1861. Corporal by promotion; nuistered out

June 2;), 1864.
George W. Currier, Jum? H, 1861. Discharged for disabiUty Jan. 24, 1862;

died of cousuniption March 2, 1862.
Timothy N. Hutchinson, June ;i, 1861. Severely wounded at Gettysburg;

uuistcred out June 21, 1864. '

James W. Hutchinson, Juue 5, 1861. Mustered out June 21, 1864.
Charles B. Pinkham, June 5, 1861. Mustered out June 21, 1864.
William Pettengill, Juue 5, 1861. Discharged for disabihty Jan. 19, 1863.
William Billon, Aug. 21, 1862. Deserted at Concord May 2, 1863; apprc-

heuded and returned to duty ; wounded and missing July 2, 1863 ;

discharged Sept. 6, 1864.
/. Newton Hutchinson, Aug. 21, 1862. Corporal by promotion July 1, 1864;

sei'geant Sept. 1, 1864; first sergeant March 18, 1865; nuistered out

Juue 9, 1865.

The following members ot the Second Ilegiraeut were not residents of
Wilton, but were volunteers or substitutes credited to the Wilton quota :

Frederick Grave, Nov. 19, 1863. Killed in action May 16, 1864.

Jens Jenson, Nov. 19, 1863. Died of disease at Ft. Monroe Dec. 14, 1864.

Joseph Ilacca, Nov. 19, 1863. Deserted Dec. 2, 1863.

Peter Smith, Nov. 19, 1863. Deserted March 11, 1864.

James W. Brown, Nov. 20, 1863. Deserted April 24, 1864.

Richard Harvey, Nov. 20, 1863. Deserted from hospital Feb. 9, 1865.

John Harris, Nov. 20, 1863. Dishonorably discharged by sentence of

court martial.
John Jones, Nov. 20, 1863. Deserted Jan. 5, 1864.
John Moore, Nov. 20, 1863.

Thomas Stewart, Nov. 20, 1863. Mustered out Dec. 19, 1865.
Gnstavus A. Weiland, Nov. 20, 1863. Transferred to U. S. Navy April 29,

1864.
Joseph Smith, Nov. 21, 1863. Deserted to the enemy at Chapiu's farm,

Va., Oct. 21, 1864.
George D. Graham, Nov. 21, 1863. Mustered out Dec. 19, 18()5.

* The date immediately following eacli name is the time of mustering in.

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AVILTON MEN IN THE REBELLION. 209

Charles Guest, Nov. 21, 1S()3. Deserted at Chapiu's Bluff, Va., Oct. 23, 1864.
George Thompson, Nov. 21, 18G3. Deserted at Point Lookout Nov. 30, 18G4.

THIRD REGIMENT.

John E. Her rick, Aug. 23, 18G1. Wounded slightly July 18, 18G3; mus-
tered out Aug. 23, lSr,4.

Gottfried Dorr, Dec. 10, 18G4. Absent, sick, July 20, 18G5; no discharge
furnished.

Eobert Day, Nov. 21, 18G3. Wouuded slightly May 13, 1864; mustered out
July 20, 18G5.

FOURTH REGIMENT, COMPANY D.

Walter B. Dillings, Sept. 18, 1861. Keenlisted Feb. 17, 1864; corporal Ity
promotion July 15, 1865; uuistered out Aug. 23, 1865.

Daniel S. -Millet, '^iei^t. 18, 1861. Reenlisted Feb. 24, 1864; tirst sergeant
by promotion; nuistered out Aug. 23, 1865.

Robert 3IcKissock; Sept. 18, 1861. Eeenlisted Feb. 17, 1864; wounded July
30, 1864; died of wounds at Fort Monroe Oct. 14, 1864.

Samuel A. Futnam, Sept. 18, 1861. Discliarged for disability Sept. 18, 1862.

Daniel Sullivan, Sept. 18, 1861. Keenlisted Feb. 14, 1864; sergeant by pro-
motion July 1, 1865; mustered out Aug. 23, 1805.

Charles IL Buzzell, Aug. 21, 1861. Discharged for disability Nov. 30, 1863.

Georrje Bailey, Aug. 21, 1861. Died of disease Sept. 8, 1863.

Thomas Carter, Aug. 21, 1861. Sergeant by promotion; mustered out
June 15, 1865.

Charles B. Dascomb, Aug. 21, 1861. Mustered out Aug. 24, 1865.

Albert S. Flint, Aug. 21, 1861. Died of disease Aug. 8, 1863.

Edward A. Fessenden, Aug. 21, 1861. Slightly wouuded Oct. 22, 1862;
transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps Jan. 1, 1865.

Pirl Herrick, Aug. 21, 1861. Died of disease June 13, 1863.

Albert R. Halt, Aug. 21, 1861. Corporal by promotion; wounded Aug. 16,
1864; died of disease at Fort Monroe March 17, 1865.

Abiel E. Putnam, Aug. 21, 1861. Died on hospital l)oat on the James
river Aug. 18, 1864.

Edward A. Wetherbee, Aug. 21, 1861. Discharged for disability March
24, 1863.

Charles 31. Bowman, Aug. 22, 1862. Mustered out Sept. 25, 1865.

Jerome Putnam, Aug. 22, 1862. Not otticially accounted for.

Dermott Neary, Dec. 31, 1864. Mustered out Aug. 23, 1865.

FIFTH REGIMENT, COMPANY I.

James Gould, Oct. 16, 1861. Corporal; deserted 1862.
William H. Bridges, Oct. 16, 1861. Died of disease July 6, 1862.
Charles G. Blanchard, Oct. K!, 1861. Discharged for disability Jan. 3, 1863.
Appleton Hutchinson, Oct. 16, 1861. Discharged for disal)ility May 11, 1862.
Joseph Wetherbee, Oct. 16, 1861. Discharged for disal)ility May 11, 1862.
Lucius A. Way, Oct. 16, 1861. Wouuded; discharged for disabilitv Oct.
9, 1862.

210 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Tlie followinji' nieiiibers of the Fifth TJ('<;iineiit weir, as voluiiteors or
substitutes, credited to tlie AViltou quota. 1)ut were not residents of Wilton :

James Cuniwrs, Aug. 10, 18(i4. Deserted to the enemy Dee. 1. 1804.

John Williains, Aug. 12, 18(54. Wounded April 7, 18(1.") : disehargcd at
Coucord June 28, 186.5.

Joseph W. B. Burgess, Aug. i;j, 18G4. Died of disease Dee. 0, 18(;4.

John Branegan^ Aug. 13, 1804. Corporal by i)roniotion : deserted ]May 1.
1805.

Williaiii Clark, Aug. 19, 1864. Deserted eu route to reghnent.

Jacob Miller, Aug. 19, 18(;4. Deserted to tlie enemy Oet. 0, 1804.

John Bourcke. Aug. 19, 1804. ^Mustered out June 28, 180.").

William Goodvnn, Aug. 29, 1804. Deserted en route to regiment.

David W. Welch, Sept. ;^, 1804. Sergeant by promotion Get. 2;^. 18(;4: re-
duced to the ranks; mustered out Aug. 17, 180.5.

Gardner Chapman, Sept. ."), 18(54. ]VIustered out June 12. 180.").

EIGHTH REGIMENT. CO-Ml'AXY K.

George W. Bridges, Dec. 30, 1801. Corporal ; sergeant by promotion 31areh
20, 1863; wounded at Port Hudson, La., June 14, 1863; discharged
to accept appointment in United States Colored Troops Sept. 25,
1803.

John Burton, Dec. 30. 1801. Reenlisted Jan. 4, 1804: captured at Sabine
Cross Roads, La., April 8, 1864; released; transferred to Co. B,
Veteran Battalion, Eighth X. H. V., Jan. 1, 1805.

Charles A. Emerson, Dec. 30, 1801. Wounded and captured at Pi>rt Hud-
son June 14, 1803; recaptured July 9, 1803; corporal by promotion
Aug. 1, 1863; sergeant Dec. 10, 18(33; mustered out Jan. 18. 1805.

Sanford y. Bradford, Dec. 30, 1801. Discharged for disability at New
(Jrleans May 2, 1803.

John S. Hutchinson, Dec. 30, 1861. Reenlisted Jan. 4, 1804; transferred
to Co. B, Veteran Battalion. Eiglith X. H. V., Jan. 1. 1S05; mus-
tered out (Jet. 28, 1805.

John Biney, Dec. 30, 1801. Discharged to accept appointment in I'nited
States Colored Troops at Xew Orleans, La., March 2, 1804.

Otis H. 3Ielendy, Dec. 30, 1801. Reenlisted Jau. 4, 1864; captured at Sa-
bine Cross Roads, La., April 8, 1864; released; transferred to Co.
B, Veteran Battalion, Eighth X. H. V., Jan. 1, 18(55.

Abiel A. Livermore, Dec. 30, 1801. Corporal by promotion March 20, 1863 ;
wounded and captured at Port Hudson June 14, 1803 ; died of diph-
theria in the hands of the enemy July 3, 1863.

Aaron A. Smith, Dec. 30, 1801. Died at Thibodeaux, La., Dec. 21. 1802.

James Bridges, Sept. 20, 1802. Wounded May 27, 1803; corporal liy pro-
motion Aug. 1, 1863; sergeant, Dec. 16, 1803; transferred to Vet-
eran Battalion, Co. B, Eighth N. II. V., Jan. 1, 18(55; discharged at
Xatchez June 7, 1805.

George W. Herrick, Aug. 12. 1804. Transferred to Co. B, Veteran Bat-
talion, Eighth X. H. v., Jan. 1, 1865; discluirged for disabilitj'^ at
Natcliez Sept. 8, 1865.

WILTON MEN IN THE REBELLION. 211

George S. Buss^ Feb. 17, 18G5. Mustered out May G, I860.
Henry L. Emerson. Feb. 17, 180.^. Mustered out May C, 1805.

The following members of tlie Eighth Regiment were not residents of
Wilton but were credited to tlie Wilton quota :

Charles Schutz, Sept. 2, 186;^. Deserted at Franklin, La., Dec. 10, 1863.
John 11. Wright. Sept. 2, 1803. Deserted at New Orleans Feb. 6, 1864.
Javiea Sullivan, Oct. 0, 1863. Deserted at New Orleans Feb. 28, 1804.
William Tilley. (Jet. <J, 1803. Transferred to Co. B, Veteran Battalion,

Eighth N. IL v., Jan. 1, 1865; dishonorably discharged by special

order Xo. 5, AVar Department, .Jiuie 5, 1865.

NINTH KEGIMENT, COMPANY E.

Henrii 0. Sargent, May 15, 1862. First sergeant; second lieutenant by
promotion March 10, 1863 ; resigned Dec. 22, 1863.

liodneij Perham, May 16, 1862. Wounded May 12, 1804 ; mustered out
May 15, 1805.

ELKVEXTir REGIMENT, COMPANY C.

Albert Gage, Aug. 21, 1862. Killed in action at Bethesda Church June 3,
1864.

SIXTEENTH KEGIMENT, COMPANY C.

Aaron A. Clark, Nov. 4, 1862. Captain; nuistered out Aug. 20, 18(53.

Lewis P. Hay, Oct. 18, 1862. First sergeant; nuistered out Aug. 20, 1863.
Willis H. Abbott, (Jet. IS, lS(i2. Corporal; sergeant by promotion; mus-
tered out Aug. 20, 1863.

Amos W. Abbott, Oct. 18, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 20, 1863.

Charles Blanchard, Oct. 18, 1862. Corporal ; nuistered out Aug. 20, 1863 ;

died Sept. 20, 1863.
William M. Blanchard, Oct. 28, 1802. Died Sept. 2, 1863.

John Blanchard, Oct. IS, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 20, 1863.

George Blanchard, Oct. 18, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 20, 1863.

Ramsey C. Boutwell, Oct. 18, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 20, 1803.

Francis V. Bradford, Oct. 18, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 20, 1803.

James B. Dascomb, Oct. IS, 1802. Corporal l)y promotion; mustered out
Aug. 20, 1803.

Dexter J. Farley, Oct. 18, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 20, 1863.

Elbridge C. Frye, Oct. 27, 1862. Died July 16, 1863.

Sylvanus Hutchinson, Oct. 18, 1802. Discharged June 25, 1863.

Amos Herrick, Oct. IS, 1862. Died June 17, 1863.

Orvan B. Keyes, Oct. 18, 1862. Died Aug. 10, 1863.

Corydon L. Keyes, Oct. 18, 1862. Died June 27, 1863.

James Landers, Oct. 18, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 20, 1803.

S. Abbot Putnam, Oct. 18, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 20, 1863.

Stillman C. White, Oct. 18, 1862. Mustered out Aug. 20, 1863.

George B. Wright, Oct. 18, 1862. Died Aug. 2, 1863.

212 HISTORY OF WILTON.

FIRST IIKAVY AKTIM-KKY. X. TI. VOI.rNTKEKS.

John p. Kidder, July 18. 1SG3. Mustered out Sept. 1, 18(J."i.

The followiin;' residents of AViltoii served in the T>;i Fnycttc Artilltny. on
/^•jirrison duty al I'ortsniouth. They were nuislcred into service August
1, 1864, for uinety days, and were diseharged after fifty-tliree days" service :

Band: Carl Krebbs, Mark II. Bailey. Willis IJ. Ablmt. Xathaii liarker.
George W. Duneklee, Irvin S. Farnsworth. Isaac 15. Hutchinson. Aluier
W. Marble, John \\. Sheldon, Stillinan ('. White.

Frimtes: Williani A. Bailey, Charles H. Bailey, Charles L. Hutchin-
son, Ebenezer Miller, William H. Tenney.

CHAPTER XXIV.

SOCIAL AMUSEMENTS, FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS.

With all the gravity aud sterimess of tlie New England Puritan
there was always mingled no little of dry wit, and a social, festive
spirit. He had his joke, aud too often also his pipe and his
mug. The huskings, the raisings, the wood-hauliugs and bees, the
(juiltings, the weddings, the balls, the sleigh-rides, the wrestling and
hunting matches, the trainings and musters testif}' to the hilarious
side of the pioneer character. Mauy of these are now known only
in tradition. New customs have sprung up in place of the old
ones. '^ New wine has been put into new bottles." The old-fash-
ioned sleigh-ride, when a large part of the inhabitants took a fine
winter day to make an excursion to a neighboring town, to take
dinner, perhaps to have a dance and to return home in the evening
l>y moonlight, is among the things that were. If they go to merry-
makings now it is by railroad. Balls and weddings are per-
manent institutions. Of old there were no festivals like our modern
Sunday school excursions, and the picnic was not known to the fa-
thers. IJees, quiltings, huskings and raisings, and other neighbor-
hood gatherings are, for the most^ part, done with. AVood-haulings
for the parson or for a decayed brother are superseded by donation
and surprise parties. The " Willing Workers" and the " Cheerful
Workers," the benevolent "sewing circles" and the "sociables"
of the churches have stepped in to occupy the place once filled by
more boisterous entertainments.

Children have more festivities than of old and go earlier into so-
ciet3^ Lodges, granges, societies, excursions are multiplying on
every hand. The passion for resorting to cities, and for giving up
the farm for the shop, the exchange, the ))ank and the professions,
is due cliietly to two things ; namely, the desire to make money

214 HISTORY OF WILTON.

faster than the country farming or mechanic life will allow, and the
eagerness to have more social life. These are the sirens that be-
witch our day. Besides, as communities have grown larger, they
have split up into cliques and coteries, and the old hearty neighbor-
liness has been exchanged for fashion and gilt-edged snobbery.
Wealth, not manhood or higli character, is the open sesame to gen-
teel society, so reputed. The farmer's frock, the mechanic's apron
or the house-wife's home-spun dress has no more any beauty that
man or woman shoidd desire it. Service is still a long way be-
hind show, as a key to open the chief places at feasts and the high
seats in the synagogues.

But if society has grown more exclusive, it has, strange paradox,
grown more philanthropic. The humanities and amenities flourish
apace. A world of good is done to the less fortunate of our race.
If men and women have hardened into greater selfishness and ex-
clusiveness on one side of their nature, they have softened into
wider sympathy and helpfulness on the other side. Never probably
did wealth feel its responsibility more to society, or distribute its
means with a more generous hand, than now, be it to schools, col-
leges, libraries, churches, missions, pliilanthropies, hospitals, asy-
lums, or to the humbler and more private charities of society.

A SLEIGH-RIDE PARTY.

As good a specimen of the ancient sleigh-ride as could be se-
lected is that which escorted Rev. Thomas Beede and his bride on
their wedding trip from Harvard to Wilton. He was married to
Miss Nancy Kimball of Harvard, Massachusetts, January 20, 180r>.
The Farmers' Cabinet of Amherst gives the following account :

On tho followiiio- djiy. wlipii ]\[r. Beoile was returiiuig' with liis lady to
Wilton, he was politely accompanied bj- ten sleighs fi-om Harvard. On
their arrival at Ilollis they were met by eight sleighs from Wilton. Hav-
ing refreshed, botli parties joined in escorting Mr. Beede and lady to
Adams's in Andierst. wbere they were met bj' a large collection of gentle-
iiien and ladies from "Wilton in readiness to receive them. An elegant
dinner was prepared by Mr. Adams, and the whole companj^ dined to-
gether. Soon after dinner the company from Harvard returned, and the
ladies and gentlemen from AVilton accompanied Mr. Beede and lady to his
house, where all needed refreshment was prepai-ed, and having tarried
about an hour, the whole companj'^ returned to their respective homes.
It shotdd be particularly noticed that the company from Wilton generous-
ly defrayed the whole expenses of the entertainment, both on the road
and at Mr. Beede's own house. The fine weather and the excellent sleigh-
ing added brilliancy and joy to the festive scene.

FESTIVALS. • 215

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.

The following account of a Fourth of July celebration during
President jNIouroe's adniiuistration, in 1817, is taken from the
Farmers' Cabinet :

Tlie aiuiivmsary of American Jiidepeniloiieo was celebrated in Wilton
on the 4th iii.'it. Xo previous arrangements having been made, a company
of gentlemen in that town and from the adjoining ones assembled for the
purpose of doing honor to tlie day which gave birth to a nation's freedom
and indci)cndence to these United States. After having read the Declara-
tion of Independence, Major A. Wilson was chosen toastmaster, who, after
having made a short, l)ut pertinent, address, produced the following
toasts, ill which all parties appeared to participati* :

TOASTS.

1. The Day We Celebrate: May it be handed down from father to sou
to the latest i^osterity.

2, James Monroe :

■•( 'olumbia's guide, with upright skill retined.
To check the rage, and cure the public mind :
The north he visits in the couuuon cause.
That he may guard their rights with equal laws."
o. James Monroe : O ye innnortal powers, that guard the just, watch
over him in retirement : soften his repose; in fond remembrance cherish
his virtues, and show mankind that goodness is your care.

4. New Hampshire : Jake her own native mountains, though storms
and tempests have thundered on her brow, faction lies prostrate at her
feet; she stands unmoved and glories in her height.

.5. William Plumer : Discord and her advocates may attempt to sub-
vert, he has the ])Ower to save and tlie constancy to preserve.

6. Our Union: May it lie perpetuated till the moon shall cease to
give her light, and the bright sun himself be extinguished; .yea, till the
o-lobe shall be annihilated, and. like the meteor's transitorv gleam, be lost
in chaotic darkness.

7. The Soldier of '76 : liemember this anniversary was purchased as
it were with the price of his blood; then let us cherish his age, sujiply his
wants, aiul follow his example in loving his country.

5. The Star Spangled Banner : Before the stars and .stripes shall ever
cease to wave, land must turn to sea, and sea into a grave.

9. The Patriots of South America: May they be reeuforced liy the
God of armies, that the republic in the north may greet her sister in the
south.

VOLUNTEER TOASTS.

Bij A. Wilson. Esi[. : The President ot the United States; the profound
statesman ; we delight to honor great and good men ; may his tour through
the Union have a ha])py influence on the people.

216 HISTORY OF WILTON.

By Lieut. John Stevens : The Goverumeut of tlie United States ; tirm
as Atlas \vlien storms and tempests thunder on its brow, and oceans break
tlieir billows at its feet.

By Capt. Benjamin Hutchinson of Milford : Tlie Militia ; may they in
time of peace prepare for war.

By Deacon Jacoh Futnam : May the partition between Federalists and
IJepublicaus be tlirown down and all unite like brethren.

By Mr. Oliver Whiting : The revered clergy; may they cease to preach
politics, and know nothing among their people save Jesus Christ and Ilim
crucified.

By Capt. P. Whitmy : The people of Wilton; may tliat noble spirit of
peace, unanimit}^ and independence which shines so conspicuous in their
character be as permanent and lasting as it is pure and honorable.

By Mr. Israel Herrick : The fair daughters of Columbia; being the
weaker vessels, may they be " united to a man," whereby they maj' be
protected.

A well served field piece and a band <)i nuisic resounded the sentiments
of freemen to the distant hills, which were by them echoed back to the
convivial multitude, who at an early hour retired to their several homes in
harmony and friendship.

SILVER AND GOLDEN WEDDINGS.

Repeated festivals of this kind have occurred of late years, and
have introduced a new and a very lin^ppy feature of domestic and
social life. The silver wedding of the Hon. Charles II. Burns and
wife was celebrated January 19, 1881. A large number of invita-
tions were sent out, and a great host of friends and neighbors re-
sponded to the call. Many eminent persons were present from
abroad, including the governor of the state, Nathaniel Head and
wife. Many costly and beautiful gifts were bestowed on the hon-
ored couple, and music, dancing and speeches made a lively and
enjoyable evening. The only pall upon tlie festive occasion was
the breaking out of a disastrous fire a few hours later tlie same
night, which laid a large part of the business section of the village
in ashes, destroyed Masonic Hall, the Public Library, stores, shops,
ollices and dwellings to the amount of fifty thousand dollars, more
or less, of total loss. The cause of the fire has never been discov-
ered.

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

At the March meeting of the town in 1839, it was voted to cele-
brate with appropriate ceremonies the one hundredth anniversary of
the settlement of Wilton, and a committee was chosen to make ar-
rangements for that occasion. Active measures were taken during
the spring and summer to collect materials of history, to appoint an

Eng ^iyAIi.ndcy^-^

CyvL<i/-Aj^ ./vfVai

uuv^-i^

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 217

orator for the day, to iuvite guests from abroad and those natives
of the town who had removed elsewhere to join in the festival, and,
in short, to make all the needed preparations. The day appointed
was September 2.1. The several sub-committees, appointed under
the authority of the geueral committee to erect a pavilion, provide
a dinner, prepare toasts, appoint speakers, and procure music, at-
tended faithfully to tlieir duty.

The officers of the day were, President, Ezra Abbot ; Yice Presi-
dents, Abram Whittemore, Jonathan Livermore, Jonathan Burton,
Timothy Parkhurst, Timothy Abbot, Daniel Batchelder and Oliver
Whiting; Chief Marshal, Jonathan Parkhurst ; Assistant Marshals,
Samuel King, David Wilson, Ilermon Pettengill, Calvin Gray,
Oliver Barrett and Moses Spalding ; Toastm asters, Eliphalet Put-
nam and Zebadiah Abbot.

The day was bright and auspicious. A large multitude of the
townsmen, and visitors from abroad, near and far, gathered to-
gether. The Miller Guards, under command of Colonel Samuel
King, did escort duty, conducting the procession from the Brick
Hall to the old meeting-house at the Centre. The programme of
exercises was as follows :

Vohuitarj', by the baud; invocation, by Rev. Abiel Abbot, D. D., of
Peterboroiio^h ; authoni, "Great is the Lord," &c., sung by the choir; selec-
tions from the Scriptures, hy Itev. Warren Burton; "Tlie Nativity,"" sung
by the clioir; prayer, by Rev. Abiel A. Livermore of Keene; " Marseilles
Ilynni,"' sung by the choir; address, by Rev. Ei)ln-aim Peabodj" of Xew
Bedford; an original hymn, sung by the choir and the assendjly; prayer,
bj' Rev. Samuel Barrett of Boston ; grand " Hallelujah f'horus,"' sung by
the choir ; benediction, by Rev. Nathaniel Whitman of AYilton. The music
was under the eharge of ]Mr. Charles Abbot. Original hyuuis were eoii-
tributed by Rev. Lubhn B. Roekwood and Mis? Sarah AV. Livermore.

At the close of the exercises in the church, ladies and gentlemen
formed a procession to the pavilion on the common, where Rev.
William Richardson of Wilton invoked the Divine blessing, and
about five hundred persons partook of a dinner provided by Mr. Jo-
seph Newell. The company rose from the table at the prospect
of rain, and, after the return of thanks l)y Rev. A. D. Jones of
Brighton, the procession marched back to the church. Here the
afternoon was spent in toasts, speeches and songs, all of which, to-
gether with the eloquent address of Dr. Peabody, incidents of the
history of the town, and other items of interest, are recorded in the
Centennial pamphlet, published at the tune.

218 HISTORY OF WILTON.

It is to be hoped that iu 1889 the one huudred and fiftieth anni-
versary of the settlement of the town will be celebrated as spiritedly
and patriotically as the former festival.

CHAPTER XXV.

TOWN HOUSES.

As already seen, the original Town House was the old meeting-
house of the Congregational church. Both civil and religious af-
fairs were transacted under the same roof. Tlie moderator of the
town meeting and the town clerk occupied the deacons' seat directly
under the lofty pulpit ; the voters filled the pews, and the specta-
tors the galleries. But the burning of the meeting-house in 1859
led to the building next year of the Town Hall, situated on the com-
mon at the Centre just south of the site of the old church.

I'PtOCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN.

At a legal meeting lield in the Baptist cliurch on Monday, December
26, 1859, chose Jonathan Livermore moderator..

Voted, to hear the report of the committee chosen to investigate the
cause of the fire occasioning the destruction of the town's meeting-house.

Voted, to accept and adopt the re])ort of said conunittee, and that the
town clerk be instructed to enter said roi)ort on tlie records of the town.

Voted, that five hundred copies of said report he printed at the expense
of the town.

Voted, that tlie chairman of tlie investigating committee cause to be
printed and distributed to tlie inhaliitants of Wilton five liundred copies
of said report.

Voted, that the question of buildhig a Town House be taken by ballot.
Proceeded to ballot, and voted to build a Town House on the site of tlie
old meeting-house.

Voted, that a committee of three be appointed to carry into eflfect the
last vote.

Voted, that a committee of five be appointed by the moderator to nom-
inate said committee. Benjamin Baker, Benjamin T. Foster, Joel Hessel-
ton, Samuel Sheldeu and Henry Gray, Jun., were a])pointed a committee
to nominate, who reported to the meeting William Emerson, Joel Hessel-
ton and Henry Gray, Jan., for said building committee. Chose William
Emerson, Joel Hesselton and Henry Gray, Jun.. a committee to build a
Town House.

220 HtSTORY OF WILTON.

Voted, the committee be authorized to expend a sum of money not ex-
ceeding twenty-flve liuiuh'ed dollars.

At a leg'al meoliiig holdon at tlie Bai)tist meeting-house in Wilton
January 21, 18G(», .Jonathan J>ivermore was e'hosen moderator.

Voted, that we now proceed to ballot on the second article by votes
marked Yes or Ho. All those in favor of building now upon the old site
recently occupied by the town's meeting-house will carry votes marked
ijes, and all opposed to that will carry votes marked no. On this question
a ballot was taken with the following result: Teas, 1G9; Noes, 144. So
the town voted to build a Town House uj)on the old site recently occupied
by the town's meeting-house.

At the annual town meeting lioldcn at \\iltoii on Tuesday. ]\hirch l;»,
1800, Jonathan l/ivermore, moderator,

Voted, to recast tlie bell and add the amount of weiglit lost, and to
place the l)ell on the new Town House.

Voted, to lease to the Congregational society a site on the town's com-
mon for the purpose of building a church,, and that a committee l)e ap-
pointed to locate said site. Chose Lewis Ilowanl, Joseph Burtt and
Zebadiali Abbot a committee to locate a site for a ehurch, and also a
site for a Town House. Chose Lewis Howard a committee to execute, in
behalf of the town, a lease to the Congregational society of the site desig-
nated.

.\t tlie annual meeting of the town held on Tuesday, the thirteenth ilay
of March, 1860, on the (juestion : To see if the town will vote to remove
the Town House to the East village this present season, it was voted that
the vote on the removal of the Town House bc^vi-itten on the state ticket,
Yes and No, and at the close of tlie poll the moderator declared the vote
as follows : in favor of removing, 161 votes ; against removing, 179 votes.

At the annual town meeting on Tuesday, the tenth day of March, 1808,
S.-nuuel Bai'rett. moderator.

Voled, that the selectmen be authorized to sell the Town House with
the laiul owned by the town. In favor of selling, 249 votes; against,' 180
votes.

At the annual town meeting held at Dejiot Hall in Wilton ]\[arch 9,
1809, Samuel Barrett, moderator, on the question : To see if the town will
vote to hereafter hold all town meetings at the hall iK'ar the centre of the
town, it was decided by a yes and no vote; the whole number of votes in
favor of holding the meetings at th(> centre of the town was 10(i; in favor
of continuing in Dejtot Hall was 18(1.

The towu meetings were afterwards held at Depot ILall until the
new Towu House was built.

At the annual town meeting held :\[arch 13, 188:5. George (). AViiiting
was chosen moderator. The ninth article of the warrant had been : " To
see if tlie town will vote to build a Town House upon the ' Whiting House
lot,' so called, or take any action relative thereto.'" At the town meet-
ing the following resolution. ])resented l)y Hon. Charles H. Burns,

THE NEW TOWN HOUSE. 221

was voted on liy ballot ami was adoptod by the fullowiui;' vole: whole
iiumlter votiun' ho, 142: whole mmd)ei' votiiiji' yes, KiCi :

•' That tlic agents or coniniittee, wliieli may be ehosen under the eleventh
article of this warrant, sliall be and are authorized to eontraet with relia-
lile and responsible i)arties i'or the building; of a 'J'own House upon the
• Whiting House lot," so called, in said Wilton, for the convenient transac-
tion of the public business of tlie town, and upon a i)lan substantially like
the one subnntted to the meeting, and witli sucli details as said agents or
committee may deternnne, provided and upon the exjiress conditions, —
First, tliat the Messrs. AVhiting shall nuike and deliver to said town
forthwith a good and sullicient deed of warranty of tlie whole of said
\Vliiting House lot, free of all cost or expense to said town and without
any condition, except that a Town House suitable for town purposes, and
at a cost of not less than twelve thousand dollars, shall be erected and
maintained upon said lot ; and Second, that the smns agreed to l)e paid
shall not in the whole exceed the sum of tift<'cn thousand dollars for said
Town House complete. The selectmen, after notice in writing from the
building agents, that they liave made a binding contract with reliable and
responsible parties for the building of such Town House complete, for a
sum or sums not exceeding in the whole fifteen thousand dollars, shall be
and are hereby authorized and directed to liire such sum or sums of money
as shall be necessary, not exceeding, witli tlie sum wliich may be raised un-
der the teutli article of tliis warrant, said sum of tifteen thousand dollars;
and said selectmen are hereby authorized and empowered and directed to
issue bonds for said amount, witli coupons for interest payable semi-
annually at the rate of four per cent., wliich said bonds shall be payable
at the otiice of the treasurer of said town, at such times as shall distribute
the amount to become due annually equally through fourteen years."

Voted, that if the selectmen shall so deternnne, instead of issuing said
bonds, they ina\' hire the aforesaid sums of money upon the credit of the
town, and upon the same terms as aforesaid, and give the note of the
town with the same rate of interest of tour per cent.

On article tenth it was voted that the sum of one thousand dollars is
hereby raised and appropriated towards the building of said Town House,
to be expended l)y the agents referred to in the vote under the foregoing
ninth article of the warrant, upon the conditions and with the limitations
of the use of the same expessed in snid vote.

On the eleventh article of the warrant it was voted that David Whit-
ing, Frank M. Pevey and James L. Hardy are hereby chosen building
agents, with the authority expressed and the limitations in the vote under
the ninth article of the warrant.

At the town meeting held Novem))er 4, 1884, a report of the building
committee being called for, Dr. F. M. Pevey of said comnnttee made a
statement of the progress made on the Town House, and of the amount
of money received and expended for the same, to wit :

" The architects were Merrill & Cutler of Lowell, Massachusetts. The
contractors were James L. Hardy for wood and iron work, and Charles
Hesseltou for stone and brick work. The amount of J. L. Hardy's

222 HISTORY OF WILTON.

coutraul was .$9,813; tlie aiiiount of Chark'.s lles.seltuii".-; contract was
.$8,279.93; total, .$18,092.93. After the contracts were fultilled the hall
was litted up w ith steam apparatus for heating at an expense to the town
of about .$700. (Jas apparatus for lightino; was furnished by the town,
costing about -$400. All the gas fixtures in the building were furnished
and donated to the town by the several sous of II. A. ^Vhiting. The sup-
per room was tinished with the proceeds of the dedication festival, amount-
ing to .$500. The stained glass windows were donated by several ladies
of Wilton. 'J'lie inside blinds were furnished by Hon. J. II. Sitalding of
Nashua, Mrs. D. Whiting of Wilton, Mrs. Geo. Newell of Boston and Mrs.
Geo. O. Whiting of Lexington. The desk for the stage was donated by
Hon. Charles H. Burns of Wilton; the clock for inside of hall, by Dr. J.
Fleeman; the stone steps at the end of the building, by citizens. The en-
gine and selectmen's rooms were ttnished by the town, estimated expense
.$•400. The table and chairs for selectmen's room were given by Mr. Geo.
I. Doe; the town clock, by Dr. F. 31. Pevey. The amount of the several
donations exceeds .$2,."»00."'

On motion of C. II. Burns, voted to accept the following ofter made the
town by tlie Messrs. Whiting, and to approi)riate tivo hundi'cd dollars for
the same :

" The sons of Harvej^ A. W^hiting ofter to pii)e the whole building for
gas, so far as it can be piped as it now stands, and to furnish with ftxt-
ures that part of the building that is tinished, on condition that the town
furnish and set up the gas machine and its appurtenances and maintain
the whole lighting apparatus."

Also voted that the building connnittee be authorized and empowered
to carry out the above vote.

On motion of IJev. A. E. Trac}', voted that the timely and valuable
present of a town clock given by Dr. F. M. Pevey be accepted with
thanks. The following resolution was unanimously adopted : Resolved,
that the committee of three be charged with the duty of investigating the
subject of lieating apjiaratus for tlie town hall and lie empo\\'ered to buy
and put in such apparatus as upon investigation the.y shall think best;
also, resolved, tliat said committee be charged with the subject of furnish-
ing, and be empowered to buy and jiut in suitable furniture.

DEDICATION SERVICES.

On January 1, 1885, the new Town House was dedicated with
appropriate exercises, an eloquent address was delivered by Isaac
Spalding Whiting, Esq., and the entertainment and festivities of
the occasion were participated in by a large number of the people
of Wilton and the neighboring towns. We quote the following ad-
mirable advice from this address, whicli points the way to what we
may yet do to make our town still more beautiful, patriotic and
flourishing :

If, now, our fathers' time was the time of pioneer work, and if theirs

ADDRESS OF I. S. WHITING. 223

was the period of the struggle for existence, it \\ould seein that it was
our duty to advance upon their state and create her some of the products
of a later and more civilized time. 'With the completion of tlie rough
work, and increase of property, we uuist have time and strengtli left free
from hread-earning, for cultivation of self, and improvement and adorn-
ment of the town. I know I trench here upon doubtful ground. 1 know ,
too, that what was true in tlie forty's and lifty"s is not true today. At
that time, with a constant and growing market in New England, w liich
could be supi)Iied with agricultural products on\y from Xew P^ngland. our
prospects were bright for increase of population and of wealth, and the
things they l)ring. But the Texan steer stalked suddenly out of the mist,
and our tended aud housed cattle could not stand up against him. Tlie
railroads stretched their arms into the AVcst. and brought ])ack grain from
lands, the richness of wliich was fal)ulous to the roi-k-born Xew England
farmer. The application of steam to machinery stole away from us tlie
advantage we had in our thousands of streams, even before we had our-
selves wantonly destroyed them by cutting oft" the forest tliat fed them.
Moreover, the rapid development of the resources of the country called
away to the cities a class of men whose great works there are but cold
comfort to the towns who have lost their help. I believe tlie Xew Eng-
land farmer of thirty or forty years ago is dead without successor. I con-
ceive him to have been a man of liberal mind, of acute interest in iiublic
aftairs, who worked half a day in the field, and the other half in law, re-
ligion, politics or business ; who gave himself time for social w orks, and
for the observation of the world's doings. But the need of lawyers, doc-
tors and merchants soon called for the whole time of all that had any
ability for those things. Although, perhaps, the present farmers are bet-
ter tillers of the soil than their fathers, yet the diverse abilities and inter-
ests of the older men would have made themselves felt in the villages in
one social or business attraction or another, while the leisure and sim-
plicity of the times must have thrown a charm about the farms that mod-
ern conditions have dissipated. Our own times have imposed limitations
upon us that we must abitle by. If we say that the great amount of
knowledge in all departments, combined w ith tierce competition, has com-
pelled him who would succeed to devote his whole soul to his one busi-
ness, we only utter a platitude ; but in those days it pVobably was not
true, certainly not stale. 1 suspect that while those men of the old time
farmed, they were but half farmers aud half something else. We of
today have learned the lesson of the times, and we content ourselves with
the best results that nature and our conditions permit. From these
causes: loss of men, opening of richer lands, progress in arts and science,
the New England towns have been checked in their advance. ^Ve have
not to show what we might have been expected to show in my lather's
early life. The things that wealth would bring, the things that a large
population and divei'se business would bring, are not ours. Moreover, in
my own time, we have been called oft" from our regular work to repair the
frightful ravages of flood and ttre.

224 HISTORY OF WILTON.

But our rcsuuivfs and beiiertts are yet groat and seeure. Tlie railroad
lias l)een our friend a.< well as our enemy, 'i'liounii it has wrested from
us our old business, it has yet developed a new kind, which would have
been impossible without it. The giant lines that stretch into the West
and South eontribute to our support no less than our own short strip.
Our soil, though barren, nuist yield a eonipetenee in the i)roduetion of
those perishable articles that will not bear days and weeks of transporta-
tion from the richer lauds. And in the moral realm, the possession of tlie
^'ew England towns, are things that will hold the Ijody of her people to
her, against all the attractions of th«^ world. There still live here, as of
old, pride in home and town, self-respect, disposition to improve, thrift
and conservatism. We possess the indissoluble power that home and
tradition exert. The pleasures of friendship, and the thousand small joys
and benefits of an established community, are ours beyond the i)ossibility
of loss.

And if we would hold oiu' own and advance, these alTections and long-
ings point out the wny. If there exists a great natural attraction in the
soil of the West, we must create artificial ones here. So far as the West
appeals to the love of gain, we must appeal to the love of home and so-
ciety. We must throw out into contrast the manners and conservatism of
the East and the radicalism and roughness of the \V"est. If the South al-
lures us, we nuist be made to compare carefully its scjualid and slovenly
villages with our neatness and kemptness. The invisible chains that link
to home must Ije made so abinidant and so strong that they cannot be
broken.

Such a purpose would seize upon all the improvements of the age that
were indicated by oui- conditions. Think for a moment where the town
woiUd be today if there had not l)ecn enterprise enough here to build the
railroad. There would he no village where we now stand, and little, if
any, manufacturing. AVith a diminishing farming population, and no other
industry to take the place of farming, the current of progress would have
left us stranded high and dry, feeble in numbers, and of no diversity in
sentiment and judgment. 'J'he moral influence of the railroad will be rec-
ognized by every nuvn who but compares his own town with those Ijing
near, who from any reason, good or bad, did not seize upon the oppor-
tunity at the time of its building to lift thems(dves into the atmosphere of
the new life.

If I were to name some of the things that have occurred to me that be-
long to our time to do. the first would be the building of a library. AA"e
want histories to teach us of former experiments in government, ;iiul
of the rise and fall of parties; we want novels to take us out of our
work-a-day life, and to put us into the life of other classes ; we want to
learn that human nature is the same in palace aiul cottage; and we want
poetry for our darker moments, and to instruct the imagination with fan-
cies we could never dream of alone. But it is a waste of time to speak
of our want of books. Oui- former possession has created a desire that
our misfortunes have left unsatisfied. We are all of one mind. The

r
5

ADDRESS OF I. S. WHITING. 225

approi)rijite word of today is patience till we complete the ^hell, aud till
our pockctbooks are rexileuished.

Another thing we might do is the shading of our roads. T speak not of
the limits of the village, where the private enterprise of each individual
has adorned his inunediate premises with all the public spirit that could
be desired; I refer to the roads that sti-etch out all through the town.
To obtain a fair result we need only to instruct our road agents to cut out
with care the small stutt" that grows beside the road, and to leave stand-
ing at proper intervals such trees as will develop into throwers of shade
in the sunnner and into wind-breaks in winter. Somebody has set us an
example of this care just above Mr. Daniel ("ragin's. But to accomplish
tlie best result we must build up such a public spirit that the abutters
will leave not only such young trees, but half and full-grown trees, when
they cut their forests. With generosity among the owners, and recogni-
tion of it among the travellers, we might, in a do/en or twenty years,
have a substantial attraction and comfort to ourselves and strangers, and
a notice to travellers the moment they crossed the town line that they
were within a progressive town.

Of this kind of work is this building. It belongs to the time of im-
provement ; of striving for ideal things. As a matter of dollars and cents
we had better have endured the old hall. Though useful and comforta-
ble, we had gotten along without it. Its function is as nmch that of a
model and exemplar as a doer. Its beauty and simplicity are ever-present
standards bj^ which to judge of our eftbrts in all our doings. We are
among the last of the towns in the neighborhood to build a town house.
They have stimulated us to put our best foot forward ; we lielieve they
can not be ashamed of our achievement. As the ancient bell-towers of
Italy were placed at easy intervals, so that the whole people might be
warned to be ui) and doing for the connnon safetj^, so the towns of New
England have erected town houses to be ever-present warnings to every
man that, in her system, his duties are never done. We should not like
to be behind in that work. AVe should not like to see broken at our doors
the continuity of the New England custom.

It is the product of our best enterprise and of our most advanced public
spirit. Born in a gift, that gift has provoked other gifts, and so on, till
everybody has brought his contribution of material or service for the
ornamentation of our common building. It has lifted us into heights of
generosity that we never dared to believe we could climb. It has
strengthened us with the strength that comes to a people inspired with a
common thought, and working for a common ideal end. In the middle
ages the people were so tilled with religious zeal that they left all else to
carry stones and mortar for the erection of those great churches and
cathedrals that we go so far to see. In the beautiful language of an old
writer, "it was as if the earth, rousing itself and casting away its old
robes, clothed itself with the white garment of churches."' Our clearer
ideas of religion stand in the way of such enthralling devotion, and the
multitude of creeds divides our allegiance, but we all vie in devotion to

226 HISTORY OF WILTON.

one coiumou state, we recognize one common sovereignty, and we all lay
our hands to the upbuilding of lier visible representative.

VVlio knows but that the church may once more unite the town in a com-
mon sentiment. When Orthodox and Unitarians sliall each have learned
something from the other, and wlien two attenuated societies have ap-
proached nearer the vanishing point, perhaps they will come together
again to hear the great principles of Christianity which they both believe
in. Perliaps, too, when they shall have become tired of heating and
painting two barn-like churches, they will gather again into the town hall
and marry once more the long-divorced church and state.

It is in such things as this building and in moral improvements thai
our way lies open. To build in the best way, even to fastidiousness, w hat
new things we build, to improve the old, to attract to this town all that
would come to the country to live, to supplement the natural scenery with
intelligent and agreeable men and women, are our task. And if we would
keep our capital of youth and money at homq, it must be, beyond all
question, by such means as these. It has been said that it is our duty to
send them out; that the most glorious product of any soil is its men. It
may be the patriot's duty to plant the New England heart and brain
through all parts of our common country, but we must be parental before
we are patriotic. If they will but be satisfied with a competence from
our bairen hills, we will give them the advantages of home and society.
But if they must make money, our prayers shall follow them to theii-
western isolation, and we will consent to be patiiotic if they will but build
up, bit by bit, a new New England village.

CHAPTER XXVI.

STORES, TRADE AND THE MILK BUSINESS.

In the early history of the town the necessaries of life, and the
luxuries, what few were indulged in, were procured directly from
the lower country towns; from "down below," as the familiar
phrase was. The home custom was too small to support grocers
alone or dry goods merchants alone. In the winter, particularly,
the farmer filled his sleigh with butter, cheese, beef, pork, grain,
beans, &c., and journeyed to Boston, Salem, Marblehead or New-
buryport, as the case might be, and bax'tered away his farm products
for groceries and goods for family use during the coming year.
The roads leading from Vermont and New Hampshire to the sea-
port towns were lined in the winter with long processions of these
loaded teams on the way to market. At night they rendezvoused
at the country taverns along tlie route, and a merry time they had
of it around the roaring bar-room fire, what with a stiff mug of flip or
toddy, and a story or jest to suit the hilarious company. They re-
turned with ample stores for the family of tea, coffee, sugar, rum,
molasses, spices, codfish, &c.

But the time came when the increase of population required trad-
ers nearer home, and that old curiosity shop, the country store, came
upon the stage. Some of the earlier storekeepers, as they were
called, were Jacob Abbot, in the middle of the town ; Nathaniel
Sawyer, on what are now the premises of Henry Gray ; Richard T.
Buss, Nehemiah Hayward, Nathan Livermore, Haskell & Whitney,
Harvey Barnes, Stephen Abbot and Newell & Hopkins at the Cen-
tre. The store of that period was a combination of grocery, dry
goods, hardware, wholesale and retail saloon, post ofhce, book store
and news room. The bar was well patronized. Treating was a
general custom, and the counter was seldom dry. Ample hogsheads
of Santa Cruz, Jamaica and New England rum testified to a brisk

228 HISTORY OF WILTON.

trade. The farmers brought their home products to the store and
bartered them for the merchant's goods. Here they retailed the
news of the day, and came for their weekly papers. Notices of
sales, auctions, estrays and advertisements were posted on the
walls. It was the rendezvous of business men. Here caucuses
were held, and politics were discussed. Lodges and societies held
their meetings in the store hall above, and, in the winter, singing
schools, dancing schools and balls gathered the young people to-
gether. A quite universal institution was the old country store,
and some feeble likeness of it may still linger here and there in the
back settlements. But with the modern division of labor and trade,
the introduction of railroads, telegraph offices, public libraries and
reading rooms, town halls and post offices, its glory has passed
away, and has been distributed in a dozen different directions.

In 1871 this was the list of stores and business men as recorded
in the New Hampshire Register of that yeai- :

Express Agents: L. Giddings, H. D. Epps, I. A. Parker.

Dentists: F. M. Peavey, E. Wood.

Merchants : Wm. J. Bradbury, l)Ook!^ and stationery; Oeo. W. Wallace,
clothing; Alfred E. Jaques, Samuel N. Center, dry goods and groceries;
D. B. Needhani, dry goods ; Frank P. Kent, Dillon & Keyes, D. Gregg &
Co., F. S. Hutchinson, groceries; Dillon & Keyes, D. (iregg & Co., flour,
grain and hardware; Henry Trevitt, A. P. Fitch, diugs aiid medicines;
Miss B. P. Hall, millinery.

Manufacturers : Jones & Dascomb, A. A. Clark, Hutchinson & Macabe,
N. Flint, boots and shoes; Wilton Co., Newell Co., carpet yarn; Putnam
& Cochran, furniture; A. J. Putnam & Co.. leather; 1). Whithig & Sons,
Levi Putnam, lumber ; D. Gregg, sash and blinds; X. D. Foster & ('o.,
tin ware; Daniel Cragiu, wooden ware and toys; H. W. Hopkins, writing
desks and fancy boxes.

Hotels: Whiting House, D. Whiting & Sous; Railroad House, John F.
Goss.

Livery Stables : Jos. Langdell, L. H. Blood.

In 1887 the list of stores and of business men, with the excep-
tion of manufacturers previously given in Chapter XVI, reads as
follows :

The Wilton Savings Bank : Josiah Fleeman, president ; Moses Clark,
treasurer.

Merchants: L. AV. Perkins, George W. Wallace, clothing and furnish-
ing goods; Henry Trevitt, M. D., H. A. Powers, drugs and medicines;
George A. Carter, dry goods, boots and shoes; S. N. Center & Son,
fancy and dry goods, boots and shoes ; M. I*. Stanton, fish and groceries ;
David E. Proctor, flour, meal, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware and a
general assortment of stoneware; A. O. Barber, groceries; S. N. Center,

TRADES. 229

2d, groceries, flour and farming tools ; S. H. Dunbar, James Shea, meat
and vegetables; Miss S. A. Smith, millinery aud fancy goods; S. K. Fos-
ter, stoves and tinware; — Stickney, undertakers' furnishings ; P. R.

King & Son, varietj- store.

Livery Stable: Joseph Langdell, who has about twelve horses.

THE MILK BUSINESS.

Wilton furuishes more milk than any town in the state. Mr. T.
W. Wellington of Newton, Massachusetts, was the first to buy
milk in Wilton for the Boston market. The amount first produced
was very small, less than two hundred gallons per day, and for
nearly a year was freighted in the baggage ear. Mr. Wellington
continued his business about a year and then disposed of it to Mr.
David L. Pierce, who at that time was a retail milk dealer in Bos-
ton, and through him the business increased so that it became
necessary to have a car built and run expressly for milk. Mr.
Pierce, after continuing in the business for three or four years, be-
came financially embarrassed, and in 1857 sold his entire interest
to the senior member of the present firm of David Whiting & Sons.
The business of producing milk in Wilton and in towns along the
line of the Wilton Railroad has steadily increased from that time to
the present. A special milk train is now run daily from Hills-
borough to Boston, with one car from Hillsborough, one from Wilton
and one from Milford. One car from Concord, Massachusetts, is
also added to the train at Lexington, and, at North Cambridge
Junction, two from Barre and Hudson, Massachusetts, making a
train of six cars expressly for milk.

In the early days of milk production for the Boston market, one
of the most serious objections to the business was in meeting the
constant variation in trade, owing to the larger demand on some
days than on others, so that a farmer who sold milk was obliged
every few days to make butter ok cheese of his surplus. In 1864
the introduction of the cheese factory did away with this serious
objection, and at once placed the business on a more reliable basis.
Since then no product of the farm is more sure of ready sale. The
capacity of our first cheese vat was sixty gallons, and the cheese
was manufactured in a back room of Mr. Whiting's house. The
business of cheese making rapidly increased, and when it was de-
cided to order a new vat of latest improvement, with a capacity of
two hundred and fifty gallons, the climax for the care of surplus
milk was supposed to have been reached. About the year 1875 the
manufacture of butter was found to be more satisfactory than that

230 HISTORY OF WILTON.

of cheese, and the factory and fixtures were changed accordingly
to their present location. The present factory has a capacity of
twenty-five hundred gallons, and the business is fast out-growiug
the accommodations. The product of milk was never larger than
at present. The present firm pay to their producers annually for
milk and cream, on all lines operated by them, over four hundred
thousand dollars ; and it is but reasonable to believe that, with the
inevitable increase in the population of Boston aud vicinity, and
with the rapidly increasing appreciation of milk as a wholesome
and nutritious article of food, the product will be in still greater
demand, and will continue to be the largest and most valuable of
any along the line of the Souhegan valley.

Messrs. Whiting are also manufacturers of lumber and dealers in
cattle-feed and coal. The annual product of their lumber mill is
500,000 staves and 500,000 feet of lumber, and of their grist mill
is 1500 tons of corn meal. They also sell about 2000 tons of
shorts, middlings, etc., and 700 tons of coal per annum. Their
farm produces about 75 tons of hay and their hoggery contains
about 500 hogs and pigs.

CHAPTER XXVII.

CENSUS AND STATISTICS.

The growth of the town for man}' years was very slow. The re-
sources of the place were limited to the soil for agriculture, the
forests for wood and timber, and the streams for water power.
Farming and mechanics were the two principal careers open to im-
migrants. The early settlers met with great trials and hardships,
as we have seen. No very flattering prospects were open to the
ambition of the young. As young men and women came upon the
stage, many sought other and more encouraging opportunities of
making their livelihood and fortune.

According to the report in the Centennial pamphlet there were
two families in 1739 ; 70 people in 1755 ; 240 in 17G3 ; 623 in 1775 ;
1013iul7S(i; 1105 in 1790; 1017 in 1800; 1017 in 1810; 1070
in 1820. From 1790 to 1839 the average varied very little from
1100, and the population never was greater than in 1790. There
were about 45 inhabitants to the square mile.

Two forces have acted upon the population, western emigration
and factory immigration. One has served to drain, and the other
to replenish, the population, but the former has taken away the
natives, while the latter has brought iu more foreigners, thus af-
fecting the social and ecclesiastical condition of Wilton. In 1830
the number of inhabitants was 1041 ; in 1840, 1033 ; in 1850, 1161 ;
in 1860, 1369 ; in 1870, 1974 ; in 1880, 1747, and iu 1888, proba-
bly 1800 or more.

In 1763 there were 56 polls, and in 1870, 392. In 1880 there
were 132 farmers, 71 mechanics, 23 laborers, 28 merchants and
manufacturers and 9 professional men. There were 107 persons
70 years old or more. In 1763 there were 48 oxen, 60 cows.

232 HISTORY OF WILTON.

18 horses, 22 youDg cattle, 126 acres iu tillage, 163 J acres in mow-
ing, 43 acres iu pasture and 41 houses. Valuation, £346 l.ls.

In 1850 the number of oxen was 224, cows 417, other cattle 478,
horses 143, sheep 478, swine 414, value of live stock $41,283;
acres of improved land 11,426, of unimproved laud 2249, cash
value of farms, $27.5,450, value of farming implements $6388 ;
amount of wheat produced 036 bushels, rye 620, Indian corn 6239,
oats 2117, peas and beans 164, potatoes 12,655, barley 003, wool
1566 pounds ; value of orchard products $730, market garden $124 ;
amount of butter produced 53,587 pounds, cheese 19,095, beeswax
and honey 137, hops 5835 ; hay 2203 tons ; value of animals
slaughtered $9811.

In 1860 the number of oxen was 165, cows 059, other cattle 228,
horses 136, sheep 138, swine 231, value of live stock $46,923;
acres of improved land 10,005, of' unimproved land 3652, cash
value of farms $406,500, value of farming implements $10,135 ;
wheat raised 1775 bushels, rye 447, Indian corn 6815, oats 2036,
peas and beans 172, potatoes 11,042, barley 484, buckwheat 33,
wool 464 pounds ; value of orchard products $2969, market garden
$25 ; amount of wine produced 420 gallons, butter 18,433 pounds,
cheese 3050, beeswax and honey 224, hops 050; hay 2011 tons;
value of animals slaughtered $6715.

In 1870 the number of dwellings was 330, families 377 ; chil-
dren at school 347, persons who cannot read 71, cannot write 86 ;
white males 803, white females 830 ; foreign males 146, foreign
females 150 ; those whose father was foreign born 454, mother for-
eign born 449 ; persons 21 years of age, or under, 392.

The census of Wilton for 1850 was taken by James Scott of
Peterborough ; for 1800, by Charles Richardson of Amherst ; for
1870, by Major David E. Proctor, then of Lyndeborough, now of
Wilton ; for 1880, by George L. Dascombe.

The number of marriages recorded in Wilton from 1702 to 1887
is 622. But there are some gaps in the records as kept by the
town, so that the number recorded is not complete. For many
years the custom was to cry out the couple in the Congregational
church. Just before the congregation was dismissed in the after-
noon the town clerk announced, to the great edification of the peo-
ple, that such or such a couple intended marriage. The law required
publication two weeks before the event. Subsequently the publica-
tion was made by posting the names of the parties intending mar-
riage in some public place on a bulletin board. It appears that

Cjt^£^'~-<-^

MARRIAGES. 233

after March, 1862, the town clerk recorded only the intentiou
of marriage, not the marriage itself. We give a few specimens of
early records of publication of intention to marry, all belonging to
the year 1764 :

Stephen Putnam of Wilton and Olive A^arnum of Andover were lawful-
ly published, and thei'c was no objections against their proceeding in mar-
riage. Philip Putnam of Wilton and Abigail Jaquith of Dunstable were
lawfully published, and there was no objections against their proceeding
in marriage. (Jeorge Coburn of Wilton and Mary Adams of Dunstable
were lawfully piUjlished, and there was no objections to their proceeding
in marriage. John Brown of Wilton and Eunice Russell of Reading were
lawfully published, and there was no objections against their proceeding
in marriage. Stephen Farnham of Wilton and Kezia Skidmore of Chelms-
ford were published three pul)lic meeting daj's, and there was no ob-
jections to their proceeding in nnirriage.

Philip Putnam, Town Clerk.

CHAPTER XX VIII.

OLD RELICS, REMINISCENCES AND DIARIES.

A copper coin, of the size of the old copper eeut, was found
many 3'ears ago by Mr. Abiel Flint in his field on the farm now
owned by Mr. Charles H. White. It bears on one side an endless
chain of thirteen rings, on which were probably the abbreviated
names of the thirteen original states, but only a few of the letters
are legible. Within the cliain of rings are other letters, too indis-
tinct for the words to be discovered, and still another ring enclos-
ing the words, "We are one," in letters little woru. The other
side has a representation of the rising sun, the date, 17<S7, the
word, ^^Ftif/in," and, at the bottom, the words, " ^lind Your Busi-
ness ;" in the centre are some emblems.*

Mr. Flint has also three currency bills, each three inches long
and two and one-half inches wide, which have come down from his
grandfather, Ebenezer Flint. Two of them were issued under a
resolution of the Continental Congress, passed at Philadelphia,
February 17, 1776. On one side of each is a chain of thirteen
rings, on which are the abbreviated names of the thirteen original
states. Under the chain are the words : "Philadelphia. Printed by
Hall and Sellers, 177<)." Over the chain is printed the denomina-
tion of the bill ; in one, " Two Thirds of a Dollar ;" in the other,
" One Sixth of a Dollar." On tlie opposite side of eacli bill is a
square enclosing a circle with the words, " Mind Your Business.''
The third bill was issued by the state of Massachusetts, and "en-
titles the Bearer to Four Shillings and Sixpence, L. M. out of the
Treasur}' of this State." On each side of the bill is a pillar, and at
the top is the date, 177G, with a picture of the venerable codfish of
the state.

* A copper cent, similar to the one described, was coined in 17s7, bearing on one side a
sun dial with the sun above it.

RteMINISCENCES. 235

BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION.

The only battle of the Revohitiouary war fought in Wilton oc-
curred in this wise : A report sprung up that a deserter had come
to town and was concealed in the house of friends. The zealous
patriots were aroused. They assembled from far and near, and,
surrounding the suspected domicile, deuianded that the traitor to
his country's cause should be produced forthwith. But the family
resented this rude assault on their "castle," and, deserter or no
deserter, they did not propose to give him up at sucli an unceremoni-
ous call. The leader, advancing into the house, met with a liery re-
ception ; for the indignant grandam seized the kitchen shovel, in
those days no mean weapon, and, filling it with red-hot coals from
the fire-place, prepare to sprinkle them over the good deacon's
head. But he interposed in season to prevent this baptism of fire
with " My good woman ! please don't do anything rash." Thus
ended the first, last and only battle in AVilton in that war. But
whether there was really any deserter or not, is not known to this
day.

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE OLD FRENCH MILL, BY MR. EPHRAIM BROWN.

"These recollections are gathered from my own observation and
from descriptions given by members of the French family. I was
much about the mills in my boyhood, and the French place was a
familiar playground. At that time, while fishing in the river di-
rectly east of the old dwelling-house of the original French family,
I observed timbers in the bed of the river, apparently placed there
by design, and traces of timbers on the banks, showing that a dam
had been erected there, which was afterwards overflowed by the
dam built lower down by Mr. Killum's. Fifty years later Burleigh
French told me that before his father. Deacon Burleigh French,
came to Wilton in company with his father, James French, a dam
and mill had been built there by a Mr. Barker, or Baker. In some
freshet these were swept away. Subsecpiently a dam was built
higher up^the_stream against the Hesselton place, the north end of
which stands there to this day, and a canal was dug down the
stream to the site of the old saw and grain mills, recently burned.
These mills were owned by James French and his son. Deacon Bur-
leigh French.

"I heard from the lips of the daughter of James French, a sister
of Burleigh French, the story of the raising of the second dam of

236 HISTORY OF WILTON.

the old French mill, opposite the house of Mr. Joel Hesseltou ou
the Souhegiiu River. lu those days such structures were built of
heavy timbers, which were prepared and placed in a horizontal po-
sition ; then many men were required to raise them to their proper
place. Saturday night came before all things were ready for the
raising, and with it came also clouds and signs portending a storm
of rain. If the water rose in this rapid and ragged river, not only
would the erection of the dam be delayed, but there was great dan-
ger that the frame, now laid in position in the bed of the stream,
would be washed away and lost. Sunday morning the heavens
were still more threatening.

" Whatever may have been the scruples of Mr. James French
regarding the keeping of the Lord's Day in genei-al, and whatever
may have been the opinion and practice of his workmen and of his
neighbors, it was deemed expedient to lay these scruples aside, and
to proceed at once to raise the frame, that it might not be lost. The
neighborhood, yea, the whole town, had an interest in that dam.
Mills in old colonial times, one hnudred or two hundred years ago,
were deemed to be of great public benefit, and to be worthy of
especial legislation in their favor. It is not strange, then, that to
raise that dam on that Sunday was decided to be a work of neces-
sity and mercy, both to save the property of Mr, French, and to
supply a needy public with a place to grind its corn and saw its
lumber. I have little doubt the intent had been to raise the dam
on a week day, and to invite much help, perhaps the whole town,
as was the custom on similar occasions. But to call in so many on
the Sabbath day would not be in keeping with the second com-
mandment. Upon consultation, it was decided to have only so
many men as seemed needful to do the work ; and to forbear to
draw off from the service of the sanctuary, any whose help seemed
not to be absolutely necessar}'.

"When the time for action came, the men were placed, each in
his station and at his post of duty. At the word of command the
ponderous beams moved heavily and slowly from the ground.
Every man exerted his utmost strength. Slowly and heavily the
massive timbers were carried up to the breast of the men. Here
they ceased to move higher. Again and again did these noble men
struggle and strain, but no effort could carry them higher. Neither
could they let them back. To do so was to be crushed. Here,
then, was a dilennna. They were in a trap. There could be no

REMINISCENCES. 237

relief except in reeuforcement. But the people were in the Centre
of the town, worshipping in the house of God. To call upon these
seemed to be the only alternative. No man could be spared as a
messenger to summon others. No woman could go there in time.
At a given signal every man with his utmost voice shouted, 'Help !
Help ! Come !' Again they shouted, 'Help ! Help ! Come !' and
again, 'Help ! ! Help ! ! Come ! ! Come ! !'

"How these united voices rolled along the valleys, over the hill-
tops and penetrated to the ears of that worshipping assembly !
That call of life or death was instantly understood. The congrega-
tion rushed from the house, and in less time than I have taken to
relate it, men were running down the hill-sides or urging their nim-
ble steeds over the interval road, dashing to the rescue. Springing
under the massive timbers, they soon raised the great beams to
their places and the victory was won.

" To the men holding up the timbers the passage from the church
to their rescue seemed indeed long. The distance is nearly one
mile and a half. Fifteen minutes would be a very quick run for the
fleetest man or for a good horse. To sustain the failing streugth
of the sinking men under the heavy beams, the daughter of James
French mixed strong drink, walked into the bed of the river, held
the stinuilating beverage to pale and parched lips, and thus enabled
the men to hold out until help arrived.

" I will relate another incident connected with this spot. When
the former dam was washed away, the rushing waters made an ex-
cavation in the earth below its base some ten or twelve feet deep.
This remained filled with water. A valuable implement fell from
the hands of one of the workmen into this pit. Phineas Lovejoy,
brother of David and Moses Lovejoy, plunged in to recover it. In
this he failed. He lost his ability to swim ; he lost his presence of
mind, and it was seen that he^ was drowning. It was at this in-
stant that Deacon Burleigh French plunged in to rescue him. But
the pit was so deep, its sides were so steep, its cobble-stone floor
and walls were so slippery, and his friend so exhausted and heavy,
that both men were in great danger of drowning, for INIr. French
was unable to swim out and retain his hold on Lovejoy. Realizing
the desperate nature of his situation, Mr. French, an expert swim-
mer and an athletic man, while at the bottom of the pit threw Love-
joy over his shoulder, struggled up its precipitous outlet, and crept
upon dry land, both men, from exhaustion, unable to stand."

238 HISTORY OF WILTON.

YOUTHFUL PATRIOTISM.

It is related, as showing the spirit of the times, that a young man
came to the muster master. Major Abiel Abbot, to be enrolled for
the army in the Revolutionary war but was found not so tall as the
law required. He insisted on being measured again, and it being
with the same result, in his passionate disappointment he burst into
tears. He was, however, finally enrolled, on the ground that zeal
and courage were of more value in a soldier than an inch more or
less in height.

MEMORANDA OF QUARTERMASTER ISAAC FRYE.

The following extracts are made, as specimens of Revolutionary
records, kept by Isaac Frye, afterwards Major, a native of Wilton ;
and are taken from a dilapidated manuscript, preserved by his de-
scendants as a precious heirloom of thp times which tried men's
souls :

May, 1775. liee'd tliirty mess pots of the commissary at Cambridge
for the use of Col. Sargent's Regimeut. JJec'd eighteen pails for tlie use
of Col. Sargent's Regiment.

May 29, 1775. Rec'd 1600 rounds of cartridges for the use of Col. Sar-
gent's Regiment, and 220 flints.

June 14, 1775. Rec'd twenty-seven kettels lor the use of Col. Reed's
Regiment, and nineteen bails for kettels.

June 14, 1775, Account of wood rec'd for the use of Col. Reed's Reg-
iment at Charlestown nock. Rec'd orders for thirteen cords and two feet
of wood of Isaac Hall. D. F. commissary at Medford, to take said wood at
Cheever's wharf in Charlestown.

June 16. Rec'd one load of John Lambert, 6 feet.

June 21, 1775. Rec'd one hundred and sixty-two canteens for Col.
Reed's Regiment.

June 28, 1775. Rec'd eleven tents of Mr. Emerson, commissary for
New Hampshire, for the use of Col. Reed's Regimeut.

AMMUNITION ACCOUNT.

June 13, 1775. Rec'd one hundred fifty wait of powder and throe hun-
dred wait of ball, six hundred and thirty flints for Col. Reed's Regiment.

June 14, 1775. Rec'd 2096 rounds of cartridges for the use of Col.
Reed's Regiment, 582 fliuts.

Charlestown, June 14. Delivered half a pint of powder to a man for
65 men in Capt. Mann's company. Delivered 20 balls to a man for 64
men in Capt. Ezra Town's Co. Total, 1280.

THE WINTER HILL DIARY OF JONATHAN BURTON.

The following passages are taken from a diary kept by Jonathan
Burton of Wilton, then sergeant in Captain Taylor's company of

burton's winter hill diary. 239

militia, while iu camp at Winter llill, near Boston, in the winter of
1775-76:*

Head Quarters, December 10^'' 1775.

Four Coiiipaueys of the New llanipshire Militia are to march to IJoxbury
to reeuforce that Division. The Captains will receive General Ward's
orders what Keginient thej' are attached to; tlie rest of the New Hamp-
shire Militia are to Joyn the Brigade on Winter Hill and Prospect Hill in
Camhrido'e. Together with the Company of Militia from Massachusetts
which are ordered to joyn Trescott, Greaton and Nixon's IJegiments are
to be appointed for the new Established IJegiments as the Major and
Brigade Generals shall think lit for the most equal Distribution. The
Cai)tains of the several Militia Companies from the Massachusetts and
New Hampshire Governments are to make exact records of their Com-
panies and return them signed without delay to the Adjutant General.

Head Quarters, December 13"' 1775.

The Major Generals are to order the Militia Companies to be joyned to
the Different Brigades and Regiments in their respective Divisions, in
such a manner as to supply the Ditiicency of the Connecticut Troops
and to prevent Confusion and Disorder in case we should be called to
action and make report then^ol as soon as it is done. As these companies
have an Inclination to joyn Particular Regiments, the General has no
Objection to it in every instance where it can ])e done consistent with the
good of the service, and the allotment to the Different Incampmeuts. The
Adjutant of every Regiment to which any of those companies are joyned
are to acquaint them with all General and Brigade Orders that they may
not unknowingly Disobey them. The Colonels of the several Regiments
upon the New Establishment may respectively apply to the C'ommissary
of Ordnance Stores for 75 Stand of Arnies, Lately taken iu the London
Storeship. 'J'hese arms the colonels will be Careful to Put into the hands
of tlie Soldiers mdst approved for their care and Bravery and Such only
as are Inlisted for the next Campaign. An exact list of their Names to
be returned to their Respective Colonels. The Carbines in said Ship are
not to be delivered without Special Order.

Sergeant Ebenezer Fogg of Captain McFarlings and Coloiiel Nixons
tryed bj^ a General Court Martial for absenting himself from the Camp
without Leave of absence, &c., &c. Said Fogg upon examination and
evidence heard adjudged Guilty of the Principle Part of the accusation,
and sentenced to receive Ten lashes on his Naked I)ack at tlie Head of
Said Regiment and not Permitted to do the Duty of a Sergeant During
this Campaign. The General approves the sentence and orders it to take
place tomorrow at 9 o'clock at the Head of Said Regiment.

* We have been obliged to give ouly extracts from this diary and from the other old-
time documents on account of want of room.

240 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Head Quarters, December li'ii 1775.

Parole, Domiugo ; Countersign, France.

It is expected that tlie Armourers on Winter Hill work for any Person
in the Brigade without any of them Pretending to Confine their work to
Particular Regiments. The Otticers of the Several Regiments and Com-
manders of Particular Companies are Desired Particularly to visit the
Barraks in which their men are Lodged, and Give the best advice they
can for making tlieir Men as Comfortable as Possable, and make report
of those they find in too Uncomfortable a Situation to Endure the In-
clemency of the Weather, that Some method may be taken to make Men
more comfortable. The General takes this opertlmity of returning his
most sincere and herty thanks to the Gentlemen Ofiicers and Soldiers,
who have with so much speed and alacrity come to Joyn the Army and
Prevent our Enemy taking the advantage of the Dastardly Conduct of
those Troops who Basely Desarted the Lines ; and as the time of those
Troops which are Lilisted will be soon Expired he flatters himself that
the same Spirit which Brought them in so seasonably to our assistance
Avill Induce both ofiicers and Soldiers to exert themselves in Influencing a
Sufiicient Number of Good men to Inlist for filling up the Standing Con-
tinental Army which is to take Place at their Departure, ^Vnd he sincerely
hopes that their zeal in this respect will, if possible. Equal that which they
have already Discovered so nuich to their own and their Country's Honour.
The General Strictly Enjoyns those persons, who may Inlist out of the
New Companies into the Continental Army, Not to Leave the Companies
to which they now Belong Uutill the fifteenth Day of January Next, on
Penalty of being treated as Deserters.

Head Quarters, Jan? l^t 177G.
Parole, Congress; Countersign, America.

This Day Giving Commencement to the New Army which in Every
Point is Continental, the General Flatters Himself that a Laudable Spirit
of Immulation will now take place, and Prevade the whole of it ; without
such a Spirit few Officers have ever arrived to any Degree of Reputation,
Nor did any Army ever become formidable. His Excelency hopes that
the Importance of the Greate Cause we are engaged in will be Deeply Im-
pressed upon every Man's mind, and wishes it to be Considered that an
Army without order. Regularity and Disipline is no Better than a Com-
misoned Mobb. Let us, therefore, when everything Dear and Valable
to freemen is at Stake, when our Unnatural Parent is threatning us with
Destruction from Every Quarter, Endeavour by all the Skill and Disipline
in our Power to acquire that Knowledge and Conduct that is Necessary
in War. Our Men are brave and good men, who, with Pleasure it is ob-
served, are adicted to fewer Vices than are commonly found in Armies.
But it is Subordination and Disipline, the Life and Soule of an Army,
which under Providence is to make us formidable to our Enemies, Hon-
orable in ourselves, and Respected in the World. And herein is to be
Shown the Goodness of the officers. In vain it is for a General to Issue
orders, if orders are not attended too. Equally vain it is for a few

WILLIAM A. BURTON.

burton's winter hill diary. 241

oflicers to Exert themselves, if the Same Sph'it does not aiumate the whole.
It is tlierefore expected that each Brigadier will be attentive to the Dis-
ipline of his Brigade, to the Exercise and Conduct served in it, Calling
the Colonels and fleld officers of the Regiments to a Severe account for
Xeglect or Disobedience of orders. The same attention to be Paid by Field
officers to the Kespective Companies of their Regiments, by the Captains
to their Subalterns, and so on, that the Plea of Ignorance, which is no
cause for the Neglect of orders (but Rather an agravation), may not be
oJiered.

Cami) on Winter Hill, Jan. 14, 1776.

The General sincerely thanks those worthy Patriotic Soldiers Who at
his Request have agreed to Tarry 15 Days Longer than the Time they first
engaged. For this Demonstration of Zeal in their Country's Cause must
Reflect the most lasting Honour upon them, and convince the world they
are ready to Sacrifice their ease and comfort of themselves and families,
to the Good of their Country. While others acting on Different Princi-
ples, and actuated by different motives would entail Slavery upon them-
selves and Posterity, rather than Submit to the least Inconvenience in
their Private affairs. The General assures the Latter, that while he
endeavors to Reward the former with Honour and Credit they so Justly
Deserve, he will do all in his Power to fix on the Latter, Disgrace and
Infamy, which their Conduct so Justly Merits. The Militia Captains are
Desired to make out an exact list of all those Soldiers who are Determined
to Quit the Service on the 16"> Instant, and Present the same with Certifi-
cate of their having returned the Arms and ammunition they have re-
ceived from the army, early on Tuesday morning to John Sullivan, Brig-
adier General.

Camp on Winter Hill, Jan. 17, Rigermental order.

John Roakes of Captain Spaulding's Company and Colonel Reed's Reg-
iment, tried at a late Court Martial for getting Drunk when on Guard,
Whereof Captain Oliver was President. The Prisoner confessing himself
Guilty of a breach of the 22"'i article of the Rules and Regulations of the
Continental army. Therefore adjudged the said John Roakes to re-
ceive Twenty lashes on his Xaked Back, Init on account of his appearing
very humble and Penitant, recommended that some Part of the Punish-
ment be mitigated. Therefore ordered tliat the said John Roakes receive
Ten stripes only. The Colonel approves the Sentance of the Court and
orders that the said John Roakes receive Ten Lashes on his Naked back
at eleven o'clock this forenoon. The Adjutant of the Regiment to see it
executed.

Israel Gilman, Lieut. Col.

Head Quarters, January 23, 1776.
Parole, Fairfax; Countersign, Mount Vernon.

• Timothy Downing, tried by a General Court Marshal, found guilty,
sentenced to Receive 39 Lashes on his bare back, with a cat of Nine tails.

242 HISTORY OF WILTON.

It appearing to the Court that as the Prisoner is worthless and Incorrigi-
ble, they order him to be Drunniied out of the Army. The Court of En-
quirey to Set on Thursday Next, at General Green's on Prosjiect Hill, to
examine into a complaint exhibited against Colonel Starkes of the fifth
Regiment of foot, by Samuel Hubbard Esq. Paymaster of the New
Hampshire forces. All evidence and Persons Concerned to attend y^
Court. The Court to consist of Brig. Gen. Green, President Col. Nixon,
Col. Hitchcock, Col. Webb and Col. Varnum. Judge Advocate to attend,
the court will set Precisely at ten o'clock.

The Quarter Master of each Regiment on Winter Hill, Brigade, to apply
to Quarter Master General Frazier Immediately, for oil for the Pikes, and
in the future to be Particularly Careful in Keeping the Pikes clean, and
the alarm part of their Respective Regiments in Proper order.

Head Quarters, January 24, 1776.
Parole, Ticonderoga ; Countersign, Wolfe.

The Barraks to be finished as speady as Possible that the Militia Regi-
ments which are Expected may be accemadated. The Quarter Master
General and his Assistance are to look out in time for other Quarters, if
the Barraks are thought Insufficente to entertain the Troops. The Reg-
iments are to Brigade, In the following manner :

Brig. Gen. Thomas, 1st Brigade; Col. Leonard, Col. Joseph Reed, Col.
Whitcomb, Col. Ward, Col. Bailey.

Brig. Gen. Sullivan; Col. James Reed, Col. Nixon, Col. Stark, Col.
Poor.

Brig. Gen. Green; Col. Varnum, Col. Hitchcock, Col. Little, Col. Bond.

Brig. Gen. Heath; Col. Prescott, Col. Sargent, Col. Phinney, Col.
Greaton, Col. Baldwin.

Brig. Gen. Spencer; Col. Parsons, Col. Huntington, Col. Webb, Col.
Wiley.

Brig. Generals Glover, Patterson, Arnold, Hutchinson, Whitcomb,
Webb and Huntington's Regiments to Joyn their Respective Brigades as
soon as Provision is made for them (and any time before the first of
February) that they may get fixed before the Militia comes in. The Brig-
adier Quarter Master Generals are to see that each room hath its Comple-
ment of men and the officers Placed Contiguous to them. The custom of
manning the Lines in each Regiment repaii'ing to its Alarm Post, at the
beating of the Reveille, is to be Strictly and unreservedly to be Practised
imtil Countermanded. The Brigadiers are to take special care that proper
Alarm Posts are assigned to every Regiment that no Confusion may hap-
pen on an Alarm. Neither Provision or the Value of them, are to be
Issued to oflicers, nor Soldiers, while upon Furloughs. Furloughs always
considered as Injurious to the Service, and too often used for the Gratifica-
tion of Individuals. The General therefore was not a little surprised that
it had. Contrary to Custom and Common Justice, become a Question,
whether Absenters were not Entitled to the same allowance of Provisions
as they that were Present and Doing Duty.

burton's ticonderoga diary. 243

JONATHAN burton's TICONDEROGA DIARY.

The following extracts are taken from a diary kept by Jonathan
Burton during the Ticonderoga campaign of 1776. In this cam-
paign he held the rank of lieutenant in Captain William Barron's
company of Colonel AYy man's regiment :*

July 23''. Wilton men Joined with Amherst, Dunstable and Merrimack
men, at Wilton, and after settling the Company with under officers, began
our march and Logfi at Millikin's in Wilton first night.

Aug. 1^' 1776. Three Companys more of our Reg' marcht early in the
morning; and about two o'clock our Company marcht from No. 4
[Charlestown] and Crossed the Create River and Log^ in Springfield at
Scott's about nine mild from No. 4. Here was the first Night I Lay on
the hard flore.

Aug. 2''. We marcht from Scott's in Springfield and at Night we En-
camped in the woods and lay on the Ground. Now we begin to experi-
ence what it is to be Soldiers in the Wilderness.

Aug. 3<^. After taking our Breakfast in our little Camp, we left it and
march'' to Durham, and here we got Liberty to Lodge in a little Smoky
Chamber on the hard floor.

Aug. G^^. We got to Wood Creek to Major Skeen's and Crossed the
Creek about twelve o'clock, heie we Picht our Tents or otherways built
Booths with Brush and Lay on the ground ; Very well contented with
our New habitation, though it hapned to be a very heavy Shower, and in
the morning the most of the men were as wet as so many drownded Rats.

Aug. 7''^ We built us a new Camp and covered it with Bark, hoping
against the next rain to be a little more Comfortable, though the flies and
gnats are very troublesome. This day we have six men on Command up
the River after Boards.

Skeensborough, Aug. 8"i. This day in the afternoon we Rec'd orders
for to go to Ticonderoga to joyn Gen. Reed's Brigade at that Place, to
Draw one days Provision and to be ready to set oft' early the next morn-
ing.

Aug. 9"i. About ten o'clock this morning we set off" from Skeensbor-
ough, for the tie, and about Sunset we arrived at that place, and marched
about half a mild up to the Encampment. It being dark before we got in
we were obliged to lay on the cold -ground; I being unwell, made it an
uncomfortable Night's rest for me.

Aug. W^. We began to fix our ground to incamp and Provide the stuft",
but orders came that Eighteen men from our Company was to be draught-
ed to go as Mariners on board the Rogallies to cruise on the Lake down
towards St. Johns. Put bj^ our building this day.

Sunday, Aug. 11"'. This day proved to be rainy all day. Now we be-
gin to see sick men Laying on the cold ground without anything to cover
them but their blankets.

*The names of the other Wilton men in Captain Barron's company can be found on
page 93.

244 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Aug. 15"'. I WHS on Command witli a Party of men ovex* the Lake
after Turf to build tlie New fort, 20 on tlie works this day of our Company.

Aug. lG"i. Tlie Capt. and Eleven on the work.s this day from our Com-
pany, the News of the Day was that our Reg' is to go to Oswego.

Aug. 19'i'. About Eleven o'ek in the forenoon I ree'd orders from the
Adjutant of our Reg' to take com'^ of 20 men from our Reg' & Parade Be-
fore the GenFs house to receive my orders ; which from him was to
take ten days' Provisions, and the Command of 6 Battoes and Proceed to
Otter Creek after Hay, and about h an hour after Sunset I got the Pro-
visions on board and set oft' from Ticonderoga and Proceeded down the
Lake about three Milds and Log'' in the Boat all Night in the open Air.

Aug. 20^''. After we had Cooked our Breakfast we set oft' for Crown
Point, and after Landing there and (Jitting a Pass from the Gen' we
Divided our Provisions and went down the Lake from the Point about five
Mild and tlien landed and Drest our Suppers and Lodged there that Night.

Aug. 21"'. We set oft' from our Lodging very early in the morning with
a fair Gale of wind and about noon we Came to the Moutli of Otter Creek,
then we had to go nine Mild up the Creek' there to load with hay, but the
hay not being ready I could not load my Boats and was obliged to lay
there that Night in my Boats.

Aug. 22''. After we had Baked our Bread and Dressed our Provisions
we took in about 30 Boards at the Mill and Set oft' from the Creek and
got into the Lake in about two hours and h, Then the wind not favoring
us we had hard work to Get into any harbor where we could Lay secure,
but the wind Shifting we secured ourselves in a Little Creek that Night
and Lodged in our Boats.

Aug. 23'^ We set oft' from our Jjodging very Early and got up to
Crow'u Point about ten o'clock in the forenoon and after taking some Re-
freshment there. Sot oft' and I^anded at Putnam's Point (so called) and
took our Dinners ; from there we set oft' with a fair wind and landed at
Ticonderoga about two hours by sun and after 1 had delivered the Boats
the Party was Dismist and came to the Camp that Night, where I had the
melancholly News of the Death of Caleb Putnam, who died the 22'' and
was buried a few hours before I came into Camp.

Aug. 26"'. This day proved to be raiuey all Day, I being unwell it
made it very uncomfortable for me.

Aug. 27"'. Rainy all day. This day we built our chimney in our hut,
and Lodged Comfortable after that on account of having a good fire.

Aug. 28"'. I was unwell all day with the fever Nager, not able to go
out all Day.

Aug. 29'h. This day died James Holden of Capt. Man's Company, in
Col. Reed's Heg^. The News today in Camp is of a Battle fought at New
York — but it wants conformation and we regard it not.

Aug. 30"'. No News this Day, our weekly Return made today was 28
men in our Company unfit for Duty and returned Sick.

Aug. 31^*^. Col. Isaac Wyman, Head Col. of this Reg' put under arrest
by Col" Stark. Two Reg^s of the Bay men arrived here this day from
Skeeusborough.

burton's ticonderoga diary. 245

Sundiiy, Sept. I'''. This day T was returned unfit for Duty and Drawed
alloweuce with the sick men.

Sept. 9"'. Now I begin to Gain Strengtli so I wallc out almost all daj'
and begin to be liearty and well. The weekly Return of our Companj^
was 29 unfit for Duty aiid on the Doctor's list.

Sept. 10>''. Camp Xews today that all our fieet down the Lake was
taken or destroyed to a man.

Sept. lit''. Camp News today that a party of our men went on shore
from the fleet after provisions and were fired ui)on l)y the Enemj', three
Killed and Six wounded.

Oct. 4"i. Rainy all day in the Camp; this day there was two men
buried from our Heg', which makes 10 that we have lost from sd. Regt^
since we came to tliis place.

Sunday. Oct. 0"'. The Rev. Mr. I'orter of Colo Wingates Reg' Preached
to our Reg' two Sermons.

Oct. 7"'. This morning Died, and at night was buried Benj Ralej^ of
our Company; who made the 20"' we have lost from our Reg' since we
came to this place.

Sunday, Oct. 13"'. In the morning we heard a very heavy firing Down
the T-ake and Directly liad an account of our fleets being Destroyed and
obliged to Retreat. In the afternoon the whole army was mustered to
nu^n the lines.

Oct. 14"'. About two liours before day the whole of our Brigade was
Mustered again and went Down to the lines and after going through the
fireings at the Alarm l*ost, we returned to the Camp and was Dismised
and every man in our Reg' was ordered on fatigue in throughing up a
brestwork around the Camj^s and on Scouting Parties.

Oct. la"'. I was on fatigue in the forenoon and in the afternoon I was
out with u scouting Party, .'57 Privates one Serg' and two T'orp'*, and Dis-
covered nothing.

Oct. 1C)^^'. There was an alarm in Camp last Night, caused by the Cen-
tries firing on some Cattle, which allarmed our lleg^ at midnight and
caused them all to turn out — And in the forenoon I went out a Scouting
Party.

Oct. 19"'. There was Great Prejieratidn making in the Camps (Ex-
pecting the British Troops would couie in on the morrow) That we might
be Ready for the Reception of those enemies whenever they Come to Dis-
turb us.

Oct. 21**'. The whole of oui- Bi-igade fit for Duty was ordered on Fa-
tigue, in Cutting and hailing Timber into the Lake in order to build a
Boom across the T^ake to Prevent the Ships Coming by the fort to Land.

Oct. 22'^. I was on fatigue in getting Timber into the Lake. This
evening we have the news in the Camp that the Indians Killed five of our
men with their Tomeyhawks Just below the Mill. 1'his morning Died
Josiah Parker at Castleton on his way home.

Oct. 2G"'. This Day came into Camp about one hundred Green Mount-
ain Boys, and Encamped on the other side of the Lake.

Sunday, Oct. 27"'. We had the News in Camp of a Victory won by the

246 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Continental Troops over the Britons at New York. In the afternoon
tliere was an alarm in the Camp caused by some Boats being Discovered
down the Lake.

Nov. 20"'. Col'^ Wingate'5 Beg' raarcht for home, and all the sick from
our Reg'. In this number went seven of our Company. At Evening the
whole Reg' Received Orders to uiarcli Early tlie next morning as quick
as they Pleased.

Nov. 21*''. We Rose very Early in the morning and after Puting up
our tilings and taking our Breakfast we took leave of Mount Independ-
ence and our little Camp, where we had rested so many Nights and Days,
and we niarcht oft" with the remaining part of our Company, and marcht
about 18 miles and Encamped at a place called Laiug's Camp, there we
lay ourselves down to Rest.

Nov. 22*1. This morning we took our leave of our little Camp and
Marched to Rutland and Log'' at Deacon Roberts, Within about three
mild of the fort which made about 14 Miles that we travelled that day in
the rain and Mud.

Nov. 23''. We marcht to Clarendon and there went to dinner. After
dinner we went to Shrewsbury and there the Company Log'' in the
woods and it proved a very Rainy Night.

Nov. 25"'. I set oft" from Whites very Early and after a long and Tedi-
ous March I got in to Collin's at Caviudish in the evening. Poor Enter-
tainment for Soldiers at this place.

Nov. 26"'.. I set off" from my Lodging about two hours before day and
about Sunset I Crossed the Great River and got into No. 4 that evening
and Logfi at Mr. Bakers.

Nov. 27"'. I Set away from No. 4 about ten o'clock in the morning
and travelled to Walpole to Goldsmiths Tavern and Lodg'' there tliat
Night.

Nov. 28"i. I set oft" from Goldsmiths in AValpole and travelled to Marl-
borough and there met with my Horse about two o'clock in the after-
noon at Tucker's Tavern, and from there came to Dublin and Lodg"! at
one Greewoods, a Private House.

Nov. 29"'. I set oft" from Dublin Early in the morning and got to my
own house about three o'clock in the afternoon.

JOSEPH gray's narrative.

In 1839, Mr. George L. Dascombe took down from Mr. Joseph
Gray's recital the following narrative of his services in the Revolu-
tionary war. Mr. Gray was then living in Wilton and was seventy-
eight years old. He enlisted INIarch 20, 1777, when only sixteen
years of age, for the term of three years, under Captain Isaac Frye,
in the Third New Hampshire Regiment, commanded by Colonel
Scammell :*

* See ante, page 9~.

JOSEPH gray's narrative. 247

On the first of May we inarched to Charlestown, No. 4, where the com-
pany of Capt. Frye rendezvoused. From that phice we marched to Ticon"
deroga, wliere he was stationed. Near this place we discovered Gen.
Burgoyne with six tliousand soldiers and a number of savages. They
took possession of Mount Hope, which cut of!" our communication with
Lake George, whence came our supplies. Our conunander, Gen. Schuyler,
thinking it unsafe to enter into an engagement with the enemj^, ordered a
retreat. We marched down to the water-side and put our baggage on
board boats bound to Skeenesborough, 27 miles towards Albany. The
enemy jnirsued. overtook the boats laden with our baggage, and made a
prl/e of them, leaving us almost destitute of provision and clothing.
We retreated to Fort Miller, where we were supplied with provisions. We
then continued our retreat to Stillwater, destroying the bridges in our
progress to retard the pursuit of the enemj. About four miles from the
latter place was Schaghticoke, a snnill Dutch village, whose inhabitants,
being alarmed at the appearance of savages who were lurking about, sent
for a detachment of troops to guard them oft". The detachment was sent
on, myself being one of the number. We arrived late in the afternoon
and set out our guards. It fell to my lot to be on guard that night, and
I was stationed about 40 rods south of the meeting-house, on a beautiful
level plain. Our orders were, if we discovered anything moving, to hail;
and if we received no answer, to fir(\ We had been informed that the
Indians, who were scouting round, were dressed in white frocks. Some
time during the night, I discovered, by the dim starlight, something
white advancing towards me. With a quick and steady voice I hailed,
"Who comes theref No answer. Again, "Who comes there?" No
answer. Quick, " Who comes tliere?" at the same instant discharging my
piece ; when I found, to my inexpressible joy, that it was a herd of cattle.
On examination, the next morning, we found a meagre white-faced bull
had received the ball from my musket in his shoulder.

The inhabitants of the neighborhood had collected in the village at
night for safety. In the morning two of them, wishing to bring some
provisions from their farms, which lay about three-fourths of a mile dis-
tant, mounted their horses and started for that purpose. They had not
been long absent, when we heard the well-known report of Indian fusees,
and were much alarmed for the safety of the men. We soon saw one of
them riding at full speed towai-ds the village, with his hat oft" and his
arms extended, calling for help, and followed by the horse of the other,
without a rider. After consultation we marched out and found the miss-
ing man lying under the fence, scalped, and liis throat cut from ear to
ear. Mr. Ellis sent on for a reenforcement, and we guarded the villagers
down the river aljout four miles to a place of safety.

We then returned to Stillwater. Our army crossed the Mohawk river
near Loudon's ferry, and there encamped. Here we received our war-like
stores and a reenforcement. Gen. Gates took the connnand, and we
marched ))ack about 14 miles to Bemis's heights, in order to face the
enemj', and threw up some breastworks to defend ourselves. The season
was far advanced, and the enemy's store of ijrovisious so nearly exhausted

248 HISTORY OF WILTON.

that they were obliged to advance or retreat. On the 19th of Septem-
l)er they made an attempt to cut oft" the left wing of our army. We gave
them battle in the woods, about a mile from our breastwork. The battle
continued until night, when each partj^ retired with some loss. Among
those who fell on tlie enemy's side was Gen. Fraser. On the 7tli of Octo-
ber, sending out the Hessians, tliey made anotlier attempt to cut off our
left. Tlie battle was of short continuance, and the enemy soon retreat-
ed, leaving their artillery, with their dead and wounded and some prison-
ers, which all fell into our hands. Our enemy, being satisfied that tliey
could not advance, comuienced a retreat; their connnander sending a
line to Gen. Gates, requesting him to treat their sick and wounded as
prisoners of war. On tlie following day we pursued them, and they, on
arriving at Saratoga, found their troops surrounded l)y our army, and im-
mediately surrendered, which event took place on the 17th of Octol)er,
1777.

On the next day Gen. Gates made a forced march to All)any, a distance
of thirty-six miles, where he remained a few days, and then moved down
to Peekskill, where a portion of the army, being unfit for duty, were sent
into the barracks, drawing suitable provisions, and large supplies of Xew
England rum. Not satisfied witli their situation, forty of these soldiers,
under the exhilarating effects of the intoxicating liquor, mutinied, slioul-
dered their baggage, paraded, chose a corporal for a commander and started
for their homes. Immediately information was communicated to the
officers, who ordered ('apt. Beal of Portsmouth to persuade them to re-
linquish their design and to return to their encampment. Capt. Beal girded
on his sword in haste, met them and requested them to halt, intimating
that he wished to speak with the corporal who commanded them. Taking
him aside, he drew his sword and ran him through; the corporal at the
same instant discharged his piece, whidi took effect. Both expired be-
fore morning.

From Peekskill we moved on to Whitemarsh, where we joined the
main army, and thence we marched to Valley Forge, where we went into
winter quarters. Gen. Washington was apprised of the intention of the
British to evacuate Philadelphia, and the American army was jiut in readi-
ness to pursue. The British troops were overtaken at Monmouth, Xew Jer-
sey, where a severe engagement took jjlace. Gen. Washington intended to
renew the attack the next morning, but during the night Gen. Clinton com-
menced his retreat for Sandy Hook. The American army then proceeded
to White Plains. My captain and myself were left behind at Valley
Forge on account of sickness; but we soon recovered and Joined the army
at White Plains. Soon after the New Hampshire troops, and some others,
were ordered to Hartford, Connecticut, to receive the prisoners taken at
the surrender of Burgoyne. We guarded tliem nearly to the lioundai-y of
New York, after which we went into winter quarters.

The settlement of Wyoming, on the Susquehanna River, having been
destroyed, and the inhabitants cruelly massacred by the Indians and
Tories, in the summer of 1778, Gen. Washington deemed it expedient, in
the ensuing spring, to send a detachment of the army to punish the

JOSEPH gray's narrative. 249

aggressors. Accordingly, at the opening of the campaign of 79, three
brigades collected at Easton, Pennsylvania, whence, under Gen. Sullivan,
they marched into tlie Indian country. The New Hampshire troops, who
coinitosed a part of tliis detachment, marclied from their winter quarter's
in Reading, Connecticut, to Fishkill, crossed the Hudson River at Xew-
burgh and proceeded to Easton, wliere mc remained a short time to pre-
pare for the expedition. Wlien our preparations were completed, we
commenced our march for AVyoming. After remaining a few days at this
place, we moved up tlie river to Tioga, taking witli us three small pieces
of artillery. AVe were here joined by a fourth brigade under the command
of Gen. Clinton. Our commander, being well aware of the character of
the enemv he had to encounter, arranged his troops in the most judicious
manner to avoid being taken by surprise. In this manner we marclied
the whole distance. There was, every morning, a gun ttred, as a signal
for striking tents, another for loading, and another for moving forward.
Having left a garrison with the sick at Tioga, we resumed our march, and
at the distance of about eighteen miles from that place we met tlie enemy,
who had made a stand and were waiting to receive us. Tlie front guards
and riflemen exchanged a few shots with the enemy, and in a short time
our artillery was brought to bear upon them. The heat of the engage-
ment was between the troops of the New Hampshire line and a large
number of the enemy on an eminence at the right. We soon heard a
whoop from the Indians, wliich, our guides informed us, was a signal for
reti'eating. AVe pursued them a short distance, but not overtaking them
and night approaching, we encamped. We here found an abundance of
green corn in a state for roasting.

Gen. Sullivan, wishing to proceed as far as possible, requested the com-
manding officer of each regiment to ascertain whether his men would
willingly proceed upon half allowance, pledging his honor that we should
be remunerated on our return. This we readily consented to do, so long
as we should tind corn. The pledge of Gen. Sullivan, however, was never
redeemed.

We then marched to Seneca Lake, where we encamped for the night.
AVe resumed our mai-ch the next morning, crossing the outlet of the lake,
and ))efore night arrived at an Indian settlement, which the inhabitants
had just deserted. On entering one of their cabins, we discovered a little
boy, about two years old, whom the Indians had taken captive in one of
their excursions upon the whites, and whom, in their haste, they had left
behind. In a short time a cow, the only one we saw in that part of the
country, came into the camp, and was secured. Gen. Sullivan ordered a
soldier to be released from duty to take care of the child, and directed
that the milk of the cow should be appropriated for its sustenance. AVe
then proceeded towards Genesee. Before arriving at that place Gen.
Sullivan directed a Lieut. Boyd to take a guide and one or two men, and
proceed to an Indian village called Dauhionee, to reconnoitre, and to
return by daylight. Instead of implicitly following his directions, he took
with him twenty men, and proceeded to the village. Finding it deserteil,
he went on to another village, a few miles distant, where he found several

250 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Indians, and, as was reported, killed one of them. On liis return to the
army, he was lired upon by a party of Indians in ambush. Six of his
company escaped and succeeded in joining the main body. As we
ajiproached tlie place where TJeut. Boyd was attacked we discovered one
of his men, who was mortallj' wounded; lie was carried forward with us,
but, after a few hours of excruciating suttering, He expired. We had pro-
ceeded but a short distance when we came upon the bodies of thirteen of
the partly, lying near. together, who had been shot down by the Indians on
the first attack. Lieut. Boyd was still missing. On arriving at Genesee,
we found his body shockingly mangled and exhibiting marks of the most
savage tortures. Immediately, after encamping for the night, a woman
who had been carried away by the savages came into camp, bringing with
her an infant born during her captivity. She was taken under our pro-
tection and returned to the abode of civilization. Her child survived only
a day or two after she joined us.

This little band of troops was now placed in a peculiarly trying situa-
tion. They were few in numl)er (only foui'small brigades), at the distance
of 250 miles from any otlier civilized beings, and were surrounded by a
treacherous and^implacable enemy, with a scanty allowance of provisions,
and their emaciated pack-horses were galled l)y tlie wooden saddles even
to the bone. It would seem that hearts which were not fired with the
love of liberty and the love of country must have yielded to discourage-
ments, and sunk in despair. But that merciful Providence, whicli seems
to have exercised a peculiar guardian care over the American army and
the American people during the Revolution, protected them, and returned
them in safety to their companions in arms.

The next morning after arriving at Genesee, the troops were ordered
out at day-break to destroj' the corn which we found growing there,
which having done, we commenced our return, moving forward as rapidly
as possible. AVhen within two days' march of Tioga, we were met by a
detachment of troo})s with provisions, of which we were nuich in need.
We then marched to Wyoming, thence to Easton, and from that place, on
tlie same route we had taken in the spring, to Danbury, Connecticut,
where the troops went into winter quarters. Captain Frye with a detach-
ment of troops, myself among the number, was stationed at Fairfield,
where we were in some degree compensated for our toils and sufferings
during the summer,'!)}^ comfortal)le accommodations and sumptuous fare.
1 remained here until Marcli, 1780, when I obtained my discharge.

In February, 1781, I enlisted the second time, for three years, and in the
ensuing May joined the regiment in the vicinity of AVest Point. From this
place we removed a few miles and went into tents. We then made a
forced march down the river to King's Bridge, in view of the enemy, where
we received the French troops and returned to the vicinity of Tarrytown.
The whole army then marched by night to King's Bridge, and the next
day returned again to Tarrytown. The main body of the army then
marched towards Yorktown, leaving a portion of the troops under the
command of Gen. Heath. Soon after, the Indians appeared on the
Mohawk, and the two New Hampshire regiments were despatched in that

JOSEPH gray's narrative. 251

direction — the First Eegiment to Saratoga and the Second ascended the
Mohawk. While at Saratoga we received tlie intelligence of the sur-
render of Lord Cornwallis, on which occasion we had a day of rejoicing.
We remained there several months, when we marched to Newburgh and
went into winter (jnarters. Nothing further of special importance oc-
curred, so far as mj'self was concerned, and about the 20th of December.
1783, the war being ended, I was discharged.

LETTER CONCERNING MR. GRAY'S NARRATIVE.

Mr. B. A. Peavey, a resident of Schaghticoke, New York, after
reading Mr. Gray's narrative in the Farmers' Cabinet, wrote him,
about 1840, the following letter :

1 have related the storj^ to a number of the aged people in hopes of
finding some one who might be acquainted witli some of the events. The
first man I conversed with was Major Vauvecton, aged between sevent3^
and eiglit}^, who heard the story with apparent interest. When I men-
tioned the man who was shot by the Indians, said he, '• Mr. Gray is right ;
Ills name was Siperl}'. I can show you tlie very spot where he fell. The
man who came riding back was Old Poiser." A few days after this Mr.
Vanvecton went and pointed out the spot to me where Siperly fell. It
w'as on the bank of the Tompanock Greek, where a point of the hill presses
the road close to the creek. The Indians had secreted themselves and
shot Siperly from his horse as he was returning to his farm from tlie vil-
lage. Immediately after the death of Siperly, Major Knickerliocker of
the settlement sent his negro to the North River, about three miles dis-
tant, where some of the neighbors were engaged in placing their propertj'
aboard of boats to secure it from the enemy, that he might inform them
of the death of Siperh\ Major Vanvecton's fatlier and Solomon Acherth
started for the settlement. They had proceeded about half way when
they were fired upon by Indians ; Vauvecton received two balls in his
thigh, which passed through his tobacco box in his breeches pocket, and
he fell, unable to help himself. Acherth shot one Indian with his own
gun and killed him, then took V^anvecton's gun and wounded auother.
He then ran and was closely pursued to the river; he leaped down the
bank, plunged into the river and succeeded in crossing in safety.

Major Vanvecton brought out the tobacco box, which he had preserved.
It was a round sheet-iron box, four and a quarter inches in diameter.
The balls had cut their bigness through the cover as they struck. On the
other side they left a quarter of an inch between, making two holes.

In regard to the bull you shot while on sentry. Black Tom, who was
then about 12 years old and lived in the settlement, says he recollects the
bull being shot, but does not know who owned it.

Vanvecton, the father, wdio was shot, lived about 80 rods south of the
place where you were stationed, and near the south side of the plain,
which contains about 12.50 acres. This plain was the seat of the Schaghti-
coke tribe of Indians, wiio had 1000 warriors on the ground one lumdred
and twenty-five years ago. Three or four, who still linger about the
neighborhood, are all that remain of the tribe.

CHAPTER XXIX.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

REV. JONATHAN LIVERMORE.— ^BY EBENEZER HILL.

Mr. Livennore was born at Northborough, Massachusetts, De-
cember 7th, 1729, O. kS., and entered a student at Harvard Col-
lege in the year 17.jG, N. S., and graduated in 17G0. Previous to
his entering college the importance of the Christian religion had
deeply engaged his attention. Serious impressions having been
made on his mind, it was his prevailing desire to become a preacher
of the gospel of Christ. ITis main object for acquiring a liberal
education was to qualify himself for that sacred work. After lie
left his classical studies he soon became a preacher, and was or-
dained to the work of the gospel ministry in Wilton December 14,
17G8.

In his public performance he was distinguished as a plain, prac-
tical preacher who was determined to deliver what he himself
believed to be the truth, though in the event it might subject him
to evil consequences. In his sermons he labored more for correct-
ness of sentiment and useful observations than for the eml)ellish-
ment of composition. In his private walks he was strictly honest
in his dealings, affable, pleasant and instructive in his conversation,
and always much concerned that the people of his charge should be
found in the way of their duty. He continued in his ministry at
Wilton but little more than thirteen years ; during which time his
labors were crowned with singular success, one hundred and fifty-
two persons being added to his church. Towards the close of this
term, in consequence of the war with Great Britain, the situation
of Mr. Livermore, as well as that of clergymen in general, was ren-
dered extremely "unpleasant. One circumstance grew out of another

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 253

until at length he found it expedient to take a dismission. Ac-
cordingly in the mouth of February, 1777, he resigned his office
as pastor and teacher of the church in Wilton.

An ecclesiastical council was convened, who approved of the
separation, while they supported his ministerial character by recom-
mending him to other churches. After this, remaining sound in
the faith, he preached occasionally in various places, as oppor-
tunity presented, and, when not called to an active part himself, he
constantly attended public worship on the Sabbath to hear the dis-
courses of others. His treatment toward his successors in office
was uniformly kind and friendly. As a husband, he conducted
with exemplary affection. As a father, his tenderness and care for
his children were expressed by providing for their support, for their
education and by endeavoring to train them up in the virtue and
admonition of the Lord. As a friend, he was one in whom con-
fidence was never misplaced. On the evening of his death, as his
custom was, he read a portion of Scripture, commended himself
and his family to God by prayer and then retired to rest. In about
two hours after, without any apparent struggle, except a little diffi-
culty in breathing, he slept the sleep of death.

REV. ABEL FISKE. FKOIF THE FISKE GENEALOGY.

The second minister of Wilton, Rev. Abel Fiske, was born of
respectable parents at Pepperell, Massachusetts, May 28, 1752.
In 1774 and 1777 he received the honors of Harvard College. He
studied theology with Rev. Mr. ICmerson of Concord, Massachu-
setts in 1775 and 177G, and during part of the time was master of
the Grammar School in that town, where he was beloved by his
pupils find respected by the inhabitants. November 18, 1778, he
was ordained in Wilton. His faithful discharge of the pastoral
functions, and his steady adherence to the principles of order and
good government greatly endeared him to his flock, and obtained
him the high regard and confidence of his numerous friends. His
death, caused by a paralytic affection of the throat, happened
April 21, 1802. His intimate friend, Rev. John Bullard of Pep-
perell, preached an affecting sermon at his funeral, from Acts,
20: 37, 38.

KEV. THOMAS BEEDE. BY SAMUEL BARRETT STEWART.

My grandfather, Thomas Beede, third minister of the First
Church, was born in Poplin, New Hampshire, November 28, 1771.

254 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Little is known of his antecedents except that they were French
and P^nglish, and tlvit his father was a respectable farmer. In his
scliool days he wrote his name with an accent, Beede. There were
two older sons, who married and settled in Sandwich, and three
daughters, who married and lived in Gilmanton, whither the family
had moved, and where Thomas was accustomed, during his minis-
try in Wilton, to pay an annual visit to his mother, who lived to the
venerable age of ninety-two years.

From boyhood Thomas inclined to books, and in his efforts to get
an education appears to have had what sympathy and encourage-
ment the limited means of the family permitted. He used to relate
that it was his habit to sit up in bed and study by candle-light long
before the time for farm work to begin. In this way he fitted him-
self for district school-keeping. He acquired, also, an elegant style
of penmanship that not only brought him a little profit but graced
his letters and manuscripts through life. By such means and by
other economies which only ambitious and persevering country boys
know how to make, he finally made his way to Harvard College.
He entered in his twenty-third year, and was graduated with the
class of 1798. Among his most distinguished classmates were
Channiug, Tuckerman, Judge Story, Stephen Longfellow and others.
His college life in company with such men must have been most
delightful, if we may judge from the reminiscences preserved of it
in various memoirs. Among his own letters is a pleasant account
of the half-century reunion in 1848 at the house of Judge Fay.
Forty-eight members graduated, but only eighteen were then living,
and but fifteen were present at the meeting. The dignity of mind
and nobility of feeling for which he was always distinguished must
have made an early impression upon his classmates, as upon the
death of Jeremiah Bowers, a junior, he was selected to deliver a
funeral oration. Its beautiful and impressive spirit certainly fore-
cast his future profession. Another of his traits was a way of
looking at things practically, as appeared in an incident of his com-
mencement forensic, where he frankly declares against "tiring the
patience of a polite and respectable audience with Latin theses, and,
as we are now doing, by the length of our forensic disputation," a
practice now, happily, abandoned.

His mind had for a long time been settled upon the ministry,
and, the summer after graduation, having been approbated to the
"gospel ministry" by the Boston ministers, he preached wherever
there were opportunities, all the while pursuing his studies and

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 255

teaching school to meet his expenses. He taught in Cambridge,
Ivox])nry, Lexington, Harvard, IVIilford and otlier towns. " INIy
earnings," lie says, "from 1 7'JO to 1<S00, including seven years spent
in acquiring my education, were $936."

Wilton was one of the towns where he had preached, and it
would appear that a good Thanksgiving sermon (November 25,
1802), and those of the following Sunday, decided the people
to settle him ; for after the usual church meeting, a meeting of
"Freeholders and other Inhabitants" (December 16, 1802,) resulted
in his receiving an invitation to be their minister. The vote was
unanimous (112). A settlement of $600 was offered, and a salary
of $425, to be paid annually. Some letters of explanation passed,
and his acceptance was read January 22, 1803. The ordination
took place on the second of March following. Rev. William Emer-
son of Boston, father of Ralph Waldo, preached the sermon ; and
the other services were rendered by Mr. Bullard of Pepperell, ]\Ir.
Clarke of Lexington, Mr. Goodridge of Lyndeborough, Mr. Bar-
nard of Amherst, Mr. Hill of Mason and Mr. Humphrey Moore of
Milford.

His ministry began very auspiciously, and it was longer than that
of any other minister settled in the town. He was also the last
minister settled and paid by the town. The first year's preaching,
awakened new interest in the church ; there were eleven baptisms
and fourteen admissions, which, he says in his first anniversary ser-
mon, was a much larger number than had been recorded in any
previous year.

During the winter of 1805 an event occurred that created, per-
haps, a greater buzzing of tongues than tlie ordination or the old
meeting-house raising : the minister was to be married. He was to
marry Nancy Wilder, daughter of Benjamin Kimball, of Harvard.
The Kimballs were cultivated people, with whom he had become
acquainted while teaching. The occasion of the marriage was of
double interest to the Kimballs as a sister of Nancy was to be mar-
ried at the same time and place. The Wilton people, also, made
great preparations to celebrate their pastor's wedding. When the
day came the people all turned out upon a grand sleigh-ride to Am-
hei'st to meet the bridal party on its way from Harvard. There
were over one hundred sleighs, and merry indeed must have been
the jingle of marriage bells. Dinner was served at the Amherst
Hotel, and the bride and bridegroom were escorted to their new

256 HISTORY OF WILTON.

home on what came afterward to be known as Beede Hill. Here Mr.
iJeede had bought a farm and liuilt a house. It was a good deal of
an undertaking for him, but he had received some assurance of
assistance from his father ; an accident, however, having suddenly
terminated his father's life, and no provision having been made for
him, he had always to struggle with an incumbrance upon the prop-
erty. The house stood upon a hill that rises next to the meeting-house
hill, and commanded a beautiful view in all directions. He planted
trees of all kinds, fruit trees and shade trees, and some of them are
still standing ; and there is an apple, cultivated by him as a favor-
ite, known now as the " Beede apple," and grafted into orchards
all about the town. Six children were born to them during the first
twelve years, Nancy Wilder, George Kimball, Abigail, Hannah
Rockwood, Thomas and Elizabeth, of whom now (1887) only Nancy
and Thomas are living.

It was the custom of the times for young men aspiring to pro-
fessional life to go to the minister for tuition and especially for col-
lege preparation. Among those who were inmates of Mr. Beede's
family, or who came to him for instruction, were Samuel Barrett,
Ephraim Peabody, Warren Burton, Daniel Rockwood, Augustus
Greele, Timothy Parkhurst, Abner Flint, Joseph Hale Abbot, Isaac
Spauldiug and several others. He fitted some of them entirely
for college. He was very popular as an instructor; his methods
were clear and interesting and his spirit stimulating. An address
signed by Abiel Wilson and others, expressive of their appreciation
of his efforts in their behalf, shows the deep interest that he took in
the education of the young people of the town. Among other
things he suggested a " society for intellectual improvement." The
meetings were held, at first, at his house, but the attendance grew
so large that they were obliged to go into a hall. This was the
beginning of a lyceum whose discussions he presided over, and
before which he afterward gave frequent lectures. He exhibited a
globe, and made it the subject of a lecture ; it was the first globe
ever seen in W'ilton. The Sunday Noon Reading Room for those
who stayed to the afternoon service, opened mainly through the
efforts of Samuel Abbot, Esq., and, also. Rev. Dr. Abiel Abbot's
gift toward a ministerial library, may, perhaps, be reckoned as the
fruit of his interest in general education. He gave several lectures
on music in the winter season, and in March, 1810, there is a note
of his having preached before the singing school. He was himself

^* j^_,.<^^je^.^^>^-e^^

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 257

very fond of music. The first Sunday School in the state was
opened under his ministry in 1816, and the first sermon probably
ever expressly [)repared for little children by any minister in the
town was given by him. His subject was " Timothy," and under
the characters of ICunice and Lois he alludes to his faithful
co-workers, Sarah W. Livermore and Phebe Abbot.

In the fall of 1H15 he volunteered a missionary tour through Ray-
mond, F.pping and the adjoining towns. It was a month crowded
with work, preaching all days of the week in school-houses and
elsewhere, attending funerals, visiting the sick and the aged, and
in efforts to encourage the people to more interest in religious life
and work. So, at least, runs his diary. From l-Sl-S, for seven
successive sessions, he was chaplain of the State Legislature. He
was a prominent Mason, also ; a member of the Royal Arch Chap-
ter of New Hampshire, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of
New Hampshire, and Worshipful Master of the Clinton Lodge at
its consecration in 1827. On all public occasions his services
appear to have been very highly esteemed ; his speech was dignified
and impressive, he possessed a commanding figure, and his style of
discourse was marked for its grace and clearness.

To his various accomplishments must be added some considerable
knowledge of medicine, and the fact that he made himself useful to'
his poor and feeble parishioners by worldly advice as well as by
spiritual consolations. He came very near to the people in all their
common affairs, as he was a man with a practical understanding of
all the economies of life. His ministry was in every respect paternal.

As a preacher he is remembered as having been gifted and
impressive. The little trunkful of sermons we hold as a memorial
of his work, show that he was given to brevity, at least. Usually
he is homiletic ; he illustrates the Scripture, and is rather ethical
than doctrinal. If his discourses lack anything it is imagination ;
but that may be said of most of the sermonizing of that day. And
there is a rather conspicuous absence of local allusions that would
be so interesting to us today. A good many notes of sermons,
however, show that he extemporized more or less, when probably
his discourse was more direct to times and circumstances. In mat-
ters of controversy a kind and temperate nature made him consider-
ate of the opinions and feelings of others. Liberal in doctrine, he
seldom indulged in violent antagonism to the old theology. His
position was well understood, and his teaching was regarded as
heretical by the older churches ; still he lived on good terms with

258 HISTORY OF WILTON.

most of bis neighbor ministers of the snrronnding towns. Tn his
Aiiledictory disconrse, in a lirief rehearsal of the doctrinal character
of his preaching, he says : " As for the Trinity, which of late years
lias almost turned the world upside down, I trust I have not been
very troublesome to you, because on the most diligent examination
I could not find it in the Bible. I have therefore thought it safest
and most profitable to preach as Christ and His Apostles did." He
adds that " on doctrinal points, especially such as are very disputa-
ble, I have not thought fit to be constantly dwelling," and that " my
aim has been to employ practical subjects."

His Wilton ministry' closed before the anti-slavery agitation had
really set in, but one of his young parishioners, who has seen the
beginning and the end of the great conflict, and to whose yet unim-
paired mind we owe so many reminiscences of the past, remembers
" at least one sermon upon the eviL influences of slavery, and that
almost every Sabbath in liis supplications to the throne of grace
he asked that ' God would have in His holy care and keeping those
that go down to the seas in ships and do business on the mighty
deep,' and that ' slavery and oppression might cease from oft" the
earth.'" His sympathies were large and humane; and his pupil,
Warren Burton, said of him that he was of " benignant countenance
and gladdening smile," and that " he did not go on in exactly the
old ways." Another pleasing testimony to the public esteem in
which he was held is from the pen of Governor Isaac Hill :

"Thomas Beede, as a clergyman and guide, as the pattern of
Christian peace and usefulness, respected by all, beloved by all,
who was never known to utter a reproach, or to deserve or receive
a reproach, — the name of Thomas Beede, not only in his own town
of Wilton, but in all adjacent towns, is embalmed in the memory of
the oldest inhabitants. Our residence was at first ten miles from
Wilton, and the last thirty years forty miles ; yet we have had fre-
quent opportunities to read, learn, mark and inwardly digest his many
excellent precepts, and to admire both his social and religious char-
acter. The usefulness of Mr. Beede was not confined to the desk ; it
was directed to the worldly, not less than the spii'itual, Avelfare of the
generation which has grown up since the commencement of the cen-
tury. No clergyman of New Hampshire was better known in his
native state than Thomas Beede ; there are few men who have
written and delivered sermons of greater practical utility, or better
adapted to the improvement and edification of both youth and age ;
few who have better or more frequently gladdened the hearts of the

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 259

disconsolate, assuaged the grief of the mourner and the distressed,
and administered the comforts of a lioly hope to the sick and the
dying."

But, altliough Mr. Beede's settlement was in some sense for life,
after serving more than a quarter of a century, it seemed to him
best to resign his charge into other hands. He did so accordingly
March 14, 1829. It was a great pain to part from so many loving
friends, and from a home that had been the scene of so much
domestic joy — joy chastened, however, by many trials. It had
always been a perplexing struggle between a small salary and the
needs of a large family. The necessary farm work had been a care
and interruption to study, and the charge of resident pupils, an
increase to the domestic burden. Still the home was exemplary,
and the atmos})here of it bright and as yet unclouded by sorrow.
It was the longest and the happiest the family ever enjoyed.

From Wilton Mr. Beede went, the same year, to Eastport, Maine,
his family following in the spring of 1830. Nancy remained behind,
having been married to Stephen Abbot (Buss) . His ministry there,
however, lasted only a year and a half, the family meantime being
generally smitten with a malarial fever, from which they were fur-
ther afliicted by the death of George, the older son, at the age of
21 years. From Eastport another move was made to Farmington,
IMaine, where ]\Ir. Beede remained in charge of a Liberal Society for
several years, at the same time doing missionary work in towns
round about, far and near, as the Farmington Society was not
strong enough to give him full support. Here Hannah and Thomas
were married.

In 1837 there was still another move to Duxbury, Massachusetts,
where he was settled among kind friends for nearly four years.
Abigail died here, and, also, her grandmother Kimball. Ten years
had elapsed since their removal from Wilton, and the family group
was now widely scattered, and the hearts of the father and mother
were heavy with repeated sorrows and changes. From Duxbury
they went to Syracuse, New York, where then- daughter Nancy
Abbot lived, and, after two years of teaching and preaching,
returned to Farmington to live the remainder of their days with their
son Thomas. Elizabeth, their youngest daughter, who had always
been an invalid, died on the journey, and was buried in Farmington.
Two years later, February 11, 1844, Mrs. Beede herself passed to
her rest. Mr. Beede continued to preach occasionally and to ren-
der such services as his age and health permitted. A few months

260 HISTORY OF WILTON.

previous to his death, a journey Avas made to his old home iu Wil-
ton ; and his heart was there gladdened by an affectionate reception
from the many families to whom, for so many years, he had been a
dearly beloved friend and pastor, and by whose descendants his
name, embalmed in pleasant memories, is now held in deepest
reverence. On Thanksgiving, while visiting his daughter Hannah,
he was taken suddenly sick, and, after a brief illness, died Novem-
ber .30, 1848.

Hannah married A. H. Stewart, of Farmington, and the writer is
their only child. "Protracted physical sufferings, extending over
the greater part of her married life, enforced upon her a compara-
tive isolation from society, but she was sought out and widely
beloved. She possessed a cultivated mind, most refined tastes, a
bright, uncomplaining spirit, and great moral earnestness, f^very-
thing beautiful in art and nature, in life and in character, appealed
to her love and admiration. Her tuneful voice banished the soli-
tude of invalidism, her care-taking and industrious mind the weari-
ness of the months and years. She was patient, heroic, grateful,
self-forgetting. Life was precious to her, and she made it ])oth
beautiful and useful, for it was a light shining through the house
under whose mild and genial rays friends and neighbors were
warmed with affection toward her, and toward the life made ' per-
fect through suffering.'" She died July '.), l«8l. Nancy W.,
widow of Stephen Abbot, has for many years lived in Antioch, Cali-
fornia. All her children and grandchildren also live in California.
Thomas married Lucia M. IMerrill, of Gloucester, Maine. They and
their children and grandchildren now live upon the Pacific coast.

Mr. Beede's printed sermons, so far as known, are as follows :

The Duty of a Minister and People, ilhistrated in two discourses, March
13, 1803; Masonic Discourse at Portsmouth, Xew Hampshire, ISOG; Ora-
tion at Wilton, Xew Hampshire, July 4, 1809; Election Sermon, 181.5 ;
Discourse at Dublin, at the consecration of the Altamont Lodge, Septem-
ber 18, 1816; Discourse before the Pentucket Lodge, Lowell, Massachu-
setts; An Allegory of the Olive Tree, Wilton, March 30, 1817; Discourse
before the General Court, November 19, 1820; Four Sermons, — Patience,
The Forms and Power of Godliness, Reasons for the Christian Hope (2),
1821.

REV. STEPHEN ALFRED BARNARD. FROM THE CHRISTIAN REGISTER.

Mr. Barnard was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, Novem-
ber 26, 1803. He was the son of Stephen and Jane (Cxuliker) Bar-
nard. At an early age he went to Mexico, Maine, and while there

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 261

he saved Judge Hopkinsou, theu a bo3% from death b}' drowning.
He graduated at the Cambridge Divinity School in 1829. January
13, 1830, he was ordained as the fourth minister of the Congrega-
tional Church in Wilton. He resigned his office April 25, 1833, and
removed to Chesterfield, New Hampshire, where he was pastor of
the church for live years, and where he met with the misfortune of
having his house burned. He ministered for several years to differ-
ent churches in Athol, Massachusetts, Easton and Southborough.
In 1847 he went to Lancaster, New Hampshire, where he had a
ministry of six years. He then preached for twelve years at Wills-
borough, New York, and for two years at Ashford, Connecticut.
His voice failing, he went to reside at Lansing, Michigan, with his
son William Alfred, a graduate of the Chandler Scientific School at
Darthmouth College, and the State P^ngineer of Michigan. August
2!J, 1831, he married, in Wilton, Persis Burton, sister of Rev. War-
ren Burton, who with lier five children survives him. He died at
Lansing, June 24, 1882, of old age and paralysis. The latter part
of his life lie became an Orthodox Congregational preacher. He
was an earnest and devout Christian man, and was respected for his
good and upright life.

SAMUEL ABBOT. BY CHARLES H. ATHERTON.

Samuel Abbot was born at Wilton, on the 30th of March, 178(j,
being the eleventh of the twelve children of Abiel Abbot, a respecta-
ble farmer, and one of the early settlers of that town. Their
praiseworthy and painstaking parent gave a liberal education to
three of his sons ; namely, Abiel, now the Rev. Abiel Abbot, D. D.,
of Peterborough ; the Rev. Jacob Abbot, late of Windham, deceased,
and Samuel, the subject of this memoir. Samuel pursued his pre-
paratory studies in part under his brother Abiel, but was fitted for
college chiefly at the public school at Andover, Massachusetts, theu
much celebrated for the accuracy of its instruction and the scholars
it offered for admission to the university. He was graduated in
LS08, and soon after entered the office of C. H. Atherton, Esq., of
Amherst, as a student at law. He was admitted to the bar in 1812,
commenced the practice of his profession at Wilton, and soon
removed to Dunstable, now Nashua.

In 1817 he opened his office at Ipswich, in the county of Essex,
[Massachusetts. Here his professional efforts were favorably noticed
by the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court as indicating a well disci--
plinecl and argumentative mind ; and he would undoubtedly have met

262 HISTORY OF WILTON.

with success at the bar if his tastes had correspoudecl with the duties
of his profession. It much better accorded with Mr. Abbot's feelings
to pay the debt of a poor man than to pocket the fee of a suit
against him. His profession was no favorite with him, and he sur-
rendered the prospects it offered to the natural bent of his mind in
following a course of general reading, and particularly in attending
to chemistry and tlie mechanic arts, which had long been favorite
pursuits witli him, with a view of applying them to the useful pur-
poses of life. Prior to his going to Ipswich, Mr. Atherton availed
himself of the classical knowledge of his student in preparing for
college his son, C. G. Atherton, late a Senator in Congress, for
Avhich purpose, on solicitation, he resided for a time in Mr. Ather-
ton's family.

Mr. Abbot was a student from his youth to the time of his death,
and his literary and scientific acquire'ments were extensive and vari-
ous. To his accurate acquaintance with classical literature, he
added a respectable fund of information in most of the discoveries
of modern science, so that it was dilHcult to touch on any subject,
however abstruse, with which he had not made himself acquainted,
and on which he could not throw light and give information. Tlie
peculiar characteristics of his mind were accuracy, caution and
clearness. With a quickness almost like intuition, he detected the
weakness or fallacy of an argument, and no man saw more clearly
its legitimate application, or the point at which its force ceased.
So, in experimental philosopliy, such was liis caution that he was
seldom, if ever, misled by his facts to form an erroneous theory.
In 1<S28 when the "pneumatic paradox," as it was called, was
attracting the attention of scholars, and no satisfactory explanation
of it had been found, he first suggested its true theory. This was
afterwards experimentally proved by his nephew, Joseph H. Abbot,
in an article published in tlie American .Tournal of Science and Arts.
In 1837-8 he detected the fallacy of the instrument called the
"Geometer," to which the attention of Congress was then called as
a discovery in magnetism by whicli the latitude, as well as the
north pole, was supposed to be indicated.

Theology was a favorite pursuit with him, and without being a
religious disputant, he was well versed in the history of the church
and of its various sects. Very few among the clergy were better
skilled in Biblical criticism, or better acquainted with the religious
controversies of the day. Tolerant and kind to all Christian sects,
he embraced the Unitarian, as distinguished from tlie Trinitarian,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 263

faith It was, however, as a beloved townsman, as a parishioner
and church member, and as a friend of the young, that Mr. Abbot's
philanthropy and usefuhiess particularly displa3'ed itself. His
object seemed to be to do good to the community with wliich he
was immediately connected. Was anything projected for the good
of the town ? Mr. Abbot was an active and ellicient promoter of it.
Were there any difficulties in the church? He was the counsellor
and peace-maker. Was any young man of promise struggling with
poverty, to acquire an education ? Mr. Abbot's advice and purse were
freely tendered to him. In establishing and sustaining a town
lycenm, in creating libraries for the town, for the parish, for the
Sunday school, and for the Sabbath reading room, he was a leading
agent and a liberal contributor. He beneficially represented his
town in the Legislature of the state four years ; and as a member of
their superintending school committee, as a superintendent of the
Sunday school and a lecturer before the lyceum, and by the lively
interest he took in the morals and education of the young, he has
conferred benefits on the rising generation, the extent and magni-
tude of which cannot be calculated. If he did not create, he has at
least done much to sustain and perpetuate in his native tow u that
standard of good morals and that taste for reading and education,
by which Wilton has been so honorably distinguished in the excel-
lent men and accomplished scholars which have proceeded from her
loins, and who now sparkle as gems of high price, — an honor to the
town and a blessing to the country.

There is in most men a lamentable mixture of good and bad quali-
ties, of opposite biases ; a conflict to preserve the ascendancy of
that which is good ; but occasionally, and blessed be God that it is
so, we lind an individual in whom the seeds of evil seem not so
much to liave been conquered as never to have existed in his bosom.
Such a man was Samuel Abbot. ■- Any mean, dishonorable, unjust
or vicious act or wish seems to have been as remote from him as if
such acts or wishes had no existence anywhere, or were physically
impossible. Is this enviable singularity of character to be attrib-
uted to early parental management and education, to a constitu-
tional superiority of the moral and intellectual powers over the
passions, or to the happy and harmonious co-operation of both these
causes? That, under the parental roof, order and the law of kind-
ness prevailed is well attested. There was good sense and a
fondness for reading. There were religious observances and a con-
stant attendance on public worshii). There were no excesses" of

264 HISTORY OF WILTON.

severities, the eldest of the children having no recollection of seeing
their parent in a passion. That Samnel was blessed with high intel-
lectual powers does not admit of a question ; and that he had a deli-
cate, and, when developed, a strong, moral sense is also true. His
life was guided by the dictates of an enlightened conscience. He
felt and exhibited strong and decided marks of disapprobation, but,
like his father, was never known to be in a passion.

It may now very naturally be asked why a man of such uncom-
mon acquirements and virtues attracted no greater general notice ;
why such a flower was left to shed its fragrance in so limited a
sphere. The answer is obvious and satisfactory. He was a man
of uncommon meekness and modesty. No ambition for professional
or political preferment beset him. Retiring in his feelings, averse
to all show and forth-putting, he abandoned a profession regarded
as the common highway to distinction, and took, from choice, that
course of life which best agreed with his peaceful disposition and
his peaceful-pursuits. The acquirement of knowledge and the con-
sciousness that he was useful, satisfied all his worldly aspirations.

It is remarkable that the two brothers, Jacob and Samuel, alike
distinguished for caution and circumspection, equally free from all
rashness and precipitancy, — that these careful and reflecting men
should, both of them, in the providence of God, have been cut off in
tlie midst of life, health and usefulness, b}'^ what are called acci-
dents, which men of much general prudence would have avoided.
The death of Jacob Abbot occurred by attempting to cross a pond
in an overloaded and leaky canoe ; the death of Samuel by entering
a building on fire ! So true it is—

" There's a Divinity tliat sluipcs our ends,
Rough-how tlicm how we will."

Major Abiel Abbot, the father of Samuel, was a staunch Whig, an
officer of the militia during the Revolutionary war, often the repre-
sentative from Wilton to the General Court, and was much intrusted
with the business of the town ; he w'as the guardian of orphans, the
friend of the widow and the helper of the poor. He formed an
excellent farm out of the wilderness, encountering, with persever-
ance and fortitude, all the fatigues and inconveniences of a new set-
tlement. Of twelve children, ten lived to adult age. All of them
were well educated, and three of them were graduated at Harvard
College. The man who, with such means and under such circum-
stances, brought up such a family, and so educated them, is surely

-yAMRlCcrM:

^^. ,::>^^^^ €^€.t^€^C^if^7^C^

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 265

entitled to honorable remembrance. He was the son of Captain John
Abbot, of Andover, who was descended, in the fifth generation, from
George Abbot, who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, and set-
tled in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1G43. Samuel, the subject of
this memoir, was never married. The descendants of his American
progenitors were numerous, and their branches now extend to almost
every state in the Union.*

REV. AMOS AIJP.OTT. BV AMOS ABBOTT.

Amos Abbott, son of Jeremiah Abbott, was born June 2, 1812,
in Wilton, and was the sixth in a family of ten children. When
about sixteen years of age he entered Phillips Academy in Andover,
Massachusetts, to fit for college, but ill health obliged him at the
end of a year to return home. Subsequently he resolved to become
a teacher, and entered the Teachers' Seminary in Andover for the
purpose of qualifying himself for that office. After due prepara-
tion offers of various situations were made to him, but he concluded
to accept one from the Amei-ican Board of Commissioners for For-
eign Missions as superintendent of schools of the Muratta Mission
in India.

He married. May 12, 1834, Anstice Wilson, the eldest daughter of
Captain David Wilson of Wilton, and on the twenty-third of the
same month they sailed from Boston in the bark Corvo for Bombay.
After a voyage of four months they reached their destination, and
pursued their journey by land to Ahmednuggur, a mission station
170 miles in the interior. Upon their arrival they found a Muratta
school for boys, and also an English school. After nine months'
study of the people and their language Mr. and Mrs. Abbott drew up
a system for the management of the schools and the pay of the teach-
ers, and started several schools in Ahmednuggur and the vicinity.
In the autumn of 1835 they organized a normal boarding school,
called. tlie Boys' Seminary, in which Mrs. Abbott had charge of the
boys' clothing and the religious teaching of the motliers who brought
them their food. She also superintended the girls' school. Mr.
Abbott taught personally in the boys' school. Once a mouth all
the mission schools, fifteen in number, were visited. Tlie system
was continued fourteen years with some variations. While thus

* Mr. Atlierton's sketch of tlif lift' and character of Samuel Abbot was printed in the
Collections of the New Haiiipsliire Historical Society, Vol. VI., pages 205-211. I\[r. Abbot
lost liis life, .January 2, ISTO, in the tire which destroyed the starch factory at .laflrey. New
Hampshire. For his connection with the manufacture of starch, see (intc. page 10:5.

266 HISTORY OF WILTON.

engaged in teaching and in superintending the schools, time was
taken for studying the language and for preparing school books
and religious tracts in the native language, some of which are st?tll
extant ; the arithmetic has been in use in the mission schools for
more than forty years. In 184G Mr. Abbott was licensed as a
preacher, but ill health compelled him and his wife, with their five
children, to return to America in 1<S47, and to seek release from the
American Board. Contrary to expectation, Mr. Abbott's healtli
improved, and lie engaged during several years in canvassing for
the Bible Society, in teaching, and in domestic missions in Ports-
mouth, Manchester and elsewhere in his native state.

With reestablished health, and a yearning to return to their for-
mer missionary field, came urgent invitations to them from the mis-
sionaries and native Christians, <ind, with the approbation of the
Prudential Committee, they went to'Andover, where Mr. Abbott
attended the Theological Seminary one year, and was then ordained
in Portsmouth as a foreign missionary. Mr. and INIrs. Abbott then
returned to India, taking with them their four youngest children,
and leaving three older ones in America. Their eldest daughter.
E. Augusta, had married Rev. S. C. Dean, and had joined the
Muratta Mission several months before. The parents on returning
to India chose for the centre of their field of labor Rahoosee, a vil-
lage about twenty-four miles north of Ahmednuggur. They were
placed in charge of a ciuirch, and were mostly engaged in teaching
and preaching there and in the surrounding district. Four more
churches were soon organized, and thus they were in charge of five
churches, some of which had native preachers and pastors over them.
In 18G7 Rev. S. C. Dean, who was in charge of the Satara field,
found it necessary to come to America, and Mr. xVbbott and family
left Rahoosee and took charge of the Satara field and its out-stations.
Here there were two churches and several schools with native assist-
ants. In 186!» the ill health of both Mr. and Mrs. Abbott, again
compelled them to return to America and to seek release from the
American Board.

After their second return Mr. Al)bott, to increase his medical
knowledge, went through a course of study in the medical college
in Philadelphia, received a diploma and practised medicine a few
years in Nashua, but in 1874 they removed to Nebraska. Subse-
quently they took up their abode with a married daughter in the
Isle of Wight, England, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs.
Dean live in Plymouth, Nebraska ; Miss Anstice Abbott is in

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 267

charge of the Bennet Seminary for young ladies in Minneapolis,
Minnesota. The third daughter, Chloe, labored some years in the
Zenana Mission in India, was compelled to leave by failing health,
and is now living in the Isle of Wight, as is also Mr. Abbott's
fourth daughter, Emily, who married Major George A. Jacob of the
Indian service. The oldest son, Amos W. , is professor in the medical
college of Minneapolis. The next son, Albert A., lives in Steele
City, Nebraska, and is engaged in stock raising. The youngest
sou, Justin E., is a missionary of the American Board in Bombay.
The three sons were all graduates of Dartmouth College.

PROF. JAMES DASCOMB. BV (JEORGK L. UASCOMBE.

James Dascomb, sou of James Dascomb, Jun., and grandson of
James Dascomb, who settled in AVilton in 1767, was born in Wilton,
New Hampshire, February 21, 1808. Until he was seventeen years
old he worked on his father's farm, attending the district school as
he had opportunity. He then attended a few terms at an academy
at Concord, Vermont, after which he commenced the study of medi-
cine w^itli Dr. J. Scobey, a physician residing in that place. He
studied one season under the instruction of the medical professors
of Dartmouth College, and received the degree of M. D. from that
institution in 1832. He commenced the practice of medicine in
Boscaweu, New Hampshire, but did not long remain there. He
w\as, in 1833, appointed professor of chemistry, botany and physi-
ology in Oberlin College, which was then being founded in the midst
of a wilderness in northern Ohio, and this position he occupied for
forty- four years.

In April, 1834, he was united in marriage with Marianne Tenne}'
Parker of Dunbarton, New Hampshire, who was an efticient helper
in the work of education, being the principal of the ladies' depart-
ment in Oberlin College for nearly a score of years, and an active
member of the Ladies' Board of Managers until her last sickness.
The newly wedded pair started immediately for the scene of their
future labors. A part of the journey was performed in a boat on
the Erie Canal, and the last few miles through mud of almost fabu-
lous depth in a springless lumber wagon. They arrived at Oberlin
three days after the opening of the school in connection with
which the remainder of their lives was spent. The terms in the
institution were so arranged as to have a long vacation in the win-
ter. Some of these vacations, in the early part of his connection
with the college, Dr. Dascomb spent in supplementing his limited

268 HISTORY OF WILTON.

preparatory education, but later they were passed iu lecturing in
neighboring colleges. The last outside labor which he performed
was as professor of chemistry and toxicology in the medical depart-
ment of the University of Wooster at Cleveland, Ohio. In ](S7«S,
at the age of seventy 3'ears, on account of failing health, he retired
as professor emeritus from active service, and two years later his
useful life was ended, just one year after the death of his estimable
wife.

PROF. ADDISON IIOW^ARD FOSTER. FROM TUE CLASS BOOK OF '03,

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.

Addison II. Foster, son of Benjamin Tenney and Abigail (How-
ard) Foster, was born at Wilton, New IIami)shire, Noveml)er l.'i,
1838. His father was a farmer and tanner. He was iitted for
college at Appleton Academy, New Ipswich, entered Dartmoutli
College in LSftO and continued through the course. After gradu-
ating he studied medicine with Drs. William D. liuck and L. B.
How of Manchester, New Hampshire, attended medical lectures at
the Dartmouth jMedical School in the fall of 18()4, and graduated
at the College of Ph3'sicians and Surgeons, New York City, in
^Nlarch, 1<SG6. He practised medicine in Lawrence, Massachusetts,
until he removed to Chicago iu March, 18G8, where he has since
remained iu practice. He held the chair of surgical auatomy in
the Women's Medical College, Chicago, from 1870 to 1873, and
that of surger}^ from 1873 to 187.1. He has been consulting physi-
cian to the AVomen's Hospital from 187.") to the present time, 1884,
and medical examiner for the New England Life Insurance Com-
pany of Boston since 18G6, and principal examiner for the same in
Chicago since 1870. He married Miss Susan M. Houghton of New
Ipswich, New Hampshire, September 18, 18G6.

PROF. AMOS WILSON ABBOTT. FROM THE CLASS P.OOK OF 'G3,

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.

Amos Wilson Abbott, sou of Amos and Anstice (Wilson)
Abbott, was born Jamiary G, 1844, in India, where his father was
a missionary. He was titted for college at Phillips Andover Acad-
emy, entered Dartmouth College in 1859, and left before gradua-
tion in the fall of 1861. He enlisted iu Company C, Sixteenth
Kegiment, N. H. V., in August, 1862, and served until August,
1863. From 1864 to 18G8 he was employed in tlie pay department
of the United States Army. He graduated from the College of

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 269

Physicians aud Surgeons, New York, in 1869 ; and was resident
physician in a liospital there till 1870. From 1870 to 1877 lie prac-
tised medicine in Delhi, New York ; then he removed to Minneapo-
lis, Minnesota, where he enjoys a very successful practice aud is
professor of anatomy in the INIedical College. He married, August
19, 1880, Helen G. Wright of Delhi, New York. They liave one
child, Harold Wilson, born August 6th, 1882.

UEV. ABIEL ABBOT, D. D.

Dr. Abbot was born in Wilton, December 14, 1765, was the eldest
son of Abiel Abbot and Dorcas (Abbot) Abbot, and was of the
sixth generation from George Abbot, one of the first settlers of
Andover, Massachusetts. After due preparation he entered Har-
vard College in 178,'), and graduated in 1787. After teaching in
Andover Academy about two years, and pursuing a course of theo-
logical study, he served as tutor in Harvard College for one year.
In October, 1795, he was ordained as minister of the first churcli in
Coventry, Connecticut. Owing to difference of opinion between
him and the church, he left Coventry in June, 1811, and the Sep-
tember following was chosen principal of Dummer Academy,
Byfield, Massachusetts. He continued in this oflice until 1819, when
he resigned, and removed to a farm in North Andover, on the pres-
ent site of a portion of the manufacturing city of Lawrence. He
next removed to Chelmsford, where he and his youngest daughter
taught a private school. After his removal from Chelmsford, and
a temporary sojourn in Wilton, he was invited to the pastorate of
the Congregational Unitarian Church of Peterborough, New Hamp-
shire, where he was installed in June, 1827. He continued to
preach until March, 1839, when a colleague, Rev. Curtis Cutler,
was settled to assist him in his labors. In 1848 he resigned his
charge, and removed to West .Cambridge, now Arlington, Massa-
chusetts, to reside with his grandson. Rev. Samuel Abbot Smith,
the pastor of the Unitarian Church. He received the degree of
Doctor of Divinity from Harvard College in 1838. He died sud-
denly December 31, 1859. Among his occasional publications were
a sermon preached at North Coventry, Connecticut, July 4, 1799 ;
Right Hand of Fellowship addressed to Cornelius Adams at his
ordination, 1805 : a statement of the proceedings in the First
Church of Coventry, Connecticut, terminating in the removal of the
pastor, with an address to his late people, 1811 ; address before the

270 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Essex Agricultural Society at its first exhibition iu Dauvers, Massa-
chusetts, 181] .

He married, in 179(j, Elizabeth Abbot, daughter of Captain John
Abbot of Audover. Tiiey had three daughters : Elizabeth, who
married Rev. John A. Douglas of Waterford, Maine, Abigail, and
Sarah Dorcas, who married Samuel G. Smith of Peterborough.

Dr. Abbot was one of the best of men. His sermons were
earnest and practical, and Judge Smith of Exeter pronounced him
one of tlie best preachers he ever heard. He addressed the reason
and judgment more than the imagination or feelings. His grandson,
Rev. S. A. Smith, said that " during the last winter of his life (he
was then ninety-three years old) he made it a point to read every
day two chapters of the New Testament, critically, in the original
Greek, and often asked me what 1 thought of this interpretation or
that of some difficult passage. In the evenings of that winter I
read to him several treatises of Cicero, among others, De Oratore
aud De Senectute. I continued this till the last Friday before his
death, and I remember on that evening he let the usual hour of
retiring go by in his interest iu what was read. Thus did he
keep up his interest in the studies and pursuits of his active life,
and thus his mind and heart continued growing to the very end."

REV. JACOB ABBOT.

He was born in Wilton, January 7, 1768, and was the second sou
of Major Aljiel Abbot. He had the common school education of
that period, was fitted for college at Andover Academy, and by a
Mr. Birge, a teacher in Wilton. He graduated at Harvard College
in 1792, and taught school in Billerica, at the same time studying
theology with the assistance of Rev. Dr. Henry Cumings, one of
the noted divines of that day. He continued his studies at Cam-
bridge until he was admitted to the ministry, and preached for a
time in Gilead, Connecticut. But eventually he received a call
to Hampton Falls, and was ordained there August 15, 1798. In
1809 he was invited to take charge of Dummer Academy, Bylield,
Massachusetts, but, by the advice of his brethren in the ministry,
he declined the appointment. He continued as the minister of the
Hampton Falls society until April 1, 1826, when he resigned his
office and removed to Windham. Mr. Abbot was greatly respected
and beloved, not only by his own church, but by the societies and
the people of the vicinity. He was a trustee of Phillips Exeter

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 271

Academy for many years, and of the Adams Female Academy in
Derry, New Hampshire. He received, as pupils and boarders iu his
family, many young men who had been suspended from college, and
his instruction and influence in these cases were of a most benelicial
character. ^lany testimonials of recognition and gratitude from
them and their friends proved their appreciation of his services.
After his removal to Windham he continued his useful and active
life by preaching in neighboring parishes, and to a societ}' formed
in Windham. He also superintended the schools of the town.

The circumstances of his death were deeply attlictive. On Sun-
day, November 2, 1834, as he was crossing a pond on his return
from meeting, the boat was upset, and he and a neighbor who was
with him were drowned. The event carried deep sorrow into every
community in which he had been known. Dr. Sprague, the chron-
icler of the American pulpit, says of him that " his sermons were
written with great logical correctness, luminous simplicity and class-
ical purity.'' " In his family he was a model of conjugal and
parental dignity and tenderness." He married, in 1802, Catharine
Thayer, a daughter of Rev. Ebenezer Thayer of Hampton, and
they had a family of ten children, of whom nine were married, and
Ave still survive.

DEACON JOSEPH SJIITH. WRITTEN FOR THE WILTON JOURNAL BY

I. S. LINCOLN.

Died in Wilton the 16th instant [March 16, 1883,] Deacon Joseph
Smith, aged ninety-five years and five months. He was buried
from the Baptist Church Sunday afternoon, the services being con-
ducted by the pastor. Rev. George C. Trow, assisted by Rev. I. S.
Lincoln and Rev. Henry D. Dix. Very many were present to pay
their hearty respect to the moral worth of this oldest fellow-citizen.
He was one of the original members of the Baptist Church of this
town some seventy years ago, and for many years a worthy deacon
of the church. He had strong religious convictions, strong faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ as his precious Saviour, to whose cause he
consecrated his talents and the material wealth which he labored
earnestl}' and honestly to acquire. Few men have thus earned and
given so much for the support of gospel preaching. In his last
days his most earnest word of exhortation to his fellow-disciples
was, " Brethren, love one another." For a few years past he was
blind, but his organ of spiritual vision was clear and bright. With

272 HISTORY OF WILTON.

the eye of Christian faith and hope he looked on heaven with all
its attractions as his sweet, eternal home. The light and hope of
this faith impressed itself on his countenance as his silent remains
lay in his coffin, reflecting the serenity and beauty of heaven. The
good fruits of his long cherished Christian faith commend his useful
life to the imitation of all.

REV. URIAH SMITH.

He was born in Wilton, May 2, 1832. In early life one of his
limbs became diseased, and it was amputated by Dr. Twitchell of
Keene. By request he has furnished the following biographical
sketch, dated November 27, 1884 :

" I remained in my native place, West Wilton, with the exception
of two terms of schooling I took at the academy at Hancock in the
autumn of 1845 and the autumn of 1846. From 1848 to 1851 I
was at Phillips Academy at P^xeter, where I completed my studies
fitting me to enter the sophomore class at Harvard, which 1 intended
to do, after working one year to improve my finances. My father's
sickness and death, in 1852, somewhat interfered with my plans,
and after that I was solicited to take a position in the Review and
Herald office. I concluded to do so, and connected myself with the
office, then located at Rochester, New York, in the spring of 1853.
In 1855 the office was moved to Battle Creek, INIichigan, and I
was elected editor of the paper, and, with the exception of a few
brief intervals, have occupied the position to the present time.
Beside my editorial work, I have prepared several books for the
press, and now have upon the market, in the line of bound books,
beside some tracts and pamphlets, the following : 'Diagram of Par-
liamentary Rules ; ' 'A Word for the Sabbath ; ' ' The United States
in Prophecy ;' ' Synopsis of the Present Truth ;' ' The Sanctuary
and its Cleansing ;' ' Man's Nature and Destiny,' and ' Thoughts on
the Books of Daniel and the Revelation.' This last is a volume of
848 pages, sold by subscription in styles of binding ranging in price
from $3.50 to $5.00. The aggregate number of copies now printed
is 35,000, and the sale is rapidly increasing. In 1873 I invented,
for the use of our college in this city, an automatic folding school
seat. It met with such favor that a company was organized in
this place for its manufacture, 'The Union "School Furniture Com-
pany,' to which r sold my patent on very good terms to myself, and
the company are making an immense success of it. My life is at
present an exceedingly busy one. In addition to my office work, I

^ ^fo

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 273

am secretary of our General Conferenc^e, secretary of our Educa-
tional Society, a member of our Publishing Board ; I occupy the
chair of IJiblical Exegesis and Ecclesiastical Ilislory in Battle Creek
College, beside supplying the Tabernacle pulpit, when no other
help is present. Since the 15th of August I have attended camp
meetings at Syracuse, New York ; Worcester, IMassachusetts ; Bur-
lington, Vermont ; Portland, 3Iaine ; Columbus, Ohio ; Jackson,
Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska ; and at Indeijcndence, 3Iissouri. In
October I attended the dedication of South Lancaster Academy,
South Lancaster, Massachusetts. But my health is excellent and T
enjoy my labor."

HON. CHARLES H. BURNS. UY R. M. AVALLACE,

Charles IL Burns, son of Charles A. and Elizabeth (Hutchin-
son) Burns, was born in .Milford. January IIJ, 18o5. ]Mr. Burns
spent his early years upon his father's farm, and there developed
that strength and good constitution with which he is so admirably
equipped for the battle of life, lie early evinced a desire for
an education, and after getting what assistance he could from the
connnon schools of IMilford. which were always of a high order, he
entered the Appleton Academy of New Ipswich, at that time under
the n)anagement of Professor (^uunby, from which institution he
graduated in 1854.

Eor some time he had entertained the purpose of entering the
legal profession, for which lie had already exhibited an aptitude.
Lie read law in the otlice of Colonel O. W. Lull, in Milford, and
subsequently attended the llar\ ard Law School, where he graduated
in the class of 1858. In May of the same year he was admitted to
the Suffolk bar in ^Massachusetts, and in October following he was
admitted to the New Hampshire bar. In January, 1851), Mr. Burns
connnenced the practice of the law at Wilton, where he has since
resided, although of late 3'ears his extended practice through Ilills-
Itorough County and the state has necessitated the removal of his
ollice to Nashua. He commenced his professional labors, as every
young man must who has no one to rely upon Ijut himself, with the
smaller and more ordinary kinds of legal work ; but by slow degrees
he has risen, until today he is one of the most successful lawyers
in New Hampshire, and his practice includes the highest order of
cases. ]Mr. Burns, although a good lawyer in all branches of his
profession, especially excels as an advocate. He is, what most of
our lawyers and even public speakers are not, a natural orator.

274 HISTORY OF WILTON.

The whole bent and inclination of his mind has, from his earliest
years, always l)een in this direction. lie has given himself a
thorongh training and practice, at the bar, on the stump and on all
those varied occasions when a public speaker is called upon to
address the people. This natural talent, thus trained, has made
him a clear-cut, incisive and polished orator, who never fails to hold
and impress his audience. It can be said of him, what can be said
of very few men, that he excels in advocacy and general oratory.
His arguments before juries best illustrate his power as a speaker,
while his public addresses exhibit his peculiar charm as an orator.
As an advocate he ranks among the first iu the New Hampshire
bar. As an orator he compares favorably with our best puljlic
speakers. He has held various important offices in the line of his
profession. In 1S7G he was appointed by Governor Cheney county
solicitor for Hillsborough County, and was subsequently reelected
to that office by the people ; the constitution in the meantime hav-
ing been changed so as to make the office elective instead of
appointive. He held this office iu all seven years, and discharged
satisfactorily the difficult and delicate duties of a prosecuting officer
in a large county. In February, 1881, he was appointed United
States district attorney of New Hampshire, and in February, 1885,
was reappointed to that office, bringing to the performance of its
duties the same zeal and fidelity which he does to all his pro-
fessional labors.

Mr. Burns has been a life-long Republican. His father, Charles
A. Burns, was an active and prominent anti-slavery worker in that
little baud of anti-slavery agitators which existed in Milford.
Young Burns, when a boy, was brought in contact with such meu
as Parker Pillsbury, Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd Garrison and
Frederic Douglass, and imbibed the sentiments with which they
were animated, so that by force of these influences he was naturally
a Republican, welcoming this party as the means to carry out the
principles of emancipation and freedom. When quite young his
interest in the Republican cause, together with his aptitude for
public speaking, led him to take the stump for his party. For
years he has performed in this way the most efficient service for the
Republican party, and today is one of its ablest and most eloquent
stump-speakers. Mr. Burns was elected county treasurer of Hills-
borough Count}' in 1864 and 1865. He was also a member of the
New Hampshire State Senate in 1873 and again in 187I», and in
both years was chairman of the Judiciary Committee and took a

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 275

prominent part in directing and shaping the legislation of those
years. In 1871) he was appointed by Governor Head on his staff
as judge advocate general, with the rank of brigadier general. He
was a delegate at large to the National Republican Convention at
Cincinnati in 1876, and represented the New Hampshire delegation
on the Committee on Resolutions. He was one of the three New
Hampshire delegates who strenuously opposed INIr. Blaine's nomina-
tion for presidency, at first voting for Mr. IJristow, and finally for
Mr. Hayes. He was selected to preside at the Republican State
Convention held at Concord September 10, 1878, and upon assum-
ing the chair made one of his characteristic speeches. The speech
was delivered just after the Greenback party had won a victory in
INIaine, and when the })ublic mind was full of false theories, and the
high ground taken by the speaker in favor of honest money and
national faith created a deep impression throughout the state. It
was everywhere commended as a strong and forcible presentation
of the issues of the hour.

Mr. Burns is a man of scholarly tastes and habits ; he has a fine
law library, one of the best in the state, and a choice and valuable
collection of miscellaneous books. He is an honorary member of
the New Hampshire Historical Society and also of the New Eng-
land Historical and Genealogical Society. In 1874 Dartmouth
College conferred on Mr. Burns the honorary degree of A. M. He
is a life-long and prominent Mason, having taken thirty-two degrees
in that order. He has also been master of the lodge with which he
is connected.

DAVID WHITING. BY CHARLES H. BURNS.

David Whiting is the son of Oliver and Fanny (Stiles) Whiting,
and was born at the old Whiting homestead, now the county farm,
in Wilton, August 26, 1810. Oliver Whiting was a native of
Temple, and a successful farmer. He was a strong, sensible, reso-
lute man, and acquired a competence. He had four children, of
whom David was the only son. He located upon a large farm in
Wilton, and carried it on until declining years prevented his giving
active attention to it, when David took control, and ultimately suc-
ceeded to its ownership. David AVhiting is, therefore, a native of
Wilton, and, with the exception of a few years, has always lived
there. His life has been one of great usefulness. He received the
ordinary instructions of the district school in his neighborhood, but

276 HISTORY OF WILTON.

the school was sekloni, if ever, kept for more tliau two mouths iu the
year, and then ui the winter. In summer he did not attend, but
worked on his father's farm. lie began to work ahuost as soon as
he commenced to walk, and he has never been idle since. At the
age of eight he did the chores and took care of the cattle. .Vlthough
his school days and the hours spent iu reading and studying books
were few, he has, through his keen oljserviug ijowers, ac(|uircd a
large store of practical information, and has become a Ijusiuess
man of unusual intelligence. With a body aglow with health, knit
together with muscles as strong as steel, and which has never been
hurt by intemperance or abuse, and with a mind as clear and Ijright
as suulight, it is not strange that we lind him, at the age of seventy-
live, full of vigor and enterprise, pushing along with all the enthusi-
asm of youth. It is useful to record the life of such a man. It
affords an instance of what perseverance, enterprise, courage and
fidelity will do. INIr. Whiting possesses all these traits, hence his
success.

Before he was twenty years old he kept a store in Temple, for
awhile, belonging to his father ; subsequently he went to Fitchburg,
Massachusetts, and there erected a buildiug in which he carried on
trade for some three years, and in the meantime built and sold three
dwelling-houses. He then sold out at P'itchburg, and returned to
Wilton and his father's farm. He bought the farm and carried it
on for many years. IMr. Whiting married, October ,j, 18o0, Emma,
daughter of Isaac Spalding of Wilton. He was more than fortunate
in his marriage. In all of his years since and in every undertaking
he has been aided by the intelligent assistance of his wife, who is a
lady of rare beauty of character, and whose domestic life has been
the chief charm of IMr. Whiting's beautiful home.

About two years after his purchase of the old homestead, the
baru, with one hundred and fifty tons of hay, was ])urned. This
was a severe loss. He had from tifty to seventy-live head of cattle,
and Avinter was approaching. There was no time to be lost. In
this emergency Mr. Whiting's grit and courage were manifest.
Storms test ships ; so difficulties and trials test men. He secured a
company of men, went into the woods and cut the trees and turned
them into lumber, and in about one month completed a barn one
hundred and twenty feet by forty, which still stands, a monument
to his courage and perseverance iu the most trying circumstances.
Mr. Whiting in time made his farm one of the most valuable in

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 277

the state. It was one of the hirgest, and possibly the largest dairy
farm in tlie state, l)ut it did not satisfy him. He wanted more
business.*

Tlie visitor to the thrifty town of AVilton can see on every hand
the evidences of the enterprise of David Whiting & Sons. It is fair
to say that to the indomitalile enterprise of David "Whiting the town
owes more than to any other person. His force and industry have,
for a full Iialf-century, been a source of encouragement to all
with whom he lias associated. In l-SGf) Mv. Wliiting erected a
large hotel in Wilton. For years lie was its landlord. He was
a model one. Under his numagement the Whiting House became a
famous summer resort. In 1<S74, in a disastrous couHagration
whicli visited the town, it was burned, and was never rebuilt. The
site was subsequently presented to the town by ^Ir. Whiting, and
is now occupied by the new Town House. He has twice represented
the town in the state Legislature.

Mr. and IMrs. Whiting, October ;3, 1880, celebrated their gohleii
wedding. He was seventy : she was sixty-seven years old. It
was a memorable occasion. Children, grandchildren and friends
from far and near gathered to the charming home of the worthy
couple in Wilton, and all were received with that genuine hospital-
ity foi- which Mr. and Mrs. Whiting are so well known. More
than three hundred were present and entertained. The day and
evening were spent in pleasant reminiscences, in merry-making,
song and dance. Man^^ were the tokens of love and respect that
were left with them ; and these, with the earnest words spoken,
indicated the esteem in which they are held by their kinsmen,
townsmen and friends. David Whiting is a strong, earnest man.
The world needs such men.

HON. .JOSEPH NEWELL.

Joseph Newell was born in Reading, ^Massachusetts, in the 3'ear
17l>4. His father died soon after, so that he had no recollection of
him. His mother married, for her second husband, .John Cofran of
Charlestown, Massachusetts, where the faniil}', consisting of two
sons and two daughters, were brought up. After leaving school,
Joseph was placed in a store, and afterwards went into the West

"^ We omit lierc tlif nccount of tlie milk business, for wliidi -^cp Chapter XXVI. of this
History.

278 HISTORY OF WILTON.

India goods business in Charleslown Square under the firm-name
of Newell & Thompson, where the firm carried on an extensive
business with the country towns of Vermont and New Hampshire,
exchanging goods for the country products, which in those days
were brought down l)y the slow pi-ocess of teaming.

In 182.") he felt obliged to make a change, on account of ill health,
to a climate free from east winds and salt air, and his step-father,
John Cofran, who had been obliged to take a place in Wilton for
debt, advised his son to go to this place as an ex})eriment, and see
how it might agree with him. He had married Lavina Hoi)kins,
daughter of Colonel Samuel Hopkins of Wilmington, Massachusetts,
the year previous, and witli liis young wife lie started for New
Ham[)shire, never once thinking that his stay would be more than
temporary ; but his health became so much iuiproved by the pure
air that he concluded to remain for a time, and commenced business
in the middle of Wilton. At that time all the business of tlie town
centered there, and the country store was the grand rendezvous for
all the town's people to exchange, not only their products, but their
sentiments and opinions on all important questions of the da}'.
The hall over the store was the caucus room ; adjoining was a large
Free Masons' hall ; the post-oflice was connected with the store ;
therefore one may readily see the many attractions of the central
store of one of those old New England towns, where not only the
affairs of the town, but those of the state and nation as well, were
discussed, oftentimes in a most exciting manner.

At this period New Hampshire seemed to have taken a life lease
of the Democratic party. Democracy was the law, if not the gospel,
of both town and state for many long years, while the struggling
minority were ever working to free themselves from tlie bondage of
the dominant party, occasionally encouraged but only to be defeated.
Joseph Newell was always one of the staunch, hopeful opi)osition,
— a Webster Whig from the start. In tliis he was decided and fear-
less, but annually on town meeting day was obliged to succumb to
the will of the majorit}-. Jt will be seen that he occupied a barren
field for political promotion. He clung to the Wiiig party, wliile it
lasted, with the tenacity of life, but when the dissolving elements
set in he took to wiiat he considered the next best landing, the
Republican party, although with many regrets. In IHC") und IHOG
he was elected to the state Senate, which was the only [)olitical
oHice he ever held ; and perhaps here I cannot better illustrate

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 279

a point in his character than by an extract taken from the Nashua
Telegraph :

Tilt' hitc 11(111. .Joseph Xcwt'll of Wilton was a positive man. ITc had a
mind of liis own, as tiic saying is, and trust cd in liis own jndo-inont . It is
ndatcd of Inm that wlien in the Senate, counsel desired to aro'ue a i>end-
ino; measure; '-You may avoue it all day," said Mr. Xewell, " inj' mind
is made u])." And it turned out that it was made uji ao;ainst the counsel.

He was a constant attendant and supporter of the Unitarian So-
ciety of the town, and in former days his house was always open to
the gatherings of the clergy, which were frequent in those times ;
and if he did not fully endorse the creed or belief of that denomina-
tion at that time, it must be confessed that the gulf was not wid-
ened as time went on with the development of more liberal ideas.

When the railroad from Nashua was extended to Wilton, it com-
pletel}" changed the old town, and all the business forsook the old
haunts of trade for the terminus of the railroad on the bank of the
river in the eastern part of the town. The subject of our sketch
was not long in determining the only course left for him to take.
lie at once erected a store and house and afterwards other build-
ings, and removed his business to this more thriving situation,
where he continued to take an interest in the many enterprises of
the town initil 1.S.57, when his wife died, and he then commenced
to close up his business. While the old town was fast going to
decay on account of its new rival, till it might have almost reminded
one of Goldsmith's Deserted N'illage, yet he could never entertain
tlie thought of parting with his old home, surrounded as it is with
charming scenery of woods and streams and with a bold outlook on
the grand old Temple hills, which he so much enjoyed to look upon
in after life, liesides, in this house, built in 1800, his four chil-
dren were born and the best and happiest days of his life were
spent. With these feelings he was- prompted to offer the old store
and the adjoining buildings to his younger son, C. H. Newell, who
immediately altered it into a spacious summer residence. The old
homestead he gave to his eldest son, George A. Newell, who made
extensive repairs and alterations, and still occupies it during the
summer months. These, and other improvements, made the place
an attractive home during the last days of the old gentleman's life,
and one which he never failed to enjoy.

Joseph Newell in any position in life would have been called a
character. lie was, as has been said, a positive man. His nature
was not of a frivolous kind ; of deception he had none, but he had

280 HISTORY OF WILTON.

a firm detenniuatioii and deoided opinions, strongly tinctured with
a true sense of justice, lie might be regarded among men like a
bowlder on the landscape, firm and immovaltle. An extract from
an obituary, printed in the Nashua Telegraph at the time of his
death, may not be inappropriate in closing this brief sketch :

UKATH OF IIOX. .lOSEl'II NKWKLL. FKHUlAltV 17. ISSl.

Hon. Jo.^pph Xewell died :it his lioiise in AVihon at half-])ast three thi<J
[Thursday] nioriiiug at the advanced ao-e of more than 90 years. The
deceased was a native of Cliarlestowu [lieading], ^rassacluisetts. He
eauie to Wilton :it an early a2;e and was a jtrog-resslve citi/en and a ]ironii-
nent nierc-liant for more than tifty years. His popnlarity was such that
he could have held almost any oHice in the gift of his town or district,
hut he steadily refused, until, after the close of the war, he was prevailed
u]ion to accept the nomination of sta^te senator for the old seventh dis-
trict, which included Xashua. lie was triumphantly elected, and his
course was such as to give him a second. nomination and election. Mr.
Xewell was the founder ;uul one of the heaviest owners In the Xewell
Woollen Mill, and at diflerent times was concerned in other enterprises
which he believed to he foi- the advantagt> of his town. A few y<>ars ago
he met with a railroad accident at liOwell. wliile attending an agricultural
fair, by which he lost an arm. He did nuich to beautify and adorn his
town and to encourage those who have struggled to build better homes
for themselves. ]N[r. Xewell was an old-school gentleman ; a man " whose
word was as good as his bond:'" ;i man who m:ide friends and kept them
to the vei'v end of his life. Honest, industrious, cheei'ful, ready to bear
his part in all the burdens of his townsmen, seeking to be useful and to .
encourag(; and foster a reciprocal feeling in those whose paths in life
were parallel, he was a good citizen, whose influence will be felt in years
to come, for his exaniiile was worthy of emulation. He leaves a son and
a daughter.

SOLOMON KIDDER LIVERMOItl.. FRO>l THE IlISTOI?V OF IIILLSBOROUOH

COUNTY.

He was tlie tifth child of Rev. Jonathan Livermore of Wilton,
and was born March 2, 1771*. He was taught at home in his early
years, but the common school was established before his entire
youth had passed. In the summer he helped in the fields, and in
winter in the woods ; his love for his native hills and valley's grew
with his growth, and continued to the end of his life. When
advanced enough in his studies, he entered Mr. Pemberton's school
for l)oys in liillerica, his mother's native place, where he remained
till lifted for Harvard College, which he entered in 17il'.t. and grad-
uated in liS02 in a class large and distinguished for its ability.

DANIEL CRAGIN.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 281

He studied law with Oliver Crosby, Esq., of Dover, and was admit-
ted to the har about 1800, and after a few years came to Milford as
the earliest established lawyer of the town. .Air. Liverniore was
eminently a lover of justice, beloved by those for whom he labored :
he looked first to the public good, and was utterly averse to towns
or citizens pursuing narrow or selfish ends.

Political partisanship the most pronounced prevailed dui'ing Mi'.
Livermore's early life, but he could be no partisan. Unmoved by
the invectives of the partisans of France, he saw much more that
was good and hopeful, and less that was mischievous, in tlie Federal
party, which crystallized into tlie AVhig party ; he worked witli that
party until it was bereft of life, when he found himself a Free .Soil
sympathizer, and from that evolved a Republican.

Mr. Livermore was a member of the First Congregational Church
for nearly twenty-five years ; then a memlier of the First Unitarian
Society. He married >\Iiss Abigail Atkins Jarvis of Cambridge,
^Massachusetts. Six children lived to mature age. A son and a
daughter settled in lialtimore, Maryland ; another son in Calena,
Illinois, and the youngest son finally in Cambridge on the maternal
orandfather's homestead. Two grandsons have been in the navv
for years ; one grandson. Colonel Thomas L. Livermore, rose from
the ranks to a colonelcy in the war of secession, was at the head of
the largest manufactory in the country for some years, and is now a
lawyer in Boston.

Through his long life Mr. Liverniore felt a keen interest in the
colleges and schools of the country, in the young and their progress
towards right living and good citizenship. He was a judicious
friend, a wise counsellor and a good citizen. He died in -July,
18')!), in the eighty-first year of his life. His descendants sui'viv-
ing at the date of this History are a daughter, twelve grandchildren
and nineteen great-grandchildren, -living in six different states.

PANIKT. CRAOIN.

Daniel Cragiu, fourth child of Augustus and Almira (Boynton)
Cragin, was born in Merrimac, December ;H, 1800. His parents
had leu ciiildren. When Daniel was but six months old, his father,
who was a farmer and mechanic, removed from Merrimac to Tem-
[tle. Young Cragin was early taught to labor, his boyhood being
spent on liis father's farm until he was seventeen years old, when
he engaged witli John Newell of Lyndeborough to leai'n cabinet-
work. After three years spent with him, he went to Wilton, where

282 HISTORY OF WILTON.

for a year be was engaged iu a furniture shop. Then returning to
Lyndeborough, he, in company with a partner, purchased the shop
and business of Mr. Newell, his first employer. Continuing here
with varying success something more than a year, Mr. C'ragin dis-
posed of his interest in the business and came to wliat was known
at tliat time as the " Putnam Corporation," in the nortli part of the
town of AVilton.

This was in 1858. Mr. Cragin had just attained his majorit}',
and while, as before stated, he had had some business experience,
yet fortune had not favored liim with financial success, and he
began business in Wilton, as a manufacturer of knife trays and
toys, on a cash capital of ten dollars. He rented one room in the
]^utnam Bobbin Factory in which to carry on his manufacturing.
Continuing here two 3^ears and meeting with fair success, he pur-
chased a small building on the site 'of liis present factor}', and
removed his manufacturing there. Soon after this he built an addi-
tion to his shop, and from that time to the present, as the exigencies
of liis increasing business have demanded, he has made additions to
the space and the facilities with which he started. In addition to
the water-power, which at the beginning was suflicient to operate
his machinery, he has since found it necessary to add steam-})ower,
and now both are in use.

About the autumn of 187G Mr. Cragin began the manufacture of
dry measures, which has since grown to be the leading feature of
his business. At the time when he undertook this line of manu-
facturing, the machinery iai use for the purpose was very crude
indeed ; in fact, the measures were bent and made almost entirely by
hand. And just here comes a practical illustration of the genius or
faculty which, more than all others, has made New England the
centre of capital and the cradle of progress in America : the faculty
of invention, that predominant and distinguishing characteristic of
the Yankee character, which, seeing a need, proceeds at once to
devise a way of supplying it. With a singleness of purpose and a
determination to succeed, IMr. Cragin began at once to devise simple
and labor-saving machines to do what had hitherto been done only
by hand. One contrivance after another was made, experimented
with, improved and perfected, until now, by the aid of various ingen-
ious, curiously contrived, yet simple machines, the lumber is carried
through the manifold processes necessary to convert it into meas-
ures of various sizes and capacities, in an amazingly rapid and
skilful manner ; until the vessels are completed, the whole work is

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 283

practically done by machinery. And what is more, ever}' piece of
machinery in Mr. Cragin's factory, except a few of the simpler con-
trivances, is the product of his own inventive genius. The
improved facilities which he has thus created for himself have
enabled him to produce first-class work at prices which have prac-
tically driven from the field all competitors, so that in the area
which he attempts to cover, he has almost a monopoly in this spe-
cialty. In addition to manufacturing he has dealt more or less in
lumlier, real estate, etc., and has made other investments.

He has been selectman of the town of Wilton live years, and chair-
man of the board for three years. He represented liis town in the
Legislature two years, 1875-G, and in 1884 was nominated as a
candidate for senator on the Democratic ticket, but with no chance
of election, as the district is strongly Repulilican. ^Ir. Cragin is
a stauncli, though tolerant. Democrat, broad and liberal in both
l)olitical and religious views. He is one of the directors of the
AVilton Savings Bank. He married, March 29, 1859, Jane L.,
daugliter of John and Lucotta (Draper) Dolliver of Lyndeborough.

HENRY NEWTON GRAY. FROM THE HISTORY OF inLLSIiOROUGH

COUNTY.

Henry N. Gray was born .lanuar}' 4, 1826, at what is knov\'n as
" Gray's Corners" in Wilton. He is descended from Joseph Gray,
who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and participated
in the battle of Ticouderoga. Joseph Gray was by occupation a
farmer, and was a man of great energy and force of character. He
retained his interest in military affairs, and after the Revolutionary
War he became adjutant of militia, a position which he held for
many years. He was a man of robust constitution, full of energy,
an early riser, and noted for his push and vigor. He lived to be
more than eighty years of age. His wife was Chloe Abbot.

Calvin Gray was his son, and was brought up on his father's
farm. When about eighteen years of age, he learned blacksmith-
ing with James IMeans of Wilton, and followed that occupation as
long as he lis'cd. He was a genial, pleasant man, and fond of the
jollities of life. He inherited liis father's love for militar}' affairs,
and rose to the rank of adjutant of militia, the same rank his father
had formerly held. He married Clarissa King. They had three
children who survived him : H. Newton; Harriet N., who married
Henry K. French of Peterborough, and died, leaving one child ;
and Charles D., who married Kate Spaulding of Mason, and died.

284 HISTORY OF WILTON.

leaving no issue. Calvin Gray was born in 1800, and died in 180G.

H. X. Gra}' was hrought up on the farm and in the blacksmith
shoi) of his fatliev, with whom he remained until he attained his
majorit}'. He then hired the shop of his father, and conducted
business for himself. I 'pon his father's decease, he purchased of
the other heirs their interest iu the estate, and has successful!}^
prosecuted the business, to which he added carriage building, to
the present time. lie was the originator of what is known as the
Wilton Wagon, and has made a specialty of its manufacture for
several years. He has the reputation of doing thoroughl}' iirst-
class work, and has the grandest of tributes paid him by his
neighbors — that of being in all respects an upright, reliable, truth-
ful man. He is a Republican in politics and a I'nitariau in
religion. He is an industrious, pushing man and has made for him-
self and his family a l»eautiful home. He mari'ied, January .'»,
bS,"!.'!, Mary Ann Heath of Harre, Massachusetts, an estimable lady.
They have three children. [See Gray Genealogy.]

Mr. Grav's venerable mother, who is still living [now deceased,
bS88], is in many respects a remarkable woman, possessing a strong
mind in a strong body. She has l)een a woman of remarkable
activit}' and industry, of clear judgment and sound common sense,
full of life and energy. She has, perhaps, done more labor and
successfully carried through greater responsibilities than any other
woman of the community. She has been a model New England
housekeeper; neat, frugal, industrious and self-reliant. Such
mothers have given to the world the successful men of the world.
She has all her life pi-ided herself on promptitude, never failing to
perform to the letter whatever she promised ; and this trait, inher-
ited by her son, has been the key-note of his success in business,
and of his standing as a reliable man among his fellow-townsmen.
It is a pleasure to be able to preserve on the pages of history some
record of the virtues of such wives and mothers. All honor to their
memory, and may their descendants revere their names, and emu-
late the example of tlieir unsellish, noble lives !

HON. ISAAC Sl> AI.1>IN(.. — I'.Y ISAAC SPALDINCi WITITINfJ.

Isaac Spalding was boiu in New Ipswich, February 1, 17'J(!.
His father removed to Wilton with his famil}- in LSOO. Having had
what education he could get at the district school, Mr. Spalding
started out in ISOD to earn liis ]i\ing. He took service with Mr.
Kol)ert Reed, a store-keeper of Amherst, who took him into partner-

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 285

ship in 181(5. Having spent ten years in this relation, he moved to
Nashua and opened a store for himself on Main Street. The goods
dealt in were the general inisceHany of a country store of the time.
Here he laid the foundation of his fortune. The vilhxge was tiiriving,
and Mr. Spalding's shrewdness easily secured for him a large siuire
of its prosperity. Though stiil successful, he gave up ])usiuess in
I808, and thenceforward devoted himself to public enteri)rises and
the care of his estate. This voluntary relinquishment of a i)rolital)le
business, when he was only forty-two years old, is a siilliciont
answer to the charge of avarice, to which his subsequent wealtli
exposed him. Having been selectman, representative and moder-
ator, he was now promoter of the Concord Railroad antl (uie or
other of its ofHcers for thirty years ; member of the Constitutional
Convention in 1850; member of the Governor's Council, 18()(), '(i?
and '68 ; trustee and president of the State Asylum for the Insane
in 18(Jo and 1869, respectively; president of the Nashua Bank, &c.
He died May 14, 1876, being reputed to be the richest man in the
state.

He possessed all the business qualities in good proportion, but
the dominant ones of his nature were two, caution and Ihiift.
First, his caution : his nuixim in investing was, better take six per
cent, interest on a safe principal than ten per cent, on a risky one.
Thus his income was uninterrupted, his capital had few periods of
enforced idleness. No alluring prospectus could captivate his
judgment. If he invested in new, unproved undertakings, such as
the Concord Railroad, his inotive was something more than imme-
diate money-making ; he hoped to benefit the community in which
he lived. But he said to promoters of distant enterprises : "I have
no interest in them except as investments, and before investing, I
prefer to see them completed and established, so that I can judge
of their value." The bank of which he was an otticer is said never to
have had a dollar's worth of poor loans. Second, his tlnift : ambi-
tious to be wealthy, he clung to his purpose, and looked well to the
dollars to see that they were saved and put to work. Yet he felt
no miser's glee in liandling money. His ^are of his estate was a
piece of his charai;ter and resulted not from instinct but from i)rin-
ciple. He protested against dissipation and luxury in all their
forms, not alone in what money was accountable for. He frittered
away just as little time and strength as he did money. When he
spent, he spent freely, and got something for his outlay worth
having. Thus his house was the richest in the city for its time.

286 HISTORY OF WILTON.

solid and finislied to the last degree. lie travelled much, and
Ijought the most comfortable accommodations attainable, and his
gifts were not niggardly. He married Lucy Kendall of Amherst,
^lay 1, lS-28. She was born December lo, 17!)G, and is now living
[May, l'S,S(S]. They had two children, both of whom died in child-
hood.

REV. SAJllEL BAHRETT, 1). I).

Rev. Samuel Barrett, the eldest sou of INIajor Benjamin Fiske
and Betsey (Gerrish) Barrett, was born August 11, 1795, in
Royalstou, Massachusetts. His father removed to Wilton April
22, 1803, in whose district schools young Barrett received his rudi-
mentary education. He loved his l)Ooks, and at an early age began
to dream of obtaining a liberal education, and of becoming a minis-
ter of the gospel. He became a member of the family of Rev.
Thomas Beede, and by his instruction was prepared for college.
He graduated at Harvard College in 1818, and at the Cambridge
Divinity School in 1822. After preaching in various New England
parishes and in Philadelphia and Baltimore, he was invited to the
pastorate of the Twelfth Congregational Society of Boston, and was
ordained February 9, 1825. He ministered to this church and
society till 1858, when he resigned his office on account of infirmity
and age, much to the regret of his people, and received the gra-
tuity of six thousand dollars as token of their gratitude and esteem.

Dr. Barrett, besides his special labors in his own society, was a
large public benefactor, as editor of various religious periodicals
and as a writer of tracts ; he was chaplain of the Massachusetts
State Senate, missionary of the American Unitarian Association,
and author of many discourses and occasional addresses. He aided
the members of his own family in obtaining a liberal education,
and extended a helping hand to others. After his resignation he
removed to the Highlands, Roxbury, where he lived till his death,
.Tune 24, 1866. His memoir and sermons were pu})lished l)y his
devoted parishioner, Lewis G. Pray. His immediate neighbor and
friend in the West Churcli, Boston, Rev. Cyrus A. Bartol, I). D..
has recorded his estimate of the life and character of Dr. Barrett,
to which we are sure all his friends will cordially assent as not over-
drawn, but as sound and true. We quote his beautiful words :

As a preacher, Dr. Bai-rett was regiirded as having- but few. if any,
.superiors in tlie eftectiveuess of his pulpit nunlstratioiis. There wu.s
nothing about him cohl. indifterent or tame; rather, an extraordinary

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 287

fervor. I never met him but to see this divine ;vrdor in liis face, hear it
in his voice, anti mark it in his manner. Yet tliorc \vas no attribute in
liim his friends would perhaps sooner single out than liis wisdom. Ihouoii
it was wisdom without suspicion of management or cunning. Hi' was as
simple as he was wise. Bright and cheering views his own mind moved
him to take. To him in his goodness, all was good. The world was a
good world; the race was a good race; all fortune was good fortune, and
Providence was intinitely good. In tlie darkest time he never despaired.
I suppose there never was profounder faitli in the future of mankind, and
the innnortal destiny and bliss of tlie children of men. Xever was pity
more tender or reflective or ciri-umspect. I should leave out one of the
Ijrincipal traits if I omitted this uniform, unsurpassed forbearance to rub
unnecessarilj- the sore spot. Xot that he was i-eticent or close. He was
transparent and altogether decided in his opinion. But he difl'cred
entirely from those who ai"e diligent to thrust in tlie probe where they
have not been called as surgeons, and in dialing into morbid activity old
and half-healed wounds. The young are good judges, and he singularly
drew them as a teacher in early life. He was a good man. Perhaps no
clergyman has been more beloved by his parishioners and professional
associates. Many a heart was in the coffin holding the precious remains
tliat had been liis body, the shrine of a nature as noble and atteetionate as
is ever dressed in human form, still keeping, in decay, his innocent and
generous look.

Dr. Barrett married, September 11, 1832, Mary Susaii Green-
wood, daughter of Dr. Greenwood of Boston, and sister of the emi-
nent Unitarian minister, Rev. Dr. F. W. P. Greenwood, minister of
King's Chapel, a lady of the most beautiful and winning Christian
cliaracter. She died March 15, 1874. Dr. and Mrs. Barrett had
eiglit eliildren, four sons and four daughters, and numerous grand-
children and great-grandchildren.

REV. DAVID GAGE.

Rev. David Gage, born December 26, 1809, in Wilton, is the son
of Richard and Betsey (Huteliinson) Gage. He writes : " When I
was quite a young man, I helped nialvc the brick for the Baptist
meeting-house. In 1829 I left Wilton to work for Luther Law-
rence of Groton, Massachusetts. After working for Mr. Lawrence
one year I returned to Wilton. In 1831 I became a member of
tlie Baptist Church. Subsequently I entered the institution at
New Hampton. In 1833 the Baptist Church in Wilton gave me a
license to preach. In 1834 I commenced to preach in East Wash-
ington, and was ordained as pastor of the Baptist Churcli tliere Sep-
tember 23, 1835. In 1845 I was dismissed from the pastoral care of
the church in East Washington, and became pastor of the Baptist

288 HISTORY OF WILTON.

C'liiiich in New Boston the same year. In 1855 I was appointed
by the New Hampshire Baptist Convention as their domestic mis-
sionary. I labored in this capacity in Acworth, Marlow and Unity
until 18(i2, when I was ap[)ointed missionary and linancial aj^ent.
In 1878 1 resigned my agency, having labored for the Convention
twenty-three years. In 1SG2 I renioved to Manchester, where I
have resided until tlie [)resent time. Since 1878 I have preached
nearly all the time as a stated supi)ly in different churdies. I have
been able to i)reach nearly every Sa!)bath for lifty years. I am
here in P^ast Canaan as a stated supply, and preach every Sabbatli.
I wish to die with the harness on."

REV. KPIIKAIM I'KAi;o])V. V. 1).

He was the son of Ephraim and Khoda (Abbot) reabody, and
was born March 22, 1807. He wns litted for college at Phillips
Exeter Academy, and graduated at Bowdoin College in 1827, and
at Cambridge Divinity School in 1830. After preaching for some
time in Meadville, Pennsylvania ; Cincinnati, Ohio : and ^lobile,
Alabama, he Avas settled over the Unitarian Church in New Bedford,
Massachusetts, in June, 18;J8. He became minister of King's Chapel
in Boston in January, 184G. He married Mary Jane Derby ol
Salem, JMassachusetts, in l8o.'). He received the degree of Doctor
of Divinity from Bowdoin College in 18i8. He died November
28, 185G. "A nuiu of sound jndgmeut and self-sacrificing benevo-
lence, combining with great practical wisdom the utmost simplicity
and [)urity of character."

The following beautiful picture of Dr. Peabody, drawn by the
loving hand of Rev. John H. JNIorison, 1). I)., for several years his
associate in the New Bedford society, is as true as it is beautiful.
It is taken from a sermon preached ^lay 20, 1888, at the fiftieth
anniversary of the last services in the old church :

It w;is my i>ri\ ik\i;(' fitty years ago to hv (trdaiiicii lieic tlic assofialo
pastor of tliis society witli one of wlioiii I can hardly tliiiik willioiit llic
deepest sense of ^'rateful emotion and alVectiftns. lie was one of the
truest, wisest, saintliest of men, a u)an of widely extended leariunii', a
man of far-reaehin.ii", seir-fori;"etting' sympathies and alVection.-. lovinii' and
bidoved as few men have ever been, a man in wliose large and lilieral
nature no room could be lomid for so nuieh as a momentary snggeslion
tliat was not genei'ous and manly, a man vei'y modest in his estimate of
himself, it he thought of himself at all. diflident appaiently iu his inter-
eoiu'se with others, but in an emergency no man was more iudeitendeut
or self-reliant, and no man liraver in troubled times nor truer to the

^ ^=<>'^^^V'^

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 289

deepest convictions of nature than he. Once I remember, when we were
returning from a succession of parisli calls, he said to me, and I heartily-
assented to what he said: ''Among all these homes which we have
eniered there is hardly one wliich it is not a pleasui-e and a privilege
to visit." So it was, here, fifty years ago. And the cordial good feeling
whicli united your ministers extended to all the members of their house-
holds. A dear child* of his, beautiful in person and lovely even beyond
what is usual at that most attractive age, dying before slie had completed
her thirtietli year, bore to her grave a name which, from its associations,
could not but bind all still more closely together.

With these great qualities added to extraordinary beauty and personal
attractions, our friend was trusted, beloved and honored as few men ever
are. In any community he could not fail to have a commanding influence,
especially witli the most intelligent, highest and upright members of
societ}'. As a preacher, lie was grave, impressive, instructive, with a
voice sometimes hard, often monotonous, sometimes deep, rich, melodious,
filling out as with organ tones passages of sustained moral dignity and
power, sometimes like the sunlight at even-song, illuminating with richest
hues pictures of rare poetic beaut}^ or, most eftective of all, (lowing as a
tearful melody through passages of tender, melting pathos, such as I
liave never found in any other preacliers.

For five years we worked here together, the labors of the parish pretty
equally divided between us, he the principal, I the assistant. It was a
most happy, aftectionate union, no shadow of misunderstanding falling
on the relationship which bound us to each other and to our own people.
And it is a great iiappiness now to see the same friendship drawing our
children's children aftectionately together.

REV. WAIJKEN BURTON.

He was the son of Jonathan and Persis (Warreu) Burton, and
was born, November 23, 1800, in Wilton. He was fitted for
college by his pastor, Rev. Thomas Beede, and graduated at Har-
vard in 18"21. He went through the course of the Cambridge
Divinity School, but was obliged to suspend his studies for a time
on account of ill health. He travelled one summer as the agent of
the American Unitarian Association, being the first who acted in
that capacity. Health restored, and the course of study finished,
he received the customary license to preach. In March, 1828, he
was ordained as the first pastor of a new Unitarian Society at East
Cambridge, Massachusetts. Resigning the charge of the society at
the end of the first year, he supplied the pulpit at Washington for a
time, and afterwards preached at Keene, Nashua, Hingham, Wal-
tham and other places. In August, 1844, he entered upon liis

* The lirst wile of Charles W. Eliot, I'resideut of Harvard University.

^90 HISTORY OF WILTON.

duties as minister-at-large in Boston, and remained in that position
until the autumn of 1848. He afterwards became minister-at-large
and chaplain of the county prison in Worcester, Massachusetts,
where he remained two years. He then devoted himself to writing
and lecturing. He was the author of the " District School as It
Was," *•' Home PxUication," and several other publications, and
was an eminent promoter of education. He was a most earnest
and enthusiastic man, of guileless childlikeness, and warm and
affectionate sympathies. Born in the cold north, he had all the
ardent temperament proverbially attributed to the children of a
tropical clime.

He married, June 26, 1828, Sarah, daughter of Deacon John and
Sarah (Parker) Flint, a woman of rare beauty of person and
character, who died October 11, 1836, and in 184.") he married
Mary Merritt, of Salem, Massachusetts, who still survives him.
He died in Salem, June 6, 1866. His sou and daughter by his
first wife deceased before him.

EPHKAIM IJKOWN.

He is the son of Ephraim and Sarah (King) Brown, and was
born October 1, 1819. He gave up his intention of a collegiate
course upon his father's death, and took his father's place in the
family and on the farm, and taught school in the winter. In 1845
he disposed of the farm, and entered Phillips Academy in Andover,
Massachusetts, and soon after was elected assistant teacher in the
Moody Grammar School in Lowell, Massachusetts. In 1850 he
engaged in trade, and in 1854 he invented and patented the safety
alarm money drawer, which now in some foiun is in universal use.
From 1858 to 1865 he gave popular lectures to lyceums, schools
and societies on geology and paleontology. He has spent one
season in Europe. In 1848 he was one of the founders of the
Howard Life Insurance Company of Boston, and in 1865 was
elected its president and treasurer. He was one of the originators
of the First National Bank of Lowell in 1864. He is a trustee in
the Central Savings Bank of Lowell, and has acted as guardian
and trustee in other cases. He is now engaged in the manufacture
of cabinet lathes.

GEORGE BROVTN, M. D. FROM THE BROWN GENEALOGY.

He is the son of Ephraim and Sarah (King) Brown, and was
born October 11, 1823. He fitted for college at Andover, Massa-

BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES. 291

chusetts, entered Burlington College, Vermont, studied medicine
with Dr. Norman Smith of Groton, Massachusetts, and matricu-
lated in Jefferson College, Philadelphia, and in -the University of
New York. In 1850 he settled in Barre, Massachusetts, in the
successful practice of his profession as a physician. In 1851 he
became the proprietor of a small institution for the education of
feeble-minded children, in Barre, which he and his wife have con-
ducted with such ability, skill and success, that it has become an
asylum widely known, and second to no other similar one in the
world. Dr. Brown spent four months in Europe, in 1873, in visit-
ing the principal public, and the most noted private, institutions of
this class. He found the reputation of the Barre Asylum had
preceded him, and ensured him access and welcome. He has been
for several years a councillor of the IMassachusetts Medical Society ;
he is a member of the New England Psychological Society ; also of
the National Association of Superintendents of Asylums for the
Insane ; and is president of the Association of American Superin-
tendents of Institutions for Feeble-minded Youth. In 1884, besides
visiting almost every state in the Union, Dr. Brown spent fourteen
weeks in travelling on the Pacilic and northwest coast. The
buildings and grounds of his asylum manifest great taste, ingenuity
and skill in their plan and management, and in their adaptability to
supply the wants, cultivate the sensibilities, and secure the com-
forts of the inmates. The institution is a great blessing to the
unfortunate, and most of those who leave it have become better
fitted to bear the burdens and carry on the battle of life.

Dr. Brown married, November 1, 1850, Catharine Wood of
Groton, Massachusetts. Mrs. Brown is widely known as a writer
for medical and popular magazines, and has furnished copious
letters for publication from her note-book of travels in Mexico.

REV. LUBIM BUKTON BOCKWOOD.

He was the son of Lubim and Lydia (Burton) Rockwood, and
the grandson of Ebenezer Rockwood, M. D., and was born August
8, 1816. He studied at New Ipswich Academy, graduated at
Dartmouth College in 1839, taught school one year and studied
two years at Audover Theological Seminary, ending his studies
there in 1843. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in
1844, and became financial agent of Union Theological Seminary
in New York city for seven years. He married. May 1, 1845,

292 ^ HISTORY OF WILTON.

Abby Ann, daughter of Deacon Ezra Abbot. He was installed
in July. 1850, over the Congregational Church in Rocky Hill, Con-
necticut, as colleague with Dr. Chapin. In 1859 he resigned his
pastorate, and became agent for one year of the American Tract
Society for Connecticut. In April, 18G0, he was appointed secretary
of the New England branch of the American Tract Society, and
removed to Roxbury, ^Massachusetts. He had his tract ollice and
depository in' Boston, and was engaged in travelling much and
in making public addresses throughout New England. He was
distinguished for his efficiency and popular gifts. He continued in
this service till his death. May 7, 1872. His widow continues
to reside in Roxbury. Mr. Rockwood was an earnest and devoted
minister, of great wisdom and usefulness, and exerted a wide-spread
inlluence in the religious bodies to which he consecrated his life.

GEORGE L. DASCOMBE. BY GEORGE "W. BRIDGES.

George L. Dascombe was born in Wilton, April 6, 1818. His
early life was spent on the farm, with the privilege of attending the
district school during the two terms, summer and winter, of each
year. He was fortunate in obtaining instruction for a few terms
at the Teachers' Seminary in Andover, Massachusetts. At the age
of seventeen he began teaching what was called the winter term in
the district schools of AVilton and tlie adjoining towns ; this occu-
pation he followed during the winter for more than thirty years.
The writer of this article was one of his pupils for several of those
terms, and remembers him as a kind and lenient teacher, taking a
lively interest in the best welfare of his scholars, being thorough in
his methods, and winning for himself the respect and highest regard
of his pupils and also of their par-ents. He was superintending
school committee in this town for nearly twenty years ; sometimes
having sole charge, at other times being associated with other gen-
tlemen, in that important office. Mr. Dascombe has always resided
in his native town, and when not engaged in the schools, his occu-
pation has been farming. He joined the Patrons of Husbandry,
held various offices in that body, and was chaplain of the New
Hampshire State Grange for six years. He was twice elected to
represent the town in the State Legislature, serving in that body in
1858 and 1859.

May 25, 18-49, he married Julia A., daughter of Captain Hermon
Pettengill of Wilton. They had only one child, a son, Everard

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 293

Willie, who graduated from Hobart College in 1880 ; after gradua-
tion he went to San Antonio, Texas, where he died the following
year.

JOSEPH HALE ABBOT. BY FRANCIS ELLINGWOOD ABBOT.

Joseph Hale Abbot was the eldest sou of Deacon Ezra and
Rebekah (Hale) Abbot, of Wilton. He was born, September 25,
1802, on Abbot Hill, on the homestead farm originally settled in
17fi4 by his grandfather, Major Abiel Abbot, one of the most
honored men of the town, who, as shown by the original com-
missions still extant, had been " Captain of the Ninth Company in
the Sixth Regiment of the Militia" of " His Majesty's Province
of New Hampshire " under King George HI., — successively
" Second Major " and " First Major of the Fifth Regiment " of the
State Militia in the Revolutionary war, — and for forty consecutive
years either town ottlcer in some responsible capacity or town repre-
sentative in the State Legislature. That Deacon Ezra Abbot was
no less honored and intlueutial in town affairs than his father, is
apparent in the fact that he was chosen to be president of the day
at the memorable Wilton centennial celebration in 18;3y. His
wife, Rebekah Hale, of Coventry, Connecticut, lineally descended
from the Rev. John Hale, tirst minister of the town of Beverly,
Massachusetts, who died in 1700, was daughter of Lieutenant
Joseph Hale and niece of Captain Nathan Hale, both patriot
soldiers in the Continental Army, and the latter famous as the
" Martyr-Si)y of the Revolution," whose pathetic fate and dying
words, " I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my
country I " were reverently remembered in that serious New Eng-
land household.

In a home dignified and hallowed by. such memories as these,
Joseph Hale Abbot passed his early years. He began his prepara-
tion for college in his native town under the Rev. Thomas Beede,
and finished it, in 1818, under his venerated uncle, the Rev. Abiel
Abbot, D. D., then principal of Dummer Academy in Byfield,
Massachusetts. He was graduated at Bowdoin College in 1822,
standing very near the head of his class. After spending a year
in Cambridge as resident graduate at Harvard College, he took
charge of a select school at Beverly, which he conducted with
signal success. From 1825 to 1827 he was tutor and librarian at
Bowdoin College, where he taught Latin, geometry, Frencli and
Spanish. From 1827 to IH'.VA he was professor of mathematics

294 HISTORY OF WILTON.

and natural philosophy at Phillips Exeter Aeadem}', then under
the charge of his illustrious kinsman, Benjamin Al)bot, LL. D.,
where he gave experimental lectures in chemistry and natural phi-
losophy, and where he greatly raised and improved the character
of the P:nglish department. On May 13, 1830, at Beverly, Mas-
sachusetts, he married Fanny Ellingwood Larcom, daughter of
Henry and Fanny (Ellingwood) Larcom, and grand-niece of the
Hon. Nathan Dane, LL. D., member of the Continental Congress
in 1785-88, framer of the famous " Ordinance of 1787," founder
of the Dane Professorship of Law in Harvard University, etc.
From 1833 to 18.')9, with some intermissions from impaired health,
Mr. Abbot conducted a private school for young ladies in Boston,
and gained the highest reputation as an able, conscientious and
successful educator. From 1859 to I860 he w\as occupied chiefly
in preparing scientific definitions for Worcester's Quarto Dictionary.
From 1801 to 1867 he was principal of the Beverly High School,
and left so deep an impression of his character upon the minds of
his pupils, that, on his retirement, they formed the "Abbot Associa-
tion," which flourished in great usefulness for many years, in order
to perpetuate with grateful affection the memory and influence of
his wise instructions. From 1867 to 1872 he resided chiefly in
Boston, taking a few private pupils and pursuing his favorite
studies. He died at the house of his daughter, in Cambridge,
April 7, 1873.

In 1838 Mr. Abbot was elected a resident fellow of the Amer-
ican Academy of ,Arts and Sciences, in which he took the deepest
interest to the day of his death, and in which he served with dis-
tinction as recording secretary from 1850 to 1852, winning golden
opinions by the unusual accuracy and fulness of his minutes of
scientific discussions and contributions. In October, 1840, he pub-
lished in Silliman's Journal the first complete scientific explanation
of the "Pneumatic Paradox," describing new^ and original experi-
ments of great interest and value. In June, 1848, he published in
Littell's Living Age an important article on "Principles Recog-
nized by Scientific Men Applied to the Ether Controversy," and in
the Atlantic Monthly, June, 1868, another on "The Discovery of
Etherization." He also contributed to the North American Review,
October, 1856, a review of " Consolations of Solitude," a book of
poems by Dr. John W. Randall, grandson of Samuel Adams, which
deserves to be far more widely known than it is. For the last
fifteen years of his life Mr. Abbot was laboriously preparing an

BIOGRArHICAL SKETCHES. 295

original work on English grammar, incorporating methods and
results of a life-time of sagacious study ; but he did not live to
complete it.

Fifty years of patient, painstaking, conscientious lalior as a
teacher and scholar— there is little to dazzle the imagination in
such a career as that. But the love, respect and veneration of his
pupils, many of whom attained great distinction in after-life, and
above all the consciousness of duty done, were to him the sweetest
of all rewards. In outward manner grave, dignified and courtly,
yet always considerate and kindly, he speedily won and lastingly
retained the hearts of his scholars. Absolute truthfulness, a chival-
rous love of justice, au integrity of the intellect no less than of the
life, yet with this an almost womanly tenderness of soul, were the
bed-rock of his character. No juster tribute was ever paid than
these words of his widow, who for ten years survived him : " InteJ-
lectiKi! superiority and moral puritti — those were the qualities I
first required in my maiden ideal of a life-companion ; and, looking
for these in your father, I was never disappointed."

CHAPTER XXX.

GENEALOGIES OF FAMILIES.

In this chapter we have endeavored to give the abridged genealo-
gies of Wilton families, native or resident. It has been a work of
much labor and perplexity, and not unlikely, with our utmost care
and caution, it will be found to have many errors and omissions.
Many families do not keep accurate records of the births, mar-
riages, places of residence, and deaths of their own kindred. In
submitting this part of tlie History, therefore, to the public, the
authors crave the indulgence of readers and critics. We can only
say that we have done what we could, not what we would. We
have sought also to systematize the work, and to reduce the broken
and fragmentary details, which have been collected, into such order
and form that they may be easily intelligible. By this uniformity
we trust that greater facility may be gained in deciphering what to
strangers may be but dry and uninteresting l)undles of facts, but
what to relatives and friends glow with life and reality, and touch
the holiest chords of memory and affection. Also we hope that
families may be awakened to the value and importance of more full
and accurate records of their domestic life, so that the chroniclers
of 1987 may not experience the same embarrassment and trouble
we have had in tracing the genealogy of families of the last century
and a half of our history.

The limitation of space has made it necessary to arrauge the gene-
alogies as concisely as is consistent with ease of comprehension.
The numbers in the margin of the genealogies serve to facilitate
reference and to enable the reader to trace ancestry or descent.
Each person has a number ; and those who became heads of fami-
lies are numbered twice. The name of each head of a family is
printed in small cnpital letters ; the enclosed number following his

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HELIOTYPE PRINTING CO. BOSTON, MASS

GENEALOGIES : ADAMS. 297

name refers back to his position as ciiild. The names of his cliil-
dren follow, printed in small letters, each with a marginal number ;
the enclosed number after the name of a child points out his future
position as head of a family. To illustrate by example : if we
wish to trace the ancestry of Charles A. Baldwin, whose marginal
number in the Baldwin genealogy is 112, we shall find his father's
name by looking for the name printed in smali capital letters next
above his . We find it thus : " 1 0'J , John Bradley ( 58 ) . " If we turn
to 58, and look for the name in small capital letters next above,
we learn that John Bradley's father was " 55, Loammi ;" and so
we pass through " 13, Timothy," "4, John," "3, John," "2,
Thomas," until we come to "1, John Baldwin," the original emi-
grant. It will be observed that the surname, when it is the name
common to the family, is omitted to avoid needless repetition ;
when any are recorded having a dift'erent surname from that of the
family in which they are classed, that name is always given, but is
enclosed within marks of parenthesis to show that it is not a middle
name. The following abbreviations will be frequently used : b. for
born ; ch. for child or children ; n. ch. for no children ; d. for died ;
dau. for daughter ; gen. for genealogy ; grad. for gi'aduate or grod-
uated : m. for married; unm. for unmarried; res. for resides,
resided or residence.

ADAMS FAMILY.*

1. Daniel Emerson Adams, b., Camden, Me., June 22, 1832. He was
tlie son of Rev. Darwin Atlams, who was the son of Daniel Adams, M. D..
for many j-ears a phj'siciau in Mont Vernon, whose practice extended
into Wilton, and who was well known as the author of Adams's Arithme-
tic and other school books. Mr. Adams's mother, Catharine H. Smith,
was dan. of Eev. Eli Smith, minister for thirty-six years of tho Cono;roo:a-
tional Church of llollis. and was a descendant of IJev. Daniel EmcM-son,
the first minister of Hollis, and well kno^wn in Revolutionarj' history. Mr.
Adams graduated at Bangor Seminary in 1800, and has been settled as a
Congregational minister successiveh' in Wilton, 18G0-187(J, Ashburnham,
Mass., and Southborough. Mass., where he now resides. He m., 18r).5,
Ellen Frances Kingsbury of Keeue, who d. May, 1882. He m., Feb., 1884,
Marion Elsie Center, dau. of S. X. Center of Wilton. Children :

2. Charles Darwin, b., Keene, 18.57; grad. at Dartmouth College, 1877;
now Professor of Greek in Drury College, Mo.

3. Mary Catharine, b., Wilton, 18()8.

4. George Wilton, b., Wilton, 1873.

* The genealogy of the Abbot family is necessarily ixistponed to the latter part of this
chapter. •

298 HISTORY OF WILTON.

AVERILL FAMIT.Y.

1. MosKs AvF.iJiLL lived in Amhorst until al)out the rlosc of tlic
FJovolutioniii y W;ii'. IIo was in ('apt. Xathan Ballard's i-onipany at tlir
alarm of June 20, 1777, and served fourteen days. He was in (apt. -lolin
Goss's company at the battle of Bennino'ton. and served two montlis
and nine days. lie enlisted Jrdy 12, 1779, to serve six months in tlie Xew
IIami)shire reg-inient for the defence of Bhode Island, and was discliarc'ed
Jan. 8, 1780. He came about the close of the war to AVilton. and was
last taxed here in 1802. His wife, IMary. d. April .'50. 17!)1. Children :

2. Mary, b. May 28, 1787.

3. Jonathan Bridj^es, b. April 17. 1780: in.. Feb. 2;], 181:5. Olive
Foster.

4. Sarah, b. May 11, 1702.

BALDWIX FA:\riLV.

1. Joiix Baldwin, probably fnnn Hertfordshire, Enj^land, came to.
Billerica, Mass., in 10;")"): ni.. May 1."), 10.")."). ^lai'v Bichai'dson of Wol)urn.
Mass.

2. TriOMA.s, son of precedino;, b. March 20, 1072: ni. Sarah French.

3. Joilx, son of precedinji'. b. Xov. 10. 1000: m.. ^[ay I, 172."), Sarah
Hill.

4. JOHX, son of pieeeding, b. Nov. 1, 17.')1 : ni.. Feb. .'5, 17.")8, Eliza-
beth Parkhurst of Chelmsford, Mass. Children who lived in Wilton :

5. John (8), b. March .3, 17r)0.

e. Timothy (13), b. April 1.3, 1702.

7. Asa (23), b. Nov. 15, 1770.

8. John (5), b. March .3, 1750; m. Isabel Beard: canif to Wilton
and res. on the farm now owned by Jeremiah Driscoll : aftci- sonic years
removed to Verinont. Children :

{>. John, b. June 18, 1782.

10. Sally, b. Feb. 1, 1787.

11. James, b. July 1.3, 1780.

12. Susanna, b. Aug. 10, 1701.

13. Timothy ((>), b. April 1.3, 1702; d. probably in 1823. He came to
Wilton in 1788, and lived on the place now owned by S. H. Dunbar. He
m., 1787, Prudence Chapman, dau. of Davis and Hannah (Peacock) Chap-
man of Tewksbury, Mass., wlio was b. Sept. 20, 1708, and d. Sept. 3, 1840.
Children :

14. Prudence, b. June 10, 1788; d., Wilton. Aug. 12, 1850; res. in
Weston and Andover, Vt. ; ni. Xathan Ilesselton, 1805. wlio d. .Ian. 4.
1814. See Ilesselton gen.

lo. Bebecca, b. Dec. 18, 1780: d. young.

1(J. Timothy (2(>), b. Oct. 11, 1701.

17. Bebecca (3.>), 1). .\pril 11, 1793.

15. Hannah (38), 1). Feb. 23, 1705.
10. Joel (4(J). 1). Xov. 25. 1700.

GENEALOGIES : BALDWIN. 29U

20. Betsey, b. Dec. .30, 1798 ; d. youiig.

21. Eeubeii (.53), b. Nov., 1800.

22. Loainmi (55),b. Dec. 27. 180;{.

23. Asa (7), b. Nov. 15, 1770; d. M:irch 27, 1842. (';iine to Wiltou
iibout 1705 and res. on the place now owned by his son, I.utlier. lie ni..
Feb. 11, 170"), Ruth Kidder of Tewksl)ury, Mass., who d. Sf^pt. 21, ISO.l;
m., 2d, Oct. 2.5, 1807, Susanna Kidder, who d. Sept. 21, 18.*)1. Children :

24. Asa, b. July 19, 1798. He was thrown from a hoi-sc .Inly 9. 1812.
and d. from the injuries then received.

25. Luther (({0), b. Sept. .'), 1802.

20. TiMOTilv (1«), b. Oct. 11, 1791. lie res. in Mont Vernon and d.
there May 2.-j, 18G9. He m., June, 1810, Sally Marshall, who d. May 21.
1824; m., 2d, Nov. 11, 1824, Sylva Averill of Mont Vernon, who d. March
28. 18G7. Children :

27. Lydia .lane (G4), b. June 30, 1817.

28. Ituth Ann, b. Sept. 19, 1818; d. Dec. 2, 18.5.3.

29. Hannah Marshall, b. April 14, 1820; d. April 7, 1801.

30. Sanuiel B., b. Jan. 1, 1822; d. Sept. 18, 1822.

31. John B., b. Aug. S, 1823; d. Nov. 20, 1823.

32. Sarah Caroline, b. Sept. 27, 1830; d. March 3, 1832.

33. Mary Angeline, b. Aug. 2, 1832; d. Aug. 21, 1834.

34. Sabrlna Frances (69), b. March IT), 1836.

35. IJehkcca (17), b. April 11, 1793; d. Oct. IS, 1820. IJes.. Lynde-
borough. She ra., June 27, 181.5, James I;. Clark. Children :

36. David Dickey (Clark) (71), b. Sept. 18, 1818.

37. Elizabeth (Clark), b. Dec, 1819: d. Oct. 9, 1828.

38. Hannah (18), b. Feb. 23, 179.5; d., Lyndeborough, March 13.
1860. She m., 1823, James L. Clark of Lyndeborough, husband of preced-
ing, who d. Oct. n, 1872. Children :

. 39. Bel)ecca Baldwin (Clark) (79), b. Feb. 26, 1824.

40. Hannah -lane (Clark), b. July 2, 1825; m.. May 1. 1S49. AVillinm
S. Treadwell of Peterborough, where they reside.

41. William Henry (Clark) (85), b. April 28, 1827.

42. James Brooks (Clark), b. Oct. 15, 1828; d. Nov. 4. 18.50.

43. Asa Baldwin (Clark) (88), b. Oct. 17, 1831.

44. Elizabeth (Clark), b. 1835; d. Sept. 13, 1837.

45. Frank Gray (Clark), b. Feb. 22, 18.38; grad. Amherst College,
1862, Andover Theological Seminary, 1869; res., West Medford, Mass.
He m., Aug. 11, 1864, Charlotte McCoy of Peterborough.

46. Joel (19), b. Nov. 25, 1796; d. April 19, 18.50. He removed to
Billerica, Mass.. in 1825. He m., 1822, Mary Fry of Andover. Mass.. who
d. April 12, 1882. Children:

47. John Fry (90), b. March 14, 1823.

48. Joel (93), b. Aug. 24, 1824.

49. Mary Ann (96), b. Dec. 4, 1826.

50. Charlotte Fry, b. June 18, 18.30: d. .Inly 14. Ls32.

51. Charles Henry, b. ,Ian. 8, 18.34; d. May 25, 1837.

52. William Henry (98), b. Jan. 14, 1838.

300 HISTORY OF WILTON.

53. Reuben- (21). b. Xov., 1800; d. Nov. 2, 1831. He m., 182.3,
Abigail Bradford of Lyiidcborough. Child :

54. Rebecca (103), 1). Oct. 15, 182;^.

55. LoAMMi (22), b. Dec. 27, 1803; res;, on the homestead and d.
March (J. 1800. He ni., Dec. 23, 1830, Charlotte Bradford of l.yiidebor-
ouo-h, who d. May 27, 1882. Children :

5(». Elvira, b. March 11, 1832; d. Oct. 31, 1837.

57. Bradley, 1). Feb. 7, 1834; d. Oct. 2.5, 1837.

.VS. John Bradley (109), b. Jan. 7, 1830.

.59. Hannah Jane (113), b. KSept. 10, 1841.

(JO. LiTUKi; (25). b. Sept. 5, 1802. He ha« always re-, on the home-
stead, and is now, 1888, the oldest native livinir; in Wilton. Me m., July 0.
1837, Phebe F. Richardson of Sntton. Children :

U. Asa (116), b. June 4, 1838.

02. Rnth Ann, 1). Fel). 19, 1841 ; d. Aug. 12, 1874.

(>3. .Alary (124), b. March 22, 1843.

04. Lydia Jane (27), b. June .30, JS17 ; d., Mont Vernon, April 20,
18G8. She m., .Ian., 1841, AVilliani Harrison Smith of Mont Vernon.
Children :

65. Emeline M. (Smith), b. Sept. is, 1841 ; d. Aug. 4, 1847.

66. Lenora Ann (Smith), b. Feb. 27, 1845.

67. Abbie Josephine (Smith), b. Jan. 27, 1847.

6.S. :Nrarcella (Smith), b. March 13, 1850; m.. Feb. 25. 1880. Ceorge
W. Hatch, M. D., and res. in Wilton.

69. Sabkina Frances (34), b. March 15, 1830: m.. Dec. 3, 1857,
•Toseph W. Averill of Mont Vernon, where they res. Child :

70. Chester Baldwin (Averill), b. Jan. 17, 1807.

71. David Dickey (Clakk) (36), b. Sept. 18, 1818; res., Lynde-
borough : m., April 22, 1842, Sophronia Dickinson, who d. May 13. 1872.
Children :

72. William Train (Clark), b. May 7, 1S43; m., Sept. 3. 1807, L. Jen-
nie Richards and lives in Boston, Mass.

73. Mary Jane (Clark), b. March 22, 1845; d. Nov. 24. 1804.

74. Corham Brooks (Clark), b. April 18, 1847; served in the civil war
in Fifth Regt., Mass. Vol., and d. July 24, 1805, from disease contracted
in the service.

75. Edna Augusta (Clark), b. April 7. 1840; d. Oct. 20. 1870. She
m., Jan. 4, 1800, Wallace Clark of Peterborough.

76. Laura Ann (Clark), b. March 7, 1852; m.. .lunc 1 I. 1877. (ieorge
J. Carson of Mont Vernon, where they reside.

77. James Linzey (Clark), b. May 25, 1850: m., Dec. .50,^1885, Lizzie
C. Wallace. Res., Xashua.

7S. Sarah Melissa (Clark), b. Nov. 17, 1S.")(».

79. Rebecca Baldwin (Clauk) (39), b. Feb. 20, 1824; m., Jan. 5,
1847, Oliver Perham. wlio d. Feb. 24, 1870. Res.. Lyndeborough. Chil-
dren :

HO. George Oliver (Perham), b. May 12. 1818; d. Aug. 19, 1849.

SI. Brooks Clark (Perham). b. Oct. 24. 1851 : d. Feb. 9, 18.53.

GENEALOGIES : BALDWIN. 301

82. Charleti Liuzey (Perhain). I). Jan. A. 1S54; in.. Feb. 16, 1S7S,
Emma J. Tarbcll of Mont Vernon. Res., Lyndeborough.

83. Georgiana Brooks (Perham), b. July 23, 1850; tl. .Sept. 30, 1871.

84. Willis Clark (Perham). b. July 18, 1850; m.. April 0. 1883, Annie
S. Eiehardson of Lyndeborough, where they reside.

85. William Henky (Clakk) (41), b. April 28,1827; ui., April 2,
1858, Theresa A. Heath. Res., West Medford, Mass. Children :

8G. Walter Gould (Clark), b. Dec. 15. 18(J0; m., April 16. 1885. Hat-
tie B. Brown of Medfoi-d, Mass., where they reside.

87. Evelyn Theresa (Clark), b. Nov. 15, 1863.

88. Asa Baldwix (Clakk) (43). b. Oct. 17, 1831; m., Jan. 1.
1861, Mary Elizabeth McCoy of Peterborough. Res., Welleslev, Mass.
Child :

89. Alice Brooks (Clark), b. Sept. 25, 1867.

90. John Fkv (47), b. March 14, 1823; m., Dec. 25, 18-tG, Fannie
A. Parker of Carlisle, Mass., who d. Nov. 3, 1858. He m., 2d, Xov.
28, 1861, Eveline Richardson of Billerica, Mass. Res., Andover, Mass.
Children :

91. Susan M., b. Jan. 25, 1848; m., Oct. 15, 1860, John A. Knowles,
Jua., of Lowell, Mass., who d. May 20, 1884. Res., Lowell.

92. John P., b. Oct. 16, 1850; d. Xov. 16, 1851.

93. Joel (48), b. Aug. 24. 1824; m., Dec. 28, 1848, Elizabeth Trull of
Tewksbury, Mass. Res., Billerica, Mass. Children:

94. Annie M., b. Dec. 27, 1850; m., Jan. 10, 1872, Joseph Jaquitli of
Billerica, Mass., where they reside.

9o. Joel W.. b. Fel). 1, 1852; m., June 24,1883, F^lizabeth McKinnon.
Res., Tewksbury, Mass.

96. Mahy Ann (49), b. Dec. 4, 1826; iii., April 16, 1846, William
Manning of Billerica. Mass. Res., Chelmsford. Mass. Child :
. 97. Charlotte (Manning). 1). Feb. 10, 1847; m.. Oct. 0. 1872. Erastus
A. Bartlett. Res., Chelmsford. Mass.

98. VV'iLLiAJi Henry (.52), b. Jan. 14, 1838; m., April 5, 1850, Mary
M.Moore. Res., Lowell, Mass. Children:

99. Lottie M., b. Xov. 20, 1860.

100. Charles H., b. March 10, 1867.

101. Fred G., b. 3Iay 31, 1873.

102. Amy M., b. Xov. 23. 1877.

103. Rebecca (54), b. Oct. 15, 1823; m., Feb. 1. 1843, Horace, son of
Jonathan Parkhurst. Children:

104. George Wintield (Parkhurst), b. Dec. 14, 1844; d. Sept. 23, 1847.

105. Granville J. (Parkhurst), b. April 14, 1847; m., Xov. 28, 1867,
Sarah Spoflbrd.

106. Clara M. (Parkhurst), b. Oct. 6, 1840; m., June 6, 1871, Albert
French.

107. George Edward (Parkhurst), b. May 10, 1855; m., June 11, 1870,
Jennie Parker.

108. Ella R. (Parkhurst), b. Dec. 17, 1861; m., Dec. 20, 1885, Harry
A. Hartshorn.

o02 HISTORY OF WILTON.

1(M>. John Bkadli:y (5H), b. J:ui. 7, 1S30; in., May, 1864, Jane O.
Curtis of Lymleborougli, who d. Sept., 180'). He ni., 2(1, .Jan., 1872,
Louise E. rerhani, who d. Oct. 1(5, 188(i. Children:

110. Lewis II., b. Jan. 25, 1873.

111. Florence L., b. Sept. 4, 187G.

112. Charles A., b. July G, 1878.

li:j. Hannah Jane (59), b. Sept. IG, 1841 ; ni.. .Tan. 7, 1868, Fred. A.
Ifichardson of Lyndeborou^ii, where they reside. Children :

114. George Allen (Richardson), b. Dec. 30, 1868; d. April 2, 1875.

115. Fred Pcrley (Richardson), b. Dec. 31, 1882.

110. Asa (01), b. June 4, 1838. He res. on the homestead in Wilton.

He ni., Dec. 5, 1870, Lucy A. Richardson of Hudson. C'liildreu:

117. William, b. June 30, 1871 ; d. July 1, 1872.

lis. Mary, b. Aug. 12, 1872; d. March 7, 1881.

11J>. Ida R., b. Nov. 7, 1874.

120. Edward S., b. Aug. 5, 1879.

121. Benjamin D., b. Aug. 2, 1882. .

122. Eugene, b. July 25, 1885; d. Jan. 29, 1886.
. 123. Xeilie G., b. Dec. 4, 1886.

12-4. Maky (03), b. March 22, 1843; m., Nov. 21, 1SG7, William R.
Barron of Amherst, who d. Sept. 8, 1875. She m., 2d, Jan. 7, 1880, Joseph
Langdell. Children :

125. Infant dau. ; d. Oct. 10, 1869.

126. Luther M. (Langdell), b. June 12, 1881.

BAi.ES FAMILY.

1. William Bales was an involuntary emigrant to this country
from Wales, having been im[)ressed and put on board a man of war that
was to sail to America. It is said that he was a very small man, Init very
active. On airiving at Salem he deserted, and, being closely pursued,
rushed into a house where a woman was seated on a bench, s[)iuniiig ujjon
a linen wheel, and implored her to secrete him. She raised one side of the
large hoop around the bottom of her dress, which it was then the fashion
to wear, and told him to crawl under it. Immediately the jiursuers came
and asked if a man had entered there; she, still busy with her wheel,
replied, "A little fellow rushed through here." They said they would
take the liberty to search the house, and did so, but went away without
finding the deserter. No doubt William Bales had good cause to think
highly of what would now be thought a most ludicrous fashion. It is
said he helped John Dale to build his first camp in this town ; from which
we infer that he probably arrived at Salem about the time Mr. Dale was
starting for Salem-Canada. Mr. Bales settled on lot No. 18 in the first
range. We have no record of his birth, marriage or death. We have
found no record or tradition that he had more than one child, William.

2. William, son of preceding, b. Aug. 22, 1752, settled on the home-
stead with his father. He bought of Josiah Blanchard twenty acres of
the west part of the east half of lot No. 15 in the lirst range, deed dated
May 3, 1780; of Margaret Stoddard and others lot No. 14 in the first

GENEALOGIES : BALES. 303

ranae, deed dated Mav 13. 17SS. and of Samuel Hutchinson three acres in
the north part of lot No. i;! in the first range, deed dateil June 11, ITlXi.
On the land Ijougiit of Mr. Hutchinson, he built, in 1709, the liouse now
owned by the heirs of Edwin E. Bales. He and his son. William L., were
among the lirst members of the Baptist societ}-. He m., June 4, 1778,
Khoda, dau. of John and Abigail (Livermore) Kej^es. Children :

3. Ehoda, b. May Ki, 1770; m., Jan. 20. ISOS. John Ballard: d. Jan.
15, 1839.

4. Betsey, b. Sept. 25, 1780; m., March 1, 1809, Stephen Branuam.

5. Sally, b. March 1, 1782; m., Oct. 23, 1800, John Peabody.

6. William L. (14), b. March 13, 1784.

7. Polly, b. Sept. 15, 1787; m., Jan. 30, 1821, Lewis E. Caswell.

8. John (15), b. Feb. 2G, 1790.

t). Hannah, b. Jan. 1, 1792; m., Feb. 11, 1814, William T. Kichardson.

10. Chloe, b. July 11, 1794; m., July 10, 1814, Isaac Abbot.

11. Ezra, 1). Jan. 25, 1797; d. young.

12. Ezra (25), b. April 16, 1799.

13. Abiel, b. Dec. 30, 1801. Left Wilton soon after he was of age.

14. WiLLizVM L. (G), b. March 13, 1784, was a deacon of the Baptist
Church and quarter-master of the 22nd Kegiment of militia. He built the
old Brick Hotel, and part of that block, on the opposite side of the street,
now owned by Dr. Fleeman. In Nov., 1841, he sold the east and north
part of his farm to Benjamin Hopkins, and, in 1842, lie sold the rest of his
farm to his brother, Ezra, and removed to Oliio, where he d. over 90 yrs.
of age. We have found no record of his family.

15. John (8), b. Feb. 2G. 1790; d. Jan. 25, 1858. He served his time
with Ei)hraim Pea body to learn the blacksmith's trade, and built a shop,
containing a trip-hannner, where Joseph LangdelTs stable now stands.
The shoj) remained until the Foi-est road was built, when it was moved to
the site now occupied l)v the shop built Ijy Charles A. Bales in 18CG. He
held several military olliccs in the 3rd company of the 22nd Kegiment of
militia, and was captain of the company in 1823-24. He m., June 29,
1813, Milly Shattuck, who d. July 23, 1877, aged 84 yrs. Children :

IG. John Albert, b. March 8, 1814; d. Sept. 30, 1832.

17. Milly C, b. Nov. 1, 1817; m., April 18, 1838, A. Marshall Whitte-
more. Res., Greeufleld; u. ch.

18. S. Brooks (33), b. July 25, 1819.

19. Nancy K., b. June 24, 1821 ; d. Jan. 8, 1824.

20. Nancy K., b. May 4, 1824.

21. Joan Marian, b. April 25, 1828.

22. Charles J., b. May 1, 1832; d. Sept. 30, 1832.

23. Charles A. (35), b. Feb. 24, 1835.

24. Martha A., b. May 21, 1838; d. Feb. 20, 1842.

25. Ezra (12), b. April 16, 1799; d. May 10, 1882. For about 19
years he owned and occupied the farm whii'h his grandfather had cleared
up. He was a famous drummer, was appointed major-drunmicr, and was
afterwards know n as Major Bales. In 1842 he moved to the farm at the
village ; he was a good townsman. A few years before his death he

304 HISTORY or WILTON.

became blind. He m., June, 1S23, Haniiiih Wilson, who d. Feb. 14, 1877.
Cliildren :
2(J. Chloe A., b. May 10, 1824: m. Sanuiel X. Center.

27. Elsie, b. April 2, 1826; ni. Sewall Adams.

28. Edwin Ezra (39), b. March 10, 1828.

29. Abigail W.. b. Xov. 19, 1831 ; m., Jan. G, 1852, William H. Barnes.

30. Hannah R., b. Sept. 13, 1835; d. Nov. (I, 1850.

31. Martha A., b. Oct. 22, 1838; m. Sumner B. Emerson.

32. Helen I., b. Oct. 22, 1842; m. Charles H. Russell.

33. S. Bkooks (18), b. July 25, 1819; d. Oct. 1, 1860. He ni. Olive,
dau. of Luther Blanchard, of ^lilford, who resides at X(n-th Chelmsford,
Mass., with their daughter :

34. Georgiana K., b. Sept. 20, 184S ; nj.. Nov. 10, 1870, Charles H.
Holt.

3.5. CiiAKLES A. (23), b. Feb. 24, 1835. He carried on the carriage-
smith and blacksmith business in company witli his brother, S. Brooks,
until the death of the latter. He continued the business until April 1,
1871, wlien liis health failed him, and he rented his shop and tools to W.
P. Putnam for live years. At the end of that perioil they entered into
partnership and have since done business under the tirni-name of Bales &
Putnam. Charles A. m., 1st, June 17, 1859, Friinces M. Hardy of Green-
field, who d. at Saratoga Oct. 11, 1873. He m., 2d, Sept. 15, 1874, Sarah
A. Brown of Temple, who d. Aug. 1. 1883. He m., 3d, Sept., 1884, Mary
Campbell of Xew Boston. Children :

3(J. George E., b. Sept. 14, 1862; a graduate of Phillips Exeter Acad-
emy, and now, 1885, studying law in Boston.

37. Bessie F., b. Sept. 16, 1877.

38. Harold Campbell, b. April 16, 1887.

39. Edwix Ezua (28), b. March 10, 1828; d. March 30, 1884. He set-
tled on tlie farm with his father, and they built a barn with a cellar under
the whole building, and improved the farm by inider-draiuing and by
tearing up the dogwood bushes that had infested the pasture for many
years. He was a good townsman, industrious and much respected. He
m., Xov. 23, 1854, Frances A. Putnam of Lyndeborough. Children :

10. Perley Warren, b. Jan. 20, 1859 ; d. March 21, 1800.

41. Willie Edwin, b. Feb. 22, 1861.

42. Walter Munroe, b. April 6, 1863.

43. Chester Putnam, b. May 10, 1869.

44. Dora Belle, b. Aug. 17, 1871.

BALLAED P^AMIIJES.

1. Nathan Ballard, b., Andover, Mass.; d. Jan. 14, 1835, aged 90
yrs. 2 mos. He came to Wilton as earlj' as 1765, and settled on the farm
now owned by Pierce and A. H. Gage. He served several years as
selectnnin. He was first licut. of Capt. Benjamin Taylor's company
which marched fi'om Amherst, Dec. 8, 1775, to Winter Hill. He was
captain of a company that marched from Amherst and Wilton for Ticou-
deroga on the alarm of June 29, 1777, as far as No. 4, Charlestown. There

>
o

a
>

GENEALOGIES : BALLARD. 305

they received ordei's to return, and niarelicd back as far as Diihlin. But
at Dublin tliey were ordered by express to resume tlieir uiarcli for Tieou-
dorona \\itli ail speed. They reached Otter Creek, Vt., when news came
of tiie evacuation of the fort. The time of service Avas IS days. Dr.
Boutou, in his history of Concord, says that Nathan Ballard was in tlic
battle of Bennington, as lieut. in Capt. (ioss"s e(»mpany, and that he com-
manded the comi)any on the day of the battle. He moved from Wilton to
Concord about 17S2. lie m. Hannah Holt. Children, all born in Wilton:

2. Hannah.

3. Sarah, b. A[iril 13, ITOC ; m.. June 1, 1797, Capt. W. Pettengill.

4. Mary, b. May S, 17(18; m. Capt. Amos Holt.

5. Betty, 1). Aui>'. 19, 1771 ; m. Kichard Taylor Buss. See Buss gen.
(). Phebe. b. April 30. 177:5.

7. Xathan. b. Feb. -.'I. 177."). Kes., Concord. He worked on the farm
in the siunmer and taught sehool in the winter for ten years. He m., May
29, ISUO, Hannah Buss, dau. of Stephen and Phebe (Keyes) Buss. See
Buss gen. They had 11 ch.

S.' John (li), b. Feb. 22, 177S.

0. Ezra. 1). Pel). 9. 1780; d. Sept. 10, 1781.

10. Thnothy, b. Jan. 1, 1782: d. Jan. 14, 1782.

11. JOHX (8), b. Feb. 22, 1778; d. Sept. 28, IS.^i,"). Farmer, and res. on
the farm now owned by Curtis Bellows. He m., Jan. 20, 1808, Jthoda
Bales, who d. Jan. 15, 1839. See Bales gen. (3). We have found no
record of this family except on the grave-stones. Children:

12. Mary, b. isiO: d. April 14, ISG.i.

13. Bhoda. Ii. 1813; d. Xov. 2, 1804.

14. Abigail,!). 1815; d. July 3, 1810.

15. Abigail, b. 1817; d. Feb. 20, 1818.
1«. Hannah J., b. 1822; d. Aug. 3, 1852.

1. UiUAii Bai.lari), supposed to be a brother of Capt. Xathan Bal-
lard, settled on the farm now owned by William Abbot. We have found
no record of his family, but hr had one sou, Priah, and probably other
i-hildren. In recorded deeds Priali B. and Priah B.. .hin., are mentioned
as. joint owners of the farm. One of them, supposed to be th(; younger,
enlisted, March, 1777, for three years, and, at the end of that period,

enlisted for another term of three years. Priah, Jun., m. Lois .

Children :

2. David Lovejoy, b. March, 1785.

3. William, b. Oct. 2. 1787.

4. Lois, b. May 13. 1790.

BARKKl! FA.M1P1KS.

1. David ILvkkkk, b. 1732, probably res. on the tenth range, which
was afterward annexed to Temple. He m. Sarah P.arker of Methuen,
Mass., and had twenty-two clnldren. According to Wilton record one of
his sous was b. 1704.

306 HISTORY OF WILTON.

2. Theodore, son of preceding, b. March 31, 1702; ni., 1788, Kebecca
Heald; ni., "id, ISOG, Elizabeth Corlis.< of Salem, Ma.s8. The youngest
dau. by tirst wife ni. Stephen Putnam of Wilton, who settled in Steuben
Co., N. Y. Children bv 2d wife :

3. Louise, b. Oct. 11, 1807; d. June 3, 1853; m., Dec. 6, 1832, Orin
Blood. A few years before she d. they removed to Wilton.

4. Theodore (0), b. Jan. 24, ISUi).

5. Olive, b. Feb .4, 1811 ; m., March 1, 1831, Oliver W. Boynton. See
Boynton gen.

6. Theodore (4), b. Jan. 24, 180!) ; m., April 10, 1832, IJachel Cragin.
Res., Temple. Of his children the following are residents of Wilton:

7. Nathan, b. June 10, 1833; m., Jan. 23, 1808, Lucy Maria Burton.
See Burton gen; n. ch. lie owns the building erected, 182t), by Col.
Luther Dascomb and used for many years as a bobl)in factory.

8. Theodore (10), b.. Temple, May 4, 183r).

9. Artemas O., b. 31ay 13, 1844; m., Jan. 23, 1883, Carrie E. Sheldon.
In Sept. 1881, he opened a grocery store at p]ast Wilton and still carries it
on ; he has been twice elected Supervisor of Check list.

10. Theodore (8), b.. Temple, May 4, 1835. He worked for Benja-
min Baker in 1858, '59 and "00. On Nov. 18, 1808, he began to work for I).
Whiting & Sons, and continues in their employ. He m., May 2, 1801,
Electa C. Senter, who was 1). June 10, 1841. Children;

11. Frank A. (14), b.. Temple, Nov. 7, 1801.

12. Allen L., b., Wilton, March 23, 1867.

13. Herbert T.. b. July 19, 1809.

14. Frank A. (11), b.. Temple, Nov. 7, 1801; m., Marcli 5, 1885,
Alice F. Holt of Milford, who was born Feb. 20, 1803. Child:

15. Edith Alice, b. Oct. 10, 1886.

1. Daniel Barker was in Capt. William Walker's company to recn-
force the army in New York from Dec. 5, 1770, to March 15, following.
He m. Bathsheba . Children :

2. Bathsheba, b. Sept. 6, 1769.

3. Dorcas, b. May 30, 1771.

4. Phebe, b. May 3, 1773.

5. Louis, b. April 19, 1775.

6. Sarah, b. April 15, 1777.

7. Rhoda, b. April 12, 1779.

1. Leonard Barker owned and lived on the farm, previously owned
by John Buxton, and now belonging to John D. Wilson. In 1813 lie sold
his farm to Captain David AVilson and moved into the house opposite
Gardner Blanchard's, where he res. abont tliree years. He m., May 31,
1804, Hannah, dau. of Nathaniel Sawyer. Children:

2. Hannah, b., Wilton, May 23, 1807; m. ; d., Troy,^. Y.

3. Leonard, b., Wilton, Jan. 26, 1809; d. June 9, 1809.

4. Anna Sawyer, b., Wilton, Oct. 22, 1810.

GENEALOGIES : BARKER. 307

5. Leonard, b., Wilton, April 23, 1812; settled in Batavia, 111.

6. Anna Sawyer, b., Wilton, Aug. 24, 18U; m. ; d., Cohoes, N. Y.

7. Nathaniel Sawyer, b., Wilton; unui. ; res., Salem, X. Y.

8. riiineas, b., Salem, N. Y., 1810; m. ; one ch.

9. Betsey Kussell, b., Salem, N. Y., Jan. 18, 1818; m. ; died Cohoes,
N. Y.

10. Abbot, b., Salem. N. Y., Jan. 20, 1820; m. ; settled in Illinois.

11. Aehsah, b., Salem, N. Y., Sept. 23, 1824; m. ; res., Salem, N. Y.

12. Sarah Holt, b., Salem, N. Y., April, 1827 ; m. ; res., Warsaw, Va.

BARNES FAMILY.

1. Aaron Barnes, b., Marlborough, Mass., April 14, 177'). He was a
cloth-dresser and settled in Temple in the latter part of the last eentury.
He m. Lydia Nutting, who was 1)., Pepperell, Mass., June 22, 1773. Chil-
dren :

2. Aaron (9), b.. Pepperell, Mass., Feb. 15, 1708.

3. Lydia, b., Temple. Oct. 23, 1799.

4. Harvey, ]>., Temple, Jan. 23, 1801. He came to Wilton in 1825,
and traded for two or three years in the east part of the house now owned
by Gardner Blanchard. For two years of the time he was postmaster.

5. William, b.. Temple, Aug. 24, 1803.
(>. ilartha, b.. Temple, Sept. 10, 1807.

7. Achsah, b., Temple, Aug. 3, 1809.

8. John, b.. Temple, May 27, 1812.

9. Aakon (2), b.. Pepperell, Mass., Feb. 15, 1798; d. Aug. 12, 1870.
He occupied the mill ii] Temple formerly owned by his father until 1835,
then res. in Pepperell for four years. In 1839 he came to Wilton and car-
ried on the saw mill and carding and clothing mill, formerly owned by
Oliver Whiting, which he finally bought. His mill was the last used in
Wilton for dressing cloth of domestic manufacture. On Nov. 30, 1822, he
was commissioned cornet, and aftei'ward second lieut. and first lieut. and
on April Ki, 1827, captain of the cavalry in the 22d regt. of militia. He
ni. Hepsey, dan. of Maj. Francis Blood of Temple, who was b. Sept. 19,
1797 ; d. March 2, 1870. See Blood gen. Children :

10. Lydia L., b.. Temple, Aug. 12, 1820; m., Nov. 16,1843, David
Lovejoy. See Lovejoy gen.

11. Aaron F., b.. Temple, April 28, 1823; d., Nashua, Feb. 21, 1885.
He was a painter and paper hanger. He m., 1st, Nancy Campbell, by
whom he had one son, George F., who d. May 30, 1871, aged 14 years.
He ni., 2d, Ellen Marvell of Milford, by whom he had two daughters.

12. Helen M., b.. Temple, Feb. 20, 1827 ; m., Dec. 14, 1843, Joshua M.
Holt. See Holt gen.

13. William Harvey (16), b.. Temple, May 4, 1831.
11. Infant son, b. June 30, 1834.

15. Charles E., b., Pepperell, Mass., March 24, 183(5; d.. Hot Springs,
Ark., July 14, 1870. A jeweller and watch-maker. He suttered much
from illness and lameness.

308 HISTORY or WILTON.

1(>. William Uakvey (13), h., 'IViupks Muy 1. 1S;^1. His husiues?
fur iiwmy years was i-loLh dressing;', wool cardiiij;' and sawiiiji lumber. He
has Itccii sclceliuaii for I wo years, and s<!Xton for several years past. For
some years lu; has reeeived siuunier l)oarders. He m., Jan. (i, ls.')-2. A))i-
gail \V., dan. of Ezi-a and Hannah (Wilson) liales. See Bales ^"en.. (2J)).
( 'hildreu :

1?. Fred Willis, h. Uet. 14, IS.-)?.

IS. Las Casas. 1.. .Fuly --Hi. ISC.:!.

BARRETT FAMHJES.

1. Ebenezeu JiAUUETT. eldest son of Oliver and Anna (Fiske) Bar-
rett, was b., Chelmsford. Mass., March 10. 17(12; d. Feb. 10. IS-JC. He ni.
Jane Reed, who was 1).. Westford, Mass.. .Inly l.i, 1770. She ni.. I'd.
March 17, 18;H, Ephraim Woodward of Fyndeboroiiuh and d., April i;{.
184!), ag-ed 78 yrs, !l luos. Children :

2. Nancy, h., Westford, Mass.. Drc. l>s. 17'.t(i: ui.. Dec. 27. 1810,
Edward Ilerrick. See Ilerrick gen.

3. Oliver, b.. Westford, Nov. I'l. 17!ii': d. Se].t. -21. Kii.i.
■4. Zimri (8), b., Westford, Nov. ;!. 17i):>.

5. <_)liver (14-), )>., Westford, Feb. .-.. 17!)8.

(>. Eliza, b.. Croton. Mass., Aug. 12. 1802: m.. .Inly 17. 182;5. I'zziel
Sheldon of AVilton, and d. June 14. 18()!». See Sheldon gen.

7. Roxana, b., Wilton, Oct. 12, I80.j; d. Jan. 5, lso(i.

8. ZiMKi (4), b., Westford, Mass., Nov. ;}, 171V); d. 3[ay :^, 18(10. At
the time of his marriage he owned a part of the farm, known as the
Batdielder faru). Avliere he lived ten years, when he sold this and bouglit
the place owned l)y James R. Means. He lived there but a few years,
sold the place and bought tlie portion, yet unsold, of the Sanuiel Hutchin-
son farm at East AVilton, on \vhich the business part of the village is now
situated. He was an honest, intelligent and upright man, a good citizen,
a kind neighl)or, an indulgent husl)and and father, a moral, liberal-minded
man. a successful farmer and highly respected. He m.. Sept. .id. 18;50,
Persis, eldest dau. of Daniel and I'ersis (Maynard) Balchelder. See
Batchelder gen (21). Children:

9. Samuel (20), b. Aug. 7, 1831.

10. Persis Jane, b. Aug. 11, 1832; unm. ; d.. Wilton, Feb. 27, 188(3.

11. Alniira, b. Oct. 25, 1833; d. Oct. 4. 1855.

12. William (25). b. July 2, 183(:i.

13. Nancy Elizabeth (29). b. Sejit. 2'.). 1838.

14. Oliveh (5). b.. Westford, Mass., Feb. 5, 1708; d. N(»v. 2:5, 1870.
He was an industi'ious and successful farmer, nv*. until his death on tlie
homestead bought by his father in 1S03. He was a man of good natural
ability, strengthened and ini[)roved by general reailing and sclf-cultuic.
He held military ollices up to the rank of major, was town clerk for two
years, selectman lor eleven years, representative to tlie Legislature for
several years, and, in 1850, was a delegate to the convention for revising
the constitution of the state. He took an earnest and active interest in

GENEALOGIES : BARRETT. 309

(.•huirh. I'duciitioiial :ind town ntVnirs. \v;is lor scvor.-il ye^;irs ;i dcaiMiii ol
tlio Second CongTegatioual (liure-li and a liberal sa|i|)orter tln'ieof. He
ni.. Feb. 2S. 1S22. Lucy K. Chandler ol' Andover. Mass., wlio d. March 27.
is.")!, aiicd :..") yrs. He m.. 2d. Jan. 20. is.Vt. Cyntliia J. Kidder of I.ynde-
l)oroniih. riiildren :

1.). Lucy Jane. h. Oct. M. 1822: d. Fi-h. 21. 1X2.!.

1(5. Jose])h Chandler (32), I). Dec. 12. 1S2;!.

17. Lucy Jane. h. Oct. 27. 182."): ni.. Ai)ril 2s. 181(j. Ferdinand S.
llntcliinson. See ITutchuison ^'en.

IS. Oliver Heed. It. Jan. 27. 1S2S: d. April 11. 1S4(;.
■*^ 11>. Charles Edwin (38). h. .March 10. IS.'!;!.

20. Sa.aiikl (9), b. Auo;. ;50. is;!], ire res. in Wilton until .Marcli,
isdo, and was town clerk for one year, selectman and town treasurer for
several years, and representative to the Leoislature tor two years. Foi-
several years lie was ticket aii'cnt and clerk at the i-aili'oad slalion in \\ il-
ton. In .March, IStli), he went to Portsmouth and was employed for a few
years as freio-ht a2;ent ; since then he has been tlie o;(>iieral frei<>:ht agent
of the Concord Railroad and its l)ranches. Res. ('oncord. Hem.. Nov.
2S. 1S.-)S. Mary E. IJay, dan. of David M. and Hannah 15. (Holt) Kay. who
was li., Wilton, Dec. 17. 1S.",7. children :

21. (;eoro-e William, b.. Wilton. Dec. 21. ISOl : d. Auii. 2. 1S()2.

22. Georo-e William, b.. ^\'ilton. Oci. .">. ISC,;!: d. Sei)t. 1."). lS(i4.

23. Frank, b.. Wilton. July .".. IsiiS; d. Auii'. 2;!. ISfiS.

24. lilanche. b.. rortsmouth. Sept. 22. ISd!).

25. Wii.MAM (12). b. July 2, is;!(i. He prejtaredfor c-olleiye at .\pple-
ton Academy, ^lont Vernon, and under the instruction of Hon. (Jeorge
Stevens, at Lowell. .Mass. He o-rad. al Harvard College. IS.")!): studied
law in the otlice of Hon. Aaron I*. Hughes, at Nashua ; spent one year at

-the law school of Haivard Univ., and was admitted, ^Nfay, ISC.l. to the
Suffolk Coiuiry bar in Boston, Mass. He was elected in March, isoi.
representative from Wilton to the State Legislature, and, at the end of the
session in July, 1S()1, began the practice of his pi'ofession at Nashua.
While residing in Nashua he served one term as city solicitor, and one
term as mendier of the superintending school connnittee declining a
reelection. In 1S71 he was appointed by Governor Weston a member of
liis stail" witli the rank of colonel. In the same year he was appointed ))y
the Governor county solicitor for the counts of Hillsborough. He served
the full term of five years, aiul, while holding the ottice. conducted the
prosecution of Elwhi W. Major for poisoning liis wife.* In June, I87(),
he removed from Nashua to Saint Paul, .Minn., where he now r<'sides. In
Sept., 1882, he was appointed l)y the Mayor of Saint Paul a member of
tlie Board of Public Works to till a vacancy. In .March, 188;!, and in 188(j.
lie was reap]»ointed member of the board tor terms of three years, and in
iss,*) and IssCi he was elected i)resident of rlii' board. He m., Sept. 2-1.

*See, ante, page 18ii.

310 HISTORY OF WILTON.

1801, Sarah Ellen Paige, dan. of Christopher and Maria (Leslie) Paige, of
Nashua. Children:

20. William Paige, b., Xashua, July 4, 1SG2.

27. Nellie King, b., Nasliua, April 11, 1869; d. x\ug. '22, lS7(i.

28. Alice Gertrude, b.. Saint Paul, Minn., Nov. 7, 1878.

2i>. Nancy J^lizabkth (13), b. Sept. 2t), 1838; ni., Sept. 5, 18G1,
William K. Baldwin, son of Samuel Baldwin, of Bennington, wlio l)egan
l)usiness in Wilton as a merchant a few years before liis marriage, con-
tinued the business until his last illness, and d. Feb. 12, 1877, aged 41
yrs., 3 nios., 11 days. Children :

30. Samuel Woodbury (Baldwin). ))., Wilton, Feb. l!l, 1863.

31. George Palmer (Baldwin), b., WilJ;on, July 27, 1870.

32. JosEiMi Chandler (1G), b. Dec. 12, 1823. lie was fitted for
college at Phillips Andover Academy and grad. at Dartmoutli College,
18r)(), taking high rank in his class. Since graduation he has been chiefly
engaged in teaching. Present res., Worcester, Mass. He ni., Nov. 15,
1S53, Sarah Ann Ilillard, of Framingham, Mass. Children:

33. Charles Hillard, b., Melrose, Mass., Oct. 25, 1854.

34. Lucy Chandler, b., Hampton, Nov. 7, 1858.

35. Helen Louise. 1). Feb. 1, 1861 ; d., Hampton. March 23. 1863.
3G. Sarah Eliza, b., Hampton, Dec. i), 1862.

37. Annie King, b., Worcester, Mass., Dec. 23, 1871 ; d.. Worcester,
June 12, 1872.

3S. CiiAKi.Es E])WiN (ID), b. March 10, 1833. He is a farmer, owned
and carried on a milk route in Boston for a few years, and has since
resided on the homestead bought by his grandfather, Ebenezer, in 1803;
has been selectman for two years. He m.. June 3, 1858. Ann Elizabeth
Burns, of Milford. Children :

31). Lucien Burns, b., Wilton, July 13, 185!); d. Nov. 1, 185!t.

40. Jennie Louise, b., Wilton, July 2, 1864.

41. Edwin Chandler, b., Milford, March 26, 1866; d. Aug. li). 1866.

42. Edwin Ilurd, b., Boston, Mass., Aug. 16, 1870.

1. BEN-JAJriN Fi.sKE Bakkett, son of Ohver and Anna (Fiske) Bar-
rett, was b., Billerica, Mass., Jan. 16, 1770; d., Spriiigtield, N. Y., Oct.
31, 1844. Major Barrett res. in Wilton from 1803 to 1811 and was an enter-
prising and public-spirited citizen. He m., Jan. 1, 1705, Betsey Gerrish.
Four of his sons received a collegiate education, and three. Samuel, Ger-
rish and Fiske, became ministers. Children :

2. Samuel (13), b., Royalston, Mass., Aug. 11, 1705.

3. Gerrish (22), b., Eoyalston, July 4, 1797.

4. Betsey, b., Poyalston, Jan. 11, 1800; d. Feb. 1, 1800.

5. Benjamin (2G), b., Boyalston, Oct. 21, 1801.
0. Oliver (30), 1) , Wilton, Oct. 26, 1803.

7. Betsey, b., AVilton, Aug. 24, 1805; d. July 9. 1806.

S. Almira (37). b., Wilton, Aug. 27, 180s.

». Fiske, b., Wilton, Jan. 21, 1810; d. July 13, 1810.

GENEALOGIES: BARRETT. 311

10. William (42), b., Springfield, N. V., Nov. IS, 1812.

11. Fiske (44), b., Springfield, N. Y., March 1. 181(i.

12. George (4i)), b.. Springfield, X. Y., Sept. ItJ, 1818.

13. Samuel (2). b., IJoyalston, Mass., Ang. 11, 17!).j: il., IJox))urj',
Mass., June 24, 180(5. For account of his lite see page 28G of tliis History.
He ni., Sept. 11, 1832, Mary Susan Greenwood, who d. March l.">. 1874,
aged ns yrs. Children :

14. Mary Greenwood, b., Boston, .lune 1"), 18;{;5.
1,5. Frances Langdon, b. Dec. 27, 18;{4.

IG. George Samuel, b. Sept. 5, 18;}G.
17. Charles Henry, b. Sept. 9, 1S:?S.

15. Ellen Maria, b. .Ian. 10, 1841.

10. Grace Cleveland, h. Dec. 1.'), 1844.

20. Francis Greenwood, b. July 7, 1848.

21. Arthur William, b. Nov. 24, 18r)l.

22. GEHUisri (3), b., Ifoyalston. Mass., July 4, 17!t7. He grad. at
Union College, N. Y., 1824, and at Princeton Theological School, N. J.
1827. He devoted his life to the cause of prison discipline; was chaplain
of the state prison at Sing Sing, N. Y. ; agent of the Prison Discipline
Society, and chaplain of the state prison at Wethersfield, t^onn. He m.,
Oct. 14, 1847, Mrs. Catharine (Cooley) Purdy. Children, of whom the
two sons are clergymen :

23. William Cooley, b. July 12, 1848.

24. Charles Scudder, b. June 29, 1850.

2.5. Sarah Lucinda, b. May i:^, 1853; d. :May IG, 18-51).

26. Benjamin (5). b., Poyalston. Mass.. Oct. 21, 1801. He is sup-
posed to have died of cholera on a steamer bound for New Orleans. He
m., May 27, 1830, Lois Walradt. He m., 2d, Oct. 17, 1814, Eliza Rapelye
Provoost. Children :
. 27. George, b. April 12, 1834; d. April 11, 18.35.

25. Benjamin Bousfield, b. Sept. 2, 184G; d. May 28, 1847.
2{>. Eliza Maria, b. April 4, 1850.

30. Oliver ((}), b., Wilton. Oct. 20, 1803: m.. Fel). 10. 1841. Elizabeth
Westcott, who d. Feb. 2;!, 1S5G. Children :

31. Mary Palmer, b. Feb. 13, 1842.

32. Benjamin Gerrish, 1). Oct. 14, 1844.

33. Sarah Elizal)eth. b. Aug. 11), f847.

34. George James Westcott, b. Aug. 11), 1840.

35. Eleanor Westcott, b. Jan. 2, 1852.
30. Anna Sophia, b. Nov. 17, 1853.

37. Almika (S), b., Wilton, Aug. 27. 1808; d. March 11, 188G. She
m., Oct. 10. 1832, Dr. George W. Cleveland, who d. Dec. 4, 1884, aged 76
yrs. Children :

3H. Orlando Samuel (Cleveland), b. Nov. 21, 1833; d. Oct. 22, 1835.

39. Alice Cornelia (Cleveland), b. Sept. 18, 183G.

40. George Barrett (Cleveland), b. Aug. G, 1838.

41. William Fiske (Cleveland), b. Aug. 30. 1844

312 HISTORY OF WILTON.

42. Wii.i.iA^i (^lOj, t).. S|)i-iii,iilit'l(l. X. Y.. Nov. 18. lsl:>. lie grad.
rnioii Colloop. 18;J7: stiuliod law aud attaiiiod high rank in lii.« ])rofes-
sion. lie 111.. Oct. 1."). 184."). Coniolia ('. El.v. wlio d. March 28. 181!). aged
•_>s \ r>: 111.. -M. Oct. ]A. 18,")1. Sarah Eliza 'roiiipkiii-. Child :

4;j. William Toiiipkin^. h. Atig. .'iO. 18.');!.

44. FisKF. (11). 1».. Si)riiigtield. X. V.. .Ahircli 1. islC; d. Xov. L>.'). 1871).
lie grad. at I'liion Collego, 1842; at Harvard Divinity Scliool. 184!l. and
was settled over the Unitarian Society in Lexington. Mass.. 184'.). and
later over other societies, lie was a devoted and nseful man. lie in.,
dnne 8. 1S.");5. Anna K. llenchmaii <>[ iJoston, Mass.. who d.. South Uraiii-
tree, .Mass., Xov. 2(), 18(i4, aged .'!4 yrs. ( liiidreii :

45. Mary Eliza, h. March 7. 18.")4.
4<). Susan Fiske, h. Aug. 1!). 18.")7.
47. Anna Theresa. I». Jan. 1. 18.")!).

4«. Elizalieth Faulker. h. Oct. ;{(). 18(j:{.

49. r4Kol!(;ic (12). b. Sejtt. 1!). 1818: m.. Jan. IT). ls.-,l. Klizabelh O.
Gilchrist. Child:

50. Samuel Crilchrist. h. March 2(1. '[f<r^:i.*

1. GlCOROE Baiuiett, 1).. .Mason. X"ov. :W. 1821. He came to AViltoii
ill 18,*)1 and bought what was I'ormei'ly known as the Farnum larm. He
is a good townsman and a successtiil tanner. He ni.. .Se|it. 1,"). 18.")1. Zoa
Blood, wlio was born in Mason. March (i. 1S2.''). Cliildren :

2. Celia Imogen, b. April 14, 18.");{; d. Oct. 27, 18.")7.

3. Oldis A.. 1). INlay 12. IS.V, : m. Albert W. Steele, July 8. 187.l'. See
Steele gen.

4. Vvilber Evan. b. Dec. IJ. 18r)8.

5. Elsie Cora. 1). April 1. 18(il : m.. Ai)ril 17. 1SS4. Aiulrew E. Swallow.

6. i:verett <).. b. Jan. 7. 18(i:^,.

7. :\rystie 3lay. b. Oct. 1!), 18(j(i: d. June 2!l. isdl).

BATCirEEDEK FAM U.Y .

1. JoSKl'll BAT('liEi.i)En. who il.. ^^'ilron. .May !!). 181(i. aged !)(! yrs..
emigrated from Eiigl.-ind and res. several years in .\ndover. .Mass.: a
weavor by trade. Children, of whom we have .-iny account :

2. Joseph settled in (Jreentifdd. AVc tind his mime, with others, on
an order to the Comiuittee of Safety of X. II.. dated. I.yndeboi-oiigh. Dei-.
8, 1777, ''to pay to ('apt. Peter Clark what wages is due to us upon the
Alarm last July at Ticonderoga."

3. Archelaus (5).

4. Daniel (S^. b. 174!) or 17.'>0.

*Tlie graiulcliildrcii ami gre.it-grandcliildreii i)f .Major Benjaniiii Fislvt- ISarrott are
nuunTous and infiuontial, but our limits do not permit us to jjivi- a more extended account
of the tamily. For a complete liislory of llie family we would refei- to an excellent nioiio-
grapli, tlie Uarrett genealogy, by William Barrett. Escj., of St. Paul, .Minn.

2>hr>^ ^y^.^i^

GENP^ALOGIES : BATCIIELDER. 313

5. ArCHKLAUS (3). res. sevenil yonis in Wiltoii. lie was a sero-eant
in Capt. Goss's company and was wonndcd at P.<'nninnrnii. Anii,'. IC. 1777.
Sf'loctniaii of Wilton. 177'.t. lfoni(i\cd in Mill'ord piioi- to 17'.i."). lie ni.
Betty . Children:

G. Jolin Putnani. b. An;;-, d. 17s^.

7. Betty. 1). Nov. J(i. 17!)1.

S. Daniki, (4). 1). 171!) or 17:>(): d. :\rareh 17. Is.'i'J, ao-cd Si' yrs. For-
niei'ly of Andover, Mass. His eldest child was h. in Mile Slip. whfr(^ lie
owned 7(1 aeres of east part of lot Xo. 7. tirst rani;(> in Wilton. .Innell,
1778, lie boiio-ht lots numbered S and '.) in the ninth ranu'e. on whii'h he
lived several years. Auo;. ."{O. 17!)1, he bouniit lots numbered 111 in the
seventh and eio-Jith ranges, also a lot ^Ox.'lO rods in X. W. eorner of lot
Xo. IS in seventh range. Flis buildings were on the la<t named lot : he
made otlier addition.s to liis farm. He wa.s in the army at .Sar.atoga in
1777. lie m., 177."), Ikebeeea, ilau. oi Joseph aiul Deborah ( i'.ianehard )
Abbot of Andover, afterward of Wilton. She was b. June I'.i. 17.') I: d.
April U), 17!)."). lie m., 2d. a Miss Kidder of Xew Ipswieh. Children :

\). Relteeea, b. Dee. 20. 177."): d. ISO:,: m.. Jan. 21. 17'.i'.i. William
Al)l)ot, Juu., of Wilton.

10. Betty, 1). Aug. 4. 1777: m.. .Ian. 27. 17'.t'.). .lon.athan .Vbbot of
Andover, Mass., and Bethel. Me.

11. Juditli Kay. It. June 21. 177!t: m.. Mareh 2f. ISO,!. Joel Abt)ot of
\\ilton.

12. Daniel (20). b. May l.',. 17s].

13. Joliii. I). :May (i, 178;J; d. young.

14. Molly, b. Mareh 11. 178-1 : m.. ISOC. ,Tohn Cutter of Jallrey.

15. Josei)li. b. Mareh 20. 17S(i: d. Aug. ;!0. 17Ss.
1(>. Jolui. b. Mareh 17. 17SS: d. March .">. 17'.i.").

17. Hermon (27). 1). Aug. s. 17'.to. m

IS. iiaiuiah. b. May 2. 17!»;!: m.. ISIS. Xathaniel IJiehardson of Phil-
adelphia. Pa.

19. Lydia Abbot, b. .March is. I7ii.',: m.. isl'.i. Aimer Shattiu-k.

20. Daxii:!. (12), b. May 1."), 1781. He was a farmer and a life-long
resident of Wilton; selectman for eight y(^ars: representative to (ieneral
Court in 18;};"), ';^(i and ■;}7 ; state senator from the seventh district in 184!),
■.")0. He was sometimes called to act as referee in eases wImmc parties
were unable to agree. He m.. ISO."). "Persis Maynard of Temple. Chil-
dren :

21. Persis. li. :May ;!1,1808: m., Sept. :;o. 18:^0, Ziniri Barrett. See
Barrett gen. (S).

22. Pebeeea. b. April 7. ISIO; m.. May 0. 18:!4. Fraiddin Brooks.

23. Caleb .Maynard (32), 1). Jan. 2(i. 1812.

24. Elizabeth M., b. Aug. l."). isi;!; m., March 2(;. ls:J7. Fisk Puss(dl.

25. Emily, b. Sept. 11. ISl.',: d. Feb. .■). 1840.
20. Adeline, 1). Aug. 2(i. 1817: d. Oct. S. 18S.').

27. Hi;UMOX (17). b. Aug. S. ]7'.)0. Pes. on homestead with ills
father until attout 182il. when he became tinancialh end(air.is>(Ml and

314 HISTORY OF WILTON.

removed to Cicero, X. Y. He in. Pollj-, ilau. of Major Francis Blood of
Toiiple. See Blood gen. Children, of whom we find any record :

2S. Mary, b. March ;}, IHIT).

2?>. Fi(hicia. h. May 2, ISls.

:{0. Sarah, h. May 7, 1S2().

31. Rebecca Jane, b. Feb. 10, 1S2:{.

32. Caleb Maynakd (23), b. Jan. 20. 1S12. A farmer and res. on
the homestead; is industrions and has no taste for doing any other bnsi-
ness tlian liis own. lie ni.. Feb. l.'J, 1S.")9, Emily A. Buss, dau. of Stephen
and Sally (Abbot) Buss, who was b. Aug. ."{O, 1829. See Buss gen.
Children :

33. George M. (37), b. Nov. 20, ISf)!).

34. Charles D., b. Nov. 25, 1S(;2.

35. William E., b. Jan. 24, 18G6; d. May 10, ISSf).
3«. Albert D., b. May ."), 1801); d. May !l, 188.-,.

37. Gi.:oi{<:e M. (33), b. Nov. 20, 18o<); m., Dec. ]S8r.. A. Isabel
Kimball. Child:
3S. Erland Graves, b. May 10. 1887.

BEAIJL) FAMILY.

1. Luke Beaud, b. 1810; d. March 7, 1854. For many years he was
ill business in Boston, and for some years a member of the firm of Boyd
A Beard. In 18r);3 he built the elegant set of Ituildiugs on the blull
near the junction of the streams in tlie village, which are still owned and
occupied by his heirs. lie ni. JIaunah W., ilau. of .Mark D. Perkins, of
Mont Vernon. She m., 2d. Peter H. Putnam, and d. Feb. 8, 1884, aged 05
yrs. Childreu :

2. Albert (6), b. Jan. :n. 1841.

3. Horace, b. July 5, 184;j, has been an invalid from infancy, and for
several years has been unable to walk. He rides out daily in good
weather; enjoj's reading and is well-informed about the occurrences of
his time. Few would bear his infirmities with so much patience.

4. Emily (S). b., Cauibridgeport. Mass., July 20, 1840.
o. Luke (10), b. Nov. 10, ls54.

6. Altjeut (2), 1). Jau. ;n, 1841. For a few years he was in business
in Nashua, but for several years has res. in AVilton. He m., Jan. .'5, 1805,
Jennie L. Williams. Child:

7. Stella Pratt, b., Millord, Dec. 27, 1807.

8. Emily (4), b., Cambridgeport. .Mass., July 20, 1840; m.. May 12,
1874, Nathan Barnes Boutwell, who was b. July:?!, 1830. Mr. Boutwell
was adjt. of the i;}th IJegt.. N. II. V.. and was severely wounded while in
service. By his first wife, N. Liz/ie (Boutwell;. who was b., Troy, N.
II., June 10, 18;u, and d. Nov. :{, 18(i5, he had one son, Leslie Barnes, who
was b. July 28, 180O. Child of Nathan F.arnes and Emily (Beard) Bout-
well :

9. Horace Keith (Boutwell), I)., Cambiidge, Mass., Dec. 4, 1870.

genealogies: beede. 315

10. Llke (5), b. Xov. 10, 1854. He has for nine j-ears been engaged
ill manufacturing Beard's patent spring to prevent carriage sliafts from
rattling; oflice, G3 t'ourt St., Boston. lie in., Se])t., 187(i. Abbie Frances
Curtis, who was b., Lj'iideborough, June 10, IS.jU. Children:

11. Florence Lena, b. Feb. 8, 1879.

12. Elmer, 1). March 17, 1882; d. April la. 1SS2.

13. Gertrude M., b. June 24, 1887.

BEEDE FAMILY.

1. TiioMA.s Beede, b., Poplin, Nov. 28. 1771 : d. Nov. ;{0, 184s. For
account of his life see p. '2')H of this History. Me m., Jan. 20, 180."), Nancy
Wilder, dan. of Jonathan Kimball, of Harvard, Mass., who d. Feb. 11,
1844. Children :

2. Nancy Wilder (S). b. May (i, 180(5.

3. Ceorge Kimball, b. July 2, 180!); d., Eastport, Me., aged 21 years.
He was a young man of much promise and his death was a severe shock
to his i^arents and the rest of the faniilv.

4. Abigail, b. Oct. 3. 1810; d., Duxbury, Mass., unm.
.J. Hannah IJockwood (15). b. July 2'i, 1812.

6. Thomas (17), b. Jan. ;n, ISlC.

7. Elizabeth, b. Xov. 21, 1817; d. ab(mt 1842.

H. Nancy Wilder, b. May (J. ISOi;; m., March 20, 182S, Steithen
Abbot, who was b. Sept. 2."), ISOl. and d. Aug. 4. 1873. See Buss gen.
Near the time of his marriage jNlr. Abbot began to trade in the brick store
at the middle of the town, and was postmaster from 1828 to 1S37. Uc
afterward removed to Syracuse, N. Y. When the emigration to California
began he removed to tliat state and res. there the rest of his life. Mrs.
Abbot is now living at Antioch, Cal. ; a woman of much intelligence and
universally respected. Children:

U. Louise Ann (Abbot) (21), b. Doc. 1,'), 1829.

10. Sarah (Abbot) (27), b. Jan. 24, 1832.

11. George Kimball (Abbot), li. July 7, 183."i ; d. June, 183(i.

12. Mary Frances (Abbot) (34). b. Nov. 1!». 1837.

13. Abliy Lucia (Abbot) (41), b. July 8, 1840.

14. Emily (Abbot) (4.^), h. March l(i, 1849.

15. Hannah Eookwood (5), b. July 23, 1812; d. July 9, 1881. See
p. 2G0 of this History. She m., May''12, 183(). Alexander Hamilton Stew-
art of Farmingtou, Me. Child :

16. Samuel Barrett (Stewart) (47). b., Farmingtou, June 9, 1839.

17. Thomas (G), b. Jan. 31, 181(i. He writes, April 29, 1887. from
Seattle, W. T. : "In early life I was engaged in staging from Farmingtou,
Me., to Portland, and from Dixfield to Livermore. In 1857 I went to Illi-
nois and there engaged in mercantile business. Three years since I came
to AVashington Territory and have retired from active business. Next
autumn, if living, I shall go to California, where 1 expect to spend the
rest of my days." He m., Oct. 19, 1842, Lucia S.. dau. of Moses Merrill
of New Gloucester, Me., who was b.'July 29. 1819. Children:

18. George K. (54), b. July (i, 1844.

316 HISTORY OF WILTON.

19. Albert T. (oS), 1). Soi)r. 2(i. 1X4.").

•20. lliMiry Fuller (64), b. Nov. 1(1. ISIO.

21. LoiisK Ann (Ahhot) (»). h. Dee. !.">. 1S_>!): ni.. l>ec. I'l. 1S48.
Azro Fowler of IJoyaltoii. Vt. Kes. Mt. Vernon. \. \ . (hildren:

22. fiooro-e Abbot (Fowierj. b. July 1. 1S.")1.

23. S.-miuel Sfe\v:irr (Fowiei). b. Ot't. :2s. lS{i().

24. Edward IJeede (Fowler), b. Sei)t. l'7. ISC").

25. Fi'ancis ,J;iy (Fowler), b. Oct. 2S. isns.
2(>. Anna Louise (Fowler). 1). Aug-. S, 1S74.

27. Sakaii (Abbot) (10). b. .Jan. 24. is;!2: d. :\Iay 25, 18S;5 ; ni.. Oct.
20. is.")!. Samuel Seller- of riiiladelplii.i. Fenn. 'I'hey resided in Brent-
wood. < al. ( hildren :

2S. Mary ( adwalladei' (Sellei-s). b. Sept. (i. ls:)2.

29. (ieorii-e (Sellers'), b. Miin'li 1. is.')!.

:J0. Stephen Abbot (.Sellers), b. .July ;!1. is:).").

SI. Samuel (Sellers), b. Sept. 21. ls:)S.

32. (liarles Sumner (Sell(M-s). b. .luiu' .!. 1S(;l>.

38. Fdward (iarrett (Sellers), b. .Inly 21. iSdl.

34. :\Iai;v Fkanc.ks (.'vBBOT) (12;. li. Xo\ . id. is;!7: m.. Nov. l(i.
1S.".(). Isaiah A. Wileox of Firtle Falls. X. V. Ke>. Santa Clara. Cal.
Children :

35. Fi-ank Asa (\Vik'Ox). b.. Fruitvale. Cal.. Xoy. 1(!, lSO(t.
3(». Alonzf) Alibot (Wileox). I). Se])t. C. 1S(;2: d. Auii". 21. ISU,").
37. llari'y Warren (Wileox). b. Sept. 4. iSCIi.

3.S. \\alter irvino; (\Vileox). li. .fnne IS. 1S7(I.

39. Kmily Auo'usta (Wileox). li. Feb. 1 1. lS7s.

40. Irvinu- Alonzo (Wilooxj. b. March I.'!. ISSO.

41. Abbv LrciA (Abbot) (13). li. duly S. 1840: m.. .Inly 2.;, ls(;2. (i.
CloAves Carman of St. .lolm. Xew P.runswick. IJes. Antioch. (al.
Children :

42. Kdwin .Vlibot (Caiman), b. Mai'ch 1. ls(i-|.

43. Flizabetli (Carman), b. .May 1.'). isiis.

44. Stephen .Vbbot (Carman), h. Dec. 4. 187.'i.

45. Eaiii.v (Abbot) (14). b. .March IC. ISIO: d. March 21). 1S71 : m..
Nov.. 18(18. Jay Tattle of Xottiiiiiham. ( hild :

4(5. Arthur Cornwall (Tuttle). b. Feb. 17. Is70.

47. Sa.miki. HAifUETT (Stkwaijt) (10). I).. I'^ii-nHiigton. .Me.. .June'.).
18.'>!). lie preached a short time at Nashua, then removed to Lynn. .Mass..
where he lias been pastor of tlie rnitarian Society for more than t weiity
yeai-s: is a dii-ector of the American I'nitarian .\ssociation. lie m.. Dei-.
17, 18(j:{, Aniue Ottolina IJixby. who was b.. Surinam. .South Ameiica.
Uct. :51, 1840. Children :

48. Edward Bixby (Stewait i. b.. Xashna. Feb. 17. 18(;5.

49. Arthur IJeedi'.i Stewart i. b.. Lynn. .Mass.. Xov. 2!l. ISOil: d. March
!i. 1S72.

50. Sanuiel l>an-ett Sti-warl j. I).. Lynn. .Ian. 27. lS(;s.

51. Geori>-e H.-imilldU (Stewart ). h. .March Is. 1S7.'>: d. .Xuii. 2.;. l87.>.

(Stewart), b.. Lyini. Ann', s. ls71.

GENEALOGTES : BLANCHARD. 317

53. Otluliuii i;ixl)y (Stewart ). li.. I.yiiii. .Iuir- :22. 1SS2.

54. Gkorge K. (18). h. July (i. ISN ; iii.. Di-e. •2^. 1S71. Theresa Xew-
ton, cluu. of Judge M. Xewtou of Kansas. IJes. Seattle. W . 'I". ( liildieii :

55. (Jeorge. b.. Ellsworth. Kansas. June 17. 1874.
5G. Mary JoseiJnne. Ij.. Kankakee. 111., Oet. 1, 1875.
57. George N.. h.. Kankakee, 111., Mareli :il, lS7il.

5S. Alhekt T. (ir>), b. Sept. 2(5, 1840: in., .fan. Vi, 187<;. Belle
McNulty, dau. of Judge James J. MeNulty. fdrnierly of Louisiana, lies.
Seattle, W. T. Children :

59. Thouias Jay.

HO. Ethel.

01. James Jerrold.

G2. Geoftrey Cecil.

(>3. Helen Beatrice.

Hi. llKXUY FiLLEiJ (20), b. Nov. l(i. 18.i(): m.. Ai)ril 14, 1S72. Mar-
garet Ellen MeXulty, sister of his brother Albert's wife. lies. Antioeh,
Cal. Children :

05. Harry MeXulty. 1>. April VA, 1873.

«(}. Charles Francis Tyler, b. Oct. lo. 1874.

(>7. Mary Lucia, b. April 17, 1877.

08. lialpli Merrill, b. Jan. 14, 187(i.
.09. Olive, b. Xov. 1, 1881.

70. La Ifoy Wemple, b. Jan. 21. l.ss.i.

71. Arthur Chamberlain, b. Sept. 13, 1885.

BLANCHAlil) FA3I1L1ES.

1. T11U31AS Blanciiaiu) came from Hampshire. England, in Ki;;!).
Res. .some years in Braintree, Mass. In Feb., I(i51, he bought lor £200 a
house and farm of 200 acres on the Mystic side of Charlestown, Mass..
Where lie d. May 21, 1G54. Had four suns.

2. Samikl, son of pi-eceding. b., England. Aug. (i. 1(52!): d.. Andover.
3Iass.. April 22, 1707. He lived lirst in Charlestown, where all his ehil-
dren were born, and removed with his family to Andover, June 10, 1(j86,
where he owned much land, and was constable and collector of taxes.
He m., Jan. 3, 1654-.55, Maiy, dau. of Seth Sweetser of Chai'lestown. who
d. Feb. 20, 1068-0!), and by wliom he had six children. He m.. 2d. June
24, 1(»73, Hannah, dau. of Thomas Doggett of 3Iarshtield. Mass., who d..
Andover. July 10, 1725, by whom he had four children.

3. .lonathau (5), sou of Samuel l)y 1st wife, b. May 25, 1()64.

4. Thomas (7), son of Samuel by 2d wife, b. April 28, 1()74.

5. Jonathan (3), b., Charlestown. May 25. 1004: m.. May 20, 1085,
Anna. dau. of John Lovejoy of Andover.

0. Stephen (lOj. son of preceding, b., 1702.

7. Thomas fl). b., Charlestown. April 28, 1074; d. >Iaicli 17. 175!).
He m.. March 22, 10!J8-'J, liosc Holmes of Marshfield, Mass., who d. Aug.
27. 1714, and by whom he had nine children, two of whom, given below,
had descendants residing in Wilton. He m.. 2d. Sept. 21, 1715, Mrs.

318 HISTORY OF WILTON.

lliinnah Gowcn of Lynn. Mass., who d. June 25. 1724, and l»y whom he
had three ehildren. lie ni.. Hd. Feb. 21, 172G, Mis. .Judith Hill of Maiden,
Mass., who d. Dee. 1, 1707.

8. Joseph (13), b. Feb. 19, 1700.

9. Josiuh (15), b. Aug. Kl, 1701.

10. Stei'Iien ((}), b., 1702; d., Andover, Jan. 8, 1700. He ni., Aug.
10. 1721, Deborah Phelps and had ten children, of wlioni the two given
Ix'low resided in Wilton.

11. Nathan, b., Andover, Mareh 30, 1730. He ni., July 2, 1752, Batli-
slieba, dau. of Joseph and Deborah (Blanchard) Abbot, who was b. Sept.
10, 1735, and d. Dee., 17S4. <Jn Dec. 4, 1763, they were both dismissed
from the ehurch at .indover to form a ehureh in VViitou. No account of
their children, if any, is found in the Wilton records.*

12. David (18), b. April 10, 1740.

13. Joseph (8), b. Feb. 19. 1700; m.. April 4, 1722, Sarah, dau. of
Nathaniel Ab))ot of Andover. They had eight children b. in Andover,
one of whom les. in Wilton, namely :

14. Jeremiah (27), b. June, 1733.

15. JosiAii (9),b. Aug. IG, 1704; d. April 10,1783. He owned land
in several places in Wilton. In a MS. book are found the following items
in his handwriting: "My Barn at Wilton was set up in May, 1705, and
Joshua entered my service Oct. 30, the same year, on my place there.""
" Oct. 29, 17G5, Joshua and Ben. went ofl" to Wilton with 20 sheep to win-
ter tliere."' By a deed dated Aug. IG, 17(i9, he conveys " for the love I
bear to my son Joshua" lot No. 4 in the 2d range. In like manner he con-
veys to his sou Benjamin, July 15, 1776, 18^ acres of S. E. part of lot No.
3 in 2d range. He m., Dec. 23, 1730, Sarah Blanchard, who d. Sept. 11,
1778. They liad seven children, of whom the two youngest, named below,
res. in Wilton :

16. Joshua (39), b. Nov. 13, 174G.

17. Benjamin (49), 1). July 3, 1750.

18. David (12), b. April 10, 1740; m. Margaret . Children:

19. Nathan, b. Sept. 12, 1763; d. Aug. 7, 1770.

20. Peter Dolever, b. June IG, 17G5.

21. Annas, b. May 2, 1767; m., Sept. 2S, 1784, Benjamin T. Kideout.

22. Deborah, b. May 30, 1769.

23. Nathan, b. June 30, 1772.

24. Neheniiah, b. Oct. 18, 1774.

25. Chloe, b. Oct. 17, 1776.

26. Ralph, b. July 6, 1780; d. Nov. 21, 1782.

27. Jeke.miaii (14), b., Andover, Mass., June, 1733; d., Weston, Vt.,
Jan. 27, 1826. He served in the French and Indian war; was at the siege

* The two following births are found in the Wilton records : " IVFbses, son of Stephen
Blanchard and Lucy his wife, was boru Oct. 'Jl, 17~(i." " Hannah, dau. of Abiel Blanchard
and Hannah his wife, was born Oct. 28, 1~!)5." It is not known how tlie Stephen and Abiel,
here mentioned, were related to the other Blauchards of Wilton, but it is possible tliat they
were sons of Nathan (11).

GENEALOGIES: BLANCHARD. 319

of Fort VVilliuin Henry, taken prisoner and eseai)e(l; also served diirinji,'
the Revolutionary war. He was last taxed in Wilton in 1808, and removed
to Weston, Vt. He m.. May 17, 17o9, Dorothy Smith of Andover; m., 2d,
between 1769 and 1774. Susanna Martin. The births of his five youn_2;est
ehildren are reeorded in Wilton. Children :

28. Jeremiah, b. Sept. 17, 1761; served in Revolution.

29. Peter, b. Aug. 12, 1707; removed to Weston, Vt.

30. Eber, b. Jan. 14, 1769.

31. Sarah, b. Xov.'2, 1774.

32. Dolly, or Dorothy, born Nov. 2, 177(!.

33. Judith, b. Oet. 15, 1778; m. Benjamin Steele. See Steele gen.

34. Henry, b. March 30, 1781.

35. John, b. Nov. 26, 1782.

3G. Hannah, b. March 27, 1785.

37. AVilliam, b. Feb. 10, 1788. IJemoved to Canton, N. V.

3S. Aaron, b. July 20, 1791.

39. Joshua (16), b. Nov. 13, 1746; d. Oct. 10, 1818. A man of very
decided opinions and mucli respected; selectman for one year and often
on important committees. A part of his faini is now owned by (Jeorge
H. Keyes. He m., June 30, 1770, Elizabeth, dau. of John and Abigail
(Liverniore) Keyes, who d. July 14, 1817, aged 72 yrs. Children :

40. Joshua (58), b. July 8, 1771.

41. Amos, b. Jan. 14, 1773. Res. Andover, Mass. Was many years
cashier of the Andover Bank, systematic and exact in all his business
transactions. He was father of Rev. Amos Blanchard, D. D., for many
years pastor of First Cong. Ch., and of Kirk St. Ch., Lowell, Mass.

42. Elizabeth, b. Oct. 6, 1774; d. Nov. 20, 1857; num.; res. in Wilton
until death of her parents, afterwards in Andover.

43. Eunice, b. Aug. 8, 177(;; d. Sept. 24, 1779[?].

. 44. Eunice, b. June 6, 1778; d. Jan. 4. 18,-)0. She m.. Jan. 30, 1800,
Jeremiah Abbot, Jun. See Abbot gen.

45. Ezra, b. March 23, 1780; d. June 4, 1805.

40. Abel, b. Oct. 10, 1782; unm. ; d., Pembroke, March 15,1818. A
physician ; studied medicine in Concord ; practised his profession in Pitts-
tield from 1805 to 1808, and in Pembroke for the rest of his life. In liis
will, after making bequests to his father and others, he gave the residue
of his estate, about .$2500. toward the estal)lishment of an " Academy in
Peni])roke, for the purpose of improving the rising generation in science,
morality and religion." On June 25, 1818, the Legislature passed an act
incorporating the Blanchard Academy. Through his friend, Rev. Dr.
Abraham Burnhani of Pembroke, more money was raised for the erection
of a building, which was dedicated May 25, 1819. It has been known,
later, as Pembroke Academy.

47. Phoda, b. Nov. 7, 1784; num.; after death of her parents, she
removed to Andover, and d. there, June 30, 1857.

48. Lydia, b. Nov. 5, 1786; d. Aug. 28, ISOl.

49. Benjamin (17), b. July 3, 1750; d. Nov. 24, 1828. His farm is
now owned by John Lane. He m. Sarah Griffin of Tewksbury, Mass.,

320 HISTORY OF WILTON.

who (I. May :n. ISOl : m., 2(1, Feb. 22, 1803, Martha Bhim-hard of Billerica.
('hil(h-eii :

:>(). Sarali, h. Sept. 10. 177:.: d. Sept. 11), 1777.

51. Abiy-ail, 1). .Iuir' 11. 1777: iii.. Feb. 11, isoo. 'I'hiiotliy il. AVIiitiicy.

52. Sarah. 1). April .■>, 177!J; imiu.: d. July 13. is;{7.

53. rjeiijaiuhi, b. April ."), 1781 : d. July 12, 185."). IJcs. on liouieslcad
until 1848, when he removed to the middle of the town. He m., Get. 2(),
1813, Hannali Frye. who d. Oet. 31. 1803.

51. Beulali, b. June 13. 1783; ui.. Nov. l!t. ISO.i. .foslma Moor.

55. Isaae («3). b. May 25, 178.i.

5(>. Abner (71), b. May 31. 1787.

57. Hannah, 1). June 12, 1789; d. May lU. 17!i(t.

5)S. J08IIUA (40). 1) , July 8, 1771 : d. July 23, 1810, His father gave
him a deed of the S. W . part of his farm. He held military olllees (o tlie
rank of captain, was deaeou of the ehui'eh and led in the siuginji" for sev-
eral years; was universally respected. He was ill for some time before
his death ; one day he rode out. and on his return lay down to rest; he
was soon after found dead in his room. He m.. March 12, 1801, Mary,
dau. of Samuel Hutchinson, who m.. 2d, Moses Gage of Pelliam and d.
Sept. 1!), 1838, aged 61 yrs. Children :

59. Abel, b. Oct. 10, 1802. Ees. several years in Audover, Mass., then
went to Xew ^'ork City, where he was engaged in the Bible House until
his death.

60. Lydia. b. July t», 1807); d. Nov. 28, 1821.

<)1. Ezra, b. Aug. 27), 1808; m., April 16, 1833, Delana S. Reed. He
owned for some years the west i)art of lots numbered 12 and 1.3, formerly
the Hutchinson farm.

62. Joslnia, b. June 2'J, 1810. He went t(» Audover, Mass.. and still
res. there ; has been for several years deacon of the Cong. ( li.

63. Isaac (55), b. May 2.'), 178."); d. Oct. 20. 18.'J7. A wood-turner and
furniture maker; lived at the middle of the town until 1828, when Jif
went to Fitchburg, Mass.. where he res. a few years, then returned lo
Wilton. He held nnlitary olhces to rank of c;iptain, was postmaster over
ten years and sexton for many years. He m.. Dec. -"), ISO!), Betsey Foster
of Tewksl)ury, Mass.. who d. Nov. 2. 1S74, aged 01 yrs.. 2 nios., 28 days.
( hildren :

64. Isaac (76). b. Jan. 6. 1811.

65. Eliza, b. Dec. 24, 1812.

66. Hannali. 1). .Ian. IS. ISI-"): m. T.yman ^lorsc of Boston. Mas.-. She
(1. July 20. 1887).

67. Amos Foster, b. May 2. 1S17. Soim after he became of ag<' be
went out west.

6S. Sarah (irillin. b. April 23. ISIO: d. March 21. 1820.

60. Clarissa, b. Xov. 22, 1821 ; m. John F. Kind»all of Lowell. Mass.

70. (iardner. b. Aug. 30. 1820; ni. Lucy Spalding; n. eh. He owns
the place formerly belonging to llev. Abel Fisk. For several years he
worked at house painting and paper hanging. He has been successfully

35
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''jt>X3SSSGiiijK

GENEALOGIES : BLANCHARD. 321

engaged in raising fruit and poultry. In sonic years ho, feeds out seven
or eight liundred hushels of grain.

71. Abnkk (56), b. May 31. 1787 ; d., Bennington, ]\rareh 24, 1855. lie
lived on the homestead with his brother, Benjamin, until about 1S;J1, when
he removed to Temple. After residing there several years he removed to
Bennington. He m., Oct. 15. 1812, Hannah Tarbel of Mason, wlio d. May
2.5. 18:W. aged -tO yrs. ; he m., 2d, Jan. 22, 1834, Xaney Dale, who d. Sept.
IG. 18(j2. aged 73 yrs. Children :

72. Syrena. 1). Nov. 10, 1815; m. Dea. Adams B. Winn.

73. Kveline, b. April 5, 1817; m., Nov. 17, 1835, Joseph Holt, 3d.

74. Kdwin Tarbel, b. March 18, 1811).

75. Abuer Jarvis, b. June 19, 1821.

7<J. Isaac (64), b. Jan. G, 1811 ; d. March 14, 1885. He was employed
as brakeman on the Boston and ]Maine U. IJ.; retin-ned to Wilton, where
he worked at house-painting, glazing and i)aper-hanging ; served as sex-
ton twenty-seven j'ears. He m.. Jan. 10, 1838, IHioda Osgooil of Andover,
3Iass. Cliildren :

77. p:iiza, b., Haverhill. :\[ass.. Sept. 1, 1838; m. Oliver W. Blood.

78. Albert Osgood, b. Aug. 3, 1840; d. Sept. 2U, 18G5.

79. Henry N. (81), b. Aug. 2G, 1842.

80. Frank C. (84).

SI. Hknuv N. (79), b. Aug. 20, 1842; m.. Dec. 17, 18G8, Xancy Helen
Burton. Children :

82. Isaac Henry, b. A[iril 15, 1872.

83. Henjamin IL, b. Dec. 29, 187G.

84. Fkaxk ('., m., March 6, 1879. Abbie .F. Melendy. Child:

85. Ernest F., b. May 22. 1881.

1. SiMox Blanciiaud. b.. Billerica, Mass., Dec. 23, 1749; d. about
1828. His grandfather, John, who settled in Billerica, was son of Samuel
(2) of the preceding gen. Simon removed to Milford al)()iit 177(i. A part
of his farm is now occupied by the Hillsborough ]Mills. He m., Jan. 20,
1774, Catherine, dau. Of Increa.se Wyman of Woburn. Mass., who d. 1838.
He liad eleven children, three of wliom, named below, were for u longer
or shorter time residents of Wilton.

2. Luther (5). b. Milford.

3. Catherine, b. Milford; ni., Sepl. 7, 1819, Luther Holt.

4. llebecca, b. Milford; m. Orville Holt.

5. Luther (2), b. Milford; m. Mary Kinsou of Mont Vernon. He
liad a large family of children, most of them born in Wilton, but we have
obtained the record of nonq, except of those named below, wlio liave lived
in Wilton since tlieir marriage :

6. 31ary, b. June 15, 1817; m. Elbridge G. Woodman.

7. Olive, b. Jan. 24, 1821 ; m., Xov. 2G, 184G, Samuel Brooks Bales.
See Bales gen.

8. George (11), b. Oct. 18, 1823.

322 HISTORY OF WILTON.

9. Charles (18), 1). Oct. 1. 1825.

10. John (22), b. July 0, 1828.

11. Gkokgk (8), b. Oct. 18, 1823. Ho has livod in AVilton almost
without interruption. Enlisted in IGth Kcjit.. N. II. V. See page 211.
He m., March 1.5, 18.")2, Mary A. Wright of Nashua. Children:

12. Addle Frances, b. June 30, 1854; d. Aug. 17, 1855.

13. Frank Byron, b. Jan. 20, 18o(;: d. June 10. 187'J.

14. Ida Lilian, b. May 18. 1858 : ni.. Oct. 20. 1879. William Ernest
r'rosby of Boston, Mass.

15. Eosa Geuevra, b. June 30. 1860; d. Ai)ril 20. 18(i2.

16. George Woodman, b. Oct. 18, 1865.

17. Mary Grace, b. Aug. 24, 1868.

18. CiiAKLE.s (9), b. Oct. 1, 1825. Enlisted in KUh Ifegl.. N. H. V.
Returned ill and d. Sept. 20, 1863. See page 211. He m.. Oct. 4, 1852,
Mary Frost, who was b.. Hubbardston, Mass.. July 1. 1830. Children :

19. Adin, b. Aug. 17, 1853; d. Aug. S), 18,5().

20. Brigliam. b. Nov. 4, 1855.

21. Walter, b. Jan. 12, 18.58.

22. JOHX ( 10). b. July 6, 1828. A machinist: was emiiloyed by the
Wilton Co. during the gre;iter part of Mr. Woodman's superintendence.
Enlisted in Kith Kegt., X. II. V. See page 211. Ho m. Harriet Glines.
Children :

23. Emma, b., Milford. Feb. 20. 18.54.

24. Addle, b.. Milford. April 10. 18.56.

25. Lizzie, b., AVilton, Sept. 24, 1858.

26. Fred I)., b.. Wilton. March 3. 1860.

27. Nellie F.. b., Wilton. June 1. 1862.

28. Nettie F.. b.. AVilton, Sept. 17, 1864.

29. Cora A., b.. Wilton. ."March 15, 1868.

30. Etta L.. b.. Wilton. March 17. 1871.

31. Arthur \V.. b., >Vilton, Oct. 5, 1876.

1. Gkorok Bi-ANCIIARD. a colored man. and a veterinary surgeon.
He lived many years in Wilton, a part of the time on the farm now owned
by Samuel Goldsmith. He served in Capt. Benjamin Taylor's company
at Winter Hill, during the winter of 177.5-76. At tlie beginning of this
century lie bought the farm in ^lilford, afterward owned l>y Di'. I'eter

Shedd, iind lived there the rest of his life. He m. Hannah , who d.

Dec. 20, 1779; m.. 2d, Elizabeth . Children:

2. Hannah, b., :>[ile Slip, .June 28. 1778.

3. James, b. Oct. 20, 1781 ; d. Nov. 25. 1781.

4. 3Io]ly, b. Oct. 11. 1782.

5. Betty, b. March 26, 1784.

6. George Washington. 1). Aug. 25. 1785: d. April 10. 1812.

7. John, b. Dec. 25, 1786.

8. Anna, b. Jan. 21, 1788.

GEJ>JEALOGiES : BLOOD. 323

{>. HcpsUnih, b. 3Iaicli 1, 171»0.

To. Timothy, b. Oct. 1, 1701; res. on homestead and succeeded his
father as veterinary surgeon.

11. Euth, 1). April !). 17i)3.

12. Sally, I). April 2.5, 1795.

JiLOOD FAMILY.

1. Ja:n[i;s Bi.ooi). who came to ('oncord. ^Mass., about 1638, and d.
Dec. 17, 1083, is supposed to be the ancestor of the families In Xew Eng-
land that have borne his name. The family liad large wealth. Ellen,
wife of James Blood, d., Concord. Aug. 1, 1674. They are supposed to
have had five children.

2. EoHKUT. son of pieceding, d.. Concord. Oct. 27, 1701 . He m.. April
8, 1G53, Elizabeth, dau. of Maj. Simon Willard, who d. Aug. 20. I(i02.
Twelve children.

3. Jo.siAir, son of preceding, b. April 6, 1664; m., March 4, 1688,
:Mary Barrett: m.. 2d, Feb. 3, 1600-01. >raiy 'i'homas (TorreyV) Eleven
children.

4. Stephkx. son of preceding, b. Feb. 22, 1703-1 ; ni., Mary .

Xine children.

5. FiJANCis, third child of preceding, h.. Concord. Mass., ^larch 18,
1734-5. Gen., Francis Blood settled in Peterborough Slip in 176.3, and,
according to Mr. Daniel lleald, "held as many offices of honor and trust
during the Eevolution as any man in the state." He practised some line
strategy, at the time Temple was incorporated, in getting the tenth range
of AVilton lots included in Temple. - The inhabitants of Peterborougli Slip
had petitioned the governor and council to have one or two of the west
ranges of Wilton brought into Temple, and had appointed Gen. Blood
their agent to manage the matter. The inhabitants of AVilton, in town
meeting assendded, on April 27, 1768, appointed Joseph Butterfield and
James Dascomb their agents to oppose the petition of Peterborough Slip
before the governor and council. Tradition says that Gen. Blood and
Mr. Buttertield -met and had some talk of going to Exeter together. But
Gen. Blood wished to anticipate Mr. Butterfield, so he borrowed from
Col. Towne of Xew Ipswich, his horse, hat, wig and complete costume
and started for Exeter. As he passed :>rr. Butterfield, who was standing
in his door waiting, the splendid horse and imposing costume so attracted
IJutterfield's attention that he did not recognize the man. When the Wil-
ton agents reached Exeter they found Gen. Blood there before them, and
the business so arranged that they could not prevent the tenth range of
lots from being incorporated into Temple. Gen. Blood m. Elizabeth
Spaulding of Pcpperell, Mass. Nine children.

(>. Fkancis, son of preceding, b. Dec. 11. 1767. Major Francis Blood
IN. IJebecca Parlin of Carlisle, Mass. Of their eleven children, the six
named below have either lived in \yilton, or had children who live there,

7. Howard (13).

8. Betsey, m. Xathan A. Whiting. See Whiting gen.

324 HISTORY OF WILTON.

0. Tolly. 111. Ilcrinon Batclioldcr. See Batchclder i^en. (27).

10. llepsoy, b. Sept. 1!», 1707; d. Maivli •_'. 1S7(); m. Aaioii Banie.«.
See Barnei* gen. ({)).

11. Clarissa, in. Jaiiics J{. Moans. See Cleans gen.

12. Orin (lO), 1). ISO.').

13. Howard (7), m. IJhoda Pierce, ('liildien:
11. George Howard (IJ)). li. Oct. 17, 1S2G.

15. Levi Hiram (22), li.. Temple, Aug. 7, 1820.

IG. Orin (12). li. ISO.i; d. Mayo. 18(58. He renioveil to Wilton a few
years before the death of his first wife. ,\.fter his second marriage he
lived on the place now owned by Michael McCarthy. He m., Dec. (i,
1832, Louise Barker, who d. June ">, 1853, aged 4(! yrs. He ni.. 2d. Mav 8,
1856, Jane. dau. of Capt. Caleb Putn;im.

17. Ilebecca. m. Symonds.

18. Kodney Orin. b. July 10, 1834 : d. July 4, 1874.

19. GEORdE Howard (14), b. Oct. 17, 182(i. He removed from Lynde-
borough to ^Vilton in March. 1865. Has'worked in Dunbar's meat-mar-
ket, in the Depot store and at farming; in Xov., 1880, was elected repre-
sentative to the Legislature. He in.. May 18, 1853. Helen Marion, dau. of
Dexter and Clarissa O. (Spotlbrd) Burton, who was b. Feb. 24. 1831. See
Burton gen. Children :

20. George Francis, b. March 22. 1860. Grad.. 1870. at rhilUps Exe-
ter Academy. Since March 1, 1880. he has been employed as clerk by
Messrs. Gregg & Son of Xashua.

21. Clara Helen, b. April 20, 1862. Grad., 1S83. at Francestown
Academy. Before and since her gradiuition she has ])een a successful
teacher.

22. Levi IHra.^i (lo), b.. Temple, Aug. 7, 1820. He came to Wilton
about 1860; has been engaged in livery stable and in teaming. He in.,
Jan. 17, 1853, Adaline Langdell, wlio was b., Amherst, July 15, 1828.
Children :

23. Florence Adaline. b. Dee. 17. 1857; m., Feb. 13, 1877, Eli E. Bas-
sett. Ees. Peterborough.

24. Willie Hiram, b. Sept. 28, 1863; d. May 7, 1864.

25. Bertha Leuiar, b. June 1, 1865. She has been a successful teacher
for several terms.

26. Mabel Gertrude, b. Oct. 15, 1867.

BOYNTOX FAMILY.

1. Oliver Whiting Boynton, h. Temple; d., Wilton, Jan. 27, 1877,
aged 60 yrs. mos. He was son of Elias and Hannah (Whiting) Boynton.
and grandson of Capt. Elias Boynton, who fought at Bunker Hill and
Saratoga. Oliver sold his homestead in Temple, a few years hcfore his
death, and bought the place at Wilton Centre formerly owned by Asa
Jones and res. ihi're until his death. He m.. March 1, 1831. Olive, dau. of
Theodore and Elizabeth (Corliss) Barker of 'I'emple, who was b. Feb. 4,
1811, and d. Sept. 13, 1870. See Barker gen. (5). Children :

GENEALOGIES : BRIDGES. 325

2. George W. (9), 1). April 7, 1832.

3. diaries E., h. Nov. 10, 1835 ; res. Portsmouth.

4. AVilliaiii Wallace (12), b. Xov. 4, 1840.

0. John (;., b. Dec. 4, 1843; d. March 20. 1855.

«. Mary H., b. Nov. 22, 1848; ni., June 24, 18G!), B. La Forest Chand-
ler. Kes. Nashua.

7. Martlia E., b. Sept. 9, 1850: ni., March 23, 1879, Henry II. I.iver-
inore. See Liverniore gen.

8. Abbie A., b. April 2, 1854.

9. Gkoroe W. (2), b. April 7, 1832. He lived for a few years on tlie
fai-m now owned by Jeremiah Driscoll. He sold this and bouglit the
place of Charles B. Bnrtt, in the village, where his family liave since
resided. He carried on the bottling business for four years at Providence,
Ii. 1., and, since 1885, at Natick, Mass. Has been supervisor and fire-
ward in Wilton. lie ni.. May 17, 1857, Eliza Jane Burton of Lynde-
borougli, who was b. Dec. G, 1834. See Burton gen. (77). Children :

10. Clara, b. .July 5, 18G0; ni.

11. George Fred., b. Xov. 25, 1SG4; d. Jan. 15, 18G5.

12. >Villia:m Wallace (4), b. Xov. 4, 1840. Pes. Northampton,
Mass. ; engaged in bottling business. He ni., Dec. 25, 1880, May E., dau.
of ^\'iHiam and Eveline P. Emerson. Child :

13. Guy Emerson, b., Northampton, Mass., Sept. 21, 1884.

BRIDGES FAMILY.

1. JoiiN" Bridges came to Wilton about 1777 and bought of Joseph

Buttertield the farm now owned by George I. Doe. He m. Marj' .

Children :

2. Abiel (})), I), about 1764.

3. :Mary, m., July 27, 178G, Moses Averill.

4. Mehitabel, d. Feb. 20, 184G, aged 70 yrs. ; num.

5. Enoch (IG). The four children, so far named, wei-e probably born
before their fatlier came to Wilton, as we find no record of their birth.

G. James (ID), b. Nov. 27, 1778.

7. John, b. Aug. 21, 1780; d. Dec. 28, 1780.

S. Sarah, b. May 15, 1784; d. St^it. 30, 1784.

9. Abiel (2), d. Nov. 7, 1801, aged 37 yrs. He bought and lived on
the farm afterward owned by Pev. Thomas Beede. He m. Susanna, dau.
of Jonathan and Sarah (Putnam) Cram, who was b. Jan. 27, 17G9. See
Cram gen. Children:

10. Sarah, b. July 18, 1792; m., Nov. 11, 1813, Levi Bridge. They res.
several years in Wilton, then removed to Maine.

11. Abiel, b. Dec. 31, 1793. •

12. Jonathan, b. Sept. 1, 1795. He m. and res. in Wilton several
years: in 1841 removed to Vermont.

13. Susanna, b. Nov. 10, 1797; m.. .March 13, 1829, David Cram.

14. Twins were b. April 27. 1800, and were buried the following day.

32G HISTORY OF WILTON.

15. Philip, h. July 19, ISOl ; d. youuit-.

10. ExoCH (o). He wa^^ one of the emigrants from ^Vilfon who settled

in Temple. Wilton and Weld. Me. lie m. Betsey . Children :

17. Bet.sey. b. .July 2;^, 1800.
IS. Mary, 1). Sept. 10. 1802.

19. .lAMKs (6), b. Xov. 27. 1778; d. Mareh (i. 1840. A farmer and an
inveterate \\ orker, liaving no mercy, so far as hours were conoerned. for
himself or for his team. Ees. on homestead. He m. Mrs. Mary (Ames)
Foster, who d. Dec. 15, 1824, aged .")0 yrs. ; m.. 2d. Sally Pierce of .Taflrey.
who d. March 14, 18;^(J, iiged 48 yrs. Children :

20. Anna, 1). -July 1, 1S07; m., May 1. 1828. Samuel Holt. See Holt
gen.

21. .Tames T,oring. b. ^Marcli l(i. 1810: m. and res. in (iroton. Mass. :
n. ch.

22. Sanni.d Woodbury (23).

23. Samukl AVoonBiKY. After his marriage he spent a year in
Georgia ; then res. on the homestead untif after the death of his first wife.
He m. Sal)ra Heriick. who d. Oct. 22, 1S.")7, aged .52 yrs. Children :

24. George W. (29). b. Jan. 22, 1838.

25. .Tames, b.. Dooley Co., Ga., Feb. 27, 1839; d., Wilton, Jan. 29.
1809. He was mustered. May 2. 1801, into Co. E, First Kegt., N. H. V.:
mustered out, Aug. 9. 1801 : mustered as a recruit, Sept. 20. 1802, into Co.

B, Eighth Regt., X. H. V.: wounded, May 27, 18()3; corp. by pi-omotion.
Aug. 1, 1803; serg., Dec. 10. 1803; honorably discharged. -Tune 7, 1805.

2«. William ll., b. Xov. 19, 1841. He was nuistered. May 2, 1801, into
Co. E, First liegt., X. H. Y. ; mustered out, Aug. 9, 1801 : mustered, Oct.
15, 1801. into Co. 1. Fifth Regt., X. H. V. : d. at IlarrisonV Landing. Va..
July 20, 1802.

27. Twins were b. .Tuly 12, 1842, and d. in infanc.y.

28. Theodore Edson, b. Jan. 19, 1845 ; d. July 13, 18<i4.

29. (j^EOiUJE AV. (24), 1). Jan. 22. 1838. He was nmstered, Dec. 30,
1801, into Co. B. Eighth Regt.. X. II. V.: appointed corp.; serg. by i)ro-
motion. 3Iarch 20, 1803: wounded at Port Hudson. La., .June 14, 1803;
eonnnissioned, Sept., 1803, second lieut. in Xinety-Second Regt., V. S.

C. L; first lieut. by i)romotion : mustered out .Ian. 1, 1800. After the
war he bought of liis father the homestead, on winch he res. a few years :
for several years past lie has lived in Brookline. He m.. Oct. 0, 1801.
Sarah D. Buss, who d. June 27. 1873, aged 35 yrs. He m.. 2d. Oct. 17.
1875, Abl)ie L. Lincoln, dau. of Rev. I. S. Lincoln. C'hild :

30. Theodore Lincoln, 1).. AVilton. ^lay 2. 18(i8.

BROOKS FAMILY.

1. Isaac Buooks owned the house that stood e:ist of the blacksiiiitlfs
shop occupied by John Farrington, .John 3Lick and others. II(> bad a
store and was licensed for seven years to sell spirituous lifpiors. lie was
^ust taxed in 1801 : sold his house to Sampsc^i Iveycs. a blacksmil h. and

GENEALOGIES : BROWN. 327

removed to Anilieist, \vher<> lie \va>5 register of deed? for many years. He
m. Abigail . Childn'u :

2. Isaac, b. Sept. 2(i. 17'.ll : d. July (i, 179G.

3. Luther, b. July 6, 171).").

BKOWX FAMITJES.

1. Thomas Bkowx and IJridget, hi>; wife, carae from England and
settled in ("oneord, Mass., 10;JS. A freeman. He d., Cambridge, Mass.,
Nov. A, 1G8S.

'I, 'I'nOMAs, tiftli child of preceding, b.. Concord. ]\Iass.. IG.'l : d.
April 4, 1718; ni., Nov. 12, 1G77, Ifuth .Tones.

3. Epiiraim, fourth child of preceding, b. April 21. IGSli; d. Feb. G.
1749-50; m., Aug. 28, 1710. Hannah WilsoiK

4. Thomas, first child of preceding, b. Dec. 2G, 1720; d. 17S1 ; m.,
May 2G, 1748, Mary Flint.

5. Jonas, second child of preceding, b. Dec. 1."), 17.'j2; d., Temple.
July 31, 1884. He was a minute mau in Concord in Capt. Buttrick's co.,
was wounded at the north bridge in Concord, April 10, 177."), and, bleed-
ing, chased the enemy nine miles ; was in the battle at Bunker Hill ; was
connnissioned as ensign, served in the Ticonderoga campaign, and joined
the army under Gen. Gates. Tn Dec, 177G, he entered his name to serve
during the war as lieut. He m., Aug. 10, 1784, Hannah, dau. of Major
Ephraim Heald, first settler of Temple.

(). Ephkaim, third son of preceding, b., Temple, July i;{, 1790; d.,
AVilton, Dec. 11, 1840. In 180G lie was apprenticed to William Howard of
Temple, a carpenter. About 1809 he was employed by Kimball Putnam
of Wilton as journeyman, and later by Isaac Blanchard as cabinet maker.
At the time of his marriage, 181 G, he settled about a mile west of AVilton
Centre, and. in 1820, bought the Silas Buss farm where Albert Carleton
now lives. He was successful both as a farmer and a carpenter, being an
excellent workman, of good judgment, quick in execution, ingenious in
devices and ready in adapting means to ends. His advice was often sought
and cheerfully given. Between 18;;{0 and 1838 he invented a thresliing
machine very like those in i)resent use, and constructed a horse-power to
run his machine. He was a member of the Unitarian Church in Wilton,
was a diligent reader of solid books, was ([uick in comprehension, modest,
broad in his views and liberal toward all men: was much beloved and
respected. He m., Dec. 4, 181 G, Sarah, dau. of Benning and Abigail
(Morgan; King, who was b., Wilton, N'ov. 4, 1797. She m., 2d, March 31,
1847. Nathaniel Thurston, who d. April 3, 1874. She now lives with her
grandson, Tbeodore \V. Harris, at Far Rockaway, X. Y. Children :

7. Sarah Maria, b. Xov. 7, 1817 ; d. Dec. 2, 1818.

8. Ephraim (15), b. Oct. 1, 1819,

\). Abigail King, b. Dec. 9, 1821 : d. Dec. 2il. 1824.

10. (Tcorge (21), b. Oct. 11, 1823.

11. Sumner, b. Sept. 5, 182.t; d. Aug. 30, 1827.

12. Abigail Maria, b. Aug. 28, 1828: d. July 17, 1S.")2: m.. Sept. 22,

328 HISTORY OF WILTON.

1847, Xonnan Smith, M. D.. of Grotou, who was b., Mout Veruou, Oct.

13. ISll. lie was for six yoars sui-o-pon of tho Sixtli I'og-t-.. ^fass. V., wont
witli tlio regt. throiigli iialtiiiioro in 18(11 and liad the care of those
wounded by the mol).

13. Diantlia Baker (23), b. Feb. 1, 1831.

14. Anstress (29), b. March .5. 1834. *

15. EriiRAiM (S), b. Oct. 1, 181f». For account of his life see page
290. lb' ni.. .Ian. 1, 184G, Mary F. Pollard of Lowell. Mass., who d. Aug.
17, 1840; m., 2d., Aug. 27, 18.")1. Sarah 11. Uarrett of Barre. :Mass., who d.
Aug. 24. 18.")2: ni., 3d, Sept. 12, 18.*)4. Ennna Cornelia Daniels of Tewks-
biuy. ^hiss. Cliildren :

16. Martha Ann. b. Oet. 13, 1S4(); d. Sept. 3, 1840.

17. George Ephrairn, b. Oct. 0. is."): ni., Feb. IS. 1880. MaryL.de
lloelm.

18. Frederick Eogers, b. July 20. 18G2; d. Oct. 4. 1878.

19. :\[ary Etta, li. July 31, 186.-) : d. Jan. 27. 1884.

20. Emma Alice, b. Nov. 4. 1868.

21. Geokge (^10), )). Oct. 11, 1823. For account of liis life see page
200. He m., Xov. 1, 1850. Gatliarine AVood of Grotou, ^lass. Child :

22. George Artemas, b. April 18, 18.-)S. A physician ; assists his father
in liis institution for the education of the feeble miiuled.

23. DiANTiiA Bakku (13), b. Feb. 1, 1831 ; m.; Xov. 2;"), 18,-)2, Philip S.
Harris, who was b., Heath, Mass., Feb. 24, 1824: d., Flatbush. N. V.. ^hirch
11, 1884. He was a portrait painter of note and his portraits of mau.v dis-
tinguished men are marked by fidelity and excellence. He lirst lived in
Bath, ^le. ; then in Brooklyn, X. Y., where lu' was a deacon of the South
Cong. Ch.. and in 18S2 removed to Flatbush. ]\[rs. Harris now res. at Fai-
TJoekaway, X. V., with her son. Theodore. Children:

24. Herbert Allston (Harris) (33). b.. Batli, Me.. Oct. 8. 18.-)3.

25. Ida Frances (Harris), b.. Batli. Me.. Feb. 10, 18.-).-): d.. Brooklyn.
X. v., .Sept. 28. 1876.

2G. (ieorge Philip (Harris), b.. Bath. Me.. Oet. 2.-). 18.-)7: d.. I'.atii,
Me.. March 3. 18.-.8.

27. Henry Lucius (Harris), b., Bath. Me.. Dec. 11. 1S.-)S: m.: has four
children. Ardutect, Xew York City.

28. Theodore Winfield (Harris)^ b., Bath, Me., June 23, 1862. (irad.
at Union Theol. Seminary. A clergyman and res. at Far Kockaway,
X. Y. " "

2i>. Anstkess (14), b.. Wilton. March 5. 1834: d., Mount Vernon
Forge, Eockingham Co.. Va., Feb. 20, 1870. She m., Barre, ^lass., Dec.

14, 18.58, David Francis Ihiynes, who was b.. West Brooklield, Mass..
June 26, 1835. In Xov. 1851, Mr. Haynes entei-ed as elerk the store of
Ephrairn Brown at Lowell, wliere he learned the crockeiy luisiness. In
1856, he became l)0ok-keepcr of H. Abbot and Son, of Baltimore, Md..
manufacturers of iron plates. Theirs Avere the only mills in this eountry
where the plates for the famous Monitor eould lie produced. To satisfy
tlie demands of the \'. S. government for slii}) and "Monitor armor they
were forced to erect a lu'w mill and Mr. Ilaynes w.is ]tn{ in eli.arge.

JONATHAN" BURTON.

GENEALOGIES : BROWN. 329

In 18(W. he wa:* appointed manager of the ilount Vernon Iron Work.* hi
Kockhigliani Co., Va. In 1871, he returned to Baltimore, Md., became
partner with John P. Ammidon, dealer in glairs and crockery wares, and.
in 1S7<>. assumed control ol' the business. fn 1881, he developed the
Ciieapside Pottery, a noted manufactory of artistic porcelain wares.
Children :

30. Fannie (llaynes), b. Jan. 27. 18G0.

ai. Katie (llaynes), b. Aug. 14, 1864.

32. Frank Peuben (llaynes), b. Sept. 23, 1861).

m. IlEUBERT Allstox (Hakris) (24), b., Bath, Me., Oct. 8, 1853.
lias been cashier and book-keei)er for Messrs. Whiting & Sons at Wilton,
and is now employed by them in Boston, Mass. He m.. Aug 13, 1S7S.
Maria P. Ellsworth. Children :

34. Ada Ellsworth (Harris), b., AVilton, June 4, 1879.

35. Bertha Ellsworth (Harris), b.. Wilton. Oct. 23. 1880; d. Fel). 12.
1881.

1. Ja:mes Brown. At the lirst town meeting after the incorporation
of Wilton, held July 22, 1762, he was chosen moderator and lirst select-
man. He was re-chosen selectman in 1703, and was several times moder-
ator of town meetings. He was first lieut. in C^apt. Walker's co. of Col.
Peed's regt., whicli marched to Cambridge immediately after the battle
of Lexington. Hon. ('harles J. Fox, in his History of Dunstable, claims
Lieut. Brown as an inhabitant of that town: l)ur in the i)ay roll of Capt.-
Walker's Co., as made uj) to Aug. 1, 177."), (see Hannnond's Pev. War
Polls. Vol. I, page i).")) Capt. Walker, Lieut. Poby and others from Dun-
stable were credited with forty miles' travel, while Lieut. Brown and
others from Wilton were credited with sixty miles' travel. See page 8!) of
this Histoi'y. By a deed, d.ated Jan. 31, 1777, he soUl his farm, which
was i)art of lots numbered 7 and 8 in the first range, to Josc^jih Abbot,
Juu., ami removed to Moultonborough. The same fai-m is now owned by
John Herlihy. He m. Sarah . Children :

2. Sarah. 1). April 21, 1769.

3. Olive, b. April 2, 1771.

4. James, b. March 21, 1773.

1. William Brown, supposed to be the lirst pj-actising physician in

Wilton, lived where Luther Baldwin now res. He m. Pachel — .

Children :

2. AVilliam, b. Aug. 12, 1776.

3. Lydia. b. March 10, 1780.

1. Isaac Brown. Isaac and Daniel Brown lived in \Vilton for some
time. They were both enrolled, April 23, 177r>, in Capt. Walker's co. of
Col. Peed's regt.. and the pay roll of Aug. 1, 1775, shows that they served

330 HISTORY OF WILTON.

until tliat time. Isaac in. ITannuli — . who d. Aug. 1."). 17SS. Chil-
dren :

2. Isaav. h. April 30, 177!).

3. Patty. 1). Aug. 12, 1788; d. Sept. 19. 1788.

BUGBEE FAMILY.

1. FREE:>rAN E. Bugbee, b., Eiehford, Vt., :\ray l.'j, 184(;. A photog-
raplier; canie to Wilton in Oct.. 187:5. and soon aecpiired a protitable
business which he has contiiuied to tliis time. He m. Annie UutcliiiHon.
who was b., Greentield, Jan. 27, 1840. Children :

2. Xellie M., b. Aug. 28, 1878.

3. Eva M.. b. Xov. 10. 1880.

BURXHAM FAMILY.

1. Thomas Biknham, b., England. 1G2;J ; d. June, 1004. Lieut.
Burnham m., 1G4.5, ]\[ary Tuttle; 11 ch. "

2. John, sou of preceding, b. 1048: d. 1704: m., 1008, Elizabeth
Wells: eh.

3. TIIO^rAS, son of preceding, b. Sept. 20. 107:i: d. 1748. He m.
Susanna : ch.

4. Jekejiiaii, sou of preceding, b. 1702: d. 1783. He m.. 1730. Jane
Pride; 0. eh.

5. Jeremiah, b. Ajjril 2. 1732. AVe find the first mention of the
Burnham famil)' in Wilton in a deed, dated Nov. 15, 1779, from Jonathan
Blanchard to Jeremiah Burnham, conveying 05 acres of east part of lot
Xo. 5 in the sixth range. Date of Jeremiah's deatli not kuown: last

taxed in Wilton, 1805. He m., Aug. 30, 1754, Mary , who d. Jan.

7, 1828, aged 92 yrs. They had 8 ch., of whom tlie two following were
residents of Wilton :

.6. IJuth, b. 1 750 ; m., April 21 , 1 785. Timothy Gray ; d. .Alarch 23. 1841 .

7. Jeremiah (8), b. 1703.

8. Jeremiah (7), b., 1703; d. Xov.. 1844. By a deed, dated Dec. 9,
1794, his father convej'ed to him the 05 acres, bought in 1779 of Jonathan
Blanchard. By a deed, dated Jan. 22, 1794, Amos Eaton conveyed to him
the southeasterlv part of lot Xo. in sixth range. He was a farmer and
res. on above-named lots; his buildings being on the easterly part of the
lots. He was an early member of the Baptist Society, lie m.. July 18,
1786, Phebe Blanchard, who d. Aug. 20, 1838. Children :

9. Phebe, b. Sept. 18, 1787 ; m. Guttersou ; m. 2d. Daniel Fuller.

10. Polly, I). April 25, 1789 ; m., June 24, 1813, Samuel Putter.

11. Betsey, 1). April 10. 1791 ; ni., 1810. Dainel Fuller.

12. Hannah, b. May 15, 1793; n^., June 21, 1841, William Foster of
Ashby, Mass. ; m., 2d, Isaac Preston of Xew Ipswich.

13. Lois, b. Aug. 11, 1795; m. Samuel Lovejo}' of ^lilford.

14. TiUcy, b. Aug. 15, 17!»7: m. Dodge of Xew Boston.

15. Sally, b. Sept. 24, 1799; m. Shattuck of Brookline.

16. Stephen (18), b. Dec. 31, 1802.

GENEALOGIES : BURNS. 331

17. Rebekah, b. April 24, 1805 ; ni. William Currier. They had several
children of whom we rtiid no reeoi-d.

18. Stephen- (IG), b. Dec. ;il, 1S02: d. April 10, 1877. A farmer, and
lived in ^Vilton foi- several years after his marriage, then removed to New
Boston and, for a few years, kept the tavern on the Weare road, about a
mile from the village. He afterward res. on a farm in the west part of
New Boston. lie m.. May 20, 182(1, Mary Eookwood, who was b..
Groton, ^lass., Dec. 5, 1805, and eanie to Wilton with her pai'ents about
1808. She d., Milford, Dee. 22, 1885. Children :

15). Stephen Fernando, b. March 25, 1827; m. I.orinda I.oring of Xew
Boston; has a liverj- stable in ^lanchester. and is a veterinary surgeon.

20. George Fletcher, b. Oct. 17, 1828; d. May 1), 1840.

21. Mary Jane, b. Dec. IS. IS.'JO; m. Frederick Dodge of New Boston.
Bes. Nashua.

22. Charles Cros))y. 1). :\rarch 5, 18;{2; d. March :!0, ]8;i2.

23. Maria Deborah, b. June 20, 1833; m. John Loring of New Boston,
who d. April 11, 1853, within three day^' sail of San Francisco. Cal.: m..
2d, Nelson N. Phillirick. Res. New Boston.

24. Charles Crosby, 1). Feb. 12, 18:5(>; d. March 25^, 1830.

25. Sarah Harriet, b. .June 12, 1830; m. George II. Stevens of Frances-
town ; d. Mafch .'iO. 1872.

2G. Jeremiah Almos, 1). July 10, 1842; m. Helen P>uswell of North
Lyndeborough. Res. Milford; employed in IleaUrs furniture factorj'.

27. Milo Rockwood, b. Feb. 2, 1847; m. Sarah F. Shedd of Mont Ver-
non. Res. ISIilfonl. Employed in Heald"s furniture factory.

BURNS FAMILY.

1. John Burns, b. 1700; d.. :\ri]ford. 1782. He was of Scotch origin
and came to America from the north of Fi-eland in 173(1: settlcdln ^lil-
ford, 174(1.

2. Thomas, seventh child and third son of preceding, m. Elizabeth
Hartness of Lunenburg, Mass., and d., Milford, aged about 80 yrs.

3. Samiel, sixth child and third son of i)receding, b.. Milford, Sept..
1770; m., Fel). 12, 1801, Abigail .lones. Was selectman of Milford from
tlu* age of twenty-one for ten years. He d., Milford, Sept. 20. 1817, and
his funeral was the largest ever held in the town.

4. CiiAKLES A., fourth child and second son of preceding, I).. ^Milford,
Jan. 10, ISO!). He m., Dec. 31, 1833. Eli/abeth, dan. of Abel and Hetsey
(Bartlett) Hutchinson* of Milford. She d. Sept. 4. 1885, aged (Jl) yrs.

* The Hutchinson family truces its ancestry ti) IJarnard Hiitcliinsou of (!owlan. York-
shire, England, w lio was living in r.2S2. The following are the Xew England ancestoi's of
Elizabeth (Hutchinson) liurns : 1, Richard Hutchinson, tenth in descent from IJarnard of
Cowlan, was b. in England; ni., Dec. 7, KiX-T, Alice iJosworth ; emigrated about Ifi:!:"! and
settled in Salem, Mass., near Hathorn's Hill. 'J, Joseph. :!, I?enjamin. 4, Henjamin.
"), Js'athan, b., Uedford, JIass., 1717; removed, about 1734, to Andierst, now Jlilford. and d.
Jan. V2, 17U5; was a large land owner in .Alilfoi-d and Wilton and built the first mill on the
site where I). Whiting and Sons' grist mill now stands. He m. Itachel Stearns. 0, Xathan,
who owned the place, since belonging to the late Holland rrouty. 7, Abel, who was b.,
Milford, Aug. S, 17;i.J, and m. Betsey, dau. of Isaac and Elizabeth IJartlett.

332 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Mr. and Mrs. Burns were persons of the highest character and were well
known for their intelligence and worth.

5. Charles H., son of preceding, b.. Milford, .Jan. 19, 18.3."). For
account of his life see page 27;5. lie ni.. Milford. .Tan. 19, I85G. Sarah X.
Mills. Children:

G. Arthur Henry, h. 18.50; d. Aug. 23, 187G.

7. Bessie, b. July 0, 18.59: ni., .Tunc 1.5, 1881. William A. (iregg. See
Gregg gen.

S. Mary Bell, d. April 14. 1SG3, aged 1 yr. .5 uios.

9. Charles Alonzo, b. Jan. 3, 1863; ni., Oct. 14, 1885, Lulie C, dau. of
Dr. William A. Jones. Tie is t-lerk of the Wilton Man. Co.

10. Blanche May, b. :SIay 5, 18G8.

11. Ben. Emery, b. July 21, 1872.

BURTON FAMILY.

1. Boniface Burton, made freeman, Lynn, Mass., 1G35; d. June 13,
1GG9, at the great age of 1 13 yrs. A farmer ; ancestor of nearly a 11 the Bur-
tons in this country. In Lewis's History of I>ynn is an illustration repre-
senting the aged patriarch as standing in the door of his primitive and
rudclj- constructed house. He lived to a greater age than any otlier resi-
dent of Lynn, and must have been well advanced in life whAi he came to
Xew England.

2. John, son of preceding; freeman, Salem, Mass., 1G38; d. Oct. 14.
1G84. His farm joined that of Gov. Endicott. According to the records
of the court, he was one of the persecuted Quakers of his time. In 1G58
he attempted to escape with others to Rhode Island that he might enjoy
Ins o|)ini()ns undistui'bed. While on his way. he was arrested at Dedham.
brought back and, in consequence of his very bold speech to the digni-
taries of the court at Salem, was put in the stocks. He was frequently
fined for not attending public worship, but led a quiet life during his later
years. lie had four children: John, Samuel. Isaac and Hannah. Jolm
and Samuel died childless. Hannah and her husband, ^ViHianl Osborn,
were ancestors of Osborns now living in Salem and elsewhere.

3. Isaac, son of preceding, d. 170G. He settled in Topsfield, .Mass.,
'afterward removed to Salem, and had four sons: Isaac. John. .Tacol) and
Henry.

4. John, son of preceding, d. 175((. leaving two sons: .Tohn and
Samuel.

5. John, d. Fel). 11, 1791, aged 80 yrs. With his three sons he
removed from Middleton, Mass., to Xo. 2, now AVilton, and settled on lot
Xo. IG in the tifth range. 'I'he cellar hole of his liouse is in the north-
east part of the plain, very lu'ar the rcntrc of the lot. The place is now
owned by James Sheldon. His wife, Abigail, d. Aug. 28, 17!tG, aged 83
yrs. The}' had, beside the three sons, named below, two daughters: one
m. Thomas Towne, and the other m. Buxton. Sons :

«. John (♦>). d. NTov. 18. 181G, aged 78 yrs.
7. Jonathan (H)). b. Sept. IS, 1741.
S. Abraham (21)).

GENEALOGIES : BURTON. 383

{). John (G), d. Nov. 18, ISKI, :ii;'C(l 7S yrs. Before he eaiiic to Willtni
he served in the Freneli and Indian war. lie settled on llie east half of
lot No. 17, lifth rano-e, whieh now belongs to Herbert AVilkerson. He
also owned lot No. 20, fourth range, and on it built a grist-mill; this lot
is now owned by his grandson, James Burton. Jle was a deaeon of the
First Cong. Ch. for about tifty years ; sat in the deacon's seat and for many
years l(>d in the singing, having a clear, strong tenor voice that did not
fail him until his last illness, lie was probaltly the tirst Free Mason in
Wilton; see page 120. lie was town clerk for ten years; selectman for
five years. His wife, Rebecca, d. Aug. 17, 1831, aged f)2 years. Children :

10. IJebecca, b. March IS, 1702; in., Nov. 28,1787, Joseph Putnam.
Jun., of Society Land : removed to Andierst and d. there.

11. William, d. at \'alley Forge in the spring of 1778.

12. David, m. and removed to Andover. Vt.

13. John (45), b. March 2.'). 1707.

14. Sarah, b. June 8. 1772; m. Stephen Putnam of Wilton. On the
death of lier husband, in Sept., 1821, she removed to Mason where she
died.

15. Mary Archer, b. March it. 1774 ; m., March ;5. ISOH. John Marshall.
Res. Lyndeborough.

16. Lucy, b. Feb. 18. 1778; m. Thomas Lakin of Lyndeborough.

17. Betsey, m. Samuel Cudworth of Greenfield.

18. Naomi, m. Benjamin Fuller, and settled in Andover, Vt.

19. Jonathan (7), b. Sept. 18, 1741. In 175!) [V], before he came to
Wilton, he served at Louisburg in Capt. Andrew Gidding's co. He also
served as orderly sergeant in Capt. Benj. Taylor's co., at Winter Hill in
the winter of 177.5-0; was lieut. in C^apt. Wm. Barron's co., in tlie 'I'icon-
deroga campaign, 1770, and served three weeks in Rhode Island in 1780.
He kept a journal during liis service on Winter Hill, in which was a roll
of Capt. Taylor's co. Of the thirty-one companies that went from N. H.
to Winter Hill, this was the only roll Mr. Hammond had been able to fiiid
when he published the firstj^olume of Rev. War Rolls in 1885. Jonathan
Burton also kept a journal of the Ticonderoga campaign, in which was a
roll of Capt. Barron's co. See pages !)3, 98, 101 ; also pages 238, -240, of
tliis histoiy. On the organization of militia in New Hampshire he
received a commission as captain, dated June 19, 1780; on Aug. 5, 1793.
he was appointed brigade-major l)y Gov. Bartlett, and on Dec. 21, 1795, a
justice of the peace, holding the office 15 years; was a selectman of Wil-
ton for 15 j'ears. He lived on the farm now owned by his grandson,
Samuel Burton. He m., Feb. 29, 17()4, Iluldah Nichols, of Middleton,
^lass. Children :

20. Aaron, b. April 20, 1705; m., June 19, ]79(;, Polly Dudley, of
Andover, Vt., and settled there.

21. Samuel, 1). April 8, 1707; m. llainiah, dan. of Col. Philip and
Hannah Putnam, of Wilton, and settled in Andover, Vt.

22. Abigail, h. Nov. 12, 1772; m., Feb. 5, 1795, Jonathan Putnam and
removed to Andover, Vt.

23. Jonathan (56), b. Sept. 5, 1774.

334 HISTORY OF WILTON.

21. lluldah, 1). July I, 177S; m.. May
Masou.

25. Olive, b. Fob. 25, 1780; m., Feb. 7. 1804, I'liah ftmith, incirhaut,
of Fraucestown. See Smith gen.

2(>. Amos Nichols, b. Jan. 2, 1785 : m.. Oct. 7. 1810, Roxaua Utley ami
settled in Weston. Vt. ; m.. 2d. Sally Johnson.

27. Moses, b. March. 17S7; d. Oct., 178(t.

28. Anna, b. Sept. 5. 178!); m.. June 14. 1810. James S. Fisher. Hes.
Francestown.

20. Abkaiiam (8), settled witli his father on lot No. 16, tiftli range;
hi- brothers l)eing on the lot next nortli of it. lie afterwards I)uilt on the
southwest part of the lot and kept a pul)lic house until 1817. In 1787. he
bouglit lot No. 20, fifth range, and owned it until the homestead was sold
in 18;W. He was at Winter Hill in (apt. Taylor's co.. and at Ticouderoga.
1770. in Capt. Barron's co.. and was selectman for five years; was a good
neighbor, a good townsman and an honest num. He was somewhat of a
hunter and a fishernum, and often related his experience in those matters.
Wlien he was clearing his north lot, the wild turkeys fed on his rye before
it was harvested. He made a bough-house and a bed and fed them for
some time; then invited his brother John to help shoot them. At the
time appointed they arranged themselves in the bough-house, and. as it
grew light, they heard the gobblers come to the bed. Abraham gave the
signal, fired and killed three turkeys, but his brother's gun missed fire.
Al)raham used to say tliat it was the only time lie ever heard Deacon .lohn
use a wicked word He m.. 1st. Mary Keuney, by whom ho had eight
children ; m., 2d, Betty Dale, by whom he had seven children. Children :

30. Mary, b. Jan. 18. 177:^: m.. Jan. 14. 1706. Jacob Putnam of
Andover. Vt.

31. Hannah, b. Sept. 8, 1774; d. Oct. 14. 1777.

32. Lucy, b. June 10. 1776; d. Oct. 11, 1777.

'33. Hannah, b. March 23, 1778; m., Oct. 6, 1706, Nathauii'l Putnam
Peabody. Res. Andover, Vt. •

34. Abraham, b. Jan. 28, 1780; res. in Vermont.

35. Chloe, b. ]\[arch 2, 1782: m. Cyrus Bailey; les. in Vermont.

36. Nahum, b. Oct. 15,1783; m. Charlotte Pettengill; res. in Vermont.

37. Ezra, b. Feb. 10, 1785; m. a Miss Puft'er, by wliom he had two
sons; res. in Vermont a few yeai-s and left for paits unknown.

3S. Betsey, b. Nov. 18. 1787; m. Jonathan Parkhurst.

39. Lucy, b. Dec. 13. 1788; m. Ashby Morgan.

40. Fanny, b. Feb. 2. 1700; m. Timothy Gray.

■41. Ruth. b. March 21. 1702: unni.; went to Georgia as a teacher and
d. there.

42. Lydia. b. May 7. 1703: m. Lul)lm llockwood. See Rockwood gen.
She m.. 2d., Elijah (handler.

43. John (««), 1). Oct. 25, 1706.

44. Peggy, b. Nov. 22, 1708; m.. Oct. 28, 1824. Jeremiah Fisk. Res.
Maine. They had several children, one of whom was a noted ornamental
painter.

GENEALOGIES : BURTON. 335

45. .Foux (13). b. March 25, 17(17. lie reuiovcd to ^^ndover. Vt., and
while there WHS captuni of militia: returned to Wilton in ISOS. Hem.,
Jan. 27, 1791, Eunice Ileald of Temple ; m., "id.. April 20. ISiiC. Susannah
Carter of AVilton. Children:

4(>. .lolm, 1).. Wilton, April 1."). 1701. In the war of 1S12, he enlisted
ia Vermont and died in the army, Maj' 12, 1814.

47. Eunice, b., Andover. Vt.. Sept. l.">. 1708: m. Xoah (ioing of Xew
Ipswich.

4^. Lucinda. I)., Andover, A't.. ^lay (i. 170(1; m. .loscidi Chamlierlain ;
res. Lynd('l)oroujih and Greenville.

49. Leonard, b., Andover. Vt., Aug. is. 170S: m. a Miss llescltiue ;
res. Andover, Vt.

50. Koxana, b.. Andover. Vt.. Oct. 10. ISOO: m. Silas Chamberlain:
res. Andover, ^'t., and Xashua.

51. Dexter (72), b., Andover, \t., Oct. IC, 1802.

52. Eliza, b., Andover, Vt.. March 2.5, 1805: d. April 8, 1814 [V].
.53. James (79). b., Wilton, April 18, 1800.

54. Eliza, b. Oct. 0. 1818. Wlien she was two years old. a severe ill-
ness destroyed her hearinj^ and she became a deaf mute; was educated at
Hartford, Conn., and m. a deat mute named Kellej-. She d., AVllton.
Dec. 23, 1878.

55. John (92). b. Dec. 10, 18l(;.

56. Jonathan (23), b. .Sept. 5. 1774: d. March 2(i, Isc.l'. He was a
prominent and trustwortln^jnan : for many years trustee of the school
and ministerial funds: justice of the peace 45 years; administrator of
many estates: representative to the Legislature: selectman 14 years;
town clerk 7 years and held military offices to rank of lieut. col. He was
secretary of the lodge of Masons to which he belonged for many years.
He m., Jan. 80, 1800, Persis Warren of Wilton, wlio d. Eeb. 4, 1801, aged
27 yrs. He m., 2d, March 10, 1805, Lucy Ilazen of Shirley, Mass., who d.
April 11, 1874, aged 91 yrs., 1 mo. Children :

57. Warren (98), b. Nov. 28, 1800.

.58. Lucy, b. Jan. 24, 180(5; d. Oct. 25, 1828; unm.

59. Persis, b. Jan. 16, 1808; d. Jan. 81, 1800.

60. Persis, b. Dec. 16, 1800: m., Aug. 29, 1881. Kev. Stephen Alfred
Barnard, who was b. Xov. 26. 1808. and d. .fune 24. 1S82. See page 260.
They had three sons and two daught&rs.

61. Hazen J. (101), b. .June 2^ 1812.

62. Samuel (107), b. Aug. 22, 1814.

63. Elizabeth J., b. Sept. 22, 1816: m., Sept. 1, 18.50, Kev. Charles
Robinson of Uroton. They have one son, William B. (Robinson).

64. Andrew Nichols, b. Feb. 21,1819; unm. He received his early
education at the district school, and at the age of 18 went to Boston,
entered the dry goods store of Wetherell. Fowle & Co.. on Kilby St., and
remained with them and their successors. Fowle tt Talbot, three years.
In 1840 he formed a co-partnership with S. A. Barnard under the style of
A. N. Burton & Co., leased the brick store at Wilton Centre, formerly
occupied by Joseph Newell, and carried on the business of a country

336 HISTORY OF WILTON.

store lliiTc for tlwco years, when he .solil out, returned to Boston, went
into the wlioh'sale ihy goods ))usiness with his brother under the tirm
name of liazen J. Burton & Co., on Kilby St.. and remained with liini live
years until the Arm was dissolved. He afterwards formed a eonneetion
with S. 11. Norris I'c Co., in the same business, and remained with them
until April, 1S51. lie tlien made an arrangement with .Tordair, Marsh &
Co., who had just commenced the dry goods jobbing and importing 1)usi-
ness on ]\Iilk St., and remained with them twenty-three years. He then
retired from business. He was for many years an active member of the
Handel t'c Haydn Society, also a member of the 3Iercantile Library Asso-
ciation and other literary associations in Hoston. In tlie summer of 1S78
he went to Europe and renuuned about six montlis. Since his return he
lias been living on his farm, a part of which was owned by his Burton
ancestor, who tirst settled in Wilton.

(Jo. Maria L., b. Feb. 22, 1825; d. May 4, 1849; unm.

(56. John (43), b. Oct. 25, 17!)G. He lived eight or nine years on the
liomestead with his father, then removed to Maine; after a few years
returned to Wilton, and, a few years later, went again to Maine where he
died. He m., Dec. 15, 1817, Sarah Dale. Children:

(>7. John Dale, b, Oct. 1, 1818. A furniture manufacturer. He
removed to Pittsburgh, Penn. He m., April 4, 1843, Maria Mason and had
one son, Alfred, who served in Virginia under McClellan and Grant.

68. Sarah, b. May 22, 1820: m., Oct. 4, 1845, Abiel Holt of Weld, Me.

()0. Abraham, b. Ai)ril 20, 1822; ni. twice; his second wife was
Kachcl A. Parkhurst. An upholsterer; res. Manchester.

70. Betsey D., b. April 25, 1824; m. Wilson Dodge; res. Maine.

71. Caroline I.., b. Sept. IS, 182G; m.; res. IJhode Island.

72. Dkxtek (51), b., Andover, Vt.. Oct. 10, 1802; d. June ;{, 18.55.
Res. in southwest part of Lj'udeborough, but his children attended school
in Wilton. He was a captain of the cavalry, 22d regt. of militia, and
was for several years selectman of Lyndeborough. He m., April 20, 1824,
Clarissa O. Spofford of Temple. Children :

73. Dexter Lionel, b. April 10, 1825. Pes. several years on a farm in
the south part of Temple and served as selectman of the town. Besides
attending to his farm, lie carried on for some years an extensive business
in marketing and as a cattle and sheep broker. Ifemoved to New li)swich
and, for a time, kept a store there. He m. Emily Frances Ward of
Chelmsford, Mass. ; they had three sous and three daughters. Two of
the sons are living: the eldest, George Dexter, is the inventor of the
''Burton Cattle Car," and of other patented articles.

74. Clarissa Irene, b. July 2, 1827; m. Nathan Holt of Temple: two
sons, one living.

7f5. James Edwin, b. Nov. 18. 1828. Pes. Temple. His business is
farming and lumbering; has been for seveial j'cars selectman of
Temple. He m. Olive A. Pobinson of Bennington: two sous and live
daughters.

76. Helen Marion, b. Feb. 24, 18:31; in.. May 18, 1853, George II.
Blood. Sec Blood gen. (19).

ANDRE\A/ N. BURTON.

GENEALOGIES : BURTON. 337

77. Eliza Jane, b. Dec. fi, 1834; in.. May 17, 1857, George W. Boynton.
See Boynton gen. (9).

78. William Wallace, b. Xov. 14. 18;5n. Res. on tbe homestead in
Lyudeboiough ; is a farmer and has represented the town in the Legisla-
ture. He m.. June 20, 18(51, Esther Jane Cragin of Temple ; one son and
two daughters; one daughter d. in infancy.

79. James (53), b., Wilton, April IS, ISOO; res. on lot Xo. 17, fourth
range; m., June, 1S32, Abigail I'arker of Wilton. Children:

80. John, b. June 26, 1833; d. Xov. 5, 1807; unm.

81. James, b. Jan. G, 183.5 : d. April 30, 183.5.

82. Martha Parker, b. March 7. 1830; m., Xov. 0. 18.50, Charles G.
Blauchardof Greenville; d. July 1, 1882.

83. Abbie Frances, b. July 29, 1837 ; m. Solon 'rarbell : res. Hancock.

84. Emily Ann, b. Sept. 21, 1839; m.. June 14, 1804, William H. Hop-
kins. See Hopkins gen.

85. Marietta Hale, b. Aug. 28, 1841 ; ni., April 24, 1803, George W.
Eaton of Wilton, who d. Aug. 10, 1870; m., 2d. Jonathan Parker Snow, a
civil engineer. Pes. Woonsocket, R. I.

8G. Augusta Maria, b. May 26, 1843: ni.. Nov. 2, 1805. Irving S.
Farnsworth. Res. ("onnecticut.

87. Xancy Helen, b. Dec. 1, 1844; m., Dec. 17, 180S, Henry X.
Blanchard. See Thomas Blanchard gen. (81). Res. Wilton.

88. James Albert, b. Feb. 8, 1810; d. Dec. 23, 1850.

89. Josiali Henry, b. April 3, 1847.

90. ('larissa Joanna, b. Xov. 14, 1848.

91. Lydia Louisa, b. April 5, 18.50: m. Willis H. Edson.

92. John (55), b. Dec. 10, 1810; d. Jan. 10, 1872. Resided on the
homestead of his father and grandfatlier. In 1801 lie enlisted in the
Eighth Regt., X'. H. V.; was in the hard service of that regt. up to the
battle of Sabine Cross Roads, when he was taken prisoner and carried into
Texas. After his release he served during the remainder of the war and
was honorably discharged. He m., ]N[arch 4, 1841, Anna Kidder of Wil-
ton, who d. May 15. 1808, aged 45 yi-s., 8 mos. Children :

93. Eliza Ann, 1). Sept. 15. 1842; m., June 3. 1800, Hosea Dutton:
one daughter. IXe>^. \n west part of Wilton.

94. .lohn Hale, b. Oct. 2, 1843; m. a ^Liss Carkin. Res. Lyndebor-
ough.

95. Martha Jane, m., May 3, 1803, Porter Follausbee ; one daughter,
Minnie A. (Follausbee), b. Oct. 15, 1865.

96. George Edward, b. June 28, 1847: m. ^liss Seaver of Shirley,
Mass. Res. in Mass.

97. Ella Frances, b. Jan. 22. 1857; m. Onslow Hoyt of Francestown.

98. Warren (57), b. Xov. 23. 1800; d., Salem, Mass., June 0, 180(5.
For accciunt of his life see i)age 289. He m.. .Tune 2(1. 1828, Sarah, dan. of
Dea. John and Sarah Flint of Wilton, who d. (Jet. 11, ]83(), aged 32 yrs., (i
mos. He m., 2d, Sept. 18, 1845, Mary Merritt of Salem, Mass. Children :

99. Arthur W., d. March 20, 1852.

338 HISTORY OF WILTON.

HM». Sjinili W'aiTcii. il. An--. 17. iSoS.

101. llAZKX .1. (()1 ). I), .hiuc -2. ISI-J: ,1. Ai.ril C. ISSO. He ;:;r;i(l. ;ir
Fi'iiuct'stowii A(.'ii(i('iiiy. Mild ill (•••iily lili- \\;is ciiiplovcd in the store of
Hon. David .M. ^Ii'aiis ot AiidiciJ^l. In ls:i4 lie went to Boston and
ol)taini'd u sitnation in a wholesale di\v i;oods store: soon rose to ;i part-
nersliip tlierein and afterward stiirted in business on liis own aeeouiit.
See Andfcw X. Burton {(>4). A loiiu; and aetive career of nearly fifty
years as a Boston nierelKint. tliroiiic'i the inaiiy iips and downs ineident
to such a callinji". gave liini a wide reputation in inercantile circles durinijc
nearly two <i;enerations. AVhen a young man. he I'vinced a taste lor liter-
ary pursuits and through life spent much of lii> leisure in study. His
cultivated tastes made him ac(|uaiiited with a w ide circle in Boston, lie
was an early and ardent suiiporler of the I'losion Mercantile Library
Association, and long one of its oftieers. He was a justice of the peace,
and devoted mudi time and thought to charitable aud religious organiza-
tions. Altlioiigli a good citi/en he avoiiled jnililicity and spent his entire
time, outside of his business and other duties, in his f;iniily. wliere he \\as
known and seen in his truest character. Devotedly fonil of liis home, he
never reckoned any personal sacrifice f(tr his family too great. His \\a>
an active, honorable and iiiiseilish life. He m.. ^lay 1. ls;!(;. Susan S.
Bancroft, who d. duly -is, 1S44: m.. I'd. .Ian. I. iSKi. Harriet Lincoln
Smith, who d. .Inly '.i. IS.-);! : m.. :!d. Oct. 4. 1S.J4. Lliza M . Josselyu. Chil-
dren :

10'2. Laura Frances, b. .May 10. iSli'.t: m.. Xov. 14. 18(17. William
Dexter Wiswell: :{ ch. : Dexter IJancroft (\Vi.«w(dl). Andrew IJurlon
(Wiswell) and Bessie Frances (AViswell).

103. Helen Louisa.)). Dee. 10. 1842. Kes. Boston. Mass.

104. Hazeu .lames, b. ,luly 14. 1847. (.irad. at the Fnglish High
School. Boston, and received a Franklin medal. He is in the clothing
business at Minneapolis. Minn. He in. Alice (;. ( '. Whitney: .{ ch. :
Hazel Ward Cotton. Ariel and llazeii .1.

105. George Smith, b. Nov. 2(J. 18:)(i. (iratl. at the Knix. High School
and received a Franklin medal. He is in the ( lothing business in Boston.
He m.. Feb. 20, 1877. Frauees V. Miller: 2 ch. : Fthel M. and Roger O.

100. Ida Maria, b. .Inly. ]8,-i(;. JJes. Boston.

107. SAMfKl. (02), b. Aug. 22. 1814. (.rad. at Xew li)swich Academy
and settled on the homestead, which I>y patient and indefatigaide indus-
try, has been greatl.v improved and brought to a high state of cultivation.
He has added extensiv(dy to the farm by purchase, and can litly rank as
one of the most substantial and successful farmers of his town. Hem.,
Dec. .'), 188i». Klvira M. Jones of Marli)orough. Children:

lOS. Henry Warren, b. March 111. 18||. (Jrad. at Mont Vernon Acad-
emy. A i"ir])enter and res. in Lowidl. Mass. He m.. .Ian. 2.'{. 1800.
Xettie Jiutler of relham.

10t>. Lucy Maria, b. Xov. 27. 1842. (irad. at Mont \'ernon Academy.
She m.. .Ian. 23. 1808. Xalhan Barker. See David Barker gen. (7). Kcs.
Wilton.

GENEALOGIES : BUSS. 339

110. riaromo Fruiuis. b. Au^. ;>1. ISIo ; in.. April ;>. 1S7!I. Jennie M.
Hydo of ^\'estI)orouo:ll. Mass. Res. Worcestor. Mass.

111. William Andrew, h. Xuv. .">. 1S.">(). (irad. at New Ijiswieh Aead-
puiy. lie m., May 5, 1874. Mrs. Sarah (C'ragin) Stone, wliu d. Sept. 12.
1SS7. aged 4o yrs.. 10 nios. : n. eli. Kes. on the Iiomeslead w ith ins father

112. Charles Solon, h. Aug. -J.*.. isr)2: d. Dec. KJ. l.S(i4.

Brirri' family.

1. .JosKPH BlKTT. d.. AVilton. April. 1S72. aged SI yrs. lie was a
carpenter and lived for many years in Temple: eamt; from there to Wil-
ton, where lie was first taxed in 1S4.). lie )n. ]SIiss Atdxil, by whom he
had one son and two daughters: ni.. id. I'oxalana. ilau. of Amos and
Abigail (Kejes) f^awrenee. Children l»y 2d wife:

•2. Charles 15. (7). b.. Temple. Dee. 2.^. 1822.

•i. Fri(Mid. Ii.. Temple. Ees. Townseud, Muss.

4, William Wallace, b.. Temi)le : d. in California.

.J. Edwin 1{. (11). b., Temple, about 1S2'.I.

6. Mary Jane, b., Temple: m. llenry Mason. Kes. ^lilford.

7. CiiAHi.Ks li. (2), b., Temple, Dec. -25, 1S22: d. Oct. 21, 1881. A
blacksmith, and lived in several towns liefore he came to Wilton iu the
spring ol' 1S.")S. when- he carried on business about 17 years: held the
olhce of superintending selnxd committee. He m., Boston. ]\Iass., Feb.
23, 1845, Experience II. Iliggins of Bowdoin, Me.

M. Lourena ('., b., Kichmond. Me., Dec. 1, 184.'): m.. Oct. 2<;. 1871,
Jacob Kendall of Teujple: d.. Temple. Dee. 22. 187;!.

9. Sophia II.. b.. Boston. Mass., July 15. 18J8: m., Oct. 2(;, 1871,
Quincy Adams of West Townsend, Mass.

10. Charles A., b. Sept. 22. 18.5(1. A cooper. He m.. Oct. 5. 1882,
Mary Ida. dau. of Artemas and Mary O. (Kidder) Putnam; n. ch.

11. Ei»wix K. f5), b.. Temple; d.. Amherst, Feb. i;>. 1884. aged 55
yrs. A carpenter. lie m.. May. 18^(;, liachel H.. dau. of (Hivcr and
Patty (Colburn) Perham. wlu) d. July 4. 18<;2. aged ;{2 yrs.. !l mos. : m..
2d, Mrs. Gray. Children :

12. E. Kimball, m. Miss Hutchinson.

l.*{. Cora. d.. Amherst. Sept. (>. 1880. aged 21 yrs.

BUSS FAMILIES.

1. STEfiii:N Bi >s. d. Oct. Itj. isiC. li<- came from Lunenburg. Mass..
and lived many years at the middle of the town. He and his son. Steplien,
bought of Joseph Stiles lot Xo. b"). eighth range, exce]it 21 acres in the
west ])art of said lot. deed dated Feb. 2S. 1801. Tliey also bought of
I^benezer Stiles 12-^ .acres in lot Xo. 1;L seventh range, deed dated March
2. ISOI. Th<' above-named premises are now owned by Dea. George Buss,
his buildings I)eing near the line Ijetween the seventh and eighth ranges.
Stephen m. Phebe, dau. of John and Abigail (Livermore) Keyes. Avho d.
Jan. 11. 18 It;. Children:

2. IMchard Taylor (9), b. Sept. 7. 1772.

340 HISTORY OF WILTON.

3. Hannah, b. l)i>c. a, 1774: m.. May 29. ISOO. Nathan Ballard. Jnn..
of Cont'ord. See Ballard gen. (7).

4. Stephen (17). b. .Ian. 1!), 1777.

5. Eunice, b. Sept. 25. 177'.».

6. Pliebe, b. Dev. 12, 1781 ; ni., April 17, ISIG. Joseph Guttorson.

7. Sally, b. Auoj. 7, 1785; d. Oct. 26. 1855.

8. John, b. Sept. 2, 1788.

9. KicilAKi) Taylok (2). b. Sept. 7, 1772. lie lived several years in
the house, since taken down, on the corner opposite the Isaac Blanchard
place. He built the house now owned by George A. Newell, who has
enlarged and remodelled it. About 1814 he removed to Peterborough and
filed there at an advanced age. He ni. Uetty. dan. of ('apt. Nathan Hal-
lard, who was b. Aug. li), 1771. See Ballard gen. (5). Children:

10. Betsey, b. June 26, 17i)o: m.. Sept. 18, 1817. Charles Crane of Mil-
ton, Mass.*

11. Ach>ah. b. Sept. 5. 17!)7.

12. Bichard Taylor (25), b. July 2f. 1799.

13. Abel Fisk, b. July 9, 1802.

14. Nathan Ballard, b. July 24, 1804 : is a farmer and resides in Peter-
borough.

lo. Mary Ann, b. Oct. 2, 1807.

16. Eunice, b. Oct. 2, 1809: m. Gutterson.

17. STiorHEN (4), b. Jan. 19, 1777 ; d. Sept. 29, 1848. He was a farmer
and lived on the farm bought of Josei)h and Ebenezer Stiles. He m., Dec.
8, 1803, Sarah, dau. of Jeremiah and Cliloe (Abbot) Abbot, who was b.
Dec. 8, 1781, and d. Oct. 26, 1851. Children :

18. Stephen Al)bot. b. Sept. 25, 1804; d. Aug. 4, 1873. He changed
his name bj^ dropping the surname. Buss. He m., March 20. 1828, Nancy
Wilder Beede. See Beede gen. (8).

19. Calvin, b. April 26, 180(i; d. Dec. 26, 1856.

20. Sally, b. June 14. 1808; m.. May 5. 1831. Kilburii TIarwood. He
removed to Ashburnham, Mass.. and later to Fitchburg, Mass.. where lie
died. They had several children.

21. Betsey (26), b. Aug. 3, 1810.

22. George (35), b. Sept. 27, 1812.

23. Ezra (40), b. June 27, 1814.

24. Emily, b. Aug. 30, 1829: m., Feb.. 1859. Caleb :\I. Batehelder.
See Batehelder gen. (32).

25. Richard Taylor (12), b., Wilton. July 27, 1799; d., Bridgeport.
Conn., from paralysis, Dec. 13, 1885. The following extract is taken from
the Peterborough Transcript of Dec. 24, 1885: "'Mr. Richard T. Buss, a
native of Wilton and for several years a resident of this town, died at
Bridgeport, Conn., at the ripe age of 86 yrs., 4 mos. AVhen the cotton
mill was started at West Peterborough, then called I'liion Village, Mr.
Buss built most of the machiuerv. Ft is but a few weeks since Mr. Buss

* At this time, 18S5, JIrs:. Cr.ano is the oldest livinfi native of Wilton of whom I have
any knowledge.— [S. Putnam.

GENEALOGIES : BUSS. 341

vi.«ited his brother, X. B. Buss, of this place and it was generally
remarked that it was rare to see so well i)reserved and vigorous a man at
his great age." From the Bridgeport News of Dec. 14, 188"), we obtain
the following facts. In his younger days Mr. Buss held a situation in
(^'olfs works at Hartford. Ife came from there to Bridgeport to take a
position in Wheeler and Wilson's sewing machine establishment, soon
after the company began business, where he had a contract as inspector,
which he held until he retired from business, about 187."). lie served in
the conunon council ami as alderman, and was for some time a deacon in
the Church of the Redeemer. He became a Freemason when 21 years
old, and. at the time of his death, was a member of St. .Tohn's Lodge,
Hamilton Commandery, Jerusalem Chapter. Until within two years of
his death he always marched over the whole route with his masonic breth-
ren when they attended a funeral or upon other occasions. "Six feet tall
and well built, with a figure straight as an arrow, with snowy hair and
beard, and a countenance bright, benevolent and dignified. Mr. Buss would
have been a figure notable anywhere for one of his age. He had a high
repvUation for personal integritj' and for other (pxalities of mind and heart
which made him universally esteemed." He left a widow and two sons.
2«. Bktsk.v (21). b. Aug. :!. 1810; ni.. Wilton. March 20. 18;{4, Ben-
jamin Franklin Marden. Mr. Marden was employed by Asa Jones, and,
in company with John Mills, had been engaged in the tanning business
and in the manufacture of boots and shoes. In 18;{7 he removed to Syra-
cuse, X. ^ .. where he lived for a short time; then to Mont Vernon, and.
later still, to Nashua. In 1S4(; he returned to Mont Vernon, where he and
his wife still live, though in feeble health. Children:

27. Sarah Luthera (Mardenj, b., Wilton, May 5. 1S3."): m. (ieorge U.
Averill of Mont Vernon, where she still lives.

28. Benjamin Franklin (Marden), b.. Wilton. May 12. ISW: d.. Syra-
cuse, N. v.. Ai)i-il .■). 18;{.s.

2J). Susan (Marden), b., Wilton, June 2;^, 1S;{7 : d. 18.7'.».

30. George Augustus (Marden), b.. Mont Vernon, Aug. !». 18Jlt ; m.,
Nashua, Dec. 10, 1807, Mary P. Fiske. Graduated at Dartmouth College,
18(il ; enlisted in Co. G, 2d Regt. U. S. Sharp-Shooters, Dec. 18G1 : pro-
moted to 1st Lieut, and IJ. Q. M., July, 18(12 ; nuistered out at expiration
of service of regiment, Sept. 24, 1864. Editor and one of the proprietors
of Lowell Daily Courier since Sept. 1, 1867. Member Mass. House of
Representatives, 187;^; (Jlerk same body, 1874-1882, inclusive; Speaker,
1S8;{ and 1884; member Mass. Senate 188.5. Two sons.

31. Frank (Marden), b., Nashua, March 31. 1841 ; m.. Concord, May
16, 1882, Mary Frances Biddle. who died Oct. 14. 1885.

32. Maria Theresa (Marden), b., Nashua, March 6, 1844; m., Mont
Vernon, May 28; 1801), E. Gerry Martin. Res. East Boston, Mass. Have
had two sons and two daughters; one son and one daughter still living.

33. Hannah Catherine (Marden), b., Mont Vernon, Dec. 16, 1846; m..
Lowell. Mass.. Xov. 27. 1873, Samuel Sewall, Jini. She d. Aug. 30,
1886, leaving one son and one daughter.

34. Wendell Phillips (Marden), b., Mont Vernon, May 6, 18.")(); m..
Concord. Oct. 2s, 1878, Melvina Drew Nutter: one son and one daughter.

342 HISTORY OF WILTON.

35. (JicoifOK (22). V). Sept. 27. 1812. ITo live^ on the lionipstpad. to
whirh he has inad<' lai'gc^ additions, and which lie has improved liy under-
draining and hy clearing the plough-tields of rooks. The luilidings now
on the farm have all heen luiilt sinc'e it oanie intoliiis i)osfse:«sion. On .Ian.
2. 1S.52. he was chosen a deacon of the Congregational society: has held
military otlices to the rank of captain, and has liccn sdei-lman for Iwo
years. lie m.. Aug. 27, IS;j."). Al)igail, youngest dan. of Dea. Eliplialet
and Dorcas (Abl)ot) Putnam, who was h. Afay 10. 1817. and d. June l'.».
1871 : ui.. 2d. .Mrs. Hannah I.. I'pton. who d. ^fay 17. lss2. aged .">s yr<.
( hildren :

:$«. Sarah Dorcas, b. May 28. 18;i'>^: d. .June 27. Is7;{: m.. Ocr. C. isci.
(ieorge \V. Bridges. See Bridges gen. (20).

37. Abby Frances, b. Oct. 22, 1842: .1. .Ian. 11. 18(;().

3.S. George Sullivan, b. Xov. 8. 1S44. lie worked for several years in
Boston as a carpenter. In the aurumn of 188(i he bought \\aldo ?"ostei"s
farm.

31). Elh^iy ( hanning, li. March 2(i. is'A : res. on the homestead.

40. EzKA (23), b. iiuie 27, 1814 : d. \ov. s. 188r5. Il<' was for several
years eonueoted with the brick store at AVilton Centn'. In is.V) he
removed to Yellow Sjirings. Ohio, wheic he lived seven years, ihen
removed to 8i>ringtield. Ohio, lie ni.. April 7. ls,'!(;. >[ary. dan. of (apt.
David Wilson, who d., Sodus Bay. N. ^'., July i;i 1844: m.. 2d. Oct. 27.
1847, Sarah M. Buell of Xewport. Children :

41. Edwin Dumont (43). b.. :Methuen, Mass.. July 10. lS.-)0.

42. Mary Wilson, b.. Wilton, April Ki. ls:)4. K'es. Spi-ingtidd. Ohio.

43. Edavix DiMOXT (41). b., Methuen, Mass.. Jidy It), ls."»0. Is
em])loyeil in a bank. He m.. Xov. 2.">. ls7.'). Minnie E. Seys [';] at S|)ring-
tield. Ohio. Children :

44. Harriet Foote. b. Xov. 80. b^7<!.
4.J. ilabel Buell. 1). Julv 22. Issd.

1. Sli.AS Bess, a brother of Stephen, bead td' the pn'ceding family,
was also from Lunenburg. ^lass. He houghl of .lames IJIanchard ot
Dunstable, lot Xo. ten, tliird range, for £'.\:i. deed dated June 2."). 1770.
We have obtained no record ot hi-; family. l»ut he )trob;ibly had two ";nn<
ami two daugliters.

2. Silas (0), 1». Temple.

3. Sibyl, m.. Sept. l.*(. 1n17. Abiel Sawyer and lived in Sharon ami
Feterborough.

4. Aaron (17).

5. Al)igail. m.. Dec. 28. 1814, Parker Tyler. They lived for a few
years in JNIilford.

G. Sii.AS (2). b. Temple. Ifes. on the homestead \uitil it was s(dd to
Ephriam liro\>ii. He m.. March IJ. ISOO. F;inny. dau. of Xathaniel and
I'rudeuoe (Abbot) Sawyer, who was h. July ."i. 170!l. ,ind d. in Temple.
Children, all 1)orn in \A ilton :

7, Auios, b. Xov. 18, 18<t0: d. 18»J0, from iniuries received in being

GENEALOGIES." BUTTERFIELD. 343

rhiowii troiii ;i fiurinop. Before lie wjij* ot :ige he worked a s^hort time
for ('ai)t. Isaac lilamlianl at furniture uiakitiii': \va> eiiiployed for a few
years in a store in Salem. Mass.. and liad liis name ehanjied to Amos Saw-
yer Tliornton : went to Kniil.-md. wliere lie was ]irosp(M'ous in trade and
beeaine we:ilfliy. lie m. !■;. Ml:ielcuey and liad one son.

.S. llermon. b. Ann'. ;{. ISOii; m. Eliza Mayinird of Temple, where h<'
lived, lie was a seli'ctman lor four years. ;ind a representative foi- three
years.

\). Kalph. I). .luly->7. isot: d. o^-t.. lS7',i. For a few years he was
eno;a<i;ed in m.ikin^- tiriek in Hethleheni. .\. ^'.. thence I'cmoved to ( 'ohr>e«;.
X. Y.. where he continued the same Itusiness. For about thirty yenri*
fjcfore his death, he diil a large business as a groi-er. He iii. Caroline
iiouclK'r. l)y whom he had seven children. She d. .Ian. IM. 1SS4.

10. John. b. Aui!,-. l.!. isod: ni. Phebe Pratt of Temple. Six di.

11. Fanny, b. Sept. l'.». 1S(»S : d. .Sept. 10, ISl!!.

lL». Xathaniei Sawyer. 1). Oct. 2(i. ISIO: d. Oct. 7, ISl.'i.

i:{. Itotlney. 1). Aui;-. '.». ISd'.i: m. Alinena Huntley. He.*. Acworth.

14. Xathaniei S.iw yer. 1). Oct. 2.'>. 1S14 : ni. and settled near iiuttalo.
X. \.

1.'). Francis, b. Dec.. 1S17: ni. and settled in East Ai'worth.

Hi. Silas, b. Sept. 1!). ISIO: m. and settled in llolli-tou, Mass.

17. Aai!o\ ( -1). m. Hannah . Children:

15. Hannah, b. Ort. ;!0. 1S04.
ly. Orville. b. .Tan. 20. 1S(I7.

lU "irEKFlFl.lv FAMIT.IES.

1. Fi'iiCAiM Bi rtKi;tii;i.i). served for several weeks in the cani-
])ai.i>'n of 17r)S aifainst the French and Indians, and. with three otliers,
is recorded in the Provincial Pai)ers as belonoiiii>' to the Proxince of Xew
Hampshire. TIk'V were residents of \Vilton when th(> town was incorpo-
rated in 170:2. and were undoubtedly of Townshij) Xo. 2 in 17.">S. Eiihraini
lived where the road, north of ^Frs. Doe's, turns to the west. rn170.">
;ind 1700. he was one of tlie selectmen, and w;is several tinies elected
moderator. In conseipience of refusing- to sigu. in 1770. th<' Pesolution
••to oppose with arms the Hostile Proceedings of the IJritish Fleets and
Armies .aoainsf the I'uited America"!! Colonies." he was j)ronounced a
Tory, and tr.idition says that he was ordered to keep within the lindts of
his farm on penalty of beiuii' shor. See pag'es S!l. ".)(l. We hav<' seen no
record of his familv.

1. .losKPii l!iTTi:i;iii:i.i> proiiably came to Wilton soon after the
town was inc<upoiated. 'I'he Kegistry of r)eed- shows that he often
lioiight and sold land : in some deeds he is designated a- a" blacksnnth.
He was selectman four years and often served on important conunittees.
He is supjiosed to ha\e built and occupied the shoj) wheie .Tohn Farring-
ton. Benjamin Wallingford. .Ii>hn .Mack and .James IJ. Means aflerward

344 HISTORY OF MILTON.

woiketl. lie left Wilton before 17!>5. He and his wife, Mary, had six
eliildren :

2. Daniel, h. Sept. IS, 17,")!).

3. Josepli, It. Aug-. 20, 1762; d. Dec. 10, 17G7.

4. Amy Town, b. April 14, 17(;.">: d. Det. !l. 1779.

5. Mary, b. Sept 2U, 1767.

(). Ephraiin, b. June 14, 1770.
7. Aaron, b. May 6, 177:^.

1. Stephen Rt ttekfield settled on lot No. 17, third range, before
Wilton was incorporated: his place is now owned bj- Stejihen H. Dunltar.
It is not known when he left Wilton, lint Timothy IJaldwiu lived on his
lot in 1788. lie had by his first wife, Hannah, live children, and by his
second wife, Sarah, live children :

2. Samuel, b. Feb. 29, 1760,

3. Steplien, b. May 6, 1762.

4. Ei)hraim, b. July 20, 1764; m.. Sept. 24. 17S!i, Dinah Keyes.

5. Hannah, b. April 23, 1766.
«. Lj-dia, b. Nov. l.j, 1768.

7. Stephen, b. Oct. 10, 1772.

8. Sarah, b. July 4, 1774.
U. Eliza, b. May 4, 1776.

10. Nuss Sawyer, b. March 24. 1778.

1 1 . Rebecca , b . J a n . 26. 1 780.

1. Abkahaai BiTTERFiKLi), of Wilton, served in (apt. Benj. Taylor's
CO. on Winter Hill in the winter of 177r)-(). He was last taxed in AVilton
in 1799: was one of the many who emigrated to Maine in the )>eginning
of this century, and was one of th(» original jiroprietors of Willon. Me.
Children by his wife, Kuth:

2. Ruth, b. Nov. 3. 1773.

3. Elizabeth Davis, b. Oct. :]0. 177."..

4. Mary, b. June 1, 1780.

5. Sarah, b. Nov. 27, 1782.
G. Clarissa, b. Sept. 22, 1784.

7. Anna Ueald, b. Aug. 18, 1786.

8. Abralunn, b. Oct. 16, 1788.

9. Ebenezer, b. Oct. 12, 1791.

(AUK IN FAMILY.

1. Je.s.sk I). (AHKix, b. Lyndeborough ; m., Oct. 17, 183;5, Sarah
dau. of James and Ruth (Stiles) Hutchinson. Since IS'A) he has lived on
the farm in the west part of AVilton. formerly (nvned and occupied by his
wife's father. Childicn:

2. Emeline C, h. May 21. In.!.'): m., Sept. 21. 18."»4, Charles A. Saw-
tell: II. ch.

3. Albert J. (.5), b. May 21. 18;}6.

O-^UJ

cm.

GENEALOGIES : CENTER. 345

4. Emily C. (16), b. Dee. 10, 1838.

5. Albert J. (3), b. May 24, 18;{G : m., Oct. 11, 18G0, Mary C. Avery.
Children :

«. AVillis Anson, b. April H. 18(12; d. .Tune 2.1, 1881.

7. Charle.* Sawtell, b. .\pril 28, 18(>;{.

5. All)ert Franklin, b. April 27, 18G4.
J). Alfred Avery, 1). May 2, 18(j(i.

10. Clinton Jesse, I). May ."!, 1808.

11. Susan Augusta, b. Feb. 2, 187.").

12. Leonard Lewis, b. June ;{, 1876.

13. Bertie May, b. April i:>, 1878; d. Feb. 14. 1879.

14. Mary P:thel, b. Xov. :>, 187!>.

15. Florence Albion, b. Aug. :^, 188;{.

IG. Emily C. (4), b. Dee. li), 18:^8; ni.. Get. l.l. l8.-)(i. Isaai' II. (lark.
Children :

17. George Henry (Clark), b. Feb., 18r)8 ; d. Feb. 2il. 18(10.
IS. Sarah E. (Clark), b. ^L^reh 4, 18(i0; d. April 2."), 18(i().

19. Alfred J. (Clark), b. July 28, 1801 ; d. Aug. 7, 1803.

20. Isabella M. (Clark), b. Sept. 10, 18(j;{; ni.. June .'{, 188;{, (ieorge
II. Holt. Kes. Arlington, Mass.

21. Nellie E. (Clark), b. Sept. :>, 1800.

CENTEi; FAMILY.

1. JOXAS Centkk, d. Sei)t. 27, 18;")(), aged 84 yrs. He eanie from
Greenfield to Wilton in 18;{(), bought the farm formerly owned by
Ebenezer Hutchinson and lived on it until his death. His widow d. Oct.
27, 18(;7, aged 93 yrs., at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. E. P. Hutch-
inson, in :>rilford. Two of their sons, named l)elow, came to Wilton with
them :

2. Samuel Newell (4), b., Greenfield, Sept. 27, 1814.

3. Timothy C. (12), b.* Greenfield, Aug. 11, 1818.

4. Samikl Newell (2), b., (Greenfield, Sept. 27, 1814. He remained
with his father until he was of age. when he went to Boston and was
there employed in a store until 1840. lie then removed to Snmi)ter Co..
Ala., where he kept a store until 184;{, when he returned t(» Wilton and
occu[)ied the store adjoining the hotel luitil it was burned, ]\Iarch 1."), 1870.
In the same year he rebuilt the hotel and the store, and has since occupied
the latter in company with his son, E. B. Center. He served as select-
man in 18.')3, 71 and "72, and was collector of taxes in 1870 and '71. He
UL, April 7, 184(!, Chloe A., eldest dan. of :Major Ezra Bales. See Hales
gen. (26). Children:

.">. Marion Elsie, 1). 'Jan. 10. 1847: m.. Feb. 28, 1884, Bev. Daniel K.
Adams. See Adams gen.

6. (;eoi-ge \., h. ,Iuly 0, 1848; d. .July 8, 1803.

7. Bose .\l., b. Jan. 13, 18.")0.

8. Anna B., b. Feb. 4, 18-)2: d. .Inly 29, 1803.

y. Everett B., b. April 18, 18.").*). In l)usiness with his father.

346 HISTORY OF WILTON.

10. chiirles C. 1). (K-t. 2-2. ISoS: d. June 1;^. ISdM.

11. Starr l>.. I). April 7, 1S(;."). Employed in liis lariier's <tore.

12. I'l.MOTiiv ('. (3), 1).. (Treenfiekl. Aiio-. ]]. isiS; (I.April 7. 1S(;7.
lie was cniployt'd ill the lioicl liy Xewell Dean, and afTcrw.ird. for some
years, i-arricd on rln- hotel hiinselt'. He in. Mai'ia. dan. of (apt. .laeoli
Ilntchinsoii ot .Millord: ni.. I'd. Dec. li), IS.")."), ( ord<'ii:i liardy of (irt-en-
tifdd. Child:

13. SaniiK'i Xcwidl. Ii.. Wilton. Xov. (J. ls.")(i. In ls77 he went to
Wasliinjilon. I ).('.. and was employed by W. ii. Alihot and .Tames F. liiis-
stdl. iiroeers. in iss.") lie retiirneil to Wilton, bought tlie stoelc of ( ' W.
Edwards and is now in the grocery hu^siness. His store was burned. Dec.
;!. iss:,.

( llAXDEEE FAMILY.

1. Wii.i.ia:\i ( Il.WDl.Ki; emignited from I-higl.and alxMit lt;;!7 and
Avitli Ids wife. Annis, settled in Andovei-. Mass. lie had several idiildren
and was the ancestor of many ( handlers, some of whom settled in Con-
cord and Wilton. His daughter. Hannah, m.. 1(117. (ieorge Abbot of
Amlover. •• the venerable ancestor ot a numerous progeny."

2. Wil.l.iAM. sun of preceding, had several children.

3. .!( )>i:i'ii. sou of preceding", m. Sarali Stewart Abbot.

4. Thomas, sou of preceding, m. Eliz.ibeth Walciit. ( hiidreu;
.'>. Eli/abeth. b.. Andover. Dec. 17. 17;!'.l: d. .Ian. 1."). 1710.

(J. Eli/.alieth. I). March 2;{. 1712.

7. P>ridgel. li. April 2. 1744: d.. aged about 2(1 yrs.

5. Kunice. b. 174(1: d. May 2(». 174'.).
U. Kbenezer (l.'i). b. May 14. 174'.).

- 10. Klijah. Ii. .\ng. C>. 17.").'!: kilh'd. .luiie 17. 177."). at the battle of
P.unker Hill.

11. Peter. I). March 2."), 17.")."): m. ilercy Ingalls. •

12. .losejih. b. Dee. 22, 17.")(!: d. in the IJevolutioiiary army.

13. As.i. I). April 2."). 17.")!): m.. Nov. 20. 17sl. Eleanor liichardson.
He bought of I'liah Smith about 20 acres of the east part ot lot Xo. 12.
-eventh range, and the tannery, deed d.ated .Inly 2.'!. 177S: sold the saint"
premises to (ieorge Abbot, deed dateil April I. 17S1.

14. Thomas, b. 17(11 : d.. ;iged Ki yrs.

l.». Ehkxkzki; (0), b. May 14. 174!): d. Sept. 2."). ls2.!. His father
died wIkmi he was young and the care of the lamily devolved much upon
him. Aliont 17(!!) he came to AViiton and settled on lot Xo. 11. sixth
r.iiige: his place is now owned liy (apt. ^[oses Lovejoy. He m.. Xov. 2!».
i7(JS. ^r.ary liiirnap of Iteadiug. Mass.. by whom he had live children:
«he d. Oct. 22. 177s. He m.. 2d. Sarah Averill. widow of .l.imes Hutchin-
son who was killed at the battle of P.unker Hill. l)y mIioiii he had nine
children. He m.. ;!d. lleiiieiiibiance Fieicher. widow ot .Mo<es Tierce.
( hildreii :

IG. Mary. Ii. Oct. 17. 17(ili: in.. Xov. 27. 17ss. Isaac. lewett of Xelson.
Their last years were spent in W iltoii.

GENEALOGIES: CHANDLER. 347

17. Betsey, 1). Fell. 7. 1771; in. .lohii rriiiee of Brooklyn. Conn., who
lived in Wilfon for a few years on the farm now owned by Geoioje P.-irk-
hnrsr. and tl. .Jnne ;5. ISll. aged 00 yrs: ni.. M. M.ireh. ISM. ,l<»<..|,li
31t'lendy of F-yndehorongii.

l.S. Enniee. I). Fei). 12. 177;i: ni.. Nov. :!. isod. Tiniotliy U. lUixton.

lU. T^utli. 1». .Maith I.'). 177."): ni. Dca. Sainnd Donglass of Wilton:
n. eh.

20. Hannali. Ii. .Inly •_'7. 177S: ni.. \ov. 1.".. 17'.ts. Xatlianicl l!lodo-ptt
of Stodtlard.

21. Ehenc/er. I.. :\lar(li li'. 1 7S() : d. May s. 17sl.

22. Ei)enezer (30), h. May 14. 17S1.

23. Thomas, b. Jan. S. I7S.i: m., Xov. 1!». ISO.'i. Doily llolr. lie lived
a fi'w years on the homestead with his father, then removed to Maine
when his brother. Eltcnezer. i-ame to ^^'ilron and oeenpird the liomi'-tfad
nntil the death of their father.

24. Sarah, b. Feb. 2S. 17S.'. : m.. Xov. l>S. ]S2(I. .l.-icob (lark: m.. I'd.
Feb. 19. is;}.-), E/ra Clark.

2.5. Amy. b. 'Sow IS, 17S7: m. Chapin Bolster.

2<). Joseph, b. .Tan. 2S. 17S'.l: ni.. 1st. Aseiiath T'ratr : in.. 2d. Doivas
Pratt.

27. Edna. b. .Imie <i. 17'.K): d. .luiic 21. I71K).

25. Edna. I). Sept. 0. 17!il : ni. Xclicniiah Bennett.

29. Joel. b. June li), 17!M: d. Aug. 22. ISC.d. Soon after his marriage,
he lived a short time in Weston. Vt.. wlwrc his first ihilil was born, and
wlK'ie he was chosfu deaeoii of the Bajitist ehnreh at the age of 24. In
is.'iO he removed from Wilton to Mopkinton. where lie served as deaeon 20
y<'ars. In IS.").'! he removed to East Wearc. wjicre he served as dt'.icou
until liis death. He was a good man and givatly ludoved : sound in t.a'ith
and undeviating in his Christian course. He m.. Feb. 1!). ISls. Euey 15. .
dan. of Timothy and Ruth (Biiridiam) (Jray.

30. Ehi;xi:zi:i! (22), b. May 14, 17S]. A farmer, but often worked at
framing buiUiings. He made patterns for cast iron jilonghs that were
used in Wilt(Mi in 1S21. He was one of the first members of tlie B.-iptist
society. He m. Damaris. dan. (d' Joel Howe of Petei'borough. Children :

31. Ebenezer, b.. Peterl)oiough. Xov. ."i. ISO.'J: d. :\larch 2;>. ISS."). He
was a preacher of the ••Christian Ba,n<l."" He m.. Se|)t. 22. 1S2!I. Encinda.
dan. of William Hardy of Wilton. :SIe.. by wh(.m he ha<l three sons and
three dan.

32. Eiike (37). b. Felt. 17, 1800.

33. James Howe. 1). 1807: d. Feb.. IStiO. A farmer and cooper : was
a good musician on the kent-horn and clai-inet. Soon .after marri.age he
removed to Cicero. \. ^- . He m.. Xov. 7. IS.'JO. Bets<»y. dan. of Niithan
A. and Betsey (lilood) \Vhiting, by whom he had two sons and one d:iu.
His wife d. Aug., 1848. aged ;^;i yrs.

34. John Prince (.50).

3.>. Wodiiey Niles. A carriage maker. He ni. .Mary Hodge of Cicero,
X. v.. where he now res.

3G. Eliza I)., m. l.'obcil D. Paul, a larmi-r. of Che-;terville. Me.

348 HISTORY OF WILTON.

37. Ta-kk (32), b. Feb. 17, ISOO ; d.. Wilton, J:iii. 4. 1S81. He went to
Maine in 1S:{1 and oi<'ared up many aere?; of land in 'r<'ini)i(' and ('artha*>'e.
He was a good niusieian on the fife, clarinet and Ivcnt-liorn. In ^larch,
1871, he returned to AVilton. lie ni.. Dee. :!1. 1S27. ilehet'ea F. ^Nlelendy.
Children :

38. Luke Francis, h.. ^\■ilton. .May s. 182s.

39. Augustus Melendy. b.. AVilton, Feli. 1(1. 18;i().

40. Abigail Ann. b.. Temple, Me., April 14. is:{2.

41. .Joseph Perham (57), b. April 14. 18;u.

42. (ieorge Eiley, b. April 25, 188G; d. .Tune 10, 18:)4.

43. Malvina, b. Nov. 17, 1838; m.

44. Elvira, 1). Nov. 17. 1S;{8; m.

45. Rebecca .Jane, b. Oct. 1."), 1840.

4G. Sumner Beede («5), b. .Tan. i;{, 1843.

47. B. Laforest, b. .Inly 25, 1845. A furniture manufacturer; res.
Nashua. He m.. June 24, 18(50. Mary II.. dan. of ()liv(>r W. and Olive
(Barker) Boynton. See Boynton gen. ((>)."

48. Harriet A., b. Sept. 24. 1847.

49. Mary A., b. April 21, 18.53.

50. .John Piunck (34), owned and occupied a farm of .'iOO acres on tlie
Coos road leading from (astine, >[e., to Coos Co.. X. II. ; 100 acres of the
farm wasinterval land of good quality. A successful farmer; he was a Jus-
tice of the peace for several years. In Aug., 1835, lie received wliat is sup-
posed to be the first patent granted for a mowing machine ; in liis machine
the power is applied on the same principle as in those of the present time,
lie obtained a patent for a gang plough and sold the right in 1870. He
also received a ])atent for a carriage hul) of malleal)le iron. He m. Anna,
tlau. of Enoch Bridges of Wilton, Me., formerly of Wilton. \. II. Shed.,
Mechanics Fall, Poland, Me., Oct. 10, 1881. Children :

51. .Tohn Melvin. b., Temple, ]\Ie., June 5, 1831.

52. Elizabeth Bridges, b. March 1). 1833; m., Dec. 5, 18,5!), Jedediah
Adams. He served l(i months in tlie army and was discharged for dis-
abilities for which he has a pension. G di.

53. Enoch Moody, b., Phillips, ile., April 5, 1836.

54. Ellen ]\Iaria, b.. Weld, i\le.. June 18, 1840.

55. Carrie Ann, b. 3Iarch 15, 1843; d. Oct. KJ, 1861.

56. Olive Emma, b. May 2!). 1846; m., Feb. 24. 186!), IJev. F. E. Enricli
of the Tabernacle Ch., Chicago, 111. They have several children.

57. JoSEi'H Pekham (41), b. April 14, 1834. For many years he
worked for Messrs. .Jones & Co. and the Dascomb Brothers at shoemak-
ing. He owns a re.sidence in the French Village, AVilton. He ni. Marv
Frances, dan. of Joseph and .\bigail (iMelendy) Perham of I.yndehoi-ough.
Children ;

58. Mary Emma. b. Dec. 20, 1858.

59. George Perham, b. Aug. 31, 1861.
GO. Etta Frances, b. July 25, 1866.

01. Willis .May. b. June 16. 1S6!).

02. Nora Bell. b. Dec. 27. 1S73.

GENEALOGIES : CLAEK. 349

()3. (itTlrutlc P:ivii:i, h. Maivh !l. 1870.

64. Frank I... 1». Dec. 28, 1881 ; d. Muivh ."i. 1882.

(>5. Sumner Bkedk (46), h. Jan. 13, 184;{. lias been fmployed for
several years l)^' I). Whitins; and Sons in their lyrist-mill. He ni.. May 11,
18(io, IJosetta IJ., dau. of Joseph and Snsan (Mantei) Meiendy. ( liildren :

66. Xettie E., b. March 26, 1867.

67. Owen S., b. June 13, 1871.

CLAEK FAMILIES.

1. ^Iattuew Ci-akk, b., Londonderry, 1762; d., Lyndeborougli, Get.
23. 1827. lie was son of John and Mar>;aret (Clark) Clark, and ijrandson
of Dea. James Clark, one of the sixteen proprietors wlio settled London-
derry in 1718. Dea. James m.. May 22, 1722, Mrs. Elizabeth (Fulton)
Wilson, mentioned in tlie HLstory of Londonderry. Matthew removed to
Wilton, 17!)8. and lived on the easterly part of lot Xo. IT), eio-hth rang-e.
whieh he sold to Oliver Whiting. He m. in 1783, Xaney Diekey. who was
b. April 22, 1761, was dau. of John and Janet (MeClintock) Dickey of
Derrytield, who were married Feb. 26, 1760, and was granddaughter of
David and Isabel (McLaughlin) Dickey of Londonderry, wlio were mar-
ried Feb. 27. 1724. \ancy. wife of Matthew, d. Dec. 17, 1844. Cliildren:

2. Jolm. b. Feb. 23, 1784; d. Feb. 17, 18.55. Res. in Francestown for
some years. He m.. Dec. 12, 1812, Margaret Ferson of Francestown. who
d. Xov. 23, 1866.

3. Janet Dickey, b. May 1."). 178.5; d. young.

4. Margaret, b. Jan. 26, 1787 ; d., Woburn, Mass., Nov. 27, 1843. She
m., 3Iay 7, 1807, Elijah Leathe of Wol)urn, who d. Oct. 13, 1863.

5. Betsey, b. Oct. 24, 1788; m. David French of Mont Vernon and
settled in Barre, Vt., where she d. April 13, 1872, and lier husband d.
March 14, 1875.

6. James Linzey. b. May 15. 1790 : d. Oct. 11. 1872. He settled in 1815
on the Eben Hill farm in Lyndeborough. He m., June 27, 1815, Kebecca
Baldwin, who d. Oct. 18, 1820. See Baldwin gen. (35). He m., 2d., 1823,
Hannah Baldwin, who d. March 13, 1860. See Baldwin gen. (38).

7. Mary, b. Jan. 30, 1792; d., Westtield, Ohio, July 25, 1874. Kes.
Westfield, O. She m. Abram Bean Chamt)erlain of West Kumney, who d.
April 23, 1852.

8. Sophia, b. Sept. 23, 1793; m., Xov. 13, 1823, John Sprague of Nel-
son. They res., Keeue, O., where she d. June 9, 1857, and her husband d.
Jan. 6, 1877.

9. Nancy, b. March 30, 1795; d. March 10, 1873. She m., Nov. 7,
1816, Henry Clark of Chester, who d. A])ril 11, 18(i7. They res. for many
years in New Boston.

10. Iris, b. May 16, 1797 ; d., lialtimore, Md.. Dec. 29, 1833. A teacher
of nmsic.

11. David Dickey, b. Sept.. 1798: d. young.

12. Infant son, d. July, 1800.

13. Eleanor Joice, b. July, 1802; m., Feb., 1827, Matthew Parker of
Mont Vernon ; d. Nov. 20, 1828.

350 HISTORY OF WILTON.

1. IfoisKlM f'l.AKK ciiiiK' lo this roiintry from LfUHlomlfnv. Tiplaiid.
about 172."); in. I.clitia (oilirau. who d. ITSiJ; Ik; d. 177.").

2. NixiAN, son of iircceding. d. 1808. lie m. Mary Kaniscy and ros.
in New I'.oston.

3. Davik Kamskv. son ot itn-c-i'thno-. h.. Xcw IJoston. June 2.'>. 17S").
A saddle and liarness maker. Jle w.is tirst taxed in W ilton in ls{)7 and
lived ill the house oecupied for many years by Dr. Parkhurst and sinee
demolished, lie was i)ersuaded to endorse the note of a nei<i,iibor who
beeame bankrupt, lost his savii),i;'s. was foreed to sell his estate and. in
ISP.i. returuetl to New J?oston. where he lived until his death. He m..
April 2(i, bSOS. Anna .Spalding, dan. of JJev. Abel Fisk of ^\■ilton: m.. "id.
June 2:2. ISKI. Itebeeea >Vilkins. dan. ot ])ea. Samuel Wilkins of Amherst.
Childi('ii :

4. A son. b. and d. May 2, 1801).

5. Mary Ann. b. May lit. 1810: d. Dee. 27. 188."i ; m.. .lune 1. 18;J1.
•lohn rerkins. son ot 'rimothy Niehols of Amherst, who is now (I88(i)
living in lioston in good health at the a^e of 87 yrs. They had three
sons, of whom one is living: Arthur Howard (Xiehols), M. D., who live.s
in liostoii. Mass.

<>. Ifebeeea Town, b.. Wilton, Nov. (i. 1817: m.. April lit. 18-14. Alonzo
Appleton Ifeed of Xt>ttingham. who d. Oel.. 18.")1, in New Orleans, where
he had settled as ;i printer upon his return from the ^lexiean war. She
111., 2d. William 1". Flint and lives in Winchester. She had by hei- tirst
husband a d;iughter. b. Nov. 10. 1811).

7. Mniau Jfamsey, b.. New Boston. .Iiily 2'.i. 182(1: m.. Xnv. 2!t. 181H_
f'ordeUa, dau. of Peter Beiiner of Waldoborough, Me. Pes. Soiiierville,
Mass. Their dau.. I^nima Fr.incr's, was b. Oct. 10. 18r7: m.. Xov. 20,
1871, Aretas D. Wallaee.

8. Sophia Wilkins. b.. New Boston, Dec. 2.'.. 1S21 : m.. .luue II. I8l.-),
Charles Peed of West Bridgewater, .Nfass.. who was li. Dee. 27. 181."), and
d. Dee. \'k 187.'{. He was engaged in the iron l)usiness for many years
in Bosidii ;(i)(l New York, but finally returned to West Bridgewater.
where his widow still lives. They had six sons and one dau.

J). Frances, b.. New Boston, Feb. 0. 182:{: ni.. Feb. 0. l8.iS. ,(ame>
Howard of Bridgewater, where they now live. They have had three sons.

1. MosKs ('i.AUK. son of Samuel and Abigail (lark, was t>.. Aeworth.
Oct. 17, 1810. He came to Wilt(Mi Oct. T), 18-l(;. and was engaged with A.
and AV. Jones in manutai-t uring boots and shoes: was atler\\;iid< with
(J(M)rge W. Daniels in tln' Depot store: has tiought autl sold re.-il estate.
He was chosen a selectman in lS.*>(i. and has Ijei'ii for several years one of
the i)olii'e ; was ;ii)[»ointed d<'puty sherilV in 1800. and chosen treasurer of
the Wilton Savings J>ank in ls7(l. whieh olHces he still lioids. He m..
May 4, 1840. .lulia L. (Jay. who was b.. Washington. \. 11.. ls20. Chil-
dren :

2. .Josephine L.. 1... Wilton. Feb.. 1847: ni. Wiliard D. ( hasc. M. D.,
of Peterborough.

GENEALOGIES : COBURN. 351

3. Frank Gay. !>.. ANilton. ]S.")l; m. Fanny IJrook- of I'ctcrlioroiiijli.
He was educaUHl at Meridi'n and al 1 )artnioiitli ( ((llcnc : a lawyer at
Pctcrhoronii'li. wlicrc. in 1SS4. lie was dioscn icpicscnlalivc In tlio
jA'gislatun'.

i, Ada M., 1).. ISCii. (inul. of Ciishhiii" Acadoinv. Ashljuinliani. Mass.

1. AAK<tN Alglsji s (LAUK. I).. Tdpstield, 3Iass.. Oct. lit. \S:U. He
canie to Wilton, IS.'jO. and. tor several years, worked for .Messrs. Jones at
shoe niakinj::. At tlic eall for nine months" men, lS(i2. he was appointed
Captain of Co. C, 10 JJe,i!,t., X. II. V.. whieli reenforeed Gen. l>anks in
Louisiana. After the war he bon<;hl the farm formerly owned by Henry
Abbot, on whieh he now lives. He ni.. Maivh 1. IS.")."). Abby \\ .. dan. of
Joseph and Abigail (Melendyj I'erham, who wa> b.. Lyndeborouj^ii. May
2-1, 183."). Children :

2. Edwin A., b. June :W. 1857: d. Auj;. J, 18(i4.

3. P>ed AV., I). Oct. 2, lS,-)8.

4. Xellie Louise, b. July 28. 1801.

5. Harry Herbert, b. :Mareh 2S. 1,SOO.
(J. Hatlie l>ell. b. June IS, 1807.

7. Abbie Frances, b. Aug. 24, 1870.
S. Li/zie Mabel, b. Feb. 22. 1874.

1. AVauneI! Ci,ai;k. son of Daniel (lark. b.. Francestown, March 10,
1S12. lies, in Francestown until May. 1S.")7. when he removed t<> AA'iltou.
For many years he was enii'a.u'ed in i;'ettinji' out bobbin stock. Has Itoen a
selectman of Fraiu-estown. a deputy sherKV and a justice (d the peace.
He in.. Nov. Ill, IS'M. Catharine Kidder, who was b. March lb, isi;?. and
d. Jan. 2(1, 1848; m.. 2d. Nov. ll, 1S4S. Mrs. Sarah Ham. Children by first
wife :

2. (ieorgc Sumner, who lives at Sprinjitield. ^lass.

3. John Henry, who lives at (Jreeu Island. Neb.

CLIFFORD FAMILA .

1. ROBEliT K. ( Ml lOUi) w as born in Edgemont, Me. ; boughl . in 1878.
of George W. Bridges tlie Bridges Iiomestead. and soon after Ibe ])urchase
came to AA'iltou to reside with his wife and three children. Mrs. ClitVord
d. Sept. 21. 1S78, aged 01.

(Jeorge I. Doe. who was born in rarsonstield. ]Me., married a daughter
of Mr. Clitlbrd. and. in 1881. came to AA'iltou to live. He lia> much
improved the ('litford residence, making it on<' i>f Ihe pleasantesi in town.
He has served tiirec years as selectman.

COBUKX FAMILIES.

1. (iKMiK.K C(»Hi UN came to AVilton before 1708 and lived on the place
now owned l»y W. AV. Reed until his death in 1811. He was one of the
fifteen men in Capt. Nathan Ballard's co. that started, on the alarm of
June 29, 1777, to reenforee the army at Ticonderoga ; lie was, also, one of

352 HISTORY OF WILTON.

the twenty in ("apt. Pliilip Putnanrs co.. wlio niarchod from Wilton,
Sept. 20, 1777, to join the army at Saratoj;:i. Children by hi:^ wife Mary:

2. Mary, b. Sept. 2, 17().").

3. Lydia, b. March 0, 17fi7; ni.. Nov. 27. 178S. Samuel Howard of
Temple.

4. Parthenia, b. Feb. 19, 1770.

5. Judith, b. Sept. !), 1772.

a, Levina, b. Aug. IS, 1774; m., May Ki. 1799, Phiueas Carlton of
Temple.

7. Thankful, b. Oct. 6, 177G.

8. George, b. Sept. 19, 1778.

9. Jacob, b. Sept. 9, 1780.

10. Sally, b. Aug. 22, 1782.

11, James, b. Xov. 10, 1785.

1. Amos Cobuun came from Drucui,, Mass., and settled on lot No. 17,
first range, the place now owned by John Pollard. He also owned the
east half of lot No. 18. second range. Tradition rei)iesents him as a man
of strong mind and sound judgment with some eccentricities. He was
last taxed in 1809; his name is on the list of 1810, but the invoice and
taxes are set down to his sou Jonathan. We have found no record of his
family, but he had three children :

2. Polly, m., Nov. 30, 1786, Joel Holt. See Holt gen.

3. James, m., Nov. 17, 1796, Polly Fliuu of Milford. He was a cap-
tain of militia. He d. 1808 or 9, leaving a widow who m., 2d, ('apt. Isaac
Spalding of Wilton, and m., 3d, Nathan Merrill of Milford.

4. Jonathan (oj.

0. Jonathan (4), d. April 8, 1835, aged 61 yrs. He lived on the home-
stead, was a farmer and i)ractised dentistry and surgery. It is not known
that he performed more than one amputation, and there was nothing
remarkable about that, excei)t the speed with which it was done. A
young man, apprentice to the joiners' trade, was sorely troubled with an
in-growing toenail. He tried in vain to cure it, so he took his pai-ing
chisel and went to Dr. ( 'ol)urn, who, with one blow of the mall(!t, relieved
him of the oftending part of his toe. Jonathan m. ^Eary Ann Fish of
l.yndeborough. Children :

6. Jonathan, b. Aug 24, 1827.

7. Mary Ann, b. June 30, 1829.

8. Achsah. b. Aug. 22, 1831.

COOLEV FAMILY.

1. Thomas Coolev, b., Merrimack, INIareh 17, ISdO. A house painter.
He came to Wilton in 1877. He m., Oct. 21, 1883, Katie, dan. of John
Lane. Children :

2. John L., b. Sept. 22, 1884.

3. Grace M., b. Dec. 14, 1885.

4. Alice, b. Dec. 20, 1886.

oJbayht^ uic

(X/i/iAy'

GEMEALOGIES : CRAM. 353

CRAG IN FAMILY'.

1. John CKACiiN, or < raji'Oii, a^ tho iiaiiic was then spelled, was a
Scot by l)irth. The tradition is that, at the age of sixteen, he was forced
to join the Scottisli army supporting Charles 11. against Cromwell, and
that he was taken prisoner at the battle of Dunbar; that, in 1052. he,
with over 270 others, was sent to America in the ship ''John and Sarah "
to be sold into servitude as a penalty for his political oftences. Tradition
sa3's further that on the voyage lie was smitten with small-pox, that his
life was despaired of and he was about to be thrown overboard, Init was
spared at the intercession of a young English woman, Sarali Dawes,
whom he afterward married in ANoburn, Mass., where they lived and died.
They had eight children.

2. John, sixtli child of preceding, 1). .Sept. V.K 1(177: d. Jan. 2(i, 1703;
m. Del)orah Skelton, by whom he had three children.

3. John, eldest child of preceding, b. March 24, 1701 ; m. Judith
Barker of Concord, Mass., and settled in that part of Concord which is
now Acton, whence lie removed to Temple. !> ch.

4. Fi.'ANCis, seventh child of preceding, was b. in Acton came with
his parents to Temple, where lie grew to manhood and m. Elizabeth Law,
by whom he had two sous; m., 2d, Si))yl Pipei', l)y whom he had ten
children.

5. Francis, eldest child of preceding, b. Uet. 24, 177;}: in. Sarah
Cummings, l»y whom he had several children. Kes. in Temple and was
known as Capt. Frank Cragin.

6. AU(;l-stus, b. July 11), 1S02; d. Jiuie 21. ISSO. A farmer and
mechanic. For a few years after his marriage he res. at Merrimack: in
1837 he bought a farm in the north part of Temple on which he lived
thirty jears, then Ijought a farm in >\'ilton, foiinerlj- owned l)y -losiah
Parker, where he res. until his death, lie was favoral^ly known by many
persons in Wilton before he came to the town, lie m., Dec. 14, 1830,
Almira Boynton. who was born Dec. •"). 1807. and d. Oct. 30, 1883. Of
their ten children the four named below are residents of ^^'ilton :

7. Julia A., b. May 25, 1835; m., March 21), 1857, Henry O. Draper.
See Draper gen. She m.. 2d, Jan. 1, 1880, Judson A. Hartshorn.

S. Daniel, b., Merrimack, Jan. 1, 1837; m., March 22, 1859, Jane L.,
dan. of Capt. John and Lucetta (l>i'aperj DoUiver of Lyiideborongh ;
11. ch. For account of his life see page 281.

9. Sarah, b. Oct. 27, 1842; m. Stone; m., 2d, May 5, 1874,

William A. Burton. See Burton gen. (111). She d. Sept. 12, 1887.

10. Xathan A., b. March 14, 1848; m., April 19. 1870. Caroline M.
Stanley. They have two children: Lizzie M., b. Feb. 21, 1872. and
Charles H., b. July 21, 1874.

CHAM FA3I1LIES.

1. John Ciiam settled on lot No. 14, fifth range, the place where
E[)hr;um Putnam liveil for a short time l)efore he went to Lyndeborough.
The house, built by John Cram, was at the intersection of the roads

354 HISTORY OF WILTON.

near tlic Xorth cciuclci y : it was nccuiiicd hy St<'i))icii I'litiiain milil 1813,
when Darius To\viis(Mid tiinicd it into a hatter's simp, for which ])inposo
it was used ahout ten years. .John Cram's descendants were last taxed in
AV'ilton in 1805, and it is not l<nown tliat any of his deseendaiits now live
in Wilton. Children of John and Sarah, las wife:

2. Sarah, h. May 18, 1741 ; ni., Jan. 2. 17s7. Joshua Jatiuith.

3. John (13). b". Sept. 28, 1743.

4. Asa (25), 1). April 4. 174(i.

o. Joseph (28). b. April 21, 1748.

6. Lydia, b. >ray 28, 17:>0.

7. rhebe. I>. Aui^-. 10, 17:)2: d. Au<,^ 2!). 17.52.

8. Ebenezer (31), b. Sept. 1!), 1753.

9. Humphrey, b. Jan. 10. 17.55. On Dec. 17, 1777. he enlisted for
three years in (apt. Isaac Frye's co., Col. Scannneirs rejjt. He sold the
east half of lot Xo. !), ninth ranji,e, except al)out five acres on the north
side, to Daniel Eatclielder. deed dated Sept. 22, 17il2; the sunie is now
owned by C. M. Batchelder.

10. Phebe, b. April 11, 1757.

11. Zebulon (3G), b. June 30. 1700.

12. Hannah, h. .lune 5, 1704: m.. June 10. 1782. David Heseltine.

13. John (3), h. Sept. 28, 1743. He m.. 1st, Susanna : m.. 2d,

Dec. 0, 1779, Sarah [or Mary] Jaquith. Children :

14. Susanna, b. and d. Nov. 15. 1707.

15. John. b. Oct. 10, 1708.
10. Abiel. b. Aug. 28, 1770.

17. Susanna, b. Feb. 2, 1772.

18. Daniel, I). March 0, 1774.

19. Andrew, b. Oct. 24, 1775.

20. Sarah, b. Jan. 20.1778: d. Nov. 3. 1778.

21. Archelaus. b. June 20. 1770.

22. Sarah, b. May 10, 1781.

23. Mary, b. Dec. 30, 1783.

24. Phebe. b. Auo-. 8. 1780.

25. Asa (4). 1). Ai)ri] 4, 1740. He was enrolled. April 23, 1775, in
Capt. William Walker's co.', Col. James Peed's regt.. Avas wounded at the
battle of Bunker Hill and d. July 10. 1775. He m., July 25, 1771, Sibyl
McLane. Children :

26. Asa, b. April 22, 1772; d. Aug. 0. 1770.

27. Nathan, b. Nov. 18, 1774.

28. Joseph (5), b. Ajtril 21, 1748. He served on Winter Hill in Capt.
IJenJ. Taylor's co. He m., Dec. 13, 1773. Abigail Farmer. Children :

29. Abigail, b. Feb. 23, 1775.

30. Joseph, b. Feb. 24, 1777.

31. Ehknezer (8), b. Sept. 10. 17,53. Served in Capt. IJenj. Taylor's
CO. at Winter Hill. Children l)y his wife. Pachel :

32. Rachel, b. May 0, 1774.

33. Asa (46), b. June 10, 1770.

34. Levi, b. Aug. 7, 1778.

GENEALOGIES : CRAM. 355

35. Sarah, b. Sept. 2. 1780.

36. Zkhii-ON (11). 1). .luiic ;^0, 17tin. llis name i>< in Burton's list of
Kev. soldiers. See pages iis. 101. Res. on the homestead and was last
taxed in ISO.j ; removed to Andover. Vt. (liildn-n by his wife. P]sther:

37. Esther, b. Oct. 17, 1784.

38. Xancy, b. Sept. 21. 178(i.

39. Betsey, b. July 1.-), 17SS; d. INIay 21. 1795.

40. Chloe, b. :N[areli 28. 1790.

41. Charlotte, b. May 21, 1792.

42. Olive, b. May 2, 1794.

43. Lucinda, b. Nov. 1. 179(j.

44. Infant, b. ]Mareh 21. 1800; d. M.ireh 29. 1800.

45. Betsey, b. May 17. 1801.

Hi. A?A (33), b. June 10, 1770. ( 'hildren by his wife, Abigail :

47. Levi, b. Sept. 5, 1804.

48. Abigail, b. May 6, 1800.

1. Jonathan ('i;am settled on the farm now owned by J. V. and II.
W. Frye. In the inventor}' for 1703, there are set against his name, one
poll, two oxen, one eow, one liorse, six acres of tillage, four aeres of
mowing, one acre of pasture and a house. lie was town treasurer for
several years and often served on important committees. He m. Sarah,
dau. of Jacob and Susanna (Stiles) Putnam. Children :

2. Sarah, b. Feb. 21, 1700.

3. Jonathan (»). b. Nov.. 1764.

4. Philip, b. Feb. 24, 17(i(i; d. Jan. 7, 18.J2. An industrious farmer
and a good townsman; res. on the homestead; unni.

5. Susanna, b. Jan. 27, 17(i9; m. Abiel Bridges. See Bridges gen. (2).
0. 3Iary, i). Jan. 27, 17G9; m., June 12, 1794, Joseph Gage.

7. Mehitable, b. July 14, 1772; d. Oct. 7, 1842; unm. Pes. on the
homestead and kept house for her brother, Philip.

8. Zerviah, b. Sept. 20, 1775; d. Feb. 10, 1859; m., Feb. 21, 1799,
David Carlton, who d. Aug. 15, 1851, aged 79 yrs. They left AVilton soon
after their marriage, but returned a few 3'ears before his deatli. Several
children, of whom we have obtained no record.

9. JoxATiiAN (3), b. Nov., 1704;" d., Andover, Vt., Nov., 1857, aged
93 yrs; m., 3Iay 22, 1787, ]Mary Greele. About eight years after his
marriage, he removed with his wife and the four cliildren, named below,
to Andover, Vt., wliere he became a prominent man.

10. Polly, 1). Dec. 15, 1788.

11. Jotham, b. Aug. 0, 1790.

12. Caleb, b. April 19, 1793.

13. Daniel, b. Dec. 27, 1794.

1. David Cuam, b. Waitsfield, Vt. : d. Oct. 12, 1880, aged SO yrs..
5 mos. He was a grandson of David and IMarv (Badger) Cram, and

356 HISTORY OF WILTON.

a .«on (»f I):ivid (nun. .Tun. S^'vcral yo;uv^ bofoic he wa^ of age. ho came
to Wilton and lived with l'hili[) (ram: in.. ^laich i;^, lS2i). Susanna
Bridges, a nieee of Phili]) Ci-ain. and dau. of Ahiel and Susanna (Cram)
Bridges. See Bridges gen. (13). David suhseciuently heeanie the owner
of riiili[»"s farm and lived on it until he sold it to J. F. and II. W. Frye.
when lie moved inio the village. lie was representative to the Legis-
lature for three years, and selectman for four years. His wife, Susanna,
d. of small-pox, leaving no children. He m., 2d, March 24, 18."w, Betsey
M. Burt, who was b.. \Vindsor, Vt., .Jan. 2!), 1824. Children :

2. Fretl. Burt, b. Dec. 10, 1858 ; drowned .June 2, 1880.

3. Emma ('., b. Sept. 18, 1860.

CURTIS FAMILY.

1. IsUAEL CuiJTi.s. b., London, Eng.. and came to America about
172,).

2. Ehi. b.. Beading, Mass., Jan. 18. IToJ: on May 8. ITOH. removed
witli his fannly to Lyndeborougli. where he d., 18;j."j.

3. Eli, b., Beading, ^lass.. .Jan. 10, 1784; d., Lynileborough. Aug.
(), 1870. He m. Sarah Loring, dau. of William Loring. son of John Lor-
ing, who came from England under (ien. Wolfe in 17.")0 and was at the
capture of Quebec.

4. LsHAKL AV., b., Ljiideborough, Dec 2.j, 1823. A farmer and came
to ^Viltou, Oct. 20, 1860. He has been an invalid for many years, and for
the last seveu years has been confined to his bed. He m.. Nov. 28, 18.50,
Sarah Haggett. Children:

5. Eli J. (10), b., Lyndeborough, Dec. 2'J. 1851.

6. Clintina S., b., Lyndeborough, Dec. 28, 1854 : m., April 27. 1S72,
A. Augustus Wiiitney, M. D., of Adrian, ]Mich.

7. Hattie L., b., Lyndeborough, Dec. l(i, 1851); d. March 28. 1800.

8. Nettie C, b.. Lyndeborough, March 11. 1802.

9. Walter J., b., Wilton, Marcli 3, 1867.

10. Eli J. (5), b. Dec. 29, 1851. He learned the harness-maker's
trade of Lewis Tiugley, and luis carried on the business for himself since
1877. He m., Dec. 29, 1875, Elsie O. Daniels, who was b. P\d:). 19, 18.55.
and d. March 20, 1882. See Daniels gen. (9). He m., 2d, Jan. 4. 1880.
Ella F. Bichardson. Children :

11. Clintina E., b. April 9, 1877.

12. Elsie B., b. Dec. 15, 1879.

13. Edward E., b. March 0, 1887.

DALE FAMILIES.

1. John Dale, b.. Danvers. or Salem, Mass., Sept. 7, 1718; d. Nov.
10, 1789. He began a settlement near the intersection of the roads east
of the house thai he built, which is now owned t)y S. II. Dunl)ar. He
cleared up a large farm that remained in the possession of las descend-
ants, until it was sold by the administrator of the estate of his grandson,
John Dale, in 1843 ; since \\ hich time the name of Dale lias been extinct

CfENEALOGIES : DALE. 357

ill "Wilton. The farm lias been dividod, anil is now owned hy many differ-
ent persons, a part of the village of East Wilton being' on the southeast
])ait of it. From the date of the birth of Mr. Dale's first child, it a])pears
prol)ahle that his wife did not come to Wilton earlier than 1742 or 1743.
He m. Mary Ellinwoo<l. who was h. 'Sl-.wxh l!i. ITi*.'). and d. Deo. 2S, 1789.
Children :

2. Anna. b. March :]1. 174."): m.. Dec. .'J. 1789, William Tpton.

3. Betty, b. Oct. 2, 174G: m. Joseph Holt. .Tun. See ITolt gen.

4. John (16), b. July 2(), 1748.
o. Altigail, b. May 10, 17r)0.

6. Ebenezer, b. May 8, 17r)2 : d. May i:.. 17:)2.

7. :Mary, b. Sept. 2G, 17r)4: in.. Se])t. 22. 1778. Simeon Holt.
«. Samuel, b. Feb. 12, 17.'>n: d. Aug. 18. 17."i().

\), Rhoda. b. June ."i. 17.")7.

10. Sarah, b. Jan. :?. 17.")!); m.. June 8. 1784, Oliver Fletcher.

11. .Tacol), 1). Sept. (i, 1701 ; d. in infancy.

12. Eachael, b. July 24, 17(12: d. July 1. 1827: iii.. Aug. 11, 1785,
Jacob Dascomb. See Dascomb gen. (13).

13. Elizabeth, b. .Fan. 2(1. 1704: d. July is. 170.').

14. Jonathan, b. Sept. 18, 170-"): d. same day.
1.5. Aaron, b. Feb. 10, 170S; d.. ]70'.l.

IG. John (4), b. July 20, 1748; d. July 11. 180'.). IJes. on the home-
stead. He served in Capt. Benjamin Taylor's co. at Winter Hill and was
in ('apt. Phili]) Putnam's co. at White Plains. Oct. 28. 177G. He m..
Nov. 25, 1778, Phoda Holt, who d. July 25. 179!). aged 42yrs; in., 2d.
Eydia Lamon. Children:

17. John, b. Jan. (i. 1779; d. Jan. 7, 1779.

15. Phoda, b. Feb. 15. 1780: m., Dec. 22. 180:i. Ebenezer Hutchinson.
Jan.

V.K Abigail, b. Nov. 7, 1781 : m.. April 12. 1804, Abel Fisk, Juu.

20. :Mary, b. Sept. 10, 1783; in., Aug. 8, 1811, Frederick Hutchinson.

21. John (30), b. Aug. 3, 1785.

22. Ebenezer (3.5), b." Mardi 14, 1788.

23. Anna, b. Nov. 29, 1789; d.. Fraucestown. Sept. 10, 1802: m.. Jan.
22, 18;J4, Abuer Blanchard. See Blancliard gen. (71).

24. Sally, b. Dec. 3. 1791 : d. JuneO, 1790.

2.5. Betsey, b. July 10, 1793; m., Dec. 7, 1815, .lesse Paymond of
Mont Vernon. She d. at Milford leaving one son, John D. (Raymond).

26. Sumner. 1>. June 20, 1795; d. June 25. 1790.

27. Sarah, b. Aug. 4, 1797: m., Dec. 25, 1817. John Burton. See Bur-
ton gen. (66).

28. riamoii. h. Dec. 2. 1803: unm. He spent some years in Tennessee
and Alabama.

29. f.ydia, 1). Aug. 12. 1805; in. Pev. Joseph Warren. D. D. They
went as missionaries to Asia, returned and settled in Salem. 111., where
Mrs. Warren d. Aug. 20. 1808.

30. John (21). b. .Vug. 3, 1785: d. April 12. 1813. He and Ebenezer,
after tlie death of their father, carried on the liome farm together until

358 HISTORY OF WILTON.

1834, wlieii Ebeiie/.er ?olcl out to John aiul i-emovecl to Sandwich. John
m. Nancy Becdc who was b. in Sandwich and d. Oi-t. 7. 1S:25. aged 21t
}•!•.«.; m., 2d, May S. 1827, Meicia Ann ("ochian ot Xcw Boston, where
she res. after the death of her husband. < hildreu :

31. Nancy Beede, b. Auo-., 182.*); d. June 24. 1844.

32. Eliza A., b. Jan. 20. 1828; ni. Georoe fireenwood. For eight
years they were employed by Mr. Colony to keep the bi)arding-house at
the factory in llarrisville. For several years past tliey have kept a
boardiiifi-house in Manchester.

33. Mercia Ann, 1). Oct. 10, 18;^2 ; res. in New Boston: unni.

34. John Franklin, h. Aug. 1, 18;r) : d. Sept. 24. 1S.-)1.

35. Ebenezer (22), b. Marcli 14. 1788: d. Sept.. iXC'.i. He ni. Meliit-
able Beede of Sandwich, ("luldren :

36. Jolm Beede, b. June. 18M."). Benioved to Illinois.

37. Sarah; m.

38. Eben Holt: d. in the army.

39. Ilattie; m.

1. Timothy Dale, supposed to be a brotlier of precediTio- John (1),
was the first settler on the farm now owned by Jeremiah DrlscoU. His
invoice in 17G;] was one poll, two oxen, two cows, three acres of tillage,
four acres of mowing and a house. He was last taxed in AVilton in b^oi.
In 1802. and for many years after, tlie farm was owned by Joel Baldw in
of Killerica, Mass. He had four children by first wife, Haiuiah, and
three by second wife, l?el)ekah :

2. Timothy, b. March 24, 1762. He m. and res. at difterent places — at
one time at Sandwich, where his skull was fractured by a liml) falling
from a tree; he was trepanned and a twenty-five cent piece was insertetl
to replace the fragment which had been I'emoved. In consequence of the
injury, his left side was paraly/ed so as ueai'ly to incai)acitate him for
labor. He returned to Wilton in 1808 <»r 180!) and received assistance
from tlie town for the rest of liis life. He had two sons and tlu-ee
daugliters of whom we find no record.

3. Hannah, b. Oct. 22. 17(J;].

4. Josliua, I). Jan. 22, 17G.").
.5. Sanuud. b. Marcli 23, 17G7.
a. Simon, b. Oct 22. 1772.

Sarah, b. Mav 4, 1774.

4 .

N. IJebekah, b. April 21, 1770.

DANIELS FA^Vril.V

1. (tEOUOE W. Daniels, b., Brooldine, May 2, 1813; d. Nov. 3. 186').
He came to Wiltoti in 1844. and for a while ran the French Mills; con-
ducted for a time the de])ot store with ^Fr. B.iiley of Brookline: also the
co-operative store near G. IJ. Mausur's. He m. Eliz.i S. Hildreth. who
was li., Henniker. Feb. 27. J81II. and d. Dec. 2.!. 1880. ( hildreii :

GENEALOGIES ; DASCOMB. 359

2. Melissa, b., Henniker, Oct. 11. 18;?7; in., May 1. 18G0, Johu S.
^rcKn}'. See McKay geii.

:{. Emily .)., 1). (k-t. IC. 18;r.i ; tl. Pel). 22, 1857.

4. Martha M.. b. Feb. 22, 1842.

5. Adelaide E.. b. April 27, 1844; d. July IG. 184.5.
«. Adeliza A., b., Aug. i», 1840; d. Dec. 27. 184G.
7. (ieorge L., b. Oct. 2.5, 1849.

S. Julia S.. b. June 0. 18r>2; in. Fred. D. Burt. She d, Jan. .'{, 1881.

9. Elsie ().. b. Feb. Ill, 18."):); ni., Dec. 21). 1875. Eli J. Curtis. See
Curtis gen. (10). She d. March 20, 1882.

DASCOMB FAMIEY.

1. Dascomb. According to Prof. James Daseomb, who received

the information from his father, one of this name emigrated from Eng-
land about 1725 and settled in Watertown, ^[ass. He is said to liave liad
two sons, Thomas and .Tames, and one daughter.

2. James, b. 17:!2: d. June G. 1807. About 17GG or 1707 lie. with his
family, removed from Lunenburg, Mass., and settled on the south side of
the road on the laud now owned by Mrs. Francis Whiting, about half
way from lier house to the little brook. On April 10, 1775, he felled
the first tree in commencing a clearing on lot No. 20, seventh range;
this l)eing the first clearing on the lot. During the year he removed his
family to this place whicli was subsequently their home. The above facts
were furnished by Prof. James Daseomb, grandson of this James. The
farm remained in the possession of the family until it was sold by Joseph

•■ Daseomb, a few years since. One or two incidents will illustrate the
charactei' of the farm. During the early existence of the Tlillsborougli
Agricultural St)ciety, a committee was chosen to examine the farms and
crops tliat were entered for premiums. Rev. Mr. Moore of Milford, chair-
man of the committee, said in his report : " We next visited the farm of
Mr. James Daseomb of Wilton, where we found a soil as strong as rocks
could make it, and corn such as we found on no other farm."" The writer
of this well recollects a remark made some years ago by Afr. David Whit-
ing, at that time n'siding on the fai'ui now owned by the County. lie
said: •• As a general thing, F think niV crops were good, !)ut do the best I
could, Joseph Daseomb would beat me all out raising corn."" James m.
Elizabetli Farrington, who d. Oct. 10. 18;52. aged !•;{ yrs. Children :

3. Jacob (13), b. Aug. 15, 17(;0.

4. Sarah, b. .July 14, 17<i2; m., Dec. 4. 1783, Peter Farnham.

5. George, b. Oct. 10, 17G4; m., 1791, Sally Lufkin. They lived in
Hillsborough, where he was a prominent man. Nine children:

(J. James (24), b. Sept. 0, 17G(;.

7. Vassal, b. Nov. 24, 17(i8.

S. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 24, 1772; m., Nov. 25, 1794. Daniel Russell.

\). Calvin, U. Minx-h 10. 1774; d. Oct. 20, 1770.

10. Mary, b. Feb. 22. 1777; m., Xov. 20, 1822. Asa Stiles.

11. Hannah, d. Dec. 10, 1800.

3 GO HISTORY OF WILTON.

12. Brooks, b. July 2!). 17S1 : m.. J.iii. 1, 1S07, Sarah Brown. A blaok-
sniirh and res. in ^laiiif.

i;i. Jacob (3), 1). Aug. IT), 1700; d. .luly 4, 1827. IIo served in tlie
liov. Aiiny, in the jNIass. line. After liis marriage lie lived in I.ynde-
borough until 180!), when he lemoved to Wilton, lie was for several
years town elerk and seleetnian of F^yndehorough. He ni., Aug. 11, 178."),
IJaehel D.ile, who was b. July 24, 1702, and d. July 1. 1827. See Dale
gen. (12). Children.

14. Rachel, b. Nov. 1"), 178."): ni., 1807, Timothy rutnani of T.yiide-
borougli.

1.5. Sarah, b. Aug. 12. 1787: ni., Oct., 1800, Archelaus Fuller,

10. Jacob, I). May 5, 1789: d. Dec, 1781).

17. Calvhi (36), b. Oct. 29, 1790.

IH. Uetsey, b. Aug. 14, 1792; m., 1810. John Thurston. Kes. in Kitch-
burg, Xorthtield, Mass., and in Wilton. They had several children, all of
whom, but one. d. young.

15). Luther, b. March U, 179.-); d. Feb. 28. 1797.

20. .Mai-y, 1). June 3, 1797; m., Dec. .'J, 18a.-), Samuel \V. Dutton of
Xorthtield, Mass. They had a son and a daughter.

21. Jacob, b. Aug. U, 1799: d. Xov. .'!0. 187.'). IJes. Andover, Mass.
He m.. March 10, 1824, Fanny Johnson of Andover, Mass.. who d. Feb.
14, 1839: in., 2d. May 14, 1840, Parthenia V. V. Wilder.

22. Luther (45), b. Dec. 20, 1801.

23. James, 1). 180r); d. Aug. 26, 1805.

24. James («), b. Sept. 0, 1700; d. Aug. 22. 184.-). He lived a short
time in Andover, Vt., but returned to AVilton and res. on homestead. A
man of sound common sense and much respected. He m.. May 20, 1794,
Mary Lovejoy, who d. Xov. 16, IS.ll, aged 80 yrs. Children :

25. Samuel, b. May 29, 1795; d. Aug. 9. 1798.

26. James, 1). Oct. 24, 1790; d. Aug. 7, 1798.

27. Vassal, b. March 18, 1798; d. Oct. 4, 1805.

28. Samuel, b. June 22, 1799; d. Oct. 7, 1805.

21). Mary. b. June 17, 1801 ; in., June .3, 182;{, IJev. Samuel 1{. Hale.
.30. Elizabeth Farrington, I). Feb. i:5, 180;{; d. Sept. 20. 1805.

31. Harriet, b. Xov. 1, 1804: d. Sei>t. 29. 1805.

32. ?:ii/.al)eth Farrington. 1). Aug. 29. I80(i: m.. May Is. 18:?;{. Kev.
Solon Martin. IJes. in A'ermont.

33. James, b. Feb. 25, 1808: d. April, 1880. For account ot his life
see page 207. He m., April 14, 1834, Marianne Tenney Farker: n. ch..
btit adopted two daughters.

34. Joseph (.■>2), b. Feb. 5, 1810.

35. George Lovejoy (61), b. April 0, 1818.

36. Calvin (17), b. Oct. 29, 1790; d. Oct. 13, 1859. He lived in Mil-
ford on the place now owned by S. B. Cotton, and was engaged in mak-
ing lirick foi' many years in Wilton. ^Filford. ^r.-ison and Fitchburg. He
m., .Inly 23, 1820. Kaeliel Futnam. who d. Oct. 10. ]!<:}(■,. aged 00 yrs., 8
mos. Children :

37. Fhilii) Farrington. I). .May 25. IS-JI : d. March Is. IS 11.

GENEALOGIES : DASCOMB. 361

38. Benjamin Abbot. 1). Aug. 2:), 1S2:3 : d. Dec. 10, IS.')!.

31). Calvin IJrook^. 1). Aug. 18. IS-i,-); d. Nov. ;]. 1S84. He wa^; for
many year:^ in tlie firm of Messrs. Jones & Co.. mannfaoturers of Itoots
and shoes. lie m., April 6, 18.')4, Miwy Ann Jaquitli. who d. Jul}- 17.
1850; m., 2d, Jan. 20, 18.")8, Almira L. Jones; n. eh.

40. Elizabetli Kaehel. b. June !l, 1827; d. Feb. U). 1847.

41. Eliphalet Purn.im. b. Dee. 20, 1828. He was engaged foi' several
yeai's, in eomjiany with liis brother. Calvin lirooks, in the manufacture
of boots and shoes. He m.. Aug. 12, 18.")8, Abide A. Livermore; n. cli.

42. Mary E. P., b. Sept. l."), 18:«; d. March 2. 1870. Was a teacher
for several years.

43. Jolm Thurston, b. July 2."). 18;{7; .1. March 1!». 184.").

44. John Farrington. b. Jan. :i(). 184.') : d. Dec. 7, 184;").

45. EUTIIKK (22), 1). Dec. 20, 1801 ; d. ,Iuiie 1, 188."). For ten years hv
made bobbins; after that was engaged in stone work and jobbing: lield
oflices in the militia to tlie rank of colonel. lie m.. Sept. 2!). 1S2!». llai'riet
Kussell. Children:

4(». James Russell (G3), b. June 8. ls;^().

47. Fraiu'is Augustus, b. June 2."i. 18;{2: d. Xov. 4, 1882.

48. Sarah Elizal)eth. b. July 4. 18;i4: m. Stearns: m.. 2d. Jolm

IJamsdell. IJes. iu Iowa.

49. Harriet Ellen, b. May 20. 18;j0: d. Oct. 10. 184!).

50. Emma Louis:i. )>. Sept. 14. 1840: d. Aug. 11. 1871: m. David
Eovejoy.

51. Hannah Putnam, i). Oct 28. 1844; d. June 11, 18,50.

52. .lo.sErH (34), b. Feb. 5, 1810. He resided on the homestead: his
own business has had much greater attraction for him than public office;
is a consistent member of the Second Cong. Ch. He m., .June 4, 18;J4,
Emily A. Russell. Children :

53. Edward Augustus, b. March 8, 1835; d. Aug. 7, 1800.
,54. Mary Louisa, b. April 21. 1837; d. Oct. 13, 1857.

55. Emily Eli/;ibeth, b. Feb. 20, 18.30; d. Xov. 12. 1880.

56. Hannah Maria, b. April 29, 1841 ; d. July 10, 1S41.

57. Charles Brooks, b. Nov. 10, 1842: d. May 10, 1S74. He was
mustered into the service, Aug. 21, 1802, was assigned as a recruit to the
Fourth Regt., N. H. V., and was mustered out, Aug. 24, 18(i5. \ few
years before his death he fell on the ice and injured his hi]) so as to dis-
at)le him for lal)or.

58. Samuel .lames, b. Dec. 10, 1844; d. May 7, 1882. A carpenter and
res. in Manchester. He m. Dec. 31, 1873; n. ch.

59. Abi)y Frances, b. May 25, 1847; d. Sept. 14. 1870.
(JO. Franklin, b. :\Iay 28, 18.50: d. Dec. 20, 1851.

61. GEOiKiE EovK.iov (35j. b. April G. 1818. For account of Mr.
Dascombe"s life see page 202. He m.. ^lay 5, 1840, Julia A Pettengill.
Child:

62. Everard Willie, b. May 10. 1850. (irad. IIol)art College. Isso. as
valedictorian; m. and removed to San Antonio, Texas, where lie died.

362

HISTORY OF WILTON.

G3. Jamks Kissell (46), b. June 8,1830. He is engaged in stone
work: m., Dec. V.i, ISoS, Abbie S. Fuller. Child:

04. Ella Florence, b. June 2(5. 18(11 ; ni., Dec. 1."), 1878, Julius C. Sur-
prise. Res. Mllford.

DAVISOX FAMILY.

1. Gideon A. Davlsox, b., AVaterford. \r., Sei)t, -2. 1827. lie came
to East Wilton from Milford in Oct., 18.")8, and resided there till 18(i4 when
he removed to Wilton Centre, where he has the care of Mr. George A.
XewelTs i)remises. He ni., ITopkinton, Mass.. Jan. 1). 18.")2. Betsey J.
Cabnr. who was I).. Benton, Sept. 10, 18;{(). Children :

2. Charles M., b. ]May 13, 18.53.

3. Edward LeBoy. b., Milford, April 4, 18r)8 : d. Jan. 15. ISGU.

4. Lillian Etfie, 1). Xov. 28, 186:).

5. Arthur W.. b. Aug. 2!). 18(58.

DBAPEK FAMILY.

1. Henky O. Dkai'KI!. b.. Lyndel)orough, April 11, 183(i: d. Aug.
10, 1874. He came to Wilton in April, 18.57. and was snperintendaut of
the town farm for several yeais. He m., 3Iarch I'.i. 1857. Julia Cragin.
who was b., Merrimack, May 25, 1835. Slie ni.. 2d. .Ian. 1. 18N(). Judsuu
A. Hartshorn. Children :

2. Willis IL, I). May 20, 18(55.

3. Henry E.. b. Sept. 11. 18G7.

4. Arthur D.. b. May 2!». 1874: d. Sept. 15. 1875.

DUNBAB FAMILY.

1. Stephen Hamilton Dunbar, son of Stephen Dunbar, and grand-
son of Bev. Elijah Dunbar of Peterborough, was born Feb. 20, 183(5. Mr.
Dunbar came to Wilton soon after lie l)ecame of age, and has been exten-
sively engaged in meat marketing. He has become the owner of mucli
valuable real estate, and in addition to his meat market he keeps a large
herd of cows, the milk of which is sold to i-ustomers in the village. In
188G he served as one of the board of selectmen. He m.. May 21, 1874.
Mary E.. dan. of Xathan Bichardson of Lyndeborough. who was 1>. Oct.
27, 1850. Mrs. Dunbar is one of the school board. Children:

2. Effie Elizabeth, I). April 12, 1875.

3. Charles IlamiUon. b. Xov. 8, 1877.

DUTTOX FAMILY.

1. HOKACE A. DuTTON. b. Aug. 4, 1835. in (Ireentield. He came
from Francestown to Wilton April, 1884, and owns and occupies the farm
at West Wilton, formerly owned l)y Dea. William Sheldon. He m., June
3, 18G0, Eliza Ann, dau. of John and Anmi (KidderJ Burton. See Burton
gen. (93). Child:

2. Annie E.. b., Antrim, Sept. 16, 1871.

GENEALOGIES : EMERSON. 363

EATOX FA^riT.^'.

1. Amos Eaton came to Wilton i)i'ol)ably in 1792. and owned and
res. on lot No. (!. sixtli ranse. AVe have not fonnd tlu' name of lii:^ firsit
wife. He ni., 2d, Sally reahody. f'hildrcn :

2. Polly, 1). March 12. 17l»;J: ni., Dee. 2.'). lsl7. Willard Searles : d.
Aug. 2. 181S.

3. Amos fS). 1). Aug-. 2. \7W.

4. Altel (10), first ehild by seoond wife. h. Mareh 11, ISOl.

5. Sally, b. Nov. 11, 1S0;{; d. Ai.ril 24. 1S18.
«. Dorcas, b. March 20. 1S07.

7. Fanny, b. Dec. !». ISOS; d. Aug. 17, 18:U.

8. Amos (3), b. Aug. 2. 179(5; d. April 21, 1S(J7. M<' res. on the
southeast part of lot No. 7, sixth range. He m.. May 22. 1S21, Charlotte
Dale, who d. Sept. 18, 187(J. aged 81 yrs. They had three sons and sev-
eral daughters, Ijur we have found the record of only one child :

9. Samuel (15), b. Oct. 2G, 1833.

10. Abkl (4), b. March 11, 1801 ; d. Nov. 2. 1877. He resided on the
homestead until he was ;il)Out sixty years old. when he sold it and removed
to Greenville. He afterwards bought the place at Wilton Center, now
owned by Mrs. Davis, where he res. until his death. lie m., June 1,
1834, Eveline Fletcher, who d. Fel). 20, 1870, aged m yrs. Children :

11. Sarah Eliza, b. March 22, 183(): d. Aug. 31, 18G3.

12. Harriet Eveline. 1). June 14, 1S42: d. Aug. 10. 1801.

13. George W., m., April 4. 1803, Marietta H. Burton, by whom he had
three children, all deceased. See Burton gen. (85). He was ;i wheel-
wright, and in company with others carried on the business a few years
in Peterborough. He returned to Wilton, where he d. Aug. 10, 1870.

14. Henry Clay.

15. Saml KL (0), b. Oct. 20, 1833 ; m., June '>, 18;"), Lydia A. Williams,
who d. April 10. 1804: m., 2d. Sept. 28, 1807, Mary A. Colby. He has
been employed by D. Whiting & Sons for several years as a teamster.
Children :

IG. Frederic Willis, b. Feb. 2.'S. 18.".0: d. May .■>. 1801.

17. .Minnie Estella, b. Aug. 2. 18.")7; d. .May 7, 1801.

18. Herbert Maurice, b. April 7. 1859; d. May 2r), 1801.

19. Liz/ie May, b. May 1, ISOO; d. May 8, 1803.

20. Wilfred Sanuiel, b. April 30, 1801.

21. Anna r.illian, b. March .30, 1803 ; m., March 20, 1887, George Small
of Amherst.

22. Alnion Augustus, b. Sept. 14, 1809 : d. Sept. 27, 1809.

23. Edward Edson, b. Sept. 14, 1871.

24. Elmer Everett, b. Oct. 28, 1875; d. Feb. 13. 1870.

e:\ierson famita .

1. William Emku.sox, l). Dec. 13. 1805. He lejirned the cari)enter"s
trade of his father-in-law, at which business he woikcd many years. In
1837 he removed to Jaftrey, where he res. about three years; otlierwise

3G4 HISTORY OF WILTON.

his res. has ))epii in Wilton. IIo was early a member of tlie Second Cong.
C'h., of which he lias been a lil)eral supporter. He has lielil the ofHces of
justice of the peace, collector of taxes, town treasurer and selectman,
and has served on inipoit;int committees. He m., Ai>ril 22. ]S'.i2. Kveline,
b. May .'il. ISII. dan. of Aaron Kimball and Polly (Shattuck) I'utnam.
ChiUlren :

2. Sumner 1'.. (10). b. Feb. 2.5, 18.'}4.

3. Charles A. (19), b. Feb. G, 1837.

4. ^[ary. b. .Tan. 2G. 1841 : d. May 8. 184.5.

5. Martha, 1). :May 8. 184:{: d. Sept. 7. 1855.

6. Henry L. (24). b. Feb. G. 1845.

7. Willis K. (20), b. April 10. 1849.

8. Mary E., b. Aug. 13, 1851 : m.. Dec. 25, 1880. William W. Boyn-
ton. See Boynton gen. (13). Tliey reside in Northampton, ^[ass.

9. Lenora C, b. July 12, 18.55; m., Oct. 14, 1880, Levi W. Perkins.
He res. in Custer Co., Dakota, where he has a farm and cattle ranch.

10. Slmner B. (2), b. Feb. 25, 1834." He })ecame a manufactui-er in
Milford of furniture, of which extension tables were a leading ai'ticle.
Several vears since, in com])any witb his oldest son. he opened a ware-
house in ^lilford for the sale of furniture. Subsecpiently they tilled a
store in Brattleborough, Vt.. which was su])erlntended by the young man.
In Oct., 1887, lie sold his place in Milford and removed to Brattlcboi'ougli.
He m. Martha Ann Bales, who was b. Oct. 2, 18;i8. See Bales gen. (31).
Children :

11. Harry Leon, b., Brattleborough. Vt., June 18, 18511.

12. Berthia Louise, b. April 18, 18G1 ; a teacher in Soinerville. Mass.

13. Helen :May, b. Sept. IG, 1864; a teacher in Milford.

14. Charles Sumner, b. April 2, 18GG; in the store at Milford.

15. Kenneth Bales, b. .Tan. 18. 18GS: m student in Pliillips Academy,
Exeter.

16. Maud Lenora, b. May 20, 187(t.

17. Edith Elsie, h. .July 27, 1872.

18. Grace Martha, b. Aug. IG. 1874.

19. Charles A. (3), b. Feb. G, 1837. He pursued the tiade of a car-
penter. In the civil war he enlisted as a soldier, and was mustered into
the Eighth Regt., X. IT. V., Dec. 20. 18G1. 'I'he regiment went south in
(ien. Butler's expedition, and remained thei'e during the whole term of
three years" enlistment. At the attack on Port Hudson. .Tunc 14, 18G3,
the 8th liegt. led the assault, and a part of the regiment entered the lines
of the enemy, but, not being supported, were taken prisoners, and so
remained until the fortress suri-endered. July 9. ^Ir. Emerson was
slightly wounded in the assault and was taken prisoner. In April, 1887.
he sold his place in AMlton and removed to Southern California. He m..
Sept. 27, 186G, Ellen Putnam, who d. April 7, 1875, aged .34 yrs. 5 mos. :
m., 2d, Aug. 10, 187G, Ophelia T)uncklee. who was b. Sept. 15, 1851.
Children :

20. Mabelle Putnam, b. Jan. 23. 18GS; grad. at the Nashua High
School. June 24. 1887.

GENEALOGIES : FISKE. 365

21. Abiel Livennoiv, d. in iiifnncy.

22. Aiiiiio Loisc. h. July 14, 1S80.

23. Elizal.clh. 1.. Fcl). IT). 1885.

24. IIknkv L. (6). b. Feb. (I, 1845. Ik' is^ a oarpoiitor and ros. in AVil-
ton. At the last call for troops by President Lineoln he enlisted, and
while at Fort Independence. Boston Harbor, awaitin^j transportation, he
WHS taken ill with measles, and when he had recovered, tlie surrender of
Gen. Lee calling for no furtlier use for troops, lie was discharged before
he liad seen any actual service against tlie enemy. He m. Abbie Holt.
Child :

25. AVillie Henry, h. March 24, 1871.

20. Wilms K. (7), b. April 10, 1S4!); ni., Sei)t. i;i. 1874. :\Iartha .1.
Ware of Milford. He is an overseer in Hon. David Ileald's furniture fac-
tory in Milford. Children :

27. Arthur W.. b. Aug. 13, 1878.

28. Leon W., b. .luly 7, 1881.

FAKRINGTOX FAMILIP:S.

1. John Fakkingtok came from Andover. 3Iass., to Wilton in 1785
or 178(3. He was a blacksmith and carried on business where Albert
Townsend now lives. He died Oct. 8, 18U2, aged 48 yrs., and his family.
not many years after his death, left ^\'iltou. Children by Phebe, his
wife :

2. Polly, b. Dec. (i, 1777.
:j. John, b. Oct. 12, 177!i.

4. Phebe Farnham. b. 3Iarch 22, 1781.

5. Betsey Putnam, b. Jan. 2tl, 1783.

0. Sally, b. Jan. 8. 1785. The above children were born in Andover.

7. Jacob, b. Nov. 8, 1786.

8. Patty, b. July 14, 1788.

9. Sophia, b. Sept. 0, 17'.»U.

10. Philander, b. July 111. 17!J2.

11. Benjamin, b. Sept. 20, 1793.

12. Debby, b. Aug. 10, 1705.

13. James, b. Sept. 1. 17it7.

1. PiiiNKA^ FAi{i{iX(rTOx was for many years a resident of Wilton,
where he was last taxed in 1805. Children :

2. Olive.

3. Betsey. The daughters were tailoresses.

FISKE FAMILY.

1. Abel Fi^ke, b., Pepperell. Mass., May 28, 17.52; d. April 21. 1S(I2.
For account of Eev. Abel Fiske's life see page 2.53. lie m., 1st, Auna
Spalding, who d. July 8. 17!tn. aged 41 yrs. : m.. 2d. Sarah, youngest dau.
of Col. Philip and Mrs. Hannah Putnam, who d. Nov. 20, 1838, aged 05
yrs. Children :

366 HISTORY OF WILTON.

2. Abfl {!). 1). July 24, 17S4.

8. Anna Spaldinf?. b. April 17. 17S(;: m., April 2('., 1808, David R.
Clark. Sec Robert Clark gen. (3).

4. Aehsah. b. Jan. 28, 1788; m., Dec. 20. 1810. .Jacob Fanar.

5. Allethenia. b. June 30, 1702; d. Sept._4. 1S;^8; ni. Joseph Parker.
Jun .

6. Theophilus (17), b. Dec. 4, 1801. •

7. Abel (2), b. July 24, 1784; d. Sept. 2.5, 1877. About 180.T he
removed to Weld, Me., where he lived until 1810, when he returned to
Wilton and there spent the rest of his life. He taught school for many
winters; his other business was house painting and paper hanging. He
was one of the tirst deacons of the Second ('ong. Society, and in the
absence of a minister, often read a sermon, and witli others conducted
the usual exerci.«es. He m.. April 12, 1804, Abigail Dale, who d. Jan. 26,
18.52. See John Dale gen. (19). Children:

8. Abel, b. Oct. 10. 1804; d., Acworth. Sept., 1873. For several
years he was superintendent of the cloth tooui of one of the manufactur-
ing cor2)oratious in Lowell. In Xov., 1843, he bought the farm on which
his maternal ancestor, John Dale, had first settled. After occupying the
farm about 20 years, he sold it and bought a farm in Acworth. He m.
Sar.ih Brown.

9. Sarah Putnam, b.. AVeld, Me., May 12. lSO(i.

10. Ann Spalding, b., AVeld, Me., March, 18. 1808.

11. John Dale. b.. Weld, Me., Dec. 17,1800; m. and lived for some
time in Pepperell, Mass. ; for many years past he has lived in J»rooktield
and has represented the town in the Legislature.

12. Achsah Farrar. b.. Weld, Me.. May 2!». 1812.

13. Abba Dale, b.. Weld. Me., Jan. 3. 1813; m.. Oct. 11, 183(1, Nathan
R. Mar den.

14. Harriet Newell, b.. Wilton, May 4, 1817.

15. Allethenia Holt. b.. Wilton. May 20, 181!).

16. Maria Antoinette, b.. Wilton, Sept. 2, 1821.

17. Theoi'Hii.us (6), b.. Wilton. Dec. 4, 1801 : d.. New York. 1807.
When 20 years old, he became a I'niversalist, and then began to teach
and preach the new doctrines. F'roui the time of his leaving Wilton in
1822, he can never be said to have had any permanent home. He had
charges of churches and edited papers in Charleston, S. C, in New York
City, in Baltimore, Md., in LTtica, N. Y., in Portsnjouth, Va., and perhaps
other places. In 18.il he went on an extended lecturing tour through
Great Britain and Ireland. .lust before his sudden death, he had com-
pleted and arranged several volumes iu manuscript on theological and
philosophical subjects, whicli were to have been published in England.
He could toil terribly, having a will that death alone could conquer. In
the funeral discourse that Rev. E. II. Chapiu, D. D., preached over his
lamented friend, lie said ; •' If all the persons to whom he rendered practi-
cal as.sistauce, as well as sj»iritual help, were gathered togetlier there is
not a building in New A'ork that would hold them." Theophilus ni.,
1851, Susan, dau. of Judge Justin Dwindle of Cazenovia, N. Y. They

GENEALOGIES : FLETCHER. 367

had two children; T.()uis(> Fi>;ko (Brysoii), who has a (iau.. T.orrainp
Fif-ke (Bryson), b. IS?'); and John Dwiuelle Fiske. M. D., now res. in
Baltimore. ]\[d. lie ni., 1881, Rebecea Lintheeuni of Baltimore, and lias
two ehildren : Clarion Louise, b. 1883, and Herman I>intlieeum. b. 1884.

FLEEMAX FAMILY.

1. Davii> Flekman, b. in (Jermany, emijirated to America when a
youn<; man, and settled in liCominster, Mass. He enlisted from that
town in the army of the Revolution and never returned.

2. David Fleeman, son of precedino;, settled in Harvard, Mass.. and
had a family.

3. JosiAH Fi.EEMAN, SOU of precedinf^, b.. Harvard. Mass., July 13.
181IJ. Dr. Fleeman studied medieine with Dr. Eber Carpenter of Alstead,
and grad.. 183(i, from the Medical School of Middlebury ('ollege, Vt. He
began the practice of medicine in Marlow, July, 183(5. He came to Wilton.
May 23, 18.j1, and has been in successful practice here and in the neighbor-
ing towns. He was for several years a director of .Souhegan Bank in
Milford. He has been a trustee of the Wilton Savings Bank from its
organization, and for some years was its president. He is a friend of
good order, and of economical management in personal and public affairs.
A few years since he visited Europe where he spent several montlis.
After his return lie gave several lectures descriptive of his observations
during his journey. He was elected, Nov., 188(1, representative to the
State Legislature. He in. Candace, b., Marlborough. Aug. 3, 1821, dau.
of AVilder and Lucinda Knight. Children:

5. Ella Francis, b., Marlborough, Xov. 23, 18r)l : d.. Wilton. March 24.
1856.

G. Hattie E., b.. Wilton, March 19, 18.")4; m., May 4, 1875, Frank B.
Livesj% book-keeper, who res. Cambridge, Mass.

FLETCHER FAMILIES.

1. CiiAHi.E.s Fi.ETCiiEU settled on the west part of lot Xo. 13, ninth
range. He served eight months at Winter Hill in the winter of 1775-6,
and ten months at Xew York. He d. .Vpril 23, 1818, aged 69 yrs. His
wife, Sarah, d. Feb. 20, 1840, aged 87 yrs. Children :

2. Sarah, b. Dec. 4, 1781.

3. Charles, b. Aug. 30, 1783.

4. Edward, b. Dec. 19, 1784.

5. Susanna, b. Sept. 11, 1786.
e. Sibyl, b. June 26, 1788.

7. Stephen, b. July 24, 1791 ; m., 1823, Betsey Farrar.

H. Xoah, b. April 15, 1793 : m , 1823, Betsey D. Holt.

9. Martha, b. 1795.

10. Benjamin, b. May 10, 1798 ; d. X'ov. 18. 1884.

1. Olivku Fletcher, owned and res. on the east part of lot X"o. 13,
ninth range. He was a soldier in the army of the Revolution. He m..

368 HISTORY OF WILTON.

June 8, 1784, Hanih, dau. of John and Mary (Ellenwbod) Dale. See
Dale gen. (10). She d. Jan. .{, 17S(;. aged 27 yrtJ. lie ui., 2d, Molly
. Children :

2. Oliver (8). h. April 22. 1785.

3. Polly, h. June IS, 1791 ; ui.. Oct. 27, 1812. Jacoh Lovejoy.

4. John, b. .May 2.'}, 17!W; d. Sept. 4, 17!»4.

5. Sarah, h. Get. HO. 1794; m. Dea. David Putnaiu of Lyndeborough.
G. Hannah, b. March 21, 1797; ni., March 11, 1819, Micah Hartshorn.

7. Charles, b. July G, 1800. lie has I)een connected many years with
a publishing liouse in Boston.

8. Oi.lVKK, (2), b. April 22, 178.J; ni.. Oct. 2(1, 1813. Chloe Gray.
See Timothy Cray gen. (27). He d. March -{l, 181(i: his wife d. March
29, 1819, aged 29 yrs. Child :

9. Chloe. b. Xov. 1."). 1814.

FLINT FAMILY.

1. TliO-MAs Fmnt, d. April l.i, KiG;}. According to tradition lie came
from Wales. He is tirst mentioned in town records of Salem. Mass;,
in 1(>50. He bought 200 acres; his farm has always been in possession of
descendants. By his wife, Ann, he had four sons and two daughters.
Descendants of the two sons, named below, havr lived in Wilton :

2. Thonuis (4), eldest son, b. about 104.5.

3. Ceorge (5), second son, b. Jan. (i, 16.'>2.

4. Thomas (2), d. May 2. 1721, aged about 7(i yrs. A farmer and
carpenter; served in King Philip's war and was wounded in tlu' attack
upon tlu' Xarragansetts, in lG7r>. Ik' m.. May 24, l(iO(>, Hannali :\loulton.
who d. March 30. 1073: m., 2d. Sept. 15, 1074, Mary, dau. of AVilliam
Dounton. 7 ch.

5. Ebenezer (8), third son, b. Ai)ril 0, 1083.

6. Georgk (3), b. Jan. 0. 1052; d. June 23, 1720. IJemoved to
Reading, Mass., before 1082, and settled on land inlierited from his
father. He m. Elizabeth, dau. of Xathaniel and Elizabeth (Hutchinson)
Putnam. She was b. Aug. 11, 1002; d. Marcli 0. 1097. He m.. 2d.
March 2, 1099, Mrs. Susanna Gardner, wlio d. :March, 1720. 10 ch.

7. p]benez(;r (10), second son, b. Dec. 10, 1089.

8. Ebenezer (5), b. April 0, 1083; d. 1707. Ees. North IJeading, on
land given him l)y his father, Jan. 28, 1718. He m. Gertrude Pope. ch.

9. Nathan (12), third son. b. May 8, 1710.

10. Ebexezeu (7), b. Dec. 10, 1089; d. Sept. 18, 1778. A farmer;
lived in North Reading on a farm given him by liis father from the north
part of his farm. Ebenezer's farm renuiins, undiminished, in possession
of his descendants. He m., May 18. 1714, Tal)itha Burnap. who d. July
30,1734. ch.

11. Ebenezer (14), eldest son. I;. Sept. 1, 1710.

12. Nathan (9), 1). May s. 1710. A farmer; removed to Andierst
about 1774. He m. Lydia Hutchinson. ch.

13. Nathan (16), eldest son, b., North Reading, 3Iay 4, 1748.

GENEALOGIES : FLINT. 369

14. Ebenezer (H), b. Sept. 1, 1716. A farmer; res. North Reading;
served in the French and Indian war and was shot by an Indian in Town-
ship No. 4, now Charlestown. He m., May 25, 1738, Abigail, dau. of
Henry and Sarah Sawyer, o ch.

15. Ebenezer (29), second son, b., North Reading, June 17, 1742.

IG. Nathan (13), !>., North Reading, May 4, 1748. A farmer; res.
Amherst; m., 1778, Phebe Smith. Children, of whom three have lived in
Wilton :

17. Nathan, b. Jan. 19, 1780.

18. Simeon (42), b. May 16, 1782.

19. Ebenezer, b. Feb. 20, 1784.

20. Isaac, b. May 28, 1785; d. young.

21. Calvin, b. April 2, 1787; m. Rachel Wilkins.

22. Bathsheba, b. June 28, 1788; m. Richardson.

23. Polly.

24. Susanna, b. May 10, 1794.

25. Phebe, b. July 6, 1796.

26. Isaac, b. Sept. 3, 1798.

27. Betsey, b. June 25, 1800; m., March 28, 1837, Pyam Hcrrick.

28. Lucy, b. Sept. 29, 1802 ; m., Sept. 17, 1819, Asa Jones.

29. EiJENKZEK (15), b.. North Reading, June 17, 1742; d., Wilton,
April 29, 1829. He was one of the minute men of 1775. The courier,
announcing the march of the Britisli toward Concord, reached his place
soon after he had begun to plough in the morning. He unyoked his oxen,
left the yoke with the plough, got his guti and amnuiuition and hastened
to Concord. II<^ and his comrades came up with the enemy soon after
they had conunenced their retreat from Concord and pursued tlunn until
they passed into Boston. He bought and lived on the farm which had
been cleared up by Alexander Milliken. He had an iron constitution ;
was of middle height, compactly built, (^uick and muscular; a man of
much decision and very industrious. He used to say that, when lie was a
young man, if he could not get more, he would work for Is. Od. a day, or for
Is. or even for 9d. He m., June 7, 1764, Asenath Holt, who was b. March
31, 1744, and d. Dec. 8, 1786; m., 2d, Nov. 27, 1789, Mrs. Mary (Damon)
Taylor, who was b. Oct. 11, 1753, and d. March 20, 1844. Children :

30. Ebenezer, b. May 13, 1765. A farmer; res. Hillsborough. He
m., March 14, 1793, Dorcas I.ufkin. 11 ch.

31. Daniel, b. March 27, 1767. A farmer; res. ilillsboi-ough. He m.,
June 28, 1795. Lydia Shattuck. 5 ch.

32. Asenath, b. March 4, 1709; m., June 21, 1792, Edward Pratt.
Res. Temple.

33. Nabby, b. June 30, 1771 ; ni., Jan. 29, 1795, Abner Holt. Res.
Albany, Me. 1 ch.

34. Ephraim, b. Sept. 4, 1773. A fanner; res. Albany, Me. He m.
Eleanor Holt ; 8 ch.

35. John, b. April 4, 1776 ; d. Sept. 4, 1778.

3(>. Amos, b. April 16, 1778. A farmer; res., Francestown. He m.,
Feb. 3, 1803, Abigail Morse; 5 ch.

370 HISTORY OF WILTON.

37. Jolin (49), b. Feb. 23, 1780.

38. Phebe, b. May 4, 1782; d. Aug 30, 1797.

39. Samuel, b. May 2, 1791 ; d. June 4, 1828; unm. Grad. at Middle-
burg College.

40. Lucinda, b. May 2, 1791 ; d. May 20, 1840; uiini.

41. Abiier, b. Oct. 20, 179(). Grad. Dartnunitb College, 1821. In 1822
he was engaged as a teacher in Albany, X. Y., where he was successful,
especially in teaching niathoniatics, in which he excelled. After he had
been absent from Wilton about two years, his friends heard nothing from
him until lie returned in 1832, with his mind so broken down that he was
unable to solve a i)rol}leni, unless of the simplest kind, lie was for a
time at the asylum at (Joncord, and died at the county farm at Goffstown.

42. Simeon (18), b. May 10, 1782. A carpenter; res. Mont Vernon.
He m. Sarah Kendall. Children ;

43. Simeon Kendall (55), b. Feb. 1. 1805.

44. Nathan (57), b. Oct. 8, 1800.

45. Grisey, b. Aug. 17, 1808; unm.

46. Jacob, b. Dec. 8, 1810.

47. Eliza, b. Fel). 18, 1813; d. Dec, 1814.

48. Daniel K., b. May 15, 1815.

49. John (37), b. Feb. 23, 1780 ; d. May 30, 1847. He came to Wilton
with his father in 1802 and lived there the rest of his life. A farmer, in-
dustrious and honorable in all his dealings. He held offices in the militia
to the rank of captain ; was chosen, June 29, 1820, deacon of the Cong. Ch.
and served until his death. He m-, Feb. 13, 1803, Sarah, dau. of Levi and
Sarah (Parker) Flint. She was b. Nov. 25, 1783 ; d. Oct. 0, 1803. Children :

50. Sarah, 1). April 5, 1804; d. Oct. 11, 1830; m., June 20, 1828, Rev.
Warren Burton. See Burton gen. (98).

51. John, b. June 30, 1S05; d. Dec. 25, 1831 ; unm.

52. Abiel (6G), b. Jan. 22, 1809.

53. Eleanor, b. April 23, 181^ ; d. April 2, 1830.

54. Abigail II., b. June 3, 1810; d. Dec. 7, 1834.

55. Simeon Kendall (43), b. Feb. 1, 1805; d. Nov. 23, 1879. He was
a stone-cutter for many years at Quincy, INIass ; in 1807 removed to Tyngs-
borough, Mass., and returned to Wilton in 1875. He m., April, 1830,
Martha H. Green; m., 2d, March 23, 1852, Lucy W. Freeman. Child:

56. John Q., b. May 4, 1835. A carriage-maker, came to Wilton, Aug.,
1809. He m., April 3, 1808, Kuth Bearce; n. ch.

57. Nathan (44), b. Oct. 0, 1806; d. Dec. 10, 1882. A slioe-m:;ker ;
has lived in difterent places, but more in Wilton than elsewhere; post-
master at Wilton eight years. Ho m., Sept. 22, 1832, Dorothy S. Glidden,
who was b., Gihnanton, Nov. 22, 1808, and d. Oct. 12, 1802; m., 2d., Mrs.
Julia Sumner. Children :

58. Ellen, b. April 17, 1835; in., June 1, 18.5(>, John H. Frye. See
Frye gen. (61).

59. Emeline, b. March 27, 1830; m. Jackson, by whom she had

two children. He was a volunteer and died in a Rebel prison. She m.,
2d, George Battis.

GENEALOGIES : FOSTER. 371

60. Charle.* Henry, b. April 8, is;i7; m. a Miss Suow. A inerchaut;
res. Bridgeport, Conu.

61. Albert Smith, b. Jan. 20, IS.'W; d. April 15, 1840.

62. Albert Smith, b. Oct. 27, 1840; enlisted in Co. D, Fourth llegt.,
N. H. v., and d. of disease Aug. 8, 1863.

63. Sarah Lavinda, b. Dec. 23, 1842; m., Oct. 20, 1871, Francis Hay-
den ; d. Nov. 20, 1884.

64. Xathan Elmore, b. Dec. 21, 184G; res. California.
6o. Clara Eliza, b. March 27, 1848 ; m. ; res. ("alifornia.

66. Abiel (52), b. Jan. 22, 1S09. A fanner, and lived on the home-
stead which he sold soon after the death of his mother. He m., Sept. 2G,
1830, Hannah C. Shattuck. who was b., Pembroke, April 2, 1810, and d.
April 10, 1870. Children :

67. John R., b. April 23, 1838; umn; works in a factory.

68. Charles S., b. Nov. i), 1841 ; d. Feb. 4, 1800.

69. Albion B., b. Aug. 2, 1844; d. Jan. 28, 1888. A carpenter. He
m., June 11, 1870, Mary Susan Gray ; n. eh.

70. Arthur W., b. June 10, 1840 ; d. May 10, 18.55.

FOSTER FAMILY.

1. Benjamin Tenney Foster, b:, Temple, July 8, 1813; d. 1808.
He was son of .Toshua, a Revolutionary soldier, and Lucy (Tenney) Fos-
ter; grandson of Joshua Foster, architect of the first meeting-house
erected in Temple, and one of those injured at the raising of the Wilton
meeting-house in 1773; descendant of Reginald Foster, who settled in
Ipswich, Mass., 1038. When he was ten j'ears old, his father died leav-
ing six children, the eldest sixteen years old, to make their way in the
world. In 1831, at the age of seventeen years, he went to Hancock to
serve three years at seventy-five dollai-s a year, clothing himself, to learn
the tanners* trade. In Feb., 1830, he came to Wilton, bought the tan-
yard of Marden and Mills and carried on the business with success until
his death. He was interested in public education and was one of the
foremost in securing ample grounds for the school-house of his district ;
was an active member and a liberal supporter of the Second Cong. Ch.
He m., Jan. 4, 1838, Abigail, 1)., Temple, June 11, 1815, dau. of William
and Mary (Hawkins) Howard. Children :

2. Addison Howard (10), b. Nov. 13, 1838.

3. Lucius, b. Aug. 8, 1842; drowned June 17, 1844.

4. Walter, b. April 13, 1844; d. Sept 12, 1845.

5. Waldo (14), b. May 1, 1846.

6. Abby Hawkins, b. March 11, 1848; m., 1880, Albert A. Abbott.

7. Myron P., b. Sept. 0, 1850; d. May 20, 1873.

8. Hartley N., b. April 8, 1853 ; d. April IS, 1873.

9. Milo R., b. Nov. 10, 1857 ; d. Feb. 28, 1870.

10. Addison IIow^ard (2), b. Nov. 13, 1838. For account of liis life
see page 208. He m., Sept. 18, 1871, Susan M. Houghton of New Ipswicli.
Children :

11. Fred Houghton, b. June 20, 1867.

372 mSTORY OF WILTON.

12. Wiiislovv Hovvaid, 1). J:ui. 10, 1871.

13. ("harles Stediiiau, b. Aug. 24, 1874.

14. Waldo (4), b. IMay 1, 1846. A fanner; lived on the homestead
until 18S0, when he went out west. lie ni., Sept. 11, 1872, Fanny J.
Holmes, who was b. Londonderry, March 23, 1844. Children :

15. Leon XL, b. Sept. 7, 1873.
IG. Dana P., )). Dee. 1, 1875.
17. Frank W., b. March 20, 1879.

FOWLER FAMILY.

1. Georgk S. Fowler, b., Sutton, May 20, 1820. Mr. Fowler eanie
from Henniker in Aug., 1853, and has res. in Wilton ever since. For sev-
eral years he rau the mills built by Burleigh French, and since that time
has been engaged in farming. He was elected a selectman in 1873, 74,
and '75. He has l)een for several j^ears deacon of the Baptist Church.
He m., March 29, 1849, Maria Hildreth, who was b., Henniker, June 12,
1821, and d. July 30, 1879. He m., 2d, July 14, 1880, Katie A. Moore.
Child :

2. Harriet E., 1). March 8, 1850; m., Sept. 20, 1871, William C. Jones
of Wilton ; u. ch.

FRENCH FAMILA^

1. James French purchased the mill on the Souliegan river, that
then stood near the house now owned by J. & C. Hesselton. He was lirst
taxed in Wilton in 1798. He had res. in Rockingham, Vt., vVshby, Mass.,
Hollis, Brookline, and Jatlrey, from which last town he came to Wilton.
He was in the army of the Revolution, and prol)ably at that time his
family were living in Rockingham. Two of his grandsons, now eighty
years of age, say that their grandmother used to tell of cutting their
wheat and putting it in the barn, while her husband was in the army.
James French d. Sept. 20, 1817, aged 79. Sarah his wife, d. June 5, 1835,
aged 94. They had two sons and live or six daughters. We have not
obtained ihc record of their birth ; we give the names of three :

2. James, it is said, was somewhat advanced in age before he married.
He settled in Hancock, and was a farmer and l)asket-maker.

3. Burleigh (5), b. Nov. 20, 1778.

4. Olive, b. 1783 ; d. June 5, 1835.

5. Burleigh (.3), b. Nov. 20, 1778; d. July 12, 1832. He came to
Wilton with his fathei-, and lived here the rest of his life. He was a
miller and farmer. Owing to the frequency of liis dani being carried off
by freshets, he built, about 1812, a low dam, near where the upper part of
the pond flowed, that turned enough of the water around the north side of
the island to carry the mill ; and also built the canal from the old saw-
mill site down across the flat to the new mill which he built, and which
has been lately burned. That arrangement continued until after Mr.
French's death, when the property passed to other owners who once
more rebuilt the dam on the old site, but it has often been carried oft'.
When the last one was thus destroyed, the old plan was resumed of

GENEALOGIES: FRENCH. 373

taking the water round the north side of the island. Mr. French was one
of tlie first five male members of the Second Cong. Society, and was one
of the first deacons of tlie church. He m., Nov. 1, 1804, Tamar Sheldon,
who d. Dec. 14, 1802, aged SO yrs. Children:

6. Burleigh (IG), h. Nov. 12, 1805.

7. Tamar, b. June IG, 1807; m. Seaver Douglas. They lived a short
time in Conn., but, many years ago, removed to Michigan.

8. Samuel (20), b. June 2, 1809.

9. Franklin, b. June 21, 1811 ; m., Nov. 17, 1830, Lydia I. J. Draper.
A few years after his marriage he settled in Michigan. lie is a miller.

10. AVillard (35), b. Jan. 30, 1813.

11. Sally, b. April 13, 1815; deceased.

12. Evelina, b. Aug. 12, 1817 ; d. July 5, 1822.

13. Cynthia, b. Aug. 8, 1811); deceased.

14. Evelina, b. July 18, 1820; d. Sept. 28, 1830.

15. Ann Jane, b. June 3, 1830; d. May 30, 1831.

IC. Buiu-EIGH (()), b. Nov. 12, 1805. After he became of age, he
\\'orked at Amherst in the whip factory of Melendy & David. lie lived
several years at Jaffrey and Pepperell. xVbout forty years ago he returned
to Wilton, where he has since resided. lie m., Nov. 12, 182!), Nancj- Iley-
wood, who was b. July 5, 180!); m., 2d, May 29, 1838, Eliza rettengill,
who was b. Sept. 29, 1818. ( hildren :

17. Ansel (39), b. Oct. 17, 1830.

18. Edwin (43), b. Nov. 10, 1831.

19. Francis B. (45), b. June 21, 1833.

20. Nancy M., b. Oct. 10, 1835; d. April 7, 1838.

21. William N. (49), b. April 29, 1839.

22. Eliza J., b. Oct. 27, 1841 ; d. Feb. 0, 1858.

23. Charles E., b. Oct. 12, 1844. He enlisted in the Sixteenth Regt.,
N. 11. v., in 1S02. He d. July 10, 1804, of malarial fever, contracted
while in the army.

24. Samuel A., b. Feb. 9, 1848.

25. Alberts. (52).

26. Samukl (8), b. June 2, 1809; d. Nov. 20, 1878. After his father's
death he occupied for a few years the homestead and mills left bj' his
father. About 1844 he purchasetl of the heirs of Ephraim Brown the
farm, which he carried on successfulh' until failing health ol)liged him to
quit labor. He served as selectman, overseer of the poor, and several
years on the bridge committee. He m., Nov. 28, 1833, Elvira, dau. of
Joseph and Chloe (Abbot) Gray, who d. April 3, 1881, aged 72 j'rs., 3 mos.
See Gray gen. (36) . ( 'hildren :

27. Elvira Jane, b. Dec. 2, 1834; m., Sept. 29, 1801, Samuel N. Harts-
horn of Lyndel)orough, a mechanic and miller.

28. Samuel Newman, b. Nov. 28, 1837 ; m., Oct. 24, 18G7, Clara Bonney.
He res. in Bridgeville, Mich., and is a farmer.

29. Chloe Ann, b. June 10, 1841 : m.. Dec. 14. 1805, J. Newton Carver,
a mechanic, who res. in Cairo, 111.

374 HISTORY OF WILTON.

eO. Matilda G., b. Oct. 10, 1843 ; d. Nov. 4, 1844.

31. Brooks, b. Nov. 1, 1845; m., Sept. 21, 1874, Eoberta Kent. He
res. in Fort Wayne, Ind., and is a mechanic.

32. Sarah Matilda, b. Oct. 5, 1847; m., Sept. 5, 1871, George W.
Smith, an npholsterer, who res. Cambridge, Mass.

33. Mary Ella, b. Aug. 21), 184!); m., June 30, 1878, Harry Hendricks,
a carpenter, who res. in South Bend, Ind.

34. Edgar Abl)ot, b. July 4, 18.51 ; a mechanic and lives in Fort Wayne,
Ind.; m., Sept. 7, 1879, Helen C. Ray.

35. AViLLAKD (10), b. Jan. 30, 1813; m., 1st, Nov. 2, 183G, Clarissa
Lovejoy, who d. Dec. 27, 1853, aged 35 yrs; ni., 2d, Almira Holt. He res.
in Wilton, Michigan, and Milford, where he d. Nov. 14, 1882. Children:

3«. George Erwin, b. April 21, 1838 ; d. June 21, 1882.

37. Edwin Dwight, b. Aug. 11, 1839.

38. Laura Lydia, b. March 10, 1846; d. Aug. 25, 1846.

39. Ansel (17), b. Oct. 17, 1830; m. Anna E. Carson, who was b.
Jan. 26, 1826 and d. June 24, 1857; m., 2d, Sept. 4, 1853, Abbie L. Holmes,
who was b. Sept. 4, 1833; m., 3d, Mary E. Russell, who was b. Dec. 26,
1844. Children :

40. Willie A., h. May 2, 1854; d. Feb. 23, 1869.

41. Fred James, b. June 18, 1857; d. Sept. 16, 1857.

42. Lottie A., b. Dec. 6, 1865 ; d. May 15, 1885.

43. Edwin (18), b. Nov. 10, 1831; m. Ann French. He was a man-
ufacturer of furniture. He d. June 8, 1868. His wife also is not living.
Child :

44. Lizzie E., b. Oct. 11, 1862; deceased.

45. Francis B. (19), b. June 21, 1833; m., June, 1863, Frances C.
Howard, who was b., Milford, April 18, 1837. He is in company with
Henry W. Hopkins in the manufacture of writing desks and fancj' boxes.
Children :

46. Abbie M., b. March, 1865.

47. Edwin A., b. April, 1869.

48. Annie H., b. March, 1874; d. Nov., 1879.

49. William N. (21), b. April 29, 1839. He enlisted from Alexandria
in the Twelfth N. II. Vol. and was severely wounded at the battle of
Gettysburg. He d. Dec. 26, 1874. He m., March 27, 1862, Henrietta Car-
kin, who d. Feb. 3, 1877, aged 35. Children :

50. Cora E., b. Feb. 21, 1863 ; deceased.

51. Herbert E., b. Oct. 21, 1866; deceased.

52. Albert S. (25), m., June 6, 1871, Clara Maria Parkhurst. He
has worked for several years in D. Cragin's factory of drj- measures and
fancy boxes. Children :

53. Maud L., b. Jan. 12, 1872.

54. Bertha, b. May 18, 1875.

55. Marion, b. Aug. 3, 1876.

56. Edith, b. July 4, 1879.

57. Stella, b. April 23. 1882.

GENEALOGIES : FRYE. 375

FRYE FAMILY.

1. John Frye, d., Andover, Mass*., lGi);j, agod !)-2 yrs., 7 iiios. He
eniigiatod from Basing, Hants, England; sailed from Southampton, for
New England, May, lOIJS ; settled early at Newbury ; removed to Andover,
1045.

2. TJOBKRT, son of iMooeding, d., Antlover, Oct. 22, 1(180. lie had by
his wife, Ann, six children, of whom the two named below have descend-
ants living in Wilton :

3. Samuel (5), b. about KiHO.

4. Elizabeth, m., Oct. 4, KidO, Ifobert Stiles. See Stiles gen.

5. Sami KL (3), b., Andover, about IGoO; m., Nov. 20, 1G71, Mar}-,
dau. of John Aslett, or Aslebee. 10 ch.

0. John, son of preceding, b. Sept. 0, 1G72; m., Nov. 1, 1G94, Tab-
itha, dau. of Thomas Fariunn. l'.i ch., two of whom we name:

7. Abiel (9), b. 1703.

S. Joseph, 1). April, 1711. He was at the siege of Louisburg. Hon.
William 1'. Frye of Maine writes: "(Jen. Joseph Frye was my great-
grandfather. 1 have the terms of the surrender of TiOuisburg in his hand-
writing." He was a colonel at Fort William Henry when it was taken by
Montcalm in 1757. He was appointed a major-general by the Provincial
Congress, June 21. 1775. He removed to Fryel)urgh, Me., which was
named for him.

9. AuiEi. (7), b. 170;{ ; m., Feb. 10, 17;H-2, Abigail Emery. Children :

10. Abigail, b., Andover, Mass., Feb. 19, 1733.

11. Abiel. I)., Aiulover, Nov. S, 1734. The following is taken from a
memorandum book left by Major Isaac Frye: "Brother Abiel came to my
house in Wilton and went awav on the 15th dav for Fryeburgh to see
Brother Simon Frye and Uncle Joseph and their families. Poor, unfor-
timate man ! he has gone through a world of trouble and sickness, but
God has hitherto preserved him and still keeps him and prospers him in a
lawful way.'"

12. Simon, b. Sept. 29, 1737; d. Oct., 1822. He was a member of the
House of Uepresentatives, Senate or Council for nearl}' twenty years;
was justice of court of connnon pleas in York Co., and chief justice of the
same court in Oxford Co., Me.

13. Abigail, b. Nov. G, 1740.

14. Sarah.

1.5. Isaac (IG), b. Feb. G, 1743.

16. Isaac (15), b. Feb. G, 1743. He came from Andover to Wilton in
1770 or 1771 and bought a farm previously occupied by Benjamin Thomp-
son and now owned liy Harvey F. Frye. Within fifteen days after the
Battle of Lexington, lie and thirty-two others from Wilton were enrolled
in Col. Reed's regt. ; they fought at the battle of Bunker Hill. See page
88. For further account of his military services see page lOG. He m.
Elizabeth, dau. of Capt. Timothy Holt. Children :

17. Isaac (27), b., Andover, Mass., Sept. 16, 1769.

18. Abiel, b. July 4, 1771: unm. He held offices in the militia to the

376 HISTORY OF WILTON.

rank of captain. He left Wilton about 1820, and died a few years later.

19. Timothy, b. Sept. 21, 1773; d. March 17, 177(i.

20. John, b. Aug. 23, 1775; settled in Pennsylvania.

21. Timothy Holt (.S3), b. Oct. 27, 1777.

22. Joshua (.39), b. Dec. 21, 177!).

23. Betsey, b. Dec. 21, 1781 ; num.

24. Hannah, b. May 30, 1785 ; d. Oct. 31, 18G3 : m., Oct. 2G, 1813, Ben-
jamin Blanchard. See Blanchard gen. (53).

25. Alfred, b. Feb. 18, 1787; married twice and had children, of whom
we have no record.

26. Sally, b. Sept. 20, 1791 ; unm.

27. Isaac (17), b. Andover, Mass., Sept. IG, 1769 ; in the War of 1812,
he enlisted and d., Plattsburg, N. Y., Sept. 14, 1812. He m., June 17,
1794, Hannah Phelps, and a few years later removed to Manchester, Vt.
Children :

28. Isaac, b., Wilton; d., Milford, .June 25, 1883, aged 83 yrs. A
farmer and house-painter. He m. a Miss Gage and had one daughter.

29. Luther, b.. Manchester, Vt. ; m. a Miss Peabody of Andover, Vt.
Pes. Vermont.

30. Hannah, ni., June 1, 1825, Hermon Pettengill.

31. John (43), b. April 19, 180G.

32. Joseph, d. many years ago.

33. Timothy Holt (21), b. Oct. 27, 1777; removed to Weld, Me., and
d. there Jan. 27, 1830; m., Jan. 8, 1809. Pachel Holt. Children :

34. Timothy Holt, b. Oct. 19. 1809; m. Lucy Stearns; res. Weld, Mc

35. Jacob, b. Aug. 19, 1811; m. Pauline Pettigrove; res. Patten, Me.

36. Abiah, b. Julv 25, 1813 ; ni. James (Hmningham ; res. Crystal
Plantation, X. Y.

37. Rachel, b. April 25, 1810; d. Oct. 10, 183!); uuni.

38. Jerome, b. Oct. 19, 1819; m. Nancy .Jameson ; res. Patten. Mf.

39. JosHi'A (22), b. Dec. 21, 1779; d. June 20, 1804. He m. and res.
in Brookline, Vt. In 181G, or 1817, after the death of his wife, he
returned to Wilton and lived on the homestead. He m., 2d, Lucy Jones
of Wilton. Children :

40. Abiel (46), b., Brookline, Vt., June 18, 1810.

41. Betsey, m., Oct., 1840, Joseph Holt; n. ch.

42. Harvey F. (53).

43. John (31), b. April 19, ISOG; d. Dec. 5, 1882. A farmer and was
superintendent of the county farm at Goftstown for over five veai-s. He
ra., March 31, 1831, Cynthia Phelps. Children:

44. John Henry (61), b. March 8, 183G,

45. Elvira, b. Feb. 29, 1840; d. Dec. 27, 1844.

46. Abiel (40), b., Brookline, Vt., June 18, 1810; d. June 21, 188G.
Before his marriage he was engaged in teaming .starch for the Messrs.
Abbot and goods for the stores. After the railroad was opened to
Greenfield he had the contract for carrying the mail between E.ist and
West Wilton. lie m., Feb. G, 1834, a Miss Tupper, who was b., Barnard,
Vt., Nov. 22, 1815. Children :

GENEALOGIES : FRYE. 377

47. Harvey T. II. (64), b., Barnard, Vt., Nov. 1, IS.'U.

48. Ptussell J., b., Barnard, Vt., Aug. 28. 1836; d. March U, 1838.

49. Russell J. (71), 1)., Barnard, Vt., June 3, 1838.

oO. Charles, b., Barnard, Vt., June 28, 1840; d. Feb. 4, 1857.

51. Elbridgo Carlton, b., Barnard, Vt., Sept. 29, 1843; enlisted in
Sixteenth Eegt., N, H. V., and d., St. James Hospital, La., July IG, 1SG3.

52. Edwin Francis, b., Wilton, Nov. 23, 1854; m., July 15, 1877, Ida
M. Stiles; res. Greenville.

53. Hakvky F. (42). For many years before the railroad was opened
to East Wilton he was engaged in teaming goods for the stores; since
then, a farmer. lie m. Lovisa A. Tupper, who d. Aug. 30, 1848, aged 25
yrs. ; m., 2d, Sept. 24, 1850, Jane E. Drury. Ciiildren :

54. Joshua F., b. Aug. 12, 1851. lie and liis brotlior, Harvey W..
l)ought a farm of David Cram and have been engaged in farming ;ind
lumbering. For two years supervisor of check-list.

55. Elson D. (75), b. June 29, 1853.

56. Lois Lovisa, b. Feb. 5, 185G.

57. Harvey W., b. Sept. 4, 18-58.

58. Charles E., b. June 9, 18G1.
5{). George E., b. April 5, 18G4.

60. Martha J., b. Jan. 17, 1868.

61. John IlENin- (44), b. March 8, 183G; res. East Wilton; engaged
in Job teaming; m., June 1. 1850, Ellen M. Flint. See Flint gen. (58).
Children :

62. Annie, b. Nov. 4, 1858; m., July 12, 1882, Henry S. Spinning; res.
Savannah, Ga. They have one son, Charles Frve (Spinning), b. May IG,
1884.

as. Henry, b. May 29, 1870; d. June 2, 1870.

64. Harvey T. II. (47), b. Nov. 1, 1834. He served during the war
in a western regt., but was credited to Wilton. He ni.. Oct. 25. 1S70.
Al)bie Folsom of New Sharon, Me. Children :

65. Nellie L., b. Nov. 19, 1872.

66. Caroline, b. Feb. 7, 1875.

67. Mary G., b. Jan. 15, 1877.

68. Charles P., b. June 11, 1879.

6J>. Mabel E., b. April 12, 1881 ; d. Sept. 22, 1881.

70. Erland H., b. Aug. 10, 1883.

71. ErssELL J. (49), b., Barnard, Vt., June 3, 1838. An auctioneer
and has had for some time a store at West Wilton. He. m., Sept. 3, 1871.
Mrs. Emma F. Gordon of New Sharon, Me. Children :

72. Cosette Kurilla, b., New Sharon, Me., Sept. 21, 1873.

73. Orville, b., Wilton, Sept. 4, 1875.

74. Byron S., b. Feb. 10, 1878.

75. Elson D. (55), b. June 29, 1853; a carpenter; ni., Oct. 2G. issi.
Etta L. Parker of Miltord, who was b. April 24. 18G3. Children :

76. George Harvey, b. Dec. 31, 1882.

77. Mabel E., b. Dec. 31, 188G.

378 HISTORY OF WILTON.

FULLER FAMILY.

1. Amos Fri-I.KR was in Wilton at tlic time t»t its infoiporation. He
settled on lot No. IS, seventh ranoo, whicli is now pi-ineipaily owned by
Joseph W. tStiles. We have found no record of his family, but he is sup-
posed to be the father of Amos Fuller of Temple, of Enoch and i)robably
of Aaron Fuller of Wilton. Cliildren :

2. Amos.

3. Enoch (5).

4. Aaron (14).

5. Enoch (3). (Jhildren by liis wife. Sarah:
G. Amos, )). April 27, 17S().

7. Sally, b. Nov. ">, 17S1 ; m. Peter Putnam of Andover. Vt.

8. P>enjaniin, b. Sept. 1, 17S;{; m., Oct. 11, 1S04, Naomi, dau. of Dea.
John Burton, and res. in Andover, Vt.

{). Daniel, b. Sept. 20, 17S."); d., AVilton, Oct. :{. 1X58. He removed to
Andover, Vt., where he lived about thirty vfars, then returned to Wilton.
He m., ISIO, Betsey Burnham, who d. Oct. 4. 1847, ajjed .jG yrs.

10. James, b. June 2(J, 1787.

11. Frederic, b. March 15, 1790.

12. Mary Putnam, b. July 5, 1794.

13. Enoch, 1). Aug. 5, 1790.

14. Aauon (4). Children by his wife, Bet.se)-:

15. Amos, b. July G, 1803.
IG. Aaron, b. July 2G, 180.-).

GAGE FAMILIES.

The Gage family fouiul its way into England from Normandj' in A. D.
lOGG. One de (iaga, de Gauga oi- de Gage accompanied William the Con-
queror into England and aided in the conquest of the comitry and was
afterwards rewarded with large grants of land. The family was promi-
nent, and there were barons in parliament bearing the name of Gage
during the reign of Henry II.

1. John Gagk came from Suffolk, England, and landed at Salem,
Mass., June 12, 1G;{0. He at once proceeded to Boston, where he remained
a short time, and was a member of the first church there. In 1(!33 he
was one of the original i>roprietors of Ipswich, Mass. In 1GG4 he removed
to Eowley, where he died, l(i73. He had two. and according to one
authority, three wives.

2. Daniel, secoiul child of preceding, m., May 3, lG7o, Sarah Kim-
ball.' He res. in Bradford, Mass.

3. Danikl, son of preceding, m., March 9, 1()98, Martha Burbank.
and res. in Bradford.

4. Daniel, sixth child of i)receding. b. Ajnil 12, 1708. jcmoved from
Bradford to Pelham.

5. PiEUCE, son of pi'cceding, d. July 14, 1821, aged 80 yrs. His name
was on the muster roll, dated Sept. 20, 1770, of Capt. David IvunnePs co.,

GENEALOGIES : GAGE. 379

Col. Tash's regt., raised to serve in New York. His grandson, Sidney
R. Gage, Esq., of Nashua, writes: "When a boy at home I used to
slioot game with an old musket that I was told my grandfather liad picked
up beside a dead liriton on some battlefield of the Revolution." Pierce
removed from Pelham to Wilton in ITSil. His wife, Susanna, d. Maj- 3,
18.31, aged 90. Children:

6. Joseph, taxed in Wilton in 1705 and 170G.

7. Moses, taxed in Wilton in 1802.

8. Richard (11), b. 1784.

9. Judith, m. Jesse Hall.

10. Eunice, m., Feb., 1810, Ezekiel Lovejoy.

11. RiciiAiii) (8), b. 1784. A farmer, and res. on the farm that his
father bought when he came to Wilton. He was an earlj" member of the
Baptist Society. He m., March IG, 1800, Betsey, dau. of Samuel Hutch-
inson. Children:

12. David (21). b. Dec. 2G, 1800.

13. Samuel (30), b. Sept. G, 1811.

14. Pierce (35), b. Sept. 4, 181;$.
16. Isaac N. (43), b. June 12, 1815.

16. Mary (47), b. June 1, 1817.

17. Elvira (54), b. July 11, 1819.

18. Charles (GO), b. July 16. 1821.

19. George W. (63), b. Sept. 7, 1S2;J.

20. Sidney R.. (66), b. Oct. 14, 1S2G.

21. David (12), b. Dec. 2G, 1800 ; m., July 30, 1835, Sarah J. Russell.
He is a Baptist minister. A sketch of his life by himself is given on page
287. Children:

22. Freeman D., b. June 28, 183G; m. Jennie Watson of South Boston.
He has been engaged in the grocery business, and res. in Nashua.

23. Thaddeus G., b. Dec. 18, 1837.

24. Isaac N., 1). Sept. 28, 1830; a marble worker.

25. Sidney B., b. Jan. 1, 1843; a machinist; m. Flora E. Tliomas of
Rockland, Me.

26. Julian P.. b. Oct. 7, 184G; a grocer; m. Alice A. Hill of Bidde-
ford, Me.

27. George E., b. Oct. 9, 1849; a bank teller, and now a bank com-
missioner; m. Mattie A. Connor of Manchester.

28. Loren S., b. Oct. 7, 1851.

29. Herbert E., b. May 18, 1856; a grocer, res. in Nashua; m. Alma
J. Westcott of Nashua.

30. Samuel (13), b. Sept. 6, 1811; d. April 21. 1851. He m., 18,36.
Eliza A. Jones of Wasliington, where they resided. His wife d. Dec. 25,
18G9. Children :

31. Albert N., b. May 7, 1837; m., July, 1868, Elva Davis of Warner,
and has liad several children.

32. Charles C, b. Feb. 16, 1839; d., Boston, Feb. 24, 1881 ; num. He
had been clerk at the Twin Mt. House ; also clerk in the Surgeon
General's office, Washington, D. C.

380 HISTORY OF WILTON.

33. Himm J., )). Aug. 30, 1S44: in., June 1, 18G7, Miiia S. Kidder; a
merchant and a promineiit eitizeii in Washiuotou, N. II., holding uianj'
offices, including that of representative to the liCgislature.

34. Eoger S., h. Feb. 19, Ism : ni., Aug. 24, 1S70, Jennie A. Neaskem
of Clayville, N. Y. : res. several years iti <'layville and Ilion, N. ^'., and
now in AVarner.

35. Pierce (14), b. Sept. 4. lSi;j ; ni., June 1."). 1S37, Mary, dau. of
David a4id Kachel T.ovejoy ; ni., 2d, Nov. 27, lS4ri, Mrs. Nancy D. (Winn),
dau. of Edwai-d and Nancy B. Ilerrick ; has always res. in Wilton on the
homestead of his grandfather and father ; has been a selectman. Children :

3(>. All)ert P., b. May 9, 1838. lie enlisted in the war of the Eebel-
lion, and was killed, June 3, 18G4. in the battle at Bethesda Church, Va.

37. James A., b. June 7, 1841 ; d. Oct. 20, 1841.

3H. Mary L., b. July 17, 1844; d. Sept. 14, 1844.

3». Orrieta F., b. Jan. 1. 1847; m.. June 28, 1870, Lewis A. Holt.
Pes. in Texas.

40. Josepliinc II., b. March 14, 18.")().

41. Arthur Herbert (69), b. June 5, 1852.

42. Elijah J., b. May 31, 1859.

43. Isaac N. (15), b. June 12. 1815 ; d. May 1, 1885. He res. in Wash-
ington, a farmer; represented the town in the State Legislature in 1864,
and 18G5. He m., Deo. 2G, 1837, Lucy H. Fisk of Washington, who d.
Feb. li), 18G8. Children :

44. Elizabeth F., b. Marcli 19, 1839; d. Nov. IS, 1870. She m., Dec. 1,
18G3, Brooks K. Webber, Esq., now of Hillsborough.

45. Lucy A., b. Feb. 14, 1844; m., April 20, 18G7. Galen Allen, M. D.,
now of Eed Wing, Minn.

4(>. George N. (72), b. Nov. 27, 1851.

47. Mai;y (16), b. June 1, 1817; m., April 18, 1843. Mason 11. Carr of
Washington, wher(» they have since res. Children :

4H. Mary Frances (Carr), b. Aug. 15. 1844.

4J). Lawrence M. (Carr), b. Sept. 8, 1847.

50. Dwight E. (Carr), b. May 21, 1850.

51. Bettie M. (Carr) b. June 8, 1853; d. in childhood.

52. Asa L. (Carr), h. April 11, 1858; d. in childhood.

53. Helen A. (Carr), b. Dec. 18, 18G1 ; d. in childhood.

54. Elvira (17), b. July 11,1819; m., June 7. 1843. Natlianiel G.
Jones of Washington, where they res. Children :

55. Ellen E. (Jones), b. Nov. 14, 1844.

56. (Jeorge S. (Jones), b. Feb. 28, 1847.

57. Kate A. (Jones), b. April 21, 1851 ; d. when IG or 17.
')H. Alice E. (Jones), I). May G, 18G1.

59. Fred E. (Jones), b. Dec. 13, 18G3.

60. Charles (18), b. July IG, 1821; d. June 24, 18.5G; m., Aug. 13,
1843, Sarah A. Lynd of Melrose, Mass. They res. a short time in Wasli-
ington, and then went to Melrose. Children :

61. Charles E., b. Oct. 2G, 1844 : num. : res. in Melrose.

GENEALOGIES : GOLDSMITH. 381

62. Sariih Frances, b., Melrose, Oct. 23, 1850; m., June 5, 1S75, Jabez
S.Dyer; res. in ^Melrose.

63. Geok(;k W. (19), b. Sept. 7, 1823; has res. in Wilton and Wash-
ington principally, but now in Mcdford, Mass. ; m., Sept. IG, 1845, Nuncy
E. Crane of Washington. Children :

(>4. Josepliine ]M.. b., Wilton, Oct. 28, 18.50; ni., Feb. 1, 1872, Stilhnan
S. Eaton, who d. Sept. 20, 1878. She m., 2d, Charles E. Walker, and res,
in Medford, Mass.

65. Nellie J., b., Washington, June 30. 1859; m., April 12, 1881, Oscar
H. Wiley; res. in Washington.

66. Sidney R. (20) b. Oct 14, 182(j; removed to Wisconsin from Wil-
ton in 1855, returned to N. H., and res. in Washington from 185!) till 1870,
when he removed to Nashua, where he now lives. Has held the oftice of
selectman in Wasliington, and been a member of the common council and
board of aldermen in Nashua. He m., Nov. 28, 1850, .Vugusta JJixby of
Lyndeborough. Children :

67. Kitty A., b., Wilton, June 24, 1853; grad. at the Boston Univer-
sity, 1878; has been a successful teacher in Nashua, Davenport, la., and
Westborough, Mass.; in 1881, she entered Cornell University, received
the degree of A. M. in 1885; is elected to the Greek Professorsliip of
Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Penn., near Philadeli)hia.

68. Annie B., b., Washington, July 21, 18(il ; d. Aug. 18, 18(i4.

69. Aktiiuk IIekhekt (41), b. June 5, 1852; a farmer aiul carpenter:
res. on the homestead; m., March 25, 1875, Annie C. Benedict. Children :

70. Archie Benedict, b. Jan. 3, 187fi.

71. Eichard Pierce, b. Feb. 3, 1881.

72. Geokge N. (46), b. Nov. 27, 1851. A physician; has always
hved in Wasliington. He m., Nov. 29, 1883, Ella F. Brockway of Hills-
borough. Child :

73. Charles F., b. Sept. 10, 1884.

1. David Gage, b., Merrimac, Sept. 8, 1795; d. Oct. 3, 1841. He
m., Aug. 12, 1823, Betsey, b.", Jan. 26, 1800, dau. of Daniel Putnam, Esq.,
of Lyndeborough. They went as missionaries to Livingston, Ala. They
liad five children l)orn there, one of whom has res. more than twenty
years in Wilton. Mrs. Gage d., Lyndeborough, Dec. 4, 1879, aged SO yrs.

2. John, son of preceding, b. June 15, 1836. A brick mason; has the
office of fire engineer, and has been captain of the Lafayette Artillery co.
He m., Feb. 24, 1859, Susan Ford, who was b. July 17, 1840. Child :

3. Walter F., 1). Jan. 5, 1866; employed at tlie Electric Light Works
in Lynn, Mass.

GOLDSMITH FAMILY.

1. Willia:\i Goldsmith came to Wilton from Ipswich, Mass., in
Feb., 1774, and settled on lot No. 6, seventh range. He was a farmer, and
one of the first members of the Baptist Society. He d. Dec. 27, 1833, aged

382 HISTORY OF WILTON.

78 yrs. His wife, Hannah, came to Wilton, Aug. 25, 1774, about the time,
as is supposed, of theii* marriage. Children :

2. Hannah, b. Dec. 7, 1775; m., Nov. 26, 1801, Isaac Burnham.

3. Setb tttory (11), b. April 17, 1778.

4. IJetty, b. Aug. 27, 1780.

5. Lucy, b. Nov. 17, 1782.

«. William (13), b. June 8, 1785.

7. Gillbrd, b. Sept. 22, 1787; d. March 2!t, 179G.

8. Jabez (18), b. April 5, 1790.

9. Martha, b. Jan. 2(i, 1793.

10. El)enezer, b. April 15, 1790; d. May 9, 179G.

11. Seth Stoky (3), b. April 17, 1778; d. Feb. 15, 1801; m., Feb. 22,
1805, Hannah Burnham, and removed to lot No. 4, sixth range, where he
lived the remainder of his life. Child :

12. .Samuel (23), b. Dec. 29, 1800.

13. William ((>), J). June 8, 1785; m. and settled on the homestead
with his fatlier. About 1832 he sold his farm to his brother Jabez, and
removed to Maine. He was an intense stauimerer; this impediment, with
his wit, oftentimes making his remarks laughabl(^ Children :

14. William, b. Feb. 7, 1812.

15. Benjanun, b. Aug. 20, 1815.

10. Seth Story, b. Feb. 28, 1818. After he l)ecame of age, he returned
from Maine, and worked a few years in Wilton. He was commissioned,
31arch 23, 1849, as lieut., and, Sept. 14, 1849, as captain of the Third Co.
22d Regt. of Militia ;♦ and the same date Jacob Putnam was commissioned
lieut.. and Samuel A. Preston, ensign; they being tlie lust officers of (hat
company.

17. Ezra Willmarth, b. June 7, 1821.

18. JAiiEZ (8), b. April 5, 1790 ; d. March 28, 1848. He lived for some
years on lot No. 0, eighth range, and after he purchased his brother's farm,
he res. on the Goldsmith liomestead. He did something as a cattle broker.
At the time of his death lie was a large land-owner. He served one year

as selectman. He m. Lucinda Pollard. She in., 2d, Danforth, and

d. Nov. 13, 1878, aged 87 yrs. Children :

19. Daniel Pollard, b. Aug. 17, 1815; d. Oct. 31, 1844. He res. on the
farm his father first occupied. He joined the Miller Guards at its organiz-
ation ; his was the first death in the company, and they attended his
funeral. He m., Nov. 1, 1836, Eebecca, dau. of Col. Samuel and Keliecca
P. King. She m., Dec. 28, 1840, Benjainin (ioldsmith, of Jamaica Plains,
Mass.

20. .JefTord Ell)ridge, b. June 14, 1817. He studied medicine, and
began practice in Hopkinton, Mass. He d. previously to the death of his
father. He m. in New Ipswich.

21. Sibyl, m. Charles Howard. Her father conveyed to her a part of
his real estate, in which was the original Goldsmith homestead, and she
res. there until the buildings were burned. She afterwards sold the place
and bought the Gray farm, now owned by ADjert B. Melendy. Since dis-
posing of that property she has not lived in Wilton.

GENEALOGIES : GRAY. 383

22. Charlotte, in. Samuel A. Preston. Her father willed her that part
of the real estate, not left to her sister Sibyl. She res. in Wilton until the
death of Mr. Preston. Mrs. Preston is not now living.

23. Samuel (12), b. Dec. 21), ISOG; d. Fel). 28, ISSS. lie always res.
on the homestead where his father first settled. He m., Nov., 1838,
Lavina (umuiinos, who d. Get. 15, 183D. He m., 2d, Lydia, dau. of Capt.
Caleb and Jane (Longley) Putnam. Children :

24. Ezra, b. May 18, 1839; d. Aug. 5, 1844.

25. Lydia Hannah, b. Feb. 24, 1845; m., Dec. 10, 1808, Cyrus O. Whit-
ney. See Whitney gen.

26. Caleb Story, b. June 25), 1847.

27. Sarah Jane, b. July 15, 1849; m. George Parkhurst. See Park-
hurst gen.

28. Asa Horace, b. April 14, 1851.

29. Franklin Pierce, b. Dec. 5, 1852; d. July 24, 1853.

GRAY FAMITA'.

1. Timothy Ghay of Andover, Mass., was b. July 19, 1719; d. Nov.
17, 1793. He purchased of William Vance lot No. 0, tilth range, and
thirty acres of the west part of lot No. 5, fourth range. In the deed,
dated April 20, 1764, he is called c^ordwainer, and the consideration was
£07 10s., sterling money. He and his descendants owned it about one
hundred years. He hold the office of deacon, and tradition reports that

he was nuich respected. He m. Eleanor , who d. Sept. 22, 1775,

aged 50 yrs. ; he m., 2d, Abigail , who d. May 20, 1801, aged 77 yrs.

Children:

2. Timothy (11), b. Fel). 19, 1749.

3. James Best, b. Jan. 26, 1751; d. at Halifax, between July 10 and
Aug. 20, 1777, whether a prisoner or not is not known.

. 4. Eleanor, b. March 10, 1753.

5. Jonathan, b. March 18, 1755; d. Sept. 15, 1775. He was enrolled
in Capt. William Walker's co., in Col. James Heed's regt., April 23, 1775,
and at th(^ l)attle of Bunker Hill received wounds of which he died.

G. Mary, b. Feb. 19, 1757; m., Nov. 23, 1780, Samuel Hartshorn. See
Hartshorn gen.

7. Sarah, b. March 2, 1759; m.. Jan. 8, 1782, Christopher Martin.
See 3Iartin gen.

8. Joseph (25), b. March 19, 1701.

9. Dorothy, b. Oct. 20, 1703 ; ni., Aug. 3, 1780, Daniel Holt, who was
a soldier in the army of the llevolution from Wilton, 1)ut who removed to
Maine after his marriage. We have been unable to ascertain to which f>f
the families of Holts, resident in Wilton, he belonged.

10. Henry, b. Oct. 8, 17()0; d. March 31, 1770.

11. Timothy (2), b. Feb. 19, 1749 ; d. July 18, 1807. He was a farmer
and res. on the homestead. He was in Capt. Taylor's co., at Winter Hill,
and was also in Capt. Nathan l>allard"s co., at the time of the alarm of
1770 to reenforce the northern army. He m. Hannah , who d. Julj-,

384 HISTORY OF WILTON.

1784, aged 31 yrs. lie m., 2d, April 21, 1785, Ruth Buruhaui, who d.
March 23, 1841, aged 85 yrs. See Buriiliam gen. Children:

12. llunnali, b. July 4, 1770; d. Aug. IS, 1770.

13. Timothy, h. Sept. 30, 1771; d. Dec. 1, 177(i.

14. Hannah, b. .June 17, 1773; ni., April 19, 17!)5, Abiel Blanchard.

15. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 12, 177o; ni., Feb. 12, 1801, Caleb Holt.
IG. Timothy, b. .Jan. 21, 1778; d. Sept. 2G, 1781.

17. Eleanor, b. Oct. 5, 1779; m., Nov. 15, 1804, Uzziel Sheldon.

18. James Best, b. May 20, 1781 ; d. Oct. 4, 1795.

19. Timothy (38), b. May 14, 1787.

20. Henry (49), b. Oct. 1, 1789.

21. Abel, b. Oct. 13, 1791 ; m., July, 1813, Betsey Pettengill.

22. Al)iel, b. July 25, 1793.

23. I^ucy Burnham, b. Sept., 1795; m. Dea. Joel Chandler. See
Chandler gen. (29).

24. Kuth, b. May 24, 1800; d., Lowell, March 7, 1858.

25. Joseph (8), b. March 19, 17G1 ; d. Aug. 2G, 1846. He was the last
of the soldiers of the Eevolution, resident in Wilton. His services are
sketdied in pp. 24(1-251. His military career did not cease with tlie Rev-
olutionary War, but lie held various offices in the N. H. militia, and was
familiarly known as " Adjutant Gray." He owned and res. on the farm
now owned by Albert B. Melendy. He was frank and outspoken, a good
neighbor, and ready to do his i)art, so far as his means would allow, in
supporting puljlic institutions. He m., April 11, 1780, Chloe, dau. of Jer-
emiah Abbot of Wilton, who d. July 17, 1849, aged 82 yrs. Children :

26. Joseph (54), b. Aug. 14, 1787.

27. Chloe, b. Nov. 2, 1789; m., Oct. 20, 1813, Oliver Fletcher. See
Oliver Fletcher gen. (8).

28. Sally, b. July 11, 1791 ; m. Seth P. Tyler.

29. Anna Abbot, b. April 7, 1793; m., June 1, 1817, Asa Perham, wlio
had served an api)renticeship with Messrs. Ephraim and John Peabody,
to learn the blacksmith's trade, and carried on business a few years in the
shop they had occupied, but afterwards removed to Lyndeborough.

30. Lydia, b. March 5, 1795; m., Feb. 5, 1822. Russell Upton.

31. James Best (64), b. April 21, 1797.

32. Betsej', b. June 21, 1799; d. Oct. (i, 1809; m., Sept. 25, 1827, Abbot
Smith of Milford.

33. Calvin (73), b. Oct. 28, 1801.

34. Henry Newton, b. Sept. 1, 1804; d. Sept. 8, 1826. He was a liar-
ness-maker, and began business in Nashua.

35. Matilda, b. .July 20, 1806; d. Dec. 23, 1835. She m., Jan. 26, 1832.
Amos Gutterson, and res. in Milford.

36. Elvira, b. Dec. 20, 1808; d. April 3, 1881; m., Nov. 28, 1833, Sam-
uel French. See French gen. (26).

37. Emeline, b. Oct. 11, 1811; m., Dec. 12, 1849, Dr. Israel Herrick.
See Herrick gen.

38. Ti.MOTiiY (19), b. May 14, 1787; d. Aug. 4, 1867. He res. on the
homestead, and was an early member of the Baptist society, and for

GENEALOGIES : GRAY. 385

many years a deacou of the chui'ch. He served as one of the selectmen.
He sold a part of his farm and removed to Lowell, where he resided a few
years, but returned to Wilton. He m., Aug. 21, ISOS, Fanny, dau. of
Lieut. Abraham and Betsey Burton, who d. Nov. 3, ISIO, aged 2(J yrs.
See Burton gen. (40). He m., 2d, Nancy Smith of Medford, who d. April
l(i, 1866, aged 70 yrs. Children :

39. Funny Burton, h. Aug. 2!). ISKI; ni., Dec. 4, 1S;«. Caleb Crosby of
Lowell, Mass.

40. Timotliy, b. June 7, 18i;}; d. Jan. 24, 1883.

41. Alansou, b. Jan 22, 1815; d. many years ago.

42. Daniel Smith (77), b. Oct. 16, 1816.

43. James B., 1). July 2!», 1818; res. in Maine; not living.

44. Nancy, b. March 4, 1820; m.,. Nov. 26, 1860, Joseph W. Stiles.
See Stiles gen.

45. Maria, b. March 2U, 1822; d. in Lowell.

46. Hannah, b. Oct. 12, 1824; m. Joseph M. Melendy.

47. llobert, b. March 23, 1827; d. Fel). 17. 186.5, in Salisbury, N. C, as
a prisoner of war.

48. Lorenzo (92), 1). March ;51, 1821).

49. Hknky (20), I). Oct. 1, 1780; d. Oct. 30, 1862; a cabinet maker
and farmer. He bought the place formerly owned by Nathaniel Sawyer,
and for nearly thirty years paid the widow the income of her thirds. He
m. Susan Merrill of 31ilford, who d. April 17, 1868, aged 76 yrs. Chil-
dren :

50. Susan Elizabeth, b. Aug. 15, 1813; d. Aug. 14, 1840; m., April 28,
1835, Putn;im Woodward of LyndeI)orougb.

51. Lucy Cunnuings, b. May 14, 181(;; ni., Oct. 2, 1838, Moses Love-
joy, Jun. See Lovejoy gun.

52. Henry (99), b. Aug. 4, 1818.

53. Mary Ninette, b. 1828 ; d. July 11, 1880; m., Oct. 20, 18-50, Col.
rutnam Woodward, who d. Aug. 8, 1874, aged 67.

54. JosEi'ii (26), b. Aug. 14, 1787; d. Oct. 13, 1865. He resided sev-
eral years in Temple on the farm afterwards owned by Joseph Kendall.
About 1830 he sold his farm and removed tt) Wilton, where he was engaged
in selling meat. He was adjutant of the 22d Kegt. of Militia. He m.,
April, 1815, Mary Spalding, who d. Dec. 25, 1852, aged 64 yrs. Children :

55. Child b. May 7, 181() ; d. May 7, 1816.

56. Charles, b. Sept. 7, 1817; d. Jan. 7, 1851.

57. Mary S., b. Feb. 17, 1820; d. Aug. 1, 1822.

58. Caroline, b. Fel). 21, 1822; m., Feb. 20. 1848, Samuel A. Grammar
of Woburn, Mass.

59. J. Monroe, b. Nov. 16, 1824: d. Sept. 3, 1858; m., Jan. 11, 1854,
Anna E. Gould.

60. George, b. Feb. 12, 1827; d. Dec. 7, 1831.

61. Infant b. Dec. 14, 1828; d. Feb. 12, 1820.

62. Mary Jane, b. Sept. 28, 1830; d. April 27, 1881 ; m., Aug., 27, 1860,
Eben K. Long.

386 HISTORY OF WILTON.

63. Georoje SuHivaii, b. Feb. 9, 1834; d. June 17, 18(13. He enlisted in
the first Mass. ('avaliy, and was mortally wounded at tlie battle of xVlda,
and d. at Washington, D. C.

64. James Best (31), b. April 21, 1797; d. Dec. 6, 1867. He lived on
the homestead until he sold liis farm, a few years befon; his death, and
removed to Milford. He ni., Dec. 12. 1822, Sarah, dau. of Moses Burns
of Milford. ,Slie was 1). Jan. 9, 1803, and d. Xov. 8, 1843. He m., 2d.
March 14, 1844, Adeline Gutterson, who was 1).. Milford, July 7, 1813.
Children :

65. Maria, b. Oct. 18, 1823; d. Jan 3, 18.58; ni. Scales.

66. 3Iary Ann, b. Dec. 18, 1825; d. Feb. 29, 1832.

67. James Best, b. Feb. 8, 1829; d. March 3, 1832.

68. Mary Ann, b. Feb. 17, 1833.

69. James Hammond, b. April G, 1835.

70. Harris, b. July 1, 1841 ; d. Feb. 20, 18G3.

71. Anna E., b. -June 29, 1845.

72. Sarah F., b. Oct. 18, 1847.

73. Calvin (33), b. Oct. 28, 1801 ; d. Dec. 15, 1856. He served as an
apprentice with .John Mack, blacksuiitli. Soon after he was of age he
bought the shop formerly owned by the Messrs. Peabody, which was
burned in 1831. He then built the brick shop now owned by his sou,
Henry Newton. Henry Bragg was his partner for several years. He
was adjutant of the 22d liegt. of Militia, when commanded by Col. Sam-
uel King. He m., April 11, 1826, Clarissa King, who d. Aug. 8, 1885, aged
81. Children:

74. Henry Xewton (103), b. Jan. 4, 1827.

75. Harriet N.. b. Aug. 21, 1829; d. Oct. 13. 1852; m., July 9, 1850,
Henry K. French, for many j^ears proprietor of the hotel in Peterljorough
village.

76. Charles Dumont, b. March 13, 1834; d. Feb. 23, 1864. He was
engaged for some time in driving a stage; m., Nov. 27, 1860, Caroline
Spalding.

77. Daniel Smith (42), b. Oct. 16, 1816. While blasting a rock, at
the age of tifteen, he was severely wounded in his thigh by a premature
discharge. In early life lie went to Lowell where he has for many years
been in the grocery business. He m., Nov. 12, 1840, Mary Ann Wells,
who was b. Oct. 18, 1819, and d. Oct. 27, 1843. He m., 2d, Sept. 26, 1844,
Clorinda Phelps, who w^as b. May 5, 1821. Children:

78. Daniel Washington, b. July 18, 1841.

79. Albert, b. June 1, 1845; d. July 20, 1845.

80. Albert Montrassor, b. May 23, 1846.

81. Frank, b. March 22, 1848.

82. Mariana, b. Feb. 25, 1850; d. Oct. 18, 1850.

83. Joseph, b. Aug. 6, 1851.

84. Henry, b. Nov. 12, 1853.

85. Alanson. b. Dec. 21, 1855.

86. Nellie, b. March 31, 1858.

GENEALOGIES : GRAY. 387

87. Willie, b. Jan. 31, 1860.

88. Anna Stevens, b. April 29, 1863.

89. Arthur Sniitli, 1). April 20, 1863; d. May 14, 1864.
00. Arthur Lincoln, b. May 24, 1866.

yi. Minnie Clorinda, b. Aug. 22, 1868.

92. LOKENZO (48), b. March 31, 1829. A farmer and lumberman;
owns and res. on the southeast part of the original Tiiverniore farm ; also
owns a part of the Lovejoy farm, and a part of the farm on which James
Dascomb began clearing, April 19, 1775. He has been successful in his
Itusiness. lie m., Jan 2, 1854, Sarah G. Payson of Salem, Mass., who was
b., Wells, Me., May 10, 1834, and d. Dec. 3, 1858. He m., 2d, Jan. 5, 1860,
Dorothy Marshall of :Milford, who was b. Oct. 19, 1830. Children :

93. Alice Sarah (107), b., Newport, E. I., Jan. 10, 1855.

94. Eddie L. (112), b., Wilton, Aug. 5, 1858.

95. Francella D. (114), b. Sept. 17, 1862.

96. Stephen Allen, b. May 21, 1864.

97. Walter Herbert, b. Sept. 15, 1865; d. Sept. 19, 1865.

98. Lucy Viola, b. Xov. 13, 186().

99. llKNKY (52), b. Aug. 4, 1818. A farmer, and engaged at dill'erent
times in lumbering, in which as well as farming he has been successful.
He m., Nov. 27, 1845, Mary Hutchinson. Children :

100. Mary Susan, b. Dec. 16, 1846; rn., June 11, 1876, Albion B. Flint,
who d. Jan. 28, 1888, aged 43.

101. H(!nry Warren, b. Aug. 4, 1848; a maimfacturer of furniture in
Weare; m., Oct. 6, 1883, Ella J. Lloyd of Weare.

102. James E., b. April 15, 1851 ; a farmer, res. on the homestead; m.,
June 27, 1878, Eva E. Dodge, of Nashua.

103. Henky Newton (74), b. Jan. 4, 1827. See a sketch of his life,
page 283. He m., Jan. 3, 1854, Mary A. Heath of Barre, Mass. Children :

104. Ella Heath (117), b. Oct. 1, 1854.

105. Charles Newton, b. Aug. 19, 1856. He is in company with his
father in the blacksmithing and carriage business. He ni., Sept. 22. 1881,
Mina O., dan. of Dr. William A. Jones.

lOG. William Henry (125), b. June 6, 18.58.

107. Alice Sarah (93), b. Jan. 10, 18.55; m., Dec. 25, 1877, John A.
Sheldon. See Sheldon gen. Ees. in ^Wilton. Children :

108. Gracie A. (Sheldon), b. Aug. 20, 1878.

109. Willie A. (Sheldon), b. Jan. 20, 1882.

110. Fanny Belle (Sheldon), b. Sept. 17, 1885.

111. Charles Eddie, (Sheldon) b. Sept. 17, 1887.

112. Edoie L. (94), b. Aug. 5, 18.58; m., Feb. 14, 1882, Ida J. Nutting
of Mason, and res. in Greenville. Child :

113. Ida L., b. Sept. 4, 1886.

114. Fuanceij.a D. (95), b. Sept. 17, 1862; m., Oct. 7, 1884, George
H. Buttrick, lumberman, and res. in Wilton. Children :

115. Charles H. (Buttrick), b. Oct. 19, 1883.
110. Mabel Florence (Buttrick), b. May 23, 1885.

117. Ella Heath (104), b. Oct. 1, 1854; m., .June 1, 1875, William

388 HISTORY OF WILTON.

Hampletoii Putiiiim, who was b. Aug. 10, 1852. lived in Wilton, and d.
Sept. 13. 1887. ( 'hildren :

118. Clytic Gray (Putnam), b. Dec. 16, 1876.

119. Henry IIanii)l('ton (Putnam), b. Aug. 17, 1878.

120. Hattie T.avina (Putnaui), b. May 10, 18SU.

121. (Jeorge Newton (Putnam), b. Aug. 2, 1882; d. Sept. 14. 1882.

122. Mary Isabelle (Putnam). 1). Sept. IS, 1883.

123. Eva Heath (Piilnam), 1). Aug. 31, 1884.
121. Aliee King (Putnam), b. Nov. 2(>, 1886.

125. WiLLiA^i Hknuy (106), b. June 6, 1858; he i? a wheelwright, in
company with J. Q. Flint. lie m., Aug. 5, 1884, Minnie A., dau. of Por-
ter and Martlia J. Follansln-e. Child :

12(i. Frank, b. .July 21. 188(1.

(UiEELE. OK GREELEY, FAMILY.

1. Jonathan Gkeele. b. Feb. 22, 1732; d. in 1815 or 1816. He m.
PiUth GrilHn, who d. March 27, 1778, aged 43; m., 2d. July 23. 1778, Mrs.
Phebe Parker. < 'hildren :

2. Jonathan, b. April 24, 17,56.

3. :\Iary, b. Uct. 14, 1757; m. Asa Butler.

4. John, b. April 26, 1759.

5. Rachel, b. Jan. 17, 1761.

6. Elizabeth, b. June 3, 1763.

7. Hannali, b. -fune 15, 1765.

8. Abigail, b. Sept. 6, 1767.

9. Ruth, b. Aug. 28, 1760.

10. David (15), b. April 17, 1771.

11. ^lartlia, 1). late in 1772, or early in 1773: unm: d. Aug. 7. 1852.

12. Joel, b. April 28, 1770.

13. Daniel, b. A])ril 24, 1782.

14. Sanuiel (20), b. Sept, 5, 1783.

15. David (10), b. April 17, 1771; m., April 3, 1708. Mrs. Rebecca
(Hardy) Butler. Children :

16. Jonathan Butler, I). Dec. 23, 1708; m. Lucy Ann Co))urn.

17. Mary, b. Nov. 15, 1800; m. Ilervey W. Bingham.

18. Rebecca, b. ^Nlay 5, 1803; m. Jolm Gage.

19. Harriet, b. Jan. 6, 180(i; m. Thomas Gowing.

20. Samlel (14), b. Sept. 5, 1783; d. Aug. 16, 1861. He was fitted
for college at New Ipswich Academy; grad. Harvard College, 1802;
studied divinity with Rev. Jonathan Frendi of Andover; preached for
several years, but was never ordained as minister of any society. He
engaged in tlie business of making printing types, and retired from busi-
ness several years before his death. He was elected representative to the
Legislature for several years ; was alderman of Boston in 1834, '35 and
'36. He was deacon in the Federal St. Cliurch, Boston, under Rev. Dr.
Channing and Rev. Dr. Gannett. He m.. ]May 3. 1812, Lydia Maria Sew-
all, dau. of Cliief Justice Samuel Sewall of Marblchead. She d., Boston,
Aug. 11, 1822, aged 32 yrs. lie m., 2d, Oct. 19, 1823, Louisa May, dau. of

GENEALOGIES : GREEN. 389

Col. Joseph .May or Boston. She d. Nov. 14, 1828, aged 36 yrs. He iii.,
3d, Oct. 18, 1831, :M:iria Antoinette Paine, dau. of Hon. Eobert Treat Paine
of Boston. She d. Maivh 26, 1842, aged 58 yrs. He ni., 4th, Oct. 8, 1844,
Sarah Follanshee Emerson of Xewburyport. ( hildren by second wife :

21. Samuel Sewall (23), I). Oct. 11, 1824.

22. Louisa May, b. Jan. 1, 1827.

23. Samiel Seavall (21), h. Oct. 11, 1824. He grad. at Harvard
College, 1844; removed to Chicago in 18r)3, and opened a surveying olfice
in tliat city, of which the lirm-name is now " Greeley, (name clianged)
Carlson I'c Co:" his son, P^redcric, being a jiartner. He m., Chicago,
June 20, 18.")'), Annie Morris Larned of Providence, IJ. I. He m. 2d. Eliza
May Wells of Brookline, Mass. (Children :

24. Frederick (30). b. March 13, 18oG.

25. Louis May, b. May 24, 18r)8: grad. at Harvard College. 1880: a
lawyer in Chicagf).

2(>. Lucy. b. Sept. 22, iSdl: d. Sept. 28, 1801.

27. ^[orris Larned. b. Dec. 17, 18(i;{ ; a student in Mass. Institute of
Technology.

2S. Ethel May ; child l)y second wife.'

20. L'uth Lyman. Of live children by the second wife, three d. in
infancy.

30. Fredkuick (24). b. March 13. 185(J: a surveyor: m. Sept. 21,
1881, Florence M. Aiiiold. Children :

31. Samuel Arnold, b. Aug. 1882.

32. Annie Larned, b. Dec. 1883.

GPEEX FAMILIES. .

1. FitANCis Green, b. Weatherstield, Vt.. Sept. 7, 180!). He came to
Wilton in 1830. and worked in finishing the lirst meeting-house of the
Second Cong. Society. He did not live in Wilton from 18.33 to 1830, when
he bought a jiart of the place now owned by George Barrett, where he res.
a few years, and then bouglit the farm now owned by Curtis Bellows;
from there he moved to the East village, and works at liis trade. His
largest jobs were C. 11. Burns's buildings, the Whiting House, and the
Newell Mill. In 180',! and 1870 he was elected a representative to the
Legislature. He ni.. Dec. 18, 1832. Xancy. dau. of Benjamin and Judith
(Blanchard) Steele. Children:

2. Mary Alnette, b. Xov. l'.», 1834; m., June 1, 18r)r.. Stephen C
Davis of Lowell; Mass.

3. Cieorge U'arren, b. Dec. 28, 1838; d. Feb. 2."i, 1881: m. Abby D.
Stevens. For many years he was a successful grocer in Nashua.

1. B. F. CiltEEN was ))., Otislield, Me., May 30, 1S22. He grad. from
the Medical Sehool in Cleveland, O., in 1846; practised medicine in Lynn,
Mass., and came to Wilton in .Tune, 1885, and began to practise. He is
the Physician of the County Farm. He ni.. Washington. Me.. June 3.
1847, Hannah E. Merrill. Tliey have had tliree sons and three daughters.

390 HISTORY OF WILTON.

GREGG FAMILY.

1. David Gkeoc;, a native of Xow Boston; d. Jan :U, ISSO, agocl G3
yrs., 7 nios., ]:] da\s. lie began business in Wilton, Sept., 1800. He
bouglit out I'attee & Al)l)ott, who occupied the store that was started by
Abrani Mitchell of Nashua soon after the railroad was opened to AVilton.
He also bought out George W. Daniels at the depot store, and moved the
goods from the old store to the depot store, where the business was
carried on under the firm-name of D. Gregg & Co. His son, David A.
Gregg, was his partner. He sold his interest in the store to his son-in-
law, George F. Xeville, who, after trading a few years in company with
David E. Proctor, sold his interest to Mr. Proctor. Mr. Gregg had an
interest for several years in a large lumbering esta1)lishment in Michigan.
In ISGil he built a tine house in the west part of the East village. He
built a large establishment on Crown street near the Concord depot in
Nashua for the manufacture of doors, sashes, blinds, &c., whicli lias
been carried on under the firm-name of Gregg & Son. In ISGO he was
elected and served as selectman; in 1877 he was cliosen representative to
the Legislature, and in 1870 he was elected sui)ervisor. He left a widow,
a sou and a daughtei'.

2. David Almus, son of preceding, was elected town clerk in 18G3,
"Gl and "(i.-i ; selectman in 18G7, 'G8; and representative to tlie State Legis-
lature in 1874, "75. In connection with his son, William A. Gregg, he
continues to carry on the manufacturing business under the original firm-
name.

t{. William A., son of preceding, m., June 1."), 1881, Bessie, dau. of
Hon. C. H. Burns. Children :

4. David, b. Jan. 23, 1882.

5. Donald Burns, b. Nov. 4, 1884.

6. Helen, b. Aug. 22, 188G.

HALL FAMILY.

1. Timothy Hall bought of Archelaus Putnam lot No. 17. nintli
range, deed dated March 2G, 1774. He was last taxed in Wilton in 1799.
Cluldren by his wife, Sarah :

2. Timothy, b. Sept. 28, 177G.

3. Sarah, b. April 2G, 1778.

4. John, b. Feb. 19, 1780.

5. ]Mehitable, h. June 20, 1782.
G. Molly, b. Sept. G, 178.-).

7. James, b. Jan. 7, 1787.

HARDY FAMILY.

1. James L. Hardy was b. in Hollis, has res. in Nashua, Manchester,
Amherst, and in Lawrence, Mass. He enlisted from Amherst, was mus-
tered into the service, Dec. 20, ISGl, as sergeant in Co. E., Eighth Regt.,
N. H. v., and was promoted to 2d. lieut., April 14, 18G2; resigned Dec
21, 18G2. He came to Wilton in 1SG3 : was appointed captain of the Light

GENEALOGIES : HARTSHORN. 391

Infantry. He served as representative from AVilton in 1S73 and 1883. He
has built three houses since his res. in town, one of which he has sold.
He was one of the contractors for building the Town House.

HAET.SHORX FAMILY.

1. Thomas Hautsiioun, b. in Reading, England, about 102(1; came

with others and settled in Reading, Mass. He m., I(i47, Susanna of

Reading, by whom he had seven sons and one daughter. He m.. 2d,

Hannah , by whom he had one daughter. His 3-oungest son by his

first wife was :

2. Timothy, b. Feb. 23, 1001 ; m. Martha of Reading.

3. Thomas, son of preceding, b. June 10. l(!i)l : m. Susanna of

Reading.

4. Thomas, son of preceding, b. Alarch 24. 171'.l; d. Feb. 7, 1809; m.
Abiah , who was b. 1724, and d., Wilton, April 23, ISIO. Children :

5. Thomas, b. Xov. 3. 1742. He m., Tainar Kimball: m.. 2d, Abigail
Cleveland of Salem, Mass. He served in the French war, and in the Rev-
olution; was a captain in the Eighth Mass. Regt., Col. Michael Jackson,
and was in conmiission until the peace. He was a man of sterling quali-
ties, a well informed man. faithful in his public trusts and punctual in his
promises. As a deacon of the first churcli in Salem, he was an ornament
to his oftice, having talents to adorn it.

0. Abiah. b. March 2."), 1745: m., Aug. 10, 1704, Ezekiel Marsh, a
descendant of John Marsh, who came in 1(1.33 from England and settled
in Salem ; father of Capt. Thomas Hartshorn Marsh, b., Danvers, July J»,

1776, and d., Hartland, Me., Oct. 20, 1870: grandfather of Lucius B.
Marsh, b.. Danvers, April 18, 1818, Col. of the 47th ]{egt. Infantry, Mass.
Vol. and connnanding the defences of Xew Orleans, during the siege of
Port Hudson.

7. Jonathan (0), date of birtli not known.

8. Samuel (19), b. June 13, 17G0.

9. Jonathan (7), res. of Wilton many years, last taxed here in 1802;
supposed to have res. later in Xew Ipswich. He served in Capt. William
Walker's co., that was called out bj' order of Gen. Folsoni to reenforce
the army in Xew York, from Dec. 7, 1776, until March, 1777, the pay roll
showing service for three months antl ten days. He was also in Capt.
John Goss's co., of Gen. Stark's brigade, in the Bennington campaign in

1777, term of service two months and eight days, and in Capt. James
Mann's co., Col. Xichols's regt., in the expeilition to Rhode Island, Aug.,

1778, term of service twenty-five days. Children by his wife, Hannah :

10. Hannah, b. March 2, 1776; m.. Aug. 2r>. 1799, Benjamin Parker,
Jun.

11. Jonatlian, b. March 1."), 1778.

12. Susanna, b. March 24, 1780.

13. Sarah, b. Feb. 4. 1782.

14. Loammi. b. Dec. 19, 1784.

15. Mary, 1). March 10, 1787.

392 HISTORY OF WILTON.

16. Sally, b. Nov. ■>:i. 1790.

17. Lubiin, b. Jan. 5, 1703.

IH. Polly I.ovcjoy. b. Jan. 27. 171)5.

19. Sa.miei, (S), )). Juno i;}, 17(i(t. An inilustrious iarnier; lived
iiianj' years on the farm now owned \)y lii:^ grandson, George M. Harts-
liorn. He afterwards owned and lived on the farm now owned by Jolin
B. Baldwin, until age incapacitated him for laltor. when he went to res.
with his son-in-law, Hon. A\ illiam Parkei', in Francestown, where he d.
Feb. 11, 1847. He m., Xov. 30, 1786, Mary, dau. of Timothy and Eleanor
Gray, who d. April 20, 1841, aged 84 jts., 2 mos. Children :

20. Samuel (26), b. Feb. 18, 1788.'

21. Tliomas, 1). Dee. 25, 17Sf).

22. Jacol), b. June 20, 1791 ; d. Nov. 2(i, 1798.

23. Mary. 1). Jan. 20, 1793 ; d. Dec. 5, 1838.

24. Anna, b. Feb. G, 179G; m., April 11, 1820, William Parker. See
Parker geu.

25. Abiah, I). Nov. 10, 1798; m. ; d., Francestown, Dec. 2G, 1856.

26. Samuel (20), b. Feb. 18, 1788; d. Dec. 3, 1832. He res. on the
farm on which his son, George Hartshorn, now lives. He was a good
townsman and a successful farmer. He in., March 6, 1817, Polly Tarbell,
who was b., Mason, Feb. 9, 1793, and d. Sept. 27, 187G. Children:

27. Samuel Augustus, b. Nov. 13, 1817; m. Louisa Felt of Mason.

28. Mary Ann, b. Jan. 10, 1819; m. Otis Childs of Mason.

29. George (31), b. Dec. 11, 1820.

30. James Henry, b. May 26, 1829; ni. Hilary Sawtell of Mason.

31. Geohoe (29), b. Dec. 11, 1820. He owns the liomestead and by
purchase of other land, lias Jiecome one of the large landowners of
Wilton, and has been successful as a larmcr. He m. Maria Mansur. who
d. July 18, 1850, aged 20 yrs. : m., 2d, April 30, 1864, Ellen M. Holt.
Children :

32. George M. (34), b. July 18, 1850.

33. Nellie, b. Jan. 24, 18(;(j.

34. GeowceM. (32), b. July 18, 18.50; owns and res. on the farm of
his grandfatlier, Isaiah Mansur. He m., May 5, 1880, Mary Effie Herrick,
who d. July 12, 1887. See Herrick gen. (105). Child:

35. Bessie M., b. Feb. 1, 1885.

HASELTINE, OB HESELTINE FAMILY
SEE HESSELTON FAMILY.

HATCH FAMILY.

1. GliORGK W. Hatch, b., Lyndeborongh. Sept. s, 1855. At eight
years of age he went to Milford, and grad. there at tlie High School, June
26, 1874. He entered the Chandler Scientific Department, Dartmouth
College, and attended that school two years and a half. He began the

GENEALOGIES : HAWKINS. 393

study of niediciiie with T. B. Doaiboni, M. D., of Milford, and gnid. at
Dartmouth Medical School Nov. 11, 1879. Ho began the practice of med-
icine in Wilton. Dec. 24, 1S70. lie has been for six years the physician
of the county farm. He ni., Feb. 2.'., 1S80. Marcella Smith of Milford.
Children :

2. Fred Marshall, b. Nov. 25, 18S0.

3. Lydia Elizabeth, b. Sept. .'5, 1882.

HAWKINS FAMILY.

1. William Ai>i:ian Hawkins, b. Jan. 18, 1742: d., IJeading, Vt..
in 1817. His father, b., Dublin, Ireland, m. an English woman, and emi-
grated to Bordeaux, P^'rance, where their two children, a son and a dan.,
were born. He was reputed wealthy, but lost most of his jirojiorty by
pirates in. the wars of that period. After his death his widow Imnight
her children to America, but returned to her old home to recover lier
property, expecting to come back and settle here. The children had
been left in good hands, but tlie mother never returned. Whether she d.
on the voyage, or elsewhere, was never known. The dau. was adopted,
and eventually ni. one Drury. The boy. William Adrian, was appren-
ticed to a tailor, and was said to be a superior workman at that trade.
He canie to Wilton a short time before the IJevolution, and res. liere till
178!). when he removed to IJeading, Yt. Tlic jtay-rolls, dated Aug. 1,
1775, of Col. James Eeed's regt. of N. II. troops, sliow the nauies of tliir-
ty-two Wilton men, twenty-six of whom w<M'e enrolled Ai)ril 2.'{, 1775. and
the other six within ten days thereafter. On the roll of Capt. William
AValker's co. stands the name of William A. Hawkins, as first sergeant.
He was promoted to ensign for his conduct at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
See page 7!l. On Nov. 7, 1770 he was commissioned lient. and in 177s or
177'.), captaiu. The regt. in which he served during the sumuu-r of 1781
was stationed at Saratoga, where he was attacked with ague, from which
he suftered for tliree months. The currency with which lie was i)aid was
so nearly vahieless that forty bushels of r_ve was the most valuable jiart
of his pay for seven years' service. His wife, an energetic woman, main-
tained the family with what assistance her oldest children were able to
give. He m. Abigail, dau. of John and Abigail (Livermore) Keyes. who
was b.. Northborough. Mass., Dec, r74;}, and d.. Beading, Yt., 1813.
Children :

2. Abigail: m. Davis; removed to Canada, visited Wilton

once with lier two boys, returned to Canada and was not afterwards
heard from.

3. :\Iartha (10).

4. Mary (17).

5. AVilliam Lewis (23). b.. North))orough, Mass.. June 14, 1773.
<>. Alic(\ baptized Feb. 21, 177'.); d., aged i) yrs.

7. George Washington (31). b. May 31. 1781.

8. Horatio Gates (43). b. Dec. 1, 1782.

9. John SuUivan (50), b.. WiUon. Jan. 30. 1785.

394 HISTORY OF WILTON.

10. Mautiia (3), 111., Oct. 2S, 178S, Archelaus Putuain, M sou of
Art'holaus Putnam, the first sottler on what is now the eouuty farm.
Soon after then- marria*to they left Wilton and eventually res. at Glenn's
Falls, X. Y. Chiidreii:

11. Archelaus (Putnam), li. June 10, 17!)2.

12. Martha (Putnam), b. Aug., 179i».

13. T.ubin (Putnam), h. Auo-., ISO;!.

14. Oorov ^y. (Putnam), b. I.SOG.

15. Ahio-ail (Putnam), b. ISOS.

16. Charles (Putnam), 1). 1810.

17. Maky (4), m.. Xov. .W, ITtKI, William Howard of Greenfield.
They res. in Temple and had five sons and four or five daughters. Ghil-
dren :

18. William H. (Howard), res. on the homestead in Teinjile until age
incapacitated him for labor, when he sold his farm to his brother Lewis,
and removed to Wilton where he d., 1S74, aged 80 yrs.

19. Horace (Howard), d. July 2, 1866, aged G4 yrs. He was a i)romi-
nent business man in Lowell and for several years president of the Wame-
sit Bank.

•20. Lewis (Howard), b. 180-1.

21. Sullivan (Howard), carpenter; for several years a res. of Green-
ville, where he erected a large number of buildings : from there he went
west.

22. Abigail (Howard), m. Benjamin T. Foster. See Foster gen.

23. William Leavis (5), b., Xorthborough, Mass., June 14, 177:5; d.,
Eeading, Yt., Nov. 2G. 18.")0. He in., Peading, Yt., Anna Townsend.
Children :

24. Lewis.!)., Peading. Jan. 2:}, 1798; d., Sherburne. Yt.. April 2!).
187.5.

25. AVilliam Adrian, b., Peading. May 21. 1800; d., Peading. .Tuly 7.
18G!).

26. Alfred, b.. Peading, Aug. 20. 1803; d.. St. Albans. A^t.. Jan. G.

I88r).

27. Isabella, b.. Peading, Feb. 2:5, 180G; d.. Peading. Sept. 14, 1885.

28. Ferdinand, b., Peading, Feb. 14, 1808; res. Peading, Yt.
2J). Horatio Gates, b., Peading, March 'S, 1810; d. in infancy.

30. Josiah T).. b.. Peading, March l."), 1812 : d., Brandon. Yt.. June 18,
1882.

31. George Washington (7), b. May ;{1, 1781: d. Feb. 7, 18rii. A
carpenter; res. in Temple until 1820, when he removed to Springfield,
Yt. He served as selectman, 1811. '12. '1.'!, and also held the offices of
ensign, lieut. and captain in the militia. He m. Hannah Mansur. b..
Temple, Oct. 13, 1778. Children :

32. Washington, b. May 12, 1803; d. in infancy.

33. Charles, li. Oct. 23, 180;-); res. in Chester, Yt.

34. George Washington, b. Feb. 24, 1807; d. Feb. 4, 1842. '

35. Amanda, b. Oct. 14, 1808; d. Feb. 21, 1872.

36. Laura Ann. b. Aug. T), 1810; res. in Springfield. Yt.

GENEALOGIES : HERLIHY. 395

37. Abby, b. Jan 29, 1812; re?, in Boston, Masg.

38. Hanson, b. Oct. 21, 1814; res. in California.

3J). Hannah, b. Auo-. 10, 1810: res. in Si)niigtipkl, Vt.

40. Horaeo Emery, b. July 2. 1818; d. April 12, 1872.

41. Harriet, b. May 0, 1820: d. in infancy.

42. Henry, b. June 2;{, 1822; d. April 19, ISll.

43. Horatio Gates (H), b. Dec. 1, 1782. A carpenter and farmer;
res. in Manchester and Springfield, Vt. In early maidiood he uinted with
the Cong. Ch. of which he was a deacon. He was an earnest worker in
tlie cause of temiieraiice and human freedom. His surviving dan. writes
of him : '• My father lived in one sense an uneventful life; a man upright
in every walk of life, with a strong purpose to be that • noblest work of
God, an honest man.' " He m., 1804, Polly Rates, who d. April 2;{, 1849:
ni., 2d, Mrs. Louise Burgess, a sister of his tirst wife. Children :

44. Mary, b. May 10, ISO."); ui., ]\ray. 182:5, George G. IJarnard.

45. Horatio B., b. Ang. 4, 1807; m. Abbie Gale.

46. Christina, b. May 4, 1809; m., Sept., 18;}9. Edward Swift.

47. Martha, b. Dec. 3, 1810; m.. May, 18.31, Oscar Brown.

48. Persis Hall, b. June 13, 1818; m., Jan. 10, 1849. Pa'turn M. Under-
hill; res. Dorset, Vt.

49. David Lewis, b. March 20, 1827. A lawyer; was district judge in
Missouri for twelve years, and is now Assistant Secretary of the Interior
in Washington, D. C.

50. John Slllivan (9), b., Wilton, Jan. 30, 178.5; d., ^Macomb, HI.,
1870. He res. in Reading. Yt., Laporte, Ind., and Macomb. He was a Free
Mason, became a mendjer of the I'res. Ch. when 70, and was an elder in
it until his death; noted for his biblical knowledge. He m.. Cavendish,
Vt., June '), 1818, Mary Morrison, who was b., Peterborough, Dec. 11,
1798, and d., Laporte, 1843. Children :

51. Sarah, b., Peadiug, Vt., March l.i, 1819: m., Sept. 0, 1838, Charles
F. lugalls ; res. in northern Illinois.

52. Alice Bates, b., Peadiiig. Vt.. Feb. 17, 1821 : m. Andrew Goodell :
m., 2d, Leonard H. Woodworth.

The four next children, three sons and a dan., d. in infancy.

53. John IL, b., Reading, Vt., June 19, 1825; d., Laporte, Ind.. Nov.
12, 1843.

54. Mary A., b., Reading, Vt., Oct. 9, 1828; m., July 1, 1844, Orlando
F. Piper.

55. Elizabeth, d. in Cavendish; m. and had three children.

56. Daniel Webster, b.. Cavendish. Vt., Nov. 20, 1835 ; res. in Chicago.

57. 3Iartha A., b. March 11, 1840; m., Sept. 1, 1859, John R. McMillan.
The above named fanulj' except Daniel W. were all born in Reading.

Vt., and the five now living are res. of Illinois.

HERLIHY FAMILY.

1. Joiix Heuliiiy, b. in Ireland. He bought the farm on which he
lives, Aug. 20, 1858: bought the adjoining farui of jNIlcliael Riney, May.
1880, and bought the Baker place, near the ceuietery in East Wilton, in

396 HISTORY OF WILTON.

1S84. lie 111., Feb. 2(i. IS.-)!), Kate Ilavmar, b., Ireland. Feb. 14, 1839.
Children :

2. Alary Ann, b. Dec. 2!t, IS.V.l; d. Sept. 1-1. 1S70.

li. Hannah Josephine, 1). Jan. 1, ISUl.

4. Maurice, 1). Dec. '>, 18()2.

0. David Walter, b. Aug. IS, 1SG4.
a. John Francis, b. Jnne ;!(). isfic.
7. Josejih Michael, b. April 2, ISGS.

5. Katie Jane, I). Feb. 4, 1870.

\). Patrick Henry, 1). May 27, 1872.

10. William Arthur, b. Jan. ."), 1874.

11. ('harlii> Edward, b. Nov. 1(1, 187r>.

12. Alice Frances, 1). Auij;. .'}, 1877.

13. Elizabeth May. b. March 12. 188(1. ~

HEIJIHCK FAMITA.

From the Gen. Eegistcr of the family of Herrick, pu1)lished by Hon.
Jededi.ih Herrick in 181(1, we learn that "'the traditions of this very
ancient family claim their descent from Ericke, a Danish diief, who
invaded Britain, durino; the reigii of Alfred the Great, and having )»een
vanquished by 1 hat king, was c<impelle(l with his followers to repeople
the wasted districts of East Anglia ; th(> governmiMit of which he held as
a lief of the English crown. He is recognized in history- as ' Ericke, King
of tlie Danes, who held the countrie of East Anglia."'" The line is traced
down tlirough ''Eric the Forester,"" to " Henerie Hirick, Hericke or Her-
rick, of the eleventh generation from King Ericke." Previous to this
time the name is siielled in at least seventeen dill'erent ways, but after
that time the oitliography is Herrick.

1. IlENin' Herkick, the Anglo-American aneestoi' of a numerous
race in this country, was b. IHOl: d. 1(;71. He came from Leicester,
England, to Nanndvcag, then lirst named Salem, June 24, 1(j29. He m.
Edltha, dau. of Hugh Laskin of Salem, and settled at "Cape Ann Syde,"'
" over against Massies."" Of their eight children two have descendants
res. in Wilton. Childri'n :

2. Thomas, m. Hannah Ordway.

3. Zacharie, baptized Dec. 2r>, lOlU*.

4. Ephraim, baptized Feb. 11, KI.'JS.

5. Henry (10). baptized Jan. 1(5, KUO.
(>. Joseph (1(>), baptized Aug. (j, 1G4.">.

7. Eliza betli, baptized July 4, 1047.

8. John, baptized May 2r.. Ksno.
i). r.enjamin, d. about Kna.

10. Hknkv (.j), baptized Jan. Ki. IGK). He inherited the paternal
farm in Beverly ; m. Eydla . Children:

11. I-ydia, bai»tized Sept. 2(i. 18(;(j: m. Porter .

12. Josepli (18), baptized Sept. 2(j, lUtiG.

13. Elizabeth. ])aptized Dec. G, 1GG8; m. Isaac Woodbury.

14. Samuel, baptized 1G70.

GENEALOGIES : HERRICK. 397

15. Jonathan. lt;i[)tized 1672.

Hi. Jo.sKi'H (0), baptized Aii^- (% m^'y. He res. at Cherry Hill, Salem,
lie in. Sarah Leaeli. Child:

17. Joseph (23), b. April 2, 1067.

18. JosEi'ii (12), baptized Sept. 26. 1666. He res. in Beverly: wa?
captain of a troop ot nionntcd ranj^ers in the French -war. He ni. Mary
. ( 'hlldren :

IJ). Henry (2'J), 1). Sept. 'J, 168S.

20. Lydia, b. May 29, Ki'Jl ; ni. Benjamin Woodbury.

21. Joanna, b. l(it».5; m. Ebenezer Raymond.

22. Joshua. 1). Feb. 22, 16!)S-91).

23. JosKPii (17), b. April 2, 1667; d. Sept. 11, 1749. He res. in Bev-
erly, Marbleheatl and Topstield. He m.. prior to 1696, Elizabetli .

Children :

24. Israel, b. Sept. ;{(», 1696.

25. Benjannn (34), b. Aprill4. 1700.
2(>. Neheniiah, baptized ,1702.

27. Mary, l»aptized 1706.

28. Joseph, baptized 1709.

29. Hknuv (15)), b. Sept. 9, 1688; d. 1755. He res. in Beverly and
was captain in the Frencli and Indian war. He m.. Dec. 1, 1709, Joanna
Woodbury. Children :

30. Mary 1). Nov. 11, 1711; ni. Larcum. ;

31. Joseph, b. July 18, 1714.

32. Henry (38), b. Oct. 5, 1716.

33. Eunice, b. May 1, 1719; m. Samuel Gates.

34. Bkn.tamix (25), b. April 14, 1700; d. 1773; res. in Beverly and
Methuen. He ni., 1720, Lydia Hayward. Children:

35. Israel, b. Dec. 3, 1721.

30. Edward (40). b. Jan. 6. 1724.

37. Lydia, b. March IS, 172<j. There were ten other children in the
family.

38, Henry (32), b. Oct. 5, 171(i; d. Dec. 9, 1780; res. in Beverly; a
colonel in the Kevolution, and representative to the Mass. Legislature.
He m. Anna Batchelder. ( 'liildren :

31). Joseph (47), b. Feb. l.'>, 1738. Then; were seven other children in
tile fannly.

40. Edward (30), b. Jan. 6, 1724; d. Sept. 22, 1756; res. in Methuen.
He m., Oct. 9, 1744, Sarah Kimball. Children :

41. Lydia, baptized June 2, 1751.

42. Sarali, baptized June 2, 1751.

43. Mary, baptized June 2, 1751.

44. Anna, baptized June 2, 1751.

45. Benjamin, b. Dec. 6, 1752.
4G. Edward (58), b. Oct. 9, 1754.

47. JcsEi'ii (39), b. Feb. 15. 1738; d. Sept. 23, 1810. He was of
Beverly, and removed to Greentield, where he was for many years a

398 HISTORY OF WILTON.

magistiate, representative, &<j. He ni., March 31. 1761, Anna Jaekson.
Children :

48. Anna, h. Oct. 22, 17G1.

49. Pyani («8), b. Dec. 23, 1763.

50. IJethiali, b. June 17, 17(iG.

51. Lieorjje, b. June 16, 1770.

52. Wilkes. 53. Axamia. 54. Mary. 55. Joanna. 5G. Ruth.
All b. in Greenfield; no dates.

57. llannali, b. March 3, 1768.

58. Edwahd (46), b. Oct. 9, 1754; d. Feb. 25,1811. lie was from
Andover, and came to Wilton about 1771). lie purdiased a i>art of the
estate of Calel) Putnam, deceased; also land of John Cram, as is sliown
by deeds dated 17'J"J and 1782. He also bought tlie mills at liarnes's Falls,
and occupied them until his deatli. He was three years, or more, in the
Army of the Revolution. After tlie adoption of the constitution of New
Hampshire, he was chosen first lieut. in Capt. Jona. Burton's co. of militia.
He m., Nov. 18. 1771), Mary, dau. of Joseph Holt. See Holt gen. (67).
Children :

59. Benjamin, b. Dec. 13. 178U; res. in Andover, Mass.: m. Elsie
Nugent.

60. Mary, b. April 13, 1782; ni. Dr. John Putnam. See Putnam gen.

61. George (71), b. Feb. 12, 1784.

62. Edward (78), b. Oct. 29, 1785.

63. Sarah, b. Dec. 27, 1788; m. Rev. Josiah Peete of Norridgewock,
Me. They liad three children.

64. Anna, b. Dec. 6, 1790; m. Elijah Stockwell; res. in Wilton.

65. Israel (89), b. July 9, 1794.

66. Diadamia, b. Jan. 1, 1797; d. Feb. 6, 1797.

67. Larkin, b. Dec. 16, 1799. A tanner and carpenter. He m., May
17, 1827, Sarah Sheldon. They had two daughters, of wliom we have
found no record.

68. Pyam (49), b. Dec. 23, 1763; d. Dec. 23, 1846. After his third
marriage lie removed from Greenfield to Wilton, ;ind res liere the renuiiu-

der of his life. He m. Mehitabel Fuller. He m., 2d, Parker. He

m., 3d, Feb., 1827, Mrs. Sarah Stiles. He m., 4th, March 28, 1837, Betsey
Flint. See Flint gen. (27). Children by 2d wife :

69. Sabra, b. 1805; d. Oct. 22. 1857; m. Samuel W. Bridges. See
Bridges gen. (23).

70. Henry, b. 1807; d. Oct. 13, 1863; unm.

71. George (61), b. Feb. 12, 1784. After his marriage he resided a few
years in Vermont. He m. Mary, dau. of Joel Holt. See Holt gen. (102).

72. Amos (95), 1». July, 1809.

73. Larkin, b. 1812; d. Sept. 6, 1831.

74. Mary, b. 1816; d. April 13, 1832.

75. Daniel, m. and with his brother, Israel, for several years owned
the Stockwell farm. They sold their farm in 1855 and removed to west-
ern New York. In a few years Israel returned to Wilton, but Daniel

GENEALOGIES : HERRICK. 399

remained and d. there. He had several children, of whom we have no
record.

76. Israel, b. Nov.. 1S21; d. April 17. 1S77; m. Elliot; had

several children.

77. GeorjTfe, m. and went west.

78. Edwakd (62), b. Oct. 29, 178.5 ; d. Dec. 9, 1873. A miller, fanner
and carpenter, lie res. in Wilton, Lyndeborou,u:h, Lowell and Nashua .
He m., Dec. 27, ISIU, Nancy Barrett, who d. Nov. 27, 1824. Sec Barrett
gen. (2). He ni., 2d, Nov. 22, 1825, Mary Andrews. Children:

79. Edward Barrett, b. April 11, 1812; d. Nov., 1878; m. A mason,
and for many ja'ars a master mechanic in Imildins; the factories and
boarding houses in Lawrence, Mass.

80. Mary Jane, b. Sept. 17, 1814; m . Jan. 22, 18.35, Joel Hesselton.
See Hesselton gen. (23).

81. Eliza Ann, ]>. June 2, 1816; m. Oscar G. Ingalls.

82. Charles Prescott, b. April 27, 1818; m; a mason.

83. Nancy Dodge, b. July 4, 1820; m., Oct., 1841, Silas B. Winn, who
d. July 27, 1844. By him she had one daughter. She m.. 2d, Nov. 27,
1845, Pierce Gage. See Gage gen.

84. Alonzo, b. Dec. 9, 1827; d. July 19. 1854.

85. John A., b. Nov. 30, 1839.
S6. Harriet J., 1). Dec. 2G, 1831.

87. Andrew J., b. June 5, 1834; d. 1801.

88. Clymenia Frances, b. April 5, 1838.

89. Israel (65), b. July 9, 1794. He grad. from the Medical School.
Dartmouth Coll.; res. in Wilton, Hillsborough and Lyndel)orough. He
changed from the Allopathic to the Homeopathic method of medical treat-
ment. He was a representative in the General Court and town clerk. He
was a strong opponent of slavery. He m. Eliza H. Burns, who was b.
Nov. 24, 1802, and d. April 20, 1808. He m., 2d, Euieline, dau. of Joseph
and Chloe (Abbot) Gray. Children;

90. Eliza Diadanua.

91. Lafayette.

92. William J.

93. Edward Horatio.

94. Benjamin Goodwin.

' 95. Amos (72), b. July, 1809; d., New Orleans, June 17, 1863. He
enlisted in the Sixteenth liegt., N. H. V. He m. Betsey B. Larkin of
Lyndeborough, who d. Aug. 13, 1878, aged 68 yrs., 7 mos. Children :

96. Larkin (103), b. Aug. 4, 1835.

97. Charles, b. Dec. 3, 1837; d. Dec. 21, 1870; res. in Penn. He m.
Cordelia Mills.

98. Mary Ann, b. Dec. 15, 1838; unm. ; res. in Lynn.

99. Harriet F., b. Sept. 20, 1840; res. in Greenville; m., Sept. 3,
18(52, H. M. Livingston. They have one son.

100. Pirl, b. Sept. 14, 1842 ; d. of disease June 13, 1863. He enlisted,
Aug. 21, 1862, as a recruit, and was enrolled in Co. D, Fourth Kegt.,
N. II. V.

400 HISTORY or WILTON.

101. Betsey Anna, li. June 24, lS(io : re.s. in Fitchbuig, 3I;iss.: ni.,
Jan. 12, 1S(J4, George A. Sawyer. They have one daughter.

102. George \V., b, Aug 18, 1847. He enlisted Aug. 12, 18G4, and was
enrolled in Co. B., Eighth Kegt., X. II. V. lie m., July 12, 187U, Naomi
F. Smith. Tliey have one daugliter.

103. Lakkin (9()), b. Aug. 4, 1835; d. July 12, 1883. A section hand
on the railroad for several years, lie bought a part of tlie King farm on
which lie lived the rest of his life. He was an industrious and good
citizen. He m., Jan. 14, 1858, Sarah J. Tenney. Cliildren:

104. Elmer E., 1). Oct. 31, 1838 ; d. July, 18(;i.

105. Mary Ehic I). Jan. 23, 18(il ; d. July 12, 1887: m.. May, 5, 1880,
George M. Hartshorn. See Hartshorn gen. (34).

10«. Annie E., b. June 4, 1802.

107. Charles M., b. Sept. l(i, 18«(;.

lOS. Bessie ]M., b. March 27, 1874.

lOy. Ilattie M.. 1>. Jan. 23. 187(;.

HESSELTON. HASELTIXE Oil HESELTIXE FAMILIES.

In the early records of AVilton are found the names of Xathauiel and
Xathan Ilaseltine.* AVhether they were brothers or not, we have no evi-
dence. From records (-if deeds and trauscrii)ts of roads, we learn that
Nathaniel Ilaseltine owned and lived on the farm now owned by James
Burton. He was chosen in 1774 surveyor of liighways. He sold his land
in 177(5. We have found no record of his family. His name and that of
Nathan Ilaseltine are signed to the resolve, dated June 3, 1770, " to
defend by arms tlic united Colonies against the hostile attempts of tlie
British Fleets and Armies." Among the papers left by the late Major
Jonathan Burton the following items are found of services rendered in tlie
army of the IJevolution : '"Nathan Ilaseltine four months ])y his son
David in the three years' service, for which he paid after his son returned
sixteen dollars." " David Haseltine four months in the three years' ser-
vice, personal." " Stephen Buttertield twelve months by Nathaniel
Ilaseltine in the Canada voyage in 1770, for which he paid £2 2s." " Lt.
Joseph Ihitterfield eighteen months in three years' service by David
Heseltine, for which he paid £1.5." From the above we learn tliat Nathan
Heseltine was the father of David, and iimliably of Nathan, Jnn. David
Heseltine m., June I'.l, 1782, Hannah, youngest dau. of John Cram, and
settled in Vcuinont. We have no record of his children. The late Sumner
Ilesseltou was liis grandson.

Sumner Ilesselton came to AVilton in 183!); d. Jan. -5, 188.5, aged 70 yrs.,
10 inos. He bought the farm east of Wilton Centre, formerly owned
by Samuel Sheldon, and removed to it in 1850. On .lecount of failing
health he sold his farm, Nov., 1870, and removed to the East village
in 1873. He m., Oct. 5, 1848, Betsey A. Sheldon; n. ch.

* We And the name spelled in differeut wiiy.<, but in Wilton it is usually written, Hes-
seiton.— [S. Putnam.

HELIOTYPe PRINTING CO., BOSTON,

GENEALOGIES : HESSELTON. 401

1. Xathan Hp:sseltox, Jun., hi. Phebe — . Children :

2. Phebe, b. Aitril 'MK 177(i.

3. John. b. J:in. H, 177!) ; ni., April 17, ISOS, Sally, dau. of John
Baldwin.

4. Xathan (D), b., aeeordin>? to the testimony of the late David Put-
nam of ],yndcb(»ron;j,ii, (»n tin; ^hA where the j^lass faetory at South
Lyndeborou^h now stands.

5. Samuel. The ehurch reeoids of Wilton show that the iibove named
fbur childien were baptized Oct. 20, 17S.5.

6. Louis. I(ai»tized Xov. (I, 1785.

7. Ik'tty, l)aptized Sept. 28, 1788.

8. Sarah, baptised Sept. 20, 1790.

9. Xathan (4), d. Jan. 4, 1814. He removed to Weston, Vt., where
his three oldest children were born; the two youn2;est were born in
Andover, Vt. He m., 18ort, Prudence, dau. of Timothy Baldwin of Wil-
ton. After the death of her husband she returned to Wilton with all her
children, except Daniel, and d. Auj;'. 12. LSjd. See Baldwin j>en. (14).
Children :

10. Abel, b. Feb. 2;j, 1800; num. A ,i;ood mechanic; res. in Wilton.

11. Daniel (15), b. Xov. 11, 1807.

12. Joel ("24). b. Oct. !l. 180!>.

13. Xathaniel (29), b. Au"-. 13, 1811.

14. Hannah, b. April 7, 18i;j; d. Nov. 10, 188.-). Slu; m., Oct. 10, 1842,
Calvin Carlton, who was b., Barre, Vt., Xov. 4, 1811.

15. Daxiici. (11). b. Xov. 11, 1807; d. June 21. 1877; res. in V^t.: m.
Harriet Chandler. Their three sons all served in the army. <;hildren;

1«. Hattie E., b. Dec. 1.'}. 18;«.

17. Daniel 11., b. May !», 1830.

18. Jiela C, b. Oct. fi, 1840; d. Jan. 12, 1802. He enlisted in a west-
ern rej^inieiil, and d. in the army.

11). Helen M., b. Oct. 11, 1842; deceased.

20. Marcia (32), t). Sept. 0, 1843.

21. Lucius A., b. May 1."), 1840.

22. Lucia A., b. :May 15, 1840.

23. Lucy A., b. April 4, 1849.

24. Joi:i. (12), b. Oct. 0, 1809. \Vhen about seven years old, he went
to live with Lieut. John Stiles, where he remained until he bej^an to learn
the mason's trade with Samuel Sheldon. AVith tlie exception of a few-
years he has lived in Wilton. He was twice chosen rei)resentative to the
Legislature. He m.. Jan. 22, 1835, Mary J. Herrlck. See Herrick gen.
(80). Children:

25. Charles (34), b. May 27, 1830.
2«. Xancy Jane (38), b. Dec. 13, 1841.

27. .Mary Josephine, b. Oct. 23, 1845; d. Jan. 29. 1850.
■ 28. Luella Caroline (42), 1). Aug. 25, 1849.

29. Xathaniel (13). l). Aug. 13, 1811; d. Sept. 11, 18S1. A carpen-
ter. He m., April 28, 1840, Mary 1^., dau. of Frederic and Mary D.
Hutchinson, who d. Jan. 28, 1880, aged 00 yrs.,3 mos. Children;

402 HISTORY OF WILTON.

30. Mary A., b. 1S41 ; d. Sept. 24. ISHi.

31. 'J'iiiiothy C, 1). lS-t7 ; d. April it, 1S7().

32. Marcia (20), b. Sept. (!, 1843; ni.. Sei)t. I'.t. lS(il, Oriin P. Eus-
sell, wlio was b., Lyiideborough, 1837. A hou<e painter and has res. in
Wilton abont 20 years. Child :

33. Iniogene V. (Faissell), b. Oet. ii, lS6(j; d. June 13, 1S70.

34. (liAHLKs (25), b. May 27, 183(i. He is a stone and brii k mason.
His father and lie own an excellent granite quarry, whieh they have
worked for several j^ears. He has served several years as selectman. He
m.. April 0, 1S()3, Emily A. Kussell. Children:

35. Edward Wilson, b. April 1(>. 1805.

36. Horace Wilson, b. Xov. 7, 18(58; d. July l.i, 187.").

37. Mabel Josephine, b. Jan. 24, 1871 ; d. May 11, 1S71.

3S. Xaxcy Jaxk (20). b. Dec. J3. 1841 ; m.. Aug. 27. ISdS. Joseph
Woodbury Howard, of the furniture manufacturing company in Nashua.
Children :

39. Charles Woodbury (Howard). b^Oct. 28, 1869.

40. Frank Barrett (llowai-d), b. Sept. 20, 1871.

41. Mary Hesselton (Howard), b. Aug. 14. 187(i.

42. Llklla C. (28), b. Aug. 2."). 1840; m., June 12. 1870, Freeman
Bailey ; a farmer and furniture maker. Child :

43. Ethel Josepliine (Bailey), b. Dec. 2!l, 1874,

HICKEY FAMIL'^ .

1. John B. HicivEV, b., Ireland, Nov. 21, 1840: came to Wilton in
lSfi3. In 186.5 he bought the farm on which he has since res., tnd, in 1870.
bought the east (piarter of lot Xo. 18, tilth range. He has served three
years as selectman, and is at present, 188(», one t>f the supervisors of the
check list. He m., Feb. 16, 1867, Mary Herlihy. b.. Irelaud. Sept. 0, 1841,
Children :

2. Hannah, b. April 24, 1871.

3. David, b. Oct. 19, 1873.

4. Xellie, b. Feb. 14. 1876.

0. William, b. Dec. 17, 1877.

HOLT FAMILIES.

1. XiCHOLAS Holt, b. 1602. He sailed in ship .Tames, of London,
from Southampton, England, April 6, 1635, and reached Boston on the third
day of June, In the list of passengers he is enrolled as " X'icholas Holt of
Romsey, tanner." He first settled in Xewbury, and, in 1644, removed with
his family to Andover. His lirst wife, Elizabeth, d.. Andover, Xov. 9. l(;5(i.
He in., 2d, Hannah, widow of Daniel llolf and dau. of Humphrey lirad-
street; she d.. Andover, June 30, 1065. He m., 3d, May 21, l(i06, Mrs.
Martha Preston. He had by his first wife four sons and four daughters ;
by his second wife, one son and one daughter. The Holts of Wilton are
descended from the four sons of the tirst wife, named below :

2. Samuel (6), b., Xewbury, Oct. 6, Kill.

3. Henry (9), b., Andover, 1644,

GENEALOGIES : HOLT. 403

4. ^'ichohis (18j, b. KM?.

5. James (16), b. KJol.

6. Samiei, (2), b., Newbury, Oct. 6, 1641; d., Andover, Xov. 7, ]703.
Children by his wife. Sarah :

7. Samuel (18), b. Aug. a, 1670.

8. John (20), b. about 1672.

9. llKNin- (3), b., Andover, 1644; d. Jan. 17, 1710. lie m. Sarah Bal-
lard ; 14 ch. ; we give the names of three :

10. Oliver (23), 1). Jan. 14, 1671.

11. James (25). b. Sept. 3, 1675.

12. Hiunphrey (27), 1). Sept. 2-2, 1603.

13. XiCHOLAS (-1), b. 1647; d. Oet. 8, 1715. lie m.. Jan. S, 1679,
Mary, dau. of Ivobert liussell. Children :

14. Nicholas (29), b. Dec. 21, 1683.

15. Thomas (32). b. Aug. 16, 1686.

10. James (5), b. 1651 ; d., of small-pox, Dec. 13, 1600. lie m., Oct.
12, 1675, Hannah Allen. Child:

17. Timothy (34). b. Jan. 25, 1683.

18. Samtki. (7). 1). Aug. 3, 1670; d. July 20, 1747. lie m., 3Iarch 28,
1603, Hannah Farnum, who d. Jan. 30, 1758, aged 01 yrs. Child:

H). .lohn (37), b. 1707.

20. Joiix (8). I), about 1()72; m.. July 17. 1712, Mehitalde Wilson.

21. John (41), b. :\[ay, 1713.

22. EHzabeth, b. June, 1718; m.. Sept. 18, 1744, Timothy Holt (52).

23. Oi.ivEi! (10). b. Jan. 14, 1671; m., Jan. 16, l(;07-08, Hann:ih llus-
sell; ch. ; the son, named below, had descendants living in AVilton :

24. Oliver (44), b. Dec. 26, 1608.

25. James (11), b. Sept. 3, 1075; m., about 1700, Susanna Preston;
4 ch. beside the son named below :

26. James (46), b. 1707.

27. HuMi'iiKEY (12), b. Sept. 22, 1603; m., about 1716, Abigail ,

by whom he had eight children, of whom we name one :

28. Fitield (48), b., Andover, July 28, 1717.

29. Nicholas (14), b. Dec. 21, 1683. He m. Mary Manning, by
whom he had four children; she d. Marcli 3, 1716. He m.. 2d, April 12,
1717, Dorcas, dau. of Timothy and Hannah (Graves) Abbot; slie was b.
May 6, 1608; by her he had six children,"of whom we name two:

30. Timothy (52), b. Jan. 17, 1710.

31. Dorcas, b., Andover, Sept. 4, 1727 ; d. at Wilton. She m., as liis
second wife, Thomas Holt (56).

32. Thomas (15), b. Aug. l(i. 1686; ni.. Dec. 11, 1708. Alice Teabody,
by whom lie had eight children, of whom we name one:

33. Thomas (56), b. March, 1712.

34. Timothy (17), b. Jan. 25, 1683; d. March 4, 1758. He m., April
10, 1705, Uhoda Chandler,' who was b. Sept. 26, 1684. and d. Aug. 14, 1765.
They had ten children, of whom we name two:

35. Timothy (58), b. April 16, 1714.

404 HISTORY OF WILTON.

36. Joseph (60). b. Feb. 14. 171S.

37. .loHX (19), b. 1707; iii., Oct. 8, MAI. Mary Lewis: six children,
three of whom lived in NVilton :

38. Jeremiah (74), 1). March .U, 1734.

39. .Mary, I). April 12, 1737; m., Nov. 4. \7M\. Samuel Pettengill. See
Pettengill gen.

40. Amos (88 j. b. May it. 1740.

41. .[(>iix (21), b. Ma}-, 171;} ; he was killed by being thrown trom a
wagon while removing to Wilton. He m. IJachel Fletcher of Chelmsford,
Mass.. and had b}' her ten children, two of whom have lived in Wilton :

42. Joel (101). b.. Andover. Mass.

43. Daniel (llOj, b.. Andover. Mass.. 174(;.

44. Ulivi:k (24), b. Dec. 26, 1698; d.. of small pox. Dec. 11. 1760. A
blacksmith. He in., July ."), 1722, Susanna Wright, who d. Dec. 1. 1760,
of small pox: eight children, of whom one lived in Wilton:

45. Oliver (115), b., Andover, Jan. 24, 1740.

46. JA3IKS (26), b. 1707; m.. Oct. 22, 1733, Mary Chandler: live chil-
dren, of whom the youngest lived in Wilton :

47. Zela ( 118), b. Dec. 2!i. 1738.

48. FiFiKLD (28), b., Andover. July 2s. 1717: m.. Aug. 31. 1741, Abi-
gail Taylor and removed to Wilton. Children :

49. Anna, b., Andover, Sept. 26. 1742.

50. Fitield (121), b. Oct. 29, 1744.

51. Ai)igail, b. April 11, 1748.

52. TiMOTiiv (30), b. Jan. 17. 1719: removed, about 1769, to Wilton,
where he d. Xov., 1801. He m.. Sei)t. 18. 1744. Elizal»eth Holt (22) ; four
children, of whom three lived in \Vilton :

53. Elizabeth, b. Xov. 25, 1748; m. Isaac Frye and removed to Wilton
See Frje gen. (16).

54. Hannah, b. Jan. 18, 17.j4; m. Kichard ^^'hitney.

55. Sarah, b. May 31, 1757; m. William Pierce.

56. Thomas (33), b. 3Iarch, 1712: d., Nov. 21. 1776. He was reputed
to be the largest land-holder in Andover, having owned land for a mile or
more in everv direction from his house. His wife. Dorcas, is said to have
had the first gig brought into the village, and to have excited no little
wonder as she drove to meeting at a rate not quite orthodox. Perhaps
our late respected townsman. ■' Peddler Holt,"' inherited his fondness for
horses from liis grandmother. Thonnts m., Aug. 1.5, 1734. Hannah Kim-
ball of Boxford, who d. June 12, 1748. He m., 2d, Jan. 26. 1749. Dorcas
(31), dau. of Nicholas and Dorcas (Abbot) Holt. After the death of lier
husband she removed to AVilton. Thomas and Dorcas had six children,
of whom the son, named lielow, lived in Wilton:

57. William (129), b. Sept. 7, 1763.

58. Timothy (35), b. April 16, 1714: m.. Feb. 1.!. 17.39, Harriet Dane:
five children, of whom the youngest lived in Wilton :

59. Ezra (138), b. March 20, 1762.

60. Joseph (36), b. Feb. 14, 1718; d.. Wilton. Aug., 1789. Grad.

GENEALOGIES : HOLT. 405

H.n-varil Cnllegp. 17:5!), niul for scMne year* had charge of the Grammar
school at Andover. He served in the expedition to Canada, 17aS. and
kejit a journal, which has been published in the Xew Enoland Historical
and ftenea logical IJeoister. He removed to Wilton. 17<m. and was busied
in teaching, surveying and milling. He owned the mill on tlie soutli side
of >rill ilidok at Barnes's Fails, afterwards known as the Herrick mill.
He was town clerk five years, selectman three A'ears. beside being elected,
with Jonathan Burton, to till vacancies in the board of selectmen, caused
by the death of Richard Taylor and the enlistment of Jacob Adams. Jan.,
1777. He m., Jan. 17, 174."), Dolly Jolinson, who d. Dec. i;>, 17.").'t: m., 2d,
April 10. 17."). Widow Mary Russell. Children:

(>1. .loseph (14-6), 1).. Andover, Sept. 28, 174:>.

(J2. Dolly, b. Aug., 1747: d. young.

63. Rhoda. b. July 17. 174!l: d. young.

64. Dolly, b. Oct. A. 17.il: m.. Xov. •2(i. 17(i7. Benjamin Farnum.
«.>. Simeon (l.>o). 1». May 22. 17.52.

60. Rhoda, 1). Dec. m, 17r>.'{: d. Jan. S, 175.5.

67. :\[ary, b. Xov. 24, 17.5.1 ; m.. Xov. IS, 1779. Edward, son of Edward
and Sarah (Kimb;ill) Herrick. See Herrick gen. (58).

6,S. Rhoda. b. Oct. Ki, 17.57: d. July 2.5, 17ti!l: m.. Xov. 2.5, 1778, John
Dale. See Dale gen. (16).

65). Valentine (16-1-). b. al)out 17.58.,

70. Esther, b. March 20, 17()0; drowned.

71. 'I'wins. b. and d. Aug. 10. 1702.

72. .loshua. b. Xov. .5. 17(i.5.

73. Esther, m. Ebenezer Pearson: they lived in Wilton for some
years, then in Eyndeborough.

74. Jk-RKMIaii (.38). b. March ;!1, 17;!4: d. 1810. He came to Wilton
about 1701, and lived where Curtis Bellows now resides. He m., April
21. 17.50, Hannah, dan. of Barachias and Hannah (Holt) Abbot. She was
b. :\ray 2!l. 17;!7: d. Xov., 1812. Children :

75. Jeremiah, b. .June 8, 17.50; d. Oct. .'J. 177G.

76. Barachias (173), b. Feb. 10, 17.58.

77. Amos, b. Feb. 10. 1700: d. Dec. 1782.
7S. Enoch, b. Marcli 20, 1702.

7}>. Elias, 1). ilay .5, 1764.

80. John. J). Sept. Ki, 1700.

81. Elijah, b. July i;^, 1708.

82. Hannah, b. .Tune 7, 1770.

83. Phebe, b. April 14. 1772.

84. Rhoda, b. Fei). li, 1774.

85. Timothy Abbot, b. Oct. .i. 177.5: d. Aug. 22. 1777.

86. Jeremiah, b, Dec. 17. 1778.

87. Timothy Al)bot. b. Aug. 24. 1781.

88. Amos (40). b. May il. 1740; res. on the farm now owned by
Charles Moore; m., June 2!). 1701. .Jemima Ingalls. Children:

89. Lvdia, b. Jan. 17. 1702.

406 HISTORY OF WILTON.

90. Amos, b. Oct. 2. 17G4: d. Auo-. 11. 1767.

}>1. Han nail, b. .Tan. 11. 1707.

*)2. Amos (ISO), b. Oct. 20. 1708.

93. Sarah, b. .Tan. i;{, 1771.

94. Jsaiah. b. Sept. 2S. 1772.

9.J. IVtor. b. .huK' >1. 1774: d. Scpr. il. 1774.

9«. Petpr, b. Aug. 24, 177"): il. April :!(). 1777.

97. Abel, b. Sept. 11, 1777.

98. Levi. b. .Tune 28. 17S(I.

99. Lewis, b. .Tuly 4. 1782.

100. (hloe, b. Sept. 4, 1784. [y] ; m. William L. P.ales.

101. .TOKi. (42). b. Andover, Mass.; d., :Nrilford. .Tune 28. 1847. He
served three years from Wilton in tlie lievolutionary army. He m.. Xov..
1780, Polly Coburn. See Amos (oburn gen. (2). < hildieii :

102. l^oUy, 1). April 17, 17S7: m. CJeorge, son of Edward and Mary
(Holt) Herriek. See Herriok gen. (71-).

103. Betsey, h. Sept. 0, 178!).

104. P.atty, b. .Tuly 18, 171)1 ; m. Oliver Perhani, Jun.
lOo. Joel, b. April 2:5, 17!);!.

100. l^aniel, b. >[ay 22, 17!).").
107. Sally, b. May 18, 17!;)7.

105. Rachel, b. .Tuly 31, 1801. •

109. Nehemiah, b. May 9, 180:}; res.. :\rilford.

110. Daniel (43), b.." Andover, Mass., 1740; d. Xov. T). 1778. He
came to Wilton and settled on tlie place of wliicli a ])art is now owned l)y
his grandson, ]\[ark Holt. He in. ^Tehitable, dan. of .Tacob and Susanna
(Styles) Putnam. Cliildren:

111. Mehitable. b. S<'pt. 11, 1708; m., Feb. 20, 17!)1. .Tames Abbot of
Billerica, ^Tass.

112. Daniel (18S), b. Oct. 29, 1709.

113. Elizabeth, b. April 20. 1772; m. Abiel Holt of ^Filford.

114. Caleb, b. Oct. 10, 1777; d. over !)0 years of ;ige. Before marriage
he went to Weld, Me., and settled near AVebb's Pond, tliree miles from any
house. Once a week lie went to his neighbor's for his washing and for
Jiread. potatoes an<l i)ork, whieh, with trout caught in an eel-])Ot s«'t in the
brook, mad<^ his living. Having matters somewhat arranged, lie moved
his wife there, and for many years cleared from 2.") to 40 acres of land and
sowed it with wheat or rye. He m., Feb. 12, 1801. Elizabeth, dau. of
Timothy and Hannah Gray. See Gray gen. (15). He m., 2d, 1810,
Phebe (.Vbbot) Fiske, who was h. Aug. 24, 1772. twin sister of Dorcas,
wife of his brother, Daniel (188).

11.5. Oliver (4.5), b., Andover, Mass., Jan. 24, 1740. lie lived on lot

No. 12, sixth range; the place afterwards owned by the Bev. Thomas

Beede. He m., Oct. 8, 1701, Eunice I'aymond of Beverly, Mass. Children :

110. EniiiL-e, b. July 2."'), 1704.

117. Oliver, b. Feb. i;{. 1700.

118. Zkla (47), I). Dec. 29, 1738. He removed to Wilton, lived near

GENEALOGIES : HOLT. 407

the lulddle of the town and, about 1790, went to Bethel, Me. He in., Nov.
IG, 17G2, Prisfilla. dau. of Baraehias and Hannah (Holt) Abbot: four
children ])eside tlie two named below:

119. Pri.ioilla. 1). .Tune 2. ITGS; ni. .lohn Stearn? of Bethel, Me.

120. Bridget.

121. FiFiKM) (50). b. Oct. 2!t, 1744. It i> not known wlien lie came
to Wilton, but we tind tlie record of .i deed, dated Sept. 4, 1772, from
Fltield Flolt to Fifield, Jun.. conveying one-lialf of lot No. 11, third range:
also a deed, dated Ai)ril l.">, 177<'), in which Fitield and Fitield. .Tun., con-
vey to Amos Holt 61 acres of the east part of tlie same lot. tlie place
where the quarry of ,T. and ( '. Hesselton now is. Fitield m., Xov. i). 1772,
Anna T.akin of Pepperell, ]Mass. Children:

122. Nathan Taylor, b. Aug. 2, 177;l: d. Xov. 12. 1774.

123. Nathan Taylor, b. Feb. 2:^. 177."..

124. Fifield. b. Xov. 17, 1770: d. young.
12.">. Edmund, b. 3farch 7, 1778.

126. Betty, b. Nov. 19, 1780.

127. Polly, b. Aug. .'{, 178 .

125. Fitield. b,, probably at Hollis, :>[arch 27,1784. He grad., Mid-
dlel)ury College, 1810; studied at Andover Theological Seminary, ISIO to
181.3; was settled over the Cong. Ch., Bloomtield, Me.

129. William (57), b. Sept. 7, ITC.l: d.. Andover, Mass., Dec. 2.'},
1810. He removed to Wilton and lived on lot No. 7, seventh range, the
farm previously owned by Hich.ird Whitney, and afterward returned to.
Andover. He m., .Inly 29. 1784, Elizabeth .Tones, who d.. AVeld, Me.,
1829. riilldren:

130. .lacob, b. Dec. i;{. 17S4: m.

131. Stephen, b. April 11. 178(;: in. a dau. of Moses Lovejoy; res.
Weld. Me.

132. William, b. March (I, 1788; a shipmaster; d. on the Pio Grande,
Africa, Oct. 22, 1820.

133. Elizabeth, b. March 12, 1790; d. March, 1797.

134. Joseph (198), b. Jan. 28, 1792.

135. Asa, b. May .">, 1794. He learned the carpenter's trade, but. soon
after coining of age, went to Maine and Itecame a sea captain. He m.
Allethenia Butterfield of AA'eld, Me. ^

136. .Natlian. in.; res. Weld, Me.

137. Elizabeth, m., Feb. IG, 1818, Benjamin Houghton of Weld, Me.

138. Ezra (59), b. March 20, 1762: d. May 11, 1822. He removed to
AVilton and lived on lot No. G, ninth range, where Nathaniel Greele had
lived i)reviously. He m. Dorcas, dau. of William Dane; slie d. .Tune VS.
185,'!. aged 80 vrs. Children :

139. Ezra (204), b. Aug. 9, 179.5.

1+0. Dorcas, b. .Sept. 24, 1797; d. Nov. Tl. 1809; unm.

141. Hermon, b. 1779; d. .Tune 21, 18;iG.

142. Sarah Abbot, h. Sept. 1, 1800; d. Aug. 2(1, 1801.

143. .Toseph. b. March 14, 180.'}; d. ilarch lo, 1877. He res. on the
homestead: was much respected : a good neiglibor and townsman. He

408 HISTORY OF WILTON.

111.. Oct.. 1840. Betsey Frye. who d. JuiiP 5. ISS."): n. ch. Soe Fryp o;en.

c+n.

144. DaiiP, h. ISIO; owned the farm formerly owned by Muj. Isaac
Frye; in.. Dec, 18:^0, Esther Blanehard: n. oh.

145. :\rary. b.. 1810: d. Feb. 11, 18.i;^.

14(J. .T(-)SKi'ii ((il), I)., Aiulover. ^fass.. Sept. 28. 174."). lie lived on
lot Xo. 10, eighth range, now owned by his grandson. Warren Holt. A
.selectman of Wilton for fourteen years, and an early meinlier of tlie
Baptist Society, lie m. Betsey Dale : see .lohii Dale gen. (3). Children:

147. .loseph b. Ang. 17. 1772: in.. .July 18. 17'.t.!, Tryphena reriy.
Their dau.. Betsey D.. in.. 182;!. Xoah Fletcher. See (lias. F'letcher
gen. (8).

14S. John Dale, b. :Marcli !». 1774: in., .liine 20. 170s. Sally Hall.

14J>. Simeon (20(i). b. Feb. 23, 177ti.

150. Betty, b. Nov. 28, 1777: d. Dec. 1."), 1777.

151. Dorothy Johnson, b. Dec. 18. 1778: m.. Feb. 18. 1802. Nathan
Fisk of Fepperell, ^lass.

152. Betty, b. March.!. 1781 : ni., Xov. \S. 1800. Daniel Peahody of
Andover. Vt.

153. Anna, b. April 11. 178.3: d. March 2."). 1784.

154. Anna Dale, b. March 4, 178."); m.. Dec. 31. ISO."), ,lohn Wilson.

155. SiMF.ox (65), b. May 22, 17.i2. lie lived on lot Xo. 20. ninth
range, now the northwest corner of the town; removed to Weld. .Me.,
about 1822. lie in.. Se]it. 22. 1778. ^VFary Dale. See John Dale geu. (7).
Children :

15G. Mary, b. Dee. 28, 1778 : nnm.

157. Sarah, b. Sept. 21. 1780: in.. Jan. 8, 180if. Josejih Russell, and
removed to Weld. ile.

158. Kachel. b. Feb. 7, 1783; m., 31arch 1. ISO'.I. Timothy ll(.lt Frye
aud removed to W^eld, Me. See Frye gen. (33).

159. Abiah, b. March 30, 178.5: "in.. :S[ay 23. 18111. Andrew Parkhurst,
and removed to Weld. Me.

IfiO. John Johnson (217). b. .Fnly 21, 1787.

IGl. Jacob, b. Feb. 3, 17!Ml: d. Jan. 24. 17!»r..

. 162. Dolly, b. May 17, 17'.);! : d. Jan. 31. 17!KJ.

163. D.dly, b. Aug. 2(i, 171)0.

164. V.\Li:XTixi-: (69). b. about 17.")S: in. Xancy (ioodrich. Children:

165. Xancy, b. March 13.1788.

166. Ainmi Buhamah. b. June 8, 1780.

167. I.ydia Porter, b. Aug. 17. 1701 ; d. July 28. 171)2.

168. Lydia Porter, b. :May 13. 1703.

169. Hannah, b. May 1.5."l70.->.

170. Samuel Goodrich, b. April 14. 1707.

171. Israel, b. Aug. 1. 1700.

172. Robert Goodrich, b. .Ian. 1.'). 1802.

173. Bau.^CHIAS (76). b. Feb. 10. 17.'.8: m.. Oct. 14.1783, EUzabeth
Shattuck. childivii :

474. Kli/ab.'th. b. July 20. 1784.

GENEALOGIES : HOLT. 409

175. Hniiiiiih, I). Aug;. 12.1780: m. .lohu Sliattuck. .uiil reiuoved to
Chiirlestown. X. IT.

170. Aiiioi. h. Dpi-. 10. 1788.

177. Banu'liia* lilJM. 1». Doi'. 21. 1700.

178. Dolly, I). :sr:iy:.. 17!I.S. '

179. Phehe.

150. Amos (»2), h. Oct. 20. 170S; dropped doad in lii> haru. Dec. l;{.
182(i. He livod on tlio linmi'-ifpad with liis farher: \va^ capralii of iidlitla
and seleetmaii. flo m. Mai'v Uallard. Scf Xathaii Ballard gen. (4).
(Iiildien :

151. Polly. 1). Jnly 1.'^. 1701 ; ni., Xov. 22. 1810 William Savory. My.
Savoiy traded for a fmv year:* in the Fiske store.

182. Isaiah, b. March 14. 17!U: d. young.

183. Luther ('>2(>), b. :Marcli 22. 17!»7.

184. (ahiii. b. :May 1(1, 1801 ; ni.. June 2(1. 182.i. Mary Dale. Hiey
liad one son who went to sea and was never heai'd fi'oni afterward.

185. Orville (228), b. .May K;. 1801.

18(». Hannah Ballard, b. June 22, 1800; ni.. ^[arch -I. 182i). David M.
Tiny of Ilenniker. Tliey liad one son. Lewis P. Ray. wlio was first ser-
geant in <'o. ('. Sixteenth IJegt