Historical sketches of Peterborough, New Hampshire : portraying events and data contributing to the history of the town

1938·26.7 MB·English

by  [Peterborough, N.H.] : Published by Peterborough Historical Society

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974.202
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1248479
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fifiNEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRAR
1833 00056 0877
11
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2019
https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00unse_13
Historical Sketches
of
PETERBOROUGH
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Portraying events and
data contributing to
the history of the Town
PUBLISHED BY
Peterborough Historical Society
1938

1248479
CONTENTS
PAGE
Annals of Peterborough, by Jonathan Smith . . . 157
Annals of Peterborough, 1828, by Jonathan Smith . 171
Peterborough in 1840-41-42, by Jonathan Smith . 174
Tribute to the Memory of Mrs. Clara Foster Bass . . .315
Descriptions on Gravestones in the two Old Cemeteries on the
East Hill in Peterborough, N. H. . . .63
Churches and Religious Activities
Ecclesiastical History of Peterborough, 1822, by Rev. Elijah
Dunbar . . . . . . . .7
First Presbyterian Church of Peterborough, 1856 . . 9
Union Evangelical Church of Peterborough, 1886 . . 16
The Call of the Church to Zephaniah Swift Moore, by
Jonathan Smith ....... 199
Rev. David Annan and his Ministry, by Jonathan Smith . 205
The Ministry of Abiel Abbott, D.D., by Jonathan Smith . 217
Recollections of Peterborough Churches in the early Forties
of the Nineteenth Century, by Elias H. Cheney . . 238
Educational
The Peterborough Academy, 1836-1903, by James F. Brennan 17
The Old Peterborough Lyceum, by Jonathan Smith . . 163
The Peterborough Dramatic Club, by Jonathan Smith . 167
School Houses in Peterborough and Description of District
No. 5 by Ezra M. Smith ...... 149
Sketch of the Fire Department and the Aquarius Engine Company
by Col. Charles Scott ...... 131
•
Historical Society
The Early History of Peterborough Historical Society, by
Mrs. Jennie H. Field ...... 297
Peterborough Historical Building . . . . .271
Corner Stone Addresses . . . . .301
First Public Library, by James F. Brennan .... 251
Life in Peterborough during the Civil War, by Jonathan Smith . 255
Military
Scraps of Early Military History of Peterborough, by James
F. Brennan ........ 53
Old Peterborough Artillery Company . . . .60
Peterborough’s Revolutionary Soldiers, by James F. Brennan 277
Name of Town
What was the Origin of the Name of our Town, by James F.
Brennan ........ 43
The Origin of the name of the Town of Peterborough, N. H.,
by Jonathan Smith . . . . . . .49
Old Peterborough in England, by Mrs. Jennie H. Field . . 309
Tablets
The Unveiling of Catherine Putnam Tablet in Putnam Grove,
Old Home Day, August 24, 1915 .... 225
Tablet Unveiled at the Unitarian Church . . . 289
Dedication of the General James Miller Tablet, Address by
Jonathan Smith, August 23, 1915. .... 231
A Topographical and Historical Account of Peterborough, N. H.,
1822, by Rev. Elijah Dunbar ..... 1
The “Old Street Road” in Peterborough, N. H., by Jonathan
Smith . . . ... . . . .33
The Tree Society, by Jonathan Smith ..... 169
The Walkers of Peterborough, by Franklin Benjamin Sanborn . 141
A TOPOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
I
OF PETERBOROUGH, N. H., 1822.
By Rev. Elijah Dunbar, A. M., Honorary Member of the New York Historical Society.
V
1 [From the “Collections, Topographical, Histo¬ James Miller, in 1743. The first male
rical and Biographical, relating principally to
child born here was John Ritchie, Feb.
New Hampshire. Edited by J. Farmer and J. B.
^Moore,” published at Concord, N. H., by Hill & 22, 1751, who died in the service of his
X1 Moore in 1822, reprinted by H. E. and J. W.
.Moore in 1831. This series of historical essays country at Cambridge, in 1776. The first
, was collected before the New Hampshire Histo¬
settlers of Peterborough were Scotch
rical Society came into existence, that society
not having been formed until May 21, 1823. This Presbyterians, natives of Ireland or their
' article, with foot notes and note by the editor,
immediate descendants. Wholly unused
printed under date of August 1, 1822, is copied
from pages 129-140, also another by Rev. Elijah to the clearing and cultivation of wild
y Dunbar, on the “Ecclesiastical History of Peter¬
borough,” from pages 55-56, collected as Vol. 1 lands, they endured great hardships.
*‘N. H. Historical Collections,” which has be¬
Their nearest grist mill was at Town¬
come a very rare and valuable volume, carefully
preserved in the State Eibrary at Concord, N. H.] send, 25 miles distant—their road a line
of marked trees. There were no settle¬
Peterborough is situated in latitude
ments on this side Keene or Amherst,
42° 52’ 1ST. bounded N. by Hancock and
and from Peterborough to Canada was a
Greenfield, E. "by Greenfield and Temple,
continued forest. To sleep in safety,
S. by Sharon, and W. by Jaffrey and
they resorted to a log garrison—but, hap¬
Dublin. It lies mid-way between Am¬
pily, were never disturbed by the natives.
herst and Keene, being 20 miles distant
The woods were filled with deer and
from each—from Portsmouth 75, from
other game; the river stored with salmon
Boston 60, from Concord 40, and from
and other fish.
Washington-City 510. The town was
Peterborough lies in a N. E. direction
granted by Massachusetts by their re¬
from the Grand Monadnock, and is
solves of the 16th January and 16tli of
bounded on the east by a chain of hills
June, 1738, during the administration of
called Pack Monadnock. The river Con-
his Excellency Jonathan Belcher, to Sam¬
toocook runs in a northerly direction
uel Haywood and other proprietors, on
through the centre of the town, affording
the usual conditions. The actual survey
several good privileges for mills and fac¬
was completed May 21st, of the same
tories. A branch from Dublin, originat¬
year, on the plan of 6 miles square.
ing partly from waters near the Monad¬
The first settlement took place as early
nock and partly from a large pond in the
as 1742, by William Robbe, Alexander
S. E. corner of Nelson and the S. W.
Scott, Hugh Gregg, William Scott, and
corner of Hancock, affords a never fail¬
Samuel Stinson 1. Some of these had
ing supply of water, and furnishes those
brought their families into the settle¬
noble falls on which are situated several
ment, but they were compelled to retire
factories, and particularly the long known
in 1744, on occasion of the war which
mills and factories of the Hon. Samuel
then commenced and did not terminate
Smith. There are extensive and valuable
till 1748. They returned after an ab¬
meadows on this branch, above these
sence of 5 years. A large accession of
falls; and the soil, generally throughout
settlers from Lunenburgh, Londonderry
the town, is excellent. In its natural
and other places soon joined them. The
state, the forests in the vicinity of the
first child baptized in this town was
southern branch were composed of large
Catharine, daughter of Hugh Gregg, the
and lofty pines—the hills, on the east,
now aged and venerable mother of Gov.
crowned with majestic oaks, and the in¬
termediate lands principally clothed with
1 Thomas Morrison commenced his settle¬
hard wood and other valuable timber.
ment in 1744.
2 Peterborough Historical Society Collections.
In the centre of the town, is a high hill to more than eighty years—several to al¬
on which stands the present and where most an hundred—and it is supposed
stood the first meeting house, at an ele¬ there are now living here more than
vation of 200 feet above the river. The thirty persons whose ages would average
chain of hills on the east is distinguished 75 years.
by two principal summits. Between The oldest on the catalogue of longevi¬
these summits is a depression of a quarter ty (except the late Mrs. Cunningham who
part of the mountain’s height. About deceased in her 99th year) is Mr. John
60 rods W. of the ridge or summit of this Morrison, who died June 14, 1776, in the
depression, on an embencliment of the 98tli year of his age. Mr. Morrison re¬
mountain, is a pond of about 9 acres ex¬ tained his faculties till within a short
tent, very deep and replenished with fish, time of his death. He was remarkably
at an elevation of 200 feet above the site intelligent and his memory very reten¬
of the meeting house. There is also an¬ tive. He, with his parents and family,
other pond near the foot of the southern were in the City, and his age 10 years, at
summit of 33 acres which contains no the famous siege of Londonderry. The
fish, and from which, during the dry trying scenes he witnessed in youth, a
season, there is no visible outlet. The peculiar native eloquence, his pleasing
southern summit terminates abruptly at urbanity of manners, venerable age and
the southern extremity with marks of correctness and respectability of charac¬
violent disruption, forming what is ter, rendered his society interesting and
termed the Notch in the Mountain. The instructive. To this day, a strong tradi¬
county road passes through this aperture. tionary impression of the horrors of that
The hill rises again in Sharon; and the siege and of the happy consequences of
chain, with some depressions and varia¬ the victory of the Boyne, (1690,) inspires
tions, continues for several miles. There a deep hatred of religious bigotry and
are rocks, in several places, which afford endears the memory of William 3d, who
indications of sulphur, and crumble, on on that memorable day, when Schomberg
being exposed to the action of the sun had fallen at his side, led the army to
and air. Iron ore of an excellent quality battle and bravely exposed his person to
has been discovered—but, as yet, in small the storm of war. Nothing material oc¬
quantities. curred to interrupt the prosperity of the
Besides the medicinal plants, common settlement, after the return of the set¬
here, when a new settlement, but now tlers in 1749 till the war of 1755. Several
seldom seen, Coliush, Ginseng, (panax of the young men in this place, were then
trifolium) &c. there is found here in a enlisted in Rogers’ company of Rangers.
singular piece of meadow which nearly On the 13th March, 1758, six of this num¬
overspreads a pond, of about an acre’s ber fell in one unfortunate moment, by
extent, large quantities of a rare and an Indian ambuscade, near Lake George;
valuable plant, or root, called Buck Bean, viz. John Stewart, Robert M’Nee, John
(menyantlies.) This pond or meadow is Dinsmoor, Charles M’Coy, David Wal¬
surrounded on all sides by sand hills and lace and William Wilson. Alexander
pines—and the depth of the water has Robbe and Samuel Cunningham, after¬
never been ascertained. wards captains in the militia, alone es¬
The surface of the town beipg much caped of this brave, but unfortunate
varied with hills, vales, meadows, great band. The loss of so many young men
swells of land, brooks and rivulets, while in an infant settlement was very sensibly
the larger streams are broken by falls and and severely felt. But it is a matter
rapid in their course—the air and waters equally remarkable, that during the revo¬
are pure; the inhabitants remarkably lutionary war, out of the numbers, who
healthy; no sweeping sickness has ever occupied, occasionally, the post of dan¬
been experienced to any considerable ex¬ ger or were enlisted in the service, though
tent. The first settlers generally attained several perished by sickness, not one