Chapter 35 - Hampton Falls from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire From: Cindy Godbout - 5ofClubs@Mediaone.net Source: History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915 Page 458 CHAPTER XXXV HAMPTON FALLS Geographical-Topographical-Petition Hampton Falls for a Fair-Grant of a Fair, 1734-0ther Petitions-Council of 1737-Congregational Church-Baptist Church-Rockingham Academy-The Weare Monu- ment-Military Record-The Bound House. Hampton Falls lies in the eastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by Exeter and Hampton, on the east by Hampton, on the south by Seabrook, and on the west by Kensington. The surface is generally level and soil fertile. The area of the town is 7,400 acres, 5,786 of which are improved land and there are 1,000 acres of salt marsh. The population in 1910 was 560. The average population of the town as given by the United States census taken each decade since 1790 has been 608. Hampton Falls originally formed a portion of the Town of Hampton and was incorporated as a parish May 12, 1718. PETITION OF HAMPTON FALLS FOR A FAIR To His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq. Governour and Commander in Chief in and over his Majestys Province of New Hampshr and to the Honble his Majestys Councel. The Humbile Petition of the Select men of the Parish of Hampton falls in said province Most Humbly sheweth That whare as in this our Parish and in the Touns and Parishes Round about us, and to ye East ward of our Province Thare are Raised a Bund- ance of Quick Stock which to geather with other Traffick Twill in a year we want to sell, and having experenced Sumthing of benifet of a Time and place for Marketing sd Stock and Traffick in our sd Parish, which Benifett not ondly our Parish but also our Province togeather with ye eastward Touns have shaired with us in by Reason of the Seathuation of our Parishs being ye most conveanient to accommodate Boath Provinces. We your Petitioners Therefore most Humbly pray That his Excellency and ye Honble Councel order that ye second Wednes- day and Thursdays in May and ye Third Wednesday and Thirsday in October to be days of Fair for Publick Traiding in this Parish att the now most noted Publick hous and Cuntory Road yearly and for ever, for the Benyfites above Expressed As in duty bound will ever pray. JOSEPH TILTON JONATHAN PRESCUTT JOSEPH WORTH Selectmen of ye parish of Hampton-Falls. ISRAEL BLAK BENJAMIN GREEN J Hampton Falls Oct l0th 1734. Page 459 GRANT OF A FAIR TO HAMPTON FALLS, 1734 George the 2d by the Grace of God of Great Britain, [Prov. Seal] France and Ireland King Defendr of ye faith &c To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting-Know yee that we of our Especial Grace certain knowledge and meer motion for the due encouragement of Trade and Traffic within our Parish of Hampton Falls in our province of New Hampr in New England and for the more effectual carrying on of the same there - Have Given and Granted and do by these presents give and grant to the Inhabitants of our Said Parish & their suc- cessors the privilege of having holding & keeping two yearly Fairs in the sd parrish forever, each to continue 2 day together & no more, The one To be- gin on the last Tuesday in April, and the other on ye last Tuesday in October, Annually. To have and to hold the said Privilege of keeping Two yearly Fairs as above-said for the Ends and purposes above expressed to the said In- habitants and their successors forever. In Testimony whereof we have caused our Province seal to be hereunto affixed. Witness, Jonathan Belcher Esq. Our Govr & Comr In Chief in and over our sd Province the twenty fourth day of October in ye 8th yr of our reign, Anno'q Dom. 1734. J. BELCHER. By His Excy Command wth the advice of ye Coun. R. Waldron, Secy. John Brown came to Hampton Falls from some place in Massachusetts about 1730, and remained until a little before 1750 when he removed. He appears to have been a man of enterprise and was not any connection of the Brown families living in the vicinity. Soon after coming here he was licensed by Governor Belcher and Council to keep an ordinary or tavern, which was known as the Georges Tavern. A log house owned and kept by Colonel Peter Weare had been licensed as an ordinary in 1717 and kept as such until 1730, when from some cause the license had been revoked and given to John Brown. A petition signed by nearly all the legal voters was presented to have the old ordinary which had later been kept by Daniel Col- lins, reopened and licensed, this request of the petitioners was refused. Soon after a petition signed by the selectmen was presented to the Gover- nor and council for liberty to hold fairs at Hampton Falls, which was granted and a number of fairs were held in the year which followed. These fairs were sale fairs such as were held in England, and were not like what we know as agricultural fairs at the present time. We are able to present the advertisement of the first fair to be held in 1732, copied from the Weekly Rehearsal of April 17, 1732. This is to give Notice of a Horse Fair which is to be at Mr. John Brown's Innholder at Hampton-Falls, about seven Miles to the Eastward of Newbury Ferry upon the 20th and 21st Days of April Instant, at which time 'tis ex- pected that there will be brought thither some hundred of Horses, to be sold or otherwise traded for. In 1737 the legislatures of Massachusetts and New Hampshire met at the Georges Tavern in Hampton Falls to establish the line between the two provinces, when as a result, New Hampshire gained some area over the old line. Until within a short time the location of the Georges Tavern has been Page 460 in doubt, but we now have evidence that it was located on the west side of the highway, on the high land now owned by the heirs of Edwin Janvrin, about 100 rods north of the falls at Dodges Mills. PETITION FOR A PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq. Captain General Governor and Commander in Chief in and over his majesties Province of New Hamp- shire &c-To the Honorable his Majesties Council and House of Repre- sentatives for said Province Convened in General Assembly-November 21st, 1765. The petition of the subscribers, Free holders & Inhabitants of the Town of Hampton Falls in said Province-Humbly Sheweth. That about Two years ago The Revd Mr. Pain Wingate in the congre- gational way & manner was settled in the work of the ministry in said Town. That the Religious sentiments of and Doctrines preached by the said Revd Mr. Wingate are very different from those of your Petitioners - and disagree- able to them - That your Petitioners apprehended they could not be profited by the preaching and ministration of the sd Revd Mr Wingate That the measures taken by the said Town in order to the settlement & support of the said Mr. Wingate are as your Petitioners conceive unprecedented and Justly Grievous to them, and that therefore your Petitioners and many others In- habitants of said Town (near one half thereof) constantly opposed his set- tlement there and dissented therefrom: That your Petitioners are conscientiously of the Presbyterian Perswasion respecting Church Government, Doctrine Discipline and worship That they with others of their Brethren of that Perswasion have for some time past been regularly formed into a church, built a meeting house in said Town for the publick Worship of God, Called and settled a minister in the Presbyterian way, namely The Rev. Mr. Samuel Perley: That your Petitioners con- scientiously and constantly on the Lords days and at other times occasionally attend the public worship of God there, according to their said Perswasion; That the premises notwithstanding the select men of the said Town of Hamp- ton Falls for the last year assessed and Rated your Petitioners for the sup- port of the said Mr. Wingate and obliged them to pay, the same, That the selectmen of said Town for the present year have again assessed & Rated your Petitioners for the same purpose, which your Petitioners apprehend to be a Grievous & unreasonable Burthen upon them-Wherefore your Petition- ers Humbly pray your Excellency and Honours to take their case, under your wise consideration And as they conceive themselves to be Intitled to hls majesties Grace & Favour in allowing to all his subjects Liberty of Con- science--and that it is unreasonable for them to be compelled to pay towards the support of a minister they do not nor cannot hear and attend upon for the Reasons aforesaid When at the same time they are at the expence of maintaining publick worship among themselves in that way and mode they think most agreable and nearest to the directions given in the Scriptures by the Great head of the Church, and where the True Doctrines of Grace & Salvation are preached according to their Opinion of those things: They pray your Excellency & Honours would grant them Relief in the premises by Ex- onerating them their Families and Estates and all others within said Town of Page 461 Hampton Falls who are of the same Perswasion and attend the publick worship of God with them from all ministerial Rates and Taxes in said Town (Except- ing to their own minister) and by setting them off as a distinct Parish for ministerial affairs only, and by enabling the said Presbyterian congregation to raise & Levy on themselves such Taxes and assessments as they shall from time to time find necessary for the support of the ministry and publick worship of God among themselves--or grant your Petitioners such other Re- lief as your Excellency and Honours in your wisdom shall see fit, And your petitions as in duty bound will ever pray, &c., &c. Thomas Leavitt, Ebenezer Knowlton, Richard Smith, Jacob Smith, Winthrop Gove, John Chase Jr, John True, Abener True, Joshua Page, Jo- seph Page, Abel Page, Thomas True, Joshua Page Jr, Benjamin Eaton, John Eaten, Thomas Eaten, Wimon Eaten, Joseph Norten, Joseph Eaton, John Selley, Samuel Felch, Joseph Falch, Henry Roby, John Chas, Abel Daves, Simon Clough, John Robei, John Hunt, Samuel Selley, David Eaton, Samuel Eaton, Nathl Sinkler, David Knoulton, Eliphe Merrill, Thomas Brown, Nathan Gove, Enoch Gove, Saml Philbrick, Jonathan Swett, William French, Jacob French, Jonathan Weare, Isaac Brown, John Kenney, Elisha Brown, Jonathan Walton, Job Haskell, Enoch Boid, Daniel Chase, Thomas Selly, John Eaton, Jr, Jonathan Hoyt, Elezer Gove, Paul Grinelf, Jonathan Chase Jr, Benjamin Leavit. Province of New Hamp' November 27th 1765 The foregoing Petition read & ordered to be sent down to the Honble Assembly T. Atkinson, Jr Secry Province of New Hampr In the house of Representatives Novr 27th 1765. The annexed Petition being Read and considered. Voted, That the Petitioners be heard thereon the second Day of the siting of the General Assembly after the first day of January next, and that the Petitioners at their own cost serve the selectmen of Hampton falls with a copy of the Petition and order of Court that they may appear and shew cause if any they have why the Prayer thereof should not be granted. In Council Nov 28th 1765 M Weare, Clr. Read & concurrd. T. Atkinson Jr. Secry. Province of New Hampr In the House of Representatives July 2d 1766. The foregoing Petition being taken tmder Consideration and the Parties heard thereon: Voted, That the Petitioners have liberty to Bring in a Bill for them and their Estate to be set off from the Parish of Hampton falls to act in all Respects as a distinct Society or Parish by themselves Except paying their Proportion of the Province tax until a new Proportion thereof. The line of said New Parish to be fixed by a committee of the General Court with liberty for such of the Petitioners as shall not fall within said new Parish to Poll of with their Estates and Belong thereto and for any who shall fall within said new Parish who are not of the Presbiterian Perswasion to Poll off with their Estates and belong to the old Parish, and for any who are not of the Presbyterian Perswasion who have or shall have Lands within said New Page 462 Parish to Poll off said lands to belong to the old Parish agreeable to the Purport of a Vote of the Parish of Hampton falls the Second day of Sept 1765. M. Weare, Clr. Province of New Hampsr In the House of Representatives July 9th 1766. Upon a motion of the Petitioners for some alteration in the foregoing vote Voted, That it be understood that any non Residents who have or shall have Lands in either Parish shall have liberty to Poll off their said Land to that Parish which they shall choose. M. Weare, Clr. In Council Eodm Die Read & Concurr'd. T Atkinson Jr. Secry. Council of 1737.-August 10, 1737, the assemblies of the provinces of Massachusetts and New Hampshire met at Hampton Falls, for the purpose of establishing the boundary line between the two provinces. A cavalcade was formed from Boston to Salisbury, and Governor Belcher rode in state, attended by a troop of horse. He was met at Newbury Ferry by another troop which was joined by three more at the supposed boundary line, and conducted to the George tavern in Hampton Falls. Here he held a council and made a speech to the Assembly of New Hampshire. The novelty of a procession of the executive and legislative bodies for such a distance oc- casioned the following pasquinade in an assumed Hibernian style: "Dear Paddy you ne'er did behold such a sight, As yesterday morning was seen before night; You in all your born days saw, nor I didn't neither, So many fine horses and men ride together. At the head the lower house trotted two in a row, Then all the higher house pranced after the low: Then the Governor's coach gallop'd on like the wind, And the last that came foremost were troopers behind, But I fear it means no good to your neck or mine, For they say 'tis to fix a right place for the line." STREAMS AND MILLS It would be difficult for many of the residents of New Hampshire to-day to fully realize the situation of some of the early settlers of this state, who were compelled to travel forty miles through the woods to find a grist-mill. Concerning the state of things in 1633, one historian writes, "No mill was erected for grinding corn, for the colonists had none of their own to grind. They depended on supplies from England, except some corn and wheat brought from Virginia, to be ground in the windmill at Boston." The first mention we find in the history of this state of any mill is that of a saw-mill in 1635, at the falls of Newichwannock, the Indiana name for Berwick, Maine. Looking back an hundred years, we judge that at that time, considering the size of Hampton Falls, she was excelled by no town in our state in the line of mills and manufactures. Falls River, the principal stream in this town, flows from Muddy Pond, Page 463 in Kensington, towards the sea, and empties into Hampton River, at Falls River's mouth, so called, half a mile below the depot. Here was situated the old ship-yard, reached by a causeway over the marsh from the town-landing at the depot. After leaving Kensington this stream flows for about a mile just within the town-line, between Hampton Falls and Seabrook, and then makes a short divergence into Seabrook. Near the point of divergence are situated Weare's Mills, first mentioned in the records of Hampton Falls in 1724. A stone dam affords a fall of about eight feet, which is now applied to an encased wooden tub-wheel, of the kind which links the iron turbine of to-day with the primitive water-wasters of fifty years ago. An upright saw above, with a run of granite stones in the basement, con- stitute the mills. This mill was rebuilt in 1857; but concerning its predecessors we learn from tradition the lines repeated at the raising of its frame, accord- ing to the custom of that time. They have been handed down from Chris- topher T. Chase, who was present, to his daughter Sally, who died in 1871, at the age of eighty-five years, to her nephew, John Lewis Chase. "Here's a fine frame, It's well put together; Mr. Spofford's a good workman, Hubbard Weare is clever." Hubbard Weare was a relative of Governor Mesheck Weare and a brother of Uncle John Weare, the ancient miller, who died in 1877, at the age of eighty-seven years. To the credit of that neighborhood, it is said that this mill has never been locked, and no grist has ever been missing. Following this stream in its downward course to the sea for about two miles, during which it crosses the highway just below the mills and again at Bennet's Bridge, we come to three stone dams, built about one hundred years ago by J. Nathaniel Hubbard Dodge, who came to this place from Windham, Mass., about the year l765, and purchased these mill-privileges from the noted General Moulton, of Hampton. This Nathaniel Hubbard was a descendant of Richard Dodge, who landed in Salem in 1629. He had nine sons, some of whom were among the first settlers of Ohio in 1788; was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of New Hamp- shire, and died in 1830, at the age of ninety-two. Some little improvement of these privileges had already been made, but Mr. Dodge was a natural mechanic and a man of great energy, and with his coming great improvements were made and a thriving business established in several different lines of manu- facture. The dams were built of natural faced stones of large size, some of them being brought from Kensington. The upper one was built to make a reservoir, but a bark mill was at one time in operation there. On one side of the middle dam was built the old saw-mill, which was torn down in 1876. On the other side a mill for wool carding, and the fulling. dyeing, and dress- ing of home-woven cloth. Perhaps for the benefit of the young people of to-day it should be stated that the wool was first brought to be carded into rolls, then taken home to be spun and woven, and the cloth brought back to be fulled, dyed, and dressed ready for the tailor, who journeyed from house to Page 464 house to make it into garments to be worn for many years. The name of one Fogg has been handed down as the journey-man tailor in the vicinity of these mills, and the expression "A Fogg's run" came to be proverbial, as implying haste rather than thoroughness of execution. At the lower dam was the grist-mill, which Squire John Philbrock said was an old building so long ago as he could remember. "Old Dodge," as he came to be called, had a genius for stone-work; was the first man in this vicinity who split stones with wedges, and in the cellar-wall of the grist-mill may be seen a specimen of his work, which can hardly be excelled at the present day. The grist-mill con- tained one run of large granite stones, which were driven by a breast-wheel in Hubbard's time. It is said that this mill, like the mill of the gods, ground very slow, but neither the old gentleman's boys nor the water which passed his mill were allowed to run idle so long as there was any work to be done. This mill passed from Nathaniel Hubbard to Polly, the widow of his son John, and thence to her grandson, John W., until, about 1870, it came into the possession of George D., a great-grandson of Hubbard. In 1872 the venerable ruin of one low story was replaced by a substantial building of two stories, and the tub-wheel resigned its place in favor of a thirty-inch iron tur- bine. This change doubled the working capacity of the mill, - from three or four bushels per hour to six or eight bushels, - but unfortunately the granite stones were retained in deference to the prejudices of customers, though a twenty-inch run of buhrs were also used to some extent. In 1881 this property was purchased by the widow of the previous owner, the old granites were taken out and replaced by a thirty-inch run of buhr-stones. But the place of largest investment and largest returns was on the opposite side of the dam, at the clothing-mill. This property Hubbard gave to his son Dudley, who was a clothier by trade as well as a farmer, and conducted this branch of business with success. He died in 1834, at the age of sixty-one, leaving this mill property to his son, George Hubbard. Besides the carding, fulling, dyeing, and dressing departments, there was also a run of granite stones in the basement, with the privilege of grinding all the rye. Nathaniel Hubbard was not only a skilful mechanic and good farmer, but a competent surveyor and successful trader. The stone dams remain as monuments of his energy and industry, and anecdotes concerning him are still in circulation. He cut the race-way of the clothing-mill through a solid ledge for several rods, all done with a pick. His grandson, George Hubbard, inherited much of his energy and business ability; for when the custom clothing business was sup- planted by the establishment of woolen-factories, he changed his mill to the manufacture of cotton batting and wadding, and in this direction laid the foundation of the largest fortune ever accumulated by a resident of Hampton Falls. But this success came only after the conquering of numerous difficulties. In August, 1847, his batting and wadding-mill, run by steam and water, was destroyed by fire. In the spring of 1848 it was running again on batting alone, propelled by a breast-wheel. The joint use of the water with the saw- mill was a bone of contention until the matter was settled by a board of referees giving the first right to the water to the saw-mill from March 1st to May 15th, and to the batting-mil1 for the balance of the year. The old flutter- wheel of the saw-mill took a deluge of water until it was replaced by an iron wheel of more economical habits. The grist-mill below was also a source of annoyance to the batting-mill, in claiming the right to let water through Page 465 the saw-mill gates for its use. George H. Dodge died in February, 1862, aged fifty-four years and eight months. Previous to his death the War of the Rebellion had checked his manufacturing business; and having become extensively engaged in railroad affairs, his mill had laid idle for a year or more. His death found his eldest son, George Dudley, in the State of Georgia, forced into the military service of the Confederacy. After a year of perilous effort he escaped from Savannah to Charleston, was advertised as a deserter and followed by a detective, but after a delay of eleven weeks and six fruit- less attempts, he finally escaped in a small sloop and reached home in January, 1863, via Nassau and New York. He found the batting-mill in bad condition, it having been run by contract for years, with little or no repairs, and then laid idle for the boys to pelt with stones. He spent a year in making thorough repairs at war prices, and started up in the spring of 1864, employing eight hands, and turning out 500 pounds of goods per day, which found a ready sale in New York. The highest price received was sixty-five cents per pound, making a business of $325 per day. The same quality of goods were worth only about five cents per pound before the war, put up then with less care. Raw cotton, which before the war was worth about twelve cents per pound, sold in the fall of 1864 at $2.00 per pound in currency, equal to about seventy- five cents in gold. Cotton cloth, made partly from poor waste and old ropes, sold for seventy-five cents per yard. With the capture of Richmond cotton quickly declined from $2.00 to fifty cents per pound, and soon settled to twenty-five cents. This business hurricane caught the young proprietor of the batting-mill with all sail set, affecting him as it did thousands of other business men. He continued to conduct the business on a smaller scale and with varying fortune until 1877, when, finding that the manufacture of batting by large concerns and corporations using their own waste had made the situa- tion difficult for the smaller mills, he retired from the business to the advantage of his health; and the batting-mill laid idle. Tavlor's River. - While Falls River derives its name from the natural rapids in its course, improved by stone dams, Taylor's River is named from an early resident of this town. It rises in Kensington, in two branches, one branch fed by a spring on the land of Stephen Green, and the other by three springs located on the different lots of True M. Prescott, Newell W. Healey, and Smith and Bishop. Entering Hampton Falls through land purchased by Stephen Brown from the Lamprey heirs, near the green-house establishment of James Warren Prescott, it crosses the highway near the homestead of Edwin Prescott, soon crosses the road leading to Robert S. Prescott's, then crosses twice within a quarter-mile the road leading by the residence of Dr. Curtis, and next comes to public view on the Exeter road near the North schoolhouse, crossing which it flows in Hampton, then furnishing the water- power for Coffin's mills before descending to the level of the salt marshes. On the side of the road where it first crosses, near Edwin Prescott's, may be seen the remains of a dam where a saw-mill was erected by Aaron Prescott, father of Edwin, about 1842. Grape-Vine Run. - As Hampton Falls is indebted to Kensington for the service of its two other streams, so this one find its source over or near the border line of that town. Crossing the highway near the residence of Nathan H. Robie, at the distance of about half a mile beyond, it crosses the Exeter road; thence flowing about the same distance in an easterly direction it comes to another highway, where a dam of stone and earth obstructs its further Page 466 progress, and forms a reservoir in the land of John T. Batchelder. This reservoir is almost entirely dry in the summer time, but in the wet season affords a considerable supply of water, which is controlled by a gate for the use of a saw-mill about a quarter of a mile below. This mill was erected in 1832, by Moses Batchelder, father of John T., principally for his own use. At an eighth of a mile below, where the stream enters the marsh land, Mr. Batchelder erected in 1880 a grist-mill containing two run of granite stones formerly used in the old tide-mill at Hampton. This stream runs at about equal distance between Falls River and Taylor's River, and is the smallest of the three. Thus we find that, in connection with the three mill streams in Hampton Falls, there were formerly in operation at the same time four saw-mills, two or three grist-mills, with a shingle mill in connection with one of them, and a woolen or cotton-mill. CHURCHES The First Congregational Church {Unitarian) of Hampton Falls was organized in 1711. The first minister was Rev. Theophilus Colton, who was settled in 1712, and died in 1726. The records of the time say that "he was decently buried at the charge of the parish." He was followed by Rev. Joseph Whipple, who was ordained January 15, 1727, and died in 1757. After him Rev. Joseph Bayley, from 1757 to 1762; Rev. Paine Wingate, ordained, 1763; resigned 1776. About this time a church building was erected near the center of the town, where now the Unitarian Church stands. In 1781, Rev. Dr. Langdon was ordained pastor over this society. He was president of Harvard University a part of the time of the Revolution. Quite a number of valuable books belonging to Dr. Langdon's library are still kept in the library at the Unitarian Church. He died in 1797. Frank B. San- born in 1904 issued a pamphlet entitled "President Langdon, a Biographical Tribute." In 1798 the Rev. Jacob Abbot was settled over the society, a man very tolerant and free-thinking for the times. He was pastor twenty-eight years. Without preaching the Unitarianism of to-day, his large charity and spirit of free inquiry opened the way for that agitation in the minds of the people which soon results in the disorganization of the established churches. About the beginning of the nineteenth century there was a Baptist agitation in the town. Some members left this church and formed themselves into a Baptist society. Later a Calvinist society was established. Still later there was quite an exodus from the original church of prominent members; these united with a number from Seabrook, establishing a society at what was called the Line. Mr. Abbot's salary was $300, sixteen cords of pine wood and eight of hard a year. After Mr. Abbot various ministers were engaged without being regularly settled. Among them were Rev. Messrs. Ward, Whitman, and Dow. Grad- ually there was a call for more liberal preaching. Rev. Linus Shaw was settled over the society a few years. "The people were much united in him." Mr. Shaw was followed by Rev. Jacob Caldwell, a preacher whose practical, earnest life encouraged the people to think for- ward, without fear of results, trusting that truth was always safe. Amidst the agitation attendant upon Theodore Parker's first preaching in Boston, Mr. Page 467 Caldwell, in straightforward recognition of the spirit of Christian tolerance, saia he would welcome Mr. Parker to his pulpit. So, step by step, the society was led and grew into the liberal faith. After Mr. Caldwell, who had charge of this society and one at Kensington, came the Rev. Summer Lincoln. Rev. A. M. Bridge was the next pastor for about fifteen years, a minister of fine culture and earnest work. After Mr. Bridge, Rev. Everett Finley had charge of the society a year or two. He belonged to the new class called Radicals. Then Rev. J. C. Learned and Rev. B. F. McDaniel, settled over the Exeter Unitarian Society, have supplied the pulpit. See history of Seabrook for other accounts of churches of Hampton Falls. The Christian Church was organized as a Baptist Church in 1805, and recognized as the First Christian Baptist Church in 1833. Pastors, Samuel E. Brown, Daniel P. Pike, Warren Lincoln, Thomas F. Barry, George M. Payne, Jeremiah W. Marsh, Appleton W. Reed, Charles P. Smith, John McGlauflin, Joseph H. Graves. A. H. Martin supplied in 1886 and since Mr. Graves there has been no settled pastor. The Baptist Church. - Probably the first Baptist in Hampton Falls was Betsey Fifield Dodge, who was converted under the preaching of Rev. Elias Hull. In 1816 Rev. William Hooper, pastor at Exeter, preached in Mr. Dodge's house what is said to have been the first discourse ever delivered by a Baptist in Hampton Falls. From this time Mr. Dodge's house became a place of resort for Baptist ministers, and so continued during his lifetime and that of his son, George H. Dodge. It also became the place for Baptist preaching until the erection of the academy building, in 1834. Here services were held by distinguished Baptists. It is said that Elder Peak, a noted Baptist evangelist, preached about one hundred times in this house. In the fall of 1828 the following persons were dismissed from the Baptist Church in Exeter to constitute what was then called the Baptist Church in Seabrook and Hampton Falls: Dudley Dodge, Betsey Dodge, Mary M. Dodge, Miriam Dodge, Nancy D. Dodge (all three daughters of Dudley and Betsey), Richard Dodge, Clarissa Dodge, Mary Dodge (wife and sister of Richard, who was a nephew of Dudley). These persons, all relatives of Dudley and Betsey Dodge, together with Hannah Dow, Ruth and Lydia Brown and Anna Knowles, of Seabrook, con- stituted themselves into a Baptist Church at the house of Richard Dodge, on the evening of October 28, 1828, and at that time invited Rev. T. P. Ropes to become their pastor. On the morning of December 2d, at the house of Richard Dodge, they received Mrs. Sally Chase and Mrs. Elizabeth Green, and in the afternoon of the same day the church was recognized, and Mr. Ropes installed as their pastor by a council of ministers and delegates from neighboring Baptist Churches. These services were held in the old meeting house in Seabrook, built in 1763, and first occupied by the Presbyterians until 1799, then by the Congregationalists, and by the Baptists in 1828. From the fall of 1828 to the fall of 1834 they continued to worship in Seabrook, then in the New Academy. The meeting house in Hampton Falls was opened for service in September, 1836; dimensions, forty and a half by fifty-five feet; cost, $2,117.58. In the summer of 1859 it was repaired and improved at an expense of $2,000. The roof was then slated, the tower replaced by a spire, the high singing gallery Page 468 over the entrance taken down, the pulpit lowered, the walls frescoed, floor carpeted, and pews upholstered. Rev. Mr. Ropes, a connection of Dudley Dodge, continued as pastor from September, 1828, to April, 1830. At that early date Mr. Ropes was a strong temperance advocate, while some of the ministers were still addicted to the use of intoxicating drink. In 1836 this church was reported as "strictly a temperance church." After the departure of Mr. Ropes, the church candidated for about two years; then Rev. Oliver Barron was pastor for about a year, then Calvin Munroe and Rev. James W. Poland supplied for about two years. Then Rev. Samuel Cook was pastor from 1835 to 1838. He was followed by Rev. Otis Wing for two years and by J. C. Foster for one year. In 1842 and 1843 Rev. 0. 0. Stearns had charge: then Rev. Zebulon Jones commenced the longest pastorate, remaining until 1851. Followed by Rev. James E. Wood, Rev. Samuel E. Brown, Rev. E. B. Law, Rev. Alfred Colburn, four years; Rev. W. H. Walker, three years; Rev. J. M. Driver, in 1867 and 1868. The church remained closed for over two years and was then supplied by students. In 1872 Rev. H. H. Beaman served till 1876, followed by Rev. T. J. Burgess, and Rev. C. R. Bailey until 1889, by Rev. W. W. Wakeman, 1890 to 1897, by Rev. Mr. Small, Rev. C. A. Parker and Rev. G. S. Campbell, the present pastor. EDUCATION. Rockingham Academy. - In connection with the annual meeting of the Portsmouth Baptist Association at Chester, in October, 1833, we find the first recorded suggestion of this institution, designed "to promote both science and religion." In the following December a committee appointed by this Associ- ation met at Hampton Falls in consultation with a local committee consisting of William Brown and George H. Dodge, and decided to locate the academy at Hampton Falls, "provided the friends of education in that place will erect a suitable edifice." Through the agency of a committee consisting of George H. Dodge, Richard Dodge, T. S. Sanborn, and Nathan Brown, "an elegant and com- modious building" was promptly erected at a cost of $1,900; location, on the common in front of the Baptist meetinghouse; dimensions, thirty-two by fifty feet; two stories, hip-roof, with bell-tower and steeple rising from the centre. On the l0th of September, 1834, this institution was formally opened with appropriate services, including an address by Rev. Baron Storr. The first term of the school commenced at that date, under the tuition of Rev. Oliver Ayer as principal, assisted by Miss Caroline Garland, who shortly afterward became Mrs. Ayer. Salary of principal, $500, and of assistant, $5 per week. The school was under the control of a board of nineteen trustees, appointed annually by the Association, the proprietors of the building having the right to nominate seven of the number. The first annual report of the secretary, Rev. J. Newton Brown, is a model in matter and style; and portrays a very flourish- ing condition of affairs. A philosophical apparatus had been secured, a library established, and a reading-room fitted up and supplied with current literature. The board of instruction had been increased to four; the attendance at the summer term had been ninety; the number of different scholars during the year, one hundred and fifty-one; the income from tuition had been sufficient to meet all current expenses, and ninety-five students had entered for the Page 469 ensuing fall term. By the second annual report, dated October 6, 1836, we learn that the fall term, under the instructions of Messrs. Ayer and Ladd, and Misses Garland, Merriam, and Dodge, had continued eleven and one-half weeks, and was attended by 102 scholars. The winter term of seventeen weeks under Mr. Ayer, Mr. Cate, and Miss E. Dodge, had sixty-six pupils, and the summer term, under Messrs. Ayer and Marshman Williams, and Misses Mer- riam and M. P. Dodge, had ninety-six pupils. Number of different scholars for the year, 188. A charter of incorporation was obtained this year, by the terms of which the building reverted to the proprietors whenever the school should remain closed for six months. Mr. Ayer resigned his position at the close of his second year. These were the prosperous days of Rockingham Academy. To the want of a permanent fund, and the consequent inability to secure or retain teachers of commanding ability, may be ascribed the fitful course of the institution thereafter, and its final dissolution at the age of vigorous manhood. Mr. Ayer was succeeded by Mr. Moses Burbank, a graduate of Waterville College, who took charge of the school in the fall of 1836, and resigned in May, 1838. In the summer of 1837 an unsuccessful effort had been made to procure funds for the erection of a boarding-house. It must have been from disinter- ested motives that the residents of the village were willing to fill their houses with student boarders at the rate of one dollar and fifty cents per week, includ- ing lights and washing. And to make their expenses even less than this, some boarded themselves in quarters over the village store. Mr. Burbank was succeeded by Rev. Timothy P. Ropes, "formerly an esteemed pastor within this Association, but for several years past the suc- cessful preceptor of an academy in Lexington, Mass." The tuition at this time was $14 for the year of three terms, with an attendance of forty-one, forty-two, and fifty-seven. Owing to ill health Mr. Ropes resigned his posi- tion at the close of the summer term, 1839. Under different teachers the division of the school year alternated between three and four terms. By the sixth annual report, dated October 8, 1840, we find that for three-quarters of the preceding year the school had been under the charge of Mr. Samuel Lunt Caldwell, and the year had been finished by a Mr. Humphrey Richards. "The building is now closed!" is the record. It was opened, however, during the winter by Rev. J. W. Poland, assisted by his nephew, John W. Dodge. But from want of sufficient encouragement Mr. Poland resigned, and left Mr. Dodge to finish the year. From the close of the fall term, 1840, the school remained closed until the 11th of May, 1842, when, after a revival of interest and repair of the building, it was again opened under the tuition of Rev. 0. 0. Stearns, assisted by Mrs. Stearns. Besides his duties in the school, Mr. Stearns supplied the pulpit of the Baptist Church on the Sabbath. This arrangement continued for one year to the satisfaction of all concerned, but the double duty proved too much for his strength. The fall term, and possibly the summer, was taught by Prof. A. Briggs, who also preached in the adjoining church. On the 12th of November of this year, 1843, Rev. Zebulon Jones signed a written agreement taking charge of the school on his own responsibility. This arrangement continued until the summer of i851, thus proving the longest as well as one of the most successful engagements in the history of the school. Page 470 Mr. Jones was a man of iron constitution and great executive ability. Burdened with an invalid wife, he performed the duties of a pastor during all these seven years and a half, and during a part of the time conducted a large boarding-house, and at one time held the office of county school commissioner. From November 6, 1848, to September 8, 1853, the records are a blank, but during this time occurred one of the best administrations in the whole history of the school, that of Lysander Dickerman, for six quarters, com- mencing with the spring of 1852. During the year between Mr. Jones and Mr. Dickerman the school was taught for one or more terms by a Mr. Pitman. Following Mr. Dickerman, the school was taught for several terms by Mr. Francis M. Dodge. He resigned the position in November, 1855, because the trustees would assume no pecuniary responsibility. In November, 1855, the trustees resolved to make an effort to secure an endowment of $20,000, one-half to be a permanent fund and the other half to be taken up in scholarships. Nothing was accomplished in this direction, though Hon. George H. Dodge offered $15,000 towards such a fund, provided the balance was raised. The reason was said to be because the Baptist Academy at New London had just sent out an agent for a like purpose. The winter term of 1855 was taught by Mr. George B. Elden, of Maine. The last recorded report to the Association was made in September, 1856, by Rev. Samuel E. Brown, secretary. From that time to September, 1864, the records are silent. But in the interval the school had been taught several terms by Rev. Alfred Colburn, who had pastoral charge of the Baptist Church from October, 1859, to May, 1863. The last term was taught by him. Thus ended the prolonged struggles of this institution, which started with such bright prospects. This institution exerted a very beneficial influence on the place in awakening a desire for culture and affording the means. The self- denying efforts of its founders were not wasted, for its alumni have an honor- able record. Its annual exhibitions were occasions never to be forgotten. THE WEARE MONUMENT. Around the little triangular common at Hampton Falls Village cluster several points of historic interest. On its bosom repose the ashes of Rocking- ham Academy, once the life and pride of the place, while across the highway stands its surviving twin institution, the Baptist Church, beneath whose shade rest the remains of some of their founders, whose names are honorably con- nected with much that is best in the history of their native place. Near its apex, on one side, is located the school-house, erected in 1877, the third at least on the same spot, to make room for which its predecessor, erected in 1839, was moved across the common in 1839 is said to be now standing in South Seabrook. In its rear stood the old engine-house, which has been moved four times since about 1848. And near it formerly stood the gun-house, where was kept a brass sixpounder to roar on muster days. On the opposite side stands the venerable Weare mansion where, in the early recollection of the writer, resided Mr. John Porter, who married Hannah, daughter of Gov. Mesheck Weare. Antiquated in speech and dress, he wore a queue, and used to inquire for my "sire." He died in 1847, at the age of seventy; his wife in 1849, aged ninety-five; and Miss Nabby Lang, a Page 471 granddaughter of the governor, and the last of this household, in 1864, at the age of ninety. George H. Dodge was the executor of the wills of Mr. and Mrs. Porter, and by that of the latter he was instructed to erect a monument to the memory of her distinguished father, the first Governor of New Hamp- shire. The sum at his disposal being insufficient to erect a suitable one, Mr. Dodge applied to the Legislature of 1852 for an appropriation for this purpose. These were the times of close economy in public affairs, and no appropriation of the kind had ever been granted by our Legislature. And it was not until the following session that a resolution was passed, authorizing the governor and council to appoint a committee "to cause to be erected over the grave of Hon. Mesheck Weare, in Hampton Falls, a suitable monument to his memory, to his patriotism and many virtues." The following persons were appointed as this committee: George H. Dodge, of Hampton Falls, J. Everett Sargent, of Wentworth, and John H. Wiggins, of Dover. This committee attended promptly to the duty assigned them, and as the result of their efforts a monu- ment was completed in the fall of 1853, its location being the base of the common bounded by the old stage-route from Portsmouth to Boston. It is about thirty rods distant from the Weare mansion, while the remains of the governor lie with his family at about the same distance in the opposite direction in an ancient cemetery formerly a part of the Weare homestead. A simple monument marks the spot, which was not considered a suitable location for the larger one, whil.e the surviving relatives were unwilling that his remains should be removed. The family monument, erected at a later date, is inscribed to "Prest. Weare," probably as the result of some criticism on the inscription of the public one to "Gov." Weare. The title of "Prest." is undoubtedly the strictly correct one, while that of "Gov." is the more intelligible one at the present day. The lot where the public monument stands was graded and fenced by the town, quite an area being at first inclosed with posts of granite and rails of wood. Afterwards, in 1875, an appropriation of $300 was obtained from the state, for the inclosure of a smaller space by an iron fence of neat design. It is an interesting historical fact that this monument marks the site of the first meeting-house erected in Hampton Falls. To Allen Treat, of Portsmouth, the committee intrusted the execution of their design, at an expense of $2,500. Its base is eight feet square, composed of two granite blocks two feet in thickness. Upon this base rests a single granite block six feet square, and something more than two feet thick. Above this rises the monument of Italian marble, composed of plinth, die, cap, shaft, and urn, making a height of twenty- nine and a half feet. The marble plinth is three feet ten inches square, and seventeen inches in height. The die is five feet in height, affording ample space on its four sides for the necessary inscriptions, as follows. On the front: "He was one of those good men Who dared to love their Country and be poor." This side would be the plainest of all, but for the inscription "Gov. WEARE," in long letters and bold relief on the front of the cap over the die. And on Page 472 the shaft above, a shield incloses a finely-executed design of the state seal in the form of a shallow hemisphere. On the right side- "ERECTED 1853, by the State of New Hampshire, to perpetuate the memory of her illustrious Son, whose early efforts, sage councils, and preserving labors contributed largely towards establishing his Country's independence, and shaping the future destiny of his native State." A laurel wreath. A shield, both in relief. On the left side-- "HON. MESHACK WEARE, born in Hampton Falls, Jan. 16, 1713. Graduated at Harvard College, 1735. Speaker of the House of our Representatives, 1752. Commissioner to Congress, at Albany, 1754. Pres't of New Hampshire from 1776 to 1784. At the same time Councillor from Rockingham, Chairman of the Committee of Safety. Pres't of the Council, and Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court. In public service 45 years. Died Jan. 14, 1786." On the back side- "The following were the Committee chosen by the State to erect this Monument: George H. Dodge. J. Everett Sargent. John H. Wiggins." Laurel wreath (in relief). Shield. Each side of the cap (above) the die is ornamented with a wreath, and surmounting the shaft is a shapely urn from which rises a flame, emblematic of the well-earned immortality of him whose wisdom, virtues, and patriotism this monument is designed to commemorate. Delegates to conventions to revise the Constitution of the State of New Page 473 Hampshire: first convention, Nathaniel Hubbard Dodge; second convention, George Hubbard Dodge; third convention, Nehemiah P. Cram. MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65 James H. Sanborn, Frank P. Cram, Lewis T. Sanborn, Samuel Batchelder, Samud L. Perdeare, Daniel E. Perdeare, Silvester J. Perdeare, Burnham E. Perdeare, Sewell B. Perdeare, Benjamin F. Marshall, Robert Fisher, Henry McDevitt, George Albert Janvrin, Joseph P. Jones, Samuel H. Dearborn, John E. Williams, Charles W. Durgin, David Creighton, Walter Butler, Robert Butler, Thomas E. Cushing, John C. Kennison, James Green, Benjamin Brown, Robert Morgan, William Brown, David McWhirter, John S. Godfrey, Almon Prescott, Joseph E. Prescott, Samuel M. Prescott. Drafted and sent substitutes - Enoch J. Tilton, Thomas G. Moulton, Chesey P. Chase, Edwin Prescott, William A. Cram. John Greenleaf Whittier was born in Haverhill, Mass., in 1807. He was a lineal descendant of Rev. Stephen Bachiler and Capt. Christopher Hussey and took a lively interest in the home of his ancestors, and in the welfare of Hampton Falls, to which he made an annuual pilgrimage every year from 1860 until his death in 1892. He passed the summer of that year at the house of Miss Sarah A. Gove, where he died September 7th. Previous to the establishment of the public library in 1892, under the Act of the Legislature in 1891, there was a social library of about four hundred books belonging to the stockholders and kept in the parsonage. In 1849 the books were divided among the stockholders. In 1845 the Ladies' Library was established. It was incorporated in 1887 and the books were transfered to the town library. The Christian Meeting House was purchased in 1901, by John T. Brown, Esq., of Newburyport, Mass., and after improvements had been made, he presented the building to the town for a public library. S. A. Janvrin is the librarian. There are over four thousand volumes on the shelves. The Hantpton Falls Grange P. of H., formed in 1873, was reinstated in 1873. The Bound House. - In the recotds of Massachusetts General Court, under date of March 3, 1636, we find the following order, "That there shall be a plantation settled at Winnecunnet & that Mr. Durner or Mr. John Spencer shall have power to presse men to build a home forthwith in some convenient place & what money they layout about it, shall be repaid them again out of the treasury, or by those that come to inhabit them." Agreeably to this order, a home was built for the purpose of securing Winnecunnet to Massachusetts. This house was afterward known as the Bound House, and was intended by the General Court as a mark of possession rather than a limit, and the name was misleading in this respect. It was said to have been built three miles north of the Merrimack River. There has been considerable speculation as to the location of this house. Many have supposed it to have been in Seabrook, others that it may have been near the center of Hampton. Asa W. Brown of. Kensington, who had spent a great deal of time in looking up the early hlstory of this section, located it on the high ground about fifty rods northwest from the old Perkins tide mill, and that Page 474 Moses Cox, who lived near there had charge of the house at one time. There is good reason to suppose that the house was located at this point. It was at the proper distance from the Merrimack River. Winnecunnet could at that time be reached from Massachusetts only by water. Three years later the first settlers came in a shallop and landed near where the tide mill was after- wards built. It is not likely that in a wilderness those who built the bound house would go far from the landing place to set up a mark to prove possession of the land in question. ********************************************************************** * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files t other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIORto uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * *The USgenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.