Chapter 36 - Kensington from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire From: Marge Smith - Margehs1963@aol.com Source: History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915 Page 475 CHAPTER XXXVI KENSINGTON Early History-Churches-Slaves-Military-Schools-Public Library Early History, etc.-Kensington has a population of 417 and is situated about eight miles to the west of the sea-coast in Hampton, about forty-five miles from Concord, and forty-two from Boston. More hills are noticed on the geological map in this than any other town in the vicinity. Moulton's Ridge, Martin's Hill, Gove's Hill, Ward's Hill, Newfound Hill, Round Hill, Horse Hill, Connor's Hill, and Hoosar Hill are mentioned. The Muddy Pond is situated in a swamp, and contains only a few acres. The brooks seek the ocean by the Piscataqua, Hampton River, and the Merrimac. From the hills the visitor may have fine views of. the ocean on the one side and fine views of the mountains on the other, while, when the atmosphere is very clear, the White Mountains are visible. The breezes, as they come from the sea or the mountains, are so clear and invigorating that they make the location remarkably healthy. Summer visitors who like beautiful scenery, pure and bracing air, and retirement from the noise and dust of the city he re find rest, enjoyment, and strength. The town has a great variety of soils, from the grassy meadows and sandy plains to the large swells of rich land which are well adapted to agriculture. Grass, corn, potatoes, apples, beef, pork, butter, and milk are among the pro- ductions. Most of the people are farmers, though some are mechanics, especially those engaged in shoemaking. The markets are very convenient, not only in this vicinity but also by the railroads to the larger cities. The first settlement in Kensington is said to have been made by Stephen Green near Green's Brook, about a mile to the south of the meeting-house When the first house was built, it is said that there was not another dwelling, between it and Canada except the wigwams of the savages. People used a ladder, it is said, to enter the house, and at night drew in the ladder to prevent the intrusion of the Indians. Tradition tells us how the Indians were seen sitting on the logs in the clearing, how a large dog stood at the window with his paws on a savage who was trying to enter, and how the Indians when kindly treated manifested their pleasure and gratitude. The Greens who lived here, were Quakers; and John C. Whittier, the distinguished poet, thinks that his ancestor Thomas Whittier, married Ruth Green, of this p1 ace. The spring brook as it winds along the beautiful valley, the Quaker graveyard, and the surrounding hills and groves remind us of those quiet and cheerful Friends who, after the trials and persecutions of their sect, were glad to find this home of peace and rest. Of the trials and sufferings of the Quakers, which give some of the saddest pages in our colonial history, we need not speak, as they were before. the incorporation of this town and belong to the history of Hampton. The witch- Page 476 craft delusion had passed away, though some of the earlier inhabitants of this town were not free from the spirit of the age, which condemned those who suffered death as witches. Stories are told of animals and men who were under supernatural influences, and of the two-lock chest, containing the Implements of the black art! while Johannah, Kate, and Ruth were supposed to be in league with the devil. Events which were strange and eccentric were attributed to witchcraft, while shrewd and artful women were proud of their superior power and insight. The savages, since Lovell's fight at Pequakett, in 1725, were not troublesome in this region, though rangers and scouting parties were sent to the interior, while bands of French and Indians troubled settlements near the frontier. In October, 1734, the Rev. Joseph Whipple was authorized, in connection with the people to employ a minister to preach four months during the winter season, thus forming what was called a winter parish. In 1735 a similar arrangement was made. It was proposed in the Hampton Falls parish meeting to excuse the people in the upper part of the parish from the ministerial tax, in order that they might employ a minister themselves. In 1736 the same proposition was renewed, but there is no record of any action on the subject. Kensington was incorporated in 1737. By the governor and General Assembly, John Weare, Ezekiel Dow, and Joseph Wadleigh were appointed to call the first parish-meeting in Kensington. April 18, 1737. At a legal meeting of the parish in Kensington, Richard Sanborn was chosen moderator; Ezekiel Dow , clerk; and Jonathan Prescott. John Weare, and James Perkins, selectmen. June 18, 1737. The parish voted to call Jeremiah Fogg as the minister of Kensington. At a meeting of the parish October 10, 1737, it was voted that the fourth Wednesday of October be the day to ordain Mr. Fogg. John Bachelder, James Fogg, Abraham Moulton, John Weare, Ebenezer Brown, Moses Blake, Samuel Page, and Robert Row were the committee to make the arrangements for the ordination. October 4, 1737. Fifty-seven members were dismissed from the church in Hampton Falls to incorporate the church in Kensington. October 7th. The church in Hampton voted to dismiss Mr. Jeremiah Fogg. ye pastor elect, Edward Tucke and wife, Edward Lock, Hannah Shaw. the wife of Joseph Shaw, widow Sarah Bachelder, and Abigail Cram, the wife of Benjamin Cram, to be embodied into a church-state in the third parish of this town. Attest, Ward Cotton, pastor. The several members having been dismissed from their respective churches requested some of the neighboring ministers .to join with them in keeping a day of fasting and prayer, to organize them into a church state In this place, Accordingly, October 6th, the following gentlemen assisted in the meeting the Rev. Ward Cotton, of Hampton, began with prayer; the Rev. John Odlin, of Exeter, preached from Isaiah lvi. 6: "And taketh hold of my covenant." The Rev. Joseph Whipple, of Hampton Falls, then propounded to those to be organized. the church covenant. November 23d. Mr. Fogg was ordained. The Rev. Joseph Whipple, of Hampton Falls; preached the sermon. Page 479 The Rev. Jeremiah Fogg, the son of Seth and Sarah (Shaw) Fogg, was born in Hampton, May 29, 1712; graduated at Harvard College in 1730; studied .theology with the Rev. Joseph Whipple, of Hampton Falls; preached In Kensington more than fifty-two years. He solemnized 402 marriages, and baptized 1,235 persons. In the latter part of. his ministry complaints were made against the sound- ness of his doctrines. The Congregationalist ministers in his time were divided into Calvinists and Arminians, and he was ranked with the latter class. The Arminians gradually departed from the Calvinistic system, and forbore to urge its tenets. They omitted to press the Athanasian creed or to use the Trinitarian doxology, but preferred Scripture expressions on these disputed points. They did not insist as a preliminary to the ordination of a young man to the Christian ministry on his professing a belief in the Trinity, or of the five points of Calvinism "The Rev. Jeremiah Fogg,' says Bradford, was ranked with the Arminians. There had been some opposition to his doctrines for some years, and a council met January 20, 1789, which did not result in his dismissal: The second council met at the house of Newell Healey, July 7, 1789, and advised the Rev. Mr. Fogg to leave the ministry. September 21, 1789. The parish, by - vote of fifty-three to fifty, voted to dismiss Mr. Fogg.. November 2, 1789. The parish voted to give the Rev. Jeremiah Fogg the sum of fifteen pounds, and to deliver him at his house five cords of good hard wood during his natural life, while he gave up his ministerial and pastoral relation to the town and the church. Within a month after this transaction he died after a short sickness, December I, 1789, aged about seventy-eight. He was known in the vicinity as an effective and popular preacher, while for years his friends remembered him: with great interest and respect. He was distinguished for his wit and humor, and used expressions which were too strong and startling for the more serious-minded of his people. Once, when dining with some clerical friends, he found the pudding too hot, and put a small piece in his pocket. Some one said, "What! pocketing pudding, Brother Fogg ?" He replied, "Oh, I thought I would save a piece till after dinner to light my pipe! November, 1792, Mr. Naphtali Shaw was invited to become the minister of the parish. Mr. Shaw was ordained January 13, 1793, and after a ministry of twenty years was dismissed January 13, 1813. He was a soldier in 1779 and 1780. On June 13, 1813, Rev. Nathaniel Kennedy was installed and dismissed July I, 1816. Then followed Joseph A. Long in 1822-23 and for a number of years Kensington had no settled minister but was supplied a part of the year. The church became Unitarian and on December 22, 1841, Rev. Jacob Caldwell was ordained over the Unitarian societies in Kensington and Hamp- ton Fails. Rev. I. S. Lincoln was installed in 1848 and resigned in 1851 and was succeeded by Rev. A. W. Bridge in 1851. He resided in Hampton Falls. Among the few Unitarian preachers who have occupied the pulpit since Mr. Bridge was Geo. Osgood, a native of Kensington. The present Congregational Church was organized in 1859. Being de- sirous of regular services for every Sabbath the town hall was used when the Union Church was occupied by the other society, until in the year 1866, after several months of labor in its construction, a new and convenient house Page 480 of worship was dedicated March 28th of. that year. Rev. E. D. Eldridge was untiring m his efforts for the accomplishment of this work. The following pastors succeeded Mr. Eldridge: Revs. Philip Titcomb, Charles C. Lyon, John A. Pogue, Ezra I. Riggs, Frederick D.. Chandler, John P. DeMerrit, David Frazer, Aubury C. Gilmore, Paul E. Bourne and Albert V. Fisher. On October 9th and 10th was held the fiftieth anniversary of the re- organization of the Kensington Congregational Church during the pastorate of Rev. Albert V. Fisher. The Christian Baptist Church had for its first minister Eider Shaw, who was born in Kensington and ordained March 31, 1814. Elder Julius C. Blodgett preached in Kensington, also Rev. D. P. Pike, both were editors of the Christian Herald. Rev. F. D. Chandler was installed March 9, 1876, and dismissed May 28, 1880, followed by Rev. Philip Titcomb, and .by Elder David Murray, who was ordained in the Christian Chapel at Kensington, September 17, 1867, and preached for a year or two. Since Elder Murray there has been no settled minister in the Christian Church. In 1842 and 1843 some good members believed the Lord would come in 1843, and when he did not come they left the church and had meetings by themselves. But that soon passed away. The church still held on for some years with regular meetings and regular preaching. They practiced immersion regularly before one could join the church. The Universalists for many years had occasional preaching in the town. In 1864 Rev. Roland Conner was ordained over the Universalist societies of Kensington and Hampton Falls, followed by Rev. Willis Bradley in 1866 and 1867. Many different ministers occupied the pulpit after this, services being held once in two weeks during the summer months until 1892 when Rev. J. H. Little, of Amesbury, preached Sunday afternoons weekly. Rev. Francis W. Gibbs succeeded him and in 1900 Rev. F. W. Whippen, of Kingston, became the supply and who has continued services each summer. Quakers.-There were quite a number of families of Quakers in the town who belonged to the meeting in Seabrook, though we do not learn that they often held meetings in Kensington, or that anyone of their number was an approved minister. In 1761 the parish voted that the third selectman should be a Quaker, and for many years Jonathan Purington held that office. In 1776 the Quakers refused to sign test act, but most. probably not because they were loyalists, but because their Ideas of the Christian religion would not permit them to bear arms. Some people doubtless joined the Quakers as that was the only way by which they could avoid paying parish rates. MEETING-HOUSES The first meeting-house was built on the west side of the brook, near the residence of Miss Lizzie E. Tuck, but was taken down and removed to a place nearer the center of the town. Elihu Chase, who gave the land for the meeting-house and graveyard, was disappointed because he could not have a desirable pew, and joined the Quakers. May 12, 1771, being the last Sunday in the meeting-house, the Rev. Jeremiah Fogg preached, the CXXVI Psalm, "We wept when we remembered Zion." The second meeting-house was built in 1771, on the same spot. Ezekiel Page 481 then, Jonathan Brown, Moses Shaw, and Ebenezer Lovering were the building committee. The plan was made by Ezekiel Worthen. This house was taken down Saturday, March 28, 1846. The present town-house, which was built from its timbers, was placed on the same spot in August, 1846. The first Christian (Baptist) meeting-house was a plain, unpainted struc- ture, without pews or pulpit. It was sold and became the dwelling house of Jeremiah Dow. The second Christian (Baptist) meeting-house was built on the place of the first in 1838. It was sold and is now owned and occupied by Grange No. 173, which was instituted February 23, 1892. The Union meeting-house was built in 1839, on the old meeting-house lot by the Unitarians, Universalists, and Congregationalists. It was dedicated in the morning by the Unitarians, when the Rev. Andrew P. Peabody, of Ports- mouth, preached the sermon. In the afternoon it was dedicated by t he Uni- versalists, when the Reverend Mr. Bacon, of Providence, preached the sermon. The bell was given by Asa Gove and Emory Brown. The Congregational Church was built on a lot to the north of the town- house in 1865, and dedicated March 28, 1866. The bell was given by John Locke, of New York. He came to Kensington in 1822, where he died August 10, 1845, aged sixty-three. He was interested in agriculture and moral reforms, and in literary studies. The only work which he left in print was an oration, delivered July 4, 1810, in the Rocky Hill Church, at Salisbury; Mass. Slaves.-When Parson Fogg, July 17, 1739, was married to Elizabeth, the daughter of the Rev. Joseph Parsons, of Salisbury, he brought his wife on a pillion behind him to the new manse. Deacon Abraham Moulton carried behind him Phyllis Parsons, a small black girl, who was her slave. Phyllis was bright and intelligent, and as she grew up was engaged to William Mingo, a colored soldier who died on the frontier. After his death she was engaged to his brother, Eben Mingo, but refused to be married until she should be free, for she declared that "she would never bring a slave into the world." Phyllis then went to Salisbury, in the Province of Massachusetts, and lived a year and a day ( probably keeping dark) , when the selectmen came and warned her out of town, lest she should become a public charge. Then she made a polite courtesy and said, "Gentlemen, you are one day too late" for by the laws of the time she had not only gained her freedom but also her residence. She taught school among the white people, saying very proudly, "Its no small thing to be brought in a minister's family." Military History.-While Kensington was a part of Hampton, some of its inhabitants were in scouting-parties or in building forts on the frontier. Jonathan Prescott, who was born in 1675, labored at Crown Point in 1696, and was in a scouting-party under Capt. John Gilman in 1710. John Prescott was in a scouting-party in 1707 and in 1710. Nathaniel Prescott was in his Majesty's service in 1707. Doubtless many others were engaged in defend- ing the early settlements from the attacks of the French and Indians, or in ranging the borders, though we may not find the records of their deeds. May 2, 1747, it was voted at the parish-meeting "that all those men who went to Cape Breton and stayed all winter should be quit from paying rates for their heads that year in the Parish." In the seven years' war with the French and Indians the soldiers of Kensing- Page 482 ton took an active part. In 1755, Samuel Prescott, who was born June 26, 1729, was lieutenant-colonel in Col. Peter Gilman's regiment, that was raised to reinforce the army near Lake George. He died November 20, 1797. Capt. Ezekiel Worthen, Moses Blake, Ebenezer Lovering, Isaac Fellows. Melcher Ward, Paine Blake, Israel James, David James, Nathan Dow, Joseph Weare, and doubtless many others were engaged in these frontier campaigns. Capt. Ezekiel Worthen, \V ho was born March 18, 1710, was one of the most prominent men in the history of the town. At the siege of Louisburg he was ensign and lieutenant in Capt. Jonathan Prescott's company, and is said to have done good service as an engineer, building works against the enemy,. probably the battery on Light-house Cliff. Louisburg was taken June 17. 1745, just thirty years before the battle of Bunker Hill. Capt. Ezekiel Worthen commanded a company in Colonel Meserve's Reg- ment in 1756. In 1775 he was the engineer in building Fort Washington and Fort Sullivan at the Narrows, about a mile below Portsmouth; and about the same time was selected to build a bridge to Newcastle. In the Continental army he was lieutenant, captain, and paymaster, while in civil life he held places of honor and trust. After serving in three wars, after honorable service in civil life, at the close of the war that gave independence to the country he died, October 17, 1783, aged seventy-three years. In the years of the Revolu- tion recruits were sent to the regiments in the field; soldiers we`re sent to man the forts at Portsmouth, and committees were chosen to supply the families of the Continental soldiers. March 26, 1779, voted to choose a committee to overhaul the charges of the war from Bunker Hill fight to this day. Voted to enlist twenty men to serve in the Continental Army. July 5, 1779, Capt. Joseph Clifford and Lieut. Joseph Dow were chosen to hire. the quota of soldiers to fill the Continental battalions. January 29, 1781, the parish chose a committee to hire soldiers for the Continental Army with provisions, hard money, or paper currency. The writer regrets that no full list of the soldiers of the Revolution is within his reach. The following list has been gathered from various sources; Maj. Jeremiah Fogg, Capt. Ezekiel Worthen, Capt. Winthrop Rowe, Capt. Joseph Clifford, Lieut. Moses Shaw, Lieut. Abram Sanborn, Second Lieut. Jeremiah Bachelder, Benjamin Rowe, surgeon's mate; Daniel Fogg, surgeon's mate; Joseph Fogg, quartermaster; Enoch Rowe, quartermaster's sergeant; Privates Winthrop Wiggin, Jude Hall, William Fogg, Henson Hodgdon, Jonathan Fellows, Nathan Fellows, Edward Lock, John Sanborn, Thomas Cook, Jabez Dow, Jonathan Prescott, Marston Prescott, and Edward Smith, who was shot October 15, 1777. Capt. Winthrop Rowe commanded a company, Colonel Poor's Regiment, and Abram Sanborn was his second lieutenant. In 1775, Capt. Joseph Clifford and Second Lieut. Moses Shaw were sta- tioned on Pierce's Island. In 1777, Second Lieut. Jeremiah Bachelder was in Colonel Drake's Reg- iment. He was one of the most prominent citizens of the town, and in 1796 was colonel in the militia. In 1777, Capt. Robert Pike was in Lieutenant-Colonel Senter's Battalion. Benjamin Rowe was surgeon's mate in Colonel Nicholas' Regiment in 1778. Page 483 Daniel Fogg was surgeon's mate. Enoch Rowe was quartermaster's sergeant in Lieutenant-Colonel Senter's Battalion in 1777. Joseph Fogg, the son of Rev. Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Parsons) Fogg was born April 16, 1753. He was quartermaster in Colonel Poor's Regiment in 1775, and quartermaster in Lieutenant-Colonel Senter's Battalion in 1777. He was appointed sub-clothier and commissary in 1779. Maj. Jeremiah Fogg, the son of Rev. J. and Elizabeth (Parsons) Fogg, was born October 16, 1749, graduated at Harvard College, 1768, taught school in Newburyport, where he commenced the study of law with Theophihus Parsons, one of the most eminent jurists of the time. He was adjutant of Colonel Poor's Regiment, which was encamped on Winter Hill at the siege of Boston. In 1776 he was aide-de-camp to General Poor, who died in his arms at Hackensack, N. J. In 1777 he was paymaster in Colonel Hale s Regi- ment, and captain in Colonel Reid's Regiment. In 1781, after the war, he retired to Remington, where he took an active part in the political movements of the time. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention, representa- tive and senator in the General Court, and adjutant-general of New Hampshire. List of Minute-Men.-We, the subscribers, hereby enlist ourselves, and promise and engage to serve as militia soldiers in defense of our country's rights, to be ready at a minute's warning to march to any pant of the New England States to oppose the encroachments of our enemies, and we promise to obey such officers as are appointed to command us during the time we are in the service. Joseph Clifford, Jesse Tucke, Joseph Brown, Jr., Benjamin Moulton, Benjamin James, Jr., Hezekiah Blake, Ephraim Fellows, Jewett Sanborn, Daniel Shaw, Benjamin Tilton, John Shaw, Joseph Wadleigh (4th) Richard Dow, Levi Brown, Samuel Bachelder, Nathaniel Gove, Josiah Batchelder, Richard Sanborn, Samuel Prescott, John Lane, Samuel Lampre, David James, Ephraim Eastman, Nathaniel Sherburne, Caleb Shaw, Jr., Simon Prescott, Jeremiah Moulton, Nathaniel Ward, Jonathan Ward, Edward Melchar, Benjamin Melchar, Abram Shaw, Newell Healey, Benjamin Rowe, Jr., Surgeon Joseph Rowe, Martin Prescott, Caleb Brown, John Glidden, Weare Nudd, Elisha Blake, Jr., Nathaniel Dow, John Graves, Henry San- born. Abel Brown, Henry Swain, Levi Blake, Stephen Fogg, Jonathan Tilton, Jonathan Prescott. (This paper belongs to the opening of and was probably signed in 1775.) THE WAR OF 1812-14 We do not learn that any soldiers from this town were enlisted in the regular army. but in 1814 the militia were ordered to defend Ports- mouth from the English, whose fleet was cruising along the coast. The soldiers wore their citizens' dress, and as the company left the old church, the music was so slow and solemn that some one suggested that they have quick and lively tunes, to keep up their courage and the courage of the friends they left behind them. They were stationed near the south rope- walk, and lodged in a schoolhouse. Down a report came that the enemy had landed at York, and the troops were formed in a line of battle but the alarm was false. An English officer, disguised. as a fisherman, visited Page 484 Portsmouth, but finding the defenses very strong the fleet moved a way. The troops were enlisted September 11th, and discharged September 29th. Lieut.-Col. Thomas Lovering commanded the regiment. Josiah Blake was sergeant-major. Capt. Stephen Brown, Lieut. Stephen Kimball, Ens. Richard Dow; sergeants, Jonathan Morrison, Benjamin Prescott, Nathan Dow; Caleb Brown; corporals, Jacob Felch, David Prescott, Sewell Philbrick, Jeremy Bachelders; musicians, Caleb Hodgdon, Millard Tilton; privates, John Nudd, Benjamin Moulton, Jr., Jonathan Hobbs, John W. Shaw, Jonathan James, Thomas P. Fogg, Samuel Fellows, Daniel Prescott, Abraham Rowe, David Barter, Edward N. Blaisdell, Caleb F. Sanborn, Samuel Tilton, Ira Fellows, William H. Wadleigh, Ephraim Dow, Jeremiah Wadleigh, Sewell Wadleigh, John Blaisdell, Moses F. King, Joseph W. Healey, Edward True, Jr. The following were in the War of 1812-14: Lowell Lock, Porter Rowe, Jonathan Shaw, Theo. M. White, Benjamin Odlin, Joseph D. Wadleigh, Lewis Gove, Nathaniel Fellows, William S. Gale, Parker H. Willson, Joel Lane, Smith Lamprey, Gilman Lamprey, Newell Dow, Wadley Dow, Timothy Palmer, Sewell Dow, Stephen R. Brown, Levi Veasey, Jeremiah Eaton, Wil- lard Davis, Reuben Currier, John Weare, Abel Page, Samuel Currier, John Page, Samuel Tucker, Jr., Amos Gove, Joseph Rowe, Moses Sanborn, George Day, Bradbury Pervier, Oliver James, Samuel Caverly, John Scribner, Henry Eaton. Artillery.-Lieut. Jonathan Hilliard, Sergts. Wells Healey, Samuel Tuck. THE MEXICAN WAR Ferdinand L. Blake; John V. Hodgdon was leader of the band on the Ohio, Commodore Connor's flagship at the bombardment of Vera Cruz. - Ohio, Commodore Connor's flagship, at the bombardment of Vera Cruz WAR OF THE REBELLION Kensington sent seventy-one men to the army during the Rebellion, a part of whom were substitutes hired in the place of drafted men. The expenses in Kensington were $19,940.09; average bounty per man was $269.70 aver- age recruiting expenses per man, $1.28. The state aid to the soldiers' fami- lies would increase this sum. The following list contains most of the soldiers' names belonging to this town, with the names of some who were natives of the town but enlisted from other places. Navy.-George Baston, Thomas Bunker, and Jeremiah Leroy Hilliard (who died in Philadelphia at the hospital in 1862) Army.-Charles Rowe (was killed in Virginia, July, 1864), William H. Walton (was wounded, and died at Fortress Monroe, July, 1864), Charles E. Bachelder, James Davis (was a prisoner at the time of Lee's surrender), John M. Mallen, Frank H. Wadleigh ( was killed in Virginia, October 8, 1864), George Blake, Jeremiah K. Leavitt, Ira C. Brown (was wounded), Amos Howell, Hyld D. Peacock, Capt. Caleb Warren Hodgdon, Jonathan B. Rowe ( was wounded, and died in Virginia) , David C. Smith, Rufus East- man, George H. Cilley , Stephen Henry Brown, Joseph N. Austin, John E. Col- lins' William F. Blake, Andrew Gove, Warren H. Chase, James W. M. Brown, Joseph C. George, George P. Rowe, Ferdinand L. Blake, Franklin Page 485 Tilton (was wounded at Kelly's Ford), Samuel Lamprey (was taken pris- oner), Lewis E. Gove, Charles Hull. (was a prisoner at Andersonville), Stephen Hart Brown, Edward E. Fellows, John Brown (wounded), Amos (12)Brown, Moses D. Dresser, Edmund M. Rowell (died of sickness), John T Hilliard (wounded), George E. Ramsdell, Rufus Spaulding, George A. P.. Wadleigh, Albert A. Bachelder, Benjamin F. Austin, John P. M. Green, John A. Currier, Edward P. Austin, James S. Austin, Weare N. Shaw, Silas M.. Chase, Capt. James Mallon (colored regiment; was killed in North Carolina), Jeremiah Franklin Dearborn, N. Jackson Shaw ( was in United States Mounted Rifles before the war}, Capt. Elijah Shaw (in Maine regiment), John H. Shaw (marched with Sherman through Georgia), William Nudd, John V. Hodgdon, George W. Hodgdon. Much of interest must be omitted for the want of space, and our readers must be referred to the full reports of the adjutant-general, which gives not only the names of the soldiers, but very interesting histories of all the regi- ments. On the "Main Road" to the Hampton Falls Line is a barn which may well be termed a land-mark. . Built near the brook some time in the eighteenth century, it was drawn by sixty-eight pairs of oxen to its present position in 1798. All of its timbers were hewn, and those of oak are now in a good state of preservation. The house across the road, built in I806, is the home of Miss Sarah A. Green, who represents the sixth generation of the family of Abraham Green, Quaker, the first settler. This farm is the only one owned and occupied by a direct descendant of the same name as the original settler. Here some- times came Harriet Livermore, to whom Whit tier refers in "Snowbound," in the lines: Another guest that winter night Flashed back from lustrous eyes the light." Along these ways our ancestors took their journeys on horseback, often with a pillion. "carrying double." Later they rejoiced in the "one-hoss shay." The stage-coach brought the mail and passengers, providing transporta- tion between this town and Portsmouth, Concord and Boston besides inter- mediate and far distant places. Seventy years ago six stage-coaches, their coming announced by the music of the horn, passed daily over these roads, where the comfortable, rubber-tired carriage and the swift automobile go in this year 1914. KENSINGTON-"THE CITY" Five dwelling houses, two stores, a church and library, clustered together, provoke a smile from the stranger when he hears them designates as "the city." But such is the name long attached to the little Kensington village that nestles by the roadside between Newell's Hill and the old Hog-pen meadow on one side, and the woods that stretch away on the other. And it's no mean city, either, in the importance it has played in Kensington's history. Kensington Schoolhouses. Originally Kensington had four schoolhouses, quite probably of log structure, and one of them was located near the first Page 486 house in Kensington at Green's Brook. These were disposed of in 1798, and three new ones built; one at Lovering's corner, one at Mace's corner and one on the site of the present brick schoolhouse. They were all of similar pattern, wooden frame buildings thirty eight feet square, windows on three sides, with a narrow room to keep the stove wood on the fourth side. They were originally heated by a fireplace, but later by an iron frame stove, before which was a narrow passage, and then came the four rows of benches and seats for the scholars. The back seats for the larger pupils were nearly four feet higher than the front ones. Thee brick schoolhouse replaced the one at the North Road in 1842, the first session of school being held on May 1 of that year; and in 1873 the new East and West schoolhouses were built to accommodate the south side of the town. Kensington Free Public Library.- In 1893 the town voted to establish a public library, thus availing themselves of the gift of 100 books from the state. The Kensington Social Library Building, which had been built in 1895 by Joseph Hillard as a gift to the people of his native town, was opened to the public and the public library books were moved to the new building' While the two libraries are separate they are essentially the same, have the same rules and one librarian, Mr. George Osgood. There are 2,000 in the Social Library, and 1,000 in the Public Library. The late Langley Boardman Brown willed his books and book case to the library. The Kensington Social Library was established by grant of the Legislature in 1798 and the constitu- tion adopted June 30, 1800. It was active as a library for sixty years and some of its old books are in the new building in the old book case. Mr. Hilliard left a permanent fund for its maintenance. ********************************************************************** * * * 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. 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