Chapter 38 - Londonderry from History of Rockingham County, NH

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Source:  History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens
          by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915

Page 503 
                           CHAPTER XXXVIII
                             LONDONDERRY
    Geographical-Name Emigration Settlement-First Families-Allotment
    of Lands-Incorporation-Fisheries-Indian History-Garrisons-Mills
      -Highways-Animals-Revolution-Tories-Currency-Schools-War
         of 1812-15-War of 1861-65-The Churches-Leach library.

     Londonderry's population in 1910 was 1,533. The boundaries of Lon-
donderry, as defined by the charter of June 21, 1722, included all the terri-
tory of the present towns of Londonderry, Derry, and Windham, and adja-
cent parts of Manchester, Hudson, and Salem. The history of these towns
is one till division of the large tract became a necessity, thenceforward each
town has its own history. As Windham was early set off, nothing pertaining
to that town will be embraced in this sketch. Londonderry is the most
western town in Rockingham County, is in latitude 42° 54' north, and longi-
tude 5° 45' east from Washington. It is twenty-six miles from Concord,
N. H., twenty-five miles from Exeter, and forty from Boston, Mass. There
are a few ponds in town. Beaver Pond, called by the Indians, "Tsienneto,"
is a beautiful sheet lying between Derry East Village and the English Range.
Northwest of this lie Upper and Lower Shield's Ponds in Derry, and Scoby's
in Londonderry. Ezekiel's Pond is near the Windham line, and a part only
of Island Pond lies in Derry. Beaver Brook, in the Indian tongue
"Kiahiomtatie," is the only considerable stream. The surface of the ground,
though broken, is not hilly. The highest elevation is probably Richey
Hill, a little over one mile east of East Derry Village. The original growth
of oak, hickory, and chestnut is everywhere succeeded by pine. The town
has always been mainly agricultural, although much of its early thrift was
directly derived from the manufacture of linen cloth within its own borders.
     At the time of the settlement of Londonderry, April 11, 1719, O. S.,
the people of Ireland were mainly divided into three classes: the descendants
of the Celtic race, which had occupied the soil from time immemorial, and
who were Roman Catholics; the descendants of the English emigration of
1612 and thenceforward, and who were attached to the forms and cere-
monies of the Church of England; and the descendants of the Scotch emigra-
tion of the early part of the seventeenth century, and who held with undying
tenacity to the principles of the Presbyterian Church. From the former of
these, the Irish and the English, Londonderry derived its name, and to
the latter is it indebted for the hardy men and women who took possession of
its virgin soil, and made settlements of its wooded hill-tops, its sunny slopes,
and fertile vales.
     Name.--The Irish name of Derry had come down with the race through
the long centuries prior to 1612, when the great London guilds in taking

Page 504

possession and settling the sequestered lands granted by James I. prefixed to
the old name that of their famous city. It was thus that the name of London-
derry had origin, and our settlers shortly after their arrival adopted it from
the mother country, although the territory they selected had for some years
previous been known as a part of a very indefinite tract called "Nutfield." The
latter name disappeared from the record early in 1722.
     They were termed Scotch-Irishmen. New ideas and new facts demanded
new names. It was necessary that a people originating in the blood of one
nationality and born on alien soil should have a distinctive name. From
this came the appellation of Scotch-Irish; nor is it inappropriate, barring a
little long-forgotten misconception of the meaning of the term. Excepting a
few of English descent and an occasional Scotchman to the "mannner born,"
the Londonderry settlers were of Scotch lineage, born on Irish soil; and,
although reared among and surrounded by the natiye Celt, whose origin
antedated veritable history, little if anything distinctively Irish was engrafted
upon the Scotch character by the ancestral 100 years' sojourn in Ireland.
The antagonisms arising from the diversity of the races and widely differ-
ing religions, in connection with the unforgotten confiscations of James I,
were more than sufficient to prevent any intermingling of bloods. The
peculiar circumstances that surrounded the Scotch-Irish kept them as homo-
geneous a race as was that of their contemporaries in Scotland, who had
never taken departttre from their native heaths of Argyleshire. In this
respect their isolation from the Catholic Irish was as complete as if an ocean
rolled between them.
     Cause of Emigration.--The motives that led the Scotch-Irish emigrant of
1719 to sunder all ties with his native land and make for himself a new home
in the wilderness were widely different from those which impel the emigrant
of today. The former, in the assured hope of securing freedom of con-
science and religious liberty, was willing to take his chance in worldly matters.
The latter reverses this order, and for the sake of worldly advantage he is
willing to imperil his religious interests. Rev. James McGregor, one of the
Londonderry emigrants, and their pastor the last ten years of his life, gives
the following reasons for their removal to America: "1st. To avoid
oppressive and cruel bondage. 2d. To shun persecution and designed ruin.
3d. To withdraw from the communion of idolaters. 4th. To have an
opportunity of worshiping God according to the dictates of conscience and
the rules of his inspired Word."
     Emigration.--The settlers of LondOnderry left their native Ireland late
in the spring or early in the summer of 1718, and arrived at Boston, Mass.,
August 4th of that year. As they were embarking on board the ship at Bel-
fast that was to convey them across the sea, an old lady of the kith and kin
of the emigrants, too far advanced in life to encounter the perils of the deep,
gave them her parting blessing: "Go, and God be wi' ye a' but Willie
Humphrey, and he'll be smart enough to take care of himself."
     The winter following their arrival in Boston was spent in the harbor of
Falmouth, now Portland, Me., under great pri1lations for want of shelter
and food, so much so that the great and General Court of Massachusetts
aided them to the amount of 100 bushels of meal. Some late changes in the
waters of Casco Bay, near the anchorage of their vessel, have revealed among

Page 505

other things a stone fireplace built by them and used in cooking their food
during their sojourn there.
     To Nutfield.--Leaving Falmouth, April 1, 1719, they retraced their steps
toward Boston as far as Haverhill, Mass., where they arrived the next day.
Here they remained a few days awaiting the selection of land for a town-
ship by their agent, James McKean, grandfather of Joseph McKean, first
president of Bowdoin College. This done and a portion of the Nutfield or
Chestnut Territory determined upon, a part of the resolute company on the
morning of April 11, 1719, saddled their horses and struck out into the
pathless wilderness in search of their future homes, taking their route over
"Providence Hill," in what is now Salem, N. H. Another small company
under the guidance of Rev. James McGregor, who had spent the previous
winter at Dracut, Mass., engaged in teaching, left that place, and, taking
their line of travel up Beaver Brook, joined, by previous arrangement, the
Haverhill party near the southern shore of Beaver Pond.
     Settlement.--Tying their horses at the foot of the hill, ever since known
by the name of Horse Hill, they made survey of the surroundings on foot.
They passed around the western end of the pond and along its northern
shore, arriving at its most eastern extremity a little after noon. Here, under
the spreading branches of a stately oak, one of the ancient lords of the soil,
they rested their weary limbs, gratified their religious feelings, and fortified
their faith by listening to a discourse from their future pastor, Reverend
Mr. McGregor. Returning to their horses, they took a southerly direction
to the northern side of a brook, to which they gave the name of West Run-
ning Brook. Here they kindled their first fire and encamped for the night.
The following day, after a sermon by Mr. McGregor, they made their way
back to Haverhill to bring on their families, leaving two young men, John
Gregg, son of Capt. James Gregg, and Andrew Walker, to pre-empt the soil
and guard their hastily constructed camp. They left a gun and ammunition
for their protection and three days' provision for their sustenance. Some
unforeseen circumstances prevented the return of the settlers at the allotted
time, and the young men fell into peril for want of food. In a few days,
however, sixteen men with their families arrived upon the ground, took
occupancy of the soil, and the work began in earnest.
     First Families.--The names of these men are as follows: James McKean,
John Barnett, Archibald Clendenin, John Mitchell, James Starrett, James
Anderson, Randal Alexander, Robert Weir, James Gregg, James Clark, James
Nesmith, Allen Anderson, John Morrison, Samuel Allison, Thomas Steele,
and John Stuart. Rev. Edward L. Parker, a careful and judicious writer,
in his excellent "History of Londonderry," says,--
     "These pioneers of the settlement were most of them men in middle life,
robust, persevering, and adventurous, well suited to encounter the toils and
endure the hardships of such an undertaking. Most of them attained to
advanced age. They lived to see their descendants settled around them and
the forest converted into a fruitful field. The average age of thirteen of the
number was seventy-nine years, six attained to nearly ninety, and two sur-
passed it. John Morrison, the oldest of this company, lived to the advanced
age of ninety-seven years."
     First Land Laid Out in Londonderry.-- This was without doubt granted
by the Massachusetts Colony to the Indian sagamore Passaconnaway, of

Page 506

Pennacook, now Concord, N. H., upon his petition of March 8, 1662, and was
surveyed March 27, 1663. It was a tract three miles square, and as it
extended one mile and a half east of the Merrimac River, opposite the northern
part of the town, must have included a part of Londonderry.
     The second grant was by Massachusetts to the proprietors of "Old
Dunstable," October 16, 1673. This must have overlapped the territory after-
wards Londonderry, as its most "eastern line ran within sight of Beaver
Brook."
     "Leverett's Farme."--This "farme" was the third grant in order of time,
and was to John Leverett, governor of the Massachusetts Colony from 1673
to 1679. It was a "Wilderness Farme" of 1,000 acres, and was situated
between what is now Ezekiel's Pond, in Derry, and the Dock. A bridge and
the meadows there still bear his name. There is some evidence that the
governor sent parties to colonize the grant, but the enterprise failed.
     Wheelwright Deed.--The deed of Col. John Wheelwright to the pro-
prietors, October 20, 1719, first gave bonds to the territory. It conveyed a
tract of land not exceeding ten miles square, bounded on the north by
Cheshire, on the east by Haverhill, on the south by Dracut, and on the west
by Dunstable. The settlers had, however, taken possession of the soil on
the principle of "squatter sovereignty" six months before, under encourage-
ment from Governor Shute, of Massachusetts, in accordance with a numer-
ously signed petition of the "Inhabitants of ye North of Ireland," dated
March 26, 1718.
     The First Crops raised by the emigrants were potatoes and flax. They
had brought their seed and spinning-wheels from Ireland, and were the
first to cultivate the potato and manufacture linen in New England. They
appear to have cultivated land in common the summer after their arrival,
as there is a tract known by the name of the "Common Field," containing
about two and one-half acres, situated a few rods west of the dwelling-house
of Mr. Jonathan Cate, in Derry. It was undoubtedly a clearing, and may
have been an abandoned planting-ground of the Indians, who were gradually
retiring to deeper shades of the wilderness in the wilds of Canada.
     Allotment of Lands.--Before the settlers received the deed from Wheel-
wright three lots of land had been laid out: the "Common Field," April 18,
1719, only seven days from their arrival; James McKean's home lot, August,
1719; and Robert Wears' home lot of sixty acres, also August, 1719. For
some reason no more land was assigned till the following year, when nearly
all the 105 home lots were laid out, most of them in the summer and autumn.
Afterward, when the town came to receive its charter from the Legislature,
several gentlemen residing in Portsmouth, N. H., then called "Strawberry
Bank," were admitted as proprietors, making in all about one hundred and
twenty-five grantees of the town.
     The proprietors designated their different divisions of land as "Home
lots; 2d, 3d, and 4th divisions, amendment land, and meadows." The former
were sixty acres each, while the other lands varied very much in size.
The lots assigned to each proprietor by the committee are designated by
the name of home lots second, third, and fourth divisions, addition land,
amendment land, and meadows. The home lots were sixty acres each, the
second divisions forty acres amendment land, "to make up to every proprietor
what his Home Lot wanted in quality to make equal with what was termed

Page 507

'The Precept.' " The Precept was the home lot of John Stuart, agreed upon
as a fair average of lots, and to this all others were compared. If a pro-
prietor deemed his sixty acres of less value than John Stuart's lot, and the
lot-layers concurred in this opinion, they laid out to him amendment land
in quantity sufficient to equalize his interest.
     The second division was made as soon as the settlers began to feel them-
selves "straitened for want of room." At first no reserve was made for
land for roads, and this oversight was remedied by laying out tracts isolated
from the home farm in lieu of land taken for highways.
     The meadows were of great value, for it was from them that the settlers
for a long time obtained the means of keeping their cattle and horses. Every
proprietor therefore had a small piece of meadow assigned to him, and it
often happened that it was located many miles from his home lot. The
quantity of this sort of land allotted to each one varied from one-quarter of
an acre to one and a half acres. The rule adopted was that each proprietor
should have land enough to yield "three small loads of hay." These meadows
must have had astonishing fertility, as many of them yield great burdens after
undergoing the discipline of 195 years' cropping without the smallest return.
     Double Range.-From a fragmentary record in the first volume of the
proprietors' books it appears that the first lots were laid out in the Double
Range, situated within the present bounds of Derry, on both sides of West-
Running Brook. There are about thirty lots in this range, and are one mile
long north and south, and thirty rods wide. The committee began at the
line, as claimed by Haverhill, on the south side of the brook, at the eastern
end of the range, assigning the first lot probably to William Humphrey, and
passing westerly down the brook, the third lot fell to Jonathan Tyler, the
south part of which became the property of Archibald Stark shortly after,
and On which Gen. John Stark was born, August 28, 1728.
     John Stuart's lot, "The Precept," was the most eastern one north of the
brook of this range, and was situated a few rods east of the residence of
Col. George W. Lane, once known as the Prentice, or Gen. Derby place. The
settlers built their cabins very near together, the north side of the range
building at the south end of their lots, and the south side at the north end,
the brook running between, securing in this way an advantage in case of an
attack from the Indians.
     Back Range.- The range known on the records as the Back Range con-
sisted of some half a dozen lots, and in this and the northern part of the
Double Range is situated the present Village of East Derry, and is the place
selected by the emigrants as the site of their first meeting-house.
     English Range.-The English Range, of about twenty lots, lies north of
Beaver Pond, the long lines running northeast from the pond, six of which
abut upon its waters. This range took its name from the fact that several
of the proprietors of English descent had their lands assigned in that locality.
Among them were John Goffe, first town clerk, and his son, John Goffe, Jr.,
afterwards quite prominent in the civil, ecclesiastical, and military history of
the state. The most northwestern lot of this range was laid out to James
Rogers, father of Maj. Robert Rogers, the ranger, who was born here.
     Aiken's Range.-The Aiken's Range, of seven lots, derived its name from
the three or four families of that name that settled there. At the west end
of this range John Bell, the emigrant ancestor of this honored family, had

Page 508

his home lot and second division laid out together, making 100 acres in all.
The South Range of a few lots adjoined the Double Range on the south near
the Windham line. All these ranges are within the present Town of Derry;
and in the east part of this town several lots were laid out to Portsmouth
proprietors, and Governor Wentworth's 300-acre farm in the locality, known
as "Derry Dock." James C. Taylor, Esq., was the owner of part of this
farm.
     Governor Shute's charter farm of 500 acres was laid in Windham, and
other land in that town to a considerable extent was assigned to the Lon-
donderry proprietors, but WaS mainly amendment or other lands than home
lots. In the present town of Londonderry the Ayres' Range and the High
Range were regularly laid out, the lots of the former being uniform in size
and shape with those of Derry. Excepting the seven Ayres' Range lots, the
greater part of the present town of Londonderry was laid out as second
division amendment and highway lands in very large tracts, amounting in
some instances to over four hundred acres.
     As the original charter bounds of Londonderry covered considerable por-
tions of the City of Manchester, extending a mile across Ranover Street, a
range of several lots, termed Blaisdel's Range, was laid out by the London-
derry committee. This range extended from Nutt's Pond to a point about
one mile northeast of the City Hall. On this land, or near it, is the site of a
fort built for the protection of the settlers there. It was at the outlet of
Nutt's Pond, then Swager's Pond, and called Stark's Fort in compliment to
Archibald Stark, who was efficient in building and garrisoning it.
     Large tracts of land were laid out for the support of the ministry. They
were called "Ministerials." The land assigned to the West Parish, or that
part of the town called Canada, was laid out November 6, 1729, on one of
the highest hills in what is now Londonderry, and contained 120 acres.
The next year a ministerial was allotted to the old parish church, now
East Derry , of fifty-four acres.
     In 1744 new bounds were given to it, and six acres added. Most of
this land was owned by Hon. William H. Shepard. The ministerial land for
the parish of Windham was situated near "Cobbit's Pond," and was laid out
in 1744, and contained fifty-five acres.
     Incorporation.- The long-pending dispute between New Hampshire and
Massachusetts in reference to the lines between these states occasioned the
Londonderry settlers much inconvenience. The latter state refused to incor-
porate the town, and it was not until June 21, 1722, more than three years
after the settlement, that the New Hampshire Court granted a charter,
although "humbly petitioned" to that effect as early as September 23, 1719.
     Probably the colonists were hindered in their attempts to secure town
privileges by a misconception of their character on the part of the state
governments. They were supposed to be Irish Roman Catholics.
     Notwithstanding this the colony thrived. Before the first of the autumnal
months had closed fifty-four families from Ireland and elsewhere, in addi-
tion to the original sixteen, "did sit down in Nutfield," and the work of
settlement went rapidly on. Cabins were built, the forests were leveled,
roads were marked out, and obstructions cleared away. There were no
idlers in the new colony; labor, skill, and enterprise soon brought their
usual reward.

Page 509

     Encroachers.-A large tract of land, some three or four miles wide,
along the whole eastern border of the town and within its chartered limits,
was claimed by Haverhill people under the old Massachusetts grant, and it
was not till the settlement of the state lines in 1740-41 that the border war-
fare ceased. The Londonderry residents within that claim were arrested and
confined in Massachusetts jails, and on the other hand many arrests were
made of the "Haverhill squatters," and much litigation followed. Many
charges like the following are to be found on the old Counter's books: "To
Johne Bamet six days watching prisoners 1-4-0." Nor was the comfort of
these prisoners neglected. Gabriel Barr was paid for thirteen days guarding
prisoners at Mudget's house and furnishing them "Board, Rhum, and Vitals."
The town also suffered much annoyance from people living on its western
borders, along the Litchfield and Nottingham-West lines, claiming lands
under the old Dunstable grant.
     Location of Proprietors.-The first lot in the English Range was laid
out to David Cargill, Sr. The second lot was assigned to Samuel Houston.
Mr. Samuel Clark was the owner. Houston was the father of Reverend John,
the Bedford loyalist. No one lived on the next original lot. It was called
Governor Wentworth's "home lot." His early and steadfast friendship for
the settlers was appreciated, and partly repaid in recorded thanks, gifts of
salmon, linen cloth, and other very large lots of land. The fourth lot was laid
out to Col. John Wheelwright, the grantor of the famous deed. There has
been much learned discussion relative to the validity of the Indian deed
of his ancestor, dated May 17, 1629. The next three lots successively were
Edward Proctor's, Benjamin Kidder's, and John Gray's.
     The original owners of these and the other lots were all men of note.
John Morrison was the father of Jonathan, the first-born male child in
Londonderry, and who in the next generation enjoyed with Capt. Samuel
Allison the honor of being the best public speaker in town. John Morrison's
daughter, Elizabeth, married William Smith, of Peterboro', N. H., and
became mother of Hon. Jeremiah Smith, one of the most gifted of the sons
of New Hampshire.
     Hon. Samuel Livermore lived in a stone house on the place, just opposite
the mansion of Colonel Lane. Hon. John Prentice, who came after him,
built the main part of the present house. Besides these several other emi-
nent men made their homes here. Two judges of the highest court in
New Hampshire were born on the place--Arthur Livermore and Charles
Doe.
     Dismemberment of the Town.- The original Township of Londonderry
has been divided into several parts. Windham, including a part of Salem,
was detached February 12, 1742, and upon the incorporation of Derryfield,
now Manchester, September 3, 1751, a large tract along its northern border
was taken off and added to that town. March 6, 1778, another part of
Londonderry was cut off and united to Nottingham West, now Hudson, by
act of the New Hampshire Legislature. July 2, 1827, the remaining part of
the old town was divided by the incorporation of Derry.
     Town and Parish Records.-Much interest appertains to these various
records, All the early records of the East Parish Society, now East Derry,
and the early church records of the West Parish, now Londonderry. The
former were found a few years ago, and again lost; the latter were loaned

Page 510 

during the pastorate of Rev. J. R. Adams to Rufus Choate, the eminent
lawyer, and are said to have been burned with the Concord, Mass., court-
house a few years ago. The books of the Congregational Church formed in
East Parish after the settlement of Rev. Jonathan Bow are now at the rooms
of the New Hampshire Historical Society at Concord, N. H. The following
are some of the many curiosities of these records: October 3, 1727.
"Thomas Smith being cited doth appear, & John Morrison & John Mitchel
being called doth witness that they saw him get several beaver skins of the
Indians for Rum without their value." 1730. "Voted that the town hath
agreed to let Hugh Wilson be prosecuted for an idler." 1730, 8th article
in town warrant. "To see what the town will do with John More," Rec-
ord; "Deferred by reason John More is dead."
     Fisheries.-The charter of Londonderry inclosed a strip of land extend-
ing from the northwest corner of the main body of the town, one mile wide
and three miles long. From that point the course was "N. N. E. three
miles, then E. S. E. one mile, then S. .S. W ., to the S. W. angle of Chester."
It extends across Hanover Street in the City of Manchester one mile north-
erly to the place known as the Hall Place. The hill as originally drawn for
a charter gave these long lines a north-northwest direction, thus including
Amoskeag Falls, but for some unexplained reason the bill was engrossed giving
these lines a north-northeast course. The object of this singular addition to
the territory of the town was to secure the Amoskeag fisheries at the falls, then
of very great value to the people of Londonderry as a means of sustenance,
hard pressed as they often were for the necessaries of life before their small
clearings afforded a comfortable living. In this way Londonderry lost pos-
session of these valuable fishing grounds. They nevertheless asserted their
rights, and were measurably successful in maintaining them.
     It is an indication that the fishery was of much consequence to the people
that one of the earliest roads was laid out to " Ammosceag Falls." There
were a large number of rocks among the surging waters of the falls that
offered favorable opportunities for catching fish. These places were highly
prized, and the strifes of the bold, courageous, and athletic men contending
for them, added to the foaming waters rushing around the rocks, often occa-
sioned accidents, many of which were fatal. "Todd Gut" derived its name
from the fact that John Todd, son of Col. Andrew Todd, was drowned there
while fishing in company with his cousin, John Bell, of Londonderry. Before
the dams were built at Lawrence, Massachusetts, vast quantities of shad, ale-
wives, and eels were annually caught, and often a fine salmon. This royal
fish must have been abundant, as many charges are found on the town books
like the following: "To John Goffe, Jr., for 98 lbs. salmon at £10 4s. 00.;"
"To Hugh Morrison, for carrying salmon to Portsmouth, £1, 10s.0d." If a
favor was to be asked of the governor, some prominent man was dispatched
to Portsmouth on horseback with a salmon in his saddlebags for his excel-
lency. Large quantities of fish were taken at Thornton's Ferry. Within the
memory of living persons, many families regarded their barrel of shad of
equal importance with their barrel of beef or pork. With the settler fish was
a healthy and grateful change from the inevitable samp and barley broth, which
was their staple diet.
     Indian History.-From some cause, not fully understood, the town suf-
fered but little in the various Indian wars that distressed the people of other

Page 511

towns of New Hampshire. It is not known that a single person from Lon-
donderry lost his life at the hand of the savage tribes that carried desolation
and death to many homes in the state. Parker ascribes this exemption "to
the influence of the Reverend Mr. McGregor with the Marquis de Vaudreuil,
the French governor of Canada. It is said they were classmates at college,
that a correspondence was maintained between them, and that at the request
and representation of his former friend the governor caused means to be
used fur the protection of the settlement."
     An illustration of the friendliness of the Indian tribes is related as
occurring in the family of Archibald McMurphy, Esq., who lived in the north
part of the West Parish, on the farm known as the David R. Leach place.
MrMurphy and wife, one Sunday when two miles on their way to church,
met eight Indians going to Amoskeag, and in the direction of their house,
where were several small children. The mother became alarmed, and proposed
to turn immediately back to protect their helpless family. The father replied
that the Indians were too strong for them, and asked her what she could do.
Said she, "I can die with the weans if I can't do better." On their way back
they found the remains of a deer, and on their arrival home the savages were
broiling and roasting the venison and giving the young McMurphys a delicious
repast.
     Notwithstanding all this, Londonderry furnished at different times men
and means to assist in repelling the incursions of the "Indian enemy." There
were three men from the town in the famous expedition of Capt. John Love-
well to the Pigwacket country in 1725,--John Goffe, Jr., subsequently Colonel
Goffe, Benjamin Kidder, his brother-in-law, and Edward Linkfield. Kidder
was taken sick, and was left at a fort by the company at Ossipee Lake. Goffe,
with several others, also remained at the fort. Linkfield alone of the three
was in the fight which took place May 19th. He was one of the nine that
received no considerable wound, and, with Gaffe and Kidder, returned home
in safety. In the summer of 1745, Capt. Peter Pattee, of Londonderry,
"scouted the woods with a small company of cavalry," and the next year
Capt. Samuel Barr with seventeen men performed a like service. Capt.
Andrew Todd also arranged the woods in July, 1746, with twenty-two men.
During the year 1755 the town furnished many men at Crown Point, and
enlistments were made in 1757 and 1758. In the expedition to Canada in
1760 Londonderry was largely represented. The town furnished one com-
pany at Louisburg in 1745. It was under command of Capt. John Moor.
     Garrison-Houses.-Notwithstanding Londonderry dwelt in comparative
security from Indian attacks, a few garrison houses were built, to which the
people could repair should danger impend. The house of Capt. James Gregg,
near the mill, was a garrison, and also the house of Samuel Barr. The town
paid for a "flanker" round Reverend Mr. McGregor's dwelling, and there were
other garrisons in the East Parish. Mr. John A. Plumer, who was born in
the West Parish garrison house, remembers, when a boy, of looking through
the holes cut in the immense timbers, through which an assailed party could
thrust their guns. John Woodburn, a proprietor who died in 1780, is said
to have lived in a garrison-house.
     Town's stock of bullets and ammunition.
     In June, 1718, the Province of New Hampshire enacted a law requiring
towns to keep on hand one barrel of good powder, 200-weight of bullets, 300

Page 512

flints for every sixty listed soldiers for use in Case of an Indian attack. Lon-
donderry obeyed the law of the land and always had a full supply of the
required ammunition. There are payments recorded in the town books like the
following :
     "To Daniel McAfee for making bulits, £0 45. od."
     "To James Alexander for lead for bulits, £0 2S. od."
     People were paid for taking charge of the town stock. By vote of the
town at one time the stock of powder was stored in the attics of the meeting-
houses, a pleasant and useful place in case of lightning during church services.
"1745, voted to buy two barrels of gunpowder and lodge one-half in the
old meeting-house and the other half in the new."
     Early Grist-Mills.-Capt. James Gregg built a grist-mill in 1722, in what
is now Derry Village, probably on the spot where the mill of W. W. Poor
now stands. This is usually regarded as the first in town. There is, how-
ever, a record on the town books indicating that the mill of David Cargill,
at the eastern extremity of Beaver Pond, may have an earlier date. It is the
record of the road running along north of the pond from Samuel Marshall's
house to George McMurphy's, dated February 13, 1720. The road crosses
"the brook below Captain Cargill's grist-mill." The Gregg mill was lOng
kept in that family, but since it passed to other hands has had many owners.
     In Londonderry the mill privilege of E. C. Kendall has been improved as
such since about June 1, 1731. At that time the proprietors granted it to
Benjamin Wilson, who built the first mill. It has since been known as Moor's
mills and Gross' mills, and now Kendall's. Mills were first built in the
northeastern part of Londonderry, by David McAfee.
     Early Saw-Mills.-A grant of land was made by the proprietors June 17,
1719, to Robert Boyes, James Gregg, Samuel Graves, and Joseph Symonds,
on condition that they should build a saw-mill upon Beaver River (Brook),
to be ready some time in the month of September of that year. The "privilege
of the stream was also granted to them and their heirs forever, from the
foot of the falls to the upper end of Beaver Pond, and James Gregg to build
a grist-mill on said stream." It is not known just what time this saw-mill
was built, but it must have been before February 20, 1720, as the road between
the two villages was laid out at that date, "beginning at the bridge below
the saw-mill." William Gregg was paid in 1721 four pounds for sawing
boards for the meeting-house. In 1721 a grant of the privilege of Aiken's
Brook and one acre of land was made to the proprietaries in Aiken's Range,
on condition that they should build a saw-mill. This mill must have stood
where is noW the mill of Washington Perkins. Horne's mill is on the same
stream, lower down.
     Highways-First Road.-The following is the record of the laying out
of road between the villages: "Feb. 13, 1720. A byway laid out from the
bridge below the Sawmill, from thence running sou-easterly by Mr. Gregg's
hous, from thence turning more easterly, along by James Clark's new hous,
& so up by James Neasmath's & so along as the old way as far as the east
corner of Robert Wear's fence." There is no authority given for this, but
December 16, 1725, the selectmen of that year indorsed it, and added, said
road to be "two rods wide & to be open & common without gates & bars."
The English Range road from George W. Dickey's to Samuel Marshall's,

Page 513

and along the north of the pond to George McMurphy's, was laid out about
the same time.
     The road to "Ammasceegg Falls" was first laid out by Capt. James Gregg
and William Aiken in 1724. But a small part of this road is now in use. The
roads from the East Church in Derry to the pond, and that runnIng south
by the cemetery, and also the highway across the Double Range south of
West Running Brook were all worked out by the selectmen June 1, 1723.
The Aiken's Range road, November 6, 1723, to be four rods wide across
the Aiken lots, and two through the village to the mill. The Chester road
was laid out November 17, 1723. The highway between Derry Village and
the depot, and thence to William P. Nevin's land in Londonderry, three rods
wide, was laid out in 1737. Many of the leading highways in Derry were
laid out in 1723 and the two or three years following. The Londonderry turn-
pike was built in 1806. In Londonderry the laying of roads began June 19,
1730, at John Duncan's house. The road running east to meet the Aiken's
Range road was laid out at that time. January 31, 1740, was laid out the
highway by Aaron P. Hardy's house, north and south, and west by the grave-
yard. No roads over the old graveyard hill were laid out till 1739, although
there must have been much travel there. The road from W. P. Kevin's land,
running west by the house of John Gilcreast to Mason Boyd's house, three rods
wide, was laid out in 1737, and the main road across Londonderry, east and
west to Litchfield, in 1744 and 1745, and from Dinsmore's Comer north to
the Baptist Church in 1745. The Mammoth road was built in 1831.
     Some laid-out highways were never built, and many years elapsed before
even the main portion of them were anything but bridle-paths. In the last
hundred years great improvement has been made in both towns in widening
and straightening.
     Wild Animals.- The early settlers of Londonderry found the forests alive
with many kinds of game. Deer and bears were abundant. A moose killed
in the West Parish gave name to a hill there of 500 feet elevation. For
more than sixty years the town elected men to "prevent the killing of deer out
of season." Bounties were paid on wolves' heads, and as late as the Revolu-
tion people brought their sheep to the fold every night to guard against the
depredations of this fierce animal. Many stories relate encounters with bears.
Probably the last one killed was in 1807. It took fifty men and three days'
time to capture him. He weighed 200 pounds dressed, and his skin afforded
the party a whisky-punch and a jollification.
     Domestic Animals.-Horses were common in town from the first settle-
ment. The earliest accounts record payments similar to the following: "To
Abel Merrill for money due from the town and horse hire, £0 12S. od. To
James Nesmith for his horse £0 8s. od." There was constant use for horses
in "going to ye Bank,"-that is, Portsmouth,-with salmon and cloth for
the state officials, and in "going down for the elements of the Sacrament";
and the long distances that had to be gone over by most of the people every
Sunday in attending meeting needed the services of this useful animal. Deacon
James Reid, the father of Gen. George Reid, lived in the locality called Kilrea,
on the extreme southern border of Derry, but was always a regular attendant 
at the West Parish Church. The McClary family never failed to appear at
church in the East Parish, although their residence was in the west part of
Londonderry, near the present site of the Baptist Church. Large numbers

Page 514

traveled equally as far to their places of worship, and were constant in their
attendance. Just what time oxen came into general use is not known. The
following extract from the records, dated March, 1722-23, would indicate that
cOws at least were abundant, possibly too milch so: "Voted that all persons
shall have the liberty to bring in cattle to the town, so as to make up the
number of six with his own cattle and no more, and those that have cattle
of their own have the liberty to bring the number of ten if they bring a bull
with them, otherwise to bring in no more." Hogs were plenty and trouble-
some, and were allowed to run at large, requiring a by-law that compelled
their owners to yoke them. 1722, "voted that hogs shall be yoked from the
20th of March to the last of October." The people were often called upon
to entertain the governor and other gentlemen high in office, and when salmon
or venison were out of season a sheep or lamb was brought to the block.
     Exempt Farms.-A few of the Londonderry settlers who were in the
siege of Londonderry, Ireland, 168S-B9, and who took an important part in
the defense of the city, were, in common with all the soldiers engaged there,
exempted from taxation by an act of the British Parliament. This exemption
continued down to the Revolution, which terminated all the authority of
England here. Among the exempts were Rev. Matt. Clark, John Barr, Wil-
liam Caldwell, Abraham Blair, and James Wilson. There were probably
more, but their names are unknown. James Wilson lived on the Proctor
place.
     Slaves.- There were a few slaves in town before the Revolution. The
census of 1773 enumerated twelve male and thirteen female persons of this
class. Reverend Mr. Davidson had two, mother and daughter, named "Poll
and Moll." In the West Parish, Deacon James Thompson and Thomas Wal-
lace held property of this kind. The latter owned a negro boy, for whom
he had paid $100. Toney made a raft and went for a ride on the flowed
meadow of the "fourteen-acre meadow brook." The craft proving unsafe,
Toney, in fear of drowning, shouted to his owner to come and help him and
save his $100.
     Revolution.-Londonderry was not behind other towns of New Hamp-
shire in carrying the burdens imposed upon them by the War of the Revolu-
tion. The town entered early into the conflict with men and means, and held
resolutely on till the long and severe contest with England was terminated in
the treaty of peace in 1783. Mr. Parker, in his history, says, "When the news
came that General Gage was marching troops into the interior, New Hampshire
at once took up arms and hastened to the scene of action. Twelve hundred of
her sons instantly repaired to Charlestown and Cambridge. Among these was
a company from Londonderry. The tidings had no sooner reached the town
than the whole community were seized with a warlike frenzy. A number of
men, dropping instantly their implements of husbandry, hastened to spread
the news, and in a few hours all who could bear arms were assembled on the
common at the meeting-house. They were prepared to act. From the two
companies of militia in town a large company of volunteers was at once
formed. They started instantly on being organized, their provisions, ammu-
nition, and whatever was necessary for their encampment and future wants
being afterwards forwarded by express. The roll of this company is as
follows: George Reid, captain; Abraham Reid, first lieutenant: James
Anderson, second lieutenant; John Patten, quartermaster-sergeant; Daniel

Page 515

Miltimore, John Nesmith, Robert Burnet, John Mackey, sergeants; James I
McCluer, Robert Boyer, Joshua Thompson, George McMurphy, corporals ;
Robert Burke, drummer; Thomas Inglis, fifer; Matthew Anderson, Robert
Adams, Samuel Ayers, Hugh Alexander, John Anderson, Alexander Brown,
William Boyd, John Campbell, Thomas Campbell, Peter Christie, Solomon
Collins, Stephen Chase, William Dickey, James Duncan, Samuel Dickey,
John Ferguson, John Head, Asa Senter, Samuel Houston, Jonathan Holmes;
Peter Jenkins, John Livingstone, Hugh Montgomery, John Morrison, James
Morrison, Joseph Mack, Martin Montgomery, Robert McMurphy, William
McMurphy, William Moore, Robert Mack, David McClary, Archibald Mack,
James Nesmith, James Nesmith, Jr., William Parker, Joshua Reid, William
Rowell, Thomas Roach, Abel Senter, James Stinson, Samuel Senter, Samuel
Thompson, John Vance, Hugh Watts, Thomas Wilson, John Patterson,
Henry Parkinson, Samuel Stinson, John Smith, Richard Cressey, and James
Moore, and six men from Windham, privates. Lieutenant Reid was of
Windham. As William Adams, William Gregg, and David McGregor were
in the service at that time, they were probably at Bunker Hill. There were
also seventeen men from Londonderry in Colonel Prescott's regiment who
took a part in that engagement, and probably a few others, as the town paid
bounties to ninety-nine men.
     Capt. John Nesmith commanded a company raised in August, 1776, in
which were thirty-nine men from Londonderry. Of these, not before named,
were Samuel Cherry, ensign; Solomon Todd, sergeant; Michael George,
drummer; Timothy Dustin, fifer; John McClurg, William Rogers, Robert
McCluer, James Ewins, Robert Boyer, Jr., John Orr, Samuel Rowell, John
Humphrey, John Cox, Edward Cox, John Anderson, Jr., Thomas White,
Ephraim White, James Moor, Samuel Eayers, John Ramsey, David George,
Jonathan Gregg, Abner Andrews, Alexander Craige, William Colby, Patrick
Fling, William Adams, James Boyer, Jr., Jonathan George, Charity Killicut,
and John Lancaster, privates. In December, 1776, the following enlist-
ments were made, not before named: Jonathan Wallace, William Lyon,
Moses Watts, Thomas McClary, Jesse Jones, Arthur Nesmith, John Todd,
Benjamin Nesmith, James Hobbs, Nathan Whiting, Benjamin Robinson,
David Marshall, William Burroughs.
     The enlistments in 1777 and 1778 of three years' men numbered about
fifty, several of whom had previously seen service. Capt. Daniel Reynolds
commanded a company of seventy men at Bennington, David McClory and
Adam Taylor lieutenants, John Smith, John McKeon, John Anderson, and
John Robinson sergeants. Lieutenant McClory was killed there, and is
said to be the ohly man, from Londonderry who lost his life in battle during
the war, although according to the muster-rolls the town furnished more
men than any other in New Hampshire. Twenty-five men under Capt.
Joseph Finlay served for a short time at Saratoga in 1777, and the same
year there were five men in Col. Henry Jackson's regiment. In 1778 the
town paid bounties to twenty men for service in Rhode Island. 1779 there
were seventeen enlistments: in 1780, thirteen: in 1781, thirty. (See Chester.)
     Association Test.-At the beginning of the second year of the war there
were so many persons in all our towns suspected of Toryism that the New
Hampshire Committee of Safety, in accordance with a recommendation of
the Continental Congress, requested selectmen to circulate papers for sig-

Page 516

nature affirming opposition to the British Government. In Londonderry
there were 372 males over twenty-one who signed a declaration of inde-
pendence, substantially the same as the memorable declaration of July 4,
1776, and but fifteen who refused to sign.
     Tories of the Revolution.-Londonderry had perhaps her share of Tories.
This offensive name was given to those persons who took sides with Great
Britain in our War of Independence, and was applied to those who even
leaned that way. "Time's effacing fingers" have softened down the asperi-
ties of that period, and the "king's friends" are now everywhere designated
by the less opprobrious name of loyalists. Considering the power of Eng-
land, the feebleness of the colonies and their poverty, it is not surprising that
large numbers of people either openly favored the crown or were inclined
that way. It is to be added, however, that as soon as the first blow was struck
a large portion of the latter class sided with the patriotic party, and joined
with them heart, hand, and purse in the unequal contest with England. Many
of the loyalists were on the shady side of fifty years, and were looking
towards the setting sun. The ambition and enterprise of younger days were
gone, and after the severe struggles they had endured in subduing the forest
and the Indian enemy that roamed through them they desired to possess
their homes of peace and plenty in quiet, and pass the remainder of life undis-
turbed by war's alarms. But when aroused by the blood shed at Bunker Hill,
many of them were ready for the fray. It is related of Samuel Campbell,
of Windham, who leaned at first to the loyalist side, that when he heard
from Bunker Hill he saddled "his old meer," and took provisions in his
saddle-bags to his two boys, who had been in the fight, thinking, as he said,
"they might be hungry." The loyalists, as a class, were men of wealth,
education, and respectability, many of them holding office under the crown.
It is no wonder then that large numbers hestitated to go at once into rebellion.
For some reasons not known there were more loyalists in the English Range
than were to be found in any other part of the town. There were a few
that lived near the First Church, now East Derry. Among them Col.
Stephen Holland was the most prominent. His reputation as a Tory was
more than local, as the history of the times clearly proved. He was tavern-
keeper and a merchant, was a man of wealth and education, and his influence,
in the language of the day, is said to have "tarred numbers of the people
with the stick of Toryism." He was proscribed and banished by the act of
November 19, 1778, and his property, numbering four farms, was confiscated.
The same act also proscribed and banished the following men of London-
derry: Richard Holland, John Davidson, James Fulton, Thomas Smith, and
Dennis O'Hala. It does not appear that anyone suffered confiscation except
Colonel Holland. There were perhaps some twenty men in town who were
Tories, but they were not prominent enough to cause much trouble. John
Clark, of the English Range, was confined for a time to his own premises,
with liberty only to attend church on Sunday. He ventured to step across
his lines to pick up a hawk he had shot, for which he was fined. A barn
was raised on the hill where Mr. Clement lives during the height of the
Tory excitement, and much apprehension was feared that trouble would
ensue, as the Tories of the English Range would be there and meet the
Pinkertons, the Aikens, and the Wallaces. It was feared that blows would
follow political discussion, and a fight between those stalwart men would

Page 517

be no small affair. The parties, however, had the good sense to raise the
barn, quietly drink their whisky, and depart for their homes in peace. The
women of that day had their politics as well as the men. The wife of
Dr. Alexander Cummings "wished that the English Range from its head
to Beaver Pond ran ankle-deep in Whig blood."
     Taverns.-Before May 12, 1726, John Barr, who lived on the John
B. Taylor place in the East Parish, kept a tavern for the "accommodation
of Man & beast." This is made certain by the following extract from the
journal of John Wainwright, clerk of the Massachusetts Bay Committee,
sent to layout Pennacook, now Concord, N. H. In going from Haver-
hill to Pennacook, "about 11 or 12 o'clock we arrived at Nutfield, alias
Londonderry, & refreshed ourselves & horses at the house of one John
Barr, an Irish tavern-keeper, but we had nothing of him but 'small Beer.'"
There were numbers of hostelries in Londonderry: many of them, however,
were merely places where spirits in some form was sold, and they were
much frequented long after the Revolution by the old soldiers of that and
the previous Indian wars. They often got together of a winter's night, and
after inspiring draughts of punch and flip the old-time memories would
come over them, and as "the night drave on wi' sangs and clatter," they
would "shoulder their crutches and show how fields were won." The loyalist
colonel, Stephen Holland, kept tavern where the late David Bassett lived,
and after him Capt. Samuel Allison and others. Dr. Isaac Thorn, with
much other business, was a hotel-keeper. In Derry lower village a public-
house was kept at the Thornton place several years by John Dinsmoor and
others.
     In the West Parish, James Thompson, at the Hurd place, entertained the
surveyors for Holland's map in 1784, and near the close of the Revolution,
at the Dinsmoor corner, 300 Hessian prisoners from Burgoyne's army, on
their way to Boston, were kept for a night. Packer's tavern was on the
High Range. He employed Richard H. Brinton, a deserter from the
British army, to paint a sign during the excitement of the Jefferson campaign.
He had Jefferson's likeness put on one side of the sign. The painter asked
what he should paint upon the other. "Oh," replied Packer, "I am not
particular; anything appropriate to go with Jefferson," "Well, then," said
Brinton, "I will just paint the devil!"
     Currency.-Like all new countries, the people of Londonderry suffered
great inconvenience for want of a circulating medium wherewith to transact
their business. There was but little of what could be called money in the
settlement during the lives of the emigrants, and yet they were not wholly
destitute. Most business was done by means of barter, corn, beans, peltry,
and even spinning-wheels taking the place of money. In the emergencies
arising from the various Indian wars the Government was compelled to issue
"Bills of credit." All such bills authorized before 1742 were called "Old
Tenor," and the issue of that year and subsequently till the Revolution were
denominated "New Tenor." The temptation to over-issues beyond the 
credit of the Government to respond could not be resisted, and great depre-
ciation was the natural result, to the severe embarrassment of the people.
The salary of Reverend Mr. Davidson, of the East Parish, in 1767 was
1,500 pounds of old tenor, and the next year it was seventy-five pounds lawful

Page 518

money. The depreciation of the Continental money wrought financial ruin
to large numbers of the people.
     The subjoined order among the town's papers will illustrate some of the
difficulties the fathers had to wrestle with in relation to their currency:
"To Mr. Jesse Jones, Constable:
     "Please pay or discount with James Rogers, ten shillings in certificates,
and five shillings of Indents, & three shillings and four pence out of your
town list, & one shilling & eight pence in specie, & one shilling eight pence in
specie orders, and one shilling eight pence out of your county list, it being
for his father's pole tax, rated and dead in the same year, & it will be allowed
on settlement of your lists.
                                                "George Reid, Select Clerk.
     "Londonderry, Jan. 15, 1790."
     Schools.-The settlers of Londonderry made early and as full provision
as possible for the rising generation; and this good example has been followed
to the present day. An early law of the province required "every fifty house-
holders to be provided of a schoolmaster to teach children and youth to read
and write, and one hundred families were required to set up a Grammar
school." Accordingly the town voted in 1726 "That a Grammar school
shall be sett up by David McGregor." And the same year "Voted to build a
school-house 18 ft long beside the chimney, that there shall be two fire-places
in one end as large as the house wilt allow, 7 foot in the side of logs at the
meeting-house." In 1728 the wages of a schoolmaster were thirty-six pounds
per annum. March 25, 1732, "Voted that there shall be two schools kept
as public schools for the year; the one at the meeting-house, and at or by, as
near Allen Anderson's house, or thereabouts, and Mr. John Wilson shall be
the schoolmaster." Before the establishment of the present system of com-
mon schools all through the town teachers were employed, and schools were
taught in private houses, and not infrequently barns were used as school-
rooms. The Hon. Samuel Bell, afterwards governor of New Hampshire,
when in college taught a winter term in a dwelling-house in the West
Parish. He was a strict disciplinarian even for those times, and during
the first week of the term some of the mischievous boys got sundry raps over
the head from a cane in the hands of the teacher. The following Sunday,
at church, John Bell, the father of the college student, anxious for his suc-
cess, asked Deacon Thomas Patterson how Sam was getting on in school.
The deacon replied, "Very well; only I think he had better leave his cane
at home tomorrow." The hint was taken, the cane was left at home, and
an excellent school was the result.
     The various divisions in town known as school districts were at first
called "classes," and prudential committees called "heads of the class." The
divisions were not numbered as at present, but designated by some local
name, as the Aiken's Range Class, etc. All through the years great atten-
tion has been given to all matters pertaining to education, and large sums
annually expended in support of common schools. The fact that high schools
and academies were early established in town is abundant proof that the
people have not been and are not behind other towns in providing for the
welfare of the rising generation.
     Spotted Fever of 1812.-The town has always enjoyed remarkable immu-
nity from epidemics. But two of any account are known in its history. In

Page 519

1753 a fever of great malignity, much resembling the yellow fever of later
years, carried off several of the inhabitants, among whom were a few of the
leading citizens. The ravages of the spotted fever of 1812 caused great
excitement, and many families suffered severely. In the West Parish three
children in the family of Alexander Anderson died, and three or four in the
family of David Anderson. Robert Taylor, who lived in the East Parish,
lost four children, and William Thompson, two. Bleeding was thought to be
a means of cure, but the sickness was so general that the doctors were unable
to respond to all the cases. In this emergency Christopher Thorn, Abraham
Morrison, and Joseph Gregg went through the town using the lancet. Physi-
cians from abroad were employed.
     War of 1812-15.-Soon after the declaration of war President Madison
requested Governor Plumer, of New Hampshire, to order into service of the
United States such a part of the state militia as he should deem necessary
for the defense of Portsmouth. A company was drafted from the Third
Brigade, to which Londonderry belonged, to serve six months, and Capt.
John Leonard, of this town, was put in command. The following named
men went to Portsmouth: Capt. John Leonard, Moses C. Pillsbury, John
Palmer, Moses Messer, John Plumer, David Wilson, John Saunders, and
James Whittemore. Under Governor Gilman's order of September 9, 1814,
Capt. James Thorn, of Londonderry, was in command of a company for a
short time, but there were no privates from town in this company. Under
the same order Londonderry furnished twenty-two men for the service,
who were enlisted September 23, 1814, for sixty days. In the same company
there were ten men from Windham. The names of all the men above
enumerated are on record, but the town furnished others that the muster-
rolls are silent in respect to. The political sentiment of the town being largely
in opposition to the war, the voluntary enlistments were few. Most of the
men were drafted.
     Tomatoes were first raised in town in 1822, by Madame Morrison, widow
of Rev. William Morrison, she having brought the seed from her early home
at Octoraro, Pa.
     Emigrations from Town.-No sketch of Londonderry can be perfect with-
out mention of towns colonized therefrom. Very early several of the pro-
prietors relinquished their "home lots" and settled in other parts of the
town on second divisions, or amendment land. Among these were John
Woodburn, of the Ayers Range, and John Senter, of the English Range,
who removed to the lower part of the High Range in the West Parish. John
Goffe, four years town clerk, took up residence in 1734 at "Gaffe's Falls."
Prior to 1736 a vaguely-defined strip of land, called Harrytown, extending
several miles along the eastern bank of the Merrimac, opposite Amoskeag
Falls, had been partly settled by the Scotch-Irish and English. Much conten-
tion arising among them relative to the fishing interest, the former thought best
to strengthen their party by a reinforcement from the Scotch-Irish fighting
blood of Londonderry. John McNeil, in 1735, and Archibald Stork, in 1736,
and several others responded to the call. How well the imperiled settlers,
struggling to maintain their claim, judged of the character of the men they
summoned to their aid let Chippewa, Bunker Hill, and Bennington in a suc-
ceeding generation tell.
     Cherry Valley, Otsego County, N. Y., settled in 1740; received an im-

Page 520

portant addition to its populatjon from that part of Londonderry now Wind-
ham. Col. Samuel Campbell, Samuel Clyde, and several others were among
the early settlers. Bedford, N. H., incorporated May 19, 1750, was largely
represented by settlers from Londonderry. Among them were the Riddles,
the Moors, the Aikens, the Walkers, the Orrs, and many others. Many of
the leading families of Peterboro', N. H., incorporated January 17, 1760,
were from Londonderry--the Morrisons, Smiths, Steels, Greggs, etc. In
1760 a company of Archibalds, Taylors, Fishers, and others settled in Truro,
Nova Scotia. Large numbers of the early citizens of New Boston, N. H., were
of Londonderry-the Crombies, Cochrans, Clarks, Pattersons, McColloms,
McAllisters, etc. Nearly all the proprietors of Henniker, N. H., were from
Londonderry .Those who removed thither were most prominent in the new
settlement-the Wallaces, Campbells, and Pattersons. The first permanent
settler in Antrim, N. H., was Deacon James Aiken, of Londonderry. He was
succeeded by Duncans, Greggs, and others. The towns of Acworth, Merri-
mac, and Goffstown, N. H., claim a Londonderry origin for many of their
people, also the towns of Londonderry and Windham, Vt. Belfast, Me,
is indebted to this town for its most prominent settlers.
     Londonderry Literature.-Several of the early colonists were said to be
gifted with poetical talent, and among them were Rev. Matt. Clark and
Robert Boyer, Esq. The former was an eccentric minister, and the latter
was a man of talent, had great influence in town, and was often in public
employment, but the specimens of their writing that have come down to us
do not warrant us in giving them a very high place among the poets. Doctor
Thornton is said to have left a manuscript work on some religious subject.
Rev. David McGregor, Reverend Dr. Morrison, and Rev. Daniel D. Dana,
among the older ministers, and Rev. E. L. Parker and Rev. L. S. Parker,
of later years, all published sermons. The century sermon of Rev. E. L.
Parker in 1819 is the basis of the history of the town he had got nearly
ready for the press at the time of his death in 1850. The history, a work
of 358 pages, was published by his son, Edward P. Parker, Esq., in 1851,
and is regarded as a very valuable work, and one of the best town histories.
Copies of the work are very rare, and, like all Londonderry literature, com-
mand high prices, In 1870 a compilation of the "Exercises on the 150th
anniversary of the town's settlement" was published.
     Rev. Luther B. Pert, pastor of the Presbyterian Society in Londonderry,
published in 1876 a valqable centennial sermon, historical of the society.
church, and town.
     Londonderry claims many eminent men who were either natives of the
town or residents for a time. Of these may be mentioned John Bell, ancestor
of three governors of New Hampshire and three United States senators;
Gen. George Reid, the trusted friend of Washington; Gen. John Stark, the
hero of Bennington; Matthew Thornton, the jurist and statesman; Samuel
Livermore and John Prentice, the accomplished lawyers; Rev. Dr. Joseph
McKeen, first president of Bowdoin College; and many others, of whom
there is no space in this sketch even to name. Very large numbers of the
most prominent living men in the land "claim kindred here, and have their
claims allowed."
     Mammoth Road.-This road was built in the summer of 1831, and
opened to travel in the autumn of that year. It became at once a popular

Page 521

line between Concord, N. H., and Boston. Three lines of daily stages were
put on the road, which carried vast numbers of passengers. In the winter
season large quantities of country produce were carried over the road, seek-
ing a market at Lowell and Boston. This continued till the opening of the
Concord and Nashua Railroad, in 1838. The Mammoth Road, so named in
derision by its enemies, has always been a great convenience to the people
of the town. In 1832 President Jackson and cabinet passed over it on their
way from Boston to Concord, N. H., and dined at the hotel of Mr. White, in
the north part of the town.
     Cemeteries.-The oldest cemetery in town is situated upon the hill known
as "Grave-yard Hill," about one mile from the Derry line, nearly opposite
the site of the First Church. An acre of land was bought of Robert Wallace.
The first interment was "ye learned William Wallace," who died March 27,
1733. He was born at Bush Mills, Ireland, in 1707, graduated at a college
in Edinburgh, Scotland, and studied for the ministry. Although it is now a
lonely place, unused for purposes of burial, it contains the remains of many
of the honored dead of the olden time. Among them John Bell, the emigrant
ancestor of the eminent family that has through three or four generations,
taken a distinguished part in the councils of the state and nation. He died
July 8, 1743, aged sjxty-four. A massive marble slab marks the resting-
place of Maj. John Pinkerton, the founder of Pinkerton Academy. Many
members of the Duncan family lie here, and there are stones "In Memoriam"
of David and Margaret (Clark) Woodburn, maternal grandparents of Horace
Greeley. The second cemetery in town received its first recorded burial in
February, 1793--David Patterson, son of Deacon Thomas Patterson, who
died the 12th day of that month. Near the center stands a stately and
appropriate granite monument inscribed to the memory of Hon. John Bell and
wife. He was born in Londonderry, August 15, 1730, and died there Novem-
ber 30, 1825, having long served faithfully the town and state in many
important positions. An addition to this yard was made on the south in 1852.
The cemetery in the northwest part was originally a private yard, but now
belongs to the town.
     Glenwood Cemetery.-About fifty citizens of the town, in 1869, purchased
three acres of land of Robert Mack, fenced it, and laid it out into lots. The
first buried here was Mrs. John Haynes.
     West Parish, or Londonderry Presbyterian Meeting-House.-February
25, 1740, the New Hampshire Legislature incorporated a second parish in
Londonderry. It took the name of the West Parish, and embraced all the
present town of Londonderry and a considerable part of Derry. The first
meeting-house of the parish was erected near the old graveyard certainly
as early as 1735, and may have been as early as March 14, 1733, as that was
the date of the call to Rev. David McGregor, the first pastor. It was never
fully finished, and probably only occasional services were held in it. The
second house was built one mile and a half east of the former, in the Aiken's
Range, now Derry, about 1737, as we find the parish voted, September 7,
1736, "that they sett up their meeting-house upon that part of James Aiken's
home lot known as his sheep pasture." This house was "low in the post,
with a low floor requiring descending steps to reach it." It stood on land
now owned by the heirs of Thomas Bradford. The location so far to the
east, in connection with some dislike of Rev. William Davidson, pastor of the

Page 522

"old church," occasioned disaffection, which resulted in an unhappy quarrel,
which fasted till the close of Rev. David McGregor's ministry, in 1777.
Forty families of the West Parish attended meeting at the East Church, now
Derry, and the same number from the latter society attended meeting at
the West Parish.
     The next and third church edifice of the West Parish was begun in 1769.
It was located near Henry Campbell's tObacco yard, a short distance from
the residence of A. P. Hardy, The next year the house was finished out-
wardly, but the interior was not finished till 1780. Pews were made in 1787
and sold in the aggregate for £1025 5s. This house stood without much
alteration till 1845, when it was taken down and removed to the center
of the town, on the Mammoth Road, and fitted up for a town hall.
     Some time during the winter of 1836-37, the leading men in the West
Parish met at the house of Robert Mack, and took steps for the erection
of a new church. Committees were chosen, subscriptions were obtained,
and during the summer and fall of 1837 the church was built. The land for
a site, originally laid out to David Morrison, was the gift of Robert Mack.
The cost was about four thousand dollars. In 1860 a little over two thousand
dollars were expended in frescoing the house and making repairs. The bell
of this church was purchased in 1856.
     Ministers of the West Parish in Londonderry.-Rev. David McGregor
was born in Ireland in 1710, came with his father to Londonderryin 1719,
and became the first pastor over the West Parish. He early entered the 
ministry, receiving a call from the West Parish, March 14, 1733. He alter-
nated Sunday services between the Hill Church and that in the Aiken's Range.
His abilities and eloquence drew many people from neighboring towns in
regular attendance upon his ministrations. He died May 30, 1777, having
faithfully served the society forty-four years. He was a non-resident of the
parish, living in a house of his own erection on land laid out to his father,
known as the Humphrey Choate Place, one mile from East Derry Village.
The "forty family quarrel" between the parishes came to an end shortly
after his death, the New Hampshire Legislature aiding this result in 1778
by repealing the law allowing that singular interchange of families.
     William Morrison, D. D., succeeded Mr. McGregor, He was ordained
February 12, 1783, He was born in 1748, in the town of Auchlinnes, parish
of Cornerey, Perthshire, Scotland, and died March 9, 1818
     Rev. Daniel Dana, D. D., having resigned the presidency of Dartmouth
College, was installed over the society January 15, 1822, He was dismissed
in April, 1826, "much to the regret of the people," as appears by a record on
the West Parish books.
     Rev. Amasa A. Hayes, a native of Granby, Conn., a graduate of Yale and
Andover, was installed June 25, 1828, and died, greatly lamented, October
23, 1830.
     Rev. John R. Adams folowed Mr. Hayes by ordination October 5, 1831.
He was dismissed in October, 1838. He was afterward settled in Brighton,
Mass., and Gorham, Me.; was chaplain in the Fifth Regiment Maine Volun-
teers, and also of the One Hundred and Twenty-first New York Regiment.
     Among the successors to Mr. Adams have been: Rev. Timothy G.
Brainard, November 5, 1840, to April 26, 1855; Rev. William House,
1857 to 1873; Rev. Luther B. Pert, February 23, 1875, to September 1,

Page 523

1879; Rev. Ire C. Tyson, June 9, 1891, to May 5, 1883; Rev. Samuel F.
French, October 23, 1894, to October 1, 1906; Rev. J. Francis Laughton,
May 1, 1908, to February, 1910; Rev. Bertram Christopher, April 1, 1910,
to April, 1914.
     Mr. D. G. Annis writes that, "The early records of the doings of sessions
are now all lost, and those extant date back only to 1823. When the church
was organized, of how many members composed and when or by whom the
first minister was set over it, are points which have not been ascertained."
     Baptist Church and Ministers.-This church was organized in 1779.
Services on the Sabbath were occasionally held at the houses of the members
fifty years, or till 1829, when the society erected their meeting-house. In
November, 1828, a subscription paper was circulated for the object of build-
ing a house. Two sites had been in contemplation; "one near Caleb Gooden's
corner," and the other "on a gore of land north of John Butterfield's house."
January 3, 1829, a meeting was held, the latter place selected, and the church
built that year. Caleb Gooden, Stephen Moor, William Plumer, John Butter-
field, and James Watts were large contributors. The following-named
clergymen, among many others, have preached for the society: Rev. Ezra
Wilmorth, Rev. John Upton, Rev. Stephen Pillsbury, fourteen years; Rev. J.
W. Poland, two years; and Rev. Thomas W. Herbert. Rev. Joshua L.
Whittemore was pastor from 1857 to 1867. Other pastors have been Rev.
Charles F. Gould, Rev. W. H. Horne, Rev. William Gussman, and the present
pastor Mr. Sturtevant.
     During Mr. Gussman's ministry extensive improvements have been made
including tower and bell.
     The late William Plumer, of Londonderry, left his homestead in the north
part of the town to the society.
     Methoqist Meeting-House and Ministers.-The Methodist Episcopal
Society worshiped in the town hall for two years before the erection of their
church. This was built in 1855-56, and dedicated March 5, 1856. Rev.
Henry Nutter was their first minister. Below are consecutively all the names
of the other preachers and the dates of their pastorate: 1856-57, Rev. A.
Folsom; 1857-59, Rev. J. Hayes; 1859-60, Rev. A. C. Dutton; 1860-62, G.
W. T. Rogers; 1862-65, O. H. Call; 1865-66, I. Taggart; 1866-68, J. Hayes;
1868-69, E. Scott; 1869-71, A. A. Cleveland; 1871-73, I. A. Steele; 1873-74,
F. D. Chandler, L. L. Eastman; 1874-75, S. Beedle; 1875-78, J. F. Spald-
ing; 1878-79; A. R. Lunt; 1879-80, E. P. F. Dearborn: 1880-81, H. H.
French, 1881-82, I. M. Bean; 1882-83; 1884-86, I. H. Knott; 1887, H. B.
Copp; 1888-92, Jrad Taggart; 1893-96, Noble Fisk; 1897-1900, G. A. Mc-
Lucas; 1901-03, J. P. Frye; 1904-05, W. J. Wilkins; 1905-06, C. A. Reed;
1907-08, G. H. Heizer; 1909, N. L. Porter; 1910-11, J. Kirkwood Kraig;
1912-14, C. E. Eaton.
     Rebellion, 1861-65.-The attack upon Fort Sumter, April 13, 1861,
united the people of Londonderry, without distinction of party, in favor of
vigorous measures by the general government to maintain the integrity of the
Union. The enthusiasm of the town developed itself in the formation of
two companies for purposes of military drill. Frequent meetings were held
and enlistments encouraged, so that when the time came for action the town
was ready to do its duty. Seven of its citizens enlisted in the first regiment
sent from New Hampshire. May 11, 1861, the town voted to provide for

Page 524

the families of volunteers, and all through the war generous bounties were
paid, the last, January 2, 1865, of $600. Drafted men received each $300.
     First Regiment, Three Months' Men.-Wesley B. Knight, corporal;
Edwards 0. Dodge; W. H.Martin; Haskell P. Coffin; Charles H. Morrison;
David W. Coffin; Joseph C. Abbott.
     Second Regiment.-Charles Vickerey, lieutenant, wounded and captured
July 2, 1863, died July 8, 1863; Samuel N. Payne; Peter Flynn; James C.
Furbush.
     Fourth Regiment.-William S. Barker, captain, commenced February 17,
1865, discharged May 20, 1865; William S. Pillsbury, first lieutenant, com-
menced September 20, 1861, resigned October 20, 1861; Joseph C. Abbott,
died of disease at Folly Island, S. C., June 13, 1863; John W. Barker, killed
in action near Petersburg, Va., July 28, 1864; James Doo1ey; Thomas Diss-
more, died at Morris Island, S. C., August 11, 1863; Charles R. Frost;
George Lawson; William C. Flanders ; Stephen A. Nichols; Warren G. Pike,
wounded October 22, 1862, died July 22, 1863; Lorenzo Wight, died of
disease at St. Augustine, Fla., Atlgust 19, 1862.
     Fifth Regiment.-John D. K. Marshall, wounded June 3, 1864; William
Kerner; John Curtin, wounded September 30, 1864; E. G. Holmes; Thomas
O'Neil; Andrew C. Smith; Patrick Murphy; L. Schuttsmayer; John Wilson;
Silas F. Dean, promoted to chaplain February 1, 1864.
     Sixth Regiment.-John O'Donal, James Mitchell, John Wilson.
     Seventh Regiment.-Charles H. Brickett; William C. Bancroft; L. P.
Gardner; Thomas F. Dodge; Henry C. Dickey; Irving T. Dickey, wounded
February 20, 1864, died April 11, 1864; Timothy A. Smith; A. P. Colby;
William M. Boyce; Edward Clark; G. M. Clark; Moses F. Colby; Charles
0. Dessmore.
     Eighth Regiment.-Eugene L. Curtis; Elbridge Curtis; Charles E. Fol-
lonsbee, died of wounds at Port Hudson, July 4, 1863; Charles E. Conant,
wounded June 14, 1863; George W. Blood.
     Ninth Regiment.-A. F. Hamblett; Andrew C. Smith, captured at Poplar
Grove, Va., September 30, 1864.
     Tenth Regiment.-John Haynes, assistant surgeon, resigned June 30,
1863; Samuel Woodbury; George W. Vickerey; Alonzo R. Wells, wagOner.
     Eleventh Regiment.-Charles D. Annis, wounded May 6, 1864, died
May 18, 1864; George W. Vickerey; Armanda S. Vickerey, wounded May
12, 1864, died at Washington, D. C., June 10, 1864; William H. Vickerey.
     Twelfth Regiment.-Peter Flynn; Benjamin Wilson; D. B. Harrington,
died at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864; Calvin Johnson; Amos H. MacGregor;
Isaac Colley, killed at Drury's Bluffs, May 16, 1864; Daniel Goodwin, killed
in action June 25, 1864; Samuel Clark, captured May 16, 1864; 0. B.
Goodwin; John C. Estey, wounded May 16, 1864; John F. Davis; Clinton
Farley; David Goodwin; Edward P. Moore, sergeant, wounded July 27,
1864, died August 16,1864; Benjamin F. Pettingill; Horace P. Estey; Albert
Atwood, killed in action June 30, 1864; Charles E. Estey, wounded May
16, 1864, taken prisoner and died at Andersonville, Ga., August 10, 1864
(Grave No.5337); Moses M. Myrick, killed at Deep Run, August 16, 1864;
Wesley B. Knight, sergeant, captured and died at Florence, S. C., October
20, 1864; William Lamson, wounded May 16, 1864; William H. Martin;
Charles H. Morrison, captured, died in prison at Salisbury, N. C., December
22, 1864; George H:. Robinson; David C. Stevens; Benjamin Shipley, died

Page 525

of disease on steamer "Ben. Deford," June 7, 1865; Joseph A. Wyckoff,
killed at Pocotaligo, S. C., October 22, 1862. Mr. Wyckoff was the first
soldier from Londonderry killed in war.
     Thirteenth Regiment.-Dearborn w. MacGregor, A. H. Randall, John
H. Little.
     Fifteenth Regiment.-Lieut Washington Perkins; M. N. Holmes;
Charles MacGregor; W. F. Holmes; W. J. Pond, died of disease at Baton
Rouge, June 20, 1863; John H. Sanborn, wounded May 27, 1863, and died at
Port Hudson, June 2, 1863; John Orall; Charles R. Clark; Martin L. Moore;
A. P. Alexander; Horace D. Gregg; Washington I. Coburn; James G. Mor-
rison; Hiram Webster.
     Eighteenth Regiment.-Thomas F. Dodge; Washington Perkins, first
lieutenant: David W. Coffin; John H. Estey, died of disease at Washington,
D. C.; Frank O. Greeley, died at Concord, N. H., May 6, 1865; William
P. Nevins; G. F. Plumer; Walter L. Robbins; George W. Wilson; Samuel
L. Woodbury, died of disease at Londonderry, February 27, 1865; Francis
Lupean; O. S. Sorer; Daniel Griffin; James Dooley; M. N. Holmes; Lyman
J. Slate; John C. Scully; Horace E. Woods; Hugh Mulheran, William P.
Wallace.
     First Regiment N. H. Vol. Cavalry.-George F. Anderson and Samuel
Whittier .
     First Regiment Heavy Artillery.-William S. Pillsbury, lieutenant, date
of commission, September 5, 1864; Haskell P. Coffin, lieutenant; Carlos W.
Noyes; James H. Eaton; Isaac W. Hall; John H. Nutter; Arley P. Tenney;
Washington I. Coburn; A. J. Benson, sergeant; Charles R. Frost; William
Clark; John Merrill; Augustus Alexander; J. M. Bancroft; John E. Ban-
croft: John L. Blood; G. W. Clark; John R. Campbell; David Flanders;
George F. Greely; Duston Hamblett, died January 10, 1865; David W. Coffin;
Henry A. Hovey; Thomas M. Holmes; W. P. Lund; Benjamin Martin ;
James A. Nichols; A. H. Nichols; N. B. Perno; L. Pickering; B. Sullivan:
John C. Towns; D. G. Wheeler; William Young; G. W. Annis; James S.
Wheeler; Edwin Follonsbee.
     First Regiment of Sharpshooters.-Henry Moulton, National Guards,
N. H. Militia, in the U. S. service sixty days, on garrison duty at Fort
Constitution; Elijah G. Chase; Charles Goodwill.
     Unattached Co. N. H. Vols. at Portsmouth Harbor.-B. L. Center.
     Men from Londonderry in the 14th Mass. Regt.-Alexander McGregor,
A. J. McKenny, Charles McKenny, Elijah Watts, Henry Colby.
     The latter was killed in the service. Enrollment of Londonderry, April
30, 1865, 139; total of quota under all calls from July 1, 1863, 107; credits
by enlistment and draft, 108; surplus, 1.
     Leach Library.-David Rollins Leach, who died in Manchester, April 1, 
1878, left by his last will $3,000 to found and perpetuate a public library in
Londonderry. The town at the annual meeting in March, 1879, voted to
accept the bequests, authorized the selectmen to build an addition to the town
hall, in which should be fitted a room for library purposes, and a room was
in readiness January 1, 1880. At the present time 2,618 circulating books on
the shelves and about five hundred books of other classes.
     The physicians are: Wm. R. Richardson and P. W. F. Corning.
     The following are the societies: Horace Greeley Council, U. O. A. M.,
Londonderry Grange, Woman's Relief Corps, Mayflower Grange.