HISTORY OF CANTERBURY, MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- PLEASE do NOT link directly to this text file if you offer a web site about Canterbury NH. Link instead to my web page at http://www.nh.searchroots.com/MerrimackCo/merrimack.html#Canterbury ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== Canterbury was incorporated in 1741. It was first granted in 1727, the town was named for William Wake, Archbishop of Canterbury. Canterbury in England is famous for its cathedral, and for being the center of English Christianity since 597 AD. The town was originally a fort or trading post where the Penacook Indians came to trade. Canterbury was home to the last colony of Shakers, and the Canterbury Shaker Village is now a museum. SOURCE: History of Merrimack and Belknap Counties, New Hampshire; Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1885. =========================== ---SEE THIS LINK FOR ENTIRE DOCUMENT, the info below is only a RECAP----- http://archive.org/stream/historyofmerrima00inhurd#page/220/mode/2up ========================== Page 221 The town of Canterbury lies in the eastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: North by Northfield; east by Belknap County and Loudon; south by Loudon and Concord; west by Boscawen. This town was granted May 20, 1727 to Richard Waldron and a large number of associates, and embraced, in addition to its present territory, the present towns of Loudon and Northfield. March 19, 1741 an act was passed granting the inhabitants town privileges... Loudon was set off on January 23, 1773 and Northfield was set off and incorporated on June 19, 1780. A small portion of the town was annexed to Loudon January 7, 1853. Among the early settlers were James Scales, Thomas Clough, Thomas Young, James Gibson, William Glines, Ezekiel Morrill, Samuel Ames, Joseph Symonds, John Moor, Richard Blanchard, Jeremiah Clough, Josiah Mills, Ephraim Clough, Samuel Shepherd and Samuel Sias. Indian Incursion - description of the 1757 capture of the Clough family [see original for details]. page 222 War of the Revolution. In the first two years of the war there were thirty-one from this town in the service. The officers were Captain Jeremiah Clough, Captain James Shepherd, Lieutenant Joseph Soper, Lieutenant Laban Morrill and Dr. Josiah Chase. Most of those from this town were under the command of Captain Clough. Captain Shepherd and his command were in the battles of Bennington and Saratoga. The whole number of soldiers from this town was about seventy. Of these one was killed and six died. The following is the roster of Captain Clough's company, August 1, 1775: Jeremiah Clough, Capt; Aaron Sanborn, Lieut; Thomas Lyford 2nd, Lieut.; Josiah Chase, Serjent; Samuel Chamberlain, Serjent; Jonathan Heath, Serjent; Charles Glidden, Serjent; Jonathan Thomas, Corpl; Joseph Clough, Corpl; Samuel Haynes, Corpl; Nathan Taylor, Corpl; Simeon Robinson, Drummr; Thomas Warren, Fifer; David Blanchard, Obadiah Clough, Elisha Cate, John Curry, Ebenezer Chandler, Humphrey Colby, Joseph Chandler, Winthrop Clough, Andrew Cummings, Thomas Drake, Shubael Dearborn, Nathan Dearborn, John Dearborn, Elkanah Danford, Ebenezer Eastman, Jacob Eaton, Benjamin Eaton, William Forrest, Jonathan Folsom, Robert Forrest, Jonathan Foster, Jeremiah Gibson, Jacob Garland, William Glines Jnr, Moody Gilman, James Gibson, Enoch Gibson, John Glines, Daniel Gale, Levi Hunt, Phillip Hunt, William hayes, John Lary, Marston Merrill, Levi Marston, John Peterson, John Robinson, Aaron Rawlins, Daniel Randall, Pearson Smith, Simon Sanborn, James Sherburne, Stephen Riggs, Joseph Smith, George Sheppard, Phinehas Steevens, Eli Simonds, Jonathan Smith, William Thompson, Wiliam Taylor, Jacob Tilton, Joshua Weeks, Daniel Ward, Tone Boston, Privates." Captain Clough was of Canterbury, Lieutenant Sanborn of Sanbornton and Lieutenent Lyford of Northfield. Among other soldiers of this town were Edmund and David Colby, Samuel Danford, Phineas Fletcher, Nathaniel and William Glines, William Rhines, Michael Sutten, Merrill Sheppard and William Walker. The following is the roll of Captain James Shephard's company: "James Shepard, Capt; Samuel Davis, 1st Lieut; Enoch Gerrish, 2nd Lieut; John Bean, Ensign; Benjamin Huntoon, Philip Flanders, James Johnson, Jonathan Foster, Robert Wise, Samuel Scribner, Cutting Stevens, Ezekiel Lunt, Stephen Call, Jeremiah Eastman, Josiah Scribner, Daniel Giles, Nathan Rowe, Stephen Haynes, James Gerrel, Moses Cross, David Carter, David Emerson, John Foss, Peter Stevens, William Courser, Timothy Eastman, Thomas Courser, Cornelius Bean, Jonathan Stevens, Abraham Peaslee, Moses Johnson, Friend Little, John Jackman, Moses Scales, John P. Sweat, Abraham T. Sweat, James Uran, John Robertson, Enoch Bishop, John Lapish, Stephen Bethel, Joseph Farnum, Benjamin Heath, Isaac Fitts, Jedediah Danford, Joseph Megoone, Ephraim Davis, John Davis, Ezra Blasdel, Solomon Huntress, Samuel Haynes, Nathaniel Glines, William Forrest, William Rinds, William Simonds, Shulstel Dearborne, John Dearborne, Jonathan Smith, Timothy Jones, Jonathan Morrison, Samuel Macress, Thomas Crosby, Ezekiel Danforth, Ebenezer Bean, Amos Norton, William Phillips, George Kenfield, John Stevens, Samuel Cook, John Riant, Silas Fox, Joseph Pearse, Joseph Flanders, Thomas Griffin, John Ross, ELisha Cummings, Benjamin Basford, George Shepherd, William Shaw, Moses Rendall, Joshua Boynton, Thomas Bedel, James Russ, Privates." --CANTERBURY "TRAIN-BAND" and "ALARM LIST." "The following being a return of the train-band under my Command in Canterbury: "Lieuts, Thomas Gilmon, Ebenezer Kimbal; Ensign, William Sanborn; Sargants, Richard Blanchard, Jacob Heath, David Norriss, Willi Perkins; Corperls, Jesse Cross, Nathaniel Derbon, Gideon Levet, Joseph Carr; Fifer, Joseph Hancock; Privets, Thomas Cross, John Cross, George Hancock, Benjamin Collins, Thomas Clough, Wiliam Kinestone, David Kinestone, John Derbon, Shubal Derbon, William Glines, William Diah, Peter Huneford, David Morrison, Nathaniel Witcher, John McDaniel, Jeremiah Daniel, Abner Miles, Samuel Miles, James Soyer, Nathaniel Perkens, James Blanchard, James Perkens, David Blanchard, Jonathon Wodaly, William Kenestone, James Simon, Abraham Derbon, Thomas Cross, Jonathan Sanborn, Ezekeil Gilmon, Obediah Davis, William Hancock." "Larm Lest Names, -- William Glines, Benjman Blanchard, Lieut Charls Gliden, Lieut Jonathan Heath, Shubal Derbon, Ensi Archelaus Miles, John Cross, Gideon Levit." "A true return" "Per Me, Edward Blanchard, Captain." "ENLISTMENTS, 1776" "Canterbury September ye 18th 1776" "We the subscribers do hereby ingage our selves in the Continental Servis, and forthwith to March to New York and joyn the Continental Army there and Continue therein until the day of December next Unless Sunner Discharged." "As witness our hands-- Samuel Gerrish, William Clement, Henry Clough, Sargent Morrill, Joshua Weeks, Nathaniel Pallet, Israel Glines." page 223 "A Return of the Names of the Continental Soldiers Inlisted for the Town of Canterbury in the State of New Hampshire for the Term of Three Years or During the War. :John Holden of Canterubry (the Capt Unknown); Elkins Moore (Capt Robinson), Parson Eastman, George Shepherd (in Capt Stones Company), Robert Hastings, James Hastings, Nicholas Hall, John Rowing (in Capt. Gray's Company), Andrew Rowing, Abner Fowler, Thomas Hoit (in Capt. Livermore's Company) Walter Hains (in Capt. Frye's Company) Prince Thompson, Ebezer Varnum of Conway (in Capt Livermore's Company), Pratt Chase of Concord, Loyd Jones, William Walker (in Capt Frye's Company), Aaron Hale of Boscawen (the Captain Unknown), John Mills of Nottingham [total of 19]." signed by "Nath Glines, Capt, Frye, Comp. Continental Soldiers; Samuel Danford, Boscawen, Ditto.""Canterbury, July the 2d, 1777." "Pursuant to the precept from the Honourable Thomas Stickney Esq. We do hereby make a true return of the Above Mentioned Soldiers they being Inlisted for the Town of Canterbury and State of New Hampshire--James Shepard, Edward Blanchard, Captains." "Canterbury July 4, 1780" "We the subscribers hereby acknowledge to have Voluntarily enlisted to serve the United States of America for three Months from the time we shall Join the Army of the United States at the place appointed for Rendesvous by the Commander of said army." "Witness our Hands--" "William Foster, Ezekiel Moore, Asa Forster (his x mark), Daniel Forster (his x mark), Elkins Moor (his x mark), Moses Davis." "Canterbury, 24th July 1781" "We whose Names are Underwritten hereby acknowledge to have volentarily inlisted to serve as Militia in the Continental Army for the term of three Months from the time of our joining said Army On the encouragement of the Town of Canterbury at a Muster for the purpose of raising Men, And engage to equip and march whenever we shall receive orders." "Samson Battis (his x mark), Thomas Curry." page 223 The history of the Town House [see original document for more info] page 228 Schools, and persons from the town who had graduated from college prior to 1833 (15 persons). PHYSICIANS--The first physician in Canterbury was Josiah Chase who located here about 1792... he moved to Maine...Jonathan Kitteredge commenced practice here in 1788, but later removed to Salisbury. Joseph M. Harper commenced practice here in 1810.... Numerous cases of remarkable longevity in this town are mentioned. Captain John Palmer died here in 1846 aged one hundred and two years, and the last remarkable case of that was of the late Mrs. Lovey Glover, who lived to a very advanced age, some claim one hundred and three years and others one hundred and eight.... POPULATION The population in 1790 was 1088; in 1800 1114; in 1810, 1826; in 1820, 1702; in 1830, 1663; in 1840, 1643; in 1850, 1614, in 1860, 1522; in 1870, 1169; in 1880, 1034. page 229 Congregational Church History & Free Will Baptist Church History [see original document] THE SHAKERS--In 1774 Ann Lee, the founder of a religious denomination called shakers, came to this country from England, and a branch of the denomination was established in this town in 1792. Their first minister was Elder Job Bishop who occupied the position many years. They are a frugal, industrious and temperate people, intelligent and successful tillers of the soil and breeders of stock, and are, at present, a prosperous community. --BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES (AND LIKENESSES)-- - Rev. Alpheus D. Smith, son of Dr. Alpheus and Mehitable (Foster) Smith, b. 25 Aug 1813 in Lebanon NH; practiced medicine was physician to the Shakers. He married Emily B. True. Some descendants included. - Lorenzo Ames, grandson of David & Phoebe (Hoyt) Ames, son of Samuel & Myra (Ayres) Ames, b. 22 May 1814. - David Morrill, son of Reuben & Miriam (Smith) Morrill, born 12 August 1798. - John Peverley Kimball, son of Richard & Sally (Sanborn) Kimball, b. 23 Dec 1827 in Boscawen NH; he m. Mary Elixa Hill. Some descendants. - Colonel David Morrill Clough, great-grandson of Jeremiah Clough of Canterbury, son of Leavitt Clough. He was b. 9 June 1805 in Canterbury NH; some descendants. (end)