HISTORY OF CHICHESTER, MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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SOURCE: History of Merrimack and Belknap Counties, New Hampshire 
Philadelphia:  J.W. Lewis & Co.,  1885.

Page 235
Chapter I

Chichester, Merrimack County, is bounded on the north by Pittsfield, on the east by
Pittsfield and Epsom, on the south by Pembroke, and on the west by Loudon. It is 
about six miles long and three miles wide, and contains about eleven thousand nine
hundred and seventy-eight acres.  Distance from Concord to centre of town, eight
miles. It is watered by the Suncook River, which forms its eastern boundary for
about one mile, affording excellent water-power at several points, only one of
which is at present utilized. Another small stream, known as Lynxfield Brook, flows
out of a pond by the same name, situated in the southwesterly part of the town, and
furnishes the power to drive sanders' board, shingle and lath-mills and flows into
the Suncook in the easterly part of the town. Another small stream flows through the
northeasterly part of the town, known as Gilmanton Brook, and furnishes the power
to drive Fellows' mills, and also flows into the Suncook. It was upon this stream
that the first saw-mill in Chichester was erected by the early settlers. There are
not mountains in town, and the only hills of note are Bear Hill, situated in the
westerly part of the town, and Garvin's Hill, situated in the southerly part of the
town, from the top of which, on a clear day, the White Mountains can be seen. The
original growth of wood is pine, hemlock, chestnut, beech, birch and maple. When
the town was settled, a large proportion of its surface was covered with a very 
heavy growth of wood and timber. For the first fifty years after its settlement the
original owners devoted a considerable portion of their time to cutting down and
burning up the growth of wood and lumber, preparatory to breaking the soil and
fitting it for cultivation; and within the last twenty-five years, more especially,
the lumbermen of this and other towns have invaded our forests, and are making sad
havoc with the original growth of pine, hemlock and chestnut, until, to-day, there
is but little of it remaining in town.  Looking from the summit of the surrounding
hills, the surface of this town appears to be much broken and uneven; still, there
are many highly cultivated farms, especially that of Charles H. Carpenter, Esq.,
lying on both sides of the Suncook River, which is one of the largest and most
productive farms in Merrimack County. The soil is generally good, and in some
parts is very fertile. Farming is almost the only employment; trade, manufacturing,
and mechanic arts are carried on to a very limited extent. Population, seven hundred
and eighty-four; number of polls, two hundred and sixty-four.

[Text of Original Grant of the town, found in the original document, is not included
here. It was signed 20 May, 1727 by John Wentworth, Lieut. Governor, and co-signed
by Richard Waldon, Clerk of ye Counsell].

On the 13th day of March 1728, the original proprietors of the town of Chichester
held their first annual meeting at the house of Captain Wingate, in Hampton, and
elected William Stanford clerk, and Benjamin Perkins, Benjamin Lambre, and 
Jethro Tilton selectmen, chose Peter Gilman, Captain John Gilman and Nathaniel 
Healey surveyors, and Deacon Weare, John Sanborn, Peter Gilman, John Robinson
and Samuel Martin a committee to lay out the town. For some reason this committee
did not act. They held other meetings, and chose other men with no better success,
until December 24, 1728, when they held a meeting at the house of Captain Wingate,
and chose Simeon Martin, Samuel Martin, Jeremiah Sanborn, Captain Tilton and
William Sanford a committee to lay out the town, and Ichabod Roby a surveyor; the
committee to have ten shillings per day, and the surveyor fifteen. This committee,
it seems, attended to the business assigned to them immediately, for we find them
back to Hampton again January 28, 1729, when another meeting of the proprietors was
held at the house of Captain Wingate, to pay them for services rendered. Their
pilot, William Hill, received five pounds, seventeen shillings, Captain Tilton six
pounds, Simeon Martin six pounds, Samuel martin six pounds, Jeremiah Sanborn and
William Stanford six pounds each. This committee run what they supposed to be the
line between what was then Nottingham and Chichester, and Pembroke and Chichester.
Beginning at a birch tree at the south corner of Barnstead, which they found
marked with a "B" and other letters, they run eight miles southwest to a beech-tree;
this tree they also marked. They then run eight miles northwest to a white oak
tree; having marked this tree and others near by, they returned.  This running,
although according to their grant, took in a part or all of Epsom. We can account
for this only in this way: When the country was mostly covered with forests,
grants were made without any definite ideas of exact locations. Charters often
overlapped each other or left irregular strips of land between them. In this case
it seems that the same territory was granted to Epsom and Chichester; but as the
grant to Epsom antedated that of Chichester by a few days, Chichester lost, and
Epsom gained the land in dispute.  It seems by the record that the proprietors of
Chichester did not willingly relinquish their claim to this portion of the
territory embraced within their grant; but it was the source of a great deal of
perplexity and vexation, if not of actual litigation, and committee after committee
were chosen to settle the matter with Epsom, and finally a committee was chosen to
represent their situation to the Governor, and, if possible get him to grant them
new territory equivalent to what Epsom took from them; but their efforts in this
direction seem to have been fruitless, as there is no record of any territory being
annexed to Chichester afterward.

At their annual meeting held March 12, 1729, a committee was chosen to lay out a
bridle-path through the town of Nottingham to Chichester, and also to select some
desirable site for a settlement. This committee employed a surveyor, and reported
as follows: They took their departure from the end of Bow Street in Nottingham, at
a great white pine tree, thence running northwesterly through Nottingham; thence
northwest about two miles to little Suncook River (now Epsom); here they concluded
was a desirable place for a settlement.  Soon after the return of this committee
the proprietors held a meeting, and appointed a day upon which to come up through
the way just laid out, and fell the trees, and clear up the rubbish, and prepare
a bridle-path, and those men who went were to receive six shillings, and those who
remained were to pay six shillings.  After the bridle-path had been prepared, 
Peter Weare, Jabez Smith, Ichabod Robey, Josiah Moulton and Jasper Blake were
chosen a committee to fix upon a spot for settlement, lay out house-lots and
highways to accomodate them, locate a block-house, etc.  The committee came up and
laid out the following road:
 "Beginning at the Suncook River, about forty rods below where little Suncook runs
into the main river, and runs east-southeast three hundred rods, thence southeast
one hundred rods, thence east two hundred and forty rods, thence southeast one
hundred and seventy rods, thence east-southeast four hundred and twenty rods."
  
They then selected a spot for a centre, or meeting house lot, "about one mile
upwards, on the fifth course of the above highway." They then laid out around this
centre twenty-acre lots, one for each proprietor and numbered them. This location
for a settlement was in Epsom, but probably made before the proprietors were aware
of the fact. The committee then returned to Hampton, made a plan of the highways
and house-lots, with the numbers of each lot, submitted their plan to the
proprietors, who accepted it, and immediately drew their lots; but none were
allowed to draw their lots until they had paid their proportion of the expenses
incurred in laying them out.  At a meeting held at Hampton, March 11, 1730, it was
voted that "ye proprietors build a meeting-house thirty-five foot long and
twenty-five foot wide, and to be eleaven foot stud;" said house to be completed on
or before the last day of November next. "Voted, that Daniel weare, Captain Wingate
and Nathaniel Healy be a committee to let out yet meeting-house."  January 30, 1731,
it was voted "that the metting house should be twenty-five foot long and sixteen
foot wide, with nine foot stud, being built with timber six inches thick, and shall
be called a log house." The price to be paid for this house was fifty pounds. The
proprietors found no difficulty in finding me who, for pay, would come up and
survey house-lots and highways, locate meeting-houses and forts; but when they
looked for men who were willing to leave their comfortable homes in Hampton and
vicinity, and come up here into the forest to fell the huge trees and break the
untried soil, and build for themselves rude log houses, through the cracks and
crevices of which the snows of winter and rains of summer would beat, surrounded,
in many cases, by hostile savages, and endure all the privations and hardships of
the frontier settlers, they were not very plenty.  So we find them holding meeting
after meeting and taxing their inventive faculties to the uttermost to devise some
plan which should offer sufficient inducement to families to settle in the new
town.
  At one of the meetings they voted that if sixty men of the proprietors, or men
procured by them should forthwith settle in said town of Chichester, and continue
here for the space of three years, they should receive two hundred pounds the first
year, to be paid upon their first settlement, and one hundred and fifty pounds 
yearly for the next two years. May 3, 1733, it was voted that "if fifteen men, or
under, would go and speedily settle in Chichester, they shall have a full
Proprietor's share throughout ye town of Chichester." There is no evidence that any
one accepted this offer of the proprietors. For several years we find them holding
their annual and other meetings and discussing different plans for settling the
town, also the difficulty with Epsom in relation to the dividing line between the
towns. Finally a committee was chosen to petition the General Court to establish the
line. The committee carried the matter to the court, and the line was established,
which gave the original twenty-care house-lots, meeting-house lot and highways
which the proprietors laid out soon after the grant of the township to Epsom. This
made it necessary for the proprietors of Chichester to start again; hence we find
them, with characteristic zeal, pushing ahead and making preparations for another
survey; and on the 26th day of June, 1749, they chose Obadiah Worth, James Prescott,
Jeremiah Sanborn, Nathan Clough and Jonathan Swett a committee to come up and lay
out a fifty-acre lot for each proprietor. The committee employed a surveyor, came
up and laid out the first division of lots in Chichester [a lengthy description of
this division included in the original document, is not included here. That 
document was signed by Walter Bryant, Obediah Worth, James Prescott, Nathan Clough,
Jeremiah Sanborn, and Jonathan Swett, committee."]

ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS OF CHICHESTER NH
The following is a list of the original proprietors of the lots which they drew:
Nathaniel Gookin rage 6, lot 23
John Odlin, range 6 lot 25
Christopher Page, range 8 lot 3
Peter Weare, range 5, lot 26
Edward West, range 2, lot 21
Nathaniel Healey, range 5 lot 12
Jabez Smith, range 6, lot 17
Josiah Bachelder, range 1, lot 32
Jonathan Fifield, range 1, lot 24
Pain Wingate, range 3, lot 17
Nicholas Gilman, range 8, lot 21
Nathaniel Locke, range 4, lot 12
William Stanford, range 8, lot 11
Benjamin Thomas, range 4, lot 1
Joseph Taylor, range 2, lot 5
Benjamin Thomas, range 4, lot 1
Joseph Taylor, range 2, lot 5
Smauel martin, range 1, lot 4
Mathias Plant, rnage 3, lot 11
Jonathan Garland, range 2, lot 33
Jacob Freese Jr., range 2, lot 15
Benjamin Sanborn, range 4, lot 15
Daniel Weare, range 1 lot 22
John Prescot, range 2, lot 9
Minister Whipple, range 2, lot 13
Joshua Wingate, range 6, lot 13
Nathaniel Weare, range 8, lot 27
John Sherburn, range 6, lot 11
Jonathan Philbrook, range 1, lot 28
Benjamin Perkins, range 7, lot 2
Charles Steward, range 4, lot 16
Charles Treadwell, range 5, lot 4
Nathan Longfellow, range 6, lot 16
Charles Treadwell, rnage 5, lot 4
Nathan Longfellow, range 6, lot 7
John Swett range 5, lot 14
Moses Blake, range 7, lot 26
Jacob Freese, range 3, lot 15
Abram Drake,, range 8, lot 25
John Rodman Jr., range 3, lot 11
Nathaniel Drake, range 5, lot 24
Samuel Thyng, range 1, lot 2
Samuel Gilman, range 1, lot 20
Thomas Webster, range 1, lot 12
Peter Gilman, range 8, lot 5
James Leavitt, range 7, lot 12
Joseph Dearborn, range 3, lot 6
John Robinson, range 5, lot 18
Benjamin Lambre, range 6, lot 19
Josiah Moulton Jr., range 7, lot 6
John Bachelder, range 6, lot 21
Samuel Palmer, range 5, lot 16
Benzaleel Tappan, range 2, lot 31
Jarius Ringe Jr., range 4, lot 14
Eben Weare, range 6, lot 15
Thomas Perce, range 2 lot 11
Winthrop Hilton, range 2, lot 29
Joseph Redman, range 1, lot 18
James Jaffrey Jr., range 4, lot 11
John Redman, range 3, lot 14
Thomas Cram, range 4, lot 6
John Dearborn Jr., range 4, lot 17
Henry Rues/Russ, range 6, lot 5
John Gilman Esq., range 8, lot 15
Andrew Wiggin, range 7, lot 8
Captain John Gilman, range 1, lot 2
John Downing, range 8, lot 17
William Fellows, range 5, lot 20
Samuel Tibbets, range 8, lot 1
Epraham Dennis, range 4, lot 3
William Odion, range 3, lot 4
William Peperell, range 1, lot 34
Joseph Frost, range 3, lot 16
John Tuck, range 7, lot 4
Colonel Mark Hunkings, range 1, lot 8
David Currier, range 3, lot 7
Cyprym Jeffrey, range 8, lot 9
Benning Wentworth, range 1, lot 14
Hunkin Wentworth, range 4, lot 13
John Wentworth, range 7, lot 18
William Wentworth, range 5, lot 6
Jeremiah Sanborn, rnage 8, lot 19
Jethra Tilton, range 5, lot 8
Bartholomew Thyng, range 4, lot 5
John Cram, range 1, lot 12
Bradstreet Wiggin, range 6, lot 27
Steven Sanborn, range 6, lot 1
Benjamin Cram, range 7, lot 28
Richard Wibbard Jr., range 6, lot 3
George Jeffrey, range 3, lot 10
Richard Waldron Jr., range 3, lot 3
Benjamin Gamlin, range 8, lot 13
Jonathan Chusshing, range 2, lot 17
John Bradford, rnage 4, lot 7
John Jennis, range 7, lot 10
Hezekiah Jennis, range 3, lot 2
John Gerrish, range 2, lot 23
Peter Weare Esq., range 3, lot 1
John Plaster, range 5, lot 10
James Davis, range 4, lot 4
Theodore Atkinson, range 1, lot 26
Eben Stevens, range 2, lot 19
Captain Paul Gerrish, range 6, lot 9
Richard Jennis, range 7, lot 14
James Jeffrey, range 4, lot 2
John Sanborn, range 1, lot 6
George Frost, range 8, lot 23
Col. Shattuck Walton, range 7, lot 16
George Jeffrey, range 8, lot 23
Richard Wibend, range 2, lot 27
Colonel Thomas Westbrook, range 1, lot 16
Archibald Mackphedus, range 8 lot 7
Also:
John Frost, lot 30, first range; Jotham Odiorn, lot 7, second range; Henry Sherburn,
lot 20, range 7; Governor Belcher, lot 10, range 1; each a proprietor's share, with
a home lot and five hundred acres to Hon. Samuel Shute and Governor Wentworth.

The proprietors seemed anxious to know how much land they possessed up here, so on 
the 19th day of March 1750, they chose Jeremiah Sanborn, James Prescott, Jonathan
Swett, Samuel Drake and Josiah Shaw, a committee to run the line around the town,
and also to lay out two fifty-acre lots to each of the proprietors. This committee
employed Simeon Dearborn as surveyor, who came up and laid out the second and
third division of lots; but as this land, with the exception of one range in the
third division, is now in the town of Pittsfield, it is not proper that I should
give an account of the doings of this committee.  A large proportion of the township
was now surveyed and lotted off, but as yet no permanent settlement had been made,
although the proprietors had offered, what seemed to them, very flattering
inducements.  The Indians wars in which the people had been engaged and other 
causes no dbout prevented an early settlement. But in 1756, Paul Morrill, for five
hundred acres of land, was induced to come up into the woods and commence a clearing
and make for himself and his posterity a home and a name. The tract of land which
he selected was in the southwest corner fo the town, and has ever since been known
as "Morrill's Grant." He cleared up a piece of land and built a house near the
residence of John F. French. At the "Horse-Corner" Mr. Morrill cleared up a farm 
upon which he spent the remainder of his days. He settled several of his sons near
him,--one upon the place where John F. French now resides, and upon the place where
James F. Towle lives, and still another on the C.H> Staniel's place.
  JOHN MORRILL, one of the sons of Paul Morrill was born about the time his father
settled in Chichester and is supposed to be the first child born in the town, as
we find that the proprietors gave fifty acres of land to the first child of Paul
Morrill, born in Chichester.  

The proprietors continued for several years their efforts to induce others to
settle here, and thereby create a demand for their land, but very little was
accomplished in this direction until about 1770, when John Cram, for a grant of
land and the water-power which he had discovered on the great Suncook River, in
what is now Pittsfield, built a saw-mill--an institution of great importance in 
those days, and without which no extended settlement could be made.
  The rich soil, favorable location, and heavy growth of timber induced the
ambitious young men of Hampton and vicinity to emigrate, and soon we find the
Dows, Sanborns, Drakes, Davis', Hilliards, Browns, Hooks, Lakes and many other young
men of pluck and strength coming up here and settling in different parts of the 
town to hew peaceful homes and fruitful farms from the wilderness, and provide a
competency for themselves and families by arduous toil and rigid economy. Those of
the original proprietors who had not already sold or lost their shares in 
consequence of not paying their taxes still remained in Hampton, selling their
lands as they had opportunity, and holding their annual meetings from year to year
for the election of town officers, in accordance with the terms of their grant.

COLONEL SIMEON HILLIARD came up and settled on Brown's Hill, near the residence of
the late Abner P. Brown.  He had a large family of children, but none of their
descendants remain in town now.  About the same time came JONATHAN LEAVITT, ESQ.
who purchased a large tract of land situated on both sides of Canterbury road,
a portion of which is owned and occupied by his grandson, Hazen K. Leavitt.
CAPTAIN JOHN LANGMAID settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Samuel W.
Langmaid, and the farm has been in the possession of the Langmaid family ever since.
About the same time DAVID BROWN, who bought the farm now owned and occupied by
David T. Brown, who is the fourth generation from the original settler. 
THOMAS LAKE settled on the farm where J.T. Lake now resides, from which the large
family of Lakes descended.  JOSEPH DOW and his brother settled on Loudon road,
the former on the farm now owned by Thomas Berry and sons, and the latter near
"Kelley's Corner."

JOSEPH DOW was proprietors' clerk and afterwards town clerk, and thereby acquired
the name of Clerk Dow.  Soon after, JOSHUA LANE, ESQ. and JEREMIAH LANE purchased
land in the north part of town, and erected houses where Arthur Deering and S.R.
Watson now reside. Captain DYER HOOK and PETER HOOK purchased the intervale farm now
owned and occupied by Charles H. Carpenter, Esq.  The house, which Mr. Carpenter 
moved from its original location a few years ago, before building the new and
elegant residence which he now occupies, was built by Captain Dyer Hook, and is
thought to be the first frame house built in town.  Deacon Ebenezer Lane came to
Chichester in 1790, and settled on the part of the Governor Wentworth grant, in
the southerly part of the town. George W. Lane, his grandson, still owns and
occupies the farm. Joshua Lane, another grandson, resides near by, upon the farm
formerly owned and occupied by his father, Eben Lane.

But in 1797, JOhn Hilyard, Joseph Dow, Joshua Lane, Jacob Sanborn, John Bickford,
Thomas Lake, Timothy Prescott, Asa Lane, Daniel Tilton, James Drake, Robert 
Tebbetts, Asa Lane, Daniel Tilton, James Drake, Robert Tebbetts, Jonathan Perkins,
Joshua Berry, Abram Greene, John Cram, William Chase, Enoch Butler, Joseph Sanborn
represented to Abram True, a justice of the peace, that they were proprietors,
owners and grantees of more than one-sixteenth part of the township, and requested
him to call a meeting for the election of proprietors' officers at the house of
Lieutenant John Hilliard, in Chichester.  This meeting was held on the 25th day
of July, 1797. Joseph Dow was chosen clerk, and Robert Tebbets, Esq., and Abram
True, Esq. were chosen a committee to bring the record-book of the proprietors up
to Chichester.  It was accordingly brought up by this committee on the 4th day of
December following.  Another meeting was called by Abram True, Esq. agreeable to
a petition of proprietors on the 29th day of May 1800.  A board of officers was
chosen and an attempt made to raise a tax to pay up the indebtedness of the
proprietors, but not much was accomplished, except to adjourn their meeting from
day to day until they had ajourned nine times; the last adjourned meeting was 
never held.  These adjourned meetings occupied about three years' time during which
a large part of the proprietors' rights had been sold to pay taxes and claims,
Governor Shute's five hundred acres included. Thus ends the recorded doings of the
original proprietors of our town.  We have followed them from the time they obtained
their grant in 1727 to 1803,--a period of seventy-six years,--and given an epitome
of their votes and transactions relative to the settlement of Chichester....
 
.... We will now go back several years and take up the "original settlers;" and
we find that on March 18, 1773, they presented a petition to John McClary to call a
meeting of the legal voters for the election of town officers....
  Agreeable to the order the citizens of Chichester HELD THEIR FIRST TOWN MEETING
and "elected John McClary moderator and John Cram town clerk; JohN Cram, Samuel
Davis, Ebenezer Barton, selectmen; Samuel Prescott, Jonathan Leavitt, assessors;
John Worth, constable or collector together; Edward Sargent, Edmon Rand Leavitt,
John Blake and Elijah Ring, they all surveyors of highways."  The settlers had
scarcely got started in the new town when the difficulties which had for a long 
time existed between the colonies and the British government assumed such 
formidable proportion that war seemed almost inevitable...

Early in 1775 they voted to enlist four Minute-Men to be ready at a moment's warning
for any emergency, and to pay each man two shillings per day, and raised one pound,
six shillings to purchase pork and break, and store it in town for the use of the
Minute-Men.  January 23d of this year Elijah Ring was chosen as a deputy to go to
Exeter to choose delegates to represent this province in a Continental Congress
proposed to be held in Philadelphia in May next.  On the 8th of May, John Cram was
chosen deputy to represent the town in the Provincial Congress to be held at Exeter
on the 17th instant, with full power to "act and adopt everything according to a 
letter from the Provincial Committee."  In 1776 the town chose Simeon Hillard,
Jonathan Stanyan, Thomas Johnson, David Knowlton, Israel Hook a Committee of 
Safety, and in 1777 voted to give thirty pounds, lawful money, to each man who
enlists into the Continental army for three years, and chose Jonathan Leavitt,
Jeremiah Sanborn, and Jeremiah Garland a committee to hire the men.  They also
chose John Cram, William Chase, Elijah Ring, John Langmaid, Simeon Hilliard to
regulate the prices of articles in town, so as to corresopnd with the prices in
other towns.  They also voted to purchase a good supply of gunpowder, lead and 
flints and store them at the house of Captain Dyer Hook for the use of the Minute-
Men.  In 1778 the town raised one hundred and fifty-pounds, lawful money, to hire
men to fill the quota of the town in the Continental army, and chose James Cram,
Jonathan Leavitt, Edward Sargent a committee to look after the families of those
who had gone into the army, agreeable to a resolve of the General Assembly.

In 1779 a convention of delegates was held at Exeter to draw up a new system of
government, and John Cram Esq. was chosen to represent the town. This convention
met and proposed a new form of government, which was submitted to the people and
rejected.  This year a convention was held at Concord to regulate the price of
articles, and Ensign Elijah Ring was chosen as delegate from Chichester, who 
recieved twelve pounds, lawful money, for his services.  In 1780 the people were
thoroughly aroused, and determined to do all in their power to aid the Continental
army and secure the independence in the colonies.  They chose Captain Jonathan
Leavitt and Ensign Elijah Ring a committee, with instructions to furnish all the
men that may be called for during the year, from this town, as soldiers in the
army; and the selectmen were also instructed to furnish the committee with the
money to pay them and to assess a tax upon the ratable polls to raise it.  It was
no easy task for farmers, at this period, with but very little of their land under
cultivation, with a distant market, and the difficulties of attending
transportation, to raise money; yet they did raise it to the extent of their
ability, and when they could not raise money, they furnished beef and corn, and
conveyed it to Hampton with horses and oxen.  The town furnished this year six
thousand five hundred and twenty pounds of beef and delivered it.  In 1781 the
Continental COngress asked them to furnish eight thousand one hundred and fifty
pounds of beef and forty-eight gallons of rum for the army, and it was raised and
forwarded.  They also voted to raise all the men wanted from this town for the
army during the year and passed the following very singular vote, which not only
shows the ingenuity of the people, but shows to what extremity poverty and zeal
in a just cause had driven them:
 "Voted to go to raising young stock, and that each and every citizen of the town
who enlisted for the term of three years, or during the war, and actually went into
service, should receive,, at the expiration of his term of service, twenty
three-year-old heifers, and chose Jeremiah Sanborn, Captain Jabez Haskel and
Joshua Berry a committee to hire the soldiers, and voted to pay this committee
forty dollars per day for time spent in furnishing the men, and thirty dollars per
day for use of horse."
  We do not know how many men accepted this offer and received the heifers; but we
find the town some time after, taking measures to procure them. This was the last
vote psased by the town, as no more soldiers were called for after this year.  The
people of Chichester should ever remember that their ancestors performed well their
part in the great struffle of the colonies for liberty, and that no town rendered
more willing and efficient aid.....

SEPARATION OF PART OF TOWNSHIP TO CREATE PITTSFIELD
The war over, the settlers began to talk about dividing the town; for John Cram and
his numerous friends, aided by that great civilzer, the saw-mill, had already
built up quite a settlement around the water-power (now Pittsfield village).
Paul Morrill and his family and friends had settled in the extreme southerly
portion of the town; so, when an attempt was made to fix upon a centre for a
church, etc, a difficulty arose which they could not surmount.  The people at the
north part of the town wanted it there, and those at the south wanted it there. So,
on the 26th day of December, 1781, they voted to divide the town as follows: That
the second division of land below Suncook River in Chichester, with that part of
the third division below the river, and the six northerly ranges above said river in
the third division, with all the privileges and proportion of public land belonging
to said divisions, may be incorporated into a town or parish by themsevles, with
all town privileges as other towns in this State.  And John Cram, William Chse,
and Jonathan Leavitt were chosen a committee to petition the Legislature to
confirm the above vote.  This was done, and in 1782, the General Court created the
town of Pittsfield, in accordance with the previous vote of the town.

During this year the town business of both towns was carried on together; but in
1783 they divided their books. The town of Pittsfield took the "law-book," which had
been the guide of the town officers hitherto, and Chichester took the record-books
of the selectmen and town clerk.  These books are in the town clerk's office in
Chichester, and are in a good state of preservation.

In 1784 the town voted to purchase lot No. 3, in sixth range, and first
division, for a town centre and parsonage, upon which to build a house for the
transaction of town business and public worship on the Sabbath.  This lot was
purchsaed, and twenty acres of trees were felled preparatory to building; but they
afterwards decided to build elsewhere, and sold all but two acres, which they
reserved for a town cemetery.

In 1785, SIMEON HILLIARD was chosen as a representative to represent the towns of
Pittsfield and Chichester in the General Assembly.  In 1788 the new Constitution,
which had been formed at Philadelphia the year before, was presented to this State
for adoption.  Considerable opposition was manifested toward it.  A convention was
called at Exeter to consider it, and BENJAMIN SIAS was chosen as a delegate to
represent the town.  This convention, after considerable discussion and delay,
ratified it, New Hampshire being the ninth State to accept it.  Thus the number
necessary to put it into operation was complete.  We have now brought our
Historical SKetch" down to the adoption of the Federal Constitution.  From this time
onward, for many years, the town steadily progressed in wealth and population,
and all that adds to the comforts of civilized life, though we are sorry to say
that there were then, and have ever been, those who were unable to support
themselves and families.  We think that the first man to apply to the town for
help was DANIEL PERKINS  The town immediately held a meeting and chose a committee
to aid him at the expense of the town.  Other applications followed.  The town,
for several years, either aided them at their own homes or furnished small farms
for them to live upon.  Afterwards, for several years, they were set up at auction,
and their board for the current year struck off to the lowest bidder.  

In 1839 the town voted to purchase a town farm, upon which to support their
paupers, and chose a committee to select a suitable one.  This committee 
recommended a farm on Canterbury road, now owend by James B. Towle & Son. The farm
was purchsed by the town and fitted up for the convenience of the poor.  An agent
was employed annually by the town to carry on the farm and take care of the
paupers.  This custom was continued until 1866, when the town farm was sold to its
present owners, since which time the town has had but very few paupers, and these
few have since then been boarded in town.

In 1845 the town voted to build a town-house, the old meeting-house having become
ruinous and unfit to hold meetings in, but for a long time were unable to agree
upon a location.  Several meetings were held, and considerable excitement 
engendered.  It was finally voted to locate it on the "centre lot," near the
Methodist Church.  A committee was chosen, and the building framed and erected;
but before it was finished, the people at the north part of the town rallied the
voters and got the former vote rescinded, and the location changed to where it
now stands.  Accordingly, it was taken down, moved back, erected and finished,
and has ever since been used for town purposes.

The next event ofimportance in the history of the town is the War of the
Rebellion [Civil War] and on the 14th day of December 1861, the town passed the
first vote in relation to soldiers, viz: "Voted to aid the wives, children or
parents of any inhabitants of the town who have enlisted into the military service
of the United States agreeably to an act of the Legislature of New Hampshire,
authorizing towns and cities to aid the families of volunteers, and also instructed
the selectmen to pay a bounty of two hundred and fifty dollars to each volunteer
who may enlist up to September next, to fill the quota of this town under the call
of the President for volunteers."  [Additional meetings were held during the years
of the war, regarding bounties and quotas, that are not included here].

In 1864, the selectmen voted to pay a bounty of three hundred dollars, and
Jacob S. Sanborn, David T. Brown, S.W. Langmaid, C.C. Shaw, John Shaw, James B.
CLifford, THomas B. Lane, Hosea B. Langley and James Hook furnished substitutes.
Drafted men who furnished substitutes--Geo. M. Munsey, Abram M. Drake, Stephen P.
Perkins, John Y. Lane, Freeman H. Fogg, Moses R. Lake, Edward Langmaid Jr.,
Franklin O. Kelley, George W. Towle, James P. Hook, John W. Severance, Ira Sanborn
and Nathaniel S. Edmunds.

Citizens of the town who enlisted and were mustered into the service of the United
States during the Rebellion--George S. Sanders, Elbridge G. Locke, James McGuire,
Albert Hook, William H. Jackson, John P. Haines, Hiram E. Locke, William Spiller,
Joseph C. Munsey, Frederick Brown, William Buzzell, Chellis E. Call, Charles H.
Edmunds, Joseph C. Perry, Samuel M. Perry, Ira B. Perry, Henry M. Sanborn,
James Stanyan, Charles H. Towle, Cyrus Sanborn, James H. Haines, Thomas Haines,
Peter Mehier, Thomas Ames, William Stanley, Hugh Burns, Alfred Langmaid,
Charles Robey, Charles H. Staniels, John A. West, Hiram Hook, Levi Hook,
James M. Meserve, Joseph Cilley, Warren Langmaid, Jonathan H. Leavitt, 
William Sanborn, Charles L. Brown, Charles H. Greene, Alonzo P. Hall, James P. Hook,
George P. Haines, Charles H. Johnson, James Bachelder, George A. Lear,
Sewel B. Bailey, John M. Haines, James J. Locke, Joseph M. Walker, True Sanborn Jr.
(enlisted Sept 20 1861, Fourth Regiment, second lieutenant; promoted to first
lieutenant June 12, 1862; promoted to captain November 9, 1864), Jonathan D. 
Leavitt.

The following is a list of men who were hired by the selectmen to fill the quotas
of the town, under different calls of the President, and substitutes for drafted
and enrolled men.--William Walker, George H. Pearson, John Ames, Thomas Eagan,
John Friar, Edward Morris, Joseph Miller, William Robertson, James Noble,
William R. Fleming, Charles Hogan, John Smith, James Johnson, John Thomas,
Elbridge L. Swain, Edward Anster, Joseph O. Perkins, Charles H. Marston,
William Stearns, Edgar L. Carr, George Johnston, Joseph Johnston, Benjamin Johnston,
Joseph G. Johnston, Lewis Woodbury, John Wilson, Orrin H. Weeks, William Sinclare,
George W. Dwinnel, Patrick R. Garitis, Joseph Murry, Minor Smith, Peter White,
Andrew J. Gilman, James Wilson, Martin Johnson, James Smith, Richard Rodgers,
Charles Anderson, John Rodgers, Thomas Williams, Nathan Munsey, George W. Fitch,
Francis Dolan, William D. Locke, William Cook, John Cate, John Ames, 
John F. Stanyan.

The town responded to every call of the President of the United states for men to 
go into the Union army, and promptly filled every quota assigned to it, paying
bounties ranging from one to ten hundred dollars to each man.  To do this, the
town borrowed the money from year to year, as it was neeed, and at the close of 
the war had incurred a debt of thirty-six thousand, six hundred dollars. This
amount was in notes, ranging from fifty to three thousand dollars.  The interest
and part of the principal was paid each year until 1881, when it was found that
about sixteen thousand dollars of the original indebtedness of the town remained
unpaid.  The town, this year, voted to fund the town debt, and authorized the
selectmen to issue bonds bearing four per cent, interest annually, with one
thousand dollars payable each year until the debt should be paid.  The bonds were 
issued and sold; hence in about twelveyears the war debt of Chichester will become
extinct.

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL HOUSES
In the first few years of the settlement there were few houses, and these were very
much scattered, so that a few pounds were appopriated "for schooling." There were
then no school-houses in town, and the scholars met at private houses, and were
taught to "read, write and cipher" by Joseph Dow, one of the first settlers of
the town, who also filled the office of town clerk for many years, and is now
remembered by the old people of the town as "Master Dow and Clark Down."  It does
not appear that the subject of education was ever lost sight of, though the
poverty and distress of the people, occasioned, or at least increased, by the heavy
taxes imposed upon them to raise men for the Continental Army...  
  In 1788 the town built four school-houses,--one near the mouth of Loudon road,
one on Bear Hill, one on Canterbury road and one near the settlement of Paul 
Morrill.  The school-house last mentioned was burned in 1840, and the present one
in that section of the town (District No. 5) was erected in 1841.  A school-house
in the Lane District was built about 1790, which was burned in 1815, and the 
present house erected in 1816.  In 1842 a union district of Chichester and Epsom
was formed, and in 18--, a union district of Loudon and Chichester was formed, and
a school-house located on Pleasant street.  ANother union school district of
Chichester and Loudon was formed and a school-house built on Canterbury road,
making eight school districts with as many school-houses.  The money appropriated
for the support of schools is divided among the several districts, according to the
appraised value of property in each district.

THE REVOLTUION--The following men were furnished by the town for the Continental
army:--Josiah Barton, Ephraim Garvin, Jonathan Locke, John Bickford,
Nathaniel Martin, James Ahearn, Benjamin Brown, Benjamin G. Berry, Jacob Abbott,
Ephraim Conner, Daniel Paige, Neil Cate, Joseph Morrill, Daniel Seavey,
Joseph Brown, Joseph Dow, Joseph Goss, Jeremiah Abbott, Eliphalet Conner,
Simeon Lovering, Dudly Swain, Joshua Smith, Richard Smith, John Chase,
John Maxfield.

THE WAR OF 1812--The following men were furnished by the town in the War of 1812:
Joseph Dearborn, Isaac Stanyan, Samuel Drake, Theophilus Mason, Christopher Page,
Jonathan Maxfield, Benjamin W. French, David P. Shaw, Edward Edmunds,
David, M. Carpenter, Mathew Sanborn.

POPULAR VOTES OF THE TOWN, from 1800 to 1880 are included in the original document,
not not mentioned here.

CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY--From the settlement of the town until 1791, but little is
known concerning the preaching of the gospel in Chichester. We find that before and
after the Revolutionary War appropriations of a few pounds were made occasionally
at their annual meetings to hire a gospel minister to preach a part of the year,
but who was employed or where they preached we have no means of knowing; but as
the business meetings of the town were held alternately at private houses in
different parts of the town, the presumption is that religious meetings were held in
the same way.  But during the memorable struggle for independence through which
the colonies passed, although the subject was brought up at almost every annual
meeting, the people were so much engaged in furnishing men for the military service,
and were taxed so heavily to raise funds to procure these men, that no appropriation
was made for the support of the gospel.  In 1791, Rev. Josiah Carpenter, a
Congregational minister, came here from Vermont and preached a part of the time,
and the town raised fifteen pounds to pay him for his services; and on the 7th of
June of this year, the people who for several years had contemplated building a
house for public worship, but could not agree upon a location, decided to build a
meeting house, which should be used for the preaching of the gospel and the
business meetings of the town; the house to be forty feet wide and fifty feet
long, and fixed upon a spot a few rods east of where the town-house not stands for
a location.  The building committee were Abram True, Captain James Marden, and
Jeremiah Sanborn.
  The records do not tell us when the house was completed, but they do tell us that
the pews were sold at auction in 1794 to the highest bidde4rs, at prices 
ranging from two to fifteen pounds.
  At a meeting held at the barn of Captain John Langmaid, July 23, 1791, it was
voted to set apart August 3, 1791 as a day of humiliation and prayer to Almighty
God for his direction and presence with them in all their undertakings; also, to
call a council of neighboring ministers to establish a church in this town, in 
order to have an ordained minister, and Jonathan Leavitt, Hillyard Shaw and
Joseph Morrill were chosen a committee to call the council to make preparations
for their entertainment.
 [only excerpts of the original document now follow]
 On 3 August 1791, the town extended a call to Rev. Josiah Carpenter to settle with
them in the gospel ministry for a salary of fifty pounds for the first year. Mr.
Carpenter accepted the call and was soon ordained, and remained in the gospel
ministry about thirty-five years.  Abatements from the taxes raised to pay his
salary were given to those who furnished certificates from other denominations.
  In 1826, after the State had passed a law allowing groups to create their own
religious societies, the town had the need to dissolve their contact with 
Rev. Josiah Carpenter.  They did this on 11 Dec 1826, with Josiah Carpenter agreeing
to accept five hundred dollars. The document was signed by Josiah Carpenter, along
with Abram Drake, Benjamin Emery and James Blake. The townships taxation to support
the church was done away with forever.  A few individuals who were in favor of
forming a Congregational society in Chichester met at the hall of David M. Carpenter
on 20 December 1826 and chose Nathan Marden, Benjamin Emery and Nathaniel Sherburne
a committee to designate a title, which they did, "The Union Congregational Society
of Chichester, in the County of Merrimack."
  At this meeting JohN Chandler was elected clerk, Abraham Drake, Nathaniel
Sherburne and Abiijah Lane were elected assessors.  For several years the church
was without a settle pastor. The society raised money and supplied the pulpit in the
old meeting-house with preaching. In 1832 a call was given to Rev. Rufus A. Putnam
who had previously preached for a while, with Dea. Enoch Tilton, Dea. Ebenezer
Lane and Joshua Lane Esq. presenting the call.  On 6 August of the same year
Rev. Rufus A. Putnam accepted the call and remained the settled pastor of the
church and society for twelve years.  After much discussion about a new church and
its location, and new one was built (where the Congregational Church now stands),
and it was finished in the latter part of 1838, the majority of the pews sold,
the bills paid, etc. [One source states the church burned in 1840, but this is probably the older one].
  In 1843 the people dismissed Rev. Putnam.  In 1844 Rev. Ezekiel Dow preached a
part of the year, and on 1 Sep of that year Rev. Charles Willey began preaching,
and preached one year on trial, then the society gave him a call to settle. He
accepted the call and on 15 October 1845 he was ordained and continued to preach
until 3 December 1850 when he was dismissed.  They were without a pastor for
several years. During this time several ministers were employed including
Rev. Thomas Kidder, and Rev. Silas Blanchard.  In 1858 Rev. Joshua Gay began
preaching and continued for five years.  Then the society was without a pastor for
some time.  In 1865 Rev. Mark Gould preached (until 1872).  In 1873 George A. Foss
preached for while, until the society voted to give him a call to settle. He
accepted and was ordained 24 Feb 1874 and preached for about 3 years.  On
Sept 7, 1877 the relationship was dissolved.  In 1879 Rev. John Aiken began
preaching, but in August 1880, after a brief illness, he died. The church was
without a pastor until 1882 when Rev. H.W.L. Thurston began to preach. He remained
until the fall of 1884, when he resigned and went away.

FREE BAPTIST SOCIETY--In 1824 and 1825 an extensive revival of religion prevailed in
Chichester, as the result of a series of meetings held in different sections of
the town by Rev. William Swain, a Free-Will Baptist minister from Pittsfield. Up
to this time there had been no Baptist society in town, although there were many
favorable to that denomination, who had attended meeting at the Baptist meeting
in Pittsfield, at which Rev. Ebenezer Knowlton and others preached.  During this
revival, at the meetings and on other occasions, the expediency of forming a
Free-Will Baptist Church in Chichester was discussed.  Finally they laid the subject
before the Elders' Conference of the New Durham Quarterly Meeting, held at Loudon
in May 1825.  The Conference, after duly considering the matter, decided in favor of
forming a church and appointed Elders Winthrop Young, Samuel Dyer, Ebenezer
Knowlton, Arthur Caverno, to organize the church. On the 27th day of May the above-
named elders, with the exception of Elder Dyer, met at the house of Benjamin Kaime
and organized by choosing Elder Winthrop Young as moderator and Elder Arthur Caverno
as clerk.  A church was formed, consisting of the following baptized members:
Benjamin Kaime, Ebenezer Fellows, Stephen Robey, John Fellows, Samuel B. Miller,
Dearborn Mason, Levi Staniels, Sarah Fellows, Mary Miller, Sally Kaime, Rhoda Page,
Mary Mason.  At the meeting Benjamin Kaime was chosen clerk of the church.
 They began to raise funds to built a church.  Benjamin Kaine gave the land upon
which to set the church. In 1826 the house was built and dedicated.  Elder Caverno
preaching the dedicatory sermon.  Jeremiah Lane, Joshua Lane, Stephen Perkins,
Stephen Robey, Benjamin Kaime, SImon Mason, Edmund Mason, Nathaniel Bachelder,
Josiah Page, Obadiah Marston, Ebenezer Fellows, John Fellows, Henry Robey,
John Berry, and Amasa Kelley were the principal contributors.  The church completed,
the then set themselves to work in earnest to procure a minister, but it was not
until December, 1827, that they succeeded in obtaining one.  Then Elder William
Swain of Pittsfield, was settled as pastor, who continued to preach and labor
among them for six years, at the close of which, although he ceased to be their
pastor, he continued to preach occasionally in the church during the remainder of
his life, and also attended many funerals of former parishioners and friends, and
to the close of his life was always deeply interested in the prosperity of the
Baptist Church in Chichester. He spent the last years of his life on a farm on
Canterbury Road, now owned by William Carroll, and died September 1865.  For the 
next four years the church was without a pastor, although they had preaching
occasionally.  But in 1837, Elder Silas Bean was engaged to preach one-half of
the time; he remained with them until some time in 1840, since which time there
has been no settled pastor, although every year there has been more or less
preaching at the church.  Elders Garland, McCutchins, Knowles, Holmes, Quimby,
Brown, Mack, Harvey and others have preached there from time to time during the
last forty years.  Elder Joseph Harvey has held more meetings in the church and at
private families, and preached more funeral sermons in that section of the town,
than any other minister; in fact, he seems to have had the general supervision of
the church and society for the last forty years.
  In 1883 the old church had become so much out of repair, and assumed such an old
and antiquated look, that the good people, not only of that section of the town,
but others who did not worship there and some former residents,--children of those
who built the house,--determined that the old church should not, in their day at
least, crumble and fall, but be put in condition to compare favorably with other
buildings in that locality.  James W. Smith, and others took hold of the matter,
clapboarded and painted it, projected the eaves, put in new windows and doors.
Charles H. Carpenter, an active member of the Congregational Society in Chichester,
gave the windows, so that the old Baptist Church near Kelly's Corner and the new
school-house standing near by give the neighborhood a thrifty look.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY--The first germ of Methodism seems to have been planted
in 1819 by Rev. John Lord who visited the town wand preached in different
localities.  The subsequent history of Methodism in Chichester proves how faithfully
he did his work.  For the next nine years there sems to have been no material 
progress made, though of what efforts were put forth to establish a Metodist Church
in Chichester, or by whom, we know but little.  But in 1829 another movement was
made to continue the work already begun.  This year Rev. Ezikiel Stickne preached
half the time. Chichester then, and for many years after, former a circuit with the
surrounding towns. The class existed at that time in Chichester was composed of the
following members: John Mason, leader; Hannah Windlow, Nanc Bachelder, John Morrill,
Betsey Seavy; Hannah Drake, Josiah Knowles, Deborah Martson, Amos Barton and 
Mehitable Barton.  At the session of the NH and VT Conference held at Barre, Vt,
23 June 1830, Rev. Orlando Hinds was appointed to Pembroke Circuit, in which
circuit Chichester belonged. Mr. Hinds then came to Chichester and spent the 
remainder of his long and useful life among the people.  In 1830 a great revival
took place in the Methodist class under the ministrations of Mr. Hinds; a four days'
meeting was held in the Old Congregational meeting-house and many were converted.
In November of this year a meeting was held in the Centre School-house to see how 
many wished to join the church, and as the result, about sixty persons of both
sexes united with the church, was was then in reality formed, for that which exited
before was a class and not a church. The members were divided into three classes,
and the leaders were Elijah Sanders, John Baily and Hiram Chase.
  In 1831 no special interest was manifested among the people, yet the church was
becoming more and more firmly established.  The circuit of this year embraced
Pembroke, Epsom, Northwood, Loudon and Chichester. In 1832, Mr. Hinds was a
supernumerary preacher, but was still pastor of the church, though he preached in
Chichester but half of the time. The church now began to feel the need of a church
edifice, and steps were taken to erect one, for previous to this they had had no
stated place for public worship, but the school-houses in the town had been used for
this purpose.  The foundation of the new church was this year put in, and some of
the building material secured and a suffcient sum of money raised so that work upon 
the church could be commenced.  In the spring of 1833, Rev. Mr. Hinds went to Boston
to solicit funds towards building, and obtaind fron Hon. Lee Claffin one hundred
dollars. Rev. Amos Binney also contributed something; this, with what the citizens
of the town themselves, neabled them to complete the house that year without 
incurring any debt of the society. THe building committee were Abraham Drake,
Elijah Sanders and Cheney Reed; the contractors were True Sanborn and Hiram Chase;
the master-workman was Caleb Beede, a local preacher. According to tradition, the
house was dedicated November 23, 1833. THe Rev. George Stores preached the 
dedicatory sermon.  With the close of 1833 ended the pastorate of Mr. Hinds, and it
is safe to say that no minister of this church ever had a great public respect or
deeper personal affection.  Next year came Rev. William S. Locke, who remained one
year; from 1835 to 1836, Rev. William S. Kidder; from 1836 to 1836, Rev. Warren
Wilber; from 1837 to 1839, Rev. Arnold Adams; from 1839 to 1840, Rev. B.D. Brewster;
from 1840 to 1841, M.A. Howe; from 1841 to 1842, Rev. Rufus Tilton; from 1842 to
1843, Rev. Lewis Howard; from 1843 to 1844, Rev. J.G. Gale; from 1844 to 1845,
A.H. Worthing; from 1845 to 1846, Rev. C.F. Bailey; from 1846 to 1848, rev. F.A. 
Hewes; from 1848 to 1849, Rev. A. Folsom; from 1849 to 1850, Rev. A. Heath; from
1850 to 1852, Rev. G.W.T. Rogers; from 1852 to 1854, James Adams; from 1854 to 1855,
Elijah Wilkins; from 1855 to 1857, John Gould; from 1857 to 1858, Rev. A. Kidder;
from 1858 to 1860, J. Fawcett; from 1860 to 1862, Rev. William D. Cass; from 1862
to 1864, Rev. M.T. Cilley; from 1865 to 1866, Rev. C. H. Smith; from 1866 to 1866,
Rev. S.F. Lougee; from 1868 to 1869, Rev. H. H. Hartwell; from 1869 to 1872, Rev.
George Beede; from 1872 to 1874, Rev. Samuel Bedle; from 1874 to 1875, Rev. Lorenzo
Draper; from 1875 to 1876, no preacher; from 1876 to 1878, Rev. A.R. Lunt; from 1878
to 1881, Rev. A.A. Caswell; from 1881 to 1883, Rev. A. Twichel; from 1883 to 1885,
J.W. Bean.

ADVENT SOCIETY--We hardly know when, or under what circumstances, the Advent Society
in Chichester came into existence; but since 1843, the time fixed by the Advents,
generally for the final consummation of all terrestrial things and the end of the
world, there have been a few of these people in town, who held meetings 
occasionally, in school-houses, until 1864, when Mr. Eneas Ordway, one of the most
enthusiastic of the sect, determined to erect an Advent chapel in which to worship;
but not being able to bear all of the expense himself, solicited aid from those
who favored the enterprise. Several responded cheerfully to the call, and a small
sum was subscribed and paid to Mr. Ordway, who built the chapel and paid the balance
of the expense himself, and in 1864 the house was dedicated with appropriate
ceremonies, and the following very singular notice posted in the vestibule: "All
seats free, and no politics or slavery to be preached in this house."  The society
has never had a settled pastor, although there has been more or less preaching in 
the house every year since by ministers of different denominations of this and other
towns.  In 1884, Mr. Ordway died, and in 1885 the chapel was sold by his
administrator to Mr. George H. Haines, who proposes to use it as a store-house for
carriages and sleighs, of which he is an extensive manufacturer and dealer.  As the
leading members of the society are either dead or removed from town, and the church
turned into a carriage mart, the Advent Society is in a fair way to become extinct 
in Chichester at no distant day.

PHYSICIANS--
  AMASA KELLEY, the first physician in Chichester, was born in Amesbury, Mass, in
1765, studied medicine with Dr. Cogswell of Atkinson; practiced medicine in 
Pittsfield from 1795 to 1799; came to Chichester in 1799 and settled at Kelley's 
Corner, the place subsequently occupied by his son, Daniel R. Kelley, Esq., who
died upon the old homestead.  Dr. Kelley practiced medicine forty years in 
Chichester, and died April 7, 1847 at the age of eighty-two.
  Dr. Kelley was considered a very successful physician, and universally respected
by all.  In his religious belief he was decidedly orthodox, and held firmly to that
doctrine. He was conscientious and upright in all his dealings, constant in his
attendance upon public worship while his age and strength would permit, and an
example of temperance, faith and charity.
  DR. JAMES A. TILTON was born in Canaan NH, December 1815; graduated at Dartmouth
College; entered the Medical Department and graduated October 26, 1841, and soon
came to Chichester and commenced the practice of medicine. While here he was married
to Miss Sarah T. Stanyan, daughter of Abram Stanyan, who died at Newburyport Mass.,
April 1881.  After practicing here for many years he removed to Pembroke, N.H. and
thence to Amesbury, Mass; remained there twelve years and established a good
reputation as a physician. From Amesbury he removed to Newburyport where he remained
in successful practice until his death, which occurred in 1861.  
  DR. OSBORN came here in 1793 and practiced a while.  DR. SAMUEL SARGENT commenced
to practice in 1818 and died in 1851.  DR. WILDER also practiced here a while. 
DR. W.A. MACK was born at Haverhill N.H. October 3, 1824; fitted for colege at
Gilmanton Academy and graduated from the Academic Department of Dartmouth College
in 1844; entered the Medical Department and graduated from there in 1847; practiced
medicine in company with the late Dr. Tenney in Pittsfield two years; he then came
to Chichester, where he was in active practice for seven years; he then removed to
Pittsfield, and practiced medicine several years; he then gave up the practice of
medicine and went into the apothecary business, in which business he still remains.
  DR. MOSES HILL was born at Warner, New Hampshire, May 5, 1805; graduated from
Dartmouth Medical College in 1831; began the practice of medicine in Chichester
the same year; removed to Northwood, thence to Manchester, and in 1849 went to
California; returned in 1852, then removed to Louisiana, where he died in 1875.
  DR. JOHN FELLOWS came to Chichester in 1862 and practiced medicine several years,
also held the office of town clerk one year; he then removed to Concord [NH] where
he also practiced medicine until his death.
  DR. BRADLEY H. BARTLETT was born at Grantham, NH, March 18, 1829; removed to
Pittsfield when a young man; served in the Union army in the War of the Rebellion;
studied medicine; graduated at the Philadelphia Medical University February 21,
1866. Commenced the practice of medicine in Chichester in 1868; remained nearly
two years; he then removed to Amherst, where he had an extensive practice until
his death, which occurred December 29, 1878.
  DR. WHIDDEN came to Chichester in 1869; practiced medicine a short time and died. 
DR. GEORGE BEEBE came to Chichester in 1870, and practiced medicine three years,
and also preached to the Methodist Church and society; also held the office of
superintending school committee.
  ORRIN STRONG SANDERS, M.D. was born in Epsom, NH Sept. 24, 1820. He is the son of
Colonel Job and Polly Sanders, being the eldest of four sons.  He was educated at
the district school in his own town, and at Gilmanton and Pembroke Academies in
New Hampshire, paying his own expenses by teaching schools in his own and
neighboring towns, and it is said of him that, as a teacher, he was eminently
successful. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Hanover Dickey, of Epsom,
and in 1841 he attended his first course of medical lectures at Dartmouth Medical
College. He afterwards continued his studies with Dr. Haynes of Concord, NH, and
also with Drs. Chadbourne and Buck.  In the spring of 1843 he went to Lowell, MA
and completed his studies with Drs. Wheelock, Graves and Allen.  IN the fall of
1843 he graduated at the Castleton Medical College, Vermont, and commenced the
practice of medicine in Effingham, where he remained until 1847, when he came to
Chichester; he remained here about a year and a half in successful practice; he
then moved to Boston, Mass, and from that time to the present Dr. Sanders has
followed his profession in Boston, and has been form the first conspicuous among
the physicians of that city for his extensive and lucrative practice and his
successful treatment of disease.

CIVIL LIST--The following is a list of the proprietors' town officers:
1728--William Stanford, clerk; Benjamin Perkins, Benjamin Lambre, Jethro Tilton, 
selectmen.
1729--William Stanford, clerk; Jabez Smith, Charles Stuart, Jacob Moulton, selectmen
1730--William Stanford, clerk; David Weare, Jonathan Garland, Nathan Longfellow,
selectmen
1731--William Stanford, clerk; Jabez Smith, Josiah Moulton, Josiah Batchelder,
selectmen
1732--William Stanford, clerk, Benjamin Lambre, Charles Treadwell, Edmund Rand,
selectmen
1733--William Stanford, clerk; Ichabod Roby, Nathaniel Drake, Christopher Page,
selectmen
1734--William Stanford, clerk; John Sherbourn, Jonathan Cram, Joseph Freese,
selectmen
1735--William Stanford, clerk; Rodger Shaw, Abram Drake, Benjamin Moody, selectmen
1736--William Stanford, clerk; Rodger Shaw, Abram Drake, Benjamin Moody, selectmen
1737--William Stanford, clerk; Shubal Sanborn, John Dearborn, William Stanford,
selectmen
1738--William Stanford, clerk; JohN Batchelder, Benjamin Hilliard, Samuel Palmer,
selectmen
1739--William Stanford, clerk; Ichabod Roby, Jonathan Garland, Benjamin James,
selectmen
1740--William Stanford, clerk; Christopher Page, John Dearborn, Benjamin James,
selectmen
1741--William Stanford, clerk; Joseph Worth, Benjamin James, Edmund Rand, selectmen
1742--William Stanford, clerk; Thomas Cram, Jonathan Garland, Samuel Martin,
selectmen
1743--William Stanford, clerk; Thomas Cram, Jonathan Garland, Edmund Rand, selectmen
1744--William Stanford, clerk; William Stanford, Nathan Tilton, Josiah Moulton,
selectmen
1745--William Stanford, clerk; Josiah Moulton, Abram Drake, William Stanford,
selectmen
1746--William Stanford, clerk; Christopher Page, Edmund Rand, Solomon Page,
selectmen
1747--William Stanford, clerk; Edmund Rand, Jabez Smith, William Stanford, selectmen
1748--William Stanford, clerk; Christopher Page, Josiah Moulton, William Stanford,
selectmen
1750--William Stanford, clerk; John Sherburne, Jacob Moulton, Abram Drake, selectmen
1751--William Stanford, clerk; Jabez Smith, Abram Drake, Thomas Rand, selectmen
1752--William Stanford, clerk; Abram Drake, Jeremiah Sanborn, Obediah Worth,
selectmen
1753--William Stanford, clerk; Edward Shaw, Jeremiah Sanborn, Obediah Worth, 
selectmen
1754--William Stanford, clerk; William Stanford, Jonathan Leavitt, Nathaniel Drake,
selectmen
1755--William Stanford, clerk; Joseph Johnson, Jonathan Towle, Obediah Worth,
selectmen
1756--William Stanford, clerk; Joseph Johnson, Jonathan Towle, Jonathan Cram,
selectmen
1757--Jonathan Leavitt, clerk; Samuel Garland, Joseph Johnson, Benjamin Moulton,
selectmen
1758--Jonathan Leavitt, clerk, Joseph Johnson, Samuel Garland, Jonathan Towle,
selectmen
1759--Jonathan Leavitt, clerk; Joseph Johnson, Jonathan Towle, Jonathan Shaw,
selectmen
1760--Jonathan Leavitt, clerk; Jonathan Leavitt, Jonathan Towle, Joseph Wood,
selectmen
1761--Jonathan Leavitt, clerk; Jonathan Leavitt, Jonathan Towle, Samuel Garland,
selectmen
1762--Jonathan Leavitt, clerk; Jonathan Leavitt, Jonathan Towle, Samuel Garland,
selectmen
1763--Jonathan Leavitt, clerk; Jonathan Leavitt, Jacob Moulton, Jonathan Towle,
selectmen
1764--Jonathan Leavitt, clerk; Jonathan Leavitt, Josiah Moulton; Jonathan Towle,
selectmen
1765--Jonathan Leavitt, clerk; Josiah Moulton, JOseph Johnson, John Moulton,
selectmen
1766--Jonathan Leavitt, clerk; John Moulton, Josiah Moulton, Jonathan Leavitt,
selectmen
1767--John Moulton, clerk; Jonathan Leavitt, John Moulton, Josiah Moulton, selectmen
1768--John Moulton, clerk; Jonathan Leavitt, John Moulton, JOsiah Moulton, selectmen
1769--John Moulton, Clerk; Josiah Moulton, Jonathan Leavitt, Thomas Rand, John
 Moulton, Joseph Johnson, selectmen.
1770--John Moulton, clerk; Josiah Moulton, John Moulton, Thomas Rand, John Lamprey,
 Cotton Ward, selectmen
1771--John Moulton, clerk, John Moulton, Jonathan Leavitt, John Moulton, selectmen
1772--John Moulton, clerk, Christopher Tappan, Micajah Morrill, John Lamprey,
selectmen
1773--John Moulton, clerk; John Moulton, Josiah Moulton, John Lamprey, selectmen
1774--John Moulton, clerk; John Moulton, Josiah Moulton, John Lamprey, selectmen
1775--John Moulton, clerk; Josiah Moulton, John Moulton, John Lamprey, selectmen
1776--John Moulton, clerk; John Lamprey, Samuel Drake, John Moulton, selectmen
1777--John Moulton, clerk; John Lamprey, Samuel Drake, John Moulton, selectmen
1778--John Moulton, clerk; John Lamprey, John Moulton, Edward Shaw, selectmen
1779--John Moulton, clerk; John Lamprey, John Moulton, Edward Shaw, slectmen
1780--John Moulton, clerk, John Lamprey, Edward Shaw, John Moulton, selectmen
1781--John Moulton, clerk, John Moulton, Joshua James, John Lamprey, selectmen
1782--John Moulton, clerk, John Moulton, Joshua James, John Lamprey, selectmen
1783--John Moulton, clerk; John Moulton, Joshua James, John Lamprey, selectmen
1784--John Moulton, clerk; John Moulton, Joshua James, John Lamprey, selectmen
1785--John Moulton, clerk; John Moulton, Joshua James, John Lamprey, selectmen
1786--John Moulton, clerk; John Moulton, John Dearborn, Joshua James, selectmen
1786--John Moulton, clerk; John Moulton, John Taylor, Benjamin Sanborn, selectmen
1787--John Moulton, clerk; John Moulton, John Taylor, Benjamin Sanborn, selectmen
1788--John Moulton, clerk, John Moulton, Joshua James, Jeremiah Lane, selectmen
1789--John Moulton, clerk; John Moulton, Joshua James, Jeremiah Lane, selectmen
1790--John Moulton, Josiah James, David Bachelder, selectmen
1791--John Moulton, clerk; William Chase, John Moulton, Joshua James, selectmen
1792--John Moulton, clerk; John Dearborn, John Moulton, Joshua James, selectmen
1793--John Moulton, clerk; John Dearborn, John Moulton, Joshua James, selectmen
1794--John Darborn, John Moulton, Joshua James, selectmen
1795--John Moulton, Benjamin Sanborn, Joshua James, selectmen
1796--Joseph Dow (first proprietors' clerk in Chichester), John Hilliard, Samuel
 Brown, Ebenezer Prescott (proprietor's first Board of Selectmen in Chichester)

*LIST OF FIRST TOWN OFFICERS*
1773--John Cram, town clerk; Ebenezer Barton, Samuel Davis, John Cram, selectmen
1774--John Cram, town clerk; Ebenezer Barton, Samuel Davis, John Cram, selectmen
1775-John Cram, town clerk; John Cram, David Knowlton, Jonathan Stanyan, selectmen.
1776-John Cram, town clerk; Jonathan Leavitt, John Brown, Jeremiah Sanborn, selectmen.
1777-John Cram, town clerk; Jeremiah Sanborn, Jonathan Leavitt, Jeremiah Garland, 
selectmen. 
1778-John Cram, town clerk; Jonathan Leavitt, Dyer Hook, Samuel Philbrick, selectmen.
1779-John Cram, town clerk; Dyer Hook, Jonathan Leavitt, Samuel Philbrick, selectmen.
1780-John Cram, town clerk; Simeon Hilliard, James Cram, selectmen.
1781-Dyer Hook, town clerk; Simeon Hillaird, James Cram, Elijah Ring, selectmen.
1782-Simeon Hilliard, town clerk; Benjamin Jackson, Jeremiah Sanborn, selectmen.
1783-Simeon Hilliard, town clerk; William Seavey, Jonathan Leavitt, Dyer Hook, selectmen.
1784-Simeon Hilliard, town clerk; Elijah Ring, Simeon Hilliard, Benjamin Jackson, 
selectmen.
1785-Simeon Hilliard, town clerk; Elijah Ring, Edmund Leavitt, Simeon Hilliard, selectmen.
1786-Simeon Hilliard, town clerk; Elijah Ring, Edmund LEavitt, Simeon Hilliard, selectmen.
1787-Joseph Dow, town clerk; Elijah Ring, Edmund Leavitt, Simeon Hilliard, selectmen.
1788-Joseph Dow, town clerk; Jonathan Leavitt, Abram True, Nathaniel Morrill, selectmen.
1789-Joseph Dow, town clerk; Abram True, Nathaniel Morrill, Simeon Hilliard, selectmen.
1790-Joseph Dow, town clerk, Simeon Hilliard, Abram True, Nathaniel Morrill, selectmen.
1791-Joseph Dow, town clerk, Abram True, Nathaniel Morrill, Zebulon Hilliard, selectmen.
1792-Joseph Dow, town clerk, Abram True, Nathaniel Morrill, Zebulon Hilliard, selectmen.
[town clerks and selectmen from 1793-1885 found in the original document, not included
here.]

MANUFACTURE OF CARRIAGES AND SLEIGHS--About 1857, Mr. Reuben Locke and four sons, all
journeymen carriage-painters, came here from Gilmantown and erected a commodious shop 
for the manufacture of carriages and sleighs, and for some five years carried on quite an
extensive business in that line, especially in the department of carriage-painting; but
the war for the suppression of the Rebellion coming on, the sons all enlisted into the
Union army; the father, left alone, soon sold old and left town. Not much was done in the
carriage business for several years.  But, in 1867, Mr. George H. Haines, a Union soldier
began the carriage business in a small way in the shop formerly occupied by the Lockes.
From the commencement Mr. Haines' business steadily increased, so that in 1869 it became
necessary to occupy more commodious and convenient buildings; he therefore erected his
main shop, the lower story of which he uses for a wood-shop, and the upper story of which
he uses for a paint-shop and trimming-room; also erected a blacksmith-shop and soon after
built a large two-story building for storing stock and finished carriages, in which can
be found at all seasons of the year a large variety of carriages and sleighs of different
styles and values. A few years ago Mr. Haines built a second blacksmith-shop and more 
recently purchased the old Advent Chapel and fitted it up for a salesroom for his wares,
making in all five large buildings, all of which are used to their utmost capacity in
his increasing business. Mr. Haines not only has a home trade, but is shipping his goods
to Bosotn and other cities of New England.

TURNPIKE.--The construction of a turnpike road from Concord to Piscataqua bridge, in
Durham, through the town of Chichester, was one of the greatest events of the
eighteenth century to the original settlers.  For, previous to the building of this
turnpike, Canterbury road had been the great thoroughfare upon which the people traveled,
who had occasion to pass through the town. The road was very cheaply built, and without
sufficient bridges, so that at times it was almost impracticable for travel.  This was
the first constructed turnpike in New Hampshire. The company building it was incorporated
in 1797. Upon its completion and for many years afterward there was an extensive travel
upon it. Merchants from Central New Hampshire and Vermont transported their goods from
Portsmouth up over this road and immense quantities of lumber, beef, pork and farm
produce was carried down to exchange for goods. Toll-gates were established at different
points along the line of the road, and gate-keepers appointed to collect toll of travelers
using the road.
  The extensive travel upon the road made a demand for hotel accomodations. Consquently
one was erected in Chichester, and kept by John T. Leavitt, who did a flourishing 
business. This house is still standing and owned by Charles C. Drake. After Leavitt,
Benjamin Emery and John Langly kept the house.  In 1817, when President Monroe passed
down the turnpike from Concord to Dover, he halted here for a while to rest his horses;
and many were the calls made by Daniel Webster and other distinguished jurists and public
officials when going to and from Portsmouth. General Lafayette, when he visited this 
country (1824) passed over this road.  In 1807, General James Blake erected a hotel and
blacksmith-shop, and carried on an extensive business until 1838, when he left, and his
son, James M. Blake, continued the business until 1844, when he closed up. The lucrative
business which hotel-keepers and toll-gate keepers had done on the turnpike was now at an
end; for other routes and means of transportation had been discovered. The railroad and
steam-engine were already taking the place of the turnpike and horses and oxen.  The
company that built the turnpike gave it up; the town took it up, and have ever since
kept it in repair.  A.J. Sherburn kept a hotel here, on the Blake place, from 1862 to
1868, when his hotel was burned. [NOTE by compiler: Route 4 aka "Antique Alley" is part of this original First NH Turnpike]

COUNTRY STORES--The first store was kept on the turpike by a Mr. Bradley, in 1800. Next
came Benjamin Emery, in 1817, who remained for several years. Then Jonathan Pierce and
Olive Smart commenced keeping store in 1825, and did business four or five years, who were
succeeded by Philip Rodgers, who also remained four or five years. Then Jonathan Pierce
again, from 1833 to 1839. Benjamin Leavitt & Son kept a grocery-store for a while about
1870. Nathaniel Seavey commenced keeping store in 1833, and did a succesful business
until December 4, 1851, when he was suddenly seized with violent hemorrahge in his store
and died. Mr. Seavey was a man who carried into the business transactions of every-day
life all the Christian virtues, and was known, far and wide, as the honest merchant.
Messrs. Fisk & Fellows kept a grocery-store at the Pine Ground from 1830 to 1835. Mr.
Charles Hopkinson also kept a store a while there. Henry Robey did business for several
years; then Sumner Spaulding traded a while, when Joseph Morse purchased the store and
goods in 1863, and has kept a country store since. George P. Haines commenced trading at
the Pine Ground in 1847, and carried on the manufacture of matches, in connection with his
store for several years; then kept hotel for a while; he also carried on quite an 
extensive shoe manufacturing a number of years, since which time he has continued his 
store only. Mr. Haines is a veteran merchant, having been in trade longer, and sold more
goods than any of his contemporaries or predecessors, and is celebrated throughout this
seciton of the county for honest and fair dealing.
  In 1857 a union store building was erected at Chichester Centre, near the Methodist
meeting-house and Carter Wilder kept a country store for several year, when
John S. Drake bought the goods and continued the business for three or four years, when
Charles L. Brown purchased the stock of goods and continued the businesss for a while.
Then came Jonathan Kendall Jr., son of Jonathan Kendall of Lowell, Mass., who remained
several years in trade when Augustus Sheldon purchased the goods and leased the store
building. Mr. Sheldon kept a grocery-store and also the post-office for two or three
years, when Herbert T. Leavitt, son of Hazen K. Leavitt, came here from Tilton, N.H.,
where he had been in successful business for several years, and purchased the stock in
trade of Mr. Sheldon, filled up the store with a choice line of groceries and dry-goods,
and has ever since done a fourishing business for a country merchant.  Mr. Leavitt is 
quite an extensive dealer in corn and flour, having last year leased a building erected
for the purpose, at the Chichester railway station, for storing his corn, flour, grain
and other heavy goods which he is constantly receiving from the West by the car-load.

CEMETERIES--There are five public cemeteries, besides several private ones, in town.
For the first fifty years of the town's history the dead were buried upon their own land
or that of their neighbors, or, in some cases, several families owuld unite in inclosing
a small piece of ground for a cemetery. One of these is located on Brown's Hill, in the
north part of the town, in which many of the early settlers in that section of the town
are buried.  We find that one hundred or more are buried in this cemetery. Many of these
graves will forever remain unknwon, as no marked stone has been erected.  In fact, we
find upon no grave-stone in town an earlier date than 1804, and this upon the grave-stone
of Jonathan Leavitt, Esq.  Another cemetery is lcoated near the hearse-house, on
Canterbury Road, in which were buried several of the early settlers of the town. The 
first settled minister of the town, and several members of his family, including
HOn. David M. Carpenter, were buried here, and a fine marble monument marks their final
resting-place. Very few persons have been buried here during the past forty years. 
Another cemetery is located near the former residence of H.C. Knowlton, Esq., in which
were buried the early settlers of that section of the town,--the LEavitts, the Lanes,
the Staniels and others. The yard has recently been enlarged and improved. The town
cemetery, situated at the Pine Ground (so called) containing two acres, was set apart by
the town for a public burial-place, and is one of the most suitable locations for such a
purpose to be found in town. There are over one hundred and fifty persons buried here, a
large proportion of whom have died within the last twenty-five years; and about a dozen
marble and granite monuments are erected. Among the most expensive and beautiful, are the
granite ones erected by Charles H. Carpenter, Esq and Charles C. Shaw, Esq.  Reuben Lake
and the Hook family have fine marble monuments.
  The new cemetery, situated on a beautiful swell of land, a few rods west of the
Methodist Church in Chichester, was built by a stock company incorporated at the session
of the Legislature in 1854.  The original stockholds were Hazen K. Leavitt, Solomon
Leavitt, Jacob P. Leavitt, Benjamin F. Leavitt, G.W. West, Moses W. Page, Richard Locke,
True Sanborn, True Sanborn Jr., and Benning Sanborn.  This company purchased several acres
of land, inclosed it with a neat and substantial fence, constructed a beautiful drive-way
across a valley to it, divided it off into lots, set out shade-trees and otherwise
improved it. Many of the lots have been sold, and one hundred and thirty persons of
all ages are buried here.  Some very fine monuments have recently been erected, notably
those of Hazen K. Leavitt and Benning Sanborn.
  
-TAX LIST OF 1812-
The following persons paid taxes to the amount of ten dollars and over in 1812:
John Berry, $10.97; Peter Hook, $19.40; James Hook, $15.40; Malachi Haines, $11.06;
Joshua Lane, $12.76; Jeremiah Lane, $11.69; William Lake, $13.03; Jonathan Leavitt,$10.89; 
Edmund R. Leavitt, $14.91; Samuel Sargent, $13.63; Thomas Lake, $13,44; Abram True,
$11.17; Samuel Langley, $15.88; John T. Leavitt, $11.30; John Maxfield, $11.70; 
Ebenezer Lane, $10.00; David Miller, $12.96; Micajah Morrill, $13.03; Stephen Perkins,
$12.26; Caleb Pearson, $10.66; Jacob Stanyan, $10.47; Josiah Shaw, $11.27;
John Stanyon, $12.73; David Brown, $12.34.

-TAX LIST OF 1820-
The following persons paid taxes to the amount of ten dollars and upwards in 1820:
Abram True, $10.27; Moses Seavey, $10.61; John Stanyan, $11.49; Stephen Perkins, $10.90;
John T. Leavitt, $10.41; Thomas Lake, $12.55; Simeon Lane, $11.20; Joshua Lane, $13,74;
Amasa Kelley, $10.33; James Hook, $11.26; David Brown, $11.78; James Blake, $12.03;
Benjamin Shaw, $11.20; Jeremiah Sanborn, $11.00; Caleb Parker, $10.27;  Samuel Langley,
$10.19; Jonathan Leavitt, $11.32; William Lake, $18.48; Jeremiah Lane, $14.35;
Philip C. Kelley, $13.74; Malachi Haines, $11.27; Peter Hook, $12.35; James Brown, $10.72.

-TAX LIST OF 1830-
The following persons paid taxes to the amount of ten dollars and over in 1830:
James Blake, $13,52; David M. Carpenter, $10.69; James Langley, $11.32; Jacob Perkins,
$13.33; Peter Hook, $20.12; William Lake, $13.97; Stephen Perkins, $14.61.

-TAX LIST OF 1840-
The following persons paid taxes to the amount of ten dollars in 1840:
John Berry, $13.39; James M. Blake, $15.06; David M. Carpenter, $19.54; Abram Drake,
$10.83; I.C. Greenough, $13.75; John Lake, $12.27; John Lake 2d, $10.99; David P. Shaw,
$11.69; Peter Hook, $20.12; Jeremiah Lane, $11.50; Isaiah Lane, $10.44; William Lake,
$16.88; Thomas Lake, $11.73; J.N.C. Leavitt, $11.27; Jacob Perkins, $20.62;
John True, $13.73.

-TAX LIST OF 1850-
The following persons paid taxes in 1850 to the amount of ten dollars:
James Brown, $11.58; Thomas Verry, $11.32; Nathaniel Bachelder, $10.57; James Blake,
$12.76; Charles H. Carpenter, $12.42; Abram Drake, $10.85; Edward Edmunds, $12.17;
Nathaniel Edgerly $10.11; Jesse Garvin, $12.08; Wilson D. Garvin, $11.85;
Joseph Greenough, $22.13; Peter J. Hook, $23.06; Malachi Haines, $12.31; 
Chandler Hutchinson, $14.37; Benjamin Kaime, $10.27; Stephen Perkins Jr., $24.32;
David P. Shaw, $20.70; John Shaw, $10.64; Samuel Stanyan, $12.66; Simeon Stevens, $10.50;
Joshua Lane, $11.41; Moses G. Lane, $13.52; Isaiah Lane, $15.50; Edward Langmaid, $11.18;
William Lake, $21.15; John Lake, $12.26; True Lake, $15.73; J.N.C. Leavitt, $15.20;
Richard Locke, $17.91; Harris Marden; $11.06; Nathan Marden, $11.35; Daniel P. Maxfield,
$10.43; Robert Munsey, $10.51; Nathaniel Messer, $12.06; Jacob Perkins, $37.32;
Stephen Perkins, $14.88; William Swain, $10.80; Abram Stanyan $11.51; J.S. Staniels,
$10.79

-TAX LIST OF 1860-
The following persons paid twenty-five dollars taxes in 1860:
Thomas Berry, $29.04
Charles H. Carpenter, $76.65
J.C. Greenough, $-2.18
Stephen Perkins, $72.21

-TAX LIST OF 1870-
The following persons paid taxes to the amount of fiften dollars in 1870:
S. Ambrose Brown, $56.07
Thomas Berry, $104.24
Charles H. Carpenter, $272.50
Chandler Hutchinson, $50.50
E. Langmaid, $52.12
Samuel W. Langmaid, $66.86
John Shaw, $69.55
J.S. Sanborn $64.01
L.A. Foster, $54.81
William Lake, $72.67
M.R. Lake, $78.54
Josiah Lake, $65.50
Nathan Marden, $55.90
Stephen Perkins $139.40
Benjamin Shaw, $60.05

-TAX LIST OF 1880-
The following persons paid taxes to the amount of fifty dollars in 1860
Thomas Berry, $73
Josiah Lake $60.18
Stephen Perkins $99.40
Benjamin Shaw $55.46
Joseph Moore $69.96
Josiah Lane $50.60
Charles H. Carpenter $396.42
Charles Lake 123.26
John Shaw $68.36
J.S. Sanborn $53
Samuel W. Langmaid $50.46

TOWN STATISTICS
1845-Amount of money tax, $1375.19; school money $363.22; poll tax $1.73; salaries of
town officers $94.18
1850-Amoung of money taxes, $1532.54; school money, $370.83; poll tax, $1.75; salaries of
town officers, $111.37
1860-Amount of money taxes, $1887.03; school money, $626.32; poll tax, $1.39; salaries of
town officers, $123.06
1870-Amount of money taxes, $5934.76; school money $604.80; poll tax $3.00; salaries of
town officers $283.70
1880-Amount of money taxes, $4867.86; school money, $726.38; poll tax, $1.62;
salaries of town officers $356.75
1884-Amount of money taxes $3833; poll tax $1.26; salaries of town officers, $279.92;
amount of school money, $907.03 divied among the several school districts [9 of them];
Town property: Town-house at cost $475; hearse-house and hearse, $--?

**BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES**

-CHARLES H. CARPENTER-
Charles H. Carpenter was born in Chichester, December 18, 1818. He had an illustrious and
patriotic ancestry, which is traced in a direct line to William Carpenter, who emigrated
from England in 1638, and settled in Weymouth, Mass.  Form his son Joseph the line of
descent is easily traced to Josiah, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who was
born in Stratford, Conn., October 6, 1762. Though but fourteen years of age at the 
breaking out of the War of the Revolution, himself and three brothers served in the
patriot army, and one of the brothers was killed at Roxbury Neck. After the war Josiah
entered Dartmouth College and graduated in the class of 1787. He then studied for the
ministry, and on NOvember 2, 1791, he was installed as pastor to the first organized
Congregational Church in Chichester, where he remained for nearly forty years, when he
died, beloved and respected by all. He ever labored earnestly and diligently for the
public good and was highly esteemed as a citizen and minister of the gospel. He married,
April 13, 1790, Hannah Morrill, of Canterbury. They had six children, David Morrill being
the second one.  He was father of Charles H.
  David Morrill Carpenter was born in Chichester November 16, 1793. He received a good
academic education and commenced active business in his native town as a country 
merchant, and followed it, with much success for a number of years. He then turned his
attention to agriculture, purchased an extensive farm and cultivated it for several years
in a most successful manner. Notwithstanding the constant demands of his private
occupation, his services were constantly claimed by his fellow-citizens, and for twenty-
five years he held one or more of the various town offices and for several years
represented his native town in the State Legislature. He discharged all his official
duties with ability and fidelity. He also held county office as one of the commissioners
for Merrimack County. He was for a long time one of the directors of the Mechanics'
Bank of Concord, and for more than thirty years one of the trustees of the Merrimack
County Savings-Bank, in the same city, and rarely failed to attend the weekly meetings of
the boards of both institutions.  He was married, January 13, 1818, to Mary Perkins,
daughter of Jonathan Chesley Perkins, who settled in Loudon in 1788, where he cleared a 
large farm and became a prosperous and influential citizen. The children of David M. and
Mary (Perkins) Carpenter were Charles H., Josiah, Clara A., Sarah L. and Frank P.,
besides two daughters, who died in early life.  Subsequently, Mr. Carpenter removed to
Concord, where he died December 9, 1873, his wife having died seven years before, on
November 4, 1866 at the age of sixty-eight years. He was a man of wide influence and
universally respected in the community where he was known.
  Charles H. Carpenter, whose engraving appears on another page, received a common-school
and academic education. When he was ten years of age his father gave up his store and
bought a farm at Chichester Centre, where young Carpenter remained till he was of age,
working on the farm summers, attending school at other seasons, and teaching school for
several winters.  The homestead where he was born has since been used as a parsonage.
Young Carpetner possessed the military, patriotic spirit of his ancestry, and became
actively interested in military affairs while yet a young man. He received a lieutenant's
commission at the age of ninetten, and was subsequently commissioned a captain in the
Thirty-eighth Regiment. He had his company uniformed, and it became an object of much
pride to the young captain as well as to the whole regiment. When he became of age he
went to live with his uncle, Jacob Perkins, a brother of his mother, who lived on the
large farm that, as happened, Rev. Josiah Carpenter moved to in 1791, and where he
lived until the parsonage had been erected.  Mr. Carpenter has always continued to 
reside there.
  Mr. Perkins was one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of the town or
county. He was an active, energetic business man, and accumlated considerable property
for those tie. Although he carried on a large farm, his principal business was in
connection with trading and financial matters, and he largely engaged in the cattle
business, buying in Northern New Hampshire and Vermont, and driving them on foot over
the Indian trail by Baker's River and the valley of the Pemigewassett and along the
turnpikes and highways to a market at Brighton.  Behind large droves of cattle, young
Carpenter would walk from beyond Montpelier to Boston, gaining health and strength with
every day's exertion, and strengthening and improving a naturally good constitution.
  When the Pittsfield Bank was formed in 1851, Mr. Carpenter was chosen its cashier,
and acceptably held the position for about five years, when Mr. Perkins' failing health
compelled him to resign his position and devote a larger share of his time to the
duties at his home in Chichester. He has always maintained a connection with the
Pittsfield Bank, either as cashier, director, or president, having held the latter office
since 1870.
  For the last thirty years Mr. Carpenter has been placed in responsible positions in
the interests of the town. He was called to represent the town in the State Legislature
in the years 1855 and 1856, and acquitted himself with honor and credit. He is a life-long
Democrat, and has ever take a deep interest in national affairs, always anxious that
true men should triumph and right measures prevail. During the trying days of the War
of the Rebellion he stood manfully at the helm in directing the affairs of the town,
providing the town's quota of troops and meeting the extraordinary burdens which the
war produced.  During nearly all those years he served as chairman of the Board of
Selectmen and town treasurer, and received all the money paid into the town, and
sicbursed the same with rigid honesty and correctness.  He was one of the projectors of
the Suncook Valley Railroad. He contributed of his means to the first survey of its
route, was actively interested in locating and building it, and contributed five hundred
dollars of his private means towards its completion, and has served on its board of
directors since its organization, where his judgement and business experience has proved
of value to the interests of the corporation.
  Mr. Carpenter has a model farm in the rich valley of the Suncook--the homestead farm,
consisting of seven hundred broad acres in one body, with over one thousand acres in
woodland and pasturage outlying. He cuts one hundred and fifty tons of hay and winters
one hundred head of choice cattle. For the past twenty years a cross between the Devon
and Durham has been his favorite breed of stock, and his beef animals find a ready
market at good prices.  Though he has carried on farm operations extensively, he is
largely engaged in financial matters and in trading in live stock, besides doing a large
lumber business, buying on the stump and manufacturing and handling annually large
amounts of lumber. He has interests in Pittsfield, where he has invested considerably in
real estate. He was actively interested in starting the Pittsfield Aqueduct Company, and
holds much of the stock, and he is part owner of the New Opera-House Block. He was one
of the promoters of the Farmers' Savings-Bank of Pittsfield, chartered in 1883, and is 
one of its trustees.
  His farm buildings are models in their way, being among the finest in the State. His
residence is newly erected, spacious and elegant, commanding a fine view. With all his
business and multiudinous cares he finds time to entertain his friends and give
valuable advice and counsel to many who often seek it from a man of his large business
experience and ripened judgement.
  Mr. Carpenter is an active member of the Congregational Society, though he has never
connected himself with the church. He takes a deep interest in its affairs, and
contributes liberally for preaching the gospel and forwarding its philanthropic works.
  Mr. Carpenter married Joanna Maxfield, the adopted daughter of his uncle, on
October 28, 1841. She died July 5, 1882. She was noted for her generosity and 
hospitality. She was an exemplary wife, an efficien thelp and adviser to her husband
and a tender and loving mother to her children, of whom there were five, viz: John T.,
Mary J., Electa A., Sally P. and Clara A.
  The Carpenter family has been prominent in the political, social and business circles
of Chichester and the county of Merrimack for three generations. They have been the
leading citizens of the town, strong, energetic and successful.
  Charles H. has done his full share towards helping achieve this reputation for
the family name.

***
CHARLES C. SHAW
The first of the Shaw family in Chichester was Benjamin Shaw, who was born in Hampton NH
December 25, 1766, and came to Chichester when a young man. He was twice married--
first to Abigail Paige, who was born 1773 and died January 17, 1831.  She had two
children--John and David P.  John died March 6, 1819.  Benjamin married as his second wife
Ruth Sherburne. She died May 4, 1849, leaving no issue.  In politics Mr. Shaw was a
Democrat. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Chichester.
  David P. Shaw was born May 27, 1797; was educated at the common schools of Chichester
and at Pembroke Academy. He married Clarissa Carpenter, daughter of Rev. Josiah and Hannah
(Merrill) Carpenter, of Chichester.
  Rev. Josiah Carpenter, was a native of Connecticut, born October 6, 1762. He came to
New Hampshire and was installed first pastor of the First Congregational Church of
Chichester, and retained that pastorate of nearly forty years.  He married Hannah Merrill
of Canterbury, April 13, 1790.
  David P. Shaw was much interested in militia matters, and was appointed April 17, 1826,
captian of militia in the Thirty-eighth New Hampshire Regiment. He also served in the
War of 1812, and was stationed at Portsmouth. He was like his father, a member of the
Congregational Church and a Democrat.
  He married Clarissa Carpenter October 16, 1823. Their children were: John, Josiah C.,
David C., Charles C. and Benjamin.  Josiah C. and David C. live in COncord, while John,
Charles C. and Benjamin own large farms in Chichester, on which they reside.
  Charles C., the fourth son of David P. and Clarissa was born at the old Shaw homestead
in Chichester, May 4, 1830. He received his education at common school and at New 
Hampshire Seminary, at Sanbornton Bridge (now Tilton) NH.
  He learned the trade of machinist and was employed in that capacity in the Concord
Railroad shops nine years.  Previous to this--in the years 1851 to 1853, inclusive--
he was employed as a machinist in Sandusky, Ohio.  Returning to Concord, he remained there
until 1862, when the declining health of his aged parents induced him to reuturn to 
the ancestral home and assume their care--a duty which he faithfully performed to the
close of their lives.  Mrs. Shaw died November 9, 1881, and Mr. Shaw, April 2, 1884.
  Charles C. married Sophia F. Whittemore, daughter of Hon. Aaron and Arieannah S. 
(Barstow) Whittemore, of Pembroke NH, June 2, 1861. They have one (adopted) son,
John Langdon.
  Mr. Shaw is one of the most prosperous farmers and mostly highly repsected citizens of
Chichester. His is a large owner of real estate, and, in addition to his farming
operations, has been engaged several years in lumbering. He has served as justice of the
peace several years; was selectman of his town in 1869 and 1870, and November 4, 1884,
he was elected from Chichester to represent the town in the State legislature. In politics
he has not departed from the faith of his fathers, but is an earnest Democrat.  He
attends the Congregational Church. He is of an earnest, sanguine temperament, active,
pushing and enterprising, and is one of the solid, successful men of his town.

*********
-HOSEA CHASE KNOWLTON-
Hosea Chase Knowlton, whose portrait, which accompanies this sketch of his life, was
taken when he was in the eighty-seventh year of his age, was born in Northwood, county of
Rockingham, State of New Hampshire, March 31, 1799. He comes of a hardy, long-lived
family; was one of nine children, himself being seventh, and on the paternal side is of
English descent.  His grandfather, Thomas Knowlton, came from England to Portsmouth and
settled in Hampton, afterwards in Kensington, and in 1769 moved with his family to
Northwood, where he was one of the first pioneers and settlers; that region, until his
day, being a wild, unbroken forest.
  Ebenezer, the father of the subject of this sketch, at the time of his removal to
Northwood, was about ten years of age, and fifteen years later, in 1784, then at the age
of twenty-five, he married Elizabeth Rawlins, of Vermont, built a log cabin on his
fifty-acre lot of wild land in Northwood, a short distance from his father's, commenced
clearing, and in time had it converted into a productive farm, with improved and
substantial buildings. Upon this farm, Hosea C. was born, and here he worked as a 
farm-boy until the gae of sixteen, receiving in the meantime the facilities and
privileges of the district school, which, at this early period, was limited to yearly
terms of buth three months.  He then desired of his father aid in acquiring an
academical education. But his father refused all help, though he gave him liberty to go
and try his fortunes at any institution he pleased on his own responsibility. Hosea
readily accepted this condition, and on the morning of April 10, 1816, with his little
pack of clothes and not a dollar in cash nor promise of help from any one, he started
afoot and alone to Hampton, a distance of thirty miles, and there procured a boarding-
place with Mr. Simeon Shaw, and entered the academy. Being penniless, he borrowed money
of his new-found friend, Mr. Shaw, with which to purchase books and pay his tuition,
and this money, together with his board-bill, was due Mr. Shaw when Hosea was through at
the institution. Soon after this academical term at Hampton he commenced teaching school
in the town of Brentwood, where he taught four months at twelve dollars per month,
eagerly pursued his private sutides in his spare time, received his forty-eight dollars,
returned to Hampton and applied it in payment of his obligations to his kind benefactor,
Mr. Shaw.
  In the month of April 1817, he commenced teaching in the town of Kensington a term of
ten months, and at the close of his school entered the Academical Institution at
Newmarket, under the care and tuition of Martin Reuter as principal and Moses White 
assistant, and there completed his English studies, attending especially to
trigonometry and the art of surveying.
  In the following April 1818, he returned to Kensington, where he resumed and following
teaching for two years, a calling for which, by natural gifts and acquirements, he was
eminent adapted and fitted. He then engaged himself for one year as clerk in the store
of Ebenezer Coe, of Northwood; but he loved the school-room, and in the next two years
was engaged in teaching in his native town of Northwood.
  For one year, about 1823-24 he was employed as a book-keeper and clerk, with Captain
Obadiah Wright, a retired sea-captain, in a wholesale store of general merchandise, on
Long Wharf, Boston, where he gave the highest satisfaction to his employer, and could
have remained at increased wages; but he returned to Northwood, where for some years
he followed school-teaching and farming.
  For two years--1832-33--he was employed as head clerk in the counting-room of
Hon. Isaac and Horatio Hill, editors and publishers at Concord. Here, aside from his
official hours in the counting-room, he edited and compiled "Welch's Revised Arithmetic,"
which, in the vastly improved edition, found great acceptance with the best teachers
of New England.
  May 26, 1825 he married Betsey Seavey, daughter of Moses Seavey, Esq. of Chichester,
and resided at Northwood (except his two years' counting-room service at Concord) till
the autumn of 1834, when he purchased the right and interest of the heirs to the estate
of his father-in-law, in Chichester, and moved upon this farm with his family that same
fall of 1834. Here he not only actively and successfully worked his farm and improved
his home, but for a number of years taught school winters, and in all public and
educational matters ever took a promiment, active interest.
  In 1832, while in the employ of the Hill Brothers, at Concord, he was duly appointed
justice of the peace, and by regular renewals of his commission has held the office
continuously to the present writing,--a period of fifty-three years.  His services as
a most reliable and accurate surveyor of land were largely sought, not only in 
Chichester, but also in all the adjacent towns. He served twelve years on the Board of
Selectmen and as town treasurer, five years as town clerk, two years as representative
in the State Legislature and two years as county commissioner.  Besides these positions
of public trust and confidence, ever most faithfully and ably filled, he executed a
great many deeds, wills and other public and private documents, was executor and
administrator of numerous estates, and all to the entire satisfaction of all his
patrons.  He had born to him four children,--Eben, Melissa, Alonzo and Sallie S., only
the latter of whom survives.
  His estimable wife, Betsey, died December 1, 1861, and on January 1, 1863, he married
Adaline B. Sherburne, relict of Uriah Sherburne, late of Chichester.
  By energy, economy, fidelity and perseverance he has acquired a very respectable
competence, the comforts and benefits of which he lives to enjoy in a good degree of
health, at the advanced age of nearly eighty-seven years.
  Religiously he is of the Congregational faith and a professor; a Democrat politically.
His first Presidential vote was cast for James Monroe, and every Democratic candidate
for the Presidency since, to the election of Grover Cleveland, has unwaveringly 
recieved the aid of his vote.
 Yet,--
 "I am not old, though my friends and my foes
  Alike have gone to their graves;
  And left me behind to my joys and my woes
  Like a ship in the midst of the waves.

  For youthful memories round me throng,
  Old times, and manners, and men.
  As I look away on my journey so long
  Of near four-score and ten.
 
  I look back o'er the past and my life seems a dream;
  A strange, sweet dreams forsooth.
  For old as I am and old as ai seem,
  My heart is full of youth.

******************
-OLIVER DRAKE-
The family of Drake is of Saxon origin and one of great antiquity, extending back previous
to the time of the Norman conquest of England.
 Adown the centuries some references to the name have survived the general wreck of time. 
As early as the year 1272 one John Drake is recorded as holding lands by grant from
Edward I, of England.  In 1313, Edward II, gave permission to John Drake "to go beyond
sea."  Other ancient members of the family by the name of John are mentioned in history.
  The name of Robert was also a very prominent one among the Drakes. On April 23, 1556,
one Robert, minister of Thundersby, in Essex, England, with five others, suffered
martyrdom by burning at the stake in Smithfield, in the reign of Mary. His memorable
reply to the bishop, when exhorted to renounce his heresy, was in these decisive words,--
"As for your church of Rome, I utterly deny and defy it, with all the works thereof; even
as I deny the Devil and all his works."
  He then had laid nearly a year in prison and immediately thereafter was ordered to
execution.
  English records also contain various titled names of Drake, as Sir John Drake, of Ashe,
in 1360; and, in later years, Admiral Sir Francis Drake, who circumnavigated the globe
when English navigation was comparatively in its infancy. His father's name was Robert,
Sir Francis being one of twelve brothers, most of whom followed the sea and died in
foreign parts.  Several other Drakes have also been named Robert.
  Among the illustrious Drakes of England may be mentioned Samuel Drake, D.D. of eminent
library attainments, who died in 1673, and whose equally eminent son edited Archbishop
Parker's works; also Roger Drake D.D. of St. Peter's London, an author and most excellent
man, who suffered much for his non-conformity; Francis Drake M.D., surgeon of York, F.R.S.
and who was a great antiquary; Nathan Drake, M.D., of Hadleigh, in Suffolk, the well-
known essayist and most skillful and successful annotator and biographer of Shakspeare
[sic]; and before him in point of time was Dr. James Drake, F.R.S. who discoveries in
anatomy are not surpassedin importance to those of Hervey.
  From this old English stock, notably a branch of the family of Ashe, came John Drake,
a member of the Council of Plymouth, England, who was one of the original company
established by Kimg James, in 1606, for settling New England, and from whom sprang
most, if not all, the earlier families of Drake in America.  Several of his sons came
to this country. It is know that one of them, John, reached Boston in 1630, with two or
more sons, who finally settled in Windsor, Conn.
  Also, Robert, brother of John, with two or more sons and one daughter, who was settled
in Exeter some time prior to 1643; for that year the name of Abraham Drake, son of
Robert, with twenty others, was signed to a petition to the General COurt of
Massachusetts against the encroachments of settlers, and it is therein set forth that
those people "knew we long since purchased these lands and quietly possessed them."
  We can learn but little of RObert Drake's personal history; except that he was born in
Devon, England, in 1580; came to this country before 1643 (possibly, we think, with his
brother John in 1630, or with Rev. John Wheelwright's company in 1638); that
March 15, 1650, he bought of "Francis Peaboddie house and lands lyding and being within
the bounds of Hampton," and removed thereto from Exeter early in 1651, and acquired in
Hampton a considerable estate; that he was then called "auld Mr. Drake;" that he left a
will--a full copy of which is extant--dated May 5, 1663; that he was a man of eminent
piety and high respeted, and "departed this life" January 14, 1668, at the great age of
eighty-eight years. His son, Abraham, already mentioned, was also a very prominent man
of his time, capable of any business, a good penman and forward in all public service.
In 1663 he was chosen to lay out four thousand acres of land "west of Hampton bounds
and away to the great pond;" and in 1668-69 was chosen to run the town lines; also in
1673 was appointed marshal of the county of Norfolk in which office he probably continued
till the separation of New Hampshire from Massachusetts, in 1679. He lived to a very 
advanced age, being alive in 1712, and at that time eighty-four years old.  But the year 
of his death is not definitely known.
  Dim and distant as this early period of New England may seem, it is known that most,
and probably all, the Drakes of New Hampshire are the direct descendants of Robert
Drake (1) of Hampton, N.H. through his son Abraham (2) already named, and so on in the
generations that have followed to the present time. Many members of the family name have
been very prominent and leading citizens of their times, in the varied affairs of
church, military and civil life.
  The generation sof one branch of the Drake family in New England have descended, as
shown by the indices in the following order: Robert(1), Abraham(2), Abraham(3),
Abraham(4), Thomas(5), Josiah(6), Thomas(7), Oliver(8).
  Passing over the third and fourth generations of whom much could be laudably written,
we have to say of Thomas(5) Drake that at soe period of his lie he was settled in
Epping NH, where he owned lands adjoining the farm of his brother Simon; but finally
removed to Chichester--though in what year the writer has been unable to determine--
where he owned a farm and lived some years, and where he died August 16, 1816, aged
eighty-three years.
  Josiah(6), grandfather of Oliver, was a life-long resident of Chichester, and succeeded
to the farm of his father in the southeasterly quarter of the town, where he led an
exemplary life and died August 8, 1832, aged seventy.
  Thomas Jr.(7), Oliver's father was born in Chichester October 12, 1796, and reared to
farm-life, which in his day, even more than now, implied hard, perservering labor and
the closest economy. A few years, however, in his early manhood he worked at last-making
and nail-cutting in Malden, Mass. He fied the Jr. to his name and was so known by his
townsmen, because of another Thomas Drake (a senior cousin of him), who also lived in
Chichester.  He was a careful, painstaking man in all he did, and withal of a mechanical,
ingenious turn of mind; was a great lover of music, an excellent player on the
violoncello and had a rare musical voice, with which he ever loved to aid in the services
of the sanctuary. He was an upright, public-spirited citizen, ever ready with his share
of effort in the furtherance of any good object or purpose.  About the year 1829 he 
bought the farm next south of his father's in Chichester (now owned by Mr. Wilder Hall,
in School District No. 4), and soon had his future home improved by the erection of
the good buildings which have since been further improved and are still thoroughly
preserved.  He married Mehitable Seavey, youngest daughter of Daniel Seavey, of
Chichester, of Welsh extraction--a man of less than medium stature, but possessing a
genial, happy spirit, and of a tough, hardy constitution, which prolonged his years in
general soundness of health to the end of his life, which occurred December 27, 1853,
at the great age of ninety-two years and eight months.  They soon moved to their new home
referred to, where they spent the remainder of their lives, devoted to their young and
growing family, which, in 1839, when all were living, consisted of three sons and three
daughters and in whose young minds they sought, by precept and example, to inculcate
truthfulness and rectitude of conduct and character. The parents lived and died
consistent members of the Congregational Church. IN the midst of his days the father
came to his death by quick consumption, April 11, 1844, aged forty-seven years and six
months; and on November 5, 1847, the devoted mother died of pleurisy fever, also at the
age of forty-seven and one-half years.
  Oliver Drake was born in Chichester, Merrimack County, N.H. April 18, 1830, and, as
already shown, is of the eighth generation of the family in this country. His brothers
were Simon S. and Francis, though the latter in his adult years is called Frank;
his sisters were Samantha T., Sallie and Joanna M.  Two of the family are no longer of
earth,--Sallie, who died in 1839, aged two years, and Simon S., a most estimable man,
who died February 22, 1885, at his home in Vallejo< Cal., in the fifty-fourth year of
his age, lamented by all who knew him.
  By the death of their parents the children were called to meet the stern realities of
life at an early, untried age.  Up to the death of his father, young Oliver, then 
thirteen, had been raised a farm-boy and so was inured to toil.  By his comrades he was
called a strong boy, and was seldom sick or ailing. The little farm, at his father's
death left to his mother, was indeed a precious home for the family. His brothers mainly
did the work at home with their mother and young sisters until the mother's decease,
while for two years Oliver worked out at farming, except winters, when he was at home
attending the district school. In the spring of 1847, the year of his mother's death,
in November, he apprenticed himself to Deacon Jacob S. Sanborn, of Chichester, with whom
he faithfully worked and learned the trade of shoemaking, intending to set up shop for
himself at the hold home with his mother, when through with his apprenticeship, for this
was in an age of shoe manufacturing, when little single and double-handed shops were
scattered all about this part of the State, with Lynn, Mass., as the head-centre, and
not, as now, merged into the general factory system of manufacture with machinery. It
was then a leading, lucrative trade for many hundreds of young men at their homes in
the country. But the death of his mother shattered the fond hopes of Oliver's coming
home, and so the little family was soon scattered, and to Oliver, the oldest of the
family, there came a burden of solicitude and care not often experience by one of his
age.
  Continuing his residence in Chichester, he followed his trade steadily until December
1849, when he went in search of a better education than he had as yet had the privilege
of obtaining; and his aim was to do so at as small expenditure of his limited means as
possible.  December 1849 found him at the Walnut Grove Boarding-School of the veteran
teacher, Moses A Cartland, in Lee, N.H., a most excellent school, whooly unsectarian,
through rather of the Quaker persuasion, where the willing mind was led and vastly
aided in broader, deeper channels of thought than those contained in the text-books.
Here Oliver obtained board and tuition till the following March, paying his way by all
sorts of work nights and mornings, while in all respects making good progress with his
studies.
  Returning to Chichester, he worked at his trade until December 1850, and then took
up his studies again at Walnut Grove School, in Lee, where he remained continuously
until August 1851, working, as before for his board and tuition to the full payment,
excepting four dollars, which he thankfully paid in cash.  October 1851 he commenced
his first school as teacher in Strafford NH in what was known as the "Caverly District,"
a term of nine weeks; and while here he was engaged by Prof. J.C. Cram (the veteran
singing school teacher) to take the school of his district, in Deerfield NH.  He
commenced teaching on Monday following the close of school in Strafford, the Friday
previous, adn taught the winter term of eleven weeks, thus making for him a continuous
run of twenty weeks.  In both of these schools he met with the happiest success.
Immediately following these, he taught a private school at the "Pine Ground" (so-called)
in Chichester.
  A few weeks later, while on a visit to friends in Lee, Oliver received by letter, from
his old Walnut Grove School "chum" and esteemed friend, Benjamin Chase Jr. of Auburn,--
who now for many years has been an active citizen and prosperous manufacturer in Derry NH,
a proposition that they "take a voyage at sea." They had together read Dana's "Two Years
Before the Mast," and in their young enthusiasm had discussed many an "ocean tale," until,
with their nature love for adventure, they felt a strong desire to be upon the
"rolling wave" and tread another shore across the "ocean blue."
  The proposal of his friend was readily accepted. As a matter of business combined
with their pleasure sought, and also to learn about real sea-life, they planned to go as part of some ship's crew. It would have seemed too tame to have gone otherwise; at all events, one object of the two advernturers was to meet expenses. An able seaman's pay was then fourteen dollars per month.
  Going to Boston and donning their young sailor rig, they at last succeeded in shipping as "boys," at ten dollars per month, "before the mast," on the noble, square-rigged,
one-thousand-ton ship, "William Wirt," command by Captain Erastus Samson--one of "nature's
noblemen" and one of the best officers that ever trod a quarter-deck. The points of
destination were not fully known to the men before sailing, only "to one or more southern
ports of the United States, thence to one or more European ports."
  They set sail April 27, 1852, and the voyage proved to be to Mobile, Alabama, loading
there with cotton,--slave cotton, no doubt,--thence to Liverpool, Eng., and then returning
to Boston with a load of two hundred and eighty-seven immigrants, in the old shipping line
of Enoch Train, arriving in Boston, Oct. 1852.  The "boys'" duties of course, were those
of common sailors before the mast, with whom they lived in the forecastle and worked the
voyage through. It was to them a new phase of life with but slight embellishments.
Revolutions repeatedly formed, however, during the trip, not to "follow the sea" as a 
calling, alone or chiefly, resisted the fascination of making, as sailors say, "one more
voyage."  The voyage was devoide of serious accident, but replete with many a lively
incident.  Lying six weeks in the docks of Liverpool, though living and workinga aboard
ship during the day, the privilege of evenings and Sundays, and now and then a "liberty
day" ashore, gave fair opportunity for seeing much of English life and considerable of its
scenery.
  Returning to Chichester from his sea-voyage, Oliver was soon called by his old teacher,
Moses A. Cartland, to assist him in a school that he had recently opened in North Weare,
New Hampshire. Here Oliver remained most of that winter (1852-53) and spring, pushing on
with his own studies as well as acting as tutor in the school. WIth an aptness for
learning, a great love of study has been a marked feature of his life. The following May
(1853) he became a student at the New Hampshire Conference Seminary, at Northfield (since
moved across the river to Tilton), and continued here until the close of the fall term,
November 9, 1853, when he took a very creditable part in the examination exercises.  He
was a member of the V.A.S. Association (a literary society of the seminary), and was ever
an earnest factor in promoting its welfare, New Hampshire's future United States Senator,
Henry W. Blair, being at the same time an active brother member, whose talents and
sterling qualities gave bright promise of his future career.
  Returning from the seminar, Oliver taught a prosperous private school in his native
district, No. 4, in Chichester, and continued his services with the winter term of the
district; and then immediately followed with the school in the adjoining district, at the
"Horse Corner" (so called); after which, and running into the spring of 1854, he taught
the term in the Union District of Chichester and Loudon, on the Chichester north road.
  Teaching was to him a pleasure, and the best of success rewarded his efforts. But as a
business, he desired more lucrative calling.
  During these years o 1852, 1853, 1854, the Northeast Protective Union stores were 
having their day. One was organized in Chichester in 1854, and opened in the present
store building on the corner opposite the Methodist meeting-house.  Oliver Drake was
chosen its agent. But organizations of this class all through New England, though for a
time popular, were waning, and in some two years after, or a little longer, had all
gradually passed into private hands.  As agent, he conducted the affairs of the store to
the best advantage possible, under the impracticable circumstances that prevailed, until
the spring of 1865 when he resigned.
  With regrets to himself and many friends, he then left his native town to try his
fortunes in a broader sphere. For a year thereafter he was employed as book-keeper by the
large teaming firm of Critchett & Gilman, in East Boston, Mass.
  The three following years, 1857, 1858, 1859 he was variously engaged in the grocery
and provision trade in Boston, where for a time he worked in Faneuil Hall Market.
  In 1860 and 1861, until spring of 1862 he was employed as first accountant in the
wholesale grocery business of John G. Kaulback Jr., 196 Water St. Boston. Here, from the
sedentary confinement of the counting-room, his heath became much impaired, for which 
reason, as a more physically active employment, he betook himself again to the market.
 But that autumn (1862) he was taken down with a slow, lingering fever, from which the
following spring did not find him fully recovered. He then accepted a situation as
book-keeper for the ship-building firm of Curtis & Tilden, of East Boston, actively
engaged at that time in building war steamers for the United States government. He
remained here till the autumy of 1863, and then became proprietor of the West Lynn
Market, in the city of Lynn, Mass., and at once entered upon this branch of trade, which
he steadily and successfully followed for the succeeding six years.
  Just at this period (1868-69) the White Pine mining excitement of Nevada was at fever
heat, such, probably, as the world before never saw. The famous Eberhardt, in which his
brother Frank was a fifth owner by location, was turning out its hundreds of thousands of
silver.  Naturally of an active, hopeful temperament, Oliver was drawn westward.
September 1, 1869, he sold out his West Lynn Market, and soon completed arrangements for
an inspection of the Nevada mining business. He reached Treasure City, Nev., where his
brother was, on November 5, 1869, and from that date to the present has been actively
connected with mining interests, sharing with others some of its vicissitudes as well as
its fortunes.
  "White Pine" was first the name of the mining district, but has since become the name
of the county including the district. Except a three months' visit home in the fall of
1870, Oliver remained at White Pine until November 1871, when, with his family, he
moved to Greenville, Plumas County, California, where he soon became superintendent of
the Indian Valley Gold Mine, having in that vicinity also mining interests of his own.
He was thus engaged until September 1875, when he was called to become secretary and
cashier of the Eberhardt Mill and Mining Company, which was extensively and prosperously
engaged in silver-mining at Eberhardt, White Pine County, Nevada, his brother Frank having
been appointed the company's manager--positions of great responsibility and trust in which
the two brothers have been retained continuously to the present writing (August 1885)
except the years 1879-80, when Oliver had withdrawn himself to engage in an extensive
milling enterprise of his own.
  The Eberhardt Company (Limited) with which the Drake brothers so long have been
connected, is an English corporation, with its directors and head office in London.
  August 13, 1862, Oliver Drake married Sallie S. Knowlton, youngest daughter of
Hosea C. Knowlton, Esq. of Chichester, whose likeness and sketch of life are given in
this book.  Four children have been born to them,--one son and three daughters,--the
youngest of whom, Alma K., born in Calfornia, alone survives.  Save in the loss of
children, his domestic life has been eminently a happy one. Religiously and
constitutionally, he is a Congregationalist, regarding the polity of this church as
possessing the very spirit of genuine democracy.  Whether East or West he has ever allied
himself in some way with church life, so long as it visibly existed in his community.
Music has been to him one cherished source of recreation and delight. Of a cheerful,
social turn of mind and heart, his generally excellent health through lie has been but
little disturbed, and his near associates and warm friends have been of the good and
true.
  Though politically an ardent Republican, he is no partisan. His only votes for a
Democratic candidate for the Presidence were for Stephen A. Douglas, who was defeated,
and James Buchanan, which vote he has ever since regretted.  Political office he never
desired, sought nor accepted, though repeatedly urged to consider it.
  As inculcated by his venerated parents, one trait and motto of his life has been, that
"whatsoever thy hand findeth to do," do it well.
  The amities of life, with strict fidelity in all positions of trust, have brought their
reward in the confidence and respect of his fellow-men, which he long has largely
shared.


**********
-MAJOR ARTHUR DEERING-
The origin of the Deering family was English; as far back as the French and Indian War
two brothers came from England, from whom have descended all the Deerings in this
country.  The elder brother in all English families inherited the estate, and it often
hapened, as in the case of these two brothers, that the younger brothers came to this
then new country to carve out a fortune for themselves.  One of these brothers was killed
during the French and Indian War, and a son of the other, by the name of Isaac, settled in
Scarborough, Maine, at Blue Point.
  This son had a son named after himself, who was the father of the subject of this
brief history.  Isaac Deering, the father of Arthur Deering, married Sarah Sawyer, whose
ancestors came from Scotland, and were descendants of the old Marr family, of whom 
"Lady Helen" Marr was one.  To Isaac and Sarah Deering were born eleven children,--three
girls and eight boys,--of whom Arthur was the youngest, who was born March 24, 1820,
the year the State of Maine was admitted to the Union.
  Mr. Deering had a common-school and academical education, and then graudated at the Free
Baptist Theological School, at Whitestown, N.Y.  He entered the gospel ministry at the
age of twenty, and preached his first sermon at East Parsonfield, Maine, and had his first
settlement at Bath, Maine. From Bath he went to Central New York and preached in several
places; he was ordained in Philadelphia, Jefferson County, New York, June 18, 1853, after
being refused an ordination three times on account of more advanced views on moral and
natural depravity, and on the atonement. He did not believe that moral depravity, or sin,
could be transmitted from parent to child, or charged upon any human being before
coming to years of intelligence and human accountability; but sin is an intelligent,
voluntary, intentional violation of a known moral law, and that sin, or moral
depravity, can never pertain to man's nature, but to his character. And as to the
atonement, he did not believe that Christ suffered any penalty of any law in our stead;
did not believe that He died to help God out of any difficulty in which Adam's
transgressions had involved Him; [more in original document not included here]
  After spending some nine years in New York, he returned to Maine and settled with a
church in China; he afterwards preached in West Waterville, Richmond and several other
places in Maine, and in 1871 came to Pittsfield, N.H. and preached wtih the First Baptist
Church there three years, and in 1871 purchased the old Foster farm in Chichester, where
he now resides.
  Mr. Deering has always taken an active part in politics; but when eighteen years of age
he embraced the anti-slavery cause and often addressed public meetings upon that question.
In 1840 he took the stump for Jame G. Birney, who was the candidate of the Liberty party
for President, and in 1841 cast his first ballot; there being no candidates in that
election in this town, he wrote upon his ballot, "Abolition" and put it in the ballot-
box.  He often attended the Liberty party County and State Conventions, was frequently
on their committees on resolutions, and always kept well posted upon the question of
slavery and was one of their able and popular speakers.
  In 1848 he was a delegate to the Free-Soil National Convention at Buffalo, and 
earnestly advocated a union of all the anti-slavery elements into one party to oppose the
extending of slavery into free territory; and, with other members of the old Liberty
party, assisted in the organization of the Republican party in Maine in 1855. He took an
active part in the Presidential campaign in 1856, and spoke with Josiah H. Drummonds,
and A.P. Morrill for Fremont and Dayton. And again, in 1860, when he was president of the
Republican Club in Richmond, ME, his club accepted the challenge of the Democratic Club,
and chose him to meet their speaker in public discussion of the political issues, the
result of which, as freely admitted by his opponent, was the changing of twenty-five
votes to the Republican ticket.  In the fall of 1863 he was elected to the Legislature
by the town of Richmond, where he was several times called to the Speaker's chair to 
conduct the proceedings of the "mock session."  Being at home from the army in 1864 on a
short furlough, Governor Coney voluntarily obtained from Secretary Stanton an extension
of his furlough for twenty days, that he might take part in the September election; and
a few days after he was requested by Hon. J.G. Blaine, then chairman of the Republican
State Committee, to take the stump until election; which he did, with other speakers;
and on his return to Philadelphia, where he was ordered on detached duty as member of a
military court, he was made an honorary member of the Union LEague, and as his military
duties occupied but a few hours of his time during the day, he was on the stump most of
the time until the November election.  He spoke in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware.
Mr. Deering acted with the Republican party until 1868, when he became satisfied that
all of the political difficulties growing out of the war had been settled, and that the
next great question before the American people was the liquor traffic; he left the
Republican party and helped organize the Prohibition party in Maine, since which time
he has been an earnest advocate of its principles.  In 1868 he was appointed by the
Grand Lodge of Good Templars in Maine as State lecturer, and during the year spoke in
every county but Washington in the State, in doing which he traveled more than eight
thousand miles, speaking every evening from one and a half to two hours. He was again
employed in 1869.  In 1870 he was employed by the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, and
lectured some time in that State, moving to Pittsfield, NH in 1871.  In 1874 he
commenced the publication of the "Pittsfield Times," a local non-partisan paper, and in
1875 he took charge of editing and publishing the "Prohibition Herald," which had been
published and edited by Rev. Mr. Millen, and continued their publication until
February 1876, when his office was burned and their publication discontinued.
  In 1875 Mr. Deering was nominated by the Prohibition party for Senator in the Fourth
Senatorial District, and again in 1876, which resulted in a great deal of political
trouble in the State. He received votes enough to defeat an election in the district,
but the Democratic candidate had a plurality of the votes cast, and it was soon
ascertained that the law required that a man, to be eligible to serve as Senator, must
have been a citizen of the State seven years, and that Mr. Deering had only been in the
State a little over five years.  This fact coming to the knowledge of the Governor by the
affidavit of Mr. Deering, which the Governor caused to be taken, the Governor and 
Council threw out Mr. Deering's votes and thereby gave the election to Mr. Proctor, the
Democratic candidate, and by Mr. Proctor's election the Senate was Democratic.  At that
time many of the county officers were appointed by the Governor, and removed by an address
of the Senate and House. The Governor during 1876 was Mr. Weston, a Democrat, who,
unless removed by address of the Senate and House, would hold over, and in that case the
money and whiskey spent by the Republican politicians in the several counties to carry
the election would be lost.  And this was the only issue in the case, and, although Mr.
Deering was entirely innocent, knowing nothing of the provisions of the State
Constitution, yet unlimited abuse was poured upon him because of this affair.
The "Boston Journal" said that he did it knowingly, intending to defraud the voters of
their votes. But no man who knew him ever supposed that he would do such a thing
intentionally.
  Mr. Deering then told his enemies, jokingly, that "he would steal the whole
government the next time;" and fulfilled the prophecy in the fall of 1884, in going to
New York and speaking for the Prohibition party, which rolled up a vote of twenty-five
thousand for St. John, taking a large majority from the Republican party, and thereby
giving the State to Cleveland and making him President.
  He was the only Prohibition speaker who canvassed Jefferson County, which only gave Dow
thirty-six votes in 1880, and gave St. John six hundred and thirty-six in 1884.
  When the war broke out it found Mr. Deering at Richmond, ME.  As he had been an earnest
opposer to the extension of slavery, so he was now ready to meet the result of that
opposition; he had been ready to pray, preach and vote against American slavery, and as
slavery had now arisen in arms to rend the Union asunder, so he was just as ready to fight
against the extension and existence, even, of slavery, if need be, as he was to talk 
against it.  In August of 1862 he held patriotic meetings in the towns of Richmond,
Dresden, Bowdoinham and Topsham, and enlisted one hundred men for a company in the
Twenty-fourth Maine Regiment, and was by them elected captain. When the regiment was first
organized he was the ranking captain of it. The regiment left Augusta, ME, in November;
went to East New York and remained there until January, 1863, when it went to New
Orleans. Remaining in the city a few weeks it then went to BOnnet Carre, forty miles up
the river, to form a part of the outer defenses of the city, between the river and Lake
Pontchartrain. The regiment remained here until June, when it marched to Port Hudson and
took an active part in the siege of that place, after which it returned,, by the way of
Cairo and Chicago, to Maine.
  When the regiment was at Port Hudson, Corporal William Lancaster, of his company, being
somewhat deranged by sickness, stabbed and killed Lieutenant Newell, of Captain Deering's
company, and was tried the day the regiment left for home, so that no testimony could be
presented in his behalf.  After the regiment returned to Maine, Captain Deering gathered
the facts in the case and personally laid them before Vice-President Hamlin, and secured
his pardon. Some years afterward this same William Lancaster saved the son of Captain
Deering, William A. Deering, from drowning in the Kennebec River at Richmond.
  After the regiment returned, and was mustered out of service, Captain Deering was
appointed recruiting officer and enlisted recruits for the old regiments. During his
term of service in the Legislature, in the winter of 1864, another call was made by the
President for more men, and two more regiments were organized, the Thirty-first and
Thirty-second, and Captain Deering was commissioned a major in the Thirty-second
regiment. At the close of the session of the Legislature, he went into camp at Augusta
and took command of the six companies then formed, as no other field officers could be
commissioned with that number of companies.
  The regiments then raised in New ENgland were assigned to General Burnside, and their
destination was then expected to be North Carolina. In April, Major Deering received
orders to take the six companies and report to General Burnside at Annapolis, MD, but
when he reached Baltimore his destination was changed to Washington, as General Burnside
had been ordered to report with the Ninth Corps to General Grant, in Virginia. On arriving
at Alexandria, the Thirty-second Regiment was assigned to Second Division, Second
Brigade, Ninth army Corps, and reached the Wilderness on the second day of the fight.
  The regiment was not much exposed the next day, which was Saturday, and at night started
for Chancellorsville, which it reached Sunda morning, and Major Deering was detailed
brigade officer of the day, and had charge of the picket line, and turned it over to 
General Farraro, who had charge of the Third Division of the Ninth Corps, which were
colored troops. The regiment was severely dealt with at Spottsylvania, where it was
exposed to the rebel fire all day without any protection, and fifty out of three hundred
were either killed or wounded; and in the second attack on the enemy's left flank,
sixteen more were killed and wounded.
  The regiment was under severe fire at the Tolopotomy, where Major Deering only escaped
death by the narrowest chance. In the evening he went to the front to push out the
picket line, which was stationed too near the main line, and as he was returning, while
but a few rods in front of his breast-works, firing commenced upon the left and soon
came down the line, one regiment after another joining in the rapid firing, which soon
reached his own regiment; supposing that an attack had been made upon the line, they too
opened fire, and in a moment the air was full of whistling bullets; some of the picket
line were killed, but, as fortune would have it, he escaped unharmed.
  At another time two men were shot down, one on each side of him, as he led his men into
the fight. He was hit once on his spur and once on the scabbard of his sword, but
finally came out of every fight without a scar.  He was in all of the fights, from the
Wildnerness to Petersburg, in which his corps, the Ninth, were engaged; and so much had
his regiment become reduced by killed, wounded and sick, that when it mustered, on the
1st of July 1864, in front of Petersburg, there were but fifty men on duty.  The colonel,
Mark F. Wentworth and the lieutenant-colonel, J.M. Brown, joined the regiment at the
North Anna, but soon after it arrived at Petersburg, one was wounded and the other was
sick, so the command against devolved upon Major Deering.  But constant working and
fighting, the climate and the unwholesome water, by the middle of July, brought on the
diarrhea, and after remaining a while at the front hospital, he was sent to the officers'
hospital at Philadelphia.  By the last of August becoming able to do light duty, he was
detailed on court-martial duty, where he served for six months, trying during that time 
one hundred and ten cases; and, what was unprecedented in any other court in the army,
every finding and sentence in each case was approved by the commanding general of the
department.  The court was then dissolved, and Major Deering received notice that some
two months before his regiment had been consolidated with the Thirty-first Maine Regiment,
and all of the field and part of the line officers had been mustered out of service, and
this order made him a private citizen again, and he returned home.  Since his return
he has spent his time in the ministry, on his farm, and in the lecture field.
  He was employed during the Presidential campaign of 1884 by the Prohitibition party
in Jefferson County, New York, where the vote of the party was increased from thirty-six
to six hundred and thirty-six, and the vote was carried in the State up to twenty-five
thousand, which determined the result of the contest.

(end)