HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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SOURCE: History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire 
Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1885, 878 pgs.

LYNDEBOROUGH, N.H. 
page 498
CHAPTER I
Lyndeborough is bounded on the north by Francestown, east by New Boston
and Mont Vernon, south by Milford and Wilton, west by Temple, and
Greenfield. A a part of all the surrounding towns except New Boston has
been severed from Lyndeborough. The mountain range nearly divides it 
from east to west, rendering it very inconvenient for a just central
place for the accomodation of all; hence came the divisions. The soil
for the most part is rough, but fertile beyond the most of the neigh-
boring towns, affording the best grazing lands in the State. Situated
upon the first range of Highlands as the traveler passes from 
Massachusetts to New Hampshire, about midway between the Merrimack and
Connecticut Rivers, the view from the mountain is rarely surpassed by
any mountain view in New Hampshire, and is of easy access from the
railroad station at Lyndeborough or Greenfield.  The Pinnacle Mountain 
is about fourteen hundred feet above the level of the sea. In the
eastern part of the town is a remarkable gulf called Purgatory; over the
smooth rock-bed from above, the waters of a considerable stream rush
down a rough narrow chasm with the force of a miniature Niagara to the
great basin below.
  The first mention of Lyndeborough as a township is found in the
records of the General Court of Massachusetts. It is dated June 19,
1735, and is a vote upon a petition of Captain King and fifty-hine
others, who were in an expedition to Canada in the year 1690, and the
descendants of such of them as are dead, praying for a grant of land for
a township in consideration of their and their ancestors' sufferings in
the said expedition. Massachusetts at the time of the date of this
petition included within her territorial limits the present State of
New Hampshire.
  In accordance with the prayer of the petitioners, the General Court of
Massachusetts ordered a committee to be appointed to lay out a town, six
miles square, under the name of Salem-Canada, and to divide it into
sixty-three shares, reserving one share for the settled minister, one 
for the ministry, and one for schools. The grantees were required to 
settle a learned orthodox minister and build and finish a convenient
meeting-house for the public worship of God, and that on each of the
other sixty shares the petitions do, within three years from the
confirmation of the plan, have settled one good family, who shall have
a house built upon his home-lot of eighteen feet square and seven feet
studs at the least, and finished. That each right or grant have six
acres of land brought to and plowed, or brought to English grass and
fitted for mowing; provided, that in case any of the lots or rights are
not duly settled in all regards, as aforesaid, then such lots, with the
rights thereof, to revert to and be at the disposition of the province.
The commitee, according to instructions, laid out the township west of
the Narragansett town (No. 3.).
  How faithfully, with what energy, with what zeal and determination the
grantees entered upon their part of the contract can now only be seen by
the imperfect record. The early landmarks have disappeared, and it is 
not possible to reproduce the scenes in which they planted their
habitations. To men employed in subjugating the forest, clearing lots,
making roads and rearing log houses there was no leisure and little
disposition to make careful records.
  At a meeting held on the 3d day of February, 1736,--
  "Chose Daniel Epps moderator, Daniel Epps Jr., clerk and Benjamin
Lynde, Treasurer.
 "Voted to assess each Right four pounds to defray expenses of 
surveying.
 "Voted to Pay Capt. John Stephens 88 pounds 13 chillings.
 "Also voted to pay Daniel Epps, Jr., L60 2s.; Major Blaney, L13 4s. 
3d.; Cornelius Tarbell, L13, 2s; Roger Derby, L13 5s 11d; John Gardener,
L13 13s 9d.
  "Voted to have two more lots to each proprietor of 130 acres each.
  "Voted to pay John Gardner one hundred and fifty pounds to lay out
one hundred and twenty-six lots of 130 acres each; also 100 acres for
a mill lot.
 "Voted that it be done before the first day of June next.
 "Voted that notifications of future meetings be posted two in Salem,
two in Marblehead and one in Woburn."
  From the above votes it appears that they proceeded with all the
dispatch that was possible in a new country so far separated from 
them. The first division of lots was drawn February 3, 1737, at the
house of Margaret Pratt, inn-holder, in Salem, Mass., where all the
early proprietors' meetings were held.  The second division lots were
drawn June 2, 1737. On the 28th day of November, 1737, Cornelius Tarbell
and Joseph Richardson were authorized to clear a road from Narragansett
(No. 3) to near the centre of the town, for which they be paid
fifty-eight pounds. At a meeting held on the 26th day of December, 1738,
"Voted, that Mr. John Cram have twenty pounds in bills of credit and
the lot No. 39 in the second division of lots if he build and keep in
repair a good and sufficient saw-mill for fifteen years, to be finished
before the last day of August next." At the same meeting, "Voted, to 
give ten pounds towards building a bridge over the Nashua River."
On the 7th day of March, 1739, Cornelius Tarbell, John Fowl and Joseph
Richardson were chosen a committee to locate a spot for the meeting-
house and clear a road to it. On the 28th day of May the committee
reported. They voted to build a house forty-five feet long, thirty-five
feet wide and twenty feet posts.  These dimensions could seem quite
large for a new town. It appears to be much easier to vote to do than to
do.  As the committee reported at the next meeting that they could not
find any person that would undertake to build the meeting-house in 1740,
June 9th, they voted to alter the dimensions.  On the 24th day of
September, 1741, the committee was ordered to raise the house, and
Lieutenant Cornelius Tarbell, to furnish the necessary articles for the
raising.  Among the articles furnished were twenty-one gallons of rum,
two hundred pounds of fish, two bushels of meal and bread, twenty
pounds of butter.
  The separation of New Hampshire, in 1741, from Massachusetts caused
much anxiety and did much to retard the settlements on the lands
granted by Massachusetts.  That the proprietors of Salem-Canada were
not exempt is evident by their vote on the 2d day of October, 1741:
"Voted, that a humble petition be presented to his most excellent
majesty on account of the difficulties that may ariase on the settlement
of the northern boyndary of his province; that Benjamin Lynde, Joseph
Blaney and Daniel Epps be a committee to draft the same." Yet with all
these discouraging events, they made some progress, and in the space of
five years no less than two saw-mills had been built and many
settlements made.  The proprietors worked with a will and determination
known only to the first settlers of New England. The nearest grist-mill
was at Dunstable, Mass, to which the first grain that was raised was
carried on horseback or by hand-sleds in winter. The road was little
more than foot-paths marked by "spotted" trees. For a long time there
were apprehensions of danger from Indians. Lyndeborough seems never to
have a fixed residence for them, but merely a hunting-ground. They 
lived along the Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers, and in times of
hostility, or when hostility was feared, the first settlers went into
garrison.  This continued for ten or twelve years. They built a 
garrison near the first meeting-house was built, not far from where
E.H. Putnam now lives.
  Yet so slow were the settlements that the proprietors, at their
meeting on the 20th day of May, 1741, voted, as a further encouragement
to settlement according to the conditions of the grant, that they would
give them out of the treasury ten pounds. This will explain the delay in
executing the earlier votes,--the way was not prepared; openings must
be made in the forest, the soil broken and crops raised before many
families could safety enter this vast unbroken wilderness. The
meeting-house, which it had been voted to build in 1739, dimensions
altered, in 1740, raised in 1741, remained unfinished in 1743, "Voted,
to finish the meetinghouse; chose a committee to do same; chose Deacon
Putnam, Cornelius Tarbell, Daniel Eps, committee; also chose John Cram,
Jacob Putnam and John Deale to hire a minister to preach; and that there
be allowed three pounds per day, old tenor, for as many days as they
shall have preaching for the next six months."--being the first 
provisions for preaching.  This must have been a day long anticipated by
these devoted men.  We can raise no question as to the genuineness of
their faith and of the sincerity of their love. A people moving into the
forests to clear for themselves homesteads in the solitudes of the
wilderness do not take upon themselves the burdens of building
meeting-houses and sustaining ministers without deep convictions of the
value of the gospel.  It would gratify our curiousity to know more
exactly how these men felt what operated to cheer and depress them, what
books they read, what tunes they sung, how they passed their Sabbath
days without the regular service. But the records are very scanty. Their
public acts are recorded but of their own toils, their self-denials and
their achievements they say nothing. The strength of their devotion may
be inferred from their sacrifices to maintain worship, and their belief
of the truth from their unfaltering purpose to train up their children
under the instruction sof a learned orthodox ministry. 

"Among this noble-hearted band 
Had gentle woman come"
She came to cheer and refine the rude settlers. She bravely dares the
terrors of the wilderness to share a home in the log cabin. She forded
rivers and penetrated forests to come hither. She came to dwell under
the shades of the vast, savage woods. Her employments were humble,
but her aims lofty,--"She looked well to the ways of her household, and
ate not the bread of idleness." Through long days and sleepless nights
she watched over her tender children; and when distant labor or, what 
was still worse, the trumpet of war summoned her husband away from her
side, she steadily plied her lonely task, watching his return, or 
learned dreadful news of his return no more forever. We have often read
of the horrors of the wars of that period. It would be unjust to forget
that those who stayed home often endured far more than those who braved
the flaming lines of battle,--more in heart-sickness, hope deferred,
hope destroyed and all the nameless haunting terrors of the deep woods,
where the wild beasts and the wilder Indians were their only neighbors
for miles and miles away.

  The history of MARY McFARLAND, the wife of JOHN BADGER, who died in
Salem-Canada in the winter of 1740, is a good illustration of the
courage, the devotion, the patience and perseverance of the women of
that day.  Following her lover across the ocean and joining him here,
they were married, and after a few years moved into Salem-Canada. He
died suddenly. The night in midwinter she left him in her cabin with
her little children, and went on snow-shoes three or four miles to her
nearest neighbors, the return, the rude coffin, the burial of that dear
one--who can describe the impulses of that devoted heart? Our limits 
will not admit of further remarks. 

There does not appear from the records that there was much to disturb
the prosperity of the town until 1749, when the heirs of Mason, by
their agent, Joseph Blanchard, Esq., to form a town called No. 2
(afterwards named Wilton) took away nearly one-fourth of the land and
annexed another piece on the north equal thereto.  By this movement it
changed the centre, and the first meeting-house was never finished.
On December 5, 1753, the township was granted to BENJAMIN LYNDE and
thirty others, and it was after the Wilton lands had been taken away,
and named LYNDEBOROUGH.

  The town was incorporated April 23, 1764. In 1791 the northwest part
of the town was set off to form a part of Greenfield, and all that was
added in the north in 1753 to Francestrown.  In June 1796, the town lost
another piece, which was annexed to Temple.  In 1853 the town was
divided and annexed to Mont Vernon, and again, in 1873, a small piece
annexed to Milford; and now we stand like a plucked goose, picked of
our most valuable part, yet alive and not discouraged, performing our
part in the great family of towns, and supporting two churches and ten
district schools.
  
  From 1753 to 1768 the vexed question of the right place for the
meeting-house (as in many other towns) was the most difficult to be
settled. After many attempts had been made, the town could not agree.
But at a special meeting, held on the 15th day of April, 1768, 
John Goff, of Bedford, Samuel Barr of Londonderry, and John Hale of
Hollis, were chosen a committee to locate a meeting-house.  The
committee reported on the 27th of April 1768, that the most suitable
spot was near where our present town-house now stands. Here ended a
difficulty that had existed about fifteen years. From the records but 
little can be learned of great interest to the present generation. The
building of the church, the settling of the minister, Rev. Sewell
Goodridge, the opening of roads, improving their lands, building
school-houses and the education of their children appears to have been
sufficient employment until 1774.  October 17th a warrant was issued by
the selectmen for a meeting on the 31st instant, to choose delegates to
meet with delegates of other towns in the county, to consider the best
methods of the county to come into on account of the difficulties the
county labored under.
  "Chose David Badger and Joseph Herrick delegates." "Voted to purchase
1 barrel of powder, 100 lbs of lead, 5 dozen flints; chose Ephraim
Putnam committee to purchase the same." January 20th, "Chose Dr.
Benjamin Jones delegate to meet with other delegates at Exeter." On
the 3d day of May, 1775, "Voted to raise ten minute-men to be ready at
a minute's warning to meet their enemies." "Voted, the selectmen to
take care of their farms, if suddenly called away." "Voted, to purchase
40 hhd. of salt, 5 hhd. molasses,, 1 of rum for the use of the town."
We have been unable to find a list of the names of the men that were
enlisted. By the census taken on the 19th day of December 1775, there
were twenty-seven men in the army. Our population was seven hundred and
thirteen at that time.  A special meeting was warned after services on
Sunday, the 27th of October, 1775, to convene the next day, at which it
was "Voted to purchase a barrel of powder."  On the 6th day of May, 
1777, "Voted to pay a bounty of 100 dollars to each of the 16 men called
for at that time. Also voted to give 20 shillings per month to every 
man that had served in the army to that time."  On the 9th day of
February 1778, the articles of confederation and perpetual union were
read and unanimously passed.
  On the 27th of September 1779, a committee was chosen to set a value
upon the necessaries of life and the various products of the farm.
"Voted, the Rev. Sewell Goodridge, his salary, 66 pounds, 13 shillings,
and 4 pence in Corn, Rye, Wool, Flax, Beef, Pork, or Labor at prices
such articles sold for before the war, in 1774." March 14, 1780, "Voted
to allow Nehemiah Rand, on Account, as Delegate to Exeter and Concord
to form a plan of government, 22 bushels 3 pecks, of Indian Corn, or
money enough to buy that amount."  On the 10th day of July, 1781, "Voted
to recieve no more Continental money after the 12th instant."  In 1784
three hundred and fifty Continental dollars were burned up by the
committee chosen to settle with the treasurer.
  At a special meeting, held on the 19th day of August, 1782, "Voted to
have stocks built for the correction of disorderly persons." "Voted
the selectmen be a committee to build the stocks." Whether this old
Roman engine of punishment was ever built, or used if built, the 
historian has left us no record; but if any one was so punished, he 
would undoubtedly think of St. Paul eighteen hundred years go and of
the unjustness of his punishment. From the above records we can form a
very good history of the early settlers of Lyndeborough, maintaining the
same fixed purposes, uncomplaining, enduring all the toils and
hardships incident to the early settlements. And what has the harvest
been?  The children and children's children are scattered far and wide,
and can be found in almost ever State and Territory throughout this
broad land, aiding and upholding our free institutions, establishing
churches, schools, and Sunday-shcools.
  The last town-meeting held in Lyndeborough that was called in
"His Majestye's name" was called March 14, 1775 (Recorded in vol. ii
p. 3, town records).

REPRESENTATIVES--The following is a list of the men who have been
representatives from Lyndeborough:
  David Badger, Joseph Herrick; Dr. Benjamin Jones, 4; Nehemiah Rand, 4;
Francis Epps, 2; in 1777, classed with Wilton, chose Major Abial
Abbott,1; also in 1778, Nathaniel Batcheldor, 1; Peter Clark, 4;
Levi Spalding; Ephraim Putnam, 2; Joseph Epps, 1; Jacob Dascomb, 2;
Daniel Putnam, 12; Nehemiah Boutwell, 3; Colonel Timothy Putnam, 1;
Joseph Jones, 3; Samuel Hartshorn, 2; Israel Putnam, 3; 
Samuel T. Manehan, 2; Benjamin Jones, 2; Daniel N. Bordman, 2;
Asa Manning, 2; Peter Cram, 2; Jesse Clement 1; Deacon David Putnam, 1;
Jotham Hildreth Jr., 3; Sherebiah Manning, 1; Ebenezer Russell, 1;
William H. Grant, 2; Charles Parker, 1; Israel Herrick, 3; John
Richardson, 2; Jonathan Stephenson, 2; John C. Goodridge, 2;
Timothy T. Putnam, 2; Luther Cram, 2; George A. Putnam; Dr. William A.
Jones; Eli C. Curtis, 2; William W. Burton, 2; Franklin Senter, 2;
John H. Goodridge; Charles Tarbell, 1; Daniel B. Whittemore, 1;
Gaylord Smith.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE--No complete list of names can now be furnished;
but, almost without exception, every representative of the town was
commissioned justice of the peace, and quite often many others. Among
the names found not written above are Andrew Fuller, David Stiles,
David C. Grant, Joel H. Tarbell, Charles F. Tarbell, and Joseph A.
Johnson.
  Jonathan Cram died January 23, 1790, aged eighty-two years.

SELECTMEN--The following is a list of those who have held the office of
selectmen during the one hundred and twenty-one years of its 
incorporated existence:
  Jonathan Cram, Benjamin Cram, William Carson, John Stephenson, Edward
Bevens, David Badger, John Hutchenson, Jacob Welman, Levi Spalding,
James Boutwell, Osgood Carlton, Ephraim Putnam, Adam Johnson, Andrew
Fuller, William Barron, John Gould, John Ordway, Levi Spalding,
Francis Epps, Josiah Woodbury, Nathan Parsons, Joseph Herrick, Nathaniel
Phelps, Peter Clark, Jeremiah Carlton, Daniel Gould, Nathaniel
Batcheldor, Dr. Benjamin Jones, Jacob Cram, Jonas Kidder, Jonathan
Butler, Joseph Batcheldor, Abial Wilson, Samuel Hueston, William Dutton,
Aaron Lewis, Jacob Dascomb, John Woodward, Uriah Cram, Eliphlet Badger,
William Clark, Daniel Putnam, Oliver Whiting, Edmund Perkins, Caleb
Huston, Nathan Wheeler, Benjamin Goodridge, Jotham Hildreth, Gideon 
Cram, Joseph Jones, WIlliam Jones, Jacob Flinn, J.H. Goodridge, Asa
Manning, Joshua Atwood, Oliver Bixby, Oliver Whiting, Henry Cram, Daniel
N. Bordman, James L. Clark, Ebenezer Russell, David Putnam, James Cram,
Samuel T. Manehan, Israel Herrick, Jacob Butler, Benjamin Jones, David
Stiles, Samuel Jones, Ebenezer Fisk, Peter Cram, Dexter Burton, Amos
Pratt, Jonathan Stephenson, Jonathan Hildreth Jr., David K. Holt, Ezra
Dane, Luther Cram, Daniel Woodward Jr., Sherebiah Manning, Howard S.
Blood, Joseph Chamberlain Jr., Rufus Chamberlaind, David C. Grant,
Eli C. Curtis, John Hartshorn, John F. Holt, C. Henry Holt, William W.
Howard, Edward P. Spalding, Joel H. Tarbell, Nathaniel T. McIntire, 
Charles Tarbell, Harvey Perham, John H. Goodridge, Charles H. Holt,
George E. Spalding, John Richardson, E.J. Parker, D.E. Proctor,
Andy Holt, Jonathan Danforth, Wilks H. Hadley, George Rose, Adoniram
Russell, John M. Emory, Erwin D. Wilder, Levi P. Hadley, Jason Holt,
Albert Cram, Daniel B. WHittemore, Charles H. Senter, Evret E. Low,
Charles L. Perham, David G. Dickey.

*******
MILITARY
*******
Lyndeborough is noted for its military spirit, having supported two
organized companies for many years. The Light Infantry was for some 
years considered the best-drilled company in the old Twenty-second
Regiment. The Lafayette Artillery is noted as the oldest military
organization in the State, being organized in 1804 under the name of
the Artillery; being assigned to the Twenty-second Regiment of the
New Hampshire Militia, with headquarters at Peterborough. The roster of
officers that year was,--James Wilson, captain; Nathaniel Morison,
lieutenant; Joseph Mitchell, ensign. In 1833 their headquarters was
moved to South Lyndeborough.  In 1841 it was incorporated under the name
of Lafayette Artillery. In 1864 it was mustered into the service of
the United States, and did garrison duty at Portsmouth, N.H.  The roster
of officers that years was,--Joel H. Tarbell, captain; Eli C. Curtis,
first lieutenant; Charles H. Holt, second lieutenant; John Gage,
orderly.  The roll contains at date (1885) the names of twenty-eight
commanding officers and six hundred and thirty-nine enlisted men.

REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS--I find in the doings of the selectmen (page 30)
1780, the following copies of receipts, worded as follows:
  "A memorandum of the receipts received of those men that inlisted in
the Continental army for what money and notes of hand they received of
the selectmen.
  "May ye 9th, 1777--William Lee, Lieutenant, received a note of hand
for one hundred and Twenty Pounds L Money, for procuring and paying for
men.
  "April 11, 1777--John Smith received a note of hand for Sixty pounds
money, for his two Sons doing three years' service.
  "April 11, 1777-James Campbell received one hundred dollars for doing
three years' service.
  "April 11, 1777--Nathaniel Batchelder received a note of hand for
thirty pounds L money, for doing three years' service in the army.
  "May 8, 1777.--Timothy McIntire recieved a note of hand for thirty
pounds money, as a bounty for his service three years in the army.
  "April 28, 1777--John Rowe received a note of hand for one hundred
dollars for his service three years in the army."
  "July 22, 1779--Israel Hutchinson, John Durpt, Isaac Carkin,
William Burnham recieved in cash and notes of hand the sum of sixty
Pound each, as a bounty for doing one years' service in the army.
  "March 2, 1778--Josiah Munroe, Lieutenant, recieved a note of hand for
thirty pounds Money, for procuring and paying a man for doing of
three years' service.

  A town-meeting held October 28, 1776, was worded as follows: "As the
Town expected an alarm soon, this meeting was Warned after the services
on Sunday."
  At the above meeting the following vote was passed: "Voted, to impower
James Boutwell to take care of the town Stock of Powder, balls and
flints, and procure a lock and hinges for the door in the meeting-house
loft."
  April 8, 1777, "Voted to give each man that is to be raised to make
up sixteen men that are now called for, one hundred dollars, and that
they shall have the interest of the money until paid."
  
  "The committee chosen on the first day of December 1777, in
accordance of a vote in the town to allow each man who had served in
the war from the commencement to the present time, twenty shillings
per month. Reported on the 25th inst. a reward of L757 13s 11d.
  "Signed by Committee, Nathaniel Batchelder, Reuben Spalding,
David Badger, Joseph Herrick, and Benjamin Jones.

The following are the names of those men that went and returned with
Lieutenant Barron on the alarm April 20, 1775:  Samuel Barron, 
John Reynolds, John Savage, Samuel Stephens, Peter Russell, Philip
Fletcher, Nathaniel Burnham, Joseph Herrick, Andrew Johnson,
Daniel Gould, Ebenezer Gardner, John Thompson, Andrew Thompson,
Reuben Batcheldor, Amos Whittemore, John Carkin, Nathaniel Phelps,
Lieutenant Spalding.

The following are the names of those that engaged in the service for
the year 1775, at Winter Hill, their time being eight months:
  Captain Spalding, Lieutenant THomas BOffee, Ensign William Lee,
Joseph Elenwood, Jesse Lynd, Nehemiah Hutchinson, Samuel McMaster,
Nathaniel Batchelder, Jacob Dutton, Ezra DUtton, Edward Bevings Jr.,
John Smith, Jacob Welman, Elisha Wilkins, Daniel Cram, John Hutchinson,
David Putnam, Benjamin Bevings, Phineas Barker.

The following are the names of those that went from Winter Hill to 
York in 1775:
  Adam Johnson, John Johnson, Thomas Pringle, Edward Bevens Jr.

The names are those who went from Winter Hill to Canada and to Trenton
in 1775 were:
  Captain Spalding, Thomas Boffee, William Lee, Jacob Dutton,
Samuel Stiles, Nehemiah Hutchinson, John Woodbury, James Campbell.

The names of those who went, in 1776 to Ticonderoga were:
 Captain Barron, John Stephenson, John Kidder, John Reynolds, 
Aaron Lewis, Nathan Parsons, Deacon Putnam, Daniel Putman, David
Badget, Robert Badger, George Gould, Daniel Gould, Reuben Batchelder,
Joseph Batchelder, Peter Russell, Joshua Hadley, William Carson,
John Savage, Esquire Fuller, Lieutenant Kidder, John Ordway, Isaac Day,
Lieutenant Hueston, Amos Whittemore, Simeon Fletcher, Captain Cram,
Asa Stiles, Ephraim Putnam Jr., John Boffee, Samuel Stephens,
Jonathan Chamberlain, Ensign Phelps, Jeremiah Carlton.

Those that enlisted September 26, 1776 and went to New York, were:
  Nathaniel Woodbury, Josiah Woodbury, Ebenezer Gardner,
Benjamin Senter, Hezekiah Duncklee, Asa Dutton, Ithamer Woodward,
Amos Whittemore, Ezra Dutton, Joseph Wilkins Jr., Jesse Putnam,
sent Nicholas Beasom.

Those that went to Fishkill N.Y. in the year 1777, were:
 Samuel Chamberlain, Richard Battin, Andrew Creasey, Daniel Cram,
Aaron Putnam.

Those who went to Ticonderoga, July 1, 1777, were: Samuel Hueston,
Aaron Lewis, Jeremiah Carlton, Jonathan Chamberlain, Jonathan 
Chamberlain Jr., John Beasom, William Hotl, Aaron Putnam, Timothy
Parsons, Nathaniel Hutchenson, Edward Bevens, John Hutchenson, Daniel
Cram, John Carkin, Thomas Parsons, Joseph Abbott, Simeon Fletcher,
Joseph Batcheldor, Reuben Spalding, John Boffee.

Those who went to Bennington, July 21, 1777, were:
  Peter Clark, Stephen Burnham, Nathaniel Burnham, Grengawn Osgood,
Daniel Herrick, George Parson, John Mead, Aaron Whittemore, John
Hutchenson, Amos Wilkins, John Stiles, Walter Ross, Benjamin Cram Jr.,
Benjamin Dutton, William Holt, David Stratton, Reuben Spalding,
Jacob Cram, Edwin Bickford, David Cram.  
[The above men went or furnished substitutes]

Sixteen men also were at Saratoga (having enlisted) September 29th;
were also at the surrender of Burgoyne, October 16th; and were in
the service twenty-six days.
 
Sixteen men were in the service on August 6, 1778 in Rhode Island
  The records also furnish the names of many that did some service
during the war; but the above gives the names of those who rendered
the most of the service during the great struggle.

**********
WAR OF THE REBELLION-CIVIL WAR
**********
The following is a list of the volunteers belonging to Lyndeborough,
who were mustered into the United States service during the War of the
Rebellion.

FIRST REGIMENT (3 months)
Asher Curtis (2d), Alden B. Bennett, William Ordway, Hiram F. Curtis,
William Langdell, Hiram M. Tarbell, William R. Duncklee, Harvey M.
Newton, Martin Hale.

SECOND REGIMENT (3 years)
Harvey Holt Jr., killed at the Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861.
Corporal John A. Hartshorn, killed at the battle of Williamsburg, May 5,
1862
James M. Wellman, discharged January 1863

FOURTH REGIMENT (3 years)
Edward K. Marsh, discharged February 1862
Martin Hale

FIFTH REGIMENT (Three years)
Fred S. Manning, died at Richmond, Va January 1863
John S. Stephenson

SEVENTH REGIMENT (Three years)
Hale Gage.

EIGHTH REGIMENT (3 years)
Corporal Joseph Blanchard, Jotham P. Draper, Samuel A. Conant,
George E. Follensbee (died at Ship Island, summer of 1862),
Samuel A. Conant, Sergeant Azro D. Cram, Lewis W. Smith, Elnathan
Hodgman, John Benton Dolliver, Andrew J. Marshall, Hiram M. Tarbell,
William Ordway (discharged), Sergent George E. Winn, Nathan A. Fish
(discharged), Edward Ross, Benjamin S. Woods

NINTH REGIMENT (3 years)
William Joslin and Edward K. Marsh

ELEVENTH REGIMENT 
Howard B. Ames

THIRTEENTH REGIMENT (3 years)
Lieutenant Nathan B. Boutwell, COrporal Benjamin J. Boutwell,
David E. Proctor, Corporal T. Woodward, Henry E. Spalding, William T.
Boutwell. [David E. Proctor and George T. Woodward were captains of
colored companies during the latter part of the war, and were 
discharged with rank of colonel]

SIXTEENTH REGIMENT (Nine Months)
Captain George W. Bosworth, Sergeant George T. Jones, 
Sergeant Anda Holt, Corporal Eben J. Palmer, William P. Steele,
John C. Carkin, John H. Karr, Nathan S. Harris, William H. Ordway,
Benjamin J. Clark, Abraham Boutwell, Michael Ford, Charles R. Bacon,
George B. Raymond, John C. Ordway, Joseph Mason, William Blanchard,
James Boutwell, John A. Franklin, Richard Batten, John R. Butler.

Surgeon Alfred F. Holt, First Texas Cavalry
Isaiah B. Curtis, Illinois Cavalry
George F. Johnson, Illinois Cavalry
William Langdell, Fourteenth Regiment United States army
Jonathan H. Stephenson, Fourteenth Regiment United States army
Gorham B. Clark, Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers
Otis Harwood, Second Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers

The whole amount of bounties paid Volunteers from Lyndeborough,
three thousand dollars.

********
SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
********
HARVEY HOLT POST, No. 15, G.A.R., was organized September 22, 1868
by C. Henry Holt, W.P. Steele, W.W. Woods, J. Blanchard, C.F. Tarbell,
A. Holt, F.A. Nourse, G.T. Jones, J.C. Carkin, J.H. Goodrich, M.C.
Fuller, W.N. Cheever, E.A. Cram, as charter members.
  The first officers were,--Post COmmander, C.H. Holt; Senior Vice-
Commander, A. Holt; Junior Vice-Commander, G.T. Jones; Adjutant, C.F.
Tarbell; Quartermaster, F.A. Nourse; Sergeant-Major, J. Blanchard;
Quartermaster-Sergeant, J.H. Goodrich.
  The membership was soon increased to thirty.
  It was voted to name the post after Harvey Holt, the first soldier
who was killed from this town and State, who fell at the first battle
of Bull Run; he was in the Second Regiment and on the skirmish line.
D.G. Dickey, of this town, was beside him when he fell, Holt was
killed by a piece of shell which burst near him.
  In 1871 the post voted to appropriate all the surplus funds in their
treasury, which were one hundred and thirty dolalrs for a soldiers'
monument, and placed them at interest until they could obtain enough 
to purchase one.  In 1879 the town voted two hundred and fifty dollars
to assist the post in the purchase of a monument, which was erected
that year in the South Cemetery, with all the names of soldiers from
this town who were killed or died of disease and not brought home.
  INSCRIPTION.
  Lyndeborough. "They died that our Union might live."
  Post Harvey Holt, No. 15, G.A.R.
  (East Face):
  1. Harvey Holt, Co. I., 2d Regt. N.H.V. Killed at 1st Battle of Bull
Run, July 21, 1861.
  2. George R. Follansbee, Co. B., 8th Regt. N.H.V. Died of disease at
Ship Island, Miss., May 1, 1862.
  3. Corp. John A. Hartshorn, Co. G., 2d Regt. N.H.V. Killed at
Williamsburgh, Va., May 5, 1862
  4. Walter Chamberlain, Co. G., 16th Regt. N.H.V. Died of disease at
New Orleans, La, May 7, 1863.
  (North Face):
  5. Frederick S. Manning, Co. I., 5th Regt., N.H.V. Killed at
Getttysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.
  6. Nathan S. Harris, Co. G., 16th Regt. N.H.V., Drowned near mouth
of White River, Ark., Aug 6, 1863.
  7. John H. Karr, Co. G., 16th Regt., N.H.V., Died of disease at
Vicksburg, Miss, Aug. 10, 1863.
  8. Corp. Austin Blood, Troop C., 1st N.H.V. Cavalry. Died of wounds at
Winchester, Va., Dec. 10, 1864.
  9. Elnathan Hodgman, Co. E., 8th Regt., N.H.V., Died of disease at
Baton Rouge, La., Jan 9, 1865.
  (West Face):
  10. Edward P. Ross, Co. B., 8th Regt. N.H.V., Killed at Port Hudson,
La., Jan 14, 1863
  11. Jotham P. Draper, Co. E., 8th Regt. N.H.V., Died of disease at
Baton Rouge, La., May 16, 1863.
  12. John R. Butler, Co. G., 16th Regt. N.H.V. Died of disease at
New Orleans, La., June 28, 1863.
  13. Corp. Eben J. Palmer, Co. G., 16th Regt., N.H.V., DIed at
Baton ROuge, La., June 30, 1863
  14. Sergt, William Langdell, Co. A., 14th U.S. infantry, Died in
Andersonville prison, Ga., Sep 25, 1864.

Every year since organized the post has placed evergreen crosses
at the graves of all soldiers buried in this town; there are 18
soldiers of 1861, 12 of 1812, and 17 of 1776 which makes 47, and
14 on the monument, total 61.
  Number of soldiers living in town at this time that have been in
United States service, 49.

PINNACLE GRANGE was organized December 26, 1873, with a charter
membership of seventeen. An interest in the order of Patrons of
Husbandry had been developed among the citizens, and at a meeting held
December 9th of that year, Eben Thompnson, a deputy of the National
Grange, explained the objects of the order, and the benefits to be
derived from a cooperative association among the farmers. C.C. Shaw,
of Granite Grange, Milford, was its first installing officer, and was
much interested in perfecting its organization. The growth of the 
Grange for a number of years was slow; some prejudice and much doubt
as to the advantage of membership was encountered. Any Holt was the
first Master, holding the office until 1875, and again in 1877. David C.
Grant wielded the gavel the next year, being installed in the office of
Master by C.C. Shaw.  January, 1876, Martin Whitney was elected Master,
and also in 1878. From 1879 until Jajuary 1883, Benjamin G. Herrick was
its presiding officer. During this latter period Grange interests all
over the country were in a depressed condition, and Pinnacle Grange was
no exception. Much credit is due Mr. Herrick for his abiding faith in
the aims of the order, and his sturdy courage and faithful attendnace
during those five years when it seemed as if the Grange must go down.
In 1883, Jacob A. Woodward was chosen Master, holding the office until
1885. About this time a change was made in Grange methods. The social
and educational features of the order were brought into prominence, 
and the business or financial part eliminated. The result was a rapid
increase in membership, and new life and energy infused into the
organization. Its meetings were held at the town hall and Armory
Hall alternately during the first years of its existence, but the
meetings at the latter place were finally given up.  Pinnacle Grange
is well represented in the county organizations of the order. Aiming to
promote better methods in the management of the farm, to encourage the
adorning and refining of the home, taking a warm interest in the
welfare and education of the young, cultivating the social relations of
a community isolated, in a measure, upon scattered farms. Pinnacle
Grange is a potent factor for good in the town of Lyndeborough.
Eli C. Curtis is the present Master, being elected to the office in
1885.  It is in a very flourishing condition financially, and numbers
among its members some of the best-known and enterprising farmers and
farmer's wives in town. There is a large element of young people
connected with this grange, and their presence and interest give
abundant assurance that when the older Patrons shall have passed away,
the order will still prosper in Lyndeborough. Its regular meetings are
held on the Tuesday on or before the full of the moon; special meetings
every two weeks. James H. Karr has been its trusted treasurer since its
organization, and John H. Goodrich its efficient secretary since 1878.
Its present membership is over one hundred, having doubled since 1883.

**********
BIOGRAPHIES
**********
ALFRED F. HOLT was born in Lyndeborough, N.H. December 16, 1838, and
lived here until nineteen years of age, working on his father's and the
neighboring farms during the busy parts of the year.
 He attended the district school until fifteen, and after a few terms
at the academy of Mont Vernon. 
 When about nineteen years old he commenced the study of medicine,
spending the first year with Dr. W.A. Jones, the physician of the town,
the next two years with Dr. Woodbury, of East Boston, attending courses
of medical lectures at Harvard University in the winters of 1858 and
1859, and 1860. In the spring of 1860 he attended a course of medical
lectures at the University of Vermont, where he graduated as a Doctor of
Medicine in June of that year.
  In August 1860, he commenced the practice of medicine in Cambridge,
Mass.
  On the evening of the 16th of April, 1861, he joined a company of
volunteers, and early on the morning of the 17th started for the South.
This company was the first one raised in the United States for the War
of the Rebellion. It was attached to the Third Regiment, Massachusetts
Volunteer Militia as Company C., and sailed for Fortress Monroe the
evening of April 17, 1861.
  During the voyage Mr. Holt was made hospital steward of the regiment,
which position he held during the three months of service.
  This regiment assisted in the destruction and burning of the great
navy-yard near Norfolk, Va., April 22, 1861, the second great event of
the war; its service after this was at Fortress Monroe and Hampton, Va.
  Returning from the three months' service in August, Dr. Holt at
once sought a position in the medical corps of the army.
  In November he went to Camp Chase, Lowell, where General Butler was
organizing his force for service in the extreme South, and after a few
weeks after he was made assistant surgeon of the Thirteenth Regiment
Massachusetts Volunteers.
  January 2, 1862, this regiment embarked on the steamer, 
"Constitution," and a few days after sailed for Ship Island. During the
bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip this regiment was on 
shipboard a few miles below, and after the surrender of the forts it
was one of the first to enter New Orleans. For the next few months
Dr. Holt was in active service with his regiment, first in front of
Vicksburg, Miss., digging the cut-off, and later at Baton Rouge and
Carrollton.
  At the Battle of Baton Rouge, Dr. Holt was especially mentioned in
general orders for humanity and bravery in giving aid to the wounded
as they fell.
  In December 1862 he was promoted to surgeon of the First Texas
Cavalry, a regiment made up largely of Union men that had been obliged
to leave their homes on account of their Union sentiments.
  In December, 1863, he left the medical department, and was made the
senior major of the regiment.
  A few months later he was promoted lieutenant, colonel of the same
regiment, which position he retained until his final muster-out,
in October 1865 at San Antonio, Texas, commanding his regiment almost
continuously from the time he was made field officer.  During this
service he took part in nearly all the campaigns, battles, and
skirmishes that occurred in the Department of the Gulf. Returning to
Cambridge early in the year 1866, he again commenced the practice of
medicine, and has remained in that city since.  He is now a member of
the Cambridge Medical Improvement Society, the Massachusetts Medical
Society, the American Medical Association and the American Association
for the Advancement of Science.
  In June 1879 Dr. Holt was apointed one of the medical examiners for
Massachusetts, and in January 1884 he was appointed surgeon-general of
Massachusetts, with rank of brigadier-general, a position he now holds.
  He is also the health officer of Cambridge, a position he has held
for the last five years.


ENOCH LYNDE, grandfater of BENJAMIN LYNDE, was a merchant of London.
Simon Lynde, father of Benjamin, was born in London in 1624; was
apprenticed to a merchant when a boy; first went to Holland, but 
afterwards removed to Boston in 1650, where he was much respected as a
merchant and a magistrate for the remainder of his life. He died at
Boston in November 1687.
  BENJAMIN LYNDE was born in Boston September 22, 1666. He was prepared
for college under the tuition of "Master Cheever," a famous teacher of
those days, and gradated at Harvard in the class of 1686.  In 1692 he
went to England to complete his education as a lawyer, and became
student at the Middle Temple, where he remained until he was admitted a
barrister.  Receiving from the lords of Admiralty a commission as
advocate-general of the Court of Admiralty for the provinces of
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, he returned to Boston in
1697.
  He removed to Salem [MA] in 1699, where he resided the remainder of
his life. About this time he married the daughter of William Brown, of
Salem, one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the province.
Brown had been a judge of the Court of Common Pleas and a member of the
Council. His son Samuel was afterward chief justice of the same court,
and William Brown, judge of the Superior Court at the time of the
Revolution, was his grandson.
  In 1703 Judge Lynde entered public life, and ever afterwards
continued to take a leading part in public affairs. He represented
the town of Salem several years in the General Court, after which he
was elected to the Council, of which body he was a leading member for
nearly a quarter of a century. He was appointed to the bench of the
Superior Court of Massachusetts in July, 1712, when Judge Seweall,
who tried the witches, alluding to his appointment, remarked, "That he
hoped they would hereafter have the benefit of Inns of Court education
added to that of Harvard College."
  There had been twelve judges appointed to this court previous to
Judge Lynde, not one of whom had either studied or practiced law.
He was, therefore the first lawyer to be elevated to the bench in
Massachusetts, and probably the first in New England.
  In 1729, Chief Justice Sewall resigned, and Judge Lynde was appointed
his successor, and filled the office until the time of his death,
which occurred January 28, 1745.  The "Boston Evening Post," noticing
his deat, briefly closes the record of his life as follows: "Inflexible,
justice, unshattered integrity, affability and humanity were ever
conspicuous with him. He was a sincere friend, most affectionate to his
relations, and the delight of all who were honored with his
friendship and acquaintance.

*********
LYNDEBOROUGH:ITS PAST AND PRESENT--DR. HERRICK'S POEM--
  In the Canada expedition of 1690 were a large number of Massachusetts
men, mostly from Salem, that State.  To fifty-nine of these Salem men
and Captain Samuel King, Massachusetts, for their services, granted a
tract of land, which they called "Salem-Canada," the first name being
in honor of the town from whence they came, the second in remembrance
of the expedition in which they joined.
  The grant of Salem-Canada was six miles square. Had it been kept
without mutilation, it would have been one of the best townships in
the county for farming purposes. Its south line came as far south as
the meeting-house in East Wilton, and thence west, by the needle, until
it struck "province land," or, as it was afterwards called,
"Peterborough Slip," southeast of the County Farm. It appears from the
record-book of the Salem-Canada proprietors that, about the year 1750,
Joseph Blanchard, Esq., of Salem, Mass., was appointed agent for the
heirs claimants of Tufton Mason. It also appears that there was a
misunderstanding between him and the Salem-Canada proprietors, which was
brought to a settlement in the following manner: The Masonian claimants
of No. 2 (Now Wilton) were to take a strip from Salem-Canada four
hundred and ninety-eight rods wide and five miles long, and the said
Salem-Canada was to receive of "Province lands," on the north,
equivalent to make up twenty-eight thousand acres, which was the
original Salem-Canada grant.
  "The effect of this," writes Dr. Herrick, in 1858, "was a lingering
curse for Lyndeborough." It carried the centre almost two miles
farther north than it was located, near what is now South Lyndeborough.
It shoved the north line the same distance farther north, which brought
the mountain almost in the centre and opened the way for a series of
depredations on our territory from that day to this."
  Eighteen years after the grant, Benjamin Lynde, Esq. purchased the
grant and considerable of the adjoining territory, and gave it the
name of Lyndeborough, which it has carried just one hundred and
twenty-five years.
  The first settlers in what is now Lyndeborough were Cram, Putnam and
Chamberlain, descendants of whom now reside in town. But the first
settler in Salem-Canada (now Wilton) was John Badger. He pitched his
camp in the spring of 1738, and died the next winter. His nearest
neighbors were those by the name of Cram.  It was to them that the wife
of Badger took her lonely way, in the night-time, on snow-shoes, the
distance of over two miles, with no guide but marked trees, to get help
to bury her husband, leaving her little children in bed with the
injuction thtat they must keep quiet while she was gone, so as not to
wake their father.  The fact that he was dead she wisely kept from
them.
  One hundred and twenty-one years ago, on the 23d of April, the town
was incorporated. The town is divided by mountain and hills from east
to west, and has no large streams; the soil is deep and strong, the
pasturage excellent, and the farms well adapted to fruit. It is
sixty miles from Boston, on the line of the Boston, Lowell and 
Greenfield Railroad, being first greeted by the regular locomotive's
shriek on the morning of January 1, 1874.  The advent of the locomotive
was heralded by the ringing of bells and cheers of the citizens.
Previous to the railroad the south village was connected with Wilton
by a daily stage line.
  A small Baptist society was organized about 1829; meetings had
previously been held in a school-house. The first clergyman of the
society was Rev. Joseph Elliott.  Seven members constituted the first
organization.  Deacon David Putnam, Moses Pearsons and Benjamin Holt
were the first male members; they were strictly devoted to their cause
and creed.  Following them were Micah Hartshorn, Thomas Kidder,
Joseph Chamberlain, Elijah Upton, Albert Hardy, Deacon John Hartshorn
and others, all of whom have passed away. The present church building
was soon erected and partially finished. Services were held for years
with no pews; but, by the energy of the church, from time to time pews
were put in. Public donations provided the organ, cupola, etc. By
private contributions Luther Cram provided lumber for the belfry,
J.H. Tarbell & Son the church-bell; the latter parties also put up the
horse-sheds near the church, donating them to the public.  The elegant
vane was given by E.B. Badger, who is a friend of every good cause.
  For only a short period was there but one regular store in south
village at one time, though a few minor articles are now kept for sale 
by several parties. The first proprietors were Holt & Hardy; second,
Hardy & Stephenson; third, Cram & Daniels; fourth, Burns Wallace;
fifth, Peter Smith; sixth, G.P. Fletcher; seventh and ninth, J.H.
 Tarbell; eighth, William W. Young; ninth J.H. Tarbell & Son; tenth,
C.F. Tarbell, the present proprietor. The first store was moved from
across the street to the place where the store of C.F. Tarbell now
stands; it was then occupied by Holt & Hardy, who built the present
store. TO make room for it, the original store buildings were moved
across the street to where the church now stands; it was subsequently
moved near the four corners; it was after moved on to the Forest road
and is now occupied by W.N. Cheever, the blacksmith, who has been 
knight of the anvil in South Lyndeborough for seventeen years. He 
remembers when he had seventy-five yoke of oxen to shoe, but few oxen
are now owned in town.
  Among the important industries of South Lyndeborough is the 
glass-works, which employs forty-five men. All kinds of bottles, from
the common ounce bottle to the carboy containing fourteen gallons,
are made here. The silex from which the glassis made is taken from a
ledge about a half-mile distant.  The ware manufacatured here are sent
all over New England and the Canadas.
  North Lyndeborough is a small village connected by stage with 
Milford. It has a post-office. John H. Goodrich, the postmaster, was
born in Lyndeborough March 28, 1835; always a farmer, was appointed
postmaster when the office was established May 17, 1857, twenty-one
years ago, probably the oldest postmaster in office about here. Has
been selectman, collector of taxes in town, also is secretary of the
Grange, of the Town Insurance Company, of the Town Library, school
district and Republican Club. His father was grandson of the Rev.
Sewall Goodrich, one of the first ministers of the town.
  The first clergyman of the place was Rev. John Rand (Congregational)
who was settled in 1757 and was dismissed in 1763. In 1768, Rev.
Sewall Goodrich was settled, he died in 1809.
  After Rev. Sewall Goodrich, Rev. Nathiel merrill officiated until
1835; then Rev. Jacob WShite, then Rev. William Richardson, one year;
then Rev. Ivory Kimball, a few years; then Rev. Erastus B. Claggett,
twenty-four years; then Revs. Smith, Jones and Harlow, for a year or
so each. Rev. W.L. Clark accepted an engagement, and moved to the
Centre, but died, about one week after taking up his residence there,
of pneumonia.
  There is a post-office at the Centre, kept by P.J. Boutwell. There
are two libraries in town,--the Franklin, having five hundred volumes,
and the South Lyndeborough, containing about four hundred volumes.

At present Lyndeborough has no physician, though the memory of Dr.
Israel Herrick is still cherished. He was born in Wilton July 9, 1794;
he was fitted for college in Tamworth, N.H. but never entered; studied
medicine wtih Dr. John Wallace, in Milford, and Dr. Asa Crosby, in
Gilmanton, and graduated at Dartmouth Medical College December 1820.
Commenced the practice of medicine in Lyndeborough February 11, 1821,
and remained there until March 20, 1828, when he moved to Milford and
practiced there almost two years. From thence he went to Mason village
(now Greenville) and stayed two years. From Mason village he went to
Deering, and practiced there until the fall of 1834, when he returned
to Lyndeborough and practiced until he died, February 18, 1866.  During
the last twenty years of his life he was a faithful adherent to the 
homeopathic law of cure. He was a conscientious and successful physician
and an upright and honorable man. He alway sdid what he thought was
right, regardless of what others might say. The physician now having
the leading practice in this town is a native of the town. He is a
skillful physician and is deservedly popular. We refer to Dr.
W.A. Jones, who was born in Lyndeborough January 19, 1829. He received
an academic education in Francestown; studied medicine with Dr. Israel
Herrick; attended two full courses of medical lectures at the
Cleveland Homeopathic College, from which he received his diploma in
February 1854. He commenced the practice of medicine in Wilton,
May 4, 1854; stayed there three years, then he removed to Lyndeborough,
where he remained until 1871. He then returned to Wilton.

SCRAPS ABOUT LYNDEBOROUGH,
by Dr. Herrick in 1858
 "Our town is a regular crescent-like swell,
 Made up of a mountain, and hill, and dell,
 With here and there a small level spot,
 Sufficient to build a snug, humble cot.
 A barn and a shed, with a yard for the kine,
 A coop for the hens, and a pen for the swine.
 The surface is stony, and hard, and rough,
 The tilling of which is toilsome and tough,
 Discounting to man, and beast, his food;
 If only the proper labor is made,
 With plow and harrow, shovel and spade,
 Crowbar, bush-hook, axe and hoe,
 Laid on smart by a freeman's blow.
 Our ancient domain was ample and bold,
 Such as yeomen delight to purchase and hold,
 And build up a home for themselves and the brood
 Very soon to come forth, for the great public good.
 Thirty-six square miles, with a southern decline,
 Well timbered and watered, with prospect sublime,
 Was the price paid King, with his bold soldier clan,
 To hunt and shoot down his red fellow-man,
 And Frenchman to boot; 'twas a sov'reign say,
 And flunkeys, as now, were quite sure to obey.
 But this goodly grant was soon to be marr'd
 By godly neighbors; and hackled and scarred,
 That they might enlarge their scanty dominions,
 And gratify will, as well as opinions.
 First, Wilton came in for a two-mile slice
 To make up a town, so snug and so nice,
 With Masonian lands, which they had on hand,
 And then take a notable public stand.
 Next Temple presented a Blood-y(1) request,
 And after contention, 'twas thought to be best
 TO let them take off a three-cornered bite,
 And keep it, rather than quarrel and fight.
 Next Greenfield requested a rather large strip,
 To make up a town with their barren old slip,
 And rather than see them look meagre and sullen,
 And get their subsistence from sorrel and mullein,
 We granted their prayer, as is plan to be seen,
 And let them have lands that looked healthy and green.
 Frances-town next crav'd a very small bit,
 To make her phylacteries some snug to a fit,
 And give her proportion, as plump and as fair
 As the maiden (2) whose name they so cheerfully bear.
 Mont vernon came last, with a Hunkerish leer,
 Which spoke rather plain it was troubled with fear,
 Lest wrong should get worsted, in that little town,
 And right get on top and hold Hunkerdom down.
 So they yok'd up their team, with two yearlings of ours,
 And worked for small wages, with dreadful late hours;
 Had conference meetings, were anxious in mind,
 And put up a prayer, peradventure to find
 If General Court, then Hunkerdom's god,
 Would just condescend to put forth a nod
 Of gracious consent; poor souls! not to know
 That favours like this would readily flow
 From such a high source; pshaw! it never said nay
 To the meanest short prayer, when the Devil's to pay. 
 Their ends were all answer'd; they got some choice plats,
 Where Hunkders are bred as natural as rats;
 And yet they may find, in times of hereafter,
 Instead of a prize, they only caught a Tartar.
 Thus we have been pinched and hackled all raw,
 Which leaves us in shape of a circular saw
 With a piece broken off; and yet we are here,
 And keep on our course in hope, without fear.
 WIth this slight digression, we'll pick up our traps,
 And hasten along with the rest of our scraps.
 Our streams of water are nothing but rills,
 Greatly deficient for driving of mills,
 Except when swollen by showers or thaws
 And then you may hear the clatter of saws
 Cutting up lumber, yea, fingers and paws;
 Yet, not a spoonful of meal's to be had,
 Though hens, ducks and turkeys, yea women, run mad,
 And cackle, and scold, quack, gobble and squall,
 For grain can't be ground, the streams are so small.
 Churches we've two, and preachers the same,
 Where sinner and saint, the blind, halt and lame,
 May go and get good to their souls, if they will,
 And learn to avoid the eternal down hill;
 Where old 'Nickey Ben," that famous old rip,
 Stands ready to give them a crack with his whip.
 One Doctor! good luck! now I'm free to engaged,
 Were there none, few would die, except of old age.
 No Lawyer (3) save one e'er yet had the pride
 To think he safely our yeomen could ride;
 And he was thrown off with his ill-gotten treasures
 TO earn his own broth by making peck measures.
 A full Baker's dozen of Squires have we,
 Who serve for the honor, instead of the fee;
 But Justice! bah! their number's so small,
 'Tis safer to say we have just none at all.
 School-houses we've nine, tho' one at a peep
 Should sure be taken as shade for the sheep,
 Instead of a place where the tender young mind
 Should learn to shoot forth, 'as the twig is inclin'd.'
 Yet, some are now getting the better of self,
 Believing that mind is quite equal to pelf;
 And give, by refitting, those shades such an air,
 As makes the whole district with wonder to stare,
 And two-penny souls half determined to swear.
 We've a pond of small size, surrounded with bogs,
 Well stored with Leeches, Pickerel and Frogs,
 Bull-paddocks, Water-snakes, Shiners and Pouts,
 Suckers and Pollywogs, Turtles and Trouts,
 Enough in all conscience to get up a treat,
 For half of the bipeds that come short of meat.
 We've a Town Hall, too, of modern cut,
 Where orators, Poets and Sporters can strut;
 Where Lyceums meet, great questions to settle,
 and brave Politicians to show off their metal;
 And Singers to sing, and laugh and pratttle,
 And boys to run, and scream, and rattle,
 As if the imps in the old black pit,
 Were all seized at once with a colic of fit.
 Half a century gone by, or nearly that psace,
 California fever broke out in this place;
 By some cantrip slight, the fact has been told,
 That Scattaquog's (4) bowels were filled with gold.
 So at it they went, to digging and blowing,
 To carting and wheeling, shov'lling and hoeing.
 From Winter to Spring, through Summer and Fall,
 And all that they got was just nothing at all.
 So many who now are raving for riches,
 From Mexican hills, will return poor as witches.
 And wish they had staid on their own native soil,
 To gather their gold by slow, patient toil.
 The red man free once ranged our hills
 To shoot down deer, or fish in our rills; 
 Little dreaming that he and his blood must give place,
 With his land and his hut, to a white, selfish race,
 And turn their sad face to the West for to roam,
 No more to return to their sweet, native home.
 Near our speck of a pond was his summer retreat,
 Where he feasted on fish, if the chase gave no meat,
 And gathered the grape, the wild pear and cherry,
 That he with his friends might be joyful and merry,
 'Twas here, too, he sickened and die,d
 And here he was buried (5) close down by the side
 Of this little pond, and the tall, waving trees
 Sang his requiem, mov'd by the soft Western breeze.
 Fain here would our muse gently cower her wing,
 Nor 'tempt futhermore to futter or sing,--
 Yea, fain would avoid the sad task to fulfill,
 But oh! the vile serpent, the "worm of the still."
 That reptile's been here, with his poisonous breath,
 Beguiling its victims to premature death; 
 Gently and softly the heart he coils round,
 'Till all the affections forever are bound.
 Father and Mother, fond hearts have been pained,
 To see their loved offspring so foolishly chained;
 Sisters have wept for a Brother's sad fate,
 Who fain would avoid, when alas! 'twas too late.
 The place where this reptile was kept to decoy
 The doom'd one from virtue, honor and joy,
 Alas! oh, alas! no tongue can e'er tell
 The sorrows that flow from this offspring of hell;
 If once he succeed in wounding the brain,
 The doom'd one will seek him again and again;
 Will sacrifice freely companions of youth,
 Probity, honor, religion and truth,
 Father and Mother, health, children and wife,
 Sister and brother, yea e'en his own life.
 Alas! he will peril his own precious soul
 If he but for once can quaff from the bowl
 The poisonous liquid so sure to kill,
 That comes from that reptile, the "worm of the still."
 Our muse is a blundering, careless old jade,--
 The fact is, she never yet half learn'd the trade.
 What should have come first, is left until now;
 We hope the fair ladies won't scowl up their brow.
 We have lots of them here,--some young and some old,
 Some handsome, some homely, some modest, some bold,
 They all are adopting the modern plan,
 When dress'd, to resemble a broad, open fan,
 Or rather a tunnel, with generous crop
 At the nose, and a something stuck on near the top.
 Some want to get married, some say they do not,
 But this is a fib, I will wager a grot,
 Not want to get married! I'd just as soon think
 A miser would flee form the rattle of chink;
 Or out little pond, with all its live stock,
 Should start up the mountain, to take a short walk.
 Live single! when Widowers, Bachleors and Beaus
 Stand ready and fix'd in their best Sunday clothes,
 To give them a call, and make quite a stop,
 Yea, e'en to hitch up, and the question to pop!
 Not want to get married! 'tis all fudge and feign;
 They just kind o' say so, their object to gain,
 And then, oh, 'by crackey," they'll put on the clips,
 And make ye stand round like a basket of chips.
 Yet some are more honest,--are willing to own
 That going through life's crooked path all alone
 Was never design'd, in Nature's great plan,
 To be the sad lot of woman or man.
 And so they are willing to join in and go
 Through Time's little journey of sorrow and woe;
 With him they have promis'd to love from the heart,
 Till death the fond union asunder shall part.
 Then ho! ye single old scissors, don't cry!
 But lift up your heads, your redemption is night;
 Another good half you can get without fail,
 And then cut like something,--so here ends our TALE."
[Notes: (1) the late General Blood, with his well-known shrewdness, got 
up a petition, put it through the Legislature, and procured the grant.
(2)Societies' Land was originally a large grant of land, from which
Francestown, Deering, and Bennington were made up.  It is said that
among the proprietors of Societies' Land there was one by the name of
Deering, and that he had a beautiful daughter by the name of
Frances; and in compliment to her the two towns were named. It is not
known to the writer that this circumstance was ever on record. It was
related to him many years ago by the late Russell Tubbs, Esq. of
Deering.
(3) About forty-five years ago, Esq. E---y opened an office in this
place; had no business and went to making wooden measures. He was
good at that; for in the granaries of many of our careful farmers you
may find sets of measures made by this wise lawyer.
(4) THe name of the eastern spur of our mountain. About the commencement
of the present century a company was organizaeed in this town, through
faith in the divining-rod, to mine for silver. Much time and money were
expended for naught. The excavation, though now partly filled up, is
plain to be seen.
(5) In the fall of 1848 as workmen were removing a sand mount at the
west end of "Badger" pond, so called, the bones of an Indian were
disinterred. Others may yet rest there. The first settlers of the town
found around this pond many domestic and other implements of Indian
construction. There is no evidence that they ever made this region a
permanent residence, but very probably it was a favorite hunting-
ground.

*********
MORE BIOGRAPHIES
*********

JOHN BADGER, the subject of this notice, was born in England, and with 
two of his brothers, Joseph and Eliphalet, came to America not far
from the year 1728-29. His father was wealthy, and a year or two before
he came to this country he was sent to Scotland to collect demands due
there. It was here that he became acquainted with Mary McFarland, whom
he eventually married. When he related to his father this circumstance
of attachment, he forbid his son to form any such alliance, on account
of a strong prejudice which then prevailed between the English and
Scotch.  To put his son outside of such an influence, he sent him with
his brothers, as above-named, to America.  They first located themselves
for a time in Nottingham [the person from whom those facts were
derived used the name Nottingham, without designating whether it was a
town in Rockinham County, or what is now Hudson. It is my belief, from
other circumstances, that it was Nottingham West.].  This wife plan 
of the father however, was soon frustrated. There was an understanding
between him and his Scotch Mary, and she soon followed him to this
country, and landed at a settlement near the Kennebeck River. He soon
met her there, and it is the belief of a granddaughter of his, now
living in Lyndeborough, that they were there married. In the course of
a year they came back to Nottingham, where they remained a number of
years. From here they migrated to that part of Salem-Canada township
which afterwards became Wilton.  He located his cabin about one
hundred rods east of that ancient dwelling, the first framed house 
erected in Wilton, which was occupied for three generations by the
name of John Dale, and isnow owned by S.H. Dunbar, Esq.  The swell of
land on which he settled has ever since borne the name of "Badger
Hill."
  He moved into his cabin in April 1739, and died in February 1740,
of consumption. Though the plowshare has passed over the spot where his
cabin stood, there are many now living that can point it out. His family
was composed of his wife and four children. The names of his children
were, David, Robert, Mary and Betsey, who were the youngest, and died
young, in consequence of injuries received by the burning of a house
in Nottingham.
  The mother and children, after the death of the father,  moved back
to Nottingham, where the children were put under the guardianship of
a Judge Batten, or Patten.  David and Robert both settled in
Lyndeborough, a little north of the pond which now bears the name of
"Badger Pond." Mary married David Cram, whose father was one of the
first settlers of Lyndeborough, and where Badger's wife went to get
help to bury her husband.  Those three lived to a great ge, and reared
large families, the descendants of whom, of the fourth, fifth, and
sixth generations from John BADGER, are widely scattered over New
England and many of the Western States.
  The following anecdote is related of MARY BADGE. She came from
Nottingham to Lyndeboro when eighteen or nineteen years of age, with
her brother, David, to make a visit. When passing the settlement of
Mr. Cram, she got a sight of David, a young man of some twenty years of
age. As they passed along she said to her brother, "I mean to set my
cap for that fllow."
  He told her she better not, for he was a "lazy dog." She disregarded
his admonitions, and they were eventually married. It, however, has
been surmised by some that there was a smattering of truth in David's
advice, from the fact that something strongly resembling his suggestion
has occasionally manifested itself even down to the fifth generation.
  JOSEPH BADGER, brother of John, eventually settled in Meredith,
or Gilmanton, and Ex-Governor Badger was one of his descendants.
ELIPHALET BADGER, the other brother, settled in the south part of
Massachusetts, or Connecticut.
  The wife of JOHN BADGER was a true woman. She followed him three
thousand miles across the ocean to a foreign land to become his, and
share with him the joys and sorrows of life. She went with him far
away into the howling wilderness, where, as a faithful wife and mother,
she watched over him and his through a long sickness to his death.
 All this, with the trying scenes through which she passed in procuring
help to lay him in his grave, was too much for her constitution.
Her nervous system was crushed down, reason tottered on its throne,
she soon became insane, and in a few years terminated her existence,
by suicide.
  Thus the writer has attempted to gather up a few fragments of
history connected with "the first settler" of his native town, from a
source which will soon be removed from the earth, viz, SARAH BADGER,
a grand-daughter of the said JOHN BADGER, and who now resides on the
same spot where DAVID, the son of said John, lived and died. He
believes the substance of it truthful and correct.
  It has been a matter of surprise to him that BADGER was not
recognized as "the first setttler" in the published doings of the
centennial of Wilton. His death, with the circumstances connected,
 was alluded to, and that was all.  In a note in that pamphlet Johh Dale
is named as the first settler, which cannot be correct, which we will
undertake to show.  From the record-book of the Salem-Canada proprietors
it appears that the first drawing of rights in said town-ship took
place February 3, 1736, and that Daniel Epps Jr. of Salem drew rights
No. 10, 22, 51 and 53, and it also appears from said records that Epps
sold John Badger right No. 10, which was the territory on which he
settled and died. It also appears, from a controversy that took place
after the sons of came of age, that Dale occupied this territory after
their father's death; and it was adjusted between them and Dale by
said proprietors giving them lot No. 117 "in lieu of the whole right
No. 10, which their father had of Epps." Again, there is no evidence,
either from record or tradition, that the first John Dale ever located
on the territory of Wilton at any other place except that ancient
building already referred to now stands.  If Dale had been located there
at the death of Badger, that wife would not have gone three miles north
to the "nearest neighbor's" for help, when she could have obtained it
by going one hundred rods west.
  In this matter there was probably an unintentional neglect, or at
least an oversight, as the chairman of the committee had in his
possession the substance of the fragements above noticed, and from the
same source. He also had in his possession for many months the 
record-book of the proprietors of Salem-Canada.
  The centennial celebration of Wilton was got up in good and splendid
style in all its parts, and its exercises were perfomed by the first of
abilities, and gave general satisfaction.
  It reminded the writer, however, of a circumstance that once occurred
in the court-house in Amherst, at the time that Richardson was chief
justice. A boy was put on trial for his life. His connections being 
poor, the court appointed one of the most able advocates of the
Hillsborough bar to make the closing plea for the defense. At the
closing up of the term an order was drawn on the treasurer for the fee
allowed by the court for the defense, which had been very able and
successful. The advocate rather demurred at the smallness of the feee.
Judge Richardson, in his good-natured, off-hand manner, answered,
"Well Mr. A---, perhaps the fee is comparatively small; but I think
you ought to be satisfied, for you ably obtained the cause, and, what
was still more, you embraced the opportunity to showing off the glory
of your own sectarian belief."

WILLIAM T. BOUTWELL, son of Nehemiah and Elizabeth Jones Boutwell,
was the fourth of eleven children, born February 4, 1803; fitted for
college at Exeter Academy; graduated at Dartmouth 1828; at Andover
Theological Seminar 1831; ordained at Woburn, Mass June 1831, as 
missionary of the Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the
Chippewa Indians of the Northwest.  He left Boston June 21, 1831 for
Mackinaw, Mich., where he remained during the winter of 1831-32,
teaching Indians and half-breed children and acquiring the language
preparatory to future labors in his chosen field.  In 1832 he 
accompanied Hon. Henry R. Schoolcraft, Indian agent, on an expedition
to visit all the bands of Indians on the borders of the British
possesssion.  During this journey he visited and ascertained the
highest sources of the Mississippi River, which was named Itasca Lake.
In his letter referring to this expedition, he says "Scores of visitors,
since 1832, have found a higher source in the marshes west and south
which feed the lake, and scores more will find a higher scource, till
the last man finds a pool in the marshes large enough for him to bathe
in." Beyond all doubt, Itasca is the true souce of the Father of Waters.
Returning from the expedition he spent the winter at La Pointe, on
Lake Superior, having charge of the Indian school. In the fall of 1833 
he returned to Leach Lake and spent the winter in the families of the
fur-traders, for the purpose of ascertaining what encouragement there
was for extending the work by opening another station. He found the
chiefs kindly disposed and gave their consent to open a school.
  September 11, 1834, he married Hester Crooks and returned to Leach
Lake, opened a school, and began house-keeping in a bark lodge while
he built a log house.  After sixteen years of hard labor there and at
Pakagama, he was obliged to abandon his work in consequence of the
liquor traffic. In 1837 the treaty at Fort SNelling opened the pine
region to the white man. He came and brought with him his whiskey which
he gave to the Indians, although strictly forbidden by law. "What will
not the white men do for money?" Mr. Boutwell writes. "The traffic
incresaed from year to year, and all five of our stations closed their
work." Its influence will be seen in the following incident. Curiousity
often broght men to the mission to attend the Indian Service on the
Sabbath. He often preached, by request, at the camps on Sabbath 
evenings. One saturdy afternoon he left home to spend the Sabbath at
three camps on the Upper Snake River. At dusk he arrived at the first
camp, where he spent the night, and during the evening the trader was
in the camp, whom he invited to come in at ten A.M. the next day.
He said he would be glad to; but if the Indians should return from 
their hunt, he would not leave his store. The next day he held his
service, but his friend, the trader, was not present. He passed on to
the next camp, and still on to the next. In the night he was called in
great haste to come at once, for the trader had been shot by a drunken
Indian. Before he arrived the man had died. On reaching the scene of
distress and confusion he found forty men armed with weapons to kill
every Indian they met; but the Indians had fled.  After the excitement
was over I was requested to take the body to the station for burial,
with four men to dig a grave and make a coffin. The rest would come the
next day in a body. After the body was deposited on my team, the store
was cleared of furs and goods and two barrels of whiskey were burned
up. The next day forty men came to the mission, twelve miles, to bury
their dead. After the funeral all signed a resolve that they would
visit ever Indian trader, demand and destroy his whiskey, which was
carried out the next day; and they ceased not until they had 
accomplished their work.  But the trade revived the next year, and it
was found useless to spend time and strength with a people given to
drunkenness, and the misssion stations were all abandoned. In 1847
he removed to Stillwater, then a village of two hundred souls; began
preaching in a dining-room of a boarding-house; from this place to an
upper room in a small building, still standing and occupied as a 
meat-market. After a time a small church was erected. His time, for
years, was divided between Stillwater, Marien Mills, Taylor's Falls,
Cottage Grove and Point Douglas, establishing churches and
Sabbath-schools.

[a section not related to Lyndeboro found in original, is not shown 
here].

RECOLLECTIONS OF LYNDEBOROUGH [by Rev. B.F. Clarke]
 "I will speak of the old meeting-house, with its high pulpit, its
deacon-seats, its sounding-board hung by an iron rod, its slips for
the poor, its square pews, its seats hung on hinges, which were turned
back during prayer, its capacious galleries supported by huge pillars.
In that house I was baptized and publicly consecrated to God. There I
vied with other boys in making a loud clatter in throwing down my
hinge seat at the close of prayer. And there I suffered with cold feet
on winter Sabbaths before the introduction of stoves. Freezing did not
prove a means of grace to me.  In that house I preached my first
sermon in Lyndeborough. As inconvenient as that place of worship was,
in it the gospel was effectually proclaimed by the godly Merrill; and
there our fathers, doutbless, rendered acceptable worship. I well
remember the excitement produced in that old house on the fast day in
April 1827, a few days before I left my home with Palmer and Woodward
for East Tennessee. Instead of a sermon, Mr. merrill read the celebrated
lecture by Kittredge, of Lyme, on temperance, which contained the
statement that one gallon of rum used as a beverage in the town of Lyme
was just four quarts too much. The good old men of the church, including
my honored father, went out of that house vexed, if not mad.  My father
said, 'Why did Mr. Merrill read that foolish lecture; we cannot get our
hay without rum. It will rot in the field.'
 "When I returned, in 1837 I found all these good men pledged to total
abstinence.  They acknowledge that haying and all other farm work
could be better done without rum than with it.
 "When a young boy, I used to walk to church in company with girls and
women, whom I have often seen step into the bushes in the Richardson
pasture, and exchange their thick shoes and soiled stockings for
their morocco and clean white hose.
  The old meeting-house was furnished with shoe-blocks for the
accomodation of women and infirm men, from which to mount their horses.
 Riding on horseback was the only mode of conveyance to church in
summer. When I was a boy I have frequently seen a man in the saddle,
a woman behind on the same horse, and a child in the lap of each.
I distinctly remember the first one-horse wagon in Lyndeborough.
It was wholly destitute of springs; yet it was called a Yankee
pleasure-wagon. It was the property of Israel H. Goodridge, Esq.
After my return from the West, I preached in Lyndeborough, Francestown
and Mont Vernon. Since that time great changes have taken place.
I know, while I was acting-pastor in Lyndeborough, I preached to a 
large class of aged persons, all of whom have gone on the returnless
way, accompanied by many of my own age and younger, all of the
deacons and many which they served.
 I will here put my testimony on record that the town was then hilly,
and even mountainous, and its inhabitants intelligent, industrious,
temperate and moral, as a whole.


******************************
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
*****************************

JOEL H. TARBELL
The name of Tarbell is not frequent in this county. It does not appear
in the long list of those who took the freeman's oath in 1669, nor is
the name mentioned in the early Genealogical Register, only that of
THOMAS SR. and THOMAS JR.  It is from these that all of the name of
Massachusetts and New Hampshire are descended.  Captain Thomas Tarbell
was one of the original proprietors of "No. 1" (Mason), and named as
such in the grant of the Masonian proprietors.  He was one of the first
settlers, was clerk of the proprietary, first chosen in 1762, and
continued in office until the last meeting of that body, in 1773,
and was one of the most active and leading men in all affairs of the
township prior to its incorporation.
  Six of his sons settled on farms near him. He was a native of
Groton, Mass. Thomas Tarbell, his ancestor, was one of the original
proprietors of Groton in 1661. His name also appears as town clerk
of Groton. In the list are the names of Thomas Tarbell Sr., and
Thomas Tarbell Jr.; one instance relative to the family, of alarm,
attack and suffering from a savage foe, was the capture of two lads
(John and Zachariah), brothers and sons of Thomas Tarbell, by the 
Indians. They were carried to Canada about the year 1705, the younger
from four to six years of age, so young that he lost his native
language entirely. Some years after, they both came to Groton; but
having been accustomed to savage life, no persuasion prevailed on
them to remain with their friends and relatives; their descendants are
among the Indians.  Truly, those were days that tried men's souls, and
could not have been endured had it not been for their untiring
fortitude and perseverance, as well as muscular powers. One instance,
as related, was that of JOHN TARBELL, noted for his great strength,
equal to that of three ordinary men of this day. He expired suddenly
on the door of the old meeting-house in Mason, Sunday, August 20, 1797.
We are not gratified to relate that among them was one Judas,--that of
Captain Samuel Tarbell, whose property was confiscated for Toryism; he
returned to Groton, his native place, lived and died in poverty and
wretchedness.
  Thomas Tarbell, third son of Captain Thomas Tarbell Jr., was born
October 8, 1751; in his youth he recieved but limited education,
remaining at home rendering good service in clearing up and cultivating
the lands for the sustenance of the family. July 8, 1778, he married
Sarah Barrett, retaining a residence on the homestead of his father,
which has been occupied by family descendants to the fifth generation,
but has now passed into outside hands, with but little improvements
from originality, almost forsaken and uncared for.  On a part of the
premises is located the burying-ground, donated to the town in 1797,
where rests the dust of our sires, their descendants and many
neighboring citizens.
  The children of Thomas Tarbell and Sarah Barrett were Sally, born
November 6, 1778; Esther, born August 11, 1780; Thomas, born August 17,
1782, died January 17, 1785; Reuben, born July 19, 1784; Lemuel,
born February 14, 1786; Thomas born October 19, 1788; Eunice born
April 24, 1791; Joel, born July 9, 1793; Lydia, born March 21, 1797.
  JOEL TARBELL the younger son married Betsey Shattuck, daughter of
Jonathan Shattuck, a worthy citizen of Peperell, Mass; continued a
residence in Mason, in the occupation of boot and shoemaker of the
old style of hand-work; noted as master-workman in sewed boot making,
in which occupation he continued in support of his family, being in
limited circumstances. Their children surviving were JOEL HARRISON,
born at Mason, February 6, 1816; Mary Elizabeth, born February 2, 1820;
William, born July 4, 1824.  Joel H. remained at home until about
twelve years of age, attending the short term of district school.
At this age he went to reside with Dr. Amos Parker, of Boston, Mass,
having care of the stable and performing such part as capable in the
drug-store and post-office; while here he received five weeks of
schooling at a private Quaker school, kept by Elder Frye, in Berlin,
Mass., walking to and from school morning and evening, this being the
only education he ever received except from the common school district.
It was while residing here that his mother died, October 29, 1829,
leaving him without a parental home. Returning to New Hampshire at the
age of fourteen years, he went to labor on a farm for Ebenezer Stiles,
in Temple, attending short terms of winter district school.  In this 
family he received good precepts and formed habits for life. He
remained in this family until about twenty years of age, one year after
the death of Mr. Stiles, after which he labored in Pepperell, Mass, one
season and in Lyndeborough until marriage.
 In 1831 his father, Joel Tarbell, married Mary Mansfield, of Temple,
for a second wife; their children surviving were Charles, Solon,
Hiram, Alonzo and Joseph, all residing with families in this county.
Joel Tarbell died at Lyndeborough September 18, 1851; Mary M. his wife
died Dec 6, 1873.  January 15, 1839, Joel H. Married Esther Putnam,
daughter of Ephraim Putnam, resident on the homestead of his father, in
Lyndeborough (descendants from ancestors in Danvers, Mass). At
marrige Mr. Tarbell located in Lyndeborough (Putnam Corner), so styled,
now South Lyndeborough, assuming the business of a country hotel with
farm connected. Shortly after marriage he was appointed post master,
which trust he held for twenty years. At the time of his location here
there were but few settlements in the immediate vicinity, and those of
not modern style.  With his business grew a strong desire to make 
home and surroundings pleasant and build up the place, and he has lived
to witness the contrast from what was styled "Slab City" to that of a
respectable little village and community, greatly through his
instrumentality.  In this enterprise he took no active part financially,
previous to the organization of the glass company in 1866, the history
of which is too well-known for comment. After about fifteen years in
hotel business, when railroads became more desirable than highways for
public conveyance, he changed his business to that of a general
variety retail store, which, by himself and in connection with his
son, has been retained for over thirty years, the son now conducting
the same as principal. In his business he formed a determinination to
deal honorably, pay all bills promptly and cultivate a kind and
generous disposition, which has been carrie dout to a permanent
success in his social and business life. His children were Sanford P.,
born July 5, 1839, deceased; Charles F., born November 19, 1843;
Sarah Adaline, born February 24, 1850, deceased. She married Byron
Stacy; died leaving one daughter.
  As to his religious view, they were than those of conscience than
of creed, though he rendered continual aid in support of the gospel
at the chapel established in the place a short time previous to  his
settlement, contributing with his son in the remodeling of the house to
a more modern structure, and placing in the tower a church-bell,
furnished gratiuitously to the citizens. In politics firmly Democratic,
although decidedly favorable to union in offices of town trust. Held the
office of selectman several years, and town clerk seven years in
succession from 1850 to 1857 and for many years was a justice of the
peace. Highly respected by the citizens, he never connected himself with
any secret organization. In the Rebellion he was in command of a 
military company of State volunteers, known as the Lafayette Artillery.
Their services were offered and accepted, and they were mustered into
United States service for ninety days, and stationed at Fort
Constitution, Portsmouth, N.H.  His subalterns were Lieutenants Eli C.
Curtis and Charles H. Holt, both of Lyndeborough. After fourteen years
in command he resigned; his resignation was accepted with his
commendations to himself and command by the Governor.
  The following was taken from a historical sketch of Fort Constitution
and Walback Tower, Portsmouth Harbor, by a student of Dartmouth
College:
  "On the 2d day of August, 1864, the Lafayette Guards, under command of
Capt. Joel H. Tarbell, arrived at this fort, to which they were ordered
by the Governor. This company was composed of a fine class of men,
and citizens of New Castle respected them much. Belonging to the
organization was a band under the guidance of a celebrated instructor,
Carl Krebs.  Their strains of music imparted such animation to the
island, and the monotony of garrison life was greatly lessened in
consequence of their presence. They returned home a few weeks before
the expiration of their term of service, to Lyndeborough. Capt.
Tarbell was an amiable man of correct habits, and was highly esteemed
by his command.*


*****************
JOTHAM HILDRETH
Jothan Hildreth was born June 25, 1807, in Lyndeborough, NH. He is the
son of Jotham and Abigail (Sargent) Hildreth.  Jotham Hildreth Sr., was
a native of Amherst NH where he resided until his majority, when,
with his entire wordly possession tied up in a bundle and thrown across
his shoulders, he started out to seek his fortune in the world. He came
to Lyndeborough, where he found employment making dhoes, and meeting 
with a measure of success in this business, he made it his chief
vocation through life. In addition to shoemaking, however, he soon
possessed himself of  a small farm, to which original tract he added
by purchase at different times up to the time of his death. His life
was one of constant labor and frugality. He would work at farming during
the day and at the shoemaker's bench at night, and by this course of
persistent industry he finally became a fairly successful man.
He married Abigail, daughter of Joshua Sargent; they had five chidlren,
only two of whom are now living,--Jotham, and Abigail, now the widow of
Jacob Crosby.  Mr. Hildreth died December 8, 1850, his wife having
died August preceding.
  JOTHAM HILDRETH, whose portrait appears in connection with this
sketch, has followed in the footsteps of his father. He was brought up
to the same occupations, farming and shoemaking. At agriculture he has
done much more than his father, and for many years has been considered
one of the best farmers in this town. Brought up in a school of rigid
economy, and with a  full appreciation of the value of labor and money,
he has been frugal, industrious, and, as a natural result, successful.
He has never married, and his widowed sister now finds a home with him.
  Mr. Hildreth has been honored by his fellow-townsmen by being elected
to the State Legislature in 1850 and again in 1855. He has been 
selectman of his town several years, surveyor, etc., and has done more
or less at settling estates.
 Mr. Hildreth was a Democrat in political creed until some years prior
to the war, when he became a Republican and has affiliated with that
party to the present time.
  In religion he is a Congregationalist. He has so deported himself 
through a long and active life that in his old age, he has the happy
consiousness of possessing the confidence and respect of his fellow-
citizens.


===========================
FROM: Report of the committee appointed to revise the soldiers' record 
Danvers: The Town, 1895, 179 pgs.

HUTCHINSON, GEORGE
Capt. Samuel Flint's Company 1755, at Lake George 1758; enlisted
2 Apr 1759, Colonel Plaisted's Regiment
b. 1 Nov 1730; d. in Lyndeborough, N.H.; son of Ambrose and Ruth
(Leach) Hutchinson; m1st, 8 June 1845 Elizb Bickford; m2d, Susan
Bevins. They had 12 ch.

(end)