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HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TOWN OF EXETER 
 
 NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 By CHARLES H, BELL. 
 
 EXETER: 
 THE QUARTER-MILLENNIAL YEAR. 
 
 1888. 
 
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HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TOWN OF EXETER 
 
 NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 By CHARLES H. BELL. 
 
 EXETER: 
 THE QUARTER-MILLENNIAL YEAR. 
 
 1888. 
 
PKES8 OF 
 
 J. K. TAItWELL & CO. 
 
 BOSTON. 
 
P44 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 ^l\ chief aim in preparing tliis history has been to make it 
 useful. I have quoted hxrgely from the manuscript records of the 
 town, because they are liable to be destroyed, and what is in 
 print is safe. For the same reason, and for the benefit of gene- 
 alogists, I have given many lists of early names. 
 
 A town history is valuable almost in proportion to the accessi- 
 bility of its contents. For the sake of ease of reference I have 
 made a general classification of subjects in the present work ; 
 have introduced numerous sub-titles ; have arranged all consider- 
 able lists of names in alphabetical order ; have given a full table 
 of contents at the beginning and a sufficient index at the end. 
 Classification necessitates some repetition, but that is of small 
 consequence in comparison with the advantages of the method. 
 
 A complete genealogical history of Exeter is a desideratum. 
 Rut it would be a work of years. In this volume will be found 
 all the information deemed most valuable to the investigator of 
 family histor}', whicli is contained in the records of the town ; 
 to wit : all the " family registers " in any books ; all the marriages 
 and births in the first (oldest) book, and all the deaths in the 
 same, before the year ISOO. 
 
 In addition to these 1 have added, from other sources, the fol- 
 lowing : excerpts from the records of old Norfolk county, jNIassa- 
 chusetts ; a list of all the baptisms of children in Exeter, by the 
 Rev. Woodbridge Odlin, between 1743 and 1763 ; a list of all the 
 publishments of intentions of marriage in the town between 1783 
 and 1800. These lists may properly ho torniod new^ as thoy are 
 
iv riiEFACE. 
 
 taken from niauuscripts •v\-liicli have not been open to public 
 inspection. 
 
 The orthography of proper names has been a source of per- 
 plexity. A uniform rule is hard to fix and harder to follow. In 
 spite of the best intentions variations have crept in. My only 
 consolation is that I liavc probably not spelt names in half so 
 many ways as their owners did. 
 
 ]My thanks are especially due to Professor Bradbury L. Cilley 
 for the unlimited use of the maiuiscripts of his grandfather, the 
 Hon. John Kelly, and of the late William Smith, Esq., each of 
 whom planned a history of the town ; also to John Ward Dean, 
 Esq., of Boston, and to my townsmen Messrs. George W. Dear- 
 born, John T. Perry, William H. Belknap, Edward Giddings and 
 many others who have most ol)ligingly aided me in o])taining 
 information. 
 
 It would be idle to suppose that this work is free from mistakes. 
 In writing the history of a town the difficulties may be said to be 
 in a du'ect ratio to the remoteness of the period treated of. 
 Exeter being two hundred and fifty years old, the information 
 respecting it has had to be gleaned from a multitude of sources, 
 and the liabilities to errors of all kinds are correspondingly 
 increased. The greatest care and pains have been bestowed, 
 however, to insure accuracy, and it is hoped that mistakes will 
 not be found to be numerous or important. 
 
 My townsmen will of course note many omissions, due for the 
 most part to limited time and space. It is not believed that they 
 will seriously detract from the value of the work to others. 
 
 CiiAULES 11. Bell. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 MUNICIPAL. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Exeter as an Independent Republic. — The Rev. John Wheelwright ; 
 the deeds from the Indians; the disputed Indian deed of 1G29 ; trials of 
 the opening year; the first church; another Indian deed; the Combina- 
 tion ; the first criminal proceeding ; the Elders' oath ; the oath of the 
 people ; first allotment of lands ; notices of early settlers ; early enact- 
 ments 3 — 43 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Exeter under the Massachusetts Government. — The conditions of 
 annexation ; the fishery ; the care of the cattle ; the staple commodity ; 
 project for a change of government; number and names of inhabi- 
 tants 44 — 61 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Exeter under the New Hampshire Provincial Government.— 
 Gove's rebellion against Cranfield ; Robert Tufton Mason's land suits ; 
 resistance to illegal taxation; the province without a government; 
 specimens of early tOAvn accounts; the mast-tree riot of 1734; a dis- 
 orderly election ; demonstration against the stamp act ; patriotic action 
 of the town in 1770; another patriotic expression of the town; help for 
 the suffering poor of Boston; the census of 177i5; the earliest written 
 Constitution. . . . . . . . , , G2 89 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Exeter under the State Government. — The Association test of 
 1776; first reading of the Declaration of Independence; the evils of a 
 paper currency; the paper money mob of 1786 ; the Convention for the 
 adoption of the Federal Constitution ; the visit of Washington ; court- 
 house, fire engine, library, etc. ; honors to the memory of Washington ; 
 temperance; War of 1812; prayer in town meetings; support of the 
 poor; celebration of bi-centennial ainiiversary ; re-naming streets; new 
 court-house ; ligliting streets ; sidewalks ; steam fire engine ; water 
 V'orks 90 — 111 
 
Vi ( ((NTK.NIS. 
 
 CIIAPrEH V. 
 
 BoiNDAUIKS AMI DlMSIOXS; KoAUSAM) Iiiait(ii;s. — Tlu' Hain])toil 
 l)oniul of l().j;}; the Dover bound of 1(5.53; Captain Thomas Wij^gin's 
 tlcfd of gift ; cnlarponicnt of Kxctcr honnds ; Squaniscot Patent under 
 Kxetcr f^overninent : to\vnshi])s carved from I-xetcr territory ; liipliways, 
 theii* location, laving out and repairs; bridges; the village streets. 
 
 irj— 128 
 
 ClIAl'TEK VI. \ 
 
 Tin: Common Lands. — Lands of Kdward and ^\'illianl Hilton ; grants of 
 town lands ; list of distributees of land as reported in 172o ; proceedings 
 to hasten a distribution ; final distribution. . . . I'JO — IW 
 
 CliArTKK VII. 
 
 Ofi'ICKUS ok TllK Town. — T,ist of town olfieers : rulers; assistant rulers; 
 town clerks; selectmen; moderators; repiesentatives. . 117 — 1<52 
 
 ECCLESIA8T1CA1.. 
 CHAPTER VHI. 
 
 Tin; FiKST lli;i,i(;ioi'.s Socikty. — Attempts to get a ])astor, after Mr. 
 Wheelwright's departure ; Mr. Dudley engaged; new house of worship ; 
 dilHculty of paying salary; fears of losing Mr. Dudley; death of Mi-. 
 Dudley ; Elder Wentworth temporarily employed. . . loo — 170 
 
 C1I.\1'I1;K IX. 
 
 TlIK FlKST Socikty and its Oi-i- shouts. — A new meeting-house; re- 
 organization of the church ; death of Mr. Clark ; engagement of Mr. 
 John Odlin ; ])arish of Newmarket set ofl"; a new meeting-house ; 
 ICpping parish set off; Brentwood ])arish set off"; Rev. Woodbridge 
 Odlin. colleague ; second ])arish incorjiorated ; succession of pastors, 
 Isaac Mansfield, William F. Rowland. John Smith. William M'illiams, 
 Joy H. Fairchild, ]loswell D. Hitchcock, William D. Hitchcock, Nathan- 
 iel Lasell, VAiaa Nason, John O. Harrows, Swift JJyington. 171 — lil.'J 
 
 (■llAl''ii;K X. 
 
 Tin. Skconu I'AKisii ; Otiiik IlKi.Uiiors Sociktiks. — I{ev. l)aniel 
 Rogers; his e])itaph ; Jose])!! Hrown ; Isaac Hurd ; Asa Mann: Orpheus 
 T. Lanphear ; John \\'. Ciiickering, Jr.; (Jeorge 11. Street; Quakers; 
 the Raptist society ; the Universalist society ; the Christian society ; 
 the Methodist society; the Advent society; the Roman Catholic 
 society; tlie Unitarian society ; the l^piscopal society. . UM — I'll 
 
CONTENTS. vii 
 
 MILITARY. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The Indian and French "Wars. — Philip's war; King William's -war; 
 services of Exeter men ; a fortunate esca])e ; Queen Anne's war ; Colonel 
 AVinthrop Hilton's expeditions ; his death ; occurrences of 1712 ; assault 
 u])on the liollins family ; the Louisburg expedition ; roll of Captain 
 Light's company; occurrences of 1746; the Crown Point expeditions ; 
 Captain Nathaniel Folsom at Lake George ; capitulation of Fort William 
 Henry; inventory of Major John Oilman's losses; later expeditions 
 against French posts ; the Exeter Cadets. . . . 121.5 — 2;J9 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The Revohttion and the AVar of 1812. — The powder from Fort Wil- 
 liam and Mary ; the Exeter volunteers march to Cambridge : Exeter 
 soldiers in 1116 ; in 177(5; in 1777; in 177S ; in 1779; in 1780; in 
 1781 ; supplies furnished by the town to soldiers' families; the AYar of 
 1812 ; roll of Captain Nathaniel Oilman's company ; roll of Captain 
 James Thom's company. 240 — 2^9 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 The War for the Union. — Exeter soldiers in the several New Hampshire 
 regiments ; in the military or naval service. Notices of officers, Gen. 
 Oilman Marston ; Lieutenant Colonel Henry H. Pearson ; Lieutenant 
 Colonel Moses N. Collins ; Captain Albert M. Perkins. . 260 — 282 
 
 EDUCATIONAL. 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The Schools and Academies. — Law of Massachusetts and NeAv Hamp- 
 shire ; list of early instructors ; town orders concerning schools ; forma- 
 tion of school districts ; the Robinson Female Seminary; the Phillips 
 Exeter Academy ; the Female Academy. . . . 285 — ;}00 
 
 CHAPTER XA". 
 
 The Press. — The earliest newspaper ; first New Testament printed in tlie 
 State ; samples of early journalism ; the N'ews-Letter ; the Gazette and 
 present publications ; contril)utors to the press. . . ."JOl .314 
 
 INDUSTRIAL. 
 
 CHAPTER XM. 
 
 Mills and MANriACTURES. — The first saw-mill ; Pickpocket falls granted ; 
 Crawley's falls; Picki)ocket; paper-mills; powder-mills; -falls of the 
 Squamscot ;" Exeter Manufacturing Comjiany; other water-mills. 
 
 :jl7 — :5:m 
 
viii CONTENTS. 
 
 CHArTEK XVII. 
 
 lil'SINKss AM) Tkahk. — I.nmberiuf,'; sliip-huilding ; ])ottcry ; duckiiiixnu- 
 factory ; sadiUery and carriti^cs ; liats ; wool; leather; the earlier mer- 
 chants ; banks ; insurance companies 335 — 348 
 
 lilOGKAPHICAL. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Judges and Lawyers. — John Oilman; Robert "Wadleigh ; Kinsley Hall ; 
 Peter Coffin ; Richard Hilton ; Nicholas Oilman ; Samuel Oilman ; 
 Nicholas Perryman ; Noah Emery; AVilliam Parker; John Pickering; 
 Oliver Peabody ; Nathaniel Parker ; Oeorge Sullivan ; Moses Ilodgdon; 
 Solon Stevens ; Jeremiah Smith ; James Thom ; Joseph Tilton ; Jotham 
 Lawrence ; Stephen Peabody ; Jeremiah Fellowes ; Oeorge Lamson ; 
 William Smith ; Oliver AV. B. Peabody ; John Sullivan ; Samuel T. 
 Oilman; James Ik-U ; John Kelly; Timothy Farrar; Amos Tuck; 
 Henry V. French ; John S. Wells ; AVilliam AV. Stickncy ; Alva AVood ; 
 George C. Peavey ; other lawyers. .... 349 — 377 
 
 CHAPTER Xl.\. 
 
 Medical Me.n. — Thomas Deane; Josiah Oilman; Dudley Odlin ; Robert 
 Oilman; I'Uiphalet Hale ; John Oiddinge ; John Odlin; Nathaniel Oil- 
 man ; Caleb O. Adams; Joseph Tilton; Samuel Tenney ; Nathaniel 
 I'eabody ; William Parker, Jr., Nathan North; William Perry; David 
 W. Oorham ; Samuel U. Swett ; other physicians. . . 378 — 389 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Families and I.ndividuals. — Dudley family; Folsom family; Leavitt 
 family; Thing family ; Conner family ; Lyford family ; Robinson family; 
 Smith families; Odlin family ; IJarker, Colcord, DoUoft', Kimball, Shute 
 and others. Jonathan Cass; Enoch Poor; John Rogers; James Bur- 
 ley; Samuel Hatch; Seth Walker; Joseph Pearson; Waddy V. Cobbs; 
 John C. Long. The colored population. . . . 390 — 399 
 
 ]\iisci:llani:ous. 
 ciiai'Ti:k XXI. 
 
 Homicides; Bi-rial-I'laces;«Tiie " Wiihe Caps." — Mrs. AVillix ; John- 
 son; John Wadleigh ; Mrs. I'Vrgusou ; first four jniblic burial-i)laces ; 
 the cemetery ; other burial-places. 'J'he " White ca])s ;" their search for 
 hidden trca.sure 403 — 414 
 
CONTEXTS. ix 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Things New and Old. — Trees ; the oldest elm ; early houses ; the Clif- 
 ford house ; Dean house ; Ladd house ; Rowland house ; Odiorne 
 house ; Hildreth house ; Peabody house ; Oilman house ; Tilton house ; 
 other old houses ; statistics; societies; localities. . . 415 — 428 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I. The Indian deed of 1629 to Wheelwright and others. II, Transcripts of 
 the Exeter Records, 1G39 to 1644. III. Extracts from Hon. Jeremiah 
 Smith's bi-centennial address, 1838. .... 431 — 469 
 
 OEXEALOGICAL. 
 
 Family Registers, from the Exeter Records. Marriages, from the Exe- 
 ter Records. Births, from the town Records. Deaths, prior to the 
 year 1800, from the town Records. Births, Deaths and Marriages 
 from the earliest town Records. ^Marriages, Births and Deaths 
 from the Records of old X'orfolk county, in Massachusetts. Baptisms 
 of children in the First society, from 1743 to 1763. Publishments of 
 intentions of marriage, from 1783 to 1800. . . . 3 §2 
 
 CORRECTIONS. 
 
 Page 149, Thomas Deane, X^athaniel "Webster and Josiah Oilman were 
 selectmen in 1741. 
 " lol, John Oilman was representative in 1697 as well as in 1693. 
 " 219, line 38, for Huntson, read Huntoon. 
 " 220, note, for Edward, read X'athaniel, Swasey. 
 " 239, line 13, for lieutenant, Colonel, read lieutenant colonel. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Fac-simile of Exeter "Combination" draAvn July 4, 1639; 
 
 re-subscribed April 2, 1640 Frontis. 
 
 Plan of the village of Exeter in 1802 Page 103 
 
 Exeter with its sub-divisions " 121 
 
 Plan of the township of Exeter in 1802 "317 
 
MUNICIPAL, 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EXETER AS AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC. 
 
 The river Pascataqua which forms the bound, next the sea, 
 between New Hampshire and Maine, may, with its tributaries, be 
 rudely represented by a man's left hand and wrist laid upon a 
 table, back upwards and fingers wide apart. The thumb would 
 stand for the Salmon Falls or Newichwannoclv river, the forefinger 
 for Bellamy river, the second finger for Oyster river, the third for 
 Lamprey river and the fourth for Exeter or Squamscot river ; 
 while the palm of the hand would represent the Great Bay, into 
 which most of those streams pour their waters, and the wrist the 
 Pascataqua proper. 
 
 Before the foundation of Exeter there were but two organized 
 settlements within the limits of New Hampshire, the one at the 
 mouth of the Pascataqua about Strawberry Bank, now Ports- 
 mouth ; the other about Dover at the confluence of the Salmon 
 Falls and the Pascataqua. Both settlements were straggling, 
 small and weak, being wholly self-ruled, for as yet there was no 
 general government in New Hampsliire. The Europeans who 
 composed the population had most of tliem come thither to better 
 their worldly condition by fishery and trade, and with no purpose 
 of a religious character. The greater number of them were bred 
 in the English church, and had little sympathy with the Puritans 
 of the Massachusetts Bay. 
 
 Besides the inhabitants of these two settlements there were a 
 few scattered dwellers along the Pascataqua and its afilucnts. 
 Two of the most prominent of these, Edward Hilton and Thomas 
 Wiggin, belong to Exeter history. Hilton was originally a fish- 
 monger in the city of London, and emigrated to this country in 
 1623, doubtless with the expectation of engaging in the fishery 
 here. He settled in Dover at what is now styled the Point, and 
 after seven years obtained from the Council of Plymouth, under 
 the authority of the British Crown, a grant of lands on tlic upper 
 
4 IlISTOKY OF KXKTF.rv. 
 
 Pnst'ata«ina, known as the Hilton or Sqnaniscot Patent. It em- 
 braced Dover Point and a belt of territory south of the Pascataqua 
 and cast of the Sqnaniscot, three miles in breadth, and extcndin*; 
 to the falls of the latter river, at what is now Kxeter. This grant 
 afterwards passed into the hands of a companj' who appointed 
 Captain Thomas "Wiggin their agent. 
 
 Hilton and Wiggin had before IGJO both quitted. Dover, and 
 planted themselves on opposite sides of the Squamscot, and within 
 three or four miles of the falls. There they were found by the 
 company who settled Exeter, on their arrival, or soon afterward, 
 Hilton domiciled in what is now South Newmarket, and AViggin 
 in what is now Stratham. Both were men of enterprise and natu- 
 ral leaders, and each, no doul>t, had his retainers about him. Hil- 
 ton was attached, in a quiet way, to the observances of the Eng- 
 lish church, and, conse(piently, was held in small consideration by 
 the Puritan authorities of the iSIassachusetts liay, when they came 
 subseciuently to rule over the New Hampshire settlements. AVig- 
 gin's religious professions harmonized more nearly with their own, 
 and h^'onsequently enjoyed a much greater share of their appro- 
 bation and conlidence. 
 
 Jf we arc to credit tradition tliere were three other persons 
 dwelling at the falls of the Squamscot before the arrival of 
 the company of Wheelwright in 1638. These were Ralph Hall, 
 Thomas Leavitt and Thomas "Wilson, all of whom were located on 
 the eastern side of the river, while most of the other early comers 
 chose the western side. Hall and Leavitt w^ere young men, and 
 may, for aught we know, have l)een the pioneers of the settle- 
 mt-nt ; but the antecedents of Wilson leave little room to doubt 
 tiiat he was of Wheelwright's company. 
 
 The falls of the Scjuamscot, round which tlie village of Exeter 
 has clustered from the beginning, are formed by the passage of a 
 beautiful iiilnud stream over a succession of ledges into a broad 
 basin ImIow, wlicrc its waters mingle with the tides from the sea. 
 This was a well known lisliing place of the Indians. The country 
 around was covered, for the most part, with dense forests, broken 
 here and there by tracts of natural meadow, and l)y marshes bor- 
 ilcring ui)on the tide-water. 
 
 On the third day of April, 1(;;'.S, the Pev. John Wheelwright 
 purchased by a (Ii'<m1 I'loin the local sagamore ami his son, a re- 
 lease of the right of the Indian occupants to this locality and to a 
 tract of the surrounding country, thirty miles in extent, reaching 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 5 
 
 from the northern boundary of the Massachusetts Bay on the 
 south, to the Pascataqua patents on the east, and on the north to 
 Oyster river. His purpose in making the purchase was to begin 
 a settlement, to which he gave the name of Exeter.* 
 
 THE REV. JOHN WHEELW^RIGHT. 
 
 Mr. Wheelwright, who is justly styled the founder of Exeter, 
 deserves a more extended notice. He was born in or near the 
 hamlet of Saleby in Lincolnshire, England, probably in the early 
 part of the year 1592. His father was a man of sufficient means 
 to afford him a university education, and to leave him heir to some 
 freehold property. At Sidney College, Cambridge, he gained his 
 bachelor's degree in 1614, and that of M. A. four years later. 
 One of his fellow collegians was the famous Oliver Cromwell, who 
 afterwards bore testimony to his athletic vigor and pluck, "that 
 he was more afraid of meeting Wheelwright at football than he 
 had been since of meeting an army in the field, for he was infalli- 
 bly sure of being tripped up by him." Mr. Wheelwright was 
 married on the eighth of November, 1621, to Marie, daughter of 
 the Rev. Thomas Storre, vicar of Bilsb}^, in the county of Lincoln ; 
 and on the ninth of April, 1623, having taken hoi}" orders, on the 
 death of his father-in-law, succeeded him in the vicarage. He is 
 described as a faithful and zealous minister ; but like many able 
 and conscientious men of his time, he was led to question the au- 
 thority of certain dogmas and observances of the English church, 
 until he found himself at length arrayed in the ranks of the Puri- 
 tans, so that after about ten years he was silenced by the ecclesi- 
 astical powers, for non-conformity. He continued to reside in 
 England for two or three years afterwards and then emigrated to 
 the new world. He took with him his wife by a second marriage, 
 Mary, daughter of Edward Hutchinson of Alford, and his five 
 children, and landed in Boston on the twenty-sixth of May, 1636. 
 
 There he soon became highly esteemed, insomuch that after 
 about six months, it was proposed by some of the members of the 
 Boston church that he should be settled over them as a second 
 teacher, in conjunction with the Kev. John AVilsou and the Kev. 
 
 ♦Of course this name was borrowed from Exeter in England. ,fhe cause of its se- 
 lection is unknown. There is no evidence tliat Wlieelwri^lit ever liad any acciuaiut- 
 ance with the Knj^lish Exeter, and the only one of his companions who is known to 
 have come from that place, or its vicinity, was Godfrey Dearborn. 
 
(J HISTOIIY OF EXETER. 
 
 .lolm Cotton, two of the most eniiiR'iit divines of the colony. But 
 nj>on some objection l)einii; made to this, IMr. Wheehvri2;ht was 
 phiccd in charjjje of a new church <rathercd at Blount Wollaston, 
 afterwards liraintree and now (^)iiincy; and received a grant of 
 two hundred acres of land there. 
 
 About this time Anne Hutchinson, a woman of keen wit and 
 dominant disposition, the wife of William Hutchinson, a brother 
 of "Wheelwrigiit's second wife, rendered lurself a conspicuous 
 iitrure in the religious circles of Boston. With the fondness for 
 theological speculations which was characteristic of that age, she 
 had adopted some opinions not iu unison with those of the major- 
 ity of the ministers and elders of the Massachusetts Bay, and was 
 in the habit of enunciating them in the shape of criticisms on their 
 sermons and doctrines, at weekly meetings of the sisterhood held 
 at her house iu P>oston. These heterodox oi)inious were the merest 
 theoretic abstractions imaginable, such as that ''the person of the 
 Holy Ghost dwells iu a justified person," and that " no sanctiflca- 
 tion can help to evidence to us our justification," and the like, and 
 had no possible relation to the practical concerns of life. Their 
 opponents, however, gave them the bad name of "Antinomian." 
 But Wheelwright also professed the same views in the main, and 
 Cotton timidly indorsed them, wliile a large proportion of the 
 members of the Boston church approved them. All this was bit- 
 terly unpalatable to the authorities of church and state (who were 
 substantially the same) in the Massachusetts Ba}', and the}' took 
 counsel together how to suppress the rising heresy. Excommuni- 
 cation of the offenders was the obvious reinedy ; but as by far the 
 greater part of the Boston church were iu sympathy with them, 
 there was danger that in the attempt to ai)j)ly that remedy the 
 movers might lind themselves victims instead of victors. They 
 therefore resolved on other and safer measures. 
 
 Apparently every utterance of AVheelwright was strictly 
 watched, to find cause of accusation against him. At lengtli the 
 desired pretext was obtained, in a sermon wliidi he preached on a 
 Fast day in Boston, on the nineteenth of -lanuary, ]G.'5(;-7. Jt is 
 impossible for any unprejudiced person of our time to discover in 
 this i»roduction, which is still extant, anything to cause alarm to 
 the most timorous heart, but to the jaundiced eyes of the Massa- 
 chusetts rulers of that day, it seemed to be filled with threateniugs 
 of ruin and destruction. Au'l they di-termined that out of his dis- 
 <'oin-sc they Avould liinl matter for his condemnation. It would 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 7 
 
 require too much space to follow in detail the various proceedings 
 which they instituted against AVheelwright. First, the great and 
 General Court, backed by an advisory counsel of the clergy, pro- 
 nounced him guilty of " sedition and contempt of the civil author- 
 ity." AVheelwright was not daunted by this. The next applica- 
 tion was a synod of the clergy of the colony, who, after a laborious 
 session of twenty-four days, condemned no less than eighty-two 
 erroneous opinions, which they alleged had been brought to New 
 England aud "• spread underhand there." Wheelwright attended 
 the meetings of the synod, and, of course, understood very well 
 that its conclusions were in effect, if not by name, a condemna- 
 tion of his position and course ; but he did not swerve a hair's 
 breadth for that. Then his prosecutors determined to oust him 
 by force. The General Court was to be the instrument ; and in 
 order to make sure of a majority of deputies who would perform 
 their behests, the authorities resoi'ted to the extraordinary course 
 of a special election. Before this tribunal, thus organized to con- 
 vict, Wheelwright appeared and pleaded not guilty. To such a 
 trial there could be but one ending. For the offences of which he 
 had previously been found guilty, " and for now justifying himself 
 and his former practice, being to the disturbance of the civil 
 peace," he was by the court disfranchised and banished. 
 
 Wheelwright was not the only victim. Mrs. Hutchinson also 
 was banished from the colon}^ and several of their adherents were 
 "disarmed" — deprived of all weapons — an ignominious and 
 harsh punishment at that time when the means of protection and 
 defence were so essential. Thus one of the earliest acts of those 
 who emigrated hither to obtain their religious freedom, was to 
 establish a religious despotism. The poor pretence that the act 
 was necessary for the maintenance of "the civil peace," finds no 
 justification in any fact which the most prejudiced apologist has 
 been aljle to urge in its favor. 
 
 The sentence against Wheelwright was pronounced early in 
 November, 1637, and he was allowed two weeks to depart out of 
 the jurisdiction. Much to the surprise of many, instead of accom- 
 panying his sister-in-law to Rhode Island, where he would have 
 been welcomed to an asylum of religious freedom, he turned his 
 face towards the far less inviting solitude of the falls of the 
 Squamscot. It is probable that he sailed from Boston to the 
 mouth of the Pascataqua in a coaster belonging to John Clark, 
 afterwards of Rhode Island, one of his sympatliizers ; and then 
 
8 IIISTOKY OF EXETEK. 
 
 mndc his dirtlcult way overland to his destination. Tlic sucoeed- 
 iu<'- inclement season he must have passed in the rude cabin of 
 some neijihhoriug settler, perhaps that of Julward Hilton. It was 
 a bitter winter, and the snow covered the ground to the depth of 
 three feet, from the fourth of November to the fifth of the follow- 
 ing March- 
 But uo sooner were the icy chains of winter loosed, than the 
 resolute and indefatigable Wheelwright began to bestir himself in 
 making preparations for his new settlement. 
 
 TIIK DEEDS FKo.M lllK INDIANS. 
 
 The release of the Indians' right to the lands in and about Exe- 
 ter was contained in two deeds which are still preserved, and are 
 here given, with the original orthography and contractions. 
 
 Know all men by these presents that I "Wehanownowit Sagamore 
 of piskatocpiake for good considerations me therevuto mouing & 
 for certen comodys which I have received have graunted <fc sould 
 vnto John Whelewright of piscatoquake, Samuel Hutchinson & 
 Augustine Stor of Boston Edward Calcord & Darby Field of pis- 
 catoquake & John Compton of Koxbury and Nicholas Needome of 
 Mount "NValliston all the right title & interest in all such lands, 
 woods, meadows, riuers, brookos springs as of right belong vnto 
 me from ^Merimack riuer to the patents of piscatoquake bounded 
 w' '' the South East side of i)iscatoquake patents & so to goe into 
 the Country north West thirty miles as far as oyster riuer to haue 
 & to hold the same to them & their heires forever, onely the ground 
 w** is broken up excepted. & that it shall be lawful! for tlie said 
 Sagamore to hunt & fish & foul in the said limits. In Witness 
 whereof I haue hereunto set my hand the JV day of April 1G38. 
 Signed & possession giueu. These being present 
 
 James Wall. 
 
 James, his m'ke Wi'hanownowit his m'ke. 
 
 his W. C. m'ke. 
 William Cole 
 
 his M ni'ko. 
 Lawrence; Co\v[ilaud 
 
 Know all men by these p''sents y* I Wehanownowitt Sagamore of 
 ruschatacpiake for a certajne some of money to mee in hand payd 
 & other lu'chandablc couiodities wch I iuiue i-ccd as likewise for 
 other good causes t!c considerations mee y'' uulo spctially mouing 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 9 
 
 haue granted barganed alienated & sould vuto John Wheelewright 
 of Pischataqua & Augustine Storr of Bostoue all those Lauds 
 woods Medowes Marshes rivers brookes springs with all the app""- 
 tenances emoluments pfitts comoditys there unto belonging lying 
 and situate within three miles of the Northerne side of y" river 
 Meremake extending thirty miles along by the river from the sea 
 side & from the sayd river side to Pischataqua Patents thirty Miles 
 vp into the countrey North West & soe from the ffalls of Pischa- 
 taqua to O^'ster river thirty Miles square ev^'y way, to haue & to 
 hould the same to them & y"" heyres for euer only the ground wch is 
 broaken vp is excepted & it shall bee lawfull for y^ sayd Saga- 
 more to hunt fish & foule in the sayd lymitts. In wituesse w'of I 
 have hereunto sett my hand & scale the third day of Aprill 1G38. 
 
 Signed sealed & deliv'ed & 
 possession given in the p'sence of 
 
 James his m'ke Aspamabough 
 his m'ke 
 
 Edward Calcord Wehanowuowit his m'ke. 
 
 Nicholas Needham Pummadockyon* his m'ke. 
 
 "William Furbar the Sagamore's son 
 
 It will be observed that in the description of the premises re- 
 leased, the main difference between these two instruments was in 
 regard to the southern boundary ; in the former deed it was a line 
 three miles north of the Merrimac river ; in the latter it was the 
 river itself. The occasion of this duplication of the title-deeds 
 was, in all likelihood, the want of knowledge of the exact location 
 of the northern limit of Massachusetts ; and the intention was to 
 claim to that limit, and to rely on whichever of the deeds the 
 better sustained that claim. 
 
 The change of grantees named in the deeds indicates that there 
 could have been no intention of vesting the title in them person- 
 ally ; and, accordingly, it will be found that they never assumed 
 the ownership in themselves, but allowed the conveyances to enure 
 to the benefit of the great body of the settlers, and the lands to be 
 at their disposal and control. This fact, taken in connection with 
 the prompt appearance upon the ground of no less than nine of 
 "Wheelwright's friends and supporters, in the character of grantees 
 
 * The original deeds licar tlie totems or distinctive marks of the Indiana, licinp: ludo 
 sketches, as follows: those of James and of \Vehanownowit a man lioldinfr a toma- 
 hawk; that of Pummadockyon a man holding a bow and ariow; and that of Aspam- 
 abough a bow and arrow. 
 
10 IlISTOKY OF EXETKR. 
 
 and witnesses, and the speedy arrival of numerous others, leaves 
 little (juestion that the project of the Exeter settlement had been 
 fully organized and understood beforehand. 
 
 THE DISPUTED INDIAN DEED OF 1629. 
 
 In the trial of the action at law of Allen against Waldron in 
 1707, which involved ihe title to substantially all the lands in New 
 Hampshire, the defendant introduced in evidence a deed i)urport- 
 ing to have been executed by Passaconaway, sagamore of Peua- 
 cook, Kunawit of I'entucket, "Wahanowuawit of Squamscot and 
 Kowls of Newichwaunock, to the Rev. .John Wheelwright and 
 others, on the seventeenth day of May, 1G29, nearly nine years 
 prior to the date of the deeds already mentioned. It assumed to 
 convey the rights of the grantors' tribesmen to the same territory 
 described in those deeds, and even more. The instrument under- 
 went the ordeal of the courts unscathed, and passed into the his- 
 tory of the time as a genuine document, and was universally so 
 regarded for a hundred years. In 1^20 Mr. James Savage, while 
 editing an edition of "Wiulhrop's Journal, was led, by a compari- 
 son of dates, to iiKjuire into the authenticity of the deed, and with 
 characteristic positiveness, to pronounce it spurious. His view 
 was adopted by several of the historians of New Hampshire, in- 
 cluding Mr. John Farmer and the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Boutou. 
 It has, however, been (jueried by some others whether the reasons 
 •riven for discrediting the instrument are conclusive. 
 
 lUit it seems quite unnecessary to go, in this work, into any in- 
 quiry on the subject. Whether the deed of 1G29 was true or false, 
 it is certain that Wheelwright in making his settlement did not 
 rely upon it, but upon tlie conveyances of the later date. The 
 question respecting the authenticity of the earlier deed, therefore, 
 however interesting it may be to antiquaries, can affect no one's 
 title or claim, and is of no practical importance. 
 
 The instrument, however, as a historical curiositN', is worthy of 
 preservation. Deing of considerable length it will be placed in the 
 appendix (I). 
 
 TKIAI.S OK JIIK ol'l.MN<; VKAU. 
 
 The opening year i)f I'.xeter's settlement must have tested to the 
 utmost the courage and endurance of tlie colonists. Everything 
 needed to render the i)lacc Iiabitable had to be created ; for the 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEll. 11 
 
 lack of means of transport in the wilderness precluded the convers- 
 ance thither of anything bej'ond the absolute essentials of exist- 
 ence. The trees of the primeval forest had to be felled, and from 
 their trunks rude dwellings constructed, to shelter the tender ones. 
 The absence of household furniture compelled the fashioning of 
 substitutes from wood or bark. Planting-land must be cleared, 
 and seed sown, to provide against the danger of starvation. Nu- 
 merous other wants, the products of civilization, claAored also to 
 be at once supplied ; so that every hour of the first' season must 
 have been devoted to providing the means for rendering life 
 secure and tolerable. Nothing short of extraordiuafy firmness of 
 character, the consciousness of right in their religious trials, and 
 their confidence in then- leader and pastor, would hgp^e enabled the 
 early settlers of the town to bear up under the .difficulties and 
 hardships of their position. ? 
 
 From the best informat/i6n that can now be obtained, the popu- 
 lation of Exeter did jiot advance during the first year much, if at 
 all, beyond a scqj^ of families. These consisted in about equal 
 proportions ^j,^ Wheelwright's parishioners and adherents from 
 Mount Wollaston and its vicinity in Massachusetfe, and of his con- 
 nections and friends lately arrived from Lincolnshire in England. 
 In July, 1G37, in the midst of the Autinomian excitement, a ship 
 had reached Boston, from England, bringing as passengers a 
 brother of ]\Irs. Anne Hutchinson, and a number of other transat- 
 lantic friends of Wheelwright. The General Court of Massachu- 
 setts had recently enacted a law forbidding new comers to tarry 
 in the colony for a longer time than three weeks, without the 
 written permission of a member of the council or of two other 
 magistrates. That friends of Wlieelwright should be suffered to 
 make their permanent homes in Massachusetts Avas out of the ques- 
 tion. Governor Winthrop gave them leave to remain for four 
 months, but no longer. In November, 1G37, therefore, they had 
 to seek an abiding place elsewhere. They, doubtless, chose to go 
 where Wheelwright went, and found winter (piarters somewhere on 
 the Pascataqua ; and in the following spring sat down with him at 
 Exeter. Of these we can reckon about ten heads of families, and 
 of those who came from the neighborhood of Boston, about the 
 same number. 
 
 The wives and little ones did not stay long behind. Wheel- 
 wright's family left ]Massachusetts in INIarch, 1038, to follow him 
 to Exeter by water. The dilllculties of travelling thither ]»y land 
 
ii> iiisroiiv or KXHTKi; 
 
 were too {jroat for wdincn :iinl children, even at tlie most favorable 
 season. Iiut it was (juite practicable to na\iu;ate a vessel of fair 
 size aloujT the coast and np the river to the very foot of the falls of 
 the S<|uainscot ; and it is altogether likely that most of the fami- 
 lies adopted that mode of conveyance for themselves and tlicir 
 more i)ortable household effects. 
 
 Tin: riusT cinuni. 
 
 This was essentially a religious colonization, and there can be 
 no doubt that at au early stage, a church was gathered, though its 
 records have long since disappeared. AVe assume that this was 
 done before ]^eceml)er 13, 1(J38, because the fact is recorded in 
 the past tense in "NViuthrop's contemporaneous History of New 
 P^ngland, under that date. The time of the formation of the 
 church is not there given, but the facts recited would imi)ly that 
 it must have been in existence for some weeks, if not months 
 before that date. It probably included in its membership all, or 
 nearly all, the adult persons in the settlement. The members of 
 the newly gathered church wrote to the church in l>oston, no doubt, 
 in the autunm of IG.'J.S, asking for the dismission of AVheelwright 
 therefrom, in order that he might be their minister ; but as "Wheel- 
 wright himself, for obvious reasons, did not join in the petition, 
 the elders of the IJostoii cluncli declined to lay the proposal before 
 the members. Ipon this being made known to AN'lieelwright he 
 sent his own request to the same effect, which reached the elders 
 carl\' in December; and thereujion on the sixth of the following 
 Januaiy the I'oston church dismissed AVheelwright, Richard ]Mor- 
 ris, IJicliard Hulgar, I'hilemon Pormort, Isaac Gross, Christopher 
 Marshall, George Bates, Thomas Wardell and William AVardell 
 " unto the church of Christ at the falls of the Pascataqua, if they 
 be rightly gathered and ordered." And two months afterwards, 
 on March .'), l(!.')li, tlicy dismissed to the same church, also, 
 Susanna IluUhinson, widow, Alary, the wife of AN'hoelwright, 
 Leonora, the wife of Richard Morris, Henry Klkins and his wife, 
 this time without conditions, being api)arently satisfied that the 
 churc'h of Exeter zctts ''rightly gathered and ordered." 
 
 It was a circumstance none too creditalilr to the temper of the 
 authorities f)f Massachusetts, that after they had relieved them- 
 selves from all, even imaginary danger from tlieir heterodox 
 brethren by Itanishing Ihcm from their territory, they must needs 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEK. 13 
 
 grudge them a friendly reception among their new neighbors. In 
 September, 1638, the General Court of that colony directed the 
 governor to write to the Rev. George Biirdett at Dover, Thomas 
 Wiggin at Squamscot, and others, of the vicinity, reproaching 
 them for having aided Wheelwright in founding the plantation at 
 Exeter. This gratuitous act of unfriendliness must naturally have 
 reached the ears of the parties at whom it was aimed, and could 
 not fail to embitter them still more against their persistent perse- 
 cutors. 
 
 Shortly afterwards the settlement of Winicowet, now Plampton, 
 was begun under the authority of Massachusetts. Prior to this 
 time that colony had made no claim nor attempt to exercise juris- 
 diction over any territory lying more than three miles north of the 
 Merrimac river — the line to which the obvious construction of her 
 charter would appear to restrict her. But Winicowet was above 
 that distance north of the Merrimac, and, moreover, was embraced 
 in Wheelwright's purchase from the Indians. He, therefore, gave 
 notice to the settlers of Hampton and to the General Court of 
 Massachusetts that the lauds of Hampton had been bought by 
 Exeter from the Indian sagamores, and would be lotted out in 
 farms, unless Massachusetts could show a better title. The Gen- 
 eral Court replied that they looked upon this as against good 
 neighborhood, religion and common honesty, as Exeter knew that 
 Massachusetts claimed Hampton as within her patent, or as vacant 
 laud, and had taken possession thereof by building a house there 
 above two years before. The Exeter proprietors made reply, that 
 they claimed nothing which was within the patent of Massachu- 
 setts. But, before that, the authorities of Massachusetts had sent 
 men to explore the course of the Merrimac, and had discovered 
 that its source was far to the northward of the Pascataqua planta- 
 tions, and thereupon resolved upon that construction of their 
 charter which they promulgated by a solemn order in 1052, claim- 
 ing that tlie northern l)Ound of their patent was an east and west 
 line drawn through a point three miles northerl}^ of the northern- 
 most extremity of the JNIerrimac. This new interpretation must be 
 admitted to be highly artificial ; ])ut IMassachusetts had a strong 
 government, while tlie New Hampshire settlements were feeble, 
 and England was hopelessly far away. Massachusetts was thus 
 in a condition to enforce her claims, and they were submitted to 
 for the time. But when they were subse(|uently brought before 
 the English tribunals they were unhesitatingly rejected. 
 
1 1 iiisToKV OK Kxr.ir.i;. 
 
 Tims passed the first year of the life of tlie new town, if town 
 it can lie railed whiili was without iiuinieipal reoulations or any 
 kinil of civil troverninent. Thus far the inhabitants liad been so 
 fidly engrossed in providing for their prime necessities, their inter- 
 ests were so little conflicting, and the influence of their leader was 
 so complete, that no disorder or serious dilTerences had occurred. 
 IJut the second year was to bring accessions to their numbers, of 
 those who could not be expected to yield equal obedience to 
 Wheelwright's wishes. The existence of the now i)lantation had 
 been l)ruited about, and another set of inhabitants, of different 
 antecedents and purposes, began to come in. And before tlie cud 
 of the second year the population had at least doubled. 
 
 ANOTIIEi; IXDIAX DEED. 
 
 On the tenth of April, 1G39, Wheelwright succeeded in strength- 
 ening the town's title to the territory purchased from AVclianowna- 
 wit and Pummadockyou the year l)efore, l)y the conlirmatory grant 
 of another Indian of authority, indorsed upon their deed, in the 
 following terms : 
 
 Know all meti by these p'sents that I Watohantowet doe fully 
 consent to the grant within written, & do yeild up all my right in 
 the said purchased lands to the ]itys w"' in written. In witnesse 
 whereof I haue herevnto set my liand the tenth day of Ai)ril 16:39. 
 
 I doe likewise grant vnto them for goode consideration all the 
 meadows &. grounds extending for the space of one english mile 
 on the East side of Oyster river. April Hi. 1G30. 
 
 These being p''sent 
 
 Jo: rndcrhill -ix- i i t * * \- >i 
 
 A\ atohanlowct * his in kc. 
 
 his CI m'kc 
 Darby Field 
 
 From the last clause in the foregoing grant it appears that 
 "NVatahantowet claimed the pro])rietorship of lands l)eyond Oyster 
 river, afterwards ai>])roi)riated l)y Dover, and now included in Dur- 
 ham. So far as tliose lauds were concerned, Exeter beneflted 
 little by the conveyance. 
 
 •Tho totem of Watali.intowct delineated upon the deed was au armless man. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 15 
 
 THE COMBIXATION. 
 
 As the second season advanced the need of some form of civil 
 government became apparent. There were no constituted authori- 
 ties over the patent of New Hampshire, and the Exeter settlers 
 were driven to the expedient adopted nineteen years before by the 
 Pilgrim Fathers, and perhaps employed by one at least of the 
 other plantations upon the Pascataqua. They agreed upon a vol- 
 untary association for governmental purposes, which was di-awn up 
 by their pastor and subscribed by him and probably by the greater 
 number of the adult males of the settlement. It bore date the 
 fourth day of July, 1639 ; just one hundred and thirty-seven years 
 before the adoption of the memorable declaration of American 
 Independence. 
 
 The following is the language of this compact : 
 
 "Whereas it has pleased the lord to moue the heart of our Dread 
 Soveraigne Charles, by the grace of god King of England, Scot- 
 land France & Ireland, to grant licence & liberty to sundry of his 
 subjects to plant them selves in the Westerue partes of America ; 
 Wee his loyall subjects, brethren of the church of Exceter, situate 
 & lying upon the river of Piscataquacke w*^ other inhabitants there 
 considering w"^ our selves the holy will of god and our owne neces- 
 sity that we should not live w"'out wholsome lawes & civil govern- 
 ment amongst us, of w'^ we are altogether destitute, doe in the 
 name of Christ & in the sight of god combine our selves together, 
 to erect & set up amongst us such government as shall be to our 
 best discerning, agreeable to the will of god, professing our selves 
 subjects to our Soveraigne Lord King Charles according to the lib- 
 ertys of our English Colony of the Massachusets & binding our 
 selves solemnely by the grace & helpe of Christ & in his name & 
 feare to submit our selves to such godly & christian laws as are 
 established in the Realme of England to our best knowledge, & to 
 all other such lawes w^ shall upon good grounds be made & iuacted 
 amongst us according to god y' we may live quietly & peaceablely 
 together in all godlyness and honesty. 
 
 Mon. 5'% d. 4«^ 1639. 
 
 This instrument was soon found to be unsatisfactory to some of 
 the brethren, because of its too lavish expressions of lo3'alt3' to the 
 king, who was of coiu'se in their minds identified with ])relacy. 
 Like their neighbors of Massachusetts they were willing to 
 
K; lUSTOlJV OF KXr.TKK. 
 
 acknowlc(l<;c, in a general way, that he was their lawful sovereign, 
 :iiiil that they wwr his suhjeets, hut they had no disposition to 
 inalco any unnecessary or exuberant professions of allegiance. It 
 might have been at this time and on this account that some of the 
 inhaltitants made overtures to the Massachusetts authorities to be 
 received under their government, as the people of Dover had just 
 done. The Exeter peo[)le, however, soon "repented themselves" 
 and witlidrew the proposal. The objectionable feature of the 
 Combination had been cancelled, and a new compact drawn, of the 
 same purport, except that it simply acknowledged the king to be 
 their sovereign, and themselves to be his subjects. This second 
 compact was executed in due form, was apparently satisfactory to 
 the former dissentients, and went into effect, as the basis of gov- 
 ernment. But, (juite curiously, it seems to have led to trouble iu 
 the opposite direction — because it did not contain loyalty enough. 
 
 THE riKST CKIMINAL PUOCEEDING. 
 
 One€labriel Fish, a member of the Exeter church, who perhaps 
 understood by the change in the compact for government, that roy- 
 alty Avas at a discount, was guilty of "speaking against" his maj- 
 esty ; possibly of uttering speeches which might be construed as 
 treasonable. This by no means suited the views of the leading 
 men of Exeter. They at ouce caused Fish to be arrested, and 
 some of them proceeded to ^Massachusetts to take adA-ice what to 
 do witli liini. '\ 
 
 Tliis occurrence ];rought a new and singular figure into the his- 
 tory of tlie town. Captain John Underhill was a military adven- 
 turer who after having lived for seven years in Massachusetts and 
 dislinguislied himself in the Pequot war, and otherwise, was dis- 
 armed for his a<llierence to the ojiinions of "Wheelwright and Mrs. 
 Ilutcliinson, and came to Dover, wlirie lu; was chosen chief magis- 
 trate, under the style of governor. He Avas fond of brave apparel, 
 addicted to the use of " the good creature tobacco," and possibly 
 not averse to a stoup of strong waters, a little too partial to the 
 otlier sex, and wore his political and religious principles rather 
 loosely ; in short, he showed a singularly incongruous outline 
 against the \m\u ])ackground of New England I'uritanism. He, 
 hearing of the detention of Fish, and i)erhaps to ingratiate himself 
 with the prelatical party who were strong at the mouth of the Pas- 
 catacpia, and would be glad to see a maligner of the king soundly 
 
IIISTOllY OF EXETEU. 17 
 
 pimislied, seut thirteen armed men from Dover to Exeter, who 
 took Fish from custody there, and conve3'ed him to Dover. This 
 and other instances of misconduct occasioned a change of opinion 
 in Dover respecting Underhill, wliich resulted in deposing him 
 and electing Thomas Roberts in his place, who at once restored 
 Fish to the authorities of Exeter. It is not improbable that his 
 return was a source of embarrassment. The change in the P2xeter 
 Combination would hardly justify his punishment for speaking 
 af-'ainst the kino;, and the authorities of ^Massachusetts were bv no 
 means anxious to claim jurisdiction of the case ; so we may imag- 
 ine that tlie charge against Fish was not pressed. 
 
 But the result of this fiasco appears to have been to make yet 
 another change in the Exeter compact for government. On the 
 second of April, 1640, the original Combination, as already given 
 in these pages, was re-executed, with the following explanatory 
 preamble : 
 
 Whereas a certen ^combination was made b}' us the brethren of 
 the church of Exeter w"' the rest of the Inhal)itants bearing date 
 Mou. iV\ d. 4, 1G39 w"" afterwards upon the instant request of 
 some of the brethren, was altered & put into such a form of wordes, 
 wherein howsoever we doe acknowledge the King's Majesty our 
 dread Soveraigne & our selves his subjects, yet some expressions 
 are contained therein w^ may seeme to admit of such a seuce as 
 somewhat derogates from that due Allegiance w'' we owe fito his 
 Ilighnesse quite contrary to oar true intents and meanings : Wee 
 therefore doe revoke, disanull make voyd and frustrate the said 
 latter combination, as if it never had been done & doe ratify, con- 
 firme & establish the former, w'' wee only stand unto, as being in 
 force & vertue, the w'' for substance is here set down in manner 
 and form following. 
 
 Mon. 2^ d. -\ 1(;40. 
 
 Here follows the combination substantially as it was originally 
 drawn, and appended to it are the following signatures : 
 
 John Whelewright / ]lichard Bulli^ar 
 
 Augustine Storre v ("hristojjher Lawson 
 
 Thomas AVi<;ht (ieorj^e Ikirlow * 
 
 "WilUam Wautworth Richard Moris 
 
 Henry Elkius Nichohis Xeedham 
 
 Gcorfje Walton • Tliomas Willson ' 
 
 Samuel] ^^'alker Georpc lluobone * 
 
18 
 
 
 ■\ ./J"' 
 
 
 /^ 
 
 IIISTOUY 
 
 OF E:tETER. 
 
 Thomas Pcttit 
 
 Vwilliam Coole * 
 
 ^lenrv llohy 
 
 James AValles * 
 
 Willia Wc'iihounie 
 
 \fii Thomas Levitt * 
 
 Thomas Crawley * 
 
 Edmond Littlefield 
 
 Chr: Hehne 
 
 /ohn Crame * 
 
 . Darby Field* 
 
 ^Godfrye ])carcborne* 
 
 Robert liead * 
 
 Philemon Pormort 
 
 lulward Rishworth 
 
 Thomas Wardcll 
 
 Francis Mathews* 
 
 AVilliaAVardcll* 
 
 r.alph Kail 
 
 Robert Smith * 
 
 Robert Soward* 
 
 
 \ 
 
 \ s 
 
 We have advanced a little beyoud the chrouological order of 
 our narrative, for the purpose of giving a continuous liistor}' of 
 the formation and changes of the Combination. AN'e will now 
 return to the original date of it, July 4, 1639, 
 
 At the same time when that Combination was formed, a regular 
 scheme of government was apparently established. The executive 
 and judicial functions were vested in a board o^f three magistrates, 
 or elders, of whom the chief was styled Ruler. They were chosen 
 by the whole body of the freemen, who were the electors and legis- 
 lators, their enactments, however, requiring the approval of the 
 Ruler. An inhabitant had to be admitted a freeman, before he 
 could enjoy the privileges of an elector ; and there is one instance 
 of a freeman being deprived of his privileges as such, by reason 
 of misconduct. 
 
 Both the Elders and the People were required to take certain 
 prescribed oaths, which are here given. 
 
 TIIK ELDKKS OATH, Y' 4tii DAY, oTH M". 1G39. 
 
 You shall sweare )jy the great and dreadfull name of the high 
 God maker «& Gov"' of heaven and earth, and ])y the Lord Jesus 
 Christ y"= Prince of the Kings and Rulers of the earth that in his 
 name and feare you will Rule and Governe this his people according 
 to the righteous will of God's JMinisteringe Justice and Judgm' 
 upon the workers of iniquity and ^Ministering due incurridgm' and 
 Countinance to Avell doers — i)rotecting of people so farre as in 
 you by the heli)e of [(iod] lyeth, from forren Annoyance and in- 
 ward disturbance that tliey may live a quiett and peacable life in 
 all godlyuess and honesty. Soe God bee helpful and gratious to 
 you and yo" in Christ Jesus. 
 
 ♦These made their marks; .nlthough at least one of them James Wall (here written 
 Walles) was capable of writing a neat signature. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER, 19 
 
 THE OATH OF THE PEOPLE. 
 
 Wee doe here sweare by the Great and dreadfull name of ye 
 high God, maker & Goueru'' of Heaven & earth and by the Lord 
 Jesus X' y'' King & Savio"" of his people that in his name & fear we 
 will submitt o"" selves to be ruld & gouerned by, according to y* 
 will & word of God and such holsorae Laws & ordinances as shall 
 be derived theu-e from by o' honr'^ Rulers and y^ Lawf ull assistance 
 with the consent of y'' people and y' wee will be ready to assist 
 them by the helpe of God in the admiuistracon of Justice and 
 p''servacon of peace with o^' bodys and goods and best endeauo" 
 according to God, so God protect & saue us and o" in Chiist Jesus. 
 
 Isaac Gross was chosen the first Ruler, and undoubtedly quali- 
 fied himself by talcing the Elder's oath. It is not unlikely that he 
 was also a ruling elder in the church. On the eighteenth of January, 
 1G40, Augustine Storre and Anthony Stauyan were joined with 
 him, and the three were to have "the ordering of all town affairs 
 according to God." These officers corresponded closely to our 
 modern selectmen, in respect to their duties, and under their 
 administration the affairs of the little town went on satisfactorily. 
 
 A glimpse of the customs of the time is afforded u» by a trans- 
 action recorded in the Note Book of Thomas Lechford, Esq., an 
 English lawyer, who practised his profession in Boston in Massa- 
 chusetts from 1638 to 1641. Under date of July 5, 1639, he 
 records the drawing of a covenant between Elizabeth Evans of 
 Bridgend in the county of Glamorgan in Wales and John AVheel- 
 wright, minister, by which she engaged to become his servant for 
 three years from June 25 then last past, for three pounds per 
 annum as wages, and in consideration that her passage to this 
 country was paid by Wheelwright. The instrument appears not 
 to have been executed in Boston, and we know that Wheelwright's 
 sentence of banishment was still in force. No doubt it was com- 
 pleted in P^xeter, having been brought thither by Richard Bulgar 
 or Richard Morris, both of whom had business with the lawyer 
 about that time. 
 
 FIRST ALLOTMENT OF LANDS. 
 
 It was near the close of the second season before any general 
 distribution of land appears to have been made, from the ample 
 domain at the dis[)osal of the town. On Wednesday of the first 
 week in December, 1631), the town made a beginning, b}' first 
 
20 HISTORY OF EX1:TK1{. 
 
 (lefinino; the extensive uplands and meadows which l)elonged to 
 Edward Hilton, whose claim was treated as antedating that of the 
 Exeter proprietors. 
 
 Tliey then provided that all tlie meadows belonging to the town 
 between the village and ]Mr. Hilton's house, and from Lamprey 
 river to the head of the Little Bay should be equally apportioned 
 into four parts ; of which one part should be divided by lot among 
 those inhabitants who had no cattle, or a less number of goats than 
 four ; the hay growing thereon, however, to be distributed among 
 the others, until such time as they should have cattle of their own, 
 or sell the meadows to those having cattle. The other three parts 
 of the meadows were to be divided l)y lot among the inliabitants 
 having cattle, according to the number thereof ; and the division 
 was to be made before the next court or town meeting. 
 
 The town also provided that upland lots for planting should 1)6. 
 laid out by lot to all the inhabitants, by the river between Stony 
 creek and the creek on tliis (the south) side of Mr. Hilton's, 
 according to the number of persons and cattle belonging to each, 
 excejit such persons as lived on the eastern side of the river, and 
 AVilliam Hilton and John .Smart, who were to have lots on that 
 side of the river, where the town sliould think most convenient, 
 [acting] by Ruler Needham and Augustine Storre. 
 
 The division of lands thus ordered was duly made, doubtless in 
 the course of the same mouth.* 
 
 The marshes and meadows, bearing spontaneous!}' a species of 
 grass on which when dried the cattle could well subsist, were at 
 this early })ei-iod, when no considerable clearing away of the forest 
 had been effected, of great value to the settlers. The whole extent 
 of them was but one hundred and ten acres, but they were appor- 
 tioned with ])articularity among the tliirty-seveu heads of families 
 then belonging to Exeter, excluding Edward Hilton, whose lands 
 had already ])een secured to him. Tliese marshes were situated 
 l)artly in the vicinity of Lamprey river, and partly T)etween the 
 Hilton ])la('e in what is now Soutli Newmarket, and the present 
 vilhige of Kxeter. 
 
 The ui)lands for planting-lots, wliich were also divided, amounted 
 to al)Out four hinidird and thirty-three acres, and were allotted to 
 thirty-two inhabitants, not including Edward Hilton, nor those 
 who lived ou the eastern side of the river. The shares varied from 
 
 * A complete record of the allotments may be found in the appendix (II). 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 21 
 
 four acres and twenty rods, per man, to eighty acres. Ten of the 
 inhabitants received each no more than the smaller amount ; and 
 only Wheelwright received the larger. The uplands here dis- 
 tributed lay on the western bank of the salt river, beginning at the 
 brook on the southerly side of the Hilton place in South Newmarket 
 and extending towards Exeter village about one mile and three-- 
 quarters, if the measurements are correct. 
 
 The inhabitants began early to exercise their new privileges as 
 legislators, and before the second year of the settlement had passed 
 by, had enacted a small body of orders, made necessary by the 
 circumstances of a frontier life. Setting fire to the woods and 
 thus destroying the feed of the cattle was forbidden. So was 
 digging a saw-pit and leaving it open, and the offender was made 
 liable to pay the damage caused thereby to man or beast. Every 
 man was required to cut down such trees on his own lot, as were 
 offensive to any other, under the penalty of half a crown for each 
 refusal. This last requirement is a refinement of legislation, the 
 like of which is probably not to be found in any other code in 
 Christendom. 
 
 NOTICES OF EARLY SETTLERS. 
 
 The close of the second year of the new settlement found the 
 inhabitants increased in numbers, with an organized government 
 founded on a voluntary association, and constituting a complete 
 autonomy ; with rights of property secured, and apparently noth- 
 ing wanting but greater population and strength to insure their 
 perpetuity. 
 
 This seems a convenient time to take an inventory of the mate- 
 rial of which the original settlement of Exeter was composed. The 
 following is a list of the adult males, almost without exception of 
 P^nglish Inrth, and mostly heads of families, wlio are known to 
 have been inhalntants of the place within the first two years after 
 its foundation in the spring of 1638. 
 
 1. George Barlow, of whom, prior to his appearance in Exeter, 
 nothing has been learned. He had no assigimient in the uplands 
 or marshes in 1639, but was a subscril)er of the restored Combina- 
 tion, j^pril 2, 1640 ; so it seems probable thai he came in the early 
 spring of that year. In 16-41 he received from the town a grant 
 of forty acres of upland, and in 1650 four ncres more. In 
 1649-50 leave was given him and others to set up a saw-mill at 
 
22 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 the falls ou Lamprey river a " a little above the wigwams." He is 
 said to have been a preacher while iu P^xeter, and he certainlj' was 
 so iu Saco in 1G52 ; but his stjde was so little relished by the 
 powers of Massachusetts that in 1653 they forbade him to preach 
 or prophesy under a penalty of ten pounds for each offence. About 
 IGGO he removed to Plymouth and there essayed to be a lawyer. 
 He is referred to in Bishop's New England Judged for his severity 
 against the Quakers. 
 
 2. George Bates, a thatcher, was an inhabitant of Boston as 
 early as December, 1035, and, two years later, received a grant of 
 fifteen acres of land there. He had been admitted to the Boston 
 cliurch iu January, 1636, but haN-ing taken his departure to Exeter 
 he was on the sixth of January, 1639, in company with several 
 others, dismissed to the church newly gathered in that place. His 
 stay in Exeter, however, proved brief, and he was received back 
 again into the Boston church May 31, 1640. From his associa- 
 tions he was probably a sympathizer with Wheelwright, but though 
 his handicraft must naturally have been in request in a new place, 
 it is very likely that the hardships and privations of a frontier life 
 were too much for his strength or his resolution, and he aban- 
 doned it. 
 
 3. Jeremiah Blackwell came to this country in the ship True- 
 love in 1635, being then eighteen years old. Where he passed 
 the succeeding thi'ee or four years is not ascertained. At the end 
 of that time he appeared in Exeter. In the division of the up- 
 lands in 1639 he received four acres and twenty poles, being, no 
 dou])t, the share of a single or childless man. After that his name 
 is not mentioned. It is clear that he made no long stay in Exeter. 
 
 4. Kichard Bulgar, born iu 1608, probably came over in the 
 fleet with AVinthrop, and in 1637 had an allotment of twenty acres 
 of land in Boston. He was admitted to the church there in 1634, 
 and had a cliild baptized the same year. His residence was iu 
 Koxbury, and lie is described as a bricklayer. His handwriting 
 would indicate that his education was good. Being disai'iued in 
 1637 on account of his sympathy with the Antiuomian party, lie 
 departed the next year to Rhode Island, but in 1639 received his 
 dismission to the chiircli in ICxeter. There he was allotted four 
 acres and twenty poles of upland, and subscribed the Combination. 
 In 1641 he was chosen lieutenant of "the band of soldiers," and 
 in 1644 lot layer. Soon afterwards he left Exeter, and in 1646 
 was described as of Boston. Later he returned to Khodc Island, 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 23 
 
 where his intelligence and business capacity were rewarded with 
 the office of Solicitor General, which he held in 1656, and two or 
 three subsequent years. 
 
 5. Edward Colcord was born in 1616 or 1617 and came to this 
 country in 1631. For the next seven years he probably lived 
 somewhere on the Pascataqua, and being an active man and 
 acquainted with the Indians he rendered assistance to Wheelwright 
 in obtaining his land grants from the sagamores, and was a party 
 to one of the deeds. 
 
 A religious colony could not have been greatly to his taste, and 
 in 1640 he had removed to Dover, where he was a magistrate to 
 end small causes. But in 1645 he was a resident of Hampton, 
 and the following year saw him back again at Exeter, where he 
 obtained a grant of lands from the town, and the right of an 
 inhabitant. It is doubtful if he availed himself of this, for in 
 1652 the town again voted to receive him, together with two 
 others, as inhabitants, and invited them to take up their residence 
 in Exeter. Colcord received more than one grant from the town, 
 and was appointed to some minor offices. But he was incorrigibly 
 litigious and something of a rolling stone, and after a brief sojourn 
 in the town he made himself a home in Hampton, where he died 
 February 10, 1681-2. He and his wife Ann had ten children, 
 several of whom were married. Their descendants still live in 
 Exeter and the vicinity. 
 
 6. AVilliam Cole was of Boston February 20, 1637, when he 
 received an allotment of two acres of land " onl}'^ for his present 
 planting," at JMount Wollaston. No doubt he was a parishioner 
 there of Wheelwright, and certainly was one of his earliest com- 
 panions at Exeter, for he witnessed one of the Indian deeds of 
 April 3, 1638. In the first division of 'l^pds he received a share 
 both in tine marshes and the uplands, and^'he was a signer of the 
 Combination. He was appointed an overseer of fences in 1643, 
 but probal)ly soon followed Wheelwrigiit lo AVells. He after- 
 wards removed to Hampton, where his wife Eunice became " vehe- 
 mently suspected " of being a wi(ch. He died in Hampton May 
 26, 1662, aged eighty-one years. His descendants are still found 
 in the vicinity. 
 
 7. John Compton was of Eoxbnry in 1634, and was disarmed 
 in 1637 for his adliesiou to the AVlioelwright party. The circum- 
 stance that a summons was issued March 12, 1638, to him and 
 others who "had licence to depart" out of Massachusetts, to 
 
24 HISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 aiipear ;it the next court if tliey were uot goue before, was not 
 likely to have prolonged his stay there, an<l it is safe to infer that 
 he was at the falls of the S(inaniseot with Wlieelwright on April 3, 
 1038, as he was a grantee in one of the Indian deeds then exe- 
 cuted. In the iirst division of lands he received a considerable 
 share lioth of marsh and upland. He did not subscribe the Com- 
 bination, luit i)ro])al)ly soon returned to IJoston, where the Book 
 of Possessions shows that he owned a house and garden, about 
 1G52. 
 
 H. Lawrence C'opelaud was of IJraintree and ])rcsumably a pa- 
 rishioner of Wheelwriglit . lie was in Exeter Ai)ril 3, 1C38, and 
 Avitnessed one of the Indian deeds of that date. It is not probable 
 that he remained long in the town. He returned to Braintree to 
 reside, where he attained the extraordinar}' age of <>iu' liundred 
 years. 
 
 '.I. .John ('nun jiroiiaMy began to live in Boston as early as 1635, 
 and in l(i;')7 was assigned sixteen acres of laud at 3Iuddy Kiver 
 ( IJrooklint'). At the Iirst division of lands in Exeter he Avas no 
 iloubt settled there, as he was allotted eight acres and forty poles 
 of ui)land : he was also a signer of the Combination. He had a 
 wife and two or more children wiien he came to Exeter. His sou 
 .Josei>h. supposed t<j l)e the oldest, was drowned Jime 21. lf)48, 
 aged fifteen years; and his daughter Lydia was born .Inly 27 of 
 tlie same year. He served as townsman in l(;4iS and KM',) and 
 soon after removed to Hampton and there died ^larch .">. 1(1^1-2. 
 The town record commemorates him as "good old.Iohn (ram. one 
 just in his generation." He was tAvice married, his Iirst Avife being 
 named Lj'dia ; his second Esther. His descendants are still found 
 in the vicinity. 
 
 111. Thomas Ci'awh'y. of whom nothing is learned, pi'ioi' to his 
 appearance in Exeter. His name does not oeeur in ihe Iirst ap- 
 portionment of lands, but as he subscribed the Combination, it is 
 very likely tliat he came to |-",\eter ItetAveen .January and April, 
 Kild. In Hill-.') he had a grant of a iioiise lot of four acres on 
 condition of buihling ii|)on it ami fencing it Avitiiin a tAvelvemonth. 
 Other grants wei-e sul'secjuently maile him liy the town, the most 
 imi)ortant of Avhich Avas that of a saw-mill [nivilege, in the present 
 lirentAvood, in 1().")2. which has been known as '• CraAvley's falls," 
 to this day. lb- had children, one of Avhom Avas named Phebe, a 
 minor in l(!(!(l. CraAvley i)r()bably Avent to Maine, Avherc his name 
 Avas afterwards found. 
 
^s 
 
 ISTORY OF EXETER. 25 
 
 1 1 . Godfrey Dearliorn wasN,rom Devonshire in England, perhaps 
 from the city of Exeter, and hrdHght to the new Exeter a wife and 
 two or three children. An assigunie4it of ten acres and fifty poles 
 of upland was made him, and his nam'ejs affixed to the Combina- 
 tion. Later he received other grants of lal>4c f^nd in 1648 was one 
 of the selectJmen. It has been supposed thafl^lived in what is 
 now Strathc^m, near the Scammon place. About 1650 he removed 
 to Hampton. His wife having died he married November 25, 1662, 
 Dorothy, the widow of Pliilemon Dalton, and himself died Febru- 
 ary 4, 1686. His posterity is numerous. 
 
 12. Henry Elkius, a tailor, was of Boston in 1634, and there 
 had an assignment of eight acres of land in 1637. Siding with 
 "Wheelwright in the theological controversy of that year, he was 
 disarmed, and came in 1638 to Exeter. He, with his wife Mary, 
 was dismissed from the Boston church to that of Exeter INIarch 3, 
 1639. They had a daughter, Maria, baptized in Boston, April 8, 
 
 1638. In the first division of lands in Exeter he received one of 
 the smaller shares of upland ; and he set his name to the Combina- 
 tion. He continued in Exeter till 1645, but some time afterwards 
 removed to Hampton and died there November 19, 1668. 
 
 13. Darby Field is described by AVinthrop as an Irislnnan, 
 though some slight evidence has been discovered to connect his 
 patronymic with the Hutchinson family. He appeared in Exeter 
 as one of the grantees of the Indian deed of April 3, 1638, and 
 witnessed the deed of confirmation of AYatohantowet April 10, 
 
 1639. He had no share in the first division of lauds, but was a 
 subscriber of the Coml)ination. He is noted as the first European 
 who visited the AA'hite mountains, wliich he did in 164 2. In 1645 
 he was living at Oyster river, now Durham, and died in 1649, leav- 
 ing children. 
 
 14. Gabriel Ush, fisherman, was an early inhabitant of Boston 
 and moved to Exeter in 163.S. On the third of August, 1639, he 
 gave Edward Rishworth a letter of attorney to receive ten i)Ounds 
 fi'om James Carrington of Tliorsthorpe in Lincolnshire, England ; 
 whence we may infer that he, perhaps, came from that great hive 
 of the friends of AYheelwrigiit. After Fish was arrested for speak- 
 ing against the king, as has already been mentioned, he probaltly 
 thought it wise to return to Boston, where apparently his offence 
 was easily condoned. The records show the birth and l)ai)tism of 
 several of liis childien there in 1642 and subsecpiently. Fish was 
 a houseliolder in Boston, according to the Book of Possessions, 
 compiled about 1652. 
 
26 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 15. Isaac Gross, of Boston iu 10.^5, was termed Imsbandman, 
 and received a " great" allotment of fifty acres of land at IMuddy 
 River in 1637. Being a friend of Cotton and "Wheehvright he was 
 disarmed, and followed the latter to Exeter. There in the first 
 division of lands he had, nnder the honorary title of "Mr.," an 
 assignment of twenty-eight acres and one hnndred and forty poles 
 of upland, and of marshland six acres and fifty poles "on this 
 side of Mr. Hilton's " and two acres at Lamprey river. From this 
 liberal allowance, it is to be inferred that he had a considerable 
 family, and also an unusual number of cattle. He was dismissed 
 January 6, 1639, from the Boston to the Exeter church, and was 
 chosen the first Ruler of the plantation of Exeter, in which capac- 
 ity he served about a year, i)roliably. He returned to Boston " in 
 a few 3'ears," according to Savage, and there died in 1040, leav- 
 ing a good estate to be divided among his widow, children and 
 grandchildren. 
 
 16. Ralph Hall, said to be a son of John Hall, senior, and a 
 brother of Deacon John Hall of Dover, was born iu 1618. If, 
 therefore, as tradition asserts, he was located in Exeter before the 
 arrival of Wheelwright's company, he could not have been above 
 twent}' 3'ears of age. It is understood that he lived on the eastern 
 side of the salt river, down nearly to the mouth of AVhcelwright's 
 creek. It might have been for that reason that he had no share in 
 the first division of lands, but his name appears to the Combina- 
 tion. He may have lived in Charlestown about 1647 Avith his Avife 
 Mary, as has been alleged. The Exeter records show the deatli 
 of his daughter INIercy in July, 1648, aged about one year and a 
 half, and the birth of his daughter Hildea, April 16, 1649. He is 
 said to have gone to Dover in 16;J0. But he returned to Exeter 
 fourteen years afterward, when he was admitted an inhabitant, 
 Octol)er 10, 1664, jind received a grant of fifty acres of land. He 
 was a lieutenant, lluii :iii ollicer of responsibility, and held various 
 positions of trust in the town, the most important being that of 
 delt'gate to the first provincial assemlily in ICSO. His death took 
 j)l:ice in March, 1701. Some of his descendants liave been men of 
 note. :ind tlie name lias always been ke])t alive in the town. 
 
 17. ChristoplKr llelme, a Lincolnshire man, connected l)y 
 blood with otliers of the Exeter pioneers, arrived in Boston in 
 July, 16.>7, no doulil, mid was suflfered to remain there not above 
 four months, so that he probably reached Exeter among the fore- 
 most. He received no share in the first allotment of lands, for 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 27 
 
 what reason it is not known, but lie set his hand to the Combina- 
 tion. Upon the departure of Wheelwright in 1643, Helme returned 
 for a little time to Boston, and tlience migrated with the Gorton- 
 ists to "Warwick, Rhode Island. There he died before December, 
 1650, leaving a widow Margaret and a son William. Some of his 
 name, presumably descenclants, have been prominent in Rhode 
 Island. / y^ I 
 
 18. Edward Hiltpn has already been mentioned. The records 
 of Exeter sho-vtjfctiat he was settle4 and had a house in the part of 
 Exeter which is now South Newmarket, at least at early as Decem- 
 ber, 1G39. He became a leading man in the place, serving as 
 townsman or selectman from 1645 nearly every year up to 1652. 
 In 1646 he was one of the purchasers of Wheelwright's house, in 
 oi'der that it might be used as the residence of the Rev. Nathaniel 
 Norcross, afterwards of Lancaster, who had been invited to settle 
 in Exeter ; aud after the declination of Mr. Norcross he was in 
 1650 one of the inhabitants who, in behalf of the town, entered 
 into the engagement with the Rev. Samuel Dudley to become their 
 minister. Mr. Hilton was repeatedly chosen by the inhabitants 
 on important committees to look after their interests, and was in 
 all respects a useful and valuable citizen. He died early in the 
 year 1671. 
 
 19. William Hilton, a brother of Edward, and a member of the 
 Fishmongers' Guild of London, came over to Plymouth in the ship 
 Fortune, November 11, 1621. There he remained till the arrival 
 of liis wife and two children in the Anne, in July or August, 1()23. 
 In a little time afterwards they settled themselves on the I'ascat- 
 aqua with Edward Hilton at or near Dover. In the first division 
 of lands in Exeter, he was assigned three acres of marsh, and it 
 was voted that he and John Smart were to have lots on tlie otiu'r 
 (eastern) side of the river, Avhere it should be thought most con- 
 venient ; and on the third of February, 1641, it was agreed by 
 the town that he might enjoy certain marshes and uplands at 
 03'ster river. He seems to have occupied some part of the de- 
 batable ground between Exeter and Dover, but was perhaps 
 accounted a citizen of the latter place. This was certainly the 
 case in 1644 Avhou he was chosen a deputy to the Massachusetts 
 General Court from Dover. But shortly afterwards he went 
 further to the eastward, and maintained much the same divided 
 citizenship between Kittery and York. His deatli occurred in 
 the latter place in 1665 or 1666. 
 
28 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 20. Samuel Ilntchinson was an unmarried ])rother of Mrs. 
 "Wheelwright, and no doubt landed in Boston witli other Lincoln- 
 shire friends July 12, 1(!;57. and was upon his special request 
 licensed to remain there until tlic lirst month after winter. Then 
 he proceeded to Exeter, and was made a grantee in one of tlie 
 Indian deeds of April, 1G38. Little more than a month after- 
 wards a grant of land ai)pears to have been made him in Khode 
 Island, where his brother William had gone. Though Samuel 
 resided there at a later period, he probably did not go at once, but 
 staid for a year or two in and about Exeter. His mother, Mrs. 
 Susanna Hutchinson, was there, an inmate of Wheelwright's 
 family, as probably he was also. He, with Xeedham and others, 
 
 ^^liegotiated with Tiiomas Gorges, September 27, IG-ll, for the 
 trapt of land at Wells, which was the second place of refuge of 
 AVhccl\v^;i^ht and his followers. He died in Boston, it is believed, 
 in l(-)77. ^s^ 
 
 21. Christoplier Lawson, a connection of Helme and others of 
 the Combination, witliout niucli (jiu'stion arrivrd with tliem from 
 Lincolnshire at Boston in New England, in July, lC.;i7, and proba- 
 bly' proceeded to Exeter the next year. His name ai)i)ears on the 
 Combination, but uot in the division of lands. He was a cooper 
 by trade, and a trader by nature. Some of his dealings in Exeter 
 appeaix'd rather too sharp for the primitive fashions of the place, 
 and on tlu' lil'tU of September, H>\o, he was bound over in the sum 
 of ten pounds to answer to the charge of extortion brought against 
 him by live of liis neighbors. Aiiinn'ciitlv his chai'acti'i' was not 
 seriously affected by this circumstance ; for the town bestowed 
 upon him, the next year, a right of fislier}' in the river, which 
 would now be regarded as an indefensil)le monopoly. Lawson 
 vibrated for some years between Exeter and Boston, two of his 
 cliildicii being baptized in the latter ])laee, one in 1(143 and the 
 olln T in \i\\.'). In l(i48 he was a lui'mbcr of a committee to invite 
 the I\ev. .Mr. Tompson of I>raiiitree to settle (i\er tht> church in 
 Exeter, and tiie same yeai' llic town made him a grant of one hun- 
 dred acres of land. After buying and sidling lots in Dovi'i' and 
 in Boston, and dabl)ling to a consideraltle extent in shaves of the 
 " Squamscot I'atent," Lawson went, before 1G(5.;, to ]\Iaine, where 
 he became a considerable man. There he suffered some domestic 
 infelicities, which resulted in liringing mutual comidaiiits between 
 his wife IClizabeth and iiiinsiU' before the General Court iu 1669. 
 And there, for want of further knowledge, we leave him. 
 
-r 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. -?<) 
 
 22. Thomas Leavitt Avas very probably a connection of Wheel- 
 wright's wife, and aiiothcrof those " friends " who reached Boston 
 in July, 1G37. It is possible that he proceeded at once to P>xeter, 
 and thus antedated' the organized settlement, as the tradition is. 
 He took upland ou the eastern side of the fresh river just above 
 the falls, and th^ same long remained in the possession of his 
 descendants. In' the first division of lands he received one of the 
 smaller shareSj. four acres and twenty poles of the uplands ; being 
 then a young man, for he lived till November 28, 1696. His name 
 was also appended to the Combination. He became an inha])itant 
 of Hampton about 1643. His wife was Isabel, daughter of .John 
 Bland of Martha's Viue3'ard, who came from Colchester, P>ugland. 
 They had eight children, and numerous descendants. Thi-ee of 
 the sons were probably residents of Exeter. 
 
 23. Edmund Littlefield not improbably came to Boston with 
 "Wheelwright's other friends in July, 1637, accompanied by his son 
 Anthon3^ His wife Ann and six of their other children did not 
 accompany him, but sailed later, and reached Boston in the ship 
 Bevis in May, 1638. Littlefield was a warm partisan of Wheel- 
 wright, and probably was early at Exeter. He had assigned him 
 in the first division of lands, twenty-one acres of upland ; and 
 was a subscriber of the Combination. The circumstance that he 
 had no share of the meadows implies that he owned no cattle, 
 which is likely to have been the case, as he was a new comer in 
 the country. Littlefield remained in Exeter no longer than AVheel- 
 wriglit, l)ut accompanied him to Wells, where he was a leading 
 man, and is spoken of in handsome terms by Judge Bourne in his 
 history of that town. He died December 11, 1661. 
 
 24. Erancis Littlefield was the eldest son of Edmund, and was 
 born in 1610. Tradition, fortified by some known facts, asserts 
 that he liad at an early age quitted his parents, who, believing 
 him to be dead, gave the name Erancis to another soil born in 
 1631 ; Init that the older Erancis, who was really living, crossed 
 the Atlantic and rejoined his father, probalily at Exeter, and 
 before the division of the uplands in 1639. In that division he 
 received one of the smaller shares, four acres and twenty jxiles. 
 It is probable that lie was already married, or he would hardly 
 have had an assignment separate from his father's. He i)robablv 
 left Exeter as early as his father did, and went to AVoburn, 
 INIassachusetts, where his wife Jane died Decendter 20, 1646, 
 leaving a daughter six days old. Shortly afterwards he went to 
 
no HISTORY OF FA'ETER. 
 
 Dover. In KIls he was again iiiarricd, and after two or fliree 
 years removed to AVells, and there passed the rest of his long life. 
 He died in 1712, leaving several children. 
 
 25. Christopher Marshall was of Boston in 1034, and joined 
 the church in August of that year. He was admitted fi-eeman INIay 
 6, 1030 ; in 1()37 Ix'longed to the party of Cotton and "Wheelwright. 
 He was married between August, 1034, and May 13, 1038, and 
 was dismissed to the church at Exeter, January 6, 1039, but did 
 not remain long in the place. Savage thinks he returned to Eng- 
 land in 1040 or 1041 , and nothing more is learned of him. 
 
 26. Francis ]\Iathews was one of the compan}' sent over by 
 John Mason in 1031. He was a signer of the Combination, but 
 probably soon afterwards removed to the part of Dover which is 
 now Durham, with his wife Thoinasine and three children. There 
 he died about 1048, and his descendants in Strafford county have 
 been numerous. They more commonly spell the name Mathes. 
 
 27. Grillin Montague was of Brookline in 1035. He received 
 in December, 103'J, ten acres and fifty poles in the division of 
 ui)landsin Exeter, and one acre and thirt^'-six poles in the division 
 of the marsh " next the town." From this we infer that he had a 
 family and some cattle. His name ajipears several times upon the 
 Exeter records within the ensuing twelve years. He belonged to 
 Cape Porpoise, Maine, in 1053, and died before April 1, 1072, 
 leaving his property to his wife Margaret. 
 
 28. William Moore (spelled Mauer or IMawer) was probably the 
 same person to whom it appeared to the selectmen of Boston, on 
 the twenty-sixth of Sei)tember, 1030, that William Hudson had 
 " sold a house plot and garden without the consent of the appointed 
 allotters, contrary to a former order, said INIawer being a stranger." 
 On February ID, 1038, there was granted to him "a great lot at 
 the INIount (Wollaston) for nine heads." On February 7, 1040, 
 he was descrilK'd as "late of Boston," in a conveyance which he 
 made to Captain Edward (Jibbon, for lifteen jjounds, of one house 
 and garden plot with the building thereon and appurtenances. 
 William M<;ore received in Fxctcr in December, lO.'i!), twenty-two 
 acres and one hundred and ten poles, in liie division of the 
 njilands, two acres and forty poles in the marsh "on this side of 
 .Mr. Hilton's," and one hundred and twenty poles of that at 
 Famprey river; the amount of the former corresponding well with 
 the *• uiiii' iieads" of his family, and the latter showing that he 
 was possessed of cattle. He did not subscribe the Combination, 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 31 
 
 for what reason is unknown. He remained a lifelong inhabitant 
 of the town, and bore his share of its burdens, as well as enjoyed 
 its rewards and honors. He received grants of lands, and held 
 various offices of responsibility. He was a captain in the militia ; 
 and the last appearance of his name upon the records is as mod- 
 erator of a town meeting in 1699. He must have been then an 
 old man, and probably died soon afterwards. He left numerous 
 descendants. 
 
 29. Richard Morris was of Boston, having probably unmigrated 
 thither in the fleet with "VVinthrop in 1630 ; and in 1631 was, with 
 his wife Leonora, admitted to the church. At that time he was 
 styled sergeant ; in 1633 he was made ensign, and later lieutenant. 
 He was deputy to the General Court in 1635 and 1636, and the 
 next year^was in command of the fort at Castle Island. Appar- 
 ently something had occurred to weaken his standing with the 
 authorities before 1637, but in that year he forfeited all their good 
 will by signing a remonstrance in favor of "Wheelwright ; so that 
 he was disarmed, and retired to Exeter, the next year, probably. 
 In the first di^'ision of lands he received thirty-three acres of 
 upland, and seven acres and forty poles of marsh ; so he probably 
 had a considerable household and cattle. His name appears on 
 the records with the honorable prefix of " Mr." He was a signer 
 of the Combination, and was dismissed to the church at Exeter in 
 January, 1639. It is probable that Mr. Morris did not care to 
 remain in Exeter after Wheelwright's departure, and the extension 
 of the jurisdiction of Massachusetts over the New Hampsliire set- 
 tlement ; and it seems likely that he was the person of that name 
 who went to Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in 1643, and was living 
 there in 1655. 
 
 30. Nicholas Needham was of Boston in 1636, and received on 
 the twentieth of February of that year an allotment of two acres 
 of land at Mount AVollaston, "only for his present planting." 
 No doubt a parishioner and sympathizer of "Wheelwright, he i»roba- 
 bly came with him to Exeter, as he was made a grantee in one of 
 the Indian deeds of 1638. In the apportionment of the lands, he 
 received twelve acres and sixty poles of upland, and four acres of 
 marsh. He also set his signature to the Combination. Being 
 elected the second Ruler of the settlement, he held the office about 
 two years, when he resigned it October 20, 1642. His residence 
 in Exeter did not outlast tliat of AVheelwright. Foreseeing the 
 hour of need, he, with others, negotiated with Thomas Gorges in 
 
;•,•_> HIST(ti;V OK KXETKU. 
 
 Ill 11 for :i tract of laiul in Wills, lo wliicli Wlioehvright and his 
 immediate friemls ri'tiriMl. when the loiisr arm of Massachusetts 
 power was extended over the Xrw Hampshire phiiitations. The 
 historian of Wells is not certain wliether Needham settled in that 
 place. If he did not his subsequent history i^^ unascertained. 
 Savage thinks he was living in 1G.J2. 
 
 ol. TluMuas Pettit was of Boston in Hi.)!, from which time he 
 served for three years and a half with Oliver Mellows, and there- 
 upon .laiuuuy s, Ki.'is, received from the town a grant of a house 
 plot '' towards the new mylne." Mellows was in sympathy with 
 Wheelwright, and was disarmed in 1(;.")7. and it would ])e very 
 natural that his journeyman should be led by the same feeling to 
 migrate to the ncvv settlement which AVheelwright was founding. 
 IVttit received six acres and thirty poles as his share of tlie Exeter 
 uplands, and also alllxed his name to the Combination, lie was 
 for a while a man of some prominence in the town and served as 
 selectman in 1().'j2 and 1G5"), after whicli his name disappears from 
 the records. His wife was named Christian ; they had a daughter 
 Hannah, born in Hxeter in the beginning of Fi'lr.uary, 1(I-17-H. 
 His son, Thomas Tettit, Jr., had a grant of thirty acres of land in 
 164i>. 
 
 •)2. I'liili'mon Purmort was married in Alford, Lincolnshire, 
 England, October 11, 1627, to Susanna, daughter of William 
 Bellingham. They emigrated to New England, probably with one 
 chiM or more, and were admitted to the Boston church in August, 
 l(;;li. He was chosen schoolmaster Ai^iil l-">. Kl.'l."), and in 1(;;)7 
 had a grant of thirt}' acres of land. Pormort was an adherent of 
 Wheelwright, having quite likely known him in England, and was, 
 on Wheelwright's I'Xpulsion from Massachusetts Bay, advised to 
 depart himself, on i)ain of imprisonment; therefore became to 
 Exeter. He was a sultseriixT of tlu' ( onibinatiou, was dismissed 
 in .lanuarv, 1 (!.")'.•, to the Exeter chni'cli, and received fourteen 
 acres and seventy poles in tin- divi>i(tn of the uplands. He Jiad 
 three children, at least, Imhu in tliis country, one or two of them at 
 Exeter. He went Avitli ^^'l^.■l■lwright to \\'ells. and, according to 
 the historian of that town, remaini'd there some years, taking an 
 active part in the atTairs of tlu' church, but at length was denied 
 the privilege of connnunion for the reason that his theological 
 views tlid not agree with those of the ruling ])owers in Massachu- 
 setts, lie was in Boston in It'i,'),'}, and is sni)posed to have re- 
 moved thence to Oreat Island oi- Portsmouth. Descendants 
 bearing' liis name have till lately lived in the vicinitv. 
 
IIISTOIIY OF FA'ETEi;. 33 
 
 33. Robert Read was of Boston as early as IGoo, and in Exeter 
 early enough to be entitled to an allotment of nine acres and fifty 
 poles in the division of the uplands, and to set his name to the 
 Combination. He removed to Hampton after 1645, according to 
 Kelly, and afterwards to Boston, and finally to Hampton again, 
 according to (^uint. To him and his wife Hannah were born three 
 children: Rebecca, September 2!), 1646; Deborah, January 25, 
 1G49; and Samuel, who was baptized April 3, 1653, and died 
 March 31, 1654. Read's wife died June 24, 1655, and he himself 
 was drowned October 20, 1657, with six others by the upsetting 
 of a boat sailing out of Hampton river ; a catastrophe on which 
 was f(mnded Whittier's poem of the Wreck of Rlcermouth . 
 
 34. Edward Rishworth was baptized at Saleby in Lincolnshire, 
 r^ngland. May 5, 1617. In all probability he came to this coun- 
 try with others of Wheelwright's friends in Jul}', 1637, and 
 became one of the earliest settlers of Exeter. He appears to have 
 been nearly connected, ])y his marriag-eVwith the family of Wheel- 
 wright's wife. In the division of the upFhuds lie Avas awarded one 
 of the smaller shares, and he l^s a signer of the Combination. 
 In 1640 he was chosen by the court of the town to be " Secretary, 
 to look to the book, and to enter all actions that are brought." 
 This undoubtedly included the functions of Town Clerk. When 
 Wheelwright left Exeter, /jftishworth departed with him to Wells, 
 where he became a m^ft of consequence. He was a magistrate 
 and a representative/Of York, to which place he removed from 
 Wells, for thirteen^^ears. He lived\to be nearly seventy, and a 
 son of his, bearUig the same nauu', was the husband of Wheel- 
 wright's daugli^ Susanna. 
 
 35. Henry Roby was of the Com)>inati()hK[»ut had no share in 
 the first division of the uplands or meadowsVso very likely he 
 did not come to Exeter till the spring oil 1640. \lle was granted 
 liberty in 1641), with others, to set up a saw-mill, ^d in 1(!50 was 
 chosen selectman. Soon afterwards he removed %n Hampton 
 where he died in the spring of 168s. After the erectiNi of New 
 Hampshire into a royal province, Roby was appointed a .iudge of 
 the Court of Sessions, before which the Rev. Josluui Moodv was 
 tried in 1684 for refusing to administer the Lord's Supper in the 
 form set forth in the book of common prayer, to Governor Cranfield. 
 Roby was at lirst for acquitting Moody, but Cranfield •• found 
 means " to gain him over, and lie concurred with other justices in 
 the judgment of (•()ndemnation. In his later years Roby is said 
 
.It IIISTOHY OF EXETKH. 
 
 by Kolly to have become intemperate and embarrassed, so that at 
 his death he was buried hastily to avoid arrest of his bodj'. His 
 wife was naiiu'd Kutli. nml thty liad several childr^Mi. His descend- 
 ants are still found in this region. 
 
 oT). George Ruobone or Kabone was assigned one of the smaller 
 shares in the division of the uplands ; and was a subscriber of the 
 Combination. He apjiears to have remained in Exeter but a short 
 time, as he is represented by Judge liournr in iiis history of Wells, 
 to have been one of the earliest settlers of tliat i)lace "before 
 "Wheelwright and his fellow refugees came from Exeter." He 
 seems afterwards to have changed his rather unusual name to 
 Haborne, and under that designation is described in a dfed as of 
 Hampton in IG'jO. 
 
 ."37. Robert Seward subscribed the Combination, but had no 
 share of the uplands, having probably not arrived in Exeter before 
 the spring of IG-tO. He staid but a brief time, and was living in 
 Portsmouth in 1G4'.), aftt'r which nothing has been ascertained 
 respecting liim. 
 
 :}R. John Snuvrt came from the count}' of Norfolk, England, to 
 Hiugham, ^lassachusetts, in 16o;j, with his wife and two sons, 
 and in September of that year drew his liouse lot there. He came 
 to Exeter in time to receive an assignment of one acre ami twenty- 
 six poles of the meadows " next the town," which imi)lies that he 
 had cattle or goats. The lands he first took up apjtear to have 
 been situatiMl on the eastern or Stratham side of the river, and lie 
 did not subscribe the Com])ination. lint he was a public-spirited 
 citizen, and joined with others in the agreement to purchase 
 Wheelwright's house, to be used as a parsonage. He lived in the 
 northerly part of the town, now Newmarket, and his descendants 
 live there still. 
 
 ;51». Robert Smitii is thought to have been of Iloston in 1(*(38. 
 In thi' division of the P^.xeter uplands he had six acres and tiiirty 
 poles, a share one-li:ilf lai'Licr llian the smnilcst; and his iKunt' was 
 allixed to the Coml»inatioii. W Inii the town cnnic iiiidcr the ]\Ias- 
 sachusetts governnu'nt, on tlie seventii of Si'pU'mbrr, Kil."!, he was 
 appointi'(l one of the magistrates " to vud small business at Exe- 
 ter." After a residence of some years in the place he removed to 
 Hampton. Hon. Joseph Smith, a judge of the Superior Court, 
 antl a ukiii useful and in'oniincnt in his i\i\\, Avas his son. 
 
 40. Anthony Stanynn, ilcscrilK'd as gh^ver, was a passenger 
 from ICiigland to IJoston in IGo.'), and in I'\'l)ruary, I();j7-8, had 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 •>,j 
 
 assigned to him " a great lot for eleven heads" at Mount "WoUas- 
 ton. In Exeter, in December, 1639, there were awarded to him, 
 under tlie honorary designation of " Mr.," twenty-seven acres and 
 one hundred and thirty-five poles of upland, and ten and one-half 
 acres of the marshes. These large grants imply that he had a 
 considerable famil}'^, and a good number of cattle. He was a 
 member of the Exeter church, and though a resident of the town 
 prior to the execution of the Combination, did not set his hand to 
 it. Possibly he Avas in doubt whether to fix his residence in the 
 new settlement, as in July, 1641, he was "granted to be a towns- 
 man" of Boston, and on the twenty-fourth of July, 1642, his son 
 John was baptized there, at the age of six days. But if he medi- 
 tated abandoning Exeter he soon changed his mind, for he was 
 back again in May, 1643, and held the office of magistrate to end 
 small causes in 1645, and that of town clerk in 1647. Subse- 
 quently he removed to Hampton from which he was representative 
 to the General Court of Massachusetts in 1654. He was living in 
 1683. His first wife was named Mary, and after her decease he 
 married, January 1, 1656, Ann, widow of "William Partridge of 
 Salisbur}', Massachusetts. He left children by whom his name 
 has been handed down to our time. 
 
 41. Augustine Storre was doubly a brother-in-law of "Wheel- 
 wright, being a brother of his first wife, and tlie husband of a 
 sister of his second. He undoubtedly came over from England in 
 July, 1637, and probably left Boston in the autumn following, and 
 was in Exeter in the spring of 163.S. When tlie first division of 
 lands was made, he was allotted, with the title of respect of 
 " Mr.," twenty acres and one hundred poles of upland, and two 
 and three-quarters acres of the marshes. His name appears on 
 the Combination, tlie next in order to Wheelwright's, and he was 
 chosen an assistant to the first Kuler. It is evident that he Avas 
 held in high esteem by the inhabitants. AVhen Wlieelwright's resi- 
 dence in Exeter came to an end, Storre, as might l)i' expected 
 from their connection, quitted the place also, and is understood to 
 have gone to "Wells, after which nothing is leanird of liiiii. 
 
 42. Snnmel Walker had one of tlie smnUer assignments of h>nd 
 in P^xeter, and was a signer of the Combination. Of his former 
 history nothing has been discovered. In 1643, in a time of 
 scarcity, he was one of those appointed by the town to ai)]iropriate 
 and dispose of to the needy, any corn not recpiired by the owners 
 before harvest. This appointment speaks well for liis character 
 
?^^ V.uU^^ ' 
 
 :\0 / /lIISTOlJV f)F EXICTEPt. 
 
 foi' discrotioi^and f:\irnoss. It is supposed that he left tlie town 
 soon afterw^'ds, i)rol»al,)ly foi" the eastward. 
 
 1".. Jaiu^s Wall was a carpenter, and was sent over from Kn<i- 
 land, with two others, by John Mason, the patentee of New 
 Hampshire. 'IMiey came in the Pied Cow, under a written contract 
 dated ]Marcii M, HVM, to run live years, hy whieli they were em- 
 ployed to build saw-mills and houses for him at Xcwichwannoek. 
 They arrived tluere the thirteenth of July of the same year, and 
 there Wall remained till scmie time after the death of Masou in 
 163o. He was in Exeter April 3, 1G;]«, and witnessed one of the 
 Indian deeds to Wheelwriglit of that date, and no doubt remained 
 there during the formation of the settlwiient, when his services as 
 a carpenter woukl be most important. \hi the assignment of the 
 lands, ten acres and niuety poles of uplamte and something less 
 than two acres of tln' marshes fell to his shar^. His name also 
 appears upon the Combination. He must have li^tid in Exeter 
 
 about twelve years, and was a useful citizen, repeatedly mtr«sted 
 with town ofHces. In 1G.')0 he changed his resilience to Hampton, 
 and died there October 3, IGo'J, leaving a widow, ^lary, and two 
 children. 
 
 44. George Walton, born about 161o, became an inluibitant of 
 New Hampshire about 1()3'>, and so mnaiiuMl till his death, half a 
 century later. He had no assignment in the first division of lands 
 in Exeter, but joined in establishing the Combination a few 
 months later ; so it is n<jt unlikely that he came to Exeter between 
 those events. He did ncjt remain very long, for in 1(148 he was in 
 Dover, where he was licensed to keep an ''ordinary," and in 1GG2 
 was a vintner in Portsmouth. His later years were passed at Great 
 Island, will 11' he suffered from the persecutions of a " stone- 
 throwing demon," an account of which may In- found in .Mather's 
 MuijiKiUa and elsewhere. Less superstitious persons, however, 
 attributed his tribulations to mischievous human agency. His 
 wife was named Alice, and they had several chililreii, one of wliom 
 was Shadrach Walton, well known in the military, civil ami judi- 
 cial service of the province. 
 
 !.'». 'i'liomas Wardell, a shoemaker, and an inhabitant of Lin- 
 colnshire, England, came to this country, and was admitted to the 
 Boston cliurcli November '.>, IG.'M. By his wife Elizabeth he had 
 two children, baptized in Boston; Eliakim, November 23, 1G34, 
 and Martha, Se])tem])er 3, 1G37, and two others, Jiorn probably in 
 Exeter; Benjamin, in Eeljruary, IGIU, and Samuel, May IG, 1G13. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 37 
 
 111 January, 1637, he was allotted twenty acres of land in Boston, 
 but being an outspoken supporter of Wheelwright he was dis- 
 armed ; and thereupon proceeded, in 1038, no doubt, to Exeter. 
 In Januar}', 1G.'>9, he was recommended by the Boston church to 
 membership in that formed at Exeter. He received twelve acres 
 and sixty poles in the division of the Exeter uplands, and was a 
 signer of the Combination. Evidently he was a man in whom his 
 townsmen reposed confidence ; for in 1641 he was chosen sergeant 
 of the band of soldiers in Exeter, and approved as such by Nicho- 
 las Needham, Ruler ; in 1642 he was chosen one of the committee 
 to collect and distribute to the poor the surplus corn, in a time of 
 scarcity ; and in 1643 he was appointed by the General Court of 
 Massachusetts a magistrate to end small causes in Exeter. But 
 he did not continue there very long afterwards. It is uncertain 
 whether he removed to Ipswich or to Boston, where the death of a 
 person bearing his name is recorded December 10, 1646. 
 
 46. William Wardell, supposed to be a brother of Thomas, 
 probabl}' came to this country in 1633 with Edmund Quincy, whose 
 servant he is described as being, and joined the Boston church 
 February 9, 1634. By his wife Alice he had a daughter Meribali, 
 born May 14, 1637, and a son Uzell, April 7, 1639; the latter 
 born in Exeter. He received in Boston February 20, 1636, two 
 acres of land laid out at the Mount (Wollaston) only for his 
 present planting; and February 19, 1637, a great lot at the same 
 place " for three heads." But the next year he migrated to Exe- 
 ter, on being disarmed as a friend of the Antinomiau i)arty. He 
 took with him some cattle, or goats, as it appears that he had in 
 the first division of lands one hundred and twenty poles of meadow 
 " on this side of Mr. Hilton's," and the same quantity at Lamprey 
 river. He also had ten acres and fifty poles of u|)hind ; and set his 
 hand to the Combination. He left Exeter with Wheelwright, and 
 his name is subscril)ed as a witness to the deed of Sagamore 
 Thomas Chabhiocke to John Wadleigli at Wells October l-s, 1(;49, 
 and attested by said Wardell's oath ]VIarch 23, 1607. He also 
 swore allegiance to Massachusetts at Wells July 5, 1653. Another 
 person of the same name was living in Boston at the same time, 
 but whether a relative is not known. 
 
 47. William Wenbourne was of Boston in 1635, in which year 
 tliere was born to him and Elizabeth his wife, a son John, on the 
 twenty-second of November. A second son was born 8epteml)er 
 21, 1638, bearing the same name, the former one having doubtless 
 
38 HISTOliY OF EXETKR. 
 
 died. The latter part of the next year Wenbourne was in Exeter, 
 where he was allotted seven acres and thirty i)oles of upland, and 
 a few months later signed the Combination. Upon the town being 
 received under the jurisdiction of ^Massachusetts, he was ai>]winted 
 clerk of the writs and one of the three inferior magistrates. He 
 probably returned to Boston before 1648, where he was chosen 
 constable in 1653, and was living in 1062. The name of Winboru 
 has been preservotl in Durham up to recent times, so it is not 
 unlikely that his descendants are still to be found in the vicinity. 
 
 48. William Wentworth was a native of Lincolnshire, England, 
 and Avas born in March, 1615-16. He was a family connection and 
 ])arishioner of Wheelwright, and probably came to this country in 
 July, 1()37, in the vessel with others of Wheelwright's "friends." 
 No doul)t he made little stay in Boston, but pushed on speedily to 
 the Pascataqua country, and was one of the earliest at the settle- 
 ment of Exeter. He had in the division of the uplands one of the 
 snuill shares, and set his signature, in excellent chirography, to 
 the Combination. AVhen Massachusetts began to stretch out her 
 hand over the New Hampshire towns, he joined Wheelwright in 
 departing into Maine, and resided in Wells until 1640, when he 
 removed to Dover, where, with the exception of temporary 
 absences, he spent the residue of his life. He was a ruling elder 
 in the church, and as such was a preacher and expounder, though 
 not technically a clergyman. At some time after the decease of 
 the Rev. Samuel Dudley, which occurred in 1683, he was employed 
 to preach at Exeter, and continued to do so until 1693, when by 
 reason of age and infirmity he Avas compelled to desist. He lived, 
 however, till March 15, 16'.»6-7, when he had completed his eighty- 
 first year. His ])hysical vigor was reuuvrkable, as is evidenced by 
 his successful resistance to the attempts of the Indians to enter 
 tin- house wlure he was at the Dover massacre in 1()89 : and no one 
 of the little coiiipany of Exeter i)ioneers, save Wheelwright, was 
 of a more sturdy manhood than Wi'utworth. He was the jirogeni- 
 tor of a long line of descendants, able and stalwart, mentally and 
 l»hysically ; three of wiiom held the highest executive olllces in the 
 province of New Hampshire ; others have 8at in the councils of 
 the nation, and uiaiiy more have manifested the hereditary 
 capacity and force in various callings. The history of tiie family 
 has been laboriously compiled by one, by no means tlie least dis- 
 tinguished of Elder Wentworth's descendants. 
 
 40. John Wheelwright deserves here a brief sketch of his 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 39 
 
 subsequent career. He retreated before the advance of ^Massachu- 
 setts to Wells in the spring of 1643, and while he was there the 
 General Court, in not the most gracious manner, annulled his 
 sentence of banishment, and re-enfranchised him. Aft3r minister- 
 ing to the little communit}' at Wells for four years, he accepted 
 the invitation of the church at Hampton to se^le over them as the 
 pastoral colleague of the Rev. Timothy DaltXn, their religious 
 teacher. In Hampton he continued, to the entite acceptance of 
 his flock, until 1655 or 1656 when he made a vova^to Enirland. 
 There he was received with high favor by Oliver Cromwell, his 
 fellow collegian, now the highest personage in the land ; and also 
 by Sir Henry Vane, a friend and fellow sufferer in the Antinomian 
 struggle in Massachusetts. After Cromwell's death Wheelwright 
 returned to New England, in company with several other minis- 
 ters, in the summer of 1662. He accepted the invitation of the 
 church at Salisbury, Massachusetts, to become their spiritual 
 guide, and, thougli then arrived at the age of threescore and ten, 
 enjoyed among them the longest pastorate of his checkered life. 
 He had his trials there, indeed, for he was not one to yield his 
 opinions because another opposed them, but on the whole his min- 
 isti'ations were useful and his motives and independence were 
 respected. It was a pleasant episode in his later life that he 
 preached a sermon in 1671-2 in behalf of Harvard College, solic- 
 iting contributions for the rebuilding of Harvard Hall which had 
 been destroyed by fire, — thus showing that he harbored no malice 
 against the dignitaries of Massachusetts for the harsh treat- 
 ment that he had formerly received at their hands. Ilis death took 
 place at Salisbury November 15, 167!). 
 
 50. Thomas Wight, of whom nothing is learned prior to his 
 appearance in Exeter, had six acres and thirty poles allotted him 
 as his share of the uplands ; and was a subscriber of the Coml)ina- 
 tiou. In the five subsequent years that he si)ent in the town, his 
 name appears seldom on the records. He had a house, and 
 perhaps two, as his " old house" is referred to; and he was cen- 
 sured and fined in 1(542 by the town court for '• contemptuous 
 carriage and speeches against the court and magistrates." He 
 lived in the town at least two years and a half, afterwards, and 
 then went away, we know not whither. IMr. Savage thinks Thomas 
 Wight was the same person elsewhere called Thomas Wright, but 
 he gives no authority for the belief. The name is uniformly 
 written Weight in the town records; but is subscribed Wight, 
 apparently in his own hand, to the Combination. 
 
40 IIISTOKV OF EXETEIl. 
 
 o\. Baltlia/:u' "Willi \, wliosi- naiiu' would indicate that ho was 
 of foreign origin, was nndonbtedly in Exeter as early as the 
 Iteiriuning of KMd, as he was then awarded one of the smaller 
 shares of the n[)lands. Tie was not a signer of the Combination. 
 His name appears, however, repeatedly in the records, at a later 
 date, in his own bold and handsome chirography. In IMay, l(;i;5, 
 he was one of the petitioners to the (General Conrt of Massachu- 
 setts to receive Exeter nuder their government. His name is not 
 found in the records after l(i50. In the month of ^lay or June, 
 1(548, Willix's wife was robbed and lirutally murdered on her way 
 from Dover to Exeter. Whether the perpetrator of the outrage 
 was ever brought to justice is not known. Willix did not remain 
 in Exeter long afterwards, but took u\> his residence in Salisbury, 
 where he was taxed in IO.jO, and died ^Nlarcli 'i.'), IH")!. 
 
 .j2. Thomas AVilson came to this country in June, Hloo, with 
 his wife and three sons ; Humphrey, Samuel and Joshua. He also 
 had children born here: Deborah in August, 1(534, and J^ydia in 
 November, 1(536. His home was in Ivoxbury, and he had the 
 misfortune to lose his house and goods by fire. Being in sympa- 
 thy with Wheelwright he came wdth him to Exeter to reside, but 
 subsequently made peace with the church which he had left. He 
 was a signer of the Combination, and occupied the island at the 
 falls and some lands on the eastern side of the river. In the first 
 division of lauds he received four acres and twenty-eight rods of 
 marsh. He built the first grist-mill in the town. On the twentieth 
 of ()ctol)(*r, Ifil-i, on the resignation of Nicholas Needham as 
 Ruler, he was elected his successor. He died in the summer of 
 1(543, leaving a will in which he ma(h; i)rovision for his widow and 
 chililrcn. 'ihe former was married the next yeai' to John F.ogat. 
 A dirforeuce arose about the estate between her and hvv oldest 
 son, Humphrey, which was by the (Tcneral Court referred to the 
 County Court at Ipswich. Humphrey Wilson contiiuied an inhabi- 
 tant of the town tliiough life probaI)ly, and his descendants, 
 though none Itearing his name, are still living in Exeter. 
 
 The foregoing are the names of all the men who are known to 
 have been inhaltitants of Exeter in the lirsl two j'cars of its exist- 
 ence. William Furber and John I lukrliill, though temporarily in 
 the jjlace at the times of the execution of the Indian deeds, which 
 they respectively witnessed, were residents of Dover, ami never 
 of Exeter. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEU. 41 
 
 ' EARLY ENACTMENTS. 
 
 The third yeav opened upon Exeter, in tlie spring of 1640, with 
 a population of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred souls, 
 including women and children, living under a practicable and regu- 
 lar system of government. The municipal regulations adopted by 
 the inha1)itants from time to time, as, long as they ruled them- 
 selves, were generally marked by equity and good sense. A few 
 examples are given : 
 
 It was enacted that an}^ inhabitant might sell to* the Indians 
 such merchandise as he pleased, except weapons, ammunition and 
 strong waters. The charges of the town were to be ratably pro- 
 portioned among the inhabitants, owners of land, and cattle, and 
 privileges. In conformity with the professions of the Combina- 
 tion, treason, " reviling his majesty the Lord's anointed " and the 
 like, were made punishable capitalh^ Judicious regulations were 
 l)rescribed in regard to the purchase of lots, the felling of timber, 
 and the attendance of the inhabitants at town meetings. The 
 miller's toll was limited ; all creeks were declared free for fishing ; 
 fences were ordered to be erected, and highwaj's of three rods in 
 width to be made. Rules were laid down to prevent injury to 
 growing crops by swine. The control of the lands by the town 
 w^as jealousl}' preserved ; and no inhabitant was permitted to buy 
 for his own use from the Indians any of the planting ground 
 reserved for their cultivation ; but must tender it first to the town. 
 
 It w^ould appear that even in this early stage of the settlement, 
 slander was not wholly unknown, and an order was passed that 
 any persons spreading aliroad any accusation which could not be 
 proved by the mouth of two or three witnesses, should be lia])le to 
 the court's censure. Thus early too was enacted the law ihal no 
 foreigners should be employed to work in the town, if inliabitants 
 would do the work as cheaply and as well. Of course it w\as not 
 natives of foreign countries that were here referred to, but any 
 persons not citizens of Kxeter. This disinclination to encourage 
 " foreigners " to come into the town, was exhibited repeatedly by 
 similar orders, at later dates ; and, indeed, is thought by some not 
 to have entirel}' died out 3'et ! 
 
 These regulations appear to have been scrupulously carried into 
 effect, without distinction of persons. 
 
 The first clerk of the town and court was Edward Kish worth. 
 The second was John Legat, who had been a resident and school- 
 
42 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 master of Hampton in IG 10, and afterwards filled the same imi^or- 
 tant station in Exeter. He wrote a handsome hand, and was well 
 informed and business-like, and for several years took a somewhat 
 prominent part in the affairs of the town. He received repeated 
 grants of lands and privileges, and was one of the townsmen from 
 1G47 to 1()49. It was probably in the latter year that he removed 
 back to Hampton. There he was living in 1GG4. His name is 
 not extinct in the vicinity. 
 
 By the spring of 1641 a " band of soldiers " had been organized 
 in Kxeter, and the freemen elected Richard Bulgar lieutenant and 
 Thomas Wardell sergeant ; and their choice was approved by 
 Ruler Needham. 
 
 On the twenty-sixth of October, 1G42, Nicholas Needham re- 
 signed his otlice of Ruler, and Thomas Wilson, being chosen in 
 his place, gave his approbation to all the laws and orders which 
 had been made during Ruler Needham's administration. 
 
 The grain crop of the season of 1G42 was for some reason a 
 \ery scant}' one, and by the succeeding spring the poorer class of 
 inhabitants began to suffer from scarcity of food. The majority 
 of the town made no scruple in applying the doctrine of " eminent 
 domain" to the case. On May G, lG4:j, they appointed a commit- 
 tee of discreet and judicious citizens, and authorized them to 
 search the houses, and take therefrom any corn not needed by the 
 owners, and dispose of the same to such poor people as stood most 
 in need of it, for such pay as they could make ; the owners, how- 
 ever, to be compensated at market rates ; an arbitrary measure, 
 but one entirely justifiable under the peculiar circumstances. 
 
 Meadow or marsh lands were considered specially desiral)le by 
 the owners of cattle, as no other mowing ground had yet been res- 
 cued from the forest. Patches of this natuial grass land were 
 found by explorers here and there, on the margins of streams ; 
 and it was ordered, August "21, 1G43, that any inlial)itant who 
 should discover any piece of mai'sh land of less than twenty acres, 
 should be at liberty to enjoy it as his own ; if above twenty acres, 
 it was to be at the disposal of the town, except that the fiudiM- was 
 to be entitled to a double proportion of it. 
 
 At a town court held September o, 1G1;>, Christopher Tawsun 
 was put under recognizance to answer to the charge of extortion 
 " at the next Court to be holden for Exeter either here or else- 
 where." This language indicates an understanding that the town 
 government was about to be merged in an authority of a wider 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 43 
 
 sweep, which we shall see was soon accomplished. One of the 
 last acts of the town court was to fill up the measure of justice to 
 Thomas Biggs, who was found guilty of sundry petty larcenies, 
 by adjudging him to make ample restitution to the sufferers, and 
 also to be whipped six stripes. It is satisfactory to know that 
 this punishment was very likely the making of the young culprit, 
 for he became a useful citizen, and was repeatedly elected to posts 
 of responsibility in the town, in after years. 
 
 The records of the town, during the period of its self-govern- 
 ment, contain many particulars of interest that could not well be 
 included in this chapter ; and for the satisfaction of the curious, 
 it has been thought expedient to print them entire in the original 
 language and orthography, in the appendix (II). 
 
CIIAPTKR 11. 
 
 EXETEK rXDER THE MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNMENT. 
 
 By the spring of 1G4.3 all the New Hampshire plantations, except 
 Exeter, were under the swa}^ of Massachusetts. Hampton had 
 orignally been settled from that colony ; Dover and Portsmouth 
 had been induced to submit themselves to her rule, partly by her 
 claim that they fell within her patent, but more, perha])s, by the 
 favorable terms which she held out to tliem. Tliat church-mem- 
 bership was a prerequisite to the privilege of voting in civil affairs, 
 was a cardinal doctrine in ]\Iassachusetts. This was now surren- 
 dered, nii<l the citizens of the New Hampshire towns were to be 
 allowed the elective franchise without reference to that qualifica- 
 tion ; a proof of the price which the Bay Puritans were ready to 
 pay, to purchase an extension of their jurisdiction. 
 
 Exeter was the last to yield. A large part of her inhal)itants 
 fi'lt that they had been treated with harshness and injustice b}" the 
 authorities of Massachusetts, and some of them utterly refused to 
 sul)mit again to her dominion but quitted the place to avoid it. 
 A petition, however, was forwarded in ]\Iay, 1(543, to the Massa- 
 clmsetts General Court, that Exeter might l)e received within their 
 jurisdiction. It was subscribed by Thomaft Raslileigh, Kichiird 
 Bulgar, William Wenborne, Tiiouuis Wjirdell, Sauuiel Walker, 
 Christopher Lawson, John Legal, Henry Kob}', Thomas Biggs, 
 William Cole, Thomas Pettit, Robert Smith, John Cram, Nathan- 
 iel Boulter, Robert Seward, Aliraliam Drake and William Moore. 
 Eleven of these were signers of the Combination. The petition 
 itself has been destroyed, and we can only infer its contents from 
 the reception it met with. It could not have been an uncondi- 
 tional surrender to jNIassachusetts, but must have stipulated for 
 some terms whicli her rulers were uuwilliug to grant. The (ieu- 
 eral Court answered curtl}', that " as Exeter fell within the Massa- 
 chusetts i)atent, they took it ill that the petitioners should capit- 
 ulate with tlicni." In ollu-r woids the Exeter people must accept 
 
 sufh conditions as Massachusetts chose to impose. 
 
 U 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. .j;, 
 
 Immediately afterwards a second petition was forwarded, 
 couched in language sufficiently humble, as follows : 
 
 To the Right Worshipful the Governor, the Deputie Governor and 
 the Magistrates, with the assistance and deputyes of this honored 
 Courte at present assembled in Boston. 
 
 The humble petition of the inhabitants of Exeter, who do 
 humbly request that this honored Court would be pleased to 
 appoint the bounds of our Towne to be layed out to us, both 
 towards Hampton & also downe the River on that side which Capt. 
 AYiffgous his farm is ou, for he doth Clame all the land from the 
 towne downwards, ou the one side, & Hampton on the other side 
 doth clame to be ueere us, that we shall not be able to subsist to 
 be a Towne except this honored Court be pleased to releave us. 
 And we suppose that Capt. Wiggens his farme and a good way 
 below it, may well be laid within our Township if this honored 
 Court so please. 
 
 Also we do humbly crave that the Court would be pleased to 
 grant that we may still peaceably enjoy thouse small quantitie of 
 meddows, which are at Lamperell river that Dover men now seeme 
 to lay clame to, notwithstanding they know we long since purchased 
 them & allso quietly possest them with their consent. 
 
 Likewise we do humbly request that this honored Court would 
 be pleased to establish three men among us to put an Ishew to 
 small differences amongst us, & one to be a Clarke of the writes, 
 that so we might not be so troblesom to the Courts for every small 
 matter. The three men which we desire the ending of Controver- 
 sies are Anthony Stanean, Samuel Greenffield & James Wall & 
 we do desire that John Legat ma}' be the Clarke of the writes. 
 Thus leaving our Petition to your Judicious Consideration & your- 
 selves to the Lord, we rest and remaiue ever ready to do 3'ou our 
 best service. 
 
 Samuel Grecntield* ^ Henry liohv 
 
 Anthony Stanyan llichard Carter 
 
 Thomas Wight "William M[oore] 
 
 Nathaniel Boulter James Wall 
 
 JohnTedd* I[um])hrcy Willson 
 
 ]lol)ert Hethersay Ralph Hail 
 
 John Legat John Burslev * 
 
 Abraham Drake Francis Swain 
 
 Thomas Jones* John Davis 
 
 Nicholas Swain Balthazer Willix 
 
 Thomas King * John Smart 
 
46 HISTORY OF EXETKK. 
 
 Of these tweuty-two subscribers only four had set their hands to 
 the Coinl)in:\tion, and not one of them was in any way connected 
 with the Antinomian dissensions of l()-'}7. 
 
 This petition bore date Ma}' 12 [1043], and aijpareully was i)re- 
 sented near the close of the current session of the General Court. 
 The printed records make no mention of it then ; but an indorse- 
 ment upon the petition shows that both branches of the Legislature 
 acceded to it. 
 
 On the seventh of the following September the General Court 
 formally received Exeter within the Massachusetts government 
 and assigned it to the newly formed county of Norfolk. But it is 
 a curious fact that in the appointment of permanent town ofiicers 
 the uouiiuees of the accepted petition were 'rejected, and signers 
 of the rejected petition and of tlie Combination were preferred. 
 AVilliani Wenborue was appointed clerk of the writs, and William 
 "Wenborne, Robert Smith and Thomas Wardell were made magis- 
 trates to decide small causes. ^Massachusetts know how to con- 
 ciliate as well as to coerce. 
 
 THE CONDITIONS OK ANM.XATK >N . 
 
 The terms on wliich Exeter was admitted were substantially 
 those accorded to the other New Hampshire towns : namely, " the 
 same order, and way of administration of justice and way of keep- 
 ing courts, as is established at I|)swich and Salem ;" exemption 
 from " all pul)lic charges other than those tiiat shall arise for or 
 from among [the i)eople] themselves, or from any occasion or 
 course that may l)i' taken to prociiiH' their own proper good or 
 benefit;" and the enjoyment of '^ all such hnvfii! liberties of fish- 
 ing, planting, felling timl)er as formerly they have enjoyed in the 
 said [Pascatacjua] river." The town was to send no delegate to 
 the Gener:i1 Court, but this was no iiardship, as the inhabitants 
 could ill aftor I the exi)ense which would thereby fall upon them, 
 and their apparent need of a representative in liie Legislature was 
 small. 
 
 At first it was ordered that Exeter causes at law should be tried 
 at Ipswich ; aftci-wards :it the courts held in one of three or four 
 towns (not including Exeter) in the county of Norfolk. There 
 ample opportunities were atTorded to the inhabitants for settling 
 all litigated (piestions above the jurisdiction of the town magis- 
 trates ; and towns were compelled by presentments of the grand 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 47 
 
 jury to keep their meetiug-houses, watch-houses, stocks, roads and 
 bridges in good and serviceable order ; while the General Court 
 exercised a watchful and paternal care over then- ecclesiastical and 
 municipal concerns. 
 
 The government of Exeter was of course modified, to conform 
 to the usages of Massachusetts. Three townsmen were chosen, 
 Richard Bulgar, Samuel Greenfield and Christopher Lawson, 
 whose duties approximated those of selectmen of the present day. 
 By a vote of. the town, April 8, 1644, they were empowered to 
 "make town rates; to distrain for all town debts; to pay the 
 town's debts out of the town's treasury, or to make rates for it ; 
 to look to the execution of all town orders ; to grant and lay out 
 lots, provided they be not above twenty acres ; to receive into the 
 town as inhabitants, or to keep out, such as they in their wisdom 
 tiiink meet." 
 
 THE FISHERY. 
 
 The fisher}^ furnished a very important article of subsistence to 
 the early inhabitants ; indeed, for the first few seasons, before the 
 laud had been brought fairly under cultivation, it must have been 
 well nigh indispensable. The river, above and below the falls, 
 abounded in fish of various kinds, and the salmon, we learn from 
 tradition, were especially plentiful. Still we can hardly give 
 credence to the often repeated tale that the ancient indentures of 
 apprenticeshi[) in Exeter used to contain a i)roviso that the 
 apprentices should not be compelled to eat salmon more than twice 
 a week ! Xo instrument containing such a clause has ever been 
 found ; and the story has been told of half a score of towns iu 
 England, and was, undoubtedly, an importation from that country'. 
 
 The salmon, for the excellent reason that they can no longer 
 pass the dams to breed their young in tlie fresh water above, have 
 long deserted the Squamscot ; but the alewives still frequent the 
 river, though probably not in such profusion as formerly. At first 
 the latter were chiefly used as manure for the cultivated lands ; 
 and thus rendered necessary the stringent regulations that were 
 adopted to prevent swine and dogs from feeding ui)on tliem. 
 
 As early as the second of November, 1G40, it was ordered by 
 the town that "all creeks are free; only he that makes a weir 
 therein is to have in the first place the benefit of it in fishing time ; 
 and so others may set a weir either above or below, and enjoy the 
 same libertv." 
 
4S I1IST01{V OF KXF.rKN. 
 
 On tlu^ twciily-t'iiililli of . I line, 1(11 I, the lowii granted to C'hristo- 
 pher Lawsoii and his lieirs '' the right to sot a weir in the river of 
 Exeter" upon certain conditions, one of which was tliatthe inhabi- 
 tants shouhl ln' supijlied with alewives to^fish their hind, at tliree 
 shillings a thonsand, in such pay as the town afforded ; and another 
 that he should make flood gates " so that barks, l)oats and canoes 
 may come to the town." The inhabitants reserved to themselves 
 libert}' to fish in the falls and elsewhere in tlie river, but not to set 
 any other weir so as to forestall Lawsons. Tliis monopoly', 
 though formidal)le in sound, being extended to Lawson's " heirs 
 forever," enjoyed but a brief span of life ; for the very next year, 
 April 2(), 1 (!!"), the town resumed the control of the jishery l)y 
 passing the following vote : 
 
 7\^11 the creeks for fishing this year' are divided into three divi- 
 sions bv lot, eleven or twelve ]iersons to a division according as 
 the lots lie, as follow : the first division of lots, from the mill 
 downward, are to htive Kawbone's creek and the creek ai»ove it ; 
 the second division from the mill downward, are to have all the 
 creeks on the mill side of the river: and the thiril division are to 
 have all the creeks on the town side of the river, except .Mr. 
 Needham's creek and the great cove creek, which two creeks lie 
 common. 
 
 This vote casts a little light upon the topography of the town at 
 that early date. 77/c mill (there was then but one) was ^Vilson's, 
 on the eastern side of llie island at tiie falls. The " mill side" 
 of the river was the op[)osite from the "town side" which was, 
 of course, the western. Tliis indicates that, from the very begin- 
 nino-, the main settlement was on the western side of the river; 
 thoiu'"li tradition as.serts that two or three settlers planted their 
 houses ou the opposite bank, between what is uow styled Powder- 
 liouse point and Wheelwright's creek ; and depressions in the soil, 
 which may have been cellars, go to confirm the tale. 
 
 The peoi^le of Exeter were not long in discoveiing that ihe 
 IMassachusetts control was to be uo sinecurt'. but was to extend 
 sometimes to theii- pettiest concerns. When, in K! I I, lliey chose 
 Samuel Greenfield to " kee|) a siillicient ordinary, and diaw wine 
 and strong waters, and trade Avith the Indians," the (ieneral Court 
 " denied him to draw wine until they had a more full and satisfac- 
 tory information of him." And when the town ''took the minds 
 of the trained bands for the re-establishing Richard Hullgar in 
 his former ollice of lieutenant," the General Court "thought it not 
 meet that he should be their lieiiteuaut until fnillier information 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 49 
 
 be given to this Court of said Bullgar ; iu the meantime he to exer- 
 cise the trainband as tlieir sergeant." 
 
 The first three or four years after Exeter submitted to Massa- 
 chusetts appear to have formed a critical period in the history of 
 the town. The departure of Wheelwright and other leading inhabi- 
 tants was a heavy draft upon the little colony, not to be counter- 
 balanced by the ordinary recruits of a frontier settlement. Relig- 
 ious differences had crept in among the inhabitants to such an 
 extent that the aid of the General Court Avas evoked to compose 
 them. A committee of ministers was accordingly appointed to 
 examine the ground of the complaints, and to do their best to 
 bring about harmony. At the same time the town prayed to be 
 excused from the payment of taxes — '' rate and head mone}'," — 
 no doubt upon the plea of their poverty and unsettled condition. 
 The General Court, willing as they were to afford relief in spirit- 
 ual matters, were not inclined, however, to remit their pecuniary 
 obligations, but '' conceived meet that they forthwith send in their 
 rates to the Treasurer." 
 
 Two events concurred, however, within the next three years, to 
 give renewed strength to the town, and tide it over the threatening 
 period, to stability and prosperity. The first was the settlement 
 in Exeter of P^dward Gilman in 1647, and his relatives shortly 
 afterwards, men of property and energy, who set up saw-mills and 
 gave an impulse to the business of the place. The second was the 
 engagement in IGoO of the Rev. Samuel Dudley as the minister 
 of the town, who united the previously discordant religious 
 elements, and became in ever}' respect one of the most useful 
 citizens. 
 
 TIIK (AUi: OF THE CATTLK. 
 
 On the first of May, l(J4i), the selectmen, in behalf of the town, 
 entered into a written agreement with (xoweu Wilson to drive, and 
 take the oversight of the cows and other cattle of the inhabitants, 
 for the season. As the transaction illustrates the customs of the 
 times, the instrument is here given in full : 
 
 It is covenanted and agreed upon between Gowen Wilson and 
 the town of Exeter that the said Gowen is to keei) all the neat 
 herd of the town of Exeter from one-year-old and upward (work- 
 ing cattle excepted) from the day of the date hereof until tlwee 
 weeks after Michaelmas, to go every morning through the town at 
 
r,o msToiJY OF exeteh. 
 
 tho usual tiuie that cow-herds go forth, and so to have the cattle 
 turiK'd into the town street and the said (iowen to drive them into 
 the woods, and all the day to keep them in such convenient places 
 as ma}' be best for their feeding, on both sides of the river, and at 
 night to bring them home again, at the like usual time of herds 
 coming home ; in like manner to bring them througli the street 
 from the first house to the last who have cattle in that street, and 
 to seek up or cause to be sought any that shall be lost from before 
 him, and in like manner to keep them every third Sabbath day. 
 
 And in consideration hereof the inhal)itants of the town who 
 have cattle are to pay or cause to be paid unto the said Gowen 
 AVilsou the sum of eleven pound, to be paid by every man's equal 
 l)roportion according to the number of their cattle in manner as 
 followeth, viz. : at the first entry to have a peck of corn a head 
 for all and ever}' the milch cows, and a pound of butter a cow, 
 suddenly, after his entry upon the said work, as he shall have 
 occasion to use it. And the rest of the aforesaid (11 1.) is half 
 of it to be paid in good English commodities at price current, 
 about the beginning of August next, and the other half of the pay 
 to be paid in corn at harvest at 3 * a bushel. 
 
 Witness to this agreement tiie hands of us, 
 
 GOAVKX AViLSON, 
 
 John Lk(;at, 
 Ja:^iks Wall, 
 \f Henuv Kouv. 
 
 This writing discloses to us some facts of interest about tlie 
 condition of the settlement and its people at that period. 'I'he 
 cattle were compelled to gather their subsistence "in the woods," 
 because so little of the surrounding country was as yet cleared 
 from the forest growth. A cow-herd was necessar\' to keep 
 them from straying ; therefore it is clear that there was an absence 
 of enclosures. " The. town street" imi)lies that as yet there was 
 but a single thoroughfare, doubtless along the line of the present 
 "Water street. The fact that thi' herd was to be driven to pasture 
 only " every third Sabbath," shows the respect entertained b}' the 
 people for the Lord's day. And the mode in which compensation 
 was to be made, in corn, butter and English commodities, without 
 a l)article of cash, reveals the extreme scarcity of mone^^ among 
 the peoiile. Indeed, for long years afterwards, much of the 
 
mSTOllY OF EXETER. 51 
 
 Imsiness of the place was carried on by l)arter, or " country 
 pay," as it was termed, and would have been practicable in no 
 other method. 
 
 Up to the year IGoO the General Court had at intervals made 
 appointments of local magistrates to end small causes in the town. 
 Jii 1G4') tiiey were Anthony Stanyan, Robert Smith and John 
 J>i';^at ; in IG-AG Anthony Stauyan, Samuel (xreenfield and James 
 Wall. But when in May, IG-'iO, the inhabitants made application 
 for another similar appointment, it was refused by the General 
 Court upon the ground that t'.iere was no need of such commis- 
 sioners, as Captain Thomas AViggin, an Associate, lived so near. 
 But the town were allowed the privilege of choosing a constable, 
 provided the person of their choice should be approved by the 
 county court " as fit for the place." 
 
 The fathers of Exeter early learned the need of a system of 
 supervision of the conduct of their public servants. As early as 
 August 2G, 1650, a vote was passed that one of the duties of tlie 
 townsmen should be to " call to account" their predecessors in 
 oflice. And this, or some equivalent mode of auditing the 
 accounts of the receiving and disbursing officers of the town, was 
 maintained with great regularity afterwards, from that time to the 
 present. 
 
 THE STAPLE COMMODITY. 
 
 The manufacture of lumber was, for more than a century', the 
 chief source of revenue to the inhabitants. There was everywhere 
 an altundance of the fittest oaks and pines that had survived their 
 wealvcr brethren, and were truly mouarchs of the forest. The 
 land was owned in common, and a long period elapsed before 
 much of it was divided. The lumber, therefore, cost the inhabi- 
 tants nothing but the necessary labor in getting it out. Naturall}', 
 some secured much more than others ; there was a great deal of 
 waste ; and non-residents did not hesitate to help themselves from 
 the bounteous supply. To remedv these troubles, and to insure 
 something like equality or equity among the inhabitants in the 
 enjoyment of the products of their common domain, as well as to 
 prevent strangers from encroaching thereon, the town from time 
 to time adopted regulations ; a brief summary of which will be 
 presented. 
 
 On the first of October, 1G40, the felling of timber within half 
 a mile of the town, excei)t on one's own particular lot, or for 
 
52 HIRT0J5Y or KXKTKn. 
 
 luiiUling or fencing, was prohibited under a penalty of five shillings 
 per tree ; and it was provided that none but inhabitants or town 
 dwellers should have liberty to fell or saw any pine, oak or other 
 timl)er under a like penalty to the offender. 
 
 C)n the fourteenth of January, 1642, " upon the great complaint 
 of the great destruction and spoil of timl)er about the town," it 
 was ordered that the inhabitants who had felled timber for pipe 
 staves or bolts, should have a year's time to work it up, except 
 that those who had timber lying for a year unwrought, should have 
 but six months more ; after which if still unwrought, it should be 
 forfeited. 
 
 On the sixteenth of February, 1647, it was required that every 
 inhabitant should cease felling timber for the present till further 
 order. Such as had timber felled had liberty to work up so much 
 of it as would complete their proportions formerly granted or 
 legally purchased ; and what they had felled more than their 
 shares, they were to leave to the town's use. Every inhabitant 
 should give an account to the townsmen what shares he had pur- 
 chased and what timber he had already used. They who had not 
 made up their i)roportional sluires might fell timber and work it 
 up, to the amount of their said shares. A penalty of five shillings 
 was imposed " for every tree that any nuin shall transgress in." 
 John Legat and Thomas Pettit were ai)poiuted cullers of pipe 
 staves for the town, and sworn according to the order of the 
 court. 
 
 On the twenty-second of ^Vpril, \i'>')(), it was ordered " b}' the 
 freemen and some others, chosen for llie ordering of the sole 
 atfairs of the town," that every inhabitant should pay for every 
 thousand of pipe staves made by him, two shillings, for the mainte- 
 nance of the ministry ; for every thousand of hogshead staves one 
 shilling and six pence; and for every thousand of bolts, sold 
 before made into staves, four shillings. 
 
 On tlie twenty-sixth of August, 16r»(), it was voted by the town 
 that none but settled iniiabitauts should have the ])i-ivilege upon 
 the Common to fell or use timber, and not future comers into town 
 mitil tiiey should be accepted for iiihaliitants ; all otiiers were 
 prohibited. Only one person to each house lot was to enjoy the 
 privilege, and he must build a good, habitable house thereon within 
 six months. 
 
 On the first day of INIay, 16r)7, it was voted that "for the preser- 
 vation of pipe-stave timber, and that there might be some ]iro])or- 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 53 
 
 tion [fixed], that some might not have great [share] of timber and 
 some none," it was ordered that from that time forward there 
 should not be above one person in a family at one time employed 
 in making of pipe staves, hogshead staves or bolts, or in any other 
 work concerning white oak timber, except it be for saw-mills or 
 building of houses or fencing stuff, on pain of forfeiture of ten 
 shillings for each transgression, one-half to him who should give 
 notice, and the other half to the use of the town. This order 
 applied to work upon the Common, and on all ground not laid out. 
 
 It was voted June 28, 1654, that the order theretofore made, 
 debarring strangers from coming into town to fell timber and make 
 staves, should be still in force ; and that for time to come no man 
 living in another town, should, under any pretence whatsoever? 
 fell timber or make staves or bolts or any timber work, unless he 
 became a settled inhabitant, approved of by the town, and resident 
 three months in the town before he should make any improvement 
 of timber. 
 
 On the first day of December, 1664, "the town having taken 
 into consideration the worth of masts, and that every year they 
 may be still of greater consequence, and that his majesty for his 
 own shipping may cause some to be transported from hence ; for 
 the preservation of such timber as may make masts, " ordered that 
 John Folsom be authorized to mark such trees as he thought fit for 
 masts ; to impose a penalty of twenty shillings upon any one 
 felling a tree so marked ; and to sell such trees for the benefit of 
 the town, at the following prices : " for those of thirty inches 
 [diameter] and upwards, thirty shillings each ; between thirty and 
 twenty-four inches, twenty shillings ; between twenty-four and 
 twenty inches, ten shillings." 
 
 At a town meeting INIarch o, 1673-4, it was ordered that thence- 
 forth every single person who was legally admitted into the town 
 should have liberty to make one thousand white oak pipe staves 
 within one year, or the value of them in hogshead or barrel staves, 
 red or white, and no more ; and every famil}^ of less than four, 
 servants excepted, three thousand ; provided, that neither single 
 persons nor families should sell their privilege to any other, but 
 might hire men to work out their proper proportions. 
 
 Samuel Leavitt and John Wedgewood were empowered to 
 " seize upon " any transgressor of the order, and to have for their 
 l)ains, one-half the overplus of his proper share ; the other lialf to 
 go to the town. 
 
54 iiiSTOiiY OF exi:tkii. 
 
 Oil llie twentu'th of April, 1G52, the town agreed to pa}' to the 
 Rev. Saninel Diulley twenty shiUin<is for the use of his two bulls. 
 INIr. Dudley, in addition to his qualifications as a relioious teaclier, 
 was a notable man of atTairs. He accjuiri'd numerous tracts of 
 land, was interested in mills and in a«>riculture, was employed to 
 keep the town books, was the general conveyancer and attorney 
 of the place, and now seems to have added to his other cares the 
 desire to improve the breed of tha cattle of the town. 
 
 The early records of Exeter are made up pretty largely of the 
 elections of ofiicsrs and of grants of laud, but an occasional entry 
 is met with which apparently must have had in its time a special 
 significance. Such a one is a vote passed November 'J, 1<)52, that 
 the town book should be kept in Thomas King's house, and should 
 not go therefrom unless there should be special occasion, and that 
 by consent of the major part of the town ; and that any person 
 warned to be at a town meeting who should not be there at half 
 an hour after the time appointed, should pay for the use of the 
 town two shillings ; and .John Kolnnson was ai)pointed to " gather 
 uj) " any fines incurred for violation of this order. Curiosity is 
 naturally excited to learn the occasion of such action. Had any 
 imscrupulous hand attempted to tamper with the records? Had 
 some obnoxious vote been prematurely spniiijj, ui)on a town meet- 
 ing? AVe ask these questions in vain. Interesting as the infor- 
 mation might be, no clue to it has reached to our time. 
 
 In the lumber business many transient persons were emplo^^ed. 
 If disabled by sickness or accident, there was danger that the 
 town would be made liable for tlieir supi)ort. To guard against 
 pauperism from this source, the following vote was passed April 
 3, 1665: 
 
 Ordered that what person s<never shall hii'c any servant for more 
 or less time, if it hai^peu that he that is hii-e(l shall be lamed or 
 any ways unserviceable made in woik during that time [he] shall 
 be kept by the charge of him tiiat hires him, if he be not able to 
 keep himself, that so the town may be freed from such charges. 
 
 This vote was supplemented by a rule promulgated by the select- 
 men, August 30, 1671, as follows : 
 
 Ordereil that no man sliall receive any person or persons into 
 town without the consent of the selectmen, or security to free the 
 town from any ciiarge that may ensue thereby, upou twenty 
 shillings a month forfeiture ; and that no man shall come to 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 55 
 
 inhabit, by purchase or otherwise, without the consent of the 
 selectmen, upon the same penalty. 
 
 PROJECT FOR A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT. 
 
 For nearly a quarter of a century after the death of John Mason, 
 the patentee of New Hampshire, in 1635, little had occurred to 
 remind the inhabitants that his representatives still claimed the 
 title to the soil. They lived in England, and Robert Tnfton 
 Mason, to whom his grandfather's American estates descended, 
 did not become of age till 16.30. He was attached to the estab- 
 lished church and the royal government ; therefore it would have 
 been idle for him, during the protectorate of Cromwell, to expect 
 any aid from the ruling powers in regaining the lands of which he 
 alleged that Massachusetts had dispossessed him. But upon the 
 restoration of Charles II. to the English throne, in 1660, he peti- 
 tioned his majesty for the restoration of the lands. The king's 
 attorney general, to whom the subject was referred, reported that 
 Mason had a good and legal title to the province of New Hamp- 
 shire. Though no immediate action resulted therefrom, yet we 
 shall see that this movement of Mason was destined ere long to 
 produce momentous consequences. 
 
 Until 1664, the king did nothing ; but on April 25, of that year, 
 in consequence of other complaints and petitions, respecting 
 inatters of dispute in New England, he commissioned Colonel 
 Richard Nicholls, Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwright and .Samuel 
 INIaverick to visit the several colonies of New England ; to deter- 
 mine all complaints ; to provide for the peace and security of the 
 country according to their discretion and to such instructions as 
 they should receive from the king ; and to report to him their 
 doings. 
 
 This commission was exceedingl}'^ obnoxious to the rulers of 
 Massachusetts, who were conscious that it was especially aimed at 
 themselves and their conduct, and who claimed that it was an 
 interference with rights vested in the colonists by their charter. 
 The commissioners, however, pursuant to their instructions, visited 
 the several colonies of New England, and their inquiries caused 
 little friction, except in Massachusetts and her dependencies. 
 They determined that the assumption of that colony to include 
 within her .charter limits and jurisdiction the New Hampshire 
 settlements, was an act of usurpation ; and gave the people of those 
 settlements to understand that they Avould release them from the 
 rule of Massachusetts, if that were their desire. 
 
56 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Accordingly a petition was drawn, addressed to the King of 
 England, i)nri)orting to represent the wishes of the towns of Ports- 
 mouth, Dover, Exeter and Hampton, expressing their great joy 
 that his majesty had sent over the Commissioners, and sorrow at 
 their ill treatment by the liay government ; and jnaying that the 
 king would take the petitioners (towns) into his immediate pro- 
 tection, that they might be governed by the known laws of P^ng- 
 land ; and that they might enjoy the sacraments they had been so 
 long deprived of. This petition, so far as known, contained but 
 nine signatures, two of them of Exeter men, Edward Hilton and 
 John Eolsom, The former was a moderate church of England 
 man, the latter, who apparently was concerned in circulating the 
 paper, was of a high and somewhat turbulent temper. There is 
 no doubt that there was a party in New Hampshire disaflfected to 
 the government of Massachusetts, and had there been a reasonable 
 probability that they would have bettered themselves by a demon- 
 stration against it, a considerable number of names might have 
 l)ecn obtained for that end. I>ut the reflecting part of them had 
 little confidence in the present movement, and prudently kept clear 
 of it. 
 
 The General Court of Massachusetts in their turn appointed a 
 committee to inquire into tlie disposition of the New Hampshire 
 towns towards their government. Respecting that of Exeter they 
 interrogated the Rev. .Samuel Dudley, who replied as follows: 
 
 Concerning the (piestion tliat is in hand, wlietlier the toAvn of 
 Exeter hath subscri))ed to that i)etition to his majesty for the 
 taking of Portsmouth, Dover, Hampton and Exeter under his 
 immediate government, I do allinn to my best apprehension, that 
 tiie town of Exeter hath no hand in that petition directly or 
 indirectly. 
 
 It is suHicient for our purpose to know that the action of the 
 royal commissioners led to no change of government, but rather 
 to a demonstration in favor of Massachusetts. The several New 
 Hampshire towns united in a general (collection to aid in building 
 a new hall for Harvard College, to replace that which had been 
 recently destroyed by fire. For this laudable purpose the town of 
 Exeter contributed ten pounds. 
 
 In connection with this subject it is worthy of mention that 
 Samuel ^laverick, one of the king's commissioners, had about the 
 yeai- 1660, made a brief report to his majest}', Charles 11., respect- 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 57 
 
 ing the several settlemeuts in the New England colonies, which he 
 was, by bis early and long residence in this countr}-, well qualified 
 to do. This paper, after lying unknown to historians for more 
 than two hundred years, has recently come to light. Every scrap 
 of information of that early date, is of interest. Maverick's notice 
 of Exeter, therefore, meagre though it is, is entitled to a place 
 here : 
 
 Exeter. Above this (the saw-mill on Lamperell creek), at the 
 fall of the river Pascataqua, is the town of P2xeter, whez'e are more 
 saw-mills ; down the south side of this river are farms and other 
 straggling families. 
 
 Taxation was probably no more agreeable to property holders 
 in former times than it is at present. In February, 1672, the 
 selectmen gave notice to the inhabitants to bring in a list of their 
 estates, both of outlands and all else, to one of the selectmen, 
 together with an account of all debts due them from the town, 
 on or before the next sixth day of March ; under the penalty of 
 forfeiting what was due them from the town, upon their neglect to 
 bring in an account thereof, and of the payment of two shillings 
 by every one who should not bring in a list of his estate to make 
 a true rate by. "We can imagine that this rule would cause the 
 exhibition of all claims against the town : but whether it would 
 bring to light all taxable property, might depend much on the 
 amount which the rate payer Avould be liable to be assessed. 
 
 The year 1(375 was made memorable by the fierce outbreak of 
 Indian hostilities known as King Philip's AVar. The loss of life 
 with which P>xeter was visited, is related in detail in another 
 chapter. To defray the growing charges of the Indian war the 
 General Court of Massachusetts on the thirteenth of October 
 levied upon the New Ilampsliire towns seven single country rates. 
 The proportion of P^xeter kvas eight pounds, ejght shillings for a 
 single rate, and the entire tax required of the town was twenty-five 
 pounds, four shillings in November, 1675, and thirty-three j)ounds, 
 twelve shillings in INIarch, 1(J7G. Happily, the war was of brief 
 duration. 
 
 On the eleventh of March, 1(579, Edward Smith, p^dward 
 Oilman and Peter P'olsom were appointed by the town a committee 
 to ascertain the town debts and the legality of the same. It thus 
 appears that we have an early jirecedent for incurring a town debt ; 
 and the report of the committee having fortunately been })reserved. 
 
58 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 is given here, as an example of tlie formal manner in which 
 agents of the town performed their functions two liundred years 
 ago. 
 
 Theis may certifie all whome it may coneerne that whereas wee 
 underwritten, at a Towns meeting y" 11"' of March 1G78 [9] were 
 api)ointed a comittee to examine y^ Towue Debts & y* legallity 
 thereof, and y" Towne standing to y^ same as wee should bring in 
 o' Judgm'% doe declare & informe as followeth ; that wee under- 
 written as aforesd haveing tryed & examined y" accounts, charges 
 and disbursments of Capt". John Gillman, doe find for & allow 
 unto him. Errors excepted, — 77'. ll(^ 00''. 
 
 The last Barr" of powder w'^'^ Capt". Gillman bought for y"= 
 Towne stock is not included in y^ Sume aboue written. 
 
 Edwd Smith. 
 Edwakd Gilmax 
 Peteu X Foll:>ham. 
 
 Exeter continued under the laws of Massachusetts between 
 thirty-six and thirty-seven years, until New Hampshire, in 1680, 
 was erected into a royal ])rovince. The rule of the sister colony 
 was on the whole e({uitable and beneficial ; and the little town 
 exhibited marked improvement, both in respect to material advan- 
 tages, and in the temper and harmony of the people. 
 
 NUMUEli AND NAMES OF INHABITANTS. 
 
 The p()))ulation made but a very gradual increase, as was to be 
 expected, for there was little in the frontier settlement to attract 
 new comers. Jt was those who were content to endure hard work 
 and hard fare, in the faith of securing better things in the future, 
 who were the bone and sinew of Exeter. Yet there was a gain in 
 iiuinl)ers. On the twelfth of October, IGG!), the General Court 
 ai)pointed .Tohn (Jihnau lieutenant of tlie military company, at the 
 same time declaring tliat thi-re wore " about sixty soldiers in Exe- 
 ter." This, if the usual ratio holds good, would imply that there 
 were about three hundred inhabitants of all classes. A fair pro- 
 portion of the early settlers had passed their lives in the town, and 
 were succeeded I)}' their children. Others had come in, some for 
 a temporary, others for a permanent residence. The new names 
 that appear upon the town records between 16-10 and 1680 will be 
 given here, together with others derived from other sources. No 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 59 
 
 complete list is to be found, on the books of the town, or else- 
 where, and it is probable that the fullest that can now be gathered, 
 is quite imperfect. 
 
 NAMES FIRST ON THE TOWN BOOKS BETWEEN 1G40 AND 1G80. 
 
 John Barber, 
 John Bean, • 
 
 Thomas Bi^j^s, 
 Xathanicl Bolter, 
 R,obert Booth, 
 Richard Bray, 
 WiUiam Bromficld 
 John Bursley, 
 
 ,^ Philip Cartee, 
 
 \ Philip Chesley, 
 John Clark, . 
 Jeremy Connor, 
 Thomas Cornish, 
 Christian Dolloft", 
 Abraham Drake, 
 Nathaniel Drake, 
 Teague Drisco, 
 Biley Dudley, 
 Samuel Dudley, 
 Theophilus Dudley 
 Eleazer Elkins, 
 Ephraim Folsom, 
 Israel Folsom, 
 John Folsom, 
 John Folsom, Jr., 
 Xathanicl Folsom, 
 Peter Folsom, 
 Samuel Folsom, 
 John Garland, 
 Charles Oilman, 
 ]'jd\vard Oilman, Sr., 
 Edward Oilman (Jr.), 
 John Oilman, 
 John Oilman, Jr., 
 Moses Oilman, 
 Charles OHdden, 
 James Godfrey, 
 Alexander Gordon, 
 Samuel Oroonfiehl, 
 "William liacket, , 
 
 April 
 
 1, 
 
 1678 
 
 January 
 
 21, 
 
 1660- 1 
 
 September 
 
 5, 
 
 1643 
 
 May 
 
 6, 
 
 1645 
 
 February 
 
 10, 
 
 1647-8 
 
 October 
 
 10, 
 
 1664 
 
 December 
 
 1, 
 
 1664 
 
 September 
 
 5, 
 
 1643 
 
 March 
 
 29, 
 
 1668 
 
 January 
 
 21, 
 
 1664-5 
 
 August 
 
 29, 
 
 1661 
 
 October 
 
 10 
 
 1664 
 
 January 
 
 12, 
 
 1648-9 
 
 March 
 
 30, 
 
 1668 
 
 June 
 
 10, 
 
 1644 
 
 April 
 
 22 
 
 1649 
 
 October 
 
 10, 
 
 1664 
 
 April 
 
 1, 
 
 1678 
 
 May 
 
 13, 
 
 1650 
 
 ])ecember 
 
 1, 
 
 1664 
 
 March 
 
 3, 
 
 1673-4 
 
 April 
 
 1, 
 
 1678 
 
 October 
 
 10, 
 
 1664 
 
 November 
 
 4, 
 
 1647 
 
 September 
 
 2S, 
 
 1668 
 
 October 
 
 10, 
 
 1664 
 
 March 
 
 30, 
 
 1670 
 
 October 
 
 10, 
 
 1664 
 
 August 
 
 26, 
 
 1650 
 
 September 
 
 28, 
 
 1668 
 
 May 
 
 10, 
 
 1652 
 
 November 
 
 4, 
 
 1647 
 
 January 
 
 12, 
 
 1648-9 
 
 April 
 
 1, 
 
 1678 
 
 February 
 
 10, 
 
 1647-8 
 
 March 
 
 30, 
 
 1674 
 
 March 
 
 16, 
 
 1660-1 
 
 October 
 
 10, 
 
 1664 
 
 :vray 
 
 in, 
 
 1644 
 
 October 
 
 10, 
 
 1664 
 
GU 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Joseph Hall, 
 Samuel Hall, 
 Robert llatheisay (Hersey), 
 "William Huntington, 
 Edmond Johnson, 
 Thomas Jones, 
 Joel Judkins, 
 Duny (?) Kelley, 
 James Kidd, 
 John Kimming, 
 Thomas King, 
 Nathaniel Ladd, 
 Cornelius Lary, 
 David Lawrence, 
 Jeremy Leavitt, 
 Moses Leavitt, 
 Samuel Leavitt, 
 John Legat, . 
 Nicholas Liston, 
 Henry Magoon, 
 -^ Thomas Marston, * 
 Richard Morgan, 
 Nicholas Norris, 
 George Person (Pearson), 
 Thomas Pettit, Jr., 
 Robert Powell, 
 Thomas Rashleigh, 
 Joliu Rol)inson, 
 Jonathan Robinson, 
 Jonathan Rollins, 
 Thomas Rollins, 
 John Saunders, 
 Edward Sewall, 
 Jonathan Sewall, 
 Robert Seward, 
 John Sinclair, 
 John Smart. . 
 John Smart, Jr., 
 Robert Smart, 
 Edward Smith, 
 Nicholas Smith, 
 Erancis Swain, 
 Nicholas Swain, 
 Richard Swain, 
 
 October 10. 1^04 
 
 March 11, l(i7S-9 
 August 5, 1644 
 
 February 27, 1644-5 
 
 August 26, 16.i() 
 August 5, 1()44 
 
 April 2, 1675 
 
 October 10, 1664 
 
 Mai-ch 11, 1678-9 
 
 October 10, 1()64 
 
 January 16, 1644-5 
 
 February 18, 1678-9 
 
 October 10, 1664 
 
 March 30, 1674 
 
 March 30, 1670 
 
 October 10, 1664 
 September 28, 1668 
 
 October 20, 1642 
 
 January 12, 1648-9 
 April 2, 1664 
 
 January 1(5, 1644-5 
 
 March 29, 1668 
 
 August 30, 1671 
 March 18 (about), 1679 
 
 May 20, 16.52 
 
 October 10, 1664 
 May (5, 1643 
 
 April 20, 1652 
 March 3. 1673-4 
 
 October 10, 1664 
 
 March 30, 1670 
 
 January 16, 1644-5 
 April 2, 1675 
 
 April 1, 1678 
 
 April 1, 1678 
 
 Octol)er 10, 1664 
 
 January 16, 1644-5 
 
 April " 22, 1()49 
 
 April 22, 1649 
 
 March 30, 1()70 
 March 4, 1658-9 
 
 March 31, 1645 
 
 December 16, 1646 
 November 4, 1647 
 
 • Prob.ibly never came to live iu Exclei . 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 (51 
 
 Joseph Taylor, 
 William Taylor, 
 John Tedd, . 
 Jonathan Thing, 
 Jonathan Thing, Jr., 
 Thomas Tyler, 
 Robert Wadleigh, 
 John Warren, 
 Thomas Warren, . 
 John AVedgewood, 
 William Whitridge, 
 Gowen Wilson, 
 Humphrey Wilson, 
 John Young, 
 
 In addition to the foregoing, the following names of persons 
 belonging to Exeter within the period referred to, appear on the 
 records of old Norfolk county, to wit : * \ 
 
 
 
 
 March 4, 1658-9 
 
 
 
 
 June 26, 1650 
 
 
 
 
 November 4, 1647 
 
 
 
 
 January 22, 1659-60 
 March 30, 1670 
 
 
 
 
 May 20, 1652 
 March 15, 1667-S 
 
 
 
 
 April 22, 1649 
 October 10, 1664 
 
 
 
 
 March 3, 1673-4 
 
 
 
 
 April 3, 1649 
 November 24, 1650 
 
 
 
 
 June 17, 1644 
 
 
 
 
 March 30, 1670 
 
 John Barsham, 1669 
 Isaac Cole, 1671 
 Isaac Cross, 1651 
 David Cushing, 1655 
 
 V John Goddard (?) 1678 
 Thomas Hithersea, 1650 
 Henry Lamprey, 1666 
 Edward Littlefield, 1651 
 
 And the following additional names are extracted from a list of 
 those who took the oath of allegiance and fidelity to the country, 
 November 30, 1677, at Exeter; all, with a few possible excep- 
 tions, inhabitants of the town. 
 
 John Clark, Jr. 
 James Daniel 
 Stephen Dudley 
 Mr. Michael French 
 Daniel Gilman 
 Jeremy Gilman 
 Moses Gilman, Jr. 
 Kinsley Hall 
 Armstrong Horn 
 William Morgan 
 James Perkins 
 
 l^avid Robinson 
 George Roberts 
 Edward Roe 
 James Sinclair 
 Mr. Richard Smart 
 R-obert Smart, Jr. 
 Jonathan Smith 
 Mr. John Thomas 
 John Wadleigh 
 Joseph Wadleigh 
 
ciiaptI':r iir. 
 
 EXETER UNDER THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PROVINCIAL 
 
 GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The new governmeut of the province of New Hampshire went 
 into operation in January, 1G<S(J. A governor and six councillors 
 were appointed by the Crown. One of the councillors was an 
 Exeter man, John Oilman, wlio, under the Massachusetts riyime, 
 had been a magistrate and an Assistant. The members of the 
 lower house of Assembly were elected by the people of the several 
 towns, Exeter being entitled to choose two. Her deputies in IGSO 
 were Captain Bartholomew Tippen and Lieutenant Rali)li Hall. 
 Tlie latter had been a resident of the town for a number of years ; 
 l)ut Tij)[)eu was a new comer, and apparently did not remain long. 
 He had been a man of some prominence under the Massachusetts 
 government, which was probably the reason that he was so speedily 
 elected to oflice here. 
 
 Though the i)opulation of the town must have been about three 
 hundred, the number of qualified voters at the first election was 
 but twenty; there being in the entire province only two hundred 
 and nine. There was no uniform rule determining the qualifica- 
 tions of votei's, but they were selected arbitrarily ; one conse- 
 (pience of which was that Exeter had a less numl)cr, in [)i'()[»i)rti()u 
 to her population, thnii s(»ne of the other towns. Exeter liad 
 nearly seventy tax-payers. 
 
 For the first two years after New Hampshire had become a 
 distinct ]ii"ovince, and so long as the i)rincipal otlices of govern- 
 ment wiTc filled by her own citizens, affairs went on smoothl}'. 
 ]'>ut Koltcrt Mason, who, as the heir of John Mason, the patentee, 
 cl:iiini(l th^■ soil of New Hami)shire as his property, and at whose 
 solicitation, and for whose benefit, in a great measure, a separate 
 government had lut u provided for the province, found that he was 
 yet no nearer the fruition of his hopes of securing the title and 
 emoluments of the lands, than he was under the rule of ^Nlassa- 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. (;;} 
 
 chusetts. He therefore made application to tlie king for the 
 appointment of a new governor, a stranger to New Hanq^shire, 
 Edward Cranfiekl, a needy, arbitrary and unscrupulous man. 
 Mason's request was complied with, and he at once took effectual 
 means to attach the appointee to his interest. 
 
 The people speedily read the character and purposes of their 
 new governor. He took his seat in October, 1683, and summoned 
 an assembl}' in November, with whose concurrence a fresh body of 
 laws was enacted, one of the most important of which provided 
 for a change in the manner of selecting jurors. They had before 
 been chosen by the inhabitants of the several towns ; thenceforth 
 they were to be appointed by the sheriff, after the English custom. 
 This piece of legislation was a fatal mistake for the people, for 
 it put the entire personnel of the judicial courts into the control of 
 the governor ; who, having the right to suspend refractory coun- 
 cillors, could thus appoint such judges and sheriffs, and tlu'ough 
 them, such jurors as he pleased. 
 
 The governor, however, kept up a show of fairness, until the 
 assembly had voted him a present of two hundred and fifty pounds, 
 ])y which they vainly hoped to detach him from the interest ^of 
 Mason. Inniiediately afterwards he came out in his true colors ; 
 and because he could not make the popular branch consent to a 
 bill which he approved, and because he refused to approve certain 
 l)ills which they presented, he resorted to the extreme and unpre- 
 cedented step of dissolving the assembly. 
 
 GOVE's REP.ELLION AGAIXST CKANFIELD. 
 
 Then, for the first time, the full extent of their utter powerless- 
 ness against the tyranny of a mercenary governor dawned u})on 
 the understanding of the mass of the people. It is not strange 
 that it suggested to some unbalanced minds the idea of forcible 
 resistance. Edward Gove of Hampton, who had been a member 
 of the dissolved assembly, distracted by indignation and heated 
 by strong drink, attempted to raise the standard of revolt. He 
 succeeded, however, in enlisting only eight or ten young fellows in 
 his own town and Exeter, who joined him probabl}' in a spirit of 
 adventure, fortified, perhaps, with the idea that they were tlnis 
 championing the cause of the people. (Jove, with his little follow- 
 ing, armed with sword and pistol, appeared on horseback in the 
 streets of Exeter, and rode to the sound of the trumi)et, into 
 
(U HISTOKY OF EXETEK. 
 
 Hamptou, where they were soon arrested and committed to prison 
 for trial. 
 
 The hare-brained ))roject never eouhl have endangered the gov- 
 ernment for a moment, but CranfieUI chose to regard it in the most 
 serious light, and without delay issued a commission for a court to 
 try the culprits. Through his attorney getaeral he caused an indict- 
 ment to be presented to the grand jury against them, for treason, 
 the highest crime known to the law. For this offence the prison- 
 ers, nine in number, were tried, with indecent haste, little more 
 than a week after the acts complained of were committed ; and, 
 apparently undefended, were found guilty ; Gove of the entire 
 offence of treason, and the others of lesser offences. Gove was 
 sent to England and imprisoned in the Tower of London about 
 three years, and then was pardoned and returned home. 
 
 The Exeter men concerned iu this escapade were Robert, John 
 and Joseph AVadleigh, sons of Robert Wadleigli who was a 
 member of the dissolved assembly, Thomas Rollins and John 
 81eei)er, and perhaps Mark Baker. They were all permitted by 
 the governor to be set at liberty on giving security to keep the 
 peace, except one of the Wadleighs, who was detained in prison 
 for more than a year afterwards by the governor, apparently out 
 of ill will to his father. Edward Smith and Joliu Young, 1)oth of 
 Exeter, had also been complained of as associated with Gove, but 
 were not indicted. Nathaniel Ladd, likewise of Exeter, acted as 
 the trumpeter to Gove's train, ])ut when the others were captured, 
 made his escape. It is proba])le that he remained perdu until 
 after the trial. lie put his mettle to a better use a few years later 
 when he fought at Maquoit against the hostile Indians, though he 
 received his death-wound there. 
 
 Governor Cranfield finding liis selfish projects impeded l>y the 
 presence in his council of men identified iu feeling with the people, 
 suspended, by virtue of the power conferred by his conmiission, 
 three of his councillors, among them John Gilman of Exeter ; and 
 filled their places witli others more subservient to his will. Then, 
 all things being prepared to his mind, Mason entered upon his 
 legal campaign against the landholders of the province. 
 
 ROBKllT TUrroX mason's LAXn SUITS. 
 
 In order to understand the feelings of the i)eople it is necessary 
 to look at Mason's claim from tlieir point of view. Tliey were 
 
HISTORY OK exi<:teu. (55 
 
 aware that, half a century before, the soil had been granted to 
 Captain John 3Iasou by the Council of Plymouth, by virtue of a 
 royal patent. But they believed that though he maintained a 
 settlement upon it for a few years, his heirs after his death had 
 abandoned it. During the more than forty years that had elapsed 
 since that time, the territory had been regarded and dealt with as 
 if it had never been granted. A title had been purchased from 
 the Indian occupants, and the lands had thenceforward been bought 
 and sold, and transmitted l)y inheritance, in all respects as if they 
 were allodial. They had been improved by the sweat of the 
 settlers' brows, and defended by their blood against the incursions 
 of savage enemies. These claims outweighed a thousand- fold in 
 their minds the stale paper title of Mason. His demands they 
 regarded as unjust and inequitable in the highest degree, and they 
 were prepared to resist them to the bitter end. 
 
 But as the courts were now constituted, and the jurors selected, 
 they knew that they were helpless. Mason brought a great number 
 of suits, in the different towns of the province, to recover the 
 lands from their occupants. In Hxeter the following persons 
 were sued: Nathaniel Folsom, liiciiard Morgan, Kinsley Hall, 
 Ralph Hall, Christian Dolloft", Ephraim Folsom, Philip Cartee, 
 Moses Leavitt, John Folsom, Eleazer Klkins, Jonathan Robinson, 
 Jonathan Thing, Humphrey Wilson, Peter Folsom, John Gilman, 
 Jr. and Ephraim Folsom; — in the adjoining precinct of Squam- 
 scot, Andrew Wiggin and William Moore, Jr. 
 
 Pliable juries were empanelled by the sheriff, a creature of 
 Cranlield's, and the tenants knew it to be idle to make defence ; 
 so verdicts were returned against them " at the rate of from nine 
 to twelve in a day." So far as the courts were concerned the 
 governor and Mason had everything their own way. 
 
 But when the attempt was made to put the judgments in force, 
 the tenants had their innings. The sheriff' could indeed formally 
 deliver to the claimant the possession of the lands he had recov- 
 ered ; but the formality amounted to nothing, and the tenants 
 continued to enjoy the premises as before. Attempts were made 
 to sell the lands that had been thus levied on, but nobody would 
 buy them. After a few experiments of this kind Mason recognized 
 the futility of the proceedings, and for the time desisted. But it 
 was fully a (piarter of a century before the verdict of an indepen- 
 dent jury put a quietus on the Masoniau claims, and relieved the 
 land-owners from npi)roli{Mision. 
 
66 HISTORY OF EXETKll. 
 
 RESISTANCE TO ILLEGAL TAXATION. 
 
 But the irrepressible Craufiekl, in the language of one of his 
 contemporaries, "had come here after money, and money lie 
 ■would have." After vainly trying several devices to induce the 
 General Assembly to pass a bill to raise money, he determined in 
 1084 to lev}' taxes on the people with the assent of the council 
 only, and without the concurrence of the popular branch of the 
 assembly. This was clearly a usurpation of power ; and even his 
 accommodating council at first remonstrated against it. But the 
 apprehension of an outbreak among the Indians at the eastward 
 induced them to comply. The taxes were ordered by the governor 
 and council, and warrants were issued to the constables of the 
 several towns for their collection. But they met everywhere the 
 same reception as in Exeter, where John Folsom, the constable, 
 returned his warrant with the statement " that he had demanded 
 the taxes, but was answered by almost all of them that the 
 [governor's] commission directed the taxes should be raised by 
 the General Assembly, but these being done by the governor and 
 council, they would not pay." 
 
 Thereupon the Exeter warrant was committed for collection to 
 Thomas Thurton, provost marshal of the province, togetlier with 
 an order of the Court of Sessions for a Hue of fifty shillings 
 against John Folsom, for neglect of duty as constable. Thurton 
 was a coarse, brutal man, and his errand was not calculated to 
 win liini a very hearty welcome. He came to Exeter liy way of 
 Hampton, attended by his deput}', both on horseback, with swords 
 by their sides. Half a score of Hampton men, armed with clubs, 
 followed them on horseback to see and share the anticipated sport. 
 They proceeded first to the house of Edward Gilman, situated 
 nearly opposite the site of the present First church. Such a caval- 
 cade naturally attracted attention, and it took little time for the 
 whole village to learn the business that had brought it. A crowd 
 gathered. John Folsom, the delinquent constable, appeared, and 
 Thurton demanded of him the fine imposed ])y the Quarter 
 Sessions. Folsom replied that if the marshal " came to levy 
 execution at liis house, he should meet with a red-liot spit and 
 scalding water ; and that he did not value any warrant from the 
 governor, council or justice of the peace, and that the marshal 
 might go, like a rogue as he was." 
 
 Two of ]\rr. Gilman's aunts were at his house, the wife of John 
 Gilman, the suspended councillor, and of Moses Gilnrau, his 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 67 
 
 brother ; and they likewise gave Thurton to understand that they 
 had kettles of boiling water ready for him, if he came to their 
 houses to demand rates. The marshal now began to realize that 
 he had come on a bootless errand. The crowd, reinforced by 
 the addition among others of the Rev. John Cotton, the temporary 
 minister of the town, then began to hustle the marshal and his 
 deputy up and down the house, asking them tauntingly what they 
 wore at their sides, — meaning their swords, which were, to be 
 sure, rather ridiculous appendages, when their wearers dared not 
 use them. There was nothing worse than horse play, but the 
 marshal understood very well that if he were to attempt any serious 
 resistance, he was liable to be roughly treated. From Edward 
 Oilman's he and his deputy went next to the house of the widow 
 of Henry Sewall, to obtain refreshment for themselves and their 
 horses. The crowd followed them thither, and still kept up the 
 same system of annoyance. Then the officers and their unwel- 
 come retinue proceeded to the house of Jonathan Thing, to serve 
 an attachment upon him ; but the crowd would not suffer them to 
 do so, but plainly declared to the marshal that he " should do no 
 business relating to the execution of his office." In the end, the 
 officers were glad to get off with whole skins, and without making 
 the least progress in the business they had come for. 
 
 We obtain our only knowledge of this transaction from the testi- 
 mony of Thurton himself, a bitterly prejudiced and unscrupulous 
 witness ; but it is evident that though the whole community were 
 indignant at the illegal attempt at taxation, and determined that 
 the marshal should not be permitted to execute his warrant, yet 
 they scrupulously refrained from acts of violence. The glimpse, 
 too, that we get of the Exeter women of two hundred years ago 
 proves that they possessed a spirit worthy of the mothers of men 
 who had to endure the hardships of a frontier life, and to meet the 
 onslaughts of a savage foe, with no defence save their own right 
 arms and trusty weapons. 
 
 THE PROVINCE WITHOUT A CxOVERNMENT. 
 
 The records of Exeter tell nothing of the transactions of a 
 period of several years between 1080 and 1690. There were proba- 
 bly reasons in the condition of the times for this reticence. Kobert 
 Mason sought to support his land-claims by searching the books of 
 records of the several towns, whereupon the books were abstracted, 
 and for a time disappeared. Meantime Governor Cranfield became 
 
08 IIISTOUY OF EXETER. 
 
 discouraged in his attempt to gather wealth from his position in 
 New Hampshire, and abandoned his office. Walter Barefoote 
 succeeded him, and was in his turn succeeded by Joseph Dudley. 
 Then in 1G86 the province passed under the rule of Edmund 
 Andros, governor of New England. As the appointee and repre- 
 sentative of a Catholic sovereign, James II., he made few friends 
 in Puritan Massachusetts where was his oflieial residence. His 
 downfall approached on this side of the water, with, equal steps 
 with that of his royal master, on the other side. Almost simul- 
 taneously with the deposition and imprisonment of Andros by the 
 Massachusetts colonists, in tlie spring of 1G8'J, came the news of 
 the Revolution in England, and the accession of William III. 
 The New P^ngland colonies were thus left without a representative 
 of royalty to rule over them. Massachusetts, Avith her charter ami 
 long experience, easily set up a temporary government which 
 answered all her wants ; but New Hampshire had no facilities for 
 the purpose, and simply went on for nearly a year without an 
 executive ; and, thanks to tlie orderly disposition and good sense 
 of the people, without serious ditticulties ; and this notwithstand- 
 ing the situation was further complicated by the fact that an 
 Indian war was raging in the province at the time, and Dover and 
 Oyster river were the scenes of savage incursions and atrocities. 
 
 More than one attempt was made to induce the people of the 
 province to unite in choosing delegates to establish a government 
 ad interim, but for a time witliout avail. Tliey did, indeed, go so 
 far as to elect William Vaughan of Portsmouth, a member of the 
 board of commissioners of the United Colonies of New Enghuul, for 
 defence against the Indians ; though there is no entry upon the 
 records of Exeter that she took part in the election. And it was 
 not until December, lO.sit, that the New Ilampsliire towns reached 
 the point of choosing delegates to meet for tin- puipose of devising 
 some method of protection against tlie common eneni}'. Delegates 
 were then elected by Portsmouth, Dover, Exeter and IIanii)tou, 
 who assembled in convention at Portsmouth on the twenty-fourth 
 of January, 16!)0. The whole number was twenty-two, of whom 
 four were from Exeter : Robert Wadleigh, Samuel Leavitt, William 
 Hilton and .Jonathan Thing ; the last two taking the place of 
 William Moore, who was originally chosen. Th-j convention 
 agreed upon a brief plan for the present government of the 
 province, and submitted it to the peoi)le ; and in pursuance thereof 
 in Dover, if nowhere else, an election was held and olllcers were 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 69 
 
 voted for. But the unreasonable jealousy manifested by Hampton 
 towards the other towns, prevented the proposed government from 
 going into effect. 
 
 By this tims the need of a recognized head of authority in the 
 province was so apparent and so pressing, that some of the princi- 
 pal men of Portsmouth who were kindly affected towards Massa- 
 chusetts, drew np a petition, addressed to the authorities of that 
 colony, to be received under their government and protection, as 
 formerly, until their majesties' pleasure should be known. The 
 petition was speedily circulated in the several towns, and received 
 the signatures of three hundred and seventy-two persons, a very 
 large proportion of the adult males in the province. Of these, 
 sixty or seventy, at least, were residents of Exeter. Agreeably to 
 the prayer of the petition the old union with Massachusetts was 
 renewed on the nineteenth of March, 1690, and lasted until the 
 commission of Governor Samuel Allen was published in New 
 Hampsliire on the thirteenth of August, 1692. 
 
 During the second union Massachusetts made a call upon the 
 New Hampshire towns to choose each " two meet persons " to 
 assemble together with the Justices of the Peace of the province, 
 to adjust the charges of the Indian war, and to assess the amount 
 thereof upon the inhabitants. Exeter chose Peter Coffin and John 
 Gilman as her representatives for this duty. 
 
 The records of the town do not show any important action for 
 several years after this, save what properly belongs to other 
 departments of this history. At the annual meeting in April, 
 1705, John Light was received an inhabitant, and had a condi- 
 tional grant of laud ; perhaps the last instance of this formal 
 investiture with the privileges of citizenship. It was not many 
 years later that the final division of the town's lands was made, 
 after which there was no reason, and no attempt, to keep up the 
 old theory of a close corporation of the inhabitants. 
 
 Shortly afterwards the town began to improve their system of 
 records. It was voted in 1707 that " all rates made by the select- 
 men shall be committed to the town clerk to be entered upon 
 record, before they be delivered to the constable;" in 1713 that 
 ' ' the town clerk buy a book at the town's charge and enter all the 
 votes needed by the selectmen, at large, and all accounts of the 
 town's disbursements, debt and credit ;" and in 1721 that " a book 
 shall be bought for the selectmen to keep a fair record of what 
 money they raise, and how they dispose of it." These acts speak 
 
70 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 well for the care and prudence of the people, and merit the 
 warmest gratitude of the antiquary and historian in later times. 
 
 From the selectmen's accounts we learn that in the year 1714 
 they paid bounties to Captain Ilill and Samuel Dudley, Jr., on 
 " five wolves' heads." These animals were so great a source of 
 annoyance that the bounty paid for their destruction was raised 
 by the town, two years afterwards, to two pounds a head. 
 
 In the year 1717 the selectmen paid to Peter Folsom, Jr., for 
 work on the stocks, fifteen shillings and eight pence ; and to 
 Samuel Goodhue for mending the glass in the meeting-house, one 
 pound and eleven pence. Later payments for the same objects, 
 especially the latter, appear on the selectmen's account books, with 
 some frequency. The meeting-house windows must have been a 
 burden on the rate-payers. 
 
 In the same year the province authorized an issue of paper 
 money to the amount of fifteen thousand pounds, which was to be 
 lent to inhabitants in small sums on approved landed security. 
 The town chose Samuel Thing, Nicholas Gilman, Nicholas Gordon, 
 Moses Leavitt and Jonathan Thing a committee to act with the 
 representatives, in letting a portion of the money, in Exeter, and 
 empowered a majority of them to appraise upon oath the value of 
 the lands offered as security for such loans. 
 
 At the same meeting it was voted that Samuel Thing and Henry 
 Dyer request Colonel John Bridger, his majesty's surveyor gen- 
 eral, to mark the trees in the town wliieh were fit for the king's 
 service, " so that his majesty's subjects may goto work to get their 
 livelihood." The law wliich reserved for masts for the royal navy 
 the largest and finest growth of the forest, was a standing 
 grievance to the colonists, as the language of the above vote 
 implies, and led, as we shall see, to later trouble. In the same 
 year the town for the first time voted compensation to their officers ; 
 twenty shillings to each of the selectmen and five shillings to each 
 of the assessors, and committee. The presumption is that before 
 that time these otlicers had performed their duties gratuitously, 
 regarding the honor of their positions as a sutticient recompense. 
 It is. iK'rliai)s, needless to .add that the fasliion of payment, once 
 set, has been pretty faithfully followed, from that time to this. 
 
 On March 22, 1722, tlie town voted to make the minister's rate 
 by itself, to be paid in money ; and all other town charges to be 
 paid in ''peichers;" an ineffectual attempt, probably, to write 
 " specie." But specie at that time meant something quite differ- 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 71 
 
 ent from gold and silver coin. It must have referred to articles 
 of produce or merchandise at certain specified prices, for the vote 
 proceeds to define the " specishers " (as the word is spelled this 
 time) in which the town charges may be paid, as being " mer- 
 chantable boards and joist at 40/- per M. ; Indian corn at 3/ - 
 per bushel; Barley 3/G; Eye 4/-; wheat 5/6; Red oak hhd. 
 staves 30/- per M. ; White oak 40/-; White oak bbl. 30/-; 
 good pork 4 d a lb ; beef at 3 d." 
 
 The accounts of the selectmen for the year 1721 show that they 
 paid four sliillings and sixpence for " a brazen head put on the 
 black staff ;" and those of 1728 a like sum for " a black staff." In 
 our days of republican simplicity it requires a moment's thought to 
 realize that these entries refer to the official badge of the consta- 
 ble, which was then a black rod surmounted by a royal crown of 
 brass. Though we may smile at such insignia now, there was a 
 deal of dignity and of authority too, in them, a hundred and fifty 
 years ago. 
 
 At a meeting of the town, held September 28, 1731, a new 
 meeting-house having been built, it was voted that the old one be 
 taken down as soon as it could be with convenience, and that a 
 court-house be built of the stuff of said old house. Theophilus 
 Smith, Benjamin Thing and Jeremiah Conner were appointed a 
 committee to " discourse with workmen" about taking down the 
 old meeting-house and building a court-house, and to make report. 
 
 It was also voted that the town-house should be built fort}' feet 
 long and twenty-five feet wide, and be set on the south side of the 
 highway over against the meeting-house, as nigh the school-house 
 as might be with conveniency to the town land ; and that the 
 court-house be finished, so far as it could be done, by the first of 
 March next, so that the court might sit in it. 
 
 This provision for a court-house, which in all probability was 
 designed to be fitted up in the town-house building, was made in 
 consequence of an act passed by the General Assembly in 1730, 
 which provided for one term of the Inferior Court to be held in 
 each year in Exeter, and gave the like privilege to Dover and to 
 Hampton. Prior to this, all the courts in the province were held 
 in Portsmouth, to the manifest inconvenience of parties who 
 resided in the interior. Great efforts were made before and after 
 this time, to give the inland towns a small sliare, at least, of the 
 courts ; but the people of Portsmouth, aided by the influence of 
 the provincial government, constantly resisted and obstructed the 
 
72 IIISTOKY OF EXKTEK. 
 
 just legislation Un- the purpose, up to the time of the Revolution, 
 when Exeter became in eftect the cai)it:il of the State. It is not 
 known whether under the law of 17;5(l even a sinoje term of the 
 Inft'rior Court was held outside of Portsmouth; for the provincial 
 ollicials had the address to induce the king in council either to 
 refuse his assent to the law, or to order the repeal of it. The 
 tradition is that this was done by the influence of the lieutenant 
 governor and surveyor general, in revenge for the insult to his 
 authority conunitted by the "mast-tree mob" in Exeter, hereafter 
 to be mentioned. 
 
 The town-house was finished in 17;32 and stood nearly oi)posite 
 the meeting-house. It was flanked by the stocks and whipping- 
 post, erected in the most public position as a terror to evil-doers. 
 The "town-house rates" amounted to two hundred and forty 
 pounds, four shillings and eight pence.* 
 
 THE MAST-TUEE RIOT OK 1734. 
 
 The lumbermen of the New Hampshire frontiers were not men 
 troubled with nice scruples. They regarded the legal claim of tlie 
 king to the most valuable trees on their lands, as one which it was 
 not mor.ally wrong for them to evade or to transgress. And this 
 feeling was intensified by the domineering conduct towards them 
 of the surveyor general and his agents. Consequently there were 
 not a few of them who had no hesitation in taking the risk incurred 
 by despoiling the royal navy of its timber, and the surveyor gen- 
 eral of his perquisites. If Ihi'y were detected and convicted, they 
 were willing to i)ay the i)enalty ; if they escaped discovery they 
 slept none the less soundly. 
 
 Comi»laints had been repeatedly made in regard to some of the 
 l)eople of Exeter that they paid small regard to the laws on this 
 subject. As early as 1708 John Bridger, then surveyor general, 
 addressed a letter to Peter CoHin and Theophilus Dudley, justices 
 of the peace in Exeter, charging that several mast trees which 
 were reserved for her majesty's navy, had been felled, cut and 
 destroyed by Jeremiah (iilman. James (lihnan, David Gilman, 
 Sannu'l Piper, John Dcjwner, .Moses Pike and .Jonathan iSmith ; 
 and leipiiring said Collin and Dudh'y to do them justice according 
 
 *Oii Manh 'JC, 1733, the town cxcuscil the t.ix-i>ayers of the new jiarish of Xew- 
 iiiarkft tniin an ai-seusmeiit of iwenty-five |iouiiil8 for this ohjcct, " in considi-ra- 
 tinn that they had lately been at great expense iu buihlin;; a lueeting-house and 
 settlInK a minister there." 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 73 
 
 to law. AThat came of the application Is not known, but it is 
 questionable whether the surveyor general got much satisfaction. 
 
 His successor in office, David Dunbar, who had been a soldier 
 and was arbitrary, needy and litigious, learning or suspecting that 
 mast trees had been cut in Exeter, in the early part of the year 
 1734, visited a saw-mill at the Copyhold, as it was and still is 
 called, in that. part of Exeter which is now Brentwood, to see if 
 he could discover au}^ lumber there, from trees of the size reserved 
 for the navy. The people employed in the woods around were of 
 course at once apprised of his presence, and divined his purpose ; 
 but having very little respect for dignitaries of his sort, made the 
 welkin ring with their shouts and cries and with the discharges of 
 small arms. The surveyor general, fearing that if he persisted in 
 his investigations, they would proceed to acts of violence, con- 
 cluded that discretion was the better part of valor, and retreated. 
 But he was satisfied that the law had been violated, and that an 
 inspection of the piles of lumber about the mill would prove it. On 
 his return to Portsmouth, therefore, he employed ten men to proceed 
 in a sail boat to Exeter, and thence to go to the Copyhold mill, to 
 set the king's broad arrow on any lumber they iTjight find there, 
 which gave evidence of being cut from mast trees. 
 
 These men landed at the village of Exeter in the evening of 
 April 23, 1G34, and proceeded to the public house of Samuel 
 (^Umnn on AYater street, the same house afterwards occupied by 
 Oliver Peabody, and still standing, though much altered. There 
 they passed the evening, in the fashion of the tune. Meanwliile 
 the fact of their arrival and the nature of their errand spread 
 rapidl}' through the town. A number of the persons who were 
 most aggrieved by the operations of the surveyor general, assem- 
 bled at the public house kept by Zebulon Giddinge,* afterwards 
 occupied by the family of the Rev. William F. Rowland, and also 
 still standing, and there disguising themselves so as to resemble 
 Indians, sallied forth, about thirty in number, to head off Dunbar's 
 expedition. 
 
 What they did, Ave learn chiefly from the testimony of those 
 whom they assailed, men neither by character nor by feeling likely 
 to give a perfectly impartial account. But there seems little doubt 
 that the quasi Indians seized upon several of Dunbar's party as 
 they w^ere about going to bed, and handled them pretty roughly, 
 
 •The orthography of this name has been modernized iuto Giddings. 
 
74 IIISTOKV OF FA'ETER. 
 
 haullns; them down stairs and hnstling them out of the door, at 
 the same time ntterinji dire threats against them. They certainly 
 frifflitoned and dispersed the .party, and scuttled their boat and 
 destroyed the sails. The unlucky wights, who little expected such 
 treatment, were fain to retrace their way to Portsmouth as best 
 they could, bearing the marks of tlicir adventure in the shape of 
 torn clotlies and bloody noses, if nothing worse. 
 
 The actors in this illegal proceeding were probably well known 
 in Exeter, and included men who were by no means habitual law- 
 breakers. Dunbar was furious at their demonstration. Holding 
 the ofiice of lieutenant governor as well as of surveyor general, he 
 instantl}' summoned a meeting of tlie council. Belcher, the gover- 
 nor, being at the time absent from the province. To them he 
 represented that he believed the justices of the peace in Exeter 
 had some knowledge of the affair, and proposed that they should 
 be sent for and examined before the council, and that a proclama- 
 tion should be issued, offering a reward for detecting the persons 
 that were guilty of the offence. The council, however, were not 
 prepared to sanction these ])roposals of the testy lieutenant gover- 
 nor, but replied tiiat in their opinion the examination of the matter 
 appertained to the justices of the peace, and not to the council, 
 and the issuing of a proclamation appertained to the governor ; 
 :iii<l tlierefore they did not advise it without his order. 
 
 The governor did, indeed, issue a proclamation, Ixit offered no 
 reward, except the vague promise that " whosoever shall detect 
 the offenders above mentioned, or any of them, shall receive all 
 proper marks of the countenance and favor of this govornmojit." 
 The governor and his lieutenant were not friends. 
 
 The batlled lieutenant governor subsequently addressed a letter 
 to Nicholas (lilman, .lohii ( iilman and Bartholomew Thing, justices 
 of the peace at Exeter, in whieh lie demanded that some of them 
 should go with Charles Gorwood, his assistant, to Copyhold mill. 
 Black rock mill, ni)i)er and lower Tuckaway mills, Wadleigh's mill, 
 the Book mill, (iilman's mill and Piscassic mill, all in Exeter, and 
 tiie last two near Newmarket, and there oblige men to separate 
 and mark for his majesty's use such white ])ine boards as they 
 found sawn from mast trees. And in case of the nou-comj)liauce 
 of said justices with the abovt- order, he required them to hire or 
 impress a umn to go witli said (lorwood for the purposi' aforesaid. 
 
 The justices, after nearly a month's delay, replied that they had 
 employed a man to go with Gorwood as desired ; but as to his 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 75 
 
 demand that some of them should go, they could not, upon the 
 most deliberate consideration, find any authority to support them 
 in so doing. Thus Dunbar had to submit to a snubbing in every 
 quarter. 
 
 The ludicrous phase of the affair is to be found in the testimony 
 of Peter Greeley, who was Dimbar's particular assistant and 
 henchman. He deposed that Simon Gilman of PLxeter revealed to 
 him in confidence that the people of Exeter had hired three Natick 
 Indians to kill Dunbar, Theodore Atkinson, and himself (Greeley), 
 and had supplied the Indians with a quart of rum each every day, 
 " that they should not fail of their work ;" and that the Indians, 
 as soon as they had accomplished the deed, were to go at once to 
 Natick, where they would not be discovered. Apparently it 
 never dawned on Peter Greeley or his headstrong employer that 
 Simon was " chaffing" them, and that the whole demonstrations, 
 from Dunbar's visit at Copyhold mill to the riotous proceedings at 
 Exeter, were simply intended to prevent the further interference 
 of the surveyor general with the lumbermen, however they failed 
 to respect the trees reserved for the use of his majesty's navy. 
 
 At the annual town meeting in March, 1738, Elishn Odlin was 
 chosen town clerk in the place of Bartholomew Thing, who had 
 held the office for several years before. So far as we can now 
 discover, the change was made in consequence of the feeling that 
 had arisen on the then engrossing question of the division of the 
 town's common lands. For some cause, now unknown, Thing 
 declined to deliver up the towu books and records to his successor. 
 
 It may be that he had some show of right for withholding the 
 records. Concealment of the public archives was no new thing in 
 the history of the province, and it had taken place probably with 
 very general approval. But in the present case the majority of 
 the inhabitants were indignant at the late town clerk's conduct. 
 A meeting of the town was called, and voted that the books should 
 be removed out of Thing's hands and put into Odlin's ; that Jona- 
 than Wadleigh, Edward Hall, John Robinson, John Odlin, Jr. 
 and Zebulon Giddinge, should be a committee to prosecute Tliiug 
 if he refused to deliver them, and that the selectmen should raise 
 money to defray the charges of such prosecution. Nothing further 
 is heard of the recalcitrant town clerk's scruples. 
 
 The town meeting of June 15, 1738, was held in the town-house, 
 the first information which the record affords, of its completion. 
 
 It appears that the town was somewhat infested with wolves. 
 
70 IIISTOKY OF EXETKU. 
 
 even as late as 1742, for at the March meeting in that year a 
 bounty of fivi' jionnrls was votod " to any person of the first parish 
 who 8lu)uKl kill a grown wolf within said parish limits." At the 
 first glance it does not api)ear why this offer should be confined to 
 a single parish, unless indeed it referred to a "wolf in sheep's 
 clothing." liut when it is remembered that tlu' inhabitants of the 
 southwesterly p;irt of the town liad recently been set off into a 
 separate parish, it is easy to see that the intention was to bind 
 Exeter to paj* the bounty, and to leave the new precinct of Brent- 
 wood to act for itself. The reason of making the bounty so large, 
 undoubtedly, was the depreciation of the paper money of the 
 period. 
 
 In looking over the records of the town meetings we are often 
 met by entries of adjournments for fifteen minutes, or for other 
 brief periods. The cause of these little intermissions of business 
 was ostensibly to allow the voters time for consultation, or the 
 committees the opportunit}' to prepare their reports. But when 
 we remember the habits of the times, and tliat there were compara- 
 tively few men who did not indulge in strong potations pretty 
 regularly every day, we can see that another consideration was, 
 l)erhaps, not without its weight. It was manifestly only fair tliat 
 men should be allowed time to take their customary refreshment, 
 without apprehension that some objectionable vote might be 
 carried in their absence. An adjournment put all upon an equal 
 footing, — in one sense, at least. It is proper to say, however, 
 that in the matter of dram-<binking, Exeter was no worse, and 
 probably no better, than all otlier places. Indeed, in after years, 
 when the temperance reform arose, the town early took advanced 
 ground in its favor. As indicative, however, of tlie universal use 
 of strong li(piors on all occasions, we lind among the town accounts 
 for 1 722 these entries : " Expenses of town, rum and shuger o/6 ; 
 rum, raising the bell 1/- ; rum and shuger 2/() ; same 10/-; same 
 1/(5." In tlic accounts for 1 73() are found the following : "paid 
 Capt. fSanniLl (iilinan for drink given to those men that signed a 
 deed for land in the way that led to cJrinktvafer road 17/4," and 
 *• fur 1 gall, rum and 2 lb. sugar and allspice for William (Jay's 
 (a town pauper's) funeral, 1 1. ;'> s. 2 il." ami in 1743, these: " for 
 rum and sugar in proving the bounds of Kensington 17/'.) ;" and 
 " Benjamin 'J'hing for rum to move the pound 10/-." 
 
 In the year 174(5 the people of Newmarket and others presented 
 a petition to the (ieueral Assembly for leave to erect a draw- 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 77 
 
 bridge over the Squarascot river between Newmarket and Strat- 
 ham. As early as the year 1700, a right of ferry had been granted 
 there to Eichard Hilton, which had been in use up to that time. 
 
 The convenience of a bridge to the people of the towns which 
 had in the meantime grown up on the northwestern side of the 
 river, who had to pass it in order to go to Portsmouth the seat of 
 government, furnished a powerful argument to the petitioners. 
 But Exeter feared that a bridge would cause injury to its business, 
 and appointed Ezekiel Oilman, Daniel Oilman and Nicholas 
 Penymau a committee to oppose the petition. They set out, in a 
 lengthy remonstrance to the assembly, various reasons against 
 the erection of a bridge ; the likelihood that it would prevent the 
 ascent of the fish, especially the bass, which were represented as 
 abundant ; the obstruction to the free passage up and down the 
 river, of mast trees, rafts, gundalows and vessels, and the conse- 
 quent injury to the navigation and ship-building interest of Exeter ; 
 and, in fact, made the best of a rather weak case. But the Legis- 
 lature passed a bill permitting the bridge to be built, under some 
 restrictions. Various difficulties postponed the erection of it, and 
 more legislation was found needful ; among other things a lottery 
 was legalized in aid of the enterprise ; and it was not till a quarter 
 of a century had elapsed that the bridge was fairly completed. 
 
 A DISOKDERLY ELKCTIOX. 
 
 The demeanor of the people of Exeter at town meetings in the 
 earlier part of the present century, is said to have been in general 
 a pattern of decorum. Every voter, for example, respectfully 
 doffed his hat in passing the moderator to deposit his ballot. But 
 it was not always so. At a meeting of the town held on the 
 twenty-fifth of October, 1755, for the choice of representatives in 
 the assembly, things were not conducted in this orderly fashion. 
 The long contest over the question of incorporating a second 
 parish had just ended in the triumph of the seceding members, 
 who had procured an act of the assembly freeing them from all 
 liability to the old parish ; and it is more than likely that some 
 bitterness of feeling was the result. Peter Oilman and John 
 Phillips, two prominent partisans of the new parish, were declared 
 elected representatives. A remonstrance was presented to the 
 assembly, against their being allowed to take seats, upon the 
 ground of unfair practices in their election. A hearing was had 
 
7j< histoky of e.\i:tku. 
 
 thereon, at whit-h Ephraim Kobinsoii, a prominent member of the 
 old parish, testified that '• wiuii the votes were numbered and the 
 person deehired to be chosen, the moderator was lold the votes 
 were not all brought in ; to which he answered it was too late to 
 brini: in, then, for the person was chosen. Then there was a poll 
 desired by seven persons or more, and it was denied. In voting 
 for the second person, a number of persons declared they would 
 not vote till the first vote was decided ; and in voting for the last 
 person there was one vote changed after it was put into the hat, 
 and some more was asked to be changed. And when the second 
 person was declared to be chosen, there was a poll again demanded 
 bv seven persons or more, but not granted. The whole of the 
 meeting was carried on with the gi-eatest irregularity and confu- 
 sion, after the moderator was chosen, that ever I see in any town 
 meeting before." 
 
 The Legislature ordered the return to be set aside and a precept 
 to be sent to the town for a new election : at which Peter Oilman 
 and Zeliulou Giddinge were chosen. 
 
 For several succeeding years the attention of the people was 
 much occupied witli the French and Indian wars, which, though 
 carried on at a distance, yet demanded new military organizations 
 at home, every season. Exeter sent forth her annual quota of 
 combatants, and was substantially the headquarters of one or 
 more battalions, a-< will :ii)pear in the chapter devoted to military 
 
 history. 
 
 The vear 1758 was memorable for the prevalence in the tOAvn of 
 that most dreaded scourge, the small-pox, a legacy, not improba- 
 bly, of the camp. It made such inroads among the inhabitants 
 that a town meeting was found needful, to give authority to the 
 selectmen to take effectual measures for its eradication. 
 
 DEMONSTRATION AGAINST TIIK STAMP ACT. 
 
 Scarcely had the welcome news of peace with France and her 
 savage allies been proclaimed, before the determination of England 
 to exact tribute from her American colonies was manifested, by 
 the passage of the Stamp Act ; which was rendered no more 
 agreeable to the people of New Hampshire by the knowledge that 
 it originated from the suggestion of one of her own sons, Mr. John 
 Iluske. There is no need to repeat here the oft told tale of the 
 mingled sorrow and indignation witli which this injudicious piece 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEK. 79 
 
 of legislation was universally received on this side of the water. 
 The feeling of the citizens of Exeter was well expressed by the 
 Rev. Daniel Rogers, pastor of the Second church, who wrote in 
 his diary under date of November 1, 1765, the day when the law 
 went into effect : " The infamous Stamp Act, abhorred by all the 
 British Colonies, took place." 
 
 The fifth of the same mouth used in many places in New Eng- 
 land to be observed as "pope's day," in commemoration of the 
 discovery of Guy Fawkes's gunpowder plot. This 3'ear it was 
 made the occasion of a display of popular feeliug in Exeter agaiust 
 the Stamp Act. Three effigies, representing, according to the 
 Rev. Mr. Rogers, the pope, the devil aud a stamp master, but 
 according to another eye witness, Lords North and Bute as two of 
 the characters, were carried about the streets of the town, and 
 finally taken across the river, to the front of where the jail after- 
 wards stood, and there set fire to and burnt to ashes. We may 
 safely assume that the exhibition was witnessed by the citizens 
 with abundant tokens of approbation. 
 
 The person appointed stamp-distributor for New Hampshire 
 was constrained by the expressions of popular feeling to resign his 
 office, and consequently no stamps ever got into use. This led to 
 the opinion on the part of some persons, that proceedings in the 
 courts of law could possess no validit}', and to fears that universal 
 license was to rule. But the substantial citizens of Exeter did not 
 hesitate to array themselves against disorder. They entered into 
 a written engagement for mutual protection and defence, which 
 they subscribed and published, in the following terms : 
 
 Whereas many evil minded persons have, on account of the 
 Stamp Act, concluded that all the laws of this province, and the 
 execution of the same, are at an end ; and that crimes against the 
 public peace and private property may be committed with 
 impunity, which opinion will render it unsafe for the peace officers 
 to exert themselves in the execution of their offices : 
 
 Therefore we the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Exeter, 
 to prevent, as much as in us lies, the evils naturally consequent 
 upon such an opinion, and for preserving the peace and good 
 order of tlie community and of oui* own properties, do hereby 
 combine, promise and engage to assemble ourselves togetlier when 
 aud where need re(juires, in aid of the peace oHicers, and to stand 
 by and defend them in the executiou of their respective offices, 
 
so 
 
 HISTORY OF KXKTKi;. 
 
 :ui'l o:u-\\ other in our i-o.spective properties an<l porsous, to tlae 
 utmost, aijainst all disturbers of the public peace and iuvaders of 
 private property. 
 
 Witness our hands at Exeter this I.)"' day of November A. D. 
 17(;.'). 
 
 John Bellamy 
 Theodore Carleton 
 l-'Jiphalet Coffin 
 Peter Coffin 
 John Dudley 
 Noah Kinery 
 Nathaniel Folsom 
 Samuel Folsom 
 Trueworthy Folsom 
 John Giddinsje 
 ihirlholomew Oilman 
 Daniel Oilman 
 
 John ^^'ard Oilman 
 Josiah Oilman 
 Josiah Oilman ter. 
 Nicholas Oilman 
 Peter Oilman 
 Samuel Oilman 
 Samuel Oilman -i^^ 
 John Hall 
 John Lamson 
 John Nelson 
 Thomas Odiorne 
 Winthrop Odlin 
 
 Thomas Parsons 
 Benjamin Philhrick 
 John Phillips 
 Enoch Poor 
 John Rice 
 Charles Rundlet 
 Theophilus Smith 
 Joseph Swasey 
 Daniel Tiltou 
 Jacoh Tiltoa * 
 
 rATIMOTIC ACTION Ol' TIIIC TOWN IX 1770. 
 
 The following year the Stamp Act was repealed, to the great 
 joy and gratitude of the colonists. But England insisted on her 
 claim of right to tax the Americans without their consent, and 
 imposed a duty on ilw. importation of tea and a few other articles 
 into the provinces. This renewed the irritation among the col- 
 onists, which, however, did not fairly break forth into open expres- 
 sion until the intelligv.mce of the "• Boston massacre," March 5, 
 1770. Twelve days after that tragical occurrence a meeting of 
 the town of Exeter was called, upon a petition of a number of the 
 inhabitants, to act upon the following articles: 
 
 1. To see whether the town will ]\ass any vote for the encour- 
 agement of the pi'oduce and manufactures of this country. 
 
 2. To see whether they will pass any vote or votes to discoun- 
 tenance the importati(jn and consumption of unnecessary and 
 superlhious foreign articles ; and very particularly, as the duty on 
 'i'r.A furnishes so enormous a sum towards the support of a set of 
 miscreants who devour the fruits of our honest industry, and [are] 
 justly deemed the bane of this country, to see if the town will ]iass 
 a vote not to make use of any foreign tea, and use their inlhience 
 to prevent the consumption of it in their ri'spective families, till 
 the duty is taken olY. 
 
 • Two copies of this agrceinont have been found, diCferine; slightly in the names ol 
 the subscriberi. .\ll the names upon each are here retained. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETP:R. 81 
 
 3. To see if the town will inquire, or choose a committee to 
 inquire, of the representatives of this town, what leijal and consti- 
 tutional measures have been taken b}' the General Assembly of 
 this province for the redress of our grievances, in order to know 
 what, or whether any measures may now be advisable to be pro- 
 moted by them, and if any measures be advisal)le, to give their 
 Representatives [instructions] to be by them observed, at their 
 next session. 
 
 At the meeting of the town, held on the twenty-fifth of March, 
 1770, the vote for the encouragement of the produce and manu- 
 factures of this country' passed in the affirmative, as did also that 
 to discountenance the importation and consumption of unnecessary 
 and superfluous articles. The town also resolved not to make use 
 of any foreign tea, but to exert their influence to prevent the con- 
 sumption of it in their respective families, till the dutj' should be 
 taken off. Upon the article relative to the inquiry and instructiou 
 of the representatives, a connnittee was appointed, consisting of 
 Nathaniel Folsom, John Phillips, Nicholas Oilman, Samuel 
 Folsora, Joseph Oilman and Enoch Poor. 
 
 The meeting was then adjourned to the succeeding second of 
 April, on which day the committee made their report, at consider- 
 able length. The substance of it was, that the General Assembly 
 of this province had authorized a letter to be prepared and signed 
 by their Speaker, addressed to their agent at the Court of Great 
 Britain, to be presented to the king, expressing their hearty con- 
 currence with the patriotic sentiments contained in a comnnmica- 
 tion received from the house of Burgesses of Virginia ; that the 
 proposed letter was drafted and sent to the Speaker (Peter 
 Oilman) at Exeter, for his signature, but as it did not express his 
 personal views, he failed to subscribe it, wherefore it was not 
 transmitted to England seasonably to co-operate with the petitions 
 from the other colonies; and " that our American brethren may 
 not construe it as deserting their interest upon any ungenerous 
 separate views, we therefore give it as our instruction to the rep- 
 resentatives of this town to use their influence in the House to 
 promote a more public demonstration of their being governed by 
 those noble, patriotic and loj^al principles in which they have so 
 happily harmonized with the other provinces, and, particularly, 
 that an address to his majesty for redress of grievances, may 
 (though late) be forthwith transmitted without further loss of 
 time." 
 
 6 
 
82 lIISTOlfY OF KXKTKK. 
 
 The representatives wore also instructed to expedite the act for 
 dividing the province into counties. 
 
 The report of the committee was adopted by the town. 
 
 The facts of the case were that Peter Gihnan, who was then, 
 jHM-haps, the foremost citizen of the town, and liad occupied the 
 Speaker's chair in tiie General Assembly for a number of years, 
 was opposed to measures looking to resistance to the Crown of 
 Kngland. He had received honors and emoluments from the royal 
 governors, had repeatedly taken the oath of allegiance in his 
 ollicial capacity, had nothing to gain, but nuuli that might be lost 
 by a change of government, and had arrived at a period of life 
 when a man becomes conservative and averse to radical measures. 
 It is only fair to say, however, that in conijjliance with the evident 
 will of his constituents he soon after set his signature to the letter 
 referred to ; and though it was well known that he disapproved of 
 the measures of the Revolution, j^et he remained at his home, unmo- 
 lested, througlKjut the war that followed, and apparently retained 
 the respect of his townsmen, though they, with scarce an excep- 
 tion, were whigs of the most determined character. In 1771, when 
 he ceased to be a member of the assembly, the town gave him 
 a vote of thanks for his past services as their representative. 
 
 The law for dividing the province into counties, a long delayed 
 act of justice to the people, went into effect in 1771. By its pro- 
 visions certain terms of the courts were to be held in Exeter, an<l 
 it was proposed that the town should furnish a suitable site for a 
 county court-house. The open space in front of the i)resent town- 
 house, Avas then disfigured by a pound and several small buildings, 
 erected in the midst of it. At a meeting of the town held July 8, 
 1771, it was voted "to grant liberty for a county court-house to 
 be Iniilt on the land on wliich the pound and the shops belonging 
 to Dr. Josiah Gilmau, .John ^V;l^d (iilman, Samuel (iiluKiu and 
 Sanmel Folsom now stand," and that the land should be cleared of 
 all incumbrances whatsoever. It was some years, however, before 
 the court-house was erected, and in the meantime the courts were 
 held in the town-house, which stood nearly opposite the First 
 cliurch. The earliest session of the Superior Court in the town 
 was held on the first Tuesday of Septem.ber, 1771. 
 
 In tlie year 1771 was built, at the expense of the town, the 
 brick powder-house, near tiie first point on the eastern side of the 
 salt river. Whether this was done in anticipation of the armed 
 struggle that was soon to follow, we cannot tell. It is prol)able. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 83 
 
 however, that it became the storehouse in that war, and. perhaps 
 iu subsequent wars, of " the town's stock of powder." The quaint 
 little structure is one of the links that connect us with the past, 
 and should not be suffered to go to decay. 
 
 ANOTHER PATRIOTIC EXPRESSION OF THE TOWN. 
 
 Political affairs were now gradually but surely tending towards 
 a wider separation of the colonies from the mother country. The 
 British Parliament, with a perverse misunderstanding of the temper 
 of our people, persisted iu retaining the duty on tea imported into 
 the colonies, as a token of their right to impose taxes on them 
 without their consent. It was the fly in the ointment. The Ameri- 
 cans, who had previously been liberal consumers of tea, would 
 have no more of it. And when the attempt was made to force it 
 upon them, the sons of liberty of Boston boarded the vessels laden 
 with the detested herb, and flung their cargoes into the sea. 
 
 Thereupon, on the twenty- fifth of the same December a meeting 
 of the citizens of P^xeter was called for an expression of opinion 
 in the premises; and was held on the third of January, 177-1. 
 Nathaniel Folsom was chosen moderator. The action of the voters 
 is thus described : 
 
 The meeting proceeded to take into consideration the rise of the 
 present general uneasiness through the continent, which appears 
 to them to be fairly, as well as briefly, stated by the honorable his 
 majesty's council of the province of Massachusetts Bay, in their 
 late advice to their governor. It was then moved [and] ruled that 
 a number present draw up what they conceive to be the general 
 sense of the meeting upon the matter under consideration, who, 
 having consulted togetlier, report that the}' appreliend the sense of 
 this town cannot be better expressed than by adopting the resolves 
 of the patriotic citizens of Philadelphia, which are as follows, viz. : 
 
 Resolverl, That tlie disposal of their own property is the inhere 
 ent right of freemen ; that there can be no properly in that which 
 another can, of right, take froui us without our consent ; that the 
 claim of Parliament to tax America is, in other words, a claim of 
 right to levy contributions on us at pleasure. 
 
 2. That the duty imposed by Parliament upon tea landetl in 
 America, is a tax on the Americans, or levying contribution on 
 them without their consent. 
 
 3. That the express purpose for which the tax is levied on the 
 Americans, nami'ly, for the sui)port of government, the adminis- 
 tration of justice and the defence of his majesty's dominions iu 
 
S-l HISTOKV OK KXKTKIJ. 
 
 America, has a direct tendency to render assemblies useless, and 
 to introduce nrliitrary irovcrniiK'Ht and shivery. 
 
 4. That avirliious and steady oi)|)osition to this ministerial plan 
 of governing America, is absolutely necessary to preserve even 
 the shadow of liberty, and is a duty which every freeman in 
 America owes to his country, to himself and to his posterity. 
 
 ;"). That the resolution lately come into by the East India Com- 
 jiany to send out their tea to America subject to the pajmient of 
 duties on its being landed here, is an oi»i'n attempt to enforce the 
 ministerial plan, and a violent attack u}K>n tiie liberties of America. 
 
 d. That it is the duty of every American to oi)pose this attempt. 
 
 7. That whoever shall directly or indirectly countenance this 
 attem}tt or in any wise aid or abet in unloading, receiving or 
 vending the tea sent or to be sent out In' the l-^ast India Company 
 while it I'cmains subject to the payment of a duty here, is an 
 enemy to America. 
 
 The foregoing resolves, after having been repeatedly read, 
 passed almost unanimously. 
 
 Farther Jiesolvecl, That we are read}' on all nt'cessary occasions 
 to risk our lives and fortunes in defence of our rights and lii)er- 
 ties, professing to have as great a veneration for freedom as any 
 people on earth. 
 
 Voted,) That this town do return their sincere thanks to all the 
 cities, towns and persons in America who have at any time nobly 
 exerted themselves in the cause of liberty. 
 
 Voted ^ That John l'hillii)s, Kscj., John Ciiddinge, Esq., Col. 
 Nicholas (Jilmau, Mr. Samuel Brooks and Mr. .Joseph (iilman, 
 they or any three of them, be a committee to correspond with tlie 
 connnittee of Portsmouth, and an}' and all other committees, in 
 this or the ueighl)oring governments, as they may see occasion ; 
 and that they cause the proceedings of this meeting to be pub- 
 lished in the New llami)shire Gazette as soon as may be. 
 
 Voted, That the Committee of Correspondence wait on the 
 dealers in teas in this town, and desire them to desist from pur- 
 chasing any more teas, until the duty thereon is taken ott". 
 
 Upon the eighteenth of July the town chose as deputies to the 
 first Provincial Congress, .John (liddinge, Theophilus Oilman, 
 Nathaniel Eolsoni, .John Phillips and Sanmel (iilman, with power 
 to theuj or any three of them to join in choosing delegates to the 
 Continental Congress; and voted that ten pounds, lawful money, 
 should be paid by the selectmen towards defraying the expenses of 
 such delegates. The Provincial Congress met on the twenty-first 
 of .July, at Exeter, and chose Nathaniel Eolsom of Exeter, and 
 .John Sidlivan delegates to the Continental Compress. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 85 
 
 HELP FOR THE SUFFERING POOR OF BOSTON, 
 
 The next step taken by Great Britain towards effectually alienat- 
 ing her American snbjects, was the passage of the Boston port 
 bill. This measure put an end to all commerce and nearly all 
 business in the principal town of New England, and as a matter of 
 course, caused great distress to the laboring class there, whom it 
 threw out of employment. The warmest sympathy was expressed 
 from all quarters with the oppressed inhabitants of Boston. 
 
 In Exeter a town meeting was called to take into consideration 
 " the distressing cii'cumstauces of the town of Boston, occasioned 
 by a cruel and arbitrary act of the British Parliament in blocking 
 up their harbor," and to pass a vote to raise money for the relief 
 of tlie industrious suffering poor of said town. 
 
 At the meeting held October 31, 1774, it was resolved to raise 
 by taxation one hundred pounds, lawful money, for the suffering 
 poor of Boston ; with the proviso that ' ' if any person or persons 
 shall be against paying their proportion of the tax, if they enter 
 their names with the clerk within ten days, they shall be exempted 
 from paying anything of said tax." 
 
 The assessment of this sum is set forth on the town books, and 
 to the credit of our fathers it may be said that few, if any, appear 
 to have taken advantage of the clause of exemption. The full 
 amount was promptly collected and paid over to the authorities of 
 the town of Boston. 
 
 The following correspondence respecting the gift, is worthy of 
 preservation. 
 
 LETTER FROM EXETER TO THE COM5HTTEE OF BOSTON. 
 
 Gentlemen., 
 
 It gives us peculiar satisfaction that we are the happy instruments 
 of conveying relief to the distressed. We send you by the bearer 
 hereof Mr. Carlton, one hundred pounds, which sum was unani- 
 mously and cheerfully voted by this town for our suffering 
 brethren in Boston. The cause for which you now suffer we 
 esteem the common cause of all America ; your prudence and 
 fortitude we admire. That you may be assisted by all the colonies 
 in the present glorious struggle for liberty, and endued with 
 wisdom and patience to persevere to the end is the desire and 
 hearty prayer of your sincere friends. 
 
 I have the honor, (lentlemen, in behalf of the selectmen of Exe- 
 ter, to subscribe myself your most humble servant, 
 
 Samuel Buooks. 
 
 New Hampshire, Exeter, Gth February, 1775. 
 
86 nisT()in' (^F i:xi:tki!. 
 
 KKl'LV TO KXETKU. 
 
 Boston, February S, 177.3. 
 Sir, 
 
 Our woiihv friond "Sir. Carlton has jii.st now called in and 
 loft with nw ono hundred jiouuds, lawful money, a fjenerous dona- 
 tion from the patriotic inhal)itants of Exeter for their suffering 
 brethren in lioston. You will please to tender the thanks of the 
 Coinuiittee of Donation!^ to our kiml benefactors for this mark of 
 their Christian sYui[)athY and affection. The approltation of the 
 past conduct of this greatly oppressed and distressed metropolis 
 aft'ords us great satisfaction, but es[)eeially the tender and benevo- 
 lent sentiments expressed in your letter. Prudence and fortitude 
 have doubtless been exhibited, but humility becomes us, and our 
 thankful aeknowleilgements are due to (4od, from whom alone 
 everv good gift and every perfect gift is dci-iveil, and on Him alone 
 we must constantly depend for all that wisdom, patience and forti- 
 tude, we need in tliis day of sore trial. By his help and favor we 
 shall persevere, and in the end see the happ\^ accomplishment of 
 all our desires. We hope for the continuance of the prayers, 
 countenance and assistance of our friends. We cannot doubt it 
 since they uniteilly consider the cause as common. 
 
 Yours and olhcrs'. our friends' donations will lie applied agreea- 
 ble to the intent of the charitable donors. I'rinted accounts of tlie 
 conduct of the Committee are now inclosed, and I trust will give 
 satisfaction to all the friends of truth and righteousness. 
 
 I am, sir, your obliged friend and humble servant, 
 
 David Jeffhiks. 
 Per order of the Committee of Donations. 
 
 To Samuel Brooks, Esq. 
 
 At a meeting of the town December 20, 1774, it was voted to 
 ad(jpt the association agreement determined upon by the Continen- 
 tal Congress, and b}' them reconnnended to the l>ritish colonies, 
 commonly known as tlie non-importatiou agreement ; and the 
 following persons were chosen to see that the agreement be strictly 
 adhered to, vi/. : Daniel 'lilton, Thomas Odiorne, Theophilus 
 (iilman, Williaiii Tarker, .b)lin ICmery, Nicholas Oilman, Nathan- 
 iel Folsom, Theodore Carleton, Enoch Poor, Theophilus Smith, 
 Thomas Folsom, Peter Coffin, Sanmel Folsom, Joseph (Oilman, 
 James Ilackett, John Oiddinge, Josiah (Jilman, Eliphalet Hale, 
 Josiah Kobinson, Josiah Ihirker, Nathaniel Cordon, Ephraim 
 Robinson and Sanuiel ]>rooks. 
 
 AVe have information (though the record fails to show it), that 
 at the same meeting a resolution was adopted against the intrusion 
 of pcdlers, hawkers and petty chapnuii, who obviously could ileal 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 87 
 
 in the forbidden commodities with little danger of detection. The 
 popular sentiment against violations of the non-importation agree- 
 ment was plainly expressed in a published letter of the time 
 written from Exeter, that if this vote of the town and the law of 
 the province should be ineffectual to prevent them, "it is the 
 opinion of many that an experiment ought to be made of Tar and 
 Feathers !" fe 
 
 At the same meeting the following persons were chosen aeputies 
 to represent the town in the (second) Provincial Congress held in 
 Exeter on the twenty-fifth of Jauuar}^, 1775: Nathaniel Folsom, 
 Theophilus Gilman, Nicholas Oilman, William Parker and John 
 Giddinge. By that congress John Sullivan and John Langdon 
 were elected delegates to the Continental Congress. 
 
 Throughout the year events were hurrying on to a crisis. Three 
 other congresses of the province assembled in Exeter in 1775. 
 The first of these met on the twentj'-first of April. Exeter was 
 represented in it by Nathaniel Folsom, Nicholas Gilman, John 
 Giddinge, Theophilus Gilman and Enoch Poor. On the seven- 
 teenth of May another like convention of deputies of the people 
 opened its session. The delegates of the town were Nathaniel 
 Folsom, Nicholas Gilman and Pmoch Poor ; but when the first and 
 last of these were summoned into the military serWce, a new elec- 
 tion was held June 26, to supply their places. John Giddinge and 
 Theophilus Gilman were chosen. The latter desired to be excused, 
 because he was elected " against his consent," and Noah Emery, 
 and afterwards Samuel Brooks were selected " to serve six months, 
 if necessar3^" 
 
 This body was kept alive, by repeated adjournments, till the 
 fifteenth of November, and in its recesses the provincial committee 
 of safety was in continual session, in Exeter. 
 
 It was from this Congress, it is alleged, that the earliest official 
 suggestion of national independence emanated. Matthew Thorn- 
 ton, its president, in a " noble letter" to the Continental Congress 
 at Philadelphia, bearing date May 23, 1775, held this language : 
 
 We will not conceal that many among us are disposed to 
 conclude, that the voice of God and Nature to us, since the late 
 hostile design and conduct of Great Britain, is, that ive are bound 
 to look to our whole political affairs. 
 
 THE CENSUS OF 1775. 
 
 On the twenty-fifth of August, 1775, the Provincial Congress 
 recommended to the selectmen of the several towns and places in 
 
88 
 
 IIISTOKY (IF KXHTKK. 
 
 the colony, to take the exact number of nil the inhabitants therein, 
 and make return of the same in several columns as specified ; and 
 also to re]iort the number of liro-arms and the stock of powder in 
 each place. 
 
 The return made by the selectmen of ICxeter was as follows : 
 
 Males under 10 years of ape 
 
 Males from 10 years to oO not in the army 
 
 All males above 50 years of age 
 
 Persons gone in the army 
 
 All females 
 
 Negroes and slaves for life 
 
 Fire arms 
 
 Fire arms wanting 
 
 401 
 273 
 
 86 
 
 51 
 892 
 
 38 
 193 
 150 
 
 S05 lbs. 
 
 50 lbs. 
 
 Selectmen 
 !> of 
 
 Exeter. 
 
 Powder 
 
 Town stock of powder 
 
 S.\MUEL Brooks 
 
 Theodore Carleton 
 
 Petkh Cofi-in Jun. 
 
 Ei'ii" Robinson 
 
 G October 1775, Sworn to before Zaccheus Clough, Just. Peace. 
 
 THE earliest avkitten constitution. 
 
 The authority of the king's officers having come to an end, 
 the need of a regular and stable sj'stem of government in New 
 Hampshire had now become so urgent, that in October the 
 lirovince made application to the Continental Congress for advice 
 and direction what course they ought to adopt. The answer of the 
 Congress, given in November, was a recommendation in substance 
 that a full and free representation of the people should be called, 
 to establish, if thought necessary, a form of government such as 
 should best promote the welfare of the province, during the contin- 
 uance of the dispute with fireat Britain. 
 
 In pursuance of this advice a fifth Provincial Congress was 
 summoned, to be composed of jiersons having real estate in the 
 province to the value of five hundred pounds each, to meet at Exe- 
 ter on the twenty-first day of December, and to serve for one 
 year, to transact such business and pursue such measures as they 
 might judge necessary for the i)ublic good ; and in case there 
 should be a recommendation from the Continental Congress that 
 the colony assume government in any particular form, which would 
 require a House of Hcprescntatives, to resolve themselves into such 
 a House as the Continental Congress should recommend. 
 
HISTOKY OF EXETER. 89 
 
 John Giddinge and Noah Emeiy were selected as delegates of 
 Exeter, without specific instructions. 
 
 This last provincial representation of New Hampshire came 
 together on the day appointed, and spent the first two weeks of 
 their session in disposing of preliminary matters, in order that time 
 might be allowed for deliberate consideration before acting upon 
 the momentous question of " taking up government," as the phrase 
 of the day was. 
 
 Then, everything being made ready, on the fifth day of Janu- 
 ary, 1776, the delegates, in pursuance of the powers committed to 
 them by their constituents, resolved themselves into a House of 
 Representatives ; adopted a avrittkn Constitution, the first of 
 EITHER OF THE UNITED States ; elected under it the needful legis- 
 lative, judicial and executive officers ; and thus New Hampshire 
 became, in effect, free and independent of the British Crown. 
 
CriAlTER IV. 
 EXETER UNDER THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The Constitution adopted by New Hampshire in the early part 
 of 177G, though in some respects imperfect, as might naturally 
 have been expected, being the first of its kind, yet served the 
 purposes of the people sulliciently well until it was superseded by 
 a more complete instrument, framed al)Out the close of the Revo- 
 lution. 
 
 Exeter, by the census of 1775, containing seventeen liuiidrod 
 and forty-one inhabitants, had become practically the cai)ital of 
 the State, the seat of government, and the centre of all civil and 
 military activity in New Hampshire. 
 
 There is little upon the records of the town to show tliat the 
 people had become sovereign, except that new safeguards were set 
 up against the selection of unsuitable persons for i)u))lic ollice. 
 The members of the council, for example, were re(iuircd to be 
 respectable freeholders, and no man could sit in either house of 
 the Legislature who had treated electors with liquor to gain their 
 votes. The people evidently valued at its true worth the privilege 
 of governing themselves, which they were paying so heavy a price 
 to secure. 
 
 tup: association test of 177G. 
 
 The Continental Congress resolved on the fourteenth of IVIarch, 
 1776, to recommend to the several Assemblies or Committees of 
 Safety of the Tnited Colonies immediately to cause to be disarmed 
 all ])ersons within their respective colonies who were notoriously 
 disalTectcd to the cause of America, or who refused to associate to 
 defend l>y apns the I'uited Colonies against the hostile attempts 
 of the British fleets and armies. ^\ 
 
 Tlic Coiuinittcc of Safety of New Hampshire in order to carry 
 this resolve into execution, on the twelfth of April, 177(), sent 
 circulars to the selectmen of the several towns and jilaces in the 
 
 DO 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 91 
 
 colon3% requesting them to desire all males above twentj'-one j'ears 
 of age (liiuaties, idiots aud negroes excepted) to sign the following 
 declaration, and, when that should be done, to make return thereof 
 together with the names of all who should refuse to sign the same, 
 to the General Assembly or Committee of Safety of the colony. 
 The declaration was in these words : 
 
 We the subscribers do hereby solemnl}'' engage and promise that 
 we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives aud 
 fortunes, with arms oppose the hostile proceedings of the British 
 fleets and armies against the United American Colonies. 
 
 It is a matter of deep regret that the complete return from Exe- 
 ter has not been preserved. At least three hundred names, aud 
 probably more, must have been reported, for or against the patri- 
 otic declaration, but all except those upon a single sheet, forty- 
 eight only, are lost. The names preserved are here given. From 
 what is known of the sentiments of the voters of the town it is 
 believed that the number of those refusing to sign might be 
 counted on the fingers of one hand, with some to spare. 
 
 Josiah Beal 
 John Bond 
 John Cartee 
 Benjamin Cram 
 Stephen [Creighton?] 
 Thomas DoUofF 
 Noah Emery 
 Gerould Fitz Geroukl. 
 Josiah Folsom 
 Bartholomew Gale 
 Eliphalet Giddinge 
 John Giddinge 
 John Giddinge, Jr. 
 David Gilman 
 Joseph Gilman 
 Josiah Gilman, Jr. 
 
 Samuel Folsom Gilman 
 Zebulon Gilman 
 Nathaniel Gordon 
 Daniel Grant 
 Samuel Harris 
 Jonathan Hopkinson 
 Kinsley H. James 
 Benjamin Kimball 
 Kobert Kimball 
 Edward Ladd 
 Joseph Lamson 
 Samuel Lamson 
 Robert Lord 
 Thomas Lyford 
 V^enjamin Morse 
 Habertus Neale 
 
 William Odlin 
 John Patten 
 Samuel Quimby 
 Jos. RoUins 
 David Smith 
 Theophilus Smith 
 Joseph Stacey 
 Benjamin Swasey 
 Joseph Swasey 
 Joseph Thing 
 Stephen Thing 
 "^^'inthrop Thing 
 Thomas Tyler 
 Dudley A\'atson 
 Josiah Weeks 
 Josiah Wvatt 
 
 FIRST READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 A little more than seven months after New Hampshire had 
 " t&ken up government," a scene was Avitncssed in Exeter which 
 is worthy of a brief description. 
 
92 insronY of kxktkr. 
 
 Hostilities had boon wasred lietwecn Great Britain and tlie 
 United Colonies for more than a yrar. and the foolish obstinacy of 
 the kin"- forbade all hopes of reeonciliation on terms that Ameri- 
 cans could submit to without dissirace. Even the conservative and 
 the timid had begun to think of " independency " as something 
 ■within the range of iK)Ssil»ility, while the ardent sons of liberty 
 chafed at the delay in shaking off the yoke «>f allegiance to the 
 mother country. AVe have already seen tliat tlie subject had been 
 mooted long before in the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire. 
 
 The hading men of Exeter and of the State government were 
 fully prepared, and even anxious, for the final step of separation. 
 Both houses of the Legislature had united in instructions " to our 
 delegates in the Continental Congress to join with the other colo- 
 nies in declaring the thirteen United Colonies free and independent 
 States ; solemnly pledging our faith and honor that we will on our 
 parts support the measure with our lives and fortunes." 
 
 From this time forward all was impatience in Exeter to learn the 
 action of the Continental Congress on the momentous question. 
 At length, on the eighteenth day of July, 177(j, the wished for 
 news arrived. A courier rode into the village, bringing with him 
 a packet addressed to the chief executive of New Hampshire, 
 containing the immortal Declaration of American Independence, 
 under the authentication of John Hancock, president of Congress. 
 
 As soon as its contents were ascertained, it was determined that 
 the paper should be publicly read to the citizens, forthwith. The 
 Legislature had adjourned, l)ut the Committee of Safety were in 
 session. The tidings circulated through the town with lightning 
 rapidity. Men, women and children dropped their emplo^-ments, 
 and gathered about the court-house, to listen to the words that 
 made them free. 
 
 Jolin Taylor Oilman was chosen for the signal honor of reading 
 for tlie first time in the capital of the State, the charter of Ameri- 
 can freedom. IVominent among his hearers were ^Nleshech "Weare, 
 the I'resident of the State, Matthew 'J'hornton, who was himself a 
 few months later to set his hand to the Declaration, General 
 Nathaniel Folsom, Colonel Pierse Long and Dr. Ebenezer Thomp- 
 son, all sit rling patriots and members of the Committee of Safety. 
 There too was Colonel Nicholas Gilman, the New Hampshire 
 financier of the Bevolulion and the right hand of the executive. 
 He had ardently longed for the time when independence should 
 be proclaimed, and now he was to hear, from the lips of his sou, 
 that the hour had struck. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 93 
 
 As soon as bis hastily gathered audience had assembled, the 
 youthful reader began his grateful task. We can imagine with 
 what bated breath all listened for the first time to that impressive 
 statement of the causes which led America to take up arms. The 
 clear tones in which the eloquent periods were enunciated never 
 faltered, until the masterly climax was reached, when the rush of 
 patriotic feeling became too great for speech, and for a moment 
 the reader was compelled to pause, to regain the power of utter- 
 ance. 
 
 Often as the charter of our liberties has been since repeated in 
 Exeter, in times of national trial and of national prosperity, it was 
 never listened to with more devout thankfulness, greater faith, or 
 more honest pride than on this, its first reading. 
 
 THE EVILS OF A PAPER CURRENCV. 
 
 The colonies committed the often repeated mistake of atteinpt- 
 ing to carry on a war by means of bills of credit. The result was 
 a rapid infiation of the prices of all the necessaries of life, which 
 the people vainly attempted to control, by legislation. 
 
 On May 5, 1777, a meeting of the town was called " to regulate 
 and affix" the prices of goods and other articles, for said town, and 
 to do and act in all affairs agreeable to the directions of an act of 
 this State passed the tenth day of April last." The following 
 persons were chosen a committee to make report upon said matters : 
 Eliphalet Hale, Josiah Barker, David Fogg, Samuel Folsom, 
 Joseph Lamson, Josiah Gilman, Peter Coffin and Samuel Brooks. 
 No report of their doings is upon record, but it is safe to say that 
 any plan they could have devised, short of a complete change of 
 the circulating medium, would have been inadequate to relieve the 
 financial troubles of the time. 
 
 On May 11, 1778, the town chose Nathaniel Folsom, Sanuud 
 Ilobart and John Pickering delegates to the convention to be held 
 at Concord on the tenth of June following, to form a permanent 
 plan of government for the State. 
 
 Another fruitless attempt to stay the constantly waning value of 
 the paper currency was made by the town, a year later. On July 
 19, 1771), Josiah Robinson, Nathaniel Gordon, Eliphalet Giddinge, 
 Eliphalet Ilale, Eliphalet Ladd, CJideon Lamson and John T. 
 Gilman, a connuittee appointed b}' the town to consider the 
 subjects of a reduction of the price of the necessaries of life, and 
 
'M 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETEU. 
 
 the support of the credit of tiie currency, reported the following 
 scale of prices, to liold t^ood until the succeeding first of Septem- 
 ber, viz. : 
 
 "West India rum 81. 8s, 
 New England rum o\. 8s. 
 Molasses 41. IGs 
 
 IJrown sugar 10s. to 18s 
 Chocolate li6s 
 
 Coffee 22s 
 
 Tea 81. 8s, 
 
 Cottonwool 40s 
 
 C Xo W. I. or other f( 
 ( to exceed 91. 12s. per bushel 
 
 per gallon 
 
 Salt made 
 
 in 
 
 Xew 
 
 En 
 
 gland, 71. 4s, 
 
 (( « 
 
 
 per busliel 
 
 
 
 
 (1 (< 
 
 
 . Indian corn 
 
 ;51. 
 
 8s. 
 
 
 per bushel 
 
 " lb. 
 
 
 Rye 
 
 (il. 
 
 
 
 il i( 
 
 (( It 
 
 
 Wheat 
 
 91. 
 
 12s. 
 
 
 (( 11 
 
 (( (1 
 
 
 Lamb 
 
 
 OS. 
 
 
 " lb. 
 
 U it 
 
 
 Beef 
 
 
 4s. 
 
 6d. 
 
 i< (( 
 
 li u 
 
 
 Voal 
 
 
 4s. 
 
 Gd. 
 
 U it 
 
 reign s; 
 ishel 
 
 lit 
 
 Salt pork 
 Ikitter 
 
 
 Il2s. 
 12s. 
 
 
 It a 
 
 Best English hay IJOl. per ton 
 Other hay in proportion thereto. 
 
 The committee also reported the following resolutions : 
 
 Resolved, That wool, Uax, cloth and otlier articles of the produce 
 of this country not herein particularly mentioned, shall not exceed 
 tlie price of twenty shillings for what was commonly sold for one 
 shilling in the year 1774, and in that rule of proportion to any 
 sum or sums. 
 
 Resolved, That we will sell no articles of merchandise not par- 
 ticularly above mentioned, at a higher price than they are now 
 sold. 
 
 Resolved, That the tradesmen and laborers of this town will not 
 exceed the above rate of twenty for one for their labor and manu- 
 factures, including those articles they may have of the produce of 
 this country, and excluding those of foreign imi)ort, and tliat thoy 
 will reduce the same in [jroportion as the i)rices of merchandise 
 and the produce of the country are from time to time lowered. 
 
 Resolved, Upon condition the other towns in this State adopt 
 similar measures rosjiecting their merchandise and produce, that 
 from and al'U'r liie first day of Scpteml)er next, we will continue 
 to lowt-r the prices month by month, unless some other general 
 plan sliall be adopted by the people of this State. 
 
 Jicsolred, Tliat all those who shall hereafter dare to refuse con- 
 tinental currency, or re(|uire hard money for rent or any other 
 article whatever, or shall in any way endeavor to evade the salu- 
 tary measures proposed by this body, shall be deemed enemies to 
 tiic interest and indei)endence of this I'nited States, and shall be 
 treated in such manner as the town shall hereafter order. 
 
 Resolved, That the foregoing be offered for signing, to every 
 male inhabitant of this town, paying taxes. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 95 
 
 The report of the committee was unanimously adopted. Stephen 
 Thing, David Fogg and Simeon Ladd were chosen a committee to 
 offer the resolves to the inhabitants, for their signatures. 
 
 At an adjourned meeting the committee reported that some 
 persons had declined to sign the resolves. The town instructed 
 them to present them to such persons a second time, and upon 
 their refusal, to return their names to the selectmen, who were 
 directed to publish the same in the New Hampshire Gazette. So 
 far as can be learned from the imperfect files of the Gazette known 
 to be in existence, no such publication of names was found to be 
 necessar3^ But resolutions, however patriotic, could not annul 
 the laws of finance and trade. 
 
 On the twenty-sixth of March, 1781, the credit of the paper 
 currency had sunk so low that a day's work on the highway was 
 by order of the town estimated at forty dollars. On the thirty-first 
 of March, 1783, after the bills of credit had gone out of circula- 
 tion, and accounts were kept in metallic currency, the same was 
 reckoned at no more than three shillings. 
 
 The constitution agreed upon by the convention of 1778 for the 
 government of the State, having been rejected on reference to the 
 people ; and another convention having been ordered, to be held 
 in Concord on the second Tuesday of .June, 1781, the town on the 
 fourth of that month appointed Nathaniel Folsom and John T. 
 Oilman delegates thereto. 
 
 The fourth of July, 1778, according to the recollection of a gen- 
 tleman who witnessed it, was suitably observed in Exeter, although 
 it is not known with what ceremonials. The first printed account 
 of a celebration of the anniversary which has been met with, was 
 that of 1781. A contemporary journal describes the day as 
 " ushered in by a display of colors and the most lively tokens of 
 joy. At noon the principal gentlemen assem])led at the Kaleigh 
 tavern, kept by Colonel Sauuiel Folsom, where they were honored 
 by the company of the honorable council, and speaker of the 
 Assembly, at a genteel collation, after which a number of suitable 
 toasts were drank and thirteen cannon discharged." 
 
 The people of Exeter endured their full proportion of the 
 hardships that were caused by the AV'ar of the Revolution. A large 
 share of the business from which the town had derived its su[)port, 
 was arrested, and had it not been that the public ollices and State 
 administration were transferred to the town, there would have 
 been much more suffering. But the Legislature was in session 
 
<((; 1I1.ST()1:V OF HXHTKU. 
 
 much of the tnne, and during its adjournments the Committee of 
 Safety, with equal powers, sat in its stead. Exeter was also the 
 headquarters for most of the military operations ; so that, 
 altogether, there was no small amount of activity and remunera- 
 tive employment iu llie town. 
 
 What Exeter did to furnish soldiers for the war, will be told in 
 another chapter. Iler citizens were lo3'al to their own country, 
 with scarce an exception. A few were lukewarm, but the only 
 downright tor}^ that is known was Robert Luist Fowle,the printer, 
 who was committed to prison on the charge of counterfeiting the 
 provincial paper currency, but made liis escape, and took refuge 
 within the British lines. 
 
 But after the war was over, there came a time of peculiar stress. 
 The Utopia that so many had looked forward to, as the natural 
 result of independence, was not realized. Times were hard and 
 cash was scarce. Ignorant and unreflecting people fancied that 
 the panacea for these ills, was for the government to issue fresh 
 bills of credit. But, fortunately, there were those in authorit3' in 
 the State Avith sudleient knowledge of political economy to prevent 
 the Legislature from resorting to that deceptive remedy for finan- 
 cial troubles. But they could not convince the "green-backers" 
 of those days ; and at length matters came to such a pass that the 
 infatuated clamorers for paper currency determined to make an 
 attempt to dragoon the Legislature into sanctioning it. 
 
 Tin: I'ArKK mon'ev mop. of 1786. 
 
 A body of men from tlie towns in the western part of Rocking- 
 ham county l)y a concerted movement assembled September 20, 
 178G, at Kingston, thence to march to Exeter, where the State 
 Legislature was in session. They were nmstored in a sort of 
 military array under leaders, some of whom iiad served in the 
 revolutioiuu'y army. .Joseph French of Hampstead, James Coch- 
 ran of Tembroke and .John McKean of Londonderry were the prin- 
 cipal ollicers. In the afternoon they made their entry into the 
 village of Exeter, by way of Front street. They numbered about 
 two hundred, one-half of lliein iiiardiing on fool ami armed with 
 guns or swords, and tiie remainder foUoA'iug on horseback, and 
 carrying clubs or whips. The General Court was sitting in the 
 First church, and the Superior (judicial) Court in the town-house 
 on the opposite side of the street. The insurgents uuirched into 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. H7 
 
 the centre of the village, ami by mistake surrounded the latter 
 building. If their object had been to overawe the legal tribunal 
 within it, they would have signally failed, for Judge Samuel Liver- 
 more was presiding, and so far was he from being daunted, that 
 he ordered the business of the court to proceed, and sternly 
 forbade every one to look out of the windows. 
 
 But it was the General Court that the insurgents meant to 
 intimidate, and they attempted to stretch a cordon of men around 
 the meeting-house where the legislators were. But there was by 
 this time a great body of spectators on the ground, partlv citizens 
 of the town, and partly inhabitants of neighboring places who had 
 come in to witness the proceedings. They were generally opposed 
 to the lawless intruders, so that when the latter endeavored to 
 draw near the meeting-house, they found it no eas}' matter to 
 ovei'come the inertia of the unfriendly crowd. Little b\' little, 
 however, they forced their way to the building, and stationed sen- 
 tinels at the doors and windows. They then, after ostentatiously 
 loading their fire-arms, announced their purpose to compel the 
 Legislature to enact a law for the emission of abundant paper 
 money which should be made a legal tender for debts and taxes, 
 and their determination to hold the law-makers in durance until 
 the demand was complied with. One or two representatives who 
 ^tteni|ited to make their escape were driven back with insult. It 
 foi^tunaflfely happened that the chief executive of the State was a 
 man of courage and resolution, and not unacquainted with arms, 
 John .Sullivan, who had gained the rank of major general in the 
 Revolution. He appeared at the entrance of the building and 
 listened to the requii'ements of the assemblage. In a temperate 
 and reasonable reply he gave them to understand that the)' need 
 not expect to frighten him, for he had smelt pow^der before. 
 " You ask for justice," he continued, " and justice you shall 
 have." But he did not order them to disperse ; he perhaps thought 
 it was wiser to let them keep together, in order the more effectually 
 to stamp out the tendency to insurrection against the constituted 
 authorities. 
 
 The afternoon wore away ; the General Court were still prison- 
 ers, and no progress had been made towards an adjustment. By 
 this time many of the better class of citizens of P^xeter were lilled 
 with shame and indignation at the unchecked riotous demonstra- 
 tion, and one of them. Colonel Nathaniel Gilman, wit^li the assist- 
 ance of others, successfully practised a ruse de guerre, in order to 
 
98 lIISTom' OF KXKTEK. 
 
 raise the siege. It bad then become dusk, and a higli and close 
 fence around the church-yard prevented the rioters from seeing 
 distinctly what was going on outside. lie caused a drum to be 
 beaten briskly at a little distance while a body of citizens 
 approached with a measured military step, and then cried out in 
 his stentorian voice, "Hurra for government! Here comes 
 Hackett's artillery 1" The cry was echoed by others, and the 
 insurgents did not wait for more. Their valor was not up to the 
 lighting point, and they rapidly retreated, standing not on the 
 order of their going. They afterward made their rendezvous on 
 the weslern side of the Little river, on the road to Kingston, and 
 there a great part of them spent the night. 
 
 iS'o sooner had they retired than steps were taken to crush tliis 
 revolt in the bud. jNIesseugers were sent into the neighboring 
 towns bearing orders to the officers of the militia to muster their 
 commands, and march at once to the scene of action ; and in Exe- 
 ter a company of the first citizens enrolled themselves under the 
 command of Captain Nicholas Gilman, who had served as an 
 officer through the war. The next morning saw nearl}^ two 
 thousand men under arms in Kxeter. President Sullivan assumed 
 the direction of the cohnnn, Avliich at once moved against the 
 insurrectionary force, the volunteers of Exeter cT^Juing the post 
 of honor in the van. Arrived within abqut an eigliltti of a mile 
 from their antagonists, they were haltedt* by order, when a small 
 troop of horsemen * under Colonel Joseph Cilley, a revolutionary 
 olficer of distinction, galloped forward, forded the river, and made 
 prisoners of the principal loaders of the insurgents ; after which 
 their followers suri'endered at discretion. 
 
 Thus terminated the most formidable demonstration against the 
 government which was ever made on the soil of New Hampshire. 
 The happy result of it was in no small degree due to the loyal 
 feeling and prudence ;ind pluck of tlie people of Exeter. The 
 attempt to dictate legislation by force having proved so ignomin- 
 ious a failure, it was not deemed necessary to inflict serious pun- 
 islmuMit ujjon the offenders. 
 
 l>ut tlie J>egislature, in order that the opinion of the people of 
 the State should be fairly tested on the expediency of issuing a 
 paper currency, passed a bill to authorize its emission, to be sub- 
 
 • Tradition says that Major Jonathan Cass, the fatlicr of the statesman Lewis Cass, 
 (liBtin^uished himsell on this occasion, and in the charge leaped his horte cuu)pletely 
 over a well. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 99 
 
 mitted to the voters of the several towns for then* approval or 
 rejection. And on the tweuty-thu'd of October, 178G, a meeting 
 of the citizens of Exeter was held for the expression of their 
 opinion. A committee of leading men consisting of John T. 
 Gilman, Oliver Peabody, Samuel Tenuey, John Phillips, Nicholas 
 Oilman, Thomas Folsom and Noah Emery was appointed, to make 
 a report upon the subject, who prepared full and elaborate reasons 
 in writing against the measure, which were read in the meeting ; 
 and when the vote was taken it was found that there were but six 
 in favor of the plan, and seventy-nine against it. 
 
 THE COXVENTIOX FOR THE ADOPTIOX OF THE UNITED STATES 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 On the thirteenth of February, 1788, assembled in convention at 
 the court-house in Exeter tlie delegates chosen by the several 
 towns in the State, to consider and pass upon the constitution 
 framed for the government of the United States, under which we 
 now live. It was an anxious period. The proposed constitution 
 contained a provision that it was to go into effect upon its ratifica- 
 tion by nine of the thirteen States. Eight had already voted their 
 approval of it, and the interest of the country centred upon New 
 Hampshire, the ninth to act upon it. The session of the conven- 
 tion in Exeter lasted ten days. So great was the opposition devel- 
 oped to the adoption of the new instrument, that its friends 
 thought it wiser to postpone final action upon tlie question for a 
 season ; and the convention was adjourned to meet again at 
 Concord in the following June. The public sentiment had by that 
 time so distinctl}' manifested itself that after a session of four days 
 the convention was ready by a fair majorit}' to ratify the constitu- 
 tion, and thus to put tlie new government into operation. The 
 delegate of Exeter, who was one of the most influential in biingina: 
 about this result, was John Taylor Oilman. 
 
 THE VISIT OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The year 1789 is one to be remembered in Exeter, by a visit 
 from the Father of his country. George Washington, having been 
 inaugurated the first President of the Republic, was then making a 
 tour through the Northern States. He had passed two or three days 
 in Portsmouth, and left that place in the morning of the fourth day 
 of November. His habits of extreme punctuality are well known, 
 
100 HISTORY or KXKTKH. 
 
 and he probably set out from Portsmouth exactly as the hands of 
 the clock pointed to the half hour after seven. The people of 
 Exeter had made arrangements to receive him with a liaudsome 
 cavalcade. But some of the party were a little dilatory, and 
 before they were in the saddle AVashington made his appearance, 
 it not yet being ten o'clock. He was mounted on horse])ack, as 
 was his practice when eutoring a town, and was attended by his 
 two secretaries, Colonel Tobias Lear and ]\Iajor William Jackson, 
 who rode in an open carriage, and by a single servant. He wore 
 a drab surtout and a military hat. The streets were thronged with 
 people waiting to welcome the distinguished visitor, and Captain 
 Simon Wiggin in command of the artillery company of Exeter, 
 had his men promptly in line, and received his Commander-in- 
 Chief with a salute of thirteen guns. 
 
 The part}' alighted at the public house kept by Colonel Samuel 
 Eolsom, where they were waited upon b}'' Colonel Nicholas Oilman, 
 who had been a staff officer under AVashington at Yorktown, and 
 other revolutionary soldiers and citizens, proud to do the honors 
 of the tovvn to the President. They invited him to tarry for a 
 night and partake of a public dinner. But his engagements, pre- 
 viously made, compelled him, with reluctance as he informs us in 
 his diar}', to decline. They, however, gave him a collation, which 
 he graciously accepted; Among those who had the honor of 
 waiting on him at the table was a 3'oung lady relative of Colonel 
 Folsom, who had solicited the privilege. AVashington saw at once 
 that she was no menial servant, and calling her to him, addressed 
 her a few pleasant words and kissed her. She lived to attain a 
 good old age, and was the friend of some of the most distinguished 
 men of a subse(iuent generation, but probably no incident of her 
 life made so lasting an impression upon her memory as the kiss of 
 "Washington. 
 
 The few hours of Washington's stay in Exeter were soon ended, 
 and he resumed his journey. A cavalcade of gentlemen escorted 
 him outside the village. He took the roa<l to Kingston, on his 
 way to Haveriiill, ^Massachusetts. AVhon he reached the top of 
 (ireat hill, he directed the driver of his carriage to halt, that he 
 might look back upon the wide view of Exeter and its vicinity. 
 He gazed a few moments at the fnir Inndscape that lay at his feet 
 and stretched away to the ocean, and remarked admiringl}' upon 
 its beauty; and with this pleasant farewell to Exeter he went on 
 his way. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 101 
 
 COURT-HOUSE, FIRE ENGINE, LIBRARY, ETC. 
 
 The town, on October 13, 1788, had instructed the selectmen to 
 put up a chimney in the town-house, and to make such repairs on 
 the building as to reader it suitable for the sessions of the General 
 Court and county courts. But tliree years afterwards the need of 
 a new court-house became apparent, and on the twelfth of Septem- 
 ber, 1791, the town voted to raise, to be assessed the next year, 
 two hundred and fifty pounds for the purpose of building one, to 
 be placed on the land between the house of the late General 
 Folsom and that of Ward Clark Dean ; and that so much of said 
 land as should be necessary, be appropriated for the purpose. 
 This location was in the middle of the present Court square, just 
 in front of the town-house. The building was completed, there, 
 in season for the town to hold its annual meeting in it, in March, 
 1793. 
 
 The State constitution which was adopted by the people in 1783 
 was found on trial to require amendment, and on August 8, 1791, 
 the town, at a meeting held for the purpose, appointed Samuel 
 Tenney a delegate to the convention to be held at Concord on the 
 succeeding first Wednesday of September, to revise the constitu- 
 tion. 
 
 At the March town meeting in 1794, it was voted to raise a sum 
 not exceeding seventy pounds, for the purchase of a new fire 
 engine, hooks, etc., for the use of the town; and that Gideon 
 Lamson be empowered to bargain for the same, and to sell the 
 engine then belonging to the town, and account for the proceeds 
 thereof. The former engine here referred to was procured in 1774 
 at the cost, including transportation, of fifty-two pounds. 
 
 It was also voted that any persons who might be unwilling to 
 pay their taxes assessed for the new engine, could have them 
 abated upon application to the selectmen, by the first Monday of 
 May follovving. This, and one or two other similar cases of con- 
 sideration, exhibited by the majority, for the inability or opposition 
 of a minority of the tax-paj^ers, are worthy of being recorded, to 
 the credit of the town. They are in sharp contrast to the ideas 
 and practice of some communities, in later times. 
 
 At the adjourned annual meeting in March, 1797, it was voted 
 by the town that Benjamin Clark Gilman and his associates should 
 have the privilege of sinking an aqueduct in Fore street, and such 
 other streets as they might find convenient, for sin)plying water to 
 customers ; and of breaking ground to repair the same ; on condi- 
 
102 HIsroKV OF KXKTKK. 
 
 tion that they should put tlie streets in as good a state as they 
 found them in. within :i reasonable time, and should indemnify 
 the town against prosecutions on that account. 
 
 In 17!»7 the Legislature incorporated several of the principal 
 citi/.ens of the town as the " Exeter Social Library." They at 
 once comi)leted an organization, and adopted rules and regula- 
 tions. From a little pamphlet printed for their use ])y Henry 
 Kanlet in the same year, it appears that they began with thirty- 
 eight proprietors and one hundred and sixty-eight volumes. The 
 number of the latter was subsequently much increased, and the 
 society continued in existence for a considerable period, until the 
 l)ooks having probably become prett}' familiar, the interest in the 
 library so far abated, that its contents were divided among the 
 proprietors. 
 
 In the year 1798 a number of citizens, for the better protection 
 of their property from loss by fire, entered into a voluntary asso- 
 ciation called the "Fire Society of Exeter." Their constitution 
 provided that the number of members should not exceed twenty- 
 five, and that no person should be admitted, except at a meeting 
 ■where three-fourths of the society were present ; and if more than 
 a single ballot were cast against him. Each member was to keep 
 always in readiness two leather buckets, and two bags a yard and 
 a half in length and three-quarters of a yard in breadth, with 
 strings at the mouth ; and at every alarm of fire was instantly to 
 repair with his buckets and bags to the house or other building of 
 the member whose danger should aj^jiear greatest, and make every 
 exertion fur the preservation of his building and personal property. 
 Various fines were prescribed for delinquencies, which went, if 
 this society was conducted like similar associations elsewhere, to 
 ]iny for :in occasional dinner and jollification for the members. 
 The society, having this happy commingling of the utile Avith the 
 dulci, was kept uj) for many years, and was the precursor of other 
 combinations for the same object. The ".Junior Fire Society" 
 was in successful oi)eration in 1817, and the " PlKonix Fire 
 Society" in \H:y>. 
 
 IIONOKS TO THE MEMORY OE AVASIIINGTON. 
 
 Nearly all tlic sessions of the State Legislature were held in 
 Exeter from the beginning of the year 1776 to 17^1 ; Imt for the 
 succeeding fifteen years they were distributed among three or 
 four towns, Hxeter receiving but a small share of them. The 
 

 53 " 
 
 ^. ^ 
 
 U \ 
 
 
 
 ■^ 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 103 
 
 last meeting there was in December, 1799. Near the close of 
 the session intellio;ence was received of the death of Washiu2:ton, 
 which occurred on the fourteenth day of the month. The General 
 Court immediately suspended business and resolved, in respect to 
 the memory of the deceased patriot, to go into mourning for the 
 term of three months. And on the da}' following, the executive 
 and legislative officers of the State, with the selectmen and citizens 
 of the town, escorted by a military company of students of the 
 academy in uniform with proper badges of mourning, marched in 
 procession to the First meeting-house, where religious exercises 
 were performed, appropriate to the sad event. The citizens of 
 the town resolved to take further and more formal notice of the 
 national bereavement. They accordingly invited the Hon. Jere- 
 miah Smith to deliver a eulogy on the late President. On the 
 succeeding twenty-second of February, which was generally 
 observed as a day of mourning throughout the land, they gathered, 
 with all the insignia of respect and grief, in the meeting-house of 
 the First parish, and there listened to an eloquent oration in honor 
 of the deceased First Citizen of America, pronounced by one who 
 was fully capable of appreciating his greatness and his virtues, 
 and who had known him in public and in private life, in his official 
 position at the national capital and as his visitor at Mount Vernon. 
 
 In 1799 the streets of the town for the first time received 
 authoritative names, recommended by a committee of citizens, and 
 adopted by the town, as they are given upon the plan drawn by 
 Phineas Merrill in 1802, a copy of which is contained in this 
 volume. 
 
 In 1801 the "Exeter Aqueduct" received incorporation from the 
 Legislature of the State, and brought into the village water drawn 
 from springs not far from the present station of the Boston and 
 Maine Railroad. It was conveyed through perforated logs, and, 
 of course, the supply was quite limited. Benjamin Clark Oilman 
 was the projector of the enterprise in 1797 ; and in later time the 
 management of the aqueduct fell into the hands of Nathaniel S. 
 Adams, and finally of John Bellows. It was abandoned a number 
 of years ago. 
 
 At the annual town meeting in 1804 it was voted that the select- 
 men, in case of blocking snows, should employ proper persons to 
 open the roads, at the expense of the town. 
 
 In 1811 the town voted tliat the seloctmen iiurchase for the use 
 of the town a new lire engine and appurtenances at a cost not 
 
]/">»' iri-»r 
 
 «4 
 
 •■=>■ 
 
 .^/^* 
 
 / 
 
 4 
 
 I 
 
 J 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 103 
 
 last meeting there was in December, 1799. Near the close of 
 the session intelligence was received of the death of Washington, 
 which occnrred on the fonrteenth day of the month. The General 
 Court immediately suspended business and resolved, in respect to 
 the memory of the deceased patriot, to go into mourning for the 
 term of three months. And on the day following, the executive 
 and legislative officers of the State, with the selectmen and citizens 
 of the town, escorted by a military company of students of the 
 academy in uniform with proper badges of mourning, marched in 
 procession to the First meeting-house, where religious exercises 
 were performed, appropriate to the sad event. The citizens of 
 the town resolved to take further and more formal notice of the 
 national bereavement. They accordingly invited the Hon. Jere- 
 miah Smith to deliver a eulogy on the late President. On the 
 succeeding twenty-second of February, which was generally 
 observed as a day of mourning throughout the land, the}' gathered, 
 with all the insignia of respect and grief, in the meeting-house of 
 the P'irst parish, and there listened to an eloquent oration in honor 
 of the deceased First Citizen of America, pronounced by one who 
 was fully capable of appreciating his greatness and his virtues, 
 and who had known him in public and in private life, in his official 
 position at the national capital and as his visitor at Mount Vernon. 
 
 In 1799 the streets of the town for the first time received 
 authoritative names, recommended by a committee of citizens, and 
 adopted by the town, as they are given upon the plan draAvn by 
 Phineas Merrill in 1802, a copy of which is contained in this 
 volume. 
 
 In 1801 the "Exeter Aqueduct" received incorporation from the 
 Legislature of the State, and brought into the village water drawn 
 from springs not far from the present station of the Boston and 
 Maine Railroad. It was conveyed through perforated logs, and, 
 of course, the supply was quite limited. Benjamin Clark Gilman 
 was the projector of the enterprise in 1797 ; and in later time the 
 management of the aqueduct fell into the hands of Nathaniel S. 
 Adams, and finally of John Bellows. It was abandoned a number 
 of years ago. 
 
 At the annual town meeting in 1804 it was voted that the select- 
 men, in case of blocking snows, shoukl employ proper persons to 
 open the roads, at the expense of tlie town. 
 
 In 1811 the town voted tliat the seU'ctnien purchase for the use 
 of the town a new fire engine and appurtenances at a cost not 
 
104 HISTORY OF KXin'KH. 
 
 exceeding three hundred dollars ; the engine of 1794 being deemed 
 insuflic'ient. 
 
 TKMrKHANCE ; WAR OF 1812; rKAYKH IN TOAVK MKKTIKGS. 
 
 As early as 1812 germs of the temperance reform began to show 
 themselves in the action of the town. A vote was passed at the 
 annual meeting to request the selectmen to prevent the selling or 
 having of any liquors at the court-house on town-meeting days, 
 and to make it the dut}' of a constable to see that the vote should 
 be carried into full effect. The following preamble and resolution 
 were also adopted : 
 
 Retailers of ardent spirits duly observing the laAvs are a nec- 
 essary class of men. ]>ut when tliey so grossly abuse the trust 
 and confidence reposed in them as to sell ardent spirits in less 
 (juimtities than the laws permit, harbor citizens of the town in 
 their stores and shops day after day and night after night, spend- 
 ing the money which ought to be expended in the support of their 
 families in corrupting the morals and setting a destructive example 
 before others, it is time for the town to arouse from their slumbers, 
 place the axe at the root of the tree of vice and idle ha))its by 
 rigidly executing the laws amply suflicient to effect it. This is 
 an increasing evil, and for which a remed}' is immediately wanted. 
 
 Resolved, therefore, That tlie selectmen and overseers inspect 
 all disorderly licensed houses, etc., and prosecute such offenders 
 with the utmost severity of the law. 
 
 The war against P>ngland, which was declared in 1812, was 
 regarded by the majority of the peoi)le of New England as un- 
 necessary and wrong. Exeter partook of that feeling, and when 
 a meeting of the town was called in August, 1812, to see what 
 pay and bounty should be offered to the militia called into the 
 service of the United States, appointed a conmiittee, consisting of 
 JohnT. Oilman, Oliver Peabody, Samuel Tenney, Gideon Lamsou 
 and Joseph Tilton, Jr., to take the subject into consideration. 
 At an adjourned meeting the committee submitted a written 
 report, setting out that for reasons therein given, the toAvn ought 
 not to pay bounties or add to the compensation provided b}' law 
 for men employed in the military service in tlial war. The report 
 was accepted. 
 
 On the second of November following, the meeting of the citi- 
 zens for the choice of representatives in Congress and ))residential 
 electors, was opened by "a well adapted jirayer by the Hcv. IMr. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 105 
 
 Eowland." This appears to have been the inauguration or possi- 
 bly the revival of a practice which afterwards continued for more 
 than a quarter of a century. 
 
 SUPPORT OF THE POOR. 
 
 In 1817 the town passed a vote that the selectmen and over- 
 seers be authorized to purchase a farm or house for the use of the 
 town where they might place the poor, and that the}' hire for that 
 purpose a sum not exceeding four thousand dollars. A purchase 
 was accordingly made of a house and land near Beech hill ; and 
 in 1821 the town voted to enlarge the town farm by the addition 
 of the "Cuba" land adjoining it, and to establish an almshouse 
 and house of correction. Prior to that time the mode of providing 
 for those who needed support was b}' letting them out by auction, 
 or rather by diminution, to the lowest bidder. Their number Avas 
 comparatively small, and their several capacities and incapacities 
 were well known. The responsible citizens who were willing to 
 board, clothe and care for them at the least cost to the town, were 
 allowed to take them to theii" homes, and have the charge of them. 
 It is believed that under this system the paupers usually received 
 good treatment ; and the}^ certainl}' were not sent far away from 
 their acquaintances and familiar surroundings, to pine among 
 strangers in a strange place. 
 
 In 1823 the town adopted an act of the Legislature for the es- 
 tablishment of police in towns. 
 
 In 1826 the town appropriated four hundred dollars to procure 
 a lot of land for the use of the county, to erect a fire-))roof build- 
 ing upon, for public oflices and the preservation of public records. 
 The building was constructed of brick with stone vaults to contain 
 the books and files of the county, and was located on Front street, 
 just easterh' of the Phillips Exeter Academy. It answered its 
 purpose satisfactorily for half a century, but the increase of the 
 records, and the demand for greater care for their preservation, 
 will soon render necessary enlarged and better constructed accom- 
 modations. 
 
 At the annual meeting in March, 1832, the town appropriated 
 
 three hundred dollars for the purchase of a hay scale. It was 
 
 placed nearly opposite the First church and in front of the lot on 
 
 which the Squamscot House was afterwards erected, in \X'M. 
 
 The situation of the court-house was felt to be inconvenient on 
 
lOG HISTORY OF EXKTEII. 
 
 many accounts, and in 1834 the town gave the selectmen authority 
 to purchase a lot of land, ami remove the court-house thereon, 
 and fit up the same at the expense of the town, upon condition 
 that one hundred and fifty dollars of the cost sliould l)e contributed 
 by individuals. The condition was complied witli, and the build- 
 ing was removed to the southerly corner of Court and River streets, 
 where its immediate successor still stands. Petitions were subse- 
 quently presented for the sale or lease of the lot where it had 
 stood, but the town wisely declined to part with the control of the 
 land, and it has since constituted what is known as Court square, 
 and now has a very useful drinking fountain in the centre. 
 
 In 1838, at the annual meeting, the town again put upon record 
 its sentiments in relation to the mischiefs of the habit of strong 
 drink, as follows : 
 
 Resolved^ That as much of the pauperism, disease and misery 
 existing among us may be attributed to intemperance, it is desir- 
 able that all suitable means should be used for the promotion of 
 the temperance cause, and we, the citizens of this town, in town 
 meeting assembled, authorize our selectmen to take all lawful and 
 equitable measures for the removal of this evil from among us. 
 
 CELEBRATION' OF BI-CENTENXIAL ANNIVERSARY. 
 
 The year 1838 being the two hundredth anniversary of the foun- 
 dation of the town, was recognized as a proper occasion for public 
 exercises in conmiemoration of that event. The necessary prep- 
 arations were seasonably made, and the Hon. Jeremiah Smith 
 was designated to ]irepare a historical address to be pronounced 
 on the occasion. The fourth of July was chosen as a suitable day, 
 and the citizens of the neighboring towns which had once formed 
 parts of f^xeter, were invited to join in the celebration. 
 
 The day was favorable. A procession, composed of a large 
 body of citizens, the children of the (Sunday schools and of the 
 town schools, and the students of the Phillips Exeter Academy, 
 escorted by the com])any of P^xeter Artillery, all under the direc- 
 tion of Cai)tain Nathaniel (Jilinan, 3d, chief marshal, marched 
 through the princii)al streets of the village to the meeting-house of 
 tlie First ])arish, which was filled to overfiowing. After music by 
 the band, an«l the singing of aj)propriate pieces by the choir, the 
 Rev. Isaac llurd oflercd an iuq)ressive prayer. Then the ven- 
 tu'able Judge Smith delivered his interesting and valuable address, 
 extracts from which will be found in the appendix to this volume 
 (III). 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 107 
 
 After the close of the exercises at the meetiug-house a proces- 
 sion was again formed, of the invited guests and subscribers to 
 the public dinner, and moved to the court-house, in the lower 
 story of which the tables had been arranged. The Hon. 
 Timothy Farrar presided at the dinner, assisted by the Hon. 
 William Plumer, Jr., of Epping, Captain Nathaniel Gilman, 3d 
 and William W. Stickney, Esq., of Newmarket. After the cloth 
 was removed the presiding officer made an address of welcome 
 and congratulation. A series of sentiments were then read, which 
 were severally i-esponded to, by the Hon. William Plumer, Jr., 
 the Hon. Prentiss JNIellen, and other gentlemen of note present. 
 
 In the evening there was a levee at Howard hall, and the day 
 was closed with a brilliant display of fireworks. The entire cele- 
 bration was most satisfactory, and was highly enjoyed by the 
 numerous assemblage which had gathered from far and near. The 
 chairman of the committee of citizens, to whom much credit was 
 due, was Joseph Tilton, Eisq. 
 
 RE-NAMIXG STREETS ; XEW COURT-HOUSE. 
 
 In 1840 the selectmen received authorit}^ to name the streets 
 anew, and performed that duty as follows : 
 
 The street leading from Great bridge towards Hampton is to be called 
 High street. 
 
 From Mary Jones's corner towards Stratham, Portsmouth avenue. 
 Great bridge to James Grant's, Pleasant street. 
 " " to Joseph Furnald's, Water street. 
 
 " " to Christian chapel, Franklin street. 
 
 Franklin street to Court street, South street. 
 Joseph Tikon's to John Gordon's, F'ront street. 
 
 iiings's brook to James Bell's, Main street. 
 Jaii^s Bell's to Jeremiah Smith's, ^liddle street. 
 SquaiT^cot house to Little river bridge, Court street. 
 Widow Odiornc's to Exeter bank. Centre street. 
 Margaret Emery's to Colonel Chadwick's, Ladd street. 
 Sherburne Blake's to William Lane's, Spring street. 
 J. Robinson, Jr.'s to Main street, Academy street. 
 Isaac Lcavitt's to Samuel j-'hilbrick's. Winter street. 
 Samuel Philbrick's to Water street. Back street. 
 Rev. Mr. Rowland's to Joseph Furnald's, Summer street. 
 Samuel Moses's to Back street, Cross street. 
 Cross street to Water sti'eet, Green street. 
 
108 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Most of the streets still retain the names here p;iven them, but 
 a few have taken others, more in accordance witli tlic fitness of 
 things. Cross street, for example, has given place with great pro- 
 priety to Cass street, as it contains the house where the Hon. 
 Lewis Cass was born. And therein is a hint that ought to be 
 taken and improved. The town is noted for the number of dis- 
 tinguished men who have resided in it. What more appropriate 
 nomenclature for its streets could be adopted than the names of 
 its principal inhabitants and families? Wheelwright, Hilton, 
 Dudle}', Oilman, Folsom, Phillips, Sullivan and other historic 
 names are far preferable for this purpose, in every point of view, 
 to such unmeaning appellations as Front, Back, Middle. Centre, 
 and the like. This would be a graceful method of keeping green 
 the memory of the Exeter worthies of the past, and the quarter 
 millennial anniversary of the town is a peculiarly suitable opcasion 
 to make the change. 
 
 In the spring of 1841 the court-house, that had 1)ecn moved 
 seven years before into Court street, was destroyed by fire. An 
 exhibition called the "Burning of Moscow" had just been held in 
 it, and was the cause of this less extensive conflagration. The 
 town held a meeting on the sixth of April of the same year, and 
 appropriated the sum of three thousand five hundred dollars for 
 a town-house, to contain a town hall and court rooms. Tlu! 
 building conmiittee were James Burley, Nathaniel Oilman, Jr., 
 AVilliam Conner, James Bell and Ira B. Hoitt. The building was 
 promptly erected, of wood, and is still standing on the lot where 
 the former court-house was situated, but Is now occupied by the 
 Town Library, the Natural History Society, the (irand Army of 
 the Repul)lic, etc. It was used for the purposes for which it was 
 originally designed, only about fifteen years. 
 
 At the March town meeting in 1842 a resolution was passed, to 
 license one apothecary to sell spirituous liquors, for medicinal ])ur- 
 poses and the arts onh', and to grant no further license therefor. 
 And the next year it was resolved, Avith but a single dissenting 
 voice, to license one town agent and no more, and to prosecute 
 offenders against the license law. 
 
 In 1844 the useful practice was begun of printing the annual 
 accounts of the selectmen and overseers, for distribution among 
 the tax-payers. The practice has been kept up each year since, 
 and has been extended to the reports and accounts of all the 
 officers of the town. 
 
HISTORY <»F EXETER. ]()<) 
 
 The selectmen had been empowered in 1840 to procure to be 
 made a survey and plan of the town. This was accomplished in 
 1845. Joseph Dow of Hampton was the surveyor employed, and 
 from his draft two plans were published, the one of the village 
 and the other of the entire township. Similar plans had been 
 issued forty-three years previously, by Phinehas Merrill of 
 Stratham ; and a plot of the village on a larger scale has been 
 . since published from a survey made in 1874. 
 
 In 1844, at the annual meeting, an appropriation of four hun- 
 dred dollars was made for the purchase of a town clock, which 
 was set up in the tower of the First church. 
 
 On October 8, 1850, the town appointed Oilman Marstou, John 
 Kelly and Joseph G. Hoyt delegates to the convention to be held 
 at Concord on the sixth of November following, to revise the con- 
 stitution of the State. 
 
 In 1852 the town, taking warning from a disastrous conflagra- 
 tion Avhich had recently occurred, by which the two principal hotels 
 had been laid in ashes, caused the purchase of another fire engine 
 at the cost of six hundred and fifty dollars, and laid out a further 
 considerable sum in the improvement of the reservoirs. 
 
 The wooden town-house which was erected in 1841 w^as found 
 to be ill located, and insufficient, and a movement was made in 
 1853 to build another, better suited to the public needs. For that 
 purpose the town authorized an appropriation of thirty thousand 
 dollars. The measure was not carried without strenuous and 
 bitter opposition. Some of the older and more conservative citi- 
 zens contended that the building then in use answered its end suf- 
 ficiently, particularly as it had been erected onl}' twelve years 
 before, and were especially aggrieved by the exorbitant sum pur- 
 posed to be expended. The question of the location of the pro- 
 posed building, too, caused a difference of opinion, which was not 
 settled until March, 1855. The Dean lot, at the northwestern 
 corner of Court square and Water street, received the majority of 
 suffrages, and there the new building, which is of brick, and of 
 fine architectural proportions, and has from that time to the 
 present been equally ornamental and useful to the town, was 
 placed. 
 
 It was in 1853 that the first appropriation was made by the 
 town for the establishment of the Public i.ibrary. The project 
 originated with some public spirited citizens, wlio laid the founda- 
 tions for its success by contributing to the infant Library, from 
 
iiu iiisruKV OF kxi<:tek. 
 
 their own collections, a considerable number of useful books. 
 The town was quite ready to adopt the enterprise, antl appropriated 
 for the care and increase of the Library for the first few years 
 three hundred, and since then five hundred dollars annually, 
 besides providing suitable rooms for its accommodation in the old 
 town-house. As the expense of library service is small, the chief 
 part of the annual appropriations has been laid out in books, and 
 from that source, and by donations from various quarters, the 
 shelves have been gradually filled. 
 
 A fund of five thousand dollars for the enlargement of the 
 Library was given by the late Dr. Charles A. Merrill ; the income 
 of which is to be applied to the purchase of works of sterling 
 value. 
 
 The number of volumes now in the Library amounts to more 
 than six thousand. They are, with few exceptions, well selected, 
 and are very generall}^ circulated in the households of the town, 
 and diligently perused. 
 
 LIGHTING STREETS ; SIDEWALKS ; STEAM FIRE ENGINE ; WATER -WORKS. 
 
 The streets of the town were first lighted in 18(33, although gas 
 works had been in operation several years previouslj'. The lights 
 at lirst were rather few and far between, and some persons com- 
 plained that they only served to make the darkness more visible ; 
 but the number has since been so uuicli increased that there is no 
 longer any question of their utility. 
 
 In the same year it was voted to fund thirty thousand dollars 
 of the debt of the town, which had been incurred in building the 
 town-house, and in bounties and aid to soldiers' families in the 
 W-AV of the Rebellion. 
 
 About the year 1871 the sidewalks of the village underwent a 
 very general renovation. Before then they were mostly made of 
 gravel, except in the business part of Water street. It was felt 
 tliat they were hardly up to the requirement of the times, and an 
 order was adopted to encourage the citizens to reconstruct them 
 ill ail improved fashion. The town agreed to repay to all land- 
 owners in the village one-half the expense of sidewalks of con- 
 crete, brick or other durable materials, which they should cause 
 to be laid in front of their respective lots. The offer was quite 
 generally taken advantage of, and the village has since afforded 
 better facilities for pedestrians than are to be found in most places 
 of equal population and means. 
 
IIISTOKY OF EXETER. 1 1 ] 
 
 Notwithstanding: Exeter had for a century been quite in tlie 
 fore front of country towns in providing against the danger of 
 fires, and had made very considerable annual payments for that 
 purpose, yet, up to the year 1873, nothing more eflicient than 
 hand engines had been procured. It was then determined that a 
 steam fire engine was a necessity. Though the expense of it and 
 of all the needful accompaniments, including a substantial house 
 of brick on Water street, was somewhat onerous, yet the service 
 rendered by the acquisition, on one or two occasions, fully out- 
 weighed the cost. The fire department of the town is highly effi- 
 cient, and its members have shown their pluck and endurance on 
 many a hard fought field. And now that abundant hydrants have 
 been added to all other safeguards, the risk of any wide conflagra- 
 tion seems reduced to a minimum. 
 
 A new convention to revise the constitution of the State was 
 ordered, to be held at Concord on the sixth of December, 1876, 
 and the town elected as delegates thereto, William W. Stickney, 
 Gilman Marston, AVilliam B. Morrill and John J. Bell. 
 
 The "Exeter Water Works" went into operation in 1886. This 
 is the title of an incorporated company, which has established its 
 reservoirs and pumping apparatus on a little stream which leads 
 to the historic "Wheelwright's creek." Thence the water is driven 
 to a stand pipe on the summit of Prospect hill, which gives it a 
 sufficient head to reach the top of the highest building in the 
 village. A contract has been executed between the corporation 
 and the town, by which the former, in consideration of an annual 
 subsidy of two thousand dollars, engaged to furnish to the town 
 for the term of twenty years, all the water needed for the extin- 
 guishment of fires and for other municipal purposes ; and also, on 
 certain conditions, to turn over to the town, its works, plant and 
 property, upon being rehnbursed the cost thereof. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 BOUNDARIES AND DIVISIONS; ROADS AND BRIDGES. 
 
 The original township of P^xetei', as described in tlie deeds of 
 the Indian sagamores to John Wheelwright and his associates, 
 embraced all the territory between the Merrimac river (or three 
 miles north of it) on the south ; the sea on the east ; the Pascata- 
 (jua patents on the eastern north, and a line one mile beyond the 
 Oyster river on the western north ; and extended from the sea 
 thirty miles into the country. This was a goodly domain, and 
 must have contained, at the lowest estimate four or five hundred 
 square miles. But only a fraction of it was ever occupied by the 
 people of Exeter. It was soou curtailed on nearly every side. 
 
 Winicowet, or Hampton, was settled shortly after Exeter. Its 
 entire original territory, including the present townships of Hamp- 
 ton, North Hampton, Seabrook, South Hampton, Hampton Falls 
 and Kensington, and containing not less than sevent}' square 
 miles, was carved from the Indians' grant to Wheelwright. 
 Dover, on the north, pushed her occupancy, under the claim of a 
 purchase from tlie Indians, not only to Oyster river, but southerly 
 across the intervening space to Lamprey river, excepting a small 
 triangle of land bordering on the Great Bay. Of the western 
 north part of the Wheelwright Indian purchase, not less than 
 thirty square miles were held to belong to Dover ; the greater part 
 of it in tlie present township of Durham. 
 
 'Ihe western bound of Exeter was lixed by a committee of the 
 General Court of Massachusetts at about twenty miles distance 
 from the sea, instead of thirty miles, the limit of the Indian grant; 
 so the area of the town was thus further shorn of about one-half 
 its original dimensions. 
 
 A single addition to the town's territory is also to be recorded. 
 In 1G.";(J, or earlier, Thomas Wiggin, agent of the owners of 
 the southern division of the Squamscot patent, by his deed of 
 gift convoyed to the town a belt of land from the southerly end 
 
 112 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEE. 1];] 
 
 thereof, about a mile in breadth and between two and three miles 
 in length. 
 
 When all these subtractions and this addition were made, 
 Exeter, in place of its original ample precincts was reduced in 
 territory to about seventy square miles. This is occupied by the 
 present townships of Exeter, Newmarket, South Newmarket, 
 Epping, Brentwood and Fremont. 
 
 These various alterations of boundary were not accomplished 
 without objection. Towns are as averse as land-owners to any 
 diminution of their possessions, and there are few more fruitful 
 subjects of contention than conterminous boundaries. 
 
 There is scarcely a doubt that the bounds of Dover and of 
 Hampton were laid out by committees of the General Court of 
 Massachusetts, before Hxeter acknowledged the jurisdiction of 
 that colony. It was claimed by Dover that Lamprey river was 
 thus fixed as the line between that township and Exeter in 1641 
 or 1642; and the western bound of Hampton, where it adjoined 
 the eastern extremity of P^xeter, was early assumed to be distant 
 two miles from the meeting-house of the latter town, and, without 
 much question, had been so defined under the authority of the 
 Massachusetts colony. 
 
 AVhen the petition of Exeter to be received within the govern- 
 ment of Massachusetts was presented, May 12, 1643, the consent 
 of the deputies and of the magistrates was indorsed thereon, and 
 Samuel Dudley, Edward Rawson and Edward Carleton were ap- 
 pointed a committee for laying out the bounds. It is not known 
 what, if anything, was done by the committee. On the seventh 
 of the following September, when the petition wasformalli/ granted, 
 William Payne, Matthew Boyes and John Saunders were appointed 
 to settle the bounds between Exeter and Hampton, within two 
 months. If they performed that duty, it Avas not ver}' satisfacto- 
 rily, for the General Court on the sixth day of May, 1646, in 
 response to the petition of several inhabitants of Exeter, appointed 
 Samuel Dudley, Edward Rawson and Edward Carleton to "lay 
 out Exeter bounds next to Hampton, and so round about them, 
 provided there be no entrenching on the bounds of the patent of 
 the lords and gentlemen mentioned in the patent of Squamscot, 
 or in any grant formerly made to Dover by this court." This 
 resulted, no doubt, in fixing the location of the line between the 
 eastern extremity of Exeter and Hampton, but not of that dividing 
 the two towns farther to the westward. 
 
 8 
 
Ill HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 THE HAMPTON BOUND OF 1653. 
 
 On the fourteenth of October, 1051 , Hampton petitioned the 
 General Court for a committee to lay out the west end of the 
 bounds of their township, and Samuel Winslow, Thomas Bradbury 
 and Robert Pike were appointed for the purpose. Thereupon, the 
 people of Exeter, wisliing to adjust all matters of ])oundary which 
 were in dispute with their neiglibors, on the twenty-ninth day of 
 December following, gave authority to Samuel Dudley, Edward 
 Hilton, Edward Gilman, John Legat and Humphrey AVilson, to 
 "make an agreement with Hampton and Dover about the bounds 
 of the town, or to petition to the General Court about it if they 
 cannot agree with the other towns." And on ^Nlay 10, 1(552, 
 having then probably received notice of the appointment of the 
 commissioners by the General Court in the preceding October, 
 the town chose Samuel Dudley, Edward Hilton, Edward Gilman 
 and Thomas King, to meet with those commissioners "to lay out 
 the bounds between us and Hampton, to agitate and conclude 
 with them, or to make their objections according to the court 
 order, if they cannot agree." 
 
 On the same day the town requested Samuel Dudley and Edward 
 Gilman to "go to the next General Court as messengers for the 
 town, to treat with the Court about the liberties and bounds of 
 our town, that we be not infringed upon either by Dover or 
 Hampton." Ten days later, the town excused Mr. Gilman from 
 the duty and appointed Edward Hilton in his stead; and Mr. 
 Dudley and John Legat were desired to compose the petition to 
 send to the said General Court. Samuel Dudley, Edward Hilton, 
 Thomas Pettit, John Legat, Edward Gilman, James Wall, 
 Humphrey AVilson, Nicholas Listen and Thomas Cornish, or any 
 six of them, were authorized to set their hands to the petition in 
 behalf of the rest of the town. 
 
 The report of the commissioners appointed by the General 
 Court in October, 1()51, was returned on the thirtieth of Septem- 
 ber, 1653, in the following terms : 
 
 ISIr. Sanuiel AVinslow, Mr. Thomas Bradbury and Mr. Robert 
 Pike, being chosen by the General Court to laj' out the west line 
 of Hampton bounds, upon their best information have concluded 
 that their west line shall run from the extent of the line formerly 
 agreed on, to come within two miles of Exeter meeling-house 
 upon a direct line to that part of Ass brook where the highway 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 115 
 
 goes over, aud from thence upon a direct line so as to leave Exeter 
 falls at the town bridge, a mile and a half due north of the same, 
 and from thence upon a west and by north line as far as the 
 utmost extent of Salisbury bounds that way. 
 
 THE DOVER BOUND OF 1G53. 
 
 "While the questions with Hampton were pending, Dover, on the 
 twentieth of October, 16o2, petitioned the General Court to have 
 " their limits confirmed to them ;" and thereupon, and on the said 
 petition of Exeter, the General Court, on the twenty-sixth of 
 October, of the same year, appointed William Payne, Samuel 
 Winslow and Matthew Boyes, or the major part of them, to lay 
 out the bounds between the two townships, and certif}^ the court 
 and the towns what they should determine. 
 
 Tlieir report bore date March 9, 1653, and was in these woixls : 
 
 "We have determined and agreed that the line formerly laid out 
 
 shall stand, the}' taking a point from the middle of the bridge on 
 
 the first fall on I^amprey river, and so to run six miles west and 
 
 by north, but the land betwixt the line and tlie river shall belong 
 
 to Exeter, they not having libei'ty to set up any mill except the 
 
 right specified on the first fall, but the timber betwixt the line and 
 
 the river shall belong to Dover in such time as they shall see meet 
 
 to make use of the same to their best advantage ; provided that 
 
 both the towns shall have full liberty to make use of the river 
 
 upon all occasions [as ?] before. Exeter hath liberty to make use 
 
 of all the timber half a mile between the line and Lamprey river 
 
 towards the bridge, and one mile between the line and the said 
 
 river towards the second fall, and for these Mr. Edward Hilton is 
 
 to have belonging to his mill all the timber within compass of one 
 
 mile and a half square, if it be to be had betwixt the line and the 
 
 river Lamprey. 
 
 "\YiLLiAM Payne, 
 
 Samuel "Winslow, 
 
 jVIatthew Boyes. 
 
 Such remained the dividing Ime, in substance, between Dover 
 and Exeter for the next fourteon years. In 1657 representatives 
 of the two towns, Valentine I nil, John Bickford, Sr. and "William 
 Furber for the former, and Edward Hilton and John Oilman for 
 the latter, " settled the bounds" bv marking the line ; and agreed 
 
116 IIISTOUV OF KXKTKR. 
 
 upon tlie enjoyment that each should have, of the border laud. 
 Nothing further was done so far as is known, till Exeter asked 
 for the enlargement of her territory in 1667. 
 
 CAPTAIN THOMAS WIGGIN's DEED OF GIFT. 
 
 In the order of time the next change of bounds of Exeter was 
 occasioned by the gift to the town by Thomas Wiggin in or before 
 1656, of a tract of land one mile in breadth, from the southern 
 end of the Squamscot patent. The occasion of this gift is. now 
 unknown. Wiggin is described in connection with it, as agent of 
 the proprietors of the southern division of the patent, so that the 
 act may have been performed in their behalf. Or, as Wiggin was 
 apparently dilatory in paying to Exeter his minister's tax, it is 
 possible that the gift had some relation to that. The land was 
 bounded as follows : beginning at the falls of the Squamscot, 
 thence running northerly by the salt river to the mouth of Wheel- 
 wright's creek ; thence southeasterly to the line of Hampton ; 
 thence by the line of Hampton and of Exeter to the bound begun 
 at. The town of Exeter, in order that there might be no uncer- 
 tainty about the title or jurisdiction of their new acquisition, on 
 the twenty-eighth of April, 1656, ordered that a petition be pre- 
 sented to the next General Court that Captain Wiggin's deed of 
 gift to the town, of land and meadow, might be confirmed to 
 tliem ; and that Mr. Bartholomew of Ipswich be employed to 
 ])resent the petition. It happened by a fortunate coincidence that 
 Mr. Bartholomew was a member of the committee appointed by 
 the General Court to make partition among the several proprietors 
 of the Squamscot patent, of which the land in question was a 
 part ; and in the return of the committee. May 22, 1656, the gift 
 was recited and confirmed. 
 
 On the thirtieth of March, 1668, the town deputed JohnGilman, 
 John Folsom, Sr., Jonathan Thing, Kalph Hall and John AVarren, 
 to lay out the line between the Shrewsbury (division of the 
 Squamscot) patent then held by Richard Scammon and the terri- 
 tory of Exeter adjoining the same, with the consent of the said 
 Scammon. It appears that Hampton laid some claim to the land 
 given by Captain Wiggin, as above mentioned, for when, on the 
 thirtieth of March, 1670, a portion of it was granted to Edward 
 (iilman, Peter Folsom, John Young, Edward Smitli, Tliomas 
 IJnllins, Jeremy Leavitt, Jonathan Thing, Jr. and John Clark, 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 117 
 
 the grantees were required to bind themselves in the sum of ten 
 pounds each to the town, to try the title of their lands with the 
 town of Hampton, if need should require. . 
 
 ENLARGEMENT OF EXETER BOUNDS. 
 
 No further controversy in regard to the extent of the town 
 appears to have arisen until March 15, 1667, when John Gilman 
 was empowered " to petition the General Court for an enlargement 
 of the bounds of the town, and to prosecute the business ; and to 
 procure Captain Hubbard or Josiah Hubbard to assist him if he 
 sees it needful." The petition was duly presented, and on May 
 15, 1667, the court ordered that Richard Waldron, Robert Pike 
 and Samuel Dalton, as a committee, should view the land desired 
 by the petitioners, and make return at the next session. The 
 report of the committee bore date the eighth of October, 1667, 
 and was in these words : 
 
 We whose names are hereunto subscribed being appointed by 
 the honored General Court to view and consider of the bounds of 
 the township of P^xeter and to make return to the next session of 
 the court, two of us having taken a survey of the lands about their 
 town and the bounds of other towns adjacent, 
 
 We whose names are underwritten do judge that the bounds of 
 the town of Exeter shall extend northward to Lamprey river, and 
 from the first fall in Lamprey river six miles upon a west and by 
 north line adjoining to Dover bounds as they are laid out and 
 confirmed, and then two miles further upon the same point of the 
 compass, that to be their north bounds ; and from the foot of 
 Exeter falls by the present grist-mill a mile and a half due south 
 to Hampton bounds, and from that south point to run upon a west 
 and by north line ten miles into the woods adjoining to Hampton 
 bounds, that to be their south bounds ; and so from the end of 
 that line upon a straight line over the land to meet with the other 
 line on the north that extendeth froin Dover bounds, tliat to be 
 their head line, westward, and Squamscot patent to be their east 
 bounds. 
 
 Samuel Dalton, 
 Richard Walderne. 
 
 Though I could not by reason of straitness of time make a 
 full view of all the lands above mentioned, yet from what I do 
 
118 HISTORY OF EXETKK. 
 
 know of it, together with that information that I have had of those 
 that do well know of the qnality of the rest of the land, do judge 
 that the bounds above mentioned may ]>e just and reasonable, and 
 do concur in subscrii)tion. 
 
 RoBEKT Pike. 
 
 The substantial change made by this report was to give to 
 Dover the tract of land south of I.amprey river and between that 
 river and the west and by north line prescribed by the connnission 
 of IG;'),'^, being an area of some eight or ten square miles, and to 
 add to Exeter a belt of about two miles in width along the whole 
 western end of the township, making, perhaps, fifteen sqnare miles 
 of territory. The report of the connnittee was confirmed by the 
 General Court, witli the proviso " that all pine trees fit for masts, 
 which are twenty-four inches diameter and upwards, within three 
 foot of the ground, that grow above three miles from the meeting- 
 house where it now stands, in any place within the bounds of said 
 town (Exeter), are hereby reserved for the public; and if any 
 person or persons shall presume to fell down any such pine tree lit 
 for masts, he or they shall forfeit ten pounds for every tree ; the 
 one-half to the informer, and the other half to the public treasury 
 of the country." 
 
 It remained only to mark upon the ground the lines thus 
 described, and the town on the twenty-nhith of March, 16GS, 
 chose John (iilman, Jonathan Thuig, John Folsom, Sr. and 
 Moses (iilman to run the line between the two meeting-houses of 
 Hampton and Exeter ; Jonathan Thing, Kobert Smart, Ralph 
 Hall, John Folsom, Sr. and Nicholas Listen to run the line 
 between Dover and Kxeter ; and -John Folsom, Sr., John Folsom, 
 Jr., Jonathan Thing, William Moore and Moses Oilman to run the 
 west and by north line between Hampton and Exeter. 
 
 For some cause a good deal of delay occurred in i)erforming the 
 work, and on the twenty-second of Fe])ruary, 1('>7()-1, the town 
 added to the last conmiittee Kali)h Hall, Nicholas Listen and John 
 (Oilman, who were empowered to run the line between Hampton 
 and Exeter " according to the coin-t order, that is, to begin at the 
 lioiiiid trei' at Ass brook and so upon a direct line so as to leave 
 Exeter falls a mile and a half due north of the same, and from 
 thence upon a west and by north line to the extent of ten miles ; 
 and what these men or a major part of them shall do. shall stand 
 in as good force as if the whole town were present." 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 119 
 
 But the work weut on at a snail's pace, if it went on at all. 
 The duty was perhaps not an agreeable one, and the committee 
 were reluctant to act, and on the tenth of July, 1671, the town 
 took up the subject anew. Philip Cartee, Christian DoUoff and 
 John Folsom, Sr. were chosen "to make an end of measuring" 
 the line between Hampton and Exeter ; Nicholas Smith, John 
 Bean, John Young and John Folsom, Sr. were designated to run 
 the line between Exeter falls and Lamprey river falls. "If any of 
 these men refuse to go, he is to pay ten shillings." John Gilman, 
 Jonathan Thing, William Moore, Ralph Hall, Moses Gilman, 
 Nicholas Listen, Samuel Leavitt, Peter Folsom, Robert Smart and 
 John Folsom, Sr. were chosen to run the line between Dover and 
 Exeter, with power to a major part of them to determine the 
 same. 
 
 But the end was not yet. On the twenty-ninth of April, 1672, 
 the town gave to Samuel Dudley, Ralph Hall and John Gilman, 
 "full power to agree with Hampton men about all differences that 
 may be between the inhabitauts of Hampton and Exeter concern- 
 ing lands." Under this authority it is probable that the lono- 
 pending questions of town lines were finally adjusted, and to the 
 substantial satisfaction of the parties concerned. 
 
 It took a little longer to put a quietus on the difference with the 
 people of Dover. On the twenty-fifth of March, 1672, the select- 
 men of that town and the selectmen of Exeter agreed, in behalf of 
 their respective towns, to refer " the difference between them about 
 Lamprey [river point] " to the arbitrament of Robert Pike, Samuel 
 Dalton and John Wincol. This probably related to the o-ore of 
 land northerly of Lamprey river and between the first fall thereon 
 and the Great Bay, claimed by Exeter, and still retained by New- 
 market as successor to Exeter. The report of the arbitrators has 
 not been found, but there can be little doubt that it sustained the 
 claim of P^xeter. 
 
 No question of boundary appears to have arisen again between 
 the towns until 1670, when on March 11 the town resolved that 
 "in answer to Major Waldron's request of some of our town to 
 come and meet with some of their town (Dover) in reference to 
 the running of the line between us, and for a final agreement of 
 the same, it is agreed by the town that they will not any otherwise 
 run the line or agree with the town of Dover, but as the line is 
 already run by the town of Exeter." A rebuff so pointed as tliis 
 seems to have silenced the worthy Major, for nothing further is 
 
l-JO HISTOKY iJF EXETEH. 
 
 heard of the subject for a long period. At leugth, on the six- 
 teenth of eTanuary, ITKI-ll, the town of Exeter took final action 
 upon it l)v ai)pointing Nicholas Gilman, Jonathan AVadlcigh and 
 Jonathan Thing, a committee "to procure the settlement of the 
 line between Dover and Exeter out of any office, and to new run 
 the line if occasion be." 
 
 As this boundary line was settled in KiGT so it has substantially 
 remained to this day. If it lias been tlie subject of later conten- 
 tion, the original parties have long ceased to be interested in 
 it, for the northern section of Exeter became Newmarket in 
 1727, and the soutlicrn section of Dover became Durliam in 1738. 
 
 SQUAMSCOT PATENT UNDER EXETER GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The Squamscot patent, situated mostly on the eastern side of 
 the Squamscot river and Great Bay, was, in IGoG, divided under 
 the authority of Massachusetts into three shares. With the first 
 (northern) division, Exeter history has nothing to do. The second 
 (middle) division was assigned to Thomas Wiggin and his partners. 
 The third (southern) division was awarded to a company known, 
 from tlie place of their residence in England, as " the Shrewsbury 
 men." Of this company "Wiggin was then the agent, and from 
 the southern part of this division he gave a strip of land a mile in 
 width to the town of Exeter. The second and the third division 
 thus curtailed compose substantially the present town of Stratham. 
 
 AViggin had been living at Sandy point near the northern ex- 
 tremity of tlie middle division, probably from the very foundation 
 of the Exeter settlement. His name occurs frequently in the 
 Exeter records, as if he were i*egarded in the light of an inhabi- 
 tant. It is evident that lie was rated in the town for the support 
 of the ministry, though he was somewhat dilatory in j)ayment. 
 Possibly he may have thought that tlu> Exeter assessments were 
 onerous, and that he would fare bi'tter if assigned to another place. 
 However, on tiie sixth of May, 1().")7, tlie Massachusetts General 
 Court, in an order Avliicli recited that '' his land and property had 
 not as yet been brought within the limits of any town, nor been 
 liable to pay taxes and assessments as others of our honored mag- 
 istrates have done," required tluit " liis dwelling house, with all 
 the lands and proprieties thereto appertaining, shall belong to the 
 town of Hampton, and liy the selectmen of the said town to be 
 assessed in all rates according to law, any law or usage to tlie 
 contrary notwithstanding." 
 
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HISTORY OF EXETER. 121 
 
 Thereafter, not only Wiggin's estate, but presumably all the 
 taxable estates in that portion of the Squamscot patent, were 
 assessed in Hampton until November 28, 1692, when it was ordered 
 by the president and council of the province of New Hampshire 
 that "the inhabitants of Squamscot, within this province, begin- 
 ning from Mr. Thomas Wiggin's at Sandy point and upwards, 
 shall be rated by the selectmen of Exeter to all public assessments ; 
 also that they be under the command of the militia of Exeter until 
 furthei- orders." 
 
 This enactment continued in force for more than twenty-three 
 years. Its effect was to unite the inhabitants of the two contigu- 
 ous precincts under the same town government. The citizens of 
 each were vested with the same rights, and subject to the same 
 liabilities. They all took part in town meetings and were equally 
 eligible to town offices. A fair proportion of the municipal officers 
 were selected from each territory. But as the population of 
 Squamscot patent increased, the desire naturally grew up among 
 the inhabitants to be incorporated into a town by themselves. 
 Their remoteness from church and school, to which they had to 
 contribute their share of the cost, was an unanswerable argument 
 in favor of their wish, and after some disagreement among them- 
 selves on the subject, they were incorporated with town privileges 
 under the name of Stratham by a charter dated IVtarch 20, 1716. 
 This, of course, terminated their connection with Exeter. 
 
 TOWNSHIPS CAKVED FROM EXETER TERRITORY. 
 
 Since that time Exeter has lost about three-fourths of its area 
 by new townships successively set off from it. The historj' of the 
 several earlier partitions will be found in the ecclesiastical portion 
 of this work, as the towns were originally detached in the form of 
 parishes. 
 
 Newmarket was taken from Exeter December 1'), 1727. South 
 Newmarket was set off from Newmarket June 27, 1849. 
 
 Popping was taken from Exeter February 23, 17-11. 
 
 Brentwood was taken from Exeter June 26, 1742; Poplin was 
 severed from Brentwood June 22, 1764, and its name was changed 
 to Fremont July 8, 1854. 
 
 Exeter now contains a little short of seventeen square miles of 
 land, not a twentieth part of the quantity which the deed of the 
 Indian sagamores purported to grant. 
 
If 
 
 
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 si 
 
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 LU 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 121 
 
 Thereafter, not only Wiggin's estate, but presumably all the 
 taxable estates in that portion of the Squamscot patent, were 
 assessed in Hampton until November 28, 1692, when it was ordered 
 by the president and council of the province of New Hampshire 
 that "the inhabitants of Squamscot, within this province, begin- 
 ning from Mv. Thomas Wiggin's at Sandy point and upwards, 
 shall be rated by the selectmen of Exeter to all public assessments ; 
 also that they be under the command of the militia of Exeter until 
 further orders." 
 
 This enactment continued in force for more than twenty-three 
 years. Its effect was to unite the inhabitants of the two contigu- 
 ous precincts under the same town government. The citizens of 
 each were vested with the same rights, and subject to the same 
 liabilities. They all took part in town meetings and were equally 
 eligible to town offices. A fair proportion of the municipal otHcers 
 were selected from each territory. But as the population of 
 Squamscot patent increased, the desire naturally grew up among 
 the inhabitants to be incorporated into a town by themselves. 
 Their remoteness from church and school, to which they had to 
 contribute their share of the cost, was an unanswerable argument 
 in favor of their wish, and after some disagreement among them- 
 selves on the subject, they were incorporated with town privileges 
 under the name of Stratham by a charter dated IMarch 20, 1716. 
 This, of course, terminated their connection with Exeter. 
 
 TOWNSHIPS CARVED FROM EXETER TEKKITOUY. 
 
 Since that thne Exeter has lost about three-fourths of its area 
 by new townships successively set off from it. The historj' of the 
 several earlier partitions will be found in the ecclesiastical portion 
 of this work, as the towns were originally detached in the form of 
 parishes. 
 
 Newmarket was taken from Exeter December 1,"), 1727. South 
 Newmarket was set off from Newmarket June 27, 1849. 
 
 Epping was taken from Exeter February 23, 1741. 
 
 Brentwood Avas taken from Exeter June 2G^ 1742; Poplin was 
 severed from Brentwood June 22, 1704, and its name was changed 
 to Fremont July 8, 1854. 
 
 Exeter now contains a little short of seventeen square miles of 
 land, not a twentieth part of the quantity which the deed of the 
 Indian sagamores purported to grant. 
 
122 IIISTUKY UF P:XETEU. 
 
 HKJHWAYS, THKIU LOCATION'. I.AVINC OL'T AND KKPAIRS. 
 
 It would be interesting, if it were practicable, to trace the origin 
 and liistory of the various roads in and about Exeter. But for the 
 first century most of them wore opened without any public autlior- 
 ity that can now lie discovei'ed, and many were as unceremoniously 
 discontinued when they ceased to be needed. Only the fittest 
 survived. 
 
 Tiie I'ivcr was the first great highwaj^ so far as it would serve 
 as such. P>ach dweller on its banks had liis canoe, and boats of 
 burden were abundant. P^vory road terminated or connected with 
 its landings. "Where there was no water way, but there was 
 frequent need of communication, as with the neigliV)oring village 
 of Hampton, a land way had to be provided. But as the travel 
 for several generations was cliiefly on horseback, the roads were 
 little more than bridle paths. They are referred to as such in the 
 earlier records, as " the path towards Hampton," "the Salisbury 
 path," and the like. 
 
 In the opposite direction wider thoroughfares were needed for 
 the convenience of hauling luml)ev to the landing places on the 
 river. AVe find early mention, for example, of "the mast- way," 
 leading in the direction of Epping, a chief use of which was 
 indicated by its name ; and there is no doubt that wood-paths, 
 passable by sleds and wheels, were rudely constructed to the 
 nortlu-rn and western sections of the township. The great im- 
 portance and value of the lumber business demanded them. 
 
 The need of maintaining suitable roads in the town was fully 
 recognized from the beginning. A vote of February 1, 16-40-1, 
 referred to a former order (not preserved) that highways were to 
 be at least three poles in width ; and required that since they had 
 become narrowed in various places, they should be rectified and 
 made of full breadth betwixt that time and the middle of April, 
 1642. 
 
 r)n June 17, 1644, it was agreed at a town meeting that four 
 days should be set apart to mend the highways, "to begin on the 
 fourth day of the week come a sevenniglit ;" that the inhabitants 
 should be at their labors at six and leave at twelve, then rest till 
 two, and work till six o'clock ; and such as might be absent should 
 be lined five sliillings for every day; and they that had teams 
 should work them, upon the penalty of twenty shillings for every 
 day's neglect, until the four days should be expired. AVhen the 
 scarcity and relatively greater value of money at that period are 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 123 
 
 considered, the penalty for non-appearance which the people im- 
 posed upon themselves, seems enormous, and shows the sacrifices 
 they were willing to undergo in order to provide their town with 
 suitable thoroughfares. 
 
 The earliest record of the appointment of officers to superintend 
 the highways is dated November 24, 1650. Abraham Drake and 
 John Legat were chosen to view the highway, and to give Henry 
 Koby liberty to enlarge his garden out of it, but to restore the 
 highway to its usual breadth out of his lot ; and so Edward Gilman 
 and others, provided that the highways be not made worse than 
 they then were. 
 
 On the first of September, 1651, Edward Gilman was chosen 
 survej'^or of the highways for the year, ' ' to call forth laborers for 
 the work and give directions." In 1652, April 20, James Wall, 
 John Legat and Thomas King were appointed to view the high- 
 ways, to see that they were not reduced in width, and were author- 
 ized to pull up fences that encroached on them, or that stopped up 
 any common places of access to the river side. 
 
 At a town meeting January 21, 1660-1, Thomas King and John 
 Warren were appointed to call upon Hampton for laying out of a 
 county way between Exeter and Hampton. 
 
 At the time of the election of selectmen in 1660, their powers 
 were very fully defined, but they were forbidden, among other 
 things, to lay out new highways. In 1664, October 10, the town 
 gave authority to Thomas King, John Folsom, Sr. and John Rob- 
 inson to lay out highways where they should judge convenient. 
 
 On the third of April, 1(571, Moses Gilman and Samuel Leavitt 
 were elected surveyors of the highways, and it was ordered that 
 whoever of the inhabitants should fail to come into the highways 
 to work at such time as they should appoint, should forfeit five 
 shillings for every day's neglect, to be distrained upon b}- the 
 constable forthwith. 
 
 It was ordered by the town August 30, 1671, that there should 
 be surticient room for " a loaden cart to pass in all highways, and 
 whosoever shall block up the highways so as a cart cannot con- 
 veniently pass, or what timber shall be dangerous, shall be 
 forfeited to the town, and the constable forthwith to take it away 
 by distress." There seems a little confusion of ideas in the order ; 
 it could hardly have been intended that the person blocking the 
 higliways should be forfeited to the town and taken by distress. 
 
 In 1675 a surveyor of highways for each side of the river was 
 chosen, and for several years that method was annually pursued. 
 
124 HISTUKY UF EXETER. 
 
 BRIDGES. 
 
 The earliest mention of a bridge in the records of the town is 
 upon May U», KMl, when it was determined that the townsmen 
 should procure a bridge over J^amprey river. This was while that 
 river was understood by the inhabitants to be wholly within the 
 limits of Exeter. Before the resolution was carried into effect, 
 however, the town became apprised of the claim of Dover that 
 Lamprey river had been authoritativeh' fixed upon as the general 
 boundary' between that township and Exeter ; and then the inhab- 
 itants of the latter ordered, January 27, 1644-5, that Anthony 
 Stanyan and James Wall should go to Lamprey river to meet with 
 " the men of Dover to consult, conclude and bargain with them 
 concerning the making of a bridge over the said river." If 
 Dover were to have the land to the river, then it was just that she 
 should pay her share for bridging it. In 1G47 both towns were 
 fined for neglect to keep a bridge there, Dover live pounds, but 
 Exeter only thirty shillings. It is not known whether the court 
 assumed to adapt the penalties to their respective degrees of de- 
 linquency. 
 
 In all pro])ability the first bridge erected in the town was that 
 across the fresh river, just above the falls, where the "great 
 bridge" now is. That was tnost immediately uecessar}' to accom- 
 modate the residents on either side of the river, and for the com- 
 munication between Exeter and Hampton, which was not inconsid- 
 erable. At first the bridge was only suitable for passengers on 
 foot or on horseback, and it was not until it had become a part 
 of the ''county way," that it was widened sulficiently to accom- 
 modate carts. In 167."), the County Court ordered that the town 
 of f^xeter should make "their 'boom' six foot wide within the 
 rail, and raise it on both sides suflficiently ; to be finished by the 
 next Hampton Court upon tlie penalty of ten pounds." It is 
 rather mortifying to add that the required improvements were not 
 made, and llie penalty was incurred. The court, however, was 
 lenient, and allowed further time, being well aware that such public 
 exactions wcn^ heavy burdens upon the struggling frontier settle- 
 ments. 
 
 As early as 1693, this had acquired the designation of "great" 
 bridge, by which it has been ever since known. This name in- 
 dicated that there was then at least one other bridge, and of less 
 dimensions. In 1708, ]\Iay 30, the town resolved that the great 
 bridge be made a horse bridge, wide enough for two horses to pass 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 125 
 
 "ou breast." The other bridge, which by contrast, gave the 
 former its distinctive name, was, without much doubt, the prede- 
 cessor of the present " string bridge." It was not built all at one 
 time, nor by a single person. The earliest mill was situated on 
 the island at the lower falls. The proprietor of it was Thomas 
 Wilson, and after his death his son, Humphrey Wilson. They 
 also owned land on the eastern side of the river, near the mill, and 
 that part of the river which formed the channel between the mill 
 and that shoi'e was called "Wilson's creek." No doubt a 
 "stringer" was at an early day laid across the creek to connect 
 the island with the nearest shore. Thus the inhabitants would be 
 enabled to take their grists to the mill without the aid of a boat. 
 At a later date. Captain John Gilman became the owner of another 
 grist-mill on the western side of the island. He naturally desu-ed 
 it to be connected with the western shore by a bridge of his own ; 
 his mill and the Wilson mill being rival establishments. At a 
 town meeting on the first Monday of April, 1709, the town gave 
 him all their right to the stream and the island where his mill was, 
 "with the pri\dlege for a bridge to go on the island." This led 
 to the completion of the second bridge across the river. It con- 
 sisted for above a century of nothing more than one or two timbers 
 laid across each of the channels of the river, with hand rails at the 
 side, so that a man could safely pass with a bag of meal on his 
 shoulder. It obtained the name of "string bridge" from the 
 manner of its original construction, and still retains it, though for 
 many years past it has been rebuilt in a substantial shape, with 
 space for carriages to pass each other upon it, and a sidewalk. 
 
 There can be little doubt that the first highway was made alono- 
 the western bank of the river, nearly in the line of the present 
 Water street, leading from the great bridge on the one hand, to 
 the earliest meeting-house on the other. This was doubtless what 
 is spoken of as the "village street" in the contract between 
 Gowen Wilson and the town. May 1, 1649. The road which led 
 from that street near its northern extremity, westerly into the 
 interior, is mentioned by the name of "lane's end" in the town 
 records as early as 1650. This was for a hundred and fifty years 
 one of the main avenues to the water side ; and over it was trans- 
 ported a large proportion of the original growth of the forests 
 which covered many square miles of the old township. In later 
 times its importance has dwindled, and it has assumed the pictu- 
 resque aspect of one of the old English country lanes, its roadway 
 
\-2r, ITISTOIJY OV KXETFIK. 
 
 being worn dcrply l»t'lo\v the surface level ou each side, and lined 
 b}' pollard trees and bushes. Its name, too, has undergone trans- 
 formations. It appears ou the town i)lan of 184G as " Back street," 
 and on that of 1874 as "Park street," but it is popularl}' known 
 as " Katy's lane " from the residence there of a colored woman 
 whose Christian name adhered to it by natural affinity. 
 
 Koads to Hampton, to Stratham and to 8alisl)ury, to those parts 
 of the township which were afterwards set off as Newmarket, 
 Epping and Brentwood, and to Kingston, were undoubtedly in use 
 long before the year 1700. 
 
 On the fourth of March, 1658-9, it was ordered by the town 
 that Thomas King and his partners in the mill set up about three 
 miles up the river, should have liberty to build a bridge and make 
 a highway, over which others might pass ou foot, or ou horseback, 
 or drive cattle ; but in case others made use of it in the way of 
 carting, they should make a proportionate allowance to the said 
 partners, according to their use. This was probably the authority 
 for building Avhat were called the "neck road" and "King's 
 brido-e." That territorv which was included between the Exeter 
 fresh river and Little river was kuoVn by the name of " the neck." 
 It was crossed by this road in a southwesterly direction. The 
 original names of the road and of the bridge are still familiar to 
 old residents, but to the present generation the way is better 
 known as the road to East Kingston. 
 
 TIIK VILLAGE STKKKTS. 
 
 The thoroughfare now termed "Front street" received in the 
 original nomenclature of the town ways, ninet}^ years ago, the 
 name of "Fore street," afterwards that of "Court street," and 
 finally the present designation. It probably had nothing that 
 could l»e i)roperly called sidewalks before the year 1807. A paper 
 is still extant bearing date in that year containing subscriptions 
 for " defraj'ing the expense of making a gravel walk with posts, 
 rails, etc., in Court street," the amount of which was eighty dollars 
 and twenty cents. The names of the public spirited subscribers 
 deserve to be preserved. They were Phillips Exeter Academy, 
 John T. Ciilman, Oliver Peabody, Nathaniel Gilmau, Nicholas 
 (Jilnian, (leorgc Sullivan, Jeremiah Smith and Samuel Tennej'. 
 
 The avenues which connect Front and Water streets are of 
 later date. Spring street was laid out in 17;{0, Centre street in 
 1734, and Academy street, which, i)y reason of its manufactories 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 127 
 
 of leatlier, long bore the euphonious title of "Tan lane," was not 
 opened till still later. The road along the eastern shore of the 
 river was not formally laid out till 1739, though there can be little 
 doubt that it had been used by the public as a way to the mills 
 and to tlie water side for three-fourths of a century before at 
 least. In fact, as already intimated, the early roads appear to 
 have been made and unmade, just according to the varying needs 
 of the people, without the aid of engineers, and irrespective of 
 direction or grades. The consequence is that in the older parts 
 of the town there is scarcely a furlong of highway built on a 
 straight line. This circumstance undoubtedly contributes greatly 
 to the picturesqueness of the place. Rectangular streets are con- 
 venient, but they are anything but beautiful. 
 
 None of the streets in the village southerly of Front street and 
 of that part of Water street between the two bridges are much 
 above half a century old. Court, Franklin and Pine streets, and 
 their connections, were laid out across fields, but Elm street had 
 its germ in Moulton's lane, and Elliott street in Whitefield's lane. 
 Those lanes led to the dwellings of persons bearing those names 
 respectively. Lincoln and Garfield streets, as theu- names would 
 indicate, are still more recent. 
 
 The records of the town and of the courts show that in the 
 earlier times, the highways were sometimes suffered to fall into 
 sad disrepair, and to become inconvenient or unsafe for travel by 
 reason of incumbrances. For example, "meeting-house hill," 
 whose sloping side formed an easy chute for logs into the river, 
 was used from early times as a convenient place of deposit for 
 timber. No doubt travellers were often incommoded by it, and at 
 length, August 30, 1671, the town passed an order that " whereas 
 there is likely to be great damage by laying logs on meeting-house 
 hUl, by beating down the banks of it, there shall be no more lo^s 
 laid between Nicholas Norris his house and the southeast side of 
 the hill, upon forfeiture of what timber shall be laid there, to be 
 forthwith seized on by the constable for the use of the town." 
 
 The open space in front of the present town hall, now bearing the 
 name of Court square, was another locality tempting to cumberers of 
 the ground. Near the middle of the last century a pound, which was 
 doubtless more useful than ornamental, and several small shops 
 had been huddled there, so that not only was the eye offended by 
 fhe sorry group, but the highway must have been reduced to the 
 narrowest dimensions. The need of a site for a court-house 
 afforded occasion, a few years later, for abating the nuisance. 
 
]-}S IIISIOKV OF KXKTKK. 
 
 But of all parts of the town, Water street has been the heaviest 
 burden upon the patience of travellers and highway surveyors. 
 As late as 1768, the eastern part of it, between the great and the 
 string bridge, was so narrow that the selectmen were authorized, 
 by a purchase of land or otherwise, to make it sufliciont and wide 
 enough for safe passing. The street was originally much nearer 
 the level of the river than it now is, and has been raised by con- 
 tinually repeated layers of earth and gravel, until its present grade 
 is in some parts several feet higher. The sub-cellars of some of 
 the business blocks are little, if at all, below the natural surface 
 of the ground. About the point where the street turns to the 
 north, it was within the century past so depressed that in very 
 high tides the water flowed over it to a depth that admitted of the 
 passage of boats above the roadway for a considerable distance. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 THE COMMON LANDS. 
 
 The inhabitants of Exeter having the absolute disposal of the 
 lands within the township, it was to be expected that numerous 
 applications would be made to them for allotments therefrom. 
 This was in fact done to such an extent that a great part of the 
 early records are filled with grants of lands, and descriptions 
 thereof by the lot layers chosen by the town. The descriptions 
 are unfortunately so vague, and refer to so few permanent land- 
 marks, that it is impossible, without a degree of labor far out of 
 proportion with the value of the result, to fix the present location 
 of most of the earlier lots. No equality or rule of proportion, so 
 far as can be perceived, was observed in making the allotments, 
 except in the division of lands in December, 1639, and in the final 
 distribution ; but each inhabitant received as much as the town 
 saw fit to give him. No doubt the assignments were intended to 
 be equitable, in view of the circumstances of each case, which 
 were of course well known to the voters. But it is not remarkable 
 that in process of time this method of doling out the lands 
 created dissatisfaction, especially to those who fancied that they 
 were not treated so well as others, which led at length to a general 
 division of the residue of the public domain, and almost literally 
 gave "every man a farm." This conclusion, however, was not 
 reached until nearly a century had expired. An account of the 
 disposal of the common lands, as l)rief as is consistent with clear- 
 ness, is a necessary part of this history. 
 
 When the town was first settled in 1638, each person probably 
 chose such a site for his dwelling as best suited his convenience, 
 with due reference to the rights of others. If any record was 
 made of their several holdings it has disappeared. We only know 
 that the main settlement was near the falls of the Squamscot, and 
 on the western side of the river. 
 
 9 129 
 
180 HISTORY OF EXETKR. 
 
 At the close of the second season, in December, 1039, a sj'stem- 
 atic distribution of certain uphmds, perhaps all that were free 
 from the forest growth, and of all the meadows and marshes lying 
 on the salt river, was made, among all, with few exceptions, of 
 the inhabitants. The details of this transaction appear else- 
 where.* 
 
 LANDS OF EDWARD AND WILLIAM HILTON. 
 
 Before doing this, however, the town designated the bounds of 
 Edward Hilton's lands, which lay in the present township of 
 South Newmarket, as follows : "his upland ground is bounded in 
 breadth from the creek next from his house towards Exeter on 
 the one side and a certain point of land over against Captain Wig- 
 gins his house, between the marsh and the upland, that his bounds 
 on the other side, and it is to extend into the main the same dis- 
 tance in length as it is in breadth ; and that he shall have all the 
 meadows which he formerly occupied from his house to the mouth 
 of Lamprey river." 
 
 To these lands the town laid no claim of proprietorship. At a 
 later period they were alluded to in the records as a grant made 
 to Hilton "by composition." It is evident that he held them by 
 virtue of some prior claim ; whether by actual possession, or as 
 appurtenant to the "Hilton patent," is not known. 
 
 The town also agreed, on May 3, 1G40, that "Willam Hilton 
 should continue to enjoy those two marshes on Oyster river which 
 he then, and had formerly, possessed, and "which j\Ir. Gibbies 
 (Gibbons?) doth wrongfully detain from him, with the rest of 
 those marshes which formerly he hath made use of, so far forth 
 as they may l)e for the iniblic good of tliis {plantation ; and so nuich 
 of the upland [adjacent] to them as shall be thought convenient 
 by the ncighljors of Oyster river wiiich are belonging to this 
 body." 
 
 GRANTS OF TOWN LANDS. 
 
 Depositions on the files of the old county of Norfolk show that 
 the town at a very early date bestowed upon Thomas Wilson the 
 island in the river at the falls, on which his house and grain-mill 
 were situated, reserving to the inhaltitants only the right to land 
 their canoes, and lay their lish tliere. 
 
 * See Appendix (I). 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 131 
 
 On May 6, 1643, the town granted to Thomas Rashleigh 14 or 
 16 acres of land, with the expectation probably that he was to 
 make a permanent settlement there as their minister. He remained 
 about a year, and on his departure the land reverted to the town, 
 and was subsequently regranted to the Rev. Samuel Dudley. 
 
 On August 21, of the same year, a vote was passed that any 
 inhabitant who should find a marsh of less than twenty acres, 
 might enjoy it as his own forever ; if of more than twenty acres, 
 it was to be at the town's disposal, but the finder was to have a 
 double portion out of it. 
 
 From the earliest surviving book of the town is taken the fol- 
 lowing record of such marshes : 
 
 Found, by Samuel Greenfield and Nathaniel Boulter, two parcels 
 lying westward from the town, by estimation nineteen acres 
 apiece ; found the first of May, 1644, Granted at a town meeting 
 the IGth of 11th month to Nathaniel Boulter and Samuel Greenfield. 
 
 Found, by Robert Booth, one parcel westward from the town, 
 by estimation thirty acres,y^hich is in the town's hands to be lotted 
 out, if Mr. Wheel wrigl\t/foth not come to live in Exeter again. 
 
 Found, by .James AVail and Ralph Hall, two parcels, both of 
 them by estimation three acres. 
 
 Found, by Robert Hathersay, Thomas Jones and Richard Bull- 
 gar, two pieces of meadow, the fifth of August, 1644, which lieth 
 half way up the fresh river, and on both sides of it, being the 
 same brook which goodman . . . Said meadow lieth westward 
 from P^xeter some two miles, be it more or less, which is by esti- 
 mation ten acres, be they more or less, provided that they do not 
 exceed twenty acres. 
 
 Richard Bullgar doth assign his part of the aforesaid meadows 
 to Robert Hathersay ; witness his hand. 
 
 Richard Bullgau. 
 
 On June 10, 1644, the town made a grant to Samuel Greenfield 
 of 20 acres; and on June 17, following, voted that a tract of 
 marsh should be given to the Rev. John "Wheelwright, on condi- 
 tion that " he doth come amongst us again." 
 
 On January 16, 164 4-"), the town made grants as follows to 
 these persons : Thomas Biggs ; Thomas Crawley 4 acres, condi- 
 tionally ; * Thomas King ; John Legat, conditionally ; Thomas 
 Marston 80 acres, "if he come to live among us;" AVilliam 
 Moore ; Henry Roby ; John Saunders; John Smart, Sr. 10 acres; 
 Anthony Stanyan 30 acres. 
 
 •Tho oontlition usually was that the grantee should improve the land by huilding 
 upon it, fencing it, or the like, within a limited time. The number of acres is btated 
 in all cases where it is given in the record. 
 
132 IIISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 On the same day it was ordered that "there shall be 500 acres 
 of land on the back side of the common field, and 500 acres beyond 
 Hiiiiii)hrey Wilson's great lot towards Hampton, divided by lot 
 to all the inhabitants of the town according to their ratements." 
 
 It was also ordered that "the fiats between James "Wall's 
 point and Thomas "Wight's old house shall be divided out equally 
 to the inhabitants against whose lots it lies, and the flats on the 
 other side of the channel to be divided to the I'est of the inhabi- 
 tants whose lots do not but against the flats on this (the western) 
 side, yet all to lie in common for fishing, till it be improved.'/ 
 
 The following grants were made by the town in the year Y645 : 
 
 January 27, John Cram : Thomas Crawley ; Godfrey Dearborn ; 
 Robert Hersey : AVilliam Huntington ; Thomas Jones ; John 
 Legat ; Thomas Pettit ; Robert Smith ; James Wall ; Balthasar 
 Willix. April 26, Edward Colcord 100 acres. December 31, 
 John Legat, ^ acre. 
 
 The following graiits were made in 164G : 
 
 February 5, Thomas Biggs 13 acres ; Nathaniel Bonlter. May 
 25, Francis Swain G acres ; Goodman [J(jhn] Smart. June 8, 
 Goodman [John] Smart 300 acres. 
 
 The planting grounds of the Indians were excepted and reserved 
 to them in the grant of the Indian sagamores to Wheelwright. 
 They were i)robably small and not numerous. Inhabitants were 
 forbidden by the town to buy them, except with the approval of 
 the townsmen. 
 
 One such purchase is noted upon the records. John Legat and 
 Humphrey Wilson on the eightli of June, 1G4G, bought of the 
 sagamore a tract of land containing, by estimation, six or seven 
 acres, lying on the eastern side of the river by the lower falls, 
 where said Logat's and Wilson's house lots were. The bargain 
 l)rolta])ly being a fair one, the townsmen gave their written appro- 
 val of it. 
 
 The following grants were madr in 1G47 : 
 
 February IG, ^Ir. [Autliony] Stanyan 20 acres. Noveml)er 
 4, George Barlow 40 ; Nalhaniel IJoulter 50 ; Edward Gilman 
 [.Ir.] ; SamuL'l Greenfield 50; William Moore 10; Francis 
 Swain an<l Nicholas Swain 100; Richard Swain 30. December 
 15, Thomas Jones 20; William Moore 30; James Wall, 138; 
 lluini)hrey Wilson 30. 
 
/ HISTORY OF EXETER. 133 
 
 / 
 
 The folloj('iiig grants were made iu 1G48 : 
 
 / 
 Febriiyy 10, John Cram 40 acres ; Ralph Hall 20 ; Thomas 
 
 Jones j^ ; John Legat 140 ; Thomas Pettit 40 ; Anthony Stan- 
 yan 3Q|0 ; Balthasar Willix 20. March 4, Thomas Biggs, Godfrey 
 Dearborn, Thomas Jones, 50 each ; Henry Roby 20. November 
 16, George Barlow 4; Mr. Edward Gilman [Jr.] 100; Christo- 
 pher Lawson 100. 
 
 At the last named date is the first record of the appointment of 
 lot layers : John Cram and John Legat. 
 
 On the same day "it was agreed that 500 acres of land next 
 the two great lots above mentioned shall be laid for a common 
 field, to be fenced by the town, planting ground for every man to 
 have his equal share, that are householders." 
 
 It was also agreed "that the remainder of that [plain] before 
 mentioned to the corner of John Cram's lot or Bell Willix's, and 
 so unto the fresh river, shall be [laid] out for an ox common, 
 for working cattle and steers and horses, for every man to have 
 his equal share, provided he do his portional share of fencing by 
 tlie last day of May next, and those who do not fence are to have 
 no right in said common." 
 
 "O' 
 
 The following grants were made in 1649 : 
 
 January 12, Thomas Biggs and John Bursloy 10 acres each, 
 "to cut firewood and timber;" Thomas Cornish 10, "to cut fire- 
 wood;" Jolm Cram 10; Thomas King 100; Nicholas Listen 10, 
 " to cut firewood ; " James Wall. 
 
 The following grants were made in 1650 : / 
 
 March 21, John Legat ^ acre. June 26, Samuel DudleK^ ; 
 Gowen Wilson conditionally. August 26, Abraham Drake/ and 
 Nathaniel Drake 30 each; Thomas King 8; John Legat 10. 
 November 24, Thomas Biggs 20 ; Thomas Cornish 10 ; ^homas 
 Crawley 5 ; Ralph Hall ; Nicholas Listen 20 ; Henry Roby 10 ; 
 Francis Swain 20 ; Nicholas Swain 5 ; Gowen Wilson 10. 
 December 5, John Warren 5. 
 
 COMMON PLANTING FIELD. 
 
 On January 2, 1650-1, it was ordered by the town "that there 
 shall be a common field laid out for planting ground beyond the 
 
184 HISTORY (JF KXKTKK. 
 
 second river from the town, westward about two miles and a linlf, 
 for every man that is an inhabitant of the town to have his part 
 laid out by lot, and in (juantity aecordinji; to his rate to the minis- 
 try bearing date the 1 of the 11 month, IGiiO, viz., for every ten 
 shillings which he pays to have 15 acres of land, laid out together 
 by lot, beginning at the head of the fall and so to but upon the 
 river downward, and every acre to be one rod in breadth, provided 
 that if any man that now is an inhabitant shall leave the town 
 before one whole year after the date hereof be expired, then he is 
 to leave his lot to the to\/n again." 
 
 The following grant^wcre made in 1651 
 
 January 2, Henry Roby 60 acres. February 19, Samuel Dudley 
 80. December 21), tSamuel Dudley, for grazing, etc. 
 
 The following grants were made in 1652 : 
 
 April 20, Samuel Dudley 100 acres ; Edward Gilman [-Tr.] ; 
 John Legat 100; John Robinson, conditionally; Robert Smart. 
 May 10, Thomas Cornish 40 ; Samuel Dudley 100 ; John Garland, 
 conditionally; John Legat 100; Nicholas Listen 40; Thomas 
 Fettit 40 ; Francis Swain 40 and 20 ; Thomas Taylor 20 ; John 
 Warren 40 and 20. May 20, Thomas King 100 ; Thomas Fettit, 
 Jr. 30. Jnly 8, Edward (iilnian, Sr., John Leavitt,* John 
 Gilman and Moses Gilman 200, "those of them that come not 
 to live with us by the next summer to forfeit their shares again 
 to the town." 
 
 On May 20, 1652, it was ordered by tlie town "that all the 
 land within a mile and a lialf of [or about] that northeast end of 
 the town that is not already granted out, shall continually lie 
 common for feeding mikI firewood aiul the like use." 
 
 On November 6, l(i52, "it was ordered and also granted to 
 Mr. Edward Hilton, in regard that he hath been at charge in 
 setting up of a saw-mill, that he shall enjoy for himself and his 
 heirs forever, a (piarter of a mile below his mill, witli the laud and 
 tiinl)er belonging thereunto, and also al)ove his mill a mile and a 
 (piarter with the land and timber belonging tliereunto. This land 
 anil tiiiil)er is to lie square, only on this side of Fiscassock river 
 to come about a stone's cast." 
 
 *Uis beUevod that John Leavitt, who was a soii-iii-law ol KUwartl Uiliuan, Sr., 
 never lived in Exeter. lie was of Hiughani, Massachusetts. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 135 
 
 The foUowiug grants were made from 1654 to 16G1, inclusive : 
 
 1654, February 15, Nicholas Listen 20 acres, conditionally. 
 
 1655, September 30, Ralph Ilall 10 acres. 
 
 1657, January 21, John Robinson, conditionally. May 11, 
 Edward Hilton, Jr. 50 acres, conditionally. 
 
 1659, March 4, Samuel Dudley, "upon consideration of draw- 
 ing out all the grants in the town book," etc. ; Joseph, son of 
 William Taylor, 40 acres. 
 
 1660, January 21, John Bean and Nicholas Listen 10 acres. 
 January 22, Goodman [John] Folsom ; Thomas King and Jona- 
 than Thing 40; Goodman [John] Robinson 10. June 11, Good- 
 man [John] Folsom 20 ; Gowen Wilson 10. 
 
 1660-1, March 16, John Hilton 30 acres. 
 
 At the town meeting held on the day last named, it was ordered 
 "that though there may be a proposition for the giving of land, 
 yet from this time forward there shall none be granted till the 
 next meeting following that on which it was propounded." 
 
 This excellent rule appears to'^Jiave checked the bestowal of 
 lands for a brief season, but it broke forth again, three years 
 afterwards, more profusely than ever before. 
 
 The following grants were/made in 1664 : 
 
 / 
 
 January 21, Philip Chesley 30 acres, conditionally.* October 
 10, John Bean 30; Richard Bray 30; William Bromfield 30; 
 Arthur Cham [or Cane] 15; Biley Dudley 50; Samuel Dudley; 
 Theophilus Dudley 50 ; Israel Folsom 10 ; John Folsom, Sr. 60 
 and 20 ; John Folsom, Jr. 20 ; Nathaniel Folsom 10 ; Peter 
 Folsom 10 ; Samuel Folsom 15 ; John Gihnan, Jr. 20 ; Moses 
 Gilman 50 ; Alexander Gordon 20 ; William Hacket 30 ; Joseph 
 Hall 15; Ralph Hall 50; Dany (?) Kelley 10; James Kidd 20; 
 Thomas King 40 and 3 ; John Kiming 30 ; Cornelius Lary 15 ; 
 Samuel Leavitt 15; Nicholas Listen 40; AVilliam Moore 30 and 
 6 ; Richard Morgan 20 ; Robert Powell 20 ; John Robinson 15 ; 
 Jonathan Robinson 15 ; Jolni Sinclair 15 ; Robert Smart 80 and 
 20 ; William Taylor 20 ; Jonathan Thing 60 ; John Warren 40 ; 
 Thomas Warren, Jr., son of John, 10. December 1, John Gilman, 
 Sr. ; Henry Magoon 10. 
 
 *The condition not being complieil witli, the land was regrantcd, October 10, 18G4, 
 to William Brouifieki. 
 
136 liLSTUKY OF LXETKK. 
 
 The followinsi grants were made from 1G05 to 1669 inclusive : 
 
 166'), April 3, .Tohn Oilman, Jr. 20 acres; James Kidd 20. 
 1666, April 1. James Godfrey 10 acres. July 3, Charles 
 Oilman 30, conditionally. 
 
 1668, March 15, Nicholas Listen and Kobert Wadlcigh 10 acres. 
 March 29, Philip Cartee (often written Carter) 16 or 17. Septem- 
 ber 28, John Folsom, Jr. 20 ; John Oilman 30 ; Samuel Leavitt 
 20 ; Jonathan Tiling. 
 
 1669, May 3, John Folsom, Sr. 20 acres. 
 
 The followincr grants were made from 1670 to 1672 inclusive : 
 
 1670, March 30, Samuel Dudley 10 acres; John Robinson 30; 
 Goodman [John] Clark 30 ; Peter Folsom 30 ; Edward Oilman 
 100; Jeremy Leavitt, Thomas Rollins, Edward Smith, Jonathan 
 Thing, Jr. and John Young 30 each. These last eight grants 
 were of land given to the town by Thomas Wiggin, and the 
 grantees bound themselves to try the title, if contested by Hamp- 
 ton. October 25, Samuel Folsom 2 ; Lieut. [Ralph] Hall 30. 
 
 1671, April 3, John Bean 6 acres ; Henry Magoou 20. 
 
 1672, April 29, Samuel Leavitt 50 acres. 
 
 The following grants were made from 1674 to 1678 inclusive : 
 
 ■o » 
 
 1674, February 9, Moses Oilman : Kinsley Hall 10 acres. INIarch 
 3, John Clark; Willian> INIoore 12. March 30, Christian Dolloff 
 10; Samuel Dudley 600; Edward Oilman 200; Lieut. [John] 
 Oilman 600 ; Moses (Jilman 600; Lieut. [Ralph] Hall 400; 
 David Lawrence 10; John Robinson 200; Thomas Rollins 12; 
 Humphrey Wilson 400. 
 
 1675, April 2, John Folsom, Sr. 200 acres; John Folsom, Jr. 
 200; Daniel Oilman 30; John Oilman, Jr. 30; Joel Judkins 10; 
 Samuel Leavitt 300; (loodman [Nicholas] Listen 300; William 
 Moore 300 ; Ivlwanl Sewall 4 ; Robert Smart, Sr. 300 ; Edward 
 Smith 100. 
 
 1676-7, March 1'.*, Samuel Lcavill (i acres. 
 
 1677, August 27, Kinsley Hall. 
 
 1678 (about) March 18, George Pearson. 
 
 On INIai'cli 11, 1678-9, Jonatlmii Thing was ])ii( in (he place of 
 P'nsign [William] INIoore with i\Ir. [Sanmel] Dudley and Lieut. 
 [Ralph] Hall, for the equal distiiltuliou of lands to suili as had 
 none when the great lots were granted (March 30, 1674). 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 137 
 
 The followino; orants were made in 1681 and 1G82 : 
 
 'S !=>'■ 
 
 1681, January 31, Philip Cartee 20 acres; John Clark 50; 
 Jeremy Connor 20 ; Biley Dudley 50 ; Thcophilus Dudley 100 ; 
 Teague Drisco 20 ; Eleazer Elkius 50 ; Peter Folsora 100 ; Joseph 
 Hall 50; Kinsley Hall 100; Samuel Hall 50 ; John Kiming 50; 
 Moses Leavitt 50 ; Henry Magoon 20 ; Nicholas Norris 50 and 
 50; James Sinclair 50 ; John Sinclair 20; Edward Smith 100; 
 Mr. [Robert] Wadleigh ; John Wadleigh 50. February 7, Mr. 
 [Samuel] Dudley 20. March 30, Ephraim Folsom 100; Cor- 
 nelius Lary 40; Richard Morgan 60; David Robinson 100; 
 Joseph Wadleigh 100; John Young 100. 
 
 1682, March 14, Samuel Dudley, Jr. 100 acres ; Stephen 
 Dudley 100; Jeremy Gilman 100; Nathaniel Ladd 100; Moses 
 Gilman, Jr. 100 ; Robert Wadleigh 200. 
 
 On March 14, 1681-2, these orders were adopted by the town : 
 
 That all the inhabitants of this town have free liberty to clear 
 any swamp land within this township for the producing of meadow, 
 not exceeding ten acres for each inhabitant, provided they 
 entrench not upon former proprieties. And it is further ordered 
 that what heretofore hath been done and hereafter may be done in 
 pursuance of this act and order shall be as good a title as any 
 other town grant. 
 
 Whereas it was formerly enacted by this town that the neck of 
 land on the southwest side of the little river was to lie for a per- 
 petual common, but being not found upon record, it is now ratified 
 and confirmed at this meeting, and the selectmen are to set the 
 bounds ; which said neck of land is intended to be all the land 
 between the great river and the little river, and towards Pickpocket 
 near about King's falls, and on the northwest side as far as a 
 place called King's meadow. 
 
 On Marcli 30, 1682, it was " enacted by general consent that 
 that piece of land between Edward Sewall's fence, Christian 
 Dolloft's fence or land, John Bean's fence, Henry Magoon's fence 
 or land and the way that goes from Henry Magoon's land to l*ick- 
 pocket mill, which said piece of land now lying common, shall lie 
 perpetually common for the use of the town, eitlier for a common 
 field or for what else shall be thought convenient for the town." 
 
 The following grants were made from 1690 to 161)7 inclusive : 
 
 16l»0, October 6, Peter Coflln. 
 
 16U3, October 10, Captain Peter Coflin, two parcels, one of 60 
 acres, he to pay the town in money therefor. 
 
138 lli.STUliV Oi-' EXETlCll. 
 
 1607, ^rarch 29, Samuel Leavitt 20 acres. Novenil)or 1, Mr. 
 [Ri'V.] Jolin Clark, 100 acres, " providod he live in the town ten 
 years." 
 
 The following grants wrre made in KVJS : 
 
 February- .'3, Samuel Bean 40 acres ; Kilward Oilman ; James 
 Oilman 40; Jeremy Oilman 40; Nicholas Oilman 40; Richard 
 IlillonlOO; AVinthrop Hilton 100; Thomas Lyford 30; Samuel 
 Piper 20 ; AVilliam Taylor 20 ; Samuel Thing oO ; Henry AVad- 
 leigh 10. February 21, William Ardell 100; Robert Barber oO ; 
 James Bean 30 ; John Bean, Sr. 100; .Jonathan Clark 20; Peter 
 Cotfin 200; Robert Collin 60; Jeremy Conner 80; Christian 
 Dolloff 10; Richard Dolloff 100; Samuel DoUoff 100; Philip 
 Dudy 50 ; Abraham Folsom 50 ; P^phraim Folsom, Jr. 20 ; John 
 Folsom, Sr. 100; John Folsom 40; Peter Folsom, Jr. 30; David 
 Oilman and James Oilman 80; John Oilman 50; John Oilman, 
 son of Capt. John, 40 ; Moses Oilman, Jr. 30 ; Stephen Oilman 
 50; Charles Olidden 100; John Olidden 50; Richard Olidden 50 
 and 50; Alexander Oordon 60; James Oordon 60; John (iordon 
 20 ; Nicholas Oordon 30 ; William Orafs (Oraves) 30 ; Richard 
 Hilton 20 ; Philip Huntoon 30 ; Job Judkins 30 ; Benjamin 
 FLeavitt 50 ; Daniel Leavitt 70 ; John Leavitt 100 ; Moses Leavitt 
 6; Lieut. Sanniel Leavitt 100; Samuel Leavitt, Jr. 70; Samuel 
 Lawrey 20 ; Thomas Lyford 30 ; Richard Mattoon 50 ; Clement 
 Moody 30 -|- ; AVilliam INIoore, Jr. 60 ; Richard Morgan, Sr. 100 ; 
 Richard Morgan, Jr. 50 ; Samuel Pease 50 ; Robert Powell 50 ; 
 Benjamin Rollins 50 ; Joseph Rollins 50 ; Moses Rollins 50 ; 
 Thomas Rollins, Sr. 100; Thomas Rollins, Jr. 20; Charles 
 Rundlet, Jr. 30 ; John Scribner 40 ; James Sinclair 50 ; Theoph- 
 ilus Smith 30 ; Thomas Speed 50 ; Pliilip Spenlow 40 ; Francis 
 Steel 20 ; Nathaniel Stevens 20 ; Benjamin Taylor 20 ; Nathan 
 Taylor 30 ; Jonathan and John Thing 60 ; Henry AVadleigh 20 
 and 20 ; Jonathan AVadleigh 50 ; Robert AVadleigh 50, 20 and 50 ; 
 Thomas Wilson 50 ; Israel Young 30 ; James Young 30 ; John 
 Young 30 and 20 ; Robert Young 30 ; Sarah A'oung 50. INIarch 
 28, John Bean, Jr. 60 acres ; liiley Dudley 30 ; Theoi)hilus Dudley 
 50; Moses Oilman, Sr. 50; Ricliard (ilidden 40; Dudley Hilton 
 50; riiilip (?) lluntoon 10; IJcnjainin Jones, Sr. 50; Moses 
 Leavitt; Fftincis Lyford 200; Alexander Magoon 50; Richard 
 Mattoon 20 ; James Norris 40 ; Moses Norris 30 ; Nicholas Norris 
 3 ; Oeorge Pearson 50 ; William Powell 20 ; Thomas Rollins 20 ; 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 139 
 
 Charles Rundlet, Jr. 50 ; James Rundlet, 50 ; John Scribuer 10 ; 
 Jonathan Smith 20 ; Nicholas wSmith 20 ; Theophilus Smith 30 ; 
 Francis Steel; Haines (?) Woolford 30. April 29, Peter Coffin 
 100 ; Joel Judkins 60 ; Jonathan Norris 50. August 26, Richard 
 Bounds ( ?). 
 
 At the town meeting on March 28, 1698, the very sensible vote 
 was passed, "that those who had land given them at the last 
 meeting shall have no more given them at this meeting." 
 
 The following grants were made from 1699 to 1709 inclusive : 
 
 1699, September 5, Samuel Elkins 20 acres; Thomas Gordon 
 40 ; Moses Lea^dtt. 
 
 1700, April 17, Cornelius Conner 30 acres; Ephraim Folsom, 
 Sr. 20; Peter Folsom, Sr. 100; Joshua Gilman 50; Stephen 
 Gilman 30 ; Dudley and Richard Hilton 20 ; Jonathan Hilton 50 ; 
 Joseph Young 40. May 10, Jeremiah Gilman 100. September 9, 
 Ephraim Folsom, Jr. 20 ; James Leavitt 100 ; Jonathan Robinson, 
 Sr. 100. 
 
 1701, April 1, Jeremiah Conner 15 acres; Thomas Rollins, 
 Sr. 100 ; Jonathan Thing 30 ; Thomas Webster 50. September 9, 
 Robert Coffin, mill privilege and flats. 
 
 1702, first Monday of April, Capt. Peter Coffin 200 acres; 
 Robert Coffin 100 ; Cornelius Conner 30 ; Capt. John Gilman, Sr. 
 100 ; Ens. Johu Gilman 100 ; John Gilman, sou of Moses ; Nich- 
 olas Gilman 100; Capt. Kinsley Hall 100; Dudley Hilton 50; 
 Benjamin Jones, Sr. 40 ; Job Judkins 40 ; Mr. Moses Leavitt, Sr. 
 100 ; Israel vSmith 100 ; Ithiel Smith 50 ; Jacob Smith 50 ; Jona- 
 than Smith 100 ; Joseph Smith 50 ; John Thing 30 ; Jonathan 
 Thing 100. 
 
 1703, first Monday of April, Richard Dolloff 20 acres ; Thomas 
 DoUoff 40 ; Daniel Gordon 50 ; Bartholemew Thing 50. 
 
 1705, first Monday of April, John (ilidden 50 acres ; Nathaniel 
 Ladd 50; Nehemiah Leavitt 50; Johu Light 60, "provided he 
 shall live 7 years in the town ;" Nicholas Norris 20 ; Jethro 
 Pearson 50 ; John Sinclair, son of James, 100 ; George Veasey 
 100 ; Thomas Veasey 100 ; Jonathan Wiggin 100. 
 
 1706, first Monday of April, Daniel Bean, Jr. 100 acres; 
 Samuel Dudley, Jr. 100; Steplien Dudley, Jr. 50; Francis 
 Durgin 20 ; Cartee Gilman 100 ; Col. AVinthrop lliUon loo ; .Aloses 
 Norris 50 ; Aaron Kollius 100 ; John Rollins 100 ; Charles Rundlet, 
 Jr. 50 ; James Rundlet 50 ; Thomas Seawell 100 ; John Sinclair 
 
110 11IST()KY OF KXKPKU. 
 
 50; Theopliilus Smith 30; Sixinuol Stevens 60; John Thing 100; 
 Joseph Thing 100 ; Tliomas Webster 50. 
 
 1707, first ^Monday of April, Lient. John Gihnan 100 acres; 
 Daniel Ladd 100; Satchell Kundlet 100. 
 
 1709, first ^Monday of ^iiril, Daniel Bean «0 acres. 
 
 For the next five years it does not appear that any land grants 
 were made, nor that an}' action was taken by the town in regard 
 to the common lands. 
 
 On April 5, 1714, the town resolved "that two miles of the 
 west end of the township be laid ont by men appointed, for a 
 perpetnal commonage for the nse of the town." 
 
 This decision was not to the liking of man}' of the inhabitants, 
 and, as will be seen, attempts were soon made to revoke it, which 
 were never abandoned until that object was effected. 
 
 On March 13, 1717, it was voted " that Nicholas Oilman, Thomas 
 Webster and Samuel Thing be a committee to make diligent 
 search in the town records that whereas there is comi)laint by 
 several persons that they have not had their proportion in lands 
 given them by the town, in order that they may have their share ; 
 the committee to make report of their doings therein to this 
 meeting." 
 
 The meeting was accordingly adjourned to the first IMonday in 
 November, 1717. Tliere is no record of the adjourned meeting, 
 nor that any proceedings were had under the vote. 
 
 For the five years ensuing, the only action taken ])y the town in 
 relation to its lands, was the appointment of a committee in 1720 
 to report whether any inhabitants' land grants had been encroached 
 upon by the late lines run between town and town. The commit- 
 tee reported that certain lands laid out to Jonathan Oilman and 
 Nathaniel Webster were included witliin the bounds of Kingston ; 
 and in consequence thereof there were laid out to them in 1725 
 by the lot layers of Kingston four acres of the common land in 
 Exeter, to make good their loss. P^xeter at that time was witliout 
 lot layers, having failed to choose any. 
 
 On March 30, 1724, the town resolved as follows : 
 
 Whereas sundry persons desire to have a town meeting to grant 
 ont land, who have not had their share of land as they ought to 
 have, and desire a conniiittee to be chosen to hear what those 
 persons liave to say, and to draw u\t what they conclude of, and 
 to i)resent it to the selectmen, who are to call a town meeting to 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 141 
 
 effect what the committee conchule of. Mr. Justice [Samuel] 
 Thing, Bartholomew Thing, Joseph Hall, Josiah Hall and P^dward 
 Gilmau to be a committee to search the town book to liud who 
 ought to have land and who ought not 
 
 At an adjournment of the town meeting called for the purpose 
 aforesaid, held April 12, 1725, it was voted : 
 
 That the grant of the two miles common at the western end of 
 the township be wholly null and void, and that the said two miles 
 with all the other common land in the township not heretofore 
 granted, be divided in proportion according to the return of Samuel 
 Thing, J^sq., Joseph Hall, Bartholomew Thing, Edward Gilmau, 
 Josiah Hall, committee chosen by the town for that end, as per 
 list under the said committee's hands of every person's name who 
 had land allowed him with the number of acres annexed thereto, — 
 the said laud not to be divided till the expiration of ten years 
 from the date hereof. 
 
 The following is the list reported by the committee : 
 
 LIST OF DISTRIBUTEES OP LAND AS REPORTED IX 1725. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 Samuel Akers, 
 Daniel Ames, 
 John Barber, Sen""., 
 John Barber, Jr., 
 llobert Barber, 
 Nathaniel Bartlett, 
 Edward Bean, 
 Jeremiah Bean, Sen""., 
 Jeremiah Bean, Jr., 
 John Bean, Sen'., 
 John Bean, Jr., 
 Samuel Bean, Sen""., 
 William Bean, 
 John Brown, 
 Giles Burleigh, 
 James Burley, 
 Josiah Burleigh, 
 Joseph Burleigh, 
 Jeremiah Calef, 
 Jonathan Clark, 
 Eicliard Clark, 
 Solomon Clark, 
 Mr. Ward Clark, 
 
 RES. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 ACRES. 
 
 20 
 
 Capt. Eliphalet Coffin, 
 
 100 
 
 30 
 
 Edward Colcord, 
 
 20 
 
 50 
 
 Jonathan Colcord, 
 
 40 
 
 30 
 
 Cornelius Conner, 
 
 100 
 
 30 
 
 Jeremy Conner, Senr., 
 
 100 
 
 20 
 
 Jonathan Conner, 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Moses Conner, 
 
 40 
 
 100 
 
 Philip Conner, 
 
 40 
 
 40 
 
 Samuel Conner, 
 
 30 
 
 40 
 
 Dr. Thomas Dean, 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 Sampson Doe, 
 
 20 
 
 50 
 
 Samuel Doe, 
 
 20 
 
 30 
 
 Kichard Dolloff, 
 
 SO 
 
 20 
 
 Samuel DoUoft', 
 
 so 
 
 30 
 
 Samuel Dolloff, Jr., 
 
 30 
 
 20 
 
 Cornelius Drisco, 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Mr. Biley Dudley, 
 
 100 
 
 20 
 
 James Dudley. 
 
 70 
 
 20 
 
 Jonathan Dudley, 
 
 50 
 
 40 
 
 Joseph Dudley, 
 
 40 
 
 40 
 
 Nicholas Dudley, 
 
 100 
 
 30 
 
 Samuel Dudley. Sen'"., 
 
 100 
 
 50 
 
 Samuel Dudley, Jr., 
 
 50 
 
M: 
 
 HisToiiv OF exi-:ter. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 Stci)licn Dudley. Sen""., 
 Stephen Dudley. .Tr., 
 True worthy Dudley, 
 Francis Durgin, 
 Samuel Edgerly, 
 Thomas Edgerly, 
 Samuel Elkhis, 
 Seth Fogg, 
 Abraham Folsom, 
 Benjamin Folsom, 
 Edward Folsom, 
 Ephraim Folsom, Sen""., 
 Ephraim Folsom, Jr., 
 Jeremiah Folsom, 
 John Folsom, Sen""., 
 John Folsom, Jr., 
 Jonathan Folsom, 
 Estate of Peter Folsom, Jr., 
 
 deceased, 
 "William Folsom, Sen""., 
 William Folsom, Jr., 
 Daniel Giles, 
 Andrew Oilman, 
 Benjamin Oilman, 
 Calel) Oilman, 
 Carty Oilman, 
 Daniel Oilman, 
 David (iilman, 
 Edward Oilman, Sen''., 
 Edward Oilman, Jr., 
 Ezekiel Oilman, 
 Israel Oilman, 
 Lieut. .lames Oilman, 
 James (Jilnuui, Jr., 
 Cai)t. Jeremiah Oilman, 
 Maj. John Oilman, 
 Capt. John Oilman, 
 Lieut. John (iilman, 
 Jonathan Oilman, 
 Joseph Oilman, 
 Joshua Oilman, 
 Maverick Oilman, 
 Moses Oilman, Sen'"., 
 Mcscs Oilman, Jr., 
 Nathaniel Oilman, 
 
 :rf,s. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 ACRES. 
 
 100 
 
 Xehemiah Oilman, 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Maj. Nicholas Oilman, 
 
 250 
 
 50 
 
 Nicholas CJilman, Jr., 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Peter Oilman. 
 
 70 
 
 20 
 
 Samuel Oilman, 
 
 60 
 
 20 
 
 Simon Oilman, 
 
 50 
 
 100 
 
 Thomas Oilman, 
 
 30 
 
 20 
 
 Andrew Olidden, 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 Benjamin Olidden, 
 
 30 
 
 100 
 
 Jose])h Olidden, 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 Nathaniel CJlidden, 
 
 . 30 
 
 100 
 
 Richard Olidden, Sen""., 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Richard Olidden, Jr., 
 
 30 
 
 100 
 
 Alexander Oordon, 
 
 100 
 
 SO 
 
 Daniel Oordon, 
 
 30 
 
 100 
 
 James Oordon, 
 
 30 
 
 100 
 
 John Oordon, Jr., 
 
 30 
 
 
 Jonathan Oordon, 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 Nicholas Oordon, 
 
 100 
 
 30 
 
 Thomas Oordon, 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Thomas Gordon, Jr., 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 John Graves, 
 
 30 
 
 100 
 
 William Graves, Sen^, 
 
 50 
 
 80 
 
 William Graves, Jr., 
 
 30 
 
 150 
 
 Thomas Haley, 
 
 20 
 
 50 
 
 Edward Hall, 
 
 150 
 
 50 
 
 Joseph Hall, 
 
 150 
 
 70 
 
 Josiah Hall, 
 
 120 
 
 150 
 
 Cai)t. Kinsley Hall, 
 
 200 
 
 50 
 
 Paul Hall, 
 
 80 
 
 30 
 
 Theophilus Hardy, 
 
 80 
 
 50 
 
 Benjamin Hilton, 
 
 30 
 
 100 
 
 Edward Hilton, 
 
 40 
 
 50 
 
 Jonathan Hilton, Sen""., 
 
 50 
 
 100 
 
 Jonathan Hilton, Jr., 
 
 30 
 
 250 
 
 Joseph Hilton, 
 
 70 
 
 200 
 
 Ca])t. Richard Hilton, 
 
 150 
 
 100 
 
 Samuel Hilton, 
 
 60 
 
 50 
 
 William Hilton, 
 
 50 
 
 50 
 
 Winthrop Hilton, 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Jol). Judkins, Sen""., 
 
 70 
 
 30 
 
 Job Judkins, Jr., 
 
 30 
 
 120 
 
 Joseph Judkins, 
 
 40 
 
 50 
 
 Caleb Kimball, 
 
 20 
 
 50 
 
 John Kimljall, 
 
 20 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 143 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 Moses Kimming, 
 Capt. Nathaniel Ladd, 
 Nathaniel Ladd, Jr., 
 Daniel Leary, 
 Samuel Leaiy, 
 Dudley Leavitt, 
 Lieut. James Leavitt, 
 John Leavitt, 
 Joseph Leavitt, 
 Dea. Moses Leavitt, 
 Selah Leavitt, 
 Stephen Leavitt, 
 Timothy Leavitt, 
 John Lord, 
 John Lougee, 
 Stephen Lyfoi'd, 
 Thomas Lyford, 
 Alexander Magoon, 
 Benjamin Magoon, 
 Samuel Magoon, 
 John Marsh, 
 Richard Mattoon, 
 Samuel ]\Iighill, 
 Clement Moody, Sen""., 
 Clement Moody, Jr., 
 John Moody, 
 Jonathan Moody, 
 Walter Neal, 
 James Norris, 
 John Norris, 
 Jonathan Norris, 
 Moses Norris, Sen""., 
 Moses Norris, Jr., 
 Nicholas Norris, Sen""., 
 Samuel Norris, 
 Rev. John Odlin, 
 Jethro Pearson, Sen*"., 
 Jethro Pearson, Jr., 
 Nathaniel Pease, 
 John Perkins, Sen""., 
 John Perkins, Jr., 
 William Perkins, Sen""., 
 William Perkins, Jr., 
 Nicholas Pcrryman, 
 Ephraim Philbrick, 
 
 ACRES. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 ACRES. 
 
 30 
 
 Robert Pike, 
 
 20 
 
 GO 
 
 Richard Preston, 
 
 20 
 
 40 
 
 John Quimby, 
 
 20 
 
 40 
 
 John Robinson, 
 
 130 
 
 40 
 
 Jonathan Robinson, Sen"*., 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Jonathan Robinson, Jr., 
 
 100 
 
 200 
 
 Joseph Robinson, 
 
 70 
 
 50 
 
 Thomas Robinson, 
 
 20 
 
 30 
 
 Benjamin Rollins, 
 
 40 
 
 200 
 
 John Rollins, Jr., 
 
 30 
 
 50 
 
 Samuel Rollins, 
 
 50 
 
 40 
 
 Edward Scribner, 
 
 30 
 
 50 
 
 John Scribner, Sen*"., 
 
 50 
 
 20 
 
 John Scribner, Jr., 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Joseph Scribner, 
 
 30 
 
 100 
 
 Samuel Scribner, 
 
 40 
 
 100 
 
 Edward Sewall, 
 
 40 
 
 100 
 
 Stephen Sew-all, 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 James Sinclair, 
 
 100 
 
 50 
 
 John Sinclair, Sen"*., 
 
 100 
 
 30 
 
 John Sinclair, Jr., 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 Joseph Sinclair, 
 
 40 
 
 30 
 
 Richard Sinclair, 
 
 40 
 
 50 
 
 Samuel Sinclair, 
 
 40 
 
 50 
 
 John Smart, 
 
 40 
 
 40 
 
 Joseph Smart, 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 Robert Smart, 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Benjamin Smith, 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 Benjamin Smith, Jr., 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 David Smith, 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 Edward Smith, 
 
 30 
 
 00 
 
 Jacob Smith, 
 
 70 
 
 40 
 
 Jonathan Smith, 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Nathaniel Smith, 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 Nicholas Smith, 
 
 30 
 
 100 
 
 Oliver Smith, 
 
 70 
 
 70 
 
 Richard Smith, 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Capt. Theophilus Smith, 
 
 150 
 
 50 
 
 Theophilus Smith, Jr., 
 
 50 
 
 100 
 
 Benjamin Taylor, 
 
 30 
 
 40 
 
 Joseph Taylor, 
 
 50 
 
 30 
 
 Nathan Taylor, 
 
 30 
 
 40 
 
 William Taylor, 
 
 80 
 
 *20 
 
 Lieut. Bartlioloiiicw Thing, 
 
 150 
 
 20 
 
 Benjamin Thing, 
 
 100 
 
144 lllSTOUY Oir EXETER. 
 
 KAMES. ACRKS. 
 
 Philip Wadleif,'h, 50 
 
 Ro])L'rt Wadlei-h, Sour.. 100 
 
 Nathaniel M'cl)ster, 50 
 
 Thomas AVebster, 100 
 
 Hum])lirey Wilson, 50 
 
 ])ea. Thos. AVilson, 200 
 
 Benjamin York, 50 
 
 Richard York, 40 
 
 Charles Yomig, 30 
 
 Daniel Youn", 80 
 
 NAMF.9. ACRES. 
 
 Daniel Thin?, 80 
 
 Jonathan Thin<j, 50 
 
 Heirs of Capt. Jonathan Thing, 
 
 Jr., dec^J., 100 
 
 Joseph Thing, 100 
 Josiah Thing, Jr. (son of 
 
 Samuel), 50 
 
 Nathaniel Thing, 50 
 
 Samuel Thing, Esq., 300 
 Abner Thurston, 20 
 
 Ensign Henry Wadlcigh, 100 | James Young, 30 
 
 Capt. Jonathan "Wadleigh, 200 i Jonathan Young, 50 
 
 Jonathan Wadleigh, Jr., 30 | Robert Young, 50 
 
 The aforenamed 249 persons are they to whom the eommittee 
 has i)roportioue(l the common laud of tliis town. 
 
 PKOCEEDIXGS TO IIASTKN A DISTRIBUTION. 
 
 It is not surprising tliat a majorit}' of the inhabitants were un- 
 willing to wait ten years in accordance with the report of the com- 
 mittee, for the actual division of the lauds. Such a prospect was 
 ]:)articularly tantalizing to those who were then without real estate, 
 when it lay with the majorit}' of their own number to say how soon 
 they might come into possession of very substantial homestead 
 lots. 
 
 Accordiugl}^ in something less than four j^ears, the subject was 
 resumed; this time by the iuhal)itants as "Proprietors of the 
 Common Lands." The first i)roprietors' meeting was called by 
 the selectmen of the town, upon an application stating that the 
 common lauds were being trespassed upon. Jt was held January 
 (■), 1729, and adjourned to the twentieth of the same month. A 
 vote was passed that the clause in the return of the committee 
 forbidding the division of the lands for ten years, be null and 
 void, and that a division be made forthwith ; and Edward Ciilman, 
 Edward Hall, Jeremiah Conner, ,John Folsom and Andrew (iilman 
 were chosen a committee to make partition of the lands according 
 to the retin-n of the committee who proportioned them, and "go 
 about the work as soon as may be." 
 
 This committee failed to do the "work" for which they were 
 appointed ; apparently for the reasofi that some of their number 
 were opposed to the plan of immediate division. So nearly two 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. H;", 
 
 years more went by before the matter was again moved. Another 
 meeting of the proprietors was then called, and held November 9, 
 1730, at which Captain John Oilman, Edward Oilman, Joseph 
 Hall, Peter Oilman and Israel Oilman were chosen a committee 
 to lay out the common lands agreeably to the proportion made by 
 the committee in 1725 ; and Edward Hall and Jeremiah Conner 
 were subsequently added to the new committee. 
 
 After nearly two years' consideration, the last-named committee 
 reported a plan for the separation of the common la ds, at the 
 west end of the township, into sixteen ranges, containing in the 
 aggregate 1485 lots of ten acres each, to be distributed among 
 the inhabitants, agreeably to the apportionment made by the com- 
 mittee appointed in 1725. This report was accepted by the town 
 October 19, 1732 ; and it was voted that Mr. Maylem should draw 
 all the lots for the proprietors, according to the di\ision made by 
 the last appointed committee. The resolution was at once carried 
 into effect ; and a full list of the drawing appears in the Proprie- 
 tors' Records. 
 
 FINAL DISTRIBUTION. 
 
 But there was still some dissatisfaction with the allotments. 
 Complaint was made that some of th6 inhabitants had never 
 received their "ten acre lots," to which they considered themselves 
 entitled, under the vote of the town of March 14, 1681-2, and 
 that certain inequalities existed in the former divisions, Avhich 
 ought to be corrected. Another meeting of the town was there- 
 fore held June 15, 1738, which was continued by adjournments to 
 August 28, at which it was resolved (for the third time?) that 
 the vote passed b}' the towu April 5, 1714, that two miles of the 
 western end of the township should be for a perpetual commonage, 
 be null and void, and that the said two miles be laid out and 
 divided with the rest of the commons among tlie inhabitants. 
 
 A committee of seven were appointed, consisting of Captain 
 Samuel Oilman, Lieutenant John Robinson, Captain Peter fiilman, 
 j\Ir. Trueworthy Dudle}-, Cornet Ezekiel Oilman, Ensign Richard 
 Mattoon and Captain John Oilman, Sr., who received sijecific in- 
 structions as to their duties in dividing the lands ; were to be 
 allowed compensation at tlie rate of eleven shillings each per day ; 
 were empowered to hire a surveyor at the cost of fourteen shillings 
 per day, and were given twelve months in which to make tlieir 
 report. The time was subsequently enlarged to two years. Tlie 
 
 10 
 
14G 
 
 HISTOKY OF KXT'TKR. 
 
 V 
 
 committee attended to the duty assigned them and filed their return 
 on August IS, 1740. In it they provided ten acre lots* for several 
 persons who had not liitherto received them, and added twenty 
 names to the list reported by the connnittee of 172.'), as follows : 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 Jolin Ikirlcy's heirs, 
 Thomas Dollofl's heirs, 
 Samuel Fogg, 
 Israel Folsom, 
 John Fox, 
 Joel Judkins, 
 Chri.stopher Kenniston, 
 Daniel Ladd, 
 Thomas I.ary, 
 Nchemiah Leavitt's heirs, 
 
 The committee w^ere empowered to make changes in the lots as 
 drawn in 1732, in certain cases when found needful, and a few 
 such changes were made ; hut in general those lots were allowed 
 to remain without alteration. 
 
 The adoption of the last report completed the disposal of the 
 public lands of the town, with the exception of a few fragments 
 chiefly by the side of the river. The titles granted by the town 
 have never been questioned. 
 
 The meetings of the proprietors were kept up a few years after 
 the division of 1740, and then abandoned; and the Proprietors' 
 Records were ordered to be delivered to the town clerk. 
 
 ACRES. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 ACISES. 
 
 20 
 
 John Light's heirs. 
 
 20 
 
 40 
 
 Ehenezer Martin, 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 John Mudget, 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 Thomas Mudget, 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 John Rol)erts, 
 
 13 
 
 12 
 
 Samuel Smith, son of Jacoh, 
 
 15 
 
 10 
 
 Francis Steel's heirs. 
 
 50 
 
 40 
 
 Edward Stevens's heirs, 
 
 40 
 
 30 
 
 Samuel Stevens's heirs, 
 
 10 
 
 15 
 
 Thomas Young, 
 
 20 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE TOWN. 
 
 Ix this chapter is given a list of the principal officers of Exeter 
 from its foundation to the present time. It is generally taken 
 from the town books, but in the few cases where they fail to afford 
 information, it has been sought for elsewhere. With the exception 
 of some of the earlier years, the list is almost complete. 
 
 For a long time the elections were held at irregular intervals, 
 and the terms of service varied correspondingl3\ The general 
 rule must have been that incumbents of offices held over until 
 their successors were elected. This is especially the case with 
 reference to the office of town clerk, which was never treated as 
 an annual one before 1720. The number of selectmen was variable ; 
 from 1G44 to 1690 it was three ; then it was raised to five, and so 
 continued till 1817, when it was reduced to three again. 
 
 It ma}' interest those who are curious about "first things," to 
 know that the earliest election of lot layers in the town which is 
 on record was in 1648 ; the earliest (and only) election of clerk 
 of the market was in the same year ; the earliest surveyor of 
 highways, in 1651 ; of tithing men, in 1678 ; of pound-keeper, in 
 1680, and of moderator, not until 1686. This may be the fault 
 of the records, for very probably such officers were chosen earlier, 
 and the fact failed to be recorded. We can hardly suppose, for 
 example, that town meetings were held for near half a century 
 without a moderator. 
 
 Apparently a good deal of interest used to be taken in the choice 
 of constables. Attached to this office was the irksome duty of 
 collecting the rates. The person chosen could decline the office, 
 but only on the payment of the then heavy fine of five pounds. 
 This a great many did rather tlian accept the disagreeable position. 
 At length the practice grew up of allowing the constable-elect 
 t© excuse himself from performing the duties, on his furnishing a 
 substitute acceptable to the town. 
 
 147 
 
148 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS. 
 
 RULKRS. 
 
 Is.ii? Gross, 1633. Xicnalas Xeedham, IG.'JO to 1G12. Thomas "Wilson 
 1G42 to 1643. 
 
 ASSISTANT RULERS. 
 Augustine Storre and Anthony Stanyan, 1639- 
 
 TOAVN CLKRIvS. 
 
 John Legat, 
 Edward Smith, 
 Jon.ithan Thing, 
 Samuel Thing, 
 Kinsley Hall, 
 Josiah Ilall, 
 Bartholomew Thing, 
 Elisha Odlin, 
 Zebulon Giddinge, 
 Josiah Gilman, Jr., 
 E;)hraim Robinson, 
 Joseph Tilton, 
 Joha J. Parker, 
 George Smith, 
 
 1649 
 
 16.S4(?) 
 
 16S9 
 
 1700-1719 
 
 1720-172.5 
 
 1726-1729 
 
 1729-1737 
 
 173S-1743 
 
 1744-1782 
 
 17S3-1SOO 
 
 1801-1809 
 
 1809-1811 
 
 1812-1831 
 
 1831, 3 
 
 John S. Sleeper, 
 Daniel Melcher, 
 Charles Conner, 
 Joseph T. Porter, 
 James M. Loyering, 
 John Tyrrell, 
 Franklin Lane, 
 Samuel D. Wingate, 
 Augustus H. Weeks, 
 Charles Grant. 
 William II. Belknap, 
 
 Joseph S. Parsons, 
 George E. Lane, 
 
 1832, 3 
 1834-1837 
 1838-1842 
 1843-1846 
 1847-1849 
 1850 
 18ul-lSo4 
 1855 
 
 1856, 7 
 1858-1860 
 LS61-1865, 
 1875-1888 
 1866-1869 
 1870-1874 
 
 SKLKCTMKX. 
 
 Richard Bulgar, 
 Samuel Greenfield, 
 Christopher Lawson, 
 Ed\yard Hilton, 
 Anthony Stanyan, 
 William Moore, 
 
 James Wall, 
 John Legat, 
 y Godfrey Dearborn, 
 John Cram, 
 Henry Roby, 
 Thomas King, 
 Nathaniel Drake, 
 John Gilman, 1652, 4, 5, 7, 61, 8, 71, 
 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 87 
 Thomas Pettit, 1652 
 
 John Robinson, 1653, 61, 6, 73 
 
 1 644 
 1614-1646 
 1644 
 1645, 6, 16 Jl 
 lt)45. 6 
 1647, 54, 8, 71, 2, 
 91,4,9 
 1647,9 
 1647-1650 
 1648 
 1648, 9 
 1650 
 1650, 2, 8, 62 
 1(551 
 
 Humphrey Wilson, 1653, 8 
 
 Moses '. iilman, 1653, 60, 73, 4, 7, 93 
 Nicholas Listen, 1654, 5, 7, 62, 6 
 
 John Warren, 
 Jonathan Thing, 
 
 Nicholas Smith, 
 John Tedd, 
 John Folsom, 
 Thomas Biggs, 
 
 1655, 7 
 1658, 61, 8, 71, 2, 
 6, 82, 3 
 1658 
 1658, 62 
 1660, 8, 91 
 1660 
 Ralph Hall, 1666, 73, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 80 
 
 Samuel Lcavitt, 
 E Iward Smith, 
 E Iward Gilman, 
 Kinsley Hall, 
 John Folsom, Jr., 
 Moses Leavitt, 
 
 1675, 91, 6 
 
 1679, 80 
 
 16S0, 1, 2, 3, 90 
 
 16S1, 90, 3 
 
 16S1, 96 
 
 1682, 3, 91, 6 
 
 Biley Dudley, 1687, 90, 4, 5, 9, 1700 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 1-i'J 
 
 John Wadleigh, 
 William Hilton, 
 Francis Lyford, 
 Ephraim Folsom, 
 
 1687 
 1690 
 1690 
 1691 
 
 Theophilus Dudley, 1093, 4, 5, 9 
 Richard Hilton, 1693, 1701, 2, 3, 7, 
 
 8, 15 
 John Wilson, 1693 
 
 Robert Smart, Sr., 1694 
 
 Moses Oilman, Jr., 1694 
 
 Jonathan Robinson, 169o 
 
 Henry Wadleigh, 1695 
 
 James Sinclair, 1695, 1700, 6, 21 
 Winthrop Hilton, 1696 
 
 James Oilman, 1696 
 
 Andrew Wiggin, 1699, 1712, 4 
 
 William Scammon, 1699, 1700 
 
 Nicholas Oilman, 1699, 1700, 1, 9, 
 
 18,21,5,6,7,9 
 
 Theophilus Smith, 1699, 1706, 11, 
 
 12, 7, 8, 27,33,4, 6, 7, 9,40* 
 
 Theophilus Dudley, 1700-1709,11 
 
 Simon Wiggin, 
 
 1701-1705 
 
 Jonathan Thing, 1701-1705, 14, 5, 6 
 John Oilman (son of Moses), 1701- 
 
 1705, 8 
 Samuel Leavitt, 1704, 7 
 
 Robert Coffin, 1705, 7, 8 
 
 Jonathan Wadleigh, 1705, 7, 8, 12, 
 4, 5, 6, 23, 4, 6, 7, 8, 29, 32 
 John Robinson, 1706, 20, 5, 38 
 
 Bradstreet Wiggin, 1706 
 
 William Moore, 1709, 11,2 
 
 William French, 1709 
 
 Jeremiah Conner, 1709, 22, 30, 1 
 Capt. John Oilman, 1711, 4, 5, 6, 8, 
 20, 3, 4, 8, 9, 30 
 Lieut. John Oilman, 1711, 2, 4, 7, 
 
 31, 2 
 Joseph Hall, 1715, 6, 7, 21, 3, 4 
 
 Nicholas Oordon, 1716, 7, 8, 22, 5 
 Moses Leavitt, 1717 
 
 Edward Hall, 1718, 20, 2, 6 
 
 Thomas Wilson, 1720, 3, 4 
 
 Cornelius Conner, 1720 
 
 James Leavitt, 1721, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 32 
 Bartholomew Thing, 1721, 6, 7, 8, 9, 
 
 33, 6, 7 
 Samuel Thing, 1722 
 
 Eliphalet Coffin, 1725, 33 
 
 Caleb Oilman, 1725, 30, 1, 6, 7 
 
 Theophilus Oilman, 1726 
 
 Joseph Thing, 1728, 30, 1, 2,3, 4, 6, 7, 9 
 Thomas Webster, 1730, 1, 2 
 
 Samuel Oilman, 1733, 6, 7, 8 
 
 Edward Oilman, 1734, 40 
 
 Stephen Lyford, 1734 
 
 Jonathan Oilman, 1734, 55, 60 
 
 Peter Oilman, 1738 
 
 Ezekiel Oilman, 1738 
 
 Trueworthy Dudley, 1738 
 
 Daniel Thing, 1739 
 
 James Oilman, 1739, 40, 3-1750 
 
 Josiah Oilman, 1739, 55, 6 
 
 Thomas l^ean, 1740 
 
 Elisha Odlin, 1740 
 
 Jonathan Conner, 1743-1748 
 
 Josiah Sanborn, 1743, 4, 5, 6, 50, 1, 
 
 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 
 John Odlin, Jr., 1743-54, 6, 7, 8, 9 
 John Rice, 1743, 52, 6, 7, 8, 9, 61, 2, 
 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 70 
 Zebulon Oiddinge, 1744-1748 
 
 Samuel Fogg, 1747-1749 *'' 
 
 Ephraim Robinson, 1749, 50, 2, 3, 4, 
 60, 72, 5, 7, 8, 80-1785 
 Nathaniel Bartlett, Jr., 1749-1754 
 Samuel Oilman, Jr., 1751, 3, 4, 60 
 Robert Light, 1751, 5 
 
 James Leavitt, 1755 
 
 Charles Rundlett, 1755, 66, 7, 8, 9 
 John Phillips, 1756 
 
 Peter Folsom, 1756 
 
 John Kimball, 1757 
 
 Joseph Leavitt, 1757 
 
 John Oiddinge, 1758, 9, 61, 2, 3, 4 
 
 *This is one of sever.nl instances where the same name was handed <lown throiiph 
 two or more fcenerations, and it is didlcult to ascertain where the father's term of 
 office teriuiuated, and the son's began. The same is true of other names, John Gil- 
 man, for example, which represents at least four different persons in this list. 
 
\i)0 
 
 lllSTOKY UF EXETKR. 
 
 Nicholas Gilman, 1758, 9, 61, 2, 3, 4. 
 
 6, 7, 8, 70, 1 
 Josiah Robinson, 1759, 66, 7, 8, 9, 
 
 70, 1 
 Theophilus Oilman, 1760, 1 
 
 John Dudley, 17(50-1764 
 
 Daniel Tilton, 1762, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 
 
 70, 1, 80, 1 
 Joseph Oilman, 1769, 70, 1 
 
 Peter Coffin, 1771-177^ 
 
 Nathaniel Gordon, 1772, 6,93 
 
 Samuel Brooks, 1772-177.5 
 
 Theophilus Smith, 1772, 6 
 
 Ephraim Folsom, 1773, 4 
 
 Theodore Carlcton, 1773-177-3 
 
 Thomas Folsom, 1773, 4, o, 7, 9 
 
 Joseph Cram, 1776, 80-90 
 
 Eliphalet Giddinge, 1776-177S, 1788 
 
 -94, 1802, 3 
 Trueworthv Oilman, 1770, 7,8, 80- 
 
 87 
 John T, Oilman, 1777, 8 
 
 Benjamin Boardman, 1778, 9 
 
 Eliphalet Ladd, 1779, 84, o, 6 
 
 Jedediah Jewett, 1779, 82, 3, 4 
 
 Samuel Folsom, 1779 
 
 James Thurston, 1780-1783 
 
 Nathaniel Oilman, 1785, 91, 2 
 
 Ephraim Robinson, 1786-93, 95- 
 
 1S05, 7 
 Gideon Lamson, 1786, 1794-1805, 9 
 Oliver Peabody, 1787-1791 
 
 Dudley Odliii, 1787-1790 
 
 Jeremiah Robinson, 1792, 3, 1810-16 
 Samuel Tenney, 1792-1800 
 
 Jeremiah Leavitt, 1794-1807 
 
 George Odiorne, 1794-1796 
 
 Benjamin C. Oilman, 1797-1801, 14, 
 
 5, 6 
 Samuel Oilman, 1801, 2 
 
 Trueworthy Robinson, 1803-180(5 
 Daniel Conner, 1804-1807 
 
 Nathaniel Parker, 1806 
 
 Jeremiah Dow, 1806 
 
 Neheiiiiah Folsom, 1807, 17-24 
 
 John Kimball, 1807-13, 17-29 
 
 Edmund Pearson, 
 Tiionias Kimball, 
 Josiah Folsom, Jr., 
 Harvey Colcord, 
 Enoch Rowe, 
 John Gordon, 
 Joseph Osborne, 
 John Rogers, 
 Freese Dearborn, 
 Josiah Robinson, 
 John Smith, 
 Theodore Moses, 
 George Smith, 
 
 1808-1813 
 
 1808 
 
 1808, 9 
 
 1809-1814 
 
 1810-1816 
 
 1814-1816 
 
 1815, 6 
 
 1817-1829 
 
 1825-1829 
 
 1830-1835 
 
 1830 
 
 1830 
 
 1831-36, 8, 9 
 
 James Burlev, 
 Josiah R. Norris 
 
 John Dodge, 
 
 1831-37, 40, 1, 2 
 
 1836-1839 
 
 1837, 40 
 
 Jeremiah Robinson, Jr., 1838-41, 3, 
 
 4,5 
 William Conner, 1841^6, 50, 1 
 
 William Philbrick, 1842 
 
 John T. Gordon, 1843-1848 
 
 Retire H. Parker, 1846-1848 
 
 Nathaniel Swascy, 1847, 8 
 
 Jewett Conner, 1852-54, 63-67, 1879- 
 
 85, 7 
 Benjamin Lang, 1849-1851 
 
 William P. Moulton, 1849 
 
 John Foss, 1849, 50 
 
 Lewis W. Perkins, 1851-1853 
 
 George AV. Furnald, 1852-1854, 18(58- 
 
 70 
 Edwin O. Lovering, 1854 
 
 AVilliam H. Robinson, 1855, 6 
 
 Asa Jewell, 1855-1S57 
 
 Ammi R. Wiggin, 1855, 6 
 
 Alfred Conner, 1857, 8, 72 
 
 John W. Elliott, 1857, 8 
 
 James W. Odlin, 1858, 9 
 
 John Clement, 1859, 60 
 
 Nathaniel O. Giddings, 1859, 60 
 
 Nathaniel Shute, ISOO. 1 
 
 Joseph 1). Wadleigh, IStJl, 2 
 
 Josiah J. Folsom, 1861-63, 1879-86 
 Adoniram J. Towle, 1862 
 
 Solomon J. Perkins, 1863-1867 
 
 Joseph T. Porter, 1864-1867 
 
IIISTOKY OF EXETEH. 
 
 151 
 
 Jacob Carlisle, 
 John H. Kimball, 
 Daniel F. Hayes, 
 Joseph Perkins, 
 William B. Morrill, 
 Joshua Getchell, 
 Lyford Conner, 
 
 18()<S, 9 
 1S(JS, <) 
 1870, 1 
 1870, 1 
 1871-S4, 6 
 1872, 3 
 1873 
 
 Xathaniel G. Oilman, 
 Oliver L. Giddings, 
 Charles H. Downing, 
 John M. Wadleigh, 
 Andrew J. Fojrjr, 
 George W. Green, 
 Charles H. Towle, 
 
 1874-1876 
 
 1874-1876 
 
 1877, 8 
 
 1877, 8 
 
 1885, 6 
 
 1887 
 
 1887 
 
 MODERATORS. 
 
 Peter Coffin, 
 William Moore, 
 Kinsley Hall, 
 Theophilus Dudley, 
 
 1696, 1705 
 
 1698 
 
 1700, 4 
 
 1706, 9 
 
 Moses Leavitt, 1707, 8, 13, 4, 5, 23, 6 
 John Oilman, 1711 
 
 Nicholas Oilman, 1716, 7, 8, 30-35, 
 
 7, 9, 43-48 
 Captain John Oilman, 1720, 4, 5, 7 
 
 9, 36, 8 
 Samuel Thing, 1721, 2, 8 
 
 Ezekiel Oilman, 1740 
 
 Zebulon Giddinge, 
 
 1741 
 
 Peter Oilman, 
 
 James Oilman, 
 Samuel Oilman, 
 John Odlin, 
 
 1742, 54, 5, 60-68, 
 
 70-73, 6 
 
 1749, 50, 3 
 
 1751, 2, 9 
 
 1756-1759 
 
 Nathaniel Folsom, 1774, 5, 7, 9, 85-90 
 John Phillips. 1778 
 
 Nicholas Oilman, 1780-84 
 
 John T. Oilman, 1791-1794, 1806, 7, 
 9, 10, 1, 7, 8, 20-25 
 Oliver Peabody, 1795, 7, 1801, 5, 12 
 Samuel Tenney, 1796, 8, 9, 1800, 8 
 Jeremiah Smith, 1802, 3, 4, 13-16 
 Nathaniel Oilman, 1819 
 
 James Burley, 1826-1842 
 
 James Bell, 1843-1846 
 
 Woodbridge Odlin, 1847-1849 
 
 Nathaniel Oilman, 1850-1853 
 
 William B. :\Iorrill, 1854, 5, 9, 60-66 
 James 'SL Lovering, 1856, 7 
 
 Joseph O. Hoyt, 1858 
 
 Charles 0. Conner, 1867-1886 
 
 John J. Bell, 1887 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES . 
 
 Bartholomew Tippen, 
 Ralph Hall, 
 WiUiam Moore, 
 Robert Wadleigh, 
 Robert Smart, 
 Thomas Wiggin, 
 Samuel Leavitt, 1685, 
 John Folsom, 
 John Oilman, 
 Jonathan Thing, 
 Moses Leavitt, 1693 
 
 Theophilus Dudley, 1693, 
 
 Kinsley Hall, 
 David Lawrence, 
 
 1680 
 
 1680 
 
 1681, 92 
 
 1681 
 
 1684 
 
 1684 
 
 92, 6, 1703 
 
 1685, 94, 5 
 
 1693 
 
 1693 
 
 , 5, 8, 1702 
 
 5, 8, 1702, 
 
 9, 11,2 
 
 1694, 5 
 
 1696, 1703 
 
 Samuel Thing, 1703, 13, 4, 5, 27, 8 
 Nicholas Oilman, 1709, 11-15, 1732 
 Capt. John Oilman, 1716-1722 
 
 Lieut. John Oilman, 1716-1722 
 
 Bartholomew Thing, 1727, 8, 31-35 
 Benjamin Thing, 1730, 1 
 
 Peter Oilman, 1733, 4, 5, 7, 9, 40-42 
 5, 9, 52, 5, 8, 62, 5, 8 
 Edward ILUl, 17;jg 
 
 Samuel Hall, 1736 
 
 Nathaniel Oilman, 1737, 9, 40 
 
 Zebulon Giddinge, 1741, 5, 9, 52, 5, 
 
 8, 62, 5, 8 
 Samuel Oilman, 1742 
 
 John Phillips, 1755, 71 
 
l.")2 
 
 lllSTUKV UF EXKTEK. 
 
 John Giddinjjc, 
 Xathanii'l Folsom, 
 Xoali l->nicrv, 
 Thomas Odiorne, 
 Samuel Hobart, 
 John T. Gihnan, 
 Eplu'aim Ilol)inson, 
 Jedcdiah Jewett, 
 Joseph Cram, 
 Josiah Gihnan, Jr., 
 ])udlcy Odhn, 
 Benjamin Conner, Jr., 
 Nathaniel Gihnan, 
 George Sullivan, 
 Nathaniel Parker, 
 Oliver Pcabody, 
 Josejih Tilton, Jr., 
 John Kimball, 
 "William Smith, Jr., 
 OUver W. B. Peabodv 
 
 1771,4,5, 6 
 
 1774, o, 8, 82, ;j 
 
 177(5 
 
 1777 
 
 1777, S 
 
 1770, SI, ISIO, 1 
 
 1775), 81, 6 
 
 1782-1784 
 
 1782 
 
 178.5 
 
 1787-1790 
 
 1791-1803 
 
 1804 
 
 ISOa, 13 
 
 1806-1809 
 
 1812 
 
 1814-1822 
 
 1820, 1 
 
 1822-1824 
 
 1823-1830 
 
 Jeremiah Dow, 1825-1828, 31, 2, 3 
 
 Samuel T. Gilman, 1829 
 
 Nathaniel Conner, 1829, 30 
 
 Jotham Lawrence, 1831 
 
 John Ro<j;ers, 1832-1834 
 
 John Sullivan, 1834-1837 
 
 William Odlin, 1835-1837 
 
 William Perry, 1838 
 
 Daniel Conner, 1838, 9 
 
 Nathaniel Gilman, 3d, 1839, 40 
 
 Samuel Hatch, 1840 
 
 Woodbridge Odlin, 1841 
 
 Josiah Robinson, 1841, 2 
 
 Amos Tuck, 1842 
 
 Theophilus Goodwin, 1843, 4 
 
 Charles Conner, 1843, 4 
 
 Gilman Marston, 
 
 John Kelly, 
 James Bell, 
 William Wadleigh, 
 Geor<,a' Gardner, 
 John V. Moses, 
 Nathaniel G. Gilman, 
 Nathaniel Gordon, 
 Charles J. Gilman, 
 Isaac Plapp, 
 
 1845-48, 72, 3, 76 
 8, 80, 2, 4, 6 
 1845 
 1846 
 1846-1848 
 1847, 8 
 1849, 50, 1 
 1849, 50 
 1849, 50 
 1851 
 1851, 2 
 
 Oren Head, 
 
 Nathaniel (i. Perry, 
 
 William Conner, 
 
 \A'illiam W. Stickney, 
 
 Retire H. Parker, 
 
 James M. Covering, 
 
 George F. Waters, 
 
 Jeremiah A\\ Marsh, 
 
 Henry Shute, 
 
 Isaiah S. Brown, 
 
 William B. Morrill, 
 
 Charles H. Bell, 1858-1860, 72, 3 
 
 Nathaniel K. Leavitt, 1859, 60 
 
 Jewett Conner, 
 
 Moses N. Collins, 
 
 Charles Burley, 
 
 Abraham P. Blake, 
 
 Joseph C. Hilliard, 
 
 Samuel D. Wingate, 
 
 Nathaniel G. Giddings, 
 
 Henry C. Moses, 
 
 Charles G. Conner, 
 
 Joseph AV. Merrill, 
 
 James W. Odlin, 
 
 William H. Robinson, 
 
 Andrew J. Hoyt, 
 
 Sebastian A. Brown, 
 
 Eben Folsom, 
 
 John G. Gilman, 
 
 John H. Kimball, 
 
 George W. Furnald, 
 
 Jacob Carlisle, 
 
 Asa Jewell, 
 
 John D. Lyman, 
 
 Thomas Leavitt, 
 
 Josiah J. Folsom, 
 
 Joseph T. Porter, 
 
 Horace S. Cummings, 
 
 William Burlingame, 
 
 Alfi'ed Conner, 
 
 Daniel Sanborn, 2d, 
 
 Wintliro]) N. Dow, 
 
 Charles (). Moses, 
 
 Andrew J. Fogg, 
 
 John J. Bell, 
 
 Edward H. Gilman, 
 
 John Templeton, 
 
 1852, 3 
 
 1852. 3 
 
 1853. 4 
 1854 
 1854 
 
 1855-1857 
 1855 
 
 1855, 6 
 
 1856, 7 
 1857, 8 
 1858, 9 
 
 1860, 1 
 
 1861, 2 
 1861 
 
 1862, 3 
 1862, 3 
 1863,4 
 1864, 5 
 
 1864. 5 
 
 1865. 6 
 1866, 7 
 1866, 7 
 
 1867. 8 
 
 1868. 9 
 1868, 9 
 
 1869, 70 
 1870, 1 
 1870, 1 
 
 1871 
 1872, 3 
 1874, 5 
 1874, 5 
 1874, 5 
 
 1876 
 1876, 7 
 
 1876 
 1877, 8 
 1877, 8 
 
 1878 
 1878, 80 
 
 1880 
 
 1882 
 1882, 4, 6 
 
 1884 
 
 1886 
 
ECCLESIASTICAL. 
 
^ 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 THE FIRST SOCIETY. 
 
 The formation of the First church in Exeter, and the events of 
 the pastorate of the Rev. John Wheelwright, have already been 
 narrated. Mr. Wheelwright was not inclined to stay to witness 
 the extension of the authority of Massachusetts over the settle- 
 ment that he had founded, but removed with his family, probably 
 in the early spring of 1643, to the almost unbroken foi'ests of 
 AYells, in Maine. But it would not have been like him to leave 
 his flock without a shepherd, and accordingly we find that the 
 people were provided with another religious teacher, Mr. Thomas 
 Rashleigh. 
 
 Mr. Rashleigh had been admitted to the Boston church three 
 years before, being then a student of divinity. In 1641 he had 
 ministered " as chaplain" to the people of Cape Ann, afterwards 
 Gloucester, in Massachusetts, where there was then no organized 
 church. He came to Exeter in the spring of 1643, no doubt, by 
 the desire of Mr. Wheelwright, and with some intention of making 
 a permanent settlement there. On the sixth of May, in that year, 
 the town granted liiin a house lot, and he undoubtedly continued 
 to act as their minister during the remainder of his stay in the 
 place, which was something less than a twelvemonth. His house 
 lot, of which the grant must have been conditional only, was 
 re-granted by the town, five years after he went away, to the Rev. 
 Samuel Dudley. Why Mr. Rashleigh remained no longer is not 
 known ; though the subsequent existence of two parties in the 
 Tsjiurch or town, may furnish the clue to his early departure. 
 
 ^athe spring of 1644 some of the inhabitants made an attempt 
 to gSlher a new church in Exeter, and to call the aged Rev. 
 Stephen Bachiler of Hampton to the ministry thereof. They went 
 so far as to appoint a day of humiliation, on which to carry both 
 these purposes into effect, but intelligence of their design having 
 reached the ears of the Massachusetts General Court, that body 
 
 155 
 
i:,r, HISTORY OF EXETKU. 
 
 smnniarily overruled it, by adopting, on the twenty-ninth of May, 
 1644, the following resolution : 
 
 "Whereas it appL'ar.s to this court that some of the inhabitants of 
 Exeter do iutencl shortly to gather a church and call Mr. Bachiler 
 to be their minister, and forasnuich as the divisions and conten- 
 tions which are among the inhabitants arc judged by this court 
 to be such as for the present the}^ cannot comfortably and with 
 approbation proceed in so weighty and sacred affairs ; it is there- 
 fore ordered that direction should be fortliwith sent to the said 
 inhabitants to defer the gathering of any church, or other such 
 proceeding, until this court or the court at Ipswich, upon further 
 satisfaction of their reconciliation and fitness, shall give allowance 
 thereunto. 
 
 On the same day the General Court passed this further order : 
 
 That ]\rr. AVheelwright (upon a particular, solemn and serious 
 acknowledgment and confession by letters of his evil carriages 
 and of the court's justice iipon him for them*) hatli his banish- 
 ment taken off, and is received as a member of the Common- 
 wealth. 
 
 The adoption of both the foregoing orders on the same day 
 leaves little doubt of the willingness of the government of Massa- 
 chusetts that Mr. Wheelwright should return to his charge in 
 Exeter, if he desired. The people evidently so understood it, for 
 immediately after learning the court's decision, they made a grant 
 to Mr. AVheelwright, his heirs and successors forever, of certain 
 marshland, " with these conditions, that he doth come amongst 
 us again." The major part of the inhabitants having thus 
 evidenced their desire for their former pastor's return, it seems 
 unquestionable that he might have resumed his position there, to 
 the general acceptance. 
 
 But Mr. Wheelwright, for reasons satisfactory to himself, did 
 not choose to go back. And the project of gathering another 
 church and of settling Mr. Bachiler over it, was very wisely 
 abandoned. Still it is not probable that the people, a large i)ro- 
 portion of whom were members of the church, went on without 
 some religious ministrations. Mr. Ilatevil Nutter was an " exhort- 
 ing elder" of the church of Dover, and the following facts, 
 gleaned from the records of Exeter, establish a strong probability 
 that he was employed to minister to the spiritual wants of the 
 
 • A careful perusal of Wheelwright's second letter will show how unjust lo him 
 this statement is. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 157 
 
 people of the latter place. Mr. Nutter was the owner of a tract 
 of land at Lamprey river, and at least as early as the beginning 
 of the year 1645 the town " covenanted " to inclose it with fence ; 
 and more than once betwixt that time and 1650 called upon all the 
 inhabitants to do their shares of fencing, under the penalty of 
 paying the wages of others, who should be hired in their stead. 
 The town continued to render this service for the Elder for five 
 years ; and until they had provided themselves with a regular 
 minister, the Kev. Samuel Dudley. Then, on June 11, 1G50, Mr. 
 Nutter, by his receipt upon the town book, acknowledged that the 
 fence which the town " was engaged by covenant" to set up for 
 him at Lamprey river, was accepted ; and he was heard of no 
 more in Exeter. 
 
 In view of Mr. Nutter's gifts as an exhorter, and in the absence 
 of any other known or imaginable consideration for which the 
 inhabitants could have so bound themselves to keep his land 
 inclosed, it seems reasonable to infer that it was done in return 
 for his services as a religious teacher among them, during that 
 interval of five years or more, while they were without a regular 
 minister. 
 
 ATTEMPTS TO GET A PASTOK. 
 
 But the town in the meantime did not abate their efforts to 
 secure a resident minister. In the spring of 1(J4G an invitation 
 was given to Mr. Nathaniel Norcross, a young clerg^mian and " an 
 university scholar," to settle over the church ; and on May 25, of 
 that year, it was agreed that Edward Hilton and Thomas King 
 should purchase Mr. Wheelwright's house and laud, in the town's 
 behalf, for Mr. Norcross. Sixteen of the principal citizens entered 
 into a written agreement to be responsible to the purchasers for 
 the price paid, in case the town should fail to fully reimburse 
 them. But Mr. Norcross did not accept the proposal. I'ossibly 
 he may have been deterred by the divisions which still continued 
 among the people. / 
 
 Those divisions were the subject of a petition presented the 
 succeeding year to the Massachusetts General Court, tKe great 
 tribunal for the redress of all grievances, civil and ecclesiastical ; 
 and the following order was passed in response ther^ : 
 
 In answer to the petition of some of Exet^/'^the court think 
 meet that ^Ir. Ezekiel Rogers, ^Ir. Natlianief Ixijgi-rs and ]Mr. 
 Norton be requested by this court and authorized to examine the 
 
i:,,S lIISTOin' Ol' EXETER. 
 
 gronn«l« of tlio complaint, iiiid. if it in;iy 1)0, to coni]")oso thinirs 
 amongst tluMii ; wliidi if tlu-y c.vnnot do, then to certify to this 
 court what they liiul, and also think best to be done, whii-h may 
 conduce to peace and the coutinuauce of the ordinances amongst 
 them. 
 
 No record is found of the doings of the committee under this 
 order, l)ut the people of Exeter were sufficiently uiiited, November 
 K), 1G48, to join in a call to the Rev. William Tompson of 
 Braintree, " a worthy servant of Christ," to become their minis- 
 ter. And it was voted that "in case he could be attained to 
 come," he should be allowed by the town thirty pounds a year, 
 and the profits that should accrue to the town from the saw-inill, 
 and the use of the house and land which were purchased of Mr. 
 "Wheelwright, so long as he continued with them as a minister. 
 Christopher Lawson, Edward Gilman and John Legat were 
 appointed to present the offer to him ; and if he declined it. to 
 invite some other person, with the counsel and advice of the elders 
 of Boston, Charlestown and Roxbur3\ 
 
 Mr. Tompson did not see tit to accept the call, and the town 
 voted April 22, 1G49, to invite ]Mr. Joseph Emerson of IJowley, 
 to come to Exeter and be the minister there ; but they met with 
 uo better success in this, than in their preceding applications. 
 
 MU. l)i:i)I.KY EXlJAGED. 
 
 But at length their persistent efforts to obtain a settled pastor 
 were rewarded by a fortunate issue, in the engagement of the Rev. 
 Samuel Dudley. In anticipation of his coming and to provide 
 means for his support, the town by its officers and leading citizens, 
 on the twenty-second of April, 1G'>0, established this order: 
 
 Every inhabitant of the town shall i)ay for every thousand of 
 pipe staves he makes, two shillings, which shall be for the mainten- 
 ance of the ministry; and for every thousand of hogshead staves, 
 one shilling sixpence ; and for every thousand of bolts sold l)efore 
 they be made into staves, four shillings ; and what is due from 
 the saw-mills shall also be for the maintenance of the ministry. 
 
 It is ordered that after the publication hereof any man that shall 
 deliver any staves or bolts before they have satisfied the town 
 orders, they shall pay ten shillings for every thousand staves, and 
 tvvent}' shillings for every thousand bolts. 
 
 And on tlie thirteentli of May, in.'iO, the following agreement 
 was executed between a committee of tii«^ town .and iMr. Dudley, 
 defining the terms of his settlement : 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 1,59 
 
 It is unanimously agreed upon )iy jMr. Samuel Dudley and the 
 town of Exeter that Mr. Dudley is forthwith so soon as comforta- 
 ble subsistence can be made by the town for him and his family in 
 the house which was purchased of Mr. AVheelwright, that then the 
 said 3Ir. Dudley is to come to inhabit at Exeter and to be a minis- 
 ter of God's word unto us, until such time as God shall be jjleased 
 to make way for the gathering of a church, and then he to be 
 ordained our pastor or teacher according to the ordinance of God. 
 And in consideration of this promise of Mr. Dudle}'^, the town 
 doth mutually agree to fit up the aforesaid house and to fence in a 
 yard and garden for the said Mr. Dudle}', and to allow forty 
 pounds a year towards the maintenance of the said Mr. Dudley 
 and his family ; and that the use and sole improvement of the 
 aforesaid house bought of Mr. Wheelwright, and all the lauds and 
 meadows thereunto belonging, shall be to the proper use of him 
 the said Mr. Dudley, during the time that he shall continue to be 
 a minister of the word amongst us. And what cost the said Mr. 
 Dudley shall bestow about the said house and lauds in the time of 
 his improvement, the town is to allow unto lihn or his, so much 
 as the said house or lands are bettered by it, at the time of the 
 said Mr. Dudley's leaving of it either by death or by some more 
 than ordinary call of God otherwise. And it is further agreed 
 upon that the old cow-house, which was ]Mr. Wheelwright's, shall 
 by the town be fixed up fit for the setting of cattle in, and that 
 the aforesaid pay of £40 a j'^ear is to be made in good pay every 
 half year, in corn and English commodities at a price current, as 
 they go generally in the country at the time or times of payment. 
 
 To the premises which concern myself I consent unto. Witness 
 my hand. 
 
 Sam : Didley. 
 
 And for the town's performance of this part of this aforesaid 
 agreement we whose names ai'e hei'eunder written do jointly and 
 severally engage ourselves to Mr. Dudley. Witness our bauds. 
 
 Edward Hilton, 
 Edward Gilmax, 
 }\nis Legatk, 
 FIenhv Ror.v, 
 James AVall, 
 HuMrilUKY Wii.sox. 
 
 J 
 
 The people of Exeter were fortunate in inducing INIr. Dudley to 
 cast bis lot with them. A son of Governor Thomas Dudlev, and 
 
ir.o iiisT(^i{Y OF fa'i:ti:u. 
 
 s()n-in-l:iw of dovt'iuoi" .lolin Wintlirop, lie had acquaintance and 
 inlliienco with thi' i)rincipal cliaracters of the Massachusetts Bay. 
 Ih' was born in Kn,u:hind about the j'ear 1610, and passed the first 
 twenty years of his life there, in the society of people of intelligence 
 and position. Though not bred at the university, his education 
 had not Iteen neglected, and as early as ir)o7 he was spoken of as 
 qualified for the clerical ollice, and in 1G4'J is said to have preached 
 at Portsmouth, though it is not known that he was settled in the 
 ministry before he came to Exeter. For the preceding twelve 
 years he had resided in Salisbury, ^Fassachusetts, where he had 
 repeatedly' served as a delegate to the General Court, and for two 
 years had held the office of Assistant. It is evident that such a 
 man was a great acquisition to the little community of Exeter. 
 
 The language of Mr. Dudley's contract implies that the church 
 which was formed in Wheelwright's time had, in the seven years 
 when it was destitute of a regular pastor, lost its organization. 
 Whether the wished for opportunity for gathering a new church 
 occurred during Mr. Dudley's ministry, the books of the town 
 afford us no information. 
 
 On the twenty-sixth of June, IG'jO, it was ordered by the town 
 that Francis Swain have twenty shillings for his pains and time 
 " in going into the Bay to receive Mr. Dudley his pa}'." This un- 
 doubtedly refers to that clause of INIr. Dudley's contract which 
 provided that his salary might be paid in " English commodities." 
 Those Avere only to be procured from some trader in '* the Bay," 
 as Massachusetts Avas commonly called ; and, no doubt, Mr. 
 Swain had been employed by the town to make inquiry there for 
 some person who was willing to exchange those commodities for 
 lumber or such other products as the town could furnish. 
 
 It tells wi'U for the zeal and energy of the new minister of 
 Exeter that in six weeks from the time of his settlement, hv in- 
 duced the people to pass a vote to build :i new meeting-house. It 
 was on the same twenty-sixth of June, 1(»5U, and was in these 
 terms : 
 
 Its agreed that a meeting-house shall be built, of twenty foot 
 square, so soon as workmen can convonii'utly be procured to do 
 it, and the i)lace appointed for it is at the corner of William 
 'i'aylor's h^t next the street, and William Taylor is to have of the 
 town 20 s. for live rods square of his land in that place. 
 
 This location was undoubtedly ui)on the elevation on the western 
 side of the salt river afterwards known as '•' meeting-house hill." 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 161 
 
 It is in the northerly skirt of the present village, near where Sum- 
 mer street unites with the road to Newmarket. There is little 
 question, too, that an earlier place of worship had been situated 
 near the same spot, probably a little northwesterly of it, sur- 
 rounded, in the English fashion of the time, by a yard for the 
 burial of the dead. On December 29, 1651, the town gave Mr. 
 Dudley liberty to fence "the piece of ground where the graves 
 are, and to have the use of it for grazing or feeding of cattle 
 whilst he stays in Exeter, but not to break up the said land." 
 Uniform tradition points out this spot as the earliest churchyard. 
 The surface of the ground is covered with clay, and is now 
 utilized for the manufacture of drain tiles. There was formerly a 
 brick-yard there. From time to time the decayed remains of 
 human bones have been exhumed from the soil, which gave occa- 
 sion for the remark, respecting a certain brick house erected in 
 the town a couple of generations ago, that it was " built from the 
 dust of our ancestors ! " 
 
 No doubt even the light burden which the town had assumed in 
 their contract with their minister weighed somewhat heavil}' upon 
 some of the poor parishioners, for an order was agreed upon, 
 December 5, 1650, that the townsmen should have power to 
 " make a rate upon all such of the inhabitants of the town as do 
 not voluntarily bring in according to their abilities, for the satis- 
 fying of the town's engagement unto Mr. Dudley for his main 
 tenant 
 
 On^the same day the town authorized Francis Swain or Henry 
 Rotr^, if they could, to bargain with some able merchant in the 
 Bay, to furnish Mr. Dudley, in exchange for hogshead and pipe 
 staves, forty pounds' worth of good English commodities, in the 
 following May, for his year's maintenance. 
 
 Before Mr. Dudley had lived a year in the town he had so won 
 the favor and confidence of his people, that they volunteered to 
 defend his reputation when it was assailed by the tongue of slander. 
 On the nineteenth <y February, 1651, they authorized " the present 
 townsmen, Henry Roby, Thomas King and John Legate, to vindi- 
 cate the credit and reputation of Mr. Dudley against the reproach- 
 ful speeches and calumniation of John Garland,, by proceeding 
 against him in law, according to the demerit of his [offence]." 
 This John Garland had, a few months before, been accused of 
 taking the town's timber as an inhabitant, without sufficient war- 
 rant. It is not at all unlikely that Mr. Dudley, wlio stood up 
 11 
 
 -V 
 
162 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 manfully for the ri<2;lits of his parishioners, was forward in making 
 the accusation, and thus incurred the ill-will and " repn)achful 
 speeches " of his defamer. It is not known that a suit was 
 brought ; but is more probable that the slanders were retracted 
 and apologies made. 
 
 On the first of September, 1651, it was detennined that John 
 TWarren should "go into the Bay to receive the town's pay of Mr. 
 Kimball for Mr. Dudley." The repeated negotiations for the 
 forty ])Ounds' worth of P^nglish commodities had, therefore, been 
 brought to a successful termination. 
 
 NEW HOUSE OF WOUSIIIP. 
 
 The meeting-house, which was resolved upon more than a year 
 previously, Avas not yet built, but it was now voted to complete 
 it, by the primitive expedient of requiring all the inhabitants to 
 contribute their personal labor for the purpose. The order was 
 passed September 1, 1G51, as folloAvs : 
 
 That the meeting-house shall begin to be built upon the next 
 second day [^Monday], and a rate to be made how much work 
 every man sliall do towards it, and so be called forth to work 
 upon it by 'J'homas King and John J^cgato, as need shall require ; 
 that the work be not neglected till it be ilnislicd ; and tliat every 
 man that neglects to come to work upon a day's warning shall 
 pay 5 shillings the day, to be forthwith seized by the constable. 
 
 In spite of this peremptory vote, however, the meeting-house 
 was not erected, noi' apparently even begun, for more than three- 
 fourths of a year afterwards- 
 
 The following order was therefore passed, Jul}' 8, 1652 : 
 
 It is ordered that a meeting-house shall forthwith be built, and 
 that every man, both iscrvants as well as others, shall come forth 
 to work upon it, as they are .called out by the surveyors of the 
 Avork, upon the ])onalty of 5s. a day for their neglect; and 
 teams ary to be bnjuglit forth to the work by the owners, as they 
 are called for by the said surveyors, upon the penalty of 10 s. a 
 day for tlicir neglect. And the surveyf)rs or overseers ap])ointed 
 for tlie said Avork are Mr. J']dward Gihnan, Thomas King and 
 EdAvard Hilton, Jr,, and they arc to see the Avork finished and not 
 to have it neglected. 
 
 -»• 
 
 There is little doubt that tliis attempt ])roved successful, and 
 that the mecting-housc was substantially completed Avithin the 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 163 
 
 year. On the twenty-third of October, 1G52, John Robinson and 
 John Oilman were chosen as overseers of work on the meeting- 
 house in place of Edward Oilman and Edward Hilton, the former 
 of whom w^as about to sail for England, and the latter was im- 
 mersed in his private business ; and in August of the year follow- 
 ing, a return of commissioners appointed by the Oeneral Court of 
 Massachusetts to lay out the western bounds of Hampton, refers 
 to the " Exeter meeting-house " as an accomplished fact. It is, 
 however, a pathetic illustration of the narrow resources and pov- 
 erty of the early settlers, that though their purpose was to build 
 merely the most primitive structure, only twenty feet in extent, 
 probably of squared logs, and furnished with rude benches of 
 boards as they came from the saw-mill, yet in order to accomplish 
 it, they were obliged to impress the services of every inhabitant 
 and servant, and to occupy more than two years of time. The 
 poor building, however, with some additions, had to serve them 
 as a place of worship for over forty years. 
 
 DIFFICULTY OF PAYING SALARY. 
 
 The task of raising Mr. Dudley's stipend was found no easy 
 one. Not every person who had the means, had also the disposi- 
 tion to contribute. Captain Thomas Wiggin, as has been else- 
 where stated, resided in what was known as the Squamscot patent, 
 which was not within any township. He was, however, presuma- 
 bly a member of Mr. Dudley's congregation, being rated as such. 
 But he was not prompt in paying his rates, and on the fifteenth 
 of December, 1653, the town voted, that "the selectmen have 
 power to take some course with Captain Wiggin about Mr. Dudley's 
 rate, as they shall see meet." How the captain adjusted the 
 matter at the time is unknown ;* but a few years afterwards, on 
 May 6, 1G57, he induced the Oeneral Court of Massachusetts to 
 pass an act making his house and property taxable in the town of 
 Hampton. This gave him such vantage ground over the people 
 of Exeter that they could not take any legal "course" with him, 
 however delinquent he might prove ; and thoy were fain to resort 
 to negotiation. On March 4, 1G.58, they empowered Mr. Dudley 
 and Mr. [P^dward] Hilton "to treat with Captain "Wiggin, and to 
 agree with him what annual payment he is to make to the town 
 
 * As the c«i)taln was a large holder of land, it is possible that he turned over to the 
 town Some tracts of it, to balance the account. Tlie town certainly received from 
 him certain "land and meadow," for which no other consideration is known. 
 
KM HISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 towurtls bearing thf charges of the public ministry." Thereafter, 
 of course, the eaptaiu paid uo more than he chose to pay. But 
 this episode has carried us a little iu advance of our main story. 
 
 After the expiration of five years the charge of maintaining a 
 minister was found almost too onerous for the town, which had 
 lost some of its inhabitants, and was otherwise incapacitated, and 
 on Jime 13, 1G55, a new agreement was made with 'Mr. Dudley 
 to this effect : 
 
 By reason of the town's decreasing and other disabilities, the 
 town cannot well bear the burden of paying him forty pounds a 
 year as their minister, and he is not willing to urge from them 
 what they could not comfortably discharge, therefore, the contract 
 between them, recorded on the town books, is annulled, and he 
 lays down his place as a minister ; and what exercises he shall 
 perform on the Sabbath day he does as a private person ; for the 
 present summer he promises to perform them constantly ; after- 
 wards he is to be at liberty. But so long as he continues at Exeter 
 he promises to be heli)ful, what he may with convenience, either 
 iu his own house or some other which may be appointed for the 
 JSabbath exercises. 
 
 The inhabitants of the town have sold Mr. Dudley that dwelling 
 house wherein he lives, cow-house, house lot and meadow with the 
 commonage and the appurtenances for which he pays fifty pounds, 
 twenty of which being half of the rate due him the present year ; 
 fifteen for which the town is behindhand for former rates ; and 
 fifteen pounds " in respect of what labor shall be performed this 
 present sunnner." 
 
 And shouUl said Dudley remove his family from the town he 
 promises to olfer the said premises to the town for the same price 
 of fifty pounds to be paid in corn, and English goods, or in neat 
 cattle at an api)raisal ; and in case of his decease his family may 
 occupy the premises for a year and then the town shall have the 
 said offer. 
 
 Said Dudley will rcnpiirc! nothing of tlic town for what pains he 
 shall take in performing Sabbath exercises after this summer. 
 
 Any cost or charge laid out upon the house by said DuiUey after 
 
 he pays for it, shall be reimbursed to him to the extent of the 
 
 additional value thereof, in case of purchase by the town. 
 
 The contract signed by Samukl Dudley, 
 
 John Oilman, ^ 
 
 ,,, ,, I tor the 
 
 ,.. ^, town. 
 
 >> ILLIAM MOOKK, j 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 165 
 
 In tlie following spring the people made a new attempt to insure 
 a suitable support to their minister. On the twent>^-eiglith of 
 April, 1G5G, it was agreed that for the maintenance of the public 
 ordinances, all the saw-mills belonging to the town should be 
 rated, as follows : the old mill upon the fall, seven pounds ; Hum- 
 phrey Wilson's mill, seven pounds ; the new mill of John Gilman, 
 six pounds ; Mr. Hilton's mill, five pounds. Those who made 
 pipe staves should pay three shillings a thousand, and those who 
 made barrel staves two shillings a thousand therefor ; all for the 
 maintenance of the ministry. And in case any maker should send 
 away any staves without acquainting the town therewith, he 
 should forfeit to the town ten shillings for every thousand so sent 
 away. In consideration of the saw-mills being so rated, they were 
 to be freed from the rate which they formerly were to pay the 
 town ; " but when the ministry faileth, the old covenant to be of 
 force." 
 
 FEA.RS OF LOSING MR. DUDLEY. 
 
 In the autumn of the same year the people of Portsmouth made 
 an attempt, in which they were nearly successful, to induce Mr. 
 Dudley to quit Exeter and settle in that place. They voted, on 
 the twenty-seventh of October, to give him an invitation to be 
 their minister, and to pay him a salary of eighty pounds a year. 
 Their selectmen were appointed a committee to present him the 
 vote, and to close a contract with him. On November 10 they 
 waited upon him and acquainted him with the proposal. 
 
 He is said to have acceded to it, and agreed to \asit them the 
 next spring. But the prospect of losing their minister stimulated 
 the people of Exeter to renewed exertions to retain him. This is 
 the record of their action : 
 
 At a full town meetiug in this place legally warned the 8 day of 
 June 1657, it was ordered and agreed that so long as Mr. Dudley 
 shall be a minister in the town, the town is to pay him fifty 
 pounds yearly in merchantable pine boards and in merchantable 
 pipe staves at the current price ; if the boards and staves do not 
 reach the said sum, the remainder to be paid in merchantable corn. 
 Furthermore the dwelling house, house lots and other lots and the 
 meadow on the west side of the Exeter river, all formerly Mr. 
 Wheelwright's, shall be confirmed unto IMr. Dudley, his heirs and 
 assigns from this time forever, notwithstanding any promise or 
 engagement to the contrary. 
 
 The selectmen of the town shall yearly, as aforesaid, gather up 
 the said sum, and in case they be defective herein, to be answer- 
 
166 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 able to the town for their default, and to pay themselves what is 
 not gathered up by them. 
 
 This last provision certainly indicates that the office of select- 
 man, in the olden time, was no sinecure ! The action of the town, 
 however, induced INIr. Dudley to forego any design he may have 
 had of leaving Exeter, and he was content to accept the smaller 
 stipend and continue among his old parishioners. The people 
 were not ungrateful, as the numerous grants of lands and privi- 
 leges from time to time made him by the town bear testimony. 
 And that they had implicit confidence in his integrity may be 
 gathered from the final proviso in the following resolution, passed 
 in town meeting March 4, 1G58 : 
 
 It was granted to Samuel Dudley that tract of land between 
 Griffin jNIountague's house lot and Mr. Stanyan's creek, lying all 
 on the riglit hand of the path next to the river, upon consideration 
 of drawing out all the grants in the town book or any other neces- 
 sary orders contained in the same, wliich grants or orders are to 
 be "fairly written ; provided that if there be any grant or order 
 recorded formerly in any town book to hinder this grant, then this 
 grant to Samuel Dudley to be of no effect, otherwise to stand in 
 force. 
 
 From time to time, afterwards, orders were adopted by the 
 town for the purpose of facilitating the collection of Mr. Dudley's 
 salary. 
 
 On the twenty-eighth of March, 1662, it was ordered that for 
 every thousand of heading and barrel staves that were got out, 
 there should be eighteen pence allowed to the town's use, " that 
 is, to the ministry." 
 
 On the twenty-fifth of April, 1664, it was voted that Captain 
 John Clark's mill should pay five pounds annually to the public 
 ministry. 
 
 And on the same day it was determined that " a lean-to " should 
 be added to the meeting-house, with a chimney, which should 
 serve as a watch-house. 
 
 A lean-to, in the parlance of the time, was an addition, usually 
 of one room, with a single sloping roof, like a shed, such as used 
 to be often attaclied to the rear of old-fashioned houses. 
 
 On the fifteenth of INIarch, 1668, it was voted that Lieutenant 
 Ralph Ilall have full power given him to arrest and sue any inhab- 
 itants who refused to pay to the rate of the ministry, which he was 
 authorized to gather up or to collect by distraint. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 167 
 
 On the tenth of July, 1G71, it was ordered tliat " instead of the 
 selectmen gathering up the minister's rate, Mr. Dudley is from 
 this time forward to gather up his rate himself, and instead of £40 
 yearly as heretofore, there is now granted to him £60 in such kind 
 of pay as hath been formerly agreed of." The selectmen were to 
 make the rate yearly, and in case any inhabitant should refuse to 
 pay his rate, the selectmen were to empower Mr. Dudley to " get 
 it by the constable." 
 
 Matters were now so well arranged between parson and people 
 that no further action of the town appears to have been necessary 
 for a considerable period. But only five j^ears after the last entry, 
 a most surprising and unaccountable thing was done at the Hamp- 
 ton court ; the town of Exeter was presented for ' ' letting their 
 meeting-house lie open and common for cattle to go into," and the 
 selectmen were ordered under a penalty of five pounds to cleanse 
 the house, and have the doors hung, and shut tight, etc. This 
 accusation has a formidable sound, and on the face of it would 
 convey the impression that the town was guilty of gross negli- 
 gence, nearly approaching to sacrilege. But that cannot be 
 believed of a people who were maintaining at no small cost, a 
 minister of high character and much energy and influence. It 
 would rather seem to be the result of an accident of a day, exag- 
 gerated to the court by some malicious mischief-maker. Those 
 were days of few door fastenings, and of many indictments. 
 Nothing further being heard of the present case, it is to be pi-e- 
 sumed that all suitable amends were made for the misadventure, 
 whatever it might have been. 
 
 Two years after this, on the first of April, 1678, Jonathan 
 Thing, John Folsom, Jr., Jonathan Robinson and Theophilus 
 Dudley were chosen tithing men ; the first instance of the election 
 of such officers in the town, so far as the records show. 
 
 On the eighteenth of February, 1679, the following order was 
 made by the selectmen, for the better accommodation of the 
 church-goers : 
 
 At the request of Jonathan Thiug,_ Edward Oilman, Edward 
 Smith, Peter Folsom, Nathaniel Ladd, Moses Leavitt, for the 
 erecting of a gallery at the end of the men's gallery, for their 
 wives, it is granted unto them the privilege thereof, provided they 
 build the same upon their own charge, leaving also room to buiUl 
 another end gallery if the same be required. Also, the gallery 
 wherein Edward Smith, Biley Dudley, Edward Oilman and the 
 
168 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 rest do sit in, and have upon their own proper charges built, we 
 do further confirm and allow of. , 
 
 The " other end gallery " was soon required. On the secor^d of 
 July, 1680, the north end of the meeting-house was gramed to 
 Mrs. Sarah Wadleigh, Sarah Young, Alice Gilman, Abi^il "Wad- 
 leigh, Ephraim Marstou's wife, Grace Gilman and Mary Lawrence, 
 "there to erect and set up another gallery adjoining the other 
 women's." 
 
 Thus it appears that the little meeting-house of twenty feet 
 square, which had been outwardly enlarged by the addition of a 
 lean-to with a chimney, had had its interior capacity increased by 
 two galleries, and was now about to receive a third. This denotes 
 not only a larger population, but surely no diminution of religious 
 interest. 
 
 In the year 1680 the town passed out of the jurisdiction of 
 Massachusetts, under the newly established royal pro^'incial gov- 
 ernment of New Hampshire. The most notable effect whicli the 
 change produced in parochial affairs, was to make the minister's 
 rate payable on the twentieth of March, instead of one month 
 later, as before. 
 
 DEATH OF MR. DUDLEY. 
 
 There was no visible sign of failure of the powers, physical or 
 mental, of Mr. Dudley, as he drew on to old age. "When he was 
 sixty-nine, he was appointed upon a committee for the equal dis- 
 tribution of the town lands, a duty which no feeble man would 
 have been selected to i)erform. And during the four years of life 
 which still remained to him, we do not learn that his natural force 
 had abated, or that he failed to minister acceptably to the wants 
 of his people. lie died in Exeter on the tenth of February, 1683, 
 at the age of seventy-three years. 
 
 In his death the pcoj^le of the town suffered a serious loss. He 
 had become to them, in his thirty-three years of service, much 
 more than a religious teacher. He was an important member of 
 the civil comnumity, an intelligent farmer, a considerable mill 
 owner, a sound man of ])usincss, and the legal adviser and scrive- 
 ner of the entire i)eople. The town intrusted him with its 
 important affairs, and he in return was the stanch defender of its 
 interests. It is true that he always had a sharp eye to his own 
 advantage, but he had a large family to jn'ovide for, and he was 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 169 
 
 never accused of wrong or dishonesty. He was a gentleman of 
 " good capacity and learning " in his profession, and a sincere and 
 useful minister. Fortunate was it for Exeter that in its feeble 
 stage it was favored with the counsel and example of a man of 
 such goodness, and wisdom and practical sagacity. 
 
 Mr. Dudley's remains rest in the neglected burying-ground just 
 south of the gas-house, on Water street, and, no doubt, beneath 
 a stone slab from which the inscription-plate has disappeared. 
 
 He was thrice married, first in 1632 or '33, to Mary, the 
 daughter of Governor John "Winthrop of Massachusetts, who died 
 in about ten years ; second, to J\Iary Byley of Salisbury, who died 
 in Exeter about a year after her husband was settled there ; and 
 third, to Elizabeth, whose family name is not known. He had 
 children by each marriage, and in all ten sons and eight daughters, 
 five or six of whom died before reaching maturity. But several 
 of each were mai-ried, and lived in Exeter, and their descendants 
 are still numerous in the vicinity. 
 
 For several years after the decease of Mr. Dudley, the town was 
 without a settled pastor. The records are wanting between 1682 
 and the latter part of 1689, and no tradition has survived to tell 
 us what religious privileges were within the reach of the inhabi- 
 tants during that period. But it is not to be supposed that a 
 people who had recently pro^ided increased accommodations in 
 their meeting-house would long permit them to go unimproved. It 
 is altogether probable that temporary engagements were made with 
 such clergymen as could be procured, to perform clerical duty. 
 From outside sources we learn that in the latter part of 1684 the 
 Rev. John Cotton, son of the Rev. Seaborn Cotton of Hampton, 
 was li\dng, and officiating, in a ministerial capacity, in Exeter, 
 but how long he continued there, we cannot ascertain. From 
 that time forward we have no definite information, until October 
 6, 1690, when the town 
 
 Voted, That Elder William Wentworth is to be treated with for 
 his continuance with us in the work of the ministry in this town 
 for one complete year ensuing. The men chosen to treat with him 
 are Biley Dudley, Kinsley Hall and Moses Leavitt. 
 
 AVilliam Wentworth, when just arrived at man's estate, was one 
 of the original settlers of Exeter. After a residence there of five 
 years, he quitted the place, in company with IMr. Wliechvriglit, 
 and tarried a while in Wells, and then established his i)erniauont 
 
170 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 homo in Dover. There he had become a leading elder in the 
 church. And now, after near half a centmy's absence, he was 
 called back to the scene of his earliest American experience, to 
 occupy the honoral»le and responsible post of religious teacher. 
 How long he had already so officiated in Exeter we have not the 
 data to determine, but as he was to be employed to " continue " his 
 work there, it is clear that this was not the beginning of it. Nor 
 was it the end ; for on October 6, 1691, AVilliam Moore and Peter 
 Coffin were chosen to treat with Elder "Wentworth to supply and 
 carry on the work of the ministry in the town the ensuing joav ; 
 and on March 30, l(i'J3, after having voted that the salary payable 
 to the minister shall be accounted a necessary town charge, the 
 town agreed with Mr. William Wentworth " to supply and perform 
 the office of a minister one whole year, if he be able ; and if per- 
 formed, the town do promise to pay him the sum of forty pounds 
 in current pay, or proportionable to any part of the year." 
 
 But Mr. "Wentworth had reached the age of seventy-eight 3'ears, 
 and, though his life was still somewhat further prolonged, he had 
 probably become nnable, by reason of natural infirmities, to 
 comply with their proposal. It soon became necessary, therefore, 
 to look elsewhere for a minister. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE FIRST SOCIETY AND ITS OFFSHOOTS. 
 
 The first step which the town took for the purpose of finding a 
 suitable minister was highly characteristic of the simplicity of 
 the times and of the deference then paid to the judgment of the 
 clergy. On the twenty-third of June, 1693, John Gilman and 
 Biley Dudley were selected in behalf of the town "to go to the 
 neighboring ministers and take their advice for a meet person to 
 supply the otRce of the ministry iu the town of Exeter." 
 
 In less than three months the desired person was found, and 
 on the eighteenth of September, John Gilman, Peter Coffin and 
 Robert Wadleigh were appointed to "treat with Mr. John Clark, 
 and procure him to come to this town to be our minister." A 
 month later, it was voted to empower the same committee to 
 " agree with Rev. John Clark to be our minister, and what salary 
 they do agree with him for the first half year, the town do engage 
 to pay." 
 
 There is every reason to believe that Mr. Clark was at once 
 engaged, and that he performed satisfactorily his clerical functions 
 in Exeter during the stipulated six months : for at the end of that 
 period, on the twentieth of April, 1694, the town began to take 
 measures for securing a parsonage. 
 
 Peter Coffin, Robert Wadleigh and Richard Hilton were chosen 
 in behalf of the town to treat with and })uy from Captain John 
 Gilman, Moses Gilman, Sr., Humphrey Wilson, Samuel Leavitt, 
 John Folsom, Peter Folsom, Jonathan Thing and John Wadleigh, 
 "a certain house and land lying and being near unto the present 
 meeting-house, and to be improved by the town for the use and 
 benefit of the ministry of the town for the time being ; and what 
 they agree therefor, the town will pay by way of rate upon the 
 inhabitants, as the law directs ; and the connnittee is empowered 
 to finish the house and make it habitable for the minister forth- 
 with, and to repair the fences about the laud, and to inquire the 
 
 171 
 
172 TTTSTOKY OF FA'KTKK. 
 
 expense of redeeming the marsh at AVheelwvight's creek, common- 
 ly called the town marsh ; and whatever the committee judge to 
 be due for the premises to report to the selectmen, and they to 
 make rate for the same upon the inhabitants." 
 
 A later record, however, renders it unlikel}' that the authorized 
 purchase was ever made. The house referred to was situated near 
 " the present meeting-house ;" but it was soon after determined 
 to build a new place of worship, which the town located at quite 
 a distance from the former ; and in view of that contingency the 
 committee very probably thought the selection of a parsonage 
 were better postponed. 
 
 On the twenty-fifth of April, 160.'), the town gave authority to 
 the selectmen to make a " Katt (rate) for the use of the ministry 
 according to the province law." 
 
 A NEW MEETING-HOUSE. 
 
 In the following January the important question of erecting a 
 new house of worship was mooted ; and at a town meeting held 
 on the twentieth day of that month, after debate in the matter, 
 the major part of the freeholders of the town voted that there was 
 great need to build a meeting-house, "where the worship and 
 service of God may be performed, and that the same should be 
 erected on the hill between the great fort and Nat. Folsom's 
 barn." Peter Coffin, Samuel Leavitt and Moses Leavitt were 
 appointed building committee. 
 
 This location was upon the little elevation on which the First 
 church now stands. Old residents remember that there was for- 
 merly more of an ascent than now from the street to the church, 
 which has been diminished, perhaps, by the continual raising of 
 the grade of the road-bed and the sidewalk. 
 
 It was afterwards ordered that Captain Coffin should keep the 
 account of the inhabitants' labor upon the meeting-house, and 
 that men should have but three shillings a day for their work, and 
 lads what tlie committee should order. 
 
 Tlu! meeting-house was completed in due time, and was, of 
 course, mucli more spacious than the little building wliich it super- 
 seded. It stood, perhaps, a little nearer to the street than the 
 present First (lunch, and had doors at the east and west ends, the 
 pulpit on the north side, and stairs leading to a women's gallery 
 on the south side. Round the walls were erected the pews, the 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 173 
 
 privilege of which was purchased by the well-to-do worshippers, 
 and the middle space was probably occupied with benches. These 
 latter seats were public property, and were assigned to the mem- 
 bers of the congregation who had no pews, according to seniority 
 and social position, probably, by a committee chosen for the 
 purpose. 
 
 On the seventh of December, 1696, the new structure was so 
 far completed that the first assemblage of the town for business 
 purposes was held in it ; when Joseph Smith of Hampton and 
 John March of Greenland ( ?) were chosen to decide the contro- 
 versy among the inhabitants about "seating" the meeting-house, 
 that is, designating the seats to be occupied by the several families 
 and individuals of the congregation who had not pews. It was 
 a difficult and delicate task to give to every one just the place to 
 which he considered himself entitled, and the referees were author- 
 ized to select an umpire in case they could not agree. And in 
 order that they might have the assistance of persons acquainted 
 with the standing and claims of all the parties interested, the town 
 appointed Peter Coffin, Moses Leavitt, Theophilus Dudley and 
 William Moore, to meet the referees and " lay the case before 
 them," within sixteen da^'s. 
 
 But seating the meeting-house was apparently no easy matter, 
 for it was not until more than a year had passed that the business 
 was finally settled. At a town meeting held February 3, 1698, it 
 was voted that "the new meeting-house should be seated by the 
 committee now chosen, William Moore, John Smart, Biley Dud- 
 ley, Kinsley Hall, Samuel Leavitt and Moses Leavitt, and they 
 have full power to seat the people in their places, and to grant 
 places for pews to whom they seem meet ; and those men that 
 have places for pews shall sit in them with their families, and 
 ' not be seated nowhere else.' " 
 
 And on the same day the committee assigned places for pews 
 to the following persons : 
 
 To Kinsley Hall, his wife and five children, at the west door. 
 
 To Moses Leavitt and his family, at the left hand of said Hall's 
 pew. 
 
 To Edward Hilton, for himself and wife, and son Winthrop, and 
 his wife and two daughters, Mary and Sobriety, on the north side 
 of the meeting-liouse joining to the pulpit and jNIoses Leavitt's 
 pew. 
 
 To Richard Hilton, for himself, and wife and four children, liis 
 mother and sister Kebecca, on the north side of the meeting-house 
 joining to the parsonage pew. 
 
174 HISTORY OF EXKTER. 
 
 To Mv. [Iluniplirey] "Wilson and his wife, and his son Thomas, 
 and two (hiuixlitors, JNIartlia "Wilson and Mary, and Elizabeth 
 (Jiliunn, joining to Kicliard Hilton's pew on the east side of the 
 nieetinji-house. 
 
 To Nicholas Oilman and his wife, and John Gilman, and 
 Alice and Catharine Gilman, joining to Mr. "Wilson's pew and 
 the east door. 
 
 To Cajitain Robert Wadleigh and his wife, and his sou Jona- 
 than Wadleigh, at the south side of the meeting-house joining to 
 the women's stairs. 
 
 To Robert C'oilin and his wife, and Elizabeth Coffin, and the 
 widow Cotlin and her children, joining to Captain "Wadleigh's 
 pew. 
 
 To Jeremiah Oilman and his family, joining to the south door. 
 
 To Simou "Wiggin and his family, joining to Jeremiah Oilman's 
 pew. 
 
 In the meantime the new minister appears to have conducted in 
 his office in a most discreet and satisfactory fashion, so that on 
 November 4, 1697, the town gave him "one hundred acres of 
 land upon the neck, provided he lives in the town ten years after 
 this, and if he should die before the end of ten years, the land to 
 fall to his heii-s." It was also voted to add ten pounds to his 
 salary " if he take care of the parsonage [lands] and provide him- 
 self with wood." And on March 28, 1GU8, the town voted that 
 Mr. Clark ' ' be considered for what charge he be out upon the 
 hundred acres of land, provided he be drowf (drove?) away out 
 of town within seven years after the gTant." 
 
 On the twenty-sixth of August, lfi"J8, this definite arrangement 
 was made with Mr. Clark for his stipend : 
 
 "Whereas it was agreed with Rev. INIr. Clark that he should have 
 601. salary, but now voted that he shall have 101. more to find 
 him in firewood and keep the fences in i-epair, being 70 1. in all, 
 together with use of parsonage lands and meadows. 
 
 And at the same time : 
 
 Voted, That a church be gathered, and INIr. Clark ordained Sep- 
 tember 21, and a day of humiliation be held the 7 day of same 
 iiionlli, and Cnptain Peter Collin, Captain [Kinsley] Hall and 
 Tlieupliilus Dudley were chosen to make provision for same. 
 
 nE-ORGANlZATION OF TIIK CHURCII. 
 
 Accordingly, on the day fixed, the young minister duly received 
 ordination at the hands of sevenil neighboring clergymen, and 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 175 
 
 was placed in charge of the church, which had been re-organized 
 on the Sunday preceding, when a covenant and confession of faitli 
 were subscribed by the following members : 
 
 John Clark, pastor Peter Coffin 
 
 John Oilman "William Moore 
 
 Thomas Wiggin Kinsley Hall. 
 
 Nicholas Oilman Richard Olidden 
 
 Theophilus Dudley Elizabeth Oilman 
 
 Samuel Leavitt Ehzabeth Clark 
 
 Byley Dudley Judith Wilson 
 
 Moses Leavitt Margaret Bean 
 
 John Folsom Sarah Dudley 
 
 Henry "Wadleigh Deborah Sinkler 
 
 Jonathan Robinson Deborah Coffin 
 
 Thomas Dudley Sarah Sewell 
 
 John Scrivener Mehitabel Smith 
 
 There must have been an understanding that the town was also 
 to furnish a habitation for the minister, which had not been com- 
 plied with, since on the first of May, 1699, it was voted to pay Mr. 
 Clark one hundred pounds, in consideration that he relinquished 
 his claim for a parsonage house during his life. 
 
 The new church Avas not considered quite complete without 
 some means of calling the congregation together, and on the fifth 
 of September, 1G99, it was voted that a bell should be bought of 
 Mr. Coffin for the use of the town, and Henry "^Vadleigh and 
 Samuel Thing were appointed to agree with him for it, and get it 
 hung. From that time to the present, now nearly two hundred 
 years, the summons to the inhabitants to assemble for public wor- 
 ship on Sundays, and the proclamation of mid-day and of nine 
 o'clock at night on every day of the j'ear, have been rung out from 
 the towers of the successive meeting-houses of the First church. 
 
 The estimation in which Mr. Clark continued to be held by his 
 people, is shown by a vote of the town, passed the first ^Monday 
 of April, 1704, that his rate be made distinct by itself, and that a 
 contribution be forthwith set up for him. The "contribution" is 
 understood to mean a box for the offerings of casual attendants at 
 church. Such gifts were termed "strangers' money," and the 
 purpose of the town was to appropriate them to the benefit of the 
 pastor. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the town, on the first ^Monday of 
 April, 1705, it was decided that the old meeting-house should be 
 
170 HISTUHY OF EXKTER. 
 
 sold by the selectmen, anil a school-house built at the town's 
 charge, and set below Jonathan Thing's house next the river. 
 
 DEATH OF MU. CLARK. 
 
 But on July 25, 1705, the connection so happih' formed between 
 the town and its minister was dissolved by his death, at the early 
 age of tliirty-live. Mr. Clark was a son of Nathaniel and Eliza- 
 beth (Somersby) Clark of Newbury, Massachusetts, and was bora 
 January 24, 1670. He graduated from Harvard College at the age 
 of twenty, and married P21izabeth, daughter of the Rev. Benjamin 
 Woodbridge of Medford, Massachusetts. Mrs. Clark's grand- 
 mother Avas a sister of the Rev. Samuel Dudley, and Mr. Clark's 
 widow married the Rev. John Odlin, and was the mother of the 
 Rev. Woodbridge Odlin, both of Exeter ; so that the settled 
 clergymen of the town from 1()50 to 177G, more than a century 
 and a quarter, were counectcnl by the ties of blood or marriage. 
 
 Mr. Clark left four children, and an estate appraised at about 
 a thousand pounds, of wliich his "library of books" was A-alued 
 at twenty pounds. He was a man of piety and much usefulness, 
 and had evidently attached his people to him in an extraordinary 
 degree. They paid to his widow the full amount of his salary, 
 and erected a tomb over his remains at the expense of the town, 
 and made repau's upon it, twenty years afterwards. His body 
 reposes in the yard of the First church, and over it were inscribed 
 these lines : 
 
 A prophet lies under this stone, 
 
 His words shall live, tho' he be gone, 
 
 "When preachers die what rules the pulpit gave 
 
 Of living, are still preached from the grave. 
 
 The faith and life which your dear Pastor taught 
 
 Now in the grave with him, sirs, bury not. 
 
 On the first of August, 1705, tlie town took the primary' steps 
 for finding a successor to the Rev. Mr. Clark, by appointing Peter 
 Coffin, Samuel Leavitt and Moses Leavitt to " take care of the 
 ministers who come to preach, till a day of humiliation, which was 
 fixed for the last day of August, and to take advice of said minis- 
 ters or of any whom they see good, where the town may be 
 supplied with a minister suitable for the town." 
 
 On the third of Septeinl)er, Samuel Leavitt, Moses Leavitt, 
 Theophilus Dudley, Simon Wiggiu, Richard Hilton and Jonathan 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 i i 
 
 Thing were chosen a committee to provide preacliing for three 
 months ; and Nicholas Gilman and Jonatlian Thing, to " give Mr. 
 Adams, Mr. Whiting or Mr. Cnrwin ( ?) a call to carry on the 
 work of the ministry among us ;" their time and expenses to be 
 paid by the town. 
 
 On the twelfth of November, 1705, Peter Coffin, Samuel Leavitt 
 and Moses Leavitt were appointed a committee to call a minister, 
 in order to a full settlement, if the town and said minister agree ; 
 and at a town meeting on the first Monday of April, 1706, it was 
 voted to give Mr. [John] Odlin a call "to carry on the work 
 of the ministry in this town, and that tlie following persons be 
 empowered to make full agreement with Mr. Odlin about salary 
 and other things needful, viz. : Peter Coffin, Wintlu'op Hilton, 
 Theophilus Dudley, Richard Hilton, Samuel Leavitt, INIoses 
 Leavitt, Simon Wiggin, David Lawrence, Theophilus Smith and 
 Samuel Thing." 
 
 ENGAGEMENT OF MR. JOHN ODLIN. 
 
 The committee agreed with Mr. Odlin that he sliould receive 
 seventy pounds a year salary, with the use of the parsonage lands 
 and meadow, and the "strangers' contribution money," and two 
 hundi-ed acres of land on the commons, and one hundred pounds 
 besides, in three payments within one year ; also five pounds 
 yearly for wood, " if the town see it convenient." And on the 
 next annual meeting on the first Monda}' of April, 1707, it was 
 voted that "the contribution be set up, and begin next Sabbath, 
 and the inhabitants to paper tlieir monej's with their names upon 
 the paper ; and they that don't paper, it sliall be accounted 
 strangers' money." 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Odlin was ordained over the society on the 
 twelfth of November, 1706, being tlien in the twenty- fourth year 
 of his age. As he had on the twenty-first of the preceding Octo- 
 ber married Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, the widow of his predecessor, 
 it is prol)able that he had preached in Exeter for some time before. 
 For some years after his settlement, very little appears upon the 
 records in relation to parochial affairs ; evidence that minister and 
 people were well satisfied with one another. 
 
 At the annual town meeting in 1711, it was determined that the 
 minister's rate be made single l)y itself, for time to come ; and in 
 171o ten pounds were added to Mr. Odlin's salary, makhig it 
 
 12 
 
178 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 eighty pounds a year. A<i,tun in 1718 the town voted another 
 increase of ten pounds to Mr. Odlin's sahiry, and the selectmen 
 were enipo%Yered to make a rate for the same. There -were two 
 very good reasons for these increments of saL'iry ; first, the 
 euhirgoment of the minister's family by the birth of four or five 
 children, and second, the introduction of paper cui'rency, which 
 raised the prices of the necessaries of life. The latter cause went 
 on increasing, as we shall see later, for a generation and more. 
 
 In 1720 the town voted to add still another ten pounds to Mr. 
 Odlin's salary ; in 1722 to make the minister's rate by itself, to be 
 paid in cash, and that the selectmen raise money to repair the 
 meeting-house, what is necessary; and in 1725 voted another 
 increase of twenty pounds to the salary. 
 
 PARISH OF NEWMARKET SET OFF. 
 
 Up to the year 1727 the whole township of Exeter was a single 
 parish. Its dimensions, if it had been a perfect square, would 
 have been more than nine miles on ever}' side. The labors of tlie 
 minister, in performing his pastoral duties throughout such an 
 extent of territor}', must have been extremely arduous ; while the 
 scattered inhabitants in the more distant parts of the town were 
 often deprived of the privilege of attending religious worship. It 
 is not strange, therefore, that the little communities of outlying 
 inhabitants, as soon as the}' were strong enough to maintain min- 
 isters for themselves, desired to be cut loose from the mother 
 parish. Rut as the law then stood, all residents in a town were 
 liable to taxation to support the established ministry in it, unless 
 they were released from the obligation by the consent of a majority 
 of the inhabitants, or by a legislative enactment. 
 
 The first part of old Exeter to ask a separation for parochial 
 purposes, was the nortlieastern quarter, the territory which now 
 constitutes in the main. Ilic towns of Newmarket and South New- 
 market. A i)ctitiou for that object, subscribed by upwards of 
 thirty of the residents of that section, was in the early part of the 
 year 1727 presented to the selectmen; and at a meeting of the 
 town held on the ninth of October, 1727, it was 
 
 Voted, That the petitioners of the north part of the town (being 
 more than .'50 in uuniljcr) shall be set olf to be a parish by them- 
 selves, and l)ounded as follows : beginning at the south side of 
 Major Nicholas Oilman's farm, next to the town, begiiniing at the 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 179 
 
 salt river and from thence to run a cross northwest line 4 miles 
 into the woods, and from thence to run a north and by east line 
 while it comes to Dover liae, and so bounding upon Dover line 
 east and by north to the extent of the town's bounds, and so 
 bounding upon the salt water to the bounds first mentioned ; pro- 
 vided that the above said parish do settle an orthodox minister and 
 do pay the minister themselves at their own charge, that then the 
 said new parish shall be excused from paying to the ministry of 
 the old parish. 
 
 The new parish, which received the name of Newmarket, was 
 incorporated December 15, 1727. But apparently it was not till 
 more than five years afterwards, that it was fully emancipated 
 from its obligations to pay taxes to Exeter for municipal purposes. 
 
 A NEW MEETING-HOUSE. 
 
 In 1728, November 16, at a meeting of the "First parish in Exe- 
 ter," a vote was passed that a new meeting-house should be built 
 and set on ' ' some part of that land which the present meeting- 
 house standeth on, which land the town purchased of Captain 
 Peter Coffin for that use." 
 
 This resolution was probably rendered necessary by the increase 
 of population consequent on the termination of the Indian wars. 
 Men had now ceased to carry their guns with them to church, and 
 the tide of immigration into the frontier settlements had resumed 
 its normal flow. 
 
 But the early meeting-houses were of slow growth, and it was 
 nearly a year later before the next step was taken. On the eighth 
 of October, 1729, it was voted that the proposed meeting-house 
 should be sixty feet long and forty-five feet wide, and have two 
 tiers of galleries. And at an adjourned meeting, 
 
 Voted, That the meeting-house to be built shall stand near our 
 present meeting-house whore our committee shall order ; shall be 
 built and finished as soon as may be with economy within two 
 years ; tliat there be as many pews built therein as may be with 
 conveniency, and sold by the committee to those that will pay 
 down the money for them for paying for the building of the house ; 
 that the counnittee shall be allowed nothing for their trouble and 
 charge until the house be finished, and then no more than wliat 
 sliall be allowed them by a committee of three men chosen by the 
 inliabitants to examine their accounts. Major John (Jilman, 
 Jonathan Wadleigh, Nicholas Gordon, Bartholomew Thing and 
 John Robinson were chosen committee to carry on the work. 
 
180 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 On the next annual meeting of the town March 30, 1730, it was 
 
 Voiedy That those inhabitants of the First parish who are 
 desirous of having a steeple to the meeting-house now a-buikling, 
 shall have liberty to build and join a steeple to the said house, 
 l)rovided it be built wholly by subscription and no charge to the 
 town. 
 
 The meeting-house was raised July 7 and 8, 1730, and com- 
 pleted, witli due economy no doubt, within the stii)ulatetl period 
 of two years, so that it was occupied on Thanksgiving day, 
 August '2S, 1731. John Folsoiu is said to have been the master 
 workman. The dimensions of the building were fixed by vote of 
 the town. It had two galleries and a broad aisle running up to 
 the pulpit, on each side of which were benches for those of the 
 congregation who did not own pews. They were assigned seats 
 by a committee, who took into consideration their several ages, 
 iulirmitics and social standing. The pews were generally situated 
 around the sides of the house, and appear to have been thirty -two 
 in number, besides ten in the lower gallery. In March and April, 
 1731, the pews on the main floor were sold, and were purchased 
 at the prices and by the persons named below : 
 
 No. 14 to Maj. Nicholas Gilman for £21. 
 
 24 Capt. Theophilus Smith 16. 
 15 Lieut. Bai'tholomew Thing 21, 
 
 20 Dr. Thomas Dean 15. 
 
 30 Capt. Eliphalet Coffin 18.10 
 19 Capt. Peter Gilman 13.10 
 
 31 Dea. Thomas "Wilson 13. 
 1)5 .Tonathan Gilman 23. 
 10 Xatlianiel Webster 11. 
 
 21 Francis Bowden 12. 
 12 Samuel (\mner 20. 
 
 32 Edward Ladd 17. 
 
 22 Capt. .Tonathan Wadloi<j:h 15. 
 
 25 Capt. James Leavitt 16. 
 
 23 Lieut. John Robinson 20. 
 
 5 Benjamin Thin-; 12.10 
 
 4 Nathaniel bartlett IB.IO 
 
 9 Samuel (iilman 13. 
 
 IS Daniel (Jilman 13.5 
 
 G Dea. John Lord 12.15 
 
 1() Natlianiel Gilman 17. 
 
 8 Mrs. Hannah Hall 13.5 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 181 
 
 No. 
 
 3 
 
 to Ezekiel Oilman for 
 
 £20. 
 
 29 
 
 Caleb Gilman 
 
 17. 
 
 27 
 
 Thomas Webster 
 
 17. 
 
 11 
 
 Capt. John Gilman, Jr. 
 
 21. 
 
 28 
 
 Jeremiah Conner 
 
 20.10 
 
 7 
 
 Col. John Gilman 
 
 13.U 
 
 2 
 
 Jonathan Conner 
 
 21.15 
 
 1 
 
 Mr. John OcUin 
 
 15. 
 
 17 
 
 Col. John Gilman 
 
 12.13 
 
 And on the seventh of November, 1731, the following sales 
 were made of pews in the lower gallery : 
 
 No. 
 
 9 
 
 to Col. John Gilman for 
 
 £ 10. 
 
 1 
 
 Nicholas Gordon 
 
 12.5 
 
 5 
 
 Bartholomew Thing 
 
 10.5 
 
 6 
 
 Jeremiah Conner 
 
 10.5 
 
 7 
 
 Eichai'd Smith 
 
 13. 
 
 8 
 
 Daniel Thing 
 
 11. 
 
 4 
 
 Philip Conner 
 
 11. 
 
 10 
 
 Joseph Thing 
 
 10. 
 
 3 
 
 Nathaniel Webster 
 
 12. 
 
 2 
 
 William Doran 
 
 12. 
 
 Agreeably to permission given b}' tlie town a high steeple was 
 erected npon the structnre at the west end thereof, at the charge 
 of a number of public-spirited citizens, who afterwards, on April 
 4, 1639, transferred the ownership thereof to the town on the 
 re-payment of the cost, about one hundred and fifteen pounds. 
 Peter Gilman and Nathaniel Gilman were the building committee 
 of the steeple, and the contributors thereto were 
 
 John Gilman Daniel Gilman 
 
 Nicholas Gilman William Lampson 
 
 Nicholas Gilman, Jr. Abraham Folsom 
 
 Peter Cotfin E])hraim Philbrick 
 
 Samuel Gilman Jonathan Gilman, Jr. 
 
 Francis James Jonathan Folsom 
 
 Dudley James Robert Light 
 
 Cartee Gilman Thomas Webster 
 
 Joseph Thing . Moses Swett 
 
 Nicholas Gordon John Lord 
 
 John Leavitt Benjamin Thing 
 
 TheophiluR Smith Daniel Thing 
 
 Thomas Dean Josiah CJilman 
 
 Nathaniel Ladd Henry Marshall 
 
182 IIISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 John Folsom Josiali Ladd 
 
 Oliver Smith Joshua Gihiian 
 
 lienjamin Folsom Abner Thurston 
 
 Jeremiah Calfc, Jr. Peter Oilman 
 
 Kinsley James Nathaniel Oilman 
 
 John l?aird • 
 
 This steeple stood till 1775, when it was blown clown in a heavy 
 gale, and afterwards was rebuilt at the expense of the town. 
 
 On the twenty-eighth of September, 1731, the town voted to 
 take down the old meeting-house, which had been left standing 
 while the new one was built beside it, as soon as it could be done 
 with convenience, and to construct a court-house with the materials 
 thereof, and appointed Theophilus Smith, Benjamin Thing and 
 Jeremiah Conner a committee to " discourse with workmen" about 
 taking down the one and putting up the other, and make report. 
 
 The expected occasion for a court-house proving illusory, the 
 materials taken from the old meeting-house were used in building 
 a town-house, which was located on the opposite side of the street, 
 near the site of the present Gorham Hall. 
 
 Those Avho are conversant with the construction of the early 
 churches in this country, are aware in what a high box of a pulpit 
 the minister used to be perched. It must have been hard for him 
 to establish an}' link of sympath}' with hearers so far away. And 
 it seems that some of the people of Exeter realized this truth, and 
 wished to diminish the distance between people and pastor. On 
 March 26, 1733, the town voted that "any particular person or 
 persons that are desirous of having the pulpit loAvered, have liberty 
 to lower it eighteen inches, provided they do it at their own 
 charge, and leave it in as good order as it now is." 
 
 As early as 1735, the dwellers in the western part of the town, 
 who were now becoming somewhat numerous, and were at an 
 inconvenient distance from the meeting-house, made petition to the 
 town for help to support a minister among themselves. But the 
 town declined the request, probably on the ground that the inhabi- 
 tants of that section were not yet strong enough to set up :i 
 religious establishment of their own. It will appear, however, that 
 the petitioners were persistent, and eventually succeeded in creat- 
 ing not only one, but two new parishes in that territory. 
 
 The value of the i)aper currency had declined in IToG to such an 
 extent that, on the twenty-ninth of March of that 3'ear, the town 
 voted an addition of lifty pounds a year, for five years next 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 183 
 
 ensuing, to Mr. Odliu's salary of one hundred and fifty pounds, 
 payable in good public bills of credit on either of the provinces, 
 " he acquitting all further claims for the time past." 
 
 In 1737 the town books show that an hour-glass was purchased, 
 at the cost of four shillings and six pence. This, undoubtedly, 
 was to be placed upon the pulpit, not as an admonition of brevity 
 to the preacher, but simply to serve the purpose of a clock. 
 
 In 1737 forty-two of the inhabitants of the southwestern part of 
 the town petitioned the selectmen to call a town meeting, to con- 
 sider their request to be set off as a separate parish, with the 
 following bounds, viz. : " Beginning at old Pickpocket upper saw- 
 mill, and from thence running south to Kingston line, thence west 
 and by north by Kingston line four miles ; thence north four miles ; 
 thence easterly to Newmarket, southwest corner bounds ; and so 
 bounding by Newmarket south bounds so far till a south line will 
 strike Pickpocket mill, and then to run from Newmarket line south 
 to said mill, the bound first mentioned." These bounds are very 
 nearly those of Brentwood, as it was afterwards incorporated. 
 
 But the town was not yet prepared to consent to the separation, 
 and at the meeting held on November 14, 1738, voted not to grant 
 the request of the inhabitants of the west end of the town for a 
 new parish. 
 
 At the annual town meeting, the twenty-sixth of March, 1739, 
 a, vote was passed to pay the cost of the steeple to the contributors 
 to the erection thereof, as has already been stated, and the select- 
 men were instructed to hang the bell therein. This was probably 
 a new bell, bought by individual subscriptions. For two or three 
 years previously the subject of the purchase of a new bell, to be 
 placed in the steeple of the church, had been pending, and the 
 town repeatedly refused to make the order. In the meanwhile, 
 however, the people were not witliout the means to call them to 
 public worship, and to give them the hour for retiring at night. 
 The bell Avhich had been purchased of Peter Coffin in IGO'J was 
 still in the steeple of the old church, and, after the demolition of 
 that building, was hung upon the town-house, no doubt, as the old 
 account books show that it continued to be regularly rung, ^'ery 
 likely the reason for the refusal to procure a bell for the new meet- 
 ing-house was, that the steeple was not the town's property ; for, 
 as soon as it became so, all o])jeotion seems to have ended. It is 
 said that the old bell of 1G9'J was afterwards removed to Pick- 
 pocket, and long did duty upon the factory there in calling the 
 operatives to their work. 
 
184 HISTORY OF EXETEK. 
 
 i;iMMN(; TAIMSII SKT OFF. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the town, on the tliirtieth of March, 
 1711, the petition of a number of the inhabitants "living at 
 'I'ufkaway or thereabouts," praying that the town wouhl set them 
 olT as a parish by themselves, was presented, and by vote of the 
 town was denied. 
 
 These were residents of the northwestern part of the town ; and 
 they did not sit down contented with the refusal, but williin the 
 succeeding year presented tlirir petition to tlie General Assembly 
 of the province, by which, after a notice to Exeter and a hearing 
 thereon, it was granted, February 3, 1742. The bounds of this 
 l)arish, which received the name of Epping, and was soon after- 
 wards, on the twenty-third day of the same month, incori)orated as 
 a town under the same designation, were as follows, viz. : 
 " Beginning at Durham line at the northwest corner of the i)arish 
 of Newmarket, and from thence bounding on the head line of said 
 Newmarket to the southwest corner of the same, and from thence 
 to run south about twentj^-nine degrees west i)arallel with the head 
 line of the town of Exeter, extending to half the breadth of the 
 township of P^xeter from Durham line aforesaid, and from thence 
 to run west and by north to the middle of the head line of the 
 town of Exeter, and from thence to bound upon Chester and 
 Nottingham to the northwest corner of Exeter, and from thence 
 bounding east and by south on Nottingham and Durham to the 
 first bounds." 
 
 IJUEXTWOOI) I'AKISII SET OFF. 
 
 A petition of some of the inhabitants of the southwestern part 
 of the town, that they should be set olt' as a separate parish, was 
 presented about the same time, and the town, at a special meeting, 
 on the twenty-second of February, 1742, voted to grant the 
 petition, and that "the ])etitiouers have set off to tluni and 
 their successors one-half tlie breadth of the land in said town 
 lying at the westerly end thereof, for a parish, bounded as follows, 
 viz. : beginning at the head of Newmarket line, thence running on 
 a south line to Exeter great fresh river, and then one-half mile 
 by said river, and then south to Kingston line, and so to tlic head 
 or' the townsliip ; [)rovided tiiat the abovesaid parish do settle an 
 orthodox minister of Christ, and maintain and support the same, 
 and all other parish charges within the same, of themselves." 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 185 
 
 This vote received the sanction of the General Assembly, and 
 the parish of Brentwood was incorporated Jnne 2G, 1742. 
 
 Thus the original territory of the town was now divided into 
 four distinct parishes : the northeastern quarter being Newmarket ; 
 the northwestern, Epping ; the southwestern, Brentwood, and the 
 southeastern retaining the primary designation of Exeter. These 
 were of nearly equal areas, except Brentwood, which was somewhat 
 larger than the others.* 
 
 Scarcely had these difficulties with the outlying sections of the 
 town been adjusted, when a more serious trouble arose in the very 
 heart of the place. This was about the time of the gi-eat religious 
 awakening in New England, when the influence of AVhite field, 
 preaching a new gospel of enthusiasm, was felt more or less in all 
 the churches. His followers were the " new lights," but the 
 more conservative religionists set their faces like a flint against his 
 methods. The members of the First parish in J2xeter were divided 
 in their preferences. Mr. Odlin, their minister, was a conser- 
 vative, as were a majority of his congregation. But a considerable 
 minority of them held different views. Mr. Odlin was getting in 
 years, and somewhat infirm, and was desirous of having his son 
 Woodbridge settled with him, as his colleague. Nearly two-thirds 
 of his parish were of the same mind. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the town, on the twent^'^-eiglith of 
 March, 1743, upon an article in the warrant, inserted on the peti- 
 tion of seventy-one of the inhabitants, it was voted that Nicholas 
 Oilman, Thomas Wilson, Benjamin Thing, James Leavitt, Stephen 
 Lyford, James Gilman and Nicholas Ferryman be a committee to 
 treat and agree with the Rev. Woodbridge Odlin, relating to 
 settling as a colleague with his father, with power to complete an 
 arrangement with him. 
 
 From this vote forty-four of the inhabitants entered their written 
 dissent. It is not understood that there was any personal excep- 
 tion to the younger Mr. Odlin ; tlie sole objection was to his 
 religious views and position. The dissentients seceded from the 
 church and society, and established a religious organization of 
 their own, the history of which will be found under its appropriate 
 head. 
 
 REV. WOODUmDGE ODLIN, COLLEAGUE. 
 
 On June 21, 1743, the committee comnuniicated to the l?ev. 
 Woodbridge Odlin the invitation of the majority of the toAvu to 
 
 •The town of PopHu (now called Fremont) was set ofT from Rrentwooti June 22, 
 1764; and the town uf South Newmarket from Newmarket June 27, lb4'J. 
 
186 HISTORY OF EXKTER. 
 
 settle over them as colle.acjuo with his father, upon the salary of £37 
 10s., lawful money, also £')() yearly for the first four years of his 
 settlement : and after his father's death, £65 annuall}', and the use 
 of the parsonage. He on the same day accepted the invitation ; 
 and the committee at once made an agreement with the Rev. John 
 Odlin tliat his salary should be reduced to £50 a year, with the 
 improvement of the parsonage. 
 
 The Kev. Woodbridge Odlin was, on the twenty-eighth of 
 September, 1743, ordained as colleague, accordingly. 
 
 The seceders froui the congregation maintained separate religious 
 worship at their own expense ; but according to the law of the time, 
 they were not exonerated thereby from paying taxes to support 
 the Messrs. Odlin. They made repeated attempts, as will be seen, 
 by petition to the town and to the proAincial government, to be 
 relieved from this burden, but for near twelve years in vain. The 
 bitter feeling that had been aroused by their opposition to the party 
 of the jNIessrs. Odlin, and their rather unceremonious departure, 
 forbade all hopes of harmony between the antagonistic elements. 
 
 On the twenty-sixth of March, 1744, the town voted not to 
 o-rant the petition of Samuel Oilman and others, to be exempted 
 from paying to the stated ministry, or having a reasonable sum 
 allowed them annually by the town toward the support of a gospel 
 minister among themselves. 
 
 Thereupon the petitioners made application on the eighteenth of 
 July following, to the General Assembly of the province, for 
 relief from taxation, for the support of the ministry of the town, 
 provided they should maintain a minister themselves. On July 24, 
 the town appointed Nicholas Ferryman, James Oilman and Zebulon 
 Giddinge a committee to oppose the petition. After repeated 
 written statements and counter-statements Ijy the parties, the 
 General Assembly thought pro])er to do nothing in the premises. 
 
 It Avas during this year that the Rev. John OiUin, learning that 
 the Rev. George Whitelield was coming to Exeter, with the inten- 
 tion of in-eaching there, met him on the border of the town, and 
 solemnly adjured him not to trespass upon his parochial charge. 
 
 On the ninth of Ai)ril, 1748, the mischievous effects of i)aper 
 currency were again shown, by the necessity of an addition of £200 
 old tenor to tiie Rev. Mr. Odlin's salary for the year, and on the 
 twenty-seventh of March, 174'J, by a furtlier increase of £100 old 
 tenor, for that year, provided he wouUl give an acquittance for all 
 arrearages. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 187 
 
 The secediug society had again preferred their petition to be 
 exempted from taxation for religious services, by which they did 
 not profit, but the town again voted to "do nothing about the 
 petition of a number of the society of the new meeting-house." 
 
 On the eighteenth of June, 1750, the town voted to pay the 
 Rev. John Odliu £600 old tenor for the year, provided he would, 
 at the end thereof, give a receipt for all arrearages ; and to add 
 to the Rev. Woodbridge Odlin's salary £350 old tenor for the 
 year, on like conditions. And the town again refused "to allow 
 the petition of those in the new meeting-house." 
 
 On the thktieth of March, 1752, the petition of "those worship- 
 ping in the new meeting-house" was again brought before the 
 town, and again denied. 
 
 The Rev. John Odlin died November 20, 1754. He was born 
 in Boston, Massachusetts, November 18, 1681; graduated from 
 Harvard College in 1702, and ministered to the people of P^xeter 
 for forty-eight years. He was twice married ; first to Mrs. Eliza- 
 beth (Woodbridge) Clark October 21, 1706, by whom he had five 
 children, and who died December 6, 1729 ; and second, to Mrs. 
 Elizabeth (Leavitt) Briscoe, widow of Captain Robert Briscoe. 
 Mr. Odlin, though somewhat unyielding in his opinions, was a 
 faithful and zealous pastor, and he lived in a time of strong relig- 
 ious excitement and division. He chose the conservative rather 
 than the progressive side, and was supported by tlie majority of 
 his people. But it must have been a bitter trial to him to see so 
 large a portion of his church and parish alienated from him. He 
 was persevering and conscientious, however, and retained the 
 affection and respect of his followers to the last, as is evidenced 
 by their vote on the twenty-first of November, 1754, to raise £100 
 new tenor, for defraying his funeral charges. 
 
 He is represented as a man of excellent powers of mind. He 
 presided over the convention of ministers whicli assembled in 
 1747, and was made chairman of one of its most important 
 committees. A sermon which he preached in 1742 was iJiinted 
 by the agency of the Rev. Mather Byles of Boston, who wrote a 
 preface to it which contained this commendatory allusion to the 
 author : 
 
 It is with no small pleasure that in this precarious season I see 
 such a liannony among the ministers of superior reputation among 
 us, and esi)eeiully tliat our living fathers in the ministry are so 
 united, who saw our temple so nuich iu its first glory. 
 
188 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 At length, the continual efforts of tlic members of the new 
 societ}' acconipli.she 1 their purpose of indeiiendent existence. On 
 the eighth of April, 175."), sixty-two members of that society pre- 
 sented their petition to the General Assembly, that they and their 
 associates might be freed from paying taxes for the support of 
 the ministry in the old meeting-house, for the future, and be 
 incorporated as a parish. The town appointed Peter Gilmau and 
 Zebulon Giddinge agents to resist the petition. Peter Gilman was 
 a leading member of the assembly, and also the princii)al peti- 
 tioner. It would appear, therefore, that the majority of the town 
 had extraordinary confidence in his obedience, in expecting him 
 to oppose his own petition, or that their feelings had become mol- 
 lified towards the petitioners, and they no longer expected to 
 compel them to contribute to the support of Mr. Odlin. At all 
 events, the petition was successful, and the petitioners were, on 
 the ninth day of September, 17.").'), incorporated as the Second 
 parish in Exeter ; and for the future, any new comer in the town, 
 or any person arriving at full age, was to "have the liberty of 
 three months to determine to which parish such person will 
 belong." 
 
 Thereafter, the warrants for the annual meetings of the suj)- 
 porters of the First church in Exeter were for many years addressed 
 to " all the inlial)itants of the town exclusive of all the parishes ;" 
 meaning all the inhal)itants who were not included in Newmarket, 
 Epping, Brentwood and the Second parish in Exeter. 
 
 On the twenty-ninth of March, 17(32, at a meeting of the 
 society so warned, it was voted that a new bell be purchased, of 
 eight hundred pounds weight ; and on the thirteenth of December, 
 following, that "the meeting-house be repaired, the repairs to be 
 new glazing with sash glass, shingling, and clapboarding on the 
 fore side and east end, and that it be painted according to custom ;* 
 and that the bell be for the town's use." On the twentieth of 
 March, 1764, it was voted " to use the part of the money divided 
 to this parish by the town from the sale of wharf lots, to pay for 
 the bell." 
 
 The succeeding years were a transition period from the most 
 indatcd i)aper currency to hard money. In April, 17G5, Mr. 
 Odlin's salary received an addition of i'700 old ti.'iu)V ; in April, 
 
 * The custom at that tlino was to paint only the doors and window-frames, and 
 the ttnish anmnd them. It is doubtful if there was then a house in the town which 
 was complftely painted. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 189 
 
 17C6, au addition of £400 old tenor; and in 1707 his entire 
 salary was fixed at £100 lawful money. Old tenor had become a 
 thing of the past, and a specie basis had been reached. 
 
 Mr. Odlin continued to minister to his people through the 
 troublous period which preceded the Revolution, and was a warm 
 supporter of the rights of his countrymen. The pulpit at that day 
 was a chief advocate of American liberty, and in both the religious 
 societies of Exeter its utterances were of no uncertain sound. 
 Mr. Odlin died the tenth of March, 1776. His parish manifested 
 their regard for his memory by the payment of the expenses of 
 his funeral and a gift of twenty-five pounds to his widow. 
 
 He was born April 28, 1718, and graduated from Harvard Col- 
 lege at the age of twenty. He married, October 23, 1755, Abigail, 
 the widow of the Rev. Job Strong of Portsmouth, and the 
 daughter of Colonel Peter Oilman of Exeter, by whom he had 
 eight children. 
 
 He is described as a very pious man ; his preaching was practi- 
 cal ; his manners were plain and modest. There was an unaffected 
 simplicity in all he said or did. He has also been termed a 
 " perfect gentleman," no doubt rather in reference to his qualities 
 of character than to his external appearance or manners. 
 
 In July following the decease of Mr. Odlin, the society gave a 
 call to the Rev. Isaac Mansfield to become their pastor, who was 
 accordingly ordained over them October 9, 1776. 
 
 In the year 1778, Mr. John Rice, a member of the society, died, 
 giving to the parish, by his will, the house on Centre street, which 
 is now the parsonage, and certain lands on the little river, "to be 
 appropriated to the support of a minister so long as the parish 
 shall continue, and constantly support a regular learned minister 
 or ministers," but in case of failure thereof, to be appropriated 
 for the benefit of a grammar school in Exeter forever. The devise 
 was to take effect upon the decease of his wife. She died live 
 years afterward, and by her will gave certain house lots and a 
 wharf to the parish, on the same conditions specified in the will of 
 her husband. 
 
 After Mr. ^Mansfield had been in Exeter about ten 3'ears, there 
 was a disposition manifested by both parishes to reunite. Reso- 
 lutions were adopted by each, expressing such a desire. But it 
 was found that they could not come together under the ministry 
 of Mr. Mansfield, who had, by some imprudent speeches and 
 actions, lost, to some extent, the attachment of his people. An 
 
190 IIISTOHY OF EXETER. 
 
 arrangement was therefore made between liim and liis society the 
 following year, that if a majority of the parish were in favor of his 
 dismissal, he would request it at the hands of a council. That 
 c(^urse was taken, and his connection with the society was dissolved 
 September 18, 1787. 
 
 jMr. ]Manslield was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, in the 
 year 1750, and graduated from Harvard College in 1767. He had 
 served as a chaplain in the continental army about Boston, before 
 he came to Exeter. He remained in the town awhile, after his 
 dismissal, and taught a school. Afterwards, he returned to his 
 native jilace, Avhere he became a magistrate. He died in Boston, 
 at the age of seventy-six years. 
 
 After Mr. Mansfield surrendered the pastoral charge, the two 
 societies, for two years and more, united in supporting public 
 worship, and in 1788, jointl}' invited the Kev. David Tappan of 
 Newbury, jMassachusetts, to settle over them. It happened, un- 
 fortunately, that the call was not unanimous and on that account 
 was not accepted. The two societies did not agree in another 
 choice, and the first society, in 1790, invited the Rev. William F. 
 Rowland to the pastoral office, and he was ordained over them the 
 second of June in that year. Eight years afterwards, a new 
 church building was erected, which is still in use by the society, 
 though its interior was altered and modernized in 1838. The ex- 
 terior was fortunately unchanged. Its style and proportions have 
 been much admired, and it is undoubtedly a fine specimen of the 
 architecture of the period. Ebenezer Clifford of Exeter is under- 
 stood to have designed it. 
 
 For thirty-eight years Mr. Rowland continued to minister to the 
 people, during which time he witnessed the substantial extinction 
 of the church of the other society, and the growth of a new church 
 rising from its ashes ; and a very considerable increase in the 
 population and wealth of the town. He was dismissed at his own 
 ri'(iuest December o, 1828, and continued to live in Exeter until 
 his death, June 10, 1843. 
 
 Mr. Rowland was born in Plainfield, Connecticut, May 26, 1761. 
 He was a graduate of Dartmouth College in the class of 1784. 
 He was twice married ; first, to Sally, daughter of Colonel Eli- 
 phalet Ladd of Portsmouth, July 30, 1793 ; and second, to Ann, 
 daughter of Cohmel Eliphalet (tiddinge of Exeter, August 29, 
 1802. He left one son and two daughters, who all died unmarried. 
 Mr. Rowland was honored in a way that no other New Hampshire 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 191 
 
 clergyman has been, — he was twice appohited to deliver election 
 sermons, in 1796 and in 1809, both of which were published. 
 
 His successor in the pastorate was the llev. John Smith, in- 
 stalled March 12, 1829, and dismissed at his own request February 
 1-1, 1838. He was a native of Weathersfield, Connecticut, and a 
 graduate of Tale College in 1821. 
 
 Sliortly after Mr. Smith was settled, the need of a vestry was 
 urgently felt, for evening religious meetings and the like, and, 
 with the concurrence of the parish, a few gentlemen. Dr. William 
 Perry, Captain Nathaniel Gilman, Jr. and others, took upon them- 
 selves the immediate expense of erecting such a building on the 
 northern part of the parsonage land, on Centre street. It was of 
 two stories, the upper of which was used for singing schools and 
 other purposes not necessarily religious. This building subse- 
 quently became the property of the parish, and in the year 1843, 
 after the construction of a vestry in the meeting-house rendered it 
 no longer necessary, was sold to a number of gentlemen for the 
 purpose of a Female Academy ; and later, when that use had termi- 
 nated, was altered into a dwelling house. It is now occupied as 
 such by Mrs. Joseph W. Gale. 
 
 The Rev. William Williams Avas the next minister of the society, 
 installed May 31, 1838. The first year of his stay was signalized 
 by extensive alterations made in the interior of the church build- 
 ing. Up to that time the entire space within the walls was in- 
 cluded in the audience room ; the high pulpit, surmounted by a 
 sounding-board,* was on the north wall, and galleries ran around 
 the other three sides. A great part of the pews were of the old 
 square pattern, with seats facing in all directions. 
 
 The changes in the building consisted in flooring over the lower 
 story, and finishing rooms in it for a vestr}', lecture room, etc., 
 and in adapting the upper story for an auditorium. Of course, 
 the old galleries were removed, and a smaller one erected for the 
 choir ; a pulpit of modern and moderate dimensions was placed 
 at the west side, the pews were altered into " slips," and the walls 
 were frescoed. P^xcepting that the change involved the ascent of 
 a flight- of stairs, it was an undoubted improvement. 
 
 Mr. Williams was dismissed October 1, 18-12, by reason of the 
 failure of his liealth and some dilliculties that arose. He after- 
 
 * The ladies of the society, unwilling that so interesting a relic of tlie old times 
 slioulil go to destruction, have caused the sounding-board to be rehabilitated and 
 suspended iu the lower hall of the church. 
 
192 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 wavfls cntorod tlio niodioal profession. ITo was a jiradnate of 
 Yale C'olloire in the class of 1810. 
 
 The society next chose for their minister the Kev. Joy II. 
 FairchiUl, who was installed September 20, 1843, and resigned 
 July 30, 1844. A charge of incontinence at the place of his 
 former settlement preferred against him, gave rise to protracted 
 controversies that forbade all hope of his future usefulness in 
 Exeter. He was a native of Guilford, Connecticut, and a gradu- 
 ate of Yale College in 1813. 
 
 The Rev. Roswell D. Hitchcock Avas the next regular occupant 
 of the pulpit. He was ordained November 19, 1845, and dis- 
 missed July 7, 1852. He was a native of East INIachias, Maine, 
 born August 15, 1817, and an alumnus of Aiiiherst College of 
 the class of 183G. AVhile settled in Exeter, he spent one year in 
 Germany, in the universities of Halle and Berlin. After leaving 
 Exeter he was a professor in Bowdoin College for three years, and 
 then was appointed to a like position in the Union Theological 
 Seminary, New York. Of this institution he was afterwards made 
 president, and held the office up to the time of his death June 17, 
 1887. 
 
 He was succeeded in Exeter by the Rev. William D. Hitchcock, 
 who was installed October 5, 1853, and Itegan his ministrations 
 with every prospect of permanence and usefulness, but his career 
 was cut short in a single 3'ear b}' his death November 23, 1854. 
 
 jMore than a year and a half expired before the puli)it was again 
 permanentl}' filled. The Rev. Nathaniel Lasell was installed June 
 19, 185G, and asked his dismission, after thi'ee years of service, 
 June 12, 1859. He was subsequently engaged in the profession 
 of teaching. 
 
 The Rev. Elias Nason was the next incumbent, installed Novem- 
 ber 22, 18G0, and dismissed INIay 30, 18(J5. He was a native of 
 liillerica, ^Massachusetts, and a graduate of Brown rniversity. 
 He had been a teacher and an editor before he was ordained, and 
 through life held the pen of a ready writer, on literai-y and histor- 
 ical subjects. He published several works of history and biogra- 
 phy, and delivered luinierous lectures. He died in Billerica, 
 Massachusetts, June 17, 1887, the same day as his predecessor in 
 the Exeter ministry, the Rev, Ur. R. D. Hitchcock. 
 
 The next on the list of i)astors was the Rev. John O. Barrows, 
 a graduate of Amherst College in LSGO, who was installed Decem- 
 ber 5, 18GG, and received his dismission October G, 1869, which 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. I93 
 
 he had requested iu order that he might enter upon mission work 
 in Asia. 
 
 The Rev. Swift Byington, the present minister of the society 
 and the sixteenth' in order, was installed June 2, 1871. He is a 
 gradnate of Yale College in the class of 1847, and a native of 
 Bristol, Connecticut. 
 
 Ki 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 THE SECOND PARISH. OTHER RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 
 
 The circumstauces uuder which the secession from the original 
 parish took place, in the year 1743, have been related. The 
 seeeders, who unnibered about one-third of the tax-payers, and 
 comprised some of the principal and wealthiest citizens, set up 
 separate religious services, and proceeded without loss of time to 
 erect a house of worship and organize a church. 
 
 Their meeting-house was finished in 1744, on land given them 
 by Colonel Peter Oilman and Samuel Gilman, situated on the nortli- 
 erly side of what is now Front street, between the houses of Dr. 
 Josiah Gilman and John Dean, on the lot now owned by Colonel W. 
 N. Dow. It was of two stories and of good dimensions, standing 
 parallel with the street, with a steeple in which a bell was hung, 
 on the western end. The pulpit was in the side farthest from the 
 street ; a gallery ran round the other three sides, and the main 
 entrance was ojiposite the pulpit. 
 
 The attempts made from time to time by the worshippers in the 
 new meeting-house to obtain exemption from the payment of min- 
 ister's rates for the support of the old parish have already been 
 detailed. In these days of wider religious tolerance we may thinlc 
 that the adherents of the Messrs. (Jdlin should have been more 
 liberal, and ought to have exonerated their withdrawing bretlu'en 
 from tlie forced contri])ution wiiich the law enabled them to exact ; 
 but it is not quite safe to say what would have been our own 
 conduct if we luid lived in their time, and had felt the same provo- 
 cation which they did. It is too late now to attempt to decide 
 upon the merits of the respective parties. 
 
 The new society for some years had no settled pastor. In 1746 
 they made an unsuccessful attempt to engage the services of the 
 Rev. Samuel lluel ; and in 1717 they invited Mr. John Phillips, 
 one of tlu'ir own number, and afterwartls the founder of the 
 Phillips Exeter Academy, to assume the pastoral ollice, but he 
 
 11)4 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 195 
 
 modestly declined, upon the ground of his incapacit}^, partly by 
 reason of the delicacy of his lungs, to perform all the duties of 
 the position. They were more successful with the Rev. Daniel 
 Rogers, who preached for them early after their separation, and 
 again in the latter part of 1747, and pleased them so well that he 
 remained with them during the rest of his life. They gave him a 
 formal call, and on the thirty-first of August, 1748, he was, by 
 consent of a council of churches, installed over the society as their 
 minister. This was not done, however, without a remonstrance 
 from the old church, backed by the opinion of six ministers from 
 neighboring towns, that the proceeding was irregular. 
 
 The interest felt by the members of the new society in its 
 welfare may be inferred from the disposal which one of their num- 
 ber, Nicholas Gilman, Jr., made of his property. At his death 
 in 1746, he devised to his brother Peter Gilman, Samuel Gilman 
 and Daniel Thing, his dwelling house, barn, orchard, and al)out 
 twent3'-two acres of land, to be improved by them for and towards 
 the support of the minister of the church or for any other pious 
 use. The house was pleasantly situated by the side of the river 
 near the great bridge, just at the entrance of the present Franklin 
 street, and facing towards AVater street. It was occupied as the 
 parsonage by the Rev. Mr. Rogers during his life; and in 1786 
 after his death, the trustees were incorporated by act of the Legis- 
 lature, and let the property for various terras uutil the year 1826, 
 v/hen they disposed of it by leases for the period of nine hundred 
 and ninety-niue years. The income of the proceeds has been 
 employed towards the support of the minister of the society, in 
 repairs upon the meeting-house, and in other " pious uses," such 
 as the distribution of Testaments, the support of young men 
 designed for the ministry and the like. 
 
 In July, 1755, while the last petition for the incorporation of 
 the new parish was pending in the Provincial Assenil)!}', the two 
 churches mutually agreed upon an ecclesiastical council, to which 
 were referred the differences between them, in order to a reconcil- 
 iation, though apparently without any expectation of effecting a 
 reunion. The council censured the course of the separatists in 
 certain particulars, but advised the old church to receive them into 
 fellowship again, whenever they should accept the report and 
 manifest their readiness to practise agreeabl}' thereto. This the 
 new church voted to do, but the old church required some further 
 acknowledguieut, which the former refused to make. After the 
 
19G 
 
 HISTORY OF exi:tek. 
 
 incorporation of the new parish, however, on the ninth of Septcm- 
 l)er, 170."), there was no collision between the two societies, and 
 for many years no fellowship, but each went its way, in peace. 
 
 ]Mr. l^ogers's connection with the Second parish terminated only 
 with his life. It extended over the stormy political period of the 
 American Revolution, but the relations between liiui and his 
 people were always pacific. He died in Exeter in 1785, at the age 
 of seventy-eight. He was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, August 
 8, 1707, graduated from Harvard College in 1725, and was tutor 
 there from 1732 to 17-il. He Avas married November 3, 17-18, to 
 Anne, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Foxcroft of Boston, on which 
 occasion his church presented him with the sum of two hundred 
 and fifty pounds. From middle life, when he came to Exeter, to 
 his death at an advanced age, he labored assiduously for the 
 welfare of his people, and to the entii'e satisfaction of church and 
 congregation. For more than half a century he kept in interleaved 
 almanacs a brief record of bis daily life and employments, which 
 show him to have been an amiable, faithful and devoted religious 
 teacher. He was a warm friend and admirer of the Rev. George 
 Whitefield to whom he attributed his own conversion, and had 
 that eloquent divine twice to preach to his Exeter charge, first on 
 the tweuty-sixth'of October, 1754, and again on the twenty-ninth 
 of September, 1770, when Whitefield delivered his last discomse 
 the day before his death. 
 
 In token of their esteem for their late pastor, his parishioners 
 voted to bear the expense of his funeral. His body lies in the old 
 burying-ground on Front street, west of the railroad, and upon 
 the massy tablet above it is the following inscription : 
 
 Here lie the remains of 
 the Reverend Daniel Rogers, 
 Pastor of a church gathered in this place 1748, 
 who died December 9'1' 1785 aged 78 years. 
 He had been many years a Tutor in Harvard College, 
 
 was a faithful pious minister of Jesus Christ, 
 and a worthy son of the Reverend John Rogers, 
 
 pastor of the first church in Ipswich, 
 who died December 28<ii 174.J in his 80"' year; 
 who was a son of Jolin Rogers of tlie same place 
 Physician and Preacher of God's Word, 
 
 And President of Harvard College, 
 who died July 2^' U)81 aged 'A years; 
 who was eldest son of the Rev'' Nathaniel Rogers, 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. Iii7 
 
 who came over from En<?]aiul in 163G, settled at IpsMich 
 
 colleague pastor with the Rev^ Nathaniel Ward, 
 
 and died July 2^' 1655 aged 57 years; 
 
 who was son of the Reverend John Rogers 
 
 a famous minister of God's word at Dedham, England, 
 
 who died October LSt'' 1(539 aged 07 years ; 
 
 who was a grandson of John Rogers of London 
 
 Prebendary of St. Paul's, Vicar of St. Sepulchre's 
 
 and Reader of Divinity, 
 who was burned at Smithfield February 14, 1555, 
 first martyr in Queen Mary's reign.* 
 
 Thou martp-ed saint and all ye holy train 
 O be your honor'd Names ne'er i-ead in vain, 
 May each descendant catch your hallow'd fire 
 And all your virtues all their breasts inspire. 
 Prophets like you in long succession rise 
 Burning and shining, faithful firm and wise. 
 And millions be their crown beyond the skies. 
 
 For nearly seven years after the death of Mr. Rogers the neAv 
 parish was destitute of a settled minister. During that time there 
 was a strong feeling in favor of a permanent reunion of the two 
 parishes. In 1786 resolutions were passed by both expressino^ 
 their desu-e for a restoration of their former relations, and in the 
 latter part of 1787 when both were without pastors, they appar- 
 ently united in hiring a temporary supply until the next annual 
 meeting. On March 29, 1788, the members of the new church 
 partook of the communion with those of the old, at the invitation 
 of Deacon Samuel Brooks of the latter, and during that and the 
 succeeding year both parishes joined in attendance upon public 
 Avorship, which was maintained at their joint charge. In 1788 
 both societies united in a call to the Rev. David Tappan of New- 
 bury, Massachusetts, to settle over them, but because the call was 
 not unanimous, he declined it. Attempts were made to agree upon 
 another candidate, but without success. 
 
 In 1790 the new parish invited the Rev. Samuel Austin of Ncav 
 Haven, Connecticut, to their pulpit for two months, and on the 
 twelfth of July in the same year, gave him a unanimous call to a 
 permanent settlement, at an annual salary of one hundred pounds. 
 Mr. Austin did not accept, and ou September 24, 1792, the parish 
 
 *The claim that this family was descendod from the Smithfield martyr has of late 
 years been disallowed, as based upon a mistaken belief. 
 
1<J8 HISTORY OF EXKTEIl. 
 
 voted to concur with the church in giving a call to the Rev. Joseph 
 Brown, who according!}' was installed over thorn on the succeeding 
 twentieth of November. After a service of five years he was dis- 
 missed at his own request, the twenty-eighth of August, 171)7, 
 the parish making him a gift of fifty dollars upon his departure. 
 Mr. Brown was a native of Chester, in England, and was educated 
 at the seminary of the pious Lady Huntingdon, whose chaplain 
 was the Rev. George "NVhiteficld. His ministration in Exeter was 
 quite successful, and he was afterwards settled at Deer Isle, in 
 Maine, and died there in 1804. 
 
 After the removal of Mr. BroAvn, the society not being readily 
 disposed to provide themselves with a successor, its numbers grad- 
 uall}^ began to decline. Religious services, however, were kept up 
 with more or less frequency, and the organization of the parish 
 was regularly preserved. Every year a certain sum was voted to 
 sustain public w'orship, and various clergymen were temporarily 
 employed to conduct the Sunday services. Thus matters went on 
 until about the year 1812, the church having dwindled until it 
 became practically extinct, though the parish received accessions 
 from time to time. 
 
 In l.sil the Rev. Hosea Hildreth came to Exeter as an instruc- 
 tor in the Academy, and was employed to fill the pulpit of the 
 society. This he continued to do most of the time for about five 
 3'ears, and until the society was provided with a settled pastor. 
 On the twenty-fourth of December, 1-S12, the church was re-or- 
 ganized, with a creed drawn up by Mr. Hildreth, which would 
 admit those who questioned the doctrine of the trinity, of whom 
 there were several in the society. 
 
 On December 2, 1816, the parish gave a unanimous call to 
 the Rev. Isaac Hurd to become their minister at a salary of six 
 hundred and fifty dollars, and he was installed over them Septem- 
 ber 11, 1817. At the same time he was appointed theological 
 instructor in the Academy. 
 
 On the thirty-first of March, 182^3, the society appointed a com- 
 mittee to report a plan for a new meeting-house, to replace the old 
 one which had been in use nearly eighty years, and on the eigh- 
 teenth of May following, Nathaniel Gibiiau, -Joseph Tilton, Jere- 
 miah Dow, Jotham Lawrence and Peter Chadwick were chosen to 
 superintend the erection thereof. It was placed on land furnished 
 by the trustees of tlie Academy for the purjiose, and the master 
 builder was Nathaniel Conner. It was completed in season for 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 199 
 
 the next aiiuual meeting of the parish in March, 1824, to be held 
 therein, and has well answered tlie needs of the parish to the 
 present time, with an addition to its length of about fifteen feet, 
 which was made in 1863. 
 
 After a harmonious and successful ministry of nearly thirty 
 years Mr, Hurd proposed to the society to settle a colleague with 
 him, generously relinquishing all claim to pecuniary compensation 
 thereafter. To this proposal the society, assuring their pastor of 
 their undiminished affection and regard, assented, and in April, 
 
 1846, called the Rev. Robert S. Hitchcock of Randolph, Massa- 
 chusetts, to the associate pastorate, but by reason of the state of 
 his health he declined the invitation. The Rev. Samuel D. Dexter 
 was subsequently invited, and, giving a favorable response, was 
 ordained as colleague pastor with the Rev. Mr. Hurd December 2, 
 
 1847. His ministry was cut short, however, by his death April 
 20, 1857. He was a native of Boston, and a graduate of Harvard 
 CoUege. During his residence in Exeter his personal and religious 
 character was such as to gain him a strong hold upon the people, 
 and his premature decease, at the early age of twenty- four years, 
 closed a career of bright promise. 
 
 The Rev. Asa Mann was installed as colleague, in the place of 
 Mr. Dexter, November 19, 1851. During his term of service, 
 the Rev. Dr. Hurd, on the fourth of October, 1856, at a ripe old age, 
 beloved and honored for his amiable character, his Christian vir- 
 tues and his faithful labors, went to his rest. Mr. Mann contin- 
 ued in Exeter less than a year afterwards, being dismissed from 
 his charge July 8, 1857. He was a native of Randolph, Massa- 
 chusetts, and a graduate of Amherst College, and had been settled 
 at Hardwick, Massachusetts, before he came to Exeter. 
 
 His successor in the pulpit of the Second parish, the Rev. 
 Orpheus T. Lanphear, was installed February 2, 1858, and after 
 a successful service of six years, on being called to a church in 
 New Haven, Connecticut, was dismissed by council February 21, 
 1864. He was a native of West Fairlee, Vermont, and a graduate 
 of Middlebury College, and had previously been the pastor of the 
 High street church in Lowell, Massachusetts. 
 
 The Rev. John W. Chickering, Jr., began to preach for the 
 society on the lirst Sunday of July, 1865, was invited to become 
 their permanent minister, and was installed the fifth of the suc- 
 ceeding September. He remained for five years, and was dis- 
 missed July 18, 1870. During latter part of his pastorate the 
 
200 IIISTOKY OF EXKTEll. 
 
 society purchased, culaiged and remodelled the dwelliug house ou 
 Court street, which has since l:eeu occupied as the parsonage. 
 Mv. Chickering left Exeter to accept a professorship in the Deaf 
 Mute College in Washington, D.C. He was a native of Portland, 
 Maine, and a graduate of Bowdoin College, and had served as 
 pastor of the church in Springfield, Vermont, prior to his coming 
 to Kxeter. 
 
 The eighth and present pastor of this society, is the Rev. George 
 E. Street, who was installed ]March oO, 1871. He is ar native of 
 Cheshire, Connecticut, and a graduate of Yale College, and was 
 the minister of the First church in Wiscasset, Maine, when invited 
 to P^xeter. Since his installation, the society have provided them- 
 selves with a chapel for evening meetings and the like, situated 
 on Elm street. 
 
 QUAKERS. 
 
 About the middle of the last century there were a few (Quakers 
 in Exeter, who held meetings for a time in a barn which stood ou 
 the southerly side of what is now Front street, just opposite the 
 head of Centre street. Among them were Samuel and John 
 Dudley, grandsons, it is presumed, of the Kev. Samuel Dudley. 
 The Kev. Daniel Kogers's diary for the j'ear 1753 shows that ou 
 the twenty-lifth of January, " the (.Quakers, Samuel Dudlc}', etc., 
 came into our meeting and spoke;" that on March 7, "the 
 Friends were carried to court this week," and on ^Nlarch 10, "Lord's 
 day, John Dudley spake after the first singing, A.M." 
 
 The Friends who were carried to court were undoubtedly Eliza- 
 beth, wife of Joseph Norris, and Joanna, wife of James Norris. 
 The records of the Court of General Sessions show that at the 
 March term, 1753, these two women were indicted for a breach of 
 the peace and violation of the act for the better observance of the 
 Lord's day. It is probable that their offence was the disturbance 
 of the Sunday service in one of the meeting-houses. They were 
 arraigned, and i)leaded not guilt}'. AVhen inquired of whether 
 they would be tried by the court or the jury they resolutely refused 
 to answer, probably having little expectation of an acquittal by 
 either. 
 
 The court, upon iieariug tlie testimony <jf witnesses, and the 
 answers of the resi)ondents themselves, found them both guilty, 
 and tluy were ordered to pay a fine of live shillings eucli, and to 
 liud sureties for their future good behavior. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 201 
 
 The fine aud costs were at once paid, and uo further account is 
 found of Quakers in the town. 
 
 THE BAPTIST SOCIETY. 
 
 A Baptist church was organized in Exeter, October 17, 1800, 
 consisting of ten members. Tlie elders and bretlu'en forming tlie 
 council on the occasion, were from the churches in Haverhill and 
 New Rowley in Massacliusetts, and in Newton and Brentwood in 
 New Hampshire. The Rev. Hezekiah Smith, D.D., w^as president 
 of the council, and the Rev. Shubael Lovell, clerk. In tlie spring 
 of ISOl a society was formed, in connection with the church, by 
 voluntary subscription. The members were few in number and of 
 means somewhat limited, so that for several years they w'ere able 
 to have preacliing but a third or a half of the time ; but having 
 those in their own church whose gifts of exhortation were 
 acceptable to the congregation, and edifving to the l)rethreu, 
 meetings were regularly held on Sundays when no minister could 
 be procured ; a practice w-hich they found to be attended with the 
 best results. Their first place of meeting was at tlic dwelling 
 house of Harvey Colcord, and afterwards at the Centre scliool- 
 house. In the year 1805, they built and dedicated their first 
 meeting-house, situated on Spring street. 
 
 In 180G 3[r. Barnabas Bates, afterwards distinguished as the 
 advocate of cheap postage and otherwise, preached for the society 
 for several months. In tlie spring of 180!) the Rev. Elbenezer L. 
 Boyd became their preacher, and labored wdth them for two years 
 with encouraging results. In 1814, and the two succeeding years, 
 the Rev. Charles O. Kimball and the Rev. James ]\rcGregore sup- 
 plied their pulpit a part of the time. In the winter and spring of 
 1817 the, services were conducted by students from the theologi- 
 cal school at Danvers, Massachusetts, then under the care of the 
 Rev. Jeremiah Chaplin. To one of those students, the Rev. James 
 Coleman, they gave an invitation to become their pastor, but, having 
 determined to devote his life to missionary work, he declined. 
 
 In the year 1817 a Sunday-school was first commenced in con- 
 nection with the society, which has ever since ])een continued. 
 The first teacher was Deacon John F. Moses, who, for half a 
 century, with little interruption, held the olMce of superintendent, 
 and was, during his life, one of llie principal pillars of the church 
 and society. 
 
202 HISTORY OF EXETKH. 
 
 The society was incorporated 1)}^ tlie Le<2:islaturc of the State in 
 1818, and tlie same year had their first settled minister, the Kev. 
 Ferdinand Ellis, who served them from Jnne, 1818, to September, 
 1828. After the close of his pastoral connection he continued to 
 reside in Exeter, and was, for a numl)er of years, a successful 
 school teacher. In the autumn of 1828, the Kev. John Newton 
 Brown was settled over the society and remained until February, 
 18:53. lie resumed the pastorate again in 1834, and retained it 
 until he was dismissed in April, 1838. It was during this period, 
 in the years 1833 and 1834, that the society built their second 
 meeting-house on "Water sti'eet,* dedicated November 11), 1834, in 
 which they held pul)lic worship until the erection of their present 
 church on Front street. In the interim between the two settle- 
 ments of ]Mr. Brown, from May 29, 1833, to February 16, 1834, 
 the Rev. John Cannan, from Yorkshire, England, ministered to 
 the society. After Mr. Brown's final departure, it was more than 
 two years before another minister was settled, but for about half 
 that period the Rev. J. G. Naylor regularly supplied the pulpit. 
 
 In November, 1840, the church gave an invitation to the Rev. 
 Noah Hooper, Jr., to become their minister, which he accepted, 
 and continued with them from December 1, of that year, until July 
 20, 1845. For nearly three j^ears after this the church was with- 
 out a regular pastor, though for about one-third of that period Mr. 
 T. II. Archibald, licentiate, preached to them. Their next settled 
 minister was the Rev. PLlijah J. Harris, who remained from the 
 spring of 1848 to April 7, 1850. Then the Rev. James French 
 became their minister from January, 1851, to January 1, 1853. 
 After his dismission, thi' Rev. INIr. Kussell was employed as 
 preacher for a time. The Rev. Franklin IMerriam was the next 
 settled minister, installed in September, 1854, and dismissed in 
 November, 185G. His successor Avas the Rev. James J. Peck, 
 whose pastorate continued from February, 1857, to April, LSiil, 
 
 On the first of July, 1861, the Rev. Noah Hooper was solicited 
 to assume the pastoral charge of the society a second time, to 
 which he assented, and filled the position until the autumn of 1871, 
 wlieiK at his repeated request, he was dismissed. He is still 
 residing in Exeter, at a good old age, in the cujo3'meut of much 
 bodily and mental vigor. 
 
 * The Water street linildinir is still standinp;; and after sorvinp; the purpose of a 
 military armory lor some years, has now been trausforiued into au ojjera Louse. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 203 
 
 The Rev. John N. Chase was next invited to tlie pastorate of 
 the society, and was received into that connection January IG, 
 1882, and still remains therein, having already served a longer 
 time than any of his predecessors. 
 
 In December, 1854, twenty-two members withdrew from the 
 Water street church, and formed themselves into a new society. 
 They held their meetings at first in a hall on AVater street, until 
 they built themselves a house of worship on Elm street, which 
 was dedicated October 1, 1856. Up to this time the Rev. J. B. 
 Lane supplied them with preaching. Soon after their removal to 
 their new house, the Rev. T. H. Archibald was settled over them. 
 His term of ministerial service continued about two years. For 
 some time after his dismissal their pulpit was supplied by students 
 from the Theological Institution of Newton, Massachusetts, and 
 afterwards by the Rev. Mr. Mayhew. About the year 1862 the 
 Rev. Charles Newhall was installed as the pastor, and continued 
 in the oflice some eight years. In 1871 the two Baptist societies 
 resolved to reunite ; the Elm street organization was given up, and 
 its members were merged again in the Water street society. Their 
 meeting-house on Elm street afterwards passed into the possession 
 of the Second Congregational parish, and is used by them as a 
 chapel. 
 
 In 1874 the reunited Baptist society purchased a lot on the 
 corner of Spring and Front streets, on which, in that and the fol- 
 lowing year, they erected their present handsome brick church. 
 Notwithstanding the liberality of the members of the society, it 
 left upon them a heavy load of debt, whicli, however, by the 
 strenuous, continued efforts of the people, supplementing the gen- 
 erous gifts of Deacon John F. Moses and his son, Henry C. 
 Moses, Esq., has since been fully discharged, and the seats of 
 the church are made free. 
 
 TUE UXIVERSALIST SOCIETY. 
 
 It is said that a society of Universalists was formed in Exeter 
 as early as 1810, who supported public worship for ten years or 
 more, when their organization was abandoned and tlie members 
 were dispersed among the otlier religious societies. They liad been 
 incorporated by an act of the Legislature in the year 1811). Some 
 years later their interest revived, and Sunday services were main- 
 tained in the old court-house, by the Rev. Hosea Ballon and othi-r 
 able preachers of the denomination. On the twenty-sixth of Mav, 
 
204 IlISTOKY OF EXKTEU. 
 
 1831, several of the leadiiifr men of the sect formed themselves 
 anew into a society, erected a house of worship on the east side of 
 Centre street, and soon supplied themselves with regular ministers. 
 Among the earliest were tlie Hev, Theophilns K. Ta3dor and the 
 Rev. "William V. Ilanscom, the latter of whom appears to have 
 preached at Newmarket also. The Kev. James Shrigley of Balti- 
 more, ]Maryland, was installed over the society June IG, 1837, 
 and remained three years or more. He was a man of much ability, 
 and became subsequently an officer of the Maryland Historical 
 Societ}'. The Rev. H. P. Stevens was the next minister, but 
 continued only a year or two. Then the Rev. Henry Jewell 
 assumed tlie pastoral charge, and under his administrati(jn the 
 congregation increased to such an extent as to warrant the erec- 
 tion of a new and larger churcli. Accordingly, the lot on the 
 eastern corner of Front and Centre streets was purchased, and 
 upon it was built the structure which has served as a place of 
 worship, successively' for the Universalists and the Unitarians, 
 and now is occupied by the Methodist society. It was dedicated 
 December 18, 1845, Mr Jewell preaching the discourse on the 
 occasion. 
 
 The next minister settled over the society was the Rev. R. O. 
 "Williams. He Avas a practitioner of the medical, as well as of 
 the clerical profession. His stay was not very long, and his suc- 
 cessor is believed to have been the Rev. John L. Stevens, who 
 ministered to the society with ability for some years. He has 
 since been distinguished as the editor of an intluential political 
 journal in the State of Maine, as a diplomatist and author. After 
 his departure, the Rev. Silas S. Fletcher was the occupant of the 
 pulpit, and the last of the preachers of Universalism settled in the 
 town. In 1854 the society disposed of their church to the newly 
 formed I'liitarian society, and abandoned their separate organiza- 
 tion. ]Mr. Fletcher continued to reside in Fxcter until his death 
 several years later. 
 
 THE CIIKISTIAN SOCIETY. 
 
 The members of the Christian society were in the habit of 
 holding meetings for religious worship in private houses, for some 
 time i)rior to the year 1830. They aimed to free themselves from 
 the constraint of theological dogmas, and so professed no creed 
 but the Bible. Elder Abuer Jones is said to have been the founder 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 205 
 
 of the sect, and at one time lived in Exeter, and occasionally 
 preached to the people. Their first permanent minister appears 
 to have been Elder John Flanders, who remained five or six years. 
 In the meantune, the congregation gve^v, a chnrch was formed, 
 and a chapel was built at the foot of Franklin street. Elder P^li- 
 jah Shaw became subsequently the minister of the society, and 
 published, in a little pamphlet, a sketch of the doctrines of his 
 people, entitled "Sentiments of the Christians." About the year 
 1840 Elder Edwin Burnham had the pastoral charge, and this 
 was apparently the culminating point of the society. The chapel 
 had to be enlarged to accommodate the hearers. But soon after 
 this, the noted AVilliam Miller, who predicted the destruction of 
 the world in 1843, preached in Exeter, and many of the Christian 
 Society became believers in his theory, and deserted their former 
 associates. 
 
 This succession weakened the Christian society, but it still went 
 on for nearly twenty years longer. Elder Simeon Swett, who was 
 the compounder of several medical preparations which acquired 
 popularity, Elder Julius C. Blodgett and, finally. Inkier John W. 
 Tilton, successively ministered to the society, but it never recov- 
 ered fully from the loss of members whicli it sustained in 1842, 
 and at length, toward the year 1860, came to an end. Its house 
 was closed, and its records and papers are said to have been 
 destroyed. 
 
 THE METHODIST SOCIETY. 
 
 The first steps towards the formation of a Methodist society 
 were taken by five ladies in 1830. Upon their invitation, the 
 Rev. D. I. Kobinson, then stationed in Newmarket, came to 
 Exeter and arranged for religious meetings to be held on every 
 alternate Sunday. The next year the Rev. Amos H. Worthin"- of 
 Newmarket, continued to hold occasional services in Exeter ; and 
 in 1832 Exeter became a regular station, to which the Rev. Azel 
 P. Brigham was api^ointed by the Conference. The meetinos of 
 the society were at that time held in the old court-house, and the 
 number of attendants was much increased. In November, of the 
 same year, John Clement, Sanuiel Tilton and INIoses P. Lowell 
 organized the First P^jiscopal Methodist Society iu Exeter, by pub- 
 lication in a newspaper, according to law. 
 
 In 1833 the Rev. A. H. Worthing was stationed in Exeter, and 
 in 1834 the Rev. Samuel Hoyt, the society, by invitation, occupy- 
 
206 IIISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 ing the oM rniversalist cliurch on Centre street. In tlie latter 
 year, however, they erected a brick churcli of their own, on the 
 east side of the river, upon Portsmouth avenue. The dedicatory 
 sermon was preached, February 10, 1835, by the Rev. George 
 Storrs. In 1835 the Rev. W. II. Hatch Avas appointed minister 
 of tlie societ}' ; in 183G the Rev. Alfred Medcalf, on account of 
 whose illness the Rev. O. Hinds, and afterwards the Rev. Jacob 
 Sanborn took his place. Mr. .Sanborn remained for the succeed- 
 ing three years, and under his charge the church was highly 
 prosperous. 
 
 It was in 1836, on the evening of the tenth of August, that the 
 town was disgraced by a scene of public disorder at the meeting- 
 house of the Methodist society. The Rev. George Storrs, a noted 
 advocate of the abolition of slavery, attempted to deliver a lecture 
 there on that subject. A crowd of pro-slavery men, idlers and 
 boys gathered, and determined that he should not. As he per- 
 sisted in his attempt, he was interrupted by hooting, ])y the Hing- 
 ing of stones at the windows and blinds, and l)y streams of water 
 from the fire engines; so that, finding it impossible to go on, he 
 at length desisted, and his audience dispersed. No serious dann\ge 
 was done to persons or property ; the worst injury was to the 
 good fame of the town. All that can be said in mitigation of the 
 offence is that it Avas not an unexampled one in New England at 
 that time. 
 
 The Rev. E. D. Trickey was the pastor in 1840 and 1841, at 
 which time the church numbered about one hundred and eighty 
 members. In 1842 the Rev. I). I. Robinson was stationed at 
 Exeter. The divisions on the slavery question, and the "Miller 
 excitement," seriously interfered Avith the harmony of the society, 
 and a majority of the members with their i)astor seceded, and a 
 Wesleyau Methodist church was organized. This was never 
 very prosperous. For some years after 1842, P^xeter was united 
 Avith Amesbury, Massachusetts, and had no separate minister. In 
 1847 the Rev. Isaac W. Huntley AA-as the pastor, and in the tAvo 
 years following, the Rev. Ebeuezer Peaslee. 
 
 In 1858 the Rev. James M. Buckley, then just from college, 
 supplied the pulpit. He Avas earnest, able and ehxpient, and drew 
 a large congregation. He has become distinguished in later years, 
 and is noAV a doctor of divuiity and editor of the Ncav York 
 Christian Advocate, tlie leading Methodist journal of the country. 
 The next year the Rev. Mr. Stokes had charge of the society, but 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 207 
 
 the interest awakened by Mr. Buckley died away after his depart- 
 ure, and the society declined, and soon came to a full stop. 
 
 In 18G1 and 1SG2 the brick meeting-house was occasionally 
 opened, but it was not till 1867 that the Methodists, including 
 some new comers, re-organized their society. In that year the 
 Kev. C. W. Millen supplied them with preaching for a few weeks, 
 holding services in a hall on AVater street. After he left, the 
 Rev. J. D. Folsom began his labors with them, and the congrega- 
 tion increased. The Rev. H. B. Copp succeeded Mr. Folsom in 
 1868, and remained three years. During his stay the society pur- 
 chased from the Unitarian society the church on the corner of 
 Front and Centre streets, where they still worship. The Rev. S. H 
 Quimby was the next pastor, for the term of three years. The 
 society had now grown in strength and numbers. In 1874 and 
 1875 the stationed minister was the Rev. S. C. Farnham ; and in 
 the three following years the Rev. J. H. Haines. The church and 
 congregation were largely increased during his administration. 
 The Rev. M. Howard was the next minister, for the years 1879 
 and 1880 ; and the Rev. J. W. Walker succeeded him in 1881 and 
 part of 1882 ; and the Rev. C. H. Hannaford filled out the latter 
 year. In 1883 the Rev. C. J. Fowler was the pastor, and in 1884 
 the Rev. John W. Adams was assigned to the place. 
 
 The society had long struggled with a considerable debt, in- 
 curred when they purchased their house of worship in 1868, and 
 Mr. Adams resolved to make a determined effort to pay it off. 
 By the concurrent action of his church and society he was enabled 
 to accomplish the desirable result, and on December 28, 1884, 
 announced it to his society, on which occasion he delivered a 
 discourse on the Centenary of Methodism. 
 
 In 1886 Mr. Adams was transferred to another scene of labor, 
 and the Rev. C. N. Nutter succeeded to the Exeter charge. 
 
 THE ADVKNT SOCIETY. 
 
 This society prol)ably took its rise from the doctrine of the 
 immediate second coming of Christ, preached by A\'illiam ^liller 
 in the year 1842. It was chiefly made up of members of the 
 Christian and the Methodist churches, who left tlieir old comniiin- 
 ions in the full faith that the end of the world was at hand. Of 
 course when the time fixed for the final catastrophe came and went 
 without the expected event, the faith of many was shaken, but a 
 
•208 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 considerable part of the believers decided that a mistake iu the 
 time was no reason for rcjectiuo; an\' other tenet of their reliuion, 
 and so have continued their regular woi'ship in tlieir chapel on 
 C'litTord street. Their views as to doctrines are much the same as 
 those which were held by the " Christians," but of course the 
 expected second advent of Christ is the prominent subject of 
 interest with Ihein, nml tlioir :)ini is; to l)e constantly ready to 
 welcome it. 
 
 THK nOMAX CATHOLIC SOCIETY. 
 
 The Catholic society of Exeter was organized in 1853 by the 
 Rev. John McDonnell of Haverhill, Massachusetts. For some 
 years it Avas small in numbers, and lacked the means to build a 
 house of worship. There was no resident priest, and services were 
 held only occasionally. But as the numbers increased a regular 
 pastor was found necessary, and the Rev. J. Ph. Perrache was 
 appointed in July, 1859, Meetings were held in the building on 
 Centre street whicli had formerly served as the IJniversalist 
 church. Father Perrache remained in Exeter something less than 
 three years, Mhen he was succeeded bj' the Rev. Bernard OTIara, 
 in the month of April, 18G2. 
 
 'J'he Rev. Canon Walsh assumed charge of the societ}^ iu Decem- 
 ber, 18G5, and retained it about three years and a half, until the 
 appointment of the Rev. M. C. O'Brien in June, 18G9. His stay 
 was very brief, and the Rev. Charles Egan followed him in 
 November of the same year. Father Pagan's residence was longer 
 than tliat of either of his predecessors, and he did not give place 
 to his successor, the Rev. Michael Lucy, until December, 1875. 
 The next incumbent was the Rev. John Power, who was placed 
 in charge of the society iu October, 1878, and was succeeded in 
 Jauuaiy, 18h;5, by the present pastor, the Rev. John Canning. 
 
 The society in 1808 erected their brick church in Centre street, 
 and purchased the house adjoining, on the corner of Water street, 
 for liie residence of the pastor. 
 
 THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY. 
 
 The Unitarian society was formed in June, 1851. It was chiefly 
 composed of members of the Second parish who entertained Uni- 
 tarian opinions, and were not satisfied with the style of preaching 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 209 
 
 there, and of the Universalists, whose society had declined in 
 numbers and means. The new organization purchased the Uni- 
 versalist church at the corner of Front and Centre streets, and 
 there maintained their worship for the succeeding fourteen j^ears. 
 For nearly two years they had no settled minister, but were tem- 
 porarily supplied ; though a considerable part of that time the 
 Rev. Joseph Angler, a graduate of Harvard College in 1829, was 
 their preacher. 
 
 On the twenty-fourth of April, 1856, the Rev. Jonathan Cole 
 was installed as their pastor. After remaining about four years 
 lie asked his dismission, but was prevailed up'on at the request of 
 the society to remain for a year or two longer, until they could 
 decide upon his successor. Mr. Cole was a graduate of Harvard 
 College of the class of 1825, and after he left Exeter removed to 
 Newburyport, Massachusetts, where he died in 1877. 
 
 In September, 1862, the society invited the Rev. John C. 
 Learned, who had then just completed his course of study in 
 Divinity School at Cambridge, to become their minister. He 
 accepted the invitation and, after completing a tour in Europe, 
 was ordained over them May 6, 1863. He retained the connection 
 nearly six years and a half, when it was dissolved upon his appli- 
 cation on account of the impaired condition of his health. After 
 quitting Exeter he took up his residence in St. Louis, Missouri, 
 where he still remains. During his pastorate the society acquired 
 the strength and means to provide themselves with a new place of 
 worship, and erected their present church on the corner of IMaple 
 and Elm streets. 
 
 His successor was the Rev. Edward Crowninshield (Harvard 
 Divinity School, 1870), who was ordained over the society about 
 the first of August of the same year. His health was found to be 
 insufficient for the position, and he resigned it after a single year's 
 labor. 
 
 Another year had nearly expired before his place was supplied 
 by the Rev. Benjamin F. McDaniel, who received his theological 
 education at the same school, in the class of 18(1!). His pastorate 
 extended over a period of ten j'ears and a half, but during that 
 time he Avas twice compelled to ask for temj^orary leave of 
 absence, to recruit his health by foreign travel. At Irngth he was 
 dismissed by his own desire, and after a short settlement in Salem, 
 Massachusetts, he removed to the milder climate of San Diego, 
 California. It was while Mr. INFcDaniel was in Exeter that the 
 
 14 
 
210 lIISTOliY OF EXETER. 
 
 society built upon the lot adjoining the church their present parson- 
 a^e house. 
 
 Mr. McDaniel was followed by the Rev. John E. Mande, a 
 graduate of Harvard College, who was ordained October 9, 1HS3. 
 His term of service lasted only one year, when he fell a victim to 
 disease. 
 
 The Rev. Alfred C. Nickerson, a graduate from the Harvard 
 Divinity School in 1871, is the present pastor, and assumed the 
 olliee in the month of April, 188G. 
 
 THE EPISCOPAL SOCIETY. 
 
 The Episcopal society in Exeter dates from the year 18fi5. It 
 originated with students of the Academy who had been brought 
 up in that church, and wished to enjoy its services while pursuing 
 their education. The Rev. Dr. (now liishop) F. D. Huntington 
 cordially seconded the movement and conducted the first service in 
 the town hall, in July, 1865. In September following the parish 
 of Christ Church was organized. 
 
 The next month the Rev. Dr. George F. Cushman, a graduate 
 of Amherst College ih 1840, took charge of the parish, and 
 remained six months. Services were at first held in the town hall, 
 and afterwards in the building on Centre street, originally used 
 by the First Congregational society as a vestry. 
 
 The Rev. James llaughton, a native of Boston, and a graduate 
 of Harvard College in the class of 18G0, succeeded Dr. Cushman, 
 and under his rectorship the present church on Elliott street was 
 built. The means for it, §12,500, were raised by the exertions of 
 the indefatigable treasurer of the parish. Miss Caroline E. Harris, 
 and of the rector. The church was ready for occupation at 
 Christmas, 18(57, and consecrated September 30, 1868, with no 
 debt, and with free sittings. 
 
 After the resignation of Mr. llaughton, to take the charge of 
 the new society in Hanover, New Hampshire, the Rev. Dr. 
 Samuel P. Parker, an alumnus of Harvard College, succeeded to 
 the rectorship. He remained two years, during which the society 
 prospered nnd increased in strength. For some time after his 
 departure there was no settled clergyman over the parish, but in 
 .July, 1872, the Rev. Henry Ferguson, a native of Connecticut, 
 and a graduate of Trinity College, Hartford, assumed the charge. 
 In 1875 he obtained a year's leave of absence, and travelled 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 211 
 
 abroad. During his absence the Rev. J. H. George had the 
 charge of the parish. Mr. Ferguson resumed his duties, upon his 
 return, and remained about two years longer. Afterwards he was 
 for a time rector of the church in Claremont, and then received an 
 appointment to the professorsliip of history, iu his alma mater, 
 which he still holds. 
 
 The Rev. George B. IMorgau, also a native of Connecticut and 
 an alumnus of Trinit}^ College, was the successor of Mr. Fergu- 
 son. His ministry extended over the period of eight years, when 
 he resigned it, to take the rectorship of a church in New Haven. 
 
 The present rector is the Rev. Edward Goodridge, like his two 
 immediate predecessors, born in Connecticut and educated at 
 Trinity College. He began his labors in Exeter February 26, 
 1887. He had previously been stationed in Geneva, Switzerland 
 in charge of tlie American church there. 
 
MILITARY. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE INDIAN AND FRENCH WARS. 
 
 Although under the laws of Massachusetts the people of Exe- 
 ter had to maintain a watch-house and some show of an organized 
 militia, yet until the year 1675 the place had never been made the 
 object of any Indian hostilities. There must have been frequent 
 intercourse between the whites and the aborigines, but their rela- 
 tions were pacific and friendly. Possibly the precautions taken 
 by the former contributed to maintain this tranquillity. 
 
 But in the year named an Indian war broke out, brief, but in 
 some sections active and bloody. Philip, chief sachem of the 
 Wampanoags, has the credit, or discredit, of being the instigator 
 of the movement. His own people belonged in the southern part 
 of New England, but he had the power and address to enlist some 
 of the eastern tribes to make common cause with him. This was 
 the less difiicult, because some of them had grievances of their 
 own to revenge. 
 
 Exeter was a frontier town, and necessarily suffered to some 
 extent from the raids of the barbarous enemy. In the month of 
 September, 167."), a party of savages made a descent upon the set- 
 tlement of Oyster river, adjoining Exeter on the north, and 
 burned two houses and killed four persons. They also made 
 captives of two others, one of them " a young man from about 
 Exeter" according to the historian, Hubbard, but whose name is 
 unknown. By the aid of an Indian " better minded than the rest " 
 he succeeded in giving them the slip, and returned to the garrison 
 at Salmon Falls, after about a month's absence. 
 
 Four of the same party of Indians, probably, proceeded to Exe- 
 ter, and made a prisoner of Charles Ruudlet, an inhabitant of the 
 town. He was left in the custody of one of their number, named 
 James, whom he induced to connive at his escape. Kundlet was 
 accidentally drowned at the mouth of Exeter river, nearly a quarter 
 of a century later. 
 
 215 
 
216 IIISTOKY OF EXKTEK. 
 
 The other three Indians, whose names were John Snnipson, 
 Cronnvc'll and .Tohn Linde, plaeed tlieniselves in anil)ush in the 
 woods near the road leading to Hampton. Soon afterAvards John 
 Kobinson, a l)laeksmith wlio had removed from Haverhill, JNIassa- 
 chnsetts, to P^xeter in 1657, made his appearance, with his son, 
 on their way to Hampton. The father, aecordini; to tradition, 
 was carrying a warming-pan. The Indians fired from tlieir lurk- 
 ing place upon them, and shot the elder Robinson dead.* The 
 bullet passed through his body from back to front, and lodged just 
 under the skin. The son, upon hearing the report of the guns, 
 ran into a swamp where the Indians pursued, but could not over- 
 take him. He reached Hampton about midnight and gave infor- 
 mation of what had occurred. 
 
 About the same time tliat Kobinson was shot, another Exeter 
 man, John Folsom, was riding on horseback along the same road, 
 driving a pair of oxen before him. He heard the report of the 
 guns which gave Robinson his death wound, and presently dis- 
 covered the three Indians creeping on their bellies towards him. 
 He abandoned his oxen, i)ut his horse to speed and made his 
 escape, though it is said tliat one of the savages sent an ineffect- 
 ual shot after him. 
 
 In ()eto])er following the occurrences just related, the Indians 
 made another incursion to Exeter, and killed one man near Lam- 
 prey river. Several of them were seen about Exeter, and between 
 Hampton and Exeter, where they killed one or two men in the 
 woods as they were travelling homewards. The names of those 
 slain have not been preserved. These outrages naturally terrified 
 the people of the town and vicinity, and prevented them from 
 attending to their daily business, or exposing themselves in any 
 way to the ritle and the scali)ing-knife of the cruel and stealthy 
 foe. Fortunately this outbreak of hostilities was of brief duration, 
 and was ended in 1670 l)y tlie death of the chief fomenter of it, 
 and Exeter experienced no further molestation at this time. 
 
 KiN(; William's wau. 
 
 Nearly fifteen years passed away before the Indians again took 
 up the hatchet. They were then set on by the Frendi in Canada, 
 and the brunt of their attacks fell upon the border settlements of 
 
 ♦There Hccins to be an uncertainty exactly when tliis tra(;etly occurred. The 
 record of the town gives the date as the tweuty-lirst of October, 1675. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 217 
 
 New Hampsliire and Maine. A terrible massacre was committed 
 upon the settlers of Coehecho in 1689; but it was not nntil the 
 succeeding j'ear that Exeter was invaded. On the fourth of July, 
 1690, eight or nine white men went out to work in the field near 
 Lamprey river, when a party of. Indians fell upon them and slew 
 them all, and departed, carrying with them a lad into captivity. 
 The next day the enemy beset Captain Hilton's garrison in Exe- 
 ter. Lieutenant Bancroft being then stationed in the town with a 
 small force, at the distance probably of three or four miles, 
 relieved the garrison, at the loss, however, of eight or nine of his 
 party. It was of one of his men, Simon Stone * by name, that the 
 wonderful preservation from death, after numerous and seemingly 
 mortal wounds received on this occasion, is related by Cotton 
 INIather, in his Magvalia. 
 
 On the sixth day of the same July, a severe conflict took place 
 between two scouting companies under the command of Captains 
 Eloyd and Wiswall, and a large body of savages at Wheelwright's 
 pond in Lee, in which thirteen of the whites were killed. The 
 enemy then pursued their way westward, and within the period of 
 one single week added at least fifteen more victims, slain between 
 Lamprey river and Amesbury, Massachusetts, to those already 
 enumerated, in their bloody raid. How many of these belonged 
 in Exeter we have unfortunately no present means of ascertaining. 
 
 About June 9, of the next year, 1691, the Indians killed two 
 men at Exeter, whose names are unknown. 
 
 In the latter part of the succeeding month of July, an expedi- 
 tion was sent to the eastward against the Indian enemy, under the 
 command of Captain March and others, and landed at a i)lace 
 called Maquoit, near Casco, on the coast of Maine. They were 
 attacked by great numbers of the enemy, and Nathaniel Ladd, an 
 inhabitant of Exeter, 'who was in the expedition, received a mortal 
 wound, of which he died on the eleventh of August, following. 
 
 During the continuance of the Indian wars, Exeter, by reason 
 of its exposed situation, needed to be garrisoned a large part of 
 the time, not only for the protection of its own inhabitants, but 
 as a bulwark against assaults upon the interior settlements. 
 Sometimes the militia of other places were detailed for this duty, 
 but most of the time, probably, the guard was composed of Exeter 
 men. The records of their service are not now to be found, in 
 
 *Then or afterwards of Gioton, Massachusetts. 
 
218 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 most cases, but a few have fortunately escaped destruction, to 
 give us an idea of the trying experiences of the time. 
 
 The earliest that we can discover bears date Marcli 17, IG93, 
 and is as follows : 
 
 The soldiers under my command, quartered by the inhabitants 
 of Exeter from the 1 day of Decemlier, l()ii2, to the 17 of ]\Iarch, 
 l()!)2-3, the number is twenty and two, and two (piartered at Mr. 
 Andrew "Wiggins, one of them since the arrival of their majesty's 
 gevernment in this province, to the 17 March, l()i)2-.'}, tlie other 
 quartered lifteen weeks in the aforesaid time. 
 
 per me, Thomas Thaxter, Capt. 
 
 The above is a true account of the soldiers quartered by the 
 inhabitants of Exeter. 
 
 Jonathan Thing, Capt. 
 
 In the year 1693 a truce was "patched up," as Belknap pithily 
 expresses it, between the aborigines and the Pinglish, which was 
 violated without scruple by the former in the following year.* 
 But Exeter happily escaped any further attack until the month of 
 July, 169"), when two men are recorded to have been slain there by 
 the Indians. Like so many others who perished in the same man- 
 ner, they are to ns nameless. 
 
 The precept directed to the authorities of Exeter, November "2, 
 1695, for the election of assemblymen, contained also the order 
 following : 
 
 '» 
 
 You are required to give notice to the captain of your town that 
 he stands ui)on his guard, the Indians being on the frontiers. 
 
 William Keofokd, Upt. 
 
 Kinsley Hall was the captain of the first company of militia in 
 Exeter, and from his return we learn that he lost no time in pro- 
 viding for the emergency. He impressed men from time to time 
 through the autumn and winter, and until April, 1696, requiring 
 of each instalment about a month's service, as follows : 
 
 John Young, Sr., Jacob .Smith, Alexander Ciordon, Francis 
 Steel :ind .b)b .ludkins, from November 4 to December 2, 169.'). 
 
 TlioiiiMs Rollins, .lolin Sinclair, Joshua (Jilman, Edward IMasry 
 (?) and .lohn .ludkins, from November 14 to December 12, 169.3. 
 
 » )?y the Jiia««acro at Oyster river on July 18, 1794. On that occasion Exeter was 
 ordereil to furni.-li twenty men to ranj;e the woods in pursuit of the enemy, but no 
 record of their Bcrvice is to be found. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 219 
 
 Edward Dwyer, Ebenezer Folsom, John Picket, Jethro Pearson 
 and Strong Home, from December 2 to December oO, 16'J5. 
 
 Samuel Bean, Jeremy Conner, Edward Cloutman, Samuel Dol- 
 loff and James Randlet, from December 12, IGUo, to January 9, 
 1696. 
 
 John Bean, James Bean, Israel Smith, James Leavitt and 
 Stephen Oilman, from December 30, 1695, to January 20, 1696. 
 
 Samuel Piper, Nicholas Smith, Nicholas Oilman, Philip Spenlow 
 and Moses Rollins, from January 9 to February 6, 1696. 
 
 William Oraves, Clement Moody, Jonathan Smith and John 
 Leavitt, from .January 27 to February 24, 1696. 
 
 Francis Lyford, Biley Dudley, Alexander Magoon and Nathaniel 
 Ladd, from February 6 to March 5, 1696. 
 
 Nicholas Oordon, James Young, Mark Stacy and William 
 Powell, from February 24 to March 23, 1696. 
 
 Peter Folsom, from March 5 to April 2, 1696. 
 The whole account of the soldier's wages from November 5, 
 1695, to April 2, 1696, was £52, 16 s. 
 
 In addition to the above P^xeter men whose tour of duty was in 
 their own town, another, Jonathan Thing, served in the garrison 
 at Oyster river, one month from April 2, 1696 ; and sixteen others 
 were summoned to Oyster river for two days. 
 
 It appears, also, that Exeter furnished the garrison in the town 
 th]-ough the spring and summer, and until November 9, 1696, as 
 follows : 
 
 .Job Judkins, Alexander Oordon, D Meserve, Charles 
 
 Rundlet, Armstrong Home, Ebenezer Folsom, Francis Steel, 
 John Gordon, Nathan Taylor and Richard Dolloft", from April 
 13 to August 3, 1696. 
 
 David Lawrence, Thomas Wilson, John Oilman, Israel Youn<r, 
 Richard Morgan, Jonathan Clark, Ephraim Folsom, Samuel 
 Dudley, Job Judkins and David Robinson, from Au<'ust 3 to 
 Augus^t 31, 1696. 
 
 Charles Olidden, Oeorge Pearson, William Taylor, William 
 Jones, Oeorge Oorly (?), Nicholas Norris, Alexander Gordon, 
 Sr., Jonathan Wadleigh, Daniel Beau and Roger Kelly, from 
 August 31 to September 28, 1696. 
 
 James Oilman, Philip Iluntson, Philip Dudy, Jacob Smith, 
 Moses Kimming, Tlieophilus Smith, Jeremiah (Jiluuui, Joseph 
 Rollins, Benjamin Jones and Closes Norris, from September 28 to 
 October 26, 1696. 
 
 Cornelius Leary, John Bean, Sr., James Oordon, Calel) Oilman, 
 Jeremiah Bean, Abraham Folsom, William Scannnou, Richard 
 IMorgau, Sr., Benjamin Taylor and Jonathan Robinson, from 
 October 26 to November 9, \tV,){\. 
 
 Moses Leavitt also served in the garrison at Exeter from July 
 28 to September 22, 1696. 
 
220 lliSTOUV OF KXl/nCU. 
 
 No lists of the Exetor soldiers in " Kinjj; "Willinni's War," 
 except those above given, have been found ; but these are enough 
 to show tliat the daily life of the people was never wholly free 
 from apprehension, and that there was no craven spirit in the 
 Exeter men of two centuries ago. 
 
 A FOUTUNATE ESCAPK. 
 
 A remarkable coincidence, which resulted in frustrating a plan 
 formed l)y a party of savages for the destruction of tlie town, 
 occurred June t), 1G'J7. On that day a i)arty of Avonien and 
 children went into the woods, against advice and witliont a guard, 
 for the purpose of picking strawberries. To frighten them, so as 
 to render them more cautious in future, some one, witliout the 
 least suspicion that an enemy was near, fired an alarm, upon which 
 a great part of the men hurried together, with arms in their hands. 
 In point of fact, a party of Indians were at that very time lying 
 in ambush in another part of the town,* with the intention of 
 making an assault the next morning, but hearing the alarm, they 
 supposed they were discovered, and hurriedly decamped, killing, 
 on their way, John Young, wounding his son, a cliild, and taking 
 captive a tliu'd, Luke AVells, by name. Young was one of those 
 who had been impressed into service in the Exeter garrison in the 
 winter of 1GSJ5-6. 
 
 Peace was concluded in Europe between the English and F'rench 
 by the treaty of Kyswick in 1697. King William's war ended the 
 next year, and for a brief period no hostile tril)es connnitted dep- 
 redations on the northern provinces in America. l>ut in less than 
 four years tliere were such indications that the Indians were again 
 about to take the war path, that the governor and council of New 
 Hampshire, in February, 1702, ordered Captain Peter Cotlin of 
 Exeter, and the captains of Oyster river and Dover, to keep 
 scouts of two men daily from Kingston to Salmon Falls river till 
 further orders ; and in INIareh, following, ordered Captain Cotlin 
 to send two men to scout from Exeter to Pickpocket mill, thence 
 to Kingston, and so back to Exeter ; also to send two men to 
 Lamprey river, to the house of John Smith and so back to Plxeter. 
 
 C^ueen Anne came to the English throne in 1702, and her name 
 has been ai)plied to the Indian war which l)roke out afresh in 
 America the next 3'ear. 
 
 *Tlie plucc of the anilm.sli was wliat is now called Fort Ucick, in a pasture In the 
 rear of the present house of Mr. Edward Swasey. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 221 
 
 QUEEN ANNE S WAK. 
 
 In the winter of 17013-4 the government of New Hampshire re- 
 solved to send out a scouting expedition against the savage enemy. 
 Captain John Oilman, Jr., a son of Councillor John Gilman, and 
 Captain Winthrop Hilton, were the commanding officers of the 
 two companies in Exeter, and were encouraged to raise volunteers 
 for the expedition. The former reported, in a week, that he had 
 enlisted twenty men, and expected twelve more, exclusive of 
 officers ; and that several gentlemen of Exeter liad subscribed for 
 the purchase of thirty pairs of snow-shoes, for their use, wliich 
 were in preparation. Captain Hilton, a grandson of Edward 
 Hilton and a nephew of Governor Joseph Dudley, reported that 
 he had only received his notice the night before, and was of the 
 opinion that if one company were to go from Exeter, it would 
 weaken the place too much to take more naen away from it. 
 Captain Hilton, who was soon to become a successful and distin- 
 guished commander, was commissioned major, and took the com- 
 mand of the three companies composing this scouting party. 
 
 They ranged the woods on snow-shoes in quest of the savages, 
 but did not succeed in meeting any. It was "an honorable ser- 
 vice," the council declared, and ordered a handsome gratuity to 
 each of the commanding officers. 
 
 In March, 1704, a force was raised to range the shores of 
 Maine, and was put under the command of that veteran Indian 
 fighter. Colonel Benjamin Church. Hilton was appointed his 
 major, and rendered excellent service. He was allowed to have 
 the militia of the New Hampshire towns mustered, from which to 
 procure volunteers for the enterprise, and took with him, according 
 to Belknap, "a body of men;" but, unfortunately, no means of 
 knowledge exist how many were contributed by Exeter. The 
 expedition occupied the summer of 1704. 
 
 On the twenty-sixth of April, in the same year, a party of 
 Indians, who had committed depredations in Oyster river the day 
 before, killed Edward Taylor near Lamprey river, and afterwards 
 took his wife Rebecca and their son, and carried them into captiv- 
 ity. Mrs. Taylor was subsecjuently restored to her friends, but 
 had been harshly treated. Her master, who was called Captain 
 Sampson, wtis on one occasion so enraged with her (without pro- 
 vocation) that he determined to put an end to her life. He lirst 
 attempted to hang her to the limb of a tree by his girdle, but it 
 gave way under the weight of her body. The disappointment 
 
222 HISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 angered him to such a dogreo, that he resolved, if a second attempt 
 failed, he would heather brains out with his hatchet. Fortunately, 
 before he could put his resolve into execution, Bomaseen, an 
 Indian of authority, made his appearance and arrested the fatal 
 blow. 
 
 The histories inform us in disappointing general terms, that 
 about August 10, 170-i, the savages did much mischief at Ames- 
 bury, Haverhill and Exeter. But no particulars are preserved, 
 save that John Young was slain at Exeter while travelling betAveen 
 the town and Pickpocket. He was probably the sou of the person 
 of the same name who fell beneath the weapons of the savage foe 
 seven years before. 
 
 COLONEL Hilton's expeditions. 
 
 In the winter of 1704-5, the indefatigable Colonel Wiuthrop 
 Hilton with two hundred and seventy men, among whom >vere 
 twenty friendly Indians, was sent to Norridgewock on snow-shoes, 
 to harry the enem}'. They found the village deserted, but burnt 
 the wigwams and a chapel, erected by the French. 
 
 The summer of 1705 was spent in negotiations for exchanges of 
 prisoners ; but in July, 1706, notice was received that a large body 
 of French Mohawks were on their way towards Pascataqua. Colo- 
 nel Hilton with sixty-four men marched from Exeter to intercept 
 them, but was obliged to return for want of provisions, without 
 meeting them. The enemy committed depredations at Dunstable, 
 Araesbury and Kingston, after which a party of them numbering 
 about twenty remained lurking around the house of Colonel Hilton 
 in ]<>xeter, with the intent of destroying that brave and energetic 
 oflicer. On the twenty-third of July they observed ten men go out 
 to the field in the morning, with their scythes, to mow. The 
 Indians crept cautiously between them and the weapons which 
 they had laid aside, and then fell upon them. They killed four, 
 Kichard Mattoon, his son Hubertus, Robert Barber and Samuel 
 Pease, and three others they carried captive, Edward Hall, Sauuiel 
 ]\Iighill and a mulatto. Three only escaped, Joseph Hall, John 
 Taylor, wlio was sorely wounded but recovered, and another. 
 Edward Hall (a nephew of Colonel Hilton) and Mighill were 
 carried to Canada, where Hall obtained so much favor from the 
 French and Indians by building them a saw-mill that they allowed 
 him and IMighill to go out into the woods to hunt, and sometimes 
 unattended. 'I'Ih' two prisoners took advantage of one of these 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 223 
 
 opportunities and made theii* escape. They were for three weeks 
 traversing tlie forests on foot, with nothing to subsist on except 
 lily roots and the i*ind of trees, till Mighill was so exhausted that 
 he lay down to die. Hall made all possible provisions for his 
 comfort and left him, to seek the nearest English settlement. He 
 soon reached Deerlield, Massachusetts, and immediately sent a 
 party to Mighill's relief. They found him alive, and brought hmi 
 to the fort where he recovered his strength, and returned with his 
 companion to their home. The names of Hall and Mighill are 
 found upon the tax list of Exeter in 1714. 
 
 In the winter of 1706-7, Colonel Hilton, in command of two 
 hundred and twenty men, made another excursion to the eastward, 
 which resulted in the destruction of above twenty of the enemv. 
 
 In the mouth of July, 1707, two brothers, Stephen and Jacob 
 Gilman, as they were riding from Exeter to Kingston, were 
 ambushed and fired upon by a party of seven Indians. Stephen 
 had his horse shot under him, and was in danger of being scalped 
 before he could get clear. The other received several shot 
 through his clothes, one of which grazed his body. His horse also 
 was wounded, yet he defended himself on foot, and succeeded in 
 getting into the garrison. One escaped to Kingston, the other to 
 Exeter. 
 
 Later in the year, on the thirteenth of September, one man was 
 killed near the meeting-house in Exeter, by the Indians ; and two 
 days afterward, another, John Dolloff, in the woods. 
 
 In the winter of 1708-9, Colonel Hilton made a long and tedious 
 march with one hundred and seventy men to Pequawket in search 
 of tlie enemy, but without success. 
 
 In 1709, on the sixth of May, William Moody, Samuel Stevens 
 and two sons of Jeremiah Gilman, Jeremiah and Andrew, were 
 surprised by the Indians at Pickpocket mill in Exeter, and carried 
 away prisoners. Moody was taken to Canada, and while his 
 captors were traversing French river with hun in canoes, a few 
 days afterwai'd, they were attacked by a party of Englisli under 
 Captain Wright of Northami)tou, IMassacluisetts. Several of the 
 Indians were killed, and Moody was left alone with one sava""e 
 in a canoe. The Englisli encouraged him to despatch the Indian, 
 which he attempted, but in the struggle the canoe was overset 
 and ]\Ioody swam to the shore. Two or three of the English ran 
 down to tlu' l)ank and helped him to land, l)ut a number of the 
 enemy attacked them, and Moody unhappily yielded himself auain 
 
224 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 to the savages, who afterwards put him to cruel torture, roasted 
 him alive at the stake, ami devoured his liesh. 
 
 The brothers Oilman, after their capture, were separated from 
 each other. Andrew was told that Jeremiah was killed and eaten ; 
 and as the latter never returned to Hxeter the story was for a 
 lonf"- time believed to be true. But it is since alleged that after a 
 tedious captivity Jeremiah escaped to the Connecticut river, fol- 
 lowed it to its mouth, and there spent the residue of his life, and 
 that his descendants are now to be found in the States of Connec- 
 ticut and New York. Andrew returned to his friends, and lived 
 in that part of PLxeter which is now Brentwood, for almost half a 
 century afterwards. Stevens, too, returned to Exeter, and was 
 taxed there in 1718. 
 
 On the eleventh of June, 1709, as Ephraim Folsom was riding 
 home about sunset, from the village of Exeter to his house in 
 what is now South Newmarket, he was fired upon by an Indian 
 and killed. 
 
 In 1710 the Indians were very menacing, and scouts were kept 
 up continually on the frontier. A few rolls of their names have 
 been preserved, which show that Exeter was not ])ackward in fur- 
 nishing men for this duty. Captain Nicholas Ciihnan led a scout- 
 ing party from June 21 to 23, comprising the following persons : 
 
 John Barber, Thomas Dolloff, John Dudley, Jonathan Folsom, 
 ■\Villium French, Dudley Hilton, Jonathan Hilton, John Lougee, 
 Thomas 3IcKeen, Richard Smith, Kobert Woolford and Kichard 
 York. 
 
 And from June 23 to 25, the following : 
 
 Daniel Bean, Jeremiah Conner. John Dvisoo, James Dudley, 
 Samutl Dudley, Stephen Dudley, Daniel Karnes, Kphraim Folsom, 
 John Folsom, Jonathan Folsom, Cartee (iilman, David (iilman, 
 Edward (iilman. Jeremiah Cilman, Benjamin .Jones. Daniel La<ld, 
 John Ladd, Nathaniel Ladd, Joseph Lawrence, Daniel Leary, 
 Samuel :\Iitehell, James Sinclair, Nicholas Smith, Bartholomew 
 Thing, John Thing, Daniel Young, Jonathan Young. 
 
 Cai)tain Nicholas Oilman was also in command of a detachment 
 at Hilton's garrison of Exeter, of which the following persons had, 
 on the third of July, served seven days: Jeremiah Arringdine, 
 Samuel liean, Daniel Fames, Cornelius Leary, Thomas Lowell, 
 Bartholomew Thing, John York and John Young ; and the follow- 
 ino-, fourteen days: Armstrong Horn, Thomas Leary and Samuel 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 225 
 
 Lovering. And on the fifth of July he went again on a scout of 
 two days m command of the following persons : Daniel Bean, 
 John Bean, Jeremiah Conner, Philip Duda, James Dudley, Samuel 
 Dudley, Abraham Folsom, John Folsom, Cartee Gilman, Daniel 
 Oilman, Jeremiah Gilman, Jonathan Hilton, John Ladd, Nathan- 
 iel Ladd, Daniel Leary, John Nash, John Perkins, John Scribner, 
 James Sinclair and Daniel Young. 
 
 DEATH OF COLONEL HILTON. 
 
 Scarcely two weeks after the return of this scout, the enemy, 
 who had long been on the watch for an opportunity to take their 
 daring and dreaded enemy. Colonel Winthrop Hilton, at a disad- 
 vantage, succeeded in their purpose. He went out on the twenty- 
 second of July with a party of seventeen men, to peel some large 
 hemlock logs which he had cut for masts the previous season, and 
 which wei-e liable to be injured by worms unless stripped of their 
 bark. They were lying at the distance of about fourteen miles to 
 the westward of his house. The day had been stormy. While 
 the party were employed in doing the work, a body of Indians 
 fired upon them from an ambush and killed three. Colonel Hilton 
 and two others. The remainder of the whites, intimidated by 
 their loss, and finding their guns unser%T[ceable by the wet, fled, 
 except two who were taken captive. These were Dudley Hilton, 
 a brother of the colonel, and John Lougee, both of Exeter. The 
 next day one hundred men marched in pursuit of the Indians, but 
 discovered only the bodies of the fallen. The enemy in their 
 triumph had struck their hatchets into the brain of Colonel Hilton, 
 and left a lance sticking in his heart. His body was brought to 
 his home, and buried with every mark of respect and honor. 
 
 Dudley Hilton was never more heard from, and probably 
 perished in captivity. Lougee was taken to Canada and thence 
 to England. He returned to Exeter as early as 1716, and was 
 married and left descendants there. 
 
 The enemy were so much emboldened by their success that they 
 appeared in Exeter in the open road, and carried away prisoners 
 four children who were there at play. Three of them were un- 
 doubtedly daughters of Richard Dolloff ; aud the next that we hear 
 of them is from a petition of their father to the Assembly of the 
 Province in May, 1717, in which he stated that in the preceding 
 summer he went to Canada to redeem them, and succeeded in 
 
 15 
 
22G lUSTUKV OF EXETEK. 
 
 getting oue, by paying to her Indian captor twelve ponnds and 
 seven shillings. For this money he gave a bond to ^lajor Schuy- 
 ler, a commissioner appointed by the province of New York ; and 
 he prayed that tlie province of New Ilanipsliire wonld afford hiin 
 aid, that he might go again to Canada to obtain the release of his 
 other two children. The assembly voted him ten pounds in 1717, 
 and a like amount, the year following. The printed records from 
 which the foregoing account is gathered, are supplemented by tra- 
 dition, to the effect that the children were on their way from school 
 to the strong-house in what is known as the "garrison pasture," 
 and were stopi)ing to play, when they wei'e captured, and that 
 another child luul just gone into the woods to gather an armful of 
 hemlock, and seeing the fate of her companions was enabled to 
 conceal hex'self in the bushes, and so escaped. Tradition further 
 states that after peace was established, their father brought two 
 of the girls back from Canada. The other one, who had married 
 an Indian husband, also returned to Exeter with the intention of 
 remaining, but, thinking she ■was slighted on account of the match 
 she had made, went back to Canada. 
 
 The Indians, at the same time that they captured the Dolloff 
 children, took John Wedgwood and carried him to Canada, and 
 killed John ^Nlagoon. The fate of the latter was attended by a 
 singular coincidence. Three nights before, he had dreamed that 
 he should be slain by the Indians at a certain place near his 
 brother's barn. He repeatedly visited the spot, and told the 
 neighbors that he should, in a little whUe, be killed there; "and 
 it fell out accordingly." 
 
 On the sixteenth of August, 1710, less than a month after the 
 death of Colonel Hilton, a company of ninety-one men marched, 
 under the command of Captain John (rilman, in pursuit of the 
 enemy. They were out five days, but returned without meeting 
 the invaders. The roll of the company is given in Potter's Mili- 
 tary History of New Hampshire, and the commander and about 
 half of the number appear to have been inhabitants of Exeter. 
 
 The following named persons, Ix'lieved all to have belonged to 
 Exeter, served at various tiims in 1710 in scouting parties in 
 pursuit of the savages, under the connnand of Captain Nicholas 
 Gilman or Captain John Oilman. 
 
 Jeremiah Arringdine John Bean 
 
 John Harber Samuel Bean, Jr. 
 
 Daniel Bean Jeremiah Conner 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 227 
 
 Thomas Dolloff 
 John Drisco 
 Philip Duda 
 James Dudley 
 John Dudley 
 Samuel Dudley 
 Stephen Dudley 
 Daniel Eames 
 Abraham Folsom 
 Ephraim Folsom 
 John Folsom 
 Jonathan Folsom 
 Nathaniel Folsom, Jr. 
 William French 
 Cartee Oilman 
 Daniel Oilman 
 David Oilman 
 Edward Oilman 
 Jeremiah Oilman 
 Andrew Olidden 
 Thomas Gordon 
 Josiah Hall 
 Dudley Hilton 
 Jonathan Hilton 
 Armstrong Horn 
 Benjamin Jones 
 Daniel Ladd 
 John Ladd 
 Nathaniel Ladd 
 Cornelius Lary 
 Daniel Lary 
 Thomas Lary 
 
 Joseph Lawrence 
 James Leavitt 
 John Light 
 John Lougee 
 Samuel Lovering 
 Thomas Lowell 
 Thomas McKeen 
 Alexander Magoon 
 John Marsh 
 Samuel Mighill 
 John Perkins 
 Thomas Powell 
 Jonathan Robinson 
 Thomas Robinson 
 Benjamin Rollins 
 John Sci'ibner 
 James Sinclair 
 James Sinclair, Jr. 
 John Sinclair 
 John Sinclair, Jr. 
 Israel Smith 
 Ithiel Smith 
 Nicholas Smith 
 Richard Smith 
 Benjamin Taylor 
 Bartholomew Thing 
 John Thing 
 Robert Woolford 
 John York 
 Richard York 
 Daniel Young 
 Jonathan Young 
 
 OCCURRENCES OF 1712. 
 
 No other loss of life at the hands of savages occurred in Exe- 
 ter so far as can be ascertained, until the sixteenth of April, 1712. 
 At about four o'clock in the afternoon of that day, Timothy Cun- 
 ningham, as he was travelling from Hilton's garrison to the village 
 of Exeter, was shot down by a party of Indians. He was a shop 
 keeper in Boston,* and left a wife and four children, and a respect- 
 able property there. It is not known what errand it was that 
 
 •The writer is indebted to the papers of that distinguisheil anti(iuary, the late 
 Charles W. Tiittlc, Ph. D., for information as to the residence and circumstances of 
 this stranger victim of savage hostility. 
 
228 
 
 IIISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 called him forth on tlie journey that terminated so tragicalh'. His 
 body was interred in the second burj'ing-grouud in Exeter, where 
 his gravestone still remains, with the inscription: "Here lies 
 buried y'' body of 'riinothy Cunningham, aged 4G years. Departed 
 this life y' IG of April 1712." 
 
 In the year 1712 the following men were drawn from the Exe- 
 ter companies of Captain Nicholas Oilman and Captain John 
 Gilman for a scouting party under the command of Captain James 
 Davis. Sixteen others from the same place served with these, 
 but as their names are already given in the list of 1710, they are 
 not repeated here. 
 
 J 
 
 Edward Bean 
 Jeremiah Bean 
 John Bean 
 John Bean, Jr. 
 Samuel Bean 
 Jabez Bradbury 
 John Clark 
 Ebenezcr Clough 
 Tristram Coffin 
 Samuel DoUoff 
 Jonathan Dudley 
 Samuel l'',lkins 
 Jeremiah l^^olsom 
 Joshua Gilman 
 Moms Gilman 
 Alexander Gordon 
 Thomas Harris 
 Peter llavey 
 John Leavitt 
 Selah Leavitt 
 Samuel Magoon 
 
 Nathaniel Mason 
 Clement Moody 
 Abraham Morgan 
 Jonathan Norris 
 Jethro Pearson 
 Richard Preston 
 Owen Reynolds 
 John Roberts 
 Aaron Rollins 
 Joseph Rollins 
 William Scammon 
 Samuel Scribner 
 Samuel Sinclair 
 Daniel Smith 
 David Smith 
 Nathaniel Smith 
 Joseph Taylor 
 Joseph Thing 
 Matthew Thompson 
 Robert Young 
 
 ASSAULT UPON THE ROLLINS FAMILY. 
 
 The last Indiuu raid upon Exeter territijry that history relates, 
 was during what is known as " Lovewell's war," on the twenty- 
 ninth of August, 1723, at Lamprey river. Edward Taylor, who 
 was killed by the Indians, as already stated, on April 26, 1704, 
 left a daughter who was the wife of Aaron Rollins. Most of the 
 inhabitants at that time retired to the garrison houses at night, 
 for greater security, but this Rollins and his family, which con- 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 229 
 
 sisted of his wife, a son and two daughtei-s, had neglected to do ; 
 and on the night of the day mentioned, eighteen redskins assaulted 
 his house. His wife, with two of the children, attempted to make 
 their escape by flight, but were immediatel}' seized. The husband 
 secured the door before the assailants could enter and, with his 
 eldest daughter of about twelve, stood on the defence, repeatedly 
 firing upon the enemy whenever they attempted to force an 
 entrance, and at the same time calling loudly to his neighbors for 
 help, which none dared to render. Rollins was at length killed, 
 and the savages broke open the door and slew his daughter. Him 
 they scalped, and cut off the poor girl's head. Mrs. Rollins and 
 her sou and the remaining daughter were carried to Canada. The 
 mother was redeemed after a few years, but the son was adopted 
 by the Indians, and lived all his life with them. The daughter 
 married a Frenchman, and when she had reached the age of sixty 
 years, returned to her native place, with her husband, in the 
 expectation of recovering the property which had belonged to her 
 father ; but finding that to be impracticable they returned after a 
 year or two to Canada. 
 
 In the month of May, the next year, 1724, Captain Daniel Ladd 
 of Exeter, was ordered with a company from the same place to 
 march on a scouting expedition in search of the Indians, in the 
 direction of Lake Winnipisaukee. They were most of them absent 
 six days, and found no enemy. Their names are recorded as 
 follows : 
 
 Daniel Ladd, Captain Abraham Folsom 
 
 Andi'ew Oilman, Lieutenant John Folsom 
 
 Ezekiel Oilman, Clerk Patrick Greing (?) 
 
 Daniel Oiles. Sergeant Xathaniel Olidden 
 
 John Moody, Corporal Jose])h Leavitt 
 
 John Huntoon, Corporal John Magoon 
 
 Abner Thurston, Corporal Philip Moody 
 
 Nehemiah Leavitt, Pilot John Mudget 
 
 Samuel Akers James Norris 
 
 John Bean Ephraim Philbrick 
 
 John Cartee John Quimby 
 
 , Joseph Coleman ' Christopher Robinson 
 
 Jonathan Conner Jacob Smith 
 
 Samuel Eastman Jonathan Young 
 
 For a score of years after this there was peace with the Indians 
 and their French abettors. During that time, two or three tiers 
 
230 IIISTOKY OF EXETEK. 
 
 of townships were partially settled on the Canada side of Exeter, 
 so that that place was no longer an exposed frontier, and did not 
 direetlv snffcr from hostile inroads, during the French and Indian 
 war which began in 1744. But the town was from time to time 
 called upon to furnish men for scouting parties, and for the ]iro- 
 tection of the exterior settlements. The following troopers, from 
 the company of Captain Dudley Odlin of Exeter, performed scout 
 duty to Nottingham and on the frontier from July 29 to August 
 7, 1745, in pursuance of the governor's orders : 
 
 Jethro Pearson, Q. Master Daniel Tlol)inson 
 
 John Dudley, Jr. Ephraini llobinson 
 
 Jonathan Fogg John Rundlett 
 
 Peter Hersey Richard Sanborn 
 
 Ebenezer Light Joseph ^^'adleigh, Jr. 
 
 THE LOUISBUUG EXrEDITION. 
 
 In 1745 occurred that seemingly quixotic campaign against the 
 strong fortress of Louisburg on the island of Capo P>reton, which 
 was projected by a tanner, "planned by a lawyer, and executed 
 by a merchant, at the head of a body of husbandmen and mechan- 
 ics," but which, to the surprise of the world, resulted, by reason 
 of a series of fortunate accidents, in a triumphant success. New 
 Hampshire contributed five hundred men to the expedition in the 
 first instance, and a reinforcement of one hundred and fifteen 
 more. From Exeter, Ezekiel (lilman went as jnajor of the New 
 Hampshire regiment, Trueworthy Ladd and Daniel Ladd as cap- 
 tains, James Dudley, Samuel Conner and Jonathan Folsom as 
 lieutenants, and Dr. Robert Oilman as surgeon ; and John Light 
 enlisted and commanded a company of the reinforcement. No 
 complete rolls of the troops em^jloyed in this enterprise are found, 
 but we have what purports to be a list of Captain Light's com- 
 pany, which numbered forty-seven men, nearly all of Exeter. 
 
 noi.T, OK CAl'TAIN' I.TOHT's COMPANY. 
 
 John Light, Captain Caleb Brown (sick) 
 
 Joshua Winslow, Lieutenant John Hrown 
 
 Jeremiah Veasey, Ensign Jack Covey 
 
 Jonas Addison George Creighton 
 
 Joseph Akers Amos Dolloft'(sick) 
 
 Joseph Atkinson David Dolloff 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 231 
 
 Joseph Dudley Moses Lougee 
 
 Joseph Dudley James Marsh 
 
 John Edgerly Clement Moody 
 
 Moses Ferrin A\'illiam Morey 
 
 William Fifield Joseph Philbriek 
 
 Moses Flanders William Prescott 
 
 Joseph Folsom Eliphalet Quimby 
 
 John Forrest Benjamin Robinson 
 
 John Gibson Josiah Sanborn (sick) 
 
 Joseph Giles Samuel Scribner 
 
 James Gilman John Severance 
 
 James Gloyd (?) Ebenezer Sinclair 
 
 James Gordon Samuel Sinclair 
 
 Robert Gordon Abram Stockbridge 
 
 Joseph Judkins Jonas Ward 
 
 Daniel Kelley (sick) Thomas Watson 
 
 Nathaniel Larason John Wells 
 Thomas Lary 
 
 It is evident that the rolls of the New Hampshire troops engaged 
 in this expedition are very imperfect. A petition addressed to 
 the General Assembly in November, 1745, setting out the shame- 
 ful defects of the commissary department, is subscribed by eight 
 persons, all of whom describe themselves as "commissioned offi- 
 cers " of the New Hampshire forces who took part in the expedi- 
 tion. Of these eight, seven were inhabitants of Exeter; namely, 
 Trueworthy Dudley, James Dudley, Jonathan Folsom, Andrew 
 Downer, Daniel Gale, Peter Thing and Benjamin Kimming. But 
 the names of the last four of them are not found in any roster of 
 the troops that is known. 
 
 It is on this occasion that the town, for the first time, granted 
 partial exemption from taxation to volunteer soldiers. On the 
 third of February, 174;3-6, it was 
 
 Voted, That all who went in the first embarkation against Cape 
 Breton be exemi)ted from their town poll-tax rate the present year, 
 and that all who yet remain at Cape Breton be exempted from pay- 
 ing their province rate for their polls the present year. 
 
 Major Gilman distinguished hunself b}' his ingenious device for 
 transporting the artillery over the swamps, into which the wheels 
 of the gun carriages sank so deeply that they could not be moved. 
 He had been engaged in lumbering, and was used to drawing 
 masts by teams of men over boggy ground upon sleds, and advised 
 the same course with the artillery. It was adopted, and with 
 
232 IIISTUUV OF KXKTEH. 
 
 complete success, and the expedient contributed greatly to the 
 speedy reduction of the town. 
 
 Dr. Oilman was severely wounded near Louisburg by a piece of 
 slu'lK and returned to his home. 
 
 OCCURRENCES OF 1746. 
 
 In 171('> a regiment of eight hundred men was raised in New 
 Hampshire for an expedition against Canada, and placed under the 
 command of Colonel Theodore Atkinson. One of the companies 
 was raised by Captain Dudley Odlin of Exeter ; but no further in- 
 formation in reference to it is to be found. The expedition 
 accomplished nothing. 
 
 On the first of .June, in the same year, Captain Daniel Ladd of 
 Exeter commanded a company of about fifty men to perform scout 
 duty at Canterbury and vicinity. His lieutenant, Jonathan 
 Bradley, and a part of his men were from P^xeter. They were on 
 duty through June, August and September. On the tenth of 
 August they were at Rumford, now Concord, and Lieutenant 
 Bradley, with a party of seven, started for a garrison two miles 
 distant, and fell into an ambush of a large part}' of savages, who 
 killed the lieutenant, fighting valiantly till the last, and five of his 
 companions, and carried two into captivity, one only escaping. 
 
 Two days after Captain Ladd's company set out, a squad of 
 fourteen men, all from Exeter it is believed, marched under the 
 command of Sergeant Joseph Rollins, from l*ortsmouth to Canter- 
 bury, to carry provisions to the soldiers there stationed. They 
 took with tliem a train of sixteen horses. The roll comprises the 
 names of Jeremiah Bean, Wadleigh Cram, Joshua Folsom, Josiah 
 Folsom, Daniel Grant, Samuel Hall, Thomas Kimball, Joseph 
 Leavitt, Samuel Norris, Jonathan Robinson, Josiah Robinson, 
 Josiali Rollins, Josiah Sanborn and Benjamin Smith. They were 
 absent three days. 
 
 On the twenty-first of August, 174(), John (or Nathaniel) 
 Folsom of Exeter was shot dead by Indians at Nottingham, where 
 he was stationed for the defence of the inhabitants. The tradi- 
 tion is tliat he volunteered to take the place of a neighbor who had 
 been drafted for the service, but whose sweetheart was unwilling 
 that he should go ; and that he was left alone at Nottingham by 
 his companion soldiers, before those drawn to succeed them had 
 arrived there ; also that two of the Indians in the party who killed 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 233 
 
 him were Sabatis and Plausawa, who were, iu the fall of 1753, 
 slain by Peter Bowen and one Morrill at Contoocook. 
 
 THE CKOWX POINT EXPEDITIONS. 
 
 In 1755, war having broken out again between the Eno-lish an 
 
 the French, and an expedition being projected against Crerwn 
 Point, under the command of General William Johnsonf New 
 Hampshire raised a regiment of five hundred men for th^urpose, 
 and put it under the command of Colonel Joseph Blanchard. The 
 Exeter compan}' consisted of eighty-four men. 
 
 The following is a roll of the compan}^, being the imperfect list 
 given in Potter's Military History, completed from papers left by 
 Captain Folsom, who, during the Revolution, was a major general 
 in command of the State militia : 
 
 A 
 
 Nathaniel Folsom, Captain 
 Jeremiah Oilman, Lieutenant 
 
 onathan Folsom, Ensign 
 David Page, Ensign 
 John Cartee, Sergeant 
 Oilman Dudley, Sergeant 
 Jonathan Xorris, Sergeant 
 Ellas Smith, Sergeant 
 Jacob Smith, Sergeant 
 Moses Oilman, Corporal 
 William Oilman, Corporal 
 Dudley Hardy, Corporal 
 Solomon Smith, Coi'poral 
 Nathaniel Folsom, Jr., Clerk 
 William Moore, Drummer 
 Moses Baker 
 Benjamin Batchelder 
 AVilliam Batchelder 
 Ebenezer Bean 
 Dudley Becket 
 Jacob Bridgham 
 Daniel Cartee 
 Benjamin Cass 
 Francis Coombs 
 Robert Cram 
 Thomas Creighton 
 ^\'illiam Davis 
 David DoDoff 
 Joseph Dolloff 
 
 Nicholas Dolloff 
 Benjamin Dow 
 Samuel Dudley 
 Trueworthy Dudley 
 Benjamin Folsom 
 John Folsom 
 Benjamin Fox 
 Edward Fox 
 Caleb Oilman 
 Jeremiah Oilman, Jr. 
 Joseph Ooodhue 
 Benjamin Green 
 Ambrose Hinds 
 Jacob Hobbs 
 John Holland 
 Ebenezer Hutchinson 
 John Kimball 
 Nathaniel Kimball 
 Benjamin Kimming 
 Joseph Leavitt 
 Nathaniel Leavitt 
 Oreen Longfellow 
 Nathaniel Meloon 
 Isaac Perkins 
 Thomas Perkins 
 Epliraim Pettingill 
 Joseph Pettit 
 Jacob Pike 
 James Piper 
 
234 
 
 HISTORY OF KXF/rKR. 
 
 Jcromiiili rrcscott 
 Samuel I'ulsift-r 
 Jose])h I'lirinf^ton 
 llobert KoUius 
 Daniel Sanborn 
 Tristram Sanborn 
 Joseph Scribner 
 Kobcrt Seldon 
 Abraham Sheriff 
 Abraham Smart 
 I'Alwartl Smith 
 Israel Smitli 
 Jacol) Smitli, Jr. 
 Jacob Smith, 3d. 
 John Smith 
 
 Jonathan Smith 
 Solomon Smith, Jr. 
 Thomas Smith 
 A\'illiam Smith 
 John Steel 
 Nathaniel Stevens 
 John Taylor 
 John Thing 
 Caleb Thurston 
 John Thurston 
 ISIatthias Towle 
 Samuel \\'el)b 
 Josiali WifTgin 
 Samuel AVinslow 
 John Whittum 
 
 CAPTAIN 
 
 SOM AT LAK 
 
 On the ei<2;htli of September General Jolii)s6u was attacked in 
 his camp at Lake Gedrge by Baron Dieskau at^I^e head of the 
 French troops and Indians, who met with a disastnH^s rei)idse. 
 The New Hampshire regiment was stationed at Fort Edward, 
 several miles away, but a scouting party having reported that 
 there were indications of a conflict, Captain Folsom was ordered 
 out with eighty men of the New Hampshire regiment (presumably 
 the Exeter company) and forty men of New York luider Captain 
 McGinnis. They attacked and dispersed the guard placed over 
 the bao'o'age of the French army, and when the retreating troo[)s 
 of Dieskau appeared, Folsom stationed his men among the trees, 
 and kept up a tire upon the enemy till night, inflicting nuich 
 damage. This exploit, in which Folsom lost l)ut six men, and 
 deprived the enemy of their baggage and anmmnition, gained 
 great credit to that officer and his conunaml. 
 
 After the engagement at Lake George it was deemed necessary 
 to reinforce General Johnson, and New Hampshire put in the lield 
 a second regiment, of three hundred men, commanded by Colonel 
 Peter Gilman of Exeter. The flrst company had for its officers two 
 Exeter men, Jethro Pearson, captain, and Nicholas (Jilman, lieu- 
 tenant, and was composed of inhabitants of the town and vicinity. 
 
 A contribution by several of the citizens of the town in Septem- 
 ber, 17.0;'), produced the ^^tiin of two luindri'd andseveuty pounds, 
 to be divided as bounty between six volunteer troopers in the 
 Crown Point expedition. The names of live of the volunteers 
 
J/lCA^" , ' / 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETERV 23o 
 
 appear by a contemporaneous document to have been Nathaniel 
 Thing, p^liphalet Giddiuge, Samuel Cpnner, Jr., Joseph Smith 
 and Robert Smitli. It is not known wlio was the sixth. 
 
 About the same time a scout was led into the vicinity of Number 
 Four (Charlestown), by Captain Siimmersbee Gilman. It is un- 
 certain who or how many others, of the citizens of Exeter were of 
 the party, but tradition gives,/xhe names of Dr. Robert Gilman 
 and Captain James Leavitt a^ among them. 
 
 The regiment contributcia by New Hampshire in 1756 for the 
 expedition against CrowH Point, and commanded by Colonel 
 Nathaniel Meserve, GOntained these three subaltern officers, 
 Siimuel Folsom, Davicf Page and Trueworthy Ladd, and a number 
 of men, belonging to Exeter, several of whom were attached to a 
 company of carpenters, under the command of Captain John 
 Giddinge. Toward the close of the campaign Captain John 
 Gilman joined the regmient with a company of seventy-three men, 
 recruited from Exeter and neighboring places. Little was accom- 
 plished by the expedition. 
 
 Another " Crown Point " expedition was organized in 1757, and 
 a New Hampshire regiment under the same colonel took part in 
 it. John Gilman was the major, and John Lamson the surgeon's 
 mate, of the regiment, both of Exeter. A compau}' under Captain 
 Richard Emery was raised in Exeter and the adjacent towns. 
 The greater part of the regiment with its lieutenant colonel and 
 major, including this company, were surrendered at Fort "William 
 Henry on the ninth of August, by the English Colonel Monroe, 
 to the French General Montcalm. The capitulation provided that 
 the English and provincials should be allowed the honors of war 
 and a safe escort with their baggage to Fort Edward. This stip- 
 ulation was shamefully violated. The Indian allies of the French 
 fell upon the defenceless prisoners, and plundered and butchered 
 or made prisoners of a great portion of them. The New Hamp- 
 shire regiment lost eighty of its two hundred men. 
 
 CAPITULATION OK KOUT WILLIAM HENRY. 
 
 Of Exeter men. Dr. Joliu Lamson, James Calfe, Antipas 
 Gilman, Tliomas Parker and Cjvsar Nero (a slave of Major 
 Gilman) are known to have been carried captive to Canada. It 
 is believed that they all, excepting Calfe, eventually returned to 
 their homes, though Cjesar Nero continued a prisoner for three 
 
236 HISTOKY OF KXETEK. 
 
 voars or moro. As for Dr. Lamsoii, his Jidventures deserve espe- 
 cial ineutioii. ^^hen the savages were let loose upou llu' i»risoners 
 he allowed himself to be stripped of his clothing, rather than lose 
 his lifo, and was taken a captive to Canada. His Indian master 
 there, when under the influence of strong drink, repeatedly 
 threatened his life, and the doctor, upou application to the French 
 foveruor at Montreal, was ransomed, and despatched to France in 
 a cartel ship, whence he was exchanged and sent to England. 
 There, by I'eason of his familiarity with the French language, he 
 was suspected of being a spy, but a letter whicli he wrote in exon- 
 eration of himself attracted the attention of General Edward 
 Wolfe, the father of the future captor of CJuebec, and Lamson 
 was appointed surgeon's mate in the king's regiment which the 
 elder Wolfe commanded. But Lamson desired to return to his 
 home, and the general procured him a position on the Norwich 
 man-of-war bound to America. He thus returned to Exeter after 
 an absence of less than two years. He was not deterred by his 
 hard experience from subsequently serving as surgeon of another 
 New Hampshire regiment, as will appear. 
 
 At the same massacre at Fort William Henry, ]Major John 
 Oilman was fortunate enough to escape captivity, but at the cost 
 of losing his clothing a-nd of suffering great hardships. It is said 
 that to avoid the savages he was obliged to swim the Hudson 
 river three several times. 
 
 His statement of the loss of property which he sustained on the 
 occasion, and tVn- which he was reimbursed by the province, is 
 here given, as evidence of the style in'which an officer of rank, at 
 that day, took the field. 
 
 An Inventory of Cloaths &c Taken by the Indians from ^Nlajor 
 John Oilman after the Capitulation at Fort William lleniy in 
 August, 17."i7. — \'iz. 
 
 To i Great Coat £1 ").-thrce other Coats £10- 
 :j Jackets £:50-2 Wuistc Coats £12- 
 1 Gown £i>-2 pr biTcches £14- 
 5 White Shirts £2.j-4 Striped Do £10- 
 
 1 pr boots 90s.-2 pr shoes uOs- 
 
 2 Worsted Cajis 22s (i-li ].inncn Do 2ns- 
 2 black ribbands 22s (y-2 Silk haiulk'ls GOs 
 1 Tea pot 15s-l Coffe pot 9s-2 tin pint pots 7s G- ") 
 
 1 Do i pint 28 1 Do Jill Is 1 Tunnel 2s-Grater Is '^ 2. G. 6 
 
 2 Tin Sause 68-3 Tea Spoons Is 9 j 
 
 £oo. 
 
 0. 
 
 -12. 
 
 0. 
 
 2:5. 
 
 0. 
 
 •So. 
 
 0. 
 
 7. 
 
 0. 
 
 2. 
 
 2. 6 
 
 4. 
 
 2. 6 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 237 
 
 4 lb. Chocolate 20s lib. Tea 35s-S lb. Coffee 'A'ls 4. 7. 
 
 3 pr worsted stocking lOOs-3 pr Cotton Do. 75s- 3 pr yarn 
 
 Do. 52s 6- 
 1 sold Laced Hatt £12 1 Ditto plain £4 
 1 Wigg 90s-2 tin Canisters lOs 1 lb Ginger 5s 
 Bible 2 Vols 60s Sermon book 10s Ivory book 15s 
 
 1 book of Military discipline 
 
 2 c Purap nails 2s 6 do lOd Ditto 3s-l brass Ink pot 10s- 
 
 1 Pocket knife & fork 7s-l paper Ink powder os 
 
 2 pr gloves 20s-l bridle 20s-Saddle baggs 40s 
 1 Comb Is 6 2 blankets £(j-l Chest Lock 20s- 
 1 gun £17. 10 1 Sword Silver hilted £20-1 Flask 30s 
 1 AVatch £20 1 Tin paper Case 7s 6 
 1 Pocket book 5s Cash 50s-Table Cloth 15s 
 
 1 glass bottle 2s-l wooden Ditto 4s- 
 
 2 flat Irons 33s 9, 1 Punch bowl 13s 3d- 
 6h lb Pewter 60s 9d-i Doz Tea Cups & Sausers 15s- 
 i Doz knives & forks 33s 9d i Doz wine glasses 33s 9 
 1 pepper box 2s-a Cuttoo 6s-.i Pins 4s- 
 I yd Quality for gunstring 3s- 1 hodd 12s 6 
 1 Sword belt 15s-6 lb Soap 18s 
 To my Negro boy's Gun & Cloathing 
 he being taken & carryd to Canada 
 
 New Tenor 
 Errors Excepted per 
 Sworn to in y^ house May 5, 1758- 
 
 Memorandum 
 
 The Great Coat within mentioned was of Drabb Kersey almost new — one 
 of the other Three Coats & one pair of the Breeches were of blue broad Cloth 
 Fine (lately made) such as is now sold for £27 old Tenor per yard — another 
 of the said Three Coats was of Fine Duroy lined with the same — about one 
 Quarter worn — The other of said Coats was of Light Coloured broad Cloth 
 had been Turn'd «fc New lined — one of the Jackets was of Sciirlet broad cloth 
 fine and new lined with white Tammy — another of the Jackets was of Cutt 
 A'clvet Figured — The other Jacket was of Circen Silk Camblet Trimmed with 
 Silver Twist on Vellum — the other pair of the Breeches were of New Deer 
 Skin — both of the waiste Coats was of broad cloth light coloured al)out half 
 M'orn. 
 
 LATER EXPEDITIONS AGAINST FRENCH POSTS. 
 
 Immediately after the capitulatiou of Fort AVilliam Ileury, a 
 battalion of two hundred and fifty men was recruited and placed 
 under the command of INIajor Thomas Tash. One of the com- 
 panies had for its captain, John Ladd of Exeter. A small part of 
 the company, apparently, came from the same place. 'J'lie hat- 
 
 11. 
 
 1 . 
 
 6 
 
 16. 
 
 0. 
 
 
 
 5. 
 
 5. 
 
 
 
 4. 
 
 5. 
 
 
 
 0. 
 
 15. 
 
 
 
 Os- 0. 
 
 15. 
 
 6 
 
 
 12. 
 
 
 
 4. 
 
 0. 
 
 
 
 7. 
 
 1. 
 
 () 
 
 39. 
 
 0. 
 
 
 
 20. 
 
 1 . 
 
 6 
 
 3. 
 
 16. 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 7. 
 
 
 
 3. 
 
 15. 
 
 9 
 
 3. 
 
 7. 
 
 6 
 
 0. 
 
 12. 
 
 
 
 0. 
 
 15. 
 
 6 
 
 1. 
 
 13. 
 
 
 
 30. 
 
 0. 
 
 
 
 330. 
 
 13. 
 
 3 
 
 John Gil>L4N 
 
 
238 HISTORY OF EXIJTER. 
 
 / 
 
 talion was stationed at Number Four in the western part of the 
 province. 
 
 Yet another reijiment for the Crown Point expedition under 
 Colonel John Hart was contributed in 17.58 by the province. Its 
 surgeon's mate was Dr. John Odlin of Exeter, and from the same 
 place went Captain Summersbee Oilman and Captain Trueworthy 
 Ladd, and a considerable proportion of tlie members of their re- 
 spective companies, as well as Ensign Trueworthy Dudley of 
 Captain Ladd's company. The regiment was divided, a part join- 
 ing the expedition against Louisbtu'g, and the residue, under the 
 lieutenant colonel, performing guArd duty on the western frontier. 
 
 In the year 1759 New Hampshire sent a regiment of a thousand 
 men, uudor the command of Colonel Zaccheus Lovewell, to serve 
 under General Amherst against the French stations on Lake 
 \Champlaiu. Exeter was the headquarters of the regiment, and 
 j^ong its officers were-Xiichard Emery, major. Dr. John Lamson, 
 surgeon, and Winthrop Odliu and Samuel Folsom, captains, all of 
 Exeter. The company of the iT^pt was undoubtedly composed in 
 great measure of men from the same town. The regiment partic- 
 ipated in the reduction of Ticouderoga, and in the capture of 
 Quebec;, under General James Wolfe. 
 
 The next j^ear, another New Hampshire regiment was raised for 
 an expedition against Canada. John Gofife was its colonel, and 
 Richard Emery served again as major, and John Lamson as sur- 
 geon. A company from Exeter and vicinity was conmianded by 
 Captain Jacob Tilton, whose ensign was Eliphalet Hale. This 
 campaign resulted in the capture of INIontreal and the reduction 
 of Canada, so that peace once more allowed tlie American colonies 
 to turn their entire attention to the promotion of their material 
 prosperity. 
 
 After every war there is a manifest improvement in the militia. 
 Those who have served and returned from the field, are not 
 satisfied until they impart some of the soldierly discipline and drill 
 which they there acquired to the citizens' military organizations 
 at home. There had always been a militia in New Hampshire 
 from the earliest settlement. The officers prided themselves very 
 much on their titles, but the exercise of their commands was not 
 very regular or imposing. If a iium could shoot, and was ready 
 to perform his tour of duty, the absence of uniform and ignorance 
 of facing and wheeling were excusable. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. / 239 
 
 THE EXETER CADETS. 
 
 But after the French wars, more attention was paid to the 
 niceties of the military art. Governor John Wentworth took pride 
 in a fine display of soldiery, and in 1769, encouraged the people 
 of Exeter to form a corps d' elite as a sort of exemplar to improve 
 the character of the militia in general. It consisted of a battal- 
 ion, termed the "Cadets," and was handsomely uniformed and 
 equipped. Several gentlemen of the town, of j\ge and position, 
 joined it ; among them George Odiorney'Christopher Rymes, James 
 Hackett, John Emery, Ephraim Hobinson, Caleb Robinson, 
 Nathaniel Gookin and William Elliott. They were allowed to 
 choose their officers, who were commissioned by the governor ; 
 John Phillips as colonel, Samuel Folsom as lieutenant. Colonel and 
 Peter Coffin as major. In 1770 the governor came up from Ports- 
 mouth with his lady and suite, when the commissions were pub- 
 lished, and dined with Colonel Phillips ; and two years after- 
 wards, paid another visit to his Cadets, as he termed them, and 
 was much pleased with their military proficiency. The colonel 
 paid great attention to the discipline and appearance of the bat- 
 talion, and called them out often for exercise. 
 
 The governor furnished new bright muskets and equipments to 
 the corps, and, perhaps, flattered himself that he could rely upon 
 their support under any and all circumstances. How entirely he 
 mistook his men, a few short years were to demonstrate. 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER XTT. 
 THE REVOLUTION, AND THE WAR OF 1812. 
 
 In New Hampshire, the American Revolution may be fairly said 
 to have begun with the armed raid upon Fort William and Mary, 
 at Newcastle, in December, 1774. This was strictly an uprising 
 of the people, at the bidding of no higher authority than an ad- 
 visory committee ; and as those engaged in it were liable to be 
 visited with condign punishi^ent if it led to no change of govern- 
 ment, it well bespeaks the iAtensity of the popular feeling of re- 
 sistance to the coercive measures of the mother country. 
 
 In this enterprise a considerable number of Exeter men were 
 concerned, though the occasion did not require that they should 
 contribute anything beyond their presence and moral support. 
 The following account of the part they took was drawn in sub- 
 stance from the lips of Gideon Lamson of P^xeter, about fifty years 
 after the occurrence : i i 
 
 A private scheme wai laid by a few, the last of November, to 
 get t]^e powder and cai/ion from Fort William and ^lary. General 
 Sullivan, Colonel J>angdon and Major Gaines and a few that could 
 be trusted in Portsmouth, went down the river in boats in the 
 night, and were to be supijorted early in the morning from Exeter. 
 General Folsom, Colonel Xieholas Gilnian and Dr. Jolni Giddinge, 
 with about twenty-five, wiio carried tlieir arms, set off in the night 
 agreed on. \Ve rode into Portsmouth after daybreak, and stopped 
 at Major Stoodley's iim ; no appearance of the design ; nothing 
 was saiil al)()ut Sullivan's party. ^Vo had coflve about sunrise. 
 Major Stoodley looked queer on such guests, with guns and bay- 
 onets. Colonel llackett, witli fifty or sixty foot, soon after eight 
 o'clock, stopped at tiie hay-iuMrkct, an<l waited for information 
 from General Folsom. Tlie inhabitants, on llackett's arrival, 
 looked on with wonder. Little was said in answer to inquiries. 
 At nine, Colonel Langdon came to Stoodley's and acquainted 
 General F<jls(jm and company with the success of tiie enteri)rise, — 
 that General Sullivan was then i)assing up the river with the loaded 
 boats of powder and cannon. The guard at the fort was small ; 
 no resistance was made, (lovernor Wentworth knew nothing of 
 
 ;j40 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 241 
 
 the affair till it was too late. The narrator was the youngest per- 
 son in the company of horse, and the only survivor of the party.* 
 
 While this account, as might be expected from the lapse of 
 time, and the age of the relater, is incorrect as to some of the 
 details of the transaction, there is no doubt that it is true in the 
 main. A large party of Plxeter men, seventy-five or upwards in 
 number, marched to Portsmouth under arms, in pursuance of a 
 concerted plan to render any necessary aid in stripping the fort of 
 its armament, and in the movement they were headed by some of 
 the principal citizens of the town, whose names are given in the 
 foregoing account. For this, as well as for other demonstrations 
 of his sympathy with the patriotic party. Colonel Nathaniel Fol- 
 som, two months later, was, by order of the royal governor, John 
 WeHtworth, deprived of his commission as a justice of the peace. 
 
 THE POWDER FROM FORT WILLIAM AND MARY. 
 
 There were taken from Fort William and Mary, besides cannon 
 and small arms, about one hundred barrels of gunpowder. This 
 was conveyed up the river to places of safety. There is a popu- 
 lar tradition that it was deposited under the pulpit of the Rev. 
 Mr. Adams's meeting-house in Durham. Quite likely some part of 
 it was hidden there ; but as it was important to put it out of the 
 reach of any party that might be sent to recover it, prudence 
 would dictate, instead of storing it all in one place, to distribute it, 
 and at rather distant points. A letter of the time, which has for- 
 tunately been preserved, seems to indicate such a disposition of 
 it, in Exeter and the neighboring towns. 
 
 The letter contains an application from the chairman of the 
 Portsmouth Committee of Correspondence to the like committee of 
 Exeter, for four barrels of powder, under the apprehension that 
 Portsmouth was in danger of being attacked. This was on the 
 twenty-first of April, 1775, two days after the opening of hostil- 
 ities at Concord and Lexington. The request was duly honored, 
 and on the blank leaf of the application is a statement made at the 
 time, of the quantity of powder stored in Exeter and the vicinity, 
 as follows : ^=v^ 
 
 • A corroboration of this statement Is found In the account presented afterwards by tl>e 
 town to the Slate of New HanipBhlre, as follows: 
 
 To Capt. Jaaies Hackelt's company to Portsmouth 
 
 to take the cannon, etc., £27.11.4 
 
 To Capt. John Giddlngs' company to ditto, etc., 10. 11, 2 
 
 To Capt. Ellphalet Ladd's account, do. G. 0, 
 
 IC 
 
242 
 
 IIISTUKY OF KXHTHK. 
 
 Kingston, in 
 
 possession 
 
 of Kbenr Long, 
 
 
 
 12 barrels 
 
 Epping, 
 
 do. 
 
 David Lawrence iV r 
 
 ithcrs, per rect. 
 
 8 
 
 Poplin, 
 
 
 Zuch. Clough, 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 Nottingham, 
 
 
 Maj. Jos. Cillcy, Jr. 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 Brentwood, 
 
 
 Capt. Marshall & James 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 6 
 
 Londonderry 
 
 > 
 
 Messrs. Sam' Allison &: John Bell, 
 
 1 
 
 Exeter, 
 
 
 Col. Sam' Polsom, 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 « 
 
 
 Col. Nath' Folsom, 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 i< 
 
 
 Col. Poor, 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 (1 
 
 
 Theophilus Oilman, 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 i( 
 
 
 Thomas Odiorne, 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 a 
 
 
 Ephraim Pioljinson, 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 li 
 
 
 John Rice, Esq. 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 « 
 
 
 Samuel Brooks, 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 « 
 
 
 Nath' Gordon, 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 (( 
 
 
 John Piow, 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 (( 
 
 
 [James Pickering, 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 Portsmouth, 
 
 
 Jos. Ayers, del<J by 
 Dr. Giddings, 
 
 Col. 
 
 Oilman & 
 
 4 
 
 There can be little doubt, from all the circumstances, that this 
 return indicates the depositaries of the greater portion of the spoils 
 of Fort AVilliam and Mary. 
 
 THE EXETEIl VOLUNTEERS MARCH TO CAMBRIDGE. 
 
 Events now crowded fast upon one another. On the evening of 
 the nineteenth of the same April, came a flying rumor to Plxcty 
 that the British regulars had marched forth from lioston, and had 
 opened hostilities at Concord. Very s6on afterward the news was 
 confirmed from IlaverhiU, with tlu" addition that the counti'v was 
 gathering, and a severe action was raging, when the messenger 
 left to alarm the towns. The inhabitants of Exeter were put in 
 great connnotion. ]Men thronged the streets, discussing the mo- 
 mentous intclligoncc until a late hour of the night. About day- 
 break the next morning an express arrived summoning volunteers 
 to march at once for Cambridge. The bells rang, and the drums 
 beat to arms. There was no hesitation in the men of Exeter. 
 Notwithstanding the absence of their trusted leaders, Nathaniel 
 Folsom, Nicholas Gilman and llnoch Poor, wlio hapi)ened to be 
 in Dover, they made haste to be ready. Some cast bullets, others 
 made up cartridges, and every preparation was completed in the 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 243 
 
 shortest time possible. At uiue o'clock in the morning one hnn- 
 drecl and eight men paraded near the eourt-honse, armed and 
 equipped. No time was wasted in preliminaries. Which road 
 shall we take? The nearest, through Haverhill. Who shall 
 command us? Captain Ilackett. Are you ready? demanded the 
 newly chosen officer. Yes. March ! And they were off. 
 
 The mothers and wives and sisters of the volunteers had busied 
 themselves in fitting them out for the march, and bade them adieu 
 with tearful eyes, but no word of discouragement. The Eixeter 
 company spent the first night at Andover, having crossed the 
 Merrimac by ferry at Haverhill. They found the latter town 
 shrouded in gloom, for in addition to the prospect of a war, tlie 
 best part of their village had just been laid in ruins by a destruc- 
 tive conflagration. The company reached Cambridge about two 
 o'clock in the afternoon of the second day. They were assigned 
 quarters in one of the college buildings, the floor of which, as one 
 of the men quaintly remarked, they found as hard as any other 
 floor ! 
 
 The nest day they elected permanent officers. James Hackett 
 was chosen captain ; a ship-builder by profession — resolute, per- 
 emptory and courageous. In his youth he is said to have served 
 in Major Robert Rogers's famous Rangers. .John Ward Oilman 
 and Nathaniel Gookin were the lieutenants, and John Taylor 
 Oilman, Oideon Lamson and Noah Emery, Jr. were the sergeants. 
 Nearly all of these served in some military capacit}'^ later in the 
 Revolution. John T. Oilman, then only twenty-one years of age, 
 was one of the most active and energetic in getting the company 
 so promptly in the field. He was afterwards a member of the 
 Continental Congress and fourteen years Oovernor of the State. 
 
 The company was well armed and equipped for actual fighting. 
 Twenty-five of their muskets were from the stock furnished to the 
 Exeter Cadets by the ro3'al Oovernor Wentworth, who little 
 imagined that he was supplying arms to be turned against the 
 authority of the mother country. They had also bayonets, belts 
 and cartridge boxes well filled with ammunition, and a good drum 
 and fife, but neither tents nor blankets. They attracted no little 
 notice, by their soldierly bearing, and were handsomely compli- 
 mented by Oeneral Heath. The company, as such, remained at 
 Cambridge but little more than a week, when, the immediate exi- 
 gency having passed, some of tlie members returned home, and 
 the remainder probably joined some of the permanent military 
 organizations then forming. 
 
244 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Of the one hundred and eight men wlio marched to Cambridge 
 on the morning of April 20, 177'), no complete list is known. It 
 is unfortunate that the names of all the patriots who were so ready 
 to respond Id their country's earliest call to arms, cannot be 
 handed down to posterity. The few which are known with cer- 
 tainty, are here given : 
 
 James Hackett, Captain Eleazer Ferguson 
 
 John Ward Oilman, Lieutenant l-'.benezer Light 
 
 Nathaniel Gookin, Lieutenant Jonatlian Lougee 
 
 John Taylor Oilman, Sergeant Jolui Light 
 
 Gideon Lamson, Sergeant Caleb Mitchell 
 Noah Emery, Jr., Sergeant 
 
 At a meeting of the town on the ensuing fifteenth of May it was 
 
 Voted, That the men that went to Cambridge on the late alarm 
 be paid ten shillings each, and that Mr. Hackett be paid ten 
 dollars for his service. 
 
 Voted, To refund the money expended by the committee on that 
 occasion ; and that the jjrovisions which were })urcliased for the 
 sup|)ort of said men, and are now in the committee's hands, be 
 taken care of ; that the powder, ball and flints be returned to the 
 selectmen. 
 
 Voted, The thanks of the town to the committee for their good 
 service. 
 
 The accounts of the selectmen show Avhat the tow^n expended 
 on the occasion : 
 
 1775 
 
 April. Cash paid Timothy Chamberlain for bread 
 supplied to the men that went to the Lex- 
 ington battle €3. 10. 
 Cash paid the committee for the money 
 advanced to the men that went to Cam- 
 bridge 22. 10. 
 For purchasing lead for the town to make 
 
 bullets 10. 0. 
 
 177G By paid 74 men for their service at Cam- 
 
 l)ridge in April, 177G(5) as per town note 30. 7. 9 
 
 1777 Paid Kleazer Ferguson, Ebenezer Light, 
 Jonathan Lougee, John Light and Caleb 
 Mitchell in full for their service at Cam- 
 bridge in the year 1775 1. 17. 3 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 245 
 
 An account was afterwards presented to the State of New 
 Hampshire by the town, containing these items : 
 
 To Captain Hackett's pay for his company 
 
 to Cambridge in 1775 £137. 13. 10 
 
 To Ephraim Robinson account to Cambridge / 
 
 in 1775 ^X^ 3. 0. 
 
 EXETER SOLDIER^/^ 1775. 
 
 Of the men who filled the^few Hampshire regiments in April 
 and May, 1775, the namei^of the volunteers from Exeter, so far 
 as they can be now a^<!m"tained, are here given. / 
 
 Of Captain Hevny Dearborn's company, in Colonel Stark's regi- 
 ment it is stated in the fourteenth volume of the New Hampshire 
 Provincial Papers that a part were from Exeter. The tax lists of 
 the town contain three of the names on the roll of that company, 
 Jonathan Oilman, Jeremiah Conner and Zebulon Marsh ; but these 
 may not be all, as a considerable proportion of those in the army 
 probably had not reached the taxable age. 
 
 In Captain AVinthrop Rowe's company, in Colonel Poor's reg- 
 iment, were the following persons, with their several occupa- 
 tions and ages : 
 
 Jonathan Flood, husbandman, 31 Thomas Creighton, shipwright, 38 
 
 ISoah Robinson, blacksmith, 19 Spencer Wallace, " 30 
 
 Eliphalet Lord, hatter, 20 Asa Ireland, saddler, 22 
 
 Moses Clark, blacksmith, 19 William Mugridge, blacksmith, 17 
 
 Moses Rollins, " 19 Wilham McKim, barber, 47 
 
 James Beal, cordwainer, 21 Cato Duce. 
 
 In Captain Philip Tilton's company. Colonel Poor's regiment : 
 
 Joseph Marsh, blacksmith, 21 Benjamin Loud, barber, 20 
 
 Nathaniel Coffin, husbandman, 26 Joseph Leavitt, husbandman, 50 
 
 In Captain James Norris's company. Colonel Poor's regiment : 
 Eliphalet Norris, blacksmith, 18 
 
 In Captain Samuel Oilman's company, Colonel Poor's regiment : 
 Eliphalet Coffin. 
 
 In Captain Richard Shortridge's company, Colonel Poor's regi- 
 ment : 
 
24C) 
 
 liisTuiiv ui" exi;tj:k. 
 
 William Bennett 
 Simon Gilman 
 John Hilton 
 Simeon Marshall 
 
 Thomas Speed 
 Elijah Vickcry 
 Thomas A^'cbstci" 
 
 Coloiu'l Euocli Poor was himself of Exeter, as was the sur- 
 geon of his reginieut, Dr. Caleb G. Adams. 
 
 Returns of the following companies in Massachusetts regiments 
 show that they contained Exeter men as folloAvs : 
 
 Captain Jeremiah Gilman's company, Nixon's regiment, Sep- 
 tember 30, 1775 : 
 
 Samuel Magoon. 
 
 Captain Hugh Maxwell's company, Prescott's regiment, Sep- 
 tember, 1775 : 
 
 Edward Brown. 
 
 Captain John Currier's company, James Frye's regiment, Octo- 
 ber 6, 1775 : 
 
 Michael Brown. 
 
 Captain Isaac Sherman's company, Baldwin's regiment, Sep- 
 tember 26, 1775: 
 
 Caleb ]lol)inson, 1st Lieutenant 
 Ebenezer Light, Sergeant 
 Caleb Mitchell, Sergeant 
 Jonathan Cass, Corporal 
 Lsaac Grow, Corporal 
 
 Samuel Lumson, Sergeant 
 Joseph Brooks, Sergeant 
 John Light, Corporal 
 Thomas Carlton, Corporal 
 Moses Lougee, Fifer 
 
 Daniel Barker 
 William Cushing 
 Joseph iJolloff 
 Simeon Farmer (Palmer?) 
 Eleazer Ferguson 
 Caleb Gilman 
 John (lilman 
 Josiah Gordon 
 Theophilus Hardie 
 Ebenezer Judkins 
 
 Daniel Leary 
 Benjamin Leavitt 
 William Leavitt 
 Jonathan Lougee 
 Joseph Lovering 
 Dudley Marsh 
 John Nichols 
 Benjamin Xorris 
 Samuel Norris 
 Abraham Perrv 
 
 Josejjh Purmort 
 James Koss 
 Elisha Smith 
 Samuel Smith 
 Trucworthy Smith 
 Josiah Steel 
 Isaac Stubbs 
 Bradstreet Taylor 
 Nathaniel Thing 
 
 Captain Isaac Sherman was a native of Connecticut, and had 
 been a school teacher in Exeter ; so that his acquaintance there 
 enabled him to enlist so large a numl)cr in his company. It is 
 probable that many of the men had gone to Cambridge on the lirst 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 247 
 
 alarm, April 20, 1775; and remained there after their comrades 
 of the Exeter company returned home ; and the fact that New 
 Hampshire did not organize her regiments at once, would explain 
 ■why they and others joined regiments credited to Massachusetts. 
 
 On the sixth of October, 1775, the selectmen of Exeter, in 
 response to a mandate of the General Court for a census, returned 
 fifty-one inhabitants "gone to the army." 
 
 In December, 1775, at the urgent request of General Washing- 
 ton, New Hampshii'e furnished thirty-one companies of militia for 
 serNice in the army, for the term of six weeks. Two of these 
 companies came in part, at least, from Exeter. No rolls of them 
 have been preserved, but the officers were as follows : 
 
 Twenty-second company : Benjamin Boardraan, captain. Porter 
 Kimball, lieutenant, Winthrop Dudley, second lieutenant. 
 
 Thirtieth company : Peter Coffin, captain, John Hall, lieutenant, 
 James Sinclair, second lieutenant. 
 
 Each of these companies contained, also, three sergeants, three 
 corporals, two musicians and forty-seven privates. 
 
 After their six weeks' service expired, a regiment was organized 
 from the members of the thirty-one companies who were willing to 
 remain, and Captain Peter Coffin was commissioned major thereof. 
 How many other Exeter men served in it, there is no means of 
 learning, as no rolls are known to be extant. The regiment con- 
 tinued in service under Colonel John Waldron until after the evacu- 
 ation of Boston in March, 1776. ^/""^ 
 
 The Exeter rates assessed in 1775 agami^the following persons, 
 all of whom were in the military serv><^, were abated : Jonathan 
 Brown, Samuel Hard}', Thomas Loro, William McKim and Tim- 
 othy Sanborn. j^ 
 
 EXETER JTOLDIERS IN 1776. 
 
 A return of Colonel Poor's regiment in 1776, shows that William 
 Evans of Exeter, twenty-seven years old, enlisted January 1, and 
 deserted March 29, and that John Oilman, Jr., aged twent^'-two, 
 was sick and absent July, 1776. 
 
 In June and Jul}', 1776, Colonel Isaac Wyman's New Hamp- 
 shire regiment was raised to reinforce the army in Canada. 
 
 Exeter was represented in it by Noah Emery, paymaster, and 
 by several members of Captain William Harper's company, of 
 whom we are able to specify only two : Jonathan Flood and John 
 Steel, the latter of whom enlisted as a private, but is saitl to have 
 been promoted to orderly sergeant. 
 
248 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 In July, 1770, a second regiment was organized from men 
 obtained from the militia of the State, to reinforce the army in 
 Canada, and placed under the command of Colonel Joshua AVin- 
 gate. In Captain Simon Marston's company were the following 
 Exeter men : 
 
 "William Bennett, Ensign 
 James lUmdlett, Drummer 
 Simeon Marshall 
 Edward Eastham* 
 
 John AVadlcigh 
 Ebenezer Ferguson 
 Simeon Palmer 
 
 James Creighton 
 Levi Rol)ertson 
 David Fogg 
 Seth Fogg 
 Simon Drake 
 Thomas "Webster 
 Samuel Dutch 
 
 Simon Oilman 
 Moses I,eavitt 
 Abraham Sheriff 
 Elijah "Vickery 
 Kinsley H. James 
 Samuel Daniels 
 William Gushing 
 
 On the nineteenth of September, 1776, Colonel Pierse Long was 
 commissioned commander of a battalion organized on the continen- 
 tal basis, which, in November of the same year, was ordered to 
 reinforce the army at Ticonderoga, and was there stationed when 
 that post was evacuated on the approach of General Burgoyne iu 
 the year following. Adjutant James McClure was of Exeter, as 
 were also the following persons : 
 
 Joseph DollofT 
 Joseph Kennisou 
 
 In Captain Mark Wiggin's company : 
 
 Richard Dolloff Joel Loud 
 
 Benjamin Perkins AVilliam Chelsea 
 
 In Captain John Calfe's company : 
 
 "WiUiam McKim. 
 
 In Captain Nathan Brown's company : 
 
 Benjamin Hoyt "William Iloyt 
 
 In September, 1776, the General Court of New Hampshire voted 
 to reinforce the army at New York with two regiments, the first 
 of which was placed under the command of Colonel Thomas Tash. 
 Captain Daniel Gordon's company of this regiment contained the 
 following ollicers and men belonging to Exeter : 
 
 Paul Lambert 
 
 Zebulon Oilman, Lieut. Dole Pearson 
 Jonathan Norris, Ensign Josiah Rollins, Jr. 
 Dudley Watson Samuel Smith 
 
 l^avid Jcwett ]:)aniel Barker 
 
 James Gordon Jonathan "Woodman 
 
 Caleb Thurston 
 Benjamin Conner 
 Abraham Brown 
 Samuel Moody 
 John Nealey, Jr. 
 
 • TUl8 name, bclDg uucommou, Is frequently conXounilcd with Eastman, and so written. 
 
HISTOKY OF EXETER. 249 
 
 In the month of December, 1776, an order was made for the 
 drafting of five hundred men from the several militia organiza- 
 tions of the State, into a regiment to be commanded by Colonel 
 David Oilman. Peter Coffin was major and Samuel Brooks, Jr., 
 quartermaster, both of Exeter. It is probable that some six or 
 seven of the members of Captain Daniel Gordon's company were 
 Exeter men, but it is not easy to identify them. 
 
 From a return of the men enlisted for the war in Colonel Cilley's 
 regiment of the New Hampshire line, 1776, it appears that two of 
 them were from Exeter, viz. : 
 
 Samuel Locke Abner Thurston 
 
 EXETER SOLDIERS IX 1777. 
 
 Upon a re-organization of the New Hampshire troops in the 
 continental service, in 1777, the roster shows the following officers 
 from Exeter : 
 
 In Colonel Hale's (second) regiment: 
 
 William Elliott, Adjutant Ebenezer Light, Second Lieut. 
 
 William Parker, Surgeon Xoah Robinson, Second Lieut. 
 
 Caleb Robinson, Captain 
 
 In Colonel Scammell's (third) regiment : 
 
 Nicholas Oilman, Adjutant Nathaniel Oilman, Lieutenant 
 
 Exeter men enlisted in the second regiment : 
 
 In Captain Carr's company : 
 
 Thomas Webster John DoUoff 
 
 Samuel Norris Robert Arnold 
 
 In Captain Titcomb's company : 
 
 James Creighton. 
 
 The following is a list of Exeter men hired or enlisted between 
 January and March, 1777, for three years or during the war, 
 belonging to the fourth regiment of militia, to complete the conti- 
 nental battalions : 
 
 Henry Barter Trucwortliy l")udley Jose])h Oordon 
 
 James Beal Jonathan Flood William Gordon 
 
 William Bell Jonathan Folsom Isaac Orow 
 
 James Creighton Michael Oeorge Simeon Haines 
 
 Samuel Davis Cartee Oilman Jonathan Hill 
 
250 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETEU. 
 
 John Hilton 
 Benjamin Iloyt 
 William lloyt 
 Jonathan Hopkinson 
 John Jepson 
 James Kelley 
 Ebenezer Light 
 Moses Lougee 
 Samuel Magoon, Jr. 
 Jacob Men-ill (Morrill?) 
 
 Daniel Morse 
 Enoch Morse 
 Benjamin Xealey 
 William Xealey 
 Eliphalet Norris 
 James Norris 
 Samuel Xorris 
 Paul (a negro) 
 X^oah Robinson 
 Moses Rollins 
 
 James Rundlett 
 AVilliam Sloan 
 Thomas Speed 
 Daniel Sullivan 
 Bradstreet Taylor 
 Abner Thurston 
 John Wadleigh 
 Thomas AVebster 
 
 lu addition to these we find ou various rolls, of the three years' 
 men iu the eontiaeutal regiments in the spring of 1777, these 
 names, from Exeter : 
 
 Dennis Bickford 
 Edward Eastham 
 Simon Oilman 
 
 Edward Tieavitt 
 John X'ichols 
 James Sloan 
 
 Abraham AA'adleigh 
 
 In the month of Jnne, 1777, the State authorized a battalion to 
 be raised for the defence of Rhode Island, to serve six months. 
 The command of it was given to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph 
 Senter. Joseph Leavitt and Enoch Rowe of Exeter were respec- 
 tively sergeant major and quartermaster of the battalion. It is 
 believed that there were other Exeter men in it ; probably iu 
 Captain Robert Pike's company. 
 
 Later, in September of the same year, the alarm was spread of 
 the incursion of Burgoyue, and orders were given to raise one- 
 sixth part of the men of the several militia regiments for imme- 
 diate service, to resist the invasion. 
 
 Among those drawn from the Exeter men in the fourth regi- 
 ment were the following, most of whom served iu Colonel Stephen 
 
 Evans's regiment 
 
 Benjamin Cass 
 William Chelsea 
 Zebulon Oilman, Capt. 
 James Gordon 
 John Kimball 
 Moses Kimball 
 
 Nathaniel Ladd 
 Eliphalet Lord 
 Joseph Lovering 
 Benjamin Morse 
 Jonathan Norris, 2'' Lieut. 
 Joseph Permort 
 
 Abraham Sheriff 
 John Swett 
 Ebenezer Swasey 
 Nathaniel Thing 
 Daniel Tilton 
 
 These names are all found upon the tax lists of Exeter, and it 
 is probable that there were others below the taxable age, but 
 liable to do military duty, among those drawn. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 251 
 
 In addition to the foregoing, there were several Exeter, gentle- 
 men of position and mature years wlio volunteered and ifiarched 
 to Saratoga, under the command of Captain John Langdon of 
 Portsmouth. Of this number were : 
 
 Col. Nicholas Gilman, as lieutenant 
 Alaj. James Hackctt 
 Capt. Eliphalet Giddings 
 
 Capt. Nathaniel Giddings 
 Ephi'aim Robinson, Esq. 
 Samuel Gilman 
 
 The taxes of the following persons were abated in 1777, upon 
 the ground that they were " in the army," and probably all in the 
 New Hampshire line. 
 
 Henry Barter 
 
 Jonathan Cass, Lieut. 
 John Dean's boy 
 Ward C. Dean's boy 
 Truewortliy Dudley 
 Jonathan Flood 
 James Folsom's boy 
 Jonathan Folsom 
 Cartee Gilman 
 William Gordon, Sergt. 
 
 Isaac Grow, Sergt. 
 Benjamin Hoyt 
 Wihiam Hoyt 
 John Kimball, Jr. 
 Moses Kimball 
 Ebenezer Light, Lieut. 
 John Light 
 Moses Lougee 
 James McClure, 
 William McKim 
 
 Adjt. 
 
 Joseph Marsh, Coi-p. 
 Caleb Mitchell 
 Benjamin Norris 
 Caleb Robinson, Capt. 
 Elisha Smith 
 Thomas Speed 
 Josiah Steel 
 Nathaniel Thing 
 
 These, of course, were exclusive of the younger men, below the 
 taxable age. 
 
 EXETER SOLDIERS IN 1778- 
 
 In the list of absentees from Colonel Cilley's (first) continental 
 regiment, January 10, 1778, were the following residents of 
 Exeter : 
 
 WiUiam Nealey, 
 
 age 29, 
 
 Avounded ; 
 
 left at Albany, 
 
 Thomas Hammon, 
 
 82, 
 
 deserted ; 
 
 " » Exeter. 
 
 Enoch Morse, 
 
 IG, 
 
 sick ; 
 
 " " Fishkill, 
 
 Abner Thurston, 
 
 20, 
 
 wounded ; 
 
 " " Albany. 
 
 Absentees from Colonel Hale's (second) continental regiment 
 
 James Rundlett, Sergeant, 
 
 23, 
 
 missing ; 
 
 James Beal, 
 
 
 22 
 
 a 
 
 Thomas Creightou, 
 
 
 42! 
 
 it 
 
 John Nichols, 
 
 
 20, 
 
 (( 
 
 AViUiam Bell, 
 
 
 22, 
 
 
 Edward Wade, 
 
 
 23, 
 
 sick ; 
 
 left at Hubbardton. 
 
 " " Ticondoroga. 
 " " Hubbardton. 
 " " Albany. 
 
252 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 "William Gordon, 
 
 24, 
 
 missing ; 
 
 Samuel Smith, 
 
 24, 
 
 deserted ; 
 
 Hcmv Baiter, 
 
 25, 
 
 ti 
 
 AVilliam Lcavitt, 
 
 25, 
 
 (( 
 
 Jonathan Ilopkinson, 
 
 26, 
 
 If 
 
 ])cnnis IJickford, 
 
 36, 
 
 
 Noah Marsh, 
 
 22, 
 
 
 John Ililtoji, 
 
 20, 
 
 
 Jonathan Hill, 
 
 17, 
 
 
 Cartee Oilman, 
 
 41, 
 
 missing ; 
 
 Simon Oilman, 
 
 28, 
 
 (( 
 
 James Creighton, 
 
 27, 
 
 wounded ; 
 
 left at Hubbardton. 
 " " Fishkill. 
 
 Albany. 
 
 Jerseys. 
 
 " " Hubbardton. 
 
 11 II t( 
 
 Albany. 
 
 It is to be recollected that this regiment suffered greatly by 
 casualties, and more by capture at the battle of Hubbardton, Ver- 
 mont, after the evacuation of Ticonderoga ; and those described 
 as missing and left at Ticonderoga or Hubbardton, were probably 
 prisoners. Those described as "deserters," were probably not 
 such in the usual acceptation of the term, but simply missing, in 
 the haste and confusion of retreat ; and apparently had rejoined 
 the colors before June, 1779. 
 
 When the invasion of Rhode Island, then held by the British, 
 Avas projected in 1778, a number of Exeter gentlemen entered into 
 a written engagement with General Sullivan, who was to lead the 
 expedition, in the terms following : 
 
 Hampton Falls, April 12th, 1778. 
 Wc severally engage, if called liy the Hon. Major General 
 Sullivan before the close of the ensuing campaign, we will innne- 
 diately repair to the quarters properly equipped for battle, as volun- 
 teers from Exeter in Nbav Hampshire. 
 
 Samuel Folsom 
 James Hackett 
 Caleb Sanborn 
 I'ctcr Coffin 
 Nathaniel (iiddingc 
 Thomas Odiorne 
 Eliphalet Oiddings 
 James Thurston 
 
 James McClure 
 Benjamin Lamson 
 I swear I will go or send abetter man 
 Esq. (William) Parker 
 
 goes himself or send a hand 
 "\\' ard C. Dean 
 Samuel Oilman 
 
 This paper is given as a proof of the patriotic feeling which 
 animated the most responsible and respectable citizens of the 
 town ; though it is presumed that no call was made under it for 
 the militai-y service of the subscribers. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 253 
 
 EXETER SOLDIEllS IN 1779- 
 
 The following Exeter soldiers were eulisted between April and 
 August, 1779, to fill up the New Hampshire continental regiments, 
 to serve during the war : 
 
 John Bartlett Alexander Patterson 
 
 Richard Cook 
 Samuel Lock 
 
 Richard Cook George Patterson 
 
 It appears from the roll of absentees of the second New Hamp- 
 shire regiment, June, 1779, that John Sanborn, a farmer, aged 
 thirty-three, was a private, residing in Exeter. 
 
 Five Exeter men were enlisted for service in Rhode Island 
 under General Gates, August 28, 1779, for the term of six months, 
 viz. : 
 
 Jeremiah Folsom Jonathan Thing 
 
 Nathaniel Lovering Levi Thing 
 
 Jonathan Lyford 
 
 A return of the men enlisted for the war in the 
 Hampshire regiment, dated December, 1779, shows th^^ollowing 
 Exeter soldiers, viz. : 
 
 del Mc 
 
 Abraham Comings Daniei Morse 
 
 Richard Cook John Wadleigh 
 
 Jonathan Flood 
 
 EXETER SOLDIERS IN 1780- 
 
 In July, 1780, Exeter furnished the following recruits for the 
 New Hampshire regiments in the continental army, to serve till 
 the last day of the succeeding December. Their ages, when^y^ 
 known, are given : 
 
 Prime Coffin, 
 
 30 
 
 Richard Loveren, 
 
 William Gushing, 
 
 20 
 
 Joseph Parsons, -^ 
 
 Joseph Dolloff, 
 
 21 
 
 Dole Pearson, 
 
 Ephraim Dudley, 
 
 21 
 
 AVilliani Robinson, 
 
 Trueworthy Dudley, 
 
 19 
 
 Daniel Taylor, 
 
 Luke Libbey, 
 
 22 
 
 Stephen Watson, 
 
 Prince Light, 
 
 37 
 
 X 
 
 20 
 20 
 
 26 
 
 18 
 
 In the same year Henry Dearborn paid bounties to the follow- 
 ing Exeter recruits to fill up the continental army : 
 
>o4 
 
 IIISTOHY OF F.XKTETi. 
 
 Michael George 
 /Samuel Marsh 
 Jenjainiii Morse 
 
 Daniel Sullivan 
 Joliii Weeks 
 
 In July, 1781, Exeter sent the following six months' men to 
 serve in the continental army at West Point : 
 
 Daniel Bickford 
 
 Richard Loveren 
 
 EXETEU SOLDIERS IX 1781. 
 
 From a r(;turu made l)y the selectmen of Exeter ^Nlay 2.3, 
 
 1781, \ 
 
 it appears that the following persons from the town had enlisted 
 in the New Hampshire regiments before January, 1781, to serve 
 dui-ing the war : 
 
 \ 
 
 Henry Barter 
 Richard Cook 
 James Dockum 
 Zephaniah Downs 
 Jonathan Flood 
 Michael George 
 Cartee Oilman 
 Ezckicl Oilman 
 Joseph Gordon 
 AVilliam Gordon 
 Jonathan Hill 
 John Hilton 
 Sanmel Lock 
 Moses Lougee 
 
 ^ie 
 
 muel Marsh 
 
 enjamin Mom^ 
 Daniel Morse 
 Enoch Morse 
 William Xealey 
 James Norris 
 Samuel Norris 
 Alexander Patterson 
 George Patterson 
 John Powell 
 Daniel Sullivan 
 John AVadleigh 
 Thomas Webster 
 John Weeks 
 
 And these enlisted since January, 1781, for three years : 
 
 Ephraim Dudley John Edwards Eliphalet Rollins 
 
 On Si'ptember 18, 17.S1, the selectmen of Exeter paid travel 
 money to the following soldiers in Captain Jacob Webster's 
 company in Colonel Daniel Reynolds' regiment of militia : 
 
 William Cashing 
 Trueworthy Dudley 
 Josiah Gordon 
 Benjamin Loveren 
 
 Stci)hen Marsh 
 Phineas Richardson 
 Daniel Watson 
 
 The whole number of different men furnished by Exeter during 
 the Revolution, for service in the army, was not less than two 
 hundred ; a pretty fair proportion from a town of loss than ( igh- 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 255 
 
 teen hundred inhabitants. Most of them served for brief periods, 
 to be sure, but many of them were out on two or more expedi- 
 tions. A few were probably not inhabitants of the town, espe- 
 cially in the later stages of the war, Avhen it became didicult to/ 
 obtain recruits, but it is believed that their number was more thaji 
 counterbalanced by that of the Exeter men who were hired to fill 
 up the quotas of other places. / 
 
 The town was not unmindful of those who went forth to fight 
 its battles, but dealt generously with them and the families they 
 left behind them. 
 
 At a meeting of the town held on July 8, 1776, to expedite the 
 raising of men for the reinforcement of General Sullivan's army 
 in Canada, a bounty of two pounds, two shillings, over and above 
 the colonial bounty, was promised to each good and able man that 
 should enlist and pass muster. 
 
 On the nineteenth of January, 1778, it was 
 
 Voted, That the selectmen be a committee to supply such fami- 
 lies of the non-commissioned oflicers and private soldiers belong- 
 ing to this town as now are or shall be engaged in the continental 
 service, with such necessaries of life as thek cii'cumstances 
 require. 
 
 A subsequent resolution provides similar assistance to the fami- 
 lies of such as have died in the service, and to that of Captain 
 Caleb Kobinson, at the discretion of the selectmen. 
 
 On the thirtieth of March, 1778, it was voted that Captain 
 True worthy Oilman, instead of the selectmen, be a committee to 
 furnish aid to soldiers' families ; and on the twenty-ninth of 
 March, 1779, Captain Eliphalet Ladd Avas chosen to supply the 
 families of soldiers, agreeably to the resolution of the General 
 Court for the purpose. 
 
 On the twenty-seventh of March, 1780, it was voted that the 
 selectmen supply the families of the soldiers with money, not 
 exceeding one-half of their wages monthly. 
 
 On March 21, 1782, Ihe town appointed the selectmen a com- 
 mittee to supply the families of the soldiers of the town now in 
 the continental service. 
 
 The accounts of the selectmen show the followiu"- disburse- 
 ments under the foregoing votes : 
 
 17TS. Supplying soldiers' families £ 570. 0. 
 
 1779. Cash paid committee to hire soldiers to go to Khode 
 
 Island, under comniand of Col. Mooney 125;3. 0.0 
 
£1S0. 
 
 0. 
 
 07.5. 
 
 0. 
 
 2202. 
 
 18. 7 
 
 24. 
 
 0.0 
 
 513. 
 
 0. 
 
 240. 
 
 0. 
 
 0000. 
 
 0. 
 
 12,119. 
 
 14.0 
 
 18,510. 
 
 15.0 
 
 256 HISTORY OF EXETKli. 
 
 paid hire of 3 continontal soldiers 
 
 " continental and state bounty to 5 soldiers 
 supplyiii}; soldiers' families 
 paid S. Folsom money paid to hire soldiers 
 1780. i)aid committee for hiring soldiers 
 cash paid wives of five soldiers 
 committee to hire soldiers 
 
 If <i li n 
 
 (I « (( (( 
 
 These last euormous sums, fortimatel}-, were equivalent to only 
 a comparatively moderate amount in hard money. 
 
 Nor, after the war was over, did the town forget the veterans, 
 who had followed the fortunes of Washington in the regular mili- 
 tary service. On March 29, 1784, it was 
 
 Voted, That every soldier who has been in the New Hampshire 
 line of the continental army from this town and who has received 
 no town bounty, shall not be taxed in the town for his poll for so 
 many years as he served in the line. 
 
 The list of officers belonging to Exeter was not a small nor 
 insignilicant one, especially if we reckon not only those who 
 belonged to the continental line, but also the much greater number 
 who took the field on various expeditions or emergencies. It 
 included in the regular continental service alone, one brigadier 
 general, one major, one captain and A. A. general, three surgeons, 
 three commissaries, two captains and two lieutenants. 
 
 A considerable number of the men in service perished from cas- 
 ualty or disease. Many received wounds ; and the names of two, 
 whose injuries were of exceptional severity, were for years upon 
 the State pension list. A few lived well into the present century, 
 and, it is to be hoped, enjoj'ed, in the decline of life, substantial 
 tokens of the gratitude of the country which they risked their lives 
 to sustain. 
 
 The jail in Exeter, during the Revolution, was made a recepta- 
 cle for foreign prisoners and for tories from this and other 
 provinces, especially New York. It was not a very safe place of 
 confinement, as was proved by the notorious Ilein-y Tufts and 
 others liaving made their escape from it. A guard had to be fur- 
 nished in 1777 for two months, when it was filled with prisoners, 
 to keep them secure, and the following Exeter men were employed 
 in that capacity : 
 
HISTOKY OF EXETER 
 
 257 
 
 Samuel Gilman, 3d 
 Theophilus Folsom 
 Samuel Harris 
 William Odlin 
 
 Simeon Palmer 
 James Rundlett 
 Samuel Rust 
 John York 
 
 THE WAR OF 1812. 
 
 "With the party which brought on the war with Great Britain in 
 1812, the people of Exeter, in common with the majority of those 
 of New England, had little sympathy. It was not to be expected, 
 therefore, that they would be ready to volunteer, to any extent, to 
 serve in the arm}' in that contest. The town early refused to 
 add to the pay of the militia called into the military service of the 
 United States, or to offer them a bounty. 
 
 In the year 1814, however, several bodies of the State militia, 
 which were composed in part of residents of the town, were 
 ordered out by the governor, for the defence of the towns on the 
 seacoast. 
 
 Captain .lacob Dearborn's company, enlisted September 26, 
 1814, for sixty days' service, contained the following men credited 
 to Exeter : 
 
 William Pearson, Ensign 
 Isaac Kendall, Sergt. 
 Albert Carleton 
 David Goodwin 
 
 James H. Hale 
 Jonathan Johnson 
 AYalter Little 
 
 On the ninth of September, of the same year, Captain Nathaniel 
 Gilman, 3d, was ordered to Portsmouth with his compan}' of 
 militia, the greater part of whom probably belonged in p]xeter. 
 
 Their term of service was about three weeks. The roll of the 
 company was as follows : 
 
 Xathaniel Gilman, 3d, Capt. 
 Nathaniel B. Gordon, Lieut. 
 William Odlin, Ensign 
 N. P. Poor, Sergt. and Clerk 
 William Channing, Sergt. 
 Oliver Brooks, " 
 
 John Gordon, Jr., " 
 Samuel Somerby, " 
 Thomas Tyler, " 
 
 Edwin Channing, Corp. 
 William Robinson, " 
 Phillips Gilman, " 
 
 17 
 
 Henry O. Mellen, Corp. 
 John's. Hill, 
 Abram Prescott, Musician 
 Weare Prescott, " 
 Samuel Eldridge, " 
 Benjamin Bachelder 
 Moses Bickford 
 Nathaniel Bickford 
 Josiali Blake 
 Francis Bccket 
 Benjamin P. Bachelder 
 Benjamin Barker 
 
2:)S 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 I'lijah llcan 
 Jonathan Rrickett 
 James Hurley 
 James Clark 
 Daniel Colcord 
 John 71. Caldwell 
 John Clark 
 James Clark, '2d 
 Daniel Clark 
 John Cook 
 Solomon Davis 
 William Dickey 
 Peter Elkins 
 Jeremiah Edgerly 
 Jeremiah Fuller 
 William Fuller 
 James Folsom, 4 th 
 Josiah Folsom, IJd 
 Peter Folsom 
 David Fogg 
 Abba Oilman 
 John Oilman 
 Joshua C. Gates 
 Francis Orant 
 Joseph Oreenleaf 
 William Hood, Jr. 
 John Haley 
 Joseph J. HoTt-t 
 Theodore Hill 
 Noycs Hopkins 
 John Lougee 
 John Leavitt 
 John ^larsh 
 Charles Marble 
 lienjamin Melcher 
 Eliphalct Marston 
 Mcservc Meader 
 James Odlin 
 
 Joseph Odlin 
 Nathan Parker 
 Moses Pike, Jr. 
 Samuel Pottle 
 William Penney 
 John Peavey 
 Moses Perkins 
 Samuel Robinson 
 John Rowe 
 Xathaniel Robinson 
 John Roliy 
 Lowell Rollins 
 Jacob Rowe 
 Meshach Rollins 
 Sargent Rowley 
 Eliphalct Sweet 
 Trueworthy Swasey 
 Benjamin R. Sanborn 
 AVilliam Sawyer 
 Hcury Swasey 
 Isaac Shej)ard 
 Amos Stickney 
 Oeorge Smith 
 Oidcon Scriggins 
 Josiah G. Smith 
 Joseph Safl'ord, Jr. 
 William Smith 
 Abraham Towle 
 lAidovicus Towle 
 Simon Taylor 
 Lewis Wentworth 
 John AVilliams 
 Benjamin AViggin, 
 William AA'iggin 
 John Webber 
 Benjamin Webster 
 Joseph York 
 
 Jr. 
 
 On the tenth of the same September, Captuin .lames Thorn's 
 company was ordered to Portsmouth on the same service, and 
 remained about the same length of time. It is believed that they 
 were all, with a possible exception or two, Exeter men. Fortu- 
 nately New Hampshire was not invaded, and therefore their cam- 
 paign was a bloodless one. The following is the roll of the com- 
 pany : 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 259 
 
 James Thorn, Capt. 
 Hollis C. Kidder, Lieut. 
 Simon Winslow, " 
 Jeremiah Palmer, Sergt. 
 Jonathan Dearborn, " 
 Edward Lawrence, " 
 John F. Moses, " 
 Jonathan Folsom, Corp. 
 LaAvrence Brown, " 
 Nathaniel Rundlett, " 
 Stephen L. Gordon, " 
 Charles Parks, Drummer 
 Joseph Parks, Fifer 
 James Chase 
 David Clifford 
 Joseph R. Dearborn 
 Jesse DollofT 
 Robert Dunn 
 Nathaniel Dutch 
 Orrin Edgerly 
 
 Lsaac Flagg 
 Samuel Garland 
 Samuel R. Gilman 
 John T. Gordon 
 Samuel Haley 
 Alexander Hodgdon 
 David Keller 
 Nathaniel Kidder 
 Levi Morrill, 
 John S. Noble 
 Benjamin Paul 
 Henry Ranlet 
 Winthrop Robinson 
 John Rundlett 
 Charles F. Sleeper 
 Benjamin Swasey 
 Edward Thing 
 Mark Tilton 
 Daniel Veasey • 
 Jeremiah F. Young 
 
 This constituted, so far as is known, the whole of the contribu- 
 tion to the military ser\ice rendered by the people of Exeter in 
 the war of 1812. 
 
chaptp:r XIII. 
 
 THE WAR FOR THE UNION. 
 
 The first gun that was fired against Fort Sumter by the Seces- 
 sionists, April 12, 1861, aroused all the patriotic feeling of the 
 people of New Hampshire, in common with that of the entire 
 North. But the State was in no condition to contribute any 
 immediate aid to the force that was demanded for the defence of 
 the national cijpital. For years no regular militia organization 
 had been maintained by New Hampshire ; and though a few quasi- 
 military companies in the larger towns existed for holiday parade, 
 they were in most cases no more under tlio connnand of the execu- 
 tive, than any other associations of civilians. 
 
 Rut when the President issued his proclamation for seventy-five 
 thousand volunteers, for three months' service, more than double 
 the number needed to fill the one regiment required from New 
 Hampshire, were enlisted in less than two weeks. In P^xeter, 
 fifty-three men, most of them belonging to the town, volunteered ; 
 but before the first regiment was fully organized, the call of the 
 President for forty-two thousand thi-ee years' volunteers appeared. 
 Those who had enlisted for three months were then given the 
 option to volunteer for the longer term, and many of them 
 accepted it. It thus happened that no Kxeter men were included 
 in the First Pegiment of New Ilampsliire \'oluuteers, for three 
 months' service. 
 
 In the meantime the work of raising and organizing regiments 
 to serve for three years, went on in response to the repeated calls 
 made by the President. In nearly every one of these f>xeter was 
 represented, by original members, or by recruits subsequently 
 forwarded. In two or three of them the town furnished the 
 greater jiart of a company each. 
 
 After the last of the three years' regiments was dispatched, 
 there came a time of great stress. The government resorted to 
 conscription to lill up the depleted ranks of the army. Those who 
 
 2 GO 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 261 
 
 were drawn from Exeter duly complied with the requirements of 
 the law. But the subsequent calls for troops bore hardly upon 
 the town. A small place, with a steady population, the departure 
 of the large proportion of its young men left comparatively few of 
 the class from whom armies are recruited. It was not like the 
 case of a large city, from whose superabundant population men 
 can always be found for any enterprise, "for a consideration." 
 The consideration Exeter was ready and willing to pay, and fur- 
 nished its officers with all the money that was needed, to fill up its 
 quotas. But the class who wei'e willing to become food for 
 powder for hire merel3% can hardly be expected to make patriotic 
 soldiers. The men who enlisted for the town in the latest stages 
 of the war were, to a great extent, strangers to Exeter, and 
 although some of them rendered useful service in the field, others 
 were mere "bounty jumpers," and never reached the front, but 
 deserted on the way thither. 
 
 And on the whole, Exeter nobly performed her part in putting 
 down the Rebellion and preserving the Union. The lists of names 
 given in this chapter will show how large a proportion of her 
 small population fought for then- country on land and sea, how 
 many rose to command, and how many proved their devotion with 
 their blood. Every call for men Avas promptly met, and at the 
 close of the war the town was credited with a surplus of twent3% 
 
 The following list of the officers and soldiers of Exeter who 
 served in the several New Hampshire regiments, with a brief 
 account of the military history of each, is taken from the Reports 
 of the Adjutant General of the State. It is liable to be imper- 
 fect, however, as from various causes, those reports lack com- 
 pleteness, to say the least. 
 
 The regiments which contained Exeter men left the State for 
 the seat of war, at the dates following : the Second, June 20, 
 1861 ; the Third, September 14, 18G1 ; the Fourth, September 27, 
 ISni ; the Fifth, October 29, 1861 ; the Sixth, December 25, 
 
 1861 ; the Seventh, January 14, 1862 ; the Eighth, January 24, 
 1862; the Ninth, August 2o, 1862; the Eleventh, September 11, 
 
 1862 ; the Twelfth, September 27, 1862 ; the Thirteenth, October 
 6, 1862 ; the Fifteenth, November 13, 1862. All these were three 
 years' regiments except the Fifteenth which was for nine months 
 only. 
 
 THE SECOND REGIMENT. 
 
 Oilman Marstoji, colonel, mustered June 4, ISGl ; resifj^ncd April 17, lS(j;j. 
 Brigadier general of volunteers; repeatedly severely wounded; resigned 
 April, 1865. 
 
262 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 William H. Smith, captain, mustered 1st lieutenant of Company E August 
 1, 1861; promoted to captain August 1, 18(52; transferred to Company B; 
 died of wounds June 7, 1864. 
 
 Allicrt M. Perkins, captain, mustered 1st sergeant of Company E June 3, 
 1861 ; promoted to lid lieutenant August Ki, 1861 ; promoted to adjutant 
 September 1, 1862; promoted to captain of Company D June 18, 1863; 
 severely wounded at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1863 ; mustered out 
 June 21, 1864; dead. 
 
 William H. Colcord, 1st lieutenant, mustered corporal of Company E 
 June 3, 1861; promoted to 1st sergeant; promoted to 2d lieutenant May 
 18, 1863; promoted to 1st lieutenant July 2, 1863; wounded at Cold Har- 
 bor, Virginia, June 3, 1864; mustered out June 21, 1864. 
 
 Frank H. Hcrvcy, 1st lieutenant, mustered private in Company E Sep- 
 tember 13, 1862; promoted to quartermaster sergeant September 12, 1864; 
 promoted to 1st lieutenant May 20, 1865; not mustered; mustered out 
 June 12, I860. 
 
 John H. Bennett, 
 
 Charles E. Colcord, 
 
 Andrew J. Currier, 
 
 Calvin L. Dearborn, 
 
 Frank Ellison, 
 Charles A. W. Flood, 
 
 Samuel Flood, 
 
 Peter W. Gardner, 
 
 John H. Hale, 
 Isaiah T. Haines, 
 Oren M. Head, 
 Elbridge A. Leavitt, 
 
 (i (( 
 
 Co. E * niust. June 3, '61 ; transf. to 4 U. S. 
 
 Artillery Nov. 4, '62. 
 " " must. June 3, '61 ; disch. for disab. 
 
 Aug. 2, '63. 
 " " must. June 3, '61 ; w. si. July 2, '63 ; 
 
 must, out June 21, '64. 
 " " must. June 3, '61 ; d. of disease in 
 
 hospital Nov. 16, '61. 
 must. June 3, '61 ; unaccounted for. 
 
 " " " " deserted Dec. 26, 
 
 '62. 
 " " must. June 3, '61 ; disch. for disab. 
 
 March 15, '62. 
 " " must. Dec. 8, '63; transf. from Co. 
 
 A 12 N. H. V. June 21, '65; de- 
 serted Warsaw, Va., Aug. 18, '65. 
 «' " must. June 3, '61 ; disch. by order 
 
 Aug. 30, '62. 
 " " must. June 3, '61 ; pro. corp. Jan. 1, 
 
 '63 ; must, out June 21, '64. 
 » B, disch.; pro. adjt. 8 N. H. V. Dec. 1, 
 
 '61. 
 " E, must. June 3, '61 ; disch. for disab. 
 Oct. 16, '62; dead. 
 
 •The foUowlDK contractions are used. In order to ccononii/e space, viz., must, for nius- 
 terc<l; transf. for transferred ; dls. or disch. for discharged; disab. for disability; captd. for 
 captured; w. for wounded; si. for slightly : sev. for severely; d. for died; k. forklllcd; pro. 
 for promoted; corp. for corporal; scrgt. for sergeant. In giving the year, the centuries are 
 omitted. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 263 
 
 James Mclntee, 
 
 Edward Marshall, 
 John Mori, 
 
 AVilliam H. Morrill, 
 Dennis Murphy, 
 
 Daniel Nelligan, 
 
 Patrick O'Xeal, 
 Charles Page, 
 Francis Pettigrew, 
 David Pike, 
 "William Robinson, Jr., 
 
 James Rundlett, 
 
 James H. Sanborn, 
 
 John Shepard, 
 Jeremiah Tanner, 
 George A. Taylor, 
 George H. Thing, 
 John O. Thurston, 
 William H. Twilight, 
 
 Co. E, must. Dec. 8, '63 ; transf. from Co. 
 A 12X. H. V. June 21, '05 ; absent 
 on detached service Dec. 19, '65. 
 " B, must. Aug. 8, '64; absent sick Dec. 
 
 19, '65. 
 " F, must. Dec. 11, '63; transf. from Co. 
 A 12 N. H. V. June 21, '65 ; must, 
 out Dec. 19, '65. 
 E, must. June 3, '01 ; k. Williamsburg, 
 Va., May 5, '62. 
 must. June 3, '61 ; re-enlisted Jan. 1, 
 '64 ; deserted Fredericksburg, Va., 
 Aug. 10, '65. 
 " K, must. Aug. 18, '64; ^\. sev. and 
 
 missing in action Gettysburg, Pa., 
 July 2, '63. 
 " F, must. Aug. 18, '64 ; must, out Dec. 
 
 19, '65. 
 " E, must. Aug. 30, '62; d. of disease 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., Xov. 12, '64. 
 " " must. Aug. 30, '62 ; must, out June 
 
 9, '65. 
 " " must. Aug. 30, '62 ; pro. corp. July 
 
 1, '63 ; must, out June 21, '64. 
 " " must. June 3, '61 ; pro. corp. March 
 1, '63; w. si. July 2, '63; pro. 
 sergt. July 1, '63 ; must, out June 
 21, '64. 
 Co. E, must. Aug. 30, '62 ; transf. to Inv. 
 Corps Feb. 4, '64 ; dis., Feb. 20, 
 '65. 
 " I, must. Aug. 30, '62; w. si. July 2, 
 '63 ; w. May 16, '64 ; cUs. for disab. 
 Concord May 20, '65. 
 " E, must. Aug. 30, '62 ; des'd Falmouth, 
 
 Va., Dec. 17, '62. 
 " " must. June 3, '61; re-enl. Jan. 1, 
 
 '(54 ; dis. for disab. June 24, '64. 
 " " must. June 3, '61 ; corp.; dis. for 
 
 disab. Aug. 2, '61 ; dead. 
 " " must. June 3, '61 ; w.; re-enl. Jan. 1. 
 
 '04 ; d. of disease Oct. 2S, '04. 
 " " must. June 3, '61 ; must, out June 
 
 21, '64. 
 " K, must. June 8, "(il ; disch. for disab. 
 Aug. 1, '01. 
 
264 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 THE THIRD REGIMENT. 
 
 John E. "Wilbur, captain of Company B, mustered August 22, 1861 ; dis- 
 missed May 11, 1863. 
 
 Andrew J. Fogg, 1st lieutenant, mustered August 22, 1861 ; 2d lieutenant ; 
 promoted to 1st lieutenant June 17, 1862; resigned May 9, 186.'J. 
 
 George H. Giddings, 1st lieutenant, mustered August 22, 1861 ; corporal 
 of Company B; promoted to 1st sergeant; re-enlisted February 14, 1864; 
 wounded slightly August 16, 1864; promoted to 1st lieutenant October 12, 
 1864. 
 
 John S. Bryant, 1st lieutenant, mustered August 22, 1861 ; corporal of 
 Company B ; promoted to sergeant ; re-enlisted February 24, 1864 ; pro- 
 moted to 1st lieutenant April 6, 1865 ; died of disease May 23, 1865. 
 
 Simon N. Lamprey, 2d lieutenant, mustered August 22, 1861 ; corporal 
 of Company B; promoted to 1st sergeant; promoted to 2d lieutenant July 
 20, 1863 ; dead. 
 
 John M. Head, 2d lieutenant ; mustered August 22, 1861 ; sergeant of 
 Company B ; promoted to 2d lieutenant August 22, 1862 ; dead. 
 
 Co. B, 
 
 Woodbury Berry, 
 John Broadbent, 
 Samuel Caban, 
 
 William Caban, 
 James Carlisle, 
 Gideon Carter, Jr., 
 Edward F. Carver, 
 John W. Clement, 
 
 Charles W. Colbath. 
 Ezra G. Colcord, 
 Warren S. Dearborn, 
 
 Cornelius Donovan, 
 
 must. Aug. 22, "61; must, out Aug. 
 
 23, '64. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; pro. corp. ; dis. 
 
 for disab. Dec. 4, '62. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; w. June 16, '62; 
 disch. on account of wds. Sept. 2, 
 '62. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; w. sev. June 16, 
 
 '62 ; d. of wds. June 30, '62. 
 must. Aug. 22, *61 ; w. si. May 13, 
 
 '64 ; must, out Aug. 23, '64 ; dead, 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 23, '64. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 23, '64; dead, 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; pro. corp. ; red. 
 
 to ranks ; pro. corp. 1 )ec. '>, '62 ; 
 
 must, out Aug. 23, "64. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; w. si. May 13, 
 
 '64 ; must, out Aug. 23, '64. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; corp. ; transf. to 
 
 U. S. Sig. Corps Feb. 29, '64. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; w. July 10, '63, 
 
 pro. Corp. ; re-enl. Feb. 22, '64 ; w. 
 
 by disch. of own rifle May 13, '64; 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; transf. to V. R. 
 
 Corps Sept. 16, '63. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 265 
 
 Daniel W. Dudley, 
 
 Sereno G. Dudley, 
 
 (( (( 
 
 John Duffy, 
 
 (( (( 
 
 Daniel W. Elliott, 
 
 « <( 
 
 Joshua Fieldsend, 
 
 (( it 
 
 John Finn, 
 
 " c, 
 
 Edward F. Hall, 
 
 " B^ 
 
 Horace J. Hall, 
 Erskine W. Hebbard, 
 
 George R. James, 
 
 Booth Kaye, 
 
 Joseph Ward Leavitt, 
 
 William R. Leavitt, 
 John M. Mallon, 
 
 William S. Marston, 
 
 William J. Morrison, 
 
 Joseph E. Prescott, 
 
 John Riley, Jr., 
 Ambrose E. Rowcll, 
 
 Co. B. must. Aug. 22, '61 ; pro. corp. July 
 7, '63 ; w. si. May 16, '64 ; must, 
 out Aug. 23, '64. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; must, out Feb. 
 
 22, '64. 
 d. of disease, Hilton Head, S. C, 
 
 Sept. 21, '62. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; w. June 16, '62. 
 pro. Corp. June 23, '63 ; must, out 
 Aug. 23, '64. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 23, '64. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61; dis. for disab. 
 
 Hilton Head, S. C, Dec. 26, '62. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; lostrt. arm Aug. 
 16, '64; must, out Oct. 23, '64; 
 dead. 
 " " must. Aug. 22, '61 ; d. of disease July 
 
 19, '63. 
 " " must. Aug, 22, '61; dis. for disab. 
 
 July 28, '62. 
 " D, must. Aug. 23, '61 ; wagoner; re-enl. 
 
 Feb. 27, '64. 
 " B, must. Aug. 22, '61; d. of disease 
 
 Aug. 20, '63. 
 
 " " must. Aug. 22, '61 ; pro. corp.; 
 
 re-enl. Feb.l 3, '64; pro. 1 sergt.; 
 
 July 7, '65 ; must, out July 20, '65, 
 
 " " must. Aug. 22, '61 ; d. of disease 
 
 Feb. 18, '62. 
 " D, must. Aug. 23, '61 ; pro. corp. ; dis, 
 for disab. March 16, '63. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; w. Juno 16, '62; 
 transf. to U. S. Sig. Corps Oct. 13, 
 '63. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; corp. ; red. to 
 ranks Sept. 24, '61 ; pro. corp. Oct. 
 11, "61; pro. sergt. Oct. 18, '62 ; 
 must, out Aug. 23, '64. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61 ; re-enl. Feb. 14, 
 '64 ; pro. corp. ; d. of dis. Ports- 
 mouth, R. I., Oct. 20, '64. 
 must. Aug. 22, '61; rc-cul. Jan. 1, 
 
 '64; dead, 
 must. Aug. 22, *()1 ; corp.; suspended ; 
 reinstated ; re-enl. Feb. 22, '64. 
 
 B, 
 
2GG 
 
 William Senior, 
 
 James Smith, 
 
 Jacob 1). Stone, 
 Frederic F. Tiling, 
 
 John H. Thing, 
 
 James H. Tuttle, 
 
 Irvin M. Watson, 
 Jeremiah S. Weeks, 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Co. U, must. Aug. 22, '61 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 23, '64. 
 " I, must. Jan. 6, '63 ; w. Aug. 16, '64 ; 
 
 pro. Corp. May 1, 'Go; must, out 
 
 July 20, 'Go. 
 " B, must. Aug. 22, '61; dis. for disab. 
 
 Dec. 13, '62. 
 " " must. Scj)!. 1 7, '62 ; dcstd. ; sentenced 
 
 to hard labor and forfeit, of pay ; 
 
 must, out Sept. 17, 'Go. 
 " " must. Aug. 22, '61 ; sergt. ; pro. 1st 
 
 sergt. ; red. to r. ; pro. sergt. ; 
 
 pro. sergt. major April 5, '64; must. 
 
 out Aug. 23, '64. 
 " " must. Aug. 22, '61 ; re-enl. Feb. 14, 
 
 '64 ; killed Deep Run. Va., Aug. 
 
 16, '64. 
 " " must. Aug. 22, '61 ; sergt.; must, out 
 
 Aug. 23, '64. 
 " " must. Aug. 22, '61 ; d. of disease 
 
 March 23, '63. 
 
 Abram Dearborn, 
 Charles McDonald, 
 Joseph Nichols, 
 George E. Thing, 
 
 THE FOURTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Co. B, must. Sept. 18, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Beaufort, S. C, Sept. lo, '62 ; dead. 
 
 " " must. Dec. 8, '63 ; desrtd. New York 
 
 city, Nov. 12, '64. 
 " I, must. Dec. 8, '63 ; must, out June 
 
 22, 'Go. 
 " B, must. Sept. 18, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 Annapolis, Md., Oct. 19, '61. 
 
 THE FIFTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Thomas Warburton, 1st lieutenant, mustered August 11, 1863, private 
 in Company I ; wounded June 16, 1864 ; promoted to 1st lieutenant October 
 28, 1864; mustered out June 28, 1865. 
 
 Daniel Bennett, 
 Benjamin F. Bowley, 
 
 William Brown, 
 
 Cell, must. Aug. 10, '(54; must, out June 
 28, '65. 
 " I, must. Aug. 11, '63; w. June 3,' 64 ; 
 ])ro. corp. Nov. 1, '64; must, out 
 June 28, 'Go ; dead. 
 " 11, must. Aug. 17, '64 ; must, out June 
 28, '65. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 267 
 
 George H. Bussell, 
 John Campbell, 
 John Clark, 
 Joseph Dailey, 
 
 Abraham Dearborn, 
 Victor Dixon, 
 John House, 
 Robert Jackson, 
 Patrick Kelley, 
 Edward Lafferty, 
 
 D&niel Moore, 
 Patrick McMullen, 
 Francis Mullen, 
 Joseph Murray, 
 Joseph B. Sawyer, 
 John Scanlan, 
 William Smith, 
 John White, 
 
 Co. I, must. Dec. 7, '63 ; transf. to U. S. 
 
 Navy April 19, '64. 
 " H, must. Aug. 16, '64 ; w. April 7, '65 ; 
 
 must, out June 15, '65. 
 " " must. Aug. 8, '64 ; must, out June 
 
 28, '65. 
 " A, must. Aug. 16, '64 ; missing April 7, 
 
 '65 ; regained ; must, out June 28, 
 
 '65. 
 " I, must. Aug. 11, '63; transf. to Inv. 
 
 Corps April 26, '64 ; dead. 
 " B, must. Aug. 18, '64 ; must, out June 
 
 28, '65. 
 " A, must. Aug. 17, '64 ; pro. corp. ; w. 
 
 April 7, '65 ; absent sick since, 
 must. Aug. 22, '64 ; sup. to have 
 
 deserted ea route to regiment. 
 " C, must. Aug. 11, '63; must, out June 
 
 28, '65. 
 " H, must. Dec. 28, '63; deserted from 
 
 hospital Alexandi'ia, Va., Nov. 15, 
 
 '64. 
 must. Aug. 22, '64 ; sup. to have 
 
 deserted en route to regiment, 
 must. Aug. 16, '64 ; sup. to have 
 
 deserted en route to regiment. 
 " D, must. Aug. 11, '63. w. June 3, '64 ; 
 
 must, out June 28, '65. 
 " K, must. Dec. 7, '63 ; missing at Cold 
 
 Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 
 " E, must. Aug. 11, '63 ; absent sick since 
 
 May 26, '64 ; dead. 
 " E, must. Aug. 16, '64 ; ])ro. corp. June 
 
 11, '65 ; must, out June 28, HV). 
 " K, must, Dec. 7, '63 ; deserted. Front 
 
 Royal, Va., June 1, '64. 
 " G, must. Aug. 16, '64 ; d. of disease 
 
 Julv 5, ^6o. 
 
 THE SIXTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Henry H. Pearson, lieutenant colonel, mustered November 30, 1861 ; 
 captain of Company C ; promoted to lieutenant colonel October 15, 1862; 
 killed in action May 26, 1864. 
 
 Matthew N. Greenleaf, captain, mustered November 2, 1861 ; sergeant of 
 Company C ; promoted to 2d lieutenant April 29, 1862 ; promoted to 1st 
 
268 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 lieutenant November 12, 1862; promoted to captain July 1, 1863; wounded 
 Julv 30, 1864 ; honorably discharged Xovember 28, 1864; restored to rank 
 March 1, 186.3; mustered out July 29, 1865. 
 
 Edward T. Bennett, 
 Albert Bowley, 
 Albert A. Bowley, 
 Benjamin F. Bowley, 
 Ezekiel Clough, 
 Thomas H. Clough, 
 Thomas Clough, 
 
 Lucius Cole, 
 Frank Corcoran, 
 
 Andrew J. Davis, 
 John Doody, 
 
 William Doody, 
 
 James Klkins, 
 James M. Farnum, 
 
 John G. C. Fuller, 
 
 David F. Gilman, 
 
 Co. C, must. Xov. 27, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Georgetown, D. C, June 6, '62. 
 " " must. Xov. 27, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Concord, X. H., April 28, '63. 
 " " must. March 12, '64; must, out July 
 
 17, '65. 
 " " must. Xov. 27, '61; dis. for disab. 
 
 Xcw York city, Oct. 17, '62 ; dead. 
 " " must. Xov. 27, '61; dis. for disab. 
 
 Dec. 30, '62. 
 " ♦' must. Xov. 27, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Xcwhern, X. C, June 2, '62. 
 " I, must. Feb. 4, '64; w. May 12, '64; 
 
 w. July 3, '64 ; transf. to V. R. 
 
 Corps; must, out Aug. 21, '65. 
 " E, must. Aug. 11, '63; must, out May 
 
 12, '65. 
 " I, must. Dec. 3, '63 ; pro. corp. ; captd. 
 
 Poplar Grove Church, Va., Sept. 
 
 30, '64 ; paroled ; must, out May 
 
 23, '65. 
 " C, must. Xov. 27, "61 ; w. July 30, '64; 
 
 must, out X'ov. 29, '64. 
 " " must. Xov. 27, "61 ; missing at Bull 
 
 Run, Va., Aug. 29, '62 ; regained ; 
 
 dis. for disab. Philadelphia, Pa., 
 
 March 16, '63 ; dead. 
 " " must. Xov. 27, '61 ; missing at Bull 
 
 Run, Va., Aug. 29, "62 ; regained ; 
 
 deserted Annapolis, Md., Xov. 25, 
 
 '62. 
 " " must. Xov. 27, '(Jl ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Roanoke Isl., X. C, June 24, '62. 
 " TI, must. Xov. 28, '61 : d. of disease De 
 
 Camp. gen. hospital, X'. Y., Dec. 
 
 11, '62. 
 " C, must. March 20, '65; transf. from 
 
 Co. C 9 X. TI. V. June 1, '65; 
 
 absent sick July 17, ^(jo. 
 " I, must. March 12, '64; transf to V. 
 
 Res. Cor])s Marcli 1, '()5 ; must. 
 
 out Julv 2i», '()5. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 269 
 
 Thomas Hartnett, 
 Zephaniah Henninger, 
 
 Samuel S. Hodgdon, 
 "William Keefe, 
 Joel A. Leighton, 
 
 Edmund E. Lovering, 
 Albert F. Marsh, 
 Morris Reardon, 
 
 Josiah B. Robinson, 
 Pascal L. Robinson, 
 
 Joseph Rock, 
 William Ryan, 
 
 George H. Smith, 
 
 Jared P. Smith, 
 Merrick ]M. Smith, 
 
 George W. Stevens, 
 Patrick W. Sullivan, 
 George AV. Swain, 
 
 Co. C, must. Nov. 27, '61 ; deserted Lexing- 
 ton, Ky., April 7, '63. 
 " F, must. Dec. 7, '63 ; transf. from Co. 
 
 F 9 N. H. V. June 1, '6u ; must. 
 
 out July 17, '65. 
 " C, must. Nov. 27, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., July 28, '63. 
 " « must. Nov. 27, '61 ; deserted New- 
 port News, Va., Aug. 2, '62. 
 " » must. Nov. 27, '61 ; sergt.; dis. for 
 
 disab. Fairfax Sem'y, Va., Oct. 
 
 14, '62 ; dead. 
 " " must. Nov. 27, '61 ; transf. Inv. 
 
 Corps May 1, '64. 
 » " must. Nov. 27, '61 ; d. Hatteras Isl., 
 
 N. C, Jan. 31, '62. 
 " " must. Nov. 27, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Washington, D. C, Jan. 11, '63; 
 
 dead. 
 " " must. Nov. 27, '61 ; d. Roanoke Isl., 
 
 N. C, June 20, '62. 
 " A, must. March 21, '65; transf. from 
 
 Co. A 11 N. H. V. June 4, '65; 
 
 pro. Corp. July 1, '65; must, out 
 
 July 17, '65. 
 " C, must. Nov. 27, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Newbern, N. C, June 26, '62. 
 " " must. Nov. 27, '61 ; missing at Bull 
 
 Run, Va., Aug. 29, '62 ; regained ; 
 
 deserted while on furlough Jan. 9, 
 
 '63. 
 " " must. Nov. 27, '61 ; re-enl. Jan 3, '64 ; 
 
 Corp. ; pro. sergt. ; ca])td. Poplar 
 
 Grove Church, Va., Sept. 30, '64 ; 
 
 paroled ; must, out May 26, '65. 
 " " must. Aug. 3, '64 ; must, out Juno 4, 
 
 'Go. 
 " " must. Nov. 27, '61 ; re-enl. Dec. 27, 
 
 '()3 ; w. July 30, '64 ; pro. sergt. 
 
 July 1, '65; must, out July 17, 
 
 '65.' 
 " " must. Nov. 27, '61 ; d. Nicholasville, 
 
 Ky., Sept. 4, '63. 
 " " must. Nov. 27, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Washington, D. C, June 26, '62. 
 " " must. Nov. 27, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Newbern, N. C, June 24, '62 ; 
 
 dead. 
 
270 
 
 Joshua W. Weeks, Jr., 
 
 Stephen White, 
 
 John Morris, 
 
 Samuel P. Sargent, 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Co. C, must. Nov. 27, 'Gl ; deserted New- 
 l)ort News, Va., July 12, '62. 
 
 " " must. ])cc. 2(5, 'G.'J ; deserted -while 
 on furlough in N. H. Feb. 10, '65. 
 
 THE SEVENTH REGIiMENT. 
 
 must. Dec. 5, '63; sup. to have de- 
 serted en route for regiment. 
 Co. F, must, l^'eb. 2S, '6-4 ; pro. corp. ; pro. 
 sergt. Dec. 29, '64 ; must, out July 
 20, '65. 
 
 THE EIGHTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Oren M. Head, adjutant, mustered December 1, 1861 ; honorably dis- 
 charged March 19, 1864. 
 
 George S. Cobbs, 2d lieutenant, mustered December 20, 1861 ; sergeant of 
 Company B ; promoted to 2d lieutenant December 16, 1863 ; killed in action 
 near Alexandria, La., May 14, 1864. 
 
 Sewall A. Abbott, 
 John II. Carpenter, 
 Timothy Coakley, 
 
 Charles H. Davis, 
 John Dyer, Jr., 
 George Gilman, 
 Charles E. Hale, 
 Daniel P. Hartnett, 
 
 Ira Healey, 
 
 Samuel H. Henderson, 
 
 Co. B, must. Dec. 20, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 New Orleans, La., May 2, '63. 
 " D, must. Dec. 20, '61 ; d. of disease 
 
 Cam]) Parapet, La., Nov. 9, '62. 
 " B, must. Dec. 20, '61 ; transf. Vet. Res. 
 
 Corps July 2, '63 ; must, out Dec. 
 
 19, '64 ; dead. 
 " " must. Dec. 26, '61 ; deserted Cheney- 
 
 ville, La., March 19, '64. 
 " " must. Dec. 20, '61 ; must, out Jan. 
 
 18, '65. 
 " D, must. Dec. 31, '61 ; deserted New 
 
 Orleans. La., Nov. 8, '62. 
 " A, must. Oct. 20, '61 ; musician ; re-enl. 
 
 Jan. 4, '64. 
 " B, must. Dec. 20, '61 ; w. June 14, '63 ; 
 
 pro. corp. Aug. 1, '63 ; re-enl. Jan. 
 
 4, '64 ; transf. Co. B Vet. Bat. 8 
 
 N. H. V. Jan. 1, 'Go. 
 " " must. Dec. 20, '61; dis. for disab. 
 
 New Orleans, La., Oct. 27, '64; 
 
 dead. 
 " I, must. Jan. 4, '64 ; captd. Sabine Cross 
 
 Road, La., April 8, '64 ; released ; 
 
 transf. Co. C Vet. Bat. 8 N. H. V. 
 
 Jan. 1, '65. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 271 
 
 David G. Kelley, 
 Michael Melvin, 
 
 Henry L. Ruggles, 
 Jonathan Tebbetts, 
 George E. Thyng, 
 James G. Tilton, 
 
 Woodbury C. White, 
 
 Co. B, must. Dec. 20, '01 ; pro. sergt. ; re- 
 
 enl. Jan. 4, '64 ; dead. 
 " D, must. Dec. 20, '61 ; re-enl. Jan. 4, 
 
 '64 ; transf. Co..B Vet. Bat. 8 N. H. 
 
 V. Jan. 1, '65. 
 " K, must. Aug. 11, "64; transf. Co. B, 
 
 Vet. Bat. 8 N. H. V. Jan. 1, '6.5. 
 " B, must. Dec. 20, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Carrollton, La., July 5, '62 ; dead. 
 " '< must. Dec. 20, '61 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Ft. ludep. Boston, Feb. 14, '62. 
 " " must. Dec. 20, '61 ; pro. corp. July 
 
 6, '62 ; re-enl. Jan. 4, '64 ; transf. 
 
 Co. B Vet. Bat. 8 N. H. V. Jan. 1, 
 
 '65. 
 " " must. Dec. 20, '61 ; d. of disease 
 
 Ship Island, Miss., May 2, '62. 
 
 THE NINTH REGWIENT. 
 
 Chester C. Stevens, captain of Company D, mustered August 10, 1862 ; 
 
 resigned December 25, 1862. 
 
 Charles J. Simons, 1st lieutenant, mustered July 3, 1862 ; sergeant of 
 Company A ; wounded July 30, 1864 ; promoted to 2d lieutenant November 
 1, 1864; promoted to 1st lieutenant February 1, 1865; mustered out June 
 10, 1865. 
 
 Alfred A. Avery, 
 Charles W. Batchelder, 
 Francis M. Caldwell, 
 
 Leonard H. Caldwell, 
 
 John K. Carswell, 
 
 George D. Clay, 
 Patrick Crean, 
 Jeremiah F. Dearborn, 
 
 Co. D, must. July 26, '62 ; d. Paris, Ky., 
 
 Oct. 19, '63. 
 " " must. July 26, '62 ; corp. ; must, out 
 
 June 10, '65. 
 " A, must. July 3, '62 ; corp. ; pro. sergt.; 
 
 transf. to Vet. Res. Corps Feb. 28, 
 
 '63 ; must, out July 1, '65. 
 " " must. July 3, '62 ; 1st sergt. ; w. sev. 
 
 Dec. 16, '62 ; dis. for disab. April 
 
 18, '63. 
 " D, must. July 26, '62; transf. to Vet. 
 
 Res. Corps Feb. 28, ' 63; must, out 
 
 July 5, '65 ; dead. 
 " A, must. March 20, '65 ; must, out May 
 
 6, '65. 
 " D, must. July 26, '62 ; must, out June 
 
 10, '65. 
 " " must. July 26, '62 ; must, out June 
 
 10, '65. 
 
272 
 
 John Edwards, 
 
 David Floyd, 
 Franklin H. Foster, 
 
 Moses D. French, 
 John G. C. Fuller, 
 "William Gleason, 
 Thomas Goodwin, 
 Paul Gordon, 
 Zeplumiah ileuiuger, 
 
 James Hicks, 
 
 
 H, 
 
 James Hughes, 
 
 
 15, 
 
 Philander Keyes, 
 
 
 ]), 
 
 Jolin Lord. 
 
 
 A, 
 
 James J. Miller, 
 
 
 IT. 
 
 John Morris, 
 Ephriam McCusic, 
 
 James O'Brien, 
 Patrick Reynolds, 
 Joseph S. Rowell, 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Co. H, must. Dec. 10, 'G3 ; captd. Spottsyl- 
 
 vania, Va., March 12, '64 ; d. of 
 
 disease, Andersonvillc, Ga., Sept. 
 
 11, '64; grave 8426. 
 
 " B, must. Dec. 7, '63 ; deserted Harper's 
 
 Ferry, Va., April 4, '64. 
 " A, must. July 3, '62 ; pro. sergt.; pro. 
 sergt. major March 1, '63; captd. 
 Petersburg, Va., July 30, '64 ; d. of 
 disease Salisbury, X. C, Dec. 14, 
 '61. 
 " D, must. July 26, '62; dis. for disab. 
 
 Oct. 17, '62. 
 " C, must. March 20, '65 ; transf. to 6 N. 
 
 H. V. June 1, '65. 
 " D, must. Dec. 8, '63 ; supposed to have 
 
 deserted en route to regiment. 
 " '• must. July 26, '62 ; corp. ; deserted 
 
 Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, '62. 
 " " must. Dec. 8, '63; deserted Hall's 
 
 Gap, Ky., June 28, '64. 
 " F, must. Dec. 7, '63 ; captd. Poplar 
 Grove Church, Va., Sept. 30, '64 ; 
 ret. to duty May 5, '65 ; transf. to 
 6 N. H. v". June 1, '65. 
 must. June 14, '64 ; deserted Peters- 
 burg, Va., July 14, '64. 
 must. Dec. 7, '63; deserted Stone 
 
 Bridge, Ky., Jan. 2, '64. 
 must. July 2(5, '62 ; wagoner ; d. 
 
 Milhlale, Miss., July 30, '63. 
 must. July 3, '62 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 March 15, '63. 
 must. Dec. 5, '63 ; k. in action July 
 
 30, '64. 
 must. Dec. 5, '63 ; sup. to have de- 
 serted en route to regiment. 
 A, must. July 3, '62 ; corj). ; captd. Pe- 
 tersburg, Va., July 27, '(54 ; d. of 
 disease Danville, Va., Feb. 7, '65. 
 " must. .1 uly 1 2, '62 ; deserted Concord, 
 
 N. IL, Aug. 24, '64. 
 " must. July 3, '62 ; missing in action 
 
 May 12, '64. 
 E, must. May 15, '62; w. ])ec. 13, '62; 
 dis. for disab. AVashington, D. C, 
 Feb. 17, '63. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 273 
 
 William Ryan, 
 Andrew J. Sanborn, 
 Christopher Staples, 
 George W. Tanner, 
 Seth Tanner, 
 Eugene Thurston, 
 Joseph B. Wadleigh, 
 John E. G. Weeks, 
 Henry Wood, 
 
 must. Dec. 7, 'G3 ; sup. to have de- 
 serted en route to regiment. 
 Co. D, must. July 2(5, '()2 ; sergt. ; k. Spott- 
 sylvania, Va., May 12, '64. 
 
 " " must. July 26, '62 ; must, out June 
 10, '65. 
 
 " A, must. July 26, '62 ; must, out June 
 10, '65. 
 
 " " must. July 26, '62; dis. for disab. 
 Dec. 15, '62. 
 
 " D, must. July 26, '62 ; corp. ; deserted 
 Camp Denison, O., Dec. 7, '63. 
 
 " A, must. July 3, '62 ; pro. sergt. ; d. of 
 disease Feb. 2, '64. 
 
 " D, must. July 26, '62; transf. to Yet. 
 Res. Corps May 8, '64 ; dead. 
 
 " " must. July 26, '62; deserted Balti- 
 more, Md., April 29, '63. 
 
 THE ELEVENTH REGIMENT. 
 
 Moses X. Collins, lieutenant colonel, mustered August 6, lcS62 ; major ; 
 promoted to lieutenant colonel September 9, 1862 ; killed in action May 6, 
 1864. 
 
 John K. CiUe}', 1st lieutenant, mustered September 1, 1862; 1st lieu- 
 tenant Company I ; mustered out April 30, 1864, to accept appointment of 
 captain and A. Q. master in the regular army. 
 
 John J. D. Barker, 
 John W. Gilman, 
 Thomas Heritage, 
 Henry Howard, 
 James Keith, 
 Charles H. Xealey, 
 Richard D. Nealey, 
 
 George H. Reynolds, 
 
 Pascal L. Robinson, 
 18 
 
 Co. I, must. Sept. 2, '62 ; d. of disease June 
 
 28, '63. 
 " " must. Sept. 2, '62; d. of disease 
 
 Petersburg, Va., Sept. 27, '64. 
 " K, must. July 26, '64 ; d. of disease on 
 
 transport Oct. 13, '64. 
 must. July 21, '64; sup. to have 
 
 deserted en route to regiment. 
 must. July 27, '64 ; sup. to have 
 
 deserted en route to regiment. 
 Co. I, must. Sept. 2, '62 ; must, out May 17, 
 
 'do. 
 " " must. Sept. 2, '62 ; sergt. ; w. Dec. 13, 
 
 '62 ; d. of wds. Washington, D. C, 
 
 Jan. 5, '63. 
 « " must. Sept 2, '62 ; must, out June 4, 
 
 'Go. 
 " A, must. March 21, '65 ; transf. to 6 N. 
 
 H. V. June 1, '65. 
 
274 
 
 Moses H. Stickney, 
 Josiah W. Taylor, 
 
 William P. Tilton, 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Co. I, must. Sept. 2, '62; k. in action Pe- 
 tersburg, Va., July .'30, '(M. 
 
 '• " must. Sept. 2, 'G2 ; pro. scrgt. major 
 Sept. 2, '62 ; w. sev. May 6, '64 ; 
 (1. of disease March IS, '65. 
 
 " " must. Sept. 2, '(i2 ; transf. to brig, 
 band Nov. 1, '03; must, out June 
 4, 'Go. 
 
 Henry Allen, 
 John Anderson, 
 Alexander Brown, 
 George Brown, 
 Melvin Elwood, 
 Charles Frederic, 
 Peter W. Gardener, 
 Samuel Grant, 
 William Green, 
 Louis Liml)old, 
 James Mclntee, 
 Frank Malleck, 
 Louis Miller, 
 John Mori, 
 Patrick Riley, 
 George Stuman, 
 Samuel F. Turner, 
 
 TIIK TWELFTH RKGIMENT. 
 
 must. Dec. 11, '63; sup. to have 
 deserted en route to regiment. 
 Co. D, must. Dec. 11, '63; deserted York- 
 town, Va., April 12, '64. 
 " G, must. Dec. 11, '63; transf. to U. S. 
 
 Xavy April 29, '64. 
 " D, must. i)ec. 11, '63; k. Cold Harbor, 
 
 Va., June 3, '64, 
 " H, must. Dec. 8, '63; deserted White 
 
 House, Va.. May 31, T)4. 
 " I, must. Dec. 11, '63; k. Cold Harbor, 
 
 Va., June 3, '64. 
 " A, must. Dec. 8, '63 ; transf. to 2 N. H. 
 Vols. June 21, '65. 
 must. Dec. 11, '63; suj). to have 
 
 deserted en route to regiment, 
 must. Dec. 11, '63; suj). to have 
 
 deserted en route to regiment, 
 must. Dec. 11, '63; sup. to have 
 deserted en route to regiment. 
 Co. A. must. Dec. 8, '63 ; transf. to 2 X. H. 
 Vols. June 21, '6.5. 
 " I, must. Dec. 11, '63; transf. to U. S. 
 
 Xavy April 29, '64. 
 " I, must. Dec. 8, '63 ; k. Cold Harbor, 
 Va., June 3, '64. 
 must. Dec. 11, '63 ; transf. to 2 X. H. 
 
 Vols. June 21, '65. 
 must. Dec. 8, '63 ; sup. to have 
 deserted en route to regiment. 
 Co. D, must. Dec. 11, "63; w. June 3, '64 ; 
 
 dis. for disab. May 17, '(55. 
 " E, must. Dec. 12, '63 ; transf. to U. S. 
 Navy April 29, '64. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 275 
 
 THE TIIIRTEEXTII REGIMENT. 
 
 John Sullivan, Jr., assistant surgeon, mustered Sept. 16, 18G2; assistant 
 surgeon; honorably discharged August 16, 1864. 
 
 George N. Julian, captain, mustered September 27, 1862 ; captain of 
 Company E; mustered out January 31, 1865. 
 
 Job C. Allard, 
 
 Frederick Bearse, 
 John C. Brown, 
 Alanson Cram, 
 Newton Cram, 
 Jesse L. Dolloff, 
 
 James W. Folsom, 
 George E. Garland, 
 Alfred J. Gilman, 
 Rufus Lamson, 
 Howard M. Moses, 
 George H. Rollins, 
 Frederic W. Sawyer, 
 
 George H. Vanduzee, 
 John C. Vanduzee, 
 
 "William West, 
 Lowell H. Young, 
 
 Co. E, 
 
 must. Sept. 19, '62 ; w. si. June 1, 
 
 '64 ; pro. corp. Feb. 13, '63 ; w. si. 
 
 Sept. 30, '64; must, out June 21, 
 
 '6o ; dead, 
 must. Sept. 19, '62; corp. ; transf. to 
 
 U. S. Navy April 26, '64 ; dead, 
 must. Sept. 19, '62 ; wagoner ; d. of 
 
 disease Exeter Jan. 19, '65. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62 ; must, out June 
 
 10, '65. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62; corp.; transf. 
 
 to U. S. Navy April 26, '64. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62 ; pro. corp. Aug. 
 
 26, '62 ; pro. sergt. March 1, '65 ; 
 
 must, out June 21, '65. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62; must, out June 
 
 21, '65. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62 ; pro. corp. May 
 
 1, '65 ; must, out June 21, '65. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62 ; must, out June 
 
 21, '65. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62 ; must, out June 
 
 21, '65. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62 ; must, out June 
 
 21, '65. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62; transf. to Vet. 
 
 Res. Corps Sept. 30, '63. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62 ; dis. for disab. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 14, '63; 
 
 dead, 
 must. Sept. 19, '62 ; sergt.; k. Cold 
 
 Harbor, Va., June 1, '64. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62; pro. corp.; dis. 
 
 for disab. Point of Rocks, Va., 
 
 Jan. 27, '65 ; dead, 
 must. Sept. 19, '62; corp.; must. out 
 
 June 21, 'Go. 
 must. Sept. 19, '62; w. si. June 15, 
 
 '64 ; must, out June 21, '65. 
 
27(; 
 
 HISTORY OV EXKTER. 
 
 THE FIFTEENTH REGIMENT, 
 
 Joseph E. Janviin, assistant surgeon, mustered October 28, 18G2 ; assist- 
 ant sur<;eon; mustered out August 13, 18(33. 
 
 George W. Batchelder, 
 
 AVilliam 11. B. Brigliam, 
 
 Frederic W. Carter, 
 
 Gideon Carter, 
 George W. Gadd, 
 
 Jolin "W. Morse, 
 
 William Nudd, 
 
 George A. Prescott, 
 
 John A. Sinclair, 
 
 John T. Sinclair, 
 Jeremiah \V. Smith, 
 
 John A. Smith, 
 George II. Thurston, 
 James S. Tuttle, 
 
 (( it 
 
 Co. I, must. Oct. 22, '62 ; must, out Aug, 
 
 13, '(!3; dead. 
 " " must. Oct. 22, "62 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 13, '63. 
 " " must. Oct. 22, '62 ; must, out .Vug. 
 
 13, '63. 
 must. Oct. 22, '62 ; d. of disease, 
 must. Oct. 22, '62 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 13, '63. 
 must. Oct. 22, '62 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 13, '63 ; dead, 
 must. Oct. 22, '62; d. of disease 
 
 Exeter Aug. 9, '63. 
 must. Oct. 28, '62 ; deserted Con- 
 cord ; retd. March 14, '63 : must. 
 
 out Aug. 13, '63. 
 must. Oct. 22, '62 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 13, '63. 
 must. Oct. 22, '62 ; discharged, 
 must. Oct. 22, '62 ; deserted Concord ; 
 
 retd. March 14, '63 ; w. May 27, 
 
 '()3; must, out Aug. 13, '(53. 
 must. Oct. 22, '62 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 13, '()3. 
 must. Oct. 22, "62 ; must, out Aug. 
 
 13, '63. 
 must. Oct. 28, '62 ; deserted Concord 
 
 Oct. 21, '62. 
 
 
 Tin: FIIIST UEGIMENT OF N. II. CAVAI-RY, 
 
 John Ilarvey, 
 Harrison Jones, 
 John r. Weston, 
 
 Troop II, must. July 29, '64; deserted Camp 
 Stonenian, 1). C, Sept. 3, '64. 
 
 " " must. July 29, H'A ; deserted Camp 
 Stoncman, I). C, Aug. 27, '64. 
 
 " " must. July 29. "64 ; deserted Camp 
 Stoneman, I). C, Sept. o, '64. 
 
 Ill luUlition to the foregoing- list, Exeter sent into the military 
 and naval service almost an equal number of other men whose posi- 
 tions and history have not been aceurately noted and preserved. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 277 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Nasou, at the close of each of the years 18G1, 18G2 
 and 1863, published the names of all the Exeter men who had, at 
 those dates respectively, gone into the service, and from those 
 names the following list is chiefly taken. Its complete accuracy 
 is not vouched for ; indeed it is quite clear that it is erroneous in 
 its assignments to New Hampshire regiments, if the Reports of 
 the Adjutant General of the State are to be depended upon. But 
 without doubt nearly every one of the men named entered the 
 service of the country in some organization or capacity, though it 
 may not be correctly given in this statement. 
 
 OTHER EXETER MEX IN THE MILITARY OR NAVAL SERVICE.* 
 
 Charles W. Batchelder, 9 A. 
 
 J. F. Bearborn, 
 
 9 A. 
 
 William Bean, 
 
 6C. 
 
 J. S. Dearborn, Cook's Mass. Bat. 
 
 Charles Bennett, 
 
 7 Maine. 
 
 A. P. DeRochemont, 
 
 2 Mass. 
 
 A. J. Bowley, 
 
 R. I. Cavalry. 
 
 G. W. Dewhurst, U. 
 
 S. Navy acting 
 
 Eben S. Bowley, 
 
 4. 
 
 master. 
 
 
 Azel P. Brigham, 
 
 11 Mass. 
 
 G. W. Dewhurst, Jr., 
 
 1 S. Carolina. 
 
 Bruce Brij^ham, 
 
 11 Mass. 
 
 Hem-y Dewhurst, 
 
 Clerk. 
 
 Ephraim Brigham, 
 
 11 Mass. 
 
 John E. Dodge, 
 
 22 Mass. 
 
 George H. Brigham, 
 
 11 Mass. 
 
 J. Donovan, 
 
 8B. 
 
 William Broderick, 
 
 U. S. Navy. 
 
 Samuel Dow. 
 
 
 George H. Brown, 
 
 14 Mass. C. 
 
 Daniel V. Durgin, 
 
 8. 
 
 G. W. Brown, 
 
 R. I. Cavahy. 
 
 William E. Durgin, 
 
 12 Maine B. 
 
 Freeman Caban, 
 
 U. S. Navy. 
 
 Ira E. Early, 
 
 8. 
 
 W. Edwin Carter, 
 
 15 1; dead. 
 
 Horace Ellison, 
 
 5 Mass. 
 
 James W. Chase, 
 
 Mass. Battery. 
 
 John Farnham, 
 
 5 Mass. 
 
 William Chase, 
 
 U. S. Navy. 
 
 C. E. Folsom, 
 
 17 Mass. 
 
 George W. Clai-k, 
 
 32 Mass. 
 
 Charles H. Folsom, 
 
 Clerk; U. S. 
 
 AVilliam A. Clai-k, 
 
 12 Mass. K. 
 
 Q. M. 
 
 
 George Clough, 
 
 8H. 
 
 James W. Folsom, 
 
 11. 
 
 }[. C. Clough, 
 
 1 Mass. B. 
 
 Joseph Folsom, 
 
 13. 
 
 Charles W. Colcord, 
 
 8B. 
 
 Charles H. Foss, 
 
 8 A. 
 
 Freeman Conner, 44 N. Y.; Colonel. 
 
 George W. Fuller, 
 
 13 E. 
 
 lulward J. Conner, 1 
 
 1 U. S. A.; Capt. 
 
 J. F. Furnald, 
 
 4. 
 
 John Conner, 
 
 U. S. Navy. 
 
 George W. Gale, Jr., 
 
 U. S. Navy ; 
 
 W. Conner, 
 
 15. 
 
 Asst. Surg. 
 
 
 Maurice Cotter, 
 
 9 Mass. 
 
 James H. Garland, 
 
 14 Mass. F. 
 
 J. N. Crummett, 
 
 U. S. Navy. 
 
 George Gill, 
 
 R. I. Cavalry. 
 
 E. P. Cummings, 
 
 23 Mass. Asst. 
 
 Isaiah W. Gin, U. S. 
 
 Navy acting 
 
 Surgeon. 
 
 
 master. 
 
 
 Albert 0. Curtis, 
 
 13 Mass. 
 
 Nathaniel Gill, 
 
 11 Ma.s.s. 
 
 George Dearborn, 
 
 15 Mass. Bat. 
 
 Gardiner Gilman, 
 
 45 Mass. 
 
 ♦The figures refer to New Hampshire Regiments, unless a differcat State is indi- 
 cated. 
 
278 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Sewall Goodwin, U. S. Navy. 
 John Gordon, 55 Mass.; Captain. 
 
 Charles Grccnlcaf, 15 Mass. 
 
 Daniel D. Haines, 8 B. 
 
 J. H. Hartnett, 2 E. 
 
 Michael Hartnett, U. S. Navy. 
 
 D. C. Harris, 8. 
 S. C. Hcrvey, 14 Mass. 15 ; Lieut. 
 William B. Hill, 17 Mass. F; Lieut. 
 
 J. H. Huse, 2 E. 
 
 James Irving, 1 Mass. B. 
 
 George W. Kimball, U. S. Navy. 
 
 James Kimball, U. S. Navy. 
 
 James Kincaid, U. S. Navy. 
 
 Augustus J. Leavitt, 29 Mass. 
 
 Charles H. Leavitt, 29 Mass. K. 
 
 John ^^"ard Leavitt, 5 Mass. 
 
 John Leavitt, 9 E. 
 
 Joseph W. Leavitt, 5 Mass. 
 
 Patrick Little, 9 A. 
 
 Thomas Mcluiery, 3. 
 
 ])aniel McNary, U. S. Navy. 
 
 1). F. :MeNeal, 19 Mass. 
 
 A. Merrill, 12 Mass. E. 
 John Muiijoy, U. S. Navy_ 
 James Murphy, 8 B. 
 Paul F. Nason, A. A, G. Artil. Brig. 
 
 5 Corps. 
 
 C. P. IL Nason, Clerk. 
 
 Charles H. Nealey, 11 L 
 
 B. Nealey, U. S. Navy. 
 
 Norris, 15. 
 
 John O'lhien, U. S. Navy. 
 G. G. Odiornc, lOLid.; Asst. Surgeon. 
 
 J. C. Pay son, 13 D. 
 
 T. K. Payson, U. S. Navy. 
 
 Asa E. Perkins, 40 N. Y. 
 Yalentine A. I'ickcring, 2 ^Liss. Bat. 
 (jcorge W. llobinson, 28 Mass. L 
 
 Henry S. P. Rollins, U. S. Navy. 
 
 Charles \V. Rogers, U. S. Navy. 
 
 Charles Rowe, 3 ] ). 
 
 I'rank G. Rundlett, U. S. Navy. 
 
 A. J. Sanborn, 9 A. 
 
 Charles Sleeper, 
 
 U. 
 
 S. Navy. 
 
 ^^'illiam H. Sleeper, 
 
 
 3 B. 
 
 Charles Smith. 
 
 
 
 J. R. Smith, 
 
 
 44 Mass. 
 
 Stacy, 
 
 U. 
 
 S. Navy. 
 
 C. H. Staples, 
 
 U. 
 
 S. Navv. 
 
 Charles "W. Stevens, Ky. Pay. Dcjit. 
 
 David Stickney, 8 D. 
 
 Daniel W. Stone, U. S. Navy. 
 
 W. C. Swasey, 12 Mass. K. 
 
 William E. Swasey, U. S. Navy. 
 
 James ^L Tappan, 8 A. 
 
 L. F. Tebbetts, 2 B. 
 
 J. I. Tebbetts, U. S. Navy. 
 AVarren V. B. Tebbetts, 17 Mass. F. 
 
 Eugene Thurston, 9 A. 
 
 Charles J. Towle, U. S. Navy. 
 Henrj' Veasey. 
 
 Wheelock G. Veasey, 16 Vt.; Colonel. 
 
 G. A. W. Yinal, 6 :\Iass. K. 
 George A. AVadleigh, 3 Mass. Cav.; 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 James P. AVadleigh, 9 A. 
 
 W. Wainwright, U. S. Navy. 
 
 Orin P. "Waldo, 11. 
 
 Henry Walker, 8 G. 
 
 AVilliam H. AValton, 3. 
 
 Edward Warren, U. S. Nav}-. 
 
 Freeman Wallace, U. S. Navy. 
 
 H. AVeeks, 6 E. 
 
 Henry A. Weeks, 2G Mass. A. 
 
 J. E. G. Weeks, 9 A. 
 
 Nathaniel AVceks, 2d, U. S. Navy. 
 
 John S. Weeks, Inv. Corps. 
 W. AMiitehouse, 
 
 Alfred Willey, 17 U. S. A. 
 Charles AVilley. 
 
 Edwin Willey, 13 Mass. B. 
 
 George Willey, U. S. Navy. 
 
 James AVilley, 12 Mass. 
 
 Henry AVood, 9 A. 
 
 AV. AV\inan, 4. 
 
 J. R. A'oung, 
 
 8B. 
 
 It is much to be regretted that no complete and authentic account 
 of the services and sufferings, or even of the names, of the resi- 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 279 
 
 dents of Exeter who perilled their lives in their country's cause, 
 has been kept. This should no longer be. Late as it is, and 
 difficult as it may now be to compile such an account, the town 
 owes it to the memory of the heroic dead to ascertain the exact 
 part taken by every one of its citizens in aiding to preserve the 
 integrity of the Union, to be inscribed upon permanent record, for 
 the information of present and future generations. Exeter has 
 yet no memorial of her soldiers ; such a history would be a tribute 
 more appropriate than any monument of marble or bronze and 
 equally enduring. 
 
 A few brief biographical notices of some of the more prominent 
 officers will properly close this chapter of Exeter history. 
 
 General Oilman Marston was born in Orford, New Hampshire, 
 of which town his grandfather, a captain in the old French war, 
 was one of the earliest settlers from Hampton. His early life was 
 passed on a farm, and he paid the expenses of his own education 
 by school keeping, graduating from Dartmouth College in 1837. 
 He studied law, and in 1841 came, an entire stranger, to Exeter. 
 In a short time, his diligence, attention to business and personal 
 interest in the affairs of his clients, secured him a valuable practice. 
 In 1845 he took his first step in political life as a representative in 
 the State Legislature, and was twice re-elected, and appointed a 
 delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1850. In 1859 he 
 was chosen a representative in the Congress of the United States, 
 and re-elected in 18G1. Being in Washington in the anxious 
 period that followed the inauguration of President Lincoln, he 
 joined the battalion commanded by Cassius M. Clay for the de- 
 fence of the national capital, and as soon as the exigency there 
 had passed, returned to New Hampshire and tendered his services 
 to the State Executive. 
 
 He was appointed colonel of the Second Regiment, originally 
 enlisted for three months only, but its term of service then ex- 
 tended to three 3'ears. One month from its arrival in AVashing- 
 ton it took part in the battle of Bull Kun, where the colonel was 
 severely wounded by a bullet which shattered his right arm near 
 the shoulder. The surgeons would have amputated it, to save his 
 life, but, by reason of the colonel's resolute refusal, it -was saved, 
 to become about as serviceable as the other. He soon returned 
 to his regiment, and was in command of it at "Williamsburg, at 
 Fair Oaks, during the seven days' battles before Kichmond, at 
 
280 HISTORY OF EXETEH. 
 
 Malvern Hill, and at Fredericksburij;. In the winter of 1862-3, 
 while active operations were suspended, he returned to his seat in 
 Congress. 
 
 He was appointed brigadier general in the fall of 1802, but did 
 not accept the appointment till April, 1<S(53, when he was put in 
 charge of a large camp of confederate prisoners, in jMaryland, in 
 command of his own and two other New Hampshire regiments. A 
 year later, the command of a brigade of New York troops in the 
 Eighteenth Corps was given him, and he took part in the assault 
 on Drury's Bluff. Thence his command was ordered to Cold 
 Harbor, and in the memorable conflict there his brigade in one-half 
 hour lost live hundred men. Subsequently, he participated in the 
 assault on the works at Petersburg ; and then was directed by 
 General Grant to take charge of several posts on the James, where 
 he remained until autumn, but, being attacked by chills and fever, 
 from his long exposure in that miasmatic region, he was obliged 
 to quit the army on sick leave. He was again elected to Congress 
 in the succeeding March, and after the fall of Richmond resigned 
 his commission of general. 
 
 General Marston's military services are matter of history. Per- 
 haps no higher commendation could be given him than that paid 
 by a field ollicer of his old command. The Second Regiment, as 
 is w^ell known, made a distinguished record in the war. JNIajor 
 Cooper, in his report to the adjutant general, wrote thus of its 
 first commander: "Whatever name or fame the regiment may 
 possess, it is indebted for almost wholly to the untiring zeal and 
 effort of Colonel, now General (Ulman Marston." 
 
 After the expiration of his third congressional term, (ienernl 
 ^larston returned to Exeter and resumed his law practice. Neither 
 his political nor liis military service had lessened his zeal or his 
 industry in his profession, and he has ever since had all the busi- 
 ness that he cared for. Few of the principal causes arising in his 
 section have been tried without his assistance, and he has often 
 been summoned to other parts of the State to conduct important 
 suits. 
 
 The i)eople of Exeter have manifested their confidence in his 
 ability and usefulness as a law maker by continuing him for an 
 unprecedented length of time as a representative in the State 
 Legislature, where his position :inil experience have given him an 
 inrtuence second to that of no other member. 
 
 In 1^<H2 Dartmouth College conferred upon General Marston 
 the lioiiorarv degree of M>. D. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 281 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel Henry H. Pearson was born in Newport, 
 Illinois, February 26, 1840. By his own exertions he determined 
 to obtain an education, and with that view came to Exeter and 
 entered the Phillips Academy. He was a faithful student, and a 
 great reader of books, especially of history and biography. Upon 
 the breaking out of the Rebellion he was fired with military and 
 patriotic ardor, and proceeded, a part of the way on foot, to 
 "Washington, where he joined a military company and took part in 
 the battle of Bull linn. He then returned to Exeter, and was 
 commissioned by the governor captain in the Sixth New Hamp- 
 shire Regiment. In order to procure recruits, he appointed war 
 meetings in the towns adjacent to Exeter, at which he addressed 
 the people with great effect, and thus he enlisted his company. 
 The people of Exeter, in recognition of his patriotic services, pre- 
 sented him with a handsome sword and other substantial tokens of 
 their regard. 
 
 In April, 1802, he commanded his company in the action at 
 Camden, North Carolina, and in August, at the second battle of 
 Ball Run, and wrote accounts of both, which showed superior 
 military capacity. The next j^ear he distinguished himself in the 
 engagements at Chautilly, South Mountain and Fredericksburg, 
 and, later, at Yicksburg and Jackson, Mississippi. And when, in 
 December, 1863, the regiment re-enlisted, he received the merited 
 appointment of lieutenant colonel. In the great campaign of 
 Grant in Virginia, he led his men in the battle of the Wilderness 
 with judgment and ability. On the twenty-sixth of May, 1864, at 
 North Anna river, while reconnoitring the enemy through his 
 field glass, he received the bullet of a sharp-shooter in the fore- 
 head which deprived him of life, at the early age of twenty-three. 
 
 He was beloved by his men for his attention to their wants, and 
 for his coolness and courage and ability. Few volunteer oflicers 
 were better equipped than he with the knowledge and qualities re- 
 quired to make a successful commander. His brother otticers 
 respected and admired him, and his death was sincerely lamented 
 by all who knew him. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel jNIoses N. Collins was born in Brentwood, 
 in April, 1820. He received a thorough academic education, and 
 for several years was employed in teaching in the State of IMary- 
 land. He then returned to New Hampshire to prepare himself 
 for the practice of the law, and completed his studies in Exeter in 
 the office of General Gilmau Marston, whose i)iutiu'r lu' lucanu'. 
 
282 HISTORY OF EXETEll. 
 
 lie WHS elected to the State Lep^islature from liis native toun in 
 1860, ami from Exeter in 18G1 and INC.-J. In the hitter year he 
 received the appointment of major, and snbsequently, of lientenant 
 colonel of the Eleventh New Hampshire Regiment, then forming. 
 After arriving at the seat of war, the regiment had not long to 
 wait before receiving their "baptism of fire." At Fredericksburg 
 they joined in the bloody, unavailing assault upon Marye's Heights, 
 and were, for two hours, exposed to a tremendous cannonade, and 
 lost heavily. 
 
 In 1863 the regiment was engaged in the siege of Vicksburg, 
 and afterwards bore their part of the hardships and sufferings of 
 Burnside's army in Knoxville. At this time Lieutenant Colonel 
 Collins was in command, in the absence of the colonel. In the 
 spring of 1864 the regiment Avas ordered to rejoin the army of the 
 Potomac, and was engaged in the terrible conflicts of Grant's 
 advance upon Richmond. In the battle of the AVilderness on 
 May 6, 1864, the PLleventh was under fire nearly all the day. 
 Ill ail advance against the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Collins 
 received his death wound, being shot directly through the head. 
 
 He was a man of much resolution and force of character, and 
 had established a high reputation as a lawyer of skill and ability. 
 His death was a public loss. 
 
 Cai)tain Albert M. Perkins was a native of Exeter, and at the 
 time of the breaking out of the war was about eighteen years of 
 age. He had received a good academic education and was bright, 
 active and popular. He was of an adventurous spirit, and loyal 
 to the core, and entered into the contest with enthusiasm. His 
 first position was that of orderly sergeant, from which he was pro- 
 moted through several grades to the office of captain, earning 
 every step l)y his courage and good conduct. He not onh' never 
 shrank from any exposure, but set an example to his men of 
 boldness and enterprise on all critical occasions. 
 
 It was in llic battle of Gettysburg, thi' tinning point of the war, 
 that he received the wound which occasioned the loss of his arm, 
 and eventually was the cause of his untimely death. He lived to 
 witness the triiiiiii)hant close of the great confiict, but not long 
 afterward. His life was short, but it comprised more daring and 
 sacrifice than most lives of threescore years and ten. 
 
EDUCATIONAL. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 THE SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES. 
 
 The first settlers of Exeter were too intelligent not to realize 
 the importance of furnishing proper instruction to their children, 
 nor did they make their home in the remote region of the Squam- 
 scot without providing a suitable teacher for them. Philemon 
 Pormort, one of their number, was an experienced schoolmaster. 
 He had taught the youth of Boston acceptably, and, no doubt, as 
 long as he remained in Exeter, exercised his calling there. His 
 stay was about five years. Before he departed, another person 
 well qualified to be his successor had come to settle in the town : 
 John Legat. He had taught a school in Hampton, and presum- 
 ably filled the same useful station in Exeter. He lived in the 
 place up to the year 1652, at least. The records of the town 
 contain no information in regard to the earliest schools, as they 
 were probably maintained, not at the public charge, but by the 
 parents of the children who attended them. Nor for many years 
 after towns were made by law responsible for the maintenance of 
 schools, do the records refer to the subject. "We learn, however, 
 tliat in KjG'J .John Barsham, who had been employed elsewhere as 
 a teacher of the young, was living in Exeter, and it is natural to 
 suppose that he was one of the line of schoolmasters. 
 
 About the middle of the seventeenth century the colony of 
 IMassachusetts passed a law that every town of fifty families sliould 
 maintain a schoolmaster capable of teaching children to read and 
 write, and every town of one hundred families should set up a 
 grammar school, provided with a teacher (pialified to prepare boys 
 to enter the university, that is. Harvard College. And this law, 
 in substance, was continued in force in the province of New 
 Hampshire after its separation from Massachusetts. 
 
 For two generations or more, the limited population of Exeter 
 required the maintenance of elementary schools only, and hail not 
 reached the number of families which obliged the town to support 
 
 285 
 
28G HISTORY OF KXETKU. 
 
 a grammar and classical teacher. But somewhere near the begin- 
 niug of the last century the increase of iuliabituuts had probably 
 made it necessary to provide facilities for the higher grade of in- 
 struction. 
 
 At tlie annual town meeting in April, 1703, a vote was passed 
 that the selectmen should hire a schoolmaster for a year, "to 
 keep school three months in the old meeting-house, and the rest of 
 the year at their discretion." 
 
 The next your the town voted to sell the old meeting-house, and 
 "to build a school-house at the town's charge, and set it below 
 Jonathan Thing's house next the river." 
 
 In 170(3 the rather indeterminate vote was passed, that "the 
 town would have a schoolmaster liired." 
 
 Xo school-house had been built in the spring of 1707, for the 
 town then resolved : 
 
 That the school-house be built on the land the town bought of 
 ]\Ir. Collhi by the new meeting-house, forthwitli ; to be thirty feet 
 in length, twenty feet in breadth and eight feet stud. 
 
 There is no reason to doubt that this order was carried out ; 
 and we may therefore i)icture to ourselves this first building erected 
 purposely for a school-house in Exeter, standing on the opposite 
 side of the way from the meeting-house, in dimensions one-half 
 larger than the earliest known house of worship in tlie town. It 
 "was intended for the grammar or Latin school, without doubt. 
 The records show that schools of less pretensions were also kept 
 for longer or shorter terms in the more distant parts of the town. 
 
 LIST Ol" EAIUA' INSTRUCTOIIS. 
 
 "We do not learn who filled the important station of head of the 
 grammar school before the year 1711, but from that date the 
 account books of the selectmen give the names of the successive 
 masters, with few interrui)tions, to the close of the centur}'. It 
 will be observed that they were generally college graduates. The 
 following is the list, which includes also the names of such teachers 
 of other schools as are given. 
 
 Jonathan Pierpont (Harvard College 1714), 1714 and 1715 
 Nicholas Perryman* and Enoch Coffin (H. C. 1714), 171(). 
 
 * .Mr. Pcrrj-man wae a native of England, aaj a maa of excellent education. He became a 
 lawyer and practised In Exeter, 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 287 
 
 Nicholas Perryman, 1717, 1718. 
 
 Joseph Parsons (H. C. 1720) and Robert Hale (H. C. 1721), 1720, 1721. 
 
 Robert Hale and John Graham, 1722. 
 
 Ward Clark (H. C. 1723), 1723, 1724. 
 
 Benjamhi Choate (H. C. 1703 ?), 1729. 
 
 Elisha Odlin (H. C. 1731), 1730. 
 
 Nicholas Oilman, Jr. (H. C. 1724), 1731, 1732. 
 
 Cartee Oilman, 1732. 
 
 Peter Coffin (H. C. 1733) and AVilliam Oraves, 1733. 
 
 Elisha Odlin, 1734. 
 
 Meshech Weare (H. C. 1735), 1735. 
 
 Cai'tee Oilman (on north side of river) and Edward Barnard (H. C. 1736), 
 1736. 
 
 Peter Coffin, 1736. 
 
 Maverick Oilman's wife (at Deer Hill), Cartee Oilman (on south side), 
 1737. 
 
 Nicholas Oilman, Jr., and Edward Barnard, 1737. 
 
 Elisha Odlin, 1738. 
 
 John Creighton (on Deer Hill road), Abigail Conner (at ]\Iast swamp), 
 1739. 
 
 Woodbridge Odlin (H. C. 1738), 1739, 1740. 
 
 John Creighton (on Deer Hill road), 1740. 
 
 Joel Judkins's wife (on white pine plain), Elisha Odlin (at Deer Hill), 
 1741. 
 
 Woodbridge Odlin, 1741, 1742. 
 
 Jonathan Olidden (at Tuckaway), 1742. 
 
 Mr. (John) Phillips (H. C. 1735), 1742, 1743. 
 
 Elisha Odlin, 1743. 
 
 John Creighton, 1744. 
 
 John Chandler (H. C. 1743) and Nehemiah Porter (H. C. 1745), 1745. 
 
 Nathaniel Oilman (H. C. 1746), 1746. 
 
 Nathaniel Oilman and John Creighton, 1747. 
 
 Stephen Emery (H. C. 1730?) and Nathaniel Oilman, 174S, 1749. 
 
 Cartee Oilman, Samuel Brooks (H. C. 1749) and John Creighton, 1749, 
 1750. 
 
 Ebenezer Adams (H. C. 1747) and John AVhite (H. C. 1751). 1751, 1752. 
 
 John Feveryear (H. C. 1751), John White and Samuel Brooks, 1753. 
 
 William Parker (H. C. 1751) and Samuel Brooks, 1755. 
 
 Samuel Brooks, 1756, 1757, 1758. 
 
 Joseph Pearson (H. C. 1758), 1760, 1761, 1762, 1763, 1764, 1765. 
 
 Tristram Oilman (H. C. 1757), 1761. 
 
 Moses Badger (H. C. 1761), Dr. Joseph Tilton, Theophilus Smith, Jr. 
 (H. C. 1761), 1767, 1768, 1769, 1770. 
 
 Joseph Pearson, 1770, 1771. 
 
 Philip Babson, 1772. 
 
2.SS HISTORY OF EXETEIl. 
 
 Joseph Pearson, Abraham Perkins, Joseph Cunimings (II. C. 176S). 1772, 
 177:5. 
 
 John Frothingham (H. C. 1771). 177.'}. 
 
 Thomas Burnham (II. C. 1772), 177;}, 1774. 
 
 Isaac Sherman (Y. C. 1770), 1774. 
 
 Joseph Pearson, AYilliam Fog<j (II. C. 1774), 1778. 
 
 Dudley Odlin (II. C. 1777), 1779. 
 
 Nathaniel Healy (H. C. 1777), Dudley Odlin, William Fogg, 1780. 
 
 ])udley Odlin, 17S1. 
 
 Dudley Odlin, William Fogg, Nathaniel Parker (TI. C. 1779), 1782. 
 
 Joseph Lamson (11. C. 1741 ?), William Fogg, 17'S;J. 
 
 Andrew Ilinman, William Fogg, 17S4. 
 
 Andrew Hinman, Joseph Lamson, John Morrison, 1785. 
 
 Leonai'd Whiting, John Morrison, 178(5. 
 
 Ilev. Isaac Mansfield (H. C. 1707), Jonathan Fifield Sleeper (I). C. 1780), 
 Ephraim Kobinsou, Jr., William Peabody, 1789. 
 
 Isaac Mansfield, 1790. 
 
 Caleb Robinson, Jonathan F. Sleeper, 1792. 
 
 TOWX ORDERS CONCERNIXG .SCHOOLS. 
 
 It may be of interest to give ii brief synopsis of the action of 
 the town, from time to time, in respect to their scliools, in the last 
 century. 
 
 lu 1728 the town ordered that "the school shall be kept five 
 months in the school-house, four months at Pickpocket and three 
 months at Ass brook." 
 
 This yearly division of the instruction, so that the childn-u of 
 each section of the town might enjoy their equitable proportion of 
 its advantages, was kept up for a considerable time. 
 
 Ill 1 7.") I it was wisely determined that the school be kept the 
 ensuing year in the school-house or in tiu' town-house, " wliifh the 
 schoolmaster should think best." 
 
 In M'-VJ the following vote was adopted : 
 
 That there l)e £120 raised by the selectmen to be improved in 
 schooling in manner following : the proportion of money raised 
 within the limits hereafter mentioneil be improved in keeping 
 school in the town-house or school-house ; that end of the town 
 called Ass brook to belong to the town scliool and the road that 
 leads to Newmarket, and Pickpocket road as far as Richard 
 York's, and the road to Philip UadleiglTs, and all the people that 
 live thereabout ; all tlie people in those limits to be accounted to 
 the town school, and the remaining i)art of the town to have their 
 jiroportion of mone}' to be improved in schooling. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 289 
 
 In the year 1742 the appropriation for schools had been in- 
 creased to one liundred and forty pounds, and the selectmen were 
 instructed "to hire a standing school in the town for the year 
 ensuing ; and that the several branches of the town have their 
 share of the money allowed to them in proportion to what they 
 pay ; and in case the £140 voted be not sufficient therefor, that 
 they be empowered to raise a sufficiency." 
 
 In 1747 the arrangement for schools adopted by the town was 
 as follows : 
 
 Voted, That the selectmen raise so much money for the school 
 as that the part paid by the inhabitants between Capt. John 
 Oilman's on Tuckaway road and the little river on Kingston road, 
 and on the neck road and so farther as to take in JNIajor I>zekiel 
 Gilman on Newmarket road and Peter Folsom on Hampton road, 
 shall be sufficient to keep a Latin school, and that the money that 
 the other parts pay shall be for keeping school as they shall agree 
 on. 
 
 Oil the twenty-eighth of April, 1755, at a meeting of the town 
 it was voted that the selectmen " have liberty to part off a con- 
 venient part of the town-house and build a chimney in it so that 
 the town be at no cost for the same, but at the cost of private 
 persons, and be for the use of the school." 
 
 In 17G8 the town gave the selectmen authority to get the old 
 town bell recast into a bell for the use of the school ; but as the 
 people who lived outside its sound were to get no benefit from it, 
 it was considerately added that the outskirts of the town were to 
 be at no cost for it. 
 
 FOUMATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 
 
 In the year 1805 a law was enacted by the Legislature of New 
 Hampshire, providing for the separation of towns into districts 
 for tlie purpose of maintaining schools. In conformity thereto 
 the town appointed a committee to examine, ami recommend a 
 proper partition, and in 1H07 voted to divide the town into six 
 districts, as reported by the committee. From that time, for 
 three-quarters of a century, the duty of providing instructors for 
 the public schools was taken from the selectmen, and imposed upon 
 the officers of the several districts. This law has since been 
 changed, without disturbance to the school system of the town. 
 
 It would I)c' impracticable to furnish a list of all the teachers, 
 even if it were desirable. Among those, however, who have enti- 
 
 19 
 
290 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 tied themselves by loug and faithful service to particular remem- 
 brance, may be meutioued the Rev. Ferdinand ICllis, and his two 
 daughters, Charlotte and Rhoda, Benjamin 15. Thompson, a vet- 
 eran instructor, and Sperry French, -who has for above a quarter 
 of a century had the charge of a capital grammar school. 
 
 The superintending school committees api)ointed by the town 
 have ordinarily been gentlemen of education, interested in the 
 snl)ject, and cheerfully giving much ill compensated labor to the 
 object of improving the means of instruction. Their efforts and 
 recommendations have contributed greatly to bring the system of 
 schools up to its present state of etliciency. Several of their 
 reports have been models of the art of enforcing sound sense by 
 pleasantry. Those of the late Professor Joseph G. Iloyt were as 
 full of wit as of wisdom. 
 
 The present school board consists of Messrs. John D. Lyman, 
 John A. Brown and George W. Weston. 
 
 Of the various changes in the State laws which experience has 
 dictated, for the promotion of popular education, that which \)Vo- 
 vided for the grading of schools was one of the most important, and 
 was adopted in the town in the year 18-17. A High school Avas 
 established, in district No. 1, to which pupils from the other 
 districts wore admissible, and the grammar and primary schools 
 Avere kept distinct. A handsome house for the High school was 
 erected near the old town-house, on Court street. 
 
 The High school has had for its principal teachers the following 
 persons : Elbridge G. Dalton (A. M., Dart. Coll. 1855) from 1848 
 to 1853 inclusive; Joseph p^astmau (Dart. Coll. 1850) for 1854; 
 Nathan F. Carter (Dart. Coll. 185;'.) from 1855 to 1863; Orlando 
 M. Fernald (Ilarv. Coll. 1804) for l.S(]4 ; Lewis F. Dupee for 
 18GG and 18G7 ; John T. Gibson (Dart. Coll. 18G4) from 18G7 to 
 18G'J, and for 1871 and 1872 ; Frederic A. Fogg (Bowd. Coll. 
 18G9) and Martin IL Fisk (Dart. Coll. 1852) for 1870; Albion 
 Burbank (Bowd. Coll. 18G2) from 1872 to the present time. 
 
 The High and tiie grammar schools have always maintained an 
 excellent standing, notwithstanding the fact that for the last 
 twenty years their pupils have ])een exclusively boj's. This was 
 the result of the establishment of the Robinson Female Seminary, 
 which was open to all the girls above the age of nine years, and 
 qualitied for admission to the grammar schools. The fears of 
 some advocates of the co-education of the sexes, that this separa- 
 tion would work injury to both, have thus far not been realized. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 291 
 
 In addition to the schools described, the town has also one sub- 
 grammar school, two intermediate, five primary, and three un- 
 graded schools. The whole number of pupils is four hundred and 
 ninet^'-four. The school board highly commend the schools, but 
 strongly recommend that some of them should be better housed. 
 
 THE ROBINSON FEMALE SEMINARY. 
 
 William Robinson, a native of Exeter, left the town after reach- 
 ing his majority, to seek his fortune elsewhere. In this he was 
 highly successful, and at his death in Augusta, Georgia, where he 
 had resided for many years, he left a large property. After 
 making, by his will, a handsome provision for his widow and rel- 
 atives, he appointed the town of Exeter his residuary legatee, in 
 trust, for the purpose of establishing a female seminary in which 
 " the course of instruction should be such as would tend to make 
 female scholars equal to all the practical duties of life ; such a 
 course of education as would enable them to compete, and suc- 
 cessfully, too, with their brothers throughout the world, when they 
 take their part in the actual duties of life." In admitting appli- 
 cants to the advantages of the seminary he directed that, " all 
 other tilings being equal, the preference should always be given to 
 the poor and the orphan." There is little doubt that Mr. Robin- 
 son, in making this disposition, had in mind the academy in his 
 native town founded by Dr. John Phillips, for the education of 
 boys, and intended to make this a companion institution for the 
 other sex. 
 
 His death occurred during the civil war, which delayed for a 
 time the announcement to the town of the contents of his will, but 
 in the spring of 180,1 the tidings were received. The town voted 
 to accept the bequest, and appointed agents to receive it. The 
 amount realized was about a quarter of a million of dollars. 
 
 A plan for the establishment and regulation of the seminary was 
 carefully elaborated by a connnittee, and adopted by the town, 
 and received the sanction of the Legislature of the State. It 
 provided for a board of trustees to whom the government of the 
 institution was connnitted, to consist of seven citizens, to be 
 elected by the town, one each year, and to serve for the term of 
 seven years. Any girl resident in the town who had reached the 
 age of nine j'ears, and was qualified for the grammar school, was 
 entitled to enter the seminary, and enjoy its instruction without 
 the payment of tuition. 
 
292 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 In order that there should be uo delay in affording the benefits 
 of the gift to all, a school Avas opened in 1807 in the old town liall 
 for girls, answering the above requirement, and experienced 
 teachers were employed. It was also determined to procure at 
 once a suitable lot of land, and to erect a building for the seminary 
 thereon. This was not accomplished without some difference of 
 opinion which produced delay; but on tlie fourth day of July, 
 18G8, the corner-stone of the seminary building was laid ou a 
 commanding part of the tract of laud, of near sixteen acres, which 
 had been purchased in the western part of the village. In 18G9 
 the structure was completed, of brick, with a granite basement, 
 and three stories in height. 
 
 The seminary went into operation in September of the same 
 year. P^bon Sperry Stearns, a native of Bedford, Massachusetts, 
 and a graduate of Harvard College in 1841, was the first principal. 
 lie remained in charge of the institution uutil the year 1875, 
 during which time the school was thoroughly organized, and proved 
 to be a success. Mr. Stearns then accepted the offer of the pres- 
 idency of a normal college at Nashville, Tennessee, and left 
 J]xeter. His successor in charge of the Kobinsou Seminary was 
 Miss Harriet E. Paine, who discharged the duties 'for three 3"ears 
 Avith acceptance, and was succeeded by ]Miss Annie iNI. Killiam in 
 1878. Siie resigned the position after live years of faithful ser- 
 vice, and George N. Cross, A. M., was appointed principal, who 
 has managed the school with much success to the present time. 
 
 The course of study is arranged to extend over a period of eight 
 years, and there is also a course preparatory to admission to col- 
 lege of three years. As complete an education can be obtained at 
 the seminary as at almost any other institution of the kind in the 
 country. Of course, tlie great majority of the pupils do not com- 
 plete the course ; out of an attendance of from one lunidred and fifty 
 to one hundred and seventy-five, the number of graduates averages 
 yearly about ten only. lint far tlie larger number of the pupils 
 niiKiiu long enough to acquire an education which renders them 
 " ecpial to all tlu; i)ra(.-tical duties of life," and are undoubtedly 
 great gainers by the means of instruction which the liberality of 
 the founder of the seminary has placed within tlieir reach. 
 
 Most of the students of the Kobinson Seminary belong to 
 Exeter, though non-residents may be admitted upon the payment 
 of a small tuition, and a few sucli are always in {ho school. 
 
 The corps of instructors at the present time are these : 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 293 
 
 George X. Cross, A. M., Principal, Xatural Sciences and Elocution. 
 
 Adeline A. Knight, Latin and Greek. 
 
 Martha F. Rico, B. L., Higher Mathematics, English and Composition. 
 
 Lucy Bell, Drawing, Painting and Art Study. 
 
 Oscar Faulhaber, Ph. 1)., French and German. 
 
 Eliza C. Lufkin, Language, History, Physiology and Reading. 
 
 Georgie W. Shute, English Grammar, Geography and Xatural Historj'. 
 
 Maria L. Grouard, Arithmetic, Algebra and United States History. 
 
 Cecilia F. Gustine, Vocal Music. 
 
 Bessie P. Ordway, Assistant in the Laboratory. 
 
 The present board of trustees consists of the following residents : 
 
 Charles G. Conner, Henry C. Moses, George X. Proctor, William Bur- 
 Ungame, Edwin G. Eastman, George W. Furnald and Charles H. Gerrish. 
 
 THE PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY. 
 
 John Phillips was a son of the Rev. Samuel Phillips of Andover, 
 Massachusetts, and was born there December 27, 1719. Under 
 his father's tuition he prepared himself to enter Harvard Colleo-e 
 at the age of twelve years, and graduated in 1735. For a while 
 afterwards he was employed in teaching, at the same time study- 
 ing medicine and divinity. He was admitted to the ministry but 
 was never settled over a parish. In 1741 he came to Exeter, and 
 there made his permanent home, at first as teacher of a Latin 
 school ; but afterwards engaged in trade, which he found very 
 profitable. 
 
 As he advanced in years and increased in wealth, he was more 
 and more impressed with the desire of employing his property for 
 benevolent and charitable uses. He contributed liberally to the 
 funds of the infant Dartmouth College, and joined with his 
 brother Samuel in founding the Phillips Academy in Andover 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 But his special project was to establish an educational insti- 
 tution in his own town of Exeter. This he wisely accomplished 
 in his lifetime, and enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing it char- 
 tered, organized and in successful operation before his death. 
 The Phillips Exeter Academy was formally opened on the first 
 day of May, 1783. Dr. Phillips endowed it by gift and devise 
 with property to the amount of about sixty thousand dollars ; far 
 the greatest sum that had at that time been devoted to such an 
 enterprise in the country. He drew up with anxious care a con- 
 stitution for the government of the institution, uomiuatod a board 
 
294 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 of trustees of wliom he was one, and naturally the president ; 
 appointed the instructors, and for twelve years until his death in 
 17'J5, vii'tually directed everything connected with tlie Academy. 
 
 For the first few years the principal instructor was "William 
 "Woodbridge, one of a line of preachers and teachers ; but by 
 reason of ill health he gave up the position, and a singularly felic- 
 itous appointment was nuade for his successor, of P>enjaniin Abbot, 
 a native of Andover, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Harvard 
 College, in 1788. He possessed rare qualilications for the place, 
 an amiable disposition, sound scholarship, the power of command, 
 a high sense of responsibility and honor, and the combination of 
 qualities that are implied in the expression " a complete gentle- 
 man." Under his ellicient charge the academy soon acquired 
 that pre-eminence which it still, after the lapse of a century, 
 retains. 
 
 Dr. Abbot was most efficiently aided in his preceptorial duties 
 by a succession of able men and accomplished scholars, not a few 
 of whom became afterwards distinguished as presidents and pro- 
 fessors of colleges or in the various walks of professional life. 
 The names of Hosea Hildreth, Francis Bowen, Daniel Dana, 
 Samuel D. Parker, Joseph S. Buckminster, Alexander II. Everett, 
 Nathaniel A. Haven, Jr., Nathan Ford and Henry Ware, on the 
 roll of instructors, are vouchers that no "journey-work" was 
 allowed to pass, among the pupils. 
 
 To the first of these, Hosea Hildreth, the principal and the 
 academy were especially indebted. He was educated for the min- 
 istry, and occupied the pulpit a considerable part of his life. But 
 he had exceptionally valuable qualities as a teacher. He was not 
 content to guide his pupils in the humdrum style of the old peda- 
 gogues. He possessed much originality and humor, and strove 
 to rouse the i)ridc and ambition of the students so as to bring out 
 the best there was in them. The formation of tlie " floldcu 
 Branch " society, for the promotion of scholarship nnd littrary 
 training, was due to Professor Hildreth. For fourteen years lie 
 devoted his best powers to the work of instruction in the acad- 
 emy, and his influence was peculiarly stimulating and elevating. 
 
 Nor was the list of Dr. Abbot's pupils less remarkable, for the 
 number of those who subsequently rose to the highest rank in 
 scholarship and in literature, in i)olitical and professional i)osition. 
 Among them were Lewis Cass, Daniel Webster, Joseph (1. Cogs- 
 well, John G. Palfrey, Jared Sparks, Edward Everett, John A. 
 
HISTORY OE EXETER. 295 
 
 Dix, George Bancroft, Richard Ilildreth, and many others scarcely 
 inferior to them in celebrity. 
 
 Dr. Abbot, after having rounded out his half century of useful 
 labor, resigned the principalship in 1838, on which occasion there 
 was a great assemblage of his pupils, to do him honor. 
 
 His successor was Dr. Gideon L. Soule, a native of Freeport, 
 Maine, and a graduate of Bowdoin College in 1818. He had been 
 a pupil of Dr. Abbot, and afterwards associated with him as a 
 professor of ancient languages in the academy for a number of 
 years. He was fully indoctrinated with the views and methods of 
 his old preceptor, was a thorough classical scholar, and possessed 
 rare natural qualities for the high post to which he was promoted. 
 He was of commanding presence and dignified manners ; and 
 understood well how to appeal to the best instincts of his pupils. 
 Like his predecessor he had the gift of command, and was a 
 thorough gentleman in the best sense of the term, courteous, high 
 minded, just and generous in his treatment of all. He also was 
 ably supported by the professors and teachers associated with him 
 in his work. One of the number, now no more, was Professor 
 Joseph G. Hoyt, afterwards appointed Chancellor of the Washing- 
 ton University, St. Louis, Missouri. In some respects he was 
 the counterpart of his predecessor, Professor Hosea Hildreth. He 
 had much of the same impatience with outgrown methods, and 
 much of the same power of impressing his own personality upon 
 his associates and pupils. He was not only not afraid of novel- 
 ties, but courted them. He never half supported a measure ; he 
 was for it or against it with his whole might. The scheme of 
 allowing greater liberty to the students, and of trusting more to 
 their own self-government, he supported with characteristic 
 warmth. He was in the board of instruction for eighteen years, 
 and few of those connected with the academy from the beginning 
 have left a more marked impress upon its management and char- 
 acter than Professor Hoyt. 
 
 Although Dr. Soule was not one given to innovation, it was 
 during his rule, and with his assent, that a radical change was in- 
 augurated in discipline and methods in the academy. A wider 
 liberty was allowed to the students ; they were treated more like 
 men, and less like children. They were taught that in their con- 
 duct they were to be governed by the unwritten code of propriety 
 and honor which is recognized as the fundamental principle of 
 every moral and enlightened community, and not by any set of 
 
290 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 written regulations. Instead of studying, as theretofore, under 
 the eye of an instructor, they were permitted to prepare their 
 lessons in their own rooms, and only required to assemble at the 
 academy for recitations, usually thrice each da}', and for prayers. 
 This was a critical experiment to make, perhaps, and its success 
 depended greatly npon the disposition of the pupils to wisely use, 
 and not abuse, the greater freedom granted them. The reliance 
 placed upon their good sense and self-control was not mistaken. 
 The adoption of the new plan has never been regretted ; and the 
 sood effects of it are visible in the increase of manliness and self- 
 respect among the groat majority of the students. 
 
 After Dr. Soule had com})leted his fiftietli year of duty, as a 
 professor and as principal of the academy, he retired from active 
 employment, bearing with him the respect and cordial affection of 
 his associates and of the numerous body of pupils who had enjoyed 
 the great advantage of his instruction and his example. 
 
 The next immediate head of the institution was Dr. Albert C. 
 Perkins, a native of Byfield, Massachusetts, and a graduate of 
 Dartmouth College. lie occupied the post of principal for about 
 ten years, when he resigned it to accept the presidency of the Adel- 
 phi Institute in Brooklyn, New York. 
 
 For two years after this the duties of tlie principalship were 
 practically performed by the two senior professors, George A. 
 Wentworth ami Bradbury L. Cilley, each of whom had been con- 
 nected with the academy as a member of the corps of instruction 
 for about a quarter of a ccntur3\ They Avere active coadjutors of 
 Dr. Soule in the "new departure" which was begun in his term of 
 ofiice, and still retain their positions in the institution. 
 
 Walter Quincy Scott, D.D., the present principal of the academy, 
 assumed the station in 1885. He is a native of Dayton, Ohio, a 
 graduate of Lafayette College in 1869, and had been the president 
 of the Oliio State University before his appointment to tliis 
 position. 
 
 In tlie one hundred and five years of its existence, the Phillips 
 Exeter Academy has, as might be expected, made a i)ro(ligious 
 growth, in point of means, and num])ers and extent and character 
 of instruction. For the first twenty years the average number of 
 students was less than forty, and at the close of Dr. Abbot's con- 
 nection, did not exceed seventy. It is now nearly five times the 
 latter number. The endowment given by the founder, large as it 
 was for the time, has been increased almost tenfold, in i)art by 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 297 
 
 wise management, but chiefly by additional gifts from various 
 benefactors. The average age of the pupils has increased by at 
 least two years within the last half century, and in the extent and 
 thoroughness of the work accomplished, the advance has been fully 
 commensurate with the progress of the institution in the other 
 respects mentioned. 
 
 The original endowment of Dr. Phillips has been since supple- 
 mented by various benefactions. 
 
 John T. Oilman of Exeter gave, in 1794, two and one-quarter 
 acres of land, which constitute a great part of the inclosure in 
 which the present academy buildings stand. 
 
 Nicholas Oilman of Exeter bequeathed, in 1814, one thousand 
 dollars, the income to be expended for instruction in sacred music. 
 
 John Langdon Sibley of Cambridge, Massachusetts, began, in 
 1862, a series of gifts, amounting in all to more than forty thousand 
 dollars, the income to be expended for the support of students of 
 poverty and merit. 
 
 In 1870 the academy building Avas burned to the ground, and 
 subscriptions were raised to the amount of nearly fifty thousand 
 dollars to replace it. The chief contributor was William Phillips 
 of Boston, Massachusetts, who gave ten thousand dollars. 
 
 Jeremiah Kingman of Barringtou, in 1873, bequeathed the resi- 
 due of his estate, amounting to above thii'tj^-six thousand dollars, 
 the income to be appropriated to the support of indigent and mer- 
 itorious students. 
 
 AVoodbridge Odlin of Exeter left by his will, in 1875, twenty 
 thousand dollars to endow a professorship of English. 
 
 In 1877 and 1879 a gentleman, who preferred that his name 
 should not be known, made gifts to the amount of ten thousand 
 dollars. 
 
 In 1878 and 1880 Henry AViukley of Philadelphia made dona- 
 tions amounting to ten thousand dollars. 
 
 John C. Phillips of Boston gave twenty-live thousand dollars 
 in 1884. 
 
 Francis P. Ilurd, son of the Rev. Dr. Isaac Ilurd, bequeathed, 
 the same year, fifty thousand dollars. 
 
 Francis Fl. Parker of Boston made a I'esiduary bequest in 1880, 
 which yielded about one hundred and ten thousand dollars. 
 
 The last five gifts were unrestricted, and are applicable to the 
 general purposes of the academy. 
 
 In addition to the foregoing principal donations, four scholar- 
 ships have been founded, named for the donors : 
 
298 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Charles Burronghs, in ISns, of tlic value of one thousand 
 dollars. 
 
 (loorge Bancroft, in 1870, of the value of two thousand dollars. 
 Samuel Hale, in 1872, of the value of two thousand dollars. 
 Nathaniel Gordon, in 1872, of the value of two thousand dollars. 
 
 To-day the Phillips Exeter Academy has a faculty of ten in- 
 structors, pupils to the number of three hundred and twenty and 
 upwards, representing nearly every State and Territory in the 
 Union, and divided between a classical and an English course of 
 instruction of four years each ; property, including lands and 
 school buildings, to the amount of nearly six hundred thousand 
 dollars ; chapel, recitation rooms, dormitory, gymnasium and in 
 process of construction a laboratory-, — all fitted with the best 
 modern improvements. 
 
 And these advantages are not for the rich alone ; they are 
 equally within the reach of any young man who has the ability 
 and determination to obtain an education. Good conduct and 
 diligence are the only requisites. The payment of tuition is 
 remitted in all cases where students are in needy circumstances, 
 and twenty-four scholarships are annualh^ distributed among the 
 pupils, who are applicants, according to proficiency and general 
 merit. Four of the scholarships, the Bancroft, Gordon, Hale and 
 liurrouglis, are worth in money from seventy to one hundred and 
 forty dollars each. The others — foundation scholarships as they 
 are termed — yield between one and two dollars per week during 
 the school year. The rooms in Abbot Hall are assigned to 
 students of restricted means, at a trilling rent, and accommodate 
 about fifty. In the same hall there are commons for the board of 
 a somewhat larger number, at simply the cost price. A young 
 man who obtains a foundation scholarship, therefore, needs little 
 more to defray his expenses. About one-third of the whole 
 number of students receive free tuition. 
 
 No distinctions have ever been made in the academy by reason 
 of pecuniary condition. The poorest lad is as free to carry away 
 the honors, and is as niuch respected if he is deserving of respect, 
 as the milliovnaire. Indeed, some of the most venerated names on 
 the list of alumni are those of men who received aid from the 
 foundation, which alone enabled them to acconii)lisli their educa- 
 tion, and who were proud in after years to attribute their success 
 in life thereto. 
 
 The present faculty of the Phillips Academy is as follows^ 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 299 
 
 A¥alter Quincy Scott, D. D., Principal, and Odlin Professor of English. 
 
 George A. Wentworth, A. M., Professor of Mathematics. 
 
 Bradbury L. Cilley, A. M., Professor of Ancient Languages. 
 
 Oscar Faulhaber, Ph. D., Professor of French and German. 
 
 James A. Tufts, A. B., Professor of English in the Classical Department. 
 
 George L. Kittredge, A. B., Professor of Latin. 
 
 Clarence Getchell, A. B., Instructor in Physics and Chemistry. 
 
 Carlton B. Stetson, A. M., Instructor in Latin and English. 
 
 Albertus T. Dudley, A. B., Director of the Gymnasium. 
 
 AVilliam A. Francis, A. M., Instructor in Mathematics. 
 
 The board of trustees consists of the following : George S. 
 Hale, Boston, President ; Charles H. Bell ; Walter Q. Scott, 
 ex-officio ; Charles F. Dunbar, Cambridge ; John T. Perry ; 
 Francis 0. French, New York ; and there is one vacancy. 
 
 THE FEMALE ACADEMY. 
 
 The Exeter newspapers of the earlier part of the century show 
 repeated advertisements of private schools for " young misses." 
 They met with so much patronage that it naturally occurred to the 
 people that a permanent seminary for the instruction of females 
 would be desirable. In 182G a charter was obtained from the 
 State Legislature, to incorporate the Exeter Female Academy. It 
 went into operation soon afterwards, and the upper story of the 
 building on Centre street, in which was the vestr}' of the First 
 church, was secured for the accommodation of the school. The 
 first teacher is believed to have been Miss Julia A. Pcrr}^, who was 
 a pupil of the celebrated educator. Miss Z. Grant. Miss Perry 
 remained at the head of the academy until 1834, when she was 
 succeeded by Miss PLlizabeth Dow, daughter of Jeremiah Dow of 
 Exeter. She continued in charge of the academy for two j'ears, 
 it is believed. Iler successor was Isaac Foster, A. M., a native 
 of Andover, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Dartmouth College, 
 in the class of 1828. He also served two years, from 18o4 to the 
 spring of 1836, when ]\Iiss Emily S. Colcord, of South Berwick, 
 Maine, a lady who is remembered as possessed of peculiar qualifi- 
 cations for the charge of such an institution, became the principal 
 of the academy. Her term of service extended over a period of 
 seven years. Miss Elizabeth A. Chadwick, a daughter of Colonel 
 Peter Chadwick of Exeter, was the next principal teacher for four 
 years, and in the spring of 1819 gave place to Miss Sarah J. V. 
 Toppau, daughter of the Hon. Eduumd Toppan of Hampton. She 
 
300 IIISTOUY OF EXETER. 
 
 held the position two j^ears at least. Miss Harriet Russell, 
 clnugliter of Dr. Kiclianl Russell of Somorsworth, is believed to 
 liave l>een the next in the order of preceptresses. Her stay was 
 probably not longer than two years. Elbridge G. Dalton was at 
 the head of the academy in 1853-4. At that time he had five 
 assistants, and tlie aggregate number of pupils for the year was 
 one hundred and sixty-six. The course of instruction extended 
 over a period of five years, and Latin, modern languages, instru- 
 mental music, designing and landscape drawing, and other accom- 
 plishments were tauglit. The trustees at that time were the Rev, 
 Isaac Ilurd, Dr. David W. Gorham, Hon. Amos Tuck and Joseph 
 Tilton, Esq. It is supposed that Mr. Dalton retained the direc- 
 tion of the academy until in 1858 he assumed the same position 
 in the High school. 
 
 Miss Mary A. liell, daughter of the Hon. James Bell of P^xeter, 
 next had the principalship of the Female Academy, probably for 
 four years, when she was succeeded by Miss Amanda C. Morris 
 of Somersworth, daughter of Captain John Morris. John Foster, 
 a graduate of Dartmoutli College in 1858, was the last principal of 
 the Fenuile Academy. He had the charge of it through the 
 summer and autumn of 18G4, and then gave it up. It was never 
 revived. The splendid gift of William Robinson for the educa- 
 tion of the girls of Exeter became known the next spring, and the 
 Female Academy was superseded. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE PRESS. 
 
 As there is no more efficient educational agency than the print- 
 ing press, a chapter upon what it has accomplished in Exeter 
 cannot be out of place in this division of our history. 
 
 The first printer Avho practised his art in the town was Robert 
 Luist Fowle, a nephew of that Daniel Fowle who introduced print- 
 ing in the province at Portsmouth in 175G. The uncle and 
 nephew were partners there for a time before the latter came to 
 Exeter, which was apparently before 1775. It is intimated that 
 a difference in their political opinions was a moving cause of their 
 separation, Daniel favoring the views of the ''liberty-boys," 
 while Robert inclined towards the conservatives. If so, they 
 made a poor choice of abiding places, for while there was a strong 
 ministerial party under the wing of the royal governor at Ports- 
 mouth, Exeter, almost to a man, stood up for the liberties of the 
 country. 
 
 Robert Fowle, though a poor enough printer, is said to have 
 done some Avork for the royal government, and afterwards, in 
 1775, for the new regime. He had enough of the Vicar of Bray 
 in his composition, to appear, at least, to be true to the ruling 
 powers, whoever they might be. 
 
 THE EARLIEST NEWSPAPER. 
 
 In 177G he began to publish a newspaper in Exeter, called The 
 New Hampshire Gazette or Exeter Morniiif/ Chronicle. It was 
 sufficiently patriotic in tone, of course, for nothing else would have 
 been tolerated. He was discreet enough to gain the conlideuce of 
 the leading men in the popular movement, so that he was at length 
 employed in the delicate and coulideutial business of printing the 
 bills of credit for the State. 
 
 301 
 
302 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 It was not long before counterfeits were discovered, of these, 
 and of the simihir paper currency of other States, and suspicion 
 arose, from various circumstances, that Fowle was concerned in 
 issuing the spurious bills. The Committee of Safety at once 
 ordered him to be conmiitted to the jail in Exeter. He had the 
 effrontery then to propose to the committee that in case they would 
 screen him from punishment, he would confess what he knew in 
 reference to the offence. If he had done this from principle, in 
 order that justice might be vindicated, it would have been pardon- 
 able, if not commendable, but his subsequent conduct forbids such 
 a construction of his motives. The committee took him at his 
 word, and he made disclosures of his furnishing the types to one 
 or more tories, from Avliich to print the fraudulent paper money. 
 In return for his revelations the autliorities were to allow hmi his 
 liberty on bail. "Whether it Avas that no one cared to be his surety 
 is not known, but he remained in jail until he took "leg bail," and 
 escaped to the British lines. This was about the first of August, 
 1777. The Committee of Safety wrote to the committee in Boston 
 to ask their aid in arresting him ; but he was beyond their reach. 
 
 In 177S the Legislature of the State proscribed him with many 
 other loyalists who had lied, and ordered his property conliscated ; 
 but prubal)ly he had little left to confiscate, if his complaint after- 
 wards made of the pillaging of his effects had any foundation in 
 fact. 
 
 He did not make his appearance again in Exeter for a number 
 of years, nor until peace was established. He was then a pen- 
 sioner, as was said, of the English government as a loyalist who 
 had suffered loss of })roi)erty for his priucii)les. He married the 
 widow of his brother Zechariah Eowle, and apparently kept a 
 small shop for the sale of English goods in the town. An adver- 
 tisement oi his in The American Herald of Liberty, August 13, 
 1793, requests all indebted to him for ncAvspapers, advertisements, 
 l)lanks, etc., in the years 1776 and 1777, to make immediate pay- 
 ment ; and notifies those persons who " plundered him of his print- 
 ing olliee, hooks of account, papers, Ixxjk-shoi), etc., in 1777, to 
 make satisfaction, or they will be called upon before the Court of 
 the United States." After living in Exeter a few years, he re- 
 moved to Brentwood, and there died in 1802. 
 
 There is a tradition that the " forms," from which the unauthor- 
 ized bills of credit were printed in 1777, were some years after- 
 wards found, concealed under a barn. They were probably some 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 303 
 
 of those wliicb Fowle acknowledged that he furnished to the tories 
 of the tune, who took off impressions from them, to which they 
 forged the signatures. It was one of the methods of injuring and 
 discrediting the government in the Revolutionary War, as is well 
 known, to counterfeit its currency. 
 
 Robert Fowle kept up the publication of his newspaper until his 
 arrest in 1777. The number for January 7, in that year, con- 
 tained an account of Washington's victory at Trenton, and a notice 
 by Joseph Stacy, jail keeper, of the escape of three prisoners 
 "lately brought from New York as enemies to American liberty." 
 
 He was succeeded in the printing business in Exeter by his 
 brother Zechariah. The latter must have had somethiuo- of an 
 establishment, for he continued to issue a newspaper, and in 1780 
 put forth an edition of the laws of the State in a folio volume of 
 one hundred and eighty pages, with various continuations. Zech- 
 ariah was an undoubted whig, and does not appear to have lost the 
 confidence of his party by the defection of his brother. How louo- 
 he continued his paper is uncertain; but certainly into 1781, and 
 not improbably a couple of years longer. 
 
 It had tlie same title as the paper contemporaneously issued at 
 Portsmouth, Tlie Xew Hampshire Gazette. The Exeter journal 
 from the beginning, exhibited no publisher's name, and was suffi- 
 ciently like its Portsmouth namesake to be mistaken for it except 
 for the imprint at the bottom of the last page — "printed at 
 Exeter." 
 
 The political tone of this gazette may be gathered from one or 
 two specimens of its contents. In the number for May 28, 1781 
 is this item of military intelligence : 
 
 "FisHKiLL, May 17. A party of ours under Colonel Green 
 were surprised by the enemy about sunrise. Major Flagg was 
 murdered in his bed ; the colonel badly wounded. They attempted 
 to carry him off, but finding he could not march so fast as their 
 fears obliged them, they inhumanly murdered him. Blush, Britain 
 at the horrid relation ! " 
 
 In a subsequent number, which contained an account of General 
 Arnold's expedition in Virginia, were these lines, which are more 
 remarkable for their force than for poetical grace : 
 
 Oh Benedict, thy name recorded shall stand 
 On shame's black roll and stink through all the land, 
 In memory fixed so deep that time in vain 
 Shall strive to wipe those records from the brain. 
 
30} HISTORY OF KXr.TF.U. 
 
 Zechariuh Fowle died near the close of the war. 
 
 A newspaper is said to have been established in Exeter in June, 
 1784, and to have been discontinued in the succeeding December. 
 Its title was The Exeter Chronicle^ and its publishers were John 
 INIolohor and George J. Osborne. They were inliabitants of Ports- 
 mouth, but wlu'th(.'r either of them lived in Exeter while this short 
 lived venture lasted, is not known. 
 
 The next printer who is known to liave set up an ofllce in the 
 town was Henry Ranlet. lie began business in 1785, and about 
 July in that year commenced the publication of a weekly paper 
 called The American Herald o///i7je/7y, which was continued under 
 different names, and by various publishers until 171)7. One remark 
 may be made respecting all these early journals, that they are 
 uniformly destitute of local intelligence, and are usually made up 
 of articles extracted from other papers, of a few political essays, 
 and of advertisements, which last are the most interesting of all 
 their contents. 
 
 Kaulet was a more skilful printer than either of his predecessors, 
 and the list of his publications is remarkable in number and in 
 variety. Besides his newspaper he i)riute(l many books, partly on 
 his own account and partly for publishers in Boston and Worces- 
 ter, Massachusetts, and in Portsmouth. He was one of the earliest 
 of country printers to supply his ollice with the types for musical 
 characters, and issued as many as ten or twelve volumes of collec- 
 tions of vocal nuil instrumental music. He closed his industrious 
 and respectable life in 1<S07. 
 
 On the principle, perhaps, that " competition is the soul of 
 business," another printing ollice was opened about the year 1790 
 in Exeter by John Lamson, who had been a partner of Ranlet in 
 1787. ^Ir. Lamson took for his associate Thomas Odiorne, a son 
 of Dea. Thomas Odiorne, and a graduate from Dartmouth College 
 in 17'.il. lie possessed literary taste and ability but had no prac- 
 tical acquaintance with the business of a printer. Their connec- 
 tion was of short duration. ]\Ir. Odiorne's name appears alone in 
 the imprint of a few volumes, in point of typography very taste- 
 fully execut''d for the tinu'. He was an author of two or three 
 poetical works, one of which, entitled Tlie Proyresn of llejinemttnt^ 
 was published in Exeter. 
 
 THE FIRST NKW TESTAMICNT I'lUNTF.D IX TITK STATK. 
 
 In 1794 William Stearns and Samuel Winslow brought out a 
 few publications in the town. In 179G Mr. Stearns printed and 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 305 
 
 partially bound au edition of two thousand copies of the New 
 Testament, the first ever issued in New Hampshire. New Ipswich 
 has claimed the honor of having the first press in the State to put 
 forth any part of the Scriptures, but Dover had preceded it by an 
 edition in 1803, and Exeter was seven years in advance of that. 
 Neai'ly the whole edition was unfortunately consumed by a fire in 
 the printing office, so that it is almost impossible to find a copy at 
 this day. 
 
 The American Herald of Liberty, which was begun by Henry 
 Ranlet, and underwent repeated changes of title, to The Neio 
 Hampshire Gazette in 1791 ; The New Hamj^shire Gazetteer in 
 1792; The Weekly Visitor or Exeter Gazette in 179.5, and The 
 Herald of Liberty or Exeter Gazette in 1796, was published succes- 
 sively by the printers already named, Lamson, Larason &, Odiorne, 
 Samuel Winslow and Stearns & Winslow. 
 
 SAMPLES OF EARLY JOURXAHSM. 
 
 One or two extracts from the paper may be amusing. The first 
 is an advertisement of a lost mare : 
 
 Perdited or furated on an inauspicious nocturnal hour subse- 
 quent to the day lately authoritatively devoted to humiliation and 
 penitence from the fa'uilian dome of the h3^poscriptoratid, a leu- 
 cophoeated quadruped, of the jumentean order, equestrian genus, 
 feminine gender, capitall}' fuscated, asterically marked in ciuciput, 
 in stature according to equisonic admeasurement fourteen and a 
 half clenched fists, in the quindecimal ^^ear of existence, tollutates 
 with celerity, succussates with agility a course concitated, is 
 elegantly graceful, and all in the superlative degree. Whoever 
 from the preceding iconism, by percontation, deambulation, per- 
 scuitation or otherwise, shall give intelligence of the nonpareil, 
 and will apport or communicate the same to me, shall become recip- 
 rocal of a remuneration adequate to the emolument from 
 
 John Hopkinson. 
 
 April 18, 1788. 
 
 This effusion must probabl}' have been the production of some 
 mischievous student of Dr. Phillips's new academy, as Mr. Hop- 
 kinson was a worthy tradesman, who was about as likely to have 
 written one of Cicero's orations as to have produced such a farrago 
 of turgid bombast. 
 
 Another passage from the paper of February 22, 1788, was in 
 relation to the convention then sitting to ratify the proposed 
 Federal Constitution. 
 
 20 
 
?,06 IlISTOIiY UF KXK'IKK. 
 
 Yesterday the honorable Convention concluded their debates on 
 the several sections of the Constitution, and it is sui)posed it y\i\\ 
 be canvassed upon general principles i)revious to the all important 
 question. In their debates has been the greatest candor, a desire 
 for information on the important subject appears to have been the 
 object of the members composing that honoral)le body, and from 
 their desire to promote the great interest of the community, we 
 hope the most salutary determinations. 
 
 The all important moment is at hand 
 
 When we the fate of millions must decide, 
 
 Freedom and peace will soon ])ervade the land, 
 Or Anarch stretch his horrid pinions Avide. 
 
 From this extract it is not dililcult to infer the political leaning 
 of the paper. 
 
 The journal, entitled The Freeman's Oracle or New Hampsldre 
 Advertiser, was commenced in the town about August 1, 1786, 
 presumably by Lamson and Ilanlet who conducted it in 1788. It 
 l)ore the imprint of John Lamson alone in 1789, and did not sur- 
 vive that 3'ear. 
 
 In 1797 Henry Ranlet established a paper entitled The Political 
 Banquet and Farmer's Feast. The Exeter Federal Miscellany was 
 established about December 1, 1798, and the former paper was 
 probably merged in the latter, which, thus fortified, was certaiiily 
 continued to October, 1799, and perhaps longer. 
 
 No complete files of any of these early Exeter journals, which 
 were all weekly i)ul)lications, are known to exist, and it is from a 
 few scattering copies that the foregoing information has been 
 chiefly derived. It will be seen, however, that from 1774, or 
 earlier, when Robert L. Fowle Urst set up his press in Exeter, to 
 the end of the century, the town was probably alwaj^s supplied 
 with one or more printers, and for nearly all the time with a like 
 number of newspapers. 
 
 As has been stated, Mr. Ranlet lived and continued his printing 
 business until 1807. During the last part of his life he had as a 
 partner, Charles Xorris, a practical printer, who kept up the busi- 
 ness after ISIr. Ranlet's death until 1832. A part of that time he 
 had partners. John Sawyer was one, and Ephraim C. Beals 
 another ; and ]Mr. Norris was for some time connected with the 
 publishing firm of E. Little & Co. of Newburyport, Massachusetts, 
 for which he did a considerable amount of printing. The chef 
 d'ceuvre of his press was Iloole's translation of Tasso's Jerusalem 
 JJelivered, published in 1819 in two octavo volumes. It is a 
 really beautiful specimen of Exeter typograi)hy. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 307 
 
 It is not known that the town could boast a newspaper between 
 1800 and 1810, but on May 21, of the latter year, Ephraim C. 
 Beals began the publication of The Const iiutionaUst, a weekly 
 journal of fair dimensions. In February, 1811, Mr. Beals trans- 
 ferred the paper to Charles Norris & Co., and at the expiration of 
 the first year it came to a stop, probably for lack of support ; but 
 Mr. Beals recommenced it June 23, 1812, and it survived, with 
 two other changes of proprietors, till June, 1814. It has been 
 said that James Thom, a young lawyer, afterwards of Derry, had 
 the editorial charge of the paper, but it is pretty evident that he 
 could have given little time to it, for in respect to original matter 
 and local news, it was but scarcely in advance of its predecessors 
 of the last century. In March, 1813, Joseph G. Folsom became 
 its publisher and editor, but gave it up in the following June on 
 account of ill health, when Nathaniel Boardman took it up and 
 carried it to its end. The period of the war of 1812 was charac- 
 terized by great bitterness of political feeling and by very un- 
 pleasant personalities in journalism, and The Constitutionalist was 
 not entirely free from them. 
 
 It was two years after the termination of The ConstilxUionalist, 
 before another paper arose. It was started by Henry A. Ranlet, 
 October 2, 1816, under the name of The Watchman. Two months 
 later it went into the hands of Nathaniel Boardman, and its title 
 was changed to the Exeter Watchman. But newspaper property 
 in the town was not very permanent in those days, and November 
 9, 1819, George Lamson became the proprietor, and added to it 
 the second title of Agricultural Repository ; and to complete the 
 round of metamorphoses, Samuel T. Moses became the publisher 
 February 6, 1821, and gave it the designation of The Northern 
 Jiepublican. Mr. Moses was a practical printer, and his name 
 appears upon the title page of several publications at about this 
 date. The Northern liepuhlican was continued only to the for- 
 tieth number. 
 
 John J. Williams, a native of Exeter, and a trained printer, 
 began business in 1818, in the office which had been occupied by 
 Henry A. Ranlet, then lately deceased. His brother, Benjamin J. 
 Williams, was a bookbinder ; and a short time afterwards they 
 united, under the firm of J. and B. Williams, in the printing and 
 publishing business, to which they subsequently added that of 
 stereotyping. Their establishment grew to be large and profitable, 
 and for upwards of twenty years issued a great variety of works, 
 
308 HISTORY OF EXETEIi. 
 
 for the most part new editions of those which were already favor- 
 ites of the pnblic. Some of them were books of sterling value, 
 and put forth in handsome style ; perhaps a greater number were 
 novels and tales issued in 24mo volumes and usually in boards 
 on roan bindings. These had a great sale, and included many of 
 the works of Scott, Bulwer, Marryat and others. 
 
 George Lamsou was a native of the town, who had a collegiate 
 education and studied the profession of the law. For a few years 
 he was engaged in the publication of legal works in Exeter, and 
 then removed to the city of New York, where he died. 
 
 Francis Grant began life as a bookbinder, but was afterwards 
 the proprietor of a small printing oiiice and became a bookseller 
 and publisher. As such his name and appearance were familiar 
 to the students of the academy for half a century and more. He 
 published that very useful little work, called A Book foi New 
 Hampshire Children, in Familiar Letters from a Father, written 
 by Ilosea Hildreth, which ran through five editions. Mr. Grant 
 commenced the issue of The Eockinghayn Gazette, a weekh' news- 
 paper, September 21, 1824. The editor w^as Oliver W. 15. 
 Peabody. The paper was a decided improvement upon all that 
 had preceded it, but the profession of journalism was yet in its 
 infancy. The Gazette came to a close in October, 1827, when its 
 subscription list was transferred to The Portsmouth Journal. 
 
 Within the next three years two abortive attempts were made to 
 establish journals in the town, one by Joseph Y. James, February 
 12, 1829, whose experiment was called The Hive, but apparent^' 
 lacked tlie industry of the bee or the sweetness of tlie hone}', for 
 it came to an end in 1880 ; and the other by Michael II. Barton, 
 the " 2d. mo. 12th. 1830 " whose venture was issued in duodecimo 
 form, eight pages in a number, and named Something New. This 
 publication was designed to introduce a perfect alphabet and a 
 reformed orthography ; a scheme which has omi)loyed the atten- 
 tion of many ingenious men. Mr. Barton's plan, whatever it was, 
 was not of sufficient interest to make his publication a success, 
 for it i)robably never got beyond the first number. 
 
 THE NEWS LETTER. 
 
 At length, however, a permanent newspai)er was established by 
 John S. Sleeper, May 31, 1831, in The Exeter News Letter. Mr. 
 Sleeper, though not a native of the town, was the son and grand- 
 son of residents, and passed his childhood in Exeter. Being of 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 309 
 
 an active, adventurous disposition, he went early to sea, and by 
 his ability and intelligence rose to the command of a merchant 
 vessel. For twenty-two years he followed the profession, and 
 then undertook the launching and management of a newspaper. 
 In this he was equally successful. He held an easy and graceful 
 pen, and knew well the kind of matters in which the public are 
 interested. He edited and published The Exeter News Letter for 
 two years, and then sought a wider field, first in the growing town 
 of Lowell, and afterwards in Boston, Massachusetts, where he 
 founded, and for twenty years conducted, to great popularity and 
 success. The Boston Mercantile Journal. 
 
 John C. Gerrish, who was familiar with the printing office, 
 succeeded to the control of The Neios Letter., and fortunately 
 engaged for his editor John Kelly, a college graduate and a 
 lawyer by profession, possessed of much literary taste and a 
 pleasant vein of humor that enabled him to give attractiveness to 
 the driest subject. He was a thorough antiquary, and prepared 
 for the columns of the paper a series of historical and genealogical 
 " Collectanea," which were the fruits of much study and research, 
 and have been of value and assistance to many investigators of 
 family history since. Mr. Kelly for nearly twenty years retained 
 the editorial charge of the paper, though the proprietorship was in 
 the meantime transferred to Messrs. Smith, Hall &, Clarke, all of 
 them skilled printers. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Levi W. Leonard subsequently edited The News 
 Letter, and, at a later date, Charles Marseilles became the pro- 
 prietor. It afterwards went into the hands of William B. Morrill, 
 who managed it for several years, and is now the property of John 
 Temple ton, a graduate of the printing office, and not without ex- 
 perience in writing for the press. The Nezvs Letter has been 
 repeatedly enlarged in dimensions, and noAv contains nearly twice 
 the amount of reading matter that it had in the beginnino-. 
 
 The firm of Smith, Hall & Clarke was composed of Oliver 
 Smith, Samuel Hall and Samuel B. Clarke, all straightforward, 
 successful business men. Mr. Hall is the only survivor, and has 
 for some years retired from active occupation. Thoiuas D. 
 Treadwell, who was employed for many years as a printer in the 
 establishment of J. and B. Williams, and afterwards in the office 
 of The News Letter, has recently died, at an advanced age. 
 
 But we have not yet done with the Exeter newspapers. On the 
 second of April, 1835, was begun The Christian Journal, a fort- 
 
310 HISTORY OF EXETKK. 
 
 nightly publication, by the Executive Committee of the Eastern 
 Christian Publishing Association. Elijah Shaw -was the editor, 
 and .1. C. Gerrish, the printer. There was also an "editorial 
 council " of three, chosen yearly. At the beginning of the fifth 
 year the title of the paper was altered to The Chridian Herald and 
 Journal; at the beginning of the sixth, it was abbreviated to The 
 Christian Herald, and the paper was issued weekly. It was next 
 removed to Newburyport, Massachusetts, and was published there 
 afterwards. 
 
 The first number of The Granite Stale Democrat, a weekly 
 paper, appeared in January, 1840. James Shrigley was publisher, 
 and Joseph L. Beckett, printer. Mr. Shrigley was a minister of 
 the Universalist denomination, and Mr. Beckett was a native of 
 Exeter, who had served his time in a printing oflice, and was long 
 employed by the proprietors of The Boston Fast. He was a genial 
 soul, with a good deal of humor. This paper, like so many others, 
 changed hands repeatedly. In 1842 it was conducted by Ferdi- 
 nand Ellis, Jr., and afterwards by William Young. In January, 
 1843, Samuel C. Baldwin became the proprietor, but, by reason of 
 the failure of his health, it was discontinued March 9, 1843. A 
 subsequent effort to revive it proved unsuccessful. 
 
 In 1841 no less than three attempts were made to establish new 
 journals in the town. The first was in February, when a prospec- 
 tus was issued of a semi-monthly, to be called The Rose and Thorn, 
 but it is supposed that no sufficient encouragement was offered. 
 In June appeared the first number of The Granite Pillar and New 
 Hampshire Temperance Advocate, to be continued monthly by 
 Abraham R. Brown under the editorship of Joseph Fullouton, but 
 it was short-lived. The last literary venture of the year was a 
 semi-monthly, called The Factory Girl and Lady's Garland. It 
 appeared November 1, J. L. Beckett being the publisher. It, or 
 its successors, continued to be issued in Exeter for about six years 
 it is believed. In 1842 it was known as The Factory Girl simply, 
 and was conducted by C. C Dcarlwrn ; and in 1843 as The Fac- 
 tory Girl's Garland, by A. K. Brown. In 184.") and 1846, it was 
 nuu'h enlarged and entitled The Werldy Messemjer, Literary 
 Wreath and Factory Girl's Garland. Later it was removed to 
 Lawrence, Massachusetts, by J. L. Beckett. 
 
 A weekly sheet, called The Squumscot Fountain, and devoted to 
 the cause of temperance, was begun in 1h1.> V>y Samuel Webster 
 and J. r. Clough. It also underwent a change of title and of 
 proprietors, but tliose did not save it from an early dissolution. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 311 
 
 In 1846 was begun a paper called The Factory Girl's Album and 
 Operatives' Advocate, by Charles C. Dearborn, as publisher, and 
 William P. Moulton, as printer. At first it was issued weekly, 
 and afterwards, semi-monthly, and was enlarged ; but it was con- 
 tinued only a little more than a year. 
 
 January 1, 1853, a single number of a projected weekly, of a 
 religious and literary character, to be styled The Olive Leaf, ap- 
 peared under the editorship of R. O. Williams, by Currier & Co., 
 proprietors, but it never reached a second number. 
 
 About the year 1857, Thomas J. Whittem, who had established 
 The American Ballot, a weekly paper dedicated to the interests of 
 the American party, at Portsmouth, about three years prior to that 
 time, transferred it to Exeter, and continued to publish it there 
 until its discontinuance in 1865. 
 
 THE GAZETTE, AND PRESENT PUBLICATIONS, 
 
 The Exeter Gazette was founded in 1876 by James D. P. Win- 
 gate and A. P. Duuton. Three years afterwards, J. H. Shaw 
 purchased the interest of Mr. Dunton. In 1883 Mr. Wingate 
 became, as he still is, the sole proprietor. An experiment was 
 made, a few years since, of issuing a daily paper from the same 
 office, but the general circulation of the metropolitan journals is 
 fatal to ventures of that kind in the smaller towns. The Daily 
 Gazette struggled against fate for six months, when it succumbed. 
 
 The Weekly Protest was established by Andrew J. Hoyt in 1880, 
 an organ of the Greenback party. 
 
 The Exonian, published by the students of the Phillips Acad- 
 emy, was begun in 1878 ; and Tlie Phillips Exeter Literary 
 Montldy, a magazine in octavo form, in May, 1886. 
 
 The present periodical publications of the town are The News 
 Letter, The Gazette, The Protest and The Exonian, all weekly, and 
 The Literary Monthly. 
 
 CONTRIBUTORS TO THE PRESS. 
 
 Exeter has had its share of authors, though none very voluminous. 
 No attempt will be made here to give a complete or exact biblio- 
 graphical account of their productions ; but a list of such writers 
 as are recalled is subjoined, with the titles, or some brief descrip- 
 tion of the character of their works. Tlie letter n. after a name 
 stands for native, and r. for resident of the town. 
 
312 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Rev. John Emery Abbot, n. Sermons ; and Memoir by Henry 
 AVare, Jr., 182!). 
 
 Kev. John AV. Adams, r. Sermons, 1884 and 1885. 
 
 Joseph L. Beckett, 7i. Directory and History of Exeter, etc., 
 1872. 
 
 Charles H. Bell, r. John AVheehvright, 187G. History of 
 Phillips Exeter Academy, 1883. 
 
 Rev. John N. Brown, ?*. Emily and other poems, 1840. 
 
 Rev. Ebenezer L. Boyd, r. Thanksgiving Discourse, 1813. 
 
 James Barley, n. Company Discipline, 1820. 
 
 Rev. Jacob Chapman, r. Genealogy of the Folsom Family, 
 1882. Genealogy of the PhUbrick Family, 1887. 
 
 Rev. Jonathan Cole, r. One or more sermons. 
 
 Charles Denis Rusoe D'Eres, r. Memoirs, 1800. 
 
 This person, a Canadian, claimed to have been a captive among 
 a tribe of Indians with an unpronounceable name, for eleven j'cars. 
 His story is generally regarded as apochryphal, and the chief 
 merit of the book is its rarity. 
 
 Rev. Ferdinand Ellis, ?•. Election Sermon, 1826, and other 
 sermons. 
 
 Rev. Joy II. Fairchild, r. Autobiography and Remarkable 
 Incidents, 1855. 
 
 A perfect sheaf of pamphlets were issued in relation to the 
 offence imputed to him, ayd containing reports of the various in- 
 vestigations and trials to whicli he was subjected. 
 
 Jeremiah Fellowes, 7i. Reminiscences, moral poems and trans- 
 lations, 1824. 
 
 Charles L. Folsom, n. Oration before Handel Society of 
 Dartmouth College, 1821. 
 
 Henry F. French, r. Treatise on farm drainage. 
 
 Dr. Selah GridU-y, r. A volume of poenis. 
 
 Rev. James Haughton, /'. One or more sermons. 
 
 Rev. Ilosea Hildreth, r. Discourse before Washington l^encv- 
 oleut Society, 1813. Two discourses to townsmen, 1824. Book 
 for New Hampshire Children, 1839, 5th ed. 
 
 Joseph G. Hoyt, r. Miscellaneous writings and reviews, 1863. 
 
 Mary W. Janvrin, n. Peace, or the Stolen Will, etc. 
 
 Rev. Henry Jewell, r. Dedication Sermon, 1846. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 313 
 
 Caroline E. Kelly, n. Grace Hale, and other juvenile works. 
 
 John Kelly, r. Historical communications to various publica- 
 tions. 
 
 Alexander H. Lawrence, n. Examination of Hume's Argument 
 Against Miracles, 1845. 
 
 Rev. John C. Learned, r. Obituary Sermon on L. "VV. Leonard, 
 D. D,, etc. 
 
 Rev. Orpheus T. Lanphear, r. One or more sermons. 
 
 Rev. Charles Lowe, ti. Sermons and various religious writings. 
 
 Rev. Benjamin F. McDaniel, r. One or more sermons. 
 
 Rev. Elias Nasou, r. Sermons and other tracts. 
 
 Rev. Alfred C. Nickerson, r. Sermons, 1887. 
 
 Thomas Odiorne, n. The Progress of Refinement, 1794, etc. 
 
 Rev. John Odlin, r. Sermons, 1725, etc. 
 
 [Woodbridge Odlin], n. Review of Result of Council, 1842. 
 
 Amos A. Parker, r. A Trip to the West and Texas, 1836. 
 
 Rev. Samuel P. Parker, r. One or more sermons. 
 
 Oliver W. B. Peabody, n. Poem on bi-centennial of New 
 Hampshire, 1823. Address before Peace Society, 1830, etc. 
 
 AVilliam B. O. Peabody, n. Sermons ; and Memoir by his 
 brother, 1849. 
 
 Robert F. Pennell, r. The Latin subjunctive, etc. 
 
 John T. Perry, n. Sixteen Saviors or One? 1879. The Credi-' 
 bility of History, etc. 
 
 Dr. AVilliam Perry, r. Address in behalf of Insane Hospital, 
 1834. 
 
 Rev. AYilliam F. Rowland, r. Election sermons 1796 and 1809, 
 etc. 
 
 John S. Sleeper, r. Tales of the Ocean, 1842. Salt Water 
 Bubbles, etc. 
 
 Jeremiah Smith, r. Eulogy on Washington, 1800. Bi-centeu- 
 nial discourse, 1838. .Judicial opinions, etc. 
 
 William Smith, n. Remarks on Toleration Act of 1819, 1823. 
 Remarks on tiie assassination of Julius Ca'sar, 1827. 
 
 Rev. George E. Street, r. Memorial discourse on Hon. Amos 
 Tuck, 1880, etc. 
 
 John Temple ton, n. Hand Book of Exeter, 1883. 
 
 Dr. Samuel Tenney, r. Papers in various historical and scien- 
 tific publications. 
 
 Tabitha Teunoy, n. Female Quixotism, or the Adventures of 
 Dorcasiua Sheldon, 3 vols., 1841, 5th ed. Domestic Cookery, 
 1808. 
 
314 HISTORY OF EXETEK. 
 
 Oliver Welch, r. Arithmetic, 1812, several eds. 
 
 George A. WentwortU, r. Series of text books in mathematics. 
 
 Rev. John AVheehvright, r. Fast day sermon, 1G.37. Mcrcnrius 
 Americauus, 1015. 
 
 Charles E. L. AVingate, 7i. History of the Wingate Family, 
 1886. 
 
 This enumeration does not include several authors who were 
 born, or lived for some time, in the town, but -whose literary work 
 cannot -with reasonable probability be assigned to the period of 
 their residence ihere. Such were Lewis Cass, n.^ Henry A. S. 
 Dearborn, ??., Timoth}' Farrar, r.. Rev. Roswell D. Hitchcock, r., 
 William Ladd, ?;., Charles Folsom, ?i., Dudley Lea-vitt, ??., and 
 others. 
 
INDUSTRIAL, 
 
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 lim 
 
 
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CHAPTER XVI. 
 MILLS AND MANUFACTUEES. 
 
 The falls in the rivers were undoubtedly among the induce- 
 ments which determined the location of the settlement of Exeter. 
 Their immediate value as fishing places was no more fully recog- 
 nized than their prospective importance as sources of water power 
 for turning the wheels of mills. 
 
 The Exeter river afforded, in addition to and above the main 
 falls at the head of tide water, at least five valuable mill sites 
 within the original limits of the town ; and Little river, which 
 empties into it, two, if not more, of less magnitude. Lamprey 
 river also had large falls near its mouth, and lesser ones at other 
 points of its course, while the Pascassic,* a branch of the Lam- 
 prey, furnished water power which was afterwards utilized for two 
 mills, at least. 
 
 The first mill in the town was for grinding grain, and was built 
 by Thomas Wilson at the foot of the main falls on the easterly 
 side of the island now reached by String bridge, near where a simi- 
 lar mill stands to this day. That part of the stream. which runs 
 in the channel on the eastern side of the island was known as 
 "Wilson's ci-eek. The mill site and the island, on which AVilson 
 also erected his house, were granted to him by the town, pro1)ably 
 in the very first season of their occupation, and before any formal 
 records that we know of were kept. The evidence of this is found 
 in depositions taken in the year 1G51. P^dmund Littlefield and 
 Griffin Montague testified that "the inhabitants of the town of 
 Exeter did give and grant unto Thomas Wilson free liln'rt}' to 
 draw as much water from the liigher falls as should suflicieutl}' 
 serve his turn at all times for his own use, either bv di<>-o-iiii>- 
 through the rocks or by damming the falls ; and further the town 
 did freely give and grant unto Thomas Wilson that island that his 
 house stands upon ; only did reserve so much liberty for landino- 
 
 * Tills name, we Icam from Jenness, was early spelt Pascaescck, It lias bw;n luoilcrnlzcU 
 without Improvement, Into riscasslc. 
 
 317 
 
t? 
 
 ^ 
 
 1» 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 »:^^ 
 
 t^ 
 
 •A«i" 
 
 < V 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 MILLS AND MANUFACTURES. 
 
 The falls in the rivers were undoubtedly among the induce- 
 ments which determined the location of the settlement of Exeter. 
 Their immediate value as fishing places was no more fully recog- 
 nized than their prospective importance as sources of water power 
 for turning the wheels of mills. 
 
 The Exeter river afforded, in addition to and above the main 
 falls at the head of tide water, at least five valuable mill sites 
 within the original limits of the town ; and Little river, which 
 empties into it, two, if not more, of less magnitude. Lamprey 
 river also had large falls near its mouth, and lesser ones at other 
 points of its course, while the Pascassic,* a branch of the Lam- 
 prey, furnished water power which was afterwards utilized for two 
 mills, at least. 
 
 The first mill in the town was for grinding grain, and was built 
 by Thomas Wilson at the foot of the main falls on the easterly 
 side of the island now reached by String bridge, near where a simi- 
 lar mill stands to this day. That part of the stream. which runs 
 in the channel on the eastern side of the island was known as 
 AYUson's creek. The mill site and the island, on which Wilson 
 also erected his house, were granted to him by the town, probably 
 in the very first season of their occupation, and before any formal 
 records that we know of were kept. The evidence of this is found 
 in depositions taken in the year 1G51. Edmund Littlefield and 
 Griffin Montague testified that " the inhabitants of the town of 
 Exeter did give and grant unto Thomas AYilson free liberty to 
 draw as much water from the higher falls as should sufficiently 
 serve his turn at all times for his own use, either bv diooino- 
 through the rocks or by damming the falls ; and further the town 
 did freely give and grant unto Thomas Wilson that island that his 
 house stands upon ; only did reserve so much liberty for landiuo- 
 
 • Tills name, we leam from Jenness, was early spelt FascasBcck. It has been inuUernlzcd 
 without Improvement, Into PUcasslc. 
 
 317 
 
318 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 their canoes nud laying of fish." And John Conipton and Robert 
 Read testified that the town granted "to Thomas Wilson that 
 creek or water course at the higher fall at Exeter to dig and draw 
 that water he should stand in need of at any time without any 
 limitation ; and also gave the little island by the falls on which his 
 house and mill standeth." The "higher" fall refers, of course, to 
 that farthest down the river and next to tide water ; higher in 
 altitude but lower in location. 
 
 Mr. Wilson naturally lost no time in improving his privilege by 
 the erection of a mill, and we find that the town passed an order 
 November 2, 1640, regulating " the miller's toll." He died in 
 1643, and his widow afterwards married John Legat ; but the mill 
 went into the hands of his son, Humphrey Wilson, who had the 
 charge of it for many j'ears after. 
 
 Up to the year 1647 we have no account of any saw-mill being 
 built in Exeter. Pipe staves and other kinds of small lumber 
 manufactured before that time, were in all probability riven or 
 split out from the logs. The square timber was hewn with the 
 axe, and the boards needed for home use were sawn in "pits," 
 which were excavations in the ground, of the depth of six or seven 
 feet. The log to be cut up was laid across the mouth of the 
 cavity, and the long, two-handled saw was used by two men, one 
 standing in the pit beneath the log, and the "top sawyer" 
 mounted above it. 
 
 An ordinance of the town forbade the digging of saw-pits in 
 places where they were liable to prove dangerous to man or beast. 
 
 Tin; FIRST SAW-MILL. 
 
 But in the year K'.IT the town took a great step forward. An 
 arrangement was made for the immediate construction of saw- 
 mills, whieli would give a greatly increased value to the abundant 
 timber. 
 
 Edward Oilman, of Welsh lineage, emigrated from Hingham in 
 Norfolk, England, to this country, with live children, in the year 
 1638, and settled in Hingham, Massachusetts. His eldest son, 
 Edward, thirty years of age, married, and a man of property and 
 enterprise, came to Exeter in 1647 and proposed to become an 
 inhabitant, upon certain conditions. The occasion was esteemed 
 so important that an agreement in writing was entered into 
 between him and the townsmen and principal inhabitants, of the 
 tenor following : 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 319 
 
 4 November 1647. The agreement of the inhabitants of the 
 town of Exeter. 
 
 Imprimis, That we do accept of Edward Gilmau the younger to 
 be a townsman amongst us, and do give and grant him liberty to 
 set up a saw mill or mills in any river or within the liberty of Exe- 
 ter, and to have the privilege of the river for the use of the mills, 
 and of the pines for sawing, or masts or any other timber for 
 sawing, to have the privilege of it within the liberty of Exeter. 
 
 21y. The aforesaid Edward Oilman does engage himself to 
 come and live as a townsman amongst them, and to setup a saw- 
 mill by the last of March next ensuing, if he come, or at the 
 furthest by the last of August next ensuing. 
 
 Sly. The said Gilman does engage himself to let the towns- 
 men have what boards they stand in need of for their own use in 
 the town, at three shillings a hundred, and what two-inch planks 
 they shall need for flooring at the same price, and to take country 
 pay at price current, if the mill shall saw it. 
 
 41y. The said Gilman does engage himself that what masts he 
 makes use of, to give them as much as if he sawed them into 
 boards, and to a load haul ten hundred in every 3,000 to the town. 
 
 oly. Its agreed than Anthony Stanell [Stanyan] shall have 
 liberty to put in a quarter part for a saw-mill provided he do make 
 good his proportion or quarter part in every respect of charges as 
 a partner, so that the work be not hindered by him ; if he do, to 
 forfeit his share to the aforesaid Gilman and to pay what damao-es 
 he shall sustain by it. For the true and sure performance of the 
 same we do bind ourselves in a forty pounds sterling. In witness 
 whereunto we have set our hands. 
 
 William Moore, townsman, Edward Gilman. 
 Samuel Greenfield, * 
 Nathaniel Boulter, 
 Balthazar Willix, 
 Edward Hilton. 
 
 Mr. Gilmau at once took up his residence in the town and 
 became a leading citizen. His father, Edward Gilman, Sr., and 
 his two brothers, John and Moses, followed him to Exeter within 
 the next five years, and his brother-in-law, John Folsom, in about 
 twelve years. Edward Gilman, Jr., completed and put in opera- 
 tion a saw-mill, according to his agreement, in the spriu"- or sum- 
 mer of 1G48. It was on the west side of the river upon the upper 
 fall near the present Great bridge ; and before June, 1650, he 
 erected another saw-mill on the opposite side of the river. It is 
 not known that Anthony Stanyan availed himself of the privileo-e 
 reserved to him in the agreement with the town, of becomiu<j- a 
 partner in the mills. 
 
320 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Encouraged by this example, a number of the more enterprising 
 inhabitants made application to the town for mill sites. On April 
 22, 1G4'J, Nathaniel Drake, Abraham Drake, Henry Koby and 
 Thomas King, were empowered by the town to set up a saw-mill 
 at Little river " with liberty of felling timber on the commons for 
 the said mill, provided the}' come not for timber on the hither side 
 of the river towards Mr. Gilmau his saw-mill, whereby he may be 
 damnified for want of timber." The terms of the grant were the 
 same as those allowed to Edward Gilman, Jr., in respect to his 
 mill. The locality referred to w'as probably that where the Little 
 river crosses the road to Brentwood, which some of the sentimen- 
 tal young people of a former generation denominated the " vale of 
 Ovoca." 
 
 On the same April 22, 1G49, liberty to set up a saw-mill was 
 given to Edward Hilton, James Wall, John and Robert Smart and 
 Thomas Biggs, on Tascassic river ; and to George Barlow, Nicho- 
 las Listen,* Francis Swain, Nicholas Swain and John Warren, at 
 the falls at Lamprey river "a little above the wigwams." The 
 terms in each case were the same as those allowed to Edward 
 Gilman, Jr. Both these localities were probably in the present 
 town of Newmarket. 
 
 That it might be distinctly understood that no person should 
 encroach upon the privileges already ceded to Mr. Gilman, it was 
 ordered by the town, June 10, lfi.")0, "that there shall not be 
 liberty granted unto any man to set up any saw-mill at Exeter 
 falls upon the town's ground to hinder P^dward (Oilman of his 
 former grant of his two saw-mills at the falls, or timber for any 
 other saw-mills near to the said falls." 
 
 It appears that another saw-mill was about this time erected on 
 the east side of the river, probal)ly at the foot of the falls nearest 
 tide water, and on land of Humphrey Wilson. This was owned 
 in common by Wilson, James Wall and the Rev. Sanuiel Dudley. 
 And on the second of January, IGaO-l, it Avas agreed between 
 them and the town that the former two should pay for the lumber 
 two shillings per thousand for the oak and pine boards and plank 
 they should take off the commons and sa^v ; but Mr. Dudley was 
 to "go free without payment for his third." 
 
 This exemption was, of course, made in consideration of the 
 ministerial otlice and services of ]\Ir. Dudley, but it did not pass 
 
 • Tills mail's name was often written Llsscn or Lceson, as It was probably pronounced. It 
 Is believed that lie came to Exeter from Salera, Maisachusetts, where his name was spelt as 
 Id the text. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 321 
 
 imclialleugecl. Henry Roby and John Gilman dissented from the 
 vote. No doubt they believed that Mr. Dudley was sufficiently 
 compensated by the provision already made for him by the town. 
 Perhaps, too, they discerned, what the records plainly indicate to 
 us, that Mr. Dudley was a keen man of business, and abundantly 
 capable of taking care of himself without having any distinctions 
 made in his favor. But it was a courageous thing, in those days, 
 when the ecclesiastical office was hedged about with so much dig- 
 nity and authority, for a layman to put his name on record in 
 opposition to a motion for the benefit of his minister. 
 
 The fathers of Exeter, however, were never timid or backward 
 in the expression of their opinions, and rarely withheld them out 
 of deference to the views of those who differed from them. 
 
 For more than a century the books of the town show the names 
 of dissentients from the majority, oftentimes only one or two in 
 number, on most of the vexed questions of municipal policy. 
 
 PICKPOCKET FALLS GRANTED. 
 
 Another privilege for a saw-mill was given by the town, on 
 April 20, 1652, to the Rev. Samuel Dudley and John Legat and 
 their heirs and assigns forever, at the second or third fall above 
 the town on the fresh river, as they might prefer, with the right to 
 take timber for their mill from the commons there, upon the terms 
 of paying the town five pounds a year so long as the mill should 
 be employed in sawing, and of supplying the inhabitants for their 
 own use boards at three shillings a hundred, if taken from the 
 mill. The}'^ chose what in all probability was then known as the 
 second fall above the town, embracing the present Paper mill fall 
 and Pickpocket fall. These are near together, and not being then 
 defined by dams, might well enough have been counted as one fall. 
 The name of Pickpocket was very early given to the mills there 
 built. Its origin is uncertain. It is probably a corruption of the 
 designation given by the Indians to the locality ; though there are 
 not wanting those who derive it from the supposed unprofitable- 
 ness of some of the business undertakings there. 
 
 On May 10, 1652, an agreement was proposed between the town 
 and Edward Gilman, Jr., that he and his assigns should thence- 
 forth pay to the town for the use of what timber his two saw-mills 
 should cut, ten pounds a year, in lieu of half a hundred of boai'ds 
 on every two thousand sawn, as was originally stipulated. 
 "Whether it was absolutely concluded, the record fails to state. 
 
 21 
 
;;•_>•_' HI.STOKV OF KXF/ri'.K. 
 
 Ou the same day Kdward Gilinaii, 8r., Edward Gilniau, .7r., 
 Kdward Colcord aud Humphrey "Wilson had granted to thciii liy the 
 town liberty to set up a saw-mill at the lower falls in Lamprey 
 river by the bridge, and to take timber oh the common land there 
 for their mill, on the payment of five pounds a year to the town, 
 after the mill should be built. This site was within the limits of 
 the present town of Newmarket. 
 
 On the same tenth of May, 1G5^, Thomas King had from the 
 town liberty for a saw-mill on the great fresh river below the 
 grant to Mr. Dudley and John Legat at the foot of the fall, and 
 timber for the same on the commons, he and his assigns paying to 
 the town five pounds a year therefor, and furnishing boards for 
 the town's use, at three shillings a hundred. This was the first 
 fall above the town, aud has been knoAvn from that time to the 
 present as King's fall, from the original grantee. 
 
 On the same day Thomas Tettit, Nicholas Listen, Thomas 
 Cornish, John Warren and Francis Swain received from the town 
 a privilege for a saw-mill at Lamprey river "on the next great 
 fall above the fall that some of them have already taken posses- 
 sion of, paying five pounds a year for the privilege, beginning 
 presently after next Michaelmas." This fall was in the present 
 town of Newmarket. 
 
 GRANT OF Crawley's falls. 
 
 On May 20, lGo2, the town granted to Robert Seward and 
 Thomas Crawley liberty to erect a saw-mill ou the great fresh 
 river on the next fall above Mr. Dudley's and Mr. Legat's (pro- 
 vided it does not prejudice their or other former grants) and 
 timber on the commons there for it, they to pay the town five 
 pounds a year tlu'rcfor. 'J'his site, wliifli is now in the town of 
 Brentwood, has never lost its name of " Crawley's falls," given it 
 from that of the second of the original grantees. 
 
 In the multiplicity of these grants it was obviously necessary 
 that the town's interest should not be neglecti'd, and on the eighth 
 of July, 1G'j2, the iuhalntants appointed a committee consisting 
 of Edward Colcord, John Legat and Thomas Biggs to call to 
 account the owners of saw-mills and to make demand for such 
 Ijoards or plauk as were due to tlu; town, and iiimih uoii-payniL'ut 
 to take a legal course for the recovery of the same ; and on Feb- 
 ruary I'j, 1G.j3— 4, their authority was extended to "the present 
 year coming." The duties of this committee were so congenial to 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 32;i 
 
 the incliuation of its chairman, that we cauuot help thinking that 
 he must have been instrumental in its appointment. To be "in 
 the law " was the normal condition of Edward Colcord. 
 
 On November 6, 1653, the town conferred upon Edward Hilton 
 " in regard that he had been at charge in setting up a saw-mill, to 
 enjoy for himself and his heirs forever, a quarter of a mile below 
 his mill with the land and timber belonging thereunto, and also 
 above his mill a mile and a quarter with the land and timber 
 belonging thereunto. This land and timber is to lie square ; only 
 on this side of Pascassic river to come about a stone's cast." The 
 mill referred to is supposed to have been on the Pascassic, and 
 together with the land granted, to have been Avithin the present 
 town of South Newmarket. 
 
 In 1653, Edward Gilnian, Jr., the principal mill owner of the 
 town, made a voyage to England to procure improved mill gearing, 
 and never returned, having been lost at sea on his passage. His 
 younger brother, John Gilman, succeeded him in his business and 
 in a great part of his property, and was quite competent to fill his 
 place. He survived Edward more than fifty years, and became 
 one of the most useful and distinguished citizens of the place. 
 
 Lumbering being then the chief money producing industry in 
 the town, the mill owners were very naturally called upon to pay 
 their dues in cash towards the support of the minister. At a town 
 meeting held April 28, 1656, it was agreed that "for maintaining 
 the public ordinances the saw-mills belonging to the town should 
 be rated as follows : the old mill upon the fall, seven pounds ; 
 Humphrey [Wilson's] mill at seven pounds ; the new mill of John 
 Gilman at six pounds ; Mr. Hilton's mill at five pounds." The 
 natural inference from this is that the other mill sites which had 
 been granted, were not yet profitably occupied. It was also pro- 
 vided that "when the ministry faileth, the old covenant should be 
 in force : to wit, from the old and the new mill, half a hundred 
 upon two thousand ; and from the Humplu'ey [AVilson] mill, 
 eighteen pence upon a thousand, and plank, two shillings upon a 
 thousand." 
 
 On May 11, 1657, the town make a grant to Edward Hilton, 
 Jr., of fifty acres of pine swamp adjoining his father's lot, " for 
 his sole use for the mill that he intends to set up on the east side 
 opposite the new mill, upon the falls of Exeter, with liberty to set 
 up said mill, for which he is to pay five pounds annually ; upon 
 the proviso that he is not to prejudice the new mill any way in 
 
:)-2[ HISTOKY (»!•' KXKTKH. 
 
 respect of water. If John Oilman and the rest be willing that he 
 should fell timber upon the common, then this grant is to be relin- 
 quished ; but in case he keeps tliis grant, he is to make no use of 
 timber upon the common." 
 
 On June 8, lGo7, it was ordered "that all the pines upon the 
 commons from this time forward shall be reserved for the use of 
 the saw-mills already set up, or that have been granted and shall 
 be set up, except that there is liberty for masts, fence building 
 and canoes ; and if, at any time, there shall be any particular 
 grants of lands made to an}', yet the owners of saw-mills shall have 
 libert}' to carry off the pine timber, except before excepted. " 
 
 On the twenty-fifth of April, 16G4, the town directed that Cap- 
 tain John Clark's mill should pay "five pounds annually to the 
 public ministry, though there be something dubious within the 
 grant, at such times that it shall not be improved." The meaning 
 of the latter expressions quoted seems to be itself " something 
 dubious." The mill yreferred to must have been that on Little 
 river, afterwards kny\vn as Cordon's, and still later as Giddings's 
 and Rowland's. .Jme site was originally granted, April 22, KU'J, 
 to the Drakes, Rouy and Thomas King, the last of whom, on June 
 28, 1G54, "resigned up his grant of a saw-mill formerly granted 
 to him," which Avas evidently this one, because he continued to 
 hold and enjoy the other privilege given him on the great river. 
 
 In lGo3 Edward Oilman, Jr., being on the eve of sailing for 
 Europe, conveyed to his brother jNIoses one-fourth of a saw-mill 
 "now a building on little fresh river, on the western side thereof," 
 — evidently the mill in question. Apparently, he must have pur- 
 chased a share of the rights of the original grantees. Captain 
 John Clark, who was an old lumberman with whom both the Gil- 
 mans had previously had dealings, probably acquired the mill l)y 
 purchase afterwards. It is repeatedly referred to in the later 
 records of the town as Captain or INIajor Clark's mill. 
 
 Strict faith appears to have been kept by the town Avith the 
 owners of mills erected in conformity with its grants. In the 
 numerous donations of land to individuals, subsequently made 
 •within the territory whose trees were assigned to the mills, a pro- 
 viso was always inserted that the pine tunber, except masts, etc., 
 should not pass with the soil because it was appurtenant to the 
 mills. 
 
 The original grist-mill of Thomas, afterwards of Humphrey 
 "Wilson, served for a number of years to grind all the grain of the 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 325 
 
 inhabitants, but at length John Gilman thought it expedient to 
 build another at the main falls. This he probabl}' did by the 
 desire of the inhabitants. 
 
 On tlie twenty-fifth of October, 1670, Nicholas Listen and John 
 Robinson were chosen by the town to go and forewarn Humphrey 
 Wilson not to set his dam over the highway upon the upland near 
 to John Oilman's grist-mill. 
 
 What reply Humphrey Wilson made to this "forewarning" is 
 not known, but, perhaps, not a perfectly satisfactory one, for on 
 the very next day the town voted, "that whereas there had been 
 formerly, to their understanding, a privilege of water, and a liberty 
 of a creek granted to Humphrey AVilson upon condition that he 
 should supply the town's use in respect of grinding their corn, and 
 the toM^n since finding, especially of late, by experience, to their 
 great loss and damage, that they have not been answered to their 
 expectation, the town do hereby grant to John Gilman the privi- 
 lege of the water, so that the saw-mills or any other mill or mills 
 or an}' other ways by stopping of gates that may hinder his grist- 
 mill, shall be at liberty for the use of the grist-mill to answer the 
 town for grinding their corn ; upon which consideration the said 
 John Gilman do promise upon all occasions to supply the town in 
 grinding their corn, except more than ordinary providence hinder." 
 
 On March 3, 167;3, it was ordered "that those who -have felled 
 any pine trees have liberty to take them away within a year ; after 
 which any of those to whom mills appertain, ma}'' take them away 
 for the use of their mills ; but hereafter, when those who fell pine 
 trees shall not carry them away Avithin three months, they shall be 
 forfeited to any one who takes them away for the use of the owner 
 of one of the mills." 
 
 It was also ordered "that whoever shall fell any pine tree 
 (except for canoes, masts [or] building), and shall not improve it 
 and bring it to the use of the mills to which the privilege of the 
 timber is granted, for every tree so felled shall forfeit ten shillings 
 to the town." 
 
 The principal mill sites having been thus disposed of, tlie town 
 had little occasion to take action concerning them afterwards, 
 except in the two instances to be mentioned. 
 
 On September 9, 1701, the town granted " to Robert Coflin, his 
 heirs and assigns, all the right the town hath or had in Lowd's 
 falls at Lamprey river, with all the privileges of the flats twenty 
 rods below said falls, said Ooflin not to hinder any transjiortation 
 
:]-2i\ UlSTOltY OF EXETEK. 
 
 of timber down said river ;" in consideration whereof said Cottin 
 bound himself to pay five pounds yearly to the town or ministry 
 bv way of rate, so long as any mill sliould stand upon said fall on 
 the side next to Exeter. This site was in the present town of 
 Newmarket. 
 
 And on the first Monday of April, 1700, tht- town voted to give 
 " all the right the town have in the stream and island to Captain 
 John Oilman, where the said Oilman's corn-mill now stands, with 
 privilege for a bridge to go on to the island ; and the abovesaid 
 John (Oilman doth oblige himself to grind the inhabitants' corn 
 when wanted, for two f(uarts in every bushel." 
 
 None of the several mill sites mentioned were improved, so far 
 as has been learned, for any other purposes than for grinding 
 grain and sawing lumber, until tlic needs of the country during 
 and subsequent to the AVar of the Revolution impelled men to 
 employ the water power in the manufacture of other indispensable 
 
 articles. 
 
 rr<KrocKi:T. 
 
 The mill site and jirivilege ceded by the town in 1652 to the 
 Rev. Samuel Dudk-y and John T.egat, embraced, as has already 
 been explained, the fall which has from very early times l)ornc 
 the above unprepossessing name. The first use to which it was put 
 was to drive a saw-mill, and probably it has never since been 
 without one, or more. The I'iekpocket mill was a well known 
 locality, both to wliite men and to Indians. The latter were only 
 too intimately acquainted with it, for in their raids ufion tlie fron- 
 tier settlements they visited it vi'peatedly in pui'suit of victims or 
 cai^tives. 
 
 WluMi Brentwood was set off from Exeter in 1742 the main 
 river was made the boundary between the two towns, for the dis- 
 tance of about half a mile. The Pickpocket fall was in that part 
 of the river, so that one-half of it belonged in each town. 'I'here 
 have been mills there on each side of the river, since; Iml the 
 chief manufactories have been on the Brentwood side. 
 
 One of the earliest attempts in this part of tlie country to manu- 
 facture cotton cloth was initiated there, by a company composed 
 mostly of inhabitants of Exeter. Tliey were incorporated by act 
 of the Legislature of the State in 1800, under the name of the 
 Exeter Cotton Manufacturing Company. 
 
 They erected a factory containing eight thousand spindles, and 
 for a time employed Samuel C lianilii rhun as tlieir agent. lie li;id 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEK. 327 
 
 a store at the main village, in which he offered for sale, in any 
 quantity, " j^arn and cotton bats," the products of the mill. Joseph 
 Hyde then acted as the resident superintendent. Of course the 
 business was conducted on a small scale, and in a primitive 
 fashion, and probably brought little profit to the original investors, 
 but the company continued to prosecute it for twenty years, and 
 about 1820 a card factory was added to the original works, and an 
 iron furnace for casting machinery. 
 
 Not far from the year 1830 Captain Nathaniel Oilman, Jr., pur- 
 chased the control of the propert}', and continued the manufacture, 
 with John Rogers as agent. In 1840 he sold it to John Perkins, 
 and a few j^ears later the factory met the fate to which all such 
 establishments are liable, and was consumed by fire. 
 
 It was afterwards rebuilt, and adapted to the manufacture of 
 paper. Willard Russell, Jacob Colcord, Joshua Oetchell, and a 
 Boston stock company of which Isaac Bradford was agent, suc- 
 cessively occupied it, for the latter use. 
 
 The manufacture of wooden boxes, in connection with a saw- 
 mill, is carried on there, at the present time. 
 
 THE PAPER-MILLS. 
 
 The fall in the Exeter river next above King's fall has for 
 more than a century past been improved, and most of the time as 
 the site of paper-mills, as well as of a grist-mill. 
 
 The first paper-mill was begun in 1777 or soon after, by Richard 
 Jordan, a practical manufacturer, who came from Milton, Massa- 
 chusetts. He purchased this site and water power for the pur- 
 pose, from Joseph Leavitt, 3d, and others. His first experiments 
 were seemingly not entirely successful, but we learn from a 
 newspaper of the time that in September, 1785, the mill had under- 
 gone a thorough repair and was nearly finished. In 1787 Jordan 
 sold the paper-mill, power and implements to Kli})halet Hale, who 
 in 17'Jo conveyed them to William Hale. They both continued 
 the production of paper, the latter until after the year 1806 ; and 
 the property next passed into tlic hands of Stephen or Gideon 
 Larason who in 1813 conveyed it to Enoch Wiswall and John 
 Hunting of Watertown, Massachusetts. They retained it but a 
 couple of years, and in 181 '» transferred it to Thomas Wiswall of 
 Newton, jNIassachusetts. He removed to Exeter, and took into 
 partnership Isaac Flagg, and the firm of Wiswall and Elagg con- 
 tinued the manufacture of paper there with success, until the death 
 
328 HISTOllY OF EXETER. 
 
 of the scuior partner in 1<S3G. Tln-ee years before, in February, 
 1833, the mill had been burned, but was rebuilt the same season, 
 with improved apparatus. After the decease of Thomas Wiswall, 
 ]Mr. Flagg took one of his heirs, Otis AViswall, into partnership, 
 and they continued the manufacture under the firm of Flagg and 
 "Wiswall. Still later, the three sons of Mr. Flagg, Isaac, Jr., 
 Joseph and Samuel C. Flagg, succeeded to the property, and prose- 
 cuted the business until the year 1870, when the mill was again 
 reduced to ashes, and was not replaced. The privilege is now 
 owned by the Hon. Nathaniel Gordon. 
 
 THE POWDER-MILLS. 
 
 Every reader of history will recall the dismay of "Washington 
 when he discovered, not long after he assumed the command of 
 the American army at Cambridge in 1775, their destitute condi- 
 tion in the all important article of gun-powder ; as well as the 
 sagacity with which he concealed the appalling fact, and reached 
 out, far and near, to supply the deficiency. But still, the scarcity 
 and need of powder in the earlier stage of the war was apparent 
 to all, and stimulated patriotic ingenuity to attempt its mauufact- 
 ure. It was undertaken for the lirst time in Now Hampshire, in 
 Exeter. Colonel Samuel Ilobart, a native of Groton, JMassachu- 
 setts, and a former resident of Hollis, had served as pa3'master to 
 the New Hampshire troops about Boston in 177."), and removed in 
 1776 to Exeter, and there, probably with the assistance of Colonel 
 Samuel Folsom, who was allowed to borrow of the State on his bond 
 three hundred pounds for the purpose, purchased from Samuel 
 Quimby the mills and water privilege at King's falls, and constructed 
 a powder-mill. It was a dillicult undertaking, but Hobart was a 
 man not easil}' discouraged, and soon succeeded in putting his ma- 
 chinery into good working order. The mill commenced operations 
 about the middle of August, 1770. The following description of 
 it appeared in a contemporary newspai)er under date of Aijgust "24 : 
 
 A powder-mill erected in this town by Colonel Sanniel Ilobart, 
 who, for his expedition, merits thanks from the public, liaving 
 ('nii)love(l a numbi'r of the bi'st liaiids in the country, and is now 
 agoing, and is an improvement u|)on tlie f(;rnier plans of powder- 
 mills ; said to be preferable to those before built in New England. 
 Forty-four pestles are carried by one shaft, standing in rows on 
 i'ach side thereof. iVsides the mill, within the aforesaid time, 
 has been completed a building for pulverizing and purifying the 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 329 
 
 saltpetre for one part, and on the other, a room for drying the 
 powder. All the works have been contrived and carried on under 
 the inspection of the ingenious Mr. C, late of Boston, and is 
 capable of manufacturing 2400 weiglit of powder in a week. 
 The Committee of Safety sitting in this town, in company with 
 several other gentlemen, visited the powder-mill on Thursday 
 evening, when it was going in all its parts, performed by water, 
 viz., pounding, grinding, sifting and graining. They were well 
 pleased therewith, fired a number of muskets and pistols cliarged 
 with the powder taken from the drying room, and judged it in 
 every respect equal to any imported from Europe. 
 
 The manufacture of powder was continued by Colonel Hobart 
 for some time, perhaps throughout the war. In 1777 he had a 
 contract with the State to supply the troops therewith. It is mar- 
 vellous that with the poor materials at command the manufacture 
 was so successful. There was no supply of sulphur or saltpetre 
 in the country, and the State encouraged their production by of- 
 fering prices in the nature of bounties, for each, of domestic man- 
 ufacture. The saltpetre was largely procured by leaching the soil 
 taken from beneath old barns and stables ; — to such straits were 
 our fathers reduced to obtain the means to defend their liberties. 
 
 After the war was over. Colonel Ilobart put his mills to a dif- 
 ferent use. The old method of manufacturing "wrought" nails 
 was by shaping and heading each one separately by hand without 
 the aid of machinery. This was a slow and laborious process, and 
 necessarily very expensive. So valuable wei'e the products, as 
 appears by the inventory of the property of a deceased person, 
 about half a century earlier, that the stock of nails belonging to 
 his estate was actually counted, and the number of them set down 
 at nine hundred and one. The estate was divided amicably among 
 several heirs, and some wonder has been expressed how they dis- 
 posed of the odd nail. 
 
 The art of cutting or slitting iron into nail rods by machinery 
 had recently been invented, and Colonel Ilobart fitted his mills 
 for that work. We learn from the Freeman^ s Oracle of Septem- 
 ber 27, 1785, that "the furnace and slitting-mill some time 
 past undertaken by Colonel Ilobart at King's falls, in this town, 
 were last week completed, and visited by the judges of the Supe- 
 rior Court then sitting." 
 
 Ten years after this Colonel Ilobart sold his land, mills and 
 water rights, including the iron works or forge at King's falls, to 
 Joshua Barstow, who continued to occupy the chief part of them 
 
330 HISTORY OF EXETEK. 
 
 for the same purposes, it is believed, until his death about 1824. 
 
 In 1811 Barstow conveyed a small part of the land with one- 
 fourth of the water power to Charles C. Barstow, gunsmith, who 
 set up the manufacture of small lire-arms there, to a limited ex- 
 tent. This, it is presumed, lasted but a few years. After Joshua 
 Barstow's decease the property was occupied by licnjamiu Hoit. 
 It then included a large wooden mill, which is said to have been 
 first designed for the manufacture of cotton cloth. Iloit used it 
 for the production of coarse j'arns and cotton batting. From his 
 possession the establishment passed into that of Nathaniel Gor- 
 don, and subsequently, about 1830, was purchased by Benjamin 
 R. Perkins. The same kind of manufactures were kept up by 
 both the last named proprietors. 
 
 About 1838 Mr. Perkins sold the property to Oliver M. Whipple 
 of Lowell, Massachusetts. He established powder-mills upon it, 
 under an act of incorporation, by the name of the King's Mills 
 Powder Company. Alvin "White was tlie superintendent of the 
 works, and at a later period, James F. Huntington. The latter was 
 a man of wonderful coolness and daring. On one occasion the 
 roof of one of the buildings, in which was stored a large quantity 
 of powder, took lire. Ninety-nine men in a hundred would have 
 left it to its fate, but Huntington braved the terrible risk, mounted 
 the roof and poured on water until he extinguished tlie llames. 
 
 Before tliat time, however, more than one of the mills had been 
 blown up. On the evening of August 25, 1840, about a quarter 
 past nine, the people for miles around were startled ])y an explo- 
 sion of a large quantity of powder at the mills, whicii shook the 
 very ground. Fortunately no one was injured, as all the w^orkmeu 
 iiad gone to their homes. But it is said that tlie violence of the 
 exi)losion was so great that it actually emptied the water out from 
 the canal into the adjacent higliway. 
 
 Ancjther similar accident happened on the seventeenth of ]May, 
 1843, whew a single building, containing about one hundred and 
 fifty pounds of i)owder, was destroyed. One of the workmen Avho 
 was in the building was litcially blown to pieces, and fragments 
 of his body were caught and hmig in tlie branches of a iieiglil)or- 
 ing tree. 
 
 The powder manufacture ceased some time after 1850, and the 
 old cotton-mill on the falls Avas burned and the dam carried away. 
 In 1855 the property was purchased by AVilliam M. Ilunuewell, 
 who repaired the dam and moved a large mill l)uilding upon the 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 331 
 
 premises, and fitted it up for the manufacture of hubs, spokes 
 and shingles. This he carried on, besides a grist and saw-mill, 
 until the year 1867, when he conveyed the whole to the P^xeter 
 Manufacturing Company, who are still the owners. 
 
 "the falls of the squamscot." 
 
 At the principal falls in the village of Exeter there are, and 
 long have been, two dams, twenty or thirty rods apart, known as 
 the upper and lower, with reference to their position on the stream. 
 At the lower dam the river is divided by an island into two chan- 
 nels. There were constructed on these falls, in the following 
 order, first, Thomas Wilson's grist-mill ; then Edward Gilman's 
 two saw-mills, one on the eastern and the other on the western 
 side of the river ; then Humphrey AVilson's saw-mill, on the east- 
 ern side ; and lastly, John Gilman's grist-mill on the western side 
 of the island. Some of them changed ownership many times, and 
 others were added in after years ; but it was long before a mill 
 Avas built there for any different use. At length, however, mills 
 for a variety of other purposes sprang up. 
 
 When Washington visited the place in 1789 he recorded in his 
 diary that "in the town are considerable falls which supply sev- 
 eral grist-mills, two oil-mills, a slitting-mill and snuff-mill." 
 
 The oil-mills were for expressing linseed oil from flaxseed ; the 
 slitting-mills for cutting nail rods. 
 
 In 1795, Dr. Samuel Tenney, in his account of Exeter, stated 
 that the dams over the falls "afforded seats for four double 
 geared corn-mills, four saw-mills, two oil-mills and one fulling- 
 mill." 
 
 From riiinehas Merrill's plan of the village in 1802 we learn 
 that there were then, at the upper dam, Ebeuezer Clifford's giist 
 and saw-mills and York's grist and saAv-mills on the western side ; 
 and I). Clark's grist-mill and fulling-mill, S. Wiggin's oil-mill, and 
 S. Folsom's nail factory on the eastern side. On the lower dam 
 were S. Brooks's grist-mill on the western side, and S. Gilman's 
 saw-mill and J. Smith's oil-mill on the eastern. 
 
 MerrilVs Gazetteer informs us that in 1817 the fulling-mill, the 
 two oil-mills, the saw and grist-mills were still there, and that a 
 woollen factory had been added, which was on the west side of the 
 ii|)per dam. This was a building of considerable size, erected by 
 Nicholas (iilman in 180o to contain carding and other machincrv. 
 
332 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 After his death it was owned for some years by Colonel 
 Nathaniel Oilman, and used for the manufacture of satinet cloths, 
 under the management of his sous Nicholas and Daniel. The old 
 woollen-mill, as it was termed, was subsequently occupied liy Cap- 
 tain James Derby as a machine shop, and then by AVoodbridge 
 Odlin as a storehouse. Between l.si,") uiid l.s.'^O it was burned. 
 
 Ill tlie lattiT pari of KS21 Dr. William Perry completed a mill 
 situated on tlie east side of the u|)i)('r dam, for the manufacture of 
 starch from potatoes. He was induced to undertake this enter- 
 prise by a series of experiments which convinced him that British 
 gum, which was used by the cotton manufacturers as a sizing for 
 their cloth, was nothing but charred starch. jNIoreover, it was 
 imported and expensive. Dr. Perry succeeded in making starch 
 which was highly commended, and furnished the cotton-mills in 
 Lowell, at a lower price, with a perfect substitute for British gum. 
 His mill was burned to the ground March 3, 1827, but he rebuilt 
 it at once. Again it was burned in 1830, and the energetic doc- 
 tor had it in o])eratiou again in three Aveeks' time. He used from 
 thirty to forty thousand bushels of potatoes annually. At length, 
 some enterprising and not too scrupulous person contrived to dis- 
 cover in a clandestine way the secrets of the business, which gave 
 rise to competition and rendered it less reumnerative, and after a 
 time the doctor abandoned it, and the mill was turned to other 
 uses. 
 
 EXETER MAXUFACTLKING COMPANY. 
 
 About the year 1827 the design was formed to utilize, for the 
 ]Mirpose of cotton manufacture, the water power of the upper falls 
 iu the village of Exeter, which was then owned in fractious by 
 several persons, and employed for various objects. Two com- 
 panies were formed for the purpose. Benjamin Abbott, John T. 
 (iilman, Nathaniel Oilman, John Rogers, William Perry, Oeorge 
 (iardner and their associates were incorporated by the Legislature 
 in June, 1827, as the Exeter Mill and Water Power Company ; 
 and Nathaniel Oilman, John T. Oilman, Bradbury Cilley, Stephen 
 Hanson, John Kogers, Nathaniel (iilman, ;)d, Paine AVingate and 
 tiicir associates as the Exeter Manufacturing Company. 
 
 The former cori)orati()n purchased the control of the water 
 power, and conveyed to the ^Manufacturing Company a sudlcient 
 part of it to operate five thousand spindles. The Manufacturing 
 Company erected a brick mill of suitable capacity, and commenced 
 the manufacture of cotton sheetings therein in the year 1830. The 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 333 
 
 building agent was Stephen Hanson of Dover ; the first president 
 was John Houston, and the clerk and manufacturing agent was 
 John Lowe, Jr. 
 
 The plan of two corporations being afterwards found cumbrous 
 and unnecessary, the Mill and Water Power Company, by author- 
 ity of an act of the Legislature, in 1861 conveyed all their prop- 
 erty and franchises to the Manufacturing Company. 
 
 The Exeter Manufacturing Company have also acquired all 
 the water rights at the lower dam, so that they are now the owners 
 of the entire available power on the river between the Paper mill 
 fall and tide water. 
 
 In the year 1876 that company erected a new mill, adjoining 
 the old one, thereby substantially doubling their manufacturing 
 capacity. By reasou of the lowering of the river in the summer 
 months, it became necessary, also, to provide the establishment 
 with auxiliary steam power. 
 
 In December, 1887, the upper two stories of the old mill were 
 consumed b}' fire, but the damage was repaired and new machinery 
 put in and set in operation in about two months. The modern 
 protections against fire, with which the building was provided, no 
 doubt prevented a more extended conflagration. 
 
 The management of the company is efficient, and in accord with 
 the improved methods of the times. The goods they manufacture 
 have always maintained the highest standing in the market. 
 
 Since the year 1864 Hervey Kent has been the treasurer and 
 agent. 
 
 The other officers of the company are Eben Dale, president ; 
 Eben Dale, Hervey Kent, Thomas Appleton, John ^Y. Farwell 
 and William J. Dale, Jr., directors. 
 
 OTHER WATER-MILLS. 
 
 Above the fall in the Little river, which has been mentioned, are 
 two others within the township of I^xeter. The one nearest the 
 village was improved almost a century ago, in operating Barker's 
 fulling-mill. Upon the other, further up the stream, near the 
 line of Brentwood, has been erected a saw-mill. The water power 
 of each is somewhat limited. 
 
 We have it upon the authority of a gentleman of veracity, some 
 years since deceased, that there was, in former times, a saw-mill 
 carried by the water of Kimmiug's brook. The brook is fed by 
 springs, and flowed oi'iginally through a forest, so that it is easy 
 
3;}4 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 to believe that its volume of water was ouce much greater than it 
 uow is. 
 
 Below the iiuiiii falls of the rivor, aud ou the western side, 
 more than half a century ago, was built a tide-mill for grinding 
 bark for tanning purposes, by John Rogers aud Joseph Furnald. 
 The building is still standing, though it is a number of years since 
 it was employed for its original use. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 BUSINESS AND TRADE. 
 
 As has already been stated, the main reliance of the inhabitants, 
 iu the early times, for the means of support, was upon tlie growth 
 of the forest. And lumbering continued to be their chief occupa- 
 tion for upwards of a hundred years, and until the soil was well 
 nigh stripped of its finest timber. It was a pernicious employ- 
 ment for the Bioral and material welfare of the community. The 
 traders indeed found it profitable. They bought the timber and 
 paid for it in merchandise, then rafted the logs down the river, or 
 had them cut up in the mills into small lumber, which they sent 
 off in coasters, realizing large profits from either transaction. But 
 the lumbermen themselves worked hard, fared hard, and were too 
 a-pt to drink hard. Agriculture, which should have been their 
 principal dependence, was neglected. The owners of farms that 
 might have been made profitable, failed to raise products enough 
 for their own subsistence, and lived upon Virginia corn and pork, 
 which they bought from the traders. Their great ambition was to 
 keep up their teams of working oxen to haul their lumber to mar- 
 ket. At uight they gathered in the numerous taverns and spent 
 the hours iu drinking and coarse merriment. They were poor iu 
 the midst of plenty, and destitute of all wholesome ambition. 
 
 It is not easy to estimate the quantity of timber which was car- 
 ried away from the town while the process of deforesting was 
 going on. Some vague idea of it may, perhaps, be formed from 
 the dealings of a single person. In 17rj4 Colonel John Thillips, 
 then a principal trader in Exeter, sold to Colonel Warner of 
 Portsmoutli, one hundred and twenty-five thousand four hundred 
 twenty-seven feet of boards and lumber ; in 1757, nearly the same 
 quantity, and in 1751), one hundred and fifty-nine thousand eight 
 luindred eighty-six feet. 
 
 After tlie peace of 17G3 things cliangod for the better. The cul- 
 tivation of the soil was seen to be indispensable ; tlie owners of 
 
 335 
 
:y.](i HISTORY OF KXETEU. 
 
 lauds tiirued to farming for their support, and thrift and prosper- 
 ity gradually took the place of imprudence and poverty'. 
 
 SIIIP-BriLDlXG. 
 
 From a very early period the various kinds of craft to navigate 
 the river, the great higiiway, from the liglit canoe to the sturdy 
 gundalow, were constructed in Exeter. From those it was an easy 
 transition to build vessels for sailing along the coasts, and for 
 ocean vo^'ages. As early as 1651 Edward Gilman, Jr., had upon 
 the stocks a vessel of about fifty tons burden. In the returns of 
 the custom-house in Portsmouth for three mouths in the 3'ear 1692, 
 two clearances from Exeter for Boston are found ; one of the 
 sloop "Endeavor" of P^xeter, tweut}' tons burden, plantation 
 built, having on board six thousand of pipe staves, and four hun- 
 dred feet of pine planks; the other of tlie sloop " Elizabeth " of 
 Exeter, of twenty tons, Francis Lyford, commander, plantation 
 built, having on board one thousand feet of boards, four thousand 
 staves, fourteen thousand of treenails, fifteen hundred feet of pine 
 planks and joist. Within the same period, the arrival of the same 
 sloop "Endeavor" is noted, from Hampton, laden with hay. 
 This shows one of the little rounds of the coasting trade. The 
 vessel took to Boston manufactured lumber sold from Exeter ; 
 then probably returned as far as Hampton with merchandise, the 
 proceeds of the sale, which was there exchanged for hay, an abso- 
 lute necessity to tlie lumbermen of Exeter, who, as yet, had not 
 mowing laud enough to subsist their hard worked teams through 
 the long winters. 
 
 As time went on, tlie building of larger vessels became an im- 
 portant and profitable industry in Exeter. The river was of sufll- 
 cieut depth to allow the passage of a ship of four or five hundred 
 tons, and few so large were required for tlie commerce of the 
 earlier part of the last century. Most of the voyages to the West 
 Indies and across the Atlantic were made in vessels of not more 
 than one-half that tonnage, and those were the routes most com- 
 mon and most profitable to tlie New England merchants. Some 
 of the vessels launelied from the Exeter ship-yards remained the 
 property of the builders, and were employed in commerce between 
 that place and foreign or domestic ports, but more were contracted 
 for by Portsmouth merchants, or sold in England or elsewhere. 
 
 So lucrative had this branch of manufactures become, that 
 shortly after the middle of the last century several gentlemen 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 337 
 
 of energj' and means were attracted to "the town to engage in it. 
 Between 1750 and 17G0, John Montgomery, a partner of Joshua 
 "Wentworth of Portsmouth, came to Exeter and set up in the busi- 
 ness of ship-building and trade in lumber. A little later, Enoch 
 Poor of Andover moved into town, and engaged in the same call- 
 ing. Charles Rundlett and Zebulon Giddiuge were also among the 
 ship-builders of that day. 
 
 In 1761 the partnership of Gilman, Folsom & Oilman was 
 formed, which dealt extensively in lumber and built many vessels. 
 Their trade with the ports of the West Indies and with London 
 was more considerable than that of any other concern in the town. 
 The fifteen or twenty years before the Revolution were the golden 
 period of sbip-building in Exeter. As many as twenty- two ves- 
 sels, great and small, it is said, have been upon the stocks there 
 in a single season ; and from eight to ten was the usual annual 
 product. 
 
 The water side mus^ have presented a busy scene in those times. 
 From the lower falls down as far as meeting-house hill on the 
 west side of the river, ship and lumber-yards stretched almost 
 continuously between the stores and wharves. On the streets, a 
 little way back, were blacksmith shops, where the roar of the 
 forge and the ringing blows of the hammer were heard from morn- 
 ing till night, making a fitting accompaniment to the sounds of 
 the shipwright's adze and the calker's mallet which arose from the 
 hulls propped up on the ways, waiting the hour when they should 
 take their plunge into the element for which they were destined. 
 AVages were good, and money was abundant. From the lumber- 
 man who furnished the framework to the nice ioiner who wrouiiht 
 the elaborate finish of the cabin, all concerned in the business en- 
 joyed their increased shares of comforts and luxuries, and devoutly 
 drank to the standing toast, — success to ship-building. 
 
 But the War of the Revolution put a stop to all this activity. 
 Capitalists would not risk their money in building vessels which 
 could not sail from our ports without the risk of capture by the 
 king's armed cruisers, and the blacksmiths and ship carpenters 
 who were thrown out of employment enlisted in the military ser- 
 vice or entered privateers. Still, a few vessels were kept in use. 
 In 1776 Captain Eliphalet Ladd was permitted by the Legislature 
 to make a voyage to two or three West India ports, on condition 
 that he should bring back, if procurable, certain military stores 
 for the use of the State. 
 
 22 
 
;K}.S lIISTUin' or KXICTKU. 
 
 After the war was over, sbip-buikling was resumed, but not to 
 the same extent as before. Colonel James Ilackett was employed 
 in it, as were also Josepli Swasey, Gideon Lamsou, Daniel Conner 
 and others. 
 
 On the fourth of July, 1703, we are informed by a newspaper 
 of the time, "the field pieces in the town fired salutes in honor 
 of the day, and were answered from the Indiaman now on the 
 stocks, being beautifully decorated with French and American 
 colors." In his sketch of Exeter, in 1795, Dr. Samuel Tenney 
 stated that four or five vessels of various burdens were then an- 
 nuallv built in the town, and about the same number were em- 
 ployed in foreign trade. Among the deaths recorded in an Exeter 
 paper dated August 20, 1799, is that of Mr. Nathaniel Cotton, 
 aged twenty-three, " on board schooner Amity of this port." 
 
 The sliip-building interest gradually decreased in the town, after 
 the coming in of the present century, though the manufacture of 
 sail-cloth and twine and many blacksmiths' shops are rcmem- 
 bered by our oldest citizens. One who recently deceased, used to 
 describe a large vessel of probably five hundred tons that he saw 
 on the stocks, the bowsprit of which projected beyond the fronts 
 of the adjacent buildings, into Water street, between Spring and 
 Centre streets. A vessel of that size had so great a draft of 
 water that it had to be buoyed up by empty hogsheads in order to 
 pass down the river at ordinary tide. 
 
 The second war with England, and the measures which preceded 
 it, put a linal period to the building of ships in Exeter. For a 
 generation the occupation which had formerly been so prosperous 
 fell entirely into disuse. But in the year 1836, a schooner of from 
 one to two hundred tons was set upon the stocks on the river near 
 meeting-house hill, and launched, rully rigged. The enterprising 
 builder was Nathan Moulton of Hampton Falls. She took in a 
 cargo of potatoes, and sailed, it is believed, for Philadelphia. 
 With that effort, it is feared that ship-building in Exeter breathed 
 its last. 
 
 The river has long ceased to be the great thoroughfare for sup- 
 plying the town with necessaries from abroad. The railroads, by 
 the inducements of greater rapidity and cheapness, have appro- 
 priated nine-tenths of that kind of transportation. But many 
 heavy and Indky articles still come up the river from Torstmouth 
 by the old conveyance of " Furnald's packet." The navigation of 
 the channel had become so obstructed, some years ago, by rocks 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 339 
 
 and shoals, that it was foimd necessary to petition Congress for 
 an appropriation for its improvenieuti It was granted and wisely 
 expended. Coasters now bring cargoes of coal directly to the 
 wharves without transshipment. But the days of the old-time 
 activity on the river will never be repeated, unless there should be 
 a reversion, in the carriage of merchandise, to the earlier methods. 
 
 POTTERY. 
 
 The potter's art, one of the earliest inventions of man, must 
 have been practised in Exeter near the middle of the last century. 
 Nathaniel Libbee, who died about 1756, was described in a deed 
 of the time as "potter." Jabez Dodge was established in busi- 
 ness as a manufacturer of earthen-ware in 1794, and advertised 
 for an apprentice in June, of that year, From that time to the 
 pi'esent, the business has been maintained. Among those con- 
 cerned in it were Samuel Dodge, William Philbrick, Oliver Osborne, 
 Samuel Leavitt, Asa D. Lamson and F. H. Lamson. The ware 
 produced was generally of the brown kind, for household use, 
 although the present proprietor has an ambition to give a more 
 artistic character to his work. Mr. Osborne for many years man- 
 ufactured what were called portable furnaces of earthen- ware, 
 which answered well the wants of the housewife, and had a large 
 sale. 
 
 DUCK MANUFACTORY. 
 
 About the year 1790 Thomas Odiorne began in Exeter the man- 
 ufacture of duck or sail cloth, the first in the State. His factory 
 was on the present Green street, then called Carpenter's lane, 
 probably from the fact that it had been largely occupied by ship 
 carpenters. The only power employed was that of human muscles. 
 The State Legislature encouraged the work by paying a bounty of 
 seven shillings on each bolt of duck produced. Eight spinners of 
 warp, and about the same number of weavers, were employed in 
 the mill, and the weft was spun in private families. After a few 
 years the establishment passed into the hands of four young men 
 who prosecuted the business for a time, when it was discontinued. 
 
 SADDLERY AND CARRIAGES. 
 
 The manufacture of saddlery was earl}-, and for a long time 
 one of the principal and lucrative industries of the town. It was 
 asserted, at the close of the last century, that a greater quantity 
 
340 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 of sadcll(>i-v was mwdv in Kxctor tluui in any otlu'r place north of 
 Phihulelphia. 
 
 The first light carriage used in tlic town, according to tra- 
 dition, was introduced by the Rev. Daniel Rogers, about the year 
 1754. It was of two wheels, and withoyt a top, iniit-h like what, 
 in later times, was termed a gig. It was then called a "chair."* 
 Before that time Mr. Rogers always rode to his meetings on horse- 
 back. A few 3'ears afterwards. Brigadier Peter Oilman brought 
 into town the first fall-back chaise with a s(piare top. Chaise, 
 carriage and harness making became sul)se(iuently a very consid- 
 erable business in Exeter, for a long period, extending from the 
 latter part of the last century down to near the present time. It 
 is still carried on, but not to the same extent as formerly. 
 
 Among the most considerable past and present manufacturers 
 of carriages in the town may be mentioned J. Cotlin Smith, James 
 and AVilliam Odlin, John Lamson, Daniel Williams, George 
 Smith, Woodbridge Odlin, Robert and Henry Shute, William and 
 Joel Lane, Benjamin Brown, John Dodge, Daniel and James F. 
 Melcher, Lewis Mitchell, Oliver W. Smith, Head and Jewell, 
 William L. Gooch, E. G. and J. G. Robinson, J. C. Safford, J. 
 M. Clark and A. J. Fogg. 
 
 HATS ; WOOL ; LEATHER. 
 
 Hat making was an important trade in Exeter, a /century ago, 
 when it was conducted in comparatively small establishments and 
 before the aid of steam had been called in to exuedite the work 
 and multii)ly the products. The family of Leaviftts are said to 
 have been engaged, for two or three generations, in this branch of 
 industi'y. Connected with it, of course, was the trailic in furs and 
 skins. This latter, in process of time, exceeded the other part of 
 the business in amount and consequence. Theodore Moses and 
 Abner INIerrill were two prominent men of the town, w^ho owed 
 much of their success to this trade. Jolin F. Moses, a son of the 
 former, and Jeremiah L., Joseph and Benjamin L. Merrill, sons 
 of the latter, became afterwards dealers in wool on a large scale, 
 and accumidated nuich property from it. William Lane, Wood- 
 bridge Odlin and Luke Julian were also very prosperous wool 
 merchants. At the present time Henry C. Moses, son of John F. 
 Moses, and George N. Julian, son of Luke Julian, resident in 
 Exeter, are each engaged in similar business in Boston. 
 
 •Tradition errs licre. The Rev. Nlcliolas Gllman owned a "clialr" In 1737. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 341 
 
 Auothev employment which flourished for some time in the 
 town, was that of tanning and currying leather. Academy street, 
 long ago, received its unsavory alias of "Tan lane" from being 
 the headquarters of this industry. Edmund Pearson is one of the 
 earliest remembered tanners, and his son, Nathaniel, succeeded 
 him. Jeremiah Dow, Jeremiah Robinson and Retire H. Parker 
 were among the principal men afterwards concerned in the busi- 
 ness, in the same street. The decline of that interest closed one 
 after another of the establishments, and the burnins; of John F. 
 Moses's morocco factory a few years since removed the last vestige 
 of the trade, once so actively and profitably pursued in that 
 localit3^ 
 
 The manufacture of boots and shoes for a while occupied a 
 good number of hands in Exeter. Stephen L. Gordon, Jeremiah 
 L. Robinson and others met with variable degrees of success in 
 the business, but it never took a very firm root in the town, in 
 those days. Of late it has been revived, with vastly improved 
 facilities and machinery. The Exeter Boot and Shoe Company 
 have added within a few years a new and productive industry to 
 the town, and are reaping an assured success from their enterprise. 
 
 James Derby, an energetic machinist, started several undertak- 
 ings in Exeter, about half a century since, none of which, how- 
 ever, proved permanent. At one time he was concerned with 
 others in book publishing. They proposed to issue the Bible with 
 Scott's commentaries, in six or eight large volumes ; but having 
 completed the New Testament in two volumes, they went no 
 farther. He set in operation machine works, at two several 
 times, the last between 1840 and 1850, in the brick shops on 
 South street. Several other citizens were interested with him, 
 there, in the manufacture of steam and gas pipes, the first estab- 
 lishment for the purpose in New England, as was alleged. It 
 was subsequently disposed of to J. B. Richardson and S. T. San- 
 born. Some wooden buildings used in the fabrication of the pipe 
 having been destroyed by fire, the proprietors transferred the busi- 
 ness to Boston. 
 
 The brick machine shop was then occupied for a time as a 
 brewery, in which J. M. Lovering and I. S. Brown were inter- 
 ested, but the undertaking proved unsuccessful. It has been used 
 since that time for the building of carriages. 
 
 The Exeter IMachine AVorks is the name of a company which 
 has existed in the town for almost a generation. Its buildings, 
 
342 lilSTUUY UF EXETER. 
 
 whicli also iiicliulo au irou foundry, are situated near the railroad 
 station. Tlie chief manufactures are steam engines, sectional 
 boilers, shafting, machiuer^^ etc., and a specialty is made of 
 steam heating aj)paratus. The work of the company is widely 
 and favorahly known. The present officers are, Charles U. Bell, 
 president ; AVilliam lUulingame, treasurer ; C. U. Bell, A. G. 
 Dewey, W. Burlingame and J. K. Burlingame, directors. 
 
 The Brass "Works of E. Folsom & Co. have been in ()i)eration 
 about twenty years. The firm manufacture brass and iron fittings, 
 pipes and the like, for steam, water and gas. Their buildings are 
 near those of the ^Machine AVorks, and their business has always 
 been thoroughly well conducted. The partners are Eben Folsom, 
 Josiah J. Folsom and J. F. Wiggiu. 
 
 The Exeter Gas Light Compau}', mentioned in a former chap- 
 t3r, was chartered in 1854. Their works are situated at the 
 corner of Green and AVater streets. The officers are F. II. 
 Odiorne, president, Austin M. Copp, treasurer, and Arthur F. 
 Cooper, superintendent. 
 
 The P^xeter AVater AVorks have their reservoirs and pumping 
 apparatus on Portsmouth avenue, and a stand pipe on Prospect 
 hill. The officers are Edwin G. Eastman, president, Elbert 
 AA^heeler, treasurer, and Charles II. Johnson, collector. 
 
 There are other companies and business establishments in the 
 town, worthy of mention, as the Rockingham Machine Company, 
 turning out machines for burnishing the heels of boots and shoes, 
 the Tile Drain INIanufactory of George AV. AViggin, and the Exeter 
 Coal Company, of wliich George AV. Clark is agent. It is not the 
 puri)ose of this work, however, to furnish a business guide or 
 directory. 
 
 THE KAlJI.ir.K :\II:K('1IANTS. 
 
 Exeter, being at the head of tide walcr and of navigation, se- 
 cured early an important trade witli the towns farther inland. 
 This it has never entirely lost, thougli the springing up of new 
 centres of business and the substitution of improved modes of 
 transportation of merchandise, liave tempted the more distant 
 places to carry their traffic elsewhere. 
 
 Several of tlie early merchants have been named in the acroimt 
 of ship-building. Indeed, every one engaged in that business 
 dealt also in the commodities wliich his workmen re(]uire<l, and 
 furnished them with necessaries as part of Iheir wages. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEK. 343 
 
 In the earlier clays, not far from the rniddle of the last ceutury, 
 Colonel Daniel Oilman, Samuel Gilmau, Zebulon Giddinge, Dr. 
 John Giddinge and John Phillips were among the other principal 
 merchants ; then followed William Elliot, Peter and Eliphalet 
 C'oflln, John Emery, Jose[)h Lamson, Jr., and AYard C. Dean. 
 Eliphalet Ladd began to trade about the beginning of the Revolu- 
 tion, and was enterprising and very successful. 
 
 At a later date, John T. Oilman, Joseph 8. Oilman, Oilman 
 and Moses, Gideon Lamson and Simon Wiggin were amono- the 
 leading men in business, and still later, John Gardner, Daniel 
 Ranlet, Elliot and James, Josiah Oilman Smith, Charles Conner, 
 Nathaniel Weeks, S. B. Stevens, William II. Clark, Thomas 
 Lovering, Thomas Conner, and Joseph T. Porter of the firm of 
 Porter and Thyng. 
 
 These, of course, are but a few, and perhaps not all the most 
 important, of the many who have been engaged in mercantile pur- 
 suits in the town. The list, however, includes persons whose 
 business lives extend over the period of more than a century, and 
 down to a date within the memory of the present generation. It 
 would be impracticable to attempt more, here. 
 
 One business house is exceptional in its hereditary character. 
 Ward Clark Dean commenced trade on AYater street about the 
 year 1770. His son-in-law, John Gardner, entered his store as 
 his clerk soon after the year 1800, and continued with him until 
 Mr. Dean retu'ed in 1823. Mr. Gardner then succeeded him in 
 the business with his son, George Gardner, as his partner : Georo-e 
 Gardner continued the business in 1848, with John P. P. Kelly as 
 his partner, until 1857, when John E. Gardner, the great-grandson 
 of the founder of the business, became partner of Mr. Kelh', and 
 has so remained up to this time. 
 
 It ought also to be remembered, to the credit of our fathers 
 that women wei'e not debarred, in the olden time, from their nat- 
 ural right to engage in merchandise. The widow of the Rev. 
 Nicholas Oilman, near the middle of the last century, kept a shop, 
 as well as managed a considerable landed estate ; and a daughter 
 of AVard Clark Dean, a generation or more later, was a rival of 
 her father in trade, and is said to have been by no means unsuc- 
 cessful in enticing away his customers. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 The old Exeter Bank was chartered in 1803. Before tliat time 
 money accommodations were probably obtainable by Exeter people 
 
344 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 from :i l):\nk in rortsinoutli, of which Oliver Peabody, and after- 
 wards John T. Oilman, was the president. 
 
 The Exeter Bank had originally a capital of two hundred thou- 
 sand dollars. Jeremiah Smith was the president, and Nathaniel 
 Rogers the first cashier. Afterwards, John Rogers succeeded to 
 the post of cashier; and about 1830 Samuel D. Bell, for about 
 five 3'ears ; and then Timothy Farrar, who continued in it until 
 the charter of the bank expired by limitation ; it having been re- 
 newed in hS24 for the term of twenty years. 
 
 The P^xcter Bank was kept in a building of one story at the 
 corner of Centre and AVater streets, afterwards occupied for a 
 number of years by the Atlantic and Rockingham Fu*e Insurance 
 Companies. The bank had quite a history. In its earlier days 
 the cashier had occasion once to be absent from his post, and re- 
 quested ]Mr. L., one of the directors, to take his place. That 
 gentleman, very obligingly consented, though entirely inexpe- 
 rienced in the duties. This was before the time when country 
 banks had arrangements with banks in the city to redeem their 
 circulation, and when they were liable to be called upon at any 
 time to pay a considerable amount of their own bills in other money. 
 So the cashier left in the drawer a sullicient sum to meet such a 
 demand. 
 
 While the temporary cashier was in control, a person entered 
 the bank and presented a draft for two hundred dollars and up- 
 wards for payment, and received for it four bills, supposed by Mr. 
 L. to be for fifty dollars, but in reality for five hundred dollars 
 each, an<l the balance in smaller currency. The receiver took 
 away the money, but soon after returned and asked Mr. L. if the 
 bank rectified mistakes. " No, sir," said the quasi cashier, " after 
 a man has taken his money and gone out, no mistakes are cor- 
 rected." The customer departed. 
 
 When the cashier returned h(mie and reckoned up the day's 
 business, he found his cash eighteen hundred dollars short, lie 
 interrogated his substitute, who told him about the transaction 
 mentioned. " Where did you get the fift}' dollar bills from?" in- 
 quired the cashier. The partition was pointed out. "Those," said 
 the cashier, "are bills for five hundred dollars." The other was 
 astounded, and said he did not know that there were an}' of that 
 denomination. 
 
 The bank called upon the person wlio luul thus been overpaid, 
 to refund the money. But he refused, probably salving his con- 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 345 
 
 science with the answer made him at the time, that "no mistakes 
 were corrected." The bank hroiight a suit against him to compel 
 restoration. The matter was bitterly contested, for the defendant 
 had intluential friends. In the end the bank recovered back the 
 amount of the overpayment. But a little episode at the trial is 
 worth relating. The jury were sent out into their room to delib- 
 erate upon the case just at nightfall. It was found that there was 
 a wide difference of opinion among them. So they fell to arguing 
 the matter. One of their number, a small tradesman, who was 
 used to going to bed early, grew drowsy, and quietly lay down 
 upon a bench in a dark corner and went to sleep. His alisence 
 was not noticed by the others, and they continued to discuss the 
 questions in the case till well towards morning. The arguments 
 advanced by those who favored the defendant were one by one 
 overthrown and abandoned, and at length it appeared that there 
 was no one who would not acquiesce in a verdict for the bank. A 
 ballot was then taken, when it appeared that only eleven had voted. 
 The sleeper was roused. The foreman explained the question to 
 him. " Well," said he, " I am in favor of giving the defendant a 
 verdict." The foreman answered, that there were others of the 
 jury who were at first of the same opinion, but after fully consid- 
 ering the case they had one after another changed their minds, and 
 were now all in favor of the plaintiff. "Well," said the accom- 
 modating juror, "if you gentlemen have been discussing this matter 
 all night, and have all agreed for the plaintiff, you may put me 
 down for the plaintiff too." 
 
 The old Exeter Bank was doubtless extremely well managed, for 
 its time. But a modern cracksman would laugh to scorn its pro- 
 tections against plunder. Its locks were primitive, with keys that 
 were large enough for weapons of offence. Now-a-days they 
 would not stand an hour against a burglar. But in 1828 the art 
 of breaking banks was in its infancy. And when a gang of thieves 
 from Rhode Island robbed the Exeter Bank, as they did in that 
 year, they found it necessary to take at least two or three Aveeks 
 to make the necessary preparations. It is a wonder that their 
 purpose was not discovered. They had one or two huts or haunts 
 in the neighboring woods where they remained and prepared their 
 false keys by day, and at night came into the village and tested 
 their work, in the locks of the bank. At length they succeeded 
 in entering the stone vault, and took therefrom about tliirtv tliou- 
 sand dollars in bills, and some hard money, with which they made 
 
3-16 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 off. The stor}' of the detection of the guilty parties is a long one, 
 and much of the ingenuity displayed in the process, does not 
 appear in the published report of the trial. A" quantity of the 
 money was found hidden under a stone wall. The stolen bills 
 that they passed were a chief means of fastening the crime upon 
 the robbers ; and it is said that some incrusted silver coin which 
 J^beuezer Clifford had brought up in his diving-bell from a wrecked 
 ship at the bottom of the ocean, and deposited in the bank, fur- 
 nished another clue. It is sufficient to sivy that the dejiredators 
 were discovered, and brought to trial, and after a full hearing 
 sentenced to imprisonment, and tlie greater part of the stolen 
 property was recovered. 
 
 The Exeter Savings Bank was incorporated in 1828, and man- 
 aged in connection with the Exeter Bank. John Houston was the 
 first president and Samuel D. Bell, treasurer. Afterwards William 
 Perry was chosen president, and Timothy Farrar, treasurer. The 
 business of the Savings Bank was in 1842 wound np and closed, 
 but in 1851 it was revived, and carried on in the building of the 
 Granite State Bank. AVoodbridge Odlin was chosen president 
 and Samuel II. Stevens, treasurer, who was afterwards succeeded 
 by N. Appleton Slnite. Upon the fliglit of the latter in 1873, 
 after having embezzled a great part of the funds, the Savings 
 Bank went into the hands of a receiver, and the residue of its 
 assets were distriliuted ratably among the depositors. 
 
 The second bank of discount in the town was incorporated in 
 1830, and styled the (iranite Bank. Its capital was two hundred 
 thousand dollars. John Harvey was the president until about 
 1844, when James Bell was chosen. James Bnrley was the 
 cashier. It continued in business until IS.'il and was then re- 
 ciiartered under the name of the Granite State Bank, and the 
 capital was reduced one-half. Moses Sanborn was then made 
 president, and Samuel II. Stevens, cashier. Joseph T. (iilman 
 afterwards became president, and N. Ai)j)leton Shute, cashier. 
 After Mr. Gilman's deatli in 18(;2. Abner jNIerrill was elected 
 president, and held llic ollicc until 1.^77, the bank in the mean- 
 time having been organized under the national laws. Mr. INIerrill 
 was succeeded in the office of president by his three sons, in turu, 
 Jeremiah L. Merrill, Benjamin L. Merrill and Cliarles A. IMerrill. 
 In January, 1M73, the cashier. N. Ai)i)leton Shute, l)ecame a 
 defaulter to a large amount and lied the country. 'J'he deficit Avas 
 made up by the stockholders and the bank kept on, Warren F, 
 Putnam being chosen cashier. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 347 
 
 After the decease of Dr. Charles A. Merrill, Benjamin F. 
 Folsom was chosen president, and subsequently Charles E. Bying- 
 ton was elected cashier in place of W. F. Putnam. They still hold 
 their offices. The directors of the Granite State National liank 
 are Benjamin F. Folsom, Eben Folsom, John E. Gardner, AVarreu 
 F. Putnam and Amos C. Chase ; and there is one vacancy. 
 
 In 1868 the Union Five Cents Savings Bank was incorporated, 
 and opened with Joshua Getchell as president and Joseph S. 
 Parsons as treasurer. The successive presidents since have been 
 William B. Morrill, Charles Burley, William P. Moulton and W. 
 H. C. Follansby ; the treasurers, Frank P. Cram and Sarah C. 
 Clark. 
 
 After the Exeter Savings Bank went into the receiver's hands 
 in 1873, the Squamscot Savings Bank was incorporated. Its first 
 president was Obadiah Duston, who was followed by Joseph 
 Janvrin. George B. Webster is now the president, Francis 
 Hilliard, treasurer, and William H. Belknap, cashier. 
 
 INSURANCE COMPANIES. 
 
 Fifty years ago, when mutual insurance was in vogue, Exeter 
 was quite a centre for that business. In 1832 was incorporated 
 the Rockingham Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Avhich Na- 
 thaniel Gilman, Jr., was made president, John T. Burnham, sec- 
 retary, and James Burley, treasurer. In 1837 John Harvey was 
 chosen president, and in 1838, Timothy Farrar. In 1839 there 
 was a change of directors, attended with some feeling, but the 
 president and secretary remained in office, with John Sullivan as 
 treasurer. In 1843 James Burley was elected president, Isaac L. 
 Folsom, secretary, and Jeremiah Dearborn, treasurer. This board 
 of officers continued till about 1852, when Moses Sanborn became 
 president, AVilliam P. Moulton, secretary, and John Tyrrell, 
 treasurer. Five years afterwards, John S. Wells was chosen to 
 the presidency, and Josejjh C. Hilliard to the trcasurership, Wil- 
 liam P. Moulton remaining secretary. The company had been 
 very successful, and issued policies on a large amount of property. 
 
 The Atlantic Mutual Fire Insurance Company was chartered in 
 1847. Its business must have been limited prior to 18.")G, when 
 we find that it was managed by the same executive officers as the 
 Pockinglunn. This continued to be the case for several years. 
 Charles Conner succeeded John S. AVells as president of liolh 
 
348 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 companies about 1803, and remained with W. P. Moulton and 
 J. C. Ililliard as officers of the Rockingham until about 18G6, 
 ■when its affairs were wound up. The business of the Atlantic was 
 carried on with Charles Conner as president, and Joseph S. Parsons 
 as secretary and treasurer, until about 1871, Avhen that company, 
 too, succumbed to the growing preference for insurance iu stock 
 companies. 
 
 The Rockingham Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company was 
 incorporated iu 183:3. For some years little was heard of it, but 
 in 1856 "William Conner was its president, William P. Moulton, 
 the secretary, and Joseph C. Hilliard, treasurer. John S. AVells 
 succeeded ^Ir. Conner as president, and was succeeded by Charles 
 Conner. Then AVilliam Conner was again chosen president, and 
 held the office until his decease a j-ear or two since. Charles E. 
 Lane was secretary and treasurer a few years, and then George 
 W. Wiggin was elected, about 1866, to those offices, and held 
 them till 1874. The present officers are George B. AVebster, pres- 
 ident, and Henry A. Shute, secretary and treasurer. As its name 
 imports, this company confines its insurance to farm buildings, or 
 equivalent risks. It is now the oldest company in the town. 
 
 In 1885 the insurance of property iu New Hampshire against 
 fire, was mostly in stock companies existing out of the State. On 
 account of a law enacted by the Legislature in that year, they, by 
 a concerted action, determined to take no more risks iu New- 
 Hampshire. It became necessary, therefore, that other means of 
 insurance should be provided at home, and without delay. 
 
 The Exeter ^Mutual Fire Insurance Company was the first new 
 company organized in the State to meet the new condition of 
 things. It was put in operation under the general law of the 
 State on the fifteenth day of October, 1886. Charles H. Bell was 
 chosen president, and Arthur B. Fuller, secretary and treasurer. 
 In 1887 Mr. Fuller resigned his offices, and George W. Weston 
 was elected in his place. This and the Rockingham Farmers' are 
 the only insurance companies now in the town. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL, 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 JUDGES AND LAWYEES. 
 
 John Gilman, the second son of Edward Gilman, Sr., born in 
 England January 10, 162-4, came to Exeter before 1650, and 
 immediately became a prominent citizen. From the first he was 
 concerned with his brother Edward in mills and lumber. After 
 Edward was lost at sea in 1653, he inherited much of the latter's 
 property, and took his place in developing the resources of the 
 town. He was chosen selectman more than one-half the years 
 between 1650 and 1680; was repeatedly elected commissioner to 
 end small causes ; and appointed upon committees to care for the 
 town's interests. He had several handsome grants of land from 
 the town, and a special right of a grist-mill. In the two years 
 before New Hampshu-e was emancipated from the Massachusetts 
 government he held the oflice of associate (judge) of the old 
 Norfolk county court. 
 
 In 1680 Mr. Gilman was made a councillor of the newly erected 
 province of New Hampshire, and in 1682 a judge of the Court of 
 Pleas ; but in 1683 he was by Governor Cranfield relieved of both 
 offices. It is needless to say that his reputation in the province 
 did not suffer by reason of his removal. In 1693 he was chosen 
 by his townsmen a delegate to the Assembl}^ and Avas made 
 Speaker of the House, and again chosen in 1697. 
 
 He married, June 30, 1657, Elizabeth, daughter of James 
 Treworgy (from which came the popular Christian name of True- 
 worthy), and had six sons and ten daughters, and very numerous 
 descendants. He built the "log house" opposite the Great 
 bridge, which is still standing. He died July 2-4, 1708. 
 
 Robert Wadleigh was accepted as an inhabitant of Exeter Sep- 
 tember 26, 1676, at which time he probably removed there with 
 his family. He w^as then a man of mature years, and had live 
 sons, some of them tending towards manhood. He had lived in 
 Wells, Maine, more than twenty years before, and in 1666 pur- 
 
 351 
 
352 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 chased a considerable tract of laud at a place since known as 
 WadU'iirh's falls on Lamprey river in tlie present town of Lee, one- 
 half of which he conveyed to Nicholas Listen. There ]\Ir. Wad- 
 leiizh lived until he came to Exeter. lie soon became known to 
 the people of P^xeter, and was chosen to responsible positions. In 
 1G80 he was a deputy to the General Assembly, of which he acted 
 as clerk. In 1681 the inhabitants made him a grant of two hun- 
 dred acres of land, and the next year his tax was the highest in 
 the town. 
 
 A year afterwards he was sued by an agent of Mason, i)robably 
 for the possession of some of his lands, and by exceptional good 
 fortune won tlie verdict of the jury. His antagonist took an 
 appeal to the king, upon which Wadleigh determined to go himself 
 to England to look after his interests. He had a further reason 
 for so doing, in the fact that his three sons were at that time 
 under condemnation for taking part in " Gove's rebellion " against 
 Governor C'ranlield's t3'rannical administration. The impression 
 whicli AVadleigh made upon the Privy Council must have been 
 favorable, for he was, after his return, appointed a justice of the 
 peace and councillor of the province, doubtless on their recom- 
 mendation. 
 
 Mr. AVadleigh continued to receive marks of the confidence of 
 his townsmen, and of the provincial autliorities. In 1()92 he was 
 appointed one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas, and, 
 a year afterwards, a judge of the Superior Court. This position 
 he continued to till until 1(197. He died in Exeter not far from 
 the year 1700. His descendants are somewhat numerous, and the 
 name is still kept up in the town and vicinity. 
 
 Kinsley Hall was a son of Ralph Hall, one of the signers of the 
 Combination, and was born in Exeter in 1652. He was a captain 
 in the militia, an oflice then of no small repute, and served the 
 town in various capacities, which denote the popular ai)[)reciation 
 of his ability and intelligence. He was one of the selectmen for 
 some years, moderator, and deputy to the General Assembly in 
 1694 and 1695. He was also a councillor of the province, 
 appointed in 1698, and a judge of the Superior Court from 1697 
 to 1698, and again from 1698 to 1699. He married Elizabeth, 
 daughter of the Rev. Samuel Dudley, and, after her decease, a 
 second wife, and had several children, by whom the name has 
 been preserved in the town until very recently. Judge Hall died 
 in 17^6. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 353 
 
 Peter Coffin was born in Devonshire, England, in 1630 or 1G31. 
 He came to this country young, and removed to Dover before 
 1650. There he became a merchant, and was interested with 
 Major Richard Waldron in a trucking house for dealing with the 
 Indians. He was a lieutenant in service in Philip's Indian war, 
 and was elected while in Dover to various town offices, and re- 
 ceived some of the minor judicial appointments. He was quite 
 successful in the accumulation of propert}'. In 1689 when the 
 garrisons at Dover were attacked by the savages and Major 
 Waldron was killed, Mr. Coffin's house was entered, and the 
 Indians compelled him to scatter among them handfuls of silver 
 money, of which the}' found a bag full, tliat they might scramble 
 for it. 
 
 He fortunately escaped from their hands. Shortly afterwards 
 his house and buildings were burned, and he removed to Exeter 
 in 16'J0, and was received an inhabitant b}" a vote of the town, 
 and land was granted him for a wharf. He immediately engaged 
 in business there, and was selected by the town to serve on impor- 
 tant committees, and twice chosen moderator. In 1692 he was 
 appointed a councillor of the province, and in 1697 Chief Justice 
 of the Superior Court. This position he held for a year, and until 
 a change of governors. In 1699 he was commissioned an asso- 
 ciate justice of the same court, and continued in office until 1712. 
 
 He died March 21, 1715, and this obituary notice was published 
 in The Boston News Letter of March 25 : 
 
 On Monday the 21st current, died at Exeter the honorable Peter 
 Coffin, Esq., in the 85th year of his age, who was late judge of his 
 JNIajesty's Superior Court of judicature, and first member of his 
 ]Majesty's Council of this province, a gentleman very serviceable 
 both in Church and State. 
 
 He left five sons and four daughters. His son Robert, born in 
 1667, resided in Exeter, and married Joanna, daughter of Jolm 
 Gilman, and widow of Henr}' Dyer. He died in 1710 without 
 issue. His son Tristram also lived in Exeter and had four chil- 
 dren, of whom two, daughters, married Bartholomew and Benja- 
 min, sons of Jonathan Thing. 
 
 Richard Hilton was a son of Captain "William Hilton and grand- 
 son of Edward Hilton, and lived in tliat i>art of Exeter which is 
 now South Newmarket. He served as one of the selectmen for 
 seven 3'ears, between 1693 and 1715, and was a judge of the 
 
 23 
 
354 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Superior Court in 1098 and 1699. Little is known of him besides, 
 except that he married his cousin Ann, daugliter of Edward 
 Hilton, Jr. 
 
 Nicliolas Gilman was a sou of Councillor John Gilman, :uid was 
 born in Exeter December 20, 1078. He was a farmer and mer- 
 chant. He lived in Exeter village on the south side of Front 
 street, on the spot where the late John "Williams built his brick 
 house, afterwards occupied by Isaac Flasg. In 1729 he was com- 
 missioned a justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and held his 
 seat on that bench for about a year, when he resigned in order to 
 give his whole time to his private business. But in 1732, on re- 
 ceiving the appointment of judge of the Superior Court, he ac- 
 cepted it and performed the duties until 1740, and then retired 
 to private life. He died in 1741, leaving children, several of 
 whom occupied distinguished positions. He was a man of large 
 property, and the owner of several slaves. 
 
 Samuel Gilman was a son of the foregoing, and was born in 
 Exeter INIay 1, 1098. He was twice married and had children, 
 who all died before him. He had an ample estate, and lived in 
 the house on the south side of AVater street, afterwards the home 
 of Judge Oliver Peabody. He kept a public house there for a 
 number of years, was a colonel in the militia, and was appointed 
 to the bench of the Superior Court the same year that his father 
 left it. He discharged his judicial duties for seven years. All 
 accounts agree in representing him to be a man of the highest 
 character, universally respected and esteemed. He lived to the 
 age of eighty-six. 
 
 None of the above-named judges of the highest provincial court 
 were educated as lawyers. And the custom of appointing to that 
 responsible position men of sound sense, business knowledge and 
 uprightness, without regard to their legal knowledge, was contin- 
 ued for many years after this time, mainly, it is supposed, for the 
 want of enough suitable men educated to the profession. But, for 
 the purposes of the time, the appointments Avere quite satisfactory. 
 
 The first trained lawyer in Exeter was Nicholas Perryinau. He 
 was born in l-jighuul December 21, 1092, but emigrated quite 
 young, after the death of his parents, and appeared in Exeter 
 between 1710 and 1720. Where he received his education is not 
 known, l»ut that it was not neglected is apparent from the fact 
 that he was employed as master of the grammar or classical school 
 from 1710 to 1718. With whom he pursued his legal studies does 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEK. 355 
 
 not appear. But as early as 1730 he seems to have been fully 
 engaged in the practice of the law. He was repeatedly employed 
 by the town in suits, and in contested matters in the Assembly. 
 He was the chief conveyancer of the inhabitants, and his work was 
 neatly executed and correctl}' expressed, so far as it has been ob- 
 served. He mairied Joanna, daughter of Stephen Dudley, and 
 granddaughter of the Rev. Samuel Dudley, by whom he had four 
 children, all of whom he outlived except one daughter, who mar- 
 ried Noah Emery. He died in Exeter August 9, 1757. 
 
 Noah Emery was a son of a lawyer of the same name, and was 
 born in Kittery, Maine, December 22, 1725. He must have come 
 to Exeter before his maturity, for he married Joanna, the daughter 
 of Nicholas Ferryman, March 20, 1745, she then being but four- 
 teen years of age and he under twenty. He studied his profession 
 with his father-in-law, and probably was associated with him in 
 business during the latter part of his life. The amount of purely 
 legal business at that time must have been small, and it is likely 
 that they added to it trade or other sources of profit. But Mr. 
 Emery doubtless had his fair share of such professional employ- 
 ment as there was. 
 
 "When the Revolution broke out he took sides warmly with the 
 patriotic party, and was chosen a delegate to the Provincial Con- 
 gress, of which he also served as clerk. He was prominent enough 
 to be appointed upon some of the most important committees in 
 that body and in the House of Representatives, into which it 
 resolved itself. 
 
 In 177G Mr. Emery was commissioned clerk of the Court of 
 Common Pleas, and held the office until his death in 1787. He 
 left five sons and four daughters. His son of the same name 
 succeeded him in the clerkship. 
 
 William Parker was a son of Judge William Parker of Ports- 
 mouth, where he was born in 1731. He was a graduate of Har- 
 vard College in 1751, and after being employed as a teacher for a 
 while, studied law with his father, and commenced practice in 
 Exeter in 1765. He was able, well read and possessed of no 
 small store of ready wit, but was afllicted with an unconquerable 
 diffidence which prevented him from taking part in oral trials, so 
 that his employment was chiefly confined to office work. But he 
 stood high in the estimation of the connuuuity, who bestowed 
 upon him a fair share of renmnerative business. 
 
.S:,r, IlISTUKY UF KXKTEK. 
 
 When the Revolution swept away the old regime in the State, 
 his father was removed from tiie office of Register of Probate, and 
 the son, who was identified with the popular movement, was ap- 
 pointed in his place, and was continued in the post until his death 
 in 18i;3, on which his son John J. I'arker was chosen register and 
 remained so through his life until 1831. Thus three generations 
 of this family held the oflice continuously for near a century. 
 
 In 1790 Mr. Parker was commissioned judge of the Court of 
 Common Pleas, and retained the position till 1807 when he was 
 more than seventy-five j'ears of age. The new constitution, 
 adopted after his appointmi-nt, declared that the commissions of 
 judges should be void when they reached the age of seventy, but 
 it was an open question whether that provision applied to cases 
 like his. The Legislature settled the question by passing an a^l- 
 dress for his removal ; not because of any dissatisfaction, however, 
 with him or his oflicial conduct. He died, universally esteemed and 
 respected, at the age of eighty-one. 
 
 John Pickering, a lawj'cr of eminence, afterwards Chief Justice 
 of the State, and judge of the District Court of the United States, 
 resided in Exeter fov one or two years during the Revolution. 
 Whether he came with the intention of making the place his per- 
 manent home, or to be in a more congenial atmosphere during the 
 contest between the provinces and the mother countr}-, is a matter 
 of conjecture. He was taxed as a citizen in 1778, and the same 
 year was chosen by the town a delegate to the convention to revise 
 the constitution of the State. Though Mr. Pickering was known 
 as a friend to tlie liberties of his country, he appears to have been 
 a little timid in taking steps that might com[)romise him with the 
 loyal party. In 1771 lu- was cliosen by the Proviurial Congress a 
 delegate to tlie Continental Congress, lie publicly declined the 
 honor, upon tlie plea that the court was coming on, and his en- 
 gagements to his clients would not permit him to be absent. John 
 Sullivan was elected in his place, who, in thanking the convention, 
 remarked, witli a sly glance at Pickering, that he, too, had his 
 court engagements, but he regarded his duties to his clients as of 
 small moment in comparison to his higher duties to his country in 
 that time of tri:d. Tiie impression \v:ts gener:d that Pickering's 
 patriotism was of rather a fniut-hearted kind. 
 
 Oliver Peabody was the son of a man of tlie same name, and 
 was born in Andover, ]Ma8sachusetts, September 2, 17;Jo. He 
 graduated from Harvard College in 1773 ; studied law in the oHice 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 357 
 
 of the distinguished Theophihis Parsons, and "began practice in 
 Exeter about the year 1778. He was a careful and diligent 
 student, and a faithful and punctual practitioner. His business 
 capacity was appreciated by the community, and his personal 
 qualities, his amiable disposition and courtesy of manner gave 
 him much popularity. A great part of his life was passed in pub- 
 lic stations. From 1789, for several years, he was annually chosen 
 treasurer of the county ; and in 1790 he was elected State senator, 
 but resigned his seat to accept the appointment of Judge of 
 Probate. After holding that position three years, he was again 
 elected to the State Senate two successive years, in the latter of 
 which he presided over that body. He again resigned the senator- 
 ship on being chosen treasurer of the State, which he continued to 
 be for nearly ten 3'ears. The next year he was made sheriff of 
 the county, and held that post five years. Again elected to the 
 State Senate, he was appointed judge of the Court of Common 
 Pleas, and remained upon the bench until the re-organization of 
 the judiciary of the State in 1816. 
 
 In addition to all these, he held other positions of trust of com- 
 paratively private character. Yet Judge Peabody was no office 
 seeker. He had pressed upon him other and more important posi- 
 tions, au}^ of which, in all probability, he might have obtained 
 had he consented to be a candidate, but declined them. He was 
 fond of social and domestic life, and had no desire for anything 
 that would separate him from that. 
 
 He died in Exeter August 3, 1831. He was the father of the 
 two distinguished twin brothers, Oliver W. B. and William B. O. 
 Peabody, and of the wife of Alexander H. P>erett. 
 
 Nathaniel Parker was a son of Judge William Parker, then of 
 P2ast Kingston and afterwards of Exeter, and was born October 
 2-2, 17G0. He obtained his education in the excellent schools of 
 Exeter, studied law in his father's office, and began practice in 
 the town before 1790. He, like his father, had little aptitude or 
 inclination for the forensic side of his profession, though he prob- 
 ably had a sufliciency of legal knowledge. He was chosen clerk 
 of the State Senate in 1803 and the following year, and reiDreseu- 
 tative from Exeter from 1805 to 1809 inclusive. In some of the 
 latter years he was also Deputy Secretary of State, and in 1809 
 was chosen Secretary. His death occurred in Exeter April 2, 
 1812, and he loft no descendants. 
 
308 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 George Sullivan was a son of General John Sullivan of the Rev- 
 olution, and was born in Dinhnni August 29, 1771. He obtained 
 his education at the I'hillips Exeter Academy and at Harvard 
 College, and took his degree in 1790. He read law in his father's 
 oHice, and settled in practice in Exeter in 1793 or 1794. He was 
 a good student, well fitted for professional work, and of fine per- 
 sonal presence, and soon secured an ample clientele. He was sent 
 as representative to the State Legislature in 1805, and made so 
 good an impression there that the Executive conferred upon him 
 the appointment of Attorney General of the State, which he held 
 for two years. In 1811 he was elected to the Congress of the 
 United States for one term, and in 1814 and 1815 was a member 
 of the State Senate. In the latter year he was a second time 
 appointed Attorney General of the State and continued in the 
 faithful and satisfactory discharge of the duties of the post for 
 twenty years, when he resigned it upon the passage of a law which, 
 though inci'easing the salar}^ forbade the occupant of that office 
 to practise in civil causes. Mr. Sullivan's civil engagements were 
 too important and lucrative to be sacrificed even for the sake of 
 an office to which he was so peculiarly adapted. 
 
 Mr. Sullivan was an honorable, high minded lawj'er, and had 
 none of that petty sharpness which would take advantage of every 
 trifling slip of an adversar3^ He was essentially an orator, and 
 spared no pains to perfect himself in the art of eloquence. His 
 voice was musical, and he trained it with care. His gesticulation 
 was graceful, his language was Avell chosen, and his sentences 
 were beautifully rounded. His addresses to the jury were models 
 of argument, persuasion and appeal, and were extremely effective. 
 
 While in point of technical legal knowledge, and in the power 
 to deal with abstract principles, Mr. Sullivan was confessedly not 
 the equal of some of his competitors, yet in his omu chosen field 
 there was no one of them who surpassed him. He ranked among 
 the first advocates in the State, and measured himself with the 
 leaders of the bar, without losing by the comparison. 
 
 He belonged to a family noted in the law, and in wliicii the 
 attorney-generalship might almost be said to be hereditary, as his 
 father held it before him and his son after him. The united terms 
 of service of the three generations in the positions of public pros- 
 ecutor, as attorney general or county solicitor, must have ex- 
 ceeded fifty years. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 359 
 
 Mr. Sullivan died in Exeter April 14, 1838. He was twice 
 married. Two of his sons followed his own profession, John, of 
 Exeter, and James who, after practising a few years in Pembroke 
 and Concord, removed to Michigan where he passed the residue of 
 his life. 
 
 Moses Ilodgdon, a native of Dover, who began practice there 
 in 1801, came to Exeter and lived in the town from about 1811 to 
 1813, when he returned to Dover, and continued to reside there 
 afterwards till his death. He had the reputation of being a sound 
 and careful lawyer. 
 
 Solon Stevens was born in Charlestown October 3, 1778, the 
 son of Samuel Stevens, and the grandson of the Phineas Stevens 
 who defended the fort at "Number Four" from the assaults of 
 the Indians, about the middle of the last centur3^ 
 
 He was a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1798. After 
 stud3nng law with Benjamin West and John C. Chamberlain, he 
 was admitted to the bar, and came to Exeter to settle, about the 
 year 1801. He remained, probably, seven years, and then 
 removed to Boston. But there his health failed him, and he went 
 back to his early home, to die, at the age of thirty years. 
 
 Jeremiah Smith was for forty years one of the foremost citizens 
 of Exeter. A native of Peterborough, he attended the schools of 
 the town, and was early noted for his mental acumen and aptitude 
 to learn. In 1777 he entered Harvard College, and at the same 
 time enlisted in the army for two months in a company raised to 
 oppose the advance of Genei-al Burgoyne. He fought valiantly at 
 Bennington, and was slightly wounded, but declared afterwards 
 that the music of bullets had no charms in his ears. After two 
 years in Harvard he finished his collegiate course in Queen's (now 
 Rutgers's) College in New Jersey. For three or four years after- 
 wards he was engaged in teaching, at the same time reading law. 
 When he presented himself before the Hillsborough bar for admis- 
 sion, it was objected that he had no counsellor's certificate that he 
 had spent the proper time in study. Smith rode all the succeeding 
 night to Salem, Massachusetts, and back, and produced the 
 proper certificate the next morning, but tlie president of the bar 
 declined to call another meeting to consider his application, on 
 the ground that there was not time during the term. 
 
 The Scotch-Irish blood of the young applicant, who now saw 
 that he was being trifled with, was instantly up, and he applied to 
 the court for his admission, at the same time stating the treatment 
 
360 HISTOUY OF EXETER. 
 
 tluit lic luul received from the bur. The judges ordered that he 
 shoidd be admitted, much to the disgust of tiie lawyers, who did 
 their best to nuike it uupk^asaut for him. Smith wrote to a friend 
 that '' it was devilish hard to be refused admittance to bud com- 
 pany ! " However, lie had his revenge. Wlieu the next court 
 met without his name ai)pearing on the docket, two of the lawyers, 
 Baruch Chase and Nathaniel Green, to annoy him, asked if they 
 should pass his list of entries to the clerk. He thanked tliem and 
 wrote and handed them the following : 
 
 Common sense v. P>arnch Chase. 
 Common honesty v. Nathaniel Green. 
 
 TJicy troubled him no more ; nor, to do them justice, did the 
 rest, when they discovered how thoroughly qualified he was for his 
 profession. Ikisiness rapidly flowed in upon him, and he was soon 
 one of the leading lawyers of his section . 
 
 After three years' service in the State Legislature he was, in 
 1790, elected a member of the Congress of the United States, and 
 afterwards was thi'ice re-elected. While in Congress, he made the 
 acquaintance of many of the most eminent mm of the country, 
 with some of whom he remained on terms of intimacy ever after. 
 
 He resigned his seat in 1797 to accept the appointment of Dis- 
 trict Attorney of the United States, and, the same year, came to 
 Exeter to reside. He was already married. For the next three 
 years he labored assiduously in his profession, attending the courts 
 in at least four counties. In 1800 he received the appointment of 
 Judge of Probate for the county of Rockingham. A treatise upon 
 proliati' hiw wliicli, witli characteristic diligence he drew u[) at that 
 time, has since been i)ublished, in great part, and shows his 
 thoroughness, learning and judicious application of principles. In 
 February, 1801, he was commissioned l)y President Adams, then 
 just about to go out of ollice, a judge of the United States Circuit 
 Court. He prepared himself for his new functions by careful 
 study, aud until the law was rrpealed, l)y wliicli the court was es- 
 tablished, perfoiiiicd his duties with fKhlity. ^\']l(■ll lif was tlius 
 relieved from that ollice, he was at once appointed Chief .Justice 
 of the Superior Court of New Hampshiri'. The salary attached to 
 tlie place was so inadecjuate tliat he could not, in justice to him- 
 self and his young family, acci'pt the appointment. Hut the Legis- 
 lature twice raised the salary in order to retain his services. 
 
 He filled the ollice with consunnnate ability and learning until 
 1809, when he was persuaded to resign it, aud to become a candi- 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 361 
 
 date for the governorship of the State. He was elected, but the 
 position was not at all to his liking, and he felt no regret when he 
 found that he was not re-elected. In 1813 he was again commis- 
 sioned Chief Justice of the Superior Court, and presided there 
 until the change in the judicial system in 1816. For a few years 
 after this he engaged in legal practice, and about 1820 retked 
 from the profession. 
 
 He was not entirely relieved from the cares of business after- 
 wards, as he was the president of the Exeter bank and the treas- 
 urer of the Phillips Exeter Academy. But he gave most of his 
 time to his family and friends, and to reading and writing. He 
 was never idle. He enjoyed society, and was a great talker among 
 congenial companions. Once, when he had passed an evening in 
 the company of Judge Theophilus Parsons and others, where he 
 had furnished the lion's share of the conversation, he was late at 
 breakfast the next morning. One of the gentlemen inquired 
 where he was. "Oh," said Parsons, "he is in bed, resting that 
 tongue of his." 
 
 IMany anecdotes are told of his ready wit among his townsmen. 
 It was once proposed in the town meeting to construct a new 
 fence around the burying ground, which the judge considered un- 
 necessary. " AVhat use is there, Mr. Moderator," said he, "in 
 going to the expense of a new fence about such a place ? Those 
 who are outside of it have no desire to go in, and those who are 
 inside cannot get out ! " 
 
 One of the most marked traits of Judge Smith was his uniform 
 cheerfulness. He had his disappointments and trials in life, some 
 of them of a serious character. But he bore them without repin- 
 ing or bitterness. He was always found the same. 
 
 He was certainly one of the ablest inen, and most learned law- 
 yers that New Hampshire has produced. Long after his death a 
 volume of his legal decisions was for tlie iirst time published, 
 edited by his son, who ])eurs liis name, and has also occupied a 
 seat upon the supreme bench of the State. Their great value was 
 universally acknowledged by the members of the profession, ami 
 one distinguished judge expressed regret that the}^ had not been 
 published nuich earlier, as they would have saved the people of 
 the State a great sum of nujuey in litigating questions which had 
 long ago been so satisfactorily decided by him. 
 
 Judge Smith died in Dover September 21, 1842. 
 
362 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 James Thom -was a son of Dr. Isaac Thorn of Londonderry, 
 where he was born August 14, 17H,'). He graduated at Dartmouth 
 CoUege at the age of twenty, studied law under the direction of 
 George Sullivan in Exeter, and after his admission in 1808, setup 
 an oflice there. He was bright and popular, and had one accom- 
 plishment better appreciated in his time than in ours — he sang 
 a good song. In the Avar of 1812 he was in command of a com- 
 pany of militia which was ordered to Portsmouth for the defence 
 of the sea-coast for a brief tour of duty. He used to tell ludicrous 
 stories afterwards of his military service. "There came once an 
 alarm that the British were landing at Kye," he said, "and all my 
 company were instantly taken sick, and I the worst of all." How- 
 ever, there was no real occasion to try their mettle against the 
 enemy. 
 
 After seven years' life in Exeter, Mr. Thom removed to Derry, 
 where he passed the remainder of his days in the practice of his 
 profession, and a part of the time as the cashier of a bank. 
 
 Joseph Tilton came to Exeter to engage in the practice of the 
 law in 1809. He had been admitted eight years before, which 
 time lie divided between Wakefield and Rochester. He was a 
 native of East Kingston. He has been described as a " business 
 lawyer," as he rarely took any prominent part in trials in court. 
 But he was a sound and well read counsellor who acquired a 
 respectable practice, and enjo3'ed the friendship and respect of 
 his eminent contemporaries in the profession, ]\Iason and Web- 
 ster, Sullivan and Bartlett, and particularly of Chief Justice 
 Richardson, who enjoj'ed IMr. Tilton's humorous stories and con- 
 versatiou, and admired that quality so nnich more appreciated by 
 the bench than by the bar, his invariable promptness and readiness 
 for trial when his cases came in order. "Mr. Tilton is alivays 
 ready," was the judge's testimony. 
 
 Tlie good things said that set the table in a roar, often fall flat 
 when they come to be committed to paper. But lawj-ers, at least, 
 will see the point of one of Mr. Tilton's sayings. A coach full of 
 members of the bar were on their way lioni Portsmouth to Exeter. 
 One of them remarked upon tiie l)eauty of a farm liy the roadside, 
 and wished he were the owner of it. " I'll tell you how you can 
 get half of it," said 'J'ilton. " Bring a suit for the whole, and 
 refer it out of court. The referees will be sure to give you half !" 
 Mr. Tilton was a member of the Legislature from Exeter for 
 nine years from 1814 to 1823, and though he made little noise in 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 363 
 
 the political world, was really a power there. He had the entire 
 confidence of his townsmen and of those who knew him best, and 
 administered the trusts that fell upon him with uprightness and 
 fidelity. 
 
 He married Nancy, the daughter of Colonel Samuel Folsom, 
 and lived in the house in which she was born. He died, without 
 leaving descendants, March 28, 1856, at the age of eighty-two 
 years. 
 
 Jotham Lawrence was a descendant of one of the early residents 
 of Exeter. His father lived in Epping, where he was born Feb- 
 ruary 7, 1777. He was educated at the Phillips Exeter Academy, 
 and studied his profession with George Sullivan. Admitted a 
 counsellor of the Superior Court in 1805, he had probably been in 
 practice in the inferior courts for two years before. He began 
 business in his native town, but in 1809 removed his residence to 
 Exeter, which was thenceforth his home. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence was not distinguished as an advocate, but had his 
 fair share of the business of a general character, such as fell to 
 the lot of most country lawyers. There were a few distinguished 
 men in his day who were leaders of the bar, and argued nearly 
 all the causes. They rode the circuits into the different counties, 
 with the judges. This was a survival of the P^uglish fashion, 
 which has now entirely disappeared in New Hampshire. The 
 other members of the profession drew writs and deeds and other 
 instruments, and aired their eloquence only in the inferior tri- 
 bunals. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence took no special interest in political affairs though 
 he was a member of the Legislature from Exeter in 1«31, and 
 afterwards held the office of Bank Commissioner. In his later 
 years, and before a regular Police Court was established in the 
 town, he was the Justice before whom the complaints for criminal 
 offences were usually brought. 
 
 He was twice married and had three sons and several daughters. 
 One of his sons, Alexander H. Lawrence, was a lawyer of emi- 
 nence in Washington, D. C. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence died in Exeter November (5, 1863. 
 
 Stephen Peabody practised law about two years in Exeter, from 
 1811 to 1813. He was a native of Milford, and after quitting 
 Exeter returned there to live. He was a lawyer of excellent 
 standing and a man liighly respected. 
 
3G4 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Jeremiah Fellowes, born in Exeter !Mny 1, 1791, and a son of 
 Ephraim Fellowes, was ediicatod at the Phillips Exeter Academy 
 and Bowdoin College, graduating at the age of nineteen. He was 
 fonder of poetry than mathematics in college, or than lilackstone 
 when he was a student at law afterwards. He went through the 
 usual course of study in George Sullivan's office, and Ixgan 
 practice in 1813. He still devoted much of his attention to liter- 
 ature, and in 1824 published a volume of his metrical productions, 
 entitled Reminificenceti, Moral Poems and Translations. Before 
 he reached middle life, however, his mental powers lost their 
 balance, and it became necessary for him to enter an asylum for 
 the insane. He never recovered, but remained there till his death 
 in 1865. 
 
 George Lamson, who has already been referred to in the chapter 
 on the. Press, was a son of Gideon Lamson of Exeter, and was 
 born in 17'J4. After a course of preparation at the academy in 
 the town, he passed tlirough Bowdoin College, and studied for the 
 bar with George Sullivan. Thougli he opened a law otlice, he was 
 apparently' chiefly interested in the printing office. He became 
 the publisher of The Exeter Wtitchman in 1819, and I)Cgan the 
 issue of law books. In 1823 he gave up his legal business and 
 removed to New York city where he undertook the business of a 
 bookseller, but with little success. He died there August 4, 182(3. 
 He has been described as "a good scholar, an insatiable reader, 
 and a ready writer." He had many and warm friends who 
 mourned his untimely death. 
 
 "William Smith opened his law office in Exeter in 1820. A son 
 of Hon. Jeremiah Smith, he was liorn in Exeter August 31, 17'.tl>, 
 and graduated from Harvard College in 1817. He studied his 
 profession with his father 
 
 He was bright, able and jmpular. Brought up among the prin- 
 cipal people in the ]>lace, and in the midst of abundance, he 
 lacked l)Ut the spur of necessity to bring out his best powers and 
 to enable him to take his stand among the very foremost. At the 
 age of twenty-two his townsmen elected him to the State Legisla- 
 ture, and rctiiiiicd liiiii the two following years. Ih'was ai)pointed 
 a coldiic! ii|)(»n the staff of tlie governor, and received repeated 
 invitations to deliver addresses before literary and other societies, 
 which he accepted, and for which he received high encomiums. 
 
 He developed a taste, also, which is not common among the 
 young, for historical and antiquarian studies. The past of his 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 365 
 
 native town he investigated with special interest, and ransacked 
 records, interrogated the okl inhabitants, and gathered from all 
 sources a larsfe mass of historical information in reference to it. 
 His purpose was to prepare and publish a history of P^xeter, and 
 it is unfortunate that he did not live to complete it. His labors 
 in this direction, however, were not wasted. His father used the 
 materials which he collected, for the foundation of the excellent 
 bi-centennial address which he delivered in 1838 ; and the same 
 memoranda have been of very great service to the present writer. 
 
 Mr. Smith did enough in the law to show that he was capable 
 of attaining eminence. But he never realized the need of exertion, 
 and never settled down to stead}", hard work. He was generous 
 and careless in regard to money, and in other ways was unbusi- 
 nesslike, and caused anxiety to his friends. But he was always 
 loved and esteemed ; his foibles were regarded as venial, and a 
 splendid future appeared to be before him. 
 
 At this point his career was interrupted by failing health. In 
 the spring of 1828 he had a severe attack of lung fever, which 
 left him with a cough and other indications of pulmonary feeble- 
 ness. He never recovered from it. The next season he did not 
 rally, and he then determined to try the effect of a milder climate. 
 He passed the winter of 1829-30 in Mississippi, among friends 
 living there. But the hoped for relief never came. He died March 
 29, 1830, unmarried. 
 
 Another of Exeter's brilliant young lawyers was Oliver "W. B. 
 Peabody, son of Judge Oliver Peabody, born July 9, 1799. He 
 graduated from Harvard College in 1816, and from the Harvard 
 Law School six years later, having been a teacher in the interim 
 a part of the time. He was a diligent student, a thorough scholar 
 and a well read lawyer, and his native abilities were of the first 
 order. The highest expectations were naturally formed of his 
 success in his profession. But lie was formed for the pursuits of 
 literature, and not for the contests of the forum. His commence- 
 ment part at college was a poem. After he was admitted to the 
 bar he was the editor of an P^xeter newspaper. The Jiockbajham 
 Gazette. He wrote and delivered numerous addresses and poems 
 on public occasions, one of which, a poem on the two hundredth 
 anniversary of the settlement of New Hampshire, was specially 
 admired. The last eight years of Mr. Peabody's professional 
 life, he was annually elected to the Legislature, where he made 
 his mark as an accomplished scholar and law-nu\ker. In 1830 he 
 
;{(;0 lIlSruUY OF KXH'J'KK. 
 
 removed to Boston, Massachusetts, not with t)ie design of prose- 
 cuting his profession, so much as to lind a wider field for the 
 occupation of his pen. lie assisted his brother-iu-hiw, Alexander 
 11. Everett, in conducting The North American Jieview, and for 
 some time had the editorial charge of The Boston Daily Advertiser. 
 In 18;35 he was chosen a representative from Boston in the 
 General Court, and received tlie next year the appointment of 
 Register of Probate, lie held the office six j'ears, during which 
 he found time for much literar}- work. Jefferson College, in 
 Louisiana, then offered him the chair of English Literature. He 
 accepted it for a short time, hoping that his health, which was 
 delicate, might be benefited by a change to a milder climate. In 
 this he was disappointed, and returned to the North and began the 
 study of divinity with an eye to the Unitarian pulpit. He read 
 with his brother "William, who was a settled clergyman in Spring- 
 field, Massachusetts. 
 
 In 1845 he was installed over a society in Burlington, Vermont, 
 where he spent the short residue of his life in the enjoyment of 
 the love and honor of all who knew him. He died there July o, 
 1818. 
 
 John Sullivan belonged to a family of lawyers. His father and 
 grandfather were such, his brother and two of his own sons, to 
 say nothing of his granduncle, also, and several of his descendants. 
 They had some inherited qualities which fitted them for the 
 profession, especially the power of addressing juries in a pecu- 
 liarly persuasive and effective manner. The oratory of John 
 , Sullivan so much resembled that of his father, that Ichabod Bart- 
 lett, who knew them both well, said that if he heard the voice of 
 the former where he could not sec him, he should think it was the 
 father come back again. 
 
 John Sullivan was educated in the Phillips Academy in Exeter, 
 niid rend hnv w ith his father. He never lived elsewhere than in 
 his native town. He was admitted to the bar about 182.>, and 
 soon had to measure himself with the promising young lawyers at 
 that time living in the town. He was able and high spirited, and 
 the competition did him good. In 1828 he was commissioned 
 solicitor of the county, and thus gainetl an opportunity to show 
 his capacity in the department of criminal law, which was always 
 to his liking. The stately march of the precedents pleased his 
 ear, and his liabits of accuracy were gratified by the strict techni- 
 calities. Moreover, his ,/br/^' was the marshalling of evidence and 
 presenting it to the jury in its most telling form. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 3G7 
 
 For ten years he performed the duties of the solicitorship, and 
 then received the appointment of Judge of Probate. That office 
 he held for the same period of time, and then was commissioned 
 Attorney General of the State, which he continued to be, by suc- 
 cessive appointments, to the close of his life. 
 
 Of this important office his administration was worthy of all 
 praise. Diligent, faithful and accurate, he rarely made even the 
 slightest mistake, and his uprightness and honor secured him from 
 any suspicion of wrong or impropriety. He was singularly 
 judicious in dealing with his cases. Instead of becoming by 
 familiarity callous to the feelings and fate of the culprits brought 
 under his official notice, he made broad distinctions between the 
 hardened offenders and the unfortunate victims of folly or impru- 
 dence, and treated the latter in a way creditable to his humanity. 
 More than one offender who had fallen into bad company, but had 
 not become vicious, have had reason to thank Attorney General 
 Sullivan for saving them from the stigma and contamination of 
 a long term of imprisonment, and for the opportunity to retrieve 
 their past errors. 
 
 Though by nature of a quick temper, he was courteous in his 
 treatment of all men, unless he had reason to believe that some 
 slight or unfairness was intended. Then his anger blazed up. 
 But in the court-room, where forensic blows were given and taken 
 fairly, he fought out his battles manfully, and bore no malice. 
 And when he was cut down by death, November 17, 18G2, the 
 unanimous verdict of the profession pronounced him a model 
 attorney general. 
 
 Another of the promising young lawyers of Exeter, who was 
 taken away in his early prime, was Samuel T. Gilraan, a son of 
 Colonel Nathaniel Gilman, born May 7, 1801 ; died January 23, 
 1835. He graduated from Harvard College at eighteen, with a 
 high rank for scholarship, and after a year's service as Assistant 
 in the Phillips Exeter Academy, pursued the study of the law 
 under Jeremiah Smith, and began practice in his native village 
 about 1823. His talents were superior, and he had the gift of 
 popularity. He was elected representative to the State Legisla- 
 ture, and appointed to deliver a Fourth of July address in Exeter ; 
 and scarcely a young man of his generation gave promise of a 
 brighter future. But the indications of pulmonary disease made 
 their api)(>arnnce, and though everything was done to arrest the 
 fatal malady, it was all in vain. Before he readied the age 
 of thirty-four his existence on earth was ended. 
 
3G8 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 For some five or six years Samuel I). Boll, afterwards Chief 
 Justice of the Superior Court, lived in Exeter. He was invited 
 there from Chester, where he first practised, by Judge Jeremiah 
 Smith, who was pleased with the mauuer in which ^Ir. Bell, who 
 was solicitor of the county, conducted the prosecution against the 
 robbers of the old Exeter bank in 1828, The Judge was president 
 of the bank, and offered Mr. Bell the post of cashier, upon the 
 expectation, probably, that he would be able to combine with it a 
 certain amount of the practice of the law. lint that was undoubt- 
 edly found not to be feasible, and after holding the olHce until 
 about 1835, Mr. Bell removed from the town, for the purpose of 
 pursuing his profession elsewhere. 
 
 James Bell came to Exeter in 1831, from Gilmanton, where 
 he had originally begun practice, after ha\ing graduated from 
 Bowdoin College, and studied his profession with liis brother, 
 Samuel D. Bell, and at the Law School in Litchfield, Connecticut. 
 He was thoroughly equipped for the position of a leading lawyer. 
 IModest and unassuming by nature he never lost the perfect 
 command of his powers, and contended for every right of his 
 clients witli the most pertinacious. His temper was under 
 perfect control, and he treated all with the respect which their 
 conduct allowed. He was (juick in his perceptions, but his logical 
 faculties were never hurried out of their sound, deliberate conclu- 
 sions. His acquired were fully equal to his natural powers. By 
 careful study and reflection he had made himself a master of the 
 learning of his profession. Of the affairs of every day life, agri- 
 culture, business, mechanics and trade, he had a competent 
 knowledge that stootl him in good steail in his varied professional 
 engagements. He had 1 Ik )roughly trained himself for the duties 
 of his calling, and no surin'ise daunted him ; no exigency found 
 him unprepared. Added to this he possessed a ready tact, to 
 ])resent always the ecpiitable side of his cause, and had the weight 
 of an upright private character, which never fails to tell, for 
 counsel and client. 
 
 ^Ir. Bell was not long in acquiring a wide and valuable 
 practice. He accomplished his work rapidly, and was capable of 
 nuich continuous application. Before the sessions of the courts 
 he prepared his causes with care and system. There was then no 
 rest for him until the "previous proclamatiou " at the end of the 
 term. His engagements for several years embraced nearly every 
 contested cause of importance on the dockets of his own county 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 3G9 
 
 and many on those of other counties. After listening to the 
 judge's charge to tlie jury in one trial, he packed up his papers, 
 and moved across tlie bar to open the next cause to anotlier jury ; 
 and so on in a great proportion of the cases till the linal 
 adjournment of the court. 
 
 Such work, though he apparently went throTigh it with ease, was 
 of course wearing, and at length resulted in a disease that insid- 
 iously sapped the foundations of his life. In 184C he received the 
 offer of the post of Agent of the Lake Manufacturing Compan}', 
 which would be less confining in its duties, while it was much in 
 the line of his profession. lie accepted it and removed from 
 Exeter to Gilford. 
 
 In that year he had been elected a member of the Legislature 
 from Exeter. In 1850 he was sent from his new home a deleo-ate 
 to revise the Constitution of the State. In 1853, and the two fol- 
 lowing years, he was the candidate of his party for governor of 
 the State, but his party was in the minority. But then came a 
 change in the political complexion of the State, and in 1855 he 
 was elected by the Legislature a senator of the United States for 
 six years. He took his seat, but he felt that his days were num- 
 bered. The disease that had long lurked in his system increased 
 in violence, and he died at his home in Gilford May 26, 1857. 
 
 lie left daughters and sons, one of whom followed his father's 
 profession. 
 
 John Kelly did not come to live in Exeter until 1831, twent}-- 
 three years after he had been admitted to the bar, and when his 
 legal practice was substantially over. He was born in ^Varner 
 March 6, 1786, the son of the Rev. William Kelly, and received 
 his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College in 1804. He pur- 
 sued his legal studies in the oflice of Jeremiah II. Woodman, and 
 began practice in Henniker, but soon removed to Northwood. 
 There he continued to reside and to attend to the business of his 
 profession until his removal to Exeter, Avith the exception of the 
 year 1814, which he spent in Concord in the editorial charge of 
 The Concord Gazette. From Northwood he was sent in 1826 and 
 1827 a representative to the State Legislature. 
 
 In 1831 Mr. Kelly received the appointment of Register of 
 Probate, which necessitated his residence in Exeter. He held the 
 otiice till 1842, at wliich time he was chosen treasurer of the 
 rhillips Exeter Academy, and remained in that post up to the 
 year 1855. In 1833 he became editor of The Exeter Neivs Letter, 
 
 24 
 
,•^70 IIISTOKY OF KXETER. 
 
 after the dcpartiiro of its foundor, John S. Slooppr. Under liis 
 oversight the i)ai)er h).st none of the vahialile features imparted 
 to it hy its former oonduetor, but took on others derived from its 
 new editor. A vi'in of i)leasantry ran through its articles, which 
 entertained the readers, and often enabled the writer to exert a 
 useful influence on subjects where didactics would have repelled. 
 
 But it was the historical and antiquarian information which, as 
 has heretofore been stated, ^Ir. Kelly contributetl to the C(jluinns of 
 the iiaper that especially gave it a wider circulation and repute. 
 His Collectanea have been mentioned in a former chapter. 
 
 Mr. Kelly was an original member of the New IIami)shire His- 
 torical iSociety, and served as its recording secretary for a number 
 of years. To the valuable historical Collections edited by Farmer 
 and Moore he contributed a carefully prepared series of sketches 
 of the early clergy of New Hampshire. After his removal to 
 Exeter he was again chosen a representative in the Legislature in 
 184.J ; in 1847 and 1848 a member of the Executive Council ; and 
 in 1850 a delegate to the convention to revise the State Constitu- 
 tion. 
 
 He married Susan Hilton " the belle of Northwood," a descend- 
 ant of Edward Hilton, and had several children ; among them 
 one son, John P. P. Kelly, and a daughter, the wife of tlie late 
 Joseph L. Cilley of P^xeter. 
 
 Timothy Farrar, a son of a distinguished judge of the same 
 name, a graduate of Dartmouth College, who had practised law in 
 Portsmouth and Hanover, and had been a judge of the Court of 
 Common Pleas for some years, came to Exeter in 183G, to take 
 the oflice of cashier of the Exeter liank, which \w held till the 
 expiration of its charter in 1844, when he riiuoved to Boston 
 which was ever after his home. 
 
 Amos 'I'uck, a native of Parsonsfield, ^Nlaine, in 1810, and a 
 graduate of Dartmouth College in 18o'), came to Exeter in 18;J8 
 from Hampton where he had been teaching an academy and stud}'- 
 ing law. He entered the oflice of James Bell and completed his 
 prei)aratory studies there, so that in December of the same year 
 he was admitted to the bar, and became tiie partner of ^Ir. Bell. 
 They remained together eight years, until the senior partner 
 removi'd to (iilford. Their practice was extensive, and their trials 
 of contested causes were particularly numerous and successful. 
 .Mr. Tuck was diligent, sagacious and faithful to the interest of 
 clients, and soon won the reputation of an able and trustworthy 
 lawyer. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 371 
 
 Though bred a democrat in polities, he early showed his disap- 
 probatiou of the position of his party upon the slavery question, 
 and was amoug the earliest, in company with John P. Hale, to 
 tike his stand against it. He employed all his energies and in- 
 fluence to strengthen the Free Soil party, which united in 1847 with 
 the AVhig party to elect him a representative in the Congress of the 
 United States. He served there six years, with marked ability 
 and credit. 
 
 In 1847 he associated himself with the late William W. Stickney 
 in the practice of his profession. Their partnership, which com- 
 manded a large and profitable business, continued about ten years. 
 For two or three years, subsequently, he had for his partner in 
 practice, his son-in-law, Francis O. French, now of New York 
 city. 
 
 In IS.jG he was a member of the convention in Philadelphia 
 which founded the Republicau party, and served upon the commit- 
 tee which reported its platform of principles ; and in 1860 he was 
 a delegate to the Chicago Convention which nominated Abraham 
 Lincoln for the presidency. In 1861 he was appointed by the 
 governor of the State to attend what was called the "Peace Con- 
 vention," which attempted in vain to avert the threatened sec- 
 tional conflict. In that body he reported the Declaration of the 
 Northern members, of the concessions they were willing to make 
 for the preservation of peace. 
 
 Mr. Tuck was appointed by President Lincoln, with whom he 
 had enjoyed an acquaintance while in Congress, naval officer of 
 the port of Boston, a post of importance and value. This he held 
 by a re-appointment until 1865 when he was removed by President 
 Johnson. He was afterwards for some years employed by the 
 Atlantic and Pacific railroad to take charge of the sales of lands 
 of that corporation, and took up his residence for the time in 
 St. Louis. He was, later, engaged in various euteri)rises, which 
 carried him nmch away from Exeter, but gave him agreeable and 
 gainful occupation. Twice also he visited Europe, and travelled 
 there somewhat extensively. 
 
 He was always much interested in the cause of education. For 
 nearly thirty years he was a trustee of the Phillips P^xeter Acad- 
 emy, and for about ten years of Dartmouth College. AVheu the 
 town of Exeter received the noble donation of William Kobinson 
 for the foundation of a female seminary, Mr. Tuck took great 
 interest in the shaping and location of the institution ; was the 
 
;}72 IIISTOKV (»F EXKTKH. 
 
 author of the constitution adopted by the town, and a trustee, and 
 the lirst president of the board. 
 
 ^Ir. Tuck's life was an active and honoi'able one. His jiublic 
 career rdlected much credit upon liis ability and judgment. He 
 had a high and)ition, and was endowed with the qualities of a 
 leader of men. His separation from his original party was based 
 on grounds which were as creditable to his sense of right as to 
 his political sagacity. His administration of the several positions 
 of honor or lru^^t that were conferred ujjou Iiiin was able and 
 faithful. He was an astute man of business ;uid accumulated a 
 large chtute, but was liberal in contributing to public objects and 
 in private charity. 
 
 He was twice married, and had In' his lirst wife, the daughter 
 of David >sudd of Hampton, three children who survived him : 
 Mrs. Frye of Boston, Ellen, wife of Francis O. French, and 
 Edward Tuck, both of New York city. 
 
 Henry F. French lived in Exeter about eighteen years, from 
 1841 to 1859. He was a son of Daniel French, a lawyer in 
 Chester, where he was born in 1.S13 ; and after an academic educa- 
 tion, studied law with his father and at the Harvanl J.aw School, 
 and was admitted to practice in 183o. He was appointed solicitor 
 of the county in 1838 and retained the ofllce for ten years. In 
 1848 he received the ai)poiutment of l)ank connnissioner which he 
 held for four years. In 18r)5 he was commissioned a judge of 
 the State Court of Common I'leas, and remained upon that bench 
 until the court was abolished in 18.VJ. These several otlices he 
 tilled with ability and credit and to the general satisfaction. 
 
 He removed in 185!) to Massachusetts, where he was assistant 
 district attorney for the county of Suffolk from 18(12 to 18()0, and 
 then accepted tlic prcsiiU'ucy of the Massachusetts Agricultural 
 College, which he resigned after lillU' more than a year's service, 
 and returned to jiractice in Boston. In 187G he was ap[)ointed 
 second assistant si-cretary of the I'nited States Treasury, and re- 
 moved to Washiugton where he remained in the discharge of his 
 duties until the accession of President Cleveland, when he retired 
 to his fa II 11 in Concord, ^lassachusetts, and died there November 
 2:1, 1885. 
 
 •luilge I-'rcnch was a ready, keen and thoroughly equipped 
 lawyer. He had studied his i)rofession diligently, and could bring- 
 to tlie front his knowledge and lii^ lu-st powers at a moment's 
 notice. His habits of business were methodical, and nothing was 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 373 
 
 neglected. "While he was upon the bench he never left anj' cases 
 or questions at loose ends ; when the term was over the entire 
 business, so far as he could control it, was done. 
 
 He was an agreeable companion, and kept on pleasant terms 
 with all. He was also a man of marked public spirit. In Exeter 
 he was interested in the streets and sidewalks and school-houses, 
 in the laying out of the new cemetery, in the planting of shade 
 trees, and in all that pertained to the improvement and beautify- 
 ing of the place. 
 
 The judge was fond of husbandry, and read and wrote much on 
 that subject. As the representative of an Agricultural Associa- 
 tion he visited England to examine the improvements made by 
 the great proprietors there in the cultivation of their lands, and 
 after his return he published a volume on Farm Drainage. 
 
 Though the greater part of his active life was passed away from 
 Exeter, he retained many warm friends there who were interested 
 in his welfare and mourned his loss. 
 
 John S. Wells passed in Exeter the last fourteen years of his 
 life. He was born in Durham in 1803, and was a grandnephew 
 of General John Sullivan of the Revolution. In his 3'outh he 
 learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, but by his own exertions 
 obtained an education and prepared himself for his profession. 
 His first practice was in Guildhall, Vermont, from which place he 
 removed after about eight years to Lancaster, New Hampshire, 
 where he acquired a large practice, and held the office of count}' 
 solicitor during two terms. He was also elected to the Legislature 
 from Lancaster three years, the last of which he was chosen 
 Speaker of the House. 
 
 He came to Exeter in 1846. The recent departure of James 
 Bell from the county made an excellent opening in the town for a 
 leading lawyer, and his political opinions also helped him to 
 clients. In a very little while his docket became a large one, and 
 his time was fully employed. In 1847 he received the appoint- 
 ment of attorney general, but he probably felt that lie could not 
 afford to surrender his private practice for the office. In 1851 he 
 was elected to a seat in the State Senate, and was re-elected the 
 following year. He presided over that body both 3'ears. In Jan- 
 uary, 1855, he was appointed by the governor a senator of the 
 United States to fill out the unexpired term of JMoses Norris, and 
 held his seat until the succeeding fourth of IMarch. Two \'ears 
 before, he had been a candidate before the Legislature for the same 
 
o<- 
 
 IIISTOPvY OF EXETEU. 
 
 honor, but missed it by a few votes. In 1850 and 1857 lie was the 
 candidate of his party for governor of the State, but the political 
 revolution of 1854 left hun in the minority. 
 
 Mr. "Wells was highly successful in his profession. He was 
 a keen business man, and believed that the laborer is wortliy of 
 his hire. 
 
 Though not what would Ije called particularly studious in his 
 habits, yet he had a considerable library, and consulted it not a 
 little in his business. His legal learning was more than respect- 
 able, and he was capable of a good deal of continuous work. But 
 he was fonder of trials at nisi pnas than of any other professional 
 emplo3'ment, for there his peculiar qualities were at their best. 
 lie had a fine person, and a winning address. His voice was like 
 that of his kindred SuUivans, sweet and well modulated. He had 
 Huency of speech, and a knowledge of the weaknesses of human 
 nature, which enabled him to address himself to the vulnerable 
 side of the jury with much t'lTect. 
 
 His domestic life was a chief source of enjoj'ment to him. He 
 married early, and was the father of five children, three of whom 
 outlived hun. He was a fond parent, and felt tlie deepest interest 
 in the welfare and happiness of his family. He died in Exeter of 
 a lingering disease August 1, 1860. 
 
 ■William W. Stickney removed to Exeter from Newmarket in 
 1847. He was no stranger, as he had practised law in the county 
 U)V nt'ar twenty years before. He was born in Enfield, graduated 
 from Dartmouth College in 1823, and was admitted an attorney 
 three years afterwards. Before he came to Exeter he had been 
 three years a memljer of the State Legislature, and was again 
 elected one year from Exeter. In 184'J he was appointed United 
 States attorney for the district of New Hampshire, and served 
 until the coming in of President Pierce. \n 1S57 he was made 
 judge of probate for the county, and performed the duties of that 
 ollice with tiitirc acceptance until he reached the constitutional 
 limit of seventy years of age. He was also for many years a 
 director of the Granite State Bank and of the INIanchester and 
 Lawrence Railroad, and president of the Exeter ]Machini' Works. 
 ,Iud<'"e Stickney's (pialities were rather solid than brilliant. He 
 was a diligent, methodical, careful practitioner, who neglected no 
 Ijusiness entrusted to him. In the course of his long professional 
 life, he is said to have missed attending but a single term of the 
 courts, and that was by reason of illness. His reputation lor 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 375 
 
 integrity was never questioned, and he had the confidence and 
 respect of all. His preparation of his causes for trial was most 
 thorough, and he argued them to the jury and to the court witli 
 earnestness and force. His example can be cited to young men 
 entering upon the legal profession as in all respects worthy of 
 imitation. 
 
 He died March 19, 1888, at the advanced age of eighty-six 
 y^ears; 
 
 Alva "Wood was a native of Georgetown, Massachusetts, and 
 was born August 18, 1821. He received his education in the 
 schools of that place and at Pembroke Academ}'. His law studies 
 he pursued in the office of Bell and Tuck in P^xeter, was admitted 
 to practice about 1847, and immediately opened his office in the 
 town. He had the art of making acquaintances easily, and soon 
 became known as an active, working lawyer. His business in- 
 creased as time went on, until few of the practitioners in the 
 county could show so heavy a docket as his. He was persistent 
 and spared no pains to carry out his plans, and succeeded in some 
 instances where a less determined person would have failed. He 
 was liberal in his practice, and by his uniform good nature and 
 obliging disposition preserved friendly relations Avith all, even 
 those who represented the most adverse interests. The legal pro- 
 fession was to him at once his occupation and his pride, and he 
 valued his successes in it above all else. Politics he cared little 
 for in comparison, though he maintained his fealty to his party. 
 
 For a year before his death his powers had obviously been 
 failing, but it was not generally suspected that he was near his 
 end, so that the news of his sudden decease February 17, 1878, 
 was a great shock to his townsmen and friends. Enemies he had 
 few or none, for he never allowed the friction of forensic contests 
 to rouse any permanent ill feeling in his breast. His wife was a 
 daughter of John C. Gerrish, and she, with a son and two 
 daughters, survived him. 
 
 The life of George C. Peavey, several years of which were 
 passed in Exeter, was a remarkable one. An injur}' to his spine, 
 caused by an accident, resulted in almost total inability to Avalk, 
 and such sensitiveness of his eyes to the light, that he was practi- 
 cally almost blind. He was compelled to pass most of his time 
 in a reclining position, with a bandage over his eyes. Most men 
 would liavi' despaired of performing any business under such cir- 
 cumstances. Not so he. He had studied law, and lie entered 
 
,",7G IIISTOIIY OF EXICTER. 
 
 vigorousl}' into practice. He found somebody to read to him and 
 to write for liim. He lay upon his lounge in the oHlce and in 
 court, but he could talk, and he had the command of all needed 
 faculties. 
 
 After remaining ten years or upwards in Exeter he went to 
 StralTord, was married to a devoted wife, who was not only eyes 
 but hands and feet to him ever afterwards. AVith her aid he 
 carried on not only a large law practice, but four country stores 
 besides, and extensive dealings in luiiil)er. Nearly' twenty years 
 afterwards some favorable features in his malady encouraged him 
 again to remove to Exeter, but he found that he could not con- 
 tinue there without a recurrence of his worst symptoms, and he 
 returned to Strafford, Avliere he died May 5, IbTG, at the age of 
 sixty-one years. 
 
 Other names, besides those mentioned, are found upon the roll 
 of practitioners of the law in Exeter. Joseph liell purposed 
 making the place his home and staid there a short time in 1812 
 before he began his successful career in Haverhill. Thomas Rice 
 appears to have been there in 1817 and Abram Smith in 1829, 
 but of them we learn nothing, (iilman ^larston came in 1840, 
 and a brief sketch of him will be found in the chapter on the War 
 for the I'nion. David A. Gregg, who had practised in Uerry, 
 came to Exeter in 1812, to take the ollice of Register of Probate. 
 He died in Derry in 18GG. Melburn F. Eldridge had an ollice in 
 the town two or three years between 1840 and 1800, and then took 
 his departure, it is believed, to Nashua. E. Frank Tucke, a 
 native of Kensington, a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1843, 
 and a man of many winning qualities, began business in the place 
 about three years afterwards, but died in 18;J7 at the early age of 
 thirty-hve years. J. Hamilton Shapley, a native of Portsmouth 
 and for a number of years a lawyer there, lilled the ollices of Reg- 
 ister of Deeds and Register of Probate, in Exeter, and continued 
 in practice tlicrc for a time, Imt lias now retired from llic active 
 pursuit of his profession. Nathaniel Gordon, a native of the 
 town and a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1842, i)ractised law 
 for a numl)er of years after 18.")0, and then (piitted it for wliat he 
 found to be more prolitable occupation. Horace C. liacon studied 
 law with .John S. Wells and was his partner from about 18a2 to 
 18.jG, and then removed to popping and afterwards to Lawrence, 
 Massachusetts. Natiianicl (i. Perry, a native of the town nnd a 
 graduate of Harvard College, had barely entered into i)ractice 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 377 
 
 when a disease of the lungs cut short his career. Charles H. Bell 
 came to the place from Somersworth in 1854, and practised law 
 about fourteen years, ten of which he was solicitor of the county, 
 and then retired. John W. Clark kept an office in Exeter from 
 about^l857 to 1868, and went to Washington, D. C, to accept a 
 position in one of the departments. Moses N. Collins has already 
 been noticed in one of the military chapters. Samuel H. Stevens, 
 who had practised law in Bristol, became cashier of the Granite 
 State Bank in Exeter in 1850, and remained a few years, but 
 afterwards fixed his residence in Concord, where he died in 1876. 
 Samuel M. Wilcox, a former practitioner in Orford and in Fran- 
 cestown, entered into partnership with John S. Wells about 1859, 
 and after his decease continued in practice in the town a few 
 years, and then removed to Washington, D. C. Francis O. 
 French was a partner of Amos Tuck two or three years after 1800, 
 and then became a banker, first in Boston and afterwards in New 
 York. Benjamin F. Ayer removed from Chicago, Illinois, to 
 Exeter in 1862, but after a brief stay returned again. Ileudrick 
 D. Batchelder practised law in the town a few years about 1860, 
 and then went to Poughkeepsic, New York. John J. Bell, who 
 had resided in Maine, came to Exeter about 1865, and after prac- 
 tising his profession about ten years and accepting the office of 
 Judge of the Police Court, retired. Andrew Wiggin opened an 
 office in the town about 1805 and after a few years removed to 
 Boston. Joseph F. Wiggin, a native of Exeter, entered practice 
 betAveen 1800 and 1870, and for a few years held the office of 
 Judge of Pro])atc. For some time past he has had an office in 
 Boston, l)ut retained a connection with some law^'er in Exeter. 
 S. Dana Wingate was admitted an attorney about 1867, and did a 
 considerable probate and pension business, but died shortly after. 
 Charles U. Bell began practice in Exeter about 1808, and after 
 about five years went to Lawrence, Massachusetts. B. iNIarviu 
 Fernald Avas a partner of Joseph F. Wiggin for a time, and is 
 now in Boston. P. Webster Locke, Jj. (J. Hoyt and Fred S. 
 Hatch each passed from one to three or four years in Exeter, and 
 have gone elsewhere. 
 
 The present lawj'ers in practice in the town are Oilman Marston, 
 J. Warren Towle, Thomas Leavitt, Albert C. Buzell, Edwin G. 
 Eastman, Charles H. Knight, Arthur O. Fuller, Henry A. Shute 
 and E. W. Ford. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 MEDICAL MEN. 
 
 The uumber of physicians of education in the country two cen- 
 turies ago was very small. Exeter had none that we know of. 
 Walter IJarefoote, so far as is recollected, was the only one in the 
 province. I>ut it is not to be supposed that there was an entire 
 absence of practitioners of the healing art. There were always 
 those who had a certain skill in nursing and administering to the 
 relief of the sick, even if they did not claim the ambitious title of 
 doctors. IJarbers practised venesection. Clergymen frequently 
 studied medicine in addition to divinity, as did Dr. John Phillips, 
 that they might minister to bodies as well as to minds diseased. 
 
 But it was not until one-quarter of the seventeenth centur}' had 
 passed, that a regular physician was established in Exeter. It 
 was, perhaps, an era in the history of the town. The doctor was 
 a man of consequence in the early times, second only to the min- 
 ister. His dress indicated the importance of his profession. His 
 cocked hat and full bottomed wig and his indispensable cane were 
 awe-inspiring, to say nothing of his saddle bags stuffed with strange 
 and nauseating medicaments which he dispensed with profusion to 
 his jiatients. 
 
 The mistakes of the early doctors, if they made any, in i)rescrib- 
 ing internal remedies, are long buried out of remembrance. But 
 some accounts of the manner of their treatment of external in- 
 juries hnvc ])('en preserved. One of those worthies is said to have 
 replaced and bound on, upside down^ a toe wliicli had been cut 
 from :i patient's fool, and it grew so. Another put bandages 
 ground the hands of a child which had been badly burned, confin- 
 ing the lingers together, so that they adhered to each other and 
 could not be separated. 
 
 Exeter's first physician, so far as can be discovered, was Dr. 
 Thonnis Deane. He was a native of IJoston, ^Massachusetts, born 
 November 28, IGDl, anil a son of Thomas Deane. The family 
 
 378 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 379 
 
 moved to Hampton while the son was a j^oung man, and this, per- 
 haps, led him to Exeter. There in 1718 he married Deborah, 
 daughter of the Rev. John Clark, and afterwards made his home. 
 Where and to wliat extent he prepared himself for his profession 
 is not known, but he began practice, without doubt, no long time 
 after his marriage. He lived in Exeter till his death in 17G8. He 
 was once or twice chosen to the ofHce of selectman, but his pref- 
 erence seemed to be for military position. He was a captain and 
 afterwards major in the militia, and upon the books of the town, 
 where every man's rank was scrupulously given him, his profes- 
 sional was usually supplanted by his military title. 
 
 Dr. Deane was one of the proprietors of the town of Gilmanton 
 and took an active part in building up the second cliurch and parish 
 in Exeter, which is the more noticeable as his wife was a step- 
 daughter of the Rev. John Odlin, the minister of the old parish. 
 No evidence of his professional skill has come down to us, but he 
 was not without books. One which belonged to him — The Art 
 of Chinuyjery — is still preserved, in the possession of John Ward 
 Dean of Boston, a descendant. 
 
 Dr. Deane is said to have lived on the east side of the river in 
 a house next to that afterwards occupied by Dr. Nathaniel Peabody. 
 He had three wives and eleven children. 
 
 We learn from the diary of the Rev. Nicholas Gilman that on 
 returning from Cambridge to Exeter greatly indisposed, July 10, 
 1725, he "applied himself" to Dr. Sargent. It is not known that 
 this was an Exeter practitioner. It is probable that he was of 
 Hampton or Salisbury, Massachusetts, where there were families 
 of the name. 
 
 The next Exeter physician in the order of time, so far as has 
 been ascertained, was Dr. Josiah Gilman, a son of Judge Nicholas 
 Gilman. He was born in Exeter February 2y, 1710, and died 
 January 1, 17'J3. In 17.'31 he married Abigail, daughter of 
 Captain Eliphalet Cotlin. Where he studied his profession we do 
 not know ; quite probably, however, with Dr. Deane. Dr. Gilman 
 was a medical practitioner in the town for probably half a century, 
 and seems to have satisfied the people. In that time he saw 
 several competitors enter the field, but apparently they did not 
 crowd him out. 
 
 He was a man of considerable education, with good business 
 capacity. He subscribed for a coi)y of Prince's Chronology, 
 shortly after reaching liis majorit}-, and was clerk of the Pro- 
 
380 HISTHKY OF EXETER. 
 
 prietors of Gilnianton more than thirty 3'ears, as well as the 
 draftsman of a plan of that town. He was the father of ten 
 children. 
 
 Dudley Odlin was born September 22, 1711, a son of the Rev. 
 John Odlin of Exeter. He was a practitioner of medicine, and so 
 far as is known, was never married. He built the large crambrel 
 roofed house on Front street, afterwards occupied by Colonel 
 Nathaniel Oilman. He died at the age of thirty-six, and by his 
 will gave the house to his nephew Dr. John Odlin. 
 
 Robert Gilman was a sou of Colonel John, and a brother of 
 Brigadier Peter Gilman. He was born June 2, 1710, and was 
 bred a physician. His wife, by whom he had three children, was 
 Priscilla Bartlett. The most that can be learned of Dr. Robert 
 CJilman is that he volunteered to go as a surgeon in the expedition 
 against Louisburg in 174o, and was wounded in the leg by a 
 piece of shell, on account of Avhich the Assembly of the province 
 made him an allowance. His wife had died in 1743, and it is 
 probable that he did not survive his injury mauj' years. 
 
 Dr. I'^liphalet Hale appears to be the next Exeter phj'sician in 
 chronological order. He was a son of Nathan Hale of Newbury, 
 Massachusetts, where he was born in 1714. He was in practice 
 in Exeter before 1750, and died at the age of fifty years. His 
 first wife was Elizabeth Jackson, and his son Eliphalet was for a 
 time a manufacturer of paper at the mill in Exeter. His second 
 wife was a daughter of Colonel John Dennet, and after her 
 husband's death she married Dr. John Phillips. 
 
 John Giddinge was a native of Exeter, born September 11, 
 1728, and a son of Zebulon Giddinge. He became a physician, 
 and was also engaged in mercantile business. At the age of 
 twent^'-three he married Mehetabel, eldest daughter of Brigadier 
 Peter Gilman. Dr. Giddinge was a man of prominence. He was 
 elected selectman several years, and a representative just before 
 and during the early years of the Revolution. He commanded a 
 company of those wlm nmrched from Exeter to Portsmouth to 
 sujiport, if necessary, tiie part}' of (ieueral Sullivan and Langdon 
 in the raid upon Fort "William and ]Mary in Portsmouth harbor, in 
 December, 1771, and was one of the most active and trusted sup- 
 porters of the patriotic cause in the Legislature. In 1775 he was 
 nominated fur ihe important appointment of delegate to the Conti- 
 nental Congress, l)ut modestly withdrew his name. His death 
 occurred, it is believed, about the year 1785. 
 
HISTOKY OF EXETER. 381 
 
 Johu Odlin was a son of the Rev. Elisha Odlin, and was born 
 in Exeter September 4, 1732. He studied medicine, very proba- 
 bly, with his uncle, Dr. Dudley Odlin, and practised for above 
 twenty years in Exeter. He married Mary, daughter of Joshua 
 Wilson, and had three children. In 1782 he sold his house in 
 Exeter and removed to Concord where he lived afterwai'ds. 
 
 Nathaniel Oilman was a sou of Colonel Daniel Oilman and 
 was born in Exeter about the year 1740. He was a practising 
 physician. His wife was a Treadwell of Portsmouth. They had 
 three children, one of whom, Nathaniel Waldron Oilman, was a 
 merchant in the town, and died in 1854. Dr. (Oilman was in 
 practice before the Revolution and probably died about 1782. 
 
 Caleb O. Adams was born in Exeter January 8, 1752. He 
 became a phj^sician, and practised in the town. He married, 
 December 8, 1774, Mary, daugliter of Nathaniel Folsom of Ports- 
 mouth, and granddaughter of Oeneral Nathaniel Folsom of Exe- 
 ter. In 1775 he was appointed surgeon of Colonel Enoch Poor's 
 third New Hampshire regiment, but did not remain in the service 
 beyond that year. He died probably in 1783, leaving a widow 
 and two children. His widow married Governor John T. Oilman. 
 
 John Lamson was a native of Exeter, and born about 1736. 
 He received a medical education, and was at the age of twenty- 
 one appointed surgeon's mate in the New Hampshire regiment 
 raised for actual service under the command of Colonel Nathaniel 
 Meserve. Two hundred men of the regiment were ordered to 
 Fort William Henry at Lake Ocorge, under the command of Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel John Ooffe, and Dr. Lamson accompanied them. 
 His adventures after the surrender of the garrison to Montcalm, 
 have been described on page 236 of this history. After his return 
 home, though he served in another military expedition, he spent 
 most of the residue of his life in the practice of medicine and 
 surgery in Exeter. He died in November, 1774. 
 
 It seems that during his captivity in Canada he manifested 
 qualities that won the regard of the savages among whom he lived. 
 Tlie year after his decease a party of llu'in visited Exeter and 
 made inquiry for him, supposing lie was still living. On beino- 
 informed of his death, they all sat down and maintained profound 
 silence for a season, that being their mode of nuuiifestino- tlieir 
 respect and sorrow for the departed. 
 
 Dr. Josei)h Tillon was born at Hampton Falls September 2G 
 1744. He received his early education in the town schools there, 
 
382 HISTORY OF KXETER. 
 
 and it was necessarily somewhat scanty. At sixteen years of age 
 he began the study of medicine and surgery with Dr. Ammi U. 
 Cutter of Portsmoutli, a physician of note, and remained with liiin 
 for live years. Being then fitted to commence practice he married 
 the daughter of John Shackford of Portsmouth, and in 17G7 
 settled in Exeter. There were then three other physicians in the 
 place, and the opening was not a promising one. But he perse- 
 vered, and as the fashion of the time was, opened an apothecary's 
 shop, and offered his services as a physician and surgeon. His 
 industry and lidelity were in a few years rewarded by a good share 
 of practice, which extended into no less than thirteen towns, and 
 ■was exceedingly laborious, as he had no means of travelling except 
 on horseback. 
 
 During the Revolutionary \Var he was absent from home as the 
 surgeon of a privateer for one or two cruises. With this excep- 
 tion he continued his practice in Exeter for above sixty 3-ears. 
 In early life his constitution w-as slender, but he strengthened it 
 by his active habits, his temperance in eating and abstinence from 
 ardent spirits, so that in his later years he enjoyed uninterrupted 
 health. 
 
 He lived for sixty-eight years in the house still standing on the 
 north side of Water street, nearly opposite the foot of Spring 
 street, and dii'd in .Tanuary, 1838. He left no male descendants. 
 
 Dr. Samuel Tenney was a native of B^'field, Massachusetts, 
 born November 27, 1748. He was educated under Master jNIoody 
 at Dummer Academy, and at Harvard College, in the class of 
 1772. He studied medicine Avith Dr. Kittredge of Andover. He 
 came to Exeter early in 1775 to settle, but on the breaking out 
 of the Revolution determined to enter the armj'. He mounted his 
 horse and rode to the vicinity of Boston, arriving just in season 
 to assist in relieving the wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill. 
 He served through the war as surgeon ; one year as assistant to 
 Dr. Eustis in a [Massachusetts regiment, and afterwards in the 
 Rh(Kle Island line. He was present at the surrender of Burgoyne 
 and of Cornwallis. He volunteered for the defence of Red Bank 
 on the Delaware, himself using a musket in emergency ; ami ihtssed 
 the wounds of Count Donop who was mortally hurt in the assault 
 ni)oii tliiiL work. The Count delivered to Iiiiii his pocket-book for 
 safe keeping, — remarking that he hjoked like an honest man. 
 
 At the close of the war Dr. Tenney returneil to Exeter where 
 he married and resided for the residue of his life, though he did 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 383 
 
 not resume professioual pmctice. The tradition is that lie had 
 some trouble about a case of dislocation of the shoulder which he 
 undertook to reduce, and abandoned the profession in disgust. 
 
 He was fond of scientific studies, and had a strong inclination 
 towards political life. He was a member of the convention for 
 forming the Constitution of New Hampshire in 1791 ; in 1793 he 
 received the appointment of Judge of Probate for Rockingham 
 county, which he held until 1800 Avhen he was elected a member 
 of Congress. He served there for three terms. His death 
 occurred in 181 G. 
 
 Dr. Tenuey was a member of several literary, historical and 
 scientific societies and contributed articles to their publications. 
 For the American Academy of Arts and Sciences he wrote an 
 account of the mineral waters of Saratoga, and a theory of pris- 
 matic colors ; for the jNIassachusetts Historical Society a historical 
 and topographical account of Exeter, and a notice of the dark 
 day, May 19, 1780 ; and for the Massachusetts Agricultural Society 
 a much approved treatise on orcharding. He also prepared valu- 
 able political essays for the newspapers, particularly in favor of 
 the Federal Constitution, in 1788. 
 
 He was a man of fine presence, and of much dignity. His 
 domestic and social relations were of the happiest character. He 
 was universally esteemed and respected, and in his death, his 
 townsmen felt that they had met with no ordinar}' loss. 
 
 Dr. Tenney's wife was Tabitha, daughter of Samuel Gilman 
 a highly accomplished lady. She was the author of two or more 
 published works, the chief of which was Female Quixotism which 
 had much popularity in its time, and went through several editions. 
 
 Dr. Nathaniel Peabody was born in Topsfield, Massachusetts, 
 March 1, 1741. He never attended school a day but derived his 
 early education from his father who was an eminent pliysician. 
 He studied and practised medicine with him from twelve to eiuhteen 
 years of age and till his father's death. AVhen he was twenty he 
 settled in Plaistow, now Atkinson, and obtainetl an extensive 
 practice as a physician. At thirty years of age he was commis- 
 sioned by the royal governor, a justice of the peace and (luorum. 
 In 1774 he was appoiuted a lieutenant colonel in the militia. He 
 espoused with ardor the cause of his country, and took part in the 
 raid upon Fort William and Mary in Portsmouth harbor in 
 December of that year. 
 
381 HISTORY OF EXKTEU. 
 
 Ill the earlier years of the Revolution he was a leading iiiemher 
 of the Legislature, and of the Committee of Safety. In 1778 he 
 was appointed adjutant general of the militia of the State, and 
 served as such that year in Rhode Island, In 1779 he was elected 
 a delegate to the Continental Congress. After his return home he 
 was for several years a member of the State Legislature, and 
 major general of the militia. 
 
 He Avas one of the chief founders of the New Hampshire Medical 
 Society, and received from Dartmoutli College the honorary degree 
 of blaster of Arts. 1 )()ctor or, as lie was commonly stN'led, General 
 Rcabody was I'ouil of displa}^ and probably injured his property 
 by indulging in it, and in the later j'ears of his life his affairs 
 became deranged, and he was arrested by his creditors for debt, 
 and committed to jail in Exeter. Thus it happened that he became 
 a resident of the town for about twenty years. He enjoyed the 
 privilege of the prison limits, and was not actually confined, but 
 lived in a house on the eastern side of the river, not far from the 
 Great bridge. But he was restricted to certain bounds, which he 
 could not pass without involving his sureties in heavy liability. 
 The limits, however, allowed him the freedom of the greater part 
 of the village. 
 
 He contiiuied to practise his profession, to some extent, through 
 life, and was esteemed a physician of skill and learnmg. 
 
 Dr. Peabody in his best days had the confidence and respect 
 of the prominent men among whom he moved. But pecuniary 
 embarrassments cxpused him to the charge of dishonorable deal- 
 ings, and his manners were not such as to render him an agreeable 
 companion, lb- \vas cynical in his notions, and having himself 
 o"reat powers of endurance, he had little patience with others who 
 complained. He had i)robably acquired the rough liahits and 
 expressions of the camp, also, and employed them without nuicli 
 discrimination. He is said to have been a man of wit, anil to 
 have had his softer side ; but, ai)parently, he did not often present 
 it to others. 
 
 He was undoul)tedly a man of nuich ability, and if he had paid 
 less attention to imblic affairs and more to his own, might have 
 acquired ftntune and a life of ease. His patriotism and services 
 for his country entitle him to our gratitude, and his foibles may 
 well be consigned to oblivion. He died in Exeter, June 27, 1823. 
 
 William Paricer, Jr., is su])posed to have been a son of Jutlge 
 AVilliam Parker of Exeter, and was born near the middle of the 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 385 
 
 last century. Little is learned of his early history, but he was in 
 November, 1776, suflicieutly versed in the knowledge of his pro- 
 fession to be considered worthy of the responsible appointment of 
 surgeon in the second regiment of the New Hampshire line in the 
 Revolutionary array. He served through the following j^ear, and 
 was at Ticonderoga when that post was evacuated upon being 
 invested by General Burgoyne, and at the affair of Hubbardton, 
 where his regiment lost so heavily. His service in the field ended 
 apparently with that campaign. He then resumed his medical 
 practice in Exeter. He must have been a physician of some 
 standing, for he was called to prescribe for a lady visiting in the 
 family of Benjamin Abbot, the principal of the academy, about 
 1796, the lady being very ill with an unknown disease. It proved 
 to be the yellow fever. Dr. Parker contracted it from his patient 
 and died of it. 
 
 Nathan North came to Exeter to practise medicine in the latter 
 part of the last century, and remained about twenty years. He is 
 represented as a man of sense and abilit}'^, with a competent 
 knowledge of his profession, and became the attending physician 
 of the principal families of the town. But he was not proof 
 against the prevailing convivial fashions of the time, and at length 
 fell into habits of inebriety, which, of course', seriously interfered 
 with his practice. In the year 1815 Dr. North removed from the 
 town, and is said to have abandoned his pernicious habits, and 
 maintained a high standing in his profession afterwards. 
 
 William Perry was a son of Nathan Perry of Norton, Massa- 
 chusetts, and was born December 20, 1788. He prepared himself 
 for college in part at an academy, of which his brother Gardner 
 was then principal, at Ballston, New York, and entered Union 
 College, but at the close of his freshman year migrated to Harvard 
 College, where he took his degree in 1811. While an undergrad- 
 uate, in 1808 he made a trip down tlie Hudson river in Fulton's 
 first steamboat, the " Clermont." He studied medicine with Dr. 
 James Tliacher of Plymouth, and afterwards in Boston under the 
 instruction of Drs. John Gorham and John Warren. By the 
 latter he was recommended to a few gentlemen of Exeter who had 
 applied to him to advise them of some promising young ph3'siciau 
 to settle in the town. He accordingly opened his oflice there in 
 1814. His progress at first was obstructed by the resident medical 
 men who were naturally jealous of a young comi)etitor ; but before 
 long his professional learning and correct habits with his industry 
 
;;,S(; HISTORY oF EXETEK. 
 
 iiiid ability opcucd his way to a wide practice, which he retaiued 
 eveu to old age. It reached to the remotest parts of the couuty 
 and soinotiines beyond it. It was, of course, very laborious, and 
 not what would in these times be called lucrative. But it was 
 sulllcieut for his needs, and enabled him to live as he desired, to 
 educate his family, and to realize a handsome competency. 
 
 Dr. Perry was of an inquiring and inventive lient ; and was not 
 content to follow outgrown metliods. He contrived new ajipli- 
 auces for the treatment of injuries, and devised new remedies for 
 disease, and gained much rei)utation thereby. He was one of the 
 earliest of the medical men of the State to agitate the project of 
 establishing an Asylum for the Insane, which has since been 
 accomplished in so admirable a manner. In 1835, after delivering 
 a course of lectures before the students of the Bowdoin Medical 
 College, he was offered a professorship there, but declined it. 
 
 An account of his enterprise in the manufacture of potato starch, 
 has already been given in a former chapter. 
 
 For much more than half a century Dr. Perry was the principal 
 physician and surgeon, not only iu the town, but in the section. 
 In all dilllcult cases which arose iu the neighboring places, he was 
 the natural consulting authority. In surgical operations, espe- 
 cially, his experience was large, and his opinion was of the greatest 
 weight. lie was often called into court, to give testimony as an 
 expert in important causes. He was decided in his opinions, but 
 he based them on authorities and the soundest reasoning. Cross 
 examinaticni never shook his testimou}^, but rather brought out 
 fresh support for his views. 
 
 He was a conscientious and positive man. He strove always to 
 discern the right course, and llieii pursued it unswervingly. He 
 tolerated no ttniporizing, and still less anything approaching to a 
 compromise of principle. People always knew where to find him. 
 He was sometimes involved in differences with others, but he 
 marched straight on, and in the end won the respect of even his 
 antagonists, for his honesty and uprightness. He lived to the age 
 of ninety-six years. 
 
 An old age like Dr. Perry's was something to be desired. Free 
 from nearly all tlif inlirmities incident to advanced life, his nuni- 
 ory and judgment for the most pait unclouded, iu the midst of 
 relatives and friends, and of a connnunity who valued and 
 respected him, he passed his later years in serenity and ]3eace. 
 He was gratified by the respect and consideration everywhere 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 387 
 
 shown him. At the last two presidential elections his fellow citi- 
 zens of the town with one accord refrained from votins", until he 
 cast the first ballot. On his later birthdays his old patients and 
 friends called on him to wish him health and happiness, and to 
 present him tokens of their love and good will. And when his 
 long life was brought to a close, the community, as one man, sin- 
 cerely mourned the loss of him who luxd so long been a faithful 
 and valued leading 'character in the town. 
 
 David W. Gorham was a son of Nathaniel Gorham, Jr., and 
 was born in Canandaigua, New York, in the year 1800. He 
 obtained his education at the Phillips Exeter Academy and at 
 Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1821. He chose the 
 profession of medicine, and established himself in practice in Exe- 
 ter, and there remained until his death in 1873. He was a careful 
 and reliable physician, and acquired an extensive practice, and few 
 medical men commanded the confidence of their patients more com- 
 pletely than he. He was an excellent man of business, liberal, but 
 exact, and the impersonation of promptness. In 1844, on the 
 decease of Dr. Abbot, he was chosen a trustee of the Phillips Exeter 
 Academy, and continued in the discharge of the duties to the time 
 of his decease. His services in that capacity were of the highest 
 value. He was assiduous in looking after the interests of the 
 institution, in every way. His accurate business habits and sound 
 judgment were always a source of strength to the management. 
 When the old academy building Avas burned in 1871, it was 
 largely through his exertions and influence that it was replaced by 
 the present beautiful and appropriate structure. 
 
 He Avas one of the most important members and a principal sup- 
 porter of the Unitarian Society. He served annually as one of the 
 executive committee, and voluntarily took upon himself the unde- 
 sirable duties of treasurer and collector. His uniform patience, 
 good temper and excellent system enabled him to keep the finan- 
 cial affairs of the society in a sound condition, and tluis a ciiief 
 source of variance and dilliculty was avoided. The minister's 
 salary was ncA-er a day in arrear, during his term of office. His 
 death Avas a heavy bloAV to the institutions to Avhich he had been 
 so helpful, and a serious loss to the community, where he was 
 highly esteemed. Dr. Gorham married early in his professional 
 life, Elizabeth P., daughter of Dr. Benjamin Abbot. He survived 
 her death only about two months. Of their three children, two 
 outlived him, Dr. William H. Gorhain, Avho divides liis time 
 
388 llisrom' OK KXK'rKK. 
 
 between Exeter and Boston, nml .Mnry, wife of George C. Sawyer 
 of Utica, New York. 
 
 Sanuiel B. Swett was a native of Boston, a son of Colonel 
 Samuel and grandson of Dr. John Barnard Swott of Newbnryport, 
 jNlassaeluisetts, a distiuguislied pliysieian. He obtained his med- 
 ical education in New York and Paris, and came to Exeter about 
 1840. He had a large practice in that and the adjoining towns 
 for upwards of twenty years, and then removed to Jamaica Plain, 
 Massachusetts, where he still resides. 
 
 William G. Perry, a son of Dr. William Perry, graduated from 
 Dartmouth College in 1842 and after completing his medical 
 course in this country, studied a year in France. He has been in 
 practice in the town since about the year 1846. 
 
 In addition to the medical practitioners named, there have been 
 many others who lived for longer or shorter periods in the town. 
 Dr. Josiah Rollins, a native of Exeter, appears to have practised 
 between 1750 and 1778. Dr. Selah Gridley was a resident of the 
 town for some years before his death in 1826, though it is believed 
 that he did little in his profession. Dr. Thomas O. Folsom, a 
 native of the place, died in 1827, shortly after he received his 
 decree of M. D. Dr. Abraham D. Dearborn, a son of Freese 
 Dearborn, practised in the town a few years about the year 1840, 
 as did also Dr. Tliomas Flanders and Dr. Blodgett. Dr. Charles 
 Warren passed more or less time in Exeter for a number of years, 
 attending to patients. Dr. George AY. Gale had at one time a 
 considerable i)ractice. Dr. Franklin Lane, a son of Joel T.ane, 
 began his medical life in Exeter, and at the same time was editor 
 of The Exder News Letter. He afterwards removed to Baltimore, 
 Maryland, where he still lives. 
 
 Dr. George G. Odiorne, also a native of the town, commenced 
 practice there, but afterwards went to the West. Dr. Ezra 
 Bartlett was a numl)er of yeava a practitioner in the town, and 
 removed to Taunton, ^Massachusetts, where he now is. Dr. E. P. 
 Cummings establislied himself in the town as a homa'opalh, a little 
 time prior to tlie war, and then was employed in the naval service, 
 and died in Newi)uryport, Massachusetts. Dr. Sanniel Perham 
 for some years passed a great part of his time in l^xeter in 
 treating certain classes of disease. Dr. Albert Carroll practised 
 a few years in the place, but is now deceased. Dr. Cliarles C. 
 Odlin, a son of Joseph Odliu, Avas born in the town, and pursued 
 his profession there for several years with success, and is now 
 located in ^lelrose, Massachusetts. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. ,')8y 
 
 Dr. Joseph M. Patch was one of the earliest medical men in 
 Exeter to give his chief attention to dentistry' which he did from 
 1838 to 1849. Dr. William L. Johnson afterwards practised as a 
 dentist for something near twenty years, in the town, and then 
 removed to Boston. He was succeeded in that branch of the pro- 
 fession by Drs. AV. D. Vinal, Mark W. Pray, Charles H. Gerrish, 
 J. E. 8. Pray and A. T. Severance. The last three are still in 
 practice. 
 
 The physicians now in general practice in Exeter are Drs. 
 William G. Perry, Robert Mason, Lafayette Chesley, Edward 
 Otis, A. H. Varney, Walter Tuttle and W. B. Mack. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDIALS. 
 
 TnKRE are several Exeter families which settled early in the 
 town, and are still represented there by descendants. Some of 
 them have been more numerous, and some more conspicuous than 
 others. A part of them have already been referred to in these 
 pages, and others will hereafter be. The limited extent of the 
 work forbids extended notices of many individuals. 
 
 The Dudley family in the town dates from 1650. The Rev. 
 Samuel Dudlc}' liad no less lh;;ii eighteen sous and daugliters, 
 most of whom lived to be married. The}' became connected with 
 the Hiltons, the Gilmans, the Leavitts, the Lyfords, the Halls and 
 other families, and their descendants in tlio vicinity are very 
 numerous. The Christian names of Dudk'y and AVinthrop, still 
 widely used, indicate how extensive are the relationships of the 
 family. Several prominent members of the family are mentioned 
 in various connections elsewhere in this work. A fact was stated 
 in an earlier chapter Avhich showed the Rev. Samuel Dudley's 
 interest in improving the breed of neat stock iu the town. Since 
 that was printed, it lias come to the knowledge of the writer that 
 the same taste has been inlicrited by his descendants. To this 
 day the Dudleys are said to be peculiarly fond of tine cattle. 
 And il is not loo iiinch to sa}' tliat other (|ualities, wliich gave 
 rci)ute to the eni'liei- hohlers of tlie name, liave also been trans- 
 mitted to their [)rogeny. 
 
 Of this I'Miiiily, one memlier. Judge John Dudley, merits par- 
 ticular notice. Jiorn in Exeter April '.), 172."), he was brought up 
 in the household of C<jlonel Daniel (iilmau. Tliough delicient in 
 eilucatiun he engaged in trade with success, and became one of 
 the foremost men of his day in the province. He removed to 
 Raymon<l in 17(>(!,was a representative iu the Legislature and 
 Speaker of the House, a mcinher of the Coiiimittec of Safety, and 
 in 1781 was appointed to the ix'iich of the Superior Court, and 
 
 3'JO 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 3«jl 
 
 performed the duties of the position for twelve years. His native 
 sound understanding, sagacity and impartiality enabled him to 
 acquit himself as a Judge to the acceptance of the bar no less than 
 of the people at large. 
 
 The Folsom famil}^ is among the foremost in numbers. John 
 Folsom, who emigrated from England to this country, came to 
 Exeter between 1650 and IGGO, and served the latter year as well 
 as in 1G(jS as selectman of the town. His son John was a select- 
 man in 1691 and a representative in the provincial Assembly in 
 1688, 1694 and 1695. It was he who refused to attemptto collect 
 by distress the illegal taxes levied by Governor Cranfield and his 
 Council. Other members of the famil}^ held office in the town 
 from time to time afterwards, but it was two of the great-grand- 
 sons of the early settler who attained the highest distinction. 
 
 Nathaniel Folsom, the son of Jonathan and Anna (Ladd) 
 Folsom, was born in 1726. At the age of twenty-nine he com- 
 manded a company of the New Hampshire regiment in the expe- 
 dition against Crown Point, and distinguished himself, as has 
 been i-elated on a previous page. He was appointed by the royal 
 governor a colonel of militia, but took the popular side when the 
 division came between the colonies and the mother country. He 
 was a member of the Continental Congress in 1774 and was 
 elected to the same body three times afterwards. He took part 
 in the movement to strip Fort William and Mary of its armament 
 in 1774, and in 1775 was honored with the responsible appoint- 
 ment of Major General of all the New Hampshire militia, and 
 retained it through the war. Drafts from the various regiments 
 were often called into active service, and his duties were impor- 
 tant and sometimes arduous, but he performed them with exem- 
 plary fidelity. 
 
 General Folsom was also a member of the Committee of Safety, 
 a Councillor, and a Judge of the Inferior Court. His time during 
 the Revolution was almost constantly devoted to the public service 
 in various capacities, and perhaps no one of the men of the time 
 enjoyed a greater measure of the reliance of the people than he. 
 Among his last public duties was that of presiding temporarily 
 over the convention for framing a new Constitution of the State 
 in 1783. 
 
 This able man and true patriot died May 26, 1790. 
 Samuel Folsom, his brother, was less conspicuous, but stood 
 high in the confidence of the community. He was an innkeeper, 
 
;3y2 lllSl'UKY UF EXETEK. 
 
 ami his house was on the corner of Court square and Water street, 
 and is now occupied by Dr. George "\V. Dearborn. It was there 
 that Washington partook of a coHatiou on his visit to the town in 
 17<sit. Samuel Kolsom was the lieutenant colonel of the Exeter 
 Cadets, under Colonel John Phillips. 
 
 Charles Folsom, of a later generation, was a graduate of 
 Harvard College in 181. '3, and was afterwards tutor and instructor 
 in Italian. For several years he was cha[)lain and teacher of 
 mathematics in the United States navy, and had among his pupils 
 David (i. Farragut, afterwards the distinguished Admiral, who 
 never forgot his obligations to Mv. Folsom, but, years afterwards, 
 presented him with a magnificent silver vase suitably inscribed, in 
 testimony' of his gratitude. His classical scholarship was tliorough 
 and exact, and he died witli the respect of all who knew him. 
 
 The Leavitt family was one of the earliest in the town. Samuel 
 Leavitt was one of the selectmen in 167.5, 1691 and IG'.M), and was 
 a representative in the Assembly in 168o, and three subsequent 
 years. 
 
 ]\Ioses Leavitt, liis brother, was selectman in 1682, and three 
 vears besides ; representative in 1693 and three other years, and 
 moderator seven years. Descendants of theirs have from time to 
 time held town offices since. Dudley Leavitt, the well kui^wn 
 compiler of the almanacs, derived his descent from the same 
 
 family. 
 
 The Thing family dates also far back in the history of the town' 
 Jonathan Thing, the first comer, was a selectman in 16^)8 and 
 seven vears afterwards, town clerk in 1689, and representative in 
 1693. Samuel and IJartliolomew, his sons, held the same offices 
 for even longer periods, and the service of the latter did not end 
 till 1737. They were among the leading men of tlie town foi a 
 long period. 
 
 The CountT lamily was also an early one, and has produced in 
 several generations men of i)rominence. Benjamin Conner was 
 one of the shrewdest political managers of his time, and repre- 
 sented the town in the Legislature tliirteen years in succession. 
 Daniel Conner, who is remembered by many, was a man of energy 
 and large dealings; and William and Charles, sous of Nathaniel 
 Conner, a notctl l)uiid(r. occupied positions of trust; to say 
 nothi;ig of the living. 
 
 Tiie Lyford family is anotiier of those who have long clung to 
 Kxeter. They have not been ambitious for public employment, 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 393 
 
 hut they have led respectable, useful lives. Some of the earlier 
 members of the family followed the sea, but most of them have 
 settled indepeudeutly upon their farms. The late Gideou C. 
 Lyford was at one time largel}^ engaged in trade, and always sus- 
 tained the character of an upright, honorable dealer. 
 
 The ancestor of the Gordon family appeared in Exeter within 
 the first half century after its settlement. He had a mill upon the 
 Little river. His descendants occupied lands in the southwestern 
 part of the town, and were generall}' farmers, except one or two 
 who had the control of mills at King's falls. One, of a later gen- 
 eration, George William Gordon, was appointed consul at Rio 
 Janeiro, and was afterwards postmaster of Boston. Nathaniel 
 Gordon, a present resident of the town, was a lawyer by profes- 
 sion, and has been president of the State Senate. 
 
 The farail}'^ of Robinsons has been somewhat conspicuous in the 
 town. Ephraim Robinson was for a long series of years in town 
 offices, and was apparently one of those square, uncompromising 
 men whom any town is fortunate to entrust its interests to. 
 Caleb Robinson rose to the rank of major in the continental 
 service in the Revolution, and Noah Robinson to that of captain. 
 AVilliam Robinson, the founder of the Female Seminar}'^, was of 
 the same blood, as was Jeremiah L. Robinson, who for a number 
 of yeax'S was one of the active business men of the place. 
 
 The Smiths, of whom there Avere two or three different families 
 in the earlier times, and perhaps more later, included several 
 members of prominence. Theophilus Smitli was a name which 
 came to the front for two or three generations. It would, how- 
 ever, require cai'eful investigation to trace out the different 
 branches of the earlier Exeter families of the nami'. Judge Jere- 
 miah Smith was not connected with either. He was of Scotch- 
 Irish descent. 
 
 Tlie Odlin famil}^ though not so extensive as some of those 
 mentioned, has been a noted one in the town. The two genera- 
 tions of ministers, and their descendants among the inthiential 
 business men a great part of tlie time since, have done much for 
 Exeter's advancement. William, James and Woodbridge Odlin 
 are well reineiiil)ered. Tlie last was the fouudi'r of the chair of 
 Englisli in the Phillips Academy. 
 
 The families of IJarker, Colct)rd and Dolloff have I;een long 
 settled in Exeter, and those of Kimball, Shute and several others 
 for a somewhat less time. Their members have been, generally, 
 
304' IIISTOKV OF KXKTER. 
 
 good citizens mul reputable men. Wuut of space forbids a more 
 extended notice of them. 
 
 Of the man}' iudiviiUials outside of the families spoken of, who 
 have attained more or less prominence, brief sketches are here 
 given of a few, of whom little or no mention has j'et been made. 
 There could be many more added, if the dimensions of the volume 
 permitted. 
 
 Jonathan Cass was a native of Exeier, born about 1750. He 
 was a blacksmith by trade. At the beginning of the Revolution 
 he enlisted in the army, and served through the war, coming out 
 at the close with a captain's commission. He then resumed his 
 business in the town and remained for several years, when he 
 re-entered the military service, emigrated to Ohio and attained the 
 rank of major. He had several children born in Exeter, one of 
 Avhom was the distinguished Lewis Cass, who used afterwards to 
 pay occasional visits to the place of his nativity. Tiie house in 
 which he was born was upon the east side of Cross, now called 
 Cass street. 
 
 Enoch Poor was born in Andover, Massachusetts, and distin- 
 guished himself in his early manhood by making a run-a-way 
 match with his wife. He was an enterprising ship-builder and 
 merchant in P^xeter when the AVar of the Revolution broke out. 
 All ej'es were turned to him, as one of the natural leaders. He 
 was resolute, brave, and accustomed to command. Appointed 
 colonel of the third New Hampshire regiment in the continental 
 line, he justified by his conduct the most favorable expectations 
 that were formed of his military talents. Lafayette chose him in 
 1 7'SO after his appointment as brigadier general, to lead a brigade 
 iu his corps of Light Lifautry. His death occurred that year in 
 New Jersey. The accounts of the time atti'ibuted it to bilious 
 fever, but recent investigations ]ioint to a duel with a brother 
 officer, as the cause. In the army tlic '• \)(nni of honor," as it was 
 termed, led to mnny fatal meetings between those wlio should 
 have turned their weapons only against the common enemy. Gen- 
 eral l*oor was highly esteemed by AVashington and by Lafayette. 
 Nearly fifty years after his death the latter visited Concord, New 
 Hampshii'e, and partook of a collation there as the nation's guest. 
 On being callccl (mi for a ttnist he gave '*tlie memory of Light 
 Infantry Poor and V(jrktown Scammell ;" a graceful compliment 
 to the State wliich sent tliose Revolutionary heroes into the service 
 of the country. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 395 
 
 Colonel John Eogers was one of tlie most enterprising and in- 
 fluential men of his clay in Exeter. A few of the principal people 
 nsed to govei-n the place then. They nominated officers, deter- 
 mined what improvements were necessary, and arranged all the 
 town business ; and the majority of the voters fell in with their 
 plans Avithout objection. Of these leaders Colonel Rogers was 
 for many years the ruling spirit. 
 
 He was a son of Judge Nathaniel Rogers, and was born July 2, 
 1787, at Newmarket. He received his education at the Phillips 
 Exeter Academy, and was appointed in 1808 cashier of the old 
 Exeter Bank, and so continued for twenty-two years. He was 
 also the colonel of the fourth regiment of militia. For fourteen 
 years from 1817 he was chairman of tlie board of selectmen. He 
 was interested in the manufacturing companies, in tanning, in 
 morocco dressing, and, indeed, in almost too many of the move- 
 ments for the improvement of business in the town. 
 
 Colonel Rogers was a large, fine looking man, of courteous 
 manners, and was exceedingly popular. He was three times 
 married, his first two wives being daughters of Colonel Nathaniel 
 Oilman, and his last a daughter of Rev. Jacob Cram. He died 
 in Jul}', 1837, leaving a widow and six children, two of whom are 
 still living, Frances, the widow of John Chad wick of Exeter, and 
 Jacob Rogers of Lowell, Massachusetts. 
 
 James Burley was born in the town in 1784, and was a promi- 
 nent character for many years. He early manifested a great apti- 
 tude for military exercises. For a long time he commanded a 
 uniformed company, was colonel of the fourth regiment of militia, 
 and published a work on military tactics in 1820. For some years 
 he was the landlord of the hotel nearly opposite the First church, 
 and afterwards was chosen cashier of the Granite Bank, an oUlce 
 ■which he held to the time of liis death, in IS'iO. He was a man 
 of prompt and resolute character, and was highly respected for his 
 integrity and honor. He held repeatedly the office of moderator 
 and selectman. He was twice married, and his sons and step-son 
 were among the early residents in Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 Sanmel Hatch was long a prominent figure in the political affairs 
 of the town. He was a cabinet-maker and dealt in furniture. A 
 Democrat of positive faith, he lived in the days Avhrn his party 
 opposed granting to railroads the right of way over private lands. 
 He was thoroughly honest and of no small ability. II i- was once 
 chosen representative to the Legislature, though a majority of the 
 
3U6 HISTDKV OF EXETER. 
 
 voters bplonged to the opposite political party ; and was twice a 
 membor of the State Senate. He had several sons, who were well 
 educated, l»iit none of llicin settled in Exeter. One of tlieni, 
 Daniel (J. Hatch, was a jiidije in Kentuckj'. 
 
 Seth Walker was born in Portsmouth Aujiust 2'J, 175(5, Early 
 in the Revolution he joined the army, and was at the siege of 
 Boston, He afterwards entered a privateer and was captured by 
 a British man-of-war. He retired from the service with the rank 
 of captain, and afterwards had the connnand of a regiment of 
 militia. Early in the present centur}' he was elected Register of 
 Deeds for the county of Rockingham and took up his residence in 
 Pvxeter. In those days when they found a good oflicer they kept 
 him ; and Colonel Walker held the Registership nearly thirty 
 years, without opposition. He, and his daughters, who assisted 
 him in his office, filled a great succession of volumes with their 
 clerkly chirography, and Colonel Walker became known through- 
 out all the county. His conduct in his official as well as in his 
 private capacity was above reproach. A year or two before his 
 decease he removed to Derry, where one of his daughters resided. 
 
 Joseph Pearson was a son of Jethro Pearson, an officer in the 
 old Frencli war, and was born in Exeter. He was well educated, 
 and in IT-SG received the appointment of Secretary of the State. 
 He was a fine penman, and performed his duties so satisfactorily 
 that he retained his office for twenty years. He then returned to 
 Exeter to pass the remainder of his life. His house was on Water 
 street, at the summit of meeting-house hill, which on that account 
 was sometimes known as Secretary's hill. 
 
 AV^addy V. Col)l)S was a native' of Virginia, enlistcil in tiie 
 I'nited States army, and so distinguished himself in the wars with 
 the Indians in the South, tluat he was promoted to a commission. 
 In the latter part of 1814 he was in command of a company, and 
 was ordered to New Orleans, and arrived there on the ninth day 
 of .January, ISl.'), just one day too late to take part in the famous 
 l)attle. He continued in the service nntil he reached the rank of 
 major, and then was retired from active service by reason of 
 paralysis of his lower limbs. He th(Mi came to Exeter, where his 
 wife's relatives weri', and there lived until his death January 1, 
 1847, at the age of fifty-nine. His wife survived him more than 
 thirty years, and was vi'iy efficient in charitable and benevolent 
 undertakings. During the Rebellion she was at the head of the 
 ladies' organization for the relief of the soldiers, and perhaps no 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. ;3<)7 
 
 one in the town did more than she to supply the vohnitoers in 
 camp and hospital with necessaries and comforts. 
 
 John C. Long Avas a native of Portsmouth, and a grandson of 
 Pierse Long, a gallant Revolutionary officer, and a member of the 
 old Congress. His father was for many years a shipmaster. He 
 entered the United States navy in 1812 as a midshipman. Only 
 four months afterwards he was on the frigate "Constitution" 
 when she captured the "Java." It was a trying introduction to 
 his new profession for a youngster of sixteen, but he never repent- 
 ed of the choice he had made. He remained in the service more 
 than fift3'-one years. In this time he was intrusted with every 
 variety of duty, afloat and ashore, and in all situations acquitted 
 himself with success and honor. One of the most unpleasant of 
 his employments was the transportation of Louis Kossuth and his 
 followers to this country on board the steam frigate "Mississippi." 
 The Hungarian exile so entirely mistook the purpose of our gov- 
 ernment in offering him a conveyance on a national vessel, that he 
 insisted on making an inflammatory address from the ship to the 
 red republicans in the harbor of Marseilles. The captain flrmly 
 forbade conduct so certain to embroil us with a friendly power. 
 The result was that Kossuth withdrew from the vessel. Captain 
 Long was fully sustained by the government. 
 
 In 1857 Captain Long was promoted to the command of the 
 Pacific squadron, and became commodore. A severe accident 
 which he met with on board his flagship the "Merrimac," almost 
 incapacitated him for active duty. But he served out his term of 
 two years, and then returned to his home in Exeter. In 1861 he 
 was placed upon the retired list, and died September 2, I860. 
 
 As an oflicer, Commodore Long was distinguished for profes- 
 sional knowledge, fidelity to duty and a high sense of laonor. He 
 exacted from his subordinates no more than he was willing to 
 perform himself. 
 
 In his social relations he was unassuming, kindly and generous. 
 His manners were marked by the high bred ease and courtes}' of 
 the old school. He was emphatically a good man. The poor had 
 in him a lil)eral and constant friend. And when he quitted the 
 earth he left no enemy behind. 
 
 The colored poi)ulation of Exeter has always been more con- 
 siderable, proportionally, than that of other country towns in New 
 Hami)shire. In colonial times the wealthier inhabitants held 
 slaves, whose descendants remained domesticated in the place, 
 
3ii8 lUSTuiiv OF i:xi:ti:i{. 
 
 unci iutennarried with others, so that their luunbcrs have been well 
 kept np. Several of them fonght for their liberties in the War of 
 the Rovolution. (^ne of tliese was Oxford Tash, who died Octo- 
 ber 14, l.siU, at tlie age of abont sixty. He had probably been 
 brought up a servant in the family of Colonel Thomas Tash of 
 Newmarket, and perhaps was freed as a reward for his military 
 service. He was wounded in action, but witli a liigh sense of 
 honor refused to apph' for a pension so long as he was able to 
 support himself. 
 
 He left descendants, and his son, Charles G. Tash, is well 
 remembered. He was of excellent manners, and high spirited like 
 his father. He became enamored of a white girl and wished to 
 marry her, but her friends were unwilling that she should become 
 his wife. He brooded over it until his reason became unsettled. 
 One evening he called to see her, and as she bade him good night 
 he discharged a pistol at lu-r loaded with two bullets, which 
 severely wounded her, and with another pistol iullictod a wound 
 upon himself. There is little doubt that his design was to put an 
 end to the lives of both. But both recovered. Tash was tried for 
 the offence and found guilty of an assault with intent to kill, but 
 was respited by the court on the ground of unsoundness of mind. 
 Tobias Cutler, a Revolutionary pensioner, died in Exeter in 
 September, 1834, at the age of seventy-six. He was born in 
 Kiudge and was a slave of Colonel Enoch Hale. In 17.S1 he en- 
 listed in the continental army with the consent of his master who 
 cnsased to free him at the age of twentv-one vears. The town of 
 Rindge tliereupon agreed that he should be received and deemed a 
 free inhabitant, upon his manumission by his master. After the 
 war he came to live in Exeter. He left descendants who are still 
 living in the town. 
 
 Another colored Revolutionary pensioner was Jude Hall who 
 died ill August, 1827, at the age of eighty. He was a man of 
 powerful physicjue, and it is said that the parts of his ribs which 
 are usually cartilaginous were of solid bone, so that his vital 
 organs were inclosed in a sort of osseous case. He lived on the 
 old road to Kensington, near the line of that town. He was the 
 chief witness of the goveniiiitiil in tiu' trial of John Hlaisdell for 
 the homicide of John W aillcigli. and was charged by the counsel 
 with a disposition to " stretcli lln' truth, " luit not, however, with 
 perjury. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEK. 399 
 
 A very remarkable family of colored preachers originated in 
 Exeter, of the name of Paul. The llev. Nathaniel Paul who had 
 been in the ministry twenty-one j-ears died in Albany September 
 10, 1839, at the age of forty-six, having, it was said, been the 
 means of much good. He had two older brothers who were also 
 Baptist ministers, — Thomas, the eldest, who died in Boston, and 
 Benjamin of New York cit}'. 
 
 One of the centenarians of Exeter was a man of African 
 descent, Corydon, who is said to have been once a slave of Dr. 
 John Phillips. He died in 1818 at the age of one hundred years. 
 
 The older inhabitants recall many "characters" among the 
 colored population, London Daly, Prince Light and others. The 
 last named was a favorite leader among them. Harry Manjoy, 
 sometimes called Emery, is well remembered. He was brought to 
 Exeter by Noah Emery, a shipmaster, not from Africa, probably, 
 but from some foreign port where he was offered for sale. He 
 claimed to have been a prince in his native country. He lived 
 with Captain P^mery until the latter's death, and afterwards sup- 
 ported himself by his labor. He was industrious and respectable, 
 and lived to a good old age. 
 
 At the southern extremity of what is now Elliott street, formerly 
 a mere lane, lived a colored man named Whitfield, whose wife 
 was quite a superior woman, belonging to the Paul family already 
 mentioned. Their son, Joseph M. Whitfield, went to Buffalo, 
 New York, and there followed the business of a barber. He was 
 a man of some education and of decided talent, and was the 
 author of poems, generally on the subject of slavery, which 
 attracted much notice. A number of his friends united in pub- 
 lishing a volume of his metrical productions, in 18,j3. They cer- 
 tainly will compare favorably with those of three out of four of 
 the collections of verse issued in the country. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 HOMICIDES; BURIAL-PLACES; THE "WHITE CAPS." 
 
 Since the settlement of Exeter by white men, its annals have 
 been stained by only four known cases of homicide. The earliest 
 and latest were the most painful, the victim in each case being a 
 woman. 
 
 Balthazar Willix was a man of more than ordinary education, 
 and came to Exeter about the year 1(344. He had married, the 
 preceding year, Mary, the Avidow of Thomas Hawksworth, as we 
 are informed, and she was probably the unfortunate person who 
 was the subject of the tragedy about to be related. 
 
 In the month of May or June, 1648, she went by water from 
 Exeter to Oyster river in Dover, to dispose of some cattle. She 
 seems to have been a woman of business capacity, and it may be 
 that her husband, who was apparently a foreigner, thought her 
 more likely to be successful in her dealings than himself. Robert 
 Hethersay or Hersey, rowed her to Dover in his canoe, and 
 engaged also to return with her in the same conveyance, when her 
 business was accomplished. 
 
 She sold the cattle, and received payment partly in corn, and 
 the residue, three pounds, in money. Then she proceeded to the 
 landing at Oyster river, to meet and return with Hersey, but he 
 was not to be found. He must have gone off with his canoe 
 without waiting for her, for what cause we know not. 
 
 What then befell the poor woman can only be conjectured. 
 Whether she attempted to return home by land or employed some 
 person to transport her in a boat is not known. The fact that she 
 had with her what was then a considerable sum of money was 
 undoubtedly known. It proved a temptation to some unscrupu- 
 lous person so powerful that it cost the unhappy creature her life. 
 Her dead body Avas afterwards found in the river, bearing marks 
 
 of brutal violence. 
 
 403 
 
lOi HISTORY OF EXKTER. 
 
 II(M- Imshand was shockod, and naturally indignant with TTevsey 
 whose negligence he regarded as the cause of the terrible calamity, 
 and who, to exculpate himself had apparently made insinuations 
 against the character of the murdered woman. In the heat of his 
 anger and distress Willix brought two actions at law against him, 
 one for failure to perform his contract of re-conveying the woman 
 to her home, and the other for defamation, in "raising an evil 
 report " about lu-r. The unhappy man. iJi'iiiap.s, hoped by venti- 
 lating the wliole matter in a court of justice, to vindicate the char- 
 acter of his dead wife. IJut he appears to have been better 
 advised, l)efore the session of the court, and never summoned 
 llersey to answer to the suits, and they were dropped. 
 
 Nothing further has been learned respecting the case, and the 
 rullian who perpetrated the shameful deed was apparently never 
 brought to justice. "Willix quitted Exeter the following year, and 
 removed to Salisbury, Massachusetts, and died there in March, 
 IGol. 
 
 MIKDKK OF JOIIXSOK. 
 
 Almost a century and a half passed by, before Exeter lost 
 another inhabitant by criminal violence. The second homicide 
 was committed in the autumn of 171*4. The name of the victim 
 was Johnson, and his slayer was his own son. They lived on the 
 eastern side of the river, near the old jail. The father was some- 
 what given to drink, but not quarrelsome. The son, Jack Johnson, 
 followed the sea, was short and thick in figure, and resented any 
 allusion to his "duck legs." He <lid not get on well with his 
 father, and had been lieard to tln-catcn him that he would "come 
 up with him " soon. 
 
 One evening the father and sou were at the barn of Mr. (Irant, 
 a neighbor, at a husking parly. Old Mr. -Johnson was sonu'what 
 intoxicated, and very talkative, and staid till after the others were 
 all gone; then he took his departure. Tliat was the last time he 
 was seen alive. The next morning he was missed at his home, 
 and his son Jack went about ostensibly in search of him. He lirst 
 made incpiiries at Hackett's ship-yard, across the river, where 
 Joseph Swasey was Imilding a vessel. He said to him and the 
 workmen present, " I believe some of you have killed my father." 
 "What's that you say. Jack," replied Mr. Swasey, "you know 
 none of us would hurt your father — not near as soon as you 
 would." 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 405 
 
 Jack next went to INIr. Grant's, and said to the family, " I 
 believe 3'oa have my father hid in your cellar." They bade him 
 go down and see. He did so, and made a great show of peering 
 behind the tubs and barrels. 
 
 His conduct excited the suspicious of the neighbors, but they 
 did not know enough to take any decided steps against him. 
 Meantime a new vessel was going down the river to Portsmouth, 
 and Jack got on board to go in her. At night she lay about a mile 
 below the town, and he went on shore. In the middle of the night 
 he returned to the vessel and crawled into the bunk with Mr. 
 Swasey, in a state of great fright and perturbation. 
 
 At Portsmouth he shipped with Captain (Nathaniel?) Boardman 
 for a voyage to sea. But there was no rest for him anywhere. 
 The consciousness of crime so pursued him that he was impelled 
 to confess all the circumstances of it to the captain, and then threw 
 himself overboard into the sea and perished. 
 
 ■ It appears that he lay in wait for his father's coming forth from 
 Grant's, and struck him down with an axe. He dragged the body 
 to Clark's barn which stood alone in a field, and buried it in the 
 cellar. Afterwards, on the night when he was on his way to Ports- 
 mouth, in the vessel, he disinterred the body and cast it into the 
 river. It was on his return from this errand that he manifested 
 such agitation and fear. 
 
 Under the circumstances, no legal investigation was thought 
 necessar}'^, and the wretched story of this parricide and suicide 
 does not appear upon our criminal records, but has come down to 
 us only by imperfect tradition. 
 
 HOMICIDE or JOHN wadleigh. 
 
 On the evening of the eighteenth of February, 1822, John "Wad- 
 leigh of Exeter received injuries which resulted in his death the 
 next morning. His home was on the old road to Kensington, and 
 some forty rods oi' more from the line of that town. Wadleigh 
 and John Blaisdell of Kensington left Exeter village at about half 
 past five o'clock in the evening, to return to their homes. It was 
 a dark and sloiiny niglit, and the walking was very slippery. 
 Though they Avere sober when they started, Wadleigh had in his 
 pocket a bottle of rum. He carried with him an axe, and Blais- 
 dell had a rough, heavy axe liantlle. 
 
 Three hours afterwards the two api)eared at the lioiisi' of ,lu(it> 
 Hall, a colored nuui, less than two miles from the [ihicc ricm which 
 
4()i; HISTOm' OF KXETEH. 
 
 tlu'v took their (U'partiirc, ami Hlaisdi'll applied to Hall to help 
 him to lead Wadleiiih iu, saying that he -was drunk, and "had 
 been fighting with a sleigh." He said that Wadleigh would have 
 died if he had not taken him up. and that he had led him from the 
 Cove bridge. In fact he had taken him directly past his (Wad- 
 leigh's) own house, to Hall's which was thirty or forty rods beyond. 
 Blaisdell in explanation of this circnmstauce said he would not 
 have carried "Wadleigh into his own house for ten dollars, imi)lying 
 that it would have excited suspicion that he had inflicted the injury 
 from which Wadleigh was suffering. 
 
 Blaisdell and Hall helped Wadleigh, who was covered with blood, 
 and almost insensible from the effect of a fracture and depression 
 of tlu' skull at the temple, to his own house, where Blaisdell 
 remained but ten minutes, excusing himself from staj-ing longer 
 b}' saying that he must go home to take care of his cattle. Hall 
 staid through the night until Wadleigh breathed his last. 
 
 The next morning a party went to Blaisdell's house to arrest 
 him on the charge of murder, and found that he had disappeared. 
 They followed him, by Lis tracks in the snow, for many miles 
 through the woods, and by cross roads, through Kensington and 
 the adjoining towns, and at length apprehended him in Exeter 
 near the border of lapping. 
 
 On the trial which took place in the succeeding September, 
 these facts were shown, as well as the following : The two men 
 were seen b}' two different parties not far from the Cove bridge, 
 on the evening when AVadleigh received his hurt. The first party 
 consisted of Robinson and Smith, and they were going in a sleigh 
 towards Exeter. They inquired of the two men, who were standing 
 beside the road, how far it was to Wedgewood's, and were 
 answered by one of them — not by Wadleigh. The other party 
 were Brown and Cheney, the former in a sleigh and the other 
 walking beside it. They were going iu the direction of Kensing- 
 ton, away from Exeter. They passed the two men standing beside 
 the road mar the Cove bridge, one of whom said to Brown, " Take 
 this man aboard, he is drunk and has been lighting with a sleigh," 
 and stating that it was .lohii Wadleigh. Brown, who knew 
 Wadleigh, said, " Come .John, gvt iu, I am going by 3'our house 
 and will carry you home." Wadleigli gave no answer to that nor 
 to a second invitation of the same purport, but was observed to 
 breathe very heavily. Brown then said to his companion, "He 
 don't seem to care about getting in, and I will go along, if you 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 407 
 
 will take care of him." The other replied that he would do so, 
 and Brown and Cheney went on. 
 
 Near the Cove bridge and about four feet outside of the 
 travelled path of the road was found the next day a great pool of 
 blood, " as if a hog had been killed there." The axe and the axe 
 handle which the two men carried were found near, in the snow, 
 and the former on the other side of the fence. A physician testi- 
 fied that the fracture of Wadleigh's skull could hardly have 
 occurred from a fall on the ice, nor from contact with the runner 
 of a sleigh, but appeared to have been caused liy a blow from 
 some blunt, square-cornered instrument. There was also slight 
 evidence that Blaisdell harbored a grudge against Wadleigh. 
 
 The case was argued with great ability by Ichabod Rartlett for 
 the prisoner, and by Attorney General George Sullivan for the 
 prosecution, and the charge to the jury was given bj' Mr. Justice 
 Levi "Woodbury, The jury, after an hour's deliberation, returned 
 into court with a verdict of " guilty of manslaughter," and the 
 prisoner was sentenced to confinement in the State prison for the 
 term of three years. 
 
 MURDER OF MRS. FERGUSON. 
 
 Bradbury Ferguson, a native of Sandwich, was living in Exeter 
 in 1840, employed as a journeyman hatter. His home was in the 
 western skirt of the village, on the north side of the road leading 
 to Kingston. His wife's maiden name was Eliza Ann Frothing- 
 liam, and she was a native of Portsmouth. They had six children, 
 the eldest but twelve years of age. 
 
 On the first day of October of that year, Ferguson had been at 
 the regimental muster at Epping, where he performed military 
 duty. He returned home in the evening intoxicated to the point 
 of being morose and quarrelsome. He soon drove his wife to the 
 house of a neighbor for protection. He followed her, and insisted 
 on her being given up to hhn, and used violence to the neighbor 
 who attempted to interfere in her behalf. The police were sent 
 for, and arrived between ten and eleven o'clock. Mrs. Ferguson 
 returned to her home while they were there. She complained to 
 them that she had been abused by her husband then and at other 
 tunes. He denied the charge and called on her to " show the 
 wounds." After a good deal of conversation, Ferguson was 
 induced to promise that he woulil hi' (piieL and not abuse his wife 
 anymore that night; luit he (hMhu-fd that in the morning " he 
 
408 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 would tr'ivc her a divorco, for he Avould not live with her any 
 more." 
 
 The poor wife at length consented to pass the niglit in the house 
 with him, but willi evident forebodings. In the night the children 
 wei-e awakened by the discharge of a gun. They ran into their 
 mother's room, and found her lying on the floor, and their father 
 standing beside her. They asked him what he had done, and he 
 answered that he had shot her. The wounded woman desired her 
 husband to lay her upon the bed, and he did so. He then inquired 
 of her where his best clothes were. She told him. lie collected 
 them together. Then he looked at the wound upon his wife's 
 body, and remarked that she would nc^t live. One of his little 
 boys inquired what he shot his mother for. He answered that she 
 ])r()V()ki'd him to it. He gave his gun, with which he did the 
 deed, to his eldest son, and told him he might go and call in 
 the neighbors ; and then gathering up his bundle of clothing he 
 left the house and went away on foot. 
 
 The unfortunate woman lived but a short time after his depart- 
 ure, and gave no account of the circumstances of the shooting. 
 Fero'uson was arrested four days afterwards, in Sandwich. He 
 was indicted and tried for murder at the Court of Common Pleas 
 in Portsmouth in the following February. lie was ably defended, 
 but his guilt was manifest, and the jury rendered a verdict of 
 guilty of murder of the second degree ; on which he was sentenced 
 to imprisonment for life. lie died in the State prison several 
 years ago. 
 
 HUUIAI -PLACKS. 
 
 In the two hundred and fifty years of Exeter's history, five 
 successive places have been used for the general burial of the 
 dead. Tlie earliest was on the northwestern slope of meeting- 
 house hill, near the site of the first nn[)retending house of worship. 
 This was probably in use for the first two generations. No doubt 
 some ruile stones were originally s^t up to mark the spots where 
 tlie bodies lay, and the ground was held sacred for a time. The 
 llev. Mr. Dudley was permitted by the town to enclose il. and to 
 pasture his catth- upon its luTbagc, providrd hv should not at(i'nii)t 
 to cultivate it or break its surface. But for a long time past no 
 traces of memorial stones have been visible there, and all feeling 
 of sanctity about the spot has vanislu'd. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 409 
 
 The next place of sepulture, in the order of time, was a beauti- 
 ful kuoll ou the west side of the salt river, near the present gas 
 works. So far as can be gathered from the remaining tomb- 
 stones, its use extended from the latter part of the seventeenth to 
 the early part of the eighteenth century. It has been sometimes 
 called the "Thing burying ground," perhaps because several of 
 the inscriptions still legible upon the head-stones commemorate 
 persons of that name. There are, however, an equal number 
 bearing the names of early members of the family of Ladd, and 
 those have been enclosed by a neat and durable fence, erected in 
 1850 by Alexander Ladd, a descendant. Only a part of the origi- 
 nal contents of this burial-place is now marked by mounds or 
 monuments. Within the memory of living men the graves ex- 
 tended on both sides of the elevation, to the lower ground beyond, 
 but no traces of them are now perceptible. All the mortuary 
 inscriptions remaining in 1804 were copied by the Rev. p]lias 
 Nason, and published in the sixteenth volume of The JV^eiv England 
 Historical and Genealogical Register. One of the monuments, 
 from which the inscription plate has been removed, is thought on 
 probable evidence to be that of the Rev. Samuel Dudley. This 
 place of burial became disused when in lGi)6 the new meeting- 
 house was erected "on the hill between the great fort and 
 Nat. Folsom's barn," the site of the present First church. The 
 yard surrounding the meeting-house was then devoted, after 
 the English fashion, to burials. For a long period, most of the 
 dead, except in the remoter districts, were interred there. There 
 rest the remains of two or three of the clergymen, and of a great 
 number of those who were the pillars of the religious and civil 
 society, in their day and generation. The church-yard was origi- 
 nally much more capacious than it now is, and has been repeat- 
 edly curtailed by the widening of the street and of the sidewalk in 
 front of it. It remained in use for probably almost a hundred 
 years, and must have been overcrowded at last. 
 
 Early in the present century, on the sole authority of a few of 
 the leading men of the town, all the tomb and head stones were 
 removed from the yard, or levelled to the ground and covered with 
 earth, so that in a little time the enclosure was overgrown with 
 turf, and all marks of the tenants beneath were substantially 
 obliterated. 
 
 On what grounds tiiis apparent act of vandalism was justified, 
 we cannot imagine. Yet it is clear tliat it met the approval of the 
 
410 HISTORY OF KXETEK. 
 
 majority of the people, or it could not Imve been accomplished, at 
 least without the most strenuous opposition. But it is not learned 
 that the least objection was made. It must be supposed that 
 weighty reasons were in existence for so extraordinar}'^ a step, 
 which wo cannot appreciate. The loss which it caused to the 
 antifiunry and the investigator of famil}^ histor}^, is well nigh 
 irrei)arable. 
 
 About the year 1742 Colonel John Oilman devised to the town 
 a trart of land for a ])urial-place, upon the condition which was 
 seasonably complied with that it should be fenced Avithin three 
 3'ears. It is situated upon the north side of Front street, west of 
 the railroad, and extends across to AVinter street. It thus became 
 the fourth public burying-yard of the town, and continued in use 
 about a century. The remains of the Rev. Daniel Kogers, of 
 John Taylor Gilman, of Jeremiah Smith and of many other dis- 
 tinguished citizens there repose. The opening of the new ceme- 
 tery in l.'-i44 nearly put an end to l)urials in this inclosure, and 
 naturally it fell into neglect. It became overgrown with weeds 
 and bushes, and was in sad need of an Old Mortalit}' to prevent 
 further dilapidations. One of the citizens, unwilling that it 
 should share the fate of its predecessors, recently took steps that 
 resulted in the appropriation by the town of a sum of money for 
 tiie restoration and improvement of the buryiug-place, so that its 
 l^ase of existence is prolonged for a season. 
 
 Tills fourth burying-ground having been filled, past further 
 service, several gentlemen of the town in 1843 conceived the plan 
 of establishing a private cemetery Avhich could be increased in 
 extent as occasion might require, and would be permanent and 
 not liable to be abandoned and neglected. P^or this purpose they 
 organized under the statutes of the State a company incorporated 
 as the Exeter Cemetery Association. Dr. D. W. Gorham, Amos 
 Tuck, Henry F. French, James Burley and Charles C. P. Moses 
 were the principal promoters of the scheme. 
 
 They procured a lot of land and laid it out for. the purpose. 
 'i'hc lots found purchasers readily, and the cemetery has now been 
 in use for more tlian forty j'cars. It is situated somewhat too 
 near the village, periiaps, but the successive enlargements which 
 have increased its dimensions to thirty acres or more, have all 
 been in the opposite direction. It is wrll phuitcd with trees and 
 shrubs, and is an attractive spot. Much good taste has been 
 iiiauift'sled in lln' fifling and ornaments of the lots, and in the 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 411 
 
 mouumeuts erected iipou thein. The late William P. ]Moultoii 
 was at his decease president of the Association, Charles Barley is 
 the treasurer, and William H. Belknap the secretary. 
 
 lu addition to tlie public burial-places enumerated, another 
 situated in the southwestern part of the town, near Great hill, 
 should be mentioned. It is for local use, and its age has not 
 been ascertained. 
 
 There are also several private or family buryiug-3'ards in dif- 
 ferent parts of the town. Two of them are near the main village, 
 on the east side of the river, and have been used chiefly, if not 
 Avholly, by the families of Leavitt and Folsom respectively. 
 
 A natural transition from the subjects of the earlier part of 
 this chapter, murders and church-3^ards, would be to ghostly 
 apparitions and the diabolical pranks of witches, if there were 
 any such to relate. But in the times when the great witchcraft 
 delusion, two centuries ago, subverted the religion and the common 
 sense of the people of other neighboring places, Exeter main- 
 tained its equipoise. A town of so much antiquity might, 
 perhaps, be expected to have its old time traditions, at least, 
 of visitations from the unseen world, but none such have been 
 heard of. Not a haunted house is known to the oldest inhabitant. 
 Nearly everything that can be said to verge on the supernatural, 
 is modern. A stor}' is indeed told of the re-appearance of an 
 elderly gentleman after his decease, for the purpose of warning 
 his youthful widow that she must follow him within a year, which 
 she did. But the story is only a single generation old, and has 
 excited curiosity rather than awe. 
 
 One house, in which a servant girl accidentally inflicted a fatal 
 wound upon herself with a pistol, is said to have been avoided 
 since by her countrywomen, but it was never asserted that her 
 spirit wallved there. Another house was for a time the scene of 
 some strange and inexi)licable freaks of self-propelling articles of 
 furniture, and the like ; but it never received a bad name on that 
 account. 
 
 Towards the close of the last century, however, an occurrence 
 took place in the town, which denoted, at least, that the belief in 
 the existence of supernatural agencies was common. Indeed we 
 know, from various sources, that at that time, and nnich hiter, 
 
11-) IIISTOUV OF EXETER. 
 
 tlie mass of the peoi)le hunllv (iiu'stioneil the existouce of witt-lu'S, 
 or the tii)peanuice and interposition in hnman affairs of disem- 
 bodied spirits. Tliis crednlity was often taken advantage of by 
 the niischievous to eanse affright, and by the mercenary to extort 
 money. Unprincipk'd impostors are known to have travelled the 
 conntrv to work upon the liopes and fears of those whom they 
 could iulluence by pretending to magical powers, in order to 
 swindle tiiem out of their property. 
 
 One such sharper, a perfect Dousterswivel in the art of impos- 
 ture, was named Kainsford Rogers. He was a native of Con- 
 necticut, but lived also in Massachusetts and in New York. 
 Though illiterate he was once a school teacher. He pretended to 
 a deep knowledge of chemistry, and claimed that he possessed the 
 power to raise, or to lay, spirits, good and evil, at his pleasure. 
 He began his career of operating on the superstitious belief of 
 people, at ^Morristown, New Jersey, in 1788. There he succeeded 
 in defrauding his followers out of a large sum of money, by the 
 pretence that he could secure for them a concealed treasure, 
 through the agency of the spirits. Then he absconded. The 
 story of his methods of deluding his dupes is told at large in a 
 little volume entitled The Morridoion Ghost, published soon after 
 the occurrence. 
 
 'The same person, with sometimes a different name, was said to 
 have depleted the pockets of the people in several of the Southern 
 States, afterwards, by similar means. In 1797, he appeared in 
 Adams county, Pennsylvania, under the alias of Kice Williams. 
 There, with a confederate or two, he repeated his tricks upon con- 
 fiding persons, and succeedi'd in making oft' with a consid^Tuble 
 sum. 
 
 It was not far from tliat time tliat he came to Exeter, bearing 
 his true name of Kainsford Kogers, which had, perhaps, not 
 acquired so had an odor in New England as in some other quarters. 
 In a short time he formed the acquaintance of a number of persons 
 •whom he judged to be suitable for his i)urpose. They were, of 
 course, men of substance, able to furnish the money which he was 
 phiiiuing to transfer to his own pocket, and sufliciently credulous 
 to put entire faith in his representations. When he had enlisted 
 a dozen or mure, after fully sounding them, he broaclied to them 
 his project. He informed them that he had reason to believe that 
 a subterranean treasure of great value existed in the neighborliood, 
 which, by his magical skill and with proper means and aid, Ik; 
 
HISTOUY OF EXETER. 413 
 
 could discover and appi'oprinte for their common henefit. He 
 secretly visited several localities for tlie purpose of " prosi)ecting," 
 and at meetings of his followers, reported his discoveries. So 
 skilful was he in stimulating their greed, and so plausible in 
 explaining every successive step of his operations, that they never 
 dreamed of any trick or dishonesty, but followed all his directions 
 to the letter. 
 
 He repeatedly conducted them on dark nights to out-of-the-way 
 places, to dig in the swamps with spades and other implements, 
 and kept them at work, sometimes, it is said, for hours, in delving 
 for the hidden prize. He instructed them that on those expedi- 
 tions it was essential that they should wear white caps — a circum- 
 stance which afterwards gave the name to the company. On one 
 of the nocturnal excursions there appeared before the eyes of the 
 awe-stricken diggers a figure all in white, representing a spirit, 
 which uttered some words which were not well understood. One 
 of the " white caps," anxious to lose nothing of the weighty com- 
 munication, responded — "a little loader, Mr. Cxhost ; I'm rather 
 hard of hearing !" 
 
 But dig as diligently as they might, they reached no treasure. 
 After a time Rogers disclosed what he declared to be the reason 
 of their want of success. The golden deposit was there, beyond 
 question ; but they needed one thing more to enable them to find 
 and gL'asp it. That was a particular kind of divining-rod. It 
 must be made of dear materials, but it was infallibly sure of 
 doing the business. It could not be obtained this side of Phila- 
 delphia, and would cost several hundred dollars. But if they 
 would contribute the necessary sum, he would at once proceed to 
 Philadel[)hia, purchase the needful implement and then return and 
 introduce them to a golden hoard that would reimburse them a 
 hundred-fold for tiieir advances. 
 
 It is a marvel that the faith of his adherents Avas not shaken by 
 so transparent a device, but he had tutored them so adroitly that 
 their cupidity got the better of their caution and common sense. 
 The deluded company raised the money required, and delivered it 
 to the sharper, wlio niounted his horse, with a saddle and bridle 
 borrowed from one of his dupes, and rode off — to parts unknown, 
 never to return. 
 
 It was but a little time after his departure before the whole 
 affair was made pul)lic. The white caps had not held their clan- 
 destine meetings unobserved. Each midnight rendezvous, each 
 
ill HISTUKV OF EXETEH. 
 
 delving excursiou \n the swamps, had been watched, and all their 
 eredulity and imbecility were revealed. The worthy but super- 
 stitious persons who had been seduced into this ridiculous position, 
 became heartily ashamed of themselves, and prayed that their 
 folly might never be mentioned. But the joke was too good to 
 be kept in silence, and many a sly allusion to their white head-gear 
 made their ears tingle for years after. The deaf man who 
 required the ghost to "speak a little louder " never heard the 
 last of his unfortunate speech. 
 
 The names of most of the sulTerers by this imposture have been 
 preserved, but as theu' conduct was weak rather than culpable, to 
 publish them could serve only to gratify an idle curiosity, and 
 might cause pain to the feelings of their descendants. 
 
 Possibly the exposure of this fraud may have had a beneficial 
 effect upon succeeding generations. The belief in the supernatu- 
 ral does not appear to have misled any to similar acts of credulity 
 in later years. Digging for hidden treasure has never been 
 attempted in the town, since the memorable experience of the 
 "'white caps." 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THINGS NEW AND OLD. 
 
 The town of P^xeter is noted for its fine ornamental trees. In 
 the early years of the century the Lombarcly poplars in trim rows 
 mounted guard around the principal edifices, but they did not take 
 kindly to the northern climate. The stately sycamores were next 
 introduced, but those, too, drooped, and disappeared. Maples 
 and elms supplied their places, and thrive in the congenial soil, 
 giving refreshing shade and adding beauty to the village. 
 
 The elms are not all of recent growth. Some of them can 
 boast a life more than double that usually assigned to man. 
 
 The oldest elm in Exeter is probably that which stands in front 
 of the house of the late Isaac Flagg on Front street. A hundred 
 and fifty-eight years ago the residence of Judge Nicholas Gilman 
 was there. His son, the Rev. Nicholas Gilman, afterwards of 
 Durham, on the third of April, 1730, according to his diary, " set 
 out elms before father Gilman's house." The father died in 1741 
 and his son followed him in 1748. How long the house stood we 
 know not, but the elms lived on and survived them all. 
 
 One of them had a narrow escape from destruction in the early 
 part of the present century. The axe was already laid at its root, 
 when Colonel Nathaniel Gilman, who loved a fine tree, interposed. 
 " What are you going to cut that elm down for?" he inquired of 
 the occupant. " For firewood." " Let the tree stand," said the 
 colonel, " and I'll give you a load of firewood." The offer was 
 accepted and the doom of the tree was averted for the time. 
 
 When Deacon John Williams purchased the lot, about 1828, two 
 of the elms were standing in the prime of their beauty, and he was 
 very proud of them. " I gave five hundred dollars for the lot," 
 said he, " and I would not take that sum for the trees." But 
 since then one of them has succumbed to the ravages of time, and 
 has disappeared. The other is still standing, and has been stayed 
 by iron bolts, where the branches diverge from the trunk. It has 
 
 415 
 
416 IllSTOKY UF KXKTEU. 
 
 now seen more llian a liumlrcd and sixty summers and winters. 
 Kiglit i:;enerations may have enjoyed its shade, from .Ind<ie Nich- 
 ohis (Jihnan to his great-great-ureat-grandson who is now living. 
 
 The old tree is n living link that binds us to the distant i)ast. 
 Long may it continue to lift on high its venerable crown. 
 
 A notice of a few of the old houses in p^xeter and of their occu- 
 pants, will not be out of place here. The distinctive names given 
 them arc those by which they have been popularly known. The 
 lirst is 
 
 TIIK <LIFl-Oi:i) HOUSE. 
 
 The oliU'st house in the town is uudoulitedly that un the 
 northerly corner of Water and Clifford streets, now owned by 
 Manly W. Darling. It was built by Councillor John Oilman. lie 
 was living in it in 1G7(!, and there is ground for tlie Ix'lief that it 
 dates back to l()o8. It was constructed of square logs, tiie upper 
 story projected a foot or more beyond the lower, and the windows 
 were scarcely more than loop-holes. It was thus completely 
 adapted for the defence of its inmates against the attacks of the 
 savages, and is known as a " garrison house." 
 
 The original structure was small, and constitutes the main l)ody 
 of the present house. No doubt additions must have Iteeu soon 
 made to it, for the first occupant had sixteen children, all Init four 
 of whom lived to maturity. The wing which protrudes towards 
 the street was a much later ai)pendage. 
 
 In this wooden castle lived Councillor (iilman till his death in 
 17U<S. His sou, Colonel John Cilman, succeeded him in tiie 
 ownership of the house. He was then about thirty-two years of 
 age, with a wife and three or four children. He was active and 
 energetic, and acquired propertj' and inlluence. In 171'.' and 1720 
 he was licensed by the provincial Assembly to keep a place of 
 public entertainment in '* his log house by the bridge." Colonel 
 Ciilman was the father of eleven children, and died in 1740. 
 
 His eldest son was Peter, born in 17Uo, and married seven d:vys 
 after reaching the age of twenty-one. His father, realizing that 
 no house is large enough for two generations, then ])roceeded to 
 liiiiM liimself another dwelling near b}-, to which he i)resently 
 removeil ; and in 1 7;52 executed to Peter a deed of gift of the old 
 mansion. 
 
 I'eter's family would not be considered a small one in these 
 de<'^enerate days. He luul seven daughters, but it was doubtless 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 417 
 
 a sore trial to him that he had no son to inherit the liouse that his 
 grandfather built, so as to " Iceep it in the name." Peter Gihnaa 
 was a man of note, in civil and military life. He was Speaker of 
 the House of Assembly and a councillor of the province, and rose 
 to the rank of brigadier general in the militia, through his exploits 
 in the French and Indian wars. He was much esteemed by his 
 townsmen. It is related that on one occasion a press-gang came 
 from Portsmouth to Exeter to seize men to serve in his majesty's 
 nav}'-, but the brigadier warned the part}^ that any whom they 
 might capture would surely be rescued before they reached Strat- 
 ham, and the}^ desisted. When the separation between the motlier 
 country and her American colonies was impending, the brigadier 
 felt bound by the oaths of allegiance he had taken to Britain, to 
 set his face against all disloyal proceedings. If he had been less 
 respected by his neighbors, he would have been tabooed, or 
 perhaps maltreated, by the " high sons of liberty ; " ])ut no insult 
 was offered to him. 
 
 He was a man of strong religious feelings, and a great admirer 
 of the evangelist Whitetield. An amusing story has been pre- 
 served of his being so deeply affected by a discourse of the great 
 preacher that he fairly rolled on the ground, in an agony of 
 penitence. Of course when the schism took place in the First 
 society in 1743, the brigadier went oft" into the new church, and 
 became one of its chief supporters. 
 
 It was during Peter Gilman's occupation of tlie house that the 
 front wing was added to it. It was probably built in 1772 or 
 177o, while he was a councillor. John Wentworth was then the 
 governor, j'oung, popular and fond of show and ceremony. His 
 Exeter councillor, the first in the place since the century came in, 
 was desirous of showing him due honor, on occasion of his visiting 
 the town. The low-storied rooms of the old house seemed hardly 
 suitable for tlie reception of the highest dignitary of the province. 
 Tlie brigadier, therefore, had this addition made to it, of two 
 stories, so as to lodge the govei*nor, and perhaps to furnisli a 
 chamber for tiie meeting of the council also. The whole was 
 finished inside witli panelled work, in the elaborate style of the 
 joinery of the time. 
 
 As the brigadier left no sou to succeed him in the homestead, 
 the place after his death in 1788 went into the possession of 
 Ebenezer Clifford, who removed from Kensington to Exeter about 
 that tinie. He was an ingenious mechanic, and studied architect- 
 
418 HISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 ure and made scientific experiments outside of his regular calling. 
 
 He manufactured a diving bell, with which he brought up from 
 the bottom of the sea valuable property from one or more wrecked 
 vessels. A relic of the old diving bell is still extant. It is the 
 wooden duck which now serves as a weather vane upon the rear 
 wing of the old house. This was the float by means of which the 
 diver in the water below, was enabled to communicate his wants 
 to his assistant in a boat at the surface. 
 
 "While My. Clifford was master of the house he had for a boarder 
 a hul who was destined at a later day to become the pride and 
 boast of two States, that of his birth, education, and professional 
 training, and that of his matured powers and later life. Daniel 
 AVebster came to Exeter to attend the rhillips Academy in 17'JG, 
 and was an inmate of Mr. Clifford's family for several months. 
 He had lived in a frontier settlement without instruction in the 
 minor graces of life, and was habitually guilty of some breach of 
 etiquette at the table, which INIr. ClitTord was desirous of cor- 
 recting. But knowing that young Webster was diffident and 
 sensitive he was reluctant to hurt his feelings by pointing out the 
 fault directly. Trusting to the youth's quick sighteduess to make 
 the proper application, he one day reproved his apprentice, who 
 in the homely fashion of the time sat at table with the family, for 
 committing the self-same fault which he had observed in Webster. 
 
 He did not overrate the latter's discernment. Never again did 
 he give cause for criticism on that account. 
 
 THE DICAN HOUSE. 
 
 On the site of tlie present town-house, formerly stood a liand- 
 some dwelling with a gambrel roof, which dated from about the 
 year 1724. It was erected by Nathaniel Gilman, or by his father 
 Judge Nicholas (iilman for him. He, according to tradition, was 
 commonly known as "Gentleman Nat," probably on account of 
 his nicety of dress or manners. He was a man of property and 
 lived handsomely, but died at an early age, leaving a widow and 
 one or more children. Tiie eldest of these, John Phillips would 
 have afterwards taken to wife, but she preferred another. He; 
 tlu-refore wooed and won her mother, the widow, in despite of a 
 slight disparity in their ages, she being forty-one while he was 
 but twenty-seven. But she was well dowered. It is highly 
 probable that they occupied the liouse after their marriage, but 
 this is not positively asserted. At a later date ISIr. Phillips 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 419 
 
 erected for himself a house on the north side of Water street near 
 by, and there lived with his second wife, until his death. 
 
 Joseph Gihnan resided in the earlier habitation, afterwards, 
 through the Revolution, and until liis emigration in 1788, to tlie 
 Ohio country, which in those days was a greater undertaking than 
 it now is to cross the continent. He had obtained a thorough 
 business training in Boston, and returned to Exeter in 1761 to 
 become a partner in the firm of Gilman, Folsom & Gilman, wliich 
 was largely engaged in commerce and trade. He was then a 
 widower, but in 1763 married again, and probably at that time 
 set up his establishment in the house. He made a singular dis- 
 covery there. In the middle of the structure was a large stack of 
 chimneys. Between the flues was a secret repository, left perhaps 
 for the purpose of concealment of property or persons, and in it 
 he found deer-skin pouch filled with old French crowns. The 
 history of the deposit he could never learn, but suspected that 
 some former occupant had bestowed his stock of specie in this 
 secret storehouse, when he was about departing on some hazard- 
 ous errand, to the Indian or French wars, and never returned, 
 nor revealed the secret to others. 
 
 During the Revolution the house was the place of meeting of 
 the Committee of Safety of the State, of which Mr. Gilman was a 
 member, and a resort of the Whigs, of the town and elsewhere. 
 The second Mrs. Gilman was a superior and highly accomplished 
 woman. To some of the young French officers who were in the 
 American army it was a great boon to visit Exeter and converse 
 with a lady who understood their language so thoroughly, and 
 was accustomed to the elegancies of life. The Gilmans had no 
 lack of distinguished visitors. One of them was Samuel Adams. 
 It was in the darkest hours of the Revolution. His spirits were 
 depressed, and not even Mrs. Gilman's sprightly talk could rouse 
 him to cheerfulness. He walked the room and wrung his hands. 
 "Oh God," he cried, " must we give it up!" His ailment was 
 one which nothing but a military success could relieve. 
 
 Not many years after Mr. Gilman left Exeter, John Gardner 
 came there to live. He married Deborah, daughter of Ward Clark 
 Dean, and occupied the house that Mr. Gilman quitted. Mr. 
 Gardner was a native of Boston, and became a merchant. Of a 
 confiding disposition, he suffered himself to become responsible 
 for others, until he failed in business. His creditors pocketed 
 their percentage and reconciled themselves to a loss in which there 
 
4-_>(i HISTOlfV OF FA'ETKIt. 
 
 was nulliiiiii; dishonorable. IJut he did not. He never rested until 
 he was able to repay to every creditor the full amount of his 
 claim, with interest. .^Ir. (iardiior is remembered by the older 
 citizens, as a man of pleasant address, and remarkable even after 
 he had long passed his threescore years and ten, for his cheerful- 
 ness and buoyancy of spirits. 
 
 Somewhere about the year 1820, probably, ]Mr. Gardner built 
 the house on Court square now occupied by his graudchildrcn, and 
 removed into it. His father-in-law. Ward C. Dean, then came 
 into the occupation of the old habitation, and resided there until 
 his decease in 1.S2S; after which his widow lived there till her 
 death in 18-13. In \x')i'> the land on which the house stood was 
 purchased by the town, and the present town-houSe was erected 
 there. The old building was razeed by cutting away one of its 
 stories, and removed to Franklin street, where it now remains. 
 
 Tin: LADD HOUSE. 
 
 On a little elevation a few rods south of Water street is the 
 residence of John T. I'erry. It has an old time look, never 
 having been modernize^d without, so that no one cau see it without 
 feeling that it has a history. It consists of two sections, of differ- 
 ent dates, the earlier of which was built by Nathaniel Ladd in 1721 
 or soon after. It was of brick, which is now covered with wood, 
 to correspond with the portion which was added later. 
 
 The Ladd family is an old one in the town. AVe have already 
 mentioned one of the name who sounded the trumpet in Gove's 
 rebellion against Governor Craufield, and was afterwards slain in 
 an expedition against the P^astern Indians. There were other 
 notable characters in the family. Simeon Ladd, who came upon 
 the stage at least three generations afterwards, was keeper of the 
 jail. He was something of a wag, and the president of a society 
 of choice spirits called the '' Nip Club," who used to assemble at 
 one of the taverns on regular evenings for convivial purposes. 
 He perhaps inherited a tendency to eccentricity from his father, 
 who is said to have long kept a ready made coflin in his house to 
 meet an emergency, and who invented a pair of wings -which he 
 fondly believed would enable him to cleave the air like a l>ird, 
 until he tried the experiment from an upper window. 
 
 Lliplialet Ladd was born in 1711, and while young developed 
 much aptitude for business. He was a shipmaster and merchant 
 dnring the Revolutionary contest, and made at least one voyage 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 421 
 
 in the war time to the West Indies, from which he returned after 
 an absence of sixty days, with a cargo of rum, mohisses, etc. 
 His vessel was several times chased by English men-of-war. He 
 also built several ships, one of which was among the largest ever 
 lauuclied in Exeter, and was called the Archelaw^. She was of 
 about five hundred tons, and was nearly three years in building. 
 Captain Ladd's energy and pluck were rewarded by the acquisition 
 of a competency. In 1792 he removed to Portsmouth. 
 
 His son, William Ladd, born in Exeter in 1778, and a graduate 
 of Harvard College, was well knovvn as the " apostle of peace." 
 
 The Nathaniel Ladd who built the house which is under notice 
 had two sons, to whom he conveyed it, and who probably occupied 
 it until 1747 when it was bought by Colonel Daniel Oilman. His 
 son Nicholas then moved into it. This was "Treasurer" Nich- 
 olas Oilman who was afterwards distinguished as the financier of 
 New Hampshire in the Revolution. He had three sons, John 
 Taylor, afterwards governor of the State many yeai's, Nicholas, 
 an officer of the Revolution and a senator of the United States, 
 and Nathaniel who was State senator and treasurer. The father 
 was a man of much business and many cares. He was a devoted 
 AVhig, notwithstanding he was a particular friend of the royal 
 governor, who would have sacrificed much if he could have 
 secured Mr. Oilman's support to the British cause. In his capac- 
 ity of treasurer of the State he had his office in this house, and 
 tliere, no doubt, he atfixed his handsome signature to the paper 
 bills of credit to which the State and the country were obliged to 
 resort, to carry on the war. The treasurer lived to thankfully 
 witness the termination of hostilities and the virtual establishment 
 of the independence of his country, and died April 7, 1783. 
 
 His eldest son, John Taylor Oilman, next owned and occupied 
 the mansion, and it was during his tenancy, no doubt, tiiat the 
 narrow street upon which it is situated received the designation of 
 " Oovernor's lane." About the year 1815 he removed to the 
 dwelling on the south side of Front street, which was afterwards 
 his home, and the old house came into the occupation of Colonel 
 Peter Chadwick, a native of Deerfield, it is believed. He long 
 held the office of Clerk of the Courts. An honorable, high minded 
 gentleman, he was much respected, and is pleasantly remembered 
 by the older residents. He died in 184 7, ])ut his family resided 
 in the house for manv vears after. 
 
4 22 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Tho old mansion at length came into the possession of the 
 present owner, a descendant of Treasurer Gilman, who appre- 
 ciates it, and has improved and adorned it without sacrificing its 
 antique character. It is a remarkable coincidence that Mr. Perry 
 moved into the dwelling in April, 1883, just one hundred years to 
 a day after the death of his great-grandfather there. 
 
 THE ROWLAND HOUSE. 
 
 The square edifice on the northwest corner of Park and Summer 
 streets, which is surmounted by a hipped roof with overhanging 
 eaves, was erected quite early in the last century and was occupied 
 for two or thi'ee generations by families of the name of Giddinge. 
 Zebulon Giddinge was married in 1724 at the age of twenty-one, 
 and probably lived in the house from that time to his death in 
 1789. lie was chosen representative to the Assembly nine 3'ears, 
 and clerk of the town thirty-nine. lie was an innkeeper, and his 
 house stood by the road over Avhich all the lumbermen hauled their 
 logs to the river side. Naturally, he did a large business in dis- 
 pensing liquid refreshments. It was at his house that the partici- 
 pants in the mast-tree riot in 1734 assembled to put on their 
 disguise of Natick Indians, and perhaps to prime themselves for 
 their illegal undertaking. At a much later date meetings used to 
 beheld tliere for a more creditable purpose; — for consultations 
 on the irritating course of the British Parliament towards the 
 colonists, and how best to unite the whole people in measures of 
 resistance. 
 
 Dr. John Giddinge was a son of Zebulon, as was also Colonel 
 Eliplialet, who continued to live in the house after his father's 
 death. The colonel was engaged in ship-building and lumbering. 
 He had a son Nathaniel who, while quite young, exhibited superior 
 talents for business. His father naturally encouraged him and 
 pushed him forward. He was popular and was early appointed a 
 colonel of the fourth regiment of militia, a rank which conferred 
 distinction, but cost no small amount of time and expense to meet 
 the expectations of the officers of his command. His father built 
 for him tlie stately iiouse on the plains, wliich was subsequently 
 occupied by Jeremiah Smith, and after him by Joseph L. Cilley. 
 But the young man was a fast liver, and died before he reached 
 middle ago. 
 
 Klii)haU't Gidilinge survived utilil 1830, and his successor in 
 the paternal residence was the Kev. William F. Rowland, who 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 423 
 
 was his son-in-law. Mr. Rowland had resigned the pastorship of 
 the First church in 1828, and was never again settled over a 
 society. He died in 1843, and his children continued to live in 
 the house until the death of the last surviving daughter in 1886. 
 The house is now the property of Dr. Charles H. Gerrish. 
 
 THE ODIORNE HOUSE. 
 
 On the corner opposite to the house just described is another 
 which for more than fifty years past has been occupied by Mrs. 
 Bickford, and was built about 1737 by Major John Gilman, whose 
 losses at Fort William Henry are recorded on pages 236 and 
 237. It has the gambrel roof characteristic of its time, and is 
 a fine specimen of colonial architecture. Major Gilman spent the 
 residue of his life in it. He was the owner of a slave whose three 
 sons were the colored preachers of the name of Paul, referred to 
 in a former chapter. 
 
 Major Gilman had twelve children, the eldest of whom became the 
 wife of Deacon Thomas Odiorne who lived in the house after the 
 death of its first owner, until his own death in 1819. The deacon 
 was a worthy, patriotic citizen and had the respect of all. His 
 widow survived him about ten years. Not long after her decease, 
 the house came near being the scene of a double tragedy. It was 
 in one of its rooms that Charles G. Tash, as has already been 
 related, attempted to take the life of Sally Moore, a white girl, 
 and of himself, but fortunately failed to inflict a fatal hurt upon 
 either. 
 
 THE HILDUETH HOUSE. 
 
 Upon the triangular lot at the intersection of Front and Linden 
 streets is a large dwelling which evidently belongs to two periods. 
 The easterly portion of it is the older, and was built about the 
 year 1730 by Daniel, son of Judge Nicholas Gilman. Twenty- 
 five years afterwards he was commissioned colonel of the militia, 
 and, according to tradition, then enlarged his house with the 
 western addition, in order to receive as a guest Governor Bcnning 
 Wentworth, who was about to pay a visit to Exeter. Colonel 
 Daniel Gilman was a large farmer and trader, and employed as a 
 servant John Dudley, afterwards judge of the Superior Court, 
 who owed to his employer the encouragement and assistance that 
 enabled him to develop his native powers and attain his high posi- 
 
-^■2-i lUSTOKV OF EXETKH. 
 
 tion. The Hev. (ieorge AVhiteficld had in Colonel Gihnan a stanch 
 friend and admirer. When he visited P^xeter for the last time, 
 and preached there his final sermon, on the twenty-ninth of Sep- 
 tember, 1770, it is recorded that he "dined -with Captain [Col.] 
 (iilnian." "Whitelield commenced his service in the forenoon of 
 tliat day in the church of the Second parish, but as it was found 
 altogether insulllcieut to accommodate the throng who assembled 
 to hear him, he Avas obliged to preach outside. In order to avoid 
 the shining of the sun in his face he crossed the street, and 
 mounted upon a board laid upon a couple of hogsheads, from 
 which he fiddressed his congregation. In the afternoon he rode 
 with the Kev. Mr. Parsons to Newburyport. liut he had long 
 overtaxed his strength, and his hours were numbered. The next 
 morning he breathed his last. 
 
 Colonel Oilman died suddenly in churrli. of apoplexy, in \~siK 
 His son. Dr. Nathaniel (iilman, succeeded to the ownership of the 
 house, but survived his father a few years only. The house then 
 passed through several hands into the possession of the Rev. 
 Hosea Ilildreth, who resided in it during his stay in Kxeter. 
 
 It is now occupied by two families, those of jMrs Samuel Tilton 
 and of the Rev. Noah Hooper. 
 
 TIIK TKAIJODY HOISK. 
 
 Till' house on the soutli side of Water street now owned by 
 Warren F. Putnam was erected by Samuel Gilman, who moved 
 into it November 3, 1725, and lived there during the succeeding 
 sixty years. He was an innkeeper, a colonel and a judge. In 
 1734 he entertained the party sent by Surveyor General David 
 Dunbar from Portsmouth to Exeter to discover what mast trees 
 had been illegally felled, when the stalwart woodsmen broke in 
 ui)OU them and gave them entertainment of a very different nature. 
 
 After the death of the worthy builder, llic habitation was pur- 
 chased by Oliver Peabody, mid lie with his interesting family 
 lived there till 1831. .leremiah Dow, a tanner, and a man of 
 much force of character, succeeded to the occupancy of tlje house. 
 Since his time the property has had several owners, and has 
 undergone such transformations that it is tlillicult now to realize 
 that the house has seen a hundred and sixty-three years. 
 
 Tin: (.11. MAN IK (LSI-.. 
 
 The large gambrel roofed house on Front street nearly opposite 
 tlie I5n])tist church is above one hundred and fifty years old, and 
 
HISTOKY OF EXETER. 425 
 
 was erected by Dr. Dudley, son of the Eev. John Odlin. Dyuig 
 in middle life he devised it to his kinsman Dr. John Odlin. After 
 occupying it twenty years or more, the latter transferred his 
 residence to Concord, and sold the house to Colonel Nathaniel 
 Gilman. His home it was until his death. It was truly the 
 abode of plenty and good cheer. The colonel was a public 
 spirited citizen, interested in trade, in manufactures and in agri- 
 culture, and with a large acquaintance in the State. His wife was 
 the impersonation of hospitality. Their children were numerous, 
 and popular. They literally kept open house. On public occa- 
 sions, especially, their rooms and table overflowed with guests. 
 
 Colonel Gilman died in 1847, and the house was, afterwards, 
 the home of his widow, and of his youngest son Joseph T. Gilman, 
 imtil his decease in 1862. His widow married Charles H. Bell, 
 and they now occupy the house. 
 
 THE TILTON HOUSE. 
 
 On the southeast corner of Water street and Court square, is a 
 house which enjoys the distinction of having once sheltered the 
 Father of his country. It was built by Colonel Samuel Folsom, 
 in 1770 or the following year, to replace a former house which 
 had been burned, on the same spot. The account of AVashing- 
 ton's visit to Exeter in 1789 is given on a previous page. Colonel 
 Folsom died the year following, and his family continued to 
 reside there. One of his daughters was afterwards married to 
 Joseph Tilton, an Exeter lawyer, who lived in the house until his 
 decease in 1872. It is now owned by Dr. George W. Dearborn. 
 
 There are other houses in the town of perhaps equal antiquity 
 with those named, but space is wanting to describe them. The 
 Peavey house on the Newmarket road is one of the most ancient 
 and curious ; the Colcord house on the i)lains is covered witli plank 
 for the purpose of defence, and has been styled a half garrison 
 house ; the Leavitt house on the corner of Front and Winter 
 streets is very early, and contains a good deal of panelliug. 
 Unfortunately for the lover of antiquity many of the older dwell- 
 ings have been so much modernized that their real age can hardly 
 be detected. 
 
 statistics; societies; localities. 
 
 The town of Exeter is situated in tiie southeastei'u part of 
 New Hampshire, a little east of the centre of the county of Rock- 
 
426 lllSTUKY OF EXETER. 
 
 ingliam. It is nine miles from the sea, and fift}' miles almost 
 northerly from Boston, with which it is connected by the Boston 
 and Maine Railroad opened in IHiO. It is a half shire town, and 
 is the seat of the county ofiices, of the clerk of the Judicial 
 Courts, the Registry of Deeds, and of Probate. They contain the 
 records of the entire province up to the year 1771, when it was 
 divided into counties, and of the county of Rockingham since that 
 date. Two terms of the Supreme Judicial Court are held in the 
 town annually, and a term of the Court of Probate monthly. 
 
 The census shows that the population has about doubled, since 
 the beginning of the century. In 1800 it was 1727; in 1820, 
 ill!; in 1850,0274; in 1880, 3";G9. The assessed value of the 
 taxable property in 1887 was §3,197,884. 
 
 The public buildings of the town are a town-house containing a 
 county court-room, another used for the public library and other 
 purposes, eight houses of public worship, the buildings of the 
 Phillips P^xeter Academy, the Robinson Female Seminary and the 
 High School, and Opera House, the county record offices and the 
 jail. 
 
 Three weckl}' newspapers are published in the town, besides a 
 weekly paper and monthly journal issued by the students of the 
 Academy during term time. 
 
 The Washhnjton Lodge of F. and A. Masons was established in 
 the town early in the century, and was discontinued some years 
 after, but was revived about 1820 under the name of the Phoenix 
 Lodge. This was kept up ten or twelve years. 
 
 JStai- in the East Lodge No. 59 was instituted in 1857, and has 
 furnished the following officers of the Grand Lodge : Charles H. 
 Bell and John J. Bell, Grand Masters; Charles G. Conner, 
 Samuel M. Wilcox, Jeremiah 1). I'arker and Joseph S. Parsons, 
 Deputy (irand Masters. The present chief officers of Star in the 
 East Lodge are, George N. Cross, W. 71/., Joseph E. Knight, 
 S. W., Etlinund E. Freeman, .F. IF., AVilliain F. Rundlett, /Sec, 
 and William II. C. Follansby, Tr. 
 
 *SY. Albans Royal Arch Chapter was constituted in 18()9. Its 
 present chief officers are Charles G. Conner, //. P., John P. P. 
 Kell}', A'., Winthrop N, Dow, S., George W. Weston, /Sec, 
 Robert C. Thomson, Tr. 
 
 Sagamore Lodge No. 9, 7. 0. 0. F., was established in 1845. 
 It became dormant in 18G4, but was revived in 1873. It has 
 furiiished one Grand Master of the Grniid Lodge, James W. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 427 
 
 Odlin. The present chief officers of Sagamore Lodge are S. 
 Abbott Lawrence, N. G., Charles L. Palmer, V. G., G. ^Y. 
 Wetherell, Sec, John P. Elkins, Tr. 
 
 Stvamscot Lodge No. 2, K. of P., was instituted April 6, 1870. 
 Its present chief officers are F. E. Rollins, C. C, Adolphus 
 Smart, F. C, J. Warren Tilton, K. of B. & S., John S. Hayes, 
 M. ofE. 
 
 Moses N. Collins Post No. 26, G. A. P., was established in 
 1870. Its chief officers are A. J. Gilman, Com., B. F. Rowe, 
 S. V. C, G. L. Stokell, J. V. C, G. W. Gadd, Adft, Lewis E. 
 Gove, Q. M. 
 
 Jady Hill is the eminence rising from the east bank of salt 
 river, just below the village. From the earliest times it has been 
 called by that name. The derivation of it cannot be learned. 
 Some have fancied it was a corruption of shady hill, but for no 
 better reason than the resemblance of the words. 
 
 Bride Hill is an elevation on the Hampton road about three 
 miles from the Great bridge, and is in fact just over the line in 
 the town of Hampton. A romantic story of the marriage of a 
 pair of lovers in the olden time under the " bridal elm," a sym- 
 metrical tree on the side of the hill, is told, but not verified. The 
 hill has long borne the name. 
 
 Ass Brook, which crosses the road to Hampton about two miles 
 east from the village, has been so styled fi-om the very earliest 
 times, but from what circumstance is unknown. The claim that 
 it was originally Ash brook is unsupported by early documents. 
 
 WlieelwrighV s Creek, which crosses the road to Stratham, within 
 a mile from the village, received its name from the founder of 
 Exeter. 
 
 PowelVs Point is a projection of the east bank into the salt 
 river between Wheelwright's creek and the village. Its name 
 came from Robert Powell, an early settler. 
 
 The Roundabout is a bend in the salt river, a couple of miles 
 below the village, in the shape of a horse-shoe. 
 
 The Oak Lands is the name affixed to a large tract of woodland 
 containing many oaks, in the northern part of the town. 
 
 Beech Hill is an elevation in the northwestern part of the town, 
 about four miles from the village. 
 
 Bloody Brook crosses the road to Eppiiig about two aud a half 
 miles from the village. Its name is probably derived from the 
 dark color of the bed of the stream. 
 
428 IllSTOHY UV KXETEII. 
 
 Fresh Meadow is the name given to a, tract of low land adjoin- 
 ing the Brentwood line abont midway between its two extremities. 
 
 2Vie Mast <Sicamp Road leads from the western part of the town 
 towards Epping. 
 
 Great Hill is a connnandiug eminence at the point where tlie 
 corners of the townships of Exeter, East Kingston and Brentwood 
 come together. 
 
 liocky Jim is on the road to Hampton, about three-fonrths of a 
 mile from the Great bridge. 
 
 Tower Hill is an ascent on the east side of the river nearest the 
 Great bridge. 
 
 Toioi Hill is in the village, near the intersection of Main and 
 Water streets. 
 
 The Plains is the name given to the level stretch of land in the 
 northwestern part of the village. 
 
 Other names of localities, that have not become obsolete in 
 Exeter and in the towns which once belonged to it, have been 
 heretofore referred to. There were, however, in the earlier times 
 places whose designations were then familiar as household words, 
 but have long been disused and forgotten. Who now can tell 
 where was the Nursery, the Temple, or the Patent land, — places 
 doubtless well known a century ago ? Probably no man living. 
 
 Does not this render it likely that other things, well under- 
 stood by the fathers, have since their time perished from memory', 
 and should it not make ns distrustful of passing upon their con- 
 duct, judgments liable to be based upon inadequate knowledge? 
 
APPENDIX 
 
APPENDIX I. 
 
 THE INDIAN DEED OF 1629 TO WHEELWRIGHT & ALS. 
 
 Whereas wee the Sagamores of Peuacook, Pentucket, Squam- 
 squot & Nuchawanick are Inclined to have y* English Inhabitt 
 amongst us, as they are amongst our Countrymen in the Massa- 
 chucets bay, by w"** means wee hope in time to be strengtlined 
 against our Enemyes the Tarratens who yearly doth us Damage : 
 Likewise being Perswaided y' itt will bee for the good of us and 
 our Posterety &e'. To that end have att a generall meeting (att 
 Squamsquot on Piseataqua River) wee the afores*^ Sagamores w"* a 
 universall Consent of our subjects doe Covenant and agree w"^ the 
 English as followeth : Now Know all men by these Presents that 
 wee Passaconaway Sagamore of Penacook, Runawitt Sagamore of 
 Pentucket, wahangnonawitt Sagamore of Squamscott, and Rowls 
 Sagamore of Newchawanick, for a Compitent Valluation in goods 
 allready Received in Coats, Shurts & victualls, and alsoe for y* 
 Considerations afores*^ doe (according to y* Limits and bounds 
 hereafter granted) give, grant, bargaine, sell. Release Rattafie and 
 Confirme, unto John Whelewright of y^ Massachucets baye Late 
 of England, A minister of y'' Gospel, Augustin Story, Thom' Wite, 
 W"' Wentworth and Thom^ Levitt, all of y'' Massachucetts baye in 
 New England, to them their heires and Assignes forever, all that 
 part of y* maine Land bounded by the River of Piseataqua and 
 the River of Merrimack, that is to say, to begin att Newchewanack 
 ffalls in Piseataqua River afores'^, and soe Doune s** River to the 
 sea, and soe alongst the sea shore to merrimack River, and soe up 
 along s*^ River to the falls att Pentucett afores**, and from s'' Pen- 
 tucett ffalls upon a Northwest Line twenty English miles into the 
 woods, and from thence to Run upon a Streight line North East & 
 South West till meete w"' the maine Rivers that Runs down to 
 Pentucket falls & Newchewanack ffalls, and y"" s*^ Rivers to be the 
 bounds of the s*^ Lands from the thwart Line or head Line to y® 
 afores"^ ffalls, and y'' maine Channell of each River from Pentucket 
 
 431 
 
432 llIsr<.)liV OF KXKTKH. 
 
 & Newchewauaek ffalls to the inaine sea to l)ee the side bounds, 
 and the iiiaine Sea betweene Piscataqua Kiver And Merrimack 
 River to be the Lower bounds, and the thwart or head Line that 
 runs from River to river to be y" uper bound ; Togeather w"' all 
 Hands Av"* in s'' bounds, as alsoe the 1-les of Sholes soe Called b}' 
 the P^nglish togeather w"\ all Proffitts, Advantages and Appurte- 
 nances whatsoever to the &^ tract of Land belonging or in any 
 wayes appertaineing ; Reserveing to our Selves Liberty of makeing 
 use of our old Planting Laud, as alsoe ffree Liberty of Hunting, 
 Mishiug and fowling ; and itt is Likewise w"' these Proviseos ffol- 
 lowing viz'. 
 
 First, that y" s*" dolm ^Vheelewright shall w"' in ten years after 
 the date hereof sett Doun w"' a Company of English and begin a 
 Plantation att Squamscott ffalls In Piscataqua River afores"*. 
 
 Secondly, that what other Inhabitants shall Come & Live ou s'' 
 Tract of Laud Amongst them from Time to Time and att all times 
 shall have and P^njoye the same benefitts as the s*^ \Yhelewright 
 afore s'^ 
 
 Thirdly, that If att any time there be a numb'' of People 
 amongst them that have a niiud to begin a new Plantation that 
 they be Encouraged soe to doe, and that noe Plantation Exceede 
 in Lands above ten English miles Squaire, or sucli a Proportion as 
 amounts to ten miles Squaire. 
 
 Fourthly, that y'' afores'' granted Lands are to be Divided into 
 Tounshipps as People Increase and appeare to luhabitt them, and 
 that noe Lands shall be granted to any p'ticular p'son but what 
 shall be for a Township, and what Lauds w"'in a Township is 
 granted to any Perticular Persons to be by vote of y'' major pari 
 of y" Enha])itants Legally and ord'ly settled in s'' Township. 
 
 Fifthly for manageing and Regulateing, and to avoide Conten- 
 tions amongst them, they are to be under the Cioverment of tlie 
 Collony of the ^Massachusetts (their ueiglibours) and to observe 
 their Laws and ord" until 1 they have a settled Goverment Amongst 
 themselves. 
 
 Sixthly wee the afores"* Sagamores and our Subjects are to have 
 free Liberty (w"'in the afores'' granted tract of Land) of liishing, 
 fowling, hunting & Planting &c. 
 
 Sevently and Lastly every Township w'Hn the aforesaid Limits 
 or tract of Land that hereafter shall be settled shall Paye to 
 Passaconaway our Cheife Sagamore that now is, & to his succes- 
 sors forever. If Lawfiillv Deiuandod one Coat? of Trucking Cloath 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 433 
 
 a year & every yeare for an Ackuowledgment, and also shall Paye 
 to M"" John Whelewright afores*^ his heires and successors forever, 
 If Lawfully Demanded, two bushills of Indian Corne a yeare for 
 and in consideration of said Whelewright's great Paines & Care 
 as alsoe for y^ Charges he have been att to obtain this one grant 
 for himselfe and those aforementioned, and the Inhabitants that 
 shall hereafter settle In Townships on y'' aforesaid granted Prem- 
 ises : And wee the afores*^ Sagamores, Passaconaway Sagamore of 
 Penecook, Runawitt Sagamore of Peutucet, Wahangnonawitt Sag- 
 amore of Squaamscott and Eowls Sagamore of Newchewanack doe 
 by these Presents Rattalie and Coufirme all y'' afore granted and 
 bargained Premises and Tract of Land afores*^ (excepting & 
 Reserving as afore Excepted & Reserved & the Proviseos afores"^ 
 fuUfilled) w"' all the meadow and Marsh grounds therein. 
 Togeather w"' all the mines Miueralls of what Kind or Nature 
 soever, with all the Woods Timber and Timber Trees, Ponds, 
 Rivers, Lakes, runs of Water or Water Courses thereunto belong- 
 ing, with all the ffreedome of flishiuge, ffowlinge, and Hunting as 
 ourselves with all other benefitts, Proffitts, Privledges and Appur- 
 tenances whatsoever thereunto, of all and any Part of the said 
 Tract off Land belonging or in any wayes Appertaineiuge, unto him 
 the said John Whelewright, Augustin Storer Thomas Wite, 
 William Weutworth and Thomas Levitt and their heires forever 
 as afores*^. To have and to hold y*^ same As their owne Proper 
 Right and Interest, without the Least Disturbance Mollestation or 
 Troble of us, our heires, Execcutors, and Administrators, to and 
 with the said John Whelewright Augustin Storer Thomas Wite 
 William Wentworth and Thomas Levitt their heires Execcutors, 
 Administrators and assignes and other the English that shall 
 Inhabitt there And their heires and assignes forever, shall 
 Warrant ]\[ainetaine and Defend. In Wittnes whereof wee have 
 Hereunto sett our hands and scales the Seventeenth day of May 
 1629 And in the flifth yeare of King Charles his Reigne over 
 England &&. 
 
 Signed Sealed & Delivered 
 In Presents off us. 
 
 Wadargascom mark 
 MiSTONOBiTE mark 
 John Oldham 
 
 28 
 
 Passaconaway mark 
 RuNAWiT mark 
 Wahangnownawit mark 
 
434 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Sam^'- Siiarpe Rowls ruark * 
 
 Mcmorand'" ; on y*" Seventeenth clay of maye one thousand six 
 hundred twenty & nine, In the flifth 3'ear of the Reigne of our 
 Sovereigne Lord Charles King of England, Scotland ffrance & 
 Ireland, Defend"" of y" ffaith &c'. AValiangnownawit Sagamore 
 of Squamscot in Piscataqua River, did in behalfe of hiinsolfe and 
 the other Sagamores aforementioned then Present, Deliv"" Quiett 
 & Peaceable Possession of all y" Lauds mentioned in the Av"'in 
 writen Deed, unto the w"'in named John Whelewright for the ends 
 "w"'in mentioned in Presents of us Walter Nele Governer Geo. 
 Vaughan ffaektor and ambros Gibins Trader for y*" Company of 
 Laconia, Rich*^ Vines Governer and Rich'' bonithan Assistant of 
 y* Plantation of Sawco, Thom^ Wiggin agent and Edward hilton 
 Steward of the Plantation of Ililtons Point, and was signed 
 sealed & Delivered In our Presents. 
 
 In Wittness whereof Ave have hereunto sett our hands the daj' 
 & yeare above Written. 
 
 RiCH° Vines Walter Neale 
 
 RiCH^ BoNiTiioN Geo. Vaughan 
 
 Thon^ Wiggin Ambrose Gibbiks 
 
 Edward Hilton 
 Entered and Recorded According to the originall the 20th may 
 1714. 
 
 Pr. W*^ Vaughan Reeord^ 
 
 *The marks or totems of the Indians are affixed to their names as follows: Pafsa- 
 conaway, a man with extendeil arms; Runawit, a deer's antlers; Wahangnownawit, 
 a bow and arrow; Rowls, a one-armed man. What the marks of the two Indian 
 witnesses, Wadargascom and Mistonobite, are intended to represent, it is not easy 
 to say. 
 
APPENDIX II. 
 TRANSCRIPTS OF THE EXETER RECORDS, 1G39 TO 1644. 
 
 Certatne ord"'' made at the Co'*^ houlden in Exeter the 4"' day of 
 the first weake in the 10"^ Month, 1639. 
 
 Imprimis. That M^ Edward Hilton his vpland ground is 
 bounded in Breadth from the Creeke next from his house towards 
 Exeter on the one side & a Certaine point of Land ov'' against 
 Captaine Wiggins his howse between the Mash and the vpland 
 that his bounds one the otli"" side and it is to extend into the 
 maine the same distance in Length as it is in Breadth, and that he 
 shall have all the meadowes w'^'' hee formerly ocupied from his 
 howse to the mouth of Lamprell River. 
 
 2** Lye. That all the Meadowes w"^'' belonge vnto the Toune of 
 Exeter, le3'ing betweene the Towues and mr. Hilton's howse, as 
 Likewise the Meadowes from Lamprell River vnto the head of 
 the little Baye shall be equally devided into fouer parts whereof 
 the 4"* p'^ shall be devided by lott to such of the inhabitants of 
 the Towne of Exeter as have noe Cattle or fower Goats, and the 
 profitt of the haye w'^'^ [uo^v] growes thereupon shall bee devided 
 amongst them w'^'' have the [three] oth'" pt' ontill such tyme as 
 they have Cattle of there owne or [till] they sell the Grounds to 
 those that have Catties. 
 
 S"! Lye. That the three oth'' pt' shall bee equally devided 
 amongst those that have Cattle, to each head of Cattle 
 
 there pportion to bee devided to each of them by [lott] w*"'' 
 de visions are to bee made betwixt this and the next Co'". 
 
 [4]"' Lye. That all the inhabitants of the Towne of Exeter 
 sliall have their vpland lotts for planting laid out by the Riv"" 
 bettweene Stony Creeke and the Creeke on this side Mr. Hiltons, 
 according to the num"" of y'' psons and Cattle, in equall p portion 
 w"'' p portion is to be devided to them by lott, except such psoas 
 as live one the oth'' side the Riv% and Will. Hilton and Goodm. 
 Smart who are to have tlie lotts one the oth'" side the Riv"" where 
 
 4^5 
 
J 
 
 .[:]{', lIISTOin' OF F.XKTKK. 
 
 the Toime shall boo thouglit most Convenient, Bj' o"" RuF Needam 
 and Mr. Starre dcputcis to this purpose. 
 
 5"' Lvc. That whosoever shall Carry themselves disorderly 
 vnreverontly in the Co'* Towards the Magistrates or in y'' p'"sence 
 shall bee l3^able to such a Censer as the Co'" shall tliiuke meete. 
 
 A Division of the vplands From the Cone against Rocky poynt 
 to the Creeke next on this Side Mr. Ililtons. 
 
 1. Imp''. Mr. Stanjon 27 acers 135 poole, one end butting vpon 
 the river Eastward & the other end running vp into the majne 
 six scoore poole in Length. 
 
 2. Mr. Grosse 28 acres 140 poole butting as afforesayd. 
 
 3. Goodman AValker 4 acers 20 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 4. Goodman Mower 22 acers 110 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 5. Thomas Louett 4 acers 20 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 G. AVilliam Wentford 4 acers 20 poole butting as aforesa3'd. 
 
 7. Goodman Coole 12 acers 60 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 8. Edward Rishworth 4 acers 20 poole butting as aforesa3'd. 
 0, Robert vSmyth G acers 30 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 10. (ioodman Littlefejld 4 acers 20 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 11. (joodmau Wiuborne 7 acers & 40 poole butting as abouesayd. 
 
 12. Jeremiah Blackwell 4 acers 20 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 13. George Raborue 4 acers 20 poole butting as aforesa^-d. 
 
 14. Goodman Dearborne 10 acers 50 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 15. Mr. Needum 12 acers 60 poole butting as aforesaj'd. 
 
 16. Cioodmau Elkine 4 acers 20 poole butting as aforesa3'd. 
 
 17. (Joodman Crame 8 acers 40 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 18. (Joodman Littlefejld 21 acers butting as aforesayd. 
 
 19. Thomas AVeight 6 acers 30 poole butting as aforesa3'd. 
 
 20. Jams Wall 10 acers 90 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 21. Mr. Pormott 14 acers 70 poole butting as aforesa3'd. 
 
 22. William AVardell 10 acers 50 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 23. Goodman Compton 12 acers 60 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 24. Thomas Wardell 12 acers 60 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 25. Goodman Pettit 6 acers 30 poole l)utting as aforesa3'd. 
 
 26. (ioodman Willix 4 acers 20 poole butting as aforesa3'd. 
 
 27. (ioodman Bulgar 4 acers 20 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 28. ^Ir. Morris 33 acers butting as aforesa3'd. 
 
 29. Mr. Wheelewright 80 acers butting as aforesayd. 
 
 30. Robert Read 9 acers & 50 poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 31. Abiier 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 437 
 
 32. Mr. Storr 20 acers 100^ poole butting as aforesayd. 
 
 33. Griffiae Mouutegne 10 acers 50 poole butting as aforesaj^d, 
 bought by Mr. Edward Hillton of Thomas Croly. 
 
 Thomas X Crolys marke, witues Richard Bullgar. 
 Noate here a great mistake, in this Record viz. euery akeer 
 herein mensioned stands but for halfe an aker as atests 
 
 Rob. Booth, 
 
 Sept. 26, 1670. 
 
 A note how the marslies were diuided in the First diussion next 
 the Towne, the quantity being 14 acers. 
 
 1. Imp"^ to Goodman Smart one acre & 26 poole bee it more or 
 lesse. 
 
 2. To Goodman Coole ^ acre & 13 poole bee it more or lesse. 
 
 3. To o"^ pastor 8 acers i quarters bee it more or lesse. 
 
 4. To Goodman Mountegue 1 acre 26 poole bee it more or lesse. 
 
 5. To Mr. Storr 2 acers 3 quarters bee it more or lesse. 
 
 Theire is also diuided 14 acres to y® Sayd partys at Lamprome 
 Riuer & the Same p portion to each party as aboue Sayd. 
 
 In the Second Diuission 19 acers on this sid Mr. Hiltons is 
 diuided & six acers on Lamprone Riuer, as Followeth, 
 
 1. Imp"^ to James Walls one acre & 54 poole bee it more or lesse 
 & halfe an acree at Lamprone riuer. 
 
 2. To Mr. Morris 7 acres bee it more or lesse & 2 acres 40 poole 
 at L : Riuer. 
 
 3. To Goodm : Willson 3 acres 28 poole bee itmor or lesse & 1 
 acre a Lamp : Riuer. 
 
 4. To Mr. Grosse 6 acers & 50 poole be it more or lesse & 2 acres 
 a Lam : Riuer. 
 
 In the Third Diuission 18 acres on this side Mr. Hilton's & six 
 acers at Lamprone Riuer diuided & giuen as before as followeth. 
 
 1 . Imp"", to William Hilton 2 acres & 40 poole be it more or lesse 
 & 120 poole at Lamprone Riuer. 
 
 2. To William Mower 2 acres & 40 poole bee it more or lesse & 
 120 pool L: Riv: 
 
 3. To John Compton 12 acrs be it more or lesse & 120 poole at 
 Lamp : riuer. 
 
 4. To William Wardell 120 poole bee it more or less & 120 poole 
 at Lamp : Riuer. 
 
 5. To Mr. Stanjon 8 acers more or lesse & 2 acers & halfe at 
 Lamp : riuer. 
 
438 lUSTUKY Ul' EXETEK. 
 
 (i. To Mv. Nec'dum 3 acers bee it more or lesse & 1 acre at Lamp : 
 Riuer. 
 
 In the 4"" Diuission 10 acres on this side Mr. Ililtons & 14 
 acers at Lamp :• Riuer diuidcd & given to them that haue noe 
 cattle, «& to euery man an equall p portion w'^*' comes to euery one 
 an acer & an halfo. 
 
 Theire is a small parcell about 2 acers of marsh bee it more or 
 lesse W'' was giueu toAVilliam AViuborne that h'eth betwixt Mr. 
 Needums march & theii-e marsh w*^'" had noe cattle betwixt this 
 & Mr. Hilton's. 
 
 1. It was agreed by the Inhabitants in the yer 1639 upon the 
 18"" day of the 11"^ month that Isack Grosse, Rular, Agustin 
 Store and Anthony Stanyon shall haue y'' Ordring of all towne 
 afifaiers according to god. 
 
 Orders made by the Co'* held at Exeter the 6 day of the 12 Mo. 
 1639. 
 
 That noe man shall sett fier vpon the wood to the destroying of 
 the feed for the Cattle, or to the doing of an}' oth'' hurt vnd"^ 
 paine of payeing the damage that shall insue thereby, after the 
 niidlc of the 2 month. 
 
 That every man shall fall such trees as are in his lott being 
 offencive to any oth"^. And if aft"^ due warninge any shall refuse, 
 to pay halfe a Crowne for every tree that is soe offensive. 
 
 That every action that is tryod the pty that is Cast in it shall 
 liaj to the Jury foure shilliugs. 
 
 Orders made by the Co"" held at Exeter the 6 day of the 1 mo"' 
 (1G39-4U.) 
 
 That noe wines or Strong watter shal be Sould by retaile to the 
 English but by thomas Wardle. 
 
 It is ordered that whosoeuer shall dige a saw pitt & shall not 
 iill it or Cover it, shal be liable to pay the damage that shall com 
 to man or beast thereby. 
 
 It is ordered that all the Swine tliat is not cared doune the riuer 
 by the 4 day of the 2 month, tlie owners shall be liable to pay the 
 damage that shall befall any thereby. 
 
 That all grounds, woods & such preuiliges as appertaine to the 
 towne, such inhabitans as haue their lotts small or great in the 
 bounds of the toune shal lie liabk' to pay such comon Charges as 
 the towne shal be at, according to theire proportion of ground, 
 Catles, or other preuilidges they doe injoye in y' towne, whither 
 prisent or absent. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 439 
 
 It is furder ordered that euerie man that is an inhabitant of the 
 Touue shall haue free libirtie to trade with the Indians in any 
 thinge exsepte it be powder, shot, or any warelike weapons, or 
 Sacke or other Stronge watters, according to the former order ; 
 and as for prizes of what Corne there shal be traided with them 
 shall not exceed foure Shillings the bushell. 
 
 6. It is here recorded that Anthonie Stanyon hath satisfied 
 the Cort Conserneing the offence giuen by hime to on'' Ruler 
 Nedham. 
 
 It is inacted for a law constituted & made & consented vnto by 
 the whole assemblye at the Cort SoUomly meet togeather in Exeter 
 this 9 day of the 2 moneth Ano. 1640. 
 
 That if any person or persons shall plot or practise eyther by 
 Combination or otherwise the betraj^eing of his Contrie or any 
 prinsipall part thereof into the hands of anye forrainge state, 
 Spanish Duch or french, Coutrarye to the Allegiance we p fesse 
 & owe to ou"" Dread Souveraigne lord kinge Charles his heires & 
 successors, it being his majesties pleasuer to ptect vs his loyall 
 Subjicts, Shal be punished with death, if anye person or persons 
 shall plot or practise Trecherge, treson or rebellion, or shall reuile 
 his majestic the loi'ds anoynted Coutrarye to the Allegiance we 
 professe and owe to our dread Souveraine lord kinge Charles his 
 heires & successors (ut supra) shal be punished with death. 
 
 Numb. 16 
 
 Exo. 22. 28 
 
 1 Kings, 2, 8, 9, 44. 
 
 An Order about purchesing howse lots. 
 
 3. It was Ordered by the Inhabetants in the yere 1640 in the 
 11"" day of the 2'* month that none Inhabetant nor fariuar shall 
 purchese auey howse lots of aney but thay shall bulde an habeta- 
 tion or dweling house vpon it with in the space of six months next 
 folo\A-ing aney such purchese, & whosoeuer shall kepe lots in thar 
 hand aboue six months vnbult oue or haue seurall howse lots in 
 there hands shall pay sucli charges vpon eurey loot as shall a 
 Kise in the towne Kates and whosoeuer shall sell house or howse 
 lots before they haue tendred the saile tharof to the townsmen, 
 that ded of saile is vo^^d, if the town shall giuc as good a prise as 
 he that formerly bought it. 
 
 4. It was Agreed vpon and ordred by the Inlial)etants of 
 Exetar in the yer 1640, in tlie first day of the 8"' montli that none 
 
440 HISTORY OF KXETEU. 
 
 shall fell aney tinibar -within halfe a mile of tlie towne, except it 
 be ^-]^on Ihnr particular lots without it be for buldinge or fencing 
 vpou the pennaltie of 5* for eurey tree so felkl. 
 
 5. It was Agreed vpou and Ordred the day & yere next aboue 
 ■\vriten that none but such as are Inhabetants and town dwelars 
 shall hauc libertie to fell or sawe aney timber thar Oake or pine 
 or aney othar, but they shall be liable to an equal fine a Cording 
 to the proporshon so feled or sawn. 
 
 It is ordered and Agreed vppon by the inhabitanc of the Towne 
 of Exeter that noone shall fell Aney Oke tini])er w"' in halfe A 
 mile of Aney part of the Towne, Except it be vppon there pticular 
 lott or for building or fenceing, vppon the penialltie of [each 
 tree] five shillings. 
 
 Its ordered by the Inhabitauce of the Towne at A [meeting] 
 whoseuer shall Absent themselves from Towne [meeting] after] 
 due warning shall for [each] offence forfeit 
 
 Orders maj-d by the Cort at Exeter houlden the secund day 
 moth 9'\ 1640. 
 
 Imp'' y* Edward Rishwoorth is chosen by order of Cort to be 
 Secritery to the Cort to looke to the booke & to enter all such 
 actions are brought, and to have 12*^ layd dowue at the entring 
 euery action. 
 
 2 ly. Its likewise agreed vpon y* the lands y' are layd outt 
 according to the former order, both for theire butting, bounding 
 & p portion, are now confirmed & ratifyd in the cort Kowles. 
 
 3 ly. It is a lawe mayd y' if either pson or psons shall b}' any 
 means draw sids, to make comuotions or seditions in these o"" 
 Jurisdictions, hee shall pay tcnu pounds & stand liable to the 
 further Censure of the Court. 
 
 4 ly. Its agreed vpon that the Blilner shall take for his wast 
 & towle 5'* of meale, & w' euer is wanting more is to be mayd 
 good by him, & hee to stand lyablc to the Corts censure vpon Just 
 & sufficient testimony of the same. 
 
 5 ly. Its agreed that all pitts & hooles are to bee filled u]) & 
 trees remoued, w'^'' ly neare the way, Avithin a fortintts tyme or 
 else they are to pay 10" & bee lyable to the Censure of the Court. 
 
 Gly. That all Creeks arc free, only hee y' maks a ware therein 
 is to haue in the first place the benefitt of it in Fishing tyme & soe 
 others may sett a ware either aboue or below & enjoy the same 
 liberty. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 441 
 
 It is agreed upon by the Inhabitants of Exeter that enery man 
 shall Fence the next spring a generall fence euery man an eqnall 
 p portion according to the quality of ground lyng -within the fence 
 by the middle of the secund moenth w^^'' will bee 1641, and w* damage 
 can bee mayd [to] appear for the want of a sufficient Fence hee 
 y' ows it is to make it good, & if the sayd Fence bee not sett vp 
 at the day appoynted euery day after hee y' is behind hand herein 
 shall pay Five Shillings a day. 
 
 Orders mayd & agreed vpon at Exeter, houlden this .^"^ day, 
 moenth 12^*' 1640. 
 
 Its agreed vpon y' Mr. William Hilton is to enjoy those two 
 marshes in Oyster Eiver w'^'^ formerly he hath had possession of 
 & still are in his possession & the other marsh vf"^^ Mr. Gibbies 
 doth wrongfully detayne from him with the rest of those marshes 
 ^ych formerly hee hath mayd use of soe fare forth as they may bee 
 for the publique good of this plantation. And soe much of the 
 vpland (adjoining) to them as shall bee thought conueiyent by 
 the neighbores of Oyster Riuer, w*''^ are belonging to this body. 
 
 It is further agreed vpon }'* vpon o'' former agrement euery one 
 shall fence his p portion of ground & if any refuse, whoseuer will 
 fence it shall haue the use of it till they bee fully satisfyd, if it 
 bee ould ground, & if it bee new hee shall have it for his payens. 
 
 where As it was formerly agreed vpon in generall y* all the 
 Toime should generally fence & w° the}^ come to fence prticularly 
 others should doe as much for them in fencing as they did for y'' 
 outsids w'^^ vpon farther consideration is not thouglit equall j'rfore 
 now it is agreed y* w° wee come to fence in particular y* it must 
 bee putt to the consideration of two indifereit men w' y"^ fence is 
 worth by those w*^'* fenced the out side, is to bee mayd good unto 
 them again by such as [the land] appertains two. 
 
 Its likewise agreed that whosocuer buyes the Indean ground by 
 way of purchase is to tender it first to the towne before they are 
 to make p per vse of it in prticular to themselves. 
 
 Orders mayd by the Court at Exeter, moenth First, day the 12"^ 
 1640 [1641.] 
 
 Imp'', whereas the highwayes by vertue of a forme'' order were 
 to bee in breadth 3 pole at the least, yet notwithstanding they are 
 straytued in diuerse places, wee doe therefore here agaiue order 
 that they should bee rectifyd & mayd the full breadth as afore- 
 sayd betwixt this & the middle of the secund moenth w''"' shall be 
 
4 42 HISTORY OF EXETP:u. 
 
 in the yeare of o"^ Lord 1642, & alsoe such ground as is taken in 
 contary to order, to bee rectifyd Avithin the sayd tyme. 
 
 Orders niayd by the Court at P.xeter d : 30 : ni : First, 1641. 
 
 Its agreed vpon y^ all the Swine aboue ^ a yeare ould and 
 vpwards are to bee sent downe into the great bay by the 10"' day 
 of seciind nioeuth, & ^\■^ Swine are found in the towne after y' 
 tyme aboue y' age, w' hurt they doe in a sufficient Fence, there 
 owners are to make it good. 
 
 Its further agreed y' according to former orders y' all are to 
 have y"" fences finished of y"" home lotts by the middle of y* next 
 moenth, or otherwise to stand to y" perill y' may ensue. 
 
 Its agreed that none but inhabitants of the towne shall plant 
 w hin the townes libertys w hout there consent. 
 
 "Whereas the freemen of Exeter haue mayd choyce of 3Ir. 
 Richard Bulgar to be Leefetenant of y" baud of Souldgcrs in Exe- 
 ter, & prsented to y' court houlden at Exeter d : 30 : m : First 1641 , 
 I the ruler of the sayd plantation doe ratify & coufirme y* sayd 
 choyse & doe further grant y' the sayd ]\Ir. Richard Bulgar shall 
 bee enstauled & confirmed Leeftenant by the freemen y" next 
 
 trayning da}'. 
 
 Nicholas Nkedham. 
 
 Whereas the freemen of Exeter haue maj^d choyse of Thomas 
 Wardell to bee Sargiant of the band of Souldgers in Exeter, & 
 pr sented to y*^ Court houlden at Exeter d : 30 : moenth First 
 1641, I the Ruler of the sayd plantation do coufirme the sayd 
 choyse & d(oe further) grant y' the sayd Thomas AVardell shall 
 be enstaled by the 
 
 the next trayning day. 
 
 Nicholas Needum. 
 
 An order mayd by the (Court at) Exeter, d : 10"'. m : 4"' 1641. 
 
 Its ordered y' Goodman shall allow the Indeans one 
 
 bushell of corne for y'" labor & w'^'' was spent by y'" in re- 
 
 playnting of y' corne of y""' w'=*' was spoyld by his corne (swine?) 
 & hee to make vp y'' lose at haruest, according as y' corne may 
 bee judged worse then there corne w'='' was nev'' hurt. 
 
 An order mayd at the Court at Exeter the last day ol' .June 
 1641, it is agreed vpon that thar shall be none accusations deulged 
 or spread abroud of aney parsone or parsons but what thare be 
 proued by the mouth of to or three witnescs for they that shall so 
 doe shall be liable to the Court Sensur, this is not in poynt of 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 443 
 
 damidegs trespas but in point of slanders in a mans good name. 
 
 It was Agreed vpon and ordred by the Inhabetants of Exetar 
 in the yere 1G41 (-42) in the 14*'> day of the 11"' month, that no 
 fareuars shall worke within the limmets of our towne, to be paid 
 out of timbar or pipstaues for thar worke, nor to hindar any any 
 of the Inhabtants from Imployment prouided that the Inhabetants 
 Can or will doe that worke as Cheap and sufishent as the farinar, 
 but if tha}' will not, then are the Inhabetants free to bringe in 
 Farenars. 
 
 Vpon the great complaint of the great distraction & spoyle of 
 timbar about the towne of Exetar it was Agreed and ordred by 
 the Inhabetants in y' 14"^ day of the 11"' mouth that all such of 
 y* Inhabetants that haue felled aney timbar for pipstaues or boults 
 before this Ordar wos made, shall haue one yers time to worke it 
 vp. Except it be such as had timbar being vnwrought vp a yere, 
 and such are alowed but 6 months to worke vp such timbar, and 
 if aney timbar belonging to these men shall be found vpon the 
 Common vnwrought vp aftar the 6 months then it shall be forfit 
 and at the townsmeus disposing and the Common to be Clered of 
 all timbar which was felled for pipstaues or boults euery 6 months, 
 except they be in pipstaues or boults, vpon the pennaltie of the 
 forfetur tharof . 
 
 Cort at Exeter, mth. 5, d: 10"' 1642. 
 
 The Censure of the Court against Thomas AVeight for [con- 
 temptuous carriages] & speeches against both y'' Court & the 
 magestrate w'='' hee is to bee fined 20' & to pay all Court charges 
 besids, & his libert}^ to bee taken away as hee is a freeman. 
 
 Its agreed y' all mane"^ of cattle are to haue keepers a days & 
 are to bee looke to of nights & kept vp, if any damage come by 
 an}' answerable satisfaction mst be mayd. 
 
 Att the Court houldne att Exeter the 20*" of the 8"' moneth 
 1642. 
 
 Mr. Needham resines vp his offise of being Kuler, and by the 
 choyce and Approbation of the boddey of the Towne, mr. Thomas 
 Wilson is Established Ruler. 
 
 John Legat is Chousene by the Court to be secritere to the 
 Court to keepe the booke, and to enter all such Actiones as are 
 brought and to haue 12* layede downe att the cntercy of euerey 
 Action. 
 
414 IIISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 Att the Courte houldeue att Exeter the 7"* Day of the 9'^ mo. 
 1642. 
 
 Our honored Ruler mr. Thomas Willson doth give his Approba- 
 tion and coufermes All thouse ho\vlesome lawes and orders vf'^^ 
 are here Kecorded ^v'''' ware made in the time that mr. Neodam 
 was Ruler. 
 
 It is ordred by the Court houldue att Exeter the G^^ day of the 
 third m" 1G43, That nV Tliomas Rashley shall haue giuene vnto 
 him for A house lott that peece of land w:;'' lyeth betweene 
 Grifiug Mouutegue his lott and M"" Stanyon his Creeke, Conteyneiug 
 14 or IG Akers be more or lese, only excepteing 2 Akers and A 
 halfe for A loot for Grifing Mouutegue next to the creeke. 
 
 It is farther ordred by the Court Above named that Thomas 
 Wardall, William Winborue, Samuell Walker and Robert Reade 
 shall haue libertey and Athoretey to searche [in] the howse or 
 bowses of Aney p son or }) soues wi [thin our] Jurisdictiones, 
 And to take IdIo theire Custodey [and make] sale of Aney such 
 Corne as they shall find in ther [houses] which is more then the 
 ptie or pties shall have ne [ed] of for theire one Families till har- 
 uist next, prouided th [at] the pties Above named make good pay 
 for the sd Co [rue] and as good A pryce as it is ginerally sould 
 for in [the Riuore, and theis pties to dispoose of such Corne so 
 [taken] by them vnto such poore people as stands most in n [eed.] 
 of it for the best pay they Can Make, and att the f [irst] price 
 w*^'' tlie pties Aboue named bye it att. 
 
 It is Ordred by voate at a towne meetinge houlden at Exetar 
 V« 21"' of Agust 1G43 that anev Inhabetant of the towne of Exetar 
 Avhich shall linde vndar 20 Ackars of marsh sliall Injoyc the same 
 as his owne foreuer by vertew of this ordar but if he or thay shall 
 linde above 20 Ackars then it is at y" towns disposall, prouided 
 that he or thay which linde y'= march of aboue 20 Ackars shall 
 haue a duble portion out of it. 
 
 At the Court houldue the 5"' of the 7'" mo. (43.) 
 
 Christey Eawson binds himselfe in the som of Ten pounds starl- 
 ing vnto the countrey to Answere A presentment brought Against 
 him for extortion by William Coale, Tho. Weight, James Wall, 
 AVilliam Wentworth, and Tho. Petet, and this to be Answerd by 
 liiiii att the next Court w'^'' shall be houlden for Exeter, either 
 heere or else whare. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEK. 445 
 
 William Coale, Thomas \Yeight, James Wall Will'" Went"'' 
 and Tho. Petet do bind tliemselues in the som of 50' the peece to 
 be payd to the Countrey, In Case they do not follow the p^'sent- 
 meut brought Against Christey Lawson by them for extortion, the 
 next Court houldne for Exeter heere or elsewhare. 
 
 Corne spojded by swine, it is ordred that James Wall shall haue 
 Alowd him 3 bushells of Corne, George Eabone 3 bushells, Tho. 
 Weight 1 bushell and halfe, George barlow 1 bushell to be payde 
 by John Bursley for leaveing opne A cart gapp or by whome he 
 Can prove hath left it opne, or hath bine the Cause of the leaueing 
 it opne. 
 
 It is ordred that William Coale, Tho. weit and Tho. Wardall 
 shall pay vnto Sam" Walker, Hen. Kobay and Tho. Petet either 
 of them A peck of Corne for harme dune vnto them by swine. 
 
 It is ordred that Tho. Biggs shall pay vnto Grifing Mountegu 
 for taking Away his oure 2' C^ and charges or a new owre and the 
 Court charges. 
 
 It is farther ordred att the Court houlden the 5"^ of the 7"' mo. 
 1643, that Tho. Biggs shall pay vnto the Sagamoure for takcing 
 Away his Net and parting of it o". 
 
 It is farther ordred that Tho. Bigs shall be whipt 6 strips for 
 takeing Away a sith of Captanie Wigons and other petey lasoues. 
 
 It is ordred that Christoy Lawson shall speedely puide A fyle 
 for AVill"' Wentwoth, and Will"^ Weutwoth to pay 7' for it. 
 
 It is ordred that Will. Coale and Rob. Smith shall ouersee the 
 fences About the Towue and giue warning to them whose fences 
 Are defectiue, and If they be not Amended the owners there of 
 to pay for what hurt is done through those fences. 
 
 3'^ 19 day (44.) 
 
 Its agreed that the tounsmen shall pocure a bridg ouar lamprill 
 Riuar. 
 
 Its left to the 3 townsmen to purches mr. Whelwrights howse 
 with all lands belonging thervuto for the towne. 
 
 It is agred that all dogs shall be Clogd and [sid lind] in y" 
 day and tid vp in the night, and if aney dogs shall be found tres- 
 pasing in the lots they that shall liud them may showt them or 
 folow them to the howse to which that dog doth belong and Charg 
 5' vpou the onar of that dog or bitch which shall be leued by ordar 
 from the townsmen & halfe the line to faul to towne and halfe to 
 the partie that takes that dog, and the trospas to be judged by tow 
 men and the trespas to be paid for. 
 
440 HISTORY OF EXETEU. 
 
 Sarauell Gi'enfel Chosen to kepe the a sufishent ordenarey and 
 draw wine and strong waters and trad with the Indans, and 
 Sargant Wardall hath libartie to draw of his wine that is in his 
 hands or Samuel grenfeld to take his wine of his hands. 
 
 when we Coul a general! meting, men to haue 3 daj^s warning. 
 
 [It]s agred that the trained bands minds should be knowne and 
 if thay would hands to be pocurcd to the Geurall Court for 
 
 the Restablishing leftenant Richard Bullgar in his formar ofis and 
 Sargant Wardall pocure the like libartie and both to be sent to 
 the Court. 
 
 the 17 day of y'= 4"^ month 44. 
 
 its agred that at a towne metins; in Exetar that the marsh that 
 wos promist to Anthoney Stanyon by seuen of the Brethren as far 
 as in them lay shall be giuen to mr. "NVhehvright his aiers and 
 sucksesors for euer, allso that Anthoney Stanyon is to haue as 
 much in anothar deriction as will ansor to the shars of 6 bretliren 
 and himselfe as Conueuient, if not in qualitie then it is to be in 
 quantitie, this grant to Mr. Whelwright is with these Condishons 
 that he doth Com amongst us againe, if not it is to be still in the 
 towns hands, and Anthoney Stanyon is to be satisfied by y*^ tonne 
 for his charges that he is out. 
 
 It is ordered at this Toune meeting that every man shall kepe 
 vp his cattell every night in some yard or Pen vpon the penalty of 
 12"^ a peeee every night, excepting working cattell, & if any mans 
 cattell trespass they are to pay the damages besides the fine, the 
 17 of y" 4*'' M. 1644. 
 
 17 day 4 mo. 44. 
 
 Its ordred that thar sliall be a ITeyway downe to the marches 
 without side of grifcn mountegs lot, Right downe to the Riuor. 
 
 It is agred that that fence which Runs by the broke which Runs 
 betwen Ilumfrey Willsens house and Mr. "Whelwrights shall be set 
 vpon to be set vp within 2 dayes aftar the date of this ordar, and 
 if it shall be neglected then thay whos tensing shall be downe 
 aftar this weke shall pay 10' the Rood for eurey weke tell it shall 
 be set vp. 
 
 It is agred that 4 dayes shall be set apart to mend the heywaj'es 
 to begine one the 4"' day of the weke Com a seuen night and to be 
 at thar labors from G and leue at 12 and Rest tell 2 and worke tell 
 G a clock, and such as shall be absent from the worke at the ours 
 aboue writen shall be lined 5" for euery day, and thay that haue 
 terns shall worke them v]xtn the penalltie of 20" for euery day 
 neglect viitill the ^ days shall be expired. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 447 
 
 Ordred voted and granted at a town metiuge by a g03'nt Consent 
 that Christepber lason bath a grant to set a weare in the Riuar of 
 Exetar y^ 28"" of the 4"" mo. 1644, to him and bis Aiers foreuer 
 vpon the Condishons as folowetb, first that y* Inbabetants of y* 
 towne of Exetar shall be supplyed with Alewifes to fish thar 
 ground euery yere before aney otbars at 3^ par thousand, and wbot 
 Alewifes are taken shall be equally deuided according as y" Inbab- 
 etants shall agre, and if thar be no fish taken then Christepher to 
 be fre from aney damiedges to y" towne, and wbot fish the Inbabe- 
 tants shall buy of ye said Christepor he y^ said Chrisepbor doth 
 biude himself e to take such pay for it as y^ towne afords, to be 
 paid once in six months, and In case the said Christepor or his 
 sucksesors shall heraftar tendar y*^ saile of y" weare that then he 
 shall in y** first place tendar it to y*" towne for Countrey pay, and 
 we y'^ Inbabetants do Retaine our liberties to fish in y*' fawls or 
 elce whar in y*' Riuar, but not to set vp aney othar ware so as to 
 forstall that ware which Christopher is to set vp, and y*' said 
 Christepher is to malve find gats so that barkes botes and Canows 
 may Com to the towne, in witnes her vnto we do set to our hands 
 for vs and our sucksesars Intarchangably for euer y'^ day and yere 
 aboue writen. 
 
 In y*^ behalf e of y^ towne 
 
 Richard Bullgar 
 
 Samuel -\- Grenfelds marke. 
 
 Christopher lawsox. 
 
 It is ordered that none but seteled inhabitantes shall make use 
 of woode or common, nor that noe inbabytant shall iuploy anny 
 Aboute wod worke, but of the setteled inhabitants. 
 
APPENDIX III. 
 
 BICENTEXNIAL ADDRESS OF HON. JEREMIAH SMITH. 
 
 A FEW PASSAGES, 1-OU THE MOST PAUT lUOGRAPIIICAL. AKE OMITTED 
 AS THE INFORMATION THEY CONTAIN IS GIVEN IN IIIH EARLY PART 
 OF THIS VOLUME. 
 
 We need not be told, that our uueestors were not so rich ; that 
 they were laborious, industrious and economical ; that they 
 belonged to the middle class of society in their native country, 
 embracing, however, none of the lowest of that class, who had 
 neither the wish nor the ability to emigrate. 
 
 It will be my endeavor to vindicate the religious character of 
 the first settlers, and that of their leader, in an especial manner, 
 under the cruel persecution he underwent. Persecutors are much 
 in the habit of giving false characters of the men they persecute, 
 as if that would palliate, which only aggravates the injury. The 
 civil fathers of Massachusetts, niul the reverend elders, must have 
 had liard licarts, if, when they beheld the little band, — thirty or 
 forty families, — collecting their wives and children, their cattle, 
 their furniture and their scanty stores, for the wilderness of 
 Swaniscot, they felt no pity for the sufferers. Albeit these men 
 were not of the melting mood, they must have shed tears at the 
 piteous sight. It was but a journey of three or four days, but in 
 prospect it was dreary enough. There was a small settlement at 
 Lynn, older ones at Salem and Ipswich, and a plantation just 
 begun at Newbury ; but all between was a thick, dark forest, and 
 the path little better than marked trees. We are told that about 
 tins time a person lost his way in the voocls, between Salem and 
 Lynn, and wandered about several days before he reached a settle- 
 ment. Two years before, the famous Hooker, with his little 
 colony of one hundred souls, who settled Hartford, were a whole 
 week performing llieir journey, encumbered as our little colony 
 was. I need not say, tluit, after three or four days' journey ours 
 
 448 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 449 
 
 reached Swamscot Falls greatly fatigued. Here they found no 
 friends to hid them welcome. This was the most painful circum- 
 stance of all. 
 
 Several weeks must have been spent in preparing log huts to 
 shelter them from the weather. But the toils of our emigrants 
 were but just beginning. Their views were merely agricultural, 
 to till the ground for a subsistence ; and we must remember it was 
 the hard and plain tillage of a common, not of an exuberant soil. 
 The settlements at Portsmouth and Dover were made by traders, 
 factors and fishermen, w^ho hoped to carry on a profitable traffic 
 with the natives and foreigners, and to enrich themselves from the 
 sea, not the land. Mason and Gorges aimed at still greater 
 things. Their connections at Court, and their influence with the 
 Great Council of Plymouth, obtained grants of large tracts ; to 
 Gorges, Maine, and to Mason, New Hampshire. These lands they 
 intended to parcel out to others at a small quit-rent. They were 
 to be cultivated by tenants, while the proprietors were to be 
 clothed with the jura regalia; with all the trappings of little 
 monarchs. Experience soon taught them the fallibility and the 
 futility of all such schemes. They expended large suras in putting 
 the machine in motion, and died in debt. Neither they nor their 
 posterity ever realized a tenth part of the sums they expended. 
 Our lands are not rich enough to support landlord and tenant. 
 The cultivator must have all the produce, and little enough, too. 
 The views of some projectors were still more romantic. They 
 flattered themselves with immense wealth from the discovery here 
 of rich mines of the precious metals ; such as the adventurers in 
 our southern hemisphere had in fact realized. 
 
 The little band we have conducted to this place, in point of 
 condition, intelligence and education, will compare well with the 
 first settlers of Massachusetts, if we except a very few of superior 
 family, wealth and education, who took the lead in that enterprise. 
 Perhaps there never was a greater equality in the rank, condition, 
 education and circumstances of the planters of a new colony ; 
 none rich, and none without the means of obtaining the necessaries 
 of life ; none highly educated, and none without the education 
 common to the same rank in the mother country at the time. 
 
 Among our settlers there were no merchants, or manufacturers, 
 or persons skilled in the arts of trade. They were from the agri- 
 cultural districts of England ; of course not ignorant of the art of 
 husbandry, as then practised in that country ; but they could 
 
 29 
 
4r)0 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 hardly 1)0 aware how little their knowledge would avail thein here. 
 The soil was different from that of Tjneolnshire and Norfolk ; 
 and there the tillage was of lands long cultivated ; here a wilder- 
 ness was to be subdued and turned into a fruitful (ield, a new 
 science to them. No doubt their scanty portion of implements of 
 agriculture was ill adapted to their wants ; and a supply was not 
 at that day, as now, a matter of easy acquisition. They must 
 have suffered, too, for want of animals. Cattle of all kinds were 
 scarce and dear. The new plantations in Massachusetts could 
 spare none, at any price. 
 
 It seems Captain Mason had sent over, a few 3'ears before, a 
 large number of cattle of the best breeds, imported from Denmark. 
 He died about two yQuvs before, and his servants had possessed 
 themselves of his effects. Probabl}^ from these men our settlers 
 were able to obtain a partial supply. But, after all, the prospect 
 was gloomy ; gloomy as the dark forests in the midst of which 
 they had seated themselves. AVliat now, think ye, supported the 
 drooping spirits of our emigrants? If ever there was a people 
 thrown entirely upon their own resources, few and scanty as those 
 resources were, we have them here. They were boj'oud the 
 bounds of Massachusetts ; strangers to the people of Dover and 
 I'ortsmouth ; ever}^ way strangers. There was no congeniality 
 between them. ]Massachusetts had driven them out. To whom 
 shall they go? Ilappil}', they belonged to that class of men who 
 lind 111) diniculty in answering the question. They had just been 
 condemned as enemies of God and his religion ; but this unjust 
 sentence of their fellow mortals could not deprive them of what 
 they valued above all earthly good — their religious principles and 
 belief ; and to these they looked for support. 
 
 The bulk of mankind, you know, adopt tlie religious opinions 
 in Avhich they were born and educated, without examination and 
 without inquiry ; ami what is so adopted makes but a feeble im- 
 pression on the mind. P>ut it Avas not so with the Puritans who 
 settled New England, any more tlian with the first converts to 
 Christianity ; they heard gladly, but did not yield implicit faith. 
 " Are these things so?" They inquu'od, reasoned and compared, 
 and were reasoned with ; their convictions, therefore, were strong. 
 They could not fail to produce fruits. They had the faith that 
 overcomes the world and nil wordly things. 
 
 The Author of nature has iiniihuih'd in tlie heart of nuin a 
 strong attaclmient to lln- land of his liirth ; to parents, children, 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 4^1 
 
 kindred ; to the scenes of his early youth, and even to the graves 
 of his ancestors. Yet all these will he forsake when his conscience 
 calls for the sacrifice. So thought and so acted the Puritans who 
 settled New England. The rulers of their native land, and the 
 church in which they were nurtured and fed, like an unnatural 
 step-mother, as in their auger thej' called her, cast them out for 
 non-confoi"mity to a few idle ceremonies she was pleased to enjoin. 
 The}^ could not in conscience obey. They had persuaded them- 
 selves that this gaudy worship was popish and idolatrous, and 
 therefore to be resisted at all hazards ; and so believing, they 
 Ipft, such of them as were not driven away, their native land, and 
 came to this wilderness. 
 
 The settlers of Exeter belonged to this sect of Christians. 
 "When they joined themselves to their brethren of Massachusetts, 
 they had the hope that they had readied the termination of all 
 their sufferings for conscience's sake. And was this an unreason- 
 able hope? In this New World, what should hinder their enjoy- 
 ing in brotherly^ love and Christian fellowship the pure, simple 
 worship of God, unmixed with popish superstitions ; accountable 
 for their Christian faith and religious observances, not to the 
 infallible head of the popish or the never-erring head of the 
 English churches, but to the unerring head of the true church, 
 Christ himself. This was the Puritan doctrine in England. And 
 the}' were mistaken. Their teacher in theolog}', it was believed, 
 had assigned an undue proportion to the covenant of grace in 
 the econom}' of salvation, and in politics they were also found in 
 error. They wished to continue Vane in the chair of government, 
 whereas the majority, as it proved at the next election, preferred 
 his rival. Both questions were alike settled by major vote. 
 Where was now the right of i:)rivate judgment in matters of 
 religion, where conscience is so deeply concerned? For these 
 offences (for in minorities they are offences), they must now pass 
 once more through the fier}' furnace of persecution. This second 
 death Avas far more painful than the first. It was upon grounds 
 far less intelligible tlian the first. It was upon a dift'ereuce of 
 opinion in abstruse points in theology. 
 
 When persecution visits a countr}^, it is their boldest as well as 
 their best men who become its victims. When all other earthly 
 hopes fail, they abandon their firesides and their altars, that they 
 may keep their consciences. It is tlie weak and timid mimls who 
 remain at home. They meanly croucli beneath the rod of the 
 
4-,2 HISTORY OF EXETEK. 
 
 oppressor, iifniid to exercise their reasouiug powers. They find 
 it safest to conceal their religious opinions, and seek security in 
 hypocrisy. Who fled from France on the revocation of the Edict 
 of Nantes, one hundred and fifty years ago? The choicest s))irits 
 of tliat gallant nation ; the men of the greatest intellectual and 
 moral strength. They enriched the neighboring nations. Our 
 population in America gained moral and intellectual strength by 
 this foolish as well as wicked measure of Louis XIV. To this 
 cause we are indebted for our Bowdoins, our Dexters, our Jays, 
 DeLanceys, Boudinots, Hugers. Who were the men driven from 
 England by the blood}' Mary and her no less cruel sister? The 
 Puritans : men of whom the world w as not worthy. The effect of 
 persecution for opinions, is to set people to thinking and reason- 
 ing. It improves the intellectual and moral powers — gives added 
 strength and firmness of purpose. But I am afraid it hardens the 
 heart ; for how often do we find the persecuted, on a change of 
 circumstances, themselves acting the wicked part of persecutors? 
 And so it was in New England in her early days. 
 
 Before the arrival of his friends. Mr. Wheelwright had pur- 
 chased from the Sagamore of Piscataqua a large tract of land, — 
 upwards of five hundred thousand acres. There is no pretence 
 that the men of Exeter acquired any legal title by this purchase. 
 Neither AVheelwright, nor any of the other grantees named in the 
 deed, ever asserted any exclusive right in himself. The town 
 acted as the proprietors. I would not be understood to adopt Sir 
 Edmund Andros's language, " that such deeds were no better than 
 the scratch of a bear's paw." 
 
 The first settlers at the time had no mode of obtaining a legal 
 title. The Council of Plymouth had been dissolved a short time 
 before, and Mason, to whom they had granted, was dead ; and 
 his devisees were infants, and no claim Avas made in their behalf 
 for thirty years ; and then they waked up, not to benefit them- 
 selves, but to vex and disquiet the peaceable inhabitants who, 
 though destitute of a legal, had, nevertheless, the most equitable 
 of all titles : — purchase from the natural owners ; Zo»_7^josse.s.sio», 
 without any adverse claim ; the defence of the settlement against 
 the savages and the French; and the cultivation and settlement 
 of a part of the country, whereby the value of the rest was greatly 
 enhanced. In truth, they paid the full value and more, and could 
 with a clear conscience hold the lauds they clamied, against the 
 world. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER, 453 
 
 I cannot learn that our Indians ever complained, or afterwards 
 set up any title to the lands sold to Wheelwright. The transac- 
 tion between Wheelwright and the sagamore was a sufficient 
 license to settle and occupy, and was highl}^ creditable to his liber- 
 alit}', prudence and care of his flock. But our ancestors could 
 not only find no one to sell them the lands they possessed, but 
 they could find no person to govern them. As English-born 
 subjects, they knew they could not throw off their allegiance to 
 the Crown. But the Crown had no representative in New Eng- 
 land. Massachusetts governed itself, and so, in fact, did all the 
 other settlements. From necessity, therefore, tliis haudful of men 
 were compelled to resort to original principles. That the weak 
 might be protected against the strong, and the good against the 
 bad, they seem at first, by mere verbal agreement, to have insti- 
 tuted government. 
 
 At the close of the first year, on the fourth of July, 1639, they 
 solemnly subscribed a written instrument, or constitution, which 
 they called a Combination. With an acknoAvledgment of some 
 sort of dependence on the Crown, they adopted the English Chris- 
 tian laws, as they understood them, — doubtless intending in this 
 truly democratic government, to reject, in toto, all that regarded 
 the hierarchy and church establishment, which they deemed popish 
 and anti-Christian, and altogether unsuitable to a settlement like 
 ours. In this opinion they were far more correct than the tyrant 
 Governor Craufield, half a century afterwards, who instituted a 
 criminal prosecution against Mr. Moody, the minister of Ports- 
 mouth, for disobedience to that system, in refusing to administer 
 the sacrament, according to the rites of the English Church, to 
 himself and his unworthy associates. Mr. Moody withstood the 
 little tyrant to his fall, and suffered imprisonment for a long time 
 in the common jail. 
 
 John Wheelwright of Lincolnshire was born in the latter end 
 of the reign of Elizabeth. His ancestors, no doubt, were of 
 respectable standing in society, for he inherited a considerable 
 real estate, which he disposed of by his last will. His parents had 
 the good sense to bestow a portion of their wealth in giving their 
 son a learned education. He had briglit parts, and in 3'outh was 
 i-emarkable for the boldness, zeal and lirnmcss of mind he dis- 
 played on all occasions. He was educated for the ministry, but 
 embracing the Puritan sentiments, he necessarily incurred the 
 censure of the Church for non-conformity. Laud was theu 
 
4-,4 HISTORY OF EXKTER. 
 
 Archbishop of Canterlmry, aud determined to enforce the strictest 
 observance of the ceremonies. AVe are not informed of the partic- 
 ular in ^vhi(■h AN lut'hv right failed. Cotton's Avas, not kneeling at 
 the sacrament. 
 
 Laud was a learned and probably a sincere man ; but, like many 
 other good men, he indulged an excessive fondness for the 
 pageantry and splendor of public Avorship ; for the minntia.' and 
 exterior parts of religion. He was, at the same time, the most 
 active member of the High Commission Court — a tribunal with 
 which many of our early and distinguished clergy had occasion to 
 be well acquainted. AVhen the great and undefined power of this 
 Court was wielded by a determined High Churchman, no Puritan 
 could exercise his ministry within its reach, and its jurisdiction 
 was co-extensive with the kingdom itself. The learned, mild and 
 catholic Cotton could not elude its jiursuivants. He was obliged 
 to fly his country like a felon. Mr. AVheelwright came to Boston 
 about three years after Cotton. 
 
 Every thing went on prosperously as could be desired, in the 
 new settlement. A church was gathered, and Mr. AVhcehvright, 
 of course, was the pastor. Moderate grants of land were made 
 to him. He had no other compensation for his services and 
 advances. His knowledge and superior talents must have been 
 extremely useful in the infant plantation. Our early records show 
 a strong and grateful sense of the obligation on the part of the 
 town. For a short time he deemed himself safe from his perse- 
 cutors ; but INIassachusetts in that day had a politic head and 
 a long arm, and JNIr. AVheelwright was obliged to remove, and the 
 four New Hampshire towns submitted to ]\Iassachusetts, — Exeter 
 the last. This was in IGA'S. 
 
 AVheelwright, just before his removal, obtained of Sir Ferdinando 
 Gorges a grant of a considerable tract in AVells. In the det'd he 
 is styled 'Tastor of the Church in Exeter." He remained in 
 AVells about three years. 
 
 His next remove was to Hampton. That people greatly desired 
 his ministerial services. He remained eight or nine years at 
 Hampton, ami then returned to England, where he renewed his 
 accpiaiutance with his old classmate, Oliver Cromwell, and with 
 his old friend. Sir Henry Vane. 15oth these distinguished meu, 
 though at odds with each otlu'r, were friendly to AVheelwright. 
 This was near the close of Cromwell's eventful life. AVheelwright 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. • 455 
 
 is said to have been a favorite with the Protector. While iu Eng- 
 hiud he probably resided chiefly ou his estate in Lincolnshire, one 
 hundred and thirty miles north of Loudon. 
 
 At the Restoration, in IGGO, he returned, and was soon settled 
 iu Salisbury, in our vicinity, as the successor of their first minis- 
 ter, Mr. W. Worcester. Here he closed a long and busy life, 
 being reputed a sound, orthodox, profitable and approved minister 
 of the gospel. He died November, 1679 — the oldest minister iu 
 New England — about eighty-five years of age. 
 
 Erom his family proceeded all the Wheelwrights in Massachu- 
 setts, Maine and New Hampshire. Many of his descendants have 
 been respectable in character and property. His son, grandson 
 and great-grandson have been councillors. Thus it pleased heaven 
 to bestow on him the blessing of long life, and a numerous and 
 honorable progeny. 
 
 I have gone into the history of Mr. Wheelwright's persecution 
 and sufferings, not for the purpose of condemning the errors and 
 wrongs of the government of that day, but to vindicate the char- 
 acter of our founder. We have an interest in his good name, and 
 he who robs him of that, robs us. I entertain no doubt that, 
 speaking in general terms, the elders and magistrates of Massa- 
 chusetts were good men, and thought themselves justified in their 
 treatment of Wheelwright and his friends. Without a minute and 
 careful examination of this case we can have no just conception of 
 the early settlers, their bigotry, superstition and intolerance. It 
 arose in some measure from their peculiar situation ; and no trans- 
 action of the early day can be understood without a minute atten- 
 tion to these traits in their character. To omit these, in giving a 
 history of that time, would be like enacting Shakespeare's Hamlet, 
 leaving out the character of the Prince of Denmark. 
 
 Religion at that day entered into every thing ; the magistrates 
 were elected, and the government administered, according to the 
 particular religious views of the majority. Both clergy and laity 
 were made worse by the union, just as they themselves believed 
 to be the case in the country whence they came. Many of the 
 writers of these times were unfriendly to Wheelwright and Vane ; 
 yet even they are obliged to admit that Wheelwright was famous 
 for learning, ability, piety and zeal, and that his moral character 
 was entirely free from spot or blemish. 
 
 The amiable Elliot says, Mr. Wheelwright's conduct " iu New 
 Hampshire discovered an ambitious turn — a desire to be chief." 
 
45G HISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 Sullivan, ill liis liistory of Maine, adds to the ambition, of being 
 the first man in Exeter in 1038, that of mingling in the quarrels of 
 Dover with the redoubtable Underbill, Larkhara and Knolles, "as 
 they pretended about religion, but in fact for the chair of the Dover 
 government.'' 
 
 The P^xeter men are supposed to have taken sides with their 
 chief, in these ambitious schemes of rule. 1 have spared no pains 
 to make myself acquainted with the written memorials of Exeter, 
 and all other records and information within my reach, and I 
 venture to say nothing can ])e further from the truth. This 
 account of the early times here, to compare small things with 
 great, is just about as fabulous as the early history of Rome. 
 
 A short time after Wheelwright's removal to ]\Iaine, on his 
 application, his sentence of banishment was repealed. Some 
 writers say he made an open confession of his errors. The letters 
 are preserved, and speak for themselves. He expressed his sorrow 
 for the part he had taken in the controversy, and his grief at the 
 censorious speeches he had made, and his unchristian temper in 
 the sharp contentions of that day. I have no doubt of the sin- 
 cerity of all this. His personal attendance was dispensed with. 
 Hubbard's remark is no doubt correct, — "and so if the Court 
 have over done in passing the sentence, it might ia part help to 
 balance the account, that they were so ready to grant him a 
 release." 
 
 Among the persons who united their fortunes to ours during 
 the first century (for I must confine myself for obvious reasons 
 chiefly to that period), and whose names are still "familiar to 
 our ears as household words," — the men who bore the heat and 
 Inirden of the day, and to whom this day must be devoted ; — 
 among these men we laid tlie names of Oilman, Folsom, Hilton, 
 Colcord, Thing, Gordon, Magoon, Conner, Robinson, Pearson, 
 Lawrence, King, Odiorne, Lamson, Tilton, Philbrick, Poor, Perry- 
 man, Emery and many others. The descendants of these respect- 
 able men still dwell among us. Time would fail me even briefly 
 to mention the good things our records abundantly testify con- 
 cerning them ; — how acceptably they filled the municipal and 
 public oMices conferred upon them. But I cannot deny myself 
 the pleasure of a brief notice of two or three. 
 
 It is no disparagement to any other family here, to say that in 
 numbers, and every thing that constitutes respectability, the 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 457 
 
 Gilmans stood at the head. The father, Edward, had come to 
 Hingham, and was admitted a freeman of Massachusetts about 
 the time of our first settlement. He soon removed to Ipswich, 
 and near the close of his life followed his three sons to Exeter, 
 where he died. The sons, Edward, Moses and John, were all 
 sensible, moral, industrious and enterprising, and very soon made 
 themselves acquainted with the best methods of advancing a new 
 settlement in the wilderness. Edward, the son, came first, and 
 was very much engaged in setting up mills, — vf-eful at all times, 
 and indispensably so at this early stage of our affairs. He came 
 soon after Wheelwright's removal, and seems quite early to have 
 taken the lead in our town affairs, and to have shared largely, as 
 long as he lived, the confidence of his fellow townsmen. I need 
 scarcely add that he was public-spirited. To obtain improved 
 machinery and mill-gear, he took a voyage to England in 1653, 
 and was lost at sea. Of Moses, we hear less ; he left a numerous 
 progeny. 
 
 The town and province records, together with those of Massa- 
 chusetts, would enable us to trace the life of John, the youngest 
 son, at considerable length ; but I must be brief. He came here 
 a short time before Edward sailed; — married a respectable 
 woman, and had sixteen children, twelve or thirteen of whom 
 married and left issue. Among his sons were John and Nicholas. 
 The latter had seven sons, one of whom was Daniel, born in 1702, 
 the father of Nicholas who was the first treasurer of our State. 
 This Nicholas filled the most responsible offices, and was the 
 father of the late John Taylor, who, when a young man, was re- 
 called from Congress to succeed his late father in the treasurer's 
 oflBce, early in 1783. I need not enumerate the offices this son 
 filled with so much credit to himself and honor to the State, and 
 double honor to his native town. He was eleven years succes- 
 sively governor, and afterwards three years, making a longer 
 period than that filled by any other person. Probably the same 
 thing may be said at the next centennial ; and I am sure no man 
 in private or public life ever left a fairer reputation behind him, 
 for firmness, integrity and independence. 
 
 The second sou, Nicholas, you all know. He entered the 
 Revolutionary army early in the war, and had a full share of its 
 sufferings and its glory to the close. In 1786 he was appointed a 
 member of the old Congress ; and, excepting a short period when 
 he was a senator in the State Legislature, and presided over that 
 
^:,8 IIISTOPvY OF KXKTKU. 
 
 body, he was a member of the House of Kepreseutatives and of 
 the Senate of the United States until his death in 181 1. He was 
 also a member of the convention which formed the Constitution of 
 the United States. Ilis integrity and patriotism in all these 
 highly honorable and responsible ollicos was never questioned for 
 a nioMient. 
 
 Ihit I must not suffer myself to be diverted from the ancestor, 
 by the eminent characters and services of the great-great-grandsons 
 of one l»raiich of his numerous descendants. If that ancestor, 
 one hundred and fift}' years ago, could liave been indulged with 
 ])r()phetic vision of tlic future, and could have beheld the various 
 l)ranclies of his descendants, filling the highest ollices in public 
 life in his beloved and free country, it would surely have yielded 
 him a pleasure than which there is none greater ; it would have 
 cheered his old age to the very verge of a most active, long and 
 useful life. 
 
 The records of our town show the first John, during the latter 
 half of our connection with Massachusetts, as the first among our 
 able and respectable men. Accordingly, when disconnected, in 
 the latter end of the reign of Charles II., and New Hampshire 
 became a separate province under the immediate government of 
 the Crown, John Gilman was selected to fill the office of councillor. 
 The chief executive and legislative power was vested in that body. 
 He had the honor to be suspended from that body by Governor 
 Cranfield. The measure was honorable to Mr. Gilman, and 
 excited no surprise in tlie public mind, or his own. AVheu the 
 courts and juries were packed, why should the Council, the supreme 
 judiciary, escape? He died in 1708. 
 
 From his son descended the late Brigadier Gilman, whom some 
 of you must well remember. In his day he was among the first 
 men of our country ; successively representative, speaker, at the 
 head of the militia*, and a member of the Supreme Executive 
 Council, ajjpointed by the Crown. 
 
 It would take too much of our precious time to enumerate all 
 the names of this respectable family who have been able and 
 useful ministers of the gospel, members of the Council, and judges 
 in our highest courts of law, all of whom derived their descent 
 from this single stem, and connected in various ways with the 
 first families of the country. 1 will only add, that the Gilmans at 
 all times, under the provincial, colonial and State governments, 
 have been unwavering in their patriotism and love of country. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 459 
 
 The Folsoms, a distinguished family, came early to us ; prob- 
 ably they were settled awhile at Ilingham, where they acted a 
 distinguished part in a memorable dispute in that place. They 
 have filled no small space in our annals. The late General 
 Folsom was a most zealous patriot of the Revolution, and a member 
 of the old Congress. In the French war of 1755, he distinguished 
 himself as an officer under General Johnson, at the capture of the 
 Baron Dieskau, near Lake George. 
 
 But one of the most celebrated names in our annals is that of 
 HiLTOx. Pklward Hilton is justly called the father of New Hamp- 
 shire. He came from London, and settled in Dover in the spriug 
 of 1623. Here he resided from fifteen to twenty years, and then 
 removed to Exeter. He died in 1671, leaving a large estate. His 
 sou Edward married the granddaughter of Governors Winthrop 
 and Dudley. His son AYinthrop, the fruit of that marriage, was 
 better educated than most young men of the day, and was early 
 introduced into public life. He was distinguished as a soldier, — 
 "among the most fearless of the brave, the most adventurous of 
 the daring." He was, of course, much in service, for he lived in 
 stirring and troublous times, in the reigns of William and Anne. 
 His uncle, the second Governor Dudle}^, was then governor of 
 Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and had great confidence in 
 him. Hilton was particularly obnoxious to the Indians, having 
 been successful in many encounters with them. "His sharp black 
 eye and his lo7ig bright gun''' struck terror into the hearts of the 
 savages. They long watched for an opportunity to cut him off 
 on his plantation at the Newfields. He was largely concerned in 
 the masting business; and in 1710, while so employed in that 
 part of Exeter now Epping, his party was suddenly' surprised, 
 and Colonel Hilton fell at the first fire. He was then under forty, 
 and a mandamus councillor, and died universally lamented. He 
 was, indeed, an honest and brave man. 
 
 AVe have seen that Exeter was an independent State from the 
 settlement till 1643. There was no connection between the four 
 towns then, and for sixty years after, composing the whole State. 
 Our records were then well kept, and the votes and orders well 
 penned, perhaps with as much correctness as at this day. From 
 these we are able to derive some information concerning the 
 sentiments, temper, views and condition of the people. Their 
 laws and regulations were few, — such only as their peculiar cii- 
 cumstauccs required. 
 
460 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 The besetting sin of this day is, to multiply statutes ; many 
 of which are a dead letter, and some worse. It is many times the 
 hardest task imposed on our judges, to find out their moaning. 
 In making the attempt, we often find reason to believe that the 
 makers did not understand tlieir own meaning. The Combination 
 was no doubt from AVheelwright's pen, and compares well witii 
 similar compositions before and since. It is the only act of incor- 
 poration our town has ever had. We are a self -created body 
 politic. 
 
 We cannot now determine how many of our inhabitants were 
 church members, certainly all were not. All who owned the soil 
 participated in the government. The attempt to exclude all but 
 church members is visionary' and impracticable. It cannot last 
 long, and generally the society is not a quiet one while it does 
 last. The Massachusetts government of church members was in 
 fact an aristocracy. With us the legislative power was conven- 
 iently exercised by the people. The executive and prudential 
 functions were vested in a Ruler, with two assistants. 'J'lie Kuler 
 and the people were mutually bound by oaths in the form pre- 
 scribed. Treason and sedition were punished with death. Texts 
 of scripture were added to this law, which show the respect of 
 the framers for the Jewish polity ; a worse model, and one less 
 adapted to their circumstances and condition, they could hardly 
 have chosen. Our law makers had a most exalted opinion of the 
 dignity of rulers. Nothing could exceed their zeal to preserve, 
 pure and untarnished, their good name. Insolence to magistrates 
 and contempt of authority were never suffered to escape severe 
 punishment. As the}' are the mirrors in Avhieh the majesty of the 
 people is beheld, this evinced the great respect the people had 
 for themselves. 
 
 Our notions are quite different ; we treat our rulers as if they 
 were usurpers, and chose themselves instead of being tlie work of 
 our own hands. They are the butt^ — the target at which every man 
 may safely thrust his poisoned arrows. Whether this tends to 
 make them high-minded and faithful to us and our interests. I 
 will not pretend to say. If they are, it is at a considerable 
 sacrilice ; for it has been observed that few men leave otlice with 
 the same purity of character and reputation they enter upon it. 
 What is the ecjuivaK'nt they receive for this? Cahunny and slan- 
 der of individuals were also made highly penal. Such prosecutions 
 were, of course, frequent. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 461 
 
 Tliere were laws, also, for the protection of the few Indians 
 that seem to have remained a sliort time among us. Trade with 
 them in arms, ammunition and strong waters was strictly for- 
 bidden. If any purchase was made from the Indians, it belonged 
 to the town, if the}' chose to have it. This was politic, and tended 
 to prevent fraud. Town meetings were the subject of regulations, 
 and all the voters required, under a penalt}^, to attend. Kegula- 
 tions were made for the organization of the militia, — the appoint- 
 ment of officers was, in the train band, subject to the approbation 
 of the ruler. Laws also were made for the assessment and collec- 
 tion of taxes ; and various and minute regulations respecting 
 animals of all kinds. Even dogs did not escape their notice. The 
 same may be said of fishing, and lumber, and laws were enacted 
 to prevent waste and destruction of timber. There was a fore- 
 cast on this subject hardly to have been expected in the midst of 
 so great abundance. The highways and bridges came in for their 
 share of attention. There was a law against setting fire to the 
 woods ; and, what we should hardly have expected, a law requiring 
 trees overhanging the adjoining owner's land to be cut down, or 
 lopped. And there was also a law, copied I believe from that of 
 Massachusetts, about digging pits and leaving them open. The 
 sale of wine and strong waters was subject to license. A few 
 orders were also made regulating trials and judicial proceedino-s, 
 and, as far as we can now judge, justice was impartiall}^ adminis- 
 tered. A society more homogeneous in its elements, more 
 affectionate and correct in morals, can hardly be imagined ; and 
 without these no new settlement can be made. "Weston's company 
 at Weymouth, and Morton's at Mount Wollaston, sufficiently 
 establish the fact. The latter was for a while called the Merry 
 Mount. Its appropriate name soon became that of Mount Misery. 
 
 As a mere physical being, man must be governed as animals 
 are — by others ; generally by force. As a moral being, he must 
 be instructed in morals, and that can hardly be without religion. 
 Our Constitution treats of them as existing only in union. A few 
 settlers, unaccustomed to the ownership of wild lands, mioht be 
 expected to err in the management and disposition of a laro-e 
 tract. They seem to have been troubled with no doubts about 
 their title ; and, in fact, never were disturbed. The same number 
 of the people of 1835-0-7 would have made shipwreck at once. 
 The whole territory' would have been granted out in the first year. 
 Here, more than one huudred years were occupied in tiie disposi- 
 
\r,-2 IITSTOPvY OF EXETER. 
 
 tion (if tlu' lands. Every man had liis share as lie needed it. 
 There was uo speculation. Liberal grants were made to the mill 
 owners, and a small rent reserved for the support of the ministry, 
 while the timber lasted. 
 
 In May, 1643, there was a great scarcit}' of corn through the 
 land, and it was severely felt here. Authority was given by the 
 town to four of the most respectable inhabitants to search the 
 houses, and where more was found than they should judge neces- 
 sary/or the use of the family, they were to take it at the usual 
 price, and dispose of it among the poor for such pay as they could 
 make. The measure was arbitrary, but justified bj' the occasion. 
 If the laws and regulations of that day were not the best possible, 
 I have no doubt they were much better than those frametl by the 
 Solomon of the age for his colonies. 
 
 AVhatever may have been the case as regards Dover and Ports- 
 mouth, it does not appear that this settlement could not have con- 
 tinued many years in their independent state. They were the last 
 to yield to ^Massachusetts, and seem never to have been favorites. 
 The connection lasted thirty-six years, and the dissolution was 
 not occasioned by any dissatisfaction on the part of the New 
 Hampshire towns. A new county was created, called Norfolk, of 
 which Exeter and Hampton were parts ; Salisbury the shire town. 
 The separation was in 1671), — twelve years before the disgraceful 
 tragedy of 1691-2 was enacted. We thus narrowly escaped the 
 shame and guilt of the prosecutions for witchcraft. 
 
 A very brief account will now be attempted of the ecclesiastical 
 affairs of the town — chiefly of the first century. The church' 
 established here by Mr. Wheelwright was composed of men 
 douV)lv tried in the fiery furnace of persecution. They suffered 
 on his as well as on their own account. They came here because 
 he came, and on his third banishment many removed with him. 
 Indeed, the chureh was hrokeii up — how short lived! — the first 
 church established in New Hampshire ! But I trust religion did 
 not depart. Our settlers were religious men — Puritans. They 
 could say, as Massachusetts did in that " transcript (as they called 
 it) of loyal hearts to the best of kivgs,'' as they called Charles II., 
 " We could not live without the public worship of God, without 
 human mixture, and without a sinful yoke of conformities." They 
 could not live without a preached gospel. 'IMiey were small in 
 number, and by no means in aflluent circumstances, but they had 
 lands to bestow. AVith these, and the lumber they sent to market, 
 they could sujiport a stated minister. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 463 
 
 A number of the inhabitants early expressed the desire to settle 
 the aged jMr. Bachellor, lately dismissed at Hampton for irregular 
 conduct ; but the town took no part in the matter, and the friends 
 of the measure luckily were unable to satisfy the civil authority 
 in Massachusetts, without whose consent no church could be 
 formed. The magistrate must be satisfied of their fitness for a 
 church estate, and of the qualifications of the minister best 
 adapted to their wants. 
 
 In May, 1646, Mr. Nathaniel Norcross was invited to settle 
 here. This man was a university scholar. He declined, and 
 probably soon returned to England. A year or two afterwards 
 it was agreed to invite Mr. Tompson of Braintree, and the com- 
 mittee were instructed to consult with the Elders of Boston, 
 Charlestown and Roxbury. 
 
 • ••••••• 
 
 Mr. Emerson of Eowley was soon after called. He declined. 
 These failures,— doubtless blessings in disguise, — did not dis- 
 courage our people. The committee, probably by the advice of 
 the Elders they were required to consult, directed their course to 
 Mr. Samuel Dudley, the eldest son of Governor Thomas Dudley. 
 The son was born in England about 1606, and came to this 
 country with his father in 1630. He was educated in England, 
 but probably not at either of the Universities. It is not certain 
 he was designed for the ministry. He had resided in Boston, 
 Cambridge and Roxbury ; probably teaching school, and perhaps 
 occasionally preaching. He was admitted a freeman in 1640. 
 He had served at one time as a lieutenant under Underbill. About 
 1633 he married Mary, the daughter of Governor Winthrop, who 
 had followed her father hither. By her he had three sons and 
 a daughter. As early as 1641 he removed to Salisbury, where 
 his wife died. The daughter was afterwards married to Edward 
 Hilton of Exeter, and Winthrop Hilton was the fruit of this 
 marriage. "We thus see the origin of the Christian names of 
 AVinthrop and Dudley, common in this vicinity. Mr. Dudley 
 married a second and third wife, and had fifteen children. He 
 represented Salisbury in the General Court in 1644. His youngest 
 daughter was married to Kinsley Hall. 
 
 The old historian Johnson, in his Wonder- WorJcing Providence, 
 is of opinion that it is not easy to purge out the sour leaven of 
 Antinomianism and farnilistical opinions, yet thinks that liard 
 labor and industry, and he might have added poor living, has 
 
.\C,.\ HISTOin' OF FA'F.TEl?. 
 
 some tendcucy that w:iy. Our society had taken a pretty strong 
 dose of this harsli medicine. But if any should happen to remain, 
 it was a politic step to choose for minister the son and son-in- 
 law of such influential men as Dudley and Winthrop. The ciioice 
 of ^Ir. Dudlc}' was unanimous, in May, 1650. He could not 
 regularly be ordained till a church was formed. In the meantime 
 he was to do the duty^ of a minister, and was to have the house 
 and lands, purchased of INIr. Wheelwright, as a parsonage, and 
 forty pounds sterling a 3'ear. For such improvements as he 
 should make he was to be compensated on his leaving, either by 
 death, or "Ijy some more thati ordinary call of God other ways." 
 The ordinary call guarded against was, no donbt, an invitation 
 from a richer society with the offer of a higher salary. The salary 
 was to be paid half yearly in corn and English commodities, at 
 current price. Various modifications of the contract were after- 
 wards made. Tlie salary was, no doubt, inadequate even in that 
 day, but it appears from the records that liberal grants of lands 
 were made from time to time to Mr. Dudley and his numerous 
 family, lie was, doubtless, soon after ordained, and the connec- 
 tion a iiappy one. His learning and gifts seem to have satisfied 
 his people, and it was not the fashion of that day to starve the 
 minister to enrich the fiock. 
 
 Mr. Dudley was well acquainted with the bnsiness of civil life ; 
 and as the town were wholly destitute at that time, and for nearly 
 a centur}' after, of that great blessing, a lawyer, Mr. Dudley's 
 services were in demand ; and the records and papers I have seen 
 furnish abundant evidence that they were skilfully as well as 
 usefully performed. He was, it would seem, a catholic, liberal 
 and tolerant man — which was no small improvement on tlie old 
 stock. His father was a violent persecutor of all who differed 
 fr(jni him in tiicir religious opinions, and one of the bitterest 
 enemies, among the laity, of our "Wheelwright, whom his son suc- 
 ceeded. He viewed toleration as among the seven deadly sins, and 
 when he came to die I suppose he found no sin of this sort to 
 trouble his conscience. 
 
 In 1G5C j\Ir. Dudley was invited to settle in Portsmouth, at a 
 salary (tlie money part) double that of Exeter. He seems at one 
 time to have listened favorably to tlie proposal. Probably a new 
 arrangement of liis liist contract prevented. Mr. Dudle}' died 
 the tenth of February, 1(583, at the age of seventy-seven. 
 
 On various occasions ]Mr. Dudley was honored with marks of 
 confidence by the rionoral Court of Massachusetts; and it gives 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEK. 465 
 
 me unfeigned pleasure to mention an act of kindness and confi- 
 dence done to him by his own people. It appears from the records, 
 that soon after his settlement a commissioner was appointed to 
 vindicate, at the expense of the town, " the credit and reputation 
 of Mr. Dudley against the speeches and calumniations of a certain 
 person" (I believe a Hampton man). Mr. Dudley made the 
 proper return for this kindness. In 1665, when we incurred the 
 displeasure of Massachusetts, in consequence of a report that 
 some Exeter men had signed a petition to the Roj^al Commissioner 
 sent out by Charles II., which was supposed to reflect on the 
 General Court, Mr. Dudley at once stepped forward and vindi- 
 cated the men of Exeter, declaring them to be '■^ clever fellows, 
 and incapable of any such baseness." 
 
 The first house of public worship, of which we have any mention 
 in our records, was built in 1650, and was twenty feet square. 
 There was afterwards a gallery and lean-to added. It stood on 
 the left-hand side of the road leading to Newmarket, in the north- 
 erly part of the present village, near to which Mr. Wheelwright 
 lived. I am sorry the Norfolk records show it was not kept, 
 small as it was, " in a proper state for Christians to worship in." 
 This our disgrace is a matter of record. 
 
 Mr. John Clarke succeeded Mr. Dudley in 1698. He was nmch 
 esteemed and beloved. He married the granddaughter of the 
 celebrated Mr. Woodbridge, the first minister of Andover, and 
 the great-granddaughter of the first Governor Dudley. j\Ir. 
 Clarke died in 1705, greatly lamented, at the early age of thirty- 
 five. One of his sons. Ward Clarke, was afterwards minister of 
 Kingston. From one of his daughters was descended our late 
 respected townsman, Ward Clarke Deauc. 
 
 Mr. John Odlin was the successor of Mr. Clarke, and was 
 settled in 1706. He married the widow of his predecessor, by 
 whom, and a second wife, he left a numerous issue, one of whom, 
 Woodbridge, became his colleague in 1743. The father died in 
 1754, at the age of sevent^'-two. The son married a daughter of 
 Brigadier Gilnian, and died in 1776, at the age of fifty-seven. 
 
 The new parish was formed about the time of the second Odliu's 
 settlement. Their first minister was Daniel Rogers, a descendant 
 in the seventh degree through a line of ministers of the gospel, 
 except one, from the Rev. John Rogers, Prelate of St. Paul's, 
 and Reader in Divinity, who was burnt at Smithfield in 1555, the 
 first martyr of the bloody Mary's reign. INIr. Daniel Rogers was 
 
 30 
 
466 HISTOKY OF KXETEK. 
 
 settled in 1748, and died in December, 1785, aged seventy-eight. 
 From this period our church history is fresh in the recollection 
 of you all. In 1695 or 1606, the second-meeting house was 
 erected on the spot where this house now stands. It is stated in 
 the records as on the hill between the great fort and Nathaniel 
 Folsom's barn. In 1728 the third house was erected on or near 
 the site of the second. This house had double galleries, as most 
 of you remember. A steeple and bell were added in 1739, and 
 a new bell in 1762. The steeple was blown down in 1775, and 
 rebuilt soon after. 
 
 Newmarket was set off in 1727, Epping and Brentwood in 1741, 
 and Poplin from the latter in 1764. 
 
 An account of the early settlement of Exeter would be miserably 
 deficient, without some notice of the sufferings of its inhabitants 
 from Indian hostilities and depredations. The Indians, at and 
 near Swamscot Falls, seem to have been few in number, and less 
 savage in character than most others, and especially the Eastern 
 tribes. The improvements of such as remained, after the settle- 
 ment by the white men, were secured to them till they voluntarily 
 made sale to our people, and they were fully protected in their 
 l>ersons and property. In 1643 great fears were entertained that 
 the Indians in Khode Island, Connecticut and other places were 
 uniting in a conspiracy to expel the new comers from their 
 country. They did not like us on trial quite so well as they had 
 expected. This alarm occasioned the union of the New England 
 colonies, which lasted till 1680. There continued to be, at 
 intervals, fresh alanns, and much apprehension of open hostilities. 
 Some depredations w-ere actnalhj committed on Connecticut river 
 and other distant places. It excited, also, much apprehension in 
 our quarter, that the New Hampshire Indians, about 1672, quitted 
 their settlements here, and sat down on the Hudson, near Troy, 
 in the neighborhood of fiercer tribes. These alarms were not 
 without foundation, for, in 1675, thirty-seven years after the 
 settlement here. King Philip's War began. 
 
 The scene was more than one hundred miles from us ; but 
 savages, you know, have swift feet, — and on every breeze was 
 borne the war-whoop and it required little aid from the imagina- 
 tion to see the glittering tomahawk raised to strike the blow. 
 Forty houses were consumed in Groton and murders committed 
 in Chelmsford, and nearer still in Berwick, York, Winter Harbor, 
 etc. But Exeter escaped actual hostilities till 1690. I have drawn 
 
HISTOKY OF EXETER. 41 
 
 ) I 
 
 a circle round our village as a centre, thirty-five miles in diameter. 
 The number of killed and captives, within this circle, during a 
 period of forty years, exceeded seven hundred. The actual suffer- 
 ings of Exeter were in six years, between 1690 and 1710, 
 when the much lamented AViuthrop Hilton fell. The killed and 
 captives were between thirty and forty. It is to be remembered, 
 too, that our population was, from a variety of causes, then 
 extremely small. Our settlement had advanced slowly. • Among 
 the names of the killed, as appears from our records, were 
 P4)hraim Folsom, Sr., and Goodman Robinson. The loss to the 
 country of Colonel Hilton was irreparable. Berwick, Durham, 
 Haverhill and Dover suffered the most. Unfortunately they and 
 we lay directly in the track between the Eastern and Western 
 Indians, who were constantly uniting with each other for mischief, 
 and separating for safety ; — always on the march. 
 
 You can conceive, or rather, you cannot conceive, the misery 
 this dreadful state of things inflicted on our small plantation. 
 We had three garrisons, the principal one was near this spot. 
 Our people lived in continual fear of the savage enemy. Their 
 home was in the garrison, and their cultivated fields became the 
 fields of battle and of blood. There can Ije no true happiness 
 where we do not sleep quietly in our own habitations, whether 
 they be log huts or palaces. A garrison is, at best, but a misera- 
 ble substitute ; and who can sleep with the sword of Damocles 
 suspended over his head by a brittle hair, ready to break at any 
 moment? 
 
 The effect of this state of things on husbandry must have soon 
 become manifest. There was but little cultivation in places 
 remote from the garrisons. The planter, who is obliged to carry 
 his musket with his hoe and axe, will soon find a diminisiied crop. 
 Implements of husbandry and arms to defend our lives, do not go 
 well togetluM'. ^^'ar^lld popidation are in an inverse ratio to each 
 other. 
 
 I must be allowed here to say, that our goveriunent iu those 
 days seems to deserve little credit for the management of their 
 Indian affairs. The Frencli seem to have understood the Indian 
 character nuich better. It is no reproach to the Protestant relig- 
 ion that the Catholic is better adapted to the savage tribes. The\' 
 understand it better than Calvinism. 
 
 On the subject of our husbandry and population, there are other 
 things beside Indian liostilities to he considered. The uncertainty 
 
468 HISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 in our land titles had a most powerful and bad effect. Our first 
 planters li;ul nothing in their character in common with speculators 
 or squatters. The}' had too much religion and morality for either ; 
 but they could not be insensible all the time to the claim of the 
 ISIasons, and that it was regarded at home as the only legal title. 
 This hung over them like an incubus, and retarded settlements 
 and improvements of all kinds. Perhaps, too, we must allow 
 sometliing for bad government, till a short time before our sepa- 
 ration from Great Britain. 
 
 At the end of the first century, the population of New Hamp- 
 shire did not exceed ten thousand, and ours was the smallest of 
 the four towns. We had but twenty qualified voters for the choice 
 of representatives, as fixed by the Council in 1G80. Exeter, in 
 its ancient limits, in 1830 contained 7330 inhabitants. 
 
 1 have left myself no room to speak on many subjects belong- 
 ing to the occasion, connected as it is with the anniversary of our 
 national independence. I must pass over, altogether, every thing 
 that concerns the trade and business of our early days, — the 
 manners, customs, dress, furniture, houses, style of living, of our 
 early inhabitants ; even of their early uniform and steady love of 
 popular lil)erty and free institutions. 
 
 I could state from our records the votes and proceedings, show- 
 ing how we were gradually prepared for the bold measure of 
 fourth of July, 1776, — how hearty and unanimous we were in 
 our obedience to the measures recommended by our wise men, 
 though injurious to our particular interests; — such as the non- 
 importation and non-consumption of articles before deemed nec- 
 essaries of life; — how we preferred to put off the citizen, and 
 put on the soldier: — how cheerfully we bore the dangers and 
 hardships of the war, contracting heavy debts to raise men and 
 supplies for the army. 
 
 If we were not foremost, there were none before us in our zeal 
 for till- early declaration and steady maintenance of tlie independ- 
 ence of our country. And when, at the close of the contest, and 
 under an unex;im[)led i)ressure of I)urthens, others were heard to 
 murmur and complain, we were among those who quietly and 
 peaceably submitted to the rule of law. Instead of joining in tiie 
 clamor for paper money and tender laws, we remonstrated against 
 llu'in. 
 
 All these things, and many more of the kind, are they Jiot 
 written in the liooks of our records? which, it' time permitted, 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEK. 469 
 
 I would gladl}' recite to you on this occasion. In what regards 
 schools and education, we have at all times aimed, as in all things 
 else, at the useful rather than the showy. 
 
 The public service of the day is now drawing to a close. We 
 have spent the last hour sitting in judgment on our ancestors and 
 predecessors, and we have found much to commend and little to 
 condemn. I hope their shades now look down upon us and smile 
 their approbation of the doings of the day. AVhat will be the 
 judgment of our posterity pronounced one hundred years hence 
 upon us and our deeds ? 
 
 This meeting is now adjourned, to meet here fourth of July, 
 1938. If the progress of the future shall keep pace with the past, 
 the meeting will then be holden in a temple, — I hope a Christian 
 one, — more lofty and spacious than this, as much more as this 
 exceeds the first Exeter church of twenty feet square. The glory 
 of the second temple will, doubtless, exceed that of the first ; but 
 the real greatness of a people depends little on the grandeur of 
 their temples, or on the glor}' of external things, but on the culture 
 of the mind, and the purity and graces of the heart. 
 
 We have this day passed the dividing line between ancestor and 
 posterity, and must, henceforth, take our places with the people 
 of the third century. Why then should not we rejoice, if the 
 impartial judgment of the next centennial should award the prize 
 of superior learning, more cultivated mind, and better taste in the 
 fine arts, to the third century. 
 
 Let us, then, in this our new character, do all we can, that the 
 superiority shall then be equally manifest in religion, virtue and 
 moral worth. 
 
GENEALOGICAL. 
 
 la 
 
FAMILY REGISTERS. 
 
 FROM THE EXETER RECORDS. 
 
 Benjamin Abbot, b. Andover, Mass., 17 Sept. 1762, mcl. 1 Nov. 1791 
 Hannah Tracy Emery, b. Exeter 7 March 1771. 
 Their child, John Emery, b. 6 Aug. 1793. 
 Mrs. Hannah Tracy Abbot d. 6 Dec. 1793. 
 Benjamin Abbot md. (2d) 1 May 1798 Mary Perkins, b. Boston 24 May 
 1769. 
 Their children, Mary Perkins, b. 14 Feb. 1799 ; d. 23 June 1802. 
 Elizabeth, b. 14 Nov. 1801. 
 Charles Benjamin, b. 19 Jan. 180o. 
 
 Caleb G. Adams, b. 8 Jan. 1752, md. 8 Dec. 1774 Mary Folsom, dau. of 
 Nathaniel Folsom, b. 2u Aug. 1751. 
 Their chikben, Dolly, b 7 Jan. 1776; d. 21 Jan. 1810. 
 Nathaniel Folsom, b. 19 ]March 1782. 
 
 Samuel and Elizabeth Adams. 
 
 Their children, William Parker, b. Exeter 10 Oct. 1784; d. 18 Feb. 1827. 
 Sarah, b. Durham 21 Nov. 1785; d. 22 Sept. 1842. 
 Samuel Winborn, b. Durham 31 Oct. 1787; d. 1 Jan. 1831. 
 Eliza, b. Durham 7 July 1789; d. Portsmouth 4 Aug. 
 
 1802. 
 Jeremiah Parker, b. Durham 1(5 ^lay 1791 ; d. Exeter 
 
 30 June 1822. 
 Mary Sewall, b. Durham 21 Dec. 1794 ; d. Exeter 1 June 
 
 1817. 
 Anna Matilda, b. Durham 30 June 1796. 
 Catharine P., b. Durham 31 Aug. 1798; d. Exeter 4 
 
 March 1804. 
 John, b. Portsmouth 21 Nov. 1800; d. Portsmouth, 17 
 
 May 1802. 
 Nathaniel Sheaie, b. Exeter 28 Nov. 1802 ; d. E.\eter 14 
 
 Sept. 1849. 
 
 3 
 
4 HISTOIJY OF KXETKR. 
 
 Col. Samuel Adams d. Portsmouth of yellow fever 2 Aug. 1802. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Adams d. IJoston 2:5 March 1845. 
 
 Nathaniel Bartlctt, Elizabeth Dennet; md. 23 Oct. ITo'L 
 Their children, l-Uizabeth, b. 7 Eeb. 1741. 
 
 Dorothy, b. 19 April 1742 ; d. April 1804 [wife of Eliph- 
 
 alet Hale] . 
 Mary, b. 17 Jan. 174:5-4. 
 Nathaniel, b. 9 Dec. 1745. 
 Catharine, 1). 21 Jan. 1748. 
 Mary, b. 22 Oct. 1740. 
 Priscilla, b. IG June 17ol. 
 
 John Bean. 
 
 His children, Jolm. 1). M An-. IGGl; d. 18 May 16G6. 
 Daniel, 1). 2:5 March 1()62-:}. 
 Samuel, b. 2:3 March 1605-0. 
 John, b. i:3 Oct. 1608. 
 Margaret, b. 27 Oct. 1670. 
 James, b. 17 Dec. 1672. 
 Jeremy, b. 20 April 1()75. 
 Elizabeth, b. 21 Sc])t. 1078. 
 
 Shackford Sewards Bcnnet, Mehitable Giddinge ; md. 18 Dec. 1788. 
 Their child. Charles, b. 20 March 1790. 
 
 Amos Blauchard's children 1). in l-'.xeter. 
 Maria, b. 2:5 Jan. 1805. 
 Luther, b. 12 March 1807. 
 
 Joseph Boardman, Lydia Oilman ; md. 16 Sept. 182;>. 
 Their children, Lucy Maria, b. 29 July 1824. 
 
 Juliana G., b. 6 Feb. 1827. 
 Mrs. Lyilia L. Boardman, wife of Joseph Boardman, d. 2 Feb. 1832. 
 
 Thomas Bond md. 2:> May 1762 Mary Giddinge, dau. of Zebulon and 
 Deborah Giddinge. 
 Their children, Deborah, b. 2 July 1764. 
 Abigail, b. 18 Dec. 1765. 
 Mary, b. 10 May 176S. 
 Widow Mary Bond d. 28 .luue 17i»0, in her 56th year. 
 
 Francis Bowdcn, son of Michael Bowden of Lynn, md. 18 Feb. 17:34-5 
 Elizabetli Webster of Exeter, dau. of Thomas and Deborah Webster. 
 Their children, Deborah, b. 7 Dec. 17:J5. 
 Rebecca, b. 28 Sept. 1740. 
 
HISTOKY OF EXETEK. o 
 
 Samuel Brooks, son of Samuel Brooks of Medford. md. 27 June 1751 Eliz- 
 abeth Pike, dau. of "William and Judith Pike, late of Exeter, said 
 William beinjj: son of Joseph Pike, late of Barnstaple, En<,^ 
 Their children, Oliver Pike, b. 16 Feb. 17.51-2 ; d. S June 11 oo. 
 Samuel, b. 23 Oct. 1753; d. Natchez 1818. 
 Joseph, b. 17 April 1755; d. 1 Aug. 1775. 
 Elizabeth, b. 17 Jan. 17(50; d. 19 Feb. 1760. 
 Elizabeth, b. 3 Dec. 1761. 
 William, b. 20 Jan. 1764. 
 Mary, b. 23 Dec. 1767. 
 ]\Irs. Elizabeth Brooks d. 7 March 1794. 
 Samuel Brooks md. (2d) Tirzah James, dau. of Dudley James. 
 Their children, Oliver, b. 9 Au"^. 1796. 
 
 James Emery, b. 2S July 1799. 
 Elizabeth, b. 27 June 1801. 
 Samuel Brooks d. March 1807. 
 Mrs. Tirzah Brooks d. Philadelphia 25 Jan. 1831, aged 76. 
 
 Samuel Brooks, Jr., son of Samuel and Elizabeth Brooks, md. 14 Dec. 1779 
 Mary Giddinge, dau. of John and Mehitable Giddinge. 
 Their children, Dolly, b. 25 June 1781. 
 Betsey, b. 1 April 1783. 
 
 Isaiah S. BroAvn, b. Hampton Falls, md. 1 April 1842 Elizabeth Ann Fuller. 
 Their children, William H., b. 6 Feb. 1843 ; d. 16 Sept. 1843. 
 Abby J., b. 10 March 1844. 
 
 John Burley. 
 
 His children, Mary, b. 19 Oct. 1715. 
 John, b. 8 Dec. 1717. 
 Jacob, b. 23 Jan. 1720. 
 
 James Burleigh of Ipswich md. 14 Feb. 1780 Susanna Swasey of Exeter. 
 Their children, James, b. 7 Sept. 1784. 
 
 Susanna, b. 15 Feb. 1789. 
 
 Paifus, b. 21 March 1791; d. 26 March 1S09. 
 
 William, b. 24 April 1794; d. 24 Aug. 1844. 
 
 Selina, b. 17 Dec. 1796. 
 
 Harriet, b. 14 July 179S. 
 James Burleigh d. very suddenly 3 April 1812. 
 
 Lieut. Jonathan Cass md. 20 Dec. 1781 Mary Oilman, dau. of Theophilus 
 and Deborah Gilman. 
 Their children, Lewis, b. 9 Oct. 1827. 
 
 Deborah Webster,!). 16 Aju-il 1784. 
 
 George, b. 25 Jan. 1786 ; d. 1873. 
 
 Charles Lee, b, 15 Aug. 1787 ; d. Ohio 4 Jan. 1842. 
 
C HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Polly, 1). 12 Aup. 1TS«. 
 
 Joliil Jay, 1). 2S Feb. 1791 ; d. 29 April 17i)2. 
 
 Samuel Chamberlain, .son of John, of Charlestown, md. 30 Sept. 1783 Mary 
 Tilton of I'^xeter. 
 Their children, Samuel Thillips, b. 24 Jan. 1786; d. Tortsmouth 8 Feb. 
 1S22. 
 Mary Parker, b. 15 Feb. 1788; d. 10 March IS] 7 [wife of 
 
 Rev. Mr. Perry of Bradford]. 
 Jacob Tilton, b. Aug. 1791 ; d. at sea. 
 AVilliam Frederick Rowland, b. 29 April 1797. 
 F:iizabeth Dorothy, b. 3 Jan. 1800. 
 Mar<>arct Tilton, b. 4 Dec. 1801 ; d. 20 Jan. 1821. 
 Frances Groves, b. 23 April 1804. 
 Julia Ann, b. 4 Nov. 1806. 
 Edwai-d Groves, b. 14 Nov. 1808. 
 Henry Phillips, b. 4 Sept. 1811. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Chamberlain d. 22 April 1826. 
 
 Frederick Charlton (Carlton), son of Theodore Charlton and Deborah, was b. 
 7 Oct. 1764; d. 2 Feb. 1766. 
 
 John Clark. 
 
 His children, Solomon, b. 19 Feb. 1672. 
 Ichabod. b. 2.; Dec. 1()74. 
 Mary, b. 18 June, 1678. 
 
 The Rev. John Clark, minister of Exeter, md. 19 June 1694 Elizabeth 
 Woodbridj^e, dau. of Rev. Penjamin Woodbridgc. 
 Their children, Benjamin, b. June 169d. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 19 Dec. 1697. 
 Deborah, b. 3 Nov. 1699. 
 Ward, b. 12 Dec. 1703. 
 The Rev. John Clark d. 23 July 170o, aged 35. 
 
 Samuel B. Clarke, Philena F. Robinson ; md. 27 Jan. 1817. 
 Their children, I'rank Bartlett, b. 23 Nov. 1847. 
 I'.lizabeth F., b. 11 Jan. 1849. 
 
 William Henry Clark, son of !Moscs Clark and grandson of Dea. Moses 
 Clark, md. 16 Feb. 1825 Sarah Hilton, dau. of Col. Richard Hilton of 
 Newmarket. 
 Their children, Charles Edwin, b. 22 Nov. 1825. 
 William A., 1). 30 Sept. 1S27. 
 John M., ]). 4 Jan. 1830. 
 George W., b. 27 Jan. 1832. 
 iMlward H.. b. 31 March 1834. 
 Martha J., b. 27 Jan. 1837. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 7 
 
 Sarah E., b, 28 March 1S40. 
 James A., b. 23 March 1.S43. 
 
 Eliphalet Coffin md. 11 Feb. 1710 Judith Xoyes, widow of Parker Xoyes 
 and dau. of James Coffin of Xewbury. 
 
 Their chikb'en, Abigail, b. 13 Xov. 1711. 
 
 Peter, b. 8 Dec. 1713. 
 
 Judith, b. 22 Dec. 1717. 
 
 Ehphalet, b. 5 Xov. 1719 ; d. 3 May 1722. 
 
 Deborah, b. 11 Feb. 1720-1; d. 25 Sept. 1721. 
 Capt. Eliphalet Coffin d. 16 Aug. 1730. 
 
 Jeremiah Connor, Anne Gove ; md. 3 July 1696. 
 
 Their chikh-en, Jeremiah, b. IS April 1097 ; d. April 1722. 
 Jonathan, b. 5 Dec. 1099. 
 Phihp, b. 3 :March 1701-2. 
 Samuel, b. 3 May 1704. 
 Hannah, b. 20 Sept. 1706. 
 Anne, b. 30 :March 1709. 
 Benjamin, b. 7 Sept. 1711. 
 Anne, Avife of Jeremiah Connor, d. 12 Feb. 1722-3. 
 
 Cornelius Connor. 
 
 His child, Moses, b. 6 Dec. 1707. 
 
 Jonathan Connor, son of Jeremiah and Ann Connor, b. 5 Dec. 1699, md. 23 
 Jan. 1723-4 ^Meliitabel, dau. of John and Mehitabel Thhig, b. 19 July 
 1700. 
 
 Their children, Anne, b. 15 Sept. 1724. 
 
 Mehitabel, b. 5 Dec. 1726 ; d. .30 Aug. 1736. 
 
 Jeremiah, b. 8 Feb. 1730-1. 
 
 Jonathan, b. 14 Oct. 1737. 
 
 Anne, b. 10 Dec. 1739. 
 
 Mehitabel, b. 27 July 1742. 
 
 John Thing, b. 16 July 1745. 
 
 Philip Connor, Maria Dudley; md. 14 ]\Iay 1729. 
 Their children, Maria, b. 22 Sept. 1731. 
 Philip, b. 25 Sept. 1733. 
 Joseph, b. 10 Feb. 1735. 
 Joshua, b. 18 Aug. 1743. 
 
 Samuel Connor, b. 3 May 1704, md. 20 Mav 1720 Sarah Oilman. 1). IS 
 Dec. 1708. 
 
 Their children, Maria, b. 12 May 1728. 
 
 Anna, b. 2 Xov. 1730; d. 22 Aug. 1742. 
 Samuel, b. 2 April 1733. 
 
8 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Jercmiiih, b. 18 Xov. 1T36. 
 
 Joshua, b. 2 Au":. 173S; d. IG Aug. 1742. 
 
 Sarah, b. o ])ec. 1741 ; d. 22 Aug. 1742. 
 
 Eliphalet, b. 14 Aug. 1743. 
 
 Joseph, b. 7 Aug. 174G. 
 
 Mary, b. 3 Oct. 17^0. 
 
 Benjamin Conner, Abij,^iil Ikxrtlctt; md. '2o June 1734. 
 Their children, Abigail, b. 4 Feb. 173<;. 
 
 Jeremiah, b. 26 March 1739. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 8 April 1742. 
 
 Abigail, b. 31 May 1744. 
 
 Anne, b. 18 March 1746. 
 
 Benjamin, b. 28 March 1748. 
 
 Mary, b. 2.5 Jan. 17.50. 
 
 Joseph Bartlctt. b. Id Oct. 17.52. 
 Benjamin Conner md. (2d) Maiy Leavitt, widow of Jeremiah Leavitt. 
 Their children, Huldah. 1). 4 Dec. 17(')(). 
 
 Ephraim, b. o Feb. 17G3. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 
 
 Benjamin Conner d. 18 Oct. 1811, aged 101 yrs. 1 mo. 
 Mrs. Mary Conner d. 20 March 1820, aged 93 yrs. 6 mos. 
 
 Jeremiah Conner, son of Jonathan and Mehitable Conner, md. 1 Sept. 17.54 
 Hannah Sanborn, dau. of Jabal and Abiah Sanborn, 
 Their children, Mary, b. 30 May 17o.5. 
 
 Dudley, b. 29 Nov. 17J6. 
 
 Jonathan Conner, Jr., Mary Jewett; md. 10 March 1765. 
 
 Their children, Jesse, b. 18 Dec. 176o; d. Parsonsfield, Me., 8 Jan. 1841. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 14 Aug. 1770; d. 2.5 Sept. 1770. 
 
 Daniel, b. 17 Aug. 1771 ; d. 23 Sept. 18G3. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 16 Oct. 1773; d. .5 July 1849. 
 
 Jedcdiah, b. 20 Oct. 177.5; d. 28 Jan. 1838. 
 
 Mary, b. 11 Jan. 1778. 
 
 Jonathan, b. 29 April 1780; d. 7 Sept. 17.S0. 
 
 Eunice, b. 24 May 1782: d. 22 July 1.S67. 
 Mrs. Mary Conner, wife of Jonathan, d. 2.5 Nov. 1816. 
 Jonathan Conner d. 13 Nov. 1820, aged 83. 
 
 Nathaniel Conner and Tirzah (Lyford) Conner. 
 
 Their children, Charles, b. 17 :\Iay 1798; d. 29 July 1804. 
 Mary Ann, b. 17 Fel). 1800. 
 Oliver W.. b. 2.5 Oct. 1801 : d. 17 April 1840. 
 John L.. b. 16 Aug. 1803; d. 24 Jan. 1.S47. 
 Charles, b. 30 Nov. 1805. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. y 
 
 AVilliam, b. 23 Feb. 1S08. 
 
 Jewett, b. 21 March 1810; d. 27 July ISIO. 
 
 Thomas, b. 12 Aug. 1812. 
 
 Alfred, b. 12 Aug. 1814. 
 
 Freeman, b. 11 May ISlfi: d. 1 Jan. 1817. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 1.3 May 1818; d. 24 Sept. 1818. 
 Mrs. Tirzah Conner d. 28 July 1828, aged 53 yrs. 4 mos. 
 Nathaniel Conner md. (2d) Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer 22 Jan. 1833. 
 Their child, Freeman, b. 22 March 183G. 
 Nathaniel Conner d. 5 July 1849, aged 76 years. 
 
 Charles Conner, b. 30 Nov. 1805, md 27 Aug. 1832 Mary Taylor Oilman, b. 
 26 May 1806. 
 Their children. Charles Oilman, b. 6 July 1833. 
 
 Edward Joseph, b. 11 Aug. 1835; d. 15 Aug. 1868. 
 Elizabeth Oilman, b. 13 Jan. 1838 ; d. 5 Sept. 1838. 
 William Thomas, b. 14 Feb. 1840; d. 1 Aug. 1841. 
 Daniel Oihnan, b. 21 Jan. 1842. 
 Mary Elizabeth, b. 24 Aug. 1845. 
 
 Joseph Cram, son of Benjamin and Martha Cram, md. 7 June 1780 Ann 
 Brown, dau. of Nathan and Ann Brown of Hampton Falls. 
 Their children, Benjamin, b. 10 March 1781. 
 Jacob, b. 9 Jan. 1783. 
 Anne, b. 8 Mai-ch 1787. 
 Sarah, b. 18 Aug. 1790. 
 
 Robert Cross of Portland md. 5 Oct. 1807 Caroline Tilton, dau. of ])r, 
 Joseph Tilton. 
 
 Their child, Caroline Matilda, b. 5 Aug. 1808 ; d. 16 Dec. 1808. 
 
 Isaac Currier md. 10 April 1700 Elizal)eth Robinson, dau. of Ephraim and 
 Mary Robinson. 
 
 Their childi'en, Isaac, b. 10 Nov. 1760. 
 
 Ephraim, b. 9 Sept. 1762. 
 
 Rufus E. Cutler, son of Tobias Cutler, b. 2 March 1797, md. 12 March 1825 
 AnnaCilley, b. 2 Oct. 1796. 
 
 Their children, Sarah A., b. 22 June 1827 ; d. (> May 1836. 
 Harriet F., b. 26 Feb. 1828. 
 Rufus E., b. 10 March 1830. 
 John O., b. 10 :\Iay 1832. 
 Eliza A. C, b. 4 Sept. 1834. 
 
 William B. Dana and Margaret Ann Dana. 
 Their child, Elizabeth Ann, b. 13 Aug. 1827. 
 
10 IITSTOIJY OF FXF.TKK. 
 
 "N\'illiam Davis and Elizabeth Davis. 
 Their children, William Tutnani, b. 11 Sept. 1R23. 
 Abigail Ikutlott, b. 2o May 1825. 
 
 Dr. Thomas Dean md. 2 Oct. 1718 Deborah Clark, dau. of Rev. John Clark. 
 Their chikb-en, John, b. 5 Sept. 1719. 
 Jane, b. 20 June 1721. 
 Thomas, b. 23 Dec. 1723. 
 Elizabeth, b. 28 Dec. 1725. 
 Deborah, b. 15 June 1728; d. G Sept. 1735. 
 Mary, b. 17 July 1731. 
 Abigail, b. 
 
 Col. John Dcnnet of Portsmouth md. 3 Feb. 1798 Elizabeth Lamson, dau. 
 of ]^r. John Lamson of Exeter. 
 Their chikh-en, Elizabeth, b. 4 Feb. 1799. 
 
 John Sherburne, b. 25 June 1800. 
 
 Jabez Dodge, son of Ecnjamiu Dodge of Eeverly, b. 15 Jan. 1747, md. 15 
 Aug. 1771 Lydia rhilbrick, dau. of Benjamin I'hilbrick. 
 Their children, Hannah, b. 22 Aug. 1772; d. 7 April 1787. 
 
 Benjamin, 1). 1 May 1774. 
 
 Joseph, b. 9 May 177(5. 
 
 Jabez, b. 10 June 177S; d. 28 Jan. 1803. 
 
 Lydia, b. 31 Dec. 1780 ; d. 7 Aug. 1847. 
 
 Samuel, b. 2G Feb. 1783. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 28 April 1785. 
 
 Hannah, b. 4 Aug. 1787 ; d. 28 J)ec. 1787. 
 
 Anne, b. IG May 1789. 
 
 John, b. 30 Nov. 1791 ; d. 31 Jan. 18G5. 
 
 Isaac, b. 13 April 1794. \ 
 
 Mr. Jabez Dodge d. 11 April 180G. 
 
 John Dodge, b. Exeter 30 Nov. 1791, md. 1 Sept. 1 81 G Lydia Gerrisli, b. 
 Portsmouth 20 Aug. 1 793. 
 Their chiidi-en, Caroline G., b. 11 July 1817; d. 24 July 1842. 
 Frances ^L, b. 22 Sept. 1819. 
 Lydia, b. 4 Jan. 1822. 
 Harriet, b. 10 May 1824. 
 Sarah Iv, h. 5 June 1827. 
 Alexander, b. 1(! Fel). 1830; d. 27 Oct. 1830. 
 Elizabeth Hurd, b. 18 Dec. 1834 ; d. 8 April 1836. 
 
 Christian Dolhoof (Dolloff). 
 
 His children, Mary, 1). 17 Sept. 1()()7. 
 John, 1). 17 Feb. 1GG8-9. 
 James, b. 25 Dec. 1G70. 
 
IIISTOTIY OF EXETER. H 
 
 Richard Dolloff. 
 
 His children, Sarah, 1). 10 Jan. 1702. 
 
 Margaret, b. 18 [March 1704. 
 Abigail, b. 26 Feb. 170G. 
 John, b. 20 April 1708. 
 Jonathan, b. 17 Oct. 1710. 
 
 Samuel Dolloff. 
 
 His children, Samuel, b. 1 Feb. 1703. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 1 March 1706. 
 
 Abner Dolloff and Miriam Dolloff. 
 
 Their children, Mercy, b. 6 Dec. 1152, N. S. 
 Richard, b. 2 Jan. 11 oo. 
 David, b. 19 Jan. 1757. 
 Phineas, b. 11 Ajn-il 1759. 
 
 Jeremiah Dow, b. Salem, N. H., 9 April 1773, md. 27 Xov. 1797 Hannah 
 Parker, b. Bradford, Mass., 18 Oct. 1776. 
 Their children, Ednah Parker, b. 18 Jan. 1799. 
 
 Retire Parker, b. 10 March 1801. 
 Jeremiah, b. 5 Feb. 1803. 
 Elizabeth, b. 11 Sept. 1806. 
 Hannah Parker, b. 1 Nov. 1808. 
 Mary Frances, b. 
 Jeremiah Dow d. 13 Oct. 1847. 
 
 Stephen Dudley, Sarah Oilman ; md. 24 Dec. 1684. 
 Their children, Samuel, b. 19 Dec. 1685. 
 
 Stephen, b. 10 March 1687-8. 
 James, b. 11 June 1690. 
 John, b. 4 Oct. 1692. 
 Nicholas, b. 27 Aug. 1694. 
 Joanna, b. 3 May 1697. 
 Treworthy, b. 
 
 Samuel Dudley, Hannah Colcord; md. 24 Nov. 1709, 
 Their children, John, b. 22 June 1711. 
 
 Samuel, b. 9 Feb. 1713-14. 
 Hannah, b. 9 April 1716. 
 Samuel, b. 26 Aug. 1718. 
 
 Joseph Dudley, Merriah Oilman; md. 26 Nov. 1724. 
 Their child, Sarah, b. 25 Sept. 1725 ; d. 30 Aug. 1742. 
 
 Ezra S. Durgin of Greenland md. 7 Dec. 1837 Ruth Stevenson of Saco, 'Me. 
 Their children, [Mary E., b. I'keter 7 Nov. 1839. 
 
 William E., b. Exeter 1 Oct. 1841. 
 
12 HISTORY OF EXETKR. 
 
 Albert A., h. lActcr 13 June 1844; d. 19 Jan. 1845. 
 Ednah J., b. Exeter 10 Dec. 184j. 
 
 Eleazer Elkins. 
 
 Ilis childi-en, John. b. o l^ec. 1()T4. 
 
 Samuel, b. LIT June 1677. 
 
 Epcs Ellcry, b. Gloucester, Mass., 29 Oct. 1709, md. 11 Sept. 1794 Anna 
 Odell. b. 27 Feb. 1771 ; moved to Exeter in the year 1800. 
 Their children, Anna Mary, b. Gloucester 24 March 179(5. 
 Epes, b. Gloucester 20 March 1800. 
 James, b. Exeter 26 June 1803. 
 Georjje, b. I^xeter 29 July 1804. 
 David Ilaraden, b. Exeter 11 Se])t. 1805. 
 Nathaniel, b. Exeter 18 Jan. 1807. 
 AVilliam Parsons, b. Exeter 1 Dec. 1809. 
 Edward Turner, b. Exeter 16 June 1812 ; d. 1 1 March 1813. 
 
 Noah Emery, b. 10 Nov. 1748, md. 5 Dec. 1771 Jane Hale. 
 Their children, Mary, 1).'24 Sept. 1772: d. 20 Sept. 1856. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 15 Oct. 1774. 
 
 Nicholas, b. 4 Sept. 1776. 
 
 John, 1). 29 Oct. 1780. 
 
 Noah, b. 30 Dec. 1782 ; d. at sea 1813. 
 
 Jane, b. 19 Oct. 1788 ; d. 19 June 1802. 
 
 Betsy Phillips, b. 15 Aug. 1794. 
 Noah Emery d. 6 Jan. 1817. 
 Mrs. Jane Emery d. 19 June 1813. 
 
 Jonathan I'lood, Mary Foy ; md. 
 
 Their children, Joseph, b. 15 Aug. 1768. 
 AVilliam, b. 2 Oct. 1773. 
 
 Mary Foulsam, dau. of Samuel Foulsam, b. 27 Sept. 1664. 
 
 JohnFoulsam d. 27 Dec. 1681. 
 
 Abigail Foulsam, dau. of John Foulsam, b. 23 Dec. 1676. 
 
 Samuel Foulsam, son of Nathaniel Foulsam, b. 18 Aug. 1679. 
 Peter Foulsam, Catherine Oilman : nul. 
 Their cliildren, Susanna, b. 27 Sept. 1704. 
 
 Elizabeth. 1). 20 March 1706-7. 
 
 John,!). 14 March 1708-9. 
 
 James, b. 10 Oct. 1711. 
 
 Peter, b. 27 July 1714. 
 
 Catherine, b. 24 Jan. 1716-17. 
 
 Richard Calley and Catherine. Pelict of Peter Folsom, md. 
 
 Daniel Folsom. 
 
 His children, Daniel, b. 27 Aug. 1739. 
 Ann, b. 2 April 1741. 
 Abigail, 1). 27 Feb. 1742-3. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 13 
 
 Josiah Folsom, Martha Gold; md. May 17a4. 
 Their children, Jemima, b. 7 March 17-jj. 
 Martha, b. 7 ])ec. 17.56. 
 Mary, b. 17 ^larch 17(53. 
 Josiah, b. 1 June 176.3. 
 Dudley, b. l.> Dec. 1767. 
 John, b. 26 June 1770. 
 Deborah, b. 12 May 1772. 
 Josiah Folsom, b. 25 Sept. 1725 ; d. 27 July 1820. 
 
 James Folsom, Elizabeth Webster; md. Dec. 1763. 
 Their children, James, b. 12 Aug. 176.5. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 5 March 1767. 
 
 Thomas, b. 11 May 1769. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 2 April 1771. 
 
 Peter, b. 22 Feb. 177.5; d. June 1817. 
 
 Polly, b. 12 July 1776. 
 
 John. b. 5 Nov. 1 779. 
 
 Samuel Folsom, Elizabeth Emery; md. 30 April 1780. 
 Their children, Anne, b. 4 Feb. 1781. 
 
 Samuel, b. 7 June 1783. 
 
 Betsy, b. 26 March 1785. 
 
 Joanna, b. 25 June 1787. 
 Samuel Folsom d. 22 May 1790. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Folsom d. Sept. 1805. 
 
 James Folsom, b. 22 July 1756, md. 2 Dec. 1784 Mary Folsom, b. 17 March 
 1763. 
 Their children, James, b. 24 Xov. 1785. 
 Josiah, b. 2 March 1787. 
 Mary, b. 13 Feb. 1789. 
 LydiaB., b. 30 April 1791. 
 Martha N., b. 23 July 1793. 
 Sarah R., b. 12 Aug." 1795. 
 Frances, b. 12 Feb. 1798. 
 Peter G., b. 1 Nov. 1799. 
 Nancy Y., b. 16 March 1802. 
 Nicholas D., b. 10 June 1805. 
 Lavina, b. 30 March 1808. 
 
 James Folsom, Sarah Gilman ; md. 
 
 Their children, Sophia, b. 26 Feb. 1787. 
 
 Joseph Oilman, b. 7 Dec. 1788; d. Sept. 1813. 
 Sarah, b. 1 Nov. 1790. 
 Henry, b. 5 Oct. 1792. 
 Charles, b. 24 Dec. 1794. 
 Anne, b. 12 Feb. 1797. 
 
14 IIISTOIIY OF EXETER. 
 
 Mary Ciilman, b. July 17i»!i. 
 WilHam, b. 12 July isOJJ. 
 Mrs. Sarah Folsoni d. 1 1 July 1805. 
 
 Jo.siah Folsoni, b. L* March 17N7, nul. 11 Oct. 1812 Mary \\'ootli'uH', b. 
 Feb. 1783. 
 Their child, Mary ^^'., h. !) Oct. 1813. 
 Mrs. Mai-y Folsom d. 22 March 1814. 
 Josiali Folsom md. 22 May 182.5 Mary James, b. 12 Jan. 1798. 
 Their children, Elizabeth S., b. 14 May 182(5. 
 Josiah J., b. 1 Aug. 1827. 
 Ebcnezer, b. '2o Oct. 1828. 
 Mary, wife of Josiah, d. 12 April 1847. 
 
 r 
 
 Henry F. French md. Chester 9 Oct. 1838 Anue Richardson, dau. of Ch. 
 Jus. AVilliam M. Richardson. 
 Their children, Harriette Van :Matcr, b. Chester 29 Sept. 1839. 
 
 William ?tlerchant Richardson, b. Exeter 1 Oct. 1843. 
 Sarah Flagg, b. Exeter 14 Aug. 1846. 
 Daniel Chester, b. Exeter 20 April 1850. 
 Mrs Anne R. French d. Exeter 29 Aug. 1850. 
 
 John George, Elizabeth Towle ; md. 24 Sept. 1734. 
 Their children, Sarah, b. 1(5 Oct. 173G. 
 Josiah. 1). 1!) Sept. 1738. 
 
 John, b. 23 :\Iarch 173i)-4(). ~"^ 
 
 Olive, b. 27 Feb. 1741-2. 
 
 Zebulou Giddingc md. 12 Oct. 1724 Deborah "Webster, dau. of Thomas 
 Webster. 
 Their children, Pernal, b. 28 Sept. 1725. 
 John,!). 11 Sept. 1728. 
 Abigail,]). 30 Oct. 1729; md. Id Sept. 175(5 Philip, son 
 
 of John 15absnn. 
 Ze])ulon, b. 7 Feb. 1732-3 ; d. 9 March 1759. 
 Mary, b. 23 Oct. 1734. 
 Eliphalet. 1). 17 Sept. 173(5. 
 (ieorge. b. 17 July 1738. 
 Nathaniel, b. 2(5 Dec. 1744. 
 ])eborah, b. 2 Feb. 174G-7. 
 Mrs. Deborah Giddinge d. 2 I\l). 17(57, aged CA yrs. 2 mos. 22 days. 
 Zcbulon Giddinge md. (2d) 8 May 1773 !Mrs. Joanna Cottle, widow of 
 Joseph Cottle of Xcwburyport. She d. 21 July 1773, aged (52 yrs. 5 mos. 
 Zebulon Giddingc d. 30 May 1789, aged 80 jrs. 20 days. 
 
 John Giddinge, !\Ieheta])el Oilman ; md. 20 Nov. 1751. 
 Their children, Mary, b. 13 July 1752. 
 
 John, b. 22 July 1754 ; d. 12 June 1798. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEK. 15 
 
 Dorothy, b. 15 Oct. 1758. 
 Mehetabcl, b. 1 Feb. 1704. 
 Deborah, b. 30 May 1770. 
 
 Zebulon Giddinge, son of Zebulon and Deborah Giddinge, md. 30 May 1754 
 Lydia Robinson-, dau. of Ephraim and Mary Robinson. 
 Their children, Lydia, b. 14 Aug. 1755. 
 
 Deborah, b. 22 Dec. 1756. 
 Zebulon, b. 14 Oct. 1758. 
 
 Zebulon Giddinge d. at Cape Cod 9 ^Nlarch 1759, aged 26 yrs. 19 days. 
 Mrs. Lydia Giddinge md. (2d) 4 May 1761 Samuel Gihnan, and d. Dec. 
 1791. [Gilman Genealogy says 4 July 1778.] 
 
 Eliphalet Giddinge, Anne Lovering; md. 18 Dec. 1760. 
 Theii- childi-en, Zebulon, b. 26 Sept. 1761 ; d. March 1769. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 6 Feb. 1765 ; d. March 1803. 
 
 Pernal, b. 23 Sept. 1768; d. Dec. 1768. 
 
 Joseph, b. 11 July 1770 ; d. 10 Sept. 1770. 
 
 Eliphalet, b. 12 Jidy 1773; d. 19 Aug. 1773. 
 
 Anne, b. 15 Feb. 1775 ; d. 15 Aug. 1776. 
 
 Lucretia, b. 10 Dec. 1776; d. 13 May 1777. 
 
 Anne, b. 22 Oct. 1779; d. June ISll" [the wife of Rev. W. 
 F. Rowland]. 
 Mrs. Anne Giddinge d. 7 March 1809 in the 70th year of her age. 
 Eliphalet Giddinge md. (2d) 16 Feb. 1812 widow Ann Ljford. 
 Ann Giddinge, 2d wife of Eliphalet Giddinge, d. 12 Aug. 1818. 
 Col. Eliphalet Giddinge d. 30 June 1830, aged 94 yrs. 
 
 Nathaniel Giddinge, son of Zebulon and Deborah Giddinge, md. 6 Jan. 
 1769 ^lary Elwell, dau. of Zebulon and Lucy Elwell. 
 Their chilcben, Abigail, b. 17 Oct. 1769; d. June 1776. 
 Lucy, b. 22 Feb. 1774. 
 Nathaniel, b. 17 April 1784. 
 
 Nathaniel Giddinge, son of Eliphalet Giddinge, md. Amie Folsom, dau. of 
 Gen. Nathaniel Folsom. 
 Their children, Eliphalet, b. 13 Dec. 1783. 
 Dolly, b. 9 Jan. 1785. 
 PoUy, b. 15 Aug. 1786. 
 Harriet Amelia, b. 25 Feb. 1789. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 1 Aug. 1791 ; d. June 1814 at Newburyport, 
 unmd. 
 Mrs. Anne Giddinge d. 27 April 1794, aged 32 jts. 8 mos. 27 days. 
 
 Nathaniel Giddinge md. (2d) 6 Nov. 1794 widow Peggy Wan-en. 
 Their childi-en, Ann Elizabeth, b. 20 Feb. 1796. 
 
 Joseph, b. 9 Feb. 1798 ; d. 15 Aug. 1798. 
 
16 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 John Gilinan. l^lizabeth Trcworthy : nid. '40 June KwT. 
 Tluir children, Mary. h. 10 Sept. Ki.JS. 
 
 James, b. H Feb. lGon-()(). 
 
 Klizal)eth. b. 1(5 Auj;. KiGl. 
 
 John, b. (5 Oct. KKi.'J. 
 
 Catherine, b. IT March KUH-j: d. 2 Sept. 1684. 
 
 Sarah, b. '2.') Feb. l(i()(;-T. 
 
 Lydia, b. 12 Dec. IGGS. 
 
 Samuel, b. ;}0 March lOTl ; d. Aug. 1691. 
 
 Nicholas, b. 26 Dec. 1672. 
 
 Abifjail, b. .3 Nov. 1674. 
 
 John, b. 19 Jan. 1676-7. 
 
 Deborah and Joanna (twins), 1). ;]0 April 1679; Deborah 
 d. 30 Sept. 16S0; Joanna d. 21 Dec. 1720. 
 
 Joseph, b. 2R Oct. 16S0. 
 
 Alice, b. 2;5 :May 16S;}. 
 
 Catherine, b. 27 Nov. 1684. 
 ^Slrs. Elizabeth Gilman. wife of John Oilman, d. 8 Sept. 1710. 
 John Gilman d. 24 July 170S. 
 
 Joanna, dau. of John and Elizal)eth Gilman. was twice nid., first to Capt. 
 llobert Coffin, son of Peter Coffin, then to Henry Dyer. 
 
 !Moses Gilman. 
 
 His chilcken, Jeremy, 1). ^51 Aujj. KitiO. 
 
 Elizabeth, h. 19 Ai)ril 1663. 
 James, b. 31 May 166.5. 
 John. b. 7 June 166S. 
 IJvlev Dudley and Elizabeth Gilman nid. 23 Oct. 16N2. 
 
 Edward Gilman. 
 
 His children, Edward, 1). 20 Oct. 167-1 
 
 Anli])as, b. 2 Feb. 1677 ; d. the 27tii. 
 Maverick, b. 11 April 1681. 
 
 Nirliolas Gilman, Sarah Clark : md. 10 June 1697. 
 Their children, Samuel, b. 1 May 169S. 
 John, b. 24 Dee. I(i9i). 
 Daniel, b. 28 June 1702. 
 Nathaniel, b. 2 March 1704. 
 Nicholas, b. IS Jan. 1707-8. 
 Josiah, b, 2d Feb. 1709-10. . 
 Sarah, b. 25 June 1712. 
 'i'reworthy, b. I'j Oct. 1714. 
 l",lizal)eth. b. o Nov. 1717. 
 Joanna. \>. 11 July 1720. 
 
 John Gilman, Elizabeth Coffin : md. ') June 1698. 
 Their children, Joanna, b. 20 Sept. 1700. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 17 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 5 Feb. 1701-2. 
 Peter, b. 6 Feb. 1704-5. 
 Abigail, b. 19 Aug. 1707. 
 Robert, b. 2 June 1710. 
 John, b. 5 Oct. 1712. 
 Joanna, b. 27 Oct. 1715. 
 Elizabeth, -wife of John Oilman, d. 10 July 1720. 
 
 Samuel Oilman, Abigail Lord; md. 2 Sept. 1719. 
 
 Their chikU-en, Samuel, b. 20 May 1720. 
 Nicholas, b. 6 Oct. 1722. 
 Robert, b. 30 Aug. 1724. 
 Sarah, b. 1 Dec. 1725; d. 8 Dec. 1725. 
 Abigail, b. 8 April 1727; d. 4 Aug. 1729. 
 Daniel, b. 30 Jan. 1728; d. Nov. 1728. 
 John, b. 24 May 1730; d. 24 Sept. 1735. 
 
 John Oilman, Mary Thing; md. 8 Nov. 1720. 
 
 Their children, John, b. 23 Dec. 1721 ; d. March 1721-2. 
 
 John, b. March 1722-3 ; d. April 1723. 
 John Oilman d. 6 Dec. 1722. 
 
 Peter Oilman md. 8 Dec. 1724 Mary Oilman, Relict of John Oilman. 
 
 Daniel Oilman, Mary Lord; md. 2 Sept. 1724. 
 Their childi-en, Mary, b. 12 Nov. 1725. 
 
 John, b. 17 Sept. 1727. 
 
 Daniel, b. 18 Nov. 1729. 
 
 Nicholas, b. 21 Oct. 1731. 
 
 Sommersby, b. 1733. 
 Mary Oilman, wife of Daniel, d. 22 March 1735-6. 
 
 John Oilman, Elizabeth Hale; md. 29 Dec. 1720. 
 Their children, Nicholas, b. 20 Jan. 1721-2. 
 Samuel, b. 20 April 1723. 
 Sarah, b. 23 July 1724. 
 Nathaniel, b. 18 June 1726. 
 
 Nicholas Oilman, Mary Thing; md. 22 Oct. 1730. 
 Their childi'en, Bartholomew, b. 26 Aug. 1731. 
 Nicholas, b. 13 June 1733, 
 Tristram, b. 24 Nov. 1735. 
 Joseph, b. 5 May 1738. 
 Josiah, b. 2 Sept. 1740; d. 8 Feb. 1801. 
 John, b. 10 May 1742 ; d. 8 June 1752. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Oilman, wife of Nicholas, d. 22 Feb. 1789, aged 76 yrs. 1 mo. 
 9 days. 
 9» 
 
18 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Daniel Gilman, Abigail Saver; md. 23 Sept. 1736. 
 Their child, Abigail, b. 21 Sept. 1738. 
 
 Nathaniel Gilman, Sarah Emery; md. 10 Sept. 1725. 
 Their cliildi-en, Tabitha, b. 21 July 1726. 
 
 Sarah, b. 14 Feb. 1727-8 ; d. July 1729. 
 Nathaniel, b. 9 April 1730. 
 Sarah, b. 5 Sept. 1733; d. 6 Jan. 1735-6. 
 Elizabeth, b. 14 Dec. 1735 ; d. 1 Jan. 1735-6. . 
 Joanna, b. 23 Aug. 1737. 
 
 TreAvorthy Gilman, Susanna Lowe ; md. 17 June 1736. 
 Their child, Treworthy, b. 23 INIay 1738. 
 
 Josiah Gilman, Abigail Coffin; md. 2 Dec. 1731. 
 
 Their children, Abigail, b. 12 Aug. 1732; d. 17 Jan. 1797. 
 
 Eliphalet, b. 22 March 1734; d. 29 Sept. 1735. 
 
 Peter, b. 14 March 1735-6. 
 
 Judith, b. 11 Jan. 1737-8; d. Nov. 1815. 
 Josiah Gilman d. 1 Jan. 1793. 
 
 Joshua Gilman, ]SIcriah Hersey ; md. Nov. 1702. 
 Their children, Mariah, b. 2 Oct. 1704. 
 Sarah, b. 20 Dec. 1708. 
 Hannah, b. 14 Sept. 1712. 
 Joshua, b. 2 Feb. 1716. 
 
 Andrew Gilman, Joanna Thing; md. 27 Jan. 1714-5. 
 Their children, Abigail, b. 19 April 1717. 
 
 Jeremiah, b. 3 June 1719. 
 
 Joanna, b. 6 Dec. 1721. 
 
 Deborah, b. 28 Jan. 1723-4. 
 
 Mary, b. 31 Aug. 1727. 
 Joanna Gilman, wife of Andrew, d. 16 Nov. 1727. 
 
 Andrew Gilman, Bridget Hilton ; md. 3 April 1729. 
 Their children, Winthrop. h. 14 Feb. 1730-1. 
 Elizabeth, b. 30 Nov. 1732. 
 Anna, b. 23 Oct. 1734. 
 
 Andrew, b. 28 Oct. 1736 ; d. 28 Jan. 1736-7. 
 Bridget Gilman, wife of Andrew, d. 10 Nov. 1736. 
 
 Jonathan Gilman, Jr., Elizabeth Sanburn ; md. 12 May 1737. 
 Their children, Elizabeth, b. 19 Aug. 1741. 
 Hannah, b. S Dec. 1742. 
 
 Nathaniel Gilman, b. 10 Nov. 1759, md. 29 Dec. 1785 Abigail Odlin. 
 Their children, Frances, b. 11 vSept. 1787; d. 7 April 1821. 
 Abigail, b. 10 Dec. 1789. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 19 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 13 Nov. 1793. 
 
 Ann, b. 10 Aug. 1796; d. 2 Jan. 1827. 
 Mrs. Abigail Oilman d. 10 Aug. 1796. 
 Nathaniel Oilman md. (2d) 13 Dec. 1796 Dorothy Folsom of Portsmouth. 
 Their childi-en, Nicholas, b. 2 Sept. 1799; d. 23 Jan. 1840. 
 
 Samuel T., b. 17 May 1801 ; d. 23 Jan. 1835. 
 
 Daniel, b. 28 June 1804 ; d. 4 Dec. 1841. 
 
 John T., b. 9 May 1806. 
 
 Charles E., b. 12 Feb. 1808 ; d. 23 Jan. 1840. 
 
 Mary 0., b. 9 March 1810. 
 
 Joseph T.,b. 12 Oct. 1811. 
 
 Samuel Oilman, b. 15 March 1752, md. 30 May 1774 Sarah Hall. 
 Their child, Josiah H., b. 15 Aug. 1775 ; d. 24 Dec. 1775. 
 Mrs. Sarah Oilman d. 18 Jan. 1776. 
 
 Samuel Oilman, Martha Kinsman; md. 16 Sept. 1779. 
 Then- childi-en, Samuel, b. 1 July 1780; d. 28 Aug. 1781. 
 
 Samuel K., b. 31 Jan. 1782; d. 1 Oct. 1795. 
 
 Jonathan, b. 27 April 1784; d. 7 June 1809. 
 
 Martha, b. 20 Feb. 1786; d. 22 Feb. 1786. 
 
 John K., b. 14 Aug. 1787. ' 
 
 Martha, b. 21 Feb. 1789. 
 
 Lydia, b. 11 May 1791 ; d. 2 Feb. 1832. 
 
 Hannah, b. 15 May 1794. 
 
 Samuel K., b. 2 May 1796. 
 Mrs. Martha Oilman d. 19 Oct. 1809. 
 Samuel Oilman d. 29 Aug. 1838. 
 
 Samuel Oilman, Jr., Lydia Oiddinge ; md. 4 May 1761. 
 Their children, Tabitha, b. 7 April 1762; d. 2 May 1837. 
 
 Frederick, b. 28 Jan. 1764; d. 1798. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. Jan. 1765; d. May 1766. 
 
 Robert, b. May 1768; d. Nov. 1769. 
 
 Peter, b. 9 Feb. 1771 ; d. in France. 
 
 Arthur, b. 28 Oct. 1773. 
 
 Henry, b. 30 Aug. 1777. 
 Samuel Oilman, Jr., d. July 1778. 
 
 Jonathan Oilman, Elizabeth Leavit; md. 16 Jan. 1723-4. 
 Their children, Alice, b. 15 April 1725. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 5 June 1727. 
 llobert Briscoe, b. 21 June 1729. 
 Alice, b. 11 July 1731. 
 Jonathan, b. 18 May 1733. 
 Hannah, b. 29 Dec." 1734. 
 
20 HISTORY OF F.XF.TEK. 
 
 Mary, b, 7 May 1 737. 
 Johii, b. 28 Nov. 17:}«. 
 Ko1)crt Uriscoe, b. 21 Nov. 1740. 
 lluniuih, b. 20 Nov. 171:5. 
 Dorothy, b. 18 July 1746. 
 
 Josiah Gihnan, Sarah Oilman; nid. .30 Nov. 1763. 
 Their children, John Phillips, b. 7 Nov. 1764. 
 Sarah, b. 8 July 1766. 
 Mary, b. 10 May 1768. 
 Elizabeth, b. 11 June 1770. 
 Bartholomew, h. 9 Nov. 1772. 
 Tabitha, b. 13 Aug. 177-3; d. 11 Oct. 1777. 
 Anne, b. 9 Sept. 1777; d. Aug. 1823. 
 Rebecca, b. 29 Sept. 1780; d. 21 Oct. 1815. 
 Catherine, b. 3 Sept. 1782. 
 Charlotte, b. 17 July 1785. 
 Sarah Oilman, wife of Josiah, d. 26 July 1785. 
 
 Joseph Oilman, Rebecca Ives; md. 21 Sept. 1763. 
 Their child:-en, Robert Hale, b. 6 Dec. 1764. 
 
 Benjamin Ives, b. 29 July 17(56. 
 
 Thomas Oilman, Elizabeth Rogers; md. 31 Dec. 1772. 
 Their childi-en, Whittingham, b. 30 Nov. 1773. 
 
 Thomas, b. 25 Aug. 1775. 
 
 John, b. 4 Dec. 1777. 
 
 Nathaniel Clark, b. 20 Dec. 1779. 
 
 Henry, b. 28 Aug. 1782. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 5 May 1786. 
 
 Abigail Bromfield, b. 14 Feb. 1789. 
 Thomas Oilman was b. 15 June 1747. 
 Elizabeth Rogers, b. 22 Fel). 1754. 
 Mrs. Oilman d. 8 Feb. 1791. 
 
 Samuel Oilman, Mary Blodget ; md. 30 Nov. 1780. 
 Their child, Elizabeth Blodget, b. 16 Dec. 1781. 
 
 John AVard Oilman, b. 9 May 1741, md. 3 Dec. 1767 Hannah Emery, b. 
 24 June 1745. 
 Their children, Stephen, b. 27 Aug. 1768 ; d. 9 Oct. 1849. 
 Ward, b. 18 Dec. 1769; d. 14 Dec. 1821. 
 Jane, b. 14 Sept. 1771 ; d. 3 April 1778. 
 Allen, b. 16 July 1773. 
 
 Deborah Harris, 1). 26 May 1775; d. July 1864. 
 John, b. 8 Ajjril 1777; d. 11 April 1777. 
 Hannah, b. 6 May 1778. 
 Jane, b. 23 July 1780. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 21 
 
 John, b. 15 Aug. 1782 ; d. 10 Sept. 1822. 
 
 Samuel, b. 4 Jan. 1785. 
 
 Joseph, b. 4 March 1789 ; d. 18 Aug. 1805. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 29 May 1791. 
 Mrs. Hannah Oilman d. 22 June 1802. 
 John W. Oilman d. 10 June 1823. 
 
 Joseph S. Oilman, Elizabeth Odlin ; md. 
 
 Their children, Elizabeth Ann Taylor, b. 5 July 1797 ; d. 9 Jan. 1882. 
 
 Mary Taylor, b. 26 May 1806 ; d. 13 July 1877. 
 Joseph S. Oilman d. 26 Sept. 1826. 
 Elizabeth Oilman d. 1 April 1840. 
 
 Eliphalet Oilman, Sarah Conner; md. 10 May 1778. 
 Their children, Sally b. 17 Aug. 1779. 
 
 Harriot, b. 8 June 1783. 
 
 Patty, b. 15 April 1786. 
 
 Eliphalet, b. 19 May 1788. 
 
 Betsey, b. 13 Dec. 1789. 
 
 Dorothy Bartlett, b. 11 May 1792. 
 Mrs. Sarah Oilman d. 1796. 
 Eliphalet Oilman d. 24 Nov. 1822. 
 
 John Phillips Oilman, Elizabeth Hanson ; md. 7 Dec. 1788. 
 Their children, Sai-ah, b. 4 May 1790. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 20 June 1794. 
 Mary Ann, b. 4 Aug. 1797. 
 
 Benjamin Clark Oilman, Mary Thing Oilman ; md. 24 June 1788. 
 Their children, Phillips, b. 8 April 1789 ; d. 1838. 
 Clarissa, b. 14 Nov. 1790. 
 Charles William, b. 10 Feb. 1793. 
 William Charles, b. 2 May 1795. 
 Serena, b. 10 Sept. 1797. 
 
 Samuel Frederick, b. 2 pec. 1799 ; d. 5 Dec. 1816. 
 Arthur Frederick, 1). 23 Dec. 1801. 
 Rufus King, b. IS March 1804; d. 8 Feb. 1828. 
 Mrs. Mary Thing Oilman d. 7 Dec. 1841. 
 
 Nicholas Oilman, Sarah Hudson Mellen ; md. 8 Sept. 1823. 
 Their children, Augustus Henry, b. 9 Aug. 1824. 
 
 Henry Augustus, b. 9 Aug. 1824; d. 25 Aug. 1824. 
 Sarah Almira, b. 29 Aug. 1827. 
 
 Alexander Oordon, said to be Scotch soldier of Charles II., taken prisoner by 
 Parliamentarians, sent to America 1651, md. 1063 Mary Listen, dau. of 
 Nicholas Listen of Exeter. 
 
22 HISTORY OF EXETER, 
 
 Their childi-en, Elizabeth, b. 23 Feb. 1664. 
 
 Nicholas, b. 23 March 1665-6. 
 
 Mary, b. 22 May 1668. 
 
 Johii, b. 26 Oct. 1670. 
 
 James, b. 22 July 1673. 
 
 Alexander, b. 1 Dec. 1675. 
 
 Thomas, b. 1678, 
 
 IXaniel, b. 1682. 
 Alexander Gordon, Sr., d. Exeter 1697. 
 
 Thomas Gordon, son of Alexander Gordon, nid. 22 Nov. 1699 Elizabeth 
 Harriman of Haverhill, Mass. 
 Their children, Timothy, b. 19 Aug. 1700; d. in infancy. 
 Thomas, b. 24 Aug. 1701. 
 Diana, b. 26 Jan. 1703. 
 Daniel, b. 1 Dec. 1704. 
 Abigail, b. 28 May 1707. 
 Benoni, b. 1709. 
 Timothy, b. 22 March 1716. 
 James, b. 
 Hannah, b. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 25 March 1728. 
 Benjamin, b. 
 Thomas Gordon, Sr., d. 1762. 
 
 Timothy Gordon, son of Thomas Gordon, md. 1748 Maria Stockbridge of 
 Stratham. 
 Their children, Abraham, b. 
 
 Mary, b. 22 Oct. 1753. 
 
 Hannah, b. 4 Dec. 1756. 
 
 Timothy, b. 30 Dec. 1757. 
 
 Maria, b, 
 
 Elisha, b. 11 April 1763. 
 
 Emma, b. 
 
 John, 1). 
 
 Timothy Gordon, Sr., d. 1796, • 
 
 Timothy Gordon, son of Timothy Gordon and a Reyolutionary soldier, md. 
 23 Jan. 1782 Lydia \Yhitmore of Ne\vbury, Mass. 
 Their children, William, b. 17 May 1783. 
 Lydia, b. 11 Dec. 1785, 
 John S., b. 23 Dec. 1786, 
 Charles, b, 5 Sept, 1788. 
 Nathaniel, b. 7 Dec. 1792. 
 Timotliy, 1). 10 ^March 1795. 
 J'ibenc'zor, b. 2S Feb. 1797. 
 Harriet, b. 4 Aug. 1804. 
 Timothy Gordon d., a pensioner of the United States, 1836. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 23 
 
 Nathaniel Gordon, son of Thomas Gordon, md. 1756 Elizabeth Smith of 
 Exeter. 
 Their childi-en, EUzabeth, b. 19 Feb. 1758. 
 Nathaniel, b. 1760. 
 John, b. 19 June 1765. 
 Mary, b. 23 April 1774. 
 Nathaniel Gordon, Sr., d. 24 March 1789, 
 
 Nathaniel Gordon, son of Nathaniel Gordon, Sr., md. 14 Nov. 1790 Sarah 
 Shepard, dau. of Rev. Samuel Shepard of Brentwood. 
 Their children, Frances, b. 22 Sept. 1793. 
 Sophia, b. 6 April 1795. 
 Two others d. in infancy. 
 Nathaniel Gordon md. (2d) 30 Aug. 1808 Mary Robinson. 
 Their child, :Mary Elizabeth, b. 22 Aug. 1809. 
 Nathaniel Gordon d. 30 Dec. 1815. 
 
 John Gordon, b. 19 June 1765, md. 8 Aug. 1790 Mary Batchelder of Kings- 
 ton, b. 4 Jan. 1764. 
 Their children, Nathaniel Batchelder, b. 2 March 1791. 
 John T., b. 27 Oct. 1792. 
 Stephen Leavitt, b. 25 April 1795. 
 George WUliam, b. 8 Feb. 1801. 
 
 John S. Gordon, son of 2d Timothy Gordon of Newbury, Mass., md. 11 
 March 1814 Frances Gordon, dau. of 2d Nathaniel Gordon. 
 Their childi-en, Frances Sarah, b. 7 Feb. 1815. 
 Sarah Frances, b. 2 July 1817. 
 Nathaniel, b. 26 Nov. 1820. 
 Mary D., b. 24 Dec. 1827. 
 John S. Gordon d. 1845. 
 
 Nathaniel Gordon, son of John S. Gordon, md. 26 Dec. 1853 Alcina Eve- 
 line Sanborn, dau. of Moses Sanborn of Kingston. 
 Their children, Moses Sanborn, b. 14 Dec. 1854. 
 
 John Thomas, b. 4 May 1857 ; d. in infancy. 
 Nathaniel, b. 24 March 1859. 
 Frances Evehne, b. 29 March 1861. 
 Mary Alcina Elizabeth, b. 7 March 1864. 
 Mrs. Alcina Gordon d. 14 April 1864. 
 Nathaniel Gordon md. (2d) 4 June 1868 George Anne Lowe, dau. of John 
 Lowe, Jr., and Sarah Anne (Simes) Lowe. 
 
 James Gordon, son of Jonathan Gordon, b. 5 July 1725, md. Elizabeth Gil- 
 man, dau. of Cartee Gilman, b. 14 April 1727. 
 Their child, William, b. 13 March 1753. 
 
24 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Gordon d. and James Gordon md. (2d) Elizabeth DoUoff, 
 dau. of Samuel DoUoff, b. G Pel). 1728. 
 Their children, Joseph, b. 25 Auf?. 1759. 
 Esther,!). 24 March 1764. 
 Lydia, b. 1 Nov. 1766. 
 
 Benjamin Gordon, b. 20 Sept. 1798, md. 27 April 1823 Frances Folsom, 
 b. 12 Feb. 1798. 
 Their children, Calvin Folsom, b. 3 Feb. 1824. 
 Frances Mary, 1). 17 June 1827. 
 Benjamin Franklin, b. 8 May 1830. 
 Lydia Ann, b. 2 April 1833.' 
 
 Francis Grant, son of James and Betsey Grant, md. 2 Nov. 1822 Mary W. 
 Carleton, dau. of Theodore and Mary Carleton. 
 
 Their children, Daniel Francis, b. 13 Feb. 1824. 
 
 Betsey, b. 1.3 Ajn-il 1825; d. 12 March 1856. 
 
 Charles, b. 26 March 1827. 
 
 Mary Frances, b. 27 :March 1829. 
 Mrs. Mar)' W. Grant d. 13 June 1831. 
 Francis Grant md. (2d) 3 May 1832 Abby J. Pike, dau. of Elias Pike of 
 Newburyijort. 
 Their children, George Augustus b. 28 Oct. 1833 ; d. 3 Nov. 1846. 
 
 Ann Burley, b. 24 Nov. 1835 ; d. 27 May 1858. 
 
 Abby Jane, b. 1 Dec. 1839. 
 
 William, b. 15 Sept. 1841 ; d. 13 Aug. 1854. 
 
 James Henry, b. 20 Nov. 1843 ; d. 10 Sept. 1847. 
 
 Elias Pike, b. 21 Aug. 1848 ; d. 18 Sept. 1848. 
 Mrs. Abby J. Grant d. 25 Oct. 1848, aged 41 jts. 8 mos. 
 
 Josiah Ilall md. 10 May 1719 Mrs. Hannah Light, widow of John Light. 
 Their children, Kinsley, b. 11 Nov. 1720. 
 
 Josiah," b. 21 Oct. 1721. 
 
 Dudley,!). 20 Jan. 1722-3. 
 
 Samuel,!). 20 April 1724. 
 
 Abigail, b. 20 June 1726. 
 
 Paul, b. 18 April 1728. 
 Josiah Hall, Sr., d. 16 Oct. 1729. 
 
 Kinsley Hall, Jr., and Mary Hall. 
 
 Their children, Henry Ilanlet, b. 20 July 1812. 
 
 Catharine Norris, b. 10 July 1814. 
 Charles Edward, b. 14 June 1816. 
 Henry R. 
 Benjamin E. 
 
 John Harris md. Mary Hall, dau. of Capt. Kinsley Hall, !). 18 Aug. 1678. 
 Their child, Mary, !). 25 July 1707 ; md. Herbert Waters. 
 Mrs. Mary Harris d. 2 March 1707-8. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 25 
 
 Samuel Hatch of Wells, Mass., b. 14 July 1774, md. 14 May 1797 Mary 
 Oilman, b. 2 April 1777. 
 Their children, Daniel G., b. 3 Aug. 1798. 
 
 Samuel, b. 19 May 1800; d. 26 Oct. 1801. 
 
 Samuel, b. 9 Dec. 1802. 
 
 Joseph W., b. 29 Sept. 1804; d. 20 Feb. 1822. 
 
 William, b. 27 July 1806. 
 
 Johnston, b. 17 July 1808 ; d. 7 April 1809. 
 
 Johnston, b. 14 July 1810. 
 
 Charles H., b. 14 July 1812 ; d. 21 June 1825. 
 
 Mary Ann, b. 19 April 1815 ; d. 22 Feb. 1828. 
 
 Edward W. b. 16 Aug. 1818. 
 
 C. W. Hervey, b. Newburyport, Mass., md. 9 Nov. 1836 Eliza H. Lunt, b. 
 Portsmouth. 
 Their children, Francis H., b. 20 Feb. 1838. 
 
 Charles W., b. 10 Dec. 1839 ; d. 8 Oct. 1846. 
 Louis P., b. 18 April 1848. 
 
 John Holland, Bethiah ^Nlagoon ; md. 1 Jan. 1730-1. 
 Their children, Annis, b. 5 Oct. 1731. 
 John, b. 14 June 1733. 
 Mary, b. 8 July 1735. 
 Robert, b. 5 Jan. 1737-8. 
 Martha, b. 25 Dec. 1739. 
 Bethiah, b.' 25 March 1742. 
 
 Daniel Holman and Hannah Holman. 
 Their children, Daniel, b. 3 April 1715. 
 Hannah, b. 3 April 1715. 
 
 Francis James. 
 
 His children, Kinsley, b. 19 Feb. 1708-9. 
 Dudley, b. 5 Nov. 1713. 
 Francis, b. 16 Feb. 1714-5. 
 
 Kinsley James md. 5 Nov. 1735 Mary Hilton, dau. of Dudley and Mercv 
 lliiton, b. 22 Oct. 1709. 
 Their childi-en, Elizabeth, b. 15 Sept. 1736; d. 27 July 1737. 
 Mary, b. 10 Dec. 1737. 
 Lois, b. 30 Sept. 1739; md. Theophilus Lyford, and (2d) 
 
 Gideon Colcord. 
 Kinsley. 
 Ann, md. Thomas Lyford, and (2d) Col. Eliphalct Giddings. 
 
 Dudley James, son of Francis and Elizabeth James, md. 5 ^March 1740-1 
 Mary Light, dau. of John and Hannah Light. 
 Their children, Abigail, b. 8 June 1742. 
 
 Dudley Hall, b. 8 Sept. 1744; d. 8 May 1765. 
 Robert, b. 9 Sept. 1746; d. 8 Feb. 1748-9. 
 
26 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Dudley James, Tirzah Emery; md. 12 July 1753. 
 Their children, Tirzah, Caleb, b. 15 May 1755. 
 
 Joshua, b. 31 Aup:. 1757; d. 4 Oct. 1825. 
 
 Mary, b. 2 Dec. 175'J. 
 Mrs. Tirzah James d. 2 Dec. 1759. 
 Dudley James d. 24 Feb. 1776, aged 62 yi-.s. 3 mos. 19 days. 
 
 Samuel Joiics md. Mary Luiit, dau. of Henry Lunt of Newbury, 
 Their childi-en, Henry, b. 7 July 1731. 
 Abigail, b. 3 Oct. 1733. 
 Susannah, b. 22 June 1739. 
 
 Joel Judkins, Mary Bean; md. 1674. 
 Their children. Job, b. 25 Jan. 1674-5. 
 
 Sarah, Hannah, b. 13 Nov. 1678. (?) 
 Mary, b. 7 Nov. 1678. (?) 
 
 John Kimball, Abigail Lyford; md. 14 Feb. 1722-3. 
 Their children, Judith, b. 11 June 1724. 
 
 Abigail, 1). 18 Aug. 1726. 
 
 John, b. 20 July 1728; d. 1 July 1738. 
 
 Joseph, b. 29 Jan. 1730-1. 
 
 Lydia, b. 4 0ct. 1733. 
 
 Thomas, b. 10 March 1735-6. 
 Mrs. Abigail Kiml)all d. 12 Feb. 1737-8. 
 John Kimball md. (2d) 18 Sept. 1740 Sarah Wilson, dau. of Dea. Thomas 
 Wilson. 
 Then- children, Sarah, b. 24 Aug. 1741. 
 
 John,!). 25 Nov. 1742. 
 
 Noah, b. 31 May 1744. 
 
 Olive, b. 12 July 1746. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 16 Oct. 1747. 
 
 Moses, b. 13 May 1749. 
 
 Caleb, b. 16 July 1750. 
 
 Thomas, b. 7 Feb. 1751-2. 
 
 Jesse, b. 16 Nov. 1753. 
 
 Thomas Kimball, Elinor ]')udley; md. 25 Sept. 1746. 
 Their children, Elinor, b. 10 .lune 1747. 
 
 Dudloy, I). 13 March 174S-9. 
 
 John Kimball, b. 1 Jan. 1771, nul. 8 Sept. 1825 Sai'ah Hodgkins, b. 7 Dec. 
 1792. 
 Their children, Mehctal)cl Ann, b. 12 Sept. 1826. 
 John Jloiuy. b. 8 Dec. 1827. 
 Mary Abigail, Samuel Ney, b. 31 May 1831. 
 Robert Porter, 1). is Oct. 1833. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEE. 27 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Kimball d. 9 Aug. 1848. 
 John Kimball d. 29 Oct. 1849. 
 
 Nathaniel Ladd, Elizabeth Oilman ; md. 1678. 
 Their childi'en, Nathaniel, b. 6 April 1679, 
 Elizabeth, b. 6 Jan. 1680. 
 Mary, b. 28 Dee. 1682. 
 Lydia, b. 27 Dec. 1684. 
 Daniel, b. IS March 1686-7. 
 John, b. 6 July 1689. 
 Anna, b. 25 Dec. 1691. 
 Nathaniel Ladd was mortally wounded in a fight with the Indians at 
 Macquoit, and d. 11 Aug. 1691. 
 
 Eliphalet Ladd, son of Josiah Ladd, b. 10 June 1744, md. 14 May 1772 
 Abigail Hill, dau. of Elisha Hill of Berwick, b. 7 Sept. 1750. 
 Their children, Sally, b. 6 July 1774 ; d. 12 Oct. 1798 [wife of Rev. W. F. 
 Rowland]. 
 Betsey, b. 12 Aug. 1776; d. Portsmouth 18 Nov. 1821 
 
 [wife of Capt. Samuel Chauncy]. 
 William, b. 10 May 1778 ; d. Portsmouth 1841. 
 Henry, b. 30 April 1780; d. Portsmouth 1842. 
 Charlotte, b. 9 April 1782. 
 John Alexander, b. 9 May 1 784. 
 Caroline, b. 4 May 1786 
 Sophia, b. 12 Feb. 1788. 
 
 Joseph Lamsonmd. 7 Sept. 1747 PernalGiddinge, dau. of Zebulon Giddinge. 
 Mrs. Pernal Lamson d. 21 Feb. 1809, aged 83 p-s. 5 mos. 
 
 Benjamin Lamson, b. 11 Nov. 1740, md. 14 March 1765 Martha Dennis, b. 
 27 Aug. 1735, and removed from Ipswich. 
 
 Their children, Stephen, b. 24 Jan. 1766. 
 
 Thomas Dennis, h. 27 April 1767; drowned 17 July 1784. 
 
 Sarah, b. 24 Dec. 1768. 
 
 Joseph, b. 11 Jan. 1771. 
 
 Martha, Lydia, b. 8 June 1773; Martha d. 16 Feb. 1788; 
 Lydia d. 7 Nov. 1790. 
 
 Eunice, b. 4 Dec. 1775 ; d. 14 Sept. 1777. 
 
 Clarissa, b. 29 Aug. 1780; d. 11 March 1824 [wife of 
 George Sullivan]. 
 Benjamin Lamson d. Concord July 1817. 
 
 Joseph Lamson, Jr., md. 29 April 1769 Rachel Sanborn of Hampton Falls. 
 Their children, Joseph, b. 8 Nov. 1770; d. 1793. 
 Mehetable, b. 6 Oct. 1773. 
 Polly, b. 9 Aug. 1775 ; d. 28 July 1792. 
 Caleb, b. 29 June 1778. 
 
28 IIISTOllY OF EXETER. 
 
 Asa, b. 7 Jan. 1783. 
 John, b. 8 Dec. 1785. 
 
 Stephen Lamson, son of Benjamm Lamson, b. 24 Jan. 1766, md. 22 Aug. 
 1793 Lucy Kendall of Ipswich, Mass., b. 4 Oct. 1774. 
 Their childi-en, lA-dia, b. 24 May 1704. 
 
 Ephraim Kendall, b. 4 Jan. 1707. 
 Susannah Kendall, b. 26 June 1801. 
 Lucy, b. 2 Nov. 1805. 
 lUitii Kendall, b. 14 Aui?. 1808. 
 Elizabeth Phillips, b. 7 May 1810. 
 
 Jotham Lawrence of Eppin<T md. 21 Feb. 1803 Deborah Robinson of Exeter. 
 Their child, William F., b. 22 March 1804. 
 Mrs. Deborah Lawrence d. 1 April 1804. 
 Jotham Lawrence md. (2d) 25 Dec. 1810 Caroline Conner. 
 Their children, Alexander H. b. 18 June 1812. 
 
 Caroline F. b. 18 April 1815. 
 
 Fitz Ilemy, b. 20 June 1817. 
 
 Ellen C, b. 25 May 1819. 
 
 Samuel C, b. 24 July 1823. 
 
 Elizabeth D. C, b. 24 Aug. 1825. 
 
 Sarah C, b. 20 Nov. 1828. 
 
 Lydia L., b. 28 July 1831. 
 
 Samuel Leavitt. 
 His children, John, b. 2 July 1G65. 
 
 Mary, b. 13 Jan. 1666-7. 
 Elizabeth, b. 9 Jan. 1668. 
 TLmnah, b. 15 Aug. 1669, 
 Samuel, b. 25 Dec. 1671. 
 Jeremy, b. 6 April 1673. 
 
 Moses Leavitt, Dorothy Dudley ; md. 26 Oct. 1681. 
 
 James Leavitt, Alice Oilman; md. Nov. 1702. 
 Their children, Elizabeth, b. 31 :March 1704. 
 
 Mary, b. 5 June 170(1. 
 
 Samuel, 1). 14 June 1700; d. 29 June. 
 
 Joanna, b. 22 Feb. 1710-11. 
 
 Alice, James, b. 14 Aug. 1713. 
 ' Sarah, b. 14 Sept. 1715. 
 
 Josiah, b. 22 Nov. 1718; d. 25 Dec. 1718. 
 
 John, b. 23 May 1720; d. 1 March 1721. 
 Mrs. Alice Leavitt d. 2 June 1721. 
 
 Benjamin Leavitt, Abigail Batchelor ; md. 
 
 Their children, John Blake, b. 1 April 1782; d. 4 Oct. 1859. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 29 
 
 Jeremiah, b. 9 Jan. 1785 ; d. 9 Feb. 1827. 
 Benjamin Dow, b. 16 April 1787. 
 Abigail Thorndike, b. 12 May 1790. 
 Mary Fogg, b. 1 July 1792. 
 Daniel Sherburne, b. 1 Feb. 1795. 
 Hannah Taylor, b. 17 April 1797. 
 Frances, b. 9 Oct. 1799. 
 Benjamin Leavitt d. 23 Aug. 1826. 
 
 John Light md. 8 Nov. 1705 Hannah Lord, dau. of Robert Lord of Ipswich. 
 Their cliildren, Abigail, b. about 1 Nov. 1706; d. Jan. 1706-7. 
 Hannah, b. 23 Dec. 1707. 
 Dorothy, b. 6 Aug. 1709. 
 Robert, b. 12 Sept. 1711. 
 John, b. 3 Feb. 1713. 
 Joseph, b. Feb. 1715 ; d. March. 
 Ebenezer, b. 20 April 1716. 
 Mary b. 10 March 1718. 
 
 Jonathan Lord, Hannah Light; md. 14 Oct. 1731. 
 
 John Lord, son of Thomas Lord of Ipswich, md. 31 Oct. 1712 Abigail Gil- 
 man, dau. of Moses and Anne Oilman, b. 24 July 1693. 
 Their children, Anne, b. 18 Dec. 1713. 
 
 John, b. 23 Oct. 1716; d. 21 Nov. 1716. 
 
 Mary, b. 16 Jan. 1717; d. 28 Jan. 1717. 
 
 Abiel [dau.], b. 9 March 1719 ; d. 26 March 1719. 
 
 Robert, b. 23 March 1720 ; d. April 1720. 
 
 John, b. 1 Aug. 1721 ; d. 15 Aug. 1721. 
 
 Edmund, b. 22 Sept. 1722; d. Oct. 1722, 
 
 Abigail, b. 15 Jan. 1723-4. 
 
 John, b. 27 March 1725. 
 
 Robert, b. 22 Oct. 1726; d. Sept. 1727. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 6 Nov. 1727 ; d. 1 Sept. 1735. 
 
 Jonathan, b. 7 Nov. 1729; d. 22 April 1730. 
 
 Eliphalet, b. 18 Aug. 1731. 
 
 Robert, b. 8 April 1733. 
 
 Samuel, b. 5 May 1735; d. 23 Oct. 1735, 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 22 Jan. 1736-7. 
 
 Robert Lord, b. 16 Aug. 1735, md. 20 Oct. 1757 Elizabeth Lougee. 
 Their childi-en, Robert, b. 17 Aug. 1758; d. 16 April 1759. 
 William, b. 11 Dec. 1760. 
 Mary, b. 22 Oct. 1762. 
 Hannah, b. 23 Sept. 1765. 
 Robert, b. 24 Jan. 1768. 
 Betty, b. 27 Sept. 1770. 
 
 Daniel Loverain, Mary Sylla; md. 25 Dec. 1724. 
 
30 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Their children, Abigail, b. 15 Dec. 1725. 
 
 John, b. 10 Jan. 1726-7. 
 Mrs Mary Loverain d., and Daniel Loverain md. (2d) Mary Smith. 
 Their cliildren, Mary, b. 13 April 1720. 
 
 Ebenezer, b. 5 April 1731. 
 
 Moses, Miriam, b. 1 July 1735. 
 
 Hannah, b. 31 March 173S-9. 
 
 Benjamin Lovering, Jr., son of Benjamin Lovering, md. Sally Swasey, dau. of 
 Edward Swasey. 
 Their children, Sally W., b. 4 Feb. 1S07. 
 Elizabeth, b. 11 Aug. 180S. 
 Benjamin, b. 22 Sept. 1809. 
 Mary Ann, b. 23 Oct. 1811. 
 Olivia, b. 9 June 1814. 
 Caroline, b. Feb. 1817. 
 Charles E. b. 1819. 
 
 Thomas Lyford, Anne Conner; md. 5 Dec. 1728. 
 Their children, Abigail, b. 6 Aug. 1741. 
 Thomas, b. 12 May 1743. 
 Elizabeth, b. 1 June 1745. 
 
 Thomas Lyford, Jr., Anne James ; md. 
 
 Their children, James, b. 14 Feb. 1764 ; drowned 13 Aug. 1789. 
 
 Anne, b. 6 June 1767. 
 
 Deborah, b. 3 May 1769. 
 
 Molly, b. 13 Feb. 1771. 
 
 Abigail, b. 12 Dec. 1772; d. 1870. 
 
 Tirzah, b. 31 March 1775 ; d. 28 July 1828. 
 
 John, b. 1 March 1777 ; d. 1803. 
 
 Betty, b. 16 March 1779. 
 
 Lois, b. 10 June 17S1. 
 
 Liberty, b. 6 .July 1783. 
 
 Thomas, b. 30 Nov. 1786; d. 2 April 1870. 
 Thomas Lyford d. 27 July 1787, aged 44 yrs. 2 mos. 
 Mrs. Lvford (afterwards wife of Col. Elijjhalet Giddings) d. 12 Aug. 1818. 
 
 Henry Mugoon and Elizabeth (Listen) Magoon. 
 Their children, John, b. 21 Oct. 1658. 
 
 Alexander, b. 6 Sept. 1661 ; md. Sarah Blake 7 Dec. 1682. 
 
 Mary, b. 9 Aug. 1666. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Magoon d. 14 June 1675. 
 
 Mark Malloon and Abigail Malloon. 
 Their children, John, b. July 1732. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 7 April 1733. 
 Jonathan, b. June 1735. 
 Josiah, b. July 1737. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 31 
 
 Rev. Isaac Mansfield of Exeter md. 9 Xov. 1776 Mary Clap, dau. of 
 Xathaniel Clap of Scituate. 
 Their chikli-en, Theodore, b. 5 May 1778. 
 Isaac, b. 6 Dec. 1786. 
 
 William bleeds, Mary Dorin ; md. 
 
 Their children, William, b. 3 Dec. 1766 ; d. New York 15 Oct. 1782. 
 
 Benjamin, b. 31 Sept. 1768 ; d. Oct. 1815. 
 
 Abigail, b. 23 May 1771 ; d. 20 Sept. 1799. 
 
 Stephen, b. 13 May 1774 ; d. 5 Feb. 1775. 
 
 Stephen, b. 14 May 1776 ; d. ]May 1800. 
 
 Horatio Gates, b. 4 May 1778; d. Dec. 1816. 
 
 Polly, b. 2 July 1781. 
 
 William, b. 8 Dec. 1783. 
 
 John, b. 5 Aug. 1789; d. 28 Dec. 1824. 
 William Meeds, Sr., d. 20 March 1816. 
 Mrs. Mary Meeds d. 7 Jan. 1827, aged 82 jts. 
 
 Daniel Melcher, b. Portsmouth 15 Jan. 1799, md. 27 April 1823 Nancy 
 Y. Folsom, b. Exeter 16 March 1802. 
 Their chikU-en, Daniel Flagg, b. 22 July 1824. 
 James Folsom, b. 1 Aug. 1826. 
 Charles Hem-y, b. 23 Feb. 1829. 
 Gershom Flagg, b. 22 May 1831. 
 Mary Olivia, b. 27 Sept. 1833. 
 William Perry, b. 6 Sept. 1836 ; d. 3 June 1838. 
 William P., b. 16 Feb. 1839. 
 Ann Elizabeth, b. 30 Oct. 1841. 
 LeAvis Cass, Edwin Forrest, b. 28 Sept. 1844. 
 
 Jeremiah L. Merrill, b. 4 Jan. 1819, md. 29 Nov. 1841 Mary E. Moses, b. 25 
 June 1813. 
 Their child, Joseph W., b. 25 March. 1843. 
 
 Lewis Mitchell, b. Limington, Me., 6 April 1805, md. 11 Xov. 1829 Frances 
 D. Wedgwood, b. 22 Sept. 1807. 
 Their children, Lewis F., b. 6 May 1831 ; d. 30 Aug. 1S39. 
 Oriana, b. 8 Feb. 1834. 
 Isaac IL, b. 2 May 1836; d. 21 June 1845. 
 Ellen E., b. 4 Nov. 1838. 
 Fanny D., b. 8 June 1841. 
 Harriet M., b. 1 May 1844. 
 Isaac L., b. 26 Aug. 1846. 
 Emma E., b. 12 July 1849. 
 George W. E., b. 18 Feb. 1853. 
 
 Rev. John Moody md. 5 \]m\ 1730 Ann Hall. dau. of Capt. Edward Hall. 
 Their child, Marv, b. 4 March 1730-1. 
 
32 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 William Moore and Elizabeth Moore. 
 Their children, John, b. 25 Dec. 1789. 
 
 Ann, b. 23 April 17i)2; d. 21 Sept. 1841. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 10 Feb. 1795. 
 
 Nicholas G , b. 9 Oct. 1797 ; d. 18 Oct. 1795. ( ? ) 
 
 Nicholas, b. 30 May 1800; d. Oct. 1825. 
 
 William, b. 27 June 1803; d. 19 May 1843. 
 
 Catharine, b. IG Feb. 1806. 
 
 Charles, b. 20 Feb. 1810; d. 26 June 1814. 
 
 Theodore Moses, b. 20 Sept. 1766, md. Stratham Nov. 1789 Deborah Emery, 
 b. 22 Nov. 1769. 
 Their children, Theodore 13., b. 15 Nov. 1790. 
 John F., b. 10 Sept. 1792. 
 Susan T.,b. 27 Aug. 1794. 
 SamuelT., b. 20 Jan. 1798; d. 26 Oct. 1842. 
 G. W., b. 7 Jan. 18()(). 
 Charles C. P., b. 17 May 1802. 
 William P., b. 9 Aug. 1804. 
 A. A., b. 2 Oct. 1807. 
 A. T., b. 11 Feb. 1810. 
 Elizabeth M., b. 25 June 1813. 
 Mary E., b. 
 
 John F. Moses, Mary Smith Pearson ; md. Dec. 1815. 
 Theu- children, James Colman, b. 21 Nov. 1817. 
 Deborah, b. 16 Oct. 1819. 
 John Lees, b. 9 May 1822. 
 Mrs. Mary S. Moses d. 10 Aug. 1844, aged 54 yrs. 2 mos. 
 
 Thomas Mudget, Elizabeth Smith ; md. 2 May 1723. 
 Their children, Sarah, b. 3 March 1725. 
 Thomas, b. 11 Nov. 1727. 
 Nicholas, b. 1 Jan. 1730-31. 
 
 Josiah Nelson, b. 23 Nov. 1758, md. Mary Robinson, b. 9 April 1758. 
 Their chUdi-en, Sally, b. 19 July 1781 ; d. April 1805. 
 
 John, b. 30 April 1783. 
 
 Polly, 1). 4 Aug. 1785 ; d. Nov. 1801. 
 
 Caroline, b. 7 Oct. 1788; d. 11 Aug. 1837. 
 
 Sophia, 1). 31 March 1791 ; d. 2 March 1819. 
 
 Ann, b. 27 Jan. 1795. 
 
 Josiah, b. 19 July 1797. 
 
 Horatio G., b. 31 March 1800 ; d. Fayetteville, N. C, 1831. 
 
 Samuel, b. 9 Dec. 1804. 
 Josiah Nelson, Sr., drowned in river just below mill, Aug. 1812. 
 Widow Mary Nelson d. 1 Nov. 1840, aged 82 yrs. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 33 
 
 Nicholas Xorris. 
 
 His children, Moses, b. 14 Aug. 1G70, md. 4 March lG91-2Ruth Folsom. 
 Jonathan, b. 5 March 1673. 
 Abigail, b. 29 Nov. 1675. 
 Sarah, b. 10 April 1678. 
 James, b. 16 Nov. 1680. 
 Elizabeth, b. 4 Sept. 1683. 
 
 Dr. Nathan North and Nancy North. 
 Their childi-en, Alfred, b. 10 March 1807. 
 
 Henry, b. 25 July 1811 ; d. 31 Dec. 1814. 
 Charles, b. 5 Oct. 1813 ; d. 25 Sept. 1814. 
 ])r. North moved from Exeter into Vermont June 1815. 
 
 Mark Nutter. 
 
 His children, Heniy, b. 6 April 1786. 
 John,'b. 25 April 1789. 
 Mark, b. 25 Oct. 1792. 
 Mary, b. 24 Aug. 1796. 
 
 Joseph Odlin, Harriet A. Downs ; md. 8 Sept. 1846. 
 Their child, Charles Cushing, b. 31 Oct. 1847. 
 
 Thomas Odiorne, b. 1 Dec. 1733, md. 31 Jan. 1762 Joanna Oilman, b. 30 
 Sept. 1739. 
 
 Their children, Deborah, b. 11 May 1763 ; d. 1814. 
 
 George, b. 15 Aug. 1764. 
 
 Jane, b. 3 March 1766 ; d. 5 April 1766. 
 
 John,b. 21 March 1767 ; d. 17 May 1824. 
 
 Thomas, b. 26 April 1769. 
 
 Joanna, b. 6 Feb. 1771. 
 
 l^benezer, b. 7 May 1773 ; d. 23 Dec. 1817. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 7 Jan. 1775. 
 
 Ann, b. 9 Oct. 1778; d. 1830. 
 Thomas Odiorne d. 28 April 1819. Mrs. Joanna Odiorne d. 5 April 1829. 
 
 George Odiorne, b. 15 Aug. 1764, md. 4 Oct. 1787 Dolly Tufts of New- 
 buryport, Mass., b. 22 March 1767. 
 Their child, Samuel Tufts, b. 27 May 1793. 
 Mrs. Dolly Odiorne d. 8 Sept. 1793. 
 
 John Odiorne, Polly Thayer; md. 6 March 1800. 
 Their children, Mary Jane, b. 21 Nov. 1800. 
 
 Anna Maria, b. 13 Oct. 1802 ; d. 25 Oct. 1803. 
 Henry Moore, b. 26 Aug. 1804 ; d. 14 Sept. 1805. 
 Joanna, b. 30 Dec. 1806; d. 26 Jan. 1842. 
 Richard Thayer, b. 14 March 1808 ; d. 17 Oct. 1808. 
 Ann Moore T., b. 10 Dec. 1814. 
 
 3a 
 
.••1 ITISTOKY OF EXETEK. 
 
 Rev. John Ocllin, Elizabeth Clark; md. 21 Oct. 1706. 
 Their children, John, b. 7 Nov. 1707. 
 
 Klisha, b. 16 Nov. 1709. 
 Dudley, b. 22 Sept. 1711. 
 Samuel, b. 14 Aujr. 1714 ; d. 31 Aug. 1714. 
 Woodbridge, b. 28 April 1718. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Odlin d. 6 Dec. 1729. 
 Rev. John Odlin, Mrs. Elizabeth Briscoe ; md. 22 Sept. 1730. 
 
 Elisha Odlin. Judith Pike; md. 1 Nov. 1731. 
 Their children, John, b. 4 Sept. 1732. 
 
 Winthrop, b. 23 Oct. 1734. 
 
 William, b. 7 Feb. 1737-8. 
 
 Elisha, b. 28 April 1741 ; d. 8 Dec. 1741. 
 
 Anna, b. 10 Jan. 1743-4. 
 
 John Odlin, Jr., Mrs. Alice Leavitt; md. 27 Feb. 1734-5. 
 
 Their children, Elizabeth, b. 7 Feb. 1735-6 ; d. 16 Feb. 1735-6 
 • Abigail, b. 11 Feb. 1736-7 ; d. 12 Aug. 1747. 
 Elizabeth, b. 30 April 1739. 
 Sarah, b. 14 March 1740-1 ; d. 3 Sept. 1747. 
 Alice, b. 5 Oct. 1743 ; d. 1814. 
 John, b. 27 Dec. 1745 ; d. 3 Sept. 1747. 
 Abigail, b. 28 May 174S ; d. Dec. 1816. 
 Samuel, b. 18 Dec. 1750. 
 
 Rev. Woodbridge Odlin, Mrs. Abigail Strong ; md. 23 Oct. 1755. 
 Their children, Elizabeth, b. 6 Aug. 1756 ; d. 21 Aug. 1756. 
 Dudley, b. 13 Aug. 1757. 
 Woodi)ridge, b. 26 Sept. 1759. 
 Peter, b. 25 March 1762. 
 Elizabeth, b. 8 April 1764. 
 Al)igail, b. 26 Aug. 1766 ; d. 19 July 1768. 
 Abigail, b. 21 Oct. 1768; d. 10 Aug. 1796. 
 John, b. 2 Dec. 1770 ; lost at sea. 
 Mary .\nn, b. 24 Sept. 1772. 
 
 Dudley Odlin, Elizabeth Oilman ; md. 14 Feb. 1782. 
 Their children, Abigail, b. 5 Feb. 1783. 
 
 Jietsy, b. 14 Dec. 1784; d. Oct. 1785. 
 Woodbridge, b. 4 June 1786; d. 11 June 1809. 
 Peter, b. 25 l^ec. 1787. 
 Caroline, b. March 1790 ; d 17 March 1817. 
 
 William Odlin, b. 16 Feb. 1767, md". Betsey Leavitt, b. 21 Dec. 1769. 
 Their children, James, b. 9 Jan. 1792. 
 
 William, b. 10 Jan. 1793. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 35 
 
 Thomas, b. 16 Nov. 1794 ; d. 5 March 1826. 
 Joseph and Benjamin (twins), b. 16 Jan. 1797. 
 Betsey, b. 23 Nov. 1799. 
 Woodbridge, b. 9 May 1805. 
 Mary Ann, b. 29 July" 1810. 
 
 James Odlin, Martha H. Osborne ; md. 27 Oct. 1816. 
 Their children, James William, b. 3 Nov. 1817. 
 
 George Osborne, b. 10 Sept. 1819; d. 10 Nov. 1820. 
 George Osborne, b. 26. Aug. 1823. 
 Joseph Edwin, b. 20 June 182i5. 
 Martha Jewitt, b. 21 July 1828. 
 
 Nathaniel Page md. 21 March 1809 Charlotte Tilton, dau. of Dr. Jose])h 
 Tilton, b. 1 June 1779. 
 
 Their children, Charlotte Dorothy, b. 20 Sept. 1809. 
 
 Joseph Tilton, b, 29 Nov. 1811. 
 Mrs. Charlotte Page d. 17 Aug. 1813. 
 
 "William Parker and Elizabeth Parker. 
 
 Their children, Nathaniel, b. East Kingston 22 Oct. 1760; d. 2 April 1812. 
 
 John J., b. Exeter 17 Nov. 1770; d. o Oct. 1831. 
 
 Mary Sewall, b. Exeter, 12 Feb. 1772. 
 
 Samuel, b. Exeter 16 Aug. 1773. 
 Hon. William Parker d. 6 June 1813, aged 82 )ts. 
 Mrs Elizabeth Parker d. 7 Oct. 1816, aged 76 yrs. 6 mos. 
 
 Robert Parkes, Dorothy Gilman ; md. 6 March 1 783. 
 Their children, Charles, b. 1 April 1784; d. 8 May 1841. 
 Anne, b. 15 Sept. 1785 ; d. 6 Feb.' 1821. 
 
 Thomas Parsons. 
 
 His children, Joseph, b. 6 Sept. 1762. 
 Enoch, b. 16 June 1764. 
 Stephen, b. 24 April 1766. 
 
 Oliver Peabody, Frances Peabody ; md. 
 Their children, Sarah, b. 23 Aug, 1783. 
 
 Frances, b. 15 Nov. 1784; d. 17 July 1799. 
 
 Lucretia, b. 4 July 1 786. 
 
 Oliver, b. 11 Juno 178S ; d. 9 Fob. 1793. 
 
 William Bourn, b. 14 March 1790 ; d. 17 Aug. 1790. 
 
 Deborah Tasker, b. 30 April 1793; d. 12 May 1798. 
 
 Oliver Wm. Bourn, Wm. Bourn Oliver (twins), 1). 19 July 
 
 1799; Oliver Wm. Bourn d. 5 July 1848. 
 Edward Bass, b. 19 May 1S02; d. 4 June 1830. 
 Frances Bourn, b. 28 July 1804 ; d. Sept. 1805. 
 Oliver Peabody d. 3 Aug. 1831. 
 
36 IIISTOllY OF EXETEU. 
 
 Kilmuiul Pearson, son of Jethro Pearson, b. 20 April lloH, md. Dorothy 
 Swasey. tlau. of Joseph Swasey, b. 2-4 Feb. 1760. 
 Their children, Dorothy, b. 8 .Tunc ITSO. 
 
 James, h. 24 March 17N2 ; il. at sea. 
 
 William, b. 17 Feb. 1784; d. July 1844. 
 
 Fanny, b. 4 Oct. 1785. 
 
 l.dmund, b. 20 June 1787. 
 
 Mary Smith, b. 10 June 17!)(); d. 10 Auj^. 18-11. 
 
 Henrietta, b. 4 Dec. 1792. 
 Mrs. Dorothy Pearson d. 2 Feb. 1820. 
 Maj. Edmund Pearson d. 2.3 Jan. 1842. 
 
 Nathaniel Pearson, son of Edmund Pearson, b. 11 Sept. 1797, md. 21 Oct. 
 1821 Caroline Gerrish, dau. of Timothy Gerrish of Portsmouth, b. 8 
 July 1798. 
 Their children, Olivia Gerrish, b. 18 Oct. 1822. 
 Edmund, b. 18 July 1824. 
 Nathaniel, b. 23 June 1826. 
 Augustus William, b. 2 April 1830. 
 Nathaniel Pearson, Sr., d. o Feb. 1841. 
 
 Nathaniel Pease, Phebe Sanborn; md. 4 Nov. 172.'> 
 Their children, Sarah, b. 10 July 172(5. 
 Samuel, b. 14 Dec. 1727. 
 Ann, b. 17 Nov. 1729. 
 Abigail, b. 28 Jan. 1731-2. 
 Beersheba. b. 16 March 1733-4. 
 Phebe, b. 21 Dec. 1735. 
 
 William Perry, 1). Norton, Mass., 20 Dec. 1788, md. 13 April 1818 Abigail 
 Oilman, b. 10 Dec. 1789. 
 Their children, Caroline Frances, b. 11 Dec. 1820. 
 AVilliam Oilman, b. 21 July 1823. 
 Abigail Oilman, b. 14 Nov! 1824. 
 Nathaniel Oilman. 1). 28 Oct. 1826. 
 John Taylor, b, .5 April 1832. 
 
 Jose])h Perkins of nami)ton Falls md. 30 Nov. 182o Elizabeth Odlin of 
 i-Acter. 
 
 Their children, Joseph William, b. 29 April 1827; d. 24 May 1827. 
 Elizabeth Odlin, b. 16 Oct. 1828. 
 AVoodbridge Odlin, b. 12 June 1831. 
 
 Samuel Philbrick, son of IJenjaniin Philbrick, 1). 20 Ajuil 1759, md. Hannah 
 Robinson, dau. of John Robinson of Cape Ann, b. 26 Aug. 1763. 
 Their children, Samuel, b. 12 June 178,5. 
 ElizalK'th, 1). 7 Feb. 1787. 
 John PvobiiLson, b. 29 Sept. 1789. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 37 
 
 Hannah, b. 22 Sept. 1791. 
 Benjamin, b. 3 Dec. 1793. 
 Joseph, b. 8 Jan. 1797. 
 Mary, b. 
 
 William, b. 24 May 1803. 
 Mrs. Hannah Philbrick d. 5 Xov. 1810, aged 47. 
 Samuel Philbrick md. (2d) 17 Xov. 1814 Elizabeth Smith, dau. of Maj. 
 Benjamin Smith. 
 Samuel Philbrick, Sr., d. 10 March 1840. 
 
 John Phillips, son of Rev. Samuel Phillips of Andover, md. Mrs. Sarah 
 Oilman, widow of Nathaniel Oilman. 
 Mrs. Sarah Phillips d. Oct. 1765. 
 John Philllips d. 21 April 1795, aged 75 yrs. 3 mos. 
 
 William Pike, son of Joseph Pike of Barnstaple in England, md. 29 July 
 1725 Judith Hilton, dau. of Col. Winthrop Hilton of Exeter. 
 Their child, Elizabeth, b. 22 May 1726. 
 AVilliam Pike d. 25 Oct. 1726. 
 
 Mrs. Judith Pike md. (2d) 1 Xov. 1731 Elisha Odlin, son of Rev. John 
 Odlin. 
 
 Rev. James Pike of Somersworth md. 26 Aug. 1730 Sarah Oilman, dau. of 
 Xicholas Oilman. 
 Their child, Sarah, b. 13 July 1731. 
 
 Moses Pike of Hampton Falls md. April 1791 Theodate Sanborn. 
 Their children, Abraham Sanborn, b. 5 Dec. 1792. 
 Benjamin, b. 16 April 1794. 
 Moses Hook, b. 11 March 1796. 
 Jonathan, b. 23 Aug. 1798. 
 Levi, b. 27 May 1801. 
 Arvilla, Adeline, b. 9 July 1803. 
 Hannah Hook, b. 23 Oct'. 1805. 
 John Kim])all, b. 6 April 1808. 
 Mary Shaw, b. 13 Oct. 1810. 
 Ednah Dow, b. 2 July 1813. 
 Sarah, b. 3 March 1816. 
 
 Abraham S. Pike, son of Moses Pike, b. Dec. 1792, md. 11 Sept. 1817 Eliza- 
 beth Walton, dau. of Samuel and Xancy Walton of Salisbury, b. 31 
 May 1798. 
 
 Their children, Elizabeth Ann, b. 13 April 1818. 
 Samuel Walton, b. 8 Feb. 1820. 
 Mary Adeline, b. 1 April 1823. 
 
 Xathaniel Prescott, Sarah Tuck ; md. 4 Feb. 1741-2. 
 Their children, Xathaniel, b. 22 April 1743. 
 
38 HISTORY OF EXETP:R. 
 
 Sarah, b. 24 Nov. 1745. 
 John. 1). 1(> Dec. 1747. 
 Nathaniel, b. (> Aug. 1750. 
 Edward, b. G Aug. 1755. 
 
 John Purmort of Newcastle, b. 13 July 1715, md. 12 ^larch 1741 Hannah 
 Sinclair of Stratham, b. 25 April 1719. 
 Their cliildren, John, b. 11 Oct. 1742. 
 Anne, b. 3 Jan. 1746. 
 Hannah, b. 1 Aug. 1747. 
 Joseph, b. 18 July 1749. 
 llichard,b. 16 Feb. 1751. 
 Abigail, b. 16 July 1753; d. 7 Aug. 1754. 
 Mark, b. 29 :\Iay 1755 ; d. 12 July 1776. 
 Mary, Abigail, b. 22 March 1758. 
 
 John I'unnort d. 5 Oct. 1758. 
 
 Joseph rurmort, b. 18 July 1749. md. 28 Feb. 1775 Mercy Dolloff, b. 6 Dec. 
 1752. 
 Their chilch-en, Miriam, b. 25 Dec. 1775. 
 Hannah, b. 13 May 1777. 
 Abner, b. 13 March 1780. 
 John, b. 24 Oct. 1784. 
 Mrs. Mercy Purmort d. 31 Oct. 1784, 
 
 Jonathan and Mercy Quimby. 
 
 Their children, Sarah, b. 20 Feb. 1732-3. 
 James, b. 12 April 1736. 
 Jonathan, b. 12 Feb. 1741. 
 
 Samuel Randall of Cape Ann, son of Jacob Randall, md. 16 Jan. 1759 
 Abigail Fafether, dau. of Daniel ami Elizabeth Fafether, b. 21 Dec. 
 1733. 
 Their children, Abigail, b. (> Feb. 1761. 
 Susy, b. 7 Aug. 1762. 
 
 Jacob Randall, son of Jacob Randall of Portsmouth, md. 5 June 1787 Anna 
 Shute, dau. of Miciiael Shute of Newmarket, shipwright. 
 Their childi-en, Jacob, b. 25 Dec. 1788. 
 
 Sarah, b. 6 Oct. 1790. 
 Mrs. Anna Randall d. 28 March 1792. 
 Jacob Randall md. (2d) 7 I'eb. 1793 Rebecca Masters, dau. of Dr. John 
 Masters of Newmarket. 
 Their child, .\nna, b. 26 May 1794. 
 
 Thomas Rawlins. 
 
 His children, Thomas, b. 14 July 1671. 
 Moses, b. 14 Oct. 1672. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 39 
 
 Joseph, b. 6 May 167-. 
 Mary, b. S May 167-. 
 Benjamin, b. July 1678. 
 
 Joseph Ra-wlins, sou of Joseph and Hannah Rawlins, b. 19 Dec. 1702, md. 
 7 March 1728 Hannah Redman of Hampton. 
 Their children, Joshua, b. 4 Oct. 1729. 
 
 Patience, b. 20 Oct. 1732. 
 Eliphalet, b. 23 July 1734. 
 Joseph, b. 20 Aug. 1737. 
 
 Edward M. Robinson, b. Stratham, md. Dover 27 May 1838 Olivia Jacobs, 
 b. Hope, Me. 
 Their children, Mary O., b. Exeter 7 Jan. 1839. 
 Charles E., b. Exeter 3 Jan. 1845. 
 
 John Rice md. 1 Jan. 1734-5 Anna Wilsdn, dau. of Dea. Thomas "Wilson. 
 Their child, John, b. 24 Dec. 1743. 
 
 Jonathan Robinson. 
 
 His children, John, b. 7 Sept. 1671. 
 Sarah, b. 29 Oct. 1673. 
 Hester, b. 12 Aug. 1677. 
 Elizabeth, b. 6 Sept. 1679. 
 Jonathan, b. 9 July 1681. 
 
 David, b. 28 July 1684. ' 
 
 James, b. 7 Dec. 1686. 
 Joseph, b. 1 May 1690. 
 
 John Robinson, Elizabeth Folsom; md. 1 Feb. 1725-6. 
 
 Their children, Mehitable, b. 27 March 1729; d. 12 April 1731. 
 Peter, b. 19 June 1731. 
 Elizabeth, b. 5 Nov. 1734. 
 John, b. 6 Aug. 1736. 
 Mehitable, b. 6 April 1738. 
 Catharine, b. 20 June 1742. 
 Daniel, b. 14 July 1745. 
 Mary, b. 7 Feb. 1748. 
 Simeon, b. 18 Dec. 1752. 
 
 Ephraim Robinson and Mary Robinson. 
 Their children, Lydia, b. 16 Nov. 1735. 
 Mary, b. 9 Feb. 1737-8. 
 Elizabeth, b. 24 May 1740. 
 Anne, b. 7 April 1741-2. 
 Ephraim, b. 19 April 1744. 
 Caleb, b. 22 May 1746. 
 Samuel, b. 17 Dec. 1750. 
 
 Lucia, b. 25 June 1757 ; md. Jonathan Blake and d. 27 
 Dec. 1808. 
 
40 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Kphraim Robinson, son of Ephraim and Mary Robinson, b. 1!» April 1744, 
 md. 22 Jan. 17()T Deborah Giddinge, dau. of Zebulon and Deborah 
 Giddinpc, b. 2 Feb. 1747. 
 Their children, Kphraim b. IG Oct. 17G7. 
 
 Mary, b. 23 Aug. 1770; d. 9 June 1776. 
 
 Zebulon, b. 2 Sept. 1772; d. 17 June 1776. 
 
 Harriet, b. 19 June 1774 ; d. 14 June 1776. 
 
 Mary, b. 12 Feb. 1777. 
 
 Zebulon, b. 14 Feb. 1780. 
 
 Deborah, b. 26 Jan. 1782 ; md. Jotham Lawrence. 
 
 Harriet, b. 19 July 1784. 
 
 F:iizabeth, b. 7 Oct. 1786. 
 
 "William Frederick, b. 11 May 1790; d. 1 Sept. 1798. 
 Ephraim Robinson d. 10 April 1809, aged Go }TS. 
 Mrs. Deborah Robinson d. 2 Aug. 1811, aged 64 jts. 
 
 Benjamin Rogers and ^Margaret Rogers. 
 Their children, Susanna, b. 14 May 1746. 
 Abigail, b. 5 Nov. 1749. 
 Dionysius (dau.), b. 10 May 1702. 
 Mary, b. 1 Nov. 1755. 
 
 John Rogers, b. Newmarket 2 July 1787, md. 15 Nov. 1810 Frances Gil- 
 man, dau. of Nathaniel Oilman, b. 11 Sept. 1787. 
 Their children, Nathaniel Oilman, b. 25 April 1818. 
 
 John Francis, b. 1 Dec. 1819. 
 Mrs. Frances Rogers d. 7 April 1821, aged 33 yrs. 7 mos. 
 Col. John Rogers md. (2d) 8 Sept. 1822 Ann Oilman. 
 Their children, Frances Oilman, b. 25 Jan. 1824 
 
 Ann Oilman, b. 20 May 1825. 
 Mrs. Ann Rogers d. 2 Jan. 1827, aged 31 yrs. 
 Col. Jolm Rogers d. Exeter 22 July 1837, aged 50 yrs. 
 
 Samuel Rowe, son of Capt. Enoch Rowe of Kensington, md. 15 May 1802 
 Olive Rundlctt, now of Exeter. 
 Their children, Olivia, b. 19 Jan. 1803. 
 Edward, b. 11 May 1805. 
 James Samuel, b. 20 Oct. 1807. 
 Samuel Rowe d. 23 Sept. 1828, aged 48 yrs. 
 
 Capt. Charles Rundlet and Dorothy Rundlet. 
 Their children, Dorothy, b. 8 March 1743. 
 Charles, b. 2 Dec. 1747. 
 Daniel, b. 5 Aug. 174!). 
 F^lizabeth, b. 7 April 1751. 
 James, b. 15 Jan. 1752. 
 Jonathan, b. 5 Feb. 1757. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 41 
 
 Lydia, b. 14 Dec. 1758. 
 
 Honor, b. 29 Nov. 1760. 
 
 Henry, b. 17 Oct. 1762. 
 
 Joseph, b. 13 Sept. 1764; d. 30 May 1841. 
 
 Josiah, b. 3 March 1766. 
 
 James Rundlet, son of James Rundlet of Exeter, b. 10 June 1744, md. 
 1 June 1767 Dorothy Stevens of Epping. 
 Their children, Hannah, b. 20 Feb. 1768. 
 
 Dorothy, b. 21 Oct. 1770. 
 
 James, b. 8 Dec. 1772. 
 
 Edward, b. 25 Nov. 1774. 
 
 Olive, b. 7 March 1778 ; d. 12 April 1778. 
 
 Samuel, b. 12 April 1779 ; d. on ship AVarren 3 July 1800. 
 
 Olive, b. 27 April 1782. 
 
 John, b. 2 Dec. 1787. 
 
 Sarah, b. 9 April 1789. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 8 March 1794. 
 Mrs. Dorothy Rundlet d. 29 Sept. 1795. 
 James Rundlet md. (2d) 10 Nov. 1796 Sarah Rust. 
 
 Their child, Benjamin, b. 8 Sept. 1797 ; d. 18 Sept. 1797. 
 James Rundlet d. 28 Dec. 1800. 
 
 Dudley Safford, b. 15 Nov. 1776, md. Betsey Oilman, dau. of Bradbury 
 Oilman of Meredith. 
 Their children, Charles Oilman, b. 17 Nov. 1804. 
 Benjamin, b. 23 May 1806. 
 Hannah Oilman, b. 1 Feb. 1807. 
 Sophia, b. 29 July 1809. 
 Ohver, b. 21 July 1811. 
 Frances, b. 19 Feb. 1813. 
 
 James Oilman, b. 6 April 1815; d. 21 Dec. 1815. 
 Sophronia, b 9 Dec. 1816. 
 Hem-y, b. 10 Oct. 1819. 
 Elizabeth Ann, b. 2 July 1822. 
 Dudley Safford d. 18 July 1822. 
 
 William Sanborn of Exeter md. 2 Sept. 1731 Elizabeth Dearborn of 
 Hampton. 
 
 Their children, Simon, b. 28 Sept. 1736. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 25 Aug. 1738. 
 Hannah, b. 30 March 1740. 
 William, b. 9 Fel). 1741-2. 
 Hem-y Dearborn, b. 23 Dec. 1743. 
 Mary, b. 19 So])t. 1745. 
 Josiah, b. 19 June 1747. 
 Sarah, b. 12 May 1749. 
 Anne, b. 15 Aug. 1751. 
 
42 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Theodate, b. 30 Aug. 1753. 
 Abigail, b. 3 Oct. 1755. 
 
 Josiah Sanborn, Deborah Bowden; md. 8 April 1770. 
 Their children, Josiah, b. 9 Nov. 1771. 
 John,b. 21 Sept. 1773. 
 
 Edward Sewall. 
 
 His children, Sarah, b. 17 Sept. 1676. 
 
 Thomas, b. 28 March 1670. 
 Joseph, b. 28 Dec. 1681. 
 
 Benjamin Pearse Sheriff, b. 10 July 1763, md. 12 Aug. 1788 ]Martha Oilman, 
 b. 14 June 1768. 
 Their children, Abigail, b. 24 Sept. 1789. 
 
 Benjamin D.,b. 30 Dec. 1791. 
 Henry A., b. 25 Oct. 1793. 
 Charles C, b. 8 Feb. 1795. 
 Frederick, b. 12 May 1797. 
 ]VIartha Oilman, b. 10 Sept. 1799. 
 Sarah, b. 6 March 1803. 
 John Langdon, b. IS Nov. 1804. 
 Susannah, b. 24 Oct. 1S0(J. 
 John Langdon, b. 10 Aug. 1808. 
 Mary, b. 16 May 1810. 
 
 Henry Shute, b. Newmarket 18 April 1794, md. 27 Feb. 1820 Eliza R. 
 Smith, b. Exeter 7 Feb. 1800. 
 Their children. Henry Augustus, b. 18 June 1821 ; d. 18 Dec. 1841. 
 Ann Eliza, b. 15 Nov. 1824 ; d. 25 May 1858. 
 George Smith, b. 2 March 1827. 
 Sarah Frances, b. 26 May 1831. 
 
 John Sinclair. 
 
 His children, James, b. 27 July 16(){). 
 Mary, b. 27 June 1663. 
 Sarah, b. 15 Sept. 1664. 
 
 Jonathan Fifield Sleeper md. 20 Nov. 1791 Dorothy Tilton, dau. of Dr. 
 Joseph Tilton, b. 20 April 1770. 
 Their children, Elizabeth Jevvett, b. 28 June 1792. 
 John S., b. 25 Sept. 1794. 
 Charles T., b. 24 Aug. 1796 ; d. 8 March 1818. 
 Catharine Parker, b. 19 March 1804. 
 Jonathan Fifield Sleeper d. 16 Dec. 1805, aged 38 )ts. 
 Mrs. Dorothy Sleeper d. 27 May 1809. 
 
 John Shcrl)urnc Sleeper, b. 25 Sept. 1794, md. 22 Feb. 1826 Mary Folsom 
 Noble. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 43 
 
 Their children, Charles Frederick, b. 27 Dec. 1826. 
 
 Ariana Elizabeth Smith, b. 9 JvUy 1829. 
 John Howard, b. 24 Dec. 1831. 
 
 Nicholas Smith. 
 
 His childi-en, Nathaniel, b. 9 June 1660. 
 Nicholas, b. 3 Sept. 1661. 
 Anne, b. 8 Feb. 1663. 
 Theophilus, b. 14 Feb. 1667. 
 
 Edward Smith, Mary ; md. 13 Jan. 1668-9. 
 
 Jonathan Smith. 
 
 His children, Israel, b. 16 Jan. 1670-1. 
 Jacob, b. 10 Aug. 1673. 
 Joseph, b. 7 Feb. 1680. 
 Leah, b. 7 April 1683. 
 Mehitabel, b. 14 Aug. 1685. 
 
 Jonathan Smith, Mary Ames; md. 17 March 1713—4. 
 Their children, Jonathan, b. 9 Jan. 1714-5. 
 
 Mary, b. 21 Feb. 1716-7. 
 Mrs. Mary Smith d. 21 Dec. 1717. 
 Jonathan Smith md. (2d) 11 Aug. 1719 Bridget Keniston. 
 Their cliildi-en, Abraham, b. 1 June 1720. 
 
 Lydia, b. 20 June 1722. 
 
 Isaac, b. 22 May 1724. 
 
 Elizabeth, Abigail, b. 25 Feb. 1725-6. 
 
 Hepzibah, b. 23 July 1727. 
 
 Jacob, b. 12 March 1728-9. 
 
 Obadiah, b. 26 March 1731. 
 
 Deborah, b. 23 Feb. 1732-3. 
 
 John Waldron, b. 8 Dec. 1735. 
 
 Caleb, b. 4 March 1736-7. 
 
 Bridget, b. 16 Feb. 1738-9. 
 
 Nathan, b. 7 May 1741. 
 
 Nathaniel Smith, son of Nicholas Smith, b. 15 Sept. 1695. 
 His children, Mary, b. 7 Dec. 1721. 
 
 Nathaniel, b. 17 April 1725. 
 Patience, b. 24 Nov. 1727. 
 Daniel, b. 13 April 1730. 
 Elizabeth, b. 24 Feb. 1731-2. 
 Sarah, b. 1 March 1733-4. 
 Anna, b. 7 ^lay 1740. 
 
 Benjamin Smith md. 24 Jan. 1760 Mary Swasey, both of Exeter. 
 
44 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Their children, Mary, b. 16 Oct. 17G0; d. 8 April 1790. 
 
 Joseph, b. 19 July 1763. 
 
 Sarah, b. 15 Dec. 1766. 
 
 Benjamin, b. 21 April 1767 ; d. 8 April 1790. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. 6 Sept. 1769. 
 
 Sally, b. 6 Dec. 1771 ; d. 3 July 1787. 
 
 Susanna, b. 8 Jan. 1774. 
 
 John, b. 6 Dec. 1777. 
 
 John, b. 19 Oct. 1778. 
 
 Charlotte, b. 9 April 1780. 
 Major Benjamin Smith d. 23 June 1811, aged 74 jts. 
 Mrs. Mary Smith d. Nov. 1814. 
 
 Joseph Smith, Polly Burley; md. 13 Xov. 1786. 
 Their childi-en, John, b. 10 Oct. 1787. 
 Mary, b. 18 Xov. 1792. 
 Fanny, b. 2 April 1798. 
 Sophia, b. 18 Sept. 1799. 
 
 Jeremiah Smith, then of Peterborough, N. H., md. 8 March 1797 Elizabeth 
 Ross of Bladensburgh, Md. 
 Their childi-en, Ariana Elizabeth, b. 28 Dec. 1797 ; d. 20 June 1829. 
 William, b. 31 Aug. 1799. 
 Jeremiah, b. 20 Aug. 1802; drowned 14 Oct. 1808. 
 
 Mrs EHzabeth Smith d. 19 June 1827. 
 
 Hon. Jeremiah Smith d. Dover 21 Sept. 1842. 
 
 Samuel Somerby and Hannah Somerby. 
 
 Their children, Mary Ann Montgomery, d. 4 Jan. 1821, aged 5 mos. 11 
 days. 
 George Adolphus, b. 2 Nov. 1821. 
 Samuel Somerby d. 17 May 1824, aged 42 yrs. 
 
 Thomas Sullivan, Frances A. Leavitt; md. 7 Oct. 1836. 
 Their children, Frances E., b. 18 March 1837. 
 Mary H., b. 21 Jan. 1.S39. 
 Charles W., b. 6 July 1841. 
 George E., b. 26 Oct. 1843. 
 Henry G., b. 18 July 1846. 
 
 Richard Wcnman Swan, b. New York City, md. 18 Dec. 1845 Katharine 
 Day, b. South Hadley Falls, Mass. 
 Their children, Mary Hale, b. 24 July 1847. 
 Richard H., b. 27 July 1848. 
 
 Joseph Swasey, Apphia Morrill ; md. 13 Dec. 1735. 
 
 Their children, Mary, b. 15 Oct. 1737. 
 
 Joseph, b. 20 May 1743 ; d. 8 Jan. 1829. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 45 
 
 Joseph Swasey, Jr., b. 30 May 1743, md. 10 March 1765 Olive Lamson, b. G 
 Sept. 1744. 
 
 Their cliildren, Olive, b. 11 Jan. 1766; d. 16 Oct. 1821, widow of Ep. 
 Dean. 
 
 Joseph, b. 12 Feb. 1768; d. 18 May 1820. 
 
 Xathaniel, b. 26 March 1770 ; d. Sept. 1840. 
 
 Lucretia, b. 23 Oct. 1772; d. Sept. 1837. 
 
 William, b. 10 March 1778 ; d. 25 Dec. 1835. 
 
 Susanna, b. 20 July 1780; d. 17 May 1840. 
 
 Lydia, b. 15 Jan. 1783. 
 
 Harriot, b. 28 July 1785. 
 
 Rufus, b. 16 April 1788 ; d. in Boston 1840. 
 Mrs. Olive Swasey d. 16 Jan. 1822. 
 Capt. Joseph Swasey d. 8 Jan. 1829. 
 
 Moses Swett and Hannah Swett. 
 
 Their children, Josiah, b. 31 July 1743. 
 John, b. 17 Dec, 1748. 
 
 Samuel B. Swett, M. D., Mary S. Lowe; md. 4 Sept. 1845. 
 Their child, Samuel, b. 16 June 1846. 
 
 William Tarbox and Dolly Tarbox. 
 
 Their child, Edwin Hill, b. Exeter 4 Aug. 1819 ; d. 28 Jan. 1821. 
 
 Oxford Tash and Esther Tash. 
 
 Their children, Mary, b. Exeter 14 March 1784; d. 20 July 1819. 
 
 Lucy, b. Exeter 6 April 1786 ; d. 23 Xov. 1812. 
 
 Susan, b. Exeter 3 July 1788. 
 
 Robert, b. Exeter 3 Sept. 1790. 
 
 Catherine, b. Exeter 25 July 1792. 
 
 Charles G., b. Exeter 9 Dec. 1794; d. 11 June 1864. 
 
 William G., b. Exeter 9 March 1797. 
 
 Member Matilda, b. Exeter 25 July 1799. 
 Oxford Tash d. 15 Oct. 1810. 
 Mrs. Esther Tash d. 26 March 1844, aged 87 yrs. 
 
 William Taylor. 
 
 His children, Mary, b. 26 Oct. 1667. 
 Nathan, b. 5 Feb. 1674. 
 
 Jonathan Thing and Joanna Thing. 
 
 Their childi-en, Elizabeth, b. 5 June 1664. 
 
 John, b. 20 Sept. 1665 ; d. 4 Nov. 1665. 
 Samuel, b. 3 June 1667. 
 Mercy, b. 6 March 1073. 
 Jonathan, 1). 21 Sept. 1678. 
 
46 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Cajit. Jonathan Thing md. 26 July 1G77 Mary Oilman, dau. of Hon. John 
 Gilnian, b. 10 Sept. 1GJ8. 
 Their cliildi-en, Jonathan, b. 21 Sept. 1G78. 
 John. b. June 1(380. 
 Bartholomew, b. 25 Feb. 1681-2. 
 Joseph, b. March 1084. 
 Elizabeth, b. 
 
 Benjamin, b. 12 Nov. 1688, 
 Josiah, b. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Thing d. Aug. 1691. 
 Capt. Jonathan Thing md. (2d) July 1693 Martha "Wiggin, widoM- of Thomas 
 Wiggin and dau. of John Denison of Ipswich. 
 Their child. Daniel, b. 12 :SIay 1694. 
 Capt Jonathan Thing d. 31 Oct. 1694. 
 
 Samuel Thing, Abigail Oilman; md. 8 July 1696. 
 Their children, Joanna, b. 22 June 1697. 
 Samuel, b. 28 March 1699. 
 Abigail, b. 1 Dec. 1700. 
 Elizabeth,!). 19 Dec. 1702. 
 Sarah, b. 8 Jan. 1704-5. 
 Lydia, Deborah, b. 14 Feb. 1707-8. 
 Catharine, b. 19 May 1711. 
 Josiah, b. 15 vSept. 1713. 
 John, b. 17 May 1716. 
 Mary, b. 18 May 1718. 
 Alice, b. 14 Feb. 1722-3. 
 
 Bartholomew Thing md. 7 Dec. 1705 Abigail Coffin, dau. of Tristram Coffin. 
 Their children, Tristram, b. 26 Oct. 1707 ; d. 22 June 1709. 
 Josiah, b. 18 Aug. 1710 ; d. 5 March 1710-1. 
 
 Mrs. Al)igail Thing d. 2 May 1711. 
 Bartholomew Thing md. (2d) 3 April 1712 Mrs. Sarah Kent, widow of John 
 Kent and dau. of Capt. Joseph Little of Xewbury. 
 Their child, Mary, b. 3 Jan. 1712-3. 
 Bartholomew Thing d. 28 April 1738, aged 57. 
 
 Benjamin Thing md. Jan. 1711-2 Pernal Coffin, dau. of Tristram Coffin. 
 Their children, Coifin, b. Sept. 1713. 
 
 Deborah, b. 29 April 1719. 
 Mrs. Penial Thing d. 2 June 1725. 
 Benjamin Thing md. (2d) 21 Oct. 1725 Mrs. Deborah Thing, widow of 
 Samuel Thing. 
 Their children, Pernal, b. 2!) July 1726. 
 
 Winthrop, b. 10 Jan. 1727-8. 
 Mary, b. 24 May 1730. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 47 
 
 Anna, b. 18 Oct. 1732. 
 Samuel, b. 13 Dec. 1735. 
 Elizabeth, b. 2 Sept. 1740. 
 
 Daniel Thing md. 3 March 1717-8 Elizabeth Clark, dan. of Henry Clark 
 of Xewbury. 
 Their children, Elizabeth, b. 13 Aug. 1719 ; d. 27 Oct. 1719, 
 Stephen, b. 28 Sept. 1720. 
 IMartha, b. 2 Jan. 1722-3. 
 Bartholomew, b. 4 Aug. 1725. 
 Eunice, b. 15 Oct. 1727 ; d. Oct. 1813. 
 
 Samuel Thing, son of Samuel Thing, Esq., md. 26 Dec. 1722 Deborah 
 Hilton, dau. of Col. Winthrop Hilton. 
 Their child, Samuel, b. 9 Oct. 1723 ; d. 14 March 1723-4. 
 Samuel Thing d. Sept. 1723. 
 
 Stephen Thing md. 6 July 1768 Mehitable Connor, dau. of Lieut. Jonathan 
 and Mehitable Connor. 
 Their child, Betsey, b. 5 Jan. 1773. 
 Stephen Thing d. 20 Sept. aged 70 yrs. 11 mos. 18 days. 
 
 John Thompson, Anne Miller ; md. 26 Dec. 1750. 
 Their child, Joseph Miller, b. 12 Nov. 1751. 
 
 Daniel Thurston, b. 6 Aug. 1776, md. 4 Aug. 1798 Deborah Folsom, b. 29 
 April 1778. 
 Their childi-en, EHzabeth Oilman, b. 6 Xov. 1798; d. 1820. 
 Mary Jane, b. 3 Sept. 1801 ; d. 
 Mary Jane, b. 15 June 1804. 
 
 John Tilton, son of Samuel Tilton of Hampton Falls, md. 30 June 1791 
 Patty Odlin, dau. of \A'inthrop Odlin of Exeter. 
 Their childi-en, John Folsom, b. 8 Dec. 1792. 
 Ebenezer, b. 29 Dec. 1795. 
 Samuel, b. 28 Xov. 1797. 
 ^Vinthrop Odliu, b. 7 March 1800. 
 Amy Folsom, b. 3 May 1802. 
 AViUiam, b. 26 July 1804. 
 Elizabeth, b. 18 Aug. 1806. 
 Jose])h, b. 22 July 1809. 
 Sarah Ann, b. 1 Aug. 1813 ; d. 1814. 
 Mrs. Patty Tihon d. 7 Sej)!. 1823. 
 
 Dr. Joseph Tilton, 1). Hampton Falls 25 Sept. 1744, md. 10 Sept. 1767 
 Catharine Shackford, h. Portsmouth 12 Oct. 1745. 
 Their children, Catherine, b. 18 Sejjt. 17()S; jnd. Xathaniel Parker Xov. 
 1793. 
 
48 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Dorothy, b. 20 April 1770; md. J. F. Sleeper 20 Nov. 1791. 
 
 Joliii Shackford, b. 5 Oct. 1772; lost at sea 26 or 27 Oct. 
 IS 10. 
 
 Joseph, b. lo April 1776 ; d. 13 Sept. 1777. 
 
 Charlotte, b. 1 June 1779 ; md. Nathaniel Page. 
 
 Caroline, b. 30 May 1781 ; md. Robert Cross of Portland. 
 Mrs. Catharine Tilton d. 19 Jan. 1812. 
 Dr. Joseph Tilton d. o Dec. 1837. 
 
 Oliver Towle, b. Hampton 2 March 1783, md. 2 April 1806 Betsey Leavitt, 
 b. Hampton 2(5 Sept. 178.5. 
 Their children, Oliver, b. 16 Oct. 1806 ; d. 20 Oct. 1809. 
 Mary G., b. 24 Dec. 1807. 
 Oliver, Jr., b. 13 Jan. 1810. 
 Enoch W., b. 15 June 1811. 
 Betsey, b. 26 Oct. 1814; d. 2 April 1817. 
 Angelina, b. 4 June 1816. 
 Betsey L., b. 22 Nov. 1820. 
 Amos, b. 23 July 1823. 
 Adoniram J., b. 26 June 1827. 
 Emily B., b. 2 June 1829 ; d. 11 March 1848. 
 
 Henry Wadleigh, Elizabeth Ladd; md. 3 Dec. 1693. 
 
 Their children, Sarah, b. 3 Sept. 1694. 
 Abigail, b. 2 Sept. 1696. 
 Joseph,!). Sept. 1698. 
 Martha, b. Jan. 1700-1. 
 Benjamin, b. 1703 ; d. 1716. 
 
 Henry Wadleigh d. 2 Aug. 1732. 
 
 Joseph Wadleigh, son of Robert Wadleigh, b. 7 Sept. 1711, md. 5 Jan. 
 1737-8 Ann Swain. 
 Their children, Hannah, b. 1 Aug. 1739. 
 Sarah, b. 29 Nov. 1741. 
 Joseph, b. 3 Nov. 1743. 
 Anna, b. 17 Jan. 1745-6. 
 Rachel, b. 3 Feb. 1747. 
 
 Herbert Waters, Mary Harris ; md. 13 Nov. 1733. 
 Their child, Herbert (daughter), b. 8 Aug. 1735. 
 
 llumplirey Wilson. 
 His children, Judith, b. 8 Nov. 1661 ; d. 3 May 1667. 
 Elizabeth, b. 11 Jan. 1665. 
 .Tohn. 1). 17 July 1667. 
 Hiumah, b. 12 Nov, 1670. 
 Thomas, b. 20 May 1672. 
 James, b. 27 Aug. 1673. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 4y 
 
 Thomas Wilson, Mary Light ; md. Oct. 
 Tlieir children, Hnmphrey, b. 9 Dec. 1699. 
 Rebecca, b. IS Nov. 1701. 
 Anna, b. 18 June 1703. 
 John, Thomas, b. 3 Nov. 1704. 
 John, b. 7 Jan 1705-6. 
 Sarah, b. 26 Sept. 1707. 
 Joshua, b. 3 Sept. 1708. 
 Sarah, b. 23 Nov. 1709. 
 Mary, b. 19 Sept. 1711. 
 Jabez, b. 1 June 1712 ; d. same day. 
 Jonathan, b. 4 Sept. 1713. 
 Moses, b. 1 May 1715. 
 Judith, b. 18 Feb. 1717-8. 
 
 Samuel D. Wingate, b. Stratham, md. 8 Feb 1854 Orianna Mitchell. 
 Their children, James D. P., b 2 April 1855. 
 Charles E. L., b. 14 Feb. 1861. 
 
 Samuel Winslow, Sarah Johnson ; md. 
 
 Their children, Samuel, b. Exeter 8 Feb. 1795. 
 
 George, b. Exeter 7 May 1796 ; drowned 27 Aug. 1812. 
 Jonathan, b. Exeter 4 Nov. 1797. 
 
 William Woodbridge, b. Glastonbury, Conn., md. 5 April 17S5 Elizabeth 
 Brooks, dau. of Samuel Brooks of Exeter. 
 Their children, Elizabeth, b. 27 June 1786. 
 
 Mary, b. 27 June 1786; d. 6 Aug. 1786. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Woodbridge d. 16 Nov. 1787* 
 
 Jonathan Young, son of Robert Young, b. 22 Nov. 1712, md. 11 April 1738 
 Abigail Scribner, dau. of John Scribner, b. 30 March 1717. 
 Their children, John, b. 1 April 1739. 
 Anna, b. 28 June 1741. 
 Daniel, b. 17 Sept. 1743. 
 Abigail, baptized 12 Oct. 1746. 
 Joseph, b. 18 Sept. 1748. 
 Benjamin, b. 1 Nov. 1750. 
 Sarah, b. 15 Oct. 1752. 
 Hannah, b. 18 Oct. 1755. 
 Abigail, b. 5 July 1759. 
 
 4* 
 
MARRIAGES. 
 
 FROM THE EXKTER RECORDS. 
 
 Edward Arm. Joanna Mcloney ; 13 Jan. 17S2. 
 Benjamin Abbot, Hannah Tracy Emery; 30 Oct. 1791. 
 Samuel Agedent, Jerusha Daniels ; 10 July 1800. 
 Moses Atkinson. 3d. Xowburv. Charlotte Dutch; ;J June 1S08. 
 Richard Alley, Elizabeth A. Weeks; 21 Oct. 1S23. 
 Obed E. Adams, Dover, Selina Burley ; o June 1825. 
 Sween Anderson, Charlestown, Mass., Lydia Barker; June 1830. 
 Landcn Adams. Lowell, Mary F. I.eavitt ; 27 Nov. 18.34. 
 Monroe Ayer, Haverhill. Hannah M. W. Proal ; 9 Oct. 1838. 
 Francis Bowden, Elizabeth Webster; 18 Feb. 1734—5. 
 Jonathan Blake, Lucey Koljinson. 
 Samuel J5rooks, Jr., Mary Giddinge; 14 Dec. 1779. 
 Benjamin Bodge, Meribah Hall; 19 Oct. 1780. 
 Michael Brown, Ruth Allerd; 9 Sept. 1781. 
 Laurence Batson. Amie Crelghton ; 1 Xov. 1783. 
 John Brooks, Elizabeth Mash ; 17 April 1785. 
 Joshua Bangs, Anne B. Folsom ; 28 Feb. 1786. 
 Shackford S. Bennett, Mehitable Giddinge ; 18 Dec. 1788. 
 Noah Barker, Mary Bhilbrick ; 7 Oct. 1789. 
 
 Nathaniel Balchelder, Roxbury, Elizabeth Mudget ; 25 March 1790. 
 Joshua Blanchard, Ruhunnah Lovering ; 14 Jan. 1793. 
 John Batchelder, Rachel Moore; 14 May 1793. 
 Jose])h Blanchard, Chester, Mrs. Dorothy Folsom; 1 A])ril 1794. 
 John Bickford, I'hebe McCoy; 24 Dec. 17i)4. 
 
 James Bracket, Jr., Quincy, Mass., Elizabeth Odiorne ; 7 Oct. 1795. 
 Benjamin Boardman, Sarah Haven ; 30 Xov. 1795. 
 Samuel Brooks, Tirzah James ; (> Dec. 1795. 
 Reul)cu Byram, Xorth Yarmouth, Lois Swasey ; 11 Feb. 180S. 
 Amos Blanchard, Lydia Boardman; 12 March ISO'). 
 Allen Bastow, X'orth Yarmouth, Mary Swa.«ey : 12 .'lUg. 1810. 
 James Burley, Charlotte (Jilman; June 181 1. 
 
 Rev. Abraham Burnham, Pembroke, I'.lizabeth Robin.son; 19 X'ov. 1816. 
 James Burley, Mrs. Harriet L. Gale; 17 May 1818. 
 Abel IJrown. Ivast Kingston, l-^lizabctli V. Dean : 8 June 1818. 
 John S. Jieardslee, Hannali Hayes; 4 June 1820. 
 Moses P. Bickford, Eunice Burpee; 9 X'ov. 1820. 
 Nathaniel R. Burleigh, ^Lary Jane Odiorne ; 30 .lune 1823. 
 
 50 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. .",1 
 
 Joseph Boardman, Lydia L. Oilman : IG Sept. 1823. 
 
 Dudley Beckett, Mary A. Marsh, North Hampton ; 1 Aug. 182S. 
 
 Joseph A. Bailey, Dartmouth, Clarissa Clifford ; 7 Xov. 1S27. 
 
 John T. Blake, Kensington, Mary E. Moulton ; 1 Feh. 1829. 
 
 Andrew Baker, Xewmarket, Mary J. Sawyer; Xov. 1832. 
 
 Alfred M. Beck, Elizabeth S. Gilman ; 29 Oct. 1832. 
 
 Josiah Blake, Sophia Smith; 13 Xov. 1832. 
 
 OliA-er S. Bowley, Pamelia Leathers ; 5 Xov. 1833. 
 
 Joseph Boardman, Sarah A. Smith ; 16 Dec. 1833. 
 
 Stephen J. Batchelder, Sarah A. Hale ; 14 April 1834. 
 
 Thomas H. Bartlett, Xancy L. Hayes ; 28 Aug. 1836, 
 
 AVilliam O. Bragdon, Boston, Mary W. Folsom ; 1 Jan. 1837. 
 
 Philip Carty, Eliza])eth York ; 23 Sept. 16G8. 
 
 Jacob Carter, Abigail Steel; 13 Jan. 1777. 
 
 Casar Clough, Priscilla Glasgo (negroes) ; 9 Dec. 1777. 
 
 Moses Clark, Deerfield, Anna Loverain ; 8 March 1781. 
 
 Jonathan Cass, ]Mary Oilman; 20 Dec. 1781. 
 
 Samuel Chamberlain, Mary Tilton; 30 Sept. 1783. 
 
 Dudley Cram, Sanbornton, Mary Rundlet; 21 Dec. 1783. 
 
 Ephraim Currier, Abigail Hackett ; 27 June 1784. 
 
 Samuel Colcord, Anne Gilman; 21 April 1785. 
 
 Timothy Chamberlain, Esther Moses; 24 Sept. 1786. 
 
 Isaac Currier, Sarah Lamson ; 21 Xov. 1788. 
 
 Tobias Cutler, Dolly Pauls, Stratham ; 15 Jan. 1790. 
 
 John Caldwell, Polly Gilman; 10 April 1791. 
 
 Bradbury Cilley, Xottingham, Martha Poor; 19 Xov. 1792. 
 
 Harvey Colcord, Polly Wiggin, Stratham ; 20 Oct. 1795. 
 
 •Joseph Coomes, Stratham, Abigail Godfrey; 9 April 1799. 
 
 George Colcord, Joanna Jones; 19 Dec. 1801. 
 
 Jedediah Conner, Elizabeth Jenkins; 17 April 1801. 
 
 Rev. Jacol) Cram, Hampton Falls, Mary Poor ; 13 Sept 1804. 
 
 Gideon Carter, Haniuih Gilman ; 22 Sept 1804. 
 
 AVilliam S. Chase, Deerfield, Xancy Sanborn; 28 Xov. 1805. 
 
 Robert Cross, Poi'tland, Caroline Tilton ; 5 Oct. 1807. 
 
 Samuel Lee Count, Deborah Leavitt ; 10 Sept. 1809. 
 
 Jedediah Conner, Abigail Gilman; 29 Dec. 1811. 
 
 Thomas Colcord, Judith Wiggins ; 23 May 1812. 
 
 Jacob Carter, .Jr., Mi-s. Xancy Davis ; 4 March 1814. 
 
 Andrew Cook, Madbury, Harriet Speed; 1 Dec. 181 1. 
 
 Benjamin Clark, Xancy Lougee ; 22 Oct. 1815. 
 
 James Conner, Berwick, Caroline Xelson; 31 Oct. 1815. 
 
 Joshua Coffin, Haverhill, Clarissa Dutch ; 2 Dec. 1817. 
 
 Rufus E. Cutler, Dinah Cilley ; 25 March 1823. 
 
 Charles Carter, Wakefield, Mandana Safibrd ; 15 June 1822. 
 
 John Cook, ^Lartha T. Smart; 2 Jan. 1823. 
 
 William H. Clark, Sarah Hilton ; 16 Feb. 1825. 
 
 William T. Choate, Sarah W. Lovering ; 4 Dec. 1825. 
 
 Henrv Chew, \Yindham, Xanev J. Whitefield ; 10 Xov. 1827. 
 
52 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 William Conner, Betsy Lyford; Sept. 1832. 
 
 "William Cutts, Betsy Swasey ; IS Nov. 1830. 
 
 Enoch G. Currier, Newmarket, .lane Tlill ; March 1830. 
 
 Nathaniel Conner, Mrs. Elizabeth Talmer ; 22 Jan. 1833. 
 
 Samuel Cutler, Portland, EUzabeth D. Gardner ; 19 June 1833. 
 
 Aretus Chandler, J-ydia York, Brentwood ; 1 Jan. 1834. 
 
 Horatio L. Cowles, Williamsburg, Mass., Sarah A. Gordon; 18 Jan. 1837. 
 
 Samuel Colcord, Sophia Norwood; 12 April 1838. 
 
 Andrew H. Collins, Kensington, Abigail Brown ; 30 Dec. 1838. 
 
 Byley Dudley, Elizabeth Gilman ; 25 Oct. 1(382. 
 /> Jonathan Dolhoof, Mary Young; 17 Nov. 1737. 
 
 Lemuel Davis, ICleauor Dearing ; 20 March 1780. 
 
 Lenon ]3aily, Margaret (negroes) ; 11 March 1781. 
 
 Thomas Dean, Lucretia Coffin; 13 April 1781. 
 
 Samuel Daniels, Sarah Taylor ; 24 Oct. 1781. 
 
 Minus Daniels, Elizabeth Taylor; 11 Nov. 1784. 
 
 Eliphalet Dean, Olive Swasey ; 17 Jan. 178.j. 
 
 Abner Dolloof, Irene Smith, Brentwood; 22 March 1787. 
 
 Cepio Duce, Phillis Folsom ; 20 Nov. 1787. 
 
 Robert Duce, Lois Straits; 21 June 1790. 
 
 Samuel T. Dudley, Abigail Handel ; 21 Nov. 1791. 
 
 Samuel Densmore, Ossipce, Sally Wallace; Nov. 15, 1792. 
 
 John Dennett, Portsmouth, Elizabeth Lamson ; 3 Feb. 1798. 
 
 Benjamin Dodge, Portland, Abigail Gilman; 16 April 1797. 
 
 John Dean, Jr., Anne Boardnian; 11 May 1799. 
 
 Samuel Dodge, Fanny Pearson; 30 June 1812. 
 
 John Daniels, Eunice Kelly ; 7 Dec. 1814. 
 
 William H. Dickey, Elizabeth Locke ; 23 Oct. 1816. 
 
 Andrew Dorsey, Nancy G. Duce; 31 Aug. 1817. 
 
 William C. Dolloft'. Betsy Leavitt ; 13 Nov. 1817. 
 
 Thomas Dean, Catharine Gilman; 26 Sept. 1824. 
 
 Nathaniel Dean, Elizabeth Gilman; 25 June 1826. 
 
 Josiah Dudley, Sarah llobiuson ; 27 Sept. 1827. 
 
 Samuel Durant, Susan Daniels; 18 Oct. 1829. 
 
 Charles H. Dunbar, Haverhill, Mass., Mary B. Leavitt; March 1830. 
 
 Charles H. Daniels, Nancy M. Purington ; 8 Nov. 1841. 
 
 Joseph Eldridge, Abigail Hall; 8 Oct. 1781. 
 
 Kichard Emery, Liberty Hale; 14 Nov. 1784. 
 
 John Emery, Deborah Webb; 11 Jan. 1802. 
 
 Samuel Endicott, Beverly, Mass., Sarah F. Ilolt; 4 June 1826. 
 
 Kimball Eastman, Albany, N. Y., Mary Wentworth ; 10 Jan. 1829. 
 / James Foulsam, Elizal)eth Thing; 18 June 1735. 
 
 Seth Fogg, Elizabeth Marshall; 7 Dec. 1779. 
 
 Samuel Folsom, Elizabeth Emery; 30 April 1780, 
 
 David I'^ogg, Katherine Jolmson ; 8 Nov. 1780. 
 
 Thcopliilus Folsom, Sarah Fogg; 12 Dec. 1780. 
 
 Jonathan Folsom, Lydia Folsom ; 29 March 1781. 
 
 Fortune Fogg, Lucy Hale ; 15 July 1781. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 53 
 
 Stephen Fogg:, Mary Filler ; 2 May 1782. 
 Stephen Fogg, Sarah Marsh; 1 Sept. 1782. 
 Mark Fifield, Stratham, Deborah Young; 16 Aug. 1783. 
 James Folsom, Jr., Mary Folsom ; 2 Dec. 1784. 
 James Folsom, 4th, Sarah GUman ; 15 Oct. 1786. 
 James Folsom, 3d. Sarah Robinson; 31 Dec. 1786. 
 Dearborn Fogg, Xorth Hampton, Dorothy Rundlet ; 5 Sept. 1787. 
 Joseph Flood, Elizabeth Alters ; 17 Aug. 1789. 
 Robert L. Fowle, Mrs. Sarah Fowle ; 6 Aug. 1789. 
 Stephen Fogg, Mrs. Elizabeth Grant ; 3 April 1790. 
 John Fogg, Mary Grant; 13 Nov. 1791. 
 
 James French, Eppiug, Mehitable Moody, Brentwood; 27 Jan. 1792. 
 Stephen Fogg, Jr., Anne Batchelder; 29 Sept. 1793. 
 Dudley Folsom, Lucretia Swasey ; 17 Jan. 1796. 
 Richard Fuller, Elizabeth Fowler; 5 June 1796. 
 George Fuller, Jr., Nancy York, Brentwood ; 26 April 1797. 
 John Folsom, Jr., Newmarket, Anne Odlin; 22 March 1798. 
 Nathaniel Folsom, Hallowell, Mary Bond ; 6 Nov. 1800. 
 David Fuller, Anne Watson, widow ; 13 Nov. 1800. 
 William Flood, Lydia Carter ; 6 Aug. 1804. 
 
 Nathaniel Foster, North Yarmouth, Rebecca Swasey; 19 Dec. 1804. 
 William Fuller, Sukey Sleeper; 31 March 1806. 
 Jonathan Folsom. Lydia Folsom ; 17 April 1809. 
 Peter Folsom, Hannah P. Hook; 17 Aug. 1809. 
 William Flood, Hannah Moulton ; 18 Dec. 1823. 
 John Foss, Lucy H. Bailey ; 2 June 1826. 
 Bradstreet French, Newmarket, Olive Oilman; 22 May 1831. 
 Lucius G. Felt, Martha A. CoUey ; 4 May 1836. 
 Abraham Flood, Abigail Dearborn ; May 1829. 
 Nicholas D. Folsom, Celina Blake ; 10 Oct. 1832. 
 Benjamin Furbish, Mary Lane ; 16 May 1833. 
 John Farnham, Jr., Newburyport, Lois ]J. Jenness ; 24 May 1838. 
 Joseph B. Flagg, Harriet M. Flanders, Lowell, Mass. ; 15 April 1840. 
 Joseph H. Ford, Elizabeth Whitcomb ; 7 Sept. 1840. 
 Peter Oilman, Mary Oilman, wid. of John Oilman ; 8 Dec. 1724. 
 ^ Nathaniel Gookin, Judith Coffin; 1 Jan. 1740-1. 
 Eliphalet Oilman, Sarah Conner; 10 May 1778. 
 John Giddinge, Elizabeth Wiggin ; 25 Sept. 1781. 
 Nathaniel Giddinge, Jr., Mrs. Anne Folsom; 21 May 1783. 
 Zebulon Oilman, Jr., Mary Mash; 4 Oct. 1785. 
 Nathaniel Oilman, Abigail Odlin ; 29 Dec. 1785. 
 Benjamin Clark Oilman, Mary Thing Oilman; 24 June 1788. 
 James Grant, Betsy Piper ; 15 Feb. 1789. 
 James Oilman, Patty Oilman; 25 May 1789. 
 Joseph Gorden, Dolly Smith ; 31 Oct. 1790. 
 Noah Oilman, :SIahitable Steel ; 1 Jan. 1792. 
 John Oilman, Dorothy Kiral)al ; 30 Jan. 1792. 
 John Taylor Oilman, Mrs. Mary Adams ; 5 July 1792. 
 
54 llIsroKV OF KXETKU. 
 
 Nathaniel Giddinge, Mrs. Pef,%v Warren; (i Nov. 17'.»L 
 
 William Gross, Dolly Leavitt ; 16 April 17!»r,. 
 
 John Gardner, Boston. Deborah Dean ; 11 Dec. 1796. 
 
 Joseph Smith Oilman, Mrs. Elizabeth Odlin ; Vi Xov. 1798. 
 
 James Oilman, Jr., Susanna Mason ; 2:5 Aug. 1800. 
 
 Stephen Gale, Newburyport, Harriet Eastham; 31 Aug. 1807, 
 
 Jonathan Oilman, I-ydia Loufjce ; 2') Nov. 1807. 
 
 Nathaniel Gordon, Mary Robinson; 30 Aug. 1808. 
 
 Stephen Orover, Nancy Barns ; 31 Jan. 1812. 
 
 Eliphalet Giddinge, Mrs. Ann Lyford ; 16 Feb. 181 '2. 
 
 Tonv Gardner, Newburyport, Mary I'aul Cutler; 23 March 1810. 
 
 John Gordon, Newbury, Frances Gordon; 1814. 
 
 Phillips Oilman, Betsy Oilman ; 8 Nov. 181o. 
 
 Harrison Gray, Portsmouth, Clarissa Eastham; 23 April 1S18. 
 
 William Gould. Mary Beckett, Brentwood; o July 1819. 
 
 Stephen L. Gordon, Rebecca Thayer ; 6 July 1819. 
 
 James Oilman, Isabel Peavey; 18 Sept. 182tj. 
 
 Biley Oilman, Harriet Burley ; 28 Feb. 1820. 
 
 Andrew Gorham, Sarah O. Smith; 11 March 1822. 
 
 Charles Gaylord, Mary J. Blake ; 10 July 1822. 
 
 John Oilman, Hallowell, Me., Sally Becket; 2 Feb. 1823. 
 
 Benjamin Gordon, Jr., Frances Folsom ; 27 April 1823. 
 
 John T. Gordon, Sarah Folsom ; 20 Nov. 1823. 
 
 Silas Gould, Sarah 0. Folsom ; 29 June 1823. 
 
 James Oilman, 3d, Mary A. Chapman ; 4 Jan. 1826. 
 
 David W. Gorham, Elizabeth P. Abbott; 3 May 1826. 
 
 Theophilus Goodwin, Lois Dutch; 28 May 1826. 
 
 John C. Oerrish, Mary O. Folsom ; 4 Dec. 1826. 
 
 Nehemiah Oilman, Martha J. Gray, Portsmouth ; 25 Nov. 1828. 
 
 Stephen Goodwin, Mary Floid; 24 June 1831. 
 
 Charles C. P. Gale, Martha \\'alker ; April 1832. 
 
 Oliver Gordon, Candia, Mary C. Dudley; 21 Nov. 1833. 
 
 Nathaniel Oilman, 1th, Betsey F. Batchelder; 26 Dec. 1833. 
 
 William F. Gordon, Mary L. Young; 17 Feb. 1834. 
 
 Seth Goodwin, Lavina Willey ; 22 Oct. 1837. 
 
 Esop Hale, Lucy Sinegall (negroes); 3 April 1777. 
 
 Perv Hardy, Mehitable Lawrence; 13 Nov. 1777. 
 
 Moses Ho])kinson, Lucy Calf; 13 May 1781. 
 
 KinslvHall, Honner Rundlct; 5 Nov. 1781. 
 
 Benjamin Hilton, Elizabeth Thurston ; 23 March 1783. 
 
 Levi Hcalev, Hampton Falls. Abigail Robinson; 2 Sept. 1784. 
 
 Jonathan Hill, Sarah Wiggins; 12 Sept. 1784. 
 
 Nathaniel Herrick, >Liry Hackett; 17 Dec. 1784. 
 
 Thomas Hains, Hannah Lord; 17 March 1785. 
 
 Ivlward Hilton, Jr., Newmarket, Deborah Wiggin ; 2(5 Nov. 1792. 
 
 Caleb Hill, Newburyport. Mary Fowler; 19 July 1795. 
 
 Ezra Hutchins, Sally Currier : 26 Fel). 1797. 
 
 Samuel Hatch, Mary Oilman ; 11 May 1797. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 55 
 
 Richard Hilton, Newmarket, Patty Leavit ; 31 Jan. 1798. 
 
 Jonathan Hamilton, Berwick, Mass., ]Mrs. Charlotte Sweat; 12 April 1801. 
 
 Joseph Hoit, Stratham, Betsy Odlin ; 26 Nov. 1801. 
 
 Jonathan Hale, Coventry, Mrs. Mary Parker ; 6 May 1802. 
 
 William Hill, Betsy Wyatt ; 12 Aug. 1806. 
 
 Ezekiel Hook, Lucretia Hill ; 1 Oct. 1807. 
 
 Cuffe Hoit, Rose Whidden, Greenland ; 28 Sept, 1809. 
 
 Noyes Hopkinson, Elizabeth R. Eaton; Oct. 1816. 
 
 AV'illiam Hoit, Ellen E. Bacon, Sutton, Mass. ; 27 Sept. 1818. 
 
 Rev. Isaac Hurd, Elizabeth Emery ; 16 March 1819. 
 
 George Hanson, Brentwood, Mrs. Elizabeth Leavitt ; 3 Dec. 1821. 
 
 Purmot Hill, Lydia R. Smith; 13 Feb. 1820. 
 
 Jonathan HunnewcU, Mary Parker; 23 March 1820. 
 
 Abel F. Hildreth, Londonderry, Ann E. Giddings ; 21 Aug. 1820. 
 
 Henry Hovey, Mary E. Dolloff; 10 Sept. 1821. 
 
 James Hill, Gilford, Elizabeth M. Hall; 13 Sept. 1821. 
 
 Joshua M. Haley, Mary Willey ; 26 Oct. 1821. 
 
 Thomas R. Hopkins, Boston, Anna M. Adams ; 3 July 1823. 
 
 Samuel Ham, Frances Leavitt; 20 May 1824. 
 
 Thomas Hardy, Boston, Sarah R. Folsom ; 31 Aug 1826. 
 
 Moses Harris, Clementine Rundlet ; 18 Oct. 1826. 
 
 Joshua Holt, Elizabeth M. J. Emery ; 15 May 1827. 
 
 Samuel Hodgdon, Joanna Tilton ; 2o Oct. 183o. 
 
 Jeremiah Hall, Durham, Sarah A. Holt ; Jan. 1832. 
 
 Charles A. Hartshorn, Boston, Abigail S. Floyd ; 21 March 1834. 
 
 Charles Henss, Boston, Sarah Folsom; 9 Nov. 1835. 
 
 Henry R. Hall, Mary A. Boardman; 7 Oct. 1836. 
 
 George Harrington, Martha A. Chapman ; 20 April 1841. 
 
 Moses Jewett, Martha Hale ; 17 Nov. 1737. 
 
 Francis James, Abigail Lighton; 27 Jan. 1736-7. 
 
 Isaac, belonging to Paul Jewett, Catherine, belonging to Josiah Robinson 
 
 (negroes); 21 Nov. 1776. 
 John Judkins, Abigail Swasey; 12 Jan. 1778. 
 Bradbury Johnson, Rachel Short; 24 Sept. 1786. 
 John Johnson, Jr., Mary Piper; 14 Jan. 1789. 
 Daniel S. Jones, Mary Steel; 18 Sept. 1791. 
 Samuel Jones, Joanna Bond ; 22 Nov. 1 792. 
 Pomp Jackson, Susanna Dimond (negroes) ; 5 April 1794. 
 Nathaniel Jcfferds. Wells, Mass., Mary Folsom; 13 Jan. 1802. 
 Joseph A. Janvrin, Lydia A. Colcord ; 14 Nov. 1822. 
 James Jones, Ann Rowley, foreigners, 23 Dec. 1821. 
 Luke Julian, Fitchburg, Abigail T. Moses ; Oct. 1832. 
 Ebenezer James, Hampton, Abigail Robinson ; 3 Nov. 1829. 
 Nathan Jewett, Mrs. Eliza S. Lang ; July 1830. 
 Roger Kelly, Mary Holdridge ; 29 Sept. 1681. 
 Moses Kimball, Pheebe Smart; 14 Feb. 1781. 
 Casar Knnap, Mimbo Cottle ; 13 Dec. 1781. 
 Peter S. Kimball, Abigail Dean; 6 Jan. 1783. 
 
56 HISTUHY OF EXETER. 
 
 Dudley Kimball, Anne Folsom ; 121 May 17S9. 
 
 John kiml)all. AVakeficld, Mrs. Mary Weeks ; 20 Aug. 1789. 
 
 John Kimball, Anne Oilman; 1 Oct. 1790. 
 
 .John Kennedy, Lydia lilaisdell ; 25 Jan. 1807. 
 
 John Kimball, Mrs. Sarah Ilodgkins ; 8 Sept. 1S2.5. 
 
 Samuel Kin<jsbury, Portsmouth. Mary J. Thurj^ton ; 24 Nov. 182.'). 
 
 John Kennedy, >fary Hart ; 31 Dec. 1S2(). 
 
 Francis Lyford, Rebecca Dudley; 21 Nov. 1681. 
 
 Nicholas Lisson, Jane ; 14 Dec. 1682. 
 
 Jonathan Lord. Mrs. Hannah Lipht ; 14 Oct. 1731. 
 
 John Leavitt, Abij^ail Giles; June 17."J.j. 
 
 Josiah Ladd, Sarah Moss ; 3 Jan. 1737-8. 
 
 Elias Ladd, Ann Oilman; 27 Nov. 1740. 
 
 John Lord. Abii^ail Eliots : 27 Nov. 1777. 
 
 John Light, Sarah Marvel; 4 Dec. 1777. 
 
 Josiah Leavit, Lydia Lawrence; 6 July 1780. 
 
 Joseph Lovring, Filizabeth Creighton ; 2 Nov. 1780. 
 
 Joseph Lougee, Miriam Fog; 14 Nov. 1780. 
 
 Daniel Leavitt, Elizabeth Magoon ; 21 Nov. 1780. 
 
 Eliphalet Lord, Abigail Lord ; 2 May 1781. 
 
 Jonathan Louge, Nancy Simpson ; 6 Feb. 1783. 
 
 Joseph Lamson, 3d, ]\Iehitable Fhilbrick ; 3 Sept. 1784. 
 
 Stephen Leavitt, Brentwood, Elizabeth Gordon ; 30 April 1787. 
 
 Simeon Ladd, Deborah Oilman ; 31 Jan. 1789. 
 
 Robert Lord, Jr., Mary Davis, Poplin ; 30 Sept. 1789. 
 
 Joseph Lamson, 3d, Susanna Folsom; Jan. 1793. 
 
 Isaac Lord, Effingham, Susanna Leavitt; 4 Feb. 1793. 
 
 Robert Lyford, Newmarket, Mary Lyford; 28 March 1793. 
 
 Elisha Logic, Nancy Lord; 7 Sept. 1794. 
 
 James Laine, Stratham, Deborah Folsom; 23 Nov. 1794. 
 
 John Lovering, Apphia Wyatt ; 18 Sept. 1794. 
 
 Kinsley Lyford, Elizabeth Scammons, Stratham ; 16 Feb. 1796. 
 
 Samuel Lovering, North Hampton, Susanna Taylor, Hampton; 8 March 
 1796. 
 
 Prince Light, Phillis Currier (negroes) ; 16 ^larch 1800. 
 
 Joseph Lamson, Jr., Mary Sewal Parker ; 14 Oct. 1800. 
 
 Jotham Jyawrence, Epping, Deborah Robinson; 21 Feb. 1803. 
 
 Samuel Leavitt, Abigail Kimball; (> March 1803. 
 
 Thomas Leighton, Elizabeth Mitchell ; 7 March 1804. 
 
 Benjamin I>eavitt, Betsy Dodge ; 1 July 1804. 
 
 Joseph Lovering, Mrs. Sarah C'alcf, Kingston ; 24 March 1808. 
 
 John Lakeman, Boston, Sally Rundlet; 12 Nov. 1808. 
 
 John Lamson, Nancy Dodge; 15 Sept. 1811. 
 
 "William Lane, Abi^-ail Daniels; 19 Nov. 1815. 
 
 John Lougee, Hannah T. Leavitt; 1817. 
 
 Hasket D. Lang, Salem, Mass., Eliza S. Sleeper; 7 June 1819. 
 
 Sargent S. J-ittlehale, Boston, Edna P. Dow ; 10 June 1819. 
 
 Jonathan Larabee, Marv Davis ; 13 Oct. 1819. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. "57 
 
 Benjamin Leathers, Eliza Fogg ; 4 March 1822. 
 
 Edmund Leavitt, Concord, Nancy Reed ; 14 Jan. 1S21. 
 
 Gideon C. Lyford, Hannah E. Oilman; 9 Sept. 1821. 
 
 Oliver Larkin, Waterville, Me., Mary Oilman ; 5 Nov. 1821. 
 
 Charles Ladd, Abigail Hilton ; 19 May 1822. 
 
 John Leavitt, Mary S. Taylor ; 3 Nov. 1822. 
 
 Heman Ladd, Haverhill, Mass., Hannah Oilman; 14 May 1823. 
 
 Benjamin Leavitt, Sarah E. Stevenson ; 25 April 1833. 
 
 Jonathan Leavitt, Angelina Towle ; 30 June 1833. 
 
 Oeorge W. Leathers, yiis. Frances Devorson ; 28 Nov. 1833. * 
 
 Lsaac Ladd, Mary James, Kensington ; 15 June 1836. 
 
 .Joshua A. Lunt, Jerusha H. Young ; Oct. 1830. 
 
 Parker Lovejoy, St. Stephens, N. B., Harriet Swasey; July 1832. 
 
 Wm. B. Lowd, Rebecca L. Shaw ; 3 Jan. 1836. 
 
 Josiah Lane, Eliza A. Sanborn; 5 April 1836. 
 
 Oeorge "W. Little, Amesbury, Mary E. Swasey ; 27 Aug. 1836. 
 
 Calvin Loveriug, ^lary J. French ; 5 June 1838. 
 
 Benjamin ^lorss, Mary Oilman; 2 Jan. 1777. 
 
 Samuel Mash, Hannah Bell; 16 Jan. 1777. 
 
 Juba ]\Ierrile, Newbury, Hannah Holland (negroes); 3 Aug. 1777. 
 
 Caleb Michele, Ann Hains ; 13 Nov. 1777. 
 
 Francis Mason, Susanna Moses; 6 June 1779. 
 
 Winthrop Merrill, Date Steel; 1 Sept. 1779. 
 
 Joseph Mash, OUey Abuckle ; 17 Dec. 1780. 
 
 Zebulon Marsh, Abigail Young ; 27 Sept. 1784. 
 
 AVilliam Moore, Elizabeth Rundlet ; 2 Dec. 1789. 
 
 Ebenezer Melony, Anne Hacket ; 24 Dec. 1797. 
 
 John Meader, Elizabeth Oilman ; 1 Jan. 1798. 
 
 Simon Magoon, Kingston, Betsey Barstow ; 22 Nov. 1796. 
 
 Ebenezer Mingo, Phena Sharp ; 23 Dec. 1796. 
 
 James Marston, Packersfield, Mass., Mrs. Elizabeth Oiddinge; 31 Aug. 1799. 
 
 Henry Moore, Portsmouth, Ann Odiorne ; 10 Sept. 1804. 
 
 William Mace, Stratham, Catharine Swasey; 29 Jan. 1812. 
 
 Samuel Moses, Mary E. Haskell ; 29 ^Nlarch 1812. 
 
 Amos Morse, Newbury, lAicretia Dean ; 3 Nov. 1817. 
 
 Abner Merrill, Sally Vv. Leavitt ; 2 July 1816. 
 
 John Mead, Olive Levering; 31 Dec. 1818. 
 
 Henry Menjoy, Abigail Pickering ; 7 March 1819. 
 
 Ebenezer L. Moulton, Mary Leavitt ; 27 Oct. 1822. 
 
 Daniel Mclcher, Nancy Y. Folsora ; 27 April 1823. 
 
 Francis Mager, Catharine Thompson (negroes) ; 6 Nov. 1823. 
 
 William Moore, Jr., Rachel French; 11 Aug. 1824. 
 
 Sil)ley Moulton, Lucinda Fogg ; 30 Sept. 1824. 
 
 Samuel H. Marsli, Martha B. ]Javis ; 30 March 1826. 
 
 Thomas J. Marsh, Nancy S. Davis ; 30 March 1826. 
 
 John Morrison, Mary Sheriff'; 29 Nov. 1827. 
 
 Thomas Moulton. ^lary Oordon: 4 June 1828. 
 
 Isaac O. Morse, Eunice Crockett ; 21 June 1837. 
 
,58 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 John Moulton, Lydia Leavitt ; Dec. 1820. 
 
 Thomas G. Morse, Eliza J. Blanchard ; 3 July 1833. 
 
 Gcoific S. Munloii, Eliza A. Pickerin;^ ; S Nov. 1835. 
 
 Oilman McXcal, Emoliiie X. Batchclder ; 4 Sept. 183G. 
 
 Archelaus Martin, Dinah Barnc ; 11 March 1837. 
 
 Peltiah Moulton. York, Me., Susan II. Card; 22 Dec. 1830. 
 
 William P. Moses, Abby K. Leavitt ; 14 Nov. 1830. 
 
 Theodore Moses, Harmony, Me., Abigail G. Colcord ; 10 Jan. 1840. 
 
 Joseph H. Morrill, Salisbury, Mass., Olive Greenleaf ; April 1840. 
 
 Jonathan Nelson. Martha Folsoni ; 27 April 1777. 
 
 Josiah Nelson, Mary llobinson ; 6 Dec. 1780. 
 
 Eliphalet Norns, Lydia llundlet ; 14 Dec. 1780. 
 
 Dudley Nichols, Molly Badger ; 2 April 1783. 
 
 Mark Nutter, Lydia Nelson; 28 Dec. 178,"). 
 
 Harvey Nicolle, Hannah Mead; 23 Dec. 1700. 
 
 Benjamin Nason, Shapleigh, Me., Hannah Oilman; 17 Aug. 1701. 
 
 Charles Noms, Catharine Ranlet ; 1 Sept. 1807. 
 
 Rev. Ichabod NicoUes, Portland, Dorothea F. Oilman ; 1810. 
 
 Charles Norris, Teresa Orn ; April 1811. 
 
 Nathaniel F. Nelson, Oilmanton, Lydia B. Folsom ; 28 Feb. 1817. 
 
 Dudley Nelson, Oilmanton, Martha N. Folsom; o Feb. 1818. 
 
 Josiah Nelson. Martha W. Colcord: 31 March 1822. 
 
 Rufus Newhall, Betsy DoUoff; 27 Feb. 182.5. 
 
 Joseph Newman, Mary Steele ; 29 Aug. 1827. 
 
 Josiah Norton, Deborah Fogg ; 15 183(i. 
 
 Adam Nichols, Gloucester, Mass., Martha B. Folsom; Nov. 1820. 
 
 Samuel F. Nelson. Lavina Folsom; 3 Oct. 1832. 
 
 Dudley Odlin, Elizabeth Oilman ; 14 Feb. 1782. 
 
 Woodin-idge Odlin, Mary Brooks ; 11 Feb. 1789. 
 
 William Odlin, Betsey Leavitt; 10 June 1701. 
 
 I'hilip Osgood, Joanna Davis ; 17 March 1704. 
 
 Samuel T. Odiorne, Philadelphia, Clarissa Oilman ; 1 Nov. 1815. 
 
 James Odlin. >Lartha H. Osborne; 27 Oct. 1816. 
 
 Woodbridge Odlin, Joanna Odiorne ; 4 Feb. 1828. 
 
 Oliver W. Osborne, Mary A. Allen, Bradford ; 27 April 1837. 
 
 Jonathan Perkins, Sarah ; 20 Dec. 1G82. 
 
 Jonathan Perkins, Elizabeth Folsom; 1 April 1778. 
 
 Primus, CillClough (negroes) ; 10 May 1770. 
 
 Edmund Pearson, Dorothy Swasey ; 2() Oct. 1770. 
 Samuel Page, Elizabeth Langdon ; 18 ]\lay 1780. 
 
 Robinson I'eters, Vilet ; 4 Sept. HM. 
 
 Oliver Pcal)ody, Frances Bourn; 28 March 1782. 
 
 Robert Parkes, Dolly Oilman ; 6 March 1783. 
 
 Samuel Philbrick, Hannah Robinson; 28 Oct. 1784. 
 
 Daniel Phill)rick, Susanna Carty ; 10 Dec. 1700. 
 
 Moses Pike, Hampton Falls, Theodata Sanljorn ; 6 April 1701. 
 
 Nathaniel Parker, Catharine Tilton : 14 Nov. 1703. 
 
 Jo.seph Pearson, Dorothy (iiddinge ; 5 April 1705. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. yl) 
 
 Stephen Perkins, llochester, Lydia Smith; 23 Feb. 179(i. 
 
 Rev. Walter Powers, Gihnanton, Mrs. Elizabeth McClure ; 7 Aug. ISOo. 
 
 Offin B. Palmer, Wakefield, Sally Rofjers ; 2.5 Sept. 1805. 
 
 William Pearson, Sophia Osborne ; 16 April 1807. 
 
 Nathaniel Page, Charlotte Tilton ; 21 March 1809. 
 
 Joseph Plummer, Jr., Xewburyport, Ann Cram; 4 Sept. 1809. 
 
 John Paul, Martha Oilman ; 15 March 1810. 
 
 John Pearson, Jr., Xewburyport, Harriet P. Carlton ; 30 Sept. 1810. 
 
 Jacob Paul, Jr., Catherine Wallace ; 18 Jan. 1813. 
 
 Edmund Pearson, Wells, Mass., Hannah Philbrick ; 16 Oct. 1814. 
 
 Samuel Philbrick, Elizabeth Smith ; 17 Nov. 1814. 
 
 John Peavey, Hannah Daniels ; 16 Jan. 1816. 
 
 Jeremiah Palmer, Elizabeth Moore ; 28 Jan. 1816. 
 
 Rev. Gardner B. Perry, Bradford, Mass., Maria P. Chamberlain ; 22 May 
 
 1816. 
 James Pearson, Susan Swasey ; 10 Nov. 1816. 
 William Perry, Abby Oilman ; 8 April 1818. 
 
 Nathaniel P. Page, Eastport, Me., Mary A. Robinson ; 16 Aug. 1822. 
 Dennis Poor, Raymond, Mary Lovering : 25 April 1824. 
 Joseph Perkins, Elizabeth Odlin ; 29 Nov. 1825. 
 James O. Page, Newmarket, Elizabeth Sawyer; 6 Dec- 1827. 
 Daniel Pearson, Hannah Carter ; 5 June 1831. 
 John W. Pettengill, Olive M. Fellows ; 29 Sept. 1833. 
 Jeremiah J. Peavey, Luella J. Rowe ; 3 June 1834. 
 Benjamin R. Perkins, Mary J. Dolloff; 21 Dec. 1831. 
 Lewis W. Perkins, Eliza Leavitt ; Dec. 1829. 
 Asher C. Palmer, Boston, Ann R. Folsom ; 27 Aug. 1833. 
 A\'illiam Philbrick. Sarah Lyford ; 29 Aug. 1829. 
 William Parker, Canajoharie, N. Y., Dolly Blake ; 26 April 1834. 
 Michael Prescott, Mary N. Hill ; 14 July 1834. 
 Samuel Peavey, Sarah Oilman ; 30 Oct. 1837. 
 Lucia'n M. Pike, Newmarket. Satira 1). Wadleigh : 22 June 1840. 
 Joseph Quince, Martha Oilman ; 29 Dec. 1822. 
 Ephraim Robinson, Mary Shaw; 24 Jan. 1734-5. 
 James Rundlet, Jane McClucr ; 25 Dec. 1777. 
 John Robinson, Sarah Smith; 9 Jan. 1777. 
 Francis Roberts, Jane Lovraiu; 30 Dec. 1778. 
 Benjamin Robinson, Huldah Conner ; 24 July 1781. 
 William Robinson, Jane Smith; Sept. 1782. 
 
 Daniel Robinson, Abigail Robinson, Sanbornton : 7 March 1785. 
 Jonathan Rundlet, Anne Johnson ; 16 Feb. 1786. 
 Joseph Rundlet, Priscilla AVilson; 18 March 1787. 
 Joseph Rundlet, Hannah Dow, Epping; 3 Dec. 178S. 
 John Rot)inson, Sanbornton, Lydia Calfe ; 2 Jan. 1790, 
 William Robinson, Mary Leavitt ; 12 July 1792. 
 Zechariah Robinson, Rebecca Hall; 21 Nov. 1793. 
 James Robinson, Sanbornton, Deborah Dean Lord; 23 Nov. 1793. 
 
CO HISTORY OF EXETKR. 
 
 James Rundlet, Sally Rust; 12 Nov. 170(5. 
 
 Josiah Sanborn, Hannah Moulton ; 2.5 Awj^. 1681. 
 
 Benjamin Shaw, Molly Sanborn ; 10 Sept. 1778. 
 
 John Shepard, Gilmanton, Elizabeth Oilman; 13 Dec. 1779. 
 
 John Smith, Phecbe Thurston; 20 Sept. 1781, 
 
 John Sanborn, Anne Sanborn ; 20 July 1782. 
 
 John Setier, Sarah Rundlet; 2-1 Sept. 1783. 
 
 Benjamin Silsbee, Polly Folsom ; 8 Oct. 1786. 
 
 Joseph Smith, Polly Burleigh; 13 Nov. 1786. 
 
 Lowel Rawlins, Sukey Fo}?g ; 28 Dee. 1802. 
 
 Samuel Rowe, Olive Rundlet; lo May 1802. 
 
 Wm. F. Rowland, Ann Giddings ; 29 Aug. 1802. 
 
 Robert Roberts, Boston, Dorothy Hall ; 15 Dec. 1805. 
 
 ])aniel Rundlet, Sophia Folsom ; 6 April 1807. 
 
 Henry A. Ranlett, Mary Fellows; 30 March 1817. 
 
 Trucworthy Robinson, Jr., Lucy Melcher, Kensington; 30 Oct. 1817. 
 
 Thomas S. Robinson, Brentwood, Sophia Gordon ; 16 Dec. 1818. 
 
 Jeremiah L. Robinson, Irene Fellows ; 26 Jan. 1823. 
 
 James Robinson, Mary Elliot ; 18 Feb. 1827. 
 
 Daniel Ranlett, Sarah G. Smith ; 'iS Xov. 1827. 
 
 John Rogers, Martha P. Cram ; 20 :March 1828. 
 
 Samuel Rand, Ep])ing, Mary Willey ; 13 April 1829. 
 
 William Rowe, Mary A. Philbrick; Nov. 1836. 
 
 Lucian B. Robee, Elizabeth Dean ; May 1832. 
 
 Henry Robinson, Almira Kelly ; 14 March 1836. 
 
 Jona. Rol)inson, Jr., Sarah S. Dearborn, North Hampton; 27 Sept. 1837. 
 
 Charles H. Robinson, Ann M. Colcord ; 16 April 1840. 
 
 Levi Rundlett, L-ena M. Foye ; 4 July 1841. 
 
 Thomas Swasey, l-'lizabeth Folsom; 7 Jan. 1787. 
 
 Zadoch Sanborn, Gilmanton, Abigail Tilton ; 31 Jan. 1788. 
 
 Benjamin Pierce Sheriff", Patty Oilman; 29 Sept. 1788. 
 
 Josiah Coffin Smith, Annie Leavitt; 11 July 1789. 
 
 John Smith, Jr., Elizabeth Calef ; 18 July 1790. 
 
 Rev. Jonathan Strong, Braintrec, Joanna Odiorne ; 3 Nov. 1790. 
 
 Joseph Sceavy, Rye, Martha Patten, Candia ; 13 June 1790. 
 
 Nathaniel Sother, Mrs. Esther Chamberlain; 16 Dec. 1790. 
 
 Daniel Smith, Jr., Polly Pickering; 14 Feb. 1791. 
 
 Jonathan F. Sleeper, Dorothy Tilton ; 18 Nov. 1791. 
 
 Titus Sharp, Phena Jacobs (negroes) ; 29 Dec. 1791. 
 
 William Sibley, Gilmanton, Anna Thing. Brentwood; 6 Sept. 1792. 
 
 Thomas Stickney. Jr., Concord. Mary Ann Odlin ; 7 Nov. 1792. 
 
 Josiah Sanborn, Sanbornton, Olive Fogg; 4 Feb. 1794. 
 
 Simeon Stevens, Stratham, Ruth Sanborn ; 8 May 1794. 
 
 Jeremiah Stickney, Portsmouth, Charlotte Odlin ; 4 May 1795. 
 
 John Steel, Elizai)eth Hilton ; 2 Nov. 1793. 
 
 J)iidley Swasey, Danville, Vt., Apphia Loogee ; 5 March 1796. 
 
 John Sawyer, Levey Paul (negroes) ; 13 Jan. 1797. 
 
 Robert Steel, Olive Hilton ; 4 Sept. 1796. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETPni. 01 
 
 Josiah Sleeper, Margaret Taylor; 29 Sept. 1796. 
 
 Richard Smith, Jr., Seabrook, nanuah Tucker, Pittsfield; 20 Dec. 179S. 
 
 Timothy Smith, Jr., Sauborntoii, Polly Smith, Brentwood; 7 Jan. 1799. 
 
 William Swasey, Mary Robinson ; 7 Aug. 1800. 
 
 Greenleaf Seavey, Nancy Parks ; 13 July 1806. 
 
 Jacob H. Sanborn, Kingston, Betsey Hoit ; 13 Jan. 1807. 
 
 Joseph Smith, Jr., Sally Dutch ; 17" Nov. 1808. 
 
 Samuel B. Stevens, Newburyport, Joanna Folsom ; 27 Aug. 1810. 
 
 James Smith, Lydia Taylor ; 1810. 
 
 Rufus Swasey, Abigail T. Leavitt ; 30 Aug. 1812. 
 
 Samuel Somerby, Mary Swasey ; 7 Oct. 1812. 
 
 Buswell Stevens, Pembroke, Cathai-ine H. Emery ; 16 May 1814. 
 
 Amos Saunders, Salem, Maria Steele; 22 July 1816. 
 
 Robert Shute, Emma Smith ; 5 Oct. 1817. 
 
 Benjamin Swasey, Carolme Clark ; 15 Oct. 1818. 
 
 Parker Sheldon, Gardiner, Me., Elizabeth W. Conner ; 1 Xov. 1820. 
 
 Heni-y Shute, Eliza R. Smith ; 29 Feb. 1820. 
 
 Lewis Smith, Plymouth, N. H., Henrietta Robinson ; 1 Sept. 1822. 
 
 James Sanborn, Hannah V. Colcord ; 16 Nov. 1823. 
 
 John L. Stokle, Northwood, Mrs. Lydia Oilman ; 12 Feb. 1824. 
 
 John Scammon, Strathara, Mary G. Barker ; 1824. 
 
 Joseph Safford, Danvers, Mass., Sally R. Folsom ; 10 June 1826. 
 
 Josiah G. Smith, Francis A. Eastham ; 18 June 1826. 
 
 William 0. Smith, Mary G. Towle ; 3 May 1827. 
 
 Oliver Smith, Charlotte Rundlett ; 1828. 
 
 Timothy F. Shaw, Mrs. Mary Gale ; 27 July 1829. 
 
 Jeremiah Sawyer, Susan Sheriff; Dec. 1832. 
 
 William L. Swasey, ]VLary Oilman ; 10 Nov. 1830. 
 
 Lewis F. Shepard, Sarah Doav ; March 1830. 
 
 Elihu T. Stevens, Mary A. Odlin ; June 1832. 
 
 Nathaniel Shute, Fitchburg, Susan G. Barker ; 1 Oct. 1832. 
 
 Thomas Sullivan, Frances A. Leavitt; 7 Oct. 1836. 
 
 John R. Storey, Caroline C. Tilton ; 24 Dec. 1837. 
 
 Elijah Tilton, Eunice Lee ; 5 April, 1778. 
 
 Ephraim Thursten, Ann Mash; 11 Jan. 1780. 
 
 John Thompson, Anne Wilson. 27 July 1784. 
 
 James Thurston, Elizabeth Peabody, Brentwood; 9 Oct. 1791. 
 
 Caleb Thurston, Jr., Mary Oilman; 17 Nov. 1792, 
 
 John Tilton, Patty Odlin ; 30 June 1793. 
 
 Moses Thurston, Sarah Moses ; 2 Se])t. 1 793. 
 
 Nathaniel Taylor, Nancy Eastham; 21 Sept. 1794. 
 
 Simeon Tole, Parsonsfield, Betsey More, Stratham ; 25 March 1794. 
 
 Richard Thayer, Randolph, Mass.. ])cborah Odiorne; 10 Feb. 1799. 
 
 John Poor Taylor, Lydia Jones; 22 July 1799. 
 
 Caleb Thurston, Jr., Anne AViggins ; 31 Aug. 1799. 
 
 Joseph Tilton, Rochester, Nancy Folsom ; 13 Jan. 1806. 
 
 Dudley Thing, Lydia Swasey ; 28 Aug. 1808. 
 
 Dr. Joseph Tilton, Catharine Shackford ; 10 Sept. 1767. 
 
i]-2 IIISTUHY OV EXETER. 
 
 John Tiltou, Mary Luey ; 6 Marcli isil. 
 
 Al)raham Towle, Slary Merrill ; 29 Sept. ISIO. 
 
 William G. Tash, Sally P. Duce ; 2 Oct. 1S19. 
 
 John F. Tilto:!, SarahFogg ; 2 Dec. 1819. 
 
 Winthrop Tiltou, Joanna T. Morse ; 4 March 1823. 
 
 James Tuttle, Maria Jeuks ; 5 Feb. 1824. 
 
 Labau A. Tyler. Mary Ranlct ; 8 April 1824. 
 
 Zebulon G Thing, Sarah A. York, Brentwood ; 1(5 Nov. 1830. 
 
 Perley Tuck, Kensington, Lavina Safford; G Jan. 1828. 
 
 l-'lisha Towle, Kensington, Hannah S. DoUoft"; o April 1829. 
 
 Nathaniel K. Thurston, Bradford. Mass., Sarah A. York; 13 May 1832. 
 
 James ]). Townsend, Dover, Sarah W. Hook; 21 Sept. 1834. 
 
 AVilliam Treadwell, Harriet M. Ladd ; 9 Sept. 1836. 
 
 Joseph Twombly, Shuah ^Ycntworth ; 28 Sept. 1837. 
 
 David 1). Thompson, Mary E. King ; 9 Aug. 1840. 
 
 iMioch W. Towle, Susamiah Perkins; lo Nov. 1832. 
 
 James Underwood, Anna Thurston ; 4 Dec. 1777. 
 
 Ned R. Underhill, Chester, Abigail Conner; 27 Aug, 1817. 
 
 John White, Haverhill, Lydia Gilman ; 24 Oct. 1687. 
 
 Josiah Weeks, Abigail James; 9 Oct. 1776. 
 
 Joseph AYait, Esther Heerd; 3 Feb. 1783. 
 
 Ceesar Wallace, Katy Duce ; 25 March 1783. 
 
 Thomas Waters, Portsmouth, Deborah Rundlet ; 24 July 1783. 
 
 Cato Wallingsford, Margaret Peterson; 26 Feb. 1784. 
 
 John Wadlcigh, Elizabeth Daniels; 3 March 1784. 
 
 Isaac Williams, Elizabeth Jenkins ; 16 Aug. 1786. 
 
 Nathaniel Weeks, Polly Pottle; 6 May 1787. 
 
 Daniel Williams, Nottingham, Polly Jenkins; 17 Oct. 1790. 
 
 John Webb, Polly Corney ; 27 Feb. 1792. 
 
 Abner Wood, Loudon, Dolly Pearson; 18 June 1792. 
 
 Simon Wiggin, Joanna Thurston; \o July 1792. 
 
 David Watson, Jr., Lucretia York, Brentwood ; 30 March 1793. 
 
 Joscjih Whitfield, Newburyport, Nancy Pauls, Newburyport (negroes) ; 
 
 12 Dec. 1797. 
 James Weeks, Elizabeth Marsh ; 30 Nov. 1800. 
 John Walker, Portsmouth, Dolly Adams; 2 Jan. 1802. 
 William Welib, Polly Odiorne. ' 
 Dan Weed, Gloucester, Lucy Rust ; 7 Dec. 1S07. 
 Joshua Wiggin, Comfort Wiggin, Newmarket ; 20 April 1809. 
 George Wallace, Dolly Pauls; 1 Feb. 1818. 
 John Walker, Mary Adjutant; 28 Aug. 1818. 
 William Wadlcigh, Sally Leavitt ; 1 Jan. 1S17. 
 Jolin Watson, Newmarket, Betsy Gilman ; !» Jan. 1822. 
 Benjamin Wiggin, IJoston, Mary A. Conner; 2 March 1S23. 
 Nathaniel Weeks, Harriet B. Gilman; 6 Aug. 1S2(). 
 IkMijamin J. Williams, Maria Thayer; ') May, 1.S2.5. 
 Richard B. Ward, Catherine F. Moore ; 2 June 1826. 
 Joseph L. White, Mary P. Whitefield. Londonderry: 23 Dec. 1826. 
 
HISTUKY OF KXETEK. 63 
 
 James Weeks. Jr , Sarah Sheriff'; o Feb. 18li7. 
 
 Ebenezcr Wyatt, Sarah M. ]>eavitt; 4 ])ec. 1S28. 
 
 Edward W. \Varren, Malinda Crosby; 3 Xov. 1829. 
 
 Levi Wilson, South Hampton, Eliza A. Fellows ; 15 June 1834. 
 
 Foster G. Whidden, Celcstia W. Gridley ; 11 Oct. 1835. 
 
 Ebenezer Willis, Mary F. liatchelder ; 22 Feb. 183(5. 
 
 John Williams, Abigail P. Stockbridge ; 29 Nov. 1838. 
 
 Jonathan B. Wadleigh, Sarah Hicks ; 21 Oct. 1838. 
 
 Hiram Whittemore, Pembroke, Elizabeth J. Hoyt ; 15 Xov. 1838. 
 
 Jonathan P. West, Sarah F. Card ; 2 Feb. 1840." 
 
 Josiah R. West, Esther G. Card ; 2 Feb. 1840. 
 
 Alvan White, Susan Goodwin; 5 March 1840. 
 
 Jonathan Y. York, Sarah Smith, Stratham ; 17 Xov. 1785. 
 
 John York. Abigail Melcher, Kensington ; 18 Dec. 1802. 
 
 Joseph Young, Sarah B. Plall ; 17 Oct. 1819. 
 
 Isaac P. Yeaton, South BerM'ick, Me., Frances S. Gordon ; 15 June, 1835. 
 
 lURTHS. 
 
 FROM THE TOWN UECORDS. 
 
 Samuel, s. of Hannah Adkinson ; 29 March 1766. 
 
 Josiah, s. of Jonathan and Susannah Bradley ; 20 Sept. 1745. 
 
 John, s. of Samuel and ^lary Brown; 2 Nov. 1761. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Moses and Anne Coffin; 19 Sept. 1733. 
 
 Frederick, s. of Theodore and Deborah Charlton (Carleton) ; 7 Oct. 1764 ; 
 
 d. 2 Feb. 1766. 
 Enoch Coffin March, s. of Peter Chadwick ; 13 Sept. 1818. 
 John, s. of Peter Chadwick; 21 Oct. 1821. ^ 
 
 Henry Salter, s. of Andrew and Harriet Cook and grandson of Thomas and 
 
 Mercy Speed ; 18 Jan. 1817. 
 Ferdinand, s. of Rev. Ferdinand Ellis ; 12 March 1819. 
 Susanna, d. of John and Mary Folsom; 10 May 1718. 
 Josiah, s. of John and Miry Folsom; 24 July 1725. 
 Abigail, d. of Daniel and Eiizubeth Favor; 21 Dec. 1733. 
 James, s. of James and Elizabeth Folsom; 27 June 1737. 
 Charles Lee, s. of Isaac and Frances B. Foster ; 2 March 1836. 
 Mary, d. of Stephen and Molly Gorham ; 1 April 1785. 
 Mary, d. of Dudley and Mercy Hilton; 22 Oct. 1709. 
 Jane, d. of Dr. Eliphalet and Elizabeth Hale ; 9 May 1751. 
 John, s. of John Kimming ; 11 June 1670. 
 Thomas DoUoff", s. of Martha Kimming; 21 March 1737. 
 John, s. of Robert Kimball: 1 Jan. 1771 ; d. 29 Oct. 1849. 
 
(34 HISTOKY OF EXETER. 
 
 Nathaniel, s. of Dudley and Ann Kimball; 12 June ISO.j. 
 
 Samuel Oilman, s. of lleman and Hannah Ladd ; 7 Sept. 1825. 
 
 William Frederic, s. of Jotham and Del)orah Lawrence; 22 March 1804. 
 
 Alexander Hamilton, s. of Jotham and Caroline Lawrence ; IS June 1812. 
 
 Abigail Lighton ; 7 Nov. 1713. 
 
 Mary Mann; 4 Sept. 179G. 
 
 John Mann, George Mann (twins); IS May 1799. 
 
 Horace Edward, s. of Horace W. and Lydia S. Morse ; 4 Aug. 1840. 
 
 Serena Maria, d. of Samuel Tufts and Clarissa Odiorne ; 8 Sept. 1817. 
 
 Jeremiah Dow, s. of Retire H. and Hannah Parker ; 4 Oct. 1833. 
 
 Charles, Jane, children of Charles Rundlett ; 9 May 1()76. 
 
 Thomas ^L, s. of James and Jane llundlett ; 26 Nov. 1798. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Jonathan Smith; 22 June 1678. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Elisha and I>ydia Sanborn ; 21 Aug. 1734. 
 
 Benjamin, s. of Nicholas and Mary Smith ; 1 Feb. 1702. 
 
 Lvdia, d. of Timothy and Abigail Somes; 19 June 1760 
 
 John, s. of Timothy and Abigail Somes ; 28 Oct. 1763. 
 
 Catharine Shackford ; 12 Oct. 1745. 
 
 Joseph Tilton ; 25 Sept. 1744. 
 
 George Veasey ; 20 Oct. 1665. 
 
 "William, alias Elijah, s. of Elijah and Lydia Vickery ; 17 March 1782. 
 
 Mary, d. of Jesse and Patience Worster ; 16 March 1747-S. 
 
 Elizabeth, d. of Thomas and Susanna Webster; 21 June 1740. 
 
 DEATHS, PRIOR TO THE YEAR 1800. 
 
 FROM THE TOWN RECORDS. 
 
 Deborah Warren, wife of John; 26 June 1668, 
 
 George Piandol ; 15 Feb. 1666-7. 
 
 Catharine Hilton, wife of Edward ; 29 May 1676. 
 
 Antipas Marverick ; 2 July 1678. 
 
 Eliphalet Coffin; 16 Aug. 1736. 
 
 Catharine Shackford, wid. of John ; 16 Dec. 1799. 
 
 Samuel Thursten ; 21 Jan. 1751. 
 
 Anna Wadleigh, wife of Jonathan ; 8 March 1743-4. 
 
 Ralph Hall ; 6 June 1671. 
 
 CoL Samuel Oilman, s. of Nicholas ; 3 Jan. 1785. 
 
 Peter Gilman, s. of John ; 1 Dec. 1788. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEH. Ou 
 
 BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES. 
 
 FROM THE EARLIEST. TOWX RECORDS. 
 
 The following is a transcript from the earliest book of records 
 of the town, and is not embodied in the preceding tables. 
 
 A record of the births, marriages and deaths of children and 
 others in Exeter as they are brought to the clerk of the writs from 
 the 6* of the first mo. ('48) or ('49.) 
 
 1. Joseph Cram the son of John Cram and Lide, aged about 15 years, 
 departed this life, being drounded the 24"' of June. 
 
 2. At the same time Joseph 4)uncom servant to Capt. Wiggen was 
 drouned, being in the same canoe with the other. 
 
 3. Lidde Cram daughter of John Cram was born the 27"' day of July 
 Anno I)om. 1648. 
 
 Mary Boulter daughter of Nathaniel and Grace Boulter was born about 
 the middle of May Ano. Dom. 164S. 
 
 Hauna Pettet daughter of Thomas and Christian Pettet was born the 
 beginning of February Anno Dom. 1647. 
 
 Thomas Roby son of Henry and Ruth Roby was born the f day of 
 
 March Anno Dom. 1645 or '46. 
 
 John Roby son of Henry Roby and Ruth was born the 2 day of 
 February An. Dom. 1648. 
 
 Mercy Hall daughter of Ralph HaU aged about year and a half 
 
 departed this life in July, 1648. 
 
 Hildea Hall daughter of Ralph and Mary Hall was born the 16ti> of 
 April 1649. 
 
 EXETER MARRIAGES, BIRTHS AND DEATHS. 
 
 Talcen from the records of old Norfolk County hi/ William Smithy 
 Esq., not on the toivn records. 
 
 .MARRIAGES. 
 
 Nicholas Norris and Sarah Coxe ; 21 Jan. 1664-5. 
 Edward Smith and Mary Hall ; 1(568. 
 Anthony Stanyan and Ann Partridge ; 1 Jan. 1655-6. 
 George Veasey and Mary Wiggin ; 23 Jan. 1664. 
 John Warren and Deborah Wilson; 21 Oct. 1650. 
 Humplirey Wilson and Judith Hersey ; 21 Dec. 1665. 
 
GG HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 UIRTIIS. 
 
 Mary, d. of John lican ; 18 June 1655. 
 
 Henry, s. of John Bean ; 5 March 1662. 
 
 Mary, d. of Thomas and Mary Cornish ; July 1648. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Cornelius and Sarah Conner; 23 Aug. 1659. 
 
 Lydia, d. of John and Hester Cram ; 27 July 1648. 
 
 Mary, d. of William Ilackett; 2 Dec. 1665. 
 
 Mary, d. of Ralph and Mary Hall ; 15 Jan. 1647. 
 
 Elizabeth, d. of Henry Magoon ; 29 Sept. 1670. 
 
 George, s. of George Veasey ; 20 Oct. 1665. 
 
 Edward, s. of George Veasey ; 27 April 1667. 
 
 A son of Gowen Wilson, b. and d. Xov. 1647. 
 
 DEATHS. 
 
 Edward Eurin (?) ; 9 Xov. 1667. 
 
 Mary, d. of Ralph and Mary Hall; middle of June 1648. 
 
 Edward Veasey ; 7 Nov. 1667. 
 
 BAPTISMS 
 
 OF CHILDREN IN THE FIRST SOCIETY FROM 1743 TO 1763. 
 
 The following list is copied from a manuscript record kept by 
 the Rev. Woodbridge Odlin, of all the children baptized by him 
 between the years mentioned. It will be seen at once how small 
 a proportion of the births are recorded upon the books of the 
 town ; jirobably not nearly one-tenth of the whole number. Mr. 
 Odlin's parish embraced only about two-thirds of the families of 
 the town ; and children born of parents in the other parish were 
 bajitized by their minister. Mr. Odlin's manuscript contained 
 also a number of names already given in the '•' Family Register," 
 and not repeated here, and a few baptisms of children belonging 
 to other towns where he preached, and those are omitted. 
 
 The children were usually baptized at the age of from two days 
 to one month, according to the convenience of the pastor. Some- 
 times there is au interval of only three or four months between the 
 baptisms of two in the same family. In such cases one was 
 pro))ably considerably older. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 67 
 
 Stephen, s. of Benjamin Atkinson; 20 June 1763. 
 
 Mary, d. of Benjamin Atkinson; 24 July 1763. 
 
 Joshua and Cornelius, sons of Joshua Batchelder deceased; 16 April 1758. 
 
 Benjamin, s. of Jeremiah Bean ; 26 July 1747. 
 
 John, s. of Joshua Bean; 28 June 1747. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Nathaniel Bean ; 20 March 1747-8. 
 
 Deborah, d. of Sarah Bean ; 7 Nov. 1749. 
 
 Francis, s. of Dudley Beckett; 23 March 1755. 
 
 Dudley, s. of Dudley Beckett; 2 Jan. 1757. 
 
 Deborah, d. of Dudley Beckett; 6 Jan. 1760. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Dudley Beckett ; 1 Nov. 1761. 
 
 Pernal, d. of Francis Becket ; 10 March 1745. 
 
 Deborah, d. of Francis Beckett; 10 Dec. 1747. 
 
 Betty, d. of John Bellomy ; 11 July 1762. 
 
 William, s. of Benjamin Boardman ; 4 July 1762. 
 
 Mercy, d. of John Bond; 2 Feb. 1755. 
 
 Jane, d. of John Bond ; 24 July 1757. 
 
 Jean, d. of John Bond ; 10 Dec. 1758. 
 
 Susanna, d. of John Bond ; 29 June 1760. 
 
 John, s. of John Bond ; 5 Sept. 1762. 
 
 Susanna, d. of John Bowden; 13 Sept. 1747. 
 
 Margaret, d. of John Bowden ; 18 Nov. 1753. 
 
 William Tyler, s. of John Bowden ; 5 Oct. 1755. 
 
 Michael, s. of John Bowden ; 2 March 1760. 
 
 Olive, d. of Joshua Brown ; 7 Aug. 1748. 
 
 Dudley, s. of Samuel Brown ; 2 Dec. 1753. 
 
 John, d. of Samuel Brown ; 16 Nov. 1760. 
 
 Elizabeth and John, children of John Bucknal; 14 May 1749. 
 
 Elizabeth, d. of James Calfe ; 6 Aug. 1749. 
 
 Jeremiah and James (twins) , sons of James Calfe ; 20 Jan. 1751. 
 
 Lucy, d. of James Calfe ; 31 Oct. 1756. 
 
 Lucy, d. of Jeremiah Calfe, Jr. ; 3 July 1748. 
 
 Mehitable, d. of Jonathan Cauley; 17 March 1754. 
 
 Levi, s. of Joseph Chapman; 8 Dec. 1754. 
 
 Mary, d. of Josiah Chapman; 29 March 1752. 
 
 Tryphena, d. of Fennel Chapman; 5 Nov. 1758. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Satchcll Clark ; 5 Aug. 1750. 
 
 Elisabeth, d. of Satchel Clark ; 15 Feb. 1756. 
 
 Alice, d. of Satchel Clark ; 13 Nov. 1757. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Satchel Clark; 21 Oct. 1759. 
 
 Anne, d. of Thomas Clark ; 2 Jan. 1757. 
 
 Ebenezer, s. of Ebenezer Colcord, Jr. ; 18 Feb. 1753. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Benjamin Connor ; 20 April 1755. 
 
 John and Moses, sons of David Connor; 21 Aug. 1748. 
 
 Hannah, d. of Jeremiah Connor ; 6 April 1 760. 
 
 Tristram Sanborn, s. of Jercmiali Connor; 21 Nov. 1762. 
 
 Mary, d. of John Connor; 30 Nov. 1755. 
 
 Joseph, 8. of Joseph Connor; 14 Aug. 1758. 
 
63 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Jacob, s. of Jonathan Cram ; 13 March 1763. 
 
 Martha, d. of George Creighton ; 20 March 1747-8. 
 
 George, s. of George Creighton ; 10 June I7o0. 
 
 llol)ert Light, s. of Thomas Creighton ; 8 March 1761, 
 
 Thomas, s. of Thomas Creighton; 12 Sept. 1762. 
 
 Isaac, s. of Isaac Currier; IS July 17G2. 
 
 Ephraim, s. of Isaac Currier; 26 Sept. 1762. 
 
 Susanna, d. of Minus Daniels ; 4 April 1762. 
 
 Reuben, s. of Benjamin Darling; 22 July 1762. 
 
 John, s. of Lemuel Davis ; 30 July 1707. 
 
 Kuth. d. of Lemuel Davis; 29 July 17j9. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Xehemiah Dean; 17 June 1759. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Thomas Dolloff; 6 Nov. 1748. 
 
 Caleb, s. of Andrew Downer; 11 Aug. 1746. 
 
 Mary, d. of John Dudley ; 23 Nov. 1746. 
 
 Odlin, s. of Capt. Trueworthy Dudley; 14 Feb. 1747-8. 
 
 Dorothy, d. of Trueworthy Dudley ; 18 Nov. 17o9. 
 
 Dorothy, d. of Trueworthy Dudley ; a Sept. 1762. 
 
 John, s. of True. Dudley, Jr. ; 29 Nov. 1747. 
 
 Abigail, d. of George liutch; 2o March 1744. 
 
 Marv, d. of George Dutch ; 20 July 1746. 
 
 Betty, d. of George Dutch ; 29 July 1750. 
 
 Samuel, son of George Dutch ; 24 Dec. 1752. 
 
 John, s. of George Dutch ; 14 Sept. 1755. 
 
 Sarah, d. of George Dutch ; 10 June 1759. 
 
 Mary, d. of Jonathan Edgerly ; 14 May 1758. 
 
 Mary, d. of Jonathan I'xlgerley ; 28 Sept. 1760. 
 
 John, s. of Jonathan Edgerley ; 18 July 1762. 
 
 Noah, s. of Noah Emery ; 20 Nov. 1748. 
 
 Richard, s. of Noah l^mery ; 27 June 1756. 
 
 Joanna, d. of Noah Emery; 24 Sept. 1758. 
 
 Theresia, d. of Noah Emery; 12 April 1761. 
 
 Richard, s. of Noah l-lmery ; 7 Nov. 1762. 
 
 Samuel, s. of Daniel Favour; 14 April 1749. 
 
 Daniel, s. of Daniel Favour; 14 April 1751. 
 
 Susanna, d. of Thomas Flanders ; 2 June 1745. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Thomas Flanders; 19 July 1747. 
 
 Joseph, s. of Thomas Flanders; 30 March 1760. 
 
 Hannah, d. of David Fogg; 14 Sept. 1755. 
 
 David, s. of David Fogg: 5 Feb. 1758. 
 
 Molly, d. of David Fogg ; 30 March 1760. 
 
 Sarah, d. of David Fogg; 6 June 1762. 
 
 Sai-ah, d. of luioch Fogg; 14 April 175(3. 
 
 Seth s. of John Fogg ; 10 May 1752. 
 
 Miriam, d. of John Fogg; 8 May 1757. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of John Fogg; 27 Aug. 1759. 
 
 .lohn, s. of John Fogg; 11 Oct. 17()1. 
 
 Meribah, d. of Jonathan Fogg; 29 Aug. 1751. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEK. 69 
 
 Meribah, d. of Jonathan Fogg; 19 x\ug. 1753. 
 
 Samuel, s. of Josiah Fogg; 31 Oct. 1756. 
 
 Mary, d. of widow Fogg ; 20 July 1 755. 
 
 Jonathan Kingsbury and Betty, ch. of Daniel Folsom ; 28 June 1747. 
 
 Abigail, d. of James Folsom; 9 Oct. 1743. 
 
 Sarah, d. of John Folsom; 29 April 1750. 
 
 Molly, d. of John Folsom ; 11 March 1753. 
 
 Theophilus, s. of John Folsom; 29 Aug. 1756. 
 
 Samuel, s. of John Folsom; 17 June 1759. 
 
 James, s. of John Folsom; 25 Dec. 1760. 
 
 Elisabeth, d. of John Folsom; 8 Nov. 1761. 
 
 Samuel, s. of John Folsom; 18 Sept. 1763. 
 
 Eliphalet, s. of John Folsom, Jr. ; 28 Feb. 1747-8. 
 
 Susanna, d. of John Folsom, Jr. ; 24 Dec. 1752. 
 
 John, s. of John Folsom, Jr. ; 31 Aug. 1755. 
 
 Noah, s. of John Folsom, Jr. ; 12 Feb. 1758. 
 
 Annah, d. of Jonathan Folsom; 23 Oct. 1757. 
 
 Samuel Bradley, s. of Josiah Folsom ; 28 June 1747. 
 
 Martha, d. of Josiah Folsom; 4 June 1758. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Josiah, Folsom; 3 Sept. 1758. 
 
 Lydia, d. of Josiah Folsom ; 16 Sept. 1759. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Josiah Folsom ; 12 April 1761. 
 
 Josiah Oilman, s. of Josiah Folsom ; 13 Feb. 1763. 
 
 Katherine, d. of Peter Folsom; 8 June 1746. 
 
 Anna, d. of Peter Folsom; 6 March 1747-8. 
 
 Elisabeth, d. of Peter Folsom; 21 June 1752. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Peter Folsom; 14 July 1754. 
 
 James, s. of Peter Folsom ; 29 Aug. 1756. 
 
 Nicholas, s. of Peter Folsom ; 27 May 1759. 
 
 Samuel, s. of Peter Folsom ; 8 Nov. 1761, 
 
 Anna, d. of Samuel Folsom ; 16 Dec. 1753. 
 
 Anna, d. of Capt. Samuel Folsom : 17 Dec. 1759. 
 
 Deborah, d. of Samuel Folsom ; 19 Jan. 1763. 
 
 Mary, d. of Thomas Folsom; 20 Oct. 1760. 
 
 Anna, d. of Trueworthy Folsom; 23 Oct. 1763. 
 
 John, s. of John Fox; 1 June 1755. 
 
 Nathaniel, s. of John Fox; 31 July 1757. 
 
 John, s. of John Furnald ; 31 Dec. 1752. 
 
 Bartholomew, s. of Daniel Gale ; 15 April 1750. 
 
 John Cartee, s. of John Gale ; 19 Dec. 1762. 
 
 Susanna, d. of Susanna Gale ; 24 Oct. 1762. 
 
 Josiah, s. of Josiah George; 22 Feb. 1761. 
 
 Elisabeth, d. of Josiah George; 6 Dec. 1761. 
 
 Jean, d. of Andrew Gerrish ; 16 Nov. 1760. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Antipas Oilman; 9 Sept. 1753. 
 
 Dudley, s. of Antipas Oilman ; 16 Nov. 1755. 
 
 Betty, d. of Antipas Oilman; 24 Dec. 1757. 
 
 Alice, d. of Antipas Oilman; 10 Dec. 175S. 
 
70 HISTORY OF EXICTEIl. 
 
 Lydia, d. of Antipas Gilman ; 29 Nov. 1761. 
 
 William, s. of liilcy Gilman ; IT Dec. 1752. 
 
 Bilcy, s. of Biley Oilman; 13 Oct. 17.>4. 
 
 Hannah, d. of Biley Gilman; 7 Nov. 17j6. 
 
 Molly, d. of Biley Gilman; 2 Dec. 1759. 
 
 Ezekiel, s. of Bradstreet Gilman ; 11 Nov. 1750. 
 
 Dvidley, s. of Bradstreet Gilman ; 11 Jan. 1756. 
 
 Chase," s. of Bradstreet (iilman ; 19 Feb. 1758. 
 
 Comfort, d. of Bradstreet Gilman; 16 March 1760, 
 
 Bradstreet, s. of Bradstreet Gilman; 31 Oct. 1762. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Caleb Gilman, Jr.; 9 March 1755. 
 
 Cartee, s. of Caleb Gilman ; 12 Feb. 1758. 
 
 Mary, d. of Caleb Gilman ; 22 Feb. 1761. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Cartee Gilman; 3 Oct. 1762. 
 
 Dolly, d. of Daniel Oilman (Cartee's son) ; 9 Oct. 1748. 
 
 David, s. of David Gilman; 25 May 1746. 
 
 Mary, d. of David Gilman ; 4 Sept. 1748. 
 
 Samuel Folsom, s. of David Gilman; 25 Nov. 1750. 
 Elisabeth, d. of David Gilman; 9 Dec. 1753. 
 
 AVilliam, s. of David Gilman; 10 July 1757. 
 
 Betty, d. of David Oilman; 19 Aug. 1759. 
 
 I>ydia, d. of Israel Gilman ; 28 June 1747. 
 
 Ezekiel, s. of Jeremiah Oilman ; 24 Sept. 1758, 
 
 John, s. of John Gilman, 4th; 14 Feb. 1747-8. 
 
 Mehitable, d. of John Gilman, 4th ; 10 May 1752. 
 
 Dorothy, d. of John Gilman; 8 Aug. 1756. 
 
 John, s. of Jonathan Gilman; 13 Sept. 1747. 
 
 Samuel, s. of Josiah Gilman ; 17 Jan. 1759. 
 
 Elisabeth, d. of Josiah Oilman; 24 Aug. 1760. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Josiah Gilman, Jr. ; 13 Dec. 1761. 
 
 Mary, d. of widow Mary Oilman; 17 Sept. 1760, 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Moses Gilman; 14 Jan. 1759. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Nathaniel Gilman; 10 Dec. 1747. 
 
 Man', d. of Nehemiah Oilman's widow; 29 Nov. 1758. 
 
 Tristram and Sarah, twin children of Peter Oilman, Jr. ; 1 Nov. 1745. 
 
 Nathaniel, s. of Peter Gilman ; 20 Aug. 1749. 
 
 Peter, s. of Peter Gilman ; 6 Oct. 1754. 
 
 Nabbv, d. of Peter Oilman; 21 Nov. 1756. 
 
 Zc-bulon, s. of Peter Gilman; 24 Sept. 1758, 
 
 Lydia, d. of Peter Ciilman ; 19 July 1761. 
 
 Simon, s. of Simon Gilman ; 2i) June 1755. 
 
 Nathaniel, s. of Theo. Gilman; 3 Feb. 1751. 
 
 Nathaniel, s. of Theo. Gilman; 20 May 1753. 
 
 Deborah, d. of Theo. Gilman; 13 April 1755. 
 
 Eliphalet, s. of Theophilus Gilman; 13 Feb. 1757. 
 
 Molly, d. of Theophilus Oilman; 12 Aug. 1759. 
 
 Pattv, d. of Theophilus Gilman; 6 Sept. 1761. 
 Elisabeth, d. of Theophilus Gilman; 11 Sept. 1763, 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 71 
 
 Rebecca, d. of Benjamin Gordon; 22 March 1745. 
 Benjamin, s. of Benjamin Gordon ; 14 April 1755. 
 Benjamin, s. of Benjamin Gordon; 23 Jan. 1757. 
 Josiah, s. of Benjamin Gordon ; 2 July 1758. 
 Simeon, s. of Benjamin Gordon; 31 May 1761. 
 Esther, d. of James Gordon; 28 March 1762. 
 Jacob, s. of John Gordon ; 10 Oct. 1756. 
 Nathaniel, s. of Nathaniel Gordon ; 6 April 1760. 
 Mary, d. of Nicholas Gordon; 26 July 1747. 
 Abraham, son of Timothy Gordon; 10 July 1748. 
 Mary, d. of Daniel Grant; 8 April 1744. 
 Paul Hall, s. of Daniel Grant ; 13 Nov. 1748. 
 Daniel, s. of Daniel Grant; 17 Jan. 1759. 
 Anna, d. of Wilson Graves ; 23 Dec. 1748. 
 Jean, d. of Eliphalet Hale ; 12 May 1751. 
 Elisabeth, d. of Dr. Eliphalet Hale; 21 March 1756. 
 William, s. of Dr. Eliphalet Hale; 9 July 1758. 
 Susanna, d. of Samuel Haley; 2 Feb. 1755. 
 Esther, d. of Thomas Haley; 15 July 1744. 
 Benjamin, s. of Thomas Haley ; 17 May 1747. 
 Sarah, d. of Thomas Haley ; 7 Nov. 1756. 
 Samuel, s. of Thomas Haley; 17 June 1759. 
 Josiah, s. of Samuel Hall ; 22 Dec. 1751. 
 Edward, s. of Samuel Hall; 25 Feb. 1753. 
 Sarah, d. of Samuel Hall; 23 June 1754. 
 Jonathan, s. of John Hopkinson; 23 Oct. 1748. 
 
 Moses, s. of Hopkinson ; 17 March 1754. 
 
 Daniel, s. of Joseph Hoyt; 20 Jan. 1751. 
 Jemima, d. of Joseph Hoyt ; 11 April 1756. 
 Elizabeth, d. of Joseph Hoyt; 20 Oct. 1760. 
 Benjamin, s. of William Hoyt; 14 July 1754. 
 William, s. of William Hoyt ; 8 June 1755. 
 Sarah, d. of William Hoyt ; 10 July 1757. 
 Richard, s. of William Hoyt; 25 Nov. 1759. 
 Nicholas Smith, s. of William Hoyt; 26 Sept. 1762. 
 Josiah, s. of Kinsley James ; 13 Feb. 1745. 
 Jonathan, s. of Thomas Jennes ; 5 June 1757. 
 Bathsheba, d. of John Judkins ; 7 Sept. 1746. 
 Abigail, d. of John Judkins; 12 Oct. 1755. 
 Bartimeus, s. of Jonathan Judkins ; 30 July 1749. 
 Hannah, d. of Amos Kimball ; 23 June 1754. 
 Elisabeth, d. of Amos Kimball; 15 Feb. 1756. 
 Anna, d. of Amos Kimball ; 15 Oct. 1758. 
 Abigail, d. of Samuel Hall; 2 May 1756. 
 Nathaniel Bartlett, s. of Samuel Hall ; 11 Dec. 1757, 
 Meribah, d. of Samuel Hall ; 3 June 1759. 
 Kinsley, s. of Samuel Hall; 12 Oct. 1760. 
 Elisabeth, d. of Samuel Hall ; 5 Dec. 1762. 
 
72 HISTORY OF KXETKK. 
 
 Anna, d. of Bilcy Hardy; 30 Nov. 1746. 
 
 Judith, d. of Biley Hardy; 9 Oct. 1T4S. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Dudley TIardy ; 27 April 1746. 
 
 Mary, d. of Dudley Hardy; 8 May 1748. 
 
 Theophilus, s. of Dudley Hardy ; 27 April 175.5. 
 
 Samuel, s. of Samuel Harper ; ;J1 Jan. 1747-8. 
 
 "William, s. of Samuel HarjxM- ; 14 June 17.52. 
 
 John Scribner, s. of Samuel Haii)er ; 4 May 17o<5. 
 
 Benjamin, s. of Andrew Hilton ; 25 April 1762. 
 
 John, s. of Jeremiah Hilton ; 27 June 1756. 
 
 "William, s. of Jeremiah Hilton: 12 Xov. 1758. 
 
 Love and Sarah, ds. of widow Hilton; 10 Xov. 1754. 
 
 Caleb and Mary, eh. of Jacob Hobbs; 26 Feb. 1747-8. 
 
 Amos, s. of Amos Kimball; 12 Oct. 1760. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Benjamin Kimball; 28 Oct. 1750. 
 
 Mehitable, d. of Benjamin Kimball; 7 July 1754. 
 
 Caleb, s. of Benjamin Kimball; 9 July 1758. 
 
 Trueworthy, s. of John Kimball, Jr.; 27 Sept. 1761. 
 
 Peter Sanborn, s. of Joseph Kimball ; 3 Aug-. 1 760. 
 
 Man-, d. of Nathaniel Kimball; 23 Xov. 1760. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Nathaniel Kimball; 22 May 1763. 
 
 Nathaniel, s. of Thomas Kimball. Jr. ; 27 May 1753. 
 
 ]''Jisabcth, d. of Thomas Kimball, Jr. ; 2 March 1755. 
 
 Nathaniel, s. of Daniel Ladd ; 9 March 1745-6. 
 
 Nabby, d. of Edward Ladd; 23 July 1749. 
 
 Joseph, s. of Edward Ladd, Jr. ; 30 Jan. 1763. 
 
 Anna, d. of Elias Ladd; 30 Sept. 1744. 
 
 Peter, s. of Samuel Lamson ; 30 Aug. 1752. 
 
 Katharine, d. of Samuel Lamson ; 3 June 1759. 
 
 Peter, s. of Samuel Lamson ; 31 May 1761. 
 
 Gideon, s. of William Lamson ; 28 June 1747. 
 
 Man-, d. of Daniel Lary, Jr. ; 21 Dec. 1746. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Daniel Lary, Jr.; 4 Sept. 1748. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Samuel Lary; 29 June 1746. 
 
 ])olly, d. of Samuel Lary; 3 July 1748. 
 
 Sarah and Mercy, daughters of Joseph Lawrence ; 26 June 1753. 
 
 Mollv, d, of ]">merson Leavitt ; 9 ^Larch 1 755. 
 
 Jeremiah, s. of Jeremiah Leavitt; 12 Feb. 1748-9. 
 
 Mary, d. of Jeremiah Leavitt; 21 March 1756. 
 
 Susanna, d. of John Leavitt; 5 Sept. 1756. 
 
 Josiah, s. of John Leavitt ; 29 April 1759. 
 
 John, s. of John Leavitt, Jr.; 31 Jan. 1762. 
 
 Hannah, d. of John Leavitt, Jr. ; 9 Oct. 1763. 
 
 Dorothv, d. of Jonathan Leavitt; 14 Sept. 1746. 
 
 Joseph, s. of Jonathan Leavitt ; 29 Feb. 1747-8. 
 
 Gideon, s. of Jonathan Leavitt ; 2() Nov. 1752. 
 
 Hannah, d. of Jonathan Leavitt; 21 April 1754. 
 
 Mary, d. of Jonathan Leavitt ; 24 Oct. 1756. 
 
HISTOKY OF EXETER. 73 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Jonathan Leavitt ; 3 June 1758. 
 
 Ruth, d. of Jonathan Leavitt ; 9 Aug. 1761. 
 
 Selah and Edwai-d, sons of Joseph Leavitt ; 20 June 1759. 
 
 Lydia, d. of Joseph Leavitt; 9 Dec. 1759. 
 
 Mary, d. of Joseph Leavitt; 29 March 1761. 
 
 Dorothy, d. of Joseph Leavitt; 16 Oct. 1763. 
 
 Joseph, s. of Nathaniel Leavitt; 30 Nov. 1755. 
 
 Lydia, d. of Nathaniel Leavitt ; 5 Dec. 1753. 
 
 Moses, s. of Nathaniel Leavitt ; 9 Dec. 1759. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Nehemiah Leavitt; 14 Dec. 1760. 
 
 Reuben, s. of Nehemiah Leavitt ; 13 March 1763. 
 
 Anne, d. of widow Leavitt ; 7 Aug. 1757. 
 
 Olive, d. of Ebenezer Light; 6 March 1747-8. 
 
 Mary, d. of Ebenezer Light; 12 Nov. 1749. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Jonathan Lord: 2 Aug. 1761. 
 
 William, s. of Robert Lord, Jr. ; 5 July 1761. 
 
 Hannah, d. of Edmund Lougee ; 1 June 1755. 
 
 Betty, d. of Joseph J^ougee ; 13 March 1747-8. 
 
 Joseph, s. of Joseph Lougee ; 12 Aug. 1753. 
 
 Simeon, s. of Joseph Lougee; 28 Sept. 1755. 
 
 John, s. of Joseph Lougee ; 9 Jan. 1757. 
 
 Nicholas, s. of Joseph Lougee; 2 Sept. 1759. 
 
 Nicholas, s. of Joseph Lougee ; 15 Aug. 1762. 
 
 Mehitable, d. of Moses Lougee ; 28 July 1751. 
 
 Jonathan Folsom, s. of Moses Jjougee ; IS Nov. 1753. 
 
 John, s. of Moses Lougee; 14 Sept. 1755. 
 
 Noah, s. of Moses Lougee; 24 Sept. 1758. 
 
 Moses, s. of Moses Lougee; 27 Julv 1760. 
 
 John, s. of Ebenezer Lovering; 11 April 1762. 
 
 Elizabeth, d. of John Lovering; 14 Sept. 1746. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of John Lovering; 7 Aug. 1748. 
 
 Jean. d. of John Lovering; 21 Sept. 1755. 
 
 Anna, d. of John Lovering; Oct. 1758. 
 
 Richard, s. of John Lovering ; IS Jan. 1761. 
 
 Nathaniel, s. of John Lovering; 11 July 1762. 
 
 ]SLiry, d. of John Prcscott Lovering; 8 Dec. 1754. 
 
 Thcophilus, s. of John Prescott Lovering; 21 Nov. 1756. 
 
 Peneloije, d. of Moses Lovering ; 31 Aug. 1 760. 
 
 Willoughby, s. of Mr)scs Lovering; 31 Jan. 1762. 
 
 Osgood, s. of Moses Lovering; 10 April 1763. 
 
 Dorothy, d. of Biley Lyford ; 7 Sept. 1 746. 
 
 Alice, d. of Biley Lyford ; 3 July 1748. 
 
 Alice, d. of Biley l/vford ; 28 April 1751. 
 
 James Oilman, s. of John Lyford; 24 Aug. 1746. 
 
 Dudley, s. of Moses Lyford ; 6 Aug. 1749. 
 
 Francis, s. of Moses Lyford ; 12 May 1751. 
 
 Oliver Smith, s. of Moses Lyford; 26 Aug. 1753. 
 
 Mehitable, d. of Moses Lyford ; 28 Dec. 1755. 
 
74 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Moses Lyford ; 26 Feb. 1758. 
 
 Kinsley, s. of Theophilus Lyford ; 22 June 1759. 
 
 Mary, d. of Theophilus Lyford; n July 170L 
 
 Benjamin, s. of Thomas Lyford ; 1(5 July 1749. 
 
 Dolly, d. of Alexander Magoon ; 17 June 1750. 
 
 Elizabeth, d. of Alexander Magoon; 3 Dec. 1752. 
 
 Jonathan Lcavitt, s. of Alexander >L'igoon ; 1 June 1755. 
 
 Alexander, s. of Alexander Magoon ; 2() March 1758. 
 
 Mercy, d. of Alexander Magoon ; 4 April 1 762. 
 
 Edward, s. of Benjamin Magoon, Jr. ; 26 Sept. 1756. 
 
 Josiah, s. of Benjamin Magoon, Jr. ; 25 June 1758. 
 
 Benjamin, s. of Benjamin Magoon, Jr. ; 17 Aug. 1760. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Benjamin Magoon, Jr. ; 5 Sept. 1762. 
 
 Hannah and Joseph, s. and d. of Joseph Magoon; 18 Sept 1757. 
 
 Ephraim, s. of Joseph Magoon; 28 Jan. 1759. 
 
 Mary, d. of Samuel Magoon; 16 June 1754. 
 
 Hannah, d. of Samuel Magoon; 11 July 1756. 
 
 Elisabeth, d. of Samuel Magoon ; 9 July 1758. 
 
 Maria, d. of Henry Marsh; 7 Sept. 1746. 
 
 Anna, d. of Abigail Marshall ; 24 April 1758. ^ 
 
 Jonathan Thing and Simeon, sons of widow Abigail Marshall ; 1 Oct. 1758. 
 
 Mercy, d. of Joseph Maylem ; 7 Dec. 1746. 
 
 Elisabeth, d. of Thomas Moore; 13 Nov. 1753. 
 
 Martha, d. of Thomas Moore; 4 June 1759. 
 
 Hannah, d. of Thomas Moore ; 10 July 1763. 
 
 Mary, d. of Thomas Moore, Jr. ; 14 Dec. 1760. 
 
 Josiah, s. of William Moore ; 10 Nov. 1754. 
 
 Josiah, s. of Thomas Nealey; 11 Oct. 1747. 
 
 Sarah, d. of John Nelson ; 29 June 1746. 
 
 Olive, d. of John Xclson ; 4 Dec. 1748. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of John Xelson ; 12 May 1751. 
 
 Josiah, s. of John Nelson ; 9 Sept. 1753. 
 
 Trueworthy, s. of John Nelson ; 20 June 1756. 
 
 Josiah, s. of John Nelson; 10 Dec. 1758. 
 
 Anna, d. of John Nelson; 17 May 1761. 
 
 Dudley, s. of Nicholas Nichols ; 10 Aug. 1755. 
 
 John, s. of Nicholas Nichols; 3 Dec. 1757. 
 
 Trueworthy, s. of Nicholas Nichols; 9 Sept. 1759. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Captain John Odlin ; 28 Nov. 1756. 
 
 John, s. of Dr. John Odlin; 11 Feb. 1759. 
 
 Mary, d. of John Odlin, Jr. ; 17 July 1757. 
 
 John, s. of John Odlin, Esq. ; 21 Oct. 1759. 
 
 Hitty, d. of John Patridge; 20 March 1747-8. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of John Partridge ; 20 May 1750. 
 
 John, s. of John Partridge; 23 Dec. 1759. 
 
 Jethro, s. of Juthro Pearson; 24 Jan. 1744. 
 
 Abigail, (1. of Jethro Pearson ; 17 May 1717. 
 
 John, s. of Jclino Pearson; 19 May 1752. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 75 
 
 Edmund, s. of Capt. Jethro Pierson ; 30 April 1758. 
 
 Taylor, s. of Joseph Pearson; 20 June ITofi. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Joseph Pearson ; o Nov. 1758. 
 
 Joseph, s. of Joseph Pearson; 29 March 1761. 
 
 Jacob, s. of Anthony Peavey ; 26 Jan. 1755. 
 
 Anna, d. of Abraham Perkins ; 5 Feb. 1 759. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Abraham Perkins; 30 Xov. 1760. 
 
 Esther, d. of Abraham Perkins; 24 April 1763. 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Jonathan Perkins ; 23 May 1756. 
 
 Joseph, s. of Jonathan Perkins ; 28 March 1758. 
 
 Anne, d. of Jonathan Perkins; 17 Feb. 1760. 
 
 Joseph, s. of Jonathan Perkins; 5 Sept. 1762. 
 
 Benjamin, s. of Benjamin Philbrick ; 4 Feb. 1749-50. 
 
 Lydia, d. of Benjamin Philbrick; 8 March 1752. 
 
 Samuel, s. of Benjamin Philbrick ; 15 Dec. 1754. 
 
 Edward, s. of Benjamin Philbrick ; 16 May 1757. 
 
 Samuel, s. of Benjamin Philbrick ; 22 April 1759. 
 
 John, s. of Benjamin Philbrick; 10 May 1761. 
 
 Marj', d. of Benjamin Philbrick ; 19 June 1763. 
 
 Mary, d. of David Philbrick ; 11 Jan. 1761. 
 
 David, s. of David Philbrick ; 21 Feb. 1762. 
 
 Henry, s. of Jacob Pike ; 12 Xov. 1758. 
 
 Abigail, d. of Thomas Piper; 6 Sept. 1761. 
 
 Francis, s. of Thomas Piper; 24 Oct. 1762. . 
 
 Jonathan, s. of Jonathan Porter; 8 May 1763. 
 
 Bradstreet, s. of Philemon Prescott ; 21 July 1754. 
 
 Elisabeth, d. of Philemon Prescott ; 11 Sept. 1757. 
 
 Mary, d. of Daniel Quimby; 12 April 1747. 
 
 Mary, d. of Daniel Bobinson ; 20 April 1755. 
 
 John, s. of Daniel Robinson ; 14 Xov. 1756. 
 
 Mehitable, d. of Daniel Bobinson; 20 Auf!^. 1758. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Daniel Robinson; 25 Xov. 1759. 
 
 Daniel, s. of Daniel Robinson ; 16 May 1762. 
 
 Anne, d. of Ephraim Robinson; 22 Dec. 1754. 
 
 Jonathan and David (twins), s. of Josiah Robinson ; 10 April 1748. 
 
 Dudley, s. of Josiah Robinson; 17 May 1752. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Josiah Robinson; 6 Oct. 1754. 
 
 Lydia, d. of Josiah Robinson; 5 Sept. 1756. 
 
 Trucworthy, s. of Josiah Robinson; 20 Jan. 1760. 
 
 Jeremiah, s. of Josiah Rol)insou ; 13 Dec. 1761. 
 
 Eliphalet, s. of Eliphalet Rollins; 17 April 1757. 
 
 Xathaniel, s. of Eliphalet Rollins ; 4 Feb. 1759. 
 
 Joshua, s. of Eliphalet Rollins; 17 May 1761. 
 
 John, s. of Joseph Rollins; 2 June 1754. 
 
 Mary, d. of Joseph Rollins; 7 Sept. 1755. 
 
 Huldah, d. of Josiah Rollins; 28 June 1747. 
 
 Josiah. s. of Josiali Rollins; 13 Au<j. 1749. 
 
 Hannah, d. of Josiah Rollins; 29 March 1752. 
 
76 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Anna, d. of Josiah Rollins ; 13 Oct. 17.34. 
 Mary, d. of .Tosiali Rollins; 8 May 17o7. 
 Rhoda. d. of Josiali Rollins; 27 Aufj. 17.59. 
 Elisabeth, d. of Josiah Rollins; 2G Sept. 1762. 
 Jonathan, s. of Charles Rundlett; 16 March 1755. 
 Olive, d. of James Rundlett; 8 Feb. 1746-7. 
 Samuel, s. of Satchel Rundlet ; 18 March 1753. 
 Ruth, d. of Satchel Rundlet ; 18 June 1756. 
 Ruth, d. of Satchel Rundlet ; 12 June 1757. 
 Debby, d. of Satchel Rundlet; 5 Oct. 1760. 
 Benjamin, s. of Benjamin Saftbrd ; 2 April 1758. 
 Joseph, s. of Benjamin Safibrd ; 10 July 1763. 
 Sarah, d. of Abraham Sanborn; 26 Oct. 1755. 
 Mary, d. of Abraham Sanl)orn ; 17 July 1757. 
 Tristram, s. of Abraham Sanborn : 20 March 1763. 
 John, s. of Elisha Sanborn ; 28 June 1747. 
 Stephen, s. of Phebe Sanborn ; 2 Sept. 1 750. 
 Daniel, s. of Edward Scribner ; 31 July 1748. 
 John, s. of Edward Scribner; 18 Sept. 1757. 
 Anna, d. of John Scribner; 2 Feb. 1755. 
 Constant, d. of John Scribner ; 20 July 1760. 
 John, s. of John Scribner, Jr., 5 Aug. 1750. 
 John, s. of Jose])h Scribner ; 9 Feb. 1755. 
 Samuel, s. of William Sibley ; 2 Jan. 1 763. 
 Benjamin Folsoni, s. of James Sinclair; 22 Nov. 1761. 
 Elisabeth, d. of Richard Sinclair; 25 July 1762. 
 Ebenezcr, s. of Richard Sinclair; 29 Aug. 1762. 
 Lydia, d. of Benjamin Smith; 30 Dec. 1753. 
 Betty, d. of Benjamin Smith ; 15 Sept. 1757. 
 Daniel, s. of Ebenezcr Smith; 8 May 1763. 
 Biley, s. of Israel Smith; 14 June 1747. 
 Eliphalet, s. of Jacob Smith: 18 April 1762. 
 Elizabeth, d. of Josc]ih Smith; 31 ^larch 1754. 
 Sarah, d. of Josejjh Smith; 7 Sept. 1755. 
 Benjamin, s. of Joseph Smith ; 31 Oct. 1756. 
 Lydia, d. of Joseph Smith; 13 Jan. 1760. 
 Mehitable, d. of Joseph Smith; 22 Nov. 1761. 
 Biley, s. of Josc])h Smith, Jr. ; 24 May 1752. 
 Reuben, s. of Reuben Smith, Jr. ; 27 Dec. 1747. 
 Tabitba, d. of Rculien Smith ; 13 Aug. 1749. 
 Mehital)le, d. of "Widow Smith; 16 Aug. 1757. 
 Lydia, d. of Timothy Somes ; 22 June 1760. 
 John, 8. of Timothy Somes ; 30 Oct. 1 763. 
 Josiah, 8. of Henry Steel; 8 March 1746-7. 
 Joseph, s. of Henry Steel ; 9 Oct. 1748. 
 Joseph, s. of Henry Steel ; 20 Jan. 1754. 
 Anna, d. of Henry Steel : 1 1 Jan. 1756. 
 Elisabeth, d. <A' licnry Steel : 9 April 1758. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 77 
 
 Eliphalet, s. of John Steel ; 21 Feb. 1757. 
 Sarah, d. of Edward Stevens; 13 Nov. 1748. 
 Abigail, d. of Edward Stevens; 8 June 1755. 
 Patience, d. of Haley Stevens ; 8 Feb. 1746-7. 
 John, s. of Nathaniel Stevens; 29 Sept. 1754. 
 Ebenezer, s. of John Swazey ; 12 Sept. 1756. 
 Abigail, d. of John Swazey; 14 Jan. 1759, 
 John, s. of John Swazey; 14 Dec. 1760. 
 Thomas, s. of John Swazey ; 17 April 1763. 
 Elizabeth, d. of Joseph Swasey; 10 Feb. 1751. 
 Apphiah, d. of Joseph Swasey ; 9 Sept. 1753. 
 Sarah, d. of Daniel Taylor ; 2 Sept. 1759. 
 Mary, d. of Daniel Taylor; 27 Sept. 1761. 
 Betty, d. of John Taylor; 21 June 1747. 
 Dolly, d. of John Taylor; 5 March 1748-9. 
 Osgood, s. of John Taylor ; 4 Aug. 1751. 
 John, s. of John Taylor; 2 Sept. 1753. 
 Rebecca, d. of Joseph Taylor, Jr. ; 19 Oct. 1755. 
 Sarah, d. of Coffin Thing ; 21 June 1759. 
 Abigail, d. of Josiah Thing; 21 June 1747. 
 Abigail, d. of Winthrop Thing; 16 Dec. 1753. 
 Winthrop, s. of AVinthrop Thing ; 23 March 1755. 
 Deborah, d. of Winthrop Thing ; 30 Jan. 1757. 
 Elisabeth, d. of Winthrop Thing; 18 Feb. 1759. 
 Anna, d. of John Thompson; 16 Jan. 1754. 
 Mary, d. of John Thompson; 29 Feb. 1756. 
 Lydia, d. of John Thompson; 9 April 1758. 
 John, s. of John Thompson; 10 Feb. 1760. 
 Anna, d. of John Thompson ; 6 June 1762. 
 Ephraim, s. of Ichabod Thurston; 17 June 1753. 
 James, s. of Ichabod Thurston; 11 Aj)ril 1756. 
 Anna, d. of Ichabod Thurston; 11 June 1758. 
 Martha, d. of Ichabod Thurston ; 7 Dec. 1760. 
 Huldah, d. of Christopher Toppan; 20 Aug. 1749. 
 John, s. of Christopher Toppan; 17 Nov. 1754. 
 Samuel, s. of Christopher Toppan ; 14 May 1758. 
 John, s. uf Christopher Toppan ; 6 July 1760. 
 Abraham, s. of Christopher Toppan; 13 March 1763. 
 Peter Gilman, s. of Daniel Tilton ; 13 April 1755. 
 Robert, s. of Daniel Tilton; 27 Feb. 1757. 
 Elisabeth, d. of Daniel Tilton; 9 March 1760. 
 Mary, d. of Daniel Tilton ; 30 Jan. 1763. 
 Samuel, s. of Jeremiah Veasey ; 5 April 1747. 
 Sarah, d. of Elijah Vickery ; 7 Sept. 1746. 
 Hannah, d. of lUijah Vickery ; 26 Feb. 1748-9. 
 Nabby, d. of Elijah Vickery; 21 Oct. 1751). 
 Betty, d. of J'Uijah Vickery ; 17 Nov. 1751. 
 Samuel, s. of Joshua Vickerv ; 25 Jan. 175(J. 
 
78 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 Judith, (1. of Joshua Vickcry ; 19 June 1757. 
 
 Elisabeth, d. of l^dward Wadleijjh ; 10 June 1753. 
 
 John, s. of Edward Wadleigh ; G April 17.J0. 
 
 Mary, d. of Edward Wadleifjh; 30 July 17u7. 
 
 Abraham, s. of Edward \\'adleigh; 29 April 1759. 
 
 I.ydia, d. of Edward Wadleigh; 3 Aug. 1760. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Edward Wadleigh; 12 Dec. 17G2. 
 
 Daniel, s. of Daniel Ward ; 30 July 1749. 
 
 Sarah, d. of Daniel Ward; 10 Xov. 1754. 
 
 Nathaniel, s. of Daniel Ward ; IH June 1758. 
 
 Benjamin, s. of Daniel Ward; 20 April 17G0. 
 
 Andrew, s. of Daniel Ward ; 8 May 1763. 
 
 Winthrop, s. of Wiuthrop AVatson ; 5 Xov. 1756. 
 
 A\'inthrop, s. of A\'iiithrop AA'atson ; 25 A])ril 1 760. 
 
 ])udley, s. of Matthias AVeeks ; 9 May 1762. 
 
 John, s. of Matthias Weeks ; 12 Sept. 1762. 
 
 Nabby, d. of James Whidden ; 19 July 1747. 
 
 Joseph, s. of Joseph Wiggin; 19 Dec. 1762. 
 
 David, s. of Nathaniel Wiggin; 16 May 1757. 
 
 Deborah, d. of Humphrey Wilson ; 23 Nov. 1 746. 
 
 Susanna and Betty, twin ch. of Joshua Wilson; 13 March 1747-8. 
 
 Rebecca, d. of Joshua Wilson; 29 Oct. 1749. 
 
 John, s of James Young; 14 Feb. 1747-8. 
 
 Samuel and Daniel, twin s. of Jonathan Young; 9 Oct. 1743. 
 
PUBLISHMENTS 
 
 OF INTENTIONS OF MARRIAGE IN EXETER FROM 1783 TO 1800. 
 
 JosiAH GiLMAN, Jr., clei'k of the town between the above dates, 
 kept a memorandum-book in which he set down all the publish- 
 ments made during his term of office. The subsequent marriages 
 of the parties appear upon the town records in about one-half of 
 the cases. Of course it is to be presumed that marriages were 
 duly solemnized in all the other cases, with possibly a few excep- 
 tions. 
 
 The following list is transcribed from Mr. Oilman's memo- 
 randum ; omitting of course the publishments of parties whose 
 marriages already appear in this work. 
 
 Lt. Samuel Adams, Elizabeth Parker; 1 May 1784. 
 
 Ezekiel Barstow, Mary Conner; 27 Sept. 1799. 
 
 Edmund Batchelder, Mary Lord ; 26 Oct. 1799. 
 
 John Bean of Poplin, Molly Kimball; 25 March 1786. 
 
 Dudley Beckett, Hannah Langley ; 25 March 1792. 
 
 Francis Becket, Sally Dudley ; 2 Oct. 1790. 
 
 Azariah Beede of Kingston, P21izabeth Lord ; 8 July 1786. 
 
 Jacob Blasdel, Elizabeth Sanborn; 17 Dec. 1784. 
 
 Robert Bond, Hannah Calfe ; 14 Jan. 1792. 
 
 Capt. Xathanicl Boardman, Susanna Smith ; IS Jan. 1800. 
 
 John Brimhall, Dorothy Richardson of Newmarket ; 11 Aug. 1791. 
 
 WiUiani Brooks, Tabitha Glover of Marblehead ; 22 Aug. 1786. 
 
 John Burlcy, Abigail Smith ; 19 March 1785. 
 
 Jeremiah Calfe of Sanbornton, Mrs. Hannah Creighton ; 3 Xov. 1797. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Cary of Newbury, Deborah Prince ; 16 Aug. 1783. 
 
 John Chase of Kensington, Martha Thurston ; Nov. 1783. 
 
 Thomas Chcswell, Betsey Eastham ; 2S Oct. 1787. 
 
 Thomas Clark of Nottingham, Mary Colcord ; 29 Sept. 1792. 
 
 Gideon Colcord of Newmarket, Mrs. Lois Lyford ; 19 July 1799. 
 
 Benjamin Conner, Jr., Elizabeth Shepard of Brentwood; 16 Oct. 1784. 
 
 John Conner, Jr., Nancy Shepard of Brentwood ; 16 April 1791. 
 
 John Cook, Elizabeth Bhisdell ; 9 Aug. 17N3. 
 
 Richard Cross, Lydia Harford ; 27 June 1789. 
 
 79 
 
so HISTORY OF EXETKH. 
 
 George Curtis, Temperance Dame; ID A])ril 1783. 
 
 Josiah Dauford of Xew Aiulovor, Sarah Judkius; 4 Dec. 178.5. 
 
 John Daniels, Ahij^ail Taylor; IS June 17!)1. 
 
 Joseph Daniels, Molly Akers ; 30 Oct. 1790. 
 
 Xathanicl Davis, \nne Fall of Kin.y;ston ; 2.; Nov. 1797. 
 
 Ward Clark Dean, Mar;^aret Wood of Charlestown; o Nov. 179G. 
 
 Gideon l^oe of Parsonsfield, Mrs. Sarah Gilman ; 12 July 1799. 
 
 Richard DoUoff, Judith Fellows ; 12 June 1785. 
 
 Kichard l^olloff, Jr., Tammy Kuowlton of Ipswich ; 10 May 178S. 
 
 lienjamiu Dow, Catharine Robinson; 21 I'Y'l). 17S7. 
 
 Chandler Dow of Kpping, Abigail Robinson ; March 1790. 
 
 Zebulon Duda of Newmarket, ]Mary Gilman; 14 July 1796. 
 
 Francis H. Ivistham, Love Tuck of Kensington ; IS Sept. 178j. 
 
 Nehemiah Emery, Mary Henderson ; (5 April 179;). 
 
 Robert Emery, Eunice Orne of Salera, Mass. ; lo June 1795. 
 
 Cato Fiske, Alice Wooso of Brentwood ; 17 Nov. 1785. 
 
 Abel Fogg, Polly Smith of Stratham ; 14 Feb. 1795. 
 
 Jonathan Folsom, Sarah Green of Stratham ; 2 Oct. 1784. 
 
 Josiah Folsom, Jr., Sally Lane of Stratham ; 3 Oct. 1795. 
 
 Nehemiah Folsom, tlli/abeth Taylor of Hampton; 21 May 1791. 
 
 Nicholas Folsom, Dorothy Leavitt of Northtield ; 27 June 1784. 
 
 Simeon Folsom, Mary Leavitt; IS Jan. 1800. 
 
 James Foster of Canterbury, Mrs. Betsey Sanborn ; 27 Nov. 1789. 
 
 Antipas Gilman, Deborah Duda of Newmarket; 18 March 1796. 
 
 Ephraim D. Gilman, Abigail Sanl)orn of Barustead; 20 Aug. 1791. 
 
 James Gilman, Jr., Betsey Lyford; 12 Dec. 1789. 
 
 Joseph Gdman of Gilmanton, Sarah Fogg; 17 Aug. 1798. 
 
 Theophilus Gilman. Jr., Lois Lyford; 16 Oct. 1790. 
 
 Benjamin Gordon, Lydia Eastman of Kensington ; 23 Oct. 1790. 
 
 Joseph Gordon, Jr., Sarah Smith of Stratham ; 14 Feb. 1789. 
 
 William Gordon, Hannah Ladd ; March 1784. 
 
 ]5enjamin Graves, Jr., Polly Taylor of BrentM'ood ; G Jan. 1792. 
 
 James Hackett, Mrs. Elizabeth Hodge of Newmarket ; IS March 1790. 
 
 William Hale, Frances Haven of Wakefield ; 15 Nov. 1788. 
 
 Capt. William Hale, S.iUy Farley of Newcastle, Me. ; 22 Dec. 1799. 
 
 Jude Hall, Rhoda I'aul ;"21 Jan. 17S6. 
 
 John Hamilton, Mary l^astham : 12 March 1796. 
 
 James Hanaford, Mercy Dudley: 31 July 17S4. 
 
 Joshua Hill, Lucy Chase of Stratham ; IS Sept. 1789. 
 
 Ivlward Hilton, 3d. of Newmarket, I'^lizabeth Watson; 21 Aug. 1792. 
 
 Winthroi) Hilton, Hepsibah D.ickum ; 7 Nov. 178S. 
 
 Duillev Bradstreet Ilobart, Sophia Dearborn of Pittston, Mass. ; 17 Jan. 1799. 
 
 Samuel Hibart, Sarah .Vdams ; 16 Oct. 1784. 
 
 Stephen Hodgdon of Limerick, Mary Hill; June 1788. 
 
 William Hoit. Elizal)eth Young Trickey, residents ; 23 Feb. 1793. 
 
 William Hook of Salisbury, Sarah Watson; 17 May 1794. 
 
 Samuel Hopkinson, Hannah Thurston; 25 Feb. 1792. 
 
 Capt. Hem-y Jackson of Biston. Hannah Swett; 14 Sept. 1799. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETER. 81 
 
 David Jewett, Polly Shepard of Brentwood ; 7 Oct. 1786. 
 Caleb Johnson of Hampstead, Mary Thurston; 13 Aug. 1785. 
 John Johnson, Margaret Greenough ; 5 Sept. 1789. 
 Seth Johnson, Jr.. of Haverhill, Ruth Graves ; 11 June 1791. 
 Samuel Judkins. Mary Gushing; o March 178-5. 
 Daniel Kelly of North Hampton, Polly Nichols ; 6 June 1790. 
 William Kelly, Elizabeth Robinson ; 28 June 1788. 
 Daniel Kimball, Sally Gilman ; 17 Jan. 1790. 
 John Lamson, Sally Townsend of Charlestown ; 26 Sept. 1793. 
 Gilman Leavitt of Brentwood, Lydia Barker; 29 April 1786. 
 Luke Libbey, Nancy Crocker ; 28 Nov. 1784. 
 Samuel Loud, Sarah Elliott ; 2 July 1791. 
 Joseph Lovering, Eunice Smith of Newbury ; 20 Jan. 1798. 
 Francis Lyford, ]NLiry Gilman (Biley's) ; 27 Sept. 1783. 
 James Lyford of Canterbury, Deborah Lyford ; 8 Sept. 1792. 
 John Lj^ord, Anne Hilton of Kingston ; 30 Aug. 1799. 
 Theodore Lyford, Rachel Colcord of Newmarket ; 16 Sept. 1797. 
 Capt. Henry McClintock of Greenland, Anne Halliburton ; 6 July 1799. 
 Stephen Marsh of Hubbardston, Betsey Webster; 4 Jan. 1788. 
 John Melcher of Gilmanton, Rebecca Grant; 17 Aug. 1798. 
 Daniel Williams Merrill, Mary Wilson Trickey, residents ; 26 Jan. 1793. 
 Jonathan Moody of Brentwood, Betsey Haley; 9 Dec. 1787. 
 AVilliam Moody of Newbury, Sarah Kimball; 29 Sept. 1787. 
 Coffin Moore of I^ancaster, Dolly Leavitt; 6 Feb. 1790. 
 Joseph Moses, Martha AViggin of Stratham ; 2.5 Jan. 1800. 
 William Moulton, Molly Page of North Hampton ; 24 Oct. 1795. 
 Nicholas NicoUe, Jr., Catharine Sanborn ; 18 Dec. 1785. 
 John Nichols, Esther Proctor of Kingston ; 19 June 1785. 
 James Norris. Lydia Sherriff; Nov. 1783. 
 Charles O'Conner, ^Lary Spenley ; 28 May 1785. 
 George Odiorne, Polly Brackett of Quincy; 12 Nov. 1794. 
 Samuel Odlin, Polly Groves of Beverly ; 4 Feb. 1792. 
 Jacob Paul, Dorcas Avery of Kingston ; 3 Sept. 1791. 
 Scipio Paul, Sarah Phelp of Pembroke ; 17 July 1789. 
 James Pickering, Rosamond Fabins of Newington ; 17 Feb. 1798. 
 Moses Pierce of South Hampton, Anne Lovering ; 8 June 1799. 
 John Philbrick, Mehitable Lary of Stratham ; 20 Sept. 1788. 
 Jeremiah Prescott of Gilmanton, Polly Swasey ; 16 July 1785. 
 John Prescott, Elizabeth NicoUe ; 20 June 1795. 
 Jacob Randall. Rebecca Masters; 22 Dec. 1792. 
 Thomas Rankin. Mrs. Esther McKim ; March 1784. 
 Henry Ranlet, Betsey Hall ; 20 Jan. 1787. 
 Caleb Roljinson, Jr., Judith Robinson; 18 Feb. 1792. 
 Jeremiah Robinson, ^Liry Page of North Hampton : 2 Oct. 1784. 
 John Robinson, Elizabeth Smith of Stratham ; 23 July 1796. 
 Jonathan Robinson, Mary Rollins ; 7 Feb. 1796. 
 Joseph Robinson, Jr., Sarah Dow of Epping ; 9 Dec. 1796. 
 Daniel Rollins of Sanbornton, .\bigail Godfrey ; 17 Dec. 1796. 
 6a 
 
82 HISTOKV OF KXETEK. 
 
 John Rook of Nova Scotia. Elizabeth March ; 2(5 March 1785. 
 
 Rev. William F. Kowlaiul. Sally Ladd of Portsmouth ; 10 .Tune 179.3. 
 
 David Rundlctt of Stratham, llhoda Robinson ; 11 Aufr. 1794. 
 
 Josiah Rundlctt, Mary Ward ; Id Aug. 17<»;5. 
 
 Samuel Rust, Jr., Betsey Beckett ; 18 March 179j. 
 
 Benjamin Safford, Jr., Judith Vickcry of Ham])ton Falls ; 22 April 17R6. 
 
 Joseph Saflbrd. Betty Towle of Ilamjiton; 29 Oct. 1791. 
 
 Lieut. Abraham Sanborn, Mrs. Mary I'arsons of Amesbury ; 31 July 1790. 
 
 Edward Sanborn of Kpping, Deborah Gushing ; ;j Sept. 1791. 
 
 Jeremiah Sanl)orn of Sanbornton. Thcodate Sanborn: 3 Oct. 1786. 
 
 Jesse Sanborn, Sally Stevens of Stratham; H Jan. 1790. 
 
 William Sanborn, Anne Lovering of North Hampton; 18 Jan. 1794. 
 
 William Seward of Boston; Hannah Hackett ; 10 Feb. 1798. 
 
 John Shaw, I'.lizabcth Folsom ; 2S May 178."). 
 
 Nathan Shaw of Kensington, Sarah Haines; 3 Nov. 1787. 
 
 Jonathan Shepard, Elizabeth Severance of Kingston; 1 Dec. 1792. 
 
 William Short, Patty Nowell of Newburyport ; 9 Dec. 1787. 
 
 Levi Sleeper of Kingston, Elizabeth Lovering; 1 Feb. 1800. 
 
 Caleb Smith, Lydia Gordon ; 12 Dec. 1789. 
 
 David Smith, Sally Bennett ; 25 June 1795. 
 
 F^benezer Smith of Gilmanton, Judith Pearson; 3 Jan. 1789. 
 
 John Smith. Hannah Wiggin of Stratham ; 8 March 1794. 
 
 Peter Smith of Brentwood, Hannah Sanborn; 2 Aug. 1783. 
 
 Reuben Smith, Elizabeth AVadleigh; 9 May 1789. 
 
 Richard Smith of Pittsficld, Sally Oilman: KJ July 1785. 
 
 Chase Stevens, Hannah Dow; 29 Dec. 1798. 
 
 George Sullivan, Clarissa Lamson; 7 Sept. 1799. 
 
 Ebenezer Swasey, Jr., Mary Lyford ; Jan. 1 784. 
 
 Joseph Swasey, 3d. Elizabeth Fogg ; 7 Aug. 1 790. 
 
 Nathaniel Swasey, ^Slehitable Rowe ; 25 Aug. 1 792. 
 
 Dr. Samuel Tenney, Tabitha Oilman; 6 Sept. 1788. 
 
 Lieut. AVinthrop Thing, Lydia Oilman; 28 March 1794. 
 
 Daniel Thurston of Stratham, Hannah Creighton ; 1 Jvine 1792. 
 
 Oliver Thurston, Anstris Cross; 25 Aug. 1792. 
 
 Reuben Thurston, Sarah Cross ; 19 Nov. 1796. 
 
 David Tilton of Hampton Falls, :Mrs. Mary Merrill : 1 1 Jan. l^<00. 
 
 George Trefctheren, Anne Hilton: 3 Jan. 1789. 
 
 John Wadleigh, Polly liecket ; 25 Dec. 1785. 
 
 David Watson, Elizabeth Hook of Chichester ; 21 May 1795. 
 
 William Webb, Deborah Nelson: 30 Ai)ril 1795. 
 
 Benjamin Wentworth of I'ortsmouth. Abigail Bennett : 17 May 1795. 
 
 Gideon Wiggin. Dorothy Lyford : 22 July 1797. 
 
 Joseph Wiggin, Jr., Mehitable Kimball; Aug. 1788. 
 
 John Wilson of Sandwich. Abigail H. Ilopkinsou ; G Aug. 1791. 
 
 Samuel Winslow, Sally Johnson ; 25 July 1794. 
 
 Daniel York of Brentwood, .Vnne Smart : 17 Sept. 1799. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 The alphabetical arrangemeut of names which is adopted in 
 this work is believed to obviate, in great part, the need of a very 
 copious index. 
 
 Abbot, Benjamin, 294. 
 
 Academy, Phillips Exeter, 126. 
 
 Advent society and pastors, 207. 
 
 Allen V. Waldron, 10. 
 
 Andros, Edmund, 68. 
 
 Antinomian, 6. 
 
 Aqueduct, 101, 103. 
 
 Association test of 1776, 90. 
 
 Authors in Exeter, 311. 
 v^ Bachiler, Stephen. 155, 156. 
 
 Banks, 343. 
 
 Baptisms in first society, Gex., 66. 
 
 Baptist society and pastors, 201. 
 
 Barker, Josiah, 86, 93. 
 
 Barlow, George, 18, 22. 
 
 Bates, George, 12, 22. 
 
 Bean, John, 59, 119. 
 
 Bells, 183, 188. 
 
 Bell, .Tames. 107, 368. 
 
 Bicentennial celebration, 10(); ad- 
 dress, Appendix III, 448. 
 
 Biggs, Thomas, 43, 44, 59, 131. 
 
 Births in Exeter, Gkn., 63. 
 
 Blake, Sherburne, 107, 108. 
 
 Booth, Robert, 59. 131. 
 
 Boulter, Nathaniel, 44, 45, 59, 131. 
 
 Bounds of h'xcter. 113: enlargement 
 of. 117. 
 
 Brentwood parish set off, 184. 
 
 Bridges, 124. 125. 
 
 Bridger, Col. John, 70, 72. 
 
 Brooks, Samuel, 84. 85, 86, 88. 93, 
 197. 
 
 ^i 
 
 Bulgar, Richard. 12, 17, 19, 22, 44, 
 
 47,48, 131. 
 Burial-places, 408. 
 Burley, James, 108, 395. 
 Bursley, John, 45, 59. 
 Cadets, Exeter, 239. 
 Carleton, Theodore, 80, 85, 86, 88. 
 Cartee, Philip, 59, 65, 119. 
 Cass, Jonathan, 98, 394. 
 Cass, Lewis, 108, 394. 
 Cattle, care ^ the, 49. 
 Census 0^1775, 87. 
 Chadwfck, Peter, 107, 198, 421. 
 Chesley, Philip, 59. 
 Christian society and pastors, 204. 
 Church, first, 12 ; re-organized, 174. 
 Clark, Rev. John, 171, 175. 176«''' 
 Clark, John, 59, 116. ^^ 
 
 Cliftbrd, Ebenezcr, 418, 
 Cobbs, Waddy V., 3> 
 Coffin, EliphaleV^, 180. 
 Coffin, Peter^..«D. 72, 80. 86. 88, 93, 
 
 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 177. 181, 
 
 221^39, 351. 
 Colp<kd, Edward, 9, 23. 
 
 cord, Harvey, 201. 
 Cole, AViliiam, 8, 18, 23, 44. 
 Collins, Moses N., 281. 
 Colored population, 395. 
 " Combination" for government, 15. 
 Common field, 133, 137, 141. 
 Compton, John, 8, 23, 318. 
 Conner family, 392. 
 83 
 
 V. 
 
84 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETEK. 
 
 'j 
 
 Connor, Jeremiah, 59, 71, 181, 1S2. 
 
 Constitution, earliest written, 80. 
 
 Conventions, constitutional, 9t5, 99, 
 101. 
 
 Copeland, Lawrence, 8, 24. 
 
 Copyhold. ";}. 
 
 Cornish, Thomas, .59, 114. 
 
 Cotton, Rev. John, 6, 1(59. 
 
 Court-house, 71, 101, 106, 108. 
 
 Cram. John. IS. 24,44. 
 
 Cranlield, Edward, 03, 64, 6j, 66. 
 
 Crawley's falls, 322. 
 
 Crawley, Thomas, 18, 24, 131, 322. 
 
 Crown Point expeditions, 233. 
 
 Cunninjrham, Timothy, 227. 
 
 ])eane, Thomas, ISO, 378. 
 
 Dean, Ward Clark, 101. 
 
 Dearborn, Godfrey, 18,25. 
 
 Dearborn, Henry, 245. 
 
 Deaths in Exeter, Gen., 64. 
 
 Derby, James, 341. 
 
 Dolloff, Christian, 59, 65, 119. 
 
 Dolloff, Richard, children, 225. 
 
 Drake, Abraham, 44, 45, 59, 123. 
 
 Dudley family, 390. 
 
 Dudley, Biley, 59, 167, 169, 175. 
 
 Dudley, John, SO, 200, 390. 
 
 Dudley, Rev. Samuel, engaged, 159; 
 defended, Kil; new contract, 164; 
 his salary, 166; death of, 168. 
 
 Dudley, Theophilus, 59, 72, 167, 174, 
 175, 176, 177. 
 
 Dunbar, David, 73, 74, 75. 
 
 Elkins, Henry, 12, 17, 25, 59. 
 
 Emery, Noali, 80, 89, 91, 99, 247, 
 355. 
 
 Eplsco])al society and pastors, 210. 
 
 Epping parish set off, 1S4. 
 
 Exeter, 5,40, 11 ; statistics, 425. 
 
 Families, earTy: Dudley, 390 ; Fol- 
 som, 391 ; Leavitt, Thing, Con- 
 ner, Lyford, 392 ; Gordon, Robin- 
 son, Smith, Odlin, etc., 393. 
 
 Family Registers, Gi:x., 3. 
 
 Farrar, Timothy, 107, 370. 
 
 Fellowes, Jeremiah, 364. 
 
 I Female academy, 299. 
 I Field, Darby, 14, IS. 25. 
 Fire engines, 101, 103; steam 110. 
 Fish, Gabriel, !(>. 17, 25. 
 Fishery in rivers, 47. 
 Flats divided, 132. 
 Folsom family, 391. 
 Folsom, John, 53, 56, 59, 65, 66, 
 
 116, lis, 11!). 123, 171. 175, ISO, 
 
 182. 
 Folsom, Nathaniel, 59, 65, SO, 81, 
 
 83, 86, 87, 93, 232, 234, 391. 
 Folsom, Peter, 57, 58, 59, 65, 116, 
 
 119, 167, 171. 
 Folsom, Samuel, 59, 80, 81, 82, 86, 
 
 93, 239, 391. 
 .Fort AVilliam and Mary, raid upon, 
 
 240; powder from, 241. 
 Fowle, Robert L., 96, 301. 
 French, llenry F., 372. 
 Furnald, Joseph, 107. 
 
 Gardner, John, 419. 
 Garland, John, 59, 62, 161. 
 General court, 7, 13, 44, 46, 48. 
 Giddinge,Eliphalet, 91, 93, 190, 422. 
 Giddinge, John, 80, 84, 86, 87, 89, 
 91, 380. 
 
 Giddinge, Zebulon, 73. 75, 78, 188, 
 422. 
 
 Gilman, Daniel, 423. 
 
 Gilman, Edward, 57, 58, ij^, 66, 67, 
 
 116, 158, 159, 162, 163, 167, 318. 
 Gilman, Edward, Jr.. 49, 5<), 114, 
 
 123. 
 
 Gilman, Ezckiel, 231. 
 
 Gilman, John, 5S, 59, 64, 69, 74, 115, 
 
 117, lis, 119, 125, 163, 164, 171, 
 174, 175, 179, 181, 349. 
 
 Gilman, Alajor John, 336. 
 
 Gilman. John T., 92, 93, 99, 104, 
 
 126, 421. 
 Gilman, Joseph, 81, 84, 86, 91, 419. 
 Gilman, Josiah, 80, 82, 93, 181, 194. 
 Gilman, Moses, 59, 118, 119, 171. 
 Gilman, Nathaniel, 97. 180, 182, 198. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEU. 
 
 85 
 
 Gilnian. Nathaniel 3(1. lOG. lOS, 12fi, 
 
 191, 2-57. 
 Gilman, Nicholas, 70, 74, 80, SI, 84, 
 
 8G, 87, 92, 98, 99, 120, 126, 174, 
 
 17.'), 177. 178, 180, 181, 185, 3,32. 
 Gilman, Nicholas, Jr., gift for pious 
 
 uses, 195. 
 Gilman, Peter, 78, 80, 81, 82, 180, 
 
 182, 189, 194, 195, 416. 
 Gilman, Samuel, 73, 76, 80, 82, 84, 
 
 180, 181, 186, 194, 195, 352. 
 Gordon family, 393. 
 Gordon, Alexander, 59, 218. 
 Gordon, Nathaniel, 86, 91, 93. 
 Gordon, Nicholas, 70, 179, 181. 
 Gorham, David W., 387. 
 Gove's rebellion against Cranfield, 
 
 63. 
 Grants of lands by town in 1643 
 
 and 1644, 131 ; in 1645, 6, 7, 132 ; 
 
 in 1648, 9, 50, 133 ; in 1651-2, 
 
 134; in 1654 to 1664, 135; 1665- 
 
 1678,136; 1681 to 1693, 137; in 
 
 1697-8, 138; 1699 to 1706, 139; 
 
 1706 to 1724, 143; in 1725, 141 ; 
 
 in 1740, 146. 
 Grant, Daniel, 91. 
 Grant, Francis, 308. 
 Great bay, 3. 
 Greenfield, Samuel, 45, 47, 48, 51, 
 
 59, 131. 
 Grist-mills, 324. 
 Gross, Isaac, 12, 19, 26. 
 llackett, James, 243, 338. 
 Hale, Eliphalet, 86, 93, 380. 
 Hall, Kinsley, 61, 65, 169, 173, 174, 
 
 175, 350. 
 Hall, Ralph, 4, 18, 26, 62, 65, 116, 
 
 118, 119, 131, 166. 
 Hatch, Samuel, 395. 
 Helme, Christopher, 18, 2(5. 
 Hethersay, Robert, 45, 60, 131. 
 Highways, repairs of, 122; laying 
 
 out, 123. 125. 
 Hildreth, Rev. Hosea, 198, 294. 
 Hilton, Dudley, 225. 
 
 Hilton, Edward, 3, 8, 20, 27, 56, 
 114, 115, 130, 157, 159, 163, 173. 
 
 Hilton, Richard, 77, 173, 176, 177, 
 352. 
 
 Hilton, Col. Winthrop's expeditions, 
 223 ; death, 225. 
 
 Hilton, William, 20, 27, 68, 130. 
 
 Hobart, Samuel, 328. 
 
 Homicides in Exeter, Mrs. Willix, 
 403 ; Johnson, 404 ; John Wad- 
 leigh, 405 ; Mrs. Ferguson, 407. 
 
 Houses, early : Clifford house, 416; 
 Dean house, 418; Ladd house, 
 420 ; Rowland house, 422 ; 
 Odiorne house, Hildreth house, 
 423 ; Peabody house, Gilman 
 house, 424 ; Tilton house, 425. 
 
 Hoyt, Joseph, 9, 109, 295. 
 
 Hutchinson, Anne, 6, 7, 11. 
 
 Hutchinson, Samuel, 8, 28. 
 
 Independence, earliest suggestion of, 
 
 87. 
 Indian deeds of 1638, 8, 9 ; of 1639, 
 
 14; disputed deed of 1629, 10; 
 
 Appendix 1,431. 
 Indian wars, 215. 
 Inhabitants prior to 1680, 59. 
 Insurance companies, 347. 
 Jones. Abner, 204. 
 Jones, Thomas, 45, 60, 131. 
 Judges and lawyers, notices of, 349. 
 
 Kelly, John. 109, 369. 
 Kimming, John, 60. 
 King, Thomas. 45, 54, 60, 114, 123, 
 157, 161, 162. 
 
 Ladd, Daniel, 229. 
 
 Ladd, Eliphalet, 190, 420. 
 
 Ladd, Nathaniel, 60, 64, 167, 181, 
 
 217,421. 
 Lamson, George, 364. 
 Lanison, John, 80, 236, 304. 
 Lamprey river, 3, 20. 
 Lamprey, Henry, 61. 
 Lands, first allotment of, 19, Apjien- 
 
 dix II, 435. 
 
86 
 
 HISTORY OF EXKTEK. 
 
 / 
 
 Lands, grants of, 130: see "Grants 
 
 of lands."' 
 Lands, final distribution of, 145. 
 Lary, Cornelius. GO. 
 Lawrence, David, 00, 177. 
 Lawrence, Jotham, 108, 363. 
 Lawson, Christopher, 17,28,42,44, 
 
 47, 48, 158. 
 Lawyers, 340. 
 Leavitt fixmWy, 340. 
 Leavitt, Jeremy, GO, 116. 
 Leavitt, Moses, 60, 65, 70, 167, 169, 
 
 172. 173, 17'>. 176, 177. 
 Leavitt, Samuel, 53, GO, 68, 119, 171, 
 ^ 172, 173, 175, 176, 177. 
 Leavitt, Thomas, 4, 18, 29. 
 
 Legat, John, 44, 45, 50, 51, 52, 60, 
 114, 123, 158, 159, 161, 162. 
 
 Legislation, earliest. 21, 41. 
 
 Light, John, GO. 
 
 Listen, Nicholas, 60. 114, 118, 119. 
 
 Littlefield, Edmund, 18, 29, 317. 
 
 Localities. 426. 
 
 Long, John C, 395. 
 
 Lougee, John, 225. 
 
 Louisburg expedition, 230. 
 
 Lumbering, 51, 335. 
 
 Lyford fomily. 392. 
 
 Manufacturers, 341. 
 
 Marriages,' Gen., 50. 
 
 Marshall, Christopher, 12, 30. 
 
 Marston. Gilman, 109, 111. 279. 
 
 Mason, John, o'), 62, 65. 
 
 Mason, Kobert Tufton, oo, 62, 63, 
 64, 65. 
 
 Massachusetts jurisdiction, 45. 
 
 Mast trees, 70 ; riot of 1734, 72. 
 
 Mathews, Francis. 18, 30. 
 
 Maverick, Samuel, oo, 56, 57. 
 
 Meeting-houses, 71, KiO, 162. 167. 
 
 173, 179, 181, 191, 194, 19S. 
 Merchants and trades, 342. 
 Merrill, Abncr and sons, 340. 
 Merrill, Charles A., 109. 
 Merrimac river, 8, 9, 13. 
 Methodist society and pastors, 205. 
 
 Mills and manufactures, 317, 331. 
 
 Mob, jiaper money, of 1786, 96. 
 
 Montague, Griffin, 30, 317. 
 
 Moore, William, 30, 44, 45, 68, 118, 
 119. 164, 173, 175, 319. 
 
 Morrill, William B., 111. 
 
 Morris, Richard, 12, 17, 19, 31. 
 
 Moses, Henry C, 203, 340. 
 
 Moses, JohnF., 201, 203, 340. 
 
 Mount Wollaston, 11. 
 
 Needham, Nicholas. 8, 9, 17. 31. 42. 
 
 New Hampshire, a royal province, 
 62. 
 
 Newmarket parish set off, 178. 
 
 New parish, 18G ; set off, 188 ; history 
 of, 194. 
 
 Newspapers, 301. 
 
 New Testament first printed in New 
 Hampshire. 304. 
 
 Norris. Charles, 306. 
 
 Norris, Nichola;}, 60, 127. 
 
 North, Nathan, 385. 
 
 Notices of settlers of 1G38-9, 21. 
 
 Nutter, Elder Hatevil, 156. 
 
 Oath of the elders, 18 ; of the people, 
 19. 
 
 Odiorne, Thomas, 80, 86, 304, 339, 
 423. 
 
 Odlin family, 393. 
 
 Odlin, Kev. John, engaged, 177 ; sal- 
 ary, 182; death of, 187. 
 
 Odlin, llev. ^^'^oodbridge, colleague, 
 185; death of, 189. 
 
 Officers, town: rulers, assistant rulers, 
 town clerks, selectmen, 148 ; mod- 
 erators, representatives, 151. 
 
 Oyster river, 3, 5, 9, 14. 
 
 Paper-mills, 327. 
 
 Paper money, 70, 93, 95. 
 
 Parker, Nathaniel, 357. 
 
 Parker, William, 86, 87, 355. 
 
 Pascataqua river, 3, 7, 9, 11, 57. 
 
 Peabody, Nathaniel, 383. 
 
 Pcal)ody, Oliver, 73, 99, 104, 126, 
 35(), 424. 
 
 Peahodv, Oliver W. B., 365. 
 
HISTORY OF EXETEIi. 
 
 87 
 
 Pearson, Henry H., 281. 
 Pearson, Joseph, 395. 
 Peavey, George C, 375. 
 Perkins, Albert M., 282. 
 Perry, William, 191,385. 
 Perryman, Nicholas, 77, 185, 186, 
 
 354. 
 Pettit, Thomas, 18, 32, 44, 52, 114, 
 
 164. 
 Phillips Exeter academy, 293 ; notices 
 
 of officers and benefactoi's, 294. 
 Phillips, John, 80, 81, 84, 99, 194, 
 
 239, 335. 
 Physicians, notices of, 378. 
 Pickering, John, 356. 
 Pickpocket mills, 321, 326. 
 Pike, Robert, 114, 117, 118, 119. 
 Poor, Enoch, 80, 81, 86, 87, 245, 
 
 394. 
 Poor of Boston, tax for, 85. 
 Poor, support of, 105. 
 Pormort, Philemon, 12, 18, 32. 
 Powder house, 82 ; mills, 328. 
 Prayer in town meetings, 105. 
 Prices, scale of, fixed, 94. 
 Printers, 301. 
 Provincial congress first, 84 ; second, 
 
 87; fifth, 88. 
 Public library, 109. 
 Publishments, 1783 to 1800, Gen., 
 
 79. 
 Quakers, 200. 
 Ranlet, Henry, 102, 304. 
 Rashleigh, Thomas, 44, 60, 131, 155. 
 Read, Robert, 18, 33, 318. 
 Rebellion, see " War for the Union." 
 Records of town, 43, Appendix H, 
 _ 435. 
 Revolutionary soldiers from Exeter, 
 
 in 1775, 242, 245; in 1776, 247 ; 
 
 in 1777, 249; in 1778, 251; in 
 
 1779, 253 ; in 1780, 253 ; in 1781, 
 
 254 ; bounties and supplies to, 
 
 255. 
 Rice, John, gift of. 189. 
 Hishwortli, Edward, \>>, 33, 11. 
 
 Robinson female seminary, 291. 
 Robinson family, 393. 
 Robinson, Ephraim, 78, 86. 
 Robinson, John, 60, 75, 123, 163, 
 
 179, 216. 
 Robinson, Jonathan, 60, 65, 167, 
 
 175. 
 Roby, Hem-y, 18, 33, 44, 45, 50, 123, 
 
 159, 161. 
 Rogers, Rev. Daniel, engaged, 195 ; 
 
 death of, 196. 
 Rogers, John, 395. 
 Rogers, Rainsford, 413. 
 Rollins, Thomas, 60, 64, 116, 218. 
 Roman catholic society and pastors, 
 
 208. 
 Rowland, William F., 73, 190. 
 Rundlet, Charles, 80. 
 Ruobone, George, 17, 34. 
 Saddlery and carriages, 339. 
 Sail cloth, manufacture of, 339. 
 Saw -mill privileges granted, 321, 323. 
 Saw-mills, taxation of, 165. 
 Seminary, Robinson female, 291. 
 Seward, Robert, 18, 34, 44, 60. 
 Schools of Exeter, 285; eai'ly in- 
 structors, 286; school districts, 289; 
 
 grading of, 290. 
 Scrivener (Scribner), John, 175. 
 Ship-building, 336. 
 Sinclair, John, 60. 
 Sleeper, John S., 308. 
 " Small causes," commissioners to 
 
 end, 51. 
 Smart, John, 20, 34, 45, 60, 173. 
 Smith, Edward, 57, 58, 60, 64. 116, 
 
 167. 
 Smith, Jeremiah, 103, 106, 107, 12(5. 
 35f). 
 : Smith, Robert, 18, 34, 44, 46, 51. 
 Smith, Thcophilus, 71, 80, 91, 177. 
 
 181, 182. 
 Smith, William, 364. 
 Societies, 426. 
 
 Soldiers, first officers of, 42, 4N. 
 Soulc, Gideon 1... 295. 
 
88 
 
 HISTORY OF EXETER. 
 
 ^ 
 
 Squamscot patent 4 ; annexed to Exe- 
 ter, IL'O. 
 
 Squamscot river, 4, 12. 
 
 Stamp act, effigies burned, 78. 
 
 Stanyon, Anthony, 19, 34, 45, 51, 
 124, 319. 
 
 Stickney, "William W.. 107. Ill, 
 374. 
 
 Storre, Augustine, 8, 9, 17, 19, 35. 
 
 Storrs, Rev. George, 206. 
 
 Streets: named, 103, 107 ; lighted, 
 110; 126. 
 
 Sullivan, George, 126, 358. 
 
 Sullivan, John, 84, 87, 97, 366. 
 
 Swain, Francis, 60, 160, 161. 
 
 Swamp land, clearing of, 137. 
 
 Swascy, Joseph, 80, 91. 
 
 Swascy, Nathaniel, 220 n. (see " Cor- 
 rections"). 
 
 Swctt. Samuel B., 388. 
 
 Swptt. Simeon, 205. 
 
 Taylor. William, 61, 160. 
 
 Taxation, illegal, of Cranfield, re- 
 sisted, 66. 
 
 Tedd, John, 45, 61. 
 
 Temperance action of town, 104, 106, 
 108. 
 
 Tenncy. Samuel. 99, 101, 126, 382. 
 
 Thing family, 392. 
 
 Thing, Bartholomew, 74. 75, 179. 
 1 Thing, Benjamin, 71, 76, 181, 182, 
 \ 185. 
 ^ Thing, Jonathan, 61, 65, 67, 68, 70, 
 116, 118, 119, 120. 167, 171, 176, 
 177, 218. 
 
 Thing, Samuel, 70, 175, 177. 
 
 Thom, James. 258, 362. 
 
 Tilton, ])r. Joseph, 381. 
 
 Tilton. Joseph. Jr., 104, 107, 198, 
 362. 
 
 Timber trees, respecting cutting, 52, 
 
 TippcMi, Bartholomew, ()2. 
 
 Town-house, 109. 
 
 Transcri])ts of Exeter records, Ajj- 
 
 pe:idix II, 435. 
 Trees, ornamental, 415 ; oldest elm, 
 
 415. 
 Tuck, Amos, 370. 
 Unitarian society and ))astors, 208. 
 Universalist societv and pastors, 20.'5. 
 Wadlcigh, John, 61, 64. 171. 
 
 i 
 
 Wadleigh, Jonathan, 75, 120, 174, 
 
 179. 
 AVadleigh, Robert, 61, 64, 68, 171, 
 
 174, 349. 
 Walker, Samuel, 17, 35, 44. 
 Walker, Seth, 395. 
 Wall, James, 8, 18, 36, 45, 50, 51, 
 
 114, 123, 124, 131, 159. 
 Walton, George, 17, 36. 
 War of 1812, 104; Exeter soldiers in, 
 
 257. 
 War for the union, 261; Exeter sol- 
 diers in, 261, 277. 
 Warden, Thomas, 12, 18, 36, 42, 44, 
 
 46. 
 Warden, William, 12, 18, 37. 
 Warren, John, 61, 116, 123. 
 AA'ashington. visit of, 1789, 99; 
 
 honors to, 102. 
 Water works, 110. 
 Webster, Nathaniel, 149 (see "Cor- 
 rections"), 181. 
 Wcdgcwood, John. 53, 61. 
 AA'chanownowit. 8, 9, 10, 14. 
 A)\'ns, John S., 373. 
 AVcnbourne, William, 18, 37, 44, 46. 
 Wentworth, William, 17, 38, 169, 
 
 170. 
 A^'heelwright, John. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 
 
 10, 12, 14,17,21, 38,49, 112, 131, 
 
 155, 156, 157. 
 "White Caps," the, 411. 
 AVhitefield, Rev. George, 187, 196, 
 
 424. 
 Wiggin, Andrew, 65. 
 Wiggin, Simon, 174, 176, 177. 
 Wiggin, Thomas, 3, 13, 45, 51, 112, 
 
 116, 120, 121, 163, 175. 
 Wight. Thomas. 17, 39, 45. 
 AA'illiams. John J., 307. 
 Willix, Balthazar, 40, 45. 
 AVilson, CJowen. 49, 50, 61, 125. 
 AVilson. Humphrev, 45, 61,65, IW, 
 
 125. 159, 171. 174, 325. 
 Wilson, Thomas, 4, 17, 40, 42, 48, 
 
 125, 130, 185, 317. 
 Winicowet (Hampton), 13. 
 Winthrop, Gov. John, 160, 169. 
 A\'ood, Alva, 375. 
 Wool trade, 340. 
 Young, John, 01,64, 116, 119,218, 
 
 220. 
 
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