The History of Londonderry, comprising the towns of Derry and Londonderry N [ew] H [ampshire] . With a memoir of the author

Front matter

*> I'-i't'i a hLl cA iXt-i<JtX<' / 1 1 tic-i.t/, fo. Xj. .Tallin i THE HISTORY OF LONDONDERRY, COMPRISING THE TOWNS OF DERRY AND LONDONDERRY, N. H. BY REV. EDWARD L. PARKER, LATE PASTOR OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN DERRY. WITH A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY PERKINS AND WHIPPLE. 1851. Elitered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by Edward P. Parker, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. ANDOVER: JOHN D . FLAG*; BTEREOTVPER AND PRINTER.

Preface

. • — Soon after the death of my father, the charge of editing the History of Londonderry was committed to me. The first four chapters of the work were nearly completed, and the material for the two remaining chapters and the Appendix, in a great measure collected and arranged. It was the design of my father, that the work should be examined by myself, and by his son-in law, Mr. Samuel H. Taylor, Principal of Phillips Academy. Andover, Mass., previous to its publication ; and a considerabk portion of the manuscript was in£tiy hands, for this purpose, at the time of his decease. The suitor has therefore done but little more in the preparation of the work, than would have devolved upon him had its Author lived to see its entire com pletion. And though it is more than probable that the Author had in his mind some facts and illustrations, not committed to paper, with which he intended to enrich the work ; yet it is believed that the History now presented to the public, is, in matter and form, what he intended it to be.

In its preparation. my father availed himself of every source of information, and made free use of such material as could be found, occasionally adopting the precise words and expressions of others, when they suited his purpose.

PREFACE.

. The Editor would express his obligations to Mr. Daniel Mac- Gregor and James McKeen, Esq., of the city of New York ; Hon. Samuel D. Bell, of Manchester, N. H. ; George W. Nesmith, Esq., of Franklin, N. H., and Messrs. A. W. and R. C. Mack, of Lon donderry, for much valuable assistance. His acknowledgments are also due to Hon. Luther "V. Bell, LL. D., of Somerville, Mass., for the portrait of his grandfather, John Bell, Esq., and to Messrs. McKeen, of Brunswick, Me., for the portrait of their father. President McKeen. There are doubtless others, to whom my father would have been pleased to express his obligations. The manuscript, before it went to press, received the careful exami nation of Mr. Taylor, who also prepared the Memoir of the Author. Edward P. Parker. Merrimack, A*. //., June, 1851. CONTENTS. Memoir Page ix

Chapter I

Character of the Puritans — Emigrations from Scotland to Ireland — Hostility of the native Irish — Invasion of Ireland by James the First — Unsuccessful Attempt to take possession of Londonderry — Cruelty and Perfidy of the Papists — Siege of Londonderry. . . 1-29

Chapter II

The immediate Causes of the Emigration — Arrival at Boston — Selection of a Township — Settlement of a Pastor — Introduction of the Potato — Manufacture of Linen — Petition for a Charter — Title to the Land obtained — Attempts to dispossess the Settlers — Incorporation of the Town — Fairs — Origin of Town Organizations 30-66

Chapter III

Traits in the Character of the early Settlers — Marriage Ceremonies, Wakes and Funerals — Diversions — Erection of a Meeting-house — Schools — Extracts from the old Town Records — Dwelling-houses — Incorporation of the West Parish — Notices of John and James Pinkerton — Incorporation of Windham and Derryfield — Old French War — Emigrations from the Town — Patriotic Zeal of the Inhabitants during the War of the Revolution — Rebellion of 1786 — The two Villages — Pinkerton Academy — Adams Female Academy — Division of the Town — Emigrations of English Families into the Town 67-129 A* CONTENTS. VI

Chapter IV

Presbyterianism in New England — Extracts from the old Church Etcords — Death and Character of Rev. J. MacGregor — Rev. Mr. Clark; his Character — Settlement of Rev. Mr. Thompson — Description of the Sacramental Service — Induction of Elders — Formation of the West Parish, and Settlement of Rev. D. MacGregor — Settlement of Rev. Mr. Davidson — Revival — New Meeting-house — Death and Character of Rev. D. MacGregor — Settlement of Rev. Mr. Morrison — Death and Character of Rev. Mr. Davidson — Settlement of Rev. Mr. Brown — Divisions in the East Parish — Dismissal of Mr. Brown — Settlement of the present Pastor — Endowment of the two Parishes — Death and Character of Rev. Mr. Morrison — Dr. Dana — Rev. Mr. Hayes ; his Death and Character — Rev. Mr. Adams — Rev. Mr. Brainerd — Congregational Society — Rev. Mr. Day — Methodist Society — Revivals 129-179

Chapter V

Settlements made by Emigrants from Londonderry. — Windham — Peterborough — Bedford — Cherry Valley — Nova Scotia — Antrim — Acworth 180-208

Chapter VI

Biographical Notices. — William Adams, Rufus Anderson, Robert Bartley, John Bell, Samuel Fisher, William Gregg, Jarvis Gregg, Samuel Livermore, Joseph McKeen, John McMurphy, John Prentice, George Reid, Robert Rogers, John Stark, Samuel Taggart, Isaac Thom, Matthew Thornton, and James Wilson. — Genealogical Sketches of the Families of William Adams, Edward Aiken, James Anderson, John Anderson, John Bell, James Clark, Robert Clark, John Crombie, Samuel Dickey, George Duncan, Samuel Ela, Robert Gilmore, James Gregg, David Gregg, Abraham Holmes, John Mack, James MacGregor, Alexander McCollom, James McKeen, John McKeen, John Morrison, James Nesmith, Peter Patterson, John Pinkerton, Hugh Rankin, James Reid, Matthew Taylor, Andrew Todd, John and Thomas Wallace, Thomas Wallace, and John Woodburn 208-312 CONTENTS. VII

Appendix

. Topography of Londonderry — Memorial to Gov . Shute — Wheelwright's Deed — Charter of the Town — Justice McKeen's Commission — An early Parish Tax-list — Memorial to the General Court — Association Test — Soldiers of the Revolution — Petition for an Act regulating Parish Voters — Robert MacGregor's Deed of-the Common and Graveyard — Lists of Representatives and Town Officers — Lawyers — Physicians — Graduates. . . . 313-359 MEMOIR. There are few incidents in the life of a parish clergyman to give any general interest to a sketch of his character. His life is noiseless and unobserved ; passed in retired labors amon<»his own flock, and away from the conflict of more stirring scenes. It is the men who have stood. in the more perilous posts ; men clothed with offices of trust and responsibility ; men who have been conspicuous for original discoveries, for great achievements, or for their agency in bringing about striking moral revolutions, whose personal history attracts the notice or admiration of the world.

The biographies of Melancthon find fewer readers than those of Luther ; but few have heard of the moral heroism of Felix Neff, in his self-denying labors among the Alps, while the story of William Tell is as familiar as household words. It might therefore seem presuming to obtrude upon the public a sketch of a country pastor, whose love of retirement, and the even tenor of whose life, have furnished less than the usual amount of incident for a biographical notice ; yet it seemed not inappropriate to connect with the History of Londonderry a brief account of the Author, particularly, as his pastoral care over one of the churches of that town covers a period of nearly one third of the X MEMOIR. time since its settlement. It was, moreover, believed that the energy with which he met and surmounted difficulties in early life, the steadiness of his aims, and his fidelity and success in his labors, would not be without interest and instruction to those who mightflbe disposed to peruse the History.

Edward Lutwyche Parker was born in Litchfield, New Hampshire, July 28, 1785. He was named for Edward Goldstone Lutwyche, " an English gentleman of education and fortune," and a particular friend of his father. His grandfather, Rev. Thomas .Parker, was a graduate of Harvard University, and the minister of Dracut, Mass. His father, Doct. Jonathan Parlor, also a graduate of Harvard, was a physician of very considerable distinction, excelling particularly as a surgeon, and acquired an extensive practice in the place of his residence, as well as in the adjacent towns, being often sent for from a distance, as a consulting physician. Dr. Parker died in September, 1791, leaving a family of ten children, with scanty means of support, Edward, the youngest but one, being but about six years of age. His early instructions, therefore, were derived almost wholly from his mother.

She was a woman of more than ordinary refinement, of much energy and decision of character, and a consistent and earnest Christian. Active and diligent herself, she inculcated the same principles in her children. They were required to perform their appropriate tasks, which they were never able to evade by any expedients, how ever shrewdly devised. She early imbued their minds with religious truth, knowing that a conviction of their moral accountability would be their surest safeguard, when her own personal instructions could no longer be MEMOIR. XI given. Eight of her ten children in after life became consistent professors of religion. How far early maternal instruction was the means of this it is not for us to determine, but doubtless that influence was important. Ædward, the youngest son, was the favorite child.

His active and sprightly habits made him the centre of interest in the family circle, a place which he continued to hold in after life. Before he was five years old, he had, in three instances, almost miraculously escaped death ; twice from drowning, and once from an attack Dy a domestic animal, the marks of which he ever after bore. At the period when he was of a suitable age to attend school, the advantages of the common schools of New England were much fewer than at present. Instruc tors themselves were very imperfectly qualified, and the circle of studies was extremely limited, including little more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. This meagre course of study was all that Mr. Parker enjoyed in his youth. When he was about twelve years of age, he w*as placed as a clerk in the store of his brother Thomas, in Bedford, N. H. Here he was brought into scenes of peculiar temptation.

The village in which the store was situated, being near the Merrimack River, was the residence and the resort of a large number of persons engaged in rafting and boating, who, at that time, were in the constant and free use of intoxicating drink. A favorite form of it was " flip ;" and so constant was the demand for this, that the loggerhead was always hot, ready to perform its indispensable part in the preparation of this choice beverage. Mr. Parker often remarked that he had sold hogsheads of ardent spirit in this form. It will be readily imagined, to what corrupting influences he was exposed, where MEMOIR. intoxicating liquors were thus freely used, and where his ears were daily faniiliar with the lowest vulgarity and pro faneness ; and yet, to his own amazement, as in after life he looked back upon these scenes, he never contracted the habits of those with whom he was brought in contin ual contact.

Though the habitual use of ardent spirit was at that time almost universal, yet, even under the strongest temptations, he never complied with the prac tice. In a sermon, preached a few years before his death, he said : " I was in childhood placed amid scenes of peculiar temptation and exposure ; yet, though destitute as I then was of the true fear of God, through the influence of maternal instruction and the restraints of a kind Providence, I was kept from contracting habits, or enter ing upon courses of vice and impiety, into which so many at that time were thrown." The impressions made upon his youthful mind by witnessing the debasing and brutal izing effects of intemperance, rendered him, in later years, the fearless and zealous advocate of every wise measure to correct the evil. . In the discharge of his general duties as clerk in his brother's store, he is described as attracting particular notice for his activity and energy.

A part of his business consisted in measuring and taking an account of lumber, particularly of boards, which he is said to have done with great rapidity. This lumber was sent in rafts to New buryport, and he, being commissioned to go and dispose of it, sometimes accompanied the raft, but more generally performed the journey each way on foot. As he was at this time a mere boy, and small of. his age, he was looked upon with much interest for the shrewdness, accuracy, and despatch which were manifest in all his dealings. MEMOIR. XIII When Mr. Parker was fifteen years of age, the brother in whose store he had been employed failed in business ; an event, we are told, which would have occurred still earlier but for the faithful exertions of his young clerk. Being thus thrown out of employment, he was invited by another brother, who was a physician in Topsham, Me., to go and reside with him, and act as clerk in his drug gist's shop.

This invitation he accepted, and remained with his brother about a year. Here he was brought into a still stronger current of temptation than before. To the vice of intemperance, to which he had been exposed, was now added the still more seductive one of gambling. Yet he never yielded ; previous resistance had given him double power to overcome his present exposure. Whenever it was possible, he always with drew from the devotees of the cup and the gaming-board, to a small room alone. At last, sickened by the scenes into which he was daily and nightly thrown, he resolved to leave Topsham, and return to his native place. He did so, performing the journey of one hundred and fifty miles on foot, in the month of March. Being unable to find such employment as he wished, he left home with the consent of his friends, but without informing them of his plans, knowing the objections they would interpose, and engaged himself as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Billerica, Mass.

Here he continued for some time, till his friends, accidentally ascertaining where he was, persuaded him to return home. But there was no business for him there, and his active habits would not allow him to be idle. Accordingly, in connection with a brother, he purchased a woodlot, got off the lumber, drew it to the river, and rafted it. In the winter, being B MEMOIR. now seventeen years of age, he offered himself as a teacher of a district school in the present town of Man chester, N. H., then called Derryfield. Though he had but a very limited education, and had never studied English grammar or geography, yet, after due examination, he was approved and engaged to teach the school. At the opening of the school, some of his scholars presented themselves to study English grammar. With a resolution that never failed him in the most trying cir cumstances, he put himself to the new study with such energy as to be able to teach it with success ; and so great was the approbation of his instructions, and of his general management of the school, that he was invited to teach there again the next winter.

After these checkered scenes, by the particular advice of his friends, who saw in him elements of usefulness and success in some higher calling than any to which he had directed his attention, he was induced to prepare himself for the study of medicine. With the little gains acquired by the sale of his lumber and by his school, he entered the academy in Londonderry, at that time, and for many years after, under the charge of Samuel Burnham, M. A., a gentleman of most excellent character, and of some distinction as a teacher. While a member of the acad emy, he boarded in the family of Rev. Jonathan Brown, the minister of the East Parish, and whose place he was to occupy in a little more than six years. It was during his connection with this school that his attention was first called decidedly to the subject of religion, by a sermon on the Judgment, delivered in the pulpit in which he subsequently preached for so long a period.

There can be little doubt that the change wrought in him by the MEMOIR. XV religious impressions made at that time was a thorough and radical one. It invested life with new interest, presented new and more enlarged objects of effort, and pressed upon him higher and stronger motives of action. He soon relinquished the purpose of entering the medi cal profession ; and though entirely destitute of means, except what he might gain by his own exertions, directed his course of study with reference to a preparation for college, with a view of entering the Christian ministry. At this time there was a highly excited state of feeling among the people of the East Parish of Londonderry, which had grown out of the opposition of a large minority to the settlement of the Rev. Mr. Brown, and the consequent formation of a Congregational society within the bounds of the parish.

Mr. Parker, finding his own mind too much diverted from his studies by the subjects which distracted the parish, left the academy at Londonderry, and placed himself under the instruction of Rev. Dr. Wood, of Boscawen, N. H., who often fitted young men for college. Here he remained until he entered college, with the exception of the time which he spent in teaching. During his residence in Boscawen, at the age of nineteen, he united with the church under the charge of Dr. Wood. With what perseverance aud success he prose cuted his studies under his new, as well as under his former instructor, will be evident from the fact, that, in two years and three months after he commenced his studies in the academy at Londonderry, with a view of fitting himself for the medical profession, he entered the junior class in Dartmouth College, having taught school during this time some more than nine months.

He went to Hanover on foot, carrying all his effects with him. In MEMOIR. after life, he, like many others, often regretted that he had not spent more time in his preparatory and col legiate course. While a member of college, he made the most faithful use of his time, rising at a very early hour in the morning. A classmate who was familiar with all his habits, says : " He prosecuted his studies with great assiduity. With him no time was allowed to pass un improved. He ranked high as a scholar, and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa society." His Christian character and influence during his college course attracted particular notice. A classmate, after stating that " he possessed a mind of a high order, strong, and quick of apprehension," adds : " but his piety gave the chief lustre to his character.

As a Chri 'tian, he was exemplary, devout, humble, and cheerful. In conversation and demeanor, he -was pleasant and courteous. Probably no one of his class was more highly esteemed for his moral and Christian character than he." Rev. Dr. Shurtleff, late professor in Dartmouth College, and the only one of his college instructors who now survives, says : " It is clear in my recollection, that Mr. Parker stood among the good scholars of his class, but was most prom inent as a devoted, consistent, and faithful Christian." And adverting to " his conscientious regard for divine truth," as exhibited in the decided and bold measures he took, on one occasion, to defeat the efforts made to dif fuse loose and dangerous sentiments, Dr. Shurtleff says : " I silently marked the spirit which prompted him ; a fearless determination to resist, at every hazard, the encroachments of error ; and the same fidelity and moral courage which he then displayed, were uniformly, MEMOIR.

XVII so far as I have known and heard, carried out with pru dence and good judgment in his subsequent life and ministry." Others have borne similar testimony in regard to the earnestness and consistency of his Christian example, and of the respect in which he was held, as combining in an unusual degree, at that time in college, honorable scholarship with decided piety. While Mr. Parker was a member of college, regular instruction was given in theology to such as wished it, by the professor of that department, which was then filled by Rev. Dr. Shurtleff. Besides pursuing the prescribed college course, he availed himself of the opportunity thus offered to prosecute his theological studies. In these, as in other studies, he made rapid advances. His professor, referring to the short time in which he prepared to enter the junior class in college, remarks : " His well known rapidity of mind would give countenance to the report which you mention.

Certainly, his progress in theology corresponded with Ms supposed rapidity in fitting for college." Mr. Parker supported himself during his college course by teaching school. He often spoke of the good provi dence which directed him to desirable situations ; of one instance of this kind, he always had the most grateful remembrance. During his senior year, at a season when there was no opportunity of obtaining employment in the district schools, he found himself wholly destitute of means to pay his bills, and knew not what to do. At length, it occurred to him that Richard Lang, Esq., a merchant at Hanover, might wish to employ some one to teach his children. With much diffidence, he concluded to go to Mr. Lang's store, and propose the subject to him. He B* MEMOIR. accordingly went ; and, as soon as he opened the door, Mr. Lang came to him and said : " Mr. Parker, I wish to employ some one to teach my children ; I have been to Professor Shurtleff, to request him to recommend a suitable person, and he recommends you ; are you willing to take the situation?"

The answer can be readily imagined. On the same day, he was comfortably settled in Mr. Lang's family, where he remained several months after he graduated. Oh, how many young men of gen erous impulses, and with an ardent desire to prepare themselves to be useful in the world, may be found in all our institutions of learning, embarrassed and disheartened for the want of some small pittance of relief, which multi tudes would be the richer for giving them ! Mr. Parker graduated in 1807, but continued his the ological studies at Hanover, under Prof. Shurtleff, for several months afterward. He was licensed to preach the gospel Oct. 29, 1807, by the Committee of the Grafton, N. II., presbytery, his license being signed by John Wheelock, John Smith, Roswell Shurtleff, President and Professors in Dartmouth College, and Rev. James Wood ward, of Norwich.

During the winter, he spent some time in the study of theology with Rev. Dr. Burton, of The tf ord, Vt., the zealous advocate and defender of the " Taste Scheme," against the " Exercise Scheme," as promulgated by Dr. Emmons. About this time he began to make occasional entries in a diary, from which a few extracts will be taken in the course of this sketch. In view of the ministry upon which he was about to enter, he seems to have had clearer convictions than before of the necessity of vital piety. Hence he says : " I do resolve to give more dili- MEMOIR. XIX gence to be established in the hope of the gospel." " Sensible of the great and momentous study in which I am engaged, and of the importance of entering upon it with right motives, I resolve to devote myself to the examination of my own heart."

" I do now resolve to relinquish every earthly object, and to set my affections supremely on God." " I resolve not to suffer the opin ions, the pleasures, the flatteries, or the frowns of the world, to influence my conduct. Grant me power, 0 God, to confirm my feeble resolutions." As an evidence of his laborious application to the studies on which he had entered, it may be added, that the time of each day, from five o'clock in the morning till half-past eleven at night, was appropriated to particular duties, including three seasons of devotion. He had an impediment in his speech ; he therefore devoted one hour each day to correct that. He wished to gain a more extensive knowledge of some of the studies of his college course ; he accordingly gave three hours each day to the mathematics, and as many to the languages ; and all this in addition to his principal object, the study of theology.

In the spring of 1808, Mr. Parker took charge of the academy in Salisbury, N. H., for six months, residing in the family of the Rev. Thomas Worcester, pastor of the church in that place. After completing his engagement at Salisbury, he preached for several months at Columbia, Conn. Here he was invited to settle ; but feeling the need of more experience, as well as a more extended course of study, before he connected himself permanently with any society, he declined the call, and placed himself under the instruction of Rev. Dr. Worcester, of Salem, Mass., the first Secretary of the American Board. He XX MEMOIR. remained in this place one year, residing in the family of Dr. Worcester, and assisting him in his ministerial and parochial duties ; he also taught a school which was con nected with Dr. Worcester's society.

His ardent piety was not unobserved here. His faithful and earnest labors, during a revival in the winter of 1809-10, are still fresh in the minds of some who were familiar with the scenes of that interesting period. He always looked upon the time spent at Salem as a very valuable preparation for his subsequent labors. During his residence at Salem, as he passed through the East Parish of Londonderry, now Derry, on his way to visit his friends in Litchfield, he was providentially invited to supply the pulpit for two Sabbaths. This led to further engagements, which he met by going to Derry on Saturday afternoon, and returning to Salem on Monday in time to commence his school. As soon as he had fulfilled the engagement he had made with Dr. Wor cester, he received a call to become the pastor of the Presbyterian church in the East Parish of Londonderry.

This call he accepted, and was ordained September 12, 1810. Rev. Dr. Worcester, his friend and recent instructor, preached the ordination sermon. In addressing the people on that occasion, Dr. Worcester said, with reference to the pastor elect: "We have the pleasing confidence that our young brother, who is now to be set over you in the Lord, will prove to you an ascension-gift, a good man and full of the Holy Ghost, an able and faithful minister of the New Testament. This confidence we have not taken up lightly ; it has resulted from what we have seen and known, and with respect to some of us, at least, it has been strengthened and confirmed by intimate and endearing acquaintance." MEMOIR. XXI Just before his ordination, he had evidently made the responsible duties of the ministry, and the various ways by which these might be most successfully accomplished, a matter of protracted and prayerful study.

He had taken a comprehensive view of the difficulties to be met, the prejudices to be overcome, and felt that he needed more than human wisdom to render his ministry success ful. There was no shrinking from the responsibilities of the station, because it was beset with trials ; no desire even to avoid what might come in the way of duty ; his only solicitude was to know how he might approve him self to Him who had put him into the ministry. The following extracts from his diary, will show his interest in adopting and carrying out such principles and rules, as would fit him most successfully for the work on which he was about to enter. " I will consider love to God and zeal for his glory as my highest duty, and study to improve daily in these divine affections ; and will judge of my progress in them, not by transient fervor, but by my habitual temper ; by my faithful performance of the self-denying duties of Christianity ; by my cheerful acquiescence in all God's dispensations, and by the love, humility, and watchfulness which I maybe enabled to exhibit to those around me."

" I will cultivate an habitual sense of God's presence, and of my accountability to him ; of the shortness of time, and my obligations to improve it." " I will be particularly watchful against the love of praise or distinction, as well as the fear of shame ; desist ing from my purpose when I feel these to be my only motives, and endeavoring by prayer to overcome them when I perceive them combined with proper motives." MEMOIR. " I will be open to conviction, ever receiving correc tion and reproof meekly and thankfully ; never question ing merely for the sake of dispute, nor retorting on my reprover." " I will in no case affect knowledge which I have not ; I will not put off to a future day the business of the present, but will apply myself to it, never yielding to sloth or the love of ease, but exercising a constant and self denying attention to my proper work."