History of Nottingham, Deerfield, and Northwood, comprised within the original limits of Nottingham, Rockingham County, N.H., with records of the centennial proceedings at Northwood, and genealogical sketches ..

Front matter

The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Chapter I. History Of Nottingham

Motive to settle new Towns. — Petitioners. — Petition for a Township. — Names of Petitioners. — Act of Council. — First called New Boston. — Action of Proprietors. — Royal Charter. — Names of Proprietors. — Bridge. — Size of Town.— First Settlement. — The Plan. — Block-house. — Mill. — Streets. — Shem Drown's Mill. — Gift of Timber to George H Division of Lots 77-94

Chapter II. The Third Division

Committee appointed. — Report. — Surveyors, their Report — Ranges

described. — Names of Proprietors. — Lots drawn .... 95-105

Chapter III. Ecclesiastical Affairs

Mr. Maylem. — Call given him. — Joshua Moody — Call to him. — Stephen Emery. — Call to him. — Salary. — Dismissal. — Samuel McClintock. — Call to him. — Josiah Goodhue. — Call to him. — Benjamin Butler. — Call accepted. — Troubles. — Council called. — Mr. Butler dismissed. — Oliver Dodge. — Call declined. — James Hobert invited. — Declined. —Other Efforts 106-116

Ylii CONTENTS.

Chapter IV. Meeting-houses

First unfinished Pews sold to complete it. — Description of it. — The

Second House. — Its Removal. — Congregational Church. — Other Denominations 117-119

Chapter V. Revolution

Uneasiness. — Taking Fort William and Mary. — Proclamation of Governor Wentworth. — Aid for Boston Sufferers. — Procuring Arms. — Delegates. — Province Money withheld. — Pay of Soldiers in the Concord Fight. — Declaration of Independence in New Hampshire. — Association Test. — Census of 1775. — Fire-arms. — Dr. Shepard. — Raising Men for Army . — Beef . — Petition for Right of Representation 120-133

Chapter VI. Indian Troubles

Tribe on North River. — Murder of Mrs. Simpson and Others. — Petition

for Aid. — Miscellaneous Votes and Incidents.— Chichester Epsom. —

Mark How — Premium for Wolves. — James Harvey. — Early Marriages.— Appointment of Justice. — Call to Mr. Osborn. — Inoculation forbidden — Bounty for Wild Cats and Crows. — Burial Cloths

Turnpike District. — School-districts Inventory of 1806 Town

Officers. — Votes. — Insane Man's Prayer. — Thirsty Disciple . .134-165

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Bartlett. — Butler. — Cilley . — Colcord. — Dearborn. — Demeritt. — Ger-

rish. — Gile. — Goodrich. — Gove. — Harvey Harvey. — Kelsey.

Langley. —Lucy. — McCIary. — Marsh. — McCrillis. — Nealley. —

Norris. — Scales. — Simpson. — Stevens. — Tuttle. — Watson

Winslow 166-253

DEBRPIBLD.

Chapter I

Nottingham consents to set off. — Petition for a Legal Separation. — Second Vote to set off. — Batchelder's Deer. — Gov. Wentworth. — Origin of Name of Deerfield. — Petition. — Incorporation .... 259-265

CONTENTS. ix

Chapter II

First Legal Meeting. — Town Officers. — Committee to locate Meetinghouse.— Money voted. — Center to be denned. — Meeting-house. — New Lights. — Reconsideration of Vote. — New Location for Meetinghouse. — Another Location. — Tet another chosen. — Trouble over . 266-271

Chapter III

Mr. Upham's Call to Deerfield. — Proposals. — Clearing of Land. — Apple-trees. — Mr. Upham's Reply. — Preparation for Ordination. — The Council. — Mr. Upham's Parentage. — Marriage. — His Character. — Decease. — Monument. — His Children and his Grandchildren. — Rev. Nathaniel Wells. — Ordination. — His Character. — His Children. — His Successors 272-284

Chapter IV

Roads. — Schools. — Revolutionary Spirit. — Deputies chosen. — Soldiers raised. — Bounties voted. — Census. — New-York Tories sent to New Hampshire. — Assigned to Deerfield and Nottingham. — Test Declaration.— Distinguished Statesmen. — Baptist Church. — Freewill Baptist Church 285-296

Chapter V

Parade. — Rand's Corner. — Old Center. — New Center. — South Road. —

Coffee Town 297-307

Chapter VI

Delegates to Provincial Congress. — Moderators. — Representatives. — Town Clerks. — Selectmen. — Inventory, 1777. — Comparison with 1877-78 308-323

CHAPTER VII. Attorneys. — Physicians Spotted Fever. — The Poor. — First Stove for

Congregational Meeting-house. — Price of Labor — Contrast . .324-332

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Batchelder. — Bean. — Brown. — Butler. — Cate. — Chadwick. — Chase. — Churchill. — Cilley. — Collins Cram. — Currier. — Dearborn. — Eastman.— Freese. — French. — Furnald. — Gerrish. — Gilman — Griffin. — Haines. — Hilton. — Hoag. — James. — James. — Jenness. — Maloon. — Marston. — Marston. — Miller. — Moore. — Page. — Prescott. — Rand —

Robinson. — Robinson Sanborn. — Sawyer. — Simpson — Smith. —

Smith Stearns. — Stevens. — Thompson. — Tilton. — True. — Vea-

sey. — Weare. — Whittier White.— Woodman . . . 333-507 x CONTENTS.

NORTHWOOD.

HISTORICAL ADDRESS.

Early Settlements. — Incorporation. — Revolution. — Association Test. — First Volunteers. — Census. — Sacrifices. — Doings of Northwood during the Rebellion. — Ecclesiastical History. — Calvin Baptist Church. — Congregational Church. — Freewill Baptist Church. — Education. — Turnpike. — President Monroe. — Lafayette. — Changes . . . 511-541

Chapter I. Churches

Calvin Baptist. — Edmund Pillsbury. — Eliphalet Merrill. — Elias Gregory. — George W. Ashby and Others. — Congregational. — First Meeting-house. — Call to Josiah Prentice. — Pledge of Support. — Ordination.— Meeting-house repaired. — Revivals. — Second Meeting-house erected. — Mr. and Mrs. Coe. — Mr. Prentice's Dismissal. — His Successors.— Freewill Baptist. — Meeting-house erected. — Pastors . . 542-557

Chapter II. Schools

Coe's Academy. — Seminary. — School-houses. — First Sabbath-school

organized 558-565

Chapter III. Local Sketches

EaBt Northwood. — Clark's Hill. — Center Letter of Hon. S. B. Piper. — Narrows. — S. G. Drake. — His Letter. — Blake's Hill. — Chace C. Hill. — The Mountain. — Bennett's Hill. — Richardson's Hill . 566-582.

Chapter IV. Professional And Municipal

Attorneys. — Physicians — Town Officers Fragmentary Records of the

Selectmen 583-596

Chapter V. Miscellaneous

Agriculture. — Farmers' Association. — Soil Census of Mills of Northwood, Deerfield, and Nottingham. — Farm Census, 1870, for Northwood

and Nottingham — Inventories of Northwood and Nottingham, 1878.

The Poor. — The Beginning of the New Tear. —Anecdotes of Wild Animate.— Cemeteries 597-609

CONTENTS. si

Chapter VI. Military Record For Nottingham, Deerfield, And North- Wood

Revolutionary Soldiers. — Surviving Pensioners in 1840. — Soldiers of

1812. — Soldiers of the Rebellion 610-621

FAMILY SKETCHES.

Bar tie tt. — Batchelder. — Bate holder. — Bennett. — Bickford. — Blake. — Brown. — Brown. — Buzell. — Clark. — Coe. — Cogswell. — Crockett. — Demeritt. — Dow. — Durgin. — Durgin. — Furber. — Hanson. — Harvey. — Hill. — Hill. — Hoitt. — James. — Jenness. — Johnson. — Johnson. — Kelley. — Kimball. — Knowlton. — Knowles. — Lancaster. — Mead. — Morrison. — Nealley. — Norton. — Pillsbury. — Prentice. — Prescott. — Sherburne. — Smith. — Tasker. — Tucker. — Tuttle. — Wiggin.— Willey. — Wingate 622-786

NORTHWOOD CENTENNIAL.

THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE

INCOBPOBATION OF THE TOWN OF N0ETHW00D,

SEPTEMBER 6, 1873.

H m

<i

NORTHWOOD CENTENNIAL.

PREPARATION.

A T the animal meeting of the town in March, 1872, -£■*- initiatory measures were adopted for a family gathering. The old folks at home said they were lonesome. Their sons and daughters occasionally came back to the paternal roof ; but they desired to see them all together, and thus have a lively time of it. Some would like to see how tall the children had grown ; others, how large ; others still, how good-looking they might be. All desired to hear what they might have to say for themselves, where they had been, what they had done, and how they felt towards the old homestead. The fathers wished to know if the old apple-tree whose fruit had been eagerly devoured by the children had been forgotten ; whether the rocks on which they had played would seem as large as in days of childhood ; whether old Duke would excite their veneration, and dear old Brindle would awaken their tenderness : and the mothers desired to know if the cradle in which they had been rocked had any charm for them ; whether the turnover, pie, or pudding would taste as in days when they came hungry from school or wearied from the ramble. And so brothers and sisters expressed a curiosity to see older and long-absent members of the household, and to learn who had fared the better, those who had tarried at home or those who had drifted away from childhood's happy scenes.

Thus, when the question was raised whether all the manorborn and the adopted children should come home to enjoy the fatted calf, amid merriment and wholesome cheer, up went all hands, and the man who tempered by his authority the excited feelings of the throng declared that the ayes had it ; and twenty men, renowned for promptness at the tug and power of endurance, or strength at the breeching and skill in steadying the ark, were appointed to see that all should be gathered home from Dan to Beersheba and that all things be made ready for their reception. These men were E. C. Cogswell, John B. Clark, J. J. Cate, Ira B. Hoitt, G. W. Ashby, Robert Morrison, Thomas Tuttle, V. P. Tasker, W. T. Willey, Richard Hoitt, S. S. James, W. M. Durgin, Ivory B. Hill, Ezra Tasker, H. Knowlton, W. M. Purber, G. T. Sherburn, H. J. Clark, David Knowles, and R. B. Watson.

This committee, after suitable consultation, sent forth the following letter of invitation to all absent sons and daughters of the town whose names and residences could be ascertained : —

The one hundi-edth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Nbrthwood will occur the present year.

It is thought that that event should not pass without suitable observance. Hence it has been resolved to call back to the old homestead all the absent sons and daughters of the town on the sixth day of September, 1873, that we may together rehearse the deeds and make mention of the virtues of our ancestors, under the inspiration of hearthstones yet dear and graves moistened by tears of affection.

Acting in behalf of the town and by her authority, we cordially invite you to be present on that day, to unite with the present residents of the town in doing homage to memories of the dead and in kindling anew the fires that burn at the altars of friendship.

On that day, a historical address will be delivered by Rev. E. C. Cogswell; and memorial papers may be expected from Hon. S. B Piper, Rev. H. B. Wiggin, Hon. Edson Hill, Rev. G. B. Buzell, E. S. Coe, George W. Cate, J. C. Tasker, J. J. Pillsbury, Esqs., Revs. D. P. Leavitt, F. Furber, L. Tasker, and others.

The names of the gentlemen composing the committee, as above given, were added.

Thus it will be seen, that, at an early day, the time for reunion, the orator, and many of the speakers had been appointed; and, at the following annual meeting of the town, it was unanimously voted to raise five hundred dollars to defray the expenses of the occasion. This sum was not called for, the expenses being defrayed by subscriptions. In due time, the services of the Northwood band were secured, appropriate committees were appointed, and, with the hastening day, preparations hastened to completion. Seats for a large number had been arranged, a platform for the speakers had been constructed, and a vast tent erected, beneath which tables had been arranged, ready for the abundant food, "from the inevitable beans down to all sorts of appetizing compounds wherewith the ladies tickle the human palate and bedevil the human stomach." The " stalled ox," presented by Thomas J. Pinkham, Esq., of Chelmsford, Mass.,* has his splendid carcass perforated with an enormous spit, and the work of roasting is going on with the decline of day ; and a refreshing shower of rain, followed by a brilliant sunset, gives promise of a pleasant to-morrow. Many familiar and unfamiliar faces are met as the advanced guard of the hundreds on their way to the home of earlier days.

Saturday morning is ushered in with bright sunbeams and brisk breezes from the north-west. At nine o'clock a procession was formed at Clark's hill, near the Free-will Baptist meeting-house, under the direction of the chief marshal, Woodbury M. Durgin, and his aids, Edwin Cate,

* Northwood, N. H., September 22, 1873. Thomas J. Pinkham, Esq.

Dear Sir, — At a meeting of the centennial committee, September 15, it was unanimously voted that the thanks of the committee be rendered you for the generous gift of an ox to be roasted whole for the centennial dinner.

The interest excited by the novelty of the thing was very observable, and the spirit that prompted its bestowal for the purpose was highly appreciated.

IVORY B. HILL, Secretary.

G NORTHWOOD CENTENNIAL.

William Wallace, Sidney Gray, Ivory B. Hill, James C. Locke, and Franklin Bennett. The procession marched to the common in front of the Congregational church and Ooe's academy, which were tastefully decorated with evergreen, and where had assembled a large number from various sections ; thence, having received the orator, president, and distinguished guests, it returned, led by the Northwood brass band, to the parade, where seats had been placed for the audience, and a canopied stand erected for the speakers, decorated with evergreen and beautiful bouquets of flowers. The entrance to the parade was under an evergreen arch, which bore the motto, " Welcome home," while the town hall bore on its front, in evergreen letters, the inscription, "Old North-woods, 1773, — Northwood, 1873."

Upon the platform, the officers of the day, the invited guests, and the reporters took their seats. Among those present were Col. C. M. Murphy of Dover, one of the governor's staff ; Hon. George G. Fogg of Concord ; Gen. Alfred Hoitt of Lee ; Hon. I. W. Smith of Manchester ; P. B. Cogswell of Concord, member of the state legislature ; Hon. James W. Odlin of Exeter; James F. Langdon, Esq., of Plymouth ; and Frank W. Miller, since mayor of Portsmouth and commissioner of Rockingham county.

On calling the audience to order, the chief marshal introduced the Hon. Bobert Morrison as the president of the day, and read the names of the following vice-presidents : Ezra Tasker, Elbridge G. Boody, Enoch H. Pillsbury, John L. Crocket, S. S. James, William Sherburne, John Nealley, Levi H. Mead, Jonathan Hill, Gilman Batchelder, Nathaniel Knowlton, Ira B. Hoitt, Samuel Johnson, Levi Knowles, John G. Mead, Josiah P. Lancaster, A. J. Pillsbury, Philip Hoitt, William M. Furber, and Miles Knowlton.

After music, the one hundred and third Psalm was read and prayer offered by the Rev. Henry B. Wiggin of Orange,

NORTBWOOD CENTENNIAL. T

~N. J. After music by the band, the pi'esident addressed the assembly as follows : —

Ladies and Gentlemen, — Children of the venerable town whose one hundredth anniversary we meet to celebrate on this auspicious morning, — it becomes my duty, and it is my delightful privilege, in behalf of the committee and of the dwellers on the old homestead, to bid you welcome on this occasion. To us this day is burdened with interest. To you it cannot be of less importance than to us. We have tarried on these hills and in these valleys where our fathers toiled, enjoyed, and died. You have strayed away from us ; but the ties that bind us mutually to the town in which we were bom have not been broken. We have longed to see your faces, hear your voices, .and enjoy again what once we so highly prized. Therefore we have ■extended to you a hearty invitation to return, and we now bid you a cordial welcome to our hearts and homes. The day is auspicious ; the air is invigorating ; yonder lake reflects the smiling heavens and seems glad at your coming ; and this profusion of brilliant flowers is an assurance of friendship and gladness. The season is suggestive, combining the gay and beautiful with the soberer hues of autumn and marks of decay ; emblems these of the joyous beginnings of life and the sadder endings of human existence. The latter are no less beneficial than the former. The thousands that have come up to this great feast are a promise to us of good. We thank you for your presence, for the warm pressure of the hand, for the smile with which you .greet us, for the tender tear that bespeaks the inward emotion. Welcome home, then ! A thousand times we bid you welcome to all we can proffer you, hoping that this day and these scenes may afford subjects for thought and memory that shall carry pleasure along all the pathway of the future.

In response, the Hon. Charles H. Piper of Niagara Palls read a letter from his brother, the Hon. Sherburne B. Piper of Lewiston, N. Y., to the chairman of the committee, in •which he expressed his regret that business in the courts prevented his replying to the address of welcome on the part of the president, and gave assurances of a lively interest in the town of his birth and especially in the doings of this day. Mr. Charles H. Piper felicitously responded to the words of the president, speaking both for himself and for the many sons and daughters who had gladly returned to the scenes of their childhood. He would express sincere and grateful thanks for the open arms and warm hearts that have met them on every side. It was an occasion which the returning sons and daughters, especially, would never forget. As his eyes rested upon the lovely lake, stretching in quiet beauty through the adjacent meadows, he hoped its placid bosom would be an emblem of a common level upon which the children of Northwood would that day meet for social intercourse and enjoyment. Mr- Piper's remarks were most fully appreciated and earnestly applauded.

After music, followed the historical address of Rev. E. C. Cogswell, which occupied an hour and a half in its delivery. At the conclusion of which, the procession re-formed and marched to the tent, covering some six thousand square feet. Over the entrance was the motto, " We bid you welcome ; " while within, from the evergreen wreaths, hung others, such as " Early friends again united" and "Welcome the present and remember the past." A tablet bore the following poetical tribute to the departed : —

" But the first greetings over, you glance round the hall ; Your hearts call the roll, but they answer not all ; Through the turf green above them the dead cannot hear ; Name by name in the silence falls sad as a tear."

" A portrait of the Rev. Josiah Prentice, the first pastor of the Congregational church, hung within, smoked and cracked as it was taken from the ruins of the old Prentice homestead, which was burned in May, 1872, and which had stood since 1799." The portrait was trimmed with evergreen, and beneath it was the following inscription : —

" And let us hope, as well we can, That the silent angel -who garners man May find some grain, as of old he found, In the human cornfield, ripe and sound ; And the Lord of the Harvest deign to own The precious seed by the fathers sown."

The tables were supplied with an abundance of substantial food. After grace was said by Rev. Mr. Knight of Salem, Mass., two thousand persons were served with dinner ; yet the larder was not exhausted. During the recess, there was much social intercourse enjoyed, and pleasant incidents recalled, by friends who had not met for years ; and, to most, the hour and a half sped all too rapidly, before the remaining exercises were resumed.

POST-PRANDIAL.

Dinner over, the audience again assembled, at the call of the band, around the speakers' platform, and the exercises were renewed with the reading, by Miss Nellie M. Cogswell, of a poem written by Miss Susan C. Willey of Kansas, followed by pleasant and eloquent responses to sentiments announced by the chairman of the committee. Hon. Edson Hill spoke in behalf of the absent sons and daughters of Northwood, followed by Mr. John J. Cate, for the farmers. Mr. Bradbury C. Hill of Woonsocket, R. I., a highly successful mechanic, spoke eloquently for the men of like vocation. He was not expecting to be called upon for a speech, and he had always found two things necessary when one was to do anything, — to have a model, or a just conception of what he was to do ; and that, in respect to speech-making, he lacked both. But the audience, thinking otherwise in respect to his deficiency, gave him their hearty applause. John P. P. Kelley, Esq., of Exeter, was expected to speak for the merchants, but procured a substitute in R. S. Prescott, Esq., of Bangor, Me., who pronounced the good reputation of Northwood merchants to have been justly awarded them. A poem by Mrs. A. L. Hanson of South Newmarket, was then read by Rev. A. A. Chase, of the Calvin-Baptist church. S. 0. Buzell, Esq., of Exeter, spoke of the old elm-tree on Clark's hill, planted by Jonathan Clark, aided by his daughter, who became the mother of the speaker. John G. Sherburn, Esq., of Lowell, Mass., interested the audience in contrasting the past with the present, inferring therefrom a glorious future, and closing with the sentiment, " Blessed shall be the ears which hear the clock strike 1973!" Robert B. Caverly, Esq., of Lowell, Mass., read a mirth-provoking poem, and was followed by Thomas J. Pinkham of Chelmsford, Mass., who spoke of the future of Northwood, showing how that might be made as cheering as the past. His judicious suggestions, and generous gift of a stalled ox for the centennial dinner, were fully appreciated by the audience. Gen. Alfred Hoitt of Lee spoke for the " coming young men" of Northwood, advising them to pay for all they might get, and get all they could honestly, to buy lands, and get them wives in Northwood. The wisdom of such counsels was apparent from his own history. He married a Northwood girl, who, though now the mother of thirteen children, all able to earn their bread, yet retains the freshness and beauty of earlier days, while he had lands enough to employ all their hands. Why should not the young men of Northwood do likewise ? Rousing cheers were given for Mr. Hoitt and his wife. Mr. Hoitt was followed by R. B. Caverly, giving personal reminiscences.

The above exercises were interspersed with reading of letters from Hon. J. H. Ela of Rochester, Joseph S. Grace of Portsmouth, E. S. Coe, Esq., of Bangor, and Gov. Straw of Manchester.

Thus the day closed, without weariness or satiety on the part of the multitude, delighted with what they had enjoyed and anticipating equal satisfaction on the morrow.

SABBATH DAY.

The committee had chosen Saturday as the day for the centennial celebration because it was believed that most

NOBTSWOOD CENTENNIAL. 11

of those returning to the place of their nativity would desire to spend a Sabbath where they first learned to

" Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

Accordingly, it was arranged with the pastors of the churches in the town that the people should all meet in one place and unite with strangers and friends from abroad in services appropriate to the occasion and becoming the sacredness of the day. It was determined to make this the " great day of the feast."

The sun of this day was without a cloud, and gratitude to God was felt for it in many a heart in Northwood. It had been arranged that the services should be held in the " great tent," where the day before so many had been fed with the meat that perishes. At ten o'clock a. m., the president called the meeting to order, and, after congratulating the audience upon the pleasantness of the morning and the radiant countenances met on every hand, and expressing the hope that this day might be as rich in blessings as its predecessor and even more abundant, desired that the services might be under the direction of the pastors of the churches. According to the request of the president, Mr. Cogswell, pastor of the Congregational church, took charge of the morning services. Rev. H. B. Wiggin of Orange, N. J., invoked the divine blessing, and the union choir sang, to the tune " Maiiow," the hymn, —

" Let children hear the mighty deeds Which God performed of old," etc.

This was followed by the reading of the Scriptures and prayer by Rev. E. B. Knight of Salem, Mass., a former Calvin-Baptist pastor in this town at two different periods. The choir and congregation then sang, with organ accompaniment by Miss L. G. Cogswell, the hymn, —

" Welcome, sweet day of rest, That saw the Lord arise," etc.

George W. Cate, Esq., of Amesbury, Mass., then read a well-written sketch of the pioneer fathers of Northwood, followed by an interesting article on the pioneer mothers, written by Rev. George B. Buzell of Portland, Me., and read by J. Prentice Tucker of Boston, both grandsons of the late Rev. Josiah Prentice, the former being detained at home by ill health. Rev. Mr. Cogswell then read a memorial paper by Rev. D. P. Leavitt of Providence, R. I., on the " Place of our Nativity," Mr. Leavitt having forwarded his paper, not being able to be present. This was followed by a historical sketch of the Calvin-Baptist church, by Rev. A. A. Chase, the pastor ; that of the Congregational church, prepared by Mr. Cogswell, was passed over, and Rev. L. P. Bickford read a paper on the history of the Free-will Baptist church. Mr. Cogswell announced the reception of a memorial paper from Rev. P. Purber of Holliston, Mass. John 0. Tasker, Esq., of Washington, D. C, read a paper on " Home Inheritance," followed by Rev. H. B. Wiggin, with a paper on " Success to those that tarry at home."

After singing, the services were suspended for an hour and a half, during which refreshments were served and a delightful renewing of acquaintance and friendship was enjoyed. Many a moistened eye was seen, and many a hand was pressed as a pledge of future remembrance.

AFTERNOON.

It had been arranged that the afternoon worship should be a praise service. Rev. Mr. Chase conducted it. Appropriate passages of Scripture were read, hymns sung, and prayers offered. The singing was aided by the organ and the band, the whole congregation participating. These were interspersed with brief and pertinent remarks by J. C. Tasker, Morris Knowles of Lawrence, Mass., J. W. James of Deerfield, George W. Batchelder of Bloomington, 111., Charles Hoitt of Newton, Mass., B. C. Hill of Woonsocket,

NOBTHWOOB CENTENNIAL. 13

H. I., David Knowles of Haverhill, Mass., Benjamin Hoitt of Nottingham, Charles W. Piper of Niagara Falls, Joseph Hill of Beloit, Wis., Hon. William Peavey of Strafford, J. Haven Hill of Concord, Hon. Edson Hill of Manchester, and others.

In closing, Mr. Cogswell spoke as follows : —

Mb. President, — I take this occasion, in behalf of the committee, to say, that what we anticipated, we have realized, in connection with this occasion. Nay, we anticipated much, but have realized more. Our cup of satisfaction has been full. In accomplishing the object aimed at, we had obstacles to encounter, and they have yielded. The good people of the town have nobly seconded the efforts of the committee, even exceeded the expectation of some. A kind Providence •ought to be recognized in giving a spirit of concord and a readiness to meet the exigency with a large-heartedness. In giving us these delightful days of sunshine and health-inspiring breezes, God has been propitious. Nor less do we recognize the good hand of our God upon us in inclining the hearts of so many of the absent to return at the •call of those at home. These large assemblies assure us that most of the family are here. We have been grateful at the sight of so many who remember Northwood as it was fifty years ago and more. The burden of years seems to rest lightly on most of them. They are younger for revisiting the homes of their earlier days. May the years to come bear them over none but green fields and beside none but sparkling streams, until they enter the field of Paradise and drink of the stream that reflects the Father's face.

We have been none the less gratified at seeing those yet strong to labor and endure. It is evident that their lines have fallen in pleasant places. Their whole demeanor shows that they have eome from homes of plenty and contentment, yet, in the midst of pleasant surroundings, they have not hesitated to forsake those pleasant abodes and hasten to enter the humbler dwellings of those who guard the hearth-stones of their youth. Our hearts have felt sublimer joy as we have heard them say, each for himself, — "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go whither the tribes go up to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee."

There is new and higher joy felt within the humbler dwellings on these hill-tops and in these valleys where so many benedictions come gushing up from hearts that swell and heave with the warm sensations of childhood. Our hearts are more buoyant and our steps more elastic by the hearty cheer of strong men and noble women, who have hallowed this occasion. We shall turn to them in times of despondency with assurance of succor.

Nor less fraught with interest is the coming of the children's children. They have come to homes not familiar, yet dear, because their fathers and mothers were born here. Herein do we find a pledge of their interest in the venerable mother of them all. Their cordial recognition of the relationship binds them to us and us to them in a bond of sympathy that time shall serve to strengthen, not weaken.