The History of Raymond, NH

This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY VEIRI TAS FROM THE FUND OP CHARLES MINOT CLASS OF 1828 fonph Fullontene 0 THE HISTORY OF RAYMOND , N. H. BY JOSEPH FULLONTON . " Be it a weakness , it deserves some praiso ; We love the play - place of our early days . " -Cowper . " I have considered the days of old , the years of ancient times . ” — Psalms 77 : 6 . A DOVER , N. H. PRINTED AT TIIE MORNING STAR JOB PRINTING HOUSE . 1875 Us !! E ? 5.5.5 US 11886.5.5 l HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY 1876. Jan. 18 minot finnel This book will be for salo , until the edition is exhausted , by Mrs. Charles W. Lane , at the Village ; also by the author ; in Boston , by D. H. Brown , 25 and 28 Cornbill , and S. G. Drake , 17 Bromfield Street . INTRODUCTION . Home ! what a word ! What interesting associations fill the mind when it is named . It is the place where our eyes first opened upon the beauties of this world ; where we were first charmed by a mother's voice and fond carogsos ; a fathor's lovo and tho pratilo of sisters and brothors . Thero woman's smilo grects us ; children and friends gladly welcome us . The most of true bliss is enjoyed at home . Persons of labor and business toil on patiently for the blessing of home . Mariners on rough seas anticipate home . Soldiers on well - fought fields , dash through dust and blood with the hope of victory and the blessings of home again . Speak to children of hone when away , and their countenances light up with joy . Speak to the aged of it , and their eyes sparklo ; they seem youthful , living over again summers that were all sunshine . These with many more say , " Home , thy joys are passing lovely . " They remomber tho dwelling of their childhood ; alho orchard , the incadow , the deep - tangled wildl - wood , " and withal , " The old oaken bucket , the iron bound bucket , The moss - covered bucket which hung in the well . ” The history of our Home is the object of this work . It has been the labor of convenient opportunities for many years . A goodly number have encouraged us . Some have wondered how there could be such a history . We have been asked more than once if it would be as large as a Primer or an Almanac . The inferenco was , that so much would be all the history of the placo ; or all which tho author was capablo of writing . Of course , we accepted the last view of it . We have searched records , traveled , correspondel , and asked , perhaps , thousands of questions . The result is now seen . Oral testimony is some times uncertain , as memory fails . Errors , therefore , may be found . We love our town and all that is good in it with the affection of a son . If the work shall prove interesting and profitable to those who read , it will be the greatest reward we expect . Large portions of the book , in manuscript , have been shown to different perspus , considered good judges , some of them learned ; those pages in verse , to a member of the bar in one of the large cities , who is the author of a town history ; for such is our extreme diffidence as to capabilities , we never could have offered the book to the public without the approval of these gentlemen . With their sanction it appears , and with it , we express our warmest gratitude to true friends , who have encouraged us in our ef furt . THE OUTLOOK . Go now , my book , to overy one , And give the history of the town ; Tell all the wonders we've had here , Go tell the whole with greatest care . Describe the landscape , plains and hills , The flowing streams , the murm’ring rills , Tell of the vales , the fields , the wood , The farms , some poor , more very good . Wo've little lakes , ' though called but ponds ; Their names are Governor's and Jones ' ; Chief river , Lamprey , here not wide , Flows gently down to meet the tide . Tell how the Indians wandered here , Fished in our streams , and hunted deer ; Yelled in the woods , and counseled how , If white men came , they'd drop them low . See mortars , where they pounded corn , The wigwam's place for night and storm ; Their axes , chisels , warlike maul , Friend David Pecker shows them all . Tell how tho carly settlers cimo , Built humble cots and called thein “ Ilome ; " Felied forest trees and tilled the land , Raised beans and grass and Indian corn . Tell of the early schools they had , With teachers good , school - houses bad ; of preaching , too , all went to hear , In homely dress , no fashion's gear . Go all about this rural town , 1 TIIE OUTLOOK . , and “ Break Neck ” down ; Up “ Long Hill " go 12 Go to “ The Branch ” and “ Fiddler's Green , " There Nature's handiwork is seen . When surging wars in fury came , Brare men left mill and farm and home ; On hard fought fields , in patriot band , Their watchword , " God and native land . " Of Dudley's , how much may be said , Stephen and James first purchase made ; The Judge , ' Squire Moses , Nat and Sam ; Why , bless your souls , we here made men . Prny don't forget the Blakes , the Poors , The Beans , the Browns , the Nays , the Moores ; Tell all about good Deacon Cram , His brothers two , Benj'min and John . The Pages , Prescotts , Foggs and Lanes , The elder and the younger Swai : s ; The Gilmans , Osgoods , Dearborns , true , And Norris , Folsom , Scribner , too . Ilere in the church was Slickney good , Farnsworth and Chapman , grave in mood ; This last too pure to here remain , He leſt and passed to heaven beyond . Of doctors there were Hodgkins , Trull , Pillsbury skilled , of fun brim full ; His pills did good , but more his mirth , He made his saddest patients laugh . Go sce “ The Oven " up in town ; ' Twould bake your pies , white bread and brown ; ' Twould bake a lamb , in fact an ox ; ' Tis nature's work in solid rocks . Ten cords of wood would heat it hot , Then in with be : ins and pudding pot ; ' Twill hold till full , potatoes , ſislı , When done , ol , what a dainty dish ! McClures own the land round there , Where roamed the wolf and growling bear ; vi THE OUTLOOK . The cunning fox , too , had his den , Secure from dogs and hunting men . The ladies here are fine and fair , Bless Ileaven , they've made us what we are ; Just fit for wives and mothers too , They seem like angels here below . I little thought this country town Had done so much till written down ; We've got a start , and Crocket said , " Be sure you're right , then go alcad . " Hurrah ! hurrah ! throw up your hats , Use all your hands in ringing claps ; Hurrahi hurrah ! a prize we've gained , The laurel , crown and diadem . Nay , little thought we'd done so much ; I need the canvas , pencil , brush ; A picture large like spreading land , With scenes of action bold and grand . To Raymond's sons we bid God - speed , In wisdom's path let each one tread ; Then honor , fame and bliss will come , And heaven be the final home . HISTORY OF RAYMOND . CHAPTER 1 . GENERAL DESCRIPTION . SITUATION AND EXTENT , The town is in latitude 43 ° 2 ' north ; longitude 5. ° 52 ' east of Washington . It is bounded north by Nottingham and Deerfield , east by Epping and Fremont , south by Chester , and west by Chester and Candia . It embraces , ac cording to Merrill's Gazetteer , 16,317 acres , of which 300 are water . THE LAND AND SCENERY . As a whole , the soil is less rich and productive than most other towns in the vicinity , yet there are some good farming sections . There are not , properly , any mountains . It is variegated by plains of small extent , some large swells and hills , well cultivated fields , good meadows on the streams , pleasant vales and beautiful forests . A lover of nature finds much to contemplate with inter 8 THE HISTORY est . In the warm season , there are wonders and delights on every hand . The streams flow gently and form murmur ing waterfalls . The hills rejoice ; the trees seem to “ clap their hands ; " the birds sing their sweetest songs ; while the flowers send forth the best perfume . Winter is long and cold , but has enjoyments . The tillers of the earth have lei sure , social pleasures and opportunities for reading and in struction . The winds , driving storms and deep snows are attended with some gloom , yet often they are gloriously wonderful . Then , as Thompson says , “ God is awful with clouds and storms Around him thrown , tempest o'er tempest rolled Majestic darkness ! On the whirlwind's wing Riding sublime , he bids the world adore , And humbles nature with the northern blast . " RIVERS . The largest river in this section is Lamprey , formed by the union , in the west , of a stream from Deerfield and one from Candia , and then flowing the whole length of the town . The Indians called it Piskassett . Somewhat early in the history of the State , settlers in towns below , through which it passes , gave it the name it now bears , or , rather , Lamprey - ell , plenty of those fish being found in it . In some books it was called Lampril . In Chester Records , A. D. 1762 , it is called Lamprey - eel ; but for many years it has been called simply Lamprey river . After leaving this town it flows through Epping , thence into New Market , where it meets the tide .

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