CHAPTER XXII.
Increased enterprise.--Raise money for preaching, schools, and repairing meeting house.--Town divided into school districts.--Great Freshet--Wiseman Claget.--Drowning of Griffin and others.--Col. John Goffe.--State claims land within the "Masonian Curve."--Masonian Proprietors buy it.--Election of President.--Population of Derryfield.--Amoskeag Bridge.--Small Pox.--Henrysburg annexed.--Lining the hymn.--Duel.--Hon. Samuel Blodget.--Moves to Goffstown.--Establishes a store there.--Appointed Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.--Joins the army.--Diving Tongues.--Begins his Canal.--Its location.--Its failure.--His Locks burst.--Obtains a charter.--Embraces Col. Baldwin's plan.--Has the grant of a Lottery.--Difficulty with the managers.--Second Lottery.--Canal finished.--Opened May, 2, 1807.--His death.--Bounty to soldiers.--Grave yard.--Social Library.--First School House near the Falls.--Soldiers volunteer.--Town vote thanks.--Vote to build school houses.--School house tax list--Locate school houses.--Build pound.--Population of Derryfield.--Propose to lock Cohas.--Fence Grave Yard.--Change of time of holding Annual Meeting.--Presidential election.--Attack upon Alexander Irwin's house.--Rioters arrested.--Compromise.--Locking Cohas.--Bounty to soldiers.--Center School House.--Presidential Election.--Change of name of the town.
The successful close of the war of the Revolution, gave individuals time and opportunity to attend to their private interests. The people of this colony had but just well recovered from the shock incident to the Seven Years War, when the Revolution commenced, and paralyzed individual effort and enterprise. Peace again established, and that spirit of enterprise, so incident to, or rather, an important part of the American character, soon began to tell upon the community.
In this town, it was everywhere apparent, but not in so striking a degree as in many other places. Still here, it shew itself in a greater regard for education and morals, and was equally apparent throughout the town, in greater attention to agriculture and its consequent results, neatness and thrift.
Very little attention had been paid to "preaching" during the Revolution, as the taxes for other purposes had been very burdensome.
But at the annual meeting in March 1784, after news had arrived of the signing the articles of peace, the people were quite liberal and voted to raise fifty dollars for preaching and that "the Said Preaching be had Between the month of April and November."
They next "voted Not to Rais any money for Schooling this year" which vote and its record shows the great necessity
of the very measure they voted down.
However, at the very same meeting a better feeling prevailed, as the record shows, for they
"Voted to Reconsider a vote passed this meeting concerning Schooling, and also voted to Raise �9, to be laid out to hire Schooling this year, and also that the Selectmen Devide the town into four Districts according to poles and Estate for the School to be kept in."
In May following, at a special meeting, they also voted to raise $100, for repairing the meetng [sic] house.
In October the, Selectmen made their report dividing the
town into four School Districts.
This was the first division of the town into School Districts. It was an important step in its progress, and with the other measures named, shows that the peace had a most beneficial effect upon the town and its people.
On the 5th of December 1784, there was a remarkable freshet in the Merrimack. Judge Patten says of it,
"Dec, 3d, Was a great rain, but warm."
"Dec. 5th being Sabath day was the highest freshet in the Merrimack River ever seen by any person now living. Last night the bridge over the Piscataquog in Bedford, was floted off and a number of men worked all day saving the timber and plank of the bridge."
This was long remembered as the "Great Winter Freshet." A great deal of damage was done upon the Merrimack and its
tributaries. Many families living upon the intervals of the Merrimack were forced to abandon their homes, and take refuge with their neighbors on the uplands.
HON. WISEMAN CLAGETT.
"This gentleman represented this town in the Legislature a number of years, it being classed with Litchfield, the town where he resided for some years previous to his death. As a representative of Derryfield, and a distinguished and most worthy man, his biography should find a place in our annals.
"Mr. Clagett, was born at Bristol, in England, in the month of August, 1721, and received an early and liberal education in that country. Having finished his academical studies, he became a student at the Inns of Court, qualified himself for the profession of the Law, and after going through a regular course of preparatory studies, was admitted a barrister in the Court of Kings Bench.
A few years after his admission to the bar, he crossed the Atlantic to the West Indies; settled in Antigua under very flattering circumstances, and was cordially received by the principal inhabitants of the island, particularly by a gentleman of fortune, who as an inducement for him to remain there, settled on him a handsome annuity for life. He was appointed a notary public, and Secretary of the Island. He discharged the duties of these offices with fidelity, and pursued his professional business there with success for several years, until the decease of his particular friend and patron. He then embarked for this country and settled in Portsmouth. He was admitted an attorney of the Superior Court at the next session after his arrival, and was soon after appointed a Justice of the Peace. In the exercise of this office, he was strict, severe and overbearing. For many years he was the principal acting magistrate in Portsmouth and his name became proverbial. When one person threatened another with a prosecution, it was usual to say, "I will Clagett you."
He received the appointment of King's Attorney-General for the province in the year 1767. He took an early and decided part in opposition to the oppressive acts of the British Parliament, at a time when a considerable portion of his property, was in the control of the government. Previous to the revolution, he removed to Litchfield, where he possessed a large and valuable estate, on the banks of the Merrimack. He represented that town and Derryfield, classed with it, several years in the General Court. Being omitted one year, the towns of Merrimack and Bedford elected him for their representative, although not an inhabitant of either of those places. He always entertained a grateful remembrance of this mark of confidence and respect, and frequently spoke of it with pleasure. He was for some time a member of the committee of safety, and was active attentive and useful. He was influential in framing and carrying into effect, the temporary form of government, which was first adopted in New Hampshire, under which the office of Solicitor-General was created, and Mr. Clagett was the only person who ever had that appointment; the office ceased at the adoption of the constitution in 1784, a little previous to his death.
He possessed a great flow of wit, which accompanied by his social talents and learning, made him an agreable companion. He was also distinguished for his classical knowledge. He wrote the Latin language with ease and elegance, and spoke it with fluency. He had a fine taste for poetry, and many jeux d'esprit, the productions of his pen, have been preserved by his friends. He did not possess a perfect equanimity of temper, but was subject at times to great depression of spirits. He did [sic died?] at Litchfield the 4th of December, 1784, in the sixty-fourth year of his age."1
On the night of the 16th of December 1784, a mournful incident occurred, that threw a gloom upon the people of this neighborhood. William McLaughlin of Bedford on that night had an infair at his house. This is a Scotch Irish term for a party made upon the occasion of one's wedding, or moving into a house. McLaughlin had lately got married and commenced keeping house.
Of Scotch Irish descent, he celebrated the event after the manner of his fathers by an infair, to which a large company were invited. Many were present from Derryfield; and among them Theophilus Griffin, his brother John Griffin and his wife and Mr. Adam Thompson. These four crossed the Merrimack to the infair, in a boat. After staying at McLaughlin's till late at night, they started for home. Crossing the river above Griffin's Falls, the boat capsized in the current. Theophilis Griffin and the woman clung to the boat, while John and Thompson, as they supposed made for the shore; but probably siezed with cramps, they were both drowned. While Theophilus who was a noted swimmer, was successfully urging the boat towards the shore, the woman seized hold of him, causing him to lose his hold of the boat. In their struggles, they both went to the bottom. Rising, Griffin freed one hand from her grasp and boldly struck out for the shore, and doubtlessly would have succeeded in gaining it with her, had not the woman in her fright, again seized both of his hands and carried him a second time to the bottom. Griffin now left her to her fate, and reached the shore nearly exhausted. It was some time before he was able to walk home and inform his friends of the sad calamity. The next day the greatest excitement prevailed and large numbers from Derryfield and Bedford were engaged in raking the river to recover the bodies.
The bodies of the men were found near where the boat was capsized, but the body of the woman could not be found and after two days, the search was given over. The funeral of Griffin and Thompson took place on the 18th, and was attended by a large concourse of people from the adjacent towns.
On the 20th of October 1786 died in this town,
COL. JOHN G0FFE.
He was the only son of John Goffe Esq., who was one of the original settlers of Londonderry, and who lived the last ten years of his life at Cohas Brook, in this town. Col. Goffe moved from Londonderry and took up his permanent residence in this town in 1734,2 probably under the auspices of Massachusetts. In 1738 he moved across the river into Bedford, and his father moved from Londonderry on to his farm at Cohas Brook. His father dying in 1748, Col. Goffe moved back to Derryfield upon his farm, where he continued to reside till his death. Col. Goffe was a man of marked character, and for sixty years was identified with all the stirring scenes of the most exciting periods of our country's history. From Lovewells fight in 1725, through the Indian and French wars and the war of the Revolution, he was almost constantly in the public service, and how well he acted his part, has been related somewhat at length in the preceeding pages. Through all the military grades, from private to Colonel, and in all of them in actual service in the field, he sustained the character of an energetic and courageous soldier, receiving on all occasions the hearty commendations of his superior officers. In civil life, he was equally distinguished for energy of character.
He was a representative in the Provincial Legislature and the first Judge of Probate for Hillsborough County, holding that office from 1771 to 1776. In 1765, he received the grant of the town of Jefferson, then called Dartmouth, in consideration of his public services.
Too old at the time of the Revolution, to take the field, yet he ent[ ]red into the contest heart and hand, and did as much by precept, example and his purse, as did any other man in the state, in support of the good cause. In 1777, when our troops had Burgoyne at bay, Col. Goffe was at Portsmouth, and he forthwith wrote home to his son to encourage volunteers. The letter shows the energy and spirit of the man, then seventy-six years of age. It was as follows;
| "Portsmouth Sept. 24, 1777. |
SIR:--Col. Bellows goes off to-day to head as many volunteers as will push off to reinforce Gen. Gates. Our army are now in possession of Ticonderoga. In order to cut off Burgoyn's retreat, who was on the 17th of this month, within four miles of Stillwater, with his main body, as we are assured by Gen. Stark's letter of that date, pressing the State to exert every nerve, and to march at least half the milita of this State. And now is the time to cut off the whole army. And if we do but all go without hesitation, I verily believe it will put an end to the war. And if you could go yourself, for a fortnight or three weeks, I believe it would encourage many.
Every man will have pay, as the last militia had. But it must be done without loss of time. And if your brother-in-law, Samuel Moor, would be forward in this affair, it would be to his everlasting honor. Pray show yourselves friends to the country this once.
| I am your loving father, |
| JOHN GOFFE. |
To Maj. John Goffe.
Pray let Capt. Moor see this after you have read it."
He was open and fearless in his advocacy of the cause of the people. Governor Wentworth, as he had favored him in the way of office and grants, thought to control him, and was much chagrined when Col. Goffe openly told him of his misconduct in attempting to control the Legislature. The Governor became so enraged as to lose his proprity [sic property?], and used some abusive language towards Goffe. The Colonel, old as he was, was ready to resent an insult, and seizing the Governor, he would have ejected him from the room, had it not been for the interference of their friends! He was the military teacher of the Roger, the Todds, the Hazens, the Stevens, the Starks, and that host of brave soldiers, that in the Seven Years War and the Revolution, so nobly upon the battle field, did honor to their teacher, themselves, and Amoskeag.
Although a military man and in actual service for years, Col. Goffe was a strictly religious man, and favored all attemps [sic] for the support of the gospel in this town. For many years, when there was no regular preaching at the meeting house, he held meetings at his own house on sabbath evenings, leading in the exercises himself. It is said, that he was "apt in exhortation and prayer." And he practised what he preached, for aside from being examplary in his conduct as a man and christian, he contributed largely of his means towards religious and charitable objects. No man in town paid more towards the building and repairing of the meeting house, or for support of preaching in it, and no worthy person went from his door without experiencing his hospitality. The memory of such a man should ever be held in the most grateful remembrance.
Very little had been said as to the Masonian claim, after the sale of it to the proprietors by John Tufton Mason in 1746. After the war was at an end in 1783, this claim was again brought into controversey [sic]. Mason, and the proprietors after him, claimed that their north west line was a course running parallel to and sixty miles distant from the sea-shore between the Rivers, Piscataqua, and Merrimack, which is a curve extending north west into the land. Their opponents denied their claim, and contended that the north west line of the Masonian claim was a straight one, extended from the northwest extremity of the east line of Mason's line patent to the northwest extremity of the west line of said patent. This controversy involved the title to the land in some fifty or more towns and was one of grave importance. A large portion of the land was settled, the occupants derviing [sic] titles primarily from different claimants. Some claimed by grants from the king, some had purchased of the heirs of Samuel Allen, others held grants from the state, and others still had purchased from the Masonian proprietors. The State of New Hampshire had become the main party to the controversy, as against the Masonian proprietors.
The inhabitants upon the disputed territory naturally became excited, the title to their lands being in doubt, and at length the Legislature came to a determination to settle the controversy. Accordingly, January 16, 1787, they appointed John McDuffie, Josiah Bartlett, and Archibald McMurphy, Esqr's, a committee with full powers to run and determine the line in controversy.
The June following, they passed a law quieting all occupants of the lands in controversy in their possessions of the same, so far as that, the state should not disturb or interfere with their titles, whether obtained from the king, the heirs of Samuel Allen, or the Masonian proprietors. The committee appointed to run this line determined upon a straight line as the head line of Mason's patent, and reported their doings to the Legislature. Upon this the Masonian proprietors came forward and proposed to purchase the claim of the state to the land in controversy. Their proposition was acceded to, and the Legislature voted to sell the claim for forty thousand dollars in state securities, and eight hundred dollars in specie. The Masonian proprietors obligated themselves to pay that sum, and the Legislature, June 18th, 1788, appointed Thomas Bartlett, Dudley Odlin, and Archibald McMurphy, Esqrs., a committee with full authority to transfer the title of the state to these lands, to the Masonian proprietors. Thus ended a long and troublesome controversy as to "Masons's patent," that had existed in some shape or other, for one hundred and fifty years.
The Constitution of the United States having been adopted, elections were ordered in the several states by their legislatures, In this state it took place on the third Monday of December, 1788, the balloting in this town for Electors, was as follows:
| Gen. John Stark, |
12 |
| Hon. Matthew Thornton, |
8 |
| John Bell, |
10 |
| Archibald McMurphy, |
11 |
| Hon. John Calf, |
9 |
| Gen. Peabody, |
5 |
| Mr. Foster, |
3 |
| His Excellency John Sullivan, |
2 |
| Mr. West, |
1 |
The electoral vote of this state was thrown for General George Washington, and he was unanimously elected President of the United States.
In 1790, the population of this town amounted to 362, being an increase of only 77 inhabitants since the census of 1775. This small increase was doubtless attributable to the unsettled state of the country.
Enterprise had now begun to spring up in this hitherto neglected region, that ere long was to increase and flourish with an unprecedented growth.
In June 1792 the proprietors of the Amoskeag Bridge were incorporated. They organized and commenced operations with a great deal of energy. They commenced cutting the timber for the bridge on the 3d day of August, and on the 20th day of the following month the bridge was passable. This was a great enterprise for the time, and was mainly accomplished through the energy of Robert McGregor Esq., who lived just across the river in Goffstown, and from whom the bridge was more generally called "McGregor's Bridge." This bridge crossed the Merrimack at the foot of Bridge street where the foundation of its abutments and piers can now be seen.
The presidential election took place in this state May 27, 1792, and in Derryfield the 2d article in the warrant calling the town meeting coming up for action, viz; "To bring in your votes for six persons to elect a President and Vice President of the United States," it was voted to dismiss the same. This vote shows that very little interest was taken in the election, as the people were unanimous in favor of Washington, who was again elected President of the United States.
In the Summer and Fall of this year, the small pox prevailed in town and caused great excitement.
The project was started of inoculating the inhabitants with the disease, and furnishing a house for the purpose. A town meeting was called for the purpose; but the project was voted down.
Gen. Stark had his family inoculated, and some others in town went to his house and had the disease by inoculation. The excitement continued, and another meeting was called to "prevent the spreading of the small pox in this town," and to choose a committee "to enquire into the cause of the small pox coming into this town, and to punish the offenders." At the meeting, January 10, 1793, a committee was raised for the purpose, but the vote was afterwards reconsidered and the article dismissed.
In the charter of the town, the west line extending but eight miles from Litchfield up the Merrimack, there was a gore of land remaining betwixt the north line of Derryfield, and the south west line of Chester, and the Merrimack, unincorporated. This was a part of "Harrytown" and was called "Henrysburg," or "Henrysborough" Settlers had entered upon, and occupied the gore, and came in for the advantages of the roads built by Chester and Derryfield without contributing anything therefor in the way of taxes. It was thought proper that this gore should be annexed to Derryfield. Accordingly at the meeting, Oct, 30, it was
"Voted, to have the Gore of land called II Heneryburg annexed to this town." and measures were taken to effect the annexation. The town of Chester came into the arrangement and the annexation was consummated.
In the warrant, calling the annual meeting for 1793, there was the following article;
"6thly, To see what method the town will take to provide singing the present year."
At the meeting March, 4, upon this article it was
"Voted, That Capt. Perham set the Psalm."
"Voted, That John Goffe, read the Psalm."
These votes were that Capt. Perham, should name the tune in which the psalm was to be sung, or that he should act as chorister, while John Goffe was to read or line the psalm, as it was called.
This was done generally by one of the deacons, hence lining the psalm, became to be called oftentimes "deaconing it." Lining or deaconing the psalm, was done in this manner. The minister named and read the psalm or hymn, the chorister named the tune in which it was to be sung, and the deacon in a loud, sonorous voice, read the two first lines of the psalm or hymn, to the congregation. The chorister then commenced singing them the lines read, and all the congregation joined in singing them The first lines disposed of, the deacon read the next two lines, and they were sung, and so on through the hymn. This lining the psalm grew out of the necessity of the case. All in the congregation, who could, were expected to sing. Very few of them had books; in fact, the psalm books were often confined to the minister and deacon. Hence the necessity of lining, as an attentive congregation could repeat one or two lines after the deacon, very readily, and thus were able to join in the singing. Singing by choirs was a great innovation, and was not brought about without much opposition. In some instances the deacons objected to the innovation, and left the churches upon its introduction, and in others the ministers were opposed to it, and would not read psalms when on exchange, where the practice of lining had been done away.
Under the Constitution of 1792, Derryfield was classed with, Litchfield, for the choice of a representative and at the joint meeting of the inhabitants of the two towns held March, 25th, 1793, Major John Webster, of Derryfield was chosen representative. It was voted that "the meeting for the choice of representative next year be at Capt. Corthorans (Cochran,) in Litchfield and the year after at Capt Moor's in Derryfleld." And the meetings continued always to be held at these places alternately, as long as these two towns were classed for the choice of a representative. The meetings at Capt. Moor's were usually held at his barn, and in pleasant weather, in the barn yard, the oxcart answering the purpose of the Moderator's desk! There are persons living at the present time, who
have attended town meetings at Capt. Moor's under such
circumstances. Capt. Moor lived at Goffe's Falls or Moor's Village, on the south side of the Cohas, where John P. Moor now resides.
At these meetings for the choice of representatave [sic] for the two towns, there was usually a great deal of merrymaking. Wrestling was the usual sport and the best men in each town found ready backers for the ring. From wrestling they not unfrequently came to blows, and sometimes had a fight that would have done no discredit to a Donnybrook fair. On one occasion the election wound up with a duel. There was a Blodget in Litchfield, nicknamed Hegan Blodget, who boasted a very long and fine cue. While he was intently watching a wrestling match in Capt. Moor's barnyard, some roguish wag slipped behind him and cut off his cue. This gave mortal offence. He suspected Mr. Samuel Hall of this town of being the man who had perpetrated the foul deed, and in his anger challenged him to mortal combat. The challenge was accepted and the preliminaries arranged. They were to fight with muskets and at forty paces, to make sure work. It was doubted whether Blodget would fight, but he went upon the ground and met his combatant with a firm step. The muskets were handed them by their seconds, the word given, and both guns "flashed in the pan at the same moment."
Upon this, the guns were pronounced foul, and an arrangement of the difficulty, was proposed by mutual friends. After some little time Blodget consented to overlook the loss of his cue, if Major Hall "would treat the company." The Major accepted the proposition, and the combatants shook hands over 'a mug of flip. It soon became known that the guns were loaded with sand, and that Hall was in the secret; this of course opened the wound of Blodget's honor afresh, which alone could be healed by extensive potations of flip.
The warrant and tax lists for repairing the highways in town, were first recorded in this year, but no definite limits were prescribed for the districts--such men were grouped together, as could work most conveniently on certain roads designated in the warrants. There were seven of these lists.
The immense water power at Amoskeag had hitherto been considered only as a barrier, that served as a check to the salmon, shad, and eels in their annual migrations up the Merrimack; and by this means made one of the best fishing places upon this noble river. Few had thought, and no one had spoken of their priceless value, for hydraulic purposes.
But the time had come, when individual enterprise and energy was to commence the development of furnishing thousands upon thousands with remunerative employment, instead of doling out a scanty subsistence to a few fishermen.
For years, there was one man who, as he had viewed the immense body of water, that then rushed over the fall, in such wild tumult, had conceived the idea of making them subservient to the wants and conveniences of man. With him, to conceive was to plan, and to plan was to execute.
That man was
HON. SAMUEL BLODGET.
Samuel Blodget was born at Woburn, Mass., April 1, 1724. His great-grandfather, Samuel Blodget, (or Blogget, as it was then written,) resided at Woburn as early as 1655. Little is known of his early life. It was probably marked with all the vicissitudes of fortune usually incident to young men of that day; the unremitting toil, exciting adventures, fearful mishaps, and savage incursions of an early frontier life.
His opportunities for education, must of necessity have been limited, yet by industriously improving those opportunities, and attentively studying his lessons, received in the great school of life, he became a fair scholar for the times; had a passable knowledge of mathematicks [sic]; a smattering of philosophy; composed with some force and correctness; and wrote a plain fair hand.
With such attainments Mr. Blodget could have attained almost any desirable position in life, at an early period, when well educated men were few, and opportunities many; but young Blodget, as is too often the case, was possessed of a speculative mind, prone rather to theory than to practice, and which resorted to practice for the purpose of carrying out a favorite theory, for the benefit of the community, rather than with any idea of personal emolument.
We first find him at the siege of Louisburg, but in what capacity, is now unknown. It is probable however that he was connected with the Commissary department, as he was afterwards connected with that department in various campaigns, his business acquirements fitting him for its duties, and his active mind loathing the monotony of the mere soldier's life.
For the succeeding ten years we know but little of the history of Mr. Blodget, but it is certain that in the year 1751, he made a purchase of a farm, in Goffstown, and was doubtless in this neighborhood in 1753, and 4.
His farm was situated upon Black Brook, about two miles from Amoskeag Falls. The war that followed soon after, prevented any permanent or successful improvements on his farm, and Mr. Blodget again joined the army in the capacity of suttler to the N. H. Regiment. In 1757 he was at the siege of Fort William Henry, and narrowly escaped from the Indians with the loss of his goods, and the clothes from his back. Soon after, he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Boston with much success. A portion of his capital and attention, was devoted to the manufacture of pot and pearl ashes, and he gradually extended this branch of his business into the interior. His main manufacture was at Haverhill, but he had "potash-works" in Hampstead, Goffstown, New Boston, and other places in this neighborhood. In 1766, this part of his business had become so extensive that he established a store in Haverhill, for the purpose of furnishing supplies to those in his employment. His manufacture, and the trade connected with it, naturally led him to engage more or less in the lumber business, and finding both profitable, about 1765 he made large purchases of lands in Hooksett and Goffstown, and built a saw-mill near his place upon Black Brook. He also in that year, sent large "supplies" to his farm in Goffstown, for the use of his people engaged in the manufacture of "pots and lumber." In a short time he opened a store in Goffstown, and extended his mercantile operations in this region. His merchandise was exchanged for pot and pearl ashes, lumber and furs. His lumber was sold at Haverhill and Newbury, and his pet and pearl ashes and furs, were shipped to London, where he had extensive business arrangements with Sir William Baker, and others. During this time he was in Boston, where he traded, and was in public business, and was on terms of intimacy with some of its most distinguishod [sic] citizens. In 1769, however, for the purpose of carrying on his business with more convenience, he removed his family to Goffstown and took up a permanent residence upon his farm. Here he soon obtained an advantageous position in society, and upon the division of the State into Counties, he was appointed a Justice of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Hillsborough. It is probable, that he had in his mind the improving and canalling the falls at Amoskeag, for we find him purchasing such vast quantities of timber lands, as his prospective means of manufacturing timber upon Black Brook, would by no means justify. His knowledge of the resources of the country, led him to foresee the advantages of canalling the falls upon the river, while it required no great sagacity to foretell their advantages as a water-power. The difficulty of getting his own lumber to market, which had to be hauled past the falls or run over them at high water, doubtless first suggested to him the idea of a canal at these falls, and the idea once suggested, was entertained and at length became a ruling principle, if not passion with him. But the Revolution put a stop to any action in the matter. A patriot, he engaged in the Cause, and was a Commissary or Suttler to Gen. Sullivan's Brigade, in 1775. When the army left Boston Judge Blodget retired to his farm and took no further active part in the contest, other than to assist with his advice, and his purse, both of which were ready on all occasions. During the continuance of the war, he completed a machine for raising ships from the bottom of rivers, harbors, and the ocean. After the arrival of peace, he spent four years in Europe, in operating his machine, but with little success. But the project of canalling the Amoskeag Falls, was still in his mind, and the completion of the Middlesex canal determined him to commence his long cherished project. He accordingly moved to Amoskeag in 1793, and took up his residence on the east bank of the Merrimack, in Derryfield.
He had made his calculations that he could accomplish the undertaking with his own means, and that the investment would be a good one for his children, and at the same time would be of very great importance to the people of the interior. We think his calculations were in the main correct; for if he he'd built the locks and canal after the usual method, he might have built them in half the time, very nearly if not quite, with his own means, and the investment would have been as it afterwards was, a profitable one, and of vast importance to the people of the interior.
But he had a Lock of his own invention, and he made a trial of that and made a failure. In this failure, he involved a great portion of his own private fortune.
At this time he owned most of the land immediately adjacent to the Falls, on the east side of the river. The mill at the head of the Falls, which stood just above the Amoskeag Bridge was owned by him in common with General Stark. It was built sometime prior to the Revolution, was now old, and Judge Blodget purchased Stark's right in it, and thus completed his title to the privilege on this side of the river. The title to this privilege was necessary to him, as his contemplated improments [sic improvements?] would flow it out.
BLODGET'S CANAL.
He commenced work upon his canal, May, 2.1794, and in the course of the season, made considerable progress in blasting and other preparations for the dams and mill pond. From the spring of 1794, Judge Blodget seems to have concentrated all his capital and energies in this project.
In the spring of 1795 he had made such progress with his canal, that Col. William Adams of Londonderry, a skilful carpenter, commenced the wood work of the same on the 18th of May.
A line of dams was constructed from rock to rock, upon the east side of the channel of the river, from a point about fifty-seven rods above the Amoskeag Bridge, down the river, very nearly upon the line of the stone dams and bank wall of the basin of the Amoskeag Company, a distance of about thirty-three rods below the Amoskeag Bridge to a point nearly opposite the house now occupied by Samuel B. Kidder, Esq.; thence it was extended east to the shore, making a basin about ninety rods in length and from four to six in width. The basin was intended to answer the purposes of a canal and mill pond. On the west bank of this basin, and about half way of the same, stood the mill "Industry,"--having a grist mill below it, and above it a saw mill belonging to William Blodget. Out of the south west corner of this basin, the water passed through a slip of three hundred feet in length and twenty feet in width, to the lower canal, commencing above and running immediately west of the Blodget house which part of the canal is now entire--to a point just below said house. From thence the canal followed the shore of the river down to a point just above the "boiler shop" of the Amoskeag Company, where it passed into the river.
The west embankment of the canal from the Blodget house, downward, was of cobble work, filled with stones and covered with spiling of plank. At convenient distances along this canal check gates were placed so as to raise the water above them a foot or so making as many slight resevoirs, as there were check gates. These gates were fastened by a hasp and opened down stream. As the raft or boat passed from the reservoirs through the slip, it gained considerable velocity, and as it came against the check gates, the momentum opened the gates and thus the raft or boat passed through the entire length of the canal of itself. This was an invention of Judge Blodget's. It was found, that however plausible in theory, it did not work well in practice. The rafts of timber "stove up," and had to be re-rafted, and shingles, staves and barrels were scattered along the shore. It was a failure. But it was attributed to the great descent of the slip. The rafts gained such velocity there, that they stove up at the check gates! This difficulty was obviated by constructing two locks in its place. Accordingly, in 1799, these locks were completed. The upper one, of one hundred and fifty feet in length, was built upon the surface of the ground. The posts at the side, were tennated into the cross sills, while the tops were held together by cross cap timbers, and were still farther secured in their places by braces, extending from near the top of each post, to the cross sill beneath. It was thought that such a precaution would secure the neccessary [sic] strength to the lock after it was properly planked. But the result showed, that neither Judge Blodget or his engineer, Col. Adams, had a correct knowledge of the element they were inteding [sic] to control. Upon letting the water into the lock, to the chagrin of the owner and builder, as well as to the disapointment [sic] of the hundreds that were collected to witness the opening, the sides of the locks were lifted from their places, by the upward presure [sic] of the water, and the work of the season was the wreck of a moment! In June of the following year, a high freshet carried off the locks and thus the labor of five years,--the expense of full $20,000 was brought to nought!
Footnotes
1Annals of Portsmouth. Return
2On page 170 it is stated that Col. Goffe settled at Cohas Brook prior to Lovewell's war, in 1722. This is a mistake as regards a permanent residence. He may have had a temporary residence there in 1722, as tradition has it, but he did not make a permanent residence there till 1734, as is abundantly shown by affidavits in the Secretary's office, in the action Goffe vs Follensby, by which it is made to appear that he cleared four acres of land on the north side and near by Cohas Brook, and built a house upon the same in April and May, of that year; that he lived there until 1738, when he moved to Bedford, and his father moved into the house he had vacated at Cohas Brook. In 1748, his father died, and he immediately moved from Bedford on to his farm at Cohas Brook and continued to reside there until his death. Return
ALHN Hillsborough County
Chapter 22