Chapter 48 - Raymond from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire
From: Cindy Webb - sewnseek@hotmail.com
Source: History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens
by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915
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CHAPTER XLVIII
RAYMOND
Geographical-Purchase of the Town-First Settlemtents-Names of Pioneers
-Incorporation of Town-First Town-Meeting-Documentary History
-Early Families--Ecclesiastical and Educational-Public Library.
The Town of Raymond is situated in the western part of the county,
and is bounded as follows: on the north by Nottingham and Deerfield, on
the east by Epping and Fremont, on the south by Chester, and on the west by
Chester and Candia. It contains 16,317 acres. The surface is generally level
and the soil fertile.
Dudley's Purchase.- The territory embraced within the present bounds
of this town was purchased of the Indians by Colonel Dudley in 1817. The
grantors were Penniwit and Abigail, his squaw.
In March of the following year, Colonel Dudley sold one-eighth of his
purchase to James Dudley, Jr., father of Judge Dudley, and his brothers,
Samuel and Joseph. The price paid was three pounds. In 1722, Dudley dis-
posed of 400 acres more of his purchase.
The First Settlements were made between the years 1720 and 1730. As
is seen, Colonel Dudley was the active spirit in the settlement, but it is
doubtful if he was ever a permanent settler. He was a shoemaker by trade,
and died in Exeter in 1734, aged forty-six.
The town was surveyed in 1728, and divided into 140 lots of 100 acres each.
1744. There is a record, which we think reliable, that Samuel Dudley
was here at this date, his oldest son having been born about that year. He
lived where the judge afterwards lived.
In 1745, Samuel Healey settled in the west part. His house was east
of what is now the Jersey road, in Candia.
1750. About this date David Bean came from Kingston. He was brother
of Lieut. Benjamin Bean, who came soon after.
1751. Elisha Towle was from Hawke, now Danville.
In 1752, Lieut. Benjamin Bean came from Kingston.
Jedediah and Jonathan Brown, from Seabrook, came to the Page road.
Maj. Josiah Fogg, from Hampton.
Daniel Robie, from Hampton Falls, settled where the late J. Fullonton
resided.
1753. Daniel Todd was originally from Ireland.
1754. Daniel Holman was from West Epping. He had lived below,
but was disposed to move westward with civilization. His small house in
Epping was not far from Thomas Folsom's, and was the first built west of
the river. In Raymond he lived on Oak Hill, just above the Abbotts.
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1755. Robert Page was from Pagetown, in North Hampton, and about
the same date, John and James Fullonton came from Epping. John built a
log house which had no glass or doors, properly such. James built back
from the highway.
The first operations were at Freetown Mills, and some were early in the
Branch District. The veritable, shrewd, humorous "Maj. Jack Downing"
said, "It is well to begin at the beginning of things, and we shall get through
better." We go to the south part of the Branch road, and then progress
north. On the Raymond side of Chester line Benjamin True, from Salis-
bury, built a house. He was the father of the late Capt. Benjamin True, who
lived in the edge of Chester. Barton Pollard lived near the Todd place, and
the Moores were early on the farm still called by the name. On the Currier
farm the Merrills flourished, and in 1795, Gideon Currier, from Chester,
came into possession. He became, in his day, perhaps the largest land-
holder in town.
About the time of the Revolutionary war, Samuel Poor and his sons
Samuel and Ebenezer came from West Newbury. They began on what are
now two farms still in the name of Poor.
John Prescott Lovering came from Exeter to Fremont, then to what
is here known as the Lovering place, about the commencement of the Revo-
lutionary war. His son Daniel, a grandson, the late Captain Daniel, and
finally a son of the captain, the present Moses L. Lovering, also dwelt here.
Jacob York came from Lee to what is now called York's Corners in 1795.
It is said that near this corner Clement Moody early settled. No one lived
nearer than "the Rocks," in Poplin, now Fremont, and when fire was lost it
was necessary to go to "the Rocks" to get it.
At the old Bean house, opposite Widow John Beans's, not only the town-
meetings were held till a meeting-house was built, but the meetings for
preaching.
Near George S. Robbie's, Stephen Prescott, from Hampton, built a
house in the woods about 1775. Some years later he raised a barrel of
potatoes, which was then thought a great crop. Stephen Osgood, a grand-
son, flourished there, and for years he put much in motion in this part of the
town. Ebenezer Cram, afterwards deacon, came from Hampton Falls in
1868, and located near here. His brother Benjamin located where Josiah
B. Cram lives; another brother, John, on Mr. Moulton's place, near the
Gove schoolhouse. Afterwards John and Ebenezer changed farms. John,
in time, moved to Pittsfield.
Easterly of the schoolhouse, where the old road was, lived Joseph White.
A man up north, Capt. John Fullonton, lost his wife, who charged him,
before her death, not to marry Molly, who lived at Deacon Cram's. The
man thus charged had a mind to do so, however, and at dusk the captain
would be seen wending his way to where Molly lived, Mr. White, knowing
the case. thought to frighten him out of it. So one night, as the captain
was already in the door-yard, anticipating an interview with his intended
bride, White appeared, wrapped in a sheet, as if the ghost of the departed
wife from the graveyard below. The captain did not believe in witches,
hobgoblins, or ghosts. He was aware that "true love does not run smooth,"
but will run regardless of difficulties. Molly he meant to have in spite of
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the devil and all his works, so he gave chase. White fled, carrying the
sheet on his arm, and ran home for fear of a beating.
Lieut. Jonathan Dearborn, from Stratham, came here about 1763.
Just north of Captain Tilton's road lived Benjamin Fox,-afterwards
north of Oak Hill. Down the back road, near Epping line, lived Joseph
and Moses Cass. Some confidently believe the late Gen. Lewis Cass was
son of one of these. The general was born, however, in Exeter, and his
father was Jonathan Cass. Eliphalet Folsom came from Exeter in 1770.
His brother John dwelt at the foot of Oak Hill. On the Hill. besides Hol-
man, already named, lived Jacob Smith, who moved from Ewing to Not-
tingham, then here. The Abbotts have a large dwelling on the place. Half
a mile above John Batchelder had a house, of which the fireplace formed a
considerable part. It would take in a back-log five feet long and two feet
in diameter, a forestick six feet long, and other wood to match, in all nearly
a cord. Mr. Batchelder was from Hampton Falls.
Going south, near the foot of the hill, Daniel Pevere, from Hampton
Falls, early settled. On the place where J. Carson once lived Moses San-
born resided. John Brown, father of Joseph, came later with his father John,
from Hampton. A few rods north of Harriman's lived John Montgomery,
from Ireland. Asa Harriman, a native of Rowley, Mass., came from Ep-
ping about 1783. Opposite the Harriman house Nathaniel Dudley, son of
the judge, built. After he left, James Dudley occupied the place for a time,
then moved to the Branch. East, in the Blake field, lived Benjamin Prescott.
Reuben Tilton, from Hampton Falls, came to where Dudley Harriman
lived for years about 1770. John Stevens came here not far from the same
time. Stevens' first house was back towards the river, afterwards the old
Stevens house on the road.
Where Griffin's mill is a sawmill was built, we think, by some of the
Dudleys. Joseph Dudley, brother of the judge, lived there; also a Mr.
Wells.
Where David Griffin owns, Alexander McClure settled. His son Alex-
ander lived on the late Martha McClure's place, beyond the "Long Hill."
Nicholas Gilman, from Kingston, was an early settler. His first dwelling
was in the woods.
Isaac Tucker, grandfather of the late Barnard and Gen. H. Tucker, went
first from Philadelphia to Portsmouth; hence to this place about the time of
the Revolution. Daniel Richardson, the ancestor of several of that name
here, was from Newbury Old Town about 1765.
Caleb Smith lived in the Dudley district. He was chosen one of the
selectmen.
Near the Gile schoolhouse lived Jesse Gile, from Haverhill, Mass., and at
the right David Brown, from Chester. John Leavitt early settled nearly
opposite the Hodgkins place.
Manoah Scribner, from Fremont, came to the Scribner place about 1787.
A Mr. Palmer lived at the northwest of the pond, and Jonathan Smith,
father of Dean Smith, had a log house near Healy's Mountain. Asa Heath
lived northerly of the Green, and Samuel Healey in the vicinity.
Jonathan Woodman came from Candia early in the present century. He
was a descendant of Peter Woodman, who lived at Kingston nearly one
hundred and fifty years ago.
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John Lane, from Rye, came to Chester, a mile south of here, in 1749.
He owned land here, and on it his sons Nathan, Ezekiel, Daniel, David, and
Jonathan settled. Deacon Wason was from Chester about 1800. Matthias
Haines lived in the Wason district. The Abbotts in town descended from
Ephraim, from Fremont, who lived on the Rye road to the Green.
On the road east of the Gile schoolhouse settled the Batchelders, from
Hampton Falls,-Josiah, Jonathan and David. South of Hazen Batchelder's
lived Samuel Peavey. The Kimballs were from Exeter.
Josiah Moulton, the first who settled here, was from Hampton Falls.
Farther down, where the road divides, lived Henry Thresher, who came from
Hampton about 1775. His son David followed, but afterward moved to
Candia.
Early Roads.-The first road laid out in Raymond was March 10, 1748.
It began near where Mr. Knowles lived in Chester, and followed a path
through the Branch district to what is now Fremont line, below J. Elliott's.
September 22, 1749. From a road on the north of what is now Chester
to Wason district to Candia line. This passed a sawmill called Chatauga, a
corruption of an Indian word signifying foggy place.
May 5, 1750. From below Marden's, in Chester, into Raymond, east of
the Dean Smith place, called the Todd road.
May 5, 1750. Near Osgood True's, by what is called the Dudley place.
August 21, 1752. Fremont line to Freetown Mills.
October 18, 1757. North of Captain Tilton's road by the gate that hung
near Gilman Folsom's, by Timothy Osgood's to Epping line.
June 12, 1759. From Freetown Mills, by the Center, to Dudley's Mill
in the west part.
June 12, 1759. From Gilman Folsom's, over Oak Hill, to Nottingham
line.
June 13, 1759. Freetown Mill to schoolhouse near Timothy Osgood's.
June 14, 1760. Outlet of Jones pond to Center.
September 3, 1760. Dudley's Mill to Candia line near Mr. Critchet's.
December 9, 1761. Page road.
March 24, 1763. North side of Chester to where Henry D. Lane lately
lived.
Incorporation of Town.-The first recorded action of which we have
any record concerning the organization of this town was a vote of the town
of Chester, January 26, 1763, "that a part of said township, commonly called
Free Town, might be incorporated into a new parish."
March I, 1764, a petition for the incorporation of the town was pre-
sented to the governor and Provincial Assembly, signed by the following
persons:
Daniel Gordon, Jr., Daniel Holman, Elisha Towle, Jonathan Brown,
Simeon Berry, Noah Moulton, Wadleigh Cram, Joseph glgiles (Giles), Da-
niel Lane, Ezekiel Lane, David Lane, Nathan Moulton, Josiah Fogg, Daniel
Clay, Stephen Marden, Obadiah Griffin, Moses Sanborn, Caleb Rowe, Robert
Page, John Sweet, Daniel Robie, James Clay, Stephen Wilson, Jethro Batch-
elder, Benj. Whittier, Clement Dollof, Paniel Jorden (Gordon), John Cram,
Alexander Mel (McClure), Stephen Fogg, Benjamin Smith, James Fullon-
ton, Samuel Cram, John Stevens, Jonathan Dearborn. Benia Bean (Benja-
min), Curtis Bean, Isaac Clicord, Paul Smith Marston, Benjamin Prescott,
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John Fullonton, John Wells, John Prescott Downs, William Todd, Timothy
Clough, Ezekiel Smith, David Bean, Alexander Smith, Barton Pollard. Da-
vid Bean, Jr., Nathaniel Ethridge, Enoch Fogg.
The First Town-Meeting.-The first town-meeting was held at Benjamin
Bean's inn May 29, 1764, when the following officers were elected: Mod-
erator, Samuel Dudley; town clerk, Ezekiel Smith; selectmen, Caleb Rowe.
Samuel Dudley, and Robert Page; constable, Benjamin Whittier; auditors
and assessors, Stephen Fogg, Joseph Dudley, and Ezekiel Lane; surveyors
of highways, Josiah Fogg, Jonathan Dearborn, Joseph Dudley, Simon
Bayard, and Clement Dolloff; haywards, Stephen Thurston, Jonathan Dear-
born. Joseph Smith; Curtis Bean, Samttel Philbrick; and Daniel Scribner:
tithingmen, James Fullonton, N. Ethridge, Moses Whittier, and Joseph Dud-
ley; deer inspectors, John Sweatt, John Stevens; surveyors of lumber, Ben-
jamin Bean and Alexander Smith; poundkeeper, John Smith.
Early Families.-The Dudley family. This family has been identified
with the history of this town from the earliest date to the present. It has a
noble history in the town, in the state, in some other states, and in England,
before any of them came across the waters. We have seen what offices the
town conferred here. One also was judge. In colonial times two were pro-
vincial governors, and in the old country it was an English historical name.
There were barons, bishops, and knights of Dudleys, from 1376 to 1460.
And later, one wore a crown for a few days.
The ancestor of the Dudley family here was Thomas Dudley, who came
to Massachusetts in 1630, and was governor of the province. Joseph Dud-
ley, son of Governor Thomas, was also provincial governor. Gov. Thomas
Dudley was son of Capt. Roger Dudley, slain in a war in England. Gov.
Joseph Dudley was popular in New Hampshire. His portrait is in the coun-
cil chamber in Concord.
We are concerned only with Stephen, son of Rev. Samuel by his last
wife. He married twice, and had eleven children. Of them we need name
Stephen, who was a cordwainer, and married Sarah Davidson, of Newbury,
Mass. He purchased Raymond of an Indian sagamore, as has been named
in its proper place. He died in Exeter in 1734, aged forty-six. His brother
James was born at Exeter, in 1690, and was the father of Judge Dudley, of
Raymond. John, a younger brother, was killed by the Indians in what is
now Fremont, in 1710, at the age of eighteen. This was the same year that
Col. Winthrop Hilton. of Newmarket, was killed, with others, near the
"mast way," in Epping.
In 1766, John Dudley came to Raymond, having bought the farm now
owned by his great-grandson, James T. Dudley, Esq. Gaining the confi-
dence of the citizens, he soon became the leading man of the town. Two
years after coming here he was appointed justice of the peace. He was an
active patriot during the Revolution, and prominent in the councils of the
state.
Maj. Josiah Fogg was a native of Bride Hill, in Hampton. He came to
this town in 1752, and settled on what was afterwards known as the Fogg
farm, which was kept in the name more than one hundred years.
Robert Page. The name Page is found in the early records of Hampton,
and David Page the father of Robert, was born there, but moved to North
Hampton where Robert was born. He married Sarah Dearborn, sister of
Gen. Henry Dearborn, and came to this place in 1755.
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Lieut. Benjamin Bean was born in Kingston, and came to this town in
1752.
Capt. Samuel Nay. The Nays of this town descended from John Nay,
called a Jerseyman because he lived on the Isle of Jersey, east of England.
John came to Hampton, and died in 1750, aged ninety. Captain Samuel was
born in Hampton. His father was John, son of the above. He was in the
war with the French and Indians between 1755-60. He was deputy sheriff
in Hampton, and a captain in the war 0œ the Revolution. He moved to
Epping about 1780, and long after to this town.
Gen. Henry Tucker was one of the most active and enterprising men of
the town.
The Blakes of Raymond descended from Jasper Blake. We have the
authority of the late John Farmer, of Concord, for saying he was the first
of the name to come over from England. He came to Hampton in 1650.
He was married four times, his last wife being Deborah Dalton, sister of
Rev. T. Dalton, minister, of Hampton. He had ten children. He lived in
Hampton twenty-three years, and died June 5, 1673.
The Bean House.-In this lived Lieut. Benjamin Bean, followed by his
son Thomas, whose son, Capt. Benjamin Bean, was next; and then the late
John Bean, son of the captain. It was in early years a tavern. The first
town-meetings were held there, and also meetings for preaching before a
house of worship was erected.
This house was standing in 1752, and was built by David Bean, a brother
of Lieutenant Bean. Probably it was built about 1750.
Jonathan Dearborn lived in Chester. His ancestors came from Hamp-
ton. His children were Richard, Mehitable, Peter, Benjamin, and Thomas.
This last had a son Thomas, who was killed by a cannonball in the war of
the Revolution, in 1778.
Other pioneer families were the Emersons, Tuckers, Poors, Prescotts,
Robies, Fullontons, Foggs, Folsoms, Giles, Gilmans, Healeys, Harrimans,
Lanes, Loverings, Moodys, Moores, McClures, Moultons, Nays, Norrises,
Osgoods, Pages, Scribners, Stevens, Swains, Tiltons, Wallaces, Wasons,
Woodmans, Abbotts, Andersons, Bishops, Bagleys, Burbanks, Batchelders,
Bennetts, DoIloffs, Davises, Dodges, Dows, Elliotts, Foxes, Floods, Gordons,
Goves, Griffins, Heaths, Holmans, Kimballs, Leavitts, Lockes, Mandens,
Magsons, Nortons, Peckers, Pollards, Runnells, Richardsons, Roberts, San-
borns, Shannons, Smiths, Smarts, Sweatts, Stickneys, Shaws, Spinneys,
Thrashers, Towles, Titcombs, Varnums, Whit tiers, Wendells, Yorks, Dear-
borns, Beans, Curriers, Prescotts, Crams, Swains, and Moors.
CHURCHES
Congregational Church.-It was customary in the early history of the
towns in New England, as soon as convenient, to establish meetings for the
worship 0œ God. The first account here is in 1764, the year of the incorpora-
tion. At a town-meeting, held June IIth, voted to raise œ300, old tenor,
for the support 0œ the gospel. This was but a small sum in dollars. In
1765 voted to raise the same sum. A few who had come into town from
Chester (the part now Auburn) belonged to the Presbyterian Church. They
objected to paying a ministerial tax here, and it was voted that they "be
Page 638
eased of their rates." That year the first minister of whom mention is made
came. His name was Gilman. Many did not like him, and at a town-meet-
ing held March 3, 1766, voted that if Mr. Gilman preached he should not
be paid by the town.
In 1767, Samuel Webster was paid six pounds for preaching, Solomon
Moore, six, Tristram Gilman seven pounds four shillings. In 1768, Mr.
Gilman and Jonathan Searle preached.
The meetings in these years were held at Lieut. Benjamin Bean's tavern.
The town voted to pay him three pounds for the use of his house up to
March, 1769), and seventeen shillings for dinners for the ministers.
In 1770 voted to raise twenty pounds for preaching. Of this Mr. Searle
received ten pounds sixteen shillings, and ten shillings were paid to Lieuten-
ant Bean for the use of his house.
In 1771 the meetings were held a part of the time at David Bacheldor s,
west of York's Corner. The divided state of the people as to the location of
a meeting-house for some half a dozen years, and then the war of the Rev-
olution for eight years, tended to prevent the raising of much money for
preaching.
In 1785, two years after the war, a meeting-house was built, and was so
far completed that meetings could be held in it. The house stood in an im-
mense woodland, with but few openings or cleared places for considerable
distance around.
At the dedication of the meeting-house Rev. Josiah Steams, of Epping,
preached from a text singularly appropriate. It was from Psalm cxxxii. 6,
"Lo, we heard of it at Ephrata; we found it in the fields of the wood."
The location of the house was not liked by some, and not far from the
time some waggish person posted up an advertisement headed "Found," and
then went on to describe "a stray meeting-house found in the woods."
In 1787 voted fifteen pounds for preaching; also that if any who did not
wish to pay the minister tax enter their names with the town clerk within ten
days they be not taxed. Also that the minister tax may be paid in pine
boards, corn, or grain. October I5th, voted to give Mr. Stephen Williams
a call to settle in the ministry. He did not accept. In 1790, voted to give
Mr. Thomas Moore a call on terms similar to the above. He did not accept.
No church had as yet been formed. The organization took place in 1791.
The original members were twenty-one, as follows:
John Bacheldor, Robert Page, Stephen Prescott, Matthias Haines, Daniel
Lane, David Lane, Benjamin Cram, Ebenezer Prescott, Ebenezer Cram,
Samuel Nay, Samuel Nay, Jr., Sarah Page, Phebe Prescott, Mary Nay,
Mary Cram, Sarah Haines, Abigail Lane, Hannah Lane, Mary Tilton, Abi-
gail Bacheldor. Very soon after Jonathan Swain and Mary Swam united
by letter.
Some three or four years passed with occasional supplies of preaching,
and then Rev. Nehemiah Ordway moved into town, and was a stated sup-
ply till 1797, when the matter of moving the meeting-house was agitated.
A strong party wished it moved to what is now the village. Mr. Ordway, In
one sermon, opposed the removal. But some thought that was not preach-
ing the gospel. Not long after he closed his supply here.
Those for the removal were in a small majority in 1797, at three different
town-meetings, and in the autumn of that year it was removed.
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The inhabitants of the neighboring towns assisted and the "team" con-
sisted of eighty oxen.
The house was soon put in order for worship, but there was much divi-
sion of feeling in the church that had grown out of the contention concerning
the removal. Not long after Rev. James Thurston, of Exeter, was obtained
for a supply in the years 1798 and 1799.
"The Lord rideth upon the whirlwind and directeth the storm," and at
the proper time brings all to calmness and repose. The discordant elements
finally became harmonized, and in 1800, Mr. Jonathan Stickney, of New-
buryport, was ordained pastor.
Mr. Stickney continued seven years, and in June, 1807, was dismissed.
Ten years passed before another pastor was settled. In 1808 the town
voted that the Free Baptists occupy the meeting-house half of the time.
The church had some preaching by neighboring ministers till 1813, after
which a missionary society in Massachusetts furnished supplies about half
of the time till 1817. Revs. Homer, Cressy, and Wright were here most.
About ninety united with the church. Rev. S. Bailey was installed pastor
October I, 1817. He was dismissed in 1822.
Revs. James Thurston, M. Dutton, and others supplied till the next pas-
torate.
Rev. Seth Farnsworth, a native of Charleston, N. H., was ordained No-
vember 3, 1824. Mr. Farnsworth was dismissed in 1834.
A new meeting-house was erected in 1834, and dedicated November 12th,
and the next day Rev. Andrew H. Reed was installed pastor. Mr. Reed was
dismissed October 26, 1836.
Rev. Anson Sheldon succeeded. He was a native of Summers, Conn.
He was installed June 28, 1837, and dismissed October 15, 1839.
Rev. John C. Page, a native of Sandwich, was ordained October 6, 1841,
and dismissed May 7, 1851.
Rev. David Burt, a native of Monson, Mass., was ordained November 5,
1851, and dismissed February 22, 1855.
Rev. Dana B. Bradford, a native of Hillsborough, was installed Decem-
ber 5, 1855. Mr. Bradford was dismissed in the summer of 1858.
Rev. George W. Sargent, a native of Dover, was ordained December 21,
1859, and was dismissed early in 1865. Then nearly two years passed with-
out a pastor, but there was a supply by different ministers.
December 6, 1866, Edward D. Chapman, a native of East Haddam,
Conn., was installed.
The ministry of Mr. Chapman here commenced some months before his
installation, and at the end of three years was terminated by his death, Sep-
tember 17, 1869.
The next pastor was Rev. Samuel Bowker, installed November 30, 1870.
This pastorate continued two and a half years, and terminated May, 1873.
In August following, Rev. D. B. Dodge began, and supplied six months.
In June, 1874, Rev. W. A. Patten became acting pastor and Rev. E. 0.
Dyer was pastor 1881-83. Nelson Green supplied in 1883-84, Rev. M. B.
Angier in 1885, and Rev. Frank E. Mills, pastor but not installed, from
May I, 1885, to March I, 1888. Rev. Albert H. Thompson preached as a
candidate May 6, 1888, and was acting pastor till March 30, 1905. After
nearly seventeen years' services he was installed pastor, and his name is on
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the roll of honor of six Congregational ministers in Rockingham County,
who have served their churches for twenty years or more. The centennial
of the church was October 22, 1891. The meeting-house was burned in the
great fire, December 6, 1892. The new church building was erected and
dedicated March 7, 1894.
Fanny McClure, who died in 1814, left a legacy of $200 to the church;
Joseph Richardson, who died in 1852, left $500, the income to help sustain
singing; Mary Patten, who died in 1853, left $100; Hon. Joseph Blake died
in 1864, and left $500; Martha McClure died in 1870, and left $1,000;
Ezekiel Lane died in 1873, and left a bequest.
Methodist Episcopal Church.-Persons of Methodist sentiments have
lived in town for more than fifty years. The greater part of these lived in
the Branch district, and attended meetings in Poplin and Chester. Mr. J.
F. Lane attended at Epping.
In 1840, Rev. A. Plumer, of Poplin, held meetings here, with some good
results. Rev. L. H. Gordon moved into town in 1841, and supplied for sev-
eral months. The interest declined, and Mr. Gordon moved to Epping.
Rev. William French, of Sandown, supplied some, but after a while the meet-
ings were given up.
The present church began in 1848. At the town meeting in March it was
voted to give all the right and title the town had to the meeting-house as a
house of worship to the Methodist Society the ensuing year. Meetings com-
menced early in the summer. The conference appointed a Mr. Hoyt, but
after a short time he left, and the presiding elder obtained, for the remainder
of the year, Rev. J. S. Loveland, a native of Stoddard. Near the close of
the year it was decided to erect a house of worship. November 7th, the town
voted to sell the society land for the purpose where the pound then stood.
Soon there was much contention as to that vote, and on the 22d of ]anuary
the action was reconsidered.
In 1849 the minister was Rev. James Adams, a native of Williamstown,
Vt. The house of worship was built this year and dedicated in the autumn.
In 1850 and 1851 the preacher was Rev. I. C. Emerson, a native of Can-
terbury; in 1852, Rev. G. W. T. Rogers, a native of Holderness; in 1853
and 1854, Rev. Elijah Mason, a native of Cavendish, Vt.; in 1855 and 1856,
Rev. Simon P. Heath; in 1857, Rev. Charles Young; in 1858 and 1859, Rev.
L. L. Eastman, a native of Canaan, had charge; in 1860, Rev. N. L. Chase;
in 1861 and 1862, Rev. N. M. Bailey; in 1863 and 1864, Rev. James Adams,
the second time; in 1865, Rev. R. J. Donaldson; in 1866, 1867 and 1868,
Rev. G. W. Ruland; in 1869 and 1870, Rev. Eleazer Smnth; in 187I, Rev.
Josiah Higgins; in 1872, Rev. William Hewes; in 1873, meetings suspended;
and in 1874, Rev. William H. H. Collins. A. B. Carter, in 1882. Rev. W.
M. Forgrave has been assigned for Raymond and East Candia.
The Congregational and the Methodist churches are the only ones hold-
ing regular services in Raymond.
Free-Will Baptist Church.-The origin of this church was a religious
interest near the mountains in Nottingham, under the preaching of Rev.
Jeremiah Ballard, of Unity, in 1799. The interest extended into Candia,
Deerfield, and Raymond, and in 1802 a church was formed, the members
living in the four towns. Mr. Ballard preached in this town a few times,
once at a tavern and once in a grove. In 1805, Rev. H. D. Buzzell, of Gil-
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manton, preached here some, and Joseph Dudley was appointed ruling elder.
His duty was to lead in meetings when there was no minister, and to preside
in meetings of business. In 1810, Rev. H. D. Buzzell was here part of the
time; also Rev. Moses Bean, of Candia.
In 1818 the members in Candia and Raymond were constituted a church
by themselves. In 1823 there was a revival. The ministers who officiated
here were Revs. M. Bean and David Harriman, both of Candia.
In 1824, Candia and Raymond divided, and the members in this town
became a separate church. The same year Rev. J. B. Prescott, of Monmouth,
Me., preached here several months.
In 1826, Rev. Arthur Caverno, of Epsom, preached a portion of the time.
The same year a house of worship was erected and dedicated. In the autumn
of 1831, T. Robie was ordained. In 1832 there was a revival, in which Rev.
John Knowles labored. In 1834, Rev. C. Small lived in town six months,
and preached.
In the autumn of 1837, Rev. Hiram Holmes took charge of the church,
and remained until 1839.
Not far from this an unhappy division on church polity took place. The
result was the forming of a second church of the same name on the ground
where there were not members enough for one efficient church. The second
church occupied the meeting-house half of the Sabbaths, having, in 1842, a
licensed preacher, H. B. Brock, a native of Barrington. In 1843 it had J. 0.
D. Bartlett, a native of Center Harbor, who was ordained here that year.
This church numbered forty, but it fell into division, waned, and lost its
visibility. The members who desired it were received back into the other
church.
Rev. Asa Merrill, of Stratham, supplied some for years, till 1844. In
the spring of 1845, Rev. B. H. McMurphey, a native of Alexandria, came
and took charge. He continued two years, leaving in 1847.
Rev. Tobias Foss, a native of Strafford, succeeded in 1848, and continued
five and a half years. Mr. Foss left in September, 1853. Rev. Joseph Ful-
lonton succeeded as stated supply, and continued nineteen years. In 1858 a
good revival brought an addition of twelve. Rev. John FuUonton, T. Robie,
and Rev. Mr. Fullenten became ministers while members of this church, and,
later, J. Woodbury Scribner.
Universalist Society.-From an early period there have been some uni-
versalists in town. In 1827, Rev. T. G. Farnsworth, of Haverhill, Mass.,
preached a Sabbath in the Baptist Church. In 1854 the Rockingham County
Association of Universalists was held here. The services were in the Meth-
odist Church, and continued two days. There have been occasional supplies
of preaching besides, but at long intervals.
In 1857 a society was formed with corporate powers.
EARLY SCHOOLS
In 1757, seven years before this town was incorporated, it was voted by
the town-meeting of Chester that Freetown (now Raymond) and Charming-
fare (now Candia) have school money according to their tax, provided it be
expended for schools. The result of this cannot be known.
Page 642
The next record on the subject was in 1765, the year after the incorpora-
tion. On a proposition to see if the town would build some schoolhouses, it
was negatived.
In 1767, voted to raise sixty pounds for schooling and other charges.
The schools were established, one of which seems to have been in the Branch
neighborhood, and was taught by Daniel True; another was in the section of
the Dudleys, taught, or "kept," as then called, by Daniel Stillman ten weeks;
and the third was probably in the east or northeast, in charge of Abel Morse.
Mr. M. was from Chester, an experienced teacher, and was employed here
much of the time in following years.
In 1768, Jona. Palmer is mentioned as a teacher here besides Abel Morse.
In 1769, Widow Judkins was paid twelve shillings lawful money for teach-
ing, and fifteen shillings were paid to Ithiel Gordon for going after her,
boarding her, and carrying her home again. The term was four weeks in
length. All worked cheap then. Francis Hodgkins about the same time
taught four months, probably not all in the same neighborhood. His wages
were about six dollars per month. This year five shillings were paid to Cle-
ment Moody, who lived near where John Brown, Esq., now does, for the
use of a room in his house for a school.
Seventeen hundred and seventy, voted to build four schoolhouses, one in
each quarter of the town, with John Dudley, James Moore, Ezekiel Lane,
and Robert Page, building committee.
After the houses were built the principal teachers for years were A.
Morse, Dr. Hodgkins, Joseph Flagg, William Dawling, James Farnham,
Peter Coffin, Mr. Melville, Amelia Towle, and Abigail Welch. In those years
there were accounts paid of which the following may serve as a specimen:
"1771, Paid Benj. Cram, for dinnerin Master Hodgkins 10 weeks, 16 shil-
lings." This would be eight cents of present currency for each dinner.
MILITARY HISTORY
Soldiers in the French and Indian War, 1754-60.-John Leavitt, William
Towle, Ithiel Gordon, Samuel Dudley, James Fullonton.
Possibly some of these had not then come to town, but went from other
places.
War of the Revolution, 1775-83.-William Towle, sergt.; Nathan Lane,
Ezekiel Lane, David Gilman, 2d lieut.; Theophilus Lovering, Daniel Todd,
John Todd, Jeremiah Holman, Levi Swain, John Wells, Jr., James Clay,
John Prescott, Josiah Richardson, Reuben Stickney, Samuel Healey, Nehe-
miah Leavitt, Nathaniel Richardson, sergt. ; Josiah Tucker, Thomas Dolloff,
Willi~m B. Brescott, John Leavitt, Nathaniel Dudley, Jonathan Fu11onton,
Joseph Fullonton, Matthias Haines, J. Roberts, Josiah Wells, Eliphalet Gor-
don, Nathaniel Smart, John Bacheldor, Caleb Smith, Nicholas Gilman, Jo-
seph Peavey, Jonathan Bacheldor, Samuel Fogg, Enoch Osgood, Stephen
Fogg, Jacob Lane, Hezekiah Pollard, Ezekial Pollard, Elijah Po11ard, Barton
Pollard, Josiah Dunlap, Benjamin Whittier, Israel Griffin, Alexander Mc-
Clure, Josiah Fogg, Thomas Gordon, Daniel Lane, Jeremiah Towle, Moses
Cass. Ezekiel Morse, Moses Sanborn, Gilman Dudley, John Cally, Moses
Leavitt, James Whitten, James Randall, Joseph Clifford, Anthony Clifford,
Elisha Thomas, Joseph Tucker, Richard Flood, Sinclair Fox, John Fox,
Page 643
Timothy Jewell, Smith Cram, Samuel Cram, John Moore, James Libby,
James Mack, Richard Robinson, Ithiel Gordon, James Merrill, Daniel Moody,
Daniel Gordon, Jr., Elisha Towle, Benjamin Perkins, John Osgood, Israel
Griffin, John Tucker, John Lane, 3d., Daniel Whicher, John Clifford, John
Sargent, Phillip Morse, Thomas Morse, William Randall. For additional
names, see Chester.
Killed or Died in War of the Revolution.-1776, John Wells, Jr., Nathan
Lane, James Clay, John Prescott; 1777, Josiah Richardson, Jona. Fullonton
(killed), Ezekiel Lane (killed); 1778, Nehemiah Leavitt, Moses Sanborn;
1782, Joseph Tucker, Thomas Dolloff; 1783, William P. Prescott, John Lea-
vitt, John Todd.
Some of this list of soldiers in the war of the Revolution were out but a
short time. Moses Dudley, Esq., about the year 1822, recorded that twenty-
four from this town were enrolled in the army of that struggle, but other~
of the militia served for a time; some, too, are names not known here. Prob-
ably they lived in other places, but went for this town.
We have not learned that there was much disloyalty in this place during
the Revolutionary struggle. The following shows, however, one case:
"State of New Hampshire in Committee of Safety, Exeter, June 9, 1781.
To the Sheriff of the County of Rockingham, his under Sheriff or Deputy,
or the Constable of Raymond in said County. Greeting.
"You are hereby required forthwith to apprehend John Waldron Smith,
of said Raymond, Yeoman, who, by information, has appeared inimical to
the United States, having uttered sundry expressions tending to discourage
the people and otherwise to injure the common cause, and bring him before
the General Court, if sitting, or in their recess before the Committee of
Safety, that he may be examined touching the premises.
"M. WEARE, President."
We have not found any record of the results of the case.
Second War with England, 1812-15.-Josiah Davis, Amos Davis, Theo-
philus Stevens, David Dolbier. Amos Davis, killed; Theophilus Stevens,
died.
During the same war the following were for a time at the fort near Ports-
mouth. The most part were there in the autumn of 1814. There was a
draft for soldiers. It was called "taching." The true word was the military
one detach. Some went as volunteers, some detached, and some as substi-
tutes. A British fleet layoff the harbor, and it was designed to give the
vessels and soldiers a warm reception if they came in.
Henry Osgood, ensign; Francis Folsom, David Glidden, John Lane, Ben-
jamin Poor, Ebenezer Brown, Samuel Bacheldor, DavId Robie, Daniel Scrib-
ner, Amos Kimball, Jonathan Holman, John Brown, Jr., corporal; Wtlllam
Towle, Jr., Daniel Robie, Jr., Gilman Layering, James Bagley, Moses C.
Magoon, Thomas Leavitt, Josiah Smith, Josiah Moulton, James Dudley, Jr.,
Isaiah Cram, Phineas Healey, Harry Morse, Supply Morse, Ellsha Towle,
Jr", Eliot Healey, Gideon Currier, Jr., David Gile, Henry Clifford, Samuel
Roberts, Healey True, Jeremiah Chandler, Nathan Brown, musician; Samuel
Moody, David Clifford, David Brown, Jr., Moses Healey, Nathaniel Towle,
John Smith, Joseph Robie, Nathan Poor, Daniel Towle, Henry Clifford.
War with Mexico) 1846-48.-George Mace.
Page 644
Civil War, 1861-65.-Sewell D. Tilton, capt. ; John E. Cram, 1St lieut.;
Geo. B. Cram, regular service; George H. Tilton, John Brown, Oren T.
Dodge, Samuel G. Bartlett, Warren True, Augustus A. True, Elias True,
Jr., Elbrldge G. Moore, William B. Green, Hazen Currier, George P. Sar-
Gent, sergeant; George S. Fullonton, J. Francis Fullonton, Henry Robinson,
David T. Osgood, George D. Rowe, Daniel R. Bean, Andrew C. Nowell
Gilford F. Gilman, George S. Gove, 1st lieut.; Charles H. Edgerly, John H:
Dearborn, David W. Towle, Elisha Towle, Nathan W. Magoon, Nathaniel
Emery, Richard Abbott, Rufus A. Tilton, Daniel W. Osgood, Nathan Nor-
ton, Jonathan P. Holman, Abraham Healey, William H. Ferren, Charles H.
Abbott, William H. Keniston, Alvin Fogg, James Pecker, John H. Hill,
Franklin P. Morrison, Horatio G. C. Morrison, Daniel W. Norton, Laomi
G. Warren, George C. Johnson, James Card, Charles Dow, Jonathan F.
Brown, Timothy Gleason, George W. Healey, Samuel H. Robinson, James
K. P. Morrison, Jesse F. Morrill, Thomas R. Tuttle, Isa. G. Young, Chase
0. Wallace, William A. Wallace, George W. Gilman, William Y. Griffin,
Leonard G. Tilton, Cyrus W. Dwight, James G. Scribner, Charles E. Dodge,
Joseph Gleason, Hiram Gleason, Edward Gleason, Charles H. Perkins, John
D. Folsom, Daniel Robinson, John D. Brant, Robert P. Kennard, J. Anson
Littlefield, Samuel M. Heath, Josiah W. Lane, George M. Brown, Samuel
C. Nay, J. Lawrence Stevens, John Marsh, Samuel Spaulding, Abner Lowell,
Charles L. Rundlett, Cyrus E. Poor, sergeant; William H. Thurston, Charles
Jones, David S. Healy, George Tripp, Joshua Smith, Oren B. Cram, Samuel G.
Healey, John M. Smith, Daniel Bachelder, James Welch, 1st lieut.; Thomas
Morrison, James Buchanan, David L. Magoon, Charles Davis, H. D. Kidder,
Aroy Q. Roberts, William Smith, William Cash, Elisha T. Gile, Greenleaf
C. Kenniston, Thomas G. Judd, Anton Kemp, Nicholas Priss, Albert Wilson,
John L. Gilman, Joseph Goodwin, William Lamereen, Samuel S. Fox, Jo-
seph Witham, Asa Bly, John F. Worthen, Asa T. Worthen, Samuel Healey,
Charles Poor, Robert Hill, William Hill, Andrew J. Roberts, G. Bradbury
Robinson, Thomas Currier, Charles Payson, Charles Conway, John Mc-
Gowen, John Orr, Issacher W. Smith, 2d lieut.; Julius Adams, John Canner,
John Harmon, Joseph Kelly, William Parrott.
Some twenty of these were from other places, put in as substitutes.
In August, 1863, there was a draft for soldiers to fill the quota assigned
to the several states. The following were drafted. As the law then was
there were many "loop-holes of retreat." Three hundred dollars would ex-
empt. Substitutes could be obtained, and if one had a brother in the service,
a mother, or motherless children to provide for there was an exemption.
The examining surgeon also would excuse for slight disability. And the
result was scarcely one, if indeed one, went into the service.
The draft was at Portsmouth by Capt. J. S. Godfrey, provost-marshal.
One hundred and three names, thirty-one drawn.
Bounties, etc.-The following votes were passed at the dates given:
1861, September 9th, voted to pay families of volunteers; 1862, August 22d,
voted $200 bounty to all who have enlisted since August 1st, and to those
who may enlist to fill the quota for 600,000 men; 1863, August 29th, voted
a bounty of $299 to drafted soldiers and substitutes; 1863, September 4th,
voted $300 to drafted men and substitutes; 1864, May 31st, voted $200 to
all who enlist. Voted that the selectmen hire men to enlist, paying not over
Page 645
$300 per man; 1864, June 25th, voted that the selectmen pay $300 to hire
substitutes for drafted men; 1864, December 29th, voted that $100 be added
to the state bounty for volunteers for one year, and $200 for two years.
Died or Killed in This War.-August 4, 1861, William H. Kenniston
aged 21 years, Georgetown, D. C. ; May 3, 1862, Jonathan P. Holman, 23
years, Yorktown, Va. ; June 27, 1862, John Brown, 20 years, killed near
Richmond, Va.; August 22, 1862; Andrew C. Nowell, 33 years, fever, near
New Orleans; October 31, 1862, Josiah W. Lane, 19 years, Washington,
D.C.; October 27, 1862, Gilford F. Gilman, 29 years, killed, Labadierville,
La.; November 6, 1862, J. Franklin Brown, 33 years, New York City; No-
vember 9. 1862, John Marsh, 22 years, White Sulphur Springs, Va.; No-
vember 13, 1862, Daniel R. Bean, near New Orleans; November 26, 1862,
George S. Fullonton, 23 years, Washington, D.C.; December 6, 1862, Timo-
thy Gleason ; December 13, 1862, Cyrus E. Poor, 31 years, killed, Fredericks-
burg, Va.; December, 1862, Charles Perkins, supposed killed, Fredericks-
burg, Va.; December 28, 1862, George Brown, near Fredericksburg, Va.;
March 3, 1863, James G. Scribner, 24 years, Newport News, Va.; March,
1863, George D. Rowe, Louisiana; May II, 1863, Charles Jones, Virginia;
May 27, 1863, John K. Hill, 19 years, killed, Fort Hudson; May 27, 1863,
George Abbott, killed, Virginia; August 3, 1863, David W. Towle, probably
of wounds, Virginia; September 3, 1863, Elisha E. Towle, 25 years, Ports-
mouth, Va.; November 24, 1863, John Smith, killed near Knoxville, Tenn.;
January 18, 1864, Charles Davis, Washington, D.C.; July 26, 1864, William
Smith, 45 years, Portsmouth Grove, R.I.; July 30, 1864, J. Lawrence Stev-
ens, 41 years, killed, Petersburg, Va.; August 12, 1864, Nathaniel Emery,
38 years, Hampton, Va.; August 12, 1864, Thomas Currier, 24 years, City
Point, Va.; August 12, 1864, David S. Healey, 28 years. killed, Petersburg,
Va.; August 12, 1864, Oren B. Cram, supposed killed, Petersburg, Va.; Feb-
ruary 11, 1864, William Cash, killed.
Amos S. Holman went for Nottingham, but lived here till a short time
before enlisting. He died at Aquia Creek, Va., January 29, 1863.
Died After Returning Home of Diseases Contracted in the Army.-C.
0. Wallace, November 4, 1865; William A. Wallace, May 17, 1868; George
Tripp, July 15, 1869.
Stephen Smith, a native of this town, went from some other town, and
was a fireman on board the Kearsarge when its guns sunk the British ship
Alabama, June 19, 1864. He died in Portsmouth, September 17, 1865, and
was buried here.
Military Field officers.-Josiah Fogg, major, 1776; Daniel Norris, major,
1786; Theophilus Lovering, major, 1807, colonel, 1810; Ebenezer Cram,
major, 1816, lieutenant-colonel, 1818; Lyba Brown, major, 1823; lieutenant-
colonel, 1825, colonel, 1828; Ebenezer Nay, major, 1829; Daniel Robie, lieu-
tenant-colonel, 1830; John Todd, major, 1830; Jonathan A. Lane, major,
1833; Joseph Abbott, major, 1836, lieutenant-colonel, 1837; Henry Tucker,
major, 1837, colonel, 1838, brigadier-general, 1840, major-general, 1846;
Joseph Blake, Jr., quartermaster, 1840, brigadier-quartermaster, 1841, on
General Tucker's staff; Jacob Elliot, lieutenant-colonel, 1842, colonel, 1843;
Levi S. Brown, major, 1842; James Welch, major, 1843, lieutenant-colonel,
1845, colonel, 1846; William P. Tufts, quartermaster, 1844; Sherburn P.
Blake, adjutant, 1845; William H. Fellows, quartermaster, 1845; Aaron W.
Page 646
Brown, adjutant, 1848; Calvin B. Bacheldor, quartermaster, 1848; Warren
Titcomb, adjutant, 1849; David Griffin, major, 1851; Gilman H. Tucker,
aide to Governor Berry, 1861-62; Sewell D. Tilton, aide to Governor Harri-
man, 1867-68.
Populaton.-1767, 455; 1775,683; 1790, 727; 1800, 808; 1810,898;
1820, 961; 1830, 1,000; 1840, 989; 1850, 1,256; 1860, 1,270; 1870, 1,121;
1880, 1,054; 1910, 1,203.
Raymond Free Public Library was established in 1892, with state aid,
and in 1906 its 1,100 volumes were located in a dwelling house.
In October, 1908, The Dudley-Tuck Library was opened and now con-
tains 1,701 volumes. The building was erected through the joint efforts of
the late Col. Gilman H. Tucker and his wife, of New York and Raymond.
The physicians are G. H. Guptill and F. B. Stevens. J. T. Bartlett is the
lawyer.
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