Page 101

CHAPTER IX

STORY OF THE TOWN OF HOLLIS, N.H. – MOVEMENTS OF HOLLIS PATRIOTS. – AT OLD HOMESTEADS. – EVIL WORK OF A TORY WOMAN. HOLLIS GUNMAKERS

"The kindly spot, the friendly town, where every one is known,
And not a face in all the place but partly seems my own."

      HOLLIS, after making a record for about seven years as the west parish of Dunstable, became a fully equipped town. It was chartered in April, 1746, when Benning Wentworth was the governor of New Hampshire.
      In tracing the footprints of the patriots of Hollis, I was early impressed with the fact that I was considering the acts of descendants of the settlers of towns near Boston, and that the people of Hollis were bound by ties of blood and kinship with those of Concord, Littleton, Bedford, Marlborough, Billerica, Reading, Salem, Woburn, and other towns of lower Middlesex and Essex Counties from which they or their parents had migrated.
      Having so many common interests of long standing, it was natural enough for their military af-

Page 102

fairs to be somewhat united. This was particularly the case with the towns which formed the northern boundary of Middlesex County and their neighbors in the adjoining towns on the southern border of New Hampshire. The popularity of Colonel William Prescott was recognized in the towns of both colonies; family ties also inclined the soldiers of Hollis, N.H., to cast in their lot with the trusted Colonel's regiment.
      It mattered little whether in this or that town, in one Province or the other, the same motives actuated the one people; and I invite my readers to turn with me to the hearth-stones of Hollis, where

[Photo- "John Colburn"]

Page 103

still glows the fire of patriotism kindled by the pioneers of that locality. Age entitles Mr. John Colburn to the first hearing.
      Although in his ninety-seventh year, Mr. Colburn has other qualifications for speaking of the patriots of Hollis. He was born there, and his parents were also natives of the town. Said the veteran, when met in his home, seated by his wife, who was also a nonagenarian, "We have both spent the greater part of our long lives near the place of our birth, and these beautiful hills and valleys are a delight to us." On his maternal side this veteran is descended from Eleazer Flagg, one of the earliest permanent settlers of that territory. Anticipating my call on his ninety-seventh birthday, Mr. Colburn prepared a carefully written statement for me. Rising from his chair, and buttoning his Prince Albert coat about his stately figure, he passed into an adjoining room, and returned with his notes, saying, –-
      "I have always avoided the pronoun 'I,' never seeking nor desiring publicity; but since you desire it, I presume I cannot more profitably spend these hours than in aiding you in tracing out the footprints of the patriots, and in doing it I must sometimes speak of myself.
      I suppose to you who are young the story of the opening Revolution seems like ancient history; but to me Concord, Lexington, and Bunker Hill are as much a reality as are Gettysburg or Bull

Page 104

Run and other battlefields of the Civil War, in which my son participated, and has often described.
      "While driving the oxen to plough the fields yonder, father used to tell me of his and his neighbors' experience in camp and battle; and especially on or near the 19th of April, would rehearse the whole story, becoming so interested at times that he would stop the team in order to better illustrate positions. He and mother would devote whole winter evenings to talks about those days. It was a delight to us children – for I was one of thirteen for whom my parents toiled and sacrificed. Mother, who was a Hardy (Lemuel's daughter), could help along the stories; for her folks were in it as well as the Colburns. With a good blazing fire on the hearth, and a plenty of four-foot wood at hand to replenish it, a dish of good apples, some butternuts, and a mug of cider, what cared we for the driving snow? We drew up to the fire in a group, some on the settle and some in the chimney-corner. To be sure, there would occasionally come a contrary blast down the chimney, and fill our eyes with smoke and ashes; but it was soon over, and we children were calling for more story. To make it more vivid, father would pause at times, and say, ‘Now imagine that north-east blast against the window to be a volley of bullets from the redcoats;' at which we would hide the closer behind the high back of

Page 105

the settle, or snuggle more securely in the arms that were ever ready for some of us. My father was too young to have any part in the town meetings just before the war; but he knew what was going on, and was anxious to be in the company when they were drilling for an emergency.
      On November 7th the people took action at the polls, and chose three of their leading men to represent them in the County Congress on the following day at Amherst. They made record as follows: ‘We, the inhabitants of the town of Hollis, having taken into our most serious consideration the precarious and most alarming affairs of our land at the present day, do firmly enter into the following resolutions: –-
      That we will at all times endeavor to maintain our liberty and privileges, both civil and sacred, even at the risque of our lives and fortunes, and will not only disapprove, but wholly despise all such persons as we have just and solid reason to think even wish us in any measure to be deprived of them.' Deacon Stephen Jewett, Ensign Stephen Ames, and Lieutenant Reuben Dow, equipped with such authority, were sent to Amherst.
      "In the very last of December they chose a delegate to meet in a Province convention to consider a Continental Congress. It was John Hale, Esq., who had this honor.
      "They also voted ‘that we do cordially accede to the just statement of the rights and grievances

Page 106

of the British Colonies, and the measures adopted and recommended by the Continental Congress for the restoration and establishment of the former, and for the redress of the latter.' Three deacons with others were constituted a committee to observe the conduct of all persons touching the association agreement.
      The town of Hollis has in its archives three original rolls of military companies. Two of them were made out in January, 1775, and the third on June 7. The rolls were named respectively, "A List of the Company of Militia in Holles under the command of Capt. Joshua Wright," "Alarm List," and "The List of the present Militia Company of Holles, Exclusive of the Minute-men and all that have gone into the army, June ye 7th, 1775." These companies appear to have contained all the able-bodied men of the town. They held frequent meetings, and in every way kept pace with their neighbors across the line in Massachusetts. On April 3 they chose Deacon Stephen Jewett and Deacon Enoch Noyes as delegates to the County Congress, and "to see what method should be taken to raise money for the Continental Congress at Philadelphia." "Thus far it had been only drilling and voting; but soon there came something more exciting," said Mr. Colburn's father, "and Governor Wentworth, down at Portsmouth, found that we were in earnest. The alarm did not reach us on April 19th until it was

Page 107

too late to be of any service on that day, but our ninety-two minute-men made a record later that compares favorably with the Massachusetts towns."
      Mr. John Colburn's repetition of his father's fireside story was concluded by his description of Bunker Hill, where in his youth he visited the earthworks thrown up on that June night of 1775. Said he, "They had not begun to talk of a monument, and everything was in a very rough condition. I walked over that redoubt, and identified the locations just as my father had described them to me, where he, with so many Hollis men, faced the enemy in the heat of the battle, where a number of them gave up their lives."
      Seated by the side of Mr. Colburn during his birthday recital was his faithful wife, who was ninety-one years of age, and a life-long resident of the town. She was Naomi Boynton, granddaughter of Deacon John Boynton and Ruth Jewett. This interesting woman was not only an intelligent listener, but a most helpful prompter, and in her turn modestly said, "It was my grandfather, Deacon John Boynton, who first received the April morning message, and spread it through the town." These words of Mrs. Colburn, modestly dropped, resulted in my retracing the steps of the messenger of 1775, in company with Mr. Cyrus F. Burge, and in gathering the facts as we made our way. Beginning at Runnell's bridge,

Page 108

we first came to the land where were recalled the homes of Ebenezer and Thomas Jaquith, who responded to the urgent call of General Sullivan on November 30, 1775. It was through the special efforts of Colonel Samuel Hobart, paymaster of the New Hampshire troops, that the large number rallied in Hillsborough County, and responded at Cambridge. Colonel Hobart had been in the king's legislature, was also recorder and treasurer of his county at this time, and was a manufacturer of gunpowder in the Province of New Hampshire.
      We next came to the home of William J. Rockwood, grandson of Dr. Ebenezer Rockwood, who served in Thatcher's regiment. The one thing in his possession to-day reminding of his grandsire's patriotic service is his commission as surgeon from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In passing remarked my guide, "Near these trees lived Isaac Stearns, who served the town in the French war, and was one of the minute-men of Hollis to respond to Deacon Boynton's alarm. He also served in the Continental Army, and after the war migrated to Plymouth, N.H."
      Forty rods away lived Ebenezer Cummings, son of Deacon William. He went into the war, and died of the smallpox in 1778.
      This dreaded scourge brought sorrow to the town through the instrumentality of a woman who was a Tory of the most bitter nature. It is alleged that she spread infected clothing through the fam-

Page 109

ilies, and thus caused the death of ten of the innocent citizens. Among the victims were Daniel Mooar and daughter, Edward Johnson and infant son.
      Halting at the home of Andrew Jewett, we were saluted by a grandson of Ebenezer Jewett, who was in service at Bunker Hill. Said Andrew, "My grandfather's gun gave out before the powder failed, and he did the best he could by hurling stones at the British soldiers. He frequently entertained the young people in times of peace by describing his rough and tumble experience at Bunker Hill. Grandfather brought home from the war a negro man, Pompey, who lived in the family many years on this farm, which was in part my grandfather's.'
      In passing through a part of the town, we noted the hill on which the alarm-gun was fired in order to arouse other families, who lived farther away. Three important minute-men, Lieutenant John Goss, Captain Reuben Dow,[1] and Deacon Boynton, lived near the State line in this locality. We drew rein at the Boynton home, and there heard from the lips of the present occupant facts of interest.


[1] Captain Dow was with his sons, ploughing in the field, when the alarm reached them. The father, with two sons, Evan and Stephen, made haste to the Centre, or place of rendezvous, while Daniel, but six years of age, was left to care for the oxen, with the aid of his mother and sisters.

Page 110

      In the hasty preparations for marching, the families contributed such food as they had. The salt-pork barrel, partially full, was brought out of the cellar; and the strips of pork were divided between the minute-men who assembled here at the home of their captain. This Dow farm is one of the many of Hollis that has been retained in the family of the patriot who went from the same door on that eventful morning. The line of descent has been: Reuben, Stephen, Jeremiah Dow; the latter's daughter, who married John C. Bell; succeeded by Charles Dow Bell, whose son, Charles J. Bell, is now the thrifty farmer, and is surrounded by an interesting family. Thus seven generations have enjoyed these scenes; the last not failing to be duly impressed with the part taken by the first, Captain Reuben Dow, in the struggle for liberty.
      Standing on the well-worn door-stone, I saw in the distance the Colburn home, where I took my first lesson in New Hampshire patriotism. Nearer by we halted at the well from which the Goss family drew their supply. To the west from Captain Dow's home lived Amos Eastman, and we made haste to that old family site. Here Amos Eastman was well established when he went as the captain of a company under General John Stark into the French war. He and his son Amos manufactured guns at this place for the patriots; and a gun of their make was used as

Page 111

the alarm-gun at Hollis Common later in the war, an alarm being three guns fired in rapid succession.
      Indisputable evidence of this branch of industry is found in State papers.

WEDNESDAY, January 24th, 1776.

      Voted, that the balance of the account of Amos Eastman for guns, amounting to thirty-two pounds, sixteen shillings, be allowed and paid out of the Treasury, and that the President of the Council give orders on the Treasury for payment thereof. Sent up by Mr. Clough. – N. H. State Papers, vol. viii., p. 56.

      NOTE. -- In the year 1752 Amos Eastman, Senior, then living at Penacook, being on a hunting expedition in the northerly part of New Hampshire with General John Stark and others, was, with Stark, taken prisoner by the Indians, and both of them taken to an Indian village in Canada. On their arrival at the village, both the captives were compelled to run the gantlet between two files of savages, each armed with a switch or club with which to strike them as they passed between the lines. Stark, as is said, escaped with but slight injury; but Eastman was cruelly beaten, and was afterwards sold to a French master, kindly treated by him, and soon after redeemed, and went home.

      The Eastman family possession has been in the male line from Amos to son Amos, then Alpheus to son Oliver Perry Eastman, who now tills the paternal acres. He is aided by another generation, who cherishes the family record at this old hearth-stone.
      Continuing on our route towards the centre of

Page 112

Hollis, we came to the Worcester home. No school-child who has turned from his task to Worcester's Dictionary for help can fail of having an interest in the estate, from which went out generations of noble men and women to bless the world, prominent among whom was the lexicographer.

Table of Contents