Auburn Town History

CHAPTER XVIII

Geographical — Topographical — First Settlers — Ecclesiastical — First Congregational Church — Methodist Episcopal Church — Civil and Military History — Petition for Incorporation — "West Chester" — The Opposition — The Town Incorporated — The First Town-Meeting — Military History — Public Library.

Auburn lies in the western part of the county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Candia and Hoopsett, on the east by Chester, on the south by Derry and Londonderry, and on the west by Hillsborough and Merrimack counties. The surface is broken but the soil is fertile. The population is 637.

Lake Massabesic, the largest body of water in Rockingham County, is rapidly gaining in popular favor, and is one of the most enchanting summer resorts within the bounds of the "Granite State." The first settler in Auburn was John Smith.

For the early history of Auburn see Chester.

First Congregational Church. — For some reason it was deemed expedient to dissolve the Presbyterian parish and church, and organize a Congregational one. Accordingly, agreeably to an act passed July 3, 1827, "The Second Congregational Society in Chester" was organized June 11, 1842, and a code of by-laws adopted, one article of which was that all moneys should be raised by voluntary subscription. The condition of membership was signing the bylaws and paying $1 annually. On the 1st day of January, 1843, sixteen members of the Presbyterian Church adopted articles of faith and a covenant, and were organized into a church by the Rev. Samuel Ordway, and assumed the name of The Second Congregational Church in Chester. After the town of Auburn was incorporated, in 1845, the name of the society and church was altered to the First in Auburn. Rev. Samuel Ordway remained until 1846. Subsequent pastors have been James Holmes, Josiah L. Jones, J. S. Guy, Charles E. Houghton, Theodore C. Pratt. 1882-92; W. B. T. Smith, 1894-7: A. V. Fisher, 1898-99; Albert E. Hall, 1899-04; Albert M. Farr, student, 1905-6; E. T. Hurd, 1906-7; O. W. Gord, 1907-8; Frank E. Rand, 1908; B. L. Hess, 1909-13.

The Methodist Episcopal Church. — Methodism began to make its appearance in what is now Auburn about the year 1800. The first Methodist sermon believed to have been preached in Chester was in 1807 by Rev. George Pickering. Upon the erection of the new schoolhouse in 1827, on the site of the present one near the bridge across the Blanchard mill-pond, the Methodists had services in it until it failed to accommodate the rapidly increasing congregation, and in 1836 a house of worship was erected. Among the ministers who had labored here are mentioned the names of Revs. Fales, Quimby, Stearns, Smith, Joseph Scott, Marsh, Spencer, Dr. Ferrest, H. B. Copp, R. G. Donaldson, A. Folsom, Nathaniel L. Chase, Jarvis Adams, James Adams, Henry V. Hartwells, Joseph W. Bisby, Isaac G. Price, Simon B. Heath, Frederick E. Whertwell, Henry B, Copp, Nelson M. Bailey, A. R. Lunt. Rev. T. W. Presby has been assigned for 19 14 for Auburn and Chester.

Civil History. — A petition by John Clark and others having been presented to the Legislature in 1844 to have the Town of Chester divided, the west part to be named "West Chester," and an order of notice having been served on the town, there was a committee, consisting of John White, Jacob Chase, David Currier, Stephen Palmer, Abel G. Quigg, and James Brown, chosen to report a line for the division at an adjournment. The question was taken by ayes and noes whether the meeting would consent to a division provided the committee should report a satisfactory line: ayes, 148; noes, 83. There seem to have been two reports, and the one made by that part of the committee from the westerly part of the town was adopted : ayes, 210; noes, 59.

There was a strong opposition from individuals in the west part, headed by Jesse Patten and Pike Chase, a remonstrance sent in and counsel employed before the committee, but the petitioners prevailed, and the act passed June 23, 1845. Samuel D. Bell, of Manchester, Nathaniel Parker and William Choate, of Derry, were named in the act to divide the property and debts. Auburn was to pay $2.26, and Chester $4.02, of state tax.

The first meeting of Auburn was notified by John Clark, David Currier, and Stephen Palmer, and holden July 28th, and officers chosen at an adjournment.

Auburn was incorporated June 25, 1845. It was originally that part of Chester known as "Long Meadow."

MILITARY HISTORY, 1861-65

First Regiment, Three Months. — Mustered in May, 1861. Co. C, Amos W. Brown.

Second Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered June, 1861. Co. C, John Chase, promoted corporal; wounded at Gettysburg. Co. C, John Davis, promoted corporal. Co. C, Hazen Davis, Jr., wounded slightly July, 1863. Co. C, Edwin Plummer, wounded slightly July, 1863. Co. C, Alfred J. Sanborn, discharged for disability July, 1861 ; re-enlisted November, 1864. Co. D, John D. Wood, recruited September, 1861; died in hospital November, 1862. Co. F, Felix C. Hackney, recruit, died October, 1865.

Third Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered August, 1861. Co. A, John C. Hagan, appointed wagoner; mustered out August, 1864; since died. Co. H, Lanson Blake, re-enlisted. Co. H, Alonzo D. Emery, discharged December, 1861. Co. H, Leroy McDuffee, promoted sergeant; re-enlisted January, 1864.

Fourth Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered September, 1861. Co. C, Henry C. Griffin, promoted corporal; re-enlisted February, 1864; wounded; captured at Drury's Bluff ; died in Libby Prison September 10, 1864. Co. E, Ebenezer S. Emory, discharged for disability October, 1862. Co. E, Carlton C. Richardson, re-enlisted January, 1864. Co. G, William Gunston, re-enlisted February, 1864; killed at Drury's Bluff May 16, 1864. Co. G, Amos W. Brown, re-enlisted February, 1864. Co. K, Thomas B. Platts, re-enlisted February, 1864.

Fifth Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered October, 1861. Co. C, Isaac Boxall, recruit. Co. F, John Whitehouse, recruit. Co. F, Thomas Darty, recruit. Co. F, Murtz Sullivan, recruit.

Sixth Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered November, 1861. Co. I, Frederick Shaeffer, recruit.

Seventh Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered October, 1861. Co. A, Thornton Hazen, wounded at Fort Wagner July, 1863; died of wounds August 29, 1863. Co. I, Otis F. Butrick, discharged for disability August, 1862. Co. H, John Walton, recruit.

Eighth Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered December, 1861. Co. D, Frank C. Wood, discharged for disability at Camp Parapet, La., July, 1862.

Ninth Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered July, 1862. Co. A, Eben Dean, died at Washington December, 1862. Co. A, George W. Goodwin. Co. A, Moses Reed, died at Richmond, Ky., April, 1863. Co. A, Alonzo D. Emery, transferred to Battery E, U. S. Artillery, September, 1862. Co. A, John D. Neller, recruit, December, 1863; captured; died in rebel prison at Salisbury, N. C, February, 1865. Co. A, James R. Preston, transferred to Sixth New Hampshire Volunteers, June, 1865. Co. B, Charles F. Shaw, discharged for disability at Fredericksburg, Va., January 15, 1863. Co. K, Charles Delos, recruited December, 1863; deserted January, 1864.

Tenth Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered August, 1862. Co. A, Albert Plummer, hospital steward; promoted assistant surgeon January 3, 1865. Co. A, Lucian Holmes, corporal, promoted sergeant ; captured at Fair Oaks, Va., October, 1864; died in rebel prison at Salisbury, January 4, 1865. Co. A, John Y. Demeritt, died at Washington January 5, 1863. Co. A, Jacob P. Buswell. Co. A, Charles H. Buswell, transferred to U. S. Signal Corps. Co. A, Joseph L. Davis, died of wounds received June 3, 1864. Co. A, Charles H. Grant, promoted to corporal; captured at Fair Oaks, Va., October, 1864; died in rebel prison at Salisbury February 14, 1865. Co. A, Edward M. Melvin, discharged for disability December, 1864. Co. A, Henry C. Moore, wounded June, 1864; died at De Camp Hospital, New York, September 8, 1864. Co. A, George B. Sanford. Co. H, Franklin Shannon, died of wounds June 16, 1864. Co. A, Charles Pingree, promoted to second lieutenant of Co. I, 23d U. S. Col. Vols. ; killed before Petersburg July 3, 1864.

Eleventh Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered August, 1862. Co. B, John Cole, recruited December, 1863. Co. K, William Clark, recruited December, 1863.

Twelfth Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered August, 1862. Co. I, Felix C. Hackney, recruited December, 1863. Co. E, James Krotzer, recruited December, 1863. Co. H, James Murray, recruited December, 1863; killed at Cold Harbor June, 1864. Co. E, William Moll, retired December, 1863; deserted November, 1864. Co. H, Oliver Kinker, recruited December, 1863; transferred to Second New Hampshire Volunteers.

Fourteenth Regiment, Three Years. — Mustered September, 1862. Co. D, Stephen C. Coult.

Fifteenth Regiment, Nine Months. — Mustered October, 1862. Co. E, Moses B. Davis. Co. E, Daniel C. Abbott. Co. E, Willis H. Brown. Co. E, Jesse Woods, died. Co. E, Frank C. Woods, discharged for disability; died at Auburn. Co. E, Jonathan Ballou, mustered out August, 1863.

Eighteenth Regiment.- — Mustered September, 1864. Co. H, Alexander M. Ballou. Co. H, Jonathan Ballou. Co. K, Sylvester E. Emery. Co. K, Carlton Emery. Co. K, Alfred D. Emery. Co. K, Alonzo D. Emery. Co. K, George A. Wood.

First Regiment Cavalry. — Mustered December, 1861. Troop L, John S. Coffin, re-enlisted January, 1864. Troop I, Warren J. Davis, captured June, 1864; paroled March, 1865. Troop K, Chester C. Smith, discharged June, 1862.

First Light Battery, Three Years. — Mustered September, 1861. David H. Bean, bugler, re-enlisted December, 1863. Robinson Brown, bugler. James M. Buswell. John H. Goodwin, dropped from rolls October, 1864. James M. Preston. William Preston. Benjamin S. Stewart, recruited December, 1863. Hugh B. Cochran, drafted.

First Regiment Heavy Artillery. — Mustered September, 1864. Co. C, Edwin Coleman. Co. C, George Coult. Co. C, George E. Edmunds. Co. C, Benjamin Eaton. Co. C, Jacob Lufkin. Co. C, Henry M. Preston. Co. C, Stephen Pingree. Co. G, Charles H. Lyman, discharged for disability January, 1865. Co. K, Joseph P. Brown. Co. K, William G. Brown. Co. K, Dennis Donovan. Co. K, Luther Preston. Co. K, Harrison Prescott. Co. K, Robert T. Plummer. Co. K, Simon G. Prescott. Co. K, Benjamin F. Sherburne. Co. K, John E. White. Co. M, George C. Kimball.

Second Regiment Sharpshooters. — Mustered November, 1861. Samuel F. Murry, first lieutenant, second lieutenant, promoted to captain September, 1863. Co. F, Alfred J. Sanborn, wounded May, 1864; mustered out November, 1864.

Those who Furnished Volunteer Substitutes. — Wells C. Underhill, Andrew F. Fox, Daniel Webster, Harrison Burnham, Joseph Underhill.

Drafted Men. — Evander G. Preston, John N. Claflin, George W. Hall, Alexander M. Philip, W. I. Gilbert, Benjamin D. Emery, Edward O. Prescott, Charles H. Pattent, Charles H. Merrill.

Substitutes for Drafted Men. — August Shaffer, James McKew, Edward Haley, William Warren, Henry Cole, Isaac Powell, Patrick O'Niel, Charles Bond, Charles A. Varnham.

Commutation fee of $300 paid by Arthur Dinsmore.

Griffin Library and Museum. — In 1885 S. S. Griffin erected a building to be used as a library and museum and in 1892 gave it and its contents to the town. The books now number about one thousand six hundred. The museum has an interesting collection of Indian relics and many articles relating to the early history of the town.

Massabesic is the title of the Grange.

Contributed 2023 Oct 06 by Norma Hass, extracted from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, published in 1915, pages 220-224.