Rockingham County
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Deerfield lies in the northwestern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Northwood, on the east by Nottingham, on the south by Raymond and Candia, and on the west by Merrimac County. The population is 917.
The territory embraced within the bounds of the present town of Deerfield originally comprised a portion of Nottingham. The first petition for the organization of a separate parish was presented in 1756, but was not granted. In 1765 the inhabitants again petitioned for separation from the parent town and the prayer was granted, and the new parish took the name of Deerfield.
Incorporation. — The act of incorporation bears the date January 8, 1766, and is signed by Gov. Benning Wentworth. The petition was signed by the following persons: "Samll Leavitt, Obadiah Marston, Thos Simpson, Eliphelet Griffeen, Abraham True, Isaac Shepard, Samuel Tilton, Peter Batchelder, Robert Cram, Patten Simpson, Nathaniel Batchelder, Jr., Thomas Brown, John Batchelder, Moses Thomson, Samll Hoyt, Peter Leavitt, Ephraim Pettingell, Eliphelet Marston, Theo Griffin, Reuben Marston, Benjamin Cotton, Josiah Smith, Samuel Elkins, Jude Allen, John Cram, Samuel Kelley, Wadleigh Cram, Samll Leavit, Junr, Samuel Marston, Reuben Brown, Nathan Griffeen, Reuben Marston, Theophilus Griffin, Junr, Samuel Winslow, Nathaniel Meloon, Benjamin Page, Daniel Page, Samuel Perkins, Josiah Chase, Moses Chase, John Gile, Nemiah Cram, Joseph Graves, Jedediah Prescutt, David Batchelder, Josiah Prescutt, Samuel Pulsfer, Josiah Sanbon, Thomas Robie, William Sanbon, Joseph Mason, John Mason, Jeremiah Easman, Owen Runnels, Daniel West, Benjamin Hilyard, Benjamin Beachelder, Israel Clifford, John Robinson, Joseph Roberd, Joshua Young, Jeremiah Glidden, Joseph Pidkins, Ricard Gliden, Andrew Glidden, John Young, Jonathan Glidden, Jonathan Hill, Daniel Lad, John Lad, Nathaniel Smith, Benjamin Folsom, Moss Thirston, Jeremiah Foslom, Moses Clough, Increse Batcheler, Benjamin Batchelder, Nathan Batcheler, Josiah Sawyer, Samuel Marston.
The First Town-Meeting. — The first legal meeting was held at the house of Samuel Leavitt on Thursday, the 30th day of January, 1766; Wadleigh Cram was chosen moderator; Thomas Simpson, Esq., parish clerk; Samuel Leavitt, John Robinson, Eliphalet Griffin, selectmen; Benjamin Batchelder, constable; John Gile, Jacob Longfellow, Daniel Ladd, Obediah Marston, and Nathaniel Maloon, surveyors of highways; Jonathan Glidden and Samuel Tilton, assessors; Abram True and Jeremiah Eastman, auditors; Jedediah Prescott, Jeremiah Eastman, Samuel Tilton, Benjamin Folsom, Thomas Burleigh, Capt. Samuel Leavitt, Thomas Simpson were chosen '"a Committee to look out for a Suitable Place to Sett a meeting-house upon and a Return att the next anual Meeting from under the major part of their hands and the Same to be received or Rejected by the Parish as they Shall think proper."
Fifteen
pounds lawful money were voted to be "assessed to defray parish charges."
The first annual meeting was held "at the house of Wadieigh Crams," March
18, 1766, when John Robinson was chosen moderator; Thomas Simpson, parish clerk; and the same men for selectmen at last year; Dr. Jonathan Hill and Jeremiah
Eastman were chosen auditors.
A new committee was raised for locating the meeting-house. "Voted Jno Robinson, Abram True, Eliphalet Eastman, Samuel Winslow, Nehemiah Cram be a Committee to Look out a Suitable place for to Sett a meeting-house on and Look out where the Roads will best accommodate to Come to Said Meeting-house."
The first money voted to be raised for preaching the gospel was fifteen pounds, on the 15th day of December, 1766. At the same time it was voted, "That Capt. John Dudley be the Person to Look out for Some Suitable to supply the Parish of Deerfield with Preaching So far as the money above voted shall Extend."
The Revolution. — Deerfield was active in its opposition to British oppression, contributed liberally in men and money. It appears that men from Deerfield gallantly fought at Lexington and in Rhode Island, and wherever New England men were found struggling for liberty. The names of eighteen persons from this town who died in the Revolution are preserved. For names of Deerfield soldiers that served in the Revolution see Northwood and Nottingham. It is believed that Maj. John Simpson fired the, first gun upon the British with fatal result in that immortal battle at Bunker Hill. It was a premature discharge of his musket, but one that was immediately followed by a general engagement. Major Simpson died October 28, 1825. Joseph Mills, an officer in Colonel Cilley's regiment during the Revolution, was afterwards an efficient magistrate and a worthy representative. He died in June, 1809, aged sixty years. Hon. Richard Jenness, who acted so important a part in the early history of this town, died July 4, 1819, aged seventy-three years, greatly respected as a magistrate, representative, senator, and judge of the Common Pleas Court.
One hundred and thirty-nine of the inhabitants subscribed to the following declaration and fourteen refused: "We, the Subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with arms oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies."
Ecclesiastical. — The first religious services in the town were held by the Congregationalists, and the first settled pastor was Rev. Timothy Upham, who officiated in that office from 1772 until his death in 1811. His successors have been as follows: Rev. Nathaniel Wells, 1812-41; Rev. Ephraim Nelson, 1841-49; Rev. William A. Patten, 1850-52; (for three years the pulpit was supplied by Rev. W. A. Forbes and E. F. Abbott); Rev. U. W. Condit, 185564; Rev. Lyman White succeeded the second ministry of Mr. Patton, commencing his labors in 1874. Rev. Mr. White graduated from Dartmouth in 1846; at Andover in 1849; preached at Epping five years, at Easton (Mass.) seven years, at Phillipston (Mass.) eight years, at Pembroke (N. H.) four years and a half. Mr. White was pastor till October, 1882. His successors have been as follows: J. A. Kingsbury, 1884-7; Frank Mansfield, 1888-9; O. M. Lord, 1891-3; Tilton C. H. Bouton, 1894-6; J. G. Emerson, January, 1897 to March, 1907, illness; Sam'l Bell, 1897-1900; Geo. F. Bradford, 1900-4; J. F. Babb, 1909-13; Chalmers Holbrook, June, 1913, present pastor.
There is a Baptist Church here but has been closed since the coming of Mr. Babb in 1909, many of the people feeling that it was better to support one well than starve two.
Baptist Church. — This church was organized in 1770 with fourteen members. The first pastor was Elifelet Smith. It was disbanded in 1787. A branch of the Brentwood Church was organized soon after, which subsequently became extinct, and in 1816 (September 12th) the "First Baptist Church of Deerfield" was organized.
The first house of worship occupied by the Baptists was built 1770, and located about one mile and a half southeast of the center of the town. In 1822 it was removed to the center and occupied in connection with the Free-Will Baptists, and was called the "Union Meeting-House." The Baptists completed and dedicated their sanctuary in October, 1834.
Among those who have occupied the pastoral office are mentioned Revs. James Barnaby, Isaac Merring, Bela Wilcox, Isaac Sanger, O. O. Stearns, Noah Hooper, James N. Chase, L. C. Stevens, Edward T. Lyford, Oliver Ayer, Henry O. Walker, etc.
Free-Will Baptist Church. — This church was organized in 1799. They worshiped many years in the Union meeting-house, which was burned in 1839, and rebuilt in 1840 by the Free-Will Baptist people alone, and is occupied by them now. This house is pleasantly located at the center of the town, midway between the Congregational and Calvin Baptist churches.
Among those who have labored as pastors of this church are John Kimball, S. B. Dyer, I. S. Davis, G. D. Garland, P. S. Burbank, C. S. Smith, Aaron Ayer, Ezra Turtle, G. S. Hill, Ira Emery and E. Blake.
The Deerfield Academy. — The families that settled here and on lands contiguous were to an unusual degree possessed of wealth and intellectual culture; and besides caring for the district school, they supported a high school, which for many years was known as the academy, founded about 1798 by Joseph Mills, Esq., Col. Joseph Hilton, Gen. Benjamin Butler, Maj. Isaac Shepard, and Andrew Freeze, Esq. It was a flourishing school in its day. Phineas Howe, a young lawyer at the Parade, was its first preceptor, and continued at its head until about 18 12. Mr. Jewett, Nathan T. Hilton, and "Master James Husey" were the most prominent successors of Mr. Howe.
This academy building was ultimately sold to the Parade school district, and destroyed by fire about 1842.
Attorneys. — Among the attorneys who have practiced here were David Frank, Edmund Toppem, Phineas Howe, Moody Kent, Josiah Butler, Jason Merrill,, N. P. Hoar, D. Steele, Jr., F. H. Davis, Josiah Houghton, Ira St. Clair, Nathaniel Dearborn and H. G. Cilley.
In addition to the above, Francis D. Randall, of Deerfield, was register of deeds from 1834 to 1840.
Richard Jenness was judge of Court of Common Pleas from 1809 to 1813.
Dudley Freese was judge of Court of Common Pleas from 1832 to 1842.
Benjamin Jenness was sheriff from 1830 to 1835. He was son of Judge Richard Jenness.
Peter Chadwick was clerk of the Court of Common Pleas from 181 7 to 1834, and clerk of the Superior Court from 1829 to 1837. Peter Sanborn was for several years state treasurer.
Physicians. — The physicians of Deerfield have been Edmund Chadwick, Thomas Brown, Stephen Brown, John Hidden, Dr. Young, and Dr. G. H. Towle.
Early Families. — Among the early families are mentioned those of Batchelder, Bean, Brown, Butler, Cate, Chadwick, Chase, Churchill, Cilley, Collins, Cram, Currier, Dearborn, Eastman, Freese, French, Furnald, Gerrish, Gilman, Griffin, Haines, Hilton, Hoag, James, Jenness, Maloon, Marston, Mills, Moore, Page, Prescott, Rand, Sanborn, Sawyer, Simpson, Smith, Stevens, G. H. Towle, Thompson, Tilton, True, Veasey, Weare, Whittier, White and Woodman.
Delegates to Provincial Congress. — The following is a list of delegates to Provincial Congress from 1774 to 1788, inclusive:
1774, January 25. — Capt. Daniel
Moore, Moses Marshal, deputies to meet at Exeter to choose delegates to
represent the province at Philadelphia.
1775, May 8. — Simon Marston,
Timothy Upham, delegates to Provincial Congress at Exeter.
1775, December
12. — Jeremiah Eastman, representative for parishes of Deerfield and Northwood
to a Congress to be held at Exeter, December 21, 1775.
1776, December 2. —
Jeremiah Eastman, representative for Deerfield and Northwood, at Exeter, third
Wednesday, December.
1777, December n. — Jeremiah Eastman, representative
for Deerfield and Northwood. at Exeter.
1778, May 28. — Simon Marston,
Richard Jenness, delegates at convention to be holden at Concord, June 10th
next, to frame and lay a permanent form of government.
1778, December 1. —
Jeremiah Eastman, representative to Congress at Exeter, for one year.
1779,
November 30. — Jeremiah Eastman, representative to Congress at Exeter, for one
year.
1780, December 5. — Simon Marston, representative to Congress at
Exeter, for one year.
1781, December 4. — Jeremiah Eastman, representative
for Deerfield and Northwood.
1782, May 13. — Joseph , Dr. Edmund Chadwick,
delegates to Convention at Concord on the first Wednesday in June to frame a
constitution.
1783, December 1. — Jeremiah Eastman, representative to
General Assembly, Concord, first Wednesday in December next.
1784, —
Jeremiah Easton, representative to General Assembly, Concord, third Wednesday in
June.
1785. — Moses Barnard, representative to General Assembly, Concord.
1786. — Moses Barnard, representative to General Assembly, Concord.
1787. — Voted not to send.
1788, January 14. — Dr. Edmund Chadwick, delegate
to Exeter, February 13th, agreeably to request of General Assembly.
1788,
March 18. — Richard Jenness, representative General Assembly at Concord.
The Philbrick-James Library at Deerfield was established December 18, 1880.
It is a free public library, although it did not receive state aid. It is
located in the town house and has over four thousand volumes on its shelves. It
is soon to move into a new building of its own to cost about eight thousand
dollars. The first donors were Hon. Frederick P. James of New York, a native of
the town and Hon. John D. Philbrick also a native of Deerfield who soon after
left a large amount and the library was named the Philbrick James. Carroll E.
Legro is the librarian.
The Societies are the Jere E. Chadwick Post, G. A. R.; Woman's Relief Corps; Union Lodge, I. O. O. F.; Silver Lake Rebekah Lodge; Deerfield Grange, P. of H.; Progressive Grange, P. of H. For eminent lawyers, see Bench and Bar Chapter.
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 276-283.
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This page was last updated 12/26/2023