Extracts From Capt. Henry Dow's Diary
"Bro. Sambourn put in prison, 21 October, 1684. Capt. Sherburne and I compared a copie with the original execution and there was no return made upon it the 1st November, 1684.
"June, 1687 -- millions of streaked worms this year."
Supplement
Capt. Henry Dow's Diary
This page is found to be a copy, whole or in part, of a "declaration," drawn up by Jacob Leisler, of New York, May 31, 1689, which was soon after published as a pamphlet in Boston, "but not affixed, or no copy allowed to be had." It was at the beginning of the revolution in New York, just after the seizure of Sir Edmund Andros, whose government had included that colony. Citizens and soldiers, under the lead of Capt. Jacob Leisler, Lieut. Henry Cuyler and others, seized the fort and placed Leisler in power, awaiting orders from the new sovereigns of England.
Folio from Capt. Henry Dow's Diary,
March 1672 to May 1696
The grammatical construction of this transliteration, though bad enough, will perhaps compare favorably with that of many writings that have come down to us in plain characters. Doubtless we have made some mistakes, but the page given is substantially as follows, line for line:
An account of the proceeding at New York 1689
A declaration of the inhabitants and soldiers belonging under the
several companies of the trained bands of New York
We declare that notwithstanding our several prayers and grievances these many years
under a . . . power possessed by our late popish Govr Dongan
and several of his wicked creatures and pensioners, councillors now to Left Govr
Nicholson: we were resolved to expect with great patience our redemption
from England expecting to have part of that gracious deliverance procured under God
by His Royal Highness William Henry Prince of Orange but when we challenged our
liberty property and the lives we were cajoled and terrified out of our
reasons but at last some being threatened by the said Lieutenant Govr Nicholson
and with a pistol presented against the corporal and said to the Lieutenant
Cuyler that he would set the town on fire for doing our loyal duty:
we have thought fit for our security and fear to be liable to
answer for the life of every Protestant that might have perished and every house burnt
or destroyed if we bear . . longer in submission and also seeing daily arrive
from several parts officers and soldiers who were entertained by the said Lieutenant
Govr Nicholson in the fort besides his several soldiers of which there was
a number of papists contrary to the law of England by which new comers some
of the burghers being threatened of some design against them in a few days we thought
delay dangerous so we have unanimously resolved: to live no longer
in such . . danger but to secure the fort better which we have under God
with succor without resistance and bloodshed effected and we declare
to be entirely and openly opposed to papists and their religion
and therefore expecting orders from England we shelter and guard
surely and effectually the said fort in the behalf of the power
that now governeth in England to surrender to the person of the
Protestant religion that shall be nominated or sent by the power aforesaid
this post our most secure . . . that we . . . to manifest as well
to the power aforesaid that God hath pleased to submit us to
as to other persons to avoid their reproaches that they could
otherwise In J. Leisler by the aforesaid inhabitants:
[Editor's note: The original Henry Dow diary is owned by the Dow Chemical Corporation. Three copies were made, one of which is held by Hampton's Tuck Museum and may be seen there by arrangement.]
From Philip Towle's Diary
Winter of 1772, died suddenly, Saml Brown, Saml Garland, Nathan Moulton, Jonathan Dearborn, Anne Stanyan.
July 2, 1781, the steeple was struck the second time -- the spire stript naked from top to bottom.
August 30th, 1787, their was a Ball of fire or Comet Shot a Long the sky the sky being clear Leaving a stream Like Smoak & made a Report Like Distant thunder 4 o'clock afternoon Daytime.
Extracts From Maj. David Marston's Record of Events
Aug. 31, 1840. -- First time the steam engine went through [Eastern R. R.].
Jan. 1841. -- Bought my first cook-stove.
1844 and 1845. -- Granite House built at Boar's Head.
Mar. 18, 1850. -- Severe snow-storm; about a foot of snow fell; wind northeast; about four days very high tides and storm at sea; broke over beach hill almost the whole length of the beach; filled muddy pond; water three feet deep on the causeway bridge; filled the road with stones and carried away fences.
July 21, 1854. -- Thomas Leavitt's hotel burned at Boar's Head.
July 21, 1859. -- Josiah Dearborn sold his tavern stand for $2000.
June 11, 1863. -- Joseph and Nathaniel Johnson's barn burned, with four cows, one horse, two ox-carts and other farming tools.
July 31, 1863. -- 8 o'clock, evening: J. P. Whitcomb's stable to public house burned--supposed set afire.
Mar. 13, 1864. -- James Lane lost his house and barn, set afire by his little boy;--one cow, two wagons, seventy bushels corn, potatoes, two tons hay;--furniture saved. $800 insurance.
Aug. 3, 1864. -- Dwelling house and barn of the Sanborn sisters at Bride Hill burned, with most of the contents; -- caught fire from the stove.
June 24, 1866. -- The canker worm commenced its depredations some four years ago. Most of the apple and elm trees have suffered badly, some locations having escaped. They usually mature and leave about the 20th of June. This year they are much later.
Apr. 23, 1867. -- Joseph W. Dow built a barn and large house last fall, near the causeway;--had the house ready to plaster. At half-past ten they were discovered to be on fire and all burned to the ground. Loss, $3000, insurance, $2000. Rebuilt and finished, June, 1869.
Oct. 28, 1867, -- John A. Towle raised his store on the south side of the road.
Jan. 18, 1871. -- Dwelling house of Randolph A. DeLancy was destroyed by fire;--part of the goods saved.
Mar. 1, 1874. -- Joseph W. Dow burned out again--house, barn, one horse, two cows, harnesses, carriages, sheep. Very little saved.
Mar. 30, 1874. -- David Brown, Jr.'s house and barn burned about one o'clock, P.M. Buildings joined together--supposed, hay caught from a spark from the chimney.
July 30, 1875. -- Cotton Brown's barn, carriage-house and wood-house destroyed by fire, together with one horse, wagon and most other contents;--house barely saved.
May 4, 1876. -- Granite House stable and bowling-alley burned. Incendiary--house saved.
June 3, 1876. -- A. T. Wilbur's gristmill, shingle and box factory burned.
Jan. 10, 1878. -- A very heavy northeast blow and rain storm. John T. Batchelder, of Hampton Falls, went in the marsh just at night, to get salt hay--out all night--lost one man, named Wright, from Salisbury, and one horse.
June 17, 1878. -- Simon P. Towle's barn burned, at a quarter past eleven o'clock at night. Three cows, two bulls, two horses, three sheep.
July 3, 1878. -- Samuel F. French's house at North Hampton burned about 2 o'clock A.M. Algie B. Towle, son of Moses Towle, of Hampton burned in it.
1879. -- The Colorado potato beetle struck Hampton in 1866. This year they are in immense numbers.
THIS IS THE END OF VOLUME ONE OF DOW'S HISTORY.
For a continuation of the narrative history of Hampton, read Peter Randall's Hampton: A Century of Town and Beach, 1888-1988.