A Grave in the Woods of Exeter New Hampshire Susannah Holman and Joseph Brown Family History

Plot: Susannah's grave marker is on the Phillips Exeter Academy woods walking trail Back of Headstone: "I am the resurrection and the lite." 

Came across this on my trail walk in Exeter Woods, NH 300-acre forest east of the Exeter River and bordering Drinkwater Road In the woods along one of the Phillips Exeter Academy trails is the grave of Susannah Holman (1785-1812), wife of Joseph Brown (1770-1834), resting with her is an infant daughter. The Exeter Historical Society curator Barbara Rimkunas wrote an article on this after she received a call from a local who was curious about the grave cite. I decided to do some more research and found some interesting family history, including Brown's daughter was the wife of original proprietor of the Parker House Boston.  
Susannah died in labor along with her infant daughter. She had three other daughters with Joseph and after her death he married Mercy West. "Genealogy of John Brown of Hampton, New Hampshire." Marguerite Willette Brown. Hillside Pub. Co., 1977.
Susannah Holman daughter of Ezekiel Holman (1759-?) of Deerfield, NH and Susannah Brown (1758-1785) married Joseph Brown, son of Abraham Brown and Judith Runnells.

Records: Ezekiel Holman to Susanna Brown both of Deerfield Mar 8, 1781 and a Ezekiel Holman to Sarah Dimond both of Raymond Nov 8, 1786 From Deerfield (NH) Town Records, Volumes 1 1766-1821 Ezekiel was a private in Col Long's Regiment in New Hampshire.  Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls.
From Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M246, 138 rolls); War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, Record Group 93; National Archives, Washington. D.C. 

Warren Brown in "History of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire:" A little east from Nathan Moulton's house stood an old house fifty years ago which was the home of Abraham Brown, commonly called "King Brown." He was son of Abraham Brown and Argentine Cram. Abraham was a large land owner. His wife was Judith Runnells of this town. His children, Noah Brown and Mary Brown, never married. Joseph Brown married Susan Holman; second, Mercy West. One daughter married Harvey D. Parker, founder of the Parker house in Boston. 

Children of Joseph and Susannah Brown: Mary Ann Brown (1804-1854), Susannah Holman Brown (1806-1902), and Julia Brown (1808-1895) and Infant Daughter (1812-1812)

Mary Ann Brown (1804-1854) married Pierce Porter at Amoskeag, N. H., 10 June 1833. Pierce Porter (1809-1894)
Children: Charles Phillips Porter (1834-), Albertina Gertrude Porter (1836-), George Franklin Porter (1837), Juliet Porter (1843)
Charles Phillips Porter married Rebecca Wentworth Saltmarsh, daughter of  Hazen Saltmarsh (son of Edward Abbott Saltmarsh and Sally Story) and Sally Batchelder. The Poore Family Legacy of John Poore notes Sally Story as daughter of Nehimiah Story and Lucy Sally Allen Goldsmith of Essex, Massachusetts. Henry Saltmarsh, brother of Hazem married Kesiah Batchelder. sister to Susan. Charles Philips Porter in Manchester, N. H. (SAR 30526). Great-grandson of Samuel Porter, Second Lieutenant Mass. Militia; great-grandson of Ezekiel Holman, private, Colonel Long's New Hampshire Regt. The SAR Magazine, Volumes 12-13 Sons of the American Revolution
According to Porter Genealogy Pierce Porter was a tall well formed man, with blue eyes and brown hair. He spent the greater part of his life in Hooksett, N. H., where he followed the trade of a shoemaker, and kept a country store. He was an excellent gardener, very fond of flowers, and had a wide knowledge of the wild plants in the vicinity of his home. From his boyhood he was interested in the temperance cause, and retained his interest to the end of his long life. He was a regular attendant at the Congregational church, and when past eighty, received a prize for perfect attendance at the Sunday School, in this respect, outdoing all the younger members. He was ingenious in the use of wood working tools, and invented several labor saving machines. He read much, his taste including history, travels, poetry, novels and newspapers.
Susannah Holman Brown (1806-1902) married William Sloan Bickford (1804-1860) son of Nathaniel Bickford (son of Dennis Bickford and Lydia Akers) and Mary L. Knight. 

Dennis Bickford, 1777, enlisted under Col. Nathan Hale, and served over four years in the New Hampshire Line. From "Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Book Volume 7" 1898 REF Miss Helen Tuxbury Member 6655

William S Bickford was a Shoemaker. The William S. Bickford Family Bible is in the possession of the Bickford Society. Listed as noted by Mahlonn Bickford: 

William Bickford and Susan Brown had 4 children:
1. Helen Augusta Bickford. b 23 Mar 1829; mar. Jefferson Franklin Tuxbury
2. Harriet M. Bickford, b. 12 Dec 1832; d. 6 Nov 1838, age 6, probably Exeter, NH.
3. George W. Bickford, b. 20 Feb 1835; d. 27 Sep 1853, age 18.
4. Julia P. Bickford, b. 3 Dec 1838; mar 17 Apr 1867 Sumner Constantine. They eventually divorced (census records). Sumner listed as blacksmith in The New Hampshire Register, Farmer's Almanac and Business Directory 1897 also see Epson History

The most recent entry was that of Franklin Lawson Tuxbury, b. 15 Oct 1900 in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. He was Helen's grandson. 

Julia Brown (1808-1895) married Harvey Drury Parker (1804-1884) son of Pierpont Parker (son of LT Hananiah Parker and Abigail Warren, daughter of Hezekiah Warren and Abigail Perry, daughter of John Perry & Sarah Price) and Anna Drury.  Pane-Joyce Genealogy

Photo from Massachusetts Town Records Family Search Index

From "Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Book Volume 17:" Miss Mary Sophia Butler 16930 Lineage Hananiah Parker son of James Parker and Anna Swain, daughter of Lt./Dr. Benjamin Swain and Margaret Pierpont. He was lieutenant at the Lexington Alarm under Capt. Seth Morse. He also served in Capt. Nathaniel Wright's company. Col. Luke Drury's regiment of Mass. militia, 1781-83. He was born in Shrewsbury, Mass.. and died in Wilton, N. H.

 Photo From Candlewood Farms and Genealogy Blog

Photo from Boston.Com Secrets of bellmen from Boston’s most intriguing hotel

Harvey D. Parker's Will. A Gift of $100,000 to the Museum of Fine Arts-Various Bequests to Relatives June 1884

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Volume 19 Miss Amy Whittington Eggleston. DAR ID Number: 18260 Born in Melrose, Massachusetts.
Wife of George Mahon Eggleston. Descendant of Lieut. Hananiah Parker, of Massachusetts. Daughter of Hiram Whittington and Alice Parker Streeter, his wife. Granddaughter of Nathan Hunt Streeter and Alice Kilham Parker, his wife. Gr.-granddaughter of Pierpont Parker and Annie Drury, his first wife. Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of Hananiah Parker and A Warren, his wife. Hananiah Parker, (1753-93), served as lieutenant at the Lexington Alarm from Worcester county, Mass., in Capt. Seth Morse's company. He was born in Shrewsbury, Mass., and died in Wilton, N. H.

"J.D. Perry 1874" on base Museum of Fine Arts Gift of Mrs. Hiram Whittington, Brookline, Mass., in 1902. 
From Walks and Talks of Historic Boston Mr. Harvey D. Parker was born in Temple, Maine, May 10, 1805. He came of good old English stock, being descended from Thomas Parker, who came to America in 1636. This pioneer Parker was one of the incorporators of the town of Reading, when it was cut off from Lynn. When Harvey D. Parker was quite a lad, the family moved from Temple to Paris, Maine, and here he "mowed and hoed and held the plough" until he was 20 years of age. Then, with a stout heart and $4.00 in his pocket, he started on foot for Boston to carve out his fortune. He soon found employment, and for eight years he led a busy life in the great city, living prudently, carefully guarding his surplus earnings, that he might carry out the cherished desire of his heart, that of "providing people with necessary facilities for eating well." At twentyeight years of age he commenced his famous career as a restaurateur in a basement, No. 4 Court Square, corner of Court Street. A portion of Young's Hotel now covers the spot. It was a small room, rather low and dark, and by no means attractive, but the quality of the food was most excellent and the prices very reasonable. This he named "Parker's Restaurant." He seemed to understand just what kind of food the people wanted and just how they liked to have it cooked. Arrayed in white apron, he personally served his customers, and he aimed to make the service in his restaurant, and later in the hotel, as near perfect as possible. His fame spread throughout the city and even far beyond the city limits. His patronage grew constantly and "Parker's Restaurant" became the best patronized and most popular dining room in Boston. 

Photo from Digital Commonwealth of Boston Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views. The King's Dictionary of Boston Edwin Monroe Bacon (1883) The Parker House: School Street, extending to Tremont Street. This has for years been a favorite down-town hotel, especially with business men. It is the leading place down town where people congregate for news and gossip. In times of exciting or unusual news, particularly on election-nights, its corridors are crowded with business-men and others. It was established 30 years ago, in 1855, by Harvey D. Parker, whose name it bears, the first American hotel to be conducted on the European plan; and, under his skillful direction and management, it has grown to its present proportions and prominence. Mr. Parker, now an elderly gentleman in years, but with the energy, spirit, and enterprise of an active man of middle age, is still the chief proprietor. He began his career in 1832, in a small but choice restaurant of that day, known as “Hunt’s,” in the basement of the Tudor Building on Court Square, which formerly occupied the site of the new extension of Young’s Hotel.   
Three months after he entered the place as an employee, he had bought out his master for $432. Here he built up a successful business, and his place became famous. In 1845 John F. Mills entered his service at $25 a month. Three years after, he was admitted to a share in the business;and Parker & Mills remained the firm name for a long time, broken only by the death of Mr. Mills a few years ago. 
After Mr. Mills’s death, Mr. Parker continued alone for a while. At present associated with him are Joseph H. Beckman and Edward O. Punchard, both experienced hotel men, familiar with the house and the Boston hotel-business; and the title of the firm is Harvey D. Parker & Co. The building of the Parker House was begun in April, 1854, and the house was opened to the public in October the year following. It is a large six-story marble-front building, with a main entrance and a ladies' entrance on School Street. 'There is also a private entrance on the Tremont Street side, which projects behind the corner estate (which Mr. Parker has vainly endeavored to purchase in order to extend his house over the lot occupied by it). On either side of the main entrance are public rooms; the news-stand, telephone, and theater ticket office being located in that on the right, and the telegraph-office in that at the left. The large dining room for gentlemen is at the end of the entrance-hall; at the right of the entrance-hall, as one enters, through a passage-way, is a cafe' fronting on Tremont Street; and at the left, through another passage-way, is the ladies’ dining-room, a spacious and attractively furnished apartment, with an outlook on School Street. This is also reached directly from the ladies’ entrance to the hotel. There is still another cafe, with a well-stocked lunch-counter, in the basement, with an oyster—counter and bar; and a large billiard room, the entrance to which is through this down-stairs café. On the second floor is also a large private dining-room for banquets, and numerous smaller dining-rooms. Parker’s is renowned for the excellence of its cuisine, and it is a favorite dining-place for clubs. Here the Bird, Boston, Literature, Agricultural, and other dining clubs ave their regular Saturday. Also associated with operation Joseph Reed Whipple.
Might want to check out the chapter in this book: Strange Doings at the Parker House, in The Ghost Next Door: True Stories of Paranormal Encounters from Everyday People By Mark Morris

Other Sources

• John Brown Hampton Genealogy Minor Decent 
• Stone Marks Lonely Grave in PEA Woods Barbara Rimkunas Curator of the Exeter Historical Society. 
• The Wadleigh Chronicle Donald E. Wadleigh Heritage Books 1992
• Bond of Judith Runnells with Theophilus Smith of Exeter and Abraham Brown, Jr., of Hampton Falls, yeomen, as sureties, in the sum of £1000, Oct. 29, 1760, for the execution of the will ; witnesses, William Parker. Provincial and State Papers, Volume 35 1936 NH Colony Probate Court.
• John Parker of Lexington and His Descendants Theodore Parker 2009
• Heaven, By Hotel Standards: The History of the Omni Parker House
• The will of Harvey D. Parker
• REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF THE PRINT DEPARTMENT S. R. KOEHLER Museum of Fine Arts Boston Vol. 22 (DECEMBER 31, 1897), pp. 11-17

Exeter NH 1914

Barbara Rimkunas from the Exeter Historical Society
This "Historically Speaking" column appeared in the Exeter News-Letter on Friday, January 3, 2014. What can we expect for the year 2014? Chances are whatever predictions we make have a slight statistical chance of proving correct, so let’s go with the obvious: this winter will be cold and snowy and the summer will be hot and steamy. But the historian’s job is not that of prediction, it is that of reflection, so let’s take a look at Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1914,one hundred years ago.

The Ioka was built in 1915 in downtown

The basic layout of the town was the same as it is today, but some landmarks that we’re used to seeing weren’t built yet. The Ioka Theater didn’t exist in 1914. Movies and live shows were performed at the Exeter Opera House on lower Water Street where the Folsom Tavern sits today.

The Swasey Pavillion, which most of us know as the bandstand, also wasn’t built yet. Each summer a rickety wooden bandstand was dusted off and hauled from storage into the center of town for evening band concerts. By 1914, it was so structurally unsound that band members feared for their safety while performing.

Portsmouth Avenue was sprinkled with homes and farms and not businesses. Phillips Exeter Academy was a cluster of buildings on Front Street. Exeter Hospital had moved from its original location on Pine Street to its current location on Buzzell Avenue back in 1906. Technologically, we were more mechanized than in previous generations – cars were becoming common, electricity was buzzing through many homes, central heating and plumbing were viewed as necessities.

Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, was president in 1914. The political climate in the nation was still firmly planted in the Progressive Era, which was characterized by political and social reform. This may have been the reason the January 2nd edition of the Exeter News-Letter announced that, “the morning bell of the Exeter Manufacturing Company for commencing work will ring at 10 minutes before seven instead of 6:20 as has been the custom for upwards of one half a century. The change is occasioned by the new labor law of 55 hours a week, which now goes into effect. There will be no reduction of wages for the shorter working hours, the new law in this respect giving a net gain of time to employees.” That breaks down to a ten-hour workday with a half day on Saturday. With a work certificate, one could start working in the mill at the age of 14. So, for labor at least, conditions were improving. In August, the Exeter Manufacturing Company stopped production for three weeks for renovations. Luckily, the furloughed employees were paid a generous 5% of their usual wages while waiting for the mill to reopen.

Delmont, Betty, Irving, and Theadora; The children of Professor James A Tufts

(picture taken out back by barn at Pine Street home)

“The Main Academy has burned!” detailed a young Betty Tufts (pic above) in her diary on July 3rd, 1914. Phillips Exeter Academy had just announced the hiring of their new principal, Lewis Perry, when the fire struck mysteriously in the middle of the night. Tufts, like many Exeter residents, spent a good part of the night on Front Street watching fire fighters extinguish the blaze. The building was a total loss, but there were no injuries. A fire in Salem, Massachusetts, in June was far more devastating, burning an estimated 253 acres of the downtown and leaving 20,000 people without homes. The Salem fire could be seen from Hampton Beach. The same edition of the Exeter News-Letter that described the Academy fire also reported that a fundraiser at the Exeter Opera House, held just two days after the Exeter fire, had raised $40.25 for the suffering families in Salem. Phillips Exeter Academy was quickly able to raise funds for a new building.

Exeter held Trade and Carnival Week during the first week of August. The parade was held on Tuesday, August 4th. At the same time in Europe, World War I began when Germany invaded Belgium. 

The summer brought news from Europe that Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated, leading to escalating tensions. On August 2nd , Germany invaded Belgium launching the hostilities that would begin World War I. If there was any concern in Exeter, it was lost among a week-long celebration of Trade and Carnival Week. There were events held all week including two separate parades. The Trade and Mercantile parade on August 4th was enormous and featured nearly every business and civic organization in town. A motorists’ parade was held several days later allowing residents to show off their new cars. This event was followed by a ‘slow’ race through town, which would disqualify any speeders or drivers who changed gears too quickly.

As the war in Europe heated up, concern for local people traveling was expressed frequently, but the idea that the United States would be directly involved was discounted. The election in November brought the Republican Party back to the Governor’s office with the election of Rolland Spaulding--American manufacturer and Republican politician. He was elected Governor of New Hampshire in 1914, where he served one term. His campaign material boasted, “He is a young man, progressive, aggressive, thoroughly representative of modern political ideas and ideals!” The town also voted to stay dry, opposing the chance to license saloons in town.

1914 ended with the usual crush of Christmas events and preparations. Most likely people in Exeter would later look back on the year and remember it for its local events – the fire at Phillips Exeter Academy and the Trade and Carnival Week – as well as the world events that would later overtake the news. But at the beginning of the year it was nearly impossible to predict the events that took place, except that the winter did prove to be cold and snowy and the summer was indeed hot and steamy.