Our project to celebrate Daniel Webster, born in Salisbury, NH, has received many donations connected to his life. The Daniel Webster exhibit at the Salisbury Historical Society, housed in our Meeting House, is growing!
Daniel Webster was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, on January 18, 1782. His birthplace is now located in Franklin, New Hampshire, due to boundary changes in the early 19th century. At that time, Salisbury stretched from Kearsarge Mountain to the Merrimack River. As mills developed along the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee Rivers, local businessmen pushed for a new town to keep tax revenue closer, leading to the creation of Franklin.
In 1828, Franklin was created by combining parts of Salisbury, Andover, Northfield, and Sanbornton. This change meant that a portion of Salisbury, including Daniel Webster’s birthplace, became part of Franklin. So, while his birthplace was originally in Salisbury, it is now considered to be in Franklin. Today, the site is preserved as a state historic site and museum, featuring the log cabin where Webster was born and spent his early years.
Fritz Wetherbee: Daniel’s Dad in Salisbury
In Salisbury’s case, about 1/4 of the town went into Franklin, and Salisbury found itself with a jagged border on its eastern side, drawn to include the birthplace of Daniel Webster in the new town of Franklin.
Fritz Weatherbee: Franklin – Webster, the land story
Daniel Webster’s birthplace in Franklin, New Hampshire, has been rebuilt. It’s now a state historic site and museum that preserves the two-room log cabin associated with his birth and early childhood. While much of the house is believed to be original, some parts, like the woodshed and well surround, are reconstructions according to NH State Parks. The fireplace was rebuilt using original handmade bricks and the hearthstone, according to NH State Parks. The site is open seasonally on weekends and offers a glimpse into 18th-century farm life, featuring furnishings that include colonial-era relics and items that once belonged to the Webster family. The house was restored in 1913.
Chronology, excerpts of Daniel Webster in Salisbury from Daniel Webster the Man and His Times, Robert V. Remini, WW Norton & Co., 1997
1782 Jan 18 Born in Salisbury, New Hampshire
1784 January, Moved to Salisbury Lower Village
1786 Witnesses flooding of the Merrimack River
Tutored by Thomas Chase and Later by James Tappan and William Hoyt
1796 May 25 Enters Phillips Exeter
1796 Dec-Jan Withdraws from Phillips Exeter
1797 Winter Teaches school in Salisbury
February Studies with Dr. Samuel Wood in Boscawen
Spring Studies Greek with David Palmer, a Dartmouth senior
August enters Dartmouth and rooms in a dormitory
1799 May Offers to help finance his brother’s education
July 12: Helped found the Federal Club at Dartmouth
Temporarily manages the town’s newspaper, the Dartmouth Gazette
1799-1800 Family moves to the Elms Farm, Salisbury, later renamed Franklin
1800 Winter teaches School in Salisbury
July 4: Delivers Independence Day address in Hanover
Elected President of the United Fraternity
1801 August 26 Graduates from Dartmouth
August begins the study of Law with Thomas W. Thompson
1802 January Teaches school at Fryeburg Academy in Maine
September Returns ot Salisbury and resumes legal studies
1808 May 29 Marries Grace Fletcher in Salisbury
The Question of His Early Education
In the History of Salisbury, there is information about the town’s efforts to educate its youngsters beyond teachers giving instructions in their own homes. In addition itinerant teacher would gather several students together and teach.
With the advent of the one-room schoolhouse, students would travel to the closest school or board with the teacher or another family and do what was needed, as was stated in Daniel Webster’s own words.
From the History of Salisbury by John Dearborn, 1890
1772 The town votes to raise money for school purposes. The first schoolhouse is on Searle’s Hill
1778, In town was divided into 4 districts, and each district was to build its schoolhouse. Blackwater River (Smith’s Corner)l Center Road (Jonathan Fiefieds’ land), North Road (near Mr. Wadleoghs).
1784 The four Salisbury public schools are decommissioned and sold. Daniel is 2 years old.
1786 Salisbury begins again to fund schools.
1791 Lower Village school, in 1890, the Orphans’ Home District. “Here the boy Daniel Webster attended school, here the young man, Mr Daniel Webster was employed in teaching the school district, and not far removed in time, the statement and orator spent he is leisure days here.”
p 836″ As a child, Daniel was weak, and it was thought by his parents that he would never be able to perform hard manual labor, and they would give him such an education as would fit him to get his living by teaching and literary pursuits.”
“A half-brother of his once said, ‘Dan was sent to school that he might get as much knowledge as the other boys”
“His mother taught him to read, and he said he could not remember the time when he couldn’t read.
1791, A school was built at Lower Village. The Lower Village was part of Salisbury. It is the area near the Wester Farm in what is now West Franklin. Daniel Webster attended this school. He would have been 9 years old.
1793 William Hoyt was teaching on Center Road and was listed tutor of his.
1795-December, Academy Hall was incorporated and established in the Garland’s Hill/ Whittemore Road area. Thomas Chase, listed as tutor for Daniel Webster, was the first principal.
(1796 May 25 Daniel Webster attends Phillips Exeter Academy.
p.522 Thomas (Chase) removed to Salisbury previous to 1768, resided in a one-story house which stood in Caleb. E. Smith’s garden. “Master Chase, as he was called from his being as a successful School teacher, was of a pleasant and sociable disposition in his baseness transactions. He was, without doubt, the first schoolmaster located here, teaching the schools when they were kept in private houses, going from one neighborhood to another and also into the surrounding towns. He was the first teacher from whom Daniel Webster received public instruction.”
p.200:
“It was the practice of early settlers to give their children such rudimentary instructions as they were capable of imparting, at their own homes. In some instances, neighbors united and occasionally employed a teacher, often selecting one who could aid in the household or on the farm.”
The reference to Daniel being sent to school indicates that it was likely the closest the 1791 Lower Village school.
So what can we guess from all this about his earliest education?
He was largely taught reading by his mother; he read voraciously, he was likely tutored by Thomas Chase and James Tappan, and attended school for the experience, as stated by his half-brother. In addition, he received PUBLIC education under Thomas Chase. An educated guess is that he amended the Lower Village School near his home.
p 157 from the History of Salisbury by John Dearborn, account of “Gen Walter Harriman, who gave much examination to the early history of the town of Salisbury” comes this account referring to Searle’s Hill after the community was abandoned:
“But this deserted place is further made memorable by the fact that Daniel Webster, after leaving Exeter Academy in the spring of 1797, and before commencing with Rev. Mr. Wood at Boscawen Plains, taught a private school for a few weeks, on this hillside, occupying for his schoolhouse a room here in his uncle William’s dwelling house. Daniel has a fine class of girls and boys, and his brief charge here, it is said, was pleasant and bewitching.”
p. 837 from the History of Salisbury by John Dearborn- According to John Dearborn, around this time, he also taught a short term at Lower Village School in what is now West Franklin.
“Later in life, according to Dearborn, Daniel taught at Shaw’s Corner in the schoolhouse just south of Thomas Bruce’s at North Road”. This is possibly the North Road School; however, the time frame is murky.
Question 2- Where was Daniel Webster married?
In 1808, at 26 years of age, Daniel Webster married Grace Fletcher in Salisbury, New Hampshire. They were married in the west room of the home of Judge Israel Kelly. This is currently the home of Dot Bartlett on Route 127 in Salisbury. Grace Fletcher’s sister Rebecca married Mr. Kelly, and at that time, Grace made this her home. Grace also taught school in Salisbury, possibly and likely right across the road at the South Road School.
Question 3- Where did Daniel Webster Worship?
1761 Ebenezer Webster, the father of Daniel Webster marries married Mehitable Smith in Kingston, NH, and shortly after, moved to land on Punch Brook Road (currently referred to as the Daniel Webster Birthplace State Park).
1764 Church Committee in Kingston established to create a Meeting House on a steep hill, ultimately called Searle Hill (after the Reverend) in Salisbury, in roughly what was the center of an unpopulated town.
1782 Daniel Webster is baptized atop Searle’s Hill in the Meeting House. The water dish for the Baptismal exists and is in the care of the Congregational Church of Salisbury.
Abt 1785, Ebenezer and Abigail Webster and family left their birthplace and moved to what is now W. Franklin. The Congregational Church, referred to as The Webster Family Church in West Franklin, did not exist until 1820. Presumably, the Webster family continued to attend some services there until the church was taken down and moved.
After 1782 and before 1791, the church on Searle’s Hill was disassembled, and after discord about a new location for relocation (Garland Hill/ Whittemore Road area or South Road Village). It was rebuilt at the South Road Village, where it exists today.
1791 The Congregational Church, having been removed, is rebuilt and functioning at its new location under the preaching of the popular Reverend Worcester.
1791-1823 Reverend Worcester preaches to large crowds at the new location, creating a revival and excitement.
Sept 13, 1807, Daniel Webster formally united with the Congregational Society under Thomas Worcester. Other members of his family had previously.
Soon after, Daniel Webster and his wife moved to Portsmouth.