Earliest? Portrait of Daniel Webster by Francis Alexander, 1835, National Portrait Gallery Washington DC. Daniel Webster left the Salisbury area shortly after 1807.
A new project is underway by the curator of the Salisbury Historical Society to honor a prominent Salisbury son, Daniel Webster. New gifts relating to Daniel Webster have arrived and our display is growing!
In keeping with this effort, the Trivia Challenge questions for January, February and March 2018 centered around Daniel Webster’s early life in Salisbury. Additional information or corrections are always appreciated.
JANUARY
QUESTION
Daniel Webster was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire on January 18, 1782 so why is his birthplace located in Franklin, New Hampshire?
Daniel Webster was born in Salisbury at a time when Salisbury extended from Kearsarge Mountain to the Merrimack River. The Merrimack River was formed from the the joining of the Pemigewassett and Winnipesaukee Rivers on Salisbury’s north/eastern edge.
Beginning in the early 1800’s, in this area where the 2 big rivers flow and join, mills sprung up harnessing the power of the rushing water.
Prosperous businessmen and mill owners felt inclined to have their tax dollars stay “local” rather than be payed to the towns of Salisbury, Andover, Northfield or Sanbornton, headquartered several miles off. They felt it was in their best interests and appropriate to create a separate town of their own. In 1828 Franklin was created from parts of these four towns.
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 into the new town of Franklin.
Thus The Daniel Webster Birthplace though once in Salisbury actually is now located in the City of Franklin.
FEB/MARCH
Researching the answer to Question 1 of the February/March Trivia Challenge was a challenge! Research is a bit complex and continues. It requires putting together a possible timeline from various sources. Some questions remain and more research is needed. If you are interested in researching this further, any additional information and any corrections are welcome as always.
Some of the answers are given in the format of timelines:
Question #1- Where did Daniel Webster study?
Research thus far.
1782 Daniel Webster is born
1784 The four Salisbury public schools are decommissioned and sold. Daniel is 4 yrs old.
1788- New schools are begun. South Road Village’s second School is built opposite the current home of Dot Bartlett on Route 127 and likely in operation 1788. Daniel is 5 years old. His family had already moved from the Webster Birthplace location to the Webster Farm area on what is now rte 3 in West Franklin. Attending this school would have required coming up and into South Road Village via Punch Brook Rd or Stirrrup Iron Rd or Smith Hill Rd (if it existed at the time). This was not a very long distance but might have been for a youngster daily by carriage in all weather. Possibly he is home educated at this time as was not unusual. It is known from his own words that he was taught reading at a very young age likely by his mother.
1791 A school is 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 yrs old.
1795-December, Academy Hall was incorporated and established on Garland’s Hill/ Whittemore Road area. James Tappan was an instructor at Academy Hall. Daniel would have been 14 years old. According to John Dearborn in the History of Salisbury, Daniel Webster studied at some point under Tappan and attended Salisbury Academy. However from the time of incorporation of the Academy and then actual construction of it, to the time Daniel left for Phillips Exeter Academy is very brief. More research is needed from actual school records to determine if this is accurate or dates are inaccurate.
1796-May, Daniel Webster goes to Phillips Exeter Academy Exeter NH, in May for a short term. Returns to the Webster Farm in 1796.
1797-1798 studies Classical Studies, Latin etc with Rev Wood in Boscawen
1798-1801 Attends Dartmouth College and graduates with honors.
1802- 1804 Returns and studies Law with Thomas W. Thompson in Boscawen
1805- Admitted to the Bar.
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 rte 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?
Timeline:
1761 Ebenezer Webster the father of Daniel Webster marries married Mehitable Smith in Kingston NH and shortly after moves 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.
1768 Large framed Meeting House atop the steep hill was erected. This is the highest location in Salisbury at the time. Ebenezer Webster purchased family box pews. Boards for the church were were sawn at the Ebenezer Webster sawmill. Parsonage also built, small schoolhouse built and cemetery created.
1768-onward the town expands with new population centers.
1774 March 28, Mehitable Smith Webster dies. According to Dearborn she is buried on the top of Searle’s Hill, now without a marker. In the History of Salisbury she is incorrectly referred to as Daniel Webster’s mother.
1774 October 13, Married Abigail Eastman, Daniel Webster’s mother.
1782 Daniel Webster is baptized atop Searle’s Hill in the Meeting House. The water dish for the Baptismal exists and is the care of the Congregational Church of Salisbury.
1785 Ebenezer and Abigail Webster and family leave the birthplace land and move to what is now W. Franklin. The Congregational Church referred to The Webster Family Church in West Franklin does not exist until 1820. Presumably the Webster family continue to attend some services there until the church was taken down and moved.
After 1782 and before 1791- The church on Searle’s Hill is disassembled and after discord about a new location for relocation (Garland Hill/ Whittemore Road area or South Road Village). It is 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 unites with the Congregational Society under Thomas Worcester. Other members of his family had as well previously.
Soon after Daniel Webster and wife move to Portsmouth.
Queston 4-Where did Daniel Webster teach?
In the fall 1796 of Daniel Webster attended Phillips Exeter Academy.
After leaving in the spring we find this account:
1797- At 15 years old:
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 furhrmade 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 hill side, 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 he 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.
1801 Graduates from Dartmouth Collegewith high honors and went to Fryeburg Maine for employment as a school head master.
1802 Daniel Webster began as the headmaster of the Fryeburg Maine Academy , where he served for one year.