PRESIDENT WHEELOCK'S PERSONAL EXPLORATIONS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.--LOCATION
AT HANOVER.
In his "Narrative" for 1771, President Wheelock tells the story of
Dartmouth's location in the Granite State so plainly and
satisfactorily, that we can do no better than to give his own
recapitulation and condensation of the leading facts.
"The smiles of heaven upon this school were such that it appeared
quite necessary to build to accommodate it; and the plan which I laid
for this purpose was to secure a sufficient tract of good land for the
only use and benefit of the school, and that the English charity
scholars should be led to turn their exercises for the relaxation of
their minds from their studies, and for the preservation of health,
from such exercises as have been frequently used by students for these
purposes, to such manual labor as might be subservient to the support
of the school, thereby effectually removing the deep prejudices, so
universal in the minds of the Indians, against going into the business
of husbandry."
"The necessity of building, and also that I proposed to fix it at any
distance where the design might be best served by it, became publicly
known, whereupon great numbers in Connecticut and in neighboring
Provinces made generous offers to invite the settlement of it in their
respective places. In which affair I employed proper agents to view
the several situations proposed, and hear the several arguments and
reasons that might be offered by the solicitors for it, and make a
faithful report of the same.
"The magistracy of the city of Albany offered an interest estimated at
L2,300 sterling, besides private donations, which it was supposed
would be large, to fix it in that city. Several other generous offers
were made to fix it in that vicinity. His Excellency, Sir Francis
Bernard, Governor of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in
company with two others, offered 2,000 acres of good land in a central
town[25] in the county of Berkshire in said Province. To which were
added several other donations, amounting in the whole to 2,800 acres
of land, and a subscription said to be about L800 sterling. Also
generous offers were made to it in Stockbridge and other towns in that
Province. Several generous offers were made by particular towns and
parishes in the Colony of Connecticut, and particularly to continue it
where it had its rise. But the country being so filled up with
inhabitants, it was not practicable to get so large a tract of lands
as was thought to be most convenient and useful for it in those old
settlements. The Honorable Trust in England gave the preference to the
western part of the Province of New Hampshire, on Connecticut river,
as the site of the school."
[25] Pittsfield.
Before this period he "began to be convinced by many weighty reasons
that a greater proportion of English youth must be prepared for
missionaries to take entirely the lead of the affairs in the
wilderness." He also was deeply impressed with the want of ministers
in a large number of towns, nearly two hundred in all, just then newly
settling in the Connecticut valley. In view of all the circumstances,
and especially the fact that there was a disposition on the part of
many young men who had the ministry in view to seek preparation for it
elsewhere, than at Yale or Harvard, he felt it his duty to adhere to
his plan of extension.
"As neither the Honorable Trust in England nor the Charter had fixed
upon the particular town or spot on which the buildings should be
erected, wherefore to complete the matter, as soon as the ways and
streams would allow, I took the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, and Esq. [Samuel]
Gilbert (a gentleman of known ability for such a purpose) with me to
examine thoroughly, and compare the several places proposed, within
the limits prescribed for fifty or sixty miles on or near said River;
and to hear all the reasons and arguments that could be offered in
favor of each of them, in which service we faithfully spent eight
weeks. And in consequence of our report and representation of facts,
the Trustees unanimously agreed that the southwesterly corner of
Hanover adjoining upon Lebanon was the place above any to fix it in;
and that for many reasons, namely, it is most central on the River,
and most convenient for transportation up and down the River; as near
as any to the Indians; convenient for communication with Crown Point
on Lake Champlain, and with Canada. The situation is on a beautiful
plain, the soil fertile and easy of cultivation. The tract on which
the college is fixed, lying mostly in one body, and convenient for
improvement, in the towns of Hanover and Lebanon, contains upwards of
3,000 acres."
We quote from official records:
"Portsmouth, New Hampshire, July 5, 1770.
"We, the subscribers nominated Trustees of Dartmouth College, in the
Charter of said college, and being duly qualified as directed by said
Charter, have taken into consideration the places whereon said college
might be situated; and do hereby certify that it is our advice,
opinion and vote that said Dartmouth College be situated and erected
upon lands in the township of Hanover upon Connecticut river in the
Province aforesaid, provided the lands, moneys, and other aids
subscribed for the use of said Dartmouth College, if placed in Hanover
aforesaid, be firmly and securely conveyed to the Trustees of and for
the use of said College. And also that the said town of Hanover, and
Lebanon, previously consent and petition to the Legislature that a
contiguous parish of at least three miles square, in and adjoining to
these aforesaid towns of Hanover and Lebanon, be set off and
incorporated into a separate and distinct parish under the immediate
jurisdiction of the aforesaid Dartmouth College.
"In witness whereof we have hereunto signed this instrument for
placing buildings and establishing the said college in Hanover
aforesaid, upon the aforesaid conditions.
"J. Wentworth.
"Theodore Atkinson.
"Eleazar Wheelock.
"George Jaffrey.
"D. Pierce.
"P. Gilman.
"Benj. Pomeroy."
"Hartford, 17th July, 1770.
"We, the subscribers, being nominated Trustees of Dartmouth College,
and being duly qualified according to the Charter of such college, do
hereby agree to the situation of said college as determined by the
Trustees as above signed; provided (in addition to the conditions they
have specified), that Dr. Wheelock may be accommodated with a suitable
farm, at or near the college; apprehending that his past labors and
expenses, and his present connection with said institution, justly
merit such consideration.
"Wm. Pitkin,
"James Lockwood,
"Timothy Pitkin,
"John Smalley."
The "Coos" region now demands our more careful attention.
While southern New England was largely occupied by emigrants from the
Mother Country, and their descendants, in the seventeenth century,
much of its northern portions, and especially the rich valley of the
upper Connecticut, was still covered with the virgin forests. As early
as 1752, Theodore Atkinson (whose name will become more familiar to
us) and others in Eastern New Hampshire, had formed a plan for
acquiring and colonizing the best portion of this unoccupied, but
fertile and inviting, basin. But the proud and lordly Indian disputed
their right to invade this ancient and charming hunting-ground, whose
meadows almost spontaneously produced the choicest corn, and they
desisted from their purpose.
The immediate occasion of the settlement of this part of the
Connecticut valley was the French war. In the progress of that war,
the New England troops had cut a road from the older settlements in
the south part of the Province through Charlestown, then called No. 4,
to Crown Point. The soldiers in passing through this valley became
acquainted with its fertility and value.
The soil of Eastern Connecticut being exhausted in some measure, her
hardy and enterprising yeomanry now gladly turned toward a region
where honest industry would find a surer and better reward. Many of
them knew the value of religion by a vital experience, and all knew
the value of sound learning by experience or close observation.
The leading founders of Hanover were of the highly respectable Freeman
family, of Mansfield, Conn. The early history of this family in
America connects it with the Bradford and Prince families. The pioneer
settler at Hanover was Edmund Freeman. Of this worthy and enterprising
man, sincere Christian, earnest patriot, and valuable coadjutor of
President Wheelock, it is said: "Of distinguished uprightness and
integrity, he commanded universal respect and esteem." Hon. Jonathan
Freeman was his brother.
Another family to whom Hanover is largely indebted for its solid
foundations bears the no less distinguished name of Storrs, also of
Mansfield, the old ancestral home of all, or nearly all, of that name,
who in various ways have been conspicuous in giving "strength and
beauty" to American institutions. Of Joseph Storrs, an early donor to
Dartmouth, it is said: "He was the younger son of Samuel Storrs the
second, and grandson of Samuel Storrs the elder, from whom all of the
name in America are descended, excepting one family near Richmond, Va.
He was a member of the first board of selectmen of the town of
Hanover."
The town contained about twenty families at the period of which we are
writing. The relations of some other early settlers with President
Wheelock deserve equally careful notice. John Wright, from Lebanon,
Conn., was a man of marked ability and decided religious character. He
was deeply interested in the new college, and as pioneer explorer and
artisan rendered its founder invaluable aid. His name also heads the
list of the Hanover donors of lands.
David Woodward, formerly a parishioner of President Wheelock, and
afterward widely known for his strong mind, his public spirit, and
patriotism, also co-operated earnestly with him while he was laying
foundations. His house appears to have furnished the venerable
president his first headquarters, while planning future operations.
Nathaniel Wright, from Coventry, Conn., was a relation of John
Wright. His descendants have honored the college, as some of them
still honor the memory of an ancestor, whose name is inseparably and
prominently connected with the civil and religious history of the
town. His heart and hand were with President Wheelock, and his log
cabin was a welcome resting-place.
James Murch, one of the more enterprising among the early settlers,
was also from Connecticut, where he had formed some acquaintance with
President Wheelock and his plans. Upon him it seems to have devolved,
in some measure at least, to set forth in homely but vigorous language
the leading attractions of this locality.
Reverting to the "Narrative," we give President Wheelock's own graphic
account of labor and privation, which, in view of all the
circumstances, has few parallels in history:
"After I had finished this tour [of exploration] and made a short stay
at home, to settle some affairs, I returned again into the wilderness,
to make provision for the removal and settlement of my family and
school there before winter. I arrived in August [1770], and found
matters in such a situation as at once convinced me of the necessity
of being myself upon the spot. And as there was no house conveniently
near, I made a hutt of logs about eighteen feet square, without stone,
brick, glass, or nail, and with thirty, forty, and sometimes fifty
laborers appointed to their respective departments, I betook myself to
a campaign. I set some to build a house for myself and family, of
forty by thirty-two feet, and one story high, and others to build a
house for my students of eighty by thirty-two, and two stories high."
His family and about twenty or thirty students arriving before the
completion of his house, difficulty in locating having arisen, he
says: "I housed my stuff with my wife and the females of my family in
my hutt. My sons and students made booths and beds of hemlock boughs,
and in this situation we continued about a month, till the 29th day of
October, when I removed with my family to my house."
A few last words to one who for a long period had regarded his work
with more than fraternal interest, and himself with more than
fraternal affection, fitly portray the state of President Wheelock's
mind and heart in those days of toil and trial and hope:
"From my Hutt in Hanover Woods in the Province of New Hampshire,
August 27, 1770.
"My dear Sir:--I long to see you and spend one day with you on the
affairs of the Redeemer's kingdom. It would be vain to attempt to tell
you of the many and great affairs I am at present involved in, in all
which I have had much of the loving-kindness, faithfulness, and
goodness of God. I am this day sending for my family and expect the
house will be made comfortable for their reception by the time they
arrive. My prospects are, by the goodness of God, vastly encouraging.
A series of merciful occurrences has persuaded me that God designs
great good to his church among English as well as Indians by this
institution. I was informed at Boston, in my late journey, that the
Commissioners have plenty of their constituents' money which lies
useless for want of missionaries, and for many weighty reasons I have
thought that the Redeemer's cause might be much served by Mr.
Kirtland's[26] going to their pay. This was an important point I
wished to consult you in. Likely your own thoughts may suggest some
reasons and such as you shall think sufficient without my disclosing
many that are not public. If you think favorably of it, please to
propose it to them, as you will likely have an opportunity for before
you leave the continent. I have a number fitted and fitting for
missions more than the fund already collected will support, and if
that may be saved, and at the same time uniformity and good agreement
between the Boards is promoted, it will be well. I wrote you from
Dedham on my late journey from Boston. I rejoice to hear that your bow
yet abides in strength; that God has once more made you useful in
America. I am chained here; there is no probability that the buildings
will be seasonably and well accomplished if I should leave them. I
don't expect to see you till we meet in the general convention on the
other shore. Please to favor me with a line, and your thoughts on the
question proposed. You may send from Boston by the Northfield post,
directed to me at Hanover in this Province. Oh, how glad should I be
to see you in this wilderness!
[26] The modern orthography is Kirkland.
"My dear sir, farewell.
"I am yours in the dear Jesus.
"Eleazar Wheelock.
"Rev. George Whitefield."
There appears to have been no subsequent meeting, on earth, of these
eminent coadjutors in all good works. The one was called to his reward
above, just as the other was beginning to enjoy the fruition of his
labors on earth. Few names deserve more honor, in connection with the
founding of Dartmouth College, than that of
George Whitefield.[27]
[27] Many things, which cannot be specified, illustrating the
history of this period and others, are necessarily placed
in the Appendix.
[Illustration: GROUND PLAN OF THE FIRST COLLEGE EDIFICE:
Erected in 1770, near what is now the Southeast corner of the
Common.]