In about 1820 it was deemed necessary to construct a road, where North Lowell Road is now, between the residences of John Hemphill and Mrs. Agnes Hemphill. The dilemma was whether or not the road should go, "over or round the hill".
John Hemphill was born in Windham on June 10, 1766 to parents, Jane and Robert Hemphill. He is recorded in Morrison's "History of Windham" as having, "possessed in a marked degree all the characteristics of the Scotch Race. His speech had the deep Scotch brogue. He was a fine bass singer; his voice was strong, rich, and melodious, and could be distinctly heard in a large choir; was a good violinist". On February 14, 1797, he married Lydia Merrill who was born in town on August 17, 1770. In 1809, John was listed as being on the committee for inspecting Windham's schools. John died on August 26, 1838 at the age of 82, and his wife outlived him by several years, passing away on November 8, 1856 at the age of 86.
John Hemphill was born in Windham on June 10, 1766 to parents, Jane and Robert Hemphill. He is recorded in Morrison's "History of Windham" as having, "possessed in a marked degree all the characteristics of the Scotch Race. His speech had the deep Scotch brogue. He was a fine bass singer; his voice was strong, rich, and melodious, and could be distinctly heard in a large choir; was a good violinist". On February 14, 1797, he married Lydia Merrill who was born in town on August 17, 1770. In 1809, John was listed as being on the committee for inspecting Windham's schools. John died on August 26, 1838 at the age of 82, and his wife outlived him by several years, passing away on November 8, 1856 at the age of 86.
Agnes Hemphill was the widow of Captain Nathaniel Hemphill, who was very involved in town in the last quarter of the 18th century. Nathaniel was born on May 11, 1737 in Windham. His wife, Agnes, was born on July 9, 1746, a daughter of Robert Park. They were married on December 28, 1764, and had eighteen children together. According to Leonard Morrison it was, "the largest family ever raised in town". Morrison also noted that in aggregate the ages of the children at the time of death would be over eleven hundred years. Nathaniel was a town selectman for several years and a moderator of the annual town meetings. Hemphill was also one of the few individuals in town to own slaves. It is recorded in Morrison's "History of Windham" that, "as his family increased, he and his good wife saw the necessity of having more household assistance, so they went to Boston and purchased a colored girl named Dinah, paying forty dollars for her, which was probably cheap, and brought her home". Prior to Dinah being released upon the adoption of the state constitution in 1784, she was a, "faithful friend and servant. She assisted much in taking charge of the children. Seating herself in a chair with a large dish in her lap, which held the broth or pudding, with the little ones gathered in a circle around her, she would ladle out to each the appointed share". Agnes Hemphill was responsible for going in to town and purchasing articles needed by the family, but it is noted on, "one occasion the articles for each were mentioned, but Dinah's portion was not alluded to, though it was the intention to procure articles for her. She was deeply grieved to be thus neglected, and exclaimed, 'Me nothing! me nothing!'[.] Mrs Hemphill went to market, purchased the several articles, and Dinah's too; but when she returned, Dinah had departed, to return no more as a member of the household". Morrison also recorded that she went to Dunstable, where she found "some of her own people", and was married.
Nathaniel Hemphill earned his title of captain for his work with the New Hampshire Training Band during the Revolutionary War. He died in 1796 to lung fever. According to Morrison, Agnes was a woman, "with great mental strength and physical endurance, she managed, unaided, the affairs of her large family for eighteen years". Morrison also relates an interesting story about Agnes and her daughters: each of her daughters had a spinning wheel on which they would spin linen into thread, all together in one room that also served as the family's kitchen. They would spent about three months accumulating "webs of cloth", which would be sold in Salem, MA by Agnes who would ride, alone, on horseback at 2 AM as it took almost a full day to arrive at the market. The trip would take an additional two days; one day being allotted for trading and another day to return home. She died on July 3, 1838.
John Hughes, the writer of the document, is recorded by Morrison as having been, "a prudent and careful man in his business...[and] was a kind, accommodating neighbor and a good citizen".
Now back to the story of the road. The road that was constructed according the to the document would have been a stretch of road that is now North Lowell Road. The map below is a portion of an 1890s map of Windham. The yellow portion of the road indicates approximately where the road would have been built.
Nathaniel Hemphill earned his title of captain for his work with the New Hampshire Training Band during the Revolutionary War. He died in 1796 to lung fever. According to Morrison, Agnes was a woman, "with great mental strength and physical endurance, she managed, unaided, the affairs of her large family for eighteen years". Morrison also relates an interesting story about Agnes and her daughters: each of her daughters had a spinning wheel on which they would spin linen into thread, all together in one room that also served as the family's kitchen. They would spent about three months accumulating "webs of cloth", which would be sold in Salem, MA by Agnes who would ride, alone, on horseback at 2 AM as it took almost a full day to arrive at the market. The trip would take an additional two days; one day being allotted for trading and another day to return home. She died on July 3, 1838.
John Hughes, the writer of the document, is recorded by Morrison as having been, "a prudent and careful man in his business...[and] was a kind, accommodating neighbor and a good citizen".
Now back to the story of the road. The road that was constructed according the to the document would have been a stretch of road that is now North Lowell Road. The map below is a portion of an 1890s map of Windham. The yellow portion of the road indicates approximately where the road would have been built.
