A Genealogical Account of the Tilton Family

This story was taken from the 'Exeter News-Letter,' Exeter , NH, Tuesday, January 29, 1839

A short time before the death of the venerable Doct. Tilton of this town, his attention was called to the genealogy of his family, and it's early history. One of his relations has obligingly furnished us with the following part, the results of his investigations. The notes are, of course by another hand. Still other notes will be given hereafter .

About two centuries since, there emigrated to this then howling wilderness, from the West of England, three brothers of the name of Tilton, viz. Daniel, Jacob and Peter. They were Protestants, and left their native land, in consequence of cruel persecutions, for religious opinions. They were willing to undergo toil, suffering and peril, for conscience sake. When they arrived on these shores, they found that the red men were the chief proprietors of the soil, - but few Europeans having established themselves in this inhospitable part of the globe. Daniel, the elder brother, settled in Hampton; Jacob in Newbury, and Peter in Lynn, in order to secure the advantages which might be derived from the salt marshes and fisheries.

The writer of this sketch is a lineal descendant from Daniel, who resided for some years in Hampton, and married Mehitabel Sanborn; but his family increasing, he afterwards bought a tract of land, situated about four miles nearer to Exeter, called the Huggins location. Here he built a house, and having several athletic sons, undertook to clear and cultivate the land. But unfortunately the Indians became hostile, and a sanguinary warfare commenced. Daniel Tilton, and the other settlers were obliged to build a block house to protect them from their designing enemies. The war lasted some time, and the whites found, great difficulty in cultivating their land. They were in continual jeopardy of their lives. Their families resided in the block house; and when it was necessary to work at a distance from the garrison - This was the only strong hold betwen Exeter and Hampton. The Indians claimed territory over the whole country from the sea to Canada, and by force or fraud obtained possession of many villages, as Haverhill, Concord, NH, Dover, and Saco. Many of the whites were killed or carried into captivity; but when the peace returned, the greater part were ransomed, and allowed to rejoin their families or friends.

During the war, to which I have alluded, there was not a single settlement from Exeter to No.4- and from No.4. to Canada, it was all a howling and desolate wilderness, inhabited only by savages. But now, (in 1836), the inhabitants have multiplied to such a degree, that in case of war, we could bring into the field more than one hundred thousand men, well equipped, and armed for offence and defence. The different tribes of savages have been driven back to unknown regions and are almost extinct.

Daniel Tilton, the author's great Grand father, had five sons, viz. David, Joseph, Jethro, Abraham and Josiah.. At his death he gave the old farm to David, Josiah and Joseph my Grandfather. He settled Abraham in Strathom, and Jethro in Hampton Falls My Grandfather died in 1744, age 68 years. He had three wives, viz. Mary Sherburne, Widow Shaw and Widow Hilliard. He left four sons, viz. Sherburne, John, Johathan and Joseph, by his first wife - and two sons, Daniel and Timothy by his second wife. Daniel died young, and Timothy settled in Kingston. My father, Johathan had one third of the Huggins location, where stood the old Garrison (in which the author was born) until 1757, when it was taken down and a new house built on the spot.

I will now give some account of the second brother, Jacob, who settled in Newbury. after the tomahawk and scalping knifes were buried, he removed with his family to Nantucket, with the exception of two of his sons, Daniel and Jacob, who followed the occupation of farming and fishing; each of these men were remarkable for atheletic powers, being upwards of six feet in height, with large and muscular frames, roman noses, and nerves which never trembled at the approach of danger. They came to New Hampshire, and purchased a tract of land in New Market, on Swamscot river, which they cleared of wood and converted into a good farm, where they lived and died universally respected as good members of society.

The family of Jacob built a small vessel at Nantucket, and opened a trade with the neighboring tribes of Indians, exchanging their coarse cloth for furs. This traffic carried on in a very friendly manner for some time, when some disputes and difficulties took place, which ended in an attempt on the part of the indians to massacre them and despoil them of their property. They attacked the trading vessel in a number of canoes, being armed with their bows and arrows and war clubs. But were received with a volley of fire arms which prevented them from carrying the vessel by boarding. A fierce battle ensued, which lasted for three hours, and many of the Indians were killed and wounded, and the remainder were compelled to retreat. The party returned to their homes in Nantucket in safety. Many of the descendants of Jacob are living in Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard to this day.

The third brother, Peter, I have already said settled in Lynn. He purchased a tract of land on the road leading to Nahant, and carried on the business of fishing and tilling the earth. He was a man of wisdom and goodness, who prospered exceedingly in all his undertakings and was much beloved. He was a zealous christian, was much respected in the community, and exercised the duties of a Justice of the Peace, being an active and impartial magistrate. A single incident will give an i dea of his puritanical zeal, a zeal which was indeed characteristic of the inhabitants of New England at that time. A young man who had just returned from sea, on a fishing voyage, on proceeding towards his home, met a young woman, his sweetheart, who was going to a meeting. She was so delighted to met with her lover, and he was so overcome with joy, that forgetting both the time and place, he pressed her to his heart and kissed her. The fact came to the knowledge of the severe magistrate, who was much scandalized at the indecorous act, and in order to punish such warm manisfestations of affection from being common on the Lord's day, he at the next morning sent for the gay man, and after a severe reprimand for his conduct, he ordered him to pay a considerable fine, or be seated in the public stocks for three hours. Peter lived to an advanced age, and died in Lynn. The male descendants from this branch are now almost extinct. But the rise of ground where he lived, continues to be called Tilton's Hill.

Jonathan Tilton the son of Joseph, and Grandson of Daniel, was the father of Joseph the writer of this sketch. He was born June 6, 1708, and died December 5, 1797, aged 90. He married Magaret Shaw, and their union was blessed with nine sons, of whom two died young. The others, viz. Daniel, Jacob, Caleb, Joseph, Josiah and Peter, were all brought up to be farmers, with the exception of Joseph. Daniel was born March 5, 1729 and died August 21, 1803. Jacob was born May 17, 1734 and died Nov 7, 1776. Jonathan was born July 21, 1740 and died July 6, 1816. Joseph was born Sept 26, 1744. Josiah was born March 18, 1747, and died April 13, 1828. Peter was born Dec. 2, 1750, and died December 18, 1829.

Joseph Tilton, the author of the above sketch, was born in Hampton Falls, as already stated in 1744. He received such education as the times afforded, The advantages of schools being then much less that at present. At the age of 16 he commenced the study of medicine and surgery with Dr. A. Cutter, of Portsmouth, where he remained until he was 21 years of age. At that time he married the daughter of John Shackford of Portsmouth, and soon after removed to Exeter and commenced the practice of medicine. Here he had much to struggle with, his duties being excessively ardous, and his practice extending to 13 towns within a few years after he located himself in Exeter. He continued in practice for nearly 60 years, with the exception of a short time during the revolutionary war, when he was absent one or two cruises as surgeon of a privateer. He was always remarkable temporate in his diet, using but little meat, and no ardent spirit. His constitution which was weak and slender until he reached age of 40 years, then grew more vigorous, and during the remainder of his life he enjoyed uninterrupted good health, enjoying his mental and bodily faculties remarkably well until a few years before his death, which took place in January 1838, in the house in which he resided for sixty-eight years. He left no male descendants.