The 150th anniversary of the settlement of Londonderry, New Hampshire was celebrated in 1869 as a “Jubilee.” The weather was spectacular. Addresses were delivered by Ex-Lieutenant Patterson who was president of the day, along with Horace Greeley, of New York, along with other notable politicians and educators. This poem, written by Lucinda J. Gregg was read by Rev. J.T. McCollom. An oration was delivered by Hon. Charles H. Bell, of Exeter NH, then president of the New Hampshire Historical Society.
Let Nutfield today sound its merriest notes!
Let the hills and vales catch the strain as it floats!
Ring out the loud echoes from mountain to sea,
And rejoice in the day of our glad Jubilee!
From the East, from the North, from the prairies afar,
From the Pine Tree domains, to the southern Lone Star,
We wanderers come to the cherished home-fold
TO unite in one song for the bright days of old.
A song for the true, and a song for the brave,
Who came from afar o'er the easterly wave:
One song for the lake on whose beautiful shore,
Their wanderings ended, they worshipped of yore.
Today we will sing of the brown homes they made,
Where earnest hands toiled, and where loving hearts prayed;
And the home for the Sabbath, just over the way,
The sacred old church, that's one hundred today.
In our jubilant song comes a sadder refrain;–
For the forms of the fathers we see not again.
In their green-covered houses on yonder white hill,
With the marble doors locked, they are sleeping so still!
In that glorious day when the sleepers arise
When together we go to our home in the skies
It is then we shall know–but oh! never till then–
How much we all owe to these brave, faithful men.
Adown the long years comes a noble array;
Ah! many are found on Fame's roll-call today.
From these valleys and hills has an army of worth,
Of talent and trust, gone to bless the wide earth.
Of those left at home, there is many a name,
All heroic, all noble, unspoken by Fame:–
One sigh for the dead–for the living, one song!
God bless the loved home-land that claims all the throng!
Then hail to old Derry! its lake and its lea,
Its beautiful stream winding down to the sea,
Its wondrous old trees with the evergreen crest,
Its fine, fertile lands, slping green to the west!
All hail to old Nutfield! whose broader expanse
Our forefathers claimed as the years did advance;
We always shall love thee, wherever we roam,
And breathe our a prayer for our earliest home.
But Time's speeding onward; how soon in its flight
Will it bear us afar and away out of sight!
How few, on another centennial day,
Will return and talk over the years spend away!
But we hope, oh! we hope, when our earth-day is done,
When our tent's taken down at life's last setting sun,
On the Plains all immortal, with glory untold,
We shall sing of the days that can never grow old.
Janice
**PARTIAL GENEALOGY OF THE GREGG FAMILY**
Benjamin F. Gregg, b. abt 1801/1802 in NH [“of Derry NH”]; m. 12 Dec 1833 to Lucy Jane Danforth, dau of Simeon and Nancy (Craigie) Danforth. She b. 16 Aug 1807 in Derry NH. He was a justice of the peace.
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U.S. Census > 1850 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Rockingham > Derry
Benj. F. Gregg 49 M Carpenter 1000 NH [b abt 1801 NH]
Lucy J. Gregg 43 F NH
Adaline F. Gregg 15 F NH
Lucinda J. Gregg 13 F NH
Alonso J. Gregg 10 M NH
Washington F. Gregg 3 M NH
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U.S. Census > 1860 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Rockingham > Windham
Lucinda J. Gregg 22 F Teacher NH
[boarding in home of Martha Major, retired widow
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U.S. Census > 1870 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Rockingham > Derry
Gregg, Benjamin F. 68 M W Carpenter 1500/200 NH
Gregg, Lucy J. 62 F W Keeping House NH
Gregg, Lucinda J. 32 F W without occupation NH
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U.S. Census > 1900 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Suffolk > Boston Ward 22 > District 1495 > Academy of Notre Dame, New England Hospital
Gregg, Lucinda, Patient W F 63 Single NH — — Bible Reader
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U.S. Census > 1910 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Suffolk > Boston Ward 9 > District 1391 > Boarding House on Park Street
Gregg, Lucinda J. Lodger, NH NH NH Own Income
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Children of Benjamin F. & Lucy J. (Danforth) Gregg:
1. Adeline Danforth Gregg, b. 26 June 1835; m. 12 Aug 1860 Charles F. Wheeler; 6 ch
2. Lucinda Jane Gregg, b. 18 Aug 1837
3. Alonzo Jarvis Gregg, b. 24 March 1840; in 1870 living in Derry NH with wife Ann [?Field] (age 27 b NH) and children Minnie (age 6) and Arthur (age 4).
4. Frank Washington Gregg, b. 26 June 1847
