Jonathan Arey, a well-known resident and a retired blacksmith of Salisbury, was born January 28, 1816, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the town of Wellfleet, son of Solomon and Patty (Hopkins) Arey. The father, also a native of Wellfleet, born March 12, 1787, lived there until 1830, working at his trade, that of carpenter and joiner. In 1830 he moved to Boscawen, N.H., and there settled on a farm, which he conducted until his death in 1846. His wife, who was born in Eastham, Mass., February 20, 1789, died April 14, 1863. They had twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor. They were: Priscilla B., Sarah, Nathaniel H., Jonathan, Solomon, Nancy W., Elisha H., Catherine W., Isaiah H., Mary Ann, Happa W., and Martha J.
Jonathan Arey received his education in the common schools of Wellfleet, Mass., and Boscawen, and at Pembroke Academy. He remained at home until seventeen years old, when he began to work at the blacksmith’s trade with William Temple, of Boscawen, in whose employment he remained for three years. After this he worked at his trade for six months in Franklin, and then came to Salisbury. On September 4, 1839, Mr. Arey married Miss Charlotte H. Smith, of Salisbury, daughter of Caleb and Mehitable (Eaton) Smith. She died March 9, 1865; and in the following year Mr. Arey was married a second time to Mrs. Mary S. Pevare, daughter of Deacon Amos and Hannah (Sherburne) Fifield, of Danbury. She died March 4, 1890. Mr. Arey’s third marriage was contracted with Mrs. Addie J. (White) Davis, of Wilmot. She was born May 23, 1840, daughter of Eben and Judith (Emery) White, who owned a farm in Wilmot. Her grandfather Emery was a Revolutionary soldier, and he attained the age of ninety-nine years. Mr. Arey’s children, all by his first marriage, were: Susan Elizabeth, Lucy Ann, Henry, and Charlotte Augusta. Susan Elizabeth is the wife of Moses Trussell, a merchant of Davisville. The others are now deceased. Georgia H. Davis, Mrs. Arey’s daughter by her first marriage, is now the wife of Brinton Cate, of Concord, a painter by trade, now employed as a fireman.
Here for fifty years Mr. Arey carried on the smithy that stands opposite his home, working from twelve to sixteen hours daily. Often he worked all night, shoeing horses for teams employed in carrying goods from Boston to Vermont. He owns a farm of about nine acres, together with an orchard, a pasture, and some uncultivated land. He has always done some farming and gardening. Since he took the place he has much improved it, and now raises considerable fruit. Mr. Arey has not been sick a day since he was fourteen. His good health is, no doubt, due largely to the fact that he has been always a temperate man. He is well known and liked by the community for miles around. He has been Selectman of the town for five years, and was Chairman two years of that time. In politics he was first a Whig and then a Republican. Later he voted the Democratic ticket. Now he is an Independent, believing in voting for the best man every time. Mrs. Arey is a member of the Free Baptist Church of Concord, N.H.
Among a number of interesting relics carefully preserved by the family is the chair of Grandfather John Hopkins, who was a Revolutionary Mrs. Arey has a century-old flat-iron, which was formerly owned by her grandmother.