USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Troy > An historical sketch of Troy [N.H.] and her inhabitants, from the first settlement of the town in 1764 to 1855 > Part 1
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BOSTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Mugar Memorial Library
For Etta Abbott to Trace Elliot, Whiteen&
From Fred Elliot Without
Return to
F12- 1342
in
Fel Jenku ... Lith.
TOWN HALL, TROY
AN
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
TROY,
AND HER INHABITANTS, FROM
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN.
IN
1764, TO 1855.
BY A. M. CAVERLY, M. D.
" Vado, age, et ingentem factis fer ad æthera Trojam." VIRO.
KEENE : PRINTED AT THE N. H. SENTINEL OFFICE. 1859.
44
E59
HISTORY OF TROY.
THE citizens of Troy, at a public meeting held in the evening of the first day of February, 1859, expressed a desire to have the History of the town, as written by DR. CAVERLY, published, and chose a committee, con- sisting of BROWN NURSE, DAVID W. FARRAR, and ISAAC ALDRICH, JR., Esq's., to make the necessary arrangements for its publication. Under the direction of this committee, this little volume has been issued from the press.
1
-
PREFACE.
THE following sketch was commenced at the request of a few individuals who wished to have a knowledge of many incidents connected with the early history of the town, collected in some permanent form, before the gen- eration who were the sole possessors of it should have entirely passed from the stage of life. £ The compiler
only intended to write one lecture, but he found when he had collected materials sufficient for that, he had but just entered upon the subject, and that a large amount of matter was left untouched, and such as ought to be pre- served for the benefit of future generations. He there- fore decided to pursue the subject, and the result will appear in the following pages. In copying from the early records, he has strictly adhered to the phraseology and orthography of the originals, so far as was consistent.
1¥
vi
PREFACE.
He would acknowledge his obligations to the following individuals, for much valuable assistance in collecting the materials for this little volume, viz: DANIEL W. FARRAR, DANIEL FARRAR, ABEL BAKER, JOHN LAW- RENCE, BROWN NURSE, and EASMAN ALEXANDER, of Troy; WILLIAM TENNEY and WILLIAM FARRAR of Marlboro'; ABRAHAM GARFIELD of Jaffrey; and JOHN KIMBALL, Esq., of Concord, has his thanks for copying for his use several documents in the office of the Secre- tary of the State, also the town clerks of Marlboro' and Fitzwilliam, for granting him free access to their records.
This has been written under various circumstances, and in such fragments of time as could be spared from professional engagements, and this will account for many repetitions which would otherwise have been avoided. Errors will undoubtedly be noticed, but the writer has attempted to make as faithful a record as possible, and such as it is, he would submit it to the calm judgment of his fellow-citizens, and if they shall take half the pleas- ure in reading, that he has in compiling it, he will feel amply rewarded for his labors.
TROY, July 1, 1859.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION ; MASON'S CLAIM ; GRANT OF THE TOWNSHIP ; CONDI- TIONS OF THE CHARTER ; MEETINGS OF THE PROPRIETORS ; TOWN- SHIPS DIVIDED INTO LOTS. 13-29
CHAPTER II.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY SETTLERS FROM 1764 TO 1768. 30 -- 38
CHAPTER III.
THE EARLY SETTLERS CONTINUED, FROM 1768 TO 1780. 39~55
CHAPTER IV.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THOSE FROM THIS TOWN WHO TOOK PART IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 56-68
CHAPTER V.
"THE FAMILIES OF SOME OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. 69-78
.
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI.
THE SETTLERS CONTINUED, FROM 1780 TO 1800. 79-102
CHAPTER VII.
ARRIVAL OF NEW SETTLERS; FROM 1800, TO TIIE INCORPORATION OF TROY IN 1815. 103-127
CHAPTER VIII.
THE PEOPLE DESIRE A NEW TOWN; REASONS FOR THE SEPARATION; THEY PETITION TO BE VOTED OFF; THEIR REQUEST DENIED; BUILD A MEETING-HOUSE; SUBJECT BEFORE TIIE LEGISLATURE; ENCOUN- TER OPPOSITION; COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION; HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE; CHARTER OBTAINED; TOWN ORGANIZED. 128-141
CHAPTER IX.
TOWN OFFICERS; BIOGRAPIIICAL SKETCHES OF RESIDENTS, &c .; FROM 1815 TO 1830. 142-175
CHAPTER X.
TOWN OFFICERS; BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF RESIDENTS, &c., CONTINUED; FROM 1830 TO 1855. 176-216
CHAPTER XI.
PHYSICIANS AND LAWYERS OF TROY. . 217-225
CHAPTER XII.
TOPOGRAPIIY; WILD ANIMALS; WOLF AND BEAR IIUNTS. . 226-238
ix
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIII.
DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF EDUCATION; INTEREST OF SCHOOL LOTS EX- PENDED FOR SCHOOLS; THE FIRST SCHOOL; FIRST TEACHLER; TOWN DIVIDED INTO SQUADRONS; SCHOOL-HOUSES; NEW DIVISION OF THE TOWN INTO DISTRICTS; AMOUNT OF SCHOOL MONEY. 239-262
CHAPTER XIV.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES; CHURCHES; CLERGYMEN. 263-271
APPENDIX.
LETTER FROM C. E. POTTER, ESQ., RESPECTING THE WESTERN BOUN- DARY OF THE STATE ; THE SUPPOSED MURDER ; BURYING GROUND; THE ROBBERY. 272-298
HISTORY OF TROY.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION ; MASON'S CLAIM ; GRANT OF THE TOWNSHIP; CONDI- TIONS OF THE CHARTER ; MEETINGS OF THE PROPRIETORS; TOWN- SHIPS DIVIDED INTO LOTS.
THE arrival of the Mayflower, on the shores of Mas- sachusetts in 1620, was no ordinary event. The Old World, in which society had existed under constitutions as varied as its political divisions, had failed to produce a civil polity, upon a basis sufficiently broad, to meet the approbation of enlightened and liberal men. The strong disposition to embrace hereditary sentiments, with the fear of innovations upon established customs, render- ed the attempt at the formation there of a new order of things, embracing important reforms, a hopeless task. In the mean time light was gradually breaking in, and a few there' were who were enabled thereby to see the imperfections in the prevailing social system, and its in- ability to raise man to that dignity, intellectually and morally; that answered the exalted end of his being. These few, so called fanatics, yet truly the nobility of the earth, were impressed with the importance of a great national reform; but with the tide of public opinion against them what could they hope? Institutions con- genial to their feelings, and such as in their opinion would promote the highest interest of man, could only be formed by a united and devoted people, and that even
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HISTORY OF TROY.
upon foreign soil. Such being the case they resolved to forego the comforts of home, and to brave the harhships incident to distant colonial life, in order to inaugurate a form of government that should be the admiration of the world, and diffuse its blessings upon countless millions. That was a noble resolve, a resolve that has converted a gloomy wilderness into a fruitful field, and rendered im- mortal such consecrated places as Plymouth, Lexington, Bunker Hill and Yorktown, and brought into being one of the most intelligent and powerful nations. And the spirit of the Puritans did not expend itself upon the lim- ited territory a few miles around the point upon which they first set foot upon American soil, but accompanied with a strong Saxon energy it has lived on, cumulative in its power, till it has permeated to a greater or less extent, nearly all the free states of this Union. In its progress it has levelled mountains, filled up valleys, turned the current of rivers. and covered arid wastes with flourishing towns and cities. The history of New- England is, in the main, but the record of the workings of that spirit which animated the breasts of such men as Robinson, Carver. Davenport and Brewster, men whose hearts were overflowing with love to God and good will to men. The general outline of this history is familiar to almost every school boy, and it is found in nearly all our standard works upon this subject; but there are in- cidents of a local nature that escape the observation of the general historian, and such as are full of interest, especially to those living in the places, where such in- cidents have occurred. An examination of the surface of this little spot of earth called Troy, although settled at a comparatively recent period, shows unmistakable evidences of the existence of a race of men, that have long since gone to that bourn, from which no traveller returns. And as we gaze upon those excavations which abound in different parts of the town, and which once,
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HISTORY OF TROY.
no doubt, constituted cellars of residences which echoed with the busy footsteps of those within whose breasts "the smiles of joy and the tears of woe alternate tri- umphed," as we look down into those neglected wells that once yielded the sparkling element to slake the thirst of the weary laborer, now only a retreat for the lizard and serpent; and as the eye runs along those old thoroughfares, now overgrown with bushes and almost obliterated, but where nearly a century ago might have been seen the panting steed, moving slowly along be- neath the ponderous load of perhaps a husband and wife, how forcibly are we reminded of the changeableness of all earthly things. It is in vain to attempt to give a connected and accurate history of any locality, a long series of years after the events to be recorded have tak- en place, and especially is this the case when no authen- tic records have been kept from actual observation.
This is emphatically true of Troy, the early settle- ment of which was effected beyond the recollection of living men; and the records are either entirely wanting, or at best exceedingly meagre, so that in penning the following pages, we have been obliged, too often, to rely upon uncertain tradition. In this sketch it has been necessary to go back some years previous to the exis- tence of Troy as an incorporated town; consequently we have been obliged to encroach somewhat, upon the his- tory of those towns, at the expense of whose territory Troy sprang into being.
In the year 1620, a corporation composed of forty "nobles, knights, and gentlemen," was instituted in England and called "The council established at Ply- mouth, in the County of Devon, for the planting, ruling and governing of New-England in America." To this company was granted by King James I. all the territo- ry between the 40th and 48th degree of north latitude, and extending through the main land from sea to sea.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
In 1622, Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Captain John Ma- son, two of the most active members of this council, ob- tained from their associates a grant of the territory ex- tending from the Merrimack to the Sagadahock and back to the great lakes and river of Canada-the St. Lawrence. In the spring of the following year, two small companies of emigrants were sent over, and settlements commenced on the Piscataqua, one at its mouth, called Little Harbor. the other higher up the river, at Cocheco, afterwards called Dover. For some years these settlements prog- ressed but slowly, and but very little worthy of notice is recorded of them. In May, 1629, Rev. John Wheel- right and others of the Massachusetts Bay colony pur- chased of the Indians all the country between the Mer- rimack and the Piscataqua. In the month of Novem- ber of the same year, Mason alone obtained a new grant from the Council of Plymouth of this very same territo- ry which, from a county in England in which he had formerly resided, he called New-Hampshire. Hence quarrels frequently arose about this territory, one party claiming it by virtue of a grant from a foreign monarch who held it by the right of discovery, the other by pur- chase of the original owners and occupants. It was thought that New-Hampshire, being a mountainous re- gion, must abound in the precious metals; and this was one reason, why Mason was so untiring in his efforts, to hasten the settlement of his newly acquired possession. He was hoping to realize a princely fortune; but after years of toil and the expenditure of large sums of mon- ey, his death, (which occurred in 1635, ) put an end to all his projects. " After this his widow and executrix sent over an agent to manage her interests at the Ports- mouth plantation; but finding the expenses far exceed- ing the income, he abandoned the whole and gave up the improvements to the tenants .??
The first heir named in Mason's will died in infancy ;
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HISTORY OF TROY.
and Robert Tufton, grandson of Captain John Mason. succeeded to the inheritance. But as the family had always been attached to the royal cause, no favors were to be expected during the protectorate of Cromwell. But no sooner was Charles II. restored to the throne than Tufton, who now took the surname of Mason, po- titioned the crown for redress. The king referred the matter to his attorney general who decided that Mason had a legal title to New-Hampshire. For several years the country had been divided among numerous proprie- tors, and the various settlements had been governed sep- arately by agents of the different proprietors, or by mag- istrates elected by the people. But in 1641, the people of New-Hampshire placed themselves under the protec- tion of Massachusetts, in which situation they remained till 1680, when by a royal commission, New-Hampshire was separated from Massachusetts, and made a royal province. The new government was to consist of a president and council, to be appointed by the king, and a house of representatives to be chosen by the people. Early in the following year Mason came from England, empowered by the king to take a seat in the council. He soon endeavored to compel the people to take leases of him, but his claims being resisted, both by the people and officers of the government, he left the council and returned to England. After this Mason made several unsuccessful attempts to compel the inhabitants to take their leases of him, and even commenced suits against several prominent men for holding lands and selling tim- ber, and although judgement was obtained against the defendants, Mason could find no purchaser of the lands, so they were permitted to enjoy them as before. In 1688, Mason died, leaving two sons, John and Robert. heirs to the claim. They soon sold their claim for seven hundred and fifty pounds to Samuel Allen, of London. who in attempting to enforce it, met with no better success 2*
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HISTORY OF TROY.
than his predecessors. After the death of Allen his son re- newed the suit; but the court rendered a verdict against him, and he too died without realizing his anticipations.
" After the sale of the Province of New-Hampshire to Allen by John and Robert Mason, they returned to America. John died childless, but Robert married and had issue, of which was John Tufton Mason. He had hopes of invalidating the claim of Allen on account of some informality attending the purchase, but died at Havana in 1718, leaving two sons, John Tufton Mason and Thomas Tufton Mason. The title to New-Hamp- shire was supposed to be in their children. According- ly the eldest coming of age about the time of the con- troversy about the lines, the politicians of Massachu- setts brought him forward to lay claim to his inheritance of New-Hampshire. Mr. Thomlinson, then the agent of New-Hampshire, being informed of the nature of these transactions, entered into negotiation with Mason which resulted in a promise that he would release his interest to the assembly of New-Hampshire, upon the payment of one thousand pounds New-England curren- cy. In 1744, the subject was laid before the Assembly by Governor Wentworth, but being engaged in what were considered weightier matters but little attention was paid to it. Here the subject rested for some two years, when the assembly thinking it would be for their interests to ratify the agreement made, by Thomlinson, appointed a committee to complete the purchase with Mason. But they were too late, for on the same day, the 30th day of January, 1746, Mason sold his interest to a company consisting of twelve gentlemen, to wit: 'Theodore Atkinson, Richard Wibird, John Moffat, Mark Hunking Wentworth, Samuel Moore, Jotham Odiorne, Jr. and Joshua Pierce, Esqrs .; Nathaniel Mes- erve, George Jaffrey, Jr. and John Wentworth, Jr .. gentlemen, all of Portsmouth; Thomas Wallingford, of
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Somersworth, in said Province, Esq .; and Thomas Pack- er, of Greenland, in the Province aforesaid, Esq. Thus Mason's claim, instead of being purchased by the Assembly as would doubtless have been for the interest of the Province, passed into the hands of private individu- als to the no small regret of the people." * The grantees of Mason aware of the prejudices against them took measures for coneilitating the public mind. They re- linquished all claim except to the unoccupied portions of the territory, a course which was highly satisfactory to the people; and thus terminated the Masonic controver- sy, which for twenty-five years, had disturbed the peace of the Province. At this time the western boundary of New-Hampshire was held to extend as far as the Con- necticut, and several townships had already been grant- ed upon that river; but the territory in the vicinity of the Monadnock, being still uninhabited except by wan- dering parties of Indians, was included in the claim of Mason's proprietors. But they soon found purchasers for the whole of this territory, and it was accordingly divided into townships, to each of which was given the common name of Monadnock, but distinguished by dif- ferent numbers. These townships were granted to dif- ferent parties on the condition that they fulfilled certain stipulations. Monadnock No. V. (now Marlboro') and Monadnock No. IV. (now Fitzwilliam) were granted on similar conditions, the former April 29, 1751, to Timo- thy Dwight and 61 others, the latter January 15, 1752, to Roland Cotton and 41 others. Both charters were forfeited, by the non-fulfilment of the conditions, but, at a later period, these townships were re-granted and meas- ures taken to carry forward the settlement. Monad- nock No. V. was re-granted "the 20th day of May, in the 25th year of his Majesty's reign, Annoque Domini 1752," to the following gentlemen, to wit: "James *History of Manchester,-C. E. Potter, Esq.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Morrison Jr., Archibald Dunlap, Robert Clark, James Lyons, Robert Allen, Andrew Armer, Halbert Morrison, David Morrison, Samuel Morrison, John Morrison, Thomas Morrison, William Gilmer, Samuel Allison, Samuel Allison, Jr., James Willson, Jr., John Will- son, Robert Willson, Thomas Willson, Samuel Willson. Samuel Steel, James Moore, John Warson, John Coch- ran, Isaac Cochran, Thomas Cochran, Samuel Cochran. Hugh Montgomery, Henry Neal, John Moore, Robert Moore, Samuel Mitchell, Thomas McClary, three shares each, and to James Willson, Sen., one share." This grant comprised by estimation twenty thousand acres, and the following are the terms, conditions and limita- tions, that is to say: "That within Nine Months from this Date there be One hundred & Twenty three fifty acre Lotts Lay'd out as Near the middle the Township In the best part of the Upland as Conveniency Will ad- mit & Drawn for, and that the Remainder of the Town- ship be Divided into One hundred and Twenty three shares, not Exceeding two Lotts to a Share, In such Quantity as the Grantees agree upon Each Lott & Drawn for within two Years from this Date. That three of the aforesaid Shares be Granted and appropri- ated free of all Charge, One for the first settled minis- ter, One for the Ministry, & One for the School there forever; One Lott for Each said Share to be Laid out Near the Middle of the Town & Lotts Coupled to them, so as to make them Equal with the Best. That Twen- ty more of said Shares be Reserved for the Grantors, their heirs and assigns forever and acquitted from all Duty & Charge, until Improved by the Owner or Own- ers or Some holding under them Respectively. That the Owners of the Other Rights make settlement at their own Expense in the following manner, viz: all the Lotts to be Lay'd out at the Grantees Expense. That all the Lotts in said Town be subject to have all Neces-
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HISTORY OF TROY.
sary Roads Lay'd out thro' them as there shan be Occa- sion free from Charge for the Land. That at or Before the Last Day of December 1754, there be three acres Clered, Enclosed and fitted for mowing or Tillage on thirty of the aforementioned Grantees Shares, viz: on one Share of Each of the aforementioned Grantees, Ex- cepting Hugh Montgomery, James Moore and Samuel Steel & from thence annually one acre more in Like Manner for five Years, and that Each of the Grantees have a house built on Some One Lott in said Township of a Room sixteen feet Square at the Least Besides the Chimney Way with a Chimney & Cellar fit for Com- fortable Dwelling therein in Six Years from the Date hereof and some Person Inhabiting and Resident In Each house and To Continue Inhabitancy there for four years then Next Coming; and that within the Term of twelve Years from this Date there be Seventeen Lotts more, viz: One of the Rights of James Morrison, Rob- ert Clark, James Lyons, Robert Allen, Andrew Armer, Halbert Morrison, David Morrison, Samuel Morrison, John Morrison, Thomas Morrison, William Gilmore, John Gilmore, Samuel Allison, James Willson, John Willson, Robert Willson, James Willson Junr. have in Like manner five acres of Land Cler'd, Enclosed and fit- ted as aforesaid, over and above what they are to Do as aforesaid, and Each a house in manner aforesaid, and some Person Inhabiting therein, and Continuing Inhabi- tancy for three years afterwards there. That a Conven- ient Meeting house be Built In said Township within ten Years from this Date, and finished as near the Center of the Township as Conveniency will admit of, to be deter- mined by a Major vote of the Grantors & Grantees, & Ten acres of Land Reserved there for Public Use.
That the aforesaid Grantees or their assigns Grant and assess any Sum or Sums of money as they shall think Necessary, for Carrying forward & Compleating
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HISTORY OF TROY.
the settlement aforesaid, & any of the Grantees, Exclu- sive of the three Public Lotts aforesaid, who shall neg- lect for the Space of three months Next after such as- sessment shall be granted and made to pay the same So much of such Delinquents Rights Respectively Shall and may be sold as will pay the Tax and all the Charg- es arising thereon by a Committee of the Grantees ap- pointed for that Purpose. That all White pine Trees, fit for masting his majesty's Royal Navy, be and hereby are Granted to his majesty, his heirs & Successors for- ever. And in Case any of the Grantees shall neglect & refuse to Perform any of the Articles aforementioned by him Respectively to be Done, he shall forfeit his Share & Right in said Township and Every part & parcel thereof to those of the Grantees who are not delinquent in the Conditions on their part Respectively to be done, and it shall & may be Lawful for them, or any person by their authority to Enter into & upon Such Delin- quent's Right, and him or them Utterly to amove, Oust and Expel for the use of them their heirs & assigns; Provided they settle or Cause to be settled Such De- linquent's Right, within the term of one Year at the furthest from the Period that is by this Grant Stipu- lated as the Condition thereof, and fully Comply with the Conditions such Delinquent ought to have Done within One year from the time after the Respective Periods thereof, and in case the said Grantees fulfilling their parts as aforesaid, shall Neglect fulfilling as afore- said of any Delinquent Owner, nor he himself Perform it, that then such Share or Shares be forfeit, Revert & Belong to the Grantors, their heirs & assigns and to be wholly at their Disposal, alway Provided there be no Indian Wars in any of the Terms Limited as aforesaid, for Doing the Duty Conditioned in this Grant to be Done, & in Case that should happen, the same time to be allowed after such Impediment shall be Removed.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Lastly the Grantors Do hereby Promise to said Gran- tees their heirs & assigns to Defend thro' the Law To King & Council, if Need be, one action that shall & may be Bro't against them or any Number of them by any Person or Persons whatsoever Claiming the said Land or any Part thereof, by any other Title than that of the said Grantors, or that by which they hold and Derive theirs from, Provided the said Grantors are avouched In to defend the same and in Case on final Tryal the same shall be Recovered over against the Grantors, the said Grantees shall Recover Nothing over against the Grantors for the said Lands, Improvements or Expenses in Bringing forward the Settlement."
Whether an effort was immediately made by the gran- tees, to bring forward the settlement of the township does not now appear: but certain it is that the French and Indian war which broke out soon after caused a sus- pension of whatever effort had been commenced. And before the close of that war the grantees transferred their interest in the township to the following gentle- men, viz:
DAVID CHURCHI,
JONATHAN BLANCHARD, ADDONIJAH HOW,
WILLIAM EAGER,
RICHARD TOZER,
ELEAZER IIOW,
NOAH CHURCH,
CHARLES BIGLO, JACOB FELTON, ABRAHAM HOW, JR.
ISAAC MGALLESTER,
SILAS WHEELER,
WILLIAM BARKER,
JOSEPH BIGLO,
JONATIIAN GREEN,
DANIEL HARRINGTON,
JONATHAN BOND,
JOIIN WOODS,
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