USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > Facts relating to the early history of Chester, N.H., from the settlement in 1720 until the formation of the state constitution in the year 1784 > Part 1
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Gc 974.202 C41b 1770185
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GQ
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01095 8947
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https://archive.org/details/factsrelatingtoe00bell
FACTS
RELATING TO THE EARLY
HISTORY OF CHESTER, N. H.,
FROM THE SETTLEMENT IN 1720, UNTIL THE FORMATION OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION IN THE YEAR 1784.
COLLECTED BY CHARLES BELL.
MDCCCLI.
.
CONCORD : PUBLISHED FOR THE N. H. HISTORICAL SOCIETY BY G. PARKER LYON. 1863.
1770185
CHESTER.
. F 5 30 017 Hin
NOTE-BY THE EDITOR.
Dr. CHARLES BELL, the author of the following History of Chester,-his native Town-died in Concord, N. H., of pulmo- nary consumption, February 29, 1856, aged 22} years. On the Sabbath after his decease, the Rev. Dr. Bouton, in a funeral dis- course, thus spake of him :
" Dr. CHARLES BELL, son.of the late Hon. SAMUEL BELL, of Chester, dying at the early age of 22} years, possessed qualities of mind and heart which rendered him a fit model for young men just entering on the stage of social and public life. Naturally of a serene, amiable and obliging temper, he sought to promote the happiness of all who were about him. His mind, of a high order, was improved by study from early childhood. His acquisitions in general knowledge, in literature and science, and more especially in the studies of his profession, distinguished him among the young men of his age, and gave large promise of usefulness, and success in the professional career which he had auspiciously begun.
Though of genial social qualities, gifted in conversation, he yet wasted no time in amusements and festivities which could neither improve his mind nor his heart ; rather he looked on such things as unworthy of a being pressed with responsibilities and acting for immortality. Doct. Bell possessed a large religious reverence- respect for all things sacred-for the word of God, the worship of his house, the Sabbath and institutions of religion : on these sub- jects no levity ever marked his conversation or deportment. At an early age, while a member of Brown University, in Providence, R. I., he was personally the subject of these spiritual influences and exercises that are usual antecedents of a new life ; and ever after he seemed to live in the fear and love of God, and to be gov- erned by the principles and precepts of Christianity.
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NOTE BY THE EDITOR.
But ' death loves a shining mark !' and it early marked him for its victim ! ‘ The days of his youth were shortened.' That pale, serene, thoughtful, intelligent face we shall see no more ! Our hopes of his rising and permanent distinction are blasted ! yet he lived not in vain. Subject to pulmonary disease, his death was sudden. His mortal remains were conveyed to his na- tive Town, to be interred among his honored kindred and friends. His spirit, we trust, is associated with 'the spirits of the just made perfect ; ' while his example lives-worthy of the imitation of all the youth who knew him, or to whom his name and virtues shall become known."
It is a striking proof of the mental activity, capacity and good judgment of the author, that the materials for this History were collected, arranged and composed by him, when he was only eighteen years of age. Yet the history will be found accurate and reliable. It has been submitted to the mature judgment and re- ceived the approval of the Hon. SAMUEL D. BELL, of Manchester, N. H., by whose liberality the work is now published.
This History, first published in the 7th Volume of Collections of the N. H. Historical Society, is now published in its present form for more general distribution.
N. BOUTON, Editor. Concord, June, 1863.
FACTS RELATING TO CHESTER.
1719. In the summer of the year 1719, a Society was formed, principally by inhabitants of Hampton, Haverhill, New- bury and Portsmouth, "for settling the Chestnutt Country," of which the first meeting recorded, and probably the first holden, was in the open forest, within the limits of the present town of Chester, and most likely on Walnut Hill. This meeting was on the 15th of October of the same year.
A petition had already been preferred to the government (Sept. 24th,) by Clement Hughes, praying for the grant of a township, and stating that " sundry persons from the Province of Massa- chusetts Bay" were about to petition for the same land. Mr. Hughes and his company demanded the preference, " having been at a vast expense of blood and treasure to maintain the same against the enemy." This was the usual reason given why pre- ference should be shown to any particular company. It is very unlikely that any " blood " or " treasure " was expended, at that time, on account of the tract. This petition was not granted, as it did not include the Governor and his Council among the Pro- prietors. At this meeting it was decided that the Society should not exceed ninety individuals, and this number being then incom- plete, such persons were to be admitted as should be thought proper by a committee of seven, chosen each year to assume the management of all the Society's affairs, to call meetings as often as should be thought necessary, and " to act in all other matters that they should think proper for the good of the whole Society."
Ichabod Robic, Jacob Stanyan, Caleb Towle, Joseph Tilton and Michael Whidden, all of Hampton, were chosen to lay out the home lots of 20 acres each, in which all privileges of streams were reserved for the use of the Society. Thomas Leavitt and two others, whose names are unknown, were placed on the land to maintain possession whilst a grant could be obtained.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
The second meeting of the Society was holden at Hampton, Dec. 20th.
The difficulties which preceded Lovewell's war had just begun, and at the above meeting it was provided that, in case of a war, before the three years, to which time they proposed to limit the settlement, should expire, the same length of time should be al- lowed after the conclusion of a peace. The home-lots having been laid out, the Proprietors, to the number of eighty eight, drew their lots respectively, and not long after, the number hav- ing been increased, contrary to their first intention, to 127, the re- mainder drew.
1720. In the following March the Society voted to with- draw the first petition, then pending, and " when there should be a convenient season," to prefer another. This second petition was also drawn up by Clement Hughes, and presented the 24th of May following ; it was kept suspended until Aug. 26th, when a grant was made "provided that they did not infringe on, or inter- fere with, any former grant, possessions, or properties," and a committee of Proprietors appointed to procure the land laid out. This grant conveyed a tract of country comprising 100 sq. miles to the Society.
In return for this favor they voted to present his Excellency, the Governor, with a farm of 500 acres, which was laid out "as near the centre of the town as possible without incommoding their own house lots." Gov. Shute's farm began, at its southern limit, near the house of Elijah HIall, and extended on that road, then known as " Penacook path," as far as where Jacob Chase lives, then it spread towards the Northeast nearly as far as Raymond line.
It does not appear with certainty whether any Indian title was ever possessed by the Society, but it is probable that there was not, or some record would remain of the purchase ; among thie ac- counts, however, presented by Mr. Hughes, who acted in the ca- pacity of their Secretary, is charged five shillings " for a copy of an Indian deed."
As a fence had been built, in the first instance, round the South- ern part of the tract, but little difficulty was experienced from trespassers ; there were, however, certain " Haverhill people "
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
who were troublesome during the first year of the grant, and Pro- prietors were hired to " go and oppose them." Several lawsuits grew out of this opposition. Perhaps these were the same indi- viduals who troubled the Londonderry people this same year ; they claimed the lands of Nutfield by virtue of an Indian deed of about twenty years standing, from one John, an obscure sachem.
A path had been made from Haverhill, and also from Kingston, at the time the home lots were laid out, and in March, (1720,) it was voted that the former should be made passable for carts at the expense of the Haverhill proprietors. This path passed over Walnut Hill very nearly where the road now goes, and so down into Hall's Village. At the same time the Society voted that the bridge over Exeter river on the Kingston road, should be made passable for carts.
Immediately after the grant (in August, 1720,) of the town- ship, (thenceforth known as Cheshire,) the settlement was com- menced by 24 individuals, mostly from Hampton and Haverhill. The first settlement was on Walnut Hill and in Hall's Village. These settlers were, by vote of the Society, and to encourage fur- ther emigration, allowed ten shillings each, annually, for the first three years, The names of these 24 are given, with such other particulars as I have been able to gather in relation to them.
They built, at first, loghouses on their respective lots, and it was not until 1732 that a frame house was put up. This was erected by Capt. Samuel Ingalls, and was standing on the spot where he built it, until within a few years. It was occupied by Thomas Niles, and stood where Humphrey Niles now lives. The frame was of hewn white oak, and in a good state of preservation in 1845. The dimensions of the house were about 25 by 40 feet ; so that it was called " the great house," for many years after its erection.
Soon afterwards some of the others followed the example, and built framed houses, several of which are now standing.
1721. At a meeting of the proprietors, holden at Hampton, in January of the following year, the first mill privileges, together with ten acres of land on each side of the stream, were granted to Col. Packer, Col. Weare, Caleb Towle and. Samuel Ingalls. These privileges were designated as " the upper and lower falls on the great brook." The conditions of the grant were, that they
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
should erect a saw mill or mills at the upper falls, and have the same in condition to cut boards within twelve months, to saw what logs the proprietors would need for their buildings at halves, and to furnish boards to any person desiring them, at the rate of thirty shillings a thousand, delivered at the mill. Thirty shillings of the currency at that time is about two dollars of our money.
This saw mill was built on the spot where the Hazelton saw mill now stands.
The grantees were to give a bond of £50 to the committee that they would perform the conditions of the grant, and in case of the refusal of any one of them to do this, his share was to be offered to some other individual.
The settlement being now fairly commenced, the expediency of establishing a church and a school began to be considered, and it was resolved that as soon as thirty free-holders should be settled, a minister of the gospel should be maintained ; as soon as fifty families should be settled, there should be a meeting house built by the whole proprietary. A few days afterwards, it was voted that " whereas the number of proprietors was considerable," " and no provision was yet made for a schoolmaster," the next proprietor who should forfeit his lot, according to the rules of the Society, by not paying his share of the common expenses, it should be appropriate for a school. This resolve appears to have been for some time neglected, and indeed no house was erected for this purpose for more than twenty years from this date.
A vote was also passed to lay out 100 acres of additional land to each full proprietor, which was not carried into effect, and the following year it was voted that they should contain 200 acres. They were not laid out, however, until 1728, when the first half of the division was completed and called " The Old Hundreds." These lots included almost all of the present town of Raymond.
At this time the difficulties with the Indians began to increase, and a war commenced, which induced seven of the twenty-four. families of settlers to return to the older towns for safety. The following are their names : Amos Cass, George Pierce, William Daniel, Ephraim Guile, Robert Ford, Rev. Mr. Simms, Nathan Webster. But one person joined the settlement in 1722 and 1723 ; this was Reuben Sanborn, of Hampton.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
1722. The charter of the town being now prepared, it was signed, together with three others, on the 8th of May of the en- suing year, and was the last official act performed by Gov. Shute in New Hampshire.
This charter was given in the name of King George of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the Faith, &c., and granted (with the reservation " as far as in us lies,") a tract, dif- fering considerably in shape and size from the former grant, and containing over 120 square miles. The name conferred by the charter was CHESTER.
1723. The first meeting under this charter was holden March 28, 1723, when after choosing town-officers, consisting of a clerk, three selectmen, three lot-layers, and a constable to collect the rates, the proprietors voted that additional lots of 50 acres each, should be laid out of the common lands. This was done three years afterwards, all meadow land of one acre or more being re- served. The additional lots were laid out principally near the home-lots.
The selectmen were directed to make application to the next Court of Quarter Sessions to have a highway to Kingston. The Selectmen were empowered to eject all trespassers on the land in- cluded by the charter, until December, when a committee was chosen expressly for this purpose.
Those proprietors who were in debt were now warned that, un- less their full proportions were paid by the 15th of June, their rights would be forfeited.
1724. The first appearance of the hostile Indians in New Hampshire was at Dover, in the spring of this year, where they killed one individual, and took three prisoners. But little injury was experienced from them until the next spring, when they ap- peared at Oyster River, at Kingston, and on Tuesday, the 2d of June, at Chester, where five of them took prisoners Lieut. Thomas Smith and John Carr, as they were out hunting deer, and carried them about thirty miles to the northward. There they halted- bound their prisoners, and lay down to sleep; the prisoners es- caped in the night, and after three days arrived safe at a garrison in Londonderry.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Smith was one of the first settlers, and lived in a house which stood where Capt. Pickett lived. Carr was only about 15 years old at the time of his capture. His home was then, and for many years afterwards, in a log house which stood on the brow of the hill back of the house where John Hall lives. He died Oct. 22, 1783, at the age of 73.
It is said that they were surprised while watching a deer from a large flat rock, lately blasted out, which was on the lane after- wards laid out for a highway, and known as "the Haverhill road ; " it is now untravelled, and leads from Josiah Morse's to the Halls' village road. The rock was on the west side of the road, about 80 rods from Morse's house. The Indians never did much mischief in Chester after this.
On the last of March, a meeting of the Society was holden in Chester, at the house of Capt. Samuel Ingalls, and complaints be- ing made that many trees were unlawfully taken from the undivi- ded lands, a committee was appointed to inspect all the timber of the town, and to prosecute any trespassers.
1725. On the 25th of March of the next year, it was voted, (on account probably of the capture of Smith and Carr in 1724,) to appropriate the sum of £20, " to hire two souldiers to guard them four months next ensueing." Where these "souldiers " were stationed, is uncertain. They might have been at Smith's house, where Capt. Pickett lived, or more probably at a garrison which stood on the spot where Cowdry's hut is, and which was the principal garrison in those times.
1726. In December an end was put to the Indian war by a treaty which was ratified the next spring. The news of this peace arriving in Great Britain induced many people to emigrate, and numerous companies from the northern part of Ireland took up their residence in and about Londonderry, which had been set- tled by previous emigrations from the same vicinity ; among these were several families who came to Chester. These emigrants afterwards formed the Presbyterian church in Chester.
There was a mutual dislike between the Irish settlers and the " Yankees." No intermarriage took place - between the two par- ties for many years, and at last, when it did occur, it was depre_ cated by all as an untoward event. The first mention of " the
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
poor of the town " occurs this year, and the money forfeited by the unlawful cutting of the proprietor's wood was appropriated to their support. This fine was 40 shillings for every tree.
1727. All the grass growing on the meadows had been es- teemed common property, and a regulation was made this year, that if any one should cut his proportion before the last day of July, he should be made to pay to the Selectmen 20 shillings for every day he should so offend, to be appropriated to the support of the poor. The reason of this regulation was, perhaps, to allow the seeds to ripen and fall off before the grass was cut.
1723. The next year the meadows were laid out, in small parcels, to the proprietors. The three-camp-meadow was laid out into twelve rights.
This year the question was agitated whether a meeting house should not be built, and it was decided (by universal consent at least,) that there should be, and at a meeting held Nov. 12th, it was voted that " the stateing ye place for ye meeting house " be left in consideration until the March meeting. According to tra- ditionary accounts, there was considerable debate whether to build it in Hall's village or at the centre, where it now stands. The minister's lot was at the centre, but the graveyard was in Hall's village.
1729. Nothing further was done on this subject until the fol- lowing March, when it was decided that " ye place called ye cen- tre " should be the place for the meeting house.
At a meeting Oct. 7th, after voting to pay Mr. John Tucke, who had been preaching in Chester, " 30 shillings per Sabbath for fourteen Sabbaths last past," Capt. Samuel Ingalls and En- sign Jacob Sargent were appointed a committee "to look out for a suitable orthodox good man," in view of his settlement at Ches- ter. It was voted also that the meeting house should be " fifty ' foot in length, and thirty-five foot wide, and twenty foot post," "to be furnished completely, both inside and outside, to ye turn- ing of ye key, and set upon the place appointed and before voted." In June of the next year, however, the width of the future meet- ing house was increased by vote to 38 feet. Dr. Edmund Tap- pan, of Hampton, Sam1 Ingalls and Nathan1 Healey, of Chester
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
were appointed a committee to agree with the carpenters about its erection, and forty shillings were assessed on each full proprietor towards its completion. It had been voted, in June, that Mr. John Tucke, of Hampton, was " chosen to settle with ye inhabi- tants of Chester in ye work of ye ministry," and that for five years £120 should be raised, annually, for the support of the min- istry, by the proprietors and inhabitants, according to their settle- ment, and afterwards, as the law directs. Capt. S. Ingalls, Dr. Tappan and Mr. Wilson were to wait on Mr. Tucke, and invite him to the work of the ministry, which they did, and received the following reply :
" To ye proprs of ye town of Chester, this day met at Capt. Win- gate's, in Hampton : "
Gentlemen : Whereas you wth ye freeholders of ye town of Chester Did, sometime ago, Invite me to ye work of ye ministry in Chester, now these are to signifie that, for Weighty Reasons, I decline settling there. I wish you a happy settlement in God's good time. This from your Humble Servt,
JON. TUCKE.
This letter was dated at Hampton, Oct. 7, 1729.
Pulpit.
Common Scats.
Common Seats.
1
Gallery Stairs.
Gallery Stairs.
FIRST CHURCH IN CHESTER BUILT IN 1730-31. (Plan of the body) 50 feet by 38 in dimensions. Drawn from B. P. Chase's description.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER
1730. In January of the following year, Rev. Moses Hale was chosen to settle at Chester in the ministry, and he was to re- ceive from the town treasury £120, current money, ($156,80, or as silver 20s per oz., 133,28. This latter is probably the way it was reckoned,) annually, as long as he remained their minister. A committee was chosen "to treat with him, & to acquaint him with what ye town hath done, and to invite him into the work of ye ministery in Chester." They received his answer, which was favorable, and reported to the town.
In relation to his salary it was soon after voted that 20s should be assessed on each full proprietor's share, making in all £127, which might be paid either in money or labor. This at silver 17 sh. pr. ounce-$166,95, (or at 20s per. oz., $141,90.)
In July, a committee was appointed to deliver the minister's lot, joining on Gov. Wentworth's home lot, " with all its divi- shions and priuelidges" to Rev. Moses Hale, as soon as he should become qualified to receive it, "and in case he shall dew any work, or be at any charge for benefiting said land, and by the Providence of God, shall faile of being a selected minister, and not qualified to reseue sª lott ; in that case whatever Mr. Hale shall have layed out upon it, shall be repaid."
It was this year voted to give encouragement to John Aiken to build a grist-mill at the middle falls of "the great brook." This was the first grist-mill in town, and stood down behind John IIa- zelton's house. The remains of the dam are still visible. Mr. Aiken lived in a house which stood where Mr. Reed lives.
1731. The Committee for building the meeting house having agreed with Peter and Thomas Cochran, of Londonderry, to build it, they went about it immediately, and by the following March it was so nearly finished that the town meeting was held in it on the 25th.
This meeting house stood a few rods south of the present house, near where the guide post is, and faced the southwest .*
In May, at a meeting of the town, it was voted to raise the sum of £230 towards finishing the meeting house, and £30 for prepa- rations for Mr. IIale's ordination.
On the first of September, a meeting was called expressly to 2
* Tradition-B. P. Chase remembers the house.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
take steps in regard to the ordination ; and Rev. Mr. Brown, of Haverhill, Rev. Mr. Phillips, and Rev. Mr. Barnard, of Andover, were chosen a committee " to gather and settle a church in Ches- ter, and ordain the Rev. Mr. Hale ; " also, Ensign Jacob Sargent, Deac. Ebenezer Dearborn, Enoch Colby, Capt. Samuel Ingalls and Samuel Emerson, Esq., were a committee " to take care for the provision of the ordination." The ordination of Mr. Hale took place October 20th, though no record of it exists on the town books.
Early this year, on petition of several families living near Wal- nut Hill, a road was laid out from Mr. Emerson's to Mr. Robin- son's " for conveniency to go to meeting, and general benefit of the town." This road was two rods wide, and run a short dis- tance further to the eastward than the present road, where a foot- path existed before it.
1732. As the settlements extended, the inhabitants began to feel the need of a road to connect the two parishes, consequently in Sept. 1732, it was voted that " a horse or cart path " should be made from the meeting house to the North parish ; this was called " Penacook path," and was afterwards laid out into the present highway to Auburn.
1733. A considerable number of the inhabitants of Chester, at the time of Mr. Hale's settlement, were Presbyterians, and more of them continuing to move into town, they became dissatis- fied with him; in addition to this, his health was feeble, and he was often unable to discharge his duties as a minister, hence in September, 1733, Lieut. Ebenezer Dearborn, Mr. Nathan Web- ster, and Capt. Samuel Ingalls were directed "to agree with and hire a minister to preach a quarter of a year" to them. This was probably done, but who was obtained is not known ; perhaps it was the Timothy White, who was invited to become their pas- tor a year or two afterwards. The first mention of a burying place occurs this year, and the spot is specified as containing 18 rods, and situated near " three camp meadow." This was the first burying place in town, and was immediately opposite where the " Copp's house " stands, in Hall's Village, and only two or three rods from the road. The graves were discernable until within twelve or fifteen years ; they were marked by round stones
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