USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Epsom > Historical sketch of Epsom, N.H > Part 1
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Go 974.202 Ep8b 1344975
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01096 3624
STATE LID
1727-
Historical Sketch
of
Epsom, N. H.
Loella Marden Bunker
-
P.O. 1331
57-00884-
97-98-1
$ 5,00
070420201W
1344975
Reproduced by DUOPAGE process in the United States of America
MICRO PHOTO Division Bell & Howell Co. Cleveland 12, Ohio
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF EPSOM, NEW HAMPSHIRE
COMPILED BY
LOELLA MARDEN BUNKER FOR THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY 1727-1927
As one studies the early history of Epsom and the sur- rounding towns we find they are much the same. The accounts differ but little except the dates, names of places and people. Yet we. the sons and daughters of Epsom, feel that she has a history all her own, and now at the 200th anniversary of our town it seems fitting that some of this history shall be placed before the people.
The town derives its name from a market-town in Eng- land. It is bounded on the north by Pittsfield, south by Allenstown, east by Deerfield and Northwood and west by Chichester and Pembroke. It is six miles long and four and one-half miles broad.
Epsom was granted to the taxpayers of Rye, New Castle and Greenland in 1727 "according to the amount of their respective taxes".
"George, by the Grace of God, of Great Britian, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith.
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To all People to whom these presents shall come: Greet- ing: Know ye, we, of our special knowledge and meer motion, for the due encouragement of settling a new plan- tation, by and with the advice and consent of our council, have given and Granted, and by these presents, as far as in us lies, do give and grant unto all such of our loving subjects as were inhabitants and free holders in the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty-three, in our town of New Castle and in the Parish of Greenland, both within our Province of New Hampshire, in New England, to be divided among them in proportion to their Respec- tive rates, which they paid in the year 1723 aforesaid, one tract of Land to be laid out at the head of Nottingham and Northwood of land formerly granted to the children of Sam'l Allen, decsd., the same to be six miles in Breadth and four miles in depth, or in such other form as the land ungranted in that place will admit, so as it contains the same Quantity of Land, and the same to be a town cor- porate by the name of Epsom to the Pursons aforesaid forever. To Have and to Hold the said Tract of Land to said Grantees and their heirs and assigns forever upon the following conditions :-
1st. That they build twenty dwelling houses and settle a family in each within four years and that they break up three acres and plant or sow the same in that length of time.
2nd. That a house be built for the worship of God within six years.
3rd. That one-hundred acres be set aside for a par- sonage, one-hundred acres for the first minister, and the same amount for the use of a school."
Should trouble with the Indians arise before the end of the said four years the town shall be allowed another four years after the trouble has been settled. They were to pay for this grant the annual rent of one pound of good merchantable hemp, on the 1st day of December, yearly, forever if demanded.
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"Reserving also unto us, our heirs and successors, all mast trees growing on said land according to an act of Parliment made and provided in that case."
"And for the better order, rule and Government of the said town, we, by these Presents, Grant for us, our heirs and successors, unto the aforesaid Proprietors, and those that shall inhabit the said Town, that yearly and every year, upon the first Wednesday in May, they may meet at any place within our Province of New Hampshire aforesaid until the settlement of the town is perfected, and afterwards in the said town, to elect and chuse by the major part of them constables, Selectmen, and all other Town officers, according to the Laws and usage of our aforesaid Province, with such power, priviledges and authority as other towns and town officers within our aforesaid Province have and enjoy, and we appoint our Loving Subjects, Theodore Atkinson, Joshua Foss and Captain Samuel Weeks to be the selectmen to manage the affairs of the said town for the Present year and until others are chosen in their Room by the aforesaid pro- prietors."
"In Testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our said Province to be herewith annexed."
"Witnes John Wentworth, Esq. our Lt. Governor and Commander in Chief in and over said Province, at our town, of Portsmouth, the eighteenth day of May, in the Thirteenth year of our Reign, anno Domini
1727
J. Wentworth."
No records show the precise time when the first settle- ment was made, but it would seem that there were some families in town several years before its incorporation.
The first settlement in the Suncook Valley was made here and it is said that not a tree was cut between here and Canada. Not a single clearing or neighborly smoke could be seen by these early settlers.
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First Settlers.
Among the first who began settlements were Samuel Blake, Charles McCoy, William Blazo and Andrew Mc- Clary.
McCoy built a house on the north side of what is now known as Sanborn's Hill and enlarged his farm by spot- ting the trees around the mountain which now bears his name. A daughter of his was the first white child born in · town, and the proprietors gave her a tract of land. She has decendants living in town but not of the same name. -
Samuel Blake came into Epsom when but fifteen years of age. He bought one hundred acres of land, near the center of the town, of the Indians and paid them ten shill- ings, turning in his jack-knife as one shilling, and then began to make a settlement. This farm is the one now owned by Mrs. Eleanora C. Nutter, she being a descend- ant of Samuel Blake. For several years the only place he had for baking was an oven built upon a large flat rock. This rock was long ago split and used for under pinning.
In 1738 the McClarys moved to Epsom and settled upon a rising knoll of land, upon which now stands the old McClary house. This large old-fashioned dwelling is built of huge timbers and has immense fireplaces which attest its age. As few changes have been made one can see the rooms as they were looked upon by the ones who built them one-hundred eighty-seven years ago. Many beautiful pieces of furniture have been handed down from past generations, each of which has its own story. The society of Cincinnatus held some meetings here. Frank- lin Pierce, Daniel Webster and many other distinguished men have been entertained in this home.
In fact, no house in our town is so rich in historical associations as the old McClary Homestead. This house is now owned by Mrs. Helen Barstow, a descendant of Andrew McClary, one of the first settlers.
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The first meeting of the proprietors of Epsom was held at the ferry-house in New Castle, December 4th, 1727. May 22, 1732 at a meeting held at the court house in . Portsmouth it was voted that twenty, fifty acre lots be laid out at some convenient place in the town.
"June 12, 1732 it was voted that twenty men draw these lots, and accordingly, the following men drew the first lots in town :- James Sevey, No. 1; Richard Goss, No. 2; Thomas Berry No. 3; Daniel Lunt, 4; Noah Sevey, 5; William Lock, 6; Samuel Dowst, 7; Zach. Berry, 8; Eben Berry, 9; Solomon Dowst, 10; Samuel Wallis, 11; William Wallis, 12; John Blake, 13; Josiah Foss{ 14; Simon Knowles, 15; Paul Chapman, 16; Joseph Lock, 17; Jotham Foss, 18; Jediah Weeks, 19; James Marden, 20.
Voted, "That the selectmen purches a town Book to enter the records in."
These lots were, for many years called the home lots and were upon either side of the road. There is reason to think that these families were not settled permanently until 1750.
October 16, 1732 it was voted that the town be laid out in four ranges each one mile deep, reserving a road four rods wide, between the 1st and 2nd ranges and between the third and fourth. Voted, "That all the land not before reserved and granted be laid out on the ac- count of the proprietors, and that they draw lots for the same." At this same meeting it was voted that a "meet- ing-house" thirty feet long and twenty feet wide be built immediately, at the charge of the proprietors, and that Mr. Joshua Bracket, Mr. William Locke and Theodore Atkinson, Esq. be a Committee to find the persons who can do it the "quickest and cheapest."
In 1732 the selectmen of Nottingham notified the sel- ectmen of Epsom that they wished to "perambulate" the bounds. Samuei Wallis, Richard Goss and Samuel Weeks were appointed a committee to act with those of Notting- ham.
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The following is the committee's return :-
"We, whose names are under written, being appointed and hired by the selectmen of Epsom to perambulate the line, according to bounds, viz: Beginning at Nottingham head Line, four miles North eastward from Chester Line, at a maple tree marked with the letter N on the east side for Nottingham, and Ep. on the West side for Epsom; from thence running West, North West four miles, to a large pine, which is one mile westward from Suncook River; from thence running North East and by North six miles to a tree westward of Suncook River; from thence running East, South East four miles, to a Hemlock tree, standing by Nottingham head line, six miles, to the maple tree first mentioned. Perambulated this twenty- third day of Sept. one thousand seven hundred and thirty- two."
By us,
Samuel Wallis) Richard Goss) Samuel Weeks) Walter Bryant, Surveyor
At a meeting held November 6, 1732 there were found to be one hundred and forty-three proprietors of Epsom living in Greenland, New Castle and Rye and on the 9th day of the same month these men drew their lots. It seems from the records, that there was left about two thousand acres of undivided land in the town after these above lots were laid out, and were known as common land.
In 1765 the General Assembly gave the town the right to sell this land and the money received from the same was to be used towards building the "meeting-house". This land was sold at public auction August 19, 1783.
Voted at a meeting held January 17, 1733, that the name of the street from the meeting-house upward be called West Street, and down towards Nottingham, East Street.
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It was also voted at this time that the proprietors of Canterbury be allowed to build & road four rods wide through the town of Epsom "as near West North West" as they could and avoid all unpassable places.
The early settlers had much trouble from the Indians, indeed, we are told that for a number of years, only the men dared to stay at the settlement during the summer and then they must have their guns very handy. For a long time their nearest garrison was at Nottingham. But finally a house was erected by Captain Andrew McClary, and near the residence now owned by Mr. Joseph Law- rence. It was surrounded by a high wall, and had a . heavy gate that could be well fastened.
The Indians were first attracted to this new settlement by seeing McCoy at Suncook (now Pembroke). They followed him home. They told his wife, (whom they afterward made prisoner) that they looked through the cracks around the house and saw what they had for sup- per. The next day Mrs. McCoy went to see if some of the families had returned from the garrison. She found no one. When, she came back, as she was passing the block-house which stood near the place where the first first church was afterwards built, her dogs acted very strangely and much excited. This caused her to hurry home.
Upon telling her husband her adventure he felt very sure that the Indians were in town and he decided to set off next day with his family for the garrison at Notting- ham. The next morning they fastened their house the best they could and started. The family at this time consisted of Mr. and Mrs. McCoy and one son as the younger children were still at the garrison. Mr. McCoy and his son had guns but no ammunition, as they used all they had for hunting. After a while Mrs. McCoy found it a little hard to keep up with her men folks and was walking a little behind them. The Indians, three men and a boy were hidden near the foot of Marden's
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Hill, not far from the place where the Mountain Road now joins the Centre Road. Here they allowed Mr. Mc- Coy and his son to pass but when Mrs. McCoy came along one reached out and grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth and told her to make no noise. But she did cry for help and her husband turned to come to her aid, but when he did this the Indians raised their guns, and Mrs. McCoy, knowing her husband's gun was empty, motioned for him to go on. So he ran into the woods and escaped. This according to the history of Rev. Jonathan Curtis, took place August 21, 1747.
The Indians now took whatever they thought was of value from the homes. They took the apples from the only tree that bore in town, which was in the orchard now owned by Mr. John Griffin.
Before they started for Canada with their prisoner, they took her to a place near the Little Suncook, and left her with the boy, while they went away and were gone some time. She at first thought she would try to escape but she finally decided it would be best not to make the attempt as the Indians might return any minute. When they came back she felt very sure, from their smutty faces, that they had burned her house. She told them her suspicions and one of the Indians who could speak a few words of English said that they had.
They now started on their long, hard journey to Can- ada. When Mrs. McCoy returned a few years later she said that the Indians were very kind to her. The apples they had gathered they saved for her, giving her one each day. In this way they lasted until they reached Lake Champlain.
This fact gave to the tree on which the apples grew the name of "Isabella", this being Mrs. McCoy's name,
When it became dark and they stopped for the night one of the Indians would make a bed of leaves a little way from theirs and she would sleep undisturbed until morning. When they came to a river, one of the Indians would carry her over on his back.
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When they got to Canada they sold her to a French family and she stayed until after the close of the war.
So pleasant was her home in Canada, and so unpleas- ant the quick temper of her husband, history tells us she said if it had not been for her children she never would have thought of taking the long journey home.
After this incident the Indians visited the town often but never caused any very serious trouble. The most damage they ever did to the property of the people was the spoiling of all the ox-teams in town. These belonged to McCoy, McClary, Samuel Blake and George Wallace. It was at a time when they were expecting trouble from the Indians and the people had all gone to the garrison, and had left their oxen to feed in the woods, with a bell upon one of them. The Indians found them, killed one in each ycke, cut out their tongues, took the bell and left them.
The kindness that the early inhabitants showed the Indians was, no doubt, the reason why so little trouble came from the savages.
The course taken by Samuel Blake did much to make a friendly feeling with the Indians. He won their respect and secured their friendship so that they never would harm him even when they had an opportunity.
The first time he ever saw them, they were coming toward his house from the direction of Sanborn's Hill. He ran for the woods and hid, and remained there until they had looked around his house and gone away. He decided that the next time they came he would try and get acquainted with them. So one day, towards evening when he was building a yard for the cow, the setting sun suddenly threw long shadows on the ground by him. When he looked up he found several Indians standing near him. He, of course, showed his fright, but they patted him on the head and told him not to be afraid as they would not hurt him. He took them into the house and they imme-
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Hill, not far from the place where the Mountain Road now joins the Centre Road. . Here they allowed Mr. Mc- Coy and his son to pass but when Mrs. McCoy came along one reached out and grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth and told her to make no noise. But she did cry for help and her husband turned to come to her aid, but when he did this the Indians raised their guns, and Mrs. McCcy, knowing her husband's gun was empty, motioned for him to go on. So he ran into the woods and escaped. This according to the history of Rev. Jonathan Curtis, took place August 21, 1747.
The Indians now took whatever they thought was of value from the homes. They took the apples from the only tree that bore in town, which was in the orchard now owned by Mr. John Griffin.
Before they started for Canada with their prisoner, they took her to a place near the Little Suncook, and left her with the boy, while they went away and were gone some time. She at first thought she would try to escape but she finally decided it would be best not to make the attempt as the Indians might return any minute. When they came back she felt very sure, from their smutty faces, that they had burned her house. She told them her suspicions and one of the Indians who could speak a few words of English said that they had.
They now started on their long, hard journey to Can- ada. When Mrs. McCoy returned a few years later she said that the Indians were very kind to her. The apples they had gathered they saved for her, giving her one each day. In this way they lasted until they reached Lake Champlain.
This fact gave to the tree on which the apples grew the name of "Isabella", this being Mrs. McCoy's name,
When it became dark and they stopped for the night one of the Indians would make a bed of leaves a little way from theirs and she would sleep undisturbed until morning. When they came to a river, one of the Indians would carry her over on his back.
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When they got to Canada they sold her to a French family and she stayed until after the close of the war.
So pleasant was her home in Canada, and so unpleas- ant the quick temper of her husband, history tells us she said if it had not been for her children she never would have thought of taking the long journey home.
After this incident the Indians visited the town often but never caused any very serious trouble. The most damage they ever did to the property of the people was the spoiling of all the ox-teams in town. These belonged to McCoy, McClary, Samuel Blake and George Wallace. It was at a time when they were expecting trouble from the Indians and the people had all gone to the garrison, and had left their oxen to feed in the woods, with a bell upon one of them. The Indians found them, killed one in each yoke, cut out their tongues, took the bell and left them.
The kindness that the early inhabitants showed the Indians was. no doubt, the reason why so little trouble came from the savages.
The course taken by Samuel Blake did much to make a friendly feeling with the Indians. He won their respect and secured their friendship so that they never would harm him even when they had an opportunity ..
The first time he ever saw them, they were coming toward his house from the direction of Sanborn's Hill. He ran for the woods and hid, and remained there until they had looked around his house and gone away. He decided that the next time they came he would try and get acquainted with them. So one day, towards evening when he was building a yard for the cow, the setting sun suddenly threw long shadows on the ground by him. When he looked up he found several Indians standing near him. He, of course, showed his fright, but they patted him on the head and told him not to be afraid as they would not hurt him. He took them into the house and they imme-
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diately looked in all the bottles for "occapee" which was their word for rum. When they found none they said they wanted something to eat and as he happened to have some bear meat he gave it to them. They threw it on the fire and in a short time began to cut off pieces and eat it half raw. While they were doing this, he cut some slices and put them on a stick and broiled them for the Indians which pleased them very much. After their hunger was satisfied they asked to stay all night, which he allowed them to do.
The next morning they wanted him to try firing at a mark with them. This he did. It seems that he out-did them, much to their astonishment and disgust, but they patted him and asked him to go with them and be their "big captain". The three Indians who came to see him most were named Plausawa, Sabatis, and Christi.
At the close of the wars the Indians built several wig- wams near where the Wallace brook empties into the Little Suncook. Plausawa and Sabatis were afterwards killed in "time of peace" by one of the whites, during a drunken quarrel.
Some of the first settlers, in that part of the town known as "New Rye", were the families of Wells, Brown and Cass. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cass came to Epsom from Rye riding horseback from Portsmouth. They first built a log-cabin. After a few years they built a frame house which is now standing. It was built a short dis- tance from the log cabin.
The nails, hinges and latches were made by hand. This place was in the Cass family until about eleven years ago.
One day Mrs. Cass heard a noise outside. She went out to see what was causing the commotion and saw a bear trying to get the pig. She killed the bear with a hoe.
Mr. Samuel Cass had a clock made in 1792. It was made by a blacksmith by the name of Joel Ame. He made his tools as he needed them in making the clock.
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Mr. George Cass of Pembroke, grandson of Mr. Samuel Cass, now owns the clock and it is still running and keep- ing good time. Mr. Samuel Cass sold a yoke of oxen for sixty dollars to pay for this clock.
Churches.
May 20, 1742. "Voted to raise thirty pounds to hire a minister."
"1743 Voted to raise forty pounds."
"In 1750 Voted to raise fifty pounds for the support of the Gospel."
1760 Voted one hundred pounds, old tenor, in money be raised to hire minister or defray charges.
At a legal meeting held in Epsom June 25, 1761 it was voted to call Mr. John Tucke to be their minister, at that same meeting they voted one hundred acres of land as a settlement, fifty acres of which were to be laid out and the other fifty in some convenient place, reserving the priviledge for "seting" of a meeting house and what of this lot is taken to be made up in the other lot. Also voted to pay the minister thirty pounds sterling, and that thirty cords of wood be cut and hauled annually to his house. At this same meeting they voted six hundred pounds, old tenor, towards building a minister's house, to be paid in labor if he accepts the call. He accepted the call. "August 1761. It was voted that Nathan Marden, George Wallis, Ephraim Locke be a committee to provide for the ordination, also that Benjamin Blake, Benson Ham and Amos Blazo be a committee to help the constable and tithing men in keeping order on that day.
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The house built for Mr. Tucke is the one now owned by Mr. Albion Ambrose.
Rev. Tucke preached here until 1774 when some of the people became dissatisfied and he was dismissed. He died a few years later while on his way to join the Rev-
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olutionary Army as chaplain. The homestead was sold to Simon Ames Heath in 1797 and was used by him as a tavern.
March 1781 it was voted that a "parsonage house" and barn be built upon the parsonage land, "where it shall be thought best." It was to be forty by thirty feet and two stories high. This first parsonage is the house now owned by Miss Bernice I. Piper.
The church was used by the Congregationalists until 1820 when other societies claimed the right to use it. They, however, used the old meeting house a part of the time until 1845 when they built a church at what is known as "Slab City" and the old meeting house was sold and moved to Concord.
This first meeting house we are told had large gal- leries, square pews and an immense sounding board. Each pew was furnished with a chair. Some one has said that it must have required "courage and firm principles" to have worshipped there in winter as there was no arti- ficial heat. Some years after the church was built an- other building was erected called the vestry. It was on the land now owned by Mr. Ambrose. It was used for winter services and was a little more comfortable as it had a stove. The lower story was used as horse-sheds and we are told that the horses shivered down below while the worshippers shivered in the room above.
Men with their collars turned up around their ears and women with their feet on foot stoves sat and listened through those long sermons. Someone has said that the sun shone through the windows, with a pale light, while the choir, helped by a tuning fork, sang "Old Hundred", "Shawmut" and "Downs" with an "adagio doloroso move- ment that could not help causing sleep."
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