USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Charlestown > History of Charlestown, New-Hampshire, the old No. 4 > Part 1
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Accession No.
4118
MAIN STREET, SOUTH.
HISTORY
OF
CHARLESTOWN, NEW-HAMPSHIRE,
THE OLD NO. 4,
EMBRACING
THE PART BORNE BY ITS INHABITANTS IN THE
INDIAN, FRENCH AND REVOLUTIONARY WARS,
AND THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY.
ALSO
GENEALOGIES AND SKETCHES OF FAMILIES,
FROM ITS SETTLEMENT TO 1876.
BY REV. HENRY H. SAUNDERSON.
PRINTED FOR THE TOWN BY THE CLAREMONT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, CLAREMONT, N. H.
NA 9-14.22 CA75
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, BY GEORGE OLCOTT, FOR THE TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN, N. H., In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
PREFACE.
The author and compiler would say in this preface that he has drawn his information from every available source, and that he is especially happy to acknowledge his obligations to the labors of Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Bouton, Hon. E. P. Walton, Benjamin HI. Hall, Esq., and Hon. Hiland Hall, whose works in the preparation of this history have been invaluable-also to the earlier Historians of New-Hampshire and Vermont and the Historical So- cieties of these States. He would also acknowledge his great indebtedness for information derived from the following Town Histories, viz. The Histo- ry of Groton, Peperell and Shirley, by Caleb Butler-of Old Hadley, by Judd-of Northfield, by Hon. George Sheldon and Rev. J. H. Temple-also to the History of Concord, Massachusetts, by Lemuel Shattuck. As the in- dividuals from whom he has received important information are so numer- ous that they cannot be particularized, they will please accept his thanks for information imparted, with the assurance that their favors are remembered. To the members of the Historical committee, Iforace Metcalf, Esq., Chief Justice Cushing, George Olcott, Esq., Rev. Francis Chase, Rev. Eugene De Normandie, David P. Darrah, and the gentlemen composing the select- men in 1873, '74, 75 and 76, Eben H. Tidd, Charles Gay, Roswell W. Robert- son, Benjamin W. Putnam, John W. Taylor, Robert R. Allen, Franklin W. Putnam and Rufus W. Piper, he would return his thanks for the great kindness with which he has been treated while discharging the arduous duties that have devolved upon him in connection with his work. He also desires to acknowledge his obligations to the members of his family, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Saunderson and Henry P. Saunderson, without whose con- stant assistance and ever ready sympathy he feels that this history could never have been completed.
H. H. S.
4118
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
FRONTISPIECE, MAIN STREET-SOUTII.
BUILDINGS.
SOUTHI PARISH CHURCH 245
ST. LUKE'S CHURCH. 262
RESIDENCE OF SHERMAN PARIS 499
STABLE AND PAVILION OF SHERMAN PARIS. 500
RESIDENCE OF GEORGE OLCOTT. 607
TOWN HALL
717
LANDSCAPES.
MAIN STREET, NORTH 1
GREAT MEADOW 28
NORTH CHARLESTOWN 266
UP THE RIVER FROM PETER A. EVANS' 335
SOUTH CHARLESTOWN. 432
PLUMBAGO FALLS AT H. METCALF'S MILLS. 633
VILLAGE PLOT
636
PORTRAITS.
REV. J. CROSBY, D. D. 235
HENRY HUBBARD 421
RALPH METCALF. 478
HORACE METCALF 480
SIMEON OLCOTT 486
GEORGE OLCOTT. 493
WILLIAM A. RAND 533
ENOS STEVENS. 570
DR. SAMUEL WEBBER. 594
LEVI WILLARD 623
CONTENTS.
-
CHAPTER I.
Circumstances connected with the granting of No. 4, by Massachusetts Bay, and matters preliminary to its settlement, Page 1.
CHAPTER II. Settlement of No. 4-Provisions for its Defence - The anticipated War between England and France begins-Defence of the place till the close of 1746, when the Settlement is deserted for the Winter, Page 14.
CHAPTER III.
Circumstances that led Massachusetts to send a company of Rangers under command of Captain Phineas Stevens to re-occupy the fort at No. 4, in the month of March, 1747. The place bravely defended against the attack of Gen. Debeline, and other events and transactions of the War to the Peace of Aix la Chapelle, Page 33.
CHAPTER IV.
History of Charlestown, from the nominal Peace of Aix la Chapelle till the Spring of 1757, when it became a military station under the supervision of the Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's forces, Page 53.
CHAPTER V.
History of Charlestown from the Spring of 1757, to the Conquest of Canada, Page 76.
CHAPTER VI.
The Rangers-Their Character, Training, Duties and Hardships. Their Indian Enemies-Results of the Conquest of Canada-Desire for immi- gration-Town affairs from 1753-Town Meetings-Progress of Popula- "»tion-Names of Settlers before 1776, Page 89.
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
Charlestown in the Revolution-Last town meeting warned in his Majesty's name-Measures taken by the town -Citizens patriotic-Representa- tion at Bunker Hill-The town a depository of Military Stores, &c .- Officers from Charlestown in New-Hampshire regiments-Ticonderoga- Fears of an invasion by Connecticut River Towns-Charlestown the place of rendezvous for the Soldiers of General Stark-Battle of Bennington and scenes following, Page 105.
THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY.
CHAPTER VIII.
Origin of New-Hampshire Grants-Territory claimed both by New-York and New-Hampshire-Appeal to the king-Decision in favor of New- York-New-York legislation excites the settlers, who take measures to form a new State-Legislature meets at Windsor-Sixteen towns from east side of the Connecticut River, petition to unite with the new State- Union formed-Dissolved-Various complications-Congress takes up the Controversy, Page 121.
CHAPTER IX.
Proceedings of Congress adverse to the interests of Vermont-Governor Chittenden and Council take the offensive-Congress fails to make its decision and postpones the subject indefinitely - New complications- Movements for a new State-Conventions at Walpole and Charlestown- Convention from Charlestown adjourned to Cornish-Matters till the new union of towns east of the Connecticut River with Vermont, 135.
CHAPTER X.
Legal provisions for the towns east of the River-Session of the Assembly at Charlestown-Rejection of the Resolutions of Congress, of the seventh and twentieth of August-Various matters to the close of the Session, Page 156.
CHAPTER XI.
Collision of authorities, and proceedings of New-Hampshire and Vermont growing out of it, Page 168.
vii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII.
New Developments in the Controversy-Governor Chittenden writes to General Washington-General Washington's reply-Session of the Ver- mont Assembly at Bennington-Various Documents laid before them, by Governor Chittenden-Meeting of the Assembly with the Governor and Council in joint Committee-Resolves-Acts of the Assembly-Dis- solution of the Union and results, Page 194.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER XIII.
Importance attached to the Christian ministry by Massachusetts and New- Hampshire-Provision for settling a Minister in their Charters, money raised and Committees appointed for securing preaching, and various matters to 1754. Call given John Dennis-Council for his ordination at Northfield, Mass. Ministry short-terminates in a year and a little over four months, Page 208.
CHAPTER XIV.
Ancestors of Mr. Olcott and the Olcott family-Bulkley Olcott-His educa- tion-Settlement in Charlestown-Church re-organized at the time of his settlement-His usefulness-Honors conferred upon him-His family -Account of his death-Dan Foster and the history of the Church till the incorporation of South Parish, Page 218.
CHAPTER XV.
Incorporation of South Parish-By-laws of-Measures for settling a pastor- Rev. Jaazaniah Crosby called and settled-His character and life-Burn- ing of his house-Death-Register of his family-Colleague pastors and others to April, 1876. Page 228.
CHAPTER XVI.
History of the Evangelical Congregational Church-Of the Episcopal Church from its organization in the town, and the Methodist Church in the village, Page 251.
CHAPTER XVII,
History of the North Parish and Methodist Episcopal Church at North Charlestown, Page 267.
GENEALOGIES
and Historical Sketches of Charlestown families-Introduction, Page 273.
viii
CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY.
Original Grantees of No. 4, Page 633. Original Proprietors of No. 4, 634. Land Owners in Charlestown in 1754, 636. New-Hampshire Charter, 639. Names of the Grantees of Charlestown, 641. Revolutionary Patri- ots, 642. Soldiers in the War of 1812. Soldiers in War of Rebellion- First Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry, 643. Members of Third N. H. Infantry-Members of Fifth N. H. Infantry, 644. Members of Sixth N. H. Infantry-Members of Seventh N. H. Infantry-Members of Ninth N. H. Infantry, 645. Fourteenth N. H. Infantry, 646. First Regiment N. H. Volunteer Heavy Artillery-Physicians, 648. Clergymen born in Charlestown -- Lawyers who have practised in Charlestown-College Graduates, 651. The Old Jail, 652. Chronological Table of Marriages in Charlestown from 1751 to 1850, 654. Chronological Table of Publish- ments, 662. Town Officers from the organization of the Township under the New Hampshire Charter to 1876, 672. Lists of Purchasers of Pews, 680. Banks in Charlestown-Second Bank, 681. The Third Bank-Rob- bery of the Connecticut River Bank, 683. Cheshire Bridge, 684. Ferries- Boating on the River, 685. The Turnpike-Masonic Lodges, 686. Faith- ful Lodge, 687. Romantic Incidents in the courtship and marriage of Cynthia Hastings and Sophy Grout, two Charlestown girls of the olden time, 688. Bears and Bear Stories, 691. Deer Reeves-Fish Culture in Charlestown, 693. The Great Elms and other Trees, 694. An Incident in Church, 696. Common Schools in Charlestown, 697. Other Schools, 704. Mrs. Gilchrist's School-Mrs. Pratt's School-Ride to Wentworth's Fer- ry-Wolf Hunt, 705. The First Stove-Lights-Flax, 706. Potatoes- Cemeteries, 707. Public Bequests, 709. Tax Payers in Charlestown in 1792, 710. Citizens of the North Parish of Charlestown in 1810- Citizens of Charlestown in 1812, 712. Table of number or value of Horses, Neat Stock &c., for the years specified-Census of Charles- town, as returned to Gov. Wentworth, by the Selectmen, Decem- ber 14th, 1773, 714. Street Lights-Libraries-Boot and Shoe Manufac- ture-Charlestown Boot and Shoe Co .- Names applied to different local- ities, 715. What did our Grandfathers and Grandmothers eat ? 716. What did our Grandfathers drink ?- Town Hall-Post Rider, 717. Cor- rections and Emendations-Then and Now, 718. Index of some of the important subjects and names of persons contained in the first 207 pages, 723.
MAIN STREET NORTH.
HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
CHAPTER I.
CIRCUMSTANCES CONNECTED WITH THE GRANTING OF NO. 4, BY MASSA- CHUSETTS BAY, AND MATTERS PRELIMINARY TO ITS SETTLEMENT.
HE following facts afford an explanation without which much that is of interest in the granting, settlement and early history of No. 4, will fail to be understood. At the time of the grant- ing of No. 4, by Massachusetts Bay, it was supposed that the territory now included in the township of Charlestown, was embraced within that province. When the Charters of Massachusetts Bay and New- Hampshire were granted, the explorations of the country had been so imperfect that the knowledge of its geography possessed by the sov- reigns of Great Britain was both limited and inaccurate. As a conse- quence no little confusion was ultimately produced, resulting in con- flicts for jurisdiction arising from indefinite boundaries. In these conflicts, not only New-Hampshire and Massachusetts, but Connecti- cut and New-York became involved, and in the nature of the case this was unavoidable as, in numerous instances, different grantees were invested by their charters with right to the same territory .* Thus the western boundaries of Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut were by their charters upon the South Sea or Pacific Ocean ; while Charles II. had granted to his brother, the Duke of York, the Province of New Netherlands, which lay along the Hudson River, directly west of these colonies. Here was direct and palpable conflict, which nothing but mutual concession and compromise could settle. The boundaries of New-Hampshire and Massachusetts, though not in the
* See B. J. Lossing's Life of Gen. Schuyler.
2
HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
same manner conflicting, were still indefinite and undetermined, as each province claimed by its charter a divisional line greatly differing from that which was insisted upon by the other. It was absolutely essential, therefore, to an established peace and harmony between these provinces, that some line of division should be mutually agreed upon, or that an appeal should be made for a decision to the power from which their charters had been originally derived. It being found that the former course was more likely to create new complications than to result satisfactorily to either of the parties, the feeling on the part of New-Hampshire, at length became so intense for ascertain- ing definitely her territorial jurisdiction, that it was determined in 1733, to present a petition to his majesty, George II, praying for the appointment of commissioners, whose duty it should be to ascertain the respective boundaries of the two provinces. In accordance with this determination the petition was prepared and presented, and, to quote from the Provincial Records of New-Hampshire, " Upon hear- ing of both parties before the Attorney and Solicitor General, the Board of Trade and the Council, His Majesty was pleased by his order in Council, the 9th February, 1736, to direct that a Commission should be prepared and pass Under the great Seal, authorizing Com- missioners to mark out the dividing Line between the Provinces of the Massachusetts Bay, and New-Hampshire, giving Liberty to either Party therein, who thought themselves aggrieved to appeal therefrom to his Majestie in Council. In Pursuance of his Majesty's said Com- mission, Commissioners met and reported their Determination, special- ly; upon which both Provinces appealed to His Majesty in Council, and afterwards their Lordships reported to His Majesty as their Oppinion 'That the Northern Boundaries of the Massachusetts Bay are and be a similar curve line pursuing the Course of Merrimac River at three Miles Distance from the North side thereof, beginning at the At- lantic Ocean, and ending at a Point due North of a Place, in the plan returned by said commissioners, called Pautucket Falls, and a straight Line Drawn from thence due West crossing the said River till it meets with His Majesty's other Governments, and that the rest of the Commissioners' said report of Determination be affirmed by his Majesty. In 1738, His Majesty was Pleased with the advice of his Privy Council to approve of their Lordships' Report and to confirm it accordingly, in Consequence whereof the Line has been marked out." ,
After the petition of New-Hampshire for a divisional line between
3
HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
the two provinces, during the years 1735-36, and while the decision of His Majesty was still pending, the General Court of Massachusetts Bay granted above thirty townships between the rivers Merrimac and Connecticut ; which townships upon the running (that is determining) of the divisional line in 1738, fell within the Province of New Hamp- shire ; and among them were those granted under the designations No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4; which are the present townships of Chesterfield, Westmoreland, Walpole, and Charlestown ; which though they had fallen within the limits of New-Hampshire, were all subse- quently settled in dependence upon their grants received from Massa- chusetts. The settlers therefore, as their grants had emanated from an authority which had no jurisdiction over the soil, had, as it was claimed, no valid title to their lands. And this they must have known, as the final decree of his Majesty fixing the boundary line, bears date March 5th, 1740 ; and we find a petition of the proprietors of No. 4; dated Sept. 29th, 1740, to His Majesty, praying to be re- annexed to the Massachusetts Province, to which they had supposed they belonged. This was before any considerable settlement had been made. But notwithstanding their title was uncertain, we find that the settlement was still continued, though for the most part under different proprietors till 1753 ; when in consequence of the report of the Attorney and Solicitor General in relation to what was right and proper to be done concerning those townships which had been granted by Massachusetts, in which it was substantially recommended, that proprietors who had made improvements on their lands, should be con- firmel in the rights and privileges given them by their grants from that State, application was made by petition to New-Hampshire to that effect, which was readily aud cheerfully granted. Thus Charles- town was for between twelve and thirteen years after its settlement substantially a Massachusetts town.
The circumstances which led to the granting of the above men- tioned townships by the Province of Massachusetts within the limits of New-Hampshire, are explained by the action of her General Court in the years 1735-36. A large number of petitions having been present- ed to the General Court, asking for grants of townships, a committee was appointed to take them into special consideration. This commit- tee was appointed on the 14th of January, 1735, and " the next day January 15th, 1735, Edmund Quincy, Esq., from the committee of both Houses on the petitions for townships &c., gave in the following report."
4
HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
REPORT.
The Committee appointed, the Fourteenth Currant, to take into Con- sideration the several Petitions for Townships, now before the Court, and Report what may be Proper for the Court to do thereon, Hav- ing met and maturely Considered the same, are Humbly of opinion, That there be a Careful View, and Survey of the Lands between Merri- mack and Connecticut Rivers from the North West Corner of Rumford on Merrimack, to the Great Falls on Connecticut, of Twelve Miles, at the least, in Breadth, or North and South, by a Committee of Eleven Able and Suitable Persons, to be appointed by this Court. Who shall after a due Knowledge of the Nature and Circumstances thereof, lay the same into as many Townships of the Contents of Six Miles Square, as the Land in wedth, as aforesaid, will allow of; No Township to be more than Six Miles East and West. And also Lay out the Land on the East side of Connecticut River, from said Falls to the Township Laid out to Josiah Willard, and others, into as many Townships of the Contents of Six Miles Square as the same will allow of, and also the Land on the West side of the River of Connecticut from said Falls to the Equivalent Land into One or Two Townships of the Contents of Six Miles Square, if the same will allow thereof, Five of which Com- mittee to be a Quorum for Surveying and Laying out the Townships on each, from Rumford to Connecticut River as aforesaid ; And Three of the Committee aforenamed shall be a Quorum for Surveying and Lay- ing out the Townships on each side of Connecticut River as aforesaid ; And that the said Committee make Report of their Doings to this Court at their Sessions in May next or as soon as Conveniently they can, that so the Persons whose Names are Contained in the Several Petitions hereafter mentioned viz't .; In the Petition of Hopkinton; In the Pe- tition of Salisbury and Almsbury ; In the Petition of Cambridge ; In the Petition of Bradford and Wenham ; In the Petition of Haverhill ; In the Petition of Milton and Brookline; In the Petition of Samuel Chamberlain and Jonathan Jewett; and In the Petition of Nathaniel Harris &c .; In the Petition of Stephens and Goulden and others ; In the Petition of Morgan Cobb &c., Jonathan Welles &c., Lyscomb and John- son &c .; In the Petition of Isaac Little &c .; In the Petition of Jona- than Powers &c., John Whitman, Esq., &c., Samuel Haywood &c., Jo- siah Fassett and others, John Flynt and others, Jonathan Howard and others, of Bridgewater that have not heretofore been admitted Grant- ees or Settlers within the space of Seven years last Past of or in any former or other Grant of a Township or Particular Grant on Condition
5
HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
of Settling; and that shall appear and give Security to the Value of Forty Pounds to Perform the Conditions that shall be enjoined by this Court ; may by the Major Part of the Committee be admitted Grantees into One of the said Townships ; The Committee to give Public Notice of the time and Place of their meeting to admit the Grantees, Which Committee Shall be Impowered to Employ Surveyors and Chainmen to assist them in Surveying and Laying out said Townships ; The Prov- ince to bear the Charge and be Repaid by the Grantees who may be admitted, the whole Charge they shall advance. Which Committee We apprehend ought to be Directed and Impowered to admit Sixty Set- tlers in each Township and take their Bonds Payable to the Committee and their Successors in the said Trust, to the Use of the Province for the Performance of the Conditions of their Grant, viz't. That each Grant- ee Build a Dwelling House of Eighteen feet Square and Seven feet Stud at the Least on their Respective Home Lots and Fence in aud Break up for Plowing, or clear and Stock with English Grass Five acres of Land within Three years next after their admittance and cause their Respective Lots to be Inhabited, and that the Grantees do within the Space of Three years from the time of their being Admitted Build and finish a Convenient meeting House for the Public Worship of GOD, and settle a Learned Orthodox Minister ; And in case any of the Grant- ees Shall fail or Neglect to Perform what is enjoined as above. The Committee Shall be Obliged to put the Bonds in suit and take Posses- ion of the Lots and Rights that shall become forfeit and Proceed to Grant them to other Persons that will appear to fulfill the Conditions within One Year next after the said last mentioned Grant. And if a suf- ficient Number of Petitioners that have no Grant within Seven years as aforesaid, (Viz't. Sixty to each Township) do not appear others may be Admitted, Provided they have fulfilled the Conditions of their for- mer Grant. The Committee to take care that there be Sixty three House Lots Laid out in as Regular Compact and Defensible a manner as the Land will allow of. One of which Lots shall be for the first Set- tled Minister, One for the Second Settled Minister and one for the School. To each of which an equal Proportion of Land shall Accrue in all future Divisions."
Fryday, January 16, 1735.
" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Ordered :- That Joseph Gerrish, Benjamin Prescot, Josiah Wil- ard, Job Almy Esquires, Mr. Moses Pierson and Captain Joseph Gould with such as the Honorable Board shall join be a Committee
6
HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
to all Intents and Purposes to Effect the Business Projected by the Re- port of the Committee of Both Houses to consider the Petitions for Townships which Pass'd this Day, Viz't .:- On the Proposed Line be- tween Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers and on both sides of Connect- icut River and that there be granted and allowed to be Paid out of the Public Treasury after the Rate of Fifteen Shillings per Diem (to each of the Committee) for every Day he is in the Service in the Woods, and subsistence, And Ten Shillings per Diem for every Day to each one of the said Committee while in the Service in admitting Settlers into the Said Township, and Subsistence to be Paid as aforesaid.
IN COUNCIL, Read and Concurred, And William Dudley, Samuel Welles, Thomas Berry, Joseph Wilder, and John Chandler, jun'r., Es- quires are Joined with the Committee of the House for the Line be- tween Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers, &c.
AT A GREAT AND GENERAL COURT Held in Boston the Twenty- fourth day of November One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty- Six the following Vote Passed the two Houses and was Consented to by the Governor viz't.
:
Toted-That Thomas Wells of Deerfield, Esq. be and hereby is empowered to assemble the Grantees of the Township Number Four on the East Side and next adjoining to Connecticut River giving timely Notice to the said Grantees admitted into said Town- ship by the Committee of this Court to meet and assemble at some Suitable Place in order to Choose a Moderator and Proprietor's Clerk and Committee to Allot and Divide their Lands and to Dispose of the same and to Pass such Votes and Orders as by them may be thought Conducive for the Speedy fulfillment of their grants and also to agree upon methods for Calling of meetings for the future, provided none of their Votes Concerning the Dividing and Disposing of their Land that shall be passed while they are under the Care and Direction of the Committee of this Court shall be of force before they are Allowed of by the said Committee."
By the words " At a great and General Court held in Boston on the twenty-fourth day of November &c.," it does not mean that the above vote was passed on that day for it was not passed till the De- cember following. The committee consisting of eleven persons from both houses of the General Court had proceeded in the discharge of their duty to lay out the specified townships on the Connecticut river and had subsequently in the month of Sept. 1736, given notice to the petitioners to meet at Concord, Massachusetts, for the purpose of com-
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