USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Chesterfield > History of Chesterfield, Cheshire county, N.H., from the incorporation of "township number one," by Massachusetts, in 1736, to the year 1881; together with family Histories and genealogies > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01095 8970
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HISTORY --
OF
CHESTERFIELD, Now Hampstead
CHESHIRE COUNTY, N. H.,
FROM THE INCORPORATION OF "TOWNSHIP NUMBER ONE," BY MASSACHUSETTS, IN 1736, TO THE YEAR 188I ; TOGETHER WITH
FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES.
BY ORAN E. RANDALL.
BRATTLEBORO, VT. : D. LEONARD, PRINTER. 1882.
.
PREFACE. 1137036
In preparing this volume the author and compiler has been chief- ly actuated by the desire to save from oblivion some of the most important facts in the history of Chesterfield.
The obstacles in the way of writing a thoroughly good history of the town have, in some respects, been greatly increased during the past quarter-century, for reasons so obvious as to need no explana- tion. The writer has never been sanguine enough to believe that he could more than partially overcome these obstacles.
The materials for this work have been derived from all readily accessible sources ; but it is to be regretted that investigation in certain directions has been impeded, and sometimes prevented, by want of sufficient pecuniary means. The records of the State, county, and town, have, nevertheless, been carefully examined, and have yielded bountifully ; the histories of other towns, both in this State and Massachusetts, have, to some extent, also been consulted. . In the preparation of that portion of Chapter I relating to the his- tory of the settlements in the Connecticut valley anterior to the date of the settlement of Chesterfield, the excellent " History of North- field, Mass.," by Temple and Sheldon, has been of great service ; as have, also, Dr. Belknap's "History of New Hampshire," and other works. To many persons, both residents of this and other towns, the compiler is indebted for a knowledge of many impor- tant facts and interesting incidents. This indebtedness he grateful- ly acknowledges ; and, especially does he thank the inhabitants of Chesterfield for the courtesy with which he has been treated by them during the prosecution of his long and laborious task.
In collecting and arranging so large a mass of materials as that from which this volume has been compiled, it is not to be expected that mistakes have been wholly avoided ; but great pains have been taken to keep the work as free from serious errors as possible. For
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such as are due to his own carelessness or ignorance, the compiler holds himself responsible ; but not for the mistakes of others, when it has not been in his power to correct them.
The greater part of the money necessary for publishing the work has been raised by subscription, each subscriber agreeing to take at least one copy at a fixed price. In obtaining subscribers much as- sistance has been received from Murray Davis, Esq., of this town, and Mr. Chancey S. Farr, of Hinsdale. The town also voted, at the November meeting in ISSo, the sum of one hundred dollars, to aid in the undertaking. But the total amount raised has not been sufficient for the purpose, owing to the low price for which the book has been sold. This price was established at a too early period in the progress of the work to admit of a reliable estimation of the size that it would ultimately attain.
No part of the expense of procuring portraits for this volume has been borne by the compiler. The portrait of Rev. Abraham Wood, which was obtained at considerable expense, is mainly due to the liberality of Hon. Charles J. Amidon, of Hinsdale, and Mr. Bradley Stone, of West Acton, Mass.
It has been found necessary to exclude from the Family Histories and Genealogies all families established in this town since the year I855.
. The biographical sketches are, for the most part, included in the Family Histories, and are, with few exceptions, very brief. It has not been the purpose of the compiler to prepare long and elaborate biographical notices, even had there been room for them : the most that he has aimed to do in Part Second, has been to present com- pact and reliable registers of the most permanent of the numerous families that were earliest established in the town. For further ex- planations concerning this part of the work, the reader is referred to page 207.
In some instances the expressions "at the present time," "at present," or their equivalents, have been used in Part First without farther specifying the date. In such instances the year 1881 is to be understood. These expressions were employed in the confident expectation that the volume would be published before the end of that year. O. E. R.
August, 1882.
CONTENTS OF PART FIRST.
INTRODUCTION: GEOGRAPHIY-GEOLOGY-PLANTS AND ANIMALS, - 9
CHAPTER I: From the Incorporation of Township No. 1, by Massachusetts, in 1736, to the Actual Settlement of the Town in 1761, ; 17 CHAPTER II: From the Settlement of the Town to the Beginning of the War of the Revolution (1761-1775), - 35
CHAPTER III: The Civil History of the Town during the War of the Rev- olution and the Controversy about the "New Hampshire Grants" (1775-1783.) 46
CHAPTER IV: Military History of the Town during the War of the Revo- lution, 88
CHAPTER V: From 1783 to 1815, 103
CHAPTER VI: From 1815 to 1865, - 111
CHAPTER VII: The District Schools and the Academy, 124
CHAPTER VIII: The Churches, 139
CHAPTER IX: Miscellaneous Subjects, - 149
CONTENTS OF PART SECOND.
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FAMILY HISTORIES AND GENEALOGIES, - 205 INDEX TO PART FIRST, - 505
INDEX TO FAMILY NAMES CONTAINED IN PART SECOND, 516 CORRIGENDA, - 519
APPENDIX,
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INTRODUCTION.
GEOGRAPHY.
HESTERFIELD is bounded on the north by West- moreland and Keene, on the east by Keene and Swan- zey, on the south by Winchester and Hinsdale, on the west by the Connecticut river, or, more strictly speak- ing, by Brattleboro' and Dummerston, in Vermont. The area of the town, exclusive of the Connecticut, which flows along its western border for a distance of about six miles, is nearly forty-four square miles. The first recorded perambulation of the town lines took place in 1793, at which time the line between Chesterfield and Westmoreland was measured by Jonas Robbins of the latter town, and found to have a length of "seven miles and three-fourths and forty-four rods," its direction being "east, 10º 1312' south." .
The line running from the northeast corner of Chesterfield to the southwest corner of Keene, was described as having a length of one mile and sixteen rods, and a direction of "south, 8° 30' east ;" and the line running from the southwest corner of Keene to the northwest corner of Swanzey, as having a length of two hun- dred and sixty-three rods, and a direction of "east, 8° 30' south." The line between Chesterfield and Swanzey was surveyed the same
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year by John Braley, and was described as having a direction (start- ing from the northwest corner of Swanzey) of "south, 3312° west ;" but its length was not stated. According to measurements made at a later date, this line has a length of nearly four and one-half miles.
The same surveyor also surveyed, in 1793, the line that sepa- rates Chesterfield from Winchester and Hinsdale, and found it to have a direction of "west, 1012º north," starting from the southeast corner of Chesterfield. The length of this line was also not stated, but it is about seven and seven-eighths miles.
The surface of the town is, for the most part, hilly, the meadows and plains being comparatively limited. At a few points on the Connecticut there are small meadows and plains, some of the latter having an elevation of 200 feet, or more, above the river. There are also small meadows in other parts of the town, through which flow some of the larger brooks.
" Wantastiquet," or " West River Mountain," lies in the ex- treme southwest corner of Chesterfield, and northwest corner of Hinsdale. This mountain rises abruptly from the Connecticut, and has an altitude of about 1200 feet above sea-level. From its sum- mit, in the days of the early settlements, the Indians are said to have watched the operations of the settlers in the vicinity of Fort Dummer. From this circumstance, the name of "Indian's Great Chair" has been applied to a particular portion of the summit of this mountain. The longer axis of Wantastiquet is nearly parallel with the river, and is from three to four miles long.
"Mount Pistareen" lies east of Spafford's Lake and near Fac- tory Village. Its altitude cannot be stated exactly, but is not far from 1000 feet above the level of the sea. This mount, either in whole or in part, is said to have been bought for a pistareen (about 18 cents) : hence its name. By whom it was bought, or by whom it was sold, for the sum above stated, has never been learned.
There are several hills in the town worthy of mention. " Streeter Hill" lies in the north-western quarter of the town, and is so called because it was at one time inhabited by several families of the name of Streeter. According to tradition, this hill was called "Poplar Hill" by the first settlers, because portions of it were covered with a vigorous growth of young poplars, which sprang up after the In- dians had ceased to set their annual fires, as was their custom in
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some parts of the valley of the Connecticut. The altitude of Street- er hill is somewhat greater than that of Pistareen.
" Barrett Hill" lies near the southern boundary of the town, in a direction a little east of south from the Centre Village. "Hall Hill" is in the eastern part of the town, near Factory Village, and is considerably higher than Streeter hill. "Atherton Hill," also in the eastern part of the town, was so called from the circumstance that Joseph Atherton settled upon it in 1795. There are several hills in town higher than Streeter hill, but which have received no particular name.
There are no large streams of water flowing through Chester- field ; but the' Connecticut river flows along its western border, as already stated. The word Connecticut is of Indian origin, and is derived from the words quinneh, tuk and ut: the first meaning long, and the second, river with waves. Quinneh-tuk-ut is said to have been applied by the Indians to land lying along the river. This river was usually called by the early settlers the "Great River." Its height above sea level, at a point opposite Brattleboro', is 214 feet.
The largest brook, flowing wholly within the limits of the town, is "Catsbane Brook." This stream rises in the low lands south of the Centre Village, and in the vicinity of Barrett hill, and flows in a north-westerly direction for the distance of about five miles, emptying into the Connecticut near the West Village. The name of this brook can only be accounted for by the following tra- dition, which has been handed down from the first settlers : At a very early period in the town's history (perhaps before the town was settled) two men, who were traveling through the forest, stop- ped on the banks of the brook to eat their lunch. Having finished their meal, one of the men said he wished to set out again on the journey. The other replied that he wished to take another draught of the water of the brook. "For your sake," said his companion, prefacing his sentence with one of those exclamatory phrases much used even at the present day, "I wish this water had catsbane in it !" He probably meant ratsbane. The fact that the brook has received so singular a name, renders it quite probable that the tra- dition is substantially true. There are reasons for believing that the name was applied to the stream before the town was settled, as
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there is evidence that scouts, soldiers, and perhaps hunters some- times crossed this brook on their way to and fro, between No. 4 (Charlestown) and the settlements below No. I (Chesterfield).
The lowest point of the water-shed, near the head of Catsbane brook, is estimated to have an elevation of 650 feet above the sea, or 200 feet above the highest part of Hinsdale plain. The two most important tributaries of this brook are the "Lily Pond Brook" and the "Wheeler Brook,"-the former being the outlet of the "Lily Pond." The Wheeler brook is so called because Peter Wheeler, Sen., first settled near it, he having been one of the earliest settlers in the town. It was often improperly called Catsbane brook in early times, and is sometimes so called at present ; but it is rather a tributary of the Catsbane than a continuation of the main stream.
"Governor's Brook" is a small stream in the northwest quarter of the town, and was so named because it flows for a considerable part of its course, through what was once called the "Governor's Farm." (See Chap. I.) It empties into the Connecticut.
"Leavitt's Brook," in the southwest quarter of the town, re- ceived its name from the circumstance that a man by the name of Leavitt was drowned in the Connecticut, many years ago, not far from the mouth of the brook. The general direction of the course of this brook is northwest, and it has a length of nearly three miles.
There is a brook which rises in the low lands lying just east of the Centre Village, and flows through a beautiful glen near the resi- dence of Henry C. Marsh. This brook is a tributary of the Wheeler brook, and might appropriately be called "Marsh's Brook."
"Partridge Brook," in some respects the most important stream that has its origin in the town, is the outlet of Spafford's Lake. It takes the water of the lake from the "channel" near Factory Vil- lage, flows a short distance in a south-easterly direction, then turn- ing sharply to the northward, plunges down through a deep gorge, and flows on, for a distance of about two miles, to the Westmore- land line. From the line it continues its course in a north-westerly direction through Westmoreland, for a distance of four miles, or more, and empties into the Connecticut near the County farm. How the name of this brook originated, is not known ; but it is certain that the name was applied before Chesterfield was settled, inasmuch
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as the brook was called "Partridge Brook," in the proprietary rec- ords of Westmoreland, as early as 1752.
The "Wild Brook"-probably so named because it flows for some distance through land formerly owned by Nathan Wild, the surveyor and almanac-maker,-is a tributary of Partridge brook. A part of its course is through a deep, narrow gorge cut in the solid rock. This gorge is one of the most remarkable of Nature's works that can be found in the town.
" Broad Brook," in the south-eastern quarter of the town, flows into Winchester, and finally empties into Ashuelot river, only a small part of its course being within the limits of Chesterfield.
"Spafford's Lake," which has become a popular place of re- sort in the summer season, lies nearly in the centre of the northern half of the town. This beautiful sheet of water is of an irregularly ovate form, and has an area of probably from 650 to 700 acres. The longer axis of the lake is about one mile and a half, and points nearly northeast ; its greatest breadth is about one mile .* The shore of this lake is, in great part, either sandy or rocky, and its water is remarkably pure, being supplied mostly by springs ; for there are only three or four brooks of any consequence that empty into the lake, and it is doubtful whether they do any more than supply the loss from evaporation in the summer months. "Pierce's Island," in the south-western part of the lake, contains about six acres, and is much used in summer by camping parties. Indian relics-principally stone pestles and arrow-heads-have been found on the island, and tradition says that it was once used by the sav- ages as a stronghold, or a place of refuge.
There is no record known to be in existence which shows how the lake came by its name of "Spafford's Lake ;" but the tradition has always been, that a man by the name of Spafford lived, at a very early period in the town's history, near its shore : hence its name. Whether or not there is any truth in this tradition, it is cer- tain that the records of the town do not show that any person by the name of Spafford ever lived in Chesterfield in early times, al- though two of the grantees bore the names of John Spafford and
"According to Dr. Jackson, Spafford's Lake has an elevation of 738 feet above the sea, or about 500 feet above Connecticut river.
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Silas Spafford. There are some reasons for believing that the lake received its name before the town was actually settled, and that the Spafford who is said to have lived near its shore, was a hunter whose residence was only temporary.
There are several small ponds lying wholly or partly within the limits of the town, but which are not of sufficient importance to be described here.
"Catsbane Island," which lies about half a mile below the mouth of Catsbane brook, in the Connecticut, is worthy of men- tion. This island-which is in view from the lower ferry-con- tains but a few acres, and is principally noted as being, in all prob- ability, near the place where the Indians crossed the river on their way to Canada, after having defeated Sergeant Taylor's party in July, 1748. (See Chap. I). The Indians may, in fact, have passed over the island itself, in crossing the river.
GEOLOGY.
The rocks of Chesterfield belong principally to that group of rocks denominated by Prof. C. H. Hitchcock, the "Coos Group,', and consist of quartzite, gneiss, mica slate, mica schist, hornblende rock, and conglomerate. In the south-eastern quarter of the town there is found, in great abundance, a rock called "porphyritic gneiss." This rock is not found in the western part of the town. No valuable minerals have been found in any considerable quanti- ties ; yet, iron ore was discovered many years ago on Wantastiquet, and graphite, or plumbago, may exist in some localities. The so- called "mine" on Wantastiquet, is in Hinsdale. Quartz is found in considerable quantities ; in one or two localities, in a pulverulent condition. Inferior specimens of tourmaline have also been found.
Numerous evidences of the action of moving ice, in the Glacial Period, exist in the town. In some localities the ledges are grooved and striated in a way peculiar to those regions that have been sub-
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jected to glacial action. Enormous bowlders, evidently brought from a great distance in some instances, have been deposited upon the highest hills. It is highly probable that Spafford's Lake is also the result of glacial action.
Near the mouth of Catsbane brook are examples of river ter- races. The upper one of the two which lie south of the brook, has an elevation of 400 feet above the sea. The height of the river terraces in Chesterfield and Westmoreland, varies from 350 to 400 feet above the sea. No fossils are known to have been discovered, the rocks, for the most part, not being of a kind known as "fossil- iferous."
PLANTS AND ANIMALS.
The Flora of Chesterfield is about the same as that of the neighboring towns. When it was first settled, there was a heavy growth of white pine, oak, hickory, chestnut, maple, beech, birch, poplar, and other trees. These still exist in large numbers, although the pines, and many of the other trees, are mostly those that have sprung up since their predecessors were cut down for timber or charcoal. The "shag-bark" hickory, or "sweet walnut," the chest- nut and butternut, thrive in certain localities, producing an abun- dance of nuts. Hemlock-spruces also abound in some parts of the town, as do many other trees of less importance than those already mentioned. Of smaller plants there is a great variety, as is usually the case where there is a considerable diversity of conditions.
The Fauna of the town does not differ essentially from that of the surrounding towns. All the larger wild mammals have disap- peared ; but, for a number of years after the first settlement was , made, bears, panthers, lynxes, wolves, and deer existed in consid- erable numbers. Wolves were especially abundant, and somewhat troublesome. Persons venturing out of their houses after dark are said to have carried, sometimes, torches, or pieces of burning wood,
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as one of the best means of defence. Otters and beavers undoubt- edly lived about the streams, when the first settlements were made ; but they long ago disappeared, excepting, perhaps, a few otters that have been killed within the memory of the oldest inhabitants.
Of the smaller mammals, raccoons, hares, rabbits, foxes, squir- rels, weasels, ermines, skunks, minks, muskrats, woodchucks, and porcupines are found in greater or lesser numbers.
The birds need not be particularly described. There is only one species that is much hunted for its flesh, namely, the ruffed- grouse, or "partridge."
There is but one species of venomous reptiles in the town, and that is the mountain rattlesnake. This snake is found, in consider- able numbers, in the south-western quarter of the town, on and about Wantastiquet or West River Mountain. No deaths, however, are known to have been caused by the bite of the rattlesnake, since the settlement of the town.
The most important species of fish that live in the ponds and streams of the town are pike, pickerel, black bass, trout, dace, eels, horned-pouts, suckers, flat-fish, and perch. Pike, pickerel, black bass, dace and flat-fish are not indigenous to Spafford's Lake ; but the other species that are found in it may be-including the so- called "clear fish," or "white fish." Josiah Bennett, of Westmore- land, introduced pike into the lake about 1848, putting in seven or eight which he had caught at Bellows Falls. The next year, nine more, caught at the same place, were put in by persons residing at Factory Village. It is not known who first put pickerel into the lake, but this species has been in its waters for many years, and may have been brought from Harvard, Mass. Dace and flat-fish have also been in the lake for many years; the former longer than the pike, and the latter forty-five or fifty years. Bass have been intro- duced within a few years.
At the time of the first settlements, shad and salmon used to come up the Connecticut in great numbers, and supplied the settlers with an abundance of excellent food. Many years have passed away, however, since they have shown themselves as far up the river as Chesterfield ; and the modern fisherman can only look back to the days of his ancestors, and regret that he did not live when they did.
PART FIRST.
CHAPTER I.
FROM THE INCORPORATION .OF TOWNSHIP NO. 1, BY MASSA- CHUSETTS, IN 1736, TO THE ACTUAL SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN IN 1761.
The Indians of the Connecticut Valley-First Settlement in Northfield, Mass. -War with the Indians-Second Settlement in Northfield-King Will- iam's War-Queen Anne's War-Third and Permanent Settlement of Northfield-Father Ralle's War-Fort Dummer-Scouting Parties-"Ar- lington" Granted-Granting of Townships No's 1, 2, 3 and 4-Shattuck's and Hinsdale's Forts-Final Determination of the Line between Massachu- setts and New Hampshire-Settlement of Charlestown, Putney and West- moreland-War between France and England-Murder and Pillage by the Indians-No. 4 Abandoned-The Fort at No. 4 Besieged-Winchester and the Ashuelots (Keene and Swanzey) Burned-Massacre of Capt. Melvin's Scouts-Capt. Hobbs' Fight with the Indians-Sergeant Taylor's Party Attacked-Peace-No. 1 Re-granted under the Name of Chesterfield- The Charter-Names of the Grantees-Survey of Chesterfield, West- moreland and Walpole-The Chart of the Town-Why the Town was not Immediately Settled-Last French and Indian War-Sufferings of the Valley Settlements-Massacre of the St. Francis Indians by Captain Rogers' Rangers-End of the War.
In order to realize how painfully slow was the advance of civ- ilization up the valley of the Connecticut river, it will be necessary to take a brief survey of the principal facts in the history of the valley towns, anterior to the date of the settlement of Chesterfield.
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