USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Canaan > The history of Canaan, New Hampshire > Part 1
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William @ Wallace
THE
HISTORY OF CANAAN
NEW HAMPSHIRE
BY WILLIAM ALLEN WALLACE
EDITED BY JAMES BURNS WALLACE 1
CONCORD, N. H. THE RUMFORD PRESS
1910
F44 C15W3
-
11-8'W'Y'7
EDITOR'S NOTE.
My father at his death in 1893 left in manuscript a partially finished history of the Town of Canaan. It has been my inten- tion since that time to print it. I remember of my mother say- ing that my father had said the history would all have to be re- written before it was printed. I did not realize then, and not until within a few years, how true that was. Every year since 1893 I have spent more or less time in getting the material into shape, every year realizing how little I knew and how incom- petant I was to perform the task. The mass of material, and the condition in which it was, seemed to me stupendous. Not in the slightest degree familiar with any of the past of the town, being absent from it from the time I was thirteen years old, with only periodical visits at home during vacation. During these times I took no interest in my father's work. For thirty years he had been accumulating the material. A good part of it was from personal observation but much of it was obtained from the reminiscences of old people, indefatigable search in old garrets for letters, books, deeds, diaries, scraps, anything that would lead to a clew on some forgotten incident.
My father says of himself: "I grew up to strong youth on the shores of the beautiful pond that fronts our street. It was a pleasant resort for thoughtful people. Old and young used to linger about there, and many confidences were imparted, some of which I shall never reveal. I was very near, and was con- scious of much that was said and done in society, in politics, and in religion. Opinions were freely expressed before me, because, being merely a duplex tree, no one supposed my ears might ever give tongue to my voice. I made note of many things and treasured them up. Some of these events occurred so long ago that it is safe to write of them. They had an interest for those who took part in them as similar events have today, and formed epochs in men's lives."
In my youth I spent days riding over the hills with him in search of anything about Canaan, visiting the old graveyards. He rarely trusted to his memory, which is fortunate in some
iv
EDITOR'S NOTE.
respects, for he had a very powerful remembrance of all events that occurred during his life, whether in Canaan or in other parts of the country. He was accustomed to jot down his notes on anything that was at hand, small scraps of paper, pieces that had already been used on one side, sometimes on both, cross writ- ing and interlining with some other notes, but never scratching out or rewriting. When once written it expressed his thoughts unchangeably. This habit was acquired by reason of his pro- fession,- printer, reporter and editor.
To arrange these small scraps and put them in their proper place has been at times like tracing out a labyrinth, for in my ignorance of men and things I knew not where they went. Neither did I know where they came from, and was tempted not to believe them, but in no instance have I found any item, how- ever small, to be incorrect. I often heard my father disputing with others about some old occurrence. He always afterwards ' ascertained whether he was right or wrong.
When the old house burnt in 1898 many people asked me if my father's papers were destroyed. At that time I said they were not, and not until within a few years have I realized that some of them must have been burned, for there are gaps in some of the work that can not be accounted for in any other way. I take little credit to myself for this book. It is my father's work, with the exception of some chapters which I wrote and which the reader can readily tell. And these chapters contain some of his notes, but his death prevented him from carrying his search farther.
It will be observed that this book is a history of the early days, down to about 1860. It contains as just an account as could be gotten. From that date much is within the memory of those living. Some future historian can set himself that task. I have, however, where things of interest have happened since 1860, made some mention of them. The strenuous life of this town hap- pened before that date. Since the Rebellion the life of the people has run smoothly. History is not made in that way.
After my father had been working some years upon this book there was an article in the warrant for town meeting to see if the town would financially assist in completing the history of
V
EDITOR'S NOTE.
the town. It was voted down. He then made up his mind that the book should be printed without their assistance. The amount of time and labor he spent in collecting this material can only be imagined. That there should not be patriotism enough in the town to care for its history is, of course, deplorable. This lack of patriotism has often been commented upon by many who think more of this town than any other place on earth. It is not only so in this town but in many others.
JAMES B. WALLACE.
CANAAN, N. H., January 1, 1910.
,
PREFACE.
All history should be the history of the people. It is what the people are doing in villages, communities and families, that lie at the foundation of national character, and sentiment, and consequently of national events. Those matters which possess a natural interest to a particular neighborhood, from associa- tion with the familiar names and places, are of interest to every one who seeks in the experience of the past for that wisdom that may be desired from a knowledge of what those who lived before us have done and suffered.
These records present to us pictures of human life, its virtues and failings, such as we can best understand. The village dis- putes, religious quarrels, and political discussions of past times, are analagous to those to which the present generation is exposed. They afford examples of character and conduct of which we can see the beginning and the end, and may draw therefrom most useful lessons. We are living over the same lines with some variations, but subject to the same general laws of action, inas- much as we possess the same natures and are governed by the same passions and motives, which lead to similar results.
The historic genealogy of a village may be made as useful a guide through the devious paths of life as the chart of the mariner to him who sails among the breakers of the great deep, pointing out the track that others have pursued, and showing where and how they have advanced in safety, and also wherein they have become the victims of passion, folly and heedlessness.
By reference to various authorities it appears that so late as 1760 there were no settlements in New Hampshire north of Charlestown, which was then called "No. Four;" nor were there more than three towns settled south of Charlestown in the Con- necticut valley within the present limits of New Hampshire. Hins- dale, or Fort Dummer, was settled in 1683, Westmoreland or "No. Two" in 1741, and Walpole in 1752. . With the exception of Walpole, these towns were all settled by Massachusetts men, for until 1741, it was supposed the north line of Massachusetts would include these towns. At Hinsdale and Charlestown forts
viii
PREFACE.
were built at an early period of their settlement and soldiers were stationed there for the double purpose of affording protec- tion to the inhabitants and arresting the progress of the Indians from Canada, while meditating incursions upon the frontier towns. And so little interest did New Hampshire feel in the settlement and development of this country that in 1745, when Governor Wentworth recommended to the Assembly to take and sustain their newly acquired "Fort Dummer," which fell to them upon the establishment of the line between the two colonies, the lower house declined the acceptance of this place and also of "No. Four," alleging that the fort was fifty miles distant from any towns settled by New Hampshire; they did not own the ter- ritory, and that they were not equal to the expense of maintain- ing the places.
It was not until 1752 that the Governor of New Hampshire was permitted to adopt any measures to secure to that colony this valuable country. He then made several grants of townships on both sides of the Connecticut River, and a plan was formed for taking possession of it, the great richness of which they had heard from hunters and returned Indian captives. There was a term of years, from 1752 to 1760, during which the governors of New Hampshire and Massachusetts were too busily occupied in prose- cuting the war with the French and Indians to allow them to give much attention to the extention of their settlement. But in the year 1760 the last act in the bloody struggle was accomplished in the capture of Montreal by the forces under General Amherst, and Canada was reduced to a British province.
It is said during the war the seasons were fruitful, and the colonies were able not only to supply their own troops with pro- visions, but also the British fleets and armies with food and re- freshments of all kinds. But after the close of the war there followed two years, those of 1761-62, of great scarcity ; so great as to make it absolutely necessary to seek supplies from abroad. During the drouth of 1761 disastrous fires raged in the forests in various parts of the state. And in the succeeding years the emigrants who passed northward in search of new homes trav- ersed immense tracts of territory covered with the charred
ix
PREFACE.
remains of forests, whose naked trunks and leafless branches were fast going to decay.
It was in the year 1761 that His Excellency Benning Went- . worth turned his attention to this wilderness, and with the assist- ance of his secretary, Theodore Atkinson, resolved to change its forests into fruitful fields and cover them with cheerful homes. In this vicinity the towns of Canaan, Dorchester, Enfield, Gran- tham, Groton, Hanover, Lebanon, Lyme, Orford, Plainfield and Rumney were incorporated by separate charters.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGES.
CHAPTER I. THE CHARTERS OF CANAAN
1-8
CHAPTER II. THE FIRST AND SECOND SETTLERS .
9-21
CHAPTER III. PROPRIETORS' MEETINGS, 1768-1785 22-39
CHAPTER
IV. PROPRIETORS' MEETINGS, 1786-1845 40-48
CHAPTER V. TOWN MEETINGS, 1770-1785 49-62
CHAPTER VI. TOWN MEETINGS, 1786-1797
63-78
CHAPTER VII. TOWN MEETINGS, 1798-1818
79-88
CHAPTER VIII. TOWN MEETINGS, 1819-1909
89-97
CHAPTER IX. THE PITCH BOOK AND PROPRIETORS' SUR- VEYS .
98-125
CHAPTER X. PUBLIC RIGHTS
126-138
CHAPTER XI. THE COMMON, BROAD STREET, THE MEET- ING HOUSE 139-152
CHAPTER XII. DAME'S GORE AND STATE'S GORE 153-160
CHAPTER XIII. THE SURPLUS REVENUE AND LITERARY FUND. 161-165
CHAPTER XIV. THE BAPTIST CHURCH
166-206
CHAPTER XV. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH . 207-230
CHAPTER XVI. THE METHODIST CHURCH .
CHAPTER XVII. SCHOOLS
248-254
CHAPTER XVIII. NOYES ACADEMY
255-296
CHAPTER XIX.
CANAAN UNION ACADEMY
297-311
CHAPTER XX. LAWYERS
312-342
CHAPTER XXI. SOLDIERS 343-383
CHAPTER XXII. DOCTORS, COLLEGE GRADUATES 422-429
CHAPTER XXIII.
ROADS 384-421
CHAPTER XXIV. TEMPERANCE IN CANAAN
430-434
CHAPTER XXV. HOW SOME OF OUR HOUSES WERE BUILT
435-447
CHAPTER XXVI. WHEEL CARRIAGES, TANNERIES, POTS AND PEARL ASHES . 448-455
CHAPTER XXVII. INCIDENTS
456-480
CHAPTER XXVIII. SECRET ORGANIZATIONS 481-492
CHAPTER XXIX.
OLD FAMILIES
493-579
GENEALOGY 581-654
MARRIAGES
654-665
.
231-247
APPENDIX : VOTES FOR GOVERNOR; REPRESENTATIVES; SELECT- MEN; MODERATORS; TOWN CLERKS; TOWN APPROPRIA- TIONS FOR CHARGES; CENSUS OF 1790; INVENTORY OF 1782; LIST OF VOTERS, 1825; ENROLLMENT LIST, 1864 . 669-694
HISTORY OF CANAAN.
CHAPTER I.
THE CHARTERS OF CANAAN.
The charters of Canaan are interesting documents, their tone and style are kingly, such as our Republican ears are unused to. The first and original charter signed and granted July 9, 1761, having lapsed by reason of the non-performance of its conditions by the grantees, they made application to Gov. John Wentworth, who renewed the old charter by a second charter dated February 23, 1769, and granted them a further term of four years to ful- fil the conditions of the first charter.
The first charter commences with the royal declaration :
Province of New Hampshire,
George the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith &c,
To all persons to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know ye, that wee of our special Grace, Certain knowledge and Meer motion, for the Due incouragement of settling a new Plantation within our said Province, by and with the advice of our trusty and well beloved Ben- ning Wentworth Esq, our Governor and Commander in chief of our said Province of New Hampshire. Have upon the conditions and Reservations hereinafter made, Given and Granted and by these pres- ents for us our Heirs and Successors, do give and grant in equal Shares unto our Loving Subjects Inhabitants of our said Province of New Hampshire and our other Governments, and to their heirs and assigns forever whose names are entered on this Grant to be divided to and amongst them into sixty eight equal shares, all that tract or parcel of land, situate Lying & being within our sd Province of New Hampshire containing by Admeasurement Twenty three Thousand acres, which tract is to contain six miles square and no more out of which an allow- ance is to be made for highways and unimprovable lands by Rocks ponds mountains and Rivers one Thousand and Forty acres free accord- ing to a plan & survey thereof made by our said Governors order, and returned into the Secretary's office & hereto annexed, butted and bounded as follows; viz; Beginning at the South East Corner of Han- over from thence North fifty five Degrees East by Hanover Six miles
2
HISTORY OF CANAAN.
to the Corner thereof, from thence South Sixty one degrees East six miles, from thence South forty one degrees West six miles from thence North fifty eight degrees West seven miles and one quarter of a mile to the bound first mentioned, and that the same be and hereby is In- corporated into a Township by the Name of Canaan, and the inhabi- tants that do or shall hereafter Inhabit the said Township are hereby declared to be enfranchised with and Intitled to all and every, the privileges and Immunities that other Towns within our Province by law exercise & enjoy and further that the said Town as soon as there shall be fifty families resident & Settled thereon shall have ye Liberty of hold Two fairs one of which shall be held on the . . . and the other on the . .. annually which fairs .
And as soon as the sd Town shall consist of fifty families, a market may be opened and kept one or more days in each week as may be thought most advantageous to the Inhabitants.
Also the first meeting for the choice of Town Officers, agreeable to the laws of our said Province shall be held on the third Tuesday in August next, which said meeting shall be notified by Thomas Gustin, who is also appointed the Moderator of the First Meeting, which he is to notify and Govern agreeable to the Laws and Customs of our said Province, and that the annual meeting forever hereafter, for the choice of such officers for the said Town shall be on the second Tuesday of March annually.
To have and to hold the above tract of land as above expressed togather with all privileges and appurtenances to them and their re- spective heirs and assigns forever, upon the following conditions:
1st viz: That every Grantee his heirs and assigns shall plant and cultivate, five acres of Land within the term of five years for every fifty acres contained in his or their share or portion of land in said Township, and continue to Improve and settle the same by additional cultivations on penalty of the forfeiture of his Grant or share in said Township and of its Reverting to us our heirs and successors to be by us or them Regranted to such of our subjects as shall effectually settle & cultivate the same.
2nd. That all white and other Pine trees within the said Township fit for Masting our Royal Navy be carefully preserved for that use and none to be cut or felled without our special license for so doing first had and obtained upon the penalty of the forfeiture of the Right of such Grantee his heirs and assigns to us our heirs and successors as well as being subject to the penalty of any act or acts of parliament that now are or hereafter shall be enacted.
3rd. That before any division of the land be made to and among the Grantees a tract of land as near the centre of the said Township as the land will admit of shall be reserved and marked out for Town Lots, one of which shall be allotted to each Grantee of the contents of one acre.
4 yielding and paying therefor to us our heirs and successors for
3
THE CHARTERS OF CANAAN.
the space of ten years to be computed from the date hereof the Rent of one Ear of Indian Corn only, on the Twenty fifty day of December an- nually, if lawfully demanded, the first payment to be made on the Twenty fifth day of December 1762
5 Each Proprietor settler or Inhabitant shall yield and pay unto us our heirs and successors yearly and every year forever, from and after the expiration of ten years from the above and twenty fifth day of December which shall be in the year of our Lord 1772, one shilling proclamation money for every Hundred acres he so owns settles or possesses and so in proportion for a greater or less tract of land, which money shall be paid by the respective persons above said their heirs or assigns in our Council Chamber in Portsmouth or to such officer or officers as shall be appointed to receive the same and this to be in lieu of all other Rents and services whatsoever.
In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed.
Witness Benning Wentworth Esq our Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Province the Ninth day of July in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and sixty one and in the First year of our Reign
By his Excellency's Command with advice of Council Theodore At- kinson Secty.
BENNING WENTWORTH.
Province of New Hampshire July 9th. 1761
The names of the Grantees of Canaan
Thomas Gustin
George Harris
Gibson Harris
Caleb Whiting
Ebenezer Harris
Willm Fox Jur
Daniel Harris
Stephen Kellogg
Joseph Babcock
Thomas Gustin
Amos Walworth
Richard Wibird Esq
Joseph Eames
James Nevins Esq
Ebenezer Eames
Capt. John Wentworth Somers- worth
Ebenezer Peck
Allen Wightman
Thomas Westbrook Walden
Jared Spencer
Daniel Fowle
Ephm Wells Jur
Israel Kellogg
Thomas Wells
Aaron Cady
Thomas Gustin Jur
Aaron Cady Jur
Jedidiah Lathrop
Nathaniel Cady
Clement Daniels
Asa Daniels
John Chamberlain
John Tribble
Benj Chamberlain
Samuel Dodge
Abner Chamberlain
Samuel Meacham
David Chamberlain
Isaiah Rathbun
Richard Sparrow
William Chamberlain
4
HISTORY OF CANAAN.
Willm Chamberlain Jur
Rufus Randal
Thomas Gates
James Jones
George Lampheer
Jonathan Beebe 3rd
Thomas Minor
Jabez Jones
Phinehas Sabine
George King Mercht
Joshua Rathbun
Willm King do
Sylvester Randal
Capt Willm Wentworth
Saml Dodge 3rd
Thomas Parker
Ephm Wells
Daniel Rogers
Josiah Gates Jur
John Newmarch Esq
Lewis Loveridge
His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq, a tract to Contain five Hun- dred acres as marked on the plan B. W. which is to be accounted Two of the within shares. One whole share for the Incorporated Society for ye propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts
One share for the first Settled Minister of the Gospel One share for the benefit of the School in said Town & one share for a Glebe for the Church of England as by law established. Province of New Hampshire July ye 9th 1761 Recorded in the book of Charters
THEODORE ATKINSON Secretary
a Corner of Hannover
5 61. E 6 miles
NSS Eb miles
23000 acres Canaan
BW
aCorner of Han nover
S: 41: W6 miles
N 58 W 3/4 miles
5
THE CHARTERS OF CANAAN.
The above is copied from the Proprietors' Records and was supposed to have been copied from the original charter which was in the possession of the Proprietors' clerk at one time, but where it is now is not known. The following is from the State Papers and is the renewal of the original charter :
Province of ) George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain, New Hamp. ( France Ireland King defender of the Faith &c.
Whereas we of our special Grace & mere Motion for the due encour- agement of settling a new Plantation within Our Province of New Hampshire by our letters patent or Charter under the seal of our Said Province dated the 9th day of July 1761 in the first year of our reign a tract of land equal to six miles square bounded as therein ex- pressed & since surveyed admeasured marked & ascertained by our order to Isaac Rindge Esq our surveyor general of lands for said Province Granted to a number of our loyal subjects whose names are entered on the same to hold to them their heirs & assigns on the condi- tions therein declared & to be a Town corporate by the name of Canaan as by reference to the said chapter may more fully appear And whereas the said grantees have represented unto us that by reason of the great Inconveniences which occur in the Settlement of the new Townships so remotely situated from any other Townships or Settle- ments that can afford any assistance hath rendered it impracticable for the whole number of grantees to perform that Part of the Conditions that relates to the cultivation of such a Proportion of the said Grant That there are families now settled on the premises which affords them hopes of a final Settlement without delay and humbly supplicating us not to take advantage of the breach of said Condition but to lengthen out & grant them some further Time for the performance thereof. Now Know ye that we being willing to promote the end proposed have of our further Grace & Favor suspended our claim of the forfeiture which the said Grantees may have incurred and by these presents do grant unto the said Grantees their Heirs & Assigns the further Term of Four years from this date for performing and fulfilling the conditions matters & things by them to be done as aforesaid, except the Quit Rents which are to remain due & payable as expressed & reserved in the original Grant or Charter.
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