USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Troy > An historical sketch of Troy [N.H.] and her inhabitants, from the first settlement of the town in 1764 to 1855 > Part 17
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HISTORY OF TROY.
"'to district the town anew," and the selectmen, consist- ing of Oliver Damon, Arunah Allen, and John White, were chosen a committee for that purpose. At a special meeting the 17th of May following, this committee made their report, which was accepted and adopted. In the new arrangement, what had been known as the North Squadron, was called District No. 10; the Northeast, District No. 6; the Northwest, District No. 13; and the Squadron near Forristall's, District No. 9, and these numbers were retained until the most of the territory comprising these districts passed from the jurisdiction of Fitzwilliam.
At the first annual meeting after the incorporation of Troy, the town "voted to choose a committee of seven to regulate school districts." "Voted and chase Caleb Perry, D. W. Farrar, David White, William Farrar, Samuel Starkey, Elijah Fuller, and Thomas Clark, Jr., a committee for this purpose." At an adjourned meet- ing on the 25th of the same month, this committee re- ported as follows, viz .:
"'DISTRICT NO. 1, TO CONTAIN :
REV. MR. RICH, GEORGE FARRAR, JR.,
MOSES ALDRICH,
JIENRY TOLMAN (FARM,)
SILAS WIIEELER, JOAB DAGGETT (FARM,)
CURTIS COOLIDGE,
ROSWELL CROSSFIELD,
SYLVESTER P. FLINT,
JOSEPH FORRISTALL,
JOSEPH BARRETT (FARM,)
LUKE HARRIS,
JOIIN WHITNEY, LUTHIER NOURSE, JOHN WHITNEY, JR.,
ARNOLD & THOMPSON,
EBENEZER NOURSE,
LYMAN WRIGHT, NATIIAN NEWELL, SALMON WIIITTEMORE,
JOSIAH AMADON, DAVID WHITE,
JOSIIUA HARRINGTON, ELIJAH HARRINGTON, JOHN BRUCE,
DANIEL FARRAR,
DANIEL FARRAR, JR., SAMUEL FARRAR,
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HISTORY OF TROY.
WIDOW BRUCE,
TIMOTHY GODDING,
ASA BREWER,
THOMAS TOLMAN, ANDREW SHERMAN,
DANIEL W. FARRAR,
TIMOTHY KENDALL,
PRESTON BISHOP,
JOSHUA HARRINGTON, JR.
DISTRICT NO. 2, TO CONTAIN!
CYRUS FAIRBANKS,
WILLIAM BARNARD,
CYRUS FAIRBANKS, JR.,
JOHN LAWRENCE,
MOSES PERKINS,
WILLIAM LAWRENCE,
CALEB PERRY,
JOSEPH BUTLER,
PELETIAH HODGKINS,
JOSIAH LAWRENCE,
LEVI WARD,
JONATHAN LAWRENCE,
ABRAHAM COOLIDGE,
JACOB OSBORN.
DANIEL CUTTING,
DISTRICT NO. 3, TO CONTAIN :
BENJAMIN TOLMAN,
JOSEPH CUTTING,
JOSIAH WHEELER,
EASMAN ALEXANDER,
ISAAC GARFIELD, JOSEPH ALEXANDER,
ELİJAH FULLER, TALMON KNIGHTS,
EDMUND BEMIS, AARON HOLT,
GEORGE FARRAR,
ISAAC FULLER,
SILAS FIFE,
STEPHEN FARRAR.
ZOPHER WHITCOMB,
DISTRICT NO. 4, TO CONTAIN :
HENRY JACKSON,
CALVIN STARKEY,
. BENJAMIN STARKEY,
NATHAN STARKEY,
PETER STARKEY, JR., PETER STARKEY,
WILLIAM CHASE,
LUNA STARKEY,
JOHN STARKEY,
WILLIAM BISHOP, WIDOW STARKEY, (FARM,) THOMAS CLARK, JE.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
DISTRICT NO. 5, TO CONTAIN :
DAVID SANDERS,
NATHAN WINCII,
JOSEPII HIASKELL (FARM,)
CALEB WINCH, JR.,
JOIIN SARGENT,
WILLIAM FARRAR,
CALEB WINCII,
ELIAS EVANS.
DISTRICT NO. 6, TO CONTAIN :
ELIJAHI BUXTON,
DANIEL BALL,
DAVID WILEY.
LEVI STARKEY,
SAMUEL STARKEY,
THOMAS FRENCII,
ENOCII STARKEY,
JOSEPII TILDEN.
All the property taxed for the support of schools, to be paid into the district where the owner resides, if re- siding within the limits of said town; all polls and non- resident lands to pay their school tax to the district where they are contained, reference being had to boun- daries, to the real estate of individuals whose names are set to their respective districts."
Soon after this division, District No. 6, being desti- tute of a school-house, took measures for building one, and raised about $100 for this purpose. It was built and located near the northwest corner of the blueberry lot now owned by Stephen Harris. But the district was so small that a school could be sustained only a few weeks in a year, consequently, but little benefit could be derived from it. At length it was thought to be for the interest of the district to unite with No. 3, and the union was sanctioned by a vote of the town, in March, 1831. Having no more use for the school-house, the district sold it to Jonathan Clark, who removed it to a spot near his barn, where it may still be seen.
The school-house in District No. 1 was soon found too small to accommodate the large number of pupils that resorted to it; and in 1828, the district voted to build
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HISTORY OF TROY.
a larger house, and raised $500 for that purpose. The old school-house was sold to Charles M. Tolman, who removed it to the west side of the mill-pond and con- verted it into a dwelling-house; and it is now the house which is undergoing extensive repairs, under the super- vision of Mr. Ira Boyden. The contract for building the new school-house was given to Joseph M. Forristall, and the work was completed in 1828, in season for the winter school. This was used until the division of the district in 1838, when it was sold for $375. The pur- chasers formed a stock company, and the par value of the shares was $25. The proprietors were:
DANIEL. W. FARRAR, - who had 4 shares,
STEPHEN WHEELER,
2 shares,
SOLOMON GODDARD,
2 shares,
ALPHEUS CROSBY,
66 2 shares,
NATHAN WINCH,
66
2 shares,
LYMAN WRIGHT, 66
66 1 share,
LUKE HARRIS, -
" 1 share,
JOSEPH M. FORRISTALL, 66 " 1 share,
CHARLES W. WHITNEY, - 66
" 1 share,
D. FARRAR & E. HARRINGTON, "
1 share.
The house was thoroughly repaired, and towards this, about $92 were subscribed by individuals. This, in addition to the excess of the stock funds above the cost of the building, made the expense of the repairs $234. The object of the proprietors in this outlay, was to re- tain the building for the use of a High-School, and it was occupied, a part of the time, for this purpose for several years, but recently, David W. Farrar has bought it of the proprietors and converted it into a dwelling- house.
District No. 2, expended but little on her school-house for several years. The first account we can find of any repairs, was in 1833, when $25 were raised for this object.
District No 3, at the time of the incorporation of the
255
HISTORY OF TROY.
town, was destitute of a school-house, the old one hav- ing been burnt in 1814. For two winters the school was kept in the house formerly owned by William Bar- ker, but in 1817, the district voted to build a new school-house, and raised $100 towards the expense. Isaac and Elijah Fuller built the house, but whether the $100 was the whole cost does not appear from the rec- ords. In 1834, $44 were raised by a vote of the dis- trict and expended in repairing the house, but we are not informed of the nature of the repairs.
District No. 4, came to the sage conclusion in 1823. that their children were deserving more confortable quarters than were afforded by a log-house, and voted to build a school-house that should better accord with the improvements of that period. The site selected for this was near the junction of the two roads between the residence of Peter Starkey and William Bishop. The house was finished in 1824, and cost $120.
The school-house in District No. 5, being located at some distance from the centre, was removed to its pres- ent position, and repaired in 1823, at a cost of $45. In 1834, it was again repaired, at a cost of $30.
At the annual meeting in March, 1838, the town voted to make some alterations in the school districts, and chose a committee to make investigations and report at an adjourned meeting what alterations they consider- ed necessary. The committee consisted of the following persons, viz. :
District No. 1,
STEPHEN WHEELER, AMOS SIBLEY, DANIEL FARRAR.
District No. 2, DANIEL CUTTING, WILLIAM LAWRENCE.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
District No. 3, JOHN W. BELLOWS, AMASA ALDRICH.
District No. 4, JOSEPH PUTNEY.
District No. 5, CHESTER LYMAN.
At the adjourned meeting on the 19th of the same month, the committee made their report, whereupon, the town "voted, that the alterations be made as reported by the committee." But this division only included the in- habitants of the town; there was no reference made to a division of real estate; consequently, it was found not to answer the purpose intended. A meeting was called on the 9th day of April following, at which the town "voted to re-consider the vote of accepting the report of the com- mittee; and voted that the committee be authorized to amend their report so as to include all the real estate in the same district, except such as is by law taxable in other districts. The committee reported the following amendment, viz .: "Every person living in the several school districts in the town of Troy shall be taxed in the district in which he lives, for all the real estate he holds in the town of Troy under his own actual improvement, and all other of his real estate in the town of Troy shall be taxed in the district, in which it is included; and all real estate owned by persons living out of the town shall be taxed in such district or districts as the Selectmen shall determine." The town voted to accept the report of the committee, made on the 19th of March, with this amendment. But it was soon discovered that even the report as amended was defective and did not meet the requirements of the law, for the boundaries of the dis- tricts were liable to be changed with every change in the ownership of real estate. Consequently, another meet- ing was called on the 2d of June following, and at this
HISTORY OF TROY. 257
meeting it was "voted to divide the town into School Districts according to law." And in order to make it legal, this time a lawyer was placed at the head of the committee, which were as follows, viz .:
LUTHIER CHAPMAN,
CIIESTER LYMAN,
J. M. FORRISTALL,
CALVIN STARKEY,
ABEL BAKER,
DANIEL FARRAR.
JOIIN W. BELLOWS,
At an adjourned meeting in one week from that day, this committee submitted their report, * which was adopt- ed by the town.
The districts, by the new arrangement, were the same as they are now constituted, with some slight alterations, and it may be seen that the numbers were entirely changed from the former arrangement. District No. 1, was divided, the northern half being called No. 1; the southern, No. 2; No. 2, was changed to No. 3; No. 3. to No. 4; No. 4, to No. 5; and No. 5, to No. 6. At this time, Districts No. 1 and 2, were each destitute of a school-house, and at a meeting warned by the select- men and held on the 1st of June, 1839, District. No. 1 voted to raise $300 for building a school-house. The house, the same that is now owned by the district, was built by Mr. Forristall, and finished in season for the · school the following winter. In 1853, $200 were raised and expended in repairing the house; and at this time it was newly painted, and the lot upon which it stands was well fenced and ornamented with small trees; but at the present time the house and trees appear to be in a decline, and a few stone posts only, remind us of the existence of the fence.
District No. 2 made preparations for building a house, but not agreeing upon a location, an application was made to the selectmen, who appointed a committee to fix
* See Town Records.
22*
.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
the location, agreeably to the provisions of the Statute at that time. The committee consisted of Daniel Cut- ting, Brown Nurse, Daniel Buttrick, Luke Harris, Thomas Wright, and John Lawrence. The committee reported "that the site for the school-house should be on land of Elijah Harrington, at the southeast corner, ad- joining land of Moses Ballou's heirs." This report was dated the 8th of June, 1840, and the contract for build- ing the school house was given to Mr. Forristall, who received $280 for the job. In 1847, it was found nec- essary to repair the house, and $147 were raised for this purpose, and in two years from that time, about $50 more were expended in improvements upon it; but after all the patching, it was an old house still, and did not meet the wants of the district. Consequently, in 1854, the district voted to build a new school-house, and made a liberal appropriation for this purpose. The work was let out in portions to different individuals, but the most of it was done by Ira Boyden, and it was finished in January, 1855. This is now the best school-house in Troy, and reflects credit upon the individuals through whose liberality it was built. Its cost was $1300.
The school-house in District No. 3, was burnt in the winter of 1838, and preparations were made early the next spring for building a new one, but a contention arising about its site, the work was somewhat delayed. At length the Selectmen, on petition, appointed a com- mittee to settle the vexed question. This committee consisted of Luther Chapman, Joseph M. Forristall, Chester Lyman, Brown Nurse, and Alpheus Crosby ; and in their report they say that "the site for the school- house shall be on land, called and known by the name of the Boyden pasture, a few rods east of an old cellar, on the road leading from Nathaniel Parker's, to Daniel Cutting's, at a stake and stones in the centre erected by your committee." This question being settled, the new
259
HISTORY OF TROY.
school-house was finished in a few months from this time, at the cost of about $250. We can find a record of but one assessment for repairs since the house was built, and that was a small assessment, in 1849, of about $10.
The inhabitants of District No. 4, have expended about $75 in repairs on their school-house since 1838: $30 of this sum was in 1846; $20 in 1851; $25 in 1858.
The first school-house built in what is now District No. 5, was located nearly a third of a mile from the centre of the inhabited part of the district, and in 1840, it was removed, in accordance with a vote of the district. to a spot a few rods north of the barn recently owned by Albert Pratt, and repaired: and the expense of these improvements was about $60. In 1841, this house was burnt, and the following year the present school-house was built, at an expense, as appears from the tax list, of $117. About two years since, about $25 were expend- ed in repairing it.
The school-house in District No. 6, becoming consid- erably dilapidated, was enlarged in 1849, and thorough- ly repaired, at an expense of $180.
In the few preceding pages we have attempted to give a brief sketch of the efforts of the people that have lived here at different times, to promote the cause of popular education. And we have found that this, like all other great enterprises, had a small beginning; but by the ef- forts of a few individuals, it has been gradually carried forward, and at the present time we can number with its friends, as we hope, all our citizens. And it is hoped that those who have recently been engaged in promoting this cause, will not tire, but persevere, and by united effort we may expect to make our schools productive of blessings yet untold. The town has thus far done all. by way of appropriations, that could reasonably have been expected. For several years after its incorpora-
260
HISTORY OF TROY.
· tion, $250 were annually raised for the support of schools in addition to the interest of the literary fund, and this sum has been gradually increased, until at the present time it amounts to $479. During the whole of this period, there have been raised for the support of schools, including the interest of the literary fund, about $16,439. Of this sum District No. 1, has received $5,982.33; No. 2, $5,065.33; No. 3, $2,969.33; No. 4, $2,751; No. 5, 1,659.33; No. 6, $1,484.66. Dur- ing the same period, there have been expended for build- ing and repairing school-houses, $3,473. This sum has been raised and expended by districts, as follows: No. 1 has expended for this purpose, $500; No. 2, $1,777; No. 3, $260; No. 4, $219; No. 5, $312; No. 6, $255.
Thus it will be seen that the aggregate of all that has been expended for schools within the town since its in- corporation, is $19,912. But this does not include what has been paid for the support of Select Schools. nor the amount contributed by individuals to lengthen out the terms of the public schools. These items, al- though we have no means of knowing their amount. must swell the sum we have mentioned several thousand dollars. But the question will probably arise, has this great expenditure yielded an adequate return? We trust it has, and that it has proved one of the most prof- itable investments the town has ever made. We see its effects in every walk of life; in every thing that makes life pleasant and desirable. We find that there is expended for the support of schools now, nearly twice as much as there was at the time of the incorporation of the town. And to see the result of this we have only to compare the schools now, with those of that period. Then the government of a school was but little better than brute force; the management and mode of disci- pline partook of the darkness of the middle ages. Then the most essential qualification of a teacher was bone and
261
HISTORY OF TROY.
muscle to wield the rod. How different the schools and teachers at the present day! Then teachers could be hired for eight or ten dollars a month. Now we pay twenty or thirty, and in most instances have reason to feel that the money has been well expended. We feel that the services of a good, faithful teacher cannot be too highly appreciated. It is said that Jupiter on one occa- sion made a proclamation that he would crown the per- son with immortality, who had done the most good, and been the greatest blessing to his fellow-men. The com- petitors were numerous; the warrior, the statesman, the sculptor and painter, the musician, and benevolent, all pressed their claims. But Jupiter seeing an old grey- headed, sage-looking man standing far behind the rest, and apparently taking no active part in the matter, asked him what made him look so smiling? The old man re- plied that all these competitors were once his pupils. Crown him, says Jupiter, and seat him at my right hand.
But the efforts of the people to promote the cause of education were not limited to schools alone. As early as 1825, a few individuals conceived the idea of estab- lishing a town library. In the month of June, that year, they petitioned the Legislature for an Act of In-
corporation. The petition was favorably received, and Timothy Kendall, Lyman Wright, Salmon Whittemore, and Daniel W. Farrar, their associates and successors, were incorporated and made a body politic by the name of "The Troy Library Association." On the 16th of January following, a meeting of the Association was held at "Forristall's Inn," in conformity to a notice signed by Lyman Wright, Salmon Whittemore, and Timothy Kendall, who were authorized to call the first meeting. At this meeting, Capt. Amos Sibley was chosen Moderator, and Lyman Wright, Librarian. Daniel W. Farrar, Salmon Whittemore, and Abel Ba- ker, were chosen a committee to examine and prepare
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HISTORY OF TROY.
the library books for distribution. The shares were fixed by the By-Laws at two dollars each, and it appears that fifty-four shares were soon taken by the citizens. Books were purchased to the amount of about one hun- dred and eighty volumes; and being a very choice se- lection, the library was a source of much profit to its owners. But after a few years it was neglected, the books were stored away in a secluded room, and the meetings of the Association were discontinued. Recent- ly, however, measures have been taken to revive the Association, and at a legal meeting on the 23d of July, 1859, it was re-organized, by the choice of Lyman Wright, Chairman; David W. Farrar, Clerk and Li- brarian; and A. M. Caverly, Brown Nurse, and Abel Baker, Commtitee. Valuable additions have just been made to the library, and it is now, by a vote of the As- sociation, made free to all the inhabitants of the town, "subject to the By-Laws and restrictions of the Library Association."
CHAPTER XIV.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES; CHURCHES; CLERGYMEN.
IT appears that the early settlers of the town were men who placed a high estimate upon the institutions of religion, and their efforts to establish and sustain such institutions were worthy of praise. They show that the spirit which actuated the Puritan fathers was possessed by their children, and as the result of this, as soon as these were established in their new homes, they set about making preparations for the support of a christian minis- try. The most, if not all of these men, had been relig- iously educated, and even those who made no pretensions to personal piety, showed great deference to the outward forms of religion, and never thought of living without some one to officiate for them in the sacred office. Their first places of worship partook of the rudeness of the patriarchial age, but they had a soul in the work, and their zeal, energy, and personal sacrifices, in maintaining the stated ministration of the gospel, might be studied with profit by many of their descendants.
Rev. Luther Townsend, present pastor of the Congre- gational Church has very kindly furnished the writer with the following, upon
THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE GOSPEL:
The grant to the proprietors of the township Monad- nock No. IV., now Fitzwilliam, was on condition that within five years, a convenient Meeting-House should be
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HISTORY OF TROY.
built, as a place of public worship; and after the term of six years, should maintain preaching. A failure to fulfil these, with other conditions, should forfeit the grant. A Meeting-House was erected, and dedicated in 1771 or 1772. There was some preaching in the town- ship previous-Mr. Nehemiah Parker preached in the autumn and winter of 1768, who was afterwards settled in Hubbardston, Mass.
In November, 1770, Mr. Benjamin Brigham, from Marlboro', Mass., a graduate of Harvard University, 1764, received an invitation to settle in the gospel min- istry. He accepted this, and March 27, 1771, was ordained, and on the same occasion, a Congregational Church, of six members, was organized. These services were at the public Inn, the Meeting-House not in a suit- able condition for them. Mr. Brigham deceased June 15, 1799.
Rev. Stephen Williams, the second pastor, was or- dained Nov. 5, 1800. was dismissed December, 1802.
Rev. John Sabin, a graduate of Brown University, 1797, was ordained as the third pastor, March 6, 1805, and continued such till his decease, Oct. 14, 1845.
Monadnock No. V., -one condition of the grant to the proprietors of this township, now Marlboro', was that a "convenient Meeting-House shall be built within ten years from its date."
In 1767, William Barker, with two others, was cho- sen a committee to fix a location for a Meeting-House.
In 1770, the frame of the Meeting-House was put up by S. Church. Benjamin Tucker's account for eight gallons of rum on the occasion, was three shillings, two pence, and two farthings, per gallon.
The first meeting was held in the house in 1771, when the roof only, was covered.
In 1774, provision was made to board the outside, by a tax of one and one-half pence per acre.
265
HISTORY OF TROY.
In 1779, voted to hang the doors, lay the lower floor, build the body pews, and get one box of glass to glaze the house in part-to meet this expense, a tax of eight pence per acre was assessed.
In 1784, pew grounds on lower floor sold to get mon- cy to finish the building.
In 1771, a tax of one farthing an acre was assessed to hire preaching; in 1774, a committee was appointed to hire a minister. A Congregational Church was or- ganized Nov, 11, 1778, consisting of eight members, and Mr. Joseph Cummings, from Topsfield, Mass., was or- dained pastor at the same time. Mr. Cummings was dismissed Dec. 26, 1780. After this, the church was without a pastor for nearly thirteen years, during which was preaching only a portion of the time.
Sept. 25, 1793, Mr. Holloway Fish was ordained pas- tor, with a salary of seventy pounds, and a settlement of one hundred and seventy pounds. He was from Upton, Mass., and a graduate of Harvard College. Mr. Fish died Sept. 1, 1824, having been pastor nearly . thirty- one years.
During the pastorates of the Rev. Messrs. Sabin of Fitzwilliam and Fish of Marlboro', the town of Troy was incorporated, in which a Congregational Church was or- ganized, Sept. 14, 1815, by an Ecclesiastical Council, consisting of Rev. H. Fish of Marlboro', Rev. John Sa- bin of Fitzwilliam, and Rev. Ezekiel Rich, an Evange- list. Ten men and their wives, in the presence of this council, subscribed to an agreement of fellowship. adopt- ed articles of faith and a covenant, and assented to then.
Rev. E. Rich, a graduate of Brown University, 1808; and of Andover Theological Seminary, was the first pas- tor of the church. He was installed Dec. 20, 1815. The town was a party in the contract with Mr. Rich. His pastoral relation was sustained till July 18, 1818.
23
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HISTORY OF TROY.
The residence of Mr. Rich was in Troy till about 1845. He occasionally supplied the pulpit after his dismission, and also performed some missionary labor in this and other States. He died at Deep River, Conn., some few years since.
November, 1819, a religious society was formed by the name of the First Congregational Society of Troy, which was a party with the church in supplying the pulpit till 1824, when a new Constitution was adopted -the society taking the name of The Congregational Society of Troy. "The last meeting of this society re- corded, was in 1846.
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