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 6
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Henry,
" April 2, 1795, " Dorothy Parker, resides in Canada.
Hannah, " March18, 1796, " Jonathan Martin - second wife-of Richmond.
Nancy,
Joseph, Sept. 1, 1800,
June 30, 1798, " Hosea Bowen of Richmond, " Mary Ann Thurston of Marlboro', lives in Troy,
Sally, Dec. 18, 1802, died 1832.
In 1787, Hezekiah* and Abrahamt Coolidge, two brothers from Sherburne, Mass. purchased of Reuben Ward one hundred acres of land and built a small house near the residence of the late Daniel Cutting. They re- sided there together a short time, and cleared the most of the land in the vicinity of the road. Afterwards they divided the farm and Abraham lived one year in an old house a short distance this side of where Edmund Bemis now resides. In 1791, he built the house now owned by Lee Rosebrook and in this he lived till 1818, when *Born Feb. 13, 1766.
+Born Jan. 1, 1764.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
he sold his farm and hired the tavern now occupied by John Clement, and kept it till 1824; he then rented the house now owned by Bailey Starkey, and resided there until after the death of Mrs. Coolidge, Oct. 8, 1836. After this he went to live with his daughter, Mrs. Mo- ses Perkins, and died there July 26, 1843. It appears that he was quite an active man, and during the early part of his life traded considerably in cattle and sheep which he disposed of at the Brighton market. Hezekiah continued to reside on the place first mentioned until the fall of 1805, when he went to Swanzey with an ox team after a load of cider, and on crossing the bridge on the Turnpike this side of where Amasa Fuller now lives, he fell from the cart tongue upon which he had been riding, and one wheel passed over his head killing him instantly. After this his widow married Jonathan Frost of Marl- boro', but died in 1846.
Hezekiah Coolidge had three children:
Harriet, who married Asa Frost of Marlboro' Elliott, who lives in Canada. Harlow, who died.
Abraham Coolidge had seven children:
Baruch, born Dec. 30, 1789, married Nancy Harris, died
March, 1851. [1837.
Asher, Aug. 8, 1791, " Olive Starkey, died Nov. 15, Dorcas, May 24, 1794, " Charles Farrar, moved to the West where she died May 29, 1855.
Orlando, " Jan. 14, 1796, " Ist, C. Rockwood, who died; 2d, - Eaton, lives in Keene. [Chesterfield.
Oscar,
66 July 22, 1798,
Cosby,
66 June 11, 1800,
" Levina Rockwood, lives in " Moses S. Perkins, lives in Jaffrey. [Troy.
Charles,
" March 28, 1804, " Sarah Carpenter, lives in
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HISTORY OF TROY.
In 1788 or '89, Ephraim Root with his two sons-in- law, Ebenezer and Samuel Bacon, from the State of Rhode Island, purchased of Jacob Newell a tract of land, including the most of farms now owned by Stephen Wheeler and Lyman Wright, together with the house which has been mentioned as standing where Calvin Be- mis's now stands. Samuel Bacon lived here with his father-in-law, but Ebenezer built another house on the opposite side of the road, and near the spot now occupied by A. W. Barker's. This was the fifth house built in the village. Ebenezer was a clothier, and he built a clothing-mill where the shop now stands which is occu- pied in part by Mr. Baker. He fulled and colored his cloth in this mill, but did the finishing in a part of his dwelling-house. After this, with the assistance of his sons-in-law, Root built a saw-mill* a little below the one now owned by Charles Carpenter. The land on the
west side of the stream near the mill was cleared the following year, and agreeably to a prevailing custom at that time, after the trees had been felled a "clearing bee" was had, at which a large number of the citizens of the town assembled, and had a jovial time in removing and burning the brush; and as nearly all were spiritualists. we may imagine that some spirit long confined might have found its way there and added much to the mirth- fulness of the occasion. For some eight years Esq. Root was one of the most prominent men in this part of the town, and with his sons-in-law, gave quite an impetus to the business of the place. But like too many other business men he did not always count the cost of the prosecution of his plans, and the result was that he be- came embarrassed in his financial affairs and was obliged to suspend business, and his property passed into the hands of his creditors, and he removed to another part of the town, where he died in indigent circumstances. * This mill was burnt about the year 1802.
8
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HISTORY OF TROY.
About the year 1797, Ebenezer Bacon sold his house and clothing-mill to John Potter and with Samuel, his brother, left Marlboro'.
Benoni Robbins and James Dean came here very soon after the arrival of Root. Robbins had previously re- sided in the northerly part of Marlboro', but in 1788 he exchanged farms with Phinchas Farrar and took up his abode where Jonas Bemis now lives. Mr. Farrar im- mediately sold the farm he got in the exchange and bought the place where his son James now lives, and there he spent his declining years. Robbins is said to have been a man of more than ordinary physical power, of which he was too apt to make a vain display. He seemed to suppose that a constitution so firm was a sure guarantee of a long life; and when in 1801, he contract- ed the small-pox, he at first looked upon his disease as a trivial thing which his vital energies would soon over- come, but as it steadily progressed, and he saw his sys- tem gradually yielding to its power, he was led to see the folly of his reliance, and he died in the most heart- rending agony. At that time the small-pox was a dis- ease but little known in this region, and it spread con- sternation through the town. Some fled from their homes, others secluded themselves, in fearful suspense, and nearly all maintained a respectful distance. In the wild excitement it was difficult to procure help to adminis- ter to the wants of the sick and to bury the dead. Rob- bins had several children, Isaac the oldest son, after the death of his father, bought the farm formerly owned by Daniel Cutting, and after residing there a few years moved to Vermont.
Of the early life of James Dean we can obtain no re- liable information, but he came to Marlboro' in 1789, married a daughter of William Barker and resided in a. small house which he had built near where there is now a large apple-tree, just beyond the water course, near
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HISTORY OF TROY.
the junction of the old Marlboro' road leading by the Rhan house and the new road. The house was on the west side of the road and the barn on the cast. He re- sided there until 1794, when his father-in-law made him a present of fifty acres of land adjoining his own farm on the north, and Dean* built a house on the west side of the road a little north of Jonas Bemis's house. In 1797, he sold his place to Isaac Fuller and moved to Grafton, Vermont.
In 1790, there was a larger accession to the number of the inhabitants of the town than in any previous year since 1768. Early in the spring Jonathan Whipple, Jonathan Ball, Nathan Platts and John Sweetland took up their residence here, besides several others who re- mained but a limited period.
Jonathan Whipple was a carpenter, and he built a house near where Jacob Boyce's house now stands. This was a one story building with the end towards the road, and the back part of it was used some years for a school- room. Mr. Whipple is represented as being a very erect, portly man, prompt in business, and a highly es- teemed citizen. His children were Edward, Edmund, Hannah, Sarah, Joel, Susan and Simeon. The family being in humble circumstances the most of the children left home at an early age; Edward however learned his father's trade, and worked with him during the most of the time he resided here. Hannah married Josiah, son of John Rogers, Sarah married - - Walker. Joel, on arriving at manhood, went to Vermont where he resided some years, and in 1804 he purchased a location there, and was soon joined by his parents and younger mem- bers of the family. The house, in which they resided while here, was the sixth built in the village. A few years since it was removed and somewhat remoddled,
*Mr. Dean had one daughter, Polly, who married at the age of fourteen.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
and is now the red house immediately north of the rail- road and opposite Calvin Bemis's.
Jonathan Ball is said to have come from Rhode Island, but of this we cannot speak with confidence. He built a tavern on the Flint place (so called), now owned by Clark and Bemis. The main building was two stories in height and fronted the road, and there was an L one story in height extending back. Mr. Ball kept a public house until 1796, when he sold his location to Christo- pher Harris, and removed to New-York. On his way thither, Rebecca, one of his daughters, became suddenly ill, and died before reaching the end of the journey. His children were Jonathan, Rebecca, Polly and Nancy. At the time Mr. Ball kept a public house here, there was quite a curve in the road immediately in front of it, and the road passed considerably to the west of the pres- ent travelled road. And there is a tradition which is undoubtedly true respecting the large elm which now stands near the premises. In the spring of the year, after the winter's wood had been drawn to the door-yard, a sled-stake was thoughtlessly stuck into the ground by the side of the road. This soon began to show signs of vitality; it took root, sent out branches and became a thrifty tree. At that time there was a bank of earth several feet in height on the east side of it, and the plat of ground above the bank was used as a wood-yard. And when the turnpike was built on the east side of the tree, it was graciously spared, and a large amount of chip-manure scraped into the ditch around its roots and trunk to the depth of four or five feet. This may have added very much to its thrift, as it is now a stately monarch; and long may it wave its lofty boughs in memory of Henry Tolman, whose hand placed the sled- stake in the ground.
Nathan Platts soon after coming here, married Eliz- abeth, the eldest daughter of Capt. Daniel Farrar, and
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HISTORY OF TROY.
being a tanner and currier, he commenced working at his trade in the old Winch tannery. His father-in-law built a house for him on the spot where Mrs. Lydia Whittemore's house now stands. But Platts was a man of but little energy, soon failed in his business, and left the town. The house in which he resided for the lim- ited time he remained here, was the seventh built in the village; and after the departure of Platts, Capt. Farrar who had not hitherto relinquished his claim to it, sold it to a Mr. Barnard, a blacksmith. And after exchanging owners several times it was removed, and is now the sec- ond house north of the "Flint place" last described, and is owned by Col. Lyman Wright.
The Sweetland family were among the early settlers of Marblehead, from which town the grandfather of John removed to Attleborough about the year 1700. Here John was born, received his early training, married and at the time we are now considering came to Fitzwilliam, purchased a lot of land and built a house near the turn in the road this side of Porter White's. The old cellar, together with a few of the trees which once constituted the orchard, are all that remain to point out the resi- dence of individuals of a past generation. He had sev- eral children, the oldest, a son, married a daughter of Daniel Gould and lived a few years a little west of Tim- othy Fife's, on the farm purchased of Benjamin Tolman. In 1798 or '99, both of these families removed to Vt.
In 1791, Talmon Knights from Templeton, Mass .. purchased of Phinehas Farrar the land now constituting
the Cobb farm. He prepared a comfortable habitation, to which he removed his family, and engaged in the ar- duous work of clearing the land. At that time the road which now leads to this farm extended on westward, and terminated in the road leading from David Wheeler's to William Barker's. This was laid out in 1774, by a committee chosen for that purpose by the proprietors. 8*
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Mr. Knights resided on this farm till his death in 1843. He had two daughters, Annis and Susan, but both died in carly life.
The following year, 1792, John Garfield of Lincoln, Mass., purchased of John Coburn the farm which has been mentioned as having been conveyed to the latter by Moses Cutting. Garfield was one of the patriots of the Revolution. Having made provision for his family, he entered the army at the commencement of the war, and served his country through that trying period. After the war he resided in Lincoln about nine years, then with his family, consisting of his wife and nine children he came to Marlboro', and settled on the farm before mentioned. Here he spent the remnant of his life. He has the reputation of having been an industrious man, a good citizen and a kind husband and father, and he has children now living who inherit many of his virtues.
John Garfield had fourteen children:
Sarah, born 1776, married Richard Davis, died in Vermont. John, 1777, Lucy Davis, died in Londonderry, Vt.
Abraham, " 1779, Eunice Thurston, lives in Jaffrey.
Lucy, 1781, Easman Alexander, lives in Troy.
Samuel, 1782, died in New-York.
James, 1784, died in 1844.
Thomas, 1786, married Lois Davis, lives in Londonderry, Submit Alexander.
Thankful, " 1790,
Israel Davis, lives in Montgomery, Vt.
Elisha, 1794,
Martha Fuller, lives in Troy.
Polly Pierce, died in New-York.
Enoch, 1796, Luey Hodgkins, he now lives in Troy.
Abigail, 1798, 66 Newell Day, lives in Winchendon.
Hepzibeth,“ 1798, Amos Ray, lives in Gardner.
In 1793, Elijah Alexander, Stephen Russell, Abra- ham Randall, Sylvanus Cook, Davenport, Isaac Jackson, William Starkey and Ichabod Woodward, with their families settled in different parts of the town.
Elijah Alexander was born in Uxbridge, Mass., in 1741. About the year 1765, he married Elizabeth
[Vt.
Isaac, 1788,
Abel, 1792,
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HISTORY OF TROY.
'Taft of Mendon, and settled in his native town, where he worked at shoe-making until 1793; then he came to Marlboro' and purchased of Benoni Benson the farm now owned by his son Easman. After coming here his time was mostly devoted to agriculture, and, having a large family to support, he was obliged to study and practice both industry and economy. He is said to have been a highly esteemed citizen, and he lived to see the most of his children and some of his grand-children comfortably settled in life, and after passing the bounds of four score years, he died at his quiet home, 1822. Mrs. Alexan- der died 1838.
Elijah Alexander had fifteen children:
Gideon, born Aug. 13, 1767, settled in Canada where he died. Amasa, £ Nov. 30, 1769, died in New-York.
Elizabeth, " Sept. 13, 1771, died in Mendon, aged 30.
Luther, Sept. 19, 1773, graduated at Harvard University and studied Theology with Dr. Crane of North- bridge; but as he was about to enter the ministry, he went to Canada to visit his brother, Dr. Alexan- der, and while there he took the small-pox and died. Calvin, June 20, 1775, studied medicine with Dr. Wil- lard of Uxbridge, and settled in Montreal,. where after achieving an honorable fame and doing an extensive business he died.
Elijah,
March 25, 1777, died in Vermont. [Troy. Jemima, March 15, 1779, married James Cheever, died in
Timothy, " Nov. 27, 1780, learned the hatter's trade, died in New-York.
Phinehas, "
Aug. 29, 1782, lives in Canute, Ohio. [Troy.
Joseph,
Oct. 20, 1784, married Lucretia Howe, lives in
Easman, 66 April 28, 1786, " Lucy Garfield, lives on the homestead in Troy.
Eunice,
Jan. 29, 1788,
" James Davis of Jaffrey.
Lois,
Dec. 16, 1790,
" James Hicks and settled in Wisconsin. [dana, N. Y.
Submit,
Aug. 1,1791,
Ezra,
April 16, 1794,
" Isaac Garfield, lives in Se- " Lucretia Fuller, lives in Fitzwilliam.
It will be seen that all of the children except Ezra were born in Uxbridge.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
We know but little of Stephen Russell previous to his settlement here. He came from New-Ipswich and his wife was Bridget Jaquith of that town. He made the first clearing and built the first house on the farm now owned by Simon Butler. After living there some years he swapped farms with Jacob Osborne of Keene, to which place he removed, and died not long after.
The first we can hear of Abraham Randall was in 1793, when he was living on the farm now owned by Stephen Harris, although he might have settled there several years before that period. He was the first to make a clearing on that lot, and he built a house and barn, and resided there till about the year 1800, when he removed to Swanzey, and resided on the farm now owned by Daniel Woodward, and there died. His wife's maiden name was Sarah Lyon.
Abraham Randall had seven children :
Reuben, who died in Richmond.
Levi, who also died in Richmond.
Sarah, married - Twitchell, died in Swanzey.
-, a daughter, married - Aldrich, died in Swanzey.
Stephen, a clothier, settled in Winchester.
Abraham, moved to the West.
William, married Sarah Parmenter and lives in Richmond.
We may add that Levi Randall married and was the first person who located on the farm now owned by Luther Whitte- more, and after living there some years he sold the farm to Lot Aldrich and moved to Richmond.
All we know of Sylvanus Cook or Davenport is that they lived, a few years, on the road leading south from the Morse tavern to Richmond. Cook lived a few rods north, and Davenport about as far south of Peter Star- key's. The old cellars are about all that remain to show where they resided.
Isaac Jackson came here from Attleborough, but at what time we cannot learn, only that he was living in 1793, on the farm now owned by Timothy Fife.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Isaac Jackson had ten children :
Henry, married Abby, daughter of William Bruce, and moved to Vermont.
Isaac, Mary, daughter of Henry Tolman, and moved to the West.
John,
66 Lucretia Millin of Westminster, and settled in Swanzey.
Amos, moved to Vermont.
Samuel.
Anna.
Sarah.
Phebe, married Joel Millin of Swanzey.
Polly, Laban Starkey.
Lucy, 66 - Fisher, and settled in Fitzwilliam.
In 1806, Mr. Jackson sold his farm to Joseph Cutting and moved to Wallingford, Vt. Cutting bought the farm for An- drew Sherman, who married Millie Malona, his adopted daugh- ter.
William Starkey was a native of Attleborough, but, on arriving at manhood he came into this region, married Martin of Swanzey, and settled on the farm now owned by Malachi L. Tarpy.
William Starkey had eight children:
Sarah, married Tyler Tenney, died at the homestead. Hannah.
Naomi, 66 George Farrar, died in Troy Sept. 2, 1842.
Olive, Asher Coolidge, died in Keene.
Rhoda, 66 - - Holman, died in Worcester.
Lydia, L. Martin, lives in Keene.
Ebenezer, died in Troy.
William, died in childhood.
Ichabod Woodward resided many years in Sudbury, where he married and where his children were born. At what time he came here we cannot ascertain, although in 1793, he was living on a farm immediately south of the Morse tavern, and was considered one of the best farmers in that part of the town. He kept a large stock of cattle, and few men could produce a better team or furnish the market with more salable beef. But the once productive farm upon which he resided, like many
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HISTORY OF TROY.
of those first settled in that part of the town, presents at the present time a dreary, neglected, worthless aspect.
Ichabod Woodward had four children :
Josiah, settled in Swanzey, where he died.
Isaac, was in the army several years, but eventually settled in Swanzey.
Polly, married O. Aldrich, moved to the West. Ichabod, left the town many years since.
In 1794, Jonas Robinson, Silas Wheeler, John Rog- ers, Ebenezer Sanders, Ezekiel White and Nathaniel Bucklin took up their abode here.
Jonas Robinson* was one of the most enterprising men the town has ever had. He was a native of Bed- ford, and when a young man, went to Jaffrey, and served an apprenticeship with David Page, who had so much confidence in his business capacity, that after about two years, he furnished him with the means for opening a store within the limits of this town. He came here in the spring of 1794, and a little more than one year he traded in a part of the house of Reuben Ward. But wishing to locate nearer the centre of business, he pur- chased of Joshua Harrington a small lot of land, on the south side of the stream near the grist-mill, and built a store where Daniel W. Farrar's now stands. The back part of the store was finished for a dwelling-house and it was the eighth house built in the village. Sept. 6th, 1796, he married Betsey, daughter of Reuben Ward, and commenced to occupy his newly constructed dwel- ling. For about six years he was assisted in his busi- ness by Calvin, the third son of Phinehas Farrar, but in 1800, Daniel W., a younger brother, took Calvin's place, and remained with Robinson several years, first as clerk, and then as co-partner. In 1805, Robinson built a store in the village of Fitzwilliam, and placed his brother-in-law, Reuben Ward, there as clerk. He car-
*It appears that he wrote his name Robeson.
ʻ
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HISTORY OF TROY.
ried on business in both places till 1813, when he sold out his interest here to Farrar, his co-partner, and after that his business was mostly limited to the store last opened. He died in August, 1819, at Fitzwilliam, where he had resided after 1806. He was twice mar- ried. His second wife was a Bellows from Walpole, and was living a few years since.
Jonas Robinson had fire children :
Eliza, married Dr. Wells, and moved to the West. Jonas, moved away.
Maria, married D. P. Clark of New-Milford, Conn. John, died at the age of 30.
Abel B.
Silas Wheeler came from Holden in the year 1800, and settled on West Hill, not far from the residence of Agabus Bishop. In 1806, he bought the house and mill formerly owned by Daniel Gould. He immediately rebuilt the grist-mill, and soon after built a saw-mill on the opposite side of the stream. When he had got these mills in operation he built a house very nearly on the site of the old one; and this is the one now owned by Gregory Lawrence. By the great freshet of 1826, the saw-mill was carried away, but about two years after, Mr. Wheeler built another mill on the same spot, and the one now owned by Joseph M. Forristall. Wheeler resided here till 1832, when he moved to Swanzey, and lived with his father-in law, James Brewer .*
Silas Wheeler had eight children :
Silas, born April 17. 1790
Persis, " Sept. 30. 1791 James, " July 26, 1794 Silas 2d," Dec. 25, 1796
Vashti, " March 29, 1802
Asa, 6 June 12, 1805 Aaron, “ April 3, 1807 Simon, " March 16, 1810
These are all dead except Persis, James and Vashti.
*Silas Wheeler married Persis Brewer, Aug. 12, 1789.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Although we cannot point out the residence of John Rogers until 1794, we know that he must have lived within the limits of Marlboro' from a much earlier pe- riod, as his name occurs upon the records in 1773. He purchased the house which was built by James Dean, north of the school-house in district No. 1, and removed there with his family. He is represented as having been a noted hunter, and as having spent a large proportion of his time in the pursuit of game. He resided here till after the death of his wife, then went away to live with one of his children. He had two sons, Eli and Jo- siah, and four daughters, Polly married Shubal Stone; Esther; Betsey married George Goodenough; and Sarah.
Ebenezer Sanders bought a tract of land and built a house a short distance west of John Godding's. He lived there with his family until 1813, when he sold his location to Luna Starkey and removed to another part of Fitzwilliam.
Ebenezer Starkey had four children:
Martha, married - Chase. Ebenezer, moved to New-York. Asa, moved to New-York. Fanny, lives in Fitzwilliam.
David Sanders, brother of the preceding, built the house and lived some years north of the residence of Howard T. Clark.
David Sanders had four children:
Ezra, lived in Troy some years, but late in life moved to Shar- on, where he died.
Jesse, learned the trade of saddler, and carried on this business in Fitzwilliam some years, but left the town several years since.
Lovina, married, 1st, - Livingston, who died; 2d, Elisha, son of Moses Drury, now lives in Winchendon a widow.
Levi, lived some years on the home farm, but in 1825 moved to New-York.
Ezekiel White came here quite early, but we have
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HISTORY OF TROY.
*
not been able to fix the precise period. He was a native of Douglas, Mass., and he married Ruth Cree of that town, came here and settled on the farm which has been mentioned as the residence of the late Timothy Godding. His children were: 1, Sarah, died in Keene; 2, Ste- phen, married and died in Fitzwilliam; 3, David, mar- ried Esther Bruce and settled on the farm now owned by Porter White, and after living there some years, he bought the farm owned by Reuben Nurse and removed there and resided till the death of his wife, after which he went to live with his son Ezekiel; 4, Ezekiel, moved to Vermont; 5, Daniel, married Crane, moved to Vt .; 6, Hosea, moved to Mt. Holly; 7, Lydia, married Stickney and moved to Vt .; 8, Hannah, married Toby, died in Burlington. The father and mother both died on the Godding farm.
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