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 9
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In October of this year, Pelatiah Hodgkins, son of Hezekiah, married Mehitable Adams of Jaffrey, and set- tled on the homestead farm, where he has ever since re- sided. Children: 1, Augustus, born Nov. 12, 1815. died Oct.29, 1817; 2, Lydia, born Aug. 30, 1818, died June 20, 1845; 3, Augustus 2d, born June 29, 1820, married Hannah J. Rosebrook, 1858: 4, Sarah C., born July 19, 1823, died March 8, 1826; 5, Hezekiah, born Jan. 8, 1829.
1n 1815, Nathan Newell, son of Jacob Newell, Jr., built the front part of the house now owned by Edward P. Kimball. He had married Adelia, daughter of Na- than Wheeler, and resided some time previous in what was the Warren store. He was a blacksmith, and work- ed at his trade in a shop which stood where Thomas Goodall's stable now stands. In 1818, he sold his house to William Stearns, and moved into the house then own- ed by Solomon Goddard, where he resided about one year, then moved to Richmond. He had three children : 1, Amos, married Sarah Larkin, lives in Richmond; 2, Anna F., married Aaron Wheeler of Richmond; 3, Fin- ney, married Emily Harris, lives at the West.
This year, Lyman Wright bought the Warren stand and Winch tan-yard of David White and Joshua Har- rington, who had obtained them of Warren at the time he left the town. He soon built a new tannery, which stood nearly over the stream and a little lower down than the present one. Some years after, he moved this building a few feet up the stream, and towards the north, and put an addition upon the east end, and this is the tannery of the present day. Col. Wright is the son of Thomas Wright, and was born at Fitzwilliam, March 8,
11*
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HISTORY OF TROY.
1793. He learned the tanner and currier's trade in Templeton, and on coming here, boarded with Col. Far- rar while he was building his tannery, and making the necessary arrangements for house-keeping. April 16, 1817, he married Betsey Bowker of Firzwilliam, who was born Aug. 29, 1794. He resided in what was the Warren tavern, and this underwent no particular change until 1841, when he covered the frame with brick walls and remodelled the inside. The store which had been attached to the north end of the tavern, he also removed
around to the south, and repaired it for a dwelling-house. In 1836, he built the saw-mill, and shortly after, the house now owned by Charles Carpenter. At that time, the only road to the premises was a common foot-path; the road by there, and across the mill-pond, was not laid out until 1850. Col. Wright has been an active, enter- prising man, has held various offices, both civil and military, and is much esteemed by his fellow-citizens. Children: 1. Harriet Millin, born June 8, 1821, mar- ried Edwin Hill, Nov. 2, 1843, lives in Gardner, Mass .; 2, Fostina Miles, born Feb. 12, 1823, married first, Leonard W. Gilmore, Nov. 5, 1841, who died: second, Lorenzo V. Munroe, Dec. 28, 1847, lives in Ashburn- ham; 3, Melancia B., born April 6, 1828, married Lemuel C. Pratt, Feb. 17, 1855, lives at Newburgh, Ohio; 4, Leonard, born June 28, 1832, married Mary Jane Bemis, Oct. 23, 1855, lives in Troy.
December 7th of this year, Stephen Farrar, third son of George, married Delila Bemis and settled on the farm now owned by Joseph Alexander, Jr. The buildings on the farm were constructed for him by his father, and he resided there until March 15, 1831, when he ex- changed farms with Timothy Kendall and came to the village, where his son Stephen B., now lives. He died March 2, 1841. Children: 1, Charles, born April 6, 1817, died in 1838; 2, John, born Feb. 3, 1819, died
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July 24, 1841; 3, Stephen Bemis, born May 18, 1821; died June, 1826; 4, Stephen Bemis, 2d, born Aug. 23, 1826, married - Twitchell.
Calvin Davis, of Hancock, came here this year and built the house recently owned by Luther Chapman, Esq. The north room on the first floor was finished for a store; the remainder of the building was occupied as a tenement. Mr. Davis traded here until 1820, when having become somewhat embarrassed in his business he sold his location to - Holbrook from Keene, who continued the store.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE PEOPLE DESIRE A NEW TOWN; REASONS FOR THE SEPARATION; THEY PETITION TO BE VOTED OFF; THEIR REQUEST DENIED; BUILD A MEETING-HOUSE; SUBJECT BEFORE TIIE LEGISLATURE; ENCOUN- TER OPPOSITION; COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION; HIEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE; CHARTER OBTAINED; TOWN ORGANIZED.
OUR investigations thus far have been mostly limited to portions of the territory of Marlboro', Fitzwilliam, Swanzey, and Richmond, for Troy up to this period has had no political existence. But this year, (1815), these portions of territory, with the inhabitants thereon, were by legislative enactment, incorporated into a town. And in order to a full understanding of this matter it will be necessary to go back a few years in the order of time. and notice some of the reasons which made the separation desirable on the part of the people, and the means em- ployed to bring this about. In the first place, the sur- face of this territory was so uneven and hilly, and the hills extended in such directions, as to render it incon- venient for the inhabitants of some parts of it to reach the centre of their respective towns. At this time, also, the village had attained considerable size, and become a place of extensive business, so that it commanded the most of the trade within a circle of a radius of two or three miles. And the people, having become accustom- ed to do much of their private business here, very natu- rally concluded that it would be for their convenience to
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transact their public business here also. Then again, the village, having been built up upon the border of two towns, was under a divided jurisdiction, and so long as this was the case the inhabitants must feel that their in- terests to a certain extent were divided, and this was neither pleasant nor conducive to the prosperity of the place. These were the main reasons urged for an act of incorporation, and we can see that they were really co- gent and deserving candid consideration. In order to prepare the way for the organization of a new town, it was thought to be a matter of primary importance to build a Meeting-House. This subject was first agitated in the year 1794, and the following is a copy of a peti- tion that was drawn up at that time:
" To the Inhabitants of ye Town of Fitzwilliams in the County of Cheshire, in Legal Town Meeting assembled, on ye 25th Day of August A. D. 1794: The Petion of ye Subscribers a Com'tee in behalf of the Inhabitants, settled on ye lands included in the 5th, 6th, & 7th Ranges of lotts, with the weddge tear, to- gether with a number of lotts southwest of the branch, so called, in the town of Marlborough, with a number of . lotts of land on the northend of the Town of Fitzwilliams, bounded as followeth, begining at Writchmond line, in- cluding ye 7th lott in the 12th Range; thence east in- cluding the 20th lott in ye 9th range; thence east to Jafery line, including all the lands lying north of said line in said Town of Fitzwilliams; Together with a number of lotts at ye southeast corner of Swansey and ve northeast corner of Writchmond, and a number of lotts from the northwest corner of Jaffery, Humbly Sheweth-That by reason of our great distance from ye Hous of Publick worship and other meetings for tran- saction of Publick buiseness in our respective Towns, upon mature deliberatin in publick meeting called for
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that purpose, think our duty & a reasonable request that we should be incorporated into a distinct town with equal powers and priveledges of other Towns within this State.
Therefore in behalf of said Inhabitants, we humbly request Gentlemen your aprobation of ye Same, and that by your vote or grant, you signify your Willingness that we be incorporated by ye General Court into a Dis- tinct Town as afore, all which is humbly Submitted by vour obedient Servants-
EPHRAIM ROOT, ENOCH STARKEY, DANIEL FARRAR, JESSE BELOWS,
Com'tee.
Fitzwilliams the 6th of August A. D. 1794."
" FITZWILLIAMS August 6th 1794.
The subscribers inhabitants of said Town hereby re- quest ye Gentlemen, Selectmen of this Town to inSert ve prayer of ye Within petion, and make it an Artical in ye warrant for ye next Townmeeting;
witness our hands & c.
AGABUS BISHOP, JOHN SWEETLAND,
EDWARD FOSTER,
DAVID WHITE,
EBENEZER MASON,
EBENEZER NURS,
WILLIAM FARRAR, JOIIN WRITE,
THOMAS BRUCE, NATHANIEL BUCKLIN,
ABRAHAM HAWKINS,
NATHANIEL BUCKLIN, JR.,
JONAS WARREN,
EZEKIEL WHITE,
JONAS ROBESON,
ISAAC JACKSON,
JONATHAN WHITNEY,
JOIIN JACKSON,
JOHN WHITNEY, JOHN GODDING,
THOMAS TOLMAN,
TIMOTHY GODDING."
At a Town Meeting, shortly after the date of the above petition, this subject was taken into consideration, but the town refused to accede to the prayer of the pe- titioners. In the year 1800, the subject was again agi- tated, but the result was a little talk only, which was soon dropped. In the summer of 1812, the subject was
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HISTORY OF TROY.
again revived, and on this? wise : one afternoon, Jacob Osborne and. Edmund Bemis happened to meet at D. W. Farrar's store, and " over a mug of toddy " (so the story is) broached the subject to Dr. Wright, who by request wrote some notices for a citizen's meeting, to be held at Weaver's Hotel, for the purpose of taking the matter in- to consideration, and devising such plans as might seem expedient. At this meeting, of which Capt. Daniel Farrar was chairman, and Dr. Wright, secretary, the subject was warmly discussed, but to avoid hasty action and give ample time for reflection, the meeting was ad- journed for a few days. At this adjourned meeting a committee was chosen, consisting of Capt. Isaac Fuller, George Farrar, sen., Daniel W. Farrar, Daniel Cutting, and David White, for the purpose of making the neces- sary arrangements for building a Meeting-House, and procuring a charter of the proposed town. And in order to obtain the best plan possible for a house, Capt. Fuller and D. W. Farrar were directed to go to Templeton and examine a model house which had just been completed in that town. At a meeting of the citizens in 1813, this committee reported the result of their proceedings : whereupon it was voted that they should draw a plan of the house after the model they had examined, and sell what pews they could to raise money to defray the cx- pense of building. The committee drew the plan and proceeded to sell the pews ; but not succeeding according to their expectation, they became discouraged and were about to abandon the enterprise. Just at this time, Elnathan Gorham moved into the village, and by his zeal and energy infused new life into the whole matter. He bought pews and rendered such pecuniary aid, as en- abled the committee to go forward and place the building under contract. The timber for the frame was furnished by the citizens, and hewn according to the dimensions furnished by the committee; the framing and outside
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finishing were let to a man from Sullivan for $550; the inside finishing was let to Samuel Morse of Templeton for $600. The contractors went forward with their work with all possible speed, so that the frame was rais- cd in June, and the house was dedicated* carly the fol- lowing winter. The raising will probably be distinctly remembered by all now living who participated in the act, from a single circumstance that transpired at the time. Just as the frame was partially raised and the effort of every man was required to sustain and complete the work, an alarm was given that a boy had fallen into the mill-pond and was drowned. Quick as thoughit, a large number rushed to the water, leaving their compan- ions in labor in a most perilous condition. For a little time a few only, thoughtful and brave men, stood at their posts, though they were almost led to tremble lest the weight they had to sustain should prove too much for their strength, and they should be crushed beneath the falling timbers.
Fortunately, however, no harm ensued and the drowning boyt by great effort was saved. Hav- ing completed the contracts for the building of a Meeting- House, the committee proceeded to make a survey and draw a plan of the proposed town; and they got an ar- ticle inserted in the warrant for the Annual Meeting of each of the towns from which they proposed to sever ter- ritory, to see if they would vote it off. Swanzey and
* The sermon at the dedication was preached by Rev. John Sabin of Fitzwilliam. Rev. Messrs. Ainsworth of Jaffrey, Payson of Rindge, Fish of Marlboro', and Brown of Swanzey, took part in the exercises. This honse was remodelled in 1857, at an expense of about $2500, and rededicated February 23, 1858. The services on this occasion consisted of a prayer and historical discourse by Rev. Luther Townsend and appro- priate remarks by Messrs. Daniel W. Farrar, Jotham H. Hfolt, and Brown Nurse, of Troy, and Dr. Silas Cummings of Fitz- william.
t This lad was Aaron, son of Hugh Mason.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Richmond voted to grant their request, but Fitzwil- liam and Marlboro' refused. Not disheartened, they went before the Legislature at its session in June follow- ing, and presented before that body their plan, and pe- titioned for an act of incorporation. In this transaction Col. D. W. Farrar was agent for the petitioners, and through his influence the subject was brought before the House, where it encountered vehement opposition, but was so far entertained, that a committee was appointed to examine the ground, hear the parties, and report to the next session of the Legislature. This committee consisted of John Smith of Peterborough, Lockhart Wil- lard of Keene, and Brown of New-Ipswich. In the spring of 1815, they came here, and, after a partial view of the place, had a public hearing at Gorham's Ho- tel. After weighing the testimony on both sides they expressed themselves adverse to the prayer of the peti- tioners. Upon this, Col. Farrar proposed to them to make a more thorough examination of the territory. To this they assented, and Col. Farrar led them to the top of the Fuller Hill, and from thence to the Marlboro' Meeting-House. This was about the time when buggy wagons came into general use in this region, and as we may imagine, they were almost any thing but the light vehicles of the present day. One of these containing two ponderous bodies in the form of a court's committee, and drawn over a road like this, was enough to make a horse of ordinary strength plead the petitioners' cause far more effectually than could have been done by any feed attor- ney. When they had arrived at the Meeting-House the minds of the committee were completely revolutionized. and one of them distinctly declared that "the people of West Hill ought never to be compelled to travel such a road as that to reach the centre of their town." Having secured the favor of the committee, the petitioners took new courage, and pressed their claim with more deter-
12
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HISTORY OF TORY.
mined resolution. But Marlboro' and Fitzwilliam threw every obstacle in their way, the strife became ardent, and it seemed that,
" Long time in even scale -
The battle hung;"
when circumstances occurred which rendered it much more desirable on the part of the latter town, to lose the troublesome member, than to retain it at the expense of entailing upon herself a perpetual quarrel. At this time her Meeting-House had become so dilapidated that it was found necessary to build a new one, and then a conten- tion arose respecting its location. Some argued that it should stand upon the site of the old one, others that the village was the only proper place. Meeting after meet- ing was held to settle this vexed question, but the friends of the new town, holding the balance of power between the different parties, were sure to defeat all their efforts. At length a compromise was entered into between one of the parties and the petitioners, by which the former agreed to yield to the request of the latter, on condition that the latter should not interfere with them in their efforts to accomplish their purposes. In this way, Fitz- william voted to relinquish her title to that portion of her territory claimed for the new town, and she was then enabled to settle her own domestic quarrels. Marlboro' learning that Fitzwilliam had yielded in the controversy, called a meeting, and voted to give up about two-thirds of that part of her territory asked for by the petitioners. Thus matters stood on the assembling of the Legislature in June, 1815, and when the subject was brought up be- fore that body, the committee reported unanimously in favor of granting the prayer of the petitioners. At the public hearing of the parties, Samuel Green of Concord, was employed as counsel for the petitioners, and John C. Chamberlain of Charlestown for the town of Marlboro'.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
After hearing the testimony and the arguments of coun- sel, the petitioners were allowed by the court to bring in a Bill for all they asked, excepting the Haskell farm. The Bill as brought in and passed was as follows :
" State of New-Hampshire, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen.
An act to incorporate the inhabitants of the L. S.) southerly part of Marlboro', the northerly part of Fitzwilliam, and the easterly parts of Swan- zey and Richmond, into a separate township, with all the privileges and immuities of other towns in this State.
WHEREAS, a petition signed by a number of the in- habitants of the towns of Marlboro', Fitzwilliam, Swan- zey, and Richmond, praying to be incorporated into a separate town, has been presented to the General Court of this State, and the prayer thereof appearing reasona- ble, therefore,
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: That all the lands and inhabitants within the following limits. namely : beginning at the south east corner of lot num- ber twenty one in the fourth range of lots in Fitzwilliam on the west line of Jaffrey, thence running north eighty seven degrees west two hundred and fifteen rods, thence north eighty two degrees west three hundred twenty six rods, thence south one degree west two hundred twenty rods, thence north eighty degrees west one hundred six- ty rods, thence south four degrees west ninety five rods, thence north eighty four degrees west one hundred sixty rods, thence south six degrees east one hundred rods. thence north eighty two degrees west one hundred sixty rods, thence north eighty seven and a half degrees west two hundred ten rods to the east line of Richmond. thence northerly on said line two hundred sixty two
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HISTORY OF TROY.
rods, thence north seventy two and a half degrees west two hundred and forty three rods, thence north one and a half degrees east sixty rods, thence south eighty de- grees west forty seven rods, thence north one degree west one hundred forty five rods, thence south eighty four degrees east fifty two rods, thence north eighty rods, thence north twenty three degrees east ninety two rods. thence north thirty degrees east twenty seven rods, thence north one half a degree west one hundred seven- ty three rods, thence east ninety eight rods, thence north one half degree west two hundred thirty five rods, thence south eighty two and a half degrees east one hundred thirty two rods to the line between Marlboro' and Swanzey, thence north four and a half degrees east ou said line two hundred sixty three rods, thence north eight degrees east on said line one hundred ninety four rods, thence east two hundred fifteen rods to the Branch "Turnpike Road in Marlboro', thence southerly on said road to the south line of lot number nine in the fourth range in Marlboro', thence south eighty seven and a half degrees east sixty two rods, thence easterly on the north line of the fifth range of lots in Marlboro' to lot number one in said range, thence south on the west line of lot number one in said fifth range one hundred sixty rods, thence east one hundred rods to the line between Jaffrey and Marlboro', thence southerly on said line of Jaffrey seven hundred forty eight rods to the bounds first men- tioned, be and the same are incorporated into a town by the name of TROY, and the inhabitants who now reside, or shall hereafter reside within the above mentioned boun- daries, are made and constituted a body politic and cor- porate, and invested with all the powers, privileges, and immunities which other towns in this State are entitled to enjoy, to remain a distinct town, and to have contin- uance and succession forever.
SECTION 2. And be it further enacted, That all the
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HISTORY OF TROY.
moneys that are now assessed in the towns of Marlboro', Fitzwilliam, Swanzey and Richmond for the support of schools shall be divided between the remaining towns of Marlboro' Fitzwilliam, Swanzey and Richmond and the several parts of the town of Troy disannexed from said towns according to their present proportion of the public taxes, and the lands which the said towns of Marlboro and Fitzwilliam now have for the support of schools shall be divided between the remaining parts of Marlboro' and Fitzwilliam and the town of Troy according to the pres- ent proportion of the public taxes paid by the remaining towns of Marlboro' and Fitzwilliam and the parts of Troy disannexed from said towns, and the inhabitants of the town of Troy shall pay all the taxes assessed on them by the several towns from which they are hereby disan- nexed, and the said town of Troy shall after the next annual town meeting, support all the present poor in- cluding all those supported in whole or in part who have gained a settlement in the towns of Marlboro', Fitzwil- liam, Swanzey or Richmond, by living in that part of either of said towns that is now included within the town of Troy, and shall support any poor person now residing in any other towns, which by law the towns of Marl- boro', Fitzwilliam, Swanzey or Richmond may respec- tively be liable to relieve or support, that have gained a settlement in either of said towns, by residing within the limits of the town of Troy.
Provided nevertheless that this act shall not effect the interest of any of the inhabitants of the said remain- ing towns, or the town of Troy, in any school house now built within the same.
SECTION 3. And be it further enacted, That Joshua Harrington, Esquire, and Daniel.W. Farrar or either of them, be empowered to call a meeting of the inhabitants of the said town of Troy, for the purpose of choosing all necessary town officers, to continue in office until the an-
12*
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HISTORY OF TROY.
mal meeting of said town for the choice of town officers which shall forever be holden in the month of March, and the said Joshua Harrington and Daniel W. Farrar, or either of them, shall preside in said meeting until a Moderator be chosen to govern the same, which moeting shall be holden in the month of July next, and shall be warned by posting up a notification at the meeting-house in said town of Troy, fifteen days prior to the day of holding the same.
Provided however that all town officers residing with- in the limits of the town of Troy and chosen by the towns of Marlboro', Fitzwilliam, Swanzey or Richmond, shall continue in their respective offices during the time for which they were elected, with full power to execute the same; and provided further that all public taxes which the towns of Marlboro', Fitzwilliam, Swanzey and Richmond shall or may be compelled to assess, before a new act for proportioning the public taxes among the several towns in this State shall pass, may be assessed, levied. and collected, by the proper officers of the towns of Marlboro'. Fitzwilliam, Swanzey and Richmond, up- on the inhabitants of the town of Troy, in case the Se- leetmen of the town of Troy neglect to assess, levy, and collect their proportion of such public taxes, and pay the same seasonably into the treasuries of the towns of Marl- boro`. Fitzwilliam, Swanzey and Richmond, in the way and manner as if this act had not passed, any thing here- in to the contrary notwithstanding.
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE,
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 17, 1815.
The foregoing Bill, having had three several readings, passed to be enacted. Sent up for concurrence.
GEORGE P. UPHAM, SPEAKER.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
IN SENATE June 19, 1815. This Bill having been read a third time was enacted.
M. P. PAYSON, PRESIDENT.
Approved June 23, 1815.
J. T. GILMAN, GOVERNOR."
The warrant for the first meeting, and the record of the proceedings, were as follows :
"STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Agreeable to an Act passed by the Legislature of said State at the June session 1815, authorizing the subscri- bers to call a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Troy, for the purpose of electing all town officers in said town, to continue in office until the annual meeting to be holden in March next, we hereby request and warn all the inhabitants of said town, qualified by law to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Meeting House in said town, on Thursday the twentieth day of July instant, at twelve of the clock at noon, for the following pur- poses, viz :
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