Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 58

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers
Number of Pages: 1266

USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886 > Part 58

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

December 25, 1780, Voted, that Elehu Hyde be a delegate to attend the convention at Charlestown according to a proposition from the county of Cheshire. Voted to raise £25, to procure one hundred pounds, of lead and flints in proportion.

March 2, 1781, By request, voted to raise six men for a scouting party, to give each man eight bushels of wheat per month, and to provide for the said men, 141b, of flour, one pound of pork and one gill of rum per day, and that the militia officers see to raising said men.

March 13, 1781, chose Elehu Hyde, Moderator, John Wheatley, town clerk, Nath. Storrs, Hezekiah Waters and Edmund Freeman, Selectmen. Elehu Hyde, Dea Estabrook and Maj. Lathrop, Committee of Safety ; Con- stant Storrs, Constable, Nath'l Wheatley and William Dana, Grand Jurors. Voted 40 for repairing highways, and the several articles of union agreed upon by the Assembly committee of the State of Vermont and the committee of Convention from the County of Cheshire and Grafton and being read in said meeting was agreed to nem. con., and voted Col. Elisha Payne and Lt. Elehu Hyde represent the town of Lebanon in the Assembly of Vermont, to be holden at Windsor on the first day of April next. Voted that all monies raised by taxes on appropriated lands in town be applied for the support of schools in Lebanon.

April 30, 1781, Voted to pay Colonel Payne for his services in the late convention at Cornish. Also to pay £43 for expenses in the late aların at Newbury. Voted that Nath'l Bosworth be a brander of horses. Voted to pay each man that will engage in the service for this town twenty shillings per month fron the time of their enlistment until discharged, and that they shall be free from bearing any part in the payment of said bounty. Voted to build a pound near Esq. Hyde's and that Henry Woodward be pound keeper. Also voted that the selectmen procure barrels in which to secure provisions, and that each man provide his own salt according to his quota of provisions assigned him according to his list. The selectmen made a com- mittee to look out a proper place to erect a bridge over the river Mascoma near Gov. Payne's mill (which was at East Lebanon).

Annual March meeting, 1782. Town officers chosen. Voted to raise ten hard dollars immediately to bear the expense of an agent now going to the Assembly of New Hampshire. Voted that the Selectmen take into their care the money of the Vermont emission now in the treasury and make the best use of it for the benefit of the town. May 10, 1782, Nathaniel Storrs was added to the committee for examining into the expenditures of the town in the contest with Great Britain. The selectmen were directed to furnish

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plank to cover the bridge lately raised over the Mascoma River near Simeon Peck's interval, (which stood about 70 or 80 rods below the present one at the Scythe Factory.)

August 12, 1782. Met at the dwelling house of Zalmon Aspinwall. Query .- Whether the town will raise nine men, sent, for by the State of New Hampshire, to join the Continental army. Resolved in the negative. "Whether they will raise one man for the defense of the frontier to serve as a soldier till November. Resolved in negative." Whether they will raise the sum of £914, 135, 4d, demanded by the State of New Hampshire. Resolved in the negative. Whether they will choose one or two men to set in Convention at Concord, In the aforesaid State, to assist in forming a Constitution for said State of New Hampshire. Resolved in the affirmative. Chose John Wheat- ley to represent the town of Lebanon in said Convention for the purpose aforesaid. September 24, 1782, voted to recall the said representative chosen to attend the Convention at Concord. Adjourned to the fourth day of Octo- ber, and voted to reconsider the vote passed in said meeting September 24, 1782, for recalling their representative elected to a seat in said convention.

November 12, 1782, Voted to postpone the consideration of the Constitu- tion framed for the State of New Hampshire for the present, and appointed Col. Payne, Maj. Griswold, Esq'r Hyde, Lt. Hebbard and Wm. Chaplin a committee to examine said Constitution and make report to the town. Nov. 26, Voted to recall their Representative who joined the Convention at Con- cord, and Voted that the above vote to withdraw be sent to said Convention to be entered upon the files thereof. A committee was appointed to examine into the matter represented to the town by Col. Payne and others, respect- ing their being set off in a district from the town. From Feby 24, 1783, to March 14, 1786, (being about three years) the record is missing.

The first male child born in the town was Thomas Waterman, July II, 1766, though on the records is found "Roger Hebbard, son of Jedediah Heb- bard, born August 13, 1764." This is to be explained by the fact that Roger was born in Connecticut just previous to the migration of his parents, and hence his birth was recorded here. In 1763 a horse road, or properly a cart road, was completed through to Charleston, and in the following year a grist- mill was built upon the site, it is said, now occupied by the mill of Thomas P. Waterman.

In the war for independence the people of Lebanon took an active part. Every male inhabitant signed what is known as the "test." and the return was made July 4, 1776. Many of the inhabitants were found in the army doing valiant services for their country. Luther Wheatley fell, mortally wounded, in the battle of Stillwater. Nehemiah Estabrooks left his home the next day after the news of the battle of Lexington, and remained in the ser- vice until the close of the war. He was one of Washington's famous body guard. Many others were employed as scouts upon the frontier, and there was hardly an able-bodied man in the town who was not employed in some service.

Lebanon was prominent, also, in what is known as the Vermont contro- versy. New Hampshire and New York both obtained the territory of Ver_ mont. Both gave charters for townships of the same land, and both exacted

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fees for their charters. The people of Vermont, thus ground between the upper and nether mill-stones, resolved upon an independent organization as a sovereign state. New Hampshire and New York opposed the admission of Vermont into the Union. The people along the Connecticut having a com- mon origin with the Vermont settlers, and dissatisfied with their relations with New Hampshire, on account of what they called their "grievances," sympathized with the Vermont people and sought a union with them as a part of the contemplated state. Twice were these towns admitted, and twice were they dismissed by Vermont, as it seemed to the leaders of that State their interest demanded.

In this long and bitter controversy this town was prominent, Dea. Nehe- miah Estabrooks usually acting as chairman in the numerous conventions of towns, while Col. Elisha Payne was chosen as lieutenant governor, and com- manded the forces of Vermont.

For a time Lebanon was in a singular position. Dismissed from Ver- mont, to which state it had been admitted upon urgent invitation, and deny- ing the jurisdiction of New Hampshire, it stood alone, independent, a sovereign organization, adopting the laws of Connecticut, and maintaining its own courts-tolerating no license or disorder. Returning, finally, to its allegiance with New Hampshire, the people who had paid taxes to Ver- mont found themselves burdened with arrearages of taxes to New Hamp- shire, almost to their ruin.

In the war of the Rebellion the town was prompt and patriotic, giving some of the best of her citizens to the support of the government.

From the beginning, the people of the town manifested their interest in education. As early as 1768 they voted to establish a school, and appro- priated twenty pounds to sustain it. This school was kept in a log-house in the westerly part of the town. In 1775 four districts were established, and in 1778 there were eight, and the town continued to provide for its increasing population. In the Center Village a high school has been estab- lished, the building costing $25,000.00, having nine teachers and seven depart- ments. More than seventy have graduated at college, and among them have been presidents and professors in other colleges. Three have gradu- ated at West Point, one of whom, Col. Henry L. Kendrick, was for many years a professor in that institution. Col. James G. Benton was a distin- guished ordnance officer. Col. Willis Bliss was with General Taylor in the Mexican war, and when the General became President, was his private secretary. Tilden seminary, at West Lebanon, established mainly by the lib- erality of a native of the town, has for many years sustained a high reputation as a place of education for young ladies.

Col. Elisha Ticknor, whose ancestor, William Ticknor, the founder of the family, came from Kent, England, first settled in Scituate, Mass. His de- scendants removed to Lebanon, Conn. Col. Elisha moved from Lebanon, Conn., and settled in Lebanon, N. H., about 1768. He held a command in

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the New Hampshire troops, was in the expedition against Crown Point. was in several campaigns of the Revolutionary war, and was a farmer. Some of the family still reside in Lebanon. Deacon Elisha Ticknor, son of Col. Elisha, afterwards a citizen of Boston, was the first person to introduce the fine-wool Merino sheep in this section of the State. Col. Elisha had many sons and daughters, most of them successful farmers and farmers' wives. He was grandfather of Prof. George Ticknor, of Boston, Mass., who was a dis- tinguished writer on Spanish literature. Another grandson, William D. Ticknor, was the founder of the famous book concern of Boston, known as the house of Ticknor & Fields. Many of the children and grandchildren of Col. Elisha moved west and to other parts of the country, and but few of his descendants remain in Lebanon.

Nathaniel Storrs came to Lebanon, from Mansfield, Conn., in 1770, and located on the place where his grandson Abel Storrs now lives, on road 40. He lived here till his death, in 1813, at the age of sixty-six years. Con- stant. son of Nathaniel, was born and lived here until his death, which oc- curred in 1853, aged eighty-one years. Abel, son of Constant, was also born here, in the same house in which his father was born, this house having been built in 1784. He married twice, first, Sarah A. Storrs, in 1839, who died in 1840, and second, Eliza C. Hoyt, of Craftsbury, Vt. He has three chil- dren, Nellie E., born in 1853, Alice C., born in 1855, and Jennie L., born in 1865.

Eliel Peck, born in Norwich, Vt., January 9, 1768, came to Lebanon about 1778, and settled on what is now Mascoma street. He died here in 1847. His son John W. was born here, and died in 1863. Solon A., son of John W., was born and lives here in the house built by his great-grandfather. Five generations of the Peck family have lived in this house, and the old brass clock that was put up in 1794, is still ticking and in good running order. Solan A. has served as selectman for twenty-three years.

Col. Edmund Freeman came from Norwich, Conn., at a very early day, and first located in Hanover. He donated lands for college buildings. He was captain of a company of militia in the Revolutionary war, came to Leb- anon about 1780, and finally settled where his grandson Luther Freeman and his great-grandson Thomas D. now live. He died here, aged about seventy years. His son Nathaniel also died in this town, aged eighty years. Na- thaniel, Jr., was born here, and has always lived here except twenty years spent in Plymouth.

Nathaniel Hall came to this town, from Mansfield, Conn., in 1792, and settled upon the place now owned by the heirs of Silas Waterman. After a few years he removed to the farm where George N. Hall now lives. He married Mehitable Storrs, and when he came to Lebanon the journey was made by Mrs. Hall on horseback. She brought her spinning wheel on the horse before her. Mr. Hall remainnd on the farm of his second purchase the remainder of his life. His farm was a wilderness which he cleared up,

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and from his orchard was made the first cider in Lebanon. His son Aruna remained on the homestead. In his boyhood he went alone two miles through the woods to the nearest district school and took his lessons in penmanship on white birch bark. He could distinctly remember seeing a fine crop of wheat growing on the park at the village. He married Rebecca Demary, and was the father of twelve children, five of whom are living, viz .: Edward O., George N., Henry S. and Mary O. (Mrs. Estabrook), who reside in Lebanon, and Alfred A., who is supposed to be in California. Aruna Hall died on the homestead, in October, 1871, aged nearly ninety-one years.

Moses Hebard came here, from Connecticut, when his son Aaron was quite young, and settled upon the farm now owned by Ira Gates. He pur- chased this farm when it was a wilderness, and it has been owned by one generation after another for five generations. There has been five genera- tions of Hebards working on the farm at the same time. Aaron, son of Moses, was born in Connecticut in 1771, and died in Lebanon, January 25, 1855.

Silas Waterman came to Lebanon, from Boswell, Conn., at an early day, and was among the first settlers. He lived here until his death, about 1834. His son Thomas the first male child born in town, was chairman of the board of selectmen for twenty or twenty-five years. Silas, son of Thomas, was born here, was a farmer, and lived here until his death, in April, 1879, aged eighty years. Thomas P., son of Silas, was born here, served as town representa- tive in 1879-80, and has held the office of selectman two years. He is a lumber manufacturer and dealer, and also a farmer.

Wetherell Hough, born in Norwich, Conn., was one of the early settlers of this town, locating where his nephew and adopted son, Clement Hough, now lives. He married Mehitable Slapp, of Connecticut, and remained in this town until his death, September 20, 1834, aged nearly eighty years. His adopted son, Clement, came here from Connecticut, joining him in 1814, and has continued on the Hough homestead to the present time. He mar- ried twice, first Aseneth D. Ferris, January 9, 1823, who bore him one child who died in infancy. He married for his second wife, Theody Wells, Octo- ber 9, 1825, who was the mother of eight children, three of whom are living, viz .: Thomas Wells, a traveling salesman, who has one son and three daugh- ters, and lives in Claremont ; Mrs. Ruth S. True, who resides in Meriden, N. H .; and Henry B., who is an extensive farmer and stock breeder, has two sons and two daughters, and owns and occupies the old homestead. Mr. Clement Hough is now the oldest man in this town, being nearly ninety-three years of age.

Dea. Nehemiah Estabrook came to Lebanon from Mansfield, Conn., at an early day, and settled upon the place now owned by Nathan Stearns, where he lived until his death. His son Joseph was a Revolutionary soldier, and died of smallpox when in the service of his country. Hobart, son of Joseph, located on the farm now occupied by his grandson Hobart E. Bliss. He mar-

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ried twice, and was the father of four children, two sons and two daughters, only one of whom is living, Mrs. Anna Hurlburt, who resides with her sister's son, Hobart E. Bliss, on the homestead.

Joseph Martin, one of the early settlers of Lebanon, came, as near as can be ascertained, from Norwich, Conn., and first settled on the Connecticut river. Later he removed to the farm now owned by his grandson, Oliver S. Martin, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and the gun he carried during the war is well preserved and kept on the old homestead by his grandson. He reared four sons and three daughters, viz .: Jonathan and John, who located in Chelsea, Vt ; Sylvanus, who became a physician and located in East Plainfield, N. H .; Joseph, who remained on the homestead ; Elizabeth, who married Oliver Smith. of Chelsea, Vt .; Susannah and Jemima. In March, 1842, Oliver S. Martin, son of John and grandson of Joseph, came here from Chelsea, Vt., and located on the home- stead. He married twice, first. Mary Martin, who bore him one son, Dr. Joseph H. Martin, and died September 3, 1862. Mr. Martin married for his second wife, Amanda A. Moore, of Chelsea, Vt., in March, 1863, and she died August 30, 1864, aged sixty-five years.

Samuel S. Barrows came here from Mansfield, Conn., about 1810, and located where Jason Densmore now lives. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years.

Lewis Bythrow came to this town, from Vermont, about seventy years ago. He died in Reading, Mass., in May, 1883, aged ninety-one or ninety-two years. His son Horace A. was born at Lebanon, in March, 1828, married Sarah S. Wheeler, of Pomfret, Vt., and has had born to him four children, as follows : Horace Herbert, who lives in this town ; Ella, who married Frank Hutchinson, and died in 1879; Jennie, who married Ed Curtis, of Cornish, N. H .; and Charles M., who lives in Cornish.

Enos M. Perkins was born in Gilmanton, N. H., in April, 1784, married Judith Colby, of South Hampton, N. H., and came to Lebanon, in January, 1818. He located in the village, and carried on the business of shoemaking. He finally moved to Newport, N. H., where he died, aged sixty-five years. His son Joseph M., now residing in Lebanon, was born in Chelsea, Vt., March 8, 1815, and came to this town with his parents when about four years of age. He was educated at Kimball Union academy, at Meriden, N. H., and at New Ipswich academy. He taught school in his native State, in Mass- achusetts, and was teacher of a high school in Cumberland, R. I., for three years and a half. In 1844 he located permanently in Lebanon village, and has been a salesman in the furniture trade over twenty years. He is better known, however, as a musician and a teacher of vocal music. He married Maria P. Jewett, and has two children, George C., late of the firm of Durant & Perkins, and Helen M., a teacher of music, drawing and painting, and re- siding with her parents.

Elisha P. Liscomb, son of John and Hannah (Waters) Liscomb, was born

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in Pomfret, Conn., December 12, 1802, and moved with his parents to Leb- anon, in Feburary. 1805. The family located upon a small farm, near East Lebanon, where they remained until after the death of the father, John Liscomb, in 1845. He attended the district school, and worked several years as a farm hand. In 1834 he purchased the valuable farm now owned by Richard Walker, occupied it for twelve years, then being disabled for hard labor, dis- posed of it to Mr. Walker. He served as selectmen in 1838, '39, '40,'49 and, '50, and was town representative in 1842 '43, and '44. Mr. Liscomb took an ac- tive part in procuring the charter of the Northern railroad, had charge of the preliminary survey made by engineer Thomas J. Carter, and in 1845 took an active and successful part in obtaining the first subscription to the stock of said road. He was first commissioned justice of the peace, June, 1843, and his last commission expired in June, 1883, thus holding the office forty years. He has taken a lively interest and an active part in politics since 1828, and as- sociated many years with the leading Whigs and Republicans of the state. He was a member of the Whig States Central Committee, from 1845 to 1848. In March, 1862, he was appointed allotment commissioner for the state of New Hampshire. by President Lincoln, the duty being to visit the army and secure the pay of the New Hampshire troops for their families. He was also authorized by the governor of New Hampshire, to look after the sick and wounded soldiers of the state, was with the army of the Potomac, from about April to July, 1862, and was with the army for some days, at Falmouth, Va., directly after the battle of Fredericksburg, in December, 1862. He served as United States assitant assessor, in 1863 and '64, and was appointed postmaster of Lebanon in July, 1866, and held the office until Feburary, 1881. He married twice, first, Ethalinda Loomer, of Lebanon, May, 6, 1833, who died March 20, 1843, leaving three children, Emily, Edward A. and Charles F., all now deceased. He married for his second wife Mrs. Mary J. Wilkins, of Exeter, N. H., May 7, 1844, who died September 8, 1880, leaving two child- ren, Mary M. and William P.

Henry W. Benton was born in Hebron, Conn., June 28, 1820. His mother died when he was but a year and a half old, and he came to this town when two years of age, and was brought up by his grand-parents. He has lived here since with the exception of twelve years spent in Virginia and North Carolina, from 1834 to 1846. He has remained here since then, is an iron and brass molder by trade, and proprietor of the Mascoma House.

Samuel B. Gerrish was born in Boscawen, N. H., in 1782, located in Hart- land, Vt., in 1829, where he remained six years, and then came to Lebanon, locating where his widow now lives. Mr. Gerrish died in 1866. His widow is still living, at the great age of ninety-six years. Her daughter Mary P. lives with her and cares for her.

Oliver Stearns was born in Mansfield, Conn., February 5, 1776, married Lois Lathrop, January 25, 1798, and was the father of twelve children, three of whom died in infancy. Mr. Stearns came to Lebanon in 1835, located

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and spent his life on the farm where his son Nathan B. now lives, dying in October, 1862, aged eighty years. His son Oliver L., a prominent citizen of this town, is a farmer, and has held several town offices. He has served as justice of the peace, selectman and town representative. He has also been a captain of the militia. He married Betsey Wood, of Lebanon, and is the father of eight children. His son Albert B. was born here, enlisted in Co. E, 9th N. H. Vols., August 8, 1862, and was mustered out June 15, 1865. He was wounded, May 26, 1864, by a minnie ball in his right wrist and hand. Nathan B., son of Oliver, resides on the homestead, and has hield the offices of selectman and town representative. His four children are as fol- lows : Frederick O., a farmer, Arlington C., a pharmacist, both of whom re- side with their father, Sophia F., wife of Dr. Carl Allen, who resides at Ack- worth, N. H., and Hattie A., wife of Dr. Henry Powers, of Hopkinton, N. H.

Richard Walker was born in Bradford, Mass. When six weeks old, his parents moved to Hanover, and came to Lebanon about 1847, locating where he now lives, on road 10. He has been selectman two years, and served as town representative in 1873-74.

Robert Chase was born in Littleton, and moved to Bath, where he died. His son Ebenezer S. was born in Bath, married Lomira Cora, and reared ten children, all born in Bath, two of whom, Ebenezer S. and Jonanthan, live in Lebanon. Mr. Chase died in Bath, January 18, 1855. aged fifty-three years. His widow survives him, and resides with one of her daughters in Lisbon. Ebenezer S. is a contractor and builder, and resides on West street in the village of Lebanon.

Amos Butman moved to Enfield, from Kingston, N. H., about seventy years ago, and located in the eastern part of the town, on Bicknell brook. He reared five sons and four daughters. He was a Revolutionary soldier, had his leg broken at Portsmouth and at Fort Constitution, and was always lame in consequence. He died in Enfield about 1842 or 1843. His son Paul, a miller by trade, was born in Kingston, and moved to Enfield with his father. Eight of his eleven children are now living, viz .: Frank, who lives in Canaan ; John K., a merchant at Butmansville ; Laura A., wife of Ashley Goss, of Franklin, Mass .; Henry R., who lives in Smithville, N. Y .; Dexter D., a farmer in Bradford, N. H., Mary, wife of D. H. Butman, of West Lebanon ; Charles M., a merchant who lives in Franklin, Mass .; and Ella F., who lives in Winchester, Mass.

George W. Worthen, was born in Enfield, April 10, 1822, was educated at the common schools of this town, and when eighteen years of age engaged in the sale of dry and fancy goods and silver ware. He continued this till the autumn of 1847, when he started his present business, only a few doors from his present locality. He has been engaged in trade a longer period of time than any merchant in Lebanon. By a course of fair dealing and close atten- tion to business he has had no failures, and is now classed with the able men of this town. Some years his trade has reached over $100,000. He has

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always shunned and refused public offices, although often urged to accept positions of trust. He married Eveline Dustin, of Claremont, N. H., and has had born to him four sons and two daughters.

Amos Kinne moved to Hanover, from Pomfret, Conn., in 1794, and set- tled on the farm where John Flanders now lives, near the center of the town. This place was at that time only partially cleared, and the house was small. He cleared the farm and built a new dwelling which is now well preserved. He died here at the advanced age of ninety years. He reared a family of nine children. His youngest son, Elisha P., succeeded him on the home- stead, cared for his father in his old age, and added to the farm. He mar- ried twice, first Chloe Waterman, of Canaan, who bore him eight children, and second, Susan C. Waterman, a sister of his first wife. He died on the homestead, February 27, 1881, aged ninety years. Six of his children are now living, of whom Truman T., Esther, widow of Alvin I. Merrill, and Chastina, widow of D. A. Poland, live in Hanover, Ansel, a farmer, and Otis C., a painter, live in Lebanon, and Elisha, a farmer, resides in Grafton.

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 58

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers Number of Pages: 1266

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers
Number of Pages: 1266