Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 70

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 70

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).

LYMAN is a small post village located in the central part of the town. It has one church (Union).

The Miner butter tub factory, on road 19, was built in 1884, and turns out about 10,000 butter tubs per year.

J. & H. E. Smith's grist and saw mill, on road 12, was built by Julius Smith, as a grist-mill, about 1849, upon the site of a mill built by his father, Parley, some years previous, and which was destroyed by fire. In 1882 the present firm added a saw and shingle-mill. The grist-mill is devoted to cus- tom work, and the saw-mill turns out about 150,000 feet of lumber and 130,- ooo shingles per annum.

But few settlements were made in the town previous to the Revolution, there being but ten ratable polls here in 1777. The following copy of a peti- tion sent to the legislature by the inhabitants in 1779, however, will give a fair idea of the growth of the settlement up to that time, the said petition being for an abatement of taxes :-

" Petitioners being Inhabitants of said Town-In the Year 1776 we were only Eight in Number and Taxed 125 5d In the Year 1777 being the like Number and Taxed £60, 15s rod, also the like Number in the Year 1778 and taxed £121, 1IS, 8d-In those Years we were not a sufficient Number to Incorporate or call Town Meetings so we could not possibly have Consta- bles Collectors &c but at this present Time are Eighteen in Number and Taxed £379, Ios od for the Payment of which all our Live and Trading Stock will not be sufficient to satisfy the same We own we have been delin- quent in the Payment of the above Taxes not from any Disrespect to the State but from the Poverty which those few Inhabitants endured at that Time we are and will be always willing to Assist the States in everything, great Part of Us having been in the Service, Ten out of the Eighteen for these Three Years past have paid Taxes for their Poll for which they can produce Certificates from other Towns and States, The Consequence will be the Poor People of this Town must of Course fall a Sacrifice with every thing they Pos- sess and be brought to Entire Ruin if they are Obliged to Answer the above Demand Therefore we Your Honours Petitioners hopes you will take the same into your Wise and Serious Consideration and grant such Relief in the above Request as in your Wisdom may seem most meet And your Petition- ers as in Duty Bound shall Ever Pray &c."

In 1786 the population had increased to 116 souls, and in 1791 to 202.

Noah Moulton came to Lyman, from Rye, N. H., served in the Revolution- ary war, where he died. He had born to him seven sons, all of whom set- tled in the southwestern part of this town, on what is called Moulton hill. His son William moved to New York and never returned. Noah, Jr., reared 33*

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TOWN OF LYMAN.

a family of fourteen children, all of whom lived to be over forty years of age. Job, son of Noah, Sr., reared a family of eleven children, none now living, and was one of the first selectmen of the town. Jonathan, son of Noah, reared a family of twelve children, four now living, and was the first clerk of the town. Another son, Daniel, died in town, but left no children. David, son of Noah, reared a large family of children, four of whom are now living. John, son of Noah, had born to him thirteen children, five now living. Of these, Guy C. is in his ninety-second year, being the oldest man in town, and John is in his eighty-ninth year.

Thomas Miner came to Lyman, from Connecticut, some time previous to the Revolution, and settled in the central part of the town on what is known as Parker hill. About the same time William also came here, locating on Parker hill, and reared a large family of children. One son, Solomon, was born here in 1786, and resided here until his death in 1869, aged eighty-three years, He had born to him eight children, five of whom are living. Of these, Annie lives in Illinois, Ephraim in Lisbon, and Alden M .. John P. and William W. reside in town.

Parker came here at an early day, was one of the first settlers locating upon what is known as Parker hill. Hehad born to him seven sons, namely, Solomon, Samuel, Asa, I.emuel, Isaac, Levi and David. They all settled in town. Solomon, Asa and Samuel served in the Revolution. two of them drawing a pension. One sister, Hepsey, became the wife of William Miner, one of the early settlers in the town.

Nathaniel Patridge came to Lyman from Goffston, N. H., at an early day. and cleared the farm now owned by William B. Patridge, on road 4. The wolves were so numerous there at that time that one evening while on his way from Littleton he was treed by them, and was obliged to remain in the tree all night. He died in Littleton. He reared a family of five children. Of these, Mrs. Caroline Pike resides in Manchester, N. H., Ira G. occupied the homestead, where he died in 1843, and Eliza G. married William B. Hurd, who purchased the homestead, where his son now resides.

Abial Knapp came to Lyman from Norton, Mass., in 1781, and was the first settler upon the farm now owned by Thomas Richards. This farm was given by one of the proprietors on condition that he would settle thereon, and and has always since been the family's possession. His brother Jonathan came on a few years later and died over one hundred years of age. Abial also had two daughters, Betsey and Mehitable, each of whom attained a great age. The latter was mother of Abial Smith. Abial's son Elijah, who was twelve years of age when he came here with his father, married Sally Elliott and reared seven sons and five daughters. Abial died May 25, 1832, in the hundredth year of his age.

William Clough, who served in the Revolutionary war, came to Lyman, from New Salem, N. H., soon after the war, and located on what was called Clough hill. He had born to him six sons, namely, Zacheus, Enoch, Bailey,

5$5

TOWN OF LYMAN.

Cyrus, Abner and Jeremiah. Abner moved to Bath where he died. His son Uzziel now resides in Landaff, aged seventy-seven years. He relates that when his father was a boy he was often sent to keep the bears out of the wheat.

Benjamin Sherman, one of the early settlers of Lyman, resided in the south- eastern part of the town, and was a farmer and blacksmith. His son Smith was born in Lyman in 1805, and lived here until 1848, when he moved to Lisbon, where he died in 1867. He was a farmer, married three times, and reared a family of sixteen children. One of his sons, J. F. Sherman, resides in this town on road 16. He has been selectman for the past seven years, and represented the town in 1881.

Abram Hall came to Lyman, from Lunenburg, Vt., at an early day, and resided here until his death. One of his sons, Abram, also resided here for a time, but removed to Lisbon, where he kept a hotel. He died in that town. One daughter, Lydia, became the wife of Reuben Smith, a son of one of the early settlers, and resided here in town. Abram H., son of Reuben, resides here, on road 30.

Joshua Thornton came to this town, from Plymouth, N. H., about 1800, locating upon the place where D. C. Parker now lives, on road 21. He was a farmer, took an active part in town affairs, was justice of the peace many years, was selectman, and also represented the town in the legislature. He died here about 1842. His son Achia was born in Plymouth, and was four- teen year of age when he came to this town with his father. He was a far- mer, married Betsey, daughter of Jonathan Moulton, an early settler of this town, and had born to him six children, three sons and three daughters. Of these, only two are living, Mrs. Hannah Stevens, of Lisbon, and Sidney, who lives in this town. Achia died here in 1842. His widow, who is in her ninetieth year, resides here with her son Sidney.

Ezra Foster, a Revolutionary soldier, settled in Littleton soon after the war, locating near Lyman. He was past ninety years of age when his death occurred. He reared a large family of children, only three of whom are liv- ing, namely, Henry, of Dresden, N. H., Mrs. Nancy Parker, of Littleton, and George, of this town. The latter was born in 1806, and has lived in town all his life. One son, John L., is a lawyer in Lisbon, and another, Charles C., resides in this town.

Samuel Titus moved to Bath, from Rhode Island, about 1765, and about 1782 moved to Landaff, where he held many offices of trust. He came to Lyman in 1805. He reared a family of eight children, and died in 1818, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. His son Calvin was born May 22, 1777, and died January 15, 1819. He had born to him six sons and two daughters, four of whom are living. Of these, Mrs. Lucy Moulton and Calvin are in this town, Mrs. Betsey B. Young lives in Landaff, and Moses resides in Littleton, Mass. Calvin, Jr., was born here in 1802, has always resided here, and is now in his eighty-fifth year. He has taken an active part in town affairs, has

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TOWN OF LYMAN.

been selectman, constable and collector of taxes. Three of his sons also re- side here.

David Locke came here, from Rye, N. H., about 1812, and located upon the farm where Lyman M. Locke now lives. He was a farmer, reared a family of eleven children, seven of whom are living, and died here in 1863. His son Simeon spent most of his life in town, and died here in 1879. Two of his sons, Lyman M. and Silas M., reside here, and one, S. Gary, in Lit- tleton.

Elkanah Hoskins moved to Littleton, from Taunton, Mass., about 1796. At that time, Littleton is said to have been composed of one log house and a saw-mill. He served in the French and Indian war, in the Revolution, and also took part in Shay's Rebellion. His son Luther was sixteen years of age when he moved there with his father. He came to this town about 1813, and located upon the place where his son Luther B. now lives, on road 21. He was a farmer, reared five children, four of whom are living. He died in 1880, in his ninety-eighth year. His son Luther B., who resides on the homestead, has been town clerk six years, has been selectman, is justice of the peace, town treasurer, and represented the town in the legislature two years.

Perley Smith came to Lyman, from Chesterfield, N. H., in 1822, locating near where his son Julius now lives. He was a gunsmith and blacksmith by trade, and was also engaged in farming. He built a factory for the manufac- ture of bits and augers, and also a grist-mill. The latter was burned in 1854. Mr. Smith died in October, 1884, in his eighty-ninth year. Two of his sons, Amos and Julius, reside in town.

Eliphalet Mason moved to Bath, from Greenland, N. H., about 1822, and, in 1826, came to Lyman, locating in the northern part of the town. He was a farmer, and died here in 1855. Three of his sons, Joshua, Shubael S. and John, located here, and were for a time engaged in the lumber business, own- ing a mill in the northern part of the town. Joshua died in 1873. Shubael S. and John still reside here. The latter has served the town in various of- fices, has been selectman, town clerk, overseer of the poor, &c.

Timothy B. Hurd, son of Jacob, who came from England, was born in Bath in 1797, and came to Lyman about 1827. He was a cloth-dresser by trade, and located on the farm now owned by William B. Hurd, on road 4. He died in 1884 in his eighty-seventh year.

David Ash came to Lisbon, from England, at an early day, and is thought to be one of the first settlers of that town. His son Reuben was born in Lisbon in 1807, and moved to Sutton, Vt., in 1849, where he was killed by the fall of a tree in 1850. He had born to him seven children. Two of the three now living reside in Sutton, Vt., and David, who was a soldier in the late war, lives in Lyman, on road 9.

Pliny Bartlett was born in Richmond, N. H., in 1800, and when quite young moved with his parents to Littleton, but afterwards came to Lyman. In 1842 he built the house on road 25 where he lived until his death in 1883,

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TOWN OF LYME.

and where his widow still lives. He took an active interest in town affairs, was town representative, &c.

Samuel Spaulding was born in New Marlboro, July 30, 1763, a son of an industrious farmer. This vocation he followed also for several years, but subsequently went to Stockbridge, Conn., and engaged in the tailoring busi- ness. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war he entered its ranks as a private, where he remained until its close. Later, he and his wife and four children moved to St. Johnsbury, Vt., and there engaged in farming. A few years previous to his death he removed to Charleston, Vt., to live with his daughter, Mrs. Susannah Harvey, where he died May 13, 1854, aged ninety years. Mr. Spaulding was the father of six children, only one of whom sur- vives him, Carlton Spaulding, who was born in Waterford, Vt., in 1805, and has spent the greater part of his life in that town, but for the past nine years has lived with his daughter, Mrs. Benjamin N. Bedell, in the eastern part of this town.

Amos Bedell was born July 12, 1774, in Bath, N. H. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, and March 12, 1818, married Mrs. Nancy Smith, who bore him three children, two of whom are living, viz. : Martha, widow of Abraham Little, and B. N. Bedell, born February 13, 1824. He married Sarah A. Spaulding, April 13, 1854, from which union seven children have been born.

The Lyman Union church, located at Lyman village, was built in 1862. It is now occupied by the Methodist society, which was organized May 13, 1862. The society now has about thirty-six members, with Rev. Albert Twitchell, pastor. The church building will seat 250 persons and is valued at $3,000.00. It has a bell which was donated in 1883 by Mrs. Abbie But- ler, of Windsor, a daughter of David Locke, of this town.

L YME* was granted by charter July 8, 1761, to John Thompson and others. The township lies in the western part of the county, upon the Connec- ticut river, in lat. 43° 48' and long. 72° 5', and is bounded north by

*For this interesting historical sketch of Lyme we are indebted to the generosity of Mr. P. H. A. Claflin, of that town. In a letter accompanying the MS. Mr. Claflin says :---

" In arranging the matter for this chapter, I have considered the recording of names, dates, and events of more importance to the present and future reader than eulogistic dis- ertations upon the character of individuals; and the limits of space precluding the insertion of both, I have made the chapter what it is. Many important families of the early days have gone, leaving no trace; while the destruction of the town records leaves much herein given to rest on memory or tradition. Had I more means and time at my disposal, I would gladly employ them in seeking out historical facts and compiling a book especially devoted to the subject-the full history of the town we all love. Asking only that in their criti- cisms the generous public of Lyme will consider the difficulties under which I have labored, trusting that all will find in these pages enough to satisfy their expectations, and extend- ing heartfelt thanks to those whose kind patronage has made it possible to do thus much for the preservation of our common history, I submit this to the reader."

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TOWN OF LYME.

Orford, east by Dorchester, south by Hanover, and west by Thetford, Vt. The surface is hilly and broken. Smart's mountains, lying partly in the north- east corner of the town, is the principal elevation. Bear hill, Acorn hill, and Plott hill, are the distinctive names given to other peaks of considerable height. Post pond, the largest body of water, is a beautiful oval shaped lakelet, about one mile in diameter, situated two miles from the river and somewhat north from the center of the town. Trout and Pout ponds, in the northeast part are smaller. The principal streams are Grant's brook, rising near the eastern boundary, and Farfield brook, rising in the southeast part, both flowing westerly, and Clay or Pond brook flowing northwest from Post pond and all emptying into the Connecticut.

An effort was made by other parties to secure a re-grant of the township, in 1768, under the plea that the terms of the charter had not been complied with ; but upon petition of Thomas Sumner, a proprietor and resident, the time was extended. In his petition of September 8, 1768, he states that fif- teen families " have settled and are settling," and October 25, that "twenty-one rights have been settled, under great discouragements, expense and hardship,' being obliged "to carry and fetch provisions and corn from mills forty miles distant."

The island opposite the southwest corner of Lyme was granted by Gover- nor Wentworth to Benjamin Grant, and annexed to Lyme for purposes of tax- ation upon petition of the selectmen in 1788. During the Revolution, com- mittees of safety were chosen -- that of 1777 consisting of Dea. Joseph Skinner, Walter Fairfield, Thomas Porter and John Sloan.

The first ferry was established by Nathan Mann, opposite North Thet- ford, about 1780. but was not chartered by the state until four years later, when a petition for a charter was signed by fifty men in Lyme and thirty-nine in Orford.

According to a "True Inventory" taken by Walter Fairfield, Benjamin Grant, William Bell, Jonathan Child, and Charles Nelson, selectman of Lyme, April 26, 1773, the "Sum Total of the Whole List of the Township of Lime" was £63, 95, 8d, and the ratable polls as follows :--

William Bell, Ebenezer Green,

Isaac Preston,

William Bell, Jr., John Bell,

Rubin Grant,

Thomas Porter,

Noah Grant,

Elijah Porter,

Elkanah Billing,

Titus Goodell,

Calvin Porter,

John Barron,

Nathaniel Hewes,

Luther Porter,

Jonanthan Child,

Nathaniel Hewes, Jr.,

Widow Thede Phelps,

John Chamberlain. (of Thetford),

Edward Howard,

Jonanthan Rich,

Samuel Cary,

Edward Howard, Jr.,

Seth Roe,

Thomas Dunham,

Daniel Howard,

Moses Stark,

Benjamin Day, Jr.,

James Hovey,

William Stark,

James English,

Daniel Howard, Jr.,

John Stewart,

Samuel Hunt,

Peter Purkins,

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TOWN OF LYME.

Walter Fairfield,

Isaiah Howard,

John Sloan,

Walter Fairfield, Jr.,

Jonanthan Hatch,

David Sloan,

John Fairfield,

Richard Limes,

Elexander Shield,

Benjamin Grant,

Hezekiah May,

Joseph Scinner,

Benjamin Grant, Jr.,

Charles Nelson,

John Scott,

Peter Grant,

William Nelson,

Jesse Strong,

Thomas Gilbert,

Jacob Orcutt,

Samuel Smith,

Lemuel Peake,

In 1880 Lyme had a population of 1,313 souls. In 1885 the town had eleven school districts, eleven common schools and two graded schools. Its twelve school houses were valued, including furniture, etc., at $4,900.00. There were 295 children attending school, thirty eight of whom were pur- suing the higher branches, taught during the year by two male and eighteen female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $30.00 for males and $18.66 for females. The entire amount raised for school purposes during the year was $1,802.82, while the expenditures were $1,824.46, with Fred B. Palmer, superintendent.

LYME, a post village, generally called " Lyme Plain," is situated about one and a fourth miles from the Connecticut river, midway in the town north and south. Around the borders of a smooth and nearly level common, about ten by sixty rods in extent, are built the stores and dwellings of the citizens, while upon the slightly rising grounds at the eastern end is the church edifice of the Congregational society. A stove and tin store, two general stores, a millin- ery store, steam shingle-mill, carpenter and undertaker shop, and a hotel comprise the business places located about the common, while upon the streets radiating from it are saw and grist-mills, meat m irket, blacksmiths and repair shops, and all told, about seventy dwellings. Three physicians reside and practice in the place and surrounding country.

LYME CENTER (p. o.) is located about two miles east of the Plain, and con- sists of one main street, along which stand the Baptist church edifice, one store, saw and grist-mill, carriage shop, blacksmith shop, and twenty-five or thirty dwellings. A large hotel and an academy once flourished here, but the hotel is now a private dwelling, and the academy building is occupied by the district school.

J. C. & W. G. Piper's business, at Lyme Plain was established by J. C. Piper in 1864, since which time it has been constantly increasing. They now manufacture 1,500,000 shingles annually, erect buildings by contract, do cus- tom plaining, jobbing carpenter work, and deal in coffins caskets and robes. Their machinery is operated by a forty horse-power engine and they employ six to nine men.

George H. Rocks grist and flouring mill, at Lyme Plain, was purchased by him in 1884. It is operated by water-power, contains all necessary machin - ery for the manufacture of flour, meal and feed, doing both custom and mer- chant work.

520

TOWN OF LYME.

William Thomas & Son's saw-mill and wheelwright shop, at Lyme Plain, has been operated by them since 1869. They have added improved machin- ery and now have facilities for sawing boards thirty inches wide, and for man- ufacturing shingles, chair-stock, etc., and they do custom planing, carriage repairing and carpenter work.

B. T. Washburn's cider-mill, located about half a mile south of the Plain, has produced several hundred barrels of cider per annum for nearly a century.

G. W. Sanborn & Son's saw, grist and cider-mill, at Lyme Center, was erected by them in 1876, on the site of the "old steam mill." They manu- facture about 200,000 feet of rough lumber, 50,000 shingles, grind 12,000 bushels of provender and average 500 barrels of cider per year, employing three men .:

G. E. Fogg's carriage shop, Lyme Center, was built by him in 1884. He does general jobbing, builds sleighs, carriages, and heavy wagons to order.

Fellows Brothers' marble works, on road 12, corner 13, was established by John Fellows. They manufacture all kinds of marble cemetery work to order.

W. A. Bingham's tannery, located on road 27, was established by W. S. Balch, in 1846, purchased by Mr. Bingham in 1866, destroyed by the flood of 1869, and rebuilt in 1870. He employes two or three men and turns out about 2,000 hides per annum, and does custom tanning.

N. J. Wilmot's harness shop, is located at Lyme Plain. He manufactures light and heavy harness and deals in horse furnishing goods.

L. P. Lovejoy's saw and planing-mill, on road 28, was built by Charles Scotland, and has been owned by Mr. Lovejoy since 1867. It is operated by water-power. He manufactures rough and dressed lumber, clapboards, lath, shingles, bobbins and eaves-troughs.

D. F. Tallman's saw-mill, on Clay brook, near road 3,on the site of the old Peter Post mill, is operated by water-power and does custom work.

M. M. Lovejoy manufactures about 1,500 hand-niade white birch trays per annum at Lyme Plain.

F. B. Palmer's sawing and turning shop, on road 27, was purchased by him in 1880. It is operated by water-power, fitted with machinery for turn- ing and light sawing. He does job work and manufactures chair legs and ladders.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

The Social Library in Lyme was chartered by the state legislature, De- cember 18, 1797, its charter members being William Conant, Walter Fair- field, Jonathan Franklin, Joseph Skinner, John Thomson, Calvin Porter, John Fairfield and their associates. Walter Fairfield and Jonathan Franklin were authorized to call the first meeting of the proprietors for organization. In the summer of 1853 David Turner, Jr., presented the library with $100.00 and sixty-three volumes, and in 1854 made an additional donation of 2 1 2 volumes,

Charles F. Kongsberg M.D.

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TOWN OF LYME.

in consideration of which the name of "Turner Social Library," was adopted. It is now in a flourishing condition and has nearly 2,000 volumes of well selected books, H. H. Holt, librarian, and F. W. Baker, chairman of trus- tees.

PHYSICIANS.

At this day when we look back on the long lives and apparent physical vigor of our forefathers as among the, for us, unattainable blessings, we are prone to believe sickness and death were almost unknown to them. Still we find the fact that several deaths occurred in Lyme during the first decade following its settlement.

It 1775 the population of the town had reached 252, and in 1790 grown to 816, and it is probable that during this time the first phyician took up his resi- dence here.

Dr Stiles is said to have been among the first, if not the first of his profes- sion in town, his home being in the family of Dea. Joseph Skinner, in the south part of the township. Little is known of him save by the saying "as tall as Dr. Stiles," which was current in the first half of this century, and the vivid description of his height given in the statement that while attending to his professional duties on horseback, he used to rest the animal, which was a small one, by removing his feet from the stirrups and walking up the hills, and when the top was reached would replace his feet and ride on.

Samuel Cary, a very early settler of Lyme, where he died 1784, was a physician and surgeon. He was born June 13, 1734, graduated from Yale college in 1755,married Deliverance Grant, of Bolton, Conn. He was the an- cestor of Alice and Phebe Cary, whose poetry has been so widely read, and of General Samuel Cary prominently known as a temperance lecturer.

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 70

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