USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Troy > Historical sketch of the town of Troy, New Hampshire, and her inhabitants from the first settlement of the territory now within the limits of the town in 1764-1897 > Part 4
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In 1770, he was one of the town committee in Monad- nock No. 5, to assist in selecting a site and building the first meeting house, and also of the committee to choose the first minister, the Rev. Joseph Cummings. He also served on the committee chosen later to settle the difficul- ties between the church and the minister.
It is said that he was one of the party of men, who disguised as Indians, at Boston, Dec. 16, 1773, went to the wharf and emptied into the harbor, some three hun- dred and forty chests of tea, brought to the port by three vessels from India. This protest, known as the " Boston Tea Party," was against the taxation of the colonies.
During that early period there were no schools, and he was often employed in teaching the children of the neigh- borhood, and took delight in having them gather round him to "set them copies and give them sums."
At the commencement of hostilities with Great Britain, he enlisted in the Patriot cause and was an efficient officer in the Revolutionary army, and was at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and subsequently at Ticonderoga. Having served his time he returned home. The war was not ended and a meeting was called at Marlborough, Feb. 13, 1781, for the purpose of devising some method to fill their quota, which at that time was no easy task, for the
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HISTORY OF TROY.
town had as yet spent but little in paying bounties to those who had served, as those who had enlisted had done so more from a sense of duty and love of country, than for the sake of obtaining bounties. The Continental currency had depreciated so in value at this time as to be worth but little or nothing. Mr. Brewer was moderator of this meeting and made the town the following pro- posals. "If I engage for the town for three years, I will have five hundred dollars, Continental money; one hun- dred dollars, the old way the first year, one-half in four months if I serve six months, and one hundred dollars more for the second year, if I serve six months in the second year, and one hundred more if I serve the third year six months more." These proposals were accepted and the selectmen were instructed to give him security for the above sums in behalf of the town.
He was one of the number who signed the Declaration of the Committee of Safety, and also the agreement by which the inhabitants pledged their faith and honor that they would not import, sell, purchase, or consume any kinds of East India teas, nor suffer the same to be used or consumed in their respective families, until the duties should be taken off.
Soon after the Declaration of Independence, the Conti- mental Congress sent out to the various Assemblies of the States, articles signed by all the members of the Congress, which were designed to perpetuate union between the States, and these were sent to the several towns for their approval. These artieles of confederation were rejected by a majority of the votes in the state.
Another convention was called June, 1781, which held nine sessions before a plan was devised that was wholly accepted, not closing until Oct. 1782. This was not accepted by the town of Marlborough, at a meeting in
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Nov. 1782, and James Brewer was one of a committee of seven chosen to draw up an amendment which was accepted at an adjourned meeting a week later, and he was also one of the signers of the Constitution of New Hampshire, which was declared to be such June, 1784.
John Farrar was a native of Framingham, Mass., and a highly respected and honored citizen before he came to Monadnock No. 4, which was about 1768, as in October of that year he was chosen a member of a committee to locate a meeting house and lay out a burying ground. It is not certain that he removed his family until some years later, as his youngest child is recorded as having been baptised in Framingham in 1771. In 1769, it appears he held the office of deputy sheriff in Middlesex County, Mass., and he held other important offices in Framingham as late as 1774.
It is quite probable that for some years after 1768 he retained his residence in Framingham, while he was active in promoting the civil and religious interests of Monad- nock No. 4, going back and forth between the two places as circumstances seem to require. He was twice married, his first wife having been a daughter of Rev. John Swift of Framingham, who left two children, two others having died in infancy, while his second wife, Deborah Winch, had nine children.
Caleb Winch came from Framingham, Mass., and settled in the eastern part of the town in 1768, building for himself a log house. He was an intelligent and useful citizen and became a man of note in the township; he was energetic and enterprising, and deeply interested in all measures concerning the public welfare. He was one of the six original members of the church in Fitzwil- liam, and took a conspicuous part in all public business of the town, his name frequently appearing upon the
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records of the town, both of the proprietors and town in connection with important offices. Although not pos- sessed of a liberal education, he appears to have had more than ordinary talents which left conspicuous "footprints upon the sands of time." His wife's name was Mehitable, and they had ten children born between 1770 and 1788. Mr. Winch died in 1826.
Jonathan Shaw and Jonah Harrington were early settlers, but no account can be given of the early life or place of residence of the former. He built a house on Hunt Hill, so-called, west of the place now owned by H. WV. Eastman, on an old road which formerly commenced near the foot of the hill and terminated in the present traveled road, west of the place now owned by John Tatro. The latter was the son of Daniel and Mary Har- rington, one of the early grantees of the township. He was born in Marlborough, Mass., in 1748, and married Damaris Warren of Marlborough, in 1769, and soon after his marriage he came to this section and was the first settler on the Lemuel Brown place. He owned most of the land extending eastward from the road by his house to the lots owned by Silas Fife and Richard Robberts. Both Shaw and Harrington lived on their respective places some ten or fifteen years and then removed to Vermont. Harrington sold his place to Daniel Cutting.
David Wheeler came from Marlborough, Mass., prob- ably about 1770, and purchased a lot of land and was the first settler on the farm now owned by Samuel A. Mason, his purchase including the farms formerly owned by Amasa Fuller, Artemas Bemis, Asa and Luther Bemis and George Lovering. The low land in this vicinity was at that time covered with a heavy growth of ash trees, and from these trees young Wheeler split out the timber with which he built quite a substantial house on a small
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swell a little south of the present barn. He lived here alone some four or five years, when he married Rebecca Hoar. From what is said of him we learn that he was an honest, hardworking man, and a good farmer, and that he was highly esteemed is fully attested by the numerous offices which he held within the gift of his fel- low citizens.
Of James Tiffany and Ezekiel Mixer but little can be said, as there is but little recorded of them, and the most that is known is from traditionary reports. Tiffany came from Attleborough, Mass., and settled on West Hill on the Milan Corey place, where he lived until about 1772, when he sold his land to Moses Kenney, after which all trace of him is lost. Ezekiel Mixer was the son of John Mixer of Framingham, and made the first improvements on the Daniel Farrar farm. He built a small house and lived there until 1775, clearing the land and bringing it into good condition for the bearing of crops.
During the twelve years from 1768 to 1780, but very few settlers came into these townships, being due in part, at least, to the disturbed condition of the country eaused by the Revolutionary war and the controversies with Great Britain, which caused a very unsettled state of affairs, the public being more earnestly engaged in seeking their independence from the yoke of the English govern- ment, than in acquiring new homes in the wilderness.
The following it is believed are the most of the immi- grants who settled here during this period.
Benjamin Tolman, Jacob Newell, Moses Kenney,
Joshua Harrington, Duncan Cameron, Jolm Bruce, Thomas Clark,
Henry Morse, Daniel Lawrence,
Agabus Bishop, Abner Haskell,
Daniel Cutting,
Joseph Cutting,
Joseph Forristall,
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Reuben Ward,
John Godding,
Ichabod Shaw,
Alexander Parkman,
Peter Starkey,
Joseph Nourse,
Jonathan Lawrence,
Daniel Farrar.
Benjamin Tolman was a brother of Thomas, before mentioned, and was born in Dorchester, Mass. He resided some years in Attleborough, from which place he came to Monadnock No. 4, about 1770, and built a log house. He married Hepzibeth, daughter of Jacob Newell, and lived in this house until about 1780, when he removed to a new house which he had built on the opposite side of the road and about one hundred rods west of the present residence of John Tatro and on land now owned by E. P. Kimball. The old well can be found in the wall by the side of the road. At the time of his settlement there was no road in that part of the township, and finding it con- venient to have one to reach his hut and farm, and the Proprietors being slow to furnish one, he proceeded to clear and make one for himself, and this he did without following stake and stones set by a court's committee, or asking leave of the intervening owners of the territory, and if it was not in all respects what is required at the present day, no complaint was ever made against it and no damages ever paid for injury to horse or carriage. It was considered in keeping with all the other conveniences of life in those times, when to earn their living by the sweat of the brow was the lot of every one. In 1790, he sold his place to one Sweetland, and removed to another lot, building another log house and commencing anew to clear the land. This was the farm afterwards occupied by his son Stephen, and here he spent the remainder of his days.
Jacob Newell, was the son of Jacob Newell of Attle- borough, from which place he came in 1769 or 1770, and was the second settler in what is now the village. He
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purchased most probably of William Barker, most of the land comprising the farms formerly owned by William Harris, William Whitcomb, Stilhnan Newell, Bemis and Clark and Stephen Wheeler. He also obtained a part of a lot in the north part of the village, and built a log house on the spot now occupied by the residence of Mrs. Abel Burpee.
VIEW OF MAIN ST. LOOKING SOUTH FROM NEAR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
He lived there many years, clearing most of the land in that vieinity. After a time he replaced the log with a frame house, and in the mean time he purchased of Thomas Tolman an interest in the new grist mill, prob- ably one-fourth part, as there was a deed of such a part from Jacob Newell to Joshua Harrington, and dated the "27th day of May, 1776, and in the 16th year of the reign of George the 3d." A few years later he sold his house and several acres of land to Ebenezer Tohnan and built another on the farm now owned by Franklin Whit- comb, where he resided most of the time till the close of his life.
Moses Kenney came from Marlborough, Mass., about the year 1772, and purchased the farm then owned by James Tiffany, where he resided till 1778, when he sold to
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Moses Cutting, and moved to Vermont. His residence here was short, and his name seldom appears upon the records. Henry Morse came from Charlestown, Mass., in 1773, and settled in Swanzey on a lot of land which was afterward severed from that township and annexed to Troy, and is what is known as the Jonathan Clark farm. Before coming to Swanzey his occupation had been an innkeeper, and undoubtedly he selected this location with the view of pursuing his favorite occupation, as it was a very judicious one, it being on the main road from Swan- zey to Boston, and with no other public house in the vicinity. In those days of transportation by team, the travel must have been considerable, and the situation and good management soon made a lucrative business, for in a few years the house first built was found too small to accommodate the increasing business, and a larger and more commodious one was built in 1778. Mr. Morse kept the house until his death in 1786.
Daniel Lawrence was a native of Weston, Mass., where he passed his minority with his parents on a farm. He married Elizabeth Graves of Sudbury, in 1773, and in the following year, leaving his wife behind him, he came to Marlborough and purchased a lot of land of Jonah Har- rington, which included most of the farm now known as the John Lawrence place. He built a log house near the site of the present buildings, doubtless intending to remove his family soon, but the breaking out of the Revolutionary war changed his plans, for he entered the army. He arrived at Cambridge about the middle of June, and was among the number detached from the main army to fortify Bun- ker Hill, and fought under Prescott in that battle. At the end of eight months he received an honorable dis- charge and returned to Weston, making preparations to move to the selected place for his future residence, which
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he did in the spring of 1776, with his wife and one child, making the toilsome journey with an ox team, the usual mode of conveyance in those days, taking possession of the previously abandoned log house. He cleared most of the land comprising this farm and erected part of the present buildings. He was an industrious farmer, having little to do with public business, as his name but seldom appears upon the town records, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1832, he had accumulated con- siderable property.
Daniel Cutting was the son of Moses and Mary Strat- ton Cutting of Framingham, and came to Marlborough in 1773, and located on the Timothy Fife place. In 1779, he purchased of Jonah Harrington, the farm at the North end now owned by Charles D. Farrar, and formerly owned by Calvin Barnard. He built a saw mill near where C. D. Farrar's pail shop now stands. He lived there some sixteen years, his time being divided between his farm and mill, and possessing more than ordinary business capacity he managed both to good advantage. He was a man of considerable energy and public spirit, and deserving the confidence of his fellow men. He frequently took an active part in the business transactions of the town, and it appears his services were very acceptable to the people. But having been called to experience severe affliction in the death of his wife, by which his family circle was broken up, he removed back to Framingham in 1795, where he married Mrs. Martha Brown. He resided there until his death in 1812. His first wife was Submit Ball, whom he married in 1771.
Joseph Cutting, brother of Daniel, came to Marlborough in 1775. From the manner in which he left Framingham it appears he had no idea of devoting his life to the ser- vice of his country, and that he possessed but little
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Revolutionary spirit. Upon receiving intelligence that he had been drafted to enter the army, he fled from his native town, and after wandering about some time in disguise, directed his steps towards Monadnock. When he had advanced so far as to be relieved from the fear of being recognized, he pursued a more open course; and on one occasion, seeing a group of men in the distance, he ventured among them to learn the subject of their deliberations. But what was his surprise to see posted on the walls of a building, a large bill offering a reward of twenty pounds for the arrest of Joseph Cutting. His self-possession did not desert him and he simply remarked that as he was nearly destitute of money, he would like to capture the fugitive and obtain the proffered reward. He did not ex- cite suspicion and was permitted to pursue his journey, soon reaching the place of his destination where he was safe from his pursuers. He worked for the settlers as opportunity presented and soon accumulated a little prop- erty. The war ended, he emerged from his retreat and after a time was married, but to whom is not known. He built a house on the farm now owned by Franklin Whitcomb and a little west of the present buildings. After living in this house for a short time, he purchased the farm known as the Jotham H. Holt place on West Hill, building a house west of where the buildings now stand. He afterwards built the present buildings where he lived until his death in 1823.
During his retreat he manufactured a cane from the root of a tree, in which he made a pipe that he might be able to enjoy his habit of smoking. This cane is 110W owned by one of his deseendents.
Moses Cutting, another brother of Daniel, came here at an early date, probably before 1775. In 1778, he pur- chased of Moses Kenney the Abel Garfield farm, and moved
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there with his family. After residing there abont twelve years, he sold the farm to John Colburn of Lincoln, and bought the Samuel Farrar farm, recently owned by Wil- lard White, and built the present house. He was of a quiet, retiring disposition, seldom taking part in public affairs, but employed his time mostly in cultivating his farm, although he is said to have possessed great mechani- cal ingenuity and could make anything that had ever been accomplished by human skill. He died in 1834, and being a member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons, was buried with Masonie honors.
Reuben Ward, son of Phineas and Mary Ward, came here from Marlborough, Mass., his native town, in 1774, and purchased the farm then owned by Richard Robberts, now owned by the heirs of Hamilton Parker. It is said that both himself and wife inherited a large property from their ancestors, so that he had ample means for paying for and improving his farm, conducting the same with strict economy. It is said that he had but little to do with his neighbors; would seldom borrow or lend, but would contrive to satisfy all his wants from his own resources. His plans were laid after mature deliberation, and he was usually successful in carrying them out; and at his death, which occurred Jan. 8, 1800, he was consid- ered the wealthiest man in Marlborough.
Ichabod Shaw, a brother of Jonathan Shaw before mentioned, came here in 1774, and settled on a lot where H. W. Eastman lives. His history is obscure, but he prob- ably made the first clearing on the land and built a house near the site of the present buildings, where he resided with his family until 1797, when he sold out and moved to Vermont.
Peter Starkey was the son of John, and the grandson of Andrew, who settled in Attleborough, Mass., in 1754,
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HISTORY OF TROY.
and spent most of the early part of his life in that town. Early in 1776, he came to Monadnock No. 5, with his wife and four brothers, John, Benjamin, Enoch and Joseph. He purchased a lot of land of Joseph Tiffany and built a house near the Milan Corey place on West Hill, now owned by J. M. Foster. He resided there until 1787, when he exchanged locations with John Wright, which was the place upon which Benjamin Tolman first settled, where he lived until his death in February, 1821. His brother John, married Mary Godding and lived and died here. Benjamin was never married but lived with his brother Joseph, who married Waitstill Morse and settled in Richmond. Enoch settled in what was called the Crocker pasture, a part of Fitzwilliam afterwards annexed to Swanzey. He died in Troy in 1823.
Jonathan Lawrence, a brother of Daniel, came here in 1777, and bought of his brother the lot now comprising the farm owned by Charles S. Starkey. He married Lucy Moore of Sudbury, Mass., and lived several years in a log house until he cleared a considerable part of the land and got it in a good condition, when he built a more con- venient house. As his name does not appear upon the record of any public meeting it is supposed he was one who preferred private life and never took any part in public assemblies.
Joshua Harrington was a native of Framingham, where he was born in 1718. He came here about 1774, and lived a few years in the house with Thomas Tolman. About 1780, he bought the Tiffany mill privilege, and saw and grist mills of Thomas Tolman, which received the most of his attention until his death in 1784. The saw mill was converted to other uses in a few years, but the grist mill was kept in operation by his son Joshua, and grandsons Joshua and Elijah, until 1840, when the location was sold
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to Luke Harris. His son Joshua succeeded to the business. He married Elizabeth Brigham of Shrewsbury, in 1780, and several years after he purchased of Thomas Tolman some fifty-three aeres of land, which included most of the farm formerly owned by Eri J. Spaulding, and built the house which constituted the old ell to the Spaulding house which was torn down in 1887, and in which he lived until his death, Sept. 20, 1834. He was a very industrious man and a good citizen. He was of medium height but very corpulent, which made him so infirm in the later years of his life that he could perform but little labor.
Duncan Cameron was a native of Scotland, and being a member of the British army at the commencement of the hostilities with America, he came to this country and served under General Burgoyne. In 1777, he accompanied the expedition of that officer from Quebec to the Hudson, and was in the battles of Bennington, Vt., and Stillwater, N. Y., and was among the number surrendered to General Gates on the 17th of October. Unlike most of those who were taken prisoners with him, he chose to remain in this country and share the fortune of the people whom he had been hired to crush, and upon being exchanged came here and located, purchasing the land which Phineas Farrar had commenced to improve near where J. M. Foster lives, and made a successful farmer. He lived there until about 1798, when he removed to Vermont. The house in which he resided remained vacant a few years and was then burned.
John Bruce was a native of Sudbury, Mass., and came here with his wife, Mary Joslin, and eight children, about 1775, and settled on the premises previously occupied by Ezekiel Mixer. He was killed June 3, 1779, "by logs at saw mill." But little is known about his family or descendents.
Thomas Clark came from Wrentham, Mass., and settled
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on land purchased of Thomas Tolman, in the south part of the town. Like most of the early settlers he built a log house to be the home of himself and family, near the brook that passes through the valley. Unlike the log houses of that time in having a fireplace and chimney at one side or in one corner, this was warmed from a stone fireplace in the center of it, the smoke escaping through a hole in the roof left uncovered for that purpose. He was industrious as well as ingenious, and in addition to carry- ing on his farm, made various articles of wood for house- hold use, as plates, trays, mortars, bowls and spoons, either entirely by hand or by means of the rudely con- structed lathe of those days. This served to increase his income, for they no doubt found a ready sale, for in fami- lies of moderate means wooden dishes were generally used, as crockery was too expensive and perishable, although pewter plates and cups were used to some extent. At a little later date, brown earthernware was substituted for the wooden and pewter dishes.
Mr. Clark was prospered in his business and soon acquired the means for building a more convenient house and of living in more comfortable circumstances. He died in 1818, quite advanced in years, and few men left a better example or were more generally beloved.
Agabus Bishop also came from Wrentham, and settled near where Benjamin Tolman first settled. When he moved his family he came in a very unusual manner, for instead of using an ox team, as had nearly all who had preceded him, he came with a horse and wagon, and for some years this was the only horse in that part of the town. An animal so rare must have been in great demand, and it is quite probable carried to the mill most of the grain raised in the neighborhood for several years. Mr. Bishop built a frame house about the same time as did his neighbor
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Clark, in which he resided until his death about 1798.
Abner Haskell was a native of Harvard, Mass., and came here about 1778, and located on the Howard Clark farm near where James Carpenter now lives. Their first habitation was a log hut, but in a few years Mr. Haskell built a more commodious house and out-buildings, which were burned in 1830. The present buildings were built by a grandson of Mr. Haskell. Mrs. Haskell was Martha Ward, a sister of Reuben Ward, previously mentioned. They had a family of four children, two sons and two daughters. He served as selectman of Fitzwilliam in 1785. He died in 1809, quite advanced in years, and his son Joseph succeeded to his inheritance.
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