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 5
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Joseph Forristall was born in Holliston, Mass., and spent his early life upon a farm. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war he entered the Continental army and was stationed at Ticonderoga, but after three months' service was discharged and returned to Holliston, where he married Hannah Mellen in 1778. This young couple came here about 1781, and located in the south part of the town near where Nahum Green lives. The one hun- dred and twenty acres of land upon which they settled were purchased by the father of the bride, who came with Mr. Forristall and aided him in making a clearing and partially building a frame house. This was in the autumn, and early in the following spring, he came with his wife, taking possession of their dwelling, though the floor was not laid until the succeeding fall. Having been reared in comfortable circumstances it must have been hard to commence life in such a rude manner, but possessing energy, strength and courage they soon made themselves a comfortable home. A neat and commodious house took the place of the rude hut, and abundant crops that of the primeval forest. By industry and economy they soon
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HISTORY OF TROY.
acquired a competence, bringing up a large family of chil- dren and living to a good old age. Mr. Forristall built two houses on the farm, the first the small one already mentioned which was occupied until about 1809, when he erected a larger and more substantial one. Few men with equal means accomplished more than did Mr. Forristall. He did not amass great wealth, but every dollar he pos- sessed was the result of honest labor. Fraud and specu- lation had no place in his code of life; he rendered to every one an equivalent for all their demands. Without noise or ostentatious display, the example of such a person creates an influence that is sure to be felt.
The Godding family, consisting of the widow of John Godding, and eight children, four sons and four daughters, came from Attleborough, Mass., in 1779, and settled on the place now owned by Samuel A. Mason. The eldest son John was a capable and energetic young man, and he made the purchase of the land and arranged all the mat- ters of the removal of his mother and children. He married Polly Robbins of Warwick, Mass., and lived on the farm he first purchased until about 1795, when he sold out and purchased another lot about one-fourth mile southeast of the Franklin Woodward farm. He lived there some four- teen years when he moved to Wallingford, Vt., where he lived some years and then moved to the western part of New York. The eldest child, Mary, was twice married ; her first husband was John Starkey, Jr., sixth son of John Starkey of Attleborough, who died in Troy; her second husband was Jacob Newell, who has already been men- tioned. Another daughter married Bethuel Bishop and removed to Shrewsbury, Vt., where they died. The third daughter married Isaac Jackson and lived here several years, when they moved to Wallingford, \t., where they died. The fourth, married Jesse Bishop and settled near
EARLY SETTLERS. -19
the Thomas Clark place. Asa, the youngest child, never married, and died at an early age. William, the next younger, went to Burke, Vt., a single man, where he lived until his death. Timothy married Ruth Robbins, sister of his brother John's wife, in 1790, and lived with him on the farm first purchased until it was sold. He then pur- chased a farm and built a house this side of the Franklin Woodward place where he lived until 1850. He then moved to Winehendon, Mass., and lived with son Alvah, who was a well known physician. Mrs. Godding died in Troy in 1854, and he died in Winehendon in 1856. He was a resident of Troy for more than seventy years, and but few men have left behind a better influence upon the people.
Of the early life of Alexander Parkman but little infor- mation can be given. He probably settled here as early as 1777 or 1778, and located near where the Troy Blanket Mills now stand. He was by trade a clothier and he had a fulling mill near by. Here he worked at his trade for several years, and found plenty of material to occupy his time in the usual dressing season, as it was then the custom for families to manufacture their own cloth. He had a share in the publie business, as he was town clerk of Marlborough in 1784 and 1785, and also occupied other important positions, and probably dis- charged his duties to the satisfaction of the people. About 1788, he removed to Cherry Valley, N. Y., and employed William Tenney, Sr., who with an ox team conveyed his family and goods as far as Bennington, Vt., where they were overtaken by a severe storm and obliged to halt. Finding it impossible to proceed farther with his load, Mr. Tenney returned, leaving Parkman to find other means of conveyance when the traveling became favorable. Mr. Parkman had several sons, one of whom en- gaged in mercantile business in Boston and acquired a fortune.
7
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Joseph Nourse and family, consisting of mother, four sons and two daughters, came from Hopkinton, Mass., in 1779, and settled where Nahum Green now lives. They lived there until 1794, when Mr. Nourse died, and his son Ebenezer built a house near the site of the present resi- dence of Moses Abare. Jonathan, the oldest child, lived with his parents a few years after they came to Fitzwil- liam and then moved to Ohio. Hannah, the eldest daughter, married Colmon Saunders, but it is not known where they settled. Joseph went away while a single man but afterwards married. William married Lydia, daughter of John Bruce, and settled on the place now owned by H. W. Eastman, but in a few years moved to Warwick. Prudence married Moseman and settled in Newfane, Vt. Ebenezer married Priscilla Poor of Royal- ston, Mass., and settled on the home farm with his father. Reuben, the youngest child, married Jerusha Bruce, and settled with his brother, and was to share with him the farm after the decease of their parents. In a few years he sold his interest in the farm to David White and moved to Pelham. Mrs. Nourse, the mother, died in 1783, and Mr. Nourse in 1808, at the advanced age of ninety-four.
Daniel Farrar was a descendant of Jacob Farrar who came to this country in 1658. He came to this vicinity about 1799, purchasing a lot of land of Samuel Curtis of Marlborough, Mass., upon which he erected a log house to which he removed his family and devoted his time to clearing and cultivating the land. The deed was dated Jan. 15, 1799, and the lot comprised most of the Daniel Cutting farm. He married a daughter of John Bruce. Occasionally he would assist his father Bruce, who was at the same time clearing a part of his land, and was with him at the time he was killed as before mentioned. In
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EARLY SETTLERS.
1783, he removed to the Bruce farm, and the following year, he sold the lot first purchased to his brother George, who had already lived with him there about one year. To the improvement of the farm upon which he now resided he devoted the most of his energies, and, possessing a strong constitution and great powers of endurance, he could perform more labor than usually falls to the lot of most men.
CHAPTER III.
SETTLERS FROM 1780 TO 1800.
JOHN WHITNEY .- JONATHAN WHITNEY .- GEORGE FARRAR .- BERBY .- WES- SON .- JASON WINCH .- JOSEPH PARKER .- JONAS WARREN .- DANIEL GOULD. -NATHANIEL KENDALL .- HEZEKIAH COOLIDGE .- ABRAHAM COOLIDGE .- EPHRAIM ROOT .- BENONI ROBBINS .- JAMES DEAN .- JONATHAN WHIPPLE. -JONATHAN BALL .- JONATHAN PLATTS .- JOHN SWEETLAND .- TALMON KNIGHTS .- JOHN GARFIELD .- ELIJAH ALEXANDER .- STEPHEN RUSSELL .- ABRAHAM RANDALL .- SILAS COOK .- ISAAC JACKSON .- WILLIAM STARKEV. - ICHIABOD WOODWARD .- JONAS ROBINSON .- SILAS WHEELER .- JOHN ROGERS .- DAVID SAUNDERS .- EBENEZER SAUNDERS .- EZEKIEL WHITE .- NATHANIEL BUCKLIN .- NEWTON .- WILLIAM NURSE .- EDWARD FOSTER .- JONATHAN CAPRON .- CHRISTOPHER IIARRIS .- ELIJAH FULLER .- ISAAC FULLER .- ASA BREWER. - ZOPHER WHITCOMB .- JOHN JOY .- JOSEPHI FRENCH .- IIUGHI THOMPSON .- JOHN AND DAVID GAAREY.
During the next twenty years, or from 1780 to 1800, the population of these towns increased quite rapidly from the arrival of new settlers and by birth to the families already settled.
John and Jonathan Whitney, two brothers, came from Dunstable, purchasing a tract of land near where Nahum Green now lives, upon which they built a home, construct- ing the same for a tavern, and was kept as such by them for several years, during which time they did a fair amount of business and acquired considerable property. In 1778, they closed the house to the public and devoted their time to farming. For a few years they managed affairs to- gether, when the property was divided. About the year 1810, Jonathan sold his interest to one Sanford, and moved to Hartland, Vt. John resided on the farm until his death in 1829. He married Mary Jones, a native of
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SETTLERS FROM 1780 TO 1800.
Framingham. Jonathan settled in 1772, and John in 1779.
George Farrar, a brother of Daniel, settled in Marl- borough about 1783. After residing with his brother about a year he purchased the location and married. He lived here about six years, when he sold out and moved to Templeton, Mass., where he lived two years, when he returned and purchased a farm on West Hill, where he lived until he died.
About this time, two families settled in the vicinity of what is now the village, but about all that is known of them is the family name and place of residence. The name of one was Berby, and the other Wesson. Berby lived near where Hiram C. Newton now lives. It is said he was quite a musician and took great delight in singing songs, and it is stated that on one occasion he let himself to sing at the rate of one potato for a song, and that he sang until he had obtained a peck. Wesson lived a little farther west on the opposite side of the road. Both families left town at an carly date.
Jason Winch, a native of Framingham, and brother of Caleb, came here about 1782 or 1783, and built a tannery on the site of the one burned in April, 1887. He carried on tanning and currying for a few years, but being unfor- tunate in business, he closed it up and left town, probably about or before 1793.
Near the close of 1783, one Joseph Parker built a log house near the present residence of Gregory Lawrence, where he lived about four years, having charge of the grist mill built by Phineas Farrar. The mill was sold to Daniel Gould and he moved out of town.
No history is known of Jonas Warren except that about 1786 he erected a building on the east side of the com- mon, near the house now owned by Thomas Mitchell, a part of which was used as a store. This was the fourth
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HISTORY OF TROY.
house in the village and the first store in town. After- wards he erected another building adjoining on the south, which was used as a tavern. Both of these buildings were afterwards remodeled and removed and made into dwellings. In addition to the store and tavern, he built an establishment for making potash, which stood near the roadway leading to the land of E. P. Kimball, on which the picture frame shop stood. He appears to have had considerable business taet, and must have contributed quite a good deal towards the prosperity of the town; but he had more interests than he could successfully man- age, as they failed to pay expenses, and he elosed up his business, after a residence of about ten years, and moved to Vermont.
Another early settler was Daniel Gould, who came about 1778, and settled near the Willard White place, making the first clearing and building a log house in which he lived until about 1787, when he sold to Moses Cutting, buying the Phineas Farrar grist mill and Joseph Parker house, and for the next few years he earned a comfortable support in taking care of the mill and eulti- vating his small lot of land. He had several children, one of whom, Abigail, married William Bruee, who was after- wards killed by a fall in a saw mill. The family left town about 1797.
Nathaniel Kendall eame in 1786. He was born in Providence, R. I., where he lived until he was about six- teen years of age, when he removed to Lancaster, Mass., and while here he lived in various places, and is said to have changed his place of residence twenty times.
Hezekiah and Abraham Coolidge, two brothers from Sherburne, Mass., purchased of Reuben Ward one hundred aeres of land on what is now called East Hill. They lived together for several years and then divided the farm. In
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SETTLERS FROM 1780 TO 1800.
1791, Abraham built a house on the place now owned by H. E. Mellen, where he lived until 1818, when he sold his farm and hired the tavern in the village, now known as the Monadnock Hotel, which he kept until 1824, when he rented the Bailey Starkey house, where he resided until after the death of his wife in 1836, after which he lived with his daughter, Mrs. Moses Perkins, until his death in 1843. He was a very active man and traded occasionally in cattle and sheep which he disposed of in Brighton mar- ket. Hezekiah continued to reside on the original place until the fall of 1805, when on his way to Swanzey, with an ox team, he fell from the cart tongue upon which he was riding, one wheel passing over his head, killing him instantly.
In 1788 or 1789, Ephraim Root came from Coventry, Conn., with his two sons-in-law, Ebenezer and Samuel Bacon, buying of Jacob Newell a large tract of land which included the farm formerly owned by Stephen Wheeler and Lyman Wright, and a house where the residence of Mrs. A. J. Burpee now stands. He lived here with his son-in- law Samuel. Ebenezer built a house on the opposite side of the road near the house now owned by G. HI. Aldrich, which was the fifth house built in the village. Ebenezer was a clothier and built a clothing mill near by. He fulled and colored the cloth in this mill but did the finishing in a part of his dwelling house. Mr. Root, soon after this, with the assistance of his sons-in-law, built a saw mill near where Charles Carpenter's saw mill stood which was burned about 1802. The land near the mill was cleared the following year by a "clearing bee" which was a pre- vailing custom at that time, at which the citizens of the town assembled and had a jovial time in removing and burning the brush.
For about eight years, Ephraim Root was one of the
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HISTORY OF TROY.
most prominent men in town, and with his sons-in-law gave quite an impetus to the business of the place. But like the business men of today he was not successful in the prosecution of his plans, and becoming embarrassed in his financial affairs he was obliged to suspend business and his property passed into the hands of his creditors. He removed to another part of the town where he died in indigent circumstances. About 1797, the clothing mill and house were purchased by John Potter, and the Bacons left town.
Benoni Robbins, a cooper by trade, came from Attle- borough, Mass., about 1770, and settled in the northerly part of Marlborough. In 1778, he exchanged farms with Phineas Farrar and took up his abode on what is now known as the "Fisk place." Robbins is said to have been possessed of more than ordinary physical vigor, of which he was apt to make a vain display. He seemed to sup- pose that a constitution so firm was a sure guarantee of long life; and when in 1801, he contracted the small pox, he at first looked upon the disease as a trivial thing which his vital energies would soon overcome; but as it steadily progressed and he saw his system gradually yielding to its power, he was led to see the folly of his reliance, and died in the most heart rending agony. This disease was but little known at that time in this region, and very naturally caused great alarm throughout the towns. People fled from their homes or secluded them- selves in suspense, and all maintained a respectful distance. The excitement was so intense that it was difficult to get help to administer to the sick from other causes, or to bury the dead. He had several children; the oldest son Isaac, after the death of his father, bought the farm for- merly owned by Daniel Cutting, where he resided for a number of years, afterwards moving to Vermont.
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SETTLERS FROMM 1780 TO 1800.
Of James Dean but little information can be given. He probably came to Marlborough previous to 1777, as he was a member of Capt. James Lewis' company in Col. E. Hale's regiment, which marched June 29th of that year, to reinforce the garrison at Ticonderoga. He was sexton in 1791. He married a daughter of William Barker, and about 1794, his father-in-law presented him with fifty acres of land adjoining his own farm, upon which he erected a house, where he lived for three or four years, when he sold this place to Isaac Fuller and moved to Grafton, Vt.
In 1790, there was a larger number of new inhabitants who came to the town than in any previous year since 1768. Among them were Jonathan Whipple, Jonathan Hall, Nathan Platts and John Sweetland, besides several others who remained but a limited period.
Jonathan Whipple was a carpenter by trade and built a house where Charles Haskell now lives. This was a one-story building with the end towards the road, the back part of which was used as a schoolroom. He is represented as being a very erect, portly man, prompt in business and a highly esteemed citizen. This was the sixth house in the village. The family being in humble circumstances most of the children left home at an early age. One son, Edward, learned his father's trade and worked with him most of the time while he lived here. He removed to Concord, Vt., in 1804, and was soon joined by his parents and other members of the family. The house was afterwards removed and remodeled, and is the house now owned by Mrs. Samantha Whitcomb.
Jonathan Ball came from Southborough in 1787. He built a tavern on the Flint place, so-called, where E. F. Adams now lives. The main building was two stories high and faced the highway, with a one-story ell extending
8
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HISTORY OF TROY.
back. He kept public house here until 1796, when he sold his location to Christopher Harris and removed to New York. On his way there, Rebecca, one of his daugh- ters, was taken suddenly ill and died before reaching the end of the journey.
There is a tradition respecting the large elm tree which now stands near the premises, and which is probably true. At that time there was quite a curve in the road in front of the house, the road passing considerably to the west of the present highway. In the spring of the year, after the winter's wood had been drawn to the dooryard, a sled stake was thoughtlessly stuck into the ground by the side of the road by Henry Tolman, which soon began to show signs of vitality and taking root, sent out branches and became a thrifty tree. At that time there was a bank of earth several feet in height on the east side of it, and the plat of ground above was used as a wood yard. And in building the turnpike on the east side of the tree, it was spared and became a stately monarch.
Jonathan Platts, soon after coming here, married Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Daniel Farrar, and being a tanner and currier by trade, commenced working the old Wright tannery. His father-in-law built a house for him, the seventh in the village, which was near where Mrs. Levi Whittemore lives. Being a man of but little energy, he soon failed in business and left town. The house was afterward sold to a Mr. Barnard, a blacksmith, but after exchanging owners several times, it was removed to where Andrew Foster lived.
John Sweetland came from Attleborough, Mass., about 1784, purchasing a lot and building a house near the Porter White place. All traces of this as well as of other residences of the individuals of the past generations have long since been obliterated. He had several children, the
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SETTLERS FROM 1780 TO 1800.
oldest, a son, married a daughter of Daniel Gould. In 1798 or 1799, these families moved to Vermont.
MAIN STREET LOOKING NORTH FROM RAILROAD BRIDGE.
Talmon Knights came from Templeton, Mass., in 1791, and purchased of Phineas Farrar the land now consti- tuting the Cobb farm. He prepared a comfortable habi- tation, to which he removed his family and commenced the arduous labor of clearing the land. At that time the highway which now leads to that farm extended on westward, and terminated in that on West Hill. This was laid out in 1774, by a committee chosen for that purpose by the Proprietors. Mr. Knights resided here until 1843.
The following year, 1792, John Garfield came from Lincoln, Mass., and purchased of John Colburn, the farm afterwards owned by his descendants. He was one of the patriots of the Revolution, having entered the army at the commencement of the war, and served his country through that trying period. After the war he settled in Lincoln, where he lived nine years, when with his wife and ten children he came here, where he lived during the remainder of his life. He had the reputation of being an
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HISTORY OF TROY.
industrious man and a good citizen. In 1793, eight persons with their families settled in different parts of the town.
Elijah Alexander was born in Uxbridge, Mass., in 1741, where he married and worked at shoemaking until 1793, when he came to Marlborough and purchased a farm of Benoni Benson. After coming here he devoted most of his time to agriculture, and having a large family to support he was obliged to practice both industry and economy, ard became a highly esteemed citizen, and he lived to see mot of his children and some of his grandchildren con- fortably settled in life.
Of Stephen Russell we know but little except that he came from New Ipswich in 1793, and made the first clear- ing and built the first house on the place now owned by Sidney Butler, and known as the Leonardson place. Helived there a few years, and then exchanging farms with Jacob Osborn of Keene, he removed there and died soon after.
The first known of Abraham Randall was in 1793, when he was living on a farm on West Hill, although he might have been settled there previously. He was the first to make a clearing and build a house on the Stephen Harris place, where he lived until about 1800, when he removed to Swanzey, to the Daniel Woodward farm, where he died.
All that is known of Silas Cook, or Davenport, is that they lived a few years on the road leading from the Morse tavern to Richmond.
Isaac Jackson came here from Attleborough, Mass., prob- ably about 1778, but little is known of him until about 1793, when he was living on the Timothy Fife farm.
William Starkey was from Attleborough, Mass., and settled on the farm now occupied by Matthew Wilson.
Ichabod Woodward was from Sudbury, where he
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SETTLERS FROM 1780 TO 1800.
married and where his children were born. At what time he came here cannot be ascertained, but in 1793 he lived on a farm immediately south of the Morse tavern, and was considered one of the best farmers in that part of the town. He kept a large stock of cattle, and few men could furnish the market with more saleable beef or produce a better team. But all traces of the once productive farm, like all of those of the first settlers in that part of the town, have long since passed away.
Jonas Robinson, or Robeson, as he spelled his name after coming to New Hampshire, was born in Lexington, Mass., and came here in 1791 or 1792, opening a store in the house of Reuben Ward, on the place now owned by the heirs of Hamilton Parker, which he occupied for nearly a year. But wishing to be nearer the center of business, he purchased of Joshua Harrington a lot of land near the gristmill and upon the south side of the stream, upon which he erected a building, the eighth in the village. The front part was finished for a store and the rear part for a dwelling. In 1805, he opened a store in the center of Fitzwilliam, placing his brother-in-law, Reuben Ward, there as clerk. He carried on business in both places until 1813, when he sold out his interest to Daniel W. Farrar, his partner. He was one of the most enterprising men of the town. While living here, he superintended the building of the new road or turnpike from Fitzwilliam to Keene, as no one else who was responsible could be found to do it, building log huts for the men he employed. Later he was very active in the erection of the first meet- ing house in Fitzwilliam village, and was much affected when it was burned. When the flames were bursting from the doors and windows, he took from the pulpit the Bible, and before the fire had gone out was arranging with others for rebuilding it at once. For about six years after
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HISTORY OF TROY.
he opened the store here, he was assisted in his business by Calvin, the third son of Phineas Farrar, but in 1800, a younger brother, Daniel W., became a partner. In 1793, Jonas Robinson received a license "to sell Speritus Liquors, subject to such regulations and restrictions as the law of the State of New Hampshire imposes upon retalers."
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