USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Barnstead > History of Barnstead [N.H.] from its first settlement in 1727 to 1872 > Part 7
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
THE FIRST RECORDS.
Up to the year 1772, the registry of all the sales of real estate in New Hampshire was made in Rockingham
103
PROVINCE ROAD.
1863
County ; it was kept at Exeter. After that year the records were removed and kept at Dover, in the County of Strafford. (In the appendix is a copy of one of the original deeds, marked c.)
PROVINCE ROAD.
In the year 1770 this road was ordered to be built by the General Court. It was intended as a great thorough- fare from Portsmouth to Canada ; and passed through the town on or near the range of the first tier of lots. The land at that time being all, or nearly all, in the hands of the proprietors, a road tax was assessed upon each owner.
This outlay, although it would work a great conven- ience to actual settlers, proved burdensome, and many surrendered their rights to the land rather than pay the tax thus imposed upon them.
Thereupon many of the lots were sold by the officers of the Crown ; the sales being made at Dover, Newington and Portsmouth.
The road was made under a contract with the propri- etors by Jonathan Chesley, who after finishing the road, removed to Barnstead. His homestead was about a mile east of the centre. His daughter, Sophia, afterwards became the wife of Rev. Enos George.
Previous to the building of this road, the inhabitants had great labor and inconvenience in obtaining their provisions thus far into the woods. Their nearest places
1863
HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
104
of supply were Dover and Durham, the way being traced by spotted trees, through a rough hilly wilderness, and over unbridged streams, bearing the burden on foot or on horseback.
The road when finished, as of course would tend to increase the number of settlers, and at the same time would give much strength and encouragement to the original land holders still then residing in Barnstead.
TROUBLE WITH THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT.
Soon after the treaty of peace with France, the colo- nists were greatly irritated by an attempt of the English Parliament to increase their revenues by an increase of taxation upon the colonies.
To this end, an act had been passed laying a duty on all paper, vellum, or parchment used in America, and declaring all writings on unstamped paper materials to be null and void.
This was called the Stamp Act, and received the royal assent to it March 22, 1765.
When the news of this act reached herc, the people everywhere manifested alarm, and a determination to resist its execution.
The assembly of Virginia at once and decisively .. declared its opposition to the Act by spirited resolutions. Massachusetts also protested against the Stamp Act, and took the lead at this important crisis. In Boston such
105
WAR WITH ENGLAND.
1863
was the indignation against the measure, that houses, in some instances, were demolished over the heads of such as favored the measure. And as if to render the opposi- tion complete, the Boston merchants met and resolved never to import any more goods from Great Britain, during the existence of the Stamp Act.
Deputies from nine of the colonies met, agreed on a declaration of rights, and sent a petition to the King, and a memorial to both Houses of Parliament, in which their opposition to such a law was fully set forth.
In Parliament, Mr. Pitt was eloquent against such oppression ; finally, on the 18th of March, 1766, the Stamp Act was repealed.
Still the British Ministry would not abandon their design of increasing their revenue by extraordinary tax- ation in America.
In 1767 an act was passed by Parliament imposing duties on glass, painters' colors, and on coffee and tea imported to the colonies. These duties were small in themselves, yet the principle on which they were imposed was offensive.
From this, another association was formed for sus- pending the importation of all goods on which duties were charged.
This opposition, supported by petitions and remon- strances, procured the abolition of all duties except three pence on every pound of tea ; but the colonists still re- sisted.
The British Government finding mild efforts unavailing in sustaining such laws, sent to Boston four regiments of troops to be stationed there to enforce them.
106
HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
1863
Early in 1774 Parliament ordered the refractory col- onists to be punished, and appointed General Gage to take charge of the troops of Boston and execute its mandates. It ordered the port of Boston to be closed from all commerce, and thus all intercourse with the town by water was suspended.
The colonial government, the public records, and offices were removed to Salem.
All this could but serve to irritate the American people.
In May, 1774, General Gage arrived in Boston, com- missioned as Governor of Massachusetts and Commander in Chief of the British forces. He notified the assembly to meet him in convention at Salem, but on further reflec- tion countermanded the summons. 1
The counter order, however, being deemed illegal, the meeting was held in the Governor's absence. They then and there organized themselves into a Provincial Congress, formed a plan of defence, appointed general officers, and adopted measures to collect supplies and military stores, at Concord and Worcester.
This Massachusetts assembly, after a short adjourn- ment, again met, and voted to raise twelve thousand soldiers, and sent agents to the neighboring colonies soliciting their co-operation.
Thereupon the neighboring colonies sent their commit- tees, and agreed with the assembly on a plan of opera- tions.
At about the same time, on April 19, 1775, the British army opened the war of the Revolution, by taking a march from their encampment in Boston to Lexington
107
WAR WITH ENGLAND.
1863
and Concord, with the intent to take or destroy military supplies.
The battle at Bunker's Hill, on the 17th of June, then next followed. The American or rebel army (so called) was stationed at Cambridge. All were on the alert at the common cry of war. The farmer, the fisherman, and men of every grade and occupation, repaired to Cambridge with whatever of weapons they had, until they became an army numbering fourteen thousand men.
On the 2nd of July, 1775, General George Washing- ton appeared at Cambridge and took command. He found the troops, many of them without equipments and poorly clad; yet they were filled with the blood of patriots, and were alive to obey his orders. Within three miles, at Boston, were the British army, then numbering twenty thousand well trained troops.
The pay allowed to his army was one shilling per day to each man. The dress was brown osnaburgs, something like a shirt, double-caped over the shoulder, in imitation of an Indian garb, and bearing upon the breast of it, in distinct letters, " Liberty or Death."
Thus commenced the war of the Revolution, to which Barnstead contributed its just share, thereby encouraging the colonies to become free and independent. It is worthy of remembrance that, when by order of Congress, the Test List was taken, there was no one found in Barnstead who would not, "at the risk of his life and fortune, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British fleets and armies." (See Test List, appendix d.)
Soon after the commencement of the war of the Rev- olution a new arrangement in its affairs was established in Barnstead. The town chose its own officers, collected
·
108
HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
1863
its own taxes, and the proprietors were at once relieved from duties which had previously devolved upon them.
RECORDS.
The following is the copy of a deed in 1777, conveying lot number 33, for non-payment of taxes from Hatevil ₼ Nutter, junior, to the purchaser, Benjamin Nutter :
"Town Collector, Stephen Pickering, of Barnstead, in the County of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, yeoman, Collector of Town, County and State Tax for the Town, 1777, and in consideration of thirty-six shillings lawful money paid by Benjamin, Nutter of Barnstead, aforesaid gentleman, he being the lowest bidder at the public vendue sale, according to the terms of the vendue for the sale of lands : We confirm unto him and his heirs, in the third range of lots, number 33, being part of a one hundred acre lot originally, in the right of Hatevil Nutter, junior.
JOHN TASKER, Justice of the Peace.
Witness : WINTHROP SMART, JOHN TASKER.
MASON TITLE.
About this time, and previously, there had been a great embarrassment to the settlers, in consequence of a claim set up against their titles by the Mason heirs. This claim was transferred to persons in Portsmouth, alleging it to have come through the agency, or in behalf of the
109
TOWN RECORDS.
1863
British Government. It covered all the lands in Barn- stead, and settlers began to fear the loss of all their titles, which had been earned through much toil, and purchased in good faith many years previously.
This claim extended back to 1621, and purported to be from the Plymouth company. At the death of Mason it fell to his son, John Tafton Mason, and then to his daughter Jane.
In 1738 this claim had been transferred to Theodore Atkinson, Hunking Wentworth, and others of Portsmouth. At this time, settlers by paying a small fee, became released from the long and wearisome vexation of this claim.
This John L. Mason was from Hampshire County, England, and from this County New Hampshire took its name.
FIRST TOWN MEETING.
Of record, it appears that on November 22, 1775, the voters were called together for the choice of State and County officers. This appears to have been the first meet- ing for such a purpose ; it was called in connection with the voters of the inhabitants of Gilmanton, and was holden at the house of William Parsons, junior. At this meeting Joseph Badger was unanimously elected to the office of an assembly man, (representative,) to attend at the meeting of the Legislature in December of that year, at Exeter. Votes also were cast for a Councillor for the County. At the assembly M. Weare of Hampton Falls, presided, a plan of Government was adopted, and a resolution was passed, recommending a continuation of the war.
110
HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
1863
The more immediate action of Barnstead in the war of the Revolution is of record.
From this it appears that in the year 1775 the popula- tion of the Town was 252: males under 16 years, 82; from 16 to 50, 53 ; over 50, 4 ; females, 111 ; in the army, 2 ; fire arms, 28 ; wanting, 25 ; powder, none. It seems that this first census was taken by order of the Conven- tion, to ascertain the number which would be held to bear arms in defence of the colonies.
At a town meeting held April 26, 1775,
" Voted, Captain Richard Sinclair, 1 £, 11 s, 6 d lawful money, for his and the men's expenses in going down below for the defence of our country."
" August 22, 1776, the town " voted to pay four men forty-eight shillings each for a bounty to go to Crown Point.
" Voted, John Tasker and Samuel Pitman a committee of safety."
At a meeting holden by the town in the same year, at which John Bunker presided,
" Voted, Six hundred dollars to four men to serve at Crown Point."
The town's proportion of corn for the army was 3885 pounds.
" Voted, December 12, 1776, $52 bounty for every man who would go to Crown Point on the expedition the present year."
"June 17, 1777, Voted, $600 to the men to serve at Crown Point."
" Voted, That all the money paid by the sundry persons for the one and three year's men should be paid by the town."
111
TOWN RECORDS.
1863
" 1778, Voted, Richard Cinclair and Benjamin Nutter be a committee to hire soldiers at the best rate they can, as they may be sent for the present year, to go into the service.
"Voted, That John Elliott should gather the corn we are to furnish the army, and that he shall have four bushels for every one hundred he raises.
" Voted, To pay Richard Cinclair two hundred dollars for letting out Stephen Hood to the service."
" 1781, Voted, That we will raise men to go into the army according to their worth and wealth.
" Voted, That silver money be paid to one three year's man and no more."
Some of the soldiers above referred to belonged in Barnstead ; others were hired from other places.
The products of the land were plenty; corn was abundant, but gold and silver were exceedingly scarce. Paper money issued by the new Government began to depreciate and became valueless. This continental money (as it was called) was flooding the town, but could not be passed off to any good purpose, and many lost by it.
This long and tedious war of seven years at length came to an end, and great was the rejoicing of the people.
Taxes had been, and still continued to be, burdensome ; but these were nothing in the sight of an independent, energetic community.
TOWN RECORDS.
The records of Barnstead have generally been kept with neatness and safety ; yet a part of them of late have been mislaid, perhaps lost. The volume commencing in 1774, eight years subsequent to the first settlement, is, however, well preserved and in good condition.
112
HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
1863
It may be of interest herein to make a few more extracts, as indicating the action of former days.
TOWN ROADS.
" March 29, 1774. At a Meeting of the Town, at the House of Benja. Nutter,-
" Voted, Benjamin Nutter, Moderator.
" Pittsfield Road laid out from near Suncook bridge on the Province Road, on the south side of the road near the river, as the trees are now spotted through the land.
" Voted, For a mill privilege, land by way of spotted trees through Dodovah Bunker's land, by his house on the hill. Said road to be three rods wide. Dated this fourteenth year of his Majesty's reign.
JOHN TASKER, BENJAMIN NUTTER, Selectmen."
THOMAS EDGERLY,
"PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, STRAFFORD SS.
By appointment unto us, the subscribers, by the Freeholders of Barnstead, to lay out a road, in consideration of said appli- cation, at the westerly end of Barnstead, we have laid out said road. Beginning at the Province road, so called, at the south- easterly side of Jethro Bachelder's, and Capt. Richard Cinclair's, running north-east between said Bachelder's land and Capt. Richard Cinclair's land to the Range; thence south-easterly as the Range road was left; then as far as John Mudget's, three rods wide, and making exchange with Capt. Richard Cinclair, allowing said Cinclair one rod of the land left for said road by the Proprietors, as far as his land extends.
And we have laid out said Road, ye 29th day of September, in the year of Her Majesty's Reign, Anno Domini, 1774.
JOHN TASKER, BENJAMIN NUTTER, THOMAS EDGERLY,
Selectmen."
1863
TOWN RECORDS. 113.
" Town Meeting holden at Benja. Nutter's House, April 19, 1774, By a number of Inhabitants,-
" Voted, One hundred dollars to repair roads this year.
" Voted, Twenty dollars for necessaries.
" Voted, Capt. Samuel Pitman six per cent. for what money he collected, for his pains for gathering.
" Voted Six shillings for each of the selectmen, for making rates and settling accounts.
" Voted, Assessors twenty-five cents each.
" Voted, Three shillings for laborer at road making."
" Barnstead, Dec. 30, 1774. Notice is hereby given to ye inhabitants of ye town of Barnstead, that a meeting is to be held at Benjamin Nutter's, on Monday, ye 16th day of January, · at 10 o'clock, A. M., for ye purpose as followeth : -
" First, to choose a moderator; 2nd, to choose a Deputy Committee to meet the Committee at Exeter, to choose a man to go to Philadelphia.
JOHN TASKER, BENJAMIN NUTTER."
" Agreeable to the above Call a meeting was held at the House of Benjamin Nutter, on ye 16th day of January, 1775.
" Voted, to send no man as a committee to your Exeter comite.
" Meeting dissolved."
" Amount of money raised in 1774, 11£ 13s 4d The following amounts were appropriated and paid :
To County Treasurer, . 3£ 4s 7d
Province Tax, 1£ 12s 0d
Selectmen, laying out roads, 0£ 18s 0d Carrying down John Nutter to Newing- ton, . 0£ 6s 0d
Paid for Town book, . 0£ 4s 0d 15
114
HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
1863
Paid Assessors, 0£ 1s 6d Paid Esquire Thompson, for notification for calling meeting for abatement of Rats, 0£ 7s 1d"
" Barnstead, April 26, 1775. At a Town Meeting holden this day at the House of Benjamin Nutter, ---
" Voted, The selectmen four shillings a day for laying out highways.
" Voted, That no money should be raised for the defence of our country."
" Town meeting, March 28, 1775. At a Town meeting holden on this day,-
" Richard Cinclair was voted Moderator.
" Benjamin Nutter, Town Clerk.
" Capt. Richard Cinclair, Winthrop Smart, Benjamin Nut- ter, Selectmen.
" Thomas Edgerly, Constable.
" Jonathan Emerson, John Bunker, Samuel Pitman, Assess- ors.
" Joseph Bunker, Simeon Hatch, Francis Blake, John Tas- ker, Highway-men.
" Dodovah Bunker, John Hawkins, Tything-men, Hogreaves and Fence-viewers."
In 1776 John Bunker petitioned to have a bridge built over the Branch river near his mill.
The town voted not to build it.
" August 22, 1776, Voted, Winthrop Smart 12 s, Thomas Edgerly 12 s, for constables.
"Voted, To build a bridge over the meeting-house Branch."
The Suncook river, as known now, was at first called " The Branch." Bunker's mill was built several years
1
115
TOWN RECORDS.
1863
previous to the building of the above named bridge. The mill was built on the north side of the river; its entrance was from the ledge.
" 1777. The town voted that John Cinclair be recom- mended as a suitable person to receive the commission of Justice of the Peace."
" March 20, 1777, Voted, To pay five shillings per day for labor on the highway.
" Voted, Not to raise any money for schools."
" Annual town meeting holden at the house of Benja- min Nutter, March, 1778. Benjamin Nutter was chosen Moderator ; John Tasker, Clerk ; Benjamin Nutter, Win- throp Smart and William Brown, Selectmen ; Samuel Ches- ley, Constable ; John Tasker, Richard Cinclair, Assessors ; Jonathan Emerson, Stephen Pickering, Committee ; John Bickford, Daniel Jacobs, Tythingmen ; Jonathan Bunker, Thomas Swett, Hog-reaves."
1778. "May 18th, Voted, That John Bunker's grist mill was not rated any more than was just and right.
" Voted, That in consideration of Peace, to abate Bunker's mill two pounds eight shillings and three pence, and make tender of the same-and he refused.
" Voted, John Tasker to stand trial against John Bun- ker for his mill tax in behalf of the town."
1780. " The Selectmen sent John Elliott, Constable, with a warrant to warn out Juda Jenness, who was with child, for fear she would be a town charge, she and her child to be lawfully warned out of Barnstead."
116
HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
1863
At a meeting of the town holden for the purpose of considering John Elliott's vendue, the town voted to have nothing to do with John Elliott.
1783. The town voted 20£ lawful money for preach- ing in the town.
" Voted, That John Tasker, Esq., and Charles Hodg- don be a committee to agree with a man to preach."
1785. John Sullivan received 48 votes, and George Atkinson 11 votes for President.
SOLDIERS
IN THE OLD FRENCH WAR.
John Aikin. He served in this war, and returned and was left at rest on the Jacob Aikin farm. He had served, also, in the Revolution. His age was a hundred years, and upwards.
Col. Joseph Sinclair. He sleeps at his homestead, on the farm of the late Elder Wilson. The grave is un- marked.
Joseph Bunker is left to repose on the Deacon Bunker Farm. "J. B." is there inscribed on a rude stone.
SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION.
[Records from the tomb.]
Ebenezer Nutter, on the homestead in North Barn- stead. Inscription on slate stone : "Deacon Ebenezer
117
SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION.
1863
Nutter, died April 18, 1840, aged 86 years, 8 months, 8 days."
John Clark rests in the Clark burying ground. In- scription on common granite : "J. C., d. 1799." From him the Clarks of Barnstead descended.
Major John Nutter is in the Parade grounds. In- scription on slate stone : "John Nutter, b. May 1, 1757 ; died Nov. 8, 1840, aged 83 years, 8 months.
Jeremiah Jewett, in the old Parade lot. Inscription on slate stone : "In memory of Dr. Jeremiah Jewett, who departed this life April 22, 1836." '
Anthony Nutter, on N. Langley farm. Grave not marked nor enclosed.
Joseph Place, on Captain Chesley's homestead. His grave is unmarked and unenclosed. He served on the land and on the sea. His wife, Anna C., died in 1871, aged 102 years. John, his only son, served in the war of 1812, and rests in the same ground. John's three sons served against the rebellion ; one of them was lost.
Valentine Chapman rests at Centre Barnstead. His grave has no monument.
Joseph Tasker is buried in the lot opposite the Union Meeting House. Inscription : "In memory of Joseph Tasker, esq., died July 5, 1833, aged 77 years, 8 months." He proved himself a good soldier, a friend to the Gospel and the poor. At the last he rested in peace.
William Nutter rests on the plains at the homestead. Inscription on white marble : "William Nutter, Feb. 15, 1811, aged 55 years." He served in the United States Navy.
118
1863
HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
Thomas Welch. This veteran of Barnstead, after the close of the Revolutionary war, removed to Thornton, occupying the John M. Young farm. He died there.
Peletiah Penny rests in the Eben Jones field, in - Snackerty.
Joseph Patterson Dame. He rests in a burying ground opposite Master Kelley's place, on the Province road, marked by rough granite, not inscribed.
James Davis, after serving in the Revolution, died in the war of 1812.
Samuel Davis, a brother of James, rests in Clark- town. The exact locality cannot be traced.
Ebenezer Adams rests at his homestead, on the Province road. A granite stone marks the place, but there is no inscription.
David Jacobs is in the old Tuttle burying ground, on the William A. Pierce place. The grave is without marks.
Jonathan Young is somewhere on Beauty Hill.
Ephraim Tebbetts is buried by the North road.
Hatevil Nutter was left in the old Nutter burying ground, on C. S. George's farm.
Capt. Jonathan Chesley reposes on his old homestead. A rude stone is there, without an inscription.
Capt. John Drew remains in the grounds at his old homestead, near the old Hodgdon tavern. There is no inscription.
Thomas Brown, after the Revolution ended, removed from Barnstead and fell asleep at Stratham.
. William Lord. The stone at his grave is uninscribed. It is at the homestead on the Province road.
119
SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION.
1863
Joseph Sanborn, on his return from the war, went from the Province road to Maine, and is supposed to have died there.
Captain Joseph Kaime died at Somersworth, being there on a visit, and remains there.
Samuel Eastman. His grave is without mark or inscription.
Colonel Nathaniel Pease sleeps on the Moses Hodgdon farm, without any stone to designate his resting place.
Robert Tebbets rests at his late homestead, near the Province road.
Samuel Jenness lived near Lougee's pond. His grave is there, but cannot be traced.
Ralph Hall lived on the Glidden farm. He died of sickness or was killed in the war.
Joseph Huckins is in the Morrill burying-ground, near Seward's hill.
John Welch is on the Welch farm. There are no grave stones.
Richard Sinclair left town about the year 1800. His resting place is unknown.
Nathan Nutter was a brother of Ebenezer, lived at Jethro Nutter's, died in prison at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and remains there.
Eli Ham was last seen somewhere in Gilmanton.
John Pitman rests at the Pitman burying ground in Snackerty.
Perry Hixon is buried on Crockett's hill, at Locke's corner.
1
120
HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
1863
Winthrop Ayers rests from his labors at his homestead in the Peacham neighborhood.
John Aiken reposes beneath the white oaks on Jacob Aiken's farm.
- Avery, who resided on the Thomas P. Hodg- don farm, went, but never returned, from the war of the Revolution.
William Hill is at rest on the homestead farm of Mr. Jefferson Emerson.
Thomas Ayers served his country in this war, and now reposes on the Crockett hill place, at Locke's corner.
James Marden served and returned, and was buried at " the Centre."
Jonathan Emerson also returned, and rests on the homestead of Mr. J. Emerson.
Samuel Pitman also escaped the casualties of the Revolution, and now reposes at the homestead of a friend and relative, Samuel J. Pitman.
" They sleep their last sleep-they have fought their last battle, No foe shall awake them to glory again."
NOTE .- We are indebted to the researches of our good friend, Mr. SAMUEL WINKLEY, through whose instrumentality our heroes of the Revolution from Barnstead have found a brief place in these annals, so that the venerable dust of at least some of them may not entirely vanish from the world, nor be forgotten by the advancing generations that follow them. Thanks to Mr. Winkley ; and thanks to our friend, Dr. J. Wheeler, who transmitted the materials for this record.
CROSSING THE SUNCOOK
120
HULOT OF BASTELN
Wirdieog Ayers rests from bis labors at big homestend in Die P dem neighborhood.
John Aiken Teroses beneath the when oaks on Jacob Alken's firm.
--- Every, veo rendeu of the Chosus P. Hodg don form. west, but never returned. For the van of the Revolutie
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.