USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900 > Part 21
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Att a Meeting of the Proprietors of Narragansett Township No 5 Alias Bedford and part of the town of Merrymac in the County of Hillsborough in the Province of New Hampshire at the house of Capt Daniel Moor in said Bedford on Monday the third day of janu- ary AD 1774
Voted The Honourable john Goffe Esqr Moderator to govern said Meeting
Voted To dismifs the two surviveing Commiteemen that were for- merly chosen to take care of the Proprietors land and to prosecute any trefpafsers on the same
Voted That Capt William Allds and Matthew Patten Esqr and Capt Daniel Moor be a commitee to take care of the proprietors lands And to prosecute any person or persons that have or may trespafs on the same
Voted That the Report of the Commitee that ware chosen to settle the line between the Narragansett Township No three and the propriety of this town be accepted and the charge of the said settle- ment by our commitee be paid by the propriety of this township
Voted That the Committee That were chosen to sell the Gore so called shall and hereby are impowered to sue and prosecute to final judgment and Execution any person or persons who have any part of said Gore in pofsefsion so as to Recover the pofsefsion thereof for the proprietors
Voted That the Honourable john Goffe Esqr Capt Daniel Moor and Matthew Patten Esqr be a commitee to Examin the home lotts North of the Gore so called So as to know if there is a lott lef than is marked on the plan on the following terms (viz) That Mosel Vickere Enter into Obligation with said Committee in Writing Tha if on examination it shall be found that there are no more Lott Marked in the plan than was laid out That then the said Vicker pay the cost of said examination But if it is found by said examina tion that there is a lott more marked on the plan than was Real laid out then in that case the propriety to pay the cost of sai Examination And that the said commitee proceed and lay out t the said Moses Vickere a home lott of the Northerly side of sai Gore according to their judgment haveing Reference to the Qualit and Situation
A true Record Attest Mathw Patten Prop's Clerk
211
THE PROPRIETORS' RECORDS.
Notice is hereby given That the Timber on the Lotts No 21 and 22 in the 9 Rang commonaly called the school lotts That is fitt to make Planks or Boards such as we shall think proper will be sold at Pub- lick Vendue to the highest bidder on Thursday the thirtieth day of this Jnstant Decbr at one of the clock in the afternoon at the Dwell- ing house of M' john Orr in Bedford The conditions of sale will be made known at time and place of sale
Bedford December 18th 1773
Mathw Patten John Goffe Committee James Vose A true Record Attest Mathw Patten Prop's Clerk
The articles of the Sale of the timber on the lotts No 21 and 22 in the 9 Rang in Bedford are as follows (viz) The highest bidder to be the purchaser The timber that will be sold are all white oak trees of fifteen inches Diameter and upwards two feet high from the Ground and all Red oak timber fitt to make slitwork The purchaser to have free liberty to cut and carrie off all such timber of the Dimentions aforesaid with liberty to clear Roads to do the same scides &c but not to make any unecefsary Wast And shall have untill the first day of April AD 1775 to cut and carrie said timber off said lotts And if any Deficualty arises by the town that they sue the purchaser for his cuting or carrieing off said timber That the commitee in their said Capacity hereby Engages to take suit and carrie it on free of any Expence to the said Purchaser on his giveing the said commitee a power of Atorney at the first commenceing said suit but if he does not and he loofses the Action to Recover nothing off said commitee or off the propriety That the purchaser pay two Dollars of the price down that the timber may be sold for and one half of the Remainder in six months from the date and the Other half the first day of july AD 1775 he giveing good security for the same
Bedford December 30th 1773
N B The bidds to be in Hamp' old Ten" and john Goffe Mathw Patten Commitee not lefs than Twenty shillings at a bidd
Equal to one shilling Lawful Money james Vose
A true Record Attest Mathw Patten Proprs Clk
Bedford December 30th 1773
Met according to the time above said agreeable to a Notification for that end and adjourned the sale to Monday the 3ª day of january AD 1774 to the house of Capt Daniel Moor in said Bedford at three of the clock in the afternoon Met according to the said adjournment ind proceeded to the sale of said timber
The first lott of timber that was sett up was the timber on the West side of the brook in said lotts And was struck off to William Cald- vell of said Bedford for 157 £ Hamp" old Ten".
pr Mathw. Patten Vendue Master
212
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
The second Lott of timber that was sett up was the timber on the East side of the Brook in said lotts And was struck off to Matthew Mc Duffie of said Bedford for 230 £ Hamp" old Ten"
p' Mathw Patten Vendue Master
A true Record Attest Mathw Patten Proprs Clerk
To Matthew Patten Esqr Proprietors Clerk for the Township of Sowhegan East now Bedford and part of Merrymac
We the subscribers being owners of more than the sixteenth part of said proprietors Interest in said township
Pray you would call a meeting of the proprietors of said Township of sowhegan East to meet at the dwelling house Zechariah Chandler Jnholder in said Bedford on Tuesday the Twelveth day of March next at one of the Clock in the afternoon to act on the following Articles (viz)
1st To chuse a Moderator to Regulate said meeting
2ª To see if the proprietors will give up the Lease they have between Lieut john Orr and them
3ª To see what the proprietors will do Relateing thos lotts in said township that are laid out but not Recorded to any person 4thly To see what the proprietors will do Relateing to a Gore of land upon Merrimack River that is unlaid out in said township 5thly To see if the proprietors will order the old Commitee who were chosen to settle with Deacon William the former Treasurer to settle with him or to chuse a new Commitee to settle with him imediatly or others who have any accounts against said proprietors
6thly To see what the proprietors will do concerning paying the judg- ment the town of said Bedford Recovered against the pro- prietors concerning the school land
And in so doing you will oblige yours &c
Bedford Febr 12th 1782
John Goffe for 5 Rights James Walker 2 Do
James Martin 3 Do
Samuel Vose .1 Do
James Vose 1 Do Zechariah Chandler 7 Do
Bedford Febr 13th 1782 Jn pursuance of the foregoing Request I hereby notifie the proprie- tors of said Sowhegan East to meet at time and place above men- tioned to act on the foregoing articles
Mathw Patten prop's Clerk A true Record Attest Matthw Patten Prop's Clerk
At a metting of the proprietors of Sowhegan East now Bedford anc part of Merrymac held at the Dwelling house of Zechariah Chandle: inholder in said Bedford on the 12th day of March AD 1782 in con sequence of foregoing Notification to Act on the articles in the fore going Request at one of the Clock in the Afternoon of said day
213
THE PROPRIETORS' RECORDS.
Voted john Goffe Esqr Moderator to Regulate said meeting
Voted Zechariah Chandler Clerk pro temporary who was sworn
Voted that this meeting be adjourned till Tuesday the sixteenth day of this Instant at one of the Clock in the afternoon to this house
March 19 th 1782 met according to adjournment
Voted james Martin Moderator pro temporary
Voted to chuse a Commitee to treat with the Selectmen about a lease that is between the proprietors and Lieut Orr about giveing the said lease to the said Selectmen
Voted That Thomas Boies Capt james Walker and james Martin be the Commitee to treat with the selectmen about said lease
Voted That said Commitee give up to the said selectmen the lease that is above mentioned which was accordingly done in the said meeting before all the people present
Voted that this meeting be farther adjourned to the 26th day of this Instant at one of the Clock in the afternoon to this house
March 26th 1782 met according to adjournment
Voted that the third article in the Notification be dismissed
Voted that the south half of the Gore so called lying between Moses Vickeres and james Gillmors be sold to pay the judgment and Cost the town Recovered against said proprietors and their other debts and taxes it will extend and that the Commitee formerly chosen to sell said Gore be the Commitee to sell said half of said Gore and give a Deed or Deeds to the purchaser or purchasers and apply the money ariseing by said Sale accordingly and to account to the proprietors how the same has been applied
Voted that the 5th article be dismist
A true Record Attest MathW Patten Prop's Clerk
.
Roads, Landings, and Bridges.
Among the first things the proprietors did with their property was to bridge the streams and build roads. Accordingly we find from the book of records that
Att a Legall Meeting of The proprietors of No 5 att Mr. Luke Verdys at ten a clock in ye forenoon on the 14th day of May 1735: In the first place Chose The Honourable Sam1 Thaxter Esq Mod- erator of said meeting.
Voted that their shall be a sofisent Cart Bridge Built over Sou- hegan River: that the Committee joyn with other Towns that will join with us in the affair Voted That their be a committee chose to manadge ye affair Voted that the Committee allready chosen is ye comtee or any Three of them to manedge ye said affairs " Voted that their shall be a Sutetable Highway layed through ye town For the Benefit of our town & other towns by ye Committee Voted : That the Committee be desird to make a strick Inquiery whether their was any former Grants Granted To any Perticular Persons in the Township & make a Report of the same to said Proprietors at the Ajourment of said proprietors meeting."
We also find the following entry, January 25, 1737-'38 :
5th article Concerning making ye way Good between The first & second Range Continued the consideration to the next meeting: voted that mr Benjamin Smith & mr Moses Barren be added to Coll Tileston Capt Edwd White & Joseph Ruggles To view sd way & make report
The "way between the first & second Range " corresponds to what we now call the River road.
In laying out the lots to the various proprietors or their assignees roads were frequently reserved out of the grant, for instance, in December 13, 1737, the proprietors " laid out and ordered the cler to record ye same to Mr. Jonathan Williames." Then follows description of the lot: "Said lot, hath a six rood highway aCrofs y same on the eaft end, layed out by order of ye Committee." 1
1 Highways that run north and south on the range lines were taken from the ea ends of lots.
215
ROADS, LANDINGS, AND BRIDGES.
It is manifestly impossible to enter upon a description of the various roads in town, when they were built, or in what respects they have been changed from time to time since the town was first organized.
The most important roads, however, were the North and South roads, leading through the town, and the road known as the County road, which runs east and west from Goffs Falls to Amherst. Generally speaking, the North and South roads still follow the range lines, but in some places these have been departed from because of natural obstacles. Range lines run north and south ; lot lines, east and west.
The road first voted to be built by the proprietors was apparently completed as it should have been, but we find that the town had considerable difficulty with one Abraham Merrill over a road from it to Merrill's ferry. His petition is on record as follows:
Provs. of To the Honoble: the Justices of the General New Hampshire § Quarter Sefsion of the Peace held at Ports- mouth Jn & for said Province on the First Tuesday of March A D. 1769
The Humble Petition of Abraham Merrill of Derrifeild in said Province yeoman and others whose names are Entered in the schedule hereto annexed Sheweth that your Petitioners & many others Persons Labour under a Great Disadvantage & Difficulty for want of a Road Laid Out about Fifty Rod in Length from the Ferry Granted to the Said Abraham Merrill by Benning Wentworth Esqr Late Governor of said Province in the year A D. 1767. to the High Way that Lead from Bedford in Said Province to Amoskeag Falls that for want of a way Leading Directly to said Ferry Place your Petitioners are obliged to Travel themselves & Carry what ever they want Transported Over said Ferry either half a mile above or below said Ferry Place and when the River Over which said Ferry is Stated is highest it is Jmpracticable to Pafs or Repafs either above or below said Ferry Place by means whereof your Petitioners are often Impeded & sometimes Entirely hindred from Crofsing said Ferry your Petitioners have Repeatedly applied to the Selectmen of Said Bedford to Lay out a Way from said Ferry Place to the Highway that Leads from Said Bedford to said Amos- keag Falls And the Selectmen of said Bedford have and & still do Refuse to Lay out any High Way or Road there-
Wherefore your Petitioners Humbly Pray that an High Way Four Rods Wide may be Laid out to Said Ferry the High Way Leading from Said Bedford to said Amoskeage Falls through the Severell Lands of the Widow Godfrey and William Godfrey her son and your Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever Pray March 4th. 1769.
-
216
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
At His Majesty Court of General Sefsions for the Peace Holden at Portum. march 7th. 1769
Ordered by the Court that the Selectmen of Bedford be Served with a Copy of this Petition & Order of Court thereon & shew Cause if any they have why the Prayer of this Petition may not be granted Next Term
A True Copy att. H Wentworth Cle'.
Timothy Worthly
Jona Atwood
Joshua Curtis
Jos. Hadlock
John Worth
Jnº Patte
John Ordway
Stephen Emerson
Jeremiah Corlifs
Thos Eastman
Andrew Walker
David Sargeant
Caleb Atwood
Abra Johnson
Thomas Worth
Josiah Brown
and one Hundred others
Moses Quimby
Jona Worthly
A True Copy Att. H. Wentworth Cler.
Tho Worthly
Bond Little
Joseph Hadlock Jun" Jere Johnson
Daniel Bayley
MERRILL'S FERRY (1767).
Merrells Ferry
PS-
Province of New Hampshire.
George the Third by the Grace of God of Grea Britain France & Ireland, King Defender of th Faith, &cª
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greetin Know ye that We. of our Special Grace certain knowledge & Mer Motion by & with the advice of our Trusty & well beloved Bennin Wentworth Esq our Capt General Governour & Command' in Chie in & over Province of New Hamp' in North America Have Give & granted & by these presents for us our heirs & Successors do git & Grant with our Loyal & Most Faithful subject Abraham Merre of Derryfield in our yeoman the sole Right of keeping a Ferry of keeping useing & Employing a Ferry Boat & Boats for tl Transporting of Men Horses Goods Cattle Carriages &cª from tl Land where he now Dwells a Cross Merrimack River to the opp site shore of Bedford & from Bedford shore opposite his Said Lai unto Derryfield aforesaid To Hold the said Ferry & Priviledg of a Ferry with all Ferryage advantages Emoluments Perquisites Profits thereunto belonging unto him the said Abraham Merrell ]
217
ROADS, LANDINGS, AND BRIDGES.
Heirs Executors Administrators & Assigns from the Day of the Date hereof for ever to his & there only proper use & behoof for ever upon the following condition viz that he & they do & shall at all Times keep such Boats & give such attendance & behave as the Now (or any hereafter) Laws do or may Require and as a further Encouragement to the said Abraham Merrell in and about the premises We will that none of our loving Subject do presume to molest or Interrupt the said Abraham Merrill in his Said Ferry or Sett up any other Ferry upon or across the Said River Merrimack within the space of Two Miles above or below the ferry of the said Abraham Merrell.
In Testimony whereof we have Caused the Publick Seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed wittness our Said Governor Benning Wentworth Esq the 28th Day of May in the Seventh year of our Reign Annoq Domini 1767
By his Excellencys Comª T: Atkinson Secy
B Wentworth
When John Stark's troops went to Bennington in 1777 they crossed to the west bank of the river on this ferry.
There was considerable trouble over this matter, for we find that Abraham Merrill sued the town, as per the accompanying account :
An accot of the time and Money that was Expended by the Select- men of Bedford Defending against Abraham Merrels obtaining a highway in said Bedford on the North side of Piscataquog River in August and September 1769
Augt. 28th. the 3 Selectmen one day each.
29 MathW. Patten finding Evidence
:0th Samu1. Vose finding Evidence
:1st the 3 Select=men summoning evidences and takeing Depofsi- ions at Col : Goffes
eptember 2d: Matthew Patten Drawing and prepareing a plan of he River and highways for the Sefsions and going to Godfreys to et their Mare to Ride down
th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th & 10th Going to attending the Sefsions and etting Home again
1th I took home Godfreys Mare
The outcome of the suit is not recorded. The road in question Ferry street in West Manchester, running from Main street to errill's ferry, which was just below Granite bridge. The County ad, so called, was laid out in 1778, as appears by the following unscript :
A transcript of the County road so called, this day by us select- n. Beginning at the west side of the cross road at the corner of
te el
218
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
John Bell's fence. and then running westerly to Jacob McQuade's barn; Then west by the north side of Samuel Paterson's house to the top of the hill; from southwestwardly as far as Robert Griffins house; then something south of west to the bridge that is over the big brook so called, a little below the corner Daniel Moore's divi- sion : then from thence southwestwardly to a patch upon tree at the line between Bedford and Amherst, at the corner of Moses Barnes orchard field, marked, MN: SW: SP: IP: MP: RW: HO. Said road to be three rods wide. September 28, 1778.
This road was built to accommodate travel from Portsmouth by Goff's Falls to Amherst. It ran east and west, connecting the two shire towns of the counties of Rockingham and Hillsborough. Samuel Patterson's place is now known as the Stephen Goffe place. The "big brook " is Shepard's brook. John Bell's place is now Estabrook's.
THE WALLACE ROAD.
This road starts at Taggart's tavern in Goffstown and runs south erly. It enters Bedford near Dunlap's, continues southerly pas Vose's corner to Riddle's mills, thence past Moore's tavern (nov Thomas Burns') to the river road in Merrimack at Baboosic brook The town was involved in a suit arising from an accident to the stag running from New London to Nashua over this road. In Decem ber, about 1840, one of the horses on the six-horse team slipped an fell and was drawn the length of Riddle hill. The stage team wa owned by James Riddle of Merrimack. He sued the town and ol tained damages. The cost to the town of the whole acciden amounted to $1,200. In the stage at the time was a Mrs. McInti coming from Goffstown. She was injured, but obtained damag from Mr. Riddle. Probably the heavy cost to the town is due part to the damages she obtained.1
The road was laid out in accordance with the following agre ment :
Whereas the great road leading through the westerly part Goffstown on to Boston as now traveled from the west Meetin- house in said Goffstown to Mr. Jon. Hay's in Merrimac is very from the most direct course: And whereas a road is in contemp- tion which will shorten the distance nerly one third from Sd. Me- inghouse to sd. Hay's, commencing at Lt. Jon. Butterfields in si
1 There were other stage routes through here for David Watson's Concord Di tory for 1834 gives " a list of stages which run out of Concord, with the days on w. h they leave." In it was this entry: "Every day through Hooksett, Amoskeag, I- ford, Merrimack, Nashua, Tyngsborough, Lowell, Billerica, Woburn."
219
ROADS, LANDINGS, AND BRIDGES.
Goffstown from thence through Bedford on the most direct course y Majr. William Moor's to said Hay's: and which contemplated oad may be traveled in any manner whatever not only in about two hirds the time but with equal ease with the old road.
Therefore we the undersigned, living on and near the above con- emplated road, having in view not only our private interest and convenience but likewise the public good, and that those who are not immediately interested therein may be the more ready to aid und encourage so important an undertaking, and also to manifest the assurance that nothing shall be wanting on our part to carry said oad into effect when laid out, do hereby severally covenant and gree each with the other, that when and in whatever manner a road nay be laid out on the most eligible the nearest said contemplated oute, by an impartial Committee duly appointed for that purpose, we vill quitclaim to the proper authority for viewing the same so much of our lands on said route as said authority may deem necessary for said road, provided said road be laid out within eighteen months rom the fifteenth day of December Anno Domini 1817.
And we do further engag, that in case a road be laid out as above, being a free road, we will pay in labor on said road as a donation, the sum by us affixed to each of our respective names, said labour to be subject to the direction of an appraiser by the proper authority.
And we do further engag as above that if said road be laid out as turnpike we will purchase at least so many shares therein, as will mount to said sum, provided said shares can be purchased to be aid for as above described.
And we do further agree to pay each our respective proportion of he surveying planning and all other necessary expenses which may ereafter arise in the attempt of, or obtaining said road, which may e by law otherwise disposed of.
Goffstown December 27, 1817.
William Riddle William Moor Jr. Thomas Wallace John Orr Isaac Riddle
James Shirley
Hugh Riddle John Kennedy Isaac Atwood Ephraim Warren Josiah Gordon
one hundred dollars
land in Bedford and one hundred dollars
one hundred dollars
one hundred dollars
one hundred dollars
one hundred dollars if the road goes by my house as now troden one hundred dollars
twenty five dollars fifty dollars
thirty five dollars twenty five dollars Bills
220
HISTORY OF BEDFORD.
THE NEW BOSTON ROAD.
· This road starts from near Daggett's corner in New Boston, runs eastwardly into Manchester at Milford street. It accommodates a large section of country. Mont Vernon, Lyndeborough, Amherst, New Boston use this road to come into Manchester. There is considera- ble summer travel over this road.
March 10, 1812. " Voted to lay out $150.00 in labor on the road complained of and that one gallon of rum to each $20.00 of said sum be furnished by the selectmen for the use of the laborers portioned among the several highway districts." (Extract from the town records.)
MANCHESTER & MILFORD RAILROAD.
The Manchester & Milford branch of the Boston & Maine rail road, which passes through the center of our town, was the result o persistent effort. Various unsuccessful attempts were made to pro cure a charter for a road connecting Manchester and Milford fror the legislature and railroad commissioners. One charter havin been secured was allowed to expire without building the road. Th town of Bedford has always taken an active interest in the mov ment for securing this road, and on March 12, 1895, the peop assembled in town-meeting and adopted the following resolution " Whereas, a movement has been made in the present New Ham shire legislature to build a railroad from Milford to the city of Ma chester, and thereby instructed to pass through this town, therefo Voted, That in town-meeting assembled we, the citizens of Bedfor do hereby approve of said movement, which if consummated w develop the resources of our town, increase materially the values our property, afford us facilities for reaching markets that are to-d practically barred to us, and give us accommodations for travel tt are to-day denied us. We believe such a railroad if built will mt extensively develop the central and southwestern part of the sta, and would be a self-supporting investment. This town pled s itself to do all within its power to aid and carry into operation sb a railroad, so much needed in this part of the state."
" Upon motion of Solomon Manning, voted, that a committeeof two be appointed to assist in locating said road. Solomon Manr g and Stephen Goffe were appointed on that committee."
The legislature referred to in the above resolution failed to ghat
221
ROADS, LANDINGS, AND BRIDGES.
he desired charter, and the next appeal was made to the railroad ommissioners. A hearing was held, in which the above committee nd other citizens of the town testified to the business resources of e town, the amount of its productions, etc. This commission re- used to grant a charter. The people of the town protested against his decision, and later were gratified to learn that the Boston & laine railroad had at last secured a charter from the legislature of 899. In March, 1899, the town "Voted that Solomon Manning ct as their agent in laying out the road within its limits and locating he station. Also voted that Stephen Goffe be added to this com- mittee." Several routes were surveyed, but Mr. Manning persevered his effort to secure a survey through the center of the town, and ere the road was finally located and opened for traffic December 1, 1900.
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