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 22

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town)
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co.
Number of Pages: 1202

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 22

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).

The road runs from a point on the North Weare branch of the Boston & Maine system, near Grasmere station, thence in the towns f Goffstown, Bedford, Merrimack, Amherst, and Milford, to a junc- ion with the Wilton and Fitchburg roads in Milford village. The ew track is 18.54 miles long, which, with the old track from Gras- here to the Manchester station, makes the route 23 miles in length. The cost of construction was $190,435.23. The work of laying the ils was begun May 12, 1900. Early in April, 1901, the road-bed offered greatly by the effects of a hard storm, the washouts being extended that passenger traffic was suspended for three weeks, eing resumed April 29. At the opening of the road, two mixed ains were run each way daily.

BRIDGES.

The first bridge in town was the bridge over Souhegan river at hn Chamberlain's house, ordered built May 18, 1743. On May 1743, the proprietors " voated that their be a Tax of sixteen illings & eight pence, old Tenor be laid on Each Right for the ising Money to pay Mr John Chamberlain for the Building of a dge over Souhegan River and that two shillings & six pence old nor be laid on Each Right for the building of the bridge over I busuck River." The next was the bridge over the Piscataquog er, at substantially the same place as that now occupied by the sent stone structure.

From time to time, however, this bridge had to be repaired, and find that at the town-meeting held June 11, 1759, " voted

222

HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

Robert Walker, Hugh Riddle and John Moore be a committee to build a bridge across Piscataquog river."

This bridge may have been first built by Mr. Robert Walker, who, as we have seen, was authorized by vote of the proprietors in June, 1740, " to finish " the highway between Piscataquog and Sou- hegan or it may have been built for the first time at some prior date. There seems to have been some difficulty in getting this bridge paid for, for we find that at the town-meeting on April 2, 1770, it was "voted to give a person 12 shillings, lawful money, that will collect the rate for building the bridge over Piscataquog river." Gan Riddle was chosen collector, and the assessment for building the bridge was thirty-one pounds, fifteen shillings, and one penny and two farthings. This was undoubtedly reckoned in the paper money of the Colony, and was at a heavy depreciation from its face value. Assessments were then made " According to the value of money established by act of Parliament of the 6th year of Queer Anne, pursuant to her proclamation." 1

January 22, 1770, Major John Goffe was employed by the town to build the second bridge over Piscataquog river. It was raised

1 Matthew Patten's Diary has the following entry under date of Oct. 25, 1765:

"Martin's expenses and mine there was £5." Probably the old tenor currency The Spanish dollar in sterling currency was less than six shillings, in old tend twenty-five shillings, in lawful money, six shillings. On the subject of currency w find the following in " Ames' Almanac " for 1760 :

"The old tenor bills which passed in Rhode Island and New Hampshire are pre carious as to the value in gold and silver. New Hampshire lawful money is fixed sterling bills at the rate of 4s 6d a dollar."

In the same Almanac Ames gives the origin of the term " sterling " as applied money.

"The Germans, because of their easterly dwelling from the English, were call 'Esterlings.' Some of whom dwelling in England, first of all, stamped a pure coi which from them was called 'Esterling' money, and now, leaving out the initi letter 'E,' it is called sterling money."

Nathaniel Ames, whose almanacs were so celebrated one hundred years ago, w a man of considerable note in his day. In his " Almanac for 1758" there is a sing lar prediction, which in a work of this kind it may not be improper to transcribe.

" The curious have observed that the progress of human literature (like the su is from the East to the West. Thus has it traveled through Asia and Europe a now is arrived at the eastern shore of America. As the Celestial light of the Gos was directed here by the finger of God, it will doubtless finally drive the long nig of heathenish darkness from America. So arts and sciences will change the face nature in their tour from hence over the Applachian Mountains to the west! ocean, and as they march through the vast desert, the residence of wild beasts be broken up and their obscene howl cease forever. The rocks will disclose hidden gems, and the inestimable treasures of gold and silver be broken up. Hu mountains of iron ore are already discovered, and vast stores are reserved ic future generations. This metal, more useful than gold or silver, will employ m- ions of hands, not only to form the martial sword, and peaceful share, alternate, but an infinity of utensils improved in the exercise of art and handicraft amg men. Nature through all her works has stamped authority on this law, namy ' that all fit matter shall be improved to its best purposes.' Shall not then those yt forests that teem with mechanic stone, those for structure be piled in a great dr, and those for sculpture into statues to perpetuate the honor of renowned hers, even those who shall now save their country.

"Oh! ye unborn inhabitants of America! should this page escape its destid conflagration and these alphabetical letters remain legible when your eyes beld the sun, after he has rolled the seasons round for 2 or 3 centuries more, you know that in Anno Domini 1758 we drem'd of your times.

"NATHANIEL AME:

223

ROADS, LANDINGS, AND BRIDGES.

uly 16, 1770, and they finished laying the plank December 21, 770. While raising the bridge six men were thrown off, of whom Ir. Holmes, Mr. Dougall, and Joseph Moore were seriously injured, he latter so much so that he died in thirty hours.

There seems also to have been some difficulty in getting the con- actor to complete the job in accordance with the ideas of the com- mittee in charge of the work, for we find this article in the warrant f June 28, 1770 :

Whereas Major John Goffe thinks he had completed the building f the bridge over Piscataquog river according to the agreement, nd the committee who was chosen to accept the same from him in ehalf of the town, they state said bridge is not finished according o the agreement. Therefore, to see if the town will accept said ridge from him as it is now, or whether they will not unless it is etter fitted, and if they do not accept it as it now is, to point out, pprise, what they think he was to do more than is not done.

It is interesting to note that the town "voted not to act on this rticle in the warrant."

The bridge over the Piscataquog river seems to have been badly njured in June of 1779 for a tax or assessment was specially laid in hat year for the purpose of repairing the same.

In the town-meeting warrant for October 22, 1781, there was an rticle "To see what method the town will take to repair the bridge ver the Piscataquog river, it being very much out of repair and angerous for loaded teams to pass over." At this meeting it was oted, "That Major John Goff, Lieut. Samuel Vose and James ose be a committee to repair said bridge." Voted to accept the mmittee's account of the charges for Piscataquog river bridge last Il.

The bridge was probably getting out of repair, for March 10, 83, " voted to choose a committee of three persons to see what is visable to be done on Piscataquog bridge, and do it." The com- ttee were James Wallace, John Dole, and Lieut. Samuel Vose.

December 26, 1784, "Voted Sam Moore, Adam Dickey, Major ffe to be a committee to take care of Piscataquog bridge until i shall be rebuilt and Lieut. Sam Vose, Mr. John Wallace, and Jeut. Whitefield Gilmore to be a committee to get six string pieces the spot without delay for rebuilding Piscataquog bridge."

Nov. 17, 1785, "voted John Patten, Adam Dickie, Joseph Pat- t , Lieut. John Orr, Ensign John Riddle be a committee to repair a : rebuild the Piscataquog bridge and build it near the same hight as the present one, or as they may see proper."

224

HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

January 3, 1785, " Voted to build the bridge over Piscataquog River where it was before, that the building of said bridge shall be set up at vendue to the lowest bidder. That what is paid for build- ing said bridge shall be paid by orders of the constable. That the vendue of said bridge be held at the house of Mr. Zach Chandler on the 24th inst. at one o'clock. That James Martin, James Wallace and Capt. Samuel Patten be a committee to oversee the building of said bridge. That Lieut. Samuel Vose be vendue master." " Voted it be built the same height as before." The building of the bridge was knocked off to Sam Goffe.

November, 1795, "Chose a committee, consisting of Benjamin Barron, Lieut. John Riddle, Lieut. John Patten, John Orr, Esq. and Mr. James Darrah to build a new bridge." This committee was to sell the work to the lowest bidder, and the construction was to con- form to a plan exhibited. The bridge to be finished June 1, 1796.

It does not appear from the minutes of the meeting who built the bridge, but at the meeting held March 23, 1796, the town accepted the report of the committee, which recommended to allow David Riddle $200 for extra work and timber on said bridge, from which it seems that David Riddle probably was the builder.

March, 1806. Voted to vendue the rebuilding of Piscataquo Bridge to the lowest bidder, the builder to have all the timber and plank of the old bridge.

March 20, 1811, "voted that the town proceed to build one ston abutment at the North end of Piscataquog bridge, the present yea Capt. Thomas Chandler, John Orr, Esq., and Capt. Dole be a con mittee for that purpose." $700 was appropriated.

March 26, 1812, Isaac Riddle, Samuel Chandler and Willia Moore were appointed a committee to build the bridge, with tl middle piers built of wood, the south abutment having been built stone the year before, and the whole to be completed furnished wi good and substantial railing, stringers and plank.

William Riddle was the builder of this bridge, which was co pleted in the summer of 1813-'14. One thousand dollars was a- propriated for the building of the bridge, one half of which was ") be paid into the treasury of the town, on the first day of Ju, 1813, and the other half by the first day of December following."

October 17, 1828, a committee was chosen, consisting of Capt. WI. Patten, Col. Wm. P. Riddle, and Jonas B. Bowman, Esq., to rebid Piscataquog bridge. This committee were authorized to dw money not exceeding $300, if necessary. Builder, John P. Hous , in 1829.

October 4, 1842, a committee was chosen consisting of FredG. Stark, James Walker, and Wm. P. Riddle, to reconstruct and rel Id

225

ROADS, LANDINGS, AND BRIDGES.

Piscataquog bridge. This is the bridge now (1850) in use. The abutments on both sides the river were widened, a lattice, similar to the granite bridge, made, and the whole finished as a bridge ought to be in such a thoroughfare of travel. It was completed in 1843. In connection with this subject, the following vote is important : March 10, 1835. Voted, That any highway district, that will build their bridges with stone abutments, and cover the water courses . with good substantial stone arches, so that the town will not here- after be called upon to furnish timber and plank, for the repair of such bridges, such district shall receive from the town treasurer, the amount of money such bridge would cost the town for timber and plank for the term of twenty years. And for the better security of the town, the stone work of such bridge or bridges shall be done to the satisfaction of the Selectmen, for the time being, or of such com- mittee as the town may choose for that purpose. And as the split- ting and preparing stone for such bridges will require some stone-tools and iron work, it is further provided, that the Selectmen may advance a part of the money, at their discretion, to enable such district to prosecute the work to its completion. The better to enable the several districts to judge whether they will be able to build their bridges of stone, the Selectmen are hereby ordered, while taking the invoice, the present year, to estimate the yearly expense to the town in timber and plank for the several bridges in town.

By the good effect of this vote, the town is not obliged, except in a few instances, to supply timber and plank for small bridges ; stone arches and stone stringers having been thrown over most of the streams in Bedford.

We have no record as to when the County bridge, so called, was ouilt. This bridge is the bridge over Riddle brook, near the foot of Patterson hill, on the County road. But we find that on Septem- er 5, 1775, it was " Voted Lieut. James Wallace and Ensign John Riddle be a committee to repair the County Bridge." A subsequent ommittee were appointed to repair the bridge, which they did as ollows, as appears by their report :

That about 32 feet of the west end and 35 of the east end of said ridge, that is now covered with plank, ought to be rebuilt in the rm of a causeway of timber and earth to raise 21 inches above igh water mark, that the middle part of said bridge being about 93 et in length, be built in the same form with the present bridge, cepting that it be covered with square edged pine plank, three ches thick, 15 feet long, free from sap, which, when laid, shall be it 21 inches above high water mark, when the mill dam on the hool land below is full.

Bedford, March 15, 1797.

A true record :

JOHN ORR, JOHN RIDDLE, JOHN HOUFTON JUN', Attest, PHINEAS AIKEN, Town Clerk.

226

HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

It was "voted to receive and accept the Committee's report," and the selectmen were "directed to call a legal meeting to dispose of the building of the bridge." At the meeting it was "voted to ven- due the building of the bridge to the lowest bidder, and to assess a sum sufficient to advertise the building of the bridge."

John Orr, Esq., Lieut. John Riddle, John Houston, Jr., Ben- jamin Barnes, and Joseph Bell were the committee to superintend the building of the bridge.

When the Concord railroad was chartered in 18351 it extended its lines northwardly from Nashua to Concord, and entered the lim- its of Bedford at a point " on a line drawn East and West through a point three miles North of the bridge over Souhegan river at John Chamberlin's house," and the original intention was to "continue along the westerly bank of the river through the village of Piscata- quog to the village of Amoskeag, where had been built the canal. and where were located the first mills in Manchester." Considerable opposition developed in the course of obtaining their charter, and of building their road, and tradition has it that Thomas Chandler, who had been member of congress, and who kept a stage tavern on the River road at the corner of the Meeting House road, so called, and who was a very influential man, led the opposition. The reasons fo his opposition were that the smoke and cinders from the locomotiv and the dust from the trains would soil the wool of his sheej through whose pasture the Concord road proposed to lay their tracl Joining with other wise men in the town, they exercised so great a influence that the Merrimack river was bridged at Goffe's Falls, tl stone being taken from William Riddle's quarry on the Middle hi and the track went north from there on the east bank of the rive The Concord railroad bridge was at first a wooden structure,2 but 1897 this was removed, and its place taken by the present ste structure. The railroad contemplated at the time a change in t location of the bridge, and thought of straightening their route continuing along the westerly bank of the river a little further the north, and then crossing from the west bank to Carthage island and from Carthagenia island to the east bank. They feart that the stone piers which had sustained the former wooden str. ture would not be sufficiently strong to sustain the more moda

1 The first train ran from Nashua to Manchester July 4, 1842.

2 Bernice Pritchard said that the timbers of the bridge would rot from the hit out, and that the outside would be apparently sound when the inside was enti y decayed. The cause would be the mist rising from the falls. On boring into the timbers when the bridge was repaired in 1867 this was found to be the case.

227

ROADS, LANDINGS, AND BRIDGES.

steel structure. When they examined them, however, it appeared that the work had been well done when it was first done, and the location of the bridge was not changed. The present bridge was substituted piece by piece for the old wooden bridge, without any interruption or delay in train service, although the work was largely done in mid-winter.

The wooden bridge was rebuilt in 1868, under the direction of Samuel F. Patterson. The first bridge had been a single track, and one purpose in rebuilding was that it might be made double track, which was done. For this, the old piers were extended. The work of rebuilding occupied nearly six months, during which time, not a single train was delayed by the operations. The roof was not put on until 1869. Prior to 1868 there was a plank walk way for foot passengers, with places made for travelers to retreat into when a train was passing. About the time of rebuilding the bridge the station was moved to the east side of the river and the walk way for passengers was put upon the outside (east side) of the bridge. In 1899 a petition to the Boston & Maine railroad was circulated and obtained many signatures for the location of a station at the Bedford end of the bridge, there being no place provided on the steel bridge for passengers to cross on foot from Bedford to the Goff's Falls station on the east side of the river. The petition was granted, and the station called Moore's crossing, established.

Just below the point where this bridge crosses, Colonel Goffe maintained a ferry for many years. The site is more commonly known as Moore's ferry, for the reason that at Colonel Goffe's leath the ferry right passed to his son-in-law, Lieut. John Moore, who maintained the ferry until its abandonment at the time the ridge referred to was completed.

The bridge over Riddle's brook at Damon's mill was rebuilt, and he bridge carried to the east about the width of the road at the me of the accident out of which grew the suit as related in the rticle on Roads.

The "early " road from Bedford Centre to Manchester ran northerly om the Gordon House past the Atwood farm, but in 1852 the road as laid out across the plains, which is known as the Boynton road. takes its name from William Boynton, who occupied a farm on e plains, and who first petitioned for the road. Where the road osses the Crosby brook there is a culvert and a considerable abankment. This was washed out within a few years and

228

HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

repaired. In 1864 it was again washed out, as appears from the following extract from the town records :

Bedford, Apr. 23, 1864. Your committee, chosen to examine the Boynton Gulf, so called, having attended to that duty, ask leave to present the following report: Mean length of fill is 82 feet; mean width of fill is 40 feet; mean depth of fill is 20 feet, which makes 303 squares, from which deduct 38 squares for stonework, leaves 365 squares to fill, which at $1.50 per square would be $398, say $400.

Stone work estimated at $200; other expenses estimated at $200 making in all $800, which is respectfully submitted by

L. C. French, 2d, Committee.

Voted to accept the report of said committee.

Voted that a committee of two be appointed to rebuild the . bridge and repair the road.

Voted that said committee be raised by nomination, and Hugh R. French and Leonard C. French, 2d, were nominated and duly chosen said committee.

The embankment was again washed out in 1900 at the time the railroad was being built.

There is also a bridge over Crosby's brook, just above the Boynton bridge, know as the Wallace bridge. It has been repaired many times at considerable expense to the town. The present structure is temporary and was erected in 1900 at the time of the freshet at which the Boynton bridge was last carried away.

The other bridges and culverts in town have been built from time to time without special vote by the town, and so no record i obtainable of the date of their construction, save in the case of the stone bridge on the River road over Crosby's brook, which wa completed in 1824.

GOFFE'S FERRY, 1766.

(State Papers, Vol. 25.)

Province of New Hampshire-

Goffe's Ferry

P. S.

George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Franc & Ireland, King Defender of the Faith &cª

To all to whom These Presents Shall Come Greeting

Know ye that we of our Special Grace, Certain Knowledge mere Motion (by & with the advice of our Trusty & Well Belov Benning Wentworth Esq' our Capt General Governor & Co mandr in Cheif & over Our Province of New Hampshire in Nor

229

ROADS, LANDINGS, AND BRIDGES.

America) Have giv'n & granted And by the Presents for Us our heirs & successors Do give & grant unto Our Loyal & most faith- ul Subject John Goffe of Derryfield in our said Prov: of New Hampshire Esq' the sole Right of Keeping a Ferry and of Keeping Useing & Employing a ferry boat & boats for the transporting of Men, Horses Goods Cattle Carriages &cª from the Shore of Derry- ield aforesd where the said John Goffe's dwelling House now stands, Across Merrimack River to the opposite Shore of Bedford, & from Bedford Shore Opposite his Said House unto Derryfield Shore foresd To Hold the said Ferry and Priviledge of a Ferry, with all Ferryage Advantages Emoluments perquisites & Profits thereunto belonging unto him the sd John Goffe Esq' His heirs, Executors, Administrators & Assigns from the Day of the date Hereof for Ever o his & their only Proper Use & behoof for Ever Upon the follow- ng conditions vizt that he & they do & shall at all time Keep such oats & give such Attendence & behave as the Now (or any here- fter) Laws do or may Require. And as a further Encouragement o the sª John Goffe in and about the Premises We Will that none of our Loving Subjects do presume to molest or Interrupt the d John Goffe in his sd Ferry or set up any other ferry upon or cross the sd River Merrimack within the space of Two Miles above or below the Ferry of the sd John Goffe In Testimony whereof we ave Causd the Public Seal of our sd Prov to be hereunto affixd Wit- less our sd Governor B. Wentworth Esq" the 7th day of Novem" in he 7th Year of our Reign Anno: Domini 1766

B Wentworth

By His Excellency's Commd T: Atkinson Jun. Secry

Province of New Hampshire 7th Nov 1766- recorded according to the Original, under the Province Seal Attest : T: Atkinson Jun Secry

GRANITE BRIDGE.

(From Potter's History of Manchester.)

Granite bridge was built at the head of Merrill's falls, in 1840. he act of incorporation was granted June, 1839. The stock was vided into one hundred shares.

The act of incorporation provided that when the stockholders ould have received in dividends from tolls the cost of the bridge d interest upon the same at six per cent., it should become free. le bridge was completed in September, 1840, and Granite street, tending from Elm street to the bridge, and from the bridge west the river road in Bedford, was built by the corporation at the ne time for the accommodation of travel to and from the bridge, e use of the land for the same being given by the Amoskeag Man- icturing Company as long as tolls were taken for passing the dge, the repairing and fencing the same being at the expense of

230

HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

the proprietors of the bridge during its use by them. The experi- ment was a successful one and proved that the bridge was of great public advantage. The tolls were one cent for foot pedestrians and six cents for teams. An abstract from the report of the directors to the legislature, made June 19, 1843, will show the situation of the corporation at that time :

" And first, we consider the original cost of our Bridge, Toll House, and Road, as the amount of our capital stock, which amount was ascertained and reported to the Legislature in June, 1841, and was $10,281.08. Nine thousand dollars of which had been discharged by assessments upon the shares of the stockholders, and the residue from the money received for tolls. We have paid out since the bridge was completed for repairs and other incidental expenses, the sum of $1,393.60, which, being added to the original cost of the bridge, etc., shows a total outlay of $11,167.58, exclu- sive of interest.

" The whole amount of money paid out to the stockholders in dividends up to this time has been $2,600.00, to which add the balance of original cost of the bridge, &c., which balance was paid out of money received for toll, $1,248.88, and it shows our total receipts to have been $3,848.88, and that a balance is now outstanding against the bridge and in favor of the stockholders of $7,825.80 besides the interest upon the assessments."

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.

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 22

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town) Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co. Number of Pages: 1202

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town)
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co.
Number of Pages: 1202