History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 100

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124

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821

TOWN OF CONWAY.

lines and " bushed out " paths, which, as fast as they could, they replaced with wider paths and roads. The first of these to North Conway from the Centre was made in 1765 and 1766. B. D. Eastman graphically describes the course of this from the Province line as follows : "Our course is up the valley from the Pe-que-auk-ct settlement, called the 'Seven Lots' till incorporated into Frye- burg, to James Osgood's, in East Conway, then by a path through pitch-pine plain land to the outlet of a pond where subsequently were built what was for many years called Walker's mills. Thence along the plain in a northwesterly direction to the cabin occupied by Ebenezer Burbank, located on the south cant of the hill, northwest of the present town-house ; thence by the house of Joshua Heath, on the north cant of said hill, the house in which the town- meetings were held for years. Thence to the cabin occupied by John Dolloff on land now embraced in the beautiful farm owned and occupied so long by Hon. Joel Eastman. (Some half-century ago this place was called the " Odell place.") From thence we ford the river, soon leaving the intervale for the level pitch-pine plain at the point where subsequently was cleared five acres of ground for a meeting-house and graveyard. From this point we pass up through the thick pines in a path across level land between the acre lots, probably the first permanent road in town. We sweep to the left from the head of these lots to the first intervale lot in North Conway, then called Foster's 'pocket.'" In 1772 a road was granted from Conway to Shelburne, Northumberland, and Lancaster.

Conway was fortunate in having several men of more than ordinary ability and power among its permanent settlers, and the steady progress and high position the town acquired and maintained was brought about by their wise and considerate harmony of action in all things affecting the common good, and the impress they left upon the town lingers yet in many valuable institutions. Aside from Dr Porter, the man of highest culture was Colonel Andrew McMillan, who possessed a rare practicality as well. Thomas Merrill, Esq., town and proprietors' clerk for nearly a quarter of a century, justice of the peace, a man of good education and better judgment, was another settler of great value. Colonel David Page, a man who combined with a love of wild sports and pioneer life qualities particularly calculated to meet all contingen- cies of civil life, a ready speaker, a man of push and positiveness, never acknowledging or knowing defeat, ready at all times to do battle with hostile Indians, or exchange thrusts with the ablest intellects of Portsmouth or Exeter in legislative combat, he too was a [power in the young community. Richard Eastman, Jr, a young man of strong mind and body, so threw his earnest nature into the public matters of the town as to form a part of its very existence.

822

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

ASSOCIATION TEST. - Signers in Conway and locations : John Osgood, Enoch Webster, John Dollof, Jun., William Merrill, Leonerd Harriman, James Huntriss, Enoch Merrill, Jere- miah Farrington, John Dollof, Andrew McMillan, Jacob Walden, Hugh Sterling, Richard Eastman, Ezekiel Walker, James Harrold, William Knox, Abiather Eastman, Thomas Merrill, Jun .. Amos Merrill, Joseph Odell, Benjamin Farnum, Ebenezer Burbanke, Thomas Russell, Timothy Walker, Benoni Cory, Thomas King, Jeremiah Page, Ebeneser Farnum, Robert Harrold, John Willson, Jedediah Spring, Abiel Lovejoy, David Page, Benjamin Osgood, Barnes Hazeltine, Thomas Merrill, Joshua Heaths, William White, Thomas Chadbourne, Joseph Tomson, Abraham Colby, Joseph Colby, John Pendexter, Humphery Emery, Jr, Humphery Emery, Nathaniel Hariman, Enoch Emery, Antony Emery, Vere Royse, Benjamin Copp, Stephen Coffin, Richard Jackman, Josiah Dollof, Christopher Huntress, Nathaniel Smith. 55.

To the General Assembly or Committee of Safety for the Colony of New Hampshire. We have Agreeable to Request Desired Every man that is twenty-one years of age within this town and the locations adjoining to set their names to the within Itroment, and every man has Signed.

Conway, June 9, 1776.

David Page Joshua Heath S Selectmen.

Early Mills. - May 26, 1773, the proprietors, in confirming previous action, receive a report from a committee, to find what has been done by the proprie- tors illegally, which read :-

On consideration of a vote passed at the first meeting of the Proprietors of Conway for Capt. Timothy Walker to have one hundred acres of land his two mills to be in the centre with the mill priviledges and as said vote was passed without sufficient notification, but as sd Walker is now ready to give bond to serve the Proprietors with said mills therefore Voted to confirm said hundred acres of land as laid out to sd Walker his heirs or assigns the condition of his bond to run as followeth : That until their shall be another grist mill and saw mill built in Conway the sd Walker his heirs or assigns shall keep a good Grist Mill and Saw Mill in good repair and give good attendance at the same to serve the Proprietors or Inhabitants of sd Town in the following manner : To saw all timber that shall be brought into the millyard which sd Walker is to always provide convenient for the mills for one half of the lumber the said timber shall make which is to be sawed into proper stuff according to the owner's direc- tions and grind well for customary tole and if after other mills are built in said Town sd Walker his heirs or assigns shall think it for his interest to keep up said mills or one of them then he or they shall serve the said Proprietors and Inhabitants in the above said manner so long as he or they shall think proper to keep the mill or mills up. At another meeting held September 29, 1773, voted to Thomas Chadbourn about fifteen aeres in land in Conway with a mill priviledge on Pudding brook near Mr Eastman's bounded on every side by lot No. 12 on the condition that he build a good saw-mill on said mill priviledge to be completed by the first of November next and keep the same in good repair forever and to saw logs into boards or other lumber for the Proprietors or the Inhabitants for one half of the lumber or at the rate of boards at nine shillings per thousand. Likewise build a good grist-mill on the same stream in two years from the first of November next and to grind for the Proprietors or Inhabitants in a proper manner and to keep the same in good repair forever and be ready at all times to serve them in a proper manner and that there shall at all times be a proper convenience for logs and lumber at said mills. Also voted to Thomas Chadbourn as an Incouragement for building a grist and saw mills on Pudding brook so called in said town one hundred acres of land to be laid out by the committee.

823

TOWN OF CONWAY.

In 1775 the town had 273 white inhabitants and "two negro slaves," and a messenger to bring "ye post monthly " was arranged for the same year. In 1781 the state employed "a mounted post-rider " to bring mail fortnightly from Portsmouth.

Early Prices. - In 1778 in settling Mr Porter as minister he was to be paid " £65 in labor and materials to build a dwelling at specified prices, viz. common labour with ax, &c. four shillings ; carpenter and joiner work, find- ing themselves, six shillings ; oxen two shillings per day ; good merchantable white pine boards eighteen shillings per thousand; good and merchantable clapboards thirty-six shillings per thousand, delivered; good merchant- able shingles eight shillings per thousand, delivered. £55 as his first year's salary, paid one-half in money and one-half in produce at fixed prices : Indian corn three shillings per bushel, rye four shillings, peas and wheat six shillings, flax eight pence. The salary was to be increased £5 annually until it reached £70 and to be paid in the same manner as before for six years after reaching £70. After this the salary was to be continuously £70 in money equal to silver and gold as it was in 1775, so long as he continued as minister."

Early Innkeepers. - Captain Joshua Heath was one of the earliest inn- keepers. The first and many subsequent meetings were held at his house. October 8, 1792, the selectmen approbate James Smith to retail spirituous liquors. December 31, 1792. " This Certifies that Austin George has our Premision to keep a Publick House of intertainment his governing him Self as the Law Directs. Richard Kimball, Stephen Webster, Selectmen." January 15, 1793. William Boswell was licensed for retailing spirituous liquors. William Lovejoy received license the same day. June 27, 1793. Lieutenant Stephen Webster was " approbated " to keep a tavern. March 16, 1795. Captain Elijah Densmore received license to keep a public house for one year, provided he observes the rules and regulations of licensed houses. March 16, 1795. Captain John Chase was approbated to keep a house of entertainment and sell spirituous liquors. March 20, 1795. Andrew McMillan, Esq., was approbated to keep a house of publick entertainment and sell spirituous liquors, etc. December 2, 1800. Henry Sherburn Junr had the approbation of the selectmen to keep a Publick House and sell all foreign distilled spirit- uous liquors, he observing the Laws.

Early Taxes and Merchandising. - In consequence of the scarcity of money and the difficulty of transportation, a large proportion of the taxes were paid in articles of produce and home production, the value of each article being fixed by action of the town at the annual meeting. The month of December was usually the tax-paying season, and for convenience several places in town were assigned for deposit and several trusty persons were appointed to receive, and afterwards appropriate, sell, or exchange, as the circumstances might demand. For this purpose a storehouse was built on the east side

824

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

of the road, nearly opposite the McMillan House, and Colonel McMillan had charge of the business of receiving and disposing of the various commod- ities brought in payment of taxes. In this house were the scales and measures for ascertaining the amount of grain, flax, salts, pot and pearl ashes, sugar, meats, cloth, etc., but after awhile they were thrown into very great embar- rassment on account of the depreciation in value of the continental money, which was about all the kind they had. This eaused great trouble and no small amount of litigation, ruinous to the peace and quietude of the new settlement.

These documents in a quaint way tell the history to which they allude in a more forcible manner than the polished sentences of our English of to-day.

Records of Conway Musical Society. - Conway, April 30, 1808. At a legal meeting of the "Conway Musical Society," then held at the new Centre school- house for the purpose of choosing officers and for the transaction of other business relative to said society, made choice of Jonathan Eastman, president ; Thomas Chadbourn, secretary ; William Knox, treasurer; Josiah Merrill, first director; Abiather Eastman, second director ; James Wille, third director.

Voted, among other things, that an invitation be given to Easter Eastman, Patty Davis, Nancy Eastman, Polly Barns, Zuba Hutchins, Patty Chadbourn, Patty Pendexter, Betsy Lovjoy, Polly Shurburne, Dolly Shurburne, Jane Plaisted, Betsey Eastman, Sally Merrill, Sally Knox, Betsey Merrill, and Betsey Russell to be initiated into said society.

Voted that the meeting be adjourned to the last Saturday in May following. adjourned accordingly. Attest Thos Chadbourn, Seer.

Conway, May 27, 1808. Met according to adjournment. On account of the absence of a large number of the members, Voted that the meeting be adjourned to the first Saturday in June following. at two o'clock P.M. Thos Chadbourn, Secy.

Conway, June 4, 1808. Met according to adjournment. Voted that the office of Secre- tary and Treasurer be vested in one person. At this junction we all got by the ears and therefore Voted unanimously, that the meeting be adjourned to all eternity. Attest Thos Chadbourn, Sec'y.

Early Survey of Conway. - The Deposition of Nathi Merrill of Lawful age testifieth and saith he surveyed all the Land that is Laid out in the Town of Conway and is well acquainted with what is left as Common or undivided, and that according to the best Estemation your Deponant can make their is more than the one half of the Town of Conway, that is Moun- tains Pine Plains or Wast Bogg, and that a Bout three Thousand Eight Hundred acres of that half is in one Mountain and further saith Not

Commonwealth of Massachusetts York ss. Brownfield, October 8, 1784. Nath' Merrill

Freshet of October, 1785. - To the Honble the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire convened at Portsmouth the second Wednesday of December A.D. 1786. Humbly sheweth Andrew McMillan Esq' in behalf of the Inhabitants of the Town of Conway in said State: That said Town is situated on Saco River about twenty miles South East from the White Hills; That it is often flowed by sudden and heavy Rains, which cause great damage; That in the month of October 1785 an unusual Rain fell, which raised the River to a much greater height than was ever known before; The Water over- flowing the Banks, deluged the surrounding Country, greatly injured many Farms, totally

825

TOWN OF CONWAY.

ruined others, drowned many of the Cattle, carried off almost all the Fences, damaged some buildings, destroyed others, and swept away or ruined great part of the produce of the Town, - the Inhabitants sole dependance for support or for the payment of Taxes - The said Andrew therefore prays the Ilonble Court that they would take the distresed situation of the Town of Conway under their wise consideration and abate the Taxes of the Lands that were destroyed for the present year and untill a new valuation is taken; and on account of the extraordinary losses sustained, ahate for this year so much of the Taxes of the Town as to their wisdom shall seem meet. And as in duty bound will ever pray

Andrew McMillan.

Report of Losses Sustained in this Freshet. - About three hundred and twenty seven Aeres of Arable and Mowing Land totaly spoild two Barns carried away With all the Hay and Grain in them Seven Dwelling Houses and Four Barns so much Damaged as Obliged the Owners to Rebuild them again - and as the most of the Barns stood on the Interval a grate part of the hay was lost ten Oxen twelve Cowes Eighty sheep two Horses and twenty-five Swine Drowned ; a large Quantity of Flax which was spread in the Interval, a greater part of the Corn then in the Fields; allmost Every rod of Fence in the Town and Every Bridge great and small two of which Cost the Town About one hundred pounds also one Tun and a half of Potash Consumed Besides many other losses -

the above is agreeable to an account taken by the Selectmen of Conway August 1786

Andrew McMillan Justis peace and Sworne to before

N B One Saw Mill and one Grist Mill together with Dams Carried off

The Indians appear to have been better students of nature than the whites. They built their dwellings on land some twenty or thirty feet above the level of the intervale, while the whites built on the intervales until this great freshet drove them to the uplands. For convenience they had several out- posts, or clusters of wigwams, up and down the valley. One of these was beautifully located in North Conway, near the crossing of the Saco by the Eastern Railroad. "Foster's Pocket," as it was later called, lay immediately south of Indian hill, and was an encampment of not less than twenty families of Indians. Hunters by the name of Emery, and others, previous to any settlement, built camps at different points up the Saco and its tributaries, from which they made excursions in pursuit of different kinds of game. One of these camps was on the intervale but a short distance from where the Kearsarge House now stands.

The First Inventory we find on the town clerk's records was taken in April, 1794. It shows a prosperous growth. We give the names. Lieut. Jeremiah Abbott, Ephraim Abbott, Ebenezer Bean, Douglas Bean, John Boswell, William Boswell, John Boswell, Jr, Josiah Bachelor, Amos Barnes, Ebenezer Burbank, Esq., Joseph Burbank, Captain John Bradbury, Mark Broughton, William Broughton, Captain John Chase, Abner Colby, Dr Josiah Chase, Joseph F. Chase, Roland Crocker, Peter Coffin, Nicholas Coffin, William Canna, Benjamin Canna, Benjamin Coffin, William Chadbourn, Daniel E. Cross, Captain Elijah Densmore, E. Densmore, Jr, Stephen Densmore, Solomon Densmore, Ensign Josiah Dolloff, John Dolloff, Abner Dolloff, Isaac Edds, Colonel Abiathar Eastman, Captain Richard Eastman, Noah Eastman,

826

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

Jonathan Eastman, James Emery, Samuel Emerson, Benjamin Farnum, Ebenezer Farnum, Captain Joseph Frye, David George, Austin George, Major Joshua Heath, James Herrold, Charles Hill, Esq., Leavitt Hill, Henry Hill, Philip Harriman, Leonard Harriman, John Hart, James Howard, Lieut. Richard Kimball, Joshua Kelly, Edmund Kelly, John Kelly, William Knox, Thomas King, Stephen Low, Deacon Abiel Lovejoy, Abiel Lovejoy, Jr, William Lovejoy, Jeremiah Lovejoy, Daniel Lary, Joseph Lewis, Joseph Lowd, John Mason, Andrew McMillan, Esq., James McMillan, Robert Mcclintock, Thomas Merrill, Amos Merrill, Lieut. Enoch Merrill, Jonathan Merrill, James Noble, Thomas Newman, Lieut. Benjamin Osgood, Benjamin Osgood, Jr, Cap- tain James Osgood, Moses Osgood, Jeremiah Osgood, Dean Osgood, John Osgood, Joseph Odell, Richard Odell, Joseph Odell, Joseph Odell, Jr, David Page, Esq., Samuel Page, Jeremiah Page, Jeremiah Page, Jr, Thomas Russell (for Thomas Merrill's heirs), Thomas Russell, Jr, Samuel Rogers, Hezekiah Rendall, Jona- than Runnells, Moses Rendall, William Steele, Caleb Smith, James Smith, Samuel Springer, Henry Sherburne, John Spears, Joseph Thompson, Solomon Thompson, John Thompson, John White, William White, Nicholas Went- worth, Stephen Wentworth, Paul Wentworth, Samuel Willey, Major Stephen Webster, Colonel John Webster, John Webster, Lieut. Ezekiel Walker, James Walker, Barnet Walker, Jeremiah Farrington, Moses Wilson, Joseph Wilson, Andrew Peterson, James Perkins, Asa Colby. One hundred forty-one polls, two hundred eighteen acres arable land, four hundred eighteen mowing land, five hundred forty-five pasture, sixty-five horses, one hundred twenty-five oxen, one hundred forty-nine cows, and seven mills in town.

CHAPTER LXXII.

Extracts from Proprietors' Records- Annals from Town Records - Action in the Civil War - Civil List.

AT proprietors' meetings held December 12, 13, 14, 1765, it was

Voted that Francis Carr's original right shall draw No. 1; Nathaniel Eastman's No. 2; Caleb Foster's No. 3; Elias Ileath's No. 4; John Carr's No. 5 of the Intervail Lotts & House Lotts of the same number ; Asa Kimball, Andrew Buntin draw Interval & House Lotts No 6 and 7. Voted that Stephen Knight draw to the original right of Pearly Ayers the Interval and House Lotts upon No 42 upon the condition that the sd Stephen Knight erect or cause to be erected a Dwelling House & Clear & Emprove part of sd Lotts within the Term

827

TOWN OF CONWAY.

of two years from the date hereof. Voted Samuel Johnson Draw to David Hick's original Right the Interval & House Lotts No. 43 upon the following Conditions viz that the sd Johnson erect or cause to be erected a Blacksmith's shop furnished with utensils proper to carry on the Blacksmith's Trade and shall cause a Blacksmith to continue to work at sd shop at the Blacksmith [ing] for the term of Two Years from the date of this vote. Voted, that those Proprietors who may Draw their Interval Lotts where any person or persons has made Emprovement or Lays Claim by virtue of any Pretended title under the Province of the Massachusetts Bay that such Proprietor or Proprietors Shall be Defended by and at the Cost of the whole of the Proprietors of the Township of Conway aforesaid. Also voted to Capt. Timothy Walker of Pigwacket one hundred acres of land in said Conway beginning at the Grist Mills and immediately surrounding the mills, which was afterwards known as the " Mill Farm." Voted to lay out one hundred acres of upland to Peter Parker where Jonn Dolof jr had made his improvement, etc., near where Intervail Lott No 48 is to be laid out. Also to lay out to Ebenezer Burbank one hundred acres of upland where John Dolof jr has made his improvements joyning to the Intervail on which the Intervail Lott No 49 is to be laid out.

March 12, 1766. " Voted that every person who shall bring the first Rattle of a Rattlesnake to the Constable of Conway Said Snake being killed in the Township of Conway this Present year before the ten Day of June next which Rattle so Delivered to the Constable shall be Consumed Emeadeatly by sd Constable and the Money so paid by the sd Constable shall be Repaid or advanced by the proprietors of said Township of Conway." (The clerk was evidently "rattled" when he made this record.) March 11, 1767, it is recorded : " Voted That their Shall be Paid unto any Person or Persons that shall Kill a Rattle Snake or Snakes in the Township of Conway and shall bring the first joynt of the sd Snake or Snakes to the man that shall be Appointed for the same And he to Consume the same Immediately shall be Intitled to three pence Lawful money and the Person that shall be appointed is hereby Authorized to give an order to the Treasurer & the Treasurer to pay sd order out of the Proprietors' money which Snakes are to killed this Present year And to be consumed on or before the Twentyeth Day of June Next. Voted Joshua Kelley to Receive the Rattle Snakes tails and to Execute the same as is Spacified in the Abovesd Vote."

Up to this date the meetings were at the house of John Webster, Esq., innholder, at Chester. The meeting of Tuesday, February 23, 1768, was at the house of widow Hannah Osgood, innholder, Concord, when Andrew McMillan, Asa Foster, and Joseph Eastman were chosen assessors ; Samuel Moor, collector ; Daniel Foster, treasurer; and Daniel Foster, James Cochran, and Thomas Merrill, a committee to settle with Walter Bryant, Esq., agent for said Conway, and a committee to lay out house lots and to qualify the interval lots. They voted that there shall be a highway laid out on each side of the river as soon as may be. Also, voted June 15 of the same year that Samuel Livermore, Esq., have an equal share of land throughout the town- ship of Conway with the proprietors or original grantees. August 31, 1769. At a meeting held at Portsmouth, Thomas Merrill, James Osgood, and James

828

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

Cochran were chosen to run out the forty-acre lots and empowered to reserve land for all necessary public highways, and to lay out and appropriate the same. Also, voted that Jonathan Warner, Samuel Livermore, and Andrew McMillan, Esquires, be a committee to settle all accounts against the Proprietors and impower them to make application to the Proprietors of Mason's Patent for a grant of such lands within the bounds of the Township as has by a late survey been taken into said Patent. Also, voted Walter Bryant, Jr, Esq., agent to carry on and defend any action at law wherein the property of sd Township is disputed by any persons claiming by virtue of any other title besides the charter of Conway. Also, that the committee above chosen treat with Captain Henry Young Brown relative to an accommodation, in Respect to his Improvements, on the Lands in sd Conway, etc. September 7, 1770, a meeting was called "to consider the request of his Excellency, John Wentworth, esq, to have a good waggon road cleared through sd Township of Conway as marked by Nash and Sawyer which road is to continue to Ports- mouth. October 11. At a meeting held at the house of Joshua Heath in Conway, " Voted to raise eighteen shillings on each Proprietors' right or share to make roads in sd Township of Conway, referring especially to the above road, which is part of the road from Upper Coos to Portsmouth." At this meeting a committee was chosen to collect the money voted and see the roads cleared and made. Also voted David Page, James Osgood, and Joshua Heath lay out all necessary roads on each side of the river. November 13. Voted that Mr John Dolof and John Dolof, jr, shall have forty acres each for services done to the Proprietors by early settlement in sd Township.

March 30, 1773. Voted Henry Young Brown, esq., Thomas Merrill, esq., David Page, James Osgood, Richard Eastman, be a committee to lay out a division of one hundred acres of land to each Right in sd Town. Also, " voted eighty acres of land to the Town of Conway for a parsonage, and five acres of land to set a Meeting House on and for other public uses. Also, voted an assessment of two dollars on each right or Proprietors' share in sd Town to assist them in building a Meeting House provided the Town shall sit sd House in such place as shall be agreed on on the last Tuesday of May next, and also agree that the money shall be laid out for the purpose as they shall direct." Also, "voted upon condition the Town of Conway shall settle a minister in the Town within nineteen months from the Thirtyeth Day of March 1773 that shall be well approved of as a man of Learning and Piety." Voted two dollars on each right or Proprietors' share in sd Conway to be paid unto the Selectmen of sd Town within six months from the time they shall settle sd Minister to be by them paid towards the support of sd Minister. May 25. Voted to locate the five acres for a Meeting House, etc., on the north side of Saco river, and bound the same casterly by the road at the head of the dugway that leads from the river

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 100

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co. Number of Pages: 1124

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124