History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 36

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

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It appears that in 1773 a sum of money was raised to purchase a town stock of ammunition. At a town-meeting held in June, 1775, Moses IIam was appointed an agent to expend the money for the specified purpose. He visited Portsmouth, purchased powder and lead which he manufactured into " bullets." The stock consisted of twenty-six pounds of powder and sixty-five pounds of bullets. On the seventh of August the town appointed "a committee of safety," consisting of Moses Wingate, Moses Ham, Robert Calder, John Sin- clair, and James Connor. At the same meeting Moses Ham was chosen a delegate to the Provincial Congress. At a meeting of this congress, held on the twenty-fifth of the same month, it was recommended to the selectmen of the several towns in the province to number and classify the inhabitants of their respective towns, and also to ascertain the number of firearms and the amount of ammunition within their precinets. They were also required to use their influence in restraining the people from "burning their powder in shooting birds and other game."

Agreeably to these instructions, an inventory of the town of Wolfeborough was taken. It here follows : -

Males under 16 years of age 57

between 16 and 50 years of age, not in the army 53

above 50 years of age -1

" absent in the army 1

Females of all ages 91

Slaves .

Firearms fit for use, including pistols 34

Number of pounds of powder, private property 5

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TOWN OF WOLFEBOROUGH.

The four persons absent in the army were probably Enoch Thomas, David Piper, John Piper, and Ichabod Tibbetts.

From an inventory taken in 1776, there were in the northeasterly part of the town 17 ratable polls sixteen years of age and upwards, 14 cows, + oxen, and 1 horse. Another list about the same date reads thus : -

Ilide and wife and six children, one house; Durgin and wife; Calder and wife and eight children, one house, one barn; Cotton and wife and eight children, one house, one barn; Shortridge and wife and four children ; Frost and wife and seven children; Samuel Tebbetts. Jr, and wife and six children, one house, one barn; Joseph Keniston and wife and two children, one barn; Leavitt and wife and two children, one house, one barn; Furber and wife and three children, one house; Pribble and seven children; Lary and wife and two children, one house, one barn; Glynn, one house, one barn ; Triggs and wife and one child.

Governor Wentworth and his Farm. - Sir John Wentworth, A.M., LL.D., a descendant of Elder William Wentworth (one of Rev. John Wheelwright's company at Exeter in 1638), was son of Mark Hunking Wentworth, grandson of Lieutenant-Governor John Wentworth, and nephew of Hon. Benning Went- worth, his immediate predecessor as governor. He was born in 1736, graduated from Harvard in 1755, and became associated with his father in his large mercantile business. He went to England as agent of the province, and his talents commended him to the ministry, while his high social position, suave manners, correct literary tastes, and brilliant conversational powers made him strong friends in prominent positions. Through his personal influence he secured the repeal of the odious Stamp Act, and when not thirty-one was 1 appointed governor of New Hampshire, and also "surveyor of the king's woods" for North America. He entered upon his gubernatorial duties in 1767. Rev. Dr Dwight wrote of him :-

Governor John Wentworth was the greatest benefactor of this province. He was a man of sound understanding, refined tastes, enlarged views, and a dignified spirit. His manners were elegant and his disposition enterprising. Agriculture here owed more to him than any other man. He originated building new roads, and improved old ones. He was very popular, had an unimpeachable character, and retired with a high reputation.

His administration ended with the uprising of the people which began the Revolution. At first the governor thought he could secure the repeal of the obnoxious laws, but he was not in England and could not. His last act as governor was to prorogue the Assembly in September, 1775. Notwithstanding his great personal popularity, the rising tide of independence swept him and his influence together out of the country. He was later created a baronet, and was governor of Nova Scotia from May, 1792, to April, 1808. His wife was Frances, widow of Theodore Atkinson, Jr.

At the drawing of lots in Wolfeborough, Governor Wentworth drew " lot

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

No. 7." (On this lot is now the farm of Timothy Y. Cotton.) Later he secured five lots bordering on Lake Wentworth, extending from the "sands " to Stephen Durgin's farm. These six lots and one other in the "grantors'" division made him the owner of nearly four thousand acres. It appears from a letter written by the governor, April 25, 1768, to Colonel Thomas M. Waldron, of Dover, that it was not alone the desire to form an English country-seat here that caused him to obtain and develop this land, but that his chief object was to rapidly develop the resources of the province, and that he looked for others to follow his example in this field. In the same letter he writes : " Mr Benja- min Hart, overseer of my designations in the wilderness, and Mr Webb, who is to reside there as farmer, are now on their first expedition to clear a few acres and build a humble habitation for me." In 1768, 1769, and 1770 a large force of laborers was employed here, a great extent of forest cleared away, fields sown, orchards planted, a large garden laid out, and the mansion erected. The site of the house was on a small plain about one hundred rods from Lake Wentworth.

This house was one hundred feet long and forty feet broad. It had two stories : the upper eighteen, and the lower ten feet high. It fronted both east and west. A hall twelve feet wide extended across it, entered at each end by large doors. The principal room in the upper story was the "East India chamber," the walls covered with finely painted paper, representing life scenes in the East. Here was a white marble fireplace ; on each side were niches in which to place statues. On the same floor were the "green room " and the " blue room," and the "king and queen's chamber." In the last was a fireplace of gray marble. Here were likewise niches, and in them were placed statues of the king and queen. In the lower story were the porch (built without the main building), storeroom, kitchen, dining-room, sitting-room, and library. In this was a black marble fireplace with a tile hearth. A narrow passage extended from the main hall to the east end. The western part, two fifths of the building, remained unfinished. Tradition says this west end was intended for a court-room, and about this time the Assembly passed an aet to "eventu- ally hold the courts of Strafford county one half the time at Wolfeborough."

The expense of erecting this edifice must have been very great. Some of the material was brought from England; other portions obtained at Ports- mouth, and transported as follows: taken to Lake Winnipiseogee with teams, boated across the lake, then conveyed to Lake Wentworth, and floated to its place of destination. The two large, old-fashioned chimneys were made from bricks that it is said were made at the foot of the falls in Smith's river, from clay brought from Clay point, four miles distant. The house was ready for occupancy in 1770, as witness this mention in the New Hampshire Gazette of July 17, 1770: " Last Tuesday His Excellency, our Governor, set out for his country-seat on Winnipiseogce pond, and we hear his lady sets out next week

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TOWN OF WOLFEBOROUGH.

for the same place, to reside during the summer season." Extensive improve- ments went on. A park of several hundred acres was fenced ; the fence was made by first digging a ditch twelve feet wide, and with the earth thrown out forming an embankment on the outer side ; upon this were placed large fallen trees. This park was stocked with moose and deer. A mall bordered with elms (some of them still standing) extended from the lake past the house into the grounds. The "Rockingham," a two-masted boat, was placed in Lake Wentworth and a sloop in Lake Winnipiseogee. Substantial and numerous farm buildings were built and solid stone walls abounded. (The remains of the "governor's road " can be traced by the stone bridges, facings, and side- walls along it.)

The people of this town justly regarded Governor Wentworth as a bene- factor. He furnished them employment, paid them liberally, and evinced a deep interest in their welfare. Had he remained in the country and retained his official position, the town would probably have become one of the most important in the province; but he was obliged to relinquish his estate and government and leave his country. He removed from Wolfeborough only his plate and fine stud of horses, and left a large herd of neat cattle of superior breed, all his furniture, utensils, and provisions. There were also left behind two slaves.

When he went away the governor evidently intended to soon return, but the excitement of the people of the lower towns and the widening breach between the people and the government prevented it. He died in 1820, aged eighty-three. In the same year his residence here was burned, and a very large pine-tree on Mt Delight, under which he and his family not infrequently dined, was shattered by lightning.

The estate was confiscated not long after. The cattle were used for beef in the colonial army and the other effects wasted and sold for small sums.

In 1780 two brothers, Andrew and John Cabot, of Beverly, Mass., pur- chased the farm with the intention of making it a stock farm. They cleared and improved more land, built a stone fence, erected two barns, a large stable, and other farm buildings. They also built the Stoddard house, intending it for a private academy and residence of the teacher. They purchased the finest breeds of horses and cattle. At one time they had twenty-five horses and about one hundred neat cattle on the farm.

The Cabots died, and in or about 1805 Daniel Raynard became owner of most of the land, paying $17,000 for it. He brought to town the first carriage of pleasure. After his death in a few years, the estate was reduced by repeated sales to a moderate sized farm, which, in 1823, Mrs Raynard exchanged for one in Tuftonborough, where she resided until her death. She was cousin of Hon. Thomas L. Whitton, her maiden name being Margarette Whitton. Mr Whitton and his sons now own the place where the

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

governor's buildings stood. The barn built by the governor blew over; the buildings erected by the Cabots have been removed, and most of the stone fences have tumbled down. The orchard has a few old seraggy trees standing, while the fields and the gardens have been converted into sheep pastures. Time and "the woodman's axe " have, however, spared a few of the elms that shaded the mall, while in the cellar over which onee stood the stately mansion are the stumps of trees which grew in a vain attempt to hide the sorrowful ruins of former greatness.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Something about the Proprietors - Early Settlers - Early Families and their Descendants.

S OMETHING ABOUT THE PROPRIETORS. - Richard Wibird was one of the purchasers of Mason's Patent. He was educated at Cambridge and graduated in 1722. Soon after he engaged in merchandising, which he followed through life. In 1739 he was appointed one of His Majesty's council, and in 1756 judge of probate. He retained these offices until his death in 1765.

Thomas Packer, a purchaser of Mason's Patent, was the sheriff of the province of New Hampshire who executed Ruth Blay in December, 1768. He died in 1771. He is represented as an upright man, faithful in the discharge of his official duties, but rigidly severe in the execution.

Theodore Atkinson was the largest owner of the Masonian claim, having purchased one fifth of it. He was educated at Harvard, where he graduated in 1718. Soon after he was appointed a lieutenant, and in 1720 clerk of the court of common pleas. For many years he commanded the first regiment of militia in the province. He held the offices of collector of customs, naval officer, and sheriff. In 1734 he was admitted to a seat in the council, and in 1741 appointed secretary of the province. He was one of the delegates to the congress that met at Albany in 1754. He was afterwards appointed chief justice of the superior court. He died in 1779.

Mark II. Wentworth, father of Governor John Wentworth, was a merchant and furnished many masts and spars for the British navy. His various branches of business brought him a large fortune. He was one of the original purchasers of Mason's Patent, of which he owned two fifteenths. A large claimant against the confiscated estate of his son, he generously withdrew his claim

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TOWN OF WOLFEBOROUGH.

that other creditors might be paid in full. He was for many years a member of the provisional council. He died in 1785.

George Jaffrey was appointed one of the provisional council in 1766 and held the office of treasurer. He was for many years clerk of the Masonian Proprietors, of whom he was one.

John Parker, second son of William Parker, Esq., was born in 1732. In 1771 he was appointed sheriff of the province, and after its division into coun- ties, sheriff of Rockingham county. When the federal government went into operation he was appointed marshal of the district of New Hampshire. These offices he held until his death, which occurred in 1791. He was never married, but educated several nephews.

Joshua Brackett was born in Greenland in May, 1733, and graduated at Har- vard College in 1752. He then applied himself to the study of theology and preached a short time. He afterwards relinquished this employment for the practice of medicine. In 1783 the Massachusetts Medical Society elected him an honorary member, and in 1791 "he was complimented by his Alma Mater with a medical doctorate." When the New Hampshire Medical Society was organized in 1791, he was elected the first vice-president, and in 1793 succeeded Governor Bartlett as president. He laid the foundation of a medical library in this society by presenting it with one hundred and forty-three valuable books. A short time before his decease he requested his wife to convey certain prop- erty, worth about fifteen hundred dollars, when she should no longer need it, to the University of Cambridge, for a professorship in natural history and botany, sciences for which he had great taste. He was appointed judge of the maritime court for this state at the beginning of the Revolution. He died in 1802. He gave his nephew, John Brackett, one hundred acres of land out of his proprietor's lot, No. 11.

Daniel Pierce is represented as being "affable, judicious, and sensible," and a friend to the poor. He held the offices of recorder of deeds and justice of the peace many years ; and in 1766 was appointed one of His Majesty's council. He usually acted as moderator at proprietary meetings. He died in 1773.

David Sewall, after practising law for awhile in Portsmouth, removed to York county, Maine. He was afterward judge of the United States circuit court. He frequently visited Wolfeborough, being for many years a joint owner with Dr Cutter of the mills on Smith's river.

William Parker, Jr, was probably a brother of John Parker, and son of William Parker, Esq., of Portsmouth. He died in 1813.

Jotham, John, Daniel, and Isaac Rindge were relatives of Governor Went- worth. Jotham appears to have had the care of the governor's estate. He was authorized to call the first meeting of the inhabitants of Wolfeborough, and was appointed the first town clerk. Daniel was a member of the provin- cial council, appointed in 1776.

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

Isaac Rindge was quite prominent; aided in establishing the northeast boundary, and during Governor Wentworth's operations erected a house here. As he was a loyalist, the Provincial Congress directed him, November 15, 1775, to remove himself to some place at least fifteen miles from Portsmouth, there to remain until he was granted leave to go abroad. This restriction was removed January 3, 1776. Wolfeborough was doubtless the place of his exile, as he evidently lived here before and after Governor Wentworth left the town.

Ammi Ruhamah Cutter was born at North Yarmouth, Maine, in 1735. He was son of the first minister of that place, and was educated at Harvard, where he graduated in 1752. He studied medicine with Dr Clement Jackson, of Portsmouth. Soon after he was appointed surgeon of a regiment raised to oppose the French and Indians, and was present at the capture of Louisburg. He returned to Portsmouth, and his practice soon became exten- sive. Ile was offered a seat in the provincial council, but declined. He readily espoused the cause of his native country in her struggle with Great Britain. Being earnestly solicited, he took charge of the medical department of the northern army. On the surrender of General Burgoyne, he returned home. Ile was delegate to the convention that formed the constitution of the state ; this is the only instance of his leaving his professional duties to discharge those of political life. He was for several years president of the New Hampshire Medical Society. He was an honorary member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Massachusetts Humane Society. He took a deep interest in the affairs of Wolfeborough, was for many years a proprietor of lands within the town, and was accustomed to make many visits, both friendly and professional, to its citizens. He lived a Christian life and died in the act of prayer, on the eighth day of December, 1820, aged eighty-six years.

Thomas Wallingford was a native of Somersworth. In early life he was in indigent circumstances. He engaged in mercantile business and was very successful. By becoming one of the purchasers of Mason's Patent he acquired a great landed interest in various parts of the province. He commanded a regiment of militia, and was one of the judges of the superior court. Ho was taken suddenly ill at a public house in Portsmouth, where he died on the fourth of Angust, 1771.

Jotham Odiorne was a member of the council and a purchaser of Mason's Patent.

James Stoodley was a noted taverner of Portsmouth. His hotel, on Daniel street, was burned in 1761, and rebuilt. It had a place for some years in the "almanack " as being the usual resort for entertainment of travelers from Boston to Maine.

Jonathan Warner married a cousin of Governor John Wentworth, and was one of the council previous to the Revolution. His tax in 1770 was exceeded in amount by only two persons.

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TOWN OF WOLFEBOROUGH.

George Meserve, Esq., born in Portsmouth, was in England when the Stamp Act was enacted in 1765, and appointed the agent for distributing the stamps in New Hampshire. Three days after his arrival in Boston he was burned in effigy, and on his arrival there was surrounded by a threatening crowd, to pacify whom he made a public resignation of his office on the parade. Much of his large landed property here was confiscated during the Revolution, but he retained, evidently, the title to some. He was a loyalist, and left the country before hostilities began.

EARLY SETTLERS, AND OTHER SKETCHES. - Benjamin Blake was the first permanent settler. He was a hardy and somewhat eccentric man. When pressed with labor, he would remain in his field for several days in succession, taking his food and sleeping on the bare earth; and it was no unusual occurrence for him in the winter season to visit his barn and feed his stock before he had put on the usual habiliments of the day. He served in the army, and when returning from Ticonderoga walked home barefooted although the ground was partially covered with snow. His wife, whose maiden name was Conner, was a large-sized, athletic woman. They had several children. Jonathan, a son born soon after their arrival in Wolfe- borough, afterwards became one of the most prominent citizens. He served the town as one of the board of selectmen eighteen years, frequently presided at town-meetings, and was several times a member of the state legislature. He has quite a number of descendants distinguished for large size and great strength. He died February 12, 1824, aged ninety-two.

Reuben Libbey felled trees in 1767, on the lot of one hundred acres which he purchased of John Parker. He chose the lot on Wolfeborough Neck furthest from the mainland, as it lay near the water-route to and from Moultonborough. He brought with him a horse, a yoke of oxen, and a few sheep. These were the first animals of the kind in town. He married Sarah, daughter of William Fullerton. This was the first marriage solemnized in town. The ceremony took place under an oak-tree near Smith's bridge, and was conducted by a clergyman from Portsmouth visiting the place. Libbey became noted as a bear hunter. In one season he killed thirty-six. He was uneducated but had good ability, and did considerable business. He acted as constable and selectman for several years and was the second representative. He was deputy sheriff about twenty years.

Joseph Lary married Hannah Blake, and moved to Gilead, Maine, in 1789. His brother Jonathan was selectman and lieutenant of the training band. He was father of the first white child born in the town.

From the purchase of Mason's Patent in 1746 land speculation ran high in New Hampshire. Numerous grants of townships were made, and a large number of persons had thus become landed proprietors. All were anxious to secure settlers, that they might realize pecuniary advantage from their

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

possessions. Land was necessarily held at a low price, even in the more densely populated towns, and comparatively few persons could be induced to endure the privations incident to a pioneer life, when they could purchase a farm in a settled neighborhood for a mere trifle. There were no roads leading to Wolfeborough. It was a long time after the building of the Miles road through the town before a road was opened through New Durham, lying south- east of it, and cutting it off from the lower towns. Travel and transportation were carried on principally over the lake. Yet after a settlement was once begun, few towns had a more rapid increase of population.

The early settlers were generally poor, consisting mostly of persons who were willing to bear the toils and endure the hardships inseparably connected with an attempt at a settlement in the New England forest wilds. They possessed strong muscles and determined wills, and these constituted their principal capital. There is little doubt but that emigration to this town was much stimulated by the example and influence of Governor Wentworth, and a very few men of property were induced to become citizens.

For a few years the settlers were subjected to many inconveniences. Those living in the west part drew their hay six or eight miles on hand-sleds, taking it from the meadows near Smith's pond, or from the opposite shore of Lake Winnipiseogee. Meal and other necessary articles of food were brought on the shoulders of men from Gilmanton, Rochester, and more distant towns. Horses and oxen were not generally possessed, and the implements of labor were ill constructed. Hence there was a great demand for physical strength. Happily the men and women of that day had a large stock of this, and were not unwilling to use it. It was no unusual occurrence for the wife to aid the husband in piling logs for burning and in other laborious occupations.

However hard may seem to have been the lot of the early settlers to us, it is probable that they were quite as happy as we are. Their simple wants were easily supplied, while we are the slaves to a thousand fancied needs. The woods furnished abundance of game, and the lakes, ponds, and streams a supply of fish, although some years elapsed before the art of taking the salmon trout was well understood. Samp was obtained by beating the Indian corn in huge wooden mortars, while occasionally the luxury of fine meal was allowed.

Their simple food and carnest labor rendered them proof against the assaults of dyspepsia and other kindred diseases.

William Fullerton was drowned while attempting to ford the strait between the inner and outer bays near Smith's bridge. This event happened not long after he had removed his family to the township. His widow, Mary Fullerton, received a deed of the land pledged to him, and managed to retain possession of the same and rear a family of eight children, one born shortly after the decease of her husband. Fullerton's posterity is quite largely represented in town.

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TOWN OF WOLFEBOROUGH.

John Fullerton was a son of William. The proprietors of the township, in 1770, voted to give him a lot of one hundred acres provided he should, within one year, erect on it a house sixteen feet square, clear three acres fit for the plow, and have a family living on the same. He cleared a small parcel of land and erected the frame of a house. Soon after he enlisted in the revolutionary army, where he remained during the war. While absent, trees several inches in diameter grew within the uncovered house-frame. On his return he found that his lot had been forfeited and was in possession of Paul March. He bought it from him for a small sum.

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 36

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