History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 64

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

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Moses B Canney

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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD.

official, and deservedly popular with his party. He was proud to be reckoned as one of the followers of Andrew Jackson, and was always cheered, as yet, by Democratic successes. The religious preferences of his family are Episcopa- lian. His son James was one of the leading members of the church of St John the Baptist from the start, while his youngest son, John, is a lay reader of the Diocese of New Hampshire.

For sixty years, as boy and man, Captain Garvin lived on the old farm, and saw it enlarged and improved, becoming one of the best in town, covering three hundred acres, while many a rod of stone wall testifies to his hard and handi-work. The frame of the "100-foot" barn, put up when he was an infant, was hewn out of native wood by his father and brother Wentworth.

The family heirloom is the old-fashioned brass elock which stands ceiling high, and has been marking off the time for three quarters of a century. It was bought and paid for by his mother with butter, eggs, and cheese.

In 1875 Captain Garvin retired from the farm to his present home at Wolfboro Junction, where in 1873 he had formed a partnership with his son under the firm-name of J. W. Garvin & Co., which has done a prosperous and ever-increasing business in the general merchandise trade. It was the first store in that village, then new. They have built three additions to the store, and to-day carry one of the largest stocks in the county. In 1886 Captain Garvin sold out his interest to Charles H. Johnson, of Wolfeborough. James W. Garvin carries on quite an extensive manufacturing business in the line of clothing, having capacity for turning out a thousand pairs of pantaloons per week, and giving employment to seventy-five to one hundred people, in town and out.

Ebenezer Garvin, born August 5, 1815, married, April 19, 1848, Almira Lang, born November 11, 1824, the daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Thurber) Lang, who died in 1880 at over ninety. They have had three sons and two daughters, but have been bereft of both daughters and one son : James Wentworth, born January 14, 1849; Mary Eliza, born August 21, 1852, died February 17, 1874; Samuel Francis, born February 21, 1858, died Jan- uary 2, 1886; Lydia Maria, born August 4, 1861, died July 18, 1882; John Howard, born July 15, 1866.

James W. married, March 7, 1872, Charlotte J. Maleham, daughter of William A. and Naney (Pike) Maleham. Their children are : Bertha Maud, born February 12, 1873; Clara Maleham, born November 15, 1875; James Philip, born June 16, 1880; Samuel Francis, born December 27, 1885.

MOSES B. CANNEY.

Moses B. Canney was born in Ossipee, May 20, 1809, and died at Union, April 19, 1886. He was the oldest child of Isaac and Hannah (Thompson)

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

Canney, who had eight children : Moses B., Zalmon, Benjamin, Eliza, William, Priscilla, Isaae, and Sylvester G. Of these, two are now living: Isaae, who resides in Chicago, and Sylvester G., who married Maria Briard, of Kittery, Maine, and lives in Salem, Mass. They have had five children, two of whom, Ida M. and Flora M., are living. He has been in the employ of the Eastern railroad about forty years.

Moses B. Canney at an early age felt the necessity of taking care of him- self, that he might aid his father, who supported his large family by carrying on a small farm and working at the carpenter's trade. He walked to Salem, Mass., and began independent life by working on a farm. When about twenty-one years of age, he married Mary, daughter of Hull and Mercy (Twombly) Abbott, of Berwick, Maine. She died January 23, 1886, twelve weeks previous to her husband's decease. They had two children, Mary Frances, born September 23, 1830, and Eliza A., born October 2, 1836 (died in infancy). Mary Frances married George A., son of Asa and Aphia (Canney) Beacham, who was born October 10, 1826, and died March 11, 1866. Mrs Beacham has one son, Howard Arthur, and resides at Union. At his father's death, which occurred shortly after his marriage, Moses B. voluntarily assumed the maintenance of his mother and brothers and sisters, who were too young to support themselves, taking them to his home in Salem, where they remained until they were able to care for themselves. Mr Canney was never ashamed to do any honorable work. Laeking the educational advantages that even the young people of those days enjoyed, it was more difficult for him to get on in the world : but he possessed a willingness to do, and a laudable ambition to be higher up in the scale of life. The additional burden devolving upon him by his father's death made advancement doubly hard, but in all his labors, hopes, and ambitions he was aided and encouraged by his most estimable wife. Many times in early life Mr Canney has come home from his day's work and sawed wood for others until far into the night. This shows of what material he was made. The business of his life was varied, beginning first on a farm and then going into the stables of the old "('offee-House," now the " Essex," in Salem, Mass., where he drove "extras " until established on a regular line from Salem to Boston. Soon he removed to Amesbury, and entered the employ of Moses Coleman, and drove four and six horse coaches to Boston via Salem and Lynn until 1839, driving from Amesbury to Boston one day and returning the following day, " putting up" at the old " Eastern stage house," on what was then Ann, now North street. Persons wishing to travel on his route registered their names at the office, and Mr Canney would drive around and " pick them up." This sounds queer in regard to Boston, but things were vastly different then from now. Mr Canney bought and sold quite extensively such things as the farmers on his route produced, butter, eggs, poultry, etc., on his own account, and this spirit of

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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD.

trade continued as long as he did business. In the fall of 1839 William Sawyer, of Haverhill, Mass., established a competing stage-line from Dover to Conway, and Mr Canney was placed in charge, and removed to Ossipee. He soon bought an interest in the line, and eventually became sole owner, driving from Dover to Ossipee, connecting with Leander D. Sinclair, who drove from Ossipee to Conway. When the Eastern railroad was extended to Soutli Milton, Mr Canney was appointed the first conductor between Great Falls and South Milton, and served until the road was built to Union, when he moved his family there, and shortly after disposed of his stage-line.

In 1856 Mr Canney, in connection with L. W. Perkins, established " Canney & Company's Express" from Conway to Boston and continued in that business until 1872, when the business was purchased by the Eastern Express Company, which subsequently sold out to the American Express Company. From 1872 until his death, Mr Canney passed most of his time at home engaged in farming. He was a devoted and indulgent husband and father. In politics he was an unflinching Democrat ; in religion a firm believer in the Universalist faith. He was not easily turned from any line of action upon which he had once decided. He gave liberally to all worthy and benevolent objects. As a stage-driver, conductor, and expressman, and in all his business intercourse through life, he was kind and obliging, winning the respect and kindly regard of those with whom he came in contact. Several years before he sold his express business he was severely hurt in a railroad accident at South Berwick, Maine, in which the engineer and fireman were killed and many others injured; this accident probably hastened his death. He was a member of Unity Lodge of Masons, No. 62, at Union.

GEORGE S. DORR.

George S. Dorr, son of Charles and Mary (Shackford) Dorr, was born in Wakefield, May 12, 1851. His school advantages were very meagre, being brought up on a farm upon which he commenced to work as soon as old enough, attending the scanty supply of winter schooling until he was sixteen years of age, when he went away from home to work. He followed various occupations for a few years, and then learned the carpenter's trade, working at that for about ten years, until, in October, 1881, he established the Carroll County Pioneer at Wolfboro Junction, and is still engaged in its publication. He is a natural editor, of keen and quick wit, and deserves, and will have, success in life. He is now serving his seventh year as town clerk of Wake- field. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and Red Men. January 5, 1884, he married Fannie H., daughter of Daniel and Frozilla Twombly, of Wolfeborough.

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

His father, Charles Dorr, was born in a " little old log cabin " at Milton Mills, October 16, 1789, and in early life was a sailor on a merchant vessel which went privateering under a letter of marque when the War of 1812 began. Soon after, being captured by the English, the crew was sent to Dartmoor prison, in England, as prisoners of war. Here Dorr was held, suffering great privations, until peace was declared, a term of two years and three months, when he was released and returned home. Having had enough of the sea, he married Phebe Hobbs, of Newfield, Maine, by whom he had one son, now dead, and settled down on terra firma. After the death of his first wife he married Mary, daughter of Nathaniel C. Shackford, who came from Newington and settled in Wakefield about 1824, by whom he had four children. The last fifty years of his life passed uneventfully, and he died in 1870. His widow still lives on the homestead-farm of her parents, which has been her home for more than sixty years, one of the oldest persons in Wakefield, aged eighty-four years.

EFFINGHAM.

BY FRANCISCO W. BARKER.

CHAPTER XLVI.

Situation - Original Grant - North Effingham - Area - Surface - Boundaries - Indian Relics - Proprietors' Meeting - Conditions of Charter - Survey - Early Settlements - Asso- ciation Test - Early Accounts- Pay of Town Officers - Civil List.

G ENERAL DESCRIPTION. - Effingham is situated in the southeastern part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Freedom, from which it is separated by the Great Ossipee river, south by Wakefield and Ossipee, east by Parsonsfield, Maine, and west by Ossipee.

The northeastern corner of Effingham is upon an island in the Great Ossipee river a short distance below the Huntress sawmill. This island is only a few rods in extent, yet it is made up of four towns, three counties, and two states ; namely, Effingham and Freedom in Carroll county, Parsonsfield, York county, and Porter, Oxford county, Maine.

The original grant called for six miles square. In 1820 a small portion of the town of Wakefield was annexed. This was a gore lying between the state line and Province pond. In 1831 that part of the town lying north of the Great Ossipee river was incorporated as the town of North Effingham. This part contained thirty-three lots, and comprised an area of about seven thousand acres, leaving that of Effingham, including that annexed from Wakefield, about twenty-five thousand acres.

The surface of this town can truly be called somewhat broken. On its northern boundary is the Great Ossipee river, a stream of an average width of one hundred yards. In the eastern part is South river, and in the western part Pine river, both of which have been utilized as power for mills from the earliest days of the town's history to the present time. In the southern part is Province pond, about one and three-fourths mile in diameter and a little over six miles in circumference. Nearly in the centre of the town, Green mountain

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

rises to the height of over seventeen hundred feet 1 above sea-level. The dis- tance around the mountain by the road is about twelve miles. In 1830 the town had 1,911 population ; in 1880, 865.

Effingham was originally covered with a growth of majestic white-pine trees. In 1810 one Nudd, of Hampton, who owned land here, felled one of those monarchs of the forest, and of it made a boat or " dug-out," which he hauled to Hampton, seventy miles, and used for many years to float hay from the salt marshes.

There is abundant proof that a tribe of Indians once had their home on the western shore of Province pond. The land is level and dry, and the shore sandy. The hearths upon which they built their fires or the foundations to their wigwams are frequently met with upon the farm now owned by Charles H. Stevens. These hearths are of stone from six to ten inches in diameter, placed closely together to the depth of about two feet. These stones show the effect of fire, and among them ashes are found. These stones must have been brought a considerable distance, as none are found in the immediate vicinity. The largest of these foundations measures about twelve by twenty feet; the smaller ones about eight by twelve feet. Near them have been found many Indian relics, such as flint arrowheads, stone tomahawks and knives.

Probably the first time what is now Effingham was ever mentioned, except as a portion of the great undivided American continent, was on the twenty- eighth of June, 1749, when " the proprietors of the lands purchased of John Tufton Mason met at the house of Sarah Priest in Portsmouth."2 At that meeting a grant of land was made to Nathaniel Gookin, Thomas Marston, Samuel Marston, John Leavitt, Thomas Parsons, and seventy-four others,3 which was "to contain the quantity of six miles square." 2 At another meeting, December 20 of the same year, an addition was made to this grant in consequence of its being represented that "near two miles of the upper part and quite across the tract will run upon Mountainous Rocky Land not Capable of Improvement." 2

These two grants, now included in the towns of Effingham and Freedom, were bounded as follows: "Commencing at the Province line, at the head of a township granted to John Ham and others, near Province pond, so called, then on said Ham's head line two and one third miles, then north 42° west 7 miles, then north 48° cast to the Province line, then on said line to the first mentioned bounds. " 2

The charter or deed conveying this land contained among other conditions the following : -

1 Height calculated in 1884 by Professor E. T. Quimby, of the United States Coast Survey.

2 Early Proprietors' Records.

3 Among them were several others by the name of Marston and Leavitt, and others by the name of Drake, Dearborn, and Palmer, nearly all of whom were residents of Hampton, North Hampton, Rye, and Exeter.

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TOWN OF EFFINGHAM.

That the whole be laid out into one hundred shares and each share to be laid out into two lots, one to contain fifty-six acres and the other an hundredth part of the remainder. That one share be for the first minister who shall settle on said land. That one share be for the support of the Gospel Ministry forever. That one share be for the use and support of a school there forever. That the owners build a meeting-house fit for the publick worship of God, within ten years, and maintain preaching constantly. That all white-pine trees fit for his Majesties use, for masting the Royal Navy, be and hereby are granted to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, for that purpose.

Nothing seems to have been done until August 26, 1761, when the propri- etors met at the tavern of John Leavitt, Esq., in North Hampton, and voted "to hire a surveyor to lay out the town." For this purpose they engaged Daniel Sanborn, paying him eight pounds "old tenor "1 per day. He took as assistants Benjamin Hobbs and four others, and went there on the twelfth of October following, laid out the town and first division of lots, and returned home on the thirtieth of the same month. In April of the next year he run out the second division of lots.

This new town, which was known as Leavittstown, was a wilderness in a wilderness, as this vote passed at a proprietors' meeting held at North Hampton, September 27, 1762, will show: "That Lieut. Abraham Drake and Daniel Sanborn be a Committee to go to Dover and Rochester to find the most convenient way to eut a road to the centre of Leavittstown, and they shall have power to hire a pilot if they see fit."

Several years elapsed before any settlements were made. There was no record left, or even tradition that any were made before 1768. The following, taken from an account written by James Dearborn Leavitt, is inserted here as being nearer correct than any information that can be obtained at this time relating to the early settlement of the town. Mr Leavitt was born in Effing- ham, February 25, 1799, and was a grandson of Captain John Leavitt, one of the first settlers. He was a man of great power of memory, and had an almost inexhaustible fund of stories relating to the early settlement of the town, as well as of the events which came within his own recollection, with which to interest the listener. Much of this he committed to paper, and from this the following is copied verbatim : -

" The first settler in Effingham, James C. Dearborn, came from Stratham, in the year 1768, and settled near where David W. Hobbs 2 now lives. In the spring of 1769 Walter Avery came, and settled up near where widow Catharine Leavitt now lives, and about the same time William Palmer came from Rye, and settled at the foot of the old sandhills near Lord's Hill, and one of his sons settled down by the old bridge in front of where Stephen S. Flanders 3 now lives. About the same time a Mr. Dow came from New

1 Paper money issued by the colonies and very much depreciated in value.

2 Eliphalet Williams. 3 Reuben Flanders.

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

Market, and settled on the old road leading from A. J. Ford's 1 to Carr Taylor's, and a Mr. Hilton from New Market settled near the spring in John Rumery's pasture. James Titcomb 2 came from Exeter, and settled where he lived and died.

"Coffin Page settled where Elijah Taylor now lives ; Eleazer Davis near where Joseph B. Rowe 3 now lives; Thomas Parsons settled where A. J. Wedgwood now lives; Weare Drake came into town in 1770, and settled on the hill near Drake's Corner near where David Knowles 4 now lives. Captain John Leavitt came in the year 1772, and settled on the Leavitt hill, and was killed in the year 1785, July 7th day. Benjamin Dearborn settled near where John C. Leavitt, second, now lives. Asahel Dearborn settled near where Suel Stevens now lives. Carr Leavitt5 settled where he lived and died. Jeremiah Leavitt 6 settled where he lived and died. Jeremiah Marston settled where the Esq. Lord great house now stands. Richard Taylor settled out in the field opposite John S. Dearborn's house. Abraham Marston " settled where he lived and died. The last eight men came from North Hampton.

" The two Mr. Lampreys settled where they lived and died. Nathan Brown came from old Hampton, and settled where he lived and died.8 Jonathan Hobbs and Morris Hobbs came from old Hampton, and settled where they lived and died.9 Joseph Palmer came from Rye, and settled where Sylvester Day now lives. John Drake came from old Hampton, and settled where he lived and died." 10

Those mentioned above, with some others, settled here before the Revolu- tionary war. In 1775 the town contained eighty-three inhabitants, good citizens. The proprietors held meetings at North Hampton and Exeter, and chose the officers for the town, raised money for building roads, for bounties offered to settlers, and for various purposes. The following record of one of those meetings has been preserved, and is given as showing some light in regard to affairs as they existed at that time.

North Hampton Monday, September 16th, 1772 The Proprietors Mett According to the Warrent and Voted as follows (Viz)

Voted lly John Leavitt Esq. Moderator.

2ly Thomas Parsons Clerk pro Temp.

3ly That Samuel Lane Esq. Capt Abraham Drake, and Benjamin Leavitt be Assessors for Leavitts Town Proprietors untill others be chosen in their room.

4ly That Thomas Parsons, Weare Drake and Capt John Leavitt of Leavitts Town be a Committee to preamberlate or new run the Range lines and new No. the lotts in said Ranges as near according to the running of the first Survey as they are capable, and employ a surveyor at 6/. pr day and 4 or five other hands @ 4/. pr day including the committee, to compleat the same. Also Extend the west side line of the town N. 42º W. seven Miles from the head of East Town, thence continue runing N. 48º E. to the Provence line, and in the

1 Edwin Day. 2 Melvin HI. Nutter. 3 In the pasture beyond Joshma Durgin's. 4 James M. Champion. 5 Deacon John Carr Leavitt. 6 Dr J. M. Leavitt. 7 Frank W. Barker. 8 Joseph Huzzy. " Jonathan Hobbs. 10 Joseph S. Smith.

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TOWN OF EFFINGHAM.

return of the survey report to the Proprietors the Quantity of vacant land left between the first range line and said line that runs N. 48º E. and make return of the same as soon as may be.

5ly That Weare Drake Thomas Parsons and Capt. John Leavitt of Leavitts Town be a committee to repair and clear what roads are necessary to accomidate the Inhabitants of said Leavitts Town.

Gly That a Committee be chosen to Prosecute those who have not fulfilled their Settle- ments in Leavitts Town

7ly That Thomas Parsons, Weare Drake and Capt. John Leavitt be a Committee to prose- cute those who have not fulfilled their bond given to the Proprietors to make Settlements in Leavitts Town.

Sly That there shall be no more added to the above committee.

gly That Capt. John Leavitt of Leavitts Town be paid 4/. pr Day for the time he expended in spoting the seven Mile line and measuring the road that is cleared thro. Leavitts Town leading from Wolfborough to Conway.

10ly That forty Dollars be raised and appropriated to the use of the Gospel in Leavitts Town at the Decression of Thomas Parsons Weare Drake and John Leavitt

11ly To raise by Tax two Dollars on each Right which with the one Dollar on each Right, Voted to be raised at adjournment of the Meeting held at Capt. Robertsons the 3ª Day of August 1772 makes three Dollars including the forty Dollars to be raised for preaching

12ly That whereas on February 3 1772 three Pounds sixteen shillings L. M. was voted to Mr John Dearborn to move Josiah Marston out of Leavitts Town and free the Proprietors from any further charges, said Dearborn has not moved him. The money Voted to John Dearborn aforesaid, shall be appropriated at the Descretion of Thomas Parsons and John Leavitt of Leavitts Town to defray the Expence that Weare Drake is out of in supporting said Marston in his sickness and the remainder of said sum paid to said Marston

13ly That John Ilaven Esq. Doct. Levi Dearborn and Mr Enoch Poor be a Committee to settle and adjust all accounts wherein the proprietors of Leavitts Town are conserned and report to the next Proprietors' meeting what the state of them is.

14ly that 12/. expence shall be allowed for this meeting to John Leavitt Esq.

15ly That this Meeting be and hereby is adjourned to the first Tuesday in June next to be held at the house of Thomas Parsons in Leavitts Town, at one o'clock P. M. on said day.

Thomas Parsons Clerk, pro. Temp. Levi Dearborn Propr. Clrk.

A True Copy.

Attest

Levi Dearborn Pro. Clk.

The signers in Leavitts Town (now Effingham) to the Association Test in 1776 were: Reuben Marston, John Marston, John Lamper, Carr Leavitt, Benjamin Dearborn, Richard Taylor, Simon Leavitt, Weare Drake, Thomas Parsons, Levi Jones, John Leavitt, James Titcomb, Josiah George, Robert Brown, Joseph Palmer, Eleazer Davise, William Palmer. The above names comprised all the inhabitants of Leavitts Town.

In the council records of August 18, 1778, is recorded : " An act to Incor- porate a place called Leavit's Town in the County of Strafford by the name of Effingham having been read three times Voted that the same be enacted." As the act cannot be found on record, it was probably lost before 1829, when all such acts in existence were supposed to be recorded.

In June, 1778, Carr Leavitt was chosen to present a petition to the

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

legislature asking that the town be incorporated. This was granted August 15, 1778, and Leavitts Town became Effingham.1 But who suggested the name, or why, not even the slightest tradition comes down to us. The first town-meeting was held at Captain John Leavitt's dwelling-house, and the following officers elected: moderator, Captain John Leavitt; town clerk, Weare Drake; selectmen, John Leavitt, Weare Drake, and Carr Leavitt.

From this time the town-meetings were principally held "at the tavern of . Carr Leavitt," until the meeting-house was built at Lord's Corner in 1798. The question of deciding upon the location of this house proved to be a vexatious one, and many meetings were held before it was settled. Finally a committee of disinterested men was called, of which Colonel Ambrose, of Ossipee, and Colonel Mason, of Tamworth, were members. They decided in favor of Lord's Corner.

The following items are taken from the town treasurer's accounts :

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 64

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