History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 78

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

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Boundaries. - Beginning at the Northeast corner of New Holderness, and from thence running East six miles and then turning off and running North six miles. and then turning off again, and running West six miles, and then turning off and running South to the Northeast corner of Campton, and then by Campton to the Northeast corner of New Holderness, which was the bounds begun at.

Grantees. - Samuel Gilman jun Esq, Capt Nath! Folsom, Thomas Parsons, Capt Samuel Folsom, Enoch Poor, Thomas Odiorne, Nicho Gilman, John Folsom, Joseph Gilman, Benjamin Rogers, JJosiah Folsom, John Bowden, junr, John Ward Gilman, Sachwel Rund- let, Samuel Harris, John Folsom, jun, Josiah Gilman, 3d, Lenmel Davis. Trueworthy Folsom, John Folsom, 3ª, Andrew Gerrish, William Odlin, Peter Coffin, James Thurston, Nath' Folsom, jun', John Chipman, Esqr, Eliphalet Coffin, Jolm Wadley, Jonathan Folsom, junr, Moses Perkins, Jonathan Folsom, Richard Sinkler, James Sinkler, John Nelson, Andrew Hilton, Enoch Clark, Caleb Thurston, Increase Wilson, Samuel Moody, Jacob Longfellow, Clement Moody, Edward Bean, Wadley Cram, Nehemiah Cram, Thomas Runolds, Benjamin Atkinson. Joseph Atkinson, Ebenezer Ingals, Daniel Gilman. 34, Capt Somersbee Gilman, John Bowden, John Taylor Gilman, Thomas Potter, Joseph Roberts, Joshua Young. Moses Thurstin, Benjamin Bachellor, Nath! Bachellor, Owen Runolds, Daniel Poor, Col Robert

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TOWN OF SANDWICH.

Hale, Revd Mr John Chipman, Hon' Theodore Atkinson, Esqr, Mark Hs Wentworth, Esq", Nath' Barrel, Esqr, James Nevin, Esqr.

"Ilis Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esqr, a Traet of Land to contain five hundred Acres as marked B. W. in the Plan which is to be accounted two of the within Shares. One whole Share for the incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, One whole Share for a Glebe for the Church of England as by Law established, One Share for the first settled Minister in said Town, And one Share for the benefit of a School in said Town forever."

On the survey of the original grant it was found that "The Northerly & Westerly sides thereof [are] so loaded with inaccessible Mountains & Shelves of Rocks that it is uninhabitable," and the grantees petitioned for an "additional Grant of a Strip of his Majestys Land on the South and on the East of the aforesaid Traet." This petition was granted and an addition made September 5, 1764; this brought its area to 64,000 aeres, and is described : -

Beginning at the Southwesterly corner of the aforesaid tract of land granted by the name of Sandwich, and from thenee run South one mile until it comes to [or upon a line with] the northerly side line of a tract of land called Palmerstown, or New Salem; in that ease to stop in a shorter measure; then running East between the aforesaid tract called Sandwich, and the said Palmerstown eight miles. then turning off again and running North seven miles, then turning off again at right angles and runs West two miles to the northeasterly corner of the aforesaid tract called Sandwich.

First Meeting of Proprietors. - This met at the inn of Captain Samuel Folsom, in Exeter, April 10, 1764, in pursuance of a notification issued by Samuel Gilman, Jr, justice of the peace, on March 22, 1764, and duly published in the New Hampshire Gazette. Samuel Gilman, Jr, Esq., was chosen moder- ator: Joseph Gilman, proprietors' clerk ; Captain Samuel Folsom, collector ; Samuel Gilman, Jr, Esq., Captain Nathaniel Folsom, and Captain Samuel Folsom were chosen a committee to lay out the township of Sandwich, assess the proprietors, and transact all affairs for bringing forward the settlement of the township. Lieutenant Nicholas Gilman was added to this committee at the same meeting, and Mr Thomas Parsons was later added. September 24, 1764, the committee for settlement assessed a tax of twenty-five pounds on each right to defray the charges of laying out the town and establishing its settlement. In 1767 Mr Enoch Poor was substituted on the committee for Mr Thomas Parsons, and John Phillips, Esq., for Samuel Gilman, Jr, Esq.

Extracts from Records. - 1765. At a Proprietors' meeting held at the Inn of Samuel Folsom, in Exeter, October 29, 1765, it was voted to give Orlando Weed, of Gilmanton, for making the Seven first settlements in said Sandwich, Seven hundred acres of Land in any part of the Town he shall choose, to be laid out in one Square Body; Seventy pounds Lawful Money ; and Seven Cows; on the following Conditions, Viz. He the said Orlando Weed is to clear up Forty two acres of Land, to Build Seven good sufficient Dwelling Houses, and to Settle Seven Families on the Premises within three Years from this time, there to remain for

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

Six Years. One half of the above Seventy pounds to be paid in Money, and the other half to be paid in Goods; one half of each to be paid when he has Cleared Twenty one Acres, & built Seven Houses; The other half to be paid when he has Cleared Twenty one Aeres more and moves on Seven Families, at the same time the Cows are to be delivered to him. It was also voted that any eight of the proprietors shall have 200 acres of land each where they shall choose, for settling in the same time and manner as Mr Weed; that the first one to thus settle shall have the first choice of lands, and if more than one appears on the spot at the same time, then they are to draw lots for their choice. He complied with the conditions. The lot granted him included the farm now occupied by Charles W. Donovan, and other lands near " Little Pond." It was further voted that Captain Josiah Miles be a proprietor in common, for services he has done the Proprietors. 1768, Feb. 9. - The Proprietors taking under consider- ation the absolute necessity of speedily settling said Township, as the time allowed by Charter is nearly expired. And as a number of the Proprietors whose Names are as follows : Nathaniel Folsom, Esq', Capt" Nicholas Gilman. Samuel Folsom Esq. Mr Enoch Poor, M' John Mont- gomery, Daniel Beede, Esq. & Mr Eliphalet Hale; with a view of forwarding the settlement of said Township, did at great expence in the Month of November last past, carry up a number of men to said Town, and there Build each of them a sufficient Dwelling House. And as the abovenamed Proprietors now appear willing to perform each of them a Settlement in said Township, on such terms & conditions as appears advantagious to the Proprietors. Wherefore Voted That each and every of the abovenamed Proprietors be and hereby are entitled to the following Lotts of Land, viz; each of them a Lott containging Fifty Acres, to be laid out where they have severally Built their Dwelling Houses; And each of them a Lott of Land containing Two Hundred Acres, in any part of said Township where they shall choose, unless such Lott should be chosen before and a return thereof made to the Clerk; each of the abovenamed Proprietors to cause his lotts to be laid out at his own proper Cost and Charge; the Lines to run North, South, East & West. The above mentioned Fifty Acre Lotts & Two Hundred Acre Lotts are over and above their several equal Propriety Rights of Shares in said Township. And that each of the abovenamed Proprietors shall be paid Fifteen pounds Lawful Money by the Committee for Settlement; which money is to be raised by an equal Tax on the Proprietors. - On the following conditions, viz. That they the abovenamed Proprietors have each of them a Family now settled on the Premises; & that they and each of them will support a Family on the Premises for Six years to come. reckoning from the first day of November last past. And that each of the above named Proprietors shall for himself cause Six Acres of Land to be cleared np and cultivated on each of the Fifty acre Lotts this present year. And that each of the abovenamed Proprietors shall cause his Lotts to be laid out, and a Return made thereof to the Clerk on or before the last day of September next ensuing, and if any neglect the same, he shall lose his right of choice, but shall be allowed to draw for the same after the Town is laid out into Lotts. And that each of the abovenamed Proprietors shall give a Bond in the sum of One Hundred pounds Lawful Money, to the Committee for Settlement ; to be forfeited to the Proprietors on failing to perform the several Conditions abovementioned.

Whereas the beforementioned Proprietors with Capt Josiah Miles compleat the number who had particular encouragement to Settle by a Vote passed October 29th 1765. And as there now appears a necessity of giving encouragement for making more Settlements in said Town - Voted That the following persons Viz. John Phillips Esqr, Capt" Nicholas Gilman, Capt Sammel Folsom, Daniel Beede Esqr and Mr John Montgomery may make each of them, one Settlement. and Major Nathaniel Folsom & Mr Enoch Poor two Settlements each ; and for each Settlement shall be and hereby are intitled to a Lott of Land containing Two Hundred Acres, in any part of said Township where they shall choose, (over and above their equal Rights in said Town) unless said Lotts should be chosen before & a Return thereof made to the Clerk. Each of the abovenamed Proprietors to cause his Lott or Lotts to be laid out at his own cost : the Lines to run parralel with the Lines of the Town; and cause a return thereof to be made to the Clerk on or before the last day of next September. And if any

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TOWN OF SANDWICH.

neglect the same he shall lose his right of choice, but shall be allowed to draw for the same after the Town shall be laid out into Lotts; Provided they perform the following Conditions viz for each settlement build a good sufficient Dwelling llouse, & settle a Family ou each Lott at or before the 30th of next Novemr and support a Family on the premises for Six Years after said time; And that each of said Proprietors shall for each settlement cause Six Acres of Land to be cleared up and cultivated on each Two Hundred Acre Lott in the Year 1769. At the same meeting it was voted to tax cach proprietor £7-10 L. M. "to defray the charge of settling the town."

1768, April 19. Daniel Beede Esq. was allowed to make another settlement in the manner as the other -September Sth. Josiah Miles makes return to Joseph Gilman, proprietors' clerk, of his choice of two hundred acres as follows: "Beginning at a Stake and Stones by the North side of Bear Camp river so called and on the East Line of said Township from thence running west 160 rods to a stake and stones, then north 200 rods to a stake & stones Then east 160 rods to a stake & stones standing on the Town Line. Then South by the Line to the Bounds first mentioned."

Houses had now been built by Nathaniel Folsom, Nicholas Gilman, Daniel Beede, Samuel Folsom, Enoch Poor, and perhaps others. These all settled within half a mile from a line drawn from John A. Marston's to Paul Wentworth's, except Josiah Miles, who located his land on Bear-camp River, between Isaac D. Smith's and Langdon G. Clark's. Eliphalet Hale, John Phillips, and John Montgomery located families about the same time.

At a legal meeting of the Proprietors of Sandwich held at Exeter, February 11, 1771, four lots of one hundred shares each were drawn to each Proprietor's share. It was also voted that Lot No. 16 in the seventh long Range (lying near the centre of the Town) be reserved for Town Lots; That Lot No. 1 in the first long Range, Lot No. 1 in the sixth long Range, Lot No. 18 and Lot No. 21 in the thirteenth long Range be reserved for the incorpo- rated Society for propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts; That Lot No. 5 and Lot No. 7 in the sixth long Range. Lot No. 17 and Lot No. 19 in the thirteenth long Range be reserved for a Glebe for the Church of England; That Lot No. 17 in the seventh long Range, Lot No. 13 in the ninth long Range, Lot No. 14 in the tenth long Range, and Lot No. 16 in the eleventh long Range, be reserved for the first settled Minister of the Town; That Lot No. 11 in the second long Range, Lot 17 in the fourth long Range, Lot 29 in the fifth long Range and Lot 17 in the tenth long Range be reserved for the benefit of a school in the Town.

The meeting was then adjourned to Feb. 12, 1771, when it was voted that Onesiphorus Flanders and Elisha Clark shall have the Lot No. 5 in the third Short Range to be divided between them according to quantity and quality. Provided they and each of them clear up five acres of land and build each of them a sufficient dwelling House on said Lot at or before the first day of September 1772 and abide there themselves or cause some other sufficient persons under them to abide there for and during the term of five years after building said Houses ; That Elias Smith Junr shall have one half of Lot No. 16 in the third long Range to be divided equally for quantity & quality, provided he performs a settlement in the same time & manner that is voted to Onesiphorus Flanders and Elisha Clark; That Elias Ladd Jun' and John Ladd shall have Lot No. 10 in the third long Range to be divided in equal Shares between them, provided they shall perform settlements in like manner as the above; That Benjamin Folsom shall have one half the Lot No. 22 in the third long Range, etc, that is with the same conditions as those before mentioned; That Elias Ladd have one half of Lot No. 11 in the fifth long Range to be taken off of the North end of said Lot. Provided he continues to dwell on the same with his Family five years from this date, or cause a sufficient Man to continue on the same for the Term aforesaid with a Family; That Josiah Bean have one half of Lot No. 17 in the fifth long Range to be divided according to quantity & quality, upon the same conditions as the half Lot is voted to Elias Ladd.

The next article in the warrant was " To see what Lands the Proprietors will give the Agents for Services done the Proprietors," and it was Voted -That the following Lots of Land viz. Lot No. 1 in the twelfth Range, Lot No. 1 in the eleventh Range, Lot No. I in the

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

tenth Range and Lot No. 12 in the seventh Range and Lot No. 30 in the first Range contain- ing one hundred acres each; be granted, and the said Lots are hereby granted Nathaniel Folsom and Nicholas Gilman Esgers for the good services they have done the Proprietors in Settling the Dispute with the Purchasers of Masons Patent; and defending the Proprietors in a number of actions brought against the Propriety ; That Bagley Weed shall have the Lot No 25 in the eighth long Range of Lots. Provided he erect two sufficient Dwelling Houses and Settle two Families on the same at or before September first 1772 and cause them or some other Families to continue on the same for Five Years after settlement; That Mr Enoch Poor shall have the one half part of Lot No. 28 in the first long Range to be divided equally for quantity and quality. Provided he shall perform the settlement in the same manner as is voted for Bagley Weed to perform ; That so much of the Proprietors Land be sold at Publick Vendue as will pay the Debts due from the Proprietors to partieular persons, and that Nathaniel Folsom and Nicholas Gilman Esquires be a Committee for that purpose. The meeting was adjourned to March 11, 1771, and then it was voted that Daniel Beede Esq Shall have one half part of the Lot No. 9 in the second long Range to be taken off the Easterly Side of said Lot, provided he shall make a settlement on the same, or any one of his own Lots one mile Distant from any other Settler in said Town in the following manner. Viz That he clear up five Acres and build a sufficient Dwelling House at or before the first Day of September 1772 and canse some able and sufficient person to abide there constantly for five years after the first Day of September 1772.

In 1769, Daniel Beede, Surveyor, laid out the Lots of Land in Sandwich. From his return we extract the following : "Short ranges. These are divided into six lots each range * * * * The first long range begins at the west end of the Township, about eighty rods north from Cusump Pond, and runs east to Tamworth containing thirty Lots, and 30 rods in the Lots number 4, 5, & 11 I have made an allowance of 20 rods each for Ponds, the Lots are numbered on the SE corner of them beginning to number at the West End of the Range. The Second long Range begins at the West End of the Township and runs East to Tamworth containing 29 Lots; on the lot 20 I have allowed 190 rods for Red Hill Pond. The Third, Fourth & Fifth long Ranges begin at the West End of the Town and run East, containing 31 lots in each. The Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Ranges contain 30 lots in each Range. They begin at the West end of the Town and run East. The Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth Ranges begin at the East end of the Town and run West. The ways between the ranges are three Rods."

1770, Sept. 27. - Henry Weed returns the following Lots in Sandwich as chosen for settle- ment by him & his Father. the second & third Lots in the first short Range.

1774, April 11. - Voted that John Philips, Nathaniel Folsom, Nicholas Gilman & Samuel Folsom Esquires, & Mr. Enoch Poor, they or the major part of them be a Committee to prosecute Colonel Jonathan Moulton and any other person or persons (not holding under Sandwich) who have trespass'd on any Lands, within the Lines thereof to final judgment and execution ; Also - That the above Committee be impowered to make ten settlements in said Town and that they have five hundred acres of common & undivided Land in said Township for said number of Settlements, or the same proportion of Land for any less number of Settlements they shall cause to be made, each Settler to build a sufficient dwelling house & clear up & cultivate Six acres of Land and abide upon the premises with a family Six years from the time the houses are built ; That Elias Ladd have the whole of Lot No. 11 in the fifth long Range being the Lot on which he is settled.

There is a lapse of eight years in the records, but Joseph Gilman appears as the Proprie- tors' clerk in 1782, when there was a tax of three hundred pounds levied on the Proprietors.

1784, January 21. - Doctor William Parker was appointed to Draw the numbers as the Proprietors names shall be read as a Lot of 100 Acres was to be each Proprietors share. 1788. March 18. - Voted that the Running out and plotting the Township be completed by Daniel Beede Esqr who was originally employed for that purpose; and that he is allowed Thirty Dollars for performing the same, he taking especial care that the Lines be well Spotted. 1789,

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TOWN OF SANDWICH.

July 13. - Voted that Josiah Gilman jr be Proprietor's Clerk, and was sworn in the Meeting. 1805, November 14, was probably the date of the first meeting of the Proprietors in Sandwich. This was "holden at the dwelling house of Nehemiah Cram Jr. Innholder in said Sandwich." Voted that Ezekiel French Esqr be Moderator of this meeting. Voted that James Otis Freeman be Proprietors Clerk and was sworn by Ezekiel French, Esqr. 1806, May 29. - Ezekiel French Esqr, Mr. Nathan Beede and Asa Crosby Esqr were appointed a committee to ascertain the boundaries of Mrs. Mary Gilman's land. 1809, Dee. 13. - Proprietors' meeting held at the house of John Purington, innholder. 1810. Nathaniel French chosen Proprietors' clerk. 1826, January 25. - Meeting called to order by Samuel Emerson; James French chosen proprietors' clerk. Daniel Hoit Esq. was appointed agent for the proprietors, and a meeting was held at his house in Sandwich, March 12, 1827, at which time David Vittum was chosen agent. 1827, December 11. - It was voted that all the Proprietary estate be conveyed by the agents to Sandwich, and vested in stock or securities until the sum amount to five hundred dollars, or a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars. This sum to be and remain a perpetual fund the interest of which shall be annually appropriated for keeping primary schools for instructing the youth of the town in the English language, reading, writing, English Grammar, Arithmetic, Geography - and such other branches of education as may be required by the laws of this state, etc.

This is probably the last meeting of the proprietors, and the following is the last vote recorded: "That on the acceptance of the Town of the fore- going vote the clerk of this proprietary lodge their book of records with the Town Clerk of Sandwich for use of said Town."

CHAPTER LVIII.

Situation - Healthfulness -Scenery -Sandwich Dome - Red Hill Pond - Wentworth Hill - First Birth - Selectmen's Return in 1775 - Some Residents in 1776 - French and Indian War - Revolutionary Soldiers - Early Traders - Lower Corner -Centre Sandwich, 1800-10 - Business Centres - Early Industries - Physicians - Dentist - Mills and Manu- factures - Merchants - Sandwich Cattle - Freshets - Longevity - Summer Boarding-houses, etc. etc.

S ANDWICH is one of the most important towns of Carroll county in many ways. It has a large area; its population was from the first a superior one ; it has kept a high standard of education ; it has sent out many sons who have attained high positions in public service and religious, legal, literary, and commercial circles; and, although away from the various lines of railroads and thoroughly an inland country town, it has much to compensate it for its apparent isolation. It lies on the border of as wild a country as New Hampshire affords, while skirting its northern boundary

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

is that chain of massive mountains - the Sandwich range - which gives that peculiar beauty so valued by the summer visitors. From these mountains, and even smaller heights, most inimitable prospects stretch out, including Squam, Winnipiseogee, and a thousand impressive features whether seen in winter or summer. An able writer thus speaks of the attractions of the town : -

In health-giving properties it offers the purest of air, clearest of water, and freshest of fruits, berries, and garden products. In social independence, one is delightfully free without being isolated, since, however much alone he be, he skirts the best of social life with which he can mingle much or little as he chooses. In wayside beauties it offers, through all the season, the most tempting array of hues and tints, of which we plucked in a single week ninety-seven varieties of wild flowers in blossom by the roadside. In cascade adornment it boasts of Bear Camp and Swift rivers, ranging through all the octaves of beauty and grandeur, from the delicate, shimmering, rock-bottomed pool to the roaring, foaming, frantie cataract. In lake views it is eminently fortunate, since the numerous accessible summits reveal that princess of lesser lakes - Squam - than which no sheet of water of its size on either continent is more lovely; its wavy shore kissing the feet of innumerable hills, while a hundred long and slender islands seem like a peace-born flotilla sailing upon its unruffled. glassy surface, burnished by the reflection of the sky. In mountain scenery its location is perfect, near enough to no mountain to reveal its ragged sides and coarse features, yet near enough to a hundred peaks to reveal all that is impressive in their lofty grandeur, beautiful in their idiosynerasies, or tender in their purple tints of dawn and mellow twilight shades. We are at one of the foci of this mountain ellipse, so that without the excrescences which mar, or the slightest blur of indistinctness, we focus all that is grand and beautiful in huge Ossipee, symmetrical as she is extended ; modest Red Hill, blushing in the morning sun ; the coquettish Sandwich mountains, smiling first upon Squam and then upon Little Squam ; rock-gray Israel, which ought to be as high as his neighbors, were he not bent with the weight of honors; sombre Black mountain, arrayed in funereal shades ; stern old Whiteface, bleached with rage so fierce that he sometimes spits forth torrents and avalanches in his wrath : gentle Passaconaway that seems to whisper quieting words to her easily enraged neighbor, and isolated, rock-crested, high-headed Chocorna.

Sandwich Dome. - [By Judge D. H. Hill.] The highest land in Carroll county is Sandwich Dome. If this earth of ours could be seen from an altitude above the highest Asiatic mountains, it would not, probably, be very interesting. But when from some high pinnacle we look down on peaceful villages, cultivated towns, and lakes outspread like sheets of silver light, then upward to gray piercing domes of granite, calmly reposing in their native skies where they have stood from the morning of creation, the view is often appall- ing. Such is the view from Sandwich Dome. Grafton shares with Carroll in this mountain, as the county line passes over it. To visit Sandwich Dome, let the day be in mid-October, and the steel-blue sky all cloudless. You look to the north, Osceola, great guardian watcher of this western valley, rises solemnly from out the wilderness of mountains. You look to the east, Whiteface and Passaconaway, and the unnamed mountains, death-struck and pale in the foliage of the dying year, look calmly up to heaven as venerable manhood

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 78

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