USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, New Hampshire > Part 95
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BURTON, now Albany, was granted November 6, 1766, by Benning Went- worth for George III, with these limitations : -
Boundaries. Beginning at the middle of the west side line of Conway and from thence to run west until the line so run west shall interseet a line run north from the northeasterly corner of an additional grant to the township of Sandwich. thence by sd last mentioned line to the addition of Sandwich afores'd and thence on to Tamworth, thence easterly by Tamworth to the northeast corner thereof, thence a strait line by the township of Eaton to the northwesterly corner of a tract of land granted to officers late in His Majesty's service, thence by said officers' lands to the southwesterly corner of Conway to the bounds first mentioned. Walter Bryant was to call the first town meeting.
Albany is bounded north by Bartlett, east by Conway, south by Tamworth and Madison, west by Waterville. It has an area of 36,700 acres.
Burton was at first in Grafton county : in 1800 it was annexed to Strafford county. In 1833 the name was changed to Albany.
Grantees. Clement March, Esq., Joseph Senter, Sam1 Gilman, Sam1 Senter, Moses Senter. Reuben Senter, Benjn Senter. Aron Senter, Wm Butterfield, Medad Combs, Winker Wright, Robt Flatcher, David Senter, Philip Fowler, Jun., Jacob Fowler, Hubartis Mattoon, Jacob Gilman, Sam1 Peas, Capt Israel Gilman. Rob Barber, Robt Pike, Walter Bryent, Esqr., Capt. Israel Gilman. Jr., Nathl Tilton, Bradstreet Gilman. Jeremh Gilman, Peter Folsom, Simon Gilman, Jeremy Bryent, John Bryent, John JJudkins, John Pike, Nath1 Roberson, David Gilman, Stephen Mason, Geo. Place, John MeDuffie, John Burleigh, Walter Bryent, Jr, Esq., Edwd Smith, Ed. Hall Bergin, John Folsom, Capt. Jeremh Folsom, Jr, Jona. Moulton, Esq., Josiah Moulton, Charles Rogers, Jas. Rogers, Ephraim Berry, Will Rogers, S. Tibbetts, Oliver Pevey, Joseph York, Zachh Foss, Joshua Furber, John Mason, John Smart, Jr, Giles Seaward, Jona. Warner, Esq., Paul March, Esq., Daniel Pierce, Esq., Theodore Atkinson. Esq. Five hundred acres for his Excellency Benning Wentworth, one share for the first settled Minister and one share for a school.
783
TOWN OF ALBANY.
We find from the proprietors' records of Burton, which commence in 1780, that the first "pitches " were made by Henry Weed, of twelve hundred acres for Elisha Weed, Isaac George, Orlando Weed, William Page, Aaron Beede, Ezekiel Gilman. Aaron Beede pitched upon one hundred acres which he sold to Samuel Tappan ; Orlando Weed pitched upon one hundred acres for his own use; Colonel Jonathan Moulton pitched upon six hundred acres. The proprietors' meetings were held at first at Aaron Beede's house in Burton. David Folsom was proprietors' clerk. The town was "lotted" in 1786. Jacob Weed, Benjamin Weeks, Henry Allard, John Jewell, David Allen, William Gordon, were among the early settlers. Jonathan Choate, Samuel Thompson, Cotton Dockom, James Head, Jr, came in 1791. Caleb Brown, Nathaniel Head, Benjamin Wallace, Robert Walker, Henry Jackman, Nathan Brown came about the same time.
Captain John Chase was here in 1793; Joseph Little lived in the northeast corner of the town in 1794; Enoch Hayes had one hundred acres on the south- east side of the ridge of "Corway"; John Knowles was a settler in 1794; Lieutenant Ambrose Hinds and Nathaniel Knowles were residents in 1798 ; July 4, 1802, Colonel Jeremiah Gilman was moderator.
Albany is a cold, mountainous town with only one tenth its acreage lying in situation to be tilled. It has been covered with a magnificent growth of valuable timber, and the supply seems now almost inexhaustible. The Swift river, fifteen miles long, flows east through the town, and its valley is hemmed on both sides by high mountains. This used to be a paradise for hunters, and bears and deer still frequent its wild recesses, and the mountain streams abound in trout. In October, 1866, sixteen bears were shot or trapped. During the great land speculations that raged in the thirties the whole township was laid into lots, the roughest mountains as well as the valleys, and sold to New York and Boston parties by land speculators at fanciful prices. A railroad route from Portland to Vermont was surveyed through the town in 1839, and the Swift River railroad is now chartered. The Bartlett Land and Lumber Com- pany has a railroad running into the town from their mills in Bartlett for the conveyance of the timber they are cutting here. The scenery of the Swift river valley is grand and impressive, and Mount Chocorua and its surround- ings are world famed. A strange disease afflicted the cattle of the early settlers. It was called the "Burton ail," and attributed to the curse of Chocorua. Science discovered a remedy in soapsuds, and also in a kind of earth common to the town. In the Swift River valley, in the southeast part, and in Birch Intervale, are some valuable farming lands. In 1820 there were 203 inhabitants, 3 schoolhouses, 2 sawmills, and 4 gristmills. In 1850 the population was 455; in 1860, 430 ; in 1870, 339 ; in 1880, 361. The principal settlement is in the southeast part, called South Albany. The southwest corner is in the lovely and productive Birch Intervale. The town was settled about
784
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
1781. In 1785, Joseph Crosby, Benjamin Crosby, Orlando Weed, Elisha Weed, Nathaniel Hayford, Ezekiel Gilman, Henry Allard, Benjamin Mead, Isaac George, and Nathaniel Head petitioned the legislature for authority to eall a meeting to elect town officers, and state that there is no justice of the peace of the county within forty miles. These names were attached to a peti- tion, under date "Burton, April, 1789, recommending Benjamin Weeks for justice of the peace for the town. Orlando Weed, Benjamin Meed, Levi Rundlet, Orlando Weed, Jr, Daniel Head, Ambros Hinds, Nathaniel Head, Nathaniel Hayford, Elisher Weed, Ezekiel Gilman, Theophelus Brown, Caleb Brown, Isaac George, Jere. Gilman, Joseph Crosbe."
Orlando Weed was one of Albany's earliest settlers. He discovered iron ore, immediately erected a rude smithy, and in time made a coarse steel which was used to make springs for traps. He also forged an anvil, and then constructed his own. tools. It is said that he also forged anchors which he drew to Portsmouth on a car made of two poles. He was an enterprising, energetic man, was of great use to the little community, took a prominent place in town matters, and represented Eaton, Tamworth, and Burton in 1796. His son Henry was the agent for the town in 1796, when the line was run between Burton and Tamworth.
Colonel Jeremiah Gilman, who commanded the second regiment raised in the state for the Revolution, came to Burton in 1780, and was another settler whose perseverance and industry were instrumental in adding to the progress of the section. He built the first "power" spinning-mill in the United States. At that time the Saco valley produced great amounts of flax, nearly all of which was spun and woven in the family. The cloth made here was carried on the backs of horses to Dover, Portsmouth, and Portland, and there bartered for flour, rum, and other necessities.
The Allard family was early here. In 1785 Henry Allard signed a petition to have a meeting called to choose town officers. Stephen Allard was a pioneer here, and resided in Albany until his death, September 4, 1869, aged ninety-nine years. He was a kind, peaceful citizen, and only waged war against wild animals that infested the neighborhood, and, being an athletic man, he usually came out victor. Mr Allard would entertain one for hours with stories of his adventures with the wild animals in which the country abounded when he was young. He was a man of iron constitution, and when about ninety-five years old he slipped away from his family and walked six miles, over poorly kept roads and with snow three feet deep, to see an old gentleman, an early settler of Conway.
A writer says of Albany in 1868: -
About twenty miles from Conway, by the course of the river, on the Swift river interval there is a settlement of several productive and valuable farms, producing lumber, cattle, hay, cereals, potatoes, etc., but no corn, as the seasons are not long enough for it to ripen. From
785
TOWN OF ALBANY.
this settlement, by the road, it is fifty miles to the Willey House in the White Mountain Notch, while a pleasant march of less than ten miles, by a line of blazed trees, through Hart's and Sawyer's locations will bring one to the same point; while, in the other direction, a walk of seven miles across the Sandwich range, not a difficult undertaking, and Tamworth is reached, the distance by the road being fifty miles.
The valuable timber lands are very largely owned by non-residents, and the lumber produced is the chief wealth of the town. Besides the Bartlett Land and Lumber Company, John L. Peavey is operating heavily here. George A. Sanders, of Nashua, has a sawmill, box factory, etc., near Swift river. H. A. Quint has had a sawmill here for four years. Several others have small mills.
A Freewill Baptist Church was organized early, not far from 1785, but records are meagre. It is remarkable that a church should have existed so early and so long in so small a town. Colby preached here frequently in 1811, and its membership the next year was forty. Nineteen were added in 1824. Intestine commotions prevented progress for a long time. In 1833 union and reformation work increased the membership, and four years later the member- ship was sixty-two. In 1842-43 thirty-one united with the church, and the number of members was ninety-four. From this there was a rapid declension ; in 1855 ten united with the church, but then there were but forty-six members. In 1875 it was dropped from the minutes. Another church was organized in connection with Conway, in 1832, with nineteen members. It never had but twenty-five members, and ceased to exist in 1838.
Although Albany has been settled for a century and more, and a church organization existed in the early days of its history, yet during all these years there was neither church nor chapel in which religious services could be held. The population is small and scattered and means limited, but through the persistent energy of a few individuals Union Chapel of Chocorua has been erected, the first church edifice in the town, and the corner-stone was laid at South Albany, July 9, 1889. The exercises were conducted by the president of the society, Miss Sarah M. Ginn, assisted by Rev. Theophilus Brown,1 Rev. John Buckham, of Conway, and Rev. Alonzo Nickerson. The president gave a brief history of the society. In the summer of 1887 a Sabbath-school was started, and its rapid growth stimulated the people to form a church society irrespective of denomination. In the fall of 1887, a meeting was called, officers elected, and committee appointed, which resulted in the erection of a substantial and commodious building, now nearly completed. Rich in the spirit, although not in purse, they have faith in the good work. The officers of the society are Miss Sarah M. Ginn, president ; Horatio Littlefield, Samuel Littlefield, vice-presidents ; Albert Knox, treasurer; Mrs Samuel Littlefield, secretary ; Stephen Freely, assistant secretary ; George W. Purington, Mark Knox, Mrs G. W. Purington, Mrs S. Littlefield, Mrs A. Knox, trustees.
1 He was for many years a preacher of the gospel, until age compelled him to resign his labors here among his people.
786
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
CIVIL LIST.1 - Representatives. - 1809, Jeremiah Gilman. 1810, Jeremiah Gilman. 1811, Nicholas Blasdell. 1812, Colman Colby. 1813, Colman Colby. 1814, Nicholas Blasdell. 1815, John March. 1816, John March. 1817, N. Blaisdell. 1818, N. Blaisdell. 1819, John March. 1820, David Allen. 182], Luther Richardson. 1822, David Allard. 1823, none. 1824, none. 1825, Luther Richardson. 1826, Enoch Merrill. 1827, Luther Richardson. 1828, David Allard, Jr.
[The town records are burned and the list we give is from the New Hamp- shire Register. It is very incomplete, many years being absent, but is the best source of information attainable.]
1840, Daniel Moulton, Thomas R. Hill, Chester Parrish, selectmen.
1841, James Ham, elerk; Thomas R. Hill, Daniel Moulton, Chester Parrish, selectmen.
1842, Chester Parrish, representative; J. Niekerson, jr, clerk; James Dearing, Daniel Moulton, T. Russell, jr, selectmen.
1843, Russell Charles, representative; Samuel W. Merrill, clerk; Chester Parrish, James Ham, Gilbert M. Chase, seleetmen.
1844, Albany and Chatham.
1845, no representative. S. W. Merrill, clerk; James Ham, Gilbert M. Chase, Oliver Chase, selectmen.
1846, Samuel W. Merrill, representative; Samuel W. Merrill, clerk; Jonathan Nickerson, Daniel Moulton, Ebenezer Burbank, selectmen.
1847, Jonathan Fletcher, representative; S. Merrill, clerk; J. Nickerson, E. Burbank, D. Moulton, selectmen.
1848, Daniel Moulton, representative; S. W. Merrill, clerk; M. P. Moulton, S. W. Merrill, O. Chase, selectmen.
1849, Jonathan Fletcher, representative; S. W. Merrill, clerk; Oliver Chase, jr, R. Nickerson, J. Emery, selectmen.
1850, James Ham, representative; B. P. Roberts, clerk; O. Chase, R. Nickerson, J. Emery, selectmen.
1851, James Ham, representative; B. I'. Roberts, clerk; James Emery, Job Kenniston, E. M. Stratton, seleetmen.
1852, Chester Parrish, representative; Henry E. Eastman, elerk.
1853, Chester Parrish, representative; Bard. P. Roberts, clerk; Oliver Chase, William Ross, O. W. Allard, selectmen.
1854, B. P. Roberts, representative; B. P. Roberts, clerk; D. Allard, William Parsons, N. Currier,
seleetmen.
1855, Moses P. Moulton, representative; Chester Parrish, clerk; David Allard, Oliver Chase, S. Palmer, selectmen.
1856, Moses P. Moulton, representative; Henry E. Eastman, clerk; David Allard, James Ham, E. Burbank, selectmen.
1857, J. Kenerson, representative; E. M. Shallon, clerk; Nathaniel Currier, D. Allard, H. C. Burbank, selectmen.
1858, Job Kenerson, representative; E. F. Stratton, clerk; James Ham, H. C. Burbank, G. T. Lawrence, selectmen.
1859, Thomas J. Allard, representative; Enoeli M. Stratton, clerk; Samuel Robertson, Stephen Palmer, Chester Parrish, selectmen.
1860, Thomas J. Allard, representative; John R. Parrish, clerk; Samuel Robertson, Ebenezer Burbank, D. E. Smith, selectmen.
1861, George W. Bennett, representative; James Ham, jr, clerk; Samuel Robertson, Ebenezer Burbank, Daniel E. Smith, selectmen.
1862, no representative; John K. Parrish, clerk; William Ross, Ebenezer Burbank, Thomas J. Allard, selectmen.
1863, George W. Bennett, representative; John R. Parrish, clerk; William Ross, Thomas J. Allard, Ebenezer Burbank, selectmen.
1864, Stephen W. Ayers, representative; James Ham, jr, clerk; William Ross, Thomas J. Allard, Ebenezer Burbank, selectmen.
1865, S. W. Ayers, representative; James Ham, jr, clerk; Thomas J. Allard, Lora Allard, Ebenezer Burbank, selectmen.
1866, John Chase, representative; James Ham, clerk; Thomas J. Allard, George T. Lawrence, Cyrus O. HIarriman, selectmen.
1867, lliram S. Currier, representative; James Ham, clerk; Thomas J. Allard, W. M. Ross, George T. Lawrence, selectmen.
1 Earlier town records cannot be found.
787
TOWN OF ALBANY.
1868, Hiram S. Currier, representative; James Ham, clerk ; Thomas J. Allard, George T. Lawrence, Willian Ross, seleetmen.
1869, Thomas J. Allard, representative; J. R. Parrish, clerk; T. J. Allard, J. Ham, Lora Allard, selectmen. 1870, Thomas J. Allard, representative; J. R. Parrish, clerk; T. J. Allard, Lora Allard, E. D. Ross, selectmen.
1871, Henry E. Eastman, representative; John R. Parrish, elerk; Thomas J. Allard, James M. Shackford, Burgess S. Kent, selectmen.
1872, Henry E. Eastman, representative ; John R. Parrish, clerk ; T. JJ. Allard, James M. Shackford, Burgess E. Kent, selectmen.
1873, Hubbard C. Burbank, representative; J. R. Parrish, clerk; JJ. M. Shackford, S. T. Drake, B. S. Kent, selectmen.
1874, H. C. Burbank, representative; J. R. Parrish, clerk; J. M. Shackford, Benjamin Bickford, Hiram Mason, selectmen.
1875, Joseph Annis, representative; II. T. Bragdon, clerk; H. C. Burbank, H. T. Bragdon, W. T. Knox, selectmen.
1876, James M. Shackford, representative; Thurston Smith, clerk; J. M. Shackford, Hiram Mason, Benjamin Bickford, selectmen.
1877, Joseph Annis, representative; J. R. Parrish, elerk ; G. W. Purrington, David Hurley, John R. Parrish, selectmen.
1878, James M. Shackford, representative; Thurston Smith, clerk; J. M. Shackford, A. Blackey, J. L Harriman, selectmen.
1879, James M. Shackford, representative; David Hurley, clerk; J. M. Shackford, A. Blackey, John C. Head, selectmen.
1880, Joshua N. Piper, representative; David Hurley, clerk; J. M. Shackford, A. Blackey, John C. Head, selectmen.
ISSI, did not elect representative; John R. Parrish, clerk; J. S. Lewis, J. N. Piper, II. C. Burbank, seleetmen.
1882, Thurston Smith, clerk; James S. Shackford, Burgess S. Kent, Ichabod Hammond, selcetmeu. Vote for governor : Martin V. B. Edgerly, 27; Samuel W. ITale, 24.
1883, Onslow S. Smith, clerk; James S. Shackford, Burgess S. Kent, Ichabod Hammond, selectmeu.
1884, John R. Parrish, clerk; James S. Shackford, Burgess S. Kent, lehabod Hammond, seleetmen; James O. Gerry, representative. Vote for governor : James M. Hill, 51; Moody Currier, 33. The electors for President have : Democratie votes, 51; the Republican, 32.
1885, Samuel K. Merrill, clerk; Burgess S. Kent, Ichabod Hammond, George W. Purington, selectmen. Raised $415 for schools.
1886, Samuel K. Merrill, clerk; Burgess S. Kent, Joseph Annis, Alvah Blackey, selectmen; William Kennett, representative. Vote for governor : Thomas Cogswell, 45; Charles II. Sawyer, 22.
1887, Samuel K. Merrill, clerk; Thomas J. Hurley, Samuel K. Merrill, George A. Moody, selectmen.
1888, David Hurley, clerk; Ichabod Hammond, Alvah Blackey, Anson P. Irish, selectmen; Langdon B. Atkinson, representative. Vote for governor; Charles H. Amsden, 40; David HI. Goodell, 37. The electors for President have : Democratic votes, 40; the Republican, 37.
I889, Ichabod Hammond, clerk; James S. Shackford, Onslow S. Smith, Anson P. Irish, selectmen. The Tax List of 1888 exhibits 89 polls; total valuation, $6,462; resident tax, $3,070.71; non-resident, $2,932.97; rate of tax per hundred, $6.90.
EATON.
CHAPTER LXVII.
Date of Grant - Description - Number of Polls in 1783 - First Town Meeting - Addi- tions to Town Population -Eaton Centre - Snowville - Mills - William Robertson - Other Early Settlers - Sketches - Churches.
E ATON was granted November 7, 1766, to Clement March and sixty-five associates, and included the territory of Madison. The town now con- tains 25,600 acres, and is in the eastern part of Carroll. There are six ponds : Walker's, Robertson's, Russell, Long, Thurston, and Trout. Along the north side of the town are extensive meadows marking the situation of immense beaver dams here prior to the settlement. It is surrounded on the east by Maine, south by Freedom, west by Madison, north by Conway. The town is hilly ; some having quite high elevations. Foss and Kent mountains are the highest peaks, the first being a station of the United States Coast Survey. Glines, Clark, and Lyman mountains are on its western side.
December 12, 1783, Richard Eastman, Ezekiel Walker, and James Osgood, selectmen of Conway, report "the township of Eaton and Burton consists of forty one Polls upward of twenty one years of age as near as we can colect." The First Town Meeting was called by David Page, legislative committee, to be held at the house of Samuel Banfills, July 1, 1784, when town officers were chosen.
In June, 1793, the inhabitants of Eaton and the inhabitants living on grants adjoining, petitioned for the annexation of these grants to the town ; as the persons living on the grants settled there supposing the land to be in Eaton, and in all town matters acted accordingly, and as the grants were not capable of being made into a town or parish, they petitioned that the grant made to Mr Caldwell, the one to Joshua Martin, and those to Nathaniel Martin, Alexander Blair, and Daniel McNeal, five grants, containing two thousand acres each, be incorporated with the town, be under its jurisdiction, and known by the name of Eaton, " said Incorporation not to affect any right or title, only the right of jurisdiction." Signed by Samuel Tappin, Daniel Fitch, Jacob Blasdel, John Banfill, Joseph Calls, Daniel Jackson, James Heard
789
. TOWN OF EATON.
Juner, Eli Glines, Enoch Danford, Thomas Danford, Thomas Burk, Matthew Gannett, Anthony Sherman, Seth Gannett, Nathaniel B. Gannett, Henry Woods, Colman Colby, Rob Boyd Orr, Abner Blasdel, James Jackson, Hercules Mooney, Isaac Glines, Samuel Danford, Joseph Banfill, Jona Mooney, Eben Jackson, Nathaniel Beals, Isaiah Keith, Philip Jackson, Hubbard Colby, Jabez Hatch, Jona Frost, Samuel Jackson, James Heard, John Glines, John Berry, James Allyn, Samuel Banfill, Alden Washburn, Thomas Garland, Thomas Sherman, Thomas Whitman, James Danford. By an act approved December 24, 1795, these grants were annexed. By an act approved Decem- ber 17, 1852, the west part of the town was set off, and incorporated as Madison.
In 1820 Eaton had 1,071 population; 1,432 in 1830; 1,743 in 1850; 780 in 1860; 657 in 1870; 629 in 1880. In 1858 it had two Freewill Baptist churches, twelve school districts, five sawmills, one gristmill, one saslı, blind, and door factory, and one bedstead factory.
Eaton Centre. - The merchants at the Centre have been Enoch Danforth, Samuel Robertson, Leonard Harriman, Isaac Demeritt, Glines & Smart, Jacob Manson, Erastus Baker, and later N. G. Palmer, Charles Robertson, Robertson & Snow, Clement Drew, John S. Loud. Since 1880 the manufac- ture of sale clothing has been carried on by John S. Loud, Clement Drew, and N. G. Palmer. There is a hotel, a postoffice, and a neat church here. Nathaniel G. Palmer conducts the hotel, a most lovely one in which to pass long summer days, as it is encompassed with most pleasant scenery.
Snowville. - W. F. Brooks, Silas, Alvan, and Edwin Snow, under firm-name Brooks & Snow, began trade as merchants in Snowville in 1856. In 1860 Edwin Snow became sole proprietor, and was so until 1873. From that time to 1878 it was Snow & Brooks (Charles A. Brooks). Leslie P. Snow . succeeded Brooks in 1878, the present firm of E. Snow & Son being then formed. Mr Snow manufactured sale clothing from 1858 to 1880. S. & A. Snow conducted the manufacture of furniture of all kinds from 1843, building their shop in 1842. They employed several hands until 1860, when they closed manufacturing, using their building as a repair shop. They however made coffins till 1878. The plant was then used by Frank P. Snow as a machine shop, and to manufacture clippers and bobbin machinery. In 1881 his brother, Willie N., joined him in the manufacture of carriages and sleighs as Snow Bros. Frank sold his interest in 1888 to his brother, who continues the business. Snowville postoffice was established in 1883, with the present official, Everett Stanley, as postmaster.
Mills. - Only two mills have been built outside the Snowville mills. Robertson & Glines built a sawmill at the head of Walker pond, ran it some years, sold out, and the site is now owned by Edwin Snow. Silas Ward, of Madison, built a mill in the woods in the east part of the town in 1843. This was operated ten years and sold to Edwin Snow. In 1858 Silas,
790
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Alvan, and Edwin Snow built a sawmill at Snowville on the site of an old mill, and entered upon the manufacture of lumber, lath, shingles, staves, etc. In 1876 steam-power was introduced.
The Pioneer, William Robertson, born in Scotland, 1759, died 1813, was a son of Robert Robertson, a Scotchman, who settled at Saratoga, N. Y., in 1768. When William was seventeen he enlisted, as he supposed, in the Continental army of the Revolution, but really into the English . army, and was taken to Canada. He was one of a scouting party sent to the Chateau- gay woods, and when nearest the American lines deserted with two others, and on joining the Americans wished to enlist, but the commander, Colonel Eli Glines, advised them to get back into the wilderness. Mr Robertson came to Conway and worked two years for Colonel Andrew McMillan, and was a daring hunter. On one of his hunts he discovered Robertson pond, and as soon as peace was declared, in 1784, made his "pitch " at Eaton Centre on lands still in the family. He was a sturdy, thick-set man, of great activity, endurance, and hardihood. He married, first, Elizabeth Conway, and was by many years the earliest settler of the Eaton of to-day. He hunted, trapped, and developed a fine farm. By his first wife he had three sons, Richard. William, and Enoch. William was drowned in the Bear Camp river when a lad. Enoch married Hepzibah Bryant, settled in Conway on Dolloff ridge, and died there, aged eighty-four, in 1875. William Robertson married, second, Lydia, daughter of David Allard ; they had four sons: George, James, Samuel, and Robert. George went to Maine late in life; James lived in Eaton ; Samuel was in trade at the Centre and town clerk (he removed to Albany, where he was clerk and selectman. His boys went to the last war, and after their return he removed to Conway, where he now lives.); Robert, born in 1812, has ever lived on the homestead of his father, kept a country tavern for over thirty years, and is now rounding out the last years of an active and useful life. He married Lydia, daughter of Joshua Nickerson. Their children are : Charles ; Orra (married John Snow); Mark (killed at Second Bull Run, August 29, 1862) ; Henry H. Mr Robertson has been a Whig, Freesoiler, and Republican in politics ; he was lieutenant of militia in 1833, and captain from 1834 to 1837 ; since 1841 he has been a member and deacon of the Freewill Baptist church. Henry H. has been postmaster at Eaton Centre since 1864 (succeeding Charles, who went to war), clerk of the church, and with his father occupies the lovely place where the bold pioneer settled.
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