History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 153

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200

USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 153
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 153

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" Josiah Moody Daniel moodey

Eliphalet Bodwell 25

388

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Parallel to the East side Line of Lot No 50 in the Second Range-

" And we beg leave to inform your Honours that to part with any More of sª Town would be very Hurtful to it on Many Accounts, Therefore we do in the most Humble manner Request your Honours, that the Prayer of sª Petition should not be Answered (so far as it respects sª Town of Unity) by giving them any more Land off of our Town than we voted to Let them have-

" And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever Pray-

"Unity 24th of November 1791-

" JOSHUA BARTLETT, Selectman of Unity.

" Samuel Chase

Nathaniel Huntune

Amos Lamson

Samuel thurber

Amos Buckmon

Daniel Bachelder Elias Buckmon

William Long

David Peirce

John Huntoon

Nickles Peirce

Lemuel Wright

Asaph merrill

Elisha Perkins

Stephen Bucknam "

The following signed a remonstrance to the

foregoing :

" Charles Huntoon Jonathan Glidden 3ª

Moses thirston Eliphalet Bodwell Jun™

Benja Clough Asa Glidden

Phinehas Sanborn Jacob Bartlett

Enoch Johnson

James Bodwell

James Graves Joseph Whiston

Barnabas Sinkler John Ladd

andrew Glidden Elias Bucknam

James Bodwell Ebenezer Barker

Benjamin Mathes

Enos Lamson

Josiah moody

Amos Lamson

John Huntoon Abraham Sandborn

John Sleeper

Abraham Sandborn Junr

Charles Hunton 3ª

Daniel Batchder

Asa Lampson

Jacob shaw

Caleb Gilman

Wilson Shaw

Abner Chase

Saml thurber

John Bartlett

Nath1 Huntoon

Amos Chase

John Bartlett

Isaac Levingston Jonathan Bartlet

Nicholas Parce Daiel Moody Jun

Joshua Parce Danil moody

Sanborn Cram Jacob Glidden

Jonathan Glidden

David Dudley

"That the Township of Unity extends about eleven miles east and west and about six miles north and south, that your petitioners are separated from the Inhabitants in the east part of said Town by a moun- tain running across The Town north and south which renders their connection very inconvenient, that by

being separated from the east by a line on that moun- tain and annexed to the north part of Charlestown, a Town might be formed of the usual size, and its In- habitants well united-

"They therefore pray that the west part of Unity and the north part of Charlestown may be incorpor- ated into a new Town, and as in duty bound shall ever pray

" Unity April ye 28th 1794

" Jona Glidden Jr Jona Dudley

Jacob Smith Samuel Neal

Aaron Marshall James Dudley

Simeon Glidden Jur David Dudley

Joseph Glidden James Dudley Junior

Jacob Glidden William Neal Jur

Simeon Glidden Derbon Sweat

Nathaniel Lad James Harwood

Joseph Perkins Benjamin Webster

Jabesh Perkins James Lawrance

Jacob Perkins Jeremiah Merrill

Benjamin Smart

Moses fifield

Wilson Shaw.

Jacob Perkins

Moses Chase

Jonathan Glidden Jun"

Benjmin Huntoon

Jacob Smith

Joseph welch

Simeon Glidden

Joseph Huntoon Junr

Benjmin Huntoon Junr

Cornelius Clough

James Dudley

Stephen Huntoon

Barnabas Sincklear

Matthias Bartlett

William Neal

Charles Huntoon

Ebenez" Barker

Josiah Huntoon

Samuel Neal

Reuben Huntoon Jun™

John Sleeper

Samuel Huntoon

Abraham Samborn

Jonathan Glidden

Isaac Livingston

Jacob Cram

Jacob Bartlett

Samuel P. Glidden

Darbon Sweat"

Joseph Glidden

Andrew Glidden Jacob Glidden

Petition for a new Town from Unity and Charlestown : addressed to the Legislature.

"The Subscribers Inhabitants of the west part of Unity in the County of Cheshire, Humby show

Simeon Glidden Jun"

389

UNITY.

Amos Buckman

James Dudley Junior

Stephen Glidden

Samuel Neal

Jacob Cram

Ezra Smith

thomas Smith

James Harwood

Jeremiah Glidden

hezekiah yong

Amos T. Huntoon

Josiah huntoon

Joseph Huntoon

Ruben Huntoon

Moses Fifield

epheram Cram

Richard Moody

Stephen Buckman "

The project failed.

Nathaniel Huntoon's Account for furnishing Soldiers and receipt, July 12, 1777.

" Sam1 White-

Browns Company

Jonathan Ston dudley -Robinson

Nath1 frost-

Bell

Jonathan folsom-

Drew

wounded dogg- Rowel

Richard How- Robinson

Isaac morss- Robinson

Paul Sandborn- Rowel

Philip Blasdel-

Rowel

moses Blacke- Robinson

John Cook- Bell

" Victuals for the within Soldiers 13 meals ... £0.13.10 toddy 2 & { of mugs. 0.5.6

£0.19. 4

" Recª of Ebenezer Smith the sum of nineteen shil- lings and four pence L. M. for the expence of eleven Continental Soldiers who he ordered to be Refresht at my house-for me

" NATH1 HUNTON "unity July 12th 1777."

Petition of Joseph Huntoon, Soldier, 1779. " Unity March 2ª 1779-

"To the Honourable the General Court-May it please your Honours-your humble petitioner prayeth to inform the Honourable General Court assembled in Behalf of the state of New Hampshire, that your petitioner hath served his Country in the present War (and the State of New Hampshire in particular) from the first Commencement thereof untill the Glorious Battle of Stilwater, in the Capacity of a Subaltron belonging to the Third Battl" of New Hampshire Troops Commanded by Colonel Scammell Esq" in battle Vitz at Stillwater I had the Misfortune to re- ceive a Wound in my arm, which hath proved so far

fatal to me as to disinable me from doing Regimental duty any longer, as may be Certified as by letter from Colonel Scammell, and also am not able to maintain my self and Family by my Labour, sufficiently-You Humble petitioner prayeth your Honours will Con- sider him and Grant him the benefit of a Certain Act of the Honon1 the Continental Congress made and provided for the purpose .

"JOSEPH HUNTOON "

Huntoon was wounded October 7, 1777, at Stillwater. In House of Representatives, June 25, 1779, his name was ordered to be placed on the pension-roll at half-pay until further orders. Senate concurred. April 19, 1780, he peti- tioned to have the depreciation of his pay made up. March 30, 1781, he petitioned for some arrearages, and stated that his dwelling-house was burned " on the 16th of February last," and that he thereby lost his house, furniture and provisions. He was appointed in 1781 a lieu- tenant in the battery at " Piscataqua Harbour." October 21, 1785, he again petitioned, stating that his half-pay was reduced in December, 1782, and asked to have it restored, as his right hand and arm were permanently disabled, and his family large. He petitioned again January 7, 1790, for arrearages.

Petition relative to Richard Brown; Quartermaster.

" To the Honble the General Court of the State of New Hampshire. Oliver Tuttle and Mary his wife Humbly Shew-That Richard Brown late of Unity in said state deceased, was a Quarter Master in the second New Hampshire Regt late in the service of the United States-That the said Mary was the wife, and is the sole administratrix on the estate of said Brown That the depreciation of wages, formerly due to the said Brown, have never been paid-Your Petitioners humbly pray, that your Honors will order all such depreciation (and other dues if any there be) to be paid to the said Mary Administratrix as aforesaid, or to the subscribers or either of them-and as in duty bound will ever pray "OLIVER TUTTLE

" Claremont Nov 14th 1792-

"MARY TUTTLE administratrix."

The Methodists have regular preaching here by A. R. Lunt.

390

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

The town of Unity furnished forty-nine men for the late war. Major Amos Perkins, now ninety-six years old, was one of the selectmen .at the time. The State paid the town in bonds, forty-nine hundred dollars for forty-nine men, furnished under specific calls of the President.

THE UNITY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY was formed in August, 1862, being in operation twenty-two years. Major Amos Perkins was president two years, and secretary and one of the directors twenty years.

The present officers are Selem Sleeper, presi- dent ; Benjamin F. French, secretary ; Selem Sleeper, Benjamin F. French, Henry F. Stowell, Silas M. Gee and Levi A. Smith, directors ; Charles R. Lewis, treasurer.

HON. AMOS PERKINS was a native of this town, and one of its prominent citizens. He was a farmer by occupation, but had filled many pub- lic offices, and was an ex-major of the old State militia. When a young man he was several times elected a Democratic representative to the Legis-

lature. In 1845 he was chosen a member of the Executive Council of Governor John H. Steele, of Peterborough. His associates in that office were Hon. Benjamin Jenness, of Deerfield, Hon. Josiah Bartlett, of Lee, Hon. William Parker, of Francestown, and Hon. Caleb Blodgett, of Canaan, all of whom have passed away. It is interesting to note that the same year Moody Currier, of Manchester, the present Governor, was clerk of the Senate. Mr. Perkins had been treasurer of the town of Unity for about twenty-five consecutive years, and his annual reports, both in chirography and correctness, were most creditable models. He was the organizer of the Unity Mutual Town Insur- ance Company, and had always been its secretary. He was a gentleman of high exec- utive ability and of liberal public spirit, and during his life of almost a century, which was wholly passed in Unity, he enjoyed the univer- sal respect of men of all parties for his integrity and great worth. He died March 3, 1885.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.

BY GEORGE M. GAGE, M.D.

CHAPTER I.

THE township designated as Monadnock No. 8, in the line of towns which were laid out to establish, approximately, the western boundary of the lands belonging to the heirs of Mason, was granted in Woburn, Mass., in the year 1735, to a company of persons for the pur- pose of settlement. No steps were ever taken, however, by the grantees towards its settlement and the charter was forfeited.

In the year 1752 it was again granted by the Masonian proprietors in Portsmouth to sixty- two persons, most of whom were residents of Massachusetts, and thirty-three of whom were residents of Concord, Mass. This company at once took steps to lay plans for the settlement of the township, to which they gave the name of New Concord. Innumerable meetings were held in Concord, Mass., and Boston, to discuss the plans, and many assessments were made to pay the necessary expenses. These debates were continued during a period of nearly six- teen years without any active measures being taken to settle the town, and the charter was revoked by the Masonian proprietors for non- fulfilment of its terms.

It was granted the third time, in the spring of 1768, to Reuben Kidder, of New Ipswich, N. H., on the following terms :

" One-third of the land surface of the town was to be reserved for the grantors ; ten families must settle in the township the first year, and ten more families during the second and third years; during each of the first three years ten convenient houses must be built, and three acres of land cleared for each family; that all

main roads be laid out three rods wide, and all cross-roads two rods wide, and no damage was to be allowed for land used for roads; ten acres were to be reserved for a site for a meeting-house, school-house, burying-ground and training-field; two hundred acres were to be reserved for the first settled minister, who should continue in the ministry until death or an honorable dismissal; two hundred acres were to be reserved for a glebe for the use of a gospel minister forever; two hundred acres were to be set apart for the support of schools forever; and all white pine trees suitable for masts were to be reserved for the king's use."

The township, as originally granted, included not only the present township of Washington, but ineluded lands now under the jurisdiction of Lempster and Bradford.

Colonel Reuben Kidder, the grantee of the township, which was at first known as Monad- nock No. 8, then as New Concord, and, at the time of Kidder's grant, as Camden, was one of the first settlers of New Ispwich, N. H. He was possessed of great energy and superior busi- ness talent, and had an ample fortune at his command. Under his direction the settlement of the town was immediately begun and carried on according to the spirit of the grant.

The settlement of a new country is always at- tended with hardships and privations, and the pioneers of Camden found themselves beset by many difficulties. There were then no carriage- roads leading into the town, and the only means of conveyance was the backs of horses, the roads being distinguished by marked trees. The houses were hastily constructed of logs, until the time should come when saw-mills

391

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

could be crected. The township was covered by a heavy growth of timber of various kinds. In some parts of the town a white pine was found of a size which, at the present time, would be called gigantic. Many of the old houses now standing in town are finished with a quality of pine lumber equal to the best to be found in any market, and the immense stumps, still in existence, give us an idea of the size of the trees from which it was taken. The sugar maple was also found in great abundance, and of large size, and furnished years afterward ex- cellent keels for ships. Spruce and hemlock grew in great forests in almost all parts of the town, while beech, birch, ash, oak and other valuable kinds of timber were everywhere to be found. Much of this magnificent growth of timber was considered by the settlers as an in- cumbrance which must be got rid of before the land could be prepared for cultivation, and was therefore cut down and burned, trunk and branch.

The soil, rich from the accumulation of ages, and further enriched by the ashes of the burned forests, produced abundant crops of corn and other cercals. Flax was raised, which was manufactured at home into cloth for all kinds of garments for men, women and children. The table, at this time, was supplied with food of a very plain but wholesome character, con- sisting principally of bean-porridge, corn-bread, meat and a few potatoes. Fruits, of necessity, were scarce at first, but the settlers showed their enterprise by planting large apple-or- chards, many of which remain to this date. Wild animals were numerous, including bears, wolves, and that noble animal, the moose, now never seen here, was sometimes found in this region. The streams and ponds were full of fish of fine quality. The speckled trout, always a favorite with fishermen, were very plenty in all the brooks and grew to a size which the angler of the present day seldom sees.

The early settlers of the town selected the hills west of the present village at the centre of

the town, and the region bordering Millen and Ashuelot Ponds for their new homes. They were generally from the southern part of the State and from the neighboring towns of Mas- sachusetts.

Probably more of the early settlers of the town came from Harvard, Mass., than from any other town, the Saffords, Farnsworths, Sampsons and Davises being among the num- ber who came from that town.

John Safford was born in Harvard, Mass., and removed to Washington with his wife and oldest children, between the years 1769 and 1771, and settled on the hill west of the village at the centre of the town, and on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, Joseph, and his great-grandson, Joseph B. Safford. The family has always been of great respecta- bility and some of its members have been per- sons of note. Ward Safford (afterward Staf- ford), was a son of the original John Safford, and was born in Washington after his father's settlement here. He prepared for college at Phillips Andover Academy and afterward graduated at Yale College, Dr. Dwight being at that time president of the college. He studied theology at Yale, and was for many years actively engaged in ministerial labors in various parts of the country, but principally in the city of New York, where he was very successfully engaged in missionary labors. His whole life was one of intense activity, and although it closed somewhat carly, it had borne an abundant harvest for his Master. He died in Bloomfield, N. J., in 1851, in his sixty-third year.

George Safford, a grandson of John and son of Mark Safford, was a graduate of Dartmouth College and became a successful teacher. At the time of his death, which occurred at the carly age of twenty-eight, he was principal of the Mount Pleasant High School, in Nashua, N. II.

The Farnsworth family also came from Har- vard, and was one of the earliest to settle in the

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WASHINGTON.

town. Probably the first of the name to settle in Camden was Simeon Farnsworth, Jr., who came from Harvard and settled near the foot of the Safford Hill, west of the village at the centre of the town. He died in 1791, at the early age of forty-six years, leaving a large family of chil- dren. His grandsons, William and Cyrus K. Farnsworth, are at the present time prominent and respected citizens of the town. Most of the brothers and sisters of Simeon Farnsworth, Jr., sooner or later found their way to Wash- ington and made it their home. Simeon Farnsworth, Sr., father of the numerous sons and daughters who early came to Washington, himself came here to reside about the year 1780. He died in 1805, aged eighty-eight.

Abner Sampson was an early settler, and came from Harvard, Mass. He settled on the old " county road " near Freezeland Pond, and was an inn-keeper. He subsequently removed to the village at the centre of the town and lived on the spot where John L. Safford now resides. He died in 1797, at the age of fifty- four.

Ward Sampson, son of Abner, was very prominent and influential in town affairs, and held many offices of trust. He died in 1850, aged seventy-seven.

Ephraim, Ebenezer and Timothy Davis all came from Harvard, Mass., at an early date, though not until the town had been settled several years. Ebenezer and Timothy Davis were brothers and lived on the ridge of land extending northward from Lovell's Mountain. Ephraim Davis came to Washington about 1780 and lived for a time at the village on the spot afterward known as the " Squire Sampson place ; " he afterward removed to the high land southwest of the village and resided on a farm on the Marlow road.

Ephraim and Ebenezer Davis were both soldiers in the Revolution before coming to Washington to reside.

Joseph Rounsevel settled on the farm at the centre of the town now owned by J. Henry

Newman. He must have been one of the earliest inhabitants of the town. He appears to have resided, prior to his settlement here, in Middleborongh, Mass., though the family had long resided in Freetown, Mass. He was a man of enterprise, and built a mill east of his residence, on what is now known as Water Street. He frequently held office, including that of Representative in the Legislature. He had sons, -Alden, Royal and John,-but none of the name now reside in the town.

Archibald White was probably a resident of the town soon after its settlement, if not one of the very first to arrive in town. He was a native of Pepperell, Mass., and came to New Ipswich, N. H., in 1750. He was sent to Camden by Colonel Kidder, to whom the town had been granted, as his agent to look after his extensive interests. It is believed that it was largely through his influence that the name of the town was changed, in 1776, from Camden to Washington. The name of Washington was, as applied to towns, entirely new ; no other town in the United States bore the name at the time the Legislature of New Hampshire changed the name of Camden to Washington. Archi- bald White was authorized to call the first town-meeting in Washington, and during his residence in town he was very frequently called to fill important offices. He resided on the high land west of the village at the centre, near the present residence of Jabez Fisher. Before his death he removed to Windsor, Vt.

Jacob Burbank settled on the farm now owned by Edward W. Brooks, a mile and a half west of the centre of the town. He was, undoubtedly, one of the original settlers in town. He built a frame house prior to 1780, which is still occupied, and which is supposed to be the oldest house in town. His grandson, Rev. Justin E. Burbank, is a graduate of Dartmouth College, and after his graduation studied theology at Andover. In college he took high rank as a scholar, especially in his knowledge of the Greek language. He has paid much attention

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

to historical matters, especially to the history of Washington, his native town. Many facts con- tained in this sketch are made accessible to us through his labors. His present residence is Concord, N. H.

The Severance family was another of the original, or very early ones to locate in town. The family came from the vicinity of New Ipswich, N. H., and consisted of Ephraim and sons, Daniel, Rufus, Abel, and daughter, Abigail Where they first settled is not now known, but at an early date Daniel, Rufus and Abel all lived near the school-house at the east part of the town. Ephraim lived with his son Abel on the farm now the residence of Ziba Cram and Charles W. J. Fletcher. He removed to Tops- ham, Vt., where he died at a very advanced age. He was one of the first Board of Selectmen in Washington. David Severance was a Revolu- tionary soldier, and after he came to Washington resided just west of the school-house at the east part of the town, on a farm which he sold prior to 1800 to Nathaniel Gordon. Rufus Sever- ance lived on the farm now owned by Daniel L. Monroe, and which he sold to Abijah Mon- roe nearly seventy-five years ago. Many of the descendants of Rufus Severance are now residents of town, but the descendants of Daniel and Abel Severance are widely scattered, none being residents of the town.

Simon and Peter Lowell were pioneers in the settlement of the town. They came from the vicin- ity of Groton, Mass., and settled some two miles west of the centre of the town, not far from the place where Charles Lowell, a grandson of Simon Lowell, now resides. Peter Lowell is said to have come into the town with one of the very first party of explorers, though he did not at that time permanently establish his residence here. The farm where Simon Lowell first settled afterward became the home of Thomas Penniman, Esq., who came from Braintree, Mass., some years after the Revolutionary War. He was a man of wealth, and was a very promi- nent citizen of the town. Prior to his settle-

ment in Washington he went to Canada and was present at the battle of Quebec, though he was not called upon to participate in the battle. He held office while a resident of the town, and bequeathed small funds to the First and Fourth School Districts, the income to be applied to the support of the schools.

Between the years 1772 and 1774 Captain Jonathan Brockway settled in town. He came from Lyme, Conn., where he was married, in 1757, to Phebe Smith. He had been a sea- captain and had amassed an ample fortune. He came, bringing his wife and seven children, and settled at the west part of the town, near the outlet of Millen Pond, then called Brock- way's Pond. He is said to have purchased fifteen hundred acres of land, which he after- ward divided among his children, giving most of them good farms at the east part of the town. His ample fortune, combined with great energy, enabled him to carry on a large amount of business of various kinds. He built a grist-mill at the outlet of Millen Pond, some of the ruins of which remain to the present day. He also built a mill for the manufacture of linseed oil, and a distillery, where very poor whiskey was manufactured from potatoes. Later he built a saw-mill at the east part of the town, near the spot where Mason H. Carr's mill now stands, and erected a house near by. On the 8th of July, 1777, on the occasion of alarming news from Ticonderoga, he commanded a small company of nine men from Washington and vicinity, who marched toward the seene of war. They reached Cavendish, Vt., where they were ordered to return. At another alarm from Ticonderoga, July 13, 1777, he again marched at the head of a company of fourteen men to Otter Creek, Vt., where he met the American army retreating. Captain Brockway was a man of commanding presence. His towering form and broad shoulders made him an object of attention in whatever place he occupied. He lived to an extremely old age, and died in Jan- uary, 1829, at the home of his son Asa, in Brad-

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WASHINGTON.

ford. From him are descended all the Brock- ways who have ever lived in this and the adjoining towns.

In the fall of 1775, Captain William Proctor and his wife, Mary, with three children, found their way through the forests to Washington from Chelmsford, Mass. He settled near Ashuelot Pond, on the farm where Cyrus K. Farnsworth now resides, though for a short time previous he lived on a neighboring lot, the title to which proved worthless. He lived in that part of the town many years, but finally removed to the east part of the town, where his son resided, and died February 19, 1846, at the age of ninety-nine years, lacking one day. The numerous families of Proctors who once resided at the east part of the town are descendants of his sons Israel and Isaac. His daughter Mary, who married Jonathan Brockway, Jr., and resided at East Washington, died at the remark- able age of one hundred and one years and eleven months. Captain Proctor was prominent in town affairs, and during the War of the Rev- olution was a soldier in the American army.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 153

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1200

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200