History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 113

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1194

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1833. Anthony Vincent, clerk; Anthony Vincent, Joshua Holmes, Silas Bumpus, selectmen; John Morse, treasurer; Clovis Lowe, representative for the towns of Randolph, Jefferson, Kilkenny, Nash and Sawyer's Location.

1834, Anthony Vincent, clerk: Anthony Vineent, John Bowman, John C. Leighton, selectmen; no treasurer.

1835. John C. Holmes, clerk; Justus Lowe, John C. Holmes, James Gray, [selectmen: John Morse,

treasurer.

1836. Jolın C. Holmes, clerk; John C. Holmes, John C. Leighton, Caleb Cushman, seleetmen: no treas- urer.

1837. John C. Holmes, clerk; John C. Leighton, Justus Lowe, John C. Holmes, selectmen; Jacob Stephens, treasurer.

1838. John C. Leighton, clerk; Justus Lowe, Daniel D. Mann, John W. Watson, selectmen; Jacob Stephens, treasurer.

1839. John C. Leighton, clerk; Justus Lowe, John C. Leighton, John W. Watson, selectmen; no treas- nrer.

1840. John C. Leighton, clerk; Justus Lowe, William Boswell, Joseph Holmes, selectmen; no treasurer. 1841. J. C. Leighton, clerk; Justus Lowe, William Boswell, Jacob Stephens, seleetmen; no treasurer.

1842. John C. Leighton, clerk; John C. Leighton, Daniel D. Mann, James C. Seates, selectmen; no treasurer; Justus Lowe, representative.

1843. John C. Leighton, clerk; Justus Lowe, James C. Scates, R. P. Hodgdon, seleetmen; no treasurer. 1844. John C. Leighton, clerk; Justus Lowe, James C. Scates, James Gordon, selectmen; no treasurer.

1845. John C. Leighton, clerk; John C. Leighton, Robert B. Hodgdon, Daniel D. Mann. selectmen.

1846. J. C. Leighton, clerk; J. C. Leighton, Daniel D. Mann, Calvin P. Stevens, seleetmen; no treas- nrer.

1847. John C. Leighton, clerk; Calvin P. Stevens, William Gray, Alfred Carlton, selectmen: no treasurer.

1848. John C. Leighton, clerk; Justus Lowe, John C. Leighton, Alfred Carlton, selectmen.

1849. Rufus Hodgdon, clerk; Justus Lowe, William Gray, James C. Scates, selectmen; Robert P. Hodg- con , representative.

1850. John C. Leighton, clerk; Justus Lowe, James C. Seates, A. F. Hodgdon, selectmen.

1851. John C. Leighton, clerk; Justns Lowe, James C. Seates, G. R. Hodgdon, selectmen.

1852. G. R. Hodgdon, clerk; G. R. Hodgdon, Ithiel Scates, John W. Watson, selectmen; James C. Scates, representative.

1853. G. R. Hodgdon, clerk; Justus Lowe, John C. Leighton, Alfred Carlton, selectmen.

1854. G. R. Hodgdon, clerk: J. C. Leighton, Justus Lowe, Alfred Carlton, selectmen.

1855. G. R. Hodgdon, clerk; J. C. Leighton, Alfred Carlton, Justus Lowe, selectmen.

1856. G. R. Hodgdon, elerk; Justus Lowe, John C. Leighton, John W. Watson, selectmen.

1857. G. R. Hodgdon, elerk; John C. Leighton, George Wood, Joseph S. Seates, selectmen.

1858. George Wood, clerk; George Wood. Joseph S. Scates, G. R. Hodgdon, selectmen; G. R. Hodgdon, representative.

1859. George Wood, clerk; George Wood, Joseph S. Scates, Justus Lowe, selectmen.

1860. George Wood, clerk; John C. Leighton, G. R. Hodgdon, Anson Stillings, seleetmen.

1861. Joel E. Leighton, clerk; John C. Leighton, Justus Lowe, G. R. Hodgdon, selectmen.

1862. Joel E. Leighton, elerk; Justus Lowe, George Wood, James C. Scates, Jr., selectmen; John C. Leighton, representative.

1863. George Wood. clerk; George R. Hodgdon, Joel E. Leighton, George Wood, selectmen.

1864. A. G. Messenger, clerk; G. R. Hodgdon, Joel E. Leighton, Justus Lowe, seleetmen. June 4, 1864. John D. Carlton was chosen first seleetmen to fill vacancy caused by G. R. Hodgdon moving away.

1865. A. G. Messenger, clerk: John D. Carlton, Joel E. Leighton, Joseph S. Seates, selectmen.

1866. Joel E. Leighton, clerk; George Wood, Ithiel Scates, Justus Lowe, selectmen; Robert I. Leighton, representative.

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TOWN OF RANDOLPH.

1867. Joel E. Leighton, clerk; George Wood, Ithiel Scates, Justus Lowe, selectmen.

1868. George Wood, elerk: George Wood, Joel E. Leighton, Ithiel Seates, selectmen.

1869, Joel E. Leighton, clerk; Joel E. Leighton, Henry Rich, Hubbard Hunt, selectmen.

1870. George Wood, clerk; Joel E. Leighton, Robert I. Leighton, Emery M. Watson, selectmen: Joel E. Leighton, representative.

1871. George Wood, elerk; George Wood, Hubbard Hunt, Ithiel Scates, selectmen.

1872. George Wood, clerk; John C. Leighton, Ithiel Seates, Hubbard Hunt, selectmen.

1873. George Wood, clerk; George Wood. Ithiel Seates, L. M. Watson, seleetmen.

1874. George Wood, clerk; George Wood, Laban M. Watson, Hubbard Hunt, selectmen; no treasurer; George Wood, représentative.

1875. George Wood, elerk; George Wood. Laban M. Watson, John M. Kelsey, seleetmen; no treasurer; George Wood, representative. October 12. 1875, a meeting was ealled to elect a selectman in place of John MI. Kelsey, and Henry H. Rich was chosen.

1876. Ithiel Seates, clerk; Joel E. Leighton, Laban M. Watson, Charles E. Lowe, selectmen : no treasurer: Ithiel Scates, representative.

1877. Ithiel Seates, clerk; Joel E. Leighton, Laban M. Watson, Charles E. Lowe, selectmen; no treas- urer; Ithiel Scates, representative.

1878. Ithiel Seates, clerk; Joel E. Leighton, Charles E. Lowe, Henry II. Rich, seleetmen; no treasurer; Laban M. Watson, representative

1879. Ithiel Scates, elerk; George Wood, Henry H. Rich, Perly N. Watson, selectmen; no treasurer.

1880. Ithiel Seates, elerk; Perly N. Watson, A. G. Messenger, John W. Buzzell, seleetmen: Ithiel Seates, treasurer. A vote was taken March 9, 1880, to re-bury the scattering dead in the burial-ground, which was partially performed. Some are yet lying in different parts of the town.

1881. Ithiel Seates, elerk; A. G. Messenger, Perly N. Watson, Orange S. Phelps, selectmen; Ithiel Seates, treasurer. May 3, 1881, a meeting was ealled and Hubbard Hunt was chosen first and Frank F. Reed second seleetmen in place of Messenger and Watson resigned.

1882. Ithiel Seates, clerk; George Wood, Hubbard Hunt, Charles E. Allen, selectmen; Ithiel Seates, treasurer.

1883. Ithiel Scates, clerk: George Wood, Hubbard Hunt, Charles E. Allen, selectmen; Ithiel Seates,

treasurer.

1884. Ithiel Seates, clerk; George Wood, Hubbard Hunt, Charles E. Allen, selectmen; Ithiel Seates, treasurer.

1885. Ithiel Seates, clerk: A. G. Messenger. John Buzzell, T. S. Lowe, seleetmen; Ithiel Scates, treasurer; Charles E. Lowe, representative for 1885 and 1886.

1886. Ithiel Seates, elerk; George Wood, Gilman C. Bradbury, John W. Buzzell, selectmen; Ithiel Scates, treasurer.

CHAPTER CXVIII.

Schools-Church History-Organization of " Union Congregational Society "-War Record- Pond of Safety-Prominent Citizens.

CHOOLS .- The inhabitants of Randolph always took a great interest in schools, as the town records show. The first school-house was a log one, built before the incorporation of the town, directly in front of where George Wood now lives. Since that time there have been three districts created, and a number of school-houses gone to decay, and others built. It has always been said that no resident ever grew up here that could not read or write.

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

Ministers .- The first ordained minister was John Morse. He labored here a great many years. In 1887 he was the oldest man living that was here when the town was Durand. He lived at Jefferson Mills some years, where he died in 1887, over ninety years of age. Ebenezer Evans, a Bap- tist minister, married and died here. James C. Scates, Sr., had charge of the Sunday-schools, and faithfully performed his trust year after year for more than thirty years until his death, eight or ten years ago, since which time there has been a church built. Sabbath-school services and meetings are now held each week.

History of Church .*- I am indebted to Elder John Morse for many of the following facts. Elder Morse had a clear intellect and good health, even after attaining more than ninety years. March 18, 1816, he moved from Otisfield, Me., to Randolph, N. H. Among the inhabitants of Ran- dolph at that time were John Wilson, Robert Leighton, Cornelius Bass, Edward Wells, Elaska Jackson, Amos Peabody, John Bowman, and John Clemens. Obediah Mann, Caleb Cushman, James Gray, Almon Wallace and others came soon after. Samuel Hutchinson, a regular Free-Will Baptist ordained minister, was pastor of the "Durand church " which belonged to the Lisbon Quarterly Meeting. This church was organized some years before 1816. Samuel Wheeler, who moved from Randolph Hill to Shelburne, took an active part in church matters. In 1816-17-18 a good religious interest was manifest. John Morse, Eunice Morse. Robert Leighton, and Cyrenia Bass were baptized January 1, 1820, by Elder Zachariah Jordan, from Raymond, Me. Among the members of the church were John Wilson, Cornelius Burse and Amos Peabody.

Soon after Mrs. Evans Wilson, Obediah Mann and wife, James Gray and wife, and Eveline Gray became members. Among the members also were Nat Evans, Joseph H. Vincent, Joseph Holmes, Almira Wilson and Salvi Wilson, but we have not the date of their admission. The deacon's name was Worthing and he lived in Kilkenny. Samuel Wheeler's son, Austin Wheeler became a noted minister and received a fair education. Father Morse says "Austin was the subject of many prayers, was prayed for at home, prayed for while away from home, and prayed for on his return." In 1823 Samuel Wheeler and John Morse were delegates from the church in Randolph to the Lisbon Quarterly Meeting. Mr. Morse held meetings in Randolph and adjoining towns. In 1824 a Free Baptist church was organized in East Jefferson, and practically placed in his care. It consisted of a dozen or more members, and was in active operation while Elder Morse lived in Randolph. In 1833 he was ordained to the christian ministry. The meeting was at the house of James Gray in Ran- dolph, now owned by George Wood, Esq. There were present Elders David

*By Abner Davis.

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TOWN OF RANDOLPH.

Cowing from Lisbon, John Davis from Bethlehem, and Gordon and Smith from Meredith.

Soon after a branch of the church was formed at Gorham; and from 1837 to 1846 Elder Morse was its pastor. Among the members were Esther Rowell, Lucinda Davis, Margaret Davis, Nancy Wilson, Anna Ordway, John Ordway, Jr., John Ordway, Sarah Ann Ordway, William Rowell and wife, and Deacon Evans Wilson.

In those days the people were poor, and the work of the minister was a labor of love. Religious meetings were held in school-houses and private dwellings. Ministers received little pay in money for services. On one occasion Father Morse walked twenty miles to attend a funeral, and then walked home again. He received a present of a pair of "feetings." He would get up early Sunday morning, walk to East Jefferson, hold three meetings, and then in the evening walk back to Randolph so as to be ready for his work Monday morning. For miles the road lay through the wild, unbroken forest. One bright moon-lit night a wolf trotted out into the road before him and sat down. The old man said he "was a little start- led at first, but he grasped his stick more firmly and walked on. The wolf eyed him a moment and then trotted off." The old elder said "the exer- cise was good for him," and, said the man of ninety years as he straight- ened up, "I am better for it now." In 1837 Elder Morse moved from Randolph, and probably there has been no regular minister settled there since.

Some time after, a Sabbath-school was organized, of which James Scates, Sr., was a faithful superintendent for more than twenty years. It had no creed except the New Testament, and the Holy Bible was the book used. Sometimes a minister came along and gave them a sermon. Among the active workers were the families of James Gray, Asa Stevens, James Scates. Obediah Mann, Evans Wilson, Frederick Hodgdon, Samuel Heath, Robert Hodgdon, John D. Burbank. Thomas Boothman, Wood, Leighton, Kelsey, and others.

For many years, each quiet Sabbath morning saw old men and matrons, young men and maidens, and children, too, wending their way to the Sab- bath-school in the old school-house. In the summer they would gather round the door, and, after shaking hands and having a little friendly talk, they would enter, seat themselves on the hard benches, and with bowed heads reverently listen while "Uncle " Scates or "Father " Stevens would offer a fervent prayer. Then came the reading of the lesson; "The story of Ruth," "The home in Bethany." "The raising of Lazarus." or, "The Crucifixion." Questions were asked and answered. The children repeated their Bible verses; then the congregation, led by Samuel Heath with his "tuning fork," would sing "Coronation," and "Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove."

946

HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

So the years passed on. A few families, Scotch and English, came, bringing money and good common sense. Their sons and daughters mar- ried, and helped celebrate the " Fourth of July." They took part in the lyceums, spelling-schools, and social gatherings. Sturdy sons and comely daughters came, as, one by one, the older ones passed on, and Randolph was a town of peaceful, happy homes.

A few years ago a beautiful " Union chapel " was built, paid for, and dedicated. The fathers had finished their work. The hands of the mothers were folded in peace. The old "tuning-fork " was rusty and still; but the sunlight streaming in through those beautiful stained windows kissed the cheeks of their grandchildren, whose songs of praise, with the notes of the organ and the music of the birds, rang out in gladness and joy.

Union Congregational Society .-- " Be it known, that on the 14th day of January, 1883, there was organ- ized at Randolph. in the County of Coos, and State of New Hampshire, by written articles signed by each member, a religious society, by and under the name of . Union Congregational Society of Gorham Hill and Randolph,' agreeably to the provisions of Chapter 163 of the General Laws of New Hampshire, for the pur- pose of becoming a body politic and corporate and of possessing all the powers incident to corporations of similar character.

"The said society, on organization, made choice of Geo. A. Hodgdon, Clerk; Ithial Scates, Treasurer; Trustees, Geo. Wood, A. C. Harriman, J. W. Buzzell. Sylvester Wilson, Geo. A. Hodgdon. Said Clerk was duly sworn, and has duly recorded the proceedings, name, and intentions of said society.

" GEO. A. HODGDON, " Clerk of said Society.

"Randolph, N. H., Jan. 15th, 1883."

War Record .- Randolph furnished its full quota of soldiers or substi- tutes. There were four men went from this town as soldiers for the town. N. F. Lowe enlisted in 1861, and served three years and eight months. He was promoted from a private to first lieutenant. Charles E. Lowe, Ezekiel Sheldon, and James Hawker enlisted in the First Heavy Artillery. Fred Lowe enlisted in the Twelfth Maine. Pembrook Watson in a Massachusetts regiment. Alden Stillings in the navy. Clovis Lowe was in the Balloon Corps on the James river, and with the Army of the Potomac. His son T. S. C. Lowe had charge of all the balloons in the army. Obediah Mann, Sr., one of the old settlers, was a Revolutionary soldier. He lies in an unmarked grave near a stone wall, on what is still known as the Mann place. Ebenezer Evans, Clovis Lowe and Justus Lowe were soldiers in the War of 1812 and '13. Evans lost an arm by a cannon shot. The widows of all three still reside here.

Pond of Safety .- James Rider, Benjamin Hicks and Lazarus Holmes were soldiers who enlisted in the Continental army for a certain number of years or " during the war "; when the number of years named in the enlist- ment had expired, they claimed that their term of enlistment had term- inated, and the government claimed that it had not, and they deserted the service, fled to the wilderness, and made their camp at the pond in the easterly part of Randolph, and remained there until they were out of

947

TOWN OF RANDOLPHI.

danger from arrest for desertion. And they gave the name to the pond. "Pond of Safety." In 1826, and years following that date, they were all Revolutionary pensioners.

Prominent Citizens .- John C. Leighton is the oldest inhabitant. A man of good education and great memory. He is about eighty years old and has always lived here.

The Lowes have taken an active part in public matters. Clovis Lowe was the first selectman chosen, and the first representative sent from this town. Lowe and Burbank's Grant was named from him and Barker Burbank, of Shelburne. Levi Lowe, his father, was the first clerk. Justus Lowe was in office about forty years, and the list (1886) closes with the name of Lowe for the representative.

Esquire Hodgdon, " Uncle Robert," was a noted man in town affairs, kept a public house, and was postmaster many years. Ithiel Scates, the present town clerk, married his youngest daughter and resides on the old homested. [The family of Clovis Lowe deserves honorable mention for the zeal manifested by its members in defence of the country during the great civil war. The father, Clovis Lowe, served eighteen months, with his son, Prof. T. S. C. Lowe, the well known aeronaut, who held the grade of colonel; another son occupied the same rank in the Q. M. department of the western armies; another rose to a lieutenancy from the "Fighting Fifth"; and the other three sons were in service. The entire family, father and six sons, were engaged at the same time in the same cause. Clovis Lowe was for a while a resident of Jefferson Mills, where he engaged in trade; he also spent some years in Maine, his native state, but returned to Randolph in 1855, bought land, and died April 17, 1882, aged eighty-two years. - EDITOR. ]

ERROL.

CHAPTER CXIX.

Grantees-Lumbering-Soil-Boundaries-Umbagog Lake-Androscoggin River Improve- ment Company-Errol Dam Company-Old Families-Petitions of Proprietors, Action of Town, Etc.

RROL* was granted February 28, 1774, to Timothy Ruggles and others; but in three or four years a large portion was purchased by the gen- tlemen of Salem and Danvers, Mass., whose names are attached to the petitions below as proprietors. Very little was done in the way of settlement until the present century, and the town contained but twenty- six inhabitants in 1820, and was not incorporated until December 28, 1836. At the time of the agitation of the highway from Colebrook to Hollowell, Me., in 1803 and 1804, attention was attracted to the rich lands of this town as a good place to make homes, and some made camps and located here; but, in a few years, as the road was not speedily constructed, the lack of communication drove them to more available localities. It was not until lumbering had assumed some proportions on the Magalloway that civilization came to make a permanent occupancy, and, even now, while agriculture has been carried on to some extent and fine farms have been developed, the lumbering interest is the preponderating one. The soil in some portions is very good. Fair crops of oats, potatoes and hay are pro- duced, and the proximity of extensive lumbering operations affords good market for products. There is some manufacturing; and, in coming years, there will be much more. W. A. Bragg is a carriage manufacturer.

Errol is bounded north by Wentworth's Location, east by Umbagog lake and Maine, south by Cambridge and Dummer, and west by Millsfield. There are several ponds and small streams, which are attractive to the sportsman. Umbagog lake is about twelve miles long, and its average

*We are indebted to L. C. Bragg for statistics, etc.

949

TOWN OF ERROL.

width perhaps a mile and a half. From it can be seen Mounts Dustan and Agizcoös and the Diamond peaks.

The Androscoggin River Improvement Company was incorporated in 1852 by the New Hampshire legislature, and had been previously chartered by Maine. The original capital was $5,000, and the stockholders were E. S. Coe. of Bangor, and L. E. Dunn, then of Old Town, Me. It was created "to construct a series of dams at the outlets of the various lakes, and thus cause an artificial rise of water to enable lumbermen to run timber from the remote logging camps above at any season of the year." Prior to 1858 three dams had been constructed: the "Lower dan." at Errol falls, was 200 feet long, with nine gates and a large sluice-way for driv- ing logs, and of sufficient height to raise Umbagog lake nine feet. [Here the company erected a mill and have made their headquarters.] Seven miles above the inlet of Umbagog lake is " Middle dam," which raises the waters of Allegundebagog, Welokenabakook, and Mollychunkamunk lakes eleven feet above the inlet of the upper one of these. Three miles above is the "Great lake, " or Mooselukmaguntic, where was located the " Upper dam." 1,500 feet long, which would raise the surface of the Great lake thirteen feet. The Androscoggin Lakes Transportation Company has steamers plying on these lakes and the Magalloway and Androscoggin rivers, and convenient hotels exist at suitable points.

The " Akers House," John Akers, proprietor, has been a well-known hostelry for years, and the family has always been a prominent factor in town affairs.

The " Umbagog House," opened in December, 1886, is one-half mile from Errol dam, one mile from Akers' pond, and on the highway to Cole- brook, "twenty miles away." At this point has been made quite a settle- ment, as it is the base of supplies for the upper country and the place of departure for Magalloway river and Parmachenee lake, and the depot of the " Errol Dam Company."

" The Errol Dam Company" was organized under the laws of New Hampshire in 1876 by R. C. Pingree, George S. Bearce, E. S. Coe, David Pingree and L. E. Dunn, "to provide, maintain, and use a dam with proper gates and other incidental works across the Androscoggin river at a convenient place in the town of Errol for the purpose of providing and furnishing water-power and water for such mills, and purposes as require water, and to acquire suitable rights of flowage for this purpose." The headquarters of this company and the place where its business is carried on is at Errol. The original capital was $5, 000.

Among those families most identified with the development of the town as settlers are the well-known Bragg family, which has been promi- nent in affairs from prior to the organization of the town, (the first town meeting being held "at the house of James F. Bragg ";) Akers, Sweatt,

950

HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

Davis, Thurston. and others. These all have been active in the formative processes of civilization: good, law-abiding citizens. Population in 1880, 161. Much interest is manifested in education. The Board of Education has for its members John Akers, H. W. Fickett, A. E. Bennett.

Petitions of Proprietors, Action of Town, Etc. Petition of Proprietors for renewal of Grant .- "To the Hon'ble the Senate & the Hon'ble the House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire in General Court convened December 1789 .--

"The Petition of the Subscribers proprietors of Errol & Millsfield in sd State humbly sheweth, That in the year One Thousand Seven hundred & Seventy Nine, we employed a Committee & Surveyors with Neces- sary attendants & at the great Expence of Two Thousand one hundred & Eighty pounds transported pro- visions by Paekmen through the Wilderness Sixty Miles Nearly, without any Road, & laid out sd Towns into hundred Acres Lots. That by reason of the War, and other difficulties, we were at that time induced to lay aside our purposes of Compleating the Settlement of Sd Towns,-that we have sinee renewed our Inten- tions, and by our Agent Major Joshua Heath have begun to make improvements, by felling of Trees, clear- ing of Roads, & putting up Log Houses in sd Towns, by raising the Sum of Fifty pounds Eight shillings .- That it is our unanimous Resolution, to pursue the original Design of Compleating the settlement of sd Towns with as much Speed as may be; provided we can be Accommodated, with Roads, & be allowed a further Time, to Compleat the Condition of our Grant.

" Your petitioners therefore pray the Lands from Conway to Errol, may be made liable to pay the Ex- pences of making a good passable Road, through the several Grants, under the Direction of such a Commit- tee as this Hon'ble Court shall see fit to appoint; & that a further time to fulfill the Conditions of our Char ters may be granted. or that such other proceedings may be had for the Relief & encouragement of your Pe- titioners, as to this Honorable Court shall seem meet, and as in duty bound shall every pray &e .-

"Salem 9th Dec'r 1789

"Benj'n Goodhue Jonathan Ropes W'm West

" Jon'a Peele W'm Shillaber Abraham Rand

"Jacob Ashton Edw'd Norris Sam'l Ward

"Eben'r Beckford W'm Vans Joshua Heath"

Petition for a Confirmation of the Grant .- " To the Hon'ble the Senate, & the Hon'ble the House of Representatives of the General Court assembled .-

"Your petitioners humbly shew, that sometime in the Year 1778, we purchased & paid, a valuable con- sideration for more than three fourths of the land, in two Townships in the County of Grafton, known by the name of Millsfield & Errol; & in the Next Year, the sum of Twenty one hundred & eighty pounds, of the then currency, was expended in laying out these townships, in lots of one hundred acres each,-at the time these purchases were made your petitioners together with other proprietors who were inhabitants of the State of New Hamshire, determined as soon as a peace should take place between this Country & Great Britain, to comply with the Conditions on which the grants were made .- Since the year 1783 We have been constantly endeavoring by very advantageous offers to engage persons to undertake the Settlement of them, but the almost impassable woods between them and the inhabited part of the country, was an obstacle to the intended settlement, which we could not remove, but by the cutting & clearing of roads through other places, at an expence, which we are sure you would neither expect or desire .- We flatter ourselves, that you will view us as situated very differently from the proprietors of many unsettled townships, which border immediately on others, through which there are good roads: for we have been long expecting that Such proprietors from the comparatively easy Access to their townships, would at least have opened roads through them; that their Neighbors, who were disposed to make Settlements, might have had it in their power, without the additional expence of making roads, for those, who had so long, and so unreasonably Neglected their duty; at length after repeated disappointments, we agreed in Septem'r 1789 with Capt. Joshua Heath, to proeure a Number of Men, and cut a road through the woods to Millsfield, & Errol: this they effected; they eut down a consid- erable quantity of wood in different parts of the township of Errol. and erected a number of log houses, in- tending the following year, to place Several Settlers there; but doubts arising in the minds of some, respect- ing the propriety of proceeding, untill we had obtained from Your Honors. a confirmation of our right to the land in question. put a stop to our exertions, and induced us to trouble you with this Application ;- The at- tempts we have made to accomplish Settlements, particularly the last mentioned one, were attended with great expence, and though productive of but little real benefit, Yet are indisputable proofs of our intentions to comply with the terms of the grant: if the Grantees of any lands in the State have a claim to your indul- genee, and to a further time for the performance of the conditions of the grants, we have no doubt You will consider those of Millstield & Errol of the number. We have so much confidence in your wisdom & equity,

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History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 113

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson Number of Pages: 1194

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1194