History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 31

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

USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > History of Coos County, New Hampshire > Part 31

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" IIis Excellency, Benning Wentworth, Esq'r, a tract 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 share for a Glebe for the Church of England as by law established; one share for the first settled minister of the Gospel, and one share for the benefit of a School in said Town."

Situation, Scenery, Etc .- Adino N. Brackett gives this description of Lancaster in 1821: "On the northeast of Lancaster lie Northumberland and Kilkenny; on the south Jefferson and Whitefield, and on the south- west Dalton; the northwest line is nine miles in length, the south ten, and the southwest about two and a half miles.

"Lancaster is situated on the southeastern bank of Connecticut river. which forms and washes its northwestern boundary, with its various meanders, a distance of more than ten miles. In this whole distance there is not a single rapid. The water is deep, and below the mouth of Israel's river, which falls into the Connecticut very near the center of the town, its general width is twenty-two rods. The meadows lie along the margin of the river to near three-fourths of a mile in depth, almost the whole distance above mentioned. To these succeed a border of pine or spruce land for another half mile, which is generally level, and productive when cleared and properly cultivated. The next region was covered with a thick growth of sugar-maple, beech, basswood, ash, and other deciduous forest trees. In many places, however, the spruce and fir abound, more particularly in the lowlands, with here and there a cedar swamp. The larch and mountain ash are not unknown to the inhabitants of Lancaster, as the first occupies considerable tract between the meadows and highlands, and the other is found scattered among the other timber and underbrush. * *

"One mile from the Court House there is a bridge over Connecticut river, and about the same distance another over Israel's river. The first leads into Guildhall, Vt. The other connects the eastern and western divisions of the town together. From the southerly end of the bridge last mentioned, the road to Portland and Dartmouth strikes off in a southeast- ern direction. The distance to the place first mentioned is a hundred and ten miles. To Portsmouth it is about one hundred and thirty miles. The trade of the town is carried on principally with Portland."

Advancing steps of civilization have changed the face of the country described, but the prominent features are the same now as then. The

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meadows and intervals are considered the most extensive, and finest there are in the whole valley of the Connecticut, extending back nearly a mile to the uplands. The soil of these intervals is alluvial and produces excel- lent crops of corn, oats, and grass; while the uplands, when properly cul- tivated, raise fine wheat and other crops.

There is no town in New Hampshire more pleasantly situated for fine mountain scenery. The town itself is not mountainous, but towering mountains can be seen on every side. At the south and southeast, the Franconia hills and the whole range of the White Mountains are in full view, and, in the north and east, the Stratford or "Percy" peaks. with many of the Green Mountains, in Vermont, are distinctly visible to the west. Before you is the meandering Connecticut, with its broad cultivated intervals dotted with beautiful farm-houses; at the right are seen the dark masses of the "Pilot Range." and on the Vermont side of the river the Lunenburg Heights; the whole presenting a picture of nature and art com- bined, beautiful enough to satisfy any lover of picturesque, wild, and romantic scenery. There are several ponds. Martin Meadow pond, in the southern part, area nearly 150 acres, was named for a hunter who formerly frequented this locality. This communicates with Little pond. area forty acres. Baker pond, one mile north of the village, is a pleasant sheet of water.

Lancaster village is located on Israel's river and about one mile from the Connecticut. The fine country which surrounds it, the excellent roads, and pleasant drives, together with the magnificent mountain scenery on every side, render it attractive as a summer resort. From the cupola of the Lancaster House a very extended view of river, country, and moun- tain scenery can be obtained. The streets are wide and beautifully shaded, while the business blocks and private residences betoken the care, neatness, and taste of the citizens. The river, in its passage through the village, is spanned by two substantial bridges, and furnishes fine water-power. The village is the center of a rich agricultural section, and does a large mercan- tile business.

Climate. Reason of its Pleasantness .- The climate of Lancaster, and the neighboring country is delightful. The peculiar state of the weather here, so different from that in other parts of New England. Dr. Dwight attributes to the proximity of the White Mountains. In his words, " These are so high, that they stop the progress of the easterly winds, or more probably elevate their course into a region of the atmosphere far above the surface, and prevent them striking the earth, until they arrive at the Green Mountains on the west. The westerly winds in the mean time in- pinging against the White Mountains, twenty-five miles beyond Lancas- ter. but in regions of the atmosphere considerably elevated, are checked in their career, just as a wind is stopped, when blowing directly against a

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

building. A person approaching near the building, perceives a calm, not- withstanding he is in the course of the blast. In the same manner, these mountains, extending thirty miles from north to south, and rising more than a mile above the common surface, must, it would seem, so effectu- ally check the current of the northwest wind, as to render its progress moderate, and agreeable, for many miles, towards that quarter of the heavens. Whether the cause here assigned be the real one or not, the fact is certain, and gives this region in the pleasantness of its weather a superiority over many others. The scenery of this region is remarkably interesting, and I hesitate not to pronounce it the most interesting which I have ever seen."

Change of Boundaries and Location .- On exploring the bounds of Lancaster, David Page, Esq., found that it covered but a small portion of the coveted Coos meadows, and the improvements already made were really in Stonington. The nine miles extent of meadow land, the good sites of Israel's river for future mills, so superior to those of Jolm's river, were also in that territory of Stonington, the proprietors of which had done nothing to develop these sources of wealth during the existence of the term of their grant, which expired in 1766. Then was done a bold thing. Under the influence of some powerful mind, and it would seem necessary to go no farther than to Mr. Page to find this, the proprietors conceived the idea of "sliding " Lancaster sufficiently far up the river to include all the desired territory. The initial steps were taken in 1766, but as the records were burned, we can only give record evidence from March 10, 1767. At that date it was voted that " Mr. Page receive one dollar on each right for altering the town," and that he "run the line around the town." At the same meeting money was raised to " build a grist-mill and saw-mill on Israel's river." The line around their occupancy was duly made, meadow and house lots duly laid out, and some labor performed on roads. The lines of the grant as it should be were defined; and, in 1769, Lieut. Joshua Talford was procured to "survey " the town. Going up the Connecticut about seven miles from the true northwest corner, he estab- lished an arbitrary corner by an ash tree on the bank of the Connecticut; from this he surveyed the town by courses and distances as described in the charter. If the original grant had been adhered to, three-fourths of Lancaster would be composed of land now in Dalton and Whitefield.

This summary proceeding disarranged all the river grants above Lan -. caster, and after much agitation it was submitted to the arbitration of Gov. Wentworth. It was finally settled by Northumberland holding the ground she occupied, while Woodbury, Cockburn, Coleburn, and Stew- artstown were to move further up the river, and each receive as a bonus a large additional tract on its eastern side. Not all of the proprietors of Stonington were satisfied with this, for they were not all included in the

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charter of Northumberland, and some of them made surveys and did other acts indicating an interference with Lancaster. The first record evidence of this is in the records of 1773. On August 26th of that year, at a meet- ing of the proprietors, a vote was passed to locate Hon. Charles Ward Ap- thorp's ten rights, giving him two miles on the river below Edwards Bueknam's lot, and back far enough to include ten full rights, and also the meadow land commonly called the Cat Bow tract of 360 acres. But the vote contains this provision, "the grant hereby made to him shall not operate to the disadvantage of the rest of the proprietors by the interven- tion of any foreign legal claim under color of a mistake in the boundaries of the township." At the same meeting the following vote was passed :--

"That it appears to this proprietary as a matter of some uncertainty whether doubts may not arise with respect to the northerly extent of the boundaries of this township which upon a con- struction set up by sundry persons will deprive the whole of the settlers (one only excepted) of their land, possessions and improvements and reduce the township to very inconsiderable compass, and the proprietors laboring under great uneasiness from the apprehension of, or expecting a calamity, do therefore request that Ammi R. Cutter, Esq., and Mr. Jacob Treadwell will be pleased to lay before his Excellency the Governor such representation upon the subject as may to them appear most proper to induce his Excellency to grant to the proprietors an explanatory charter ascertain- ing the limits of the said township as the same was actually surveyed by Joshua Talford and is now allotted to the proprietors and possessed and enjoyed by the inhabitants."

The war of the Revolution soon followed, and no mention of the change of lines is made in the record until April 20, 1790, when it was voted "that Col. Jonas Wilder, Lieut. Emmons Stockwell, and Edwards Bucknam be a committee to act in behalf of the proprietary, and petition the General Court of the State of New Hampshire respecting the charter of said Lan- caster that a new one be obtained to the same grantees, and to cover all the lands up to and join Northumberland, agreeably to the plan and sur- vey of said town." In 1790 and 1791 similar votes were passed. In 1796 the proprietors concluded long enough possession had been had to entitle them to the land, and chose "Richard C. Everett, Esq., agent to act in be- half of the Proprietors of Lancaster to defend any lawsuit or suits, or to commence any action or actions against any encroachments that are or may be made upon said Township of Lancaster, to make any settlement of all or any disputes which are or may be had with the adjacent towns respecting the boundaries of said town, and to petition the Honorable Gen- eral Court with any agent or agents of the neighboring towns, whose boundaries are disputed, or disputable, for their interference in the prem- ises." In the suit of Atkinson rs. Goodall, tried in 1553 at Exeter, to ob- tain possession of lands in Bethlehem as belonging to the grantees of Con- cord Gore, described as "cornering on Lancaster," Hon. James W. Weeks was employed to give a general delineation of Concord Gore and adjacent territory. His map correctly located the gore, but failed to make it corner

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on the present town of Lancaster. The court decided that the accepted boundaries of towns, occupied so long as these had been, could not be dis- turbed by reason of variance from original intention.

CHAPTER XXII.

First Settlements - Corn planted - Frost - Difficulty of Travel - Canoes - First White Woman - Supplies from Portsmouth or Haverhill -"Samp Mortar "-" Cars " -- First Mills- Revolution - Emmons Stockwell "would stay "- Major Jonas Wilder - Rich Soil - Manure thrown away -Village Plot - First two-story house in Coos county - First Bridge - First Schools -Early prices -" Alarms During the War"- Early Settlers - Residents, Polls, and Stock, 1793- David Page petitions for more Land - Why " Upper Coos" did not elect Repre- sentative - Edwards Bucknam granted mill privilege at Northumberland Falls- Petition, etc., concerning Taxes.

IRST Settlements .- 1763 .- Those survivors of that historic band known as "Rogers' Rangers," who passed down the valley of the Upper Connecticut, made known the beauty, extent, and fertility of this section to appreciative ears. Among others who listened to their stories, especially to those of the youthful, enthusiastic and daring Emmons Stockwell, was David Page, Esq., of Petersham, Mass., one of the grantees of Haverhill, who felt sorely aggrieved by the division of rights in that grant. A bold, resolute man, he determined to wrest from the upper wil- derness something to compensate him for his fancied losses in Haverhill. He, with others, secured grants for territory on the opposite sides of the Connecticut which took the names of the towns where most of them lived in Massachusetts, and which bore the same relation to each other and the river. Thus it came that Lancaster and Lunenburg became names of towns on the Upper Connecticut. The same year that Lancaster was granted (1763), David Page determined that he would have the first choice in the lands; and sent his son David and Emmons Stockwell, to make a selection and improvements to hold their choice. They began a clearing, hunted, fished, and trapped during the winter. They located their camp on the meadow back of the Holton house, on low ground, however, and the rising Connecticut drove them out of it in the chilling month of March. It is probable that they returned to the lower settlements in time to act as guides and assistants to the company of permanent settlers who were then ready to start for the new land of paradise. During 1764, David Page, with his family, Edwards Bucknam, and other young men from Lancaster, Lunenburg and Petersham, Mass., became settlers. The first permanent

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settlement was made April 19, 1764, on what is known as the "Stockwell place." The colonists set at work with a will, erecting cabins, clearing land, and planting corn on the land cleared the year before. Their com- bined efforts enabled them to plant about twelve acres, which in the rich, fresh soil grew rapidly. "By August 26," says Mr. Stockwell, " this was twelve feet high, in full milk, with ears as high as my shoulders." Dur- ing that night it was frozen completely through and spoiled. This was a hard blow, but the frost extended to Massachusetts, and they were no worse off here than there. The settlers had brought with them twenty head of cattle, and, during the summer, added twenty more; all were win- tered nicely.

"At this period there was no settlement between Haverhill and Lan- caster, and but very few north of Charlestown. There being no roads, the settlers suffered inconceivable hardships in transporting their necessaries. few as they were, being obliged to navigate their log canoes up and down the 'Fifteen-mile falls,' now known to be twenty miles in length, with a descent of more than three hundred feet; and in winter to pass the same dangerous rapids in sleighs and with ox teams, frequently falling through the ice, and sometimes never rising above it. High water to descend, and low water to ascend, were thought the most favorable times, the canoes being drawn up by ropes, but when descending, one man stood in the bow with a pole to guard from rock to rock, while another sat in the stern to steer with his paddle. In this manner the wife of David Page, when cor- pulent and infirm, was carried in safety to her friends below."

So much has been written about David Page, Sr., never being a resi- dent of Upper Coös, that it seems quite essential to say that we have his own testimony to the fact that he did reside here for some years, and prob- ably many. See his petition for more land later in this chapter. Tradi- tion says that he built the first framed house in the county.

The first white woman to settle here was Ruth, daughter of David Page. She came in August, 1764, to perform the indispensable house-keeping for the pioneers. In 1765 she became the wife of Emmons Stockwell. They had fifteen children; David, the oldest, was the first son of Lancaster. The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Stockwell continued fifty-five years. Mrs. Stockwell had nearly two hundred descendants living at the time of her death, which occurred March 21, 1828, in the eighty-second year of her age, and for forty years previous she had been a member of the " First church " in Lancaster.

In 1775 there were eight families in town. embracing about sixty-one persons. Dennis Stanley was here prior to 1776.

For the first twenty years the people lived withont mills, and their nearest neighbors were fifty miles distant. All their supplies not produced from their lands. or forest and stream, came through the White Mountain

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

Notch, or up the Connecticut river. The first lime used by Lieut. Stanley to tan moose skins, was brought from Portsmouth in leather bags, on a horse's back. A scanty supply of flour was obtained from Haverhill. It does not appear that they ever suffered for lack of food, except one season, when the frost killed the corn.

The samp mortar was an "institution " in all the old families. This was an immense hardwood log, about three feet in length, hollowed out at the end like an ordinary mortar, with a stone pestle hung upon a spring pole in the corner of the kitchen; in this mortar the corn was put in small quanties, and crushed with this pestle until it was as fine as hominy, and was superior to it. The hull could be taken off by putting it in water. Samp was a standard article of food long after mills were established, and the mortar maintained its place in many families. The Connecticut river supplied fish of the choicest kind, and the family who did not " put down " a supply of salmon was looked upon as improvident.

Even at this early period, "cars" were used for the transportation of baggage: not constructed, however, precisely like these on our railroads, as they were made of two poles, one end of each resting on the ground, the other passing through the stirrups of a saddle, with two transverse sticks behind the horse, on which rested the load, and to one of which the whiffletree was attached.

First Mills. - The very first mill was operated by horse-power, but it did little better service than the large mortar and pestle attached to a pole. David Page built a small water mill on Indian brook, northeast of the burying-ground, about 1770. This and its successor was burned. About 1781 Major Wilder built a grist mill at the foot of the "sand-hill." Be- tween 1793 and 1800, R. C. Everett put up a large mill, one hundred feet long, and three stories in height, in which was a grist-mill, a carding ma- chine, and two saws. This was burned about 1800, with much grain. In the same year (1800) Emmons Stockwell and Titus O. Brown erected mills. In 1810 an improved mill was built where the present one stands, and, in 1817, one occupied the " Wesson " privilege.

During the Revolution the little settlements on the Connecticut were much retarded. The fear of the Indians, who captured Newcomb Blodgett, and others, inhabitants of Coös, led to the idea of abandonment of the country. Emmons Stockwell was made of no such material, however. He told those that spoke of leaving "to go, if they wanted to, but that he should stay." He did stay, and sometimes alone, and sometimes with the company of several families. he kept the settlement alive until the war was over. Even after the war Lancaster settled slowly. The pro- prietors did not willingly part with their lands, some would not sell, and the town grew slowly. The destruction of the town records of the earliest

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days makes it impossible to give the exact time of the arrival of the early settlers.

In 1778 Major Jonas Wilder came, and was chosen to office in March, 1779. He was followed by many of his relatives and friends, who came with all the enthusiasm of men who expected to make their fortunes in a very short time. The contrast between the sterile soil of central Massa- chusetts and the Connecticut meadows was so great that it seemed to then that they had only to come here to be rich. It was understood that the meadows were so fertile that manure would never be wanted to secure the finest of crops, and so impressed were they with this idea, that the drop- pings of the cattle were carted from the Wilder premises, and dumped into a gully near Indian brook, and, in some instances, barns were moved to get them out of the way of the manure heaps. This paradise included also Lunenburg and Guildhall.

Village Plot .- In settling a new country one of the first things done is to lay out a village plot. The proprietors, knowing from its location and advantages that Lancaster must become an important business center, laid out two streets, (one south from Israel's river, the other easterly to the river,) and sixty building lots, deeded the "meeting-house-common " to the the town, deeded Israel's river, with a strip of land on each side, from the island below the bridge to the great bow above the paper-mill, to the town for school purposes, and offered fifty acres of land to the one who brought the first set of blacksmith's tools to the town and established a shop. Few buildings were erected, however, where the proprietors ex- pected.

The First Two-story House in Coos county was the present residence of H. F. Holton, which was commenced, according to tradition, on the memorable "dark day," May 19, 1780, by Major Jonas Wilder, and " raised " July 26. 1780.

The First Bridge on Israel's river was built by Emmons Stockwell, and it is said that he paid five gallons of brandy for the privilege of crossing it first.

First Schools .- Mrs. Ruth Stockwell was, beyond question, the first to impart knowledge of books to the settlers, but she kept no regular school. At an early date a log school-house was erected in District No. one. In District No. two, a school was established early. From a letter of Capt. John Weeks, dated Lancaster, June 15, 1787. we extract: " Jolin values himself much on his spelling and reading at school, as he gets the better of all of his age, and of many much older. The schoolmaster, Mr. Burgin, an Englishman, boarded with us last week; we take turns to board him weekly." According to the Bucknam papers, Joseph Burgin began a term of six months at $5 per month, June 20, 1787. A Mr. Bradley was teaching during the summer of 1789.

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

Early Prices .- The stock of the first merchants was "W. I. Rum," "N. E. Rum," tobacco, chintz (calico), salt, tea, axes, hoes, nails, glass, etc. Little money was here, and barter was the rule. Home-made tow-and- linen cloth brought from two to three shillings a yard, cotton-and-linen cloth three to four shillings, chintz, for wedding dresses, one dollar a yard, and, as women's wages were from two to three shillings a week, it would take "my lady " four or five months steady labor to earn her bridal dress. Men's wages for the "season" (six months in summer) were about $8 a month in stock or produce, and ten or twelve days' labor might possibly buy sufficient cloth for a pair of shirts. Pearlash and potash would bring from $75 to $150 a ton in Portland. Nails sold for nine pence a pound, glass from six pence to one shilling a "pane." Cows were worth from $10 to $12 each, oxen (six feet in girth) from $35 to $40 a yoke. Potatoes were in good demand at the distilleries, of which there were several, and brought from ten to twelve cents a bushel. Furs were plenty, and brought good prices. In January, 1786, John Johnson worked three days at Buck- nam's, shoemaking, for which he charged four shillings. Bucknam kept a house of entertainment as well as merchandise for sale. Prices for meals .6d," lodging "'4d," toddy one shilling, rum one shilling eight pence per pint. In 1791 shot sold for one shilling per pound, brick 2s-4d a 100. In Octo- ber, 1774, Bucknam credits Joseph Whipple with two yards calico six " shillings each," and charges him for pork and butter 10d per pound, wheat six shillings, peas seven shillings. Indian corn four shillings per bushel. Salted bear meat brought 8d a lb., salt fish Sd, hay $5 per ton, leather for a pair of breeches 18 shillings. Joseph Currier is charged August 25, 1784, with over two quarts rum " when married;" June 8, 1785, one quart "when ye child died, " 2 sh.

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History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 31

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