History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 32

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 32

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"Alarms During the War."-June 22, 1786, Jonas Wilder and Em- mons Stockwell as selectmen give this "account of the alarms in the Upper Coos during the late war. In July, 1776, 1 alarm; Sept., 1777, 1 alarm; 1778, do; in July, 1779, 1 alarm. Indians took prisoners at Strat- ford; in June, 1780, 1 alarm; August, 1780, do; Oct., 1780, 1 do; Thos. Worcester taken; in July, 1781, 1 alarm: some wounded men came in, said Pritchett was near; Sept., 1781, 1 alarm. Pritchett went to Wipple's; in May, 1782, 1 alarm, Abel Learned taken; June, do. 1 alarm; in Oct., 1 alarm. Nix taken." This was endorsed "Account of the number of days spent in scouting, guiding, and forting, by the men inhabitants of Lancas- ter, in time of the above alarms, and other times during the late war: being 447 days, Jonathan Willard, 10 days. Total, 457 days."

" Moses Page, David Page, and Emmons Stockwell were in company in constructing the mill-dam in February, 1785."-Bucknam Papers.

By 1786 the tide of emigration set strongly this way. Col. Stephen Willson had a clearing and log hut on the interval near the present vil-

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TOWN OF LANCASTER.

lage. Capt. John Weeks came from Greenland, and, following his steps, the same year, and later, came Joseph Brackett, Coffin and William Moore. Phineas Hodgdon, Walter and Samuel Philbrook, and others. Central Massachusetts sent a respectable number at about the same time, or a few years later, including Titus O. Brown, Jonas Baker, Jonathan Cram, Humphrey Cram, Joseph Wilder. Elisha Wilder, Rev. Joseph Willard, Benjamin Boardman, and others. In 1790 the town had 161 population. The growth had been slow, but largely compensating for that was the charac- ter of the settlers. They were men who came to stay, and their presence, merely, in a community was an addition to its prosperity; they were men of strong mind, possessed fair education, had borne the hardships of a long struggle for their liberties, were self-reliant, and could endure with patience the privations of pioneer life. Some of them had served with credit as officers in the army, and they could all turn their hands to varied employments, use the axe, guide the plow, "run lines," construct a barn or house, shoot a moose, catch a trout, or trap wild game.

An extract from a letter of Capt. John Weeks to his wife, written at Lancaster, July 15, 1757, will throw a little light on the mode of life of that primitive period. "We shall move into our log house this week. It will be a very comfortable one. The logs, all peeled, are smooth and clean. The house is eighteen feet wide, and twenty feet long. We shall have one comfortable room, and two bed-rooms. Our family now consists, beside myself, of one hired man, one girl (Patty), one boy (John), one cow, one heifer, one sheep, one hog, one pig, one dog, one cat, one hen and one chicken: we have also a pair of geese at Coll Buckmans, which we shall take home in the fall. You would be pleased to see our little family, and Patty's management of it."

Adjoining Deacon Brackett's farm on the east, was the farm of Briant Stephenson. He was a good man, a worthy citizen, and one of the first clerks in school district number two, which was formed in 1791. He was also town clerk. About 1790, Phineas Hodgdon (a soldier under Gen. Gates in the Revolution), a young man of military bearing, became a set- tler; John McIntire came later, with a yoke of steers, a pair of " block- wheels," a chain, axe, and a bushel of salt. He was uneducated, but pos- sessed strong common sense, took up one lot of land, which by his indus- try he brought into a fine state of cultivation, and accumulated a large property. Edward Spaulding, (whose mother brought him, a child, to Northumberland in 1767,) on arriving at maturity, bought a lot of land on the northern slope of Mt. Pleasant, which he cleared and occupied during a long life. He was a man of magnificent proportions. He was a great hunter and fisher; honest, kind and hospitable. He died in 1545. Coffin Moore, son of Dr. Coffin Moore, of Portsmouth, married Mary Bucknam. and resided in Dalton and Lancaster. Among his children were Dr. Ed-

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

ward B. Moore, an eminent physician of Boston, and Joseph B. Moore, of Lancaster. Capt. William Moore settled on a farm near Martin Meadow pond. He married a daughter of John McIntire, held various town offices, and was very popular. Asahel Allen lived on the southern slope of Martin Meadow hills. Amos LeGro, son of Dr. Samuel LeGro, was a useful and upright citizen. Joseph Howe and Daniel Stebbins lived near neighbors, on the hill road. Both were trustworthy men and excellent citizens

Residents, Polls, and Stock, 1793. - The first inventory of Lancaster other than of real estate appears on record as taken in April, 1793. Col. Ed- wards Bueknam has one poll, two oxen, five cows, two horses, four young cattle; Lt. Joseph Brackett, two polls, two oxen, two cows, one horse, six young cattle; Jonas Baker, one poll, two oxen, two cows, one yearling; James McHard, no poll nor personal property; Phineas Bruce, one poll, one cow; William Bruce, one poll; Titus O. Brown, one poll; Lt. Jona. Cram, two polls, two oxen, two cows, two horses, six young cattle; Thad- deus Carby, one poll; Abijah Darby, one poll, one cow; Isaac Darby, one poll, one cow; Fortunatus Eager, one poll; Robert Gotham, one poll, one ox, two three-year olds; Benjamin Green, nothing: Daniel How, one poll, two oxen, one cow, one two-year old; Phinehas Hodsden, one poll, one cow, two young cattle; Jonathan Hartwell, one poll, one cow; Oliver Hutchings, one poll; William Johnson, no poll nor personal property; Nathan Love- well, one poll, one two-year-old; William Moore, one poll, one ox, one cow; John McIntire, one poll, two oxen, one cow, two young cattle; Ben- jamin Orr, one poll; Capt. David Page, three polls, three oxen, three cows, eight young cattle: Moses Page, one poll, two cows, one horse, three young cattle; Walter Philbrook, one poll, one cow: Joel Page, one poll; Lt. John Rosbrook, one poll, two oxen, two cows, two horses; Charles Rosbrook, one poll, one horse; Jona. Rosbrook. one poll; Ezra Reeves, one poll, one cow, one horse, two two-year-olds; Lt. Emmons Stockwell, two polls, two oxen, four cows, one horse, nine young cattle; Lt. Dennis Stanley, one poll, two oxen, five cows, one horse, four young cattle; Edward Spaulding, one poll, one cow, one horse, three young cattle; Jere. Stickney, one poll, one horse: Benjamin Twombly, one poll; Col. Jonas Wilder, one poll, four oxen, three cows, one horse, six young cattle; Jonas Wilder, Jr., one poll, one cow, three horses, three young cattle; Joseph Wilder, one poll; Elisha Wil- der, one poll, two oxen, one cow, one yearling; John Wilder, one poll; Eph. Wilder, one poll; Manasseh Wilder, one poll; Capt. John Weeks, one poll, two cows, one yearling; Lt. Jere. Willcox, one poll, one cow, one horse; Smith Williams, nothing; Ashbell Webb, one poll, two oxen; Syl- vanus Chessman, one poll; Joseph Chandler, one poll.

By this time, the intervals, or meadow lots, on the Connecticut, had been mostly occupied, and farms on the hills were beginning to be de- veloped. Although harder to cultivate, they produced well.

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TOWN OF LANCASTER.

It appears from documents published in "Hammond's Town Papers," (Vol. 12, pp. 351-361.) that David Page petitioned Gov. Wentworth. Jan- uary 7. 1773. for a grant of more land, setting forth that he had been " at great trouble and expense " in attempting and prosecuting the settlement, bringing on his own and several other families, "having five of his own children married and settled about him, who have made considerable pro- gress," etc. His petition was granted, and Edwards Bucknam directed. January 20, 1773, to survey and mark out a tract of 1,000 acres for this purpose, which he did in Jefferson. December 14, 1775. David Page, select- man of the town of Lancaster, James Brown, selectman of the town of Stratford, and Josiah Walker, "inhabitant" of Stratford, report to the Provincial Congress convened at Exeter, December 20, 1775, "that the nine towns in the Upper Cohos have not complied with the precept of the last Congress. issued to them for the election of a Representative. " because, first, "the needy circumstances of the people render it impossible for them to be at the expense of supporting one." Second, " the distance of the in- habitants and difficulty of communication is so great, that it prevented a general attendance at the meeting." They also state the universal desire of the people not to be taxed to defray any expense of delegates as there should be no taxation without representation. Edwards Bucknam and Emmons Stockwell, selectmen, make a return of ten (10) ratable polls in the town of Lancaster, December 2, 1783. Edwards Bucknam petitions the General Assembly, October 8, 1784. " for the privilege of using and im- proving the Earth and waters between the Eastwardly and Westwardly banks" of the Connecticut river at Northumberland Falls, "in length the distance of one (1) mile each way from the center of said Falls." and states that the falls are convenient for building mills and keeping a ferry boat. and that " he is now actually erecting a set of mills both for sawing and grinding on said falls." His petition is granted in 1784. Jonas Wilder. Edwards Bucknam, and Emmons Stockwell, as a town committee, pe- tition the General Assembly, September 4, 1787, to pass an act empower- ing the town to levy and collect a tax of three pence on each acre (public rights excepted) for the purpose of making roads, building bridges, meet- ing-house. etc., etc., and a continuation of one penny on the acre annually for five years. to be appropriated to the same object. In this petition they set forth as follows: " Nothing more effectually hinders the emigration of inhabitants to this part of the state, than the badness of our roads, and the want of a convenient place to worship that being, to whom all owe their existence. The formation of the town being very peculiar, on account of marshes, creeks, and large streams, and the number of inhabitants being but very small; consequently the expense of making and mending roads, building bridges, meeting houses, etc., must be very great. One large stream, known by the name of Israel's river, is so formidable where

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

it must be bridged, to accommodate the travel up and down Connecticut. river, and likewise the travel to and from Portsmouth (our most advan- tageous port), that it must cost, at a moderate compensation, two hundred pounds. The inhabitants have solicited the non-resident land owners for assistance (many of whom live out of the state), but they have entirely refused." Such a graphic statement of facts, and the justice of their re- quest, caused the legislature to grant their prayer. It appears, however, that by some unforeseen fatality the business was not accomplished, and November 12, 1792, another petition was sent to the legislature for author- ity to levy a special tax of two pence an acre for two successive years, to be applied to the same purpose. This petition was signed by Fortunatus Eager, John Rosbrook, Jr., Charles Rosbrook, Jonas Wilder, William Bruce, Jonathan Cram, Titus O. Brown, John Holmes, Elisha Wilder, Phineas Bruce, John Rosbrook, Emmons Stockwell. Joseph Wilder, Asahel Bige- low, Nathan Lovewell, Benjamin Orr, David Stockwell, Moses Page, Den- nis Stanley, William Moore, David Page, Abijah Darby, Joseph Brackett, Walter Philbrook, Jonas Baker. Edward Spaulding, William Johnson, and Coffin Moore. .

CHAPTER XXIII.

Lancaster in 1795 and 1804 - Lancaster Bridge Co. - Extracts from Joseph Brackett's Diary, 1799 to 1801 - Gen. Moses Hazen - South Lancaster or "Cat Bow" - Lancaster in 1810 - First Sabbath School - 1820 - 1830 -Stores, Articles of Traffic, Etc. - Freight - Mail, Vehicles, Etc. - 1840 - Extracts from A. N. Brackett's Diary - The Great Hail Storm - Climatic and Weather Records - Hon. John W. Weeks on Lancaster in 1839 - 1840 to 1850 - J. S. Brackett's Summary from 1850 to 1876 - Village Streets - 1870 to 1887 - Real Estate and Personal Prop- erty - 1886.

Li ANCASTER in 1795-1804 .- The number of tax-payers in 1795 was fifty-nine. The six who paid the largest tax were Jonas Wilder, Dennis Stanley, Emmons Stockwell, Titus O. Brown, David Page, Edwards Bucknam. In 1799 there were ninety-one voters, and, in 1800, a population of 440. In 1804 there were only seven dwelling houses in the village, north of the burying-ground. They were occupied by Artemas Wilder, Stephen Will- son, Samuel Hunnux, William Lovejoy, A. Cram, J. Cram, and Mr. Faulkner. Between the burying-ground and the river were the dwelling houses of R. C. Everett, and by the river, those of a man called "Governor " Bruce, famous for his facetious rhymes and speeches at raisings, and that of the sturdy David Greenleaf. On the south side of the river there were six dwelling houses. Titus O. Brown's, in one end of which he kept a.

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small store: Sylvanus Chessman's house, then just built for a tavern; Ed- mund Chamberlain's, Dr. Chapman's, Chessman's old house under the meeting-house hill, and the house of Mr. Hinman, the clothier. There was a mill on one side of Israel's river, and a clothing-mill on the other. These, with the meeting-house, Boardman's store and potash, the school-house, and the Carlisle store at the upper end of the street, comprised the village of 1804.

The Lancaster Bridge Company .-- " Richard C. Everett, Levi Willard, Titus O. Brown, Jonathan Cram, Stephen Willson, Jonas Baker, Artemas

Wilder, Jr., and such others as may join them

are

permitted and allowed to erect and maintain a bridge over Connecticut River at a place called Waits Bow in Lancaster in the County of Grafton or at any place between the mouth of the Israel's River and the upper line of said Lancaster." The charter from which this extract is made was dated June 21, 1804. The first meeting was held August 20, 1804. Rich- ard C. Everett was chairman and Thomas Carlisle, clerk. The number of shares taken were, Thomas Carlisle & Co., 2, Isaac Bunday, 1, Richard C. Everett, 3, William Lovejoy, 1, Levi Willard, 2, Stephen Willson. 2, J. Cram, 1, Daniel Perkins, 2. Jonas Baker, 1, Titus O. Brown, 1, Humphrey Cram. 1, David Bunday, 1, William Huves, 1, Artemas Wilder. Jr., 12, Elisha Bunday, 1, Daniel Dana, 1, Urial Rosebrook, 1, Lemuel Holmes, 1, Asa Holmes, 1, Samuel Howe, 1, Timothy Faulkner, 1, Bowman Chad- dock, 1.

" Voted that Richard C. Everett, Wm. Huves, Levi Willard, Isaac Bunday, & Win. Lovejoy, be a Committee to report a plan of a Bridge & the exact place where it ought to be erected."

The first bridge was built in 1805, and the second one in 1825. This was of great benefit to the mercantile and other business of Lancaster.

Extracts from Joseph Brackett's Diary .- The early settlers were close observers of natural phenomena, men of strong reason, and independent thought. They attended church twice each Sabbath, and listened atten- tively to the two sermons, to which they gave a searching mental analysis. They read the Bible at home for its literature, also standard authors in Eng- lish. These extracts from the diary kept by an early settler, Dea. Joseph Brackett, in 1799-1:00-1801, are of interest as showing these facts.

" April 7, 1799, Sunday. After getting up read 13 psalms. Read two sermons; in my opin_ ion the best I ever saw. Dressed and went to meeting. Heard two sermons. Returning, read another sermon. The sermons read were by Dr. Price, who appears a man of great abilities, pos- sessed of an acute judgement and pleasing style; in truth, the doctrines he advances are supported by sound reasonings. April 12. Snow lies three feet on the ground. Air for two days past ex- tremely cold. 15th. Warm and pleasant, but yet good crossing on the river. Read several psalms, after that, read four lives in British Plutarch, one, Bishop Latimer, very remarkable. I also read to-day Humphrey's Poems. His style in some respects resembles Goldsmith's. Also read Cow- per's "Retirement." No poet excels him in strength of expression, or energy of thought. All his poems tend to make mankind better, but he is a little too severe on the clergy. 24. Came six

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inches of snow. No sugar of consequence yet made. 25. National Fast. One sleigh at meeting. Snow two feet deep in the woods. First good run of sap. 28. Read before breakfast nine psalms. As pieces of devotion, none excel the Psalms of David. Attended meeting. Heard two sermons. The first, very good; the last, indifferent. Have since read two discourses by Dr. Sherlock, one of which appears to be the same that I heard preached to-day. Sound reasoning they contain in an eminent degree. 29. River entirely free from ice. Sunday, May 5. Snow a foot deep in the woods on the level, Read Psalm 119. Went to meeting; heard two sermons. Tolerably good. Read Fifth book of Cowper's " Task." The more I read Cowper the better I like him. The con- clusion of this book is inimitable. 10. Some snow came to-day. No man with whom I have con- versed ever saw a season so backward. But few have begun to plough. 15. Began to plough on the meadow. 19. Went to meeting; heard two sermons, rather better than common. After meet- ing read 14 psalms. 20. Sowed 2} bushels wheat, 1 bushel rye, and 3 pecks of peas. 25. Planted corn. 30. Finished ploughing. Thunder storm. June 1. Quite cold. 3. First planted in the meadow. 5. Black flies first came. 11. River higher than it has been for 10 years. 16. Still higher. Grain of all kinds been under water. July 5. Corn spindled out. 21. Corn silked out. 26. Finished stacking hay. 28. Mr. Willard's forenoon discourse was very good; but the afternoon was not pleasing. Aug. 11. Had roast corn. 27. Frost to be seen this morning. Sept. 30. Frost came which killed all kinds of vegetables that frost could kill. Nov. 24. One sleigh at meeting. 1800. The winter has been uncommonly favorable. Snow at any time not more than two feet deep. April 17. Frogs croaked. Mr. Clark and Toscan ploughed. 18. Killed a duck. 20. A fine morning; so far one of the most beautiful springs I ever knew. Read two chapters in Matthew in one of which I remarked the passage: "Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass, in your purses; nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves; for the workman is worthy of his hire;" This, without any other text, is sufficient to prove that ministers ought to have a salary. May 5 & 6. Sowed wheat and flax. 10. First heard whippoorwills. 17. Finished ploughing old ground. June 5. Frost killed some things. 15. Frost killed beans and corn. July 19. Great sort of corn silked out. Aug. 20. Finished reaping. 50 shocks from 4 bushels sowing. 1801. March 16. Killed a snake. Have had an uncommon winter The last of January the snow was uncommonly deep, perhaps 3 feet at Lancaster. Now almost all gone. Wild geese were seen flying a week ago; ducks and a few spring birds have been seen. 29. People have ploughed. April 27. Sowed wheat. 28. Sowed flax and peas. 29. Swallows came. The snow went off without raising the water so as to make a freshet here, though at the mouth, and up the river the water was higher than known for 70 years. May 1. Maple leaves as big as a base copper. Black flies in considerable quantities and whippoorwills heard. 3. Found white clover bloomed out. 26. A ripe strawberry found.

Gen. Moses Hazen was one of the most prominent early non-resident proprietors of land in Lancaster. He was a retired colonel of the British army, living on half pay at the commencement of the Revolution. He espoused the cause of the colonists, raised a regiment for service in the American army, and was to receive for a salary the same amount which he was entitled to draw from the British service. He had previously mar- ried a wealthy French lady, whose beautiful home at St. John was burned by the British during the Revolution and her estate and other valuable property confiscated. Gen. Hazen served with distinction during the war, but. by the depreciation of the Continental currency, and his failure to get just claims allowed by the War Department, he was a great financial loser by his espousal of the Colonial cause. His name is prominent in many affairs and early settlements in Vermont and on Lake Champlain in New York. He was stricken by palsy and for seventeen years before his death

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TOWN OF LANCASTER.

lay perfectly helpless; and under the old law of imprisonment for debt, he passed some of this time in close prison. A few years before his death, which occurred in 1803, he was pronounced a lunatic by the chancellor of of the state of New York, where he had resided after the Revolution, and Major Moses White, his nephew, and aid-de-camp in the army, appointed his keeper. He had been much interested in improving and settling new sections, and Major White found his business affairs extensive. "scattered from Virginia to Maine, and from Canada to the Atlantic, and, from his financial condition, much embarrassed."

Gen. Hazen purchased of Charles W. Apthorp, October 5, 1783, among other lands twenty-four rights of land in Lancaster, N. H., including the "Cat Bow." The price to be paid was $115 per right. He at once began improvement, placed several tenants on the "Cat Bow " tract, and laid out considerable money, which was expended under the supervision of Ezekiel Ladd. Nathaniel White, Judge Richard C. Everett and Edwards Bucknam. It was evidently his intention to build up a large manorial establishment here, and to make Lancaster his home. But his finances became reduced, his lands were sold for taxes, his tenants were ejected, and all became confusion and litigation.

South Lancaster .- Among the early settlers in this part of Lancaster were Nathaniel White. his son, Samuel White, David White, John Picket. William C. Ford, Daniel Howe, John Miller, Francis Willson, Daniel Young, John Moore, Charles Howe, Israel Hale, Timothy Whitney, and Isaac Wood. Moses Blake contracted to build a house for Gen. Moses Hazen, in 1785, on the "Cat Bow " tract, and cleared land there. Ephraim Griggs did work in the same year for Gen. Hazen, amounting to $100. Asa Bucknam and Joseph L'Esperance chopped more than eight acres on the "Cat Bow." A Mr. Hartwell was a tenant here in 1784. About the same time George Wheeler, Walter Bloss and John Hopkinson cleared thirteen acres on the same tract. P. Griggs became a tenant of Hazen in 1786. Rev. John Wilber, of Attleborough, Mass., brother-in-law of R. C. Everett, purchased lands here in 1508, but never became a resident.

1810 .- The growth of the town was slow but solid, roads began to be laid out, gaps were made in the pine groves, and in the hard wood tim- ber of the highlands, and steady improvements were made, year by year, until. in 1810, the population was 717. The town had been se- lected as the shire town of the county, had a court-house and jail, the academy had been incorporated, school-houses erected in two school districts, and Willson's tavern dispensed much "flip," and entertained hospitably man and beast. The village had six houses at the upper end, besides those mentioned, which were occupied by Samuel Hunnux, William Lovejoy, Artemas Cram. Benjamin Boardman, and a Faulkner. At the south was that of "Governor" Bruce, a soul of merriment at all

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

social and public occasions, and that of old Miller Greenleaf, so sturdy and well known. On one side of the river was a fulling-mill, then much patronized, and on the other a pretentious grist-mill which did good work. Titus O. Brown had a small store, the new Chesman tavern was well pat- ronized, and three or four private residences, Dr. Chapman's and the old Chesman house included, comprised the village of that day.

1820 .- During the decade from 1810 to 1820 the population shrunk to 644. The high political excitement attending the embargo, non-intercourse, and war questions; the proximity to the frontier during the war; Capt. John W. Weeks, taking an immense number of his young friends-vigor- ous and energetic men-with him, organized a company which did faith- ful service through the War of 1812, and was especially complimented for gallant demeanor at the battle of Chippewa ;* together with the epidemic which raged so fatally in 1813, carrying off many prominent citizens, with the extremely low price of produce and the general stagnation of business, prevented anything like progress. In conjunction with these were the cold seasons of 1816 and 1817, when probably there was more suffering than at any other period of the occupancy of the town. From some or all of these causes, many became discouraged and sought an easier place to live. But by 1820 another fulling-mill had been put up, and another grist- mill helped to grind the rye. corn, and wheat of the people. There were now four stores, two taverns, three doctors, eight school districts, and four school-houses, three lawyers, and five justices of the peace.

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History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 32

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