History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 91

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 91

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" Please to Pay the Whole of the wages Due to me as a Soldier in Major Benjamin Whiteomb Choir of Rangers with the Deprecition to Major Benjamin Whiteomb and his Receipt Shall be a full Discharge for the samc.

"Stratford 9th Jan'r -.

per me Josiah Blogget."

Relative to Two Redeemed Captives .- "July the 19th 1781 oure friend Indions brought in Prisoners of our men which Desarted from Canady which S'd Indians found in the woods and brought in which S'd Pris- oners Promised to Pay S'd Indians 30 Dollors a Peee which Prisoners was not able to Pay and one Elijah Blogget Paid the S'd Sum to S'd Indians for the Redemtion of Gilbert Borged & Josiah Blogget which was 60 Dollors [Sixty dollars.]

"Stratford January ye 17th 1785 "Joshua Lamkin

" Partisienor Elijah Blogget

s Blogget ; Selectmen."

Soldier's Order .-- "To the Hon'ble Treasurer of the State of New-hampshire

"Please to Pay the whole wages and Depreciation Due to Thomas Blodget late a soldier in Major Benja- min Whitcomb's Choir of Rangers to the Said Whitcomb who is hereby authorized to give a full Discharge for the Same

" Josiah Blodget Levi Blodget

" Elijah Blodget Henry Blodget

" Mary Cole Nueomb Blodget

" Howard Blodget "

" Stratford 13 of July 1792

"This May Certify that the above named are all the hairs of the above named Thomas Blodget Certifyed by us "Isaac Johnson } Seleet-

" James Brown f men

Statement of the Condition of Matters, Taxes, Etc., Addressed to the General Court in 1778 .- "The Pe- tition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Stratford humbly shews: That your petitioners, now and ever willing to do our just part toward the Common defence of our Country as far as we are able beg leave to show our inability to pay the State tax we are now called upon, for & pray that we may be heard and Con- sidered under our present circumstances of distress & which we have laboured under ever Since we came into this wilderness -- We began to Settle in the Year 1773 & there are now but Seven families in the town- We have lived destitute of any Assistance from the rest of the Propriety who were to make equal and im- ediate Settlement with us and to build Mills which they have Neglected to do-by which we have Suffered greatly-Our Grain has cost one half its value to get it ground into Meal ever Since we have been here-the Cost of getting Salt and other Necessaries owing to the distance and badness of the Roads have been equally distressing-our proprietary Meeting was Adjourned to Connecticut & held there So that we have not the priviledge of Acting as a propriety and we are not incorporated as other towns are-We are destitute of every previledge-our money is spent, our Families are naked-provisions are very Scarce by reason of the Inhab- itants moving off for fear of the Enemy leaving all our Crops & we were obliged to part with our Oxen & Cows to get back again-We are a frontier town-exposed to the enemy & without the Means of defence- We therefore pray that we may be considered in our Taxes & that we may be admitted to the preveledges of Incorporation-And your petitioners will ever pray-&c.

" Archippus Blodget John Smith

" Joshua Lambkin Joseph Barlow

" James Curtis John Holbrook

"James Brown."

Petition for an Abatement and for Incorporation: Addressed to the General Court. 1778 .-- " We your humbel proticeners do pleade for an abatement of taxes Praying that the Court would consider us under our present distressed Cureumstances and wich we have laboured under Ever since we came into this howling wilderness we Shall now proceed to Show forth what we have Indured Ever Since we began to Settel this

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TOWN OF STRATFORD.

town which in the yeare A D 1773 and now there is but Seven families in the town only and we have lived destitute of aney asistance from the rest of the Propity which ware to make emediate Settlement and bould miles which is all neglected by which means we have Suffered very much on wheat has Cost is the one half of it get it ground ever Since we have lived heare oure proprity meting was Adjurned to Connecticut and held thare So that we have not had the privelige of acting as a proprity in the town When the town was last Chartered out the Publect rites ware taking away so that we live destitute of aney privelige both Sivel or Sacred oure money is Spent our famelys are naked and provision is very scars by reson of the pepol moving of for feire the Enemy We lost all our Crops and was Obliged to part with our oxan and cows to get bak ag ine and we are expose l to the Enemy without aney protection and are in a poore sitawation to defend oure Selves we are the frunteer as the Popol is all with drew from above us we desire that the Court would in- corporate us and give us Proper athority

"Stratford May ye 15 1778

"Archippus Blogget John Smith

" Joshua Lamkin Joseph Barlow

"James Curtiss

John Holbrooks

" James Brown."

First Settlers, Improvements and Stock. From an inventory taken April 28. 1777, by Archippus Blodgett, James Brown and John Holbrook, we find that there were ten polls, three of them credited to Archippus Blodgett; he also had two oxen, three cows, one two-year old, two year- lings, one horse, seven acres of tillage land and four acres of mowing; John Holbrook has one poll, one cow, one two-year-old, and two acres of tillage land; James Brown has one poll. two oxen, one horse, six acres till- age land, two acres mowing land: James Curtis, one poll, two oxen, one two-year-old, one horse, six acres tillage, and two acres of mowing land; John Smith, one poll, one cow, one horse, and eight acres of tillage land; Joshua Lamkin, one poll, four cows, one horse, five acres tillage, and five acres mowing land; Joseph Barlow has two polls, two oxen, two cows, three three-year-olds, one two-year old, two horses, eight acres tillage and two acres mowing land. There were eight oxen, eleven cows, nine young cattle and seven horses in all, with forty acres of tilling land and fifteen acres of mowing.

Petition for a Guard, 1780 .- " The Pettition of us the Subscribers humbly Sheweth That our Exposed Situation to the Enemy in Canada and having the Last Summer Suffered from that Quarter by having our houses Plundered and Sum of our men Captivated by the Indians and hearing of their threatening to Come to this River this winter Give us apprehension of imeadeate Danger therefore we Pray your Hon'rs to take our Case into your wise Consideration and Relieve our Present fears by Sending of us help Either by Sending a Draught of the millitia or that your Hon's would wright to some General oficer for a Detachement of Con- tinental Soldeirs we Supose about 100 men might be a Sutieent Number at Present and your Pettitioners Shall Ever Pray

"Stratford Jan'r 21st 1780

"' James Brown Joseph Barlow

"Archippus Blogget John Gamsby

" John Smith Nathan Barlow

"Joshua Lamkin David Hix "

"State Newhamp'r

"A True and Exact Number of Poles in Stratford twenty-one years and upward Paying a Pole Tax are thirteen taken this 2d Dec'r 1783

"Joshua Lamkin

"John Holbrook

"Sworn to before Jeremiah Eames justice of the peace."

Certificate Relative to Burnside's Ferry, 1786 .- "We, Jeremiah Eames & Joseph Peverly Selectmen of Northumberland & Joshna Lamkin Seleetman & James Brown Town Clerk of Stratford, Certify that we have been notified that a Petition was presented or about to be presented to the General Court for a Ferry to be

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

granted to Thomas Burnside to begin at the Ferry bounds of Edwards Bucknam One mile above the Great falls at Northumberland to extend Six Miles up from Said Bounds, on the River Connecticut taking in the Mouth of the Ammonoosook River & one Mile up the Same. And that We know the inhabitants of Said Towns & every one travelling that way will be greatly reliev'd by a ferry being kept there-And we further Certify that We are of Opinian No person in either of those Towns or in the State would Object thereto as no one would be injured thereby but every person in that quarter & all travellers there greatly benefited " February 1786-

" Jo's Peverly James Brown

" Jer'h Eames Joshua Lamkin "

Petition for a New County: Addressed to the General Court, 1791 .- "The Petition of the Inhabitants of Stratford Humbly Sheweth-

"Thet your Petitioners Live at the Distance of Near Seventy Miles from the Nearest Shire Town in the County-

"That A very Considerable Part of the inhabitants of this Capital part of the County Live Above ns and Are under Simmerler Circumstances with us That the Roads at Some Seasons of the year unpassable-Where- fore We your Peticioners Pray that we may be Set of from the County of Grafton and be made a New County by A Lyne Drawn from Connecticut River between the towns of Concord alias Gunthwait and Littleton and an Eastward takeing in the towns of Conway Eaton &c to the Province Line So Called and Yours in Deuty Bound will Ever Pray

"Stratford Nov'r 21st 1791

" John Gamsby James Brown George Gamsby

"Joseph Holbrook Jun'r

" W'm Curtiss

James Curtiss

Henry Bloggett

Charles Strong

"Nathan Barlow

Howard Bloggett Benj'a Strong

Ephraim Barlow

"Elijah Blogget Andrew Strong

Heth Baldwin Josiah Blogget

"Jabez Baldwin John Smith

Joshua Lamkin

Isaac Johnson

"David Holdbrook Ezra Lamkin

Elisha Webster Richard Holdbrook Abnor Barlow "

"Thomas Lamkin Hezekiah fuller Stephen Curtis

John Gamsby Ju'r Aran Curtiss

Elijah Hinman

Joseph Barlow

Petitions for an Abatement of Tares, Etc .: Addressed to the General Court .- "Humbly Shews The Sub- scribers Inhabitants of the Town of Stratford in the County of Grafton, that prior to the commencement of the Late war your Petitioners had began Settlements in Said town of Stratford-which ware then the frontier Settlement in this State and consequently in the time of the war was most exposed to the depredations and ravages of the Enemy, and that at the repeated solicitations of the Inhabitants and the Commanding officer further down Connectient River they continued at their settlements though in continnal jeopardy for several years and untill the Enemy came upon them, took some of the Inhabitants captive, & phundered others, which compelled your petitioners to remove to places where their families might not be exposed to continual danger-That your petitioners; though verry great sufferers during the continuance of the war have since the conclucion thereof exerted themselves (though in indigent circumstances) and have returned to their former Settlements, where they wish to continne and make such improvements as may be beneficial to them- selves and the Public ;- But find themselves under new embarrassments occasioned by their poverty and the distance they Live from Inhabitants of wealth and fortune, which, togather with the expense they have necessarily ben obliged to be at in building Bridges and a Road through the town-Renders them quite un- able to discharge the Taxes laid on them by Government though well disposed and desireous of doing what is in their power to the support thereof; your Petitioners are therefore reduced to the disagreeable necessity of Petitioning your Honours to take their unfortunate case under your wise consideration and abate so much of the taxes required of said Town as the present Inhabitants are by Law subjected to pay Or in any other way releave them as you in your Great Wisdom my see meet-as your petitioners in duty Bound Shall ever pray.

" W'm Cargill In behalt of the Petitioners."

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TOWN OF STRATFORD.

CHAPTER XC.

Development, Growth and Population-Early Officers-First Marriage-The Town of Strat- ford -- Call for First Town Meeting, Etc .-- Survey -- Extract from Town Records-War of 1812 -- Great Civil War-Stratford Hollow; Business, Etc .-- Methodist Church.

D EVELOPMENT, Growth and Population .- The long war ended, and the labors of peace resumed activity. Now came a period of develop- ment and growth. Up to this time there was no road to Haverhill as we call roads to-day. An eight foot road with "corduroy" or "causeys " (very much out of order) along the miry and swampy places, afforded an opportunity to carry grain to the mill from Dalton down (fifty miles it was then called), but the way above was even worse. A small stock of goods, with West India and New England rum, was on sale in Lancaster, and for years that was the nearest trading-point. The currency of the pioneer was the skins of the wild beasts he shot, the various kinds of peltry, or the "black salts " made from the ashes of the trees they felled. "Many a horse's back and sides have been made sore while conveying these . salts' in bags across its back to market." The population numbered forty-one in September, 1775; in 1790, 146; in 1800, 281; in 1810, 339; in 1820, 335; in 1880, 1,016.

Early Officers .- There were selectmen, and other officers incident to a town, chosen long before the incorporation of the town. The records are scanty, and the names can be ascertained only from documents to which their names were officially attached. Archippus Blodgett and James Curtis were selectmen in 1775, Isaac Johnson and James Brown in 1774.

First Marriage .- The first marriage in town was that of James Brown and Hannah Lamkin, which was solemnized in 1775, by Seth Wales, justice of the peace. This worthy pair had nine children, whose births are duly recorded, their oldest child, Anne, being born March 17, 1776.

The Town of Stratford was incorporated November 16, 1779. By an act approved June 21, 1832, the territory embraced in ranges, 17, 18, 19 and 20, in the southeast part of the town, was set off and annexed to Percy. The town is bounded north by Columbia, east by Odell, south by Stark and Northumberland, and west by Vermont. In 1823 there was one meet- ing house, five school districts with five school-houses, and two taverns.

Call for First Town Meeting .- " State of New Hampshire. Whereas I the subscriber am authorized and Impowered By the General Court of this State as Expresst in the Incorporation of Stratford to notify an Town Meeting agreeable to said order I do hereby Notity all the Inhabitants and Freeholders of the Town of Stratford to meet at the dwelling house of Mr. James Curtis on Tuesday the Eleventh Day of this Instant at one of the clock In the afternoon to act npon the following articles firstly to chuse an Moderator to govern said meeting 2d to chuse all Necessary Town officers. "James Brown."

"Stratford April ye 5 day 1780.

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

Action of First Town Meeting .- "At an Legal Town Meeting held at the House of James Curtis on the 18th Day of April 1780 1st voted James Brown Moderator an 2d voted James Curtis Town Clerk 3d voted Archippus Blogget and John Holbrook & James Brown Selectmen for ye ensning year 4th voted James Curtis. to be Constable."

1781. Town meeting was held at the dwelling house of James Brown. Joseph Barlow was chosen mod- erator: James Brown, town clerk; Archippns Blogget, Joshna Lamkin, and Joseph Barlow, selectmen; John Holbrook, constable; John Smith and Archippns Blogget, surveyors of highways.

1782. Annual meeting held at James Curtis's. John Smith was chosen moderator; James Brown, town clerk; John Holbrook, Joseph Barlow, James Curtis, selectmen; Elijah Blogget, constable.

1783. Met at James Curtis's and elected Joseph Barlow, moderator; James Brown, town clerk; Joseph Barlow, Joshua Lamkin, and John Holbrook, selectmen; Gideon Smith, constable; Joshua Lamkin, grand juror: James Curtis surveyor of roads. Thirteen polls were returned this year.

1784. Met at James Curtis's. Elected Joshua Lamkin, moderator; James Brown, town clerk; Archippus Blogget, James Brown, and Joshua Lamkin, selectmen; James Brown, constable; James Curtis and Archip- pus Blogget, surveyors. It was also voted to raise four (4) pounds for a school for the present year.

1786. Isaac Jolinson and James Brown selectmen.

A survey of the town was made in 1788 by E. W. Judd, whose journal is still in existence and from which we make extracts :-

"September 3, 1778, began to survey Stratford. Began at an Ash bush marked 'No. 5-1788.' Run north 75° east about a mile to Gamsby's mill pond, house, etc. Sept. 8, Trained our ntensils for Minehead, set out for the same at Two o'clock P. M. Cur company mess: Shadrich Osborn, Mr. Mitchell, Eben Strong, Jere Eames, Ben Strong, John Gamsby. Carried out of my own provisions 1 lb chocolate, 4 lbs Sugar, 11 oz Tea. Camped at the mouth of Nulhegan river. Sept. 29, Rainy this morning, we run over Goback mountain. [One of the prominent mountains of the town, taking its name, it is said, from its great steepness on one side, where all climbers had to "go back."] Oct. 4, Came to Nash's stream. In camp. Rainy all the after- noon and night. Snow fell on the hills as to look white. Oct. 5, Eat dinner in an old dead swamp. Tone went home after gun and sugar. Oct 9, Run up part of the great Mountain. Climbed a tall tree and viewed the Land in Stratford, and judged that abont one-forth of the land of the town will admit of cultivation. Oct. 14, Breakfast at Wait's, one-half pint Rum drawn. Survey. Oct. 16 & 17 Survey. 18, Eat supper at Capt. Lamkins, Lodged at Curtis's."

Many of the localities of the town are mentioned by the same names they bear to-day. Mineral Bow, Bog brook, Great and Little Nash streams, Gamsby's mill-pond, Judson's mill, Jonathan pond, etc., etc. "Wait's" was frequently mentioned, and was headquarters, probably, for the sur- veying party. There is rarely a failure to mention the three daily meals, nor where they were taken. Rum is mentioned frequently, but in small quantities. All accounts are kept with scrupulous exactness. The jour- nal also registers the weather. Snow storms began early in October; often disagreeably mixed with rain. Heavy winds were frequent. Trees were blown down, and thunder storms swept through the valley, and thundered on the hills. The journal gives but one entry of attending public worship on Sunday, and this was held in a barn at Col. Bailey's in Vermont. In the same connection we make this quotation. Does it refer to the cele- brated Rev. George Whitefield, who visited America about this time, and of whom it is said that he could, at his pleasure, make a congregation langh or weep by his varied pronunciations of the word " Mesopotamia "? "One Mr. Whitefield, a Priest, was very extraordinary for Thundering out with a loud voice so as to made those of a Week mind become a pray to his lamentations, etc., particularly one ' Pomp,' a Negro, who always used

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TOWN OF STRATFORD.

to fall down." Warm and pleasant Indian-summer weather is mentioned in November. The record ends about November 4, when they camped all night on Goback mountain in a rain storm.

The town records from 1785 to 1800 are not preserved, but the select- men of 1799 were Joseph Holbrook, William Johnson. and David Hol- brook.

Extracts from Town Records .- At a special meeting held at the house of Henry Schoff, June 27, 1800, one article aeted upon was "to see if they will vote to built a meeting honse, and appoint a committee to pitch upon a spot to set it on." The vote on revision of State constitution stood, "Yeas 18. Nays 4." Amasialı Chase, Jabez Baldwin, and Nathan Barlow licensed as " taverners."

1801. "Voted to raise a tax of fifty dollars to be paid in labor on the highway at fifty cents per day. To raise eighteen dollars for town expenses and to build a pound. John T. Gilman had twenty eight votes for governor, and Timothy Walker, eight. Joseph and David M. Holbrook licensed taverners."

1803. An article in the warrant was "to see if the Town will pass a vote to build a pest-house, or see what measures shall be taken to prevent said disorder (small-pox) from spreading." Meeting was held at Isaac Johnson's.

1804. The annual meeting this year is called for the first time "to meet at the house of Isaac Stevens." 1805. A petition to Nathan Barlow, J. P., to call a town meeting is signed by quite a number of new settlers. The signers are Benjamin Strong, Agur Platt, Charles Strong, David M. Holbrook, Jonah Graves, Richard Holbrook, James Curtis, James Brown, Joseph Barlow, David Holbrook. Abner Barlow, Ephraim Mahurin. Peletiah Nichols and Isaac Stevens, licensed as taverners. John Langdon receives thirty-five votes for governor to John T. Gilman eleven. Voted to raise $100 to buy weights and measures, and to survey the outlines of the town agreeable to an act of the legislature.

1808. The first election for President recorded in town was called by "command " of Gov. Langdon. E. H. Mahurin was moderator, and the electoral ticket, headed by Jeremiah Smith, received seventeen votes; the one headed by John Langdon received fifteen.

1811. Value of non-resident land 85,143.75. Ezra Barnes licensed as a taverner in 1811 and 1812.

1813. The district meeting was held here, and Jeremiah Eames elected moderator and Thomas Eames representative for the towns of Stratford, Northumberland and Percy. The tax list falls this year from sixty- two to fifty. James Brown, a most prominent citizen died. Agur Platt, town clerk for several years, moved to Indiana. Francis Wilson keeps a tavern in 1809, and the town meetings of 1819 and 1820 are called at "Wil- son's tavern." In 1817 the town meeting met at Faulkner's tavern. With these three exceptions the meet- ings were held continuously at Isaac Stevens's tavern from 1804 to 1820.

War of 1812 .- Stratford gave of her sons in this war as freely as in Revolutionary times. Among those going as soldiers were Luther Fuller; his sons Samuel and Calvin; Jerry, son of Hezekiah Fuller; William, son of Isaac Merriam; and Haines French and his three sons. Samuel Fuller died of measles; Calvin Fuller of " spotted fever;" Jerry Fuller had his head taken off by a cannon ball; William Merriam was killed at the battle of Chip- pewa; Haines French died at Plattsburg; and his son Homer was killed in battle. Probably no town in the state lost so large a percentage of the sol- diers sent in this war as did Stratford.

Capt. James Powers went to the Mexican war from this town.

Great Civil War .- The selectmen report to the adjutant-general in 1866 seven installments of soldiers. 1st. Twenty-eight men, no bounty. 2d, Twenty-two men with $100 each as bounty, $2,200. 3d, Seven men with $300 bounty to each, $2,100. 4th, Twelve men with 8200 bounty, $2,400. 5th, Seven men with $300 bounty, $2,100. 6th, Fourteen men and bounties of $9.400. 7th, Eight men whose bounties were 82,658.34. Total: Ninety-eight men, with bounties, etc., of $20,858.34. The necesary 50

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HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.

incidental expenses on the fourth call were $73.85, of which Lucius Hartshorn contributed $23.90. J. H. Danforth was agent on the fifth call. He went to Washington to fill quota; expenses, $119.73. F. Fisk was agent on the sixth and seventh calls. Expenses on the sixth, $314.52; on the seventh, $254.85; total $739.05. Andrew J. Ockington was a soldier of the Sixth Mass. Vols. which made the historic march through Baltimore in April, 1861. Harvey Merriam served six months in Forty- first Iowa Cav- alry, then re-enlisted and was killed in the Red River (La.) campaign. Albert Curtis served in the U. S. navy.

Stratford Hollow .- In the early history of the town and until the rail- road days this was the business center. The lumber-mills give some business to the railroad and some enterprises flourish in the little village. Fred N. Day is station agent and a stirring business man in various direc- tions.

Fred L. Kenney has a bobbin-factory, a rotary saw-mill and a clap- board machine, employing eighteen men, with a capacity of 15,000 of lumber per day. These are run by steam and water-power.

L. B. Blodgett, the worthy postmaster of "Stratford Hollow" post- office, deals in dry-goods, groceries, etc., and belongs to one of the oldest families in town.

Noah Waters has been in trade for many years. He is also a general merchant, and of an old family.

Library Hall (two stories high, 65x36 feet,) was erected in 1885. It furnishes a well-appointed place for meetings, entertainments, and the like. A subscription library is connected; Helen M. French, librarian.

Brookside Cottage is a neat little country inn. Johnson & Merriam, proprietors. It has a grocery store connected with it.

Coös Lodge, I. O. G. T., was organized October 20, 1882, with thirty- three members. It has now forty-four members.

Ecclesiastical .- In 1780 the village plat was under consideration, and was located on "Meeting-House Hill." In 1500, in a call for a special town meeting, one article was "to see if the town will vote to build a meeting house, and appoint a committee for to pitch upon a spot." The early settlers have left no evidence of their religious preferences except in a few instances. James Brown was the son of a Congregational deacon, and brought religious books in his saddle-bags. His house became the home of the pioneer preachers, and the place where religious services were held. Jabez Baldwin and his family, according to tradition, had been reared in the Church of England. The wife of Isaac Johnson was Phoebe Grant, whose father was a Congregational clergyman. Record evidence concerning any religious organization cannot be obtained until at least fifty years of settlement had passed.

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History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 91

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