History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 117

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168

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The following is a list of the deacons whose terms of service continued several years : Joseph Barnes, Thomas Bixby, Joseph Chase, Clifton Claggett, John Underwood, Matthew Parker, William Read, John Parker, Andrew Lydston and Moses Chase. The last- named is living at the advanced age of eighty-nine.

The society owns a good parsonage and a circulat- ing library. James Parker, a native and resident of Litchfield during his life, died November 11, 1860. He bequeathed nearly all his estate as follows: "For the support of the preaching of the Gospel in the town of Litchfield, according to the wishes and for the benefit of the Presbyterian society and church in said town ; the increase, interest, gain or profit only is to be used for the purpose aforesaid, and the prin- cipal is to remain entire." This fund amounts to eighteen thousand and twenty-five dollars. Rev. Abel Fletcher, a minister of the Christian denomination, resided here many years, devoting his time to the educational, moral and spiritual welfare of this com- munity.

Rev. Edward L. Parker, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in the neighboring town of Londonderry for nearly forty years, and Rev. Benjamin Chase, who died in Natchez, Miss., some years ago, were natives of Litehfield.

Pioneer History. - Litchfield and Merrimack represent the area known to the Indians as Naticook. It was the home of a tribe of that name, or Nacooks, one of the many divisions under the rule of the great chief Passaconaway. From accounts of the early settlers, these Indians were comparatively industrious, and were engaged in hunting, fishing and the culti- vation of corn, beans, melons, etc. The Naticook lands were especially favorable for agricultural pur- suits. There are no evidences of their being other- wise than humane in their treatment of the first settlers. This peaceful disposition was probably due to the former sufferings of the Indians in the Merri-

mack Valley, through wars with the Mohawks, or " Man-Eaters of the West," famine and disease, all of which resulted in great loss in numbers and powers. One of the residences of Passaconaway, and his last in this section, was upon Reed's Island, which he called "my beautiful island of Natticook." His sale of land to Wheelwright, and the rapid settlement of the Merrimack Valley by Massachusetts parties who had extensive grants, obliged him to petition to the Legis- lature of Massachusetts for a grant of land for a resi- dence. In answer to his petition, the government allowed him and his associates a tract " a mile and a half on either side of the Merrimack."

PETITION.

"To the honerd John Endecot, Esqr., together with the rest of the honerd General Court now Assembled in Boston, the petition of papisse- connewa in the behalf of himself, as also of many other Indians who now for a longe time o'r selves o'r progenators seated upon a tract of land called Naticot, and is now in the possession of Mr. William Brenton, of Rode Island, marchant, and is confirmed to the said Mr. Brenton, to him his heirs and assigns, according to the Laws of this Jurisdiction, by reason of which tracte of land beinge taken up as a foresaid and thereby yr pore petitionr, with many others, is in an onsettled condition and must be forced in a short time to remove to some other place. The Hum- ble request of yr petitionr is that this honerd Courte woulde please to grant unto us a parcell of land for or comfortable citnation to be stated for or Injoyment, as also for the comfort of others after us, as also that this honerd Court wold pleas to take into yr serious and grave con- sideration the condition and also the requeste of yr pore Supliant and to- a poynte two or three persons as a Committee to arrange with sum one or two Indians to vew and determine of some place and to lay out the same, not further to trouble this honerd Assembly, humbly cravinge an ex- pected answer this present session I shall remain yr humble Servant,

" Wherein yu shall commande,

"Boston : 8:3 mo., 1662."

" PAPISSECONEWA.

The order of the court upon this petition is as follows, viz. :

"In answer to the petition of Papisseconaway, this court judgeth it meete to grant to the said Papisseconaway and his men or associates about Naticot, above Mr. Brenton's lands, where it is free, a mile and a half on either side Merrimack River in breadth, three miles on either side in length ; provided he nor they do not alienate any part of this grant without leave and license from this Court, first obtained."

John Parker and Jonathan Dauforth were ap- pointed surveyors to lay out this township for Passa- conaway and his associates.

During the progress of King Philip's War the Indians departed from the Merrimack Valley.

Civil History .- The beginning of the settlement and the names of the first settlers in Litchfield can- not be ascertained. In 1656, Massachusetts granted the greater part of Naticook to William Brenton, an explorer and fur-trader. It was known as " Brenton's Farm" until incorporated as a township. From 1659 to 1662 several Massachusetts parties procured grants of Naticook lands on the east side of the river ; but it is not known that any of them became actual set- tlers. These grants were all included in the town- ship of Dunstable, incorporated in 1673. In August, 1728, the owners of "Brenton's Farm " (then sixteen in number, and all non-residents) made application to one of His Majesty's justices for the county of Mid- dlesex for a warrant to call a meeting to make a divi-

490

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

sion of the property according to their several inter- ests. This meeting was held in Charlestown on the 23d day of the same month, and organized by the choice of Francis Borland as moderator, and Jacob Holyoke clerk. A committee, consisting of Robert Richardson, Joseph Blanchard and Stephen Richard- son, was appointed

"To survey and take a Plat particularly of the enterval of the meadows & of the other lands lying & contained in the aforesaid tract of land or Farme with the quantity of each, & to notify & join with the Proprietors claiming the land joining to the aforesaid tract of common land or Farme in Running the Lines according to Law, and to make re_ port thereon, with their opinions on the most Proper way and method for the Proceeding in the dividing the aforesaid land or Farme to & among the said Proprietors, at the next Proprietors' Meeting calld for that pur pose."

The next meeting was held by virtue of a warrant from Jacob Holyoke, clerk, in Charlestown, Septem- ber 26th. The committee reported that Mr. Samuel Danforth, surveyor, whose services they had secured had surveyed the lands and made a plan of them. The report of the committee was accepted, and it was voted :

" That the aforesaid lands on each side of the Merrimack River be equally divided into sixteen parts, allowing Quantity for Quality, the sit" nation of the land to be duly considered."

Benjamin Prescott, Esq., of Groton, Eleazer Tyng, Esq., of Dunstable, and Mr. Joseph Richardson, of Woburn, were selected to lay out and divide the lands. This committee was also instructed to lay out roads and highways, and to select a suitable location for a mill, reserving one hundred acres for that pur- pose. Captain William Richardson had already im- proved a tract of land, which was ordered to be con- tained in one division. January 23, 1729, bills of credit to the amount of one hundred and sixty pounds were ordered to defray charges upon the property. Jonas Clark and Joseph Blanchard were appointed assessors, and Captain Robert Richardson collector. The following is a list of the proprietors and their as- sessments :

" Jahleel Brenton, of Newport, Colony of R. I. 26

10 William Lund, of Dunstable 3

0 Thomas Chamberlain, of Dunstable . 0 2 Mary French, administratrix, of Dunstable .. 1 10 Joseph Thompson, of London 20

John Smith, of Boston . 10 0 Jared Elliott, of Killingsworth, Conn. 10 2

John Stall, of Conn. 10 2 Augustus Lucas, of Newport 1

Barsheba Lucas, of Newport . 1 5 Joseph Woodbridge, of Conn. 10 Martha Church, of Newport 10 0

Samuel Brown, of Salem 10

0) Nathaniel Cotton, of Bristol 5

0 Nathaniel Cotton, adm'r estate of Peleg Sanford . . 20 0

Robert Richardson, of Chelmsford 11

Francis Borland, of Boston . 20

0 Elizabeth Burton, of Marshfick . 2

Jonas Clark, of Chelmsford . 5

£160

The one hundred acre mill lot was located on the

Great Nesenkcag stream. It was granted to Jona- than Richardson in 1729 upon condition that he erect corn and saw-mills, and constantly maintain the same in good repair. While it would be interesting to know the population of " Brenton's Farm" at this date (1729), there are no means of determining even the family names. Massachusetts was encouraging emigration to the Merrimack Valley in order to strengthen her claim to the territory ; the proprietors, that their property might be enhanced, were offering inducements to actual settlers ; but the fertility of the Naticook lands was the principal incentive which swelled the numbers of the settlement to quite a colony in four years' time. Most of the families came from Massachusetts and were of English origin. A few Irish emigrants became permanent settlers. The colony was unembarrassed by land title contro- versies and held peaceable possession from the start, -an experience unlike many of the settlements in Southern New Hampshire.

The next step was to procure a charter for a town- ship, and in this the settlers had the co-operation of the proprietors, for, March 20, 1733, they voted, to join with such other persons as may be inclined to make application to the Towns of Not- tingham and Dunstable to give their consent for their being set off a distinct Township." The petition to the General Assembly of Massachusetts for incorpora- tion, dated May, 1734, was signed by Aquila Under- wood, in behalf of the petitioners.

The Legislature passed the following order :

" In the House of Representatives, July 3, 1734.

" Ordered,-That Mr. Aquila Underwood, one of the principal Inhab- itants of ye new Township at Naticook and lands adjoining, be and here- by is fully authorized and impowered to assemble the freeholders and other inhabitants of sd Township Lawfully qualified to choose Town officers to stand until the annual meeting in March next.

" Sent up for concurrence.

"J. QUINCY, Spr. " In council, July 3, 1734. Read and concurred, " J. WILLARD, Sec'y.

" July 4, -Consented to. J. BELCHER.

" A true copy. Attested, per

"THAD. MASON, Dept. Sec'y."

The first meeting was held pursuant to the follow- ing warrant :

" MIDDLESEX SS., July 20, 1734.

" Persuant to an act of ye Great and General Court or Assembly, July 4, 1734, I, ye subscriber, Do in his Majesty's Name Require all ye free- holders and other inhabitants of the Town of Litchfield lawfully qualified to vote in Town-Meeting, to meet and convene at ye house of Aquila Underwood, in Litchfield, on Monday ye twenty ninth Day of July, current at one of ye clock in ye afternoon, then and there to choose town officers, to stand until ye anniversary meeting in March next.

" Per order of the General Court,

"AQUILA UNDERWOOD."

For a period of twelve years Litchfield included the Naticook lands on both sides of the Merrimack River. The management of town affairs was under one organization until about the time the boundary question between the provinces of Massachusetts and New Hampshire was settled, in 1741, when a division

0 Joseph Blanchard, of Dunstable . 3

491

LITCHFIELD.

into districts (east and west) occurred. The town- meetings were usually held in the meeting-house on the east side. From 1741 to the date of the Merri- mack charter, April 2, 1746, each district managed its local affairs. Although the records show that contentions frequently arose during this primitive government, the public interests did not suffer. Highways were laid out, the streams were bridged, a ferry was established, pounds, one on each side, were built, and a house of worship erected. To-day we are in the enjoyment of direct fruits which the la- bors of these hardy pioneers produced. Their pre- science was marvelous; their roads and bridges have from time to time undergone repairs, the boats at the ferry been renewed and the church rebuilt, but the changes in location have been slight, and the inhab- itants for a century and a half have reverenced the wisdom of the first settlers.

The following is a list of the resident taxpayers in Litchfield in 1736 :

Edward Linkfield, Ebenezer Wright, John Barrett, James Moor, Samuel Moor, Jonathan Perram, Benjamin Blodgett, James IIutchins. Robert Richardson, William Adams, Ephraim Powers, Jonathan Powers, Aquila Woodward, Thomas Clark, John Harvell, Nathan Kendall, Jacob Hildreth, Jonas Proctor, Gideon Powers, Ebenezer Taylor, Nathaniel Hills, Enoch Hills, Joseph Pollard, Josiah Cummings, Nathaniel Curtis, James Perram, Josiah Richardson, David Kendall, Benjamin Hasel, Christopher Temple, Jonathan Cummings, William Lund, John Hustone, James Nahor, Hugh Nahor, John Butterfield, Si- meon Powers, Joseph Smith, Simon Cook.

Only sixteen of the above were taxed for real estate.

PETITION FOR A PARISH ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RIVER.

" To His Excellency, Benning Wentworth, Esq., Capt. General and' Commander-in-Chief in and over the province of New Hampshire March ye 28th, 1746.

"The Humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the district of Litchfieldl Humbly Sheweth that your Petitioners are about forty familys, being a part of Dunstable old grant, living on the North Easterly Corner of sd Grant ; That the center of our town being about eleven miles from the Province Line, we had not the least apprehention of our being affected by the fixing of Towns near said Line, and that your petitioners have Paid above two-thirds towards the support of the Gospel for many years, and that we are not only forty families upon the Easterly side of the River, but that we have Land to accommodate a considerable Number more ; that the Inhabitants of Litchfield, on the West side of the River. don't exceed thirteen or fourteen familys, who we are very willing should be disannexed from us. In regard to the great danger and Deffi- culty, which we know they are Exposed to In Crossing the River in order to attend the Publick worship of God, Nothwithstanding of all which Either, by our having been Inadvertantly over look'd or forgot when Instructions were given to the Committee of the Honourable As- sembly for settleing the Districts in these parts, or by some other means unknown to us, we understand that it is Intended that we be annexed to that District upon the west side of the River, and that our Center and place of Publick worship be on the westerly side, which would oblige Above forty familys constantly to cross the River, to our great and un- speakable danger and difficulty, In order to meet with about thirteen or fourteen famelys. May it please your Excellency to take the difficult case of your Petitioners under your wise consideration, and so to fix things that we may not be obliged to Cross the River ; for although we have Lost a number of famelys ou the Westerly side of the River, we have accommodations on the East side that is now onsettled that is Likely in a few years to Regain the Number Lost on the other side, so that, Considering the Difficulty and Danger we must be at in case we were obliged to cross sd river to attend publick worship, we think that we can be much better accommodated to be Erected into a town on our side, and much greater satisfaction to the inhabitants. Therefore, your 32

petitioners Desire to be Incorporated with the Injoyment the Land of all on the East side of sd River in sd District, and to be Invested with the Privilidge and Immunities as other towns in sd Province are, and your Petitioners, as in Duty Bound, shall Ever pray.

" Patrick Taggart.

William Qesten.

Parish Richardson.

John Questen.

Hugh Nahor.

James Nahor.

John Butterfield.

John Taylor.

Jacob llildreth.

John Orr.

William Richardson.

Amos Kendall.

Nathan Kendall.

Robo't Richardson.

Peter Rusel.

John Huchason.

Robeart Darrah.

William Bouner.

Alexander Parker.

James Nickols.

Robeart Mekxeen.

James Darrah.

Robeart McKeen, Jr.

James Mcknight.

Alexander Calwell.

Garet Rowan.

Thomas Karr.

David Whittemore.

John McAllester.

Daniel Kendall."

In answer to the foregoing and another petition for additional territory north of Brenton's Farm, dated May, 1746, the following charter was issued by His Excellency, Governor Wentworth :

" PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

" George the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.

" To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting : Whereas sundry of our Loyal subjects, Inhabitants of a Tract of Land within the ancient Boundarys of a Town Called Old Dunstable, in our province of New Hampshire, on the Easterly side of Merrimack River, hereinafter de- scribed, have humbly petitioned and Requested of us that they may be erected and incorporated into a Township, and enfranchized with the same powers, Authorities and privilidges which Other Towns within our said province by Law have and enjoy ; And it appearing to us conducive to the general Good of our said province, as well as of the said inhabi- tants in particular, by maintaining good Order and encouraging the cul- ture of the Land, that the same should be done;

" Know ye, therefore, that we of our especial Grace, certain knowledge, and for the encourageing and promoteing the Good purposes and ends aforesaid, by and with the advice of our trusty and well-beloved Benning Wentworth, Esqr., our Governour and commander-in-chief, and of our council for our said province, Have Erected, Incorporated and Ordained, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and henceforth, Do will and or- dain that the Inhabitants of the tract of land aforesaid, bounded as fol- lows, viz : Beginning one Mile and Eighty rods North of the south corner of Londonderry Township, on the west side of said Town, and to run from thence North, on the West side of said Londonderry, five miles and seven furlongs and twelve rods and a half; then North twenty-one degrees West to Merrimack River; then down said river till it meets with a west line by the needle that comes from a place where it began, and that shall inhabit the same, be and by these pres- ents are declared and ordained to be a Town Corporate, and are hereby erected and incorporated into a Body Politick and a Corporation to have Continuance forever by the name of Lytchfield, with all the powers and Authorities, privilidges and Immunities and Franchizes, which other Towns within said Province or any of them by Law have and enjoy. To have and to Hold the said powers and Authorities, Immunities and Franchizes to them, the said Inhabitants, and their successors forever, Reserving to us, Our Heirs and successors all white pine trees growing and being and that shall hereafter grow and be on sd Tract of Land, for the use of our Royal Navy, reserving also the power of Dividing the said Town to us, our Heirs and Successors when it shall appear necessary or convenient for the benefit of the Inhabitants thereof ; And as the several Towns within our said Province are by Laws thereof enabled and au- thorized to assemble and by the majority of Votes to choose all Officers as are mentioned in the said laws,. ... We do by these presents nomi- nate and appoint John McMurphy, Esqr., to call the first meeting of the said Inhabitants, to be held within the said town at any time within thirty days from the date hereof, giving legal Notice of the time, place and design of holding such meeting.

"In Testimony whereof, we have caused the seal of our said province to be affixed hereunto. Witness, Benning Wentworth, Esqr., our Governonr and Commander-in- chief of our said province, the fifth day of June, in the

492

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and forty-nine, and in the twenty-second year of our reign.

"B. WENTWORTHI."

The warrant issued by John McMurphy for the first town-meeting under the new charter was posted by John Harvell, June 15, 1749. The meeting was held on the 3d of July following, and chose Nathan Ken- dall, James Nahor and Jacob Hildreth, selectmen ; Jacob Hildreth, town clerk; Jeremiah Cotton, con- stable; William McQuesten and Robert Darrah, tith- ingmen ; Josiah Richardson, Peter Russell and Alex- ander Parker, surveyors of highways. Peter Russell, Joel Dix and Jacob Hildreth were constituted a com- mittee to examine and adjust the accounts of the selectmen and constable under the old organization. The sum of forty pounds, old tenor, was appropriated to pay for the charter, for running town lines, and Mr. McMurphy for attending the meeting and adminis- tering the oath of office to the several town officers. At the first annual March meeting in 1750 the follow- ing town officers were elected :

James Underwood, moderator ; Jacob Hildreth, town clerk; Jacob Hildreth, John Cochran and John Parker, selectmen ; Samuel Chase, constable ; David Whittemore, treasurer ; Nathan Howard and Arthur Darrah, door-keepers; John McQuesten and Amos Chase, surveyors of highways ; William Read and Alexander Parker, field-drivers ; William McQuesten and David Campbell, fence-viewers; David Whittemore,, sealer of leather ; Nathan Kendall, pound-keeper ; Alexander Colwel and Samuel Gibson, tithingmen; John McQuesten and Joseph Chase hog-reeves.

It was voted to raise one hundred pounds, new tenor, to hire preaching. John McQuig, William Pat- terson and William Read were chosen a committee to procure a minister.

DUTIES OF TOWN OFFICERS PREVIOUS TO THE REVOLUTION .- The moderator then, as now, presided at the town-meetings. The duties of the selectmen were similar to those in towns at present date, excepting that in colonial times they had charge of the schools. Constables levied and collected the taxes in addition to the duties at present performed by constables. Town clerks and treasurers were the same then as now. Field-drivers impounded all horses and cattle found running at large. Tithingmen preserved order in church and at public gatherings. Hog-reeves enforced the law which required hogs running at large to be yoked. Fence-viewers inspected fences, to see if they were sufficient in law.

WARNING. In order to protect itself from pauper- ism, the town often took advantage of a law requiring new and doubtful subjects to leave within the time specified in the warrant. The following, served upon Cæzar Porter, is one of the many recorded :

" To Sumnel Center, constable for the town of Litchfield for the year 1785.

" You are hereby authorized and required to warn Cazar Porter, a negro man, and Phillisee, his wife, and family, Now residing in Litch- field aforesaid, but not being inhabitants thereof, that they do depart the said town within fourteen days, as they will answer the contrary in the manner that the Law directs, and make return hereof with your Doings thereon to us, the subscribers, within fourteen days.

"Given under our hands and seal at Litchfield, this nineteenth Day of January, A. D. one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six.

"DANIEL BIXBY,

- Selectmen

"DAVID MCQUIG, of

" ROBERT PARKER,- Litchfield.

"State of New Hampshire,

Hillsborough, ss. Litchfield, January 27, 1786.

" Pursuant to the precept, I have warned Cazar Porter and Phillisee, his wife, and family, to depart this said town as I am commanded, which is the return of Samuel Center, Constable.

"per DANIEL BIXBY, Town Clerk.

Cæzar is said to have been a native of Boston, and in his youth was brought to Litchfield as a slave ; he lived with Mr. Jonathan Parker, and on this account he took the name of Cæzar Parker. He continued to reside in the town, and afterwards moved to Amherst, N. H. In his old age he went to Rhode Island, where he died in the neighborhood of Newport, in 1858, at the advanced age of one hundred and five years.

The growth of Litchfield from the date of its incor- poration to the close of the eighteenth century was steady and propitious. Notwithstanding their many trials, the inhabitants were resolute and courageons ; few of them had the benefit of an education, in the technical sense of the term ; but their varied experi- ences developed physical and intellectual forces which were the foundation of their continued prosperity.

Of the early families, the descendants of the Parkers, Bixbys, Tuftses, Chases, Barneses, Reeds and Mc- Questens have continuously resided in the town, and the several generations have distinguished themselves in the various positions of trust and honor to which they have been called.

The Moors, Hildreths, Underwoods and Darrahs have, by removals and death, become extinct.

Since 1800 the only marked public improvement is the town hall which was built in 1850. This building has an elevated location in the centre of the town; it is two stories in height, with halls and ante-rooms in each for town purposes.

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 117

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168