USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire > Part 140
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HISTORY OF NEW BOSTON.
BY NIEL MCLANE.
CHAPTER I.
NEW BOSTON.
GRANTEES AND GRANT.
" IN 1735, John Simpson, John Carnes, James Hal- sey, John Tyler, John Steel, Daniel Goffe, Charles Coffin, Ebenezer Bridge, Daniel Pecker, William Lee, Henry Howell, Job Lewis, Thomas Bulfinch, John Indicott, John Erving, James Day, Andrew Lane, Byfield Lyde, John Hills, John Spooner, John Read, Samuel Tyler, John Boydell, John Homans, John Williams, Jr., Joshua Henshaw, Jr., Benjamin Clark, Jacob Hurd, James Townsend, William Salter, Thomas Downs, Zachariah Johonett, Daniel Loring, John Crocker, William Speakman, Thomas Greene, Gilbert Warner, John Larabee, John Green, Rufus Greene, Thomas Foster, John Arbuthnott, James Gould, Joseph Greene, Isaac Walker, Robert Jenkins, Benjamin Bagnald, Richard Checkly, John Mave- ricke, Joshua Thomas and Thomas Hancock became petitioners to the Great and General Court or As- sembly of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, for a grant of six miles square for a township." In looking over the records, we do not find any reason why they should elaim this grant ; neither have we the petition, but must go wholly upon supposition. The most probable and reasonable is, that on the coast of Massachusetts it was so thickly settled there must be some opening or avenue for the young men. These grantees were all Bostonians, and men of wealth and title ; hence it would not seem that it was for themselves or descendants, but to improve the new lands and encourage settlement. Another author writes that it was to pay descendants of soldiers in the Indian wars: Massachusetts' treasury becoming impoverished by these expeditions, bills of credit depreciated and soon became nearly worthless, and these soldiers laid claim for further remuneration. Hence the grant of New Boston was given.
GRANT.
"At a Great and General Court or Assembly for His Majesty's Prov- ince of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, began and held in Boston,
upon Wednesday, the 28th of May, 1735, and continued by several ad- journments to Wednesday, the 19th of November following.
" In the House of Representatives, December 3, 1735, in answer to the petition of John Simpson and others,-
" Voted, that the prayer of the Petition be granted, and that together with such as shall be joined by the Honorable Board, be a Committee at the charge of the Petitioners to lay ont a Township of the contents of six miles square, at the place petitioned for, or some other suitable place ; and that they return a platt thereof to this Court within twelve months for confirmation, and for the more effectual bringing forward the settle- ment of the said new Town.
" Ordered, That the said Town be laid out into sixty-three equal shares, one of which to be for the first settled minister, one for the min- istry and one for the schools, and that on each of the other sixty shares the petitioners do, within three years from the confirmation of the platt, have settled one good family, who shall have a house built on his house- lot of eighteen feet square, and seven feet stud at the least, and finished ; that each right or grant have six acres of land brought to and ploughed, or brought to English grass and fitted for mowing ; that they settle a learned and Orthodox minister, and build and finish a convenient Meet- ing-House for the publick worship of God. And the said committee are hereby directed to take bond of each settler of forty Pounds for his faith- ful complying with and performing the conditions of settlement, and in case any of the said settlers fail of performing the aforesaid conditions then his or their right, share or interest in said Town to revert to and be at the disposition of the Province; and that the said Committee be and hereby are impowered to sue out the Bonds and recover the posses- sion of the forfeited Lotts (if any be) at the expiration of the three years, and to grant them over to other persons that will comply with the condi- tions within one year next after the said grant ; and the Bonds to be made and given to the said Committee and their successors in the said Grant.
"Sent up for concurrence.
" J. QUINCY, Chairman.
" Read and concurred.
" In Council, January 14, 1735.
" Consented to. "J. WILLARD, Secretary.
"J. BELCHER.
" A true copy, examined by
"THAD. MASON, Dep. Sec'y."
In the House of Representatives, January 16, 1735, it was,-
" Ordered, That Captain William Collings and Mr. Ebenezer Parker, with such as shall be joined by the Honorable Board, be a committee to take a platt of the within township, and effectnal care the same, be brought forward to all intents and purposes, agreeable to the conditions of the Grant.
"Sent up for concurrence.
"J. QUINCY, Speaker.
" In Council, January 16, 1735.
" Read and coneurred, and William Dudley, Esq., is joined in the af- fair.
" THAD. MASON, Dept. S'c'y.
" A true copy : examined by
" THAD. MASON, Dep't. Sec'y." 585
586
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Agreer bly to these aets, the committee appointed Jeremiah Cummings surveyor to lay out the township, with Zacheus Lovewell and James Cummings for chainmen.
He performed the work and submitted his report, accompanied by a rude map of the township, denoting its boundary lines, rivers and Joe English Hill.
Here follows the report,-
"I, the subscriber, together with Zacheus Lovewell and James Cuni- mings, have laid out, pursuant to the Grant of the General Court, to Mr. John Simpson and other petitioners with him, for a Township in the un- appropriated Lands of the Province, of the contents of six miles square, with a thousand acres added for ponds, that lye within the sd Township, and have bounded it thus: Beginning at a Beach tree, one of the Cor- ners of the Narragansit town, No. 5, and in the north line of ye Narra- gansit, No. 3; from thence running two degrees south of the west by ye sd Narrgansit Town, No. 3, four miles and three-quarters to the north- east corner of the sd Township; from thence, the same course, one mile and one hundred and twenty rods to a Burch tree marked ; thence the line turns and runs North two degrees to the west, by Province Land, six miles and forty-two rods to a white pine tree marked ; from thence the line turns and Runs East two degrees north, by Province Lands, six miles and forty-two Rods to a White Oak tree marked, from thence we run South two degrees, east Partly by Province Lands and partly by the Nar- ragansit town afore sd, No. 5, to the beach tree, the first mentioned bound, with two rods in each hundred added for uneaveness of Land and Swagg of Chain.
" Which said Lands Lye on the west side Merrimack river, on the Branches of Piscataquog River.
"JEREMIAH CUMMINGS, "Surveyor.
" February the 12th, 1735."
" MIDDLESEX SS., Dunstable, January 28th, 1735.
" Jeremiah Cummings as surveyor and Zachens Lovewell and James Cummings as Chainmen, personally appearing before me, ye Subscriber, one of his Majesty's Justices of the peace for the County of Midx, made Oath that in Surveying and measuring a Township, granted by the Gen- eral Court to Mr. John Simpson and others, they would deal truly and faithfully in their respective trusts.
"ELEAZER TYNG."
In the House of Representatives, March 19, 1735, this report was read, and it was, --
"l'oted, That a platt, containing six miles square of Land, laid out by Jeremiah Cummings, Surveyor, and two Chainmen, on Oath, to satisfy the Grant aforesaid, Lying adjoining to the Narragansit Towns, No. three and No. 5, and on province Land, with an allowance of one thousand acres of Lands for ponds Lying within said Platt, was presented for al- lowance.
" Read and ordered that ye platt be allowed, and ye Land therein de- lineated and described be and hereby are Confirmed to the said John Simpson and the other Grantees mentioned in said petition, passed ye last sitting of the Court, their Heirs and assigns, respectively, forever ; pro. vided the platt exceeds not the quantity of six miles square, and one thousand acres of Land, an allowance for Ponds within the Tract, and does not interfere with any other or former Grant ; provided also the Petitioners, their Heirs or assignes, Comply with ye Conditions of the Grant.
" Sent up for concurrence.
" J. QUINCY, Speaker.
"In Council, March 20, 1735.
" Read and concurred.
"SIMON FROST, Dept. Sec'y.
" Consented to,
"J. BELCHER. "
Later on we find an additional act. Mr. John Simpson was authorized to call the first meeting.
The proprietors now felt the way was open for ac- tion, and accordingly a meeting was held April 21, 1736, at the house of Mr. Luke Vardy, in Boston. One of the first acts was a vote instructing their com-
mittee, Daniel Pecker, Andrew Lane, John Hill, John Indicott and James Halsey, to build a saw-mill on some convenient stream for the use of the proprietors in said township.
In the surveyor's report appears the name of Zacheus Lovewell as one of the chainmen.
This Zacheus Lovewell lived in the part of Nashua that was then called Dunstable. He is said to have attained the greatest age of any man that ever lived in New Hampshire.
Masonian Heirs and New Addition .- In 1620 James I., King of England, formed a couneil com- posed of titled men and gentlemen to the number of forty. They were known by the name of " The Coun- cil, established at Plymouth, in the County of Devon, for the planting, ruling and governing of New Eng- land in America."
Two of the most prominent members were Captain John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges. The land under their control extended from the fortieth to the forty-eighth degree of northern latitude.
The proprietors " procured a further grant of all the land from the river Naumkeag (now Salem), round Cape Ann, to the river Merrimack, and up each of these rivers to the farthest head thereof, then to cross from the head of one to the other." The following year another grant was made to Gorges and Mason, jointly, of all the lands between the rivers Merrimack and Sagadehoek, extending back to the great lakes and rivers of Canada, which tract was called Laconia.
In 1629, Captain Mason procured a new charter for the land " from the middle of Piscataqua River, to- gether with all islands within five leagues of the coast." This land was called New Hampshire, which soon came under the care and government of Massa- chusetts.
After much legal controversy in regard to these claims, it was resisted until John Tufton Mason con- veyed, in 1746, his right and title to lands in New Hampshire, for the sum of fifteen hundred pounds currency, to Theodore Atkinson, M. H. Wentworth and thirteen others.
When the Mason heirs learned that these men were in power, and only with the greatest difficulty could they resist the claim, they were aroused and great consternation followed. It appears from the follow- ing resolution, passed by the Masonian proprietors in the year 1751, that the above-named gentlemen were disposed to be reasonable :
" l'oted, The Question be put whether this Propriety would choose a committee to make application to the Proprietors of Mason's claim to know upon what condition they will grant us their rights ; and that John Hill, Robert Boyers, Esq., and James Halsey, the standing com- mittee, be empowered to settle with them on the best terms they can, if they think proper, and they be desired to offer this vote to each Proprie- tor for their approbation."
This vote was passed, and the proprietors authorized the committee to purchase of John Blanchard, as agent of the Mason heirs, all right, title and interest in said proprietary.
587
NEW BOSTON.
This extension was ever after known as the " New Addition," and continued to be till June 8, 1772, when Francestown was incorporated.
" PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
" Pursuant to the power and authority granted and vested in me by the proprietors of land purchased of John Tufton Mason, Esq., in the Province of New Hampshire, by their vote, passed at their meeting held at Portsmouth, in said Province, the tenth day of June, 1752.
"I do, by these presents, on the terms and conditions hereafter ex- pressed, give and grant all the right, title, property and possession of the proprietors aforesaid unto Job Lewis, Henry Howel, John Steel, Thomas Bullfinch, Robert Jenkins, John Spooner, Benjamin Bagnall, Samuel Tyley's heirs, James Townsend's heirs, Isaac Walker, Joseph Wright, Eleazer Boyd, Daniel Pecker, William Dudley's heirs, Robert Boyes, Thomas Smith, Thomas Cochran, Patrick Douglas, Jolin Iomans, James Day, James Caldwell, Gilbert Warner, Richard Checkley's heirs, James Wilson, Jonathan Clark, William Speakman's heirs, Benjamin Clark's heirs, John Erwin, William White, John Hill, Esq., John Taylor, John McCallister, Edward Durant's heirs, William Bant, John Maverick, Rufus Green, James llalsey, Daniel Loring's heirs, Joseph Green, James Hunter, Thomas Wilson, of, in and to that tract of land or township called New Boston, in the Province of New Hampshire aforesaid, of the contents of six miles broad and seven miles long, bounded thus : Begin- ning at a beech-tree the southeast corner, and from thence north by the needle, two degrees westward, six miles, or until it comes unto the northwest corner, formerly made under the Massachusetts grant, for the northeast corner of said tract ; and from thence west by the needle two degrees to the southward ; and from the first bounds mentioned, the southeast corner aforesaid, west by the needle two degrees south ward, six miles, or until it meet with Salem-Canada line (so called), and turn- ing and running north by the needle two degrees westward, two miles, or until it come to the most north-easterly corner of salem-Canada township, as formerly laid out ; then turning and running west, as afore- said, two degrees southerly so far, and extending the north line of the premises likewise westward, until a line parallel with the east line will include the contents of seven miles long and six miles broad, as afore- said. To have and to hold to them, their heirs and assigns, forever, ex- cepting as aforesaid, on the following terms, conditions and limitations (that is to say) that as the greatest part of the tract aforesaid has here- tofore been divided into sixty-three shares, now, therefore, that there be reserved for the grantors, their heirs and assigns forever, out of the lands already divided, nine shares or sixty-third parts, as followeth, viz., The home lots number four. number twenty-five, numbers thirty-three, nine, twenty-eight, five, twenty-nine, eighteen and ten, with the several lots annexed to the same, as in the schedule hereafter ; also, so much of the common land, or undivided, to be laid out in that part of the said tract, near the great meadows, as shall be equal to one-half part of a share, re- served as aforesaid, which half-share is appropriated to Joseph Blanchard, Jr., with the same proportion of the common land, each in that part for merly within the bounds called New Boston, exclusive and excepting five hundred acres hereby granted and appropriated to the grantees, to be by them disposed of for encouragement for building and supporting mills in said township ; also, reserving unto the grantors, their heirs and assigns, after the five hundred acres aforesaid is laid out and completed in the common, one-fourth part for quantity and quality of the lands by this grant added within the bounds of that called New Boston, as for- merly laid out, the said grantors' part to be divided, lotted and coupled together, and drawn for with the grantees, according to the number of shares as before reserved, so as for the grantors to have one full quarter part as aforesaid ; said work to be finished within twelve months from this date, at the charge of the grantees only. Also, that the grantors' right in three of the shares laid out as aforesaid be and hereby is granted and appropriated, free of all charge, one for the first settled minister, one for the ministry and one for the school there forever, as they are set down in the schedule hereafter.
"That the aforesaid reservations for the grantors, and as well for Jo- seph Blanchard Jr., be free from all duties, charges, taxes or expenses whatsoever, until improved by the owner or owners, or some holding under them.
"That all the lots in said township be subject to have all necessary roads or highways laid through them, as there shall be necessary occasion for, free from all charge of purchasing the same.
" That the grantees, on their parts, make forty-five settlements in said township in the following manner, viz. : Each to have a house built of one room, at least sixteen feet square, fitted and finished for comfort-
able dwelling in, and three acres cleared, inclosed and titted for mow- ing and tillage, on each of the forty-five shares, at or before the first day of August, 1754, and within one year afterwards, a family or some person inhabiting there on each settlement, and to continue residency there for three years then next, and within that term to fit four acres more each for mowing or tillage, as aforesaid.
" That the grantees build a meeting-house there in four years from this date.
"That the grantees, at their own expense, make the settlement afore- said, and within six months from this date ascertain the particular gran- tees whom they shall determine to make settlement and inhabit there, as atoresaid, and certify the same under their clerk's hand in the grantors' clerk's office, and in case any of the grantees be delinquent, who shall be enjoined the settlement as aforesaid, on any part of duty enjoined by this grant, on such share hereafter ascertained, the whole share or right of such delinquent shall be and hereby is granted to such of the grantres who shall comply on their parts, provided they fulfil such delinquent's duty in two years after each period next coming, that such duty should have been done, and on their neglect, then all such delinquent's right or shares to revert to the grantors, their heirs and assigns, free and clear from all future charge thereon.
" That the grantees hold, under the conditions herein, the several lots of upland and meadow already laid out in said township, as set forth in the schedule annexed, and the future divisions to be ascertained by and according to the Massachusetts grant to them or their vendors.
"That one home lot (so called), viz. : number sixty, be set and relin - quished unto John and Jonathan Simpson's assignee, Joseph Wright ; always provided, and on this condition only, that he build, clear, inclose and settle a family on said lot, according to the periods and several arti- cles of duty enjoined and specified for one of the forty-five rights afore- said, and this settlement to be over and above the said forty-five, and in case of failure or neglect of any part of the said duty, the said lot num- ber sixty to revert to the grantees and grantors in common, to be appor- tioned with the other common lands ; also, provided the said Wright, or his assigns, pay the proportionable part of charge for that lot, in carry- ing forward the settlement.
"That the grantees, or their assigns, at any public meeting called for that purpose, by a majority of votes of the interest present, grant and as- sess such further sum or sums of money as they shall think necessary for completing and carrying forward the settlement aforesaid, from time to time, and all other necessary charges, until the same shall be incorpora- ted. And any of the grantees who shall refuse and neglect making pay- ment of their respective sums and taxes for the space of three months next after such tax or assessment shall be granted and made, that then so much of said delinquent's right, respectively, shall and may be sold as will pay the tax or taxes, and all charges arising thereon, by a commit- tee to be appointed by the grantees for that purpose.
"That all white pine trees fit for masting llis Majesty's royal navy, growing on said tract of land, be and hereby are granted to His Majesty, his heirs and successors, forever ; and, as a further condition of this grant, that the grantees herein mentioned, within three months from the date hereof, signify their consent and acceptance, as well as their fulfil- ment and conformity, to the whole of the conditions herein specified, by countersigning these premises with their hands and seals, and, on fail- ure thereof, to receive no benefit by the afore written grant; always provided there be no Indian war within any of the terms and limitations aforesaid, for doing the duty conditioned in this grant, and in case that should happen, the same to be allowed for the respective duties, matters and things as aforesaid, after such impediment shall be removed. To all of which premises Joseph Blanchard, agent for and in behalf of the said grantors on the one part, and the grantres on the other part, have here- unto interchangeably set their hands and seals this twenty-fourth day of December, 1752.
" Signed and sealed,
" JOSEPH BLANCHARD.
" In behalf of grantors and grantees."
With this deed was a schedule of the lots. Be- ginning at the northwest corner of the town, thence westerly, in the same degree as the north line, about two and one-half miles; thenee southerly, parallel with the west line of town, about four miles; thence easterly to the west line of the former grant. It was surveyed and laid out into fifty-one lots by Matthew Patten, of Bedford, reserving for the grantors four
38
588
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
hundred and thirty acres in the northeast eorner and four hundred acres in the southwest corner of said grant, and three hundred acres near the centre of said tract, as a present to Colonel Joseph Blanchard, the agent of the grantors, and as surveyed, included the soap stone quarries.
Incorporation .- New Boston was incorporated by the government of New Hampshire February 18, 1763. The charter was granted by Benning Went- worth, Esq., Governor and commander-in-chief of the province of New Hampshire, and attested by Theodore Atkinson, Jr., secretary.
By petition of the citizens, John Goffe was directed to call the first town-meeting, which meeting was required to be held within twenty days atter date of charter; time and place of meeting to be given in the notice.
They were instructed by the charter that after the first election "the annual meeting of said town for choice of officers, and the management of its affairs, should be held within said town on the first Monday of March in each year."
Colonel Goffe being authorized to call a meeting, immediately proceeded to perform his duties. The objects of the meeting were specified in the call,-
" Ist. To choose all their town officers for the year ensuing, as the law directs. 2d. To see what money the town will raise to defray the charges of the town, and pay for preaching for the year ensuing."
In accordance with the notice, the first meeting was held March 10, 1763, at the house of Deacon Thomas Cochran. This place is now owned and occupied by the great-great-grandson of Deacon Thomas Cochran, one of our most respected townsmen, Thomas R. Cochran.
Record of the meeting is as follows:
Moderator, Thomas Cochran. Voted, Alexander McCollum Town Clerk.
" Voted, There shall be five selectmen : Thomas Cochran, James Mc- Ferson, Nathaniel Cochran, Jolm McAllister and John Carson, Select- men.
" Voted, Thomas Wilson, Constable.
" T'oted, Matthew Caldwell, John Smith, James Wilson, George Cristy, Thomas Brown, Surveyors of Highways.
" Voted, Abraham Cochran, Samuel Nickles, Tithingmen.
" Voted, William Gray, John Burns, Hog-Reeves.
" Voted, John Carson, James Hunter, Deer-Keepers.
" Voted, John Cochran, Invoice man or Commissioner of Assessments.
". Voted, That a pound shall be built by the corn-mill, and that Deacon Thomas Cochran shall be pound-master.
" Voted, Matthew Caldwell, James Wilson, Accountants to examine accounts of Selectmen.
" Voted, To raise 100 pounds to defray charges for present year, and for preaching."
Early Settlers .- The first settlement was made by Thomas Smith, of Chester, in the northeast part of the town, on what is now known as "The Plain," where he built a cabin, cleared a small piece of land by girdling the trees and burning the ground.
One day, after planting, he discovered traets, evi- dently made by a moccasined foot, and knowing Indians were still lurking in the vicinity, and were watching .
prisoner to Canada, he sauntered back to his eabin without manifesting any alarm, secured his gun and axe, and thinking Indians were in ambush in a direct route, he proceeded in a northerly direction to the north branch of the Piscataquog, thence up said river some distance before he ventured to take an easterly course, eventually reaching home in safety.
And the sequel shows he was right in his conjec- tures in regard to the place where the Indians were seereted, for that night they made prisoner of and carried to Canada a man by the name of Worthley, who had a cabin near what is known as Parker's Station, Goffstown.
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