USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Lebanon > History of Lebanon, N.H., 1761-1887 > Part 19
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Paid Luther Waters for digging a grave for Traveler who died in town 0.50.
Paid W. Clark for making a coffin for do $1.33.
About this time there was much talk and wonder about strange reports brought from Orford. They heard that a man living there had invented a boat in which he could sail against wind and current, a boat which he called a steamboat. It is now well established that Capt. Samuel Morey of Orford constructed, as early as 1793, the first boat propelled by paddle-wheels under the power of steam. It is now known that Robert Fulton visited Captain Morey and saw his boat, and that he adopted some of the features of this Orford invention in his own larger and success- ful enterprise.
There was one sad event which filled the thoughts and conver- sation of the people that year, the death of Washington at the close of 1799. Most sincerely was he lamented by the whole peo- ple, who first began to see the true proportion of his greatness as they looked upon his receding form through the mists which gather over the dark river. Many of the inhabitants had been soldiers under him and mourned him as a father lost.
HALSEY R. STEVENS.
201
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
What did the people do for amusements in those days? They had their "logging bees," their "raisings," their huskings. The woods were full of game, even bears, deer and wolves were not wanting to test the courage and try the skill of the hunters. The streams and ponds were full of "speckled beauties," upon which no one was forced to try the foot rule to see if they were beyond the legal four inches before he could decide whether to keep the victim or restore it to the waters to die. Such strings of trout as Ephraim Wood used to take as he came down Great brook to "the Meetin' House" will not be seen in our day, even after re- stocking from the fishing houses and five years' protection and careful spying of fish wardens. For the boys, besides fishing and hunting, there were orchards to visit. There is a wonderful af- finity between boys and apples which grow upon other people's land; it is hard to keep them apart. The same apples are sour when given to him, but of wonderful flavor if stolen. In those days apples were not plenty; there were only twenty acres of orchards in the whole town. I have no objections to telling you now the best places to go. If in the center village and vicinity, go by all means to Constant Storrs, for he has the largest orchard in town, six acres. There is small chance for those in the east- ern part of the town, unless they go to the same place. If you start from West Lebanon, try Deacon Porter's. He has a good orchard, but don't let the old gentleman catch you, for his "eyes are very black." If in the region of Poverty Lane, try Nathan- iel Hall's, not many trees but very good. You might go to James Jones', but I should not advise it.
Amusements ? How could they be wanting when they had "training days," and general musters. Trainings meant some- thing in those days-no mere half day job for officers and men, but they began soon after twelve o'clock midnight and lasted as long as the next day-in effects. Then there were Fourths of July to be observed with patriotic ardor unknown to the present generation.
But probably the greatest days of the year, the days most an- ticipated and enjoyed, were those of Commencement Week at Hanover, where all sorts of things and people were gathered from far and near.
202
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
LYMAN'S BRIDGE-FOURTH NEW HAMPSHIRE TURNPIKE.
At the beginning of the present century the people of the Con- necticut valley had so far conquered the primeval forests as not only to satisfy their own wants, but to have something to spare for others. The Connecticut River had been the natural outlet of the surplus products of the land. But this outlet only touched the western borders of New Hampshire, so that a large portion of the products of the most fruitful portion of her terri- tory passed over this watery way to distant cities and towns, to the loss of trade and commerce to her own citizens. At that period supplies could be received at less cost from Hartford and New York City, by way of Long Island Sound and the Connec- ticut River, than from Portsmouth or Boston. Sagacious men in Portsmouth, then a flourishing seaport, and in Boston saw this large trade diverted from their cities with anxiety, and sought a remedy. At that day there could be but one way-to build better roads. Hitherto roads had been built so as to se- cure communication between towns only. There had been no thought of them as highways for trade and commerce between the seaports and the distant hills and valleys of western New Hampshire and Vermont. Hitherto they had been sufficient if they could be passed in safety for local purposes. Now it was sought to so improve them as to make it easier to reach the sea by the shortest path than by the longer but cheaper waterway.
The petition for the Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike states clearly its purpose : "The petition of Elisha Payne [Lebanon], Russell Freeman [Hanover], and Constant Storrs [Lebanon], humbly shows that the citizens of this State experience great in- convenience from the badness of the roads between Merrimack river and the towns of Lebanon and Hanover; that the trade of the western parts of this state & and of the northern parts of the state of Vermont is of course turned from our own seaports and our most commercial towns, to those of Connecticut and New York, that the natural impediments between the aforesaid places and said Merrimack river render the provisions by law for mak- ing & repairing public roads wholly inadequate to the purpose of rendering communication easy, convenient & safe; that a plan for opening and extending a communication from Lake Cham- plain to the Mouth of White River in Vermont, by means of a
.
203
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
turn pike road from said lake to the head of said 1 river [White] is contemplated by several enterprising citizens of that state & is encouraged by their government, under an expectation that the interests of our citizens will induce them to meet and extend a plan so well calculated to invite and facilitate an intercourse which would by highly beneficial to both; wherefore your peti- tioners pray that they and such others as may associate with them may be incorporated into a body politick, with such powers and under such limitations as may be thought fit, to build and keep in repair a turnpike road."
These were far-reaching views for the times. The purpose of the Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike was not simply to collect toll and pay stockholders a fair interest on their investments, but a link in a well-devised system to bring the products of dis- tant fields to seaboard markets. Lyman's bridge was another link in this system. On the west side of the river commenced the White River Turnpike, extending up the valley of that river and connected with others to Lake Champlain.
It is to be noted that these links constitute the route today occupied, substantially, by one of the great highways, Central Vermont and Northern railroad, from the vast interior of our country to the seaboard, a most striking testimony of the sa- gacity of these Vermont and New Hampshire farmers.
LYMAN'S BRIDGE.
The following action was taken in the New Hampshire senate, January 9, 1794: A vote granting the prayer of the petition of Ebenezer Brewster for the exclusive privilege of building a bridge over the Connecticut River anywhere between the mouth of White River and two miles north of Mink brook, was brought up, read and concurred in.
October 21, 1795, the Vermont Legislature passed an act incor- porating Ebenezer Brewster, Rufus Graves of Hanover and Aaron Hutchinson, Esq., with those who should become proprie- tors with them, a corporation under the name of The Proprietors of the White River Falls Bridge, by which act they were invested with the exclusive privilege of building a bridge or bridges over the Connecticut River anywhere between the mouth of White River and the lower part of White River Falls on the Connec- ticut River.
204
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
The above-named persons conveyed all their interest in this corporation to Elias Lyman of Hartford, Vt. Brewster, Jan- uary 21, 1801, Graves, same date, Hutchinson, January 29, 1803, to Elias and Justin Lyman, who had then become associated in business.
A bridge was built over the Connecticut by the Lymans on the site of the one now known as Lyman's bridge, about the year 1802 or 1803. No reference whatever is found on the town records relative to this bridge.
FOURTH NEW HAMPSHIRE TURNPIKE.
Upon the petition of Elisha Payne of Lebanon, Russell Free- man of Hanover and Constant Storrs of Lebanon, the New Hampshire Legislature granted, November 25, 1800, a charter for a turnpike road, "four rods wide from the east bank of Connecticut river in the town of Lebanon, nearly opposite the mouth of White river eastwardly to the west branch of Merri- mack river in the town of Salisbury or Boscawen also to survey lay out, make and keep in repair a turnpike road four rods wide from the east abutment of White River Falls Bridge in Hanover, southeastwardly till it intersects the road first mentioned, and to be a branch thereof."
Some of the provisions of the charter are as follows: For every mile of said road, and so in proportion for a greater or less distance, or greater or smaller number of sheep, hogs or cat- tle, viz., for every fifteen sheep or hogs, one cent; for every fif- teen cattle or horses, two cents; for every horse and his rider or led horse, three fourths of one cent; for every sulkey, chair, or chaise with one horse and two wheels, one and a half cents; for every chariot, coach, stage-wagon, phaeton or chaise with two horses and four wheels, three cents; for either of the carriages last mentioned with four horses, four cents; for every other car- riage of pleasure, the like sums, according to the number of wheels and horses drawing the same; for each cart or other car- riage of burthen with wheels drawn by one beast, one cent; for each wagon, cart, or other carriage of burthern drawn by two beasts, one and a half cents; if by more than two beasts, one cent for each additional yoke of oxen or horse; for each sleigh drawn by one horse, three fourths of one cent; if drawn by two horses,
OLIVER LATHROP STEARNS.
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ROADS AND BRIDGES.
one and a half cents; and if by more than two horses, half a cent for every additional horse; for each sled drawn by one horse, half of one cent; for each sled drawn by two horses or a yoke of oxen, one cent; and if by more than two horses or one yoke of oxen, one cent for each additional pair of horses or yoke of oxen-provided that nothing in this act shall extend to entitle the said corporation to demand toll of any person who shall be passing with his horse, team or cattle, or on foot, to or from any mill, or on their common or ordinary business of family con- cerns within the town where such person belongs.
The proprietors were empowered to purchase and to hold in fee simple so much land as will be necessary for said turnpike road.
"If said turnpike shall in any part be the same with any highway now used, it shall not be lawful for said corporation to erect any gate or turnpike or across said part of the road that now is used or occupied as a public highway, anything in this act to the contrary notwith- standing."
It is further provided that at the end of every six years an account of the expenditures and profits of the road shall be laid before the legislature-"that whenever the neat income of the toll shall amount to the sums which the proprietors have expended on said road, with twelve per cent on such sums so expended from the times of their actual disbursement, the said road with all its rights, privileges, appurte- nances shall revert to the State of New Hampshire, and become the property thereof to all intents and purposes."
The first meeting of the corporation, warned by Elisha Payne, was held March 24, 1801, at the dwelling house of Clap Sumner, innholder, near where Richard Walker now lives, in Lebanon. Elisha Payne, moderator; Benj. J. Gilbert was chosen clerk. The meeting then adjourned to meet at the same place April 14, 1801. At this meeting the rights of the proprietors were di- vided into four hundred shares and numbered from one to four hundred, inclusive, Elisha Payne to have the first hundred, Rus- sell Freeman to have the second hundred, Constant Storrs to have the third hundred, and Benj. J. Gilbert to have the fourth hundred.
An assessment of one dollar and fifty cents was voted upon each share, to be paid before the first day of September next.
Maj. Constant Storrs chosen as treasurer.
206
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
FIRST SHAREHOLDERS.
Those in Lebanon were the following :
No. 1 to 10 David Hough
No. 45
Edward Bosworth
31
66
2 Samuel Lathrop
46
Oliver Ellis
32
33 Simeon Peck 66 47
Elijah Reed
34 Hobart Estabrooks 66
48
David Hough
35 Ephraim Wood 66
59
James Ralston
36 Zenas Alden
62,
63 James Little
37 Richard Aldrich
6
65
Nathan Jewett
38 Edmund Freeman, Jr.
6
66 Clark Aldrich
66 39 James Crocker 60
67 Abijah Chandler
40 Stephen Kendrick 66
69 Thomas Hough
41 Joseph Wood
66
82 Daniel Hough
66 42 Ira Gates
84 Beriah Abbott
43
Thomas Waterman
98 to 107 Richd & Ebenezer
66
44
Stephen Billings
Kimball
The location of this road was a difficult affair, because of rival claims. The corporators sought to avoid all complications, charges of partiality and subjection to undue influences by the selection of a locating committee outside of the state. Accord- ingly at a meeting held May 29, 1801, Voted that Gen. James Whitelaw of Ryegate, Gen. Elias Stevens of Royalton and Major Micah Brown of Bradford, all of Vermont, be a committee to survey and lay out the route for the Fourth Turnpike road in New Hampshire, if the sum of three hundred dollars be raised by voluntary subscription to pay the expense of laying out the same.
The first action taken by the town in relation to the proposed road was November 24, 1801, when they declined to appoint a committee to confer with the proprietors in relation to the neces- sary bridges through the town.
January 2, 1804, the following action was taken :
Considering the decayed state of the bridges over Mascoma river, and the repairs necessary soon to be made on said bridges and also on the road easterly and westerly thro said town-
Will the inhabitants of said town tax themselves, assess and raise the sum of six hundred dollars, to be made up with the next tax or taxes which may be assessed by said town and to be paid into the hands of the selectmen of said town, by the first day of September next and to be at the disposal of the proprietors of the Fourth N. H. turnpike road, provided the said proprietors shall by their agents specially em- powered assure the said selectmen (in behalf of s'd town) the perform- ance of the following-namely:
207
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
1. That the said proprietors shall make and compleat their Turnpike road and bridges from Doctor Parkursts to Ichabod Packard's mills in said Lebanon in the rout last established by them, and from thence thro' the easterly part of s'd Lebanon to Matthew Stanleys in Enfield in the rout which the committee last appointed by them may report as being the best all circumstances duly considered the whole to be com- pleated by the first day of December next.
2. The said proprietors or their agents shall assure the s'd selectmen in behalf of s'd town, that the said road and bridges within s'd town shall at all times be kept open and in good repair from and after the first day of December next, free for the use and occupancy of s'd inhabi- tants of s'd Lebanon, as well before as after they may erect gates for collecting toll; it is not however understood by anything before men- tioned that after s'd turnpike road shall be compleated that the town retains any special privileges not secured to them and other towns by the act incorporating said Proprietors.
Passed in the affirmative.
Some of the citizens resisted the collection of the above tax of six hundred dollars for the benefit of the proprietors of the turnpike road, as appears from the following record :
In the warning for a town-meeting to be held May 14 1805 were these articles. 2 to see whether the town will save harmless Diarca Allen, Joseph Wood and Thomas Wells, the present select men of s'd Lebanon from all damages, costs and charges which have or may accrue to said Allen Wood and Wells, in an action of trespass com- menced against them by David and William Packard of said Lebanon to be heard and tried before James Wheelock Esq. on the eleventh day of May next, in consequence of an assessment made on the polls and rateable estate of the said William and David of their proportion of the sum of six hundred dollars, as voted to be raised and paid to the proprietors of the Fourth Turnpike road corporation in said state, at a meeting of the legal voters of said town holden on the second day of January 1804.
3. To see whether they will save harmless the said Allen Wood & Wells in all cases in consequence of said assessment made on the polls and rateable estate of said Town.
4. To appoint an agent or agents on the part of said town to defend in all cases which may happen by reason of said assessment.
At the meeting the articles 2, 3 were passed over. On article 4, Voted to appoint two agents to assist the selectmen to defend in all cases which may happen by reason of the assessment of six hundred dollars, as set forth in the warrant calling this meeting. Chose Aaron Hutchinson Esq. and Nathaniel Porter agents for the town as aforesaid.
208
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
The suit seems to have failed, as nothing farther concerning it appears upon the records.
At a meeting of the corporation July 6, 1801, "Voted that Col. Elisha Payne, Col. Aaron Kinsman, Col. David Hough and Capt. Asher Allen [surveyor] a committee to survey the different pro- posed routes and report at a future meeting." This committee reported by their chairman, Colonel Payne, at a meeting held in Lebanon, September 24, 1801, as follows :
From the mouth of White River to Mr. Simeon Pecks [Solon A. Peck's] by Mascoma River we surveyed two routes, and find by all measurement the northern to be 1010 rods; the southern is 908 rods, which is 102 rods the shortest: Your committee recommends the southern (provided the town of Lebanon will support a reasonable part of the bridges). From Mr. Simeon Peck to Packard's bridge but one route which is 634 rods; from said Packard's bridge to Enfield two routes, the northern is 990 rods, the southern 816 rods which is 174 rods the shortest. We are of the opinion that the southern is the best.
The northern route spoken of above would pass by J. T. Pulsi- fer's to the village on to Chandler's mills, thence keeping the north side of Mascoma River over Mount Tugg to East Lebanon, crossing the river and along the shore of the pond.
The southern route crossed the Mascoma at the Hubbard bridge, passed by Breck's, through the village to Chandler's mills, then crossed to the south side of the Mascoma, continued over the hill by the Cleaveland place to the shore of the pond.
The stockholders voted to accept the southern route from the Connecticut to Simeon Peck's and Packard's bridge, "on condi- tion that the town of Lebanon will build support and keep in repair all the bridges necessary to be supported over Mascoma river on said rout and westerly of said Packard's."
The report of the committee continues thus :
From the college bridge we surveyed three routes; the old county road, which intersects by the pond is 9 miles 116 rods ; the route through the great valley which intersects near Aldens bridge, continued to the pond is 9 miles 64 rods, which is 52 rods nigher than the county road -the route over Mount Support and intersects by said Aldens bridge continued to the pond is 8 miles 220 rods, which is 216 rods nearer than the county road. The committee think the center or valley road will be levellest and best for the publick.
DR. PHINEAS PARKHURST.
209
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
This part of the committee's report concerns the branch road to the bridge between Hanover and Norwich.
The county road was the road which passed from Mink brook in Mill Village over the hills by the Blodgett and Walker farms, to East Lebanon. There can be no question that this was not the levelest route, yet it was much used in early days.
The route through the "great valley" was the present road to Etna Village, on the east of Rix ledges. The Mount Support route is plain. Alden's bridge was the first bridge east of the center village.
The stockholders, in acting on this part of the report, selected the route by the old county road by a vote of 206 yeas to 191 nays.
They also voted that the road from Packard's mills [Chan- dler's] should be on the north side of the river.
Thus both the longest and most difficult route was selected, an indication that some other influence than good judgment influ- enced the action of the stockholders.
The location of this part of the turnpike did not satisfy all parties. At a meeting held at Clapp Sumner's, Lebanon, July 1, 1802, the above votes were reconsidered :
Voted that the turnpike road from near the mouth of White river be laid out made and established by Doct. Parkhursts & Lebanon Meeting house to near Packards mills.
Dr. Parkhurst then lived at the Luther Alden place, and this vote established the southern route to Chandler's mills.
Voted that the Turnpike road from White River Falls Bridge [Han- over] be laid out, made and established from said bridge by College Plain over Mount Support [so called] till it intersects with the part established from the mouth of White River [which was near Howard Benton's].
Voted that Asa Hazen Isaac Partridge & Joseph Loveland be a com- mittee, who are hereby authorized and empowered to examine the different routes proposed from Packard's mills in Lebanon to the west- erly line of Enfield near the pond and decide whether the road shall be laid on the north or south side of Mascoma river, and the deter- mination of said committee, or either two of them, shall be final and conclusive; and in case either of the persons before named should fail of attending, that Arthur Latham be appointed to join the two who may attend to the business as a substitute for the one who may fail.
14
210
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
Colonel Hough and Colonel Payne were appointed to wait on the committee who were appointed to establish the route from Packard's mill to Enfield line when they shall come out on the business of their appointment.
This committee "determined that the turnpike road from Packard's mills should be laid on the north side of Mascoma river to near Payne's mills (so called), thence across said river to Enfield line."
There was evidently a warm contest over the location of the road from Packard's mills to East Lebanon. That the route on the north side of the river across Mount Tugg was not the best, probably, was as apparent at that time as now. There must have been some strong personal interest which gave that direc- tion to the road. At this distance of time it is difficult to ascer- tain with certainty what that interest was. But the following is probably not far from the truth : At that time Mr. Clapp Sum- ner was a prominent man in the town, and in the corporation. He was also an innholder, living at the Richard Walker place on the old county road. The establishment of the route on the south side of the river would be fatal to his tavern. Besides it was for the interest of that whole neighborhood to have the turn- pike laid by their doors.
At a meeting of proprietors held at the house of Abijah Chan- dler in Lebanon, October, 1803, all former votes, "so far as said votes established that part of the route of said road which extends from the bridge near Zenas Aldens over Mascoma river in Leba- non to Matthew Stanleys in Enfield," were reconsidered.
Voted that the directors be authorized and directed to proceed to lay out a rout from for the turnpike from the bridge near Zenas Aldens in s'd Lebanon to Matthew Stanleys in Enfield crossing on to the south side of Mascome river so as to pass near by Capt Aaron Cleavelands dwell- ing house, in such place and course as the said directors shall think best.
At a meeting held at the same place, December 6, 1803, an- other committee was appointed to reexamine the route between Dr. Phineas Parkhurst's and Enfield line-Joel Marsh, Elias Stevens and Jesse Williams, committee.
At a meeting held the first Tuesday in February, 1804, this committee reported :
211
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
That in the town of Lebanon from or near Packards mills to the end of the road made by the Shakers we are of opinion that said road ought to be made on the south side of the river provided that three or four sharp ridges westerly and near Aaron Cleaveland's should be taken down in the road so that in no place they rise no more than one foot in sixteen. If not we are in favor of the route on the north side of the river from Packards mill to Payne's mill, notwithstanding the great rods in the distance. We have likewise viewed the route from Dr. Phineas Parkhursts to Packard's mill on the northerly side of the river are of the opinion that a good road can be made to the satisfac- tion of the public
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