USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > History of Manchester, formerly Derryfield, in New-Hampshire : including that of ancient Amoskeag, or the middle Merrimack Valley, together with the address, poem, and other proceedings of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of Derryfield at Manchester, October 22, 1851 > Part 31
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"In Testimony Whereof, We have caused the Seal of Our sd Province to be hereunto affixed. Witness Benning Went- worth, Esq., Our Governor and Commander In Chief of Our sd Province the nineteenth Day of May, In the Year of Our Lord Christ, One Thonsand Seven hundred and Fifty.
B. WENTWORTH.
"By His Excellency's Command,
with Advice of Council.
THEODORE ATKINSON, Secretary."
On the first day of June following, a strip of land "in breadth about three miles, and in length about four miles and a half" was severed from the south side of Bedford, and an- nexed to Merrimack, because as was represented to the Gov- ernor and Council, the land in Merrimack was "very mean and ordinary, and therefore incapable of supporting such a number of Inhabitants as will enable them to support the Charge of a Town." The territory of Bedford thus limited, remained in tact until 1853, when by act of the Legislature at its June ses- ion, a small portion of its north-eastern territory upon the Mer- rimack and Piscataquog was annexed to the city of Manches- ter. This portion includes the village of Piscataquog, and is
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THE MEN OF BEDFORD.
the seventh grant of land within the present limits of Manches- ter.
Bedford is probably unsurpassed as a farming town, by any other in the County. Settled an hundred years since, its soil has ever been cultivated by an industrious, hardy race of thrifty farmers. Hence all of its soil has been turned to good account. For years a large commercial business was carried on at Pis- cataquog Village, called "Squog" for convenience, through the medium of the Middlesex canal, the goods for the north and east part of Hillsborough County and the west part of Rock- ingham County, being stored at this place. But the facilities of railroads first diminished and then ruined this business at "Squog."
But its annexation to Manchester now more than compensates for the loss of its "wholesale trade" through the canal ; and "Squog" has quintupled its inhabitants in the last ten years, while the rest of Bedford finds its interests increased by in- creased attention to its soil, and the ready sale of its produc- tions in the Manchester Market.
But Bedford is noted for other productions than merely agri- cultural. Its men are an intelligent and industrious race. A cross of the Scotch Irish and Yankee, they are seldom to be beaten in those reliable qualities that make up a sturdy, robust, and intelligent people. In fact, the same may be said of most of the inhabitants upon the banks of the Piscataquog, the Scotch Irish Stock of Londonderry being distributed through the Piscataquog, and the upper Contoocook valleys.
Among the men of note in their day, may be mentioned Judge Matthew Patten, Major John Goffe, Col. Daniel Moore, Captains James Aiken and Thomas McLaughlin, Hon. John Orr and John Patten, all firm patriots of the Revolution.
One of the firmest patriots of Bedford, was James Martin Esq. He was a member of the Provincial Congress of April, 1775. He was one of the first, if not the first, who establish- ed an Iron Foundry in New Hampshire. This was in opera- tion in 1776, and he offered to supply the army with any amount of cannon shot the committee might see fit to order. Then at a later period, Hon. Benjamin Orr, a representative to Congress and a distinguished lawyer in Maine, Hon. John Vose, a State Senator, and for thirty-two years the distinguished pre- ceptor of the Atkinson and Pembroke Academies ; Hon. Thom- as Chandler, representative to Congress, and a noted farmer, now living in a green old age; Hon. Joseph Bell, a disting- uished lawyer in Boston, and president of the Senate of Mas-
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
sachusetts ; John Rand, Esq., a distinguished painter of Lon- don ; Prof. Joseph E. Worcester, the noted philologist ; and last though not least, Rev. Isaac Orr, the inventor of the "Air Tight Stove," are all sons of Bedford.
In 1748, upon petition of Rev. Thomas Parker, of Dracut, Mass., and others, a grant was made to the petitioners, by the Masonean proprietors of the land north of Bedford upon the west bank of the Merrimack, and known as Narraganset No. IV. On the 16th day of June 1761, the Governor and Coun- cil granted the proprietors a charter, in which the township was named Goffstown, and which was as follows.
"Province of New Hampshire.
At a meeting of the proprie- tors of land, purchased of John Tufton Mason Esq., in the province of New Hampshire, Held at the Dwelling house of Mrs. Sarah Priest widow in portsmouth in said province, by ad- journment, on Saturday, the third Day of December 1748.
Voted, that there be and hereby is Granted unto Thomas Parker of Dracut, Col. Sampson Stoddard Esq., and John Butterfield, of Chelmsford, Joseph Blanchard Jun., of Dunsta- ble, Robert Davidson, of Dunstable, John Combs, James Karr, both of said Dunstable, John Goffe, John Goffe, Jun., James Walker, Matthew Patten, John Moore, Timothy Corlis Thomas Farmer, Zach. Cutting, Samuel Patten, Alexander Walker, James Cannada, Joseph Cannada, Robert Gilmore, Robert Wal- ker, all of Souhegan East, So Called ; Thomas Follansbe, Joshua Follansbe, Caleb Page, Benjamin Richards, Peter Morse, Caleb Emery, John Dow, Peter Herriman, all of Haverhill, District, Abraham Meril, Benjamin Stevens, John Jewel, Eph- raim Ma.tain, Nathaniel Martain, Ebenezer Martain, Aaron Wells, Caleb Dalton, all of a place Called Amoskeag ; James Adams, the son of William Adams, William Orr, Job Kidder, John Kidder, all of Londonderry ; William Read, Robert Read, James McKnight, William Cummings, all of Litchfield ; Sam- uel Griggs, Edward White, Esq., John White, all of Brookline ; Their heirs and assigns in equal Shares, Excepting as here- after Excepted on the Terms, Conditions, and Limatations herein after Expressed, all that Tract or quarter of land with- in the province of New Hampshire, Extending Seven Miles in Length, and five miles in Breadth, Bounded as follows ; viz. Begining at the North East Corner of Souhegan East, So Called at the main river, and thence runs West By said Souhe- gan Line Seven miles ; thence North two Degrees West five
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SETTLEMENT OF GOFFSTOWN.
miles ; thence East to the main river, and thence by said river to the place where said bound begins.
To Have and to hold to their heirs and assigns in Equal Shares Excepting as aforesaid on the following Terms, Condi- tions and Limitations, that is to say ; That the whole Tract of Land within Said Bounds (saving the particular tracts herein after mentioned) be Divided into Sixty Eight Shares or rights and each share or right be laid out into three Distinct Lots and numbered with the same number on each of Said Lots; That the numbers begin with one and end with Sixty Eight ; That one of the said Shares be for the use of the first minister of the Gospel who shall be settled on the Said Tract of Land hereby granted, and Shall remain there During his life, or un- till he shall be regularly Dismist, to hold to him his heirs and assigns. And one other of Said Shares be for and towards the support of the gospel Ministry there forever ; That two of the three Lots that Shall Belong to Each Share, Shall Contain One hundred acres Each, and the third, all the remainder of the land Belonging to Each Share respectively. That the two One hundred acre Lots Belonging to the Share for the first Minister of the Gospel, and the other for the Support of the Ministry as aforesaid, be laid out as near the place where the Meeting house Shall be set, as may Conveniently be Done ; But that all the other lots Be Drawn for according to the Com- mon Method of Drawing for lots of Land, only not untill all the lots Shall Be laid out So as that there Shall Be But one Draught for three Lots, that is to say, all belonging to one Share. That one of the Said Shares be for and towards the support of a school there for Ever. And Nineteen of the Said Shares be reserved for the use of the proprietors, the grantors of the Said premises and their assigns for ever. That Seven- teen of the reserved Shares be exonerated, aquited and fully ex- empted from payimg any Charge towards making a settlement and not held to the Conditions of the Other Shares respecting the Settlement, nor liable to any Tax, assessment or Charge, untill Improved by the Owners, or some holding under them, respectively. That the Owners of the other forty Eight Shares Shall Carry on perform, and make a Settlement at their own expense, in the following manner; viz; All the Lots to be laid out as aforesaid by the last day of may next, ready to be Drawed for ; That the lots be laid out in ranges where the land will admit of it, and land left Between the ranges for High- ways of four rods wide, and for cross ways between the lots two rods wide. That within one year from the Said Last day
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
of may, Each Owner of the Said Forty Eight Shares have a house of Sixteen foot Square, with a Chimney, and a cellar, upon one of the lots Belonging to his Share, and some person living in said house, and four acres of land Enclosed, Cleared, and fitted for mowing or tillage, and within one year after that, namely, by the last Day of may 1751, to have four acres more Enclosed, Cleared, and fitted for mowing or tillage, and at the end of these years, from the last day of may next, to have four acres more Enclosed, Cleared, and fitted as aforesaid. That the settlers at their own expense, build a meeting house there before the last day of may in the year 1751, fit for the publick worship of God, for the use of those who shall then or after- wards Inhabit there, and after the end of the three years afore- said From that time Constantly to maintain the publick wor- ship of God there. That Six acres of land be left and laid out in Some Suitable place for Building a meeting House up- on, a School house, to make a Burrying yard a training field, and for ony Other Public use the Inhabitants shall have occa- sion of applying the same to.
That Each Owner of the Said Forty Eight Shares, shall at or before the Drawing for their lots as aforesaid, advance and pay the sum of thirty pounds old Tenor (including what they have already paid towards carrying on the settlement,) to be Deposited in the hands of Such persons as the sd Owners Shall Chuse to receive the same, to defray the Charge of Surveying and laying out the Said Land into lots, Building a meeting house, as aforesaid ; Maintaining the Public worship of God there the first three months from the End of three years after Drawing for said Lots as aforesaid, Clearing land for highways, Building Necessary Bridges, and making and returning a com- pleat plan of the said Survey and laying out of the Lots to the said Grantors, that all white pine trees fit for his Majestie's use for masting the Royal Navy, growing on said track of land be and hereby is reserved and hereby Granted to his Majesty his heirs and Successors forever for that purpose. That the Owners of the said Forty Eight Shares shall have the use of all meadows within any of the lots Belonging to twenty of the re- served Shares, or any of them for the term of five years, Com- mencing at the time of Drawing said Lots, as aforesaid. That no Obstruction or Incumberance be made or built across or up- on Piscataquog river Below the Crotch so Called, whereby the passage of the fish may be any way hindered or impeded, and in case any such Incumbrance be made, any person may Des- troy or remove the same or any such Obstruction. Reserving
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SETTLEMENT OF GOFFSTOWN.
to the grantors that Tract of land lying across the Crotch of the said Piscataquog, which Major Edward White purchased of William Dudly Esq., Deceased, which Tract of Land is hereby also granted unto him the said Edward White and his son John White, agreeable to this petition for the same, they Being Considered as two of the Settlers of the said Tract of Land hereby granted, and obliged to perform their proportion of Duty and Charge of Settlers, but to the said Tract of land purchased as aforesaid, (without Drawing for the same as afore- said) in full for their share of Land within the Bounds of the premises hereby granted. And also Reserving to the said Gran- tors the stream and Falls at a place called Harry Brook, within said tract of Land which is hereby Granted to Thomas Fol- lansbee above named, his heirs and assigns, with fifteen acres of land to be Laid out in the most Convenient manner, for the accommodation of a saw mill there, upon this condition ; viz ; he, his heirs Execr's, adm'r or assigns Building a good saw mill there, fit to go by the last Day of august next, and Sawing Lumber, for the Inhabitants of said Tract of land to the halves for the term of six years, from the time at when and so often as they shall have occasion. Reserving to the said Gran- tors which they hereby grant to Hugh Ramsey, Thomas Hall, James Moore, and Samuel Gregg, fifty acres of land to Each of them, Including their Improvements there and so running westerly from each respective improvement so far, as with that to make up the said Quantity of fifty acres for each of them, in fee they severally paying, and each of them Depositing as afore- said five pounds Old Tenor, for the purpose aforesaid, and Do- ing and performing their part and proportion of all other and after Duty hereby laid upon said Settlers. And in Case any of the Owners of the said Forty Eight shares shall refuse, neglect, or omit to perform and fully Discharge any of the Conditions, articles, matters and things above mentioned, by him respec- tively to be Done, he shall forfeit his Share and right in the said Tract of Land, and every part and parcel thereof to the said Grantors, and it shall and may be lawfal for them or any of them, or any person or persons in their name and stead, and by their authority to enter into and upon the part, share, and right of such Delinquent Owner, or any part thereof in their name, of the whole and him utterly thence to amove out and expel for the use of said Grantors their heirs and assigns, Provided, there be no Indian war in any of the terms, and Limitations of time above mentioned, for performing the said articles and things aforesaid, to be done and performed by the said settlers, and in
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Case that should happen, the same times to be allowed for the Respective matters afors'd, after such Impediment shall be re- moved, and it is also to be understood that the surveyor or sur- veyors and those who shall be appointed to lay out the lots aforesaid, shall also Lay out all the Particular Tracts and par- cels of land above mentioned. Lastly the said Grantors and proprietors aforesaid, Do hereby Ingage and promise to the said Gantees, to defend them, their Heirs and assigns against all and every action, and law suit, that shall be prosecuted, moved and stirred against them and any of them, by any person or persons whatsoever Claiming the said land or any part thereof by any other Title than the Title of the said Grantors, or that by which they hold or Derive this from, with this Condition and Limita- iton :
That in Case the said Grantees their Heirs or assigns shall be Ejec- ted and Ousted by any such Right or Title that then they have or recover nothing of and from the said Grantors and proprie- tors, or their Heirs, Exec'rs, adm'rs, for the labour of the said Grantees their Heirs and assigns on the premises or any part thereof or any Expense they shall have been at in Consequence of this Grant, nor for the land so granted to them, or any of them. And it is to be understood that said lots shall be drawn for in the towu of Portsmouth.
Coppy of Record, Attest,
GEORGE JEFFREY, JR. Prop'rs, Clerk."
The town received its name out of compliment to Capt. John Goffe, who had so distinguished himself in the French war then just closed. The township was divided into sixty- eight shares or rights, nineteen of which were reserved by the Masonian proprietors, and one for schools, one for the support of the gospel forever, and one for the first minister, during his settlement. Of these proprietors, aside from the Masonian, a large majority were from the immediate vicinity, fourteen being from Bedford, eight from Amoskeag, four from Litchfield, and four from Londonderry.
Among the earliest settlers, if not the very first, were Ephra- im, Nathaniel and Ebenezer Martin. Upon the grant they are placed down of Amoskeag. They were doubtless sons of Samuel Martin who lived in the lower part of what was call- ed Harrytown and had a ferry across the Merrimack, known as Martin's Ferry, near the farm of Peter Mitchel. It is proba- ble, that at the time of the grant, they may have commenced a settlement on the west side of the Merrimack, south of the Amoskeag Falls. Be this as it may, they were settled in that
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A CATAMOUNT HUNT.
locality at an early period. These Martins were stout hardy men, and many anecdotes are related of them. Their father died before they left the ferry, and they had an older brother, Samuel, who lived at the Ferry, and supported a widowed moth- er, for many years. This was a difficult task for boys in their minority,-and had to be done principally by farming, hunt- ing and fishing. The mother was a strong, active woman, and with energy and economy on her part she was able to keep the family together. When the boys were hunting, fishing or otherwise engaged, she was ever ready to take oars and ferry people across the river, and could do it with a great deal of skill and ease. The boys were not only stout and hardy, but they knew no fear. The story goes among the old people of the town, that the two older brothers started up Nutt's Brook in a deep snow in the hopes of finding some deer yarded in the swamp at the head of that brook, with no other weapon but an axe. Upon entering the swamp, they met with a large track, and had followed it but a few rods before they came up- on a catamount beneath a hemlock, quietly gnawing at a deer it had slain. Instead of running at sight of the animal, they determined to attack it. The animal discovered no intention of leaving his breakfast and no signs of being disturbed, save an occasional whisk of his tail upon the snow. The young men after consultation and some fear on the part of the younger, commenced operations. The younger with a club made a feint of attacking the catamount in front, while the other with his axe crept up in rear of the annimal. The catamount kept on gnaw- ing and breaking the bones of the deer with more fierceness, and at length at intervals as the young men approached with clubs in hand, began a low, deep growl, flourishing his tail and and lashing the snow with it, throwing it in the air as if stirred up by a fierce wind. This aided the hunters in the attack, for taking his advantage, the eldest, at a single blow with his axe, severed the back bone of the animal, and thus disabled he was soon dispatched, and hauled home in triumph !
The success of the elder brothers and the excitement atten- dant upon their hunting expeditions, so often related at the fire- side, had procuced a decided effect upon the younger members of the family. A younger brother, a lad some dozen or four- teen years of age, but older by far in courage, became so elat- ed by his brothers' recitals, that he thought he could hunt suc- cessfully and became importunate that his mother should let him accompany them upon their expeditions. His mother denied his frequent importunities, often ending her denials
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
with "Pshaw boy, you'd run at sight of a bear !" "Try me mother" would rejoin the boy ! At length the mother thought she would try him, and going out of the house in the evening she threw over her head the skin of a bear. Soon returning, she made a loud noise at the door, and it was forthwith opened by the boy. Upon this, mimicking a bear she rolled along on all fours into the house. The boy was somewhat surprised at so unceremonious a visit in the evening, but nothing daunted, he seized a pitch wood knot and dealing his visitor a blow over her head, laid her at length on the floor ! It is needless to remark that after this, Mrs. Martin made up her mind that Joshua would not run for a bear! He became not only a noted hun- ter, but a noted soldier, and in the French war that followed, did his country good service.
Goffstown, like its neighbors, is a fine farming town, and in former years afforded vast quantities of valuable lumber. In fact, the valley of the Piscataquog has ever been noted for its excellent lumber, and in the time of the Royal Surveyors, a deputy surveyor and agents were always appointed in Goffs- town and other adjacent towns, "to prevent waste in the King's woods." Masts of great size and of extra quality were cut on the "Squog" and its branches, for the King's navy. The Amos- keag Falls were so "hideous," that masts were broken in pass- ing them-hence they had to be hauled on the bank of the Merrimack below these Falls. A Provincial road was con- structed up the "Squog," through Goffstown and Weare, and branching into New Boston, for the accommodation of "the masting business." This road is now known as the "Mast Road," and sections of it accommodate a large portion of the travel from Manchester to the northern towns of Hillsborough County
Some of the largest and most valuable masts ever cut in the Province, were cut in Goffstown and New Boston. The old people relate that one was cut upon the farm of Jonathan Bell in Goffstown, in the valley of the south branch of the Piscata- quog, and about a half of a mile southwest of Goffstown-West- Village, that exceeded in size, length and symmetry any other ever cut in this region. It was so large that some of the team- sters drove a yoke of "seven feet oxen" upon its stump and turned them round upon it with ease !
The land is somewhat level next to the Merrimack, but it rises into a mountain range, in the west part of the town, known as the "Uncanoonucks." This is a corruption of the Indian word Wunnunnoogunash, the plural of Wunnunnoo-
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253
JOE ENGLISH.
gun, (a breast,) ash being added to the singular to form the plural of inanimate nouns.
The name is very appropriate. From the top of the Un- canoonucks a splendid panorama is presented to the eye. Spurs of these mountains extend into New Boston, and "Joe English" in that town may be considered a part of the same range. This is a large hill placed down on Carrigain's map of New Hamp- shire as Ingall's hill. Its true name is "Joe English," which it received from a noted Indian of that name.
It is noted, and is much of a curiosity, as a freak of na- ture. It is precipitous and abrupt on its southern end, having the appearance of the southern part of the hill being carried away by some convulsion of nature. In fact, the hill terminates on the south in a rough precipice, presenting, in the distance a height of some two or three hundred feet, and almost perpen- dicular. The hill took its name from an incident of olden time connected with this precipice. In 1705 or 6, there was an Indian living in these parts, noted for his friendship for the English settlers upon the lower Merrimack. He was an ac- complished warrior and hunter, but following the counsels of Passaconaway and Wonnalancet, he continued steadfast in his partiality for his white neighbors. From this fact the Indians, as was their wont, gave him the name, significant of this trait, of "Joe English." In course of time, the Indians satisfied that Joe gave information of their hostile designs to the Eng- lish, determined upon killing him upon the first fitting opportu- nity. Accordingly just at twilight, they found Joe upon one of the branches of the "Squog" hunting. and commenced an at- tack upon him; but he escaped from them, two or three in number, and made directly for this hill in the southern part of New Boston. With the quick thought of the Indian, he made up his mind that the chances of escape were against him in a long race, and he must have recourse to strategem. As he ran up the hill, he slackaned his pace until his pursuers were almost upon him, that they might become more eager in the pursuit. Once near the top he started off again with great rapidity, and the Indians after him, straining every nerve. As Joe came up- on the brink of the precipice betore mentioned, he leaped be- hind a jutting rock, and waited in breathless anxiety. But a moment passed, and the hard breathing, and measured but light footsteps of his pursuers were heard, and another moment with a screech and a yell, their dark forms were rolling down the rocky precipice, to be left at its base, food for hungry wolves !
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Thenceforth the hill was called "Joe English," and well did his constant friendship deserve so enduring a monument.
"Joe English" was the grand-son of the Sagmon of Aga- wam, (now Ipswich,) whose name was Wosconnomet.
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