History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 111

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520

USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 111
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 111

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" After the capture of Mrs. Med'by the Indians frequently visited the town, but never committed any very great depredations, The greatest

damage they ever did to the property of the inhabitants was the spoiling of all the ox-teams in town. At the time referred to there were but four yoko of oxen in the place, viz. : Med'oy's, Captain MeClary's, George Wallace's and Lieutenant Blake's. It was a time of apprehension from the Indians, and the inhabitants had therefore all fled to the garrison at Nottingham. They left their oxen to graze about the woods, with a bell npon one of them. The Indians found them, shot one out of each yoke, tuuk out their tougues, nuule a prize of the bell and left them.

" The ferocity and cruelty of the savages were doubtless very much averted by a friendly, conciliating course of conduct in the inhabitants towards them. This was particularly the case in the course pursued by Sergeant Blake. Being himself a curious marksman and an expert hun- ter-traits of character, in their view, of the highest order-ho soon se- cured their respeet ; and, by a course of kind treatment, he socured their friendship to such a degree that, though they had opportunities, they would not injure him even in time of war.

" The first he ever saw of them was a company of them making towards his house through the opening from the top of Sanborn's Hill, He fled to the woods and there lay concealed till they had made a thorough search about his house and inclosures and had gone off. The next time his visitors came he was constrained to become more acquainted with them and to treat them with more attention. As he was busily engaged towards the close of the day in completing a yard for his cow, the de- clining sun suddenly threw several long, enormous shadows on the ground before him. He had no sooner turned to see the cause than lie found himself in the company of a number of stately Indians. Seeing his perturbation, they patted him on the head and told him 'not to be afraid, for they would not hurt him.' They then went with him into his house, and their first business was to search all his bottles to see if he had any 'occupee'-rum. They then told him they were very hungry, and wanted something to eat. He happened to have a quarter of a bear, which he gave them. They took it and throw it whole npon the fire, and very soon began to cut and cat from it hall raw. While they were eating he employed himself in cutting pieces from it auml broiling upon a stick for them, which pleased them very much. After their repast they wished for the privilege of lying by his fire through the night, which he granted. The next morning they proposed trying skill with him in firing at a mark. To this he acceded. But in this, finding themselves uutdone, they were very much astonished and chagrined ; nevertheless they highly commended him for his skill, patting him on the head and telling him, -'if he would go off with them they would make him their big captain.' They used often to call upon him, and his kindness to them they never forgot, even in time of war.

" Plansawa had a peculiar manner of doubling his lip and producing a very shrill, piercing whistle, which might be heard at a great distance. At a time when considerable danger was apprehemled from the Indians Blake went off into the woods alone, though considered hazardous, to look for his cow that was missing. As he was passing along by Sinclair'a Brook, an unfrequented place, northerly from Medoy's Mountain, a very lund, sharp whistle, which he knew to be Plansawa's suddenly passed through his head like the report of a pistol. The sudden alarm almostt raised him from the gromul, and, with a very light step, he soun reached home without his cow. In more peacealle times Plausawa asked him if he did not remember the time, and laughed very much to think how he ran at the fright, and told him the reason for his whistling. 'Young Indian,' said he, 'put up gun to shoot Englishman ; me knock it down and whistle to start you off,'-so lasting is their friendship when treated well. At the close of the wars the Indians Imilt several wigwams near the confluence of Wallace's Brook with the Great Suncook. On a little island in this river, near the place called 'Short Falls,' one of them lived for a considerable timo. Plausawa and Sabatis were finally both killed in time of peace by one of the whites, after a drunken quarrel, and buried near a certain brook in Boscawon,

" MOUNTAINS .- The surface of the town is generally uneven, the land frequently rising into considerable hills. Four of the highest eminences have received the name of mountains.

"McCoy's, named after Charles Med'by, one of the first settlers, lies about one mile and a half south from the contro of the town.

"Fort Mountain, probably so called from having an eminenco neur the summit resembling u fort, lies about one mile farther in n southwest direction, and is the highest of the four. This is probably the highest land in the same parallel of latitude between the ocean and Merrinmek River. From its summit, in a clear atmosphere, the ocean may be dis- tinetly seen, though distant about thirty miles, in a direct line, and for fifteen or twenty miles tho beholler hasa very full view of the surround- ing country.

"Nat's Mountain is situated about half a mile south of the last-men-

1 These were of the Arosaguntacook or St. Francis tribe. (See Belknap's " Hist. N. 11.," vol. ii., p. 278).

448

HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

tioned one. It was so named from the circonstance that Nathaniel, one of Medoy's children, who had been lost in the woods while searching for the cows, was found upon it. It is said he was absent several days, and subsisted during that time upon berries; and that, when first dis- covered, he was disposed to flee from those who came to his relief.

" Nottingham Mountain, so named from its being crossed by the au- cient Nottingham (now Deerfield) line, lies about half a mile easterly from Fort Mountain. In this mountain, on the Deerfield side, is said to be a small cave capable of containing twenty or thirty persons at the same time.

"RivEns .- The Great and Little Suncook are the only streams which deserve the name of rivers. These seldom fail to afford abundant water for the various kinds of machinery that is situated upon them. The Great Suncook uever fails, though the other does, in very dry seasons. The Great Suncook enters the town from the worth, and, bending its course southwesterly, noites with the Merrimack at Pembroke. The Little Soncook enters the town from the east, a few rods below the poud of the same name, from which it runs ; aod, proceeding in a pretty di- rect course westward, bear the centre of the town, unites with the river first mentioned.

"PoNns,-There are but three in the town, and these are small. Their names are Chestnut, Round and Odiorne's Pond."

The following is found in the Records of the Leg- islature of 1762 :

" PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

" 'fo his Exelency Benning Wentworth, Esq., Capt. General, Gove- nour & Commander in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire, and to the Honable Connceill & house of Representa- tives now Convened in General Assembly at Portsmouth.

"the Petition of his Majesty's Goud Subjects, Inhabitants of the town- ship of Epsom, in said Province, humbly beg leave to remonstrate our Very Poor Distressing circumstances to your Compassion, & Most Earnstly Crave your Pity, and pray your Honours to Relieve us from our unsuportable Burden of Province tax under which we are made to Grone, and Which we think we Cannot Possibly survive Under unless your Honours will be Pleased to Mitigate and free us from.

"Gentlemen our Numbers are Very Small & we are very much Exposed to Losses ; our young Cattle, Sheep and Swine are often Destroyed by Wild beasts, and, further, we have Lately Sclected a minister among us which we are afraid we shall not be able to Support; by Reason of the Poor circumstances we are now under we are not able to Build a Meet- ing Hous ; that onr Minister is obliged to Preach in some of our Dwell- ing houses ; the tax which was Laid on us the Last year many of ns were obliged to hire the money to Pay ; our Necessities are very Grate by Reason of the Scarcity of Provisions we have been obliged to Lay out all that we have got for years Past & are now much in debt. this is to en- treat your Honours to take of the heavy tax which we now Labour under, & Restore us the money we Paid Last year, & your Petitionera Shall ever Pray as in Duty Bound :

"John McClary, George Walles, Nathan Marden, John Black, Ephraim Lock, Renben Sanborn, Jun., Eliphlet Sanborn, Reuben San- born, James Wood, Abraham Lebbee, Abraham Walles, Benjamin Blake, Thomas Blake, Isaac Lebbee, Isaac Lebbee, Jun., Reuben Leb- bee, Amos Blaso, Samul Bickford, Samuel Black, Thomas Hins, John Blaso, Ephraim Bery, William Blake, Benson Ham, John McGaffey, Andrew McClary, Abner Evans.

" In Council, June 24th, 1762: Read & ordered to be sent down to the Houblo Assembly.

"THEODORE ATKINSON, JUN., Sec."

At a meeting called January 7, 1781, to consult in regard to adopting the plan or form of government that had been prepared by Congress for the govern- ment of the people, the matter was referred to a committee consisting of Major Morrill, Mr. Francis Lock, Captain Gray, Lieutenant Locke and Thomas Babb, to make such amendments as they should deem necessary in said plan and report at an ad- journed meeting, at which time they presented the following objections, which were adopted by the town :

"Ist. The twenty-third article of the bill of rights, as exhibited in said plan, is objected to and inadmissible Because ench Laws have been necessary in the present revolution, & may be in the future ; There- fure, we submit the making of such Laws to the Legislative power.

"2d article of objection is respecting the qualification of a senator 88 to estate. Because Interest or Estate, not being the most essential quali- fication, Therefore a - person possessed of Intellectual abilities, which we humbly conceive is must essential, and having a free hold in his own right of one hundred pounds, vught not to be excluded of the privi- ledge of being elected into office as senator.

"3d article of objection is that of the Delegate or representative se- lected from the Delegated body as to estate. For the same reason offered to the qualifications of a Senator as proposed in the plan, and that a person possessed of a visible estate of sixty pounds, shall be Capable of being Elected into office as Delegate or representative.

"4th Article of objection is to a Governor's not being eligible of being elected into office for more than three years in seven, according to the proposed plan. Because that a person elected into office for three yeare successively, whose service shall be found salutary to the publick Weal, is the most Capable of serving as long as he may be found ser- viceable to the State in said office.

" 5th article of Objection is to a person's not having a Voice in the Choice of a Delegate, Representative, Senator or Governor unless pos- sessed of a Free hold in his own right of one hundred pounds, accord- ing to the proposed plan. Because, according to the first article in the declaration of the righte of the people of the State of New Hampshire, . all men are born equally free and Independent. Therefore, all Govern- ment of right Originates from the people, and is founded in consent. Therefore, the freeman, with ever so small pecuniary abilities, ought to have an equal Voice in the legislative Choice with him who is possessed of the most accumulated fortune."

There was a lengthy contest with Chichester rela- tivoto the boundary line between the towns, which was finally settled by arbitration.

At the annual meeting held March 13, 1810, it was "Voted to accept Joshua Lane, of Sanbornton ; Samuel Shepherd, of Gilmanton ; and John Lane, of Candia, a committee to settle the contested line between Epsom and Chichester." And at the follow- ing March meeting it was voted to accept the report of the above committee, which established the line as it now is.

Before the building of railroads there was a large amount of travel and teaming through this town from the northern part of New Hampshire and Vermont to Portsmouth, Newburyport and other sea-board towns, and, consequently, a number of inns or taverns were required for the accommodation of the travelers.

The selectmen of the town for 1827 gave license to the following persons to keep an open tavern for one year, each paying two dollars for the privilege : William Yeaton, Jr., Colonel Danicl Cilley, Abel Brown, Samuel Whitney, Robert Knox, Captain Ben- jamin L. Locke, Captain Simon A. Heath, Joseph Lawrence and Abram W. Marden.

There is no tavern or public-house kept in town at the present time.

Mr. Curtis says: "The hilly surface of the town and numerous streams rendered it very favorable for that kind of machinery which requires the power of water. Within the limits of the town are eight grist- mills with twelve runs of stones, ten saw-mills, three carding-machines, three clothiers' shops, and four bark-mills."

At the present time there are two saw-mills, three

449

EPSOM.

grist-mills, one sash and door manufactory, one box taetory and the shoe-factory, all situated upon the Great and Little Suneook Rivers.

In the spring of 1881 the matter of building up some kind of a business that would be of a benefit to the inhabitants of the town was disenssed, and on the 4th day of May of that year a company was organ- ized, called the Epsom Shoe-Factory Company, with a capital stock of three thousand dollars, divided into shares of twenty-five dollars each. The stock was soon taken and operations at onee begun.

A dam was made across the little Suncook River, near the Free Baptist Church, and a two-story building erected.

The fall of that year the factory was rented to Hill & Puffer, of Lynn, Mass., who at once commenced the making of shoes. Their practice was to take stock from Lynn or other manufacturing towns that was partially fitted and make the shoes.

In 1883, Mr. Hill left the firm, and Mr. Nathan Goss was associated with Mr. Puffer in the business.

In the spring of 1885 they sold ont to parties from Haverhill, Mass., and a new firm went into the busi- ness, known as Mitchell, Finney & Co.

They are now manufacturing shoes, entting and making entire.

At present they employ about seventy-five hands and make six eases per day. Their pay-roll for labor is about one hundred dollars per day.

School and Parsonage Lots .- In accordance with the requirements of the grant of the town, two lots were set apart and known as the school and parsonage lots. The school lot was located at the westerly end of the "home lots," running from the turnpike up on Sanborn Hill, and was soll June 10, 1815, Cap- tain Gray, B. M. Towle and others being purchasers. The amount realized from such sale, as nearly as ean be ascertained from the records, was abont twelve hundred dollars, which the town kept as a school fund and divided the interest of it annually among the several school districts according to their valua- tion.

The parsonage lot was near the "Old Centre," on the southerly side of the highway, on which the build- ings now occupied by Addison Davis are situated, and was formerly known as the " Dr. Diekey place." The lot was sold by vote of the town about 1817, and the Rev. Jonathan Curtis was the purchaser, for one thousand and five dollars, which sum was invested by the town as a parsonage fund, the interest thereof being annually distributed among the several reli- gious societies in town, in proportion to the taxable property of its members.

This was done until about 1848, when the select- men, first obtaining counsel, decided the same to be unnecessary and refused to distribute the interest of said funds, and they were appropriated to the general expenses of the town.

Soon after this the " Esq. Hersey " farm was pur-

chased for a poor farm. Prior to this the keeping and care of the paupers was annually sold to the per- son who would do it for the smallest sum. The farm was kept until 1865, when the county built an alms- house and took all the paupers chargeable to them that could conveniently be moved, which left bnt few to be supported by the town, and the farm was sold to James Yeaton and is now owned by Daniel Yeaton.

The first assessment or inventory that we find re- corded was made in 1793, and contains the names of one hundred and seventy-eight persons that were rated as residents and fifty-nine that were non- residents, in which list there were only three that contained any middle letter, although there were several that had Jun., or 2d or 3d attached to their names.

The land being classed according to its various uses, we find that year fifteen acres of orcharding, one hundred and fifty-one and one-fourth acres of tillage, five hundred and fifty-eight acres of mowing and eight hundred and nineteen acres of pasture, the remainder being rated as unimproved lands. There were taxed that year sixty-five horses, one hundred and thirty oxen and two hundred and five cows.

At a town-meeting held March 12, 1839, a resolu- tion was introduced by Jonathan Steele, Esq., which was adopted,-"that an agent be chosen by the town to receive from the town treasurer and select- men all the permanent funds belonging to the town, and invest them in some safe institution for the benefit of the town, and pay the interest annually to such parties as the town might direct, viz. : the interest from the parsonage to anthorized agents of the several religious societies, and the interest from the school fund to the several prudential com- mittees."

Frederick Sanborn was chosen agent, as above re- quested, and gave a bond in the sum of twelve thou- sand dollars for the faithful performance of the trust, Thomas D. Merrill and Samuel Cate being his sureties.

The bond stated the several permanent funds to be as follows : School fund, $1958.28; parsonage find, $1005; and the surplus revenue, $3079.05, -- total, $6042.33.

Canterbury Bridge .- In the journal of the House of the Provincial Legislature, February 23, 1744, is the following:

CANTERBURY PETITION.

"The within Petition read & voted: Provided The Proprietors of the Town of Canterbury Build a Bridge this year sufficient for carts & car- riages to pass & repass on over Suncook River where the way is now ent to travel from Durham to Canterbury & will warrant to maintain the same Bridge for ten years ; that then there be paid the said Proprietors the sum of fifty pounds Bills of credit out of the Interest motwy arising on the 25,000 £ Loao, out of that part of the Interest appropriated for Highways & Discovery of the Country, when so much shall be in the Treasury."

It is supposed that the above must have reference to the first bridge over the Suncook River in Epsom,

450

HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

which was a few rods southwesterly from Charles W. Rand's house, as the road from there westward has always been known as the Canterbury road. After the Portsmouth turnpike became a public road the above bridge and the road from the "Goboro road " (so called), to the Pittsfield road, were discontinued.

Ministerial .- May 20, 1742, it was " Voted That there shall be thirty pounds money Raised by the Proprietors & inhabitants for the highering of a min- ister, that the Gospel may be promoted in the afore sª town of Epsom."

June 8, 1743, " A vote past by the proprietors and Inhabitants of Epsom to Raise forty Pounds Monney for the Support of a minister, that the gospel might be promoted among us."

May 2, 1750, it was "Voted There should be money Raised for the support of the Gospel Fifty Pounds, old tennor."

April 23, 1760, it was " Voted one hundred pounds, old tenor, in money be raised to hire minister or de- fray charges."

" PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,

"Ersom, June 25, 1761.

"At a legal meeting held in Epsom at the house of Capt. Andrew Mc. Clary, on thursday, the twenty-fifth of this 1761 instant Inne, according to notification dated Jnue the 20, the free holders met according to noti- fication and thus

"1. Voted Capt. John McClary moderator.

"2. Voted Mr. John Tucke to be their gospel minister.

"3. Voted one hundred acres of Land as a settlement as the charter allowed 50 acres laid out and the other 50 in some Convenient place, re- serving the priviledge for seting of a meeting honse and what of this Lot is taken for seting the meeting be made up in the other Lot.

"4. Yoted thirty pounds starling as a salary for the first two years, reckoning dolers nt the Rate of a 6 pt doler.

"$5. Voted That an adition of five pounds be made to ad minister next after the first two years nre expired.

"6. Voted That thirty cords of wood be annually ent and hanled to his honse.

"7. Voted abraham lebee, Isaac lebee sen., John Blake, george wallis, cap. John meclary, ephraim Locke, Saminel blake, Lott. Eliphlet Sanborn, nathan marden be a committee to present a call to Mr. John tucke.

"8. Voted six hundred pounds, old tenor, towards buikling a minister's honse, to be paid in Labour if he accepts the call.

"Town meeting ended.

"NATHAN MARDEN, Clark."

August 14, 1861, it was " Toted That the meeting house shall stand on the same Lot where the old meeting house formerly stood, at or near the Burying place."

August 12, 1761, it was

" Voted Nathan Marden, George Wallis, ens. Thomas Blake, Ephraim Locke be a committee to provide for the ordernation and to render ac- count of the same to the Seloct men.

" Voted that the charge of the ordernation he paid by the town.

" Voted Beniman Blake, benson ham, amos blazo be a committee to As- sist the constable and tithing men in keeping order on the ordernation day."

The following is a copy of Rev. Mr. Tucke's accept- ance of the call to be their first minister :

" To the Inhabitants of Epsom :

"Grace, mercy and peace from God, the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied among you.

" Brethren : It is some time since you gave me a call to the sacred work of the ministry among yon in this place, and now I understand by the committee sent to me by you, that you have both renewed and rati-

fied that call and confirmed further offers, And now, after a very serions, mature and most deliberate consideration, and fervent looking- np to Heaven for direction, assistance and God's blessing, and hoping that there is a good prospect of doing good service among yon, nud in building you up in His most holy faith ; I now, confiding in and rely- ing on the strength of divine grace for assistanco, as God huth graciously promised Ilis minister's, accept your call to me.

" But, Brethren, I now must say to yon, as in Ist. Cor. 14: 'So huth the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel shall live of the Gospel.' Now the very same I expect of and from yon as long as God shall be pleased to contimme me among you. And while I am with yon I earnestly desire and crave your prayers for me as yon pray for yourselves. The apostle says, Ist Thess. 5, 25: ' Brethren pray for ne,' and I hope my prayers to Almighty God will not be wanting for yon, while I minister among you, io holy things. I hope by God's grace, on which I wholly rely and depend, to say with the apostle in Colos. 1, 9 : 'I do not cease to pray for yon, and to desire that we might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understand- iug.'

"1 do now subscribe myself,-Yours, to serve in the Gospel of our Blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

" JOHN TUCKE.

" Epsom, Angust 17, 176] " April 19, 1764, it was

" Voted, that a meeting-house be built in Epsom, the length fifty feet and the breath forty feet."

" Voted, Isaac Libby, Sen., Thomas Blake, John McClary, George Wallace and Nathan Marden be a committee to carry on the work of said building, and they shall have full power to act and do in behalf of the town in the best manner they can, and take and render accounts to ench as shall have authority to demand the same.

" Also, ed committee to vandne of the pews in ed meeting-house or the privilege for gd pews & to take the security for the sune."

" l'oted, one thousand pounds, O. T., to be paid when sd committee shall call for the same."

We are unable to find any report or account from the above committee.

There was a meeting at the house of Captain An- drew MeClary on the 15th day of May, 1764, when twenty-one privileges for pews were sold by auction. We also find that the annual meeting, agreeable to 'the charter, for the year 1766 was held in the meeting- house, and for the greater part of the time thereafter, while the same remained standing.

It was occupied by the Congregational Church and Society for religious purposes until about 1820, when, other denominations having been organized in town, who claimed the right to hold their meetings there a part of the time; the following votes were passed by .the town: November 15, 1819, it was " Voted, that ¡ the Toleration Society in Epsom have the use of the meeting-house in said town one-half the time on Sundays until the next annual meeting."

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 111

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1520

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520