History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 59

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 59
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 59

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" Walter Bryant, Obediah Worth, James Prescott, Nathan Clough, Jeremiah Sanborn, Jonathan Swett, committee."

The following is a list of the original proprietors and the lots which they drew :

Nathaniel Gookin, range 6, lot 23; Joho Odlia, range 6, lot 25 ; Chris-

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

tepher l'age, range 8, lot 3 ; Peter Weare, range 5, lot 26; Edward West. range 2, lot 21 ; Nathaniel Healey, range 5, lot 12; Jabez Smith, range 6, lot 17 ; Josiah Bachelder, range 1, let 32 ; Jenathao Fifield, range 1, lot 24 ; Paio Wingate, range 3, let 17 ; Nicholas Gilman, range 8, lot 21 ; Nathaniel Lecke, range 4, let 12 ; William Stanford, range 2, lot 25 ; Shu- ball Sanborn, range 7, let 24 ; Jeho Webster, range 8, lot 11 ; Benjamin Thomas, range 4, lot 1; Joseph Taylor, range 2, let 5 ; Samuel Martio, range 1, lot 4 ; Mathias Plant, range 3, lot 11 ; Jenathao Garland, range 2, let 33; Jacob Freese, Jr., range 2, lot 15 ; Benjamin Sanborn, range 4, lot 15 ; Daniel Weare, range I, let 22 ; Jeho Prescet, range 2, let 9 ; Minister Whipple, range 2, lot 13; Jeshua Wingate, range 6, let 13; Nathaniel Weare, range 8, lot 27; Joho Sherburo, range 6, lot 11 ; Jonathan Philbrook, range 1, lot 28 ; Benjamin Perkins, range 7, lot 2 ; Charles Steward, range 4, lot 16; Charles Treadwell, range 5, lot 4; Nathan Longfellow, range 6, let 7; John Swett, range 5, lot 14; Meses Blake, range 7, lot 26; Jacob Freese, range 3, lot 15; Abram Drake, range 8, let 25 ; John Rodman, Jr., range 3, lot 11 ; Nathaniel Drake, range 5, lot 24 ; Samnel Thyng, range 1, let 2 ; Samuel Gilmiso, range 1, let 20; Thomas Webster, range 1, lot 12; Peter Gilman, range 8, lot 5; James Leavitt, range 7, lot 12; Joseph Dearborn, range 3, lot 6; Jolin Robinson, range 5, lot 18 ; Benjamin Lambre, range 6, lot 19 ; Jo-

siah Menlton, Jr., range 7, lot 6; Jehn Bachelder, range 6, let 21 ; Sammel Palmer, range 5, lot 16 ; Bezaleel Tappan, range 2, lot 21 ; Jarius Ringe, Jr., range 4, lot 14 ; Eben Weare, range 6, lot 15 ; Themas Perce, range 2, lot 11; Winthrop Hilten, range 2, lot 29; Joseph Redman, range 1, let 18 ; James Jaffrey, Jr., range 4, lot 11; John Redman, range 3, let 14 ; Themas Cram, range 4, let 6; John Dearborn, Jr., range 4, lot 17 : Henry Russ, range 6, let 5 ; John Gilman, Esq., range 8, lot 15 ; Andrew Wiggin, range 7, lot 8; Captain John Gilman, range 1, lot 2; John Downing, range 8, lot 17; William Fellews, range 5, lot 20; Samuel Tibbets, range 8, lot 1; Epraham Dennis, range 4, lot 3; Wil- liam Odien, range 3, lot 4; William Peperell, range 1, lot 34; Joseph Frost, range 3, let 16; John Tuck, range 7, lot 4; Celonel 'Mark Huok- ing, range 1, let 8; David Currier, range 3, lot 7 ; Cyprym Jeffrey, range 8, let 9; Begoing Wentworth, range 1, lot 14; Hunkin Wentworth, rauge 4, let 13; John Wentworth, range 7, lot 18 ; William Wentworth, range 5, let 6 ; Jeremiah Sauborn, range 8, lot 19 ; Jethra Tilten, range 5, lot 8 ; Bathelomew Thyng, range 4, let 5; Jeho Cram, range 1, let 12 ; Bradstreet Wiggin, range 6, lot 27; Steven Sanborn, range 6, lot 1; Benjamin Cram, range 7, lot 28; Richard Wibbard, Jr., range 6, let 3 ; George Jeffrey, range 3, lot 10; Richard Waldron, Jr., range 3, let 3; Benjamin Gamlin, range 8, let 13 ; Jenathan Chusshing, range 2, lot 17 ; John Bradford, range 4, let 7 ; John Jeonis, range 7, let 10; Hezekiah Jennie, range 3, lot 2; John Gerrish, range 2, lot 23 ; Peter Weare, Esq. range 3, let 1 ; John Plaster, range 5, lot 10 ; James Davie, range 4, lot 4; Theodore Atkinson, range 1, lot 26 ; ; Eben Stevens, range 2, lot 19 ; Captain Paul Gerrish, range 6, let 9; Richard Jennie, range 7, lot 14 ; James Jeffrey, range 4, let 2; John Sanborn, range 1, lot6; Geerge Frest, range 8, let 23; Col. Shattuck Walten, range 7, let 16; George Jeffrey, range 5, lot 2; Richard Wibend, range 2, lot 27; Colonel Thomas Westbrook, range 1, lot 16; Archibald Mackphedus, range 8, lot 7.

John Frost, lot 30, first range; Jotham Odiorn, lot 7, second range; Henry Sherburn, lot 20, range 7; Governor Belcher, lot 10, range 1; each a proprietor's share, with a home lot and five hundred acres to Hon. Samuel Shute and Governor Wentworth.

The proprietors seemed anxious to know how much land they possessed up here; so, on the 19th day of March, 1750, they chose Jeremiah Sanborn, James Prescott, Jonathan Swett, Samuel Drake and Jo- siah Shaw a committee to run the line around the town, and also lay out two fifty-acre lots to each of the proprietors. This committee employed Simeon Dearborn as surveyor, who came up and laid out the second and third division of lots ; but as this land, with the exception of one range in the third division, is now in the town of Pittsfield, it is not proper that I should give an account of the doings of this com- mittee. A large proportion of the township was now surveyed 'and lotted off, but as yet no permanent

settlement had been made, although the proprietors had offered, what seemed to them, very flattering inducements. The Indian wars in which the people had been engaged and other causes no doubt pre- vented an early settlement. But in 1756, Paul Mor- rill, for five hundred acres of land, was induced to come up into the woods and commence a clearing, and make for himself and his posterity a home and a name. The tract of land which he selected was in the southwest corner of the town, and has ever since been known as "Morrill's Grant." He cleared up a piece of land and built a house near the residence of John F. French. At the " Horse-Corner " Mr. Mor- rill cleared up a farm, upon which he spent the remainder of his days, He settled several of his sons near him,-one upon the place where John F. French now resides, another upon the place where James F. Towle lives, and still another on the C. H. Staniel's place.

John Morrill, one of the sons of Paul Morrill, was born about the time his father settled in Chichester, and is supposed to be the first child born in the town, as we find that the proprietors gave fifty acres of land to the first child of Paul Morrill, born in Chichester. The proprietors continued for several years their efforts to induce others to settle here, and thereby create a demand for their land, but very little was accomplished in this direction until about 1770, when John Cram, for a grant of land and the water-power which he had discovered on the great Suncook River, in what is now Pittsfield, built a saw-mill,-an institu- tion of great importance in those days, and without. which no extended settlement could be made.

The rich soil, favorable location and heavy growth of timber induced the ambitious young men of Hamp- ton and vicinity to emigrate, and soon we find the Dows, Sanborns, Drakes, Davis', Hilliards, Browns, Hooks, Lakes and many other young men of pluck and strength coming up here, and settling in different , parts of the town to hew peaceful homes and fruitful farms from the wilderness, and provide a competency for themselves and families by arduous toil and rigid economy. Those of the original proprietors who had not already sold or lost their shares in consequence of not paying their taxes still remained in Hampton, selling their lands as they had opportunity, and hold- ing their annual meetings from year to year for the election of town officers, in accordance with the terms of their grant.

Colonel Simeon Hilliard came up and settled on Brown's Hill, near the residence of the late Abner P. Brown. He had a large family of children, but none of their descendants remain in town now. About the same time came Jonathan Leavitt, Esq., who pur- chased a large tract of land situated on both sides of Canterbury road, a portion of which is owned and occu- pied by his grandson, Hazen K. Leavitt. Captain John Langmaid settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Samuel W. Langmaid, and the farm has

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been in the possession of the Langmaid family ever since. About the same time came David Brown, who bought the farm now owned and occupied by David T. Brown, who is the fourth generation from the orig- inal settler. Thomas Lake settled on the farm where J. T. Lake now resides, from which the large family of Lakes descended. Joseph Dow and his brother settled on Loudon road, the former on the farm now owned by Thomas Berry and sons, and the latter near " Kelley's Corner."

Joseph Dow was proprietors' clerk and afterwards town clerk, and thereby acquired the name of Clerk Dow. Soon after, Joshua Lane, Esq., and Jeremiah Lane purchased land in north part of town, and erected houses where Arthur Deering and S. R. Wat- son now reside. Captain Dyer Hook and Peter Hook purchased the intervale farm now owned and occupied by Charles H. Carpenter, Esq. The house, which Mr. Carpenter moved from its original location a few years ago, before building the new and elegant resi- dence which he now occupies, was built by Captain Dyer Hook, and is thought to be the first frame house built in town. Deacon Ebenezer Lane came to Chi- chester in 1790, and settled on a part of the Governor Wentworth grant, in the southerly part of the town. George W. Lane, his grandson, still owns and occu- pies the farm. Joshua Lane, another grandson, resides near by, upon the farm formerly owned and occupied by his father, Eben Lane.

But in 1797, John Hilyard, Joseph Dow, Joshua Lane, Jacob Sanborn, John Bickford, Thomas Lake, Timothy Prescott, Asa Lane, Daniel Tilton, James Drake, Robert Tebbetts, Jonathan Perkins, Joshua Berry, Abram Greene, John Cram, William Chase, Enoch Butler, Joseph Sanborn represented to Abram True, a justice of the peace, that they were pro- prietors, owners and grantees of more than one- sixteenth part of the township, and requested him to call a meeting for the election of proprietors' officers at the house of Lieutenant John Hilliard, in Chi- chester. This meeting was held the 25th day of July, 1797. Joseph Dow was chosen clerk, and Robert Tebbets, Esq., and Abram True, Esq., were chosen a committee to bring the record-book of the proprietors up to Chichester. It was accordingly brought up by this committee on the 4th day of December following. Another meeting was called by Abram True, Esq., agreeable to a petition of pro- prietors, on the 29th day of May, 1800. A board of officers was chosen and an attempt made to raise a tax to pay up the indebtedness of the proprietors, but not much was accomplished, except to adjourn their meeting from day to day until they had ad- journed nine times; the last adjourned meeting was never held. These adjourned meetings occupied about three years' time, during which a large part of the proprietors' rights had been sold to pay taxes and claims, Governor Shute's five hundred acres included. Thus ends the recorded doings of the original propri-

etors of our town. We have followed them from the time they obtained their grant, in 1727, to 1803,- a period of seventy-six years,-and given an epitome of their votes and transactions relative to the set- tlement of Chichester. We would be glad to give a more extended and particular account of them, but the limited space allowed us in this work forbids. We are fortunate in having in our possession the complete records of all meetings of the proprietors, written in a legible hand and in a good state of preservation.

Having said all that our limited space allows about the original proprietors, we will now go back several years and take up the "original settlers ;" and we- find that on March 18, 1773, they presented a peti- tion to John McClary to call a meeting of the legal voters for the election of town officers. General Mc- Clary issued the following order :

" PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, ROCKINGHAM, SS. "Whereas, application ia made to ma, the Subscriber, one of his Majes- ties Justices of tha Peace for the County aforesaid, in a petition signed by a number of the freeholders and inhabitants of the township of Chiches- ter, to call a town meeting as soon as may be, at some convenient placa In Said Town, to Choose Town officers &8 tha law Directs. Therein they Complain of never having had the advantage of any legal meeting in Said Town heretofore. Pursuant to the aforesaid application, I Do. hereby notify and warn the freeholders, and other Inhabitants of the township of Chichester, qualified by law to vote at Said Meeting, to meet at this Dwelling housa of John Loverin, in Said Chichester, on Thursday, the first day of April next, at teo of the clock, forenoon, then and thera to Choose a Moderator to govern Said meeting, also Town Clark, Selectmen, Constable and all other town officera as the law di- rects, and to pass votes for the same.

"JOHN MCCLARY, Justice Peace.

Agreeable to the above order, the citizens of Chi- chester held their first town-meeting and "elected John McClary moderator and John Cram town clerk ; John Cram, Samuel Davis, Ebenezer Barton, select- men ; Samuel Prescott, Jonathan Leavitt, assessors ; John Worth, coustable or collector together; Ed- ward Sargent, Edmon Rand Leavitt, John Blake and Elijah Ring, they all surveyors of highways." The settlers had scarcely got started in the new town when the difficulties which had for a long time ex- isted between the colonies and the British government assumed such formidable proportions that war seemed almost inevitable.

Already people in the lower towns of the State were almost driven to overt acts, but were restrained by the prudence of leading patriots. The settlers, though far removed from these scenes, caught the spirit and began to make preparations for the coming storm ; for, early in 1775, they voted to enlist four Minute- Men to be ready at a moment's warning for any emer- gency, and to pay each man two shillings per day, and raised one pound, six shillings to purchase pork and bread, and store it in town for the use of the Min- ute-Men. January 23d of this year Elijah Ring was chosen as a deputy to go to Exeter to choose dele- gates to represent this province in a Continental Congress proposed to be held in Philadelphia in May next. On the 8th of May, John Cram was chosen

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

deputy to represent the town in the Provincial Con- gress to be held at Exeter on the 17th instant, with full power to "act and adopt everything according to a letter from the Provincial Committee." In 1776 the town chose Simeon Hilliard, Jonathan Stanyan, Thomas Johnson, David Knowlton, Israel Hook a Committee of Safety, and in 1777 voted to give thirty pounds, lawful money, to each man who enlists into the Continental army for three years, and chose Jon- athan Leavitt, Jeremiah Sanborn and Jeremiah Gar- land a committee to hire the men. They also chose John Cram, William Chase, Elijah Ring, John Lang- maid, Simeon Hilliard to regulate the prices of articles in town, so as to correspond with prices in other towns. They also voted to purchase a good supply of gun- powder, lead and flints, and store them at the house of Captain Dyer Hook for the use of the Minute-Men. In 1778 the town raised one hundred and fifty pounds, lawful money, to hire men to fill the quota of the town in the Continental army, and chose James Cram, Jon- athan Leavitt, Edward Sargent a committee to look after the families of those who had gone into the army, agreeable to a resolve of the General Assem- bly.

In 1779 a convention of delegates was held at Exe- ter to draw up a new system of government, and John Cram, Esq., was chosen to represent the town. This convention met and proposed a new form of gov- ernment, which was submitted to the people and re- jected. This year a convention was held at Concord to regulate the price of articles, and Ensign Elijah Riug was chosen as a delegate from Chichester, who received twelve pounds, lawful money, for his services. In 1780 the people were thoroughly aroused, and deter- mined to do all iu their power to aid the Continental army and secure the independence of the colonies. They chose Captain Jonathan Leavitt and Ensign Elijah Ring a committee, with instructions to furnish all the men that may be called for during the year, from this town, as soldiers in the army; and the selectmen were also instructed to furnish the commit- tee with the money to pay them and to assess a tax upon the ratable polls to raise it. It was no easy task for farmers, at this period, with but very little of their land under cultivation, with a distant market and the difficulties attending transportation, to raise money; yet they did raise it to the extent of their ability, and when they could not raise money, they furnished beef and corn, and conveyed it to Hampton with horses and oxen. The town furnished this year six thousand five hundred and twenty pounds of beef and delivered it. In 1781 the Continental Congress asked them to furnish eight thousand one hundred and fifty pounds of beef and forty-eight gallons of rum for the army, and it was raised and forwarded. They also voted to raise all the men wanted from this town for the army during the year, and passed the following very singular vote, which not only shows the ingenuity of the people, but shows to what ex- I town clerk. These books are in the town clerk's

tremity poverty and zeal in a just cause had driven them :

" Voted to go to raising young stock, and that each and every citizen of the town who enlisted for the term of three years, or during the war, and actually went into the service, should receive, at the expiration of his term of service, twenty three-year-old heifers, and chose Jeremiah Sanborn, Captain Jabez Haskel and Joshua Berry a committee to hire the soldiers, and voted to pay this committee forty dollars per day for time spent in furnishing the men, and thirty dollars per day for use of horse."

We do not know how many men accepted this offer and received the heifers; but we find the town, some time after, taking measures to procure them. This was the last vote passed by the town, as no more soldiers were called for after this year. The people of Chichester should ever remember that their ances- tors performed well their part in the great struggle of the colonies for liberty, and that no town rendered more willing and efficient aid. If men were wanted, she furnished them without a murmur. If the fam- ilies of volunteers needed help, their wants were sup- plied, and everything that the circumstances of the people would allow was done to bring about the glo- rious consummation of the war. The Revolutionary War left the country deeply in debt. Congress had no power to establish a system of imports; consequently heavy taxes were levied on polls and estates. This, in connection with other circumstances, produced a season of distress and suffering, from which Chiches- ter did not escape. The war over, the settlers began to talk about dividing the town; for John Cram and his numerous friends, aided by that great civilizer, the saw-mill, had already built up quite a settlement around the water-power (now Pittsfield village). Paul Morrill and his family and friends had settled in the extreme southerly portion of the town; so, when an attempt was made to fix upon a centre for a church, etc., a difficulty arose which they could not surmount. The people at the north part of the town wanted it there, and those at the south wanted it there. So, on the 26th day of December, 1781, they voted to divide the town as follows : That the second division of land below Suncook River in Chichester, with that part of the third division below the river, and the six nor- therly ranges above said river in the third division, with all the privileges and proportion of public land belonging to said divisions, may be incorporated into a town or parish by themselves, with all town priv- ileges as other towns in this State. And John Cram, William Chase and Jonathan Leavitt were chosen a committee to petition the Legislature to confirm the above vote. This was done, and in 1782 the General Court created the town of Pittsfield, in accordance with the previous vote of the town. During this year the town business of both towns was carried on together; but in 1783 they divided their books. The town of Pittsfield took the "law-book," which had been the guide of the town officers hitherto, and Chi- chester took the record-books of the selectmen and

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office in Chichester, and are in a good state of preser- vation. In 1784 the town voted to purchase lot No. 3, in sixth range and first division, for a town centre and parsonage, upon which to build a house for the transaction of town business aud public wor- ship on the Sabbath. This lot was purchased, and twenty acres of trees were felled preparatory to build- ing ; but they afterwards decided to build elsewhere, and sold all but two acres, which they reserved for a town cemetery.

In 1785, Simeon Hilliard was chosen as a represen- tative to represent the towns of Pittsfield and Chi- chester in the General Assembly. In 1788 the new Constitution, which had been formed at Philadelphia the year before, was presented to this State for adop- tion. Considerable opposition was manifested toward it. A convention was called at Exeter to consider it, and Benjamin Sias was chosen as a delegate to repre- sent this town. This convention, after considerable discussion and delay, ratified it, New Hampshire being the ninth State to accept it. Thus the number necessary to put it into operation was complete. We have now brought our "Historical Sketch" down to the adoption of the Federal Constitution. From this time onward, for many years, the town steadily progressed in wealth and population and all that adds to the comforts of civilized life, though we are sorry to say that there were then, and have ever been, those who were unable to support themselves and families. We think that the first man to apply to the town for help was Daniel Perkins. The town immediately held a meeting and chose. a committee to aid him at the expense of the town. Other appli- cations followed. The town, for several years, either aided them at their own homes or furnished small farms for them to live upon. Afterwards, for several years, they were set up at auction, and their board for the current year struck off to the lowest bidder. In 1839 the town voted to purchase a town farm, upon which to support their paupers, and chose a committee to select a suitable one. This committee recommended a farm on Canterbury road, now owned by James B. Towle & Son. The farm was pur- chased by the town, and fitted up for the convenience of the poor. An agent was employed annually by the town to carry on the farm and take care of the paupers. This custom was continued until 1866, when the town farm was sold to its present owners, since which time the town has had but very few pau- pers, and these few have since then been boarded in town.

In 1845 the town voted to build a town-house, the old meeting-house having become ruinous and unfit to hold meetings in, but for a long time were unable to agree upon a location. Several meetings were held, and considerable excitement engendered. It was finally voted to locate it on the "centre lot," near the Methodist Church. A committee was chosen, and the building framed and erected; but

before it was finished, the people at the north part of the town rallied the voters and got the former vote rescinded, and the location changed to where it now stands. Accordingly, it was taken down, moved back, erected and finished, and has ever since been used for town purposes.

The next event of importance in the history of the town is the War of the Rebellion, and on the 14th day of December, 1861, the town passed the first vote in relation to soldiers, viz .: " Voted to aid the wives, children or parents of any inhabitants of the town who have enlisted into the military service of the United States agreeably to an act of the Legislature of New Hampshire, authorizing towns and cities to aid the families of volunteers, and also instructed the selectmen to pay a bounty of two hundred and fifty dollars to each volunteer who may enlist up to Sep- tember next, to fill the quota of this town under the call of the President for volunteers." At a meeting held September 21, 1862, the town voted to pay a bounty of three hundred dollars to all those who may hereafter enlist to fill up old regiments, and two hundred and fifty dollars to all those who may enlist into new regiments prior to September 15th, and one hundred dollars to those enlisting for nine months to fill the quota of the town. September 20, 1862, " Voted to raise twelve thousand dollars to encourage voluntary enlistment, and voted to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars to those who may or have en- listed for nine months to fill the quota of the town under the last call of the President." September 12, 1863, "Voted to raise a sum of money to pay a bounty of three hundred dollars to those who may be drafted to serve in the military service of the United States, or to his substitute who shall be mustered into the army of the United States, and that the selectmen be authorized to borrow, on the credit of the town, the sum of five thousand dollars therefor."

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 59

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