USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Newfields > History of Newfields, New Hampshire, 1638-1911 > Part 5
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The following is
A note of what meadows haue bine found by sundry of ye Inhabitants of Exeter since ye order made ye 21th of August 1643.
Found by James Walle & Ralph Hall 2 parcells both of them by esti- mation 3 shares
found by Robert Hatharcie, Thomas Jons & Richard Bullgar tow pieces of land fifth of August 1644 up fresh riuer.
In 1644 also land was granted to Rev. John Wheelwright in Exeter on condition "that he come amongst us again." For a time the people of Exeter expected his return to them.
At a town meeting held November 16, 1644 :
9ly It is ordered that John Smart senior shall haue Three psells of meddow containeing in all About 10 Akers, the Two psells being be- tween pascasak Riuer and Lamprell Riuore beyond the great Swampe, and the other psell between John Smarts house and Capphole Swamp Right vp Into the woods.
10 It is agread that John Sanderes shall haue the medue that Robert hersy and Richard Bullar and Thomas Jones found as a next by the towne.
At a town meeting held February 26, 1645 :
It is vnamemously Agreed vpon that Edward Colcord of Hampton (According to his desire made Knowne vnto us) Is Reseiued An In- habetant Amongst us, and there Is giuene vnto him for his Accomoda- tion An Iland lying between Lamprell Riuer falls and Oyster Riuore falls with A large peece of meddow lyeing neere the foote path to oyster Riuore not fare from the sd Island and as much vpland Adjoyn- ing to the sayd meddow as may make it vp one hundred Akers. All wch sayd lands and meddow wee do giue vto the sayd Edward granteing him as full tytle to It as we may or Can give him by vertue of or first purchase of those lands.
At a town meeting held October 31, 1645 :
John Legat hath granted vnto him halfe An Aker of land lyeing by the Riuore side before his houses for the sittin of A cowhouse and for
41
EARLY LAND GRANTS.
landing and setting of his hay, or for the makeing of A cowyard, puided The hyghway be kept the vsieall bredth of Three poole.
SAMII GRINFELDS X MARK EDWARD HILTON ANTHONY STANYAN
Townesmen.
At a town meeting held December 4, 1645 :
Thomas Biggs hath granted vnto him Three small spotts of meddow att the mouth of Lamperell Riuore And as much vpland Adjoyneing to It as may make vp the sayd meddow thirteen Akers.
At a meeting held March 25, 1646 :
Goodman Smart hath granted vnto him Three hundred Akers of Land lyeing beyond mr Hiltons from the Riuer side Toward the northwest Into countrey And halfe A milde In bredth, Reserueing six rod In bredth for A highway bitween Mr Hiltons march and this sayd land. This land by the towne measurer is layd out according to grant; wher- vpon there was a tract of land granted to goodman Smart in aforesaid, vpon some considerations we moving, it was measured again & boundd as followeth, It takes its beginning at a red oake near the waters syde joyning to the said land which was formerly mr Hiltons, now in the possession of Will. Perkins, and runs by the said land to a white oake marked R and from thence northeast & by East to a burch tree in a swamp by a little creeke marked M E, & from thence Southeast & by south to a pitch pine by the marsh syde marked M, and thence to the said red oake where we first began which runs by the highway between the said land & the marshes. In witness wherevnto I have set my hand 21 July (80) being a layer for the towne of Exeter, & Copt. Gilman the other being [agreed & not appearing] & mr Shepway [assisted]
RALPH HALL Lot Layer JOHN SHEPWAY. 60
On April 8, 1646, Edward Hilton, Anthony Stanyan and Samuel F. Grinfield formally certify that :
John Legat & humphrey Willson have purchased of ye Sagamore all ye Land wch Lies within y fense by ye ffalls Next unto y mills, that Is to say ye Land wch Is planted or to bee planted or to be broken up within ye sd fense, wch Land Lies within ye same fense where John Legat & humphrey Willson hous lott Lye, unto wch purchas ye Towns men doe giue or Consent, & ye land wch Is purchased by them is by esti- mation about 6 or 7 acres be It more or less.1
1 Court Papers, Vol. 1 : 29.
42
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
June 8, 1646, we have the record:
Goodman Smart hath granted vnto him formerly wch wos not booked All the marsh which Is att Stoney brooke on both sides of the brooke, and ther is 4 Akers of vpland wch lyeth on both sids of the sd marsh wch goon Smart bought of Ralph Hall.
At a town meeting held November 12, 1648 :
It is Agreed vpon that
6ly John Bursley and Thomas Biggs haue granted vnto them 10 Akers A piece of land lyeing between mr Stanyans Creek and Monteguse, both to cutt fyre wood or any other timber, but the land it selfe is to lye comon still for feeding cattle.
The same day that Exeter voted the mill privilege to Edward Hilton and associates, March 22, 1649, there was granted to George Barlow, Nicholas Listen, Francis and Nicholas Swain, and John Warren, "liberty to set up A saw mill at Lamperall Riuer att the falls A little Aboue the Wigwams." These grants were renewed, May 10, 1652. Exeter voted to Thomas Pettit, Nicholas Listen, Thomas Cornish, John Warren and Francis Swain "priviledg for A Saw mill at Lamprell Riuer on the next great fall, Aboue the fall that som of them have Already taken posesion of, paying 5 1d A yeare for the priveledg, begin- ning presently after next Michallmas." The same persons re- ceived forty acres of land apiece at Lamprey river, May 20, 1652. At a meeting held September 29, 1650 :
Tho. Biggs hath granted vnto him twenty Akers of vpland beyond John Smarts land butting toward the Riuor.
March 20, 1652 :
It is granted vnto Tho. Petet, Nickolas Leeson, Thomas Cornish, John Warren and Francis Swaine fourty akers of land A peece att Lamperell Riuer About A mile and A halfe or two miles Aboue there grante of A Sawmill beginning att or nere too A little Iland In the Riuer there.
8. Granted to Jno. Warren and Francees Swaine 20 Akers A peece of land att Lamperall Riuer Aboue the land which is granted In the last order but one before this.
At the same meeting Edward Gilman, Sr., Edward Gilman, Jr., Edward Colcord and Humphrey Wilson had granted them liberty for a sawmill at the lower falls at Lamprey river by the bridge, "paying 5 £ a year to the town."
43
EARLY LAND GRANTS.
March 24, 1652:
Petitions of Edward Hilton and others for meadows 7 or 8 miles west- ward or northward wos granted.
At a meeting held May 10, 1652, we find the following record :
2ly Mr Edw. Gilman senior and his son Moses and Edw. Colcord vpon there Request to the Towne Are Accepted of for Inhabetants and to come and Liue Amongst vs.
11ly Robert Smart hath a lott granted him In the new Comon By the fresh Riuer According to his Ratement layd out according to the grant next to George Barloes.
August 18, 1652, the following deposition of John Nutt was taken :
The deponent sayth that in the yere 1635, that the land about Lam- preele riuer was bought of the Indanes & mad use of by the men of Douer & myself both for planting & fishing & feling of timber.
JOHN NUTT.
Sworne before me
GEORGE SMITH
Richard Yorke doth testifie the same aboue specified.1
At a meeting held September 6, 1652 :
It was ordered and alsoe granted to Mr Edward Hilton in regard that he hath been at charge in setting vp of a sawmill, that he shall enjoy for himselfe and his heirs forever, a qrter of a mile below his mill with the land and timber belonging thereunto, and alsoe aboue his mill a mile and a quarter with the land and timber belonging thereunto. This land and timber is to Lye square, only on this syde of Pisasucke riuer to come about a stones Cast.
At the same meeting "there was granted to m' Gilman all the masts that stand in the swampe wch lyes towards Lamprey riuer between m' Edward Hiltons mill and John Gilmans."
At a town meeting held March 16, 1660, "there was granted vnto John Hilton nyne and twenty acres lying on the left hand of the path betwixt the great hill and the little brooke going into mr Nutters creeke, and one acre between the cart way & the brooke. At the request of James Godfrey this land was layª out as aboue specified by John Robinson and John Folsom Senior towne measurers."
1 Prov. Papers, Vol. 1: 204.
44
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
In 1659 Thomas Wiggin had a grant of 200 acres of land on a branch of the Belley ( ?) river near the " 'Great Beaver Dam."
In 1660 Wadononamin gave to Edward Hilton, Jr., a deed of lands as follows :
Know all men by these p'sents that I Wadononamin, in English, John Johnson, ye Indian & Sagamore of Washucke1 & piscataqua now Liue- ing at Washucke within ye collony of New England, for the Loue I beare to Englishmen & especially unto Edward Hilton of piscataqua, Eldest son of Edward Hilton of ye same piscattaqua, gent of ye sd Col- lony, as for divers other reasonable Causes & Considerations me there- unto moveing, Have Volluntarily & ffreely giuen, granted, enfeofed & Confirmed, & by these prsents doe give, grant, enfeoffee & confirme unto ye sd Edward Hilton Junr all my Lands of what nature, quallitie or kind soeuer they are of, Lying bounded betweene two branches of Lamprell Riuer, called Washucke being about six miles in Length & in breadth aboute some place of it six miles, being a Neck of Land, together wth all meadows, Timber, mynds or Myneralls & all privilidges & app'ten- ances, To Have, Hold possess & onjoy all & every part of the aforesd Land with all ye app'tenances, rights & priviledges thereunto belonging, unto ye sd Edward Hilton Junr his heires & assignes for euer, in such Large & ample manner, sort & forme as I ye sd Wadononamin in English John Johnson may grant convey & assure the same, only excepting ye vse & improvement of ye one halfe (if need be) of convenient planting Land for & during my naturall Life ;- The sd Land & euery parte there- of as before bounded wth ye app'tenances rights & priveledges thereunto belonging as aforesd (Excepting part thereof for Life as before is Ex- cepted), Then & from thenceforth to be, continue & remaine unto ye sd Edward Hilton Junr his heires & assignes for Euer as is aforesd, as his & their own propr right of a good, p'fect & absolute estate of Inheri- tance & gift without any ye Least Lett mollestation or expulsion of me ye sd Wadononamin in English John Johnson my heirs or assignes or any claiming any title claime or Interest to the same or any part or p'cell thereof from or undr me .- In Witnes whereof I have hereunto put my hand & seale this seaventh day of January in ye year of or Lord one Thousand six hundred & sixtie. Anoq. Regni Regis Caroli Secunde & H alias X iij.
WADONONAMIN alias
JONN JOHNSON signed [His Seal]
Signed sealed & did in prsents of vs EDWARD HILTON SEN WALTER BAREFOOTE, Mr WILLIAM INDIAN wth one Eis his X N Marke
1 Washucke was a little strip between two rivers, near where Lee, Epping and Newmarket unite.
45
EARLY LAND GRANTS.
Wadononamin alias John Johnson appeared before me & acknowledged this deed above written to be his voluntary act & deed to ye use of Edward Hilton Junr this 22 of march 1668:69
Before me
SAMUEL DALTON Comissr
In connection with this deed the following affidavit is ap- pended :
Be it remembered that upon ye day of the date hereof quiet & peace- able possession of ye Land with in granted wos given & delivered by the within named Wadononamin Indian, in English John Johnson unto the within named Edward Hilton Junr in name & possesion of all ye Lands
Containd in ye deed within written in prsents of us, January ye 14th 1668 To have & To hold unto ye sd Edur. Hilton his heirs and As- signs forever According to ye Tenor and true meaning of ye Deed wth in written
FRANCIS THORNES. ANTIPAS MAUERICK.
Recorded according to ye originall the 10th of June 1669.
Pr ELIAS STILEMAN Recordr.
Proe N Hampshr the foregoing is a True Copy from ye Publick Records of ye Proe Aforesd in Book No. 3: Page 12th Compard Nov 23. 1731
Per JOSH: PEIRCE Recordr1
At a meeting held January 21, 1664, "there was granted vnto Philip Chesley thirty acres of vpland for a planting lot lying vpon Lamprey riuer, from m' Nutters creeke to the great rocke lying in the riuer, the land to lye as neere as may be square, but if in case the said Philip shall not improue the land within one yeeres tyme by planting or building on it, then the land is to returne to the towne againe; alsoe in case there shall be found in the said land any myne, if the towne pleases they are toe enjoy the land again, and Philip Chesly is to haue full satisfac- tion of any improuemt vpon the said land, and moreouer is to haue the said quantity of land layd out in leiw of it in some other place vpon the same riuer as may be most convenint for him, And vpon this the said Philip is admitted an inhabitant of the towne."
1 County Records, Vol. 3 : 12.
46
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
It is recorded October 10, 1664, that the land granted to Philip Chesley was now forfeited and granted to William Bromfield.
January 21, 1664, twenty acres were granted to William Tay- lor. Also twenty acres in 1698.
October 10, 1664, the records show that there was
Granted to Moses Gilman fyfty acres on the other side of the great coue joining to the vpper end of Captaine Morrices lot.
To Cornelius Lare fifteen acres adjoining land that was giuen to Driscoe and Jeremy Coner.
Ralph Hall formerly of Douer fifty acres.
To Theophilus Dudly and Bily Dudly to each of them fifty acres adjoining to Robert Smarts land between that & Lamprey riuer.
Granted to Joseph Hall fyfteen acres adjoining to the syde of John Hiltons grant on the towne syde.
It was granted to Robert Smart at this towne meeting twenty acres of swampe & meadow beginning at the markt tree of Douer lyne vp the two branches of the brooke of Pescasack, and fore score acres of vpland adjoining to it. This land is laid out according to grant by the towne measurers.
April 3, 1665, John Gilman, Jr., was granted "twenty acres lying on the left hand of the way going to Pascasack joyning vpon Douer lyne."
At a meeting held April 4, 1666, "there was granted vnto James Godfrey ten acres of land joyning to John Hiltons grant with the same condition that the lands are granted, wch lot of John Hiltons the said James Godfrey hath bought of him. These ten acres were measured and layd out joyning to the single acre granted to John Hilton by John Robinson and John Folsom, senior, towne measurers."
At the same meeting there was granted to Charles Gilman thirty acres of land at Lamprey riuer, to adjoyne to his brother John Gilmans land, provided he improue the said land by fencing & planting, & alsoe that there may be a highway through it to mr Hiltons saw mill.
March 15, 1668, the town "Granted to Nicholas Lissen and Robert Wadley ten acres of vpland between them by Lamprey riuer syde nere the landing place of their boards."
Edward Hilton died early in 1671. The inventory of his estate mentions : "landes & heredetements, proprites & tentaries; or- chards, gardens, corne fields, pastures, marsh & meadows; saw mills upon Pusscassett River with the housing thear built;
47
EARLY LAND GRANTS.
loges & p. timber ; Cattle field implements & servants ; ye mannor, his manner house, barne, houses, edifises & buildings; ye parlar, son Edward's room, Edward's chamber, middle bed-chamber, servant's chamber, chitchin; one Smith's vise, 4 axes, two can- noos; 3 silver cups, one Beaker, other silver, pewter & brass ware."
September 20, 1674, Leiftenant (John) Gilman's grant of 600 acres returned by the town measurers, mentions "the great red oake hil,"-"high way going to Wadleighs vpon a pine plaine to an Indian field,"-"to a branch of Lamprey riuer half a mile, the turne of the riuer being neere little Neds wigwam, & from that wigwam vpon a triangle, neare to another Indian wig- wam & an Indian path, that leads to Teaghacquell."1
The deed of Kathrine Hilton conveying land to Samuel Tre- worthie is as follows:
Kathrine Hilton of Exeter in ye County of Norfolk, Widow -"for my motherly louing affection wch I bear unto my Louing son Samuel Treworthy of Portsmo in piscattaq Riuer mariner"- grants to her lou- ing Samuel Treworthie of Portsmo aforesd - all my necke or Tract of land situated aboue Sturgeon creeke in township of Kittery in piscattaq Riuer formerly called Thompsons point now Known by ye name of Treworthys poynt lying between two Creeks- wch neck or tract of Land I bought of Mr Roules ye Indian -
In witness, &c, set my hand & seale this second day of November Ano Dom 1674.
the mark of
KATHRINE K H HILTON [seal]
Signed in pts of JOHN GILMAN MOSES MAUERICH.2
The sons and administrators of Edward Hilton sold 300 acres of his grant of 1652 to Walter Barefoote, November 16, 1674. The grant fell to Samuel and Charles Hilton in the division of their father's estate January 1, 1677. Robert Tufton Mason, as Lord Proprietor, issued writs of ejection against Richard Wal- derne and 40 other New Hampshire land holders, February 14, 1683, and put Walter Barefoote in possession of the Hilton and Wadleigh estates at Lamprey River. But Mason's clients were
1 Town Records, Vol. 1: 123.
2 Book of Rec., Lib. 3, fol. 100, Gen. Reg. 27: 272.
48
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
able neither to occupy or sell the estates, and the settlers en- joyed disturbed and not peaceful possession still. William Ardell was sued by Mason, May 22, 1684, for trespass in entering the half part of lands and cutting and sawing timber at Hilton's mill on Lamprey river. This was followed, June 15, 1685, by an attachment, in the name of Barefoote, of timber and lumber at Piscassic or in default thereof the seizure of the body of Ardell.
Piscassic rivers were conveyed by the will of Barefoote, October 9, 1688, to his nephew, Thomas Wiggin, Jr. Suits were insti- tuted against the Hiltons for carrying off masts, March 29, 1697. Samuel Hilton deeded the grant to Richard Hilton and Joseph Smith, February 28, and September 2, 1699. The Hil- tons on the Grant Road are still in possession of portions of this estate.
March 30, 1675, a grant of 600 acres was made to Moses Gil- man by the town measurers, bounded as follows:
From mr Hiltons tree marked E at northwest, running southeast forty rod to a corner tree of Robert Smarts marked on four sides being a white oake & with the letter M for Moses, and from hense six score & four rod, meeting at Lamprey riuer path being the old path, north- east to a white oake marked with three mark, on mark being the path and two marks on each syde of the tree as the path goes, so due north according as Lamprey riuer path runs, being fourtene score rod, to a young red oake at Gliddens fence, from thence to a white oake tree marked on three sydes, one myle and forty rod due west ouer to the tayle of the mill, Northy ten score rod to a white oake vpon the pitch pyne playne marked on four sydes, from thence easterd eight score rod butting upon Douer lyne to a great pyne marked & so long to Rob. Smarts mil by the bridge foote & from thence to Gliddens tree before, marked, in which land there is an allowance for an hundred acres & highways.1
At a town meeting held April 2, 1675, "there was granted to William Moore three hundred acres of vpland which is to lye two miles from the towne, where he can find it which land is to be layd out by the last of June, bounded on Roberts Smarts on the northeast, & against Leiftenant Hall to the southwest, butting toward Edward Hiltons southeast & against Pascascek riuer northwest."
Granted to Robert Smart senior three hundred acres after the same
1 Town Records, Vol. 1 : 125-6.
49
EARLY LAND GRANTS.
manner, bounded on the common north east, to the southwest next to Ensigne Moores, butting against mr Hiltons grant & Pascasack riuer.
The above lands were granted March 30, 1675, and ordered to be laid out April 2, 1675.
Lamprey River Neck was granted by Dover to Peter Coffin of Exeter April 26, 1675, who sold it to Richard Waldron June 25, 1675, and Waldron sold it to Sampson Doe March 22, 1709.
John York, October 14, 1680, conveyed to Roger Rose 80 acres of land granted to his father. Roger conveyed the same to John Smith July 17, 1705.
January 31, 1681, lands were granted to John Wadleigh, John Clarke, Henry Magoon, Samuel Hall and Joseph Hall.
At a meeting held March 14, 1681, "There was granted to Mr. Robert Wadleigh two hundred acres of land about Lampril riuer, where he may soe find it out, not intrenching vpon former grants or other mens proprieties nor to come within four miles of the meeting house."
At the same time Moses Gilman, Jr., Jeremy Gilman and others were granted two hundred acres each.
At a legal town meeting held March 30, 1681, "There is granted vnto Joseph Wadleigh one hundred acres of land in the township of Exeter, if it doth not intrude vpon any former grant or highwayes."
Also "vnto Ephraim Folsom one hundred acres of land vpon the said termes aforesaid."
"Also to John Young and David Robinson as above."
March 23, 1682, John Young's hundred acres was laid out "at the head of Jonathan Things lot and at Cattaile Swamp."
At a public town meeting held at Exeter October 6, 1690, it was "granted to Peter Coffin A Conveanance of land at hye water mark wheare ye Majr part of the selectmen shall see con- venant for the Building of wharfe and house."
At a meeting held October 10, 1693, there was "Granted to Capt. Peter Coffin all that parcell of land lying and being and joyneing to douer line, on the north side and upon ye hy waye to Pascaset mille on the west, and so downe to ye mille at Lamperell Riuer falls, not to Infrendg upon any formore grant or posses- sion of Charles Gliden and ye ould Indaine feild at ye landing 4
50
HISTORY OF NEWFIELDS.
place, and all ye land of mr Nutters sould to John Godard and william follit as may Apeare by bill of salle ye said Peter Coffin In gageing in Consideration of ye former primises to paye to ye towne of Exeter the sume of ten pounds forthwith after ye date hereof. "
Fifty acres of land were granted to Capt. Thomas Parker, April 11, 1694, on the east side of Lamprey river.
March 26, 1707, Joseph Chesley bought of Sampson Doe all the land between John Goddard's and Richard York's.
The "Two Mile Streak" was a strip of land two miles wide at the head of ancient Dover granted in 1719 and confirmed in 1722, to the proprietors of the iron works at Lamprey River "for their encouragement" and to supply them with fuel. In 1747 there were 16 families and two garrisons on this Streak.
Joseph Hall of Newmarket conveyed to Thomas Millet, Feb- ruary 11, 1736, two tracts of land in Dover which originally belonged to his grandfather, Lieut. Ralph Hall.
The following Newmarket men were among the original pro- prietors of Nottingham in 1722-23; William Young, Nathaniel Hersey, Job Gilman, Capt. John Gilman, Edward Hall, Joseph Hall, Peter Gilman, Nathaniel Rogers and Joseph Moulton.
1
DURHAM
LAMPREY
LAMPREY RIVER
VILLAGE
GREAT BAY
& FOLSOM GARRISON
EPPING
WERBEY LANE
CAR
ASK SWAMP
New Meeting How
IMODDy-HILL
House OLMAD
CEA
OK.HILTON GARRISON
BALD HILL ROAD
5
A
TTOW SMITH
GARRISON
PIS
GARRISON
HALLENILL
HILTON HARRISON
HOLIDAY
CREEK
MASZ WAY
HALL
GARRI
SWAMPSCOTT RIVER
supers
C
CEM.
PISSASSIC
S.H.
NEWFIELDS VILLAGE
EXETER
OUTLINE MAP OF ANCIENT NEWMARKET.
PLAINS
Chapter V.
IN YE OLDEN TIME.
English settlers brought with them notions and customs re- specting landed estates that had grown up in the long ages of tribal and national development. These they applied to land holdings in America without thought of their unfitness. To take a minor example: Among the first colonists land was often transferred by the ancient ceremony known as "livery of seisin."1 The seller stood upon the tract that had been sold and plucking a twig from a bush or tree passed it into the hand of the purchaser; or gave a bit of turf with a twig stuck in it, and in some cases a splinter also. If there was a house, the seller took hold of the ring of the house-door and formerly gave it to the new owner. The ground with its products and appurten- ances was thus symbolically delivered in a manner very suitable to illiterate times and restricted territories. But remote and unsurveyed tracts of wilderness could not well be handed over "by twig and turf."
After a while laws were made to cover the omission of "livery of seisin," and it passed gradually out of use.
The ancient notions of land tenure crossed the sea. At first America seemed destined to be a country of great lords and their liegemen. All the territory embraced in the thirteen col- onies was at one time or another covered by grants made to proprietaries. In some regions royal grants overlaid and over- lapped one another in bewildering confusion. Land-holding al- most everywhere in the colonial period retained some features of feudalism. In Virginia a quit rent of a shilling for every fifty acres was paid to the crown, or to some grantee of the crown. Land was rarely conveyed by a proprietary without at least a nominal rental to some dignitary of the lordship.
But the "manors" in Pennsylvania, and the "baronies" in Carolina, appear to have been such in name only. The people
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