History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 183

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714

USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 183
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 183

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

19: 11 Mº [16]47

Wee the Townsmen in this Order aboue mentioned haue accordinge to the order given us by the Towne agreed wth Elder Nntter & Elder Starbucke as follow- eth : That is to say, wee haue granted unto them ac- commodation of the upper or lower ffalls of Lamprill Riner for the erectinge or settinge up a Sawmill, & likewise for what Timber They shall make use of for sawinge by the said mill, Oake or Pine, They shall pay for euery Tree six pence to the Towne, & this is to be paid in board or Plancke at price currant. They haue Liberty to fall their Timber where they shall see most fitt within our Bounds.

and to pay 4d P lb is.

0000 03 04

0001 00 00

and to pay 40 P 1b is

0000 01 04

Francis Small Rated.

0010 00 00

782

HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Other grants on the same river were :

By the Selectmen 7 : 5 Mº [16]52.

Giuen and Granted to M' Valentine Hill, his Heires & Assignes of Dover; the whole accommodations of Lamprell Riuer for the erectinge & settinge up a saw- mill or mills with all the Timber upon the South side of the said River, weh doth ly within our Line a mile in breadth or thereabouts (Pouskasicke Graunt ex- eepted) as also all our Timber upon the North side of the aforesaid Riuer one mile in breadth, & so all our Land in Leangth; And in Consideration of this Grant, Mr Valentine Hill aforenamed is to pay to the Towne of Douer the summ of twenty pounds p yeare in Board or Planke at priee Currant & this pay to be paid yearely by the said Valintine Hill.

('ochecho, north side .- The 12º of the 10th MIº: [16]48.

Wee whose names are here underwritten by virtue and authority to us made, according to an order of the 27th of the 90 Mº 48, by and at the request of Rieh- ard Walderne haue giuen and granted, and by these presents do giue and grant unto the said Richard Wal- derne his heires and assignes for Euer, fifteen hundred of Trees, either oke or pine, for the accommodation of a Saw Mill which hee intendeth shortly, by gods pmission to ereet and sett up, or eause to bee erected and sett upp, at or uppon the Lower fall of the River Cochechoe, which said fifteen hundred of Trees are to be had as followeth, vizt. one thousand thereof to bee had and fallen, betweene the first fall where the said sawe mill is to bee sett up, and y" second fall of the said riuer of Cocheehoe, and the fresh Riuer that run- neth to Bellymyes banek, the residue of the said trees to bee had and fallen on the small neck of land between the freshetts up in the head of the fresh Creeke, being nere about a mile abone the floeing of the Tide in the said fresh Creek. Pronided that when the said Rieh- ard Walderne, or his assignes shall make use of any tree or trees, soe to bee had and fallen, shall pay for every tree the sume of Three penee to the use of the Towne. All wch said Trees are to bee marked out by the said Richard Walderne, uppon Legall notice forth- with, if any Saw Mill shall be erected and sett up, in any of ye aforesaid places, at Bellymyes banck or in ye fresh Creeke. In witness wher of wee haue here- unto putt of hands the day & yeare aforesaid.

Hatewill Nutter. Tho : Canney

John Damme. Jo : Baker.

Tho : Layton.

[One quarter “ of a sawmill which is Erected & sett up at or upon Cochiehoe falls," Walderne conveyed to Joseph Austin, 29 Dec. 1649, for ₺25.]

meete to Ereet in the said place. In Consideration whereof the said Mr Richard Walden his Heirs Ex- eentors Administrators and Assigns shall pay to the Towne of Dover the sume of twelue pounds p year in boards or planck at price Currantt so long as lee or thay shall Continue any worke in the said place for Sawinge of timbr or by possession thereof and doe hereby declare that the Commodations of timbr wee graunt to the Aforesaid Mr Richard Walden his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assignes is as ffolloweth, that is to say two thirds of all the timbr lyinge & growinge betwixt Coehechaw first ffall and Quer to the ffreshitt of Bellymyes Banck, and so from the end of the Swamp next Bellymyes banck and so westward betweene the River of Cocheehaw & the ffreshitt that runeth to Bellemyes bancke & so to the uttmost bounds of Douuer Exceptinge the trees graunted to Joseph Austin, as also upon Douer neek from A ledg of Rocks at a ffreshitt that runneth out of the woods Against the lower side of the Mouth of ffresh Creek, and from that ledge of Roeks at highwater marke upon the neck of land thre Quarters of a mile upon A South & by west line and from the end of that line upon A west & by north line tell he Cometh to the next Graunt all the timb" within this tract of land betwixt Cochecha Riuer & the line Aforementioned Exceptiuge what timbr is granted to Capt Wiggin & M' Bradstreet

Bellamy .- At A Townmeting held the 23th of 8th mo [16 ]49.

Given and granted to William Pomfrett Tho layton Jo Dam and thear Ears and a sines the fall of Belle- mes banke for the erieketing of a saewmill and allso fiuten hundred trees oyke and Pine to be falled in the swamp Aboue the sayd falled not goeing into m' wall- dens grant

Itt is ferder Granted to the sayd william Pomfrett and partners lebertie to fall timber in aney plase of the Riner out of mens lotes paing for query tre 3ª to the towne of Douer as apeareth in the other booke [.] Jo[hn] Dam resined his part to the partners.

5: 10 Mº. [16]52.

Articles of Agreement betwixt M' Richard Wal- derne of Cocheehe of the one Parte and the Seleet- men of Douer :

That is to say M' Valentine Hill, William ffurber, IIenery Langster, Willian Wentworth, in the behalfe of themselues & the Towne of Doner, doe giue, grant, bargame & sell unto the aforesaid M' Richard Wal- derne, his Heires, Executors, Administrators, or As- signes for euer all the Timber beinge & growinge upon the Land on the south side on Bellermies- Bancke fresehett: Except fifteen hundred Trees granted to Bellermies-Bancke Mills, lyinge on the north side of the Path from the Bellermies-Bancke to- wards Oyster River, unto M' Valentine Ilill his grant bounded halfe a Mile to the Eastwards of Thomas Johnson's Creeke, wth Liberty in the said ffreshett aboue Bellermies-Bancke Mills in any place thereof

It is Ordered that whereas Mr Richard Walden of Douer hath sett upp Saw mill works at the lower flall of Cochechaw wee the selectmen with Elder nutter & Mr Ambrose Gibbons doe Approve of & Confirme to him and his Heirs Executors Administrators and As- signes all the said works as they are or shall bee in ther best pfeetion with what else hee or thay shall see | to set up mnill or mills where hee shall see fitt, as

783

DOVER.

also three hundred Acres of Land for a farme in any Place within the Trackt of Timber aforementioned to him & his heires & Assignes for euer and quietly to Injoy all the Premises without any molestation of us Selectmen in our owne names, or in any other by us: In Consideration whereof the aforesaid M' Richard Walderne doth binde himselfe, his Heires, Executors & Administrators to erect a meetinge house upon the hill neer Eller Nutters : the Demen- tions of the said House is to be forty foot longe, twenty six foot wide, sixteen foot Studd, wth six win- dowes, two Doores fitt for such a house, with a tite coueringe, to planck all the walls, wth glass & Nailes for it, & to be finished betwixt this & Aprill next come Twel-month wch will be in the year 1654.

This vote brings to view the erection of the second meeting-house in Dover. It was built according to this contract. In 1667 an earthiwork and palisades were erected around it for defense against Indians. The remains of the earthwork are still entirely visi- błe.

The falls are now occupied (the lower) by the im- portant woolen-mills known as "Sawyer's," which will be fully described farther on.

Oyster River .-- At A Towne meeting heield the 19th of the 9 mo [16]49.

Ginen and Granted to Mr. Vallantine Hill and Thomas Beard the fall of Oyster River, and to thear Eares and Asines for the Erickting and setting up of a sawemill and Acomedatione for the mill of Timber for the Imployment of the mill, and in consideration of this Grant the Aboue named Vallantine and Thomas or thear Eares or asines ar to paye yearly to the towne of Dover the som of tenn pound p andom the tim of the Intrey or beginning of the Rent ofoer- sayd is to begin the first of September next insewing and soe to contenew the sayd yearly Rent so long as theay shall holld the proprietie of the plas, and if the Mill doe bin to worke befoer the above menshened tim that then the year is to begine.

By the Select Men 5 : Mo [16]52.

It is ordered that whereas Mr. Valentine Hill, of Dover hath set up Saw Mill Works at Oyster River: Wee the Select men wth Elder Nutter, Mr. Ambrose Gibbons doe approve & confirme to him his Ileires, Executors, Administrators, or Assignes the said worke as it is etc.

The very considerable falls of Oyster River, at the head of tide-water, are still in use.

On the Newichuwannock .- At A towne meting the first of the 5th mo 1650.

Given and granted to Mr. Thomas Wiggin and Mr. Simon Braedstret and thear hieres and asynes Acome- dation for a saewmill to be ereicketed by them and set up in the Riuer of niecknechewanicke aboue the first fall or at quampheggon as allsoe acomedation of timber for the sayd mill, and for the above named grant the afoersayd Mr. Wiggin and Mr. Braedstret ar to pay tenn starling by the year to the towne.

This fall on its New Hampshire side gives the large power to the cotton-mills of the Salmon Falls Com- pany.

Cochecho Second Fall .- At A towen meeting heilld the foerth of the fifeth mo [16]50.

Ginen and granted unto M' Thomas Wiggien and Edward Starbuck their heires and asignes for euer acomedation for the Ereickteing or setting downe a sawe mill at the secont fall of Coechechae Reuer with acomedation of tember near ajasent as the sayd miell shall inproue with acomedation of land as the towns- men shall see fett or such as shall be depeuted and for the foernamed (rant the aforesayd m' Toomas Wiggine and Edward Starbucke aer to pay to the towne of Douer the soem of tenn pounds starling by the year after it is sett to worke and if they shall not sett up the sayd mill to worke with in one yeare the aforesayd parties ar to pay to the towne tenn pounds for the first yeare after the fierst July which will be in the year 51 or likewise if theay shall desert it theay are to pay 10 pound for the kiping of it and not Im- prouing it according to the intent of the towne and that thear shall noe mill be set up aboue theim to hinder them.

At the same time is ginen, and granted m' Thomas Wiggen and his heres & asigns one hondred Ackers of upland ajasent to the mill at the second fall of Coechechaue.

At the same time is giuen and granted to Edward Starbucke his hieres and asynes 50 Ackers of upland near ajasent alsoe.

At A towne meting heild the 14th of the 5th mo 1651.

Giuen and granted to M& Thomas Wiggin his heirs and asynes fiue hundred Ackers of upland for a farme at the secont fall of Cochechaue to be layd out by thoese wich shall be deputed and to be layd out as Conuenint as may be boeth for the inhabetance and for m' Wiggin.

By the Select Men 6: 10 Mº [16]52.

Giuen & Granted unto M' Richard Walderne Lib- erty to set up a saw-mill upon the north side of the second ffall of the Riuer of Cocheche to him & his heires Executors & Assignes all the Timber beinge & growinge betwixt the said Riuer of Cocheche and nechewanicke Riuer: to the Westward betwixt the said Riuers to our utmost Bounds : Prouided it in- trench not upon any former Grant : In Consideration whereof the abouenamed M' Richard Walderne is to pay to the Towne fiue pound the yeare as others do, wth twenty Acres of Land adjoyneinge to it to be laid out by William Wentworth, John Heard, William ffurber : The Rent is to begin the first of March 1653 : Prouided the Inhabitants haue Liberty for the Cut- tinge of Timber, accordinge to the Order bearinge Date wth these Presents.

This fall is the one long known as " Whittier's," and is now improved for a grist-mill.

Fresh Creek .- By the Selectmen 5: 10 Mº [16]52.

784

HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Giuen & Granted unto William ffurber, william Wentworth, Henry Langster, Thomas Canny the ac- commodations of fresh Creeke, for the erecting & set- tinge up of a Sawmill : The bounds of Timber are from the head of the Creeke from the flowinge of the Tide three miles up, into the woods betwixt the two freshetts, the Southermost freshett cominge out of the Marsh beside the great Hill at Cocheche : the North- ermost freshett boundinge Captaine Wiggins & M" Bradstreets Grant at Quomphegon, & also what Timber lyes in common, that They shall make use of betwixt fresh Creeke & Cocheche: They are to pay six pounds p yeare so longe as they continue Posses- sion thereof: Prouided that the Inhabitants hane Liberty for cuttinge of Timber accordinge to the Order bearing Date wth these Presents: And also in case they make any use of any Trees for Masts aboue twenty foure inches through, that they are to pay tenn shillings for enery such Mast as They make use of. The time of the Rent to begin the first of March next come.

Twel-month in the year [16]53.

The power on Fresh Creek has long been too slight to be of use.

Thomas Johnson's Creek .- By the Selectmen 5: 10 Mº [16] 52.

Given & granted unto M' Ambrose Gibbons, his Heires Executors or Assignes the freshett in the head of Thomas Johnsons Creeke to erect a Sawmill wtb accommodations of Timber to the Norward of Mr Valintine Hills Grant, betwixt the said Grant & Bel- lermies-Bancke freshett: And in consideration whereof the aforesaid M' Ambrose Gibbons, his Heires, Executors or Assignes are to pay to the Towne of Douer the summ of foure pounds p yeare so longe as Hee or they shall make use of the Place by Sawinge or by Possession : Prouided They do not pre- uent the water passage of the Timber of M' Hill there : As also the Inhabitants haue Liberty to cutt downe Timber accordinge to the order bearinge date with these Presents: And further if the aforenamed shall make use of any Trees for Masts aboue 24 inches, they shall pay to the Towne the summ of tenn shil- lings for euery such Tree so made use of: The Rent of the Grant is to begin the first of March [16]54

This is a small creek in Durham.

Little John's Creek .- By the Selectmen 5: 10 M". [16]52.

Giuen & Granted unto Joseph Austin his Heirs Executors & Assignes little Johns Creeke, for ye erect- inge of a Saw Mill wth the accommodations of Timber as followeth, on the west side of the backe Riner all the Timber upon the Tract of Land from the South East of the Path that goes to Thomas Johnsons Creeke to the bounds of Mr. Valintine Hill, & so bounded with the backe Riuer & Oyster Riuer, wth the Timber there, & likewise upon Douer necke, abone the aforesaid Creeke ouer to the fore Riuer from the Eastermost branch of the said Creeke wth the Timber

there, Exceptinge what Timber is granted to Cap- taine Wiggins & M' Walderne. And in Consideration thereof the said Joseph Austin, his IIeires & Assignes shall pay unto the Towne of Douer the sunim of six pounds p yeare, as longe as Hee or they shall hold the Propriety of the Grant : The Rent is to be paid in board or Plancke at price currant: Prouided the Inhabitants haue Liberty to cutt Timber in this Grant as in all others accordinge to the Order bear- inge Date with these Presents : And also if in case IIee shall make use of Any Trees aboue foure & twenty intches through for Masts, Hee shall pay to the Towne tenn shillings for euery such Mast.

Little John's Creek crosses the road to Dover Neck, . and is now very small as to power.

Wadleigh's Falls .- At A Generall towne Meeting held at Dover the; 3: 3: 1669

Giuen and granted unto Robert Wadleigh An ac- commodations for the erecting and setting up of a Sawmill or Mills at the oppermost falls uppon Lamp- erele riuer, Comonly called by the name of ye lleland falls : wth an accommedation of timber there vnto be- longing ye bounds of the timber are as followeth : yt is to : say all ye timber on ye south side aboue the sd falls as farr as ye towne bounds doth goe, and on the north side all ye Timber that is within one Mile of the Riuer aboue ye sd falls as farr as the towne bounds doth goe, with one hundred acres of land on ye sonth side of ye sd Riuer and twenty acres of Land on the north side of the riuer Adjacent unto the said falls one both sides : all which falls timber and Land is granted unto ye sd Wadleigh and his heires executors Administr : and assignes prouided it doth not Itrench, upon any former grant either in pt : or the whole. In Consideration of the sd grant of falls Timber and land ; the sd Rob : Wadleigh doth Ingage himselfe his heires execut's and Administr to pay or cause to be payed vnto the Towne of douer the some of tenn : pounds : peran : in Marchanta : pine bords at price Currant at the ordinary Landing place by Lamperele riuer lower falls ; as long as he or they doe keepe pos- session thereof wch paym': is to began the last of Au- gust next Insueing this Instant : to be made unto the selectinen of douer or theire order, and farther it is agreed and ordered that if any pt : there of be taken away by any former grant then the towne is to abate of the rent proportionablely. And also the towne doth reserue free eagrasse and Regrasse for ye trans- portation of timber either by land or water: and the Inhabitants have ye same Liberty in this grant as they haue in other Mill grants.

These falls are still known by the name of their first owner, an ancestor of George Wadleigh, now of Dover, and for many years editor of the Dover En- quirer.

785

DOVER.

CHAPTER CXIV.

DOVER .- (Continued.)

INDIAN WARS.

FORTY years had passed away since Waldron set- tled at Cochecho; in these the Indians and the colo- nists had lived in peace. This was now to be changed. Men should go to their fields armed, suspecting a foe behind every tree. Families should crowd into close garrison-houses for the long summers and roam in the forests only when the snows of winter protected them from savage attacks. They should worship in the same humble edifice where they had weekly met, but the house of God should be within a fortress, and sentinels should pace in its inclosure.

In 1675 the colonists on Dover Point were able to defend themselves with comparative ease. The beauti- ful swell of land on which they dwelt was made a peninsula by the Bellamy, the Newichawannock, and the Cochecho, which seeming at first glance to offer easy access by canoes was yet defended by the free- dom with which the eye could sweep the waters in every direction. The inhabitants were numerous also. This territory was seldom called upon to defend itself therefore, and it may be that it was guarded in later years by a separate treaty, which tradition (for the honor of our ancestors we hope untruly ) says was made by the inhabitants of Dover Neck.

But at Cochecho the forty families which had gathered, some near, some remote, around the lower falls, constituted a frontier settlement. The forests above them stretched away to Canada, alive with In- dians, who knew every path in the forest, who were skilled in the use of fire-arms through the indiscreet bounties which Dover itself had offered, and who had many a cause for hatred to the whites. No in- habitant, however, deserted his home. They were, in- deed, partially prepared ; suspicions of Indian friend- ship had been raised some years previous; in 1667 the bulwark was raised around their plain house of worship, and doubtless the garrison-houses which were so common on the actual breaking out of war- fare were then erected.

The first general war with the Indians commenced in 1675. For several years previous only the fear which the power of the whites excited and the in- fluence of a few old men had kept them quiet ; love had little to do with it. The cordiality which had welcomed the settlers ended long previous; in- creasing encroachments on Indian hunting-grounds to supply an increasing population excited their alarmı; the contempt openly expressed for the In- dians grated harshly upon their sensitive feelings ; the over-reaching habits of traders who acted upon the principle that it was a praiseworthy deed to cheat an Indian exasperated their sense of justice. While laws pretending to guard their rights were as inoper-

ative as laws not sustained by public opinion must ever be, and cases of individual hardship and cruelty were not unknown, it is only wonderful how they were kept inactive so long. But they were brooding over real and fancied wrongs; and when the impet- uous young men of Philip of Pokanoket forced him into a war in which he saw foreshadowed only the destruction of his people, it needs not the theory of a general conspiracy to account for the fires which blazed all along the frontier. Each town had its own ground for enmity, and the torch which the Wam- panoags applied to Swanzey was the signal for a hoped-for but scarcely planned war, which in twenty days was felt at the northeastern extremity of the colonies.

As soon as the first blow was struck the Massachu- setts government prepared for general defense. The towns on the Pascataqua were especially exposed ; their defense was confided to Wałderne, who in 1675 was appointed commander of the militia of those towns with the rank of major, which was conferred upon him either then or just previous.

All that could be done in this vicinity was to act entirely upon the defensive. The account, therefore, of the strife around the Pascataqua is but the history of a series of petty and irritating attacks which were made and ended in a night.

The first bloodshed was at Oyster River, in Sep- tember, 1675, when the Indians "burned two houses belonging to two persons named Chesley, killed two men in a canoe, and carried away two captives" (both of whom made their escape soon after). One person (Goodman Robinson, of Exeter) was killed on the road from that place to Hampton, and one (Charles Ranlet) captured, but he soon escaped. A few days after the house of Richard Tozer, at Newicha- wannock, was attacked, where thirteen out of fifteen women and children were saved by the devotion of a young girl eighteen years old; she saw the enemy coming, shut the door, and held it until they cut it to pieces with their hatchets; as they entered they struck her to the floor, left her for dead, and went in pursuit of the fugitives, whom the heroic girl had given an opportunity for escape; she herself entirely recovered, yet the heroine's name at least ought to have been preserved. Some pursuit was attempted when some houses had been burned and some grain destroyed, but it met with no success; immediately afterwards five or six houses were burnt at Oyster River, and two persons (William Roberts and his son- in-law) were killed. In such a tantalizing kind of warfare the force under the command of Walderne could not be brought to bear effectively in any one point; chafed as he was, he was obliged to content himself with being always on the alert, and ready to give aid where it was needed. Some twenty young men, however, mainly of Dover, obtained permission of him to follow the trail of a party, but their at- tempt met with no success, except that they killed

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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

two out of a party of five Indians whom they acci- dentally discovered near a deserted honse.

A letter dated 25th September, 1675, from Wal- derne, is of great historical value; published in the New England Hist. Gen. Register.

The whole country was now aroused ; the labors of the farm and the forest were suspended, and the in- habitants were crowded into garrison-houses, the heavy timber walls of which gave them the aspect ' Walderne that they must seize these Indians by force. and security of fortresses. In this condition they did not forget their ancestry, and the 7th of October was a day of fasting and prayer.

The major dissuaded them from this purpose, well knowing the bloodshed that would follow such an attempt, and contrived a stratagem to accomplish the On the 16th of October Salmon Falls was again attacked. Lieut. Roger Plaisted sent out seven men from his garrison to make discovery of the position of the enemy, all of whom were cut off. Venturing out the next day with twenty men to bury the dead, he himself was killed. Maj. Charles Frost, of Stur- geon Creek (who was under Walderne's command), came to Newichawannock the day following, but the purpose. He proposed to the Indians to have a sham fight the next day ; they agreed to it; the Indians formed one party, and the troops of Walderne (in- cluding those under Capt. Frost, of Kittery), with the two companies, formed the other. In the midst of their fight the whites suddenly surrounded the whole body of Indians and made them prisoners, almost without exception, before the Indians were aware of enemy had retreated. His own house was soon after , the intended deception. The captives were disarmed immediately ; the southern Indians present were sent to Boston, the others were set at liberty. Of those sent to Boston some five or six were hung for past offenses, and the remainder sold into slavery.

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 183

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1714

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714