USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Sanbornton > History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, Vol. I - Annals > Part 7
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
1
36
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
" from the beech tree, South 55° West to Pemigewasset river," instead of 65°. This tract was " to be divided into 100 'shares' or 'rights,' and each . share' laid out into two distinct lots, one of which to contain 100 acres, and the other all the [remaining] land belonging to each share." It was to be laid out and num- l'revision of die Masonlau bered, thus, within one year, and the "drawing for lots of land" was then to be accomplished in the usual manner, at Portsmouth. Besides the three shares for the "min- istry " and "school" (see under ench), seventeen shares were re- served for the " said Proprietors, the Grantors," and each owner of the eighty remaining shares must " build a house of 18 foot long and 14 foot wide - or equal to it - upon some part of his land, and clear three acres there, fit for tillage or mowing, within eight years "
The seventeen reserved shares are " exonerated, acquitted, and fully exempted from any charge " in effecting the settlement of the town ; " Ilis Majesty's white pine trees for masting the royal navy " are pro- tected by a special clause ; defence in the possession of their premises is promised to the grantees, and provision is made that in case of an Indian war, the owners of the eighty shares shall be allowed the same time " for performing the said articles and things aforesaid to be done, . . . after such impediments shall be removed." This first "Masoniau grant" is signed "George Jaffrey Jun., Proprietors' [Grautors'] Clerk."
At a subsequent meeting of these grantors at the same place, Oct. 25, 1749, the grantees having requested that the land be laid out into eighty instead of one hundred shares (probably concluul- ing that the available land was not sufficient for the Number of shares re. duced. higher number), it was voted that " said tract of land be laid out into 82 shares and no more"; two of which were then " voted and grauted to John Thomlinson, Esq., in the city of London, in Great Britain, freed and exempted from any charges of settling, as are 17 of the shares aforesaid." This was a virtual concession to the wishes of the grantees, only add- ing two shares for the special bequest named, and thus finally estab- lishing the original divisions of the town.
The meetings of the sixty grantees seem to have been held at vari- ous times till the beginning of 1753, principally at Exeter ; first at the house of Joseph Rollins, then at Josiah Sanborn's, John
Subsequent
Fogg's, and Dea. Samuel Fogg's. Sums of money were
meetings of the
grantees. voted to different men for various services rendered ; the item of " going to the Bank " oftenest appearing, as when John Sanborn, Oct. 12, 1749, was directed to go thither, " to see whether there shall be 60 or 80 shares." The assessments voted
37
PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
were at first quite punctually paid, as appears from a " Report of Com. to examine the Treasurer's ace'ts," April 26, 1749 : . Raised by vote, £152. Paid in. £149 58. 6d. Not paid in, £2 148. 6d. Paid out, £140 17s. Remaining in Treasury, £8 8s. Gd." Josiah Sanborn, proprietors' treasurer, and afterwards clerk, seems to have been a model accountant. No less than seven distinct tables are preserved of the names of " proprietors" (meaning, of course, after the grant was made, the grantees), and sums paid by cach in pounds and shil- lings, at seven different times between 1748 and 1752. The receipts, also, for money's paid out by him are in many cases engrossed, and are usually in this form : " Exeter, Decem. y" 14, 1748, Received of Josiah Sanborn, Treasurer, 21 pounds, old tenor, for my service
Business forms in going to lay out the town : per me, Sam'l Fogy" ;
and receipts. or thus : " Exeter, Feb. the 6th, 174g. Then received of Josiah Sanborn etc., £8 103., o. t., for my service in going to the Banke. Jolm Sanborn." Sometimes the appendages " Then " and " Per mie " are both found.
So early as " Nov. 14, 1749," a committee was chosen " to go aud run out the line and survay a place to set a saw-mill, and likewise look out a place for the Senter Square "; while, " June 21, 1750," a payment of 30x, per day, o. t., having been voted to this comunittee, another committee was chosen, " at the same rate, . . . to look out and clear a road from Canterbury to the Senter Square, and Movement for lay out the Seuter Square and the mill grant, and one liun-
the first sur-
vey. dred acer lot[s] to each rite." This last committee, con- sisting of "Sam'l Fogg, John Hopkinson, Seth Fogg, and Daniel Sanborn, with Jonathan Longfello as survayr," reported at Exeter, " Ang. 30, 1750," that they had "laid out 80 First survey reported. 100-nere lots, in four ranges, as per previous direction, and that the Center Squair, which contains six aeres, lieth in the 76th lot, which is for the first minister, and in the 77th, which is the personage lot ; also, we allow 20 acars, out of the 65th lot, in a convenient place upon Samou brook, for a mill privilege."
". Nov. 26, 1752," "" Sam'l Fogg, Jeremiah Sanborn, Sam'l Har- dee, Abraham Sauborn, and Seth Fogg, with Daniel Sanborn sur- vair," having been previously chosen a committee "to lay out the remainder of the town," made their report of "82 Report of com- shoes " laid out by them in the " Crotch of Merrimack," wond survey. explaining quite minutely the inequality of the lots bor- mittre for the dering upon the rivers and bays. and referring to their plan, as presented. It would appear that though the former commit- tee evaded the claim of the Masonians for two extra lots, reporting eighty ouly, yet the claim was probably insisted upon, and eighty-
38
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
two lots are reported by this second committee. The proprietors justly regarded the central section of the township, running through from the Pemigewasset to the Great Bay, as the most desirable for settlement, and best for farming purposes ; hence they First division of luta muru vuluablu. laid out this section first, into four ranges, as before stated and as appears by plan. "Each lot is 160 rod in length, and 100 rod in breadth. excepting those that join the bay and river ; ranges run, from the bay, S. 78° W., Lots N. 12° W. ; highways 4 rods wide between the ranges, and two rods wide between the lots."
NEW HAMPTON (N. 55° E. or S. 55° W.)
28 ADD
7ADD
COMMON LAND
450
59 464: 31 26 17 90 0 ROD
MEREDITH.
INOW HILL , NEW CHESTER
57 56
55
54
53 52
51
50
49
48 47
46
45
144
43
42
41
DEMIGEWASSEN NIVEA
40
39
38
37
36
35|
34
38
32
81
30
29
28
27
26 25
24
23
22
21
BAY
2
4 5
N
8 9 10
E
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
GREAT
65
66 67 68 69 70 71
80
4
3
21
ADS
25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 18 12 ti 10 9 8 7
5
73
28. 25 30 81 32 93 34 95 36 37 38
39 20 41 42 45 44 45 46 47 48
64
63 62 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 34 53 52 51 50 49 27 26
7
P POINT
70
69
68 67
66
65
54
63
62 GI
GO
59
58
MIDDLE
BAY
RIVER
72 73
74 75 76 77 78 79
80 8182
LITTLE BAY
GILMANTON
(NOW BELMONT)
"A Plan of the Town of Sundborntown drawn from the original and from an Improved plan, aud still further lin- proved by actual survey, - drawn by a rule of 140 rode to an inch. By Joshua Lane, 1821." Cop. led from the above on a mantler peale by M. T. 1 :. , 1870.
(S. 65° E. or N. 65° W.)
(NOW FRANKLIN) ANDOVER
72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81
(NOW FRANKLIN) SALISBURY
MOHAWK
WINNEPISSIOKEE MERRIMACK RIVER
NORTHFIELD
39
PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
The second survey made three ranges on the north of the first, and fifty-seven lots ; each in the first range being 360 rods long and 113 rods wide, and each in the other two ranges nearly 12 miles in length, except on the river, bay, and northeast corner. Two ranges of twenty-five additional lots, making the total eighty-two, were also laid out on the south of the First Division. These lots were, in the
first range (joining First Division), 280 rods in length Second division and 130 rods in breadth ; in the second range, bordering of lota ; more
extensive.
on the river, of various dimensions. This last range,
· being the most southerly, has usually, in later years, been called the " first range " of the town, as a whole. (See Plan and " Extract from Proprietors' Records " of January, 1771, accompany- ing.)
On the margin of the Plan (copied above) is the following " Ex- tract from the Proprietors' Records, respecting ' Addition Lots '" : --
"For the lot No. 74, 63 acres in the crotch of the river, bounded and numbered ou Winnepissiokee river and runing W. parallel to the range to pemigewassett river. The remainder of the common to the N. of the 03 acres laid out to the Lot No. 71; * and the common to the E. of Edward Taylor's lot to lot No. 73; and the lot between home lot No. 4 and 81 to lot No. 80. The rest of the dedecient lot made up in the common at the head of the town, - beginning at the E. cud of the upper range line, and runing west- erly on s'd range line 300 rods for lot No. 81; then 09 rods for lot No. 82; then 33 rods for lot No. 75; then 25 rods for lot No. 82 In first division of lots, which is the only addition made in first division; then 51 rods for lot No. 79; then 48 r. for lot No. 78; then 46 r. for lot No. 77; then 50 r. for lot No. 72; then for lot 57, 150 neres on the westerly end of said range line. All the additions numbered with the same numbers of the lots to which they belong. All on the upper range line run from the numbers parallel with the side lines to the Town line.
"Laid ont by committee, Jan'y 29, 1771." (Said committee were John Dow, Samuel Folsom, and Daniel Sanborn.)
Another note upon the margin of the Plan (copied above) has been partially defaced, by burning or otherwise. It is for substance as fol- lows ; the part in brackets being supplied as seems reasonable, the rest being quoted as it reads : -
"The Ranges were ofriginally] laid out to run N. 78º E. or S. 78º W., au[d a space + rods wid je north of each range line for high[ways; also the] side lines to run N. 12º W. or S. 12º E., with [2 rods space between] those lots, as marked in the plan, [which have double] lines, for high ways, one rod to the E. and [one] rod to the W. of the unmbered trees."
The grantees having thus laid out and surveyed their town, the next step was to meet with the Masonian proprietors for drawing
* There should have been inserted at this point, "and the common to the cast- ward of Josiah Fogg's home lot we have laid to the Lot No. 76."
40
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
the lots, according to the terms of their charter. This was done at Portsmouth, Feb. 13, 1753, at the house of An Slayton, iunholder.
Then follows upon their records n table giving the order Julia meetluz of in which the eighty-two shares were drawn, and the nin- the yrautees aud Musunlans for the draw Ing of bers of the lots in ench division ; which, so far as them- thu lots. selves (the sixty grantees) are concerned, has already been embodied in the previous list. The small fraction of the table remaining is here given. The so-called " Law Lots" were probably designed by the Masonians to afford a fund which might aid them in their lawsuits. Their friend Thomlinson 'in London, a supposed descendant of the first John Mason, was not forgotten ; and deducting these four shares (two for the " Law Lots" and two for Thomfinson), and the three for " school," " parsonage," und " first minister" (the two last not drawn), there remained but fifteen shares to be divided, as herein designated, among themselves. (See Appendix A.)
The Masouian
lots, and the
NAMES, ETC., DRAWN.
The Order of Drawing.
Lots In Ist
Ist Survey, 1750.
Lots in 2d
2d Survey, 1752.
Nos.
Nus.
Theodore Atkinson, Esq. ... Masonian Proprietor . .
1st
27
42
'. Law Lots, No. ! "
5th
53
81
Meserve, Blanchard, Green, and March
Masonian Proprietors
19th
34
4
School Lots.
13th
522
20
John Thomlinson, Esq., of Lon- don (first share)
15th
61
Law Lots, No. 1 ..
"1st
11
5L
Jotham Odiorne ( Dece's'd).
.. Masonian Proprietor
25th
64
Thomlinson and Mason
Masonian Proprietors ( ?)
30th
43
14
Thomas Wallingford.
Masonian Proprietor ...
39d
John Ringe ....
6 6
35th
9
49
Thomas Packer, Esq.
66
37th
59
75
George Jaffrey .
66
+1st
57
John Wentworth, Jun.
66
66
44th
3
43
Joshua Pierce, Esq. .
66
66
451h
36
2
Mark H. Wentworth, Esq.
=
46th
18
31
John Moffat, Esq.
66
48th
56
Daniel Pierce, Esq., and Mary Moore ..
. Masouian Proprietors . .
49th
10
Sam' Solly and C. March, Esqrs. Julin Thomlinson, Esq., of Lon-
52d
55
don (second share ) [ " Joth.," by mistake on Record].
Richard Wibard, Esq.
Masonian Proprietor
67th
38
P'arsonage Lots
l'reviously selected .
First Minister Lots
....
....
22
order of' their
Div.
Div.
drawing.
41
PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
We have given, thus, the first and last entries of the table found on the .. Proprietors' Records"; the intervening spaces in the first col- min being filled by the names of the sixty grantees, as before entered. That the latter were a persevering company of men, with The frantees characterized. united feelings and faith in their enterprise, is evident from the fact that all who signed the first petition, more than four years previously, here appear as drawers of lots, except the three who had died in the mean time, and whose respective rights were reserved for their families. But we thus secure the more impor- tant evidence that the town was laid out and the lots drawn prior to the spring of 1753 ; also - from the " Proprietors' Records " -
that it was called " Sanborn Town " previously to that
Original name time, - from the circumstance, doubtless, that no less of the town. than twelve by the name of Sanborn were found among its original " grantees " (including the oldest and most influential who first signed), hereafter to be known as the "proprietors."
It had been wisely stipulated in the Masonian grant, that in case of an Indian war, a longer time should be allowed for fulfilling the terms and conditions of settlement. The "Old French War" of 1756 seems to have been casting its shadow upon the New Hampshire col- ouies as early as the year 1753; for, from that time to 1762, no proprietors' meetings are noticed. It is well known that Interruptlou by the effect of that war was to stop the settlement of all new the " French and Judian towns upon the frontier. It fared with Sanborn Town war." as with all the rest. The chasm in the records cannot otherwise be accounted for.
May 24, 1762, the work of improvement seems to have been taken up precisely where left, nine years before (see Roads). The next year (April 21, 1763), " Select men " for the town were first appointed by the proprietors (see List) ; and Dec. 15, the rights of Jonathan Chace and Josiah Smith, both deceased, were declared forfeited, as also that of Ma[r]ston Sanborn. These rights were now confirmed to William Chace, David Burley, and Josiah Sanborn of Epping, resper- tively. Feb. 6, 1764, it was voted " not to proseente Capt. Miles for cutting logs in Sanborn Town"; and as a new encouragement to actual settlers, " £200 o. t." was promised "within 20 months, to each of 20 men, or less, who would obligate himself to
The grantees clear three acres and build a house, and then to abide (proprictors)
resume efforts for settlement. there by himself or some man under him, six years, and to clear six acres of land more, fitt for improvement, within that time." Dec. 2, 1765, the . fortieted rights of Thomas Chace and of Thomas Rolins " were assigned, the one " to his widow Love Chace, and the other to Daniel Sanborn Jun. of North Hamptou."
42
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
Little of general importance was done by the proprietors, 1766-68, except what is found under " Roads," " Mills," ". First Settlers," etc. Their meetings, as " Aug. 18, 1766," and ever after, were held " at Josiah Robinson's Inn, in Exeter." One other right is declared delinquent, " Nov. 17, 1766," "among those that gave bonds to setel in Sanborn Town," belonging to Jonathan Shaw ; and Feb. 20, 1768, agents were appointed " to prosecute the law suit already com- menced against Jona. Shaw, or to agree with him at their discretion." March 30, 1768, the "original right of Jonathan Fogg deceased, having been advertised in the . N. II. Gazette,' according to law and custom, for non payment of taxes," is declared " forfeited to the rest of the proprietors ; and the 100-nere lot in Ist Div. [45]
Forfelted
" rights." and half the 250-acre lot in 2d Div. [17] are voted to Abraham Perkins of Exeter, in consideration of his pay- ing all taxes due. The rest of Jonathan Fogg's right is given to his daughter Mary." June 17, 1768, Josiah Sauborn and Capt. Joseph Hloit were empowered to petition the General Court for an Act enabling the proprietors to sell the land of delinquent proprietors for their taxes.
April 6, 1770, proprietors voted that they would " make those lots good that are cut short by Winepisocke and Pemigwaset rivers and the bays, as to quantity," and Daniel Sanborn was appointed sur- veyor, " Ist, to measure and supplement these lots ; also, Equalizing the 2d, to run the range lines between the first and second lots. divisions, and at the head of the 2d Div." In the former of these labors, he had the assistance of Jolin Dow and Samuel Fol- som ; in the latter, of Ebenezer Morrison and John Sanborn. Their reports were presented in January, 1771 (see note appended to Plau). The upper range line " begins on Meredith line, two miles
Upper rugu and 170 rods from the Lot No. 21, in 2d Division of lots, linco. and runs S. 78° W. to Molten's Gore" (now New Hamp- ton). The line at head of 1st Division of lots was run half-way across the town, when, " finding the compass did not agree with the rauge in said division, we rune no further."
As elsewhere shown, between the years 1767 and 1773 the propri- ctors pursued quite a liberal policy towards the settlers, rendering them substantial aid, especially in religious matters. This Settlers encour- aged. latter year, however, " Nov. 17," there begin to be signs of conflicting views ; the proprietors voting " that they would build a meeting honse in Sauboruton, and that they would set it upon the place which the inhabitants had chosen "; but the * plan and dimensions " (60 feet by 433 feet) " proposed by the inhabitants," being probably thought too large, " were not accepted." By the next
43
PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
Conflicting year it became more evident that the child was growing interests. too strong to be " under tutors and governors." Several of the proprietors were now living in the new town ; and a petition having been presented " June 22, 1774," from " a number of proprietors and inhabitants," " praying that the meetings and Pro- prietors' records may be removed from Exeter to Sanbornton," it was steruly voted " that thay wold not"; whereupon Capt. Josephi Iloight, Daniel Sanborn, Esq., and Jonathan Hoit entered " theaier desent against the proceedings of the meeting." Ouly one meeting more was ever held at Exeter, " Nov. 29, 1774." At this, nothing was moved " for the benifit " of the town, but only "of the said proprietors." Their work was done. It had been botli
Work of the proprietors efficient and benevolent. Let us thank God that it was
completed. done so well, and that they, under His guiding providence, were made " the nursing fathers " of our infant town! After the storm of the Revolution had passed, Daniel Sanborn and William Harper, " two justices of the Peace for Strafford Co.," " on application of more than a sixteenth part of the proprietors and owners of land" in Sanbornton, called a meeting of the same at the meeting-house in said town, Nov. 4, 1788. The chief business of
Removal of this meeting, after a formal choice of officers, was to their records. " vote the removal of the Proprietors' Records from Exe- ter to Sanbornton "; to accomplish which, Esquire Harper, James Hersey, and Josiah Sanborn were chosen as committee. The old records were . all elegantly copied from the originals, in August, 1843, by Dr. John Carr, though not then town clerk.
CHAPTER VII.
EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION.
" We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of oldl: how thon didst drivo out the heathen with thy hand, aud plantedst them." - PSALMIS xliv. 1, 2.
" What constitutes a state! Not high raised battlement and labored mound, Thick wall or moated gate; Nut cities proud, with spires and turrets crowned ; Not bays and broad-armed ports, Where, laughing at the storm, proud navies rido ; Not starred aud spangled courts, Where low-browed baseness wafts perfumes to pride : No! Men ! high-minded men, Men who their duties know, But know their rights, -and knowing, dare maintain."
SIR WILLIAM JONES.
"THERE are perhaps no circumstances connected with the early settlement of Sanbornton which distinguish it from the other towns in the State, or which render its history interesting to the general reader ; but to the munerous descendants of the worthy Introduction few who commenced its settlement, and those who suc- to the Sunals of' 1541. ceeded them, some account of its early days may not be altogether minteresting."
Thus began the " Annals of the Town " in 1841 ; in resmining and amplifying which, we shall first speak of certain temporary summer " lodges " made upon the banks of the river and bays by those who had meh earlier come within the limits of Sanborntou for purposes of fishing. Que of these especially is known to have Early fishing lodges. been just above Union Bridge, on the present farm of Andrew Philbrick ; called pre-eminently the first settle- ment in town. The general statement of the gazetteers imust also be received with considerable qualification ; viz., that the " town was settled in 1765 and 1766 by John Sanborn, David Dustin, Andrew Rowen, and others."
It is certain from the " Proprietors' Records," as below, that the two
-
45
EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION.
Dauforthis, Solomon Copp, Daniel Fifield, and Samuel Sheppard, and as we know from other sources, Andrew Rowen, and per-
First actual
cellers. haps David Dustin (1766?), had moved to town during the season of 1701. Also that Daniel Sanborn and probably his cousin John were in town - the former as builder of the mill -early that year, but that they did not move their fam- ilies till the late winter or carly summer of 1766. For documentary evidence we find the clerk of the proprietors, by order of the com- mittee, calling a meeting March 2, 1765,
"To consider of a petition of a number of inhabitants of said town, seting forth theair inability to support their families by reason of the scarcity of provisions," for which they " pray the proprietors wold help them."
Early petition At the first meeting, March 18, it was voted not to give for help. them any help; but at a second meeting, March 27, motives of humanity triumphed, this former vote was reconsidered, and it was then voted that -
" The above s'd petishoners, namely Moses Danford, Thomas Danford, Solo- mon Cops, Daniel Fiffeld, and Samuel Shepprd, shall receive of the propri- ctors £100 o. t. for theair help, the money to be equely divided among them."
Aid granted by the pro- prietors.
It seems, therefore, certain, that soon after the encour- aging vote of Feb. 6, 1764, and during the following season, in which Daniel Sanborn's first mill was built and destroyed, the first actual settlers, with their families, came .
to town. They must have passed the winter 1764-5 in their settle- ments, as their petition had reached Exeter prior to First winter passed in Lowa. March 2, 1765, and they could not have moved hither in the dead of winter. The conclusion is, that the per- sons above mentioned, and probably one or two others of the first settlers who were in easier circumstances, made a commence- ment during the spring or simmer of 1764.
An anecdote is related of Mr. Rowen, which marks him among the very first if not almost the solitary settler at the time : -
"That in the clearing of his land, he inadvertently struck his axe into a hollow tree further than he was aware of, and so far that he could not. extract it by any ingenuity he could bring to his aid; upon Anecdote vi which, he went all the way to Canterbury on foot, and bor- the long axe. rowed another axe to ent his own out of the tree, and then carried the borrowed tool home again."
We might well disparage his fertility in expedients, if other settlers were then here; but the spirit of the times of which we are writing is thus illustrated, and perhaps the independence of the man, which
46
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
may have prevented his uniting with his fellow-settlers in the above petition to the proprietors ..
" The few familles who commenced the settlement of the town
Examples of trust have been familiar with hardships of which we can have fortitudo. but u falnt idea. They were, however, of that cluss of people who could bear futigne and toll without a murmur."
Probably to this first winter is to be referred the incident of the settler, who, the fall before, buried a quantity of potatoes deep in the ground, expecting to have them for his own use early the fol- lowing spring ; but ou returning found them all "appro- 'The buried potatoes. priated " by the hungry families who had wintered here, and had not a word to say ! (See Chapter VIII.)
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