USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 33
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William Clay conveyed to his sons Samuel and Joseph Oct. 23, 1742, "one full quarter part of a sawmill situated in Durham, upon ye stream, . or river called New Town River, being ye uppermost mill standing upon ye sd. stream, and is next to ye pond called Wheelwright's Pond out of which sd. stream issues" with a quarter part of "ye running geer," dam, stream and all privileges thereunto belonging. "New Town River" is, of course,
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that part of the river flowing through New Town. William Clay, "cord- wainer," and Samuel Clay, husbandman, conveyed to Daniel Rogers and Benjamin Mathes, July 20, 1754, eighty acres of land at or near New Town Saw Mill in the town of Durham, beginning at the southeast corner of said Clay's land, next to Eli Clark's, thence running by the highway to said sawmill and over the freshet by sd highway to the end of Clay's fence, thence northerly to the land of widow Joanna Snell and John Jenkens then easterly by the highway to the first bound with all buildings, orchards, etc. Edward Leathers, Jr., of Durham, conveyed to David Munsey, Sept. 12, 1761, one sixteenth part of New Town Sawmill, so-called in sd Durham. also one sixteenth of the falls and privileges belonging to sd mill, and a sixteenth part of all the iron work in partnership belonging thereunto. Edward Leathers conveyed to John Leathers, March 5. 1790, forty acres of land in Lee, beginning at the southwest corner of John Snell's land and running on the road that leads to Newtown sawmill, until it comes to Clark's pond, so-called, etc., excepting, however, the land lately sold to his daughter Hannah (afterwards the wife of Lemuel Chesley). Also a sixth part of Newtown sawmill and gristmill, so-called. in said Lee, together with one sixth part of the dam and privilege of said mill. Edward Leathers, April 7, 1801. conveyed to David Monsey one sixteenth part of a sawmill in Lee known by the name of Newtown sawmill.
So it appears the mill was known and called New Town sawmill from 1688 to A. D. 1800, and perhaps later; since then it has been called Layn's mill the larger part of the time. The man from whom it derived this name was Capt. John Layn, who was in Durham as early as March 8, 1760, when, as a young man, he enlisted in Capt. Samuel Gerrish's company, Col. John Goff's regiment, for the Canada expedition. "John Layn of Durham, gun- smith," in a petition of May 26, 1761, states that he was employed as armorer for that regiment, and furnished his own tools, but had received no extra pay for this service, hence he petitioned for it. He was allowed £4 sterling. He was appointed captain in Col. John Waldron's regiment, March 6, 1776, for six weeks' service at Winter Hill. He acquired land at Newtown in 1763 and again in 1766, when Thomas Leathers conveyed to him ten acres of land where said Thomas then lived at the corner of the roads that led to Durham Falls, Madbury and Newtown. He established an inn in this vicinity, probably the first in Newtown. In 1790 John Layn calls himself "of Lee" but in 1804 he was living in Barrington where he had acquired several tracts of land-among others forty-two acres at Bumfaggin, and lots No. 41 and No. 42 in the half mile range, near Bow Pond, in that part of Barrington now Strafford. He had a sawmill there, but probably lived 20
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there only during the spring season, when the sawing was done. At that time he owned the whole of the gristmill at Newtown, but only four days' right in the sawmill, both of which he conveyed July 17, 1804, to Paul Giles, who reconveyed them to Layn Nov. 22, 1805. These mills were then, no doubt, operated by his son Edmund, who continued to run them till his death at the age of seventy-six years, Aug. 27, 1843. There is now a saw and shingle mill owned by his descendants in the Layn family.
Newtown Plains have a unique history in Lee and Durham. They are a sandy and not very prolific region and rather monotonous for travelers who have occasion to pass through. there from Lee to Barrington, and certain parts of Madbury. Frequent mention is made of the Plains in the Durham and Lee town records. Why the pioneer settlers or lumbermen came to call it New Town is a mystery.
As Patrick Jemison (or Jamison ) received a grant of land there in 1663, six years before Robert Wadleigh received his grant at Wadleighi's Falls, the sawmill at New Town was probably the first mill built in Lee, about two hundred and fifty years ago, and there has been a mill in use there ever since.
Wadleigh's falls are in the southwest part of Lee at the north end of the "Hook" in Lamprey river. The river, below the falls, turns and runs south about half a mile, then strikes the foot of a high hill of gravel and hardpan; then turns almost at right angle and flows in an easterly direction a half mile, where it strikes the foot of another and is diverted almost at right angle, in a northerly direction and flows for a mile through a fertile valley until it strikes the foot of Lee Hill, and is diverted in a large circle and flows south out of Lee into Durham. This valley through which it flows and forms the "hook" between the hills has some of the best farms in Strafford county.
This remarkable bend or "hook" in Lamprey river has no duplicate in any other river in New Hampshire. A sawmill was built at a fall near where it bows around and runs direct into Durham. The date of the first mill is not known, but probably about 1700. The inventory of George Chesley's estate of Durham Aug. 27, 1724, mentions part of the mill "at ye hook of Lamprecl River." It is called "the Hook mill" in a deed of 1728. Ephraim Foulsham, Dec. 4, 1742, conveyed to his son John sixty acres of land in Durham, bought of Maj. Peter Gilman Dec. 8, 1739, lying next ye highway below ye Hook mill, beginning twenty rods above ye second brook from ye house formerly Capt. John Gilman's, towards ye Hook mill. Peter, John, Samuel and Noah Gilman, May 2, 1749, conveyed to Joseph Smith
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190 acres at a place commonly called the Hook, beginning by the side of Lampereel river, in the turn below the falls where the Hook mill stood.
John Thompson of Durham, "one of ye proprietors of ye Hook land, and ye proper owner of one whole share," conveyed his share, Aug. 30, 1748, to Abner Clough of Salisbury, Mass.
The Durham grants of land at the Hook conflicting with the Gilman claims, Samuel Smith and Capt. Jonathan Thompson were appointed agents of the land proprietors in Durham Nov. 28, 1748, to agree with Col. Peter Gilman and others about "the parcel of land in Durham on the south side of Lampreel river, commonly called and known by the name of the Hook land. In a deed of Ang. 30, 1748, this district is called Durham Hook, Lee being at that time a part of Durham. The Rev. John Adams of Durham records; June 10, 1750, the baptism of "Nicholas, son of Nat Frost, in Ye Hook."
The "Hook road to Northwood" is mentioned on the state map of 1803. It runs from Newmarket through the Hook, and crosses Lamprey river at Hill's bridge, near the falls where now stands Dame's mill. This Hill's bridge obtained its name from Capt. Reuben Hill, who settled near there about 1750 and owned a sawmill and gristmill at the falls. He was one of the selectmen of Lee in 1769. His mills are mentioned in the records of the town; and the neighboring bridge across Lamprey river is frequently mentioned in the town accounts from 1771 till 1800 and later. For example, £5 Is. were paid "Ensign Reuben Hill on his bridge" in 1771. His name is still retained, though Reuben Hill died about 1794, and his heirs sold the water privilege here in the first decade of the nineteenth century. John Mathes owned and operated the mills for many years in the middle of that century. He had a sawmill, shingle mill and gristmill.
Little river runs into Lamprey river about a quarter of a mile above Hill's bridge, and on it, in Lee, are two falls that have been used much in the former centuries, and is frequently mentioned in the early records of Dover and Durham. It rises at Mendum's pond, in Barrington. For example, three score acres of land were granted to Jethro Furber, June 23, 1701, "adjacent to Lampereal Little River," laid out Feb. 2, 1726-7, "begin- ning on the northeast side of said Little River above the old mast way." This "mast way" is the road that now leads from Lee Hill to the State College at Durham, and was so called because over it were hauled the big pine trees to Durham falls, where they were put into Oyster river and floated to Portsmouth. This grant of land to Furber has remained in possession of the Furber family to the present time. The road from Lee hill by Furber's place to Wadleigh's falls was laid out July 31, 1753, but communication
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with Little River, at a point above Furber's, was opened more than two hundred twenty-five years ago, from there to Oyster river by cutting the mast road through the forests over Lace hill, ending a short distance above the village, at the falls, where, at an early period, "Litle River sawmill" was built; John Thompson, Sr., had a grant of land there April 2, 1694; Mr. Thompson mentions the sawmill in his will April 12, 1733. A mill was kept in running order there for more than a century and a half, being owned by several of the farmers in the neighborhood. This mill was at the foot of a high and steep hill, on the summit of which for many genera- tions the Thompsons lived. A beautiful place. The road up over this hill is called the North River road. A short distance west of the Thompson farm is the Cartland farm, now owned by Mr. Charles S. Cartland, of Dover, cashier of the Strafford National Bank. This farm has been in possession of the Cartland family since 1737, 175 years. The land was granted to Joseph Meader soon after John Thompson received his grant above mentioned. Meader sold to Joseph Cartland, a native of Durham, in 1737, who built a house in 1740, where the present house stands. He was baptized by the Rev. Hugh Adams and was brought up in the Congre- gational faith, but in later years, after he settled in Lee, he became a member of the Society of Friends, and the Cartlands have remained in the Quaker faith, most of them, to the present time. The Cartland farm is beautifully located and excellent in quality of land. The Mathes family came up from Durham and settled in the same neighborhood about the same time.
A short distance below Little River Falls are what were called Thomp- son's falls, where Jonathan Thompson had a gristmill and fulling mill. In his will Sept. 10, 1756, he gave these and an acre of land to his son Joseph, who, May 3, 1774, sold them to Josiah Bartlett of Haverhill, Mass .; the sale included his dwelling house and one acre of adjoining land, and four acres between the fulling mill and Little River sawmill. This Josiah Bartlett was brother of Col. Thomas Bartlett of Nottingham, who has a distinguished record in the Revolution. The brother Josiah also has a pa- triotic record. Since the Revolution these falls have been known as Bart- lett's falls. Col. Thomas Bartlett had a son Josiah who settled in Lee, in 1815, on a farm which is now owned by his son, Hon. John C. Bartlett; it is about half a mile below the Hook sawmill, on the road to Newmarket. Mr. Bartlett has a farm of 300 acres there, one of the best in Strafford county.
The hamlet at Lee Hill has been the center of business in the town from the beginning of its settlement by lumbermen. After 1800, when stage- coach routes began to be introduced "The Hill" was a busy place as a coach center, and two or three stores were there and did a thriving business.
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When the New Hampshire turnpike was completed from Pascataqua Bridge to Concord, about 1802, they commenced to run stage coaches from New- market to connect with the turnpike coaches to Concord, and Lee Hill was the place where a stable of horses was kept for use. There was also another coach line that ran from Dover through Lee, Nottingham Square. Chester, Derry, Windham, to Lowell, after the cotton mills began to be built there. Gen. Bradbury Bartlett, son of Colonel Thomas, was agent for this route a number of years. He was known in his later years as Judge Bartlett. General Bartlett's brother-in-law, Hon. Edward B. Nealley, became a resident at Lee Hill about 1810 and resided there until his death in 1837. During his residence there he was a prominent citizen of the town and had a store by the side of what later was the residence of Simon Otis. He was engaged with his brother-in-law, General Bartlett, in the stage coach line from Dover to Lowell. Of course when the Boston & Maine Railroad reached New- market the stage coach business began to wane, and finally ceased to pay, and stopped, but not until after Mr. Nealley's death, in 1837.
Lee Hill from being a hustling village became the quiet hamlet it is today, having the meeting house, town house, postoffice and town cemetery, grange hall and a few farm residences. In connection with the postoffice is a country store. From being lumbermen and millmen the citizens devote their time to farming, with marked success. It has first class schools, no doctors or law- yers ; it has too small a population to support more than one religious society : so all combine, regardless of private opinions, in support of a Congregational Church, in the altruistic sense of the word. In the interim between the stage- coach period and the present long continued period of prosperity, there was a prevalence of intemperance, but vigorous Christian heroism in a few years wrought for the better and Lee, for many years past, has held the rank, in respect to temperance and sobriety, "the banner town of Strafford county."
CHAPTER XXXV HISTORY OF LEE (III)
MEN OF LEE IN THE WARS AND IN PEACE
The men of Lee have a patriotic record in the French and Indian wars; later in the Revolution from 1775 to 1783; and especially in the war for the suppression of the Southern Confederacy. During the Indian war period, 1675 to 1725, the inhabitants had to keep constant guard lest they be attacked by a secret Indian foe, but the only great battle with the Indians in Lee was at Wheelwright's pond in July, 1690. On March 18th, previous, the Indians had attacked and destroyed the settlement at Salmon falls (now Rollins- ford). The inhabitants made a brave defense, but were outnumbered, and after thirty of their fighting men had been killed, the rest surrendered. After plundering, the enemy burned the houses, mills and barns, with the stock of cattle in them. In May following this same party of French and Indians, with some additions, attacked and destroyed Casco. The Indians then came up to Fox Point, in what is now Newington, where they burned some houses, killed about fourteen, and carried away six as prisoners. On the fourth day of July eight persons were killed as they were mowing in a field (in Lee) near Lamprey river, and a lad was carried away captive. The next day they attacked Captain Hilton's garrison at Exeter, failed to capture it, as the garrison was relieved by a company under Lieutenant Bancroft, with the loss of a few of his men. The Indians retreated up through Lee.
Two companies under Captains Floyd and Wiswall were out scouting on the sixth day of July and discovered the tracks of the Indians; they pur- sued and came up with the enemy at the west end of Wheelwright's pond, where they were engaged fishing. The Indians immediately changed work from fishing to fighting, and a bloody engagement ensued for several hours. Of course, there was no cleared ground around the pond, so the fighting was done in dodging from tree to tree, without hand-to-hand contests. Captain Wiswall's company suffered worst; he was killed, also his lieutenant, Flagg, and Sergeant Walker; twelve men of the companies were killed, and several were wounded. Captain Floyd kept up the fight for a while after his
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companion officer was killed, but his men became so fatigued, it being an exceedingly hot day, and so many were wounded, that he drew off, and at the same time the Indians began to retreat in the opposite direction, carrying their dead and wounded with them, to a safe place where they could bury their dead warriors. It is not known how many Indians were killed, but it was a drawn battle. After the battle was over, and the Indians had started on a retreat westward, Captain Conners went to look after the wounded white men, and found seven alive, whom he brought in about sunrise the next morning. He then returned and buried the dead, among the number Captain Wiswall, Lieutenant Flagg and Sergeant Walker. Where their graves are no man knows; not even a common field stone was placed at their heads. The Indians, on their way westward, in the course of a week, killed, between Lamprey river in Lee and Amesbury, Mass., not less than forty people, according to the chronicles of the day. They did not carry away any prisoners.
Of course, when the news reached Oyster river settlement that a battle was going on at Wheelwright's pond all the fighting men made haste to get there and assist Captains Floyd and Wiswall. It is recorded that some of the men ran so fast that they were completely overcome with heat, and it was exceedingly hot that 6th of July. One man died of surfeit, but the rest got there and rendered valuable assistance.
GARRISONS IN LEE
Only three garrisons are mentioned within the present town of Lee. There was one at South Lee, on the North River road, which was built by Joseph Doe, who bought land there June 23, 1737, of John Bickford, which had been assigned Bickford as his share of the common lands in Durham in 1734. After the death of Mr. and Mrs. Doe, the garrison became the property of his daughter, who had married Elijah Fox. Up to that time it had been called the "Doe garrison." From Mr. Fox it came to be called the "Fox gar- rison." At the death of Mr. and Mrs. Fox it passed to the ownership of their grand-daughter, wife of Daniel Cartland, but still retained the name, Fox garrison. After the death of Mrs. Cartland, Mr. Samuel French bought it and resided there until his death, about 1880. Soon after that it was taken down.
At New Town was the Jones garrison, which was probably one of the first garrisoned houses that was built in this section of Old Dover. It stood on the Nehemiah Snell farm and served as a place of resort for safety when the Indians were roaming around, hunting for scalps of white men. It was taken down many years ago.
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The Randall garrison stood on the Mast road between Lee hill and where now is the State College. It stood on the south side of the road near the A. D. Wiggin house. It was built of logs with the upper story projecting over the lower, with loopholes in the thick walls for the discharge of guns. This was a center of safety in Indian war times for all the neighborhood around. The builder was Capt. Nathaniel Randall, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Tozer) Randall. Captain Randall's grandfather was Richard Tozer, who married Judith Smith in Boston. Gov. Richard Bellingham performed the marriage ceremony. They came to live at Salmon Falls, Berwick side, where the Indians killed him, Oct. 16, 1775. Capt. Nathaniel Randall married Mary Hodgdon of Dover. Having received several grants of land from the town of Dover, in what is now Lee, he went there and built the garrison and was one of the big men of the town ; big in ability and property. He died on March 9, 1748-9, in his fifty-fourth year. His grave may be seen in the Lee cemetery, about half way from there to Lee hill. It does not appear on record or in tradi- tion that the Indians ever attempted to play pranks with any of these gar- risons, but the neighborhoods felt much safer in living in sight and hearing of safe houses of retreat in time of danger.
IN THE REVOLUTION
Lee is a small town, yet in the spring of 1776 there were 142 men who signed the Association Test, which reads as follows :
"We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage, and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings, of the British fleets and armies against the United American Colonies."
This "Test" was sent out by the New Hampshire Committee of Safety in April to the selectmen of every town to find out who were Tories, or sup- porters of the British force measures, and who were willing to fight for the rights which the United Colonies demanded should be guaranteed to them by the Crown. The signers in Lee are given below, and the names are interest- ing as showing who were living in the town at that time.
NAMES OF SIGNERS
Elijah Dinsmore, Samuel Jackson, Bennan Jackson, John Emerson, Samuel Emerson, Joshua Burnham, Joshua Burnham, Jr., Steven Willie, Joseph Seas, William French. Joshua Woodmarch, Eleson Watson, Philbrok Barker, Moses Runnales, Samuel Hill, Ruel Giles, Cornilus Dinsmore, Job
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Runals, E. Jones, Jr., Jonathan Dow, Isaac Small, Peter Folsom, Josiah Durgien, Miles Randel, Benjamin Durgin, John Sanbonn, Jonathan Runales, Zacheus Clough, Job Runels, Jr., Enoch Runels, William Goen, Ephm. Sher- burne, Dimond Fernald, Richard Hull, Samuel Langmaid, Ebenezer Jones, Lemuel Chesley, John Jones, Benj. Clark, George Jones, Benj. Jones, Smith Emerson, Isaac Clark, Simon Rindel, James Brackett, Stephen Stevens, Gideon Mathes, Daniel Chiesle, George Chash, Thomas Arlen, Zebelen Wiley Timothy Muncy, Micajah Bickford, David Shaw, Amos Fernald, Edward Scales, Robert Parker, John Mendum, Hunking Dam, John Follett, Ebenezer Randel, Eli Furber, Ebenezer Burnum, Joseph Brackett, Joseph Follitt, Samuel Stevens, Samuel Bickford, Jonathan Fisk, William Waymouth, George Tuttle, George Duch, James Watson, Samuel Watson, Timothy Moses, Dennet Waymouth, John Kinnison, Josiah Kinnison, William Gliden, John Putnam, Anthony Fling, John Davis, Clement Davis, Andrew Watson, Thomas Tuttle, Thomas Tufts, Samuel Burley, James Davis, Jeremiah Hutchins, John Davis, Nathaniel Frost, Henry Tufts, Jonathan Stevens, Henry Tufts, Jr., Thomas York, Nicholas Tuttle, Robert York, Eliphalet York, David Davis, Nathaniel Stevens, William Stevens, Samuel Durgin, Joseph Watson, Reuben Hill, Sam Hutchin, Josiah Bartlett, Moses Dam, Jonathan Thompson, Samuel Mathes, William Bly, Samuel Langley, Samuel Smith, Nicholas Meder, Mathias Jones, Benj. Jones, Joseph Jones, Tolman Thompson, Zekiel Wille, Edward Leathers, John Leathers, Joseph Doe, John Williams, John Layn, Benjamin Briley, Thomas Huckins, Jr., Elijah Fox. John Wiggin, James Clemens, John Sias, Benjamin Bodge, Mark Weder, Mr. Samuel Bodge, John Glover, Edward Hill, Thomas Wille, Ezekiel Wille, Thomas Noble, Samuel Woodman, Edward Woodman, Thomas Hunt, Josiah Burley, Samuel Wille, Joseph Pitman, Samuel Snell, Jr., and Thomas Langley.
Those men were not all of military age, but one-half of the whole number of signers actually served in the army, perhaps more. There were others who did important service for the cause, although they did not shoulder their guns and go to the front. The following names have been found in the Revolutionary war rolls' of New Hampshire :
Elijah Dinsmore, Samuel Jackson, John Emerson, Joshua Burnham, Samuel Willie, Ezekiel Wille, John Sias, William French, Moses Runales, Job Runels, Enoch Runels, Samuel Hill, Reuben Hill, Ebenezer Jones, John Jones, Benjamin Jones, Joseph Jones, Jonathan Dow, Isaac Small, Benjamin Durgin, Samuel Durgin, Ebenezer Randall, Edward Hill, John Sanborn, Zaccheus Clough, Stephen Stevens, Jonathan Stevens, Samuel Stevens, Wil- liam Stevens, Nathaniel Stevens, Micajah Bickford, Samuel Bickford, Daniel
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Shaw, Robert Parker, Eli Furber, Ebenezer Burnham, Jonathan Fisk, John Kennison, Anthony Fling, John Davis, Clement Davis, James Davis, David Davis, Thomas Tuttle, Henry Tufts, Samuel Burley, Jeremiah Hutchins, Samuel Hutchins, Nathaniel Frost, Eliphlet York, Josiah Bartlett, Jonathan Thompson, Edward Leathers, John Leathers, John Williams, John Layn, Thomas Huckins, John Wiggin, John Sias, Samuel Bodge, John Glover, Samuel Woodman, Edward Woodman, Thomas Hunt, Josiah Burley, Joseph Pitman, Col. Hercules Mooney, Benjamin Mooney, and John Mooney.
This is a remarkably good showing of patriotism in a small town. Those men fought to form the Union of the United States of America. Four score years later this small town of Lee sent the following men to the battlefields to preserve the Union which their ancestors formed. Very nearly the same number, in both wars, are on record in various departments of the service.
SOLDIERS OF LEE IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION
Charles R. Clay, Co. D, 3d Regt. ; enl. Aug. 23, 1861 ; re-enl. Jan. 23, 1864; disch. Aug. 24, 1865.
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