USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > Wolfeborough > History of Wolfeborough (New Hampshire) > Part 10
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).
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
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
night he cut the standing grass and put it in the barn. Early the next day he visited Blake, and told him that he had "done Hay- ing."
Mrs. Blake became distinguished as an accoucheuse. It was a common saying that she had been present at a thousand births. This may have been an exaggeration, but was probably not far from a truthful statement, as at that time most households had a large number of children. Her popularity gave her a large field of practice, which she held for a long period, as no physician commenced business in Wolfeborough until near the close of the eighteenth century. She was a brave and vigorous woman, and neither difficult traveling or inclement weather could deter her from heeding duty's call. In cases of emergency she would put on her snow-shoes, and give her anxious companion a close race over the drifted roads. In many cases of ordinary sickness she applied simple remedies quite effectively.
Jonathan, their oldest son, became very prominent in Wolfe- borough affairs, holding most of the important offices within the bestowal of its citizens. In early life he was an uncommon ax- man. While clearing a portion of Joseph Varney's farm he was accustomed to fell an acre of trees in a day. Perhaps in this case the ax-blows were more vigorous than usual, because just across the highway was the home of Polly, the daughter of Andrew Lucas, his affianced bride. In middle and advanced life Mr. Blake was very dignified in his manners, and, possessing a com- manding physique and voice, was very popular as a moderator of town meetings. He was elected to that office many times. It is said that his whisper was sufficient to quiet a crowd of frolic- some boys or half-tipsy men, and that his sonorous "Order" would produce in a town meeting assembly a silence that was actually painful. He died at an advanced age, respected as a citizen and honored with much public office. The Blakes have been generally large-sized, a physical trait which they inherited from the Conners. Daniel, a son of Jonathan, weighed 300 lbs.
I20
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
The seventh lot was seventy rods wide. It was taken by Wil- liam Fullerton. He was drowned a short time after his arrival in Wolfeborough while crossing Smith's River on a fallen tree used for a foot-bridge. The lot was given to his widow, who was a very energetic woman. On it she raised eight children, one of whom was born after the decease of her husband. The name, "Widow Mary Fullerton," was seen for many years on the annual town inventory. Two of her sons, John and James, were in the Revolutionary War. John, before becoming a soldier, took a settler's lot in the western corner of Wolfeborough, as it was then bounded. He raised a house-frame on it, through which, while he was in the army, trees of considerable size grew up. On his return home he found his claim to the lot forfeited because of his non-compliance with the terms of settlement. He, however, repossessed it, and it remained his home during a long life. James remained on the home farm with his mother. After her decease he obtained possession of it, and its ownership has never gone out of the Fullerton family.
William Fullerton, a son of the widow, settled on the Fullerton Pine Hill fifty-acre lot. He subsequently sold it to a member of the Jonathan Hersey family, and it has ever since been in the possession of some person of that name. Mrs. William Hersey now occupies it.
The Widow Fullerton's children were John, Sarah, wife of Reuben Libbey, Mary, James, William, Betsy, wife of Lemuel Clifford, Samuel, and Jane. Samuel died young. A number of the later generations of the Fullerton family have been resi- dents of Wolfeborough. They have generally followed the busi- ness of farming, and have been fairly thrifty.
!
-
CHAPTER X.
OTHER SETTLERS-JACOB SCEGGEL-HIS SON AND GRANDSON- AARON FROST-HIS ENCOUNTER WITH A BEAR-GRAFTON NUTTER-JOHN FLAG-JOTHAM RINDGE-ROBERT CALDER -JAMES CONNER-ENOCH THOMAS-ANDREW WIGGIN- JONATHAN HERSEY-JOHN PARKER-MATTHEW S. PARK- ER-HENRY RUST PARKER-MOSES AND ICHABOD TEBBETTS -GEORGE WOODHOUSE-THOMAS TRIGGS-JOSEPH KENIS- TON-SAMUEL HIDE-JOSEPH LEAVITT-ABRAM PREBBLE.
'T is not known that any other permanent settlers came to Wolfeborough in 1768 than those already noticed. There was a large number of laborers on the governor's farm, which em- braced one-half of the territory in the northeastern part of the town, but most of them had no thought of becoming permanent residents. A few did, however, make homes for themselves in the town. In 1769 Jacob Sceggel, Aaron Frost, John Flagg, Grafton Nutter, and Ithiel Clifford became residents of the town. Jotham Rindge and Robert Calder, who were connected with the Went- worth Farm, resided in the town for some time, the former leaving at the time of the departure of Governor Wentworth, and the latter remaining a number of years longer. Within a brief period the following persons became citizens: James Conner, Enoch Thomas, Jeremiah Gould, Andrew Wiggin, Moses Ham, Jonathan Hersey, Matthew S. Parker, Moses Tebbetts, Ichabod Tebbetts, George Woodhouse, Samuel Woodhouse, Thomas Triggs, Joseph Keniston, Samuel Hide, Joseph Leavitt, and Abram Prebble.
Joseph Sceggel, who assisted in cutting the Pequaket Road, settled near Trask Mountain. He was elected one of the board of selectmen at the organization of the town in 1770 and re-elected
I21
I22
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
in 1771. His son, James, and his grandson, James, Jr., held the same office in after years. They had their homes in the northerly corner of Wolfeborough, near Batson's Pond, away from the public highway.
Aaron Frost, who was a shipwright, came from Portsmouth. He had a settler's lot of one hundred acres (two hundred rods by eighty rods) of George Meserve, the deed of which is dated September 22, 1769. He located at what is now known as Frost's Corner, and also assisted in cutting the Pequaket Road. He was a person of great strength and endurance, and became a notable hunter. Taking a small quantity of meal and salt, his traps, gun, and ammunition, he would for weeks together hunt game in the mountains. He once had a desperate encounter with a large she- bear just robbed of her cubs. He espied her swimming in Lake Wentworth, and seizing a wooden lever, met her before she reached the shore. She seemed in no ways inclined to avoid the combat, and for a while "the battle hung in even scale." At length brute force was obliged to yield to human sagacity, and the intrepid hunter secured his prize. He took a load of clap- boards on a hand-sled to Dover and exchanged them for a grind- stone, which he brought home himself, performing the journey of seventy miles in two days. His family of children, which was quite large, settled near him. Few of this name now reside in Wolfeborough.
Grafton Nutter was one of the three persons who assisted in cutting the Pequaket Road. He settled on the hill where after- wards dwelt Alpheus Swett, and where was located the town farm, north of the Miles Road.
John Flagg, who was a man of property and influence, came from Portsmouth. He obtained possession of four hundred acres of land in the westerly part of the town. This was bounded by the Widow Fullerton lot, Lake Winnipesaukee, the John Ful- lerton lot, and the Miles Road. In 1779 he exchanged this land
I23
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
with Ebenezer Horne for real estate in Dover. He held the office of town clerk in 1771, and of town clerk and selectman in 1772.
Ithiel Clifford settled near where Augustine Fullerton now resides. In 1771 he was elected constable, and in 1772 a surveyor of highways and one of the board of selectmen.
Jotham Rindge was probably a relative of Governor Went- worth. He was a town proprietor, drawing lot one, which became a part of the Wentworth Farm. He was authorized by the gov- ernor to call the charter meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Wolfeborough, and was elected the first town clerk. He had the general superintendency of affairs at the Wentworth Farm, and probably left Wolfeborough at about the time of the governor's enforced departure.
Robert Calder, of Scotch descent, was the gardener at the Went- worth Farm. He had a house at Cotton Valley, near the spot where stands the residence of the late Elder George C. Cotton. The door-stone of this house has only recently been removed. It was in this neighbrohood that the governor's park was prob- ably situated.
Calder remained in Wolfeborough several years after the de- parture of Governor Wentworth, and was a quite active citizen. He was several times elected selectman, and was one of the town committee of safety in 1775. He was of a jovial turn, had a faculty for rhyming, and was familiarly known as "Bob Calder." He removed from Wolfeborough to Wakefield, where he kept store for a short time, and built a tavern, which he soon sold. He eventually made his home in Brookfield, living on the hill beyond the Hackett schoolhouse, on the road leading to the Corner, formerly termed the "Governor's Road." He was five times elected one of the board of selectmen of that town, and also served as deputy sheriff.
He had quite a large family of children. Three of his daughters married Wolfeborough men, Sally becoming the wife of James Jenness in 1809, Betsy of Isaac Edmunds in 1814, and Mary of
124
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Stephen W. Horne in 1815. The last named was the mother of Lorenzo and Charles L. Horne.
James Conner came from Henniker, and secured a lot out of the Daniel Treadwell right, numbered fourteen. Here he erected buildings where now stand those occupied by Asst. District Attorney Fred E. Hurd, of Boston. His son James settled on the Banfield place, and his son Samuel, on the Jerome place. Jeremiah made his home with his father. He had but little edu- cation, but possessing good natural ability, served several years as selectman, and occupied other responsible positions. He was the first person in town who gave in his inventory "money on hand." At one time he kept tavern, and town meetings were often held at his house. He built the first cidermill in town. A nephew of his, Moses Conner, who was a cripple, was a popular teacher of common schools. He was a good penman, and many are the family records in the family bibles written by "Master Conner."
Enoch Thomas settled the farm situated north of Main Street cemetery, now occupied by George W. Bassett and John L. Wiggin. His house stood in the present garden of Mr. Bassett. Thomas was hired by the town authorities to enlist in the Revolu- tionary army, in order that they might retain at home the black- smith, Meader, for the accommodation of the people. About 1790, Thomas sold the farm to Isaac Townsend, a Freewill Bap- tist minister who came from New Durham, and removed to Tuftonborough Neck where most of his descendants have since resided. Mr. Townsend soon exchanged the farm with Samuel Fox for one in Pleasant Valley. Here "Esquire Fox" dwelt during his lifetime. John Bassett purchased the property of his heirs, and after living on it for several years, deceased, and it has become the possession of his son, George W. Bassett.
Little is known of the history of Jeremiah Gould. It is probable that he settled on the lot where Lemuel Clifford afterwards re-
I25
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
sided, now the home of Nathan Shackley. In 1780 he was elected field-driver.
Andrew Wiggin came from New Market and settled where Alfred Brown now resides. He had little education, but was a man of probity and sound judgment, as evinced by the responsible positions in which his townsmen placed him. He held few offices on account of lack of educational attainments ; but no citizen was more respected, and few had greater influence in directing public affairs than he. He had much to do with the building of the town meeting-house, was one of the charter members of the first Con- gregationalist church, which was organized in 1792, also one of its deacons. He had several sons, who settled near him, Paul, on the lot now occupied by Joseph Abbott, and Andrew and Moses on the home farm. Andrew built on the farm of Samuel Tebbetts the first pound in Wolfeborough, receiving two dollars for his work.
Jonathan Hersey, the son of James Hersey, and one of a family of ten children, came from Newmarket. He had a settler's claim of one hundred acres of land on Daniel Pierce's "Great Lot," which contained one thousand acres. He was a stirring man, and held several minor offices. He had a large family of children, most of whom became farmers and settled near him, either in Wolfe- borough or Tuftonborough, his farm joining the latter town. He speculated considerably in land, and eventually became a large landowner, several of his sons following in his footsteps. His son James, who lived in his neighborhood, although within the limits of Tuftonborough left, at his decease, an estate ap- praised at sixty thousand dollars.
John Parker, although retaining his proprietary lot for a short time, and improving it somewhat through the agency of Reuben Libbey, to whom he gave a settler's lot, was never a resident of Wolfeborough, but during his lifetime dwelt in Portsmouth. He was sheriff under the provincial government of New Hampshire -- first, of the whole province, and after its division into counties,
I26
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
of the county of Rockingham. After the change from the pro- vincial to the state government occurred, he again received the shrievalty, and was subsequently appointed by Washington, Mar- shall of the district of New Hampshire. These positions were held by him during his life time. He was never married, but his house was the asylum of the widow and orphan. Nine nephews and nieces were educated at his expense, among them being John Parker Hale, the father of the distinguished New Hampshire senator of that name. His biographer says of him : "He was a social companion, an accomplished gentleman, a dis- interested friend." He was clerk of the Wolfeborough proprietry for many years.
Matthew Stanley Gibson Parker, the youngest brother of John, came into possession of the Wolfeborough Neck property, with the exception of the Libbey lot. He erected buildings on it, and improved it as a farm for several years, then sold it to Johnathan Edmonds, and removed to the "Mills," where he occupied the Mill house, keeping tavern and acting as miller.
The advent of "Esquire Parker," as he was called in accordance with the custom of the olden time when titles were highly prized, was a godsend to the people of Wolfeborough, his acquired abilities far superior to those of any other citizen then living in the town, rendering him well fitted to occupy any important position which the requirements of the town demanded. He was well qualified for legal business, and for several years was the only justice of the peace, an office then regarded as quite im- portant. He was elected town clerk in 1774, the year after his arrival, and in 1778 one of the board of selectmen. Both these offices he held almost continuously until his death, which occurred very suddenly in 1788, while on a visit to his brother-in-law, Deering Stoddard, who lived in the northeast part of the town.
Mr. Parker married Anna, the daughter of Colonel Henry Rust. Their children, seven in number, were: Henry Rust; Wil- liam Sewall, who kept a bookstore in Troy, N. Y .; Matthew
127
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Stanley, cashier of Suffolk bank, Boston; Samuel Hale, publisher of the Waverly novels, etc .; Nathaniel Adams, who died young ; John Toppan ; Anna, who married Rev. Jaaziniah Crosby.
Henry Rust Parker, who, after his father's decease, made his home with his grandfather, Colonel Henry Rust, and eventually inherited the estate, which has since been known as the "Parker Place," was a farmer and merchant. He bore the reputation of a worthy citizen, and held various town offices. His family is now represented in the town by Charles Franklin Parker, who is a banker and has held numerous business and official positions, and his brother John Parker.
Moses and Ichabod Tebbetts probably had no families or property at the time that they first came to Wolfeborough. They went into the army at the first call for soldiers. There have been many persons named Tebbetts residing in Wolfeborough, es- pecially in the northeastern part, but they have belonged to dif- ferent families.
George Woodhouse had a home on which was four acres of cleared land. He "cut" the College Road nearly its entire length in Wolfeborough. He was elected fence-viewer in 1773, and hog- reeve and fence-viewer in 1774.
Thomas Triggs settled on the farm now occupied by Valentine B. Willey, and for several years managed the mill now used by Mr. Willey.
Joseph Keniston, Samuel Hide, Joseph Leavitt, and Abram Prebble settled in the northeastern part of the town. Keniston occupied the lot since in the possession of Stephen Nute near Dimon's Corner, and Prebble, a portion of the Haines farm.
CHAPTER XI.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED-THE CHARTER-THE AN- NUAL FAIR-THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING-OFFICERS CHOSEN-TOWN-MEETING RECORDS-EXAMPLES OF PHO- NETIC SPELLING-A HIGHWAY SURVEYOR'S WARRANT- SPECIFIED DUTIES OF TOWN OFFICERS-FENCE-VIEWERS- FIELD-DRIVERS - POUND-KEEPERS - HOG-REEVES -BENE- DICTS-POUNDS-THE CONSTABLE-THE TITHING-MAN- THE DEER-KEEPER-THE RACE-GROUND-EARLY FAIRS- METHODS OF TRAVELING.
W JOLFEBOROUGH, when granted to the twenty-four town proprietors, was a wilderness, and except where con- tiguous to Lake Winnipesaukee, surrounded by dense forests of large extent. No territory adjoining it, except the town of New Durham, had any inhabitants, and these lived at a distance of ten or twelve miles ; nor was there any road leading from it to a popu- lated district. It was at first, therefore, no easy matter to induce persons to settle in the town. To those attempting it, it meant a sundering of neighborhood and family ties and an at least tem- porary exile. Only the more courageous or indigent were willing to brave the inconveniences and hardships of pioneer life.
When the governor of the province of New Hampshire had ob- tained possession of several thousand acres of land in Wolfe- borough, however, and, contemplating the establishment of a baronial estate, was engaging in extensive agricultural operations, and was being seconded in his enterprizes by energetic and wealthy men, immigration became more rapid. So encouraging was the outlook that the proprietors of the town deemed it ad- visable to apply to the governor for a charter, and Henry Rust, A. R. Cutter, and John Parker were appointed a committee to make I28
-
.
SOUTH WOLFEBOROUGH NORTH WOLFEBOROUGH
WOLFEBOROUGH FALLS
CENTER WOLFEBOROUGH EAST WOLFEBOROUGH
129
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
the application. Col. Rust was absent on a sea voyage, and did not sign the petition, which follows :-
Province of New ) To his Excellency John Wentworth, Esquire,
Hampshire Capt. General Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Province aforesaid, and the Honorable his Majesty's Council for said Province :
The Humble Petition of Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, Physician and John Parker, Merch both of Portsmouth in said Province as a Committee of the Proprietors of Wolfeborough in said Province shews :-
That there are in the Township of Wolfeborough upwards of Thirty Families settled and more coming to settle there, which makes an Incorporation necessary to transact their common affairs with ease & dispatch, and in that case many wou'd be in- duced to settle there, who would be backward without that ad- vantage.
That the Proprietors aforesaid are desirous of obtaining this Privi- lege as it will enable them to carry on the settlement with more Regularity and enable them to carry into Execution any of their Resolutions in which all are concerned, with Justice as well as with dispatch, and have therefore chosen your Peti- tioners with another person now absent to apply to your Ex- cellency & the Honorable Council for this purpose.
Wherefore they humbly Pray that the said Inhabitants & Pro- prietors may be Incorporated with the usual Franchises, Privi- leges & Emoluments : that they may be authorized & Intitled to use the Powers with which other Corporations are Invested, and your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall pray &c.
A. R. Cutter Committee John Parker
Portsmouth, July 9th 1770
130
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Minutes.
9th July 1770 Wolfeborough Petition for
Incorporation,
Granted.
Accepted on my part, J'W.
Charter to be prepar'd
Annual Fair or Mart
1st Tuesday following 21st Sept.
To call 1st Town meeting
Mr. Jotham Rindge.
1st Meeting 21st Sept.
Annual meeting last Tuesday in M'ch.
CHARTER.
Province of New Hampshire, George the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland. The De- fender of the Faith, &c.
To all people to whom these presents shall come, Greeting :
Whereas our loyal subjects, inhabiting a tract of land within our said Province of New Hampshire, known by the name of Wolf- borough, have humbly petitioned and requested us that they be erected and incorporated into a township, and enfranchised with the same powers and privileges with other towns within our said province, and which they by law hold and enjoy ; And it appearing unto us to be conducive to the general good of our said province, as well as to the said inhabitants in particu- lar, by maintaining good order, and encouraging the culture of the land, that the same should be done; Know ye, therefore, that we, of our special grace, certain knowledge, and for the encouragement and promotion of the good end and purpose
I3I
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
aforesaid, by and with the advice of our trusty and well beloved John Wentworth, Esq., our Governor and Commander-in- Chief, and of our Council for said Province of New Hamp- shire, have erected and ordained, and, by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do will and ordain, that our lov- ing subjects residing on the tract of land aforesaid, or that shall hereafter reside and improve thereon; (the same being butted and bounded as follows :
Beginning at the northeasterly corner of a tract of land called New Durham, then running north forty-eight degrees, east on the head or upper line of a tract of land called Middleton, and on that called Salmon Falls town or East town, or as those head lines run, joining thereon, and running so far as that a line running from thence six miles northwest, and then south- west to Winnipiseokee Pond, and then by the side of said pond joining thereon, until the aforesaid corner first mentioned bears southeast ; and then running southeast to the said corner, which completes thirty-six square miles, the content of said Wolfborough ;) shall be, and by these presents are declared and ordained to be a town corporate, and are hereby erected and incorporated into a body politick and corporate, to have countenance and succession forever, by the name of Wolf- borough, with all powers, authorities, privileges, immunities and franchises, which any other town in said Province by law hold and enjoy; Always reserving to us, our heirs and suc- cessors, the full power and right of dividing said town when it shall appear necessary and convenient for the inhabitants there- of ; also, reserving to us, our heirs and successors, all white pine trees which are or shall be found, growing and being within and upon the said tract of land, fit for the use of our royal navy. The said inhabitants by these presents shall have and enjoy the liberty and privilege of holding an annual Fair or Mart within the said town; which Fair shall be held and kept on the first Tuesday following the twenty-first day of September annually.
132
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Provided nevertheless, and it is hereby declared that this charter and grant is not intended, and shall not, in any manner, be construed to effect the private property of the soil within the limits aforesaid; and, as the several towns within our said province, are, by the laws thereof enabled and authorized to assemble, and, by the majority of the voters present, to choose all officers, and transact such affairs as in the said laws are de- clared ;- We do, by these presents, nominate and appoint Mr. Jotham Rindge to call the first meeting of said inhabitants, to be held within the said town, on the 28th of September inst., giving legal notice of the time and design of holding such meet- ing ; after which the annual meeting of said town shall be held therein for the choice of said officers, and the purposes afore- said, on the last Tuesday of March annually.
In testimony whereof, we have caused the seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed.
Witness, our truly and well beloved John Wentworth, Esquire, our Governor and Commander-in-Chief aforesaid, the twenty- first day of August, in the tenth year of our reign, Anno Domino Christi, 1770.
By His Excellency's command, with advice of Council.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.