USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > Wolfeborough > History of Wolfeborough (New Hampshire) > Part 15
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
spectively held as follows: Isaiah, one hundred and seventy-six acres ; Stephen, eighty ; Benjamin, eighty-three ; John, eighty ; and Ebenezer, seventy-five. The farms were thus located : Isaiah and his father's was situated where now resides Mrs. Ellen Horne ; Stephen's, where now dwells his grandson, Oscar; Benjamin had the one now occupied by John Henry Horne ; John, that near the lake-shore. It is not clear where Ebenezer's lot was situated. It is known that Copp's tavern was built on land that he once owned.
The advent of the Horne family was promotive of the interests of the town. Mr. Horne, though uneducated, possessed sound judgment and business tact that qualified him for responsible po- sitions. He was in a better financial condition than most of the inhabitants, and this increased his ability to be helpful. He was one of the committee for supplying beef for the army in 1781, and was able to furnish a large yoke of oxen for the town on credit. His stock at the time consisted of one horse, four oxen, five cows, and six young cattle. Though himself unlearned, he sought to impress on his children the importance of acquiring knowledge, and their attainments were quite creditable.
Isaiah was the most ambitious of the sons. He, in 1782, taught the second term of school kept in town. It continued three months, and he received in wages, including his board, thirty-three dollars. By private contributions from him and two other young men with the money raised by taxation, Dudley Leavitt, the "almanac maker," was induced to keep a term of school in Wolfe- borough, giving instruction in some of the higher branches of knowledge. By legislative enactment he had the H dropped from his family name, assigning as a reason a desire to have the ortheopy and orthography agree. His descendants have univer- sally written it Orne.
He married Mary, the third daughter of Col. Henry Rust, by whom he had these children :
Isaiah Green, born July 31, 1783, married Sarah Raynard ; Henry Harvey, born Feb. 21, 1786, married Caroline Chapin ;
189
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Mary Ann, born Jan. 31, 1789, died Oct. 16, 1808; Hariet Silver, born Aug. 31, 1791, married John Horne, Jr .; Charles Balker, born May 16, 1794, married Elisabeth Lane; Frederick B. T., born Feb. 24, 1796; died Apr. 17, 1822; Woodbury L., born May 7, 1798, died July 31, 1823; Mary Anne, born Nov. 17, 1808, married Stephen Horne. To his children he gave unusual op- portunities for obtaining an education, which they faithfully im- proved. His eldest son, Isaiah Green, married Margaret, the daughter of Daniel Raynard, who was the last proprietor of the Governor Wentworth farm. They lived to be aged, and spent the latter part of their lives in Middleton, N. H. Two of his sons probably had a collegiate training, Henry Harvey and Woodbury L. The former practiced law at Meredith Bridge, now Laconia. The latter was the first preceptor of Sanbornton Academy, and had associated with him his brother, Frederick B. T., as teacher, and Miss Caroline Chapin, of Cambridge, Mass., as preceptress. Frederick died in 1822, aged twenty-six years, and Woodbury, in 1823, aged twenty-five years. Miss Chapin, who had been the fiancée of Woodbury, married his brother, Henry Harvey, who, becoming dissatisfied with the practice of law, retired to his estate in Wolfeborough, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was honorable and intelligent, though quite eccentric, and not fancying all the methods adopted by members of the legal pro- fession, chose the quiet of his rural home to the noisy bickerings of the court-room. Mrs. Orne possessed considerable literary talent, and wrote many magazine articles. They had no children, and led a very secluded life.
Isaiah Orne occupied many important positions and did much public business. His brother, Stephen W. Horne, although very capable, was disinclined to hold public trusts, and often refused to accept offices to which he had been elected. He had five chil- dren; Ebenezer, the same number; Benjamin, at least a dozen. John, who married Jane, the fourth daughter of Col. Henry Rust, had fifteen. They were :
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Nancy, born Aug. 13, 1787, married Thomas Chamberlin, of Brookfield; John, born Feb. 20, 1789, married Hariet Silver Horne; Thomas, born March 24, 1790, died March 24, 1794; Betsy, born Dec. 11, 1791, died January 8, 1792; Betsy Adams, born Feb. 4, 1793, married William Chamberlain; Polly, born July 18, 1794, married Aaron Wiggin; Rhoda, born September 22, 1796, married Stephen Piper ; Jane Rust, born Apr. 26, 1797, died Apr. 10, 1830; Hannah, born July 13, 1799, married Enoch Thomas; Richard, born Oct. 16, 1800, married Lydia Eaton ; Lydia, born June 22, 1802, died May 17, 1826; Frances, born Sept. 9, 1803; Sally, born March 20, 1805, married George Wen- dell ; William Rust, born June 20, 1807, married Mary I. Baily ; Isaiah Waldron, born Feb. 15, 1809, married Mrs. Mary J. Horne.
Ebenezer Horne, the patriarch of the family, was an unusually vigorous person. He married at the age of eighty years, and at ninety-five could walk several miles with comparative ease. He lacked only six months of being a century old at the time of his death.
The change in the Miles Road brought it sixteen rods farther south at the corner, and here was eventually built up a little ham- let, where besides dwellings and the usual out-buildings, was a tavern with a Masonic hall, a store, a small hat manufactury, a shoe-shop, and a blacksmith's shop. The inn, kept by the usually suave Col. David Copp, was quite a resort for the "neckers" and "roaders" from Tuftonborough and residents of the Bridge village below.
At that period nearly every farming household had a flock of geese. They were the special care of the wife and her principal source of revenue. The broad margin of the main road afforded good opportunities for foraging, but there was a lack of water. The geese were accustomed to visit the Meserve Brook, which crossed the highway about a half-mile to the west, to perform their ablutions, and when returning to their feeding-ground, would fre- quently make a halt near the Colonel's premises. Their noisy
191
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
gabble was quite annoying to him, and one sultry day, when a considerable number had passed through the broad open way into the cool cellar, he closed the doors and imprisoned them, refusing to release them to the owners without a ransom fee. The offended dames vented their indignation by applying to the location an ap- pellation which they regarded as reproachful, but which custom adopted and kept in use for many decades. This is the traditionary story of the origin of the name, Goose Corner. The term was, however, complimentary rather than otherwise, as it indicated the existence in the neighborhood of a small but profitable industry. The goose at that time was the only fowl that was bred with profit. The domestic hen poorly sheltered and meagerly fed, in the cold season produced little. In the summer some eggs and a few chickens were furnished for the farmers' table, but little effort was made to obtain them for marketing. The turkey, which in after times was very highly prized as a farm product, could not then be profitably reared on account of its rambling propensities, which rendered it an easy prey to furred marauders.
The goose, however, securing a large portion of its food by its own industry, netted as much comparative profit as any domestic animal. With the proceeds of the flock the wife obtained for her- self and daughters many of the extras for their wardrobe, and probably among the descendants of the old families can still be found cherished heirlooms, a pillow of down or a string of gold beads. Sometimes when the inexorable rate-gatherer made his annual call, the husband shared in the distribution. While throughout Christendom the goose remains the most highly prized festal bird and an indispensable requisite of the Christmas dinner, it merits no sneering allusion.
The Copp Tavern is now the property of William B. Randall, who has made important changes in its structure. It is now oc- cupied as a summer boarding-house, and the locality is known as Rendall's Corner. The stir of former years may never come to this neighborhood, but it affords for residents of greater activities
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
pleasant and healthful retreats in the summer season. The love of literature which characterized former generations still con- tinues, and some of the present dwellers can wield a facile pen. The erection of Starlight Hall evinced the tastes of the inhabi- tants.
About this time a few roads necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants and the development of the town were opened.
Here follows a description of them :-
"Oct. 9, 1779. This day spotted a road two rods wide from the Mills thro' lots seventeen and eighteen, running nearly a straight course to the road called the College Road leading to the northerly part of Said Town, Said Road being laid out agreeably to a vote of the town.
Given under our hands the day and year above written.
Henry Rust
Ebenezer Meder Selectmen" Matthew S. Parker
The road began at the northerly end of the sawmill, and ran between Joseph P. Heath's store and William B. Hodge's dwelling-house, and so on south of the town meeting-house lot along the shore of Lake Wentworth past V. B. Willey's mill to the residence of Harry Smith.
"Nov. 25, 1779. This day laid out a road three rods wide from the Main Road leading through said town between land owned by James Lucas 3rd and the land owned by the mill proprietors taking two rods out of the last mentioned land and one out of Lucas' until it reaches the heath lying and being in the Mill prop- erty then crossing said heath nearly in a straight line and con- tinuing to the Mills Said road laid out in pursuance of a vote of the town.
Ebenezer Meder
Matthew S. Parker
selectmen"
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
This road ran until it reached the Brick Schoolhouse Hill, over which it passed near the Thompson house, and beyond where the road-bed is still well defined to Smith's River at the foot of the sawmill. Subsequently the road was changed somewhat, passing above the dam and crossing the river where now the Wolfe- borough railroad crosses, and running south of Heath's store.
Later the road was again altered, leaving its former course near the foot of the Brick Schoolhouse Hill, taking its present course south of the mill-pond. The bridging of the morass was quite an undertaking on account of the impoverished condition of the in- habitants and the pressing demands of the war, but it was at last accomplished, being in part done by voluntary labor instead of in- creased taxation, the parties working being reimbursed the follow- ing year by abatements of taxes. The corduroy was constructed of very heavy timber. Nearly a century elapsed before it was all unearthed. Notwithstanding the inhabitants of Wolfeborough had constructed highways within the limits of the town for their accommodation, there had not as yet been any road opened south of it. Some time during this year (1780) the legislature of New Hampshire had authorized Matthew S. Parker and an associate to appoint in unincorporated places selectmen to assess taxes. The same year the legislature, on petition of Jonathan Moulton, proprietor of Moultonborough, passed an act authorizing the ap- pointed selectmen of New Durham Gore (now Alton) to lay out and open a road from Merry Meeting Bay to Wolfeborough, and also one from the same place to Gilmanton, and assess the in- habitants of the Gore for the cost of constructing the same. The selectmen neglected to act in the matter, and July 4, 1781, the legislature passed an act appointing Matthew S. Parker, Esq., of Wolfeborough, Col. Bradbury Richardson, of Moultonborough, and Daniel Bedee, Esq., of Sandwich, a committee lay out and make passable such roads, and the said committee, in case it be- came necessary, were authorized to levy and collect taxes of the inhabitants of the Gore for the construction of the same.
194
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
It is quite probable the building of these roads was not much longer delayed, and that Wolfeborough had thereafter a rough public highway to Alton Bay, from thence to Rochester by the road built in 1722, and to Gilmanton by the new one opened. Be- yond that town roads extended to Concord. A person who is familiar with "the lay of the land" from Wolfeborough to Gilman ?- ton will not be surprised at the reluctance of the inhabitants of the Gore to opening a road more than fifteen miles in length over such a surface. The public demand for such a highway, however, rendered the sacrifice imperative.
The history of these old-time roads is for many reasons most interesting. Ossipee road, because of its importance as a thor- oughfare, not only to Wolfeborough, but to the county and even beyond, is, however, entitled to considerable attention.
The road leading from Ossipee Corner to Wolfeborough Center was laid out Nov. 9, 1866, by the joint action of the selectmen of the town of Wolfeborough and Ossipee on the petition of the following persons ; viz., John L. Peavey, John M. Brackett, Moses Varney, George W. Sawyer, Augustus J. Varney, Isaiah Wiggin, Thomas Rust, Alvah Bickford, John K. Steele, Charles F. Parker, John T. Furber, George Y. Furbur, Joseph L .. Nudd, James J. Randall, Eleazer D. Barker, Alpheus Swett, Alvah S. Libbey, John R. Swett, George Keniston, Levi T. Haley, J. W. Goodwin, Charles H. Jenness, Richard R. Davis, Charles E. Stackpole, Charles H. Hersey, Lorenzo Horne, Thomas Britton, John L. Wiggin, Alex. H. Durgin, George F. Horne, E. W. Ricker, George F. Jenness, Sylvester F. Twombly, Charles P. Rendall, William B. Rendall, Henry Lucas, James Bresnehan, George H. Wiggin, Joseph Varney, Daniel Horne, John B. Waldron, of Wolfeborough, Joseph Q. Roles, Sanborn B. Carter, Isaac Thurs- ton, John C. Bickford, Loammi Hardy, George W. Tibbetts, Rufus F. Stillings, William H. Dame, Luther Young, John Clark, of Ossipee.
The bearings and distances were as follows :-
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Commencing at the intersection of the two roads leading from Ossipee Corner to Water Village near the dwelling of Loammi Hardy and running over the Pitman road (so called) fifty-seven rods, thence south nine degrees west one rod from the center of the road to land of Elisha P. Allen, thence same course five rods over land of said Allen to land of Joshua Brooks, thence same course twenty rods over land of said Brooks to a stake, thence south sixteen degrees west forty rods over land of said Brooks to a stake, thence south twenty-five degrees west thirty-six rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Brooks to a maple tree, thence south thirty-nine degrees west four rods over land of said Brooks to land of the heirs of Asa Pitman, thence south thirty-seven and one-half degrees west twenty-eight rods over land of said heirs to a stake, thence south forty-two degrees west forty rods over land of said heirs to a stake, thence south forty-six degrees west thirty rods over land of said heirs to land of Luther Young, thence same course four rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Young to a stake, thence south fifty degrees west twenty-two rods twenty links over land of said Young to land of said heirs of Asa Pitman, thence same course fifty-four rods over land of said heirs to a stake, thence south sixty- four degrees west twenty-six rods over land of said heirs to a stake, thence south sixty-six degrees west forty-two rods twelve and one-half links over land of said heirs to land of Loammi Hardy, thence same course twenty-two rods over land of said Hardy to Wolfeborough town line and land of John Tebbetts, Jr., thence south fifty degrees west twelve rods over land of said Tebbetts to a stake, thence south thirty- six and one-half degrees west eight rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Tebbetts to a birch tree, thence south thirty nine degrees west eight rods over land of said Tebbetts to a birch tree, thence south fifty-four and one-half degrees west twelve rods over land of said Teb- betts to a stake, thence south forty-one degrees west thirteen rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Tebbetts to a stake, thence south fifty-three and one-half degrees west seventeen rods ten links over land of said Tebbetts to a stake, thence south thirty-six and one-half degrees west eleven rods over land of said Tebbetts to land of Mrs. Clarissa Merrill, thence south forty degrees west nine rods over land of said Mrs. Merrill to land of Thomas Nute and A. J. Drew, thence same course seven rods over land of said Nute and Drew to a stake, thence south twenty-nine and one-half degrees west fifteen rods eight links to land of W. P. Horne, thence south twenty-one degrees west twelve rods over land of said W. P. Horne to a stake, thence south sixteen and one-half degrees west eight rods twelve and one-half links over land of W. P. Horne to a stake, thence south forty-eight and one-half degrees west fifteen rods twelve and one-half links over land of said W. P. Horne to land of said Nute and Drew, thence south thirty-four degrees west
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
nine rods over land of said Nute and Drew to land of Mrs. Sarah Nute, thence south thirty-seven degrees west seventeen rods twelve and one- half links over land of said Nute to a white birch tree, thence south twenty-six and one-half degrees west ten rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Nute to a stake, thence south forty and one-half de- grees west ten rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Mrs. Nute to a stake, thence south fifty-one degrees west fourteen rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Nute to a stake, thence south eighty- three degrees west nineteen rods over land of said Nute to a stake, thence north eighty-six degrees west seven rods nine links over land of said Nute to land of said W. P. Horne, thence same course forty-one rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Horne to the south end of a stone wall in the field, thence north eighty-four degrees west thirty rods over land of said Horne to the road leading by the dwelling house of said Horne, thence same course west three rods over said road to land of John E. Abbott, thence south seventy-four degrees west twenty rods over land of said Abbott to a stake, thence south eighty- five and one-half degrees west twenty-four rods over land of said Abbott to a maple tree, thence north seventy-seven degrees west seven rods over land of said Abbott to the road leading from Wolfeborough by Water Village to Tuftonborough, thence same course four rods twelve and one-half links across said road to land of Andrew B. Tebbetts, thence south eighty-four and one-half degrees west eighty-one rods over land of said Tebbetts to a stake, thence south sixty-five and one-half degrees west seventeen rods over land of said Tebbetts to land of Joseph R. Haines, thence same course twenty rods over land of said Haines to land of James Young, thence same course ten rods seventeen links over land of said Young to a stake, thence south sixty-three and three-fourths degrees west forty-four rods over land of said Young to a stake, thence south fifty-one and one-half degrees west twenty-seven rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Young to land of James Bickford, thence south thirty-one degrees west twenty-six rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Bickford to a stake, thence south thirteen de- grees west fourteen rods over land of said Bickford, to land of William T. Dorr, thence same course forty-seven rods over land of said Dorr to a stake, thence south seventeen and one-half degrees west forty-two rods over land of said Dorr to a stake, thence south one and one-half degrees east forty-five rods over land of said Dorr to land of John K. Pike and Albert Bennett, thence south fifteen degrees east thirty-six rods nine links over land of said Pike and Bennett to a stake, thence south nine degrees east nineteen rods over land of said Pike and Bennett to a stake, thence south fifteen and one-half degrees east twenty rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Pike and Bennett to land of Isaac Wil- ley, thence same course nineteen rods seven links over land of said Wil-
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
ley to a stake, thence south seven degrees east twenty-eight rods ten links over land of said Willey to land of Levi Philbrick, thence south seven degrees west twelve rods sixteen links over land of said Philbrick to land of Joseph R. Haines, thence same course ten rods twenty links over land of said Haines to a stake, thence south four degrees east six rods six links over land of said Haines to a stake, thence same course three rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Haines to a birch tree, thence south nine degrees west three rods seventeen links over land of said Haines to a small spruce tree, thence south forty-two degrees west nine rods six links over land of said Haines to a hemlock tree, thence south thirty-four degrees west eight rods four links over land of said Haines to a stake, thence south sixteen and one-half degrees east nine rods twenty links over land of said Haines to a hemlock stump, thence south seven degrees east seven rods twelve and one-half links to a spruce tree, thence south forty-six degrees east six rods four links over land of said Haines to land of said Albert Bennett, thence same course one rod and nine links over land of said Bennett to a maple tree, thence south thirty degrees east seven rods twenty links over land of said Ben- nett to a cherry tree, thence south ten degrees east eleven rods twelve and one-half links over land of said Bennett to a maple tree, thence south one degree east eight rods over land of said Bennett to a stake, thence south seventeen and three-fourths degrees west sixty rods over land of said Bennett to the mill road, thence south nine degrees west one rod twelve and one-half links across the mill road to land of Isaac Willey, thence same course seventy-six rods over land of said Willey to land of John J. Chamberlain, thence same course seventeen rods over land of said Chamberlain to the road leading by the town house in said Wolfeborough and at a point in the road thirteen rods northeasterly of the dwelling-house of Sally Nute, thence over the road from said Sally Nute's dwelling-house leading from Dimon's Corner in Wolfeborough to Wolfeborough Bridge in said Wolfeborough five hundred and fifty-one and one-half rods to a hub in said road opposite the town house in said Wolfeborough.
The line above described is to be the middle of the highway, and the highway is to be four rods wide with the exception of fifty- seven rods on the Pitman road in said Ossipee above referred to and five hundred sixty-four and one-half rods on the road leading from Dimon's Corner in Wolfeborough to Wolfeborough Bridge in said Wolfeborough as above described, and which two said pieces of road are to be as they now are.
.
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Following is the award of land damages :-
"We, the selectmen of Ossipee and Wolfeborough, acting joint- ly do award to the owners of land taken for said highway on said route the following sums to be paid by said towns respectively :
Elisha Allen of Ossipee. $50.00
Joshua Brooks of Ossipee. 427.12
Luther Young of Ossipee. 27.00
Ann Pitman of Ossipee. 385.75 Loammi Hardy of Ossipee 22.00
John Tebbetts of Wolfeborough. 69.50
Clarissa Merrill of Wolfeborough. 21.50
Thomas Nute and Andrew Drew of Wolfeborough 35.22 Sarah M. Nute of Wolfeborough.
89.36
Woodbury P. Horne and A. A. Horne of Wolfeborough.
252.12
John E. Abbott of Wolfeborough 147.00
Andrew B. and John Tebbetts of Wolfeborough
229.50
Joseph R. Haines of Wolfeborough.
116.37
James and Charles W. Young of Wolfeborough 184.96
James Bickford of Wolfeborough. 70.00
William T. and Nancy H. Dorr of Wolfeborough. 368.50 John K. Pike and Albert Bennett of Wolfeborough. 75.00 Isaac Willey of Wolfeborough 222.46
Levi Philbrick of Wolfeborough. 28.45
Albert Bennett of Wolfeborough 198.45
John J. Chamberlain of Wolfeborough 40.37
Land damages. $2,030.26
The distance of road laid out in Ossipee, including the Pitman road fifty-seven rods, is four hundred and thirty-two rods. The distance in Wolfeborough from the town line to Water Village road is three hundred and seventy-four rods, and from that point to the intersection of the road leading from Wolfeborough to North Wolfeborough seven hundred and sixty-four rods. The
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
distance from the site of the former town meeting-house in Wolfe- borough to the present meeting-house at Ossipee Corner is almost precisely seven miles, while the newly constructed road connecting the two towns wants only eighty-seven rods of being five miles.
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