USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of old Chester [N. H.] from 1719 to 1869 > Part 20
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In 1825, Samuel D. Wason purchased the mills and rebuilt the saw-mill, and in doing some of the work in the old nail-shop it took fire, and the shop and grist-mill were burned. In 1826, Col. Wason built a new grist-mill with two runs of stones. It was said by William Graham, Esq., who had the title of the mills from Col. Wason and settled · the bills, that he paid for seven barrels of New England rum used that summer by Wason's family and help. In 1830 Graham put in an iron cob-cracker, the first in town.
In 1835, Jay T. Underhill and Flagg T. Underhill pur- chased, and built an edge-tool shop with two spiral-vent water-wheels (the first of the kind in this region), one to drive a tilt-hammer and the other to do the grinding and polishing. The tool business was carried on here by dif- ferent individuals,-J. T. Underhill, F. T. Underhill, John S. Brown, Nathaniel Brown and W. W. Leighton, under different firms until 1856, when J. S. Brown sold to John Clarke, W. W. Leighton and Jacob Lufkin, and the tool business was carried on by Leighton and Lufkin ; then by Leighton alone. In 1863, the saw-mill was rebuilt. In 1865, the concern was sold to George G. Griffin, and the edge-tool business ceased there.
CLARK'S SAW-MILL.
This mill was built in 1796, by Deacon William Wilson, Samuel Crombie, and Caleb Hall. It was partially burned twice, and about 1806 sold to John Clark, who repaired it, and about 1814 built a grist-mill. In 1832 the saw-mill was rebuilt. In 1833 a clapboard- and shingle-mill were put into the old grist-mill - the first in Chester. In 1838 a new grist-mill was built. The same year the Oswego dam went away, and carried away a part of the dam and
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244
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
the shingle-mill. In 1866, George P. Clark put in a new water-wheel, and a circular saw for cutting boards.
OSWEGO MILL.
A saw-mill was first built by Robert Wilson, Esq. I have heard my grandfather tell of working on it, I think the year he came to Chester, in 1771. The mill stood a few rods above the present mill. There was probably a considerable period that there was no mill there.
In 1799 James Shirley is taxed for a mill, and also in 1800, and Samuel Shirley for one-fourth and Alexander Shirley for three-fourths of a mill. So probably James built a saw-mill in 1798, and the others a corn-mill in 1799. These mills were a few rods below the present mill. The Shirleys sold to Edward and Stark Ray, in August, 1806.
The one hundred and fifty acres sold by the proprietors to the Rev. Moses Hale, called the " Boston lot," with a heavy growth of timber, went with the mills, and they in- tended to do a large business lumbering, but the embargo, non-intercourse and war so depressed business, that after manufacturing lumber, drawing it to Martin's Ferry, and rafting it to Newburyport, they sold it for eight dollars per thousand. .
About 1819, Edward Ray, who had acquired the whole title, sold to John Clark, and he soon after to John H. Reid, who held it about ten years and sold it to Butterfield Carken, and he to James Davis.
In 1835 Jay T. Underhill purchased, and commenced a dam. A stock company, "The Oswego Mill Company," was formed, a stone dam erected to flow Tower Hill pond (partly for a reservoir for the Blanchard mills), and a saw- mill was built.
In June, 1838, a portion of the dam went away, under- mining and carrying away the mill. The privilege was sold to David and Franklin Howe, who built the dam about two-thirds its original height, and built a saw-mill and shingle-mill, with planing-machine, &c. It is now owned by Mr. E. P. Offut.
245
HISTORY OF MILLS.
THE WHITE-HALL MILL.
The first mill at White Hall, in Hooksett, was built by Major John Tolford, but the precise time is not known. What should induce him to build there is a mystery. The land flowed is a very little lower than the head of Isle Hooksett brook, which passes through Lakin's pond to Head's saw-mill, and the first season the water ran that way, giving him no head. He then built a dam at that end of his pond.
In 1801 Hugh Tolford rebuilt it, and in 1803 or '04 sold to John S. Wheeler, and he soon sold to Captain Daniel Sawyer.
In 1834 Captain Sawyer built a grist-mill and shingle- mill.
HEAD'S SAW-MILL.
The Browns early built a mill below the road, on Isle Hooksett brook. In 1790 Nathaniel Head, Esq., owned three-quarters, and Dr. James Brown one-quarter.
About 1802 Nathaniel Head, Esq., built above the road, and owned the whole mill.
In 1816 or '17 the present canal and wheel-pit were excavated, and a mill built.
THE FACTORY MILL IN HOOKSETT.
The first saw-mill at the falls was built by Thomas Coch- ran, of Bow, in 1787, which was carried away by a freshet. Cochran died in 1791, and it was sold to Rufus Harriman, and he sold to William Reside and Isaac Rowel, who built two mills, which they owned in 1803. William Reside was drowned in the falls.
William Otterson bought, and sold to the Hooksett Manufacturing Company in 1823, and they rebuilt, and built a grist-mill. The Hooksett Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1823, and was composed of Messrs. John Bell, Samuel Bell, Isaac Hill and Richard H. Ayer, who erected a cotton-mill, forty by eighty feet, three stories,
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
exclusive of basement and attic, and run at first by tub- wheels.
In 1831 they blasted a canal through the ledge, put in breast-wheels, and rearranged the machinery. It was eventually merged with the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company.
About 1789 Nathaniel Martin and Laban Harriman built a saw-mill above where the Mammoth road crosses Bush- nel's or Lousy brook. There was a saw-mill afterwards built lower down on the same stream, at what was called the "Smoke House," and was once owned by George Manter.
About 1790 there was a saw-mill built on the same stream, above the road, near Martin's Ferry, by a man by the name of Thompson, for John Stark, a son of General Stark.
BENJAMIN HALL, son of Obededom, of Candia, built a mill on the stream from Beech-Hill pond, just above Chester turnpike. He owned it when Chester turnpike was built, in 1805, and several years after. It passed into the hands of James Sargent, and went down. About 1822 or '23 it was rebuilt by a Mr. Greer, and, I believe, afterwards burnt.
Lieut. Joseph Whittier built a saw-mill on Dalton's . brook, which empties into the river above Martin's Ferry, about 1810.
THE MURRAY SAW-MILL.
The precise time when this mill was built, or who built it, is not known. The earliest tradition I have about it is that Captain John Wason, born in 1764, told that when he was a lad or young man, the owners met to take down the old mill. After they had completed the job, they tried to see who could lift the crank, weighing one hundred and sixty or one hundred and seventy pounds, the highest, at arm's end. He said that Benjamin Eaton could easily throw it over his head, and that Major Jesse Eaton was the next strongest, but could only get the crank about as high
247
HISTORY OF MILLS.
as his breast. The story has been told that Mr. Eaton threw it over his head with his teeth, but that is rather apocryphal. The present mill was built in 1830.
HOOK'S MILL.
Israel Hook, or Hawke, owned lot No. 116, 2d P., 2d D., as early as 1796, and it was taxed to him until 1807. He probably built a saw-mill and grist-mill that year, and put his son James T. Hook there, as he was taxed for two mills in 1808. Phincas Hook owned an interest in the property. He sold to Samuel Sargeant and Jesse Eaton.
James T. Hook exchanged places with Samuel Hook in 1818. The mills were then owned by him and his son-in- law, Sebastian Spofford. The mills were burnt in 1825, and rebuilt. Abraham Hook and H. G. Smith, the present owners, have a circular saw, for sawing boards.
MOSES PRESTON'S MILL.
Moses Preston built a saw-mill in 1799, on the stream leading through the spruce swamp to Dearborn's saw-mill. It stood on additional lot No. 75, near the southwest end, and near Chester turnpike. It was owned by John Melvin and Samuel Underhill, Jr., in 1808, afterwards by Lt. Jacob Elliot, then by Daniel French, Esq.
Lieut. Joseph Hill built a saw-mill on the Long Meadow brook, about half a mile below the main road, in 1801.
Lieut. Josiah Underhill built a corn-mill on the .small branch of the Long Meadow brook on his farm, in 1812. In 1832, his son, Jesse J. Underhill, converted it into an edge-tool shop, with tilt-hammer, grinding, polishing, &c. It was burnt in 1841, and rebuilt.
Deacon E. H. Kelly built a saw-mill in 1812; rebuilt by his son Ephraim Kelly in 1833.
CHESTER STEAM-MILL.
In 1847 a stock company was formed, and a steam saw- mill and grist-mill, with two runs of stones, were built on
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
the old Lt. Dearborn place, near the Derry road, at an ex- pense of about fourteen thousand dollars. It proved an unprofitable speculation, and after disposing of some por- tions, the residue was sold to the Amesbury Manufacturing Company, and removed.
PORTER AND HEATH'S STEAM-MILL.
In 1849, Porter and Heatlı, of Haverhill, Mass., pur- chased additional lot No. 30, which had a heavy growth of timber on it, also some other land, and erected a saw-mill with a single saw, and also a gang, and light stones for grinding corn, at an expense of nine thousand five hundred dollars. After working up the timber at little or no profit, the mill was sold and carried to Alton Bay.
MILLS IN CANDIA.
The first mill in Candia was built by William Turner, at the Village, and was a saw-mill, and stood where the grist- mill now stands, above the road. In 1756, Jona. Blunt sold to Winthrop Sargent " one-eighth of a sawmill on lot No. 35, 3 D., which he bought of William Turner." When the road was laid out in 1758, it went " at the tail of the sawmill." Joseph Bean built the first grist-mill there, the date not known.
Mr. Elihu B. Cheney carried on cloth-dressing there many years. Asa Ordway purchased a carding-machine and put it into a mill which stood above, back of the church, where there was a saw mill. Mr. Ordway died in 1812, and Mr. Cheney bought the machine and ran it. Charles S. Bagley, of Goffstown, put up a mill below, and sold to Freeman Parker in 1821, who finished it and put in ma- chinery, and did carding and cloth-dressing till 1846, when he sold, and a saw-mill was put in.
EASTMAN AND BEAN'S MILLS.
February, 1756, William Eastman, of Kingstown, deeded to Samuel Eastman, of Kingstown, one quarter of lot No.
249
HISTORY OF MILLS.
78, 3d D., on which a mill was built. In 1760 a road was laid out from the " reserve at Eastman's mill " northeast to the road from Dudley's. In 1760, Samuel Eastman and Samuel Eastman, Jr., had their rates abated on account of having their house and goods burnt. The house stood thirty or forty rods south of the mill. The road they prob- ably traveled to get there was from Chester by Lane's, and the first road into Candia, laid out in 1749, and following upon or near the gore between the old hundreds and third division. David Bean purchased the mill, and probably a house, both of which were destroyed by fire running in the woods. He rebuilt, and the property descended to his son, Dea. Abraham Bean, who built at the Island, the present location, in 1812, and the saw-mill is yet standing.
HALL'S, OR NORTH ROAD MILL.
Obededom Hall was the first settler in the northwest part of Candia, about 1764, and soon after built a saw-mill on No. 42, 3d D., which has been kept up, and owned by the Halls, Browns, and others.
MAPLE-FALLS MILL.
This mill stands on the reserve between fifth and sixth ranges of lots in the third division, on the Oswego brook. Aaron Brown, Benj. Cass, Samuel Morrill, Theo. Clough, Benj. Rowe, Benj. Hubbard, David Brown and Samuel Cass have been proprietors. Date not known.
GENESEE MILL.
This mill is on the stream from Moose meadow to Tower Hill pond, and built by Benj. Hubbard, John Camet, Ste- phen Fifield and Capt. Jona. Brown. Date not known.
PATTEN'S MILL.
There was early a saw-mill built on No. 128, 3d D., on the North Branch stream. The precise time when, and the owners, are unknown, but it has always been owned by a
250
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
company of the neighbors. This is said to be the fifth mill on this privilege. It was built in 1833.
KNOWLES'S OR CASS'S MILL.
Ezekiel Knowles was the first settler, and built a corn- mill on No. 116, 3d D., in' 1777. It was afterwards rebuilt by the Knowles family in 1805, and purchased by Col. Sam- uel Cass. He new-geared in 1830, and his son, J. Q. Cass, again in 1853.
EMERSON'S MILL.
A saw-mill was built before the Revolution by the Emer- sons, on the stream below Knowles's, and rebuilt some twelve rods lower down the stream in 1805 or '6, and an- other one built below the new road by Abraham Emerson and Coffin Moore, with a circular saw, about 1855.
MILLS IN RAYMOND.
FREETOWN MILL.
The Old-Hundred-Acre lots were laid out in 1728, and the 22d and 23d lots bound on the mill-pond, and 31st, 32d, 33d and 34th bound on the " highway that leads to the mill yt stands on Lampereel River." There was therefore a mill, and a road made from it, previous to that time. In July, 1736, Ephraim Gilman, of Exeter, sold to James Campbell, of Chester, one half of all his undivided land in Chester, reserving " The mill and mill-pond At Freetown ; " and in 1769, Nicholas Gilman, who had in 1732 bought Edward Gilman's right, sold land at Freetown to Daniel Robie, and to J. Dudley at the same time. It is probable that the Gil- mans, and perhaps the Dudleys, of Exeter, built the mill and made the road. The mill stood a few rods higher up the stream than the present mill, and the dam was high enough to flow up by the Center to where Horatio Page lives, and the waste water ran a few rods north of the mill, where there was a mill just below the road, which was called the " Outlet mill " in the return of the road in 1759.
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HISTORY OF MILLS.
THE BRANCH MILL.
The road from Chester by the "Branch " to the old Exeter road was laid out in 1748, and it crossed the " N. Branch of Exeter river below the sawmill ;" so there was a mill there previous to that time, but it is unknown who built it or owned it for many years after. It is said that William Todd and perhaps Jethro Batehelder and Stephen Marden were owners. There was a mill there until about 1801, when it was carried away by a freshet.
DUDLEY'S MILL.
Samuel Dudley came from Exeter and settled on No. 87, old hundreds, where Judge John Dudley afterwards lived and built a saw-mill. In 1759 a road was laid out at the request of him and others, from Freetown by the Center, to the " river below Dudley's mill." There has probably been a mill there since that time, and now a very dilapi- dated frame yet stands. Joseph Dudley, a nephew of the Judge, came from Exeter and built a mill on Lamprey river, near where Elias True's mill now is, on No. 89, old hundreds.
JONES'S MILLS.
June 14, 1760, for the convenience of Ephraim Robin- son, Charles Rundlet and John Leavitt, there was a road laid out " Beginning at the outlet of the pond above Jones' mill " which " crossed the brook between the two mills ; " so there were two mills there at that time. John Leavitt lived where they now, 1868, are building a large honse. These were probably Exeter men, and the other two might never have lived in Raymond. I have learned nothing of Jones who gave name to the pond and mill. Clement Dollof lived a little lower down the stream and once owned some share of the mills. He perished in a snow storm February 1, 1794. One of the mills possibly might have been where the Hodgkins mill now is. Now, 1868, pre- paration is being made by blasting to lower the pond, and
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
by raising it four feet to create a power and do an exten- sive lumber business, making boxes, shooks, etc., owned by Moses Nutter and others.
There was a mill on the Lamprey river, below Freetown, called Wallace mill, burnt in 1765 and the rates abated.
John Fullonton and Jonathan Dearborn built a mill on the Patuckaway, on No. 2, old hundreds, called "Stingy Mill " because the liquor fell short at the raising.
Jonas Clay deeded to Cornet Jolin Lane No. 112, old hundreds, with one whole saw-mill and half of another.
Daniel Lane and others had a saw-mill on the Branch brook when the road was laid out in 1772.
Joshua Hall once had a saw-mill on his lot, No. 129, and George S. Smith and Henry H. Lane built a circular saw- mill on the same site in 1868.
CHAPTER XI.
PAUPERISM, RATES OR TAXES, AND MAIL AND STAGE FACILITIES.
I do not propose to give any detailed history of pauper- ism in Chester, but to state a few cases as specimens of what the town was compelled to do. By an act passed May, 1719, it was enacted " That if any person come to so- journ in any town in the province and be there received and entertained by the space of three months, and not having been warned by the constable to leave the place, and the names of such persons, with the time of their abode there, and when such warning was given, returned to the quarter sessions ; such person shall be reputed an inhabitant of such town, and the town be liable to maintain such person. It is also enacted, that any person so warned out, and neg- lecting for fourteen days to remove, may by warrant from the next Justice of the Peace be sent from constable to
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PAUPERISM.
constable unto the town where he properly belongs, or had his last residence, at his own charge, if able to pay the same, or otherwise at the charge of the town sending him." In 1772 Robert Patten is paid for carrying Peter Lurvie's wife and three children to Coös ; but whether by legal pro- cess or not does not appear. There is also a charge " to going to Moses Underhill's in order to find out ye Names of ye People that come into ye long meadows, which was four- teen in Number, and Drawing ye warrants, and committing it to ye Constable, to warn them out of town." Sixteen were warned out by John Patten, and one carried out of town. The pauper laws of one state have never been rec- ognized by the courts of other states, so that Chester could not go into Massachusetts or Vermont to find a residence for paupers. Such was the case of Mrs. Smith, mentioned hereafter.
There is on file a letter dated Dec., 1808, to the clerk of the court, enquiring if from 1782 to 1785 one Hannah Seaver was warned out. Answered in the negative. In the town account for 1809 is a charge, " Paid the town of Enfield for the maintenance, Doctor's bill, and funeral charges of Hannah Seaver, $40.37." This did not prove a very protracted case.
In 1789, Aquila Worthen, of Amesbury, in consideration of certain provisions for house-room, and specific articles for the maintenance of himself and wife, Rebecca Worthen, deeded to his son Stephen a place in Chester, now Auburn. Aquila Worthen lived in Chester one year, and probably was not warned out, and his wife, Rebecca, became a pau- per in 1798, and was supported by the town at a heavy ex- pense until her death in 1819, at the age of ninety-four years.
Joshua Currier, a young man from Sandown, resided in Chester as a hired man, two years. In 1791 he was taxed, and the tax abated on account of minority. In 1792 he was taxed, and probably paid. He was either non compos or deranged, and became a pauper, and a lawsuit was had with Sandown, and in 1796 an execution was paid, of
.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
$50.67 ; and to Alpheus Ferrin for boarding fifteen weeks and four days, $15.57; and he was supported at an expense of about a dollar per week until 1816, when he strayed off, and it was supposed that he died in the woods in the north part of Hooksett, or Allenstown.
I give the following case in detail as a matter of curios- ity, and to show the general fortune of Chester in pauper cases.
State of New Hampshire, } To Capt. Simon Towl, Constable Rockingham, ss. for the town of Chester,
[L. S.] GREETING : -
[L. S.] Sir, You are hereby required, in the name of the [L. s. ] State, forthwith to warn Jeremiah Griffin, Sarah Griffin, his wife, and Rachael Griffin, Lydia Griffin and Nathaniel Griffin, their children, (if they may be found within your precinct) forthwith to depart out of the town of Chester, that they may be no further cost or charge to said town.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Clerk of the Session of the Peace of said County within sixty days of the date. Given under our hands and seals, this twentieth day of July, 1789.
Isaac Blasdel, William White, Selectmen of Chester. Stephen Chase,
State of New Hampshire, { Rockingham. Pursuant to the within pre- cept, I have executed the within warrant according to law. Simon Towle, Constable.
Chester, August 24, 1789.
Chester Paupers, rec'd on file Aug. 26, 1789. Attest, N. Emery, Clerk.
Copy Examined by N. Emery, Clerk.
Griffin and his family became paupers, and it was held that Constable Towle's return was bad, not stating the facts of what he had done, and the town was held chargeable for their maintenance ; and in the town accounts for 1792, '3, and '4, are charges for their maintenance.
James Calfe, a son of John Calfe, made a settlement near the school-house at Auburn Village, and had one or more
4
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PAUPERISM.
children born there. He soon removed to Massachusetts, and a daughter Elizabeth married a man by the name of Smith. She became a widow, and removed to Rochester, N. H., and purchased a tenement, and became poor. At the February term of the Superior Court, 1823, Rochester commenced a suit for the support of Mrs. Smith, who had not been in Chester for fifty or sixty years. Chester proved that Mrs. Smith's property in Rochester was sufficient to give her a residence there, and Chester for once recovered their case.
There are a large number of notices served upon Ches- ter, on file, claiming support of panpers. In 1799, Han- over claims for the support of Mary Wormwood. She and William Wormwood were supported for a long period. In 1818 Londonderry claimed for the support of Sally Aiken. Samuel Aiken, 4th, of Chester, (Peter's son) mar- ried Sally Coffin, of Londonderry, who had inherited a con- siderable property. Between them they soon spent it, and Aiken abandoned his family, and they became paupers. Londonderry commenced an action for their maintenance, which was contested, but was decided against Chester, and in 1820 an execution for $193.49 was paid, and $104.00 for further support. She and two or three children were supported several years. In 1817 Weare claimed for the support of Joshua Willet's children ; Chichester claimed for the support of his wife. In 1835 Deering claimed for the support of Joshua Willet. They were supported a long time.
Previous to the purchase of the farm and almshouse in 1822, it was customary to vendue the board of such of the paupers as were in town to the lowest bidder. They fre- quently fell into poor hands. As a specimen I give some of the conditions of sale, names of paupers, prices and purchasers in 1814, Joseph Blanchard, William Graham and Josiah Worthen, selectmen :
" The purchaser to take them from their present res- idence, supply them with necessary meats and drinks, washing and lodging; the selectmen to furnish clothing.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
If any die, are to be paid in proportions ; the purchaser to find them rum, tobacco and snuff, if needful.
" Paupers' Names.
Purchasers.
Nanny McDuffce, $40 00
Rebecca Worthen, .
51 70
Ruth Badger, 47 00
Mrs. Hodgkins,
56 50
Joshua Currier,
19 50
Thomas Bennet,*
56 00
Nancy Allen,
16 50
Daniel Allen and wife,
Joseph Brown. Joseph Brown. Jesse J. Underhill. not sold, supplied. Nathaniel Head.
Ruth Hills,
29 12
Rachael Sanborn's lame boy,
43 24
Mrs. Sanborn.
Solomon Seavey,
42 51
his daughter Joanna."
At the annual town meeting in Candia, 1824,
" Voted, That the services and keeping of the panpers, twenty-four in number as per list presented by the Select- men, should be let by auction for the term of one year from the 20th of March, instant ; that they should be well used, and kept as well clothed as they now are; and that one or more of the Selectmen should visit them as often as once in each month ; the purchaser to pay all bills incurred on their account, whether in health or sickness, or death, for the above term of time."
They were struck off at $131.50.
In the warrant for holding the annual meeting, March 13, 1821, was an article, "To see if the town will make any alteration in the mode of supporting their poor, by building or purchasing a work-house, and buying land to set those to work who are able to labor ; or take any other measure that shall be thought best when met." It was
" Voted, John Folsom, Esq., Capt. William Graham and Capt. Samuel Aiken be a committee to report on the sub- ject matter of said 14th article at the next annual town meeting."
At the annual meeting, March 12, 1822, the committee made a very elaborate and able report, drawn up by Mr.
* Thomas Bennet was non compos, and was brought from some place unknown and left in Chester in the night, and was a pauper ten or twelve years.
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