History of old Chester [N. H.] from 1719 to 1869, Part 4

Author: Chase, Benjamin, 1799-1889
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Auburn, N.H.
Number of Pages: 808

USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of old Chester [N. H.] from 1719 to 1869 > Part 4

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In making the plan, the outlines were drawn as near as I could from these surveys. I then made an examination of Candia lines, in respect to the lines of the lots, and made extensive examinations and some surveys in respect to roads, etc., and have availed myself of my own surveys and those of Stephen Chase, Esq., to make corrections, but mathematical accuracy is not claimed. It has been a very perplexing job to construct the map, for many times when an alteration was made to correct one place it in- jured one or two more.

It is, after all, what the lawyers would call a " chalk," but it gives a good general idea of the situation of the lots, of the roads and the early settlers.

PROPRIETARY HISTORY.

THE LAYING OUT OF THE LOTS.

We have seen that the Home Lots, of twenty acres each, were laid out in the fall of 1719, before, so far as I have seen, that they had obtained any grant of the land. They laid out small lots, so as to live compact and be safer from the Indians. The settlement seems to have commenced at Walnut Hill and Hall's Village, and the first burying- ground was near " Three Camp meadow." But it seems that they had an idea that the "town," the " centre," was to be at its present location, and it was laid out on rather a magnificent scale, for in laying the lots they reserved a ten- rod way northwest and southwest one mile, and northeast half a mile to Shackford's, and southeast as far as the lots extended, to near where G. W. Everett now lives.

In laying out the road from Sandown by Asa Wilson's, July 5, 1731, the selectmen allowed " Every one of these men to take up six Rods of the ten Rod Highway that Lyeth at the southend of their home Lotts." The lots were laid out in squares, and reserves left for roads, many of them traveled a long time before there was any formal, legal laying out. What induced them to make the offsets in their squares of lots and reserves is incomprehensible to me. The idea of Haverhill line running northwest gave that direction to the lots. The home lots, when laid out in 1719, were not recorded in the book, if any record was kept. There was afterwards a committee chosen to renew the bounds of the several lots when called upon by the owners. Only a portion of them were re-surveyed, and those returns were made by the committee on separate sheets of paper, and were not recorded until December 1, 1794, when Capt. John Emerson and Stephen Chase, Esq., were chosen a committee "to record, in regular order, in the Proprietors' book all the Home lots they can find on old records, and other matters that appear to concern the Proprietors." They did it, and most of the home lots are dated about 1740.

HISTORY OF CHESTER.

At a meeting of the proprietors held March 16, 1720-21,

" Voted, That ye Lott layers lay out a Second Division of 100 acres each Lott, and such Highways as they See meet."

These lots were never laid out.

At a meeting of the proprietors of the town of " Checher," held February 5, 1721-2,

" Voted, That the Second Division be two hundred acres instead of 100 before voted."

This was not laid out at that time.

THE ADDITIONAL LOTS OF FIFTY ACRES.

At a general meeting of the proprietors of Chester, held the 28th day of March, 1723 (the first under the charter),

" Voted, That the Comons be laid out in fifty Acre lotts for an Addition to the home lots; and what is wanting to accomodate all the home lotts, to have as many of the 200 acre lotts divided into 50 acre lotts as will Compleat it."

These additional lots were laid out nearly all around the home lots, extending from Sandown and Derry to near the Long meadow, and it was voted that " The Proprietors draw for their addition on the same Quarter of their home lott Lyes." They were laid out in 1724.

THE OLD HUNDREDS OR NORTH DIVISION.

This division includes the town of Raymond. "At a meeting of ye proprs of the town of Chester, held at the house of Sam1 Ingalls, 10th of June, 1728,

"Voted, That there Shall be a Division of Land Layd out, Containing 100 acres to Each originall prop" which is halfe ye Second Division which was formerly Voted to be 200 acres. It is to be understood that this Division of land Shall be laid out in parish order, viz, beginning on Exeter head line where Nottingham line Divides between them &

PROPRIETARY HISTORY.

us, & so Extending five Miles upon Each line or so farr as to Make up Every full prop" 100 acres to his Share."

" Voted, m" Ichabod Roby m' Nath. Heley m' Jacob Gilman

m' Eben' Derbern

mr Ephraim Heselton

to be a Committee to lay out

Je 100 acre lotts."

" Nov. 27th, 1728. The wages of the committee set,- Ichabod Robie 15 Shillings, the rest 10 Shillings per day."

The report of the committee was accepted Nov. 19, 1729.

Before these lots, called the Old Hundreds or North Division, were laid out, there was a mill built at Freetown, and a road made from there to Exeter line. Some of the lots were bounded on the mill pond, others on the " Easterly side of ye highway yt leads to the aforesd mill pond." There was one tract of about forty acres where the mill stood, and another of about sixty acres between the 66th and mill pond, not lotted. There were a great many votes passed, and committees raised, about these tracts, and some- thing was sold to James Wilson and Robert Wilson, and the residue was finally sold at auction, Sept. 6, 1774, to Capt. John Underhill for eleven dollars; he to have no claim on the proprietors if he did not recover any thing. The lots appear more regular on the old plans than they lay in reality. The lots in the twelfth range, the one bordering on Chester, were not bounded at the south end, and were supposed by the early purchasers to extend south to the reserve where the road now is, and they settled there. The proprietors called them to account, and in 1773, the owners employed Nathan Lane to survey these lots, who decided that the lots extended only to where Raymond line now is, forty-three rods north of the road. In June, 1773, the proprietors chose a committee to prosecute the owners of these lots unless they would settle, and the first of October, 1773, they voted to John Lane the land against Nos. 126 and 128 for twenty-four shillings ; to Joshua Hall, against No. 129 for twelve shillings ; to John Lane, Jr.,

HISTORY OF CHESTER.

against No. 130 for twelve shillings ; to Abigail Smith, against No. 127 for twelve shillings ; to the owners of 123, 125, 127, 131 and 132, twelve shillings each.

THE MEADOWS.

Cheshire abounded in beavers that built dams across the various streams, which, by flowing killed the growth, if there was any before there were beavers; and when the hunters killed the beavers, the dams went down and the land came into grass, which was of great use to the carly settlers. Beaver ponds and beaver dams are frequently mentioned in the records.

At a meeting of the proprietors held Feb. 5, 1721-2,

" Voted, That the Lott Layers survey the principal mead -. ows and Reserve them out of the Second Division for the Publick use untill the Proprs See Cause to Divide 'en."

April, 1727, it was

" Voted, That The Inhabitants, and those That are com- ing to Settle, divide ye Cutting of ye meadows in Equal Proportion among Themselves for ye Year Ensuing; and that none Cutt any before the Last day of July on the penalty of 20s. to be paid by each person for Every day yt he or they shall offend, to be paid to the Selectmen for ye use of the Poor of the Town."

March, 28, 1728, it was

" Voted, That there shall be a Division of Meadow to Every Right according as it will hold out in quantity & quality, according to ye goodness or badness of ye Meadow, to make every man's share as Equal as can be."

The meadows were in all parts of the town from Three Camp meadow to the White Hall mill and Derryfield. The most prominent one commenced just below the Con- gregational church in Auburn, and united with the north branch just back of the burying-ground, and extended to Londonderry line, and was the "Long Meadow"; hence that part of the town was called until recently the "LONG MEADOWS."

PROPRIETARY HISTORY.

SECOND PART OF THE SECOND DIVISION.

At an adjourned meeting held December 11, 1735, it was. " Voted, That there shall be a Division of Land of one hundred acres Laid out to Each full Proprietor's Share for Quantity and Quality, beginning at Kingston Line and so filling up the Vaqueney between the additional Lotts and the north division Hundred acre Lotts, so Extending Round the additional Lotts, which is one half, and to Compleat the second division formerly voted to be two hundred acres. " Voted, Capt Sam" Ingalls, Insin Jacob Sergent, Eph- raim Haseltine, Sam1 Emerson, and James Campbell, be the Committee to Lay out the same."

This division was laid out in 1736, and fills the space between the additions and Old Hundreds, and extends into Candia and Auburn to the neck of the pond.

THE THIRD DIVISION.

At a meeting held Jan. 17, 1738-9,

" It was put to vote whether to Lay out another division or divisions of Land. Past in the negative."

At an adjournment of this meeting May 16, 1739,

" Voted, That the Vote Relating to Laying out another Division or Divisions of Land, that was Passed in the neg- ative, shall be Reconsidered."

And it was

" Voted, That there shall be a third division of Land Laid out for Each full Proprietor's Share, Containing Eighty acres ; bounding the same Easterly on the old Hundred acres Called the north division, Northerly on Nottingham Line, and Southerly on the Second part of the second divis- ion, so Extending Westerly to Compleat the same ; the Com- mittee having Power if they meet with mean Land to give reasonable allowance, and if they meet with Exceeding mean land to leave it undivided.

" Voted, That Lt. Ebenezer Dearborn, Insin Jacob Sar- gent and Mr. James Campbell to be the Committee to Lay out the sª third Division of Land.

" Voted, That Sam1 Emerson be Sirvaior to assist to Lay out the sª third Division of Land; but if by Sickness or

HISTORY OF CHESTER.

otherwise he be disabled, the Committee to Provide sum other Sirvaior as to them shall appear needful; and for Each Lott shall be Paid fourteen Shillings before the Lotts be drawn, by the Proprietors Respectively."

This division lies in Candia and the lots are more regular on the old plans than they are in reality, though it is pre- sumed the committee did not meet with any exceedingly mean, or even mean land.

What was the inducement to lay out the upper end of the first range at such an angle, I cannot explain. The upper lot, instead of N. 29° E., is with the present variation of compass, N. 68° E. This division lay entirely in Candia.

THE FOURTH DIVISION.

At a meeting March 27, 1745,

" Voted, That Capt. Jolin Tolford, Lieut. Thomas Wells & Capt. Sam1 Ingalls be a Committee to lay out another Division Containing 60 Acres to cach full Proprietor's share : considering the Quality, If it don't exceed 120 acres to a Lott.

" Voted, That the Aforesa Committee for Laying out cach Lott shall have three shillings Lawful money to be paid to them by the Proprietors.

" Voted, That the aforesd Committee shall lay out the aforesª Division of land & make return to the Proprictors by the first day of Decembr next."

The return is dated 1746.

The Fourth Division lay partly in Auburn, but mostly in Manchester and Hooksett.

FIFTH DIVISION.

At a meeting held December 28, 1749,

" Voted, That the Remainder of the Common Lands in this town Shall be Divided and Laid out and Called the fifth Division.

" Voted, That Messrs. William Crafford, Anthony Towl and John Tolford shall be the Committee to lay out the fifth Division of Lands agreeable to the foregoing Vote, and

PROPRIETARY HISTORY.

to Lay it out for Quantity and Quality as near as they Can, So that Every Proprietor may have their equal Proportion as near as may be, and as soon as may be."

The return is dated 1752.

The Fifth Division lay between the Fourth Division and Allenstown line in Hooksett.

SIXTH DIVISION.

The vote for laying out the Sixth Division was passed Nov. 9, 1772. The lots were called ten acres each. The committee were John Tolford, John Underhill and William Crafford, who made their return June 7, 1774. This Divis- ion was made up of tracts of undivided land, and of super- numerary lots in the other divisions in all parts of the town.

THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUT. GOVERNOR'S FARMS.

It has been seen that the committee for managing the prudential affairs of the proprietors of the Chestnut Country, April 25, 1720, voted a home lot and a farm of five hundred acres to the Governor and the same to the Lieut. Governor. This was also a condition of the Charter.

Gov. Shute's home lot lay on the southeast side of the Derry road, southwest from the meeting-house. His farm was bounded on the southwest by Pennacook path, sixty- four rods, extending from the farm of Jacob Chase south- east by east, and extending back nearly two miles. To whom it was originally sold I have not learned. There is recorded in the Rockingham Records, Book 21, page 443, an indenture dated 1735, in which Samuel Shute, of the Parish of St. James, Westminster, England, gives to his nephew, John Ycomans, of the same place, all his lands in Chester, Nottingham, Rochester, Bow, Barnstead and else- where. It is made in two parts and certified by the Lord Mayor of London, and the great seal affixed.

A power of attorney was made by Yeomans to William Shirley, Richard Waldron, John Boydel, Samuel Ingalls, Ephraim Haselton, Samuel Emerson, Hugh Montgomery

HISTORY OF CHESTER.

and John Morrison, to enter and take possession in his name. Dated April 21, 1736 ; July 1, 1736, proved in the Inferior Court of Boston ; June 18, 1736, John McMur- phy, John Calf, John Boydel, Samuel Ingalls and Ephraim Haselton entered and took formal possession.

Yeomans brought an action of ejectment against Eliz- abeth Underhill (Sampson's widow), in September, 1738, who appeared and entered a disclaimer.

Gov. Wentworth's home lot lay from the meeting-house to Shackford's Corner, and was sold by him to Rev. Moses Hale, May, 1730. Mr. Hale sold to Rev. Ebenezer Fiagg two home lots, September 22, 1736. The corner was about eight rods north of the meeting-house. Jabez French bought five rods of the ten-rod way, and James Varnum five rods against his lot.

Gov. Wentworth's farm was laid out in 1728 in three tracts. Two hundred and fifty acres, nearly the square on the southwest side of the road sontheast of the Congrega- tional church in Auburn, sold to Andrew and Alexander Craig; two hundred acres in the south part of Auburn set- tled by Nathaniel Linn ; fifty acres sold to John Moore on Sandown line.

There were a great many tracts laid out as amendments of lots and compensation for highways. Many tracts were sold to pay debts. One hundred and fifty acres lying on Oswego brook, from Clark's mill to the Oswego mill, ex- tending back northeast, were sold to the Rev. Moses Hale, to pay arrears of his salary. Land was sold to the Coch- rans to pay arrears for building the meeting-house, and a gratuity for their loss in building it. A large tract was sold Robert Boyes, Esq., on which is the Head tavern in Hooksett.

Joseph Brown, Samuel Gault, a Knox and Andrew Octterson settled at the upper end of the town on land not lotted, and claimed by the proprietors, and long lawsuits were carried on, commenced in 1749, some of which were carried before the Governor and Council as a court of ap- peal, but were finally settled by the individuals purchasing

PROPRIETARY HISTORY.

and quieting their titles. June 19, 1753 it was " Voted, that an agreement be made with Messrs. Gallt, Knox, Brown and their associates that the proprietors have Sued, of the northwest part of the town, they paying the Pro- prietors of Chester Sixty pounds old tenor in part pay of our Charges, and Sink their own charges and pay twenty Shillings per acre for their Land they are Sued for, that they have Deeds of, according as what they were laid out for in Quality by them." They probably settled under title from Suncook, which was granted by the General As- sembly of Massachusetts, as Tyngstown, was granted. The deeds were dated 1754. The proprietors kept during nearly the whole time of their corporate existence equiva- lent to a standing committee to prosecute trespassers, and held hardly a meeting without passing a strong vote on the subject. When the Rev. Mr. Flagg was settled the pro- prictors gave him, by way of settlement, two hundred acres, lots No. 20 and 21 in the second part of the second division. The Presbyterians dissented, and in return a large tract was given to Rev. John Wilson :

" That piece of Common Land about the west meadows, bounding southerly on Londonderry line and Easterly and Northerly on Cochran's land and on Governor Wentworth's farm of two hundred acres, northerly on the Highway by the side of the 39th lott and westerly on the 88th and 92ª hundred acre lotts, which Land was set apart for the use of those who dissented against giving away Land. At their, the dissenters request, it is voted and given to the Rev. mr. John Wilson their minister."

CHAPTER III.

THIE ORIGINAL GRANTEES AND THEIR LOTS. .

The grantees of Londonderry were actual settlers, who were on the ground before they procured their charter. The grantees of Chester, on the other hand, were non-resi- dents, very few of whom ever resided in Chester. They may be chiefly placed in three classes : First, the original association for settling the " Chesnut Country," formed at Hampton or Hampton Falls, which included, from the first, some Portsmouth gentlemen like Clement Hughes, Col. Packer, etc., but was mainly composed of residents of Hampton and Hampton Falls, and a few from Exeter and Kingston. A second class consisted of people belonging to Haverhill, Bradford and other towns in that vicinity. Some of them were proprietors or purchasers in Haverhill, and laid some claim to the Chesnut Country, or wished to procure a grant of it, and tried to obtain possession, and were admitted proprietors by desire of the government. A third class were the Governor and Council and their friends, and others in and about Portsmouth. Many of these secured their places in the list of grantees as a mat- ter of personal favor, or by such means as were suspected to have influence, in those days no less than our own. We cannot always be certain that individuals are arranged in their proper classes, though in most cases there is little doubt. Then, some not belonging to either class, and some who were not petitioners, and some were petitioners who were not grantees. The first class had some men known to our day as prominent men, men in public stations ; but

PROPRIETARY HISTORY.

the mass of them and the second class were the substantial yeomanry of their towns-the farmers and mechanics. Their motives were probably various ; some went them- selves as settlers, others settled their sons there, and still others soon sold out their rights, either to make money or to get rid of paying bills without any immediate profit. The third class were induced to take an interest in the grant chiefly from an expectation of realizing a profit from the sale of their lands. But probably their lots fell in such locations as, in many cases, to disappoint their expectations. We will now give some facts obtained in regard to them :

JOSEPH BATCHELDER, JOSIAH BATCHELDER, NATHANIEL BATCHELDER, NATHANIEL BATCHELDER, JR. They were de- scendants of Nathaniel, son of the Rev. Stephen Batchel- der, the first minister of Hampton. Both were early settlers of Hampton and ancestors of a numerous race widely scattered. Nathaniel Batchelder was one of the as- sessors of Hampton Falls in 1719-20, and Nathaniel Batch- elder, Sen., probably the same man, was selectman in 1722-3.

JACOB BASFORD. (See " Early Settlers.")

MOSES BLAKE, PHILEMON BLAKE, SAMUEL BLAKE. They were all tax-payers in Hampton Falls in 1727, and were descendants of Jasper Blake of Hampton, who died 1673. Philemon and Samuel were petitioners, but Moses was not.

ABRAHAM BROWN and JONATHAN BROWN. They were descendants of John Brown, an early settler of Hampton, whose descendants are numerous and widely scattered. They were tax-payers in Hampton Falls in 1727. Numer- ous persons of the name of Brown, and probably of the same origin, are found in ancient Chester.

AMOS CASS was a tax-payer in Hampton Falls in 1727. He was a descendant of John Cass, an early settler of Hampton, who was selectman in 1653, '7, '8, and in 1672 and '5 to his death in June, 1775. In 1727 five of the name, Amos, Ebenezer, Jonathan (ancestors of the Candia fami- lies), Samuel and Joseph, Jr. (ancestor of Gen. Lewis Cass), paid taxes in Hampton Falls.

IIISTORY OF CHESTER.

RICHARD CLIFFORD and ZACHARY CLIFFORD. They were tax-payers in Kingston in 1727, and Richard in Exeter the same year. Zachariah Clifford's home lot was No. 53. The north end was sold to Lemuel Emerson by Samuel Clifford of Chester, tanner, in 1734. Peter Clifford had children recorded in Chester from 1739 to 1750. Several Cliffords, probably descendants, were early settlers in the northeast part of Candia.

REV. THEOPHILUS COTTON was minister of Hampton Falls, son of the Rev. John Cotton of Plymouth, grandson of the Rev. John Cotton of Boston, nephew of the Rev. Seaborn Cotton of Hampton ; born 1682, graduated at Harvard in 1701, ordained 1712, and died August 12, 1726.

JOHN CRAM was selectman of Hampton Falls in 1722, tax-payer in 1727; a descendant of old John Cram of Exeter, afterwards of Hampton. Three descendants each had a son John of a suitable age to be a grantee of Chester.

EBENEZER DEARBORN and JONATHAN DEARBORN. (Sec " Early Settlers.")

THOMAS DEAN. His name appears in a deed as of Exeter.

ABRAHAM DRAKE and NATHANIEL DRAKE were sons of Robert Drake, an early settler of Hampton. Abraham was ancestor of the eminent antiquarian, S. G. Drake of Boston.

BENONI FOGG, JAMES FOGG. Benoni was a tax-payer in Hampton Falls in 1727, and James Fogg in Hampton in 1732. They were descendants of Samuel Fogg of Hamp- ton, 1650, who died in 1672, leaving sons, Samuel, Daniel and James.

JACOB GARLAND was on the tax-list in Hampton Falls in 1727, and at Hampton in 1732; was taxed for a saw and grist-mill. He was a descendant of John Garland who went to Hampton previous to 1653.

WILLIAM GODFREY was a tax-payer in Hampton in 1732; a descendant of Dea. William Godfrey who was of Hamp- ton in 1651 and died there 1671.

WILLIAM HEALEY was of Hampton Falls, and moved to Chester. (See " Early Settlers.")

NATHL. HEALEY, brother of William, and great grand-

PROPRIETARY HISTORY.

father of the Hon. S. D. Bell's wife, though not a grantee, was one of the society, and early became a proprietor and was one of the lot-layers of the North Division. He was of Hampton Falls, where his descendants still reside.

THOMAS LEAVITT was a tax-payer in Hampton Falls in 1727 a descendant of Thomas Leavitt who signed the Exeter combination in 1639, and removed to Hampton before 1644. He left several sons, among wliom was Thomas, but the grantee was probably a grandson.

SAMUEL MARSTON, THOMAS MARSTON, were tax-payers in Hampton in 1732. Thomas and William Marston were early settlers in Hampton, having had lands assigned them before June, 1640. Both were selectmen several years. Thomas was representative in 1677.

SAMUEL PAGE was probably of Hampton, where the name is on the tax-list of 1732.

JAMES PERKINS. His name not found, though Perkins is a common name in Hampton, Hampton Falls and Exeter. Abraham Perkins was an early settler in Hampton, having land assigned to him before 1740, and was one of the selectmen in 1650, and five other years.

JAMES PRESCOTT, JOHN PRESCOTT, JOHN PRESCOTT, JR., SAML. PRESCOTT. James, John and Samuel were tax-payers in Hampton Falls in 1727, and James was selectman of Hampton in 1718. They were descendants of James Pres- cott of Hampton, spoken of as early as 1669. James mar- ried Mary, daughter of Joseph Sanborn, 1717. James and John were sons of the first James, John, Jr., son of Jolm, and Samuel, son of the second James.

ICHABOD ROBIE was of Hampton Falls. (See "Early Settlers.")

ROBERT ROWE and ROBERT ROWE, JR., were tax-payers in Hampton Falls in 1727. Thomas Rowe was of Hampton in 1678, and Richard Rowe, who had a son Thomas, was of Dover in 1650.

BENJAMIN SANBORN, ENOCH SANBORN, EDWARD SANBORN, JERRY SANBORN, JOHN SANBORN, JONATHAN SANBORN, JOSEPH SANBORN, NATHANIEL SANBORN, REUBEN SANBORN. The Rev.

HISTORY OF CHESTER.

Stephen Batchelder had a son-in-law Sanborn, supposed to be John, who died in England leaving two sons, John and William, born about 1620 and 1622, who came over with Mr. Batchelder, and moved with him to Hampton and there settled. They had large families and are the ances- tors of all the Sanborns in the country, so far as is known. The oldest, called Lt. John, had eleven children, and died Oct. 20, 1692; and the second called Esq. William, had six children, -died Sept. 18, 1692.

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History of old Chester [N. H.] from 1719 to 1869, Part 4

Author: Chase, Benjamin, 1799-1889 Publication date: 1869 Publisher: Auburn, N.H. Number of Pages: 808

Author: Chase, Benjamin, 1799-1889
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Auburn, N.H.
Number of Pages: 808