History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 22

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 22

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).

In the meanwhile the legal advisers of Hollis, "learned in the law," upon the examination of the charters of the two towns, had expressed the opinion that Nashua river, where it flowed between Hollis and Dunstable, was not in any part of either town, and that neither town was under any obligation to build a bridge across it. This opinion in respect to the law with the proposed remedy is set forth in the following preamble and resolution, adopted at a town meeting of Hollis, Jan. 20, 1773, called to consider the report of their peace ambassadors to Dunstable.

" Whereas it appears by the charters of Dunstable and Hollis that Nashua River is not in either town-That it is highly necessary that a Bridge be erected over said River, but that neither town is

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

obliged by Law to make or maintain the same-and Dunstable manifesting an unwillingness to do anything respecting the Building of a Bridge-therefore, voted that William Nevins be agent of the Town to Petition the Governor and Council and General Assembly that Dunstable and Holles may be connected so that a Bridge may be built over said River."

Again at the annual town meeting of Hollis, in 1773, Col. John Hale, William Nevins and Ensign Stephen Ames were chosen to represent the matter in respect to the bridge, to the governor and council.

This proposal to appeal to the general court, or governor and council, very soon had the effect to render the people of Dunstable more placable, and more ready to accept the treaty of peace offered by Hollis the year before. The choice of evils now presented was another trial of their border troubles before the general court or the acceptance of the proposed compromise, and it is manifest from the doings of a town meeting in Hollis on the ensuing 18th of March, that Dunstable had voted to submit to the least of the two evils. At this meeting Hollis voted "To extend the easterly line of Hollis so far as to include Messrs. Merrill and Jaquith with their Improvements, provided it shall be done without expense to the Town, and that Dea. Boynton, Reuben Dow and Samuel Cumings be committee to agree with Dunstable in respect to Boundaries."

At a town meeting the following 12th of April this committee made a report as follows :-

"We have met the Dunstable Committee and have mutually agreed that the Easterly line of Hollis shall be extended Eastwardly to the following bounds : To begin at a Stake and Stones fifteen Rods below Buck Meadow Falls, at the River, which is Mr. Jaquith's northerly corner ; Thence running southerly in a straight line to a Pine tree on the River Bank which is Mr. Jaquith's southwesterly corner. April 8, 1773."

This report was accepted by the town, and afterwards, in the month of May, 1773, at the joint request of Hollis and Dunstable, the general court passed an act establishing the boundary line between the two towns as so agreed upon, where it has remained undisturbed from that day to this. These terms of settlement, though at first not willingly accepted by Dunstable, were exceedingly favorable to that town, and ought to have been ample satisfaction for the loss of One Pine hill. It is true that Dunstable came out of the controversy short of 500 acres of territory, but in return for this loss, that town was relieved from the burden of aiding in maintaining this bridge in all future time; a charge that has already cost Hollis much more than the value of all the land so annexed.

Returning to highways :- Roads were laid out as follows :--

Dec. 5, 1755, from John Lovewell's to the meeting-house.

May 25, 1755, from John Willoughby's to the country road.

May 25, 1755, from Jonathan Hobart's to the country road. Nov. 14, 1757, from Nathaniel Lawrence's to the country road. Nov. 14, 1757, from David Gilson's to Lund's bridge.

Of the above I can only locate the last, which started at the Runnell's bridge road, about 150 rods northerly from the bridge and was laid out easterly across the town to the Lund bridge at Salmon brook, making a direct route from One Pine hill to the "Centre." This road was doubtless laid out as a "peace offering" to that district, and would seem to have been a very much needed, as it proved to be a very much used, road.

May 31, 1758, from Benj. French's to Joseph Danforth's.

May 31, 1758, from Peter Honey's to a town road.

Mar. 15, 1760, from Widow Honey's to Samuel Searles'.

Apr. 2, 1760, from Danl. Pike's to join a road to the Province line.

Apr. 7, 1760, from about 20 rods north of Wm. Cox, easterly to the Merrimack river.

This last was probably to the ferry at what is now the South Nashua railway station.

Dec. 26, 1760, from David Gilson's to Blood's near the Province line.

Nov. 2, 1763, from Daniel Adams' to Joseph Swallow's.

Jan. 2, 1764, from a little west of Cornelius Danley's to Pelletiah Whittemore's.

Jan. 2, 1764, from Robert Fletcher's stone wall to road over Salmon brook.

Dec. 3, 1764, from new bridge over Nashua river, north and south.

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. II.

This last led from the bridge northerly, up the hill, to Abbot square, and southerly from the bridge, until it met the old road ( Main street. ) The location of the new bridge having been changed, it became necessary to alter the approaches to it.

Oct. 14, 1766, from Merrimack river to town road, crossing Salmon brook.

This road probably commenced at Hamlett's ferry at the lower end of Crown street, thence up Crown street to Arlington street, and around the hill by Brackett's shoe shop, thence by Hollis street and Allds street over the old bridge at Salmon brook and around the "steep banks" to Main street at the junction of Allds and Main streets as now located.

Dec. 22, 1768, altered road from the country road to Jos. Danforth's and Buck meadow, between Benj. French's and Jona. Blanchard's.

March 4, 1771. "Voted that the Road from David Adamses to Longleys Brook by David Gilsons be altered from where it was formerly Laid out and that it be established Where the Selectmen lately laid it out."

"Voted also that the Road from D. Longleys Brook by the lower end of Elez. Fisks meadow that leads to the Widow Bloods House be Discontinued from being a Town Road."

March 2, 1772. "Voted that the Road that leads from the Road, that leads to John Fletchers to where Nathaniel Lawrence Lived be Discontinued."

The above completes the record of highways and bridges up to the time of the commencement of the colonies to assert their independence of the mother-country.

I give the following as displaying the spirit and courage of the men of those days as shown in their public meetings, and especially in one notified in the way this was, it being the last one called "In his Majesty's Name" and held March 6, 1775, at which the town officers were all elected as usual with these additions: a "Committee of Inspection Relative to the Results of the Continental Congress " was appointed. The duty of this committee being to see that none of the people bought or used goods imported from England. A committee was appointed to "Joyn the County Com- mittee " to "Petition the General Assembly of this Province that This Town may be Released from Paying any more Province Tax until they have Prevelidge of Sending a Representation to Represent them in Genl. Assembly and to Do any thing in the affairs according to the Information they shall Receive from the Town." At this meeting various sums, from Is-3d to £1-12-5, amounting to £6-8-II for work "Dun at Nashua river Bridge in the year 1774" were ordered paid to twenty different people.

In the face of these troublous times, the town having the year before voted to raise {18-6 for ammunition and paid the expenses of delegates to the "Grand Continental Congress," the people did not forget the education of their children, for at an adjourned meeting held April 3, 1775, £80 was voted to build a school-house in each of the five districts, and a committee of three in each district to see that the houses were built.

At the next town meeting held March 4, 1776, which was called without reference to any authority, a committee of seven was chosen to attend the "County Congress" and also a

"Committee of Safety." The duty of this latter committee was to concentrate patriotic effort and weed out Tories from the town, if any could be found. Of the latter none were found in the old township.

The State authorities having ordered, the previous year, a census of the people, the committee appointed to perform that duty presented their bill at this meeting which was ordered paid. It being the first on record, made with a view to ascertain the military resources of the state, I give it in full as taken. (Vide Prov. Papers, vol. 7, p. 736.)

" Persuant to the request of the Provincial Congress in New Hampr, we have taken the number of all Inhabitants of the Towne of Dunstable with those gone with the army as Exhibited in the following Schedule :

"Males under 16 years years of age, 215

Males from 16 years of age to 50, not in the army, 88

All males above 50 years of age, 30

Persons gone in the army, 40

All Females, 325

Negroes and Slaves for life, 7

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

" We have also taken an account of all the Powder in perticular men's hands which is 41 1bs.

"Also we find in the Town Stock,

36 "

" Also we find 46 fire arms fit for use & 42 wanting o compleat one for every person capable of using them."

" Dunstable Oct. 2, 1775.

JOSEPH EAYRS

NOAH LOVEWELL DAVID ALLD

Selectmen ."

"To the Honble Comtee of Safety

for the Province of New Hamp."

June 7, 1779, a "Particular highway was laid out from the west side of the country Rode between Jonathan Blanchards and Cyrus Baldwins running westerly about 132 Rods to Spit Brook Road."

The depreciation of the currency was such that March 13, 1780, labor on the highways was rated at "$20.00 per day the best of the year and $16.00 per day after the last of Sept." "£11,000 currency now passing," was voted to be raised by a tax levy this year, "to be layed out in procuring Beef that the Town is called upon for to send into the army." Also £9,400 was voted to be raised to discharge obligations to soldiers, in money or grain. The financial condition of affairs may perhaps be better comprehended by reading the prices paid by the town in March following to Samuel Roby.

"For 3 bushels Rye, £54-0-0 7

66 Turnips & 412 bush. Potatoes, 69-0-0

200 feet Plank for Nashua River Bridge, 2 days labor on 66 66

36-0-0

18-0-0

Amounting to £177-0-0

June 28, 1782. "A Particular Curb or Bridle Rode" was laid out from "Thomas Blanchard Junr's house extending northerly, northeasterly, easterly, northerly, northwesterly, and westerly to the country road, for the benefit of Mrs. Gordon's heirs, in the room of a road that was laid out between the land of said Blanchard and Land of Lieut. Joseph Danforth, which is hereby discontinued."

March 1, 1784. "Voted to allow Thomas Killicut three Shillings for the use of the Canue at Nashua River Bridge."

" Voted to allow those men that workt at giting the Timber out of Nashua River in March, 1783, £0-3-6 Per Day."

"Voted to Pay for the Rum that was Drank when the Timber Was took out of Nashua River."

The bridge was rebuilt this year and Nov. 30, 1786, it was voted to pay sundry persons for plank and labor upon it. Three shillings per day was allowed for labor, and one-half that price for a yoke of oxen.

The first mention of a doctor that I find in the records was April 7, 1788, when Dr. Nathan Cutler was chosen constable, who warned the meeting held May 7, 1788, when the following vote was passed.

" Voted that Dr. John Queens Taxes in Lut David Allds list for 1784 be suspended till further orders."

January 16, 1782, the town paid £92-4-o for repairing the Nashua river bridge and "voted to raise thirteen pounds more to Compleat the Rebuilding Nashua river Bridge last fall."

The first record of any dissatisfaction as to the condition of the highways appears in the following, of date Jan. 2, 1794 :

" Voted to allow Maj. John Lund's account, it being for what he paid by reason of a Complaint against the Town on account of their highways, amounting to 64-15-4."

The bridge over the Nashua river was still troublesome, for we find that April 10, 1794, the town voted to rebuild it, at the place where it formerly stood and in such a manner as the committee of seven appointed to build it should decide, the only stipulation being that men should not be allowed to work out their taxes upon it, but that the committee should employ such men as they thought proper and at as good a lay as they could and it was further voted to raise eighty pounds for its erection.

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

"April 21, 1796. Voted to accept of the Road laid out by the Selectmen the last year from Hollis Line to Hills Ferry with this alteration, that said Road join the Country Road about one rod north of John Snow's barn."

Hill's ferry crossed the Merrimack river about one mile below the Pennichuck brook. The easterly part of the above road, long known as the Hill's Ferry road, from the Amherst road to the Merrimack river, has been but little used for years and a part of it practically abandoned. From the Hollis line to the Amherst road, it is now known as the Pine hill road.

"August 28, 1797. Voted to Accept of the road laid out by the Selectmen from the Road leading from said Dunstable Meeting house to Nathan Fisk to the Road laid from said meeting house to Thomas Pearson's."

This road is now known as the Searles road and started at the Harris road near the house of Phinehas Whitney (now John P. Dane) and extended southeasterly, passing between the house and barn of James Searles (now Otis Searles') across Salmon brook, and joining the middle Dunstable road near the house of Zadock Searles, now owned by Wm. H. Wright.

Sept. 11, 1797, the town accepted a road from the Hollis line to the Amherst road. This is a continuation of Broad street, known as the north Hollis road.

Aug. 27, 1798, the road from Salmon brook to the Nashua river was straightened, leaving it practically as it now is.

January 14, 1799, a road was laid out commencing on land owned by Silas Marshall at the Hollis line near where now is the Hollis station on the Worcester & Nashua railway, thence running southeasterly and easterly to the main Dunstable road near the present residence of Charles F. Tolles. It is marked upon our town map as the Groton road.

On the same day another road was laid out from Follansbee's mills to the Amherst road, which made a continuation of the Blood's crossing road to the Pennichuck brook. This road was first called the Follansbee road, later the Holt road; it now appears on our map as the Thornton road, from the fact that it leads directly, on beyond, to Thornton's ferry.

Aug. 25, 1806, I find that this road was slightly altered, the bridge across Pennichuck brook being called Conant's bridge, and the mill, Conant's mill.

Oct. 19, 1799, a road was laid out commencing four rods west of Theodore French's house and running in a north-westerly direction one hundred and fifty-six rods, to the road leading from Amherst to Boston. There is no trace to-day of such a described road. Also on the same day a road from the above road to the road leading from David Allds' to the Great road, about two rods west of the bridge over Salmon brook, about sixty-eight rods long.

March 2, 1801, two roads were laid out, referring to minutes on file, which can not now be found ; one from Kelley's ferry to Medad Combs' land, and the other from Thomas Lund's to Nathaniel Lund's and Joseph Lund's new house.

March 21, 1801. Voted to discontinue the road from the land Dr. Woods lately sold to General Lovewell to Coburn's ferry.

The fourth article in the warrant for the meeting of August 26, 1801, read "To see if the Town will allow Mr. Benj. Smith to cut or fell a Large oak tree which stands near the Meeting House." The town voted to sell it at vendue and it was struck off to Theodore French for thirteen shillings ($2.17). This is the first recorded instance of the interest of the people in the matter of shade trees. Succeeding years have served to intensify that interest to such a degree that within the memory of the present generation any interference with them has been met by physical resistance bordering on riot.

March 15, 1802. "Voted to raise five hundred dollars to repair the Highways and to give the men ten cents per hour from the first day of June to the first day of September, and if a Man is leagally warned and works less than half a day at a time he shal be allowed nothing for what he doth."

Aug. 30, 1802. "Voted to discontinue the old road through Nath1 Lunds land."

It would seem that towns, instead of the state, appointed Fast day, for by the record of the meeting held March 7, 1803, it was "Voted to appoint a Day of Fasting and Prayer in this Town." " Voted the Day of Fasting be on next week a Thursday, which is the Seventeenth day of this present month."

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

April 18, 1803. "Voted to accept of the road laid out by the Towns Committee beginning at Salmon brook three rods east of Israel Hunt Mills, thence running South ten degrees East to a stake and stones seven feet west of the Southwest corner of Mr. Isaac Marshs House, thence South seven degrees East seventy-six rods to a Pine stump a bound of the road as it is now had, the road to be west of the line and to be three rods wide."

The above mentioned mill was a grist-mill and occupied the site of the present Vale mills' weaving mill ; the Marsh house is now the Morrill house, on the other side of the road at the south end of the bridge. If this lay-out had been looked up seventeen or eighteen years ago, it would have saved the city a long and expensive suit at law with the Vale mills when the bridge over the Salmon brook, with its approaches, was widened, and it would have materially altered the final result by throwing it further to the east than it now is.

May 14, 1804, several slight alterations were made in the Gilson road and a committee of five was appointed as "agents to meet the Courts Comtee and invite them to visit the great Road and make straightening where they think necessary." The result, if any, does not appear in the records.

Aug. 27, 1804. "Voted to Rebuild Nashua river Bridge the present year." "Voted to have the new bridge sixteen feet wide in the clear." "Voted to raise Eight hundred dollars to rebuild sd. Bridge." "Voted and chose

Mr. John Whittle, A Comtee to rebuild Nashua Majr John Lund, Capt. Thomas Roby, Mr. John Lund, Jr. River Bridge agreeable to the moddle Exhibitted by Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Whit- tle."

and Theodore French,

"the town then Voted their Comtee should build said Bridge as narrow as thirteen feet if they thought it proper."

January 7, 1805. "Voted to raise two hundred and eighty-six dollars to pay for building Nashua River Bridge."

Oct. 7, 1805. "Voted to accept a road, beginning at the road about four rods west of Timo Taylor Esqr. house, thence north forty-eight degrees and eighteen minutes west, three hundred and twenty-eight rods to the old road near Cooks meadow."

March 31, 1806. "Voted to build Nashua River Bridge where it formerly stood, then Voted to let out the building of Said Bridge by the job to the lowest bidder, then Voted to Build Nashua River Bridge according to Mr. Reuben Durant plan. Said Nashua River Bridge was vandued and struck off to Mr. Reubin Durant at Five hundred and fifty dollars." A committee of inspection was appointed and it was voted to raise six hundred dollars for the purpose of building it.

It would seem by this that the action taken by the town Aug. 27, 1804, had not resulted in building the bridge, nor did that taken at this meeting, for we find in the record of the meeting held on the fourth day of the following August, the following :-

"Voted to Rebuild Nashua River Bridge whare it formerly stood, then Voted that the [bridge] be built on the plan exhibited by Messrs. Baldwin and Whittle two years since with the Difference of having white oak posts about Two feet Longer than the former instead of pine." It was voted not to have it more than sixteen feet in the clear.

A committee of five was chosen to build it, they "then Voted that the Committee Rebuild Nashua River Bridge with as much expedition as Propriety and Prudence will Dictate at the expense of the Town."

Thus spurred on to expedite matters, and doubtless governed by "Propriety and Prudence," it is small wonder that they succeeded-the bridge was built, and that is all we know about it, as no further mention is made of it for years upon the records, with the single exception of the appointing of a committee, on the 25th of the same month, to settle whatever claim Mr. Durant might have, but we are left in ignorance as to that, for no report appears in the record.

March 31, 1806. "Voted to accept a road laid out beginning at the southerly side of Amherst Road at the plain between Esqr. Taylors and George Whitefield running South-easterly about nine- tenths of a mile to the north side of the Nashua River at the old ferry place." No such road can now be traced. On the same day a road was accepted from James Bell's to Thomas Lund, Jr.'s.

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HISTORY OF NASHUA, N. H.

This road was about one and one-third miles long. I can not locate it, it being dependent upon the gift of the land, possibly it was not laid out.

Aug. 26, 1805. "Voted to accept a road from the old road near Henry and Joel Adams running north and fifty-one rods long."

March 10, 1807. The Blood's crossing road from the Amherst road opposite Conant's mill road was laid out, including what is now known as its north fork, to the Hollis line near Daniel Blood's house, the latter is in Hollis and now known as the Farley place. This house is so near the Hollis line that the shed attached lies partly in Nashua.

April 21, 1807. The Hills ferry road was altered to its present location. On the same day it was voted to accept the road through Mr. Asa Moor's land and Mr. Cummings Pollard's land, to be opened in two years, and the old road to be then discontinued and revert to Mr. Moor.

January 15, 1810. "Voted to accept the road laid out from Mr. John Whittles towards Hamblets Ferry."

This is now East Hollis street. John Whittle's, since known as the Tyler house; the road commenced fourteen rods north of it on Main street and extended to Allds road.

A road was laid out in 1811 ( no day or month given) from Zachariah Alexander's to Joel Lund's, living near Emerson's mills (at Mine falls) from thence to the road about eight rods easterly of William Butterfield's house. After the Nashua Manufacturing company acquired the title to Mine falls and the lands adjoining, this road, like all others in that vicinity, was discontinued.

April 17, 1812. "Voted to discontinue a road from Nashua Bridge to Benaiah Blodgets providing it was laid out by the Selectmen."

When the Jackson company built their block on Amory street, they demolished a very ancient one-story house which stood near the corner of Union street, and, I am inclined to think, that was the Blodgett house. I am fortified in this belief from the fact that the bend in the river opposite, was known as Blodgett's eddy, and is so mentioned in old deeds.

The new meeting-house being assured, it was voted April 17, 1812, "to raise one hundred and twenty dollars to purchase a Meeting House Bell, provided there should be a sum raised by private subscription sufficient, in addition to that, to purchase said bell," and at a meeting held on the fifth of the following October, twenty-two dollars and fifty cents additional was voted for its purchase, at which meeting it was voted to have it rung at twelve o'clock noon and nine o'clock P. M., and the selectmen were authorized to hire a person to ring it. It is needless to add that this was the first and only bell in town, or that the "Curfew " thus inaugurated continued to be rung for years.

April 26, 1813. "Laid out a road from Zacehas Hale's house north-easterly to the Hollis Road by James Jewell's, one hundred and fifty-one Rods long."

Sept. 18, 1815, the court's committee having laid out a road from the meeting-house to the guide post at the crossing of the Robinson road, the meeting voted to let it out by dividing it into three jobs-" one part to be bridging the big gully, one part from the gully to the Great Road, and the last from the big gully to the Guide Post." Three parties took it for the sum total of $191.25.

March 30, 1816. "Laid out a road from Zacehas Hales Southerly to the Hollis line. On the same day laid out a road from Daniel Bloods (now the Farley place) north-westerly to the Hollis line at the bridge over Muddy brook."

Nov. 4, 1816, a road was laid out "beginning at the Great Road at the south side of Gen. Lovewells barnyard and running westerly to the Hollis road." This road is now Lake street, the Dunstable road at the westerly end not yet having been laid out.

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History of the city of Nashua, N.H., Part 22

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company Number of Pages: 652

Author: Parker, Edward Everett, 1842- ed; Reinheimer, H., & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Nashua, N.H., Telegraph Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 652