USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Andover > History of the town of Andover, New Hampshire, 1751-1906, Part I > Part 3
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Joseph fellows Constable
Voted to give John Ashes Rats in for the year 1777
Voted to give John Rowe Juner for going to be sworn and his hors to goo to Concord nin Shelins
Voted to give John Rowe Juner for Warning tew meetings seven Shilens
Voted to give the assessors five Shilens Pr Day for takin the Invetore and making the Rats
Voted to alow the Select men five Shilens Pr. Day
Voted to alow mr. Nathan Rowe & Joseph Philbrock five Shilens Pr. Day for tew Days to goo to Concord.
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THE EARLY HISTORY.
Voted to alow Part of mr. Moses Cloughs Account the Meeting Desolved
New Britton Agust the 25 1778
the inhabitants met acording to the notification and Proceded as followeth 1ly Chos Samuel Blake moderator 2ly Chos William Emery Constable
the meting agirned to September the first Day at foore a Clok in the after non
the inhabitants met acording to the agriment and Chose Nathinel Emery Constable in the sted of William Emery
the Meting Desolved
At A legal Meeting of the free holders and Inhabitants of Newbritain (so called) held on 29th March 1779 1ly Samuel Blake Chosen Mod- erator 2ly Jonathan Weare Chosen Clerk 3ly Samuel Blake Joseph Philbrick and Jabez Morrill Chosen Selectmen 4ly Thomas Blake Chosen Constable 5ly voted that the Selectmen shall Buy a Book to keep the Town Records in
at a Lagel Meeting of the freeholders of Newbritain held on the 14 of June 1779 1ly Samuel Blake Chosen Moderator 2ly Jonathan Weare Chosen to be Commissioned for A Justice of Peace
In town meeting, December 23, 1776, it was "voted to have the town incorporated," but no further action was taken until 1779.
The last record under the township organization was on June 14, 1779 :
PETITION FOR INCORPORATION AS ANDOVER.
State of To the Hon. the Council and House of Representa- New Hampshire (tives of the State of New Hampshire in General Assembly convened Mar. 10. 1779.
The Petition of the Inhabitants & Freeholders of the Township called New Britton in the County of Hillsborough in said State, Humbly Sheweth .- That the Inhabitants of said Township Labour under many Disadvantages on account of their not being Incorporated into a body Politic & Corporate with Privileges Powers and Immunities as other Towns Incorporated within this State have and enjoy .- More especially with respect to their Levying and Collecting the State & County Taxes, making roads, Highways &c. &c. in said Township .- Wherefore your Petitioners Pray that your Honrs will consider their circumstances and Pass an Act to Incorporate said Township and the Inhabitants thereof into a body Politic & Corporate by the name of
16
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
Andover to have succession forever, with all the Powers, Privileges and Immunities that any other Town in this State Have and Enjoy.
Aud your Petitioners shall Pray &c. &c.
Thomas Blake Josiah Scribner
Robert Wise
Jonathan Roberds
William Blake
Joseph Philbrick
Samuel Blake
Nathaniel Danford Jabez Morrill
William Emery
Ebenezer Tucker Richard Nuton
John Rowell
John Row
Simeon Rawlings
Nathan Rowe
Moses Clough Jonathan Celey
Jonathan Stevens
Peter Weare
William Morey
Jonathan Roberds Jr.
Samuel Rano
William Morey Jr.
Simeon Connor
Benjamin Sweat
Jedediah Sleeper
Joseph Chandler
Ezekiel fellows
Benjamin Selley
Philip Mitchell
Paul S. Marston
Elias Rano.
The following transcripts from the Journal of the House of Representatives of New Hampshire, in 1779, show the action of the House on the foregoing petition :
March 11, 1779
Upon reading and Considering the Petition of the freeholders & Inhabitants of the Township of New Breton praying for An Act of Incorporation &c. Voted that the Petitioners be heard thereon before the Gen1 Assembly on the Second Wednesday of their Next Session and that in the mean time they Cause the Substance of the Petition and order thereon to be Published three Weeks Successively in the New Hampshire Gazette that any Person may then Appear and Shew Cause why the prayers thereof may not be Granted
June 23, 1779
Upon Considering the Petition of the Freeholders & Inhabitants of New Bretton praying for an Act of Incorporation &c. Voted that the prayer thereof be granted and that the Petitioners have leave to bring in a bill Accordingly.
June 24, 1779 .-
An Act to incorporate a place Called New Bretton in the County of Hillsborough (by the name of Andover) was read a third Time and Passed to be Enacted.
The following is a literal copy of the act of incorporation :
In the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine State of New Hampshire
An Act to Incorporate a place called New Briton in the County of Hillsborough,
Whereas a Petition has been prefered to the General Court in behalf
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THE EARLY HISTORY.
of the Inhabitants of a Tract of Land called New Briton in the County of Hillsborough setting forth that they Labour under great Inconven- iences for want of an Incorporation and praying that they may be Incor- porated of which Public Notice has been given and no Objection has been made,-
Be it therefore Enacted by the Council & House of Representatives in General Court assembled and by the Authority of the Same that there be and hereby is a Township Erected and Incorporated by the name of Andover within the following Bounds, viz .- Beginning at a great rock on the Westerly side of Pemigewasset River which Rock is the North Easterly bound of Salisbury then Running West Seventeen degrees South Ten Miles; then beginning again at Said Rock running up said River so far as to contain Four Miles upon a Short Line thence West seventeen degrees South ten miles thence on a Strait Line to the end of the first Ten Mile line. And the Inhabitants of said Tract are hereby erected into Body Politic and Corporate to have Continuance and Succession forever and Invested with all the Rights, Privileges & Immunities which any Town in this State holds & enjoys To Hold to the said Inhabitants and their Successors forever and Mr. Samuel Blake is hereby Authorized to call a meeting of said Inhabitants to Chuse all Necessary & Customary Town Officers giving fourteen days Notice of the Time and Place & Design of such Meeting and the Officers then Chosen shall hereby be invested with all the Powers of such Officers in any other Town in this State & every other Meeting which shall be Annually held in said Town for that Purpose shall be on the Third Monday of March Annually forever.
State of New Hampshire, In the House of Representatives June 24, 1779:
The foregoing Bill having been read a third time ;- Voted that it pass to be Enacted. Sent up for Concurrence. John Langdon Speaker
In Council, June 25, 1779.
This Bill was read a third time and Voted that the Same be Enacted
M. Weare President.
On March 19, 1771, the province of New Hampshire was divided into five counties, one of which, Hillsborough, contained the township of New Breton. Since 1823, when Merrimack County was formed, Andover has remained a part of that county.
PROPRIETORS' RECORDS.
At a meeting of the Proprietors of the Lands purchased of John Nov. 20) Tufton Mason Esq. in the Province of New Hampshire held 1751 1 at Portsmouth in said Province on Wensday the twentieth day of November anno Domini 1751: by adjournment:
2
18
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
A grant of land, first known as the township of New Breton and afterwards as the town of Andover, was made to Edmund Brown, William Swain and fifty-eight others.
At a meeting of the Proprietors of the Lands purchased of John Feb. 20) Tufton Mason etc. etc. held at the house of Mrs. Ann Slayton 1752 Innholder in Portsmouth on Thursday Feb. 20 1752;
voted,-that the shares of such grantees as have not performed their part of the contract by settling in the township, shall be granted to those who have settled there under certain conditions.
During nearly all the period from June 11, 1753, to March 20, 1775, the proprietors, from time to time, at their meetings at Hampton Falls, elected their own assessors, a collector, treasurer and clerk. The assessments were made on each proprietor's "right," to raise money to defray the cost of building and main- tenance of roads and bridges, the building of a sawmill, a grist- mill and a meeting-house, providing for the "preaching of the Gospel," and for sundry minor matters.
First meeting of the Proprietors of New Breton was called by the June 11) Masonian Grantors at the house of Benjamin Swett Inn- 1753 holder in Hampton Falls on June 11 1753. On that date the meeting was held and the following business transacted.
Elected, Moderator; Benjamin Swett
66 Prop's Clerk; Dr. Amos Dwinell
Committee to Call Propr's meetings; Anthony Emery, James Carrick, John Sanborn;
Elected Committee to return the Plan of lots and agree with grantors when to have the lots drawn; James Carrick, Amos Dwinell, Richard Smith
Elected Treasurer to Proprietors Benjamin Swett.
The call for the second meeting of the proprietors as recorded in the New Breton records, is literally as follows :
These are to Notifie the Propretors of the Town Ship of New Breton July 5) to meet at the Hous of Bejn Sweett Iholder in Hampton falls 1753 ( one thursday ye Nineteenth day of this Instant July at Twelve of the Clock one Said Day-
1ly To Receive the Report of the Commettee Chosen to Return the plan of said Township to the Grantors and in as much as the Lotts are Drawn for Each Propreter to Receive hls Number
2ly For all that are delinquent to pay thar Respective Charges
3ly To Consult some measuer that shall be Condusive Towards the Settlement of said Township as Clearing Rods & Building Bridges &c.
19
THE EARLY HISTORY.
4ly To Rase a further sum of money as may then be thought Neces- sary
By order of the Commetey
Hampton falls 5th July
Anthony Emery John Sanborn Commetty 1753 Jeams Carrick
It should be observed that in the above notice the name of the township appears for the first time in the records. In this record the letter between the "r" and the "t" may be either an "e" or an "i," but there is no dot over it. It looks as if it were intended for an "e."
The next meeting of the proprietors of New Breton was held at the inn of Benjamin Swett in Hampton Falls, on July 19, 1753. A committee "returned" a plan of the town. Voted to revise report of committee on "Plan of said Town."
On October 15, 1753, the proprietors met at the inn of Benja- min Swett.
Voted that a Road shall be Cleared to the Senter Squar in New Bretton so called the present year in the Plase most Convent for Said Propritors at thear Cost and Charge. Voted that Twelve Hundred pounds old Tennr shall Be Rased for the first fifteen Setlers by the propritors to be paid Twenty pounds old Tennr yearly during the term of the first three years
Voted to Rase one hundred & fifty Pounds old Tennr to Defray Charges.
Amos Dwinell Pro. Clark
No record of a meeting called for January 29, 1754.
At a meeting at the inn of Benjamin Swett on April 11, 1754 :
Voted that Each Right pays Ten Shillings old Tennor Towards De- fraying past Charges.
Voted that Each Proprietor Shall Sign an Obligation thereby to Oblige Each Proprietor to pay there Proportionable Charge of Carrying on a Settlement of said Township as shall be Voted by said Propriety from time to time and at all times, or otherwise forfiet & Subject his or their Right or Rights to be sold by the Proprietors at a Public Vandue to pay said Charges and the Remainder to be Improved by the Propriety as shall be Voted by sd Proprietors.
Voted that Amos Dwinell Shall see this Obligation to be Writ accord- ing to Custon or Law and take all Possable Care to get all the Pro- prietors to sign the Same as soon as can Reasonable be.
James Carrick Prop. Clerk
20
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
At a meeting on May 26, 1761, Capt. Ezekiel Worthen, Anthony Emery and Joseph Weare were chosen a "committee to look out a road to the Center Square in said township & Spott ont the Same and also make Search for the most Convenient & best place for a sawmill & Spott out a road to it and make report thereof &c. Voted to raise the sum of five pounds old tenr on each Right of the aforesaid proprietors and that it shall be col- lected as soon as may conveniently be performed. Voted that the said Committee chosen to look out roads &c. Shall have a Dollar a day each man from the time of their proceeding on said Business till their return home."
At a meeting held at the usual place on July 21, 1761, the report of the committee appointed to locate the road to the Center Square and to search for a sawmill site was received. After reciting the instructions accompanying their appointment, the report reads: "Agreeable thereto we have made search and according to the best of our judgment, pursued the Road from the foot in Stevens' Town (so called) to Peter Boings house in said Stevenss Town and from to Calls meadow (so called) and from thence the Spoted way to Loon pond in said New Britton and from thence to the Center Square; And from thence back to the southeasterly part of said Loon pond and from thence northerly round said pond till we came to where said pond emptys it self and from thence down said Stream to the first falls next to said Loon pond where we apprehend to be the most convenient place that we can find in said Township of New Britton for a sawmill and this we make as our return.
Ezekiel Worthen June 15, 1761 : { Walter Williams Joseph Weare"
After receiving the above report, the following action was taken :
Voted to receive the foregoing Return of the Committee chosen to search out a road to the Center Square & a place for a saw mill.
Voted that the Center Road in said Township of New Britton Shall be cut out and Cleared (at an equal Charge of the proprietors thereof before the last Day of October next) as follows (viz.) From Pemige- wassitt River to Chance pond or Near it, & from thence round the Northerly end of said pond and from thence in as Direct a way as may
21
THE EARLY HISTORY.
Conveniently be done to the mill privilege and from thence to the southeasterly part of Loon pond and from thence to the Center Square; And that every Proprietor that shall neglect to go or provide his equal part of help according to his property, Shall pay to the Proprietors aforesaid his equal or proportionable part for Clearing said road; stat- ing each man's labour at the rate of five pounds old Tenr pr. Day from the day of seting out till they return.
At a meeting on September 28, 1761, "Voted that the clearing said road be deferred till May next ensuing.
"Voted to choose a Committee to Spott out said Centre Road and oversee the clearing thereof and also to settle the boundaries of said township."
At a meeting of the proprietors, on March 31, 1762, after reciting the action of the meeting of July 21, 1761, concerning the clearing of the Center Road, it is recorded :
And the method voted to Cut & Clear said road now Appearing to be Disadvantageous; It is voted to Choose a Committee to Cut and Clean said road from Pemigewasset River to the Center Square as voted the 21st day of July last past and that Said Committee be Impowered to cut and Clear said road in the cheapest manner they can at an equal expense of said Proprietors and make Return thereof at the next pro- prietor's meeting after said work is performed
21y Voted that Anthony Emery Esq. Nathaniel Healey Esq. Capt. Ezekiel Worthen Lieut. John Sanborn & Mr. Jeremiah Lane be a Com mittee to Cut and Clear the above mentioned road.
31y Voted that the above mentioned Committee be and hereby are Impowered to Joyn the Committees of Stevens' Town and New Chester (so called) to affix and Settle the Boundaries of Said Township so far as they can & to perambulate the Several Lines and Spott the Same-
4ly Voted that the aforesaid Committee Shall be paid five pounds old Tenr each per day for their Services from the time they Set out on said business till they return
5ly Voted to raise a tax of ten pounds old Tenr on Each right to Defray the Charges of Clearing the beforementioned road and Settling the boundaries of Said Township or any other incidental charges.
6ly Voted that the Collector for said Propriety Shall as soon as may be Advertise in the New Hampshire weekly News paper the above tax levied on each original right together with all the charges which re- main Due .-
Anthony Emery Pro: Clerk
At a meeting held at the inn of Capt. Caleb Sanborn in Hamp- ton Falls on November 21, 1763, the report of the committee,
22
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
consisting of David Norton, Richard Smith, Benjamin Eaton, Benjamin Tilton and Jeremiah Lane, appointed to "Run out the Township a new & bound & number every Lott agreable to the Plan formerly exhibited and accepted by the Grantors," was pre- sented and accepted by the proprietors. This report gave full details of the work.
At a meeting on April 2, 1766 :
Voted, to build a sawmill in the township and that it be completed by the first of Oct. 1766.
At a meeting on April 29, 1766 :
Voted to give Nathaniel Prescott 40 pounds Lawful money to be paid to the said Prescott as follows (viz.) the onehalf on or before the last day of August next ensuing and the other half on or before the first day of October next following Provided he the said Prescott shall well and truly build a good Sawmill on the stream running through the Lott No. 48 in the second Range in said Township of New Britton which Lott was the original Right of Joshua Peirce Esq. and that said Prescott Cause said mill to be well finished & Compleated on or before the first Day of Octobr Next following the date hereof and also keep said mill in good repair and Saw the logs which any or all of the Proprietors of said Township shall haul to said mill & Desire to have them sawed to the halves for and During the space of ten years next after said mill shall be built.
At a meeting on May 20, 1767, it was voted that such of the inhabitants of the township as were indebted to the proprietors for assessments, etc., should be permitted to work out that indebt- edness by labor in clearing roads, building necessary bridges, ete., under the direction of a committee to be appointed by the proprietors. Joseph Fellows and William Emery were appointed a committee to determine where work of that character should be done. The labor of each man was reckoned at two shillings per day.
At a meeting on May 9, 1768, it was voted that "Lieut. Samuel Prescott & Mr. Ebenezer Loverin be a Committee to search the Township of New Britton for the best and most Convenient place to build a grist mill and also to Look out the most Convenient and best places for Roads such as may be thought Necessary both for the Inhabitants and the Proprietors and make return thereof
23
THE EARLY HISTORY.
at the adjournment of this meeting; further voted that said Com- mittee be alowed five shillings each pr. Day while Necessarily Employed in said Service."
June 20. 1768, Voted that Nathaniel Healey Esq. & Mr. Henry Robey be a Committee to treat with Mr. Nathaniel Prescott & Mr. Samuel Blake Relative to building a Gristmill on the stream runing through their Lotts in Said Township or any other Proprietor in Said Town- ship that is possessed of a Good Priviledge for building a Gristmill & to make Report to this meeting at the adjournment of the terms on which the Proprietors may erect a Gristmill on either of their lotts & the Priviledges the Proprietors may enjoy, and in the Name of the Proprietors to prepare Instruments proper for assertaining the same Between the Proprietors & the parties to be Laid before the Proprietors at the adjournment of this meeting for their approbation.
Meeting adjourned to July 18, 1768.
July 18, voted that a road be cleared in Said Township Begining near the southeast corner of Said Township at the Road called Blanchard Road & passing through the Lotts in the first Range to the mouth or outlet of Chance pond then through the amendment to Lott No. 56 and the Lott of Theodore Atkinson Esq. into the second Range. Then through the Several Lotts in the Second Range where the land will best suit and in as Direct a course as may be to the Sawmill erected in said Town and each Proprietor shall have Liberty to Do his proportion according to his interest in labour: Such as Labour to find themselves and to be alowed three Shillings pr Day each man: and such as shall not Do their proportion in Labour Shall pay in money their Proportion of what the Charges amount to: Those who Labour are to be alowed Pay for the time of Travilling up & Down as well as for the time they are at work there.
Further Voted that Richard Nason Esq., Lieut. Samuel Prescott, Lieut. Richard Smith, Cornate Abel Brown, Ebenezer Loverin & Jere- miah Lane be a Committee to have the oversight & Care of Clearing Said Road, to keep the accounts of sd Labour and make Return to the Proprietors: And further Voted that if said Committee shall find any Bridges or places in the Roads formerly Cleared necessary to be Re- paired, they are to cause the Same to be repaired at the Charge of the Proprietors in the same method as the Road is to be Cleared.
And further Voted that those who go to do Said business proceed upon it on the last monday in September next & compleat the same as soon as may be.
Oct. 18, 1768 Voted to build a Gristmill in said Township. Voted that NathI Healey Esq. & Mr. Henry Roby be a Committee to treat with some Sutable person or persons Relative to building a Gristmill in Said
24
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
Township & of the terms on which said mill shall be built & when performed to make Return to the Proprietors the next meeting
Of the meeting on November 22, 1768, there is the following record :
Whereas there is some illconvenience Rilative to the Sawmill built by Nathaniel Prescott in said Township (at the cost of the Proprietors) said mill standing in an Improper place, and said Prescott being willing to come into Some new agreement: Voted that Mesheck Weare & Anthony Emery & Nath1 Healey Esqurs. be a Committee to Joyn Mr. Nathaniel Prescott in making some further agreement Relative to the Removal of said Sawmill & building a Dam at the head of the falls and Drawing water for the use of a Gristmill to be built by the Proprietors as they shall agree, on the stream below Said Sawmill & that said Committee are hereby Impowered to enter into such agreement with said NathI Prescott and to execute Instruments obligatory as well on behalf of said Proprietors as on the part of said Prescott as they shall Judge proper for the benefit of said Proprietors & make Return of said Instruments to said Proprietors.
At a meeting held on December 13, 1768, the committee appointed to confer with Mr. Prescott about the moving of his sawmill reported "that they met said Prescott at the time and place appointed & that said Prescott refused to act anything thereto."
After a number of meetings and appointing several committees to confer with Prescott, to search the streams for new mill sites, ete., it was finally settled that Prescott was to move the sawmill up the stream, that the gristmill was to be built below the sawmill. that the gristmill was to have the privilege of drawing the water from Prescott's dam, for a period of twenty years, by paying him seven pounds lawful money, and that Anthony Emery should build the gristmill for sixty-three pounds.
At the meeting on October 15, 1770, it was voted that the inhabitants of New Breton should have the privilege of paying "all their past taxes or assessments" in labor on the roads in said town at the rate of three shillings per day.
June 1, 1773: Voted that three shillings Lawfull money be Raised on each original Right of the Proprietors of New Brittain for hireing Preaching for the Present year.
Voted Joseph fellows and William Emery be Chosen a Committee to hire sum Sutable Parson to Preach in the Township of New Brittain
25
THE EARLY HISTORY.
and are impowered to Draw the money which is above voted out of the Proprietors Treasurer hands and to be Laid out for that Purpos.
Feb. 22, 1774: Voted that the Gristmill in the Township of New Brit- tain be sold at the Present meeting and Mr. Joseph Fellows of said New Brittain appearing and offering to Give the sum of thirty five pounds Lawfull money for said Gristmill and Priviledge which the Proprietors have and Belonging to said Gristmill:
Voted that said mill and Priviledges thereto Belonging be sold to said Fellows and that Mesheck Weare Anthony Emery and Henry Robie be a Committee for and on behalf of said Proprietors fully authorized and Impowered to Execute a Proper Deed of Conveyance: etc.
At a meeting of the proprietors on the fourth of July, 1774, in New Hampton :
Upon the 4th article to See what the Proprietors will do Concerning Clearing and Repairing Roads &c. It appairing to the Proprieters that it will be Convenient that a Road should be Cleared from the mills in said New Brittain to meet a Road at New Chester Line that is Now Cleared or marked out through said New Chester and other Towns to Hanover ;- Therefore Voted that there be a Road Cleared and made a Good Passable Road of a Proper weeth for Passing with Carts teames horses &c as there may be occasion to be Properly Bridged and Cass- way'd where Necessary and Deacon Jonathan Weare having offered to clear said Road and make it Passable from the mills to the west side of the Pond Brook so called and Mr. Joseph Fellows appearing to under- take to clear and make Passable as aforesaid said Road from said Pond Brook to New Chester Line whare the same is spotted out, Further voted to give said fellows the said sum of thirty dollars to Cut Clear and make Passable said Road as aforesaid to be done within three months he to be under obligation to perform the same according to the true meaning of this vote and that Col. Wear and Henry Robie be a Committee to take security of said Fellows for his Performing the same and when said Road is so compleated Said Committee are Impowered to Discharge him of Said Sum of thirty Dollars of the money he Now ows the Proprietors. 2ly Voted that this meeting be adiourned to the first monday of october Next at two of the Clock in the afternoon to be Held at the house of Capt. Caleb Sanborn Inholder in Hampton falls.
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