USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Andover > History of the town of Andover, New Hampshire, 1751-1906, Part I > Part 4
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Henry Robie Pro. Clerk.
26
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
PROPRIETORS' MEETINGS.
Records of the transactions of all of the meetings of the pro- prietors have not been preserved or are not accessible now. The following list contains the dates of all their meetings, so far as they are known :
June 11, 1753. April 22, 1766.
October 15, 1770.
July 19, 1753.
April 29, 1766. January 7, 1771.
October 15, 1753.
May 20, 1767. April 22, 1771.
April 11, 1754. June 17, 1767.
June 30, 1771.
April 24, 1754.
May 9, 1768.
August 20, 1771.
May 26, 1761.
June 20, 1768.
September 24, 1771.
July 1, 1761.
July 18, 1768.
October 29, 1771.
September 28, 1761. October 18, 1768.
January 14, 1772.
May 31, 1762.
November 22, 1768. May 4, 1772.
October 27, 1762.
December 13, 1768.
May 18, 1772.
November 3, 1762.
May 15, 1769.
October 6, 1772.
November 15, 1762.
May 24, 1769.
June 1, 1773.
May 17, 1763. July 3, 1769.
November 23, 1773.
November 21, 1763.
October 2, 1769.
February 22, 1774.
June 5, 1764.
October 9. 1769.
May 2, 1774.
July 3, 1764.
October 30, 1769.
July 4, 1774.
October 23, 1764.
April 9, 1770.
October 3, 1774.
April 2, 1766.
August 13, 1770.
April 11, 1775.
April 15, 1766. September 13, 1770.
.
THE EARLY HISTORY.
OFFICERS OF THE PROPRIETORS' MEETINGS.
Date
Moderator
Clerk
Assessors
Collector
Committee to Call Meetings
1753 June 11
Benjamin Swett
Amos Dwinell
1753 July 19 ..
Oct. 15
1754 Ap. 11 1759 Ap. 24
1761 May 26
Anthony Emery Ezekiel Worthen Samuel French Mesheck Weare Ezekiel Worthen
James Carrick Amos Dwinell James Carrick Anthony Emery Anthony Emery
John Sanborn
Anthony Emery Walter Williams John Sanborn
" Sept. 28 Nathaniel Healey
Anthony Emery
1762 Oct. 27 1763 May 17
Mesheck Weare
Nathan Row
Joseph Weare
Anthony Emery Walter Williams Caleb Sanborn Anthony Emery Walter Williams Caleb Sanborn
1764 Oct 23 1766 Ap. 2
:
..
Nathaniel Healey Jeremiah Eastman Anthony Emery
1767 May 20
Henry Robie
Jonathan Dow Henry Robie Jonathan Dow Henry Robie Nathaniel Healey
Samuel Prescott
Nathaniel Healey Caleb Sanborn Anthony Emery Nathaniel Healey Caleb Sanborn
1768 May 9 July 18
Jonathan Dow
Mesheck Weare pro tem
Anthony Emery
Jonathan Dow Henry Robie Nathaniel Healey
Samuel Prescott
Anthony Emery Nathaniel Healey Caleb Sanborn
1770 Oct. 15 1771 Ap. 22
Richard Nason
Henry Robie
Jonathan Dow Nathaniel Healey Henry Robie
Samuel Prescott
Anthony Emery Nathaniel Healey Caleb Sanborn
1771 Aug. 20 1772 May 4
Anthony Emery Jeremiah Eastman
Benjamin Tilton
Jonathan Dow Nathaniel Healey Henry Robie
Benjamin Leavitt
Oct. 6 1773 June 1
.6 Mesheck Weare Anthony Emery
Henry Robie
..
Jonathan Dow Nathaniel Healey Henry Robie
66
Anthony Emery Nathaniel Healey Caleb Sanborn
1773 Nov. 23 1774 Feb. 22
Anthony Emery Anthony Emery
4 4 4
Henry Robie
Jonathan Dow Nathaniel Healey Henry Roble Henry Robie Jonathan Dow Nathaniel Healey
David Batchelder
Anthony Emery Nathaniel Healey Caleb Sanborn Anthony Emery Nathaniel Healey Caleb Sanborn
1775 April 11
Richard Nason
Henry Robie
Benjamin Swett was elected proprietors' treasurer at the meet- ing on June 11, 1753. So far as the records show, no other elec- tion of treasurer took place until May 20, 1767, when Henry Robie was elected and held the office as long as the proprietors' organization existed.
1
Anthony Emery James Carrick John Sanborn
1764 June 5
Richard Nason
Nov. 22 1770 Ap. 9
Henry Robie
Anthony Emery Nathaniel Healey Caleb Sanborn
" May 18 =
27
EARLY SETTLERS.
A COMPLETE LIST OF THE TAXPAYERS IN NEW BRETON IN 1779.
Ash, John
Raino, Samuel
Blake, Samuel
Roberts, Jonathan
Blake, Thomas
Roberts, Jonathan, Jr.
Blake, William
Rollings, Joseph
Brown, Abba
Rollings, Simeon
Burwash, Nathaniel
Row, John
Chandler, Joseph
Row, John, Jr.
Clough, Moses
Rowe, Nathan
Connor, Simeon
Rowe, Nathan, Jr.
Cros, Parker
Rowel, John
Danford, Edward
Scribner, Ebenezer
Danford, Nathaniel,
Seribner, Josiah
Emory, Nathaniel
Scribner, Samuel
Emory, William, Capt.
Severings, Joseph
Fellows, Ezekiel
Silley, Benjamin
Fellows, Joseph
Silley, Jonathan.
Fellows, Joseph. Jr.
Sleeper, Jedediah
Fuller, David
Sleeper, Thomas
Fuller, James
Stevens, Jonathan
Ladd, Edward
Swett, Benjamin
Marston, Paul Smith
Tilton, David
Michel, Philip
Tilton, Ebenezer
Morel, Jabez
Tueker, Ebenezer
Morey, William
Weare, Jonathan
Newton, Richard
Weare, Peter
Page, Joshua
Welch. Moses
Philbrook, Joseph
Welch, Thomas
Raino, Elias
Wise, Robert
DELINQUENT NON-RESIDENT TAXPAYERS.
In the New Hampshire Gazette for June 24, 1780, Thomas Blake, constable, advertised a non-resident tax sale at his house
29
EARLY SETTLERS.
in Andover. In the list of delinquents appear the following names :
Samuel Bathrick
John Marston
Israel Blake
Robert Miller
John Brown
David Norton
Thomas Cilley
Thomas Packer
William B. Clough
Joshua Pierce
Amos Dwinnell
Jesse Prescott
Joseph French
Jeremiah Roberts
Joseph Gove
Daniel Sanborn
John Hoyt
Richard Smith
Archelaus Lakeman
Benjamin Swett
Benjamin Leavitt
Daniel Weare
John Leavitt
Walter Williams
Daniel Marston
Ezekiel Worthen.
PARTIAL LIST OF MEN LIVING IN ANDOVER IN 1782.
This list is derived from the names found in the list of bills paid, obtained from the book of records of 1782:
Ash, John
Emery, William
Bachelder, Mark
Fellows, Ezekiel
Badcock, Josiah
Fellows, Joseph
Blake, Samuel
Haines, Josiah
Blake, William
Hilton, Charles
Call, Nathaniel
Ladd, Edward
Chandler, Joseph
Morey, William
Cilley, Benjamin
Morrill, Jabez
Cilley, John
Raino, John
Cilley, Jonathan
Randall, James
Clough, Moses, Lieut.
Roberts, Jonathan
Danford, Joshua
Rowe, John
Danford, Nathaniel
Sleeper, Thomas
Ellis, Lawrence
Weare, Peter
Emery, Nathaniel
A PARTIAL LIST OF RESIDENTS IN 1783.
Bachelder, Josiah, Capt.
Brown, Joseph
Blake, Theophilus
Cilley, Samuel Connor, Simeon
Blake, Thomas
30
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
Ellis, Lawrence
Rollins, Eliphalet
Emery, David S.
Rowe, Nathan
Emery, Nathaniel
Sanborn, David
Fellows, Jeremiah
Sanborn, Ephraim
Fuller, James
Sanborn, Richard
Mitchell, Philip
Scribner, Josiah Severance, Joseph
Page, Joshua
. Philbrick, Joseph
Tilton, Ebenezer
Raino, Elias
Tucker, Ebenezer
Raino, Samuel
Tucker, Joseph
Roberts, John
Weare, Jonathan
Lawrence Ellis lived where Silas M. Ellis lived and died. David Sanborn lived in a house near the John G. Weare resi- dence. Joseph Brown lived on the ridge a little northeast of Uriel Rollins' house. Nathaniel Emery lived on a road running through the E. G. Chase farm, near the northeast side of the lower field.
LIST OF TAXPAYERS IN 1785.
Ash, John
Clough, Moses
Bachelder, Josiah
Connor, Simeon
Blake, Bradbury
Danford, Edward
Blake, Samuel
Danford, Joshua
Blake, Theophilus
Danford, Nathaniel
Blake, Thomas
Dudley, Jeremiah
Blake, William
Emery, Nathaniel
Brown, Abba
Emery, William
Brown, Joseph
Fellows, Benjamin
Brown, Joseph, Jr.
Fellows, Ezekiel
Call, John
Fellows, Jeremiah
Call, Nathaniel
Fellows, Joseph
Cilley, Aaron
Fellows, Joseph, Jr.
Cilley, Benjamin
Fuller, James
Cilley, Daniel
Hall, Henry
Cilley, Elisha
Haynes, Josiah
Cilley, John
Hilton, Charles
Cilley, Jonathan
Hoyt, Reuben
Cilley, Samuel
Ladd, Edward
31
EARLY SETTLERS.
Ladd, Thing Mitchell, Philip
Sanborn, David
Sanborn, Ephraim
Morey, William
Sanborn, Richard
Morey, William, Jr. Morrill, Jabez
Scribner, Ebenezer
Scribner, Josiah
Newton, Richard
Scribner, Samuel
Page, Joshua
Scribner, Samuel, Jr.
Philbrick, Joseph
Scribner, Thomas
Quimby, Eliphalet
Severance, Joseph
Raino, Elias
Sleeper, Jededialı
Raino, Samuel
Sleeper, Thomas
Randall, James
Stevens, Jonathan
Roberts, Benjamin
Tilton, David
Roberts, John
Tilton, Ebenezer
Roberts, Jonathan
Tucker, Ebenezer
Rollins, Eliphalet
Tucker, Joseph
Rollins, Simeon
Weare, Jonathan
Rowe, John
Weare, Peter
Rowe, John, Jr.
Webster, Joseph
Rowe, Nathan
Welch, Moses
Rowe, Nathan, Jr.
Welch, Thomas
Rowell, John
LOCATION OF FAMILIES LIVING IN ANDOVER IN 1788.
On the River Road and in the northeast part of the town :
Brown, William Call, John
Folson, Samuel
Call, Nathaniel
Newton, Richard Tilton, David
Danford, John
Welch, Archelaus
Danford, Joshua
Welch, Moses, Lieut.
Dyer, William
Welch, Thomas
At Flag Hole :
Fellows, Joseph
Fuller, James
Marston, Paul Smith Morrill, Jabez
French, William
Chapman, David
Ellin, Samuel
Page, Joshua Rollins, Simeon Rowe, Nathan, Jr.
32
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
In the Back Road region :
Blake, Theophilus
Sanborn, David
Blake, William, Lieut.
Sanborn, Ephraim
Brown, Joseph
Sanborn, Josiah
Fellows. Ezekiel, Lieut.
Sanborn, Richard
Green, Stephen
Sanders, John
Healey, Newell
At East Andover, on the Emery Road and southwest towards Flag Hole :
Blake, Bradbury
Emery, William, Capt.
Blake, Samuel
Hilton, Charles
Blake, Samuel, Jr.
Ladd, Edward
Brown, Abba, Lieut.
Ladd, Thing
Brown, Joseph, Jr.
Randall, James
Brown, Moses
Robbins, Jonathan, Dr.
Cilley, Benjamin, Jr.
Roberts, John
Cilley, Daniel
Stevens. Jonathan
Cilley, John
Tilton, Ebenezer
Emery, Nathaniel
Tucker, Ebenezer
On Taunton Hill and vicinity :
Bachelder, Josiah, Capt.
Sleeper, Thomas
Bachelder, Mark
Tucker, James
Philbriek, Joseph
Weare, Jonathan
Roberts, Benjamin
Weare, Peter
Roberts, Jonathan
LOCATION OF FAMILIES IN 1788.
On Boston Hill, Rowe Hill and the Southeast Plain region :
Cilley, Jonathan
Raino, Samuel
Clough, Moses
Rowe, Jacob
Clough, Wadleigh
Rowe, John
Connor, Simeon
Rowe, John, 3d
Fellows, Joseph, Jr.
Rowe, Nathan
Fowler, Robert
Scribner, Ebenezer
Haines, Josiah
Scribner, Josiah. Ensign
Morey, William Severance, Joseph, Lieut.
Morey, William, Jr.
Sweatt, John D.
-
33
EARLY SETTLERS.
In the region including Andover Centre, Cilleyville and West Andover :
Barber, Jethro
Hoyt, Reuben
Cilley, Aaron
Keniston, Jonathan
Cilley, Benjamin
Mitchell, Philip
Cilley, Benjamin, 3d
Raino, Joseph
Cilley, Elisha
Rowe, Benjamin, Dr.
Day, Samuel
Row, John
Dudley, Jacob
Sawyer, John
Dudley, Samuel P.
Scribner, Thomas
Eastman, Abner
Sleeper, Jedediah
Gale, John C.
Tirrell, John
Hoyt, Benjamin
LIST OF CITIZENS PAYING A "MINISTER'S TAX" OF ONE POUND OR MORE, IN 1788.
S.
d.
qr.
Capt. Josiah Bachelder
1
17
4 3
Samuel Blake .
1
8
0
2
Lieut. Abba Brown
1 15
5
2
Joseph Brown .
1
9
5
2
Simeon Connor .
1
10
6
1
Nathaniel Danford
1
0
5
1
Nathaniel Emery
1
9
6
2
Capt. William Emery
3
6
0
0
Joseph Fellows .
2
7
6
3
Charles Hilton .
1
3
10
0
Edward Ladd .
1
17
0
1
Paul S. Marston
1
0
5
2
Joseph Philbrick
3
4
1
3
Eliphalet Rollings
1
2
1 0
Simeon Rollings
1
9
5
2
Lieut. J. Rowe .
2
10
11
2
John Selley
1
10
7
2
Jonathan Selley
1
3
3
0
Jonathan Weare
·
2
19
4
3
·
.
3
34
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
LIST OF TAXPAYERS IN 1789; TEN YEARS AFTER INCORPORATION.
Ash, John
Connor, Simeon
Ash, William
Danford, Joseph
Bachelder, Josiah, Capt.
Danford, Joshua
Bachelder, Mark
Danford, Nathaniel
Bailey, John
Day, Samuel
Barber, Jethro
Dudley, Jacob
Barnard, Silas, Dr.
Dyer, William
Blake, Bradbury
Eastman, Abner
Blake, Samuel, Dea.
Emery, Nathaniel
Blake, Samuel, Jr.
Emery, William, Capt.
Blake, Theophilus
Fellows, Abel
Blake, Thomas
Fellows, Benjamin
Blake, William, Lieut.
Fellows, Ezekiel
Brown, Abba
Fellows, John
Brown, Jonathan
Fellows, Joseph
Brown, Joseph
Fellows, Joseph, Jr.
Brown, Joseph, Jr.
Fifield, Edward
Brown, Moses
Flanders, Nathaniel
Brown, Moses, Jr.
Fowler, Robert
Brown, William
French, William
Call, John
Fuller, James
Call, Nathaniel
Gale, John C.
Call, Stephen
Green, Stephen
Chapman, David
Haines, Josiah
Cilley, Aaron
Healey, Newell
Cilley, Benjamin
Hilliard, Weare
Cilley, Benjamin, Jr.
Hilton, Charles
Cilley, Benjamin, 3d
Hoyt, Benjamin
Cilley, Daniel
Hoyt, Reuben
Cilley, Ebenezer
Judkins, Jedediah
Cilley, Elisha
Keniston, Jonathan
Cilley, Jonathan
Ladd, Edward
Cilley, John
Ladd, Thing
Cilley, Samuel
Marston, Paul Smith
Clough, Moses
Mitchell, Philip
Clough, Wadleigh
Morey, William
Colby, John
Morey, William, Jr.
35
EARLY SETTLERS.
Morrill, Jabez
Sanders, John
Newton, Richard
Sawyer, John
Page, Joshua
Scribner, David
Philbrick, Joseph
Scribner, Ebenezer
Raino, Joseph Raino, Samuel
Scribner, Joseph
Scribner, Samuel
Randall, James
Scribner, Thomas
Roberts, Benjamin
Severance, Joseph
Roberts, Jonathan
Sleeper, Jedediah
Roberts, John
Sleeper, Thomas
Rollins, Eliphalet
Stevens, Jonathan
Rollins, Simeon
Sweatt, John D.
Rowe, Benjamin, Dr.
Tilton, David
Rowe, Jacob
Tilton, Ebenezer
Rowe, John
Tirrell, John
Rowe, John, Lieut.
True, William
Rowe, John, 3d
Tucker, Ebenezer
Rowe, Nathan
Tucker, James
Rowe, Nathan, Jr.
Tucker, Stephen
Rowell, John
Weare, Jonathan
Sanborn, David
Weare, Peter
Sanborn, Ephraim
Welch, Archelaus
Sanborn, Josiah
Welch, Moses
Sanborn, Richard
Welch, Thomas
RESIDENTS AND LANDHOLDERS IN THE VARIOUS LOCALITIES IN ANDOVER IN 1799 AND 1800.
On the Pemigewasset River Road :
Ash, Joseph
Eastman, Ebenezer
Ash, Nathaniel
Evans, Josiah
Ash, William
Favor, Cutting, Capt.
Brown, Caleb
Lunt, Joseph
Chapman, John
Morrison, David
Colby, George W.
Page, Enoch
Colby, John
Pike, James
Colby, Nathaniel
Webster, David
Danford, Edward
Welch, Archelaus
Danford, Workum
Welch, Moses
36
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
In the "Call neighborhood," now the northwest part of Franklin :
Ash, Ira Blaisdell, Stephen Call, Hazen Call, John
Call, Nathaniel Chapman, Stephen Newton, Richard
About the "head" or west end of Chance Pond :
Blanchard, Jacob
Knowles, David
Brown, Nathaniel
Sawyer, John
Dyer, William
Seavey, Joseph
Fellows, Benjamin
Simonds, James
At Flag Hole and vicinity .:
Carr, Richard
Page, Joshua
Emery, William, Capt.
Page, Orlando
Fellows, Joseph
Pevear, James N
Fellows, Stephen
Rollins, Simeon
Fuller, James
Rowe, Jacob
Marston, Israel
Rowe, John, Jr.
Marston, Paul Smith
Rowe, Nathan, Jr.
Morrill, Jabez
Scribner, Josiah, Capt.
Page, Joseph
On Cilley Hill, the Franklin Road and vicinity :
Blake, William, Lieut.
Green, Stephen, Ensign
Brown, Jeremiah
Healey, Newell
Brown, Joseph Page, Phineas
Brown, Moses, Jr.
Rowe, John
Cilley, Samuel
Sanborne, Ephraim
Ellis, Lawrence
Sanborn, Richard
Fellows, Ezekiel, Lieut.
Sanders, John
On the Emery Road and vicinity :
Corlys, David
Fellows, John
Corlys, Peletiah
Marston, Caleb
Emery, Anthony
Rowell, John
Emery, Willard
Stevens, Thomas
Fellows, Ebenezer
37
EARLY SETTLERS.
At East Andover village and vicinity :
Barber, Robert
Leeds, Nathan
Blaisdell, Philip
Moore, Jacob B., Dr.
Blake, William, Jr.
Prescott, Robert
Brown, Abba, Lieut.
Proctor, William, Capt.
Brown, Jonathan, Jr.,
Reed, Abel
Brown, Joseph, Jr.
Roberts, John
Fuller, Samuel
Sherburn, Joseph
Hilton, Charles
Tilton, Caleb
Hilton, Dudley
Tilton, Ebenezer
Hilton, Elijah
Tucker, Jonathan
Ladd, Edward
Tucker, Jonathan, Jr.
Ladd, Joseph
Tucker, Moses
On "Tucker mountain":
True, William Tucker, Stephen
Tucker, William
On Taunton Hill and the road to Elbow Pond :
Bachelder, Josiah, Capt.
Roberts, Benjamin
Bachelder, Mark
Sleeper, Thomas
Bartlett, Nathan
Smith, Daniel
Graves, John
Smith, Ezekiel
Graves, Samuel
Smith, Moses
Hobbs, John
Tucker, James
Langley, John
Weare, Jonathan
Philbrick, Joseph
On Boston Hill and vicinity :
Bailey, John
Morey, William
Cilley, Jonathan
Morse, Moses
Clough, Moses
Rowe, Daniel
Connor, Simeon
Rowe, Henry
Durgin, Gershom
Rowe, John, 3d
Haynes, Josiah
Severance, Joseph
Hoyt, Abraham
38
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
At Andover Centre, Cilleyville and West Andover :
Bachelder, Elisha
Dudley, Stephen
Cilley, Aaron
Fifield, Winthrop
Cilley, Benjamin ("Affy")
Gale, John B., Capt.
Cilley, Benjamin ("Mompey") Keniston, Charles
Cilley, Benjamin, Jr.
Keniston, Job
Cilley, Benjamin, 3d
Keniston, Joseph
Cilley, Edmund
Kimball, Samuel
Cilley, Elisha
Mitchell, Ebenezer
Cilley, Jacob
Mitchell, Philip
Cilley, Job
McGowan, Samuel
Cilley, John
Rollins, Eliphalet
Cilley, Philip
Scribner, Jonathan
Cilley, Stephen
Sleeper. Moses
Davin, Jonathan
Tasse, William
Davin, Samuel
Thompson, Benjamin
Dudley, Jacob
Tirrel, John
Dudley, John
Webster, Humphrey ·
On Beech Hill and vicinity :
Brown, Jonathan
Huntoon, Phineas
Brown, Moses
Langley, Isaiah
Colby, Benjamin
Peavey, John
Eastman, Enoch
Pettingill, Amos
Eastman, Ephraim
Scribner, David
Eastman, Jacob
Seavey, George
Elkins, Jeremiah
Seavey, Henry
Elkins, Richard
Sleeper, Jedediah
Elkins, Samuel
Sweatt, Joseph
Hilliard, Weare
Sweatt, Peter
Huntoon, Daniel
Sweatt, Timothy
CLEARING OF FARMS BY THE EARLY SETTLERS.
Thomas Blake from Epping cleared the farm long occupied by Paine R. Robie and afterwards owned by Friend Bailey.
John Rowell cleared much of the farm on which his son, John, the father of Warren Rowell, passed most of his life.
Willard Emery, son of William, the earliest settler of that
KEARSARGE MOUNTAIN, FROM MATTHEW'S FARM
39
EARLY SETTLERS.
name, cleared up the farm where he lived most of his life. This farm was long owned by his son-in-law, Watson Dickerson, and afterwards by Augustus Shaw.
John Saunders cleared considerable land between the Mill Brook and the Emery Road, and easterly from the cross road connecting these highways. His house stood near the northeast corner of the orchard formerly known as the Fellows orchard on the first road from the Pemigewasset River to the mills.
Nathaniel Danford cleared the first farm on the River Road. The farm was afterwards owned by John Simonds and by his son, John Wesley Simonds. Danford came to Andover about 1770. At that time his nearest neighbor to the north was in New Chester and five miles away.
Nathan Bartlett cleared the Green Greely farm near Elbow Pond.
Aaron Cilley cleared the first farm and built the first sawmill at Cilleyville. He settled there about 1785.
Ephraim Eastman cleared the farm afterwards owned by his son, Royal F. Eastman, on the west side of Beech Hill.
Isaiah Langley cleared most of the farm where he lived and died and where his son, Dudley F. Langley, lived for many years. Henry M. Thompson now owns the farm.
Samuel Elkins cleared the farm afterwards owned by his grandson, Hervey, and his great-grandson, Wendell P. Elkins.
Jeremiah Elkins cleared the farm, part of which is now owned by Charles H. Merrill.
Richard Elkins, brother of Samuel and Jeremiah, cleared the farm below the Beech Hill schoolhouse and now known as the "Weeks place."
Samuel Kimball cleared the farm now owned by Frank Pet- tingill.
Edward Ladd cleared the farm afterwards owned by James Marston.
About the time the town was incorporated as Andover, in 1779, the business of farming was not very far advanced. The fields and pastures were small, stony and thickly studded with tree stumps. The fences were temporary and mainly made of half- burned logs from the clearings, and of brush. Bridges were floored with logs hewn on one side only, while those over small
40
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
streams were made wholly of unhewn poles, spruee, hemloek or balsam. Hay was taken to the barns on poles, called "haypoles," by two men or was drawn on sleds by oxen. Roads were erooked, narrow and uneven, and often plentifully supplied with mud holes.
The building of stone walls did not begin till about 1800. Probably more than three quarters of the stone walls have been built since 1820. Walls were not built until after the stumps and roots had decayed or had been dug out and burned. The second stage of land elearing and wall building was inaugurated when the loose stone that cumbered the surfaces of field and pasture were gathered into the "double walls" that are scattered throughout the town. The building of these walls began about 1830. A good example of this kind of wall may be seen beside the road on the Ezekiel Knowles farm on the hill south of East Andover village.
When the inventory of taxable property was made April 1, 1777, there were 47 voters or "polls" returned by the committee. The total assessed value of real estate was £71 6s. 6d. and the assessment made on that valuation was £5. The inventory eom- mittee fixed upon the following relative values :
4 aeres of pasture were necessary for one cow ;
1 aere of orchard was supposed to produce 10 barrels of cider ;
1 aere of field would yield one ton of hay ;
1 aere of tillage would yield 25 bushels of corn.
HOUSES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
All the houses of those who settled in Andover before 1770 are believed to have been constructed of pine, hemlock or spruee logs. The first cabin of Joseph Fellows was built chiefly of hem- loek logs and the roof was made of spruce poles and large sheets of hemlock bark. The ground floor of the earliest houses was made of logs hewn on three sides. The best and widest side was laid uppermost and the other two sides were hewn straight to make the floor as tight as possible. The floors of the small atties or garrets of those houses were made of small straight spruce poles laid close together.
The first windows were sometimes made of four small pieces
41
EARLY SETTLERS.
of "bull's eye" glass, but more frequently the light came into the primitive cabin through a woodchuck skin, from which the hair had been removed, rubbed down thin, well-greased and stretched over a small frame fitted into an opening cut in the log walls.
Edward Ladd built his first house on a spot about eight rods south of the barn owned in 1902 by Napoleon B. Bryant. In one respect this house was more pretentious than any other build- ing in town. While the walls were made of logs, the roof was covered with sawed boards which Mr. Ladd hauled on a hand sled, three at a load, from the sawmill of Col. Ebenezer Webster on Salisbury "North Road."
"Clove," or "riven," boards, that is, boards split from the log and hewn with axe or adze, or shaved with drawknife, were used for many years to cover the roofs of log houses; and to a . period considerably later than 1800 they were used for the roofs' of sheds and barns. The last construction of this character in Andover, so far as now known, was on a barn built by Elijah Hilton on the farm now owned by Henry W. Kilburn. In 1850 this roof was as sound and substantial as it was rare and inter- esting.
The very last of the old series of log houses in Andover was built by Moses Brown at the south side of Chance Pond before that part of the town was made a part of Franklin. Some per- sons now living may remember the picturesque appearance of the cabin by the brook near Aiken's beach.
The "Stevens house," next west of the Capt. Caleb Marston farm, is the oldest house standing on the Emery Road, and is of the average size of the earliest "frame" houses built in Andover.
Willard Emery, son of William, the early settler, built the first framed house in the Emery district. This house was taken down, moved to Cilley's Hill and was long occupied there as a dwelling by Samuel Page and family. Mrs. Page was noted for her strenuous, stentorian voice, and when, after each sermon in the old meeting-house, she rose to exhort the impenitent, it was said that she made the sounding board shake, if not the knees of sinners.
The chimneys of some of the log houses were ingeniously con-
42
HISTORY OF ANDOVER.
structed without bricks or stone, except about the fireplaces. Four tall, straight poles formed the corners of the great flues. Across these poles, as the flues grew in height, were fastened short and smaller sticks, like the rungs of a ladder but close together, to serve the same purpose as modern laths. This frame was plastered thiekly on both sides with a mixture of elay and blue-joint grass, until sufficient thickness was attained to make a strong smoke-and-spark-proof chimney. Above the roof the chimney was finished with a low structure of stone or brick as a protection against rain and frost.
The last house in town to exhibit this peculiar kind of chimney was the one occupied for several years by the Revolutionary War veteran, Samuel McGowan. The house was standing as late as . 1845, on the road a little west of the present schoolhouse at Cilleyville.
NOTES ON THE WEATHER, STORMS, FRESHIETS, DROUGHTS AND FROSTS IN ANDOVER.
As the indications of the ordinary thermometer of the present day are generally far from trustworthy, it is more than probable that the readings of such thermometers 100 or 150 years ago are not entitled to much weight. The recorded results, from changes. of temperature, in sudden or excessive heat or cold, are more valuable for our purpose. The following items are compiled from private diaries, letters, newspapers and other publications. and probably represent a very small portion of the phenomena which if thoroughly and systematically observed and recorded would be of great interest today.
1762 -- No considerable amount of rain fell in New Breton during 123 days preceding September 1. This great drought. extended over a large portion of New England.
1771-Little or no snow until the last of January.
1780-The coldest winter known, up to this date, in New Hampshire. No rain or thaw during the winter; the spring very backward. A great freshet, in 1780, swept down sand, gravel and loam and formed the bank or levee now existing between Blackwater River and Horseshoe Pond. Previous to this date the space between the pond and the river was occupied by a low sandy marsh. On May 19 occurred the so-called "dark day," which extended over all New England.
1784-May was a very cold month; the apple trees were not in blossom until May 30.
1785-Very deep snow. After April 17 William, father of Anthony Emery, with a team of six oxen, hauled logs from a timber lot across fences and stone walls without breaking through the "crust."
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