USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Antrim > History of the town of Antrim, N.H. for a period of one century from 1744 to 1844 > Part 2
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A few families had made openings in the forest, and erected their log cabins, in the vicinity of the present Bridge Village, in Hills- boro', a little prior to 1744. One of their associates was Philip Riley, a native of Ireland, who had resided for a time in Sudbury, Ms. He began, 1744, to make a farm; the one now occupied by Hon. Jacob Whittemore, and built a small log house. The place was supposed at the time to be included within the limits of Hills-
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boro', but afterwards on the adjustment of the lines it was found to fall into Antrim. Riley was the pioneer of the settlement of the place.
Two years afterwards he was compelled to flee. April 26, 1746, a party of Indians attacked a garrisoned house in Hopkinton, the in- mates being asleep, and the door having been left open by one who had gone out early to feed the cattle ; the enemy rushed in, and led off eight captives into the wilderness. This event spread alarm through the infant settlements on Contoocook river ; the few families in Hillsboro' deserted their habitations, repaired to places of safety in the lower towns, and did not return till after the lapse of fifteen years. Riley went with them, having buried or concealed whatever of his effects he could not carry away. He went to Concord, Ms. During his fifteen years' absence, Antrim was uninhabited, and un- visited, except now and then by hunters, and by one surveying party.
In 1746, a company of gentlemen in Portsmouth purchased of the heirs of John Mason, the original grantee of New-Hampshire, all their claims on the vacant lands within the Province. By the politic measure of quitclaiming all the towns that had been previously grant- ed by New-Hampshire, and afterwards the townships that had been granted by Massachusetts, they prevented any effectual opposition to their title. These purchasers were often called at that day, the Lord Proprietors. The large tract of land between Hillsboro' on the north, Peterboro' on the south, New-Boston and Lyndeboro' on the east, having never been granted by either Province, fell of course into the hands of these Proprietors, and from the circumstance of its being owned by them in company, it was called " The Society Land." The name, "Cumberland," sometimes given it in early times, soon fell into disuse. It included Antrim, Hancock, Bennington, Deering, and the west portions of Francestown and Greenfield.
The peace of 1748 being followed by a few years of respite from the calamities of war, the Proprietors were enabled, 1753, to cause a survey to be made of the Society Land, without danger of molesta- tion from the Indians. Robert Fletcher, with a party of men, exe- cuted the work, and divided the whole tract into fifteen shares. The time was about midway between Riley's departure and return.
The capture of Quebec in 1759, followed by the conquest of all Canada from the French, having removed the danger of Indian in- cursions, the refugees from Hillsboro' returned to their homes, 1761, and found the inclosed frame of a meeting-house, erected prior to the abandonment of the town, burnt; probably by some reckless hunters. Riley returned at the same time to Antrim, and found his axe and chains safe in the hollow log where he had hid them. A thick growth of young cherries and poplars had overspread his "clearing," and so effectually concealed his little log cabin, that it required some search to find it. In the six following years, his was the only family in town ; he was, however, near to neighbors in Hillsboro'.
In 1766, the Masonian Proprietors published an advertisement, setting forth the fertility of the lands on Contoocook river, and
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inviting young men to visit and examine them. This induced seven young men from Londonderry, James Aiken, William Smith, James Duncan, James Hogg, George and James Otterson, and - Perry, to come the same season, and view the region, under the impression that the proprietors would give to each a lot of land, to encourage the settlement. They were pleased with the lands, made some small openings in the forest near the South Village, and returned to Lon- donderry to pass the winter. The next year, James Aiken removed his family, consisting of himself, wife, and four children, into a log cabin built on the first spot of dry land he came to on this side the river, a little east of Thayer's mill yard, Aug. 12, 1767 ; expecting to be soon followed by his associates in the exploration of the pre- ceding year. He was doomed in this respect to a severe disappoint- ment. It being ascertained that the lands were attainable, not as a donation, but only by purchase, some of them relinquished the en- terprise altogether, and the rest resolved to postpone the matter.
Unexpectedly left alone in the wilderness, Aiken, afterwards Dea. Aiken, who was a man of fortitude, energy and perseverance, resolv- ed to make the best of his situation. He had, as he supposed, proof of a promise from the proprietors of a lot of land, as a donation ; but in the end was compelled to pay for it at half a pistareen per acre, the land being that which now constitutes the farm of Mr. McKean. The nearest neighbor on the west was John Bellows, of Walpole ; on the north, Riley, at the distance of five miles ; two settlers had planted themselves in Hancock, three in Deering, and five in Francestown. In autumn, his swine, ranging the woods for beechnuts, were killed by a bear. Late in the season, Thomas Nich- ols, a lad who had run away in discontent from a master in Newbury- port, came to Dea. Aiken's for concealment, and remained for a good while, a useful inmate of his house. He soon shot the bear that had killed the swine; having in jest promised beforehand to have that bear "to grease his beard ;" and not long after killed a moose near the spot now occupied by Mrs. Crane's barn.
The state of the surrounding country at this time may be inferred from the results of a census taken this year, which gave to Hills- boro' 64 inhabitants ; to Peterboro' 443; to Lyndeboro', then includ- ing the eastern section of Greenfield, 272; to New-Boston 296. The only settled minister in the region was the Rev. Mr. Morrison, of Peterboro'. Rev. Mr. Moor had begun to preach in New-Boston, but was not ordained till the following year.
In February, 1768, Dea. Aiken lost a young child by sickness. He had no materials for a coffin but split pieces of ash, and no one to aid him in the burial but the lad, Nichols. An immense body of snow covered the ground. He buried the child in his own field, near the site of the house recently built by George C. Duncan. The next April, on the 15th, was born Polly, daughter of Deacon Aiken; this being the first birth in the town. She married Eben'r Kimball, once of Antrim, afterwards of Hill ; survived her husband, and is yet liv- ing, very aged, in Rindge. About four years after, was born James
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Aiken, son of Deacon James, the first born male child in the place, and now living in the State of New-York.
The nearest grain mills were at Hillsboro,' Peterboro', and New- Boston. In the summer, Dea. Aiken went to New-Boston for corn, and was detained there by illness four days. In his absence the cows strayed away, and two days were spent in searching for them, in vain. The second night, the mother put her children to bed, sup- perless and crying for hunger; not, however, without kneeling down by the bed-side, and commending them to GOD. Next morning was the Sabbath ; Nichols discovered pigeons on a tree, asked Mrs. Aiken if it would be wrong to shoot them on Sunday, and was told that as they were starving it was a work of necessity. He made a bad shot, killing but one pigeon ; that one pigeon, however, with a few ground nuts, made a broth which relieved their hunger. Tow- ard night the cows, which had wandered over the river, far away, were found near the present centre of Greenfield. The task of transport- ing his grain to a distant mill, and of bringing the meal home, was among the hardest that fell to his lot. On one occasion, the Deacon and the lad who was in his service, started for the nearest mill, at Hillsboro', carrying on their backs a bushel and a half of grain. Arriving at the nearest house, five miles from his own, he learned that the mill was broken and could not be repaired for some days. Leaving his grain, he returned. Necessity impelled to a second effort. Having neither horse nor road, he had the alternative of carrying a load to the mill in Peterboro', either on his back, or by a canoe voy- age up the river. He chose the latter, loaded the canoe with grain, towed it with great fatigue up the stream, and arrived at night within three miles of the mill, when by same mishap the canoe was overset, and the bags went to the bottom. Before they could be recovered, the grain was soaked and spoiled.
In 1769 he built a barn, the first framed building in town, on the spot now occupied by the barn of Mr. Mckean. He had previously cut the logs for the boards and plank near Hillsboro' bridge, pro- cured them to be sawed there, and transported the boards to his place on the ice of the river. He built the same season a new log house. The bark being peeled from the logs, and leaving them white, his children felt quite proud of their new white house. It stood on the site of Mr. McKean's old house, now occupied by Starks Hadley.
A great freshet occurred, March, 1770, making the river for a time impassable. Mrs. Aiken at this time, gave birth to her youngest daughter, the family being destitute of bread, and seeing none for some weeks. As soon as the river was passable, her husband went to New-Boston for a nurse and supplies, leaving her in the care of her elder children, aided by John Gordon, a Scottish Highlander. Not long after, a stranger knocked at the Deacon's door one evening, and offered to work in his service for his board. He gave his name as George Bemain; was a foreigner, born on the seas, of middle age, a deserter from the British at Boston ; had followed marked trees, and swam the streams, in search of a place of concealment. Next
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morning he took up a Bible, remarking that he had scarce seen a good book for forty years, and would try himself at reading. He proved to be a good reader, resided in the family some years, and made himself useful by laboring on the farm, and teaching the children to read. He taught the first school in Hillsboro', and is said to have been in youth a school-mate of the well-known Dilworth, author of the spelling-book used in England and America a century ago. Enlist- ing into the army, he finally lost his life in the American cause, in the battle of White Plains. In the course of the summer, John Duncan and William Smith visited the place, were pleased with the lands, and purchased each a lot at half a pistareen an acre.
Dea. Aiken, having spent four years as the only occupant of South-Antrim, had the pleasure to receive a near neighbor, by the removal of William Smith hither, 1771, who built a house a little south of Henry Hills'. Aiken and Smith were men of congenial spirit, pious, and happy in each other's society. As an instance of their unbounded mutual confidence, it is said that Aiken having bought a pair of oxen of Smith, and given his note for the money, Smith said to him, "I have no desk, do you keep the note till I call for it." Aiken kept the note, uncalled for, till he was ready to pay it ; then delivered it safe to Smith, and immediately redeemed it, by paying the full amount.
In 1772, Randall Alexander began the farm, now Mr. Dow's; John Gordon and Maurice Lynch began settlements at the North Branch. Soon after Gordon planted himself here, Philip Riley un- dertook to make him a visit, laying his course from his home, (now Judge Whittemore's,) across the mountain. Darkness came on sooner than he expected, he became bewildered on the mountain, and was forced to lie out in the woods. Next morning he found his way to Gordon's, and, after relating his mishap, said, the mountain should ever after be called "Riley's Mountain."
This is the date of a visit to Antrim, a narrative of which was given at the celebrated Festival of the Sons of New-Hampshire, in Boston, 1849, and excited a good deal of interest. Mr. Samuel Gregg, the oldest son of New-Hampshire present, stated his distinct recollection, that his parents, residing in Peterboro', determined to visit their nearest neighbor on the river, James Aiken, of Antrim. On a cold winter's day, his mother threw on her the scarlet cloak, worn by the great-grandmothers of the present generation, and walked with her husband on the ice of the river, twelve miles, to Antrim. On their arrival, they found their friends absent, having gone on a visit to New-Boston. Jane, the eldest daughter, about twelve years old, prepared for them the refreshment of a cup of tea and a short-cake, then considered a first rate article, an almost indispensable accom- paniment of tea for company ; an article truly excellent, as baked by our great-grandmothers before a glowing bed of coals. After tea the disappointed visitants retraced their steps on the river ice, arriv- ing at their home in the evening, wearied with the long and fruitless walk. Their return was none too soon." That very night brought a
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sudden change of weather, and a rain so powerful as to break up the ice of the river; and there being a great depth of snow and no roads, their return home, had they lingered on their visit, had been for weeks impracticable. Mr. Gregg, after relating at the Festival this incident, offered the following sentiment :- "The first settlers of New- Hampshire; their privations and virtues can never be forgotten by natives of the Granite State."
Another of Dea. Aiken's children died this season, and was bu- ried in a spot fifty or sixty rods east of Dea. Nichols', where it was then supposed the centre of the town might be established. He removed to this spot the remains of the child, whom he had buried in his own field. Several other children were here laid in graves. When the old burying-ground on Meeting-House hill was laid out and inclosed, some of these children were disinterred and removed to that cemetery, while the dust of others was suffered to remain undis- turbed. The graves are now obliterated, and the precise location cannot be ascertained.
John Duncan, afterwards Esquire, removed his family here, mak- ing the seventh in the place, 1773. The cart on which his goods were transported from Londonderry, being the first that ever entered the town, was driven by his uncle, the Hon. John Bell, father of the late Governors Samuel and John Bell. The river was passed by ford- ing at a sand bar near the mouth of Great Brook. One of Mr. Duncan's daughters, Naomi, then a little girl in her fourth year, the wife of Dea. Robert Duncan, is still living, having resided in town seventy-nine years ; sprightly for one of her years, and able constant- ly to attend public worship.
In 1774, Joseph Boyd, James Duncan, Daniel McFarland and James Dickey settled in the south-east part of the town; John Warren and James Moor at the North Branch. The same year, John Burns began the farm in the High Range, a part of which is occupied by Widow Weston ; and a man named Hutchinson, from Amherst, made a " clear- ing" on the lot west of Mr. Webster's. On the approach of winter, Burns returned to New-Boston, whence he came ; and having exchang- ed his lot in Antrim with his brother Robert, for a place in New-Boston, he never came back to reside here, Robert taking his place. John was a man of energy and 'perseverance. While a resident here, he once went a hunting up North Branch river with Moses Steele, of Hillsboro'. Steele crossed the river to the north bank, while Burns kept the south. A bear discovered and pursued Steele, who fled across the stream toward Burns; the bear still pursuing and enter- ing the water, Steele turned to fire at the animal, but in cocking his gun, his flint dropped into the water. He cried to Burns to flee, or climb a tree ! who coolly replied that he would take care of himself, then fired and killed the bear, which had come almost up to Steele. Mr. Burns represented New-Boston in the Legislature, half a century ago; removed thence to Whitefield, N. H., being the first settler of that town ; represented that place in the Legislature a few years ago, when eighty years old ; was much the eldest member, and was regarded
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with respect as the Father of the House. About 1848, he visited Antrim, performing the journey of one hundred and forty miles in a waggon, alone. He died, 1852.
Additional settlers came, 1775, or very soon after : Alexander Jameson, Matthew Templeton, Richard McAlister, Thomas Stuart, and John McClary. By a census taken this year, the population of Society Land was 177. From the original Society Land, a portion had been detached, 1772, to aid in the formation of the town of Francestown ; and in 1774, another and larger portion, constituting the whole of the town of Deering. What remained to constitute Society Land as it existed in 1775, was Antrim, Hancock, the west- ern section of Greenfield, and the greater portion of Bennington. Of this sum total of 177 inhabitants, not more than sixty, or at the most seventy, lived within the present limits of Antrim.
Lexington battle, April 19th, electrified the country. The spring was early and the grass-fields green. Men either flew with speed, or fired guns to give the alarm to their neighbors. The scattered inhabitants of Society Land promptly assembled at Dea. Aiken's, elected Isaac Butterfield, of Greenfield, their Captain, and marched forthwith toward Boston, to defend the liberties of their country : a band of as brave hearts and as true patriotism as could be found in America. Next morning, the women came together with the provis- ions they had prepared during the night ; and after a fervent prayer by William Smith, his female auditory being in tears, he set out with a load of provisions to overtake the company, John Gordon being the only adult male left in town. The company proceeded to Tyngs- boro', there met Gen. Stark, who told them there were men enough near Boston, and advised them to return and plant their corn, hold- ing themselves ready to march at a moment's warning : adding, that however rusty their guns, he knew of no men with whom he would sooner trust his life in the hour of battle. On being thus advised, the company returned.
No inhabitant of Antrim was personally engaged in the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17th. On the next day, Burns and Hutchinson, who had resided here the preceding season, adventured to go to a deserted house on Charlestown Neck, thinking they might perchance pick up some articles that would be useful. While there, a cannon ball from a British ship of war struck Hutchinson, wounding him so badly, that though he was carried off into the American lines, he died in two days.
The first sermon ever delivered in Antrim was in September, 1775, by Rev. Mr. Davidson, of Londonderry, in Deacon Aiken's barn. A few weeks afterwards the Rev. Mr. McGregor, of Londonderry, preached the first sermon ever delivered in Francestown, in Dea. Hopkins' barn, on the Gibson place. To this meeting several chil- dren were carried from Antrim to be baptized.
A saw-mill, the first in the place, was built, 1776, by John War- ren, at the present North Branch village. Later in the season, James Aiken and Joseph Boyd built another on Great Brook, on the site of
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Thayer's mill. The same year a bridge was built over Contoocook river, east of Dea. Baldwin's, and made barely passable, but was not finished till three years after. To be told that in early times it was called the Great Bridge, may provoke a smile on the part of those familiar with bridges of modern erection; but it was truly great, contrasted with the poverty and fewness of the builders.
The precise date of the organization of the first military company in town has not been ascertained. Its officers were, John Duncan, Captain ; Thomas Nichols, Lieutenant; James Dickey, Ensign. That the organization must have been as early as 1776, is certain from the circumstance, that in the Charter of Incorporation, granted early the next year, John Duncan is styled Captain ; also from the fact, that about the time of the battle of White Plains, near New- York, Sept. 1776, James Dickey, being placed as a sentry at night, disappeared, and was never more heard of. Various conjectures were formed in relation to his fate, but all were veiled in uncertainty. He was a young married man of much promise, and his loss was lament- ed. In the battle of White Plains, just referred to, George Bemain, who had lived some years in town, and had enlisted in the American service, was killed.
At this period the people were able to obtain only one or two Sab- bath's preaching in a year, furnished, in most instances gratuitously, by neighboring ministers ; the Rev. Messrs. Morrison, of Peterboro', Goodridge, of Lyndeboro', Moor, of New-Boston, Houston, of Bed- ford, and Barnes, of Hillsboro'. On one occasion of this kind, Dea. Aiken was conveying Mr. Morrison here in a boat, on the river, there being no road ; when by some accident the boat was overset, both were plunged into deep water, and Mr. Morrison narrowly escaped drowning.
The year 1777 is an eventful one in the history of the town. There being about twenty families, and twenty-three resident free- holders, they felt the necessity of an Incorporation, conferring on them town powers and privileges, and appointed John Duncan their agent to present their petition to this effect, and to sustain it before the Legislature. He obtained the Act, March 22d, and at his re- quest the place was called Antrim, after the County of that name in Ireland, whence the fathers, or grandfathers of the first settlers had emigrated to America. It was to include the northern half of the unincorporated land west of Contoocook river, between Hillsboro' and Peterboro'. The lines had been previously run by Fletcher, of Portsmouth, and Col. Blanchard, of Amherst ; John Duncan, James Aiken, and Daniel Nichols, being chain-carriers. The southern half of the tract was incorporated two years afterwards by the name of Hancock. A copy of the Charter is subjoined, as a document not uninteresting to the present and future generations :-
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" In the year of our Lord, 1777. STATE OF NEW - HAMPSHIRE.
AN ACT to incorporate part of a place called the Society Land, in the County of Hillsborough, in the State of New-Hampshire.
Great Seal.
Whereas, a petition has been preferred to the General Court in behalf of the inhabitants of a part of that tract of land in the County of Hillsboro', setting forth that for want of an Incorporation they were exposed to many difficulties and inconveniences, and praying that they may be incorporated : of which due notice has been given, and no objection having been made to it, and it appearing to be for the public good,-
BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Council and House of Rep- resentatives, and by the authority of the same it is enacted, that there be and hereby is a Township erected and incorporated by the name of ANTRIM, within the following bounds, viz :- Beginning at the north-westerly corner of Deering, and thence running southerly by said Deering, according to the course of Contoocook river, which is the westerly line of Deering, till it comes opposite to the easterly end of the line between the great lots, number three and four; thence running from the said river, westerly, to the northeasterly corner of said lot numbered Three ; thence running still westerly on the said line between the said lots, to the easterly line of Packersfield, (now Nelson ;) thence running northerly by said Packersfield and by Stoddard, to Campbell's Gore, so called, (now Windsor ;) thence running easterly by said Campbell's Gore, and by Hillsboro', to the bound where it began. And the inhabitants of said tract of land are erected into a body politic and corporate, to have continuance and succession forever ; and are hereby invested with all the powers, and enfranchised with all the rights, privileges, and immunities which any town in this State hold and enjoy. To hold to the inhabitants of said tract of land and their successors, forever.
And Capt. John Duncan, of said Antrim, is hereby authorized and empowered to call a meeting of said inhabitants, to choose all necessary and customary Town Officers, giving at least fourteen days notice of the time, place, and design of such meeting; and such officers shall hereby be invested with all the powers of the like officers in any other town in the State. And every other meeting which shall be held annually in said town for that purpose, shall be on the second Tuesday of March annually, forever.
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