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 9
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Nathan Cole, from Boxford, Ms., came to Antrim, 1795, lived on the Jeremiah Hill farm, had a large family. His son, Nathan, lived near Lynn Parker's, and removed with his father-in-law, Capt. T. Nichols, to New-York. Another son, John, lived a short time on Meeting-house Hill, and removed together with his father, Nathan, about 1802, to the town of Hill.
Abraham Smith was a native of Hudson, bought the farm now owned in part by Mr. Preston, 1795, lived in a house then standing on the old road, died, 1816. None of his numerous family remain in town.
Asahel Cram came from Francestown, 1795; lived at first in a house once standing between Jeremiah Hill's and Daniel Holt's, which was built by Samuel McMaster ; afterwards on the farm lately purchased by Clark Hopkins; died, 1835, aged 69.
Heath, from Hampstead, lived a few years, from 1795 to about 1800, in a house then standing between Clinton Village and James Boyd's. Removed from town.
Jonas Hubbard began to reside in Antrim, 1795, in a dwelling which stood on the road from Reuben Robinson's, 2d, to the north end of Gregg's pond. Removed to Hollis, 1801.
Benjamin, Robert, and Nehemiah Knight, brothers, removed to Antrim from Middleton, Ms., 1795, and lived on the farm now Mr. Starrett's. Their sister, Phebe, was killed by the fall of a tree, 1799, as she was gathering oven wood near the spot where her brothers were felling trees. The next year, Robert was killed by the fall of a
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tree, his axe being driven almost through his shoulder ; Benjamin was wounded by the same tree, but recovered. He removed not long after 1800, with his aged father, Jonathan, to the farm where John Robinson now lives, died, 1827, aged about 80. His widow lived to be considerably more than 90. Nehemiah, after living at various places in town, removed to New-York, and died there many years ago.
Josiah Duncan, afterwards well known as Dea. Josiah, was from Hancock, and planted himself in Antrim, 1795, on a farm recently purchased by N. W. C. Jameson, a little west of Mr. Newton's. He was an elder of the Presbyterian church, a pious and exemplary man, died, 1833, aged 62. Most of his descendants have emigrated to other places.
William Starrett, tanner, came here from Francestown somewhat prior to 1795, possibly two years earlier; built the house recently oc- cupied by Nathan White, removed to Maine about 1801.
Isaac Baldwin, from Amherst, became a resident of this place, 1795, lived on the farm inherited from him by his son, Dea. Isaac Baldwin, was an enterprising and useful citizen, frequently the mod- erator of town meetings, died 1811, aged 53. Four of his daughters married physicians ; one of his sons, Doct. Dexter Baldwin, is a physician in Marlboro', Ms .; Samuel resides in Bennington ; Cyrus, a graduate of Dartmouth, has been for years an associate preceptor of the Academy at Plainfield, N. H.
Samuel and William Mc.Adams, brothers, removed here from Hudson, 1795 ; were originally from Londonderry; Samuel lived on the Daniel Holt farm; William on the Patten hill, in a house which was demolished years ago; both removed to Tunbridge, Vt., about 1808.
Taylor Joslin fixed his abode in town, 1794 or '95, on the farm now George F. Parmenter's ; removed, 1800, first to Holderness, afterwards to Northfield. Was in the Revolutionary service; at one time was taken prisoner by the Indians, and compelled to run the gauntlet between two lines of savages, one of men, the other of wo- men, each giving him a blow. He used to say that the blows given by the squaws were harder than those of the men.
Benj. Symonds, from Mont-Vernon, became an inhabitant of An- trim, as early as 1793, lived on the farm where the widow of his son, Benjamin, at present resides ; died 1827, aged 65. One son, John, and two daughters remain in town.
Robert Tennant removed to this town from Deering, 1795, lived many years where Cyrus J. Whitney now does; died 1843, aged more than 80.
Hutchinson Flint, was from Mont-Vernon; came to this place 1795 ; lived on the farm now the town's farm; was bed-rid many years ; died 1817.
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Zadoc Reed, a revolutionary soldier who had served through the war, and was never wounded, came here in 1795, lived on the Clark farm and at other places in town, died 1827, aged 75. Came from Litchfield.
Boyd Hopkins, from Francestown, purchased the farm, 1796, at present occupied by his son, Robert; died 1833, aged 78. His aged widow survived, at the age of about 88; two daughters live in town, and eight daughters have deceased. Solomon, a son, resides in Alstead.
Jacob Tuttle, from Lyttleton, Ms., opened a store at the place now his son Madison's, 1796, and transacted there a large and profitable business, both in trade and agriculture; afterwards removed his resi- dence and trade to Branch Village. In 1800, he lost all his children by the dysentery, but had a numerous family afterwards. He sustained many town offices; represented Antrim in the Legislature for many years; was Senator, Councillor, a Judge of the County Court of Sessions, an Elector of President of the U. S. Died 1848, aged 81. His widow, an intelligent woman, much respected, died 1852. Two sons and two daughters reside here; others have died or removed.
Benj. Sargeant, clothier, from Mont-Vernon, lived on the old Breed stand, in South Village, from 1796 to about 1800, and re- moved to Maine.
Andrew Robb, from Peterboro', became a resident of Antrim, 1796, lived on Robb mountain, to which he gave his name, was a large landholder, removed to New-York many years ago, and died there. One daughter, wife of John Robinson, remains here. A brother of Andrew, Moor Robb, also lived on the mountain, and emigrated to New-York.
John Case, a native of Middleton, Ms., emigrated from Mont- Vernon to this town, 1796, had been a revolutionary soldier, lived some years on the Stephen Butterfield farm, died, 1828, quite aged.
Samuel Potter, from Dunbarton or Goffstown, purchased the Stephen Butterfield farm, 1796, lost all his children, three in number, in the dysentery of 1800, removed to Henniker about 1803.
Alex. Thompson was an emigrant from Perth, Scotland, became a resident of Antrim, 1797, died 1827, leaving the homestead to his son, George Thompson.
James Taylor, from Dunstable, became an inhabitant as early as 1797, married a daughter of John Duncan, Esq., lived at different places in this town, removed in 1814 to Lyndeboro', thence to Cor- nish, and thence to Herkimer, N. Y., where he died about 1838.
William Wilkins removed to this town from Mont-Vernon, 1798, lived on the farm at the present date occupied by his widow, Betsy Wilkins, died 1837, aged 63. William had a brother, James, who came here two or three years later, lived on the farm now his son's,
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Dea. Joel Wilkins, died 1804, in early life ; also another brother, Enoch, who died suddenly, 1850.
Isaiah and Nathan Webster were from New-Salem, N. H., and brothers. The former came here about 1795, lived a few years on the Dea. Nichols farm, and removed from town. He was in the military service in the war of 1812, and died in this place, 1815, of lung fever, on his return from the army to his family in Salem. Nathan came hither, 1798, died 1845, aged 73, leaving his home- stead to his son, Enos Webster.
John Allds, from Peterboro', became a resident here about 1798, lived on the Jesse Combs place, removed from town near thirty years ago, and is supposed to be yet living in north-western Pennsyl- vania.
Ebenezer Marsh lived in a house once standing on the mountain, west of Dea. Worthley's, came from Hudson, 1798, removed back to that place, 1807, and has since deceased.
Parker Morse lived on the Amos Dodge farm from about 1798 to 1816, when he removed, first to Vermont, afterwards to northern Illinois, where he is still living, aged about 80. He was known as Capt. Morse, and was a valuable citizen.
Zaccheus Fairbanks was from Framingham, Ms., removed to An- trim, 1798, lived on the Edward L. Vose farm, and at other places, died 1845, aged 86.
Jesse Wilson lived on the farm inherited from him by his son, Capt. James Wilson, from 1798 to 1812, when he died of spotted fever, in middle age. He was from Pelham.
Josiah Hayward removed his family hither from Westford, Ms., 1798, lived in town at various places more than thirty years, removed to Alexandria, and died a few years since.
Peter Robinson emigrated with his family from Hudson, 1799, lived where his son, Reuben, now does, died 1828, advanced in years. Two other sons, Asa and John, reside in town.
John M. Collins came from Braintree, Ms., 1799, purchased the mills in Branch Village, removed to Francestown, 1806, still lives there, quite aged.
John Taylor, known as Dea. Taylor, removed to this place from Beverly, Ms., in 1800, lived on the Raymond farm, was an elder of the Presbyterian church, removed to Union, N. Y., about 1824, and has deceased ; his son, John, who for some years led the church music, also removed to the west, and died in Wisconsin.
George Gates removed his family hither from Framingham, 1800, lived in a house that once stood south of Daniel Holt's, died 1844, in his 93d year. He recollected that when a boy, about ten years old, he knew a man in Framingham, then over 100 years old, and
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who lived to be 110; Mr. Gates was of course cotemporary with a man, who was cotemporary with many of the very earliest Pilgrim fathers of New-England. He was a revolutionary soldier, and re- tained to the last a vivid recollection of the incidents of the war. One son, Charles, and two daughters reside in town.
Amos Parmenter, who still lives at the age of 79, came from Fra- mingham, 1800; is an elder of the Presbyterian church ; has sustained various town offices, been representative and justice of the peace. Three of his sons, Prescot, John S., and George F., reside in town ; others of his children have died or emigrated, some of them to Illinois.
James Ball came from Townsend, about 1800, lived many years on the western declivity of Robb mountain, removed some years since to Marlow, and still survives at a great age.
Charles and William T. Tuttle, father and son, removed their families hither from Hamilton, Ms., as early as 1800, if not a little sooner ; both lived, in separate houses, on the northern declivity of Tuttle mountain, imparting to it their own name. The father, Charles, died 1826, aged 78; his widow survived to the age of about 94. The son removed, many years ago, to the State of Ohio.
William Combs, from Peterboro', came to this place as early as 1800, lived some years on the Thomas Holmes farm, died 1840, aged 84.
The above list of names comprises almost all who became residents of Antrim, prior to the close of the last century. A few other names have been found, of whom very little information has been obtained : as Thomas Patch, - Hoyt, Jona. Flanders, David Hopkins, Henry White, Stephen Hall, William Davidson, Stephen Reynolds, William Johnson, Robert McAuley, and Adam Dickey. The first five lived, in succession, through the period from 1788 to about 1804, each for a short time, in the Dea. Sawyer house, when it was standing a little north of the old meeting-house. To many readers, the list will be uninteresting; to others, whose memory extends back to olden time, it may be gratifying. Great pains have been taken to ensure correct- ness in the dates ; very many of them, being derived from records, are reliable ; as to others, dependent on the memory of aged persons, there may be some uncertainty ; an error, now and then, will doubt- less be discovered ; but even those dates not perfectly correct, will be found, it is believed, near approximations to the truth.
Many of the persons named in the preceding list, of whom no character is given, were valuable citizens-men of moral excellence, and undoubted piety.
"Those suns are set !
O, rise, some other such .- "
. Within the present century, Antrim has received numerous acces- sions of enterprising and respectable immigrants; but further to extend notices of individuals, many of whom are yet living, would be scarcely proper, and would tax too severely the patience of the reader.
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TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION.
The town of Antrim lies in the north-western part of the county of Hillsboro', twenty-two miles north of the Massachusetts line, almost equidistant from the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers, and a few miles east of the height of land between them. Its boundaries are as follows : beginning at the south-east corner of the township, on Contoocook river, thence running due west one hundred and forty rods on the north line of Bennington, to the north-west corner of that town; thence, still due west, on the north line of Hancock, 1855 rods, to Nelson line ; the whole south line extending six miles and almost a fourth, with the exception of a break in its continuity and a small indentation into the territory of the town, by the annex- ation, a few years ago, of the small homestead of John Flint to Hancock. From the south-west corner, the line runs north twelve degrees east, on the east line of Nelson, in the county of Cheshire, 302 rods, to the south-east corner of Stoddard, in the same county; thence north fifteen degrees east, on the east line of Stoddard, 1450 rods, to Windsor line, the whole extent of the west line being very nearly five and a half miles. From the north-west corner, on Stoddard line, the line of Antrim runs east three degrees north, on Windsor south line, two miles and 312 rods, to the south-west corner of Hillsboro' ; thence east, five degrees north, on the south line of Hillsboro', three miles and two hundred and forty rods, to Contoocook river ; the whole north line being in length six miles and 232 rods. The river forms the eastern boundary of the town, dividing it from Deering and Ben- nington ; its general course from the south-east to the north-east corner varying not far from north fifteen or twenty degrees east. The outlines approach somewhat to the form of a diamond, the average breadth from south to north being about five and one third miles. The superficial contents are not less than 32 square miles, and 21,000 acres. In the records of the perambulations of the town lines at different periods are found some discrepancies, but the account here given is taken from the latest record, and probably the most correct.
The prevailing soil is loam, rocky, but deep, in many places warm and moist, and not deficient in fertility. Some tracts approach to the character of a sandy loam, and are of easy cultivation. Of ara- ble land most of the farms have a sufficient proportion. There are some knolls of coarse gravel and pebbles, of little value ; but the pro- portion of such land is small. Many of the streams are bordered, in
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part, by natural meadows, fertile and beautiful ; some of them are overflowed in times of freshets, when the subsidence of the waters leaves a deposit of considerable value.
SURFACE. It is a tract of hills and vallies. On Contoocook river the handsome intervals and gradual rise of the bordering hills, im- part to the scenery a character approaching that of softness ; as you go west, it becomes bolder and more rugged; and rises near the west line of the town into a mountainous range, extending from North Branch river southerly, four or five miles, to Hancock line. This range is divided by two depressions of moderate depth into three distinct parts ; the northern portion is called Tuttle's mountain ; the central, Robb's mountain ; the third and south part, Bald mountain, from the circumstance that in early times a fire destroyed much of the timber, leaving the surface naked and bald. The two first divi- sions, Tuttle's and Robb's, were named from men once residing on their sides. Each of them has some minor depressions, breaking them into distinct summits, not distinguishable at a distance, but quite visible to the near observer.
Windsor mountain, north of North Branch river, is an elevated ridge, in some places precipitous, extending from east to west about three miles. Near its summit passes the line between Antrim and Windsor. On the southern front is a cave, not however of great ex- tent, and not very well repaying the labor of visiting it.
Riley's mountain, in the north-east part of the town, deriving its name from the first settler of the place, rises to an elevation of per- haps 1500 feet, and has two distinct summits, separated by a moderate depression. It lies between the Contoocook and North Branch rivers, near the point of their junction. A small portion of it extends into Hillsboro'. On the northern side of it plumbago or black lead is found, but not in such position and quantity as to encourage mining operations.
Other elevations, not dignified in common parlance with the name of mountains, yet worthy of notice, are Goodhue hill, east of Bald mountain, some hundred feet high, a portion of which extends into Hancock ; Patten hill, east of Gregg's pond, quite elevated ; Holt's hill, south of Patten's, inferior to it in height and magnitude, but commanding an extensive prospect, and covered with a rich, deep soil ; Hedgehog hill, east of Holt's, presenting a mural precipice worth visiting; Meeting-house hill, sometimes called Christie hill, extending from the Centre more than two miles, north-eastwardly. Nahor hill is chiefly in Hancock ; the northern portion, however, extends into Antrim almost to the South Village. Of smaller hills there are many; a few of them presenting an outline gracefully arched, while a larger number appear somewhat angular and rougher. These mountains and hills are covered with ranges of pasturage of excellent quality, to the amount of many thousand acres, particularly the range on Robb's mountain. It is supposed that no fatter grass- fed cattle are driven to market from any part of New-Hampshire,
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than from the pastures recently owned on this mountain by the late William Weston, to an extent of one thousand acres.
STREAMS. Much the largest is Contoocook river, one of the prin- cipal tributaries of the Merrimack. From its source in Rindge to its mouth in Concord is more than fifty miles, and its general course is a little east of north to Hillsboro', thence north-eastwardly to its entrance into the Merrimack. Its name is of Indian derivation; all other Indian names of objects in Antrim being irrecoverably lost. For six miles of its course, this fine stream forms the east boundary of the town, presenting in this distance no considerable rapid. Before the day of roads and bridges, its winter surface of ice gave to the early settlers almost their only channel of communication with other towns. It is bordered by many fertile intervals, is crossed within the limits of the town by three bridges, and contains the usual variety of river fish. Salmon formerly ascended to Antrim, and even higher.
North Branch river rises in Washington, and takes at first a south course through Long Pond, a singular sheet of water six miles long, and from two or three rods to half a mile in breadth, to Mill Village in Stoddard; thence through Island Pond almost to South Stoddard Village ; thence north-eastwardly into Antrim to the Branch Village ; passing thence near Hillsboro' Lower Village, it falls into the Con- toocook near the north-east angle of Antrim. This stream is romantic, easily swollen by rains, and in some parts of its course, roaring and impetuous. Within the limits of the town it is crossed by seven bridges. On it are three saw-mills, one trip-hammer, a tannery, two manufactories of shoe pegs, and an establishment for preparing raw silk, of foreign growth, for domestic uses. A good deal of valuable water power on this stream remains unoccupied. Formerly there were on it three grain mills, not now in operation.
Great Brook has two sources in the mountain range in the west part of the town ; these streams form a junction, and then run through meadows into Gregg's pond. The outlet, on the east shore, takes an eastern course, inclining to the south, three miles, into Contoocook river; the fall of the stream being in this distance about 460 feet ! On it are three corn-mills, four saw-mills, one woolen factory, not now operative, a small cotton factory, two tanneries, two hoe factories, a manufactory of looking-glass frames, one of powder kegs and chairs, one of colored window shades, three manufactories of tables, bedsteads, and cabinet-work, one of them on a large scale, four trip-hammer establishments, and a manufactory of doors and window-blinds. Although thirteen or fourteen dams have been built across this short stream, yet on the upper part of it quite an amount of water power remains unoccupied. Perhaps no other stream in New Hampshire, of a length not exceeding three miles from the pond to the river, furnishes an equal number of sites favorable to the propulsion of machinery by water. Few towns in the State, not situated on a large stream, are in this respect better provided for than Antrim.
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Cochran's brook, the outlet of Campbell's pond, takes a course of about three miles south by east, into Contoocook river, and affords water sufficient to turn a saw and grain mill, near its mouth. Mea- dow brook, so called in the old records, rises in a bog east of Caleb Clark's, takes a north-east course into Stelee's pond, where it mingles with the waters of North Branch river. Salmon brook falls into the North Branch at the "Trout-hole," once a noted fishing-place. Nu- merous other brooks and rivulets intersect the town in all directions, furnishing to almost every farm an ample supply of water. Springs, both superficial and subjacent, are in abundance ; few wells requiring to be sunk more than 12 or 15. feet.
PONDS. Gregg's pond, formerly called Pleasant pond, is the largest, covering an area of at least 200 hundred acres. It derived its name from Samuel Gregg, who built, about 1793, a corn and saw- mill near its outlet, and lies a little more than a mile south-west from the centre. The bottom of a large portion of it is a plain, covered by a depth of water from 32 to 34 feet; the remaining parts are more shallow. It is fed in part by subjacent springs ; the north-west shore is formed by a tract of low meadow ; other portions of the shore are broken and precipitous, especially on the east side, where Patten's hill rises abruptly from the margin of the water. Originally it abounded with perch and shiners, together with other varieties of pond fish, but contained no pickerel. About 1800, John Smith and others transported pickerel from Contoocook river to the pond, where they increased rapidly, soon exterminated the shiners, and have for many years yielded to the neighboring anglers large supplies. This pond is a favorite resort for parties of pleasure, and has been the scene of many a chowder dinner, and many a fourth-of-July pic-nic. For sixty years it has been crossed on the ice in winter by sleighs and heavy- laden sleds; some lives have been periled, but no person has been drowned in its waters. The pond serves as a great reservoir to many manufacturing establishments on its outlet.
Willard's pond derived its name from an old hunter, who, before the first settlement, fished in its waters and trapped on its shores. It lies in the southwest part of the town, near the Hancock line, on the eastern base of Bald mountain, and covers a surface estimated at 150 acres. Some portions of it are from 70 to 80 feet deep. When first discovered it abounded with large trouts, some of them weighing five pounds, and was full of shiners, but had no pickerel. Large trouts are still taken here, but not in such plenty as formerly. Fine white sand is found on the shore. The outlet, on which is an establish- ment, formerly occupied as a saw and shingle-mill, now converted into a manufactory of bobbins, wash-boards, and clothes-pins, passes south-eastwardly, through Hancock, into Contoocook river.
Rye pond, near the south-west corner of the town, lies partly in Antrim, partly in Stoddard, and the residue in Nelson ; covers a sur- face estimated at 40 or 50 acres ; and is encircled in part by a shaking bog, overlaying a deep substratum of mud. The central part has some
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deep water, but much of the pond is shallow, covered with lily leaves and a coarse rush grass, shooting up its long spires above the surface. It derived its name from the waving of this grass in the breeze like that of a field of rye. The outlet passes north, unites with another and larger stream coming from Nelson hills, and falls into North Branch river, in Stoddard.
Steele's pond, half a mile south-east of the Branch Village, has a surface of perhaps 20 or 25 acres, and contains most of the usual varieties of pond fish. The North Branch river enters this pond, and flows out fifteen or twenty rods from the place of its influx.
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