USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Bristol > History of the town of Bristol, Grafton County, New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 6
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27
2
2I
25
Jeremiah Colburn
49
25
20
82
.
.
.
'Matthew Thornton was born in Ireland in 1714, and came to America when a boy. He practiced medicine in Londonderry and was surgeon in the famous expedition of Sir William Pepperell against Louisburg. He was a member of the state committee of safety in 1775, and was president of the convention in May, 1775, that declared New Hampshire a sovereign state. He was a member from New Hampshire of the Federal Congress, 1776 to 1778, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He died at Newburyport, Mass., June 24, 1804, aged 91. His portrait hangs in the council chamber at the state-house.
35
THE PROPRIETARY HISTORY
Proprietor's Name.
Ist Division
2nd Division
3rd Division
4th Division
Coll Joseph Blanchard
.
42
3
85
35
Lieut Ebenezer Dearborn
.
81
80
60
59
Jeremiah Colburn
28
42
6I
27
Samuel Gault
82
8I
35
47
Samuel Searls
1136933
5
44
82
5
John Man
92
85
44
I5
Pierce & Moore
34
38
93
40
Robert White
53
29
49
88
Capt John Moffatt
80
86
59
6I
Jeremiah Colburn
69
62
13
76
Matthew Thornton, Esqr
63
60
5I
79
Thomas Wallingsford, Esqr
68
63
56
78
Matthew Thornton, Esqr
58
82
4I
87
George Jeffrey, Esqr
I6
6
89
54
John Aikin
I8
50
17
32
Wm Parker, Esqr
54
34
49
68
Joshua Pierce, Esqr
43
28
8I
36
John Ringe
64
73
58
63
Jacob Sargent .
77
66
48
62
Matthew Thornton
23
9
62
26
Matthew Thornton, Esqr
67
89
I4
77
Coll Messhove & others
36
5
64
IO
James Wadwell
93
36&68
58
Thomlinson & Mason
44
24
75
44
Orlando Colby
5I
26
74
86
Henry Herring
73
I5
8
67
Samuel Searls
37
2I
65
7
Coll Josiah Willard
19
5I
36
43
Wm Graham
I4
II
24
I7
Alexander McCluer
70
58
72
50
Solly & March
2I
70
26
30
John Wentworth Esqr
65
54
57
72
Timothy Favour
4
43
22
2
Matthew Thornton, Esqr
39
4
19
9
John Hazeltine
I2
47
78
I
Col Thomas Packer
2
I7
4
I6
Archabald Dunlap
33
31
I5
46
Richard Wibird Esqr
I3
IO
9I
20
Coll Josiah Willard
87
76
30
4I
Richard Pearl .
84
9I
34
38
James Moores
79
65
9
52
Archabald Dunlap
I7
49
86
53
Mark Karr
II
48
I8
33
Samuel Emerson Esqr
.
50
53
73
83
.
32
I4
29
48
James McFarson
.
Portsmouth September 8, 1806 Copy Examined
Jeremiah Libbey, Proprs Clerk
The 500-acre lot reserved by the Masonian proprietors, be- fore the general division, was located in the extreme south- western part of the township and was called the "farm of 500
36
HISTORY OF BRISTOL
acres." This land, with several undrawn lots and three lots in the "Kyar Sarge" gore, made 1,500 acres, equal to 100 acres for each of the original Masonian shares. The following is from the Masonian proprietors' record :
In the Masonian proprietors Five hundred acre lots Drawn Decr 24th 178I as follows
Tomlinson & Mason No. I
Meserve & Co 2
Theodore Atkinson 3
Thomas Packer 4 John Moffatt 66
5
New Chester, Oct 3d 1806
Copy examined Carr Huse Proprs Clerk
Division of Lots in New-Chester and three lots in Kyah Sarge to make fifteen Lots ; one to each Right
The Draft of the Lots to the 15 Purchasers Rights, vizt
To Richard Wibird Esqr Lot Nº 55 3d division in New Chester To John Moffatt Esqr -- 5 in the 500 Acre Lot in New Chester To George Jaffrey Esqr-78 2d div : in New Chester
To Mark Hg Wentworth Esqr-8 in Kyah Sarge
To Jotham Odiorne Esqr-66 4th div : in New Chester
To Thomas Packer Esqr-4 in the' 500 Acre Lot in New Chester To Thomlinson & Mason-I in the 500 Acre Lot in New Chester To Solly and March-72 Ist div : in New Chester
To Joshua Peirce Esqr-29 Ist div. in New Chester To Peirce and Moore-9, 2d div. in New Chester To John Wentworth Esqr 10 in Kyah Sarge To Theodore Atkinson Esqr 3 in the 500 Acre Lot in New Chester To Thomas Walingford Esqr-12 in Kyah Sarge
To John Rindge-62 3d div. in New Chester
To Meserve and Compa-2 in the 500 Acre Lot in New Chester
The following were the public lots :
MILL LOTS: No. 61, First. Division, on Newfound river and Lot No. 71, First Division, on Smith's river.
SCHOOL LOTS: No. 25, in the First Division, Nos. I and 37 in the Third Division and No. 89 in the Fourth Division.
MINISTERIAL LOTS : No. 26, in the First Division, 75 in the Second Division, and Nos. 23 and 71 in the Fourth Division. PARSONAGE LOTS: No. 72 in the Second Division, 73 in Fourth Division, and "a point of land on westerly side of New- found pond and a small island opposite."
The proprietors of New Chester early gave their attention to the construction of roads in the new township. May 12, 1762, twelve pounds, old tenor, was assessed on each right for the purpose of building bridges and opening highways, and "Esq. Sanborn" was elected a committee to see that the money was expended to the best advantage. This committee and the labor- ers were to receive three pounds, ten shillings, old tenor, per day.
Pattan Line"
$13
7
16'S
72 1
!14
151 31 : 301231 28 27 : 26125 :27 :23 22 1 21 120 , 19 1 18
19
101 451 $6 197 198
10
So Called
54
1 62 , 61 60 59,581 57
57
43
175
23 .
71 72
12
33
34
89
Alexandria Line
C
.
Pin
5ª
se
$7
1
23
CarAc-
Hemlock
Place
Smith's Rite.
1
C
. I. C
74
C
35
15
39
C
29
76
S
C 41
CICI CICIC , CICICICIC
18
ic
19
80
AI
M2
emiger
AS
41
67
88
CIC
91
91
C 1 93
93
94
-
12.
1
191190189188187 86
Scale of Eaquel Parts 160 Rods to an Inch- By John & Joshua Tol-
New Chester.
Laid Down By the
ford Surveyors. 1765
letter: C ;-
Range Which are No 90 Nº 91-92 & 93- The third Devision is Described by the
the Boundary line between Bristel & New Chester-
BRISTOL-incorporated June 24 1819-Begins at NE com her of Lot Nº 38, / Div .- thence to NE corner of Nº 66. 3' Div .- thence to NE corner of Nº 78. 2 Div-then to SE cor- her of N. 69. 2 Div-than to N E corner of same lot thence Why on the range line to Newfound lake-for the N'y side between Bris- tol & Bridgewater-& contains all that part of New Cheater N'Y of Smiths river bounded by the middle of said river to the division line between lote 72 & 73 & then on ao line to Pemigewasset riras for
The Tourth Devision Begins at the Caner of the home Lott H. 94 on New Brittan Line & is Contained in three Ranges- The first Devision Contains 90 Acres-The Second third and fourth Devisions Contains 175 acres Each.
Note, The first Derision Bounded By Pemiggewassit River and is Described by Black Lines- The Second Devision Contains Six Ranges & four Letts in the Seventh
This is A
38139
True Plan of
37135:3613
413
89, 85 187 56 85, 84183 82 8/ 180179 ; 78,77 76!75 76) 73172.
ICIc . CICICICICIC ! C.
Jaesct River
1 91
CICIC
85 184 83 1 82, 81 80 79 178 1
50 , 591
7 193 !92
10 15 11 : 13 1 /2 New Britton. Line
27
28
37
The Lon
73
1
C 40
42.
CİCICICICICI
1
1
45 146 147 1581 491 50 51 1 511 53 1 54153 136 1 57 .58153 1 60
CICIC CIO
61 1 62 .cccc 165/ 64/ 05/ 66
72
92
93
C
43
Great
The
Hawfound Pond
32
33)34.3513637:3813914041142 1
Tolfords
7.88 : 6917
88 . 87 186 85 184 183 182 81 80 79 78 177 76
A Scale of Two Miles
76, 75, 74 73,72, 71,70, 69, 60,67,66
148 19158/5115215313413613
29 /25, 27
31 . 321 3 130 |29 /25
E R. Muagror
2
37
THE PROPRIETARY HISTORY
It was also voted that any proprietor who did not pay this as- sessment before the adjournment of the meeting should have enough of his rights sold at auction to pay the tax. "Esq. Thornton, Esq. Emerson and Capt. Andrew Jack" were made a committee to sell the land thus forfeited.
It would seem, therefore, that bridle paths or trails were opened in New Chester as early as 1762, but there are no fur- ther records on this subject till Sept. 16, 1766, when Elisha San- born presented an itemized bill of the labor done on the high- ways that season. This bill, which was accepted, was as follows :
Old Tenor.
John Tolford, Esqr
Elisha Sanborn, Esqr
II
53
IO
Henry Hall
I2
42
Robert McMurphy
I2
43
Joseph Basford
II
38
IO
John Mills
I2
42
Richard Pearl
I2
42
James Mason
I2
42
Robert Mckinley
II
38
IO
John Tolford, Jr
II
38
IO
Joshua Tolford
I2
42
John Sanborn
II
38
IO
Jonathan Basford
I2
42
Robert Forsaith
II
38
IO
Timothy Favor
IO I-2
36
I5
Carr Huse
.
II
38
IO
Cutting Favor
IO I-2
36
I5
James Dunlap
.
I2
42
Ebenezer Dearborn
I2
42
Moses Sargent
I2
42
John Underhill
I2
42
Charles Johnson .
II
38
IO
900
IO
.
.
Nearly all of these workmen came from Chester and San- down, and among them are the names of several who after- wards became settlers here. In the fall of this same year, a force of twenty-five or more men worked a week on the highways, and the following season a still larger force worked about the same length of time. In 1768, a force of twenty-eight men worked a total of 178 days, and in 1769, twenty-nine men worked a total of 191 days. Nearly all the workmen in 1769 were then settlers in the new township.
Assessments were made each year of from two dollars to twelve pounds, old tenor, on each right. The collection of this money was evidently a source of much trouble to the collectors, and the sale of lands for the nonpayment of assessments was of frequent occurrence.
At a meeting of the proprietors held Feb. 17, 1767, a tax of
3a
Days.
E.
S.
12
42
.
.
.
38
HISTORY OF BRISTOL
two dollars was laid on each right for the purpose of building mills in New Chester, and at an adjourned meeting held two days later the following vote was passed :
Whereas the purchasers of the Land Contained in John Tufton Mason Patent Province of New Hampshire by their agent Joseph Blanchard, Esqr Impowered the Grantees of the New Township of New Chester in Said Patent to Dispose of two Certain Lots of Land to Build Mills for the Benefit of Sd Township whereas John Tolford Esqr has this Day agreed to Build two Saw mills & two Grist mills in said New Chester (Viz) one grist mill and one Saw mill on the river known by the name of Newfound River and have the one fit for grinding and the other fit for Sawing by the first Day of November next and one grist mill and one Saw mill on the River known by the name of Smiths River within six years from this Date and to keep all the Said mills in good order for ever there- after and to Grind and Saw for the inhabitants of Said Town as Stipulated in a Bond Signed and by Said Tolford delivered to Samuel Emerson & Mathew Thornton Esquires & Mathew Forsaith yeomen agents for and in Behalf of the grantees of Said New Chester therefore
Voted that the Lots and Land adjoyning to Newfound pond River including the Stream and falls and the Lot Stream and falls on Smiths River both in Said New Chester Laid out by the Committee of the gran- tees aforesaid for the Use aforesaid be and thereby is given and granted to the Said John Tolford his heirs and assigns forever and two dollars to be paid from each Grantee of Said Township, one half to be paid by the first Day of May next ; the remainder when the first two Mills is finished, he performing as mentioned in Said Bond. Also
Voted that the above named Samuel Emerson Mathew Thornton Esquires & Mathew Forsaith be and thereby are Authorized and Im- powered to give Security & Deliver in the Capacity aforesaid a good war- rantee Deed of the above premises to the above named John Tolford.
Dec. 28, 1768, it was "Voted that Maj. Tolford Shall be obliged to tend his Grist mill in New Chester for the Proprietors every first Monday in each month for the year and no other Days in Said year."
Apr. 1, 1773, the time in which to build the mills on Smith's river was extended four years.
At a meeting held Dec. 15, 1767, it was voted to raise twenty-four shillings lawful money on each right to pay bills thus far contracted, and Major Tolford was elected collector and allowed one shilling on each pound collected. Capt. Underhill, Joshua Tolford, and John Tolford, Jr., were elected a committee "to view the roads in New Chester and think of them as they shall judge necessary," and order where the money to be raised that day should be expended. They, and the men employed by them, were to have three shillings and six pence per day for their labor. Joshua Tolford was elected clerk at this meeting, and Joseph Basford presented his account for labor on the highway, which was allowed.
At a meeting in Chester, Dec. 28, 1768, at the house of Capt. Underhill, it was voted that the previous committee, viz., Capt. John Underhill, Joshua Tolford, Esq., and John Tolford, Jr., be
39
THE PROPRIETARY HISTORY
continued surveyors of highways, and be a committee to estab- lish a highway through the "home lots."
One of the conditions of the grant of New Chester was that a settlement should be made on forty of the shares within three years and eight months from the date of the deed, provided there should be no Indian war. In case of such war, the same time was given for settlement after the close of the war. The French and Indian war, which commenced in 1754, closed with the capitulation of Montreal, Sept. 8, 1760, and forty settlements should, therefore, have been made by May, 1763. It was, however, three years after this date before a settlement was made within the township, and when ten years had lapsed only about half of the stipulated forty settlements had been made. Under the terms of the deed, therefore, the township of New Chester was forfeited to the Masonian proprietors. A similar state of affairs existed in other townships granted by the Maso- nian proprietors, and it was voted, at a meeting held July 17, 1771, to foreclose their rights and recover the lands thus forfeited. Ac- cordingly, a committee was elected, consisting of John Fisher, William Whipple, and Peter Pearse, with power "to Employ a Person to take an Account of the Settlers, &c., in the towns of New Chester, Alexandria, Heidlebourg, Parrystown,2 New Brittan,3 & to make a Legal Entry on the same in behalf of the Propriety." Jonas Minot, of Concord, Mass., was employed by the committee to perform this service. He secured as witnesses Cutting Favor, of New Chester, and Samuel Atkinson, of Bos- cawen, who accompanied him on his visit through the forfeited territory. In the report of his doings Mr. Minot says :
By Virtue of a Power Granted to me by the Proprietors of Lands Commonly Called Masons Patent Lying in the Province of New hamp- shire and agreeable to my Instructions I Did in the Name of Said Pro- prietors and for them on the twentyeth Day of July A D 1771 Enter and Take Possession of the Forfetted Lands Lying in a Place Called New chester & on the 22 Day I Entered the Place Called Alexandria, & on the 23 Day, the Place Called New Britton and on the 24th the Place Called Herreford4 & Did Openly Declare my Entering and taking Possion of the forfeted Lands in Each and Every of those Places to be by Virtue of a Power Given to me by the Said Proprietors & also Openly Declared that I then in the Name and for the use of the Said Proprietors held in Possession All and Every of the forfeted Lands Lots Tracts & Destinctly & Seperated to their Use & Did Openly & Strictly forbid any person Entering any of those forfeted Lots or Tracts of Land or Doing any Trespass theiron Declareing that I then Reinstated the sd Proprietors in the Full Possion of all the forfeited Lands in Each Place aforementioned Perticularly.
Mr. Minot, in presenting his report, gave the following de- tailed tabular statement of the condition of the settlements in New Chester :
1 New London. 2 Sutton. 3 Andover. 4 Part of Newbury.
40
House
Famely
years
months
Acres
year
month
Acres Cut
How Long
No of Lot
Division
· under whome or whome Drown by
Cutting Favor one Not finished-
2
I
4
35
I
30
I
6
77 and 78
I Tames Quantin & win- trup Sargent 2 wrights
2
Jeremiah Quimbe
I
I
I
4
17
-
3
Jacob Heath
I
I
I
6
6
I
88 and 89
4 Kar Huse
I
I
I
4
8
3
5
91
6
Robert Foresaith Robert Foresaith
I
I
3
-
-
2
I
74
Joshua Tolford
I
I
2
IO
6
I
72
8
Peter Sleeper Gideon Sleeper
I
I
3
8
8
63 & 51
I Esqr Thornton &
9
I
I
2
13
62
IO
Moses Worthen
I
I
I
7
59
II
Ebenezer Iingalls
I
I
I
6
6
58
I Esqr Thornton
I2
Thomas Lock
I
I
I
3
4
I
56
13
Benjamin Emmons
I
I
2
I2
50
14
John Underhill
I
I
2
-
-
I5 Peter Heath
I
I
I
3
14
16 Josiah Heath
I
I
I
6
2
II
I
I7
Jonathan Croford
I
I
2
5
IO
I
18 Thomas Croford
I
I
2
-
7
9
I Esqr Thornton
HISTORY OF BRISTOL
I Capt wells for I wright I-2
5
Henery Wells
I
I
I
I Mathew Foresaith
73
-
Chei fly
I Major Tolford & Ensign Tolford
I a Mill Lot & Lot No --
I| James White
-Esqr Thornton
I John Mills-Claimed by John Tolford
I Esqr Emmerson of Chester
I Capt Under Hill Cut 2 acres Under Esq Thornton
I
How Long
Improved
I
-
79 and 82
I
I
90
16
6
-
8
19| Robert Croford 20| John Mitchel
21|
John Tolford
I
been I2
3 - 4 built about months
IO
Partly improved time |s for 5 years
himself at Liveing their
No Residents
John Tolford John Tolford
2 8
-
2
-
I
John Tolford
I
Part1
y done
I
4
3 or 4 |2 or 3 years
94
I mc Farsons Robert Mc murphey
I
Ellec Mcclure
03-4
I
2 8 4
0 9 months
75
I
-
I
-
--
-
61
I also built 2 mills on the Proprietors Cost I Major Tolford
I
I I-2 this
Spring
2
2
I
-
5
6
81
I
I house Some Say laid out but we cannot Certainly te 11
&now 4
-
-
I Esqr Thornton
I
I
15 15
|5 No 6 & No 7| I 45
I -
I
I
I Charles Johnson I his own1
I
IO
I
44 46
3
2
David Emmerson
76
Ellex Mcclure Major Tolford
4 or 5 this Summer 2 or 3
57
55
Jonathan Iingalls Lt Joseph Basford Robert Runnels Nathan Cast Chase Fuller
THE PROPRIETARY HISTORY
-
4I
42
HISTORY OF BRISTOL
July the 27th 1771 the above Return and the accounts of the Housen Persons Liveing in and the Improvements maid in Each and Every of the Places Called Alexandria Newchester Newbriton Perrys Town & Herre- ford are according to the Best accounts I Had from the Inhabitants of those Plases to gather with my own observations on Many of the Sd Improvements Excepting one Famely I was tould Lived in the place Called Hereford and are according to my Best Judgment which is humbly Submitted
Pr. Jonas Minott
Derryfield July the 27 1771 this may Certify that we weare Present with Jonas Minott the whole of the abovementioned Days and weare assisting in the takeing of the afore mentioned accounts of the above mentioned Places & saw him take the above Journall and that it is True according to our Best Judgment
Cutting Favor Samuel Atkinson
It appears that Mr. Minot presented his report on the 27th of July, 1771. On the 30th of that month, the Masonian pro- prietors elected another committee, consisting of John Fisher and Daniel Rogers, to consider the report and "to conferr with any Person who shall appear in behalf of New Chester referring to ye grant and forfeiture of New Chester and to report ye Circumstances of ye Conference." This committee presented the following as its conclusion :
In pursuance of a Vote passed the 30th of July last We have examined into the State and confered with Messrs Tolford and McMurphy Propri- etors of the Town of New Chester concerning the Forfeiture of the Said Town and now return the following Report of our doings therein.
It appears to us the Township of New Chester is forfeited for Non compliance with the Conditions of the Grant and is reseized by the Attorney of the Proprietors and We are of Opinion that the same be appropriated to the Use and Benefit of the proprietors, reserving to certain persons inhabiting and improving in the said town as follows.
That, it appearing to us upon the said conference there are 22 Houses with Families resident upon parts of certain Rights in the Sd Town we are of Opinion that altho they may not have complied entirely with the Terms of the Charter yet that each whole Right on part of which the Sd Houses are built and Improvements made should be reserved for and confirmed to the proprietors of such Rights.
That, it appearing to us upon the Sd Conference there are II persons who have begun making Improvements upon certain Lots but have no Houses and are not resident in the Sd town we are of opinion that the Sd Eleven Persons should remain possessed of the Lots on which such Beginnings have been made respectively provided that such Persons continue to make progressive Improvements and have a dwelling House built and a Family resident thereon within the space of twelve months.
Portsmouth, 15th August 1771
J. Fisher D. Rogers Committee
After a controversy lasting two years, the grantees of Perrys- town and New Breton secured the renewal of their grants, while
43
THE PROPRIETARY HISTORY
the grantees of Heidlebourg and Alexandria lost. July 7, 1773, Alexandria was regranted to Jonas Minot, and the same day Heidlebourg was regranted to Jonas Minot and others under the name of the Alexandria Addition.
After they had received the report of the committee, the Masonian proprietors appear to have taken no further action in regard to the forfeiture of the grant of New Chester. The grantees do not seem to have been at all disturbed, and continued to sell the lands as occasion presented. The settlement of the territory continued even during the time of the controversy over the forfeiture of the grants of the other towns mentioned.
· The question of hiring a minister of the gospel to preach in New Chester was first considered by the proprietors at a meeting- held at the inn of Samuel Emerson in Chester, Apr. 2, 1771, when "it was voted to raise half a dollar on each right to hire preaching in New Chester" that year.
It was also "Voted John Tolford, Samuel Emerson, Jethro Sanborn, Esq., & Capt. John Underhill and Henry Hall be a Committee to hire Such Minister of the Gospel as they Shall think Fit to preach to the inhabitants of New Chester and Some of the said Committee is to accompany any such preacher to New Chester without any pay for their time."
Apr. I, 1773, one dollar on each right was voted for preach- ing, and these two amounts were apparently all that the proprie- tors raised for the support of the gospel in New Chester. At this meeting, the subject of building a meeting-house was also considered, when it was "Voted that there shall be a meeting- house built in New Chester Equal to Thirty five Feet Square one story High the present year." Carr Huse, Nason Cass, Peter Sleeper, Robert Forsaith, and Joshua Tolford, all residents of New Chester, were made a building committee. It was also voted to raise two dollars on each right for this purpose; and John Tolford, Robert Forsaith, Carr Huse, John Tolford, Jr., and Andrew Craige were elected assessors to assess the money, and John Tolford and Carr Huse collectors.
Jan. 20, 1774, a vote was passed that the two dollars raised at the last meeting for the erection of a meeting-house should be divided, and "applied towards building two meeting houses, one in the lower part of the town and the other in the upper part of the town and build the same on the parsonage lots." It was al- so voted that ten acres be cleared on the parsonage lot in the lower part of the town and ten on the parsonage lot in the upper part of the town, where the committee should judge most con- venient and suitable. The building committee already elected was made a committee to clear the parsonage lot in the lower part of the town, while John Mitchell, Thomas Crawford, Jr., Andrew Craige, Benj. Emmons, and Ebenezer Ingalls were made a committee for the upper part of the town, and they were
44
HISTORY OF BRISTOL
instructed to see that the lots be cleared and the meeting- houses erected as soon as might be. Ten dollars was voted on each right towards clearing the land and building the houses of worship.
It was then voted that the town should be incorporated into two towns or parishes, and that the money raised at the last meeting for preaching should be used for this purpose, or so much of it as would be necessary. Samuel Emerson, Stephen Holland, and John Tolford, Esq., were authorized to secure the incorporation of the town into two townships.
Nothing came of this effort of the proprietors to build meet- ing-houses in the new town ; and perhaps to the indifference of the proprietors, more than to any other cause, is due the fact that New Chester was so far behind her sister towns in the privileges of the sanctuary. There is no evidence to show that the committee elected to secure the incorporation of the town made any serious effort in this direction. From this time on- ward, the people of the town were left to work out their own des- tiny unaided.
The New Chester proprietors purchased this township not for homes for themselves, but wholly as a business enterprise. Dealing in town sites and wild land was a common method of speculation in those days. Several of the proprietors were in- terested in other townships, and only five of the entire number became actual settlers. Each man, having drawn his lots, and having a valid deed to the same, was at liberty to sell as oppor- tunity presented. Consequently, after the organization and in- corporation of the town, there was but little necessity for con- certed action, and the meetings of the proprietors became less and less frequent. There were, it is true, a few pieces of land, in various parts of the town, that were not included in any lots, and were, consequently, common lands; but their value was small and, as time wore away, they were almost forgotten. In process of time, as the ownership of the lands changed, the meet- ings were changed from Chester to New Chester. The last meeting held in Chester was Feb. 12, 1788, at the house of Wil- liam Bell, when Joshua Tolford, John Smith, and Thomas Craw- ford, all settlers in New Chester, were made a committee to run and settle lines, and to lay out and bound any lands owned by the proprietors.
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