USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Canterbury > History of the town of Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1727-1912, v. 1 > Part 40
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No. 7. John Adams, house built for him, Charles F. Adams.
No. 8. John James, Stephen Marsh, Charles Fletcher, Mrs. Fannie Fletcher.
No. 9. Freewill Baptist Church.
No. 93. School House until Kezer Seminary was built. Now used as a private horse shed.
No. 10. Joshua Boynton, at or near this site, Phineas Dan- forth, Joseph Brown, James H. Herrick, Mrs. Trueworthy Hill, Dr. Austin S. Bronson. Purchased for a parsonage. Rev. Dyer M. Phillips.
No. 11. Kezer Seminary.
No. 12. John Peverly who built here, George W. Peverly, John S. Peverly.
No. 13. Stephen Davis, Mark Davis, Simon Stevens Davis, Frank S. Davis.
No. 14. Nathaniel Peverly, James Peverly, Edmund B. Peverly.
No. 15. Thomas Peverly, Alzono B. Lovering, Dr. Austin S. Bronson, Linneus P. Dennis. Vacant.
No. 16. Buildings gone. Daniel Jones, Widow Hannah Jones. Perhaps near this location, Henry Jones.
No. 17. Owned by Shakers and rented to tenants, among whom was John Foster.
No. 18. Built by David Towle and first used as a store, afterwards as a dwelling. Alphonso B. Chute, Alonzo B. Lover- ing, Warren D. Pickard.
No. 19. Miles Hodgdon. Original location was on the hill back of present buildings. John Kezer, David Towle, Mrs. David Towle, Charles W. Hancock, George W. Fletcher, Gran- ville W. Morgan.
No. 20. Buildings gone. Henry Beck, who probably built the house, Thompson Beck.
426
HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
No. 21. Blacksmith Shop.
No. 22. Trueworthy Hill, occupied by his father, Sylvester Hill, before him, Joseph Rogers, as tenant, Charles S. Osgood, William M. Fletcher, E. Laroy Batchelder, George M. Fletcher, George F. Gove.
No. 23. The mother of Trueworthy Hill. Buildings gone.
No. 24. Leavitt Clough, who built the buildings, David M. Clough, Andrew Taylor, Edward Osgood, Leone I. Chase.
No. 25. William Avery, Job Glines, Abraham Tiffany.
No. 26. Leavitt Clough, first settler, father of Leavitt Clough, at No. 24, Elder Jeremiah Clough, Charles C. Clough, Mrs. Charles C. Clough, Elder Alpheus D. Smith, John H. True.
No. 27. Buildings gone. Leavitt Whitney. Probably occu- pied by tenants who were employed by the Whitneys.
No. 28. Leonard Whitney, Joseph Whitney. Buildings gone. No. 29. Joseph T. Brown, Mrs. Joseph T. Brown, John Carter. Unoccupied.
No. 30. Thomas Arlin, Henry Arlin, Augustus Arlin.
No. 31. John Fletcher, William M. Fletcher, George Blanch- ard. Formerly two houses at this site, one is gone, the other unoccupied.
No. 32. Probably William Dwinell, Joseph B. Brown. Unoc- cupied.
There were formerly three houses on the range way indicated by the dotted lines on the plan, but the occupants are unknown.
CHAPTER XXIV.
HACKLEBOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, NO. 5. THE PIONEERS. A FOSTER SETTLEMENT. LATER ARRIVALS. INDUSTRIES. CHAR- ACTER OF SCHOOLS. LOCATION OF HOMESTEADS.
The boundaries of this district as it was laid out in 1814 were as follows:
"Begins at the southeast corner of John Small's land, thence north to John Shaw's house, thence westwardly to the North Meeting House (including Moses Currier's property), then north to the northwest corner of the Smith Farm, then east to the Range Way, then North to Arch's Moore's land, then north- wardly following the line of No. 6 to Northfield line, then on said line to District No. 3, then following said No. 3 to the northwest corner of the land Sam'l A. Morrill bought of Rev. William Patrick, then east to the northeast corner of Ben'n Bradley's land, then south to John Sutton's land, then east to the southeast corner of Zeb'n Sargent's land, then north to the northeast corner of Amos Cogswell's land, then east to the road, then south to the southwest corner of John Small's farm, then east to the first mentioned bound."
In the early records of the town this locality is referred to as "Hacklebarrow." The word "Hackle," originally "Heckle" means to comb, as flax or hemp is combed. Barrow is a hill or mountain, originally applied to hills or mountains of any height but later restricted to lower elevations. "In this sense," says the Century dictionary, "the word only survives in provincial use as a part of local names of England." Miss Caroline Foster, a former resident of this district, now ninety-four years of age, writes, "The word 'hackle' may have come from the hackling of flax. The people on the hill prepared, carded, spun and wove their own flax." Miss Susan Caroline Parker Woodman, a niece of Miss Foster, confirms this statement in a letter saying, "I have table cloths, towels, sheets and pillow cases which were a part of my mother's wedding outfit that were doubtless made from flax grown in this locality."
428
HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
"Hacklebarrow," therefore, may have meant "a hill of flax" or a hilly country adapted to the raising of flax. The corruption to Hackleborough as a local name would be natural as the term "barrow" became obsolete.
Soon after the Rev. Abiel Foster's settlement as a minister of Canterbury in 1760, at the close of the French and Indian War, the tide of immigration which had been checked by the exposure of frontier towns to Indian raids began again its flow to this community. Some of the newcomers pressed on to the north of the Center and made settlements in what is now the town of Northfield. Others moved eastward to the hilly country of Canterbury known as Hackleborough.
Four brothers of the Rev. Abiel Foster, Asa, Daniel, David and Jonathan, followed the minister to his parish within a few years. The father, Capt. Asa Foster of Andover, Mass., was an early land owner in Canterbury. Whether his purchases were due to the settlement of his son as its minister, or to some prior knowledge Captain Asa had obtained of the fertility of its soil while on an expedition for the invasion of Canada in 1758, is not known; but November 18, 1761, lot No. 198, one hundred acres in the second division of lots, was deeded to him and to his son of the same name, afterwards known as Dea. Asa Foster. The latter, who was the eldest brother of the minister, was undoubtedly the pioneer in this section and probably came near the time of this purchase.
Daniel Foster, the next brother in age to Abiel, bought lots No. 77 and 78, forty acres each, in the first division, November 25, 1763, but it was ten years later that he purchased of Abiel lot No. 12, one hundred acres in the second division, drawn to the right of the first settled minister. This lot was in Hackleborough.
October 19, 1774, Capt. Asa Foster of Andover, Mass., deeded lot No. 199, one hundred acres in the second division, laid out to the original right of James Goodwin, to his son Jonathan. This lot was just north of lot No. 198 upon which Dea. Asa Foster settled. As Jonathan's name appears on the tax list of 1769, and, as he was married a year later, he probably settled in Hackleborough earlier than the date of his deed, as the farm was undoubtedly a gift from his father.
Another contemporary settler was John Lyford who bought September 28, 1773, lot No. 64 of the Rev. Abiel Foster. This was
429
HACKLEBOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, NO. 5.
another lot laid out to the original right of the first settled minister and consisted of one hundred acres in the second division of lots.
A few years later Ichabod Whidden came from Lee and located here. He appears on the tax list for the first time in 1779. His son, Parsons; probably did not accompany him, for he does not appear on the tax list until 1785, but, as these lists are missing from 1780 to 1785, his coming may have been as early as 1781. The Jacksons were another family early identified with this district. In the list of names of those who were members of the Freewill Baptist Society prior to Elder Winthrop Young's ministry beginning in 1796 are found Thomas Jackson, Elijah Jackson and Samuel Jackson. Whether they were all of the same kindred is not known, but it was at the house of Samuel Jackson of Hackleborough that the Freewill Baptist Society was reor- ganized in 1794. He was highway surveyor in 1787 and on the tax list as early as 1785. Elder Winthrop Young was originally in this school district, settling in 1787, but later his farm was annexed to the Hill's Corner District.
It was in the Hackleborough neighborhood that the Baptist Society of Canterbury was revived after its disruption in 1782, when Elder Edward Lock joined the Shakers, together with most of his flock. In 1793 and again in 1802, the Baptists unsuccess- fully tried to secure the use of the old Shell Meeting House, and, until they built their first church in 1802, they held most of their meetings in the dwellings of members residing in this locality. Thomas and Joseph Lyford, sons of John Lyford, succeeded their father as owners of his farm. Finding themselves not in accord, they sold out and separated, Thomas going to Northfield and Joseph purchasing the farm now owned by Charles Ayers in Pallet Borough. As Joseph was one of the voters recorded against giving a call to the Rev. William Patrick and as Thomas was on the committee to build the North Meeting House, it is quite probable that their differences arose from their divergent religious views. In the period of persecution of the Baptists in Canterbury there is no doubt that many of the faithful abided in or near this locality.
The location of Hackleborough was not such as to invite to it trade or industries. It was a hilly country off the direct route of through travel. There is, however, a record in 1796 of a license being issued to Moses Brown to sell liquors at his store near the
430
HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
North Meeting House, but there is no other evidence of mercantile pursuits at any time in this school district. The inhabitants did their trading at Hill's Corner or at the Center.
Nevertheless, John Lyford utilized the water privilege on his farm and erected a saw mill which was carried on later by his sons, by the Pickards, who bought out the Lyfords, and, at a more recent date, by Charles H. Foster. The latter built a shingle mill between 1830 and 1835, operating it for several years. Excellent clay is found in this locality, but it is too far from the railroad to be worked profitably. In 1845 a brickyard was started by Jonathan Sargent and it was conducted for a time by him and his son, Luther.
Andrew Maxfield had a forge in one of his buildings and probably did blacksmithing for the neighborhood. Enoch Emery was a cooper, shaving hoop poles and making sap buckets. It is said that he manufactured staves which were shipped to the West Indies and there made into molasses hogsheads. Elias Pickard was a coal burner and he later hewed sleepers which were sold to the railroad.
It would be interesting to trace the coming of the settlers who immediately followed the pioneers in this district, but it would require an exhaustive search of the record of conveyances for the last quarter of the eighteenth century, with breaks here and there in the chain of title, owing to the fact that all deeds were not recorded. Hackleborough was primarily a Foster settle- ment, and for years it was a Foster neighborhood owing to the fact that the descendants of the brothers Asa, Daniel and Jonathan Foster were born and reared here.
The beginning of the nineteenth century saw a number of new settlers located in this community, and before the close of its second decade all of the farms of Hackleborough had been cleared and occupied either by newcomers or by the descendants of the pioneers. The later settlers included families of such well-known Canterbury names as Whidden, Jones, Pickard, Emery, Small, Mason and Sargent, and they embraced men and women of a hardy and progressive type. Some were long identified with this school district, while others remained for shorter periods and then moved to other sections of the town.
The Whidden family included Thomas L. and Jacob C. Whid- den, frequently chairmen of the board of selectmen, Deacon
431
HACKLEBOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, NO. 5.
Benjamin and Dr. Parsons Whidden, citizens of the strictest integrity. The Joneses were descendants of "Master" Henry Parkinson, inheriting his intellectuality, and taking a prominent and useful part in town affairs. There were no more thrifty and substantial men and women than the Pickards, a family that made good, whatever their sphere in life. The Mason family was and continues to be of that strong character which contributes to the prosperity of a community. The Smalls were active and industrious, tenacious of their opinions and free to express them. Typical of the Sargents was Luther Sargent, so long active in the school affairs of the town. They were people always inter- ested in what promoted the public weal. Then there were no better citizens than the Emerys, of whom there were several families in Canterbury. Their descendants scattered and made their mark in various walks of life.
For nearly a century this district was a prosperous farming community, and for a long time its schools were among the best in town, the teachers having the cordial support of the parents. "Fifty years or more ago," writes Mary E. Clough, "I taught here, and, as I boarded around, I knew the people quite inti- mately. I can pay a glowing tribute to the residents of Hackle- borough at that time, old and young, parents and children. That a girl not out of her teens and an' inexperienced teacher could keep a lot of lively boys and girls at their tasks, seven hours a day and six days a week,1 speaks volumes for the parentage of the scholars and home training of the children."
Interest in education was especially stimulated in this district by the instruction given by Lyman B. Foster to private pupils. Mr. Foster returned from the Civil War so severely wounded that he had no use of his limbs and had to be carried about from place to place on a couch. Teaching was his profession before his enlistment in the army, and, as soon as he was able to do any- thing, he opened a school for day pupils at his home, No. 36. Fortunate were those who came under his care, for his equip- ment as a teacher was superior. He was a public-spirited citizen contributing of his limited means to every worthy object. When the old school house in this district was remodeled about 1870, Mr. Foster was chairman of the committee having the work in charge. The appropriation not being sufficient to do what he
1 Saturday was not a holiday in those times.
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HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
thought essential, he generously advanced the additional funds. When the district offered to reimburse him, he declined the offer. Mr. Foster's associates on the committee were Moses A. Foster and Edward P. Dyball.
One of the natives of this district has come into prominence recently by his election as mayor of Franklin. Educated in the schools of the state and at the University of Maryland, Dr. Seth W. Jones became a practicing physician. Successful in his pro- fession he has enlarged his activities to include business enter- prises in the neighboring town of Tilton and an interest in public affairs. In the city of his adoption he has become a leading citizen.
Through the assiduous efforts of George R. Foster of Milford, Mass., a great-great-grandson of Daniel Foster, Sr., a plan of this school district has been drawn which shows the highways and the location of the homesteads by figures. Following this is given against each number the succession of residents so far as known. It is to be regretted that full information could not be obtained of all these residents, but unfortunately their descendants are scattered and their present locations are unknown.
The figures on the plan of the school district indicate the loca- tion of the houses, and against these figures in chronological order are the families who occupied them, together with such history as Mr. Foster has been able to obtain.
No. 1. Buildings gone. Simeon Brackett Foster, son of Daniel Foster, Jr., residing here about a year. Although the father of a large family of children, only one was born in this house, Myron C. Foster. With the exception of Myron C., all left town to seek fortunes elsewhere. Only one of these, Lyman B. Foster, ever returned to reside in this locality.
No. 2. House vacant. First known occupant, Oliver Jones, who built it. Thomas Peverly, Smith Knowles, Andrew Max- field, Enoch Pickard, son of Amos at No. 10 (moved from No. 3), Warren D. Pickard, son of Enoch. On the opposite side of the road, a little to the north, is an old well and other evidence that Mr. Jones resided there prior to building. The field in which the well is located is known as the Jones field, and in it are four graves which formerly had unlettered stones for markers. Here was probably a family burying yard.
No. 3. House vacant. James Pickard, who came from Row- ley, Mass., Simeon Brackett Foster, son of Daniel Foster, Jr. (moved from No. 1), Charles Jones, brother and mother (later moved to No. 35), William Pickard, son of Daniel, Enoch Pickard
29
NORTHFIELD.
FORREST POND.
HILLS CORNER.
18.
27.
16.
26.
15.
17
25.
.
24
19
2.
2 3
14
22
+
.
34.
13
20%
35.36.
12
11.
10.
2.
SHAKER VILLAGE.
33.
30
3%.
3 8.
39
31
40
¥2 .
9.
32
41
+3
CANTERBURY
CENTER
HACKLEBOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT No. 5.
433
HACKLEBOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, NO. 5.
28
5
MORRILL
8
POND.
2%.
20
434
HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
(moved to No. 2), Eliphalet Rollins, Myron C. Foster (moved from No. 8 and later to No. 36), Elijah Knowles, Myron C. Foster (moved from No. 36), Fred Pickard, son of Frank O.
No. 4. Daniel Pickard, son of Jeremiah, Sr., Henry A. Clough, Hazen Dicey, William Currier, Jr. (moved from No. 7), Simon P. Cass, Francis P. Cass, son of Simon. Original house was burned July 17, 1900, and a new one built in 1904, northwest of the original site.
No. 5. Buildings gone. Samuel Jackson.
No. 6. Old Shell Meeting House and Cemetery.
No. 7. Buildings gone. Josiah Carter, William Currier, Sr., William Currier Jr. (moved to No. 4).
No. 8. Buildings gone. John Shaw, Richard L. Shaw, who moved after he married, Francis Kent, Myron C. Foster (moved to No. 3), Frank O. Pickard (moved to Hill's Corner), Potter Dyball. Buildings were burned during the ownership of Dyball.
No. 9. Jeremiah Small, William P. Small, son of Jeremiah, Darius and John Small, brothers of William, George W. Lake, Sam W. Lake, son of George W., William Thompson, tenant.
No. 10. The original buildings were situated on the south side of the road, nearly opposite the present site. The old house became a part of the present group, while the barn was moved first by the Pickards across the road and later by Moses A. Foster to No. 39 about 1868. The land south of the road comprised the original farm, lot No. 64, which was laid out to the right of Rev. Abiel Foster as the first settled minister. John Lyford bought of Foster September 28, 1773, and resided on the place until he died. His sons, Thomas and Joseph Lyford, in- herited it from their father and sold to Jeremiah Pickard of Rowley, Mass., who remained until his death February 11, 1826. The suc- cessors of Pickard were his son, Amos, who with his father built the present house in 1811; Enoch E., Joseph and Jeremiah Pickard, sons of Amos; George A. Pickard, son of Joseph; Mrs. Joseph, Alvin and Charles Pickard, sons of Joseph. At times there were two families of Pickards occupying the house. January 24, 1867, Enoch E. Pickard sold to Moses A. Foster what probably comprised nearly half of the original hundred acres, it being the westerly half. It included the old Lyford barn which Mr. Foster moved shortly afterwards. The spot indicated by a * on the plan is where members of the Lyford family are supposed to be buried. It is situated a few rods from the highway. There is no inclosure, and there are no headstones to identify the graves.
No. 11. Buildings gone. John McMellan. The farm was bought by Charles W. Emery who took down the house and sold the land to Sam W. Lake.
No. 12. School House. The present building was erected as early as 1820. The previous one stood near the same site. In accordance with prevailing customs a quarter of a century
House erected by John Foster, son of Jonathan Foster. Described in Hackleborough chapter under number 22.
435
HACKLEBOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, NO. 5.
and more ago, this school district had its lyceums, debating clubs and singing schools, and it was usually at the school house that these instructive and inspiring events took place. Many people from surrounding districts attended and took part in the exercises, which stimulated new thought and interest for both home talent and visitors. These gatherings constituted a large part of the social enjoyment of the inhabitants.
No. 13. Buildings gone. Enoch French, who built here, Mrs. Enoch French, Jonathan Dow, who married a daughter of Mrs. French and who removed the buildings to their present location on the highway from the Center to the Baptist Meeting House, where Frank Pickard now resides.
No. 14. James Glines, Sumner, John and Comfort Glines, children of James, Sarah Seavey, Otis Starkweather.
No. 15. Enoch Emery, who built the house in 1800, Moody Emery, son of Enoch, Elias S. Pickard, son of Amos, Henry Pickard, son of Elias.
No. 16. Buildings gone. Edward Chase, Enoch Emery, who moved to No. 15.
No. 17. House burned. See Hill's Corner Map and Chapter. No. 18. See Hill's Corner Map and Chapter.
No. 19. Original buildings gone. William, Ephraim and Charles C. Haskell, father, son and grandson, a negro family who came from Warner. New house erected by Henry Pickard in 1908, now vacant.
No. 20. Buildings gone. Reuben Fellows, who married a daughter of Enoch Emery. This probably accounts for his settlement in this district. He afterwards moved to the Center, where he carried on his trade of shoemaker.
No. 21. The old saw mill site was situated on the brook and north of the road a short distance.
No. 22. Jonathan Foster. This was lot 199, one hundred acres, second division, laid out to the right of James Goodwin. The next evidence of ownership is found in a deed of convey- ance by Capt. Asa Foster of Andover, Mass., to his son, Jonathan Foster of Canterbury, dated October 19, 1774, which states that Captain Asa bought of Samuel Ames. The original house was built by Jonathan Foster and it was situated a little distance west (possibly 23) from the present dwelling, which was erected by his son, John Foster. The farm was divided by Jonathan Foster. He sold one half to his son, John, August 27, 1798, and the other half to his son, Samuel H., September 26, 1809. John sold his half to his son, Ammi R. Foster, March 10, 1831, and about the same time Samuel H. sold his interest to his nephew, Abel K. Foster. The latter transferred to his brothers, Moses B. and George W., June 28, 1832, and a year later Moses B. sold his interest to George W. Shortly after, the latter trans- ferred this half of the original estate of Jonathan Foster to his
436
HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
brother, Ammi Foster, the owner of the other half, and the farm was again united. It passed from the possession of the Foster family May 24, 1842, when it was deeded to Thomas L. Whidden, who, with his brother Jacob, was in control for a number of years. They were sons of John Whidden who occupied No. 30. In the eighties William Bradley resided here as a tenant. The last occupant was Willard M. Whipple who left town about 1890. Now owned by Charles F. Jones of Boscawen who recently occupied No. 35.
No. 23. Buildings gone. William Boynton, George Dan- forth, Cornelius (?) Brayley. .
No. 24. Buildings gone. Samuel Cate, Thomas Ames, Josiah Mason, Gardner Mason, son of Josiah, John Chandler Mason, brother of Gardner, John Emery, Erastus O. Nudd. A dis- tillery was at one time operated near the brook and northeast of the house, probably by Samuel Cate. The product was cider brandy.
No. 25. Buildings gone. Eben Boynton, a brother of Thomas Shaw's wife.
No. 26. Buildings gone. The father of Thomas Shaw, who resided a few rods north of here across the line in Pallet Borough.
No. 27. Buildings gone. Gilman Clough. A road leading from No. 15 is now closed.
No. 28. Buildings burned November 2, 1906. Dea. Asa Foster. This was lot No. 198, one hundred acres, second division, laid out to the right of Hugh Connor. Later it came into the possession of T. Frie of Andover, Mass., and of J. Frie of Read- ing, Mass., who sold to Capt. Asa Foster of Andover, Mass., and to his son Deacon Asa of Canterbury November 18, 1761. The latter acquired his father's interest October 7, 1772. As Dea. Asa Foster came to Canterbury soon after his brother, the min- ister, in 1760, he probably settled here. He conveyed a two- thirds interest to his son, Col. Asa Foster, July 24, 1804, who probably acquired the other third on the death of his father. Colonel Asa sold to his sons, David M. and Adams Foster, the former soon after becoming sole owner. March 22, 1883, it passed into the possession of Charles F. Jones, the present owner. The original house, built by Dea. Asa Foster, was situated a few rods north of the dwelling erected later by his son, Colonel Asa. The first house was moved to No. 29, where it was remod- eled and enlarged. In the new house that was built, all of the twelve children of Col. Asa Foster were born, among whom was Stephen S. Foster, the famous abolitionist. When the former sold this farm to his sons, he moved to a farm on the hill near the Center, subsequently owned by his children, Galen, Sarah and Caroline Foster. The land is now owned by Harry G. Clough and Frank Varney. Of Col. Asa Foster's children, except David M., all spent the greater part of their lives away from
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