USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Canterbury > History of the town of Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1727-1912, v. 1 > Part 6
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Polls 57
Oxen. . 52
Houses.
33 Cows. 98
Planted land. . . 62 acres Cattle 3 years old ... 22
Mowed land . . . 189 acres Cattle 2 years old ... 29
Orchard land . . 4 acres Cattle 1 year old . . . 37
Pasture land ... 146 acres
Horses. 35
Negro.
1
These figures tell more eloquently than words the story of the isolation, trials and dangers of the people of Canterbury.
1 The fort was made over into a house and was occupied by Billy E. Pillsbury for a number of years.
2 N. H. Town Papers, Vol. IX, page 73.
47
GROWTH OF THE TOWN.
In a little over a quarter of a century they had assembled but a small company of daring spirits in the wilderness. The polls here enumerated included the male inhabitants between six- teen and sixty years of age. Taking the enumeration made six years later as a guide, when the proportion of males to females was 273 to 227 and about half the people were adults, the pop- ulation of Canterbury in 1761 must have fallen short of two hundred. If the settlement had remained almost stationary for fifteen years, its growth from this time forward was to be rapid. New names appear in the records and the population spread out to other sections of the town. About this time there was also a movement to the "North Fields" which two decades later gave birth to the new town of Northfield.
The growth and development of Canterbury can be traced in the enumeration of the people of New Hampshire taken by order of the provincial government in the years 1767, 1773 and 1775.1 There is also a return of the number of inhabitants of the towns to the state government in 1786. The figures of these enumerations are here given:
CENSUS OF 1767
Unmarried men 16 to 60 42
Married men 16 to 60.
82
Boys from 16 years and under 138
Men 60 years and above
11
Females unmarried.
140
Widows
4
Male slaves
3
CENSUS OF 1773.
Unmarried men from 16 to 60
66
Married men from 16 to 60
96
Boys 16 years and under
150
Men 60 years and upwards
10
Females unmarried .
164
Females married .
104
Widows. .
5
Male slaves
5
Total
600
Females married . 83
503
1 Prov. Papers, Vol. VII, pages 170, 730. N. H. State Papers, Vol. X, pages 625, 640.
48
HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
CENSUS OF 1775.
Males under 16 years of age 199
Males from 16 to 50 not in the army 124
Males above 50 years of age 30
Persons gone in the army 35
Females .
331
Negroes and slaves for life
4
Total. 723
A total return of guns fit for use
45
.
Guns wanting. 109
Stock of powder 80 W. T.
John Farmer is quoted by Doctor Bouton as saying that the census of 1775 "is probably the most correct estimate of the number of people in the State of New Hampshire which was ever made" up to that time.1 A return of the number of inhabitants of Canterbury of every age and sex taken April 1, 1786, shows a population of 860, including three slaves.2 The first United States Census, that of 1790, gives a total pop- ulation of 1,048. In comparing the returns of these different years it must be kept in mind that Loudon was set off from Canterbury in 1773 and that Northfield was created out of the territory of the parent town in 1780.
If the invoice of polls made by the selectmen in 1761 is reason- ably accurate, there must have been an influx of new settlers in the next six years, for the population of the town more than doubled. Between 1767 and 1773, when the first two enumer- ations of the inhabitants of New Hampshire were made, is also a period of six years, but Canterbury included Loudon in 1767, while Loudon was created a separate township in 1773 and enumerated separately. The return of the population of the latter township was as follows:
1 Prov. Papers, Vol. VII, page 724.
2 N. H. State Papers, Vol. X, page 640.
49
GROWTH OF THE TOWN.
LOUDON 1773.1
Unmarried men from 16 to 60
12
Married men from 16 to 60
36
Boys 16 years and under.
58
Men 60 years and upwards
2
Females unmarried
54
Females married.
38
Widows
3
Female slaves
1
Total. 204
If the population of Canterbury and Loudon is combined, it gives a total of 804 or an increase in the six years from 1767 to 1773 of 301. The enumeration of 1775 was the first census after New Hampshire ceased to be a province and was taken immediately before it formally became an independent state for the purpose of establishing an adequate representation of the people in the legislature. As it occurred so soon after Loudon separated from Canterbury, the returns of the former town are here given for the purpose of comparison.
LOUDON 1775.
Males under 16 years of age. 90
Males from 16 years to 50 not in the army 85
All males above 50 years of age
9
Persons gone in the army
3
All females
161
Negroes and slaves for life
1
Total. 349
The population of both Canterbury and Loudon in 1775 was 1,072, an increase in two years of 268, of which Loudon showed the larger gain. When the next enumeration was made, eleven years later in 1786, Loudon had a population of 8222 while Canterbury had only 860. But Northfield had in the mean- time been separated from Canterbury and in 1786 showed a population of 349.3 Nevertheless, Loudon's growth from the
1 Prov. Papers, Vol. X, page, 625
2 N. H. State Papers, Vol. X, page 644.
Idem, page 645. 5
50
HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
date of its incorporation as a township for a period of two decades was more rapid than that of Canterbury.
These reports of population to the provincial government were not house to house canvasses like the more modern census. They were taken partly by enumeration and partly by estima- tion from tax lists prepared by the selectmen,1 yet they were approximately correct.
A few tax lists of Canterbury for some of the years before the town was divided are still preserved. They were prepared for various purposes, such as an inventory of the polls and estates for the province, town and school taxes, for defraying the charge of "billeting the school master," for fencing and clearing the parsonage, and for making up the minister tax and the wood rates, the people supplying the minister with fuel as well as paying taxes for his support. These lists are for the years 1762, 1764, 1767, 1769, 1770 and 1771. Apparently each is a complete document, yet there are a few omissions of well-known residents in the first two lists for which no expla- nation can now be given. Appearing as these early settlers do in later schedules, it is evident that they were still living. Whether such omissions as the names of Jeremiah Clough, Sr., James Lindsey, James and John Gibson from the lists of 1762 and 1764 indicate a mistake on the part of the selectmen in making the inventory, or that these men were exempt from some rate, or were given special consideration for some reason, it is impossible to ascertain. Occasionally there is a break of a year or two in the sequence of taxation of some individuals. Yet, taking the lists together as they are grouped in the follow- ing table, they present the only authentic information of the families of Canterbury a generation after the first settlements and before the town was divided.
Daniel Ames
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Samuel Ames
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Samuel Ames, Jr
1767
1769
Simon Ames
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
John Ash.
1767
1769
1770
1771
Abraham Bachelder
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Abraham, Jr .
1767
1769
1770
1771
Daniel Bachelder
1771
Isaac Bachelder
1769
1770
Jacob Bachelder
1769
1770
1771
Jethro Bachelder
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
1 N. H. State Papers, Vol. VII, page 724.
51
GROWTH OF THE TOWN.
Jethro Bachelder, Jr.
1767
1769
1770
1771
Nathan Bachelder .
1770
1771
Nathaniel Bachelder
1770
1771
George Barnes
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
John Bean.
1769
1770
1771
Benjamin Beedle
1767
1770
1771
Thomas Beedle
1767
1769
1770
William Blaisdell .
1767
Benjamin Blanchard
1767
1769
1770
1771
Benjamin Blanchard, 2d
1767
1770
1771
Benjamin Blanchard, 3d.
1770
1771
Benjamin Blanchard, 4th
1770
1771
Edward Blanchard.
1767
1769
1770
1771
Richard Blanchard
1767
1769
1770
1771
John Boynton.
1767
Joshua Boynton.
1767
1769
1770
1771
Henry Y. Brown
1762
1764
1769
1770
Jacob Brown
1764
Anne Bumford
1767
1771
Joseph Burley
1771
Dr. Josiah Chase
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Jeremiah Clough .
1767
1769
1770
1771
Jeremiah Clough, Jr
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Jonathan Clough.
1769
1770
1771
Nehemiah Clough.
1769
1770
1771
Thomas Clough.
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Samuel Clough
1767
Edmund Colby
1767
1769
1770
1771
Humphrey Colby
1762
1764
1769
1770
1771
Benjamin Collins
1769
1770
1771
Solomon Copps
1762
John Cross. .
1770
1771
Stephen Cross
1769
1770
1771
Ann Curry ..
1767
1769
1770
1771
William Curry
1767
John Danforth.
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Samuel Danforth Obadiah Davis
1767
1769
1770
1771
Thomas Davis
1771
William Davis
1770
1771
John Dolloff .
1762
1764
John Dolloff, Jr
1762
1764
Amaziah Dow
1767
1769
1770
1771
Jacob Eaton .
1762
1764
Samuel Eaton
1762
Jonathan Elkins
1762
Henry Elkins
1764
1767
1769
Richard Ellison
1767
1769
1770
1771
William Ellison
1767
1769
1770
1771
Daniel Fifield
1762
John Forrest.
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
William Forrest
1767
1769
1770
1771
Thomas Foss
1769
1770
1771
Timothy Foss
1770
1771
Asa Foster.
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Daniel Foster
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Thomas Clough, Jr
1769
1770
1771
Joseph Cockes
1764
1769
1770
1771
David Emerson
1771
William Burkes
52
HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
David Foster
1767
1769
1770 1771
Jonathan Foster
1769
1771
Samuel French
1771
Daniel Gale.
1770
1771
William Gault.
1767
1769
1770
1771
George Graham
1764
1769
1770
1771
Samuel Gerrish
1769
1770
Stephen Gerrish
1767
1769
1770
1771
James Gibson
1767
1769
1770
1771
John Gibson
1767
1769
1770
1771
Daniel Giles .
1771
John Singelear Gibson
1770
Israel Glines
1762
1764
James Glines
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
John Glines.
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Joseph Glines
1767
1769
1770
1771
Nathaniel Glines
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Richard Glines
1767
1769
1770
1771
William Glines, Jr .
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
William Glines, 3d.
1770
1771
Alexander Gordon
1770
1771
Jonathan Guile
1770
Ephraim Hacket
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Ezra Hacket
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Hezekiah Hacket
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Jeremiah Hacket .
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
John Haight
1771
Thomas Haight
1771
Jacob Hancock.
1767
1769
1770
1771
Joseph Hancock
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
William Hancock
1770
1771
William Hare
1769
James Head
1762
1764
1769
1770
1771
James Head, Jr.
1764
1767
1769
Moses Head .
1762
1764
1769
1770
Benjamin Heath
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Caleb Heath
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Ezekiel Heath
1769
James Heath.
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Joshua Heath.
1762
1764
John Holden
1769
1770
1771
John Hoyt.
Zachariah Hunneford.
1764
1767
1769
1770
Dudley Hutchinson.
1769
1771
Elisha Hutchinson
1767
1769
1770
1771
Jonathan Hutchinson .
1767
1769
1770
1771
Richard Jackson
1762
Benjamin Johnson
1769
1770
1771
Josiah Judkins
1769
1770
1771
George Keasor .
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
William Kenniston 1
1762
Josiah Kentfield 1
1762
1764
Ebenezer Kimball.
1770
1771
John Knox
1771
Jonathan Heath
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
Peter Huntoon
1770
1771
.
1 History of Sanbornton gives them as settlers of that town in 1768.
Moses Gerrish
53
GROWTH OF THE TOWN.
1771
Daniel Ladd .
1767
1769
1770
1771
James Lindsey
1767
1769
1770
1771
Samuel Locke.
1771
Thomas Magoon
1771
Joseph Mann
1767
1769
1770
1771
James Maloney
1770
1771
John Maloney
1771
John McDaniel
1769
1770
1771
James Marsten
1767
Gershom Mathes
1771
Archelaus Miles
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Josiah Miles .
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Josiah Miles, Jr
1767
1769
1770
1771
Samuel Miles .'
1771
Archelaus Moore.
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Ensign John Moore
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
John Moore, Jr.
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Samuel Moore
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
William Moore.
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
David Morrill.
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Ezekiel Morrill.
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Laban Morrill
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Reuben Morrill.
1762
Daniel Morrison
1767
1770
1771
James Moulton
1771
Henry Moulton
1771
David Norris
1770
1771
Moses Ordway
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Moses Ordway, Jr.
1770
1771
Nathaniel Perkins
1767
1769
1770
1771
Stephen Perkins
1767
1769
1770
1771
George Peterson
1767
Moses Randall .
1770
1771
Eliphalet Rawlins
1767
1769
1770
1771
Eliphalet Roberts
1770
1771
John Robinson .
1767
1769
1770
1771
John Robinson, Jr
1770
1771
John Sanborn.
1769
1770
1771
Aaron Sargent.
1770
1771
Samuel Sargent
1771
George Shannon
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Daniel Shepard.
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
John Shepard .
1767
1769
Joseph Shepard
1767
Samuel Shepard
1767
Benjamin Sias.
1767
1769
1770
1771
1762
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Eli Simons.
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
John Simons
1764
1767
1769
1770
1771
Joseph Simons
1762
1764
William Simons .
1767
1769
1770
1771
Benjamin Simpson
1764
1769
1770
1771
William Simpson.
1767
1769
Joseph Singelear (Sinclair)
1764
Joseph Soper
1769
1770
1771
Ezekiel Morrill, Jr.
1769
1770
1771
William Rines
1764
1767
1767
James Shepard
Charles Sias.
1771
William Knox.
1771
Nathaniel Moore
54
HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
Abiel Stevens
1767
1769
1770
Barnard Stiles
1767
1771
Dudley Sweesey
1769
1770
1771
Enoch Thomas.
1767
Samuel Torry
1770
Jacob Towle.
1770 1771
Enoch Webster
1767
1769
William Williams
1767
1769
1770
1771
Jonathan Woodbury
1762
Jonathan Young
1770
1771
The foregoing list includes nearly all the active and prominent men of Canterbury for a generation after the first settlement. They left no diaries of their transactions and but little is known of them outside of what is found in the town records. No trace of some of the families can now be discovered. A few of these pioneers may have abided in Canterbury only a little time. The divisions of the town in 1773 and 1780 by which Loudon and Northfield were set off severed the connection of others from the history of this community. The following facts relating to such founders of the town as have not already been noticed were gleaned however from records and other sources.1
Ensign John Moore, the ancestor of the Moores of Canter- bury and of numerous descendants in all parts of the United States, was one of the proprietors of the town. He drew home lot No. 177, which he occupied temporarily at least about as early as any settler who came to Canterbury. The cave can still be seen in this locality where he made his dwelling place until he could erect a log house. He seems to have alternated between his old home in Durham and his new abode in Canterbury for several years, probably working at his trade as a shipwright to earn money for the support of his family and for further purchases in the new settlement. For four years, from 1750, when the inhabitants first made selection of town officers from among themselves, he was one of the selectmen, twice being chairman of the board. His prominence in the community is further attested by several elections as moderator and tithing- man. He was a large land owner, purchasing for himself and his family. After twenty years of activity in town affairs, he appears to have given over the burden to his sons Archelaus and Samuel.
These two men were influential citizens until their death.
1 James Scales, Jeremiah and Thomas Clough, William and Josiah Miles in Chapters I and II.
55
GROWTH OF THE TOWN.
Besides holding all the important town offices, they were among the early justices of the peace for Rockingham County, residing in Canterbury. Samuel was also a deputy sheriff in 1772 and 1773. He kept the first tavern in town and left a large estate at his death, which occurred in his fiftieth year. Until his removal to Loudon late in life the name of Archelaus Moore constantly appears in the town records both as an office holder and as a member of important committees. William and Nathaniel Moore, the eldest and youngest sons of Ensign John, were early honored by elections to important positions. In the building of the town and in the shaping of its affairs no family in Canterbury was more potential for half a century than the Moores.
John Dolloff was chosen a tithingman by the proprietors in 1744. He was a member of the committee to examine the selectmen's accounts in 1750, and he was elected a constable in 1757. In 1762 and 1763, he is recorded as holding minor offices. His name and that of his son, John Dolloff, Jr., disappear from the tax lists after 1764. He probably moved to Conway.1
Solomon Copp's name is first seen in 1754 on a petition for the remission of the province tax. In 1762 he is voted six pounds "for his reward" as the "sweeper and superintendent of the meeting House." He was evidently the first sexton of the town church. This same year he was chosen a tithingman, and the next he was elected hogreeve. No further mention of him is found in the records of Canterbury. He removed to Sanbornton between 1765 and 1768.2
The names of John and William Glines, Jr., appear in the list of original proprietors of Canterbury. Quite likely these proprietors were also settlers. Whether they were brothers is not known, but presumably they were. A William Glines was elected tithingman in 1750 and served as constable in 1752. John Glines held the latter position in 1753. They were probably the early settlers bearing those names, as the next generation was too young to be thus early honored by election to important town offices. John Glines died in 1757 and left a will which showed that he was quite a landed proprietor. He mentions
1 Prov. Registry of Deeds, Vol. LXXXIX, pages 520, 521, U. S. Census of 1790.
2 History of Sanbornton, Vol. I, page 54.
56
HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
as sons Israel, John, James, Nathaniel, Richard and William. The original William, who was called "Junior" in the list of proprietors, may have had a son William 3d and possibly a son Joseph, which would account for all the Glines family whose names appear on the foregoing tax lists. John and Israel Glines, sons of the elder John, were in youth trappers and hunters and penetrated to the northern part of New Hampshire. The Israel and John rivers in Coös county are said to have been named from these brothers.
There is convincing evidence that Richard Blanchard, the proprietor who drew home lot 124, was a settler in Canterbury. He conveyed this lot to Richard Maloney of Portsmouth October 11, 1731, his wife Sarah releasing her right of dower. His home at the time of his making this conveyance was Oyster River Parish, now Durham.1 He later resided at Dover, coming to Canterbury about 1733, as he is described as an inhabitant of the latter town in a deed conveying to him home lot 35, the original right of John Blackdon.2 The church records of Rev. Hugh Adams "principally of Oyster River Parish," show that a Richard Blanchard was married to Sarah Head at Durham, September 3, 1719, and that a Richard Blanchard was baptized February 18, 1727, probably a son of this marriage.3 In 1732 Richard and Sarah Blanchard of Dover convey land and build- ings in Dover,4 and in 1736 Richard Blanchard of Canterbury deeds six acres of common land in Durham.5 In all of these documents he signs by making his mark. The natural conclusion from the foregoing facts is that the Richard Blanchard of Durham, Dover and Canterbury is one and the same man. He died before October 19, 1750, for a conveyance on that date from Samuel Moore to Daniel Ames of lot 124, of forty acres, recites that it is "the home lot of Richard Blanchard of Canterbury, deceased.".6 This is the same lot drawn by Richard Blanchard the proprietor.7
1 Prov. Reg. of Deeds, Vol. XVIII, page 210.
¿ Idem, Vol. XXIV, page 532.
: N. E. Gen. and Hist. Register, Vol. XLIX.
. Prov. Reg. of Deeds, Vol. XXVIII, page 506.
5 Idem, Vol. XXII, page 356.
" Unrecorded deed from Samuel Moore to Daniel Ames of home lot 124 and dated October 19, 1750, in possession of John S. Blanchard of Concord.
7 Whether it was Richard or Benjamin Blanchard who was killed by the Indians in 1746, see Chapter II.
-
वसु
House erected by Daniel Foster, Sr., about 1780, and now owned by his great, great grandson, Jonathan B. Foster, Jr. Described in Hackleborough chapter under number 39.
57
GROWTH OF THE TOWN.
One of the witnesses to the will of John Glines of Canter- bury, dated March 16, 1757, is Richard Blanchard. He signs without making his mark. The name appears on the tax lists of the town from 1767 to 1780, the latter year being the date when Northfield was set off from Canterbury and became a. separate township. The inference is that this Richard Blanchard is a son of the proprietor who was baptized at Oyster River in 1727 and probably accompanied his father to Canterbury. He very likely settled in the northern part of the town. If so, he is the Richard Blanchard referred to in the Northfield History as "Old Sergeant." 1
The exact date when the brothers Asa, Daniel, David and Jonathan Foster came to Canterbury is not known. Another brother, the Rev. Abiel Foster, was called to be the minister of the town in December 1760. It was his first and his only parish.2 His brothers followed him to this frontier community, their names appearing on the tax lists from 1762 to 1769 in the sequence of their ages.
These five brothers and two sisters who accompanied them to Canterbury were the progenitors of many descendants attain- ing distinction in New Hampshire and in other states. The Foster family from the beginning were prominent in the affairs. of the town of their settlement and of their nativity. The ancestors who came to Canterbury were men and women of strong mental equipment and positive convictions, character- istics plainly seen in their numerous progeny. Asa and David were early elected to important offices, the latter being chairman of the board of selectmen for ten years in succession, a marked test of the confidence of his fellow townsmen. Asa was fre- quently moderator and later representative from Canterbury in the legislature. Daniel appears from the records of the town to have been averse to accepting public positions while Jonathan, the youngest, was an early volunteer in the Revolu- tion, responding to all subsequent calls for enlisted men.
Simon, Samuel and Daniel Ames, brothers, were the sons of Daniel Ames of Newmarket. Simon and Samuel came to Can- terbury as early as 1749 and Daniel a year later. Samuel Ames,
1 History of Northfield, Part II, page 24. See also Canterbury Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths for Richard Blanchard's second marriage in 1768. : See Chapter IV.
58
HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.
Jr., was the son of Samuel Ames and accompanied his father, but located in Boscawen soon after reaching his majority. The elder Samuel was elected constable in 1754, his brother Simon in 1755 and 1756, while Daniel filled the same office in 1763. The family was prominent in colonial days, holding various town offices. Samuel Ames was elected a deputy from Canterbury to the Provincial Congress in 1775, and he was the same year chosen a member of the town's first Committee of Safety. A long line of descendants sprang from these hardy pioneers, but only the offspring of Samuel are identified with Canterbury.
Ezekiel Morrill was the ancestor of the Morrills of Canterbury. The proprietors recognized him early by appointing him on a committee to examine the selectmen's accounts in 1744. He served as town clerk one year and as moderator, selectman and tithingman several years. His activities in town affairs continued until 1768, and he appears to have been a potential force in the settlement. Of his fifteen children, three sons, David, Laban and Masten settled in Canterbury and became prominent citizens.
James Lindsey was a large land owner in Canterbury, as shown by the Province registry of deeds. As has been previously noted, some of these deeds may have been mortgage deeds and he may have merely held land as security for loans made to the settlers. He came into prominence early, holding the office of assessor in 1750, constable in 1751 and selectman in 1753. Filling minor positions at various times until 1766, he dis- appears from the tax lists after 1771. Except his daughter, who married Nathaniel Perkins, there is no evidence that he left descendants.
Ephraim Hackett was the ancestor of William H. Y. Hackett of Portsmouth and his descendants, a family prominent in state affairs for several generations. Hezekiah, Ezra and Jeremiah Hackett were the sons of Ephraim. The first two disappear from the tax list after 1771 and probably migrated. Jeremiah remained in town until his death. It is through him that the Portsmouth Hacketts trace their descent. The ancestor, Ephraim, was active in the town business almost from the time of his permanent settlement, being a tithingman in 1750 and
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GROWTH OF THE TOWN.
succeeding years, moderator of the annual meeting of 1752 and selectman in 1757 and 1761.
Little is known of Samuel Shepard except that he did scout duty in the Indian wars. He was a tithingman in 1753 and held minor offices until 1763. On only one tax list does his name appear, that of 1767. James Shepard became prominent at a later date when he had command of a company in the Revolu- tionary War. William Curry, the ancestor of the Currys of Canterbury and Northfield, died in 1763. He seems to have had the confidence of his fellow townsmen, for he was chair- man of the board of selectmen in 1752.
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