USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Cornish > History of the town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with genealogical record, 1763-1910, Vol. I > Part 2
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Province of New Hampshire-Octo-1-1763. Recorded according to the Original on the Back of the Original Charter of Cornish.
T. ATKINSON Jun' Secry
Provc. New Hampshire. Oct. 1st 1763.
Recorded from the Back of the Original Charter of Cornish, Under the Prove Seal.
T. ATKINSON Jun' Secry
Comparatively, but few of the Grantees ever settled in town, as their names have never appeared on the town records as landholders after the settlement of the town. They, however, employed every available method to promote the early and rapid settlement of the town by offering flattering inducements to in- fluence emigration thither. Several of the grantees deeded their shares to others who were more hopeful in the venture and desired to settle in town.
The proprietors held meetings and continued to legislate upon the affairs of the grant until the town had a population sufficient to manage them itself. The first proprietors' meeting was held in Greenland, N. H., August 15, 1763, nearly two months after the
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CHARTER-GRANTS, ETC.
grant was made, and, in the absence of recorded authority, we have reason to believe meetings were held at such times and places as became necessary to meet the requirements of the landowners; but records of these have not been obtained.
The British workmen at "Mast Camp" were not settlers, and made no attempt at settlement. It is claimed, however, that Daniel Putnam who soon afterwards became one of the first settlers of Cornish, spent the winter of 1764-65 at the camp, also a Mr. Dike and family were staying there to assist, perhaps, in boarding the mast-cutters.
It cannot be expected the historian of today will antedate the times already named, or even to record all events that occurred during the time of the settlement of the town. Much, indeed, lies buried in the centuries preceding and during the time these known events took place that would be of great interest to record; but the revolving ages have forever hidden them from the present generation, and no power can recover them. Fanciful tradition might be employed to some extent to gratify the curious reader, but it is thought better to record only authentic facts,even though the record be fragmentary and less entertaining.
The first provincial governor of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth, was appointed by the Crown and served from 1741 to 1767, a period of nearly twenty-six years. It was during his administration that the township grants of Cornish and adjoining towns were made. He was succeeded by his nephew, Sir John Wentworth, who served until 1775, at which time all British rule ceased among her New England colonies. These were the only governors New Hampshire ever had that received their appoint- ment from Great Britain. It may not be amiss to mention for the benefit of the general reader, that our ancestors were, previous to 1775, all supposed to be loyal and loving subjects of England, our mother country; but, for reasons hereafter given, this rela- tionship ceased to exist about that time.
It was the custom of Gov. Benning Wentworth to make reser- vations of five hundred acres of land in a single body in each of the townships granted by him. These were usually selected with reference to their situation and value. On all the early township maps these reservations were designated by his initials, B. W. The motives prompting him to make these reservations are mat- ters of conjecture. It is evident that he believed their proprie-
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HISTORY OF CORNISH.
torship would be entailed upon his successor in office. In this he was mistaken, for it was found that his successor, Sir John Wentworth, possessed no right in said reservations, and therefore they were still ungranted lands, and subject to the same modes of disposal as the rest of the towns had been at the first. In Cor- nish such reservation was a very desirable traet situated near the northwest part of the town, and bordering on the Connecticut River. In order to make this land available for settlement, put- ting it on a par with the rest of the town, it must needs be granted to the town or to some individual. A petition was issued by Moses Chase, then a prominent citizen of the town, to Sir John Wentworth, and the following grant was made by him to Moses Chase, Esq.
Grant to Moses Chase, 1772.
Province of New Hampshire George the Third, by the Grace
MOSES CHASE'S
[L. S.] of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith &c. To all to whom these Grant Presents shall come, Greeting:
Know Ye that we of our special grace, certain Knowledge and mere Motion for the due encouragement of settling and culti- vating our Lands within our Province aforesaid, by and with the advice of our Trusty and well beloved John Wentworth Esq". our Governor and Commander in Chief of our own said Province of New Hampshire & of our Council of the same, Have (upon the Conditions and Reservations herein particularly reeited and expressed.) given and granted & by these Presents for us our Heirs and Successors do give & grant unto our leige and loving Subject Moses Chase of Cornish in the County of Cheshire and Province aforesaid Esqr. and to his Heirs & Assigns forever, a certain Tract or parcel of Land containing by Admeasurement Five Hundred Acres, situate lying and being in our Said Province as by a plan or Survey thereof (exhibited by our Surveyor General of Lands for our Said Province by our said Governor's order and returned into the Secretary's office of our Said Provinee; a Copy whereof is hereunto annexed) may more fully and at large appear; Butted & Bounded as follows Viz.
Beginning at a Stake and Stones standing on the bank of Con- necticut River on the north side of Blow-me-down Brook (so
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CHARTER-GRANTS, ETC.
'called) from thence running south 76 degrees East 288 Rods to a Stake and Stones, from thence running South 15 Degrees West 283 Rods to a Stake and Stones, from thence running North 76 'Degrees West 286 Rods to a Stake and Stones standing on the bank of Connecticut River aforesaid, from thence up said River to the Bounds first mentioned. To Have and to Hold the said Tract of Land as above expressed to him the said Moses Chase and to his Heirs and Assigns for Ever upon the following Terms Conditions and Reservations Viz:
First that the said Grantee shall cut, clear and make passable for Carriages &c. a Road of three Rods wide thro' the said Tract as shall at any Time hereafter be directed or Ordered by the Gov- ernor & Council aforesaid, which Road Shall be Completed in Two years from the date of Such order or direction of the Govn". & Council aforesaid on penalty of the forfeiture of this Grant & of its reverting to us, our Heirs and Successors.
Second. That the said Grantee shall settle or Cause to be set- tled Two Families in Three Years from the date of this Grant, in failure whereoff the Premises to revert to us our Heirs and Successors to be by us or them entered upon & regranted to such of our Subjects as shall effectually settle and cultivate the same.
Third. That all white and other Pine Trees fit for Masting our Royal Navy be carefully preserved for that use; & none be cut or felled without our special License for so doing first had and obtained on penalty of the forfeiture of the Right of the Grantee in the Premises his Heirs and Assigns to Us our Heirs and Suc- eessors as well as being subject to the penalties prescribed by any present as well as future Act or Acts of Parliament.
Fourth, Yielding and paying therefore to us our Heirs and Suc- cessors on or before the 24th day of January 1774, the Rent of one Ear of Indian Corn only if lawfully demanded.
Fifth That the said Grantee his Heirs & Assigns shall yield & pay unto us our Heirs and Successors yearly and every year for ever from and after the expiration of Two Years from the date of this Grant; one Shilling Proclamation Money, for every Hun- dred Acres he so owns settles or possesses, and so in proportion for a greater or lesser Tract of the Land aforesaid, which money shall be paid by the respective Proprietor Owner or Settler in our Council Chamber in Portsmouth, or to Officer or Officers as shall
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HISTORY OF CORNISH.
be appointed to receive the same: And these to be in lieu of all other Rents and Services whatsoever.
In Testimony whereof we have Caused the Seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed. Witness: John Wentworth Esqr. our aforesaid Governor & Commander-in-Chief, the 24th day of January in the 12th year of our Reign Annoque Domini 1772.
J. WENTWORTH.
By His Excellency's Command With advice of Council
The words "money for every Hundred acres" being interlined previous to signing & Sealing.
THEODORE ATKINSON, Secretary.
Province of New Hampshire 25th. Janty 1772.
Recorded according to the Original Patent under the Province Seal.
The Surveyor's Certificate of this grant to Moses Chase was as follows:
Province of New Hampshire, Portsmouth 22d. January 1772. These may Certify that this Plan Beginning at a Stake & Stones standing on the bank of Connecticut River, &c. (according to terms of the aforesaid grant) Contains 500 acres of land, and is a true copy of an Original Plan or Survey of said Tract as taken and returned to me by Capt™. Jonath". Chase Dept. Surveyor.
ATTEST. IsI. RINGE,
Survr. Gen1.
The French and Indian war (1754-1763), had just closed and many of the troops who had served in it were from Massachusetts and Connecticut. These on going to, and returning from, Can- ada passed through the Connecticut River Valley. They saw it was indeed a "goodly land," and brought flattering accounts of it home. These reports had a marvelous effect upon many, especially upon those who were anxious to try their fortunes in a new country. Applications to the proper authorities were soon made, and two tiers of towns on each side of the river were surveyed and severally granted and many of them were incor- porated as early as 1761.
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CHARTER-GRANTS, ETC.
Nearly two years elapsed after the town was granted before any active measures were adopted regarding the settlement of the town. But in the spring and summer of 1765, the first actual settlement began. Previous to this time the only item of Corn- ish history known was the establishing of a station called "Mast Camp" not far south of the present site of Windsor Bridge. This was established by order of British authority for the purpose of selecting trees suitable for the British navy. How long this had existed there is no record to show.
In 1765, two years after the grant was made, Judge Samuel Chase of Sutton, Mass., and others of his family and relatives who had become enamored by the descriptions of the beautiful scen- ery, the tall forests and rich lands of the Connecticut River Valley resolved to make the venture. It was a long and tedious journey of 140 miles, first reaching the river by going in a westerly direction, and then ascending the river into the then unknown wilderness.
They ascended the river until they reached Walpole, N. H., the extreme uppermost known settlement at that time on the river, unless we except that of Charlestown where a fort had been es- tablished several years before. At Walpole a part of the family tarried nearly two years. Judge Chase had meanwhile made extensive purchases of land of the proprietors of Cornish. At this time he was nearly sixty years of age and decided to stay at Walpole until the following year. His son, Dudley Chase, and son-in-law, Daniel Putnam, and Dyer Spalding, with their work- men, were the first men who came up the river in a canoe for the purpose of making a settlement in the virgin forests of Cornish.
They landed on the river meadow near the mouth of Blow- me-down Brook in the northwest part of the town, on land now (1906) belonging to the estate of C. C. Beaman, Esq. Here they began to make a clearing, the first made in town.
There is an absence of recorded authority; tradition says it was in the early days of June, when Nature was at her loveliest and the "leaves were green, " that the woodman's axe first resounded through those forests. At this season they scarcely thought of a shelter except of the rudest kind, so intent were they upon clear- ing and preparing ground for the season's crops. During the season now before them, until the season's crops could be grown,
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HISTORY OF CORNISH.
they were wholly dependent for their supplies of provision upon Fort No. 4 at Charlestown, sixteen miles away, down the river.
It was at this fort that the family of Dea. Dudley Chase had been left for safety while on their journey up the river, as the hus- band and father with his associates went on to prepare for them their future home in the "township of land" just across the river from what is now Windsor, Vt., in full sight of the dome of Ascut- ney. This family consisted of his wife and seven small children. It appears to have been a sore trial to her to be thus compelled to remain within the prison-like walls of the fort with no con- genial associate except her little children.
These circumstances, and those that followed, with their interesting outcome, are best described by herself as quoted by her youngest son, Bishop Philander Chase:
"Days seemed weeks and weeks seemed months, and scarcely did a sun rise without witnessing my wandering on the bank of the flowing stream where I had parted with your father and his company of Cornish workmen. It was in one of these walks with my children by my side, that I saw at sunset a canoe coming round a point of the river bank, towards me. At first I thought of the approach of savages, but I soon recognized the well-known canoe of your father, and in it our trusty neighbor Dyer Spalding. My heart leaped with joy, and no sooner did the canoe reach the shore than the children were in it, and on his knees; nor did they allow him to stir till they told him that I was resolved that we should all return with him to their father in the woods. ‘Do you know, dear Madam,' said he, 'that our anxiety to put in a crop and plant the ground for the coming summer has been such that we have had no time to build even the semblance of a house? I am come to tell you that your husband is well and to learn of your safety and health and to carry back a supply of provisions. We have all slept upon the uncovered ground, and as yet have no shelter for ourselves-much less for you, and your little ones .- Will you venture with them into the woods before you are sure of a refuge?'
"To this I replied: 'I will go, and with all my children endure any storm if you will give me but a safe and steady conveyance to my husband. If there be no shelter, nor fence, nor fort, his faithful arm will guard me, and his trusty men will aid him, and their God, who is above all, will provide.'"
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CHARTER-GRANTS, ETC.
A much smaller degree of sagacity than Dyer Spalding possessed would have convinced him that Mistress Alice was mistress of the situation.
The question decided, all the resources of his mind were called into action to make things ready for the journey up the river. "Such goods as we needed least were secured in the fort; and such as the boat would carry and were needed most, with ample pro- visions, were put on board and the morning sun was scarcely risen, ere by Spalding's help and that of the older boys, all things were ready for the voyage.
"Spalding was a good canoe-man, and with the boys to lend a hand we made good progress, slow but unceasing. It was in time of Indian warfare, in a frail Indian canoe, and going up a rapid stream, yet we reached the little opening among the tower- ing trees before nightfall. 'There they are' cried the children. 'There are father and his men; I hear his voice and the sound of their axes.' For a moment all was hidden from our view by the tall forest trees; this gave me time to utter a prayer of faith and benediction; 'May the God of our fathers bless your father and me, your helpless mother, and you, my dear children, now, even now, as we shall take possession of this, our dwelling-place in the wild woods; and though like Jacob of old, we have but a stone for a pillow and the canopy of Heaven for a covering, we may find God in this place, and may it be to us as the House of God and the Gate of Heaven."
How the prayer of this faithful woman was answered, time has told. "Pilot Spalding made fast the canoe to the willows and asked us to await his return. Your father could get no direct answer to his inquiries: 'Is all well? and have you brought us a supply of food?' &c. 'Come and see,' replied Spalding and as they stood upon the bank, he saw the frail bark in which were his wife and children. The emotion of the moment was almost too much. I sprang forward, the little ones following. He re- ceived us with joy mixed with agony. 'Are you come here to die,' he exelaimed, 'before your time? We have no house to shelter you, and you will perish before we can build one.'
" 'Cheer up, my faithful,' I replied. 'Let the smiles and the rosy cheeks of your children, and the health and cheerfulness of your wife make you joyful! If you have no house, you have strength and hands to make one. The God we worship will
16
HISTORY OF CORNISH.
bless us and help us to obtain a shelter. Cheer up! Cheer up! my faithful!'
"The sunshine of joy and hope began to beam from his counte- nance, and the news was soon told to the company of workmen, and the woods rang with their shouts in honor of the first white woman and her children, on the banks of the Connecticut River above the Fort No. 4.
" All hands assembled to welcome the strangers. Trees were felled and peeled, and the bark in large sheets was spread for a floor. Other sheets were fastened by thongs of twisted twigs to stakes driven into the ground and were raised for walls or laid on cross-pieces for a roof, and a cheerful fire soon made glad our little dwelling. The space of three hours was not consumed in doing all this, and never were men more happy than those men who contributed so speedily to our wants. Beds were brought from the canoe to the rustic pavilion, and on them we rested sweetly fearless of danger, though the thick foliage was wet with the dew, and the wild creatures of the woods howled around us. The next day all hands were called to build a cabin which served us for the following winter, and in which, cheered by the rising prospects of the family, and the mutual affection of all around us, my enjoyments were more exquisite than at any other period of my life."
One cannot but admire the spirit of this pure and high-minded woman; far from all the comforts of ordinary life; so full of courage and possessing such a perfect trust in God. She was, indeed, a woman fitted by nature and grace to become the mother of such men and women as Cornish can gladly boast.
On the 17th of October following, she gave birth to the first child born in Cornish,-a daughter who received her mother's name.
It may be of interest to mention that this first family in town, soon after this, settled three miles further south on "Cornish Plain," on the farm now (1907) owned and occupied by William E. Chadbourne. Here they spent the remainder of their lives, each living to be more than fourscore years of age. (See Dudley Chase.) Other settlements soon followed by other families com- ing to town. In 1766 Judge Samuel Chase came with others of his family, who mostly settled in town. Prominent among these besides Dudley were Samuel, Jr., Solomon Chase, the first
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CHARTER-GRANTS, ETC.
physician in the town; Jonathan who afterwards attained mili- tary distinction during the Revolutionary War. Moses Chase, a younger brother of Judge Samuel, with his family also came and settled in town within a year from the date of the first settle- ment. His name appears as one of the selectmen at the first meeting of the town in 1767. Many of his descendants re- mained in town for two or three generations following. Caleb Chase, another brother of Moses and Samuel, with a portion of his family eame soon after. The children of these families of Chases were generally quite numerous; so those named Chase in town, for years, exceeded in number that of any other, or all other names combined.
The name Bellows was as strong numerically in Walpole, N. H., as the name Chase was in Cornish. The families intermarrying brought them into very friendly relations. A member of the Cornish family was one day boasting to one of the Walpole families that "there were Chases enough in Cornish to chase all others from out the town into Walpole." The other replied, that "there were Bellows enough in Walpole to blow them all baek again." Besides the Chase families, there were at the first Dyer Spalding and Daniel Putnam. These were soon followed by the Cadys, Wellmans, Richardsons, Bartletts and many others.
All these very naturally selected desirable situations, chiefly at first along the banks of the Connectieut River. These estates have all "passed out" of their family names except that of Daniel Putnam whose estate is still retained by his descendants of the same name. Possibly there are remote descendants of those early families still living who retain interesting traditions of the settle- ment by their ancestors, including many facts of interest, but unhappily these are mainly beyond our reach and knowledge.
The number of settlers were few during the years 1765-66, but all worked for the general good of the whole. Of course, there were diverse opinions regarding religious and political matters, but the time had not yet arrived for any organization to mate- rialize. Probably they did not feel the need of any during this time. Hard work and happiness joined hand in hand and as a result harmony prevailed. A general spirit of helpfulness and interest in each other's welfare existed on every hand.
The two years of which we have no authentic record may be 3
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HISTORY OF CORNISH.
termed "assembling years" for the colony. Their numbers the first year were too few to cooperate in a formal way, but in the autumn of 1766, the people had so increased in numbers that they became anxious to try the experiment of self-government on the following year. Accordingly they presented a petition to Judge Samuel Chase (he having become authorized to receive such petition), for a meeting of the town to be holden on the 10th of March following. Their petition was granted; therefore he, on the 28th day of February, 1767, issued a call for the first meeting to be holden as above.
The following is a copy of the original call which is presented in its original form, etc .:
Province of
New Hampsh
Pursuant to a Request of ye Inhabitance & Free holders of ye Town of Cornish To me directed one of his majestys Justices of ye Peace for ye Province of New Hampshirealling a Town meeting In sd Town of Cornish.
These are to notify and warn the free holders and other In- habitance of ye Town of Cornish, To meet at ye Dwelling House of Mr. Jonathan Chase In sd Cornish on Tuesday ye tenth day of March Next at Ten of ye Clock In Ye forenoon. Then & There To act upon the following artichels (Viz.) :
1ly To chuse a moderator To regulate sd meeting.
2ly To chuse a Town Clark.
3ly To chuse Selectmen
4ly To chuse a Constable or Constables.
5ly To chuse any other Town officer as ye Law Directs.
Dated at Cornish Feb. 28th A. D. 1767.
SAMUEL CHASE Justice of ye Peace
Recorded by Daniel Putnam-Town Clark.
The following is the response to the above call,-the first re- corded meeting of the free-holders of the town:
Province of
New Hampsh
At a meeting of ye free-holders & Inhabitance of ye Town of Cornish & Province aforesd Held (Pursuant to a Notification) at the Dwelling House of Mr. Jonathan Chase In sd. Cornish on
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CHARTER-GRANTS, ETC.
Tuesday ye tenth day of March anno Domini 1767 at ten o'clock in ye forenoon, The following votes were passed (Viz.) :
1ly Voted and Chose Sam" Chase Esq. Moderator for sd meeting.
2ly Voted and Chose Daniel Putnam Town Clark.
3ly Voted and Chose five Selectmen Viz: Sam11 Chase Esq. Mr. Elijah Cady, Mr. Jonathan Chase, Mr. Dudley Chase, & Mr. Moses Chase.
4ly Voted and Chose Mr. Tisdale Dean Constable.
5ly Voted and Chose Sam11 Chase Esq. Town Treasurer.
6ly Voted that swine should Run at Large this Present year Being Yoaked & Ringed according to law.
7ly Voted and Chose Mr. Joseph Tinsur 1st. Haward.
gly Voted and Chose Phinehas Powers 2d. Haward.
gly Voted and Chose Mr. Elijah Cady Leather-Sealer. SAMI CHASE EsQR. Moderator.
Recorded by Dan11 Putnam, Town Clark.
In the charter, already mentioned, the date of the town meetings had been fixed for the second Tuesday of March of each year. Every year since the above-mentioned meeting, the annual meetings have been called for this date.
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