USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Dunbarton > History of the town of Dunbarton, Merrimack County, New-Hampshire, from the grant by Mason's assigns, in 1751, to the year 1860 > Part 6
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Firstly. To choose a moderator.
Secondly. To see if the proprietors will change away the school lot, which is the ninth lot in the third range, for the twelfth lot in the fourth range, if Capt. William Stark should purchase said lot, to lay for the use of the school in said town.
Thirdly. To see if the proprietors will choose a com- mittee to count with the former committee, to see how the money hath been disposed of that was raised on each right in Starkstown.
Fourthly. To see if the proprietors will allow James Rogers the settling money for James Evans' right, or the money that James Evans paid for settling said right.
WILLIAM STARK, WILLIAM STINSON, JEREMIAH PAGE, HUGH JAMESON, JOHN STINSON, THOMAS CALDWELL, THOMAS MILLS.
May ye 24, 1761.
In obedience to a petition to me directed, to warn a pro- prietors' meeting of the proprietors of Starkstown, to meet at the house of Capt. William Stark, in Starkstown, on the second Tuesday of June next,
Firstly. To choose a moderator to govern said meeting.
Secondly. To see if the proprietors will change away the school lot, which is the ninth lot in the third range, for the twelfth lot in the fourth range, if Capt. William Stark will purchase said (twelfth) lot, to lay for the use of the school in said town.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
Thirdly. To see if the proprietors will choose a com- mittee to count with a former committee, to see how the money has been disposed of which was raised on each right of Starkstown.
Fourthly. To see if the proprietors will allow James Rogers the settling money for James Evans' right for the money that James Evans paid for not settling his right.
CALEB PAGE, Proprietors' Clerk.
May 24, 1761.
The proprietors met at time and place, according to warning.
Firstly. Voted, Caleb Page moderator, to govern said meeting.
Secondly. Voted, and freely consented to by the pro- prietors of Starkstown, that the ninth lot in the third range should be changed for the twelfth lot in the fourth range, which twelfth lot is to lay for the use of the school forever, in the room of the ninth lot in the third range.
Thirdly. Voted, That Capt. William Stark, and William Stinson, and John McCurdy be chosen a committee to count with the former committee, in order to see how the money has been disposed of that hath been raised upon each proprietor's right in Starkstown, and make report to a proprietors' meeting.
Fourthly. Voted, That in case Capt. James Rogers* make present settlement on James Evans' right, in Starks- town, he shall receive thirty-five pounds, old tenor, out of the treasury for Starkstown, or the same sum that the said Evans paid for his not settling.
Dated June ye 10th, 1761.
The humble petition of the subscribers, being proprie- tors of Dunbarton, humbly pray you would warn a pro- prietors' meeting at the meeting-house in said town, on
* Son of James Rogers, and brother of Col. Robert Rogers ; also an officer of rangers in the " Seven Years' War."
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the twelfth day of March next, at one of the clock in the afternoon ; and insert the following articles :
Firstly. To choose a moderator, to govern said meeting. Secondly. To see if they will choose a new proprietors' clerk.
Thirdly. To choose a committee to take care of the common land in said town, and to settle with those people that have formerly applied for said land, or others that may apply, as the proprietors shall think best.
Fourthly. To choose a committee to settle with the former committee, who was to sell land to build a meeting- house.
Fifthly. To see whether the proprietors will sell a com- mon lot of land in the lower part of this town to some person who will build a corn-mill for the use of the town.
Lastly. To act on any other article that the proprietors shall think proper, when met together.
Dated at Dunbarton, this eighth day of February, 1771.
JEREMIAH PAGE, WILLIAM STARK, JEREMIAH BOWEN, THOMAS MILLS, JOSHUA SAUNDERS, WILLIAM WHEELER, JACOB COLBY, JOHN GOULD.
Pursuant to a petition to me directed, from seven of the proprietors of Dunbarton, to warn a meeting of the pro- prietors of Dunbarton as followeth : All the proprietors of Dunbarton are hereby notified and warned to meet at the meeting-house in said town, on Tuesday, the twelfth day of March next, at one of the clock in the afternoon, then and there to act on the following particulars :
Firstly. To choose a moderator, to govern said meeting.
Secondly. To see if the proprietors will choose a pro- prietors' clerk.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
Thirdly. To choose a commitee to take care of the common lands in said town, and to settle with those people who formerly applied for said land, as the proprietors shall think best.
Fourthly. To choose a committee to settle with the former committee who was chosen to sell land to build a meeting-house in said town.
Fifthly. To see if the proprietors will sell a common lot of land in the lower part of the town to some person who will build a corn-mill for the use of the town.
Lastly. To act on any other article that the proprietors shall think proper when met together.
Dated at Dunbarton, the eighth day of February, 1771. CALEB PAGE, Proprietors' Clerk.
March 12, 1771. Met at time and place, and adjourned the meeting at Capt. William Stark's house.
Firstly. Chose Caleb Page moderator for said meeting.
Secondly. Voted, said Page to continue proprietors' clerk.
Thirdly. Voted, Jeremiah Page, William Stark and William Stinson a committee to plan out the common land by the river in this town (Merrimack river).
Fourthly. Voted, That Robert Hogg and John McCurdy be a committee to settle with the committee that sold land and built the meeting-house in said town.
Fifthly. Voted, That the fourth lot in the sixth range be sold to any man that will appear and oblige himself to build a corn-mill on said lot for the use of the town .*
Sixthly. Voted, Said lot number four, in the sixth range of lots in said town, to Benjamin Hadley, for fifty dollars, to be paid before the last Tuesday in June next, on his giving obligations to build a corn-mill, and to keep in re- pair said mill for the use of the town.
Seventhly and lastly. Voted, This meeting be adjourned
* Mill now owned by Ebenczer P. Kimball.
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to the last Tuesday of June next, at one of the clock in the afternoon, at this place.
Met at time and place, according to adjournment.
Firstly. Voted, That Caleb Page and Robert Hogg shall give a deed of the fourth lot, in the sixth range, to Ben- jamin Hadley, his paying the sum of fifty dollars for the use of the Proprietory, and obliging himself to build and keep in repair a corn-mill on said lot for the use of the town of Dunbarton. Said Page and Hogg to warrant all the title the grantees have from the grantors of John Tufton Mason's rights, to the town of Dunbarton, by virtue of our charter or grant; and that the said Caleb Page and Robert Hogg, and their heirs, shall be indemni- fied from any trouble or charges which may arise by giv- ing said deed to said Hadley. Said deed is to be defended by the whole Propriety, according to a vote of said pro- prietors.
Secondly. Voted, That Caleb Page shall go to Ports- mouth and try to make a settlement with the lord pro- prietors about their common lands in Dunbarton ; either to buy their rights in the common lands for the Propriety of Dunbarton, or agree to set it off in some place in the common lands in the Propriety's charge.
Thirdly. Voted, That Capt. Caleb Page settle with the committee that sold land and built the meeting house, in the room of John McCurdy.
Attest :
CALEB PAGE, Proprietors' Clerk.
In obedience to a petition to me directed from a number of the proprietors of Dunbarton, dated December ye 6, 1773, that I should warn a proprietors' meeting for the proprietors of Starkstown, or Dunbarton, as soon as may be : I do hereby notify and warn said proprietors to meet at the meeting-house in said town, on the first Tuesday of January next, at one of the clock in the afternoon, then and there to act on the following articles :
Firstly. To choose a moderator to govern said meeting. Secondly. To see what the said proprietors will do con-
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
cerning the other people that are settled upon the said common land .*
Fourthly. To see what the said proprietors will do further about dividing their common land.
Fifthly. To see what the proprietors will do about settling Bow line.
Sixthly. To choose any other proprietors' officers, in the room of any that now is, that they think proper ; and any thing else that said proprietors shall think proper when met.
Dated at Dunbarton, this tenth day of December, 1773.
CALEB PAGE, Proprietors' Clerk for Dunbarton.
The proprietors met at time and place.
Firstly. Jeremiah Page chosen moderator to govern said meeting.
Secondly. Jeremiah Page chosen Proprietors' Clerk.
Thirdly. Voted, Not to act on the second, third and fourth articles in the warning, at this meeting.
Fourthly. Capt. William Stark, Capt. William Stinson, and Jeremiah Page were chosen a committee to settle Bow line. The above committee by a vote are to take care of the prudential affairs of Starkstown proprietors.
Fifthly. Voted said meeting be dismissed.
CALEB PAGE, Proprietors' Clerk. January ye fourth, 1774.}
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Hillsborough ss .- We, the subscribers, being owners of the undivided lands and proprietors of the common lands
* Article 3d appears wanting. It is either not on the book, or accident- ally omitted by the copyist.
+ NOTE BY THE EDITOR .- From January 4, 1774, to August 30, 1784, no records appear upon the Proprietors' book, in consequence, probably, of the disposal of a principal portion of the land embraced in their grant prior to the meeting of January 4, 1774.
The town also in 1765, had commenced its existence as a body corporate, and since then had regulated its own municipal affairs. The after meet- ings of the proprietors were held for disposing of their individual com- mon lots, and parts of lots, settling lines bounding the same, and conclud- ing their business operations, as proprietors, in regard to the township granted them.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
in Dunbarton, do think proper there shall be a proprietors' meeting held in said town as soon as may conveniently be : Therefore we desire Jeremiah Page, Esq., proprietors' clerk, to call a meeting of the proprietors, to meet at the meeting-house in said town, the second Monday of Sep- tember next, at four of the clock in the afternoon, to act on the following particulars :
Firstly. To choose a moderator, to govern said meeting.
Secondly. To choose a committee to view the land taken off of Thomas Mills' fifty acre lot by settling Bow line, and to lay out said Mills' lot in quantity and quality, in some common land in said town ; to make good his fifty acre lot as it was before said Bow line was settled.
WILLIAM STINSON, JOHN HOLMES, JAMES McCALLEY, JOHN HOGG, THOMAS MILLS, JEREMIAH PAGE.
In obedience to the above request, I, the subscriber, do notify and warn said proprietors of said undivided land in Dunbarton, to meet at time and place, as was set forth in the above petition.
Dated this 30th day of August, A. D. 1784.
JEREMIAH PAGE, Proprietors' Clerk.
Met according to warning, and chose Capt. William Stinson moderator.
Secondly. Chose Capt. William Stinson, Jeremiah Page, and James McCalley a committee to lay out and qualify said Thomas Mills' fifty acre lot, according to the [torn out].
Then, thirdly. Voted, To adjourn this meeting to the first Tuesday of November next, at three of the clock in the afternoon, to this place.
September ye 13, 1784.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
November ye 2, 1784. Met according to adjournment. Chose John Fulton clerk pro tem. Voted, To adjourn this meeting, to meet at this place on the ninth day of this instant November, at two of the clock in the afternoon. JEREMIAH PAGE, Proprietors' Clerk.
We, the subscribers, being owners of more than seven rights in the common and undivided lands in Dunbarton, desire that Jeremiah Page, proprietors' clerk, call a pro- prietors' meeting on the third Thursday of October next, at the meeting-house in said Dunbarton, at twelve of the clock at noon, to act on the following articles :
Firstly. To choose a moderator to govern said meeting.
Secondly. To see if the proprietors will vote that every proprietor who is settled on common land in said town shall have his share or shares laid out where they have done their work, in quantity and quality, as said proprie- tors shall vote ; or that the proprietors shall make a divi- sion of the common lands, as they shall think best when met.
Thirdly. To see if the proprietors will vote to make good to every person who hath lost land in the settlement of Bow line.
Dated at Dunbarton the eleventh day of September, A. D. 1787.
THOMAS COCHRAN, WILLIAM COCHRAN, JAMES MCCALLEY, JAMES COCHRAN ye 3d, JAMES COCHRAN, WILLIAM PAGE,
Proprietors.
WILLIAM WHEELER, NICHOLAS DODGE, EPHRAIM KINSMAN, EBENEZER HACKET,
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Hillsborough ss .- These are, therefore, to notify and warn all the proprietors owning lands in Dunbarton, that
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
they meet at time and place according to said petition, and act on the above articles therein set forth.
JEREMIAH PAGE, Proprietors' Clerk.
October ye 18, 1787. The proprietors met at time and place, according to warning, and chose John Fulton mod- erator.
Secondly. Voted, To choose a committee to set off each proprietor's right, in quantity and quality, and, according to the best of their judgment, to make good each right of the common land.
Thirdly. Voted, That the committee consist of three men.
Fourthly. Voted, That Jeremiah Page, Capt. William Stinson, and William Cochran be said committee to qualify and set off said rights.
Fifthly. Voted, That said committee shall lay out to every proprietor's share that lives on said common his right where he has done his work, if he choose it.
Sixthly. Voted, That Jeremiah Page, Thomas Huse and James McCalley be a committee to make good his right or lot that Bow took off by settling Bow line.
Lastly. Voted, To adjourn this meeting to the first Tuesday of June next, at one of the clock in the after- noon, at this place.
JEREMIAH PAGE, Proprietors' Clerk.
June ye 3, 1788. Met according to adjournment, and further adjourned this proprietors' meeting to this place, until the last Tuesday of September next, at one of the clock in the afternoon.
JERE'H PAGE, P. Clerk.
September ye 30, 1788. Met according to adjournment.
Firstly. Voted, To receive the report of the committee, that Caleb Mills have thirty-one acres, as planned to him
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
by the committee, laying near Ferson's land, to make good his right.
Secondly. Voted, To receive the report of the commit- tee in making good John Mills' land, what Bow took off, being twenty-eight acres and one half, near the same place where Caleb Mills' was made up.
Thirdly. Voted, That Thomas Cochran shall have his land where the committee took it out for two rights.
Fourthly. Voted, That the committee proceed and fin- ish qualifying the common land in Dunbarton.
Fifthly. Voted, That the committee be paid for their services in land, or what land fetches.
Sixthly. Voted, That every man who spent his labor on common land, and hath a common right, he paying the cost of the committee, qualifying said land, and valuing it, and paying what said committee shall value said com- mon land, said common land shall not be vendued to others.
Lastly. Voted, To adjourn this meeting to ye second day of November next, at ten of ye clock in the forenoon, at this place.
November ye second. Met according to adjournment, and adjourned this meeting to Archibald Stinson's in one hour. Met at said Stinson's accordingly.
Firstly. Voted, That Capt. William Stinson have his five rights laid in the fifth lot, in the fourth range in said town, it being a common lot. Also : Voted, That Thomas Cochran have two rights laid as set forth in the commit- tee's order hereafter recorded : and, Voted, That James McCalley have two rights laid as set forth in said order. Voted, That James McPherson have one right laid out according to said order. Also, Voted, That Sippes Page*
* Sippes, or Scipio, was a favorite negro man, who lived and died in the service of Capt. Caleb Page and his family. The lot assigned to Scipio was in the vicinity of what is now called " One Stack Brook." He remained there for a time, but was glad to come back to the hospitable shelter of Capt. Page's roof, and bring his colored wife with him.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
have one right laid out according to said order. Also, Voted, That Thomas Mills, Jr., have one right laid out according to said order. Also, Voted, That Jeremiah Page have four rights laid out according to said order. Also, Voted, That William Page have three rights laid out according to said order. Also, Voted, That each pro- prietor shew a good title to his right : Those above rights to be recorded as set off by the committee.
Secondly. Voted, That every man having common rights may apply to the committee, and have those rights in the common that is not taken up, and picked for be- fore.
Thirdly. Voted, To adjourn this meeting, to the meet- ing-house in Dunbarton, on the first Tuesday of June next, at one of the clock in the afternoon.
JERE'H PAGE, P. Clerk.
June ye 2, 1789. Met according to adjournment.
Firstly. Voted, To accept of each right, as was set off by the orders of ye committee, and to be surveyed by Jeremiah Page to the proprietors who applied to said Page, in the pieces as ordered by the committee. Said pieces of common are One Stack Hill, and William Page's common, as qualified.
Secondly. Voted, To give up the meeting-house now standing in this, (blank) built by the proprietors for the use of the town forever.
Thirdly. Voted, To adjourn this meeting to the first Tuesday of October next, at one of the clock in the after- noon, at the meeting-house in said town.
JERE'H PAGE, Prop'rs' Clerk.
October ye 6, 1789. Met according to adjournment.
Firstly. Voted, To accept of two rights laid out to Thomas Cochran, June last.
Secondly. Voted, To accept* of one right laid out to
* The text is except, but means accept.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
Dr. William Cochran, June last. Voted, To adjourn this meeting to the first Tuesday of June next, at one of the clock in the afternoon, at the meeting-house in Dunbar- ton, or to the place where said house did stand, if said house is pulled down. [The contract for a new meeting- house was entered into June 22, 1789, to be completed November 1, 1790 .- Editor.]
June ye 1, 1790. Met according to adjournment, and- Voted, To adjourn this meeting to the first Tuesday of November next, at one o'clock in the afternoon, at the meeting-house in Dunbarton.
JERE'H PAGE, Prop'rs' Clerk.
November ye 2, 1790. Met according to adjournment.
Voted, To accept of John Fulton's and John Mills' rights, as laid out and planned in the common land that McPherson lives on, but not joining McPherson's own land, about 14 acres each.
Secondly. Voted to accept of two rights laid out to Wil- liam Wheeler, east of said Wheeler's house, seven acres each, as planned by the committee.
Thirdly. Voted, To accept* one right laid out to Francis Mitchell as planned by the committee, about 100 acres, pond and all, where said Mitchell's house is.
Lastly. Voted, To adjourn this meeting to ye first Tues- day of June next, at one of the clock in the afternoon, at this place.
J. PAGE, Prop. Clerk.
June ye 7, 1791. Met according to adjournment.
Firstly. Voted, That Capt. Jacob Greene have two rights laid out where Samuel Smith lived; and if the town of Chester takes any of said Smith's farm, said
* The text in all these cases contains the word except where accept, as of the committee's report, is evidently the proper word.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
rights shall be laid out joining south, quantity by quantity, with such as shall be lost by said Chester, if any be.
Secondly. Voted, To leave land enough for one com- mon right where Rachel Martin now lives.
Thirdly. Voted, To accept the right laid out to Caleb Mills, joining northerly of William Page's land, where he now lives, and southerly of Maj. Caleb Stark's land, laid out for his common right.
Fourthly. Voted, That Jacob Green have a half right laid out joining " old Martin place," where Rachel Mar- tin now lives, where he hath done his work.
Fifthly. Voted, To let Deacon Cochran and Thomas Cochran have three pounds, four shillings' worth of land, west of said Cochran's house, as the committee shall value it.
Lastly. Voted, To adjourn this meeting to the first Tuesday of November next, at ten o'clock forenoon, at the meeting-house.
J. PAGE, Prop'rs' Clerk.
1
November ye 1, 1791. Proprietors met according to ad- journment.
Firstly. Voted, Joshua Abbot be appointed to take care of the common lands in Dunbarton ; and if any tres- passers should cut or destroy any timber, logs, trees, wood or underwood, [he] shall forthwith inform the proprietors or proprietors' committee ; and take witness thereof.
Secondly. Voted, To give said Joshua Abbot eight acres of the common land, to make good the western right, joining west of said western right, as planned.
Thirdly. Voted, To lay out one half of a common right, fifteen acres, north-west of the intervals joining said Ab- bot's four rights.
Fourthly. Voted, To accept of two rights and one half right laid on or near the old McCoy farm to Joshua Abbot.
Sixthly. Voted to accept one common right laid out to Stephen Ordway, in the common, where John Ordway
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
hath done his work, being the original right of Paul March, Esqr.
Lastly. Voted, To adjourn this meeting to the first Tuesday of June next, at one of the clock in the afternoon, at this place, and that this adjournment be put in Hough's Gazetteer, two months before said first Tuesday of June.
JERE'H PAGE, Proprietors' Clerk.
June ye 5, 1792. Met according to adjournment.
Firstly. Voted, To allow Maj. Caleb Stark two rights and one half right on the common, next to Hopkinton line.
Secondly. Voted, That the committee appointed to lay out the common rights in Dunbarton shall lay out to each right, where no body hath appeared to pick for them, in the remaining common land in Dunbarton, and make return accordingly, at or before the first Tuesday of No- vember next, to the proprietors' meeting.
Thirdly. Voted, To adjourn this meeting to the first Tuesday of November next, at ten of the clock in the forenoon ; and that it be put into Hough's newspaper for three weeks before said first Tuesday of November, so that any man may come and settle for his right.
JERE'H PAGE, P. Clerk.
November ye 6, 1792. Met according to adjournment.
Firstly. Voted, That Thomas Cochran's heirs and Dea- con William Cochran have a piece of land laid out to them for their services as committee : their account be- ing £3 4s. 4d.
Secondly. Voted, Seven acres of common land, lying east of William Beard's lot, to Capt. William Stinson towards his services done the Proprietory.
Lastly. Voted, To adjourn said meeting to the first Tuesday of June next, at one o'clock afternoon.
JERE'H PAGE, Prop'rs' Clerk.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
June ye 4, 1793. Met according to adjournment. Chose Joshua Abbot moderator pro tem., to govern said meeting.
Firstly. Voted, To Benjamin Ring a piece of land laid out by Jeremiah Page, one of the committee to lay out one fourth part of a common right in Dunbarton.
Secondly. Voted, George Poor three fourths of a com- mon right, where Roach did his work, south of Ring's common land.
Thirdly. Voted, To adjourn this meeting to ye first Tuesday of November next, at ten of the clock in the forenoon. Voted, An advertisement in Russell's paper. JEREMIAH PAGE, Proprietors' Clerk.
November ye 5, 1793. Met according to adjournment.
Firstly. Voted, To adjourn this meeting to house of Archibald Stinson for one half hour.
Met according to adjournment.
Firstly. Voted, To John Consteler one common right, it being the common right of Col. Wallingford, in Dunbar- ton, being laid out in the interval land west of the river road, and north of Joshua Abbot's and Farrington's inter- val, and numbered eight.
Secondly. Voted, Capt. William Stinson two pounds, and James McCalley nine shillings, and Jeremiah Page, Esq., seven pounds and twelve shillings, lawful money, being for services the said Stinson, McCalley and Page had done for the proprietors ..
Thirdly. Voted, Caleb Mills one common right, contain- ing about ten acres, north of William Page's dyked land, east of the road from Dunbarton to Hopkinton.
Fourthly. Voted, Capt. Jacob Green one half of a com- mon right lying on the main road in "Martin's old field," so called, to extend as far south as the south end of the "Long Line," so called.
Fifthly. Voted, To sell at public vendue such small pieces of common lands as will not be sufficient for a right, to pay the proprietors' charges at the next proprie-
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