USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Durham > History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire (Oyster River Plantation) with genealogical notes, Volume 1 > Part 3
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12} John Wille ye 3d
25 Benjamin Smith
163 Wm Wille
6} Joseph Smart
163 Stephen Wille
122 Joseph Simons
15 Ye Estate Wm Wakham decd
25 Joseph Stevenson
25 Samuel Williams
25 Thomas Stevenson
25 John Williams
25 Abraham Stevenson
25 John Williams Jr.
25 John Tomson's Estate
25 John York
61 Richard -- [York?]
Additional Grants, March 23, 1737.
Acres
25 Thomas Leathers
83 Joseph Glidden
64 Salathiel Denbo
Acres
25 Lemuel Chesley
122 John Laskey George Chesley
The business of the Proprietors was not closed up for many years. In 1765 Jonathan Woodman and Hubbard Stevens, Proprietors' Committee, called a meeting, as some grants con- flicted with each other. John Thompson, Jeremiah Burnham, Jr., and Moses Emerson were impowered to sell the balance of land and examine the doings of the former committee. A committee consisting of John Woodman, Capt. Joseph Sias, and Capt. Benjamin Smith were chosen to examine the papers brought from the former clerk's office and determine what of said papers is proper to be recorded. Ebenezer Thompson was elected clerk 31 March 1766, which position he filled until 28 March 1774.
When the parish of Lee was established in 1765, the town of
25 John Tompson
25 Jonathan Thompson
25 WVm Wormwood
22
HISTORY OF DURHAM
Durham thus voted to protect the interests of the proprietors, "That the said parish shall not in any Respect Interfere with any Lands belonging to the proprietors in said town." See N. H. Town Papers, Vol. XI, pp. 584-85.
In 1772 John Woodman, "survivor of the Proprietors' Com- mittee," called a meeting, and Major Stephen Jones was chosen moderator and Nathaniel Norton Clerk pro tem. Action was taken to eject William Caldwell from land. The records show lawsuits. The end is not recorded.
The aim of this chapter is to state merely the most important steps in the municipal history of Durham. We pass on, there- fore, to the division of the town and the incorporation of Lee. It is thus stated on high authority, "January 16, 1766, the town was divided and the westerly part incorporated as a Parish by the name of Lee, with full town privileges." It is questionable whether Lee had at first full town privileges, for the Journals of the House of Representatives do not show that Lee was impowered to send a representative to the General Assembly while New Hampshire was a royal province. Lee sent as dele- gates to the first Provincial Congress at Exeter Joseph Sias and Ebenezer Jones; to the second Congress, Joseph Sias and John Layn; to the third, Joseph Sias and Smith Emerson, and also to the fourth; to the fifth, Capt. Hercules Mooney. This Congress met 21 December 1775 and was organized as a House of Representatives in January 1776.
Moreover, the town records of Durham show that in the spring meeting after the incorporation of Lee the town elected three selectmen for Durham and also Nicholas Duda and Robert Thompson for Lee, and in 1767 the town meeting of Durham elected Miles Randall and Nicholas Duda as selectmen of Lee. Also on the 28th of March 1774, when trouble was brewing with Great Britian, the town of Durham elected Joseph Sias, Esq., and Capt. Hercules Mooney on an important town committee, "to prepare instructions to be given their Representatives and report to the adjournment of the meeting."
A town meeting was held at the Falls meeting house in Dur- ham, 3 September 1764. A committee consisting of Lieut. Joseph Sias, Miles Randall and Nicholas Duda on the part of those desiring incorporation, and Capt. Stephen Jones, Thomas Chesley and Capt. Benjamin Smith on the part of Durham, was appointed to run a line from Paul Chesley's house near the Mad-
23
HISTORY OF DURHAM
bury line to the house of John Smart on the Newmarket line, ac- cording to the request of sundry persons of the town. The meeting was adjourned to the 24th instant, when the committee made their report and unanimously recommended,
That a Strait Line, Beginning one hundred and Twenty four Rods above the Dwelling house of paul Chelsey, on Madbury Line, and So to Run a Strait point across to Newmarket Line, to one mile and a half above the Dwelling house of John Smart, may be a Suitable Line.
N. B. It is the intent of the above Resolve, that the Line Fixed upon run from the house of paul Chesley, North 6 degrees East to Madbury Line & then to Measure up 124 rods, by said Madbury Line.
The town meeting was adjourned to 8 October next, when Capt. Benjamin Smith and Lieut. Joseph Sias were appointed a com- mittee to "draw a Vote in writing for the western part of the town to Be Sat of as a parish and Bring it to the Town, at Some pub- lick town meeting." This committee brought in their report to a town meeting held 18 November 1765, in writing, as follows:
That the west End of Said Town of Durham be voted to be Sat of as a parish, Agreeably to the Result or a Report of a Committee, (Chosen and appointed for that purpose) and Brought into publick Town meeting the 24th day of Sept. 1764-with this addition, thereto, that the Said parish, when an act may be Obtained for that purpose, Shall take their proportionable Part of the poor now Supported by the whole town, and Likewise That the Said parish Shall hot in any Respect Interfere with any Lands belonging to the proprietors in Said Town .- Voted that the above vote, Brought by Capt. Smith and Sias, is agreeable to the Sense of the Town and that it be Recorded accordingly." See N. H. Town Papers XI. 584-5, or Town Records of Durham.
The following petition is of value especially for the genealogist, since it shows who were living in Lee in 1765:
To his Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr Governor and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire, to the Honourable his Majesty's Counsel and the House of Representatives in General Assembly Convened, The Petition of Sundry of the Inhabitants of Durham most humbly Sheweth that in said Town of Durham there are Inhabitants Sufficient for two Parishes and to maintain and support the Charge thereof That many of the Inhabitants live more than Eight miles from the Place of Publick Worship and where all Town meetings and the Publick of Affairs are holden and Tran- sacted which Renders it very Difficult for them to Attend there at any time but more Expecially in the winter Season that the consequence thereof it is Probable will be that many of the Youth in said Town will be brought up in great Ignorance unless the Difficulties be removed and the Petitioners are in a great measure prevented the use of their Privilidges in their present Situation-
Wherefore your Petitioners most humbly pray your Excellency and Honours,
24
HISTORY OF DURHAM
that there may be two Parishes in said Town and that the Dividing Line be- tween the two Parishes Beginning at Paul Chesles house at Beech Hill so (Called) then North Six Degrees East to the line Between said Durham and Madbury then running westerly on said line one hundred and twenty four Rods then Beginning and Running from thence to New Market line to one mile and half above the Dwelling House of John Smart, which line was agreed upon by a Committee Chosen by the said Town of Durham in the year one thousand Seven hundred and Sixty four and Voted in Publick Town meeting, and so to Include the whole of said Durham above this line. We therefore humbly pray your Excellency and your Honours to take our Case into your wise Considerations and Set said Parish off by said line with the powers and privileges of other Towns or Parishes in this Province and your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray.
Dated at Durham November 18th 1765.
Hercules Mooney
Joshua Woodman Junr
Israel Randel
Gideon Mathes
John Giles
Francis Durgin
Winthrop Durgin
Joseph medar
Joshua Burnam
Elijah Denbo Thomas Huckins
Samuel Carter
Samuel Jackson
Nicholas Duda
Thomas huckins Jr
Joseph Thomson
Eben: Lethers
Solomon Sias
James Hall
William Renely
ffrancis Allen
Jonathan runnels
ffrancis Eliot
William Cashey
Samuel pitman John follett
Benjamin Bickford
Edweard Scales Samuel bickford
Benjamin Bradly
mason Rendel
William Rendel
Joseph Jackson
Joseph Clay
Job Runels
Josiah Johnson
Nathaniel Stevens
John Clark
Timothy Davis thomas Yourk stoten tutle
Bartholomew Smart
George tutle
Nichole Tuttel
Jonathan Stevens
Miles Randal
Samuel Burley
Zaccheus Clough
Samuel Langley
Nathaniel Randal
John Davis
Moses Davis June
Reubin Hill
James Giles Bunker
Will m Waymoth
Clement Davis
Robert York
James Davis
James Watson
Jonathan Stevens
Hanary tufts
Nathaniel frost
Ebenezer Dow jun.
nathaniel Watson
Samuel Watson
Nathaniel Watson jur
Andew watson
Josiah Durgin
Joseph Huckins
Isaac Small
John Durgin
John Shaw Jun
Joseph Hicks
John Shaw
Ichabod Denhow
John Sanborn
Benjamin Woodman
Edward Hill
Samuel Sias
John Snell Eli Clark
Eli Clark Juner Eben Randel
Benja Clark
hunkin Dam
Micah Emerson
Joseph doe
Nathel Sias
Joseph Clark
Benja Durgin
Nathaniel Stevens
Joseph Sias
Ebr Jones Juner
John Elliot
Moses Dam
Thomas Noble
Thomas Snell
David munsey
Thomas Wille
Jun
David Davis
25
HISTORY OF DURHAM
John Cartland, a Friend, is said to have come from Lee, Scot- land, early in the eighteenth century and to have had the privi- lege of naming Lee after his native town.
No further change was made in the boundaries of Durham till 2 July 1870, when the western portion of Lubberland stretch- ing along the north shore of Great Bay was set off and annexed to Newmarket. Thus that part of ancient Exeter received a portion of its original claim, and Durham lost some historic places. This portion, however, is included in the descriptive history of this book.
No complete tax list has been found between the years 1682 and 1783. There is a "Ministers Counterpein for the year 1760" in the possession of S. H. Shackford, Esq., of Boston, which gives the names of those then living on the "North Side" of Oyster River. The names alphabetically arranged are as follows:
Docr Joseph Atkinson
Jonathan Davis Jr.
Abner Bickford
Jeremiah Davis
Benjamin Bickford
Moses Davis
Samuel Bickford
Robert Davis
Benjamin Bodge Joshua Burnum
Zephaniah Davis
Solomon Burnum
Aaron Davis
Thomas Bunker
Samuel Demeritt
Isaac Bussel
Clement Denbo
Andrew Carter
Ichabod Denbo
George Chesle
Joseph Doe
Jonathan Chesle
Samuel Dyer
Joshua Chesle
Benj Durgin
Lt. Ichabod Chesle Paul Chesle
Moses Emerson
Lt. Philip Chesle
Solomon Emerson Esq.
Samuel Chesle
Abraham Fernald
Thomas Chesle
Jonathan Fish
Thomas Chesle Jr.
John Follet
Joseph Clark Joseph Clay
John Giles
Jonathan Clough
Stephen Glashier
Zacheus Clough John Crocket Moses Dam
Richard Glover
Samuel Gray Edward Hill
David Daniel Ephraim Davis John Davis Jonathan Davis
Eliphalet Hill
Jonathan Hill
Nathan' Hill
Josiah Durgin
Widow Prudence Follet
John Glover
Nehemiah Davis
26
HISTORY OF DURHAM
Robert Hill Samuel Hill Samuel Hill Jr.
Widow Mary Randal Miles Randal William Randal
Valentine Hill
Thomas Rines
Widow Abigail Jones
Thomas Rollins
Benjamin Jones
Abraham Runals
Ebenezer Jones
Job Runals Job Runals Jr.
Richard Jones
Jonathan Runals
Capt. Stephen Jones
William Runals
Benjamin Jackson Widow Patience Jackson William Jackson
Lt. Joseph Sias
Mark Jewel David Jonson
Samuel Sias Jr.
Thomas Jonson John Huckins
John Shaw
Joseph Huckins
Benjamin Small
Benjamin Small Jr.
Thomas Huckins
Edward Small
Thomas Huckins Jr.
Isaac Small
Aaron Hunscomb
Joseph Small
Elias Lad
Joseph Small Jr.
John Snell
Abednego Spencer
Hubbard Stevens
Hubbard Stevens Jr.
Joseph Stevens
Samuel I. Stevens
Jos. Stevenson
Doc' Ebenezer Thompson
John Thomson
Ens. Jonathan Thomson
Widow Sarah Thomson
Nathaniel Thomson
Robert Thomson
Robert Thomson Jr.
Seth Thomson
Solomon Thomson
John Tasker Jr.
Samuel Tod
Archalaus Woodman
Edward Woodman
Jonathan Woodman
John Woodman
Jonathan Woodman, Jr.
Joshua Woodman Shadrach Walton
John Langley Jr. Samuel Langley John Laskey Samuel Langmaid
Abednego Leathers
Ebenezer Leathers
Edward Leathers
Edward Leathers Jr.
Ezekiel Leathers
Jonathan Leathers
Robert Leathers
Stephen Leathers
Thomas Leathers Gideon Mathes John McCoy
Nathanı Meder
Thomas Noble
Wm. Odiorne Esqr.
Abijah Pinkom Walter Philbrick Quick Priest
Ebenezer Randal John Randel Jonathan Randal Mason Randal
Nathaniel Sias
Samuel Sias
Solomon Sias
Joseph Huckins Jr.
Edward Scales
Ebenezer Jones Jr.
27
HISTORY OF DURHAM
Thomas Whitekom Paul Wille Samuel Wille Thomas Wille
John Williams John Williams Jr. Joseph Williams
The following names are found on a counterpart for the Parish of Madbury for the year 1758 and may be of use to genealogists. Many on this list belonged to Durham families.
William Allen Elijah Austin Benjamin Bickford
Ephraim Davis Nathaniel Davis
Samu Davis, Jr.
Charles Bickford
Joseph Daniels
John Bickford Jr.
Joseph Daniels Jr.
Thomas Bickford
Jacob Daniels
Benjamin Bodge Nicholas Brock James Brown
Job Demerit
Azariah Boodey
John Demerit
Benjamin Bussell
& his son John
Henry Bussell
Solomon Demerit
Ebenezer Bussell
William Demerit
Isaac Bussell John Bussell
Clement Drew Jr.
Joseph Bussell
Clement Drew David Drew
William Bussell
James Drew
Stephen Bunker
Joseph Drew Estate
Richard Caswell
Joseph Drew
Ichabod Canney
Francis Drew
James Chesleys Estate Jonathan Chesley
Obediah Drew
Joshua Chesley
Paul Drew Silas Drew
Samuel Chesley
Samuel Drew
Paul Chesley
Thomas Drew
Reuben Chesley
& son John
Lemuel Chesley
Thomas Drew Jr.
Abraham Clark
Thomas Drew 3rd
James Clark Rememee Clark James Clements Hezekiah Cook John Canney Jr. Wid Sarah Dam
Lt. Zechr Edgerly Solo Emerson Esq. Daniel Evens John Evens Joseph Evens
Micah Emerson
Lt. James Davis
Stephen Evens
Maj. Thomas Davis Samt Davis & son Thomas
Thomas Evens
Ebenr Garland
Eli Demerit
Ebenezer Demerit
Job Demerit Jr.
Samuel Bussell
Meshech Drew
Samuel Chesley Jr.
28
HISTORY OF DURHAM
Capt. Paul Gerrish William Glidden Wid. Mary Glover John Ham John Ham Jr. James Hanson Jonathan Hanson Nathaniel Hanson Stephen Hanson
Daniel Misarve
Daniel Misarve Jr. Joseph Misarve
John Misarve
Timothy Moses David Muncey, Durham
Stephen Otis
Stephen Otis Jr.
Conor Pitman
Timothy Hanson
Zechariah Pitman
Samuel Hanson
Amos Pinkham
Ichabod Hayes
James Pinkham
Daniel Hayes
Moses Pinkham
Capt. Joseph Hicks
Paul Pinkham
Israel Hodgdon
Stephen Pinkham
John Huckins
Solomon Pinkham
Robert Huckine
Richard Pinkham Jr.
Benjamin Hill
Samuel Pinkham Jr.
William Hill
Simon Rendel
Daniel Jacobs
John Roberts
WVid. Hannah Jackson
Ens. Joseph Roberts
James Jackson
Samuel Roberts
James Jackson Jr.
John Smith
Daniel Jacobs Jr.
Abednego Spencer
Joseph Jackson
Ebenezer Tasker
William Jackson
John Tasker
William Jenkens
John Tasker Jr.
Anthony Jones
William Tasker
Benjamin Jones
Daniel Tibbets
Richard Jones
Henry Tibbets
Abraham Jonson
Jeremiah Tibbets
Wid. Hannah Laighton
Nathaniel Tibbets
Isaac Laighton
Isaac Twombly
John Laighton
Joseph Twombly
John Laighton of Barrington
William Twombly 3d
Gideon Laighton
John Winget Jr.
Samuel Laighton
Dennet Waymoth
James Lammus
Moses Waymoth
Nath11 Lammus
John Whitehorn
Benjamin Leathers
Joseph Woodman
Abner Young
Thomas Leathers Joseph Libby John Malory
Eleazer Young Daniel Young
John Malory Jr.
Jonathan Young
James Malory
Samuel Young
Daniel Meader
Samuel Young Jr.
Joseph Meader
James Young
29
HISTORY OF DURHAM
Durham has sent out colonies from time to time to found and develop other towns. New Durham was incorporated, 6 De- cember 1762, as the result of a petition signed in 1748 by ninety-six petitioners from Durham, many of whom settled in the new town. Many of the founders of Rochester went from Durham, and the earliest meetings of the proprietors were held in Durham. Canterbury had a goodly number of settlers from Durham, whose names are found in the list of proprietors. Holderness, Barring- ton, Barnstead and Nottingham were indebted to Durham for many of their early men of enterprise and leadership. In later years the broad West has been dotted here and there with set- tlers from the vicinity of Oyster River, and some of these have risen to places of distinction and power.
EARLY SETTLERS AND ESTATES
In locating the first settlers in Oyster River Plantation it may be convenient, for the sake of clearness, to begin at the western extremity of the shore line, at the mouth of Lamprey River, the earliest boundary between Dover and Exeter.
Richard York deposed in 1652 that he was living in Dover in 1635. He had a lot on Dover Neck as early as 1642. The following town grant is without date, but it was made probably about this time. "Richard York, a house Lott conteyning by Estimacon eleaven acres more or less, butting upon the high street East and on the Durty Lane west on John Dams Lott on the South and uppon the lane from Elder Nutters North, more all the m' she in a Creeke called by the name of Little Johns Creek, more one small marsh conteyning by estimation eleaven acres more or less in the great Bay butting upon two small Islands southwest, more one spott of marsh lying to the northwest ioyning to ye other only a small point of Land making some division." In 1656 there were granted to him one hundred acres next to John Martin's "bounded as followeth, that is to say, by lambrill River side North west 96 Rood and from the marked tree Betwixt John Martin and Richard York 200 Rood South west and be west and the head line 96 Rod nor west & be nor and from that marked tree to the River again 200 Rood south west and be west." This he willed to his son Benjamin in 1672. This land is now in Newmarket, forming the southerly part of the neck of land lying between the mouth of Lamprey River and Goddard's Creek.
Next north of Richard York lived John Martin, who married Hester, daughter of Thomas Roberts of Dover Neck. On the 26th of 7th month, 1664, there was granted to John Martin "the land which now he posseth where his dwelling house stand- eth to be maed up forty ackers Beginning at the water sied taking all the land Betwixt John Godder and Richard Yorke and so running up into the woods not intrenching upon ani former Grant."
The location of John Martin's lot is still further defined, 28 February 1664, when it was ordered that Capt. Ralph Hall and
31
32
HISTORY OF DURHAM
Deacon John Hall lay out a highway from Lamprey River Fall to the water's side in the Great Bay. They accordingly "layd it out as followeth, that is to say, from the fall above sayd to Goe as the old way goeth tell it Cometh to a great Roke with a tree groeing on the top thear of on the left hand of the old waye goeing from the said fall to John Godders, neir to wich Roke are two trees marked with H thus betweine wich trees the way is to goo straite Downe to a letell freshett and over it strait to another and over it and soe betwixt two trees marked with H like the former two trees and soe betwixt a letell swampe and the Rokey hill side thet lieth behind John Martins house and soe strait to the laen that is betwixt John Godders fence and John martins fence of the Corn fields that now lieth befoer thear doers or houses tell it cometh to the lower Corner of John Martins fence next the foer menshened laen and thear to turne and goe as the old way goeth at the present to the usuall landing plase tell John martin mak a way from the sayd Corner of his fence lower downe toward the water side then the way goeth at the Present. The way is to be fower poll wied all the way saueing between the two foer mentioned fences. John Martin is to make the way soe as shall be to the Towns Content belowe his feilld befoer it be Altered."
John Martin and wife Hester conveyed, 20 September 1667, to Thomas Mounsell his dwelling house "now standing in Luber- land in ye Great Bay," together with forty acres of upland lying between Richard York's and John Goddard's lands, and the following year Mounsell sold this to Nicholas Doe, whose son, Sampson Doe, inherited it and added adjacent lands thereto. John Martin and family removed to Piscataway, New Jersey.
On the 10th of the first month, 1673/4, the bounds between Nicholas Doe and John Goddard were fixed as follows, "from high water mark at the usuall landing place A high waye of fower poele wid up to John Godder his land at the marsh on the one side and soe to the Corner of John Godders orchard on the west and that fence of the orchard to stand and soe to a heape of Rockes on the west of the heigh waye and Nicholass Does garden on the Est of the high waye and all the Newe fence att Does garden to be wholley taken a way and from the Corner of Does garden in to the woods upon the west sid of the hill this high way to goe into the woods of fower pole wide upon a North and be
33
HISTORY OF DURHAM
west line and is the bounds of the land betwixt John Godderd and Nichlos Doe."
It is impossible to locate precisely the ten acres granted to Hugh Dunn, 17th of first month, 1663/4. "Whereas hew doenn hath Buellt a house neir lampril River and having now writ [no right] to anie land thear we doe Grant him ten ackers thear, Exchange of ten Ackers from his thirty Ackers at Sandey Banck, which tenn Ackers at Sandey Banck is to Remaine the Townes." The land at Sandy Bank had been granted to him in 1656. It is located up Lamprey River, on the north side of Lee Hook. Dunn sold this to Philip Crommett about 1666 and went to New Jersey with John Martin and others. See New Jersey's Indebtedness to New Hampshire, by O. B. Leonard of Plainfield, N. J., in N. H. Gen. Record, Vol. I, pp. 145-50.
The next lot northeasterly of John Martin's was originally granted by the town to the Rev. Thomas Larkham, between 1639 and 1642, who conveyed the same to Joseph Miller. On the 2Ist of September 1647, Joseph Miller conveyed to John Goddard the "house where Miller now liveth and five acres of land," also twenty acres given by the inhabitants of Dover, alias Northam to Thomas Larkham, "lyinge on the west side of Backe River," also thirty acres of meadow ground lying "on the westerlie side of the greate baye neere unto a cove called the greate Cove," excepting ten acres given unto John Ault by the said Thomas Larkham, also one hundred acres on the easterly side of the said marsh ground given by Dover to said Larkham. Goddard paid for all this land 16,500 of merchantable pipe staves. Goddard's Creek, an often mentioned landmark, ran through the thirty acres of land above mentioned.
John Goddard was one of Capt. John Mason's colonists, who came over in the Pied Cow in 1634. He aided in erecting the first saw mill and grist mill run by water in New England, at what is now Great Works, South Berwick, Me. It would seem from what is said above that his house, which was a garrison, stood south of the creek.
Mention has been made of land butting upon two small islands granted to Richard York. His son John inherited this land and islands and, I June 1676, he and wife Ruth sold to Michael French of Oyster River "all that tract or point of land lying and being in Lubberland, bounded by the Great Bay on the South
3
34
HISTORY OF DURHAM
east side, by the lands of Nicholas Doe on the North west side, by the lands of the said John York on the North east side, and by the creek called Goddards Creek on the South west Side," "with a parcel of marsh on the South side and two little Islands containing by estimation six acres be it more or less." One of the witnesses was Thomas Ladbrook. October 14, 1680, John York conveyed to Roger Rose eighty acres granted to York's father, with all meadows, flats, creek, thatch-bed, islands, and islets belonging to said grant. Roger Rose sold this land to John Rawlins of Newbury, and Rawlins sold it to John Smith, 20 July 1705, "a tract of land and salt marsh, houses, ffeilds and
DAVIS-SMITH GARRISON, LUBBERLAND
orchards scituate, lying and being in Lubberland." Roger Rose died 6 August 1705, leaving no issue, so far as learned. He was born about 1638 and married in 1661 Abigail, daughter of Chris- topher Grant of Watertown, Mass. In early life he was a servant of William Hudson. He is called "tailor."
Joseph, son of John Smith, sold above mentioned land and islands to Nicholas Doe, and Sampson Doe, his son, sold the same to Joseph Chesley, 27 March 1707. The latter is said to have had a garrison house here and the islands were called Chesley's Islands. Some have supposed that the first Philip Chesley lived here, but the evidences are all against that supposition.
John Alt, "aged about seventy-three years," deposed, 2
35
HISTORY OF DURHAM
March 1677/8, that Robert Smart senior of Exeter did own and possess all the meadow on the southwest side of John Goddard's Creek "and ye said Smart did possess it twelve years before Dover was a township & he did possess it sixteen years together." This takes us back to 1636. Others testified to the same effect in a controversy that arose. A part of this marsh came into the possession of Sampson Doe, and the rest was sold by Robert Smart to Joseph Smith and his son John, 8 April 1706.
It has been said above that the Rev. Thomas Larkham gave ten acres to John Ault before 1642, lying next to Goddard's land. The town also granted to John Ault, 10 August 1653, eighty acres at "ye Great Cove above needums poynt, 40 rods in length upon ye Cove." This was laid out to him in 1669, beginning at Richard York's marked tree and running thence by the water side forty rods toward Needoms point. The place is called Broad Cove and also Needham's Cove. It seems that John Ault did not live here. He sold this land, in 1670, to John Cutt of Portsmouth. Ault's home lot will be shown further on.
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