USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Exeter > History of the town of Exeter, New Hampshire > Part 14
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1671, April 3, John Bean 6 acres ; Henry Magoon 20.
1672, April 29, Samuel Leavitt 50 acres.
The following grants were made from 1674 to 1678 inclusive :
1674, February 9, Moses Gilman ; Kinsley Hall 10 acres. March 3, Jolın Clark ; William Moore 12. March 30, Christian Dolloff 10; Samuel Dudley 600; Edward Gilman 200; Lieut. [John] Gilman 600; Moses Gilman 600; Lieut. [Ralph] Hall 400 ; David Lawrence 10; John Robinson 200; Thomas Rollins 12 ; Humphrey Wilson 400.
1675, April 2, John Folsom, Sr. 200 acres ; John Folsom, Jr. 200; Daniel Gilman 30; John Gilman, Jr. 30; Joel Judkins 10; Samuel Leavitt 300; Goodman [Nicholas] Listen 300; William Moore 300; Edward Sewall 4'; Robert Smart, Sr. 300; Edward Smith 100.
1676-7, March 19, Samnel Leavitt 6 acres.
1677, August 27, Kinsley Hall.
1678 (about) March 18, George Pearson.
On March 11, 1678-9, Jonathan Thing was put in the place of Ensign [William] Moore with Mr. [Samuel] Dudley and Lieut. [Ralph] Hall, for the equal distribution of lands to such as had none when the great lots were granted (March 30, 1674).
137
HISTORY OF EXETER.
The following grants were made in 1681 and 1682 :
1681, January 31, Philip Cartee 20 acres ; John Clark 50; Jeremy Connor 20; Biley Dudley 50; Theophilus Dudley 100; Teague Drisco 20; Eleazer Elkins 50; Peter Folsom 100 ; Joseph Hall 50; Kinsley Hall 100; Samuel Hall 50; John Kiming 50; Moses Leavitt 50; Henry Magoon 20; Nicholas Norris 50 and 50; James Sinclair 50; John Sinclair 20; Edward Smith 100; Mr. [Robert] Wadleigh ; John Wadleigh 50. February 7, Mr. [Samuel] Dudley 20. March 30, Ephraim Folsom 100; Cor- nelius Lary 40; Richard Morgan 60; David Robinson 100; Joseph Wadleigh 100; John Young 100.
1682, March 14, Samuel Dudley, Jr. 100 acres ; Stephen Dudley 100; Jeremy Gilman 100; Nathaniel Ladd 100; Moses Gilman, Jr. 100; Robert Wadleigh 200.
On March 14, 1681-2, these orders were adopted by the town :
That all the inhabitants of this town have free liberty to clear any swamp land within this township for the producing of meadow, not exceeding ten acres for each inhabitant, provided they entrench not upon former proprieties. And it is further ordered that what heretofore hath been done and hereafter may be done in pursuance of this act and order shall be as good a title as any other town grant.
Whereas it was formerly enacted by this town that the neck of land on the southwest side of the little river was to lie for a per- petual common, but being not found upon record, it is now ratified and confirmed at this meeting, and the selectmen are to set the bounds ; which said neck of land is intended to be all the land between the great river and the little river, and towards Pickpocket near about King's falls, and on the northwest side as far as a place called King's meadow.
On March 30, 1682, it was "enacted by general consent that that piece of land between Edward Sewall's fence, Christian Dolloff's fence or land, John Bean's fence, Henry Magoon's fence or land and the way that goes from Henry Magoon's land to Pick- pocket mill, which said piece of land now lying common, shall lie perpetually common for the use of the town, either for a common field or for what else shall be thought convenient for the town."
The following grants were made from 1690 to 1697 inclusive :
1690, October 6, Peter Coffin.
1693, October 10, Captain Peter Coffin, two parcels, one of 60 acres, he to pay the town in money therefor.
138
HISTORY OF EXETER.
1697, March 29, Samuel Leavitt 20 acres. November 4, Mr. [Rev.] John Clark, 100 acres, " provided he live in the town ten years."
The following grants were made in 1698 :
February 3, Samnel Bean 40 acres ; Edward Gilman ; James Gilman 40; Jeremy Gilman 40; Nicholas Gilman 40; Richard Hilton 100; Winthrop Hilton 100; Thomas Lyford 30; Samuel Piper 20; William Taylor 20; Samuel Thing 50; Henry Wad- leigh 10. February 21, William Ardell 100; Robert Barber 50; James Bean 30 ; John Bean, Sr. 100; Jonathan Clark 20; Peter Coffin 200; Robert Coffin 60; Jeremy Conner 30; Christian Dolloff 10; Richard Dolloff 100; Samuel Dolloff 100; Philip Dudy 50; Abraham Folsom 50; Ephraim Folsom, Jr. 20; John Folsom, Sr. 100; John Folsom 40 ; Peter Folsom, Jr. 30; David Gilman and James Gilman 80; John Gilman 50; John Gilman, son of Capt. John, 40; Moses Gilman, Jr. 30; Stephen Gilman 50 ; Charles Glidden 100; John Glidden 50; Richard Glidden 50 and 50; Alexander Gordon 60 ; James Gordon 60 ; John Gordon 20; Nicholas Gordon 30; William Grafs (Graves) 30; Richard Hilton 20; Philip Huntoon 30; Job Judkins 30; Benjamin Leavitt 50; Daniel Leavitt 70; John Leavitt 100; Moses Leavitt 6 ; Lieut. Samuel Leavitt 100; Samnel Leavitt, Jr. 70; Samnel Lawrey 20; Thomas Lyford 30; Richard Mattoon 50; Clement Moody 30 +; William Moore, Jr. 60; Richard Morgan, Sr. 100 ; Richard Morgan, Jr. 50; Samuel Pease 50; Robert Powell 50; Benjamin Rollins 50; Joseph Rollins 50; Moses Rollins 50; Thomas Rollins, Sr. 100; Thomas Rollins, Jr. 20; Charles Rundlet, Jr. 30 ; John Scribner 40; James Sinclair 50 ; Theoph- ilus Smith 30; Thomas Speed 50; Philip Spenlow 40; Francis Steel 20; Nathaniel Stevens 20; Benjamin Taylor 20; Nathan Taylor 30; Jonathan and John Thing 60; Henry Wadleigh 20 and 20; Jonathan Wadleigh 50 ; Robert Wadleigh 50, 20 and 50; Thomas Wilson 50; Israel Young 30; James Young 30 ; John Young 30 and 20; Robert Young 30; Sarah Young 50. March 28, John Bean, Jr. 60 acres ; Biley Dudley 30 ; Theophilus Dudley 50; Moses Gilman, Sr. 50; Richard Glidden 40 ; Dudley Hilton 50; Philip (? ) Huntoon 10; Benjamin Jones, Sr. 50; Moses Leavitt ; Francis Lyford 200; Alexander Magoon 50; Richard Mattoon 20 ; James Norris 40 ; Moses Norris 30; Nicholas Norris 3; George Pearson 50; William Powell 20; Thomas Rollins 20 ;
139
HISTORY OF EXETER.
Charles Rundlet, Jr. 50 ; James Rundlet, 50; John Scribner 10 ; Jonathan Smith 20; Nicholas Smith 20; Theophilus Smith 30; Francis Steel ; Haines (?) Woolford 30. April 29, Peter Coffin 100 ; Joel Judkins 60 ; Jonathan Norris 50. August 26, Richard Bounds ( ?).
At the town meeting on March 28, 1698, the very sensible vote was passed, " that those who had land given them at the last meeting shall have no more given them at this meeting."
The following grants were made from 1699 to 1709 inclusive :
1699, September 5, Samnel Elkins 20 acres ; Thomas Gordon 40; Moses Leavitt.
1700, April 17, Cornelius Conner 30 acres ; Ephraim Folsom, Sr. 20; Peter Folsom, Sr. 100; Joshua Gilman 50; Stephen Gilman 30; Dudley and Richard Hilton 20; Jonathan Hilton 50 ; Joseph Young 40. May 10, Jeremiah Gilman 100. September 9, Ephraim Folsom, Jr. 20 ; James Leavitt 100 ; Jonathan Robinson, Sr. 100.
1701, April 1, Jeremiah Conner 15 acres ; Thomas Rollins, Sr. 100 ; Jonathan Thing 30 ; Thomas Webster 50. September 9, Robert Coffin, mill privilege and flats.
1702, first Monday of April, Capt. Peter Coffin 200 acres ; Robert Coffin 100; Cornelius Conner 30 ; Capt. John Gilman, Sr. 100; Ens. John Gilman 100; John Gilman, son of Moses ; Nich- olas Gilman 100; Capt. Kinsley Hall 100; Dudley Hilton 50; Benjamin Jones, Sr. 40 ; Job Judkins 40 ; Mr. Moses Leavitt, Sr. 100; Israel Smith 100; Ithiel Smith 50; Jacob Smith 50; Jona- than Smith 100; Joseph Smith 50; John Thing 30; Jonathan Thing 100.
1703, first Monday of April, Richard Dolloff 20 acres ; Thomas Dolloff 40 ; Daniel Gordon 50 ; Bartholemew Thing 50.
1705, first Monday of April, John Glidden 50 acres ; Nathaniel Ladd 50; Nehemiah Leavitt 50; John Light 60, "provided he shall live 7 years in the town ;" Nicholas Norris 20; Jethro Pearson 50; John Sinclair, son of James, 100; George Veasey 100; Thomas Veasey 100; Jonathan Wiggin 100.
1706, first Monday of April, Daniel Bean, Jr. 100 acres ; Samuel Dudley, Jr. 100; Stephen Dudley, Jr. 50; Francis Durgin 20; Cartee Gilman 100 ; Col. Winthrop Hilton 400 ; Moses Norris 50 ; Aaron Rollins 100 ; John Rollins 100 ; Charles Rundlet, Jr. 50 ; James Rundlet 50; Thomas Seawell 100; John Sinclair
140
HISTORY OF EXETER.
50; Theophilus Smith 30 ; Samuel Stevens 60; John Thing 100; Joseph Thing 100; Thomas Webster 50.
1707, first Monday of April, Lieut. John Gilman 100 acres ; Daniel Ladd 100; Satchell Rundlet 100.
1709, first Monday of April, Daniel Bean 80 acres.
For the next five years it does not appear that any land grants were made, nor that any action was taken by the town in regard to the common lands.
On April 5, 1714, the town resolved "that two miles of the west end of the township be laid out by men appointed, for a perpetual commonage for the use of the town."
This decision was not to the liking of many of the inhabitants, and, as will be seen, attempts were soon made to revoke it, which were never abandoned until that object was effected.
On March 13, 1717, it was voted " that Nicholas Gilman, Thomas Webster and Samuel Thing be a committee to make diligent search in the town records that whereas there is complaint by several persons that they have not had their proportion in lands given them by the town, in order that they may have their share ; the committee to make report of their doings therein to this meeting."
The meeting was accordingly adjourned to the first Monday in November, 1717. There is no record of the adjourned meeting, nor that any proceedings were had under the vote.
For the five years ensuing, the only action taken by the town in relation to its lands, was the appointment of a committee in 1720 to report whether any inhabitants' land grants had been encroached upon by the late lines run between town and town. The commit- tee reported that certain lands laid out to Jonathan Gilman and Nathaniel Webster were included within the bounds of Kingston ; and in consequence thereof there were laid out to them in 1725 by the lot layers of Kingston four acres of the common land in Exeter, to make good their loss. Exeter at that time was without lot layers, having failed to choose any.
On March 30, 1724, the town resolved as follows :
Whereas sundry persons desire to have a town meeting to grant out land, who have not had their share of land as they ought to have, and desire a committee to be chosen to hear what those persons have to say, and to draw up what they conclude of, and to present it to the selectmen, who are to call a town meeting to
141
HISTORY OF EXETER.
effect what the committee conclude of. Mr. Justice [Samuel] Thing, Bartholomew Thing, Joseph Hall, Josiah Hall and Edward Gilman to be a committee to search the town book to find who onght to have land and who ought not.
At an adjournment of the town meeting called for the purpose aforesaid, held April 12, 1725, it was voted :
That the grant of the two miles common at the western end of the township be wholly null and void, and that the said two miles with all the other common land in the township not heretofore granted, be divided in proportion according to the return of Samuel Thing, Esq., Joseph Hall, Bartholomew Thing, Edward Gilman, Josiah Hall, committee chosen by the town for that end, as per list under the said committee's hands of every person's name who had land allowed him with the number of acres annexed thereto,- the said land not to be divided till the expiration of ten years from the date hereof.
The following is the list reported by the committee :
LIST OF DISTRIBUTEES OF LAND AS REPORTED IN 1725.
NAMES.
ACRES.
NAMES.
ACRES.
Samuel Akers,
20
Capt. Eliphalet Coffin,
100
Daniel Ames,
30
Edward Colcord,
20
John Barber, Senr.,
50
Jonathan Colcord,
40
John Barber, Jr.,
30
Cornelius Conner,
100
Robert Barber,
30
Jeremy Conner, Senr.,
100
Nathaniel Bartlett,
20
Jonathan Conner,
50
Edward Bean,
30
Moses Conner,
40
Jeremiah Bean, Senr.,
100
Philip Conner,
40
Jeremiah Bean, Jr.,
40
Samuel Conner,
30
John Bean, Senr.,
40
Dr. Thomas Dean,
30
John Bean, Jr.,
30
Sampson Doe,
20
Samuel Bean, Senr.,
50
Samuel Doe,
20
William Bean,
30
Richard Dolloff,
80
John Brown,
20
Samuel Dolloff,
80
Giles Burleigh,
30
Samuel Dolloff, Jr.,
30
James Burley,
20
Cornelius Drisco,
50
Josiah Burleigh,
30
Mr. Biley Dudley,
100
Joseph Burleigh,
20
James Dudley,
70
Jeremiah Calef,
20
Jonathan Dudley,
50
Jonathan Clark,
40
Joseph Dudley,
40
Richard Clark,
40 Nicholas Dudley,
100
Solomon Clark,
30
Samuel Dudley, Senr.,
100
Mr. Ward Clark,
50 Samuel Dudley, Jr.,
50
142
HISTORY OF EXETER.
NAMES.
ACRES.
NAMES.
ACRES.
Stephen Dudley, Senr.,
100
Nehemiah Gilman,
50
Stephen Dudley, Jr.,
30
Maj. Nicholas Gilman, 250
Trueworthy Dudley,
50
Nicholas Gilman, Jr., 50
Francis Durgin,
30
Peter Gilman,
70
Samuel Edgerly,
20
Samuel Gilman,
60
Thomas Edgerly,
20
Simon Gilman,
50
Samuel Elkins,
100
Thomas Gilman,
30
Seth Fogg,
20
Andrew Glidden,
100
Abraham Folsom,
100
Benjamin Glidden,
30
Benjamin Folsom,
100
Joseph Glidden,
30
Edward Folsom,
30
Nathaniel Glidden,
30
Ephraim Folsom, Senr.,
100
Richard Glidden, Senr.,
50
Ephraim Folsom, Jr.,
30
Richard Glidden, Jr.,
30
Jeremiah Folsom, 100
Alexander Gordon,
100
John Folsom, Senr.,
80
Daniel Gordon,
30
John Folsom, Jr.,
100
James Gordon,
30
Jonathan Folsom,
100
John Gordon, Jr.,
30
Estate of Peter Folsom, Jr.,
Jonathan Gordon,
50
deceased,
50
Nicholas Gordon,
100
William Folsom, Senr.,
30
Thomas Gordon, 50
William Folsom, Jr.,
30
Thomas Gordon, Jr.,
30
Daniel Giles,
30
John Graves,
30
Andrew Gilman,
100
William Graves, Senr., 50
Benjamin Gilman,
80
William Graves, Jr.,
30
Caleb Gilman,
150
Thomas Haley,
20
Carty Gilman,
50
Edward Hall,
150
Daniel Gilman,
50
Joseph Hall,
150
David Gilman,
70
Josiah Hall,
120
Edward Gilman, Sen".,
150
Capt. Kinsley Hall,
200
Edward Gilman, Jr.,
50
Paul Hall,
80
Ezekiel Gilman,
30
Theophilus Hardy, 80
Israel Gilman,
50
Benjamin Hilton, 30
40
James Gilman, Jr.,
50
Jonathan Hilton, Senr., 50
Capt. Jeremiah Gilman,
100
Jonathan Hilton, Jr.,
30
Maj. John Gilman,
250
Joseph Hilton,
70
Capt. John Gilman,
200
Capt. Richard Hilton,
150
Lieut. John Gilman,
100
Samuel Hilton,
60
Jonathan Gilman,
50
William Hilton,
50
Joseph Gilman,
50
Winthrop Hilton,
50
Joshua Gilman,
30
Job. Judkins, Senr.,
70
Maverick Gilman,
30
Job Judkins, Jr.,
30
Moses Gilman, Senr.,
120
Joseph Judkins,
40
Moses Gilman, Jr.,
50
Caleb Kimball,
20
Nathaniel Gilman,
50 John Kimball,
20
Lieut. James Gilman,
100
Edward Hilton,
143
HISTORY OF EXETER.
NAMES.
ACRES.
NAMES.
ACRES.
Moses Kimming,
30
Robert Pike,
20
Capt. Nathaniel Ladd,
60
Richard Preston,
20
Nathaniel Ladd, Jr.,
40
John Quimby,
20
Daniel Leary,
40
John Robinson,
130
Samuel Leary,
40
Jonathan Robinson, Senr.,
50
Dudley Leavitt,
30
Jonathan Robinson, Jr., 100
Lieut. James Leavitt,
200
Joseph Robinson,
70
John Leavitt,
50
Thomas Robinson,
20
Joseph Leavitt,
30
Benjamin Rollins, 40
Dea. Moses Leavitt,
200
John Rollins, Jr.,
30
Selah Leavitt,
50
Samuel Rollins, 50
Stephen Leavitt,
40
Edward Scribner, 30
Timothy Leavitt,
50
John Scribner, Senr., 50
John Lord,
20
John Scribner, Jr., 50
John Lougee,
30
Joseph Scribner,
30
Stephen Lyford,
100
Samuel Scribner,
40
Thomas Lyford,
100
Edward Sewall,
40
Alexander Magoon,
100
Stephen Sewall,
30
Benjamin Magoon,
30
James Sinclair, 100
100
John Marsh,
30
John Sinclair, Jr.,
30
Richard Mattoon,
30
Joseph Sinclair,
40
Samuel Mighill,
30
Richard Sinclair, 40
40
Clement Moody, Jr.,
50
John Smart,
40
John Moody,
40
Joseph Smart,
30
Jonathan Moody,
30
Robert Smart,
50
Walter Neal,
30
Benjamin Smith,
30
James Norris,
30
Benjamin Smith, Jr.,
30
John Norris,
30
David Smith,
30
Jonathan Norris,
30
Edward Smith,
30
Moses Norris, Senr.,
60
Jacob Smith,
70
Moses Norris, Jr.,
40
Jonathan Smith,
50
Nicholas Norris, Sen".,
30
Nathaniel Smith, 30
30
Rev. John Odlin,
100
Oliver Smith,
70
Jethro Pearson, Senr.,
70
Richard Smith,
50
Jethro Pearson, Jr.,
30
Capt. Theophilus Smith,
150
Nathaniel Pease,
50
Theophilus Smith, Jr.,
50
John Perkins, Senr.,
100
Benjamin Taylor,
30
John Perkins, Jr.,
40
Joseph Taylor,
50
William Perkins, Senr.,
30
Nathan Taylor,
30
William Perkins, Jr.,
40
William Taylor,
80
Nicholas Perryman,
20
Lieut. Bartholomew Thing, 150
Ephraim Philbrick,
20 Benjamin Thing,
100
Samuel Magoon,
50
John Sinclair, Senr.,
Clement Moody, Senr.,
50
Samuel Sinclair,
Samuel Norris,
30
Nicholas Smith,
144
HISTORY OF EXETER.
NAMES.
ACRES.
NAMES.
ACRES.
Daniel Thing,
80
Philip Wadleigh,
50
Jonathan Thing,
50
Robert Wadleigh, Senr., 100
Nathaniel Webster, 50
Heirs of Capt. Jonathan Thing, Jr., deed.,
100
Thomas Webster, 100
Joseph Thing,
100
Humphrey Wilson. 50
Josiah Thing, Jr. (son of
Dea. Thos. Wilson, 200
Samuel),
50
Benjamin York,
50
Nathaniel Thing,
50
Richard York, 40
Samuel Thing, Esq.,
300
Charles Young,
30
Abner Thurston,
20
Daniel Young,
80
Ensign Henry Wadleigh,
100
James Young,
30
Capt. Jonathan Wadleigh,
200
Jonathan Young,
50
Jonathan Wadleigh, Jr.,
30
Robert Young,
50
The aforenamed 249 persons are they to whom the committee has proportioned the common land of this town.
PROCEEDINGS TO HIASTEN A DISTRIBUTION.
It is not surprising that a majority of the inhabitants were un- willing to wait ten years in accordance with the report of the com- mittee, for the actual division of the lands. Such a prospect was particularly tantalizing to those who were then without real estate, when it lay with the majority of their own number to say how soon they might come into possession of very substantial homestead lots.
Accordingly, in something less than four years, the subject was resumed ; this time by the inhabitants as "Proprietors of the Common Lands." The first proprietors' meeting was called by the selectmen of the town, upon an application stating that the common lands were being trespassed upon. It was held January 6, 1729, and adjourned to the twentieth of the same month. A vote was passed that the clause in the return of the committee forbidding the division of the lands for ten years, be null and void, and that a division be made forthwith ; and Edward Gilman, Edward Hall, Jeremiah Conner, John Folsom and Andrew Gilman were chosen a committee to make partition of the lands according to the return of the committee who proportioned them, and "go about the work as soon as may be."
This committee failed to do the "work" for which they were appointed ; apparently for the reason that some of their number were opposed to the plan of immediate division. So nearly two
145
HISTORY OF EXETER.
years more went by before the matter was again moved. Another meeting of the proprietors was then called, and held November 9, 1730, at which Captain John Gilman, Edward Gilman, Joseph Hall, Peter Gilman and Israel Gilman were chosen a committee to lay out the common lands agreeably to the proportion made by the committee in 1725 ; and Edward Hall and Jeremiah Conner were subsequently added to the new committee.
After nearly two years' consideration, the last-named committee reported a plan for the separation of the common la ds, at the west end of the township, into sixteen ranges, containing in the aggregate 1485 lots of ten acres each, to be distributed among the inhabitants, agreeably to the apportionment made by the com- mittee appointed in 1725. This report was accepted by the town October 19, 1732 ; and it was voted that Mr. Maylem should draw all the lots for the proprietors, according to the division made by the last appointed committee. The resolution was at once carried into effect ; and a full list of the drawing appears in the Proprie- tors' Records.
FINAL DISTRIBUTION.
But there was still some dissatisfaction with the allotments. Complaint was made that some of the inhabitants had never received their "ten acre lots," to which they considered themselves entitled, under the vote of the town of March 14, 1681-2, and that certain inequalities existed in the former divisions, which ought to be corrected. Another meeting of the town was there- fore held June 15, 1738, which was continued by adjournments to August 28, at which it was resolved (for the third time?) that the vote passed by the town April 5, 1714, that two miles of the western end of the township should be for a perpetual commonage, be null and void, and that the said two miles be laid out and divided with the rest of the commons among the inhabitants.
A committee of seven were appointed, consisting of Captain Samuel Gilman, Lieutenant John Robinson, Captain Peter Gilman, Mr. Trueworthy Dudley, Cornet Ezekiel Gilman, Ensign Richard Mattoon and Captain John Gilman, Sr., who received specific in- structions as to their duties in dividing the lands ; were to be allowed compensation at the rate of eleven shillings each per day ; were empowered to hire a surveyor at the cost of fourteen shillings per day, and were given twelve months in which to make their report. The time was subsequently enlarged to two years. The
10
14€
HISTORY OF EXETER.
committee attended to the duty assigned them and filed their return on August 18, 1740. In it they provided ten acre lots for several persons who had not hitherto received them, and added twenty names to the list reported by the committee of 1725, as follows :
NAMES.
ACRES.
NAMES.
ACRES.
John Burley's heirs,
20
John Light's heirs,
20
Thomas Dolloff's heirs,
40
Ebenezer Martin, 10
Samuel Fogg,
10
John Mudget,
10
Israel Folsom,
10
Thomas Mudget,
10
John Fox,
10
John Roberts, 13
Joel Judkins,
12
Samuel Smith, son of Jacob, 15
Christopher Kenniston,
10
Francis Steel's heirs, 50
Daniel Ladd,
40
Edward Stevens's heirs,
40
Thomas Lary,
30
Samuel Stevens's heirs, 10
Nehemiah Leavitt's heirs,
15
Thomas Young,
20
The committee were empowered to make changes in the lots as drawn in 1732, in certain cases when found needful, and a few such changes were made ; but in general those lots were allowed to remain without alteration.
The adoption of the last report completed the disposal of the public lands of the town, with the exception of a few fragments chiefly by the side of the river. The titles granted by the town have never been questioned.
The meetings of the proprietors were kept up a few years after the division of 1740, and then abandoned ; and the Proprietors' Records were ordered to be delivered to the town clerk.
CHAPTER VII.
OFFICERS OF THE TOWN.
IN this chapter is given a list of the principal officers of Exeter from its foundation to the present time. It is generally taken from the town books, but in the few cases where they fail to afford information, it has been sought for elsewhere. With the exception of some of the earlier years, the list is almost complete.
For a long time the elections were held at irregular intervals, and the terms of service varied correspondingly. The general rule must have been that incumbents of offices held over until their successors were elected. This is especially the case with reference to the office of town clerk, which was never treated as an annual one before 1720. The number of selectmen was variable ; from 1644 to 1690 it was three ; then it was raised to five, and so continued till 1817, when it was reduced to three again.
It may interest those who are curious about "first things," to know that the earliest election of lot layers in the town which is on record was in 1648; the earliest (and only) election of clerk of the market was in the same year; the earliest surveyor of highways, in 1651 ; of tithing men, in 1678 ; of pound-keeper, in 1680, and of moderator, not until 1686. This may be the fault of the records, for very probably such officers were chosen earlier, and the fact failed to be recorded. We can hardly suppose, for example, that town meetings were held for near half a century without a moderator.
Apparently a good deal of interest used to be taken in the choice of constables. Attached to this office was the irksome duty of collecting the rates. The person chosen could decline the office, but only on the payment of the then heavy fine of five pounds. This a great many did rather than accept the disagreeable position. At length the practice grew up of allowing the constable-elect to excuse himself from performing the duties, on his furnishing a substitute acceptable to the town.
147
148
HISTORY OF EXETER. LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.
RULERS.
Isaac Gross, 1630. Nicholas Needham, 1639 to 1642. Thomas Wilson 1642 to 1643.
ASSISTANT RULERS.
Augustine Storre and Anthony Stanyan, 1639-
TOWN CLERKS.
John Legat,
1649
John S. Sleeper,
1832, 3
Edward Smith,
1634 (?)
Daniel Melcher,
1834-1837
Jonathan Thing,
1689
Charles Conner, 1838-1842
Sam iel Thing,
1700-1719
Joseph T. Porter,
1843-1846
Kinsley Hall,
1720-1725
James M. Lovering,
1847-1849
Josiah Hall,
1726-1729
John Tyrrell,
1850
Bartholomew Thing,
1729-1737
Franklin Lane,
1851-1854
Elisha Odlin,
1738-1743
Samuel D Wingate,
1855
Zebulon Giddinge,
1744-1782
Augustus H. Weeks,
1856, 7
Josiah Gilman, Jr.,
1783-1800
Charles Grant,
1858-1860
Ephraim Robinson,
1801-1800
William H. Belknap,
1861-1865,
Joseph Tilton,
1809-1811
1875-1888
John J. Parker,
1812-1831
Joseph S. Parsons,
1866-1869
George Smith,
1831, 3
George E. Lane,
1870-1874
SELECTMEN.
Richard Bulgar,
1644
Humphrey Wilson, 1653, 8
Samuel Greenfield,
1644-1646
Moses Gilman, 1653, 60, 73, 4, 7, 93
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