USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gilsum > History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879 > Part 2
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At the top of the mountain, about west of the farm now occupied by Bradley Stone, plumbago of the very finest quality has been found. Large lumps of the same mineral have been dug up on the land of Luke Houghton, just above the village.
Iron is indicated in numerous places by the appearance of red oxide in the soil, about the springs, or on the rocks, and also by the defleetion of the magnetic needle. On Surry Mountain, especially in the vicinity of Lily Pond, it is impossible to run lines by the needle, on account of the local attraction.
A little east of Mill Brook, on land belonging to F. A. Howard, is a cold spring strongly impregnated with iron and sulphur, and probably as valuable for medicinal use as many of famous resort. It is now covered with aeeumulations of soil. It is to be hoped the enterprise of the future will unseal and develop its salubrious powers.
On the farm of George H. Carpenter are large beds of oehre, or mineral paint. Similar beds are also found in the Hammond meadows farther south. In a letter to Mr. Carpenter, Prof. Hiteheoek says : "It may not be quite equal to the best of the Brandon paint, but would do for most purposes."
Not only are the Gilsum hills filled with ledges, but the surface is greatly diversified with bowlders. On the hill north-west of the old Ballard place are several of remarkable size. The largest of these is conspicuous for a long distance to one approaching from the east. Its extreme dimensions are 15 feet in length, by 13 in height and 132 in breadth.
" Vessel Roek " is another notable bowlder, resting on a ledge of coarse granite very near the eenter of the town. This is 45 feet in length, by 32 in breadth and 25 in height. It received its name from its striking resemblance to a vessel under full sail. This resemblance has been mueh marred by the falling of a large picee from the west side, which represented the bow and jib-boom of the vessel. Before its fall the breadth of the roek was very nearly equal to the length. The fall was doubtless occasioned by the earthquake of October 5, 1817, as it occurred the night before Thanksgiving following. The fall was heard by the Church family, who supposed it to be another earthquake. Another smaller piece lies a little farther west, which apparently fell off long before. Other fragments have fallen from different sides. The north- east corner of the rock affords a shelter sufficient for several persons, and tradition says that Indians, and subsequently white hunters, often spent the night there. The best view to give the peculiar " vessel " form of the roek is now eut off by the school-house. The one here given is
VESSEL ROCK.
13
NATURAL HISTORY.
from the south-east .* Fifteen or twenty rods west of this are other large bowlders of the same rock.
The soil of Gilsum is mostly rocky and heavy, strong to produce grass-like crops, but not well adapted for corn and the higher kinds of cultivation. It abounds in the usual varieties of vegetation found in granite regions and damp soils. It is probable that the fauna and flora are quite rich in the number of species, as the limit of white oak touches the south-western corner, and the boundary between the Canadian and Alleghanian fauna passes through the town.
Gilsum was originally heavily timbercd with hemlock, beech, maple, birch, spruce, ash, poplar, bass-wood or linden, and a sprinkling of red oaks and large white pines. The last were abundant on the hills east and west of the Hammond Hollow. But little of the old growth is now left. The narrow valley through which Beaver Brook flows was known as " The Gulf," being dark with a thick growth of spruce and black ash. The hackmatack or larch is not rare. A very few white oaks are found near the south end of Surry Mountain. Buttonwood, otherwise called the planc-trec or sycamore, grows sparsely along the river in the west part of the town. But- ternuts are plenty in some places, and seem to be indigenous. Hickory and chestnut are not native, but have been introduced in some places, especially on the " minister lot." Black poplar or " Balm of Gilcad," and a few Lombardy poplars have been introduced near dwellings. Of smaller trees, the largh, leverwood, whistlewood or striped maple, and mountain ash, frequent the hills and forests, while ironwood, willows, hazel, witch-hazel, and alders throng the valleys and banks of streams.
As elsewhere in New England, old, scraggy, decaying orchards testify to the fondness of the early settlers for apple-sauce and cider. Hardly any mark is more sure, whereby to find an old cellar-hole, than one or two half-dead apple-trecs. By the scattering of pomacc and the feeding of cattle, they have become so widely spread that the edge of almost every thicket shows its white and pink masses in spring, and its knurly globes of vinegary pulp in autumn. Other smaller indigenous fruits are plenty. Blackberries, raspberries, (red, black, and white !) blue- berries. and strawberries abound : also service-berries, black and red cherries, choke-cherries and currants, checkerberries, bunchberrics, thorn-apples, pigeon-berries, and the beautiful creeping snowberry deck the knolls in the thickcts and the mossy woods.
The diversified and beautiful scenery which may be viewed from every Gilsum hill is adorned with an almost endless variety of flowers.
" When beechen buds begin to swell, And woods the bluebird's warble know, The yellow violet's modest bell Peeps from the last year's leaves below."
The trailing arbutus perfumes the spring air.
" The liver-leaf puts forth her sister blooms Of faintest blue."
The spring beauty with its delicate shading, snowy patches of innocence, the pure white blood-root wrapped in gray-green blanket, the elegant corydalis, the odd Dutchman's breeches, the bishop's cap with its creamy spikes, bellflowers, the yellow adder's tongue, sturdy jack-in- the-pulpit, purple and snowy trilliums, ladies' slippers, and the spicy linnæa, beautify field and wood, while fragrant
" Violets lean O'er wandering brooks and springs unseen, And columbines, in purple dressed, Nod o'er the ground-bird's hidden nest."
* In the summer of 1877 the school-boys, with some assistance from the girls, built a monument of stone on its highest point.
14
GILSUM.
The shad-bush, the cherry, and the thorn, the hobble-bush, and rarely the wild snow-ball fringe our streams and thickets with white, the rhodora tinges the swamps with purple, while the pastures, a little later, grow rosy with the low kalmnia, or sheep-laurel. The finest of all our shrubs is the fragrant azalea, native to our thickets, but now mostly transferred to gardens. One small loeality, a tongue of land of a few square rods between the Thompson Brook and the river, is covered with the beautiful mountain laurel, or spoonwood. This is remarkable as being the only spot for many miles where this shrub is found. Later, the fields are speekled with buttercups, white daisies, and elover ; while autumn brings the twisted orehids, the closed soapwort, the white snake's head, and the splendid fringed gentian, -
" Blossom bright with autumn dew And colored with the heaven's own blue."
Then the roadsides, the thiekets, and the brambly hedges are decked with the blue and gold of a multitude of asterworts, golden-rods, and wild sunflowers. (Appendix A.)
It would be vain to attempt to enumerate the forms of insect life that crawl the ground, or wriggle in the waters, or ercep and sing among the grasses of the field and foliage of the forests, or flit about as " living blossoms of the air," or make night hideous with their blood-thirsty hum.
Nor will it be possible to name save a few of the more prominent species of higher animals that inhabit the town. Formerly the brooks were filled with beautiful trout, now rendered small and scarce by the wiles of the tireless and remorseless fisherman. The river, too, was ' filled in the spring with millions of shad, now driven away by the mills that infest the stream. Shiners, dace, perch, pouts, pickerel, roach, suckers, and eels are about all that now tempt or reward the fisher's toil, whether in stream or pond. Snapping turtles and land turtles, brown, spotted, and scarlet lizards, are not rare. The common varieties of snakes are abundant in the grassy meadows. Adders, also, and water-snakes, are plenty. Black snakes are very rarely found. In the spring the swamps, everywhere, resound with the voices of frogs and toads, and the rarely seen tree-toad gaily chirps amid the foliage and the showers of June.
Song-birds abound in great variety almost throughout the year. The blue-bird, and soon after the robin, welcome the first warm days with their cheery notes. The ground-bird or song- sparrow, and the hair-sparrow, fill the air with their melody, while their slaty-white eousin more quietly chirps among the shrubs and brambles. In the thickets, the cat-bird, and rarely his ncar kinsman, the mocking-bird (!) of the South, and the brown thrasher utter their mimic notes, while now and then the quaint cry of the cuckoo is supposed to tell of present or approaching rain. The chewink and the bridge-loving pewee, with sharply reiterated name, challenge the acquaintance of every passer. Rarely may be heard the chitter of querulous wren, while swallows of various kinds twitter on the barn-roofs, dive into chimneys, or sweep in graceful curves through the air. Occasionally a gray plover flitters from a field of grass or a black- bird whistles in the meadow, while merry bobolinks flood the air with their unique melody. Lovely greenlets and shy warblers throng the woods, and crested cherry-birds squeal amid the orchard-boughs, while noisy king-birds snap up the unfortunate bee or saucily pursue the pass- ing crow. At evening the boo of the plunging night-hawk interrupts the rich melody of the wood-thrush, or nightingale. Flopping bats are sure to discover an open window in their search for flies, and not unfrequently the weird cry of whip-poor-will is heard in the deepening twilight.
Birds distinguished for beauty as well as song are not rarc. The humming-bird, with ruby throat, darts among the lilacs and lilies ; the oriole, with liquid note, flashes his brilliant plumage amid the blossoms of orchard and garden ; flocks of thistle-loving gold-finches bedeek the air in
15
NATURAL HISTORY.
their jerky flight ; the indigo-bird whistles from the shrubbery ; and occasionally a tanager, or a summer red-bird, almost startles the eye with his ficry brilliance. The whicker of the richly- clad, golden-winged woodpecker is often heard from the tree-tops, while his red-headed cousin haunts the orchards and newly-cleared fields. Wild pigeons, formerly abundant, are now scarce.
In the winter, yellow-birds and a few robins remain in the swamps and thick woods, while flocks of snow-birds and grossbeaks frequently visit the fields. The lively chickadee, in forest and about our dwellings, even in the coldest weather, keeps up his chirp of cheer. In warmer days the merry hammering of woodpeckers, and the shrill scream of the dandy jay, enliven the forest, while as spring comes on the Canada grouse drums on every hill-side. "The ubiquitous crow " exhibits his black coat and harsh croak at all seasons, and in every place.
Of water-fowl, we have the stilt bowing, balancing, and peeping along the flat stones of the larger streams, and sometimes near the dwellings and barns. Wild ducks, grebes, and goosan- ders are frequently seen, and have been known to breed along the river. Every season is heard the ominous cry of the loon, and occasionally a blue heron has been captured, while the king- fisher haunts the river every day with his noisy chatter.
Birds of prey are not few in number or variety. Hawks abound, from the small sparrow- hawk to the tawny and powerful hen-hawk. Owls, too, find here a congenial home. The snowy owl is rarely seen. The barn-owl and the larger cat-owl are numerous, while the saw-whetter and screech-owl are nightly heard from the forest. The bald eagle, not often seen, has at times found a summer home in this vicinity. Less than forty years since a pair remained here for two seasons, probably having a nest on Surry Mountain.
The early settlers found bears and wolves very plenty, and they have been occasionally seen till within the last thirty years. The lynx and the wild cat still rarely molest the sheep in the mountain pastures. Deer also were a great dependence to the first settlers, both for the flesh for food, and the hides to bring money or to exchange for other necessarics of life. Tradition says that moose were found, though rarely. Beavers, too, were then plenty, as the name Beaver Brook testifies. Evidence also of their work is still seen. Lately, in ditching from Cranberry Hole, gnawed sticks were dug up, which soon crumbled away on being brought to the air. Now we have about our homes rats and mice, with an occasional weasel to diminish their numbers. Along our streams are musk-rats and minks, with rarely an otter. In the fields are found moles, meadow-mice, the beautiful jumping or deer mouse, woodchucks and spicy skunks. Chipmunks along the fences, red, gray, and flying squirrels in the thickets, rabbits and hares entice the youthful Nimrod to leave his toil to pursue them to their haunts. In rocky woods hedgehogs are very numerous. Raccoons frequently infest the corn-fields, and their cry is often heard in the autumn woods. Red foxes are plenty, with some cross foxes, and very rarely a black or silver- gray fox. The presence of civilized inhabitants has thus cleared our territory of the larger and more dangerous animals, that could rouse the fear of the child, or the zeal of the courageous hunter. (Chapter 27.)
16
GILSUM.
CHAPTER III.
INDIANS.
THE Indian history of this town is exceedingly meagre. Even tradition, which like a thin mist so often exaggerates the objects seen through its obsenring veil, fails to bring the dusky forms of skulking aborigines into any considerable prominence in the background of Gilsum his- tory. As will be hereafter seen, the proprietors of Boyle failed to make a settlement on account of danger from the Indians. Peter Hayward, the first settler in " Westmoreland Leg," was obliged, in 1755, to hurry his family to the fort at Keene for protection, while himself with a company of men went in pursuit of the treacherous foe, who had already killed one woman near the gate of the fort. The Indians, however, escaped, having captured one man, whom they carried to Canada. This Peter Hayward was well known to the Indians as a dangerous foe. In later times of quiet, a friendly Indian said that he lay at one time concealed in the bushes where he saw Mr. Hayward and his dog pass by on a log. He aimed his gun first at one and then at the other, but dared not fire, knowing that if he killed either the other would certainly kill him. It is remembered, that, after the Revolutionary war, an Indian was lurking around for some time, who made inquiries for Col. Smith (the Jonathan Smith, Jr., of the proprietors), and it was understood at the time that Col. Smith killed him, as the only means of saving his own life. There is a dim tradition of relics of two Indians having been found under a log heap in the valley by the river, south of the place now occupied by Milton Stearns. An Indian trail is said to have been traced in early times from the south part of the town over the hill east of Hammond Hol- low, crossing the river near the May Brook, and so on to Warren Pond in Alstead. There can be no doubt that they were well acquainted with all these hills and streams, hunting bears and wolves and deer from Surry Mountain to Bearden, and fishing up and down the Ashuelot River. A few arrow-heads and other relies have been occasionally found. A large spear-head was dug up in repairing the road just at the turn below the brook, at the south end of the village. This was for many years in the possession of Philip Howard, but has been lost. A stone pestle, found near Brake Hill, is also lost. At the south end of Brake Hill, next the river, was a cleared spot of about half an acre, when the first white settlers came here. It had evidently been used by the Indians as a camping-place, being near a hole in the river favorable for fishing. This is about all the Indian history (?) which can be now picked up. It is very vague and shadowy, with scarcely the flavor of authentie tradition or the glamour of fanciful romance to give it interest or to awaken confidence. But however faint the traces of their sojourn, however dark and misty the tale of their slight intercourse with the white settlers, -
" Though 'mid the forests where they roamed There rings no hunter's shout; Yet their name is on our waters, We may not wash it out."
17
CHARTER AND PROPRIETORSHIP.
CHAPTER IV.
CHARTER AND PROPRIETORSHIP.
THE territory afterwards called Gilsum was first granted by the name of Boyle. At " a Council holden at Portsmouth by his Excellencys Sumons on Tuesday December 21 1752," the following petition was presented : -
To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq GovT of the Province of New Hampshire &c. Humbly Shews
The Petition of William Lawrence of Groton & Thomas Read of Westford in the Province of the Massatts That they together with fifty Six more of their Neighbours are desireous of Setleing a township in the Province of New Hampshire many of them not Having a Sufficiency of Lands in the Massachusetts to Employ them Selves in Husbandry And haveing Account of a tract of Land yet ungranted by your Excellency, that we apprehend is Capable of Settlement, (which Lyes Northerly of the Upper Ashuelot [Keene] and Westmoreland and Easterly from Walepool Adjoyning to those towns, and Extend Eastward to make the Contints of Six miles Square) and in case we may Obtain the favour of your Excellency in making us a grant on ye Conditions Other of his Majestys Lands there are Granted, Shall make a Spedy & Effectuall Setlement there
Wherefore we pray that yr Excellency would See meet to favour us with Liberty to Survey the Same Under your directions, And that we may Obtain a Grant Accordingly and as in Duty bound Shall pray &c
Groton March 16. 1752
WILLIAM LAWRENCE THOMAS READ
The council unanimously advised the governor to make the grant. No name is lere given to the town, but the names of the two petitioners and the location identify it as Boyle.
The charter is in almost the same words as that of Gilsum. (Pages 19, 20.) On the back is the following : -
The names of the Grantees of Boyle - Viz - Joseph Osgood, Ebenezer Harris, Ephraim Stevens, Nathaniel Davis, Jacob Farmer, Daniel Colburne, Stephen Powers, Thomas Parker, William Parker, Joel Dix, Josiah Brown, John French, Joseph Barnes, Joseph Blanchard, Joseph Blanchard Junr., William Lawrence, Nathaniel Butter- field, Andrew Betty, James Thompson, Andrew Spalding, James Dutton Junr., John Parry, Daniel Stickney, Daniel Foster, Benjamin Barrot, Benja Parker, Samuel Greele, Robert Nivins, Timothy Taylor, Sampson French, Sam" French. Zacheus Lovewell, John Coombs, William Coombs, John Varnum, Jolin Kendall, Abraham Ken- dall. Thomas Buxby, Charles Barron, Zebediah Keyes, John Chamberlain, Joseph Kidder, Ezekiel Chace Esqr., Jonathan Snow, Jonathan Chamberlain, Nathaniel Merrill, James Minot, Jonathan Coombs, Archibald Starke, Samuel Gibson, John Goffe, Joseph Danforth, Abel Laurence, Benjamin French, James Whitney, William Spaulding, Jeremiah Lawrence, Thomas Read, Joseph Fitch, Jonathan Cummins. Jonathan Cummins Jun., John Usher, Robert Usher, Henry Sherburne, Theodore Atkinson, Richard Wibird, Samuel Smith, John Down- ing, Sam" Solley, Sampson Sheaffe, John Wentworth Junr., His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esqr. A Tract of land to contain five hundred Acres which is to be accounted two of the within Shares - One whole share for the Incorporated Society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign Parts, one whole share for the first settled Min- ister of the Gospel in the said town - One whole Share for a Glebe for the ministry of the Church of England as by law established -
Entred and Recorded from the back of the Charter of Boyle the 30th Day of December 1752 - Pr THEODORE ATKINSON Secry
There is also a plan of Boyle corresponding to the description, and precisely the same as here- after given of the town of Gilsum.
No record is found of the meeting of the above grantees. None of them ever settled in Boyle or vicinity, so far as can now be ascertained, and, with the single exception of Theodore Atkin- son, the colonial secretary, they all disappear from our history with this document. The princi- pal reason of their failure to settle the town was the troubles with the Indians, who, at that period, harassed the early settlers in the neighboring towns by their frequent attacks, slaughter- ing and carrying captive whole families, and often compelling others to leave their homes and flee to the fort at Keene for safety.
18
GILSUM.
In March, 1761, Benjamin Bellows (afterwards major and colonel, the ancestor of the well- known family of that name in Walpole,) bought of Rebecca Blanchard, widow of Joseph Blanch- ard of Dunstable, Mass., the " Rights he had in Boyle," for £67. 10 sh., " sterling money." The number of rights this conveyed was twenty-six, and the names of the original owners are given in the deed. Four days after, March 28, 1761, he also bought of Theodore. Atkinson of Ports- mouth, for £60. 15sh., " sterling money of Great Britain," twenty-seven rights in Boyle. May 1, 1761, he sold " fifty nine Right or Share of land in the Township of Boyle In the Prov." of New Hamps. which sd fifty Nine Rights is to Contain Eighteen thousand acres " for " £1350 lawful money." The purchasers were, as stated in the deed, " Samuel Gilburd Esqr. Josiah Kilburn Tanner Thomas Sumner Gent. all of Heburn in the County of Hartford & Jonathan Smith of Bolton Husbandman In the County aforesd & Joseph Mack of Lime in the County of Newton and all in the Colleney of Connecticut." This deed was witnessed May 14, 1761, by Peter Hayward and T. Chandler, and acknowledged the same day before Josiah Willard, justice of the peace.
These five men doubtless sold shares to those who became associated with them as the pro- prietors of Gilsum, though no record is found of the sale. The following are the only records of the proprietors of Boyle : -
August 14, 1761, a warrant was issued by Benjamin Bellows, Esq., to Clement Sumner, directing him to call a meeting of the proprietors of Boyle, " at the house of Mr Peter Haywood [Hayward] of Westmoreland, on the sixteenth of October next, at Ten of the Clock in the Fore- noon." No record of this meeting can be found. The only records of meeting are the follow- ing : -
At a Town meeting for Boyle holden in Hebron on March the 9th 1762 : the following Persons were chosen, or voted for the present Year into the public Offices of the said Town of Boyle. - Josiah Killburn, Moderator of Pro- prietor's Meeting.
Clement Sumner (of Kane) [Keene] Town Clerk.
John Starling Josiah Killburn Joseph Spencer, select Men. Josiah Killburn Thomas Sumner Abner Mack, Assessors. Joseph Mack, Collector. Abner Mack, Treasurer. Test JOSHUA DART Clk of sd Meeting
Copia Vera Pr CLEMENT SUMNER Proprietor's Clerk &c.
The Proceedings & Votes of a legal Meeting of the Proprietors of the Town of Boyle, held at the House of Mr Peter Hayward in Westmoreland ; September 16th 1762.
lest Voted, Mr Thomas Pitkin Moderator to govern said Meeting. -
2ª Voted ; Clement Sumner Proprietor's Clerk.
3ª Voted ; Joseph Mack, Collector.
- 4th Voted ; Abner Mack, Treasurer.
5th Voted ; Not to draw as the Lotts are already laid out.
6th Voted ; To Size the Land of the Town of Boyle, in Order for a Draught. -
7th Voted ; Joseph Mack, Seth Haze and Abner Mack for a Committee to size said Land, and make a Report thereof to the Meeting.
8th Voted ; To Raise the Sum of one Pound three Shillings Lawful Money, on each Right to be paid to the Proprietor's Treasurer, to defray the Charges of the Township of Boyle, that have arisen or shall hereafter arise.
9th Voted ; Clement Sumner Joseph Mack and Seth Haize a Committee to transact any Affair that shall be needed.
10th Voted; To adjourn the meeting till Wednesday the 23d instant.
And the said Meeting is accordingly adjourned and appointed to sit at the House of Mr Ephraim Dormant at the town of Kane [Keene ] on the sd Day
sign'd by Order. P CLEMENT SUMNER Pro : Clerk
At a Meeting of the Proprietors of the Town of Boyle, met, and assembled, according to Adjourment; Sep- tem" 23d 1762 at the House of Mr. Ephraim Dormant in the Town of Keen ; the following Votes were pased. 1st Voted ; To draw the Lotts of the Town of Boyle as they are now laid out and sized.
2ª Voted ; Joseph Spensor, Joseph Mack and Seth Haize to be the select Men for the said Town of Boyle. And further Voted ;
That the above Joseph Spensor, Joseph Mack and Seth Haize should be Assessors of the Township : and, that
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