History of the town of Haverhill, New Hampshire, Part 29

Author: Whitcher, William F. (William Frederick), 1845-1918
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: [Concord, N.H. : Rumford press]
Number of Pages: 838


USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Haverhill > History of the town of Haverhill, New Hampshire > Part 29


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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240


HISTORY OF HAVERHILL


53. HOSFORD, LARKIN LAMBERT-E. Sept. 27, '17; A. 25; Naval Reserves; Charles- ton Navy Yard, Bumkin Island, Newport; Musician, 2nd Cl .; R. Dec. 16, '18.


54. HOWE, LUMAN BURR-E. Dec. 14, '17; A. 21; Navy Yard, Boston; Yeoman 2nd Cl .; D. June 19, '18.


55. HOYT, JOHN I .- E. June 9, '17; A. 20; Camps Keyes and Bartlett; A. E. F., Sept. '17 to Apr. '19; Chemin-des-Dames, Toul, Ch. Thierry, St. Mihiel, Verdun; Co. K, 103rd Inf., 26th Div .; cited for bravery; gassed at Verdun; D. Apr. 28, '19.


56. JEFFERS, WESTON HARVEY-E. early in '18; 4th O. T. C., Camp Devens; Camps Lee and Funston; Sept. '18, France; 2nd. Lieut., June 1, '18; 1st Lieut., Aug. 21, '18; D. -.


57. JEWETT, HAROLD EARL-E. Apr. 27, '18; A. 18; Naval Reserves; Seaman; Newport, R. I .; Philadelphia, Pa .; U. S. S. Victoria.


58. JOHNSON, RAYMOND R .- I. Sept. 19, '17; Camp Devens; A. E. F., July '18 to Apr. '19; Corporal, Batt. E, 303rd H. F. A., 76th Div .; D. May 1, '19.


59. JOSEPH, ARLIE L .- E. July 29, '18; A. 21; Signal Corps; instructor in Radio, Dartmouth College; D. Dec. 12, '18.


60. KEZER, F. RAY-E. Oct. 8, '18; A. 20; S. A. T. C., Tufts College; Co. B, Engrs .; D. Dec. 9, '18.


61. KEZER, ROLAND WINFIELD-E. Sept. 19, '18; A. 22; Vocational Section N. H. State College; Co. A, Corporal; D. Dec. 10, '18.


62. KIMBALL, RAY L .- E. Mar. 16, '18; Carpenter; Kelley Field Aviation Camp; trf. to 507th Aero Squadron, Wilbur Wright Field; Sergeant, Dec. 1, '18; D. Mar. 26, '19.


63. KLARKE, PERLEY N .- E. Dec. 3, '17; A. 24; Navy; Feb. '18 Musician 1st Cl .; U. S. S. Vestal, U. S. S. Supply; R. Dec. 7, '18.


64. KNIGHT, ANDREW THOMAS-E. Mar. 21, '18; A. 18; Naval Reserves; Seaman 1st Cl .; R. Dec. '18;


65. KUGELMAN, ROBERT SOMERS-E. Oct. '18; A. 19; S. A. T. C., Harvard; Co. C, Aviation; D. Dec. 5, 1918.


66. LANCASTER, HERMAN L .- E. May, '17; A. 22; Fort Slocum, Washington, over- seas with Co. C, 10th Engrs. Lumber Unit; Corporal; D. Feb. 19, '19.


67. LARGE, ROBERT H .- E. Dec. 7, '17; A. 22; N. C. D. R., Radio Seaman; Sept. 1, '18 Electrician, 3rd Cl .; Newport, R. I., Light Vessel No. 66 on Great Round Shoals, Light Vessel No. 85 South Shoals as Radio Operator; R. Aug. 14, '19.


68. LARTY, WILFRED J .- E. June 29, '17; A. 22; N. C. D. R .; Boston, Charleston, S. C .; Fireman 2nd Cl .; trf. to Hospital Corps and again to Q. M. Corps, Naval Avia- tion; R. Dec. 5, '18.


69. LAVOIE, GEORGE JOSEPH-I. Sept. 5, '18; A. 31; 11th Co., 152nd Depot Brig., Camp Upton; D. Dec. 24, '18.


70. LEE, FREDERICK A. E .- E. Feb. 1, '18; A. 24; Co. A, 24th Canadian Victorian Rifles, 5th Inf., 2nd Div .; Montreal, England, France (Amiens, Arras, Cambrai, Valen- ciennes, Mons), Germany; D. May 19, '19.


71. LEONARD, GEORGE WESLEY-E. Apr. 24, '18; A. 23; Tufts College, Camps Lee and Upton; 7th Co. 2nd B:, 152nd Depot Brig .; 2nd Lieut .; Oct. 5, 1918; D. Dec. 4, '18.


72. LEONARD, JASMIN MORTIMER-E. Apr. 6, '17; A. 29; Naval Reserves, Lieut. J. G .; Lieut., July 20, '18; Newport, R. I., Sept. 29, '18, District communication Supt., 2nd Naval Dist .; R. Apr. 26, '19.


73. LEONARD, JOHN RAY-E. Nov. 26, '17; A. 20; Fort Slocum, San Antonio, Dayton; 162nd Aero Squadron; England, France; Chauffeur; D. Feb. 13, '19.


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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL


74. LIBBY, WILLIAM HERMAN-I. Apr. 26, '18; A. 23; Camp Dix; Proving Grounds, Aberdeen, Md .; Co. M, 328th Inf. Ordnance Dept .; died Oct. 11, '18 of Sp. Influ.


75. LORD, HENRY W .- E. May 6, '17; A. 21; Batt. F, 19th F. A .; trf. 5th Trench Mortar Batt .; Camps Sam Houston, Stanley, McArthur, Upton; A. E. F., June 4, '18, to Mar. 12, '19; D. Apr. 4, '19.


76. LUCE, FRANK ALLEN-I. Oct. 22, '18; A. 21; Fort Constitution, 1st Truck Co., 60th Ammunition Tr .; D. Dec. 16, '18.


77. MCCARTHY, PETER H .- E. June 9, '17; A. 23; Forestry; one year in Scotland enlisted in U. S. Navy, June 13, '18; Mine force; 2nd Cl. Yeoman; R. Apr. 4, '19.


78. MCCLINTOCK, HERBERT ELMER-E. July 13, '18; A. 25; N. H. State College Fort Hancock, Camps Eustis and Stuart, Fort Terry; Supply Co., 37th C. A. C .; trf., to 10th Co., C. A. C., Long Island Sound; D. May 12, '19.


79. McCONNELL, MALCOLM E .- E. May 19, '17; A. 23; Boston, Newport, R. I., Seaman 2nd Cl .; Musician 2nd Cl .; R. Feb. 3, '19.


80. McCORMICK, JASMIN B .- I. June 27, '18; A. 27; Camps Devens and Alfred Vail; Co. B, 212th Field Sig. Bn .; D. Jan. 28, '19.


81. McDUFFEE, FRED WM .- E. Jan. 15, '18; A. 21; C. A. C .; trf. to Batt. B, 2nd Trench Mortar Bn .; Company Mechanic; Portsmouth, Forts Slocum and Caswell, France.


82. McINTIRE, CLARENCE W .- E. Dec. 12, '17; A. 25; Forts Oglethorpe and Monroe, Camp Stuart; A. E. F., Apr. '18 to Feb. '19. (St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne); Batt. E, 60th Regt., C. A. C .; Feb. 1, '19 Corporal; D. Feb. 25,'19.


83. McMEEKIN, NORMAN ALEX .- E. May 23, '17; A. 26; Camp Rockingham; A. E. F., July '17 to Apr. '19 (Somme, Aisne-Marne); Co. B, 14th Regt. Ry. Engrs .; D. May 2, '19.


84. MCNULTY, ANTHONY EDWARD-E. Mar. 28, '18; A. 26; Camp Devens; France; Batt. F, 107th Regt. F. A .; trf .; to 1st Prov. Div. Batt., 1st Replacement Depot; D .-.


85. MARTIN, ALPHONSE DESIRE-E. Apr. 4, '17; A. 26; Camps Keyes, Bartlett, Greene, Wadsworth; A. E. F., Aug. '18 to June '19; 326th Field Signal Bn .; stationed at Remiremont with the 1st Army in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, with Army of Occupation in Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany; Corporal; Sergeant; D. July 7, '19.


86. MERRILL, ASBURY T .- E. Dec. 12, '17; A. 26; Signal Corps, Aerial Coast Patrol; Bayshore, L. I .; A. E. F., Mar. '18 to Nov. '18 (Brest, Finistere); Pelham Bay, Charles- ton, S. C., Great Lakes, Ill .; 1st Cl. Machinist on Aeroplanes; D. July 18, '19.


87. MILLER, HAROLD . RODNEY-E. Aug. 30, '17; A. 25; 2nd Lieut .; Signal Corps, 28th Balloon Co .; St. Louis, Mo .; Waco, Texas; Balloon School, Lee Hall, Va .; D. Dec. 20, '18.


88. MILLER, LYNNE WILLIS-I. Apr. 26, '18; A. 28; Camp Dix; A. E. F., May '18 to Dec. '18 (St. Mihiel, Argonne); Co. D, 309th Inf., 78th Div .; Corporal, July 4, '18; D. Jan. 24, '19.


89. MOORE, RALPH LEAVITT-I. July 25, '18; A. 31; Camps Devens, Lee and Upton; Co. L, 302 Remount Depot, Veterinary Dept .; D. -.


90. MORRILL, CHARLES H .- E. Aug. 17, '17; A. 28; Camp Curtis Guild, Newport News; A. E. F., Dec. '17 to Apr. '19. (Chemin-des-Dames, Toul, Ch. Thierry, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne); 101st F. A., Hdqtrs. Co., 26th Div., Corporal Sept. 1, '18; D. Apr. 29, '19.


91. MORRILL, DOROTHY (Miss)-E. Aug. 8, '18; A. 25; Army Nurses Corps; Camp Greene; Base Hospital 61; A. E. F., Sept. '18 to May '19. (Beaume, Base Hospital 57 at Paris); D. May 16, '19.


17


242


HISTORY OF HAVERHILL


92. MORRILL, HERMAN A .- E. June 15, '17; A. 18; Fld. Ambulance Service, 315th Inf. Med. Dept .; Forts Slocum and Oglethorpe; Camp Meade; A. E. F., July '18 to May '19 (sector No. 304, Meuse-Argonne, Montfaucon, Grand Montagne); D. June 5, '19.


93. MORRILL, JOHN H .- E. Feb. 22, '18; A. 20; 426th Motor Truck Co., 412th Motor Supply Train, Q. M. C .; Fort Slocum, Camp Jos. E. Johnston; A. E. F., July '18 to July '19 (St. Nazaire); Corporal; D. July 17, '19.


94. MORSE, HORACE E .- E. Oct. 30, '18; A. 18; Long Island Aviation Camp; 13th Provisional Co .; D. Dec. 8, '18.


95. MOULTON, AMOS LLOYD-E. July 29, '18; A. 21; Sig. Corps, Tr. Detach .; 426th Telegraph Bn., Co. E, Fld. Sig. Bn. 40; Dartmouth; Camp Meade; D. Jan. 15, '19.


96. MYOTT, LAWRENCE A .- I. July 24, '18; A. 29; Camp Devens; 40th Co., 10th Bn. 151st Depot Brig .; D. Dec. 5, '18.


97. NELSON, CLARENCE-E. July '17; Co. K, 1st N. H. Regt .; severely wounded in France; D. Dec. '18.


98. NUTTER, JOSEPH SIMES-E. Aug. 7, '18; A. 19; Naval Reserves; Charleston, S. C .; U. S. Rifle Range, Mt. Pleasant, S. C .; Landsman for Carpenter's mate; D. Dec. 2, '18.


99. PAGE, WILLIAM E .- E. June 22, '17; A. 28; Hosp. Ambulance Corps, Sec. 599; Camp Crane; June '18 Italy; France; D. Apr. 26, '19.


100. PALMER, FRED A., JR .- E. July 15, '16; A. - , Camps Keyes and Bartlett; Co. K, 103rd U. S. Inf .; A. E. F., Sept. '17 to Apr. '19. (Chemin-des-Dames, Toul, Ch. Thierry, St. Mihiel, Verdun); gassed 3 times; Corporal; D. Apr. 28, '19.


101. PALMER, WENLOCK C .- E. June 9, '17; A. 23; Co. K, 103rd Inf., 26th Div .; Camps Keyes and Bartlett; A. E. F., Sept. '17 to Apr. '19 (Chemin-des-Dames, Toul, Ch. Thierry, St. Mihiel, Verdun); gassed twice; D. Apr. 28, '19.


102. PARADIE, NAPOLEON-I. May 25, '18; A. 31; Camp Devens; D. -.


103. PARK, BERNARD E .- E. Mar. 11, '18; A. 21; Light Artillery; trf. in France to Ammunition Tr .; Camp Logan; France; Army of Occupation; Corporal; D. Aug. '19.


104. PIKE, CARL A .- I. June 27, '18; A. 26; Camps Devens and Upton; 42nd Inf. 12th Div .; D. Jan. 23, '19.


105. PIKE, ISAAC WATSON-E. May 15, '18; A. 29; N. H. State College; Co. F., 28th Engrs. (Quarry); Camps Humphries, Bally McElroy; A. E. F., Aug. '18 to Mar. '19; D. Apr. 4, '19.


106. ROBINSON, CHARLES EARL .- E. June 7, '17; A. 27; Co. F, 9th Mass. Regt., Inf .; trf. to Co. B, 3rd Pioneer Regt .; again trf. to 4th Anti-Aircraft M. G. Bn .; Camps McGuinness, Greene, Wadsworth; A. E. F., Sept. '18 to Jan. '19; Corporal, Sergeant; D. Jan. 25, '19.


107. ROBINSON, DUFF .- I. May 10, '18; A. 26; Machine Gun Bn .; Fort Slocum, M. G. School, Camp Hancock; D. Jan. 15, '19.


108. ROBINSON, JOHN McDONALD-E. Oct. 7, '18; A. 20; N. H. State College, S. A. T. C .; Co. G, Inf .; D. Dec. 15, '18.


109. Ross, TRACY JOHN-E. June 16, '17; A. 18; Forts Slocum and Sam Houston; 3rd Fld. Art., Batt. C; died of scarlet fever July 26, '17; first man from Haverhill to give his life in the war.


110. ROWDEN, HENRY T .- E. Oct. 17, '18; A. 18; S. A. T. C., N. H. State College; Co. G, Inf .; Sergt .- Bugler; D. Dec. 15, '18.


111. RUSSELL, FRED CUTLER, M. D .- E. July 12, '17; Med. Reserve Corps; called July 6, '18; A. 52; Fort Ethan Allen; Lieut .; D. Dec. 6, '18.


112. RUSSELL, JOHN FARRINGTON-E. Mar. 29, '17; A. 18; Camp McGuinness;


US


TRACY ROSS


DOROTHY MORRILL


HAROLD K. DAVISON


ROBERT H. LARGE


ERIC BLANK


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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL


A. E. F., Sept. 17 to Jan. '19; gassed May 31, '18; Co. L, 101st Inf., 26th Div .; D. Feb. 12, '19.


113. SANBORN, CARL R .- E. Aug. 14, '18; A. 21; Co. D, 426th Tel. Bn., Sig. Corps; Dartmouth, Camp Meade; D. Jan. 15, '19.


114. SANBORN, ROY E .- E. June 1, '17; A. 22; Camp Devens; A. E. F., Mar. '18 to May '19; Co. E, 401st Tel. Bn .; D. June 19, '19.


115. SMITH, FRED A .- E. May, '18; A. 30; O. R. C .; 2nd Lieut., 60th Engrs .; Camp Lee; Fort Benj. Harrison; A. E. F., July '18 to July '19; D. July 30, '19.


116. SPEAR, FRANKLIN E., M. D .- E. June '18; A. 44; called Nov. 9, '19; 1st Lieut .; Med. Corps; Co. 12, 3rd Bn .; Camp Greenleaf; D. Dec. 21, '18.


117. SQUIRES, WALTER HALE, M. D .- E. May '18; A. 24; 314 Regt., 79th Div. Med. Reserve Corps; Camp Meade; A. E. F., July '18 to May '19; Gen. Hospital 30 U. S. A. since June '19; 1st Lieut .; Capt. Feb. 24, '19.


118. STIMSON, ERVILLE RUPERT-E. Oct. 17, '18; A. 20; S. A. T. C., N. H. State College; Co. H, Engrs .; D. Dec. 15, '18.


119. STIMSON, RAYMOND E .- E. Oct. 22, '18; A. 22; Fort Constitution; 2nd Regt., C. A. C .; D. Dec. 17, '18.


120. SULLIVAN, WILLIAM THOS .- I. Sept. 9, '19; A. 28; Camp Devens; A .. E. F., July '18 to Apr. '19. (Toul sector); Batt. F, 303rd Regt., H. F. A .; 1st Serg ..; D. May 1, '19.


121. SUTHERLAND, ROBERT H .- E. Oct. 15, '18; A. 20; S. A. T. C., Yale; Chemical Warfare Service, Co. E, Chemists and Engrs .; D. Dec. 14, '18.


122. SWAN, HAROLD W .- E. June 15, '17; A. 22; Fort Oglethorpe; Camps Jackson, Sevier, Mills; A. E. F., Aug. '18 to June '19 (St. Die, Meuse-Argonne); 322nd Ambu- lance Co., 306th San. Train; Sergt. Med. Corps; D. June 27, '19.


123. SWAN, HERBERT RALPH-E. June 15, '17; A. 22; Fort Oglethorpe, Camps Jackson, Sevier, Mills; A. E. F., Aug. '18 to June '19 (St. Die, Meuse-Argonne); 322nd Ambulance Co., 306th San. Tr .; Sergt. Med. Corps; D. June 27, '19.


124. SWEENEY, JAMES M .- E. Nov. '17; A. 24; Forts Slocum and Oglethorpe, Camp Merritt; A. E. F., Apr. '18 to Apr. '19 (Ch. Thierry, Verdun); Evacuation Hosp. 26; Sergt. Med. Corps; D. May, '19.


125. THAYER, BERNARD ALLEN-E. Apr. 29, '19; A. 31; Co. D, 66th Regt., Trans- portation Corps Engrs .; Fort Slocum, Camp Laurel, Md .; June, '18, France; D. June, '19.


126. TRUE, MERLE SELWYN-E. May 11, '17; A. 24; 1st Army Band, later Gen. Hdqtrs. Band; Musician 1st Cl .; Camp Greene; A. E. F., Apr. '18 to June '19 (Bor- deaux, Aix-les-Bains, Chaumont); D. June 13, '19.


127. WALKER, MAURICE C .- E. May 11, '17; A. 18; Camps Keyes and Bartlett; A. E. F., Sept. '17 to Apr. '19 (Chemin-des-Dames, Toul, Seicheprey, Ch. Thierry, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne); Corporal, Co. E, 103rd Inf., 26th Div .; severely wounded, Oct. 27, '18; D. May 22, '19.


128. WARD, LEON CLINTON-E. Sept. 7, '18; A. 27; Camp Devens, 36th Co., 9th Bn. 151st Depot Brig .; Clerk, with Registration Board of Grafton County at Woods- ville; D. Jan. 7, '19.


129. WARD, REYMER E .- E. May 31, '17; A. 24; Camps Keyes and McGuinness; A. E. F., Sept. '17 to Apr. '19 (Vosges, Ch. Thierry, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne); Field Hosp. 104; trf. to Field Hosp. 161; D. Apr. 29, '19.


130. WELLS, HOWARD A .- E. June ' , '17; A. 21; Co. L, 101st Regt., 26th Div .; Camp McGuinness; A. E. F., Sept. '17 to Apr. '19 (Chemin-des-Dames, Toul, Ch. Thierry, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne); Corporal; gassed twice; cited for bravery twice; D. Apr. 28, '19.


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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL


131. WHEELER, JOE HORACE-E. Aug. 31, '16; Fort Slocum; A. E. F., June '17 to Jan. '19; Camp Merritt; Corporal; wounded Oct. 5, '18; Co. B, 26th Inf. Regulars.


132. WILLIAMS, RALPH STEWART-E. Apr. 21, '17; A. 18; 2nd Co. C. A. C. 1st N. H. Regt .; trf. Batt. B, 73rd R. R. Artillery; Corporal; D. Dec. 30, '18.


133. WILLOUGHBY, HAROLD RIDEOUT-E. Aug. 1, '18; A. 28; Sergeant; Camp Jackson; Batt. A, 6th Regt .; instructor in dismounted drill; D. Dec. 23, '18.


134. WILSON, FRANK W .- E. May 4, '17; A. 21; U. S. Army Balloon School, Fort Omaha; 1st Balloon Squadron; retained at Omaha as instructor in Meteorology and Aerology being attached to Meteorological Section of U. S. Army; Sergeant; D. Apr. 4, '19.


135. WOOD, ARTHUR ERNEST-E. May 24, '17; A. 30; Co. B, 14th Ry. Engrs .; Sergeant, Camp Rockingham; A. E. F., July '17 to Apr. '19 (Somme, Aisne-Marne); D. May 9, '19.


136. WRIGHT, FREEMAN ERNEST-E. Oct. 22, '18; A. 21; Fort Constitution; 1st Truck Co., 60th Ammunition Train; D. Dec. 16, '18.


137. YOUNG, MAURICE RAY-I. Sept. 5, '18; A. 24; 11th Co., trf. to 28th Co., 152nd Depot Brig .; Camp Upton; D. Dec. 4, '18.


CHAPTER XI


ROADS, BRIDGES AND CANALS


ROADS IN THE FIRST PLACE POOR APOLOGIES-LAID OUT BUT LITTLE DONE-IN 1783 £100 WAS RAISED TO REPAIR HIGHWAYS-IN 1807 $800 WAS RAISED AND IN 1898 AND 1899 $8,000-THREE BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER-FOR A LONG PERIOD ALL TOLL, NOW ALL FREE-THE LAST MADE FREE IN 1917-THE RIVER AND ATTEMPTS TO MAKE IT NAVIGABLE-ALL FAILED-THE RAILROAD-PRESIDENT QUINCY'S REMARKS-CONNECTION WITH THE PASSUMPSIC-GREAT CELEBRATION AT WOODSVILLE IN 1853-ADDITIONS TO ROAD-LAND DAMAGES-HAS BUILT UP WOODSVILLE.


THE matter of roads was one of the earliest to engage the attention of both proprietors and first settlers of Haverhill. The proprietors wished to promote the settlement of their town; the settlers who came at first through an unbroken wilderness following a trail marked by blazed trees, wished to make ingress into the new town easier for those who might follow them, and they also wanted to maintain some sort of com- munication with the outside world. They could not hope to supply all wants and necessities from the forest and the soil; some articles of food and drink-and drink was no small item in the living of those days-some farm and household tools and utensils must be brought in, and some products of forest and soil were expected to go out in exchange. At the very first food, as well as tools and utensils, had to be brought in on horse- back over the trail, dragged on sleds or sledges over the snow, or hauled up the river on the ice in winter from the settlements below. If a minister of the gospel was a necessity to make plain the road to heaven, roads to Concord, Exeter, Portsmouth and Newburyport were a like necessity.


At the second meeting of the proprietors held September 26, 1763, it was "voted to join with the proprietors of Newbury to look out and clear a road through Haverhill," and Col. Jacob Bayley, Capt. John Hazen and Lieut. Jacob Kent were made a committee to carry this vote into effect. This vote was somewhat indefinite as to the location of the road, and it was made more definite by the proprietors a few months later, March 27, 1764, when it was "voted to join the proprietors of Newbury to make a road through Haverhill so as to meet the road that leads to Ports- mouth," and Colonel Bayley, Captain Hazen and John Taplin were made "a committe to look out said road, clear and make same soon as may be." This "Portsmouth road" was the trail or bridle path leading from the Plain (now North Haverhill village), over what has since been known as


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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL


Morse Hill, down near the present Number Six schoolhouse, and thence to Coventry line, was subsequently known as "the Coventry road." The road which the committee named were to look out and clear was from Horse Meadow to the "Plain," and this with "the Coventry road" was doubtless the earliest in town. It followed the trail which was used by some of Captain Hazen's men when they came up from Hampstead to begin settlement in 1762, as it was the nearest route from the southern part of the state to the Plain or Oxbow. It is, of course, only by courtesy that it could be called a road. For some years it was little more than a bridle path. The meagre records of the proprietors indicate, however, that something was done, since at a meeting held at Captain Hazen's March 30, 1769, it was voted "to allow 4 shillings per day for what work has been done on roads, and for what may be done the present year." The proprietors early turned over to the town the clearing and making of roads, though at a meeting held April 25, 1773, Haverhill having been made the county seat, they voted a piece of land 200 rods square for court house and jail, opposite the great Oxbow, and made provision for a road 2 rods wide and 200 rods long. This does not appear to have been built, nor does it appear that their subsequent vote to enlarge the Cov- entry bridle path road by "cutting out a road 2 rods wide from the court house to Coventry line" was carried into execution. They did, however, at this time vote to give to the town the "rode through the town as it is now trode," though Asa Porter, Esq., entered his dissent. This was the path along which the settlers had built their houses, and was described as running "from the Bath south line, southwesterly to Lieut. Hayward's, thence south to north side of Ministerial house [Horse Meadow], thence southeasterly to Capt. Hazen's, thence southeasterly a little over Mill brook (Poole), thence in a general southwesterly line to Piermont." In turning this road over to the town "as now trode," the settlers provided that their houses should not be left off the road. From the Bath line to Woodsville, it ran as now east of Woodsville-there was no Woodsville- and was the original of the present state road through the town. The course of the road from Colonel Bedel's on Ladd Street was down the hill crossing the Oliverian below the present gristmill, and along the west side of Powder House Hill, passing the log cabin where John Page lived and thence to the Colonel Johnston house where Jesse R. Squires now lives. The change to the present road from the lower end of Ladd Street to the Corner was made in 1795.


In 1765 the General Court at Portsmouth was petitioned to construct at the public expense a road from that city to Cohos, and an act was passed for such purpose and signed by the governor. The Haverhill portion of this road was to be from Coventry Meadows over Morse Hill to "the Plain," but the province authorities did little or nothing to carry the act


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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL


into effect as appears from the petition of John Hurd to the governor in 1774 to have this road "improved and made safe."


The first road from the Corner to the country below was that to Plymouth known as the Plymouth road. It followed pretty much the same course taken later by the Coös turnpike. It ran east to St. Clair Hill, thence over the lower part of the hill, bearing thence to the south- east, past Lake Tarleton, and over the height-o-land to Warren. This, like the others, was at first only a bridle path, but as early as 1772, an ox team made its way over this road to Plymouth and return, an event which caused excited interest and was regarded as the beginning of convenient, not to say rapid, communication with the old homes of the settlers. This road and its successor, the Coös turnpike, became the great thoroughfare from Haverhill to the towns below. In 1789 what is known as the Oliver- ian Brook road leading from the brook on the south side the stream to Pike was begun, but it was only opened up as settlements along the Oliverian were made. And it was not till about 1820 that settlements of any account were made up the stream beyond Pike.


In 1798 a road was cut out from Greenleaf's Mill at the Brook to the Coventry road and intersected with this near where the stone town hall was later located, later extended and in part constructed by the county it ran up through school districts Number Nine and Number Ten to the county line, thence through the north part of that town and the east part of Landaff, it became known as the County road from Haverhill to Franconia. In the same year a road, such as it was, was cut out from the mills on the Fisher farm at the Plain, intersecting with the County road near where the Union Meeting House now stands, and later turning at at that point to the left became what is known as the Pond road leading to the Bath line near Swiftwater village. A road had also been begun about this time from the Plain to Brier Hill. Previous, however, to 1800, the only roads which might be entitled to the name-and the name would hardly be appropriate in places-were the River road, the Coventry road over Morse Hill, and the road leading from the Corner over St. Clair Hill to Warren and Plymouth. The most important impetus given to road building came from the construction of the Coös Turnpike, which took the place of the last named road. The charter was obtained Decem- ber 29, 1803, and was one of the early charters granted for such roads. Three such charters were granted in the closing years of the eighteenth century, one in 1800 and another 1802.


In December, 1803, charters were granted to no less than seven turnpike corporations, the Coös being among the number. The incor- porators were: Moses Dow, Absalom Peters, Joseph Bliss, David Web- ster, Jr., Asa Boynton, Charles Johnston, Alden Sprague, Moody Bedel, Col. William Tarleton, John Page and Stephen P. Webster, all with a


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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL


single exception Haverhill men of enterprise and influence. It was completed and opened to public travel in 1808, and for more than a genera- tion, by its connection with other turnpikes and roads became the great thoroughfare for teams, travel and stages from northern New Hamp- shire to the central and southern sections of the state. It became the chief factor in making the Corner, during this time, the most important village north of Concord. More than anything other, it aroused the citizens of the town to the necessity of good roads as essential to pros- perity. With the opening of the Coös Turnpike, the town began to com- plete the roads already projected, and to build others as its settlement eastward from the river demanded. By the middle of the nineteenth century the town had become well supplied with roads, and four have been laid out and built since then. The accompanying map reproduced from a state and town atlas published in 1892 shows with approximate accuracy the location of the roads of the town at the present time.


The methods of constructing roads and keeping them in repair, have been crude and uneconomical until recent years, when the problem of good roads has come to the front. The policy which has prevailed in Haver- hill has been much like that of other New Hampshire towns.


Highway surveyors were first elected in 1765. These were two, Joshua Hayward from the north end of the town-Horse Meadow- and James Woodward from the south end-Ladd Street. There is no record of the amount raised by taxation for highway construction or maintenance. Whatever the highway tax was it was to be paid in labor, and that there was a voluntary element entering into it, appears from the vote passed at the annual meeting of 1767, "that the surveyors shall not call on them that has done the most work, till the others have done theair part." It was also voted at this time "that 3s a day shall be the standing price for work done on the highway and 2s for ox work." Evi- dently there were some who had not done "theair part," since it was fur- ther "voted that William Bancroft, Joseph Hutchins and Richard Young be a committee to settle with the old surveyors and see howe has worked and howe has not."




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