USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Jaffrey > History of the town of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, from the date of the Masonian charter to the present time, 1749-1880 : with a genealogical register of the Jaffrey families, and an appendix containing the proceedings of the centennial celebration in 1873 > Part 12
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In 1787 the manner of singing was changed. The sing- ers were seated in one place by themselves instead of being mixed with the congregation. The town at that time
Voted to Grant the two middle body seats below, men and womens side, for the Singers.
It also
Voted to sing a Verse at a time, once in the forenoon and once in the afternoon after exercises.
Voted that Jacob Baldwin assist Eleazer Spofford to tune the Psalm, and in his absence or inability to set it.
In 1791 the singers were seated in the gallery, by vote of the town.
March 1, 1791, the town
Voted to grant half of the Front Gallery for the Singers and take it out of the Senter.
In 1792, March 6, the town
Voted to annex the womans seats in the front of the Gallery to the Singers Seats.
In 1802, March 2, the town
Voted to raise forty dollars towards hiring a singing master for the purpose of instructing schools.
Voted a committee of three to expend the same; Chose Samuel Dakin, Rufus Houghton, and Capt Pope Comee.
I55
PUBLIC COMMON.
Rec. of the Selectmen, forty dollars in full for teaching sing- ing school for the year 1803. Samuel Dakin.
At what time instrumental music was brought into use does not appear on record-probably about 1800. The in- troduction of those instruments was not at first very favor- ably received by the older members of the congregation, but time and the influence of the younger portion overruled, and at length they became very acceptable. The flute, clarionette, bassoon, trombone, and violin were the first that came into use, followed by the bass-viol, by some called "Dagon," by others the " Lord's fiddle." The early singers, as appears in the records, were found among the families of the Stanleys, Baileys, and Priests, afterwards the Spoffords, Baldwins, and Dakins. Dakin, as it appears by the records, was the first teacher of a singing-school in the town.
PUBLIC COMMON.
Provision was made by the Masonian Proprietors, in the grant of the township, by a reservation of land, for a public common on which to build a meeting-house, enclose a pub- lic burying-ground, and also a place for military trainings and reviews.
The common or public square included an area of about ten acres, measuring about forty rods on each side, situated on the north end of lot 12, range 6. On the north central part of the lot was the burying-yard, front of which were the meeting-house and public common.
In 1791, Aug. 3, a survey was made, bounds established, and a transcript made, by John Gilmore, Roger Gilmore, and Samuel Buss, a committee chosen by the town for that pur- pose.
TRANSCRIPT OF THE COMMON.
We the Subscribers, being appointed a Committee to lay out the common in sª town, have proceded thus : Beginning at the north west corner of the common ; at a stake and stones on the west side of the Road in the line between the fifth and sixth
156
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
Range in Lot No. 12, in the sixth Range of Lots in Jaffrey aforesaid, from thence South one Deg. west forty rods Pacing seven links, to a stake and stones, from thence South eighty one Deg. and fifty min. East, forty rods to a stake and stones ; from thence north one Deg. East forty rods to a Stake and Stones in the said line between the fifth and Sixth Range ; from thence north eighty one Deg. and fifty min. West, forty rods and seven links to a Stake and Stones being the Bounds first mentioned. John Gilmore
Jaffrey, Aug. 3, 1791. Roger Gilmore Samuel Buss
Comee
PUBLIC COMMON.
Cemetery.
Cutter's Inn.
Church.
Page's Store.
Old County Road.
Third N. H. Turnpike.
Thorndike's Store. Danforth's Store.
Rev. L. Ainsworth's.
In 1787 the town voted to sell the land lying east and west of the burying-ground, and appointed a committee for
ESTABLISHED 1870
5
JAFFREY MILLS EAST JAFFREY, N. HI.
WHITE BROTHERS PROPRIETORS
157
SALE OF PUBLIC LANDS.
that purpose. The lot east was sold to Benj. Cutter ; west lot to Dr. Howe. (In 1798 the town voted to sell the land west of the county road, at public vendue.) That part of the common south of the turnpike was sold afterwards.
When the town voted to build the meeting-house on the common in 1774, it also voted to pass over an article to see in what manner the town will proceed to clear the common to set their meeting-house on. The next year the town voted to work on the common on the first Monday in May.
In 1781 the town voted that each highway surveyor, with his district, work one day on the common. In 1787 the town appointed a committee to let the job of clearing a part of the common to the lowest bidder. In 1792 the town voted to raise £50 to finish the common ; and in 1798 the town voted that the town should turn out and level the common gratis, on the second Wednesday in June, and that they should come in the morning.
SALE OF PUBLIC LANDS.
In the grant of the township the town received of the proprietors six hundred acres of land for certain specified purposes, and this land was disposed of at different times by vote of the town.
In 1775, to meet the expense of building a meeting-house, the town voted to sell lot 4 in the 6th range, lots 12 and 20 in the Ist range, and lot 14 in the 2d range, and appointed a committee for that purpose, with authority to sell at pub- lic or private sale.
In 1778, the town
Voted to sell to Samuel Adams the land lying east of the Common.
In 1783, the town
Voted to sell four acres for £20 L. M. to Rev. Laban Ains- worth, on which to build a dwelling-house.
158
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
In 1787, the town
Voted to sell lot 16 range 3 lot 12 range I and that part of the common which lies on the east and west sides of the bury- ing ground.
In 1798, the town
Voted to sell that piece of common land at Capt. Adams old potash at public vendue.
In 1808, the town
Voted one half of an acre to Levi Johnson it being a part of the ministerial land.
In 1833 a committee was appointed to sell the public lands belonging to the town, and use the proceeds of the sale in purchasing a farm on which to support the poor.
The proceeds of the sale per report of Comee was $2381.17. A farm was purchased of Capt. Samuel Patrick for which the town paid $2291.53.
Oliver Prescott
Oct. 28, 1834 John Conant Comee Edward Spaulding
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
During the Revolutionary war, a convention of delegates from the several towns was held at Concord, for the purpose of forming a plan of government.
In 1778, April 20, Phineas Spaulding was chosen a dele- gate to a convention to be holden at Concord for that pur- pose.
In 1779, Sept. 7, the town
Voted that mr. Phineas Spaulding should sit as a member in the convention to be holden at Concord on Wednesday the 22 of September instant.
In 1781, May 28,
Voted to send one man to Convention to joyn in forming a New Plan or System of Government.
Voted that mr William Smiley be the man, also in Nov. same year he was again elected.
159
BUILDINGS BURNED BY LIGHTNING.
In 1788, January 14, the town
Voted to send a man to the Convention to approve or disap- prove of the Federal Constitution.
Chose Lieut. Abel Parker.
In 1791, August 8, the town
Voted to send a man to set in convention.
Chose Roger Gilmore Esq.
In 1850, Nehemiah Adams, delegate. In 1876, Benjamin Pierce.
Sept. 7, 1779, Voted to Reject the plan of government. 35 for rejection no one for it.
Sept. 15th 1783. 24 men voted to establish the last Plan of Government and one against it.
In 1792 Aug. 27 twenty voted against the amendments of the state Constitution and four for it.
In IS51, March 11, the vote of the town for amendment was a majority for the 1st 7th Sth 9th 14th 15th articles of amend- ment.
BUILDINGS DESTROYED BY FIRE.
House of Rev. Laban Ainsworth, burned Feb. 13, 1788.
House of John Butters, on lot 20, range 4, burned Jan. 7, 1794.
School-house in district No. 5, burned in 1793.
School-house in district No. 9.
Asa Brigham's tavern-stand, burned Dec. 16, 1816.
Store of David Page.
House of David Cutter, near Monadnock Mineral Spring, burned 1823.
House on the town farm, burned IS25.
John Milliken's store, lot 5, range 4.
Bailey's mills, lot 7, range 5.
John Stone's blacksmith shop, lot 8, range 6. Cheshire Factory, burned 1828.
House of David Corey, in school-district No. II. John Cutter's house, school-district No. 6.
160
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
Caleb Cutter's, school-district No. II.
Starch factory, burned Jan. 2, 1839.
James Henderson's, school-district No. 7.
Mountain House, burned Oct. 6, 1866.
· Granite State Hotel, burned March 25, 1875, East Jaffrey. National Bank,
Second National Bank,
House of Rebecca Bacon, burned March 25, 1875.
Bradley & Co.'s stocking-mill, East Jaffrey.
Gilman Mower's shop,
Hanscomb's paint shop,
A barn on the Roger Brigham farm. A saw-mill owned by John Hodge, burned 1836, in dis- trict No. 3.
BUILDINGS BURNED BY LIGHTNING.
A barn of Abel Cutter's, district No. 10.
A barn of David Corey's, district No. II. A barn of Joseph Hodge's, district No. 3. A barn of Edward Spaulding's, district No. 5.
Two barns on the farm formerly owned by Asa Baker.
CHAPTER XIV.
INVOICE, 1793, FIRST ONE RECORDED-MONEY RAISED- HIGHEST TAX-PAYERS.
L
IST of tax-payers in 1793, the earliest on record :
£ s. d.
£ s. d.
Thomas Adams,
2-18- 8
Samuel Briant, 1- 8- o
Daniel Adams,
0- 4- 0
Alpheas Brigham,
2-16- 8
Samuel Adams,
I-II - O
Joseph Brooks,
2- 6- 0
Silas Adams,
I- 1- 9 John Buckley,
0-19- 0
Jonas Adams,
I- 9- 0
Simeon Bullard,
0- 7- 6
Joseph Adams,
0-12- 0
Moses Burpee,
I-18- 4
Daniel Avery,
0-10- 0
Ebenezer Burpee,
0-18- 4
Oliver Bacon,
I-14- 2 Samuel Buss,
2- 7- 6
Oliver Bailey,
I-19-10
John Butler,
1- 3- 6
Isaac Bailey,
0-17- 0
Simeon Butters,
I- 9- 4
Isaac Bailey,
I- 4- 2
John Butters,
I- 3- 6
Samuel Bailey,
0-13- O Samuel Carey,
0-10- 0
Joseph Bates,
I- 9- 2
Josiah Carey,
1- 5-10
Peter Bates, I-18- 6
Jonah Carter,
1-12- O
Jacob Baldwin,
I- 4- O
Alpheas Crosby,
I- 7- 2
Josiah Belknap,
I- 8- 8 David Chadwick,
2- 8-10
John Billings, 0- 5- 8
Josiah Chamberlin,
0-10- O
Jona. Blodgett,
I-18- 8
Aaron Colman,
I-II - 7
Jona. Blodgett, Jr.,
0-12- 0 John Coughran,
2- 2- 2
Thaddeus Blodgett,
0-10- 0
James Coughran,
0-13- 0
Amos Boynton,
0-17- 4
William Coughran, 0-10- 0
Moses Boynton, 0-17- 4 Joseph Cutter,
4-12- 4
Nath. Boynton,
0-10- Moses Cutter,
I- I- 8
Nath. Breed,
I-12- 8 David Cutter,
I- 4- 3
John Briant,
2- 8- 8 Nathan Cutter,
0-13- 0
Thomas Briant,
I- 4-10
John Cutter,
0-15- O
162
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
£ s. d.
£ s. d.
Jacob Danforth,
I- O-IO
Benj. Frost,
0-12-10
John Davidson,
2- 9- 2
James Gage,
2- 3- 2
Thomas Davidson,
I- 5- 6 John Gilmore, 3- 8- 8
James Davidson,
0-13- 0
Roger Gilmore,
3-17-10
Charles Davidson,
I- 9- 3
Robert Gilmore,
I- 2- 8
Thomas Davidson,
0-15- 8
David Gilmore,
O-II- 6
Andrew Davis,
2- 0-10
Simeon Gilson,
O-II- 4
Richard Davis,
I- 7- 2
James Gowing,
I-II - 2
John Davis, Jr.,
I- 4-10
Azeal Gowing,
O-II- O
William Davis,
0-II- 6
Jesse Gould,
0-10- 0
Mathew Davis,
0-15- 9
Wid. Mary Gould,
I- I- 6
T. Gordon Davis,
I- 4- 7
Nehemiah Green,
I-13- I
Jona. Dean,
0-16- 6
Dudley Griffin,
3-16- 6
Hiram Dean,
0-10- 0
Benj. Haywood,
2-II - 2
Man1 Divol,
I- O-IO
Oliver Hale,
I-12- 7
Benjamin Dole,
3-14- 4
Amos Hale,
0-17- 0
Samuel Douglas,
I-17- 9
Abraham Hadley,
1- 2- 6
Thomas Dunshee,
I - 9- 6
Robt. Harkness,
3- 5- 6
Thomas Dutton,
2-II- 3
Ebenezer Hathorn,
I-16- I
Moses Eames,
I-II- 8
John Harper,
2-10- 4
Daniel Eaton,
0-13- 6
Samuel Haselton,
0-10- 0
Daniel Emery,
I- 5- 6
Joseph Hogg,
2- 7- 6
Daniel Emery, Jr.,
I-18- O
James Houghton,
I-16- 2
Jonathan Emery,
I- 7- 6
Eph. Hartwell,
0-16-10
William Emery,
I-12- I
Wid. Sarah Hathorn,
0- 7- 6
Samuel Emery,
I- 7- 4
Joseph Horton,
I-IO- 8
Noah Emery,
I-16- 4
Adonijah Howe,
I-17- 8
Asa Evans,
0- 6- 4
Nathan Hunt,
I- 2- 6
Joshua Eveleth,
0- 9- 4
Paul Hunt,
0- 4- 0
Silas Fairbanks,
0-10- 0
Daniel P. Hill,
2- o- 8
John Farley,
0- 4- 0
Daniel Ide,
0- 9- 4
Joseph Farnsworth,
0-10- 0
Josiah Ingals, I-10-10
Thomas Fisk,
2- 9- 6
Wid. Simeon Ingals, 0- 9- 2
Asa Fisk,
0-10- 0
Ebenezer Jaquith, I- 6-10
Paul Fitch,
2- 6- 2
Ebenezer Jaquith, Jr.,
I- O- 4
Moses Flint,
0-10- 0 Samuel Jaquith,
I- 4- 4
Amos Flint,
I-18- 2
David Jewett,
2- I- O
Joseph Fox,
0- 7- 8 John Joslin,
I-16- 0
Amos Fortune,
0- 9- 9 Capt. Joseph Joslin,
I-13- O
Thomas French,
I- I- 2 Joseph Joslin,
1- 3- 3
Daniel French,
0-19- 8 John Joslin,
0-10- 0
John French,
2- O- I Samuel Joslin,
1- 6- 3
163
LIST OF TAX-PAYERS.
£ s. d.
£ s. d.
John Kent,
I- 0- 0
Rufus Sawyer,
2- 3- 0
Samuel Kindle,
0- 7- 0
Samuel Sargent, 2-19- 2
David Lacy,
I- 4- 2
David Sherwin, I- 8- 0
Benj. Lawrence,
I-IO- 6
(Stock in trade, £30.)
William Marshall,
2- 0- 2
William Smiley,
2-II-II
Samuel Maynard,
3-15- 6
James Smiley,
0-19- 0
Jesse Maynard,
0- 5- 6
Samuel Snow, 0-17- 6
William McAlister,
I-15- O
Asa Snow,
I- 2- 2
Amos Merritt,
I- 4-10
Joseph Snow,
0-10- 0
Elijah Miles,
0-18- 0
Eleazer Spofford,
4- 6- 6
Alexander Milliken,
3- 2- 6
Benj. Spaulding,
2- 9- 8
Thomas Mower,
2- 2- 6
Reuben Spaulding,
0-14- 6
Josiah Mower,
I- 7- 2
Moses Spaulding,
0-10- 0
Benjamin Nutting,
I-12- 8
Phineas Spaulding,
2-16- 2
Amos Noyes, I- o- 6
Elijah Stanley,
o- 8- 8
Abel Parker,
I-18- 4
Wid. Lois Stanley,
I- I - 6
Samuel Parker,
I-II- 4 Wid. Sybil Stanley,
I-15- 4
Asa Parker,
0-10- 0
William Stevens,
2-II- O
Samuel Patrick,
2- 5- 0
James Stevens,
2-17- 2
Seth Payson,
o- 6- 4
Moses Stickney,
I-II- 8
Joseph Perkins,
3-14- O
Lemuel Stickney,
0-16- 6
Robinson Perkins,
I- 4- 2 Samuel Stickney,
2- 4- 6
Moses Perkins,
0-16- 0
Amos Stickney,
I-II- 6
Moses Peabody,
0-19-II
Simpson Stewart,
I-16- O
Daniel Perry,
I- 7- 0
Joseph Stewart,
I-14- O
Samuel Pierce,
I-15- 3
David Stratton,
0-12- O
Jacob Pierce,
2- 4-10
Phineas Tyler,
I-II- I
Samuel Phelps,
I- 6- 8
Nath. Tyler,
O-IO- I
Whitcomb Powers,
0-15-10
Peter Temple,
I- 5- O
Paul Powers,
I- 8- o
Joseph Thorndike,
4-10- 4
William Pope,
3-10- 2
(Stock in trade, {60.)
Benj. Prescott,
4- 2- 2
John Taplin,
0-10- 0
Jona. Priest,
2- 6- 4
Asa Thomson,
0-19- 8
Daniel Priest,
I-13- O
Eben. Thomson,
I- 7- 8
Oliver Proctor,
I-13- 8
Jere Towns,
0- 2- 4
John Pushee,
0-12- 0
Wm. Turner,
2- 5- 2
Levi Raymond,
0-19- 4
James Turner,
0-17- 6
Jonson Richardson,
0-10- 0
Thomas Turner,
0-12- 2
Aaron Rider,
4- I- I
Wid. Mary Turner,
0-18- 8
Abraham Ross,
2- 8- 0 John Turner,
0- 5- 0
Calvin Russell,
0-10- 0 Daniel Twiss,
I- 5- 2
Samuel Sanders,
0-19- 6 Jere Underwood,
2- 4- 4
164
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
£s. d.
£ s. d.
John Ware,
0-13- 4
Ephraim Whitcomb,
1-16-10
Simon Warren,
I-14- 6
Wid. Whitcomb,
I- 3- 2
Elijah Welman,
0-15- 8
John Whipple,
I-12- 4
Elijah Wiles,
I-18- O
Cotton Whiton,
0-16- o
Joseph Wilder,
I- 6-10
John Wood,
2- 8- 6
Ezra Wilder,
I-18- 6
Moses Worcester,
2- 8- 2
Silas Wilder,
I- 4- 0
Wm. Worcester,
I-13- 8
Winchester,
I- 2- 2
Francis Wright,
2-10- 4
Zacheus Witt,
I-17- 4
INVOICE, 1793.
Number of polls,
230
Acres of mowing,
653
horses,
123
ploughing,
I36
COWS,
393
pasturing,
800
oxen,
198
wild land,
5,509
yearlings,
330
2 years old,
309
3 years old,
244
MONEY RAISED TO PAY TOWN CHARGES.
1778.
£50
1798.
$250
1819.
$650
I779.
200
1799.
250
1820.
800
1780.
10,000
1801.
350
1821.
400
1781.
25,000
1802.
300
1822.
200
1782.
300
1803.
250
1823.
950
1783.
300
1804.
300
1824.
300
1784.
100
1805.
400
1825.
700
1785.
30
1806.
400
1826.
700
1786.
30
1807.
40
1827.
1,161.20
1787.
20
1808.
400
1828.
1,010
1788.
40
1809.
1,100
1829.
809
1789.
40
1810.
1,339
1830.
500.25
1790.
40
ISII.
800
1831.
500
1791.
40
1812.
700
1832.
600
1792.
50
1813.
300
1833.
824
I793.
60
1814.
400
1834.
650
1794.
150
1815.
700
1835.
1,100
1795.
$300
1816.
750
1836.
1,000
1796.
333
1817.
500
1837.
600
I797.
250
1818.
331
1838.
200
165
HIGHEST TAX-PAYERS.
1839.
$800
1848.
$1,000
1857.
$1,200
1840.
600
1849.
450
1858.
700
1841.
500
1850.
300
1859.
400
1842.
700
1851.
300
1860.
800
1843.
700
1852.
200
1861.
800
1844.
1,000
1853.
200
1862.
1,000
1845.
900
1854.
200
1863.
1,000
1846.
800
1855.
350
1864.
1,000
1847.
300
1856.
1,200
1865.
3,520
The earliest invoice on record in the town of Jaffrey was that of 1793. The ten highest tax-payers were as follows :
1793.
1800.
{s. d. Joseph Cutter,
$20.96
Joseph Cutter,
4-12- 4 Benj. Prescott,
17.71
Joseph Thorndike,
4-10- 4 Eleazer Spofford, -
16.03
Eleazer Spofford,
4- 6- 6
James Stevens,
13.63
Benjamin Prescott,
4- 2- 2
Joseph Thorndike,
13.12
Aaron Rider,
4- 1- 1
Jona. Fox,
10.44
Roger Gilmore,
3-17-10
Alexander Milliken,
10.24
Dudley Griffin,
3-16- 6
John Gilmore,
10.0I
Samuel Maynard,
3-15- 6
Joseph Perkins,
IO.0I
Benjamin Dole,
3-14- 4
Roger Gilmore,
9.95
1810.
1820.
Benj. Prescott,
$40.86
John Cutter,
$40.11
John Cutter,
36.88
John Conant,
27.33
Joseph Cutter,
31.57
David Gilmore,
24.22
James Stevens,
30.49
Laban Ainsworth,
23.64
Eleazer Spofford,
30.38
John Wright,
23.48
Adonijah Howe,
29.07
Oliver Prescott,
23.28
Alexander Milliken,
27.97
Benj. Hayward, Jr.,
22.81
John H. Loring,
26.74
Eleazer Spofford,
22.68
Joseph Thorndike,
24.72
Edward Spaulding,
22.30
Edward Spaulding,
22.79
Oliver Bailey,
22.15
1830.
Benj. Prescott,
John Cutter,
John Conant,
Eldad Prescott,
John Cutter, 2d,
Daniel Cutter,
John A. Prescott,
Laban Ainsworth,
Benj. Hayward,
Oliver Prescott.
Joseph Perkins,
3-14- 0
166
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
1840.
1850.
Jonas M. Mellville,
$77.02
John Conant,
$45.06
John Conant,
46.16
Addison Monroe, 37.84
Eldad Prescott,
45.33
Benj. Cutter,
31.98
Benj. Cutter,
44.51
Eldad Prescott,
30.75
Benj. Hayward,
38.55
Jonas Pierce,
22.84
Benj. Prescott,
37.34
John A. Prescott,
22.45
Daniel Cutter,
28.98
Laban Ainsworth,
21.13
Luke Howe,
28.43
Gilman Mower,
20.04
Laban Ainsworth,
27.74
Asa Baker,
19.74
John A. Prescott.
26.12
Benj. Hayward.
18.15
1860.
1870.
Benj. Cutter,
$69.74
Alonzo Bascom,
$553.18
John A. Prescott,
65.46
Samuel Ryan,
151.25
Samuel Ryan,
63.65
Arad Adams,
124.03
John Conant,
52.00
Charles H. Powers,
109.73
Asa Baker,
46.12
Peter Upton,
108.26
Arad Adams,
38.65
Moses S. Perkins,
102.96
Peter Upton,
35.78
Henry B. Wheeler,
93.50
Rufus Sawyer,
32.92
Edwin C. Baker,
93.30
William Lacy,
28.81
Daniel P. Adams,
91.03
A. P. Prescott,
25.42
John Conant,
79.32
1880.
Benj. Pierce,
$130.74
John Fox,
$71.90
Benj. Cutter,
120.34
Hannah J. Ryan,
71.15
Peter Upton,
89.44
Ruby Adams,
59.56
James S. Lacy,
87.09
Daniel P. Adams,
56.04
Charles H. Powers,
78.46
Aaron Perkins,
53.90
CHAPTER XV.
PAUPERISM-WARNINGS FROM TOWN-BOARD OF THE POOR SOLD AT PUBLIC VENDUE-TOWN FARM.
T HE first act of the town on record, relating to paupers, was at a meeting held April 26, 1774, the year after the organization of the town. In the warrant for that meet- ing there was an article "To see if the town will Vote to Rais a sum of Money to Support the Poor of sª town." " Voted not to Rais Money for the Poor." The next act of the town was to take the benefit of a law enabling towns to remove their liability for the support of paupers by warn- ing from town all persons moving in for a settlement. At a meeting of the town, April 20, 1778, the town voted that the selectmen shall warn all persons out of town who come in to inhabit, or come any way into town.
FORM OF THE WARRANT.
State of To David Allan, Constable for the town of New Hampshire Jaffrey, Greeting.
Cheshire ss. In the name of the Government and People of the United States, you are requested to notify and warn Lucy Geary to Depart out of this town forthwith or otherwise give the Selectmen sufficient bonds to keep the town from damage.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this warrant with your doing thereon by the sixteenth of this May, inst. Given under our hands and seal this tenth day of May, 1778.
Roger Gilmore John Stanley
Selectmen
Abraham Bailey of Jaffrey
I68
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
In obedience to the above Warrant, I have notified and warned the within person to depart out of the town of Jaffrey forthwith, otherwise to give the Selectmen Sufficient bonds to keep the town from damage.
David Allan ) Constable " for Jaffrey.
The practice of warning persons from town was generally adopted by other towns. The object probably was to pre- vent the emigration of the poor from older townships.
Lucy Geary appears to have been the first person warned from town, and as her name does not again appear, it is quite probable she left. In January of the next year, Han- nah Underwood was warned from town, and in June, John Gray and family. In January, 1781, Solomon Wood and family, Simon Perry and family, Benj. Stone, Abel Spauld- ing, John Pritchard, Wheeler Willard, Jennie Hunt, Eliza- beth Asa and son ; in March, John Gilson and family; in September, Aaron Taylor and family, Amos Fortin, John Fitch, Francis H. Pitt. In 1784, May 9, John Pushee and family, from Westford, Mass; Persis, Jesse, and Joseph Snow, from Woburn. Mass .; John Dun and John Math- ews, from Peterborough ; John Wheat and Marshal Cutter. In 1786, May 27, Eleazer Green and wife, John French and family, Myron Dean and family, Peter Davis and family, Jonathan Holt and family, Sarah Philbrick, from Rindge, and Alpheas Crosby. In 1789, Dec. 21, Widow Hannah Robbins and daughter, from Stoddard ; Samuel Needham, from Billerica; Asa Crosby, from Moultonborough ; Jonas Clark, Townsend ; Eunice Philbrick, Rindge ; Jona. Mower, Billerica ; Betty Stiles, Bridgetown; Samuel Parker, New Ipswich ; Asa Spofford, Rowley ; Lemuel Stickney and family, Londonderry ; Lucy Wilder, Winchendon ; Isaac Spofford, Townsend ; Eunice Thomas, Rindge ; James French and family, Rockingham ; Rhoda Russell and Jonas French, Jr., and family, Rockingham ; Joseph Cloyce, Con- cord ; Abigail Sanders, Gardner ; William Stacey and fam- ily, Townsend ; wife of Benjamin Whittemore, Sterling ;
169
PAUPERISM.
John Russell, Rindge ; Anna Dunlap, Silas Houghton, Sterl- ing ; Nathan Taylor and family, Fitchburg ; Jonathan Blod- gett and family, from Rockingham. Many more were warned from town, whose names are not recorded, as we find re- ceipts on record of money received for warning persons from town of later date. The last on record was dated Sept. 9, 1799.
Received of the Selectmen six dollars and ninety cents in full for warning thirty persons out of town the present year. Rufus Houghton.
Notwithstanding the warrant, the town was from time to time called on to make provision for paupers. In 1783, Sept. 15, the town voted to give Hugh Gregg the use of a cow, to aid him in the support of his wife and child. In 1785, Oct. 7, the town made provision for the support of the family of Thomas Goff. In 1786 the expense of board and burial of a widow Hathorn was paid by the town. In 1787 the nursing and doctor's bill of a Mr. Combs, and provisions for the family. In 1791 Eleazer Spofford, Oliver Bacon, and John Joslin were chosen overseers of the poor, and Lieut. Underwood was paid for their board and care. In 1794 the town voted to vendue the support of the poor, and four paupers were disposed of in that manner that year. The practice of venduing the support of the poor continued till 1828, when the more humane way, as it was considered at that time, of hiring their board at one place was adopted. Proposals were made by Capt. Samuel Patrick to board them at his house for $500 per annum, for three years, which was accepted. In 1833 the town voted to purchase a farm on which to support the poor, and chose Oliver Pres- cott, John Conant, and Edward Spaulding a committee for that purpose. The farm of Capt. Patricks was purchased for the sum of $2,500, and possession given April 1, 1835. Jacob Adams was hired to manage the same for a salary of $200. In 1835 the house was burnt, and rebuilt in 1836.
The paupers were supported on the farm till 1869. In
12
170
HISTORY OF JAFFREY.
1868 a law was enacted which so diminished the number of paupers to be supported by the town that it was thought advisable to sell the farm, and it was sold at public auction, by vote of the town, March 29, 1869, together with the stock, tools, hay, and provisions, in one lump, to P. Ring, for $6,000.
CHAPTER XVI.
CEMETERIES-ACCIDENTAL DEATHS-LIST OF PERSONS WHOSE AGE AT DEATH EXCEEDED EIGHTY YEARS.
T
N the early settlement of townships the location of a place for the burial of the dead was among the first re- quirements. It was customary to have the burying-yard in rear of the church, and it was often called the church- yard. In Jaffrey, before any settlement was made, a piece of ground was selected for a public common, on which to build a church and locate a burying-ground. The exact boundaries were not fixed till 1784, when the town, at their annual meeting, March 5, 1784, voted to lay out the burying- yard by a committee.
TRANSCRIPT OF THE SAME.
We the subscribers, by virtue of an appointment from the town of Jaffrey for laying out the Burying yard (sometimes called the house appointed for all living) have laid out the same in manner following, viz : Beginning at a stake and stones on the North line of the Common and about ten or twelve rods West of the North East corner of said common, from thence North, 81 deg. West, 16 rods, from thence South I deg. East 17 rods, from thence North S3 deg. East 15 rods, from thence North 13 rods to the bounds first mentioned, containing one acre and 71 Square Rods ; also laid out an Alley through said yard, begin- ning at the middle of the yard on the South line at two stakes with stones about them from thence Running Due North across to the North line of the yard said alley is about twelve feet wide.
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