USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Keene > History of the town of Keene, from 1732, when the township was granted by Massachusetts, to 1874, when it became a city > Part 4
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Soon after the fort was completed, a scouting party of six men was attacked by the Indians; two were killed,
1 Even later, after the forts numbered 1 to 4 had been built, at what are now Chesterfield, Westmoreland, Walpole and Charlestown, and in the "Old French and Indian war" of 1745, the route between those posts and these townships was by the way of Fort Dummer, following the rivers.
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
three captured and one escaped. In October following, the fort was attacked by about seventy Indians, but Capt. Dwight then had fifty-five men, and he repulsed them, with the loss of four or five of his men killed and wounded.
In time of peace, about 1730, the fort was used as a trading station with the Indians, and as a missionary post. Houses were built for the accommodation of the red men and many went there to trade. A Capt. Kellogg was then in command, and six Indian chiefs held commissions -from that of colonel down to lieutenant-and drew pay from the province of Massachusetts. When those pioneers broke ground here, in the spring of 1736, there had been peace in the Connecticut valley for ten years, and for eight years afterward they were not disturbed by hostile Indians.
. On the 30th of September, 1736, before leaving for their homes in the lower towns, the proprietors met according to adjournment on the house lot of Joseph Fisher, "Jere- miah Hall standing moderator," but immediately adjourned to the house of Nathan Blake.
"Voted that Nathan Fairbanks be scribe to write the votes of this meeting." They then adjourned, to meet the next morning at 8 o'clock.
On Oct. 1, the committee chosen at the May meeting to make a third division of (meadow) land not having com- pleted its work, Jeremiah Hall, William Smeed and Nathan Blake were added, and the committee was instructed to complete the division forthwith. Three of the members were to remain here through a part of the winter and could attend to that duty.
Nathan Blake, Seth Heaton and Stephen Blake were chosen a committee authorized "to agree with a man to build a Grist mill within the said Township where it may be most beneficial for the said proprietors, and not to Exceed forty pounds Encouragement therefor, and to take and give Sufficient bonds for the fullfilment of the same, and to have it built and compleated within one full year from this day."
It was also "Voted that they will build a meeting house at the upper Township on Ashuelot so called forty feet Long twenty feet Stud and thirty and five feet wide, to underpinn cover and Inclose the same and Lay down
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THE MASSACHUSETTS GRANT.
bords for the Lower floor and to set the same at the south End of the Town street at the place appointed by the Gen- eral Court Committee, 1 and that meseiurs Jerimiah Hall, Samuel Daniels, Joseph Richardson, Stephen Blake, and Jo- siah Fisher be a committee to build or Let out the same, and to see that sd work be compleatly performed by the twenty sixth day of June next."
They also voted to make another division of thirty acres of "upland" to each proprietor, to be surveyed that fall, the lots to be drawn on the 23d of November. Jere- miah Hall was "appointed to keep a Record of the said Lotts, and the respective choyces in order to their being Recorded in the sd propriators Book of Records, And that meseiuers Samuel Sady, Jerimiah Hall, Seth Heaton, Na- than Blake and William Smeed, be a committee to Lay out the said Devision." Those lots were surveyed by Josiah Willard, founder of the town of Winchester.
"One Hundred and four-score pounds" were assessed on the proprietors to defray public charges.
Jeremiah Hall, Nathaniel Rockwood and Joseph Rich- ardson were chosen assessors, and Josiah Fisher, Jr., and William Smeed, collectors.
"Voted That Nathan Fairbanks is appointed to act for and in behalf of the three publick Lotts."
The following vote was also passed:
"Forasmuch as the Town Street is judged to be to narrow Conveniantly to accomidate the Propriators, Voted, That Every Propriator whose Lotts Ly on the west side of said street, that will Leave out of his Lott at the front or next adjoyning to sd Street four Rods in depth the whole bredth of their Respective Lotts to accomidate the sd street Shall have it made up in quan- tity in the Rear or other End of their Lotts."
The proposition was accepted by all the owners of lots on the west side, and to this act of those early proprietors Keene is "indebted for its broad and elegant Main street."
"Voted That this meeting be adjourned untill the second Thursday of May next at three of the clock in the afternoon to be Holden at the meeting house place in the upper Township on Ashuelot River.
Jerimiah Hall Moderator."
1 Where Elisha F. Lane's house now stands. The first burying place was a little to the southwest of Mr. Lane's barn.
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
"No person had hitherto attempted to remain through the winter on the township. Those who came in the sum- mer to clear their lands, brought their provisions with them, and erected temporary huts for shelter. In the sum- mer of 1736, at least one house was erected; and three persons, Nathan Blake, Seth Heaton and William Smeed, the two first from Wrentham and the last from Deerfield, made preparations to pass the winter in the wilderness. Their house was at the south end of the street.1 Blake had a pair of oxen and a horse, and Heaton a horse. For the support of these, they collected grass in the open spots; and in the first part of the winter, they employed them in drawing logs to the saw-mill, which had just been com- pleted. Blake's horse fell through the ice of Beaver Brook and was drowned. In the beginning of February, their own provisions were exhausted, and to obtain a supply of meal, Heaton was dispatched to Northfield. There were a few families at Winchester, but none able to furnish what was wanted. Heaton procured a quantity of meal; but before he left Northfield, the snow began to fall, and when, on his return, he arrived at Winchester, it was uncom- monly deep, and covered with a sharp crust. He was told 'that he might as well expect to die in Northfield and rise again in Upper Ashuelot, as ride thither on horseback.' Remembering the friends he had left there, he nevertheless determined to make the attempt, but had proceeded but a short distance when he found that it would be impossible to succeed. He then returned, and directed his course toward Wrentham. Blake and Smeed, hearing nothing from Heaton, gave the oxen free access to the hay, left Ashuelot, and on snow shoes proceeded either to Deerfield or Wrentham. Anxious for their oxen, they returned early in the spring. They found them near the branch, south- east of Carpenter's [Robinson's] 2 much emaciated, feeding upon twigs and such grass as was bare. The oxen recog- nized their owner, and exhibited such pleasure at the meeting as drew tears from his eyes."
(Annals, page 9.)
In the spring of 1737 a large party of the proprietors came to the township with their families for permanent settlement. Some of their names are already familiar, others will appear in the records of the meetings held soon after their arrival, and there must have been at least forty
1 The house in which those three men attempted to pass that winter was the log cabin of Seth Heaton, on the west side of what is now the Marlboro road, south of Mr. Cole's, and the oxen were found in the spring, near the branch, southwest of the cabin. (Tradition in the Heaton family, handed down from Seth Heaton.)
2 Now Elisha F. Lane's.
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THE MASSACHUSETTS GRANT.
proprietors in all, as will be seen by the records of the meeting of the 20th of May. They came by the route already indicated,-via Brookfield, Hadley, Deerfield, North- field and Hinsdale, bringing a small number of cattle, horses, fowls and other domestic animals. Their pro- visions and a few articles for housekeeping were packed on horses, or on "horse-barrows," made by attaching a pole to each side of the saddle, the butt-ends dragging on , the ground, fastened at a proper distance apart. On these could be lashed barrels and other articles behind the horse. The last twenty miles of the route were marked simply by "blazed" trees. It was more than fifty years after this time that the roads were sufficient for the introduction of anything lighter than ox-carts for vehicles.
They came in time for the adjourned meeting of the proprietors, to be held on Thursday, the 12th of May, at the meetinghouse place, Jeremiah Hall, moderator. At that meeting it was:
"Voted that Philemon Chandler be the scribe or pen- man to set down the votes that shall be passed at this meeting.
"Voted that all persons that have Purchased Rites in sd Township shall have the Liberty to vote and act in said meeting.
"Voted that the charge brought in for Laying out the Thirty acre Division be allowed as followeth (viz)
"To Capt. Josiah Willard surveyor for twenty five Days £ 8 d twenty pounds. 20-00-00
To Jerimiah Hall for twenty days ten pounds. 10-00-00
To Seth Heaton for twelve days six pounds. 6-00-00
To William Smeed for twelve days six pounds 6-00-00 To Nathan Blake for eight days four pounds 4-00-00
To Stephen Blake for half a day three shillings & sixpence. 00-03-06
To Aaron Brooks for five days thirty shillings. 01-10-00
To Edward Dale for four days twenty four shillings 01-04-00 To Moses Chamberlin for two days twelve shillings 00-12-00 For the surveyors Diet nineteen shillings & sixpence. 00-19-06
To Nathan Blake for a journey to Concord fifteen shillings .... 00-15-00
Total £50-04-00
"Voted to Assess the sum of sixty Pounds on the propriators of the House Lotts in said Township to Hire a Gospel minister and that the same be collected and paid into the Treasury at or before the first Day of August next.
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
"Voted and chose Jerimiah Hall Nathan Blake and Daniel Haws Assessors to assess the sd sixty pounds.
"Voted and chosen Ebenezer Nims collector to collect the said Sixty pounds and pay it in to the Treasury according to ye vote above.
"Voted and chosen Jerimiah Hall David Farnsworth & John Thompson a comittee to agree with some meet person to preach the Gospel amongst them at ye Upper Ashuelott.
"Voted That Jerimiah Hall shall be allowed the sum of Eight pounds four shillings and one peney for money he Expended, and four pounds & ten shillings for his time in waiting on the General Court.
"Voted to adjourn the meeting untill the nineteenth day of May currant, to be at the meeting house place in sd Township at one of the clock in the after-noon.
Jerimiah Hall Moderator."
The meeting of the 19th, after passing a vote and choosing a committee to rectify the boundary lines be- tween some of the lots, adjourned to meet at the same place the next morning at six o'clock.
The meeting of the 20th was opened at the time and place of adjournment, but :
"Voted that the meeting be Removed down upon the Enterval for better conveniances there,1 to be held Imme- diately."
After some votes had been passed in relation to the last division of land :
"Voted that Mes" Philemon Chandler and David Farnsworth be chosen and Impoured to Represent this propriety in applying for and Receiving of the Honorable the General Court Committee for this Township the money Granted to Sd propriators when they shall have the frame of a meeting house Raised and forty Propriators settled on the spot, and that they Return the same into the Propriators Treasury."
This vote shows that there must have been not less than forty proprietors residing in the town at that time, and that they had, or were about to have, the frame of a meetinghouse raised.
"Voted and chosen for surveyors to mend the High- ways Nathan Blake and Seth Heaton and that they be allowed Eight shillings per day.
1 One can easily surmise that a cold wind was blowing that morning which drove them to shelter under the bluff.
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THE MASSACHUSETTS GRANT.
"Voted to Assess the sum of one Hundred and fifty pounds on the Propriators of the house Lotts in the said Township."
Jeremiah Hall, Nathan Blake and Daniel Haws were chosen assessors, and Ebenezer Nims, collector: "And for- asmuch as the propriators Treasurer Lives at a Great dis- tance from sd Township
"Voted That Jerimiah Hall shall be the Propriators Treasurer, and that he be Imediatly Sworn to the faith- full Discharge of the Dutys of that office and trust."
This meeting adjourned to the 30th of June at the "meeting house place."
On that day the proprietors met "at the meeting house frame," and :
"Voted that there be the sum of twenty seven pounds payd out of sd propriators Treasury, to Capt Samuel Sady for searching and Laying out a Road from this Township down to the Town of Townshend Imployed by the said propriators so to do."
"Seth Heaton and Josiah Fisher now Resident, and Sam- uel Heywood a non-Resident" were added to the committee to apply to the general court committee for the £100 due the proprietors when forty proprietors were settled in the township and the frame of a meetinghouse had been raised.
At that meeting it was provided that thereafter meet- ings of the proprietors should be called upon the applica- tion in writing to the clerk of five or more proprietors, setting forth the business desired to be acted upon; the clerk thereupon posting his notice of the meeting, at the meetinghouse, fourteen days prior thereto. In case of the absence of the clerk, or his refusal to act, application might be made in the same way to any justice of the county, and his notice posted in the same way should be sufficient warning of the meeting.
It was also voted that "no meeting of the sd Propri- ators for the future shall be held but at this Township so Long as there shall be seven propriators Inhabiting here."
Some doubts having arisen as to the legality of the acts of the proprietors up to this time this meeting was "Dismissed."
So grave were those doubts that on the 8th of the previous December, Elisha Root, Isaac Power, John Corbett
.
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
and other proprietors had petitioned the general court of Massachusetts to have the legality of those acts confirmed and established. That petition was referred to a commit- tee which reported on the 16th of December, and the following order was made:
"Thursday
Decr 16, 1736
"A petition of Elisha Root and others proprietors of the Upper Township on Ashuelot River, Showing (etc.)
"In Council Read and forasmuch as the pet." are already Sufficiently Impowered by this Court for the pur- poses within mentioned-Ordered that this petition be Dismissed-In House of Representat.es
"Read & Concurred .-
Consented to J. Belcher."
Soon after the meeting of the 30th of June, Jeremiah Hall, William Smeed, Stephen Blake, Amos Foster and Josiah Fisher petitioned Ebenezer Pomeroy of Northamp- ton, "One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace" to call a meeting of the proprietors: "To Confirm and Establish all Grants and Divisions of Land agreed upon and Granted by the proprietors, at their meetings," and votes passed, assessments made, committees appointed and acts done at all their former meetings; and "To come into some method to Hinder people selling any timber out of Town, or needlessly destroying of it in Town."
On the 6th of July, Justice Pomeroy, under the head- ing: "Hampshire ss." issued his warrant "in His Majesty's Name" for. a meeting to be held at the meeting house on the 25th of the same month, reciting the objects as set forth in the petition. The meeting was held as called, and Jonas Woolson was chosen moderator and David Nims, scribe; and votes were passed confirming all that had been done at previous meetings. The article con- cerning timber was passed over.
On the 10th of October, upon a petition of nine of the proprietors, Thomas Wells of Deerfield, a justice of the peace for Hampshire county, issued his warrant "in His Majesty's Name" for a meeting of the proprietors to be held at the meetinghouse in Upper Ashuelot on the 26th
DAVID NIMS.
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THE MASSACHUSETTS GRANT.
of the same month. The meeting was held and Jeremiah Hall was chosen moderator and David Nims, scribe. Votes were passed and committees chosen to rectify some inequalities in former divisions of lots. The meeting then adjourned to the house of Jeremiah Hall and immediately proceeded with the business.
"Voted That the Lott number Nine In the second Division of medow Land be taken out and be Recorded to the ministers Right before the Rest be Drawn.
"Voted That any man that doth not Like his Lott In the ten acre Division of medow Land, shall have Liberty to deface the Lines, and to Lay it out in any other place, By a surveyor and comttee on his own cost and charge, And Return a plan thereof to the clerk attested by said committee.
"Voted That the worthy mr Jacob Bacon should Draw the Lotts for the second division of medow Land for the whole Propriety who accepted and Drew as followeth (viz)." (The list of names of the proprietors follows, with the number drawn for each.)
"Voted To Lay out one Hundred acres of upland to Each House Lott or Rite in the following method (viz) to Draw Lotts for choyce, and he who draws the first Lott shall make his choyce or Pitch on the first day of March next if it be not Sabbath Day, and if it be to make it on ye second day of March, and he who Draws the second Lott the next working day, and he who draws the third ye next and so on giveing every man his Day, according to his Draught from the first of March next untill they shall go through Sabath Days Excepted.
"Voted That William Smeed pitch or choose ye Hun- dred acres belonging to the three publick Rights (viz) the ministers Ministrey and School and Imploy a committee to Lay out the same at the proprietors cost and charge.
"Voted That Nathan Blake Jerimiah Hall Ebenezer Force Daniel Haws William Smeed Joseph Ellis Ebenezer Nyms Seth Heaton Thomas Weeks Isaac Clark Josiah Fisher be a committee to Lay out said Division"-any three of them being sufficient to act.
"Voted That the worthy mr Jacob Bacon Draw ye Lotts for the whole propriety who accepted and Drew as follows (viz) :" (Another list of names and numbers then follows.)
The meeting then adjourned to the next day when it: "Voted That the Comttee appointed to Lay out the Hun- dred acre Division shall proceed in the following method
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
(viz) to Lay out the Lotts in good shape and forme and not Leve small slips of Land Between Lot and Lot, and that they Leave Land for Roads where they shall Judge it to be needfull and if any man shall not Lay out his Lot on his day, nor bring in his pitch or choice In writing to Nathan Blake by the Day then he shall not Lay out his Lot untill the time be Expired for Laying out of Each mans Draught or pitch In said Hundred acre Division, and that they Lay out no mans Lot or choice In more than one piece, and If any man shall not Lay out his Lot within six days after he made his pitch then it shall not be Layd out to hinder any other man of the pitch.
"Voted That William Smeed Seth Heaton Ebenezer Force be a committee to Renew the south-east and North Lines of this Township, and Imploy a surveyor to Run the west Line.
"Voted That mr Jerimiah Hall make application to the Court for a quicker way for gathering In the money, that hath or may be Granted by this Propriety to defrey necessary Charges."
(Signed) "David Nyms scribe Attest Jeremiah Hall moderator."
"Each lot was surveyed by a committee, in such place and in such shape as the proprietor drawing it directed. Some of the plans recorded in the proprietors' records exhibit figures which Euclid never imagined, and probably could not measure. Common land was left in every part of the township, in pieces of all sizes and shapes. In this manner, great confusion in lines was introduced, by which the owners of real estate are yet perplexed and embarrassed.
"The first pitch under the vote before mentioned, was made by a Mr. Morse, the fortunate drawer of the right to choose first. Attention was first attracted to it by finding a certified copy of the laying out among the papers of the late Noah Cooke, Esq., which was obligingly com- municated to the compiler by his son, Josiah P. Cooke, Esq., of Boston. In this copy, the pitch is thus described : - Beginning at a stake on the the West side of the road, marked for the N. E. corner, (which is near the junction of Washington and Cross streets,) then runs W. 108 rods -then S. 16° W. 120 rods-then S. 11º W. 38 rods, for the S. W. corner-then E. 53 rods-then E. 30° N. 32 rods-then E. 27 rods to the road (Main street) at the causeway-then N. 6 rods to a stake on the West side of the road-then E. 4212 rods to the S. E. corner-then N. 3º W. 44 rods-then W. 10º N. 16 rods-then N. 10º E. 40 rods-then W. 10º N. 8 rods-then N. 10° E. 40 rods to where it began. A memorandum on the copy, in the
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THE MASSACHUSETTS GRANT.
handwriting of the deceased Mr. Cooke, states that the southwest corner of the pitch is 'the south-west corner of my house-lot.' Starting from that point, the lines have been run, by Mr. Sturtevant, and are shown by the dotted lines on the map at the end of the book. [See map of 1850.] It will be seen that they enclose what is now the most compact part of the village. These boundaries can- not be far from correct. That the South line crosses the present Main street before it turns and 'runs North 6 rods,' raises a doubt whether the starting point is the true S. W. corner of the pitch, or should be farther West; but other circumstances, and especially the fact, that the West line runs along the edge of the upland, tend to remove this doubt. And it is not at all improbable, indeed the survey may be assumed to prove, that the road 'to go to the saw-mill' then turned to the right, at the North line of the houselots, and, taking a straight course to the saw-mill, passed East of where the street now goes, until it came near the site of the glass factory, and that it was afterwards altered. The land is described as 'lying on the plain called Saw-mill Plain,'-so called, doubtless, from the saw-mill just erected on Beaver Brook; and an allow- ance is made of eight acres and sixty rods for two roads, one eight rods wide to go to the saw-mill; the other four rods wide to go to the river. No road up the river being mentioned proves that no such road then existed."
(Annals, page 11.)
On the 7th of February, 1738, another meeting was held at the house of Jeremiah Hall under a second warrant from Justice Wells, upon a petition of twelve of the propri- etors.
"Upon the First article voted and chose mr Jeremiah Hall Moderator for sd meeting.
"Upon the second article voted and chose Jacob Bacon (A M) scribe to Record the votes of said meeting.
"Upon the Third article voted and chose Jacob Bacon (A M) Proprietors clerk. 1
"Upon ye Fourth article voted and chose Jacob Bacon (A M) Proprietors Treasurer.
"Voted to set apart a certain stream known by the Name of East Branch and Land thereto adjoyning Neces- sary and Conveniant for the building of a mill or mills for the Proprietors use," and David Farnsworth, John Thomp- son and Jeremiah Hall were chosen "a committee to Lay
1 Many pages of the proprietors' records are in the neat handwriting of Mr. Bacon, and his letter of acceptance of the call to the ministry is entered in full, and is something of a curiosity. (Proprietors' Records, page 32.)
-
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
out the same," and 240 pounds were assessed "to support the Preaching the Gospel in said Township," and to defray other charges.
Joseph Ellis, Nathan Blake and Isaac Clark were chosen a committee "to procure an anvil Bellows vice sledge Hammer & Tongs fit for the work of a blak- smith as soon as conveniantly they can at the Proprietors cost and charge and to Let out the same to a Blacksmith so Long as he shall use and Improve them in the Proprie- tors business by faithfully doing their work at their Re- quest, before any other business or work for any other person or persons Whatsoever."
Isaac Clark, Jeremiah Hall, Ebenezer Nims, Seth Heaton and David Farnsworth were chosen a committee to lay out roads "where they shall be found Necessary," to report at the next meeting.
"Voted that Mes's Nathan Blake Ebenezer Nims Joseph Ellis Joseph Guild Isaac Clark be a committee to provide preaching.
"Voted That Mes's Nathan Blake Joseph Ellis Obadiah Blake be a committee to go to Dea" Samel Heywood pro- prietors clerk and humbly Request the proprietors Book and to take and bring the same and deliver to the Clerk now Chosen.
(Signed) "Jacob Bacon scribe Jeremiah Hall Moderator."
On the 1st day of May, another meeting was held at the meetinghouse under a third warrant from Justice Wells-Jeremiah Hall, moderator, and David Foster, scribe - and adjourned to the 5th "to meet at Sd Meeting House."
"And being met on May ye 5th upon adjournment according to a vote passed on May ye first, It was pro- posed by ye Moderator To see if ye Proprietors will pro- ceed to ye Choice of a Suitable Person to Settle in ye Min- istry in this Place according to ye Third Article in ye Warrant Voted in ye affirmative. M." Jacob Bacon was Choosen by Every vote."
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