USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Mason > History of the town of Mason, N. H. from the first grant in 1749, to the year 1858 > Part 3
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[Copy of the Grant.]
PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Pursuant to the power and authority, granted and vested in me by the Proprietors of lands purchased of John Tufton Mason, Esq. in the Province of New Hampshire, by their vote passed at the meeting, held at Portsmouth, in said Province, the 16th day of June, 1749,
I do by these presents, give and grant, all the title and interest, property and possession of the proprietors aforesaid, unto William Lawrence, Esq., Peter Powers, Eleazer Blanchard, John Goff, Esq., David Adams, Paul March, Philip Olerick, Eleazer Farwell, John Stevens, Nathaniel Meserve, Jr., Peter Powers, Jr., Joseph Blodgett, John Butterfield, Jonathan Powers, Jr., Zaccheus Lovewell, Jonathan Hubbard, John Varnum, Josiah Brown, John Jennison, Joseph Blan- chard, Jr., Elnathan Blood, Mr. Thomas Packer, Jonathan Hubbard, Jr., Clement March, Robert Fletcher, Jr., Israel Hubbard, Amasa Parker, Jacob Gould, Benjamin Parker, David Stearns, Thomas Tar- bell, Samuel Tarbell, Shadrack Whitney, Edward Jewett, all their [heirs] of in and to all that part of a township or tract of land in the Province of New Hampshire aforesaid, containing about the contents of seventy-seven square miles, bounded as follows, beginning at a stake and stones the southeast corner of the premises, and runs from thence, north eighty degrees west, five miles and twenty rods by the Province line to New Ipswich corner, from thence north by the needle, five miles to a white pine tree marked, from thence east by the needle, five miles to a hemlock tree marked, from thence south by the needle, to the first bounds mentioned, which said town- ship is laid out, drawn for, and lots ascertained for each grantee respectively, with two lots for encouragement of building of mills, &c. and three shares for public uses, viz : one for the first settled minister,
29
PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
one for the ministry, and one for the schools there forever, which said shares and lots, to be the same as already drawn and entered in the schedule and plan hereunto annexed, unto them respectively and their heirs and assigns. To have and hold on the following terms, conditions and limitations, and on them only, that is to say, that a meeting house be built as near the centre of said town, as by the grantees shall be judged most convenient, and that when such place shall be agreed on, six acres shall be reserved for public uses ; that the remaining lands not entered in the schedule and plan aforesaid, speci- fied within the bounds of the township aforesaid, be and hereby are reserved to and for the use of the Grantors of the premises, their heirs and assigns forever, free and clear from all charges, tax or incumbrance of settlement, until their, or any of their parts are improved by them, or some holding under them.
That the aforementioned grantees, exclusive of the three public lots, shall carry on, perform and make settlement at their own expense, in the following manner, viz : that there be all necessary highways laid out in said town where they will be most convenient, without any pay or allowance, to those grantors or grantees, through whose land the same shall go, that the grantees build a convenient house for the public worship of God, there at or before the last day of May, 1753, for the use of those who shall then, or afterwards inhabit there. That there be on some one lot of each of the forty shares belonging to the grantees, three acres cleared, inclosed and fitted for mowing or tillage, so far as is profitable, at or before the last day of November, 1751, and each of the said lots to be cleared as aforesaid, to be settled with having a house of sixteen feet square, at the least, and seven feet stud or more, with a chimney and cellar, fin- ished and fitted for a dwelling house, thereon at or before the last day of May, 1752, and some person or family inhabiting and resident in said house, and they or some others in each of their steads, continue residing there until the last day of May, 1755. That the owners of each of the forty settling shares, have on each of their rights respec- tively, three acres more, in like manner fitted, at or before the last day of November, 1752, and the like quantity annually, for two years then next coming. That the remaining six shares, to wit, the shares of Jonathan Hubbard, Benjamin Parker, Nathaniel Meserve, Jr., Josiah Brown, John Jennison, Eleazer Blanchard, be excused from the duty of building, improving or settling, until the last day of No- vember, 1755, and then to have the whole duty performed as the others at that time. That each of the grantees at the executing of this instrument pay, thirty pounds each old tenor, to defray the necessary charges, risen or arising in bringing forward the settlement, to be deposited in the hands of such person as they shall appoint, being a freeholder and resident in the Province. That the aforesaid grantees or their assigns assess such further sum, or sums of money equally in [pro] portion to the right, or the share of each grantee, exclusive of the three public lots, as may be thought necessary, for carrying on and completing any of the public matters, in making the settlement
5
30
HISTORY OF MASON.
and charges, always provided there be no Indian war, within any of the times aforesaid, for doing the duty conditioned in this grant, and in case that should happen, the same time to be allowed for the re- spective matters aforesaid, after such impediment shall be removed. That all white pine trees fit for masting his Majesties royal navy, growing on said land, be and here[by] are granted to his Majesty, his heirs and successors forever.
Lastly, said grantors do hereby promise to the said grantees, their heirs and assigns, to defend through the law, to the King and Council if need be, one action that shall and may be brought against them, or any number of them, by any person or persons whatsoever, claiming the said land, or any part thereof, by any other title than of the grantors, or that by which they hold and derive theirs from, Provided the said grantors are avouched in to defend the same, and that in case the same shall be recovered against the grantors, the grantees shall recover nothing over against the grantors for the said lands and improvements, or expenses of bringing forward the settlement, and further, that the said grantors will pay the necessary expenses of time and money, that any other person or persons shall be put to, by any other suit or suits, that shall be brought against them, or any of them, the said grantees for tryal of the title, before one action shall be fully determined in the law. In witness whereof, I the said Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this first day of November, 1749.
JOSEPH BLANCHARD. [seal.]
This copy is a transcript from the proprietors' records. · The original has not been found. There is undoubtedly a mistake in the number of square miles in the contents of the town. It should be twenty seven, not seventy seven.
There is no record or tradition existing which shows when the first inhabitants began to reside within the limits of the town. Joseph Herrick was chosen " second deer officer" in Townsend, at the annual town meeting in March, 1742. In 1745, that town " voted to abate Joseph Herrick's rates, provided the money was raised after he went out of town." Joseph Herrick lived in the south-casterly part of the town of Mason, near where Elisha Boynton lived. In what part of Townsend he resided before he "went out of town," is not known. He was undoubtedly the pioneer in the settle- ment of that part of Mason. There, probably, his oldest son, Joseph Herrick was born, Sept. 30, 1751. He may claim to be the first person of European parentage, born
31
PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
within the present limits of the town. His only competitor for this honor, is John Lawrence, son of Enosh Lawrence. No record of his birth is found. He was the youngest of the children of Enosh Lawrence and Sarah Stevens, his wife. The birth of nine of their children is recorded in the town records of Pepperell, the last of which was April 12, 1748. There is a tradition that he was born in 1751, and that he was the first child born in the town; that is, within the limits of the original grant. It would seem that Lawrence was residing in Pepperell in 1748, and that Herrick removed out of Townsend in 1745; so that the last was probably the earliest permanent resident within the present limits of the township. He was a " deer officer," which indicates that he was a hunter, fond of sylvan pursuits.
A meeting of the " grantees and proprietors" was held at the house of Capt. Joseph French, in Dunstable, Oct. 16, 1749 ; at which, the township having been divided into lots, and a list made of the lots, they were drawn for, and entered to each proprietor his lots, which list is inserted on page 34. On pages 32 and 33 will be found a plan of the town with the names of the grantees, &c., of the several lots according to the said list.
32
HISTORY OF MASON.
PLAN OF TOWNSHIP
R.
10
9
8
7
G
20 Robert Fletcher.
J. Peirce.
Jona. Powers, Jr.
J. T. Mason.
Scollay & March.
19
S. Moore.
J. Peircc.
Jona. Moffatt.
Saml Tarbell.
Saml. Tarbell.
10
0
8
7
6
18
S. Moorc.
D. Stearns.
Thos. Tarbell.
Jos. Blanchard.
N. Messerve, Jr. D. Williams.
10
9
8
7
6
17
J. Odiorne,
Maj. J. Hubbard.
Wm. Lawrence.
Win. Lawrence.
Benj. Parker. O. Nutting.
16
J. Odiorne.
Maj. J. Hubbard.
Jona. Hubbard.
J. Blanchard.
Jona. Hubbard. 6 J. Hull. E. & T. Blood. 6
10
9
8
15
N. Messerve.
N. Messerve.
David Stearns.
Benj. Parker. HI. Jefts.
Joshua Peirce. E. Fish.
10
9
8
7
G
14
J. Stevens.
J. Stevens.
George Marsh.
J. Hubbard, Jr.
M.H. Wentworth. N. Hall.
10
9
8
7
13
J. Stevens. J. Barrett.
J. Stevens. Z. Daris.
Th: Parker, Esq. Saml. Lawrence.
T. J. Mason. Saml. Lawrence.
Thos. Parker. 6 H. Jefts. J. Bachelder.
6
12
J. Odiorne.
N. Messerve. 9 A. Allen. Jos. Merriam.
Jos. Jennison. 8 Josiah Wheeler. H. Warren.
J. Hubbard, Jr. 7 Samuel Hill. John Blodgett.
Maj.J. Hubbard. Amos Holden.
10
9
8
6
11
J. Jennison.
J. Stevens.
J. Stevens. N. H'hipple.
| Maj. Lawrence. 7 B. Mann. S. Ames.
Joseph Blodgett. Ab. Merriam.
10
Josiah Brown.
J. Stevens.
J. Varnum. Jos. Merriam.
8 | Maj.Lawrence. 7 J. Jefts. E. Ball. N. Boynton.
6 Meet' g House Lot. Dr. Wm. Barber.
10
9
S
J. Stevens. N. Barrett. J. Whitaker.
J. Jennison. 6 S. Abbott. Rer. E. Hall.
10
9
8
E. Blanchard. 7 D. Fay. J. Wait, Jr. J. Flagg.
E. Blanchard. 6 Joshua Wyeth. E. Wilson.
7 M. Livermore. E. Daris.
M. Livermore. James Wood.
Josiah Brown. 8 Ministry. Ster . Lawrence.
J. Wentworth, Jr.
Jos. Blanchard. 6 D. Blodgett. John Winship.
10
9 |
8
6 Z. Lovewell.
M.II. Wentworth
J. Powers, Jr.
John Butterfield. J. Webber, Jr.
Ph. Olericke. 6 W. Cummings. John Swallow.
10
9
8
7
6
5
Z. Lovewell. T. Wheelock.
N. Messerve, Jr. Samuel Woods.
Jos. Farrar. Mill Lot. E. Shattuck.
John Butterfield. Seth Robbins.
School. Zac. Barrett.
10
9
Geo. Jaffrey. T. Hodgman.
Rich'd Wibird.
Wm. Lawrence. Capt. I. Brown. 6
10
Phil. Olericke. 9 Wm. Cummings. R. Weston.
Josiah Brown.
Joseph Blodgett.
Wm. Lawrence Enos Lawrence. -
10
9
8
2
P. March. E. Hodgman.
D. Adams. John Barrett.
W. Parker, Esq.
Rich'd Wibird.
7 | Wm.Lawrence. 6 Jusich Robbins. Dea. J. Webber.
10
9
8
P. Powers.
E. Blanchard.
School.
7 | Mark H. Went- 6 worth. N. IVin- ship. IV. Barrett.
10
9
9 Maj. J. Hubbard A. Wheeler.
J. Stevens. E. Lawrence.
W. Parker, Esq. Jona. Searle.
8 Maj. J. IIubbard. Lt. O. Parker.
G. Jaffrey. T. Robbins.
J. Wentworth, Jr. T. Wheeler.
7
10
9
8
7
6
4 S. Wallingford. O. Hosmer.
N. Messerve, Jr.
8
7
3 T. Wallingford.
1 G. Jaffrey. J. Hodgman.
10
9
S
6
10
9
8
7
School.
10
The plan of which the above is a copy was found among the papers in the town clerk's office. It is in the hand writing of John Blodgett, Esq., wbo was for many years town clerk. On the south side is represented a gore 210 poles wide at the east end, the south line of which runs to the south west corner of the town. It is not laid out into lots. The only note or memorandum on the plan is in these words : "A plan of Mason without any north slip," and on the south
33.
PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
NO 1, OR MASON.
5
3
2
I.R.
Theo. Atkinson
Jona. Lawrence. J. Hubbard.
Jona. Hubbard.
Benj. Parker.
Amasa Parker. 20 J. Jefts.
Wm. Lawrence.
Thos. Tarbell.
Elnathan Blood.
David Stearns.
1 Thomas Parker. 19
5
4
3
Theo. Atkinson.
Jacob Gould.
Mr. Th: Packer.
J. Hubbard, Jr.
E. Jewett. 18
5
1
3
2
1
Wm. Lawrence.
Wm. Lawrence.
J. Hubbard, Jr.
George March.
Ministry. 17
5
4
3
2
1
Jona. Hubbard.
Amasa Parker. J. Jefts.
J. Hubbard, Jr.
J. Blanchard, Jr.
J. Blanchard, Jr. 16
5
5
3
2
John Moffat.
Saml. Tarbell.
Robert Fletcher.
Joseph Farrar. Mill Lot.
1 Eleazer Farwell. 15
5
1
3
2
M.II. Wentworth
Jacob Gould.
Robt. Fletcher.
Jos. Blanchard.
1 Scollay & March. 14
5 Scollay & March.
Samuel Moore.
J. Hubbard, Jr.
J. T. Mason.
Peter Powers. 13
5
4
3
Amasa Parker. J. Jefts.
Peter Powers.
Elnathan Blood.
Jacob Gould.
1 Peter Powers. 12 Wm. Spaulding.
1
Minister.
Thos. Tarbell.
Elnathan Blood.
John Stevens.
Peter Powers. 11 Wm. Spaulding. 1
Minister. J. Searle.
Peter Powers. 4 John Tarbell. Joshua Daris.
E. Jewett. T. Tarbell.
T. Parker, Esq. Edm. Tarbell.
Th: Parker, Esq. 10 Wm. Spaulding.
5
4
3
2
1
J. Stevens. N. Warren.
Jona. Blanchard. Jason. Russell.
John Moffat.
J. Wentworth, Jr
M.H. Wentworth
John Goff. 5 - Greeley. H. Russell.
Thos. Taylor. H. Russell.
Theo. Atkinson.
Jona. Livermore. - Hubbard.
J. Powers, Jr. 8
5
4
3
George March.
M.H. Wentworth
Peter Powers. 7
5
Jos. Blodgett. 4 B. Barrett. H. Richardson.
David Adams.
Peter Powers.
Peter Powers,Jr. 6
5
1
3
2
1 Peter Powers. 5
John Varnum. 5 John Dutton. John Blood.
John Goff. S. Greeley. Joseph Blood.
4
3
2
1
Maj. J. Hubbard.
W.Parker, Esq.
Rich'd Wibird. 4
5
1
John Stevens.
Wm. Lawrence.
Minister. 3
5
-1
3
2
1
T. Wallingford.
John Stevens.
John Stevens.
John Goff. - Powers.
M. Livermore. 2
5
3
2
I
Paul March.
John Butterfield.
Shadr. Whitney.
Eleazer Farwell.
John Varnum. 1
5
4
3
2
1
Ministry. Joseph Winship. |
Paul March. S. Smith.
3
Q
1
Peter Powers, Jr.
Peter Powers, Jr.
David Adams. Amos Blood.
Ministry. J. Brown.
Phil. Olericke. - Cummings. |
2
1
E. Farwell.
John Stevens.
3
2
1
4
3
2
5
1
3
2
1
5
4
3
1
side, "Five miles East"; on the east, "Five miles North"; on the north, "Five miles West"; on the west, "Five miles South". In some instances the name of the original grantee is not on this plan, and is restored in this copy. The names of the grantces are in Ro- man letters. The names in Italic in all cases are those of subsequent residents on, or owners of the lots, and in most cases of original settlers on the lots.
34
HISTORY OF MASON.
RECORD OF THE DRAFT OF LOTS IN TOWNSHIP NO. 1.
NAMES.
| Draught.
| Number.
Range.
| Number.
Range.
| Number.
| Range.
NAMES.
| Draught. | Number.
| Range.
| Number.
Range.
| Number.
| Range.
Ministry,
1
5
3
5
1 17
John Stevens, Esq.,
35
8|11
9
9 3
3
School,
2
6
5
6'10
1
Samuel Moore and *
George Jaffrey,
: 10
1
9
8
4
Joseph Farrar t
37
2 15
8 5|11
1 3
Eleazer Blanchard,
5
8
1
7
8
6
8
Joseph Blanchard, Jr.,
39
4
9 2|16
1|16
John Goff, Esq.,
6
8
4
1
2
2
Peter Powers,
41
4 12
1
11
1
7
Paul March,
8|10 2
1
7
5
1
Elnathan Blood,
12
3 12
3 11
3 19
Phillip Olerike,
9
9
3
6
5
Thomas Parker, Esq.,
44
6 13
1/19
3 18
John Stevens, Esq.,
11
4
3
5
4
4
2 J. P. |
15
3|13
2 18
7 12
Thomas Wallingford,
12.10
4 10
3
5
2
John Tufton Mason, Esq., George March,
47
8 14
3
7
2
17
Peter Powers, Jr.,
11 5
5
5
6
1
6
Mark H. Wentworth,
48
6|14
5 14
2
Joseph Blodgett,
15
7
3
4
6 6 11
Capt. Robert Fletcher,
49
3|14
3 15
10 20
John Butterfield, #
16 7
6
4
1
0
8
6
John Moffat, Esq.,
51
5 15
8 19
3
9
Mark Hunking Wentworth,
18 6
1
9
6
1
9
Jonathan Lawrence, [bard,
52
6:16
4 20
2 8
Thomas Taylor, §
19|10 6
10
5
4
8
Mr. Trowbridge, now Hub-
53
5 16
3:20
8 16
Jobn Stevens, Esq.,
Jona. Hubbard, Jr.,
55
3|16
3 17
7 14
William Lawrence, Esq.,
22
5.19
6
2
3 Jacob Gould,
56
4 14 5
8 17
7|
John Wentworth, Jr.,
24 8 8
7
7
9 Benja. Parker,
58
6
17
2 20
7 15
Maj. Jona. Hubbard,
25 10 9 10
8
3
4
Maj. Jona. Hubbard, J.P., IT Mr. David Stearns,
60
9 18
219
8 15
John Varnum, TT
27 8:10
1
1
5
4
Capt Thomas Tarbell,
61
8/18
4|19
4 11
John Stevens, Esq.,
28 9 10
11
2 11
Joseph Blanchard, Esq.,
62
7 18
6 7
2.14
Josiah Brown,
29 10 10
8
3
&
7
Theodore Atkinson, Esq.,
61
6 3
6 4
4.17
Jotham Odiorn,
31 10 17
10
12 10 16
Capt. Saml. Tarbell,
65
7:19
6 19
4|15
Nathl. Meserve, Esq.,
32 10 15
9
12
9 15
Joshua Pierce,
66
9|19
9 20
6 15
John Gennison,
33 10 11
8
12
6
9
Shadrack Whitney,
67
3
-
John Stevens, Esq.,
34| 9|13
9 14
3 2
The foregoing is a True Copy of the Draught and numbers of the lots In the Township No. One, so called, lying in the Province of New Hampshire, as they was Drawn by the Proprietors of said Township. A true copy. Examined and Recorded,
NOTE. In the original copy, in the margin against the names and figures, are sundry addi- tions indicated by the references below :
* 7.5.
* Daniel Pierce.
+8 [in the 6th column should be 3.]
+ Mill Lot.
1 7.5.
+ J. P.
6 Z. Lovewell.
§ Capt. Peter Powers.
| Two lots to this right.
|| Jona. Hubbard, Jr.
TT J. P.
-
TJ. P. [above the name. ]
5
4
9
1
2
6
1
5 Minister,
38
5 10
4:10 1 |12 1
113
David Adams, f
7
9
2
3
6
J. P. S
43
8:13
1|10
2:10
Eleazer Farwell,
10
5
3
7
1 15
Mr. Thomas Packer,
46
7 20
7 13
13
Nathaniel Meserve, Jr.,
13 9
5
9
4
7
1
2 Amasa Parker.
51
4 16
1|20
5|12
Matthew Livermore,
20 10 7
21 10 11
1
9
5
9
William Parker, Esq.,
23
8 9
8
2
2
4 Wm. Lawrence, Esq.,
57
59
9 17
9 16
6 12
Maj. Wm. Lawrence, ||
26 7 10
7
11
63
5 18
5 20
3
Richard Wibird, Esq.,
30 7 4
1
4
Wm, Lawrence. Esq.,
50
5 13
6 120
1|14
Jonathan Powers, Jr.,
8 20
1
8
0 Saml. Scollay and March,
40
36 10,18 10|19
4,13
8
Peter Powers, *
5
2
6 18
4|18
2 12
Pr JOHN STEVENS, Prop's Clerk.
At the same meeting, William Lawrence and John Stevens, Esq., were " directed, at the charge of the grantees and set- tlers of this township, to mark out a highway in said town- ship, from where the road enters into said township, that leads from Amos Sartell's house in Townshend, to the meet- ing-house place, as marked on the plan of the division of said township, and from said meeting-house place, to near the middle of the north line in said township, in the most conve- nient place for a road, and fit for a feasible cart road, the
35
PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
said highway, as soon as may be, and that Messrs. Benjamin Parker and Peter Powers, be desired and empowered as aforesaid, to lay out, and clear, and fit for a feasible cart road, in the most convenient place, from said meeting-house place to the town of Hollis." In this extract from the pro- prictors' records, a distinction is made between " grantees and settlers," which is kept up through the whole period of the proprietorship, which continued long after the incorpora- tion of the town. Many of the proprietors never resided in the town; some of the original proprietors resided in the town, and several persons, whose names do not appear among the original proprietors, resided in the town, and attended proprietors' meetings, and voted and took an active part therein ; while other persons who resided and owned land in town, do not appear to have attended the meetings, or to have been recognized as having any of the rights or powers of proprietors. What constituted the line of distinction between the owners of land who had a right, and those who had not a right to meet and vote in proprietary meetings, does not appear. The road first above described, is substan- tially the same now travelled from Townsend west village, leading by the meeting-house northerly, to and beyond Jona- than Bachelders. The other was the road leading from the meeting-house to Brookline, then a part of Hollis. At an adjournment of the same meeting, held Nov. 7, 1749, at the same place, Joseph Blanchard, Jr. was chosen Clerk, Joseph Blanchard, Esq. Treasurer, Major Jonathan Hubbard, John Stevens, Esq. and Capt. Samuel Tarbell were chosen a com- mittee " for managing the prudentials of the society." The mode of calling future meetings was also provided for; noti- ces for which were to be posted fifteen days beforehand, in some public place in Dunstable, in Townsend, and in Groton. It was also " voted to accept of the two mill lots marked on the plan for that use, and chose a committee to bargain and indent with some person or persons, to build and finish a saw mill by the last day of February, 1750, and a corn mill in
.36
HISTORY OF MASON.
nine months from that time; that they contract for said mills to be kept in repair; also that every of the inhabitants on bringing suitable timber, have it sawed for half the stuff at least ; also to dispose of the two mill lots, or so much of them for that use as they shall agree for; that Messrs Benja- min Parker, Major Jonathan Hubbard, Capt. Jolm Stevens be the committee for this purpose."
The plan referred to has not been found; nor any plan upon which the mill lots are marked, among the records of the proprietors, but in the schedule of the lots drawn to the different rights against right or " draught," No. 37, are two lots 2 R. 15, and 8 R. 5, marked in the margin "mill lots," and in a plan in the hand-writing of John Blodgett, Esq., who was in 1799, and many years after, town clerk, on file with the papers in the town clerk's office, these two lots are each marked "mill lot."
Some question seems to have arisen at this carly period as to the nature and the validity of the title claimed under the grant, for at this same adjourned meeting, Mr. John Varnum, Major William Lawrence, and Capt. John Stevens were chosen a committee " to enquire into, and view the tenor of the grant, and report their opinion of the safety therein; and that Capt. Thomas Tarbell be joined to this committee." Probably the committee were satisfied " of the safety therein," for no report has been entered on the records, nor does any question as to the validity of the title seem ever after to have been seriously made. This movement, probably, had reference to Allen's advertisements before mentioned to, cau- tioning persons not to take titles under the Masonian propri- etors.
At this same adjourned meeting, it was also voted, that the committee chosen at the first of this meeting, for marking out and clearing highways, be directed to mark out, and open a road so that horses or cattle may pass from the meeting-house place, westward, near to the west line of the town." This was, probably, the road from the meeting-house to New
37
PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
Ipswich, by Obadiah Parker's house. At this early period, the roads leading from the south to the north, and from the east to the west borders of the town through the center, seem to have been provided for.
At an adjournment of the same meeting, holden on the last Tuesday in Dec. 1749, Capt. Thomas Tarbell was added to the committee for laying ont and clearing the road from the meeting-house place to Hollis; also "voted, that John Stevens, Esq. amend the range line between the sixth and seventh range, so as equally to divide the quantity of land between the two ranges, and he to be paid six pounds old tenor for that service, which he agreed to ;" also " voted, that Capt. Samuel Tarbell be joined to the committee chosen to contract with some suitable person to build the mills in this township, in the room of John Stevens, Esq .; voted, that Joseph Blanchard, Esq. take security of the person who builds the mills ; that John Stevens, Esq. go and look ont the mill places and see on whose lots they fall, and make return to Joseph Blanchard, Esq. where they are, by the first day of next March, and if any mistakes should be in his first account of said lots, that Col. Joseph Blanchard procure the said lots where the mills are to stand, in behalf of the grantees, they paying the sum or sums of money which they shall cost." No report on this subject is entered on the records. If any was made in writing, it has not been found. The two lots marked on the plan, were, one in the north east part of the town, near where Elias Elliot built a mill, and the other in the south west part, near where the mill of Frederic Jones stands. It seems that under this vote and instruction, some change was made, for the mills contracted for by the propri- etors were built on the site of Dakin's mills, in the village.
At this adjourned meeting, it was also "voted, that Mr. Benjamin Parker run out the two lines that are not already run, and that he have twelve pounds old tenor for doing said work, which he agreed to, [and] that he go and lay out two hundred acres of land lying between the north line of No. 1,
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HISTORY OF MASON.
and the south line of No. 2, in the best manner he can, for the use of the grantees of No. 1. Voted that the Treasurer pay him for doing said work, at his returning the plan of said land, [and] that if anything should happen that he should not do the work by the middle of January next, that Capt. Peter Powers be directed to do said work forthwith, on the same conditions as aforesaid."
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