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 4
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By what claim or right the grantees of No. 1 were entitled " to go and lay out two hundred acres of land" between No. 1 and No. 2, does not appear. A tract or gore of land between the original lines or boundaries of these townships, was at some time annexed to No. 1. In the original location of townships in that part of the state, there was not the pre- cision which has prevailed in the surveys of the publie lands of the United States, or in the more recently settled parts of New England. No base lines or meridian lines were run. Each township or tract was run out by itself, and it might readily happen that different surveyors going into the wilder- ness to run out tracts of land, not knowing what other survey- ors may have done, should not make their lines parallel, or corners coincident; so that it is not a matter of surprise, that gores should be found to exist between tracts, which were intended and supposed to be bounded by the same line. Such seems to have been the case in this instance. The orig- inal grant of No. 2, now Wilton, was as follows: In June, 1735, the General Court granted to Samuel King and others, in consideration of their sufferings in the expedition to Canada, in the year 1690, the township of Lyndeborough, and about one third of Wilton, on the north side, under the name of "Salem Canada." The word " Canada" added to names of grants, was common at that time. Thus, Ipswich Canada, New Ipswich, Dorchester Canada, Ashburnham, &c. are in- stances. The traets, with this addition to the names, were granted to the citizens of the several towns indicated, for their services in the expedition to Canada in 1690. In 1749, the Masonian proprietors made a grant of a tract of land
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PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
adjoining "Salem Canada" on the south, under certain condi- tions, to forty six persons. The grantees had it laid out and annexed to a part of Salem Canada, and called No. 2; which was afterwards, Jan. 2, 1765, incorporated under the name of Wilton.
A trouble which is apt to be incident to the undertaking of all new enterprizes requiring the expenditure of money, that is, the want of promptness on the part of those who are chargable with the payments, seems to have met the grantees at an early stage of their proceedings; and very frequent and repeated references to the same difficulty, even to the very last stage of their proprietary existence, show that it was a constant and permanent source of annoyance. The final proceedings of this first meeting, continued so long by adjournments, referred to this matter, as follows: "Voted, that all persons refusing or neglecting to pay the respec- tive sums of money raised on their rights, after the third Tuesday of January next, [their rights] are hereby forfeited to the rest of the grantees, they paying the aforesaid sums of money, to defray the necessary charges in bringing forward the settlement of the town."
The next meeting of the proprietors, was holden at the house of William Lawrence, Esq., in said township, on the 3d day of Dec. 1751. Wm. Lawrence, Esq. was chosen modera- tor. The proceedings were as follows: "Voted to build a meeting-house in said township, for the public worship of God, of the following dimensions ; viz : thirty feet in length, and twenty four or twenty six feet in width, as the committee chosen for that service shall think fit, and sixteen fect between joints. Voted and chose for said committee, Wil- liam Lawrence, Jonathan Hubbard, Esq., and Capt. Thomas Tarbell. Also voted, that the said committee be directed to inclose said house, lay the under floor, and to build a conven- ient place for the minister to stand to preach in."
" Voted, to choose a committee to let out the mills in said township. Chose for said committee, Wmn. Lawrence
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HISTORY OF MASON.
and John Stevens, Esq .; the saw mill to be built and com- pleted, fit for service, by the 25th day of May next, and the corn mill to be completed, fit to grind by the 25th day of May, 1753. Also voted, that the committee chosen to build the meeting-house, be directed to employ the proprietors or inhabitants both at the meeting-house, and at the highways, provided they will work as cheap and as well as others."
At a meeting held at the house of Mr. Enos Lawrence, on the 4th Tuesday of Oct. 1752, a vote was passed to change the dimensions of the meeting-house to be built, to 40 feet by 30, and to add Benjamin Parker and John Stevens to the committee ; that the frame should be set up by the first of January next, and the house finished as directed by the former vote, by the first day of November next, which must be intended November, 1753. At this meeting John Stevens was chosen proprietors' clerk, the road from the Province line to the meeting-house place, was accepted as laid out, and "the meeting was adjourned to Mr. James Lawrence's in Groton west parish, that day three weeks." At the adjourned meet- ing, "Voted, that if every proprietor, by the twentieth day of May next, obliged by the charter to settle a lot in said town- ship, have not built a dwelling-house and fenced six acres fit for plowing or mowing, [he] shall forfeit his land, according to the charter; except such proprietors at said time, shall ease or consider the same; provided that those persons that have done nothing on their rights, pay each man two shillings and eight pence lawful money for the use of said proprietary, for their past neglects, or else to have no benefit by the former vote."
And on said adjournment, the committee chosen to view the lots report, as follows :
THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
" This contains an account of what each man has done in No. one.
Enos Lawrence has a house, and about eight acres cleared, and dwells there.
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PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
Nathan Hall, a house and seven acres of land, six of it broke up, and dwells there.
Nathan Fish, a small house, about five aeres cleared.
Henry Jefts, seven acres cleared, and about three of it broke up, and a house.
Obadiah Parker, a good house, and about two acres eleared.
Ebenezer Butterfield, a good house, eight acres well eleared and broke up.
Josiah Robbins, about three acres cleared, and a poor fence.
John Swallow cleared about one aere, and got some timber for a house.
William Lawrence, a house and barn, and about ten aeres cleared.
Samuel Right, [Wright,] a cellar dug, two acres cleared.
James Withee, a cellar dug, and three acres cleared and broke up.
Simon Green, about two aeres elcared and broke up, and a cellar dug, and a frame.
Ensign Shattuck, one aere cleared on cael lot.
Capt. Thomas Tarbell, about three acres cleared.
Capt. Samuel Tarbell, about three acres cleared.
James Lasley, [Leslie,] house up, about three aeres cleared.
George Lasley, [Leslie,] a camp, about one acre cleared.
Reuben Barrett, about three acres cleared, and two of it broke up.
William Spaulding, a pretty good house, and some land cleared, and something done to a second lot.
William Elliot, two acres cleared, and a cellar dug, [and] timber drawn for a house.
Capt. Stevens, about nine aeres cleared and fenced, also, about five aeres more.
Samuel Right, [Wright,] two lotts about one acre and a half cleared, and a camp.
Shadrack Whitney, a house and barn, and about twenty acres cleared and fenced, and a young orchard.
Signed, WILLIAM LAWRENCE, per order."
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HISTORY OF MASON.
At a meeting at the house of Enos Lawrence in said town- ship, on the 27th of November, 1753, " Col. Lawrence chosen moderator of said mecting; voted to choose a committee of three men for the service hereafter mentioned, &c. The committee to send Mr. Bellows a letter, to have the corn mill done by the first of June next, or else the Treasurer to put the bonds into execution.
" Voted to allow sixty pounds to pay for preaching between this and next May, and the inhabitants of said town to appoint the time and place. Col. Lawrence chosen to get a minister, and Col. Lawrence chosen Treasurer. Voted that the papers belonging to the proprietors, be put on public record, in the Province of New Hampshire so far as the com- mittee shall think fit. The committee for said service to be the same that takes the bonds."
The delinquent proprietors continued to be a source of dif- ficulty. On page 49 of the proprietors' records is entered at large the vote first, above referred to. It is as follows : "Whereas, it appears to this proprietary that some rights in the said township No. One, that were obliged to settle the lots according to charter, have neglected to comply with the same, and in order for as speedy compliance with their duty as possible, it is necessary that such others should be admit- ted in their room that will comply with the same. Therefore,
" Voted, That Col. Lawrence, Samuel Tarbell and John Stevens be a committee fully impowered to make a strict en- quiry who are now wholly delinquent, or that was delinquent on the 4th Tuesday of October, 1752, and to take good secu- rity to the value of one hundred pounds new tenor, that they will enter upon and perform their duty agreeable to the char- ter, viz : that is to say, to have three acres of land well cleared and fenced at the least, a house built and inhabit the same by the first day of May next, and upon the failure of entering into bond with the aforesaid committee within one month from this date, to enter upon such delinquent proprie- tors' right and take possession of the same, and dispose of it
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PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
'to some suitable person, that will immediately enter upon such right and comply with the duty as abovesaid, and pay such sum of money for the use of said proprietors as the said committee and the new grantec shall agree for, or such old grantce to pay such a sum of money for the use of said proprietors, to the abovesaid committee for the past neglect, as the said proprietors shall order at this meeting; and the abovesaid committee are further directed to take a bond of each grantee or settler, that hath not complied with their duty, for the faithful performance of the condition of their grants, &c., and to save the proprictors harmless, &c., for want of the duty being done and taxes paid in season; the obligation and condition of said bond to be as the abovesaid committee shall think most just and reasonable and better to bring forward the settlement of, said plantation, &c. Also, Voted, That each delinquent proprietor that hath done noth- ing on his right shall pay three pounds, old tenor, to said committee for the use of said proprietors."
A meeting was called at the house of Enos Lawrence, on the 16th of July, 1754. A recital in the record of that meet- ing sets forth that William Lawrence, Esq., and others, at a meeting on the 17th of November, 1753, were appointed a committee and authorized to enter into and dispose of delin- quent rights, and to take bonds for performance according to the tenor of said vote, &c., so that it is probable that the &c. after the word "vote," is one of the pregnant &c's of Lord Coke, and embraces and includes the whole vote so entered as above, and that the whole record commencing with the word "Whereas," should have been inserted in place of the &c., but not having been drawn up in proper form till the rest of the record had been made and entered, it was entered by itself, without preface or explanation. At the meeting July 16th, 1754, the time for taking bonds by the committee was extended thirty days from that date, and the time to comply with the requirements of the charter as to " inhabiting, fenc- ing and clearing," was extended to November next, and
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HISTORY OF MASON.
Joseph Blanchard, Esq., was desired to apply to the grantors for an enlargement of the time for compliance with the set- tling duties.
At the same meeting, one hundred pounds of the money already raised was appropriated for preaching, and Thomas Tarbell, Enos Lawrence and Reuben Barrett, were chosen a committee "to provide preaching so far as one hundred pounds old tenor goes."
At a meeting held at the house of Enos Lawrence, Novem- ber 18, 1754, fifty pounds, old tenor, was allowed out of money already raised to pay for preaching, and a committee of nine was appointed "to view for a burying place and make return to the next meeting." The committee were Enos Lawrence, Thomas Tarbell, Nehemiah Gould, Obadiah Par- ker, Reuben Barrett, Nathan Hall, Henry Jefts, Eleazer But- terfield and William Eliot, all of whom were probably then inhabitants, and most of whom remained inhabitants till the time of their death.
There is no record of any meeting between November 18, 1754, and May 11, 1757, at which last date a meeting was held at the house of Enos Lawrence. William Lawrence, Esq., was moderator. A vote was passed to have "ten days' preaching in said township, as soon as conveniently may be. Also, to raise ten pounds old tenor New Hampshire bills on cach right liable to settle in said township, or two Spanish milled dollars to answer the same tax"; by which it would seem that one pound old tenor New Hampshire bills was equal to twenty cents. One hundred and fifty pounds was also appropriated to be worked on the highways, at thirty shillings per day. Enos Lawrence, Thomas Tarbell and Na- than Hall, were appointed "to have the oversight of working out the money on the highways." One half was to be worked out from the meeting house on the east to Pole Hill, one quarter from Townsend line to the meeting house, and the other quarter "by Mr. Hall north of the meeting house, and from said house to Obadiah Parker's house."
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PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
"Voted, To choose a committee to put Mr. Bellows' bond in execution for not building the mills, unless he immediately prevent the same by accommodation." Col. Blanchard, Col. Lawrence and John Stevens were chosen for this purpose, and directed if they could not agree with Mr. Bellows "then to agree with some other person or persons to build one or both of said mill or mills." "Voted, To add Nathan Hall and Thomas Tarbell to the committee for finishing the meeting house according to the former vote."
At a meeting held October 24, 1758, "Voted, That Reuben Barrett be joined to the committee for laying out highways in the room of Mr. Goold deceased."
This is the first record of death in the town. It appears by the journal of Joseph Holt, who resided many years in Wilton, which has just been published in the tenth volume of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, see page 307, that Corporal Gould of No. 1, was killed in battle, near lake George, on the 20th of July, 1758. This was undoubtedly Nehemiah Gould, referred to in this entry in the proprietors' records. Who of the present inhabitants ever heard his name, or knows where he resided ? How com- pletely one hundred years had swept him to oblivion, but for this casual entry in this comparatively unknown and almost forgotten book. Jacob Gould was one of the grantees of the town. His lots were No's 4 R. 18, 4 R. 14, and 2 R, 12. Whether he was a relative of Nehemiah Gould, is not known. Nehemiah Gould was married to Molly Kemp, at Groton, March 9, 1773. He may have been a son of Corporal Gould. An extract from Holt's journal may be found in the Appendix,
A tax of £90 was "assessed on the rights liable to pay charges; to be laid out only for preaching." "Voted that Enos Lawrence provide a preacher."
A meeting was held January 2, 1759. " Chose Col. Law- rence, moderator. Voted, That Jonathan Blanchard be a committee man to supply the place or places of the late Col. Joseph Blanchard in anything wherein he was concerned for
7
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HISTORY OF MASON.
said proprietary. Obadiah Parker was chosen collector. " Voted the sum of forty six dollars, or equal thereto, ac- counting them equal to £276 New Hampshire old tenor, be raised on this proprietary. Voted, That half a dollar on each right, or equal thereto, in New Hampshire bills, be assessed on this proprietary, to be applied for preaching."
In the warrant for the meeting, November 26, 1759, the 5th article was "To see if the proprietors will make up the depreciation of the New Hampshire bills to Mr. Francis Worcester." This was undoubtedly Mr. Francis Worcester, of Hollis, the ancestor of the Rev. Dr. Noah Worcester, of Brighton, Mass., the Rev. Leonard Worcester, of Peacham, Vt., the Rev. Thomas Worcester, of Salisbury, N. H., and the Rev. Dr. Samuel Worcester, of Salem, Mass. The service for which he had been paid in depreciated bills, was probably preaching, for that was his vocation. The record of the meeting does not show specifically what was done with this claim. No doubt it was allowed among "sundry accounts, the particulars of which are on file." There is a tradition, probably well founded, that Mr. Worcester, on one occasion going to No. 1 to preach, being overtaken by night and darkness in the forest, in the valley east of the old meeting house near where the railroad crosses the highway, was pursued by wolves and driven to take refuge upon the top of one of the immense bowlders so abundant in that locality, on which he spent the night, and in the morning went on his way rejoicing. Another version of the story concludes with stating that by his shouts he alarmed the neighbors, who, under the lead of Capt. Thomas Tarbell, went to his assistance and delivered him from his perilous condition. At this meeting, one dollar was raised on each right, to be applied for preaching next April, and Obadiah Parker was chosen a committee to provide a preacher.
In the warrant for a meeting to be held November 25, 1760, the second article is, "To see if the proprietors will choose an agent or trustee to succeed Joseph Blanchard, Esq., de-
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PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
ceased, for the recovery of a certain bond given to him in that capacity by Benjamin Bellows, Esq., for building mills in the township aforesaid," &c. At the meeting, Jonathan Blanchard was chosen trustee in place of Joseph Blanchard, Esq. One dollar on cach right was raised for defraying the expenses of prosecuting the suit on Bellows' bond, and one dollar also for further finishing the meeting house, and one dollar more for highways.
This last record is in Jonathan Blanchard's hand writing, but is not signed. It is the last entry in his hand writing. A notice issued by him for a meeting, dated August 16, 1762, is recorded by Thomas Tarbell, Clerk. All the subsequent entries are made by Thomas Tarbell, as clerk.
His oath of office as clerk is recorded by him as follows : " October the 20, 1762. Then Thomas Tarbell parsonely appeard & maid orth that in the offies of Propts Clerk for No. one, to which he was chosen, he would act acording to the beast of his judgment.
Sworn before
JOHN HALE, Jostes pees."
At the meeting September 14th, 1762, it was "voted that the remainder of the money not already laid out, that was raised for the prosicution of Mr. Bellosses Bond, be appro- priated towards paying for preaching. Voted to rais for dolers for to pay for Preaching; voted, Capt. Thomas Tar- bell, Mr. Nathan Hall and Enosh Lawrence, be a new meeting house comeete ; voted Mr. Nathan Hall and Elias Eliot, be a committee to examin, and see if a good road can be had from the falls in Souhegon river at William Mansur's, through part of this Township, to come in by Mr. Hall's, and to make return at Next meeting." This was undoubtedly the road leading from the village, by Silas Bullard's and Jonathan Bachelder's, to the meeting-house. "Voted that Mr. Barrat and Mr. Robins, Capt. Thomas Tarbell, be comeett to provid preaching. Voted that ten dollars be paid to Jonathan Blanchard by the Treashuer as soon as the saim coms into
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HISTORY OF MASON.
the Tresure, and Treshr be dischargd of that sum accordingly when paid, for his sarvis as clark, with the ten dolers reed for the prosecution of Belloses Bond in full for his sarvis."
In the warrant for the meeting of the proprietors to be held on the 6th of April, 1763, the second article was, "to see if the proprietors will give a call to any of the gentlemen who have preached with them, and choose a committee to present said call and Incouragement, if any they will give, to said gentlemen, as shall be agreed on by said propraits." At the meeting, Obadiah Parker was chosen moderator. " Voted to give the first seteled minister, seven hundred pounds silver Old tenor as setelment, and four hundred pounds salary year- ly, and a right of land in said township. Voted to give Mr. Ebenezer Champney a call to setel in the Gospel; chose for a comeett to present said call, Thomas Tarbell, Enosh Lawrence and Whitcomb Powers." There is a tradi- tion, that Champney's reply to the committee who presented the call, was that it would take more than two such cauls to make a candle. His tastes inclined him to secular rather than clerical pursuits. He left preaching and became a law- yer, and was for many years Judge of Probate, which office he held till he resigned it a short time before his death, Sep- tember 10th, 1810. " Voted to give six months to have the mills completed." At the meeting, March 29th, 1764, Oliver Eliot, moderator, "chose Col. James Prescott, Capt. Thomas Tarbell and Obadiah Parker, a committee to examine the papers, and accompts belonging to said propts, and put them in a proper form, and prepare a list of the names of the paiers as well [as] the original grantees, with the sum of money that they may be Essesed for. Voted to reserve one dolar for preaching. Voted to except Left. William Prescott and others, to come in as proprietors of No. one, upon their obliging themselves to pay taxes as other propts, and that they should have a strip of land Ginning No. two." This Left. William Prescott was the famous Col. William Prescott of Bunker Hill memory. At a meeting, January 29th, 1765,
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PROPRIETARY HISTORY.
"Voted to turn the road through Obadiah parker's land from wheare it was laid out, to wheare it gose now."
" Voted, that each man have half a dolar a day, [for work on the highways] said work to be done by the last day of Agost next."
" At a meeting of the priters of No. one, March 20th, 1765, at the house of Capt. Thomas Tarbell. Voted and chose Leftenant William Prescott moderator.
Voted not to chues a new proprts clerk.
Voted not to chues a new Treshurer at present.
Voted to rais too dolers a wright to pay for preaching.
Voted for comeet to hier preaching, Capt. Thomas Tarbell, En. Enosh Lawrence and En. Whitcomb Powers.
Voted to have the proporters' meetings at the meeting- house in No. one, and their onely for the futer.
Voted that the svears of highways be otherized to setel with the Treshurer about highway raits," &c.
At the meeting April 23rd, 1766, " chose for svers, John Swallow, Jonathan Crospy, Ensign Whikomb Powers and Reuben Barrett.
Voted to Obadialı Parker four dolars for costs that he paid for being sued on the propts accompt. [interlined, June 16th, 1767, then the above accompt paid to Obadiah Parker.]
Voted that Jonathan Crosbe and Eben Blood be cometee to lay out a road from Richard Lawrence's, to the road that comes from Blood's to the meeting-house." This is a part of the same road which Hall and Elliot were to examine.
In the warrant dated November 5, 1766, for a meeting to be held December 16, 1766, the 7th article was, "To see if the proitors will give the Rev'nd James Parker a call to setel with them in the gospel, and to see what Incouragement they will give him as to setelment and salery, and chose a comett to present said call."
At the meeting "chose Left. William Prescott moderator. Voted, To give Mr. James Parker a call to setel with them in the Gospel. Allso, Voted, To give him, if he setls, as
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HISTORY OF MASON.
setlment, ninety three pounds six shillings & eight pence, Lafel money. Allso, Voted, To give as salery Four hundred pounds silver, old tener, yearly, until there is eighty familys, and then four hundred and fifty yearly until there is one hun- dred families, and then five hundred pounds yearly. Allso, chose a comeett to presant said call, Capt. Thomas Tarbell, Mr. Jona. Crosby, En. Whitcomb Powers."
In the warrant for the meeting March 10, 1767, the 4th ar- ticle was " To see if the proportors will chues a comeettee to lay out the pew and seat ground in said No. 1 meeting house.
" 5thly. To see if the propts will order in what maner the pues shall be disposed of.
" 6thly. To see if the propiortors will pass a vote that every man's vot in said meeting shall be according to the taxes he shall pay in said township."
At the meeting, it was "Voted, Chose Obadiah Parker, Nathan Hall and Whitcomb Powers comeett to Lay out the pue ground & seat ground in said meeting houes.
"Voted, That the first setelers & highest payers have the pew ground, provided they seal the meeting house to the girts by October next.
"Voted, That every man should not vot according to what he pays in said township.
"Voted, To except of Mr. Elias Eliot's mills."
At a meeting November 4, 1767 :
" Voted, That the comeet Brais the meeting house forthwith. "Voted & chose a comectt to view the roads to accommo- dat Slipton, said comeett, Mr. Joseph Bullard, Mr. Josiah Robins, Left. Obadiah Parker, Mr. John Swallow, Mr. Nathan Hall, and if the comcet think the road by Mr. Baret's mills will accomodat Slipon, then said comeett to lay out said road."
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