USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Surry > History of the town of Surry, Cheshire County, New Hampshire : from date of severance from Gilsum and Westmoreland, 1769-1922, with a genealogical register and map of the town > Part 33
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A
No. 168.
CARPENTER HOMESTEAD.
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Charles C. Buffum Register of Deeds, Keene, who lived here summers, and who sold, 1920, to the present owner, Fred A. Carpenter of Keene; -a summer home.
173. Samuel Phelps drew L. 1; R. 3, and sold May 25, 1776, to Capt. Thomas Harvey; May 9, 1792, he sold to "Asahel Harvey my eldest son" 90 acres; the above lot and part of L. 1; R. 2. Asahel built about that time on this spot and lived here until his death 1835. George Joslin bought the farm and S. Harrison Porter tore the house down and re- built for a store at No. 64 in 1863. The old house had a large fireplace where Mrs. Harvey did all her cooking. George H. Rand bought land and by using the material from No. 163 built a house and barn in 1869, a fire Oct. 22, 1870 burned the buildings; it has never been rebuilt. John A. Cushing lived here a while; Bellows Emerson and Seth Car- penter's widow and children after Griswold left town.
174. As early as 1799 Asahel Harvey had a saw mill on this spot, although but little now remains to mark its site, nor the sizable mill-pond just above which formerly existed. John Stevens ran the mill a few years about 1845 (?). The mill disappeared before 1852.
175. A few rods down-stream from the saw mill Asahel Harvey had a grist mill which was standing until 1840. Although this was not a large mill yet Mr. Harvey was able to do his own and neighbors' grinding, now in 1923 it requires a trip to Cole's mill in South Keene to get a sack of corn converted into meal.
176. Samuel Phelps drew L. 1; R. 1, 2 and 3; May 25, 1766, he sold the three lots (150 acres) to Thomas Harvey, the captain. Thomas came to town that year and erected a cabin in which he lived until he built the pres- ent dwelling. One tradition states his cabin stood a few rods westerly of No. 177, while from another source it is understood it stood across the highway a few rods south of the present house. As there was no floor or cellar to his cabin it is doubtful if the exact spot can be located-we give the latter one on the map.
177. Capt. Thomas Harvey built this dwelling-said to have been the second two-story house erected in town-with an idea of opening a tavern, but it was never opened to the public. But two family names-Harvey and Joslin-have owned this property since it was settled over 155 years ago, a singular fact. Capt. Harvey sold place 1810 to Peter Joslin; he was succeeded by his son, John, then the farm fell to Mary and Edward H. Joslin who still reside here. The west barn over 140 years old is where three or four Indians spent a night about 1780. One of the Har- vey girls while gathering hen-eggs under the barn grasped a rattle- snake coiled in a nest.
The cider mill of Capt. Harvey and Peter Joslin stood a few feet north of the present house where 250 bbls. are said to have been made annually. The mill has been gone over 70 years. During the small-pox epidemic, 1801-02 some of the Harvey family had the disease and for a few weeks this was used for a "pest-house." David Luis, a boy of 20, died Jan. 29, 1802, and was buried near the barn where a slate stone marks his grave.
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178. Joseph Burt drew L. 2; R. 1 and L. 2; R. 2, and sold both lots to Thomas Sumner May 6, 1767, Sumner sold to Joseph Willey. July 4, 1768, Joseph to Barnabas Willey who settled on the latter lot. Nothing marks the site of his cabin but tradition says it stood near the corner of the field, 50 or 60 rods north-east of No. 177. He removed to Wal- pole and May 22, 1775, sold land and buildings to Capt. Harvey who joined it to his estate.
179. The "West school house" stood here between 1803 and 1811/12; nothing marks the spot.
-)
THE JOSLIN HOMESTEAD. No. 177.
1791/2. In the field 50 rods north of the present Merriam house (No. 1801/2) can still be seen the cellar hole where John Merriam built his first house in 1772 (?). The farm has continued to remain in the Merriam family until the present, 150 years. The farm when John came was a wilder- ness except a plot on the knoll east of the present buildings which had been cleared by the Indians.
180. Daniel Merriam, Sr., moved the above house to this spot where he lived many years. It stood 30 (?) feet west of present dwelling.
1801/2. Daniel Merriam, Jr., built present house in 1837; it is still occupied a portion of each year by his son, Elmore E. Merriam. There was a cider mill a few rods west of this place 75 years ago, also a saw mill about that time on the brook above the road, some 50 or 60 rods west- erly of this set of buildings. The old mill with its up and down saw has long since disappeared; the old road and ledge at the dam only remain.
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181. This house was built and occupied some years by members of the Merriam family, then rented. Chandler Wilbur lived here and com- mited suicide, Oct. 1872.
182. This is on L. 1; R. 1, and a part of Capt. Harvey's home farm which he sold May 18, 1781, to his son Thomas, Jr., who probably built on this spot. Nov. 19, 1795, Thomas, Jr., sold to William Ballock-80 acre farm. In three years Ballock sold to Alexander Ralston of Keene who sold in 1799 to John Stiles. John lived here several years; in 1805 he adver- tised this place to rent or for sale-a good house, a 50 foot barn, two acre hop-yard and 80 acre farm. David Stone accepted the terms and settled here soon after, and remained until 1828 when he removed to No. 26. William Thompson-"Billy," lived here with his father about 1832, and 1836/38 John Joslin bought the tillage adding it to his farm (No. 177). The buildings were moved by Mr. Joslin to his home place. Since Mr. Stone lived here this field has been known as "The Whackle lot," from a nickname given to Mr. Stone. The land has been tilled and nothing above ground now marks the site of this house. The bal- ance of this "80 acre farm" is now largely taken up by "The Hartwell lot," and is pasture and woodland.
183. Aug. 10, 1820, Asahel Harvey sold 11 acres off his home farm to his dau. Eunice, wife of Ichabod Ballou, a carpenter of Westmoreland, who soon after built the first dwelling on this spot. Within a few years Jonas Pollard and Samuel Hartwell of Langdon appear to have taken the property by mortgage. In 1854 David Cushing bought place and lived here until nearly time of his death-1872. John A. Cushing lived here about 1846 (?) at the time his twin children were born and died- both being buried on the farm. Ebenezer Crain, Jr .; Haskell Carpen- ter; Horace Gould, Jr .; Wm. Riley Kenney and others were here. 1881 Everett E. Wilbur bought old buildings and removed them to his home place. While David Cushing was here, with hook and line, he could get a good meal of trout in half an hour from Harvey's brook. During the great freshet of Oct. 4, 1869, the water was so high on the brook that a small river ran through this house; a sizable log went directly through the kitchen. This was the last of the older houses in this part of town which was formerly Gilsum.
184. This house appears to stand on the east half of a 100 acres formerly L. 5; R. 1; 2nd division, in Westmoreland Leg which Benjamin Bel- lows sold Jan. 6, 1779, to Rufus Smith. Nov. 9, 1782, Smith sold the 50 acres to John Cooper who settled here, and Apr. 10, 1786, he sold to John White of Rockingham, Vt. White sold the next year to John Brockway, q v. Philip Thomas, Sr., settled here prior to 1844; Daniel W. Aldrich; Leander Crane; Ebenezer Crane, Jr., 1858; Luman M. Carpenter, 1862-1876. During Nov. of the latter year, Everett E. Wilbur bought and settled here and has remained until the present (1923). The house has been enlarged within recent years and one or more of Mr. Wilbur's sons have kept house here. Many years ago a bear came from Hedgehog hill and took a pig from the yard which was finally rescued.
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185. Winfield E. Wilbur built a small house 1915, in which he lived a few months placing it on the "Hartwell lot" which his father owns. The building is still standing, 1922. Aug. 16, 1777, men reaping rye on this lot distinctly heard the boom of the cannon at the battle of Bennington.
186. This house is probably on the west half of the 100 acre lot Benjamin Bellows sold Feb. 5, 1779, to William Russell, viz .: L. 5; R. 1; 2nd Div. May 6, 1784, Russell sold to J. Cheever Fowler who lived here over 20 years and in 1806 sold to Stephen Bemis who sold Apr. 11, 1811 to Jonas Pollard who opened a tavern in his house, 1823, and for years did a thriving business. It was on the turnpike from Keene to Walpole and was known as "The half-way-house." One fall a turkey shoot was held at the tavern. Mar. 19, 1829, Pollard sold to Samuel G. Bowker and he to Leander Crane, 1836. In 1840 Gilbert Crane bought property and 1876 sold to Frederick R. Crane and he sold the same to Alonzo F. Wil- bur whose son, Clifford A., now has the old farm including much addi- tional property. Davis Cushing, Jr., and Joseph Shelley lived here and ran freight stage teams to Boston before 1840. The tavern business practically ceased prior to 1870. Clinton Tenney lived here 1896-7, and others.
187. Major Samuel Grant married Phebe S. Bellows a dau of Gen. Benjamin Bellows of Walpole and as her share of his large estate received a large tract of land in the south-east corner of Walpole; the major became owner and manager. Aldrich's History of Walpole states Maj. Grant was "very exacting, carrying his points of nicety to the extreme" and had a large substantial dwelling house for his foreman and seven large barns near at hand. He engaged in sheep husbandry, keeping as many as 1000 at a time on this farm and employed considerable help; also raising as many as 1000 bushels of potatoes a year. During a high wind about 1855 the barns were blown down; the house was removed and no buildings have since been erected. Bradley Britton ran the farm prior to 1844; William Kingsbury, 1847; Charles Abbott; John B. Beckwith about 1854 and others.
1871%. The buildings on the Maj. Grant farm formerly stood on the old turnpike road, but after the Pollard road was opened in 1823 they were moved to No. 187.
188. Ebenezer Crane, Jr., lived here after living at No. 184; Frederick R. Crane before he moved to No. 239, then Freeman Wilbur, and his son- in-law, Edward J. Guillow who settled here Sept. 3, 1877, and still re- sides on farm. Mr. Wilbur made improvements on buildings and Mr. Guillow further additions until Dec. 23, 1909, when a fire starting around the chimney destroyed the buildings. Mr. Guillow; his sons-in- law, Lorin A. Davis and Leon I. Curtis, who were all living in the house at the time, lost nearly all their belongings within 30 minutes. On the same spot Mr. Guillow erected the present buildings.
189. Leon I. Curtis built this house soon after the fire at No. 188, he has since lived here.
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190. From the records at our command, Benjamin Bellows appears to have sold 30 acres where this house was built to Moses Brown, Jr. (Feb. 1795), who settled here. Jan. 17, 1800, he sold this with two other lots to J. Cheever Fowler, after which we know but little until Freeman Wil- bur came in 1842. Charles Abbott; Tyler Bissell, 1855/6; Leander and Ebenezer Crane, Jr., and probably some member of the Hancock family were here. It is said to have been a small one story red house, and stood on line of the second stage road from Keene to Walpole. George L. Britton bought the old house and tore it down about 1871. The old records speak of this as the J. Cheever Fowler's "Brown farm," so-called.
1901%. This cellar hole was discovered in 1921; its history thus far has not been fully established; no one living in that vicinity had noticed it; it is seven rods north of the line fence near the corner of C. A. Wilbur's pasture. It appears to have been a dwelling about 16 x 16 feet. The following R. of D. records probably apply to this place: Aug. 24, 1775, Josiah Willard sold L. 5; R. 2, 2nd Div. in the "Leg" to Oliver Wright. Sept. 7, 1781, Wright sold 10 acres in the north-west corner of said lot (and bounded on the highway), to Jesse Dassance who perhaps built the house on this spot. Ziba Dassance bought and his widow sold in 1799 to Paul Clark; in 1802 Clark sold to Daniel Allen. No buildings here for over 100 years.
191. The following probably applies to this place-R. of D .: Nov. 6, 1761, William Howe sold L. 4; R. 2; 2nd Div. to Daniel Howe. Oct. 27, 1774 Daniel to Abraham Smith and May 6, 1777, he sold the east half (50 acres) to Jesse Dassance; Sept. 23, 1784, Jesse sold to his brother Mar- tin land and a dwelling house "which I built and stands on Martin's land." Then Mary and Ziba Dassance appear to have owned the place. Nov. 26, 1799, Paul Clark bought and Sept. 21, 1802, sold to David Allen, who settled here and built a new house in 1810. After living in it some 40 years he tore it down and on the same site erected a new one which stood until about 1876 when Peter Mason tore it down and rebuilt at No. 240. Daniel Allen also lived here, and Chauncey N. Kenney in 1855/6. No buildings on the place for over 45 years.
192. This is probably the "west half" of L. 4; R. 2; 2nd Div. which William Howe sold to Daniel Howe, Nov. 6, 1761. Oct. 27, 1774 Abraham Smith bought, and May 6, 1777, sold the "East half" to Jesse Dassance. To whom Smith sold his remaining land has not been found; he doubtless settled here. This is where William Ritter probably was living, 1822, and perhaps Elizur Wright, 1828. Philip Thomas, 3rd, was living here for some years prior to 1862 when he removed to Walpole, then Nelson T. Cummings came and remained until 1869, after which Stephen H. Clement bought old buildings and tore them down. This house was on line of the first highway between Keene and Walpole in this part of Surry; an old cellar hole marks the house site.
193. This place is just over the town line in Westmoreland; probably L. 3; R. 2; 2nd Div. the 100 acres Cornelius White of Brookfield, Mass., sold to his son, Moses White, Jan. 10, 1771, which lot he drew in Moses
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Hasting's right. Sept. 24, 1776, Moses White sold to Daniel Ritter of Walpole. Otis Hancock was living here in his old age; 1860-1870 (?) somewhat broken in mind and body. George L. Britton bought and tore the old house down, about 1872, a substantial dwelling, and Stephen H. Clement removed the barns in 1878 (?).
194. Ebenezer Britton the father of the late Curtis G. Britton of Keene is said to have lived here about 1840. A cellar hole remains.
195. Elhanan Winchester once lived here, and about 1856, Edward R. Win- chester.
196. In 1856 this was called the Leonard place, n f r.
197. Dr. Noah Fuller of Wrentham, Mass., bought 100 acres here, Apr. 26, 1779. This was L. 3; R. 3; 2nd Div. which he bought of Jether Bailey. June 28, 1788, Dr. Noah sold the west part of said lot, 50 acres and also the "west half of dwelling house in which I now live" to Noah Fuller, Jr. For many years Dr. Fuller lived here-a cellar hole marks the site.
198. Andrew Balch once lived here, and J. Comstock in 1856-cellar hole.
199. This is L. 4; R. 3; 2nd Div. and the land Daniel Howe sold to Nathaniel Snow of Raynham, Mass., May 21, 1773; in 1778 Snow sold to Simeon Smith and Dec. 11, 1778 he sold to Asa Hancock of Wrentham, Mass., who settled here. Otis Hancock probably also once lived here; Levi Hancock, 1810-22; Daniel Abbott, 1850 (?); Charles H. Barnes, 1861. Unoccupied many years.
200. Perhaps one of the Hancock's lived here early; Daniel W. Aldrich here about 1845; Henry B. Hall, 1844-50; Charles B. Hall, 1855.
201. The first school house in this district is said to have stood on or in this vicinity prior to 1800. Tradition says one of the Abbott family taught school here when there were over 50 scholars who came from S., West- moreland and Walpole. The building was moved to No. 205 prior to 1832.
202. George F. Kenney bought a plot of land and put up a small camp here, 1915, in which he lived a year or two then removed to Keene; the build- ing has since been removed.
203. In 1910 Charles R. Kenney bought seven acres in this field and built a house in which he lived for several years; is now, 1922, living at No. 126. Frank E. Pomeroy lived here, 1921.
204. The old Town Farm. Oliver Wright was living here as early as 1812 and is supposed to have remained until his death-1834. Then his chil- dren most of the time until their deaths. They were William (called, "Billy the fiddler"); Sally and Catherine. The town bought the farm Oct. 16, 1837, and assisted in supporting the three above mentioned people for many years, during a portion of that time the town annually sold the use of the farm to the highest bidder. In 1846, voted, to build a new dwelling on the same spot and George Wilcox took the job. Wil-
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liam Carpenter bought the house and tore it down May, 1871, using some of the material for his new house at No. 38, and later Frederick R. Crane bought the old farm. The site of this house is well marked by a cellar hole.
205. The site of the second school house (which was moved here from No. 201) was on west side of the old highway, a few rods south of the pas- ture fence, in what is now Walter H. Britton's mowing. It took fire and was burned to the ground on Wednesday evening Dec. 9, 1835. There was a high north wind at the time and sparks nearly set fire to the barns at No. 207.
206. A new school house was built, 1836, and placed in the very south-west corner of the pasture above No. 207; nothing now marks its site. It stood here until moved to No. 221 in 1883.
207. The early history of this place is unknown Daniel Allen moved from here to Allen Court in Keene, 1843 (?); Benjamin M. Britton came and in 1847 moved to No. 43. Rev. Joseph Allen owned farm; Calvin Wright, 1857, and Charles Wright soon after. George L. Britton bought property and for about 25 years his father lived here; in 1870 George L. tore old house down and built present one on same spot. F. D. W. Carpenter held mortgage and sold to Walter H. Britton who now re- sides on place. He has within recent years built a small blacksmith shop where he does his own and neighbors' smith work. Clarence E. Jennison lived here a year or two after his marriage. The "Britton boulder" is near this place.
208. Benjamin Merrifield came here prior to 1790 and probably remained till death, then Benjamin Britton bought the place and in 1831 built present house on site of the older dwelling. Hiram Britton was here, then his son George L. Britton most of his life-his widow and sons are still here. Old Mrs. Merrifield killed a bear in the barnyard in early times with a fire shovel which the Britton's still retain. Major J. Brit- ton lived here in 1861. One third of a mile south of this place can still be seen remains of the "Valuable silver mine" which William Russell and others discovered and worked in 1785/6.
209. This is probably L. 5; R. 4; 2nd Div. which Josiah Willard sold to Prentice Willard, Apr. 3, 1779. William Britton bought and in 1789 sold to Eliezur Wright who lived here; in 1820 he sold to Moses Wright. 1838 Daniel Abbott bought property and sold to B. Frank Foster in 1840 who joined it to his home farm. Nothing but a cellar hole has marked this home site for over 80 years.
210. Philip Wilbur lived here 1783, then probably some of the Britton and Wright families and probably joined to No. 209 over 100 years ago. Moses Wright here, 1820, and in 1838 the farm was sold by the sheriff to Daniel Abbott. Benj. Frank Foster bought in 1840 and lived here until 1854 or later. He was Supt. of schools in town for a few years. He was the last to live on the property. George S. Ellis of Keene bought property and sold buildings to Hiram Britton who moved them to No. 208 about 1855. Dean S. Russell of Keene now owns the land.
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211. Tradition says there was a house which stood near this spot at an early date; a diligent search has failed to locate the cellar hole. Roger Conant is believed to have lived at or near this spot about 1780.
212. This place is in edge of Westmoreland and was discovered while fol- lowing the old road past No. 219. There was a sizable cellar and stone chimney. Probably L. 3; R. 4; 2nd Div. drawn by Jonathan Cole and sold Apr. 20, 1769, to Josiah Willard.
213. The foundation stone marks the site of a house which once stood on the side hill at this spot. From its location and nearness to the old "Rus- sell mine" there is reason to believe it was built as a camp or boarding house when the mine was being worked 1785/6. Tradition says William Ritter spent his last days here; an old toper and Rev. soldier-died, 1827.
214. June 3, 1779, Ebenezer Fitch of Rindge bought a tract of land of Pren- tice Willard. 1789 he sold to Philip Wilbur, 3rd, who sold the same year 211% acres to widow Tabitha Witherell. Sept. 5, 1791, she sold 22 acres to Zacheus Watkins, who doubtless built here. He sold to Joseph Brown and he in turn to William Cooledge in 1800. Two years later he sold to Calvin Bragg. May 10, 1803, John Cole bought the place and opened a store at which time considerable teaming went that way, it being on the Great road. After his death, Ralph Parker of Glover, Vt., and John G. Bond of Keene held interests. May 23, 1809, Stephen Stimson bought and sold, 1814, to Solomon Stimson. "Stimson trail" was named for him. Mar. 9, 1826, Elijah Mason of Walpole bought the property and the place has since been owned by that family. Mr. Mason lived here until he removed to No. 217 in 1835. The barn is standing but the house has been gone many years.
215. The site of this house is marked by a well built cellar wall, and is only a few rods above Keene town line. Silas Perry of Keene is supposed to have lived here about 1811; in 1813 he was "of Surry" and bought more land of Amasa Carpenter. In 1833 he sold to Joseph Perry of Wash- ington, D. C. "All the land I own in Surry and Keene." He was the Rev. soldier of Keene.
216. The old Henry Goodnow tavern in Keene is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Jennie L. Winchester and her dau. Edith M. Benjamin Archer an officer in Capt. Jeremiah Stile's Co., at Bunker Hill, once lived here.
217. The first house on this place stood a few feet east of the present dwel- ling. June 16, 1784, Col. Samuel Hunt of Charlestown, sold to Benjamin Carpenter. Nov. 18, 1799, Benjamin sold 30 acres to his son, Amasa Carpenter, "The south part of the farm I now live on," that is the land south of the road which runs through said farm. Amasa doubtless built on this spot about that time. Jan. 20, 1816, Amasa sold to David Carpenter of Keene-160 acres. Dec. 1, 1817, David sold to Royal Watkins who lived here and built the present house, 1832/33.
218. This is the house Watkins built, 1832/33. He sold the place Mar. 14, 1835, to Elijah Mason and removed to Michigan. Mr. Mason lived here through life then his son, Elijah B. Mason, took over the property and
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at his death Frank E. B., and Elva E. Mason received the homestead and now reside here.
219. Site of the old cider mill run by the Mason family; has been gone for some years. A horse on a sweep was used when making cider.
220. Mar. 14, 1775, Josiah Willard sold L. 8; R. 4; 2nd Div. to William Hay- ward which L. is believed to have been a part of the land on which this house was built. Hercules Hayward lived here and sold Nov. 1809, to Moses Wright, it being "the farm I now live on"; bounded-south partly on Keene-S. line; east by Nathan Hayward; north by Hayward; west by Amasa Carpenter-140 acres. 1810, Moses conveyed to Amasa Wil- bur and in 1830 his "estate," to Barney Wilbur. Between 1852 and 1863 several held interests at which time Elijah B. Mason bought the property and added farm to his home place. The old house was torn down 1865/6 and rebuilt in Keene and the barns stood until about 1898 then torn down by Mr. Mason.
221. The present west hill school house was moved here Sept. 1883, from No. 206 and placed on land given to the district for that purpose by E. B. Mason.
222. Tradition says Benjamin Carpenter had a cider mill here 100 years ago; it has been gone over 60 years.
223. This is the old Benjamin Carpenter place-so called, the records, how- ever, are obscure; in the mind of the writer it is doubtful if this is the spot where the first Benjamin settled prior to 1776. In 1793 Benjamin opened a tavern in his house which he ran for nine years. So far as discovered this place was not at that time on a highway much traveled, and he certainly would not have continued taking out new licenses year after year unless he did business; we cannot solve the problem. He and his son, Benjamin Jr., certainly lived in this vicinity before and after 1800 and owned considerable real estate. Benjamin 3rd known as "Esq. Carpenter" died here 1862. Benjamin W. Carpenter sold the place Sept. 14, 1865, to Benjamin F. Clement, and at his death his son, Stephen H. Clement had property and died here; place is now owned by Mrs. S. H. Clement, leasing the same to Loren A. Davis. Many years ago one of the Carpenter girls shot a wild-cat from off the old barn. Lightning struck the barns June 6, 1888, and all the buildings were destroyed; Mr. Clement rebuilt on same spot, that fall.
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