USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Dover > Landmarks in ancient Dover, New Hampshire > Part 29
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500 pounds put at interest to main- tain a teacher till said house be built. There is only one school district in Newington at the present day.
Somersworth was divided into four school districts in 1793, which were increased to eight in the course of 30 years. A school at Rocky Hills is mentioned in 1797, and Indigo Hill school in 1803. Great Falls district and the Point district are mentioned in 1803 ; Pear-Yard district in 1813 ; Salmon Falls, Turn- pike, and Quamphegan districts in 1825.
SECOND FALLS. These falls are often mentioned in the early records, as "the second falls in Lamprey river," or merely as "the Second falls." and as they lay within the Oyster river precinct they have some- times been confounded with the sec- ond falls in Oyster river. The Rev. Hugh Adams undoubtedly refers to these falls in his record of a bap- tism " at the garrison-house, second falls," Jan. 11, 1719-20. (See Oys- ter River Garrisons.) A road from Oyster river to the second falls is spoken of Oct. 24, 1721, meaning the road to Packer's falls. The second falls mill is mentioned Sept. 25, 1716, when Henry and Joanna Dyer conveyed to George Jaffrey "a piece of land called the mote," 50 aeres more or less, together with their part of 400 acres extending from ye mouth of Piscassick river up Lampril river till it comes within a few rods of second falls mill, and their part of ye whole accommodation of Lampreel river which was granted
1 Col. Mooney's second wife was Mrs. Jones, of Lee, on whose farm he took up his residence . It was afterwards acquired by Mr. Gorham Hoitt. A quagmire on this land, into which sank a valuable colt belonging to Col. Mooney, is called Mooney's Hole to this day.
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Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
Mr. Valentine Hill by the town of Dover, for erecting mills on any part of said river, with 100 acres of land at each mill. The "second falls mill" is again mentioned Nov. 2, 1739. (N. H. Town Pap., XI : 649.) These falls are now known as Pack- er's falls. (See Sullivan's Falls.)
SENTER'S SWAMP. Mentioned March 19, 1693-4, when Philip Chesley, Jr., had a grant of 40 acres in the swamp near the mast bridge, commonly called Senter's swamp. This swamp was evidently in the Back River dis- trict, but the name has not been retained. Walter Mathes, son of Francis, in his will of 1678, speaks of his daughter Mary Senter, and his niece Susanna Senter. Sep. 281.
SHAD FALLS. Apparently the same as Packer's falls. John Goddard, who died before June 27, 1667, owned 100 acres of land " abore the shad fall," adjoining John Woodman's land. One half of this tract was, May 4, 1736, conveyed by his nephew, Abra- ham Bennick, of Durham, gentleman, to Benjamin, son of said Abraham, beginning at " Woodman's south-east corner bound tree, standing on ye side of Lamperel river," thence ex- tending down the river 130 rods to "a little island in ye river above ye second falls." (See Packer's Falls. ) The Woodman land referred to above was a grant of 100 acres to John Woodman, Nov. 10, 1658. It be- came the homestead of his grandson, Joshua Woodman, who had it per- ambulated June 15, 1765, " begin- ning at a white oak by Lamperil river."
SHADOGEE CORNER. This corner is in Madbury, above Hicks' Hill, at the intersection of the roads to Bar- rington and to Gerrish's bridge. At the fork of these roads once stood a tavern, popular among men of " sha- dy " propensities. The name, like that of Snaggerty,1 in Strafford, is supposed to have been given it by some old veterans in memory of their campaigns. Fifty of our sol- diers are spoken of Jan. 11, 1779, as "at Shatagee," a corruption of Châ- teaugay. In the Canada expedition, during the war of 1812-1815, our troops were more than once at that place. Gen. Hampton was reported, Nov. 5, 1813, as then " at Château- gay or Four Corners." Gen. Wil- kinson is also mentioned as going into winter quarters in Nov., 1813, " abont 25 miles from Four Corners, Châteaugay." The enemy having encamped a few months later within three miles of Châteaugay, Gen. Wil- kinson proceeded thither Feb. 21, 1814. At his advance the enemy re- treated, destroying the bridges. Our soldiers seem to have called this place " Shatagee " or " Shadogee." A part of Conway still bears the name of Shadowgee.
SIAG ROCK. This rock is in the Pascataqua river, off the Downing land on the Newington shore, above Patterson's Point. It is called Dram Rock on Dame's map of 1805. Fish- ermen sometimes call it Bass rock, from the number of fish caught there at certain seasons.
SHANKHASSICK. This is said to have been the Indian name of Oyster
1 Snaggerty in Strafford, said to be a corruption of Schenectady, was so named by some old soldiers of last century, after their return from the wars. And Crown Point, a name popularly given to Strafford Corner, is of similar origin.
& John Senter of Boston in. Mary Matthews,
march 27, 1651
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river. According to Edward Col- cord's deposition concerning the Wheelwright purchase the 14th, 2 mo., 1668, one bound of the land acquired from Wehanownowit, the chief sagamore, was " the westerly part of Oyster River called by the Indians Shankhassick, weh is about foure miles northerly beyond Lam- periele River." (N. H. Prov. Pap., 1 : 137.) The meaning of the word is uncertain. The Indian word sunk- haze, which seems akin to it. signi- fies, according to one definition, " one stream emptying into another." And auke, whence ick, means "a place." According to another definition sunk- haze means " dead water," which could not be applied to a tidal stream like the lower part of Oyster river. The first syllable shank may be de- rived from chesunk, which Judge Potter says, means " a wild goose." There is a Sunkhaze stream in Maine that empties into the Penobscot on the east side, abont fifteen miles above Old Town village. Adjacent is the Sunkhaze plantation.
SHEPHERD'S BRIDGE. Mentioned on Smith's map of Durham in 1805. It is on the main road from Durham Falls to Newmarket, across the brook that comes from the Moat. The Durham records speak of it as near " Mooney's brick-yard," which is now gone, but at that time was at or near the present burial ground of the Mooney family. The name of this bridge, no longer in use, was derived from John Shepherd, who lived in the vicinity at the beginning of this century.
SHEEP ROAD. This road is in Lee, and extends from the First N. H. turn- pike road to the Stepping-Stones road.
SHORT CREEK. This creek is next to Long creek, on the shore of the Gage land, just below the mouth of the river Cochecho.
SHOOTING POINT. Mentioned on Dame's map of 1805. It is on the Durham shore, opposite Furber's Point, at the upper side of Adams Point. Above it was Durgin's land- ing-place, so called in 1694, from Wm. Durgin, who was taxed at Oys- ter River in 1664. He married, June 25, 1672, " Katharine, relict of Thomas Footman." He declared himself to be 35 years of age, or thereabouts, March 12, 1677-8, when he testified about Robert Smart's land at Goddard's Cove. According to tradition, the Indians crucified him at Shooting Point, and carried his seven daughters to the Newington shore. and there barbarously mur- dered them on a large rock, no doubt Pascataqua Rock, said to have been the western bound of the Bloody Point settlement. His widow Kath- arine administered on his estate Nov. 30, 1703. (See Mathew's Creek and Neck.)
SILL SWAMP, otherwise SYL's. This name has long been given to a part of the Samnel Hale estate in Rollinsford, derived perhaps from Sylvanns Wentworth, or otherwise from Sylvanus Nock, who owned land in this vicinity as early as 1698. His house is mentioned May 9, 1709, as above Sligo garrison. And among the Dover fence-viewers, chosen May 20, 1717, was " Sill Nock for Sligo." (Town Records.)
SIMON'S LANE. This name is giv- en to an old road through Horn's woods, in the Lubberland district, now impassable for the most part
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Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
except on foot. Perhaps it derived its name from
Michael Symonds, who was taxed at Oyster River in 1666, and the following year mar- ried the widow of John Goddard, of Goddard's Cove ; or from Joseph Simons, who, Feb. 8. 1727-8, mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Elder James Noek. In 1733 Joseph Simons and Elizabeth his wife conveyed to Samuel Smith all their interest in the estate of their honored father, James Nock, deceased.
SIX INDIAN WIGWAMS. Mentioned June 22, 1696, when Peter Coffin of Exeter conveyed to his son Peter Coffin of Nantucket 200 acres of land on the north side of Cocheclio river, "at a place called ye Six Indian Wigwams." Jedediah Fitch "of Sherburn on Nantuckett," and his wife Abigail, and Jemima Coffin, daughters of Peter Coffin of Sher- burn, deceased, conveyed to Joseph Twombley of Dover, July 13, 1725, § of 100 acres on the north side of Cochecho river, part of 200 acres of land given said Peter by their grand- father, June 22, 1696, beginning a little above the third falls in Coche- cho river, at a pine tree at the river side, and extending up the river side to a white oak on a little hill, thence north to a swamp by ye Indian Ground. This land was conveyed by Joseph Twombley to Ezra Kimball, June 14, 1733. (See Indian Corn- Ground.) Thomas Hanson of Co- checho in ye town of Dover, planter, in his will of the 24th, 2 mo., 1710, gives to his well beloved son Nathan- iel his land between Reyner's brook and the Indian Wigwam brook.
SIX MILES TREE. Mentioned Sept. 20, 1753, when Daniel Davis, aged
about 60, and Philip Chesley, about 77, personally appeared in the woods where said tree then stood, and took oath before his Majesty's Justices of the Peace that the committee ap- pointed by the N. H. government to run and settle the head line of Dover about 30 years previous, ran the line to a certain red oak tree, which they marked and established as the S. W. corner bound tree of Dover, which was accepted by the government as the perpetual bound of said town. And the deponents, then in the woods, pointed out said bound be- tween Dover and Exeter, "known and called by the name of the Six Miles Tree." The line between Dur- ham and Nottingham being still dis- puted, a petition was addressed the General Assembly, Ap. 20, 1758, by Samuel Smith, Ebenezer Smith, and Ephraim Davis, representing that the head line of Dover, before Durham was incorporated, ran from a certain red oak tree at the west corner bound, in a straight line to a pitch-pine stump which is the corner bound of Barrington. The line was thus set- tled Sept. 24, 1759, by a committee appointed by the General Court of N. H. (N. H. Town Pap., XI : 579-580.)
SLIGO. This name, now given to a distriet in Rollinsford below Quam- phegan, appears to have been origi- nally given to a garrison that stood above St. Alban's cove, not far from the Newichawannock shore. It is mentioned March 29, 1708, when Jethro Farber conveyed to Benjn Weamouth 20 acres of land " at or near a place called Sligoes garrison," between the highway and the lots formerly David Hammleton's and
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Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
Nicholas Curreus', fronting on the Newichawannock river, being the lot originally granted to Henry Magoon. who sold it to Wm. Laton, by whom it was sold to Edward Cowel, ' grandfather of the donor." Rich- ard Hussey, Feb. 25, 1710, conveyed to Benj" Waymouth 30 acres of land "att a garrison called Sligoe." Benj" Waymouth. Feb. 1, 1717, con- veyed to Benj" Waymouth, Jr., 30 acres of land originally granted to Richard Hussey, "lying and being at a garrison called Sligo," bounded N. by Joseph Roberts' land, E. by said Waymonth, S. by " a lott called Currol's," and W. by the commons. The exact site of this garrison is not known, but it is mentioned May 9, 1709, as on the east side of the high- way from St. Alban's cove to Quam- phegan, between Lieut. Hatevil Nut- ter's house and that of Sylvanus Nock. This land is now owned by the Garvin family. The name of Sligo soon extended to the surround- ing district. Eleazer and Sarah Wyer conveyed to Eleazar Wyer, Jr., Sept. 25, 1738, 20 acres of land, with two dwelling-houses and a barn thereon, "at a place formerly called Sligo," bounded N. by the land of Sylvanus Nock, E. by the Newicha- wannock river, and S. and W. by Benjn Weymouth's land. The town voted, Ap. 5, 1756, that a " school be kept three months at Sligo."
Sligo was doubtless so called from the town of that name in Ireland,
"Sligo town that lies so snug at the foot of Knocknarea."
The name is said to be derived from the Irish word silgeach, which signi- fies a shelly river, or a place where shells are deposited. The History
of Rockingham and Strafford Conn- ties asserts that Sligo garrison was so named by the Stackpole family, the early members of which are said to have come from Sligo, Ireland. No authority is given for this state- ment. The garrison was not built till many years after James Staek- pole's arrival, and its name does not appear till the beginning of the eighteenth century. It may have been given out of compliment to the carl of Bellomont, appointed gov- ernor of N. H. in 1699. He was born in Sligo, Ireland, in 1636. Orders from King William were sent him Jan. 19, 1701, to build such forts at Piscataqua and elsewhere as were necessary for security. (N. H. Prov. Pap .. 3 : 130.) His political and religious principles naturally recommended him to the favor of our colonists, and he is said to have been very popular during his short administration. He was the grand- son of Sir Charles Coote, noted for his ferocity to the Irish in the reign of Charles I, and he himself was one of the first to espouse the cause of William of Orange, who rewarded him with the title of earl, and ap- pointed him governor of New York, Massachusetts, and New Hamp- shire.
SLUICEWAY. This name is now given to the old wading-place or ford across the Newichawannock, below the Samuel Hale brook in Rollins- ford, where the U. S. government attempted to blast out the obstruc- tions in the channel. To this ford a road was opened at an early day between the lots of Joseph Austin and Thomas Canney. On the oppo- site shore once stood the Newicha-
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Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
wannock mills-the first saw and grist mills set up in the Pascataqua region.
The SLUICE ROCK is at the head of Little John's falls, on the shore of the Samuel Hale estate, formerly the Stackpole land, and previously that of Joseph Austin. (See Stackpole's Creek.)
SMALL POINT. Mentioned March 2, 1704. (See Pascataqua Rock.) Also on Dame's map of 1805. It is a long narrow point on the Newing- ton shore, below Long point ; that is, below in the sense of going down stream, though really in a northerly direction.
SMITH'S ISLAND. This is an islet on the Lubberland shore of Great Bay, opposite the farm of the late Valentine Smith, to whose estate it belonged. It is so named on Smith's map of 1805.
SMITH'S POINT. This name is given on Smith's map of Newmarket in 1805, to the point at the mouth of Lamprey river, on the Lubberland side. The point on the opposite shore is thereon called Shackford's Point.
SMOKY HOLLOW. This hollow is at the south side of Great Falls vil- lage, and so named because, after the foundry was established here over forty years ago, the smoke often settled along the brook that flows through it.
SNELL'S MILL. See Oyster River Falls.
SOMERSWORTH. This name was given to the parish set off from the northeastern part of Dover, Dec. 19, 1729. It was incorporated as a town Ap. 22, 1754. The line of division between this township and Dover
was then stated to begin at the mouth of Fresh creek and run as said creek runs to the head thereof, and thence as the way goes to the southerly side of Varney's hill, to Ebenezer Varney's land, thence to a white oak over the end of said hill, two or three rods from a spring, etc. When Somersworth was divided into two townships, July 3, 1849, the lower part took the name of Rollinsford.
SOMERSWORTH HILL. This hill is near Quamphegan bridge, on the road to the Rollinsford station. It is called " Rollinsford Hill" in "the History of Rockingham and Strafford Counties, for which there appears no warrant. (See Log Hill.)
SOMERSWORTH PARADE. Mention- ed Dec. 11, 1821, when 24 acres of land belonging to the estate of James Rollins, deceased, were advertised for sale, bounded easterly and south- erly by the estate of Stephen Rob- erts, northerly by Somersworth Pa- rade, and westerly by the creek road, so called. This was, of course, in the present town of Rollinsford.
SOW AND PIGS. Rocks, so named, are visible at low tide just above Bald Head, on the Newington shore.
SPRUCE HOLES. There are three Spruce Holes in Lee, all of the same general character. One, enclosed by steep banks, is below Layn's mill in Newtown, on the farm of Mr. Edmund Layn. A much larger Spruce Hole or swamp is at the head of Wheelwright's pond, just below the Barrington and Nottingham line. The bog here has been sounded to the depth of 65 feet, without finding any bottom. It is owned by Mr. Isaiah Caldwell, the heirs of Samuel Glass, and others.
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Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
A third Spruce Hole is on Lee Hill, at the north side of the Mast road, behind the town hall, but the spruce trees have nearly disappeared, and the place is no longer noteworthy. But it was formerly an important landmark. It is mentioned several times in the Durham records of the last century. In one of July 2, 1740, it is called the spruce swamp. Another is of March 24, 1752, when a road was laid out, beginning on the north side of the mast path by the spruce hole, so called, and running south-west across Little river above John Dam's land. May 31, 1763, a road was laid out, beginning at the south side of the spruce hole by the mast path, and extending across Lamprey river through the Hook land to a highway near Thomas Yorke's that led to Newmarket.
Another Spruce Hole of much greater interest is in Durham, near the Lee boundary, and forms part of the old Laskey farm, now Mr. Charles W. Bartlett's. It is some- what difficult of access, being sur- rounded by dense woods and almost impenetrable thickets, but is well worth the trouble of visiting. It is a remarkable bowl-like depression in the ground, and covers five or six acres. The direct depth from the level above to the bottom of the bowl must be a hundred feet. The sides are very steep, and were once lined, and still are, in part, with spruce trees, which impart a peculiar solem- nity to the place. The bottom of the bowl is a quaking bog, covered with a bed of thick, soft moss, from which the water oozes at every step. Here grow a variety of orchids, the sun- dew, the side-saddle flower, and
other curious plants, and it is the haunt of multitudinous insects, whose hum on a summer's day alone breaks the solemn stillness of this solitary spot. In the centre is a dark pool, said to be unfathomable, concerning which there is a tragical legend. Unfortunately, the destruction of most of the spruce trees, and other profanations, have greatly injured this sanctuary of nature and marred its once singular beauty.
SPRUCE LANE. This lane is in the Back River district, Dover. It is mentioned June 21, 1779, when a road was ordered to be laid out to the land of Moses Peasley, " beginning at the main road that leads to Dur- ham, on the southerly side of Spruce Lane, near the Drew garrison." The name of this lane is still in use, and the land above mentioned is still in possession of the Peasley family.
SPRUCE SWAMP. This swamp is mentioned in connection with the Indian massacre at Oyster River July 18, 1694, when Mrs. Dean and her daughter were left therein by the savages while gone to complete the destruction of the settlement. Ac- cording to Belknap she was carried up the river about two miles and left in a swamp under the care of an old Indian, from whom she managed to escape with her child. Moses Davis, in his account, says she was above the spruce swamp when he espied her, and he thought it a mistake about her being hidden there. He doubtless referred to the spruce swamp near his lands, now belonging in part to Mr. Albert Young, about a mile above Durham falls. The road towards this spruce swamp is repeat- edly mentioned in the conveyances of
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Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
land last century. (See Falls Hill.) It is spoken of Sept. 13, 1769, when Jabez Davis conveyed to Francis Mathes all the land belonging to his homestead plantation, one hundred acres in extent, beginning at the N. E. corner in a spruce swamp, and running westerly by Abednego Leath- ers' land to that of Love Davis.
SQUALL POINT. This point is on the Cochecho river, at the foot of George St., in Dover city.
SQUAMANAGONIC, otherwise GONIC. The name of Gonie is now given to a village in Rochester which has grown up around the falls in the Cochecho called Squamanagonick falls, from an Indian word signifying, it is said, " water from the clay-place hill." This abbreviation is used by Whittier in his line :
" From swift Quamphegan to Gonic fall."
The " Squammagonake old planting- ground" is mentioned Jan. 3, 1686, when Hoope Whood, Samll Lines, Ould Robbin, and Kinge Harry con- veyed to Peter Coffin all right and title to the marshes and timber be- tween the two branches of the Coche- cho, " beginning at the run of water on the north side of Squammagonake old planting ground (and between the two branches) to begin at the spring where the old cellar was, and so to run ten miles up into the coun- try between the branches by the riv- ers." Tristram Heard, in his will of Ap. 18, 1734, mentions his mill priv- ilege at Squamonogonick. Samnel Alley conveyed to Jonathan Hodg- don Feb. 22, 1743-4, 40 acres " lying on a place called Blind Will's neck, a little above ye uppermost mill at Squommonygonnock." And Dec. 8, 1749, said Alley conveyed to Eliza-
beth, widow of Wm. Thompson, and his other heirs, 20 acres of land in Rochester, on the west side of the river, " a little above the great fort at Squommonygonnock, so called."
SQUARE SWAMP. Mention is made June 26, 1765, of a tract on the north side of Wheelwright's pond, at the head of Durham, containing all the common and undivided land in the swamp commonly called and known by ye name of Square swamp.
STACKPOLE'S CREEK Or BROOK. This creek is referred to May 9, 1709, when a road was laid out from St. Alban's cove, running "along between Lt. Hatevil Roberts his house and barn, and so on to the west side of Sligo garrison," and, further on, between Sylvanus Nock's house and barn, keeping the same course to the " way that runs down on the north side of Thomas Can- nies lott to the old wadeing place opposite to Chadbourn's mill, then trending Eastward down the sd way till it comes to the mouth of a little Creek on the south side of James Stackpole's house," thence north- ward over said creek, and along between the river and Stackpole's fence, etc. Thomas Tibbetts con- vered to John Vicker, July 20, 1738, one acre of land, " beginning at ye road yt leads from Stackpole's brook to Somersworth meeting-house." ad- joining Ensign John Tebbets' land. John Vickers, Nov. 12, 1740-41, conveyed to John Moffat of Ports- mouth his house and one acre of land on the highway from Stugpole's creek or brook to Quamphegan road, and another acre adjoining the road from said brook to the meeting-house. Elizabeth, widow of Capt. Benj"
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Landmarks in Ancient Dover.
Wentworth, conveyed to Thomas Wallingford, Feb. 11, 1739, 132 acres of land at Quamphegan, begin- ning at the highway that leads from Stackpole's brook towards Somers- worth. Stackpole's brook crosses the Portland turnpike road and now empties into Hale's artificial pond. It formerly emptied into the Newicha- wannock river.
Stackpole's Landing is mentioned Ap. 12, 1774, when John Parker, administrator of the estate of Nathaniel Adams, conveyed to Jacob and Benj" Quimby 32 acres of land, bounded northerly by the road from Somersworth to Quamphegan, east- erly and sontherly by Capt. Nathan Lord's land, and westerly by the road to Stackpole's landing. This landing was no doubt at the above- mentioned wading-place, to which a road led in early times. The old Stackpole house stood where is now the garden of the Samuel Hale place, a little north of the artificial pond. James Stackpole acquired land here May 20, 1710, when Thomas Austin, only son and heir of Joseph Austin of Dover, conveyed to him all that tract of land granted said Joseph in 1656, "lying in ye range of lots between St. Alban's cove and Quam- phegan," bounded S. E. by the Newichawannock river, N. E. by Henry Tibbets' hundred acre lot, N. W. by Ralph Twombley's 100 acres and Thomas Hanson's 100 acres, and S. W. by a highway between this lot and Thomas Kenne's 100 aere lot. (See Sluiceway.)
STARBUCK'S BROOK. This is the first brook that empties into the east side of the Cochecho river above Fourth street bridge in Dover. It is
mentioned Ap. 14, 1701, when Peter Coffin conveyed to John Ham a dwelling-house and barn at Tolein, with a tract of land adjoining, begin- ning two rods beyond the barn, and extending thence straight down to ye run of water, then along the foot of the hill till it comes to the brook called Elder Starbuck's brook, which is by the highway going to Cochecho, thence down by ye brook to Coche- cho river, and thenee, to the dwell- ing-house, reserving one rod and a half along the river side. A tract of land, formerly in the possession of Richard Otis, deceased, was sur- veyed anew for Richard Waldron Dec. 28, 1706, beginning at the east- ernmost end of the dividing line between this land and Mr. Waldron's, adjoining the Queen's thoroughfare road, and running N. E. on said road 135 rods to the east end of the division fence between this land and that in the tenure of Wm. foast and Tristram Heard, thence W. by N. northerly 68 rods to a pitchpine on the west side of Starbuck's brook, etc.
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