USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Canaan > The history of Canaan, New Hampshire > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
* Refers to layout of roads.
387
ROADS.
"Lower Meadow," "Lower Great Meadows," and "Loer Inter- val," are the same and were in the vicinity of West Canaan, so was John Scofield's intervale. Thomas Miner's intervale was near G. W. Davis's. Captain Walworth lived at the east end of South Road, and Samuel Chapman and Ezekiel Wells on Town Hill.
In 1777 the town chose three surveyors of highways, "Richard Clark in the Northeast District, Charles Walworth in the South district, Samuel Jones in West District." The care of the roads had given one man too much work and we will see that as the roads increase the number of surveyors also increases. This is also the first indication of dividing the town into districts, it was a division made by custom and not by any vote of the town.
In 1780 the proprietors voted to "lay out a Rode from Samuel Jones to Barbers Mil where they think it most Convenient for the South part of the Town." This led by the old graveyard down past the old Haynes house, and is now thrown up. In 1786 the proprietors raised 60 pounds for roads and bridges, "Forty pounds of this amount was to be laid out on the road ap- pointed to be laid out by the court through the town." No road was recorded on that date on the court records. Fifteen pounds was to be laid out on the road "from Lime to Grafton." Five pounds was to be laid out on the bridge, "from Town Hill so called over the river."
Four shillings a day was to be allowed for labor in summer and three shillings in winter, three shillings for ox work. This is the last vote made by the proprietors about roads. That question had become too large for them, there are too many roads and the proprietors are few, and it is left to the town hereafter. The town this year raises its road money for the first time by the rate, ten shillings on the pound.
It was also voted to lay out a road to "John Curriers land," (he lived then on West Farms), also from "Mr. Calkins house," who lived at West Canaan, "to Town Hill." In April a com- mittee was chosen to survey all the roads in town. Whether they ever reported or not or performed this work is not known. In August, 10 shillings on the pound were raised "to make good the Post Road through the town," and six days' notice was to be given of the time to work. In November the committee "to
388
HISTORY OF CANAAN.
compleat the Post Road in this town, call on the inhabitants to make good the Bridge over the Mascoma river on said day by way of a land tax." The "Post Road" called the County Road and "South Road" also, and even to this day, was laid out by the County Court about 1774. The old deeds of that date refer to it, but it was probably laid out by the General Sessions Court Oc- tober 26, 1785, as a Post Road. In 1791 the post route over it was called No. 2. That court was the Court of General Sessions and had jurisdiction of highways. Upon petition signed by inhabi- tants living near the proposed road, the court appointed commis- sioners, who held a hearing and if impressed with the necessity or desirability of such road proceeded to appoint a day to meet upon the proposed route and lay out the road. The County was not organized until 1773.
There is a small record book of His Majesty's Court of Gen- eral Sessions for several terms, from April, 1774, to April, 1775, at Haverhill. The next term appears to have been held at Plymouth in November, 1782. John Wentworth, the provincial governor, left in May, 1775, and no court was held during the Revolution. There is no record of South Road ever having been laid out by this court. That it was laid out before the proprie- tors made the survey of land along the Enfield line is evident, for the old surveys run to the road, and the range line followed the road for a distance of 800 rods. It became the traveled highway from the lower towns to the north. From the height of land in Grafton it plunged down into the "Gulf" up over the long hill by the Joneses, down again over Moose Brook, and so on up and down, over Town and Sawyer Hills, till it passed beyond our boundaries. This road has remained unchanged, only it is not so much the traveled road to Lyme now. Congress in 1793 established post routes through the state, one of these routes started from Concord and went through Boscawen, Salisbury, Andover, Newchester, Plymouth, Haverhill, Piermont, Orford, Lyme, Hanover, Lebanon, Enfield, Canaan, Grafton, Alexandria and Salisbury to Concord. Each post rider was re- quired to perform his route weekly. The riders received twelve pounds each. Postage on single letters was fixed at six pence for forty miles and four pence for less than forty. Once a week citizens in Canaan could send a letter to other sections in the
389
ROADS.
state, by the rider. If directed to a town on one of the other routes, six to twelve days would be required for its delivery.
In 1786 a road was laid out from the "old Wolfeborough road" to Mr. Bradbury's land, and a bridge was built over the Indian River. Six highway surveyors were appointed this year and the next year, 1787, eight. The old roads are beginning to be inconvenient, easier travel is required, and a committee is ap- pointed to see "where the road should be turned by Daniel Blais- dells land." "To alter the road from Mr. Joslens house to Enfield line, and a road was laid out from the 'Brick Yard' on West Farms, 'to John Harris land,' also from David Foggs to the Post road on Quaker Hill." Daniel Blaisdell lived on the turnpike below the depot. Mr. Joslen lived at the west end of the South Road near West Canaan, John Harris' land was north of the brick yard. David Fogg lived at the corner of the Lebanon and switch roads from the Street.
In 1788 is found the first appropriation for making the roads passable in winter "Voted to raise 5 shillings on the pound for the purpose of breaking rodes and clearing out fallen trees the ensueing winter, if sd money is not laid out in sd time to be laid out on the Roads next Spring." They also voted to petition the selectmen of Grafton to lay out a road "from the Main Road that leads thro sd Grafton, to meet the road that leads to Capt. Barber's Mill" (1). A survey of a road from "Thomas Baldwin's dwelling house to Enfield line was accepted, and to give Mr. Baldwin the allowance of land left for a road by the proprietors of sd town in exchange for the above said road." They voted to lay out a road from "Thadeus Lathrops to strike the public road." Thaddeus Lathrop lived on the east side of the road from the village opposite the house of J. W. Colburn (3). A com- mittee was appointed to complete the bridge over the Mascoma, "by Lieut. E. Wells," and another committee was appointed to complete the bridge "on the Post road over Maskum river."
In 1789 no new roads were laid out or voted. In 1790 nine highway surveyors were appointed but no new roads laid. In 1791 the selectmen were requested to lay out a road to "Mr Thadeus Lathrops" and a committee was requested to alter a road from "where Mr. Calkins formerly lived to Major Jones Saw mill, if they think best."
1
390
HISTORY OF CANAAN.
In 1792 nine highway surveyors were appointed, as follows:
John P. Calkins for Sugar Hill.
John Scofield for the south district.
Asa Paddleford for West Farms.
Samuel Meacham for Town Hill.
Ensign Joshua Richardson for N. W.
Richard Clark for north district.
Jonathan Dustin for Dogester district.
William Douglass for Centre district.
Oliver Smith for middle district. Elijah Wicher for Eastern District.
"Voted to build a bridge over the Mascoma river, near where the old one stands." "To send a petition to the town of Han- over requesting them to make a Good Passible Road Through the Corner of Their Town which Lies betwixt Canaan and Lyme as the Road Goes." "Voted not to open the road through the Intervale from Mr. Flints to the bridge." The inhabitants north of the Wolfeborough road were incorporated into a sep- arate highway district.
Lieut. William Richardson, Maj. Samuel Jones and Capt. Ezekiel Wells were appointed a committee to survey "necessary Roads." The building of the bridge over the Mascoma was to be sold to the lowest bidder.
In 1793 "Voted that the former committee chosen to survey the road from Grafton line to Sawyer hill (viz) William Rich- ardson, R. Barber and J. Harris, make a proper return of their poceedings to the town clerk and him to record the same." It was never recorded. The town voted to allow for labor done on the highway three shillings, six pence per day for the months from May to August, and two shillings per day for oxen. "Voted to build a bridge over Mud Pond Brook upon cost of the Town." "To sell the same to the lowest bidder for wheat at 5 shillings per bushel." This bridge was struck off to John Currier for $47. Thomas Miner, Joshua Wells and Robert Barber were to "lay out a road from West Farms to the center of the Town." "Voted that the road from John M. Barbers to J. Flints be opened and recorded." This was not recorded until 1795 and extended from the south end of the Street to the Switch (8). A committee was appointed to inspect the bridge built by Thomas Miner over the Indian River. In 1794 there
391
ROADS.
were ten highway surveyors and districts. "Voted not to ac- cept the road from Mr. Flints to Shubal Burdicks." "Voted to present a petition to the Sessions respecting the road from Pros- pect Hill to Lyme." This matter was brought up at the town meeting in Hanover and it was postponed. There is no mention of this among the court records. The town voted "to accept the survey of a road from Ebenezer Eames to Dames Gore" (5). "Voted to accept survey of road from Enfield line near Asa Paddlefords by the Brick Yard to North Branch Bridge" and from "Steven Eastmans to Daniel Morses." To lay out a road from "the Meeting house to the Widow Steven's or near by in the most convenient place." Nothing is known of this road nor of the one accepted later from "Widow Stevens to Joshua Stevens."
Almost everyone wanted a road at this time to go anywhere, and any one could call out the committee and ask the town to accept of the road, all at the expense of the town. The town be- gan to realize that much unnecessary work was done which had to be paid for so they voted to put a stop to it in the follow- ing: "that if any man calls out the committee, and lays out a road, and the town does not accept of said Road, that the man which calls out said committee, pay them himself for their services."
In 1795 they voted "to petition the County Court to have the road made passable from Prospect Hill to Lyme through Han- over." This petition was dated August 22, 1796. Lyme ap- pointed Jonathan Freeman its agent to go before the Court of Common Pleas. The road from "Mr. Flints to Mr. Peaslee's South bound" was accepted. In 1796 the highway surveyors were increased to twelve, and no new roads were laid out or asked for.
In 1797 Ezekiel Wells was made agent of the town at the next term of the "Inferior Court Respecting the Lyme Road," on a petition for a road from Lyme to Canaan meeting house. This petition was dismissed February 26, 1798 (2).
The road to Lyme through the northeast corner of Hanover had been a source of much annoyance to the people of Lyme and Canaan. Hanover persistently refused to lay out the little piece of road in that town to join on to the ends of the road from
392
HISTORY OF CANAAN.
Canaan and Lyme. A petition dated July 6, 1796, was sent to the selectmen of Hanover by the selectmen of Canaan, in- forming them, "that the cryes of the injured Travellers are con- tinually ringing in our ears, on account of the intolarableness and almost impractacableness of Travelling the Road." No at- tention was paid and Canaan applied to the court. The court required notice to be given Hanover. After the dismissal of the petition for what cause is not known, the inhabitants of Lyme and Canaan at once petitioned Hanover to lay out the road, and on August 31; 1798, the selectmen of Hanover, ap- pointed a place to meet the selectmen of the other two towns in Lyme on the 20th of September "and see where a suitable place for sd road can be found."
The town "Voted to lay a rode from Moody Noyes on his line to Joseph Flint's land, and from thence in the most convenient place to sd Flints." This is the same road not accepted in 1794 when Shubel Burdick lived on Moody Noyes' farm. "To lay a road from Mr. Flints to the Meeting house in the most convenient place and that the road be established when the committee lays it" (9). It was laid in 1798 and Moody Noyes conveyed a strip of land four rods wide and two hundred long to the selectmen of Canaan for it. A road was laid out "from the road that goes by Mr. Carlton's in the most convenient and best place by Nathaniel Whichers to the road that goes to Dorchester by Nathaniel Gil- mans." This was recorded in 1800 (12). In 1798 no roads were voted nor in 1800. In 1801 the town voted not to "change the road from Ezra Nichols to the Meeting house." This re- quested change was afterwards granted. "Voted to reconsider Ezra Nichols road to Nath Barbers." "To establish a road from John M. Barbers to Nichols." Ezra Nichols lived on the Coch- ran place, and Nath Barber at A. W. Hutchinson's.
The town voted "to lay out a road from West Farms to the Meeting house," to exchange road from Joshua Harris' northerly down the hill (8) from where it "is now trod, into the Range way between Harris and James Doten to the North end of Dotens land" (9). "Voted to give Moses Richardson $12, on condition that he give a deed to the town of a road four rods wide from near his house to Francis Kinneson," and "Daniel Farnum $10 for a four rod road through his land and Francis Kinneson's
393
ROADS.
land," "where the road was run to Moses Richardsons land." This road went from South road to the road to Grafton (17). The highway from West Farms to Prospect Hill was accepted (16), and one from Clark Currier's by Richard Clark, 3d's, to Reynold Gates's, and from said Clark's by Levi Cilley's to Am- brose Chase's (14), also from Clark Currier's to Josiah Barber's (15). Directions were given to open a road from Deacon Harris' barn to Thaddeus Lathrop's. In 1802, "Voted to move road to the north line of Jonathan Carlton's lot" (20). The road was first laid in 1800. The bridge over Goose Pond Brook on the West Farms road was bid off to Jonathan Carlton for $36, to be 16 feet wide of 21/2 inch plank. The road from Captain Wells' orchard to Moses Chase's house through J. and Elam Meacham's land to the old road was discontinued, and a road to Moses Chase's another way was voted to be laid out (20a). This is the first vote of the discontinuance of any road by the town, many roads hereafter were voted discontinued and passed out of use, many others by not being used have been closed and fenced in by adjoining owners.
The laying out of roads in the early days was sometimes done by committees and sometimes by selectmen, contrary to the law. Nor were roads discontinued legally. Some roads were laid out by the courts, and some became roads from constant travel by the public. Efforts made in the interests of private individuals to close roads have, when opposed, met with dis- aster, and the roads have continued open. It is oftentimes a question for the courts to decide and is the only safe method to pursue in closing a highway for a long time traveled over by the public.
In 1803 John Currier, William Richardson and Daniel Far- num were appointed a committee to lay out necessary roads. There were fourteen highway surveyors, and thirty cents was raised by the rate for roads. The town "Voted to open road from the head of Broad Street to Thadeus Lathrops on as reasonable terms as they can with the owners of the land." "To raise $75 for a new road from Joshua Wells to Orange line towards Grafton" (21). "To Discontinue road from Nathaniel Gilmans to Joseph Randletts as soon as new road is passable." New road was recorded 1802 (19).
394
HISTORY OF CANAAN.
In 1804 fifteen surveyors were appointed, but no new roads were voted, and the town refused to build a bridge from Levi George's to Town Hill. Mr. George lived opposite George Ginn's. In 1805 there are 17 surveyors, the town offers fifty cents per day from June to August and thirty-four cents after that time for work on the road. The town "voted to build a bridge over the Mascoma at or near William Campbell's saw mill, and the committee to call upon the inhabitants to build the same." This is the bridge refused in 1804. In 1806 they voted again "to build a bridge at William Campbell's new mill over the river"- the bridge near the old tray factory. The town voted "That Capt. George keep two gates free on the road from his house to Wm. Campbell's for two years." "To ex- change old road for land to Wm. Campbell's new mill to the place where new bridge is to be built" (25). "To examine road that leads from near Jehu Jones and comes out to the road below Lt. Follensbees mill" (22), and that the survey, "of Jehu Jones road to Welches Mill be opened by surveyor."
The September Term of the General Sessions, laid out a road from South Road to Enfield line. This is the first road recorded in the court record as laid out in Canaan (26), and the next is in 1822.
In 1807 six cents per hour was paid on the highway for men and oxen. There are seventeen surveyors. The survey of Blake's road was accepted (23), in the southwest corner of the town and also a survey of South Road (24).
In 1808 Daniel Pattee, Joshua Harris and John Currier were chosen to fix a place to build a bridge "over the North Branch of Mascoma and make survey of road from where it crosses said river to where it intersects old road." "The old road from near Codfish Hill to river where old bridge was," was discontinued (28) and also the road from near Joshua Harris to Town Hill Bridge, which was the last seven or eight courses (8). This road led from South Road north to the river, on the line between Joshua Harris', afterward Sylvester Jones' and James Doten's. After the road was discontinued Joshua Harris pitched upon it in the right of Daniel Harris and it became a part of his farm. The road through "George Waleworths land so far as it goes 'was thrown up', he giving liberty to travel to
395
ROADS.
the burying ground and keeping gates or bars convenient to pass" (22). This is the road by the Cobble Graveyard to South Road.
In 1809 they voted to exchange the road beside the pond from Wells' to Broad Street as soon as the turnpike is passable. And also "to explore ground for a road from Broad Street on direc- tion to Lebanon City to Canaan line." This refers to what is now called the "Lebanon Road." As a continuous road it was never laid out so far as known. There was a road or path from Eames' mill by John M. Barber's (Israel Sharon) down the hill to the bridge and across the flat to William Campbell's, known in early times as the road across Town Hill from east to west. From there on it passed through interval lots of Wells and Eleazer Scofield to Enfield line. There were numerous changes in these roads until it is probable the present road was the final development.
In 1810 the committee "are to measure Mr. Walesworths lot of land and if there is any allowance for a road they are to lay out and open the road from Jehu Jones to Welchs Mill which was discontinued." The road from the north end of Broad Street near the burying ground, southerly as far as David Dus- tin's house was discontinued, a part of the old path to Eames' mill, and a road from "Dustin's to the Street near Capt. Moore's" was opened but not laid until 1821 (48). The road "from the brook near David Lawrence's house northerly, as far as the old schoolhouse on the northwest corner of Samuel Welch, Jr.'s land," was changed to a place further west and also the "road from the brook as far northeasterly as Welch's house," was changed to near Eliphalet Richardson's orchard (39). John Currier was allowed fifty cents a rod for building extra fence on account of these changes.
In 1811 it was voted, "to make a road passable on the best ground from some place on Broad street by the Brick yard to Enfield line, near Asa Paddleford's." "To settle with Job Tyler for a road through his land" (32). "To discontinue road from William Chase's barn northerly as far as Levi Cilley's house, also from Luther Kinney's northerly by Richard Clark, Jr.'s, to Turnpike at Hovey pasture" (14). And the "road from Richard Clark, Jr.'s, north by Josiah Clark's to turnpike near
396
HISTORY OF CANAAN.
Saml. Gates" (14) was discontinued. They voted "to lay a road from near Caleb Seabury's to the road that leads from Clark Currier's to Amasa Clark's." "To exchange road from Wells barn easterly as far as Abel Hadley's orchard, for a road on the west side of said Hadley's orchard to the turnpike." One hun- dred and eighty dollars was to be laid out on the road to Enfield by John H. Harris, "that was fined by the court." Roads, like persons, in those days were indicted and fined for being bad. Abel Brown's request "to remove a road by building a bridge over a run of water in Dist. No. 8, and to straighten road from the bottom of the hill, near Lawrence mill to the turnpike on the south line of land lately sold to Saml. Church," was granted.
The old Scofield bridge and the log bridge, a little east of it, were rebuilt. It was voted that the "selectmen lay out a road from Ezekiel Wells, Jr.'s, to old Post guide on County road that leads to John Willises" (35) ; "from the Meeting house to back road near John M. Barber's (31) ; and discontinue road to bury- ing ground near Daniel Colby's"; "to alter road on hill, south of John M. Barber's." "To assist the Town Hill district so much as to make their part of the new road from Center district to old road in Town Hill district." "To lay out a road on the east route, according to plan exhibited by selectmen acrost Clark Currier's land."
In 1812 the road from "Dea. Josiah Clark's bridge to turn- pike, near John Worth, Jr.'s barn," was accepted (34), and the road from "Saml. Whittier's to Dea. Clark's bridge," was ex- changed for it.
The road from Clark Currier's to the burying ground was ex- changed for the road from the burying ground to Amasa Clark's. Esquire Pettingill was asked to procure a continuance for those roads which were indicted. If the road could be fixed before the return of the indictment and trial, there would be no fine. The road from the old brick yard easterly, "crossing the Intervale to the County road at the Post guide, and the road from near Stephen Clifford's, easterly to northwest corner of E. Wells, 3d's, orchard," were discontinued. In place of the latter was (35).
In 1813 the road from the north end of "Broad street to Gore line, near Asel Jones's," was straightened. One hundred and
397
ROADS.
sixty dollars was raised this year for making roads and bridges. The road from "Thadeus Lathrop, Jr.'s, to the bridge between the two sawmills," was discontinued. The committee were or- dered to explore the ground for a new road from Greeley's mills to the West Farms' road. The report on straightening the road from Gore Road to Broad Street was not accepted. The selectmen were requested to lay out a road from Seth Daniels' to Welch's Mills (37), to straighten the road from the meeting house to Judah Wells', and a survey of a road from Mescheck Blake's to Hanover was accepted (36). The road from Esquire Currier's to Wood's mills was straightened and Currier allowed $30.
In 1814 Stephen Goodhue petitioned Canaan for a road from Canaan's meeting house to Plymouth and the town voted to op- pose it. In 1815 the road from Joseph Clark's to the turnpike was laid, and the road from Ensign Colby's to Daniel B. Whit- tier's was discontinued (20). John Fales was given the "old road against his land southerly, which is discontinued, lying be- tween the two brooks, for the present contemplated road crossing his land." Eliphalet Richardson is given '"one rod off, westerly side of old road from southerly side of the Mill brook, four rods northerly as far as where the new road leaves the old one to sd Richardson's orchard." The two last votes refer to the road at the Corner, voted to be changed in 1810 (39).
In 1816 the town quiets John Currier in the possesion of the old road, between his land and Bailey Welch. And D. B. Whit- tier, Nathaniel and Ephraim Wilson are quieted in the posses- sion of another old road (20).
In 1818 it is voted to lay out a road "from Adam Pollard's by Caleb C. Bartlett's to highway near Nathl. Bartlett's" (43). The survey of a road by Stephen Worth's is accepted (42).
In 1820 the road from March Barber's to the meeting house was straightened (44). March Barber lived on the old Benjamin Norris farm and the old road came up over the hill southwest of Israel Sharon's in a straight line to meet the road from the Switch and continued to the south end of Broad street over the latter road. The old road was given to J. M. Barber from the north side of James Wallace's land, down the hill to the Nichols or Cochran land. The road as straightened, is now the traveled road from the town house to the Norris bridge.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.