USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Canaan > The history of Canaan, New Hampshire > Part 9
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In 1815, Lawyer Pettingill is elected representative, town treasurer and moderator. He held these offices for four years in succession. For being treasurer he received the munificent sum of two dollars. Daniel Blaisdell, for being first selectman, the sum of $16.06; Daniel Pattee, second selectman, $9.01; Nathaniel Bartlett, third selectman, $3.52; Moses Dole, town clerk, $2.50.
The militia, having returned from Portsmouth, the town was asked to make up "any addition to their wages," to $12 per month. The town, in a long series of resolutions, in 1812 had patriotically voted to give them a just amount for guarding rich men's property, but they are not of the same opinion now, and refuse to make up anything. The poor are vendued as usual - James Woodbury is bid off by John Currier for nothing per week; Mrs. Woodbury goes to William G. Richardson for thirty-eight cents per week, and Widow Pattee and her daughter to Jacob Jewel, who lived near the Gore, for $67.95. Two hun- dred and sixty dollars was voted for town charges and the same rate for roads as last year.
In 1816, $150 is raised for town charges, and the same as last year for roads. The Widow Pattee is bid off to Daniel Pattee for seventy dollars, the Davis family are left for the selectmen to care for and Mrs. Wells, James Woodbury, Jr., and his father go to "Biley" Hardy.
In 1817, $300 is raised for town charges, roads the same as
1
88
HISTORY OF CANAAN.
before. The Widow Pattee is bid off to Jonathan Foster for $66.75, Mrs. Woodbury and James for $100 to Joseph Clark. The town is asked to provide a work house for their poor. The paupers have become so numerous that some cheaper way is sought to take care of them, but the town refuses to do otherwise than it has been doing for all the past years. Hiring their poor taken care of by the lowest bidder. The selectmen are requested to provide a pall for the use of the town.
In 1818, $400 is raised for town charges, roads the same as last year. Widow Pattee and her daughter go to David Gould for $66.50; James Woodbury to Mr. Gould for $68, and Mrs. Woodbury to Elisha Miner for $36.
And so closes the second book of town records. The men prominent in these years are: Daniel Blaisdell, Ezekiel Wells, John Currier, Caleb Seabury, Jacob Trussell, Daniel Pattee, Elias Porter, Thomas H. Pettingill, Hubbard Harris, Daniel B. Whittier, Nathaniel Currier, Jacob Dow, George Walworth, Nathaniel Bartlett, Daniel Hovey, John Worth, Jim Woodbury and young Jim.
In the year 1797 we find Clark Currier was licensed "to keep tavern the present year," also in 1812 and 1813. "Lt. Simeon Arvin has our approbation to keep tavern, and sell spirituous liquors by retail." "Capt. Joshua Harris to be a person well qualified to retail spirituous liquors." "Theophilus Currier to keep a public house." "Wm. Parkhurst, of Canaan, living on the Broad Street near the Meeting house, be a person well qualified to sell spiritous liquors." Also, in 1798 and 1799, Simon Smith is licensed to sell liquor on parade day, October 7, 1812, in the street, between Simeon Arvin's and Jacob Dow's. Moses Dole holds a license for a tavern and retailer of rum from 1800 to 1821. Joshua Harris from 1802 to 1809. Simeon Arvin holds a license from 1799 to 1814; Dudley Gilman in 1798-1800; Mary Gilman in 1801 and Dudley in 1802; John Perley in 1799; Oliver Smith, 1798; Hubbard Harris, 1799; John Wilson, 1802- '03; Micaiah Moore from 1803 to 1812; John H. Harris in 1805, 1815-1817; Joshua Harris in 1806; and the last two in 1817-'18; Nathaniel Barber in 1806; Daniel Blaisdell, Jr., on parade day, September 28, 1809, and 1810.
Cardigan Mountain and Canaan
CHAPTER VIII.
TOWN MEETINGS, 1819-1909.
The third book of town records begins with 1819. The Widow Pattee was sold to Warren Wilson for $65, James Woodbury also for $67; Mrs. Woodbury and Lewis Lambkin's children are left to the selectmen to dispose of. Amasa Jones got $14 for taking care of Mrs. Lambkin. The pay received by the select- men the last year for their services was as follows: Elias Porter, $13.93; John H. Harris, $11.13; Daniel Blaisdell, $13.33; Thomas H. Pettingill received $2 for being treasurer and Daniel Hovey $4.50 as clerk. Four hundred and ninety-nine dollars was voted for town charges and to build and repair bridges. The rate for highways is fifty cents. In 1820, $350 was voted for town charges. Parrot Blaisdell of Orange took James Wood- bury for $39, the other poor are left to the selectmen, as well as Prescott Clark's children. The census of the town this year shows 1,198 persons, a gain of 104 since the last.
In 1821, $750 was voted for town charges, roads at the same rate. The poor are left to the selectmen to dispose of: James Woodbury, Widow Pattee, Betsey Colby, - who is to be taken to her husband and relieve the town, - Mrs. Lambkin and her son, Abigail Flint, Prescott Clark and his four children. The selectmen are to procure guideboards.
In 1822, the time for calling the annual meeting passed and recourse was had to Daniel Blaisdell, as justice of the peace, to call it. The selectmen were voted sixty-seven cents a day for taking the inventory and fifty cents in other matters. They voted "to purchase of John Fales a convenient place for a burying ground." This is the first addition to the Street Ceme- tery. One hundred dollars was voted to fence it and the other grounds. Two hundred dollars was voted "for extra expenses."
The Canaan Musical Society was incorporated this year with a charter from the legislature, dated June 27, 1822. John Currier, Timothy Tilton and Moses Kelley were the incorpora-
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HISTORY OF CANAAN.
tors. The society had the privilege of holding $1,000 worth of property. In 1823, $450 was voted for town charges. In 1824, $400 was voted and the same amount in 1825. In 1826, $500 was raised for town charges; in 1827, $600; in 1828, $800. In 1830, population was 1,428, a gain of 230.
In 1836, abolitionism was rampant over the country, both sides did not hesitate to express their opinions of each other and many of them, personal friends and neighbors, became enemies of the bitterest kind. Canaan was not without its sympathizers on both sides and feeling ran high. The opponents of the abolition- ists were in power and they did not hesitate to "resolve" at the town meetings, against the other side expressing their contempt of the principles of the abolitionists.
At the annual meeting in 1836, the opponents expressed their spite against Hubbard Harris in the following manner: "Voted that if Hubbard Harris refuses to present to the committee chosen for the purpose of examining the doings of said Harris while treasurer, the orders and papers in his hands for their inspection, the selectmen are authorized to commence suit." In October of the same year a town meeting was called and Dr. Thomas Flanders, Capt. Joseph Wheat, and James Pattee were appointed a committee to draft resolutions "suited to the con- dition and state of abolitionism" in the town, which they did in the following way :
Whereas, we the legal voters in the town of Canaan, understanding the abolitionists in the town are about to petition Congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, would take this opportunity to express our opinion, on the subject in open town meeting, notified and warned for the purpose of choosing electors of President and Vice- President of the United States, and would respectfully remonstrate against Congress interfering with the institution of slavery in said District of Columbia, or any of the States of the United States. As we believe it to be unconstitutional and inexpedient, as has been ably and candidly shown by the Committee of the House of Representatives.
Resolved, that we view abolitionism in the present form to be the seed of Toryism, the spirit of the Hartford Convention, the scum of Anti-masonry, and the foe to Democracy, which requires the vigilence of the people to detect its secret plans.
Resolved, that these remarks, remonstrances and resolutions, be signed by the selectmen and town clerk and transmitted to some of our delegation in Congress and also a copy be sent to the N. H. Patriot and States Gazette.
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TOWN MEETINGS, 1819-1909.
Not satisfied with this they further reported :
That whereas abolitionism has of late attempted to hold incendiary meetings headed by infamous hirelings from abroad, calculated to dis- turb the Public Peace. Therefore, resolved, that a committee of Vig- ilence be appointed to consist of 23 persons, that in case any more of such meetings should be appointed, that they use such measures as they in their wisdom should think proper to put a stop to such meet- ings.
Resolved, that it be recommended to the several school districts not to employ any instructor or instructors to teach any of the schools in said districts (who may be tainted or suspected of taint of this cursed heresy ).
The last was omitted from the record.
The following persons were appointed for the committee of vigilence:
March Baber
John Fales jr
Daniel Pattee
Peter Stevens
Daniel Campbell
Ezra Nichols
Nathaniel Shepherd
Wm. Campbell
James Pattee
Daniel Pattee jr
Nathaniel Eaton
Herod Richardson
John Shepherd
Benj. Porter
Elijah Colby
Americus Gates
Amos Miner
Daniel Currier
Henry C. George Joseph Dustin
Chamberlain Packard jr
Wesley P. Burpee.
John Fales
In 1837, there is an attempt to get the town to purchase a poor farm. The article is dismissed and it is not until 1839 that the farm is purchased.
In 1840, the town votes not to pay anything for ringing the bell. The census of the town this year was 1,576 persons, a gain of 148.
In 1842, Phineas C. Dunham, who lived in the old tavern, the Grand View House, was to receive "$6 for ringing the meeting house bell for meetings on the Sabbath and for all funerals, and that said sum be paid to said Dunham's wife in monthly installments provided he rings said bell suitably and regularly." He was a little inclined to be irresponsible at times from the effects of too much stimulants.
In 1843, the town voted to accept proposals from any one who would take the poor farm for the ensuing year. Bartlett Hoyt
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HISTORY OF CANAAN.
was allowed $6.75 for coffin, grave clothes and digging grave for his father-in-law, Robert Wilson.
In 1844, the disposition of the poor farm is left with the selectmen. The farm had become a burden. They let it to James Tyler and received $130.
In 1844, Hannah Page was a town charge. She had owned a part of the Jenniss farm. The town was asked to sell their inter- est and distribute the proceeds as they had done with the surplus revenue. This the town refused to do. Stephen Jenniss wanted the farm and the town offered it to him if he would take care of Hannah and take her off the town. He was to have the use of the farm as long as she lived by taking care of her. At her decease he was to have the farm. In 1845, the town was asked to quitclaim to Jenniss the part of this farm taken by the Northern Railroad and it refused. In 1854, the town deeded the farm to Jenniss.
There was some talk of a hearse this year, but the town refused to purchase one. The selectmen wanted more pay per day and asked for seventy-five cents. The town refused it. This year they voted that Sawyer Hill should be known as Prospect Hill. The name never stuck. There seems to be a fad among some people to change old names which mean so much to new ones which have no meaning at all. The new names last long enough to be confusing and then die out, never to be heard of more, like those who invented them. Before Benjamin Sawyer settled there, in the old surveys it was called the "Hill east of Goose Pond." Along about 1800 it was called Prospect Hill. It then became Sawyer Hill.
In 1844, the temperance spirit appeared again in the warrant, that the selectmen should not license any "person to sell spirit- uous liquors." Examination of the old account books of the traders and tavern-keepers, shows that the greatest number of items in almost any man's account was for rum and molasses. License to sell liquor was granted by the selectmen without any apparent qualifications, except the ability to keep a stock of it on hand. The fee charged was two dollars.
All the traders held licenses and the tavern-keepers. Licenses were also granted to many others for muster day, to sell in the
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TOWN MEETINGS, 1819-1909.
street. The common, the field north of C. P. King's store, and A. W. Hutchinson's field, on the side of the Pinnacle, were used as muster fields. James Wallace was a trader whose store was located a few rods south of the present Wallace house. He sold rum in 1818 and for many years. The store was moved and a part of it is now the barn attached to Doctor Shrigley's house. Nathaniel Currier whose store was at the upper end of the "Street," sold rum. So did Capt. Joseph Wheat, Elder Wheat's son, James Arvin, Simeon Arvin's son, at the lower end of the street ; Daniel Porter, John Clough, Seth Daniels, who lived on George W. Davis' farm; James Pratt, Benjamin Blake. On muster day, October 11, 1819, these men could have been seen selling liquor either on the street near "Widow Hannah Ar- vin's" or at their own stores.
Rum was sold on the street on election day - in fact, any day that any one wanted it. John Worth at East Canaan, Guilford Cobb on the street, Eleazer and Jesse Martin, James B. Wallace and Albert Martin, Currier & Wallace, Perley & Pattee, Charles Hutchinson, Jonathan Barnard, Calvin Pressey, Phineas East- man, B. P. George, Eleazer Barney and James C. Pattee are those whose names appear from 1818 to 1855.
In 1846, there were eight candidates for representative in the field and after balloting all day they adjourned until the next morning. Jonathan Kittredge's friends stood by him and he was finally elected.
In 1847, the town voted to "prohibit Horses, Neat Cattle, Sheep and Swine from going at large in any Street highway or Common." This vote was reiterated in 1865 by imposing a fine of $2.
In September of this year the Northern Railroad had laid its rails as far as Grafton and in November the trains ran as far as Lebanon. Before that date the village at the station consisted of but a few houses and most of those were on the Turnpike. After this it began to assume the size of a vil- lage and for many years was known as East Canaan, and not until it had changed itself into a fire precinct did it leave off the word "East."
At the annual meeting in 1849 the town balloted for three days
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HISTORY OF CANAAN.
for town clerk and then voted to pass the article. This entry is found on the record: "After three days hard labor and twenty hard and hotly contested Ballottings, concluded to let the 'Old Coon' remain in his (the) hole, James Burns Wallace therefore remains town clerk until another clerk is chosen."
The town also voted six times for representative and then voted not to send one. James Burns Wallace was a candidate for that office, and they could neither defeat him nor elect him.
In the next year, 1850, "After three unsuccessful ballotings for town clerk, voted to pass the article, and Wallace remains, he thinks the people of Canaan are a spunky lot of fellows." There was no choice for representative this year, the indepen- dent vote, represented by Caleb Dustin, serving to defeat both Allen Hayes, the Whig candidate, and W. P. Weeks, the Demo- cratic candidate.
Benjamin P. George was employed this year to take charge of the town house. Mr. George continued in this position as long as he lived. He lived in a house on the site of C. W. Dustin's. Before this he had lived in the Gore, in a house now no longer in existence, but the cellar hole still remains, next above the house J. W. Hoyt built, and on the other side of the road. The census of the town for 1850 shows 1,683 persons, a gain of 107.
In 1851, the town offered $100 reward to discover the person who burned Sam Avery's barns, and William W. George was appointed town agent to discover the person, but without avail. Samuel Avery had three barns burned by an incendiary some time previous to this date. Avery worked away from home most of the time. No one was seen to go there, as the farm was off the traveled road. One barn burned and he hired a man by the name of Dudley to hew out timbers and build a new one. This burned and Avery hired Dudley to build another. This burned; and Avery, becoming tired of rebuilding, traded with Levi Hamlet, in 1852, for the house now occupied by Mrs. Mary A. Robie, which Hamlet had built. Avery thought his wife set fire to the barns, as she did not want to live there. His son, Thomas D. Avery, ran away to sea, was gone several years, came back and bought the John Smith place, northeast of Hart's Pond, sold out and went to Loudon.
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1
TOWN MEETINGS, 1819-1909.
In 1853, the old poor farm, having been sold in 1846, the town was asked to purchase another, the experience having been dis- astrous, and the town refused. John M. Barber and Bartlett Hoyt were appointed agents to purchase the first hearse, har- nesses and house for the same, at an expense not to exceed $150.
In 1854, the town voted to accept and print 500 copies of the report of the superintending school committee. This report was the work of Mr. C. C. Webster, who was then teaching in the academy. Dr. Arnold Morgan and John M. Barber were the other members of the board, but they performed little service. This first report of any town officers ever printed is as true today as then - it is the best report ever printed.
In 1855, the town voted to print 400 copies of the auditors' report. This is the first town report printed. In 1856, the town voted to have the school committee's report printed with the selectmen 's.
In 1857, the town voted to hire a farm for their poor and also made the same vote in 1860. In 1859, the town voted to choose the state, county and town officers on one ballot. Before this they had been voted for separately. The "Canaan Grenadiers" was formed this year, under state law, and the town accepted them as a volunteer company. The south side of the town house was shingled this year. The census for 1860 shows 1,762 inhab- itants, a gain of 79.
In 1861, the Rebellion having begun, the town voted to borrow such sums of money as would be necessary to take care of the indigent families of volunteers. They paid out during the year $800.42. In 1865, the town voted to issue $10,000 in bonds, payable in from three to ten years at six per cent. interest, paya- ble semi-annually.
In 1870, the town voted to apply the railroad tax on the town debt, which at that time was $61,173.39. They also voted to establish a cemetery in the northeast corner of the town near Hiram Jones'. This vote was never carried out, although many people had been buried there. But in 1909, the town procured a deed of the land. The census this year showed the largest population the town ever had, 1,877, a gain of 115 in ten years.
In 1876, the town voted not to establish the East Canaan fire precinct. Thirteen years later, on November 4, the selectmen
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HISTORY OF CANAAN.
were petitioned to lay out Canaan fire precinct, which was done on the seventh.
In 1878, the town voted to bond its indebtedness, which at that time amounted to $44,316.18. The interest was to be at four per cent., free from taxation. Ten thousand one hundred dollars' worth of bonds, payable in from one to seven years, at the option of the town, and ten thousand dollars' worth of bonds payable in from seven to fourteen years, were issued by the town. The last of these bonds was paid in 1890.
In 1879, the town voted to notify the Northern Railroad to protect the crossing at Welch's mill. In February, 1877, Enoch Call had been killed at that crossing. It was many years after- wards before there was adequate protection by discontinuing that part of the road which crossed the track and building a new one north of the grist-mill.
In 1880, the town pound was abolished by vote and ordered sold. The census this year showed 1,762 inhabitants, a loss of 105 in ten years. The town also adopted a seal for its weights and measures, which was the figure "2."
In 1884, the town adopted the act relating to blank inven- tories. The law was carried out for a few years until now the blanks are carried around and very rarely sworn to, and are practically useless for the purpose for which they were designed -to make a man give in all his taxable property to the assessors.
In 1887, the town received its first trust fund for the benefit of cemeteries. Hiram Richardson bequeathed $500, the income of which was to be expended in the care of Sawyer Hill Ceme- tery. In 1888, the increasing demand for better sidewalks led the town to instruct the selectmen to spend part of the highway money upon them. Chapter 79 of the Public Statutes relating to sidewalks and sewers was accepted, and on September 5 the selectmen laid out certain sidewalks at the depot. The census of the town in 1890 was 1,426 persons showing a loss of 336 in ten years, two less persons in town than sixty years before, in 1830. The library law was adopted in 1892 and the town re- ceived $100 worth of books from the state. This was the begin- ning of the town library. It was kept for some years in Miss Emma A. Bell's house, the librarian, until it became so large that
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TOWN MEETINGS, 1819-1909.
more room being needed the upper floor of the academy building was fitted up. In 1907, Abram L. Williams bequeathed to the library $500, to be expended in the purchase of useful books, provided the town would raise a like amount for that purpose. The town raised $125 at first, and the next year raised the balance. There are now in the library about 3,000 volumes, besides many unbound books and pamphlets. In 1894, the town received the Jesse Martin fund of $500, the income of which was to be expended upon the care of the Martin and Blodgett lots in the Street Cemetery.
The police court was established by vote of the town in 1895, and Warren B. Richardson was appointed by the governor and council, police justice. He resigned in April, 1907, and James B. Wallace was appointed.
The Hiram M. Cobb bequest was received by the town in 1898 of $300, the income to be expended on the care of the Cobb lot in the Street Cemetery. The William D. Currier mausoleum was accepted as a part of the Street Cemetery in 1900. The population of the town had slightly increased this year to 1,444, from ten years ago. The Pattee fund of ten shares of Northern Railroad stock was received by the town in 1901, one half the income to be expended on West Canaan Cemetery and the other half to be used by the town. In 1902, the Lura G. Milton fund of $500 was received, and the income was to be expended upon the care of the Milton lot in the Street Cemetery. In 1905, the Wells' fund of $200 was received and the income was to be ex- pended upon the care of the Peter S. Wells lot in West Canaan Cemetery. In 1907, the town received two bank books, one of $100, the other of $300, bequests of Abram L. Williams, the in- come of the first to be expended in cutting the bushes along the roadside about the West Farms Cemetery, the income of the $300 to be expended in the care of the Williams, Longfellow and Knowlton lots in the same cemetery. In 1908, the town accepted $200 from C. H. Hackett, the income to be expended in the care of his lot in the Street Cemetery.
A
7
Clark Pond.
CANAAN, 1910.
Goose Pond.
Sawyer Hill
Hart Pond
Broad Street.
West Farms.
Toyn Hill
Baar. Fond.
Canaan
West
canaan
₹
1
South Road
Mod
CHAPTER IX.
THE PITCH BOOK AND PROPRIETORS' SURVEYS.
The Pitch Book was a book of records kept by the proprietors' clerk, in which were recorded the pitches or claim of any owner of a right to any parcel of land, setting forth to what right the land should be allotted, the quantity, where it was located and bounded generally, the date, and to whom the pitch was made, to be hereafter surveyed. For a number of years this book was the only evidence of ownership, except occupation, which the early settlers had. When the lots or pitches were surveyed by the committees appointed by the proprietors, these surveys were recorded in the Proprietors' Book of Records.
The "Lot laing Committee" attended to the laying of the lots and they were surveyed at the instance of the committee by a surveyor for the person who had first recorded his pitch or claim, or to other persons who were entitled to them by purchase of the rights upon which such lands were laid, or by purchase from those who had bought the rights, or by gift for certain purposes by the proprietors. The old Pitch Book was lost. It no doubt saw hard usage and went to pieces. One piece of it is still in existence, in the handwriting of Ezekiel Wells. The earliest pitch recorded in it bears date May 1, 1795. There is also in existence the Pitch Book of lands in the Fourth Division, in the handwriting of John Currier, proprietors' clerk, consist- ing of a few leaves of paper sewed together with a string. There are two pitches recorded in the Book of Proprietors' Surveys, one of which is as follows:
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