USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > The history of Concord : from its first grant in 1725, to the organization of the city government in 1853, with a history of the ancient Penacooks ; the whole interspersed with numerous interesting incidents and anecdotes, down to the present period, 1885 > Part 10
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Agreed upon and Voted, That Mr. Ebenezer Eastman, Mr. Abraham Foster and Mr. Joseph Hall shall be a committee to agree with some suitable person to keep a ferry on Merrimack river at Penny Cook, in the most convenient place they can find for that purpose ; and that they lay out and clear the best way they can to the ferry place, and after they have stated the place where the said ferry shall be kept, that the ferry-men shall have and receive the prices following, viz. : For ferrage of each man and horse, six pence ; for each horned beast, four pence ; and this establishment to remain and be in force for six years.
Agreed upon and Voted, That Capt. Henry Rolfe, Mr. Ebenezer Eastman and James Mitchell be empowered to exchange Samuel Jones's house lot to some more convenient place, there being no convenieney for water where the lot is now laid.
Agreed upon and Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to the house of Mr. Griffin, in Bradford, on the last Tuesday of October next, at nine of the clock in the forenoon.
HENRY ROLFE, Moderator.
A true copy - Attest :
JOHN WAINWRIGHT, C. Clerk.
91
PROPRIETARY RECORDS.
Rolfe, Esq., Nathan Webster and Joseph Parker - they paying, severally, five pounds for said lots .*
1728.
The spring of 1728 opened upon the new plantation with most favorable auspices. Eager to fulfil the conditions of their grant, and to become settled in their chosen home, a large number of the proprietors were early engaged in building houses ; elearing, feneing and plowing their lands. The block, or meeting-house, was finished ; canoes constructed for navigating the river; the new-way to Pennycook from Haverhill was improved, and the First Division of interval ordered to be completely fenced by the last of May. Messrs. Joseph Hale and John Pecker were chosen a committee to agree with a minister to preach at Pen- nycook - to begin the 15th of May, - but they were not to
1728.
ANDOVER, December the 10th, 1728.
To the Honorable Committee for Penny Cook :
Whereas those men which have been empowered for building the meeting-honse at Penny Cook, and laying out land, are kept out of their money, are in want of it, and they can't come at it :
We, the subseribers, humbly pray that a meeting be appointed for the community and society of Penny Cook, to consult some way and method how every man may come by his just dues, and also to see if they can come into some way and method to preserve their corn,- we received great damage the last year in our corn for want of fence,- and also to see whether those men that first went to wait upon the Honorable Committee to Penny Cook may have allowance for their service therein, and to do such other matters as may be thought necessary for the interest of the settlers.
TIMOTHY JOHNSON, JOHN CHANDLER, WILLIAM BARKER, EBENEZER STEVENS, JOSEPHI ABBOTT.
JOHN FOSTER, JOHN OSGOOD,
ABRAHAM FOSTER,
Due notification being issned upon this petition, 1729, N. S.
At a meeting of the settlers of Penny Cook, regularly assembled at Andover, the 8th day of January, Anno Domini 1728, at the said meeting were present the Honorable William Tailer, Esqr., John Wainwright, Esqr., and Mr. John Saunders, of the General Court's Committee.
Voted, That Ens'n John Chandler be moderator of this meeting.
Voted, That Benja. Stevens, Esq., be chosen and empowered to prefer a peti- tion to the Honorable General Court in behalf of the settlers of Penny Cook,
* See Document for Chap. III., No. 3.
92
THE PLANTATION OF PENACOOK.
" assure the gentleman more than after the rate of one hundred pounds per annum for his service."
In answer to a petition presented by John Osgood, in behalf of the settlers, - praying that an allowance might be made them for the five hundred acres formerly laid out to the right of Gov. Endicott - the General Court, on the 6th of August, this year, authorized them "to extend the south bounds of the township one hundred rods, the full breadth of their town," and the same was confirmed to them as an " equivalent for the afore- said five hundred acres."
Arrangements were also made for building a saw-mill within six months, a grist-mill within one year, and to establish a ferry at the most convenient place. The first grist-mill stood at or near the bark-mill now owned by Robinson & Morrill, in the East Village, and the saw-mill, on the same stream, about half a mile above. The mill-crank was brought upon a horse from Ha-
that they will be pleased to declare the said township to lie in the county of Essex, or some county.
l'oted, That the sum of six pounds be allowed and paid out of the settlers' treasury to the Honorable Col. Tailer, and Col. Wainwright, Esqrs., for their service in the Penny Cook affair, January 8th, 1728-9, and Deacon John Os- good, the present treasurer, is directed to pay the same accordingly.
Voted, That the meeting be adjourned to the house of Mr. John Griffin, in Bradford, to Wednesday, the twelfth day of March next, at nine of the clock before noon.
Attest : JOHN WAINWRIGHT, C. Clerk.
Upon adjournment on the twelfth day of March, 1728, the proprietors and settlers of the lands called Penny Cook met at the house of Mr. John Griffin, in Bradford, and the moderator, Ensign John Chandler, opened the meeting.
Voted, That a good and substantial fence, according to law, be made, so as to enclose the great interval, and secure the corn and mowing grass from the en- croachment of cattle, horses, &c., and that the said fence be made at the charge of the proprietors in said field in equal shares or parts, except Mr. John Ayer, who is excused for that he has no improvable land on the west side of the river, and that the said fence be made up and finished, completely finished, on or before the fifteenth day of May next.
Toted, That Messrs. Ebenezer Eastman, Ebenezer Stevens, John Chandler, John Pecker and Nathan Simonds, be a committee to view the fence and see that the same be made sufficient, according to law, and maintained accordingly ; and in case any one shall refuse to make and maintain his part of the fence, it shall and may be in the power of the committee to hire the fence made at the
93
PROPRIETARY RECORDS.
verhill. Soon after commencing operations the crank was broken. How to remedy the evil they knew not, as there was no black- smith nearer than Haverhill. One of the men, who had once been in a blacksmith's shop and seen them work, undertook to mend it. Collecting together a quantity of pitch-pine knots for a fire, they fastened the crank with beetle rings and wedges, and then welded the disjointed parts. The crank was afterwards used many years. For the grist-mill fifty pounds were allowed, and fifty acres of land granted to Nathan Symonds, as near to the mill as was convenient.
1729-1730.
It appears from the records that Rev. Bazalcel Toppan and Rev. Enoch Coffin, both of whom were proprietors, had been em- ployed to preach to the settlers. The first was allowed and paid thirty shillings in full discharge for his services ; and "the heirs
charge of the delinquent, and every such delinquent shall pay ten shillings per diem for every laborer who shall be employed and hired by said committee to make or repair such delinquent's fence.
Voted, That fourteen pounds, two shillings, be allowed and paid unto the sev- eral men who have laid their account before us for mending the highways to Penny Cook, in full discharge of said accounts.
Voted, That Mr. Bezaliel Toppan be allowed and paid out of the proprietors' treasury, for preaching and performing divine service at Penny Cook, thirty shillings in full discharge.
Voted, That the sum of four pounds be allowed and paid unto the heirs of the Reverend Enoch Coffin, deceased, for his preaching and performing divine ser- vice at Penny Cook, in full discharge.
Then the proprietors by unanimous vote desired the moderator to adjourn the meeting to this place, to the first Tuesday of May next, at nine o'clock, which was accordingly done. To which time this meeting stands adjourned.
Copy.
JOHN CHANDLER, Moderator.
1729.
At a regular meeting of the settlers of Penny Cook, begun and held at Ando- ver, the eighth day of January, Anno Domini 1728, and from thence continued by sundry adjournments to the house of John Griffin, in Bradford, to the sixth day of May, Anno Domini 1729, and then met.
Ensign JOHN CHANDLER, Moderator.
94
TIIE PLANTATION OF PENACOOK.
of the Rev. Enoch Coffin, deceased," were allowed and paid four pounds for his services. But as the settlers were resolved to have a minister permanently established among them, in Oc- tober, 1729, they voted to raise one hundred pounds "towards the support of an orthodox minister ;" and, October 14, 1730, in obedience to the order of the General Court's committee, voted,
Whereas several persons the last year lost their corn which was growing at Penny Cook, by reason of sundry disorderly persons who failed in bringing forward their settlements as was proposed, and by reason of several other inconveniences we labor under : therefore,
Voted, That Benjamin Stevens, Esqr., Messrs. John Pecker and John Osgood be a committee to lay our grievances before the General Court's Committee, in order to prefer a petition to the General Conrt at the next session for relief in the affair.
Voted, That Mr. William Barker, Lieut. Timothy Johnson and Mr. Nicholas White be a committee to make a ford-way over Sow Cooke river, and clear a way from thence to Merrimack river, against the eleven lots, to be done at the charge of the community by the 16th of May current.
Voted, That Mr. Nehemiah Carlton be desired to build a ferry boat of about nineteen feet long, and of a suitable breadth, to be well timbered, and every way well built, workmanlike, at the charge of the community, and to be done by the 20th of May current. Said boat to be delivered at Penny Cook for the use of the society. And a pair of good and suitable oars to be made by said Carlton, for said boat, said boat to be well and sufficiently caulked, pitched or turpentined, and finished fit to carry people and creatures.
Voted, That Messrs. John Osgood and John Pecker be desired to procure a minister to preach at Penny Cook, to the community there, the charge to be paid by the community.
Voted, That there be a floor of plank or boards laid in the meeting-house, at the charge of the community of Penny Cook, and that Lieut. Timothy Johnson and Mr. Nehemiah Carlton be a committee to get the floor laid as soon as may be conveniently.
Voted, That the sum of seven pounds, eighteen shillings and six pence, paid by several persons and several subscriptions, to the sum of forty-one shillings and six penee, be put into the treasurer's hands, and by him paid to Mr. Nehe- miah Carlton for the ferry boat when it is finished,- which was accordingly delivered to the treasurer.
(Copy.)
JOIIN CHANDLER, Moderator.
June 25th, 1729. The settlers of Penny Cook met at Mr. John Griffin's, at Bradford, taverner, and then chose Henry Rolfe, Esqr., moderator, and Mr. Obadiah Ayer, clerk for the present meeting.
The company met at two, afternoon, and immediately adjourned for half an hour. At five, afternoon, met again and chose Messrs. Deacon John Osgood, John Pecker, John Chandler, Ebenezer Eastman, Nathan Simonds, William
95
PROPRIETARY RECORDS.
by the admitted settlers, " that we will have a minister," and " that the Rev'd Mr. Timothy Walker shall be the Minister of the Town." A committee was also appointed to agree with Mr. Walker upon terms of settlement. Mr. Walker was a native of Woburn, Massachusetts. He was then about thirty years of age - a graduate of Harvard College, in 1725. How
Barker, Joseph Hall, to be a committee to call and agree with some suitable person to be a minister of the town of Penny Cook, and pay him such salary as shall hereafter be agreed upon by the company of settlers.
Voted, That the minister of said town shall be paid by the community one hundred pounds per annum for his preaching and performing divine service there.
Voted, and allowed to Mr. Henry Rolfe five pounds for his building a ferry boat for the carrying the community and company over the river Suncook.
The following persons paid, viz. : Deacon John Osgood, 11 shillings ; John Pecker, 3s .; Nath'l Lovejoy, 3s .; Obadiah Ayer, 3s. ; Joseph Hall, 3s .; David Kimball, 5s .; Nathaniel Page, 3s. ; Ebenezer Eastman, 5s. ; Nicholas White, 4s .; amounting in the whole to 40s.
Voted, That one hundred pounds be allowed and paid out of the company's treasury for and toward the settling of the first minister of Penny Cook, as an encouragement for settling as their minister, and taking the pastoral charge among them.
The moderator then adjourned to the last Wednesday in August next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon.
Attest : OBADIAH AYER, Clerk ..
The within votes were passed by the settlers of Penny Cook regularly assem- bled as within mentioned.
Concordat cum originali.
HENRY ROLFE, Moderator.
Attest :
JOHN WAINWRIGHT, C. Clerk.
Bradford, August 27th, 1729. At a meeting of the settlers of Penny Cook at the house of Mr. John Griffin, held by adjournment from a meeting of said set- tlers at the house of the above-said Griffin, on the 25th day of June, last past, when Henry Rolfe, Esqr., was chosen moderator. At the present meeting Mr. Nathaniel Coffin was chosen clerk for the present meeting.
Henry Rolfe, Esqr., was chosen to join with Benjamin Stevens, Esqr., and Mr. John Pecker to petition the General Court [as soon as may be] for to em- power the settlers of Penny Cook to raise money to pay public charges by mak- ing that settlement a township, invested with powers and privileges, &c., or other- wise, as may be thought proper.
Voted, That Ensign Chandler and Mr. Ebenezer Eastman are desired and empowered to alter the way to Penny Cook in some places, if they can do it to good advantage, and also to mend said way as they think best on the proprie- tors' charge.
96
THE PLANTATION OF PENACOOK.
long a term he had preached before he was called to settle is unknown. The "call" seems to have been unanimous, and Mr. Walker's answer to it in the affirmative. They agreed to pay him, as a salary, one hundred pounds for the first year ; then to increase forty shillings per annum till it came to £120- together with the use of the parsonage. The salary was to be
It was Voted, That this meeting shall be adjourned to the 14th day of October next, at nine of the clock in the forenoon, at the house of Mr. John Griffin.
What is above written is a true and just memorandum of the votes passed at the meeting on the day above written.
Witness my hand :
NATHANIEL COFFIN, Clerk. HENRY ROLFE, Moderator.
Concordat cum originali.
Attest :
JOIN WAINWRIGHT, C. Clerk.
Tuesday, October 14th, 1729. The intended settlers met by adjournment at Mr. John Griffin's, in Bradford, and chose Mr. Obadiah Ayer for this present meeting their clerk.
Noted, That every proprietor or intended settler of Penny Cook shall forth- with pay or cause to be paid into the hands of John Osgood, of Andover, the company's present treasurer, the sum of twenty shillings toward the support of an orthodox minister, and to preach at Penny Cook aforesaid for this current year,- the same to be by him paid in proportion to his preaching and perform- ing divine service at Penny Cook.
Voted, That the sum of fifty pounds be forthwith raised and paid into the hands of the company's treasurer ;- that is to say, ten shillings to be forthwith paid by each proprietor toward paying for a grist mill at Penny Cook, when the same shall be finished according to contract.
Whereas sundry persons who have been admitted intended settlers at Penny
Cook have refused to pay in their respective proportion of charges that have necessarily arisen in order to bring forward the settlement according to the condition of the grant, which very much tends to hinder and discourage the same :
Voted, therefore, That Messrs. Henry Rolfe, Esqr., and Deacon John Osgood, of Andover, be empowered to make due inquiry who or what persons are in arrearage, and that then Deacon John Osgood, or some meet person, be by him employed to call upon all such as are behind hand in their payments, forthwith to pay in the same to the company's treasurer ; and upon their refusal or non-pay- ment, to return their names to the General Court's Committee, praying that their honors would proceed with them with the utmost rigor and severity.
Voted, That Messrs. John Johnson, Ebenezer Stevens and John Pecker be a committee to view the saw mill and grist mill at Penny Cook, and see whether they be well built and finished according to contract, and so as to answer the company's design in granting the stream or streams, &c., and upon their report- ing that the said mills are so built, that then Mr. Osgood, our treasurer, be
97
PROPRIETARY RECORDS.
paid "in whatever shall be the medium of trade for the time being in this Province, at silver, seventeen shillings per ounce." The late John Farmer, Esq., estimated Mr. Walker's salary of £100 at $130,67; adding £20 it would be $156,83. In addition to this, £100 was paid to Mr. Walker " to enable him to build an house ;" and he also had, in his right, the lot laid out
directed to pay unto Mr. Simonds and company the sums heretofore granted for building said mills. Then
Voted, That Mr. Moderator be desired to adjourn this meeting to this place to the last Tuesday in March next, at ten of the clock in the morning, to which time and place the moderator accordingly adjourned the meeting.
Attest : O. AYER, Clerk.
Concordat eum originali. Attest : JOHN WAINWRIGHT, C. Clerk.
We, the subscribers, being chosen a committee at a meeting of the admitted settlers to bring forward the settlement of the town of Penny Cook, begun and held at the house of John Griffin, inn-holder, in Bradford, the sixth day of March, Anno Domini 1727, and from thence eontinned by adjournment to Wednesday, the fifteenth day of May, then following, at ten of the clock in the forenoon, and held at the bloek house at Penny Cook, this twenty-third day of July, A. D. 1730, have, according to the best of our skill or knowledge for the good of the town and the convenieney of the mills,- that is to say, the saw mill and grist mill, or for the builder thereof, have laid ont the hundred acres of land, fifty at or for each mill, according to the vote passed at the aforesaid meeting, in two parts or parcels,-the first bounded as follows, viz. : beginning at a poplar, which is Chandler's and Stevens' bounds at the head of the intervals, and run- ning southeasterly about sixty-five poles, to a stake between Eastman and Cog- geu ; thenee northeasterly, upon the head of the interval to a white oak, called Chandler's bonnds ; thenee northeast and by north, about one hundred poles, to a stake; thence northerly, about eighty-six poles, to a black oak marked ; thence southwesterly, about one hundred and forty poles, to a pitch pine marked ; thence southwesterly, thirty poles, to the poplar first mentioned. The second piece is as follows, viz. : beginning at a white oak marked, thenee northwesterly, about eighty poles, to a black oak marked ; thence southwesterly, about eighty poles, to a white oak marked, and from thenee to the white oak first mentioned, allowing a highway four rods wide from the saw mill so down by the grist mill to the white oak, which is Ensign John Chandler's bounds of his addition lot ; also, a highway from the corn mill northwesterly to the common land.
HENRY ROLFE, EBENEZER EASTMAN, JAMES MITCHELL.
A true copy of the original return, recorded and examined by
JOHN WAINWRIGHT, C. Clerk.
7
98
THE PLANTATION OF PENACOOK.
to the first minister. It was, however, expressly stipulated " that if Mr. Walker by extrcam old age shall be disenabled from carry- ing on the whole work of the Ministry, that he shall abate so much of his salary as shall be rational."
The 18th of November was appointed as the day for ordi- nation. The council invited and present, so far as known, were Rev. John Barnard, of North Andover, Rev. Samuel Phillips,
1730.
At a legal meeting of the settlers of Penny Cook by adjournment from Oeto- ber 14th, 1729, to Marel 31st, 1730, Henry Rolfe, Esqr., moderator. Mr. Jus- tice Wainwright appointed clerk to said settlers, [by the Honorable Committee of the General Court,] being absent, Joshua Bayley was chosen clerk by a full vote for said day.
Voted, That Messrs. John Osgood, John Pecker, Ebenezer Eastman, Jolin Chandler, William Barker, Joseph Hall and Nathan Simonds, be a committee to agree with the Rev. Mr. Timothy Walker, in order to his carrying on the work of the ministry in Penny Cook for the year ensuing, and to treat with the said Mr. Walker in order to his settlement in the work of the ministry in said place, and to make report to the next meeting.
Voted, That Mr. John Merrill be added to Messrs. Timothy Johnson and Nathan Simonds, in order to a speedy repairing the present meeting-house at Penny Cook, at the settlers' cost.
Fotod, That Messrs. John Chandler, Ebenezer Eastman and Ebenezer Virgin be a committee to amend and repair the way between the twenty mile tree and Penny Cook in what is necessary, not exceeding thirty pounds, at the settlers' cost.
Voted, That Messrs. John Pecker, Ebenezer Stevens and Abraham Bradley be a committee to amend and repair the necessary roads in Penny Cook, accord- ing to their discretion, for the year ensuing, at the settlers' cost, and also to build a good bridge over Sow Cook river, as soon as may be, at the cost of the settlers also.
Voted, That Henry Rolfe, Esqr., Mr. John Pecker and Mr. John Chandler be a committee to lay out a suitable place for a burying-place in the township of Penny Cook ; and if the said burying-place should happen to be on any man's lot, and the owner willing for the same, that the said committee are hereby empowered to lay out an equivalent in undivided lands in some other place, to his satisfaction.
Voted, That Messrs. Ebenezer Eastman, John Pecker, John Chandler, Eben- ezer Stevens and William Barker be a committee to take effectual care that the General Fence at Penny Cook be made up according to law by the 20th of April next, and that the proportion of fence be ordered to each proprietor that was appointed the last year, and the delinquents shall pay ten shillings per day for each day's work that shall be done by the appointment of the above-said com- mittee.
Voted, That Messrs. John Pecker, Ebenezer Stevens and Abraham Bradley be
99
PROPRIETARY RECORDS.
of South Andover, and Rev. John Brown, of Haverhill, Massa- chusetts. A church, consisting of eight members, including Rev. Mr. Walker, was organized on the same occasion. The expenses " for providing for the ordination," which were after- ward allowed and paid, " amounted to thirty-one pounds, ten shillings." The next week after ordination Mr. Walker went to Woburn for his wife, and she came to Penacook on horse-back, accompanied by four or five other women, wives of settlers.
During the year 1730 measures were taken for fencing the great interval; John Pecker, Ebenezer Stevens and Abraham Bradley appointed highway surveyors -" to mend and repair the necessary roads according to their discretion, and also to build a good bridge over Soucook river." Henry Rolfe, Esq., John Pecker and John Chandler were appointed " to lay out a
a committee to build a suitable pound in the township of Penny Cook, at the town's cost.
Voted, That David Barker and Jacob Shute be field drivers for the year ensuing.
Voted, That Henry Rolfe, Esq., and Mr. John Pecker, be a committee to apply themselves to the General Court, at a suitable time, for the end appointed the last year.
Voted, That John Merrill shall have the ferry at Penny Cook, and that said Merrill shall have twenty acres of land near the ferry of said town - said Mer- rill being to allow an equivalent in lands in some of his first division now to come. The said Merrill shall have four pence for a horse, two pence for a man, four penee for a beast ; that in twenty years the said Merrill is to carry the in- habitants of Penny Cook, at Penny Cook, at one penny per man and three pence per horse, and other beasts at three pence per head - the said ferry to be kept by the tenth day of April next, with a good boat and constant attendance, and to be regulated by such laws as the ferries are subject to ; the said Merrill to have said ferry and lands forever, provided said Merrill fulfills each article above mentioned ; otherwise, said Merrill being to forfeit all the privileges that arise to him with the ferry.
Voted, That the said committee, under oath, shall be empowered to lay out the above-said twenty aeres to said Merrill.
Voted, That one hundred pounds be raised to defray the above-said charges. Voted, That one hundred pounds be raised for the use of the minister.
Voted, That the sum of three pounds be paid to Mr. John Sanders, in part of pay for his service as one of the General Court's Committee for the settlement of Penny Cook.
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