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 23
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SETTLEMENT OF CANTERBURY BOUNDS.
While the controversy was pending between Rumford and Bow, an attempt was made on the part of Canterbury to have the gore of land lying on " the southwesterly side of Canter- bury," and between the Canterbury and Bow line, (as claimed,) annexed to the former township. This gore included the north-
* At a meeting of the proprietors, October 8, 1771, Capt. John Chandler, Mr. Philip East- man and Mr. Abiel Chandler were chosen a committee to take a plan, and survey the com- mon and undivided land, and lay out the same to each proprietor his or their equal proportion in a just and equitable manner. That the said committee "in the first place lay out as much common land as to make whole Mr. Phillips' two eighty acre lots ; and likewise Mr. James Farnum's, which was given away to complete the settlement with Bow."
" N. B. Mr. Philip Kimball entered his dissent against the voto passed to lay out the common land."
July 27, 1772. Andrew McMillan was chosen " agent to petition the General Court to em- power the proprietors to raise six hundred pounds, lawful money, by an equal assessment on all the lands within the township of Rumford, in order to complete a settlement between said proprietors and the proprietors of Bow, Mason's Patent and Canterbury."
Voted, That Mr. Benjamin Emery, Ensign Reuben Kimball and Mr. Daniel Gale, bo a committee " to examine and see how much land has been sold by their former committees towards paying fifteen hundred dollars voted at a' former meeting."
N. B. Voted, by way of direction to the committee, that " the late Benjamin Rolfe, Esq., his estate be chargeable with all the lands recovered within the bounds of the township formerly called Suncook."
By examination of the Plan of the town, it will at once be seen that the original south line of Rumford run across the Merrimack and Soucook rivers, and took in a considerable section of land that was afterwards laid off to Pembroke. Several lots lying in that section were laid off to the settlers of Rumford, of which by the foregoing it appears somo " were recov- ered." See Proprietors' Records, April 22, 1773. The case was referred to Matthew Thorn- ton, Esq., Londonderry ; Capt. Moses Little, of Newbury, and Mr. Moses Gerrish, of Can- terbury, " finally to determine what sum of money the estate of Benjamin Rolfe, Esq., de- ceased, shall pay towards carrying the case of the Bend of the River (so called) to Great Britain."
In a " notification" for a meeting, November 21, 1772, the proprietors say that " the trouble-
227
CANTERBURY BOUNDS.
east part of Rumford, and seems to have extended up the Merri- mack river so as to take in the interval farm of Stephen Gerrish .*
At a legal meeting, held at Canterbury August 16, 1759,
Voted, That Capt. Miles refar a petition to the Grate and General Corte, and prosecute the same in order to have that gore of land lying between Canterbury and Bow annext to Canterbury aforesaid.
A true coppey - attest,
EZEKIEL MORRILL, Town Clerk.
In pursuance of the above, Capt. Josiah Miles presented a petition to the General Assembly of the Province, February 7, 1760, setting forth " that there is a gore of land lying on the south-westerly side of said township, between that and Bow, on which several of the home lots of said Canterbury are laid out by mistake of the boundary on that side, on which there are sun- dry families settled, and when an invoice was returned to regu- late the proportions of the towns to the Province tax, those families were returned, supposing they were within said town- ship ; but upon running the line afterwards they were found without : * since which they have refused to pay any tax to said town ; that the people are willing to be annexed to Can- terbury, as it would be more convenient for them than to be joined to any other township, and there is no prospect or rather possi- bility that it should ever make a township, considering the situa- tion, the shape, the quantity-by estimation about fifteen hun- dred acres - and the quality of the land."
On this petition a hearing was ordered at the February session,
some and expensive controversy which has so long subsisted between them and other claim- ers of their land, we rejoice to find now happily closed."
At a meeting, March 15, 1773, Mr. William Coffin was chosen proprietors' treasurer, " to pay the money as he receives it to the committee formerly chosen to make a settlement with the proprietors of Bow." Voted, " That Sewall's Farm, (so called,) be assessed to pay an equal proportion for quantity and quality with the rest of the town towards the settlement with the proprietors of Bow," &c., and " that the estate of Benjamin Rolfe, Esq., deceased, reïn- burse towards defraying the charges of carrying the cause to England, wherein the bend of the river, (so called,) was sued for, not being within Rumford claims."
"N. B. That Mr. Peter Green wait upon Mr. Benjamin Thompson to Portsmouth, to repre- sent the above case to the judge in behalf of the proprietors."
Benjamin Thompson, afterwards Count Rumford, married the widow of Benjamin Rolfe, Esq., Mrs. SARAH, daughter of Rev. Timothy Walker. lIence we infer he was married pre- vious to this date.
The " Bend in the River" is understood to bo that on the southern line of the town, em- bracing part of the Interval Farm of the late Col. John Carter. The "Bend" is so great that a strip of land north of the river now falls within the line of Bow.
* A Plan of the land claimed is now in the archives of the N. H. Hist. Soc., which see.
228
HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
1761. In the mean time remonstrances to said petition were presented from various quarters. (1.) A remonstrance from inhabitants of Rumford, authorizing Dea. Joseph Hall " to repair to Portsmouth as soon as may be, and do what he can to hinder the prayer of said petition being granted ;" stating among other reasons their hope that the township would soon be incorporated, pursuant to a petition before the Assembly, then on file ; and that " we hope and expect that the validity of our title to our said township, which is soon to be decided by His Majesty, will issue in our favor, and therefore that the matter may be at least suspended whilst that event is known." This was signed by John Chandler, Jeremiah Stickney, Timothy Walker, jun., Ben- jamin Osgood, Jacob Shute, Daniel Chase, Moses Merrill, Nath'l Abbott, Richard Hasseltin, George Abbott, John Merrill, Ben- jamin Abbott, and Ebenezer Hall. (2.) From John Webster and Samuel Osgood, February 16, 1761, stating that " they had lately purchased the farm commonly called Kent's farm, contig- ous to Rumford, of the claimers of the right of John Tufton Mason, Esq.," and that it would be more convenient for them to be annexed to Boscawen than to Canterbury, on account of the distance from the meeting-house, and the badness of the road, and "not agreeable to their interest, connexions or inclination," to be annexed to Canterbury. This farm contained three hun- dred acres, and lay north of Rumford line, on the east side of the Merrimack river. (3.) A remonstrance from Stephen Ger- rish, February 14, 1761, whose farm was still further north on the Merrimack - stating, among other reasons, that " the meet- ing-house in Boscawen is within a mile of my house ; that my interest is in several respects closely connected with that of Bos- cawen ; that I largely contributed to the settlement and support of their late minister, Mr. Stevens, as long as he lived ; as also towards procuring what occasional preaching they have had since his death." But the two strongest remonstrances came from "Joseph Man " and " Will. Gault," of which the following are exact copies :
To his Excellency the Governor and House of Assembly :
These are to inform you that I live on the Common Lands Near Canterbury, and that Capt'n Miles is trying to have me Corperated
229
CANTERBURY BOUNDS.
to them, which I have no Desire to, be Cause they Intirely Refused me of all town Privileges altogether : Whereupon I would humbly pray your honors to set me of to Some other Christian People, for if I am Set over to them I expect Nothing but oppression.
Will. Gault.
These are to Inform His Excellency the Governor and the honorable Assembly of Portsmouth,
That I Live in The Common land and Near to the town of Can- terbury, and the Seleet men of the town has rated me every year, & I have paid Rates this five years past to them, Which I think Very hard of; Whereas they have a grate Entervail that they have the Cheef of their liveing Every year, & Never pays no Rates for it, Which makes me think they use no Conscience, or they would Rate their own Common land as Smart as they doe others. Seeing that Mr. Parsons laid out and Incroached on Severall Eacers of my land, and has taken it into his farm, I Requested of them to lay out my land in Canterbury, as they Reserved a tract of land to make good the home lots that fell out of the town in the Commons. But it was Said yt I should have no other land than I had Gotten : for my Part I am affraid to be Corporated to Canterbury for fear of oppression, and for these reasons I would pray his Excellency and the Honorable Assembly of Portsmouth, that they would be pleased to Corporate me to Some other Christian people.
Joseph man.
Finally, on the 13th of June, 1765, after the bounds of Con- cord were determined by the new incorporation, the Canterbury petition was, in part, granted - that is, a strip of land lying north of the original Rumford line, and extending up the Mer- rimack river, was annexed to Canterbury. The bounds were as follows : "Beginning on the easterly side of Merrimack river, on a course north, seventy-three degrees east, from the mouth of the Contoocook river; from thence, continuing the same course about six hundred and six rods, to Canterbury south-west side line ; from thence, north-west, by said Canterbury side line, to Merrimack river ; from thence, down the said river, to the place begun at; and all the lands, polls and estates taken by said boundaries are hereby added to said Canterbury and made a part thereof."
Hence it appears that the original west side line of Canterbury was six hundred and six rods from the river, and that it run along on the upland without taking in the interval. The interval between the river and Canterbury line belonged to what was
230
HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
called " Mason's Patent," and the farms of Stephen Gerrish and Richard Kent, on the east side of the river, were included in the strip of land annexed to Canterbury, while none of that asked for between Canterbury and the Bow line, which belonged to Rumford, was granted.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS AND ANECDOTES RELATIVE TO THE PERIOD BETWEEN 1750 AND 1765.
NEW MEETING-HOUSE.
The " garrison-house, forty feet in length and twenty-five in breadth," built in 1727, near West's brook, had served the inhabitants for a meeting-house about twenty-four years ; but the increase of population and decay of the old house ren- dered it necessary to build a MALLORY BOSTON LOG MEETING-HOUSE. new one for public worship. Not being in a capacity to act as a town, the work was under- taken by a number of individuals, called "Proprietors of the Meeting-house." A new location was chosen, and the main body of the house was erected in 1751, on the spot where it still stands* - now the " Methodist Biblical Institute." Its timbers were of the best white oak. According to tradition there was a large gathering of people at the "raising," which commenced the 12th of June and took three days. But while the men were so laud- ably employed, the women of the parish afforded material "aid and comfort" by cooking and providing victuals for them on the spot. The meeting-house was sixty feet long, forty-six wide, and two stories high. It was without porches or gallery. The only
* The various changes it has passed through will be noticed hereafter.
231
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS AND ANECDOTES.
entranee was at the door in front, on the south side. The seats were coarse benches, arranged on each side of the broad-aisle, and east and west of the pulpit, which was on the north side. The men sat on the west, and the women on the east side. The minister had a pew near the pulpit, and the deacons sat together directly in front of the pulpit, facing the congregation. Thus unfinished the house remained till after the Revolutionary War.
A LETTER FROM REV. MR. WALKER TO HIS DAUGHTER.
While in London, on his first visit, Rev. Mr. Walker wrote as follows to his youngest daughter, Judith, then about nine years of age :
" LONDON, March 13th, 1754.
" While I am addressing myself to each of my children, Judith surely must not be forgotten, which, altho' the youngest, yet is none the less dear to her tender hearted Father upon that account. My dear, I hope you have not forgotten your prayers and pretty verses which I used to hear you say over when you went to bed; but as you grow in years, you will advance in every endowment, both natural and spir- itual ; for I can have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in ye truth. Fear God and keep his commandments, which is the whole duty of man. Honour your Father and Mother, which is the first commandment with promise. Be courteous and affable to your brother and sisters; let there be no family strife or contention, but remember that where envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
I remain your loving Father, TIMOTHY WALKER."
In 1755, on his second visit, Mr. Walker wrote to his brother- in-law, Mr. Joseph Burbeen, of Woburn, a letter, which has been preserved, in which he says : "The fate of Europe, as to peace or war, as yet remains doubtful. Vigorous preparations have been and still are making; but many are confident matters will subside : but I expect, at least, that the poor frontiers in New- England will have a troublesome summer. I am in pain for my family as well as other friends exposed."
THE FIRST IRON CRANE.
The first iron crane used in a chimney fire-place in Rumford was put up by Stephen Farrington, in 1757. Mr. Farrington built and lived in the house where Mr. David G. Fuller now
232
HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
lives -recently owned by the late Widow Huldah Evans. The occasion was as follows : Heating water one day to scald hogs, the lug-pole, upon which the kettles were suspended, was burnt off and the hot water was spilt, scriously endangering the children who were playing on the floor. This so alarmed the family that Mr. Farrington determined to have an iron erane ; and, having business at Portsmouth, he there purchased a bar of iron and brought it to Rumford on horse-back, where he had it made into a crane. The date (1757) is marked on it. Before putting it into the chimney they made a trial of its strength by chaining it to a tree and suspending on it a barrel of water- a wager being laid that the crane would not bear it. It stood the test, and it was afterwards used in the family for more than ninety years. This crane was deposited in the rooms of the New-Hampshire Historical Society in June, 1853, by Mr. Samuel Farrington, it having been used a long time previously by the descendants of Stephen Farrington for a boot-jack - a part of the brace being taken out .*
TIMOTHY WALKER, JR'S., LICENSE TO PREACH.
At an Association Meeting, at the House of the Revd M !. BARNARD, in Haverhill, September 11, 1759,
M! TIMOTHY WALKER, jun., having apply'd to us for encourage- ment to preach, and having receiv'd from him a specimen of his ministerial abilities, do heartily approve of him, and recommend him to the Churches of Christ as well furnished for the service of the sanctuary, ardently wishing to him the presence and blessing of the great Head of the Church in all his future ministrations.
JOSEPH PARSONS, WILLIAM BALCH,
SAMUEL BACHIELLER,
EDW. BARNARD,
JAMES CUSHING,
ABNER BAYLEY,
EBENEZER FLAGG, JOHN TUCKER,
WILLIAM JOHNSON,
WILLIAM SYMMES.
ANDREW MCMILLAN'S STORE.
The principal store in Rumford, at this time, was kept by Andrew McMillan, Esq .¡ The following charges, found in his old ledger, will serve to illustrate the state of the currency at that
* Facts furnished by Samuel Farrington.
+ For a more particular notice of this gentleman see Biographical Sketches. liis store was kept on the corner of Main and Pleasant streets.
233
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS AND ANECDOTES.
time, and also, somewhat, the habits of the people. They show what was the price of articles then in common use, and hence enable us to compare the same with prices as they are now. We may be surprised to observe how large a portion of family ex- penses was for spirituous liquors ; and, in this regard at least, we may mark an improvement in our favor. The charges, it will be seen, are carried out in pounds, shillings and pence; yet it is not strictly either "old tenor" or " new," but the pounds are put for shillings, and shillings for pence. Thus, as will appear, £6 means six shillings, or one dollar ; £3 are three shillings, or half a dollar ; £12, 10s., are twelve shillings and ten pence, or two dollars and nearly fourteen cents. As specimens of this book account I transcribe the following :
Rev. Mr. Timothy Walker, junior,* Dr.
£
s.
d.
66
" 1 seain of silk,
0
14 00
66
3 yd. of bear-skin, at 8s.
6
00 00
66
" } gall. of W. I. rum,
00 3 00 1763.
Jan. 10.
1 1b. of coffee, by John Colby,
1 06
00
12 pipes,
0
12
00
" 18.
1 comb, 20s., 1
00 00
66 66
1 quire of post paper, at 50s.,
2
10 00
Mar. 6.
9.
1 pint of brandy, by John Colby, 24s., .
1
01
00
May.
a yd. of long lawn, by Judith,
4
00
00
66
" 1 pint W. I. rum,
0
15
00
July.
" 1 gall. W. I. rum, by John Colby,
. 6
00
00
" } 1b. of powder, by John Colby,
1
05
00
Deacon Farnum, Dr.
1763.
£
S.
d.
Jan. 15.
To sundries brought from old ledger, p. 196, 211
11
06
66
66
" I Ib. of coffey, at 26s.,
1
06 00
66
" 1 glass of brandy,
0 04 00
" 1 qt. of wine, at 25s.,
2
05
00
Feb. 9.
" 4 lbs. of sugar, at 14s.,
.
2
16 00
" 1 quart mug, at 50s.,
2
10 00
1 handkerchief, by Judith,
8
00 00
" & gall. and pint of N. E. rum,
2
19
00
* After Timothy Walker, Jr., was licensed to preach, Sept. 11, 1759, he remained in Concord, and was a while in company with Andrew McMillan. See biographical notico.
1762. Decemb. To 1 1b. of coffey, .
1 06 00
gall. of wine, at 9s., .
4 10 00
" } 1b. of tea, at 12s., 6 .
00 00
234
HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
Feb. 1. To } gall. of brandy,
4
10 00
" 1 pint of brandy,
1
04 00
" 1 glass of brandy, 0
03 00
8. " 2 1bs. of brown sugar, at 14s., 1
08 00
16. " 1 glass of brandy,
0
04 00
Mar. 1. " 1} gall. of brandy, at 9s.,
4
10
00
יו יו " } 1b. of raisons,
1
00
00
14. " 5 pare of men's gloves, at 50s.,
12
10
00
5
00 00
"
" 1 pare of woman's white do.,
2
13 00
" 3 yds. of hat crape, at 50s.,
7
10
00
Contra.
Rumford, January 15, 1763.
Cr.
By sundrys brought from old ledger,
. 156
124
17 00
94
00
10
1763.
Ezra Carter, Doctor, Dr.
£
S.
d.
Jan. 21.
To sundries brought from p. 11,
492
15
06
" 22.
" } gall. of brandy,
4
10
00
26.
" 3 gall. of brandy,
4
10 00
" 27.
& gall. of brandy,
4
10
00
28.
3 gall. of brandy,
4
10
00
66
31. 3 gall. of brandy, [for medicine ?]
4
10
00
Feb. 4. ¿ gall. of brandy,
1
10
00
66
8.
5 nots of thread, at 3s.,
0
15
00
6 sheets of paper, at 1s. 6d.,
0
09
00
66
11. ¿ gall. of W. I. rum,
3
00
00
3
15
00
12.
66 & gall. of W. I. rum, half a dollar,
3
00
00
1765.
£
S
d.
June 13.
To 4 buttons,
1 00
00
" } bowl of tody,
0
07
00
Mar. 11.
" 13 yds. of blue broad cloth, 17s.,
25
10 00
" 2 doz. buttons, at 30s., .
3
00 00
" 8 jacket do.,
0
10
00
" 1} yds. of blue camblet,
6
00
00
" 1 qt. of rum, at 24s., and 2 bowls of tody, 2
12
00
July 22.
" 1 gall. of W. I. rum, 6s.,
6
00
00
1763.
Rev. Timothy Walker, Dr.
£
8
d.
Dec. 9.
To the balance of your account,
26
15 00
" 3 yds. of red shoe-binding, by Judith, 0
09 00
08
08
April 5. cash, June 6. cash, in full, .
29. ¿ gall. of brandy,
4
10 00
5 1bs. of sugar,
2
16
00
" } gall. of snakerut,
4
05
00
{ gall. of clove water,
" 2 pare of woman's black do., at 50s.,
John Chandler, Dr.
235
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS AND ANECDOTES.
Dec. 8. To 12 1b. of chalk, at 40s.,
2
10 00
" 2 qts. of rum,
3 00 00
1764.
Jan'y 2. " } 1b. of pepper, 18s., . . 0
18 00
" 1 quart of W. I. rum, 35s., 1
15 00
Feb'y 2. " } of buckram, . 0
12 00
" 16. 1 gall. of W. I. rum, by Mr. Tim., 6
00 00
June 2. { yd. of cambrick, by Judith, at 11s., .1
08 00
1 punch bowl, at 15s., 0
15 00
" } yd. of gauze, and to } skein of silk, . 1
3
00 00
Aug. 9. " sundries paid Mr. Paul Burbeen, 50 00 00
11. " 1 gallon of rum, at Gs.,
6 00
00
The foregoing are fair specimens of the charges in the " old ledger " against various persons. It must be noticed that in the account against Dr. Ezra Carter, the price of " half a gallon of rum" is "half a dollar," which is carried out three pounds - and this explains all the charges. The " pounds" were so many " shillings," and "six shillings" made a dollar. We must in charity suppose that the kind-hearted Dr. Carter bought his brandy for medicine; but whether the same will apply to the others we presume not to say. Unquestionably the custom of the times allowed a greater liberty in that regard then, than would be thought consistent with temperance now.
Eunice Chase, mother of Mrs. Abigail, widow of the late Benjamin Kimball, of Sugar Ball, when a girl was gathering berries on a hill on the east side of the river, when she discov- ered a young fawn asleep under the shade of some bushes. Taking off her apron, she threw it over the fawn, and, clasping it in her arms, carried it home. She sold it to Andrew McMil- lan for six pounds of sheep's wool .*
WOLVES.
Jerry Farrington, son of Stephen Farrington, when a mere lad was one day out near his father's house and heard the geese making an unusual noise. He caught his gun and started to ascertain the cause. He found the geese in a small brook near where Capt. Philip Watson's house now stands, and judging from
* Related by Mrs. Kimball.
04 06
2 qts. of rum,
236
HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
appearances that some enemy had been among them, he went on in pursuit as far as what is called the " Whale's Back,"* where he saw a large wolf facing him. His gun was loaded with fine shot. He therefore took aim directly between the wolf's eyes, fired, and put them both out. The wolf thus wounded raised a tremendous yell and ran confusedly about until other persons came to Jerry's help, and the wolf was killed .;
Benjamin Rolfe, who came to this town at the age of sixteen, (about 1758,) and who lived on the Rolfe farm, so called, (now Fisherville,) often told his children how the wolves would come down at night to the high sand-banks south of his residence, and set up a terrible howling. The cattle, conscious of danger, would collect together in some corner of the field, and when they lay down the young cattle would lie in the middle and the old and strong ones outside, for defence.
RATTLE-SNAKES.
In the early settlement of the township particular sections of it were greatly infested with snakes of various kinds, and espe- cially with rattle-snakes. These latter were most numerous on and in the vicinity of "Rattle-snake," or, as it is now called, Granite Hill, and along the shores of Long Pond. A reward was offered, and paid by the town for many years, for killing these snakes, and some, it is said, even made it a profitable busi- ness - being able thereby to pay all their town taxes. Tradition says that the inhabitants used to go " snake hunting " on " good snake days," as still, sunny days in the spring and autumn were called. Their weapon consisted of a white oak or white ash stick, from six to eight feet long and about an inch round, with a hook fastened in one end, to be used in drawing the snakes from their holes and from cracks in the ledges. Thus armed, they repaired to the " snake ground," treading slowly and softly, to prevent the snakes from hearing them. Generally the snakes were found lying in the sunshine, near their dens, asleep. Some- times they were so numerous as to form a large heap. If they heard any noise, the snakes gave the alarm by shaking their
* The ridge of land west of Mr. Abel B. Ilolt's. | Tradition from Samuel Farrington.
237
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS AND ANECDOTES.
rattles, which made a fine buzzing noise ; then they run into holes or under rocks for safety. The rattle-snake was easily killed - a well dirceted blow with the stick above described was sufficient for the purpose. Their motion was slow, and they would usually retreat from the presence of a man ; yet " the hunting" of them was dangerous, for, if overtaken and provoked, they were very ferocious. Coiling up in a small ring, and emitting a fine buzzing noise with their rattles - their bodies rising and falling like a bellows - their parti-colored skin rough and sparkling - the upper jaw thrown nearly back upon the neck, and their eyes, like a fiery flame, which would suddenly change to a greenish color - they would suddenly dart on their foe, strike their fang, and, at the same instant, emit a poison in the wound, which usually proved fatal.
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