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 6
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To the Honerd Generall Courte, now assembled at Boston :
The humble petecyon of us whose names are underwritten, beinge inhabytants of this jurisdiction, and beinge senseable of the need of multiplyinge of towneshippes for the inlargement of the contrey, and accommodateinge of such as want opportunity to improve themselves, have taken into consideration a place which is called Pennecooke, which by reporte is a place fit for such an one. Now the humble request of your petitioners to this honred Courte is, that we may have the grant of a tracke of land their to the quantity of twelve miles square, which, being granted, we shall give up ourselves to be at the cost and charge of vewinge it, and consider fully about it, wheather to procced on for the settlinge of a towne or noc, and for that end shall crave the liberty of three yeares to give in our reso- lution ; and, in case that wee doe proceed, then our humble request is, that we may have the grant of our freedome from publique charge
* See Belknap's Ilist., vol. i., p. 30, Farmer's edition.
52
HISTORY OF PENACOOK
for the space of seaven yeares after the time of our resolution given in to this Honerd Courte for our encorragement to settle a plantation soe furre remote, as knowinge that many will be our inconvenyences (for a long time,) which we must expeckt to meet with, all which desires of ours beinge ansered, your petetioners shall ever pray for the happyness of this Honred Courte, and rest your humble pete- tioners.
Richard Walderne,
John Bayley,
Vall : Hill,
John Cheincy,
Peter Coffin, His
Nathaniel Wearc,
John X Hird, mark. William Ffurbur,
John Poore,
Roger Plaisteed,
Robert Rogers,
Edward Woodman,
Edward Richardson,
John Pike,
William Cotton,
Abraham Toppan,
John Wolcott,
Benia : Swett,
John Bond,
George Little,
William Titeomb.
18 (3) 59 : [that is- 18th May, 1659.] The Committee do judge meet that the petitioners be granted a plantation of eight miles square, upon condition that at the sessions of the General Court, to be held in Octo., 1660, they make report to that Court of their reso- lution to p'secute the same with a competent no. of meet persons that will ingage to carry on the work of the said place in all civill and eclesiasticall respects, and that within two years then next en- suing there be 20 families there settled. Also, that they may have imunity from all publique charges (excepting in eases extraordinary) for seven yeares next ensuing the date hereof.
THO : DANFORTH, EDWARD JOHNSON, ELEAZAR LUSHER.
The Deputies approve of the returne of the Committee in answer to this petition, with reference to the consent of the honored magis- trates thereto.
WILLIAM TORREY, Cleric.
6, 3: 1662 - [that is - May 6, 1662.] Upon informacon that Penicooke is An Apt place for A Township, and in consideration of the lord's great blessing upon the countrie in multiplying the inhab- itants and plantations here ; and that Allmost All such places are Allreadie taken up : 'Tis ordered by this Court, that the lands at Peniccook be reserved for a plantation till so many of such as have petecioned for lands there or of others shall present to settle A plan- tation therc.
The Deputies have past the same: desiring the consent of the Honobles magistrates thereto. WILLIAM TORREY, Cleric .*
* Mass. Col. Records.
Robard Coker,
53
BEFORE SETTLEMENT.
It appears, also, from the records of the Massachusetts colony, that a petition was presented, in 1663, by inhabitants of Chelms- ford, for the grant of a township at Penacook. In October, 1663, the court " granted the inhabitants of Salem a plantation of six miles square at Pennicook, if getting twenty families on it within three years."
The conditions not being fulfilled, the foregoing grants, it would seem, were forfeited. In June, 1714-fifty-one years after their first petition - the people of Salem again petitioned that the grant of a plantation of six miles square to them at Pennecook, in October, 1663, may be confirmed to them. They stated that since the first was made, they had been embarrassed by Indian wars, and that " some of the inhabitants of the town had crected a trading house at Pennicook forty years since." Whether this trading house was the same as that of Waldron and Coffin, in 1668, is not elear ; but, from the concurrence in the dates, most likely it was. One trading house, it is believed, stood on the east side, on or near the farm of Judge Sewall.
PETITION FOR PENNYCOOK-1721.
To his Excellency, SAMUEL SHUTE, Esqr., Capt. Gent and Governr in Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay; and to the Honble the Council and House of Representatives in Gent Court assembled, this 31st day of May, Anno Domini 1721. The Petition of the subscribers, Inhabitants of the County of Essex -
HUMBLY SHEWETII, That ye Petit's being straitned for Accommo- dations for themselves and their posterity, have Espied a tract of Land, scituate on the River of Merrymake, (the Great River of the said Country,) whereon they are desirous to make a Settlement and form a Town, if they may obtain the favour and countenance of this Great and Honble Court therein : Yr petrs therefore humbly pray this Great and Gen Court to grant them, under such Restrictions, and on such Conditions as yr Excellency and Honours shall think fit, a Traet of Land for a Township, which lies at the lower end of Pen- niecook : to beginn three miles to the Eastward of Merrimake River, at the place nearest to the mouth of Conduneook [Contoocook] River - to extend to Merrimake River, and over it, to and up Conduncook River, eight miles ; from thence, to run Southerly seven miles, par- rellel with Merrimake River; and at the End of the sd seven miles, to run directly to the mouth of Sun coot River ; and then up Sun coot River till it comes to the distance of three miles from Merri- make River; and then to, on a Strait Line, to the first mentioned
54
HISTORY OF PENACOOK
bound and Station : Which Traet of Land is Computed to Contain about the quantity of Eight miles Square, wheh Request your peti- tioners are the more Imboldened and necessitated to make, inasmuch as They are informed the Three Townships last Granted are all laid out and Taken up, and They cannot be accomodated in either of them.
And yr petrs shall, as in Duty Bound, ever pray.
Stephen Barker, His
Matthias Cowdry, Nath1 Page,
Tho's Scihegsar, His John X Granger, mark. Joseph Work,
John X Mattis, mark.
Sam" Phillips, Nicholas White,
David Cragg,
John Osgood,
Samel White,
Sam' Aires,
Timothy Johnson,
Eben Thornton,
James Barker,
Ebenezer Eastman,
John Saunders,
Eben" Barker,
Joshua Bayley,
Elezar Croeker,
Ed. Clark,
James Fales,
Nathel Lovejoy,
Samel Clark,
William White,
John Merrill,
Sam1 Granger,
His
Samel Chandler,
John Pecker,
David X Kimbel, mark.
Robert Kimbell, Job Hinkley,
Wm. Davis,
John Hall, Hi
Jonathan Clark,
Joseph Davis,
Samel X Runills, mark.
Henry Wook, [?]
Samel Kimbal,
Jerathel Hug,
Abraham Cooley,
Nathaniel Abbot,
Benjamin Gage, His Tim X Hogg, mark,
Samel Borbank,
Stephen Abbot,
Andrew Allin,
Andrew Mitchell,
James Black,
David Stephens,
Jona Page,
Benjamin Stephens,
William Barker,
Ephraim Farnon,
William Marten,
Eben Stephens,
John Hastins,
Stephen Osgood,
Annaniah Barker,
Samel Davis,
Thomas Blanchard,
John Barker,
Ephraim Davis,
Eben Lovejoy,
Samel Barker,
Nathaniel Morrill,
John Wright,
James Parker,
Tho: Kingsbery,
Joseph Parker,
John Foster,
John Bayley,
James Stephens,
Aaron Foster,
Samel Granger,
James Bayley,
Christopher Colton,
Nathel Sanders,
John Astin,
Robard Pesley,
Sam' Ela,
Samel Kimbel,
Daniel Astin,
Eben" Gill,
Benja. Calton,
John Ingals, Jona Gage, Danel Jaques,
Stephen Emerson,
John Muleekin,
Richard Jaques,
John Morden,
Samel Hazeltine,
William Gutterson,
Jona Corlis,
Rich Hall,
Jonathan Rolande
Moses Aboott,
James Smith,
Zebediah Barker,
John Osgood,
William Wiekar,
Thos Page,
Nathel Peasley.
John Loel, [?]
Moses Day,
John Sandars,
Nehemiah Heath,
John Goterson,
John Chandler,
Thomas Abbot,
Nathan Barker,
Stephen Morill,
Jona. Chadwick,
Benja Smeth,
Nehemiah Calton,
Joseph Page,
Nathaniel Clemons,
55
BEFORE SETTLEMENT.
In the House of Representatives, June 9th, 1724.
Read and Ordered, that Captain Shipley, Coll Buckminster and M! Winslow, be a Committee to view the said Land, and to make their Report ye next Session.
Copy Examined per
J. WILLARD, Sec'y.
In May, 1722, however, a survey was made of Penacook by William Ward and John Jones, "according to the direction of the committee appointed by the Honorable House of Repre- sentatives in ye former sessions"- comprising in the whole 69.500 acres of land. The interval land was 2.000 acres.
This survey - a copy of which I have from the original plan in the Secretary's office, Massachusetts - was as follows :
The south line, crossing the Merrimack river at its junction with Shoo-Brook [Soucook,] was eleven miles, viz .: 1530 perches east, and 1990 west side.
The north line, crossing the Merrimack at " the river called Contucuk or Conduncook"-1450 perches cast, and following the course of the Contucuk west.
The east line, drawn from the eastern terminus of the south line to the castern of the north line, was ten miles.
The west line, drawn from the western terminus of the south line, northerly, till it struck the Contucuk, was 2930 perches, or nine miles and fifty rods.
Another petition was presented June 17, 1725 :
To the Honble WM. DUMMER, Esqr., Licut. Governor, and Com- mander in Chief in and over His Majesties province of ye Mas- suchusetts Bay, in New England, to the Honble His Majesties Council and House of Representatives in Gen. Court or Assembly convened at Boston, June 17th, 1725.
The petition of Benja Stephens, Andrew Mitchel, David Kimball, Ebenezer Eastman, John Osgood and Moses Day, a Committee appointed by and in behalf of the petitioners formerly for a Tract of Land at a place called Pennycook -
HUMBLY SHEWETH, That whereas yr petioners have at two sevel times petitioned the Great and Genel Court for a grant of the afore- said tract of Land at Pennyeook, with resolutions fully inclined to make a speedy settlement there, wch they conceive, under the divine protection, they are able to go on and through with ; and the Honble House of Representatives having been pleased twice so far to take their petition under consideration as to grant the prayer under such
56
HISTORY OF PENACOOK.
conditions as by ye vote of the sd Honble House may more fully ap- pear, which conditions, though they be expensive, yet yr petitioners have well weighed the same, and would willingly have undertaken the settlement, if it had been the pleasure of the Honble Board to have coneurred in the aforesaid vote. But as yr petitioners are in- formed it did not meet with a concurrence : Wherefore, yr petitioners are emboldened, with great submission, to renew their pet" to yr Hon- our, and this Great and Gen1 Court, that you would please to take the premises again into yr wise and serious consideration ; and as the building a Fort there will undoubtedly be a great security within and on Merrimack River, and yt your petitioners are still willing to build and maintain it as afore propos'd, at their own cost, yt they may have the countenance and authority of this Court therefor, and that they woud pledge to make them a grant of it accordingly.
Yr petits wou'd also suggest to yr Honnours, that many applica- tions have been made to the Government of New Hampshire for a grant of the sd Land, which, though it be the undoubted right and property of this Province, yet it is highly probable that a parcel of Irish people* will obtain a grant from New Hampshire for it, unless some speedy care be taken by this great and Honble Court to prevent it. If that Government should once make ym a grant, tho' the petrs conceive it wou'd be without right, as in the case of Nutfield, yett it wou'd be a thing attended with too much difficulty to pretend to root ym out, if they shou'd once gett foot hold there. Your petitioners therefore pray that the vote passed by the Honble House may be revived, or that they may have a grant of the Land on such other terms and conditions as to the wisdom of this Court, shall seem best. And for yr Honrs, as in duty bound, yr petitioners shall ever pray, &c.
BENJA STEPHENS, ANDREW MITCHELL, DAVID KIMBEL, EBENR EASTMAN, JOHN OSGOOD, MOSES DAY.
In the House of Representatives, June 17th, 1725.
Read, and the question was put whether the House wou'd revive their vote above refer'd to -
Resolved in the affirmative.
Copy examined per
J. WILLARD, Sec'y.
*"Irish people," as they were called, from Nutfield, had already built a fort on the east side of the river, as will fully appear in the sequel.
CHAPTER III.
THE PLANTATION OF PENACOOK.
THE period had now arrived, in the order of Divine Providence, when the territory which had so long been desired and sought for a settlement, should become the abode of civilized life - when the " wilderness should be made glad," and the desert become vocal with the praises of God. In this chapter we shall narrate all the measures that were adopted for the settlement of the place, and detail every incident of importance that attended the enterprise. While, for the general reader, we give a con- nected narrative of events, with original documents, anecdotes and illustrations, we would direct particular attention, also, to the RECORDS OF THE PROPRIETORS,* which were kept with great accuracy and care, and which are exactly copied and transferred to the printed page, except, in some cases, the notifications of
* PROPRIETORS' RECORDS.
THE ORDER OF THE GREAT AND GENERAL COURT.
THE committee appointed to consider what is proper for this Court to do on the petition of Benjamin Stevens and others, are humbly of opinion, that it will be for the interest and advantage of this Province that part of the lands peti- tioned for by the said Benjamin Stevens and company, be assigned and set apart for a township : provided, that the same be done in a good, regular and defensi- ble manner, to contain seven miles square, and begin where Contoocook river falls into Merrimack river, and thence to extend upon a course east seventeen degrees north three miles, and upon a course west seventeen degrees south four miles, to be the northerly bounds of the said township ; and from the extreme parts of that line to be set off southerly at right angles, until seven miles shall be accomplished from the said north bounds. And that the petitioners may be encouraged and fully empowered to prosecute their intended settlements - Or-
58
THE PLANTATION OF PENACOOK.
meetings are left out. The records embraced in this chapter extend through the period - about seven years -that Penacook was a plantation, and until incorporated into a township. It will be perceived that the dates of the records are according to the old style, when the year commenced the 25th of March instead of the 1st of January.
The petition of June, 1725, it appears, was successful. On the 17th of January following " the Great and General Court" decided " that it will be for the interest and advantage of this Province, that part of the Lands petitioned for by the said Ben- jamin Stevens and Company be assigned and set apart for a Township - provided that the same be done in a good, regular and defensible manner - and to contain seven miles square." A committee of nine, of whom the IIon. William Tailer, Esq., Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, twenty-seven years, was chairman, and John Wainwright, Esq., clerk, was at the same time appointed by the court to take special care that the rules and conditions on which the grant was made should be punctually observed and kept by all such as shall be admitted as settlers - particularly that the land be allotted and divided into one hun- dred and three equal parts and shares, as to quantity and quality, and that one hundred persons or families - such only as in the judgment of the committee shall be well able to pursue and bring to pass their several settlements - should be admitted. Each settler to pay five pounds for his lot ; be obliged to build a good house for his family within three years; break up and sufficiently fence in six acres of land within the same time ; that the houses should be erected within twenty rods of each other, on the home lots, and in a regular and defensible manner ; and that a con- venient house for the public worship of God should be completely
dered, That the IIon. William Tailer, Esq., Elisha Cooke, Esq., Spencer Phipps, Esq., William Dudley, Esq., John Wainwright, Esq., Capt. John Shipley, Mr. John Saunders, Eleazar Tyng, Esq., and Mr. Joseph Wilder, (any five of whom to be a quorum,) be a committee to take special care, that the following rules and conditions be punetually observed and kept by all such as shall be admitted to bring forward the proposed settlements, namely :
That the aforesaid tract of land be allotted and divided into one hundred and three equal parts and shares, as to quantity and quality ; and that one hundred persons or families be admitted, such only as in the judgment of the committee
59
PROPRIETARY RECORDS.
finished within the three years. The settlers were also to pay twenty shillings each for the privilege of admittance, and to defray the whole expense of cutting a road through the wilder- ness to the plantation ; of laying out the land into lots by sur- veyors and chainmen, and also the charges of the committee of the Great and General Court. The remaining three rights were reserved : one for the first settled minister ; one for a par- sonage, and one " for the use of the school forever."
The grant of the township being made, the next object was to begin and carry forward the settlement safely, but as expedi- tiously as possible. Accordingly, on the 2d of February, 1725, the committee of the General Court met at the house of Mr. Ebenezer Eastman, in Haverhill, for the purpose of admitting settlers. In this matter they proceeded with great care and caution. Persons were not admitted merely because they had petitioned for it ; but the committee inquired into their character and their ability to fulfil the conditions. To aid them in this they officially invited some of the principal inhabitants of the towns to which the generality of the petitioners belonged, to attend and give the committee information of the circumstances of the petitioners and others, "in order to the admitting of such as shall be thought most suitable." After such careful inquiry and examination, the requisite number - one hundred - was admitted. Among this number, as appears in the list on record, were the Rev. Samuel Phillips, of Andover, Rev. Bezaleel Top- pan, son of Rev. Christopher Toppan, of Newbury, and Rev. Enoch Coffin, then a young preacher, also of Newbury. The
shall be well able to pursue and bring to pass their several settlements on the said lands within the space of three years at farthest from the first day of Jume next : That each and every intended settler to whom a lot, with the rights and privileges thereto belonging, shall be assigned, shall pay into the hands of the committee, for the use of the Province, at the time of drawing his lot, the sum of five pounds, and be obliged to build a good dwelling-house, fit comfortably to receive and entertain a family who shall inhabit the same ; and also break up and sufficiently fence in six acres of land for their home lot, within the term aforesaid : And that the first fifty settlements shall be begun and perfected upon the eastern side of said river Merrimack, and the several houses shall be erected on their home lots not above twenty rods the one from the other, where the land will possibly admit thereof, in the most regular and defensible manner, the com- mittee, in their best prudence, can project and order ; the houses and home lots
60
THE PLANTATION OF PENACOOK.
following letters from Rev. Mr. Toppan and Rev. Mr. Phillips will evince the deep interest which was felt in respect to the admission of settlers.
LETTER OF REV. CHRISTOPHIER TOPPAN, OF NEWBURY.
NEWB : Febr : 2, 1726.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONORS :
It was my design to have waited on your Honours and the other Gentlemen appointed to be a Committee for Granting Lotts at Penny- Cooke, but being at present bodily Indisposed, durst not venture so far from home, have therefore sent my Sons to wait on you, and, in my name, to Request yt you'd be pleased to Grant me or them a Lott amongst the Rest, and the Conditions of ye Grant shall be per- formed by my Self or them. - And if your Honours would give me leave, I'd mention a few things relating to the Affair now before you, as
1. That it seems Just yt Consideration be had to one Town as well as another, and that there be some Proportion, in that respect, as to the Number of Persons in each that the Lotts are granted to.
2. That those who have at any time before had Lotts allowed them in any New Township, should be excluded now.
3. That the Persons to whom the Lotts are granted be obliged [if it may be] to keep their Lotts and not sell ym to others, at least not without the leave of the majr part of the Society to whom the rest of ye Lotts belong. Some, no doubt, will desire Lotts under no other view than to make gain by Selling of ym afterwards, [and 'tis pitty such should have any.] Besides, if the Lotts should be presently bought and sold, it will be likely some of ym at least may fall into the hands of Persons very undesirable for the first Settlement of a place.
4. That the Persons to whom the Lotts are granted be obliged, at their first Settling on the place, to build a Garrison or Block-House for their defence, and so live as near it as with Convenience may be ; for it will be very unsafe at first for enny one to build and dwell on his own Lott. This will too much expose ym to ye Indians, in whom little trust is at any time to be putt ; besides, we may expect they 'l
on each side of the river to be alike subjected unto the above-mentioned condi- tions. That a convenient house for the public worship of God be completely finished within the term aforesaid, for the accommodation of all such as shall inhabit the aforesaid traet of land, upon such part thereof as shall be agreed upon by the aforesaid Committee, for the ease of the community ; and that there shall be reserved, allotted, and laid out to the first minister that shall be lawfully settled among them, one full right, share, and proportion of and in the aforesaid tract of land, with all rights and privileges thereto belonging : his house lot to be laid out next adjoining to the land whereon the meeting-house shall stand. One other full right, share, and proportion of and in the aforesaid tract of land,
61
PROPRIETARY RECORDS.
not a little resent it, when yy come to understand that we are Settling upon a former noted Settlement of theirs.
5. That in case the Tract of Land at Penny-Cooke [the Settlement whereof is Designed] was formerly purchased of ye Indians [as I have heard it was, tho' I know not by whom, ] it seems but Just that He or They so purchasing, should have reasonable allowance made ym out of the Lotts that shall be granted, as shall be to their satisfaction ; for that Right I take to be the best in ye Eye of Concience, what ever it be in the Eye of the Law; besides, I know not how the Title can fairly be Justifyed against the Indians, if at any time they should demand it, but under the consideration of a former purchase.
Many other things might have been added, but 'tis not for me to direct your Honours. Begging therefore pardon, for my boldness in offering what I have, I take leave, so Subscribe my Self your Hon- our's most humble and obedient Servant,
CHRISTOPHER TOPPAN.
REV. SAMUEL PHILLIPS' LETTER FOR ADMITTANCE.
For his Honour WILLIAM TAILOR, Esq!, and ye other Honorable Gentlemen of ye Committee for Pennecook, now at Haverhill.
For the Honorable members of ye Board and House wº constitute the Committee for ye Settlement of Pennecook, now Convened at Haverhill :
GENTLEMEN, -
Having Intelligence yt the Great and General Court have allowed of ye Settlement of Pennecook, and made choice of your Honours to Effect and Complete the Same; and I the Subscriber, being one of ye Petitioners [and having Expended somewt already, ] humbly pray yt your Honours will please to Enter me one of ye Proprietors.
I have Sons* growing up, and the Land wch I am here setled upon is Parsonage land.
The Articles I hope to fulfill, altho' I may not be an Inhabitant there.
to be appropriated for the use of the school forever ; and one other ministerial lot of equal value with the rest - the home lot appertaining thereto affixed near to the meeting-house. And for the better enabling the intended settlers to per- fect what they are hereby enjoined, and empowering them to remove all such lets and impediments as they may meet with in their progress and lawful under- taking, that when and so soon as there shall be one hundred persons accepted and allowed by the Committee to go on and improve those lands for the ends and uses above specified, npon application made to the aforesaid Committee, it shall and may be lawful for them to notify the undertakers to meet at some con-
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