USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Dublin > The history of Dublin, N.H., Volume 1852 > Part 12
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
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was then an unbroken forest. It is not probable that the Indians ever made it a place of residence, any longer than they were occupied in hunting and fishing. A few broken Indian implements have been found in some parts of the town. They were dropped, no doubt, as was common, du- ring their hunting excursions.
After the drawing of the lots, the owners must have been desirous of ascertaining the value of their property. Living, as most of them did, in the eastern part of the state, few of them probably ever came, and made a personal examination of the situation and quality of their lots. It may be pre- sumed, however, that Matthew Thornton failed not to go himself to the place where he encouraged his brother to settle. We may believe, too, that, previous to the year 1752, he had begun to purchase shares and lots of the other proprietors. He must have been well acquainted with many of the inhabitants of Peterborough. The lot (number 1, range 6) on which William Thornton settled, was chosen probably for its proximity to Peterborough. As Judge Thornton owned, at one time, more than a third part of all the land in Dublin, he would of course take a deep interest in the settlement of the town and the prosperity of its inhabitants. This he ever did. Some of the early settlers were personally acquainted with him. Captain Andrew Allison said that Judge Thornton used occasionally to call at his father's house in Londonderry, and spend an evening. He was himself but a boy ; but he well remembered the delight with which he was wont to listen to Mr. Thornton's conversation, for he was always telling stories and giving anecdotes such as a boy loved to hear. This corresponds with what has been said of him in a brief sketch of his life : " In private life he was one of the most companionable of men. The young and the old were alike sharers in the agreeable versatility of his powers, - in the inexhaustible stock of in- formation which a long and industrious life had accumulated. His memory was well stored with a large fund of entertain- ing and instructive anecdotes, which he could apply upon any incident, or subject of conversation." - N. H. Hist. Coll., v. i.
The location of William Thornton was on lot 1, range 6. Of how many persons his family consisted, or how long he remained on his farm, is not known. That he abandoned his farm through fear of the Canadian Indians, has ever been a tradition. This is confirmed by the fact that his resi-
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN.
dence here was during the war between the French and English, which resulted in the conquest of Canada. It was the course ever pursued by the Indians upon the renewal of a war between the English and French, to commence their attacks upon the frontiers of New Hampshire. In August, 1754, they broke into the house of James Johnson at num- ber four (Charlestown), in the morning, before any of the family were awake, and took him with his wife and three children, her sister, and two men. The news of such an event, and others of a similar character, could not have been otherwise than alarming to a family situated as Mr. Thornton's was. When he left, he took all his movable property with him, except a grindstone and a breaking-up hoe. Some years after Mr. Appleton occupied the farm, he found the said grind- stone, while ploughing the field in which it had been buried.
By whom, and in what year, the next settlement was made, there is no authentic account. It is known that some families from Peterborough were residents here before the close of the French war. Alexander Scott resided on the lot where Thaddeus Morse now lives. He is said to have kept a tavern, or to have furnished entertainment for those per- sons, especially soldiers, who passed from Peterborough to Keene. An old soldier stated that in 1759 a detachment of colonial troops passed through the town to join the British army on the lakes. William Scott, son of Alex- ander, lived on the farm (lot 13, range 6) now owned by John Gleason. The Hon. John Scott, son of William, was born there. He was heard to say, that he well remembered, when quite young, playing with his brothers on the shore of the pond, and that occasionally their play was pushing one another from the fallen trees or slippery logs into the water. Rev. E. Dunbar, in his description of Peterborough, says that William Scott was a soldier in the war in Canada in 1758 and 1759. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Bunker Hill. He was carried to Halifax, whence he escaped, and rejoined his regiment at New York. He received a captain's commission in 1777, was a volunteer at the taking of Burgoyne, and remained in the service of his country till the close of the war. - N. H. Hist. Coll., vol. i.
The other settlers from Peterborough were William McNee (now changed to Nay), John Alexander, and James Taggart. These were of Scotch-Irish descent, as was Henry Strongman (now Strong), who settled on the
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN.
farm (lot 5, range 6) now owned by Augustine Wood. Wil- liam McNee lived on or near the spot recently owned by Cyrus Piper. Mr. McNee was, after removing back to Peterborough, a deacon or ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church. His son Robert was the first male child born in Dublin. James Taggart had a son named William, and the residence of the family was at the place where Corydon Jones now lives (lot 8, range 5). John Alexander settled on lot 7, range 5. His house was near the spot on which Samuel Davison's brick house now stands. He is said to have lived at one time on lot 7, range 7; now owned by Luke Richardson. Mr. Alexander was somewhat distin- guished for his extravagant and incredible stories, which he narrated with assumed gravity, amusing himself with the staring wonder of credulous listeners. He removed to the State of Vermont, where he died.
The first permanent English settler in Dublin is believed to have been Thomas Morse. He came from Sherborn, Mass., in the autumn of 1762, and lived on the farm (lot 16, range 5) now owned by his grandson Jesse Morse. It can- not be doubted that he had been in the town, cleared land, and prepared a house for his family, before the year above named. It has been told, that on one of his journeys to Dub- lin, previous to the removal of his family, his dog was with him. This dog was afraid of thunder, and, when at home, was in the habit, during a thunder-shower, of running into the house, and retreating beneath a bed. In the afternoon, one day, while Mr. Morse and his dog, accompanied by John Alexander, were in the woods, Mr. Alexander, for the pur- pose of lighting his pipe, flashed some powder from the pan of his gun. The dog, probably mistaking the flash for light- ning, manifested his usual signs of fear, and ran away from his master. When the family at Sherborn arose the next morning, the dog was at the door. A bed has often been recommended as a safe place for reclining during a thunder- storm. Whether the dog had an instinctive sagacity which led him to conclude that under the bed was equally safe, may be questioned. We have heard of other dogs, however, who pursued the same course.
William Greenwood was the first settler on the farm (lot 8, range 6) now owned by Rufus Piper. He was a carpenter. He was killed by the falling of the timbers at the raising of a barn, which is still standing on the farm of Calvin Learned.
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN.
Samuel Twitchell was heard to say, a few weeks before he died, in 1820, that he was the third person who became a settler, and remained permanently in Dublin. The first night of his being in the town, he slept by the side of a large rock. The rock is still in its old place, and is noted for the circumstance above named. Mr. Twitchell was then a young man without a family. His father, Joseph Twitch- ell, of Sherborn, was an agent of the proprietors, or a part of them, for procuring settlers and for the sale of lands.
After the close of the French war, there was a numerous emigration from Massachusetts into New Hampshire. The proprietors of the unsold lands in the southern townships offered strong inducements to young men to purchase farms, and remove thither. As an agent, Captain Twitchell was faithful and efficient; and, through his instrumentality, many settlers bought land in Dublin, and became permanent resi- dents. Most of his children -five sons and three daugh- ters - became at length inhabitants of Dublin. He took frequent journeys to Portsmouth ; and, when he visited his children, he came sometimes with an ox-cart, loaded with provisions, furniture, and such articles as new settlers could not procure at home.
With regard to the precise times at which many of the first settlers came to Dublin, there is no definite information. Some of them came up from Sherborn, began to clear land, worked on the roads, and built log-cabins, before they settled permanently. Among the papers left by Eli Morse, there are lists of persons who worked on the roads in North Monadnock No. 3. The following is a copy of one that contains a list for three successive years : -
1760. John Alexander, thirteen days' work.
1761. John Alexander, eight days' work. William McNee, six days' work. James Taggart, one day and a half.
1762. John Alexander, five days' work. William McNee, two days and one half. James Taggart, two days and one half. William Taggart, one day at the highway. Henry Strongman, four days' work. Samuel Twitchell, three days and one half. Levi Partridge, two days' work. William Greenwood, six days' work. Joseph Twitchell, jun., two days and a half work.
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN.
A list of the persons who worked on the roads in 1763 has not been found; but that for the years 1764 and 1765 is as follows : -
Nathaniel Bartlett.
Henry Strongman.
Benjamin Mason.
Thomas Morse.
Moses Adams.
Moses Johnson.
Samuel Twitchell.
Micah Morse.
Joseph Twitchell, jun.
Joshua Lealand.
Amos Fisk.
Joseph Twitchell.
John Robinson.
Samuel Eames.
Ebenezer Twitchell.
Ivory Perry.
William McNee.
Amos Perry.
John Alexander.
William Greenwood.
Eli Morse.
Daniel Morse.
Thomas Morrison.
James Taggart.
How many of the above-named persons were actually settled in town at the time they worked on the roads, is not known. Thomas Morrison and Joshua Lealand did not become permanent settlers. In the list of 1766 are the following additional names: Caleb Greenwood, Joseph Ad- ams, Samuel Ames, jun. (Eames ?), and Silas Stone. In the list of 1767 are William Beal, John Wight, John Muzzey, Reuben Morse, David Morse, and Thaddeus Mason. In the list of 1768 are Joel Wight, Eleazer Twitchell, and Ezra Twitchell. In 1769, only three new names were added, - Bat Goyer (Bartholomew), Isaac and Moses Mason. The whole number of persons taxed for roads, this year, was forty-five. As in former years, a few were non-residents. In the year 1770, we find the names of William Rider, Elias and Jonathan Knowlton ; and, in 1771, the number of tax- payers for a county-rate was fifty-five. The names added this year were Asa Norcross, Caleb Hill, Simeon Johnson, John Ranstead, David Johnson, Daniel Wood, Rufus Hunt- ley, Nathaniel Bates, Benoni Death, Joseph Drury, John Swan, and Joseph Turner.
In the year 1764, Eli Morse was chosen clerk of the pro- prietors ; and the brief records which he kept from that date till 1773 have been preserved. From 1773 to 1783, no meet- ings appear to have been held. In 1783 the proprietors met, and in 1784. The last meeting was in 1785. Joseph Blanchard, of Dunstable, was clerk till Mr. Morse was cho- sen ; but of his records, little, known to us, remains. Some of the transactions of the proprietors are worthy of notice,
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN.
as showing what they deemed most important to be done in those early years of the settlement. We shall give such extracts from the records of Deacon Morse as seem to us most interesting : -
" At a meeting of the proprietors of North Monadnock Town- ship, held at the house of William Greenwood in said township, on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 1764, chose Robert Boyes, Esq., moderator. Then chose Eli Morse proprietor's clerk; then chose Moses Ad- ams to join with the former committee chosen to build the bridges over the Mill Brook, and the brook by Mr. Thomas Morse's, in the room of Mr. Samuel Allison. Then voted that Wm. McNee be added to the committee chosen to repair the main road through the town, in the room of Mr. Joseph Twitchell; which road is to be repaired as soon as possible. Then voted that six hundred pounds, old tenor, be raised on the rights in this propriety, sub- ject to the payment of taxes, and collected by Thomas Morse, who is hereby impowered to receive the same, and, in case of any delin- quency of payment by any of the owners in said township, as aforesaid, for Matthew Thornton and Joseph Blanchard, Esq., and Mr. Thomas Morse, or the major part of them, to sell so much of such delinquents' interest in said town as will be sufficient to pay the tax and incidental charges; and that four hundred pounds of said money be laid out on the main road and the bridges afore- said; and the remainder be given for the encouragement of the person who shall build a saw-mill in said town. Then chose Justice Boyes, Joseph Blanchard, and William Wallace, to fix on the place where the meeting-house shall stand; who accordingly proceeded on said business immediately, with a number of the proprietors, and viewed the place for the meeting-house to stand, and fixed the same by marking a tree and cutting down several small trees near the east line of the eleventh lot in the sixth range, where the land is to be set off for that purpose, as also for a burying-place and a training field. Then voted that the work that is to be done on the road and bridges aforesaid be done by the tenth day of Novem- ber next. Then voted that the committee for roads lay out a road from the main road a little to the east of John Alexander's lot, where he lives, southardly, so as to accommodate Caleb Green- wood and Nathaniel Bartlett, and open the same so as people can pass."
The meeting of the proprietors for the year 1765 was held at the house of Thomas Morse, June 4th ; Joseph Twitchell, moderator. At this meeting, accounts were pre- sented and accepted, and "ten pounds, old tenor, assessed on each right, to be laid out on the roads in said township, including the two hundred pounds that hath been laid out more than hath been granted."
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN.
" May 14, 1776. - At a meeting of the proprietors of Monad- nock No. 3, held at the house of Mr. Thomas Morse, in said township, - chose Thomas Morse moderator. Then voted four dollars to be raised on each right for repairing roads in said township. ... Then voted one dollar on each right to hire preach- ing in said township. Then voted one dollar on each right for encouragement of Eli Morse, for building a grist-mill on the stream near his house, provided he shall get said mill completed in a year and a half from this time. . . . Granted a road from Ivory Perry's place northwardly to the main road; also granted a road from Jonas Fisk's house, leading to the middle of the town, where the committee shall think best. Chose Wm. Greenwood, Eli Morse, and Wm. Scott, for a committee to measure off the ten acres for the meeting-house, &c., and to make bounds for the same. Also chose Wm. Greenwood to provide a preacher for two or three sabbaths, as soon as may be. THOMAS MORSE, Moderator."
" At a meeting of the proprietors of Monadnock No. 3, in the province of New Hampshire, warned by Reuben Kidder, Esq., Justice of Peace in said province, according to law, and assem- bled on the 27th day of May, 1767, Reuben Kidder, Esq., was chosen moderator to regulate said meeting.
"Attest :
ELI MORSE, Proprietors' Clerk.
" Then voted to build a meeting-house fifty feet long and thirty- eight feet wide, and proportionable as to the height. Then voted to choose a committee to take care and effect the work; and chose Moses Adams, Henry Strongman, and William Greenwood, for said committee. Then voted to raise money to build said meeting- house. Then voted to raise four dollars by tax on each right. Then voted to confirm all former votes, excepting the vote to raise money to pay for preaching. Then voted that the dollar granted and taxed to hire preaching be for to pay for clearing the meeting- house land, and other necessary charges that have or may arise. Then voted that the proprietors' meetings be notified and warned by their clerk, when there is need, and application made to him by a sufficient number of said proprietors, by posting up a notification at some public place at Londonderry, Dunstable, and Dublin. Then chose Eli Morse to collect the above taxes; also chose the former committee to sell the delinquents' land; also voted that the committee for building the meeting-house be a committee to see to laying out the money granted to clear the meeting-house land. Voted to choose a committee to consult with Middletown commit- tee, and lay out a road to Middletown; and chose Samuel 'Twitchell, Joseph Twitchell, and William McNee, for said committee. Then voted that the committee, chosen to lay out roads, lay out a road or roads to accommodate Moses Johnson and William Taggart to come to the great road. Then voted Doctor Thornton and Reu- ben Kidder be employed to apply to the lord proprietors to have
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN.
our charter lengthened to June, 1768. All passed in the affir- mative. REUBEN KIDDER, Moderator."
" At a meeting of the proprietors of North Monadnock No. 3, held at Joseph Greenwood's, in said township, on Thursday, the 22d day of December, 1768, - chose Thomas Morse moderator. ... Granted a road from John Wight's to John Muzzey's; also a road from Moses Adams's to William Beals's; also from that road to No. 6 line; also granted a road from Caleb Green- wood's to Samuel Twitchell's mill; also granted a road from the road near Samuel Twitchell's to Middle Town line. Then tried a vote to see if the proprietors would reconsider the vote, passed at the last meeting, relating to the dimensions of the meeting- house : passed in the negative. Also voted to build said meeting- house at the former dimensions. Then voted to raise three dollars on each right to be laid out towards building the meet- house. Chose Eli Morse to collect the same. Then adjourned to the 16th day of January next.
"Jan. 16, 1767, met by adjournment. Then voted a road to be laid out from Isaac Bond's house to the road laid out to Ivory Perry's lot; also accepted Thomas Morse's account of two pound eight shillings for two journeys to Merrimack and one journey to Esq. Kidder's, and cash paid for notifying meetings, &c .; also voted Eli Morse fifteen shillings, cash paid to Esq. Kidder, and going to Londonderry to notify a meeting. Adjourned to the 13th of March next. Then met, and granted a road from Benjamin Learned's lot to the road leading from Samuel Twitchell's to the middle of the town; also accepted the surveyors' accounts then brought in. THOMAS MORSE, Moderator."
The next meeting of the proprietors was held at the house of Thomas Morse, Oct. 18, 1769 ; Moses Adams, moderator. After accepting surveyors' accounts, "which were then and before brought in," Eli Morse, Moses Adams, and Joseph Twitchell, were chosen a committee to make bounds to the main road to the width of three roads, and "to lay out or alter any road as shall be for the best of said township."
" At a meeting of the proprietors of Monadnock No. 3, held at the house of William Greenwood, January 23, 1770, chose Thomas Morse moderator. Then voted to raise six dollars by tax on each right to repair the roads in said township. Then voted to lay out one-half of the money on the main road, and forty-five dollars to be laid out south of the main road, and the other hundred and five to pay the arrearages already worked out, and to repair the roads north of the main road. Then chose Levi Partridge, Eli Morse, and Asa Norcross, for the north side; and chose Joseph Twitchell for the south side."
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN.
" Feb. 14, 1771. - The proprietors of Monadnock No. 3, met at the house of Eli Morse, chose William Greenwood moderator. Then granted five dollars on each right to carry on the building of the meeting-house in said town. Then chose Joseph Greenwood to collect the above grant. Then chose Eli Morse, Joseph Twit- chell, and Levi Partridge, assessors for said proprietry ; also chose Eli Morse for treasurer. Then chose Moses Adams, William Greenwood, and Eli Morse, for a committee to sell the delinquent proprietors' land to pay their taxes."
" At a meeting of the proprietors of Monadnock No. 3, assem- bled at the meeting-house in said town on Thursday, the 8th day of April, 1773, chose Mr. Thomas Morse moderator to regulate said meeting. Then chose John Muzzey, Eli Morse, and Benjamin Mason, a committee to receive and examine the accounts brought against the propriety. Then voted to not raise any more money at present for the meeting-house. Then chose William Greenwood, Henry Strongman, and Moses Adams, to plan out the pew-ground in the meeting-house. Then voted that this meeting be adjourned to the 10th day of June next. Then to receive the report of the committee that is chosen to receive and examine the accounts that are outstanding against the proprietry, and to receive from the com- mittee the plan of the pews that are to be builded in the meeting- house."
"June ye 10th, 1773, met by adjournment. Then voted to ac- cept the plan of the pews made by the committee chosen for that purpose. Then adjourned to the first Monday in July next; but never met."
There is no record of any meeting of the proprietors till that inserted below. The town was incorporated, and the interest of the proprietors did not require meetings as in former days. Many of the lots, however, at this date had not been purchased by actual settlers. The meeting-house was still owned by the proprietors ; and the occasion of call- ing the following meeting was, no doubt, for the purpose of offering the meeting-house to the town. No other business appears to have been transacted at that time, nor at any meeting afterwards.
" At a meeting of the proprietors of Monadnock No. 3, met at the meeting-house in said township, on Thursday, the eleventh day of September, 1783, made choice of Capt. Moses Adams for a moderator.
" Attest : ELI MORSE, Props Clerk."
"Then voted to give the meeting-house to the town as their property. Then voted to choose a committee to assist the clerk
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in examining the accounts. Then chose Capt. Adams and Mr. Henry Strongman for said committee."
Several other meetings were held ; but no votes were passed except a vote to adjourn. The last meeting was held at the meeting-house, March 3, 1785 : it was adjourned to the last Wednesday in May, "to meet at the meeting-house at two o'clock, afternoon." There is no further record of the doings of the proprietors of Dublin.
INCORPORATION OF DUBLIN. - VOTERS. - INVOICE OF 1771. - WARNINGS OUT OF TOWN. - PRICES OF SUNDRY COM- MODITIES.
Previous to the incorporation of Dublin, as stated in Mr. Mason's address, there was a partial organization. This took place November 16, 1768 ; but, as it was not sufficient for all the purposes of a town-body-politic, a formal charter was required, of which the following is a copy. The origi- nal charter, with the autograph of Governor Wentworth, is still in existence, though in a worn and somewhat muti- lated condition.
" PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
" George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth.
" To all people to whom these presents come, Greeting: Whereas our Loyal subjects, Inhabitants of a Tract of Land within our Province of New Hampshire aforesaid, commonly called and known by the name of Dublin or Monadnock No. 3, containing by estimation about six miles square, Having humbly petitioned and requested us that they may be erected and incorporated into a Township, and enfranchised with the same Powers and Privileges which other Towns within our said Province by Law have and enjoy. And it appearing unto us to be conducive to the General good of our said Province, as well as of the Inhabitants in particu- lar, by maintaining good order and encouraging the culture of the land, that the Same should be done : Know ye, that we, of our spe- cial Grace and certain Knowledge, and for the encouragement and promotion of the Good Purposes and ends aforesaid, by and with the Advice of our Trusty and well-beloved John Wentworth, Es-
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quire, our Governor and Commander-in-Chief, and of our Council of the same, have erected and ordained, and by these presents, for us, our Heirs and successors, do will and ordain that the Inhabi- tants of the said Tract of Land and others, who shall improve and inhabit thereon hereafter, the same being butted and bounded as follows, vizt. Beginning at a Beech Tree, being the North East Corner of Middle Monadnock Township, and runs North eighty degrees West seven miles to a Hemlock Tree marked, from thence running North by the Needle five miles to a Tree marked, from thence running South eighty degrees East seven miles to a Hem- lock Tree marked, from thence running South by the Needle Five Miles to the first Bounds mentioned: Be and they are hereby declared to be a Town corporate, and are hereby erected and in- corporated into a Body Politick and corporate to have continuance for Ever by the name of Dublin ; with all the Powers and Authori- ties, Privileges, Immunities, and Franchises, which any other Towns in said Province by Law hold and enjoy to the said Inhabitants, or those who shall hereafter inhabit there, and to their Successors for ever, ALWAYS reserving to us, our heirs and Successors, ALL WHITE PINE TREES that are or shall be found being or growing within or upon said Tract of Land fit for the use of our Royal Navy, - Reserving also to us, our heirs and Successors, the Right of dividing said Town, when it shall appear necessary and conve- nient for the Inhabitants thereof. PROVIDED nevertheless, and "Tis hereby declared, that this Charter and Grant is not intended, and shall not in any manner be construed, to affect the private Pro- perty of the soil within the Limits aforesaid. And as the several Towns within our said Province are by the Laws thereof enabled and authorized to assemble and by the Majority of the Voters present to choose all such officers and transact such affairs as in the said Laws are declared, We do by these Presents nominate and appoint Thomas Morse of said Town to call the first Meeting of said Inhabitants to be held within the said Town at any Time within Seventy Days from the Date hereof, giving legal Notice of the Time and design of holding such Meeting; after which the annual Meeting of said Town shall be held for the choice of said officers and the Purposes aforesaid on the first Tuesday of March, annually.
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