USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Fitzwilliam > The history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from 1752-1887 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
The Divols left town about 1791.
THIE GODDING FAMILY,
consisting of the widow of John Godding and four sons and four daughters, came from Attleborough, Mass., in 1779, and settled upon Lot 21, Range 11. The eldest son, John, was then a capable and energetic young man, and he made the
139
THE BOWKER FAMILY.
purchase of the land and arranged all the matters of the re- moval. This farm has since been owned by Albert Pratt. The Godding family was much respected, and formed good connections in this and some of the neighboring towns.
PHILIP AMADON came from Oxford, Mass .. with Eunice Shumway, his wife, in 1783, and settled upon Lot 10, Range 4. Soon after his arrival he built the second grist-mill, but failing to get it in operation as easily as he had hoped, he re- turned to Oxford in 1784, and worked in the hay field to ob- tain funds to complete it. On his return he came through Northfield, Mass., where he bought four bushels of corn, and brought the meal from the corn home on the back of his horse, which he led. The family supplies had been reduced so low before his arrival that the mouthfuls of food were counted.
TIIE BOWKER FAMILY.
Lots 19 and 20, Range 7. BARTLETT and JOHN BOWKER, brothers, came from Scituate, Mass., in 1780, and purchased two hundred aeres of land where is now the village of Bow- kerville. Boarding at first with Mr. Mellen, they cleared ten acres, set up a house, and roughly covered it. In the spring following Bartlett and John introduced their wives into this dwelling, which had no chimney till snow fell. These brothers lived together for ten years, with their property in common, and then made an amicable division in fifteen minutes. Bart- lett had fourteen children and John fifteen. They built as soon as convenient a blacksmith-shop, buying their iron in bars and slitting it up for nails, which they used in large quantities in shoeing horses and oxen. The first ox-frame in town was set up by them, and twenty yokes of oxen were driven to their shop at one time from Surry for shoeing. The farmers would notify them in season, so that the shoes and nails might be ready. Their father's family in Scituate lived in a small honse about four miles from the beach, and there were ten boys and three girls in it, making fifteen in all ; and the whole family ate bean porridge out of one large wooden bowl.
140
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
At a little later date another brother, Charles, came to town, and settled on Lot 17, Range 6.
JONAS ROBINSON, Or ROBESON, as he spelled his name after lie came to New Hampshire, was born in Lexington, Mass., and came to Fitzwilliam in 1791 or 1792, opening a store in the house of Reuben Ward, who lived in Marlborough. About a year later he erected a building near the Harrington Mills, finishing the front part for a store and the rear part for a dwelling-house. In 1805 he opened a store in the centre of Fitzwilliam, and in 1813 he sold out his interest in the first- named store to Daniel W. Farrar. From 1806 to the time of his death, August 24th, 1819, he lived and carried on his busi- ness in Fitzwilliam village. Before his removal to this vil- lage he superintended the building of the new road or turn- pike from Fitzwilliam to Keene, as no one else who was responsible could be found to do it, building log huts for the men whom he employed. Later he was very active in the erection of the first meeting-house in Fitzwilliam village, and was much affected when it was burned. When the flames were bursting out from the doors and windows he took from the pulpit the Bible, and before the fire had gone out was arranging with Judge Parker and Rev. Mr. Sabin for rebuild- ing at once. Mr. Robinson was captain of an independent military company, then major, but declined the office of colonel. In 1819 he represented this town in the Legislature.
It is impossible to state very definitely when the most of the early settlers came to town. In some few instances the descendants of the various individuals are able to give the date of settlement, but in the larger number of cases the date where the name first appears in the records gives us the most reliable information that is attainable. The following lists, 1765-85, have been prepared with much care, and are believed to be as complete as it is practicable to make at the present time.
The first list gives the dates when the persons named settled in Fitzwilliam (Monadnock No. 4), the authority generally being the descendants of the several persons.
141
LISTS OF EARLY SETTLERS.
The second list gives the dates when the names first appear in the proprietary, church, or town records ; and while some of the persons may not have settled here much if any earlier than the date under which they are here placed, it is certain that others were in town some years before the date at which they first appear in the records.
In both lists the names of the towns from whence the per- sons came are given so far as has been ascertained. The titles attached to some of the names are those by which the persons are best known. thongh in nearly every case they belong properly to a much later period in the life of the individual. It is believed that very nearly all the persons named were heads of families, or became such soon after their settlement in Fitzwilliam.
LIST No. 1.
1767 John Mellen, Esq. Holliston, Mass.
1768 Reuben Pratt Westboro,
1771 Stephen Harris Framingham, Mass.
1777 Samuel Stone
1775 Silas Angier. 66
1780 Bartlett Bowker John Bowker
Seituate, Mass.
66
1781 Jesse Forristall. Holliston, "
1752 John Fay Marlborough, Mass.
Allen Grant Cumberland, R. I. Asa Waite. Sutton, Mass.
1784 Philip Amadon Oxford,
LIST NO. 2.
1765 Benjamin Bigelow. Lunenburg, Mass. General James Reed. 66
Jason Stone. Framingham, "
1767 Captain Silas Wetherbee Shrewsbury, " 1768 Isaac Aplin . . Benjamin Davidson or Davison.
Major John Farrar Framingham, Mass. Aaron Garfield.
Daniel Mellen, Jr. Holliston, Mass.
1769 Deacon John Fassett Templeton (?), Mass.
John Goldsbury .
142
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
1769 Edward Kendall
Leominster, Mass.
Thomas Tolman Dorchester,
Joseph Twist Caleb Winch
1770 Rev. Benjamin Brigham
Framingham, Mass.
Joseph Hemenway Framingham, ٠،
Jonathan Locke.
Ashby,
Benjamin Tolman Attleboro,
Thomas Wetherbee Westboro, 66
66
William Withington
Ashby,
1771 John Angier. Framingham,
Captain Elijalı Clays
Stephen Cool (Cole) Pomfret, Conn.
David Denison.
Moses Drury .
Framingham, Mass.
Samuel Graves
Samuel Kendall, Esq
Leominster, Mass.
Amos Knight
Lancaster,
Ilenry Poor.
Nathaniel Wilder
Lancaster, Mass.
Henry Willard Pepperell, 66
1772 Levi Brigham.
Westboro,
Moses Cutting
Framingham, Mass.
Joseph Grow Deacon John Locke
John Mayhew
Nathan Mixer.
Framingham, Mass.
Nathan Platts. .
Framinghanı, Mass.
Jonathan Whitney Dunstable,
1773 Rev. David Goodale
Robert Ware. Jacob Wilson
1774 Amos Boynton
Job Boynton .
Alpheus Brigham
Joseph Brown.
Lancaster, Mass.
Peter Burbee
Attleboro,
James Butler . .
Ebenezer Camp
Francis Fullam
Leominster, Mass.
John Harrington
Framingham, "
Joshna Harrington .
Joshua Harrington, Jr
John Hemenway
Pomfret, Conn.
Thomas Trowbridge
Marlborough,
143
SETTLERS, 1774-1779.
1774 Samuel Kilpatrick Fitchburg, Mass. Joseph Kneeland.
Jonas Knight. William Locke
John Maynard Framingham, Mass.
Ezekiel Mixer
David Perry, Jr Sherborn, 66
Joseph Potter
James Tiffany Chelmsford (?), Mass.
1775 Abner Ball.
Major Asa Brigham. Shrewsbury, Mass.
Dr. Gershom Brigham
Leonard Brigham Shrewsbury, Mass.
John Chamberlain
Joseph Dun
Aaron Morse.
Benjamin Potter
Ebenezer Potter
Marlboro, Mass. Brookfield, “
Jonas Rice.
Ichabod Smith
Daniel Squires.
1776 John Camp.
Silas Farnsworth
Daniel Farrar.
Lincoln, Mass.
Phinehas Hutchins. Lnnenburg, Mass.
Joseph Nurse Framingham, Abraham Rice.
1777 Solomon Badcock.
Amos Bueknam
Calvin Clark . Marlboro, Mass.
Daniel Joslin
Lunenburg (!), Mass.
Edward Platts
Benjamin Scott. Sturbridge, 66
1778 Daniel Adams.
Joseph Farwell. Groton, Mass.
Jonathan Gibson.
Josiah Goodale.
Daniel Gould
Jesse Hayden
Isaac Jackson
Job Pratt.
. Southboro, Mass.
Joshua Willard.
Grafton,
1779 Benjamin Angier Framingham," Benjamin Bennett Ebenezer Boutwell.
144
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
1779 Ephraim Boynton Sterling, Mass.
Benjamin Byam. Joseph Fassett .. Theophilus Hardy
Josiah Hartwell
. Lunenburg, Mass.
Abner Haskell . Lancaster, 66
Joseph Muzzey
Samuel Osborn
Hopkinton, Mass. 66
Matthew Osborn
Joseph Scott.
Joseph Stone .. Southboro, Mass.
Nathan Townsend Westboro,
Joseph Whitmore Lancaster,
John Whitney ..
Dunstable,
Nathaniel Wilson Westminster, 66
1780 Samuel Bent. Sudbury,
Stephen Brigham
Thomas Clark Wrentham, Mass.
Matthias Felton
Joseph Forristall Holliston, Mass.
Samuel Harris
Isaac Jackson
Asa Johnson . Holliston, Mass.
Joseph Knight.
Nathaniel Muzzey
Joseph Smith
Abner Stone. .
Framingham, Mass.
Samuel Wilson
Pelham, Mass.
1781 Silas Colburn
Abel Estabrook
Joseph Morse . Framingham, Mass.
Joseph Nichols
Joseph Nichols, Jr
David Saunders Billerica, 66
Barakiah Scott.
Sturbridge,
Hezekiah Stone
Framingham,
Abijah Warner John Whitney, Jr
Samuel Wineh
Framingham, Mass.
1782 Daniel Bigelow William Bruce Sudbury,
Jesse Cheney
Joseph Foster
Eleazer Mason .
Needham Maynard Framingham, Mass.
145
SETTLERS, 1782-1785.
1782 Edward Payson
Jacob Sargent James Stone . Southboro, Mass.
Ezekiel White
1783 Agabus Bishop
Daniel Foster .
Wrentham, Mass.
John Godding.
Attleboro, Mass.
William Hartwell
John Stimson .
Luther Stone. . Framingham, Mass.
Michael Sweetser Reading,
1784 Elijah Allen.
Jolin Allen . .
William Crane.
Stoughton, Mass.
Jotham Haven . Framingham, "
Isaac Knight.
Samuel Rockwood Holliston, Mass.
Benoni Shurtleff
John Sweetland.
Attleboro, Mass.
Jonathan Whitcomb
Azariah Wilson Westboro (?), Mass.
Jonas Woods. Southboro,
1785 Samuel Barnard
Asa Bennett . Shrewsbury, Mass.
Deacon Oliver Damon. Sudbury,
Isaac Goodenough
William Nurse
Simeon Perry .
Captain Stephen Richardson Royalston, Mass.
Joel Wright Templeton, “
10
CHAPTER VIII.
EARLY TOWN HISTORY, 1773-1800.
Movement for Incorporation-Opposition to it-Petition for it-Charter Granted-The Name Fitzwilliam-First Town Meeting-Injury of Records-Early Town Officers-Pew Associations-Warning out of Town -- Provision for Soldiers-Depreciation of Currency-The Great Road-List of Land-Owners.
A FTER 1769 the meetings of the proprietors were held within the township, and evidently were not attended by many of the non-resident proprietors. Daniel Mellen con- tinned to be chosen to various offices for a few years, but with this exception all of the officers of the proprietorship were chosen from residents, and they originated all the important measures that were adopted.
How early the matter of incorporating Monadnock No. 4 as a town was agitated it is impossible to tell, but from the petition which follows it would appear that in 1768 the settlers were becoming somewhat restive under the proprietors' move- ments, and were, at least, considering the advantages and dis- advantages of an act of incorporation. There was opposition to any movement of this nature, and possibly it extended to many if not most of the non-resident proprietors. Certainly Sampson Stoddard, by far the largest of these, was not ready to sanction any proceedings that favored a plan of incorpora- tion, as will appear from the following :
To His Excellency John Wentworth Esqr. Captain General, Gov- ernor and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of New Hamp., the Honble His Majesty's Council for Said Province-
The Memorial of Sampson Stoddard of Chelinsford in the County of Middlesex in the Province of Massachusetts Bay Shews-
That there is a Tract of Land in the Province of New Hampshire of the contents of about Six Miles Square Granted by the Purchasors of
147
PETITION FOR INCORPORATION.
the Right of John Tufton Mason Esqr. to Your Memorialist and others called the Township of Monadnock No 4-that the Greater part thereof is finally Vested in him, that he has at great Expense Settled a Very Considerable Number of Inhabitants thereon.
Wherefore your Memorialist humbly prays that the Lands aforesd may not be Incorporated into a Town and the Inhabitants there Infranchised with all Town priveledges without their first Giving Notice to him of their Design of applying to y' Excelly and honors and your Memorialist Shall (as in duty bound) Ever pray-
Sampson Stoddard.
Portsmº July 11. 1768.
So far as can be learned from the early records, the move- ment for incorporation took form at the annual meeting of the proprietors, March 31st, 1773. Doubtless the majority, if not all of those present and voting at that meeting were settlers as well as proprietors. This meeting was held at the house of James Reed, innholder, with John Mellen moderator. James Reed, Esq., John Mellen, and Joseph Hemenway were appointed a committee
to repair to the Govner and Council of this Province to have this town- ship incorporated into a town and to have town privileges as soon as may be.
No full record has been preserved of the proceedings of this committee, but from the fact that the petition presented to the governor was signed by James Reed alone, the proba- bility is that he was not accompanied by the other members of the committee, though he acted under their authority.
The following is the petition :
To His Excellency John Wentworth Esquire Captain General and Commander in Chief in and over His Majestys Province of New Hamp- shire and Vice Admiral of the Same in Council.
The Petition of James Reed, of Monadnock No. 4 in the County of Cheshire in the Province aforesaid Esqr and Clerk of the Proprietors of said Monadnock No. 4 unto your Excellency and Honors humbly Shews.
That your Petitioner with Joseph Hemmenway and John Millens at a legal meeting of s Proprietors held in sd Monadnock No. 4, on the 31st of March last were chosen a committee to Petition this Honourable
148
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
Court to incorporate the said Monadnock No. 4 into a Township with the usual Privileges and Franchises of other corporate Towns in said Province, for the following Reasons, viz.
That the Inhabitants of said Monadnock No. 4 have settled a Minister and built a Meeting House and have a large Number residing there, be- sides others daily coming to settle there. That they humbly conceive their Number Intitles them to the Indulgence of this Honble Court as in the present mode of Provincial Taxation they are subject to the Controul of the Selectmen of Neighboring Towns, and they would humbly wish to have the Previledge of chusing Selectmen and other Town Officers of their own, which would quiet the Minds of the Inhabitants and promote the Interests and good Government of sd Monadnock No 4.
That being destitute of Town Priviledges the Petitioners cannot legally warm out any vagrants that may come there, and many other In- conveniences.
Wherefore, Your Petitioners, in behalf of the Proprietors humbly pray that this Honble Court would grant their Petition and as in duty he and they shall ever pray.
James Reed. Committeeman and Proprietors' Clark.
The three points made prominent in this petition will be seen to have been :
1. The matter of taxation, from which it is plain that in some way the officers of the adjoining incorporated towns had some oversight of the unincorporated towns as to their taxation, evidently a case of " taxation without representation."
2. It was needful to quiet the minds of the people, as it was 3. To be able to warn off vagrants.
It is to be remembered that this movement was made before the breaking out of the American Revolution, but while the flame of patriotism which was soon to burst forth was smouldering, and needed but some comparatively slight cause to render it uncontrollable. This it found when the cargoes of tea were thrown overboard in the harbor of Boston, an oc- currence which rendered this same year, 1773, memorable. During the great excitement which succeeded that event the inhabitants of Monadnock No. 4 received their charter from their king, which must have been among the last of such charters granted by the same authority to any of the towns in Southern New Hampshire.
149
THE CHARTER OF FITZWILLIAM.
This charter is here given entire :
Province of New Hampshire.
Seal of
the Province.
George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King-Defender of the Faith.
To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting. Whereas our Loyal Subjects and Inhabitants of a Tract of Land within our Province of New Hampshire aforesaid, commonly called and known by the name of Manadnock No (4) containing by estimation about six miles square, have Humbly Petitioned & requested us that they may be erected and incorporated into a Township and enfranchised with the same Powers and Priveledges 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 said Inhabitants in par- ticular by maintaining good order & encouraging the Culture of the Land that the same should be done : Know Ye that we, of our special grace certain knowledge and for the Enouragement and Promotion of the good Purposes and Ends aforesaid ; by and with the advice of our trusty and well beloved John Wentworth Esqr, our Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Province and of our Council of the same, Have erected and ordained and by these Presents for us, our Heirs and Succes- sors do will and ordain, that the Inhabitants of the said Tract of Land and others who shall improve and Inhabit therein hereafter, the Same being butted and bounded as follows (Viz.) Beginning at the West line of Mason's Patent so called, where that crosses the dividing Line be- tween the Province of Massachusetts Bay and the Province of New Hampshire, and runs from thence south Eighty degrees East by said Line, six miles to the South West corner of the South Manadnock, from thence North by the Needle, by said Township, five miles to the North West Corner of ye South Manadnock aforesaid, from thence North Eighty Degrees west by Midle Manadnock Township, one mile & a quarter to the South West corner thereof, thence North by the needle two miles and forty rods, and from thence North Eighty [degrees West] till it comes to the Patent West Line as lately marked, and from thence Southerly by that Line to the first Bounds mentioned, Be and they are hereby declared to be a Town corporate by the name of Fitzwilliam, to have Continuence for ever, with all the Powers and Privileges, author- ities, immunities and Franchises which any other Towns in our said Province by Law hold and enjoy, to the said Inhabitants or those who shall hereafter Inhabit these and to their Sucessors forever, allways reserving to us our Heirs & Successors all White Pine Trees, that are or shall be found, being and growing within & upon the Said Tract of Land fit for the Use of our Royal Navy, reserving also to us, our Heirs and
150
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
Successors the Power of dividing said Town when it shall be necessary & Convenient for the Inhabitants thereof, Provided nevertheless & tis hereby declared that this Charter and Grant is not intended and shall not in any manner be construed to affect the Private Property of the Soil within the Limits aforesaid, And as the Several Towns within our said Province are by the Laws thereof enabled & authorized to assemble & by the majority of the Voters Present to chuse all officers and transact such affairs as in the said Laws are declared-And We do by these Presents nominate & appoint James Reed Esgr. to call the first meeting of said Inhabitants to be held within the Said Town any Time within Thirty Days from the Date hereof, giving Legal Notice of the Time & design of Holding such Meeting, after which the annual Meet- ing for said Town shall be held for the choice of such Officers and the Purposes aforesaid on the third Thursday in March annually.
In Testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of Our Said Province to be hereunto affixed. Witness Our aforesaid Governour and Com- inander in Chief the Nineteenth Day of May, in the Thirteenth Year of our reign, Annog Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred & Seventy- Three. J. WENTWORTHI.
By his Excellency's Comand. With advice of Council. Theodore Atkinson, Sec'y.
Province of New Hampshire May 19, 1773. Entered & recorded in the 4th Book of Charters Page 147 and 148. Attest Theodore Atkinson, Sec'y.
Why the name Fitzwilliam (the son of William) was given to the town we know only through tradition. Rev. John Sabin, in his lecture, makes this statement :
It was named after the Earl of Fitzwilliam I believe, an Irish Gentle- man, then considered a very worthy man. Time has been after the burning of our Meeting House that I wished to remind him of the town named for him and give him an opportunity for his substantial remem- brance of this his child. It is supposed that he lives in name and title in a descendant ; at least he did a few years since.
That the Earl of Fitzwilliam was a man of influence and established reputation appears from the fact that Edmund Burke addressed to him one of his important communications relative to British interests, which may be found in Volume VI. of his works, Little & Brown's edition.
This town was doubtless named for this English and Irish
151
EARLY RECORDS INJURED.
earl, and the strong probability is that he was an acquaintance and friend of Governor John Wentworth, or a connection by marriage. This governor was the second of that name, and had recently been appointed to office by royal authority. For many years the Wentworth family had furnished governors for the province of New Hampshire, and the predecessor of this John Wentworth, Benning Wentworth, had been in the habit of giving the names of his intimate friends and favorites to not a few of the towns for which he obtained charters, and to some counties also. The probability is that his nephew, the last royal governor, followed his example in naming Fitz- william.
James Reed called the first meeting of the town under its charter, but no record of that important meeting appears to be in existence. Early in the year 17S5 the dwelling-house of Sammel Patrick, then town clerk of Fitzwilliam, was burned. The Town Book of Records was rescued from the fire in a badly damaged condition, but all the loose papers appertaining to the business of the town were entirely destroyed. The res- cued book, originally eleven inches long and seven inches wide, was burned upon the edges all around, but most upon the front and ends, and more at the beginning of the book than upon the other side. As a part of the front parchment cover was preserved, it would seem that none of the leaves were en- tirely consumed, thongh several leaves are now missing. By counting the folds of the sheets, it is found that four leaves are missing, probably three at the commencement of the book and one at ten or fifteen pages later. All the records of 1773 are gone, the book now commencing with the warrant for the annual meeting in 1774.
In consulting this damaged but still invaluable book, which furnishes the only direct and positive information respecting the business of the town for eleven years-and those the years of the American Revolution-often a word or two at the begin- ning and end of a line will be missing, but in general the por- tions remaining uninjured aid us in determining substantially both how much and what has been lost. In the records at the top and bottom of the pages the condition is different, as three
152
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
or four lines may be gone from the top of a page and one or two lines from the bottom, which taking together the bottom of one page and the top of the next might make a loss of five or six entire lines and parts of several others. In some such cases, however, a careful comparison of the warrant for the meeting with the action as recorded may show whether the missing record is of much or little consequence.
At the annual town meeting in March, 1785, Caleb Winch, Samnel Patrick, and Sylvanus Reed were chosen " a commit- tee to copy off the records belonging to the town that was in Samuel Patrick's house," but the work thus projected was never accomplished.
Though we have no formal record of the business done in 1773, the call for the town meeting, which was held March 17th, 1774, shows us who five of the officers of the town were when it was first organized, for this call, which is dated March 20, 1774, was signed by John Mellen and Joseph Grow, se- lectmen, and was served by Edward Kendall, constable, whose return was made on the day of the meeting, March 17th, 1774, while we find that Edward Kendall, as one of the selectmen, had been previously engaged in laying out a road in the town- ship. The first town clerk was plainly James Reed, as all the earliest town records are in his handwriting.
We have, then, as town officers for 1773 :
Town clerk, James Reed.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.