USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Fitzwilliam > The history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from 1752-1887 > Part 31
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97 80 81
81 94
379
DEATHS OF AGED PERSONS.
1834 Dee. 16. Ruth Penniman, wife of Elihu. . . Dec. 17. Ebenezer Saunders
1835 Nov. 1. Elihu Penniman $4
Dec. 31. Allen Grant. . 89
1836 Feb. 20. Mary (Dodge) Reed, widow of James, Jr 90
Sept. 6. Moses Drury .
Oet. 1. Anna Batchelder, widow of Ben- 100 yrs., jamin . 6 m.
93
1837 Feb. 5. Lydia [(Burbank) Lyon] Potter, wife of Ebenezer
Aug. 25. Eunice (Shumway) Amidon, wid- ow of Philip 90
1838 Mar. 10. Elizabeth Stone, wife of James. . .
June 5. Solomon Spaulding.
96
Oct. S. Mary (Hunt) Bent, widow of Samuel
84
Nov. 24. Ruth (Wilder) Waite, widow of Asa. 88
1839 June 14. Capt. John Fay
July 21. Charles Bowker ..
1840 Feb. 13. Abigail (Baker) Fay, widow of Jonas and (1) of Ephraim Parker
12
April 1. Lovina (Brigham) Fay, widow of Capt. John. 80
May 11. Elizabeth Pettes .
99
Sept. 18. Mary Grant, widow of Allen SO
Dee. 31. Betsey Deeth, widow of Parley ...
1841 Jan. 5. James Stone
87
May 12. Matthew Osborn
ST
June 12. Stephen White.
July 10. Lois Capron, widow of Jonathan. 81
Dec. 2. Phebe (Wetherbee) Platts, widow 101 yrs., of Abel. 4 m., 24 d.
Dee. 12. Samuel Stone, died at Swanzey .. 91
1842 July 28. Hannah Griffin, dau. of Dea. Samuel ; died at Troy $6
Dee. 28. Matthias Felton. ST
380
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
1843 Sept. 6. Elizabeth (Parks) Fassett, widow of Willard . 85
Dec. 25. Joel Miles, d. at Royalston 87
1844 Feb. 11. Ennice (IIawes) Foster, widow of Alexander
Mar. 4. Martha (Gibson) Forristall, widow of Jesse 91
Ang. 18. Oliver Whitcomb. . 81
Sept. 6. Mary Phillips, widow of Na- thaniel.
85
1845 Feb. 13. Lois (Pierce) White, widow of Daniel.
S4
April 27. Ebenezer Potter
96
May 27. Joseph Stone.
93
1846 Feb. 10. Betsey (Nichols), widow of Phil- lips Sweetser ; (1) of Dr. Ebe- nezer Wright 82
July 11. Mary (Wilson) Prescott, wife of Peter.
1847 Jan. 2. Lieut. Daniel Mellen.
97
Feb. 19. Robinson Perkins
April 30. Artemas Wilson
90
Aug. 4. Sarah (?) Whitney, widow of John (Jr. (?)) . 99
1848 Mar. 9. Hephzibah Johnson, widow of Eliphalet .. 89
Nov. 23. John Shirley
94
Dec. 14. John Damon, died at Rindge. . . 81
1849 April 10. Sarah Grover, widow of Antipas.
80
Aug. 5. Sarah (Fisher) Fullam. widow of Francis 91 1
1850 Feb. S. Mary (Harris) Stone, widow of Joseph 92
May 15. Elizabeth (Stiles) Blodgett, of Timothy 82
July 29. Mary (Taylor) Howe, widow of Nahum . 83
1851 Jan. 14. Rebecca Johnson, widow of James 87
381
DEATHS OF AGED PERSONS.
1851 Mar. 22. Cata (Drury) Wilson, widow of Artemas .. 88
April 2. Lydia (Richardson) Reed, widow of Phineas. 80
Nov. 29. Mrs. Hannah Spanlding, mother of James 81
1852 Jan. 7. Calvin Smith
81
Feb. 2. Lydia Knights, widow of William, died at Marlboro.
84 86
April 30. Phinehas Reed.
April 30. Sally (Carter) Marshall, widow of William, (1) of Isaac Kimball . .
85
July 14. Peter Prescott.
94
Aug. S. Dr. Thomas Richardson.
86
1853 June 22.
Eunice (Brigham) Cobleigh, wid- ow of John. 87
Oct. 29. Martha (Stickney) Saunders, wid- of Ebenezer. 90
Dec. 20. Molly White, widow of Stephen ..
87
1854 Feb. 2. Lydia (Parks) Townsend, widow of Nathan, Jr.
87
Feb. 6. Orra Ripley, widow of
S5
Aug. 22. Otis Whipple.
86
1855 June 11. Polly Felch .
80
June 14. Capt. Nathan Smith
91 SO
Nov. 29. Timothy Blodgett
89
Dee. 26. John Whittemore.
80
1856 Feb. 14. Elizabeth (Woodbury) Burbank,
widow of John. 90
June 15. Catherine McLeer, widow of. 83
July 28. Mary White, wife of Noah. S8
1857 April 26. Hannah (Woods) Fassett, widow of Joseph 83
May 13. Anna (Harris) Byam, widow of Abel. 90
May 18. Mary Gee, widow of S9
July 5. Joseph Pratt. 57
Sept. 13. Zalmon Howe.
382
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
1858 Jan. 30.
Hannah (Frost) Worcester, widow of William . 98
Aug. 22. Roxana (Amidon) Angier, wife of Abel 83
1859 Jan. 13. Silas Morse
82
Oct. 3. Polly Kilbourne, widow of. 82
Oct. 13. (Pratt) Taft, widow of David ... Moses Chaplin.
S1
Nov. 21.
82
1860 July 23. Elizabeth Hayden, widow of Ezra 82
1861 Feb. 13. Lucretia Mellen .
95
Feb. 21. Jedediah Putney, died at Marl- boro. . 85
Feb. 27. Abel Angier
86
May 10. Elizabeth (Goss) Carter, widow of Joseph 83
Aug. 27. Isabel (Manning) Stone, wife of Dea. Artemas S2
Oet. 12. Asa Waite. 85
Dec. 16. Lydia Whipple, widow of Otis . . SS
1862 Mar. 9. Elijah T. Smith, died at Winchen- don 83
April S. Charles F. Cameron 84
April 10.
Dea. Artemas Stone 85
Oct. 27. William Perry.
82
1863 June 27. Pamelia Whipple, widow of Na- 101 yrs., hun .. . 1 m., 4 d.
Aug. 21. Noah White 86
Dec. 22. Samnel Carroll 83
1864 May 1. Polly (Loeke) Whittemore, widow of William S
June 16. Mary (Bent) Pratt, widow of Amos ; died at Rindge.
1865 Jan. 9. Anna Grant, daughter of Allen. . 84
Mar. 19. Mary (Damon) Sabin, widow of Rev. John. 86
June 7. Jesse Forristall . S4
Oct. 27. Lucy (Pateh) Whitcomb, widow 101 yrs., of Oliver 11 m., 1 d.
383
DEATHS OF AGED PERSONS.
1865 Nov. 18. Lovicy (Mellen) Whitcomb, widow of John 83
1866 Feb. 19. Elizabeth Reed, widow of Benja- min ; died at Jaffrey. 83
Feb. 26. Josiah Wilder 80
April 1. Betsey Hale, widow of Jacob. . . .
81
July 22. William II. Bent, died at Ash- burnham . 81
Oct. 25. Polly Wilder, widow of Josiah. .
1867
April 10.
Mrs. Pheve Howe 87
Oct. 12. David Grant.
82
Nov. 11. Martha (Bent) Chaplin, widow of Moses 85
1868 Mar. 13. Jonathan Gage.
86
May 6. Susanna (Phillips) Morse, widow of Silas . 82
Sept. 22. Annis (Whitney) Carroll, widow of Samuel 85
Nov. 3. Azubah Locke, daughter of Joseph
91
1869 May 20. Polly [ (Blanding) Kendall ] Wright, widow of Capt. Aaron.
89
Ang. 1. Sally (King) Chapman, widow of Luther.
87
Oet. 7. Ruth (Carroll) Whitney, wife of David 84
87
Nov. 9. Simeon Merrifield, died at New Salem, Mass 86
1870 Feb. 7.
John Cobleigh
SO
Mar. 8. Sally (Dadmun) Kendall, widow of Luke. . 90
May 16. Cynthia (Randall) Ellis, widow of Samuel. . 91
Sept. 18. Mary (Chaplin) Beard, widow of Artemas ... 88
1871 Jan. 27. Abel Marshall . 81
Mar. 18. William Fisher Perry 95
April 1. Philemon Fairbanks. 89
Nov. S. Levi Tower
384
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
1871 April 28. Lovina Leathie, widow of Elisha Drury by previous m .; died at Royalston . 80
Aug. 9. Nancy (Sweetser) Mann, widow of Rev. Cyrus. 80
1872 April 12. Emory Taft. 93
Aug. 26. Benoni Peck
89
Nov. 14. Anstis (Stratton) Tower, widow of Levi. . S7
Nov. 14. Jude Damon, died at Keene. . . 87
Dec. 9. Ruth (Pratt) Bent, widow of Samuel, Jr .; died in Vermont. Dec. 21. Hyman Bent.
S4
1873 April 5. Polly (Davis) Wilson, widow of Artemas, Jr S2
April 26. Sarah S. Poland, wife of Samuel.
87
May 4. Polly (Stone) Osborn, widow of Matthew 85
May 21.
David Forbush. S6
1874 Mar. 23.
Nancy (Colburn) Davison, widow of Benjamin ; died at Winchen- don . S1
April 2. Samuel Poland, died at Keene .. . 84
April 15. Dorcas (Amidon) Rice, widow of 104 yrs., David ; died in Jaffrey .. ...... + m., 5 d.
Oct. 21. Sally (Locke) Drury, wife of Moses 83
1875 May 1.
Ebenezer Potter 81
1876 April 3. Mary (McClary) Parker, wife of Amos A. 81
April 21. Capt. Silas Chase, died at Win- chendon 81
Aug. 18. Benjamin Byam 83
1877
Mar. 14. Sylvanus Holmnan
81
May 29. David Thompson 89
Sept. 11. Sukey (Penniman) Damon, widow of Jude SS
Sept. 18. Huldah (Collins) Osborn, widow of Capt. Josiah 91
·
90
DEATHS OF AGED PERSONS.
385
1877 Sept. 18. Sibel (Fiske) Damon, widow of Luther ; died at Dana, Mass .. .
Oct. 2. Luey Whitcomb, daughter Oliver
of
Nov. 7. Samuel Sawyer Willard.
84
Nov. 18. Catherine (Bigelow) Prescott, widow of Peter, Jr. SS
Nov. 29. Sarah (Hayden) Bailey, widow of Edward ; (1) of Jared Perkins.
1878 Dec. 5. Betsey (Grant) Handy, wife of Paul
S1
1879 Jan. 21. Eliza (Fay) Stone, widow of Moses. 90
June 5. Hephzibah (Stone) Forbush, widow of David ; died at Winchendon
ST
Aug. 28. Lucy (Fassett) Byam, wife of Benjamin.
1880 Feb. 17.
Oet. S. Ezra Alexander, died at Keene .. Dea. Joseph Harris, died at Bald- winville ..
Mar. 22. Asaph Whitcomb
85
May 20. John Jarvis Allen.
90
Sept. 16. Hannah (Woodward) Putney, widow of Jedediah ; (1) of
Martin Rockwood ; died at Troy .. . .
Oct. 25. Anna (Bowker) Collins, widow of Ezekiel . 90
Dee. 6. David Whitney 93
1851
Mar. 13. Caroline Smith, daughter of Dan- iel
May 20. Ruth (Collins) Kuhn, wife of William ; (1) of Nathan Drury.
1882 Jan. 4. Tamar (Grant) Hayden, wife of Samuel Số
Jan. 17. Samuel Hayden
Jan. 29. Hannah Lovering, widow of Henry
51
25
386
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
1882 Feb. 19.
Clarissa (Holden) Fay, widow of Stephen 86
Mar. 16. Lucy (Gates) Thompson, widow of David. 89
Mar. 17. Sylvia (Green) Taft, wife of Lewis 80
April 21. Abel Dunton.
89
May. Alexander Matheson. 85
July 17. Daniel Spaulding
93
Nov. 17. Lucy Carpenter.
86
1883 Nov. 13. Levinah J. (Allen) Bent, widow of William H. 86
1884 Jan. 19. Francis Stone
April 16. Moses Drury
81
April 28.
Josiah Moore
88
Oct. 6.
Oren Grant, died in Royalston .
89
1885 Feb. 1. Harriet B. (Tylor) Dyar, widow of Joseph. 81
April 5. Panl Handy.
84
April 30. Nancy (Robbins) Bent, W. of Elisha 84
June 12. Leonard Pierce 83
1886 Mar. 1. Phineas Parks. 90
The foregoing list contains 233 names. Of this number, 25 persons died elsewhere, but were brought here for interment, and are inserted in the list as properly belonging here. Of the 208 who died in town, 87 were between 80 and 85 years of age ; 73 were between 85 and 90; 32 were between 90 and 95 ; 12 were between 95 and 100, and 4 were over 100 years of age.
LIST OF PERSONS OVER SO YEARS OF AGE RESIDING IN FITZ- WILLIAM JAN. 1, 1887.
Jonathan Sabin Adams . Sept. 22, 1802. Plainfield, Conn. Joseph Blodgett Oct. 28, 1796. Northfield, Mass.
Simon Bosworth . Mar. 22, 1803. Winehendon.
Luke Bowker Oet. 28, 1800. Fitzwilliam.
95
387
LIST OF AGED PERSONS, JAN. 1, 1887.
Betsey (Knight) Brewer, wid. of Asa .. May 4, 1804. Sudbury, Mass.
Milton Chaplin April 7, 1805. Fitzwilliam.
Selina (Parker) Damon, wid. of John. July 5, 1799.
Tamar (Thompson) Da-
vis, wid. of Chancy .. Nov. 4, 1804. Holden, Mass.
George W. Drury Jan. 11, 1800. Framingham, Mass.
Samuel S. Dudley June 26, 1806. Sudbury, Mass.
Ruth (Phillips) Dunton, wid. of Abel. Aug. 21, 1799. Athol, Mass. July 18, 1803. Fitzwilliam.
Benjamin M. Fiske . .
Louisa (Storrow) Forris- tall, wid. of Jesse. .
April 7, 1804. Boston, Mass.
Eunice (Parks) Holman, wid. of Seth
Oct. 19, 1801. Royalston.
Lucy (Fullam) Holman,
wid. of Sylvanus .... June 27, 1797. Fitzwilliam.
Jane S. (Richardson)
Kimball, wid. of John Nov. 21, 1802. Royalston.
William Kuhn. 1800. Montague, Mass.
Harriet (Stone) Miles, wid. of John . . . June 6, 1801. Sullivan, N. H.
Mary R. (Felch) Milne, wid. of John .
Charlotte (Pratt) Petts, wid. of Abel.
Aug. 29, 1805. Boston, Mass. Jan. 13, 1805. Fitzwilliam.
Polly (Woods) Potter, wid. of Ebenezer
Aug. 30, 1803.
Fanny W. Saunders, dau. of Ebenezer Sept. 15, 1805.
Isaac W. Stone Dec. 2, 1806. 66
Daniel Smith Oct. 30, 1804. Mar. 4, 1803. Uxbridge, Mass.
Lewis Taft.
Tabitha (Wright) Whee- ler, wid. of Henry H. Oct. 3, 1805. Fitzwilliam.
Rebecca Whitcomb, dau. of Oliver Sept. 24, 1801.
388
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
DEATHS FROM ACCIDENT.
AGE.
1769, April 30. 1 Thaddeus Stone, s. of Jason. ... scalded. 1771, May 3. Benjamin Bigelow,
drowned at Winchester.
1778, June 12. Henry Poor. . . fall from horse.
1779, Mar. 16. Susan Bennett, w. of Benjamin,
fall from horse in Royalston.
June 3. 50 John Bruce. . . ... from fall at saw-mill.
1782, July 26. 28 Thomas Platts,
1790, June 19.
crushed between cart and tree. Joseph Johnson, instantly, by falling tree.
Dec. 31. Capt. Stephen Richardson .. . . frozen.
1793, Mar. 25. 3 Sylvester Bowker, s. of Charles, drowned.
1795, Mar. 22. 20 Abel Ware, s. of Robert, fall in saw-mill. Sept. 24. 13 Rufus Pratt, s. of Job,
1800, April S. 1
timber fell on him at a raising. Mary Perry, d. of Simeon ...... scalded.
1802, Mar. 18. 3 Harding Morse, s. of Daniel, by fall of wood-pile.
1804, Sept. 9. 5 Joseph Reed, s. of Phineas .... drowned.
1805, Sept. 21. 15 Joel Dunton blown up in a well.
1809, May 10. 7 Caleb Winch, s. of Joseph,
burned in his grandfather's (?) house. William Bruce,
1811, Mar. 13. 50
from boards falling on him.
1812, Sept. 4. 28 Abner Stone, Jr., fell from frame at a raising. 1814, Jan. 21. 5 Child of Josiah Wilson, from wound in head.
1818, Oct. 16. 60 Thomas Stratton, instantly, by falling tree.
1821, Ang. 13. 2 William Perkins, s. of Dr. Jared, scalded.
1824, Oct. 12. 68 Jesse Forristall .. .. . fall from wagon. 1825, Oct. Chandler May, s. of Theophilus, overturning of a chaise.
389
DEATHS FROM ACCIDENTS.
AGE.
1832, June 6. 18 Calvin Chase, accidental discharge of his gun.
1833, April 1. 22 Benjamin Bowker, hurt in mill, sawing hoe-handles.
Sept. 30. 3 Henry Stone, s. of Francis, drowned in tan-vat. 1834, July 13. 15 Elizabeth Goodspeed, thrown from wagon.
1837. July 9. 16 James Follett. . drowned at Bowkerville.
1838, Aug. 18. 30 Daniel T. Hayden, accidental diselarge of his rifle.
1839, Oet. 30. 24 Ilyman C. Pratt, accidental discharge of his gun.
Nov. 28. 2 Child of Timothy S. Reed. ..... scalded. Stillman Collins. .. drowned in Sip pond.
1840, Sept. 10. 50
Nov. 12. 19 Sarah E. May,
burned by clothes taking fire.
1842, Jan. 13. 4 Levi A. Taft, s. of Lewis. burned by clothes taking fire. Sept. 1. 20 Daphne Allen, d. of Jubal E., burned by elothes taking fire. 1845, June 14. 18 Daniel C. S. Parker, s. of Amos A., drowned at Troy.
Dec. 15. 50 Michael Higgins,
on RR. by a falling bank.
1847, May 18. 50 Peter Shossiny .. on RR. by a stone. 1848, Feb. 22. Dennis Daly ...... run over by the cars. 1853, Dec. 30. 30 Nathaniel Allen,
1854, Mar. 28. 52
1861, Feb. 1. 40
on RR. at Collins' bridge. Patrick MeManus. .... drowned at Troy. Mrs. Damon, w. of Alonzo, of Hubbards- ton, Mass.,
Feb. 1.
on RR. at Templeton crossing. 3 George Damon, s. of Alonzo, of Hub- bardston, Mass.
on RR. at Templeton crossing.
1864, Mar. S. 1 Stillman A. Dunton, s. of George O., scalded.
390
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
AGE.
1865, Oct. 26. 57 Paul Martin, from injury by falling tree.
1867, Aug. 4 Johnny Marvin. . drowned.
1868, July 12. 18 George A. Worcester,
drowned at Richmond.
1870, Aug. 24. 51 Dr. Horace B. Day, of Utica, N. Y., by the cars at depot.
Aug. 25. 22 Charles Scott .. . fell under cars at depot.
1872, Nov. 6. 52 Abijah Ellis. . murdered at Boston.
Dec. 10. 23 Ralph Trumbull. ... on RR., brakeman. Dec. 23. Prentiss, on RR. at Collins' bridge. Ellis, s. of Timothy, in mill in Rindge. 1877, Sept. 3. 8 Carrie Lizzie Beebe, adopted dau. of An- son G. . drowned. Nov. 7. 84 Samuel S. Willard. . by cars at State line.
1879, Feb. S. 22 Nathan Elwin Stone, s. of Nathan, by cars, at Worcester. Oct. 22. 24 Charles W. Perry, s. of Charles, from kick of a horse.
1880, Feb. 12. 17 Artemas S. Campbell, s. of Dugald, killed in the mill.
1881, Feb. 5. J. L. Davis, RR. engineer (?) killed on the railroad.
The list includes a few who were killed elsewhere, but who may be considered as belonging to Fitzwilliam, and the most of whom were brought here for burial.
DEATHS BY SUICIDE.
1793, July 10. Azariah Wilson. By hanging.
1800, July 27. Hannah Richardson . Age, 19. Drowning.
1810, Dec. 1. Ephraim Parker 66 54.
Hanging.
1817, Aug. 23. Jacob Townsend 50.
66 1824, Oct. 11. Samuel Davis 66 66.
1828, July 28. David Rice 66 60.
66
1829, Feb. 15. David Graves 35. Cutting.
1829, Mar. 6. Luther Holman. 25. Poison, at Keene.
1830, Aug. 3. Lydia Moody 66 47. Hanging.
39
DEATHIS BY SUICIDE.
1850, May 24. Parkman Kendall .. Age, 31. Hanging.
1861, Jan. 20. Elisha Drury. 39. Cutting.
1863, Ang. 16. Timothy N. Carroll ..
42.
1864, Sept. 13. Daniel G. Carter . . 49. Hanging.
1866, May 1. Mrs. William Flagg. 40.
1872, June 7. Daniel Harris. 66
25. Poison, at Winchendon.
1877, April 7. Reuben B. Pratt 66 68. Hanging.
1877, Nov. 19. Reuben Pratt. .6 47. Poison, at Winchendon.
Joseph Lee Hayward, son of Benjamin Hayward, was born in Fitzwilliam, August 12th, 1837. At the age of twenty- three he went West, and for two years found employment in New Baltimore, Mich., and Moline, Ill. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a soldier in the One Hundred and Twenty- seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteers, but his health giving way he was detailed to serve as a druggist in a dispensary at Nashville, Tenn., and continued in this service till the close of the war. In 1866 he was in Faribault, Minn., and later in Minneapolis, but in 1867 became a resident of Northfield, Minn., and engaged in business as a book-keeper. In this capacity he was employed in 1872 by the First National Bank of Northfield. In September of that year, the cashier being absent, Mr. Hayward was in charge as aeting cashier, the teller, Mr. Bunker, and assistant book-keeper being also on duty. On the 7th of that month eight mounted bank robbers, understood to be the so-called Jesse James band, entered the place, and while three of the number attacked the bank the other five made the utmost possible commotion upon the out- side, to intimidate the people that might come to the rescue. But the citizens rallied so quickly and in such numbers that the attempted robbery was frustrated, and two of the robbers were killed, but as the last one was leaving the bank he turned and fired a fatal shot at Mr. Hay ward.
Elijah Phillips, son of Elijah Phillips, was born in Fitzwill- iam, and in 1830, when he was a young man, went West and settled in Illinois. He made his journey partly on foot and partly by the Erie Canal, and by steamboat on Lake Erie, and joining his old friends, James G. Forristall and Sylvester Brig- ham, they built a log cabin for themselves in what is now the town of Dover. Nearly two years later Mr. Phillips, with
392
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
seven others, left Fort Hennepin to look after their cattle, and rain coming on they remained overnight in the hut of one John L. Ament, who was not on friendly terms with the neighboring Indians. In some way Mr. Phillips had become somewhat involved in the quarrel. The men barricaded the hut and each slept with his loaded gun by his side. The Ind- ians who were watching the cabin during the night were prevented by the rain from burning it, but early in the morn- ing as Mr. Phillips started for his own cabin, which was not far distant, a number of guns were fired at him and he fell dead, two bullets having entered his body.
PAUPERISM.
The enstom which prevailed in this region, a century ago, of warning nearly every new family out of town as soon as possible after its arrival, doubtless prevented pauperism in this place to some extent, still, Fitzwilliam, like all other towns, had its poor to care for at an early date. In 1776 the town paid Levi Brigham ten shillings for supporting John Camp and family, which appears to have been the first appropriation for this purpose. Previously the poor had been aided by private charity.
In 1779 an appropriation of fifty pounds was made " for the use of the poor." At that date the currency in which the taxes were paid had greatly depreciated. In 1785 the sick- ness of the wife of Abraham Rice, Jr., called for appropriations amounting to about fifteen pounds ten shillings. In 1787 the town voted " to put out Mr. Butler's family to such persons as should take the care of them at the lowest," and at the vendue that followed they were taken at from six to eight ponnds each for one year. In 1792 entries like the following appear in the Records : "Lient. Daniel Mellen bought old Mr. Camp, for one year, he is to have two pounds and seven shillings per weeke and the said Mellen is to keep his eloath- ing as good as when he receives him."
This method of caring for the poor was common in the country towns of New England for many years, and had its advantages as well as disadvantages.
393
PAUPERISM-HIGHWAYS.
It should be borne in mind that in the early days the pauper went into the family as one of its members, and was expected to do such work as he or she was able, the compensation re- ceived from the town depending largely upon the pauper's ability to labor. It is believed that such persons were seldom overworked or misused in Fitzwilliam.
In 1794 the town made choice of Benjamin Davidson, John Fassett, and John Locke as Overseers of the Poor, but in gen- eral the duties of such officers have here devolved upon the selectmen.
The expense of supporting the poor of a town like this must always be considerable, but an examination of the reports of the selectmen will show that, for the last twenty years, the tax upon the people of Fitzwilliam for the support of paupers has not been increasing, but rather diminishing.
CONNECTION WITH THE WORLD.
The laying out, making and repairing of roads presented a problem to the proprietors and first settlers of Fitzwilliam that demanded good judgment, not a little patience, and large ap- propriations. It is probable that all the earliest settlers en- tered the township by the old military road, and settled on it or as near it as was convenient. As the settlement in- creased roads were laid out by the proprietors from neighbor- hood to neighborhood, but in very many cases as the log hut gave place to the framed house, the location of the highways was changed as convenience or preference seemed to require.
Referring to matters of this nature, Rev. John Sabin, in his historical lecture of February, 1842, said : " It has rarely been with a people that they caleulate just as they would were it to begin again ;" and to illustrate this truth he added that in early times " roads were laid to accommodate individuals and so might not be permanent. Vast proportions of former roads have been discontinued and much of the labor done on them lost to later time."
The evil complained of by this sensible man is probably, to some extent, inseparable from the conditions of a new settle- ment, but certainly it was great in Fitzwilliam, for the roads
394
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
constructed in this township, and discontinued during the first fifty years after it was purchased by Sampson Stoddard and others, seem to have extended over nearly every part of it, and in all directions, with very little regard to the future wants of the incoming population. From the very nature of the conn- try and soil roads have always been an expensive necessity in Fitzwilliam.
As the population increased in the adjoining towns, county roads were constructed, and at a little later period as the exi- gencies of publie travel seemed to require better accommoda- tions than the towns were willing to furnish, various turnpike companies were incorporated that built roads leading into or through Fitzwilliam. One by one all of these were given up many years ago, and the care of the roads thus made was as- sumed by the town.
The first settler, Benjamin Bigelow, found in 1762 compar- atively easy access to his new home by the old military road, that for three or four years at least afforded the only connec- tion with the outside world.
At proprietors' meetings held April 19th, 1765, and Oeto- ber 11th, 1768, committees were chosen to lay out roads, and the committees undoubtedly attended to the duties of their appointment, though there are no records thereof. But at a meeting held June 19th, 1771, eleven roads, aggregating about thirty-five miles in length, were accepted, and descriptions of the same entered in the records of the meeting. As nearly all of these roads are described " as now trod," "as now marked and travelled," or " as already laid out," it is plain that they were then in use, and the acceptance was only a formality whereby they became legally publie highways. The first and longest of the roads is thus described :
Beginen at the Province Line by Royalston Lag where it is now Trod Leeding to Swanzey up by where mr David Deneson now Livs and so on where it is now Traviled to the north east Cornor of Lott No. 16 in 8 Rang then north on the Line between Lott No. 17 in 8 Rang and Lott No. 17 in 7 Rang to the Line of Lott No 18 in 8 Rang then to Continue where it is now Traviled to the Line of monadnock No. 5.
Royalston Leg, the north part of Winchendon as now con- stituted, but then belonging to Royalston.
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THE GREAT ROAD-STAGES.
David Deneson (Dennison ?) lived on Lot 9 in Range 1, where Henry T. Hall now lives. From Fitzwilliam village to the State line this road substantially followed the route of the present east road to Winehendon.
In the other direction it took a northwesterly course and strnek the line between Monad- noek No. 4 and Monadnock No. 5, about a mile west of the saw and grist-mills of Thomas Tolman, now Troy village. A few years later a branch road was made, leaving the original road about three-quarters of a mile northwest of where Bow- kerville is now located, and proceeding nearly due north to the Tolman mills. This branch, and the remainder of the orig- inal road southerly, soon became the main thorough fare from Keene and beyond to Boston, and for thirty years it is repeat- edly referred to in the records as " The Great Road." Soon after 1787 this road was straightened in many places, and made wider throughout its entire length, but since then no material change has been made in its location, except that which took it away from the Mellen place, last occupied by Gilbert C. Bemis. Some additional reference is made to this road in Chapter VIII.
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