USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Fitzwilliam > The history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from 1752-1887 > Part 5
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HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
with the French and Indians. Perplexing and expensive law- suits over conflicting claims were not nneommon, but the Revolution soon came, which effectually di posed of all such disputes.
Before this, and shortly after the Masonian proprietors had completed their purchase, they caused townships to be sur- veyed and held in readiness to meet any satisfactory appli- cation for a grant. The region about the Monadnock was included in these surveys, and the townships were called Monad- nock townships and distinguished by numbers, some of them also by local names, which they bore until they were severally chartered and named by the provincial government.
These names were as follows : Monadnock No. 1, or South Monadnock, included the greater part of the Massachusetts grant called Rowley Canada, and is now the town of Rindge ; Monadnock No. 2, or Middle Monadnock, is now Jaffrey ; Monadnock No. 3, or North Monadnock, was incorporated as Dublin, and included the present town of Dublin and more than half the town of Harrisville ; Monadnock No. 4, or Stoddardtown, was named Fitzwilliam at its incorporation, and included the present town of Fitzwilliam and fully half the town of Troy ; Monadnock No. 5 was called New Marl- borough and incorporated as Marlborough, and inelnded the present town of Marlborough, a part of Roxbury, and some less than half of Troy ; Monadnock No. 6 was named Paekersfield at its incorporation, and changed to Nelson in 1814. It in- cluded the present town of Nelson and a part of Harrisville. Monadnock No. 7 was called Limerick till its incorporation, when it was named Stoddard ; Monadnock No. 8 was called Camden till December 13th, 1776, when it was incorporated and named Washington. This was certainly one of the first places named for " the Father of his Country,"' perhaps the very first. Minor changes have been made in some of these towns that are not referred to in the foregoing description. The names Camden, Limerick, and New Marlborough were so generally accepted as to be used in deeds and other formal and legal documents.
It should be here observed that the north-western boundary
57
BOUNDARY DISPUTE SETTLED.
of the Masonian grant was for some time in dispute. The last grant to Mason, which gave the boundaries of the territory ceded to him more definitely than those of an earlier date, de- seribed the southern boundary as commencing at the sea, three miles north of the mouth of the Merrimac, and running west sixty miles. But on an appeal to the King and Council it was decided, as we have already seen, that the eastern part of this line should follow the general course of the Merrimac, three miles north of it, to a point due north of Patueket Falls, and that from thence the course should be due west. The north-west line, connecting the west end of the south line with the north end of the east line, the colonial authorities elaimed was a straight line, while the Masonian Proprietors contended that it must be a curved line, as such a line only would give them the sixty miles from the sea. The establishment of the proprietors' claim it was supposed would bring all the Monad- nock towns within the limits of their purchase, and so, assum- ing that the sixty miles from the sea reached to the south- west corner of Monadnock No. 4, they had issued grants accordingly. Thus the matter stood at the opening of the American Revolution.
In 1787 the State of New Hampshire settled this question by measuring sixty miles west from the shore, on the Massa- chusetts line, and making the north-west line of the Mason grant straight, with no reference to the curves and indentations of the shore. This survey left a part of Monadnock No. 1, most of No. 2, and all of the other Monadnock towns outside of the Mason grant. The proprietors, however, came for- ward at once and purchased of the State of New Hampshire all the disputed territory they had claimed, paying for the same forty thousand dollars in public securities and eight linn- dred dollars in cash. Thus the conveyances of the Masonian Proprietors were rendered valid.
The John Rindge whose name appears above at the head of the list of gentlemen added to the Masonian Proprietors after their purchase was plainly a man of established character and great ability ; for besides giving its name to our neigh- bor on the east, he was employed in 1731 by the province of
58
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
New Hampshire as its agent, and sent to London to petition the king to decide between the conflicting claims of Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire. Great interests were pending, and Rindge and Thomlinson, who succeeded him in the agency, did not a little to secure a decision in favor of our province.
The twenty-one Masonian Proprietors, through their agent, Joseph Blanchard, on January 15th, 1752 na the Term Lim-
Cotton and forty-one ot
the ' J
Longer time has been al-
Monadnock No. 4, now h.czy ...... f on the Grantors have P~ SIX of Roland Cotton's associates in this old .. Are as follows : Josiah Cotton, Matthew Thornton, Sampson Stoddard, Thomas Read, William Lawrence, and John Stevens.
The exact conditions of this grant cannot here be given in full, but it is known that they required of each of the grantees the clearing of a certain number of aeres upon one or more of the lots drawn by him within a specified time, the building of a house upon the same, with a family actually residing in it, the opening of roads, the establishment of a school, and the building of a meeting- house.
This grant of 1752 became void because its conditions were not fulfilled. The reasons of this failure we can easily con- jeeture. All kinds of business had been disturbed by the war between England and France, which ended in 1748. A new struggle between the same nations was in the air, and this, which proved to be " the Seven Years' War," or " the French and Indian War," as it was variously called, promised to be the most costly and destructive for the American provinees. It was no time for the settlement and improvement of a new township like Monadnock No. 4. But though they failed to comply with the conditions of their contract, Roland Cotton and his associates seem not to have lost all their interest in the township, for at a later date an amicable settlement was made. As will be seen, a new grant was made in 1765, and many of the grantees in 1752 became grantees under the new contract, for in this their hardships are alluded to, and are treated with dne consideration. Sampson Stoddard, Matthew Thornton, and John Stevens were grantees in both cases, and the second list of grantees doubtless included all of the first who had done
59
GRANT OF MONADNOCK NO. 4.
anything in the way of improvement, and wished to be in- cluded in the new company.
We have now reached a point in this history when the records of all the parties concerned are comparatively full and explicit.
What immediately follows is an exact copy of the oldest FOURTHLY that ion of the town. It readily explains it- ment) Build fifty house. :
70 on One of the Lot! i' asons . a new grant of the town- ship. W ... wijbi with all the conditions attached to it in plain lang penmanship in which this record appears in the ancient book is a model of plainness and beauty. The orthography of business men one hundred and twenty years ago has been carefully preserved, and it will be seen to vary but little from what the best usage now requires.
The free use of capital letters will be noted. A few words evidently omitted by mistake in the original are inserted in brackets.
At a meeting of the Proprs of the Lands Purchased of
Province of John Tufton Mason Esqr in New Hampe held at Portsmth New Hampe in said Province on Wednesday the first Day of May Anno Domini 1765, by adjournment.
WHEREAS the said Prop's on the 6th day of December 1751 author- ized and Impowered Joseph Blanchard, late of Dunstable in said Prov- ince, Esqr. to Grant their Right, Title and Interest in and to the Lands within their Claim, to such persons as would Engage to Settle and Im- prove the same, under such Limitations and Conditions as Were Just and Reasonable. Pursuant to Which Power, he, on the 15th Day of Jan- uary. Anno Domini 1752, granted to Roland Cotton, Josiah Cotton, Mat- thew Thornton, Sampson Stoddard, Thomas Read, William Lawrence, John Stevens & thirty five others, all the Right, Title, Interest, claim, Property and Demand of said Proprietors of, in and unto that Tract of Land Called Monadnock No. 4, bounded as follows, "Beginning at the West Line of Masons' Patent so called where that crosses the Dividing Line Between the Province of Massachusetts Bay and the Province of New Hampe and runs from thence South Eighty degrees East by said Line, Six Miles to the South West Corner of the South Monadnock Township, from thence North by the Needle by said Township Five Miles to the North West corner of South Monadnock aforesaid, from thence North Eighty Degrees West by Middle Monadnock Township, one mile and 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]
60
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
till [it] comes to the Patent West Line as Lately Marked and from thence Southerly by that Line to the first Bounds mentioned." To have and to hold, to them their heirs and assigns, on the Terms and Conditions in Said Grant expressed with a Right of the Entry Reserved on the failure or Default of Performing and fully complying with the Same as may more fully appear by Reference to Said Grant.
AND WHEREAS the Said Grantees have Incured the forfeiture of Said Grant by not fulfilling the Said Conditions withir che Term Liin- ited, and tho' by Sufferance and forbearance a longer time has been al- lowed, which yet has not availed, Whereupm the Grantors have Rie- entered and Resumed the Possession of Said Tract Ti Land, and the Said Grantees acknowledging their Neglect and Default herein, and the Right of Resumption, have peaceably surrendered the same, and have petitioned the Said Proprietors to make a new grant thereof to the Pe- titioners (principally the former Grantees) all which having been Duly Considered, and also that many of them have Done Something in order to Improvement and that it would be more Equitable they should have the advantage thereof than strangers, THEREFORE
VOTED, That all the Right, Title, Interest, Property, Claim & Demand of the Said Proprietors be and hereby is Granted to Col Sampson Stoddard Esqr. Edmund Grouard, Jacob Treadwell Jr. Jonathan Lovewell and Nineteen others whose Names are mentioned in the Schedule or List hereunto annexed Making twenty three in the Whole, in and to said Tract of Land above Described on the Terms Conditions and Limitations hereafter Expressed,
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD to them and to their Several and Respective heirs and assigns in Severalty as the same has been Divided into Seperate lots and as the said Lots are Numbered and Set to the Respective Names in Said Schedule on the following Terms Conditions & Limitations --
FIRST that twenty of the Shares as the same are Sever'd allotted and Divided Numbered and fixed to the Several Names in Said Schedule be and hereby is Reserved to the use of the Grantors their heirs and assigns free and Exempted of and from all charges of settlement and all Other charges untill Improved by them their heirs or assigns-and also that two hundred acres Lay'd out for the Grantors at the North Easterly part of Said Tract of land as appears by Said Schedule and a plan thereof be in like manner Reserved to them their heirs & assigns.
SECONDLY that those of the Aforesaid Shares be and hereby are ap-
propriated one for the first Settled minister one for the use of the Ministry and one for the use of a School on Said Tract of Land when settled.
THIRDLY that the Remaining Shares be and hereby are Granted and appropriated to the Several Persons and Sever'd to them
1
61
GRANT OF MONADNOCK NO. 4.
Respectively as is mentioned and Number'd in Said Schedule ; And Each lot of Land in Said Tract shall be Subject to have Necessary high Ways Lay'd ont thro' them as there shall be Occasion hereafter free from the charge of purchasing the Land that is the Owners of Said Lots shall not be paid for that part thereof which shall be so Necessarily Lay'd out in high Ways untill an Incorporation and then to come under the Rules of Law in that Regard.
FOURTHLY that the Grantees aforesaid, (subject to the Duty of Settle- ment) Build fifty houses on Said Tract of Land Such Shares to have one house on One of the Lots belonging to it Respectively as the Grantees shall determine by regular Votes according to their Interests within three Years from the Date hereof Each House to be Built so as to have one Room Sixteen feet Square or Equal thereto and also to have Twelve acres Land cleared and fitted for Tillage Pasture and Mowing within the term of three Years and to add an acre more annually till the Inhabitants there shall be Incorporated, (on each Share), the said houses to be Well fitted and made Comfortable habitations and the Said Land to be cleared in a good Husbandman like manner and every Particular Grantee aforesaid shall pay his Due Proportion of all Taxes and Charges necessary to the Making Said Settlement in the articles aforesaid and in what follows on Pain of forfeiting his Right in Said Land or so much thereof as shall answer his proportion of such Taxes and Charges to be disposed of by a Committee chosen by a major part of the Grantees (appointed for that purpose).
FIFTHILY the said Grantees shall build a Convenient Meeting House for
Public Worship within five years from the Date hereof and shall Maintain Constant preaching there from after the Term of six Years from the Date hereof.
SIXTHLY all white pine Trees Growing on any part of said Land tho' severd into Lots, are hereby Reserved, that are fit for his MAJESTY'S Use for that purpose to him his heirs and successors.
SEVENTHILY if the Grantees shall fail and make default of Completing the Settlement according to the Terms and Limitations aforesaid it shall be lawful to and for the said Proprietors and their suc- cessors to Re-enter into and upon the Said Tract of Land to Resume the same and to become Re-seized thereof as in their former Estate and as if this grant had not been made.
Copy of Record Attest ; Geo. Jaffrey Prop. Cler.
Received and Recorded this 224 Day of May 1765.
Exam.
Sampson Stoddard Jr.
Pros. Clerk.
62
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
NAMES OF THE GRANTEES IN MONADNOCK NO. 4.
Draft.
No.
Range.
No.
Range.
Col. Sampson Stoddard
1
6 12
15 9
Edmund Grouard .
2
1 12
2 12
Jacob Treadwell Jun.
3
3 12 13 S
Jonathan Lovewell
4 4 12 11
S
Col. Stoddard .
5 5 12 14
9
Benjamin Bellows
6
7.12 13
9
Col. Stoddard .
7
8.12 12
Matthew Thornton
S 912
16
7 9
Nath1. Brooks.
9 10 12
17
7 2
Thomas Spaulding
10 11 12 6
Matthew Thornton
11 12 12 16
M. Thornton.
12 13 12 17
Grantor Meserve and others.
13 1
1
1
John Honey
14 15 12
16
4
Col. Stoddard .
15 16 12 17
Nath1. Treadwell.
16 17 12 10
Abel Lawrence Esqr
17 18 12
11
6
Col. Stoddard
18 19 12
10
Paul March
19 20.12
9
James Reed .
20 21 12 12 6
Col. Stoddard
21 111 6 9
Grantor John Wentworth
22 12! 8
12 9
Grantor Jolm Rindge.
23 2
9 2
11
Edmund Grouard .
24 4 11
10 9
Matthew Thornton
511
11 9
Grantor Solly & March.
311
+ 2
Grantor Col. Wallingford.
27 4 9
5 5
Grantor M. H. J. Wentworth
28 5 6
6 6
Thomas Spaulding
29 11 9 7
The Heirs or Assigns of Geo. Libbey
30 10 11
10 10
Nathaniel Brooks.
31 11 11
11 10
Col. Stoddard ..
32 12 11
13 10
Matthew Thornton
33 13 11 15 10
James Reed .
34 14 11 16
8
James Reed.
35 15 11
13
6
Charles Treadwell
36 16 11 13 7
Col. Stoddard .
37 17 11 17 8
Grantor Geo: Jaffrey .
38 6, S 6 11
Grantor Josha Pierce.
39
7 9 711
Abel Lawrence
40 20 11 4 4
5 5 2
4 6
7 9
25 26
63
DIVISION OF TOWNSHIP.
NAMES OF THE GRANTEES IN MONADNOCK NO. 4.
Draft.
No.
Range.
No
Range .;
Col. Stoddard
41 21 11
7 6
John Stevens
42 110 2 10
Col. Stoddard
43 3 10 810
Col. Stoddard
44 4 10 7.10
Col. Stoddard.
45 5.10
6.10
Grantor Nath' Pierce
46 8, 3 8
9
Col. Stoddard ..
47 12 10 5
9
Grantor Thos. Packer
48 8;11 9
5
Grantor Jon. Blanchard.
49 10 5 15 1
Grantor Wm Packer
50 15 2 15 3
Col. Stoddard
51 20 10 4
S
Col. Stoddard
52 22 12 4
6
Col. Stoddard
53.22 11 5
2
Col. Stoddard
54 21 10 13
5
Col. Stoddard
55 22.10 3 6
Col. Stoddard
56 23 10 S
6
John Stevens.
57| 1 9 18 9
WVm Earl Treadwell.
58 3 9 3 8
Col. Stoddard
59.17 13 3
James Reed .
60 19 9 10 4
Col. Stoddard
61 20 9 4
Col. Stoddard.
62|21 9
9
7 4
Daniel Millen .
63 22 9 23 9
Matthew Thornton
64 1 8
1
7
Grantor Col. Atkinson
65 15 4 14 10
James Reed 66 5 S 12 4
Grantor M. Livermore
67 14 12 16 10
Col. Stoddard
68 O 89 8
Col. Stoddard.
69 10 8
6 4
Grantor Noah Emory of Kittery.
70 18 5 17 10
Sampson Stoddard Jun
71 18 10
3
Jonathan Lovewell.
72 8: 2 9
2
Col. Stoddard
73.20 8 23 S
Jon" Willson
74 21
11
2
Col. Stoddard
75 3 7
5
7
Col. Stoddard
76 6
7
7
1
Col. Stoddard
77 7
7 19
7
John Woods.
78 S
- I 23
7
Col. Stoddard
79 18 7 23 6
Col. Stoddard.
80/20 7 22 7
64
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
NAMES OF THE GRANTEES IN MONADNOCK NO. 4.
Draft.
No.
Range.
No.
Range.
Col. Stoddard.
81 21
7 14 3
Col. Stoddard.
82 1 6 13
4
Col. Stoddard
83 2 6 12 3
Grantor Thomlinson & Mason
84 18 10 18 11
Col. Stoddard
85 9 6
10,
1
James Reed .
86 17
6
13 2
Col. Stoddard
87.18 6 14
2
Col. Stoddard.
88 19 6
11 3
Grantor Jotham Odiorne.
S9 19 8 19 10
Col. Stoddard .
90 21 6
22
6
Col. Stoddard.
91 1
5
3.
3
James Reed .
92 2
5
3
5
Jonathan Blanchard
93 4
5
11
1
James Reed.
94 6 5
12 1
Col. Stoddard.
95 7
5
13
1
Sampson Stoddard Jun.
96 8
5
14
1
Col. Stoddard
97,19
5 18
4
Matthew Thornton
98 20 5 23 5
Col. Stoddard.
99 21 5
7
2
Jonathan Lovewell
100
S
2
7
Col. Stoddard .
101
1
4
8
4
Capt. Benj" Edwards.
102
2
4
20 4
Capt. Benj" Edwards.
103
3
4
6
1
Heirs or Assigns of Jere: Libbey
104
5
4 21
4
Abel Lawrence, Esqr
103 7
4 23
4
M. Thornton
106 11
4 22
4
Jon" Willson .
107 14
4|19 4
Grantor Richard Wibird, Esqr
108 19 11
20
6
Col. Stoddard
109
1
3,14
5
Col. Stoddard
110
2
3
15
5°
Benjamin Bellows
111
4 3 5
3
Col. Stoddard
112 6 3 7 3
James Reed .
113 9 3 10 2
Grantor John Moffatt
114 9.10. 22 5
Col. Stoddard
115 16
3 16
2
Col. Stoddard
116
LO 2 3 2
Grantor Pierce and Moor
117 23 11
23 12
Col. Stoddard
118 12 2 2 1
Daniel Millen
119 15 8 8 1
Col. Stoddard
120 4 1 5 1
2
65
DIVISION OF TOWNSHIP.
NAMES OF THE GRANTEES IN MONADNOCK NO. 4.
Draft.
No.
Range,
No.
Range.
For the Ministry
121 12
5 16 1
For the first settled Minister
122 11
7 7 8
For a School
123|11
5 3 1
Two hundred aeres Lay'd out for the Grantors at the North Easterly part of the town, as per plan Exhibited herewith.
Col. Stoddard
22 S 14
Col. Stoddard.
14 6 14
7
the Same.
15 6 15 7
the Same.
16 6 16 7
the Same.
17 1 17 2
the Same.
17 3
9
1
May 1, 1765. This Schedule Exhibited By Sampson Stoddard. Jon" Blanchard.
Copy Examd per Geo: Jaffrey Props Cler.
Received and Recorded this 22d day of May 1765. Examd per Sampson Stoddard Jun. Props Clerk. *
A copy of the original plan of the town, but much reduced in size, is here given. In the original plan the names of the owners are inserted in the lots, but in this plan they are designated by figures, referring to the aecompanying index. The number of lots owned by each person is also given, it being understood that two lots constituted a share. This gave about four fifths of the land to the settlers. The same was
* How the name of Noah Emory of Kittery, draft 70, appears among the giantors in the foregoing table of drawings is not known, as his name is not found in the list of Masonian Proprietors, It will be noticed that Messrs. Solley and March, Thomlinson and Mason, and Pierce and Moore, grantors, were coupled together in the drawing, which may indicate that changes had taken place among the proprietors between 1746 and 1765, and this certainly is not improbable. The grantors had twenty shares.
5
66
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
true in the division of Marlborough, but in that of Dublin and Rindge, settled earlier, three lots constituted a share. Three lots to a share retained three hundred acres to each Masonian proprietor instead of two hundred acres, as in Fitzwilliam and Marlborough.
20
43
43
1
10
1
24
I
3
4
20
19
4
1
1
1
1
31
3
8
17
22
1
35
1
1
7
2
3
1.
1
1.
1.
13
3
3
1
6
21
20
2
1
1
1
2
1
9
3
12
39
19
1
12
1
36
1
2
5
1
6
1
27
1'
1
27
1
33
2
1.
1
12
8
2
9
26
11
26
5
5
1
2
S
1
1
1
Ranges
6
5
4
1
44
44
22
1
1.
10
1
1
1
39
3
19
1
31
38
2
38
1
1
1
14
SampsonStoddard f.
Bo black
15
16
2
3
1
10
1
1
1
37
32
32
40
12
3
L
1
25.
25
1
2
M
2
1
1
2
8
1
36
1
28
1
24
1
13
1
28
5
10
4
5
9
1
34
1
1
1
15
4
6
42
1
12
11
10
9
8
3
L
1
1
2
1
21
2
1
1
14
1
1
1
18
18
4
41
41
11
13
1
1
35
1
# the Plan of the Township of
from Masons Propon Recorded the
22 day of May 1765.
Exam
14
29
2
37
1
1
1
1
1
14
1
1.
13
10
12
7
7
3
5
FM
4
S
3
1
14
15
6
30
1
30
FM
1
1
1
4
1
1
I
3
21
42
1
23
23
1
1
'2.
8
1
1
S
9
1
11
3
1
22
40
2
13
2
1
5
1
3
1
1.
2
1
33
34
18
6
1
1
16
20
29
3
2
1
1
3
16
1
1
M
17
9
1
200 acres for & Grant
Monadnock Nok apreciable to Grant
7
THE HEAVY ZIGZAG LINE ACROSS THE NORTH PART OF THE TOWN SHOWS THE LOTS THAT WERE SET OFF AS A PART OF THE TOWN OF TROY.
17
67
LOTS OF GRANTEES AND GRANTORS.
Num-
bered' Grantees, the Town Number of Lots Proprietors. Owned.
on the Proprietors. of Lots Owned.
Plan.
1. . . Sampson Stoddard 110
2 ... James Reed 18
26. .. John Rindge. ·2
3. . . Matthew Thornton 16
27. .. George Jaffrey.
4. .. Abel Lawrence 6
28. .. Nathaniel Pierce 2
5. .. Jona. Lovewell. 6
29 ... M. Livermore 2
6. .. Benjamin Bellows 4
30. .. Joshua Pierce 2
7 ... Nathaniel Brooks. 4
31. . . Richard Wibird. 2
8. .. Capt. Benj. Edwards. 1 32. . . William Parker.
9 ... Edmund Grouard. 4
33. .. M. H. J. Wentworth
10. .. Daniel Mellen 4
34 ... Col. Wallingford.
11. .. John Stevens 4
35. . . Noah Emery
12. . . Thomas Spaulding 4
36. .. Thomas Packer
13 .. S. Stoddard, Jr 4
37. . . Col. Atkinson.
2
14 ... Jona. Willson. 4
15. .. Jona. Blanchard
2
39. . . John Moffatt.
2
16. .. John Honey .
2
40. .. Joseph Blanchard.
41. . . Thomlinson & Mason 2
18 ... " Jere. Libbey.
2
42. . . Solly & March.
2
19. . . Paul March
2
43. . . Pierce & Moore 2
44. .. Meserve & others 2
21. .. Jacob Treadwell, Jr 2
22. .. Nath'l Treadwell 2
M ... For the Ministry 2
23 ... Wm. E. Treadwell 2
FM. . For first Minister 2
24. .. John Woods. 2
S. . . For Schools 2
Total number of Lots 258
The lots were theoretically one hundred and sixty rods in length from east to west and one hundred rods in width from north to south, and each was supposed to contain one hundred aeres. But in reality there was considerable variation in their size, and they exceeded one hundred aeres on an average.
From some cause which it is now impossible to explain, the twelfth tier of lots was muel narrower than the average, hav- ing been but seventy-five rods wide on the Richmond line and not far from fifty rods wide on the border of Rindge. From certain subsequent references to " the narrow tier, " it would seem that this defeet was not known when the allotment was made.
It was also ascertained, after the settlement of the town was
Num- bered Grantors, the Masonian
Number
on the Plan.
25. .. John Wentworth 2
2
38. .. Jotham Odiorne
17. .. Heirs of George Libbey .. 2
20. . . Chas. Treadwell. 2
68
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
commenced, that the town of Jaffrey extended farther west than was supposed at the time of the allotment, and that not only the six half lots in the third range but also a portion of the adjoining lots in the fourth range were included in the limits of that town. Four of these half lots, or two hundred acres, were assigned originally to the grantors, the Masonian Proprietors, and the other two were drawn by Colonel Samp- son Stoddard when the division was made.
In regard to the manner in which the drawing was conducted we have no information, but from the irregularity in coupling the two parts that constituted the same share, as well as in the allotment generally, it seems probable that the arrangement was made by lot. It will be noticed that in the boundaries of the township, as given in the grant, the length of the north line and the length and course of the west line are not stated. If the west line of the Mason grant was a curved line, as the owners claimed it should have been, Monadnock No. 4 should have been somewhat wider on the northern than on the south- ern boundary, but such does not appear to have been the case.
Below is given, in rods, the length of the boundary-lines (1) as stated in the grant, calling the lines on the north and west the same as on the south and east ; (2) from a sur- vey made by S. Hemingway in 1807, and (3) from peram- bulations of the lines in 1847.
West line on Richmond and Swanzey.
North line on Marlbor- ongh.
East line on Jaffrey.
North line on Jaffrey.
East line on Rindge.
South line on Mass.
1
2280 2312
1520 1390
680 665
400 586
1600
1920
2
1654
2005
3
603
1732
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