USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Fitzwilliam > The history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from 1752-1887 > Part 6
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The territory ceded by the Masonian Proprietors was designed to constitute a township six miles square ; but as the early sur- veys were far from being exact, it was in reality somewhat larger. According to the plan of the township there were two hundred and fifty-eight lots to dispose of. As will be seen, Colonel Sampson Stoddard was by far the largest share- holder.
69
JOIIN TUFTON MASON.
According to the terms of the grant by the Masonian Pro- prietors, each of them, twenty-one in number, had one share or two lots, though some of these men appear with partners at the drawing and selection. Thus "Grantor Meserve and others" are found upon the list as owners ; also " Grantor Thomlinson and Mason." This Mason was, without doubt, the John Tufton Mason who sold the entire Mason claim to the twelve men of Portsmouth and vicinity, January 30th, 1746 ; and it is an interesting fact that the name of Captain John Mason now reappears in the history of one of the Mo- nadnock towns, in the person of his great-great-grandson, one hundred and thirty years after the death of his distinguished ancestor.
CHAPTER V.
ACTS OF THE PROPRIETORS, 1765-1815.
Meetings-Officers-" The Fifty Settlements"-Provision for a Meeting- House-Preaching-Meeting-House Raised-Mr. Benjamin Brigham- His Ordination-Pews-Pastor's Salary-Roads and Bridges-Move- ment for Incorporation-Minister's Support Assumed by Town.
W ITHIN twenty days after the Mason Proprietors had transferred their rights in Monadnock No. + to the new owners, the latter took measures to perfect their organiza- tion in a legal manner as a new company, and to open the way for the settlement of the township. For this purpose the fol- lowing notice was issued, signed by sixteen of the grantees, who now took the name of proprietors :
WHEREAS the Proprietors of the Lands granted by John Tufton Mason Esqr. commonly called Mason's Patent, have lately granted to us (with some few others) a Tract of Land about six Miles Square as may appear by the Grant, with conditions of settlement and in order to the Carrying on the same with Effect it is Necessary some meathod should be pursued by General Consent by the Grantees for which end it is proposed that they shall meet at the Dwelling house of Thomas Harwood in Dunstable on Monday the 20th Day of May Instant at Twelve O'clock at noon then and there when met to Chuse a Clerk for the Grantees and to act on any other matter or thing that shall then be projected being necessary for Carrying forward and Compleating the Settlement aforesaid.
William Earl Treadwell, Benja Edwards, Paul March, Jacob Tread- well Jun, Charles Treadwell, Sampson Stoddard, Matthew Thornton, Jacob Treadwell Jun. for Edmund Grouard, Nath1 Treadwell, Jonathan Blanchard, Thomas Spaulding, Sampson Stoddard Jun. Nath1 Brooks, Abel Lawrence, Daniel Millen, James Reed.
A True Copy of the Original.
Examd per Sampson Stoddard Jun.
What follows will explain itself :
At a meeting of the Proprs the Grantees of that Tract of Land called Monadnock No 4 in the Province of New Hampshire Granted by the
71
MEETINGS OF PROPRIETORS.
Purchasers of Mason's right so called held at the house of Thomas Har- wood in Dunstable on Monday the 20th day of May 1765-
1st. Col. Sampson Stoddard unanimously chosen Moderator.
2. Chose Sampson Stoddard Jun. Clerk for the Grantees.
3. then the following meathod for Calling meetings for the future was agreed upon and Voted that upon application of the Owners of Ten Original Shares made in writing to the Clerk (for the Time Being) In- serting therein the Several matters and things Desired to be acted upon he shall and is hereby authorized and Impowered to Call such a Meet- ing or meetings Posting proper Notifications at some place in Dunstable in New Hamp's and at some public place in Chelmsford at least fourteen Days Before hand and all meetings so posted and held accordingly shall be good and Valid. Then this meeting was dismissd.
May 20. 1765. Attest Sampson Stoddard
Modr. A true Copy of the Original Examd per Sampson Stoddard Jun. Props Clerk.
The next meeting of the proprietors was called by Sampson Stoddard, junior, clerk, for Monday, August 19th, 1765, at one o'clock in the afternoon, at the house of Captain Oliver Bar- ron, innholder in Chelmsford,
then and there when met to act on the following articles as they shall judge proper-
1st. To see who of the Grantees shall make the fifty Settlements en- joined by grant and to act thereon as shall Be agreed on.
2d. To raise Money by a tax for any use for carrying forward and compleating the settlement of said Township.
3dly. To see if the Grantees will give any Encouragement Towards Building Mills in said Township and to Do and act as they shall deem proper.
4th. To Chuse a Committee to Receive Examine and Allow all ac- counts of any Person or Persons who have done Service for the Proprs or paid money for Cutting or Clearing Rodes and to do and aet in that re- gard as they shall think proper.
5th. To Chuse a Treasurer and Collector.
6th. To Chuse a Committee to Lay out Rodes &c.
Dated at Chelmsford the 27th day of July 1765.
A true Copy of the Original Notification made Out by me in Conse- quenee of an application for that Purpose on file, and posted the time Required.
Examd per Sampson Stoddard Jun
Props Clerk.
72
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
The record of the important meeting thus called is as fol- lows :
At a meeting of the Grantees of the Tract of Land Lying in the Prov- ince of New Hampre called Monadnock No. four holden at the house of Capt. Oliver Barron Innholder in Chelmsford on Monday the 19th day of August 1765
Chose Col. Stoddard Modr.
Whereas the Grantees are Injoyned by grant of said Township to build fifty houses and make them comfortable habitations on said Tract of Land such shares to build as the Grantees shall determine and also to have twelve acres of Land Cleared and fitted for Tillage, Pasturing and Mowing and to add an acre more annually (till an Incorporation) on each subject to the Duty of Settlement,
Therefore Voted that the said settlements be done and performed by the following Grantees and in the proportion hereinafter declared, Namely Col. Stoddard eighteen, Edmund Grouard two, Jacob Tread- well junior one, Jonathan Lovewell one, Benjamin Bellows two, Matthew Thornton three, Nath1 Brooks one, Thomas Spaulding one, John Honey one, Nath1 Treadwell one, Abel Lawrence three, Paul March one, James Reed four, heirs of George Libbey one, Charles Treadwell one, John Stevens one, Daniel Millen one, Jonathan Blanchard one, Jonathan Will- son two, John Woods one, Sampson Stoddard Jun. one, Benjamin Ed- wards one and the heirs of Jereh Libbey one, by building and Clearing in such way and manner as to fulfill the Grant.
2dly. Voted that the sum of five Dollars on each share, two lots to a share, be assessed and Immediately Collected by the Treasurer of this Propriety to answer and Pay the Necessary Charges and Expenses al- ready arisen and arising in Bringing forward the settlement of said Township.
3dly. And whereas the speedy settlement of said Township Depends much upon having a Good saw Mill Built there as soon as may be,
Voted that in consideration of Col. Stoddard's conveying to Mr. Daniel Millen two lots of Land then having a Mill plase on em for encourage- ment of his undertaking the arduous Task of Building and Keeping a saw Mill in repair to be fit to go, within fourteen months that said Stod- dard be Intitled to Draw out of the Treasury Twenty pounds Lawful money and that sum to be in full for the said two lots of Land.
4thly. Voted that Col. Stoddard and Mr. Sampson Stoddard Jr. be a Committee to Receive, Examine and allow all accounts of any person or Persons who have done service for the Propy and that upon their order to the Treasurer he is Directed to pay the Same accordingly.
5thly. Voted that Jonathan Blanchard be Treasurer to this Propriety and Collector of the several Rates and Taxes that is or shall be raised untill the Propty order the contrary.
73
THE FATHERS OF THE TOWN.
6. Voted that Mess's Daniel Millen, James Reed and Benjamin Bigelow be a Committee, or the Major Part of them to Mark, Lay out and clere all necessary Rodes in said Township rendering their accounts to accept- ance untill the Props order the contrary. Then the Meeting was Dismissd.
Attest Sampson Stoddard
A true copy Examd Mod :
per Sampson Stoddard Jun. P. C.
It will be noticed that in the last vote of the proprietors at their meeting, August 19th, 1765, the name of Benjamin Bigelow appears for the first time upon the records of Monad- nock No. 4, associated with the names of Daniel Millen and James Reed. From this time forward these three men are to be regarded as " the fathers of the town," for no others prob- ably were equally efficient in labor and sacrifice for promoting its prosperity.
Daniel Millen (or Mellen, as the name was soon spelled) and James Reed were owners of lots under the original allotment, but Benjamin Bigelow doubtless purchased his property of some one of the grantees. It is believed that he removed to Monadnock No. 4 as early as 1761 or 1762, as he was the father of the first white child born in the township. This child, Beulah Bigelow, was born May 10th, 1762. The prob- ability is that Benjamin Bigelow negotiated for land here with some one of the first company of grantees, and that when the township passed into the hands of the second company and was divided into lots, with separate owners, his rightful claims for improvements were duly regarded.
Nearly two years elapsed after the meeting of the propri- etors, August 19th, 1765, before they were called together again for business. Important matters now required atten- tion, as we learn from the notification of the elerk, which called the proprietors to " assemble and meet at the house of Captain Oliver Barron, innkeeper in Chelmsford, on Wednes- day, the first day of July next, 1767," and as we learn from the records of the meeting (but not from the notification of the clerk) "at 10 o'clock before noon," to act upon a
74
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM. .
long list of articles, the most important of which were the fol- lowing :
To see if the Proprietors will eleet a new Clerk, Treasurer & Collector.
To choose a Committee to fix a proper and convenient place for set- ting a meeting house on and to lay out land for a Burying Yard.
To choose a Committee or Committees for Rodes and Bridges that may then be thought proper.
To choose a Committee to sell the Delinquent Props Lands for Taxes due already or that may be raised.
To see what encouragement the Proprietors will give to any Person who will undertake to build a good Corn Mill in said town.
The meeting called by the notification above, a part of which is copied, was held at the house of Oliver Barron, inn- holder in Chelmsford, July 1st, 1767. As usual, Colonel Stoddard was chosen moderator, when it was
Voted that Jonathan Blanchard be Proprietor's Clerk.
Voted that Messrs Daniel Millen, James Reed and Benjamin Bigelow be a Committee to fix a proper place for setting a Meeting house for Public Worship and to lay out Land for a Burying Yard.
Voted, that Messrs Daniel Millen, James Reed and Benjamin Bigelow be a Committee to sell the Delinquent Proprietor's Lands for non-Pay- ment of Taxes.
The other articles passd over.
The committee above named to fix upon a site for a meeting-house and to lay out a cemetery seem to have failed, for some reason, to do the business assigned them, and so these matters came up for action at the next meeting of the propri- etors, which was holden more than a year later.
This meeting was legally called and held " at the house of Captain Thomas Cowdin, innholder in Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester, and in the province of Massachusetts Bay," October 11th, 1768.
Colonel Stoddard was chosen moderator, James Reed, Esq., was chosen treasurer, and Mr. Daniel Millen, collector.
Voted that Messrs Daniel Millen, John Farrer, James Reed, Benjamin Bigelow and Silas Wetherbee or the Majority of them, be a Committee to fix a proper place for setting a Meeting house and to lay out Land for a Burying yard.
75
SITE FOR THE MEETING-HOUSE.
Voted that Messrs Aaron Gearfield, John Millen, Benjamin Davidson, Isaac Applin and James Reed be a Committee, or the Majr part of them, to mark, lay out and Clear and Bridge any Rodes wanted in said town.
Voted that five Dollars be Raised on each share of the Grantees, two Lots to a share, and be immediately paid to the Collector.
Voted the sum of fourteen pounds La Mo (lawful money) out of the said sum be appropriated to Pay for Preaching, and that the four Sab- baths already preached by Mr. Parker be paid out of the said fourteen pounds, and that Mr. Benja Bigelow be a Committee man to provide a suitable Gentleman to Preach so long as the said sum holds out.
Voted the sum of £20.0 La Mo be paid to Col. Stoddard In Considera- tion of his Conveying to Mr. Tiffany two Lots of Land to Build a grist Mill on, and that sum to be in full for the same.
Voted, that the Wages that shall be allowed to Each man for doing Labor on the high Ways do not exceed three shillings per day.
Voted that the Rev. John Millen be earnestly desired at the cost and Charge of this Proprietary, to repair to Portsmouth as soon as his pleas- ure suits and make application to the General Court of New Hampshire for a confirmation of the meetings of the Proprietors of this town, and for a full power to be given to the Proprietors to sell Delinquents' Land for the non Payment of Taxes.
Other matters of no general importance received attention at this meeting.
From the fact that the committee appointed more than a year before to select a site for a meeting-house and lay out a burying-yard was reappointed and enlarged at the meeting October 11th, 1768, we are to infer that there were obstacles in the way of accomplishing these objects which it took time and careful management to remove. No central village had as yet sprung up to influence decisively the matter of location. The settlers, still few in number, were spread over a large territory, and for a considerable period it was doubtful where they could best be accommodated in their public gatherings. Rarely can a church be located even now without much thought, long debates, and a compromise between conflicting interests ; and we cannot tax the committee first appointed with inefficiency if, after the lapse of fifteen months, they found themselves unable to report substantial progress.
From the record of the meeting of the proprietors, October 11th, 1768, just given, it also appears that the delinquent tax-
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HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
payers in Monadnock No. 4 resisted the sale of their lands to make good the claims of the collector. This they doubtless did because they had discovered an illegality of some kind in the action of the proprietors regarding this matter, and so an agent was appointed and despatched to the General Court to ask for a confirmation of the proceedings of the proprietors, and such aetion as should leave no ground for dispnte in the future. This agent, the Rev. John Mellen, was a younger brother of the Daniel Mellen who was so prominent in the settlement of Fitzwilliam, and was at this time pastor of the church in Sterling, Mass. The records give us no information in regard to the result of his mission, but we may conclude that it was successful, as we hear of no further trouble in regard to selling delinquent lands. It appears, moreover, from the record of the same meeting of the proprietors, that public worship was maintained in Monadnock No. 4 certainly as early as 1768, for Mr. Nehemiah Parker, a graduate of Harvard College in 1763, served the people here in the min- istry during the autumn of 1768, and a part at least of the winter following. Mr. Parker was ordained as pastor at Hub- bardston, Mass., June 13th, 1770.
The next meeting of the proprietors was regularly called by Jonathan Blanchard, clerk, and was holden at the house of James Reed, Esq., in Monadnock No. 4, November 14th, 1769. This was their first business meeting held within the township, and it is plain from the proceedings that, from this time forth, all parties expected the actual settlers to come to the front and take largely the responsibility of conducting public affairs. James Reed, Esq., was the moderator of the meeting, and was chosen proprietors' clerk.
John Mellen was chosen treasurer, Daniel Mellen, collector, and James Reed, John Fassett, and Isaac Applin, assessors.
The committee appointed to examine and allow accounts against the proprietors consisted of James Reed, Edward Kindal (Kendall), and Isaac Applin, while Aaron Garfield, Daniel Mellen, and John Mellen were directed to look up " the bounds at the north-east corner of the township and make report at the next meeting."
77
CENSUS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1767.
James Reed, John Mellen, and John Fassett were chosen a " committee to lay out all necessary roads in said Monadnock."
Voted that two Dollars be raised on each lot of the Grantees and to be immediately paid to the Collector, to pay the charges already arisen and towards Building a meeting Honse in said township and to pay for preaching Next Sumer.
Voted and chose James Reed, John Millen and Edward Kindal a Committee to provide stuf and Build a Meeting House in said Township so far as to inclose the outside and Lay the Lour floor.
Voted to Capt. Silas Wetherby £13.6.8 L. M. for his encorrigment for building a saw mill in said Township.
After attending to other matters of less interest the meeting " was dismissed."
At the same meeting, as appears by an additional record. Joseph Swift, Thomas Tolman, John Gouldsberry, Edward Kendall, and Caleb Winch were chosen " Highway Sorvairs," ' and sworn, taking the Rules in law for their direction." They took the oath December 4th, 1769.
It will be noticed that new names frequently appear, from this time forth, in the records of the proprietors' meetings. which proves that the population was gradually increasing, though as late as 1770 it was far from being large. In 1767 the Legislature of the province made provision for taking a census of the inhabitants and an inventory of the property liable to taxation in each town in New Hampshire, and fixed the time for the same in December of that year. Neither the value of the ratable estates nor the number of polls in Monad- nock No. 4 seems to have been preserved, if it was ever ob- tained ; but ninety-three is given as the sum total of the popu- lation, while Rindge had at that time two hundred and ninety- eight inhabitants and Richmond three hundred and thirty-eight.
It is not deemed necessary to give hereafter the legal notiti- cation for the several meetings of the proprietors, as the measures adopted will indicate the nature of all the important business considered.
The proprietors met at the house of James Reed, Esq., ou Wednesday, April 18th, 1770, at one o'clock p.M., when Major John Farrer was chosen moderator.
78
6
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
As the report of the committee concerning the site for the meeting-house and the location of a cemetery was to come be- fore the meeting, it was adjourned for one hour and a half, doubtless to give an opportunity for all to view the place or places selected. After the adjournment the committee re- ported as follows :
We the subscribers being a Committee chosen by the Proprietors of Monadnock No. 4 in the Province of New Hampshire to fix a proper place for setting a meeting house and to lay out a burying yard, have unanimously agreed that the meeting house be sett on the Easterly part of Lott No 13 in the 7 Rang of Lotts as they are marked and numbered on the Plan of said Township, and Like Wise that there be five acres of Land laid out for Public use where Mr. Jason Stone's child is buried.
Monadnock No. 4, 18th of April 1770.
John Farrar, James Reed, Benjamin Bigelow, Silas Witherby Com- mittee.
It will be noticed that the chairman of this committee, Mr. Daniel Mellen, did not sign this report ; and the reason of this is doubtless to be found in the fact that he did not reside in this township, though he had erected a dwelling-house here, and aided liberally every public enterprise.
After considering the report given above the proprietors
Voted that the meeting house be sett on the Lott number 13 agreeable to the report of the Committee, and James Reed Esqr gave five acres of Land to the Propriety to set the Meeting house on and for other publie uses. Also
Voted and chose James Reed, Edward Kendall and John Millen a Committee to provide for the Rasing of the Meeting house.
Voted that fifty dollars be laid out to pay for preaching to the inhab- itants this present year out of the money already assessed.
Voted that Daniel Mellen and Major John Farrer be a Committee to provide a preacher and to see him provided for.
Voted that Daniel Mellen, Aaron Garfield and John Mellen be a Com- mittee to Preambulate and Renew the Bounds of the Town.
Voted a tax of twelve shillings on each Lott in said Township Liable to Taxis and the same to be Assessed accordingly.
Voted that there be a Lowed four shillings to each man for each day's work Don on the Roads in said Township, from the 1. Day of May to the last day of September next, and two shillings pr. day for each pair of Oxen, and that no man work without the knowledge of the Sorvair
79
LOCATION OF THE MEETING-HOUSE.
and take his Recate for each day's work, cutting windfalls acrost the Road only excepted, which is to be done without Notis from a Sorvair.
This meeting of the proprietors certainly indicates progress in the most important matters appertaining to the welfare of the town. By reference to the plan of the township and the table showing the drawing and assignment of the lots, it will be seen that Lot 13, Range 7 belonged to Charles Treadwell : but it seems quite certain that before the date of this meeting Mr. Reed had bought both of Mr. Treadwell's lots. A few months later (in November, 1770) Mr. Reed deeded the west end of Lot 13, Range 7-probably half the lot- to Benjamin Bigelow, and in August, 1771, he deeded to Rev. Benjamin Brigham a part of the east end of the lot, on which Mr. Brigham erected a dwelling-house within a few years. This house was located a short distance east of the burying- ground, the present house of Henry Handy oceupying about the same site. Mr. Reed did not make a formal transfer of the five acres which he gave the town till some years later, his deed of gift being dated May 23d, 1780. It is understood that the north-east corner of the meeting-house that was at length erected on this lot was about where the old hearse- house stood for so many years.
It will be remembered that by the conditions of their grant, which was made May 1st, 1765, the grantees were required to build a meeting-house within five years, and after six years maintain constant preaching. That they made laudable efforts to carry out their part of the contract to the letter is certain. There was not a little delay about completing the house of worship, which, under the eireumstances, was doubtless un- avoidable ; but before the six years had expired they had set- tled a minister, as we shall presently see. Then, as often sinee, it was found easier to obtain a pastor than to build a church edifice and make it comfortable and convenient in the wilderness.
The location of the meeting-house having been thus defi- nitely fixed upon April 18th, 1770, it is evident that the build- ing committee appointed about five months before proceeded at once with their work. It is understood that the frame was
80
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
raised in May, and consequently considerable preparation must have been made before the exact location was determined. From the general tenor of the records, it would seem that while the house was brought into a condition to be used within a reasonable time, after that the work proceeded very slowly, for which perhaps the smallness of the appropriations may partly account.
The next meeting of the proprietors was held at the house of James Reed, innholder, on September 26th, 1770, with John Farrar moderator, and after an adjournment of an hour and a half (probably to see what progress had been made upon the meeting-house) proceeded to business. A re- port of the committee upon the boundary-lines of the town- ship was presented, and this was the result : they had " meas- ured from the south-east corner of Middle Monadnock (Jaff- rey) and run west the whole length of that line, and they find that it runs in upon Monadnock No. 4 the length of one range of lots or thereabout" -- in other words, that with the dimensions claimed for it, our neighbor on the north-east overlapped the territory supposed to belong to Monadnock No. 4 about one hundred and sixty rods, taking from the latter township not only the half lots in the third range, but a por- tion of the adjacent lots in the fourth range. As Jaffrey was the older town, it could rightfully claim its full size, and the inatter does not seem to have been called up again.
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