USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hillsborough > The history of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1921, Volume 1 > Part 7
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The surprise took place on the morning of April 28, 1752, while two of the number were absent from camp looking after their traps. In the course of the attack Stinson was killed, while John Stark and Eastman were made prisoners, William Stark alone escaping. The captives were taken to St. Francis, where they remained until in August a ransom was effected for their release. The Stark brothers both became prominent scouts, or- ganizers and leaders throughout the war. William was at the
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SEVEN YEARS' WAR. .
head of the New England Rangers with Wolfe in the capture of Quebec, while John, in the Revolution, became more distinguished as the hero of Bennington.
Immediately following this affair, expecting others of a simi- lar nature to come, such militia laws as then existed were en- forced, frequent scouts were made into the wilderness. Bred as hunters and trappers, as well as participants in Indian warfare, it was nothing strange that these men became thoroughly versed in trailing the wily enemy of the forest or meeting his cunning devices with others quite as effective.
Open hostilities began in the spring of 1754 when a body of French and Indian troops seized an unfinished English fort at the forks of the Monongahela and Allegany rivers on May 17. The French, who, as in previous wars, had coerced the Indians into it, finished the fort and called it "Fort du Quesne." The news of the outbreak spread far and wide over the country, but everywhere it found the English as well prepared to meet their foes as it was possible under the conditions of the times. It was a sanguinary struggle from beginning to end, each party of the three drawn into it, the Indians, the French and the English, realizing that it meant its fate in New England.
During this exciting period not a home fire was known to be burning in old Number Seven, or Hillsborough, where the red men roamed at will on the wartrail, but from the homes to which they had fled for the safety of their loved ones, it is safe to say that every man who had helped lay the foundation of the town in the wilderness, who was physically able to do so, performed his part in the long and anxious struggle.
Among those who participated in the war and who were either members of the first body of colonists or were a portion of the second comers were Samuel Houston, Simon Beard, Josiah Parker and James McNeil of Londonderry, and Merrimack. They were among the troops posted in the Connecticut valley to protect the scattered inhabitants there and were under the com- mand of Major Bellows, doing duty at Walpole and Old Number Four, now Charlestown.
James McNeil was the brother of John McNeil, both of whom served under Colonel John Moore in the Louisburg expedi-
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
tion in 1745. It was John's son Daniel who moved to Hillsbor- ough in 1771, and who was drowned in the Contoocook River at the falls near the bridge. His son John served in the war of the Revolution, while his grandson, also named John, was in the Eleventh regiment in the battle of Chippewa in the war of 1812.
While it has been claimed with indisputable truth that New Hampshire contains no battle-field of any war, yet during this, the Seven Years' War, this colony furnished every leader of note that fought in that sanguinary struggle; Robert, Richard and James Rogers, William, John and Archie Stark, John Moore, Joseph Blanchard, Ephraim Stevens, and not least among these Capt. Isaac Baldwin and Col. Robert Fletcher and Lt. John Mc- Colley of Old Number Seven, now Hillsborough. Under these chieftains was formed that bulwark of soldiery which stemmed the invasion of the allied foes at the Horicon and saved New England to the British-and the Revolution.
The result of the Seven Years' War was disastrous to France. It gave to England the strong right arm of the sea, and with this prestige, it gave her India and New France, while start- ing her on the way of being the greatest colonizing government in the world. But this rapid advance was not without its drawback, as it foretold the loss of her most valuable prize, which her wisest prophets read in the forecast of the future.
THE MERRILL HOMESTEAD.
CHAPTER VI.
THE SECOND SETTLEMENT.
When the Clearing of Wild Land Became Popular-Changes in Fifteen Years-Philip Riley's Return-A Lost Settler-First Comers in the Second Settlement of Number Seven-A Pioneer Woman's Experience-Daniel Campbell's Survey of the Township-A Frontier Love Affair-Early Families in Second Settlement-Only One Who Came Back from the First Attempt, Captain Isaac Bald- win-But the Gibsons and McColleys Were Represented-All Were Tillers of the Soil-A New Mill Built-A Public Inn Opened- Church Meetings Held-Need of Town Government Felt-Taxes Already Levied-Petition for a Charter-Colonel Hill Active- The Charter-Warning for First Town Meeting-First Election.
The Seven Years' War, which resulted in the conquest of Canada by the British, and the complete overthrow of the French power, so desintegrated the Indian alliances that the English suffered no more at their hands. During this war the New England colonists who had engaged in it, and not many escaped a part, in their marches hither and thither had become well acquainted with the uninhabited territory waiting the hand of improvement, and been so strongly impressed with the thousands of fertile acres awaiting the husbandman, that a new impetus was given the settlement of the border towns. From this day the clearing of wild land and the establishment of homes where before the wild beast had found its lair went on without serious interruption.
In the fifteen years that had elapsed since the first settlers had abandoned a hopeless undertaking the hand of desolation had sprung up, obliterating the cornfields and the plots of green grass. The primitive homes had fallen into decay or been burned by the prowling red men eager to show the spirit of revenge upon those who had come as despoilers of their game ranges. The saw mill had tumbled down and the saw rusted on its carriage; the meet- ing house remained for a time, as if the savage had too great rever- ence for it to apply the torch. In this, they showed more respect,
81
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HISTORY OF, HILLSBOROUGH.
if not humanity, than the white man. It is related-how much truth there is in the story I cannot say-that one Keyes of Weare, in passing that way saw the building standing, and after removing the glass, which he buried near by, he set fire to the sacred edifice, and if he did not dance while it burned, he looked on with wanton glee. He claimed afterwards he had done it so as to cheat the Indians of the pleasure. Let him have the benefit of the doubt, though where the difference lies is not easy to tell. The glass was afterwards found by the builders of the second church, which is a sort of circumstantial evidence that he had not lied. The parsonage, of all the early buildings, remained to welcome the new-comers.
In 1761 the energetic and unintimidated Philip Riley, with his good wife, returned from Sudbury, Mass., to pick up the threads of his early undertaking where he had so abruptly dropped the fabric. He found his cabin standing, though scarcely habitable, and his clearing was overgrown with saplings. The ax and household utensils which he had hastily hidden from the sharp-eyed savages were found as he had left them,-a little rusty it may be, but still of use. His ax soon made the wooded welkin ring with a joy it had never echoed to before, and Number Seven had a close neighbor if not a settler.
Mr. Matthew Patten in his survey of Henniker under date of Sept. 24, 1752, makes this entry in his diary: "Set out and Measured three miles and 180 Rods to Contoocook River Being four miles from the North West Corner (of Henniker) in all to the River, having a Rainy Night Before and a great Shower about one of the Clock and Between two and three another Great Shower acompaneyed with thunder and was Obliged to Camp at Mr. John Maclaughlin's house Just in Number Seven line" (Hills- borough).
This statement of Mr. Patten locates MacLaughlin near the point where the Contoocook River crosses the line from Hillsbor- ough into Henniker. As no further mention is made of him he was probably only a "trancient" settler. It would be interesting to know more of this man.
Sanguine as ever of success Colonel Hill now became more active to open up his grant, the incursions of the Indians forever
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A LONELY VIGIL.
stayed. He made frequent trips between Boston and Number Seven, until it was a well known route to him. He was willing to offer almost any inducement to begin a new settlement, volun- teering to sell the land for fifty cents an acre. Fortunately he finally met a man as equal to the task of leading the way as Samuel Gibson had been in that earlier period, and as before, he found his captain in the race of Scotch-Irish, and his name was Daniel McMurphy. He lived in Chester, or Cheshire as it was called then, and his wife being willing to accompany him on his lonely journey, the couple began to make preparations at once to start. So, in the early summer of 1762, twenty-three years after the first attempt had been made by the first colony, Daniel Mc- Murphy and wife performed the journey from Chester to Num- ber Seven, and they selected as the site of their home the clearing made by Robert Fletcher on "West Hill." It is true the country was being opened on every hand, but as far as they were con- cerned in the companionship that could afford them either solace or assistance, was only that of Philip Riley and wife, living some three miles distant.
The experience of this hardy couple could not have been materially different from that of hundreds of others, the heavier of the burden falling, as usual, on the woman. Not only was she obliged to help him in his mighty task of breaking the wilderness, but hers was the more lonely part. He was obliged to make trips away from home, and leave her alone. Upon one occasion it was necessary for him to return to their former home in Chester, and though he had not intended to be gone more than a week, it was fifteen days before he re-appeared to his anxious wife. Her feelings of helplessness and loneliness, constantly menaced by dangers not easily foreseen and difficult to escape, are not easily imagined. In speaking of it in after years she confessed it was the most dreary two weeks she had ever experienced. At night- fall such a stillness and ominous silence fell upon the scene as to almost drive her to despair. On one uncommonly dark and dreary night, unable to sleep or to lie quiet, with the dismal howl of a distant wolf falling with appalling dread upon the awful stillness, and the mournful sighing of the wind through the tree- tops, she finally arose from her couch and going to the door of
84
HISTORY OF (HILLSBOROUGH.
her humble hut at midnight, she opened it wide, as if to defy the discordant note of the hungry wolf, and shouted at the top of her voice a meaningless challenge to the legion of terrors, again and again, waiting between each cry for the welcome echo of her own voice, resounding from up the shadowy avenues of the dim old forest. With such relief of oppression as she had not known for days, she returned to her couch to sleep the rest of the night. She had silenced the wolf, and even the pine had seemed to take on a more cheerful tune to its everlasting monotone.
For some reason Mr. McMurphy did not remain long in his new home. Perhaps those who were expected to join him were slower in coming than his impetuous nature could brook. Be that as it may, the next year he removed to Hill, where he became a prominent and respected citizen.
In 1763 Colonel Hill employed Daniel Campbell, Esq., of Amherst, to survey the town into lots, and this work was done with uncommon accuracy, according to the surveys of that period. By it Philip Riley found he was not living in Number Seven, but in Antrim township.
In his trips between his home in Boston and Hillsborough Colonel Hill sometimes went by the way of Litchfield. On one of these occasions he met John McColley and Elizabeth Gibson, who it will be remembered were the first children born in the town. Knowing this and upon learning that they were lovers, he suggested that they get married and settle in his town, promising them one hundred acres of land if they would do so. The offer was quickly accepted, the two were married, and were among the foremost to begin the second settlement on West Hill. With them came Samuel and John Gibson, her brothers, then young men with their wives. These brothers had come with their parents at the first settlement, aged respectively two years and two months.
About a dozen families came in 1764, most of them from Massachusetts, and from this time the work of improvement went merrily ahead. Other families followed until three years later there were twenty, if not more, families in town, the following being an incomplete record :
Lieut. John McColley, who took up his homestead on the road, from the Centre to Washington.
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PIONEERS OF SECOND SETTLEMENT.
Samuel Gibson, who had married Elizabeth Stewart,
John Gibson, who had married Elizabeth McMullen.
Capt. Samuel Bradford, Sen., who had moved hither from Middleton, Mass., to settle in 1766, his house being the first public hostelry in Hillsborough. He built the first saw and grist mill in that part of the town, located on Beard Brook, remains of which were to be seen as late as 1850. He was active in forming the first company of militia in town, and was its Captain. He died in August, 1776, respected by all who knew him. The first town meeting was held at his house. He had a son, Samuel, Jr., who was prominent in public affairs.
Lieut. Samuel Bradford, a native of Middleton, Mass., but coming to settle on West Hill in 1764, was probably a cousin of "Captain Sam, Jr." He received his commission in the 16th Regiment, N. H. Militia, serving under Capt. Isaac Baldwin. He served in the Revolutionary War, but removed to Antrim, where he died.
Jonathan Durant, from Billerica, Mass., He settled on the farm in the northwest section of the town.
Joshua Easty, or Estey as it is now spelled, came here with Captain Bradford, from Middleton, and left descendants.
Timothy Wilkins settled in 1764 on a farm owned in 184I by Ebenezer Jones. He was from Carlisle, Mass., where he eventually returned and died.
William Williams was from Sudbury, Mass., and he lived on the where he died in
William Pope was another native of Sudbury, Mass., coming to Hillborough previous to 1766, and settling on the Worthly farm. He was interested in the raising of apples ; he and his wife were active in forming the first church society ; he was a member of the first board of Selectmen and was Town Clerk in 1780. He removed to Clarendon, Vt., where he died.
Benjamin Lovejoy came from Amherst in 1765, to settle on the Jones farm, but in 1778 he removed from this town to Westminster, Vt., where he lived until his death.
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
Jonathan Sargent was from Bradford, Mass.
Isaac Andrews, who became not only the founder of one of the leading families here, but was himself an active and influential man in the new town, came from Carlisle in 1764 and came with his friend and neighbor.
William Taggart, or Taggard as it was spelled in those days, belonged to a Scotch-Irish family of Londonderry, where his father, James Taggart, was constable as early as 1737. At the time of the incorporation of Derryfield, 1753, he was living in that section which was taken to form the latter township. From that town William came to Hillsborough before the Revolution.
Moses Steel was also from Londonderry, of Scottish an- cestry, His grandfather, Thomas Steel, was among the original proprietors of Londonderry, and came hither from the north of Ireland in 1718. Moses was probably the son of Thomas, Jr., and Martha Steel, and came here when a young man.
Capt. Isaac Baldwin, of whom we have already spoken, and of whom we shall have considerable more to say in succeeding chapters.
Immediately the new-comers began to hold religious meetings in private houses in winter, and barns in summer. At these meetings such civil conduct of public affairs as became necessary, were instituted. As Cromwell said of his Ironsides:
"I raised such men as had the fear of God before them, and made some conscience of what they did, and from that day for- ward I must say to you they were never beaten." The type of such men as these settled the slopes of Hillsborough from Con- cord End to Stowe Mountain.
The first settlers thought only of tilling the soil as a means of sustenance. In truth, it was all they could do, until the time had come to open other industries. They gave no thought to the power of the river to lift them into prosperity. They had no use for its tumbling waters, to them a source of inconvenience in crossing the angry stream, as they must in intercourse with their fellow-beings living elsewhere. They sought rather for the hill- sides, where the sunlight could send its earliest beams and help quicken the crops. The valleys in those days were not inviting
87
MOVE FOR A CHARTER.
spots, not only on account of their being so hidden from the eyes of the world, but as much from their dampness. So such elevated places as constituted the hamlet of Bible Hill, the Centre, and others attracted them. On these hilltops were laid the foundation of New England's welfare.
Eventually the change came, just as change after change has followed in the footsteps of succeeding days, and are continuing to come and go. Mills were needed, and the possibilities of the river began to assert themselves.
Finally it was felt that the time had come when a movement should be made to secure the incorporation of a town. Accord- ingly a meeting of the heads of the freeholders in the territory was called at the house of Isaac Andrews, Esq., on West Hill, Isaac Baldwin was made moderator and Isaac Andrews, clerk. It was found that there were twenty-two qualified to vote in the territory comprised in the grant of Colonel Hill, and by unanimous decision it was voted to ask for a charter, and Squire Andrews was chosen as agent to act for the community. He was a man to attend promptly to his duties, and he immediately employed the Rev. John Scales, the first minister of Hopkinton and who had occasionally preached here, to draft a petition to the Governor and Council. The following is a copy of the instrument, with the names of its signers :
PETITION FOR AN ACT OF INCORPORATION.
To His Excellency John Wentworth Esq Captain General, Governor and commander in chief In and over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire, And to the Honourable his Majestys Council of said Province.
The Petition of the subscribers Inhabitants of a Township called Hillsborough in the Province aforesaid, Humbly sheweth, That we have been subjected to the payment of Province and County Taxes as fully as the inhabitants of towns in this Province, but have not en- joyed equal privileges. We are humbly of opinion that, Collecting of Taxes would be facilitated to us, good order maintained, the culture of our land Encouraged, and many inconveniences removed and good purposes answered by an incorporation. Therefore we pray that said Township Butted and Bounded as follows viz. Beginning at the southeast corner of a Beach Tree marked Seven, from thence South Eighty four degrees & 30 minutes west about six miles by the Society
88
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
Lands so called to a Beach tree marked 7 & 8, from thence north fif- teen degrees West about six miles by common Land so called to a Beach Tree marked 7 & 8 from thence North Eighty four degres & 30 minutes East about six miles to a Beach tree marked 7, from thence about six miles by the Town of Henniker to the Bounds first mentioned may be erected and incorporated a Body politic infran- chised with the same powers & privileges that other Towns in this Province have and enjoy, And your Petitioners as in Duty bound will ever Pray.
Jonathan Duren
William Jones
Timothy Wilkins
Benjamin Lovejoy, Jr.
Abijah Lovejoy
John Gibson
John Sargent
William Pope
John Steel
Williams Williams
Archibald Taggart
Isaac Baldwin
James Gibson
Daniel McNeall
William Taggart
Joseph Clark
John McCalley
Isaac Andrews
George Bemaine
Alexander McClintock
William Clark
Samuel Bradford
Though his name does not appear on the petition, not being a resident, Colonel Hill was the first to suggest this move, and naturally as its founder he felt anxious to have his name affixed to the territory in which he had taken so much interest and spent so much money in developing, so he offered Governor Wentworth a fee that in our money would amount to fifty dollars for signing the charter, providing the new town should be given the name of Hillborough. Though of late frequently spoken of as "Hill's Town," the place still retained the signification of Number Seven. The Governor was favorably impressed by Hill's request, and as Hillborough the new town is designated in the Charter, and this name has never been legally changed. Still within ten years it was being termed Hillsborough, perhaps because it was more easily uttered, and as such it was soon referred to in the records. It might seem that the addition of the "s" was in a measure brought about by the fact that the county was so known in honor of the Earl of Hillsborough, Great Britain. It was perfectly natural that strangers should suppose the spelling of the town would be the same, and the town's people accepted it without dissent.
[Plan of Hillsborough, 1765.]
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This is a Plat of Hillsborough Town and the Lots Nº 27-28-29-30 Contain Each 200. Acres & the Lots Nº 41-42-43 Contain Each 300 Acres Each Lot Marked Mason & thay Contain in the Whol 1700 Acres thay are lade out in the Most Conveniant plase for promoteing the Setlement in Said Town of Hillsborough Conformable to there Quit Clame to John Hill
this plat is presented to the propritors of Lands purchased of John Tufton Mason Esq by there Humble Sert Boston May 22 1765
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89
TOWN CHARTER.
CHARTER.
Provence of New Hampshire
L. S.
George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland
King Defender of the Faith and soforth
To all People to whom these presents shall come
Greeting
Whereas our Loyal Subjects Inhabitance of a Tract of Land within our prouince of New Hampshire afore Said, Commonly Called and known by the Name of Hillborough Containing by estimation about six miles Square-have humbly Petitioned and requested us that they may be Erected and Incorporated into a Township, and infranchised with the same Powers and priviledges which other towns within our said prouince by Law have and Enjoy and it appearing unto us to be conducive to the General Good of our said Prouince as well as of the said Inhabitance in perticuler, by maintaining Good order & encouraging the culture of the Land that the Same Should be done Know Ye that that we our speceal Grace certain knoledge and for the encoragement and promotion of the Good Purposes & Ends aforesaid by and with advice of our trusty and well beloued John Wentworth Esquire our Gouernor and Commander in Chief of our Said Province and o four Council of the same have erected and ordained and by these Presents for us our Heirs and Successors do will and ordain that the Inhabitance of the said tract of Land & others who shall Improue and Inhabit there on hereafter the Same being buted and bounded as follows. Viz. Beginning at the South East Corner at a Beech Tree marked. 7. from thence South Eighty Four Degrees and thirty minutes west about six miles by the Society Lands so Called to a Beech tree marked. 7. and 8., from thence North Fiftean degres west about six miles by Common Land Land so Called to a beech Tree 7. and 8 marked, from thence North Eighty Four degrees and Thirty minuts East about Six miles to a Beech Tree marked 7; from thence about six miles by the Town of Henniker to the bounds first mentioned be and they are hereby declared to be be a Town Corporate by the Name of Hillborough to have Continu-
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