USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Sutton > The history of Sutton, New Hampshire : consisting of the historical collections of Erastus Wadleigh, Esq., and A. H. Worthen, part 1 > Part 11
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R. Emily Little. Mary A. Davis. Jennie H. Davis. Roxanna Dorr.
H. Roscoe Chadwick.
Henry H. Cook.
Lucinda N. Duke.
Albert E. Chadwick.
Sarah H. Dresser.
TAX-PAYERS. 161
Mary J. Eaton. Lee E. Elliot. Sarah M. Flint.
Hattie M. Felch.
Edwin H. Palmer. Ebenezer S. Putney. Lydia M. Putney. Laura A. Presby. Herbert L. Pillsbury.
Fred W. Fisher.
Herman D. Follansbee.
Lucy A. Peaslee.
Harriet W. Fellows.
Frank H. Philbrick.
Frank A. Flint.
Esther A. Philbrick.
Frank B. Fellows.
Joseph H. Page.
Francis E. Ferry.
Charles A. Page.
Bartlett H. Hardy.
Byron E. Perkins.
Pamelia A. Hazen.
Sarah J. Russell. Fred W. Roby.
Fred L. Howe.
George S. Roby.
Oren M. Humphrey. Anna Haddock.
Charles W. Roby.
Nettie R. Howe.
Horace E. Russell.
Francis B. Johnson.
Clinton B. Rogers.
James H. Johnson.
Herbert B. Sweat.
Mary Johnson.
Wallace G. Sawyer.
George J. Johnson.
George M. Shattuck. Roswell Spaulding.
Cyrus H. Little.
Lucy A. Sawyer.
Daniel Luce.
Elmer E. Sawyer.
Walter A. Lewis.
Morris A. Sawyer.
D. Moody Morse.
Roswell P. Smith.
Mary D. Marshall.
Mrs. Thompson. Edward P. Tilton.
Sammel F. Thompson.
Belinda F. Wright.
Wilbert E. Wright.
Fred A. Wright. John M. Walker.
Ralph B. Nelson.
Mehitabel S. Nelson.
George L. Wheeler. Harry S. Watkins. Edson C. Watkins. Herman C. Whittier.
Hannah Woodward.
William S. Pressey. Frank B. Perkins.
Fred L. Wells.
George S. Philbrick.
George E. Webster.
11
Fred H. Keyser.
Addison W. Merrill.
Angelette Mastin. Henry W. Morse. Edwin A. Mastin. Harriet S. Morgan. James H. Nolan.
Fred S. Ordway. Jeremiah D. Perkins.
162
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
CONSTABLES AND COLLECTORS.
One man filled both offices until 1822.
1777. Samnel Peaslee.
1797. William Pressey.
1778. Ebenezer Keyser.
1798. David Eaton.
1779. Daniel Messer. 1799. Abner Chase.
1780. David Eaton. 1800. Amos Pressey.
1781. Peter Peaslee. 1801.
Jonathan Harvey.
1782. David Eaton.
1802, 1803. Amos Pressey.
1783. Matthew Harvey.
1804. Obediah Eastman.
1784. James King.
1805. Philemon Hastings.
1785. Phineas Stevens.
1806. Amos Pressey.
1786. William Pressey.
1807, 1808. Philip S. Harvey.
1809. Arnold Ellis.
1790. Daniel Messer.
1812.
Daniel Wadleigh.
1791. Thomas Wadleigh.
1813, 1814. Amos Pressey.
1792.
Asa Nelson.
1815. Andrew Robinson.
1793.
Jonathan Roby.
1816, 1817. Nathan Champlin.
1794.
Caleb Kimball.
1818, 1819. Enoch Bailey.
1795. Ichabod Roby.
1820. Nathan Champlin.
1796. Philemon Hastings.
1821. John Harvey, Jr., and Amos Pressey.
1822. Nathan Champlin, John Harvey, Jr., and Amos Pressey, constables.
1823. Nathan Champlin, collector and constable. Amos Pressey constable.
1824. Nathan Champlin, collector; Nathan Champlin and Amos Pressey, constables.
1825. William Pressey, collector; William Pressey and Amos Pressey, constables.
1826. Lient. William Pressey, collector and constable; Amos Pressey, constable.
1827. Asa Mastin, collector and constable; Nathan Champlin, Amos Pressey, William Pressey, Col. John Harvey, con- stables.
1828. Amos Pressey, collector and constable ; Col. John Harvey, constable.
1787. Joseph Wadleigh.
1788. Jonathan Gage.
1810. Asa Nelson.
1789. Joseph Johnson.
1811. Amos Pressey.
163
CONSTABLES AND COLLECTORS.
1829. Amos Pressey, collector and constable ; Nathan Champlin constable.
1830. Nathan Champlin, collector and constable ; Thomas Wad- leigh, Benjamin Wadleigh, Joseph Roby, constables.
1831. Nathan Champlin, collector and constable ; Thomas Wad- leigh and Amos Pressey, constables.
1832. Nathaniel A. Davis, collector and constable ; Nathan Champlin and Amos Pressey, constables.
1833. Nathaniel A. Davis, collector and constable ; Amos Pressey and Thomas Wadleigh, constables.
1834. Nathaniel A. Davis, collector and constable ; Thomas Wad- leigh, William Pressey, Joseph Roby, constables.
1835. John Pressey, collector and constable ; Nathan Champlin, Thomas Wadleigh, Amos Pressey, Joseph Roby, consta- bles.
1836. John Pressey, collector and constable ; N. A. Davis, Joseph Roby, Thomas Wadleigh, Nathan Champlin, constables.
1837. - -, collector. Joseph Roby, Nathaniel A. Davis, William Pressey, Nathan Champlin, constables.
1838. Jonathan Watson, collector ; Thomas Wadleigh, Jonathan Watson, William Pressey, Hiram Watson, Joseph Roby, constables.
1839. -, collector ; Thomas Wadleigh, Nathan Champlin, constables.
1840.
-, collector ; Thomas Wadleigh, Nathan Champlin, William Pressey, constables.
1841. - , collector ; Thomas Wadleigh, Nathan
Champlin, William Pressey, constables.
1842. - -, collector ; Thomas Wadleigh, Nathan Champlin, constables.
COLLECTORS.
1843. Nathan Champlin. 1854. Joseph P. Nelson.
1844. Stephen Hoyt. 1855. Stephen Hoyt.
1845, 1846. Nathan Champlin. 1856, 1857.
1847. Thomas Wadleigh. 1858, 1859. Nathan Champlin.
1848. Stephen Hoyt. 1860. 1861. John Wright, Jr.
1849-1851. None recorded.
1852. Jonathan H. Nelson.
1853. James M. Peaslec.
Robert P. Cotton.
1862, 1863. Jonathan H. Nelson.
1864. John Wright, Jr.
1865. Jonathan H. Nelson.
164
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
1866-1869. Francis M. Richards.1883-1884. Timothy B. Lewis.
1870, 1871. George Chadwick. 1885. Jesse A. Hazen.
1872-1874. John M. Pressey. 1886, 1887. Benjamin K. Coburn.
1875. Gilbert Cheney. 1888. Elmore C. Clark.
1876-1879. James D. Prescott. 1889. Albert E. Chadwick. 1880-1882. Olney M. Kimball.
CONSTABLES.
1843-1848. None recorded.
1849. James Eastman, Daniel F. Sargent, Edward G. Porter.
1850. Stephen Hoyt, Carlos G. Pressey, John G. Huntoon.
1851. Josiah P. Nelson, Stephen Hoyt, Edward G. Porter.
1852. Gilman Gross, James M. Peaslee, John G. Huntoon, Jona- than H. Nelson.
1853. Moses Nelson, Jr., William W. Tilton, James M. Peaslee, Francis Robbins, John G. Huntoon, Benjamin Wadleigh, Thomas W. Nelson.
1854. Philip N. Little, Edward G. Porter, John G. Huntoon, A. C. Carroll, Francis Robbins.
1855. Josiah P. Nelson, Philip N. Little, Francis Robbins, John Brockway, Edmond Blood.
1856. Alonzo C. Carroll, William Pressey, James G. Whidden, Simon Keyser, Edmond Blood.
1857. Josiah P. Nelson, Alonzo C. Carroll, Benjamin F. Pillsbury, Converse Gage, Joseph Harvey.
1858. Francis Robbins, John G. Huntoon.
1859-1869. None recorded.
1870. Ira F. Rowell, Converse Gage.
1871. Harvey Chadwick.
1872, 1873. John M. Pressey.
1874, 1875. None appointed.
1876, 1877. James D. Prescott.
1878. James G. Whidden, Enoch P. Davis, William H. Flint.
1879. None appointed.
1880. Olney M. Kimball.
1881. None appointed.
1882, 1883. Enoch P. Davis.
1884. James G. Whidden.
1885. Timothy B. Lewis.
1886, 1887. None appointed.
165
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
EARLY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
The dates set against the names of these justices mark the date at which they received their first commission. Many of them continued to hold the office of magistrate as long as they lived.
Those names marked with a "Q" have been justices of the peace and quorum.
Those marked with an "S" have been justices of the peace for the state.
Benjamin Wadleigh, Sen., 1786. Matthew Harvey, 1798. Moses Hills, Dec. 5, 1804. Thomas Wadleigh, June 14, 1805. Jonathan Harvey, Q. and S., 1809. Jonathan Harvey, Q., Nov. 8, 1818. Joseph Pillsbury, Dec. 8, 1820.
Benjamin Wadleigh, Q. and S., June 21, 1823.
The above appointments were made when Sutton belonged to Hillsborough connty. The new coun- ty of Merrimack was made July, 1823. Joseph Harvey (brother to Dea. Matthew) was a mag- istrate previous to 1820. Enoch Page, Sen., held the same office many years; date of commission not found.
LATER JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Reuben Porter, Q., July 1, 1826. John Adams, jr., July 1, 1826. Benjamin B. French, Nov. 9, 1826. John Pressey, June 17, 1828. Robert Lane, Q. and S. (1848) Jan. 5, 1829. Edward Dodge, Dec. 2, 1830. John Pillsbury, June 27, 1835.
166
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Moses Pillsbury, Jan. 1, 1837.
Enoch Page, Q., June 18, 1840. Ira B. Person, June 26, 1841. Amos H. Jones, June 26, 1841. Asa Page, Q., Dec. 23, 1844. Asa Nelson, July 1, 1845.
Nathaniel A. Davis, July 6, 1846.
Moses Hazen, Q. and S., July 3, 1847.
Albert P. Richards, July 3, 1847.
John H. Allen, Dec. 7, 1847. Samuel Dresser, Jr., July 6, 1849.
Jacob S. Harvey, June 27, 1851. George C. Eaton, July 30, 1852. Joseph Harvey, Dec. 31, 1852. Lewis Richards, 1853. Carlos G. Pressey, 1816. S. R. Swett, 1857.
Thomas J. Wadleigh, 1858.
James R. Smiley, Q. and S., 1857.
John C. Dresser, 1857.
James M. Sargent, 1859. Erastus Wadleigh, 1857. George Putney, 1862. Moses W. Russell. 1862.
In 1863 there were fifteen justices of the peace, quorum, and state; in 1868 there were but eight. Some had died, some had left town, and perhaps some commissions had expired.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE IN 1843.
Jonathan Harvey, born in Sutton ; died 1859, age 793. Benjamin Wadleigh, born in Sutton ; died 1864, age 81. John Adams, born in Sutton ; died 1866, age 88. John Pillsbury, born in Sutton ; died 1856, age 67. John Pressey, born in Sutton ; died 1858, age 81. Joseph Pillsbury, born in Sutton ; died 1869, age 84. Moses Pillsbury, born in Sutton; died 1870, age 83.
167
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Robert Lane, born in Newport ; died 1872, age 86.
Edward Dodge, born in Newbury : died 1875, age 85.
Reuben Porter, born in Canaan ; died in Warner, 1879, age 89. Ira B. Person. a lawyer from Newport, born in Barre, Vt., June 14, 1817; died in Lowell, Mass., Aug. 23, 1858; lived in New York city.
Enoch Page, born in Sutton ; died 1882.
Amos Jones, born in Salem, N. H .; went to Sanbornton.
Letter of Benjamin Wadleigh, Sen., concerning the renewal of his Justice of the Peace commission.
To Dea. Matthew Harvey, now at Gen. Court at Hanover.
SIR : I had wholly given up the matter of taking the Commission that you sent to me, but on further consideration I have concluded to be sworn in to the office unless there is some other person in town that can take it who will give satisfaction to the people.
This from yours to serve,
BENJAMIN WADLEIGH.
Sutton, June ye 6th, 1795.
SOME OF THE EARLIEST PHYSICIANS.
Dr. William Martin came to Sutton to practise his profession about 1793, being the first regular physician in Sutton ; married Sally Andrews. Lived in town till he died.
The four following practised in town about 1800: Dr. Ezra Marsh, who married Sally, sister to Daniel Page ; Dr. Thomas Wells, who came to Sutton from Hanover; Dr. Arnold Ellis, who came from Newport ; Dr. Crossman, who was preacher as well as physician.
Dr. Lyman practised some in town in the early years of this century ; was among the best of his time. Dr. Benjamin Lovering came about 1816; resided here till his death, in 1824. Dr. John A. Clark succeeded him; was popular as citizen and physician; was chosen town-clerk. (For Dr. Robert Lane, see Biographical Sketches.)
The first doctor who came into town was Will- iam Martin. Being unmarried when he came, he boarded in the family of Dea. Joseph Greeley for about two years. Subsequently married Sally Andrews. Bought a farm in the extreme part of the town near the Bradford line, whereon he re- sided till his death.
The second physician resident in town was Dr. Ezra Marsh, who married Sally Page, sister to
169
EARLY PHYSICIANS.
Daniel and Enoch, Sr. Lived at the South Vil- lage.
The third physician was Dr. Thomas Wells, who came here from Hanover soon after 1800. Located in the north part of the town (between the Jona- than Harvey and the John Huntoon places), and remained some eight years. Was quite successful as a doctor. He married Lucinda, sister to Dr. Henry Lyman.
Dr. Lyman, the last named, practised some in this town about this time, being esteemed the best of the period.
Dr. Robert Lane came in 1809. Was absent dur- ing the War of 1812, for some years; and in his absence came Dr. Pease, who remained two years or more.
Dr. Benjamin Lovering was here about this peri- od. He first located at the Mill Village, but after a few years bought a house in the South Village, and lived there till his death, in 1824. He was a good physician, and had a good practice.
Dr. John Cushing practised some in this town in the later years of the last century, but it is believed that he resided altogether in New London. He was clerk of the Library Association in 1798.
Dr. Tenney located for a short time at the north previous to 1820. About the same time Dr. Buz- zell was here-not very long.
Soon after the death of Dr. Lovering came Dr. John A. Clark, from Sanbornton-a good physi- cian, and very popular as a citizen. Was town- clerk during his stay here, but did not remain many years.
170
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Dr. Jesse Haven Foster, born in Hanover, 1801, studied with Dr. Lovering in South Sutton, after- wards in Warner with Dr. Lyman,-later practised one year in Sutton; married Mary, daughter of Daniel Andrew of this town; removed to Vermont, remaining there twelve years, and afterwards for thirty-two years in Illinois, making in all nearly a half century of medical practice. Is now living, hale and hearty, in Auburndale, Mass. Has resid- ed in Lynn, Mass., and in Enfield. Dr. Fifield was here a short time about 1840 ; Dr. Dodge and Dr. Darling about 1863 ; Dr. Fitts some years, about 1864 and later, and Dr. Pike about the same time ; Dr. Bronson, 1873 ; Dr. Fuller, and for several recent years, Dr. Selem Welch. Of Drs. Lane, Smiley, Davis, and Allen, see Notices.
AGED PERSONS OF SUTTON.
Francis Como (a native of Canada), supposed to be aged 100; Mrs. Mary Bean, wife of Samuel, died in 1811, aged 100; Mrs. Sally Philbrook, mother of Benjamin, Sr., died in 1813, aged 100; Jacob Davis, died in 1819, aged 105; Thomas Walker, died in 1822, aged 103; Nathaniel Eaton, died in 1875, aged 100; Cesar Lewis, died in 1862, aged 100; Anthony Clark, aged 107; Benjamin Philbrook, Sr., aged 99; Mrs. Jacob Davis, died in 1819, aged 99; Sally, wife of Thomas Burpee, died in 1859, aged 99; Joseph Johnson, aged 98; Mrs. Jesse Fellows, aged 97; Samuel Dresser, Sr., aged 97; Mrs. Thomas Peaslee, aged 96; wife of Samuel Dresser, Sr., aged 95; Joseph Wells, aged 95; Nathaniel Cheney, aged 93; Edmund Richardson, aged 92; widow of Henry Dearborn, aged 91; Jane, wife of Jonathan Eaton, aged 91; Sarah, widow of Daniel Messer, aged 91; Mrs. Nathan Andrew, aged 91; widow of Joseph Wells, aged 91; Sarah, widow of Reuben Gile, aged 90; David Davis, aged 90; Martha, wife of Abraham Peaslee, aged 90; Cor- nelius Bean, son of Samuel and Mary-the centen- arian-aged 90; wife of Cornelius Bean, aged 95; Jonathan Stevens and wife died within a few days of each other, about 1840, aged, one 96, the other 97; their daughter, wife of Jacob Osgood, of War-
172
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
ner, was aged about 100; Jonathan Johnson, died in 1841, aged 90; Ephraim Gile, aged 90; widow of Daniel Dane, aged 90; widow of Jonathan Da- vis, aged 90; Mrs. Lovejoy, sister of Mrs. Phil- brook, above named, aged over 90. The wife of Thomas Walker was a Philbrook, of the same long- lived family; she died at a very great age, sup- posed by some to be 100 years. Phineas Stevens, aged 90.
CASUALTIES AND SUDDEN DEATHS.
Jonathan Davis, Sr., about eighty years ago was found dead in the road near the estate now owned and occupied by Henry V. Little.
Dea. Ezekiel Little, father of Philip N. Little, was found dead in his bed by his wife, on her awakening in the morning, about forty years ago.
Patty Eaton, daughter of David Eaton, was drowned in Kezar's pond about 1808. She was in a boat, and was lost out.
Laura French, daughter of Oliver French, was burned to death some sixty years ago.
Stephen Hoyt was found dead in or near the road in 1859.
John Harvey, father of Joseph Harvey, dropped dead in the road, in 1825.
·
Col. John Harvey, his relative, died similarly, though not quite so suddenly, he having been barely able to reach his bed with help, and dying about twenty minutes after, of an attack of an apo- plectic nature.
Ebenezer Flint dropped dead in his dooryard one cold day in 1864.
In the summer of 1830 lightning struck the house of Charles Hart, and killed his son Joseph, who was inside at the time.
The house of Lewis Barber, on the Warner road,
174
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
took fire in the absence of Mr. and Mrs. Barber, and their two children were burned to death in 1858.
Moses Smith attempted to cross from the back side of the pond on the ice. It soon commenced giving way under him, and finally let him through. But he kept catching on again and again, as it gave way, holding himself up by his arms, till his cries for help were heard by Ebenezer Flint and Thomas Persons, who were at work in the dooryard of what is now John G. Huntoon's place. They ran to his assistance with ropes and saved him. This was about eighty years ago.
My mother, widow of Col. John Harvey, fur- nished the following : "The spotted fever raged here with the greatest violence in 1815. Old Mr. Felch, father of Dea. John . Felch, worked for your father in the woods drawing timber, and ate a hearty supper by candle-light, at our house; and before breakfast next morning a measure for his coffin was sent to your father. He was attacked with spotted-fever at 12 o'clock, and died at six in the morning. Several others died as suddenly in the north part of the town."
Georgiana, daughter of James M. Coburn, was drowned in the brook at South Village, Oct. 31, 1851.
Dr. Crossman was here in 1803; lived on the farm now owned by John Silas Andrew; had a son Thomas burnt to death while watching a coal-pit not far from the house. It was supposed he fell asleep and his camp caught fire, as only his charred remains were found in the ruins of the camp.
·
175
CASUALTIES AND SUDDEN DEATHIS.
Smith Downing, a mail carrier, froze to death while on his route of delivery.
Susan, daughter of Edmund Chadwick, was killed by a cart-body falling on her, in 1851.
Samuel Bean, Senior, dropped dead in the town of Hopkinton. He was buried in the old cemetery in Hopkinton. He and his daughter Elisabeth came on horseback from their home in Sandown, N. H., to visit his children living in Sut- ton. In the morning he went after the horses, and not returning, his daughter went after him. She found he had died before reaching the horses. He was preparing to move to Sutton.
Simeon Stevens, an old man boarding at Merrill Roby's, passed the house going home late one night, and was found dead in the road from South Sutton to Roby's Corner between the road from Johnson Colby's and the bridge, the next morning, November, 1844.
Rodney Hubbard dropped dead in the road not far from the Dutch cap on the north road from Warner to North Sutton.
A Mr. Merrill dropped dead some years ago on the road from Sutton Mills to South Newbury, near Josiah Nelson's.
Elisabeth Quimby dropped dead beside the road going home from her cousin William Bean's, where Nathaniel Clay now lives, March 17, 1826. She was daughter of Moses and Judith (Bean) Quim- by.
Rev. Thompson Barron, a Universalist minister, of Newport, N. H., was found dead at the home of Jacob Nelson, about twenty years ago.
176
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Horace M. Howe was found dead in the morning of April 25, 1885.
Charles Harry Champlin was drowned in the brook at South Sutton, Nov. 25, 1829.
Stephen Blaisdell, a man subject to fits, fell into some water in a field, and his face being downward, he was drowned, Oct. 9, 1833.
Hezekiah Davis was drowned at a saw-mill in the north part of Sutton.
Lyman Baker was drowned at Sutton Mills. He went to fix the flash-boards on the dam, and the high water carried him off.
Clarence, son of Dexter Brown, was drowned while in swimming at Concord, N. H.
Jolm Andrew was killed by logs rolling on him.
J. Langdon Littlehale died on Bradford fair- ground of heart disease, Oct. 2, 1875.
Harvey Gould was killed on the train the day the railroad was opened from Warner to Concord.
Benj. L., son of Joseph Pillsbury, Esq., was scalded to death on the Northern Railroad, No- vember 18, 1854.
Levi Wiley, while painting at North Sutton, fell from a ladder and died soon after.
A son of Ephraim and Sally (Peaslee) Hildreth slipped on the ice, struck his forehead, and died from his injuries soon after.
A girl, name uncertain, was killed at a school- house in the north part of the town. She was caught by a window falling down upon her while in the act of climbing in.
Nathaniel Cheney's death, by heart disease, was instantaneous.
177
CASUALTIES AND SUDDEN DEATHS.
Seba Ring was found dead in bed one morning in the winter of 1888.
Daniel Bean was found dead in the woods Sept. 16, 1825. The team he had been driving was found near by in the road.
A man named Mitchell lived a short time on the road to the Gore; being badly intoxicated he threw a baby into the fireplace, and the child was dead when taken from the fire. He also burned his wife and an older child, from the effects of which the wife soon after died.
Thomas Wadleigh, son of Thomas Wadleigh, Esq., went to bed in usual health, and at midnight was dead; cause, apoplexy. A sister of his, wife of Edward Dodge, died similarly.
Reuben B. Porter was found dead in the woods near Windham Junction, N. H .; cause unknown.
A son of Thomas and Clarissa (Parker) Davis, was following his father, who was driving an ox team, when he fell under one of the wheels, and was crushed to death. A very affecting poem was written, descriptive of the accident, by his sister Sylvia, which must be omitted for lack of space.
Three children of James W. and Eliza Barney, while playing near a large boulder, near the house of Charles French, so undermined it that it fell on two of them,-James and Eliza A.,-and crushed them to death, Sept. 1, 1837.
12
MISCELLANEOUS.
STATISTICS CONCERNING POPULATION.
The first census taken by the general govern- ment was in 1790, when it was found that the pop- ulation of the United States had increased from less than 3,000,000 to nearly 4,000,000 since the commencement of the Revolutionary War. In the growth of her population, New Hampshire had more than kept pace with the country at large, having at this time a population of 142,000. The secretary of state, Joseph Pearson, searched the Provincial Records for the purpose of making an equitable estimate of the number of inhabitants at this time (1790), and at former periods.
The ratable polls were,-in 1742, 5,172; in 1753, 6,392; in 1767, 11,964; in 1773, 13,853.
Reckoning five persons to a family, the inhabi- tants at the different periods would be,-in 1742, 25,860; in 1753, 31,960; in 1767, 59,820.
The population of New Hampshire at the break- ing out of the Revolution may therefore be esti- mated at about 75,000. The population in 1790 was an ascertained, not an estimated, population; and the 142,000 inhabitants shows an increase of nearly 50,000 in the fifteen preceding years, not- withstanding the losses by the war of seven years' duration.
179
MISCELLANEOUS.
A census of the province, the first so far as known, was taken by the selectmen of the several towns by order of Governor Wentworth in 1767.
At that time Concord had 752 inhabitants; Salis- bury, 210; Canterbury, 503; Dunbarton, 271; New Boston, 296; Hillsborough, 64; Canaan, 19; Ply- month, 227; Newport, 29; Haverhill, 172.
The situation of the above named towns indicates that the advance of population was directly up the valleys of the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers. As for Sutton (or Perrystown as the town was then called), we are not obliged to set a cipher down to its name, and leave it absolutely out in the cold at this date, Sutton being saved from that by the fort- unate advent of David Peaslee with his family some time before the year's close, one son, Samuel, being then of age.
POPULATION AND VALUATION OF SUTTON AT DIFFERENT PERIODS.
In 1773 there were 12 tax-payers in Perrystown.
1775 Sutton and Newbury (then Fishersfield) together had 130 inhabitants.
1779 Sutton had 50 tax-payers, 49 legal voters. 1790 the population of Sutton was 520.
1800
878,-polls, 142.
1810
1328,-polls, 203.
1820
66
1573,-greatest ever reached.
1830
1424.
1840
66
66
1361.
1850
66
1387.
1860
"
1431.
1870
66
1153,-polls 330.
1880
993.
180
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
HOUSES TAXED.
This was done for the first time in 1799.
The following is the inventory on the houses taxed that year.
Asa Nelson, $25 Obediah Eastman, 9
Benjamin Philbrook,
37 Philip Sargent, 20
Caleb Kimball,
100 Philip Nelson, 40
Daniel Messer,
60 Phineas Stephens, 70
Epraim Gile,
20 Reuben Gile,
40
Henry Dearborn,
9 Samuel Peaslee, 50
John King,
40 Samuel Bean, 40
James King,
30 Thomas Wadleigh,
60
Ichabod Roby,
30 William Pressey,
15
Jonathan Roby,
50 Widow of Matthew Harvey, 100
John Adams,
40
Moses Quimby, 25
Joseph Johnson,
15
Widow Harvey's and Caleb Kimball's houses were taverns.
VALUATION OF THE TOWN OF SUTTON IN 1798.
124 polls. 7 acres orcharding ; 39 acres tillage ; 263 acres mow- ing ; 359 acres pasturage.
61 horses and mares wintered 5 winters.
16
4
15 66
3 66
37
2
100 oxen wintered 5 winters.
225 cows
5 66
116 neat stock wintered 4 winters.
151 ٠٠
3
175 6. ..
2 6.
No stock in trade. No money at interest.
No buildings and real estate improved, owned by non- residents.
Value of unimproved lands, owned by inhabitants and non-residents, $101 77
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