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 6
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Thomas Messer was son of Daniel Messer.
72
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Lived in town many years ; moved to Wilmot, where he died at an advanced age, leaving many descendants. Was a farmer.
Isaac Peaslee was son of David Peaslee, the first settler in Sutton. Was a well-to-do farmer. Had a numerous family-resided west of Long pond. Rev. Isaac Peaslee, a clergyman resident in Sutton, was his son.
Joseph Pearson married a daughter of Capt. William Pressey. He was uncle of John HI. Pearson, Esq., of Concord. Was a thrifty farmer. Had a family. Left town more than sixty years ago.
John Peaslee, son of David Peaslee, lived on the Luther Dresser place. Had a large family; was a farmer in moderate circumstances.
Daniel Robertson lived near what is now called the Burpee place ; had a large family, and re- moved to New London, where he died leaving a widow who survived him many years. One son lived many years in Acworth, and died there. One daughter married Samuel Morgan, and one married Joseph Palmer.
Jonathan and Thomas Rowell lived at the south- east corner of the town near Warner, and were substantial farmers, but their progeny have left the place.
Ichabod Roby, son of Samuel Roby, settled near the David Peaslee farm. Married a sister of Joseph Putney, of Hopkinton; had a large family, and was a prominent farmer; a man of energy and a large land-owner. Died at the age of 72 years.
EARLY SETTLERS. 73
James Roby, brother of Ichabod, lived on Birch hill. None of his descendants are known to be liv- ing in town.
Philip Sargent was a prominent citizen and one of the selectmen. He left town about 1823. Had a large family.
Ephraim Wadleigh married a daughter of Bond Little, Esq., and lived in Newbury some years; came to Sutton, and lived where Asa Sargent has since lived. In the early part of this century he removed to Hatley, P. Q. Had a large family, and died there in 1852, aged 82 years.
Moses Wadleigh, born in 1763, died in 1839 at the age of 76. Married in 1790. Settled near the Wright farm. His children were William, Moses D., John D., Benj. E., Thomas J., Sally, Eliza- beth, and Anna. Wm. died in 1863, leaving a son and daughter. Moses D. lived in Bradford, where he was a prominent citizen; died at the age of about 58 years, leaving one son and two daughters. The son, George A., is a merchant in Boston, and has been a man of excellent business capacity. John D. lived in Bradford; was deputy sheriff and farmer. Died in 1869, leaving a son, Bainbridge Wadleigh, lawyer, now in Boston; has been U. S. senator from New Hampshire. Benjamin E., a resident of Bradford, has been engaged in lumber- ing most of his life. Thomas J. lived on the home- stead of his father. Has been selectman and repre- sentative. Died leaving a wife and daughter. Sally married Aaron Russell, and had several children, among whom is Dr. Moses W. Russell, of Concord. She died several years since. Elizabeth
-
74
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
died without issue. Anna married Roswell Had- dock. No issue.
Stephen Woodward lived near the Nichols farm. Was an honest, industrious farmer. Had ten children, viz., Stephen, David, Benaiah, Jona- than, Daniel, Hannah, Matthew, Moses, Ruth, and Lydia. He died here many years since, and all his children are deceased except Matthew, who lives in Ellsworth, Maine. Some of the descendants of these children live in town.
Eliphalet Woodward owned the farm where Moses L. Pillsbury now lives. Resided here many years, but removed to New London before his death. Was brother to Stephen Woodward.
Benjamin Williams lived east of the Kendricks. Left no descendants.
Plummer Wheeler lived near the Watson farm. Was in the Revolutionary War, and several of his sons were in the War of 1812. Was an industrious and thrifty farmer. Was quite aged at the time of his death.
George Walker lived near Jacob Masten in early life; was son of Thomas Walker. Died in his meridian, leaving a family. Some of his descend- ants live in town.
Francis Whittier lived where John Merrill now lives. Had a large family. Was a worthy and industrious man. Left town nearly sixty years since, and removed to Corinth, Me., where some of his descendants now live.
Daniel Whittier lived near Francis Whittier. Married a daughter of Hezekiah Parker. Died about 1818, leaving a wife and family. Wife sur-
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EARLY SETTLERS.
vived him many years, and for second husband married Tristram Pierce. Daniel Whittier's family have all left town.
About this time (toward the close of the decade between 1780 and 1790) there were no traders or store-keepers in town, and no professional physi- cians. About this time the inhabitants began to make cloth from wool as well as from flax, the man- ufacture being wholly by hand. Schools were kept in private houses and barns, and but few books were used. The teacher usually had an arithmetic, from which all the scholars learned. No wheeled carriages had been used, nor were the roads suita- ble for such. Most burdens were carried on sleds or drags, or on horseback. Trading was done mostly at Salisbury and Hopkinton and Warner. During this decade the people began to exchange their log houses for frame dwellings, and, as will be seen from the foregoing, the foundation of a num- ber of the characteristics of advancement had been laid.
TAX-PAYERS FROM 1790 To 1800.
Benjamin Wells.
Asa King, son of James.
Samuel Burnham.
Israel Andrew, son of Samuel, Sen.
Isaac Wells.
Lieut. Obadiah Eastman.
Henry Dearborn.
Joseph Wells.
Daniel Andrew, son of Samuel.
Jacob Quimby.
James Harvey, Joseph Harvey, brothers of Dea. Matthew.
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Isaac Bean, Jacob Bean, sons of Samuel.
Simon Kezar, son of Ebenezer.
David Flanders. Theophilus Cram. Lieut. Hutchins. Josiah Nichols. Lieut. Eaton (James).
David Eaton, Jr., son of David, Sen.
John Emerson.
Thomas Pearsons.
Jonathan Davis, Jr., son of Jonathan, Sen.
Benjamin Colby.
John Pressey, son of William.
Samuel Phelps.
Gideon Wilkins.
Capt. Oliver French.
Green French.
Moses Davis, son of Samuel.
Adam Messer, son of Daniel.
Joseph Bean, son of William. David Davis, son of Jeremiah.
Philip Davis, son of Jonathan.
Ezekiel Davis, son of Jacob.
Moses Bailey.
Ezra Jones, Jr., son of Ezra, Sen.
Daniel Emery. William Lowell. Benjamin Williams. John Eaton. Dudley Kendrick. 'Tristram Stevens, son of Jonathan. Abraham Wells. William Dodge. Benjamin Collins. Benjamin Kendrick, Samuel Kendrick, sons of Dudley Kendrick. Capt. James Taylor. John Downing. Samuel Roby, Jr. Stephen Richardson. Jesse Cutting.
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EARLY SETTLERS.
Micajah Pillsbury. Anthony Clark. Cesar Lewis. Dea. Joseph Greeley.
Joshua Wright.
Thomas Peaslee, son of Samuel.
Dr. Ezra Marsh.
Capt. Daniel Page.
Henry Wadleigh.
Isaac Peaslee.
Dr. William Martin.
Hezekiah Blaisdell.
Ebenezer Simons.
John Adams, Jr., Joseph Adams, sons of John, Sen.
Wait Cheney, son of Nathaniel.
Benjamin Stevens, Asa Stevens, sons of Phineas.
Seth Russell, son of Silas.
John Philbrick, son of Benjamin.
Capt. Enoch Page.
Abraham Rowell.
Ephraim Abbott.
John Pearson.
Dr. Crosmon.
Dr. Thomas Wells.
Ratable Estate in 1800
$662.75
State Tax
97.20
County Tax
21.28
Town Tax
60.00
School Tax
166.67
Ephraim Abbott married a daughter of Ephraim Gile. His sons, Samuel and Theodore, were clock- makers. Resided here but a short time.
Hezekiah Blaisdell, a very much respected cit- izen, was a farmer and cooper. Came from Ames- bury, Mass. His wife was Anna Sargent, a sister to the wife of Dea. Joseph Greeley, and also to the wife of Jacob Harvey. The sons of Hezekiah
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Blaisdell, Senior, who lived on the homestead, were Hezekiah who died without issue, and John who married a daughter of Jonathan Johnson and had children, viz., Jonathan J., Polly J., Moses S., and Francis F. A daughter of Hezekiah, Senior, mar- ried Major Eaton, of Bradford.
Anthony Clark (colored) lived near the Burpee place. Was in the Revolutionary War. Was a noted fiddler, and fond of mirth; a cheerful, inof- fensive man and good citizen. He had a family who inherited some of his peculiarities, but were improvident. Two of his sons have lived in Mill Village. For over half a century" Tony Clark was the most noted violinist in all this region. It has even been asserted that he could fiddle when asleep; it is beyond a doubt that he could when awake, and to attempt a ball or dance without his aid and presence thereat was never even thought of." In his latter days he lived in Warner. The writer saw him 75 years after the Battle of Bunker Hill, in which he was a soldier. He died about 1852, aged over 100 years.
Cesar Lewis (colored) became a resident of this town previous to 1800, and so continued many years. He was a very worthy man. (See sketch of him.)
Mr. Crosmon lived near North Village. He was a preacher as well as physician. Was here but a few years. No descendants living here. Matthew Harvey, of Newport (grandson of Dea. Matthew Harvey), married his granddaughter, Experience R. Crosmon, and had two daughters.
John Downing lived near Downing's Corner at
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EARLY SETTLERS.
the base of Kimball hill. Was farmer and car- penter. Little is known of his posterity.
Rev. William Dodge was a worthy and respect- ed minister of the Gospel; once owned Jones's mills; lived on Dodge hill-sometimes called Challis hill-on the road from So. Sutton to New- bury. He was one of the founders of the Free- Will Baptists. Had a large family; moved from town many years ago.
Henry Dearborn came from Rockingham county. Was farmer, tanner, and shoemaker. Was an in- dustrious, active, energetic man. Had two daugh- ters, Sarah and Mary. Sarah married for her first husband William Bean3, and had several children. Married, second, John Pressey, Esq., and died at Mill Village, aged 80. Mary married E. Gerry King; had two daughters, both living in town, and both have families. (See Elbridge G. King.)
Daniel Emery married a daughter of Ezra Jones ; lived in various parts of the town. Had a large family. He was a soldier of the Revolution and of the War of 1812. Many years since he moved to Wilmot, where he died aged.
John Eaton, an elder brother of the late Nathan- iel Eaton, the centenarian, came from Haverhill, Mass. Married a daughter of Caleb Kimball. Among his children were Frederic, John, Jacob, Horace, Ruth, Sarah, and Lucretia. Frederic died in Warner without issue. John married a daughter of Nathan Andrew, and had six sons and two daughters, among whom are Gen. John Eaton and Col. Lucian Eaton. Jacob, another son of John, Senior, was a physician; lived in Massachu-
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
setts. Horace was a clergyman in Palmyra, N. Y. Ruth married Mr. Sherburne, of Concord. Sarah married Samnel Dresser. Her only surviving child is Leonard F. E. Dresser.
Obadiah Eastman lived near where Nathaniel Clay has lived of later years. He was a prominent farmer and wealthy man for that time. Had a wife, but no children. He was constable in 1805. Died suddenly, at the age of about fifty years.
Oliver and Green French lived on a Masonian proprietors' lot, at the north-east corner of the town. Both have been selectmen, and held other offices in town, and were enterprising farmers. Capt. Oliver French had a family of eleven children,-Green, Sally, Martha, John, Laura, Cyrus and Matthew, twins, Abigail, Polly, Eliza, and Mercy. Of these, Green married, and died young; John left town, and died in Orange; Cyrus married a daughter of Israel Andrew, lived on the homestead, and died in 1831, leaving a wife and son, Cyrus, who has been a life-long resident of the town; Matthew moved to Corinth, Me., where he died, leaving a wife and family. Capt. Oliver French died in town, in his meridian, leaving most of his children young. His wife was Martha Hadley. Green French, brother of Capt. Oliver French, married Polly Page; had two children, Polly and Charles. Many years since he moved to New London, where he died. Charles, the son, remained on the homestead in Sutton, became a wealthy farmer, married a lady named Smith, and died several years since. Left a son and two daughters. The latter married, and have since died. The son, George, has been a life-
.
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EARLY SETTLERS.
long resident of Sutton, and a strong supporter of the Baptist church. He married, first, Mary Anne, daughter of Dea. John Felch. No children. Mar- ried, second, Flora Crane, and has three children.
Joseph Greeley came to Sutton about 1792. Was originally from Haverhill, Mass., but made his first residence, on leaving home, in Warner, on Tory hill, where he lived three or four years. His resi- dence in Sutton was what is now the Burpee place, in a log house, which he in a few years exchanged for a large two-story framed house, where he kept tavern and store. Was a man of great energy. Was not only innkeeper and trader, but farmer, blacksmith, and cattle-dealer and drover. His wife was Dorothy Sargent, of Amesbury, Mass. His children were,-Polly, who married Henry Carleton. Among her children is Henry G. Carleton, for many years one of the editors of the Newport (N. H.) Argus & Spectator. Sally, second child of Joseph Greeley, who married Col. John Harvey, had seven children. Among them was Matthew Harvey, another editor of the Argus & Spectator. Dorothy, third child of Joseph Greeley, married Stephen B. Carleton, and they lived and died in Sutton. Had two sons and three daughters, none of whom are now living, but some of the grand- children are living in Concord and elsewhere. So- phia, fourth daughter of Joseph Greeley, married Samuel Gardner, of Haverhill, Mass. One of their sons is Christopher S. Gardner, of Great Falls, N. H., and another is Rev. George W. Gardner, D. D., who was for many years principal of the New London Institution. Joseph, son of Joseph
6
82
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Greeley, Sen., married Hannah, daughter of John Kezar, and had a daughter, Mary Anne, who mar- ried Newell J. Nye (his second wife), and a son, Joseph, who married Maria Snow, and has been a life-long resident of Sutton, where he has been post- master over a quarter of a century. Is a merchant. Though always declining political preferment, has been and still is one of the most useful citizens the town has ever had. Gilman, youngest child of Jo- seph Greeley, Sen., had two daughters and a son, who lived to reach maturity, but are now dead. He died in 1881, and his wife, Hannah Fifield, died in April, 1887.
James Harvey, a brother to Dea. Matthew Har- vey, lived above Couch's mill, near the upper dam, above Mill Village, where he carried on the manu- facture of woollen cloth, being what was then termed a clothier. He was in the War of 1812, and died in the service. He had a family, one daughter being married to William Gay, of Wil- mot; and one married Capt. Jonathan Woodward, of Sutton, and had several children, one of whom, Lydia A. Woodward, married Truman Putney, of Sutton, and was mother of Fred. Putney, now in mercantile business in Mill Village.
Cesar Lewis (colored) lived on Dodge hill. Was a faithful and respected man. He was said to have been over 100 years of age at the time of his death.
Dr. Ezra Marsh, a physician, married a sister of Daniel and Enoch Page. He had two sons, Frank- lin and Aaron. None of his posterity live in town.
Dr. William Martin, an early physician of this town, married a daughter of Samuel Andrew, Sen.
83
EARLY SETTLERS.
Among his children were Jonathan, Nathan, Per- ley, William, Reuben, John, and Lucy. Nathan was a tanner, and a man of wealth, and had a re- spectable family. He died a few years since. JJon- athan lived on the homestead of his father, and died there many years ago, leaving a wife and family. Perley left town. None of his posterity live here. William is a wealthy and respected citizen of Brad- ford, and has a son, who is a merchant of that town. Lucy was an estimable and accomplished lady. She married and went West, where she died.
Capt. Daniel Page lived in the westerly part of the town. Was a farmer and carpenter. He framed the South meeting-house. He had one son, Hon. Asa Page, who died in 1885 at the age of 86, hav- ing been one of the most useful, prominent, and re- spected men this town has ever produced. Capt. Daniel Page had, also, several daughters, all now deceased.
Capt. Enoch Page, a younger brother of Daniel, lived at South Sutton, where he died in 1828, leay- ing a son and daughter. She married Hazen Put- ney, and was the mother of Truman Putney, a merchant at Mill Village for many years, and promi- nent man of the town. Now deceased. Enoch, the son of Capt. Enoch Page, resided on the homestead of his father, and has been a prominent man in town and county. At the time of his death, in 1882, was deemed the richest man in town, as was his father before he died.
Micajah Pillsbury settled on Dodge hill, between the South Village and the Burpee place. He was farmer and blacksmith. He had a worthy and
84
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
much respected wife and family. The names of his sons were Stephen, Joseph, John, and Moses. Ste- phen, in early life, was a school-teacher-subse- quently was a Calvinist Baptist clergyman. He settled in Hebron, and married a capable, educated, and accomplished lady, and they had a very respect- able family, several being sons ; among them is William S. Pillsbury, of Londonderry, an extensive shoe manufacturer. Mary, the eldest daughter of Rev. Stephen Pillsbury, became quite famous as a painter. She married Valentine W. Weston, a wealthy gentleman of New York city. Lavinia, second daughter of Rev. Stephen, married Samuel Andrew. Joseph, brother of Rev. Stephen, married a daughter of Thomas Wadleigh, Esq., and was mother of Thomas W. Pillsbury, Esq., of Con- cord. John, third son of Micajah, and brother of Rev. Stephen, married Susan, youngest daughter of Benjamin Wadleigh, Sen. He was a prominent man in town, served as selectman and represent- ative, and also held other offices. His son, Simon, a young man of great promise, and an extraor- dinary scholar, died soon after arriving at manhood. His sons, George A., John S., and Benjamin F. Pillsbury, are resident in Minnesota, where for many years the two first named have done an immense business as flour manufacturers, being among the most extensive in the world. John has been governor of the state of Minnesota. Benjamin F., before emigrating to Minnesota, had been a prominent man in Sutton, as also was George A. in Warner and Concord before leaving his na- tive state. One daughter of John Pillsbury mar-
8.5
EARLY SETTLERS.
ried Enoch P. Cummings, and was mother of Charles P. Cummings, of Nashna. Moses, young- est son of Micajah Pillsbury, married Mary Carl- ton. He has been representative and selectman of this town. He died about 1873, being over 80 years old. Ilis only son, Moses L., is a promi- nent citizen of Sutton. One daughter of Mica- jah Pillsbury married Daniel Ober; and, for sec- ond husband, Silas Rowell. The youngest daughter of Micajah married Nathan Andrew, Jr., and they became parents of five sons and a daughter, who are noted for industry and enterprise. The young- est son, Horace, has been clerk of the U. S. court of Tennessee.
COPY OF THE CHARTER.
The Proprietors' Records commence thus :
The Book of the Society Records, of the Proprietors of the township of land granted to Capt. Obadiah Perry and others, lying to the west of Kiarsarge Hill, and adjoining No. 1 and No. 2, to the north of said No's.
CHARTER.
Province of New Hampshire.
1749. Granted to Obadiah Perry and others, Nov. 30, 1749. At a meeting of the lands purchased of John Tufton Mason Esq. in the Province of New Hampshire, held at the house of Ann Slay- ton widow, in Portsmouth within said Province, on Thursday the thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord, Christ one thousand, seven hundred and forty-nine.
Voted that there be and hereby is granted unto Obadiah Perry and 59 others,1 in equal shares, on the terms, conditions and limita- tions hereinafter expressed All that tract of land within the Prov- ince of New Hampshire containing the extent and quantity of six miles square. Bounded as follows, viz; Lying West of Kyahsarge Hill so called, and beginning at a Beach Tree on the line of No. 1 so called, one hundred and fifty-six poles due north from the mouth of a Brook which runs into Almsbury River, so called ; from thence running north sixteen degrees west seven miles and eighty poles, to a Hemlock standing on the top of a hill : thence west five degrees south five miles to a Beach Tree marked with stones about it: thence south sixteen degrees east seven miles and eighty poles to a White Oak marked on the line of No. 2 so called; Hence east five degrees north five miles to the place begun at. To have and to hold to them their heirs and assigns in equal shares on the follow- ing conditions terms and limitations, that is to say that eighteen
1 See list of " Original Grantees " at the close of this chapter.
87
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS.
shares in the said tract of land be and hereby are reserved to the use of the said proprietors the grantors in these presents, their heirs and assigns, the same to lay on the eastern side of said tract of land, and to be laid out at the same time the other shares shall be laid out, and numbered from one to eighteen. And the rest and remainder of said tract of land saving what is hereinafter mentioned to be otherwise improved be divided reserved for the Eighteen shares Lord Proprietors. into sixty-three shares or Rights. And each Share into two distinct lots, one of which is to contain a hundred acres, and the other lot all the rest of the land belonging to each respective share, except as before excepted.
That the lots which belong to the said sixty-three shares be num- bered with the same number beginning with 19, and ending with 81. That the said land be so laid out within the space of eight months, from the day of granting the same. And then the said sixty-three shares to be drawn in the usual manner of drawing for lots of land, in such cases, and that the same be done at Portsmouth under the direction of the grantors, and that there be one draft for the lots that belong to one share. That the eighteen shares reserved for the use of the Grantors be drawn for by the Grantors only, at the same time of drawing the other lots.
One Share for the first settled minister.
That one of the said sixty-three shares be for the first minister of the Gospel who shall be settled there, and con- tinue there during life, or until he shall be regularly dis- missed, to hold to him his heirs and assigns.
And one other of the said sixty-three shares be for and towards the support of the Gospel ministry there forever. And that the hundred acre lots belonging to these two shares be laid out as near the place where the meeting-house shall be built as conveniently may be, and not drawn for as the other lots are.
One share for the support of
the ministry.
That there be ten acres of land left in some convenient place, as the major part of the Grantees shall determine, within the said boundaries, exclusive of the eighteen reserved shares, for building a meeting-house and a school-house upon, and to improve for a Training field, a Burying-place, and other public use to which the inhabitants there shall see cause to apply it. Lands for public use.
That one other of said sixty-three shares be for the use and support of a school forever.
School lot.
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Owners of the 60 shares shall make a settlement.
That the owners of the other sixty shares make a regu- lar settlement there at their own cost and charge in the following manner, namely :
That within two years from the granting of the said lands they shall have a Saw-Mill built there fit for sawing and mak- ing boards and other timber for the use of the settlers there, and that the same be put under such regulations as shall best serve the interest of the settlement, and that each settler Saw-Mill in two years shall be served on reasonable terms.
in acres Three cleared three years.
That within three years from the said term, each owner of the said shares shall have three acres of land there cleared and fitted for tillage or mowing.
House in four years
That within four years from the said term each owner shall have a house sixteen feet square, or equal thereto, with a cel- lar underneath it, built on his respective share and fit to live in.
30 fam- ilies in five years
That within five years from said term there shall be thirty families living on said tract of land.
Meeting honse in families six years and 60
That within six years from said term there shall be a meeting-house built, and preaching there and sixty fam- ilies living on said tract of land.
Minister in seven years.
That within seven years from said term the said owners shall settle a Gospel minister there.
Each owner pay his proportion
of charge.
That each owner of the said sixty shares shall pay to such person as may be appointed his proportion of the charges from time to time as the major part of said owners shall determine to be nec- essary to be paid for the carrying on of the settlement, and accomplishing the matters and things aforesaid and for what shall be hereinafter mentioned, for making perfecting and finishing the said settlement.
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