USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Warren > The history of Warren; a mountain hamlet, located among the White hills of New Hampshire > Part 29
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Then other settlements had to be made. The town of Went- worth got more than four hundred acres in Warren, on account of what Warren's Proprietors had given of Wentworth lands to set- tlers. A goodly lot in Warren had to be given to Orford, on account of the pretty quadrilateral on the south-east corner, which the proprietors had also given away to a settler, but which belonged to Orford town. Perhaps some may maliciously think Warren was more to blame about boundary feuds than her neighbors, but we must positively assure them that it was not so.
In the matter with Coventry, now Benton, the conclusion was arrived at that the changes or swops were about equal, although there was some difficulty in relation to the Bowles lot, so called from Charles Bowles, who served in the war and afterwards was a celebrated revivalist, that Coventry's Proprietors had given away, but which actually belonged to Warren.
Now that the boundaries are set up with stability, the proprie-
*** "June 28, 1787 .- Voted, That Capt. William Hackett give Gen. Moulton, agent for Piermont, immediate notice to make his pitch of 200 acres of land in Warren, in consideration of that quantity taken into Piermont, settled by Thos. Clark and Isaiah Batchelder, by the 10th of October next, and that if he doth not
339
JOSIAH BURNHAM'S SURVEY.
tors came to the conclusion that a new survey of the whole terri- tory was actually needed. The Leavitt survey, running as far north as the eleven mile tree, the Cummings survey, the Rindge survey, would not answer at all, and they immediately contracted with Josiah Burnham, school-master, to make an accurate plan of the town. He entered upon the work, but it was a long time before he finished it. He re-run the lots, established the range lines and surveyed the divisions, making everything harmonize as much as possible with the old surveys, the proprietors' drawing of lots and the former sales by deed.
But he did not lay down the roads and brooks, nor trace the course of the river; neither did he indicate the locality of the ponds, and the mountains. He had no taste for such things.
But he was accurate as far as he went, and his plan has been the foundation of every map of the hamlet made since. May 4, 1795, the proprietors accepted his work and paid him a vast sum for doing it.
Thus the lines were settled and peace prevailed once more along the borders. It continued for more than fifty years, and was only disturbed by old Peeling and Trecothick, who grew jealous of our vigorous democracy, and raised another boundary feud, as will be related in a subsequent book of this history.
make said pitch by said time, then Capt. Hackett to lay 200 acres of equal goodness as near the line of Piermont as conveniently may be, and make return thereof at the adjournment of this meeting."-Proprietors' Records.
* See Proprietors' Records for full notes about lands taken into other towns.
CHAPTER X.
OF THE MIGHTY REQUISITES NECESSARY TO MAKE A PERFECT DE- MOCRACY ; ALL GRAPHICALLY PORTRAYED IN THE MOST ATTRAC- TIVE MANNER.
DOES any one wish to know what are the requisites to make a perfect community, a complete town organization, then let him in addition to what we have already stated, read this chap- ter of our no less great than modest history, and a tolerable idea can be obtained.
And first of all, after houses, mills, and cleared lands, good roads were greatly needed and our valiant citizens went bravely to work to build them. The old proprietors' highway, partly follow- ing the route of the Indian trail, did not suit them, and so they surveyed a new road over Red Oak hill, through " Patchbreuck- land," across the Asquamchumauke or Baker river, through the centre district, over the Mikaseota or Black brook, along the basin of Runaway pond, and winding away over the Height-o'-land by Tarleton lake to Piermont. It was four rods wide, and afterwards was a great thoroughfare, the first ox teams from Coos passing over it soon after it was built, to the sea-board, a circumstance most pleasingly narrated by Rev. Grant Powers, the distinguished historian of the "Cowass country."
And then a road, now discontinued, was laid out on the west side of the Asquamchumauke, following the old Indian trail and the proprietors' first highway from Wentworth line to the mouth
341
THE OLD HIGHWAYS.
of Black brook, for the accommodation of Nathaniel Clough, who had just settled on that side of the river.
From Black brook bridge over Beech hill to Wentworth line another was cut for the benefit of 'Squire Abel Merrill,* a new settler on the hill among the beeches and maples.
Leading from the last at a point where now stands Beech hill school-house, a fourth road ran away to the west high up on the side of Sentinel mountain, to accommodate Mr. Amos Little,t who was at this time clearing a beautiful and fertile spot in the woods, a delightful breezy sunshiny nest on the hill, from which he could overlook the valley and out upon the panorama of great eastern mountains.
The selectmen also hurried to lay out a road over Pine hill from Chase Whitcher's by John Whitcher's down to the "Society school-house,"¿ as it was sometimes called, in the Centre district. For several years Aaron Welch, ** who lived near where the ceme-
* ABEL AND TAMAR (Kimball) MERRILL'S FAMILY RECORD.
Benjamin, born Oct. 19, 1784.
Joseph, born Feb. 16, 1798.
John, born Mch. 4, 1786. William, born Apr. 10, 1800.
Daniel, born Mch. 24, 1788. Ira, born July 17, 1803.
Sally, born Mch. 9, 1790.
Tamar, born Mch. 9, 1805.
Polly, born Mch. 28, 1792.
Hannah, born Apr. 3, 1807.
Betsey, born June 9, 1794.
John L. born May 8, 1810.
Samuel L. born Apr. 10, 1796.
Names of those voters who moved into town in 1789 :- John Abbott. Ebenezer Hidden. Abel Merrill.
John Badger. (1) John Hidden. Richard Pillsbury.
Samuel Fellows. Amos Little.
Jonathan Fellows. Silas Lund.
(1) John Badger was a curious genius. He once ran away to avoid his credi- tors, and they went after him and brought him back. Then he acquired considera- ble property, ran away again, but his debtors did not got go after him to bring him back. He scolded and said he thought it was a poor rule that would not work both ways.
TAMOS AND BETSEY (Kimball) LITTLE'S FAMILY RECORD.
Sally, born May 31, 1787, at Plaistow. William, born June 19, 1802.
Tamar, born Aug. 25, 1789, at Warren. Jonathan, born June 8, 1804.
James, born Sept. 6, 1791. John, born Mch. 7, 1806.
Benjamin, born Sept. 22, 1793.
Betty, born Aug. 31, 1795.
Judith and Dolly, twins, born Feb. 25, 1810.
Amos, born Dec. 15, 1797.
Kimball, born Jan. 8, 1815.
Jesse, born July 4, 1800.
+ I. "Voted to allow Stevens Merrill £0-4-6, Capt. Wm. Butler 5 shillings, and Ensign Copp 3 shillings, for their services as a committee, laying out a road from Coventry line to the Society school-house, on Coos road."
" Voted to lay out the road through Mr. Aaron Welch's land, near the bank of the river, direct as is convenient from his house to the Society school-house."
** AARON AND BETTY WELCH'S FAMILY RECORD.
Moses, born Dec. 10, 1788, at Warren. Oliver, born April 15, 1799.
Aaron, born Sept. 8, 1791.
Judith, born May 19, 1793.
Thomas, born Aug. 18, 1801. Lois, born May 19, 1804. Sally, born Feb. 20, 1807.
Betsey, born Apr. 18, 1795.
Samuel, born May 15, 1797.
342
HISTORY OF WARREN.
tery is now, by vote in public assembly, was allowed to have two gates upon it.
Then one was laid out for Christian William Whiteman round the east side of Tarleton lake; another from Height-o'-land road. across Runaway pond valley to Pine hill road, and yet another from said Pine hill road across Berry brook, through Streamy valley, far into the East-parte regions. Samuel Knight, who had served in the wars, built his cabin beside it .* It was a frail dwell- ing, and through the crevices of its roof blew the summer winds, and the stars shone in at night. Knight was a man of pleasant adventures, and a narrator of wild and startling traditions. He found where the Indians lived in the valley and turned up their stone arrow-heads with his plow. He had been a brave man in his country's battles, and exhibited nerve in his encounters in the woods.
These were the principal highways, but as the years went by, roads were laid out up into Moosehillock district, to accommodate James and Moses Williams, Caleb Homan, ; and Samuel Merrill, who had settled in that section ; up Patch hill, towards Glen ponds, for the benefit of Mr. Reuben Batchelder and Capt. Stephen Flan- ders, who had settled in the East-parte country; round the foot of Moosehillock to the Summit; up High street, through the North woods; from Pine hill road, up towards Webster-slide Mt. by Wachipauka pond, to convene Mr. Paul Meader, a new settler in this part of the hamlet; down Height-o'-land road by Eastman
* SAMUEL AND SARAH (Bradley) KNIGHT'S FAMILY RECORD.
He was born in Plaistow, Feb. 21, 1757. Sarah Bradley, his wife, was born in Plais- tow, Aug. 23, 1760. Married Aug. 20, 1778.
Susannah, born May 25, 1779. Abigail, born Apr. 16, 1790.
Abigail, born Apr. 7, 1782. Polly, born Oct. 21, 1792.
Married Mary Merrill, Aug. 26, 1784.
Betty, born Apr. 30, 1795.
Nathaniel, born Apr. 29, 1785.
Ruth, born July 17, 1798.
Stevens, born May 9, 1786.
Hannah B., born July 16, 1801.
Sarah, born Feb. 3, 1788.
New voters in 1790 :- Amos Clark.
John Gardner. Daniel Pike.
James Little. Thomas Pillsbury. C. William Whiteman.
+ CALEB AND RUTH (Merrill) HOMAN'S FAMILY RECORD.
Married, Jan. 18 1789.
Joseph, born Oct. 11, 1797.
Sally, born Aug. 10, 1789.
Mary, born July 14, 1800.
Ruth, born Feb. 26, 1803.
Joseph, born Apr. 23, 1792. Died June 29, 1794. Susanna, born Apr. 29, 1795.
Mary, born June 6, 1806.
New voters in 1791 :- David Badger. Joseph Knight.
Enoch Page.
Dr. Joseph Peters.
343
A WILD-CAT OVERCOME WITH A GOADSTICK.
ponds to Piermont, and up Patch brook on to Picked hill, where a son of Joseph Patch had built a cabin and commenced a clearing.
These roads were gems in themselves, being so much better than none at all; but however good, they were often presented to the grand jury by indignant men, who jolting over them thought they ought to be indicted and thereby made better.
Then an attempt was made to lay out a road to old Trecothick, now Ellsworth, across the depression between Carr and Kineo mountains, and by Glen ponds; but it was never accomplished, much to the detriment of fishermen who wish to visit those beau- tiful sheets of water .*
On these roads have happened many a strange adventure worthy of record in this remarkable history. Ox teams, as we have said before, drawing ponderous freights to and from the Cowass country; great canvass covered teams, drawn by eight horses, coming all the way down from the traditionary land of Canada; riders upon horseback, like Johny Balch, who carried the mail and blew a horn in the woods, and long trains of pungs and two horse sleds with jingling " coffee bells " and shouting drivers, coming from the high north country in winter, used them.
Once Mr. Samuel Flanders slew an enormous wild cat that was devouring a goose on the Height-o'-land road by Tarleton lake. The hungry beast was too fond of poultry to have a prudent regard for its own safety, and Mr. F. not having a thought of danger, with a large goad stick attacked the cat and with a single blow killed it.
Races have been run upon them, when they were not in so good a condition as they now are. When the East-parte routet
·
* Paid Abel Merrill and Joseph Patch $1.00 each for meeting selectmen of Ellsworth and examining a route for a road .- See Selectmen's first book.
New Voters .- In 1792, Uriah Cross, Josiah Magoon. In 1793, Abram Alexander, Thomas Boynton, John Chase, David S. Craig, Daniel Welch. In 1794, Stephen Badger. In 1795, Stephen Flanders, Barnabas Niles.
t John Low lived on the East-parte road. He was a very neat farmer, and would follow the man who reaped for him and cut up the stray stalks of grain which the reaper would leave about the stumps and rock heaps, with his jack- knife.
He had the very economical habit of laying in bed all day, winter times, and at dark would yoke up his team and go into the forest after a load of wood. He would often work all night at his business. My uncle Anson one bitter cold night saw him starting out with his cattle at 9 P. M., for a load of wood.
John Low, one winter, found two bushels of swallows in a hollow birch tree. They were torpid when found, but were lively enough after they had laid before the fire a short time. John Libbey and Nathaniel Merrill saw these swallows.(?) 'Squire George Libbey affirmed that he saw these swallows.( ?)
344
HISTORY OF WARREN.
was first cleared, Mrs. Samuel Knight, Mrs. Caleb Homan, accom- panied by several other women, and a young man by the name of Webster, who was from Landaff, went to Mr. Stephen Flanders' to . pay the family a visit. On their return home when they arrived near the bridge over what is sometimes called Moosehillock falls near East-parte school-house, Mistresses Knight and Homan challenged young Webster, who was mounted on a very fleet horse, to a race. At first he did not like to consent, but they strongly urged him and he acquiesced. Whipping up, they went over the rough road for the distance of a mile and a half, at almost lightning speed, when Webster who had the fastest horse proved the winner, much to the chagrin of the racing ladies. Mr. W., when an old man, remarked in telling the story that he had rode over that piece of road many times since, but never a quarter so fast as then.
1 Soldiers have marched over them. Many a time on little train- ing day, flood-wood, slam-bang and string-bean companies, and others that were entitled to more respect, have right-wheeled and left-wheeled upon them. Col. Moses H. Clement,* son of Col. Obadiah, marched a whole regiment along the Height-o'-land, or old Coos road, the first one that ever mustered in Warren.
Battles have been waged upon them. The fiercest one was fought one night when it was " dark as pitch," by Samuel Knight and a terrible foe. It had lightened, thundered, rained, and hailed, " like great guns," and Mr. K. who was dripping wet in his camp by Silver rill, resolved to go home to his boarding place at Joseph Merrill's inn. At the foot of the hill, near Berry brook bridge, something stopped him. There was a low deep growl and directly before him, seemingly, two balls of fire flashed in the blackness. He shouted, and the bear, for such was his enemy, leaped upon him grasping him with its fore paws and scratched him fearfully. It was a critical moment, but Knight's right arm was free, and quick as thought he pulled a knife from his pocket, opened it with his teeth, and thrust it with desperate force into the
MOSES H. AND TAMAR (Little) CLEMENT'S FAMILY RECORD.
Russell K., born Apr. 19, 1809.
· Hazen, born Dec. 14, 1811.
Elizabeth, born Feb. 28, 1814. Died Jan. 27, 1815.
James, born Nov. 10, 1815. Joseph, born Apr. 3, 1818. Amos Little, born Dec. 12, 1820.
Sarah, born Dec. 29, 1822.
William, born Jan. 26, 1825.
Daniel Q., born May 31, 1826. Eliza, born Jan. 20, 1828.
John, born Aug. 12, 1830.
Tamar J., born Dec. 4, 1832.
345
A BEAR KILLED WITH A JACK-KNIFE.
side of the bear. Luckily it pierced its heart, and instantly relax- ing its hold, it fell upon the ground and expired. Knight was severely torn by the claws of the bear, and sitting down by his dead enemy concluded to remain there during the night. But the clouds shortly broke away, the stars came out, the moon shone brightly, and changing his mind, he hurried home.
Returning the next morning with his friends, he found a bear of the largest class which gave evident tokens that she was engaged rearing her young. This probably induced her to attack Mr. K., something she would not have done under any other cir- cumstances.
Men have died on them. Richard Pillsbury, who lived in Wentworth, had been to Haverhill on foot one cold stormy winter day. Climbing Red-oak hill at night, on his return, he became chilled through, lay down in the road and died. In the morning his dog came to the door of his home and howled, then seemed to look towards the road on the hill. They followed and found him there. Friends and neighbors carried him home, then buried him in the grave yard by the mossy stream,-" down on the east side." To-day he is almost forgotten, and soon would be lost to the memory of men forever, did we not here record his death.
In order to make these roads really serviceable, bridges were wanted and must be had over the little meadow streams, across the mountain torrents, and spanning the river. Most of these were easily built; but the great work of that time was the building of the large bridge over the Asquamchumauke, near the mouth of Black brook, the Mikaseota. The citizens of Warren had sent a letter to the proprietors, praying for aid, and the godfathers of the hamlet generously voted nineteen pounds ten shillings and seven pence to build the bridge. On the third of March, 1784, at a pub- lic meeting, Jonathan Merrill, Joshua Copp, and Joseph Patch, were appointed a committee to perform the work, and authorized to proceed as far as the money would go. They commenced the work at once. They labored themselves, they paid Stevens Mer- rill three pounds for plank to put on it, and Obadiah Clement two pounds seventeen shillings and one penny, for labor, besides vast sums paid to other individuals.
That the work might go on bravely, they purchased at the
346
HISTORY OF WARREN.
price of sixteen shillings, a little old rum " to wet their whistles and strengthen their muscles." Moses True, it is said, once carried the great stone jug to Stevens Merrill's, who kept the pure " west endea," to get it filled. Mr. M. was away, and he went into the kitchen. It was a sight that met his eyes not often seen in these degenerate days. Mrs. Merrill was mounted on the loom, which stood in one corner of the room, smoking and weaving with all her might, the fumes of her tobacco pipe mingling with the whiz of the shuttle, the jarring of the lathe and the clattering of the treadles, while buzz, buzz, went the rapid wheel, and creak, creak, the windle from which run the yarn that her grandchild, daughter of 'Squire Jonathan, was quilling.
But Moses True was a dauntless youth. "Come down, " said · he, showing the jug. At first she was not inclined to accommo- date him; but he persisted, and she put up a gallon of the good creature that was so much needed in those days .*
How they worked when they got the exhilerating drams of good grog. How the axes flew in the great pine timbers, how the mallets resounded as the mortices were made, how the augurs bit as they gnawed through the wood, turned by strong arms, and how the shovels went as they dug great trenches in the bottom of the stream in which to place the mud sills on which the bridge would stand.
They drank better rum in those days than now. There was not so much strychnine in it. Besides, there were no temperance societies then ; the ministers drank themselves.
But when the bridge was raised they drank lots of the good creature. The great rulers of the town, the selectmen, paid Joshua
* 1784 .- Paid Stevens Merrill for plank to build the bridge over Baker river, three pounds.
Paid Stevens Merrill for rum to raise the bridge, eight shillings.
Obadiah Clements, two pounds seventeen shillings one penny, in full pay for work done on the bridge over Baker river.
Ordered Constable Butler to pay Ephraim True eight shillings, it being for rum that he found to build the bridge, which sum is to be taken out of his note that he gave to the town.
OBADIAH CLEMENT, Selectmen. SAMUEL KNIGHT,
Paid to Joshua Merrill sixteen shillings, it being for two gallons of rum that he found for the town to be spent in raising the river bridge, which is to be allowed to him on the former account.
March 27, 1786 .- Paid Obadiah Clement two pounds two shillings and eleven pence, it being due to him for work done on the bridge over Baker river. JOSEPH PATCH, WILLIAM BUTLER, } Selectmen.
347
HOW PATCH BROOK WAS BRIDGED.
Merrill sixteen shillings for two gallons that he furnished, and eight shillings to Ephraim True for one gallon found by him; all for the purpose of raising. Three gallons! Wonderful to relate, with this powerful assistance, they got the bridge up without diffi- culty, and then the work stopped; the funds were all spent.
July 6, at a town meeting, the report of the distinguished com- mittee was accepted, and then, that the enterprise might go on, voted to finish the bridge at the town's expense. That the work might be done at reasonable rates, "Voted to let the finishing of the bridge to the lowest bidder," and Col. Clement having bid five pounds, it was struck off to him. There was some planking and considerable grading to be done, but before the summer was over the great work was complete.
But the building the bridge over Patch brook was a greater work than the one over the Asquamchumauke. A mighty freshet happened about these times; somebody said "a cloud broke on Moosehillock," the river overflowed its banks and spread out across all the intervals. Of course a portion of the river water ran down the valley of Patch brook, and the shrewd citizens thought a bridge would certainly be needed from high bank to high bank, and they proceeded to erect one immediately. It reached from the Forks school-house twenty rods away to the spot where the little bridge now spans the rill at the foot of the northern bank. Twenty pounds sterling the town appropriated March 18, 1790, to com- mence the work, and chose Joseph Patch, Stephen Richardson, Stevens Merrill, and Joshua Copp, a committee to lay it out.
It only made a beginning. Next year in meeting assembled the citizens enacted, after the manner of other great legislative bodies, that they would appropriate "as much of that money as was raised to lay out on the highways as will finish the bridge near Joseph Patch's house."
Then the work glowed and the mighty structure advanced; the money was all laid out. There came a halt, and the bridge was not finished. The year 1792 came. Not a drop of river water had flowed down Patch brook valley for three years. . The warrant for the assembling of the democracy that year contained the fol- lowing article :- " To see what method the town will take to finish the bridge."
348
HISTORY OF WARREN.
At the meeting when the article came up to be acted upon, some shrewd citizen who was given to doubting suggested that he doubted very much if the bridge was needed at all; that he guessed the ground where the water did not run " was safer to travel upon than planks, and a mighty sight cheaper." He was heard by the assembled wisdom in silence, and the projectors of the long bridge looked grave and wise as owls. Some one suggested that the mat- ter better be postponed to a future day, and thus it was disposed of.
The half completed bridge stood all summer a silent monu- ment of the great freshet and the sageness of men. Next year it is recorded that " Long Patch bridge " is yet unsettled for, but no action was taken in the matter. By some mishap, while the citi- zens were deliberating what to do with it, in the hot summer a spark of fire fell upon the work; the flames leaped up devouring sills, posts, stringers, and planks, and the noble work was gone forever.
Two short bridges were afterwards erected in its place which are continued to this day .*
And now, roads and bridges complete, travel through our ham- let much increased as was hinted before, and the business of tav- erning grew to be the best in town. Lemuel Keezer,t who lived on the southern border, immediately opened a hotel and kept it for a long time. Stevens Merrill had accommodations for man and beast; his son, Joseph Merrill, opened a hostelrie on the plain
*The river flowed under Patch brook bridge again in 1858; also in 1866 and in 1869.
LEMUEL KEEZER'S tavern sign had a dove painted on one side and a serpent on the other. When asked why he had such a sign, he replied that it represented himself; that sometimes he was a serpent, but more often he was a heavenly dove.
Keezer was a most remarkable man, and very keen withal, as our readers will learn in a subsequent part of this history. He once had two of his relatives stop with him over night. They had a gay time, and when they harnessed up in the morning they thanked him for his hospitality, but he never minded them and said we will settle the bills at the bar, gentlemen. They were surprised and said they thought they were cousins. Keezer's eyes twinkled, and he said just pay the money, gentlemen, and then we will be cousins.
Keezer set scythes in his orchard to cut the boys who stole his fruit. One Amos Clark, a cunning youth, found " the man trap " on a moon-shiny night, and drove it to the heel into the ground, Keezer piously forgave the trespasser, and spent two hours digging the scythe out.
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