USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Windham > The history of Windham in New Hampshire (Rockingham country). 1719-1883. A Scotch settlement (commonly called Scotch-Irish), embracing nearly one third of the ancient settlement and historic township of Londonderry, N.H > Part 19
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160
HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
mind. Finally the affrighted man asked his neighbor if he had heard any unusual noises in the air during the day. "No, nothing ; only Dea. - has been using his new cart." Light broke in upon the affrighted man's mind in a moment; the day's reflections, Bible, and prayers were forgotten, and in language of which propriety forbids a literal rendering, he exclaimed, " Blast that man ! If he ever uses those wheels again, I'll kill him !"
I shall give as briefly as possible all the important transcripts of highways which I have been able to trace out on the records. But the record is a very unsatisfactory one, owing to the number- less changes which the original highways have undergone.
The "Range" Highway was laid out while Windham was a part of Londonderry.
" LONDONDERRY JAN 24 1738-39
" Then Laid out a High way in sd town Begining at that High way that Leads past Willm Jamesons [corner south of Whittaker house ] and so from sd Jamesons House Runing up that hill [across R. R. ]through sd Jamesons land as good ground will alow to James mcKeens land and through the head of sd meKeens calf pasture straight a cross as good ground will alow to James mcGregores land [L. A. Morrison's] and so a cross sd mcGregores land to Samll Morisons [A. A. Morrison's] land and a cross sd morisons land as the paith Gos now to Thos Morisons [Mrs. Isaiah Dins- moor's ] land and so a cross to Jon Barrs [J. A. Parks'] land and a cross sd Barr's land as good ground will alow to Alexdr Parks land [Robert Armstrong's] and so moveing the fence for good ground on the north side of the paith close by sd Parks Door and hovel and so moveing the fence to where it is marked into Jo" Stuarts land [pastures of A. A. Morrison and G. F. Armstrong] and straight a cross sd Stuarts land as near the old paith as good ground will alow to the south side of Willm Toms House [near A. Haselton's] and straight a cross said Toms land to James Gilmors land [Moses Sargent's] and so a cross sd Gilmors land to the north side of the Swamp by his Door then to the south of ye old paith for Good Ground to Ezekel Morisons land [at foot of Senter's hill] and a cross sd morisons land Straight a cross to the South west side of Jon morow's and Thos Quigley's land. note that s' High way is to be four Rhods wide all along."*
FIRST HIGHWAYS FOUND ON WINDHAM RECORDS.
Approved by the town Nov. ye 6, 1742. " A highway Layd ont for a publick Rode Bounded as followeth, Begining at the Road called Goldings Road at the Northly Bounds of Robert Thompsons Land Including two Rhods wide of sd Thompsons Land to Goldings Brook, a Crose st Brook from there a crose James Wilson's land and a crose Allexander Dunlaps Land as the old Road gos or the Beast ground that may be found near to
* Londonderry Records, vol. ii, p. 189.
161
FIRST HIGHWAYS FOUND ON WINDHAM RECORDS.
it aLong by s' Dunlaps house. Noat that sd Road is four Rhods Wide.
"WINDHAM, Sept. the 29, 1717.
"A highway Laid out for a publiek Roade Begining at Beaver Brook So Called a little above the foord way Commonly Called Grahams foordway, then running Cross John Graham's land by marked trees on the Westerly Side of Said way till it Comes to the Corner of Samuel Smiths fence, then on the Best Ground till it Comes to the South East Corner of thomas Campbell's land, throw Said Smiths land, then on the line Between Samuel Smith and Hugh Graham, takeing one Rhode wide of Each of them till Comes to the north East Corner of Said Smith's land. Noat Said high way is two Rhods wide."
Dec. 8, 1749. - Highway round the end of Cobbett's Pond .- " Beginning at Goldings highway (so called) near to Joseph Waugh's dwelling house [near the R. P. Morrison house ], thence eastwardly where the path is now trod to where the brook runs out of Dry Pond (so called) and over said brook about 40 rods where the path is now trod to an oak tree marked, thence north- wardly to the grave yard [old yard on the Plains], and from said tree southwardly where the path is now trod till it crosses Gold- ings brook (so called). Said highway is two Rods wide." *
Highway running up by Poor Farm, S. Campbell's, over by Kendall's Mills, into Londonderry, and from the fork in the road up by John Carr's, J. A. M. Johnson's, to Londonderry line : -
" Beginning at the highway near George Johnson's dwelling house, then between S. and S. W. to an old pine tree marked standing in the middle of s'd highway then to crotched pine tree same point thence parting in two highways one leading to a new bridge over Beaver brook a little below the Saw mill, the other leading by marked trees by the crotched pine tree straight to John Karr's dwelling house, then from s'd Karr's S. E. and near a hill to our town line. Note. Said highway or highways are two rods wide."- Laid out Sept. 26, 1751.1
May 30, 1754. - " Voted to approve the highway from Wmn. Bolton's to Wm. Thompson's house, and from thence to town line, by Isaac Emerson's to Pelham line." # This highway commenced near the George Copp house, running over Copp's Hill, past Isaac Emerson's, Pelham line.
The cross-road leading from Charles W. Campbell's house to the road leading from Windham meeting-house to Pelham, com- ing out near the James Noyes house, was laid out Dec. 2, 1755.§
Dec. 2, 1755 .- " Beginning at the westerly end of Samuel MacAdams' barn [Isaac Richardson's], running northwardly to the end of Cobats Pond, thence along the end of said pond, by the ' old road ' to the brook that runs out of Cobats pond, thence
* Town Records, vol. i, p. 37.
t Ibid., p. 39.
Ibid., p. 76. Ibid., p. 84.
162
HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
over said brook along said old road by marked trees to the road that goes to Londonderry. The said road is laid out two rods wide." *
1775. - " Voted, to repair the roads by Pole and Estate and also to allow 2s. 6d. a day for a man and his axe or other hand tools as the surveyor shall approve, before the 20th of July and 28. a day for a man so equipped from that time to the last of Sept. Likewise voted to raise £50 of lawful money to repair the High- ways."
HIGHWAYS LAID OUT.
1790 .- One from Derry line, past Richard Esty's, to Daniel Haskell's; and from thence to road leading from J. A. M. John- son's to W. H. Armstrong's, was laid out previous to March, 1791, probably in fall of 1790, described as follows: " From Derry line past Daniel Anderson's to James Clark's, and from thence to the road leading from Esqr. Betton's to David Armstrong's." t
Oct. 20, 1795. - Bridle Road .- From James Davidson's to Nottingham line (B. E. Blanchard's to Hudson line). Voted to accept the road, with gates and bars. The road to be built and opened at the expense of individuals, and to keep the gates and bars in good repair.#
Nov. 30, 1798. - " Voted to lay out a road from John Plum- mer's [Windham Centre] to Dea. Robert Dinsmoor's [John H. Dinsmore's ] if it can be done without buying the land."
Nov. 16, 1799. - Pine Hill Road .- Beginning near Mr. Park's (Jacob A. Nesmith's) and running to Robert Dinsmoor's ("Rustic Bard") improvements to the road leading from William Dins- moor's (Olin Parker's) to John Morison's (A. A. Morrison's). Three rods wide.§
Dec. 16, 1799. - A road beginning at or near the crotch of the road eighty rods to the north of Dea. John Anderson's house (J. P. Crowell's), running till it comes to the lower part of a piece of · meadow of James Clark's, then in a straight course past the back side of James Clark's (Daniel Haskell's) barn till it enters into the road leading from John McCleary's (Joseph S. Clark's) to James Clark's. Three rods wide. |
Dec. 16, 1799. - London Bridge Road. - Road leading from Dea. William Gregg's (Wellington Russell's), running easterly by an old road to where two roads meet, then by marked trees to a rock by the side of a gut that must be bridged (London Bridge locality) ; then by marked trees to where there has been an old coal-pit; then through Mr. Joseph Clyde's pasture, crossing a small brook, at an old ford, and out at the north of said Clyde's house, to a road leading from James Clark's to Captain Clyde's. Three rods wide. T
* Town Records, vol. i, p. 85. § Ibid., p. 181.
t Ibid., vol. ii, p. 37.
¡ Ibid., p. 180.
* Ibid., p. 104.
Ibid., p. 181.
163
HIGHWAYS LAID OUT. - TURNPIKE BUILT, 1805.
Oct. 15, 1800 .- Road leading from Lt. David Gregg's (Charles E. Buttrick's) to the road leading by Dea. William Gregg's (Wel- lington Russell's) to Joseph Clyde's. Two rods wide .*
The roads from Dea. John Anderson's (JJ. P. Crowell's) to James Clark's, and from Dea. William Gregg's (Wellington Russell's) to Joseph Clyde's, and from Windham meeting-house to Dea. Robert Dinsmoor's (John H. Dinsmore's), were accepted by vote of the town, Oct. 27, 1800. The width was two rods wide.t
June, 1804. - The Londonderry Turnpike was incorporated in June, 1804, and on Oct. 2, 1804, at a meeting of the proprietors in Londonderry, rules and regulations were established for gov- erning the corporation, and for carrying its incorporation act into effect. The officers were, a president, two vice-presidents, clerk, treasurer, and seven directors. Samuel Armour, Esq., of Wind- ham, was clerk at this date. The treasurer was obliged to give a bond for $1,000 for the faithful discharge of his duty, besides being sworn. The directors had power to erect toll-gates and appoint toll-gatherers at proper distances. Each toll-gatherer was sworn, and gave a bond of $1,000 to keep him honest, and was obliged to render in his account to the treasurer every fort- night. This turnpike was laid out in 1805, and led from Butler's Corner, in Concord, N. H., to Boston, Mass. It passed through the easterly part of Windham in almost a southerly direction.
On the twenty-third day of September, 1805, Edmand M. Pres- ton, Silas Gammett, Samuel Lannon, and Edward Preston, all of Chester, made a contract with the proprietors to construct a turn- pike road from the northerly line of Windham, extending towards Andover bridge for six miles, and fitted for public travel by Nov. 30, 1806. The path for travel was to be smooth and even, of the width of twenty-five feet in sandy or marshy places, and twenty- three feet in all others. The centre was to be from twelve to twenty inches higher than the sides, and gutters at the sides of the road and sluice-ways across of sufficient width and capacity for the free discharge of surplus water. The contractors received $972 per mile for making the road. It was opened to the public in the latter part of 1806, had cost $67,248, and was the great thoroughfare from the upper parts of New Hampshire and Ver- mont to Boston. This was before the era of railroads, and the produce of the country was brought down on large and heavy teams and delivered in Boston; and the same teams, laden with the merchandise of the city, the products of many countries, re- turned to the country. The turnpike was thronged with such traffickers; and even in a heavy snow-fall, by night or day, the road was seldom if ever broken out by the proprietors, but would be well trodden, while other roads were impassable with snow.
A toll-gate existed in Salem, at what is now Policy Pond rail-
* Town Records, vol ii, p. 188. + Ibid., p. 190.
164
HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
road station, and the old toll-house was demolished a few years ago by Mr. Vittim, after having been occupied for many years by that once accomplished and well-educated, but in our day, strange weird woman, Mary Campbell, of Salem. The large house on the John F. Tenney farm was built by Colonel Town, and was a public-house. This, with Redfield's tavern in Derry, did a great business, and they were thronged with guests.
After many years, but before the railroad was made, other good roads were built. The Mammoth Road was laid out in 1831, and the travel went down the west side of the Merrimack River.
May 7, 1836. - The town voted Alexander Gordon as an agent to defend the town, and to prevent a court's committee from being appointed for the purpose of laying out the turnpike as a free road. His mission was unsuccessful, and it has been a public highway since 1836.
April 25, 1806. - Voted to approve the road beginning at the line between Windham and Derry, a few rods northerly of John Hopkins' farm (Phineas D. Scott's), and bearing southerly until it comes to the road that leads from Barnet Hughes' (or J. P. Hughes') to Widow Nesmith's (Horace Berry's), not far from the line between said Hughes' and Widow Nesmith's.
Oct. 3, 1807. - Highway from near Asa Dow's house (Charles A. Reed's), past James Cochran's (W. D. Cochran's), to the road leading from widow Ruth Dinsmoor's (E. O. Dinsmoor's) to Capt. Daniel Gordon's (John S. Brown's). Two rods wide .*
Oct. 3, 1807. - From what is now Edwin O. Dinsmoor's house to main highway .*
Aug. 26, 1811 .- Road from Poor Farm to road from H. S. Reynolds', to John Early's (?). Two rods wide.t
Oct. 12, 1812. - Straightening of new highway from W. A. Dinsmoor's to Olin Parker's or George W. Hanscom's.#
Nov. 2, 1812 .- London Bridge had been out of repair for some time. The matter was brought before the town in several annual meetings, and on this date voted to build second bridge, and voted not to raise any money for the purpose.
Jan. 18, 1818 .- Voted to accept, if free from town expense, road from William Dinsmoor's to road leading from Dea. Robert Dinsmoor's to Windham meeting-house, i. e. from Olin Parker's to Windham meeting-house road.$
Dec. 31, 1827. - Laid out a new road, three rods wide, from Pel- ham line to William Davidson's Lane, 91 rods, and widened the old road 68 rods, to same width to Widow M. Hill's (Rev. J. F. Web- ster's) ; thence a new road across her field 64 rods; thence widened the old road to Anderson's Bridge, so called, as follows: North 26° east 14 rods to a stake and stones; thence north 43º east 48 rods to a white-oak tree; thence north 20° east 38 rods to Samnel
* Town Records, vol. iii. p. 113.
t Ibid., p. 175.
++ % Ibid., p. 190. Ibid., p. 129.
165
HIGHWAYS LAID OUT. - MAMMOTH ROAD BUILT, 1831.
Anderson's; thence north 21° east 33 rods to a white-oak tree; thence 7º cast 31 rods to a large stone; thence north 7º 30' west 54 rods to a white-oak stump; thence north 28 rods to said bridge. Three rods wide. Damages -William Davidson, $89; Widow M. Hills, $50 .*
Oct. 21, 1829. - Widening and straightening the road leading from the meeting-house to Pelham line, via Senter's (Neal's) Mills, beginning near the house of Jacob P. Johnson ( Thayer place), and ending below the house now owned by Olinthus A. Simpson. Distance, over 550 rods. Damages paid, $396.t Apparently not made till Sept. 4, 1833. Another record, and damages assessed at $135.75.₺
April 20, 1830. - The town was repeatedly petitioned to widen and straighten the following highway, but declined so to do. The commissioners were called on and widened it, -the old road widened and straightened, and part of the way a new one built. It was laid out by the road commissioners, and commenced at the bend of the road at John Hemphill's south line, and run- ning in nearly a southerly direction 112 rods, and passed through land of John Cochran and Jacob M. Nesmith, till it came to the road leading from David McCleary's to Windham meeting-house (the old discontinued road to J. S. Clark's). Three rods wide. Damages -John Cochran received $266, Jacob M. Nesmith $12, and the cost $39.69. Total, $317.69; and the town to build the road.
Mammoth Road was laid out after a long contest in 1831, going from Hooksett, N. Il., to Lowell, Mass .; passed through London- derry over Beaver Brook into and through the west side of the town by Butler's Mills in Pelham.
June 29, 1833. - Laid out a road from Jesse Crowell's to David Campbell's. Three rods wide. Distance, 953 rods. Damages, $160.±
June 1, 1836. - Widening highway to three rods between Jere- miah Morrison's (L. A. Morrison's) and Betsey Dow's barn (Abel Dow's).
May 26, 1837. - Widening highway from Widow Betsey Mor- rison's (Albert A. Morrison's) to Robert P. Dinsmoor's (John H. Dinsmore's).
Oct. 13, 1838. - Highway was widened and straightened from Seth Wyman's barn to Pelham line.
Oct. 11, 1845. - One hundred and twenty-six rods of highway, two rods wide, from Samuel L. Prescott's, running easterly to the road running over Simpson causeway. Two rods wide.§
Oct. 20, 1866. - Laid out a highway from where Charles A. Reed now lives, to the road leading from Leonard A. Morrison's
* Town Records, vol. v, p. 215.
t Ibid., p. 291.
Ibid., vol. vi.
Ibid., vol. v, p. 163.
166
HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
to Abel Dow's. It run through land of Gilman D. Whittaker. Distance, 85 rods : width, 23 rods. Damages, $75 .*
Aug. 29, 1867. - Laid out a piece of highway at end of Cob- bett's Pond, two rods wide, forty-nine rods in length, through land of George Richardson and Albert E. Simpson. Award, $161.75.
Nov. 3, 1868. - Voted to discontinue highway leading from Benjamin R. Hoyt's (John S. Brown's), northerly to turnpike; also, one from George Richardson's barn, by the end of Cobbett's Pond, to the new road ; also, one north of Jacob A. Nesmith's to road leading past Joseph S. Clark's.
1871. - The Old Road across the two bridges, south of George S. Neal's factory, was discontinued, and a new one laid out April 17, 1871, and built.
March 30, 1874. - Highway laid out from near John A. Moore's house to the highway leading from Ephraim McDaniels' to Kendall's mills. It passed over land of Daniel D. H. Burns for thirty-five rods, and was two rods wide. Award, $90.
March 4, 1880. - Highway laid out from Mammoth Road, near L. L. Fish's, to Hudson line, in place of Bridle Road. Three rods wide. Damages, $230.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ROAD-MAKING.
The art of road-making has been developed greatly during a century, and our roads are vastly superior to those of one hundred years ago. Then only the worst obstructions were cleared from the travelled part of the highway, and the wash-outs were filled with rocks, making a rough, uneven surface. The marshy places were covered with logs, forming a corduroy road. Such was the old Potash Road through the marshy spot at the foot of Senter's Hill. That road commenced at the foot of Senter's Hill and joined the present Potash Road near Spear Hill. It was given up about 1827. Since the building of turnpikes the practice has been to elevate the centre, and have gutters at the side to carry off the water.
FIRST GUIDE-POSTS, 1794. - THE TOWN SUED. - THE LONG WRIT.
There is no evidence to show that any guide-posts were erected till the latter part of the last century. This question was agitated considerably, and the town, always conservative, did not aet in the matter till May 29, 1794, when it voted " That the selectmen shall erect Post-Guides." From that time till the present they have existed, though often in dilapidated and almost ruined condition.
By statute law, towns are now obliged to have " finger-posts " crected at all prominent places or cross-roads, and towns are liable to fines for neglecting this duty; and this town failing to " live
* Town Records.
167
THE LONG WRIT. - NEW GUIDE-BOARDS, 1870.
up" to statute requirements, was the cause of an action being brought against it in 1846; though at the annual meeting in March, 1845, the town had directed the selectmen to erect all needful stone guide-posts.
Feb. 7, 1846. - Timothy P. Flanders, of Bedford, brought a suit against the town for $363 for violation of statute. The writ by actual measurement was nineteen und one half feet in length. The design of the complainant was to enrich himself at the town's expense, as a certain part of the fine went to the complainant. Actions were brought against several towns by him, but as there was a legal flaw in his proceedings, the cases fell through. His course had a beneficial effect, however, as it made the towns more careful to conform to the statute. Since then, stone posts have been erected with guide-boards. New guide-boards were put up through the town in 1872.
168
HISTORY OF WINDHAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
CHAPTER
XIV.
PUBLIC-HOUSES AND NAMES OF INNKEEPERS. - TEMPERANCE LEGISLA- TION .- FIRST LICENSE. - INTEMPERANCE AND TEMPERANCE. - LIGHT BREAKS IN. - TEMPERANCE REFORMATION. - PAUPERISM. - FIRST WARNING OUT OF TOWN, MAY 21, 1751. - A SENSIBLE VOTE. - FIRST OVERSEER OF THE POOR CHOSEN, 1820. - TOWN FARM PUR- CHASED, JANUARY 18, 1838 .- U. S. SURPLUS REVENUE .- TOWN FARM SOLD Nov. 14, 1868.
PUBLIC-HOUSES of entertainment for travellers have been kept at different times in our history. They were first known as inns, then taverns, now hotels.
By legislative act, Sept. 28, 1758, the taverns in New Hamp- shire were limited to eighty-four. Windham was limited to one. The houses of private individuals have usually served as public inns. In 1755, John Stuart, who lived in the Range, near where Robert Armstrong now lives, was an innkeeper. About 1765, Capt. John Cristy, who lived at the Senter farm, kept an inn.
The following persons have been licensed or permitted by the selectmen to be taverners, or public innkeepers.
1799. - John Plummer, at the Centre, and Hamilton Morison, who lived where Horace-B. Johnson lives; also, James Davidson, in West Windham.
1800. - James Wilson.
1801. - Titus Harris, who lived upon the Whittaker farm in East Windham.
1802. - John Davidson and Agnes Williams.
1803. - Life Stevens and Agnes Williams.
1806. - John Morison and Agnes Williams.
1807. - William Pope, Jesse Crowell, James Davidson, Joseph Corliss.
1808 and 1809. - James Davidson. About 1808 the tavern at the Centre of the town was built by Robert Clark.
1810. - Nancy Williams and James Davidson.
1811. - James Davidson and Joseph Corliss. - Widow Lney Nesmith, Robert Clark, James Davidson, and Joseph Corliss.
1812. - Joseph Corliss and James Davidson.
1819. - Joseph Corliss, near T .- W. Simpson's mill.
The tavern at the Centre was built and was kept as a public- house most of the time after this, till it was burned down.
In 1838, Hayes Dow kept an inn. In 1839-40, George Wood kept the tavern. Moses Greenough was innholder from 1841 till 1845, and perhaps later.
During these years the above persons were licensed or per- mitted to retail intoxicating liquors.
After the advent of railroads, the travel by stages became small, few travellers patronized the country taverns, and they
169
TEMPERANCE AND INTEMPERANCE.
gradually declined in number. Since the burning of the tavern at the Centre, there has been no public-house in town, except one kept a few years at the Cutler place by Lyman Drake.
FIRST TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION, APRIL 23, 1781.
April 23, 1781, the first application was made for permission to retail liquors. The article in the warrant was " To see if the town will give William Darrah a license to sell liquor." It was " voted to throw said article overboard." And well would it have been for the people then, and in all the succeeding years, if the liquor had been " thrown overboard."
FIRST LICENSE, JUNE 11, 1793.
The first license recorded was given by the selectmen on June 11, 1793, to Jesse Davidson, "to retail spiritnous liquors of any quantity, looking upon him to be a fit person for the same."
After this date, as previously stated, innkeepers usually had a permit from the selectmen to sell liquors.
TEMPERANCE AND INTEMPERANCE.
Up to the time of the temperance reformation, in 1831, the use of intoxicants was general. Liquor was present upon all occasions, -at births, at weddings, at funerals. It greeted one's arrival into the world, it met one upon all occasions in life, and at its close it bade him farewell at the funeral and the grave. Not content with this, the friends would return to the house of mourning, and to the memory of the departed would partake of the intoxicating cup. Within the remembrance of some now living, when the roads were impassable for teams, persons were sent on snow-shoes to a store nearly four miles distant, to procure liquor to be used at the funeral of a friend. It was an indispensable article.
It was used at the installation of ministers; it greeted the min- ister, the physician, and the guest in their calls; it found a place upon the dresser of the wealthy and in the abodes of the poor. It was used by all, and was not considered a sin. The great day of awakening had not dawned.
Farmers made a vast amount of cider, and deposited it in the cellar for winter nse. This would be present and ready for use at all times. With many it was drank at their meals, and presented whenever a neighbor called. From 1793 to a recent date, persons were licensed to sell intoxicating drinks.
Such being the habits of the people, the legitimate consequence was that intemperance cast its darkening shadow and blighting eurse over many households, and crime, its twin sister, then, as now, bore it company. Men neglected their families, and spent for liquor that money which should have been expended for the necessities of their own households. Property was squandered, " sprees " were indulged in for days and nights, and it was no
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