The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire,1735-1905, Part 13

Author: Donovan, Dennis, 1837-; Woodward, Jacob Andrews, 1845- jt. author
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: [Tufts College, Mass.] The Tufts college press, H.W. Whittemore & co.
Number of Pages: 1091


USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Lyndeborough > The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire,1735-1905 > Part 13


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Elecampane Great ragweed Roman wormwood ; hog-weed ; bitter- weed Coltsfoot Cone-flower


125


PHYSICAL FEATURES


Rudbeckia hirta


Helianthus tuberosus


Jerusalem artichoke


Bidens frondosa


Bidens cernua


Anthemis Cotula


Common May-weed


Achillea Millefolium


Common yarrow or milfoil


Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum, var. subpinnatifidum


Tanacetum vulgare


Common tansy


Artemisia vulgaris


Common mugwort


Artemisia Absinthium


Common wormwood


Gnaphalium polycephalum


Common everlasting


Gnaphalium uliginosum


Low cudweed


Antennaria plantaginea


Plantain-leaved everlasting


Erechtites hieracifolia


Fireweed


Senecio aureus


Golden ragwort; squaw-weed


Cnicus lanceolatum


Common thistle


Cuicus pumilus


Pasture thistle


Cnicus arvensis


Canada thistle


Arctium Lappa


Common burdock


Cichorium Intybus


Succory or cichory


Leontodon autumnalis


Fall dandelion ; hawkbit


Hieracium Canadense


Canada hawkweed


Hieracium scabrum


Rough hawkweed


Hieracium paniculatum


Panicled hawkweed


Rattlesnake-weed


White lettuce ; rattlesnake root


Tall white lettuce


Common dandelion


Wild lettuce


False or blue lettuce


LOBELIA FAMILY


Cardinal-flower Indian tobacco


Water lobelia


CAMPANULA FAMILY


Harebell Venus's looking-glass


HEATH FAMILY


Blue tangle; dangleberry Black huckleberry


Small cranberry


Large or American cranberry


Cowberry Dwarf blueberry


Canada blueberry Low blueberry


Common or Swamp blueberry


Lobelia cardinalis Lobelia inflata Lobelia spicata Lobelia Dortmanna


Campanula rotundifolia Specularia perfoliata


Gaylussacia frondosa Gaylussacia resinosa


Vaccinium Oxycoccus


Vaccinium macrocarpon Vaccinium Vitis-Idæa Vaccinium Pennsylvanicum


Vaccinium Canadense Vaccinium vacillans


Vaccinium corymbosum


Hieracium venosum Prenanthes trifoliolata


Prenanthes altissima


Taraxacum officinale


Lactuca Canadensis


Lactuca leucophæa


Ox-eye or white daisy ; white-weed


Common beggar-ticks Larger bur-marigold


126


HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH


Epigæa repens


May-flower ; ground laurel; trailing arbutus


Gaultheria procumbens


Creeping wintergreen


Cassandra calyculata


Leather-leaf


Andromeda ligustrina


Andromeda


Kalmia latifolia


Calico-bush; mountain laurel


Kalmia augustifolia


Sheep laurel; lambkill


Kalmia glauca


Pale laurel


Rhododendron nudiflora


Purple azalia; pinxter-flower


Rhododendron Rhodora


Rhodora


Pyrola Americana


Wintergreen ; shin-leaf


Pyrola chlorantha


Pyrola secunda


Chimaphila umbellata Monotropa uniflora


Monotropa Hypopitys


Pipsissewa ; Prince's pine Indian pipe Pine-sap; false beech-drops


HOLLY FAMILY


Ilex verticillata Nemopanthus fascicularis


Black alder; winterberry Mountain holly


Plantago major Plantago lanceolata


PLANTAIN FAMILY


Common plantain Ribgrass; ripplegrass ; English plan- tain


PRIMROSE FAMILY


Trientalis Americana Lysimachia stricta


Star-flower Loosestrife


Lysimachia quadrifolia Steironema ciliatum Anagallis arvensis


Pimpernel


Utricularia vulgaris


BLADDERWORT FAMILY Greater bladderwort


BROOM-RAPE FAMILY


Epiphegus Virginiana Aphyllon uniflorum


Beech-drops ; cancer-root One-flowered cancer-root ; naked broom rape FIGWORT FAMILY


Verbascum Thapsus Verbascum Blattaria


Common mullein


Moth mullein


Toad-flax'; butter-and-eggs; ramsted


Linaria vulgaris Chelone glabra


Turtle-head ; snake-head


Mimulus ringens Monkey-flower Veronica scutellata Marsh speedwell


Veronica officinalis


Common speed well


Gerardia purpurea


Purple gerardia


Gerardia quercifolia


Melampyrum Americanum Cow-wheat


127


PHYSICAL FEATURES


Verbena hastata Verbena urticæfolia


Blue vervain Nettle-leaved or white vervain MINT FAMILY


Trichostema dichotomum


Mentha viridis


Bastard pennyroyal Spearmint


Mentha piperita


Peppermint


Mentha Canadensis


Wild mint


Lycopus Virginices


Bugle-weed ; water hourhound


Hedeoma pulegioides


American pennyroyal


Nepeta Cataria


Catnip


Nepeta Glechoma


Ground ivy : gill-over-the-ground


Prunella vulgaris


Self-heal : heal-all


Scutellaria galericulata


Scutellaria lateriflora


Leonurus Cardiaca


Motherwort


BORAGE FAMILY


Echinospermum Virginicum


Beggar's lice


CONVOLVULUS FAMILY


Convolvulus sepium Cuscuta Gronovii


. Hedge bindwood Dodder


NIGHTSHADE FAMILY


Solanum Dulcamara


Bittersweet Jamestown-weed ; thorn-apple


GENTIAN FAMILY


Gentiana crinita Gentiana Andrewsii


Limnanthemum lacunosum


Fringed gentian Closed gentian Floating heart


DOGBANE FAMILY


Apocynum androsæmifolium Asclepias Cornuti


Asclepias phytolaccoides


Asclepias incarnata


Dogbane; Indian hemp Common milkweed or silkweed Poke milkweed Swamp milkweed


Fraxinus Americana Fraxinus sambucifolia


OLIVE FAMILY White ash Black or water ash


POKEWEED FAMILY


Phytolacca decandra Common poke; garget; pigeon berry


Chenopodium album


Lamb's quarters ; pigweed


AMARANTH FAMILY Pig-weed


Amarantus retroflexus Amarantus albus


Polygonum Persicaria Polygonum Hydropiper


BUCKWHEAT FAMILY Lady's thumb Common smartweed or water-pepper


Datura Stramonium


Skullcap


VERVAIN FAMILY


GOOSEFOOT FAMILY


128


HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH


Polygonum aviculare


Knotgrass ; goose-grass; door-weed


Polygonum arifolium


Halberd-leaved tear-thumb


Polygonum sagittatum


Arrow-leaved tear-thumb


Polygonum Convolvulus


Black bindweed


Climbing false buckwheat


Field or sheep sorrel


Bitter dock


Curled dock


Sassafras officinale Lindera Benzoin


Dirca palustris


Euphorbia maculata Euphorbia Cyparissias Acalypha Virginica


Three-seeded mercury


NETTLE FAMILY


American or white elm


Nettle


Richweed ; clearweed


Common hop


WALNUT FAMILY


Butternut Shell-bark or shag-bark hickory


OAK FAMILY


Betula lenta


Sweet or black birch


Betula lutea


Yellow or gray birch


Betula populifolia


American white birch


Betula papyrifera


Paper or canoe birch


Alnus incana


Speckled or hoary alder


Quercus alba


White oak


Quercus velutina


Quercitron ; yellow barked, or black oak


Quercus rubra


Red oak


Quercus Prinus


Chestnut oak


Castanea dentata


Chestnut


Fagus ferruginea


American beech


Corylus Americana


Wild hazel-nut


Corylus rostrata


Beaked hazel-nut


Ostrya Virginica


American hop-hornbeam ; lever-wood American hornbeam ; water beech


SWEET-GALĘ FAMILY


Myrica Gale Myrica Caroliniana Myrica asplenifolia


Sweet gale Bayberry ; wax-myrtle Sweet-fern


Salix discolor Salix sericea


LAUREL FAMILY


Sassafras Spice-bush ; Benjamin-bush


MEZEREUM FAMILY


Leatherwood ; moose-wood


SPURGE FAMILY


Spurge


Ulmus Americana


Urtica gracilis Pilea pumila Humulus Lupulus


Juglans cinerea Carya alba


Carpinus Caroliniana


WILLOW FAMILY Glaucous willow Silky willow


Polygonum scandens


Rumex Acetosella Rumex obtusifolius


Rumex crispus


129


PHYSICAL FEATURES


Salix lucida Salix alba Salix rostrata


Shining willow White willow Livid willow


Salix Babylonica


Weeping willow


American aspen


Large-toothed aspen


Balm of Gilead


PINE FAMILY


Pinus rigida Pinus resinosa Pinus Strobus


Pitch pine Red pine


White pine


Picea rubra


Spruce


Picea alba


White spruce


Tsuga Canadensis


Hemlock Balsam fir


Abies balsamea


Larix Americana


American black larch ; tamarack


Thuya occidentalis


American arbor vitaæ


Juniperus communis, var. depressa,


Pursh. Juniperus Virginiana Taxus Canadensis


Common juniper Red cedar or savin American yew ; ground hemlock


ORCHIS FAMILY


Ragged fringed orchis


Habenaria lacera. Habenaria Hookeri Habenria psycodes Spiranthes cernua


Spiranthes gracilis


Pogonia ophioglossoides


Corallorhiza multiflora


Pogonia Coral-root Stemless Lady's slipper


IRIS FAMILY


Iris versicolor Sisyrinchium augustifolium


Blue flag Blue-eyed grass LILY FAMILY


Smilax rotundifolia


Common green briar


Smilax herbacea


Carrion-flower


Trillium erectum


Purple trillium or birthroot


Trillium erythrocarpum


Painted trillium


Medeola Virginiana


Indian cucumber


Veratrum viride Oakesia sessilifolia Streptopus roseus Clintonia borealis


American white hellebore; Indian poke " Wild oats " Twisted-stalk Clintonia


Smilacina racemosa


False spikenard


Maianthemum Canadense


Lilium Philadelphicum


Two-leaved Solomon's seal Wild orange-red lily


PICKEREL-WEED FAMILY Pickerel-weed


Pontederia cordata


Ladies' tresses


Cypripedium acaule


Populus tremuloides Populus grandidentata Populus balsamifera, var. candicans


130


HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH


RUSH FAMILY Luzula campestris, var. multiflora Wood-rush


CAT-TAIL FAMILY


Typha latifolia


Cat-tail flag Bur-reed


Arisæma triphyllum Acorus Calamus


Indian turnip Sweet flag ; Calamus


WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY


Sagittaria variabilis


Arrowhead


PONDWEED FAMILY


Potamogeton natans


Pondweed


PIPEWORT FAMILY


Eriocaulon septangulare


Pipewort


SEDGE FAMILY


Cyperus strigosus


Carex polytrichoides


Carex vulpinoidea


Carex stipata


Carex rosea


Carex Deweyana


Carex stellulata


Carex scoparia


Carex tribuloides


Carex stricta


Carex vulgaris


Carex crinita


Carex granularis


Carex pallescens


Carex conoidea


Carex gracillima


Carex laxiflora


Carex umbellata


Carex Pennsylvanica


Carex communis


Carex pubescens


Carex scabrata


Carex debilis, var. Rudgei Carex lurida


Carex intumescens


Carex lupulina


Carex monile


GRASS FAMILY


Alopecurus pratensis


Meadow foxtail


Phleum pratense


Timothy ; herds-grass


Argostis alba, var. vulgaris


Red-top


Agrostis scabra


Hair grass


Calamagrostis Canadensis


Blue-joint grass


Dactylis glomerata


Orchard grass


Danthonia spicata


Poa compressa


Wire grass


Poa pratensis


Green or common meadow-grass


Agropyrum repens


Couch quick or "witch " grass


HORSETAIL FAMILY


Equisetum arvense


Common horsetail


FERNS


Polypodium vulgare


Polypody


Adiantum pedatum


Maidenhair


Pteris aquilina


Common brake


Asplenium thelypteroides


Spleen wort


Asplenium Filix-fœmina


Phegopteris hexagonoptera


Beech fern


Phegopteris Dryopteris


Aspidium Thelypteris


Shield-fern ; wood-fern


Sparganium simplex


ARUM FAMILY


131


PHYSICAL FEATURES


Aspidium Noveboracense Aspidium spinulosum


Aspidium cristatum


Aspidium marginale Aspidium acrostichoides


Cystopteris fragilis Onoclea sensibilis Woodsia Ilvensis


Christmas fern Bladder fern Sensitive fern Woodsia


Dicksonia pilosiuscula


Osmunda regalis


Flowering fern


Osmunda Claytoniana


Osmunda cinnamomea


Botrychium Virginicum


Cinnamon fern Moonwort


CLUB-MOSS FAMILY


Lycopodium lucidulum Club-moss


Lycopodium obscurum, var. den- droideum Lycopodium clavatum


Common club-moss


Lycopodium complanatum, var. flabelliforme Ground-pine


CHAPTER VI.


LYNDEBOROUGH UNDER THE PROVINCIAL CHARTER.


Hitherto, we have taken a view of Salem-Canada from 1735 to 1753 ; and, from that time on, we have followed the principal acts of the original proprietors of Lyndeborough, till all the lands held in severalty or in common have been assigned to their rightful heirs or purchasers. We now turn to survey Lyndeborough as a unit under the provincial government. The transition from a stock company acting under the Mason- ian Charter to an incorporated town under a Royal charter, is well presented in Vol. II of our Town Records, which covers the period from 1764 to 1774 inclusive. We shall transcribe only samples of these records, noting main features. We give in full the records for the years 1764 and 1768, verbatim et literatim, neither setting aught down in malice, nor cloaking faults of diction or of orthography.


TOWN RECORDS, VOL. II, Page 4. Anno. 1753.


Joseph Blanchard Esq. being appointed Agent for the Mason- ian Proprietors Grants a Charter to Benjamin Lynde Esq. & others of so much of Salem-Canada as had not been taken off by No. 2 (now Wilton) & with the addition of Land on the West & North makes a Township of abº 28,000 acres, & to be from thenceforward called Lyndeborough, as # Charter dated 5 Dec' 1753. The bounds whereof Followeth,


A tract of Land in the Prov. of New Hampshire cont" abº 28000 acres, bounded as followeth; beginning at the North East corner of a Tract of Land called Duxbury School Farm, & in the Line of that Township called Souhegan West, from thence West by the needle one mile 280 rod to the East Line of a Tract of Land called No. 2. from thence rung North 480 rods to the Nº East corner of No. 2. from thence West by the needle by the sd No. 2, five mile to a White Ash marked the Corner of Peterboro Slip, & of Nº 2, & from thence West by ye needle 240 rods by sd Peterb° Slip to a Beach tree marked from thence North by ye needle Six miles & 34 to a Tree marked for the Corner of sd Tract. from thence East Three miles & a quarter to a Tree marked in the Western Line of New Boston ; from thence South by that Line one mile & an


133


THE PROVINCIAL CHARTER


half to the most Sº Westerly Corner of New Boston aforesd, from thence East by sd New Boston line Three Miles 120 rod to a Black Oak marked, Still by New Boston Line rung South Two Miles & an half to a Stump & Stones ; from thence East one mile 80 rod to the N West Corner of that Tract of Land called Souhegan West aforesd-from thence by the Line of sd Souhegan West four miles 123 rod -to the bound first men- tioned -and to all the bounds aforesd, lett either of the Lines aforesaid be more or less.


Under this grant the Lyndeborough people acted with varying fortune for more than eleven years. Other towns around them sought charters from the Provincial Government, while they held to the Masonian guarantee of rights. Amherst was chartered in 1760, Wilton in 1762, New Boston in 1763 .* It seemed Lyndeborough's turn to move. Accordingly, the very year last named, we find a " Petition for an Act of Incorporation " ad- dressed as follows : t "To His Excellency Bening Wentworth Esq Governor & commander in chief in and over his majestys Province of New Hampr & the Hon" his Majestys Council.


The petition of a number of Inhabitants of said Province Humbly Sheweth that they live on a Tract of land in said prov- ince Bounded Easterly by Amherst southerly by Wilton North- erly by New Boston and Westerly Near what was called Peter- borough and that said tract of land is not yet Incorporated into a Town & by reason of which they labour under many difficultys. Therefore your petitioners Humbly pray that they may be In- corporated into a Body Politick and by a charter be invested with the Authority & Priviledges as other Towns have and enjoy in this province, and y' petitioners as in duty Bound shall ever pray.


June 28, 1763.


The signers were,


John Stephenson


Ephraim Putnam


Joseph Wilkins


Melchizedek Boffee


William Holt


David Badger


John Carkin


George Goold


Jacob Cram


Robert Badger


Jonathan Cram


Moses Stiles Jr.


David Cram


John Kidder


Moses Ordway


Joshua Hadley


*Bouton, IX., pp. 6, 553, and 794.


Bouton, Town Papers, Vol. IX., p. 541.


134


HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH


Ephraim Powers


John Ordway


Moses Stiles


Jolın Johnson


Jacob Wellman


Adam Johnson


William Carson


John Hutchinson


Edward Bevings Jr.


To this petition was appended the following note : -


" Having considered the within Petition I do hereby consent to the Incorporation of the sd Town of Lyndeborough & you are hereby directed to prepare a charter of Incorporation accord- ingly. B. Wentworth


To Mr. Secretary Atkinson."


We present now an outline plan of the town as chartered by Col. Joseph Blanchard.


The preceding outline plan of the town represents it and its measurements as given in the Masonian Charter of Dec. 5, 1753.


We now give a copy of the Charter issued by Governor Wentworth :


(SEAL) PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.


GEORGE ye 3ª by the Grace of God of great Brittain, France & Ireland King, Defender of the Faith &c.


To all to whom these presents shall come- Greeting -


Whereas our loving subjects Inhabitants on a Tract of Land within our Province of New Hampshire aforesd by the name Lyndsborough have humbly Petitioned & requested that they may be erected & incorporated into a Township & Infranchised with the same Powers & Priviledges weh other Towns have & Enjoy within our sª Province by Law have & enjoy ; and it ap- pearing to us to be conducive to the General good of our sª Prov- ince as well as to the sd Inhabitants in perticular by maintaining good Order & encouraging the culture of sª Lands that the same should be done.


Know ye therefore that we of our special Grace, certain knowledge, and for the Encouragement & Promotion of these good Ends & purposes, by & with the Advice of our Trusty & well beloved Benning Wentworth Esq. our Govern" & Com- ander in Chief, & of our Council for sd Province of New Hamp- shire, Have Erected & Ordained, & by these presents for us, our Heirs & Successors do will & ordain that our loving sub- jects residing on the Tract of Land aforesd or that shall here- after reside and improve thereon, the same being limited & Bounded as followeth, Beginning at the N. East corner of a


135


THE PROVINCIAL CHARTER


Tract of Land called Duxbury School Farm & in the Line of the Township of Amherst, from thence running West by the needle one mile 280 rods to the East Line of the Township of Wilton, from thence North by the needle four hundred Ninety Eight rods to the Nº East Corner of Wilton aforesd From thence West by the needle by Wilton aforesd five miles to a White Ash marked the Corner of Peterborough Slip & Wilton aforesd from thence West by the needle Two hundred & 40 rod by sª Peterb° Slip to a Beach tree marked, from thence North by the needle Six miles & Three quarters to a Tree marked for the Corner of sd Tract -from thence East by the needle Three miles & one quarter to a Tree marked in the Western Line of New Boston ; from thence South by that Line one mile & an half to the most South Westerly Corner of New Boston aforesd from thence East by the sd New Boston Line, Three miles 120 rods to a black oak marked ; Still by sd New Boston Line & runs South Two miles & an half to a stump & stones, from thence East one mile & 80 rods to the North West corner of Amherst aforesd : from thence South by the Line of Amherst, four miles One hundred Twenty three rods, to the bounds first mentioned, Shall be & by these Presents are de- clared & ordained to be a Town corporate & are hereby Erected & Incorporated into a body politick & corporate to have con- tinuance untill his Majesty's Pleasure shall be signified to the contrary ; by the name of Lyndeborough, with all the Powers Authority's Priviledges. and Immunities & Franchises which any other Town in sª Province by law have & enjoy ; always reserving to us our heirs and successors all White Pine Trees that are or shall be found growing & being on the sª Tract of Land, fit for the use of our Royal Navy; reserving also the Power & right of Deviding the sd Town when it shall appear necessary & convenient for the benefit for the Inhabitants thereof. Provided nevertheless, and it is hereby declared that this our Charter & Grant is not intended or shall in any manner be construed to Extend to or Affect the Private Property of the Soil within the limits aforesd And as the several Towns within our sd Province of New Hampshire are by the laws thereof en- abled & authorized to assemble & by the authority of the voters present to chuse all such officers and Transact such affairs as by sd Laws are declared ; We Do by these presents Nominate & Appoint Mr. John Stephenson to call the first meeting any time within 30 days from the Date hereof, giving legal notice of the


136


HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH


Time & Place & Design of Holding such meeting, after which the Annual meeting for sª Town for the choice of Officers and management of the affairs aforesd shall be held within sd Town- ship on the Second Tuesday of March annually.


In Testimony whereof We have caused the seal of our sd Province to be hereunto Affixed.


Witness, Benning Wentworth Esq" our Governor & Com- mander in Chief in & over our sª Province of New Hampshire, the 23ª Day of April in the 4th year of our Reign, Annoq Domini 1764.


By his Excelley's Comand with advice of Council


T. Atkinson Jun" Secry. B. Wentworth.


Province of New Hampshire 24 April 1764.


Recorded in the Book of Charters No. I p. 261, 262.


+ T. Atkinson Jun" Secry.


Copy from Original.


THE FIRST TOWN MEETINGS.


Province of 1 By vertue of a Charter I have given notice New Hampshire .S to all Persons Inhabiting that Tract of Land Known by the Name of Lyndeborough that whereas it hath Pleased his Excellency Governor Wintworth with the advice of the Council of this Province to Incorporate the tract of Land with the Inhabitants into a Township by the Name of Lynds- borough - whereas it Hath Pleased the said Governor and Councel to Nominate and apoint me the subscriber to call the first Meeting for the choice of town officers.


These are therefore to warn all the freeholders and other In- habitents of said tract of Land now in the town of Lyndsbor- ough that they meet at the meetinghouse in said town on Tues- day the fifteenth day of May next Insuing the date hereof at one O Clock in the afternoon.


I -to Except of said Chartor


2 -to Chuse nessecery and ordenary town officers for the year untill the Second tuesday in next March Insuing. Given under my Hand this twenty Eighth day of April Anodo y. 1764 The above is a notification for a town meeting by vertue of a Chartor - Tru Copy John Stephenson.


At a Legol meeting of the Inhabitants of Lyndsborough being Uneversally met by vertue of a Chartor at the meetinghouse - on fifteenth day of May Ad. 1764


137


THE PROVINCIAL CHARTER


Voted by a Large Majority that the Chartor is Excepted


Voted John Shepard Jun" Moderator to this meeting


Voted John Stephenson Town Clerk


Voted Jonathan Cram Benjamin Cram William Carson Se- lectmen


Voted Melchizedek Boofee Constable


Voted Sergant John Hutchinson Edward Beveins Jun" David Badger John Kidder & David Cram 'Survayors of Highways


Voted Jacob Wellman Ephraim Putnam Tything men


Voted Selectmen fence vewers


Voted David Badger George Goold Deer Keepers


Voted Jacob Cram Asahel Stiles Hawards or field drivers


Voted George Goold Pound Keeper.


Trew Copy att. { John Stephenson Town Clerk.


Province of New Hampshire.


Lyndsborough May ye 15, 1764


At the opening of the meeting a discent was given as foloeth.


I the Subsbriber do Enter my descent against the excepting of the Chartor as witness my hand Jeramiah Carleton Att. John Stephenson Clerk.


Such is the record of the first town meeting. Three others were also held that year, as if to get the new machinery speedily into good working order.


The first of these was held the 6th of June, and votes were taken on six articles, viz .: -


I. Jonathan Cram was chosen Moderator.


2. A committee was chosen to treat with the Proprietors of the town to see if they will continue their contributions to enable us to hire preaching. Jonathan Cram was chosen such committee.


3. They petitioned the Proprietors for aid in resettling the gospel ; & Ephraim Putnam, Jonathan Cram, & John Stephen- son were chosen a committee to present the petition .*


4. Dismissed the matter of raising money to pay for charter.


5. Voted money to pay for boarding the ministers the year past.


6. Dismissed the article, on accepting the roads.


*The response of the proprietors may be found in the "Proprietors' Records " under date of Nov. 12, 1765 They voted, " that for the Encouragement of a Learned Orthodox minsters settling among the people of Lyndeboro, there be paid to the order of sd Town, the sum of Thirty Three pounds 6 s 8 pence, I,. money annualy for the space of two years from such ministers settlement,- he continuing to discharge the Office & Duty of a Gospel Minister." Voted also, " That as a further Encouragement for such ministers settling in the ministry at Lyndeboro there is granted Two hundred acres of the Unappropriated Land, to be for the use of such Person his Heirs and Assigns for ever, & to be laid out by the Proprietors." Prop. Rec'ds, year 1765.


138.


HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH


The second of these meetings was held Sept. 18, 1764, and considered six articles : -


I. Chose Ephraim Powers Moderator.


2. Dismissed consideration of better accommodating the South East corner of the town as to holding Sabbath Meetings, or eas- ing them in paying charges for the minister's board.


3. Voted to raise 6 {. 6 S. sterling money of Great Britain, or 28 Spanish milled Dollars, to pay for the charter of Incor- poration.


4. Voted to choose a committee to hire preaching " the Pro- prietors alowing the money," for the remainder of the year ; and chose the Selectmen such committee.


5. Voted to warn townmeetings for the future, by setting up two warrants,- one at the meetinghouse, & the other, at the house of John Hutchinson in the South East corner of the town.


6. Voted to "Except the roads as described in a paper read by Benjamin Cram in this meeting."


The third meeting was held Nov. 28, 1764.


I. Chose Ephraim Powers Moderator.


2. A proposition to divide the town at Boffee's Mountain, so called, was negatived.


3. To see if the town-meetings may be held at the centre of population instead of at the meetinghouse, was also negatived.


4. To see if the town will relieve Jacob Cram and all the other inhabitants South of him from all taxes except the Province tax, was also decided in the negative.


All these were attested by John Stephenson, Town Clerk.


We give abstracts of succeeding meetings : -


Mar. 12, 1765,- Annual Townmeeting.


I. Chose Benjamin Cram, Moderator.


2. John Stephenson, Clerk.


3. John Stephenson, Edward Bevins Jr. & David Badger, Selectmen.


Aug. 29, 1765,-


I. Chose Jonathan Cram, Moderator.


2. The several places proposed as sites for the meetinghouse, negatived.




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