USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Lyndeborough > The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire,1735-1905 > Part 49
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A short distance east of the above house is the home of Mr. F. B. Richards, a brother-in-law of Mr. D. P. Hartshorn. Mr. R. built here soon after his marriage to Miss Lizzie Hartshorn, and considerate of the filial spirit of his wife, who wished to live near her excellent mother, concurred with her in locating near her old home. Mr. R. and family have been the sole occupants of this place, including Mrs. R.'s portion of her father's estate.
Returning again to the intersection of the road, to the place once fixed upon as the centre of old Salem-Canada township, where was the home of John Cram, the first settler, we may delay a few moments for a glance at his family and connections. Whether by purpose or accident, the estates of his children seem
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remarkably near his first home. It is quite probable this was the house of Ephraim Putnam which was burned. His oldest son, Capt. Jonathan, lived over the hill southeast of Mr. Luther Cram's, on what is known as the John A. Putnam place. His daughter Phebe married Moses Stiles, who lived southeast of his home, and almost within hailing distance. His son Joseph owned the place now known as the Emery Holt place. His daughter Huldah married Ephraim Woodward, and lived toward the north part of the town. His son John settled in Wil- ton, where Ephraim Putnam first settled, almost in sight of his father's home. It looks as though he might have exchanged places with his sister's husband, with his father as intermediary. Sarah Cram married Ephraim Putnam and came back to live in the old home. Elizabeth, twin sister of Sarah, married Jona- than Chamberlain, Sr., who received seventy-five acres of lot 41, for taking care of Joseph Cram and giving him Christian burial. The most likely conjecture about the building of the house in which Edwin H. Putnam now lives is that it was built by Jona- than Chamberlain, above named. The house seems to be on lot 41 and on the part of it deeded to him. Benjamin Cram, also a twin son, settled in Lyndeborough, probably on the place where Percy H. Putnam now lives. Thus the Crams, Stiles', Wood- wards, Putnams, Chamberlains and others whom we cannot now name, were drawn together and united with each other, and large sections of their estates were not only in plain view, but also widely contiguous. Thinking then of the central point again, the oldest house, unquestionably, on Putnam Hill at present is Mr. E. H. Putnam's.
Many years ago a very aged man called at the place that he might once more see the home of his early days. It was a Mr. Herrick who had gone west and returned to visit his native place. Here lived Timothy Thurston Putnam, who was Albert Hardy's successor, and here at an earlier day lived John Carleton. A complete list does not seem at this date attainable.
About northeast from Mr. E. H. Putnam's, and in plain sight from the dooryard is the home of Mr. Emery Holt and also of his eldest son, Harvey and family. The main part of the house faces the road, and is two-story in front. Extending back from the rear of the two-story part is an older part which is one-story, and connects with the other buildings. A structure older than either of these was taken away to give place for the present one. This was built by John F. Holt who lived here
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himself, and whose father lived in the older part. Joseph Cram, a son of John, the first settler, is said to have owned the place first. It seems to have been owned later by both Daniel and John Chamberlain,* who were probably grandchildren of Elizabeth (Cram) Chamberlain, Joseph's sister, who, with her husband, had the care of her brother in his last days, and aided in giving him "Christian burial." It joins the Manuel place on the southwest, and in the pasture southeast of the house is found a very ancient and almost obliterated cellar hole. Mr. Emery Holt bought the place of his kinsman, John Fletcher Holt, and has lived here many years.
About a half-mile northeast of Mr. Emery Holt's the road divides, the right hand branch going toward the meeting-house and the left hand going very nearly north towards the Stephen- son homestead, now occupied by Mr. Willis J. Stephenson. This name seems to be variously pronounced and spelled, as if Stimson and Stinson. The schedule attached to the Masonian Charter, and the charter itself, each, contains the name in one of these forms. From these records it is evident that David Stinson or Stimson owned a share in the town, numbered, Home Lot 48 ; together with Second Division Lots 58 and 59, before it was chartered under the name of Lyndeborough, that is, before Dec. 5, 1753.1 The Rev. Frank G. Clark wrote, that "David Stephenson and wife settled on the farm still called by that name, and owned early in the history of the town the lots north and northwest."# Mr. Stephenson's house was built by his father, the late Jonathan Stephenson, who passed away in his 97th year ; long a prominent man in the business and counsels of the town, selectman, town clerk, overseer of the poor and town representative. He built on the site of the former house which burned down, and in which many of his valuable papers were destroyed.
Retracing our way back to the road which passed the furnace and the cemetery, the next dwelling is that of Mr. Rufus Chamberlain, south from the cemetery. Mr. Chamberlain built the house in which he lives. It stands on the farm which con- tained 75 acres, deeded to his great grandfather, Jonathan Chamberlain, by the Cram heirs, on condition of his supporting his brother-in-law, Joseph Cram, and giving him "Christian
* The late Mrs. S. P. Hartshorn testified that "John Chamberlain made nails at the iron furnace " before Henry and James Cram 2nd. carried it on. He was probably the maker of those referred to on page 457.
t See Charter, p. 48, and Schedule, p. 53. # S-C., p. 27.
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burial." An older house had been removed from this site to make place for the new one. In the old house had lived Henry Cram, who owned and operated the furnace, and also his son Peter, who was a capable man and an honored citizen. The latter sold his place and later went West to live. It was after- wards sold to Mr. Chamberlain who now has passed his eighty- sixth milestone, and is honored and respected by his fellow-citi- zens.
The next place is Mr. Luther Cram's. Here he has culti- vated his ancestral acres and built the fine house in which he lives. It stands on the brow of a broad hill which overlooks the South village nestling in the basin to the westward. It is reached from the west by a beautiful avenue shaded by fine maple trees of his own planting, adding a special charm to the place of his nativity. The view obtained from his summer house, a little to the south of his dwelling, is unsurpassed even among the many grand and pleasing prospects of the town. He is now one of the sturdy, aged men of our town, clear-headed and liberal minded. Though he looks somewhat old, "his age is as a lusty winter, frosty but kindly." He is one of the history committee, and has assisted much in securing the publication of the history of his native town. He has served the town in all the principal offices within its gift.
The place next south of Mr. L. Cram's is Mr. Elbert Barrow's. Mr. Barrow is a son-in-law of the late Mr. E. J. Hardy, and came here from the West about three years ago, and bought the place on which Mr. Charles Carr had lived. The latter bought of Mr. Nello Tarbell, who had lived on it about a year. It had been sold to him by Albert Cram of the fifth generation from the first settler. The house was built by James Cram, 2nd, Albert's father. Mr. Barrow, since coming here to live, has added to his estate, which is partly in Wilton, about fifty acres more of Wilton territory.
The next place going east was formerly that of Uriah Cram, a Revolutionary minute-man, and grandson of the first settler. The cellar of his old house which was two story (see Revolution- ary roll, p. 182), is but partially covered by the new building erected by the late John A. Putnam, whose widow now occupies it. She was Louise Cram, daughter of Joseph, and grand- daughter of Uriah Cram. Here her sister, Harriet Russell, ended her days in November, 1900. Her grandchildren, the Misses Bertha and Susie Chenery, have here a home with her.
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The barn connected with this house covers a portion of the cellar of the old house of Capt. Jonathan Cram, the eldest son of John, who came here from Massachusetts soon after his father came. He was a prominent man in town. Five sons and two daughters were settled in Lyndeborough, Jonathan who later lived in Wilton, David, Jacob, Solomon and Uriah. The daughters, Elizabeth and Rachel, married respectively, John Carkin and Ephraim Putnam 3rd. Jonathan is said to have served in the French and Indian war before coming to Salem-Canada.
The place east of his is known as the Ellinwood place. Samuel Ellinwood lived in school district number three in 1808, and Samuel Ellingwood and Ira S. Ellinwood were reported in 1819 as having produced certificates that they were " members of the Baptist Society." (See page 337.) Samuel is reported to have lived to a great age and died on this place. There re- mains only the old cellar now to show where his house once stood.
Southeast of this place near the Wilton line was the place called the " Russell Place." The Russell who lived there was probably Jedediah, Jr., as given in the tax list of school district number three in 1808. There is now no dwelling on the place ; but the old cellar shows where it once stood.
PLACES IN DISTRICT NO. 6.
As one passes out of school district No. 3, towards district No. 6, the first habitation reached there is that of A. A. Melendy. This is another of the old places of the town. On it lived Jacob, son of Jonathan Cram. He was one of the petitioners for the provincial charter in 1763, married Isabel Hutchinson, and was prominent in trying to have the meeting house nearer the settlers in that part of the town. This re- sulted in his having the preaching at his house a fourth of the time. (See page 282.) His successor on the place was his son-in-law, Andrew Harwood, and then his grandson, Andrew Harwood, Jr., Dexter K. Holt and A. A. Melendy.
Mr. Melendy's next neighbor towards Milford is Mr. E. E. Lowe. His predecessor was Daniel Austin and his again, Per- sons Holt. Before Mr. Holt was Samuel Hartshorn, whose father was John Hartshorn, born in Lyndeborough March 26, 1756, married Sarah Batchelder, born in the same town, June 26, 1762. This was the original Hartshorn place.
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The next place east was the Eben Batchelder home. He is said to have come from South Reading, Mass., where he married Betsey Dix. He seems to have been the father-in-law of John Hartshorn whose farm adjoined his. Mr. Batchelder's succes- sors were Charles Harvey Holt and William P. Holt.
The place of Mr. George W. Parker is the next on the road ; and many think it the most famous fruit farm in New Hamp- shire, if not in New England. He made the cultivation of fruit a specialty, and by his success in this line has given not only his own townsmen but those of other towns and of a wide section of the country a genuine surprise. He raises apples, peaches and plums, and the finer varieties of these and his harvests in bearing years are rich and remunerative. The skilful management of his place is quite a marvel, and does credit to the owner and to his town.
On this place is also a mineral spring whose medicinal proper- ties in many cases produce marked results. Its medicinal property "is due to three things: its carbonate of magnesia, its great purity, and the suitable proportions of its constitu- ents." The carbonate of magnesia which seems to be the most prominent constituent is described as "antacid, laxative and antilithic."
Mr. Parker's predecessors on this farm were, probably, Ed- ward Bevins, Jr., a Revolutionary hero, who is said to have been the pioneer settler on or near that place. (See Old Deeds No. 15, p. 483.) The section of the town in which this farm lies was in the early days known as Bevins' corner. In this connexion a story of feminine prowess is told which seems too good to miss. "Sally Bevens was accustomed to assist her neighbors at hay-making and harvesting. And once, on her return home, she heard her pig squealing vociferously. Satis- fied as to the cause of it, she seized a good, stout fire-brand and sped to the rescue. She overhauled the burdened foe, engaged him with her brand, and though his claws cruelly tore the flesh from her shoulder and upper arm, so that she carried the marks to her grave, she yet proved victor, routed the bear and saved her pork."
Such was the pluck shown in many of our early settlements. Others who succeeded in possession of that place were David Perham, Josiah M. Parker and its present owner, who appears to have surpassed all others in rendering it productive.
Mr. Harry R. Chase lives on a part of what is called the old
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Blanchard place. The first of that name on it was, perhaps, Lieutenant Jotham. His successors were Asa, and Asa, Jr., the father of Mrs. G. W. Parker, Mrs. Chase and also Mrs. C. G. Hatch. Mr. Chase is living on what has been called the Asa Blanchard farm.
The next place is the home of Mr. Hodgen. Before him, it was that of Charles Savage. He was preceded by Charles and H. M. Tarbell who bought of Ezra F. Melzar. The latter married Susan E., daughter of James Pearson who came to Lyndeborough in 1829 and removed to Milford in 1856, where he died, 1879. Mr. Pearson left the farm soon after the mar- riage of his daughter to Mr. Melzar, and the latter sold it and removed to Milford about nine years later. The place is known as the Pearson place.
The McAllister place is the name by which Mr. Elmer B. Parker's farm is now known. Mr. Parker married Lula E. McAllister whose father, George S., died March 22, 1904, and the young people are now carrying on the place. The place was sold to Mr. McAllister by Dexter Kendall Holt. Its present owner, like his father, George W. Parker, is a fruit grower, and rivals his father's skill in its cultivation.
Next to this is what is known as the Emerson Batchelder place. It has been for many years the home of his son, John C., who made a specialty of grape culture, and raised great quantities and wonderfully fine samples of that fruit. He de- parted this life Aug. 11, 1904, and his son George is continuing the work of his famed father. On the place are two sets of buildings, and it has been justly noted for its excellent grapes.
The next house is the last in Lyndeborough before reaching the Milford line, and belongs to Mrs. Charles Leroy Hutchinson. The place was previously owned by Israel Porter Holt, and was then called the "Porter Holt " place. Before that it was owned by Milo Robbins, and earlier still by Russell Robbins.
Returning again to the road which goes from Mr. Harry R. Chase's to Wilton, a small dwelling near Mr. Chase's is the home of Mr. J. W. Chute. David Perham has been named as the builder.
On the road from Perham corner to Wilton, the first turn to the right leads to the late Mr. Harvey Perham's place, now the home of his widow and youngest son and daughter. The son is carrying on the place, which seems to have been part of the old Perham homestead. The succession traced back seems to
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be John, Harvey, John, Oliver 2nd, Oliver, revolutionary hero. (See Roll, pp. 194, 195.)
A short distance northwest of the Harvey Perham place is that of John A. Bullard. It was previously owned by Charles Tarbell, whose predecessor was Jonathan McIntire. It was the home of John Perham, father of Harvey.
Farther along on that road is the Joseph Perham place. Mr. Perham is said to have been a large man, and to have worn more than a number twelve boot. He was a brother of John above named. His place was the last on that road before reaching the Wilton line. His successor was his son Rodney. After him came Sylvester Small. After Mr. Small's day the place was divided into two parts; one of these was purchased by Mr. Baldwin, postmaster at Wilton, who has built a fine house on it, and the other part, south of the road, was bought by Mr. George M. Hartshorn, who owned it a few years and then sold it to D. Whiting & Co., of Wilton.
Returning to the Wilton road by way of Harvey Perham's, the nearest place is that of his late brother, Otis, who was un- married. Mr. Albert Foster is the present owner, and occu- pying the house with him is his son-in-law, Fred H. Tarbell.
The last place in Lyndeborough on this Wilton road is that built by Mr. Edward Powers, deceased. Mr. Fred H. Tarbell bought the place and lived there until after the death of Mrs. Foster, his wife's mother, when he moved his family into the home of Mrs. Foster's father.
DISTRICTS NO. ONE, TWO, FOUR, SEVEN AND EIGHT. BY J. A. WOODWARD.
It would be impossible at this date in the history of the town to give an absolutely correct record of the transfers of the farms. We say " impossible " because in many cases the deeds of the early transfers were never recorded, and in other cases were not recorded until twenty or more years after the transactions took place; and tradition is not a very safe basis upon which to build a record.
We submit the following record as only approximately correct. Much of the information was secured while trying to "climb the family trees " of the people of the town ; from transcripts of records at Exeter and Nashua made by John H. Goodrich, Esq., and from tradition. Except in a few instances no attempt was made to record the changes in ownership of abandoned farms.
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DISTRICT NO. I.
The Ordway place .- John Ordway first built here. Timothy Ordway, Timothy Ordway, Jr., Walter Ordway, Amos W. Barden, Hadley Bros., Derastus Emery, Frank E. Cummings. Present house built by Amos W. Barden.
The Moses Chenery place .- This was a part of the Ordway farm. John Ordway, Enoch Ordway, Moses Chenery, Moses Chenery heirs, Charles J. Cummings.
The Hadley place .- Joshua Hadley was the first settler on this land. The farm has always been kept in the Hadley family. Chase Hadley, Franklin Hadley, Levi P. Hadley, Mrs. Minerva Hadley.
The Amos Pratt place .- This place was also a part of the original Ordway estate. The name of the first builder on the land is unknown. Amos Pratt, John J. Balch, David G. Dickey, Mrs. Minerva Hadley.
The " Old Town Farm." - Eleazer Woodward took a deed of this land from Robert Hooper, Aug. 10, 1770, and was the first settler and builder thereon. Eleazer Woodward, Jr., town of Lyndeborough for fifty years as town farm, George E. Spalding, Martin Whitney, Milford Five Cents Savings Bank, Jacob A. Woodward. The town remodeled the house but re- tained a part of the original Woodward building.
The Nathan Richardson place .- Robert Badger was the first settler on this land .* Nathan Richardson, Harry J. Richard- son.
The Isaac P. French place .- William Barron took a deed of this land from Rev. Sewall Goodridge, Sept. 28, 1768. Mr. Barron built and kept a tavern here. Isaac P. French, Oliver Bixby, Samuel Jones, Dexter Holt, George T. Woodward, Charles Keyes, Frank B. Tay.
The Fiske place .- This land was chosen by the Rev. Sewall Goodridge, according to the terms of his settlement. He was the first settler and built the present house. Israel H. Good- ridge, Ebenezer Fiske, Ebenezer Fisk heirs, Fred Hill (tenant), William E. Fiske, William C. Wilder.
James H. Karr place .- Dea. David Badger was the first settler here. He took a deed of the land from Samuel Wells, Dec. 4, 1771. The deed called for 100 acres of land "exclu-
* There must have been a transfer between Badger and Richardson but of this we can get no record.
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sive " of a pond. Sarah Badger, William J. Herrick, James H. Karr.
The Manahan place .- The name of the person who first built here is unknown. The land was originally a part of the Dea. David Badger farm. Samuel T. Manahan, James Grant, Daniel Woodward, Jr., Cyrus Jaquith, M. C. Clough, Percy Goddard, Charles D. Riley.
The Herman A. Walker place .- Dr. Israel Herrick built the house now standing on this farm. Dr. Nathan Jones, Benjamin Jones, Nathaniel Jones, Samuel Jones, Julien E. Wright, Herman A. Walker. Mr. Walker remodeled the house and built the new barn in 1898.
The Dr. Benjamin Jones place .- Dr. Benjamin Jones built the brick house standing on this land. It was the first and only house ever built on the place. The splendid elm trees standing in front of the house were set out as saplings the year the house was built. Dea. William Jones, George E. Spald- ing. Mr. Spalding tore down the old " hop house" and barns and built the present commodious barns.
The Bixby place .- Rev. Nathaniel Merrill built the house on this place for a parsonage. The land was given by Benj. Lynde either to the church or to the town, or to Mr. Merrill. (In the absence of any record in the church, town, or society's books it is hard at this date to say to which he gave it.) Robert B. Tupper, Oliver Bixby, John C. Ordway, Samuel Dolliver, Thomas A. Williams, Edward K. Warren. Mr. Williams and Mr. Warren kept a store in the house, and it was the last abid- ing place of the post-office at the "Centre " before that office was discontinued.
The Richardson place .- George and Daniel Gould took a deed of lot 70 Dec. 5, 1775, and of lot 69 July, 1783. The grantor was John Gould. Daniel Gould first built on this land, or more precisely, on lot 70. He kept store and tavern there for a number of years. Jacob Richardson then bought the place. Timothy Richardson, John Richardson, Fred A. Rich- ardson. About 1857 John Richardson tore down the Gould buildings and erected the present house, ell, and later the barn.
The Parsonage .- Built by the Congregational Society in 1837 and occupied by the pastors of the Congregational church ever since.
The Old Store house .- Built by Daniel or George Gould in the decade 1780-1790. It was George who probably built the
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house, as Daniel built on the Richardson place. But Daniel lived in the house at one time. It was one of the historic houses of the town. It was a large, square, two-storied building, with a long ell in which was kept the store. Town meeting day the store was thronged by the townspeople to buy the famous gin- gerbread of those days, and to purchase other special bargains offered by the storekeeper "for that day only."
It was the rendezvous of competitive hunting parties, and if the traditions are true, the hunters used to buy, beg and steal game just the same as now. It was there that the men and boys of the vicinity resorted at evening time to swap stories, hear the news, wrestle, pull stick and practice other athletic sports almost unknown to the boys of the present day. In the second story of the house was a large hall where singing schools were kept. After the death of the Goulds the place changed hands once or twice, of which changes no record can be obtained. In 1830 it was the property of Israel H. Goodridge, then Daniel Woodward, Jr., Daniel Woodward, Sr., William J. Herrick, William W. Curtis. The buildings were burned, as recorded in another chapter.
The Capt. Peter Clark place .- With Nehemiah Rand when he came to Lyndeborough from Charlestown, Mass., was a young lad named Nehemiah Frost. This Frost afterward mar- ried Irene, a daughter of Rand. Mr. Frost built the house on this place and was the first settler on the land. After Frost, David Farrington, Robert B. Tupper, Esq., then David, or as better known, " Esquire " Stiles, Capt. Peter Clark, W. H. and B. J. Clark, William H. Clark.
The Dr. William A. Jones house .- This house was built by a stock company for Dr. W. A. Jones. The people desired to keep a physician in town and there was no convenient tenement for him to live in, so this house was built. On the removal of Dr. Jones from town later, the place was sold to B. J. Clarke. S. D. Rand, Belle L. Boutwell.
The Wheeler house .- Built by Josiah Wheeler about 1810. George E. Winn, Frank Joslin, Mrs. Jennie Frank, Walter Stewart.
The Nelson Kidder place .- Nehemiah Boutwell built the first house on this place. Nelson Kidder came to Lyndeborough, bought the place, tore down the old house and built the present cottage. He built a blacksmith shop on the opposite side of the street. Thomas A. Williams, C. R. Boutwell, George Kimball.
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The Capt. Henry Clark place .- It is only a tradition who built the house which formerly stood on this land. This tradi- tion says that when Ebenezer Coston sold his place to James Boutwell he reserved this small plot of land and built a house thereon. When torn down it was one of the oldest houses in this section of the town. A store was kept there for a time, and Dr. Israel Herrick had an office there when he returned to Lyndeborough at the solicitation of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill. Widow Creecy, Capt. Henry Clarke, Ovid Fowler, C. R. Bout- well.
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