USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Lyndeborough > The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, Vol. II > Part 7
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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, ยท 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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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
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 liouse 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.
The Boutwell place .- Jonathan Cram, Jr., was undoubtedly the first settler on this land. Dec. 24, 1760, he deeded it to Rev. John Rand. Rand sold it to Ebenezer Coston, and Coston deeded it to James Boutwell, Apr. 8, 1767. James Boutwell evidently bought and sold considerable land at one time and another. There is a record that he took a deed of a lot of land from Asahel Brunson, paying therefor 3,000 " Spanish milled dollars." This farm has been owned since 1767 by some mem- ber of the Boutwell family. James Boutwell, Nehemiah Bout- well, Rodney C. Boutwell, Benjamin J. Boutwell, Charles R. Boutwell, Mrs. C. R. Boutwell.
The large, square house was built by Nehemiah Boutwell and was remodeled by Charles R. Boutwell.
The Dutton cottage .- Franklin Hadley built this house as home for his aged father and mother. For some reason they never went there to live, and the place was sold to Eliza Cham- berlain. Betsey E. Dutton, C. R. Boutwell, Rev. O. E. Hardy.
The Nancy Miller cottage .- Nancy Miller bought of John Richardson the old store-house of Daniel Gould, had it removed to this place and remodeled it into the present building. This was about 1850.
The Abram Boutwell place .- Leonard Morse had the old shoemaker's shop of "Esquire " Tupper moved to this place and remodeled. Abram Boutwell, Frank Joslin.
The Raymond place .- J. Hartshorn built the house on this place. Henry M. Stayner. William B. Raymond bought the place in 1844 and has lived there sixty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond have lived together man and wife sixty-nine years, a record that is rarely equalled in New England to-day.
The Stearns place .- The house on this place was built by William Abbott. Charles Maynard, John Stearns, Frank Stearns.
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DISTRICT NO 2.
The John Chenery place .- The widow McMaster built the house on this place. Eliza McMaster, John Chenery.
The Dr. Israel Herrick place .- Dr. Israel Herrick bought this place of Jonas Wheeler. The house on the place was burned after Dr. Herrick bought it; whether Jonas Wheeler built the old house or not is uncertain. The probabilities are that he did not, but at this date there are no traditions and no records. The old buildings were burned as recorded elsewhere, and Dr. Herrick replaced them with new. Benj. G. Herrick.
The Lafayette Herrick place .- David Woodward, 2d., built the brick house on this place. Between Woodward and Karr there were changes of ownership of which I have no record. James H. Karr, Lafayette Herrick, Indianna Herrick.
The Dea. McIntire place .- So far as is known, Joseph Kidder or some member of the Kidder family first settled on this land. It was deeded to John Kidder by Ephraim Powers, June 15, 1772. Joseph Kidder built the house or part of it which stands on the land now. Nathaniel Tay, Elias McIntire, Nathaniel T. McIntire.
The Israel Woodward place .- Benjamin Fuller first built on this land; then a Mr. Hackett, Israel Woodward, Hannah Woodward, Wilkes H. Hadley, Mrs. Martin.
The Fuller homestead .- Nov. 11, 1767 Sewall Goodridge deeded to Andrew Fuller part of Lot 86, 2nd. division. Jan. 10, 1772 Josiah Abbott deeded to Andrew Fuller the remainder of Lot 86. Nov. 20, 1773 Joseph Blaney deeded to Andrew Fuller Lot 5, 2nd. division.
Andrew Fuller was the first settler and builder on this land and the farm has been handed from father to son until now. Andrew Fuller, Jr., Moses C. Fuller. This is one of the farms owned by a direct descendant of the first settler.
The Pinnacle House estate .- David Woodward was the first settler on this land and built a brick house thereon. John and David Gage, John W. Burnham, Edward W. Duncklee. Mr. Duncklee built the large summer hotel known as the Pinnacle House.
The Isaac L. Duncklee place .- Thomas Holt, - Floyd, Isaac L. Duncklee, Clintie Duncklee.
The David Holt homestead .- William Holt and David Strat- ton settled on this land together. They built a log-house and occupied it one winter. William Holt then removed to an
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adjoining lot now owned by Benj. G. Herrick. Stratton remained and built the seventh frame house in Lyndeborough. He soon sold out to Holt, and the latter came back to this farm and it has remained in the family possession ever since. Wil- liam Holt, Oliver Holt, David Holt, Andy Holt, Fred Holt. Most of the present buildings were erected or improved during the ownership of David Holt.
The Harvey Holt place .- Dr. Benjamin Jones was the first settler on this land, and also the first settled physician in town. He took a deed of this land of James Andrews Aug. 29, 1770. He sold the place to his son Joseph, and built the brick house at the " Center." Harvey Holt, Henry H. Joslin.
The David C. Grant place .- Melchizedeck Boffee first made a home on this lot, taking a deed of the same from Jeremiah Lee, Aug 10, 1770. The next owner was John Boffee, his son. James Grant bought the farm but between Boffee and Grant there was probably a transfer of which we have no record. James Grant, David C. Grant, Arthur Grant, Frank H. Joslin.
The Foster Woodward place .- Foster Woodward bought this land of Levi H. Woodward and erected the present buildings. Eliza and Josie Woodward.
The " Houston " Woodward place .- This land was originally part of the Stephenson estate. When Eleazer Woodward, Jr. sold his farm to the town, he bought here and built a house and barn. Levi Houston Woodward, Dana B. Sargent, Mrs. Dana B. Sargent, Mrs. Mattie Putnam.
The Williams Woodward place .- Williams Woodward built the cottage on this place. Levi H. Woodward, Harriet Myra Davis, Lizzie Hilt.
The Stephenson homestead farm .- John Stephenson was the first settler on this land and the ownership has descended from father to son to this day. John Stephenson was one of the early settlers and this farm was certainly improved by him as early as 1755. John Stephenson, John Stephenson, Jr., Jonathan Steph- enson, Willis J. Sephenson. John Stephenson took a deed from B. Lynde Dec. 20, 1764 of Lot 55, 2nd division and March 5, 1780 he bought of the same party Lot 56, 2nd division. Nov. 2, 1768 he bought of Benj. Cram part of Lot 59.
DISTRICT NO. 4.
The Watkins place .- This place was probably first improved by some member of the Kidder family. Either Phineas, Phin- eas, or Phineas C., known as "Old Phineas," "Middle Phin-
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eas " and "Young Phineas"; then Oliver Watkins, David Upton.
The Old Parker Tavern stand .- Jonathan Parker was the builder of a log house on this land. Isaiah Parker, Charles Parker; then a number of transient occupants; George R. Barnes.
The James W. Merrill place .- William Loring, Manley Kid- der, who built the present house. James W. Merrill.
The Charles Parker place .- Charles Parker, George Dunck- lee, George H. Stevens, Horace D. Gage.
The Jonas Abbott place .- Owned and occupied for many years by the Abbott family. Charles L. Avery
The Christie place .- First house on this place built by John K. Christie. Morris Frye, Charles Goodrich, Charles R. Smith.
The Dea. John C. Goodrich place .- Ebenezer Hutchinson first settled on this place. John Southwick, John C. Goodrich and Eliphalet Atwood, John C. Goodrich, John H. Goodrich. The post office at North Lyndeborough was always kept at this place.
The Paul Atwood place .- Paul Atwood built the house on this place. John H. Goodrich ; now owned by Mrs Stella E. Woods.
The Benjamin Ames place .- Jonathan Thayer first built here. William H. Gould, Luther Odell, Benjamin B. Ames, Edward E. Rogers.
The John Clark place .- John Clark, a brother of Major Peter, built and settled on this place in 1776. Sarah C. Good- rich, Ella M. Quiggle.
The Senter place .- Either Asa or Benjamin Senter first im- proved this place. The traditions indicate that it was Asa. Franklin Senter, Charles H. Senter.
The Francis Epps or Osborne place. - Samuel Senter deeded part of Lot 107 to Francis "Epse," Nov. 15, 1771. Daniel Epes deeded part of Lot 108 to the same Francis, Jan. 15, 1772. . . Francis Epps was the first builder and settler on this land. Eliphalet Atwood, William H. Osborne, Charles H. Bailey, Adams & Mudgett.
The Starrett place .- Asa Palmer, Richard Batten, Martin Whitney, William Starrett, Allen Brown.
The Nathan Brown place .- Nathan Brown, Jonathan Clark, Allen A. Brown.
The Daniel Proctor place .- Daniel Proctor, John Proctor.
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The Major Peter Clark place .- Benjamin "Epes " deeded this land to Peter Clark, Dec. 23, 1773. He built the house and mill as recorded in another chapter. William Clark, Capt. Peter Clark. Present owner, Henry E. Holden.
The Allen Brown place. Allen Brown, John C. Goodrich, who built the present house, Patrick Hanley, John Wellman, Daniel Henderson, Oliver Harris, Mark Morse, Mark Morse heirs, J. McLane.
The Boardman place .- Thomas Boardman first improved this land. Daniel N. Boardman, Peter Clark, Samuel Dyer, W. K. Cochran, Alfred C. Wilder, Irwin D. Wilder.
The old Proctor place .- John Proctor first built on the side of the mountain south of this place. He afterward bought this place of Charles Whitmarsh. Charles Whitmarsh, John Proc- tor, Sylvester Proctor, David E. Proctor.
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