USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > Willey's semi-centennial book of Manchester, 1846-1896, comprised within the limits of the old Tyng Township, Nutfield, Harrytown, Derryfield, and Manchester, from the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 11
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months. Two daughters, Miss Anna Custer and Mrs. Sebastian Christophe, both of Manehester, survive him. A son, E. L. Custer, a prominent
THE AIKENS RANGE.
BY REV. JESSE G. McMURPHY.
T "HE position of this section of land, mostly devoted to homesteads, is on the westerly side of Beaver brook, and the lots were laid out in parallelograms whose angles were somewhat oblique, to enable the surveyors to make common headlines and place the farms in one range. The westerly headline of the Aikens Range is the east- erly headline of the Eagers Range. The easterly headline of the Aikens Range is a side line to the connected homesteads of the Coghrans (a notable family whose name is variously written as Cough- ran, Coghran, Cochran, and Cochrane, and prob- ably to be identified with Coffran). The longer lines of the Aikens Range of homesteads are nearly parallel to the general course of Beaver brook. The homestead lying nearest to the brook leaves a wide space between that was not adapted to immediate settlement. At this part of Beaver brook the meadow margin is very broad, and at the time the homesteads were laid out all the meadow was staked and bounded for the exclusive use of the settlers as they had agreed among themselves. The legal possession of these meadows then be- came fixed by a formal act of the committee for lot laying and the recording of the former transac- tion. James Aiken had the homestead nearest the brook, but that was not nearer than the farm upon which the Bradfords live. The rocky ridge to the southward probably limited the lot in that direction. The general model of the sixty-acre lot was a mile in length and of width to correspond, but if the land was unfit for cultivation or already pre-empted for hay privileges the width often exceeded the average of thirty-three or thirty-four rods by ten,
fifteen, or even twenty rods. The longer lines also exceeded the record by twenty, thirty, and even forty rods. It has been explained by old surveyors in the following manner : The chain bearers added to the length of every chain ; when the fore- most man had drawn his chain straight from the hand of the rear man at the last pin, he took the end of the chain in one hand and a pin in the other hand and stepping as far as he could in advance he reached forward with the pin and dropped it. This method would increase each chain length about the measure of a man's stature, and the excess for a mile line would be about thirty rods. The next homestead in the range was laid out to William Aiken and comprised the farm now occupied by Mrs. Elizabeth H. Karr and some small pieces that have been deeded to other parties on the eastern end. Edward Aiken had the home- stead now owned by John Folsom, and this also extended originally farther east. The original eastern boundary of the Aikens homesteads was a small stream, which shows how much has been taken from the ends of all of these farms. John Wallace had the lot now occupied by L. H. Pills- bury, and Benjamin Wilson's homestead came next in order where Joseph R. Clark owns. Joseph R. Clark also owns the original homestead of Andrew Todd. In the records, owing to the obliquity of the angles, it was represented that each end line was thirty-one rods, but in fact there is none so narrow even in these most excellent lands. John Bell had one hundred acres laid out in one strip because he preferred to take his first and second divisions together, the homestead of
93
Swamp Solen, Peter me Andrew The Widow Goghran,. Peter and Ninean Goghran laid out in
recorded January 21, 1729.
Sixty acres laid out in Nutfield in 1720 John Goghran and Peter Goghran, Recorded Sept. 3d 1722 ____-------
out in Notifielle in 1720. Recorded Feb. 15# 1722.
a
Thomson
1
morrison
Holmes
Woodburn -
John James
Givean
Graig
-
William 0 ayers
Thomas Blogles
meadow
Forty acres.
October 1720.
W Goghran Sixty acres 1720
John ME, Elura
Elizabeth Wilson
N
W ___ E
0 10 25
50
S
100
half acres land, out in Nulfield Nov. 4# 1720. Recorded Nov. 11, 1720 . Col- thirty three and one Robert- Bogies Sawmill
Recorded. march 232 1721.
James Gregy's Sawmill lot
-
1
-
and
Log
mill bridge .
1
1
" House of Jamis Gregg .
1
-
One hundred acres land out InLondonderry m 1722 Recorded March 14, 1722
Andrew Lord, Sixty acres lash out en Vielfield in 1720 Recorded March 30, 1721. Benjamin Willson, Sixty acres laed out Nulfield m 1720 Recorded March 30 1721
John Wallace, Sixty acres laid out im Nulfield in 1720. Recorded march 30, 1721
William Aiken, Sixty ares laid out in Hatfield in July 1720. Recorded august 2md 1 720
James Ailen, Sixty acres laid out in Nattule July 1720 Recorded aug 2nd 1720
laid out in tutfuld
Record Sept. 3, 1722.
mcclurg.
The Aiken Range. map prepared and drawn by Rud J. S. Mc murphy. all rights reserved.
0
0
Goghran Forty acres land
Recorded January 3: 1735 ret in Londonderry mar, 1722
meadow
Robert-Mc Keen. John Senter.
Samuel, John and Janel- Makeen. Sixty acres
Robie.
John Bell Twenty acres lack Seht. 16, 1728.
Miliam Action. Robert Arbuckle.
Forti acres laid out
Londondirex
Feb. 19, 1722.
in 1722 Recorded
Forty acres laid out in Recorder Sept. 34 1722. Nuchical 1720
William Goghran
Londonderry FEB.121728 Forty eight deres and
morison Johan Bell
Road Laido
ana little brook gut meadows .
Nov.2 6,1 1723
Edward Fiken.
Beaver ruin and meadows. Homestead John me Gonoghy's
One hundred rods
MAP OF THE AIKENS RANGE.
95
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
sixty and the second division of forty aeres or its tered into that never obtained the confirmation of equivalent. Beyond this homestead the regu- a vote. Some agreement had been made with one William Gregg to give him a gristmill lot, but an indignation meeting was held upon the 4th day of April, 1720, and the resolution was passed that William Gregg for good reasons should not have the gristmill lot that was intended for him nor any other interest in the town of Nutfield. At a general town meeting held June 8, 1720, there was a resolution that John Hunter shall not have a lot in this town. Some of these proceedings appear to have been arbitrary and actuated by party spirit and are fully equal to the average wrangling over rights and titles in the frontier settlements of the newer west of the present generation. larity of the plan of allotment is broken and the farms are laid out in such figures as the nature of the ground would best allow. The land north of John Bell's lot was laid out chiefly for second divisions and amendments, but it appears from records of roads and subsequent history of the town that most of these pieces of land have been occupied at some time by persons who built houses upon them and made homesteads of them, al- though at present they are mostly deserted and only the marks of former cultivation are apparent in old field walls, garden spots, stumps of orehard trees, wells, and stone foundations for houses and barns.
On June 17, 1719, the town ordered a sawmill to be built upon Beaver river and entered into an agreement with Robert Boyee, James Gregg, Samuel Graves and Joseph Simonds, whereby they should have the privilege of the river from the pond downward to the bottom of the falls, but James Gregg alone had the right of building the gristmill. The sawmill was built about where Wallace W. Poor's sawmill stands and had an aere of ground for a mill yard for storing boards and lumber. The gristmill was not far from the site of the present gristmill of Leando Hardy and Gregg's house on the south side of the road as it turns eastward by the gristmill. These men were allowed eertain pareels of land as rewards for undertaking to supply the wants of the settlers in respect to lumber and eorn meal and other meals at fixed prices. It is seen in reading over the allotment of lands that James Gregg had a forty-aere lot laid out to him in October of the next year on the northerly side of the river opposite to his home- stead and the mill sites, and that pareel of land covered the greater part of the space now occupied by Derry Village; on the river side it joined upon his privilege and the margin by the river which he used for a log yard, the latter being in the vicinity of the spot now oeeupied by the factory of Benja- min Chase. Robert Boyee had also a forty-aere parcel allotted to him, for similar reasons imme- diately west of that allotted to James Gregg. The actions of the town are not always understood, for it often appears that verbal agreements were en-
As a specimen of the records in laying out the Aikens Range the following is typical of all :
Nutfield July 1720. A lot being laid out to William Aiken in the double range lying on the west of Beaver river containing sixty acres, its bounds and measures are as followeth : beginning at a small pine tree marked, from thence running a due north- north-west line thirty-one rods to another pine tree marked from thence running a due north-east line three hundred and twenty rods and bounding all the way upon Edward Aiken's lot unto a stake set up near a small brook, from thence to another stake near the same brook marked running a south-south-east line thirty-one rods, from thence running a due south-east line three hundred and twenty rods and joining all the way upon James Aiken's lot unto the pine tree first mentioned, together with an interest in the common or undivided lands of the said township equal to other lots in the said town. James McKeen, Robert Wear, James Gregg, John Goffe, Committee. Recorded this 2nd of August 1720. Pr. JOHN GOFFE, Town Clerk.
The deseription of William Aiken's homestead is such that the loeation of both Edward and James Aiken is known. The two western corners of this lot were marked by blazing pine trees. One ae- quainted with the soil of that locality is not sur- prised, although no indications of pine are seen at present within the limits of the farm ; in reality no forest remains upon any part of the land.
The Aikens were widely connected by mar- riages and remained for many generations upon the same homesteads. Many living persons were contemporary with the latest generation of the Aikens that dwelt upon their aneestral lands, and many aneedotes are told of their earlier generations illustrative of the habits and personal peculiarities of the raee that gave a name to the range. The
96
WILLER'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
name Aikens Range was not given at the time the tinctions earned by some of the men in the wars of land was laid out to them and their neighbors, but the country have served to fix forever in the mem- in a few months there were so many reasons for distinguishing the two double ranges, and also the two parts of the same double range, that the two parts were named from prominent men in either part and the term Double Range became restricted to the pair of ranges lying southeast of Beaver river, and the two lying northwest of the river ceased to be associated together or ealled the double range. ory of the living and perhaps to the coming genera- tions the abode of the Todds. The John Wallace homestead has made a deep impression upon the memory of many on account of the noble elm trees that have been allowed to grow up around the buildings and the ample yard or lawn in front with so many associations of gentle deeds and gentle people. Many young people have received inspirations from the examples of Christian men and women that have moved and had their being among the quiet shades of those aneestral walks.
The Bell family continued to live upon the original homestead until the elose of the first quar- ter of the present century, and the last representa- tive of the name living and dying upon the spot is remembered by some of the present inhabitants of the town.
All roads led to the great Canadian settle- ments that were older than those of the New Hampshire Provinee, and the settlers travelled be- tween these, trusting to the friendly guidance of the Indians. In the vague geographical knowledge of the times and the real uncertainty of territorial boundaries the carly settlers came to speak of all the northern parts of the provinee and even of the grant on which they lived as Canada. To add to
The town records furnish numerous facts eon- eerning the births, marriages, and deaths of the settlers in this range, and histories of these and neighboring towns contain abundant material for very complete genealogieal sketches of these old familiar characters. The long residence of the Todds upon their original homestead and the dis- this confusion of terms there was an emigrant
THE CHRISPEEN HOUSE, LONDONDERRY.
97
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
named Robert Kennedy, who had received an allotment of land in the northwestern part of the town. A road was laid out passing his land and house ; others settled along that road and had adjoining lands until by some aeeident the road was ealled Kennedy street, and therefrom began a series of elerieal errors. The street was Canada street and even the man's name appears to have undergone the same transformation. As three ranges of lands or lots were surveyed through this region, the distinction obtained of naming them Canada West, Canada Middle, and Canada East Range. Then there came into the nomenelature of the township the term Canada Great Swamp, to inelude a vast region that was almost inaeces- sible and is of little value now.
From James Gregg's sawmill and gristmill there were two roads leading northerly, not inelud- ing the English Range road. One led directly through the Coghrans' lands, and the walls along the sides of this road are partly standing near the Ladd house, or the site of the old Hoyt build- ings. The other led through the Aikens Range. The Coghran road led over the Ramsey dam and into former Indian trails that took the same gen- eral direction towards the interior, and by way of the Amoskeag Falls where the fishing interests appear to have eentred for a hundred years. The Aiken road has remained without ehange, and a transeript of the record of its laying out is here presented :
Londonderry Novbr. 6, 1723. Laid out by the selectmen a straight road in the west part of this town, beginning at the north side of John Bell's homestead lot where the old road now comes on the north side of the said Bell's house, and on the north of the fence, across Andrew Todd's lot, and Benjamin Wil- son's lot, and across John Wallace's lot continuing on the north side of the aforesaid fence where the path now is, and so across Edward Aiken's lot, and turning a little more easterly across William Aiken's lot and James Aiken's lot, the said road to be continued across the aforesaid lots four rods wide, and then slanting upon Robert Boyce's land, as the path is now until an oak tree marked on the line between the said Boyce and James Gregg, and so running along said line till it come to a swamp, and then turning all upon Boyce till it cross the said swamp, and then to turn to the said line till it come to another swamp, then to turn upon Mr. Gregg's land till the bridge over Beaver brook, below the said Mr. Gregg's gristmill, the said road to be two rods wide from the coming on Boyce's land to the said bridge, this by order of
the selectmen. Samuel Moore, John Blair, Benjamin Wilson, Robert Boyce, Selectmen. Recorded this 13th day of Septem- ber 1723. Per JOHN MACMURPHY,
Town Clerk.
The wall or fence along one side of the Aiken road, already there before the laying out of the road, was a necessity in keeping eattle out of the meadows that were already appropriated within every one of these lots. It is quite probable that the laying out of the road was a very formal trans- aetion and was merely the legal establishment of the bounds of a road that was already in constant use and indispensable. As now, there was a high- way the entire length of William Aiken's home- stead upon the line between his farm and Edward Aiken's. This road erossed the Coghran road and continued through the lands of John, Samuel, and Janet MeKeen, and through Robert MeKeen's lot and joined with that other road that came from the English Range at the southeast corner of Joseph Kidder's fenee and ran along by the pond and brook to the sawmill and gristmill below the falls.
There was a meeting-house ereeted upon the Aikens Range that had a short but signifieant history. The site was upon the northerly side of the road leading from Mrs. Elizabeth H. Karr's house to that of Frank P. Bradford and on the land of the latter upon the brow of a little hill. In the spaee covered by this map three meeting-houses have been ereeted, two of which remain standing. The changes that have occurred on the lots of James Gregg and John Boyee eannot be deseribed in this general review, but require separate treat- ment, and will most naturally come in the fuller accounts of industries, business, homes, families, and genealogieal sketehes.
D' R. WILLIAM JOHNSON CAMPBELL was born at the old homestead, " Campbell Springs," Franeestown, N. H., July 30, 1820. His early education was received in Franeestown and in Nashua. He then entered the Harvard Medi- cal Sehool, from which he graduated with honors in the elass of 1842, thus receiving his diploma at the age of twenty-two years. From this time until his death he was in the active practice of his pro- fession, five years in his native town and twenty-
98
WILLET'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
seven years in the more enlarged field of usefulness Londonderry, having been born just over the line in the town of Londonderry. Dr. Campbell was in Amherst. The following characteristic letter from him was written to Rev. Edward L. Parker, while the latter was preparing his History of Lon- donderry, and possesses so much genealogical and other interest that it is here published for the first time : twice married, the first time in 1844, to Miss Sarah A. Cutter, daughter of the Ion. Benjamin Cutter of Jaffrey, N. II. Mrs. Campbell died in 1846, and on Nov. 15, 1849, Dr. Campbell was married to Miss Charlotte A. M. Philbrick, daughter of Nathan Philbrick of Weare, N. H. His widow and five children survive him. It is needless to NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 1849.
DR. WILLIAM JOHNSON CAMPBELL.
say that the ancestry of the Campbell family is above reproach. The family ean be traced back over two hundred years and numbers among its members many who were distinguished in the his- tory of Scotland. Dr. Campbell's grandfather fought at the battle of Bunker Hill, and continued in the army until the close of the war. His father was in the war of 1812 and was major of Cook's regiment of Hillsborough county.
H ORACE GREELEY, the most distinguished of American newspaper men, was descended from old Nutfield stoek, though not a native of
DEAR SIR: I have your letter of the 17th this moment, and must give it a hurried answer at once, as I leave town for several days tomorrow, and my letters that get behind are pretty certain to remain unanswered.
I will do what I can to promote the success of your enter- prise. I think it will be best, however, to invite all to communi- cate directly with you, as my correspondence is so large that it is very badly neglected, and I should not like to be the means of your losing anything transmitted, whether of information or en- couragement.
I can give you personally very little aid in your work. Genealogies never interested me - I think we have other work to do than trace our ancestors - but your enterprise has noble aims and must have good issues. I was not born in Londonderry, but in Amherst, the first house in the township on the old road from Bedford Meeting-House. But my parents were both from Lon- donderry, and most of their parents before them. You may learn most of the Greeleys by a letter to Deacon Samuel Greeley of Boston, who is of the Wilton branch of the family. Col. Joe Greeley of Nashua (a cousin of my father) is probably also well versed in family history. My two grandfathers died within a few rods of each other in Londonderry (the High Range, near the west side of the town). Grandfather Zaccheus Greeley died at his son John Greeley's, who still lives there. Grandfather was 94 years old when he died, some three years ago. His father was also named Zaccheus, and was a trader and lumber dealer (a rogue, I have heard) in what is now Hudson. He lived to about 70. My impression is that the family came over quite early, and first settled in Salisbury, wherever that may be. My branch of it has generally hung about the Merrimack and Nashua, and I have an impression that Capt. Zaccheus Lovell, or Lovewell, who commanded and was killed in a famous Indian fight long ago, was an ancestor of mine. Both " Zaccheus " and "Lovell " are freely used as Christian names in our family. John Greeley, my only uncle now in Londonderry, knows considerable, though not so much as he thinks he does. As he lives by the side of John Woodburn, who now holds the land allotted to the first Wood- burn in the original settlement of the town, I think it might be worth your while to look over there some day.
My grandmother on my father's side was Esther Senter, of an old Londonderry family, now mainly scattered away.
The Woodburns you already know. My grandfather was David, father of John, who now holds the farm. I think my great-grandfather's name was John, but you will easily learn.
My grandmother was Margaret Clark, whose mother (I think) came over a girl with the original emigration or soon after. She was of the family of Rev. Lieut. Clark, whose mingled clerical
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
and military character is already widely known. I believe the Clarks are nearly all away now. My grandmother died some 55 to 60 years ago, and her husband married again - a Jane Caldwell or McAlister, who survived him, but is also long dead. But my great-grandmother (who was a Clark before she was a Woodburn) was a woman of remarkable intelli- gence, and she gave the family history to my mother very fully and vividly. Mother still lives (address Clymer, Chau- tauqua Co., N. Y.). but is broken down in mind and body, and I fear she would not be able to write anything that would be worth having. Perhaps her sister (Mrs. John Dickey, two miles north of old Londonderry Meeting-House) could give you some facts respecting the Clarks as well as Woodburns (though the former only have been notable), but I never heard her speak on the subject. But there is a Judge Clark, now residing in New Haven. Conn., who is full of the matter, and you ought to write him. He can really help you, and will be very glad to do it. I forget his first name, but there is no other Judge Clark in New Haven.
There can be no doubt that your book will sell. There are at least 50,000 people now alive who claim descent from Lon- donderry. Yours, HORACE GREELEY.
REV. E. L. PARKER, Derry, N. H.
P. S .- Your Prospectus don't say what your book is to cost. Put me down as subscribing for five copies. Don't forget to notice the swarming of the old hive to Vermont, settling Londonderry, Windham, etc., in that state. The Woodburns are mainly there now. I saw several of them last month.
JOSHUA A. MOAR was born in Peterborough, N. H., Nov. 10, 1814. He was third son of Timothy and Betsey (Hopkins) Moar, whose family consisted of twelve children. His early life was spent in his native town, and his later boyhood in Milford, N. H., where the family for a long time resided. In early manhood he went to Boston and applied himself to the study of medicine, but instead of entering the profession he was led to pursue another course, and later in life established a home in Londonderry. He was married Aug. 6, 1837, to Lovina Witherspoon, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Rollin H. Neale of Boston. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moar, all daughters. The eldest, Mary A., was married to Henry Goodwin, whose sketch is given else- where in the present work. Five of the children survive the father, whose death oeeurred Sept. 26, 1872. Mrs. Moar died Dec. 26, 1882. Mr. Moar was a tender husband and father, a kind and genial neighbor, an honored townsman, and a Christian gentleman. In him affability was blended with firmness, and, ever conscious of human frailty, he
sought to realize the highest ideals of human character. His devotion to religious principles was no less marked than his love for his fellow- man. In the Methodist church and society he worked with an earnestness which was the result
JOSHUA A. MOAR.
of continuous eonseeration to the Master's service. Hospitality was an especial characteristie of his nature, and he found great delight in the com- panionship of his friends. The genial and whole- some influence of his kindly and upright life will long remain.
PLAIN SPEAKING, even to a clergyman, was the eustom among the blunt Seoteh settlers of Nutfield. If they had anything to say. they never beat about the bush. It is related of one of the early ministers - tradition has kindly eoneealed his identity - that after passing a long and laborious day in parochial visits, he rode up toward evening to the house of one of his elders. He had, as a matter of course, been urged at every dwelling to partake of the stimulants which were then considered indispensable, and, between fatigue and the excessive hospitality of his parishioners, he found it difficult to keep himself upright in the saddle. The elder's keen eye took in the situation. " Won't ye light doun, parson," said he, " and come in and get something to eat? For I perceive ye've had enough to drink already !"
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