USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1753-1907, with family genealogies > Part 2
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"Now it so happens that where the Northern Railroad has excavated a trench through the eastern watershed in Union, thirty feet deep and 1,200 feet long, it has laid open several large pot-holes in the granite. These we
6
History of Rockingham
consider decisive proof that a cataract once existed at this spot, since we know of no other agency that could produce pot-holes. Both on the east and west sides of the cut we find swamps surrounded by gravel beds or modified drift, with brooks starting, the one for Merrimac and the other for Connecti- cut river. But we see at once that these have had nothing to do with the powerful erosions that are manifest at this spot. A large stream of water must have poured over the barrier from the Connecticut into the Merrimac valley. Had the current been from the southeast the marks of river action would have been on the northwest side ; but instead of this we find on that side strong evidence of drift agency, while the pot-holes are on the Merrimac side of the ridge.
"On examining the west mural face and the top of Kilburn peak, we find marks of what seems to be ancient river action, which the subsequent erosions of the drift agency did not obliterate. On account of the difficulty of distinguishing between the two agencies, or we might say between fluviatile and oceanic agency generally, all of which have been brought to bear upon this spot. we feel no great confidence in this corroboratory proof of the former outflow of water as high as Kilburn peak.
" The facts, however, that have been stated, force us very strongly to the conclusion that the Connecticut valley above Bellows Falls must have been once filled with water as high as the gorge in Union,-that is, 722 feet above the top of Bellows Falls-and consequently that the mountains there must have been orce united, and the gorge have been worn to its present depth by fluviatile conjoined with oceanic agency. The great lake above, which once had an outlet at Union in the Merrimac valley, was subsequently 'drained by the way of Bellows Falls. What diverted the current from Union to Bellows Falls it may not be easy to determine, if we suppose the present levels not to have been changed. But in some other cases we have strong reason to believe that during the sojourn of the continent beneath the ocean at the drift period, gravel accumulated in valleys which on a previous continent were the beds of rivers, so that when the continent rose. the rivers had to seek out new channels."
Professor Hitchcock, in another part of the volume mentioned, drawing attention to the fact of the formation of land in the village of Bellows Falls, indicates positively that at some period later than that spoken of above, after the river had broken down the upper barriers of rock that had held it at a higher level, the Connecticut ran west of Pine hill, between that and Oak hill, where now a large portion of the village stands. He says the formation of soil and rock indicates this with certainty, and that what is now Atkinson and Green streets was once the very bed of the river. He gives the height of the summit of Pine hill as 172 feet above the water in the river at the eddy below the falls.
7
What the First Settlers Found
It should be stated that, although Prof. Hitchcock is con- sidered eminent authority in all geological matters, later learned authorities disagree with his theory of the existence of a great lake above Bellows Falls. The geology of New Hampshire explains what Prof. Hitchcock claims to be strong proof that his theory is correct by attributing the signs observed by him to the various changes known to have occurred during the glacial period. (See "Geology of New Hampshire," Vol. 3, pp. 53-54.)
To-day's residents of this town, enjoying all the advant- ages of advanced civilization and government, with business at a prosperous level and industries of all kinds teeming with success, can hardly imagine that within 160 years this whole town was an unbroken forest, traversed by marauding bands of Indians and inhabited by wild beasts. This gloomy forest shaded the deep rich soil that the summer sun had not warmed for centuries. That portion lying along the meadows border- ing the Connecticut river was covered with a dense growth of majestic pines, while farther back the timber was largely maple, beech and birch. Old decaying trees which had fallen in every conceivable direction among the living giants of the forest, and the thick undergrowth, with the limbs of the dead and prostrate trees, formed an almost impenetrable barrier to travel in all parts of the town. The river thorough- 'fares were used by the Indians in paddling their light birch canoes, and in winter they marched silently in single file upon the ice. The rattlesnake lay coiled in some sunny nook in the forest, or was noiselessly drawing his repulsive form over mouldering vegetation in quest of some luckless frog. The large black bear, the beautiful deer, the stately moose, each roamed at will safe from the hunter's gun. The night was made dismal by the moan of the catamount or the howl of the wolf seeking his innocent prey. Silence reigned by day, unbroken save by the continuous roar of the " Great Falls " or the morning and evening tattoo of the male par- tridge cheering his mate. The smaller streams were filled with speckled trout never tempted by the sportsman's fly.
8
History of Rockingham
Hundreds of acres of the town were covered by dismal swamps and marshy lands overhung on summer evenings by clouds of mosquitoes and the misty exhalations that arose from decaying vegetation, sowing seeds of malarial disease and death.
The roaming Indian was sole human occupant of this whole territory and by his savage life and instincts added greatly to the unpleasant setting of the picture that greeted the first white settlers in 1753. It would be hard to imagine a more unpleasant or uninviting outlook.
CHAPTER II.
FIRST CHARTER FROM MASSACHUSETTS BAY PROVINCE-NO SETTLEMENT MADE UNDER IT
Until the year 1740 the territory now forming the town of Rockingham had been claimed as a part of the Massa- chusetts Bay Province. The north line of that province was somewhat indefinite, but it included all that part of what is now Vermont and New Hampshire as far as the north side of Ascutney mountain, and by some it was considered to include at least a part of what is now the town of Hartford in Wind- sor county. In that year King George II., and his council, issued a decree fixing the boundary line between Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire, and in 1741 that line was surveyed and permanently fixed nearly as it has ever since remained. Vermont was then a part of New Hampshire and was later designated as the New Hampshire Grants.
There is no record of there being any permanent Indian villages or individual families of that race at that early date in this town. The great thoroughfare from the northern civilized country to the southern passed it, and the abundance of fish at the "Great Falls" yearly called large numbers here. The nearest approach to permanence of residence is shown in Hall's "History of Eastern Vermont" in the account of the different Indian wars. After the account of the death of the noted Indian chief, Philip, he says,-
" But the Indians in the northwestern parts of Massachusetts, who had not depended upon Philip as a leader, still continued their depredations. Some of these tribes having attacked Hatfield on the 19th of September. 1677, were pursued by the English. Resting one night at Northfield, they continued their retreat northward, and at a place in the neighborhood of the present town of Rockingham, Vermont, built a cabin. where, secure from the scouting parties of the whites, they remained some time."
The first grant of a charter, or allotment of land in this town to individuals, is shown in the Massachusetts Archives,
IO
History of Rockingham
in the records of the General Court. Many petitions had been presented in the year 1735 to the General Court of Massachusetts, praying for grants of land on the Connecticut and Merrimac rivers. That body, on the 15th of January, 1735, ordered a survey of the lands between these rivers, from the northwest corner of the town of Rumford on the latter stream to the Great Falls on the former, of twelve miles in breadth from north to south, the same to be laid out in townships of six miles square each. They also voted to divide the lands bordering the east side of Connecticut river, south of the Great Falls, into townships of the same size ; and on the west side, the territory between the Great Falls and the Equivalent Lands, which extended to the north line of Putney, into two townships of the same size. Eleven persons were appointed to conduct the survey and division. They were Joseph Gerrish, Benjamin Prescott, Josiah Willard, Job Almy, William Dudley, Samuel Welles, Thomas Berry, Joseph Wilder, and John Chandler "Esquires " and Captain Joseph Gould and Moses Pierson.
Twenty-eight townships were accordingly laid out between the Connecticut and Merrimac rivers, in what is now New Hampshire.
On the west side of the Connecticut there were granted by the same action of the General Court two townships designated as "Number Two" comprising what is now Rockingham, and "Number One," now Westminster. Number Two was granted to Palmer Goulding, a leading citizen of Worcester, Mass., who had been prominent in Indian wars as an officer of the Bay Colony ; a man named Stevens (probably Phineas Stevens of Rutland, Mass., who later became noted in this vicinity as the commander of the fort at "Old Number Four," Charlestown), and fifty-eight others whose names have not been ascertained.
The conditions imposed upon the proprietors of these townships were identical, and briefly stated were :- Each settler was required to give bonds to the amount of forty pounds as security for performing the conditions enjoined.
II
Charter from Massachusetts Bay
Those who had not within the space of seven years last past received grants of land were admitted as grantees ; but in case enough of this class could not be found, then those were admitted who, having received grants of land elsewhere within the specified time, had fulfilled the conditions upon which they had received them. Each grantee was obliged to build a dwelling-house eighteen feet square and seven feet stud at the least, on his house lot, and fence in and break up for ploughing, or clear and stock with English grass, five acres of land. Each lot must be inhabited within three years from the date of granting. The grantees were further required within the same time to build and furnish a convenient meeting-house for the public worship of God, and settle a learned orthodox minister. On failing to perform these terms their rights became forfeited, and were to be again granted to such settlers as would fulfill the above conditions within one year after receiving the grant. Each township was divided into sixty-three rights-sixty for the settlers, one for the first minister, another for the second settled minister, and the third for a school. The land in each township was divided into house lots and intervale ' lots, and one of each kind was included in the right of every grantee. The remainder of the undivided land, was to be shared equally and alike by the settlers when divided .:
January 25, 1736, the following " Vote abt. Towns laid out on the Connecticut River " was passed :-
" In the House of Represents Voted That when & as soon as there shall be twenty familys Settled in the two Upper Towns lately laid out on Con- necticut River, and a Corn Mill & Saw Mill in the said towns or Either of them built & finished & fitted for Service, a new Truck house shall be built above the Town on the West Side of the River and well finished by a Comtee, of this Court then to be appointed for the Security and Safe keeping of the publick Stores for the Indian Trade, which shall be Removed from the Truck house above Northfield accordingly and two hundred [acres of the Unap- propriated Lands of the Province. vizt. One hundred acres on the East side the Great River be & hereby is seperated and appropriated for Such publick uses & Occasions as this Court shall think proper to order and Appoint and for no other use or account whatsoever and Capt. Joseph Kellog is hereby desired and Impowered to lay out the said lands in some Convenient places
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History of Rockingham
as the Situation & Circumstances thereof may admit & that he Return an account of his doing therein as soon as he can Conveniently.
In Council Read & Concur'd-
Consented to J. BELCHER.
Janry 25, 1736."
This proposed important accession to the early business of "Number Two on the West Side of Connecticut River " was never established, probably because the "twenty familys " did not then settle here. The frontier of the settlements, including the fort and truck house, was established at Charlestown,-then known as "Number Four " on the east side of the Connecticut. The order of the numbering of the townships upon the east side of the Connecticut was as fol- lows : Chesterfield "Number One"; Westmoreland "Number Two "; Walpole "Number Three " and Charlestown " Num- ber Four." Settlements were commenced under the above authority of Massachusetts in each of the towns named except Chesterfield and Rockingham.
In the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Decem- ber 17. 1736, it was
" Voted, that Mr. Palmer Golding of Worcester be & hereby is Impow- ered to Assemble the Grantees of the Township Number two on the West side of Connecticut River, adjoining to number one Giving timely Notice to the Grantees Appointed by the Comtee of this Court to meet & assemble at some suitable place for the end & purpose above mentioned. their votes for allotting & dividing of their Lands to be allowed of in the way & manner above said."
From the day of the above-mentioned authority to call the first meeting of the grantees, the records are entirely silent. No account has been found of the meetings of these grantees or who they were, except Goulding and Stevens, beyond what is contained above. The explanation given by those now in charge of the Massachusetts Archives makes it probable that any further records of that province in relation to Number Two were destroyed by the fire which occurred among the Archives December 9. 1847. It is not known that any actual settlement occurred in Rockingham under Massa- chusetts authority. It is probable, however, that the prepa- rations for settlement were similar to what are shown to
13
No Settlements Made Under First Charter
have occurred in township Number One, the proprietors' meetings being held in Worcester, Mass., and no record of them being known to exist.
The following account is given in Hall's "Eastern Ver- mont" of the Westminster action under this charter :-
" Capt. Joseph Tisdale, one of the principal grantees of Number One, having been empowered by the general assembly of Massachusetts, called a meeting of the grantees at the school-house in Taunton, on the 14th of Janu- ary, 1736-7. A committee was then appointed to repair to the new township for the purpose of dividing the land, according to the wishes of the grantees. They were also required to select a suitable place for a meeting-house, a burying-place, a training-field, sites for a saw-mill and a grist-mill, and to lay out a convenient road. The proprietors held a number of meetings, sometimes at Capt. Tisdale's at other times in the old school-house, and not unfrequently at the widow Ruth Tisdale's. A sufficient time having elapsed, the allotment of the sixty-three rights was declared on the 26th of September. 1737, and proposals were issued for erecting a saw-mill and a grist-mill at Number One, which was now familiarly called New Taunton, in remembrance of the town where the majority of the proprietors resided. At the same time, a number of the proprietors agreed to undertake the building of the mills. and by the records of a meeting held July 8, 1740, it appeared that the saw- mill had been built, and that means had been taken to lay out a road from it to the highway. Other improvements were made at this period by Richard Ellis and his son Reuben, of Easton, who, having purchased eight rights in the new township, built there a dwelling-house, and cleared and cultivated several acres of land. Some of the settlers were also engaged at the same time in laying out roads and constructing fences, who, on their return to Massachusetts, received gratuities for their services from the other proprie- tors."
From the time of the granting of Number Two until the township was re-chartered by New Hampshire in 1753, the grant was called "Goldenstown," in honor of Palmer Goulding, the proprietor first mentioned in the list. Previous to 1735 the locality had been known as "Great Falls," and it is tradition that at one time it was known as "Fallstown."
It is not known that any actual settlement was made in this town under the Massachusetts charter, and March 5, 1740, the boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire being fixed locating the town in the province of New Hampshire, nothing more was done to that end until the later charter was granted by that province in 1753.
CHAPTER III.
CHARTER GRANTED BY GOVERNOR BENNING WENTWORTH
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE-ALL LAND TITLES DERIVED
FROM THAT AUTHORITY
The township which bears the name of Rockingham was a second time chartered under authority of King George II., of England, by Governor Benning Wentworth, of the Province of New Hampshire, December 30, 1753. To this document, of which a copy occupies a prominent place in the first book of record now on file in the town clerk's office, known as the "Proprietors' Records," run back all titles to land in the town. Its issuance marks the first effort to settle the town and redeem it from a barren wilderness.
The charter is as follows :-
THE CHARTER. ยท
Province of
New-Hampshre
SEAL
George the Second by the Grace of God King of Great Brittain france and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c
To ALL Persons to whom these Presents shall Come GREETING
KNOW YE that We of our Especial Grace certain Knowledge and mere motion for the due Encoragement of settling a new Plantation within our said Province By and with the Advice of our trusty and well beloved BEN- NING WENTWORTH Esqr. our Governor and commander in Chief of our said Province of New Hampshire in AMERICA, and of our Council of the said Province HAVE upon the Conditions and Reservations hereafter made Given and Granted and by these Presents for us our heirs and Successors Do Give and Grant in Equal shares unto our loving Subjects Inhabitants of our said Province of New Hampshire and his Majestys other Governments and unto their Heirs and assigns forever whose names are entered on this Grant to be Divided to and amongst them into Seventy four Equal Shares all that Tract or Parcel of Land situate lying and being within our Province of New Hamp- shire containing by admeasurement Twenty three thousand and Forty acres which Tract is contain Six miles Square and no more out which an allowance is to be made for highways and unimprovable Lands by Rocks Mountains
15
Charter Granted by Governor Wentworth
Ponds and Rivers one Thousand and forty acres free according to a Plan thereof made and Presented by our said Governours orders and hereunto annexed. Butted and bounded as follows (Vizt) Beginning at the North East Corner of Westminster and running up by Connecticut River till it extends Six Miles upon a Strait Line Northerly to a Stake and Stones upon the bank of Said River in Hickup Meadow thence running due West Six miles to a Stake and Stones thence running Southerly Six Miles to the North Westerly Corner of Westminster thence Running due East to the bounds first mentioned and that the same be and is Incorporated into a Township by the name of ROCKINGHAM and the Inhabitants that do or Shall hereafter Inhabit said Township are hereby Declared to be Enfranchized and Intitled to all the and Every the Priviledges and immunities that other Towns within our said Province by Law Exercize and Enjoy and Further that the Said Town afsoon as there Shall be fifty families resident and settled thereon, shall have the Liberty of Holding two Fairs one of which Shall be held on the * * * and the other on * * Annually which Fairs are not to Con-
tinue and be held Longer than the respective * *
* following the Said
respective Days and afsoon as the said Town Shall consist of fifty families a Market Shall be opened and keept one or more Days in Each Week as may be thought most advantageous to the Inhabitants also that the first meeting for the Choice of Town Officers agreeable to the Laws of our Said Province
which meeting Shall be on the Last Wednesday in march next
shall be notifyed by Mr. Benjamin Bellows
*
who is hereby also
appointed the Moderator of said first meeting which he is to Notify and Govern agreeable to the Laws and Customs of our Said Province and that the Annual Meeting forever Hereafter for the Choice of such officers of sd Town shall be on the Last Wednesday in march Annually. To HAVE & To HOLD the sd tract of Land as above Exprefs'd Together with all the Privi- ledges & Appurtenances to them and their respective Heirs and afsigns for Ever upon the following Conditions (Vizt) that every Grantee His heirs or afsigns Shall Plant or Cultivate five Acres of Land within the Term of five years for Every fifty contained in his or their Share or Proportion of Land in Said Township and Continue to improve and Settle the same by additional Cultivations on Penalty of the Forfeiture of his Grant or Share in the sd Township and it reverting to his Majesty his heirs and Successors to be by him or them regranted to such of his Subjects as Shall Effectually settle and Cultivate the same That all white and other pine Trees within the said Town- ship fit for masting our Royal Navy be Carefully preserved for that use and none to be Cut or felld within his Majestys Especial License for so Doing first had and obtained upon the Penalty of the forfiture of the Right of such Grantee his heirs or assigns to us our Ileirs and Successors as well as being subject to the Penalty of any Act or Acts of Parliament that now are or here- after Shall be Enacted That before any Division of the Said Lands be made to and amongst the Grantee A Tract of Land as near the centre of the Town- ship as the Land will admit of shall be reserved and markt out for Town Lotts one of Which Shall be allotted to Each Grantee of the Contents of one acre YIELDING & PAYING therefor to us our Heirs and Successors for the Space of Ten Years to be Computted from the Date hereof the Rent of one
I6
History of Rockingham
Ear of Indian Corn only on the first Day of January which will be in the Year of our LORD CHRIST one thousand Seven Hundred and sixty four one Shilling Proclamation money for Every Hundred Acres he so owns Settles or Possesses and so in Proportion for a Greater or a Lessor Traet of the said Land which money shall be paid by the respective Persons above said their heirs or assigns in our Council Chamber in Portstmouth or to such Officer or officers as shall be appointed to Receive the same and this to be in Leiu of all other Rents and Service whatsoever.
IN TESTIMONY hereof we have caused the seal of our Said Province to be hereunto affixed.
Witness BENNING WENTWORTH Esq. our Gouvernour and Commander in Cheif of our said Province the Twenty Eighth Day of Decembr in the year of our Lord Christ 1752 And in the 26th year of our Reign.
By His Excellencys Command with ad-
vice of Council Pr
Theodore Atkinson
Secty.
B. Wentworth Province of New Hampshire Decr 30th 1752 Entered and Recorded in the Book of Charters in Page 111 112 113 Pr. Theodore Atkinson Secty.
NAMES OF THE GRANTEES OF ROCKINGHAM.
( Vizt) Samll Johnson, Nathan Smith, Ezra Farnsworth, William Parker, Isaac Parker, Jonah Moor, John Kilbun, Lemuel Hastings, Salvenus Hast- ings, Jonathan White, Josiah Willard, Valentine Butler, Nathan Willard, Benjamin Bellows. Robert Henery, Benjamin Stowel, William Willard, Andrew Gardner, Peter Bellows, Jonathan Wetherbe, Abijah Wetherbee, Andrew Gardner junr, William Simonds, Samuel Wetherbe, Oliver Willard, David Farnsworth, Stephen Farnsworth, Asel Stebens, Jonathan Bigelow. John Densmore, Jotham Bush. John Arms, Simeon Knight, Jacob Elmore, Samuel Larrabee, Josiah Sawyer, David Page, Thomas Stebens, Hezekiah Elmore, Benjamin French, Asa Douglas. John Moffett. Johanna Wetherbee, Daniel Maynard, laazaniah How, Daniel Warren, John Stow, Ebenr Hindi- dale, Obidiah Dickerson, Jonathan Marble, William Syms, Timothy Taylor, Palmer Goulding, Isaac Winslow, Joseph Lee, Richard Clark, Thomas Mar- tin, Tuttle Hubbard, Samuel Wentworth.
The name Rockingham was chosen by Governor Went- worth, as were so many others in colonial days, because of its historic English association. It was so named for the Marquis of Rockingham, Charles Watson Wentworth, who was a relative of the governor, born 1730 and died 1782. He was first lord of the treasury and prime minister of England 1765 and 1766 and again in later years. He was
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