.J^. DURHAM

Library Association.

8helf N

THE ISTORY OF GILMANTON,

EMBRACING THE

PROPRIETARY, CIVIL, LITERARY, ECCLESIASTICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL, GENEALOGICAL, AND MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY,

FROM THE

FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME ;

INCLUDING WHAT IS NOW

©naiF ® lE®^

TO THE TIME IT WAS DISANNEXED.

By DANIEL LANCASTER.

G I L M A N T O N . PRINTED BY ALFRED PRESCOTT. 1845.

PREFACE.

The History comprised in this volume, is a compilation of facts derived from various sources, both oral and written. The materials have been accumulating on the hands of the writer for nearly twenty years, and under such circumstances as to render it both inexpedient and impossible to refer in all cases to the au- thorities. Moreover such a reference would greatly have encum- bered the margin, and increased the expense of publication without enhancing the value of the work to the readers. Oral and traditionary testimony have been relied on only where written documents failed. The written authorities which have been used are the Proprietary and Town Records, Prescott's

Sketch of Gilmanton, N. H. Hist. Col. Vol. I. p. 72, Farmer's Genealogical Register, Belknap's History of N. H. with Far- mer's Notes, Whiton's History of N. H., Adams' Annals of Portsmouth, Allen's Biographical Dictionary, Felt's History of Ipswich, &;c.

In the Biographical notices a free use has been made of the facts recorded in these works, and sometimes the very language has been used in an abridged or varied form. In the Proprietary and Civil History also, the language of the record has not unfre- quently been employed to express the course of events, as bein^ both the most convenient and the best suited to the object the writer had in view, viz. a plain narrative of facls.

Imperfection is the lot of all human effort. The present His- tory has come very far short of what the writer intended to make it. Notwithstanding much care, many errors, especially in the IV PREFACE.

dates, have occurred, some few of which only have been referred

to in the errata.

The Genealogical History is much more limited than was originally intended by the writer. To a great extent the dates

of births and marriages in the different families are left out, and many families are omitted altogether. This became necessary I

on account of the limited patronage given to the work. A full

schedule of the marriages and deaths from the first settlement of

the town, is also crowded out by the abrupt close to which the

writer has been obliged to bring the work, or suffer pecuniary

loss. These materials may at a future time be thrown into an

appendix to this History, should encouragement be afforded. The Map prepared to accompany this work, will be found an interesting and valuable appendage. The whole has cost an amount of labor, which none can estimate but those who have made similar attempts. Should the readers be interested, in- structed and benefitted, and a love of their native place be there- by cherished in the bosoms of his townsmen, at least one object of the writer will be accomplished. August, 1845.

ERRATA.

l'a"e 40 transpose the last two lines. 58 line 2, for sister of John Nelson, father, &c. read sister of Gen. Na- thaniel Folsom and of the mother of Jonathan Nelson. 30 10, for second rango, read second range. 131 7, for John Lougce, jr. read Samuel Avery. 137 14, for John F. Williams, read Adam Williams. 157 11, from bottom, for Nov. 3, 1805, read Nov. 3, 1825. 162 9, for May G, 1778, May 5, 1777. Kid 2, from bottom, for Hon. John Lord, read Nathaniel Lord, Esq. 15, do. for one year, read two years. 16, for 1842, read 1841. 228 I, for Dr. Abraham Silver, read Dr. James Silver. 247 22, for 1836, read 1816. 272 transfer the notice of Joseph Jones Gilman to page 253. 282 transfer the notice of Daniel J. Parsons to page 255. 285 transfer the notice of Dyer H. Sanborn, Esq. to page 255. 274 3, from bottom, for 17!)5, read 1705. 275 10, for 1791, 1691. 15th line, for 1772, read 1742. 278 13, from bottom, for they had Susan, read he had Susan, &c^ .

INDEX

Academy, 148, Charter of, 149, Clark family, 260, Peter, 216. Preceptors of, 164, 165, Pre- Henry K. W. 253, Ward, 26, ceptresses of, 165, 168, Trus- William C. 167. tees of, 156, Village, 136. Clement, Jonathan, 164. Adams family, 255, Joseph, 59. Clerical proprietors, 58. Alumni of the Seminary, 177. Clifford family, 259. Atkinson, Theodore, 32. Coffin, Eliphalet, 24, Peter, 59» Badger, Joseph,57, 70, 234, Jo Cogswell family, 259, William, seph, jr. 242, William, 247. 221, Francis, 163, Francis, Bachelder, Ebenezer, 58. 250, Elliott C. 168, Nathan- Bean, Aaron, 250, Joshua, 250, iel, 224, 249, Pearson, 248, Simeon, 241, Stephen, 249 Thomas, 248, 239. Belknap, Jeremiah, 186. Conner, Jere. 24, 68, Jona, 57. Bell, James, 225. Continental money, 94. Births, 292. Cooke, Phinehas, 194. Biographical History, 205. Copp, Timothy, 253. Bird, Isaac, 221. Corser, Enoch, 162. Block houses built, 39, rebuilt, Crosby, Asa, 229, Nathan, 224, 44, location of, 60. Dixi,231,Alpheus, 251. Bodwell, Abraham, 162. Cross, Abijah, 195. Bouton, Nathaniel, 163. Currier Family, 260. Burnham, Abraham, 174. Curtis, Jonathan, 174. Burns, Thomas, 246. Cutter, Ammi R. 104. Butterfield, William, 226. Deaths, 293. Canterbury line, 46. Delay of settlement of town, 35. Carpenter, Josiah, 193. Dudley family, 260, Nicholas^ Casualties, 296. 24, Stephen, 70, 237. Cart path from Epsom, 46. Durgin family, 261, Charles C. Caveriy, John Lee, 253. 254. Centre Church, 196. East Gilmanton, 133. Childs, Rufus, 219. Eastman family, 262, Ebenezer, Chipman, John, 26. 85, 244, Ira A. 825, 252, Church, Baptist, 199, gathered Nehemiah, 255. 83, Christian Baptist, 203 Ecclesiastical History, 145. 1st Congregational, 83, 192, Election Ser., preachers of, 102. Freewill Baptist, 202, Iron Emerson, Benjamin, 224. Works, 197, Methodist, 202 Employments and products,291 Citizens' mills, 130. Factory Village, 137. VI INDEX.

Farrar family,264, Wm. H. 253 Gunstock, 64. Farmers' M. F. I. Co. 302. Hackett family, 273, William H. Ffrost, John, 34. Y. 254. Fifield, Edward, 58. Ham, John, 224. First division of 40 acre lots, 37 Hatch family, 272. of 100 acre lots, 54. Hidden, Ephraim N. 167, Sam- First parish bounded, 53. uel, 147. First proposals to settlers, 40. Hill, Jonathan, 94, 227. Fitch, Jabez, 31. Hurricane, 138. Fletcher, Samuel, 166. Hutchinson family, 273. Fotro;, George G. 226. Iron Works Village, 134. Folsom family, 262, John, 26, Jacobs, Daniel, 228. Nathaniel, 105, Peter L. 249. JafFrey, George, 33. Foster, Abiel, 186, Asa E. 167, Jamestown, 138. Simon, 228. Jones family, 273. French family, 263, Otis, 231, Kelley, Benj., 229, Hall J. 250. Samuel P. 252. Kelley family, 274. Friends, Society of, 204. Knowles, John D. 217. Further proposals to settlers, 46 Ladd family, 274, Samuel, 71. Gale family, 265, Wm. P. 254. Lake Village, 139. Genealogical History, 255. Lancaster family, 274, Daniel, George, Enos, 195. 218. Gilford set off from Gilm'n, 123 Lawrence, Edward A. 167. Gilman family, 267, Andrew,25, Lawyers, 223, Antipas, 236, Daniel, 24, Ed Libraries, 178. ward, jr. 27, John, 27, 74, Lines perambulated, 44. John, 23, Josiah, 27, Nathan- Literary History, 145. iel, 27, Nicholas, 72, Nicho- Livermore, Arthur, jr. 225, Ed- las, 22, Nicholas, 3d. 26 ward St. Loe. 226.

Nicholas, 25, Peter, 24, Sam- Local divisions and names, 133. ' uel, 26, Samuel, jr. 57, Sam Local names, origin of, 63. uel, 3d, 27, Summersbee, 71, Location of Proprietors' mills 61 236. Locke, Edward J. 215. Gilmanton bounded, 37. Longevity, 295. Gookin, Nathaniel, 58. Loon Pond, 63. Gould, Joseph, 233. Lord, Nathan, 164. Graduates, 248. Lower Gilmanton, 133. Grave Yards, 301. Lyford, Stephen C. 164. Greely family, 266, Samuel Lougee family, 275. 243, Stephen L. 247, Ste- Mack family ,278, Andrew, 248. S. N. 218, 252. Magistrates, he. 234. phen i INDEX. VU

Mann, Cyrus, 166. Page family, 279, John H. Marsh family, 276. W. 251. Martin, Richard, 216. Parish, Obadiah, 227. Marriages, 293. Parkhurst, John L. 166. Mason, John Tufton, 49. Parsons family, 281, William, Masonian claim, 46, proprietors, 59, 70, 145, 205, Joseph,246 arrangementlwith, 47, deed ol Patrick, William, 162. 47, names of, 48, notices of, Peabody, Nathaniel, 104. 49. Peaslee family, 282, Charles H. McCIintock, Samuel, 186. 251. McFarland, Asa, 193. Pearson, Jethro, 57. Meredith Bridge Village, 138. Perkins, Jonathan, 244. Merrill, Thomas H. 230. Philbrook, Joseph, 72, 87. Meserve, Nath'l, 49, Geo. 50. Physicians, 226. McGee, Jonathan, 176. Pickering, John, 104. Ministers, 205. Pitman, Joshua M. 168. Minot, George, 225. Plant, Matthias, 33. Moderators, 139. Population, 74, 291. MofFatt, John, 51. Porter, Nathaniel, 183. Moody family, 276, David, 219, Powers, Walter, 214. John, 71, 88, 240, Stephen, Prentice, Josiah, 195. 223. Prescott family, 283, Wm. 230. Moore, Samuel, 49. Price family, 284, Ebe'r. 248. More, William, 28. Printing presses, 179. Morgan family, 277. Proposals to settlers, 45, 53. Morril Samuel, 175. Proprietors, names of, 20, who Morrill family, 277. gave bonds for settlement, 55, Morrill, Edward G. 233. proceedings, 36, 180, roads, Morrison, Uriah, 216. 62, settlement, summary of, Moulton family, 277. 75, town officers, 76. Mudgett family, 278, John, 57, Quimby, Michael, 219. INIrs. Hannah, 66. Rand, Asa, 193. Nelson family, 279, John, 249 Representatives, 143. Notices of members of Conven- Richardson Jere. 69, Phinehas tion, 104, of settlers, 56. 217, William, 2-34. Odiorne. Jotham, 50. Rocky pond, 63. Odlin, John, 57, John, 23. Rood, Heman, 219. Osgood family, 279. Rust, Henry, 24. Original settlers classed, 34. SafFord, Charles G. 218. Packer, Thomas, 50. Sanborn family, 284, Edwin D. Page, John, 56, John C. 232, 252, Dyer H. 285, John, 238. VUl ItfDEX.

Second division 40 acres, 40. Town bridges, 130, officers, 139, Selden, Calvin, 165. paupers, 124, roads, 126. Selectmen, 141, 77. Tucker, Jedediah, 158. Sewall Jonathan M. 104. Upham, Timothy, 186. Shellcamp pond, 64. Waldron, Richard, 31, Richard, Shepard family, 287, John, 245, jr. 32. John W. 254, Samuel, 246. Walker, Timo. 182,Timo. 106. Sherburne,Henry,29, Henry ,29. Wallingford, Thomas, 50. Sherman, Anthony, 228. Walton, Shadrach, 34. Shute, Samuel, 31. Wears, 64. Silver, James, 228. Warner, A. 220. Sinkler, Richard, 67, 71. Weare, Ebenezer, 28. Smith family, 288, Ebenezer, Weather and Climate, 303. 161, Ezra C. 254, Francis P. Webster family, 288, Ebenezer, 250, Frederick, 253, Isaac, 106, Thomas, 24. 207, 184, Richard, 27, The- W^eed, Orlando, 57. ophilus,27, William,146, 226. Weeks family, 289. Soucook River, 64. Wells, Nathaniel, 193. Spofford,Luke A. 217. Wentworth, Benning, 30, Ben- Spotted fever, 123. ning 30, John, 30, John, 31, State Constitution, 100. Mark H. 30. Stearns, Josiah, 183. Westbrooke, Thomas, 34. Sullivan, John, 105. Whipple, Joseph, 59. Suncook, 63. Whiton, John M. 175. Surveyors' divisions, 59. Wibird, Richard, 33. Tebbetts, Nathan C.231. Wight family, 290, Nahum,232. Tenney, Ch's, 222, Dan'l, 168. Williams, Adam, 228, Jacob, Test Act, signers of, 98, 100. 231, Simon F. 159. Theological Seminary, 169, Vis- Wilson family, 287, Nathaniel, itors, 174, Faculty, 176, 219. 242, Humphrey, 50, 26, Jer- Thing, Barth'vv, 24, Sam'l, 23. emiah, 247, Thomas, 27. Tilton family, 289, David, 252, Wingate, Paine, 105. Josiah, 58. Wood, Eliphalet, 146. Tioga, 138. Woodman, Joseph, 157. K, Topography of Civil History, Young, Joseph , 246. John 126, of Proprietary Hist. 59. 175. HISTORY OF GILMANTON.

PART I.

PROrUIETARY AND CIVIL HISTORY.

Introduction.

Had an observer stood on the Promontory which raises Its barren and sandy head, on the celebrated beach that skirts the eastern shores of our State, at any period before the discovery of this continent by Columbus, he might have seen as he looked out upon the ocean from day to day, " the ivide ivasie oj tvaters," rising and swelling and dashing upon the shore; but as the eye extended over the vast expanse, no whitened sail would have been visible to give variety to the scene, or to shew that there lived other societies of men, and that the spirit of enterprize was abroad in the earth. Before him would have been one vast flood rolling on from year to year, but bearing on its bosom no ark con- taining human beings, to people a new world, and to introduce the arts of civilization. Not unlike this prospect would have been that, visible to an ob- server who should have stood on one of the eminences of the

Suncook Range, and looked out on the wilderness which skirted it on either side, at any time previous to the first settlement of Gil- manton. There would have appeared as far as the eye could j'each, from the Winnepisiogee on the North and West, to the Catamount and the Blue Hills on the South and the East, nothing but dense forests and deep ravines, with no cultivated spot, to re- lieve the monotony of the scene. Here and there traces of

savage beasts, and more savage men, might have been descried ; but no mark of civilized beings, or of the cultivation of the soil, was as vet visible. 14 PROPRIETARY HISTORY

A different day however was at band. The time was near, when the forests were to be levelled, and the soil tilled. As in the appointed time, the solitary barque of Columbus was seen upon the waters of the Atlantic, and the vessel of Capt. Smith coasted our shores for discovery, so in the allotted season, the first explorers of this wilderness, and the bounders of the town were abroad in the forests of the Winnipisiogee and Suncook, tracino; the lines, and boundinir tbe lots on which the Fathers of Gilmanton pitched their tents. How different the view now enjoyed by the privileged man who gains the summit of Mount ]\lajor, the highest peak of the

Suncook Range. Before him still is the Lake bespangled with

its hundred islands ; but now instead of the birchen canoe of the savage, it bears on its bosom the steamer Belknap and numerous long boats. On every side are visible the smiling villages which have sprung up by the waters of the Winnipisiogee and Suncook, while he beholds the trackless wilderness as by magic changed into countless, well cultivated farms, and instead of wild beasts that roam the forest, the hills are covered with the joyful flocks and herds. Such a transformation might seem more like enchant- ment than reality, did not the experience of every day verify the present aspect of the scenery, and show what Gilmanton w, con- trasted with what Gilmanton ivas.

It is now nearly 120 years since the town of Gilmanton was granted, and more than 80 years since the first active operations were commenced by settlers within its boundaries. The pro- ceedings both of the proprietors and of the settlers deserve to be recorded. Such facts as have been collected from the few of the settlers who remain, joined with what has appeared of inter- est from an examination of the early records, are here embodied and given to the public. The History of Gilmanton naturally divides itself into Pro- prietary, Civil, Topographical, Literary, Ecclesiastical, Bio- graphical, Genealogical, and Miscellaneous. This order will be followed in the present work and will be preceded by a brief

Geographical Dkscription of the. Town.

Gilmanton is situated in Lat. 43'^ 25' North, and Long. -5° 55" East. It is 16 miles from Concord, 45 from Portsmouth, 80 OF GILMANTON. 15

from Boston, and 520 from the City of Washington. The ori-

ginal grant was bounded N. by Lake Winnipisiogee ; E. by New S. W. by Durham Gore, now Alton ; S. E. by Barnstead, Can-

terbury, now Loudon, Canterbury and iXorthfield ; and N. W. by

Winnipisiogee River and Bay, which separate it from Sanborn- ton and Meredith. It was about 18 miles in length and from 7 to 10 miles in breadth, comprising an area of 83,500 acres. The surface of the town is to a great extent rocky and hilly. A chain of eminences, varying in height from 300 to 1000 feet, called theSuncook Range, commencing at the Northern extremi- ty near the Lake and extending in a South Easterly direction through the town, divides the head springs of the Suncook and Soucook Rivers. These hills are generally productive to their summit, affording some of the finest pasturage in the country. The high lands have a rich deep soil, covered in its natural state with various kinds of hard wood, interspersed with evergreens, and when cultivated, produce a plentiful harvest. The low lands have a sandy loam, covered in its natural state with White. Pitch and Norway pines, and produce under cultivation but in- different crops. One of the hills in this Range from its shape and insular po- sition, has been denominated Peaked Hill. It is situated about half a mile East of the Academy and Theological Seminary, and

is about 450 feet high from its base. From the summit of this hill, which can be approached on horseback, the following objects can be seen with the naked eye. [See N. H. Hist. Coll. vol. I. p. 73.

Two peaks of the Unconoonock Moun- Height Bearing. tain in Goffstown, S. 26 & 27° W. State House in Concord, 118 S. 31° W. Mount William in Weare, S. 32'^ W. Crotched Mountain between Frances- town and Greenfield, S. 47 W. Grand ^Monadnock, in Jaffrey h Dublin, 3,450 S. 50 1-2 W.

Kearsarge in Salisbury and Sutton, 2,46 1 Due W. 1 Ascutney in Windsor, Vt., 3,32o|n. 80 1-2 W. Cardigan in Orange, N. 51 W. Moosehillock in Coventry, 4,636 N. 19 1-2 W. White Face INIountain in Sandwich, N. 7 E. J 6 PROPRIETARY HISTORY

Mount Washington, the highest peak of Height Bearing, the White Mountains, 6,314 N. 12° E. Mount Major, liighest peak of Suncook Range, 1,000 N. 22 E. Great Moose Mountain in Brookfield and Middlelon, 1,000 N. 79 E. Prospect Hill, New Durham Ridge, S. 73 E.

The Winnipisiogee River forms the boundary ihe whole dis- tance on the N. West, separating Gihnanton from Meredith and Sanbornton, and afibrds vakiable water privileges at Lake Vil- lage, Meredith Bridge and Union Bridge. The two principal streams besides the Winnipisiogee on the western boundary, are the Suncook and the Soucook. The Suncook River takes its rise in a pond near the summit of one of the Suncook INIountains, elevated between nine and ten hundred feet from its base. From this the water falls into another at the foot of the Mountain, called Young's Pond, one mile in length and half a mile in width. Passing from this it falls into another called Lougee's

Pond, covering 500 acres ; from which it meanders through the town, receiving several streams in its course, and furnishing val- uable mill privileges, particularly at the Iron Works Village. The Soucook River rises from Loon, Rocky and Shellcamp Ponds in the South part of the town, near which are also several valuable mill privileges. Another important stream, called Great Brook, rising in the high lands on the West, falls into the Winnipisiogee

River, on which at Badger's Mills there is now a cotton factory in successful operation. Two other smaller streams rising on the East of the Suncook Range, on one of which, Butler's Brook. ihe Jirst saw mill, and on the other, ]Mill Brook, ihe Jirst grist mill in the town, were erected, dischaige their waters into the Suncook River. Miles and Gunslock Brooks, in the part now called Gilford, furnisli also valuable mill privileges. The one at Gilford Village is a place of considerable business.

Proprietary History.

Gilmanton was incorporated in 1727. The Charter was signed on the 20th of May by his Majesty's Colonial Governor, John Wentvvorth. The town was granted as compensation fov OF GILMANTON. » 17

services, rendered in defence of the country, to 24 persons by the name of Gihiian,* and 153 others; a circumstance which suffi-

ciently accounts for the name of Gilmantown, as it was originally called. The conditions of the charter were that the proprietors, within three years, should build seventy dwelling houses and settle a fa- ily or to in each, cause the same be done ; and clear three acres

fit for planting, of ground or movvin