T o L.hb "/? j-M^, y^ /?^-< /xT-^ V^(i-.V -'-Imi \\M.. HISTORY OF in TAm j ^ D n FROM THE FIRST SEITLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME. 1768—1886 COMPILED BY A COMMITTEE CHOSEN BY THE TOWN. printed by The Claremont Manufacturing Co., claremont, n. h. 1886. ] (\ r^'\ k JUL 2 01987 COPY ~ PREFACE. ^T the annual meetings in March, 1884, the town of Washington votecl to compile its history. A committee consisting of George N. Gage, Frank P. Newman, Hiram I. Hoyt, Shubael W. Hurd and Freeman B. Lincoln was chosen to perform the work. Negotiations were entered into with Rev. Justin E. Bur- bank of Concord, which resulted in the purchase of his large and valuable collection of manuscript relating to the history of the town. For more than two years, the committee have labored, as opportunity would allow, to arrange and complete the work intrusted to them. The result of their labors is given to the public with con- sciousness of many imperfections. With greater care and more experience on the part of the committee, many er- rors and imperfections would not have appeared. On the other hand, no amount of accuracy on the part of the compilers could insure accuracy of statement in cases, in regard to which, conflicting statements were made by apparently reliable parties. Statements have been com- pared, and those accepted which appeared most reliable. It has been the aim to deal fairly with all parties, and any deviation has been unintentional. It must be re- membered that some persons and families, from necessity require more notice than others. The committee early secured the services of Mrs. Hat- tie C. Lewis, whose labors have added greatly to the value and interest of the history. IV PREFACE. A valuable and interesting sketch of the eighth New Hampshire regiment was kindly furnished by Col. Dana W. King, of Nashua, and much valuable material relating to the fourteenth regiment, was contributed by Freeman S. Stowell, formerly a citizen of the town. Thanks are due many other persons, who, though re- siding in other towns, and at a distance, have kindly aided and encouraged the compilers, and particularly to Rev. Nathan R. Wright, of Lynn, Mass.; Langdon Healy, of Brooklyn, N. Y.; Edward W. Davis, of New York City ; Hazen Ayer, of Putney, Vt.; Nathan Fisk, of St. Croix Falls, Wis.; Corodon Spaulding, of Canton, Mass.; David L. Davis, of Readville, Mass.; Luman T. Jefts, of Hud- son, Mass.; Gustine L. Hurd, of Providence, R. I.; Jef- ferson Barney, of Hancock.; Mrs. Sophronia S. Wilcox, of Northborough, Mass.; Ezra P. Howard, of Nashua; Wm. E. Proctor, of Ogdensburg, N. Y.; DeW. C. Newman, of Hillsborough, and others. Almost without exception the people of Washington have aided and encouraged the committee in every possible way. To Luther A. Mellen, Nathaniel A. Lull, John Wood, John O. Metcalf, Geo. W. Carr, Charles H. Lowell and Jesse F. Bailey, the committee are especially indebted for aid. Finally to the members of their own households, who have contributed in many ways to lighten their labors and add interest to them, the committee acknowledge their indebtedness. Most of the portraits and views contained in this volume are contributions, and were provided at large expense. The following is a list of contributors. Corodon Spaulding, of Canton, Mass., portrait of Amy Spaulding ; Gilman Bailey, of Kansas City, Mo., portrait of Dea. Samuel P. Bailey ; children and grandchildren, portrait of Mary Brockway ; Mrs. Julia A. Duncan, En- glewood, N. J., portrait of Solomon E. Jones ; Willard and David G. Crane, of Burlington, Vt., portrait of Ziba Crane ; Mrs. Mary S. Wild, Brooklyn, N, Y., portrait of PREFACE. V Rev. John F. Griswold ; Langdon Healy, Brooklyn, N. Y., portrait of Joseph Healy ; Mrs. Helen Healy, Clare- mont, portraits of S. W. Healy and Josiah Richards ; Mrs. John P. Healy, Boston, portrait of John P. Healy ; David L. Davis, Readville, Mass., portrait of Edmund Davis ; Edward W. Davis, New York City, portrait of William Davis ; children and grandchildren, portrait of Charles French ; Mrs. David Heald, Waverly, Mass., portrait of David Heald, Jr.; George J. Fisher, Boston, portrait of Jabez Fisher ; Gustine L. Hurd, Providence, R. I., and Luman T. Jefts, Hudson, Mass., a view of the Congregational Church, Old School House, and Town House ; Nathaniel A. Lull & Sons, a view of their store and residence ; J. Henry Newman, a view of his resi- dence. The portrait of Sarah Shedd and the views of the villages, public library building, and soldiers' monu- ment, were provided by the town. Other portraits were contributed by the persons represented. It may be of in- terest to know that the portrait of Amy Spaulding was copied from a daguerreotype taken by Thomas N. Good- ale, of Hillsborough, the day after her centennial birth- day. The portrait of Mary Brockway was from a photo- graph by Charles F. McClary, of Hillsborough, taken at the age of more than one hundred and one years. The portrait of Samuel P. Bailey was from a photograph by George W. Lincoln of Hillsborough, taken the day before his one hundredth birth day. The view of the Congrega- tional Church, Old School House, and Town House, is from a photograph by Gustine L. Hurd, of Providence, R. L The other views are from photographs by George W. Lincoln of Hillsborough. Washington, N. H., 1886. ILLUSTRATIONS. PORTRAITS. pa(;k. JOSEPH HEALY, FRONTISPIECE. SAMUEL P. BAILEY, S CHARLES FRENCH, 1(> MARY BROCKWAY, 27 AMY SPAULDING, 56 N. R. WRIGHT, 112 J. F. GRISAVOLD, 121 CARROLL D. AVRIGHT, 206 SARAH SHEDD, 2.oO L. T. JEFTS, 257 MARTIN CHASE, 336 ZIBA CRANE, 353 WILLIAM DAVIS, '. 369 EDMUND DAVIS, 376 JABEZ FISHER, 417 DAVID HEALD, 469 J. P. HEALY, 472 S. W. HEALY, 475 LANGDON HEALY, 471 E. P. HOWARD, 480 GUSTINE L. HURD, 486 SOLOMON E. JONES, 497 S. H. MATHER, 528 JOSIAH RICHARDS, 583 CORODON SPAULDING, 619 BUILDINGS. STORE AND RESIDENCE OF N. A. LULL AND SONS, .... 88 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 104 OLD SCHOOL HOUSE, 104 TOWN HOUSE, 104 SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, 177 SHEDD FREE LIBRARY, 248 RESIDENCE OF J. H. NEWMAN, 553 LANDSCAPES. EAST WASHINGTON VILLAGE, 24 WASHINGTON CENTRE, FROM FAXON HILL, 41 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. EVENTS LEADING TO THE SETTLEMENT OF WASHINGTON. First Settlements in New Hampshire. Government of the Settlements. Union with Massachusetts, then a Royal Province. Mason's Claim. Once more united with Massa- chusetts. Indian war. Allen's Claim. Claims to New Hampshire lands. Boundaries between Massachusetts and New Hami)shire. First Grant made, in which Washington was included. Mason's title sold to twelve residents of Portsmouth. Survey of the Monadnock range of towns. 1-7 CHAPTER II. CHARTERS AND FIRST SETTLEMENT. Charter given to the Sixty Proprietors. Proprietor's Meet- ings. Efforts of Proprietors to settle the township. Com- mittee chosen to visit New Concord. Grantees' last meet- ing. Charter forfeited. Reuben Kidder's Grant. Arrival of First Settlers. Condition of Roads and Country. Charactei'istics of First Settlers. 7-18 CHAPTER III. PETITION FOR INCORPORATION. NAME OF WASHINGTON. Petition for Incorporation. Name of Washington. Brief sketches of some of the First Settlers and Early Residents. 18-2(5 CHAPTER IV. SETTLEMENT OF EAST WASHINGTON. Village of East Washington. First Settlers. Some Early Residents. 26-.30 CHAPTER V. FIRST MEETING HOUSE. Building Meeting House. Committees Chosen. Timber, when cut. Price of materials for building. Workmen's- Wages. Outside house finished. Expense of Meetings of the Committee. House raising. Completion and appear- ance of the house. Liquor drinking habit. 30-3.5 35-41 VIU CONTENTS, CHAPTER VI. TRANSCRIPT OF ROADS. CHAPTER VII. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND BOUNDARY LINES. Physical Geography. General Scenery. View from Love- welPs Mountain. Situation of center villag'e. Longitude and Latitude. Height of mountain and otlier portions of town. Prospect from these elevations. Original size and form of the town. Boundary Lines. Water shed between the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers. Ashuelot river. Other streams. Ponds in Washington. Forests, surface, soil, productions, climate. Boundary dispute between Washington and Marlow. 41-51 CHAPTER VIII. LOVEWELL'S MOUNTAIN AND THE ORIGIN OF ITS NAME. LovewelFs Mountain. Indian Tribes in New Hampshire. Indian Relics in Washington. The Theory of Hon. John H. Goodule in regard to the name of Love well's 3Iountain. 51-56 CHAPTER IX. FLORA AND FAUNA. 56-60 CHAPTER X. POPULATION AND MAPS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. Population of AVashington at the time of each census. Maps of New Ihinipshire. Buildings burned. Fire of 1830. Baptist church burned. 60-65 CHAPTER XL PRIMITIVE HABITS AND MANNER OF LIVING. 65-74 CHAPTER XIL INDUSTRIES. Saw and gristmill. Other mauufacturies from their origin to the present time. 74-86 CHAPTER XIII. INDUSTRIES CONTINUED. Stores, hotels, mechanics, etc. 86-99 CONTENTS. IX PAGE. CHAPTER XIV. Early ministers, how chosen, characteristics of First min- isters in Washington. Mr. Leslie. Cold Avinter. Dark day. Mr. Leslie's congregation jjrior to 1800. Mr. Les- lie's death. 99-104 CHAPTER XV. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY. 104-109 CHAPTER XVI. EAST WASHINGTON CALVINISTIC BAPTIST CHURCH. 109-1 1« CHAPTER XVII. OTHERCHURCHES. Universalist Society. Methodist church on Turnpike. Sev- enth Day Adventist church. Methodist church at East Washington. Free will Baptist church. at East Wash- ington. 116-12;^ CHAPTER XVIII. PROFESSIONAL HISTORY, Attorneys at law who have practiced in Washington. 123-127 CHAPTER XIX. PROFESSIONAL HISTORY CONTINUED. Physicians who have resided at W^ashington Center. 127-1 3.t CHAPTER XX. PROFESSIONAL HISTORY CONTINUED. Physicians who have resided at East Washington. 135-141 CHAPTER XXI. POLITICAL. CHAPTER XXII. REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. CHAPTER XXIII. WAR OF 1812 AND MEXICAN WAR. 141-153 153-162 162-170 X CONTENTS. PAGE. CHAPTER XXIV. WAR RECORDS FROM 1SG2 TO 1865. Eeeords of the War of the Eebellioii. 170-177 CHAPTER XXV. WASHINGTON'S FIRST VOLUNTEER. Second New Hampsliire Volunteers. Seventh New Hamp- shire Volunteers. 177-184 CHAPTER XXVI. EIGHTH NEW HAMrSHIRE VOLUNTEERS. CHAPTER XXVII. TENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS. CHAPTER XXVIII. FOURTEENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS. CHAPTER XXIX. 184-193 193-206 206-214 Sixteenth New Hampsliire Volunteers. Capt. Judson Wil- kins. 214-219 CHAPTER XXX. Shari)shooters. Amos B. Jones. Samuel D. Monroe. List of Washington men who served in the War of the Rebel- lion. 219-234 CHAPTER XXXI. SCHOOLS. Record of early votes passed relating to schools. Division into districts. Boundaries of districts. Building of school liouses. 234-250 CHAPTER XXXII. 'I'uhbs Union Academy, reunion of. Prof. Dyer H. Sanborn. Sbedd Fi-ee Library, dedication of. Miss Sarah Shedd. Mr. Luman T. Jefts. 250-264 CHAPTER XXXIII. Secret Societies. Soldiers' Monument. Cemeteries. 264-270 CHAPTER XXXIV. GENEALOGIES. 270-691 CHAPTER XXXV. RECORDS OF FAMILIES NOT MENTIONED IN THE PRECEDING CHAPTER. 691-696 History of Washington. CHAPTER I. EVENTS LEADING TO THE SETTLEMENT OF WASHINGTON. First settlements in New Hampshire. Government of the settle- ments. Union with Massachusetts then a Eoyal Province. Mason's claim. Once more miited with Massachusetts. Indian war. Allen's claim. Claims to New Hampshire lands. Boundaries between Mas- sachusetts and New Hampshire. First grant made in which Wash- ington was included. Mason's title sold to twelve residents of Portsmouth. Survey of the Mouadnock range of towns. N the year 1623, Sir Fernando Gorges and Capt. John Mason sent out two small companies to make settlements on land of which they had re- ceived a grant from the council of Plymouth. One party settled at a place called by them Little Harbor, which is within the present limits of Portsmouth. The other sailed up the Piscataqua river, and settled at Northam, called by the Indians Cocheco, and now Dover. In 1633 the first settlement was made at Hampton, the Indian name being Winnicumet. In 1638 a settlement was begun on the Swamscot river by a small company of emigrants, who had been banished from Massachusetts, being accused of heresy. The leader of these exiles, John Wheelwright, purchased of the In- dians a tract of land lying between the Piscataqua and Merrimac rivers, they considering themselves well paid in "coats, shirts, and kettles." 2 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, The Plymouth company soon after this purchase, made a grant of the same territory to Capt. Mason, who named it New Hampshire, in honor of the county of Hampshire in England, where he formerly lived. Wheelwright considered his claim to be more just than any that could be given by a Massachusetts company, he having purchased the land of the original owners ; and he proceeded to make a settlement at a place now called Exeter, This unexplored region had been called a "goodly realm" by some of the Massachusetts colonists, who had sailed up the coast by the Isles of Shoals and the "Marshes of Hampton spread J^evel and green that summer day. The North is the hmd of hope thej' cried ; And in sixteen hundred and twenty-tliree, For Dover meadows and Portsmouth river, Bold and earnest they crossed tlie sea, And the realm was theirs and ours forever," Until the year 1641 these four settlements had no com- bined form of government, but the hostile action of the Indians led them to wish to unite in one body, for mutual protection, and they decided at last to become a part of the Province of Massachusetts, to which proposition that state very willingly assented, and as our state historian says, "the political marriage of these republics was con- summated without opposition, for there was no one to for- bid the bans." The population of the four New Hamp- shire settlements at the time of the union with Massa- chusetts was about one thousand, that of all the New England colonies, twenty thousand. In the year 1679 New Hampshire became a royal prov- ince after being under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts for nearly thirty-eight years. Indian hostilities had ceased and prosperity attended the settlers in this new state. The colonies were still kept in a ferment by the HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 3 Masons, who laid claim to a large portion of the New Hampshire townships ; and they were anxious to establish their claim so as to have power to give leases of the land to the settlers. The government was administered by officials appointed by the crown until the year 1688, when a new king having ascended the throne, the people of the New England provinces, denounced the Governor, Sir Edmund Andros, and sent him to England as a prisoner. For two years New Hampshire was left without a govern- ment — waiting orders from the mother country — but none came ; and in 1690 they asked to be once more admitted under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, which request was granted, and delegates were sent to the general court of that colony for two years. In the mean time Capt. Mason died, leaving his title to his two sons, John and Robert Mason. They sold their claim to Samuel Allen of London who was commissioned Governor. This change was contrary to the wishes of the people of New Hamp- shire, who desired to be annexed to the colony of Massa- chusetts. In 1689 another Indian war broke out instigated in part by the French, who had settlements in Canada ; and from this time until 1697 the colonies suffered severely from at- tacks of the Indians led on by the French, who were quite as unmerciful in their mode of warfare. In 1696 peace was restored between England and France, and the hos- tilities of the Indians ceased. During the year 1698 Allen came over and assumed the control of the colony, and he made an attempt to gain possession of the territory that he had purchased of the Masons. The courts of the colony, however, decided against him. He then appealed to the king, but the sud- den death of Allen prevented a final decision. From 1702 until 1741 New Hampshire and Massachusetts were again united under one government. In 1741 Benning Went- worth was appointed Governor of the separate Province of 4 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, New Hampshire, and in 1767 John Wentworth his nephew succeeded him and continued to hold that position until the war of the Revolution. Sanborn in his History of our state pertinently remarks, "if New Hampshire had been a Paradise its possession could not have been more eagerly sought by its numerous suitors. The Indians claimed it ; the assigns of Mason claimed it ; Massachusetts claimed it ; and the actual set- tlers claimed it, — Massachusetts claimed the largest and best part of it. Her claim was founded on her charter given by William and Mary, which substantially covered the same territory which was granted by the first charter of James I. After the failure of a joint committee from both provinces, who met at Newbury in 1731 to settle the long and complicated dispute, New Hampshire petitioned the king to decide the controversy." George H decided in favor of New Hampshire, that state receiving more than she originally claimed as her right. For some years previous to this decision Massachusetts had granted as many townships as possible in order to gain color of title to the disputed territory. In 1735 the "line of towns" as they are designated was granted on the plea of forming a defense against the Indians. This line began at Boscawen and extended west to Charlestown. No. i, included the territory of Warner ; No. 2, that of Bradford ; No. 3, that of the north part of Washington, with a part of Lempster ; No. 4, the remaining land until Charlestown was reached, then called No. 4 of another line of towns ; No. 5, included Hopkinton ; No. 6, Henniker ; No. 7, Hillsborough ; No. 8, the s.outhern part of Washington and a part of Stoddard. This was the first grant ever made as far as the records show of the territory now included in the town of Wash- ington. This charter was dated Jan. 15, 1736. Although this decision of the king virtually settled the boundary question between the two states, in reality New Hampshire has never had a legal southern boundary. The HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 5 decree of the king that the line should be run and estab- lished by the two provinces, or if one refused to act in the matter, by the other alone, was carried out by Richard Hazen, a New Hampshire surveyor, under the direction of Gov. Belcher, in the winter of 1741, Massachusetts re- fusing to take part in the proceedings. In his survey Hazen made an allowance of 10° for the westerly variation of the needle. It was afterwards ascertained that he had committed a serious blunder in making so large an allow- ance. Instead of 10'^ it should have been 6° 40' only, and he had therefore hit the Connecticut river by a line 3° 20' too far north, and the line should have been placed further south on that river by nine hundred and forty-two rods, nearly three miles. This territory embraced, from the "boundary pine" in Pelham to the Connecticut river, ninety square miles, or over fifty-nine thousand acres of land. The Massachusetts towns which it is claimed lie wholly or partly in New Hamp- shire, are Tyngsboro, Dunstable, Pepperrell, Townsend, Ashby, Ashburnham, Winchendon, Royalton, Warwick and Northfield. In 1885 a joint commission to establish a boundary line to which both states might agree to as a correct one, was chosen, and it is expected that the con- troversy respecting the boundary of New Hampshire which has continued for more than one hundred and fifty years will at last be concluded. Soon after this decision of the king respecting the bound- ary line, the Mason claim was revived. John Tufton, a native of Boston, and great-grandson of John Mason, and his heir on assuming the name of Mason, pressed his claim and succeeded in getting a decision in his favor. In 1746 John Tufton Mason sold his title to twelve men of Ports- mouth, New Hampshire, called the Masonian Proprietors, for one thousand five hundred pounds sterling, and they assumed the control of the territory. They pursued a ju5t and generous policy with the actual 6 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. settlers who had received their titles from Massachuse'-ts and proceeded to look after their unsettled possessions. The first survey was made in the year 1749, of towns bordering on Massachusetts, thence north on the western boundary of what was owned by the Masonian Proprietors. These towns were designated as South Monadnock, (now Rindge), Middle Monadnock, (Jaffrey), North Monadnock, (Dublin), Monadnock No. 4, (Fitzwilliam), Monadnock No. 5, (Marlboro), Monadnock No. 6, (Nelson), Monadnock No. 7, (Stoddard), and Monadnock No. 8, (Washington). The new proprietors were anxious to issue patents to those who would become actual settlers, and the survey of this uninhabited region, and the laying out of the new line of towns, had called the attention of the public to this portion of the state, and in 1751 the following grant was made to individuals who intended to see that actual settle- ments were made on the premises. The original grant of which this is a copy is still in the possession of the town. CHAPTER II. CHARTERS AND FIRST SETTLEMENT. Charter given to the sixty proprietors. Proprietors' meetings. Ef- forts of proprietors to settle the township. Committee chosen to visit New Concord. Grantees' last meeting. Charter forfeited. Reuben Kidder's grant. Arrival of first settlers. (Jondition of roads and country. Characteristics of first settlers. Province of New Hampshire URSUANT to the Power and authority Granted and Vested in me the Subscriber, by the Prop'rs of Land Purchased of John Tufton Mason, Esqr., in the Province of New Hampshire, by their vote Passed at their Meeting held at Portsmouth in said Province, Sixth day of December, A. D. 175 1, I do by these Pres- ents on ye Terms and Conditions, with the Reservations herein after expressed. Give and Grant all the right Prop- erty and Possessions of ye Proprietors aforesaid unto Capt. Peter Prescott, Stephen Hosmer, Jun., John Wood, John Fox, Daniel Hoar, Timothy Hoar, Jacob Fox, Joseph Lee, Zepheniah Wood, Abijah Mason, Nathan Stratton, Seth Lee, Timothy Hodgman, Stephen Hosmer Tertius, Abel Miles, Joseph Stratton, Joseph Wheeler, Joseph Wheeler Jun., Archelus Adams, Jonathan Fisk, John Miles, Consider Soaper, Charles Prescott, Abel Prescott, James Lauman, Jonas Haywood, Abel Fox, David Fletcher, 8 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. Nath'l Piper, Nath'l Hosmer, Jun., Wm. Hosmer, Peter Prescott, Jun., James Minot, Jun., all of Concord ; John Fox, John Fox, Jun., Eleaser Lawrence, Jun., Eleaser I>awrence Tertius, all of Littleton ; Jonathan Hosmer, Nathaniel Wheeler, Jonathan Conant, William Cutting, Joseph Wheeler, all of Acton ; William Rice of Sudbury, Aaron Willard of Lancaster, John Buss of Lunenberg, William Boutwell of Leominster, Nathaniel Sawyer of Lancaster, John Bulkeley and Peter Bulkeley of Boston, Robert Fletcher, Jun., of Nottingham, all in the Province of Massachusetts Bay ; Joseph Brown, Wm. Spaulding, Peter Powers, Stephen Powers, Samuel Cumings, Zach- eriah Stearns, John Stearns, Zacheriah Stearns, Jun., Jona- than Combs, Jacob Fletcher, Jeremiah Colburn, all in the Province of New Hampshire, in equal Shares of, in and to that Tract of Land or Township called Monadnock Num- ber Eight, (or New Concord), Lying in the Province of New Hampshire aforesaid, and within the Claim of Mason's Patent, Bounded as Followeth : Beginning at a Stake and Heap of Stones, the North Westerly Corner of Monadnock Number Seven (so called) Granted to Reuben Kidder and others, which Stake and Stones is in the Patent Line Lately Run by Joseph Blanchard, Jun., Esq. — from thence runs by Said Number Seven, South, Eighty Degrees, East Six Miles and a half to a Stake and Heap of Stones, from thence North, Twenty Eight Degrees East Eight Miles on Ungranted Lands to a Beach Tree, From thence North Eighty degrees West six miles and a half to ye Patent Line aforesaid. From Thence Southerly by Said Patent Line to the first Bounds Mentioned. To Them their Heirs and assigns To Have and to Hold on ye Terms and Con- ditions with the Reservations hereinafter Expressed viz : That the Tract of Land aforesaid be Divided into one Hundred and Twenty three Equall Shares, Two Lotts to a Share, at the Least, at ye Expense of ye Grantees and Drawn for in some Open and Equitable Manner at or before -€^C^i^ HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 9 the Last Day of January, A. D., 1754, a Plan and Record thereof to be made, and by their Proprietors, Clerk on Oath Certified with the Schedule, and Delivered into the said Grantors Clerk's Office within thirty days next after Such Draft. That three of ye aforesaid Shares be and hereby are granted one to ye first Settled Minister, one for ye ministry, and one for ye Schools, these forever free of all Charge : That Twenty more of ye Shares be reserved to and for ye Grantors Their Heirs and assigns forever, free from all Incumbrances of Settlement, Tax," Charge or Expense whatever, until Improved by ye owners or Some Holding under them Respectively. That the Owners of ye other Shares viz ; all Exclusive of James Minott, Jun., Josiah Brown, William Spalding, Peter Powers, Stephen Powers, Samuel Cumings, Zacha- riah Stearns, John Stearns, Zachariah Stearns, Jun., Jona- than Combs, Jacob P"letcher and Jeremiah Colburn, Jun., at their own expense make Settlement in ye following Man- ner viz : That there be Three Acres Cleared, Inclosed and Fitted for mowing or Tillage, on some one lott of each of ye fifty Settling Shares aforesaid, at or before the last day of June, 1755, and Two acres more on Each of ye same Lotts annually, for Three years next Coming, and at ye Expiration of Five years from this Date, To have on Each of ye Said Fifty Lotts a Convenient Dwelling House and a Family or some Person Resident there for four years then next coming. That all necessary Hyways be Laid out in Sd Town- ship Through Grantors and Grantees Lands, as there shall be need for the future, without any pay or allowance for Damages Thereby. That a Convenient Meeting House be Built in Said Township and Finished within Ten years from this Date, and Twenty acres reserved for Publick use at ye Place that shall be appointed to Sett said House upon. That the aforesaid Grantees by a Major Vote in Publick 10 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. Meeting Called for that Purpose, Grant and asess in Equal Proportion Such sum or sums of Money, as they Shall think Necessary from time to time, for carrying forward and completing the Settlement aforesaid, and the Grantees Exclusive of ye Three Publick Lotts, who Shall Neglect for ye Space of Thirty Days next after such asessment is made and Granted to pay the same, so much of Such De- linquents Rights, Respectively Shal and may be Sold as will pay the Tax, and all Charges ariseing thereon by a Committee to be appointed by the Grantees for that pur- pose. And in Case any of the Grantees Shall Neglect or Re- fuse to Perform any of ye articles aforesaid by him Respectively to be done, he Shall Forfit his Share and Right in Said Township, and every part thereof to those of ye Grantees Who Shall Comply with the Conditions on their Part herein Expressed : and it Shall and may be Lawful for them or any Person by their Authority, to En- ter into and upon the right Share or part of said Delin- quent Owner in ye Name and behalf of ye whole of ye Grantees who shall Comply as aforesaid ; To Remove, Oust and Expell for ye use of them their Heirs and assigns, Provided they Settle or Cause to be Settled Each such Delinquents Right, within the Term of one year at ye far- thest from the Period that is by this Instrument Stipulated to be Done as the Conditions of this Grant. And fully Discharge and Comply with ye whol duty Such Delin- quent ought to have Done ; Within one year from time to time after ye Respective Periods Thereof ; and in Case ye Grantees fulfilling their Parts as aforesaid shall Neglect fulfilling as aforesaid the Duty of any Delinquent owners that then such Share or Shares shall be forfit, Revert and belong to the Grantors their Heirs and Assigns, and be wholly at their Disposal free from future Charge. Always Provided there Shall be no Indian War within any of ye Limitted Term as Aforesaid, and in Case that HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. I I Should Happen, the same time to be allowed for doing the duty after such Impediment Shall be Removed. Lastly that all White Pine Trees growing on Said Tract fit for Masting his Majesty's Royal Navy be and hereby are Granted to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors for Ever. To all which Premises I, Joseph Blanchard, agent for and in behalf of ye Proprietors the Grantors Have here- unto set my Hand and Seal this Eleventh day of Decem- ber, A. D., 1752, and in the Twenty-Sixth year of his Majesty's Reign. Signed, Sealed and De- ) , , ^, , , r t ,T , . Ti r } Joseph Blanchard. [seal] livered m Presence 01 ) -^ ^ James Minot, Martha Minot. Middlesex, SS., August ye 4th, 1753. Then the above named Joseph Blanchard, appearing acknowledged the above written Instrument to be his free Act and Deed Before me. ♦ James Minot, Jus. Peace. The charter was recorded Dec. 12, 1754, by Daniel Pierce, Esq., of Portsmouth. The grantees met at Dunstable, New Hampshire, Jan. 27> i753> and passed the following preamble and vote. "Whereas Joseph Blanchard, Esq., agent for and in be- half of the proprietors of the lands in the Province of New Hampshire purchased of John Tufton Mason, did on the eleventh day of Dec, 1752 grant the contents of eight miles long and six and a half wide, therefore unanimously voted that we do hereby accept said title for ourselves and our heirs ; do hereby acknowledge that we do hold said lands under said title, conditions and limitations with the reservations therein mentioned." A warrant for another meeting was issued in the fol- 12 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. lowing terms, "These are to notify the proprietors of No. 8, or New Concord in the Province of New Hampshire, to meet at the house of Thomas W. Roe in Concord, Coun- ty of Middlesex, innholder, on the first day of Jan. next to choose a moderator, and committee of surveying, and divide into lots, to draw the lots for the speedy settlement of said township, and transact such other business as may be thought necessary." Henry Price was chosen to couple the lots for draft, and also to assess each single right or share £ i, 6 s. 8 d., to de- fray the expenses of the survey. John Stephens was chosen to draw lots for all persons who had rights in the township. At the close of the meeting they adjourned until April 12, 1754. After some delay the drawing took place, each proprietor receiving four lots. There remained thirty- nine lots that were not drawn. Of these thirty-one were drawn by two persons to be held by them in common. The township was surveyed and a plan made of the lots. P2ach lot was designated by a number and range ; each owner's land being a lot of such a number in such a range. The town was in the form of a parallelogram, eight miles by six and one half, and contained fifty-two square miles, which is more than the present limits of the town in- clude. At a town meeting held in 1786 it was "voted to set off to New Bradford that part of Washington which lies east of a line drawn from the north-west corner of Hillsborough with a strait line to the north line of that part of Washington, which is included in Col. Kidder's Charter, being three miles from the north-east corner of Washington, from thence continuing the same course to the south line of Fishersfieid, — made choice of Jeremiah Bacon, John Vose, and Thomas Penninlan to run the afojesaid line." Each share was divided into two lots and contained two hundred and seventy-eight acres. A sketch of each HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 1 3 person's share was made, and each lot was described as, "good" ; or "very good" ; or "poor". On one of the lots is "half a pond ;" on another "part of a pond." Of one it is said "a river runs through it;" another had a river "through ye corner." At another meeting held the same year the proprietors voted to assess the owners of shares eight shillings the share. At the next meeting it was decided to notify delin- quent shareholders that their forfeited rights would be sold at public vendue in January, 1755. Several lots were sold at that time. In June; 1756, lots were advertised in the Boston Evening Post, and sold for non-payment of taxes. Up to this time the French and Indian wars had checked all attempts to form new settlements on frontier townships, but the war was now over and a renewed inter- est was manifested by the proprietors of this territory ; and at a meeting held September, 1763 it was voted "that there be a committee of four chosen to go up to New Concord to examine and see where may be the most likely or proper place for a grist and saw mills ; and also to find the most likely places in the town for roads to accommodate the settlers to get their provisions. That Stephen Hos- mer, John Wood, Joseph Wheeler, Stephen Hosmer, Jr., be the committee." They met again in 1763 and voted to cut a road through the town's centre from the south line to the north at the expense of the proprietors. Also, "voted to give one hun- dred acres of land to the man who shall first build a grist or saw mill in the most convenient place near the centre of said town for the use of the inhabitants only of said town for fifteen years, and to keep said mill in good repair. To supply the inhabitants with boards and joists during said time, at the rate of eight shillings for cutting one 14 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. thousand feet, and the customary toll for grinding all sorts of grain ; and agreed to pay out of the proprietors' stock £23, 13s. 4d. towards the iron work of said mills." The last meeting of the grantees was held Nov. 10, 1767. Soon after this it was declared by the Masonian proprietors that these grantees had forfeited their title by non-compliance with the conditions of the charter, which had run sixteen years when revoked. Thus failed the first attempt to settle this town and this was not made by actual settlers, but by proprietors of the land who wished to dispose of it to others for settlement. The next grant was made .to Reuben Kidder, Esq., of New Ipswich, New Hampshire. He was one of the lead- ing grantees of that town, had held a prominent position there, and had been the leading magistrate in that vicin- ity. His ancestors emigrated to this country in 1626 and settled at Cambridge, Massachusetts. - He was energetic and persevering, and well calculated to succeed in carry- ing forward the enterprise of settling a new township. He was a friend of Gov. Wentworth, and had received a Col.'s commission from that official. He was born in that part of Chelmsford now called Westford. Col. Kidder re- ceived a charter given on the same conditions as that of the proprietors which had but recently been revoked, and his title came from the same source — the twelve men to whom the heirs of Capt. Mason had sold their claim. These men were Theodore Atkinson, M. H. Went- worth, Richard Wibird, John Wentworth, son of the Governor, George Jaffrey, Nathaniel Meserve, Thomas Parker, Thomas Wallingford, Jotham Odiorn, Joshua Pierce, Samuel Moore, John Moffat. These proprietors retained one-third of the entire area, which they intended to dispose of when the town had become so much improved as to make the land of more value in the market, and thus receive compensation for that which thev had grranted to Col. Kidder, It is said HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 1 5 however, that they failed to receive any pecuniary benefit from these reserved lots. In 1768 the first installment of actual settlers reached the township. They came directly from New Ipswich, although some of them were residents of other places. There were already settlements made in Peterboro, Dub- lin,. Nelson and Stoddard, and it is supposed their route lay through these towns. The roads were untravelled and poorly made : and a part of the way there was no road at all, they being obliged to find their way by means of marked trees. When a stream was bridgeless they felled a tree across it for the use of the women and children, and the men rode the horses through the stream. They came on foot and on horseback ; with children and house- hold goods bound on together ; and it has been truly said, that the journey was attended with many hardships; but they pressed on courageously, looking forward to the founding of homes in the wilderness with the same inde- pendent, undaunted spirit that had inspired all the settlers in New England before them. Col. Kidder gave to each of these men a grant of one hundred acres of land, they having the privilege of choosing their land from any part of the township. It is supposed that Archibald White accompanied them as leader and agent for Col. Kidder ; and that Ebenezer Lovell, Simon Lovell, Ephraim Sever- ance Daniel White, Thomas Adams, Jacob Burbank, Moses Chase, Simeon Farnsworth, Daniel Keyes, Silas Tasker, Robert Pollock, John Safford, Abner Sampson, James Scott and David Taylor came with him from New Ipswich, or followed soon after. They must have been fairly prospered in their journey, as they accomplished it in three days. They found the country an almost unbroken wilderness, and no traces of white men or Indians were to be seen within the limits of the township. Wild game was plentiful in the woods, and the streams and ponds abounded with different kinds of l6 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. fish. They arrived in May and encamped at the outlet of Millen's pond, which situation presented many attractions to the settlers for their new homes. They began to make use of their rations of salt pork, but soon discovered that trout could be obtained from the river near by, and were much more palatable than their supplies which they had brought from New Ipswich. They first built log houses and lived in. the plain, simple manner incident to all set- tlers in a new country, having but few of the luxuries of life, although it is said they were men of substantial means. A large number of the first residents of Washington came from the region of Massachusetts Bay. The set- tlers in that part of New England — the heart of Massa- chusetts — were of pure English stock. They were En- glish when they landed on the shores of the new world, and remained so in their transplanting. Such emigrants from the mother country brought with them a love of liberty, a desire for knowledge, and an attachment to re- ligion that did not forsake them when they built for them- selves new homes in New England. Those men who first came to this town understood the advantages of mental culture. The Sampsons, the Saffords, the Healys, the Faxons, the Farwells had a natural love of learning; and they built here the school house, and laid the foundation of the church before they had reared commodious dwell- ings. The towns of Antrim, Stoddard and Hillsborough were already inhabited, and settlements to the north-west as far as Claremont had been commenced, and there could not have been that feeling of isolation that attended the settlers in frontier townships. Neither were they har- rassed by fear of the cruel Indian. They could pursue their labors in the field, or pass from one dwelling to another, without fear of the deadly ambuscade : their slumber by night and their noon-day meal was not dis- turbed by the warwhoop of the enemy ; and they could ^^cyyi^t^^ HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. J/ worship God on the day of rest without the matchlock to guard from the sudden attack of the red men. Their dwellings were not burned, nor their wives and children taken captive ; but gentle peace smiled upon them, and prosperity attended their quiet homes. Their number must have increased somewhat rapidly, as the conditions of the grant required a certain number of families to be located here each year, and we find by the records of the first census, taken in 1773, that the number of inhabitants was then one hundred and thirty- two. CHAPTER III. PETITION FOR INCORPORATION. NAME OF WASHINGTON. Petition for incorporation. Name of Washington. Brief sketch of some of the first settlers and earlj' residents. ''T the time of the survey of this portion of New- Hampshire, made in 1749, this town was designa- ted as No. 8. When the sixty proprietors re- ceived their chai;ter they called it New Concord, as the larger portion of those grantees were residents of Con- cord, Mass. When Col. Reuben Kidder became sole pro- prietor of the township he gave it the name of Camden, wishing to honor an English peer. Lord Camden, a friend of Gov. Wentworth, who had befriended the English colonists in America. The township bore this name until the year 1776, when the following petition was sent for- ward to Exeter by Archibald White, Esq. "To the General Assembly of, New Hampshire in New England. The petition of the inhabitants of a certain un- incorporated township of land, hitherto known by the name of Camden in the county of Cheshire in the govern- ment above named, most humbly sheweth, may it please your honors, that whereas by reason of our being a non- incorporated township we are subject to many inconven- iences and disadvantages as are common, and often incident to non-incorporated societies, both in accord to public and domestic affairs, we therefore your honor's most humble HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. ^ IQ petitioners hereby intreat and implore, that according to your wisdom and goodness, you would be pleased to remedy the inconveniences and disadvantages to which we are liable, and invest this town with the powers, liber- ties, and privileges common to incorporated towns within this government, may it please your honors to incorporate this township by the name of Washington, as in duty bound your honor's most humble petitioners, whose names are underwritten, shall ever pray. Dated at Camden afore- said, Sept. 22, 1776. Reuben Kidder, Nathan Proctor, Jacob Burbank, Wm. White, Wm. Proctor, . Samuel Tabor, Ebenezer Spaulding, Joseph Rounsevel, David Lowell, Josiah Proctor, Church Tabor, Samuel Copeland, Benjamin Babcock, Daniel Severance, John Steele^ Wm. Steele, Abner Sampson, . Robert Mann, David Lowell, Jun., Jonathan Brockway, Archibald White, Simeon Farnsvvorth, Jam.es Maxwell, Archibald White, Jun. Ephraim Severance, Paul Hale, John Safford, Peter Lowell, David Danforth, Jacob Copeland." Upon reading this petition the house voted that the pe- titioners cause the substance of this petition to be pub- lished in the most public places of the township and in the New Hampshire Gazette or Saturday Circulating Chronicle, that any person concerned may appear before the general Assembly of the state on the third day of next Sessions to shew cause if any there be why the prayer thereof may not be granted. The prayer of the petition- ers was granted at the next session of the court, there 20 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, being no one to oppose. The following is a copy of the act of incorporation. "State of New Hampshire An Act to Incorporate a place called Camden in the county of Cheshire, Whereas the inhabitants of that tract of Land in the County of Chesh- ire called Camden, have petitioned the general court, rep- resenting that they labor under great disadvantages by reason of their unincorporated state ; and praying that they may be incorporated, notice of which has been given, and no objection has been made thereto, and it appearing to be for the public good be it therefore enacted by the council and assembly, that there be and hereby is a town- ship erected and incorporated by the name of Washington bounded northerly by Fishersfield, easterly by Bradford and Hillsborough, southerly by Stoddard and Campbell's Gore — so called — and Westerly by Marlow and Lempster, and the inhabitants thereby erected into a body politic and corporate, to have continuance and succession forever, and are hereby invested with all the rights and privileges and immunities, which any town in this state holds and enjoys : and Mr. Archibald White is hereby authorized to call a meeting of said inhabitants to choose all necessary and customary town officers : giving fourteen days' notice of the time and place and design of such meeting, and such officers shall be hereby invested with all the powers usual in any other town in the state ; and every other meeting which shall be annually held in said town for that purpose shall b^ on the third Monday of March forever. In the House of Representatives, Dec. 9, 1776. Jonathan Lovewell, Speaker pro tempore. Read three times and accepted, and voted that the same be enacted. M. Weare, Preside fit." HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 21 Thus the name of Washington, which had become a familiar word in every household in the land, and univers- ally loved and respected, was, for the first time, it is said, given to a town organization. Since then, there is scarce- ly a state or territory from our own White Hills, to the farthest south and west, which has not commemorated that honored name in some manner, either as applied to a natural or political division. The name Washington signifies, "the town of the mead- ow creek." Its derivation is from the Saxon, ^uacs for water; and one meaning of iug is meadow, and ton is town or inclosure. The family name of the Washingtons was taken from their ancestral home in England. Washington was included in Cheshire county until July 5, 1827, when Sullivan county was incorporated and named in honor of the Hon. John Sullivan. From this time forward, that is the year of 1776 we have an account of the business of the town, but for about eight years previous to this the town records are missing and it is impossible to obtain the desired inform- ation respecting those early times. It is to be regretted that some person should not be chosen in every generation to chronicle the passing events of the times in which they live for future reference. A generation of aged men and women have passed away within the last decade who might have added materially to the interest of a work like this, if the historian could have listened to a recital of the scenes of their early life and reminiscences of by-gone days. We have an account of a few of those who signed the petition for the act of incorporation which we append together with some others who came to this town within a few years after that time. Reuben Kidder heads the list, and although he was not an actual resident, he was interested in the progress of the town and had an agent here much of the time. A 22 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. brief sketch of his life has been given in another part of the History. The next name is John Safford. He came from Har- vard, Massachusetts. He built his house near the centre of the town on a prominent hill commanding an extensive view of the country south and east. He extended his original possessions as far as Milieu's, then called Safford's pond, and by the east of that pond nearly to what is now the Stoddard road by Oak Hill. He was one of the lead- ing men of the times, holding the offices of town-clerk, moderator, selectman, and also a commission in the mili- tary service with the rank of Lieut. A large portion of the Safford Homestead still remains in the possession of his descendants. Jacob Burbank built his house a fourth of a mile to the south-west, where it still remains, now more than one hun- dred years old. He came from Hudson, New Hampshire, a descendant of John Burbank, who settled in Rowley, Massachusetts, in 1640. A son, and afterwards a grand- son, lived on the Burbank place, but it passed out of the possession of the family in 1866. David Danforth chose the south side of Milieu's pond." He came from Bilerica, Massachusetts, and was a descend- ant of the Rev. Francis Danforth of Cambridge, Massachu- setts. The birth of his son Eli was the first one recorded in the town clerk's book. William Proctor took possession of land lying west of Mr. Danforth's land and bordering on the same pond. He came from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, which was the home of the Proctors in this country for many years. Ebenezer Spaulding first settled on the Ashuelot river. He afterwards lived on the Lempster road two miles from the centre village. A change in the boundary of the town finally left him in Lempster. His marriage to Amy Roundy, a native of Windham, Connecticut, was the first HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 23 one recorded by the town clerk of Washington. He died in 1808, his wife surviving him many years. She died at East Washington in 1859, at the age of one hundred years. Many of their descendants are still living. The ancestors of Joseph Rounsevel were originally from Freetown, Massachusetts. He took possession of land east of the centre, and a part of the land which now constitutes the village was included in his farm. He built a saw-mill on what is now Water street, and a house on the site where the large brick house now stands. He was well educated and held many of the town offices. Abner Sampson was born in Harvard, Massachusetts, from which place came many of the first settlers in Wash- ington. He built his house in the eastern part of the village and kept tavern there for some years. His son. Ward Sampson, Esq., was one of the most prominent citi- zens here for many years. Simon Lowell was the son of Ebenezer Lowell. He came from New Ipswich and originally from Groton, Mas- sachusetts. He occupied land on the Goshen road. He had a large family, and many of his grand-children are still living. Simeon Farnsworth, Jr., came from Harvard, Massa- chusetts. He was one of a family of sixteen children. His father with probably all his children came here after- wards. Simeon Farnsworth mad^ choice of land lying to the east of John Safford's farm and built his house on the Marlow road about one half mile from the centre village. He died while yet a young man, leaving a wife and several children. One son, Daniel, settled at the north-west of Millen's pond, and died there in old age, and a daughter, Lydia, married Mr. John Shedd, and was the mother of Miss Sarah Shedd, the donor of the free town Library. Benjamin Babcock it is supposed came from Harvard, Massachusetts. He lived on land belonging to John Saf- ford. He died leaving no descendants. 24 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. William and John Steele were from Amherst, New Hampshire. They lived on the mountain road. William fell from his horse into the brook near his house and was drowned. The Archibald White farm was situated to the north- west of the Safford property, and where the house first stood was the finest situation in town for the prospect afforded. After the building of the second New Hamp- shire turnpike the house was moved to that thoroughfare, where Deacon Farwell kept "tavern", and where it still stands a conspicuous object from a distance, and known for the past seventy years as the "Fisher place." It re- quired a team of eighty-five yoke of oxen to remove the building, on a descending grade all the way. Mr. White was Col. Kidder's agent in the new township and was a prominent and influential man in those times. It was through his influence that the name of Camden was changed to Washington. Thomas P'arvvell came from Groton, Massachusetts, and bought the Archibald White place in 1780. Deacon Farwell was a descendant of one of the oldest families in New England, well known since their first settlement in Concord, Massachusetts. John Healy came here about the year 1778. He came from Newton, Massachusetts, and settled on the north Stoddard road near the line dividing the towns, occupying an elevated situation, and having an extensive view of the surrounding country. He was an influential citizen, and held the different offices in this town. The Healys were granted the same marks of respect in Massachusetts that they afterwards received in Washington. John Seaton came here from Amherst, New Hamp- shire. He was a native of Ireland, and first settled in this country at Boxfoiid, Massachusetts. His family were of Scotch origin, and were compelled to leave Scotland on P m W HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. 2$ account of adhering to the cause of the Stewarts in some civil war. He came to this town in 1787 and died in 1793. Among the well known citizens of Washington was "Squire Penniman," who was always ready to help a good cause with money and a kind word. He loaned the town one hundred pounds to help build the meeting house, and willed a sum of money for the benefit of the public schools. Mr. Penniman was at the capture of Quebec, and brought back a hatchel or flax comb which is now in the possession of Mr. Charles Lowell. Ebenezer Wood came from Littleton, Massachusetts, and took up his abode in the mountain neighborhood. He became the possessor of a good farm and the father of a large family of children. He is remembered as an energetic man and good citizen. He held various town ofifices and was generally known as Lieut. Wood. John Vose was from Milton, Massachusetts, belonging to an ancient and extensive family in that town. He chose for his home a farm on the south side of Lovevvell's mountain, where he continued to reside until his death. Mr. Vose was chosen deacon of the church and was a prominent man among his fellow citizens. There are other names doubtless equally honorable ; we have been obliged to use material that came to hand. These men and a succeeding generation have passed away, and left but slight record of their lives and deeds ; that they builded well we know from the results that followed their labors. "Like leaves on the trees the race of man is found, Xow green in youth, noAV withering on the ground : Another race the following spring supplies, They fall successive, and successive rise : So generations in their course decay, So flourish these, wlien those have passed away." CHAPTER IV. SETTLEMENT OF EAST WASHINGTON. Village of East Washington. First Settlers. Some Early Residents. IHE village of East Washington is situated in the eastern part of the town near the Hillsborough and Bradford lines, and it is separated from the larger portion of the town by Lovewell's mountain and the ridge of hills that extend from that mountain towards the south. It is pleasantly located in a valley at the foot of the mountain, and has a delightful view of that and other hills. Two small streams, one from Island pond and the other from Ayer's pond, unite here and form a branch of the Contoocook. The first settlers on this side of the mountain were Charles Brown, who lived on the Simon Jones place, Dea. William Graves and Capt. Jonathan Brockway. Dea. Graves came from Sudbury, Massachusetts, and first built a log house near where the rake shop now stands, in the field owned by Arthur Severance, and afterwards built the house owned in later years by John Severance, and which was taken down in 1880. That house it is supposed was the first one built in the place. Mr. Graves was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and soon after the war came to this place. At that time the mountain was infested with bears, and the family were often aroused from their slum- bers to drive away the unwelcome visitants. The name Hi {cy-r-T/ l^:y,'7/''(r e£. ^'